Ethan Frome
 
 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the Quarter Ended September 30, 2004

 
 
 

Commission File Number: 1-9916

 
 
 

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.

 
 
 

Incorporated in Delaware

74-2480931

 

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

 
 

1615 Poydras Street, New Orleans, Louisiana  70112

 
 

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (504) 582-4000

 
 
 
 


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 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. Yes X No __


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934). Yes X No __


On September 30, 2004, there were issued and outstanding 178,528,545 shares of the registrant’s Class B Common Stock, par value $0.10 per share.





FREEPORT-McMoRan COPPER & GOLD INC.


TABLE OF CONTENTS


  


Page

Part I.  Financial Information

3

  

  Item 1.  Financial Statements (Unaudited):

 
  

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

 

3

  

Consolidated Statements of Operations

 

4

  

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

5

  

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

6

  

             Remarks

 

11

  

             Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

12

  

  Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition

 

      and Results of Operations

 

13

  

  Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risks

34

  

  Item 4.  Controls and Procedures

34

  

Part II.  Other Information

 

34

  

  Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

34

  

  Item 2.  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

34

  

  Item 6.  Exhibits

34

  

Signature

    

 

35

  

Exhibit Index

 

E-1

  





FREEPORT-McMoRan COPPER & GOLD INC.

PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION


Item 1. Financial Statements.


FREEPORT-McMoRan COPPER & GOLD INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)


  
September 30,
  
December 31,
 
  
2004
  
2003
 
 

(In Thousands)

 

ASSETS

          

Current assets:

          

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

314,110

   $

463,652

 

Restricted cash and investments

  

-        

    

34,964

 

Accounts receivable

  

256,859

    

196,440

 

Inventories

  

437,139

    

397,027

 

Current taxes, prepaid expenses and other

  

77,576

    

8,050

 

Total current assets

  

1,085,684

    

1,100,133

 

Property, plant, equipment and development costs, net

  

3,265,764

    

3,261,697

 

Deferred mining costs

  

224,018

    

142,635

 

Other assets

  

151,014

    

155,722

 

Investment in PT Smelting

  

56,584

    

58,179

 

Total assets

 

$

4,783,064

   $

4,718,366

 
           

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

          

Current liabilities:

          

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

$

364,237

   $

311,948

 

Current portion of long-term debt and short-term borrowings

  

75,125

    

152,396

 

Unearned customer receipts

  

31,927

    

35,335

 

Accrued interest payable

  

20,271

    

49,276

 

Rio Tinto share of joint venture cash flows

  

10,437

    

39,693

 

Accrued income taxes

 

 

5,404

    

43,134

 

Total current liabilities

  

507,401

    

631,782

 

Long-term debt, less current portion:

          

Senior notes

  

911,336

    

571,041

 

Convertible senior notes

  

575,000

    

867,604

 

Redeemable preferred stock

  

179,880

    

192,381

 

PT Puncakjaya Power bank debt

  

148,646

    

187,008

 

Equipment and other loans

  

69,734

    

104,172

 

Atlantic Copper debt

  

54,469

    

153,728

 

Total long-term debt, less current portion

  

1,939,065

    

2,075,934

 

Accrued postretirement benefits and other liabilities

  

159,739

    

161,859

 

Deferred income taxes

  

949,462

    

885,248

 

Minority interests

  

190,745

    

187,559

 

Stockholders' equity

 

 

1,036,652

    

775,984

 

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

 

$

4,783,064

   $

4,718,366

 
           



The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.






FREEPORT-McMoRan COPPER & GOLD INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)


  Three Months Ended September 30,  Nine Months Ended September 30,  
 

2004

 

2003

 

2004

 

2003

 
 

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

 

Revenues

$

600,556

 

$

631,990

 

$

1,447,075

 

$

1,766,041

 

Cost of sales:

                 

Production and delivery

 

368,016

  

263,627

  

1,015,307

  

788,505

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

55,755

 

 

63,979

 

 

123,755

 

 

200,050

 

     Total cost of sales

 

423,771

  

327,606

  

1,139,062

  

988,555

 

Exploration expenses

 

1,963

  

1,685

  

6,977

  

5,016

 

General and administrative expenses

 

26,186

 

 

16,421

 

 

64,322

 

 

53,640

 

     Total costs and expenses

 

451,920

 

 

345,712

 

 

1,210,361

 

 

1,047,211

 

Operating income

 

148,636

  

286,278

  

236,714

  

718,830

 

Equity in PT Smelting earnings (losses)

 

2,678

  

1,294

  

(228

)

 

4,241

 

Interest expense, net

 

(37,848

)

 

(48,089

)

 

(110,577

)

 

(156,076

)

Losses on early extinguishment and conversion of debt

 

(11

)

 

(25,988

)

 

(14,011

)

 

(32,566

)

Other income (expense), net

 

373

   

(376

)

 

3,547

 

 

(4,324

)

Income before income taxes and minority interests

 

113,828

  

213,119

  

115,445

  

530,105

 

Provision for income taxes

 

(71,343

)

 

(117,683

)

 

(127,894

)

 

(292,805

)

Minority interests in net income of consolidated subsidiaries

 

(10,227

)

 

(17,271

)

 

(12,914

)

 

(42,441

)

Net income (loss) before cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles

 

32,258

  

78,165

  

(25,363

)

 

194,859

 

Cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles, net

 

-    

   

(24,675

)

 

-    

   

(15,593

)

Net income (loss)

 

32,258

  

53,490

  

(25,363

)

 

179,266

 

Preferred dividends

 

(15,125

)

 

(6,124

)

 

(30,366

)

 

(25,283

)

Net income (loss) applicable to common stock

$

17,133

 

$

47,366

 

$

(55,729

)

$

153,983

 
                   

Net income (loss) per share of common stock:

                 

     Basic:

                 

Before cumulative effect

 

$0.10

  

$0.45

  

$(0.30

)

 

$1.13

 

Cumulative effect

 

-    

  

(0.15

)

 

-    

  

(0.10

)

Net income (loss) per share of common stock

 

$0.10

  

$0.30

  

$(0.30

)

 

$1.03

 

Diluted:

                 

Before cumulative effect

 

$0.10

  

$0.41

  

$(0.30

)

 

$1.06

 

Cumulative effect

 

-    

  

(0.12

)

 

-    

  

(0.08

)

Net income (loss) per share of common stock

 

$0.10

  

$0.29

  

$(0.30

)

 

$0.98

 

Average common shares outstanding:

                 

     Basic

 

177,137

  

159,407

  

183,426

  

150,185

 

     Diluted

 

179,805

  

194,335

  

183,426

  

191,146

 
                   

Dividends paid per common share

 

$0.20

  

$0.09

  

$0.60

  

$0.18

 



The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.





FREEPORT-McMoRan COPPER & GOLD INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)


Nine Months Ended September 30,

2004

2003
(In Thousands)

Cash flow from operating activities:

Net income (loss)

$

(25,363

)

$

179,266

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by

       (used in) operating activities:

     

Depreciation and amortization

123,755

200,050

Cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles

-    

15,593

Losses on early extinguishment and conversion of debt

14,011

32,566

Loss (gain) on redemption of gold-denominated and silver-

   denominated preferred stock

   

1,441

     

 

(23,832

 

)

Deferred income taxes

76,107

81,014

Equity in PT Smelting losses (earnings)

228

(4,241

)

Minority interests' share of net income

12,914

42,441

Increase in deferred mining costs

(81,383

)

(37,353

)

Amortization of deferred financing costs

6,509

13,361

Currency translation loss (gain)

(1,086

)

7,800

Elimination of profit on PT Freeport Indonesia sales to

    PT Smelting

   

2,473

     

 

5,595

 

Provision for inventory obsolescence

3,050

4,500

Other

5,825

18,935

(Increases) decreases in working capital:

Accounts receivable

(60,280

)

(74,606

)

Inventories

(59,879

)

(15,359

)

Current taxes, prepaid expenses and other

(43,299

)

(5,555

)

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

35,394

13,262

Rio Tinto share of joint venture cash flows

(31,994

)

(6,008

)

Accrued income taxes

(39,866

)

22,366

Increase in working capital

(199,924

)

(65,900

)

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

(61,443

)

469,795

Cash flow from investing activities:

PT Freeport Indonesia capital expenditures

(90,111

)

(90,145

)

Atlantic Copper capital expenditures

(18,295

)

(6,108

)

Sale of restricted investments

21,804

71,848

Decrease in Atlantic Copper restricted cash

11,000

-    

Investment in PT Smelting

(1,106

)

-    

Other

(357

)

1,165

Investment in PT Puncakjaya Power, net of cash acquired

-    

(68,068

)

Net cash used in investing activities

(77,065

)

(91,308

)

Cash flow from financing activities:

Net proceeds from sales of senior notes

344,354

1,046,437

Proceeds from other debt

80,208

71,586

Repayments of debt

(379,427

)

(739,499

)

Net proceeds from sale of convertible perpetual preferred stock

1,067,000

-    

Purchase of shares of FCX common shares from Rio Tinto

(881,868

)

-    

Purchases of other FCX common shares

(99,477

)

-    

Redemption of preferred stock

(15,105

)

(221,289

)

Cash dividends paid:

Common stock

(109,406

)

(26,289

)

Preferred stock

(20,345

)

(27,555

)

   Minority interests

(1,172

)

(1,623

)

Net proceeds from exercised stock options

5,765

43,839

Bank credit facilities fees and other

(1,561

)

(3,337

)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

(11,034

)

142,270

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

(149,542

)

520,757

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

463,652

7,836

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$

314,110

$

528,593



The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.





FREEPORT-McMoRan COPPER & GOLD INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)


1. EARNINGS PER SHARE


Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.’s (FCX) basic net income (loss) per share of common stock was calculated by dividing net income (loss) applicable to common stock by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period.  The following is a reconciliation of net income (loss) and weighted average common shares outstanding for purposes of calculating diluted net income (loss) per share (in thousands, except per share amounts):


  

Three Months Ended

September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 
  

2004

 

2003

 

2004

 

2003

 

Net income (loss) before preferred dividends and cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles

 


$

32,258

 


$


78,165

 


$

(25,363

)


$


194,859

 

Preferred dividends

  

(15,125

)

 

(6,124

)

 

(30,366

)

 

(25,283

)

Net income (loss) before cumulative effect

  

17,133

  

72,041

  

(55,729

)

 

169,576

 

Cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles

  

-

  

(24,675

)

 

-

  

(15,593

)

Net income (loss) applicable to common stock

  

17,133

  

47,366

  

(55,729

)

 

153,983

 

Plus income impact of assumed conversion of 8¼%

Convertible Senior Notes, after taxes

  

-

  

8,412

  

-

  

 

33,753

 

Diluted net income (loss) applicable to common stock

 

$

17,133

 

$

55,778

 

$

(55,729

)

$

187,736

 
              

Weighted average common shares outstanding

  

177,137

  

159,407

  

183,426

  

150,185

 

Add:  Shares issuable upon conversion of 8¼% Convertible Senior Notes

  

-

  


31,068

  

-

  


38,503

 

Dilutive stock options

  

2,188

  

3,661

  

-

  

2,253

 

Restricted stock

  

480

  

199

  

-

  

205

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding for purposes of calculating diluted net income (loss) per share

  

179,805

  

194,335

  

183,426

  


191,146

 
              

Diluted net income (loss) per share of common stock:

             

Before cumulative effect

 

$

0.10

 

$

0.41

 

$

(0.30

)

$

1.06

 

Cumulative effect

  

-

  

(0.12

)

 

-

  

(0.08

)

Net income (loss) per share of common stock

 

$

0.10

 

$

0.29

 

$

(0.30

)

$

0.98

 


Stock options representing 2.3 million shares and unvested restricted stock representing 0.4 million shares in the 2004 nine-month period that otherwise would have been included in that period’s earnings per share calculation were excluded because of the net loss reported for the period.


Outstanding stock options with exercise prices greater than the average market price of the common stock during the period are excluded from the computation of diluted net income per share of common stock.  In addition, certain convertible instruments are excluded because of a net loss for the period or because including the conversion of these instruments would have increased reported diluted net income per share.  A recap of the excluded amounts follows (in thousands, except exercise prices):


 

Three Months Ended

September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 

2004

2003

2004

2003

Weighted average outstanding options

1,161

2,084

1,169

2,264

Weighted average exercise price

$36.77

$33.64

$36.34

$33.10

Interest on 7% Convertible Senior Notes, net of taxes a

$10,357

$10,357

$31,072

$26,516

Weighted average shares issuable upon conversion a

18,625

18,625

18,625

15,828

Dividends on 5½% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock b

$15,125

N/A

$30,418

N/A

Weighted average shares issuable upon conversion

20,682

N/A

13,936

N/A

Interest on 8¼% Convertible Senior Notes, net of taxes b

$466

-    

c

$3,829

-    

c
Weighted average shares issuable upon conversion

1,364

-    

c

4,097

-    

c

 

Three Months Ended

September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 

2004

2003

2004

2003

Dividends on Step-Up Convertible Preferred Stock

N/A

$6,125

N/A

$18,374

Weighted average shares issuable upon conversion

N/A

11,690

N/A

11,690


a.

FCX’s 7% Convertible Senior Notes were issued on February 11, 2003, and are convertible into 18.6 million shares of common stock.

b.

See Note 4 for a discussion of these securities.

c.

Included in diluted calculation.


Stock-Based Compensation Plans.  FCX has four stock-based employee compensation plans and one stock-based director compensation plan, which are more fully described in Note 6 of FCX’s 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K.  In addition , FCX’s shareholders approved the 2004 Director Compensation Plan (the 2004 Plan) in May 2004 .  The 2004 Plan authorizes awards of options and restricted stock for up to 1.0 million shares and the one-time grant of 66,882 stock appreciation rights.  During the second quarter, FCX granted 202,017 stock options, 20,000 restricted shares and 66,882 stock appreciation rights under the 2004 Plan.  Annual stock option and restricted stock grants vest under the 2004 Plan in 25 percent annual increments beginning one year from the date of grant.  FCX accounts for options issued under all of its plans under the recognition and measurement principles of Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and related interpretations, which require compensation cost for stock-based employee compensation plans to be recognized based on the difference on the date of grant, if any, between the quoted market price of the stock and the amount an employee must pay to acquire the stock.  Because all the plans require that the option exercise price be at least the market price on the date of grant, FCX recognizes no compensation expense on the grant or exercise of its employees’ options.  The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share if FCX had applied the fair value recognition provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” which requires compensation cost for all stock-based employee compensation plans to be recognized based on a fair value method (in thousands, except per share amounts):


  

Three Months Ended

September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

  

2004

 

2003

 

2004

 

2003

Net income (loss) applicable to common stock, as

   reported

 

$

17,133

 

$

47,366

 

$

(55,729

)

$

153,983

 

Add:  Stock-based employee compensation expense included in reported net income (loss) for stock option conversions, stock appreciation rights and restricted stock units, net of taxes and minority interests

  

2,252

  

1,702

  

2,626

  

3,748

 

Deduct:  Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value-based method for all awards, net of taxes and minority interests

  

(3,766

)

 

(2,858

)

 

(6,349

)

 

(7,312

)

Pro forma net income (loss) applicable to common stock

 

$

15,619

 

$

46,210

 

$

(59,452

)

$

150,419

 
             

Earnings per share:

            

Basic – as reported

 

$

0.10

 

$

0.30

 

$

(0.30

)

$

1.03

 

Basic – pro forma

 

$

0.09

 

$

0.29

 

$

(0.32

)

$

1.00

 
             

Diluted – as reported

 

$

0.10

 

$

0.29

 

$

(0.30

)

$

0.98

 

Diluted – pro forma

 

$

0.09

 

$

0.28

 

$

(0.32

)

$

0.94

 


For the pro forma computations, the values of option grants were calculated on the dates of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.  No other discounts or restrictions related to vesting or the likelihood of vesting of stock options were applied.  The following table summarizes the calculated average fair values and weighted average assumptions used to determine the fair value of FCX’s stock option grants under SFAS No. 123 during the periods presented.


 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
 

2004

 

2003

 

2004

 

2003

 

Fair value per stock option

 

None

 

$

12.66

 

$

15.00

 

$

10.30

 

Risk-free interest rate

 

None

  

4.2

%

 

3.7

%

 

3.8

%

Expected volatility rate

 

None

  

47

%

 

49

%

 

47

%

Expected life of options (in years)

 

None

  

7

  

6

  

7

 

Assumed annual dividend

 

None

 

$

0.36

 

$

0.80

  

(a

)

 

a.

No annual dividends for grants prior to February 6, 2003, and a $0.36 per share annual dividend for grants after that date through September 30, 2003.


2. BUSINESS SEGMENTS


FCX has two operating segments:  “mining and exploration” and “smelting and refining.”  The mining and exploration segment includes the copper and gold mining operations of PT Freeport Indonesia in Indonesia and FCX’s Indonesian exploration activities.  The smelting and refining segment includes Atlantic Copper’s operations in Spain and PT Freeport Indonesia’s equity investment in PT Smelting in Gresik, Indonesia.  The segment data presented below were prepared on the same basis as the consolidated FCX financial statements.

 

  

Mining

and Exploration

 

Smelting and Refining

 

Eliminations and Other

 

FCX Total

 
  

(In Thousands)

 

Three months ended September 30, 2004:

           

Revenues

 

$

447,876

a

$

222,184

 

$

(69,504

)

$

600,556

 

Production and delivery

  

198,872

  

223,384

  

(54,240

)b

 

368,016

 

Depreciation and amortization

  

46,135

  

7,114

  

2,506

  

55,755

 

Exploration expenses

  

1,939

  

-    

  

24

  

1,963

 

General and administrative expenses

  

21,451

c

 

3,248

  

1,487

c

 

26,186

 

Operating income (loss)

 

$

179,479

 

$

(11,562

)

$

(19,281

)

$

148,636

 

Equity in PT Smelting earnings

 

$

-    

 

$

2,678

 

$

-    

 

$

2,678

 

Interest expense, net

 

$

5,133

 

$

3,300

 

$

29,415

 

$

37,848

 

Provision for income taxes

 

$

62,729

 

$

-   

 

$

8,614

 

$

71,343

 

Capital expenditures

 

$

30,526

 

$

3,038

 

$

2

 

$

33,566

 

Total assets

 

$

3,713,690

d

$

723,839

e

$

345,535

 

$

4,783,064

 
              

Three months ended September 30, 2003:

           

Revenues

 

$

530,356

a

$

202,891

 

$

(101,257

)

$

631,990

 

Production and delivery

  

164,574

  

198,872

  

(99,819

)b

 

263,627

 

Depreciation and amortization

  

53,747

  

7,067

  

3,165

  

63,979

 

Exploration expenses

  

1,668

  

-    

  

17

  

1,685

 

General and administrative expenses

  

52,563

c

 

2,816

  

(38,958

)c

 

16,421

 

Operating income (loss)

 

$

257,804

 

$

(5,864

)

$

34,338

 

$

286,278

 

Equity in PT Smelting earnings

 

$

-    

 

$

1,294

 

$

-    

 

$

1,294

 

Interest expense, net

 

$

9,127

 

$

4,286

 

$

34,676

 

$

48,089

 

Provision for income taxes

 

$

100,417

 

$

-   

 

$

17,266

 

$

117,683

 

Capital expenditures

 

$

31,580

 

$

2,485

 

$

-    

 

$

34,065

 

Total assets

 

$

3,662,580

d

$

696,203

e

$

435,657

 

$

4,794,440

 
              

Nine months ended September 30, 2004:

           

Revenues

 

$

965,901

a

$

605,137

 

$

(123,963

)

$

1,447,075

 

Production and delivery

  

525,387

  

637,042

  

(147,122

)b

 

1,015,307

 

Depreciation and amortization

  

96,738

  

21,209

  

5,808

  

123,755

 

Exploration expenses

  

6,807

  

-    

  

170

  

6,977

 

General and administrative expenses

  

114,802

c

 

9,344

  

(59,824

)c

 

64,322

 

Operating income (loss)

 

$

222,167

 

$

(62,458

)

$

77,005

 

$

236,714

 

Equity in PT Smelting losses

 

$

-    

 

$

228

 

$

-    

 

$

228

 

Interest expense, net

 

$

16,346

 

$

10,071

 

$

84,160

 

$

110,577

 

Provision for income taxes

 

$

80,672

 

$

-    

 

$

47,222

 

$

127,894

 

Capital expenditures

 

$

90,229

 

$

18,295

 

$

(118

)

$

108,406

 


  

Mining

and Exploration

 

Smelting and Refining

 

Eliminations and Other

 

FCX Total

 

Nine months ended September 30, 2003:

           

Revenues

 

$

1,485,080

a

$

631,967

 

$

(351,006

)

$

1,766,041

 

Production and delivery

  

488,640

  

612,299

  

(312,434

)b

 

788,505

 

Depreciation and amortization

  

168,679

  

21,158

  

10,213

  

200,050

 

Exploration expenses

  

4,932

  

-    

  

84

  

5,016

 

General and administrative expenses

  

91,389

c

 

8,004

  

(45,753

)c

 

53,640

 

Operating income (loss)

 

$

731,440

 

$

(9,494

)

$

(3,116

)

$

718,830

 

Equity in PT Smelting earnings

 

$

-    

 

$

4,241

 

$

-    

 

$

4,241

 

Interest expense, net

 

$

38,999

 

$

12,486

 

$

104,591

 

$

156,076

 

Provision for income taxes

 

$

264,676

 

$

-    

 

$

28,129

 

$

292,805

 

Capital expenditures

 

$

89,917

 

$

6,108

 

$

228

 

$

96,253

 


a.

Includes PT Freeport Indonesia’s sales to PT Smelting totaling $181.6 million in the 2004 quarter, $154.5 million in the 2003 quarter, $474.8 million in the 2004 nine-month period and $430.4 million in the 2003 nine-month period.

b.

Includes deferrals of intercompany profits on 25 percent of PT Freeport Indonesia’s sales to PT Smelting, for which the final sale has not occurred, totaling $0.5 million in the 2004 quarter, $1.2 million in the 2003 quarter, $2.5 million in the 2004 nine-month period and $5.6 million in the 2003 nine-month period.

c.

Includes charges to the mining and exploration segment for FCX stock option exercises , which are eliminated in consolidation , totaling $2.4 million in the 2004 quarter, $35.2 million in the 2003 quarter, $69.3 million in the 2004 nine-month period and $46.4 million in the 2003 nine-month period.

d.

Includes PT Freeport Indonesia’s trade receivables with PT Smelting totaling $59.0 million at September 30, 2004, and $80.8 million at September 30, 2003.  

e.

Includes PT Freeport Indonesia’s equity investment in PT Smelting totaling $56.6 million at September 30, 2004, and $44.0 million at September 30, 2003.


3. INVENTORIES


The components of inventories follow (in thousands):

   

September 30,

 

December 31,

 
   

2004

 

2003

 

PT Freeport Indonesia:

Concentrates – Average cost

 

$

4,596

 

$

2,643

 

Atlantic Copper:

Concentrates – First in, first out

  

106,826

  

81,668

 
 

Work in process – First in, first out

  

94,761

  

76,689

 
 

Finished goods – First in, first out

  

15,409

  

9,925

 

Total product inventories

  

221,592

  

170,925

 

Total materials and supplies, net

  

215,547

  

226,102

 

Total inventories

 

$

437,139

 

$

397,027

 


 The average cost method was used to determine the cost of essentially all materials and supplies inventory.  Materials and supplies inventory is net of obsolescence reserves totaling $16.5 million at September 30, 2004 and $17.6 million at December 31, 2003.  


4. DEBT AND EQUITY TRANSACTIONS


During the first quarter of 2004, FCX completed a tender offer and privately negotiated transactions for a portion of its remaining 8¼% Convertible Senior Notes due 2006 resulting in the early conversion of $226.1 million of notes into 15.8 million shares of FCX common stock.  FCX recorded a $10.9 million charge to losses on early extinguishment and conversion of debt in the first quarter of 2004 in connection with these conversions.  The $10.9 million charge included $6.4 million of previously accrued interest costs that were reversed, resulting in an equivalent reduction to interest expense.  In June 2004, the remaining $66.5 million of notes were called for redemption on July 31, 2004. During July, all of the se notes were converted into 4.7 million shares of FCX’s common stock.   As of July 31, 2004, all of the 8¼% Convertible Notes, which totaled $603.8 million at issuance in 2001, had been converted to FCX common stock .


On February 3, 2004, FCX sold $350 million of 6⅞% Senior Notes due 2014 for net proceeds of $344.4 million.  FCX used a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the 6⅞% Senior Notes to repay $162.4 million of Atlantic Copper borrowings and to refinance certain other FCX 2004 debt maturities.  Atlantic Copper recorded a $3.7 million charge for losses on early extinguishment of debt.  Interest on the notes is payable semiannually on February 1 and August 1 of each year, beginning August 1, 2004.  FCX may redeem some or all of the notes at its option at a make-whole redemption price prior to February 1, 2009, and afterwards at stated redemption prices.  The indenture governing the notes contains certain restrictions, including restrictions on incurring debt, creating liens, selling assets, entering into certain transactions with affiliates, paying cash dividends on common stock, repurchasing or redeeming common or preferred equity, prepaying subordinated debt and making investments.  During the second quarter of 2004, FCX purchased in the open market $9.7 million of the 6⅞% Senior Notes for $8.8 million, which including deferred financing costs resulted in a gain of $0.8 million recorded as a reduction to losses on early extinguishment and conversion of debt.


On March 30, 2004, FCX sold 1.1 million shares of 5½% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock for $1.1 billion, with net proceeds totaling $1.067 billion.  Each share of preferred stock was initially convertible into 18.8019 shares of FCX common stock, equivalent to a conversion price of approximately $53.19 per common share.  The conversion rate is adjustable upon the occurrence of certain events, including an adjustment in any quarter that FCX’s common stock dividend exceeds $0.20 per share.  In October 2004, FCX’s Board of Directors increased FCX’s common stock dividend rate to $1.00 per annum and declared a $0.25 dividend payable on November 1, 2004.   As a result, each share of preferred stock is now convertible into 18.8252 shares of FCX common stock, equivalent to a conversion price of approximately $53.12 per common share.  Beginning March 30, 2009, FCX may redeem shares of the preferred stock by paying cash, FCX common stock or any combination thereof for $1,000 per share plus unpaid dividends, but only if FCX’s common stock price has exceeded 130 percent of the conversion price for at least 20 trading days within a period of 30 consecutive trading days immediately preceding the notice of redemption.  FCX used a portion of the proceeds from the sale to purchase 23.9 million shares of FCX common stock owned by Rio Tinto for $881.9 million (approximately $36.85 per share) and used the remainder for general corporate purposes.


During the second quarter of 2004, FCX purchased 3.4 million shares of its common stock for $99.5 million ($29.39 per share average) under its 20-million-share repurchase program of which 16.6 million shares remain available.


On August 1, 2004, FCX made the sixth of eight scheduled annual redemption payments on its Silver-Denominated Preferred Stock for $13.9 million.  The mandatory redemption resulted in a $12.5 million decrease in debt and a hedging loss to revenues of $1.4 million ($0.7 million to net income or less than $0.01 per share) for the third quarter of 2004.


5. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS


The components of net periodic pension benefit cost for the third quarters of 2004 and 2003 follow (in thousands):


 
FCX
 
PT Freeport Indonesia
 
Atlantic Copper
 
 
2004
 
2003
 
2004
 
2003
 
2004
 
2003
 
                   

Service cost

$

213

 

$

-

 

$

810

 

$

834

 

$

-

 

$

-

 

Interest cost

 

901

  

245

  

812

  

888

  

1,266

  

1,184

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

(300

)

 

341

  

(441

)

 

(485

)

 

-

  

-

 

Amortization of prior service cost

 

944

  

-

  

234

  

252

  

-     

  

-

 

Amortization of net actuarial loss

 

-

  

-

  

69

  

144

  

223

  

214

 

Net periodic benefit cost

$

1,758

a

$

586

 

$

1,484

 

$

1,633

 

$

1,489

 

$

1,398

 


The components of net periodic pension benefit cost for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003 follow (in thousands):


 
FCX
 
PT Freeport Indonesia
 
Atlantic Copper
 
 
2004
 
2003
 
2004
 
2003
 
2004
 
2003
 

Service cost

$

497

 

$

-

 

$

2,512

 

$

2,313

 

$

-

 

$

-

 

Interest cost

 

1,894

  

839

  

2,519

  

2,477

  

3,809

  

3,589

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

(369

)

 

(557

)

 

(1,369

)

 

(1,404

)

 

-

  

-

 

Amortization of prior service cost

 

2,832

  

-

  

725

  

643

  

-

  

-

 

Amortization of net actuarial loss

 

-

  

-

  

215

  

337

  

672

  

645

 

Net periodic benefit cost

$

4,854

a

$

282

 

$

4,602

 

$

4,366

 

$

4,481

 

$

4,234

 


a. Includes $1.5 million in the third quarter and $4.1 million in the nine-month period for the new SERP benefit plan discussed below.


In February 2004, FCX established a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) for its two most senior executive officers.  The SERP provides for retirement benefits payable in the form of a joint and survivor annuity or an equivalent lump sum.  The annuity will equal a percentage of the executive’s highest average compensation for any consecutive three-year period during the five years immediately preceding the earlier of the executive’s retirement or completion of 25 years of credited service.  The SERP benefit will be reduced by the value of all benefits due under FCX’s cash-balance pension plan and all other benefit plans sponsored by FCX or any other predecessor employer. Unrecognized prior service cost at inception of the SERP totaled $18.9 million and is being amortized over the five-year term of the executive officers’ current employment agreements.


6. INTEREST COST


Interest expense excludes capitalized interest of $0.8 million in the third quarter of 2004, $0.7 million in the third quarter of 2003, $1.9 million in the first nine months of 2004 and $2.1 million in the first nine months of 2003.


7. COMPREHENSIVE INCOME


A summary of FCX’s comprehensive income is shown below (in thousands).


  

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 
  

2004

 

2003

 

2004

 

2003

 

Net income (loss)

 

$

32,258

 

$

53,490

 

$

(25,363

)

$

179,266

 

Other comprehensive income (loss):

             

    Change in unrealized derivatives’ fair value, net of taxes of $0.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2004, and $0.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2004

  

1,103

  

1,856

  

989

  

6,516

 

    Reclass to earnings, with no tax effect

  

319

  

(3,382

)

 

1,301

  

(6,388

)

Total comprehensive income (loss)

 

$

33,680

 

$

51,964

 

$

(23,073

)

$

179,394

 


8. RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES


The ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the first nine months of 2004 and 2003 was 2.0 to 1 and 4.3 to 1, respectively.  For this calculation, earnings consist of income from continuing operations before income taxes, minority interests and fixed charges.  Fixed charges include interest and that portion of rent deemed representative of interest.




----------------------

Remarks


The information furnished herein should be read in conjunction with FCX's financial statements contained in its 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K.  The information furnished herein reflects all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the periods.  All such adjustments are, in the opinion of management, of a normal recurring nature.  











REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM


To The Board of Directors and Stockholders of

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.:


We have reviewed the condensed consolidated balance sheet of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (a Delaware Corporation) and subsidiaries as of September 30, 2004, the related consolidated statements of operations for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, and the consolidated statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2004 and 2003.  These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.  


We conducted our review in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures to financial data, and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.


Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the condensed consolidated financial statements referred to above for them to be in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.


We have previously audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet of Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. as of December 31, 2003, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholder’s equity, and cash flows for the year then ended not presented herein, and in our report dated January 28, 2004, which included an explanatory paragraph for changes in accounting principles, we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.  In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2003, is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.



ERNST & YOUNG LLP



New Orleans, Louisiana

October 25, 2004




Item 2.  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.


OVERVIEW


In management’s discussion and analysis, “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (FCX) and its consolidated subsidiaries.  In our discussions of production and sales, references to “aggregate” amounts mean the total of our share and Rio Tinto plc’s share as our joint venture partner.  You should read this discussion in conjunction with our financial statements, the related discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations and the discussion of our “Business and Properties” in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The results of operations reported and summarized below are not necessarily indicative of future operating results.


We operate through our majority-owned subsidiaries, PT Freeport Indonesia and PT Puncakjaya Power (Puncakjaya Power), and through Atlantic Copper, S.A. (Atlantic Copper) and PT Irja Eastern Minerals (Eastern Minerals), our principal wholly owned subsidiaries.  PT Freeport Indonesia, our principal operating subsidiary, conducts exploration, mining and production activities in a 24,700-acre area called Block A located in Papua, Indonesia.  PT Freeport Indonesia also conducts exploration activities (which are currently suspended) in an approximate 500,000-acre area called Block B in Papua.  Puncakjaya Power’s sole business is to supply power to PT Freeport Indonesia’s operations.  Our principal asset is the Grasberg mine located in Block A, which contains the largest single gold reserve and one of the largest copper reserves of any mine in the world.


Atlantic Copper’s operations are in Spain and involve the smelting and refining of copper concentrates and the marketing of refined copper products and precious metals in slimes.  PT Freeport Indonesia owns a 25 percent interest in PT Smelting, an Indonesian company which operates a copper smelter and refinery in Gresik, Indonesia. Eastern Minerals conducts mineral exploration activities (which are also currently suspended) in Papua, Indonesia.  


We own approximately 90.64 percent of PT Freeport Indonesia, of which 9.36 percent is owned through our wholly owned subsidiary, PT Indocopper Investama.  The Government of Indonesia owns the remaining approximate 9.36 percent of PT Freeport Indonesia.  In July 2004, we received a request from the Indonesian Department of Energy and Mineral Resources that we offer to sell to Indonesian nationals shares in PT Indocopper Investama at fair market value.  In response to this request and in view of the potential benefits of having additional Indonesian ownership in our project, we have agreed to consider a potential sale of an interest in PT Indocopper Investama at fair market value.  Neither our Contract of Work with the Indonesian government nor Indonesian law requires us to divest any portion of our ownership interest in PT Freeport Indonesia or PT Indocopper Investama.  


Outlook

Our copper and gold sales volumes have averaged 1.4 billion pounds of copper and 2.35 million ounces of gold annually over the 1999 to 2003 period.  Average annual sales volumes over the next five years (2004 to 2008) are expected to approximate 1.3 billion pounds of copper and 2.2 million ounces of gold.  Based on these estimates and copper prices of approximately $1.30 per pound, the impact on our annual cash flow for each $0.10 per pound change in copper prices would approximate $60 to $65 million, including the effects of price changes on royalty costs and treatment charges, and for each $25 per ounce change in gold prices would approximate $28 million.  


Following the October 9, 2003, slippage event and the December 12, 2003, debris flow in the same section of the Grasberg open pit, PT Freeport Indonesia focused its open-pit operations on accelerating the removal of waste material from the south wall to restore safe access to the higher-grade ore areas in the pit.  As previously reported, a portion of the higher grade ore previously forecast to be mined earlier in 2004 was deferred to future periods, resulting in plans to produce significant volumes of copper and gold in the fourth quarter of 2004 and in 2005.  Ore grades are expected to be significantly higher for the remainder of 2004 and 2005.


Annual sales are expected to approximate 1.0 billion pounds of copper and 1.45 million ounces of gold in 2004, and 1.5 billion pounds of copper and 2.9 million ounces of gold in 2005.  Consolidated operating cash flows for 2004 has been adversely affected by the lower level of annual sales, working capital requirements and Atlantic Copper’s operating results (see “Smelting and Refining”).  Consolidated operating cash flows in the fourth quarter of 2004 and in 2005 are expected to benefit from the projected increase in PT Freeport Indonesia’s metal sales.

 


Copper and Gold Markets

The graph above presents copper prices and reported stocks of copper at the London Metal Exchange (LME) and New York Commodity Exchange (COMEX) through October 31, 2004.  Copper stocks at the LME and COMEX declined sharply in 2003 and in 2004.   C opper demand improved during 2003 primarily because of strong consumption in China.  Early in 2004, copper consumption grew significantly in the United States and, to a lesser extent, in Japan and copper prices rose sharply to over $1.30 per pound.  During the second quarter of 2004, steps taken by the Chinese government in an effort to slow growth in certain targeted sectors of the Chinese economy, the expectations for increased U.S. interest rates, the resulting impact on foreign exchange rates particularly with respect to the U.S. dollar and euro exchange rate, and investor sentiment about commodity prices caused copper prices to weaken and to be volatile.   A t the end of the third quarter of 2004 , however, copper prices rose following continued strength in Chinese demand and renewed confidence in world manufacturing activity.  Copper prices ranged from $1.22 to $1.42 per pound and averaged $1.29 per pound in the third quarter of 2004.  Favorable supply and demand fundamentals and continued declines in world copper inventories have resulted in higher copper prices. Subsequent to September 30, 2004, copper prices rose to a 16-year high of $1.50 per pound before a significant drop during the week of October 11, returning to about $1.30 per pound and clos ing at $1.35 per pound on the LME on November 3, 2004.  The near-term fundamental supply and demand outlook for copper markets remains positive and many industry analysts are forecasting copper prices of over $1.00 per pound for 2005 and some project significantly higher prices .



The positive environment for gold continued in the third quarter with gold prices ranging from $386 to $416 per ounce, supported by a weak U.S. dollar reflecting large U.S. deficits, ongoing geo-political strife and terrorist fears, and actions by gold producers to reduce hedge positions.  Gold prices averaged $401 per ounce in the third quarter of 2004 .  Recent m ovements in gold prices have closely followed movements in the U.S. dollar against other currencies. The London gold price closed at approximately $424 per ounce on November 3, 2004.  


World metal prices for copper and gold have historically fluctuated widely and are affected by numerous factors beyond our control as described further in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003.  


CONSOLIDATED RESULTS


Summary comparative results for the third-quarter and nine-month periods follow (in millions, except per share amounts):

 

Third Quarter

 

Nine Months

 
 

2004

 

2003

 

2004

 

2003

 

Revenues

$

600.6

 

$

632.0

 

$

1,447.1

 

$

1,766.0

 

Operating income

 

148.6

  

286.3

  

236.7

  

718.8

 

Net income (loss) applicable to common stock before cumulative effect adjustment

 

17.1

  

 

72.0

  

(55.7

)

 

 

169.6

 

Net income (loss) applicable to common stock

 

17.1

  

47.4

  

(55.7

)

 

154.0

 

Diluted net income (loss) per share of common stock:

            

Before cumulative effect adjustment

 

0.10

  

0.41

  

(0.30

)

 

1.06

 

Applicable to common stock

 

0.10

  

0.29

  

(0.30

)

 

0.98

 


Consolidated revenues include PT Freeport Indonesia’s sale of copper concentrates, which also contain significant amounts of gold and silver, and the sale by Atlantic Copper of copper anodes, cathodes, wire and wire rod, and gold in anodes and slimes.  Consolidated revenues and net income vary significantly with fluctuations in the market prices of copper and gold and other factors.  Based on PT Freeport Indonesia’s projected share of 2005 copper sales (1.5 billion pounds) and assuming an average price of $1.30 per pound of copper, a $0.01 per pound change in the average price realized would have an approximate $14 million impact on our annual revenues and an approximate $7 million impact on our annual net income.  A $5 per ounce change in the average price realized on PT Freeport Indonesia’s share of projected 2005 gold sales (2.9 million ounces) would have an approximate $14 million impact on our annual revenues and an approximate $7 million impact on our annual net income.  


On limited past occasions, in response to market conditions, we have entered into copper and gold price protection contracts for a portion of our expected future mine production to mitigate the risk of adverse price fluctuations.  We currently have no copper or gold price protection contracts relating to our mine production.  We have outstanding gold-denominated and silver-denominated preferred stock with dividends and redemption amounts determined by commodity prices.  


Consolidated revenues for the third quarter and first nine months of 2004 reflect substantially lower gold revenues at PT Freeport Indonesia, compared with the same periods in 2003.  PT Freeport Indonesia’s 2004 revenues reflect lower copper and gold sales from lower grade ore and reduced mill throughput as PT Freeport Indonesia achieved continuing progress in restoring safe access to the higher-grade ore areas in its Grasberg open-pit mine following the fourth-quarter 2003 slippage and debris flow events (see “Mining and Exploration – PT Freeport Indonesia Operating Results”).  The impact of lower PT Freeport Indonesia copper sales volumes in the 2004 periods was mostly offset by higher copper prices.  Atlantic Copper’s 2004 revenues benefited from higher metals prices and its nine-month 2004 revenues were adversely affected by its scheduled major maintenance turnaround (see “Smelting and Refining – Atlantic Copper Operating Results”).  


Third-quarter 2004 consolidated revenues included net additions of $13.6 million ($7.0 million to net income or $0.04 per share) primarily for final pricing of concentrates sold in prior quarters, compared with $8.3 million ($4.3 million to net income or $0.02 per share) to third-quarter 2003 revenues.  Nine-month 2004 consolidated revenues included net additions of $7.3 million ($3.7 million to net income or $0.02 per share) compared with $11.0 million ($5.7 million to net income or $0.03 per share), primarily for final pricing of concentrates sold in prior years.


Consolidated production and delivery costs for the 2004 periods were higher than the 2003 periods primarily because of the lower level of sales from PT Freeport Indonesia to Atlantic Copper in the 2004 periods and higher metals prices which resulted in higher production costs at Atlantic Copper in 2004 .  Higher sales from PT Freeport Indonesia to Atlantic Copper in the 2003 periods caused the related production costs to remain in our consolidated product inventory until Atlantic Copper sold the metal to its customers, resulting in lower consolidated production costs in 2003.  Consolidated depreciation and amortization expense decreased to $55.8 million in the third quarter of 2004 and $123.8 million in the first nine months of 2004 compared with $64.0 million in the third quarter of 2003 and $200.1 million in the first nine months of 2003, primarily because of lower copper sales volumes at PT Freeport Indonesia.  Exploration expenses increased to $2.0 million in the third quarter of 2004 and $7.0 million in the first nine months of 2004, from $1.7 million in the third quarter of 2003 and $5.0 million in the first nine months of 2003, reflecting increased exploration drilling in Block A during 2004.  General and administrative expenses increased to $26.2 million in the third quarter of 2004 and $64.3 million in the first nine months of 2004 from $16.4 million in the third quarter of 2003 and $53.6 million in the first nine months of 2003 (see “Other Financial Results”).  


Net interest expense decreased to $37.8 million in the third quarter of 2004 from $48.1 million in the third quarter of 2003, and to $110.6 million in the first nine months of 2004 from $156.1 million in the first nine months of 2003 primarily because we reduced average debt levels, including through the early conversions of our 8¼% Convertible Senior Notes into common stock (see Note 4 and “Capital Resources and Liquidity – Financing Activities”).  First-quarter 2004 conversions of 8¼% Convertible Senior Notes also resulted in a $6.4 million reduction of interest expense for previously accrued amounts that were reclassified as losses on early extinguishment and conversion of debt.


Other income (expense) includes the impact of translating into U.S. dollars Atlantic Copper’s net euro-denominated liabilities, primarily its retiree pension obligations.  Changes in the $/€ exchange rate require us to adjust the dollar value of net euro-denominated liabilities and record the adjustment in earnings.  The exchange rate was $1.26 per euro at December 31, 2003, $1.22 per euro at June 30, 2004 and $1.24 per euro at September 30, 2004.  Exchange rate effects on our net income from euro-denominated liabilities were gains (losses) of $(0.8) million in the third quarter of 2004, $(1.5) million in the third quarter of 2003, $1.1 million in the first nine months of 2004 and $(7.8) million in the first nine months of 2003.  Other expenses for the third quarter of 2003 and the first nine months of 2003 also include a $5.6 million ($3.7 million to net income or $0.02 per share) charge associated with the amended FCX and PT Freeport Indonesia credit facility (see “Capital Resources and Liquidity – Financing Activities”).


PT Freeport Indonesia’s Contract of Work provides for a 35 percent corporate income tax rate.  PT Indocopper Investama (100 percent owned by FCX) will pay a 30 percent corporate income tax on dividends it receives from its 9.36 percent ownership in PT Freeport Indonesia.  In addition, the tax treaty between Indonesia and the United States provides for a withholding tax rate of 10 percent on dividends and interest that PT Freeport Indonesia and PT Indocopper Investama pay to their parent company , FCX .  We also incur a U.S. alternative minimum tax at a rate of two percent based primarily on consolidated income, net of smelting and refining results.  As a result of the enactment of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, the 90 percent limitation on the use of foreign tax credits to offset the US federal alternative minimum tax liability has been repealed effective January 1, 2005.  Based on current projections, we expect that the removal of this limitation will significantly reduce our US federal taxes beginning in 2005.  In 2003, our US federal alternative minimum tax liability totaled $9.3 million.  We currently record no income taxes at Atlantic Copper, which is subject to taxation in Spain, because it has not generated significant taxable income in recent years and has substantial tax loss carryforwards for which we have provided no financial statement benefit.  We receive no consolidated tax benefit from these losses because they cannot be used to offset PT Freeport Indonesia’s profits in Indonesia.  


Parent company costs consist primarily of interest, depreciation and amortization, and general and administrative expenses.  We receive minimal tax benefit from these costs, including interest expense, primarily because our parent company generates no taxable income from U.S. sources.  As a result, our provision for income taxes as a percentage of our consolidated income before income taxes and minority interests will vary as PT Freeport Indonesia’s income changes absent changes in Atlantic Copper and parent company costs.  Summaries of the approximate significant components of the calculation of our consolidated provision for income taxes are shown below (in thousands, except percentages).




 

Three months ended

September 30,

 

Nine months ended

September 30,

 

2004

2003

2004

2003

Mining and exploration segment operating incomea

$

181,896

 

$

292,981

 

$

291,427

 

$

777,852

 

Mining and exploration segment interest expense, net

 

(5,133

)

 

(9,127

)

 

(16,346

)

 

(38,999

)

Intercompany operating profit recognized (deferred)

 

(15,056

)

 

4,788

   

23,563

   

(31,097

)

     Income before taxes

161,707

288,642

298,644

707,756

Indonesian corporate income tax rate (35%) plus U.S. alternative minimum tax rate (2%)


37%

 


37%



37%

 


 

37%

 

Corporate income taxes

59,832

106,798

110,498

261,870

Approximate PT Freeport Indonesia net income

101,875

181,844

188,146

445,886

Withholding tax on FCX’s equity share

9.064%

9.064%

9.064%

9.064%

Withholding taxes

9,234

16,482

17,054

40,415

PT Indocopper Investama corporate income tax

3,005

        -

3,005

        -

Tax refund

        -

        -

(2,182

)

        -

Other

(728

)

(5,597

)

(481

)

(9,480

)

FCX consolidated provision for income taxes

$

71,343

$

117,683

$

127,894

$

292,805

FCX consolidated effective tax rate

 

63%

   

55%

   

(b

)

 

55%

 


a.

Excludes charges for FCX stock option exercises , which are eliminated in consolidation , totaling $2.4 million in the 2004 quarter, $35.2 million in the 2003 quarter, $69.3 million in the 2004 nine-month period and $46.4 million in the 2003 nine-month period.

b.

Rate is not meaningful for the 2004 nine-month period because of the amount of consolidated income before taxes and minority interests.


RESULTS OF OPERATIONS


We have two operating segments:  “mining and exploration” and “smelting and refining.”  The mining and exploration segment consists of FCX’s Indonesian activities including PT Freeport Indonesia’s copper and gold mining operations, Puncakjaya Power’s power generating operations (after eliminations with PT Freeport Indonesia) and FCX’s Indonesian exploration activities.  The smelting and refining segment includes Atlantic Copper’s operations in Spain and PT Freeport Indonesia’s equity investment in PT Smelting.  Summary comparative operating income (loss) by segment follows (in millions):


 

Third Quarter

 

Nine Months

 
 

2004

 

2003

 

2004

 

2003

 

Mining and explorationa

$

179.5

 

$

257.8

 

$

222.2

 

$

731.4

 

Smelting and refining

 

(11.6

)

 

(5.9

)

 

(62.5

)

 

(9.5

)

Intercompany eliminations and othera, b

 

(19.3

)

 

34.4

  

77.0

  

(3.1

)

FCX operating income

$

148.6

 

$

286.3

 

$

236.7

 

$

718.8

 
             

a.

Includes charges to the mining and exploration segment for FCX stock option exercises , which are eliminated in consolidation , totaling $2.4 million in the 2004 quarter, $35.2 million in the 2003 quarter, $69.3 million in the 2004 nine-month period and $46.4 million in 2003 nine-month period.

b.

We defer recognizing profits on PT Freeport Indonesia’s sales to Atlantic Copper and on 25 percent of PT Freeport Indonesia’s sales to PT Smelting until their sales of final products to third parties.  Changes in the amount of these deferred profits impacted operating income by $(15.1) million in the third quarter of 2004, $4.8 million in the third quarter of 2003, $23.6 million in the first nine months of 2004 and $(31.1) million in the first nine months of 2003.  Our consolidated quarterly earnings fluctuate depending on the timing and prices of these sales.  At September 30, 2004, our deferred profits to be recognized in future periods’ operating income totaled $32.7 million, $16.8 million to net income, after taxes and minority interest sharing.


MINING AND EXPLORATION

A summary of changes in PT Freeport Indonesia’s revenues between the periods follows (in millions):




 

Third

 

Nine

 
 

Quarter

 

Months

 

PT Freeport Indonesia revenues – prior year period

$

530.4

 

$

1,485.1

 

Increases (decreases):

      

Sales volumes:

      

Copper

 

(66.9

)

 

(433.2

)

Gold

 

(164.1

)

 

(499.4

)

Price realizations:

      

Copper

 

139.9

  

307.4

 

Gold

 

0.7

  

26.6

 

Adjustments, primarily for copper pricing on prior period open sales

 

4.5

  

75.4

 

Treatment charges, royalties and other

 

3.4

  

4.0

 

PT Freeport Indonesia revenues – current year period

$

447.9

 

$

965.9

 


PT Freeport Indonesia reported lower production and sales in the 2004 periods, reflecting the mining of lower grade material and accelerated waste removal activities following the fourth-quarter 2003 slippage and debris flow events.  Copper sales volumes totaled 261.9 million pounds in the third quarter of 2004, 24 percent lower than the 344.9 million pounds reported in the third quarter of 2003.  Third-quarter 2004 copper price realizations of $1.34 per pound were $0.53 per pound higher than the third-quarter 2003 realizations of $0.81 per pound.  Gold sales volumes totaled 350,000 ounces in the third quarter of 2004, 54 percent lower than the 763,500 ounces reported in the third quarter of 2003.  Gold price realizations of $398.89 per ounce in the third quarter of 2004 were $31 an ounce higher than third-quarter 2003 realizations of $367.72 per ounce, before realized gains related to the redemption of our Gold-Denominated Preferred Stock.  For the nine month periods, copper sales volumes totaled 572.4 million pounds in 2004, 49 percent lower than the 1,132.1 million pounds in 2003, and gold sales volumes totaled 824,900 ounces, 62 percent lower than the 2,196,600 ounces in 2003.  Copper price realizations of $1.31 per pound in the first nine months of 2004 were $0.54 per pound higher than the 2003 period realizations of $0.77 per pound.  Gold price realizations of $396.33 per ounce in the first nine months of 2004 were approximately $42 an ounce higher than 2003 period realizations of $353.92 per ounce, before hedging gains .  Gold realizations of $387.75 per ounce in the third quarter of 2003 and $364.04 per ounce in the first nine months of 2003 are after hedging gains from redemption of our Gold-Denominated Preferred Stock (see below).  


Treatment charges vary with the volume of metals sold and the price of copper, and royalties vary with the volume of metals sold and the prices of copper and gold.  In addition, treatment charges vary based on PT Freeport Indonesia’s customer mix.  Treatment and refining charge rates are currently increasing significantly (see “Smelting and Refining”).  Treatment charges for PT Freeport Indonesia in 2004 were lower because of the lower volume of metal sales.  Royalty costs totaled $11.6 million in the third quarter of 2004, $8.8 million in the third quarter of 2003, $24.3 million in the first nine months of 2004 and $25.5 million in the first nine months of 2003.  


Substantially all of PT Freeport Indonesia’s concentrate sales contracts provide final copper pricing in a specified future period based on prices quoted on the LME.  PT Freeport Indonesia records revenues and invoices its customers based on LME prices at the time of shipment.  Under accounting rules, these terms create an “embedded derivative” in our concentrate sales contracts which must be adjusted to fair value through earnings each period until the date of final copper pricing.  PT Freeport Indonesia’s third-quarter 2004 revenues include net additions of $41.8 million for adjustments to the fair value of embedded copper derivatives in concentrate sales contracts, compared with $17.3 million in the third quarter of 2003.  PT Freeport Indonesia’s nine-month 2004 revenues included net additions of $41.0 million for adjustments to the fair value of embedded derivatives in concentrate sales contracts, compared with $19.1 million in the 2003 period.


At September 30, 2004, embedded derivatives on consolidated copper sales totaling 167.2 million pounds were recorded at an average price of $1.38 per pound.  All of these sales are expected to be finally priced over the next few months.  A two-cent movement in the average price used for these embedded derivatives will have an approximate $1.7 million impact on 2004 consolidated net income.


PT Freeport Indonesia sells its copper concentrates primarily under long-term sales agreements denominated in U.S. dollars, mostly to companies in Asia and Europe and to international trading companies .  PT Freeport Indonesia achieved continuing progress in restoring safe access to the higher-grade ore areas of the pit.   PT Freeport Indonesia expects to terminate the force majeure currently in effect under its concentrate sales contracts resulting from the fourth quarter 2003 slippage and debris flow events.  D uring the fourth-quarter of 2004 , PT Freeport Indonesia expects to be producing sufficient concentrate volumes to meet its contractual sales requirements.  PT Freeport Indonesia’s share of sales for the fourth quarter of 2004 is projected to approximate 410 million pounds of copper and 625,000 ounces of gold.  PT Freeport Indonesia’s share of annual sales is expected to approximate 1.0 billion pounds of copper and 1.45 million ounces of gold in 2004, and 1.5 billion pounds of copper and 2.9 million ounces of gold in 2005.  PT Freeport Indonesia expects to produce and ship a significant portion of its fourth-quarter 2004 sales in December , with a significant portion of the sales expected to be shipped in late December.   Possible delays in production or shipping from weather conditions or other factors could result in a portion of our fourth quarter sales being shipped in early 2005.   Also, b ased on the current mine plan for 2005, PT Freeport Indonesia estimates approximately 55 percent of its copper and 67 percent of its gold will be produced in the second half of 2005. Because of the nature of the Grasberg ore body, the sequencing in mining will cause ore grades to vary from quarter to quarter, particularly for gold.  


Pursuant to the joint venture agreement, Rio Tinto has a 40 percent interest in certain assets and future production exceeding specified annual amounts of copper, gold and silver through 2021 in Block A, and, after 2021, a 40 percent interest in all production from Block A.  The agreement provides for adjustments to the metal sharing when events such as the slippage and debris flow events described above occur.  Our estimate of PT Freeport Indonesia’s share of 2004 sales is subject to adjustment based on actual results and application of the terms of the joint venture agreement.


PT Freeport Indonesia has long-term contracts to provide approximately 60 percent of Atlantic Copper’s copper concentrate requirements at market prices and nearly all of PT Smelting’s copper concentrate requirements. Under the PT Smelting contract, for the first 15 years of PT Smelting’s operations beginning December 1998, the treatment and refining charges on the majority of the concentrate PT Freeport Indonesia provides will not fall below specified minimum rates, subject to renegotiation in 2008.  The rate was $0.23 per pound during the period of the commencement of PT Smelting’s operations in 1998 until April 2004, when it declined to a minimum of $0.21 per pound.  


In August 2004 and August 2003, we partially redeemed our Silver-Denominated Preferred Stock for $13.9 million and $10.8 million, respectively.  In August 2003, we also redeemed our Gold-Denominated Preferred Stock for $210.5 million.  The mandatory redemptions resulted in a $12.5 million decrease in debt and a hedging loss to revenues of $1.4 million ($0.7 million to net income or less than $0.01 per share) in the third quarter of 2004 and a $245.1 million decrease in debt and a hedging gain to revenues of $23.8 million ($12.2 million to net income or $0.06 per share) in the third quarter of 2003 (see “Capital Resources and Liquidity-Financing Activities”).


PT Freeport Indonesia Operating Results


  

Third Quarter

  

Nine Months

 
  

2004

  

2003

  

2004

  

2003

 

PT Freeport Indonesia, Net of Rio Tinto’s Interest

Copper (recoverable)

            

    Production (000s of pounds)

256,400

  

341,200

  

572,800

  

1,131,200

 

    Production (metric tons)

116,300

  

154,800

  

259,800

  

513,100

 

    Sales (000s of pounds)

 

261,900

  

344,900

  

572,400

  

1,132,100

 

    Sales (metric tons)

 

118,800

  

156,400

  

259,600

  

513,500

 

    Average realized price per pound

 

$1.34

  

$0.81

  

$1.31

  

$0.77

 

Gold (recoverable ounces)

            

    Production

 

337,000

  

761,000

  

827,200

  

2,199,000

 

    Sales

 

350,000

  

763,500

  

824,900

  

2,196,600

 

    Average realized price per ounce

 

$398.89

  

$387.75

a

 

$396.33

  

$364.04

a


  

Third Quarter

  

Nine Months

 
  

2004

  

2003

  

2004

  

2003

 

PT Freeport Indonesia, Gross Profit per Pound of Copper (cents):

Average realized price

 

134.0

  

80.6

  

131.1

  

77.4

 

Production costs:

            

    Site production and delivery

 

75.1

b

 

47.5

b

 

90.9

b

 

42.3

b

    Gold and silver credits

 

(55.4

)

 

(83.7

)

 

(59.6

)

 

(70.3

)

    Treatment charges

 

19.6

  

17.9

  

20.7

  

17.7

 

    Royalty on metals

 

4.4

  

2.6

  

4.2

  

2.3

 

        Net cash production costs (credits)

 

43.7

  

(15.7

)

 

56.2

  

(8.0

)

    Depreciation and amortization

 

17.6

  

15.6

  

16.9

  

14.9

 

    Reclamation, noncash and other

 

0.9

  

0.2

  

0.9

  

1.0

 

        Total production costs

 

62.2

  

0.1

  

74.0

  

7.9

 

Adjustments, primarily for copper  

   pricing on prior period open sales

 

5.7

  

9.9

  

3.0

  

3.5

 

Gross profit per pound of copper

 

77.5

  

90.4

  

60.1

  

73.0

 


PT Freeport Indonesia, 100% Aggregate Operating Data

Ore milled (metric tons per day)

 

194,000

  

211,400

  

170,100

  

223,600

 

Average ore grade

            

    Copper (percent)

 

.83

  

1.08

  

.73

  

1.16

 

    Gold (grams per metric ton)

 

.79

  

1.79

  

.73

  

1.65

 

Recovery rates (percent)

            

    Copper

 

87.8

  

90.0

  

87.1

  

89.4

 

    Gold

 

 

81.3

  

88.5

  

81.4

  

87.7

 

Copper (recoverable)

            

    Production (000s of pounds)

275,900

  

402,800

  

623,800

  

1,338,000

 

    Production (metric tons)

 

125,200

  

182,700

  

283,000

  

606,900

 

    Sales (000s of pounds)

 

282,000

  

407,100

  

622,900

  

1,339,200

 

    Sales (metric tons)

 

127,900

  

184,700

  

282,500

  

607,500

 

Gold (recoverable ounces)

            

    Production

 

358,600

  

977,100

  

873,500

  

2,806,400

 

    Sales

 

372,300

  

980,200

  

872,000

  

2,802,800

 


a.

Amounts were $367.72 in the third quarter of 2003 and $353.92 in the first nine months of 2003 before hedging gains resulting from redemption of FCX’s Gold-Denominated Preferred Stock.

b.

Net of deferred mining costs totaling $23.7 million (9.0 cents per pound) in the third quarter of 2004, $15.7 million (4.6 cents per pound) in the third quarter of 2003, $81.4 million (14.2 cents per pound) in the first nine months of 2004 and $37.4 million (3.3 cents per pound) in the first nine months of 2003.  


Mill throughput averaged 194,000 metric tons of ore per day in the third quarter of 2004, 211,400 metric tons of ore in the third quarter of 2003, 170,100 metric tons of ore in the first nine months of 2004 and 223,600 metric tons of ore in the first nine months of 2003.  The lower mill throughput rates in 2004 reflect the mining of lower grade material and accelerated waste removal activities at the Grasberg open pit following the fourth-quarter 2003 slippage and debris flow events.  Throughput in the third quarter of 2004 was also affected by the processing of ore types requiring additional grinding.  Mill throughput, which varies depending on ore types being processed, is expected to average approximately 220,000-230,000 metric tons per day in the fourth quarter of 2004.  Approximate average daily throughput processed at our mill facilities from each of our producing mines follows (metric tons of ore per day):


 

Third Quarter

 

Nine Months

 
 

2004

 

2003

 

2004

 

2003

 

Grasberg open pit

150,800

 

165,200

 

125,400

 

174,800

 

Deep Ore Zone underground mine

43,200

 

42,600

 

44,700

 

39,800

 

Intermediate Ore Zone underground mine

     -

 

3,600

 

     -

 

9,000

 

     Total mill throughput

194,000

 

211,400

 

170,100

 

223,600

 


Production from the Deep Ore Zone (DOZ) underground mine averaged 43,200 metric tons of ore per day, representing 22 percent of total third-quarter 2004 mill throughput.  DOZ operations continue to perform above design capacity of 35,000 metric tons of ore per day.  PT Freeport Indonesia expects to increase the sustained capacity of the DOZ underground operation to 50,000 metric tons per day with the addition of a second crusher and additional ventilation.  PT F reeport Indonesia ’s share of capital expenditures for the DOZ expansion in the period 2004 through the projected first-half 2007 ramp-up are expected to approximate $37 million, with $23 million estimated for 2005. The DOZ, a block cave operation, is one of the world’s largest underground operations.  The Intermediate Ore Zone underground mine was depleted during the third quarter of 2003, producing almost 30 percent more copper and gold throughout its 10-year life than the initial reserve estimates.  


Third-quarter 2004 copper ore grades averaged 0.83 percent, compared with 1.08 percent in the third quarter of 2003 and 0.67 percent in the first half of 2004.  Copper recovery rates were 87.8 percent for the third quarter of 2004, compared with 90.0 percent for the third quarter of 2003.  In the third quarter of 2004, ore milled averaged 0.79 grams per metric ton (g/t) of gold, compared with 1.79 g/t in the third quarter of 2003 and 0.69 g/t in the first half of 2004.  Gold recovery rates were 81.3 percent for the third quarter of 2004, compared with 88.5 percent for the third quarter of 2003.  The mining of lower grade material resulted in lower 2004 recovery rates.  Compared to the first nine months of 2004, ore grades are expected to be higher for the fourth quarter of 2004 and for 2005 resulting in increased metal production in the fourth quarter of 2004 and in 2005.  Gold recovery rates are expected to improve with the higher ore grades.


Unit net cash production costs, including gold and silver credits, averaged $0.44 per pound of copper during the third quarter of 2004, compared with a net credit of $(0.16) per pound for the third quarter of 2003.  Higher unit site production and delivery costs in the 2004 period reflected significantly lower sales volumes resulting from lower ore grades, and the primarily fixed nature of a large portion of PT Freeport Indonesia’s cost structure.  In addition, higher energy and maintenance costs in 2004 also increased our unit costs.


Unit site production and delivery costs in the third quarter of 2004 averaged $0.75 per pound of copper, $0.27 per pound higher than the $0.48 reported in the third quarter of 2003.  For the first nine months of 2004, unit site production and delivery costs of $0.91 per pound were $0.49 per pound higher than the $0.42 per pound in the 2003 period.  Unit production and delivery costs are net of deferred mining costs of $0.09 per pound ($23.7 million) for the third quarter of 2004, $0.05 per pound ($15.7 million) for the third quarter of 2003, $0.14 per pound ($81.4 million) for the first nine months of 2004 and $0.03 per pound ($37.4 million) for the first nine months of 2003.  The increase in deferred mining costs primarily reflects PT Freeport Indonesia’s accelerated waste removal efforts.  PT Freeport Indonesia’s third-quarter 2004 waste to ore ratio averaged 3.4 to 1, compared with a life-of-mine average ratio of 2.2 to 1.  An increase in the sustained capacity of the DOZ underground operation as discussed above would result in a higher life-of-mine average waste to ore ratio.  


Unit treatment charges vary with the price of copper, and royalty rates vary with prices of copper and gold.  In addition, treatment charges vary based on PT Freeport Indonesia’s customer mix.  Royalties of $0.04 per pound were nearly $0.02 per pound above the year-ago period because of higher prices.  The copper royalty rate payable by PT Freeport Indonesia under its Contract of Work varies from 1.5 percent of copper net revenue at a copper price of $0.90 or less per pound to 3.5 percent at a copper price of $1.10 or more per pound.  The Contract of Work royalty rate for gold and silver sales is 1.0 percent.  In connection with our fourth concentrator mill expansion completed in 1998, PT Freeport Indonesia agreed to pay the Government of Indonesia voluntary additional royalties (royalties not required by the Contract of Work) to provide further support to the local governments and the people of the Indonesian province of Papua (see Note 1 of “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” in our 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K).  As a result of the recent rise in copper prices, we expect our 2004 and 2005 royalty costs to increase compared with 2003 royalty costs of $26.5 million.  If copper prices average $1.30 per pound and gold prices average $400 per ounce in the fourth quarter of 2004, we would expect royalty costs to total approximately $43 million ($0.04 per pound) for 2004 and $85 million ($0.06 per pound) for 2005.  These estimates assume 2004 sales volumes of 1.0 billion pounds of copper and 1.45 million ounces of gold, and 2005 sales volumes of 1.5 billion pounds of copper and 2.9 million ounces of gold.


Assuming fourth-quarter 2004 average prices of $1.30 per pound for copper and $400 per ounce for gold, and copper and gold sales of 1.0 billion pounds and 1.45 million ounces for 2004, and 1.5 billion pounds and 2.9 million ounces for 2005, PT Freeport Indonesia estimates its net cash production costs, including gold credits, would average approximately $0.40 per pound in 2004 ($0.18 per pound for the 2004 fourth quarter) and that its gold credits would essentially offset its cash production costs, resulting in net cash production costs of approximately zero cents per pound for the year 2005.  The weighted average net cash production cost for the two-year period would approximate $0.16 per pound.  Estimated unit cash costs reflect recent increases in energy costs and treatment and refining charges.  Net unit cash production costs for 2005 would change by approximately $0.05 per pound for each $25 per ounce change in the average price of gold.  Forecasted unit costs are calculated on the same basis as the historical unit costs, which are discussed above and reconciled in “Product Revenues and Production Costs.”  


The functional currency for our operations in Indonesia and Spain is the U.S. dollar.  All of our revenues and a significant portion of our costs are denominated in U.S. dollars; however, some costs and certain asset and liability accounts are denominated in Indonesian rupiah, Australian dollars or euros. Generally, our results are positively affected when the U.S. dollar strengthens in relation to th o se foreign currencies and adversely affected when the U.S. dollar weakens in relation to th o se foreign currencies.


PT Freeport Indonesia recorded gains (losses) totaling $(0.3) million in the third quarter of 2004, $0.2 million in the third quarter of 2003, $0.5 million in the first nine months of 2004 and $(1.7) million in the first nine months of 2003 related to its rupiah-denominated net monetary assets and liabilities.  PT Freeport Indonesia’s labor costs are mostly rupiah denominated.  At estimated annual aggregate rupiah payments of 1.3 trillion and an exchange rate of 9,155 rupiah to one U.S. dollar, the exchange rate as of September 30, 2004, a one-thousand-rupiah increase in the exchange rate would result in an approximate $14 million decrease in aggregate annual operating costs.  A one-thousand-rupiah decrease in the exchange rate would result in an approximate $17 million increase in aggregate annual operating costs.  


PT Freeport Indonesia purchases certain materials and supplies denominated in Australian dollars.  At estimated annual aggregate Australian dollar payments of 200 million, a $0.01 increase or decrease in the exchange rate would result in an approximate $2 million change in aggregate annual costs.  The exchange rate at September 30, 2004 was $0.72 to one Australian dollar.


At times, PT Freeport Indonesia has entered into foreign currency forward contracts to hedge a portion of its aggregate anticipated Indonesian rupiah and Australian dollar payments.  As of September 30, 2004, PT Freeport Indonesia had foreign currency contracts to hedge 450.0 billion in rupiah payments from April 2005 through December 2005, or approximately 34 percent of aggregate projected rupiah payments for 2005, at an average exchange rate of 10,059 rupiah to one U.S. dollar.  PT Freeport Indonesia accounts for these contracts as cash flow hedges.


Exploration Activities  

PT-FI has completed drilling and received all assays for a 47,650-meter, 92-hole diamond drilling program at Deep MLZ.  The drilling intercepted mineralized zones in 75 of the 92 holes with lengths ranging from 24 meters to 737 meters (average of 326 meters) with interval grades ranging from 0.41 percent to 7.11 percent copper equivalent (averaging approximately 1.8 percent copper equivalent).  PT-FI is completing engineering studies required for reserve determination and expects to add ore reserves on the eastern side of the target by year-end 2004.  Additional engineering studies evaluating drill results on the western side of the Deep MLZ are expected to be completed in 2005.  Pursuant to FCX’s joint venture arrangements with Rio Tinto, Rio Tinto is entitled to a 40 percent interest in any Deep MLZ reserve additions.  Copper equivalent percentage is used to express the relative value of multi-metal ores in terms of one metal, in this case, copper.  The calculation expresses the relative value of the ore using estimates of contained metal quantities, metal prices, recovery rates, treatment charges and royalties.  


The Indonesian government previously approved a suspension of our field exploration activities outside of our current mining operations area, which have been in suspension since 2000 due to safety and security issues and uncertainty relating to a possible conflict between our mining and exploration rights in certain forest areas covered by our Contracts of Work and an Indonesian law enacted in 1999 prohibiting open-pit mining in forest preservation areas.  Recent Indonesian legislation allows for open-pit mining in PT Freeport Indonesia’s Block B area.  The current suspensions were granted for one-year periods ending February 26, 2005, for Block B; March 31, 2004, for PT Nabire Bakti Mining; and November 15, 2004, for Eastern Minerals.  We are currently seeking renewal for the PT Nabire Bakti Mining suspension and expect to continue to seek suspension renewals for additional one-year periods for each of the suspended areas as required.  


SMELTING AND REFINING

Our investment in smelters serves an important role in our concentrate marketing strategy.  PT Freeport Indonesia generally sells approximately one-half of its concentrate production to its affiliated smelters, Atlantic Copper and PT Smelting, and the remainder to other customers.   


Treatment charges for smelting and refining copper concentrates represent a cost to PT Freeport Indonesia and income to Atlantic Copper and PT Smelting.  Through downstream integration, we are assured placement of a significant portion of our concentrate production and achieve operating hedges for treatment and refining charges. While low smelting and refining charges in recent times adversely affected the operating results of Atlantic Copper, they benefited the operating results of PT Freeport Indonesia’s mining operations.  Treatment and refining charge rates are currently increasing.  Higher future treatment and refining charges will benefit our smelter operations and adversely affect our mining operations.  Taking into account taxes and minority ownership interests, an equivalent change in smelting and refining charge rates would essentially offset in our consolidated operating results.


Atlantic Copper Operating Results

($ In Millions)

Third Quarter

Nine Months

2004

2003

2004

2003

Gross profit (loss)

$(8.3

)

$(3.1

)

$(53.1

)

$(1.5

)

Add depreciation and amortization expense

7.1

7.1

21.2

21.2

Other

0.4

1.7

4.4

2.0

Cash margin (deficit)

$(0.8

)

$5.7

$(27.5

)a

$21.7

Operating loss

$(11.6

)

$(5.9

)

$(62.5

)

$(9.5

)

Concentrate and scrap treated (metric tons)

231,300

253,000

547,900

739,700

Anodes production (000s of pounds)

145,200

173,400

352,100

496,800

Cathodes, wire rod and wire sales (000s of pounds)

128,100

127,100

342,500

406,000

Gold sales in anodes and slimes (ounces)

72,200

213,600

249,000

661,200

a.   Includes costs related to Atlantic Copper’s 51-day major maintenance turnaround totaling $27.5 million.


Atlantic Copper returned to normal operations on May 12, 2004 following the completion of a 51-day scheduled major maintenance turnaround that began in March 2004, adversely affecting nine-month 2004 results. Atlantic Copper’s operating cash margin was a $0.8 million deficit in the 2004 quarter, compared with a positive $5.7 million in the 2003 quarter, and a $27.5 million deficit in the first nine months of 2004, compared with a positive $21.7 million in the first nine months of 2003.  The deficit in the first nine months of 2004 was primarily because of Atlantic Copper’s major maintenance turnaround.


Atlantic Copper treated 231,300 metric tons of concentrate and scrap in the third quarter of 2004, compared with 253,000 metric tons in the year ago period.  For the nine-month periods, concentrate and scrap treated totaled 547,900 metric tons in 2004 and 739,700 metric tons in 2003.  Cathode production totaled 131.0 million pounds and sales totaled 128.1 million pounds during the third quarter of 2004, compared with 135.3 million pounds and 127.1 million pounds during the third quarter of 2003.  For the nine-month periods, cathode production totaled 327.3 million pounds and sales totaled 342.5 million pounds during 2004, compared with 408.1 million pounds and 406.0 million pounds during 2003.  Atlantic Copper’s cathode cash production costs per pound of copper, before currency hedging, averaged $0.16 in the third quarter of 2004, $0.15 in the third quarter of 2003, $0.28 in the first nine months of 2004 and $0.16 in the first nine months of 2003.  Unit costs for 2004 were adversely affected by lower production and higher costs from the maintenance turnaround.  Treatment charges Atlantic Copper receives continued at historically low levels averaging $0.15 per pound for the third quarter and first nine months of 2004 and $0.16 per pound for the third quarter and first nine months of 2003.  


Atlantic Copper reported operating losses of $11.6 million for the third quarter of 2004, $5.9 million for the third quarter of 2003, $62.5 million for the first nine months of 2004 and $9.5 million for the first nine months of 2003. The higher losses in the third quarter of 2004 reflect lower treatment charges and higher unit costs partly caused by lower production levels, compared with the third quarter of 2003.  Atlantic Copper’s fourth quarter production is expected to be adversely affected by 4 days of outages in October for a labor strike at its Huelva smelter facility and 4 days for repairs to its waste heat boiler.  Atlantic Copper has undertaken a cost reduction and operational enhancement plan, which is currently being implemented.   T he plan has been designed to reduce unit costs , including a reduction in workforce, and enhance operating and administrative efficiencies.  Atlantic Copper expects to record an approximate $14 million charge related to workforce reductions expected to be implemented in the fourth quarter of 2004 .   Projected annual cost savings resulting from these reductions approximate $6 million.   The effect of the 51-day turnaround on Atlantic Copper’s results for the first nine months of 2004 was approximately $40 million, including an approximate $12 million impact from lower volumes.  Major maintenance turnarounds of this duration typically occur approximately every nine years for Atlantic Copper, with significantly shorter term maintenance turnarounds occurring in the interim.  


We defer recognizing profits on PT Freeport Indonesia’s sales to Atlantic Copper and on 25 percent of PT Freeport Indonesia’s sales to PT Smelting until the final sales to third parties occur.  Changes in these net deferrals resulted in reductions to our operating income totaling $15.1 million ($7.7 million to net income) in the third quarter of 2004 and an addition of $23.6 million ($12.1 million to net income) in the first nine months of 2004.  The third quarter reduction in net income was lower than previous estimates primarily because of the timing of sales to affiliated smelters.  In the third quarter of 2003, changes in these net deferrals increased operating income by $4.8 million ($2.5 million to net income) and reduced operating income by $31.1 million ($16.0 million) in the first nine months of 2003.  


At September 30, 2004, our net deferred profits on PT Freeport Indonesia concentrate inventories at Atlantic Copper and PT Smelting to be recognized in future periods’ net income totaled $16.8 million.  We expect that the net deferral of profits on PT Freeport Indonesia’s sales to Atlantic Copper and PT Smelting will result in a reduction to net income in the fourth quarter of 2004 as PT Freeport Indonesia’s production and shipments to affiliated smelters increase.  Based on current copper and gold prices and shipping schedules, we estimate the change in deferred intercompany profits on PT Freeport Indonesia sales to Atlantic Copper and PT Smelting will approximate a $19 million reduction to net income in the fourth quarter of 2004.  The estimated change in deferred intercompany profits may differ substantially because of changes in the timing of shipments to affiliated smelters and metal prices.


The majority of Atlantic Copper’s revenues are denominated in U.S. dollars; however, operating costs, other than concentrate purchases, and certain asset and liability accounts are denominated in euros.  Atlantic Copper’s estimated annual euro payments total approximately 100 million euros.  At a September 30, 2004, exchange rate of $1.24 per euro, a $0.05 increase or decrease in the exchange rate would result in an approximate $5 million change in annual costs.


In March 2004, we used a portion of the proceeds from the sale of our 6⅞% Senior Notes to repay $162.4 million of Atlantic Copper borrowings (see “Capital Resources and Liquidity – Financing Activities”). Atlantic Copper recorded a $3.7 million ($0.02 per share) accounting charge for losses on early extinguishment of debt.  As of September 30, 2004, FCX’s net investment in Atlantic Copper totaled approximately $119 million, FCX had $189.5 million of loans outstanding to Atlantic Copper and Atlantic Copper’s debt under financing arrangements that are nonrecourse to FCX totaled $60.5 million.


Atlantic Copper had euro-denominated net monetary liabilities at September 30, 2004, totaling $41.3 million recorded at an exchange rate of $1.24 per euro.  The exchange rate was $1.22 per euro at June 30, 2004, and $1.26 per euro at December 31, 2003.  Adjustments to Atlantic Copper’s euro-denominated net liabilities to reflect changes in the exchange rate are recorded in other income (expense) and totaled $(0.8) million in the third quarter of 2004, $(1.5) million in the third quarter of 2003, $1.1 million in the first nine months of 2004 and $(7.8) million in the first nine months of 2003.


PT Smelting Operating Results  

    
 

Third Quarter

 

Nine Months

 

2004

 

2003

 

2004

 

2003

 

(In Millions)

PT Freeport Indonesia sales to PT Smelting

$181.6

 

$154.5

 

$474.8

 

$430.4

Equity in PT Smelting earnings (losses)

2.7

 

1.3

 

(0.2

)

4.2

PT Freeport Indonesia operating profits deferred

0.5

 

1.2

 

2.5

 

5.6


PT Freeport Indonesia accounts for its 25 percent interest in PT Smelting using the equity method and provides PT Smelting with substantially all of its concentrate requirements.  During the second quarter of 2004, PT Smelting completed a 31-day maintenance turnaround and resumed normal operations.  Major maintenance turnarounds of this duration typically occur approximately every four years for PT Smelting, with significantly shorter term maintenance turnarounds in the interim.  PT Smelting also completed a refinery expansion during the maintenance turnaround, increasing its production capacity to approximately 250,000 metric tons of copper metal per year.  PT Smelting treated 228,100 metric tons of concentrate (a quarterly record) in the third quarter of 2004, 209,900 metric tons in the 2003 quarter, 530,800 metric tons in the first nine months of 2004 and 630,600 metric tons in the first nine months of 2003.  


PT Smelting reported record quarterly production of 136.3 million pounds of cathodes and record quarterly sales of 135.8 million pounds of cathodes in the third quarter of 2004, compared with production of 125.2 million pounds and sales of 123.6 million pounds during the third quarter of 2003.  For the first nine months of 2004, cathode production totaled 320.2 million pounds and sales totaled 317.5 million pounds, compared with nine-month 2003 totals of 370.3 million pounds and 368.6 million pounds.  PT Smelting’s unit cathode cash production costs averaged $0.09 per pound in the third quarter of 2004, $0.10 per pound in the third quarter of 2003, $0.13 per pound in the first nine months of 2004 and $0.10 per pound in the first nine months of 2003.  The nine-month 2004 unit costs reflect the impact of lower volumes in 2004 resulting from the scheduled maintenance turnaround.  

  

OTHER FINANCIAL RESULTS


The FCX/Rio Tinto joint ventures incurred $3.2 million of aggregate exploration costs in the third quarter of 2004, $3.0 million in the third quarter of 2003, $11.1 million in the first nine months of 2004 and $8.2 million in the first nine months of 2003.  Our exploration program for 2004 is focused on the Block A area of our Contract of Work, primarily the Deep MLZ target discussed earlier, that have potential to add reserves and to provide information to support future exploration.  Our share of these exploration costs , which are charged to expense , totaled $2.0 million in the third quarter of 2004, $1.7 million in the third quarter of 2003, $7.0 million in the first nine months of 2004 and $5.0 million in the first nine months of 2003.  


General and administrative expenses were $26.2 million in the third quarter of 2004 and $16.4 million in the third quarter of 2003.  For the first nine months of 2004, general and administrative expenses totaled $64.3 million, compared with $53.6 million for the first nine months of 2003.  The cost of our outstanding stock appreciation rights varies with the price of our common stock price, resulting in increases in general and administrative expenses totaling $3.3 million in the third quarter of 2004, $2.2 million in the third quarter of 2003, $2.0 million in the first nine months of 2004 and $4.0 million in the first nine months of 2003.  Our parent company charges PT Freeport Indonesia for the in-the-money value of exercised employee stock options.  These charges are eliminated in consolidation; however, PT Freeport Indonesia shares these charges with Rio Tinto and Rio Tinto’s reimbursements reduce our consolidated general and administrative expenses.  General and administrative expenses are net of Rio Tinto’s share of joint venture reimbursements for employee stock option exercises , which had an insignificant impact on third-quarter 2004 general and administrative expenses, but reduced general and administrative expenses by $7.4 million in the third quarter of 2003, $4.8 million in the first nine months of 2004 and $9.7 million in the first nine months of 2003.  In addition, in accordance with our joint venture agreement, Rio Tinto’s percentage share of general and administrative expenses in the 2004 periods is lower because of lower metal sales volumes.


Total interest cost (before capitalization) was $38.6 million in the third quarter of 2004, $48.8 million in the third quarter of 2003, $112.5 million in the first nine months of 2004 and $158.2 million in the first nine months of 2003.  Interest costs decreased in 2004 primarily as a result of lower debt , including  the conversions totaling all of the $603.8 million of our 8¼% Convertible Senior Notes into 42.3 million shares of common stock (see “Capital Resources and Liquidity – Financing Activities”).  First-quarter 2004 conversions of 8¼% Convertible Senior Notes also resulted in a $6.4 million reduction of interest expense for previously accrued amounts that were reclassified to losses on early extinguishment and conversion of debt.  Capitalized interests costs totaled $0.8 million in the third quarter of 2004, $0.7 million in the third quarter of 2003, $1.9 million in the first nine months of 2004 and $2.1 million in the first nine months of 2003.  


CAPITAL RESOURCES AND LIQUIDITY


Operating Activities  

Net cash provided by operations totaled $127.5 million during the third quarter of 2004, including $17.6 million received as our share of a partial advance payment from insurance coverage related to the fourth-quarter 2003 slippage and debris flow events, see discussion below, compared with $185.7 million in the third quarter of 2003. Net cash used in operating activities during the first nine months of 2004 totaled $61.4 million, including $199.9 million for working capital uses, compared with net operating cash flow provided by operating activities of $469.8 million, including $65.9 million for working capital uses, in the first nine months of 2003.  The decrease in 2004 from the prior year reflects significantly lower production and sales, the extended maintenance turnaround at Atlantic Copper and increased working capital requirements.  Although we have $195 million available under our revolving credit facility, no amounts have been borrowed under this facility.  At September 30, 2004, we had $314.1 million of cash and cash equivalents.  


Operating activities are expected to generate positive cash flows for the fourth quarter of 2004 and for the foreseeable future based on anticipated operating results and metal prices.  Using current sales estimates and assuming metals prices of $1.30 per pound of copper and $400 per ounce of gold, we expect our consolidated operating cash flows to total approximately $250 million in the fourth quarter of 2004, bringing currently estimated 2004 operating cash flows to approximately $190 million.  These amounts reflect estimated changes in working capital resulting from the significant estimated sales volumes in the fourth quarter.  Estimated operating cash flows for 2005 using current sales estimates and the above pricing would exceed $1 billion.  Each $0.10 per pound change in copper prices would affect 2005 cash flows by approximately $75 million and each $25 per ounce change in gold prices would affect 2005 cash flows by approximately $36 million.


PT Freeport Indonesia maintains property damage and business interruption insurance related to its operations.  We have notified our insurers of the October 9 and December 12, 2003 events and are continuing to review with them the potential coverage for our losses from those events.  PT Freeport Indonesia’s $17.6 million share of an insurance payment received in the third quarter of 2004 has not been recorded as income.   When contingencies relating to the insurance coverage are resolved , we will include our share of the ultimate proceeds, net of taxes, in income.  Any losses covered by insurance would be subject to a substantial deductible and various coverage limits.  No assurance can be provided at this time about the extent to which our losses will be covered by insurance.


Investing Activities  

Capital expenditures for PT Freeport Indonesia and Atlantic Copper totaled $108.4 million for the first nine months of 2004, compared to the $96.3 million reported in the first nine months of 2003.  Total capital expenditures for 2004 are expected to approximate $165 million, including approximately $24 million for long-term development projects, and are expected to total approximately $155 million in 2005, including approximately $23 million for the DOZ expansion and $18 million for long-term development projects.  We expect to fund our remaining 2004 and 2005 capital expenditures with operating cash flows and available cash.  


We sold $6.7 million of our restricted investments in the first nine months of 2004 and $44.8 million in the first nine months of 2003 to pay scheduled semiannual interest due on our 8¼% Convertible Senior Notes. Conversions of the 8¼% Convertible Senior Notes during the first quarter of 2004 allowed us to sell an additional $15.1 million of our restricted investments.  In the first quarter of 2004, Atlantic Copper repaid a working capital revolving credit facility that was secured by certain copper concentrate inventory and $11.0 million of previously restricted cash became unrestricted.  As discussed below, in August 2003 we privately negotiated the early conversion of approximately 51 percent of our 8¼% Convertible Senior Notes.  Conversion of these notes allowed us to sell $27.0 million of our restricted investments.  


In July 2003, we acquired the 85.7 percent ownership interest in PT Puncakjaya Power owned by affiliates of Duke Energy Corporation for $68.1 million cash, net of $9.9 million of cash acquired.  PT Freeport Indonesia purchases power from Puncakjaya Power under infrastructure asset financing arrangements.  


In November 2004, a joint venture in which we own a 50 percent interest completed the sale to a real estate developer of a parcel of land in Arizona where the joint venture previously was engaged in a copper mining research project.  Our share of the net proceeds totaled approximately $21 million and we expect to recognize an approximate $20 million net gain after taxes in the fourth quarter of 2004. 


Financing Activities

We completed several financing transactions during the first nine months of 2004 to reduce interest costs and to improve our financial position.  In July 2004, Standard & Poor’s upgraded our corporate credit rating to “B+” from “B;” however, our rating remains limited by Indonesia’s sovereign rating.  In January 2004, we completed a tender offer and privately negotiated transactions for a portion of our remaining 8¼% Convertible Senior Notes due 2006 resulting in the early conversion of $226.1 million of notes into 15.8 million shares of our common stock.  We recorded a $10.9 million charge to losses on early extinguishment and conversion of debt in connection with these conversions.  The $10.9 million charge included $6.4 million of previously accrued interest costs, resulting in an equivalent reduction in interest expense.  In June 2004, we called for redemption on July 31, 2004 the remaining $66.5 million of 8¼% Convertible Senior Notes.  During July, all of the se notes were converted into 4.7 million shares of our common stock. As of July 31, 2004, all of the 8¼% Convertible Senior Notes , which totaled $603.8 million at issuance in 2001, had been converted to FCX common stock .


On February 3, 2004, we sold $350 million of 6⅞% Senior Notes due 2014 for net proceeds of $344.4 million. We used a portion of the proceeds to repay $162.4 million of Atlantic Copper borrowings and to refinance other FCX 2004 debt maturities.  Atlantic Copper recorded a $3.7 million charge to losses on early extinguishment of debt to accelerate amortization of deferred financing costs.  Interest on the notes is payable semiannually on February 1 and August 1 of each year, beginning August 1, 2004.  We may redeem some or all of the notes at our option at a make-whole redemption price prior to February 1, 2009, and afterwards at stated redemption prices.  The indenture governing the notes contains certain restrictions, including restrictions on incurring debt, creating liens, selling assets, entering into transactions with affiliates, paying cash dividends on common stock, repurchasing or redeeming common or preferred equity, prepaying subordinated debt and making investments.  During the second quarter of 2004, we purchased in the open market $9.7 million of the 6⅞% Senior Notes due 2014 for $8.8 million, which resulted in a gain of $0.8 million recorded as a reduction to losses on early extinguishment and conversion of debt, including related deferred financing cost.


On March 30, 2004, we sold 1.1 million shares of 5½% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock for $1.1 billion, with net proceeds totaling $1.067 billion.  Each share of preferred stock was initially convertible into 18.8019 shares of our common stock, equivalent to a conversion price of approximately $53.19 per common share.  The conversion rate is adjustable upon the occurrence of certain events, including an adjustment in any quarter that our common stock dividend exceeds $0.20 per share.  In October 2004, FCX’s Board of Directors increased our common stock dividend rate to $1.00 per annum and declared a $0.25 dividend payable on November 1, 2004.  As a result, each share of preferred stock is now convertible in 18.8252 shares of FCX common stock, equivalent to a conversion price of approximately $53.12 per common share.  Beginning March 30, 2009, we may redeem shares of the preferred stock by paying cash, our common stock or any combination thereof for $1,000 per share plus unpaid dividends, but only if our common stock price has exceeded 130 percent of the conversion price for at least 20 trading days within a period of 30 consecutive trading days immediately preceding the notice of redemption.  We used a portion of the proceeds from the sale to purchase 23.9 million shares of FCX common stock owned by Rio Tinto for $881.9 million (approximately $36.85 per share) and used the remainder for general corporate purposes.  Rio Tinto no longer owns any equity interest in FCX; however, it is still PT Freeport Indonesia’s joint venture partner.


As discussed above, we took steps to improve Atlantic Copper’s liquidity and financial position during the first quarter of 2004 and repaid $162.4 million of Atlantic Copper’s debt, reducing their third-party debt to $60.5 million at September 30, 2004.  In April 2004, we prepaid $66.2 million of our vendor equipment financing.  We have no amounts outstanding under our $195 million credit facility.  


As of September 30, 2004, we had total unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of $314.1 million and total outstanding debt of $2.0 billion.  In February 2003, our Board of Directors authorized the initiation of an annual cash dividend on our common stock of $0.36 per share ($0.09 payable quarterly), increased the dividend in October 2003 to an annual rate of $0.80 per share and increased the dividend again in October 2004 to an annual rate of $1.00 per share.  The dividend will be payable quarterly ($0.25 per share) and the increase has been reflected beginning with the November 1, 2004 dividend payment.  Dividend payments on common stock totaled $109.4 million in the first nine months of 2004 and $26.3 million in the first nine months of 2003.  The declaration and payment of dividends is at the discretion of the Board and will depend on our financial results, cash requirements, future prospects and other factors deemed relevant by the Board.  Pursuant to the restricted payment covenants in our 10⅛% Senior Notes and 6⅞% Senior Notes, the amount available for dividend payments and other restricted payments as of September 30, 2004, was approximately $460 million.  


On August 1, 2004, we funded the sixth of eight scheduled annual redemption payments on our Silver-Denominated Preferred Stock for $13.9 million.  The mandatory redemption resulted in a $12.5 million decrease in debt and a hedging loss to revenues of $1.4 million ($0.7 million to net income or less than $0.01 per share) in the third quarter of 2004.


In 2003, the Board approved a new open market share purchase program for up to 20 million shares, which replaced our previous program.  Under this new program, we acquired 3.4 million shares during the second quarter of 2004 for $99.5 million, $29.39 per share, and 16.6 million shares remain available.  No shares were purchased during the third quarter of 2004 and through November 3, 2004.  The timing of future purchases of our common stock is dependent on many factors including the price of our common shares, our cash flow and financial position, and general economic and market conditions.


During the first quarter of 2003, we completed two senior note offerings.  On January 29, 2003, we sold $500 million of 10⅛% Senior Notes due 2010.  Interest on the notes is payable semiannually on February 1 and August 1 of each year.  We may redeem some or all of the notes at our option at a make-whole redemption price prior to February 1, 2007, and afterwards at stated redemption prices.  The indenture governing the notes contains certain restrictions on incurring debt, creating liens, entering into sale leaseback transactions, taking actions to limit distributions from certain subsidiaries, selling assets, entering into transactions with affiliates, paying cash dividends on common stock, repurchasing or redeeming common or preferred equity, prepaying subordinated debt and making investments.  


On February 11, 2003, we sold $575 million of 7% Convertible Senior Notes due 2011.  Interest on the notes is payable semiannually on March 1 and September 1 of each year.  The notes are convertible, at the option of the holder, at any time on or prior to maturity into shares of FCX’s common stock at a conversion price of $30.87 per share, which is equal to a conversion rate of approximately 32.39 shares of common stock per $1,000 principal amount of notes.  We used a portion of the $1.046 billion in net proceeds from the two first-quarter 2003 note offerings to repay all of the then-outstanding amounts under our bank credit facilities.


In April 2003, we concluded tender offers to purchase any and all of our outstanding 7.20% Senior Notes due 2026 and our 7.50% Senior Notes due 2006.  Of the $450 million outstanding at March 31, 2003, notes with a face amount of $234.0 million were tendered for $239.0 million cash.  We recorded a charge to other expenses of $6.6 million ($4.8 million to net income or $0.03 per share) in the second quarter of 2003 associated with these early extinguishments of debt.  In July 2003, we purchased an additional $76.0 million face amount of our 7.20% Senior Notes for $77.2 million, and recorded a $1.3 million ($0.9 million to net income or less than $0.01 per share) charge to losses on extinguishment of debt in the third quarter of 2003.  In October 2003, the holders of $68.9 million of the remaining $73.5 million of outstanding 7.20% Senior Notes elected early repayment in November 2003.


On August 1, 2003, we redeemed 6.0 million shares of Gold-Denominated Preferred Stock for $210.5 million and partially redeemed our Silver-Denominated Preferred Stock for $10.8 million.  The mandatory redemptions resulted in a $245.1 million decrease in debt and a hedging gain to revenues of $23.8 million ($12.2 million to net income or $0.06 per share) for the third quarter of 2003.


In August 2003, we privately negotiated the early conversion of approximately 51 percent of our 8¼% Convertible Senior Notes, which resulted in a $311.1 million reduction in debt.  The holders converted their notes into 21.76 million shares of FCX’s common stock and received $23.0 million in cash from restricted cash held in escrow for payment of future interest on these notes.  We recorded charges totaling $24.7 million ($24.2 million to net income or $0.12 per share) related to the conversion of the 8¼% Convertible Senior Notes.


In October 2003, FCX and PT Freeport Indonesia entered into an amended revolving credit facility that provides a commitment of $195 million, which may be increased to $350 million with additional lender commitments, and matures in September 2006.  We recorded charges totaling $5.6 million ($3.7 million to net income or $0.02 per share) in the third quarter of 2003 to accelerate amortization of deferred financing costs related to the prior credit facility.


Below is a summary (in millions) of our debt maturities, including mandatorily redeemable preferred stock, based on loan balances as of September 30, 2004, and the September 30, 2004, London P.M. gold fixing price for one ounce of gold ($415.65) and the London silver fixing price for one ounce of silver ($6.67) in the London bullion market (which determine the preferred stock redemption amounts).  


 

2004

 

2005

 

2006

 

2007

 

2008

 

Thereafter

PT Puncakjaya Power bank debt

$

12.4

 

$

51.6

 

$

37.2

 

$

28.0

 

$

36.0

 

$

34.2

Redeemable preferred stocka

 

  -

  

15.9

  

194.8

  

-

  

-

  

-

Atlantic Copper debt

 

2.5

  

3.7

  

0.2

  

54.2

  

-

  

-

Equipment loans and other

 

1.6

  

6.4

  

13.3

  

13.5

  

13.6

  

27.1

7.50% Senior Notes due 2006

 

  -

  

  -

  

66.5

  

-

  

-

  

-

10⅛% Senior Notes due 2010

 

  -

  

  -

  

  -

  

-

  

-

  

500.0

7% Convertible Senior Notes due 2011b

 

  -

  

  -

  

  -

  

-

  

-

  

575.0

6⅞% Senior Notes due 2014

 

  -

  

  -

  

  -

  

-

  

-

  

340.3

7.20% Senior Notes due 2026

 

  -

  

  -

  

  -

  

-

  

-

  

4.5

        Total debt maturities

$

16.5

 

$

77.6

 

$

312.0

 

$

95.7

 

$

49.6

 

$

1,481.1


a.

Represents $15.9 million in 2005 and 2006 for our Silver-Denominated Preferred Stock and $178.9 million in February 2006 for our Gold-Denominated Preferred Stock, Series II.

b.

Conversion price is $30.87 per share.


Other Contractual Obligations

In August 2004, we entered into contracts for two aircraft to replace existing aircraft provid ing transportation services for our Indonesian operations.  Obligations under these contracts are accounted for as operating leases and rental payments total $1.6 million annually for five years.


CAUTIONARY STATEMENT


Our discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements in which we discuss our expectations regarding future performance.  Forward-looking statements are all statements other than historical facts, such as those regarding anticipated sales volumes, ore grades, commodity prices, royalties costs, unit cash production costs, capital expenditures, cash flows, debt maturities and other financial commitments.  We caution you that these statements are not guarantees of future performance, and our actual results may differ materially from those projected, anticipated or assumed in the forward-looking statements.  Important factors that can cause our actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements include unanticipated mining, milling and other processing problems, accidents that lead to personal injury or property damage, persistent commodity price reductions, changes in political, social or economic circumstances in our area of operations, variances in ore grades, labor relations, adverse weather conditions, the speculative nature of mineral exploration, fluctuations in interest rates and other adverse financial market conditions, and other factors described in more detail under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003.  


PRODUCT REVENUES AND PRODUCTION COSTS


PT Freeport Indonesia Product Revenues and Net Cash Production Costs

Net cash production costs per pound of copper is a measure intended to provide investors with information about the cash generating capacity of our mining operations in Indonesia.  This measure is presented by other copper and gold mining companies, although our measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.


We calculate gross profit per pound of copper under a “by-product” method, while the copper, gold and silver contained within our concentrates are treated as co-products in our financial statements.  We use the by-product method in our presentation of gross profit per pound of copper because (1) the majority of our revenues are copper revenues, (2) we produce and sell one product, concentrates, which contains all three metals and (3) it is not possible to specifically assign our costs to revenues from the copper, gold and silver we produce in concentrates.  In the co-product method presentation below, costs are allocated to the different products based on their relative revenue values.  Presentations under both methods are presented below along with a reconciliation to amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements.


Three Months Ended September 30, 2004

    
 

By-Product

 

Co-Product Method

 

(In Thousands)

Method

 

Copper

 

Gold

 

Silver

 

Total

 

Revenues

$

349,395

 

$

349,395

 

$

139,919

 

$

5,249

 

$

494,563

 
                

Site production and delivery

 

196,635

  

138,917

  

55,631

  

2,087

  

196,635

 

Gold and silver credits

 

(145,168

)

 

-    

  

-    

  

-    

  

-    

 

Treatment charges

 

51,367

  

36,290

  

14,532

  

545

  

51,367

 

Royalty on metals

 

11,601

  

8,196

  

3,282

  

123

  

11,601

 

Net cash production costs

 

114,435

  

183,403

  

73,445

  

2,755

  

259,603

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

46,135

  

32,593

  

13,052

  

490

  

46,135

 

Reclamation, noncash and other

 

2,237

  

1,580

  

633

  

24

  

2,237

 

Total production costs

 

162,807

  

217,576

  

87,130

  

3,269

  

307,975

 

Adjustments, primarily for copper pricing on prior period open sales and silver hedging

 

16,281

  

17,722

  

-    

  

(1,441

)

 

16,281

 

Gross profit

$

202,869

 

$

149,541

 

$

52,789

 

$

539

 

$

202,869

 
                

Pounds of copper sold (000s)

 

261,900

  

261,900

          

Ounces of gold sold

       

350,000

       

Ounces of silver sold

          

837,800

    
                


Gross profit per pound of copper (cents)/per ounce of gold and silver ($):

        

Revenues

 

134.0

  

134.0

  

398.89

  

5.25

    
                

Site production and delivery

 

75.1

  

53.0

  

158.95

  

2.49

    

Gold and silver credits

 

(55.4

)

 

-    

  

-    

  

-    

    

Treatment charges

 

19.6

  

13.9

  

41.52

  

0.65

    

Royalty on metals

 

4.4

  

3.1

  

9.38

  

0.15

    

Net cash production costs

 

43.7

  

70.0

  

209.85

  

3.29

    

Depreciation and amortization

 

17.6

  

12.4

  

37.29

  

0.58

    

Reclamation, noncash and other

 

0.9

  

0.6

  

1.81

  

0.03

    

Total production costs

 

62.2

  

83.0

  

248.95

  

3.90

    

Adjustments, primarily for copper pricing on prior period open sales and silver hedging

 

5.7

  

6.1

  

0.88

  

(0.71

)

   

Gross profit per pound/ounce

 

77.5

  

57.1

  

150.82

  

0.64

    


Reconciliation to Amounts Reported

               

(In Thousands)

Revenues

 

Production and Delivery

 

Depreciation and Amortization

       

Totals presented above

$

494,563

 

$

196,635

 

$

46,135

       

Reclamation, noncash and other per above

 

N/A

  

2,237

  

N/A

       

Less:    Treatment charges per above

 

(51,367

)

 

N/A

  

N/A

       

Royalty per above

 

(11,601

)

 

N/A

  

N/A

       

Adjustments, primarily for copper pricing on prior period open sales and hedging per above

 

16,281

  

N/A

  

N/A

       

Mining and exploration segment

 

447,876

  

198,872

  

46,135

       

Smelting and refining segment

 

222,184

  

223,384

  

7,114

       

Eliminations and other

 

(69,504

)

 

(54,240

)

 

2,506

       

As reported in FCX’s consolidated financial statements

$

600,556

 

$

368,016

 

$

55,755

       

 


Three Months Ended September 30, 2003

    
 

By-Product

 

Co-Product Method

 

(In Thousands)

Method

 

Copper

 

Gold

 

Silver

 

Total

 

Revenues

$

277,744

 

$

277,744

 

$

282,723

 

$

5,891

 

$

566,358

 
                

Site production and delivery

 

164,087

  

80,469

  

81,911

  

1,707

  

164,087

 

Gold and silver credits

 

(288,614

)

 

-    

  

-    

  

-    

  

-    

 

Treatment charges

 

61,656

  

30,236

  

30,779

  

641

  

61,656

 

Royalty on metals

 

8,844

  

4,337

  

4,415

  

92

  

8,844

 

Net cash production costs (credits)

 

(54,027

)

 

115,042

  

117,105

  

2,440

  

234,587

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

53,747

  

26,358

  

26,830

  

559

  

53,747

 

Reclamation, noncash and other

 

785

  

385

  

392

  

8

  

785

 

Total production costs

 

505

  

141,785

  

144,327

  

3,007

  

289,119

 

Adjustments, primarily for copper pricing on prior period open sales and gold/silver hedging

 

34,498

  

10,666

  

22,110

  

1,722

  

34,498

 

Gross profit

$

311,737

 

$

146,625

 

$

160,506

 

$

4,606

 

$

311,737

 
                

Pounds of copper sold (000)

 

344,900

  

344,900

          

Ounces of gold sold

       

763,500

       

Ounces of silver sold

          

1,182,300

    
                

Gross profit per pound of copper (cents)/per ounce of gold and silver ($):

        

Revenues

 

80.6

  

80.6

  

387.75

  

5.25

    
                

Site production and delivery

 

47.5

  

23.3

  

107.28

  

1.44

    

Gold and silver credits

 

(83.7

)

 

-    

  

-    

  

-    

    

Treatment charges

 

17.9

  

8.8

  

40.31

  

0.54

    

Royalty on metals

 

2.6

  

1.3

  

5.78

  

0.08

    

Net cash production costs (credits)

 

(15.7

)

 

33.4

  

153.37

  

2.06

    

Depreciation and amortization

 

15.6

  

7.6

  

35.14

  

0.47

    

Reclamation, noncash and other

 

0.2

  

0.1

  

0.51

  

0.01

    

Total production costs

 

0.1

  

41.1

  

189.02

  

2.54

    

Adjustments, primarily for copper pricing on prior period open sales and gold/silver hedging

 

9.9

  

3.0

  

11.49

  

1.19

    

Gross profit per pound/ounce

 

90.4

  

42.5

  

210.22

  

3.90

    

Reconciliation to Amounts Reported

               

(In Thousands)


Revenues

 

Production and Delivery

 

Depreciation and Amortization

       

Totals presented above

$

566,358

 

$

164,087

 

$

53,747

       

Reclamation, noncash and other per above

 

N/A

  

785

  

N/A

       

Less:  Treatment charges per above

 

(61,656

)

 

N/A

  

N/A

       

Royalty per above

 

(8,844

)

 

N/A

  

N/A

       

Reclamation costs incurred

 

N/A

  

(298

)

 

N/A

       

Adjustments, primarily for copper pricing on prior period open sales and hedging per above

 

34,498

  

N/A

  

N/A

       

Mining and exploration segment

 

530,356

  

164,574

  

53,747

       

Smelting and refining segment

 

202,891

  

198,872

  

7,067

       

Eliminations and other

 

(101,257

)

 

(99,819

)

 

3,165

       

As reported in FCX’s consolidated financial statements

$

631,990

 

$

263,627

 

$

63,979

       


Nine Months Ended September 30, 2004

    
 

By-Product

 

Co-Product Method

 

(In Thousands)

Method

 

Copper

 

Gold

 

Silver

 

Total

 

Revenues

$

755,834

 

$

755,834

 

$

327,229

 

$

13,991

 

$

1,097,054

 
                

Site production and delivery

 

520,180

  

358,387

  

155,159

  

6,634

  

520,180

 

Gold and silver credits

 

(341,220

)

 

-    

  

-    

  

-    

  

-    

 

Treatment charges

 

118,759

  

81,821

  

35,423

  

1,515

  

118,759

 

Royalty on metals

 

24,323

  

16,758

  

7,255

  

310

  

24,323

 

Net cash production costs

 

322,042

  

456,966

  

197,837

  

8,459

  

663,262

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

96,738

  

66,649

  

28,855

  

1,234

  

96,738

 

Reclamation, noncash and other

 

5,207

  

3,587

  

1,554

  

66

  

5,207

 

Total production costs

 

423,987

  

527,202

  

228,246

  

9,759

  

765,207

 

Adjustments, primarily for copper pricing on prior period open sales and silver hedging

 

11,929

  

13,370

  

-    

  

(1,441

)

 

11,929

 

Gross profit

$

343,776

 

$

242,002

 

$

98,983

 

$

2,791

 

$

343,776

 
                

Pounds of copper sold (000s)

 

572,400

  

572,400

          

Ounces of gold sold

       

824,900

       

Ounces of silver sold

          

2,216,000

    
                

Gross profit per pound of copper (cents)/per ounce of gold and silver ($):

        

Revenues

 

131.1

  

131.1

  

396.33

  

5.54

    
                

Site production and delivery

 

90.9

  

62.6

  

188.09

  

2.99

    

Gold and silver credits

 

(59.6

)

 

-    

  

-    

  

-    

    

Treatment charges

 

20.7

  

14.3

  

42.94

  

0.68

    

Royalty on metals

 

4.2

  

2.9

  

8.80

  

0.14

    

Net cash production costs

 

56.2

  

79.8

  

239.83

  

3.81

    

Depreciation and amortization

 

16.9

  

11.6

  

34.98

  

0.56

    

Reclamation, noncash and other

 

0.9

  

0.6

  

1.88

  

0.03

    

Total production costs

 

74.0

  

92.0

  

276.69

  

4.40

    

Adjustments, primarily for copper pricing on prior period open sales and silver hedging

 

3.0

  

3.2

  

0.35

  

0.12

    

Gross profit per pound/ounce

 

60.1

  

42.3

  

119.99

  

1.26

    
                

Reconciliation to Amounts Reported

               

(In Thousands)

Revenues

 

Production and Delivery

 

Depreciation and Amortization

       

Totals presented above

$

1,097,054

 

$

520,180

 

$

96,738

       

Reclamation, noncash and other per above

 

N/A

  

5,207

  

N/A

       

Less:    Treatment charges per above

 

(118,759

)

 

N/A

  

N/A

       

Royalty per above

 

(24,323

)

 

N/A

  

N/A

       

Adjustments, primarily for copper pricing on prior period open sales and hedging per above

 

11,929

  

N/A

  

N/A

       

Mining and exploration segment

 

965,901

  

525,387

  

96,738

       

Smelting and refining segment

 

605,137

  

637,042

  

21,209

       

Eliminations and other

 

(123,963

)

 

(147,122

)

 

5,808

       

As reported in FCX’s consolidated financial statements

$

1,447,075

 

$

1,015,307

 

$

123,755

       


Nine Months Ended September 30, 2003

    
 

By-Product

 

Co-Product Method

 

(In Thousands)

Method

 

Copper

 

Gold

 

Silver

 

Total

 

Revenues

$

877,499

 

$

877,499

 

$

778,946

 

$

17,375

 

$

1,673,820

 
                

Site production and delivery

 

478,753

  

250,986

  

222,797

  

4,970

  

478,753

 

Gold and silver credits

 

(796,321

)

 

-    

  

-    

  

-    

  

-    

 

Treatment charges

 

199,828

  

104,760

  

92,994

  

2,074

  

199,828

 

Royalty on metals

 

25,498

  

13,367

  

11,866

  

265

  

25,498

 

Net cash production costs (credits)

 

(92,242

)

 

369,113

  

327,657

  

7,309

  

704,079

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

168,679

  

88,430

  

78,498

  

1,751

  

168,679

 

Reclamation, noncash and other

 

11,028

  

5,781

  

5,133

  

114

  

11,028

 

Total production costs

 

87,465

  

463,324

  

411,288

  

9,174

  

883,786

 

Adjustments, primarily for copper pricing on prior period open sales and gold/silver hedging

 

36,586

  

12,754

  

22,110

  

1,722

  

36,586

 

Gross profit

$

826,620

 

$

426,929

 

$

389,768

 

$

9,923

 

$

826,620

 
                

Pounds of copper sold (000)

 

1,132,100

  

1,132,100

          

Ounces of gold sold

       

2,196,600

       

Ounces of silver sold

          

3,726,900

    
                

Gross profit per pound of copper (cents)/per ounce of gold and silver ($):

        

Revenues

 

77.4

  

77.4

  

364.04

  

5.10

    
                

Site production and delivery

 

42.3

  

22.2

  

101.43

  

1.33

    

Gold and silver credits

 

(70.3

)

 

-    

  

-    

  

-    

    

Treatment charges

 

17.7

  

9.3

  

42.34

  

0.56

    

Royalty on metals

 

2.3

  

1.2

  

5.40

  

0.07

    

Net cash production costs (credits)

 

(8.0

)

 

32.7

  

149.17

  

1.96

    

Depreciation and amortization

 

14.9

  

7.8

  

35.74

  

0.47

    

Reclamation, noncash and other

 

1.0

  

0.5

  

2.34

  

0.03

    

Total production costs

 

7.9

  

41.0

  

187.25

  

2.46

    

Adjustments, primarily for copper pricing on prior period open sales and gold/silver hedging

 

3.5

  

1.3

  

0.65

  

0.02

    

Gross profit per pound/ounce

 

73.0

  

37.7

  

177.44

  

2.66

    
                

Reconciliation to Amounts Reported

               

(In Thousands)


Revenues

 

Production and Delivery

 

Depreciation and Amortization

       

Totals presented above

$

1,673,820

 

$

478,753

 

$

168,679

       

Reclamation, noncash and other per above

 

N/A

  

11,028

  

N/A

       

Less:  Treatment charges per above

 

(199,828

)

 

N/A

  

N/A

       

Royalty per above

 

(25,498

)

 

N/A

  

N/A

       

Reclamation costs incurred

 

N/A

  

(1,141

)

 

N/A

       

Adjustments, primarily for copper pricing on prior period open sales and hedging per above

 

36,586

  

N/A

  

N/A

       

Mining and exploration segment

 

1,485,080

  

488,640

  

168,679

       

Smelting and refining segment

 

631,967

  

612,299

  

21,158

       

Eliminations and other

 

(351,006

)

 

(312,434

)

 

10,213

       

As reported in FCX’s consolidated financial statements

$

1,766,041

 

$

788,505

 

$

200,050

       


Atlantic Copper Cathode Cash Production Cost Per Pound Of Copper

Atlantic Copper cathode cash production cost per pound of copper is a measure intended to provide investors with information about the costs associated with our smelting operations in Spain.  Other smelting companies present this measure, although our measure may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.


Below is a reconciliation of our smelting and refining segment production costs reported in our consolidated financial statements to the production costs used to calculate Atlantic Copper’s cathode cash production cost per pound of copper (in thousands, except per pound amounts):


 

Three Months Ended

September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 
 

2004

 

2003

 

2004

 

2003

 

Smelting and refining segment production costs reported in FCX’s consolidated financial statements

$

223,384

 

$

198,872

 

$

637,042

 

a

$

612,299

 

Less:

            

Raw material purchase costs

 

(36,358

)

 

(82,267

)

 

(204,236

)

 

(252,865

)

Production costs of wire rod and wire

 

(127,938

)

 

(12,241

)

 

(212,228

)

 

(48,072

)

Production costs of anodes sold

 

(1,656

)

 

(4,532 

)

 

(2,070

)

 

(11,237

)

Currency hedging

 

-    

  

2,272

  

-    

  

6,388

 

Other

 

(430

)

 

(406

)

 

(5,195

)

 

110

 

Credits:

            

Gold and silver revenues

 

(30,081

)

 

(75,515

)

 

(104,104

)

 

(227,775

)

Acid and other by-product revenues

 

(5,713

)

 

(5,224

)

 

(18,085

)

 

(14,570

)

Production costs used in calculating cathode cash production cost per pound

$

21,208

 

$

20,959

 

$

91,124

 

$

64,278

 
             

Pounds of cathode produced

 

131,000

  

135,300

  

327,300

  

408,100

 
             

Cathode cash production cost per pound before hedging

$

0.16

 

$

0.15

 

$

0.28

 

$

0.16

 


a.

Includes $27.5 million, $0.14 per pound, for costs related to Atlantic Copper’s major maintenance turnaround.


PT Smelting Cathode Cash Production Cost Per Pound of Copper

PT Smelting cathode cash production cost per pound of copper is a measure intended to provide investors with information about the costs associated with our 25 percent-owned smelting operations in Indonesia.  Other smelting companies present this measure, although our measure may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.


Below is a reconciliation of the production costs used to calculate PT Smelting’s cathode cash production cost per pound of copper to our equity in PT Smelting earnings (losses) reported in our consolidated financial statements (in thousands, except per pound amounts):

 

 

Three Months Ended

September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 
 

2004

 

2003

 

2004

 

2003

 

Operating costs – PT Smelting (100%)

$

15,480

 

$

14,486

 

$

49,240

 

$

41,914

 

Add:   Gold and silver refining charges

 

1,327

  

1,734

  

3,039

  

4,597

 

Less:  Acid and other by-product revenues

 

(4,065

)

 

(2,949

)

 

(9,547

)

 

(6,837

)

Production cost of anodes sold

 

(162

)

 

       (626

)

 

(249

)

 

(3,834

)

Other

 

(428

)

 

(438

)

 

412

  

394

 

Production costs used in calculating cathode cash production cost per pound

$

12,152

 

$

12,207

 

$

42,895

 

$

36,234

 
             

Pounds of cathode produced

 

136,300

  

125,200

  

320,200

  

370,300

 
             

Cathode cash production cost per pound

$

0.09

 

$

0.10

 

$

0.13

 

$

0.10

 
             

Reconciliation to Amounts Reported

            

Operating costs per above

$

(15,480

)

$

(14,486

)

$

(49,240

)

$

(41,914

)

Other costs

 

(250,338

)

 

(198,487

)

 

(585,245

)

 

(565,766

)

Revenue and other income

 

276,771

  

218,389

  

634,297

  

625,366

 

PT Smelting net income (loss)

 

10,953

  

5,416

  

(188

)

 

17,686

 
             

PT Freeport Indonesia’s 25% equity interest

 

2,738

  

1,354

  

(47

)

 

4,422

 

Amortization of excess investment cost

 

(60

)

 

(60

)

 

(181

)

 

(181

)

        Equity in PT Smelting earnings (losses) reported in FCX’s consolidated financial statements

$

2,678

 

$

1,294

 

$

(228

)

$

4,241

 





Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risks.

There have been no significant changes in our market risks since the year ended December 31, 2003.  For more information, please read the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003.


Item 4.  Controls and Procedures.

Our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, with the participation of management, have evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report on Form 10-Q.  Based on their evaluation, they have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in timely alerting them to material information relating to FCX (including our consolidated subsidiaries) required to be disclosed in our periodic Securities and Exchange Commission filings.  There were no significant changes in our internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date of their evaluation.


PART II.   OTHER INFORMATION


Item 1.  Legal Proceedings.  

We are involved from time to time in various legal proceedings of a character normally incident to the ordinary course of our business.  We believe that potential liability in such proceedings would not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.  We maintain liability insurance to cover some, but not all, potential liabilities normally incident to the ordinary course of our business as well as other insurance coverage customary in our business, with coverage limits that we deem prudent.


Item 2.  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

(c)  In October 2003, our Board of Directors approved a new open market share purchase program for up to 20 million shares, which replaced our previous program.  The program does not have an expiration date.  No shares were purchased during the three-month period ended September 30, 2004, and 16.6 million shares remain available for purchase.


Item 6.

Exhibits.

The exhibits to this report are listed in the Exhibit Index beginning on Page E-1 hereof.











FREEPORT-McMoRan COPPER & GOLD INC.



SIGNATURE


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 hereunto duly authorized.



FREEPORT-McMoRan COPPER & GOLD INC.




By:

/s/ C. Donald Whitmire, Jr.           

    C. Donald Whitmire, Jr.

Vice President and

Controller-Financial Reporting

(authorized signatory and

Principal Accounting Officer)


Date:  November 3, 2004








Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.

EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit

Number

  Description


2.1

 

Distribution Agreement dated as of July 5, 1995, between Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FTX) and FCX. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.3 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 of FCX filed November 5, 2001 (the FCX November 5, 2001 Form S-3).  

    

3.1

 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of FCX.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1

to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of FCX for the quarter ended March 31, 2002 (the FCX 2002

First Quarter Form 10-Q).

    

3.2

 

Certificate of Amendment to Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of FCX.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of FCX for the quarter

ended March 31, 2003 (the FCX 2003 First Quarter Form 10-Q).

    
3.3   Amended By-Laws of FCX dated as of February 3, 2004.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of FCX for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, (the FCX 2003 Form 10-K).
    

4.1

 

Deposit Agreement dated as of January 15, 1994, among FCX, Mellon, as Depositary, and holders

of depositary receipts (Gold-Denominated II Depositary Receipts) evidencing certain Depositary

Shares, each of which, in turn, represented 0.05 shares of Gold-Denominated Preferred Stock II.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of FCX for the quarter

ended June 30, 2002 (the FCX 2002 Second Quarter Form 10-Q).

    

4.2

 

Form of Gold-Denominated II Depositary Receipt.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to the

FCX 2002 Second Quarter Form 10-Q.

    

4.3

 

Deposit Agreement dated as of July 25, 1994, among FCX, Mellon, as Depositary, and holders of

depositary receipts (Silver-Denominated Depositary Receipts) evidencing certain Depositary Shares,

each of which, in turn, initially represented 0.025 shares of Silver-Denominated Preferred Stock.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 to the FCX 2002 Second Quarter Form 10-Q.

    
4.4   Form of Silver-Denominated Depositary Receipt.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8 to the FCX 2002 Second Quarter Form 10-Q.
    

4.5

 

Certificate of Designations of 5½% Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock of FCX.  Incorporated by

reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of FCX dated March 30, 2004 and filed

March 31, 2004.

    

4.6

 

Registration Rights Agreement dated as of March 30, 2004, by and between FCX, Merrill Lynch,

Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated.  Incorporated by

reference to Exhibit 4.16 to the Registration Statement on Form S-4 of FCX filed April 6, 2004.

    

4.7

 

Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of September 30, 2003, but effective as of

October 2, 2003, among FCX, PT Freeport Indonesia, the several financial institutions that are

parties thereto, U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as PT Freeport Indonesia Trustee, J.P.

Morgan Securities Inc., as Arranger, and JPMorgan Chase Manhattan Bank as Administrative Agent,

Issuing Bank, Security Agent, JAA Security Agent and Documentation Agent.  Incorporated by

reference to Exhibit 4.7 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of FCX for the quarter ended

September 30, 2003.


4.8

 

Senior Indenture dated as of November 15, 1996, from FCX to The Chase Manhattan Bank, as

Trustee.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the FCX November 5, 2001 Form S-3.

    

4.9

 

First Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 18, 1996, from FCX to The Chase Manhattan

Bank, as Trustee, providing for the issuance of the Senior Notes and supplementing the Senior

Indenture dated November 15, 1996, from FCX to such Trustee, providing for the issuance of the

7.50% Senior Notes due 2006 and the 7.20% Senior Notes due 2026.  Incorporated by reference to

Exhibit 4.5 to the FCX November 5, 2001 Form S-3.

    

4.10

 

Indenture dated as of January 29, 2003, from FCX to The Bank of New York, as Trustee, with

respect to the 10 % Senior Notes due 2010.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current

Report on Form 8-K of FCX dated February 6, 2003.

    

4.11

 

Indenture dated as of February 11, 2003, from FCX to The Bank of New York, as Trustee, with

respect to the 7% Convertible Senior Notes due 2011.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the

Current Report on Form 8-K of FCX dated February 11, 2003 and filed February 25, 2003.

    

4.12

 

Indenture dated as of February 3, 2004, from FCX to The Bank of  New York, as Trustee, with

respect to the 6 ⅞% Senior Notes due 2014.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.12 to the FCX

2003 Form 10-K.

    

4.13

 

Registration Rights Agreement dated as of February 3, 2004, by and between FCX, J.P. Morgan

Securities Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., Banc

One Capital Markets, Inc., Hibernia Southcoast Capital, Inc., HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. and Scotia

Capital (USA) Inc. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.12 to the FCX 2003 Form 10-K.

    

4.14

 

Rights Agreement dated as of May 3, 2000, between FCX and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services,

L.L.C., as Rights Agent.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.26 to the Quarterly Report on Form

10-Q of FCX for the quarter ended March 31, 2000.

    

4.15

 

Amendment No. 1 to Rights Agreement dated as of February 26, 2002, between FCX and Mellon

Investor Services.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.16 to the FCX 2002 First Quarter Form

10-Q.

    

10.1

 

Contract of Work dated December 30, 1991, between the Government of the Republic of Indonesia

and PT Freeport Indonesia.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the FCX November 5, 2001

Form S-3.

    

10.2

 

Contract of Work dated August 15, 1994, between the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and

PT Irja Eastern Minerals Corporation.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the FCX

November 5, 2001 Form S-3.

    

10.3

 

Agreement dated as of October 11, 1996, to Amend and Restate Trust Agreement among PT

Freeport Indonesia, FCX, the RTZ Corporation PLC, P.T. RTZ-CRA Indonesia, RTZ Indonesian

Finance Limited and First Trust of New York, National Association, and The Chase Manhattan Bank,

as Administrative Agent, JAA Security Agent and Security Agent.  Incorporated by reference to

Exhibit 10.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K of FCX dated November 13, 1996 and filed

November 15, 1996.  

    

10.4

 

Concentrate Purchase and Sales Agreement dated effective December 11, 1996, between PT

Freeport Indonesia and PT Smelting.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the FCX

November 5, 2001 Form S-3.  

    

10.5

 

Participation Agreement dated as of October 11, 1996, between PT Freeport Indonesia and P.T.

RTZ-CRA Indonesia with respect to a certain contract of work.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit

10.4 to the FCX November 5, 2001 Form S-3.

    

10.6

 

Second Amended and Restated Joint Venture and Shareholders’ Agreement dated as of December

11, 1996, among Mitsubishi Materials Corporation, Nippon Mining and Metals Company, Limited and

PT Freeport Indonesia.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the FCX November 5, 2001

Form S-3.

    

10.7

 

Amended and Restated Power Sales Agreement dated as of December 18, 1997, between PT

Freeport Indonesia and P.T. Puncakjaya Power.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the

Annual Report on Form 10-K of FCX for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997 (the FCX 1997

Form 10-K).

    

10.8

 

Option, Mandatory Purchase and Right of First Refusal Agreement dated as of December 19, 1997,

among PT Freeport Indonesia, P.T. Puncakjaya Power, Duke Irian Jaya, Inc., Westcoast Power, Inc.

and P.T. Prasarana Nusantara Jaya.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the FCX 1997

Form 10-K.

    
  

Executive Compensation Plans and Arrangements (Exhibits 10.9 through 10.50)

    

10.9

 

Annual Incentive Plan of FCX as amended effective February 2, 1999.  Incorporated by reference to

Exhibit 10.11 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of FCX for the fiscal year ended December 31,

1998 (the FCX 1998 Form 10-K).

    

10.10

 

FCX Performance Incentive Awards Program as amended effective February 2, 1999.  Incorporated

by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the FCX 1998 Form 10-K.

    

10.11

 

FCX President’s Award Program.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the FCX November 5,

2001 Form S-3.

    

10.12

 

FCX Adjusted Stock Award Plan.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to the FCX 2003 Form

10-K.

    

10.13

 

FCX 1995 Stock Option Plan.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the FCX 2003 Form

10-K.

    

10.14

 

FCX 1995 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit

10.14 to the FCX 2003 Form 10-K.

    

10.15

 

FCX 1999 Stock Incentive Plan.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the FCX 2003 Form

10-K.

    

10.16

 

Form of Notice of Grant of Nonqualified Stock Options and Limited Rights under the 1999 Stock Incentive Plan.  

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of FCX for the quarter ended

June 30, 2004 (the FCX 2004 Second Quarter Form 10-Q).

    

10.17

 

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the 1999 Stock Incentive Plan.  Incorporated by reference to

Exhibit 10.17 to the FCX 2004 Second Quarter Form 10-Q.

    

10.18

 

Form of Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the 1999 Stock Incentive Plan.  Incorporated

by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the FCX 2004 Second Quarter Form 10-Q.

    

10.19

 

FCX 1999 Long-Term Performance Incentive Plan.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to the

Annual Report of FCX on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999 (the FCX 1999 Form

10-K).

    

10.20

 

FCX Stock Appreciation Rights Plan dated May 2, 2000.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20

to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of FCX for the quarter ended June 30, 2001 (the FCX 2001

Second Quarter Form 10-Q).

    

10.21

 

FCX 2003 Stock Incentive Plan.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the FCX 2003 Form

10-K.

    

10.22

 

Form of Notice of Grant of Nonqualified Stock Options and Limited Rights under the 2003 Stock Incentive Plan.  

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the FCX 2004 Second Quarter Form 10-Q.

    

10.23

 

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the 2003 Stock Incentive Plan.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit

10.23 to the FCX 2004 Second Quarter Form 10-Q.

    

10.24

 

Form of Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the 2003 Stock Incentive Plan.  Incorporated

by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to the FCX 2004 Second Quarter Form 10-Q.

    

10.25

 

FCX 2004 Director Compensation Plan.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.25 to the FCX 2004 Second Quarter

Form 10-Q.

    

10.26

 

Amended Financial Counseling and Tax Return Preparation and Certification Program of FCX.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the FCX 2003 First Quarter Form 10-Q.  

    

10.27

 

FM Services Company Performance Incentive Awards Program as amended effective February 2,

1999.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to the FCX 1998 Form 10-K.

    

10.28

 

Amended FM Services Company Financial Counseling and Tax Return Preparation and Certification

Program.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the FCX 2003 First Quarter Form 10-Q.  

    

10.29

 

Consulting Agreement dated as of December 22, 1988, between FTX and Kissinger Associates, Inc.

(Kissinger Associates).  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the FCX 1997 Form 10-K.

    

10.30

 

Letter Agreement dated May 1, 1989, between FTX and Kent Associates, Inc. (Kent Associates,

predecessor in interest to Kissinger Associates).  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the

FCX 1997 Form 10-K.

    

10.31

 

Letter Agreement dated January 27, 1997, among Kissinger Associates, Kent Associates, FTX, FCX

and FMS.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.26 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of FCX for

the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001 (the FCX 2001 Form 10-K).  

    

10.32

 

Agreement for Consulting Services between FTX and B. M. Rankin, Jr. effective as of January 1,

1990 (assigned to FMS as of January 1, 1996).  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to the

FCX 1997 Form 10-K.

    

10.33

 

Supplemental Agreement between FMS and B. M. Rankin, Jr. dated December 15, 1997.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.25 to the FCX 1997 Form 10-K.

    

10.34

 

Supplemental Letter Agreement between FMS and B. M. Rankin, Jr. dated January 29, 2004.

    

10.35

 

Letter Agreement effective as of January 7, 1997, between Senator J. Bennett Johnston, Jr. and

FM Services Company (FMS).  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.31 to the FCX 2001 Form 10-K.  

    

10.36

 

Supplemental Letter Agreement dated July 14, 2003, between J. Bennett Johnston, Jr. and FMS.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.28 to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of FCX for the

quarter ended June 30, 2003 (the FCX 2003 Second Quarter Form 10-Q).

    
10.37  Supplemental Letter Agreement between FMS and J. Bennett Johnston, Jr., dated October 21, 2003.
    

10.38

 

Letter Agreement dated November 1, 1999, between FMS and Gabrielle K. McDonald.  Incorporated

by reference to Exhibit 10.33 to the FCX 1999 Form 10-K.

    

10.39

 

Supplemental Letter Agreement dated October 21, 2003, between FMS and Gabrielle K. McDonald.

    

10.40

 

Executive Employment Agreement dated April 30, 2001, between FCX and James R. Moffett.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.35 to the FCX 2001 Second Quarter Form 10-Q.

    

10.41

 

Executive Employment Agreement dated April 30, 2001, between FCX and Richard C. Adkerson.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.36 to the FCX 2001 Second Quarter Form 10-Q.

    

10.42

 

Change of Control Agreement dated April 30, 2001, between FCX and James R. Moffett.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.37 to the FCX 2001 Second Quarter Form 10-Q.

    

10.43

 

Change of Control Agreement dated April 30, 2001, between FCX and Richard C. Adkerson.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.38 to the FCX 2001 Second Quarter Form 10-Q.

    

10.44

 

First Amendment to Executive Employment Agreement dated December 10, 2003, between FCX

and James R. Moffett.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.36 to the FCX 2003 Form 10-K.

    

10.45

 

First Amendment to Executive Employment Agreement dated December 10, 2003, between FCX

and Richard C. Adkerson.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.37 to the FCX 2003 Form 10-K.

    

10.46

 

First Amendment to Change of Control Agreement dated December 10, 2003, between FCX and

James R. Moffett.  Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.38 to the FCX 2003 Form 10-K.

    

10.47

 

First Amendment to Change of Control Agreement dated December 10, 2003, between FCX and

Richard C. Adkerson. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.39 to the FCX 2003 Form 10-K.

    

10.48

 

Change of Control Agreement dated February 3, 2004, between FCX and Michael J. Arnold.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.40 to the FCX 2003 Form 10-K.

    

10.49

 

Change of Control Agreement dated February 3, 2004, between FCX and Mark J. Johnson.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.41 to the FCX 2003 Form 10-K.

    

10.50

 

Change of Control Agreement dated February 3, 2004, between FCX and Kathleen L. Quirk.

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.42 to the FCX 2003 Form 10-K.

    

15.1

 

Letter from Ernst & Young LLP regarding unaudited interim financial statements.

    

31.1

 

Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d – 14(a).

    

31.2

 

Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d – 14(a).

    

32.1

 

Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.

    

32.2

 

Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C Section 1350.