e10vq
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-Q
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þ
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QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
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For the quarterly period ended: March 31, 2006 |
Commission file number 1-1143
Inco Limited
(Name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
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Canada
(Jurisdiction of Incorporation) |
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98-0000676
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
145 King Street West, Suite 1500, Toronto, Ontario M5H
4B7*
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip
code)
(416) 361-7511
(Telephone number)
The Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be
filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 (the Act) during the preceding twelve months
(or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to
file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days.
The Registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in
Rule 12b-2 under
the Act).
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company
(as defined in
Rule 12b-2 of the
Exchange
Act). Yes o No þ
Unless otherwise stated, dollar amounts in this Report are
expressed in United States currency.
Common Shares outstanding at March 31, 2006:
193,406,249 shares, no par value.
* Notices and communications from the Securities and Exchange
Commission may be sent to S.A. Fish, Executive Vice-President,
General Counsel and Secretary, 145 King Street West,
Suite 1500, Toronto, Ontario M5H 4B7. His telephone
number is
(416) 361-7774.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Exhibits |
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30 |
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31.1.
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Certification of the Chief Executive Officer of the Registrant
pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the U.S. Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended |
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31.2.
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Certification of the Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant
pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the U.S. Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended |
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32.1.
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Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial
Officer of the Registrant pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
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EX-31.1 |
EX-31.2 |
EX-32.1 |
1
PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION
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Item 1. |
Financial Statements |
INCO LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statement of Earnings
(Unaudited)
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Three Months Ended | |
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March 31, | |
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2006 | |
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2005 | |
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(Restated) | |
(in millions of United States dollars except per share
amounts)
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Net sales
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$ |
1,211 |
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$ |
1,121 |
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Costs and operating expenses
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Cost of sales and other expenses, excluding depreciation and
depletion
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733 |
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603 |
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Depreciation and depletion
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68 |
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61 |
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Selling, general and administrative
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47 |
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43 |
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Research and development
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8 |
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7 |
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Exploration
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15 |
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9 |
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Currency translation adjustments
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(3 |
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(5 |
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Interest expense
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18 |
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7 |
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886 |
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725 |
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Other income, net (Note 3)
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8 |
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1 |
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Earnings before income and mining taxes and minority interest
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333 |
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397 |
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Income and mining taxes (Note 4)
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113 |
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83 |
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Earnings before minority interest
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220 |
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314 |
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Minority interest
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18 |
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(3 |
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Net earnings
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$ |
202 |
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$ |
317 |
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Net earnings per common share (Note 7)
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Basic
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$ |
1.05 |
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$ |
1.68 |
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Diluted
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$ |
0.91 |
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$ |
1.43 |
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See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
2
INCO LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statement of Retained Earnings
(Unaudited)
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Three Months Ended | |
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March 31, | |
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2006 | |
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2005 | |
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(Restated) | |
(in millions of United States dollars)
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Retained earnings at beginning of period, as previously reported
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$ |
1,181 |
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$ |
390 |
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Restatements (Note 2)
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38 |
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Retained earnings at beginning of year, as restated
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1,181 |
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428 |
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Net earnings
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202 |
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317 |
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Common dividends paid $0.125 per share
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(24 |
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Retained earnings at end of period
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$ |
1,359 |
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$ |
745 |
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See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
3
INCO LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Balance Sheet
(Unaudited)
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March 31, | |
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December 31, | |
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2006 | |
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2005 | |
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(in millions of United States dollars)
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ASSETS |
Current assets
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Cash and cash equivalents (Note 13)
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$ |
751 |
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$ |
958 |
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Accounts receivable
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734 |
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673 |
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Inventories (Note 13)
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1,105 |
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996 |
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Other
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86 |
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68 |
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Total current assets
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2,676 |
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2,695 |
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Property, plant and equipment (Note 13)
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8,676 |
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8,459 |
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Accrued pension benefits asset
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633 |
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611 |
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Deferred charges and other assets
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266 |
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245 |
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Total assets
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$ |
12,251 |
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$ |
12,010 |
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LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY |
Current liabilities
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Long-term debt due within one year
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$ |
75 |
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$ |
122 |
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Accounts payable
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310 |
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253 |
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Accrued payrolls and benefits
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210 |
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221 |
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Other accrued liabilities
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524 |
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533 |
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Income and mining taxes payable
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88 |
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36 |
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Total current liabilities
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1,207 |
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1,165 |
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Deferred credits and other liabilities
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Long-term debt
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1,840 |
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1,852 |
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Deferred income and mining taxes
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2,018 |
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2,018 |
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Accrued post-retirement benefits liability
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744 |
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732 |
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Asset retirement obligation (Note 6)
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169 |
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168 |
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Deferred credits and other liabilities
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122 |
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131 |
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Total liabilities
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6,100 |
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6,066 |
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Minority interest
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768 |
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761 |
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Commitments and contingencies (Note 11)
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Shareholders equity
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Convertible debt (Note 9)
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351 |
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362 |
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Common shareholders equity
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Common shares issued and outstanding 193,406,249
(2005 192,237,394 shares) (Note 7)
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3,034 |
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3,000 |
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Warrants (Note 10)
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62 |
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62 |
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Contributed surplus (Note 14)
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577 |
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578 |
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Retained earnings
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1,359 |
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1,181 |
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5,032 |
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4,821 |
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Total shareholders equity
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5,383 |
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5,183 |
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Total liabilities and shareholders equity
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$ |
12,251 |
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$ |
12,010 |
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See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
4
INCO LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
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Three Months Ended | |
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March 31, | |
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2006 | |
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2005 | |
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(Restated) | |
(in millions of United States dollars)
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Operating activities
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Earnings before minority interest
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$ |
220 |
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$ |
314 |
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Items not affecting cash
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Depreciation and depletion
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68 |
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61 |
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Deferred income and mining taxes
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17 |
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(5 |
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Other
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8 |
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12 |
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Contributions greater than post-retirement benefits expense
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(10 |
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(14 |
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Decrease (increase) in non-cash working capital related to
operations
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Accounts receivable
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(61 |
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(12 |
) |
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Inventories
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(60 |
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(56 |
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Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
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(12 |
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43 |
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Income and mining taxes payable
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55 |
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(225 |
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Other
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(23 |
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(27 |
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Net cash provided by operating activities
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202 |
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91 |
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Investing activities
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Capital expenditures
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(337 |
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(226 |
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Other
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(1 |
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Net cash used for investing activities
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(338 |
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(226 |
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Financing activities
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Repayments of long-term debt
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(56 |
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(48 |
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Long-term borrowings
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16 |
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Common shares issued
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10 |
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20 |
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Common dividends paid
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(24 |
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Dividends paid to minority interest
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(1 |
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(1 |
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Net cash used for financing activities
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(71 |
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(13 |
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Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
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(207 |
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(148 |
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Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
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958 |
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1,076 |
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Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
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$ |
751 |
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$ |
928 |
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See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
5
INCO LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
(Tabular amounts in millions of United States dollars except
number of shares and per share amounts)
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Note 1. |
Basis of Presentation |
These unaudited consolidated financial statements have been
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles (GAAP) in Canada (see Note 15 for significant
differences between Canadian GAAP and United States GAAP) for
interim financial information and with the instructions to
Form 10-Q and
Article 10 of
Regulation S-X. In
the opinion of management, all adjustments considered necessary
for a fair presentation of results for the periods reported have
been included. These adjustments consist only of normal
recurring adjustments. Results of operations for the three-month
period ended March 31, 2006 are not necessarily indicative
of the results that may be expected for the year ending
December 31, 2006 or any other interim period. These
interim consolidated financial statements should be read in
conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes
thereto included in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2005.
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Note 2. |
Changes in Accounting Policies and Restatements |
We adopted the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants
Emerging Issues Committee Abstract No. 155, The Effects
of Contingently Convertible Instruments on the Computation of
Diluted Earnings per Share, on a retroactive basis. The new
abstract, which was effective for interim and annual periods
beginning after October 1, 2005, requires that the effects
of contingently convertible instruments be included in the
computation of diluted earnings per share regardless of whether
the market price trigger has been met. There was no impact of
adoption on 2005 first quarter earnings per share as the market
price triggers on our contingently convertible debt were met for
this period and thus the contingently convertible instruments
were already included in the computation of diluted earnings per
share.
Effective January 1, 2005, on a retroactive basis, we
restated our minority interest and related current deferred
income taxes to correct an error in the allocation of net
earnings to minority interests. The impact on net earnings for
the first quarter of 2005 was an increase of $4 million, or
2 cents per share. The cumulative adjustment to retained
earnings to December 31, 2004 was an increase of
$38 million.
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Note 3. |
Other Income, net |
Other income, net is comprised of the following:
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Three Months | |
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Ended | |
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March 31, | |
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2006 | |
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2005 | |
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Interest and dividend income
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$ |
7 |
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$ |
7 |
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Loss from affiliates accounted for using the equity method
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(1 |
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Net gain from derivative positions
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2 |
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Other
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(1 |
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(5 |
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Other income, net
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$ |
8 |
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$ |
1 |
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6
INCO LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements (Continued)
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Note 4. |
Income and Mining Taxes |
The reconciliation between taxes at the combined
federal-provincial statutory income tax rate in Canada and the
effective income and mining tax rates was as follows:
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Three Months Ended | |
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March 31, | |
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2006 | |
|
2005 | |
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(Restated) | |
Provision at combined Canadian federal-provincial statutory
income tax rate
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$ |
122 |
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$ |
154 |
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Resource and depletion allowances
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(17 |
) |
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(17 |
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Adjusted income taxes
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|
105 |
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|
137 |
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Mining taxes
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|
22 |
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|
15 |
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|
127 |
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|
152 |
|
Currency translation adjustments
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(6 |
) |
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(4 |
) |
Currency translation adjustments on long-term debt
|
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(1 |
) |
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(2 |
) |
Non-taxable (gains) losses
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4 |
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(11 |
) |
Foreign tax rate differences
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(7 |
) |
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(13 |
) |
Adjustment of prior year tax issues and tax rate changes
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(2 |
) |
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(42 |
) |
Other
|
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(2 |
) |
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3 |
|
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|
|
|
Income and mining taxes
|
|
$ |
113 |
|
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$ |
83 |
|
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|
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|
|
|
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|
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Note 5. |
Post-retirement Benefits |
Employer contributions in respect of our defined benefit plans
during the first quarter of 2006 were $46 million (2005:
$46 million). For the year ending December 31, 2006,
we currently expect that such employer contributions will amount
to approximately $180 million.
Post-retirement benefits expense included the following
components:
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Post-retirement | |
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Benefits Other | |
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Pension Benefits | |
|
than Pensions | |
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| |
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| |
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, | |
|
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| |
|
|
2006 | |
|
2005 | |
|
2006 | |
|
2005 | |
|
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| |
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| |
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| |
|
| |
Service cost
|
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$ |
12 |
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|
$ |
10 |
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$ |
3 |
|
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$ |
2 |
|
Interest cost
|
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|
42 |
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|
41 |
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|
15 |
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|
14 |
|
Expected return on plan assets
|
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|
(49 |
) |
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|
(44 |
) |
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|
Amortization of net actuarial and investment losses
|
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|
19 |
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16 |
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6 |
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4 |
|
Amortization of unrecognized prior service costs
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4 |
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3 |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Defined benefit pension and post-retirement benefits other than
pensions expense
|
|
|
28 |
|
|
|
26 |
|
|
|
24 |
|
|
|
20 |
|
Defined contribution pension expense
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Post-retirement benefits expense
|
|
$ |
29 |
|
|
$ |
27 |
|
|
$ |
24 |
|
|
$ |
20 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7
INCO LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements (Continued)
|
|
Note 6. |
Asset Retirement Obligation |
The following table shows the movement in the liability for our
asset retirement obligation:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amount | |
|
|
| |
December 31, 2005
|
|
$ |
171 |
|
Accretion expense
|
|
|
2 |
|
Liabilities settled
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
|
|
March 31, 2006
|
|
|
172 |
|
Current portion of asset retirement obligation
|
|
|
(3 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Long-term portion of asset retirement obligation
|
|
$ |
169 |
|
|
|
|
|
The balance at December 31, 2005 includes a current portion
of $3 million.
|
|
Note 7. |
Common Shares and Earnings per Common Share |
We are authorized to issue an unlimited number of Common Shares
without nominal or par value. Changes in Common Shares were as
follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of | |
|
|
|
|
Shares | |
|
Amount | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
December 31, 2005
|
|
|
192,237,394 |
|
|
$ |
3,000 |
|
Options exercised
|
|
|
304,472 |
|
|
|
10 |
|
Warrants exercised
|
|
|
5,026 |
|
|
|
|
|
Shares issued under incentive plans
|
|
|
56,769 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
Shares issued on conversion of LYON Notes
|
|
|
802,588 |
|
|
|
19 |
|
Transfer from accrued liabilities in respect of stock
appreciation rights exercised
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, 2006
|
|
|
193,406,249 |
|
|
$ |
3,034 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8
INCO LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements (Continued)
The computation of basic and diluted earnings per share was as
follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended | |
|
|
March 31, | |
|
|
| |
|
|
2006 | |
|
2005 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
(Restated) | |
Basic earnings per share computation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Numerator:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net earnings applicable to common shares
|
|
$ |
202 |
|
|
$ |
317 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Denominator:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in thousands)
|
|
|
192,704 |
|
|
|
188,398 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic earnings per common share
|
|
$ |
1.05 |
|
|
$ |
1.68 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted earnings per share computation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Numerator:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net earnings applicable to common shares
|
|
$ |
202 |
|
|
$ |
317 |
|
|
Dilutive effect of:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Convertible debt
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net earnings applicable to common shares, assuming dilution
|
|
$ |
203 |
|
|
$ |
317 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Denominator:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in thousands)
|
|
|
192,704 |
|
|
|
188,398 |
|
|
Dilutive effect of:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Convertible debt
|
|
|
24,424 |
|
|
|
29,078 |
|
|
|
Stock options
|
|
|
1,049 |
|
|
|
561 |
|
|
|
Warrants
|
|
|
5,022 |
|
|
|
3,791 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted-average common shares outstanding, assuming dilution
(in thousands)
|
|
|
223,199 |
|
|
|
221,828 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted earnings per common share
|
|
$ |
0.91 |
|
|
$ |
1.43 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note 8. |
Financial Instruments |
During the first quarter of 2006, we purchased call option
contracts in the aggregate amount of Cdn.$750 million,
giving us the right but not the obligation to purchase Canadian
dollars at a rate of $0.855, and sold put option contracts in
the aggregate amount of Cdn.$500 million, giving the buyer
the right but not the obligation to purchase Canadian dollars
from us at an average rate of $0.833. We also entered into
forward contracts to purchase Cdn.$336 million at an
average rate of $0.859. In addition, we entered into derivative
instruments covering up to a maximum of Cdn.$660 million.
These instruments allow us to accumulate Canadian dollars on a
daily basis over a defined period at a specified foreign
exchange rate. However, the daily accumulation is subject to the
Canadian dollar trading below specified Canadian dollar exchange
rates. We have not applied hedge accounting for these financial
instruments and, accordingly, adjustments to the fair value of
these contracts amounting to a loss of $6 million have been
recorded in other income, net.
At December 31, 2005 and March 31, 2006, we had
outstanding option contracts in respect of copper to which we
apply hedge accounting. In respect of the second quarter of
2006, we have outstanding put option contracts, giving us the
right but not the obligation to sell 13,800 tonnes of
copper at an average price of $2,487 per tonne and
outstanding call option contracts, giving the buyer the right
but not the obligation to purchase 7,800 tonnes of copper
from us at an average price of $3,400 per tonne during the
same time period. In
9
INCO LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements (Continued)
respect of 2007, we have outstanding put option contracts,
giving us the right but not the obligation to sell
58,992 tonnes of copper at an average price of
$2,205 per tonne and outstanding call option contracts,
giving the buyer the right but not the obligation to
purchase 58,992 tonnes of copper from us at an average
price of $2,988 per tonne during the same time period. In
respect of 2008, we have outstanding put option contracts,
giving us the right but not the obligation to sell 58,380 tonnes
of copper at an average price of $2,254 per tonne and
outstanding call option contracts, giving the buyer the right
but not the obligation to purchase 48,384 tonnes of copper
from us at an average price of $2,773 per tonne during the
same time period. The option contracts for 2007 and 2008 mature
evenly by month.
Changes in the equity component of convertible debt were as
follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Subordinated | |
|
|
|
|
LYON | |
|
Convertible | |
|
Convertible | |
|
|
|
|
Notes | |
|
Debentures | |
|
Debentures | |
|
Total | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
December 31, 2005
|
|
$ |
92 |
|
|
$ |
148 |
|
|
$ |
122 |
|
|
$ |
362 |
|
Tendered for conversion
|
|
|
(11 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(11 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, 2006
|
|
$ |
81 |
|
|
$ |
148 |
|
|
$ |
122 |
|
|
$ |
351 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Changes in warrants were as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of | |
|
|
|
|
Warrants | |
|
Amount | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
December 31, 2005
|
|
|
11,016,017 |
|
|
$ |
62 |
|
Warrants issued
|
|
|
13 |
|
|
|
|
|
Warrants exercised
|
|
|
(5,026 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, 2006
|
|
|
11,011,004 |
|
|
$ |
62 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note 11. |
Commitments and Contingencies |
The following table summarizes as of March 31, 2006 certain
of our long-term contractual obligations and commercial
commitments for each of the next five years and thereafter:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payments Due in | |
|
|
| |
|
|
2006 | |
|
2007 | |
|
2008 | |
|
2009 | |
|
2010 | |
|
Thereafter | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Purchase obligations(1)
|
|
$ |
865 |
|
|
$ |
531 |
|
|
$ |
295 |
|
|
$ |
232 |
|
|
$ |
24 |
|
|
$ |
25 |
|
Operating leases
|
|
|
27 |
|
|
|
30 |
|
|
|
19 |
|
|
|
12 |
|
|
|
9 |
|
|
|
43 |
|
Other
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
|
|
7 |
|
|
|
81 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$ |
892 |
|
|
$ |
564 |
|
|
$ |
317 |
|
|
$ |
247 |
|
|
$ |
40 |
|
|
$ |
149 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
These purchase obligations largely relate to the Goro project
with the balance comprising routine orders to purchase goods and
services at current operating locations. |
10
INCO LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements (Continued)
We are subject to routine claims and litigation incidental to
our business, to various environmental proceedings, and to other
litigation related to such business. Environmental proceedings
currently pending or threatened against us include (1) a
proceeding brought under the Ontario class action legislation
covering claims relating to the alleged decline in property
values in a community where we had operated a nickel refinery
over the 1918-1984 period, (2) claims for personal
injuries, (3) enforcement actions, (4) alleged
violations of, including exceeding regulatory limits relating to
discharges under, certain environmental or similar laws and
regulations applicable to our operations in Canada and elsewhere
and (5) certain claims dating back a number of years under
the United States federal environmental law known as
Superfund or CERCLA, as a potentially
responsible party. We believe that the ultimate resolution of
such proceedings, claims and litigation will not significantly
impair our operations or have a material adverse effect on our
financial position or results of operations.
|
|
Note 12. |
Segment Information |
We are a leading producer of nickel and an important producer of
copper, precious metals and cobalt. Our operations consist of
the finished products segment, which comprises the mining and
processing operations in Ontario, Manitoba and Newfoundland and
Labrador, Canada, and refining operations in the United Kingdom
and interests in refining operations in Japan and other Asian
countries, and the intermediates segment, which comprises the
mining and processing operations in Indonesia, where
nickel-in-matte, an
intermediate product, is produced and sold primarily into the
Japanese market. In addition, we hold mineral claims and
licenses for the Goro nickel-cobalt project under development in
the French overseas territorial community (collectivité
territoriale) of New Caledonia and have certain mineral deposits
under development at Voiseys Bay.
Data by operating segments as of and for the periods indicated
was as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Finished | |
|
|
|
Development | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Products | |
|
Intermediates | |
|
Projects | |
|
Eliminations | |
|
Total | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|
2006 | |
|
2005 | |
|
2006 | |
|
2005 | |
|
2006 | |
|
2005 | |
|
2006 | |
|
2005 | |
|
2006 | |
|
2005 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Net sales to customers
|
|
$ |
1,175 |
|
|
$ |
1,087 |
|
|
$ |
36 |
|
|
$ |
34 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,211 |
|
|
$ |
1,121 |
|
Intersegment sales
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
146 |
|
|
|
137 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(146 |
) |
|
|
(137 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net sales
|
|
|
1,175 |
|
|
|
1,087 |
|
|
|
182 |
|
|
|
171 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(146 |
) |
|
|
(137 |
) |
|
|
1,211 |
|
|
|
1,121 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings (loss) before income and mining taxes and minority
interest by segment
|
|
|
312 |
|
|
|
348 |
|
|
|
63 |
|
|
|
85 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2 |
) |
|
|
(3 |
) |
|
|
373 |
|
|
|
430 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expenses (income) not specifically
allocable to segments: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Corporate selling, general and
administrative expenses |
|
|
33 |
|
|
|
32 |
|
Currency translation adjustments |
|
|
(3 |
) |
|
|
(5 |
) |
Interest expense |
|
|
18 |
|
|
|
7 |
|
Other income, net |
|
|
(8 |
) |
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings before income and mining
taxes and minority interest |
|
|
333 |
|
|
|
397 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Identifiable assets at March 31, 2006 and December 31,
2005
|
|
$ |
6,718 |
|
|
$ |
6,586 |
|
|
$ |
1,588 |
|
|
$ |
1,568 |
|
|
$ |
2,973 |
|
|
$ |
2,798 |
|
|
$ |
(48 |
) |
|
$ |
(46 |
) |
|
$ |
11,231 |
|
|
$ |
10,906 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other assets |
|
|
1,020 |
|
|
|
1,104 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets at March 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005 |
|
$ |
12,251 |
|
|
$ |
12,010 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11
INCO LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements (Continued)
|
|
Note 13. |
Supplemental Information |
The following represents certain supplemental information in
connection with our Consolidated Balance Sheet:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, | |
|
December 31, | |
|
|
2006 | |
|
2005 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
Cash
|
|
$ |
279 |
|
|
$ |
342 |
|
Cash equivalents
|
|
|
472 |
|
|
|
616 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$ |
751 |
|
|
$ |
958 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Finished metals
|
|
$ |
293 |
|
|
$ |
259 |
|
In-process metals
|
|
|
677 |
|
|
|
608 |
|
Supplies
|
|
|
135 |
|
|
|
129 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Inventories
|
|
$ |
1,105 |
|
|
$ |
996 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property, plant and equipment, at cost
|
|
$ |
13,529 |
|
|
$ |
13,205 |
|
Accumulated depreciation and depletion
|
|
|
4,853 |
|
|
|
4,746 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property, plant and equipment, net
|
|
$ |
8,676 |
|
|
$ |
8,459 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capitalized interest costs included in capital expenditures were
$16 million in the first three months of 2006 (2005:
$24 million).
|
|
Note 14. |
Stock Compensation Plans |
For the three months ended March 31, 2006, an expense of
$1 million (2005: $3 million) was charged to earnings
with an equivalent offset credited to contributed surplus to
reflect the vested portion of the fair value of stock options
granted to employees in 2005. For the first three months of
2006, a transfer of $2 million (2005: $3 million) was
made from contributed surplus to common shares in respect of
exercised options. No options were granted during the first
three months of 2006. For 2005, the fair value of each stock
option granted was estimated on the date of grant using the
Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following
assumptions:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2005 | |
|
|
| |
Stock price at grant date
|
|
$ |
39.67 |
|
Exercise price
|
|
$ |
39.67 |
|
Weighted-average fair value of options granted during the period
|
|
$ |
12.21 |
|
Expected life of options (years)
|
|
|
3.6 |
|
Expected dividend yield
|
|
|
|
% |
Expected stock price volatility
|
|
|
34.8 |
% |
Risk-free interest rate
|
|
|
3.6 |
% |
12
INCO LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements (Continued)
|
|
Note 15. |
Significant Differences Between Canadian and United States
GAAP |
Our unaudited consolidated financial statements are prepared in
accordance with Canadian GAAP. The differences between Canadian
GAAP and United States GAAP, insofar as they affect our
consolidated financial statements, are discussed below.
The following table reconciles results as reported under
Canadian GAAP with those that would have been reported under
United States GAAP:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|
2006 | |
|
2005 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
(Restated) | |
Net earnings Canadian GAAP
|
|
$ |
202 |
|
|
$ |
317 |
|
Increased post-retirement benefits expense (a)
|
|
|
(19 |
) |
|
|
(16 |
) |
Increased research and development expense (b)
|
|
|
(7 |
) |
|
|
(6 |
) |
Increased exploration expense (c)
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Increased interest expense (d)
|
|
|
(3 |
) |
|
|
(5 |
) |
Unrealized net gain (loss) on derivative instruments (e)
|
|
|
16 |
|
|
|
(9 |
) |
Currency translation gains (f)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6 |
|
Increased depreciation and depletion expense (g)
|
|
|
(3 |
) |
|
|
|
|
Decreased minority interest expense
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7 |
|
Taxes on United States GAAP differences
|
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net earnings United States GAAP
|
|
|
190 |
|
|
|
296 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other comprehensive income (loss) (i):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reclassification of net (gain) loss on derivatives designated as
cash flow hedges (e)
|
|
|
15 |
|
|
|
(3 |
) |
|
Change in fair value of derivatives designated as cash flow
hedges (e)
|
|
|
(147 |
) |
|
|
3 |
|
Unrealized gain on long-term investments (h)
|
|
|
13 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
Taxes on other comprehensive income (loss)
|
|
|
39 |
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other comprehensive income (loss) (i)
|
|
|
(80 |
) |
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comprehensive earnings (i)
|
|
$ |
110 |
|
|
$ |
300 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net earnings per share Basic
|
|
$ |
0.99 |
|
|
$ |
1.57 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net earnings per share Diluted
|
|
$ |
0.86 |
|
|
$ |
1.34 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(a) |
Post-retirement Benefits |
For Canadian GAAP reporting purposes, we amortize the excess of
the net unrecognized actuarial and investment gains and losses,
if such gain or loss is over 10 per cent, of the greater of
(i) the post-retirement benefits obligation and
(ii) the fair value of plan assets. Such excess is
amortized over the expected average remaining service life of
employees. For United States reporting purposes, we amortize net
unrecognized actuarial and investment gains and losses
systematically over the expected average remaining service life
of employees. Reference is made to a discussion concerning
restatements below.
United States GAAP requires the recognition of a minimum
additional pension liability in the amount of the excess of the
unfunded accumulated benefits obligation over the recorded
pension benefits liability and an offsetting intangible pension
asset is recorded equal to the unrecognized prior service costs,
with any net difference recorded as a reduction in accumulated
other comprehensive income.
13
INCO LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements (Continued)
|
|
(b) |
Research and Development Expense |
Under Canadian GAAP, development costs are deferred and
amortized if the development project meets certain generally
accepted criteria for deferral and amortization. Fixed assets,
including equipment, may be acquired or constructed in order to
provide facilities for a research and development project. The
use of such assets will extend over a number of accounting
periods and, accordingly, such costs are capitalized and
amortized over their useful lives. Under United States GAAP,
research and development costs are charged to expense in the
period incurred.
Under Canadian GAAP, capitalized exploration expenditures are
classified under property, plant and equipment with the related
mineral claim. For United States GAAP, exploration expenditures
are not capitalized unless estimated proven and probable ore
reserves to which they relate have been established by a
feasibility study.
Under Canadian GAAP, convertible debt is bifurcated between debt
and equity, the equity portion representing the value of the
holder conversion options. Under United States GAAP, convertible
debt would be accounted for as debt and, accordingly, the
measurement of interest and the amortization of debt issuance
costs are not the same. Also, for United States GAAP, the
convertible debt is classified as current debt in the twelve
month periods in advance of the special conversion dates and as
long-term debt during the remainder of its term.
Under United States GAAP, each of our convertible debt
securities meets the conditions necessary as set out in
paragraphs 12-33 of
EITF 00-19,
Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments Indexed to,
and Potentially Settled in, a Companys Own Stock, for
the embedded conversion option to be exempt from the requirement
to be treated as a derivative under SFAS No. 133.
|
|
(e) |
Accounting for Derivatives |
Under United States GAAP, most derivative contracts, whether
designated as effective hedging relationships or not, are
required to be recorded on the balance sheet at fair value.
Under Canadian GAAP, we continue to recognize gains and losses
on derivative contracts in income concurrently with the
recognition of the transactions being hedged. Under United
States GAAP, if a portion of a derivative contract is excluded
for purposes of effectiveness testing, such as time value, the
value of such excluded portion is included in earnings. Under
Canadian GAAP, the excluded portion is not included in earnings
if the derivative contract is otherwise determined to be
effective. The requirements for documentation and effectiveness
testing, however, are substantially the same under both Canadian
and United States GAAP.
|
|
(f) |
Currency Translation Gains (Losses) |
The principal unrealized non-cash currency translation
adjustments included in the determination of earnings arose from
the translation into United States dollars of the Canadian
dollar denominated deferred income and mining tax liabilities
established in 1996 upon the acquisition of the Voiseys
Bay deposits. For Canadian GAAP reporting purposes, these
unrealized non-cash translation gains and losses have been
deferred and included in property, plant and equipment as part
of development costs in respect of the Voiseys Bay mineral
properties in the development phase. Capitalization of such
gains and losses ceases when the development phase of the
mineral properties are substantially complete and ready for use.
In 2005, although not significant, for comparative purposes, we
restated our prior period currency translation gains and losses
to also include the currency translation gains and losses on
other foreign currency denominated
14
INCO LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements (Continued)
assets and liabilities as determined under United States GAAP,
primarily post-retirement benefits and the corresponding tax
balances.
|
|
(g) |
Depreciation and depletion |
In 2002, we recorded an asset impairment charge in respect of
our Voiseys Bay project. At the time, United States and
Canadian GAAP had a difference which resulted in a larger asset
impairment charge for United States GAAP. Consequently, our
property, plant and equipment in respect of the Voiseys
Bay project under United States GAAP reporting is lower than
that under Canadian GAAP. Also U.S. GAAP requires the
expensing of start-up
costs and the commencement of depreciation and depletion when
the asset is available for use. Under Canadian GAAP,
start-up costs are
capitalized and depreciation and depletion begins when
commercial production is achieved. As a result, such costs are
higher under U.S. GAAP than under Canadian GAAP during the
initial production period.
United States GAAP for equity investments, set out in
SFAS No. 115, requires that certain equity investments
not held for trading be recorded at fair value with unrealized
holding gains and losses excluded from the determination of
earnings and reported as a separate component of other
comprehensive income.
United States GAAP for reporting comprehensive income is set out
in SFAS No. 130. Comprehensive income represents the
change in equity during a reporting period from transactions and
other events and circumstances from non-owner sources.
Components of comprehensive income include items such as net
earnings (loss), changes in the fair value of investments not
held for trading, minimum pension liability adjustments and
gains and losses on derivative instruments. For Canadian GAAP
reporting purposes, there is currently no requirement to record
other comprehensive income.
|
|
(j) |
Supplemental Information |
Changes in retained earnings (deficit) and accumulated other
comprehensive loss under United States GAAP were as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, |
|
2006 | |
|
2005 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
(Restated) | |
Deficit at beginning of period, as previously reported
|
|
$ |
(100 |
) |
|
$ |
(665 |
) |
Restatements
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(6 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deficit at beginning of period, as restated
|
|
|
(100 |
) |
|
|
(671 |
) |
Net earnings
|
|
|
190 |
|
|
|
296 |
|
Common dividends paid
|
|
|
(24 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Retained earnings (deficit) at end of period
|
|
$ |
66 |
|
|
$ |
(375 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated other comprehensive loss at beginning of period, as
previously reported
|
|
$ |
(641 |
) |
|
$ |
(589 |
) |
Restatements
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
99 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated other comprehensive loss at beginning of period, as
restated
|
|
|
(641 |
) |
|
|
(490 |
) |
Other comprehensive income (loss)
|
|
|
(80 |
) |
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated other comprehensive loss at end of period
|
|
$ |
(721 |
) |
|
$ |
(486 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15
INCO LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements (Continued)
|
|
(k) |
Recent Accounting Pronouncements |
Effective January 1, 2006, we adopted, for United States
GAAP reporting purposes, Statement of Financial Accounting
Standard (SFAS) No. 123R, Share-Based
Payment. The primary impact on us is the elimination of the
intrinsic value method for valuing stock-based employee
compensation which will impact the manner in which expense is
determined for stock appreciation rights. As we adopted the fair
value method in 2003 and ceased issuing stock appreciation
rights in 2004, the adoption did not have a significant impact
on earnings and no significant difference is reported herein.
We have restated our prior period results to reflect currency
translation gains and losses on other foreign currency
denominated assets and liabilities as determined under United
States GAAP, primarily post-retirement benefits and the
corresponding tax balances. Previously, these currency
translation effects were not recorded due to their
insignificance but they have become more significant due to the
continued strengthening of the Canadian dollar. The impact of
this restatement for the first quarter of 2005 was nil. However,
the subsequent quarters in 2005 were affected by this change as
currency rates fluctuated more significantly during latter
periods. Also, we have corrected an error in the determination
of post-retirement benefits expense. Post-retirement benefits
expense was increased by $5 million and the related tax
recovery was increased by $1 million for the first quarter
of 2005.
|
|
Note 16. |
Outstanding Offer to Purchase Falconbridge Limited |
Inco Limited announced on October 11, 2005 an offer to
purchase all the outstanding common shares of Falconbridge
Limited (Falconbridge) by way of a friendly
take-over bid. On October 24, 2005 Inco mailed its offer to
purchase to Falconbridge common shareholders together with the
related take-over bid circular (Offer Documents).
Inco has offered Cdn. $34.00 in cash or 0.6713 of an Inco
Common Share plus Cdn. $0.05 in cash for each Falconbridge
common share. Under the terms of the offer, the maximum amount
of cash to be paid by us is approximately
Cdn. $2.87 billion, and the maximum number of our
common shares to be issued is approximately 201 million.
The consideration payable under the offer will be prorated as
necessary to ensure that the total aggregate consideration will
not exceed these maximum amounts. The offer is subject to
certain conditions of completion, including receipt of all
necessary regulatory clearances and acceptance of the offer by
Falconbridge common shareholders owning not less than
662/3%
of the Falconbridge common shares on a fully diluted basis (as
defined in the Offer Documents). Once the conditions to the
offer have been met (or waived by Inco) and Inco has taken up
and paid for at least
662/3
% of Falconbridges common shares as described in
the Offer Documents, Inco currently expects, but is not
required, to take certain steps to acquire all of the remaining
outstanding Falconbridge common shares.
On December 8, 2005 we announced that our offer to purchase
all of the common shares of Falconbridge would remain open for
acceptance until January 27, 2006 to allow more time for
the receipt of all necessary regulatory clearances. On
January 12, 2006 we announced a further extension to keep
our offer open until February 28, 2006 and on
February 21, 2006 we announced a third extension to keep
our offer open until June 30, 2006. These extensions were
required to allow more time to meet one of the conditions of our
offer, the receipt of all necessary regulatory clearances.
Reference should also be made to Note 9 to our consolidated
financial statements in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2005 for information on the
definitive loan agreements relating to the financing of the cash
portion of our offer.
16
INCO LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES
Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements (Continued)
|
|
Note 17. |
Subsequent Events |
|
|
(a) |
Actions Against Goro Nickel Development Project |
On the evening of April 1, 2006 protesters committed a
series of actions against the Companys Goro Nickel
development project in New Caledonia. Various public roads
leading to the Goro Nickel project site were blocked and trucks,
excavators and building materials were vandalized. In addition,
the main water supply to the project site was cut off and pipes
that were to have been used in the water supply pipeline to the
project were damaged. French military police were mobilized to
remove the protesters and secure the site, having particular
regard to the safety of workers. The construction site was shut
down over a three-week period, with a phased remobilization that
commenced in late April.
The Company is currently assessing the extent of the damage to
the site and estimating the remediation and other costs to the
project which will be attributable to these actions. The Company
is also currently assessing the extent to which these actions
will affect the schedule for the completion of the project.
|
|
(b) |
Construction of New
UTILITY®
Nickel Plant in China |
On May 5, 2006, we confirmed our plans to proceed with the
construction of a new facility in Dalian, Liaoning Province,
China for the production of UTILITY nickel, a refined form of
nickel product for the special needs of the stainless steel
industry. The new plant will have a nominal capacity of
32,000 tonnes per year. Feed for the new plant, consisting
of intermediate forms of nickel, will be supplied by our Goro
Nickel project in New Caledonia and other sources. Construction
work on the $63 million facility is expected to commence in
the third quarter of 2006, with commissioning expected to take
place in the first half of 2008.
|
|
(c) |
Announcement of Unsolicited Offer by Teck Cominco |
On May 8, 2006, we reviewed a press release issued on that
day by Teck Cominco Limited (Teck Cominco)
indicating that Teck Cominco intends to make an unsolicited
offer to purchase all of the outstanding common shares of the
Company. The formal offer documents are not yet available. Teck
Cominco has announced that its offer will be subject to a number
of conditions, including that our announced takeover bid for
Falconbridge shall have been withdrawn or terminated without any
shares of Falconbridge having been purchased pursuant to such
bid. We remain committed to our transaction with Falconbridge
and to meeting our obligations under the support agreement
between Inco and Falconbridge related to such transaction.
17
|
|
Item 2. |
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations |
Overview
The following Managements Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations should be read in
conjunction with our interim consolidated financial statements
and notes as of and for the three-month period ended
March 31, 2006, which are expressed in United States
dollars and prepared in accordance with Canadian GAAP. Canadian
GAAP generally conforms with GAAP in the United States except as
explained in Note 15. This discussion contains certain
forward-looking statements based on our current expectations.
The forward-looking statements entail various risks and
uncertainties, as disclosed in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 2005 (2005 Annual Report on
Form 10-K),
which could cause actual results to differ materially from those
reflected in these forward-looking statements. Reference is also
made to the Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements below.
We are a leading producer of nickel, a hard, malleable metal
which, given its properties and wide range of applications, can
be found in thousands of products. We are also an important
producer of copper, precious metals and cobalt and a major
producer of value-added specialty nickel products. We also
produce sulphuric acid and liquid sulphur dioxide as by-products
from our processing operations in Sudbury, Ontario. Our
principal mines and processing operations are located in the
Sudbury area of Ontario, the Thompson area of Manitoba,
Voiseys Bay in Newfoundland and Labrador, and, through a
subsidiary in which we have an equity interest of approximately
61 per cent, PT International Nickel Indonesia Tbk
(PT Inco), on the Island of Sulawesi,
Indonesia. We also operate additional wholly-owned metals
refineries at Port Colborne, Ontario and in the United Kingdom
at Clydach, Wales and Acton, England. We also have interests in
nickel refining capacity in the following Asian countries: in
Japan, through Inco TNC Limited, in which we have an equity
interest of approximately 67 per cent; in Taiwan, through
Taiwan Nickel Refining Corporation, in which we have an equity
interest of 49.9 per cent; and in South Korea, through
Korea Nickel Corporation, in which we have an equity interest of
25 per cent. In addition, we have a 65 per cent equity
interest in Jinco Nonferrous Metals Co., Ltd., a company that
produces nickel salts in Kunshan City, Peoples Republic of
China (China). We also have two joint venture
operations in China that produce nickel foam products for the
Asian battery market: Inco Advanced Technology Materials
(Dalian) Co., Ltd., in which we have a total direct and indirect
equity interest of 81.6 per cent, and Inco Advanced
Technology Materials (Shenyang) Co., Ltd., in which we have a
total direct and indirect equity interest of 82 per cent.
In March 2005, Shenyang acquired substantially all of the assets
which represented the nickel foam business of Shenyang Golden
Champower New Materials Corp., a leading Chinese producer of
nickel foam. We also have a shearing and packaging operation in
China for certain nickel products to meet the specific needs of
this geographic market.
Our business consists of three segments, our (i) finished
products segment, representing our mining and processing
operations in Ontario, Manitoba and Newfoundland and Labrador,
our refining operations in the United Kingdom and interests in
the refining operations in Japan and other Asian countries
referred to above, (ii) intermediates segment, which
represents PT Incos mining and processing operations in
Indonesia, where
nickel-in-matte, an
intermediate product, is produced and sold primarily into the
Japanese market and (iii) development projects segment. In
the fourth quarter of 2005, production of nickel and copper
concentrates at the initial phase, consisting of an open-pit
mine and concentrator and related facilities, of our
Voiseys Bay project, operated by our wholly-owned
subsidiary, Voiseys Bay Nickel Company Limited, started
and, accordingly, the assets relating to the initial phase of
the Voiseys Bay project were reclassified from the
development projects segment to the finished products segment.
Voiseys Bay produces nickel concentrates for processing by
our Ontario and Manitoba operations, as well as copper
concentrates for sale to third parties. As part of our strategy
to be the worlds lowest cost and most profitable nickel
producer, we are currently developing our Goro project in New
Caledonia in which we currently hold an approximate 72 per
cent equity interest.
18
|
|
|
Key Factors Affecting Our Business |
The price of nickel has represented, and is currently expected
to continue to represent, the principal determinant of our
profitability and cash flow from operations. Accordingly, our
financial performance has been, and is expected to continue to
be, closely linked to the price of nickel and, to a lesser
extent, the price of copper and other primary metals produced by
us. Historically, the demand for nickel has been closely
correlated to industrial production in the worlds major
industrialized regions, in particular North America and Europe
and more recently Asia, and we expect this correlation to
continue.
|
|
|
Recent Nickel Market and Other Developments |
During the first quarter of 2006, the London Metal Exchange
(LME) benchmark cash nickel price rose, averaging
$14,811 per tonne ($6.72 per pound), compared with a
fourth quarter 2005 average of $12,628 per tonne
($5.73 per pound). We believe that this rise was due
principally to a sharp recovery in the production of
nickel-containing stainless steel, the principal end-use for
primary nickel. This upturn in LME cash nickel prices has
continued over the April 1 May 8, 2006 period,
with this benchmark price averaging $18,252 per tonne
($8.28 per pound) for this period. The LME cash nickel
price began the first quarter at $13,380 per tonne
($6.07 per pound). Nickel prices for the quarter peaked at
$15,340 per tonne ($6.96 per pound) on March 31,
2006 and the average LME cash nickel price for the month of
March was $14,897 per tonne ($6.76 per pound), down
slightly from the February average of $14,979 per tonne
($6.79 per pound). The average LME cash nickel price for
the month of January was the lowest calendar monthly average for
the quarter at $14,555 per tonne ($6.60 per pound).
Driven by stronger global economic growth, nickel demand
strengthened in the first quarter of 2006. The oversupply
condition that existed in terms of the excess production of
nickel-containing stainless steel during the second half of 2005
has ended, and producers are ramping up stainless steel output
to meet stronger stainless steel demand. Stainless steel prices
have improved significantly and continue to rise. In line with
this sharp recovery in the stainless steel market and hence
nickel demand, LME cash nickel prices have been rising and this
has been accompanied by decreases in LME nickel stocks/
inventory. We currently believe that the market is likely to
remain strong throughout the balance of 2006 led by a recovery
in stainless steel production. During the first quarter of 2006,
there was continued strong demand for nickel from a number of
non-stainless steel applications, including the aerospace, oil
and gas and plating markets. Nickel demand is likely to continue
to be relatively strong, subject to ongoing nickel price
volatility, and we believe that nickel market conditions will be
relatively tight for the balance of 2006.
We announced on October 11, 2005 an offer to purchase all
the outstanding common shares of Falconbridge Limited
(Falconbridge) by way of a friendly take-over bid.
On October 24, 2005 we mailed our offer to Falconbridge
common shareholders together with a related take-over bid
circular (Offer Documents). We have offered
Cdn. $34.00 in cash or 0.6713 of an Inco Common Share plus
Cdn. $0.05 in cash for each Falconbridge common share.
Under the terms of this offer, the maximum amount of cash to be
paid by us is approximately Cdn. $2.87 billion, and
the maximum number of our common shares to be issued is
approximately 201 million. The consideration payable under
the offer will be prorated as necessary to ensure that the total
aggregate consideration will not exceed these maximum amounts.
The offer is subject to certain conditions of completion,
including receipt of all necessary regulatory clearances and
acceptance of the offer by Falconbridge common shareholders
owning not less than
662/3%
of Falconbridge common shares on a fully diluted basis (as
defined in the Offer Documents). Once the conditions to the
offer have been met (or waived by Inco) and Inco has taken up
and paid for at least
662/3
% of Falconbridges common shares as described in
the Offer Documents, Inco currently expects, but is not
required, to take certain steps to acquire all of the remaining
outstanding Falconbridge common shares. On December 8,
2005, January 27, 2006 and on February 21, 2006 we
announced extensions of our offer to allow more time for the
receipt of all necessary regulatory clearances. The offer is
currently open for acceptance until June 30, 2006.
19
Results of Operations
The following table summarizes our net sales, net earnings and
certain other results in accordance with Canadian GAAP for the
periods indicated:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended | |
|
|
March 31, | |
|
|
| |
|
|
2006 | |
|
2005 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
(Restated) | |
Net sales
|
|
$ |
1,211 |
|
|
$ |
1,121 |
|
Net earnings
|
|
|
202 |
|
|
|
317 |
|
Net earnings per common share
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
basic
|
|
|
1.05 |
|
|
|
1.68 |
|
|
diluted
|
|
|
0.91 |
|
|
|
1.43 |
|
Cash provided by operating activities
|
|
|
202 |
|
|
|
91 |
|
The decrease in net earnings for the first quarter of 2006
compared with the first quarter of 2005 was primarily the result
of (1) higher production costs and other operating
expenses, (2) an increase in interest expense in the first
quarter of 2006 (primarily because no interest in respect of the
Voiseys Bay project has been capitalized since the mine,
concentrator and related facilities commenced commercial
production in late 2005), (3) lower deliveries of copper
and PGMs and (4) lower realized selling prices for nickel
and cobalt. These factors were partially offset by the benefit
of (1) higher average realized selling prices for copper
and PGMs and (2) higher deliveries of Inco-source nickel.
In addition, the first quarter of 2005 benefited from two
special items being income tax benefits of $45 million
related to prior periods and a $25 million favourable
adjustment to minority interest in respect of Goro Nickel S.A.S.
Our net earnings and nickel unit cash cost of sales before and
after by-product credits have been and are expected to continue
to be affected by changes in the Canadian
dollar-U.S. dollar exchange rate. We estimate that for
every $0.01 change, up or down, in the
Canadian-U.S. dollar exchange rate over the course of a
year, our basic net earnings would change by approximately
$0.06 per share.
The following table sets forth the high and low exchange rates
for one U.S. dollar expressed in Canadian dollars for each
period indicated, the average of such exchange rates and the
exchange rate at the end of such period, in each case, based
upon the noon buying rates as quoted by the Bank of Canada;
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months | |
|
Three Months | |
|
|
Ended | |
|
Ended | |
|
|
March 31, | |
|
March 31, | |
|
|
2006 | |
|
2005 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
High
|
|
|
1.1726 |
|
|
|
1.2566 |
|
Low
|
|
|
1.1322 |
|
|
|
1.1987 |
|
Rate at end of period
|
|
|
1.1671 |
|
|
|
1.2096 |
|
Average rate for period
|
|
|
1.1547 |
|
|
|
1.1987 |
|
20
The following bar chart reflects the dollar impact (in millions
of dollars) of the principal factors, both favourable and
unfavourable (with the unfavourable factors shown in
parentheses), affecting our first quarter of 2006 net earnings
compared with the first quarter of 2005, with the starting point
(first bar on the left) of the applicable chart being the level
of net earnings for the first quarter of 2005:
Principal factors affecting 2006 first quarter net earnings
in comparison with 2005 first quarter net earnings
Net sales in the first quarter of 2006 increased by eight per
cent compared with the first quarter of 2005. The impact of an
increase in our nickel deliveries and an increase in our average
realized selling price for copper and PGMs was partially offset
by lower average realized selling prices for nickel and cobalt
and lower deliveries of copper and PGMs. During the first
quarter of 2006, we sold 11,700 tonnes of copper covered by
derivatives which effectively fixed a maximum price realization
to us of $3,400 per tonne ($1.54 per pound).
Consequently, although our average selling price for copper for
the first quarter of 2006 exceeded 2005, it was below the
average market price.
Net sales to customers by product were as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended | |
|
|
March 31, | |
|
|
| |
|
|
2006 | |
|
2005 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
Primary nickel
|
|
$ |
956 |
|
|
$ |
894 |
|
Copper
|
|
|
133 |
|
|
|
110 |
|
Precious metals
|
|
|
72 |
|
|
|
69 |
|
Other
|
|
|
50 |
|
|
|
48 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
1,211 |
|
|
$ |
1,121 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
21
The following two bar charts show our average realized prices
for nickel and copper and the LME average cash prices for nickel
and copper for the periods indicated:
Average realized and LME cash prices for nickel and copper
First Quarter
Deliveries of Inco-source nickel, including finished nickel
produced from purchased intermediates, purchased nickel in
finished form, copper and platinum-group metals
(PGMs) for the periods indicated are shown in the
following two bar charts:
Deliveries
|
|
|
Nickel and copper in millions of pounds |
|
|
|
PGMs in thousands of troy ounces |
First Quarter
22
|
|
|
Cost of Sales and Other Expenses |
The following table sets forth production data for nickel for
the periods indicated, nickel unit cash costs of sales before
and after by-product credits for the periods indicated, and our
finished nickel inventories as of the end of the periods
indicated:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended | |
|
|
March 31, | |
|
|
| |
|
|
2006 | |
|
2005 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
Production Nickel in all forms (tonnes)
|
|
|
61,439 |
|
|
|
55,507 |
|
Nickel unit cash cost of sales before by-product credits(1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
per tonne
|
|
$ |
6,923 |
|
|
$ |
6,371 |
|
|
per pound
|
|
|
3.14 |
|
|
|
2.89 |
|
Nickel unit cash cost of sales after by-product credits(1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
per tonne
|
|
$ |
5,710 |
|
|
$ |
5,600 |
|
|
per pound
|
|
|
2.59 |
|
|
|
2.54 |
|
Finished nickel inventories at end of period (tonnes)
|
|
|
25,008 |
|
|
|
28,937 |
|
|
|
(1) |
Nickel unit cash cost of sales before and after by-product
credits includes costs for Inco-source and purchased nickel
intermediate feed processed at our Canadian operations and
excludes purchased nickel intermediate feed tolled by third
parties. |
The increase in nickel unit cash cost of sales before by-product
credits in the first quarter of 2006 compared with the first
quarter of 2005 was due to (1) a higher average
Canadian U.S. dollar exchange rate that
adversely affected our costs, (2) higher costs for energy,
(3) higher spending on supplies and (4) higher
employment costs which were partially offset by the benefits of
(1) lower volumes of purchased intermediate nickel feed
processed at our Canadian operations and (2) the favourable
impact on unit costs of higher nickel production. The increase
in nickel unit cash cost of sales after by-product credits in
the first quarter of 2006 compared with 2005 was due to higher
nickel unit cash cost of sales before by-product credits
partially offset by higher by-product credits. The increase in
by-product credits was due to the positive impact of higher
copper and PGMs selling prices, which was partially offset by
the negative impact of lower copper and PGMs deliveries and
lower selling prices for cobalt.
We expect to continue to use, at least in 2006, purchased nickel
intermediate feed to increase processing capacity utilization at
our Ontario and Manitoba operations. The cost of purchased
nickel intermediate feed is higher than that of our own mine
production and while such costs increase as the prevailing LME
cash nickel or other benchmark prices increase, the price
realizations on such purchased nickel intermediate feed increase
correspondingly resulting in margins on these purchases
remaining relatively unchanged.
A reconciliation of our nickel unit cash cost of sales before
and after by-product credits to cost of sales under Canadian
GAAP for the periods indicated is shown in the table entitled
Reconciliation of Nickel Unit Cash Cost of Sales to
Canadian GAAP Cost of Sales below.
Nickel production increased to 61,439 tonnes (135 million
pounds) in the first quarter of 2006 compared with 55,507 tonnes
(122 million pounds) in the first quarter of 2005. The
increase in nickel production in 2006 was primarily due to the
commencement of production of Voiseys Bay in December 2005
and increases in tolled production of purchased intermediate
nickel feeds. In addition, there was an increase in production
at our Ontario Operations as a result of good performance at the
nickel refineries in Sudbury and Clydach. Finished production
from our Voiseys Bay concentrate through our Canadian
operations was 1,412 tonnes (three million pounds) in the
first quarter of 2006 and is expected to increase in the second
quarter of 2006.
23
Factors Affecting Nickel Unit Cash Cost of Sales After
By-product Credits
The following bar chart shows the key factors (in dollars or
cents per pound) both favourable and unfavourable (favourable
factors are shown in parentheses) affecting our first quarter of
2006 nickel unit cash cost of sales after by-product credits,
with the starting point (first bar on the left) being the nickel
unit cash cost of sales after by-product credits for the first
quarter of 2005:
Nickel Unit Cash Cost of Sales after by-product credits
|
|
|
In dollars or cents per pound |
First Quarter 2006 compared with First Quarter 2005
Exploration expenditures increased by $6 million in the
first quarter of 2006 to $15 million due to higher spending
at our Ontario, Manitoba and PT Inco operations and higher
spending in Australia.
Our effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2006 of
34 per cent was lower than the combined statutory income
and mining tax rate in Canada of about 37 per cent. The
lower rate is primarily due to the benefit of earnings in lower
tax rate jurisdictions.
Our intermediates segment comprises the mining and the
processing operations of PT Inco in Indonesia where
nickel-in-matte, an
intermediate product, is produced and sold primarily into the
Japanese market. PT Incos realized price for
nickel-in-matte
averaged $11,136 per tonne ($5.05 per pound) in the
first quarter of 2006, compared with $11,344 per tonne
($5.15 per pound) in the first quarter of 2005. Under
PT Incos long-term U.S. dollar-denominated sales
contracts, the selling price of its
nickel-in-matte is
determined by a formula based on the LME cash nickel price for
nickel. Nickel-in-matte
production for the first quarter of 2006 was 17,400 tonnes
(38.3 million pounds), compared with 17,300 tonnes
(38.1 million pounds) in the first quarter of 2005.
PT Incos unit cash cost of sales rose by 27% to
$6,085 per tonne ($2.76 per pound) in the first
quarter of 2006 from $4,784 per tonne ($2.17 per
pound) in the first quarter of 2005 due to an increase in the
heavy sulphur fuel oil price to an average of $47.19 per
barrel for the first quarter of 2006 from an average of
$30.46 per barrel in the first quarter of 2005 and to
increased supplies expense as a result of a scheduled
maintenance shutdown in the first quarter of 2006.
In addition, during the first quarter of 2006, the diesel price
more than doubled to $0.52 per litre from $0.23 per
litre in the first quarter of 2005. Given the current high
nickel price environment, PT Inco has been using relatively
expensive fuel-fired power when sufficient low-cost
hydroelectricity is unavailable, in order to maximize production.
24
Cash Flows, Liquidity and Capital Resources
The following bar chart presents the principal sources and uses
of cash and cash equivalents for the first quarter of 2006 (uses
of cash are shown in parentheses) with the starting point (first
bar on the left) being the balance of cash and cash equivalents
as at December 31, 2005:
Principal Sources and Uses of Cash in the First Quarter of
2006
Net cash provided by operating activities in the first quarter
of 2006 was $202 million, compared with $91 million in
the first quarter of 2005. The increase in net cash provided by
operating activities was primarily due to lower tax payments in
the first quarter of 2006 partially offset by lower net earnings
in the first quarter of 2006 as discussed above. Tax payments of
$245 million in respect to the 2004 taxation year were made
in the first quarter of 2005. In the first quarter of 2006, no
significant tax payments were required in respect of the 2005
taxation year.
Net cash used for investing activities was $338 million in
the first quarter of 2006 compared with $226 million in the
first quarter of 2005. The increase was primarily due to
(1) higher capital spending, mainly in respect of our Goro
project and (2) higher capital expenditures at our Canadian
operations and at PT Inco, partially offset by lower
capital spending for our Voiseys Bay project.
Net cash used for financing activities for the first quarter of
2006 was $71 million which is primarily comprised of
(1) the final principal repayments in respect of
PT Incos loan and (2) common share dividends
partially offset by the cash received in respect of the issuance
of common shares pursuant to the Companys stock option
plans.
At March 31, 2006, cash and cash equivalents were
$751 million, down from $958 million at
December 31, 2005, primarily reflecting cash outflows for
capital expenditures for our growth projects and our operations.
Total debt was $1,915 million at March 31, 2006,
compared with $1,974 million at December 31, 2005.
Total debt as a percentage of total debt plus shareholders
equity was 26 per cent at March 31, 2006, compared
with 28 per cent at December 31, 2005.
On April 19, 2006 Incos Board of Directors declared a
quarterly dividend on our Common Shares of $0.125 per
share, payable June 1, 2006 to shareholders of record as of
May 15, 2006.
We have had in effect for a number of years defined benefit
pension plans principally in Canada, the United States and the
United Kingdom. Each of the jurisdictions in which these plans
are located has legislation and regulations which, among other
statutory requirements, cover the minimum contributions to be
made to these plans to meet their potential liabilities as
calculated in accordance with such legislation and regulations.
Based upon the value of the assets in these plans, as determined
pursuant to applicable provincial legislation and regulations in
Canada and other factors to be taken into account under such
legislative or regulatory requirements, we, in accordance with
such applicable legislation or regulations, plan to contribute
approximately $180 million to such plans for 2006. Since
the liabilities associated with these pension plans are affected
by changes in certain
25
exchange rates, primarily the Canadian dollar, changes in such
exchange rates could also significantly affect the level of
these contributions and pension expense for 2006 and for future
years.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and Aggregate Contractual
Obligations
|
|
|
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements |
As discussed in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K, we have
also arranged financing sufficient to fund the cash portion of
the offer we have made to purchase all of the common shares of
Falconbridge.
Reference is made to Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements and
Aggregate Contractual Obligations in our 2005 Annual
Report on
Form 10-K for a
summary of our derivative instrument positions, which includes
the derivative positions which we have to hedge a portion of our
copper sales as discussed in Note 8.
A summary of our long-term contractual obligations and
commitments for each of next five years is included in
Note 11 to our consolidated financial statements in
Item 1 above.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Reference is made to our 2005 Annual Report on
Form 10-K.
Accounting Changes
No changes to generally accepted accounting principles in Canada
were made during the first quarter of 2006 which would have a
significant impact on our consolidated financial statements.
Non-GAAP Financial Measure
We have referred to nickel unit cash cost of sales before and
after by-product credits in the Managements Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
because we understand that certain investors use this
information to assess our performance and also determine our
ability to generate cash flow. The inclusion of these two unit
cost measurements, nickel unit cash cost of sales before and
after by-product credits, enables investors to better understand
our year-to-year
changes in production costs using metrics that reflect our key
ongoing cash production costs which, in turn, affect our
profitability and cash flows. These non-GAAP measurements
capture all of the important cash components of our production
and related costs. The reason for providing the nickel unit cash
cost of sales on the basis of before as well as after by-product
credits is to allow investors to see the impact on these metrics
of changes in copper, cobalt and precious metals contributions
which have historically been driven largely by the prices for
these metals. In addition, management utilizes these metrics as
an important management tool to monitor cost performance of our
key operations relative to planned and prior period results.
These measurements are intended to provide additional
information and should not be considered in isolation or as a
substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance
with Canadian GAAP.
26
The following table sets forth a reconciliation of nickel unit
cash cost of sales before and after by-product credits to
Canadian GAAP cost of sales for the periods indicated:
Reconciliation of Nickel Unit Cash Cost of Sales Before and
After By-Product Credits to Canadian GAAP Cost of Sales
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months | |
|
|
Ended March 31, | |
|
|
| |
|
|
2006 | |
|
2005 | |
(In millions of U.S. dollars except pound and per pound data) |
|
| |
|
| |
Cost of sales and other expenses, excluding depreciation and
depletion
|
|
$ |
733 |
|
|
$ |
603 |
|
By-product costs
|
|
|
(158 |
) |
|
|
(164 |
) |
Purchased finished and tolled nickel
|
|
|
(99 |
) |
|
|
(69 |
) |
Delivery expense
|
|
|
(10 |
) |
|
|
(9 |
) |
Other businesses cost of sales
|
|
|
(9 |
) |
|
|
(10 |
) |
Non-cash items(1)
|
|
|
(10 |
) |
|
|
(7 |
) |
Remediation, demolition and other related expenses
|
|
|
(9 |
) |
|
|
(7 |
) |
Adjustments associated with affiliate transactions
|
|
|
(27 |
) |
|
|
9 |
|
Other
|
|
|
(19 |
) |
|
|
(2 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nickel cash cost of sales before by-product credits(2)
|
|
|
392 |
|
|
|
344 |
|
By-product net sales
|
|
|
(226 |
) |
|
|
(206 |
) |
By-product costs
|
|
|
158 |
|
|
|
164 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nickel cash cost of sales after by-product credits(2)
|
|
$ |
324 |
|
|
$ |
302 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Inco-source nickel deliveries (millions of pounds)
|
|
|
125 |
|
|
|
119 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nickel unit cash cost of sales before by-product credits per
pound
|
|
$ |
3.14 |
|
|
$ |
2.89 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nickel unit cash cost of sales after by-product credits per pound
|
|
$ |
2.59 |
|
|
$ |
2.54 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
Representing principally post-retirement benefits other than
pensions. |
|
(2) |
Nickel cash cost of sales before and after by-product credits
includes costs for Inco-source and purchased nickel intermediate
feed processed at our Canadian operations and excludes purchased
nickel intermediate feed tolled by third parties. |
27
|
|
Item 3. |
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market
Risk |
We review and evaluate our property, plant and equipment and
other assets for impairment when events or changes in economic
and other circumstances indicate that the carrying value of such
assets may not be recoverable. The net recoverable value of a
capital asset is calculated by estimating undiscounted future
net cash flows from the asset together with the assets
residual value. Future net cash flows are developed using
assumptions that reflect our planned course of action for an
asset given our best estimate of the most probable set of
economic conditions.
Evaluation of the future cash flows from major development
projects such as the Goro project entails a number of
assumptions regarding project scope, the timing, receipt and
terms of regulatory approvals, estimates of future metals
prices, estimates of the ultimate size of the deposits, ore
grades and recoverability, timing of commercial production,
commercial viability of new technological processes, production
volumes, operating and capital costs, and foreign currency
exchange rates. Inherent in these assumptions are significant
risks and uncertainties.
The uncertain political situation in Indonesia could adversely
affect PT Incos ability to operate and, accordingly,
our business, results of operations, financial condition and
prospects. The possible transition of New Caledonia to
independence in the future could adversely affect the Goro
project. As a result of advisories issued in May 2004 by the
Canadian and Australian governments covering security and other
concerns in the province where PT Incos operations
are located and other developments, we implemented a number of
actions to address these developments and to protect the safety
of PT Incos personnel and facilities. While these
developments and our response to them did not adversely affect
PT Incos operations, we cannot predict whether new or
additional governmental security or other advisories or similar
developments could adversely affect PT Incos
operations.
While global demand for nickel continues to be the most
important determinant of our profitability and cash flows, our
financial results are also very much affected by changes in the
costs we incur to produce nickel and our other metals.
Reference is made to our 2005 Annual Report on
Form 10-K for a
discussion of market and other risks applicable to our business.
28
|
|
Item 4. |
Controls and Procedures |
As of the end of the period covered by this Report, our Chief
Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer reviewed and
evaluated our disclosure controls and procedures (as such term
is defined in
Rule 13a-15(e) or
Rule 15d-15(e)
under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended)
and, based upon such review and evaluation required by
Rule 13a-15(e) or
Rule 15d-15(e)
under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
concluded that such disclosure controls and procedures were
effective and met the requirements thereof. Additionally, no
change in our internal control over financial reporting (as such
term is defined in
Rule 13a-15(f) or
Rule 15d-15(f)
under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended)
occurred during our most recent fiscal quarter that has
materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially
affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
|
|
|
Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements |
Certain statements contained in this Report are forward-looking
statements (as defined in the U.S. Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended). Examples of such statements include, but
are not limited to, statements concerning (i) our offer to
acquire all of the common shares of Falconbridge Limited and the
financing required therefor, (ii) nickel demand and supply
in the global nickel market for the second quarter of 2006 and
into 2007, the supply of secondary or nickel-containing recycled
or scrap material, and nickel demand in China and other
geographical and end-use markets, including for
nickel-containing stainless steels, for nickel for 2006 and into
2007; (iii) our costs of production, nickel, copper, cobalt
and precious metals production levels and nickel market
conditions; (iv) capital expenditures; (v) changes in
pension contributions to our pension plans and pension expense;
(vi) our Goro projects capital cost estimates and
targets and escalation, its expected nickel and cobalt capacity,
cash costs of production of nickel based upon certain
assumptions, project schedule and expected timing of initial
production and ramp-up
of production to expected capacity, changes in project
configuration, resumption of certain work, key milestones
relating to the project schedule and advancement, and sources of
financing and agreements and other arrangements for our Goro
project with the three provinces of New Caledonia, the
Government of France, Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd.,
Mitsui & Co., Ltd. and certain other parties; and
(vii) the enactment or completion of the necessary
legislation, financing plans and arrangements, and/or other
agreements and arrangements related to, and the timing and costs
of construction,
start-up/commissioning
and production with respect to, certain capital expenditure
programs and development projects, including the Goro and
Voiseys Bay projects. Inherent in forward-looking
statements are risks and uncertainties well beyond our ability
to predict or control. Actual results and developments are
likely to differ, and may differ materially, from those
expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained
in this Report and the carrying values of investments could be
materially impacted. Such statements and carrying values are
based on a number of assumptions which may prove to be
incorrect, including, but not limited to, assumptions about:
(a) the timing, steps to be taken and completion of our
offer to acquire all of the common shares of Falconbridge
Limited, including the financing required for the offer,
(b) the supply and demand for, and the prices of, primary
nickel and our other metals products, market competition and our
production and other costs and purchased intermediates,
stainless steel scrap and other substitutes and competing
products, for primary nickel and other metals produced by the
Company, (c) changes in exchange rates and interest rates
and investment performance of pension assets, (d) political
unrest or instability in countries such as Indonesia,
(e) the ramp-up of
our Voiseys Bay project, (f) our Goro projects
scope and schedule and the other key aspects of this project,
and (g) the timing of receipt of all necessary permits and
regulatory approvals, the engineering and construction
timetables for our development projects, and other agreements
and arrangements with parties or local communities having an
interest in or otherwise being associated with our Goro project.
The forward-looking statements included in this Report represent
our views as of the date of this Report. While we anticipate
that subsequent events and developments may cause our views to
change, we specifically disclaim any obligation to update these
forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements
should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any
date subsequent to the date of this Report.
29
PART II OTHER INFORMATION
|
|
Item 2. |
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of
Proceeds |
In the first quarter of 2006, a total of 802,588 Common Shares
were issued on the conversion of our LYON Notes. These Common
Shares were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933
in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by
section 3(a)(9) of such Act. The Company did not receive
any separate consideration upon conversion. The Company did not
issue any other securities that were not registered under the
Securities Act of 1933 in the first quarter of 2006.
|
|
|
|
|
|
31.1 |
|
|
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer of the Registrant
pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the U.S. Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended |
|
31.2 |
|
|
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant
pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the U.S. Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended |
|
32.1 |
|
|
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial
Officer of the Registrant pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
30
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
|
|
|
|
|
Inco Limited
|
|
Date: May 10, 2006
|
|
By: /s/ S. A. Fish
S.A.
Fish
Executive Vice-President,
General Counsel and Secretary |
|
Date: May 10, 2006
|
|
By: /s/ R. A.
Lehtovaara
R.
A. Lehtovaara
Vice-President and Comptroller |
31
EXHIBIT INDEX
|
|
|
|
|
Exhibits |
|
|
|
|
|
|
31.1 |
|
|
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer of the Registrant
pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the U.S. Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended |
|
|
31.2 |
|
|
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant
pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the U.S. Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended |
|
|
32.1 |
|
|
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial
Officer of the Registrant pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |