CORRESP 1 filename1.htm

 

 

February 6, 2017

 

Via EDGAR

 

Division of Corporation Finance

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

100 F Street, NE

Washington DC 20549

 

Attention: Craig Arakawa, Branch Chief, Office of Beverages, Apparel, and Mining

 

Re:

McEwen Mining Inc.

 

Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2015

 

Response Dated January 23, 2017

 

File No. 001-33190

 

Dear Mr. Arakawa:

 

We refer to your correspondence dated January 31, 2017, addressed to Andrew Elinesky, Chief Financial Officer of McEwen Mining Inc. (“McEwen Mining”, the “Company” or “we”), relating to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 (the “2015 Form 10-K”). This letter contains the responses to the comments contained in your January 31, 2017 letter.

 

The Company’s responses are as follows:

 

Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year ended December 31, 2015

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Non-GAAP Financial Performance Measures, page 61 through 66

 

Comment No. 1

 

We have reviewed your response and proposed disclosure to comment 1 noting you do not believe you have substituted an individually tailored accounting principle for the one in GAAP in your non-GAAP presentation of earnings from mining operations, total cash costs, all-in sustaining costs, all-in costs, and average realized prices. We note from your response and proposed disclosure that you are merely multiplying each individual line item on the financial statements of Minera Santa Cruz by your ownership percentage of 49%.  Please note that under the equity method of accounting you own an interest in the investee as a whole and do not have a proportionate legal interest in each financial statement line item.  Since you account for your interest in the Minera Santa Cruz mine using the equity method, inclusion of a proportionate economic ownership in the non-GAAP measures does not appear to be consistent with the guidance in Question 100.04 of the updated non-GAAP Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations issued on May 17, 2016. Please revise your non-GAAP disclosures accordingly.

 



 

Response:

 

Upon reviewing the staff’s recent comments in conjunction with our non-GAAP disclosure in the 2015 Form 10-K, and having further conversations with the staff, we identified certain modifications which we propose to incorporate prospectively, commencing with our 2016 Form 10-K. Specifically, we intend to cease consolidating the proportionate economic ownership of Minera Santa Cruz (“MSC”), in our non-GAAP measures and to separate the presentation of non-GAAP measures relating to our majority owned and controlled mine (El Gallo 1 Mine) from results of our minority owned mine (Sane José Mine, through our interest in MSC). In addition, our all-in sustaining costs will exclude the allocation of corporate general and administrative costs, and as such, we will revise our definition of the calculation of all-in sustaining costs to explain this removal to provide clarity in our report.

 

Consistent with our response dated January 23, we also propose to include additional disclosure in the narrative preceding the non-GAAP measures to alert the reader that we do not control the interest in, or operations of, MSC and the presentation of any assets, liabilities, revenues or expenses of MSC do not represent our legal claim to those items.

 

Please refer to the proposed prospective disclosure, using our 2015 Form 10-K non-GAAP performance measures for illustrative purposes, attached to this letter as follows:

 

·                  Appendix A: earnings from mining operations,

 

·                  Appendix B: total cash cost,

 

·                  Appendix C: all-in sustaining costs, and

 

·                  Appendix D: average realized prices.

 

Within each illustration, we excluded disclosure of consolidated results and consolidated totals.

 

Additionally, to avoid the appearance of providing individually tailored accounting principles as substitutions for GAAP measures, we will no longer provide the all-in costs metric as a whole because on a non-consolidated basis, the metric does not provide an appropriate comparison to our industry peer group.

 

In light of our consideration and the proposed revisions described herein, we also propose to eliminate the enhanced note disclosure, describing our equity investment in MSC, initially outlined in Appendix A of our January 23, 2017 response.

 

In speaking with the staff, we understand that it has allowed a transition period for implementing the changes to non-GAAP disclosure as a result of, among other items, the Compliance Disclosure Interpretations issued on May 17, 2016. We appreciate this opportunity and propose to take advantage of it.  In this regard, we intend to present consolidated earnings from mine operations, total cash costs, all-in sustaining costs, all-in costs, and average realized prices in our 2016 earnings release and related disclosure (but not in the 2016 Form 10-K). Furthermore, we intend to provide our future guidance of non-GAAP measures in line with the proposed disclosure to our 10-K as discussed above.

 

2



 

With the forgoing undertaking and explanation, we believe that we have responded to all the comments in the staff’s letter. Should you have any additional questions or comments, please contact the undersigned at 647-258-0395.

 

Sincerely,

 

MCEWEN MINING INC.

 

 

 

 

 

Andrew Elinesky

 

Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

 

 

cc:

Robert McEwen, Chief Executive Officer — McEwen Mining Inc.

 

Carmen Diges, General Counsel — McEwen Mining Inc.

 

Richard W. Brissenden, Chair of the Audit Committee — McEwen Mining Inc.

 

Don Linsdell, Audit Partner — Ernst & Young LLP

 

3



 

Appendix A

Proposed Presentation of Earning from Mining Operations

(Page 62 of the 2015 Form 10-K)

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

Year ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

El Gallo 1 Mine earnings from mining operations

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gold and silver sales

 

$

11,411

 

$

13,683

 

$

72,956

 

$

45,303

 

Production costs applicable to sales

 

(5,695

)

(10,184

)

(34,607

)

(40,608

)

Depreciation of mining related assets

 

(102

)

(87

)

(333

)

(278

)

Gross profit

 

5,614

 

3,412

 

38,016

 

4,417

 

Add: Amortization related to fair value increments on historical acquisitions included in Production Costs Applicable to Sales

 

322

 

322

 

1,288

 

1,288

 

El Gallo 1 Mine earnings from mining operations

 

$

5,936

 

3,734

 

39,304

 

5,705

 

San José Mine earnings from mining operations (49% attributable basis)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$

22,045

 

$

31,667

 

$

91,187

 

$

104,376

 

Production costs applicable to sales

 

(18,951

)

(27,270

)

(77,721

)

(84,904

)

San José Mine earnings from mining operations

 

$

3,094

 

$

4,397

 

$

13,466

 

$

19,472

 

 

4



 

Appendix B

Proposed Reconciliation of Total Cash Costs to Production Costs

(Page 64 of the 2015 Form 10-K)

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

Year ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

(in thousands, except ounce and per ounce figures)

 

El Gallo 1 Mine cash costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Production costs applicable to sales

 

$

5,695

 

$

10,184

 

$

34,607

 

$

40,608

 

Depreciation

 

(322

)

(322

)

(1,288

)

(1,288

)

Less: Pre-stripping costs for future pit access

 

(698

)

(2,052

)

(6,408

)

(8,763

)

Mine general and administrative expenses

 

195

 

296

 

805

 

1,174

 

Property holding costs

 

 

 

26

 

27

 

Other non-cash adjustments

 

220

 

 

(135

)

(340

)

Total cash costs

 

$

5,090

 

$

8,106

 

$

27,607

 

$

31,418

 

Gold equivalent ounces sold

 

10,270

 

11,406

 

62,704

 

35,924

 

El Gallo 1 Mine cash costs per gold equivalent ounces sold

 

$

496

 

$

711

 

$

440

 

$

875

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

San José Mine cash costs (49% attributable basis)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Production costs applicable to sales

 

19,009

 

27,300

 

77,840

 

85,023

 

Less: Operating site reclamation accretion and amortization

 

(378

)

(493

)

(1,213

)

(1,746

)

Depreciation

 

(6,369

)

(10,328

)

(22,275

)

(29,913

)

Mine general and administrative expenses

 

920

 

948

 

3,454

 

3,927

 

Refining, smelting, and transportation

 

2,168

 

3,687

 

9,657

 

12,078

 

Commercial discounts

 

1,309

 

1,857

 

5,795

 

6,957

 

Community costs related to current operations

 

50

 

(12

)

211

 

224

 

Total cash costs

 

$

16,709

 

$

22,959

 

$

73,469

 

$

76,550

 

McEwen’s share of San José Mine gold equivalent ounces sold

 

21,836

 

32,425

 

84,927

 

96,304

 

San José Mine cash costs per gold equivalent ounces sold

 

$

765

 

$

708

 

$

865

 

$

795

 

 

5



 

Appendix C

Proposed Reconciliation of All-In Sustaining Costs to Total Cash Costs

(Page 65 of the 2015 Form 10-K)

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

Year ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

(in thousands, except ounce and per ounce figures)

 

El Gallo 1 Mine all-in sustaining costs

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total cash costs

 

$

5,090

 

$

8,106

 

$

27,607

 

$

31,418

 

Operating site reclamation accretion and amortization

 

(20

)

200

 

936

 

802

 

Exploration and study costs

 

344

 

260

 

1,488

 

1,592

 

Mine construction and capital expenditures (sustaining)

 

 

 

 

320

 

Pre-stripping costs for future pit access

 

698

 

2,052

 

6,408

 

8,763

 

All-in sustaining costs

 

$

6,112

 

$

10,618

 

$

36,439

 

$

42,895

 

Gold equivalent ounces sold

 

10,270

 

11,406

 

62,704

 

35,924

 

El Gallo 1 Mineall-in sustaining cost per gold equivalent ounces sold

 

$

595

 

$

931

 

$

581

 

$

1,194

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

San José Mine all-in sustaining costs (49% attributable basis)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total cash costs

 

16,709

 

22,959

 

73,469

 

76,550

 

Operating site reclamation accretion and amortization

 

378

 

493

 

1,213

 

1,746

 

Exploration and study costs

 

289

 

296

 

1,431

 

1,060

 

Capitalised stripping & underground mine development

 

2,915

 

5,540

 

13,378

 

15,161

 

Capital expenditures (sustaining)

 

885

 

3,918

 

4,899

 

10,041

 

All-in sustaining costs

 

$

21,176

 

$

33,206

 

$

94,390

 

$

104,558

 

McEwen’s share of San José Mine gold equivalent ounces sold

 

21,836

 

32,425

 

84,927

 

96,304

 

San José Mine all-in sustaining cost per gold equivalent ounces sold

 

$

970

 

$

1,024

 

$

1,111

 

$

1,086

 

 

6



 

Appendix D

Proposed Reconciliation of Average Sales Price to Sales

(Page 66 of the 2015 Form 10-K)

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

Year ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

(in thousands, except ounce and per ounce figures)

 

El Gallo 1 Mine average realized prices

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gold sales

 

$

11,347

 

$

13,555

 

$

72,377

 

$

44,956

 

Silver sales

 

64

 

129

 

579

 

347

 

Gold and silver sales

 

$

11,411

 

$

13,684

 

$

72,956

 

$

45,303

 

Gold ounces sold

 

10,211

 

11,272

 

62,226

 

35,600

 

Silver ounces sold

 

4,416

 

8,000

 

35,862

 

19,417

 

Gold equivalent ounces sold

 

10,270

 

11,406

 

62,704

 

35,924

 

Average realized price per gold ounce sold

 

$

1,111

 

$

1,203

 

$

1,163

 

$

1,263

 

Average realized price per silver ounce sold

 

$

14.49

 

$

16.08

 

$

16.15

 

$

17.89

 

Average realized price per gold equivalent ounce sold

 

$

1,111

 

$

1,200

 

$

1,163

 

$

1,261

 

 

 

 

Three months ended

 

Year ended

 

 

 

December 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2015

 

2014

 

2015

 

2014

 

 

 

(in thousands, except ounce and per ounce figures)

 

San José Mine average realized prices (49% attributable basis)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gold sales

 

$

12,030

 

$

17,207

 

$

48,745

 

$

55,268

 

Silver sales

 

11,009

 

16,409

 

46,749

 

54,711

 

Gold and silver sales

 

$

23,039

 

$

33,616

 

$

95,494

 

$

109,979

 

Gold ounces sold

 

11,353

 

14,764

 

43,508

 

44,725

 

Silver ounces sold

 

786,168

 

1,059,669

 

3,106,445

 

3,094,742

 

Gold equivalent ounces sold

 

21,836

 

32,425

 

84,927

 

96,304

 

Average realized price per gold ounce sold

 

$

1,060

 

$

1,165

 

$

1,120

 

$

1,236

 

Average realized price per silver ounce sold

 

$

14.00

 

$

15.49

 

$

15.05

 

$

17.68

 

Average realized price per gold equivalent ounce sold

 

$

1,055

 

$

1,037

 

$

1,124

 

$

1,142

 

 

7