Prepared and filed by St Ives Burrups

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2003


UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM 20-F

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended: December 31, 2002
Commission file number: 000-26030

COMPANHIA VALE DO RIO DOCE
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

VALE OVERSEAS LIMITED
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

   
 
   Valley of the Rio Doce Company
(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)
 
      
 
         Federative Republic of Brazil
Cayman Islands
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

     Avenida Graça Aranha, No. 26
20030-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
(Address of principal executive offices)

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of Each Class
Name of Each Exchange
on Which Registered
Preferred class A shares of CVRD, no par value per share
New York Stock Exchange*
   
American depositary shares (as evidenced by American depositary
New York Stock Exchange
receipts) each representing one preferred class A share of CVRD
 
   
Common shares of CVRD, no par value per share
New York Stock Exchange*
   
American depositary shares (as evidenced by American depositary
New York Stock Exchange
receipts) each representing one common share of CVRD
 

* Shares are not listed for trading, but only in connection with the registration of American depositary shares pursuant to the requirements of the New York Stock Exchange.

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act: None

The number of outstanding shares of each class of stock of CVRD as of December 31, 2002 was:

245,267,973 common shares, no par value per share
138,571,432 preferred class A shares, no par value per share
1 golden share, no par value per share


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
  No

Indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.

Item 17
  Item 18

 



TABLE OF CONTENTS

    Page
   
Glossary 2
Presentation of Financial Information 5
Presentation of Information Concerning Reserves 5
Forward-Looking Statements 6
PART I  
Item 1. Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers 6
Item 2. Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable 6
Item 3. Key Information 7
Item 4. Information on the Company 17
      Business Overview 17
      Lines of Business 23
      Regulatory Matters 48
      Patents and Trademarks 51
      Insurance 52
      Capital Expenditures 52
Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects 53
Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees 76
Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions 85
Item 8. Financial Information 88
Item 9. The Offer and Listing 90
Item 10. Additional Information 91
Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 106
Item 12. Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities 110
PART II  
Item 13. Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies 110
Item 14. Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds 110
Item 15. Controls and Procedures 110
Item 16. [Reserved] 110
PART III
Item 17. Financial Statements 110
Item 18. Financial Statements 111
Item 19. Exhibits 111
Signatures 112
Certifications 113
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements F-1

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GLOSSARY

Alumina Aluminum oxide. It is extracted from bauxite in a chemical refining process and is the principal raw material in the electro-chemical process from which aluminum is produced.
   
Bauxite A rock composed primarily of hydrated aluminum oxides. It is the principal ore of alumina, the raw material from which aluminum is made.
   
Beneficiation The process of separating, concentrating and classifying ore by particle size or some other characteristic (e.g., specific gravity, magnetic susceptibility, surface chemistry, etc.) in order to obtain the mineral or metal of interest.
   
CIL Carbon-in-Leach. A method of recovering gold in solution from slurry streams by contacting activated carbon with the pulp during the leaching process within agitated vessels and separating loaded carbon from the pulp by screening.
   
CIP Carbon-in-Pulp. A method of recovering gold and silver extracted from pregnant cyanide solutions by absorbing the precious metals to granules of activated carbon, which are typically ground up coconut shells.
   
Concentration Physical, chemical or biological process to increase the grade of the metal or mineral of interest.
   
DR Direct reduction. DR iron ore pellets are used by steelmakers that employ minimill technology.
   
DWT Deadweight ton. The measurement unit of a vessel’s capacity for cargo, fuel oil, stores and crew, measured in metric tons of 1,000 kg. A vessel’s total deadweight is the total weight the vessel can carry when loaded to a particular load line.
   
Fe unit A measure of the iron content in the iron ore that is equivalent to 1% iron content in 1 ton of iron ore.
   
Fines Refers to iron ore with particles in the range of 0.10 mm to 6.35 mm diameter.
   
FOB Free on Board. It indicates that the purchaser pays for shipping, insurance and all the other costs associated with transportation of the goods to their destination.
   
Grade The proportion of metal or mineral present in ore or any other host material.
   
HL Heap Leaching. A low cost method of extracting metals such as gold and copper from low-grade ores. It consists of building a heap of ore and applying a solution (lixiviant) that dissolves the metal to produce a pregnant solution (leachate) from which the metal is recovered by precipitation and smelting or carbon absorption, stripping and

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  electrowinning methods.
   
Kaolin A fine white aluminum silicate clay used as a coating agent, filler, extender and absorbent in the paper, ceramics and pharmaceutical industries.
   
Lump ore Iron ore or manganese ore with the coarsest particle size in the range of 6.35 mm to 75 mm diameter, but varying slightly between different mines and ores.
   
Manganese A hard brittle metallic element found primarily in the minerals pyrolusite, hausmannite and manganate.
   
Mineral deposit(s) or mineralized
material(s)
Refers to a mineralized body that has been intersected by a sufficient number of closely spaced drill holes and/or underground/surface samples to support sufficient tonnage and grade of metal(s) or mineral(s) of interest to warrant further exploration-development work. The deposit does not qualify as an ore body until it can be legally and economically extracted at the time of ore reserve determination.
   
Open pit mining The extraction method by which surface or barren rock is removed so that ore may be removed using power shovels, front-end loaders, hydraulic excavators, draglines, etc.
   
Oxides Compounds of oxygen with another element. For example, magnetite (Fe3O4) is an oxide mineral formed by the chemical union of iron with oxygen.
   
Pellet feed Fine (0.10 mm to 6.35 mm) and ultra-fine (less than 0.10 mm) iron ore particles generated by the mining, grading, handling and transporting of iron ore, with no practical direct application in the steel industry, unless the material is aggregated into pellets through an agglomeration process.
   
Pellets Balls of agglomerated fine and ultra-fine iron ore particles of a size and quality suitable for particular steelmaking processes. Our pellets range in size from 8 mm to 18 mm.
   
Pig iron Crude iron tapped from a blast furnace.
   
Potash A potassium chloride compound, chiefly KCl, used in industry and agriculture.
   
Probable (indicated) reserves Reserves for which quantity and grade and/or quality are computed from information similar to that used for proven (measured) reserves, but the sites for inspection, sampling and measurement are farther apart or are otherwise less adequately spaced. The degree of assurance, although lower than that for proven (measured) reserves, is high enough to assume continuity between points of observation.
   
Proven (measured) reserves Reserves for which (1) quantity is computed from dimensions revealed in outcrops, trenches, workings or drill holes; (2) grade and/or quality are computed from the results of detailed sampling;

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  and (3) the sites for inspection, sampling and measurement are spaced so closely and the geologic character is so well defined that size, shape, depth and mineral content of reserves are well-established.
   
Reserve Refers to that part of a mineral deposit which could be economically and legally extracted or produced at the time of the reserve determination.
   
Run-of-mine Ore in its natural (unprocessed) state, as mined, without having been crushed.
   
Seaborne market The market for iron ore products that are shipped in vessels which have a capacity in excess of 50,000 DWT.
   
Sinter feed Iron or manganese ore suitable for sintering.
   
Sintering Refers to the agglomeration of small particles into a coherent mass by heating without melting.
   
Ton Metric ton, equaling 1,000 kilograms.
   
Troy ounce One troy ounce equals 31.103 grams.

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PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION

We have prepared our financial statements appearing in this annual report in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (U.S. GAAP), which differ in certain respects from accounting practices adopted in Brazil (defined as Brazilian GAAP). Brazilian GAAP is determined by the requirements of Law No. 6,404, dated December 15, 1976, as amended (the Brazilian Corporation Law), and the rules and regulations of the Comissão de Valores Mobiliários, or CVM, the Brazilian Securities Commission. We also publish Brazilian GAAP financial statements in Brazil, which we refer to as our Brazilian Corporation Law financial statements. We use our Brazilian Corporation Law financial statements for:

  reports to Brazilian shareholders;
     
  filings with the CVM;
     
  determination of dividend payments; and
     
  determination of tax liability.
     

Our financial statements and the other financial information appearing in this annual report have been translated from Brazilian reais into U.S. dollars on the basis explained in note 2(a) to our financial statements unless we indicate otherwise.


References to “real,” “reais” or “R$” are to Brazilian reais (plural) and to the Brazilian real (singular), the official currency of Brazil. References to “U.S. dollars,” “dollars” or “US$” are to United States dollars.

Unless otherwise specified, metric units have been used, e.g., tons refer to metric tons.

References to “CVRD Group,” “us” or “we” are to CVRD, its consolidated subsidiaries and its joint ventures and other affiliated companies. References to “Vale Overseas” are to Vale Overseas Limited. References to “affiliated companies” are to companies in which Companhia Vale do Rio Doce has a minority investment, and exclude controlled affiliates that are consolidated for financial reporting purposes.

References to our “ADSs” or “American depositary shares” include both our common American depositary shares (our common ADSs), each of which represents one common share of CVRD, and our preferred American depositary shares (our preferred ADSs), each of which represents one preferred class A share of CVRD. American depositary shares are represented by American depositary receipts (ADRs) issued by JPMorgan Chase Bank, as depositary.

PRESENTATION OF INFORMATION CONCERNING RESERVES

The estimates of proven and probable reserves at mines within the CVRD Group and the estimates of mine life, as of December 31, 2002, included in this annual report have been calculated according to the technical definitions required by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. We derived estimates of mine life described in this annual report from such reserve estimates. We have adjusted ore reserve estimates for extraction losses and metallurgical recoveries during extraction for gold, manganese and bauxite deposits. Our reserve estimates of iron, kaolin and potash are reported as in situ tons with adjustments for dilution and mining lossess. See Item 3. Key Information—Risk FactorsRisks Relating to Our Business. We have retained AMEC E&C Services, Inc., or AMEC, to audit and verify some of our estimates of proven and probable reserves as of December 31, 2002. Unless specifically stated, our reserve estimates have not been audited by AMEC.

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This annual report contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Many of the forward-looking statements contained in this annual report can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “expect,” “should,” “plan,” “intend,” “estimate” and “potential,” among others. Those statements appear in a number of places in this annual report and include statements regarding our intent, belief or current expectations with respect to:

  our direction and future operation;
     
  the implementation of our principal operating strategies, including our potential participation in privatization, acquisition or joint venture transactions or other investment opportunities;
     
  our acquisition or divestiture plans;
     
  the implementation of our financing strategy and capital expenditure plans;
     
  the exploration of mineral reserves and development of mining facilities;
     
  the depletion and exhaustion of mines and mineral reserves;
     
  the declaration or payment of dividends;
     
  other factors or trends affecting our financial condition or results of operations; and
     
  the factors discussed under Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors.

We caution you that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those identified under Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors. These risks and uncertainties include factors relating to the Brazilian economy and securities markets, which exhibit volatility and can be adversely affected by developments in other countries, factors relating to the iron ore business and its dependence on the global steel industry, which is cyclical in nature, and factors relating to the highly competitive industries in which we operate. For additional information on factors that could cause our actual results to differ from expectations reflected in forward-looking statements, please see Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors, and our reports filed with the SEC. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update them in light of new information or future developments.

PART I

Item 1.  Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers

Not applicable.

Item 2.  Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable

Not applicable.

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Item 3.  Key Information

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The table below presents selected consolidated financial information as of and for the periods indicated. You should read this information together with our consolidated financial statements appearing in this annual report.

 
For the Year Ended December 31,

 
1998

 
1999

 
2000

 
2001

 
 2002

  (in millions of US$)  
Statement of Income Data                              
Net operating revenues US$ 3,553   US$ 3,076   US$ 3,935   US$ 3,935   US$ 4,123  
Cost of products and services   (2,272 )   (1,806 )   (2,429 )   (2,272 )   (2,263 )
Selling, general and administrative expenses   (171 )   (138 )   (225 )   (241 )   (224 )
Research and development   (48 )   (27 )   (48 )   (43 )   (50 )
Employee profit sharing plan   (29 )   (24 )   (29 )   (38 )   (38 )
Other expenses   (184 )   (155 )   (180 )   (379 )   (119 )
 

 

 

 

 

 
Operating income   849     926     1,024     962     1,429  
 

 

 

 

 

 
Non-operating income (expenses):                              
     Financial income (expenses)   151     (33 ) ` (107 )   (200 )   (248 )
     Foreign exchange and monetary losses, net   (108 )   (223 )   (240 )   (426 )   (580 )
     Gain on sale of investments           54     784      
 

 

 

 

 

 
        Subtotal   43     (256 ) (293 )   158     (828 )
 

 

 

 

 

 
Income before income taxes, equity results and
     minority interests
  892     670     731     1,120     601  
 

 

 

 

 

 
Income taxes benefit (charge)       (33 )   32     218     149  
Equity in results of affiliates and joint ventures   80     41     260     (49 )   (28 )
Change in provision for losses on equity investments   (273 )   (268 )   62     (4 )   (59 )
Minority interests   (1 )   2     1     2     17  
 

 

 

 

 

 
Net income US$ 698   US$ 412   US$ 1,086   US$ 1,287   US$ 680  
 

 

 

 

 

 
Total cash paid to shareholders(1) US$ 607   US$ 452   US$ 246   US$ 1,066   US$ 602  

(1) Total cash paid to shareholders consists of cash paid during the period in respect of interest on shareholders’ equity.
                                       
  For the Year Ended December 31,       

1998     1999     2000    2001     2002





(in US$ except recorded dividends and interest on shareholders’
equity per share in Brazilian
reais and share numbers)          
 
 
Per Share Data                              
Basic earnings per Common and Preferred Class A Share(1): US$ 1.80   US$ 1.07   US$ 2.82   US$ 3.34   US$ 1.77  
Declared distributions on shareholders’ equity
   per share in US$(2)
US$ 1.58   US$ 1.28   US$ 1.70   US$ 1.99   US$ 0.84  
Declared distributions on shareholders’ equity
   per share
in Brazilian reais(2)
R$ 1.86   R$ 2.28   R$ 3.33   R$ 4.61   R$ 2.68  
Weighted average number of shares outstanding
   (in
thousands):
                             
      Common shares(1)   249,983     249,983     249,983     249,864     249,864  
      Preferred shares(1)   137,965     134,917     134,917     135,042     135,042  
 

 

 

 

 

 
          Total   387,948     384,900     384,900     384,906     384,906  
 

 

 

 

 

 

(1) Each common American depositary share represents one common share and each preferred American depositary share represents one preferred class A share.
(2) Our distributions to shareholders may take the form of dividends or of interest on shareholders’ equity. Since 1998, all distributions have taken the form of interest on shareholders’ equity. The amount shown represents distributions declared during the year. Part of our distributions is usually paid in the year after the year of declaration.

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      At December 31,  

1998   1999   2000    2001   2002





    (in millions of US$)     
Balance Sheet Data                              
Current assets US$ 2,845   US$ 2,490   US$ 2,502   US$ 2,638   US$ 2,589  
Property, plant and equipment, net   5,261     3,943     3,955     3,813     3,297  
Investments in affiliated companies and joint ventures                              
   and other investments   1,557     1,203     1,795     1,218     732  
Other assets   1,385     1,052     1,543     1,839     1,337  
 

 

 

 

 

 
        Total assets US$ 11,048   US$ 8,688   US$ 9,795   US$ 9,508   US$ 7,955  
 

 

 

 

 

 
Current liabilities US$ 2,030   US$ 2,072   US$ 2,136   US$ 1,921   US$ 1,508  
Long-term liabilities(1)   1,169     601     1,061     772     774  
Long-term debt(2)   1,389     1,321     2,020     2,170     2,359  
Minority interest   68     3     9     5     27  
 

 

 

 

 

 
        Total liabilities   4,656     3,997     5,226     4,868     4,668  
 

 

 

 

 

 
Stockholder’s equity:                              
   Capital stock   1,740     1,927     1,927     2,211     2,446  
   Additional paid-in capital   498     498     498     498     498  
   Reserves and retained earnings   4,154     2,266     2,144     1,931     343  
 

 

 

 

 

 
        Total stockholders’ equity   6,392     4,691     4,569     4,640     3,287  
 

 

 

 

 

 
        Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity US$ 11,048   US$ 8,688   US$ 9,795   US$ 9,508   US$ 7,955  
 

 

 

 

 

 

(1) Excludes long-term debt.
(2) Excludes current portion. At December 31, 2002, we had extended guarantees for borrowings of joint ventures and affiliated companies in an aggregate amount of US$ 516 million. These contingent liabilities do not appear on the face of our consolidated balance sheets, but are disclosed in note 15(a) to our consolidated financial statements.

EXCHANGE RATES

There are two principal foreign exchange markets in Brazil:

  the commercial rate exchange market, and
  the floating rate exchange market.

Most trade and financial foreign-exchange transactions are carried out on the commercial rate exchange market. These transactions include the purchase or sale of shares or the payment of dividends or interest with respect to shares. Foreign currencies may only be purchased through a Brazilian bank authorized to operate in these markets. In both markets, rates are freely negotiated but may be influenced by Central Bank intervention. In 1999, the Central Bank placed the commercial exchange market and the floating rate exchange market under identical operational limits, which led to a convergence in the pricing and liquidity of both markets. Since February 1, 1999, the floating market rate has been the same as the commercial market rate. However, there is no guarantee that these rates will continue to be the same in the future. Despite the convergence in the pricing and liquidity of both markets, each market continues to be regulated differently.

Since 1999, the Central Bank has allowed the real/U.S. dollar exchange rate to float freely, and during that period, the real/U.S. dollar exchange rate has fluctuated considerably. In the past, the Central Bank of Brazil has intervened occasionally to control unstable movements in foreign exchange rates. We cannot predict whether the Central Bank of Brazil or the Brazilian government will continue to let the real float freely or will intervene in the exchange rate market through a currency band system or otherwise. The real may depreciate or appreciate substantially in the future. For more information on these risks, see Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Brazil.

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The following table sets forth the commercial selling rate, expressed in reais per U.S. dollar (R$/US$) for the periods indicated.

 
Average for
 

Period-end   Period   Low   High

 
 
 
Year ended                
December 31, 1998
1.209
 
1.164
(1)
1.117
 
1.209
 
December 31, 1999
1.789
 
1.851
(1)
1.208
 
2.165
 
December 31, 2000
1.955
 
1.835
(1)
1.723
 
1.985
 
December 31, 2001
2.320
 
2.353
(1)
1.936
 
2.801
 
December 31, 2002
3.533
 
2.998
(1)
2.270
 
3.955
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Month ended
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 2002
3.533
 
3.612
(2)
3.427
 
3.798
 
January 2003
3.526
 
3.468
(2)
3.275
 
3.662
 
February 2003
3.563
 
3.575
(2)
3.493
 
3.658
 
March 2003
3.353
 
3.458
(2)
3.353
 
3.563
 
April 2003
2.889
 
3.113
(2)
2.889
 
3.336
 
May 2003
2.966
 
2.947
(2)
2.865
 
3.028
 
June 2003 (through June 25, 2003)
2.856
 
2.913
(2)
2.849
 
2.978
 
                 

(1) Average of the rates of each period, using the average of the exchange rates on the last day of each month during each period.
(2) Average of the lowest and highest rates in the month.
 
Source: Central Bank.

On June 25, 2003, the commercial selling rate was R$2.856 per US$ 1.00.

RISK FACTORS

Risks Relating to Our Business

Due to our dependence on the global steel industry, fluctuations in the demand for steel could adversely affect our business.

Sales prices and volumes in the worldwide iron ore mining industry depend on the prevailing and expected level of demand for iron ore in the world steel industry. The world steel industry is cyclical. A number of factors, the most significant of these being the prevailing level of worldwide demand for steel products, influence the world steel industry. During periods of sluggish or declining regional or world economic growth, demand for steel products generally decreases, which usually leads to corresponding reductions in demand for iron ore. Global steel output increased in 2002, which resulted in higher iron ore demand. Although we expect this to have a positive effect on world contract prices and sales volumes for iron ore in the short term, we cannot guarantee the length of time that demand will remain at current high levels. Future prolonged reductions or declines in world contract prices or sales volumes for iron ore could have a material adverse effect on our revenues. In addition, poor conditions in the global steel industry could result in the bankruptcy of some of our customers.

We are subject to cyclicality and price volatility for iron ore, aluminum and other minerals.

Cyclical and other uncontrollable changes in world market prices affect our iron ore, aluminum, gold and other mining activities. In particular, aluminum and gold are sold in an active world market and traded on exchanges, such as the London Metals Exchange and the Commodity Exchange, Inc. Prices for these metals are more volatile than iron and pellet prices because they respond more quickly to actual and expected changes in supply and demand. Prolonged declines in world market prices for our products would have a material adverse effect on our revenues.

The mining industry is an intensely competitive industry, and we may have difficulty effectively competing with other mining companies in the future.

Intense competition characterizes the worldwide iron ore industry. We compete with a number of large mining companies, including international mining companies. Some of these competitors possess substantial iron ore mineral deposits at locations closer to our principal Asian and European customers. Competition from foreign or Brazilian iron ore producers may result in our losing market share and revenues. Our gold, aluminum, manganese and other activities are also subject to intense competition and are subject to similar risks.

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Demand for iron ore in peak periods may outstrip our production capacity, rendering us unable to satisfy customer demand.

Our ability to rapidly increase production capacity to satisfy increases in demand for iron ore is limited. In periods where customer demand exceeds our production capacity, we generally satisfy excess customer demand by reselling iron ore purchased from joint ventures or third parties. If we are unable to satisfy excess customer demand by purchasing from joint ventures or third parties, we may lose customers.

Our reserve estimates may be materially different from mineral quantities that we may actually recover, our estimates of mine life may prove inaccurate and market price fluctuations and changes in operating and capital costs may render certain ore reserves or mineral deposits uneconomical to mine.

Our reported ore reserves and mineral deposits are estimated quantities of ore and minerals that under present and anticipated conditions have the potential to be economically mined and processed to extract their mineral content. There are numerous uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of reserves and in projecting potential future rates of mineral production, including many factors beyond our control. In addition, reserve engineering is a subjective process of estimating underground deposits of minerals that cannot be measured in an exact manner, and the accuracy of any reserve estimate is a function of the quality of available data and engineering and geological interpretation and judgment. Estimates of different engineers may vary, and results of our mining and production subsequent to the date of an estimate may justify revision of estimates. Reserve estimates may require revision based on actual production experience and other factors. For example, fluctuations in the market price of metals, reduced recovery rates or increased production costs due to inflation or other factors may render proven and probable reserves containing relatively lower grades of mineralization uneconomic to exploit and may ultimately result in a restatement of reserves.

We may not be able to replenish our reserves, which could adversely affect our mining prospects.

We engage in mineral exploration, which is highly speculative in nature, involves many risks and frequently is nonproductive. Our exploration programs, which involve significant capital expenditures, may fail to result in the expansion or replacement of reserves depleted by current production. If we do not develop new reserves, we will not be able to sustain our current level of production beyond the remaining life of existing mines.

Even if we discover minerals, we remain subject to drilling and production risks, which could adversely affect the mining process.

Once we discover minerals, it can take us a number of years from the initial phases of drilling until production is possible, during which the economic feasibility of production may change. It takes substantial time and expenditures to:

  establish ore reserves through drilling,
     
  determine appropriate metallurgical processes for optimizing the recovery of metal contained in ore,
     
  obtain the ore or extract the metals from the ore, and
     
  construct mining and processing facilities for greenfield properties.

If a project proves not to be economically feasible by the time we are able to exploit it, we may incur substantial write-offs. In addition, potential changes or complications involving metallurgical and other technological processes arising during the life of a project may result in cost overruns that may render the project not economically feasible.

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We face rising extraction costs as our deposits decrease.

Ore reserves gradually decrease in the ordinary course of a given mining operation. As reserves decrease, it becomes necessary to use more expensive processes to extract remaining ore. As a result, over time, we usually experience rising unit extraction costs with respect to each mine. Several of our mines have operated for long periods, and we will likely experience rising extraction costs per unit in the future at these operations.

Our mining and logistics activities depend on authorizations of regulatory agencies, and changes in regulations could have an adverse effect on our business.

Our mining and logistics activities in Brazil depend on authorizations and concessions by regulatory agencies of the Brazilian government. Our exploration, mining, mineral processing and logistics activities are also subject to Brazilian laws and regulations, which change from time to time. If these laws and regulations change in the future, modifications to our technologies and operations could be required, and we could be required to make unbudgeted capital expenditures, which could lead to an increase in our borrowing costs. For a more detailed discussion about the authorizations and concessions by regulatory agencies of the Brazilian government upon which our mining and logistics activities depend, see Item 4. Information on the Company—Regulatory Matters.

Changes in Brazilian environmental laws may adversely affect our mining and energy businesses.

Our operations often involve using, handling, disposing and discharging hazardous materials into the environment or the use of natural resources, and are therefore subject to the environmental laws and regulations of Brazil. Environmental regulation in Brazil has become stricter in recent years, and it is possible that more regulation or more aggressive enforcement of existing regulations will adversely affect us by imposing restrictions on our activities, creating new requirements for the issuance or renewal of environmental licenses, raising our costs or requiring us to engage in expensive reclamation efforts. Several Brazilian states in which we operate are currently considering implementing water use fees under the National Hydrological Resources Policy. This may require us to pay usage fees in the future for water rights that we currently use for free, which could considerably increase our costs in areas where water resources are scarce. In addition, we are currently a defendant in an action brought by the municipality of Itabira, in the state of Minas Gerais, which alleges that our Itabira iron ore mining operations have caused environmental and social damages. If we do not prevail in this lawsuit, we could incur a substantial expense. For more information on environmental laws and the legal challenges we face, see Item 4. Information on the Company—Environmental Matters and Item 8. Financial Information—Legal Proceedings.

Our Albras joint venture may experience substantial electricity cost increases.

Electricity costs are a significant component of the cost of producing aluminum. Our aluminum plant, Albras—Alumínio Brasileiro S.A., or Albras, obtains electric power at discounted rates from Eletronorte, a state-owned electric power utility. The contract through which Albras purchases electricity from this utility expires in 2004. Albras is unlikely to continue to benefit from favorable electricity costs following expiration of the contract. Albras is currently trying to negotiate a new contract and is examining other alternatives. Although we expect future energy costs for Albras to be in line with those of its peers in the industry, its costs will likely increase compared to current levels.

The Brazilian government’s responses to energy shortages could adversely affect us.

We are a significant consumer of Brazil’s electricity production, and accounted for 4.5% of total consumption in Brazil in 2002. Brazil faced a shortage of energy during the second half of 2001 as a result of increased demand due to economic growth, inadequate expansion of electric generation in past years and unfavorable hydrological conditions. In response, the Brazilian government implemented an energy-rationing program to alleviate the energy shortage that aimed to decrease energy consumption by at least 20%. As a result of this program, we experienced a temporary reduction in our aluminum and ferroalloy production both of which use significant amounts of electrcity. By the end of 2001, weather conditions improved, leading to increased generation at hydroelectric plants and reducing the immediate risk of energy shortages. Accordingly, the Brazilian government eliminated the restrictions on the use of energy on March 1, 2002 for the northern,

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northeastern and southeastern regions of Brazil. Energy consumption habits in Brazil have been affected by the energy-rationing, and energy consumption has not returned to prior levels. As a result, there currently is an oversupply in the electricity markets. Although we believe the risk of another energy shortage in the next four years is low, we are unable to assess the long-term impact that the government’s response to future energy shortages may have on our operations, particularly on our aluminum and ferroalloy production.

Changes in government regulations could result in lower returns on our energy sector investments.

The Brazilian power generation business depends on concessions granted by the government and is regulated and supervised by the Brazilian electricity regulatory governmental agency, ANEEL. The recently elected Brazilian government has not yet made clear its policy towards the electricity markets. Changes in the laws, regulations or governmental policies regarding the power generation industry, the marketing of energy in the wholesale market or concession requirements could lower the returns we are expecting from our investments in the energy business. For more information on the regulations governing our energy business, see Item 4. Information on the Company—Regulatory Matters.

We are subject to ongoing antitrust investigations.

We are currently involved in 23 proceedings before the Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica, or CADE, which is the primary Brazilian antitrust regulator. Most of these proceedings involve post-transaction review of acquisition or joint venture transactions, which is required for nearly all of our acquisitions and joint ventures. The remaining are administrative proceedings alleging that we have engaged in illegal anticompetitive conduct in connection with our logistics and aluminum businesses. We intend to defend these claims vigorously. We cannot predict the outcome of these proceedings. If CADE were to determine that undue concentration exists in any of our industries, it could impose measures to safeguard competition, which could include requirements that we divest operations or respect price restrictions. If CADE were to find that we have engaged in anticompetitive conduct, it could order us to cease the conduct and / or to pay fines, which could be substantial. The European Commission is also reviewing our acquisition of Caemi Mineração e Metalurgia S.A., which we refer to as Caemi. See Item 8. Financial Information—Legal Proceedings. If the European Commission fails to approve the Caemi acquisition, or imposes burdensome conditions, we could be required to abandon the acquisition or to take actions that would reduce the benefits we are expecting from the acquisition.

We are vulnerable to adverse developments affecting other economies.

In 2002, 6.7% of our consolidated net operating revenues were attributable to sales to Japanese customers, 12.9% were attributable to sales to other Asian customers and 36.2% were attributable to sales to European customers. In 2002, 7.2% of our iron ore and pellets sales were made to customers in China, and the Chinese market was the main driver of demand in the iron ore market. A weakened economy in China or in the other markets where we sell our products could reduce demand for our products in the Chinese market and such other markets, which, in turn, could result in lower revenues and profitability.

Our principal shareholder could have significant influence on our company.

Valepar, our principal shareholder, currently owns 52.3% of our outstanding common stock and 33.6% of our total outstanding capital. For a description of the ownership of our shares, see Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—Principal Shareholder. As a result of its share ownership, Valepar can control the outcome of any action requiring shareholder approval. Further, the Brazilian government owns a golden share in us that gives it limited veto powers over certain actions that we could propose to take. For a detailed description of the veto powers granted to the Brazilian government by virtue of its ownership of this golden share, see Item 10. Additional Information—Common Shares and Preferred Shares—General.

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Some of our operations depend on joint ventures and could be adversely affected if our joint venture partners do not observe their commitments.

We currently operate important parts of our pelletizing, copper exploration, logistics, energy, aluminum and steel businesses through joint ventures with other companies. Our forecasts and plans for these joint ventures assume that our joint venture partners will observe their obligations to contribute capital, purchase products and, in some cases, provide managerial talent. If any of our joint venture partners fails to observe its commitments, the affected joint venture may not be able to operate in accordance with its business plans or we may have to increase the level of our investment to give effect to these plans. For more information on our joint ventures, see Item 4. Information on the Company—Lines of Business.

Our risk management strategy may not be effective.

We are exposed to fluctuations in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, and prices relating to our iron ore, aluminum and gold production. In order to partially protect ourselves against unusual market volatility, we periodically enter into hedging transactions to manage these risks. We do not hedge risks relating to iron ore price fluctuations. See Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk. Our hedging strategy may not be successful in minimizing our exposure to these fluctuations. In addition, to the extent we hedge our commodity price exposure, we forego the benefits we would otherwise experience if commodity prices were to increase.

We may not have adequate, if any, insurance coverage for some business risks that could lead to economically harmful consequences to us.

  Our businesses are generally subject to a number of risks and hazards, including
     
  industrial accidents,
     
  labor disputes,
     
  slope failures,
     
  environmental hazards,
     
  electricity stoppages,
     
  equipment or vessel failures, and
     
  severe weather and other natural phenomena.

These occurrences could result in damage to, or destruction of, mineral properties, production facilities, transportation facilities, equipment or vessels. They could also result in personal injury or death, environmental damage, waste of resources or intermediate products, delays or interruption in mining, production or transportation activities, monetary losses and possible legal liability. The insurance we maintain against risks that are typical in our business may not provide adequate coverage. Insurance against some risks (including liabilities for environmental pollution or certain hazards or interruption of certain business activities) may not be available at a reasonable cost or at all. As a result, accidents or other negative developments involving our mining, production or transportation facilities could have a material adverse effect on our operations.

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Risks Relating to Brazil

The Brazilian government has historically exercised, and continues to exercise, significant influence over the Brazilian economy. Brazilian political and economic conditions have a direct impact on our business and the market price of our securities.

The Brazilian government frequently intervenes in the Brazilian economy and occasionally makes substantial changes in policy, as often occurs in other emerging economies. The Brazilian government’s actions to control inflation and effect other policies have often involved wage and price controls, currency devaluations, capital controls and limits on imports, among other things. Our business, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected by factors in Brazil including:

  currency fluctuations;
     
  inflation;
     
  monetary policy and interest rates;
     
  fiscal policy;
     
  tariff policy;
     
  exchange controls;
     
  energy shortages; and
     
  other political, social and economic developments in or affecting Brazil.

Inflation and government measures to curb inflation may contribute significantly to economic uncertainty in Brazil and to heightened volatility in the Brazilian securities markets and, consequently, may adversely affect the market value of our securities.

Brazil has in the past experienced extremely high rates of inflation, with annual rates of inflation during the last ten years reaching as high as 1,158% in 1992, 2,708% in 1993 and 1,093% in 1994 (as measured by the Índice Geral de Preços do Mercado published by Fundação Getúlio Vargas, or IGP-M Index). More recently, Brazil’s rates of inflation were 9.9% in 2000, 10.4% in 2001, 25.3% in 2002 and 7.0% for the five months ended May 31, 2003 (as measured by the IGP-M Index). Inflation, governmental measures to combat inflation and public speculation about possible future actions have in the past had significant negative effects on the Brazilian economy, and have contributed to economic uncertainty in Brazil and to heightened volatility in the Brazilian securities markets. If Brazil experiences substantial inflation in the future, our costs may increase, our operating and net margins may decrease and, if investor confidence declines, the price of our securities may fall. Inflationary pressures may also curtail our ability to access foreign financial markets and may lead to further government intervention in the economy, which could involve the introduction of government policies that may adversely affect the overall performance of the Brazilian economy.

Fluctuations in the value of the real against the value of the U.S. dollar may result in uncertainty in the Brazilian economy and the Brazilian securities market and could lower the market value of our securities.

The Brazilian currency has historically suffered frequent devaluation and depreciation. In the past, the Brazilian government has implemented various economic plans and exchange rate policies, including sudden devaluations, periodic mini-devaluations during which the frequency of adjustments has ranged from daily to monthly, floating exchange rate systems, exchange controls and dual exchange rate markets. Although over long periods, depreciation of the Brazilian currency generally has correlated with the rate of inflation in Brazil, depreciation over shorter periods has resulted in significant fluctuations in the exchange rate between the Brazilian currency and the U.S. dollar and other currencies.

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The real depreciated 34.3% against the U.S. dollar in 2002, and appreciated 19.1% during the first five months of 2003. The exchange rate between the real and the U.S. dollar may continue to fluctuate and may rise or decline substantially from current levels.

Depreciation of the real relative to the U.S. dollar reduces the U.S. dollar value of distributions and the dividends on our American depositary shares and may also reduce the market value of our securities. Depreciation also creates additional inflationary pressures in Brazil by generally increasing the price of imported products and requiring recessionary government policies to curb aggregate demand. On the other hand, appreciation of the real also tends to have a negative impact on our margins because most of our costs are denominated in reais, while most of our revenues are denominated in U.S. dollars. In addition, appreciation of the real against the U.S. dollar may lead to a deterioration of the current account and the balance of payments, as well as dampen export-driven growth. For additional information about historical exchange rates, see Item 3. Key Information—Exchange Rates.

Access to international capital markets for Brazilian companies is influenced by the perception of risk in Brazil and other emerging economies, which may hurt our ability to finance our operations.

International investors generally consider Brazil to be an emerging market. As a result, economic and market conditions in other emerging market countries, especially those in Latin America, influence the market for securities issued by Brazilian companies. As a result of economic problems in various emerging market countries in recent years (such as the Asian financial crisis of 1997, the Russian financial crisis in 1998 and the Argentinian financial crisis which began in 2001 and is continuing), investors have viewed investments in emerging markets with heightened caution. This has resulted in a significant outflow of U.S. dollars from Brazil, and Brazilian companies have faced higher costs for raising funds, both domestically and abroad, and have been impeded from accessing international capital markets. We cannot assure you that international capital markets will remain open to Brazilian companies or that prevailing interest rates in these markets will be advantageous to us. In addition, future financial crises in emerging market countries may have a negative impact on the Brazilian markets, which could adversely affect our share price.

Risks Relating to the American Depositary Shares

Restrictions on the movement of capital out of Brazil may hinder your ability to receive dividends and distributions on American depositary shares, and the proceeds from any sale of American depositary shares.

From time to time, the Brazilian government may impose restrictions on capital outflow that would hinder or prevent the custodian who acts on behalf of the depositary for the American depositary shares from converting proceeds from the shares underlying the American depositary shares into U.S. dollars and remitting those proceeds abroad. Brazilian law permits the government to impose these restrictions whenever there is a serious imbalance in Brazil’s balance of payments or reason to foresee a serious imbalance.

The Brazilian government imposed remittance restrictions for approximately six months in 1989 and early 1990. If enacted in the future, similar restrictions would hinder or prevent the conversion of dividends, distributions or the proceeds from any sale of shares from reais into U.S. dollars and the remittance of the U.S. dollars abroad. In that event, the custodian, acting on behalf of the depositary, will hold the reais it cannot convert for the account of the holders of American depositary receipts who have not been paid. The depositary will not invest the reais and will not be liable for interest on those amounts. Furthermore, any reais so held will be subject to devaluation risk.

If you exchange American depositary shares for the underlying shares, as a result of Brazilian regulations you risk losing the ability to remit foreign currency abroad and Brazilian tax advantages.

The Brazilian custodian for the shares underlying our American depositary shares will obtain an electronic registration from the Central Bank of Brazil to entitle it to remit U.S. dollars abroad for payments of dividends and other distributions relating to the shares underlying our American depositary shares or upon the disposition of the underlying shares. If you decide to exchange your American depositary shares for the underlying shares, you will be entitled to continue to rely, for five business days from the date of exchange, on the custodian’s electronic registration. Thereafter, you may not be able to obtain and remit U.S. dollars abroad upon the disposition of, or

 

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distributions relating to, the underlying shares unless you obtain your own electronic registration by registering your investment in the underlying shares under Resolution No. 2,689 of the National Monetary Council, which entitles foreign investors to buy and sell securities on the São Paulo stock exchange, or BOVESPA. For more information regarding these exchange controls, see Item 10. Additional Information—Exchange Controls and Other Limitations. If you attempt to obtain your own electronic registration, you may incur expenses or suffer delays in the application process, which could delay your ability to receive dividends or distributions relating to the underlying shares or the return of your capital in a timely manner. We cannot assure you that the custodian’s electronic registration or any certificate of foreign capital registration obtained by you will not be affected by future legislative changes, or that additional restrictions applicable to you, the disposition of the underlying shares or the repatriation of the proceeds from disposition will not be imposed in the future.

Because we are not obligated to file a registration statement with respect to preemptive rights relating to our shares, you might be unable to exercise those preemptive rights.

Holders of American depositary receipts that are residents of the United States may not be able to exercise preemptive rights, or exercise other types of rights, with respect to the underlying shares. Your ability to exercise preemptive rights is not assured unless a registration statement is effective with respect to those rights or an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act is available. We are not obligated to file a registration statement relating to preemptive rights with respect to the underlying shares, and we cannot assure you that we will file any registration statement. If a registration statement is not filed and an exemption from registration does not exist, JPMorgan Chase Bank, as depositary, will attempt to sell the preemptive rights, and you will be entitled to receive the proceeds of the sale. However, the preemptive rights will expire if the depositary cannot sell them. For a more complete description of preemptive rights with respect to the underlying shares, see Item 10. Additional Information—Common Shares and Preferred Shares—Preemptive Rights.

Holders of our American depositary shares may encounter difficulties in the exercise of voting rights.

Holders of our common and preferred shares are entitled to vote on shareholder matters. You may encounter difficulties in the exercise of some of your rights as a shareholder if you hold our American depositary shares rather than the underlying shares. For example, under some circumstances, such as our failure to provide the depositary with voting materials on a timely basis, you may not be able to vote by giving instructions to the depositary on how to vote for you.

Holders of our American depositary shares may have fewer and less well defined shareholder’s rights than in the United States and certain other jurisdictions.

Our corporate affairs are governed by our by-laws and the Brazilian Corporation Law, which may differ from the legal principles that would apply if we were incorporated in a jurisdiction in the United States or in certain other jurisdictions outside Brazil. Under the Brazilian Corporation Law holders of our common and preferred shares may have fewer and less well-defined rights to protect their interests relative to actions taken by our board of directors or the holders of common shares than under the laws of some jurisdictions outside Brazil.

Although Brazilian law imposes restrictions on insider trading and price manipulation, the Brazilian securities markets are not as highly regulated and supervised as the U.S. securities markets or markets in certain other jurisdictions. In addition, rules and policies against self-dealing and regarding the preservation of minority shareholder interests may be less well developed and enforced in Brazil than in the United States, which could potentially disadvantage you as a holder of the underlying shares and American depositary shares. For example, when compared to Delaware general corporation law, Brazilian Corporation Law and practice has less detailed and well-established rules and judicial precedents relating to the review of management decisions against duty of care and duty of loyalty standards in the context of corporate restructurings, transactions with related parties, and sale-of-business transactions. In addition, shareholders in Brazilian companies ordinarily do not have standing to bring a class action.

 

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Item 4. Information on the Company

BUSINESS OVERVIEW

General

We are one of the world’s largest producers and exporters of iron ore and pellets. We are the largest diversified mining company in the Americas by market capitalization and one of the largest companies in Brazil. We hold exploration claims that cover 7.6 million hectares (18.8 million acres). We operate large logistics systems including railroads and ports that are integrated with our mining operations. Directly and through affiliates and joint ventures, we have major investments in the energy, aluminum-related and steel businesses.

For the year ended December 31, 2002, we had consolidated gross operating revenues of US$ 4,282 million, of which 65.9% were attributable to sales of iron ore and pellets, 10.7% were attributable to third-party logistics services, 10.8% were attributable to sales of aluminum-related products, 6.6% were attributable to sales of manganese and ferroalloys and 2.4% were attributable to sales of gold. For the year ended December 31, 2002, we recorded consolidated operating income of US$ 1,429 million and consolidated net income of US$ 680 million.

Our principal lines of business are:

  Mining. Our primary mining activities involve iron ore. We operate two world-class integrated systems in Brazil for producing and distributing iron ore, each consisting of mines, railroads and port and terminal facilities. The Southern System, based in the states of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, contains aggregate estimated proven and probable iron ore reserves of approximately 2.9 billion tons with an average grade of 54% iron. The Northern System, based in the states of Pará and Maranhão, contains aggregate estimated proven and probable iron ore reserves of approximately 1.5 billion tons with an average grade of 67% iron. We also operate ten pellet-producing facilities, six of which are joint ventures with international partners, and have a 50% stake in Samarco Mineração S.A., or Samarco, in Ponta do Ubú, which owns and operates two pelletizing plants. In addition, as part of our mineral prospecting and development activities in Brazil, we have acquired extensive experience in exploration techniques and processes specifically designed for use in tropical areas of the world. Our current mineral exploration efforts are mainly in Brazil and focus on copper, gold, nickel, manganese, kaolin and platinum group metals. Expenditures for mineral exploration were US$ 50 million in 2002. We currently hold claims to explore approximately 7.6 million hectares (18.8 million acres). We also produce kaolin, potash and gold. In June 2003, we agreed to sell our one remaining operating gold mine.
     
  Logistics. In our logistics business, we provide customers with various forms of transportation and related support services, such as warehouse, port and terminal services. We are a leading competitor in the Brazilian transportation industry. Each of our iron ore complexes incorporates an integrated railroad network linked to automated port and terminal facilities, and is designed to provide iron ore, freight and passenger rail transportation, bulk terminal storage and ship loading services to us and third parties. For 2002, our railroads transported approximately 55% of the total freight tonnage transported by Brazilian railroads, or approximately 171 million tons of cargo, of which 120 million tons were our iron ore and pellets. Of the total amount of iron ore and other products transported, 28% was for third parties and 72% was for us. Our two wholly-owned railroads, the Vitória-Minas railroad and the Carajás railroad, serve primarily to transport our iron ore products from interior mines to coastal port and terminal facilities. In addition, the Vitória-Minas railroad carries significant amounts of third-party cargo as well as passengers. We have nearly completed our exit from the dry-bulk shipping business, which began in 2001.
     
  Energy. Since 2001, we have considered energy to be an important supporting business, although at present energy production does not yet represent a significant portion of our activities. We currently hold stakes in ten hydroelectric power generation projects (Igarapava, Porto Estrela, Funil, Candonga, Aimorés, Capim Branco I, Capim Branco II, Foz do Chapecó, Santa Isabel and Estreito), which have a total projected capacity of 4,451 MW. We are currently negotiating with ANEEL to return the concession for the Santa Isabel hydroelectric project. The Igarapava, the Porto Estrela and the Funil power plants started operations in January 1999, September 2001 and December 2002, respectively. Our remaining power generation projects are scheduled to start operations within the next five years. Depending on market conditions, the

 

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power generated by these plants will be sold in the market and/or used for our own operations. See Item 4. Lines of Business—Energy.

     
  Aluminum-Related Operations. Through joint ventures, we conduct major operations in the production of aluminum-related products. They include:
       
    o
  
Bauxite mining, which we conduct through our 40.0% interest in Mineração Rio do Norte S.A., or MRN, which holds substantial bauxite reserves with a low strip ratio and high recovery rate. MRN is one of the largest bauxite producers in the world and produced 9.9 million tons of bauxite in 2002. In July 2002, we increased our share of the capital of Mineração Vera Cruz S.A., or MVC, to 100%. MVC is a bauxite producer with mining rights in the Paragominas region, in the state of Pará, which we expect will begin operations in December 2005.
       
    o
  
Alumina refining, which we conduct via our 62.09% voting interest in our alumina refining subsidiary, Alunorte-Alumina do Norte do Brasil S.A., or Alunorte, which has a nominal production capacity of 2.375 million tons of alumina per year.
       
    o
  
Aluminum metal smelting and marketing, which we conduct through two aluminum smelting joint ventures, Albras-Aluminio Brasileiro S.A., or Albras, in which we have a 51.0% interest, and Valesul Aluminio S.A., or Valesul, in which we have a 54.5% interest. These joint ventures have a combined production capacity of approximately 520,000 tons of aluminum per year. Our integrated aluminum operations rank among the largest in Latin America in terms of production volume.
     
  Other Investments. In addition, we also have investments in four steel companies and in the fertilizer business. In 2002, we sold the last of our core pulp and paper assets.

Vale Overseas

Vale Overseas, our wholly-owned subsidiary, is a finance company for the CVRD Group. It was constituted as a special purpose company to be the issuer of its US$ 300 million 8.625% Notes Due 2007, the proceeds of which were used for general corporate purposes of the CVRD Group.

Incorporation of CVRD and Vale Overseas

CVRD

Our legal and commercial name is Companhia Vale do Rio Doce. We are a stock corporation, or sociedade anônima, duly organized on January 11, 1943, and existing under the laws of the Federative Republic of Brazil.

We were privatized in three stages between 1997 and 2002. In the third stage of the privatization process, on March 20, 2002, the Brazilian government and Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social (BNDES) each sold 39,393,919 shares, in the form of common shares or American depositary shares, which together represented 32.1% of our outstanding common stock.

We are organized for an unlimited period of time. Our principal executive offices are located at Avenida Graça Aranha, No. 26, 20030-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil, and our telephone number is (011) 55-21-3814-4540.

Vale Overseas

Our wholly-owned subsidiary Vale Overseas was registered and incorporated as a Cayman Islands exempted company with limited liability on April 3, 2001 (registration number 113637). Vale Overseas is incorporated for an indefinite period of time. Its registered office is at Walker House, P.O. Box 908 GT, Mary Street, Georgetown, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.

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Acquisitions, Asset Sales and Significant Changes in 2002 and 2003

In 2002, we continued to expand our investments in copper exploration, energy and the aluminum business. Since the beginning of 2003, we have announced significant acquisition agreements in the iron ore, ferroalloys, railroad, coastal shipping and steel businesses. We have also continued our efforts to exit the pulp and paper and dry-bulk shipping businesses. The following discussion describes some of the important recent acquisitions, asset sales and significant changes in our businesses.

Mining

Salobo. In May 2002, we acquired Anglo American’s 50% interest in Salobo Metais S.A., or Salobo, through our subsidiary Caulim do Brasil Investimentos S.A. for US$ 50.9 million. Salobo is the largest of five copper projects that we are currently developing, with estimated mineral reserves of 784 million tons. We now own 100% of Salobo’s equity capital.

Antofagasta. In July 2002, we signed an investment agreement and formed a joint venture for mining, research and exploration near Cuzco in southern Peru with Antofagasta Plc, or Antofagasta, one of Chile’s largest copper producers. We have invested US$ 1.0 million in 2002 and expect to invest an additional US$ 5.7 million in the next two years. Upon completion of this investment, we will hold a 50% stake.

Rio Doce Manganese Norway. In February 2003, we acquired 100% of Elkem Rana AS, a Norwegian ferroalloy producer, for US$ 17.6 million. Elkem Rana AS has changed its name to Rio Doce Manganese Norway AS, and has a plant located in an industrial park in Mo i Rana, Norway, where ferrochrome was produced until June 2002. The plant will be converted to produce manganese ferroalloys from 2003 onwards, and is expected to have a production capacity of 100 thousand tons per year. This acquisition expands our ferroalloy business in continental Europe, where our wholly-owned subsidiary Rio Doce Manganèse Europe (RDME) already operates a manganese ferroalloy plant.

Caemi. In 2001, we acquired 50% of the voting shares of Caemi. In March 2003, we reached an agreement with Mitsui & Co. (Mitsui) to acquire its remaining stake in Caemi for US$ 426.4 million. After this transaction, we will own 100% of Caemi’s common shares, 40% of its preferred shares and 60.2% of its total capital. Caemi, a Brazilian company with its headquarters in Rio de Janeiro, is the world’s fourth largest producer of iron ore and is listed on BOVESPA. This acquisition is subject, inter alia, to the review and approval of competition authorities and the completion of the Valepar transactions described under Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions.

São Luís. In March 2002, we completed the construction of our new São Luís pelletizing plant. The plant produced 715,000 tons of pellets in 2002, and has a nominal production capacity of 6 million tons per year. Our total capital expenditures invested to build the plant amounted to US$ 188 million. As of December 31, 2002, our wholly-owned pelletizing operations had a combined annual production capacity of 15 million tons.

Logistics

Coastal Shipping. In May 2003, we signed a stock purchase agreement with Mitsui, a major Japanese participant in the global logistics market. Under the agreement, our wholly-owned subsidiary Navegação Vale do Rio Doce S.A.-Docenave, or Docenave, will own 79% of the total shares of a new company, DCNDB Overseas S.A., or DCNDB, established to develop the intermodal coastal shipping business. Mitsui will own the remaining 21% of the shares of DCNDB. The joint venture is subject to certain regulatory approvals. We expect the association with Mitsui to allow Docenave to offer service between the ports of Salvador and Itajai, a line which is currently not serviced by any other major carriers. We believe this joint venture could increase Docenave’s share in the coastal shipping market and enable Docenave to attract additional domestic and international customers.

Restructuring of Certain Logistics Holdings. In April 2003, we, Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional, or CSN, and others signed an agreement for the purchase and sale of shares in logistics companies. The transactions set forth in the agreement are each conditional on the others and will take place once and only if certain conditions are fulfilled. The agreement involves three principal transactions: our acquisition of CSN’s stake in Ferrovia Centro-Atlântica S.A. (FCA), the largest railroad in Latin America; the sale to CSN of our indirect stake in Sepetiba Tecon S.A., a

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company that operates a terminal at the Port of Sepetiba; and the transfer to CSN and Taquari Participações S.A. of our stake in Companhia Ferroviária do Nordeste (CFN), a railroad company. We believe these transactions will allow us to focus on our core transportation assets.

Energy

Estreito. In July 2002, we and our joint venture partners were awarded the concession for the Estreito hydroelectric power plant, which has a projected capacity of 1,087 MW. We now have interests in ten hydroelectric power plants with a total projected capacity of 4,451 MW, of which the energy available to CVRD will be 1,810 MW. Our Funil power plant started operations in December 2002, and we now have interests in three operational power plants (Igarapava, Porto Estrela and Funil). As described below, we are currently negotiating with ANEEL to return the concession for the Santa Isabel hydroelectric project.

Aluminum-Related Operations

Mineração Vera Cruz. In July 2002, we acquired 64% of the total capital of MVC through our wholly-owned subsidiary Aluvale for US$ 2 million. Aluvale now holds 100% of MVC, which holds active mining rights in the Paragominas region, in the state of Pará, located near our existing bauxite reserves, approximately 250 kilometers from Alunorte. This strategic location should increase our flexibility in using our existing infrastructure and should also support our planned expansion at Alunorte.

Alunorte. In July 2002, we increased our stake in Alunorte to 62.09% of the common shares and 19.05% of the preferred shares, giving us 57.03% of Alunorte’s total capital. We began consolidating Alunorte as of this date. In April 2003, Alunorte inaugurated its third production line, which has a capacity of 825,000 tons per year. With this third line, Alunorte now has a production capacity of 2.375 million tons of alumina per year. Alunorte’s total investment in this project amounted to approximately US$ 300 million.

Steel

Companhia Siderúrgica Tubarão.

In April 2003, we completed the acquisition of shares of Companhia Siderúrgica de Tubarão (CST) from Acesita S.A. (Acesita) that are not subject to the CST controlling shareholders’ agreement. We acquired 4.42% of the common shares and 5.64% of the preferred shares of CST, representing 5.17% of CST’s total capital, for US$ 59.7 million. Following this transaction, we now own 24.93% of CST’s common shares and 29.96% of CST’s preferred shares, totaling 28.02% of CST’s capital. In addition, we are currently negotiating with a group of Japanese shareholders led by JFE Steel (the “Japanese Group”) to acquire the Japanese Group’s shares of CST, jointly with Arcelor. Upon the earlier of our acquisition of the Japanese Group’s stake and the termination of the controlling shareholders’ agreement in 2005, we also expect to acquire, jointly with Arcelor, the remaining shares of CST held by Acesita and California Steel Industries, Inc. (“CSI”). We expect that the cost of acquiring these two stakes in CST will be approximately US$ 121 million. By increasing our stake in CST’s capital, we ensure our presence in the controlling group. We have also entered into agreements with Arcelor to guarantee the liquidity of our position, under which we expect to decrease our participation in CST between 2007 and 2009 to 20% of the shares of the controlling group. By 2015, we will sell our remaining stake in CST. Our stake in CST will be sold to Arcelor at prices to be determined based on a valuation performed by two investment banks.

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Others.

In April 2003, we signed an investment agreement with Nucor Corporation, a North American steelmaker, in order to form a joint venture in Northern Brazil, in which approximately 78% and 22% of the voting shares will be held by CVRD and Nucor (or one of its affiliates), respectively. The main purpose of the company will be the production and sale of pig iron. Nucor will invest approximately US$ 10 million, and we will contribute our Celmar S.A. – Indústria de Celulose e Papel (Celmar) forest assets to the new company. The new company will have a total value of approximately US$ 80 million. In December 2002, we purchased 46% of the outstanding capital of Celmar from Nissho Iwai Corporation. With this purchase, we now own 100% of Celmar and will soon contribute Celmar’s cultivated forest assets for use as an energy source for our pig iron project with Nucor.

Dispositions and Asset Sales

In line with our focus on mining, logistics and energy, we have moved to pare down our holdings of non-strategic assets. We have disposed of almost all of our pulp and paper assets and are also pursuing the sale of assets in the logistics sectors that are not strategically connected to our core businesses.

In the pulp and paper industry, in September 2002, we sold, for approximately US$ 49 million, our assets in the São Mateus region situated in the state of Espírito Santo to Aracruz Celulose S.A. and Bahia Sul Celulose S.A. This sale completed our planned partial divestiture of our pulp and paper businesses. Our remaining forest assets will be used in the pig iron project described above.

In the transportation industry, we continued in 2002 the divestiture of our dry-bulk shipping business begun in 2001, by selling the fleet of vessels owned by Docenave. In February 2002, the sale of the six Brazilian flag vessels with a total capacity of 592,240 DWT for US$ 53 million concluded with the delivery of the last vessel to Empresa de Navegação Elcano S.A. In and subsequent to this period, we sold another six Liberian flag vessels for US$ 45.7 million. We intend to sell our remaining dry-bulk assets in the near future.

On June 18, 2003, we agreed to sell our one remaining gold mine, Fazenda Brasileiro, to Yamana Resources Inc., a Canadian mining company, for US$ 20.9 million. The sale is subject to certain conditions. Upon completion of the sale, our gold operations will be interrupted until the start-up of the copper projects we are currently developing in Carajás, where we expect to produce gold as a by-product of the copper mining process.

We are currently negotiating with ANEEL to return the concession for the Santa Isabel hydroelectric project due to difficulties in obtaining the required environmental permits.

Business Strategy

Our goal is to strengthen our standing among the world’s leading mining companies by focusing on diversified growth in mining (mainly based on our own reserves and new exploration initiatives) and developing our new ventures in logistics and energy. We are pursuing disciplined growth in earnings and in cash generation, looking to maximize return on invested capital and the total return to our shareholders. We are emphasizing organic growth in our core businesses, although we will continue to make selective acquisitions in order to complement our strategy and diversify our portfolio.

Over the past several years, we have developed a more efficient governance structure and a robust long-term strategic planning process. Now we are building on these changes with ambitious long-range plans in each of our principal business areas. Over the five years 2003-2007, we are planning capital expenditures of approximately US$ 6 billion for organic growth. The following paragraphs highlight specific major strategies.

Maintaining Our Leadership Position in the Seaborne Iron Ore Market

In 2002, we consolidated our leadership in the seaborne iron ore trade market, achieving an estimated 29.4% of the total 480 million tons traded in the year. In 2003, we expect to further increase our share of this market through the consolidation of Caemi’s operations. We are committed to maintaining our position in the world iron ore market by keeping close contact with our customers, focusing our product line to capture industry trends and controlling costs. We believe that our strong relationships with major customers, tailored product line and logistical advantages will enable us to achieve this goal.

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Expanding Our Pelletizing Facilities to Accommodate Current Market Demands

We believe that, in the long term, global demand for pellets will continue to outpace the overall iron ore market, so we plan to continue investing in the development of this dynamic segment of the market. We built a new pelletizing plant at São Luís, and we are expanding production capacity at our Samarco pellet operations. With the addition of São Luís operations, and the completion of the Samarco expansion, we and our joint ventures have increased our total annual production capacity to 53 million tons. See Lines of Business – Mining – Pellets.

Growing Our Logistics Business

We believe that the quality of our railway assets and our many years of experience as a railroad and port operator position us to establish ourselves as a leading Brazilian logistics company serving both domestic and export markets. We plan to focus on the physical and commercial integration of our transportation assets, and the development of intermodal shipping through a new joint venture.

Developing Our Copper Resources

We believe that our copper projects, which are all situated in the Carajás region, can be among the most competitive in the world in terms of investment cost per ton of ore. When our copper mines enter production, they will benefit from our transportation facilities serving the Northern System. We have a Mineral Risk Contract with BNDES providing for the joint development of certain unexplored mineral resources in approximately two million identified hectares of land in the Carajás region, as well as proportional participation in any financial benefits earned from the development of those resources.

Increasing Our Aluminum-Related Activities

We plan to develop and increase production capacity in our aluminum-related operations, focusing on bauxite and alumina. Our bauxite joint venture, MRN, and our alumina subsidiary, Alunorte, are increasing annual production capacity. Our aluminum subsidiary, Albras, increased its production capacity by 46,000 tons in 2002. In addition, we own large unexplored deposits of high quality bauxite in the states of Pará and Maranhão that will allow us to pursue further growth opportunities in the aluminum sector. We may pursue acquisitions and/or partnerships in the production of primary aluminum, depending on the level of related electricity costs.

Developing Power Generation Projects

Energy management and supply has become a priority for us, driven both by structural change in the industry, and by the risk of rising electricity prices and electricity rationing due to energy shortages, such as Brazil experienced in the second half of 2001. We have invested in ten consortia to develop hydroelectric power generation projects. These projects may sell their production to third parties in the power market, and/or we may use the electricity from these projects for our internal needs. As we are a large consumer of electricity, we expect that investing in the energy business will help protect us against volatility in price and supply of energy.

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LINES OF BUSINESS

Our principal lines of business consist of mining, logistics and energy. For internal management purposes, we group our aluminum-related operations together with our other significant equity participations in other companies.

Mining

Ferrous Minerals

Our ferrous minerals business segment includes iron ore mining and pellet production, as well as transportation facilities in the Northern and Southern Systems (including railroads, ports and terminals) as they relate to mining operations. Manganese mining and ferroalloys are also part of our ferrous minerals business.

The table below sets forth our ferrous minerals gross revenues by geographic market and by category for the periods indicated as reflected in our consolidated financial statements.

For the Year Ended December 31,  
 
 
2000   2001   2002  
 

 

 

 
(In millions of US$)  
Gross revenues classified by geographic destination                  
Export sales:                  
      Latin America US$ 224   US$ 238   US$ 392  
      United States   252     247     340  
      Europe   969     1,469     1,799  
      Middle East   209     216     239  
      Japan   544     525     488  
      Asia, other than Japan   652     863     942  
 

 

 

 
            Subtotal   2,850     3,558     4,200  
Domestic sales   1,000     1,083     996  
 

 

 

 
            Total US$ 3,850   US$ 4,641   US$ 5,196  
 

 

 

 
Gross revenues classified by category                  
Iron ore US$ 2,710   US$ 3,438   US$ 3,705  
Pellets   770     860     1,099  
Manganese and ferroalloys   370     343     392  
 

 

 

 
            Total US$ 3,850   US$ 4,641   US$ 5,196  
 

 

 

 

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Iron Ore

We conduct our iron ore business primarily at the parent company level and through our subsidiaries Ferteco Mineração S.A., or Ferteco, and Urucum Mineração S.A., or Urucum.

System Structure

The table below sets forth information regarding our proven and probable iron ore reserves and projected exhaustion dates as of December 31, 2002. The estimates of mineral reserves have been audited and verified by AMEC, experts in geology, mining and ore reserve determination. The projected exhaustion dates are estimated based on our estimates of future production levels.

Mine(1)   Began
Operations
  Projected
Exhaustion
Date
    Production For the Year Ended
December 31,
  
  Proven and
Probable Reserves
at December 31,
2002
 

 
 
 




 


 
            2000   2001   2002   Ore
Tonnage
  Grade  
           
 
 
 
 
 
            (in millions of tons)   (In millions
of tons)
  (%
Fe)
 
Southern System                              
Itabira:                              
   Caué(2)   1942     20.1   19.7   20.7   6.0   51.3  
   Conceição(3)   1957     19.8   19.2   20.0   474.1   54.8  
   Minas do Meio(2)               654.5   53.7  
           
 
 
 
     
      Total Itabira       2021   39.9   38.9   40.7   1,134.6   54.1  
                               
Água Limpa Complex(4)   2000   2013   3.7   2.5   3.2   85.1   45.0  
Alegria Complex(5)   2000   2024   9.4   9.7   9.9   685.7   54.3  
Capanema/Ouro Fino(6)   1982   2003   5.3   3.9   4.0   23.0   58.9  
Córrego do Meio Complex(7)   2000   2005   1.5   1.2   1.2   5.8   57.6  
Fazendão(8)   1997     1.2   1.0   0.8   236.3   50.6  
Gongo Soco Complex(9)   2000   2020   6.6   6.7   6.8   514.2   55.0  
Timbopeba(10)   1984   2008   7.6   5.5   5.2   110.0   54.8  
Urucum(11)   1993     0.7   0.6   0.8      
                               
Ferteco:                              
   Fábrica(12)   1956          5.6   5.2   83.3   56.0  
   Córrego do Feijao(12)   1956          5.8   6.3   32.3   65.9  
           
 
 
 
     
      Total Ferteco       2008       11.4   11.5   115.6   58.7  
           
 
 
 
     
Total Southern System           75.9   81.4   84.1   2,910.3   54.0  
           
 
 
 
     
Northern System                              
Carajás(13)   1986   2024   47.6   52.4   53.9   1,548.3   66.6  
           
 
 
 
     
Total CVRD Group           123.5   133.8   138.0   4,458.6   58.4  
           
 
 
 
     
 

(1) CVRD’s equity interest in mines is 100% unless otherwise noted.
(2) The Minas do Meio mine has not yet begun operations. Average product recovery after beneficiation is 72%. Average drill spacing is 100 by 100 meters.
(3) Average product recovery after beneficiation is 78%. Average drill spacing is 100 by 100 meters.
(4) The Água Limpa Complex consists of the Água Limpa and Cururu deposits. CVRD ownership is 60%. Average product recovery after beneficiation is 51%. Average drill spacing is 50 by 50 meters.
(5) The Alegria Complex consists of the Alegria, Fábrica Nova and Morro da Mina deposits. Average product recovery after beneficiation is 73%. Average drill spacing is 100 by 100 meters.
(6) CVRD’s ownership interest is 51%. Average product recovery after beneficiation is 85%. Average drill spacing is 100 by 100 meters.
(7) The Córrego do Meio Complex consists of the Córrego do Meio and Segredo deposits. Present proven and probable reserves are limited to the Córrego do Meio deposit. Average product recovery is 100% (direct shipping). Average drill spacing is 100 by 100 meters.
(8) Average product recovery is 100% (direct shipping). Average drill spacing is 100 by 100 meters.
(9) The Gongo Soco Complex consists of the Gongo Soco, Brucutu and Baú deposits. Average product recovery after beneficiation for Gongo Soco and Bau is 84%. Average product recovery for Brucutu is 100% (direct shipping). Average drill spacing is 100 by 100 meters.
(10) Average product recovery after beneficiation is 77%. Average drill spacing is 100 by 100 meters.
(11) There are no proven and probable reserves at Urucum.
(12) We acquired Ferteco in 2001; the beginning of operations before our acquisition was in 1956.
(13) Includes the N4WC, N4WN, N4E, N5W, N5E and N5E-N mines. Average product recovery after beneficiation is 92%. Average drill spacing for N4W and N4E mines is 100 by 100 meters with local infill at 50 by 50 meters. Average drill spacing for N5W, N5E and N5E-N is 50 by 50 meters.

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Integrated Systems

The following map shows the location of our current principal operations.

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Our iron ore mining and related operations are concentrated in two regions in Brazil, the Southern System and the Northern System. The Southern System is located in the states of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, and the Northern System is located in the states of Pará and Maranhão. Each system includes iron ore reserves and other mineral deposits, mines, ore processing facilities and integrated railroad and terminal transportation facilities. Our railroads connect each system and bring products from the mines to our maritime terminals, located at the Tubarão Maritime Terminal Complex in the Southern System, and Ponta da Madeira Maritime Terminal Complex in the Northern System. The operation of two separate systems, each with transportation capability under our control, enhances reliability and consistency of service to our customers.

Southern System

The Southern System is an integrated system consisting of iron ore mines, the Vitória-Minas railroad, and the Tubarão Maritime Terminal Complex (located in Vitória, in the state of Espírito Santo). The iron ore mines of the Southern System are located in a region called the Iron Quadrangle in the state of Minas Gerais, in the southeast of Brazil. The Southern System is accessible by road or by spur tracks of the Vitória-Minas railroad. The iron ore from Ferteco’s mines is also transported through MRS Logística S.A. (MRS)’s railroad to our Port of Sepetiba. Transportation of the iron ore concentrate, lump and natural pellet ore produced in the Southern System is discussed below in ––Logistics.

Iron ore in the Southern System is mined by open pit methods. These ore reserves have high ratios of itabirite ore relative to hematite ore. Itabirite is a quartz-hematite rock with an average iron content ranging from 35% to 65%, requiring concentration to achieve shipping grade, which is above a 64% average iron content. Mines in the Southern System generally process their run-of-mine by means of standard crushing, classification and concentration steps, producing sinter feed, lump ore and pellet feed.

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Northern System

The Northern System is an integrated mine, railroad and port system, including open pit mines and an ore processing complex. The Northern System is located in the Carajás region, in the states of Pará and Maranhão in the north of Brazil (in the Amazon River basin), on public lands for which we hold mining concessions. The Northern System’s reserves are among the largest iron ore deposits in the world. These reserves are divided into two main ranges (north and south), situated approximately 35 kilometers apart. Iron ore mining activities in the Northern System are currently being conducted in the north range, which is divided into six main mining bodies (N4E, N4WC, N4WN, N5W, N5E and N5E-N).

The N4E deposit is the largest operational pit in the Northern Region. Industrial scale mining operations began at this mine in 1985. We selected the N4E mine as the first iron body to be developed in the Northern System because development of the N4E would facilitate access to the N4W and N5 deposits, which could share the N4E beneficiation complex and train-loading terminal. We began mining operations at N4W in 1994, opening two pits (N4WC and N4WN). We completed the construction of two in-pit crushing systems located at N4E and N4WN mines in late December 1998. The N4E and N4W mines use conventional open pit benching, with drilling and blasting to open a free face followed by shovel loading. During 1998, we also started operations in the N5 mines (N5W and N5E). Mining of N5E-N is expected to begin in 2003.

Because of the high iron content (66.6% on average) in the Northern System, we do not have to operate a concentration plant at Carajás. The beneficiation process consists simply of sizing operations, including screening, hydrocycloning, crushing and filtration. This allows us to produce marketable iron ore in the Northern System at a lower cost than in the Southern System. Output from the beneficiation process consists of sinter feed, pellet feed, special fines for direct reduction processes and lump ore, which is sampled regularly before storage at the Carajás stockyard by automatic sampling systems that conform to ISO 9002 standards. After the beneficiation process, our Carajás railroad transports Northern System iron ore to the Ponta da Madeira Maritime Terminal Complex located at São Luís in the state of Maranhão, on the Atlantic Ocean.

Our complex in Carajás is accessible by road, air and rail. It obtains electrical power at market rates from regional utilities. To support our Carajás operations and to reduce turnover of mining personnel, we have housing and other facilities in a nearby township.

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Pellets

The table below sets forth information regarding our share ownership and joint venture partners as of May 31, 2003 and total pellet production by us and our joint ventures for the periods indicated.

System   Our Direct or
Indirect Share of
Capital
  Partners   Total Pellet Production(1)(2)
for the Year Ended
December 31,
  Nominal
Capacity
 
         

 
 
 
 
 
    Voting   Total       2000   2001   2002      
     
 
     
 
 
     
    (%)       (in millions of tons)      
   CVRD Northern/    N/A    N/A   N/A   5.0   5.1   5.8   11.2  
       Southern                              
                                 
   Ferteco Southern   100 %  100 %       3.5   4.5   4.0  
                                 
   GIIC Bahrain    50.0   50.0   GIC   3.6   2.7   3.1   4.0  
                                 
   Hispanobrás Southern   51.0   50.9   Aceralia   3.8   3.7   3.7   3.8  
                                 
   Itabrasco Southern   51.0   50.0   Ilva   3.3   3.3   3.3   3.3  
                                 
   Kobrasco Southern   50.0   50.0   Posco   4.4   4.2   4.1   4.3  
                                 
   Nibrasco Southern   51.1   51.0   Nippon Steel   8.5   7.1   7.1   8.4  
              Sumitomo                  
              JFE Steel                  
              Kobe Steel                  
              Nisshin Steel                  
              Nissho Iwai                  
                                 
   Samarco
Ponta do  Ubú
  50.0   50.0   BHP Billiton   12.7   9.9   11.6   14.0  
               
 
 
 
 
                                            
      Total                 41.3   39.5   43.2   53.0  
                 
 
 
 
 

(1) Total production by joint venture entity.
(2) Production figures are for the full year beginning the year of acquisition by CVRD of an equity interest in the entity even if acquired during the year.

Our pellet activities increase our market for fine and ultrafine iron ore products. We sell pellet feed to our pellet joint ventures at market-based prices. Historically, we have supplied all of the iron ore requirements of our joint ventures located in the Southern System. Some of the pellets we and our joint ventures produce are DR pellets, which are used in steel mills that use minimill rather than blast furnace technology. The percentage of DR pellets our pellet joint ventures delivered was 23.5% in 2000, 36.2% in 2001 and 21% in 2002.

In March 2002, we completed the construction of our new São Luís pelletizing plant, which is located in the Northern System and has a nominal annual production capacity of 6 million tons. Our total capital expenditure for the plant was US$ 188 million.

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The table below sets forth information regarding iron ore shipments to our pellet joint ventures for the periods indicated.

  For the Year Ended
December 31,
 
 
 
  2000   2001   2002  
 
 
 
 
  (In millions of tons)  
GIIC 2.0   1.7   2.6  
Hispanobrás 4.1   3.9   3.7  
Itabrasco 3.6   3.6   3.6  
Kobrasco 4.7   4.5   4.4  
Nibrasco 9.3   7.8   7.3  
Samarco 1.9   1.9   2.0  
 
 
 
 
     Total 25.6   23.4   23.6  
 
 
 
 

Customers, Sales and Marketing (Iron Ore and Pellets)

We use all of our iron ore and pellets (including our share of joint venture pellet production) to supply the steelmaking industry. Prevailing and expected levels of demand for steel products affect demand for our iron ore and pellets. Demand for steel products is influenced by many factors, such as expected rates of economic growth.

Historically, we have exported more than two-thirds of our iron ore shipments. We export iron ore and pellets primarily to Asia and Europe, with customers in China, Japan, South Korea, France and Germany accounting for approximately 52.3% of our total iron ore and pellets export shipments in 2002. Our 10 largest customers collectively purchased 53.12 million tons of iron ore and pellets from us, representing 46% of our 2002 iron ore and pellet shipments and approximately 46% of our total iron ore and pellets revenues. No individual customer accounted for more than approximately 9.5% of our sales of iron ore and pellets for any of the three years ended December 31, 2002.

We strongly emphasize customer service in order to improve our competitiveness. We work with our customers to understand their principal objectives and then tailor our iron ore to meet specific customer needs. To provide a tailored product, we take advantage of our large number of iron ore mines in order to produce multiple iron ore products possessing different grades of iron, silica and alumina, and varying physical properties, including grain size. We believe that we offer our customers more variety than our competitors. This variety helps us offset disadvantages in relation to competitors who may be more conveniently located geographically. In addition to offering technical assistance to our customers, we operate sales support offices in Tokyo, Brussels, Luxemburg, New York and Shanghai. These offices allow us to stay in close contact with our customers, monitor their requirements and our contract performance, and ensure that our customers receive deliveries on schedule. Our central sales office in Rio de Janeiro coordinates the activities of these offices.

Distribution (Iron Ore and Pellets)

Our ownership and operation of transportation systems designed for the efficient transportation of iron ore products complement our iron ore mining business. We operate an integrated railroad and terminal network in each of our Northern and Southern Systems. These networks transport our iron ore products from interior mining locations to the maritime terminal and domestic customers. A more detailed description of the networks is provided in the section below entitled Logistics.

Competition (Iron Ore and Pellets)

The international iron ore market is highly competitive. Several large producers operate in this market. The principal factors affecting competition are price, quality, range of products offered, reliability and transportation costs. In 2002, the European market and the Asian market (primarily China, Japan and South Korea) were the primary markets for our iron ore.

Our biggest competitors in the Asian market are located in Australia and include affiliates of Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited, or BHP Billiton, and The Rio Tinto Corporation Plc. Although the transportation

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costs of delivering iron ore from Australia to Asian customers are generally lower than ours as a result of Australia’s geographical proximity, we believe we are able to remain competitive in the Asian market for two principal reasons. First, steel producers generally seek to obtain the types (or blends) of iron ore which can produce the intended final product in the most economic and efficient manner. Our iron ore has low impurity levels, which generally lead to lower processing costs. For example, the alumina content of our iron ore is very low compared to Australian ore. Our ore also has high iron ore grade, which improves productivity in blast furnaces, which is important during periods of high demand. Second, steel mills often develop sales relationships based on a reliable supply of a specific mix of iron ore. We have an aggressive marketing policy of meeting our clients’ needs to the extent possible, including placing specialized personnel in direct contact with our clients to determine the blend that best suits each particular client. We sell our products FOB from our ports, which means that the invoice price includes delivery at our expense to our ports and no further. In general, our ownership of the process of producing and transporting iron ore to our ports helps ensure that our products get to our ports on schedule and at competitive costs. Consequently, we believe that the sale of our shipping dry-bulk assets will not affect our competitiveness as we have not subsidized shipping costs for those customers who have used our fleet. We believe that third-party carriers are readily available to serve our customers.

We are competitive in the European market for the reasons we described above, as well as the proximity of the Ponta da Madeira port facilities to European customers. Our principal competitors in Europe are:

  BHP Billiton (Australia) and Affiliates,
     
  Kumba Resources (South Africa),
     
  Luossavaara Kiirunavaara AB - LKAB (Sweden),
     
  Rio Tinto (UK) and Affiliates, and
     
  Sociétè Nationale Industrielle et Minière - SNIM (Mauritania).

The Brazilian iron ore market is highly competitive with a wide range of smaller producers. Although pricing is relevant, quality and reliability are important competitive factors as well. We believe that our integrated transportation systems, high-quality ore and technical services make us a strong competitor in domestic sales. Prevailing export market prices, with adjustments negotiated to compensate for lower transport costs to domestic customers, influence iron ore sales in the domestic market.

Manganese and Ferroalloys

We conduct our manganese and ferroalloy business primarily through the following subsidiaries and joint ventures, as of May 31, 2003:

  Our Direct or Indirect    
  Share of Capital    
 
   
  Voting   Total   Partners
 
 
 
    (%)      
Companhia Paulista de Ferro-Ligas (CPFL) 99 .9%   93 .6%    
           
Nova Era Silicon S.A. (NES) 49 .0   49 .0   Mitsubishi
          JFE Steel
          Mizushima
Rio Doce Manganèse Europe (RDME) (France) 100     100      
           
Rio Doce Manganese Norway AS (RDMN) 100     100      
           
Sibra Eletrosiderúrgica Brasileira S.A. (SIBRA) 100     99 .3    
           
Urucum Mineração S.A. (Urucum) 100     100      

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In 2002, we were the largest Brazilian manganese ore producer, with total shipments of approximately 665 thousand tons. We had US$ 283 million in revenues in 2002 from manganese ore and ferroalloy sales.

We produce manganese ore products from the Azul mine in the Carajás region in the state of Pará and from the Urucum mine in the Pantanal region in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. We operate on-site beneficiation plants at both the Azul and Urucum mines. Both mines are accessible by road and obtain electrical power at market rates from regional electric utilities. We also operate minor mines in the states of Minas Gerais and Bahia.

Our manganese mines produce three types of manganese products:

  metallurgical ore used primarily for the production of ferroalloys;
     
  natural manganese dioxide suitable for the manufacture of electrolytic batteries; and
     
  chemical ore used in several industries for the production of fertilizer, pesticides and animal food and used as a pigment in the ceramics industry.

The production of ferroalloys consumes significant amounts of electricity. For information on the risks associated with potential energy shortages, see Item 3. Key Information—Risk Factors.

The table below sets forth information regarding our manganese mines and recent manganese ore production for the periods indicated. The estimates of mineral reserves have been audited and verified by AMEC. We own 100% of both mines.

   Began
Operations
  Projected
Exhaustion
Date
      Production 
For the Year Ended

December 31,
                 
                           
                    Proven and Probable Reserves  
 
 
 
 
 
                          Ore      
          2000   2001   2002   Type   Tonnage(1)   Grade(2)  
         
 
 
 
 
 
 
Azul(3) 1986   2016   1.4   1.4   1.8   Open Pit    19.5   47.0  
                      Stockpile   0.8   47.3  
Urucum(4) 1976   2017   0.3   0.3   0.3   Underground   7.4   48.0  
         
 
 
     
 
 
   Total         1.7   1.7   2.1       27.7   47.3  
         
 
 
     
 
 

(1) Reported as recoverable wet product tons, in millions of tons.
(2) Reported as wet recoverable product grade.
(3) Average drill spacing is 50 by 50 meters for proven reserves and 100 by 100 meters for probable reserves.
(4) Sampled with underground face samples at a spacing of 50 by 50 meters.

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The table below sets forth information regarding our ferroalloy production in 2002.

  Production   Production in  
  Capacity   2002  
 
 
 
  (In thousands of   (In thousands  
  tons per year)   of tons)  
Rio Doce Manganese Europe (RDME) 130   123  
         
Companhia Paulista de Ferro-Ligas / Sibra Eletrosiderúrgica Brasileira S.A. (CPFL/Sibra) 310   316  
         
Nova Era Silicon S.A. (NES) 45   35  
 
 
 
   Total 485   474  
 
 
 

Competition (Manganese Ore and Ferroalloys)

The markets for manganese ore and ferroalloys are highly competitive. Competition in the manganese ore market takes place in two sectors. High-grade (40% Mn or more) manganese ore competes on a seaborne basis, while low grade ore competes on a regional basis. For some ferroalloys high-grade ore is mandatory, while for some others high and low grade ores are complementary. Besides manganese content, cost and physical-chemical features play an important role in competition (e.g. moisture, impurities). The main suppliers of high-grade (HG) ores are South Africa, Gabon and Ghana. The main producers of low-grade (LG) ores are Ukraine, China, Kazakhstan, India and Mexico. CVRD is the second largest worldwide supplier of manganese ores with HG ores in Carajás and Urucum mines, and LG ores in Minas Gerais and Bahia states.

The ferroalloy market is characterized by a large number of market participants who compete primarily on the basis of price. The principal competitive factors in this market are costs of manganese ore, electricity, logistics and carbon. We compete both with standalone producers and integrated producers that also mine their own ore. Our competitors are located principally in ore or steel producing countries.

Non-Ferrous Minerals

Our non-ferrous minerals business segment includes the production of gold and other non-ferrous minerals, such as kaolin and potash. We also include our copper exploration efforts in the non-ferrous category. The table below sets forth information regarding our non-ferrous gross revenues and sales by geographic market for the periods indicated.

       For the Year Ended December 31,     
 







 
   2000    2001    2002  
 

 

 

 
       (In millions of US$)     
Gross revenues classified by geographic destination                  
Export sales:                  
   United States US$ 156   US$ 139   US$ 35  
   Europe   35     33     100  
   Japan   4         3  
   Asia, other than Japan   3     1     5  
 

 

 

 
            Subtotal   198     173     143  
                   
Domestic sales   90     78     96  
 

 

 

 
      Total US$ 288   US$ 251   US$ 239  
 

 

 

 
Gross revenues classified by category                  
   Gold US$ 156   US$ 139   US$ 103  
   Potash   85     71     91  
   Kaolin   47     41     45  
 

 

 

 
      Total US$ 288   US$ 251   US$ 239  
 

 

 

 

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Gold

We conduct our gold business primarily at the parent company level. We produced 314.5 thousand troy ounces of refined gold in 2002, and were responsible for approximately 22% of all gold produced on an industrial scale in Brazil during 2002. Gold sales generated US$ 103 million of revenues in 2002.

We started gold operations in 1984. In June 2002, we closed our Igarapé Bahia mine, leaving us with only one remaining gold mine, Fazenda Brasileiro, in operation at the end of 2002. On June 18, 2003, we agreed to sell Fazenda Brasileiro to Yamana Resources Inc., a Canadian mining company, for US$ 20.9 million. The sale is subject to certain conditions. Upon completion of the sale, our gold operations will be interrupted until the start-up of the copper projects we are currently developing in Carajás. We expect these projects to produce gold as a by-product of their copper mining operations.

The table below sets forth information regarding estimated gold proven and probable reserves as of December 31, 2002. The estimates of gold reserves have been audited and verified by AMEC. Fazenda Brasileiro is 100% owned by the Company and is principally an underground operation with limited oxide mineralization being mined by open pit. Average drill spacing is 25 by 10 meters for proven reserves and 100 by 50 meters for probable reserves.

               Proven and Probable Reserves  







Ore Type(2)  
Ore
Tonnage
(Mt)
 
Au
Grade
(g/t)
 
Contained
Gold (t)
 
Metal
Recovery
(%)
 
Recoverable Gold






 
(Millions
of tons)
(gram/ton)
(tons)
(percent)
(tons)
 
(Millions
of troy
ounces)
   Fazenda Brasileiro Sulfide Carbon-in-Pulp   1.77   3.84   6.81   95   6.5   0.21  
       Heap Leaching   0.63   2.14   1.34   72   1.0   0.03  
     
 
 
     
 
 
          Total   2.40   3.39   8.15   91   7.5   0.24  
     
 
 
     
 
 

The table below sets forth information regarding our gold mines and recent gold production for the periods indicated. The projected exhaustion date is based on 2002 production levels. The average total cash cost of production (US$ per troy ounce) was US$ 165 in 2000, US$ 146 in 2001 and US$ 141 in 2002.

  Commencement   Actual/Projected   Production  
of Operations Exhaustion Date For the Year Ended December 31,



    2000   2001   2002



          (Thousands of troy ounces)  
Almas 1985   2001   13.2   0.6    
Caeté 1996   2001   11.0   0.4    
Fazenda Brasileiro 1984   2005   154.6   165.2   153.2  
Igarapé Bahia 1991   2002   333.9   328.3   148.2  
Itabira 1984   2002   22.4   18.8   13.1  
         
 
 
 
   Total         535.1   513.3   314.5  
         
 
 
 

The Fazenda Brasileiro gold mine includes an on-site processing facility to produce doré bars from raw ore. We ship doré bars to a third-party refinery for remelting and chemical treatment, which yields gold bars with 99.99% purity. Our gold is insured from the time we place it in its mine vaults until it reaches the customer.

As of December 31, 2002, our proven and probable gold reserves represented less than three years of production. In 2002, we spent US$ 5 million for gold exploration and resource development, including US$ 0.4 million related to prospecting for new deposits and US$ 4.6 million directed to the extension of existing reserves. None of these expenses were reimbursed under the Mineral Risk Contract. See —Current Copper Prospects—Mineral Risk Contract.

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Kaolin

We conduct our kaolin business through our stake in Pará Pigmentos S.A., which began operations in August 1996. Our total and voting interests in Pará Pigmentos are 75.5% and 80.0%, respectively. Our partners in Pará Pigmentos are Mitsubishi Corporation and International Finance Corporation. Our proven and probable reserves of 6.4 million tons are projected to be exhausted in 2007.

Kaolin is a fine white aluminum silicate clay used in the paper, ceramic and pharmaceutical industries as a coating agent and filler. Pará Pigmentos sold approximately 330,000 tons of kaolin in 2002.

Potash

Potash is an important raw material used in the production of fertilizers. We lease a potash mine in the state of Sergipe from Petrobras-Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. (Petrobras), the Brazilian oil company. The lease was signed in 1991 for a period of 25 years, and is renewable for another 25 years. The mine is the only potash mine in Brazil and has a current nominal capacity of 600,000 tons per year. We had gross revenues of US$ 91 million from potash sales in 2002.

We have budgeted US$ 67 million in capital expenditures to expand the mine capacity to 850,000 tons per year by 2005. Our proven and probable reserves should be sufficient to ensure the estimated production for the next 5 years.

Current Copper Prospects

The table below sets forth information, at May 31, 2003, regarding our joint ventures and the status and potential productivity of our principal copper (Cu) prospects, all but one of which features a gold (Au) by-product:

  Our Direct or                  
Indirect Share Total Total
of Capital Expected Expected
(Voting and Other Mineral Capital Anticipated
Total) (1) Status Deposits Expenditures Start-up Date





%   (Millions of (In millions of  
  tons) US$)
                     
Sossego 100%   Under   196 at 1.02% US$ 383   2004  
      construction   Cu and 0.3 g/t Au          
                     
Project 118 50.0   Feasibility in
progress
  64 at 0.80% Cu   154   2005  
                     
Salobo 100   Feasibility in
progress
  784 at 0.96%
Cu and 0.6 g/t Au
  418   2006  
                     
Cristalino 50.0   Pre-feasibility
in progress
  250 at 0.79%
Cu and 0.15
g/t Au
  385   2007  
                     
Alemão 67.0   Pre-feasibility
in progress
  200 at 1.60%
Cu and 0.90 g/t Au
  508   2008  
                     

(1)
Where the project is not wholly-owned, our partner in the project is BNDES.

In addition, we and BNDES are prospecting the Carajás region for new copper exploration projects. See — Mineral Risk Contract.

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Exploration

As part of our mineral prospecting and development activities in Brazil, we have acquired extensive experience in exploration techniques and processes specifically designed for use in tropical areas of the world. Our current mineral exploration efforts are mainly in Brazil, other Latin American countries and Asia, and focus primarily on copper, gold, nickel, manganese, kaolin and platinum group metals. Exploration costs are recorded as expenses until viability of mining activities is established (see note 2(e) to our financial statements). Expenditures for our mineral exploration program in 2002 amounted to US$ 50 million and the budget for 2003 is US$ 72.0 million.

Since 1998, we have focused our exploration efforts on areas where geological knowledge was more advanced, focusing primarily on gold and copper, and let lapse those claims we did not consider economically attractive. As a result, our undeveloped acreage claims decreased from approximately 31.2 million hectares as of December 31, 1997, to 7.6 million hectares as of December 31, 2002.

Mineral Risk Contract

We and BNDES entered into a Mineral Risk Contract in March 1997, relating to prospecting authorizations for mining regions where drilling and exploration are still in their early stages. The Mineral Risk Contract provides for the joint development of certain unexplored mineral deposits in approximately two million identified hectares of land in the Carajás region, which is part of the Northern System, as well as proportional participation in any financial benefits earned from the development of such resources. Iron ore and manganese deposits already identified and subject to development were specifically excluded from the Mineral Risk Contract.

Pursuant to the Mineral Risk Contract, we and BNDES each agreed to provide US$ 205 million, which represents half of the US$ 410 million in expenditures estimated as necessary to complete geological exploration and mineral resource development projects in the region over a period of five years, which was extended for an additional period of two years. We will oversee these projects and BNDES will advance us half of our costs on a quarterly basis. Under the Mineral Risk Contract, as of December 31, 2002, we and BNDES each had remaining commitments to contribute an additional US$ 63 million toward exploration and development activities. We both expect to fund a portion of these contributions each year through 2004. In the event that either of us wishes to conduct further exploration and development after having spent such US$ 205 million, the contract provides that each party may either choose to match the other party’s contributions, or may choose to have its financial interest proportionally diluted. If a party’s participation in the project is diluted to an amount lower than 40% of the amount invested in connection with exploration and development projects, then the Mineral Risk Contract provides that the diluted party will lose all the rights and benefits provided for in the Mineral Risk Contract and any amounts previously contributed to the project.

Under the Mineral Risk Contract, BNDES has agreed to compensate us for our contribution of existing development and ownership rights in the Carajás region through a finder’s fee production royalty on mineral resources that are discovered and placed into production. This finder’s fee is equal to 3.5% of the revenues derived from the sale of gold, silver and platinum group metals and 1.5% of the revenues derived from the sale of other minerals, including copper, except for gold and other minerals discovered at Serra Leste, for which the finder’s fee is equal to 6.5% of revenues.

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Logistics

We operate our logistics business, which is comprised of the transportation of third-party products and passengers, through the following subsidiaries and joint ventures as of May 31, 2003:

 
Principal
Activity
Our Direct or Indirect
Share of Capital
 
Partners

 


 
   
Voting
 
Total
   
     
 
   
 
(%)
   
Cia. Portuária Baía de Sepetiba (CPBS)
Ports and
Terminals
 
100.00
 %
100.00
 %  
               
Companhia Ferroviária do Nordeste (CFN) (1)
Railroad
 
33.17
 
33.17
  Taquari Participações S.A.
CSN
Employees
               
DCNDB Overseas S.A. (DCNDB)
Shipping
 
79.00
 
79.00
  Mitsui
               
Navegação Vale do Rio Doce S.A- Docenave (Docenave)
Shipping
 
100.00
 
100.00
   
               
Ferroban-Ferrovias Bandeirantes S.A. (Ferroban)
Railroad
 
0.00
 
3.75
  Nova Ferroban
Gaborone Participações
Capmelissa
FUNCEF
PREVI
               
Ferrovia Centro-Atlântica S.A. (FCA)
Railroad
 
20.00
 
45.65
  CSN
KRJ Participações
Financeira Ibertrust
TRANSGER
Others
               
MRS Logística S.A. (MRS)
Railroad
 
28.90
 
17.30
  CSN
MBR
Usiminas
Ultrafértil
Employees
Others
               
Sepetiba Tecon S.A. (Sepetiba Tecon) (1)
Ports and
Terminals
 
50.00
 
50.00
  CSN
           
               
Terminal de Vila Velha S.A. (TVV)  
Ports and
Terminals
 
99.89
 
99.89
  Employees
           
 

(1) We have entered into an agreement to restructure some of our logistics holdings. See Business Overview – Acquisitions, Asset Sales and Significant Changes in 2002 and 2003 – Logistics – Restructuring of Certain Logistics Holdings.

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The table below sets forth information regarding our third-party logistics revenues and sales by geographic market for the periods indicated.

   
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
 

   
2000
   
2001
   
2002
 
 

 

 

 
   
(in millions of US$)
 
Revenues classified by geographic destination:                  
Export sales:                  
   Latin America US$ 30    US$ 65    US$
25
 
   United States   64     21    
3
 
   Europe   75     44    
9
 
   Middle East   6     4    
 
   Japan   15     10    
1
 
   Asia, other than Japan   5     3    
3
 
 

 

 

 
      Subtotal   195     147    
41
 
                   
Domestic sales   403     344    
374
 
 

 

 

 
      Total US$ 598    US$ 491    US$
415
 
 

 

 

 
                   
Revenues classified by category                  
Railroads US$ 203    US$ 182    US$
201
 
Ports   86     75    
116
 
Ships   309     234    
98
 
 

 

 

 
      Total US$ 598    US$ 491    US$
415
 
 

 

 

 

Railroads

Vitória-Minas Railroad. The Vitória-Minas railroad, in the Southern System, originates near the city of Belo Horizonte and our Itabira mines in the state of Minas Gerais. We operate this railroad under a 30-year renewable concession granted by the Brazilian government in July 1997. This railroad extends 905 kilometers to our Tubarão Maritime Terminal Complex located near the Port of Vitória in the state of Espírito Santo. The Vitória-Minas railroad consists of two lines of track extending for a distance of 601 kilometers to permit continuous railroad travel in opposite directions, and single-track branches of 304 kilometers. Industrial manufacturers are located near this area and major agricultural regions are adjacent and accessible to the Vitória-Minas railroad. The Vitória-Minas has a daily capacity of 300,000 tons of iron ore. In 2002, the Vitória-Minas railroad carried a total of 112 million tons of iron ore and other cargo (of which 41.4 million tons, or 36.9%, consisted of cargo transported for third parties). The Vitória-Minas railroad also carried approximately one million passengers in 2002.

The principal cargo of the Vitória-Minas railroad consists of:

  iron ore and pellets, carried for us and third parties;
     
  steel, coal and pig iron carried for steel manufacturers located along the railroad;
     
  limestone carried for steel mills located in the states of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo; and
     
  other general cargo such as agricultural products, construction products and fuel and chemical products.

We charge market rates for third-party freight, including pellets and aluminum originating from joint ventures and other enterprises in which we do not own 100% of the equity interest. Market rates vary based upon the distance traveled, the kind of product and the weight of the freight in question.

Carajás Railroad. We operate the Carajás railroad under a 30-year renewable concession granted by the Brazilian government in June 1997. This railroad, located in the Northern System, starts at our Carajás iron ore mine in the state of Pará, and extends 892 kilometers to our Ponta da Madeira Maritime Terminal Complex facilities located near the Port of São Luís in the state of Maranhão. The Carajás railroad consists of one line of track, with

 

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spur tracks and turnouts to permit the passage of trains in opposite directions. The Carajás railroad has a daily capacity of 130,000 tons of iron ore. In 2002, the Carajás railroad carried a total of 58.9 million tons of iron ore and other cargo (of which 7.1 million tons, or 12%, consisted of cargo transported for third parties). The Carajás railroad also carried approximately 450 thousand passengers in 2002. The principal cargo of the Carajás railroad consists of iron ore, principally carried for us.

Other Investments. We hold a 20% interest in the voting capital of FCA, which operates the central east regional railway network of the Brazilian national railway system under a 30-year renewable concession granted in 1996. The central east network contains approximately 7,000 kilometers of track extending into the states of Sergipe, Bahia, Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Goiás, Rio de Janeiro and Distrito Federal. It connects with our Vitória-Minas railroad near the cities of Belo Horizonte and Vitória. FCA currently operates on the same track gauge as our Vitória-Minas railroad. In 2002, FCA reported net revenues of US$ 116.5 million and a net loss of US$ 92.9 million. In April 2003, we signed a contract to acquire CSN’s stake in FCA. This acquisition is still subject to governmental approval and certain conditions. See —Business Overview—Acquisitions, Asset Sales and Significant Changes in 2002 and 2003—Logistics.

We currently hold 3.75% of the total capital of Ferroban-Ferrovias Bandeirantes S.A., or Ferroban. Ferroban operates a 4,236 kilometer railroad linking the states of São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Paraná and Mato Grosso do Sul. In 2002, Ferroban reported net revenues of US$ 38.4 million and a net loss of US$ 86.2 million. The section of Ferroban’s network between Araguari and Vale Fertil, in the state of Minas Gerais, has been operated by FCA since 1998 and in January 2002 FCA began operating the section between Vale Fertil in the state of Minas Gerais and Boa Vista in the state of São Paulo. This connection allows FCA to reach the Santos port.

We own directly and indirectly 17.3% of the total capital and 28.9% of the voting capital in MRS. Caemi has a direct 17% interest in the total capital and 27.9% in the voting capital of MRS. MRS is a 1,612 kilometer railroad which links the states of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Minas Gerais with a capacity to transport 85 million tons per year. MRS operates under a 30-year renewable concession granted by the Brazilian government in November 1996.

The Brazilian government has the option to extend our railroad concessions when they expire. All of our railroad concessions expire between August 2026 and December 2028.

Through CFN, we also hold a 32.4% stake in the Malha Nordeste railroad. The Malha Nordeste railroad operates under a 30-year concession granted by the Brazilian government in December 1997. Malha Nordeste is an existing rail line with 4,342 kilometers of track extending into the states of Maranhão, Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas and Sergipe. The Malha Nordeste line comes close to our Carajás line in the Northern System but is built on a narrower gauge. In 2002, CFN reported net revenues of US$ 7.8 million and a net loss of US$ 10.7 million. In April 2003, as described above in —Business Overview—Acquisitions, Asset Sales and Significant Changes in 2002 and 2003, we signed an agreement to transfer our stake in CFN to CSN and Taquari Participações S.A. A portion of the consideration we will pay in connection with this and the related transactions will be allocated to our share of CFN’s negative shareholders’ equity. This acquisition is still subject to governmental approval and certain conditions.

Ports and Terminals

We operate ports and terminals principally as a means to complete the distribution of our iron ore and pellets to ocean-going vessels serving the export market. See —Ferrous Minerals—Pellets—Distribution—Iron Ore and Pellets. We also use our ports and terminals to handle third-party cargo. In 2002, 20% of the cargo handled by our ports and terminals represented cargo handled for third parties.

Tubarão Maritime Terminal Complex. The Tubarão Maritime Terminal Complex, which covers an area of approximately 18 square kilometers, is located near the Port of Vitória in the state of Espírito Santo and has two piers. Pier I can accommodate two vessels at a time, one of up to 80,000 DWT on the southern side and one of up to 180,000 DWT on the northern side. Pier II can accommodate one vessel of up to 330,000 DWT at a time. In Pier I there are two shiploaders, which can load up to a combined total of 14,000 tons per hour. In Pier II there are two shiploaders that work alternately and can each load up to 16,000 tons per hour. Praia Mole Terminal, located in the

 

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Tubarão Maritime Terminal Complex, is principally a coal terminal and has an annual capacity of 12 million tons of coal, which is being expanded to 15 million tons per year in a project expected to be completed by 2004. In 2003, we have budgeted US$ 11 million for the expansion of the Praia Mole Terminal. The Tubarão Maritime Terminal Complex has a 75 million ton capacity of iron ore per year. We operate a grain terminal, accessible by highway in the Tubarão area, with an annual capacity of 6.0 million tons (4.5 million tons for grains and 1.5 million tons for general cargo) and a maximum loading speed of 1,500 tons per hour. We also operate a bulk liquid terminal with a capacity of 2.0 million cubic meters per year.

Cargo shipped through our Tubarão Maritime Terminal Complex consists principally of iron ore and pellets. In 2002, 63,972 thousand tons of iron ore and pellets were shipped though the terminal (of which 58,980 thousand tons were shipped for us and 4,992 thousand tons were shipped for third-parties). Other cargo included coal, grain, coking coal, pig iron and fertilizers for a total of all cargo shipped of 83,897 thousand tons in 2002.

Ponta da Madeira Maritime Terminal Complex. The Ponta da Madeira Maritime Terminal Complex is located near the Port of São Luís in the state of Maranhão. The Ponta da Madeira port facilities can accommodate two vessels. Pier I can accommodate vessels displacing up to 420,000 DWT. Pier II can accommodate vessels of up to 155,000 DWT. The two berths have a maximum loading rate of 16,000 tons per hour at Pier I and 8,000 tons per hour at Pier II. In 2003, we have budgeted US$ 16.4 million to build Pier III. Pier III will be able to accommodate vessels of up to 220,000 DWT and will have a maximum loading rate of 8,000 tons per hour.

Cargo shipped through our Ponta da Madeira Maritime Terminal Complex by tonnage consists principally of iron ore for us. Other cargo includes manganese ore for us and pig iron and soy beans for third parties. In 2002, 52,360 thousand tons were shipped through the terminal for us and 2,576 thousand tons were shipped through the terminal for third parties.

Other Investments. In September 1994, we licensed the Inácio Barbosa Maritime Terminal, a maritime terminal located in the state of Sergipe, near our potash mine. Under the terms of the ten-year agreement we entered into with Sergiportos, a state-owned port company, we receive 40% of the net operating profit of the terminal and must manage the terminal.

In May 1998, we entered into a 25-year lease for the Capuaba maritime terminal in Vitória, in the state of Espírito Santo. We shipped 2.0 million tons of cargo during 2002, and 1.7 million tons of cargo during 2001.

In September 1998, we acquired a 50% indirect interest in the lease of the Sepetiba container terminal, operated by Sepetiba Tecon S.A. CSN holds the remaining 50% of Sepetiba Tecon. The lease has a term of 25 years and we can renew it for an additional period of 25 years. The price for the concession was approximately US$ 79 million, of which we have already paid US$ 33 million. The remainder is due in 276 monthly installments, which started in January 2003. We have agreed, subject to certain conditions, to sell our indirect interest in Sepetiba Tecon to CSN. See Business Overview—Acquisitions, Asset Sales and Significant Changes in 2002 and 2003—Logistics.

The Terminal de Vila Velha S.A. (TVV) is a port option for loading and unloading of containers, in addition to being an alternative for general cargo (import and export operations) and automobile operations in Southeast and Midwest Brazil. By connecting to the Vitória-Minas railroad and with easy access to the BR101 and BR262 highways, TVV is multimodal. The terminal is formed by berths 203 and 204 at the Capuaba Quay, has a 450 meter berth area and retro-area measuring nearly 100 thousand square meters. It has a covered storage area measuring 13,300 square meters and a yard with capacity for 3,300 containers. TVV is equipped with four quays cranes, two portainers and four transtainers. In 2002, TVV shipped over 102 thousand containers and approximately 735 thousand tons of diverse cargo, granite, iron ore and steel products and vehicles.

Cia. Portuária Baía de Sepetiba (CPBS) is a company owned by Ferteco created to operate the ore export terminal in the Port of Sepetiba. The ore export terminal has a pier that allows the boarding of ships of up to 18.1 meters and up to 230,000 DWT. In 2002 the terminal uploaded approximately 9.6 million tons of iron ore, of which 2.8 million tons were uploaded for Minerações Brasileiras Reunidas (MBR), a subsidiary of Caemi, and 798 thousand tons for companies unrelated to the CVRD Group.

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Shipping

The table below sets forth information on the volume of cargo that our dry bulk shipping service carried for the periods indicated.

  For the Year Ended December 31,  
 
 
  2000   2001   2002  
 
 
 
 
  (Thousands of tons)  
Iron ore:            
   CVRD Group 3,058   7,179   4,287  
   Third party 15,608   7,748   1,888  
Coal 7,452   3,824   437  
Other 9,031   7,036   1,294  
 
 
 
 
      Total 35,149   25,787   7,906  
 
 
 
 

In the dry-bulk shipping business, Docenave generated total revenue of US$ 40 million in 2002. In 2001, the total revenue was US$ 183 million. The reduction in the year 2002 is due to the divestiture of Docenave’s dry-bulk assets.

In the third quarter of 2002, Docenave’s general cargo transportation service was reassessed and integrated into our intermodal logistics chain. Nine commercial representative offices throughout the coast of Brazil were opened to attend to our clients’ interests.

Docenave also operated a fleet of eight tugboats in the ports of Vitória in the state of Espírito Santo, Trombetas in the state of Pará, São Luís in the state of Maranhão and Aracajú in the state of Sergipe. In addition to Docenave’s fleet, we also have three chartered tugboats, one operating in Trombetas and the other two in São Luís. In 2002 Docenave tugboats were responsible for 6,822 operations (manoeuvers) at the ports, generating total revenue of US$ 14.3 million.

We continued in 2002 the divestiture of our dry-bulk shipping business which we began in 2001, by selling the fleet of vessels owned by Docenave. In February 2002, the sale of the six Brazilian flag vessels with a total capacity of 592,240 DWT for US$ 53 million concluded with the delivery of the last vessel to Empresa de Navegação Elcano S.A. We have also sold another six Liberian flag vessels for US$ 45.7 million. We intend to sell our remaining dry-bulk assets in the near future.

Competition in the logistics industry. Our railroads compete with road transport, including trucks, with the main factors being cost and shipping time. We also have many international competitors in shipping.

Energy

In 2002 and 2001, we consumed 14.1 TWh and 12.5 TWh of electricity, respectively. Energy management and supply has become a priority for us, driven both by the uncertainties and opportunities associated with the Brazilian government’s privatization of the industry, and by the risk of rising electricity prices and electricity rationing due to energy shortages, such as the one Brazil experienced in the second half of 2001. We currently perceive favorable investment opportunities in the Brazilian electricity sector and are taking advantage of them to invest in the hydroelectric power generation projects set forth in the table below. These projects may sell their production to third parties in the power market. Our energy business includes the sale but not the delivery of electricity. We may use the electricity from these projects for our internal needs. As we are a large consumer of electricity, we expect that investing in the energy business will help protect us against volatility in price and supply of energy.

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The following table sets forth information regarding our power generation projects as of May 31, 2003:

Location
 
Our
Ownership
Interest
 
Partners
 
Began
Operations
 
Projected
Capacity
  Our Investment  
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
(%)           (in MW)  
As of
December
31, 2002
 
Projected
Total
 
                  (in millions of US$)  
                                   
Aimorés  
Rio Doce basin, in the state of Minas Gerais.
  51.00 %  
Cemig-Capim
   Branco
 
December 2003(1)
  330  MW   US$ 67.5    US$ 94.6  
                                   
Candonga
Rio Doce basin, in the state of Minas Gerais.
  50.00     EPP  
November 2003(1)
  140     24.0     40.1  
                                   
Capim Branco I
Araguari river, in the state of Minas Gerais.
  48.42    
Cemig-Capim
    Branco
Paineiras
CMM
 
February
2006(1)
  240     1.8     57.5  
                                   
Capim Branco II
Araguari river, in the state of Minas Gerais.
  48.42    
Cemig-Capim
   Branco
Paineiras
CMM
Camargo Corrêa
   Cimentos S.A.
 
June
2006(1)
  210     1.4     70.1  
                                   
Estreito
Tocantins river, on the border of the states of Maranhão and Tocantins.
  30.00    
Tractebel
Alcoa
BHP Billiton
Camargo
   Energia S.A.
  July
2007(1)
  1,087     0.1     162.1  
                                   
Foz do Chapecó Uruguai river, on the border of the states of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul.   40.00     Foz do Chapecó
    Energia
  July
2007(1)
  855     1.5     175.5  
                                   
Funil
Rio Grande, on the border between São Paulo and Minas Gerais.
  51.00    
Cemig-Capim
   Branco
 
December 2002
  180     39.5     47.7  
                                   
Igarapava
Rio Grande, on the border between São Paulo and Minas Gerais.
  38.15    
CMM
CSN
Cemig-Capim
   Branco
MMV
 
January 1999
  210     88.1     88.1  
                                   
Porto Estrela
Santo Antonio river, in the state of Minas Gerais.
  33.33    
Cemig-Capim
    Branco
Coteminas
 
September 2001
  112     19.5     19.7  
                                   
Santa Isabel(2)
Araguaia river, on the border of the states of Tocantins and Pará.
  43.85    
BHP Billiton
Alcoa
Camargo Corrêa
   S.A.
Votorantim
   Cimentos
 
August 2007(1)
  1,087     0.2     231.4  
                   
 

 

 
Total                   4,451  MW   US$ 243.6    US$ 986.8  
                   
 

 

 

(1) Projected date of commencement of operations of the first unit of the project.
(2) We are currently negotiating with ANEEL to return our concession for the Santa Isabel project, in view of difficulties in obtaining the necessary environmental license to begin construction.

     

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  Our partners in our energy investments include:
     
  Companhia Energética de Minas Gerais, known as Cemig, is a state-government controlled company. Cemig Capim Branco Energia S.A., known as Cemig-Capim Branco, is an affiliate of Cemig.
     
  Comercial e Agrícola Paineiras Ltda., known as Paineiras, which is an affiliate of Suzano Participações S.A.
     
  BHP Billiton Metais S.A. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BHP Billiton.
     
  Companhia Mineira de Metais, known as CMM, which is an affiliate of Votorantim Participações S.A.
     
  Alcoa Alumínio S.A., known as Alcoa, which is an affiliate of Alcoa Inc.
     
  Mineração Morro Velho Ltda., known as MMV, which is an affiliate of Anglo American Brasil Ltda., which in turn is affiliated with Anglo American Plc.
     
  Companhia de Tecidos do Norte de Minas, known as Coteminas, which is affiliated with Coteminas International Ltd.
     
  Tractebel Egi South America Ltda., known as Tractebel, which is a subsidiary of Tractebel S.A., a SUEZ group energy division.

Our total projected investment in these hydroelectric projects is estimated at US$ 987 million. We cannot assure you that the aggregate cost will not escalate or that the projects will be completed on schedule.

In addition to the above, some of our affiliates generate part of their own energy.

Aluminum-Related Operations

The table below sets forth information regarding our consolidated bauxite, alumina and aluminum revenues and sales by geographic market for the periods indicated. These figures do not include the revenues of our unconsolidated joint ventures.

    For the Year Ended December 31,  

2000     2001     2002



Revenues classified by geographic destination                  
Export sales:                  
  Latin America US$ 23   US$ 9   US$ 27  
  Europe   237     173     318  
  Middle East   16          
  Japan   34     12     11  
  United States   39     73     10  
  Asia, other than Japan   1     16     21  
     
 
 
 
  Subtotal    350     283     387  
Domestic sales   12     1     75  
     
 
 
 
 
Total
US$ 362   US$ 284   US$ 462  
     

 

 

 
Revenues classified by category                  
  Bauxite   18     21     23  
  Alumina   54     32     159  
  Aluminum   290     231     280  
     
 
 
 
 
Total
US$ 362   $ 284   US$ 462  
     

 

 

 

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We operate our aluminum-related businesses through the following subsidiaries and joint ventures, as of May 31, 2003:

Our Direct or
Indirect Share of
Capital (Voting,
Total)
  Partners
  Business  
 
 
 
Voting   Total  


(%)
               
Albras-Aluminio Brasileiro S.A. (Albras) Aluminum   51.00  % 51.00 % Nippon Amazon
               
Alunorte-Alumina do Norte do Brasil S.A. (Alunorte) Alumina   62.09   57.03   Companhia Brasileira de Alumínio
          JAIC
          Nippon Amazon
          Norsk Hydro
           
Mineração Rio do Norte S.A. (MRN) Bauxite   40.00   40.00   Abalco
          Alcoa
          Alcan
          BHP Billiton Metais
          Companhia de Brasileira Alumínio
          Norsk Hydro
Mineração Vera Cruz S.A. (MVC)   Bauxite   100.00   100.00    
               
Valesul Aluminio S.A. (Valesul) Aluminum   54.50   54.50   BHP Billiton Metais
     
  These subsidiaries and joint ventures engage in:
     
  mining bauxite,
     
  refining bauxite into alumina, and
     
  using alumina to produce primary aluminum and aluminum alloys.

Aluvale’s principal operating activity consists of marketing the aluminum products produced by its subsidiaries and affiliated companies. In 2002, net revenues from aluminum products totaled US$ 462 million.

Bauxite

MRN, the largest bauxite producer in Latin America and one of the largest in the world, produces bauxite for sale to us and our joint venture partners. Excess production may be sold to third parties. MRN operates three open-pit bauxite mines which produce high quality bauxite. In addition, MRN controls substantial additional high quality bauxite resources which it believes can be produced economically in the future. MRN had net revenues of US$ 173 million and net income of US$ 94 million in 2002. MRN’s mines are located in the northern region of the state of Pará.

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The table below sets forth information regarding MRN’s bauxite reserves as of December 31, 2002. The estimates of mineral reserves have been audited and verified by AMEC. We are in the process of confirming the amount of proven and probable reserves at MVC.

Proven and Probable Reserves(1)  

Type   Ore Tonnage   Grade(2)



(Millions of tons) (% Al203)
   Mineração Rio do Norte S.A. (3) Open pit   129.2   50.5  

(1) Reported as washed bauxite recoverable product. Recovery of washed bauxite from raw bauxite ore ranges from 67.4 to 76.4%, depending on the individual deposit. Average drill spacing is 200 by 200 meters.
(2) Expressed as A12O3.
(3) Includes four active mines: Almeidas, Aviso, Papagaio Oeste and Saracá.

 

Operations at MRN’s mines commenced in 1979 and the proven and probable reserves are projected to be exhausted in 2017. For 2000, 2001 and 2002, production equaled 11.2, 10.7 and 9.9 million tons, respectively.

MRN operates ore beneficiation facilities at its mines, which are connected by rail to a loading terminal and port facilities on the Trombetas River. The Trombetas River is a tributary of the Amazon River and MRN’s port facilities can handle vessels of up to 50,000 DWT. MRN owns and operates the rail and the port facilities serving its mines. The MRN bauxite mines are accessible by road from the port area and obtain electricity from their own thermoelectric power station.

MRN expanded its capacity from 11.0 million tons to 16.3 million tons in 2003. The cost of this expansion is estimated at approximately US$ 230 million.

In July 2002, we acquired 64% of the total capital of MVC, through our wholly-owned subsidiary Aluvale. Aluvale now holds 100% of MVC, which holds active mining rights in the Paragominas region in the state of Pará. A new bauxite mine wholly-owned by MVC, and located in Paragominas, will begin operations in December 2005 to supply Alunorte’s new expansion with 4.5 million tons per year of wet 12% moisture bauxite. The bauxite quality will be similar to MRN’s, and the project will use the strip mining method of extraction, and have a beneficiation plant including milling and a 230 kilometer long slurry pipeline. We expect that total capital expenditures on this project will be approximately US$ 280 million.

Our MRN bauxite joint venture produces bauxite for sale on a take-or-pay basis to us and our joint venture partners at a price that is determined by a formula based on prevailing world prices of aluminum. Our Alunorte alumina subsidiary, which we began consolidating in July 2002, purchases all of its bauxite requirements from MRN. Our annual purchase commitment for 2002 was approximately US$ 82 million.

Alumina

Alunorte began operations in July 1995 and produces alumina by refining bauxite which MRN supplies. The Alunorte plant recently concluded an expansion of capacity and now has a production capacity of 2.375 million tons of alumina per year. In 2002, it produced 1.7 million tons. Alunorte sells the major portion of its production to Albras, Valesul and third-party aluminum companies for the production of aluminum. The Alunorte plant is located near Belém in the state of Pará next to Albras’s aluminum production facilities. This allows Alunorte and its principal customer, Albras, to share infrastructure and other resources. Alunorte had net revenues of US$ 265 million and net loss of US$ 101 million in 2002.

Each Alunorte joint venture partner must purchase on a take-or-pay basis all alumina produced by Alunorte in proportion to its respective interest. The joint venturers each pay the same price, which is determined by a formula based on prevailing world market prices of alumina and aluminum. In the aggregate, we are committed to take-or-pay 131,000 metric tons per year of alumina produced by Alunorte, which at a market price of US$ 171.36 per metric ton at December 31, 2002, represents an annual commitment of US$ 22 million.

In 2000, we and our joint venture partners in Alunorte agreed to contribute an additional US$ 126 million in equity capital to expand Alunorte’s capacity from 1.5 million tons of alumina per year to 2.3 million tons by 2003, a project which cost approximately US$ 300 million. Our share of this contribution was US$ 37 million.

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In June 2002, we acquired common shares and preferred shares representing 12.62% of the total capital of Alunorte from MRN. Following the acquisition, we now hold, directly or indirectly, 62.09% of the common shares and 19.05% of the preferred shares, representing 57.03% of Alunorte’s total capital.

Aluminum

Albras and Valesul each produce aluminum using alumina which Alunorte supplies. Alunorte has supplied all of Albras’s alumina requirements since October 1995. Albras produces aluminum ingots and Valesul produces aluminum ingots, slabs, bars, billets and alloys. Aluminum is produced from alumina by means of a continuous electro-chemical process which requires substantial amounts of electricity.

Albras. The Albras plant is one of the largest aluminum plants in Latin America, with a capacity of approximately 430,000 tons per year. Albras started its operations in 1985 at a plant located near Belém in the state of Pará. Albras had net revenues of US$ 529 million and net income of US$ 21 million in 2002.

The Albras joint venture partners must purchase on a take-or-pay basis all aluminum produced by Albras in proportion to their ownership interests which represents an annual commitment from us of US$ 279 million. See note 15(d) to our consolidated financial statements. We generally market our share of Albras’s output in international export markets to third-party aluminum processing companies.

The table below sets forth information regarding Albras’s recent aluminum production and our recent purchases from Albras.

  For the Year Ended December 31,  
 
 
 
2000
 
2001
 
2002
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Thousands of tons)
 
Albras production 366.0   333.0   407.7  
Our purchases from Albras 187.0   167.0   208.8  

As of December 31, 2002, Albras had US$ 323 million of long-term outstanding debt, of which US$ 60 million was denominated in Japanese yen (approximately 50% of which was hedged into U.S. dollars). To reduce the impact of price fluctuations and to assure adequate cash flow, Albras engages in hedging activities. See Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk—Commodity Price Risk.

The production of aluminum requires a continuous flow of substantial amounts of electricity. Albras purchases electrical power from Eletronorte, a state-owned electric power utility. Eletronorte generates electricity at the Tucuruí Hydroelectric Power Plant located on the Tocantins River. This plant is the sole source of electrical power in the region in the quantities required for Albras’s operations. Albras consumes approximately one-quarter of the non-peak period output of the Eletronorte plant.

We currently benefit from a contract between Albras and Eletronorte pursuant to which Albras is able to purchase electricity at discounted prices. This contract is scheduled to expire in 2004. We, together with other aluminum producers in the region, are currently investigating alternative electricity sources, as well as negotiating the possible renewal of this contract on new terms. See—Energy.

Valesul. Valesul started its operations in 1982 and operates a plant located in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Valesul produces primary aluminum and aluminum alloys in the form of ingots, slabs, bars and billets. Valesul’s aluminum is sold primarily in the domestic Brazilian market on a spot basis. Valesul had net revenues of US$ 139 million and net income of US$ 25 million in 2002. Valesul sells directly to its own clients.

The table below sets forth information regarding Valesul’s recent primary aluminum production and third-party scrap recycled by Valesul.

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For the Year Ended December 31,
 
 
 
  2000   2001   2002  
 
 
 
 
 
(Thousands of tons)
 
Valesul production 93.8   80.1   92.9  
Third-party scrap recycled 19.5   20.1   21.4  

Valesul currently obtains a portion of its electrical energy requirements from four wholly-owned hydroelectric power plants located in the state of Minas Gerais, a portion from the Machadinho hydroelectric power plant in which Valesul has a share of 7% and the remainder from a third-party power company at market rates. Valesul is able to supply 100% of its own energy requirements during peak hours.

Competition in Bauxite, Alumina and Aluminum

Competition in the bauxite export market is based primarily on two key factors: quality of bauxite and reliability of purchasers. We believe that MRN remains competitive in this market because of:

  the high quality of Brazilian bauxite, and
     
  our aluminum production system which ensures internal use of our bauxite production.

Competition in the alumina market is based primarily on quality, price and reliability of supply. We believe that Alunorte is competitive in the alumina market because of:

  its proximity to MRN’s bauxite mines,
     
  its newly developed refinery facilities,
     
  its efficient port facilities, and
     
  the ongoing support of its owners in committing to purchase a substantial portion of its annual production.

As aluminum is a commodity, competition in the aluminum market is based primarily on the economics of transportation and the costs of production. We believe that Albras is competitive in the aluminum market because of:

  its relatively efficient and accessible port facilities, and
     
  its generally prevailing lower costs of production.

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Steel Investments

We have investments in the following joint ventures in the steel business, as of May 31, 2003:

  Our Direct or Indirect
Share of Capital
(Voting—Total)
      Partners    2002
Production
   2002 Net
Revenues
   Principal
Products
 

   
 
 
 
  Voting   Total                  
 
 
                 
    
(%)
         
                 (Millions of
tons)(1)  
     (In
millions
of
US$)(2)
         
CSI (California) 50.0%   50.0 %   JFE Steel   1,827  US$ 754   Hot-rolled steel;
                        cold-rolled steel;
                        galvanized steel;
                        steel tubes
                         
CST (Brazil) 24.9   28.0 (3)   Acesita   4,865   976   Steel slabs;
            Usinor           hot-rolled steel
            JFE Steel            
            Others            
                         
Siderar (Argentina) 5.0   4.9     Techint Group   2,175   915   Steel slabs;
            Employees           hot-rolled steel;
            Usiminas           cold-rolled steel;
            Others           galvanized steel;
                        tin plates
                         
Usiminas (Brazil) 23.0   11.5     Nippon   8,447   2,265   Hot-rolled steel;
            PREVI           cold-rolled steel;
            Caixa does           heavy steel
                Empregados           plates; electro
                da Usiminas           galvanized steel
            Others            

(1) Production in million of tons of crude steel for all steelmakers except CSI, and in millions of tons of finished products for CSI.
(2) Represents amounts translated from local financial statements and converted into U.S. dollars (where applicable) at prevailing year-end
(3) We are party to a shareholders’ agreement which permits us to participate in a control group.

The market value of our investments in CST, Usiminas and Siderar, all of which have publicly traded equity, was US$ 206 million at December 31, 2002. The aggregate net book value of these investments was US$ 57 million at December 31, 2002. The aggregate net book value of our total investments in steel producing companies (including CSI, a privately held company) was US$ 164 million at December 31, 2002. We earned US$ 17 million in dividends from these investments in 2002.

In line with our strategy to consolidate and focus on mining, logistics and energy, in March 2001, we unwound our cross-holding relationships with CSN. As part of the unwinding transaction, CSN granted us the following rights of first refusal relating to CSN’s Casa de Pedra mine, each of which lasts for a period of 30 years:

  the right to purchase at market rates any iron ore produced by the mine beyond CSN’s internal requirements,
     
  the right to purchase or to rent the mine should CSN decide to sell or lease it, and
     
  the right to become a joint venture partner should CSN decide to form a pelletizing joint venture with a third-party with iron ore produced by the mine.

In return, we have granted CSN a right of first refusal to participate with us in the construction of any new steel producing facilities that we undertake prior to March 2006.

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This unwinding transaction, as a whole, is subject to post-notification review by the Brazilian antitrust authorities.

In April 2003, we acquired shares of CST from Acesita that are not subject to the CST controlling shareholders’ agreement. In this transaction, we acquired 4.42% of the common shares and 5.64% of the preferred shares of CST, representing 5.17% of CST’s total capital, for US$ 59.7 million. Following this transaction, we now own 24.93% of CST’s common shares and 29.96% of CST’s preferred shares, totaling 28.02% of CST’s capital. In addition, we are currently negotiating with the Japanese Group to acquire the Japanese Group’s shares of CST, jointly with Arcelor. Upon the earlier of our acquisition of the Japanese Group’s stake and the termination of the controlling shareholders’ agreement in 2005, we also expect to acquire, jointly with Arcelor, the remaining shares of CST held by Acesita and CSI. We expect that the cost of acquiring these two stakes in CST will be approximately US$ 121 million. By increasing our stake in CST’s capital, we ensure our presence in the controlling group. We have also entered into agreements with Arcelor to guarantee the liquidity of our position, under which we expect to decrease our participation in CST between 2007 and 2009 to 20% of the shares owned by the controlling group. By 2015, we will sell any remaining stake in CST. Our stake in CST will be sold at prices based on a valuation performed by two investment banks.

Fertilizers

We conduct our fertilizer business primarily through our stake in Fertilizantes Fosfatados S.A., or Fosfértil, a company that produces and sells nitrate and phosphate based fertilizers. Our total and voting interest in Fosfértil is 11.0%. Our main partner in Fosfértil is Fertifós-Administração e Participações S.A. Fosfértil generated gross revenues of US$ 233 million in 2002.

REGULATORY MATTERS

Mining

Under the Brazilian Constitution, all mineral resources in Brazil belong to the Brazilian government. The Brazilian Constitution requires that mining companies incorporate in accordance with Brazilian law.

The Brazilian Constitution and Mining Code impose on mining companies various regulatory restrictions relating to, among other things:

  the manner in which mineral deposits are exploited,
     
  the health and safety of workers,
     
  the protection and restoration of the environment,
     
  the prevention of pollution, and
     
  the promotion of local communities where mines are located.
     

Mining companies in Brazil can only prospect and mine for mineral resources pursuant to prospecting authorizations or mining concessions granted by the National Mineral Production Department, Departamento Nacional de Produção Mineral, or DNPM, an agency of the Ministry of Mines and Energy of the Brazilian government. DNPM grants prospecting authorizations to a requesting party for an initial period of three years. These authorizations are renewable at DNPM’s discretion for another period of one to three years, provided that the requesting party is able to show that the renewal is necessary for proper conclusion of prospecting activities. On-site prospecting activities must start within 60 days of official publication of the issuance of a prospecting authorization. Upon completion of prospecting activities and geological exploration at the site, the grantee must submit a final report to DNPM. If the geological exploration reveals the existence of a mineral deposit that is economically exploitable, the grantee will have one year (which DNPM may extend) from approval of the report by DNPM to apply for a mining concession or to transfer its right to apply for a mining concession to a third-party. When a

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mining concession is granted, the holder of the concession must begin on-site mining activities within six months. DNPM grants mining concessions for an indeterminate period of time lasting until the exhaustion of the mineral deposit. Extracted minerals that are specified in the concession belong to the holder of the concession. With the prior approval of DNPM, the holder of a mining concession can transfer it to a third-party that is qualified to own concessions. In some cases, mining concessions are challenged by third parties.

The Brazilian government charges us a royalty, known as Financial Compensation for Exploiting Mineral Resources (CFEM), on the revenues from the sale of minerals we extract, net of taxes, insurance costs and costs of transportation. The annual rates paid on our products are:

  o iron ore and potash fertilizer, 2%;
     
  o bauxite and manganese, 3%; and
     
  o gold, 1%.
     

It also imposes other financial obligations. For example, mining companies must compensate landowners for the damages and loss of income caused by the use and occupation of the land (either for exploitation or exploration) and must also share with the landowners the results of the exploration based on 50% of the CFEM. Mining companies must also compensate the government for damages caused to public lands. A substantial majority of our mines and mining concessions are on lands owned by us or on public lands for which we hold mining concessions.

Railroads

The Brazilian government, acting through the Ministry of Transportation and the National Agency of Terrestrial Transportation (ANTT), regulates and supervises the policies for the railroad transportation sector. The Federal Government may grant private companies concessions for the construction, operation or commercial exploration of railroads. The ANTT sets different tariff limits for railroad services for each of the concessionaires and each of the different products transported. So long as these limits are respected, the actual prices charged can be negotiated directly with the users of such services.

Energy

The power industry in Brazil is comprehensively regulated by the Brazilian government, acting through the Ministry of Mines and Energy and ANEEL, the Brazilian electricity regulatory governmental agency. The role of the Ministry of Mines and Energy is to develop policies and regulations aimed at organizing and regulating the electricity sector. ANEEL’s main function is to ensure the efficient and economical supply of energy to consumers by monitoring prices and promoting market competition.

Under Law No. 8,987, concessions grant exclusive rights to generate and transmit or to distribute electricity in a particular area for a period of time that, in the opinion of ANEEL, is sufficient for the concessionaire to recover its investment, up to a limit of 35 years in the case of concessions for power generation. Concessions may be renewed at ANEEL’s discretion for an additional period of equal duration. Concessionaires are required to supply electricity for public services at the established prices, on a continuing basis, in sufficient quantity and within approved standards of quality.

To mitigate the potential volatility of revenues for hydroelectric generators, ANEEL has implemented regulations that create the Energy Reallocation Mechanism, known as MRE, a mechanism for sharing hydrological risk among all generators. In order to implement the MRE, ANEEL designates a level of energy production, known as Assured Energy, for each generator, every five years. Assured Energy is calculated in accordance with a statistical model based on average rainfalls in the relevant region, water flows of rivers and water levels in each plant’s reservoir over a multi-year time frame. Each generator is promised payment for the amount of its Assured Energy, as long as MRE members as a whole are able to meet MRE Assured Energy levels. To the extent a generator has signed contracts for the sale of its Assured Energy, it receives payments based on these contractual terms, regardless of its level of

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actual generation. Each generator is allowed to enter into contracts to sell up to 100% of its Assured Energy. If all MRE members meet their contracted energy and there is a surplus of energy remaining, the net regional surplus generation is allocated among generators in different regions.

All contracts for the wholesale purchase and sale of energy are recorded in the wholesale energy market, or MAE. The MAE is a non-profit private entity subject to the authorization, regulation and supervision of ANEEL, and is responsible for operating the wholesale energy market and for ensuring that purchases of energy in the short-term market are settled and cleared in an efficient manner. The MAE is primarily designed to effect the settlement of differences between the contracted energy amounts under bilateral contracts of the several market agents, and the amounts actually consumed and produced. The settlement is done in accordance with the MAE spot prices, which are expressed in R$/MWh and are calculated for each settlement period for each sub-market. Financial settlement of the balances traded on the MAE are still under review by outside auditors and only 50% of the volume has been settled, with the remainder expected to be settled in July 2003.

The recently elected Brazilian government has yet not made clear its policy towards the electricity markets, and no concrete measures have been enacted to date. We will not be able to make a fair assessment of the new regulatory environment until the government releases its new policies. Changes in the regulatory environment could negatively affect our energy investments.

Environmental Matters

Federal, state and municipal legislation contain provisions for the control and protection of the environment in Brazil. These laws govern the use of natural resources, the reclamation and restoration of mined areas, the control of atmospheric emissions, the treatment of industrial effluents, as well as the use, handling and final disposal of hazardous materials and the control of water resources under the National Hydrological Resources Policy, which establishes hydrologic use rights and the fees applicable to that use. It is possible that environmental regulations will become more strict in the future. Any strengthening of these laws may lead to greater costs for environmental compliance.

In order to conduct our mining, energy generation and industrial activities, we must prepare environmental impact assessments and submit them to authorities who oversee the granting of environmental permits. We seek to comply with all legal requirements and to achieve good relationships with interested parties, especially the communities located near our operations. Our environmental management system is designed to provide a systematic approach to environmental issues.

Under Brazilian Federal Law No. 9,605, non-compliance with environmental laws and regulations can result in criminal penalties, such as imprisonment and other restrictions for individuals (including directors, officers and managers of companies), and fines and the mandatory rendering of public services by companies. Administrative penalties range from warnings and fines to the suspension of corporate activities, and may also include the loss or reduction of incentives, or the cancellation or interruption of credit facilities granted by governmental institutions.

Issuance of Environmental Licenses. We must obtain environmental licenses in order to build, install, expand and operate facilities that use natural resources or may pollute the environment. We seek to obtain the legally required licenses for each of our facilities and activities. We have entered into agreements with the appropriate environmental authorities with respect to facilities where environmental non-compliance has been detected in order to make these facilities compliant.

Prevention and Environmental Control Measures. Our environmental policies also aim to prevent, control and reduce the environmental impact caused by our business operations. To that end, we have made significant environment related investments in our facilities and in employee training programs (approximately US$ 10.8 million in 2002). We are also investing to develop environmental projects directed at the communities located near our facilities (approximately US$ 2.4 million in 2002).

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Water Use. We are intensive water users in eleven states with hydrological resources that vary from very high water availability in the Amazon to the scarcity in the northeast of Brazil. The Hydrical Resources Management System that is being implemented throughout CVRD, includes evaluation of the availability of water in the areas where we operate and rationalization and control of water use. We continually monitor new water legislation and regulations and take particular interest in requirements adopted under the National Policy of Hydrical Resources, established by Law 9433/97, which defines the conditions for obtaining the water use grants and for effluents disposal.

ISO Certifications. Our environmental management system is based on International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard 14001. We have obtained 12 certificates. In 2002 the following installations were certified under ISO 14001:

  Docenave Tug Wharf, Espírito Santo State;
     
  The iron and gold mining complexes of Itabira and Conceição, Minas Gerais State;
     
  Gongo Soco, Minas Gerais State;
     
  Sociedade Mineira de Mineração manganese mine, Minas Gerais State;
     
  Ferteco Mineração iron ore mines, Minas Gerais State;
     
  Companhia Portuária Baía de Sepetiba Maritime Terminal, Rio de Janeiro State; and
     
  Rio Doce Manganèse Europe, France.

Environmental Control Systems. As a mining company, air emissions control is one of our main objectives, including in our pelletizing plants. Control equipment and systems at our facilities are complemented by monitoring systems and control software.

With respect to improvements in water quality, we strive to treat and control the pollutants disposed into the sea and into the local rivers or other water sources and also use extensive water recycling in our operations.

Through a comprehensive waste management system under implementation, we aim to achieve greater control of the generation and disposal of our waste, to develop opportunities to reuse and recycle, and to reduce waste.

Our environmental program also includes reforestation projects which are intended to protect the soil against erosion processes, or to create buffers between our activities and communities in the surrounding areas.

We are also pursuing other legally required projects in connection with the restoration of lands degraded in the course of our mining operations. Environmental laws require us to spend at least 0.5% of the total cost of each venture with a material environmental impact to create and maintain protected sites. In 2002 we spent US$ 4.7 million on these activities. We also participate in the maintenance and preservation of Brazilian forests, including the National Carajás Forest in the Amazon, and we own and preserve the Vale do Rio Doce Natural Reserve, one of the remaining areas of the Atlantic Forest in the state of Espírito Santo. In the last twenty years we have provided support to the indigenous communities in the areas of education, health, infrastructure development and technical assistance with the aim of enhancing life quality and self-sustainability of these communities. Expenditures on these programs amounted to US$ 3.7 million in 2002.

PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS

We hold a significant number of patents, registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and with the Brazilian Instituto Nacional de Propriedade Industrial, or INPI, which are the governmental agencies responsible for the granting and registration of patent and trademarks rights in the United States and in Brazil, as well as in other countries. The majority of our patents relate to proprietary ore dressing processes. One of our most successful

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patents relates to a concentration process for lower grade iron ore, generally known as itabirite, which is widely used by other iron ore mining companies around the world. We are currently conducting technological research to permit commercial exploitation of our deposits of hard itabirites. We have also registered our trademark and our proprietary logo with the INPI. We renew our trademark registrations with the INPI every ten years.

INSURANCE

We carry insurance covering various types of risks, such as property, liability, vehicles, liability of maritime terminals and transportation, as well as a group life insurance policy for our employees. The policies are currently in full force and the related premiums were duly paid. We believe that our insurance coverage is adequate for the scope of our operations.

CAPITAL EXPENDITURES

Capital expenditures in 2002 included:

  the construction of the São Luís pelletizing plant;
     
  the expansion of the logistics capacity for iron ore produced in the Northern System, which includes part of the construction of Pier III at the Ponta da Madeira Maritime Terminal and the expansion of iron ore stockyards;
     
  the purchase of new locomotives and the expansion of cargo capacity in the Southern System;
     
  the acquisition of the stake of our partner in the Salobo copper project in the Carajás region;
     
  preparation for the start-up of operations of the Sossego copper project in the Carajás region in 2004;
     
  the pre-feasibility study on the Vermelho nickel deposit, which we expect will conclude in the second half of 2003;
     
  part of the project to expand the capacity of the Taquari-Vassouras potash mine in the state of Sergipe;
     
  part of the expansion of alumina production capacity at Alunorte and bauxite production capacity at MRN; and
     
  part of the construction of hydroelectric plants, particularly the Aimorés and Candonga plants, which we expect will begin operating in late 2003, and the Funil plant, which began operations in December 2002.

The table below sets forth our historical capital expenditures by business area for the periods indicated. Our capital expenditures have historically been more intensive in the second half of the year. See Item 5 for a description of our divestitures and budgeted capital expenditures.

   For the Year Ended December 31,     
 
 
   2000    2001    2002  
 
 
 
 
      (In millions of US$)     
Ferrous US$  354   US$ 454   US$ 435  
Non-ferrous   50     40     132  
Logistics   14     25     33  
Energy   19     52     72  
Aluminum           63  
Corporate center   10     24     31  
 
 
 
 
      Total US$  447   US$  595   US$  766  
 
 
 
 

Capital expenditures relating to non-ferrous products increased 230% from US$ 40 million in 2001 to US$ 132 million in 2002, primarily due to the implementation of copper projects.

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Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects

OVERVIEW

Despite a sluggish world economy and lower selling prices for our iron ore and pellets, our net operating revenues continued to improve in 2002, rising 4.8% to US$ 4,123 million, largely as a result of strong Chinese demand for iron ore and pellets. Operating income also improved, rising 48.5% to US$ 1,429 million. The increase in operating income resulted primarily from the devaluation of the real, which reduced our costs, 52% of which were denominated in reais. Despite the increases in revenues and operating income, our net income was sharply lower in 2002, declining by 47.1% to US$ 680 million from US$ 1,287 million in 2001. This decline resulted primarily from gains on sales of investments (paper and pulp, steel and dry-bulk shipping) in 2001 of US$ 784 million. Net income in 2002 was also negatively affected by a 36.1% increase in foreign exchange and monetary losses resulting from the impact of the devaluation of the real on our U.S. dollar denominated debt.

Key Factors Affecting Revenue and Results of Operations

Prices

Ores and Metals

Iron Ore. Our iron ore export sales are generally made pursuant to long-term supply contracts which provide for annual price adjustments. Cyclical changes in the world demand for steel products affect sales prices and volumes in the world iron ore market. Different factors, such as the iron content of specific ore deposits, the various beneficiation and purifying processes required to produce the desired final product, particle size, moisture content, and the type and concentration of contaminants (such as phosphorus, alumina and manganese) in the ore, influence contract prices for iron ore. Fines, lump ore and pellets typically command different prices. We generally conduct annual price negotiations beginning in November of each year and ending early in the following year. Separate prices are established for the Asian and European iron ore markets. In the Asian market, the renegotiated prices are effective from April of the current year until March of the following year. In the European market, the renegotiated prices are effective for the calendar year. Because of the wide variety of iron ore and pellet quality and physical characteristics, iron ore and pellets are less commodity-like than other minerals. This factor combined with the structure of the market has prevented the development of an iron ore futures market. We do not hedge our exposure to iron ore price volatility.

 

Reference Prices for Europe in US$ cents/metric ton Fe unit
Year   Carajás fines   Standard sinter feed   Blast furnace pellets  

 
 
 
 
2000   28.79US¢   27.67US¢   49.24US¢  
2001   30.03          28.92          50.10         
2002   29.31          28.62          47.36         
2003   31.95          31.04          52.00         

Our reference prices per Fe unit for iron ore declined across-the-board in 2002 by 2.4% from 2001 levels, after rising by 4.5% in 2001 from 2000 levels. We experienced similar trends in the market for pellets, where reference prices declined by 5.5% in 2002, after rising by 1.7% in 2001. In light of high levels of demand for iron ore, in May 2003, we concluded agreements with several major steelmakers under which our iron ore reference prices for 2003 will increase by an average of 9%. In June 2003, we concluded agreements under which our pellet reference prices for 2003 will increase by an average of 9.8%.

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Gold. We sell gold in an active world market in which prices respond to daily changes in supply and demand. The following table sets forth the London Gold Market prices for the periods indicated.

  Gold  

(per troy ounce)
1Q00 US$ 277  
2Q00 288  
3Q00 274  
4Q00 274  
1Q01 258  
2Q01 269  
3Q01 293  
4Q01 278  
1Q02 299  
2Q02 319  
3Q02 324  
4Q02 347  

We generally seek to manage the risks associated with changes in gold prices through hedging. For more information about our gold hedging activities, see Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk. Average gold prices were higher in 2002 than in 2001, reflecting a number of factors including weakness in the U.S. dollar, international political tension and equity market declines that increased the attractiveness of gold as an alternative investment.

Aluminum-Related Operations. We operate our aluminum operations through a combination of subsidiaries and non-consolidated joint ventures. We consolidate the revenues of (i) Alunorte, which sells alumina, and (ii) our wholly-owned trading subsidiary Itabira Rio Doce Company Ltd., which we refer to as Itaco, which resells bauxite, alumina and aluminum. Our remaining bauxite, alumina and aluminum operations are reflected in the line item “Equity in results of affiliates and joint ventures and change in provision for losses on equity investments” in our consolidated income statement.

Through Itaco, we sell our aluminum in an active world market where prices are determined by reference to prices prevailing on terminal markets, such as the London Metals Exchange and the Commodity Exchange, Inc., or COMEX, at the time of delivery. The following table sets forth the three-month average market prices for aluminum on the London Metals Exchange for the periods indicated.

  Aluminum  

(per pound)
1Q00 US$ 0.75  
2Q00 0.68  
3Q00 0.72  
4Q00 0.69  
1Q01 0.71  
2Q01 0.69  
3Q01 0.64  
4Q01 0.61  
1Q02 0.63  
2Q02 0.62  
3Q02 0.60  
4Q02 0.62  

Three-month average market prices for aluminum on the London Metals Exchange declined during 2002 from US$ 1,454 / ton in 2001 to US$ 1,365 / ton in 2002, primarily reflecting an increase in world aluminum production that more than offset a modest recovery in world demand. Albras and Alunorte seek to manage the risks associated with changes in aluminum prices by hedging. For more information about aluminum hedging, see Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk. During the first five months of 2003 three-month average market prices for aluminum on the London Metals Exchange rose by 4.23%. During the same period, world alumina prices also increased substantially.

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We conduct our bauxite, alumina and aluminum business through subsidiaries and consolidated and unconsolidated joint ventures. Our unconsolidated joint venture MRN sells a substantial proportion of its bauxite to our consolidated subsidiary Alunorte, which in turn sells a substantial portion of its alumina production to our unconsolidated joint ventures Albras and Valesul. The basic arrangements under which these sales are made are as follows:

  Our MRN bauxite joint venture produces bauxite for sale on a take-or-pay basis to us and our joint venture partners at a price that is determined by a formula based on prevailing world prices of aluminum. Our Alunorte alumina subsidiary, which we began consolidating in July 2002, purchases all of its bauxite requirements from MRN. Our annual purchase commitment for 2002 was approximately US$ 82 million.
     
  Each Alunorte joint venture partner must purchase on a take-or-pay basis all alumina produced by Alunorte in proportion to its respective interest. Each joint venture partner pays the same price, which is determined by a formula based on prevailing world prices of aluminum and alumina. Our annual purchase commitment for 2002 was approximately US$ 22 million. In June 2002, we increased our stake in and acquired control of Alunorte (alumina) and began consolidating it in our financial statements. As a result, since June 2002, payments we make to Alunorte under our take-or-pay commitment are eliminated in preparing our consolidated financial statements.
     
  Each Albras aluminum joint venture partner must purchase on a take-or-pay basis all aluminum produced by Albras in proportion to its ownership interest. In our case, our take-or-pay commitment is 51% (representing our proportional ownership interest) of the joint venture’s annual aluminum production. Although our annual purchase commitment to Albras can be substantial, approximately US$ 279 million in 2002, prevailing world market prices for aluminum (subject to discount in accordance with the terms of our joint venture agreements) determine the aluminum prices at which we purchase from Albras. We resell the aluminum we receive from Albras through our trading subsidiary Itaco and earn a margin on the sale. We do not have a take-or-pay commitment to Valesul, which sells aluminum directly to its customers.

Manganese and Ferroalloys. Manganese and ferroalloy prices are strongly influenced by trends in the steel market. Manganese prices are generally negotiated on an annual basis using a benchmark established in the Japanese market based on the reference price for the related ferroalloys. Ferroalloy prices are negotiated in open bids, quarterly contracts (particularly in Europe) or on a spot basis. They are influenced by a number of factors and are more volatile than prices for manganese. Among the principal factors are the price of manganese, the inventories held by producers or traders, occasional interruptions in production and anti-dumping tariffs in the principal markets (U.S., Europe, Japan and Korea). Average manganese prices declined to US$ 54 per ton in 2002 from US$ 63 per ton in 2001, primarily reflecting poor conditions in the world steel market at the time the annual prices for 2002 were established. Average ferroalloy prices declined from US$ 456 per ton in 2001 to US$ 423 per ton in 2002, reflecting changes in our product mix.

Potash and Kaolin. Potash prices were lower in 2002 than in 2001, primarily reflecting lower world prices due to an increase in low-price exports from Russia and Jordan, which have cut prices to gain market share. Kaolin prices have remained fairly stable over the last decade, and showed little movement during 2002 and 2001. The average prices per ton for each of the years 2002 and 2001 were US$ 136 and US$ 130, respectively, an increase of 5%, primarily reflecting increased demand.

Logistics

We earn our logistics revenues primarily from fees charged to customers for the transportation of cargo via our railroads, ports and ships. Most of these revenues are earned by our railways, and nearly all of our logistics revenues are denominated in reais. Prices in the Brazilian railroad market are subject to maximum levels set by the Brazilian regulatory authorities but in practice have historically fallen well below the maximum levels permitted by law, primarily reflecting railroads’ need to remain competitive with the trucking industry. In 2002, prices for transportation

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of general cargo increased in real terms from 2001 levels, reflecting inflation as well as rising demand and an increase in trucking prices, which are used as a reference when setting railroad freight prices.

Demand

Demand for Mineral Products

Demand for our iron ore products is a function of worldwide demand for steel, which is, in turn, heavily influenced by worldwide economic activity. Worldwide demand for steel experienced a downward trend over the three-year period from 2000 to 2002. A slowdown in economic activity in Europe or Asia will generally affect demand for our iron ore products, although there will typically be a lag effect. In recent years, we have experienced a significant increase in demand from China that has offset lower demand in Europe and elsewhere in Asia. Demand for our other mineral products is also influenced to varying degrees by worldwide economic activity.

Driven primarily by demand from China, demand for iron ore and pellets increased throughout 2002, and by the fourth quarter of 2002, had begun to exceed our production capacity. We expect that demand will continue to exceed our production capacity in 2003. We plan to invest US$ 217 million in 2003 to increase the production capacity of our mines and to expand the capacity of our ports in order to better meet rising customer demand. In the interim, to the extent demand exceeds our production capacity, we expect to purchase and resell iron ore and pellets from third parties to attempt to meet any shortfall.

Demand for Third-Party Transportation Services.

Demand for our third party transportation services is influenced by Brazilian economic growth as well as by Brazilian exports and imports of goods. Demand for general cargo services was higher in 2002, primarily reflecting the improved health of the Brazilian economy and a strong grain crop. We expect logistics demand to continue to increase in 2003, reflecting continued growth in the Brazilian gross domestic product and international trade.

Currency Fluctuations

Most of our sales are dollar-denominated, while most of our costs (other than debt expenses) are denominated in Brazilian currency. As a result, when the real is relatively strong against the dollar, this tends to have a negative effect on our reported financial results from operations, and vice versa. On the other hand, because most of our debt (and debt at the joint venture and affiliate level) is dollar-denominated, a relatively weak real causes us to record monetary and foreign-exchange losses. The 34.3% decline of the real had a significant impact on our results in 2002. During the first five months of 2003, the real has appreciated 19.1% against the dollar. We cannot predict the future direction of exchange rates.

Acquisitions

In June 2002, we increased our stake in and acquired control of Alunorte (alumina) and began consolidating it in our financial statements. We previously had accounted for Alunorte under the equity method. We also increased our stakes in Salobo and MVC in 2002, but these acquisitions did not have a significant impact on our gross revenues, net income or total assets.

The following table shows the effect of the Alunorte acquisition on our gross revenues, net income and total assets.

  As of and for
the Year Ended
 
December 31,

2002

Increase in gross revenues 3 .0%  
Increase in net income 3 .8  
Increase in total assets 7 .4  

We have continued to make acquisitions in 2003, as more fully described in Item 4. Information on the Company—Business Overview. In particular, in March 2003, we reached an agreement with Mitsui to acquire its remaining stake in Caemi, for US$ 426.4 million. After the transaction, we will own 100% of Caemi’s common shares, 40% of its preferred shares and 60.2% of its total capital. Caemi, a Brazilian company with its headquarters in Rio de Janeiro, is the world’s fourth largest producer of iron ore and is listed on BOVESPA. This acquisition is subject, inter alia, to the review and approval of competition authorities and the completion of the Valepar transactions described under Item 7. Major Shareholder and Related Party Transactions.

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Divestitures and Asset Sales

In 2001, we divested our interests in Bahia Sul (pulp and paper), Cenibra (pulp and paper) and CSN (steel). In addition to these divestitures, in 2001 and 2002, we recorded the sale of the remaining forestry assets in connection with our exit from the pulp and paper business and ships in connection with our exit from the dry-bulk shipping business. The following table shows the effects of these divestitures on our gross revenues, net income and total assets. The percentages in the table represent the portion of our revenues, net income and total assets attributable to the divested businesses and assets in the periods indicated prior to disposal.

  As of and for the Year Ended December 31,  
 




 
  2002   2001   2000  
 
 
 
 
Decrease in gross revenues 0.1 % 4.7 % 6.9 %
Decrease (increase) in net income 0.1 % (1.0 )% 7.3 %
Decrease in total assets 0.7 % 1.7 % 7.7 %

On June 18, 2003, we agreed to sell our one remaining gold mine, Fazenda Brasileiro, to Yamana Resources Inc., a Canadian mining company, for US$ 20.9 million. The sale is subject to certain conditions. Upon completion of the sale, our gold operations will be interrupted until the start-up of the copper projects we are currently developing in Carajás, where we expect to produce gold as a by-product of the copper mining process.

Effects of Certain Equity Method Affiliates and Investments Carried at Cost

The financial condition and results of operations of our joint ventures, affiliated companies and investments can have a significant effect on our results of operations and financial condition. See note 10 to our consolidated financial statements for information on these effects.

Rising Unit Extraction Costs

Several of our mines, such as Cauê, Conceição and Capanema, have operated for long periods and may experience rising extraction costs per unit as more expensive processes become necessary to extract remaining ore in these mines. Increases in extraction costs at each of theses mines have not materially affected our results of operations as such increases were offset by productivity gains and by the favorable foreign exchange effects on these costs.

Electricity Costs

Electricity costs are a significant component of the cost of producing aluminum. Our aluminum plant, Albras, entered into a 20-year contract with Eletronorte, a state-owned power utility, pursuant to which Albras purchases electricity at rates which are lower than the prevailing market rates in the region. For the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 the prevailing market rate was US$ 20.62, US$ 22.87 and US$ 24.48 per MWh, respectively. The average price paid by Albras for the same periods was US$ 12.86, US$ 11.27 and US$ 11.93 per MWh, respectively. The Eletronorte contract is scheduled to expire in May 2004. Albras is currently negotiating a possible new contract and is examining other alternatives. Although we expect future energy costs for Albras to be in line with those of its peers in the industry, its costs will likely increase compared to current levels following expiration of the current contract.

Effects of Brazilian Energy Shortages

On June 1, 2001, the Brazilian government, as part of its energy rationing program, required reductions in energy consumption of at least 20% compared to average consumption for May, June and July 2000. Aluminum and ferroalloy activities were categorized as electricity-intensive activities and energy consumption relating to these activities was required to decrease by 25% relative to average consumption for May, June and July 2000. Our total expected energy consumption for 2001 was 14.5 TWh. However, due to this rationing program, our actual energy consumption for 2001 was 12.5 TWh. In 2000, our total energy consumption was 13.8 TWh. As a result, we reduced our ferroalloy production in the six-month period ending November 30, 2001 by 46,000 tons, from the previously planned 220,000 tons to 174,000 tons. We also reduced 2001 aluminum production at Albras by 46,000 tons to 333,000 tons from the previously planned 379,000 tons, and at Valesul by 13,000 tons to 80,000 tons from the previously planned 93,000 tons. By the end of 2001, climate conditions in Brazil improved, reducing the immediate risk of energy shortages. Therefore, on March 1, 2002, the Brazilian government eliminated the rationing in the rest of the country.

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For a discussion about the possible consequences and risks associated with future energy shortages, see Item 3. Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Brazil.

Domestic Inflation Rates in Brazil

As measured by the IGP-M Index, the Brazilian inflation rate was approximately 9.9% in 2000, 10.4% in 2001 and 25.3% in 2002. Most of our costs are incurred in Brazil in reais, while most of our revenues are earned outside of Brazil in U.S. dollars. Inflation generally has a negative impact on our operating margins only in periods where it exceeds the rate of devaluation of the real against the U.S. dollar. In recent years and in 2002, domestic inflation in Brazil has been more than offset by devaluation of the real.

Brazilian Taxes

We are subject to a number of Brazilian taxes. Brazilian tax legislation changes, which are frequent, can have a significant impact on our results of operations. The principal taxes we pay are:

  Value-Added Tax and Revenue Taxes. Our gross revenues consist of total revenues from sales, net of discounts, returns and allowances, together with amounts we collect in respect of value-added tax. Net operating revenues represent revenues less value-added tax, which we collect on behalf of, and must remit to, state taxing authorities. We also collect other revenue taxes for social programs that are recorded under the line items value-added tax and other financial expenses in our financial statements. Export sales are currently exempt from both the value-added tax and the social taxes.
     
  Income tax and Social Contribution on Profits. We pay income taxes, which include a tax called the social contribution on profits. The social contribution on profits tax rate has fluctuated in the past three years from 8% to 12% and is currently at 9%.

Critical Accounting Policies

We believe that the following are our critical accounting policies. We consider an accounting policy to be critical if it is important to our financial condition and results of operations and requires significant judgments and estimates on the part of our management. For a summary of all of our significant accounting policies, see note 1 to our consolidated financial statements.

Translation Adjustments

Our reporting currency is the U.S. dollar, but our functional currency for the majority of our operations is the real. In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) 52 – “Foreign Currency Translation,” we translate statement of income items to reflect the approximate results that would have occurred if each transaction had been translated using the exchange rate in effect on the date that the transaction was recognized. Because the separate translation of every transaction is impractical, an appropriate weighted-average exchange rate for the period is used. In most cases, we translate our statement of income accounts and those of subsidiaries that use the real as their functional currency into U.S. dollars at weighted average monthly rates for the relevant reporting period. In the case of material exceptional items, we translate the amounts into U.S. dollars using the exchange rate on the date of the transaction. Additionally, during periods of high exchange rate volatility, we use estimated daily rates to translate our foreign exchange and monetary losses, financial currency, financial income and financial expenses. The determination of the appropriate weighted-average exchange rate requires significant management judgment and estimates. During 2002, the real devalued by approximately 34.3% against the U.S. dollar and generated a debit for the year recorded directly in the cumulative translation adjustment account of US$ 1,710 million.

Reserves and Life of Mines

We regularly evaluate and update our estimates of proven and probable mineral reserves. Our proven and probable mineral reserves are determined using generally accepted estimation techniques and are audited by AMEC, an expert in geology, mining and iron ore reserves. Calculating our reserves requires us to make assumptions about future conditions that are highly uncertain, including future ore prices,

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foreign currency exchange rates, inflation rates, mining technology, availability of permits and production costs. Changes in some or all of these assumptions could have a significant impact on our recorded proven and probable reserves.

One of the ways we use our ore reserve estimates is to determine the mine closure dates used in recording the fair value liability for our asset retirement obligations and the periods over which we amortize our mining assets. Any change in our estimates of total expected future mine or asset lives could have a significant impact on the depreciation, depletion and amortization charges recorded in our consolidated financial statements under cost of goods sold. Changes in the estimated lives of our mines could also significantly impact our estimates of environmental and site reclamation costs, which are described in greater detail below.

Environmental and Site Reclamation costs

Expenditures relating to ongoing compliance with environmental regulations are charged against earnings or capitalized as appropriate. These ongoing programs are designed to minimize the environmental impact of our activities.

Until December 31, 2002, we provided only for environmental liabilities relating to site restoration at mines already closed or which were expected to close in the next two years. The estimation of environmental costs was based on projections limited to the next two years and was not discounted to present value.

Effective January 1, 2003, we adopted SFAS 143 – “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations.” SFAS 143 requires that we recognize a liability for the fair value of our estimated asset retirement obligations in the period in which they are incurred, if a reasonable estimate can be made. We consider the accounting estimates related to reclamation and closure costs to be critical accounting estimates because:

  we will not incur most of these costs for a number of years, requiring us to make estimates over a long period;
     
  reclamation and closure laws and regulations could change in the future or circumstances affecting our operations could change, either of which could result in significant changes to our current plans;
     
  calculating the fair value of our asset retirement obligations in accordance with SFAS 143 requires us to assign probabilities to projected cash flows, to make long-term assumptions about inflation rates, to determine our credit-adjusted risk-free interest rates and to determine market risk premiums that are appropriate for our operations; and
     
  given the significance of these factors in the determination of our estimated environmental and site reclamation costs, changes in any or all of these estimates could have a material impact on net income. In particular, given the long periods over which many of these charges are discounted to present value, changes in our assumptions about credit-adjusted risk-free interest rates could have a significant impact on the size of our provision. At January 1, 2003, we estimated the fair value of our aggregate total asset retirement obligations to be approximately US$ 41 million, representing an increase of US$ 26 million over the amount recorded under the prior accounting policy.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Goodwill

We evaluate our investments and long-lived assets, which primarily include identifiable property, plant and equipment, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the balance sheet carrying value of the asset may not be recoverable. If the asset is determined to be impaired, we record an impairment loss, and write down the asset, based upon the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the higher of net realizable value and value in use. We generally determine value in use by discounting expected future cash flows using a risk-adjusted pre-tax discount rate that we believe is appropriate to the risks inherent in the asset. In order to estimate future cash flows, we must make various assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain, including future production and sales, product prices (which we estimate based on current and historical prices, price trends and related factors), recoverable reserves, operating costs, environmental and site reclamation costs and

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planned capital costs. Arriving at assumptions and estimates concerning these matters is a complex and often subjective process. These assumptions and estimates can be affected by a variety of matters, including external factors such as industry and economic trends, and internal factors such as changes in our business strategy and our internal forecasts. Although we believe the assumptions and estimates we have made in the past have been reasonable and appropriate, different assumptions and estimates could materially impact our reported financial results. More conservative assumptions of the anticipated future benefits from these businesses would result in greater impairment charges, which would decrease net income and result in lower asset values on our balance sheet. Conversely, less conservative assumptions would result in smaller impairment charges, higher net income and higher asset values.

In assessing potential impairment of our equity investments, we evaluate the carrying value of our listed equity investments relative to publicly available quoted market prices. If the quoted market price is below carrying value, and we consider the decline to be other than temporary, we write down our equity investments to quoted market value. For investments for which quoted market prices are not readily available, we evaluate the investments for impairment whenever the performance of the underlying entity indicates that impairment may exist. In such cases, the fair value of the investments is estimated principally based on discounted estimated cash flows using assumptions similar to those described above.

In relation to goodwill, each year on September 30, we use a two-step process to test for the recoverability of goodwill for each of our reporting units. Step one requires a comparison of the fair value of the reporting unit to the book value of its net assets. The fair value of the net assets is based on discounted cash flows using assumptions similar to those used in the process described above. Step two requires an estimate of the fair value of the individual assets and liabilities within the reporting unit. Write-down of goodwill on equity investees amounted to US$ 86 million in the year ended December 31, 2002. There were no other write-downs of goodwill during 2002.

Derivatives and Hedging Activity

As of January 1, 2001 we adopted SFAS 133 — “Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities,” as amended by SFAS 137 and SFAS 138. Those standards require that we recognize all derivative financial instruments as either assets or liabilities on our balance sheet and measure such instruments at fair value. Changes in the fair value of derivatives are recorded in each period in current earnings or in other comprehensive income (outside net income), in the latter case depending on whether a transaction is designated as an effective hedge. In 2002, we did not designate any derivative financial instruments as hedges and the fair value adjustments to our derivatives were thus recorded in current net income. Had we designated our hedging instruments as permitted under SFAS 133 there would have been corresponding fair value adjustments, for certain of our hedging instruments, to the related hedged items in the case of fair value hedges or directly to stockholders’ equity in the case of cash flow hedges. During the year ended December 31, 2002 we recorded a charge of US$ 92 million in relation to fair value adjustments on derivative instruments.

Income Taxes

In accordance with SFAS 109 — “Accounting for Income Taxes,” we recognize deferred tax effects of temporary differences in our consolidated financial statements. We record a valuation allowance when we believe that it is more likely than not that tax assets will not be fully recoverable in the future.

When we prepare our consolidated financial statements, we estimate our income taxes based on regulations in the various jurisdictions where we conduct business. This requires us to estimate our actual current tax exposure and to assess temporary differences that result from differing treatment of certain items for tax and accounting purposes. These differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which we show on our consolidated balance sheet. We must then assess the likelihood that our deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable income. To the extent we believe that recovery is not likely, we establish a valuation allowance. When we establish a valuation allowance or increase this allowance in an accounting period, we record a tax expense in our statement of operations.

Determining our provision for income taxes, our deferred tax assets and liabilities and any valuation allowance to be recorded against our net deferred tax assets requires significant management judgment and estimates and

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assumptions about matters that are highly uncertain. For each future income tax asset, we evaluate the likelihood of whether some portion or all of the asset will not be recognized. The valuation allowance made in relation to accumulated income tax losses depends on our assessment of the probability of generation of future taxable profits within the legal entity in which the related deferred tax asset is recorded based on our production and sales plans, commodity prices, operating costs, environmental, group restructuring plans for subsidiaries and site reclamation costs and planned capital costs.

As of December 31, 2002 we recorded a valuation allowance of US$ 230 million on our net deferred income tax assets totaling US$ 799 million and we recorded a deferred tax expense of US$ 12 million related to the net increase in the valuation allowance during the year.

Contingencies

We disclose material contingent liabilities unless the possibility of any loss arising is considered remote and of material contingent assets where the inflow of economic benefits is probable. We discuss our material contingencies in note 15 to our financial statements.

We account for contingencies in accordance with SFAS 5 — “Accounting for Contingencies” which requires that we record an estimated loss from a loss contingency when information available prior to issuance of our financial statements indicates that it is probable that a future event will confirm that an asset has been impaired or a liability has been incurred at the date of the financial statements, and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. In particular, given the uncertain nature of Brazilian tax legislation, the assessment of potential tax liabilities requires significant management judgment. By their nature contingencies will only be resolved when one or more future events occur or fail to occur — and typically those events will occur a number of years in the future. Assessing such liabilities, particularly in the uncertain Brazilian legal environment, inherently involves the exercise of significant management judgment and estimates of the outcome of future events.

The provision for contingencies at December 31, 2002, totaling US$ 428 million, consists of provisions of US$ 109 million, US$ 95 million, US$ 220 million and US$ 4 million for labor, civil, tax and other claims, respectively.

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

2002 Compared To 2001

Revenues

The following table summarizes our gross revenues by product and our net operating revenues for the periods indicated:

  For the Year Ended December 31,      
 




     
  2002   2001   % change  
 

 

 
 
       (In millions of US$)      
Iron ore and pellets        
   Iron ore US$ 2,147   US$ 2,003   7 .2%  
   Pellets   673     597   12 .7  
 

 

     
      Subtotal   2,820     2,600   8 .5  
                 
Gold   103     139   (25 .9)  
Manganese and Ferroalloys   283     259   9 .3  
Potash   91     71   28 .2  
Others   45     41   9 .8  
Revenues from logistic services   458     608   (24 .7)  
Aluminum-related Products   462     284   62 .7  
Other products and services   20     75   (73 .3)  
 

 

     
Gross Revenues   4,282     4,077   5 .0  
Value Added Tax   (159 )   (142 ) 12 .0  
 

 

     
Net Operating Revenues US$ 4,123   US$ 3,935   4 .8  
 

 

     

Net operating revenues increased 4.8% to US$ 4,123 million in 2002 from US$ 3,935 million in 2001. This increase reflected higher gross revenues from our iron ore and pellets, aluminum-related products and other mining products, which were partially offset by decreases in gross revenues from logistics, gold and other products and services.

Iron ore and Pellets

Gross revenues from iron ore and pellets increased 8.5% to US$ 2,820 million in 2002 from US$ 2,600 million in 2001, reflecting a 10.4% increase in volume sold, partially offset by lower average selling prices.

Sales of iron ore attained record levels in 2002, amounting to 143.6 million tons in 2002, compared to 130.8 million tons in 2001, an increase of 9.8%. The expansion seen in sales of pellets was greater in percentage terms than sales growth for iron ore, reflecting the strong demand for steel and the use of pellets to increase the productivity of blast furnaces in making steel, particularly in China. Pellet sales rose from 17.9 million tons in 2001 to 20.6 million tons in 2002, a 14.8% increase. The increase in volume of iron ore and pellets in 2002 was driven primarily by strong demand from China, where increased demand for consumer durables, coupled with substantial investment in infrastructure and housing, resulted in sharply higher steel consumption, leading Chinese steelmakers to dramatically increase their purchases of iron ore and pellets. Demand in our other principal markets was stable.

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Actual average selling prices for iron and pellets declined by 1.7%, reflecting an across-the-board reduction in reference prices following the 2002 price negotiations with steel manufacturers, and a decrease of 0.2% due to an increase in the proportion of pellets in the product mix, which accentuated the effect of reductions in pellet prices.

Gold

Revenues from gold sales decreased 25.9% to US$ 103 million in 2002 from US$ 139 million in 2001, reflecting a 34.8% decrease in volume sold, which was partially offset by an 8.9% increase in average selling prices. The 34.8% decrease in volume from 508,472 troy ounces in 2001 to 331,479 troy ounces in 2002 was primarily due to the closure of our Igarapé Bahia gold mine in 2002 and reduced production at Fazenda Brasileiro, which is nearing the end of its productive life and has encountered lower gold yields. We have since agreed to sell Fazenda Brasileiro as described above. The 8.9% increase in average selling prices reflects the increase in world gold prices during 2002 as a result of increased political uncertainty, lower equity prices, weakness in the U.S. dollar and other factors which made gold an attractive alternative investment.

Manganese and Ferroalloys

Gross revenues from sales of manganese and ferroalloys increased by 9.3%, from US$ 259 million in 2001 to US$ 283 million in 2002, driven by higher sales of ferroalloys, which more than offset a decline in sales of manganese. Gross revenues from ferroalloys increased by US$ 45 million or 22%, driven by a 107% increase in volume resulting from strong demand for steel and from the end of the energy rationing in Brazil, which was partially offset by a decline in prices due to the shift in product mix. Gross revenues from sales of manganese declined by US$ 21 million, or 37%, primarily as a result of a 27% decline in volume. The decline in manganese volumes resulted primarily from the delay of a major shipment in December 2002. Average selling prices for manganese fell by 15% in 2002, driven by lower overall demand for manganese from the steel industry at the time the annual prices were established.

Potash

Gross revenues from sales of potash increased by 28.2% from US$ 71 million in 2001 to US$ 91 million in 2002, primarily due to a 45% increase in volume, which more than offset a 16.7% decline in average selling prices. The significant increase in volume resulted from strong demand from the domestic fertilizer sector. The decline in average selling prices primarily reflects a reduction in prices to match our international competitors.

Others

Gross revenues from sales of kaolin increased by 9.8% from US$ 41 million in 2001 to US$ 45 million in 2002, mainly due to an increase in sales volume as well as higher average selling prices.

Logistic Services

Gross revenues from logistic services decreased by 24.7% to US$ 458 million in 2002 from US$ 608 million in 2001. This reduction is principally due to a decrease of US$ 140 million in our world-wide logistics revenues due principally to our divestitures in the dry-bulk shipping business in the second half of 2001. It also reflects the impact of a decrease relating to revenues from services provided to Ferteco and Samitri in 2001 prior to our acquisition of these companies. In addition, gross logistics revenues were adversely affected by the devaluation of the real, which largely offset increases in volumes in the domestic market. General cargo shipped by our railroads increased by 14.0% from 12.9 billion net ton kilometers in 2001 to 14.7 billion net ton kilometers in 2002. The increase in volume reflects strong increases in the transport of grains and soybeans, increases in steel shipments, and increases in the inter-modal transport of containers, which exploits the connections between highway transportation, rail, ports and coastal shipping. Our ports handled 26.3 million tons of general cargo in 2002, compared with 21.7 million tons in the previous year.

Aluminum-Related Products

Revenues from aluminum products (bauxite, alumina, aluminum) increased 62.7% to US$ 462 million in 2002 from US$ 284 million in 2001. Of the total increase of US$ 178 million, US$ 124 million was due to the consolidation of Alunorte beginning in June 2002 when we acquired control of this previously affiliated company. The remaining US$ 54 million resulted from:

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  resales by us of increased aluminum purchased from our affiliate Albras, under take-or-pay arrangements, reflecting Albras’ increase in production capacity beginning at the start of 2002 and the end of energy rationing; and
     
  US$ 21 million in resales of alumina purchased from third parties to meet excess customer demand at Alunorte.

Other products and services

Revenues from other products and services decreased 73.3% to US$ 20 million in 2002 from US$ 75 million in 2001, reflecting our exit from the pulp and paper business, which began in 2001 with the sale of Bahia Sul and Cenibra, and was completed in 2002 upon the sale of approximately 47,700 hectares of Eucalyptus forest owned by our subsidiary Florestas Rio Doce S.A.

Operating Costs and Expenses

The following table summarizes our operating costs and expenses for the periods indicated.

  For the Year Ended December 31,  
 
 
    2002     2001  
 

 

 
  (In millions of US$)   
Cost of ores and metals sold US$ 1,579   US$ 1,550  
Cost of logistic services   252     378  
Cost of aluminum-related products   412     269  
Others   20     75  
 

 

 
   Cost of goods sold   2,263     2,272  
             
             
Selling, general and administrative expenses   224     241  
Research and development, employee profit sharing and other costs and expenses   207     460  
 

 

 
Total operating costs and expenses US$ 2,694   US$ 2,973  
 

 

 

Cost of goods sold

Total cost of goods sold decreased 0.4% to US$ 2,263 million in 2002 from US$ 2,272 million in 2001. Our costs, as expressed in U.S. dollars, were favorably affected by the significant devaluation of the real against the U.S. dollar during the period (from R$2.3204 to US$ 1.00 at December 31, 2001 to R$3.5333 to US$ 1.00 at December 31, 2002, or a devaluation of 34.3%), because the majority of these costs and expenses are denominated in reais. The average rate of exchange was R$2.9286 to US$ 1.00 during 2002 and R$2.2464 to US$ 1.00 during 2001, representing a devaluation of 23.3%. The average rate of devaluation is lower than year-on-year devaluation because the exchange rate movements were concentrated in the second half of 2002.

Cost of ores and metal sold increased 1.8% to US$ 1,579 million in 2002 from US$ 1,550 million in 2001, primarily due to increased production volumes required by the 10.3% increase in sales of iron ore and pellets, offset by an near-equivalent decrease attributed to the effects of devaluation of the real on our domestic costs (approximately 52% of our total costs is denominated in reais) net of wage and price increases linked to local inflation. The amount in 2002 also includes US$ 22 million in gold derivatives losses. A portion of the increase in cost of ores and metal sold also reflects higher costs associated with purchases of iron ore from third parties to meet excess demand.

Cost of logistic services decreased 33.3% to US$ 252 million in 2002 from US$ 378 million in 2001, whereas our corresponding revenue decreased only 24.7%. The decrease in costs at a rate greater than the decrease in revenue is due to the effects of the devaluation of the real on our domestic costs as described above.

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Cost of aluminum-related products increased 53.2% to US$ 412 million in 2002 from US$ 269 million in 2001. The increase is partly due to the consolidation of Alunorte beginning in June 2002, which contributed US$ 91 million to consolidated costs. The remaining US$ 52 million cost increase relates to the take-or-pay arrangements and third party sales described above. The effects of exchange rate movements on the cost of aluminum-related products were insignificant, since the related costs are primarily determined by international market prices.

Cost of other products and services decreased 73.3% to US$ 20 million in 2002 from US$ 75 million in 2001, reflecting principally the decreases in volumes of pulp purchases as a result of our divestitures in this line of business.

Selling, general and administrative expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased 7.1% to US$ 224 million in 2002 from US$ 241 million in 2001, due principally to the favorable effects of exchange rate movements, partly offset by the effects of increased selling expenses due to increased volumes. As a percentage of net operating revenues, selling, general and administrative expenses declined from 6.1% in 2001 to 5.4% in 2002.

Research and development, employee profit sharing and other operating costs and expenses

Research and development, employee profit sharing and other costs and expenses decreased 55.0% to US$ 207 million in 2002 from US$ 460 million in 2001. This decrease resulted primarily from a US$ 260 million reduction in other operating costs and expenses, which more than offset a US$ 7 million increase in research and development expenses.

The US$ 260 million reduction in other operating costs and expenses primarily reflects three asset impairment provisions that occurred in 2001:

  plant and equipment impairment provisions of US$ 67 million and US$ 34 million due to impairment of certain shipping assets;
     
  amortization of goodwill of US$ 34 million; and
     
  a write-off of value added taxes of US$ 54 million on products purchased based on our agreement with a state government.
     
  The reduction also reflects:
     
  a US$ 26 million reduction in contingency provisions, to US$ 53 million in 2002 from US$ 79 million in 2001; and
     
  a gain in 2002 of US$ 49 million on the sale of certain forestry assets of our subsidiary Florestas Rio Doce S.A.

Together, these two factors more than offset a US$ 40 million provision in 2002 related to the acceleration of the expected closing date for our Fazenda Brasileiro gold mine, from 2009 to 2005.

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Non-Operating Income (Expenses)

 
For the Year Ended December 31,
 
 

 
 
2002
 
2001
 
 
 
 
 
(In millions of US$)
 
             
Financial income US$
127
  US$
135
 
Financial expenses  
(375
)
 
(335
)
Foreign exchange and monetary losses, net  
(580
)
 
(426
)
Gain on sale of investments  
   
784
 
 

 

 
   Non-operating income (expenses) US$
(828
)
US$
158
 
 

 

 

Net non-operating expenses in 2002 were US$ 828 million compared to net non-operating income of US$ 158 million in 2001. The principal reasons for this change were:

  the negative effect of exchange rate movements on our net U.S.-dollar denominated liabilities (mainly short and long-term debt less cash and cash equivalents). Our net foreign exchange and monetary losses amounted to US$ 580 million in 2002 compared to US$ 426 million in 2001; and
     
  gains of US$ 784 million in 2001 upon divestitures of our interests in Bahia Sul, CSN and Cenibra.

In addition, our financial income decreased to US$ 127 million in 2002 from US$ 135 million in 2001, due primarily to lower international interest rates following the terrorist attacks in the United States in September 2001. Our financial expenses increased to US$ 375 million in 2002 from US$ 335 million in 2001 mainly due to our consolidation of Alunorte, which increased our financial expenses by US$ 14 million in the second half of 2002, and to US$ 76 million in losses we incurred on interest rate derivatives.

In 2002 we included the cost of contractual increases in supplementary benefits related to early retirement programs (US$ 35 million in 2002) in financial expenses. Until 2001, this cost had been recorded under other operating expenses. For comparison purposes US$ 33 million in 2001 and US$ 98 million in 2000 have been reclassified accordingly.

Income Taxes

In 2002 we recorded a tax benefit of US$ 149 million as compared to a tax benefit of US$ 218 million in 2001. Our tax expense at statutory rates would have been US$ 204 million in 2002 and US$ 381 million in 2001. The difference is principally due to the tax benefit of tax-deductible dividends that we pay in the form of interest on shareholders’ equity, which amounted to US$ 99 million in 2002, as compared to US$ 260 million in 2001, and US$ 196 million due to tax-exempt foreign income in 2002 as compared to US$ 226 million in 2001.

Affiliates and Joint Ventures

Our equity in the results of affiliates and joint ventures and provisions for losses on equity investments in aggregate totaled a loss of US$ 87 million in 2002 compared to a loss of US$ 53 million in 2001.

Iron Ore and Pellets. Our equity in the results of iron ore and pellet affiliates and joint ventures amounted to a loss of US$ 55 million in 2002, compared to a loss of US$ 7 million in 2001. The loss in 2002 included a charge of US$ 86 million for a goodwill write-down relating to our investment in Caemi, which more than offset improved results at several of our other pellet joint ventures, including Samarco, where earnings were helped by volumes that increased by 29% and the elimination of goodwill amortization expenses in 2002. The writedown of

 

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our investment at Caemi reflects the decline in the listed market price of Caemi’s preferred shares. We also recorded a provision for losses at Kobrasco in the amount of US$ 14 million.

Aluminum and Bauxite. Our equity in the results of aluminum and bauxite affiliates and joint ventures declined from US$ 37 million in 2001 to US$ 29 million in 2002, and we recorded a US$ 10 million release of a provision related to our investment in Albras. Our portion of Alunorte’s losses up until the time we acquired control in June 2002 was US$ 23 million, compared to losses of US$ 6 million for the whole of 2001. The increased losses at Alunorte primarily reflect the effects of the devaluation of the real on Alunorte’s U.S.-dollar denominated debt.

Like Alunorte, in 2002, our affiliates in the aluminum sector recorded increased losses due to the effects of the depreciation of the real on their foreign currency denominated debt. In addition to exchange rate effects, the operating results of Albras and MRN in 2002 compared to 2001 were influenced by the following factors:

  Albras. In 2002, Albras generated net income of US$ 20 million on net sales of US$ 529 million. This compares to net income of US$ 8 million in 2001 on net sales of US$ 472 million. Our portion of net income of Albras was US$ 10 million in 2002 compared with US$ 4 million in 2001. The increase in sales at Albras primarily reflects a 22.3% increase in sales volume resulting from a capacity expansion completed at the beginning of 2002. This increase in volume was partially offset by an 8.6% decline in the average sales price of aluminum from US$ 1,428 per ton in 2001 to US$ 1,306 per ton in 2002.
     
  MRN. In 2002, MRN generated net income of US$ 94 million on net sales of US$ 173 million. This compares to net income of US$ 81 million in 2001 on net sales of US$ 211 million. Our portion of the net income of MRN was US$ 38 million in 2002 compared with US$ 32 million in 2001. MRN’s revenues declined in 2002 due to an 8.1% reduction in the average sales price of bauxite to US$ 18.95 per ton in 2002 from US$ 20.63 per ton in 2001, and a 9.3% decline in sales volume to 9.9 million tons in 2002 from 10.9 million tons in 2001 due to lower demand in the first half of the year and interference from the expansion work in the second half of the year. However, since most of MRN’s costs are incurred in reais, the reduction in costs as expressed in U.S. dollars more than offset the reduction in revenue, resulting in an increase in net income.

Steel. Our equity in the results of steel affiliates and joint ventures increased from US$ 5 million in 2001 to US$ 23 million in 2002, reflecting higher net income at CST and CSI, which more than offset a loss at Usiminas. The improved performance at CST and CSI primarily reflects lower energy costs in 2002 in Brazil and California, respectively. The loss at Usiminas primarily reflects the effects of the devaluation of the real on Usiminas’ U.S. dollar-denominated debt.

Paper and Pulp. Reflecting our sale of Cenibra and Bahia Sul in 2001, we recorded no equity in results of paper and pulp affiliates and joint ventures in 2002. These companies had contributed in aggregate US$ 20 million to our equity results up to the date of sale.

Other Affiliates and Joint Ventures. Our equity in the results of other affiliates and joint ventures amounted to a loss of US$ 25 million in 2002, compared to a loss of US$ 95 million in 2001. We recorded a provision for losses related to FCA of US$ 42 million in 2002, after recording a loss of US$ 95 million in 2001 (which had included a US$ 74 million write-off of goodwill). In addition, our affiliate MRS generated significant losses in 2002, of which our portion was US$ 20 million; in addition to this amount, we recorded a provision for losses of US $ 7 million related to MRS. We and the other shareholders of these companies continue to explore various alternatives to restructure their businesses.

Upon adoption of SFAS 142 “Goodwill and other intangible assets,” beginning January 1, 2002 we ceased amortizing goodwill. In 2001, we recorded goodwill amortization of US $ 45 million relating to us and our consolidated subsidiaries and US$ 47 million related to equity investees.

 

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2001 compared to 2000

Revenues

The following table summarizes our gross revenues by product and net operating revenues for the periods indicated:

 
For the Year Ended December 31,
     
 
     
 
2001
 
2000
  % change  
 
 
 
 
 
(In millions of US$)
     
                 
Iron Ore and Pellets US$ 2,600   US$ 2,177   19.4  %
Gold   139     156   (10.9 )
Other mining products                
   Manganese and Ferroalloys   259     285   (9.1 )
   Potash   71     85   (16.5 )
   Others   41     42   (2.4 )
       Subtotal   371     412   (10.0 )
Revenues from Logistic Services   608     760   (20.0 )
Aluminum-related Products   284     362   (21.5 )
Other products and services   75     202   (62.9 )
 

 

     
Gross Revenues   4,077     4,069   0.2  
Value Added Tax   (142 )   (134 ) 6.0  
 

 

     
Net Operating Revenues US$ 3,935   US$ 3,935  
 —
 
 

 

     

Net operating revenues remained constant at US$ 3,935 million in both 2001 and 2000, reflecting an increase in our iron ore and pellets revenues which was partially offset by decreases in revenues from other lines of business.

Revenues from iron ore and pellets increased 19.4% to US$ 2,600 million in 2001 from US$ 2,177 million in 2000, reflecting a 19.4% increase in volume sold to 148.8 million tons in 2001 from 124.5 million tons in 2000 partially offset by an increase in average selling prices of 0.4% and an increase of 19.6% due to changes in product mix. In 2001, there was an increase in demand from the growing market in China and therefore our exports to this country increased to 14.9 million tons in 2001 compared to 9.2 million tons in 2000. Our acquisition of Ferteco in April 2001 increased our 2001 sales volume for iron ore and pellets by 11.7 million tons.

Revenues from gold sales decreased 10.9% to US$ 139 million in 2001 from US$ 156 million in 2000, representing a 9.0% decrease in volume sold and a 2.1% decrease in average selling prices. The reduction in volume sold was principally due to the closure of our Almas and Caeté mines at the end of 2000 and to a reduction in gold extracted during the first quarter of 2001, due to operational problems at two other mines, which problems were subsequently resolved.

Revenues from other mining products decreased 10.0% to US$ 371 million in 2001 from US$ 412 million in 2000. This decrease is mainly due to a US$ 49 million reduction of sales of our ferroalloys partially offset by a price increase of US $23 million of manganese sold by our subsidiary Sibra. Potash and kaolin sales also decreased as a result of a reduction in demand.

 

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Revenues from transportation services decreased 20.0% to US$ 608 million in 2001 from US$ 760 million in 2000, principally due to the loss of revenues from services provided to Ferteco and Samitri following our acquisition of these companies in May 2000 and in April 2001, respectively, which are now eliminated in our consolidated financial statements. Revenues from services provided to Ferteco and Samitri prior to their acquisition totaled US$ 86 million in 2000 and US$ 22 million in 2001. Other factors leading to the reduction in revenues from transportation services include a 13.0% decline in prices for domestic transport as a result of the depreciation of the real in 2001, as well as a decrease in our international transportation revenues due to our divestments in the dry-bulk shipping business.

Revenues from aluminum-related products (bauxite, alumina and aluminum) decreased 21.5% to US$ 284 million in 2001 from US$ 362 million in 2000. This decrease of US$ 78 million was due to a US$ 60 million or 20.3% reduction in aluminum-related sales as a result of lower production due to the energy rationing program, and to a US$ 18 million reduction in our resales of alumina provided by our alumina affiliate Alunorte as a result of increased alumina sales by Alunorte to its other shareholders.

Revenues from other products and services decreased 62.9% to US$ 75 million in 2001 from US$ 202 million in 2000, primarily representing decreases in pulp and paper product revenues following our divestment of Cenibra.

Operating Costs and Expenses

The following table summarizes our operating costs and expenses for the periods indicated.

  For the Year Ended December 31,  
 
 
  2001   2000  
 
 
 
  (In millions of US$)  
Cost of ores and metals sold US$ 1,550   US$ 1,423  
Cost of transportation services   378     481  
Cost of aluminum-related products   269     334  
Others   75     191  
 

 

 
   Cost of Goods Sold   2,272     2,429  
             
Selling, general and administrative expenses   241     225  
Research and development, employee profit sharing and other costs and expenses   460     257  
 

 

 
   Total operating costs and expenses US$ 2,973   US$ 2,911  
 

 

 

Overall costs of goods sold decreased 6.5% to US$ 2,272 million in 2001 from US$ 2,429 million in 2000. Our costs and expenses, as expressed in U.S. dollars, were favorably affected by the significant depreciation of the real against the U.S. dollar during the year (from R$1.9554 to US$ 1.00 at December 31, 2000 to R$2.3204 to US$ 1.00 at December 31, 2001, or a depreciation of 15.7%), because the majority of these costs and expenses are denominated in reais. The average exchange rate was R$2.2854 to US$ 1.00 during 2001 and R$l.7975 to US$ 1.00 during 2000, or a depreciation of 21.3%. This decrease was partially offset by an increase of US$ 109 million, or 4.8%, in 2001 relating to our acquisition of Ferteco (which added approximately US$ 33 million in additional costs) and a smaller increase due to the inclusion of Samitri costs in 2001.

Cost of ores and metal sold increased 8.9% to US$ 1,550 million in 2001 from US$ 1,423 million in 2000. The increase of US$ 127 million was principally due to an increase of US$ 124 million in costs due to the consolidation of Ferteco. This increase in costs was partially offset by the favorable impact of exchange rate movements which is estimated at US$ 90 million.

Cost of transportation services decreased 21.4% to US$ 378 million in 2001 from US$ 481 million in 2000, due to improved cost management related to our ships in addition to the decrease in associated revenues.

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Cost of aluminum-related products decreased 19.5% to US$ 269 million in 2001 from US$ 334 million in 2000 as a result of lower levels of activity. The favorable effect of exchange rate movements on the cost of aluminum-related products is insignificant, since the related costs are primarily determined by international market prices.

Cost of other products and services decreased 60.7% to US$ 75 million in 2001 from US$ 191 million in 2000, reflecting principally the decreases in volumes of pulp and paper purchases as a result of our divestitures in this line of business.

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 7.1% to US$ 241 million in 2001 from US$ 225 million in 2000, due principally to the acquisition of Ferteco which increased these expenses by US$ 25 million or 11.1% in 2001, partially offset by the effects of exchange rate movements.

Research and development, employee profit sharing and other costs and expenses increased 79% to US$ 460 million in 2001 from US$ 257 million in 2000. This increase is mainly attributable to plant and equipment and ship impairment provisions of US$ 101 million, including expected losses on the sale of ships (US$ 34 million), amortization of goodwill of US$ 34 million and a write-off of value-added taxes of US$ 54 million based on our agreement with a state government.

Non-Operating Income (Expenses)

  For the Year Ended December 31,  
 
 
  2001   2000  
 
 
 
  (In millions of US$)  
Financial income US$ 135   US$ 208  
Financial expenses   (335 )   (315 )
Foreign exchange and monetary losses, net   (426 )   (240 )
Gain on sale of investments   784     54  
 

 

 
    Non-operating income (expenses) US$ 158   US$ (293 )
 

 

 

Net non-operating income was US$ 158 million in 2001 compared to net non-operating expenses of US$ 293 million in 2000. This decrease resulted from a reduction in the contractual cost of supplementary benefits related to early retirement programs which were recorded as financial expenses of US$ 33 million in 2001 and US$ 98 million in 2000, whereas until 2000 this cost had been classified as other operating expenses. For comparison purposes US$ 98 million have been reclassified accordingly. The aggregate favorable change of US$ 386 million was principally due to gains on sales of investments (US$ 784 million) upon divestment of our interests in Bahia Sul, CSN and Cenibra in 2001. This was partially offset by additional net financial expenses of US$ 93 million in 2001 due principally to a reduction in financial income as a result of lower average balances of cash and cash equivalents and the negative effect of exchange rate movements on our U.S. dollar denominated liabilities, mainly short and long-term debt totaling US$ 186 million.

Income Taxes

In 2001 we recorded a tax benefit of US$ 218 million. However, our Federal income tax and social contribution expense at statutory rates for 2001 was US$ 381 million. The difference was principally due to the tax benefit we derived from making distributions to our shareholders in the form of interest on shareholders’ equity in the amount of US$ 260 million and US$ 226 million due to tax-exempt foreign income.

Affiliates and Joint Ventures

Our equity in the results of affiliates and joint ventures and provisions for losses on equity investments in aggregate totaled a loss of US$ 53 million in 2001 compared to a gain of US$ 322 million in 2000.

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Steel. In 2001, our steel sector affiliates were affected in addition to a devaluation of the real against the U.S. dollar, by a weaker market for steel products which resulted in decreased average sales prices in 2001. Our U.S. affiliate, CSI, was also affected by higher costs resulting from the energy crisis in California. In 2001 we recorded a loss of US$ 3 million in respect of our steel sector affiliates compared to a gain of US$ 17 million in 2000.

Aluminum-Related Products. In 2001, our affiliates in the aluminum sector recorded losses due to the effects of the depreciation of the real on their foreign currency denominated debt. Albras reported a gain in 2001, of which we recognized our portion of US$ 4 million through a reduction in our provision for losses on equity investments. Alunorte reported a loss, of which we recognized our portion of US$ 6 million through equity accounting. In the same period of 2000, our portion of gains reported by Albras and Alunorte were US$ 66 million and US$ 11 million, respectively.

In addition to exchange rate effects, the operating results of our major aluminum sector affiliates and joint ventures in 2001 compared to 2000, were influenced by the following factors:

  Albras - Aluminum sales volume decreased 9.3% to 332,000 tons in 2001 from 366,000 tons in 2000 and average sales prices decreased 5.3% to US$ l,428.99 per ton in 2001 from US$ 1,508.42 per ton in 2000.
     
  Alunorte - Alumina sales volume decreased 3.5% to 1,540,000 tons in 2001 from 1,596,000 tons in 2000 and the average sales prices decreased by 5.7% to US$ 185.51 per ton in 2001 as compared to US$ 196.63 per ton in 2000.
     
  MRN - Bauxite sales volume decreased 2.6% to 10,952,000 tons in 2001 from 11,242,000 tons in 2000 and average sales prices increased 1.1% to US$ 20.95 per ton in 2001 from US$ 21.18 per ton in 2000.

Paper and Pulp. During 2001, we sold our respective interests in Bahia Sul and Cenibra, which had jointly contributed US$ 108 million to our 2000 consolidated net income. Through the date of their respective sales in 2001, these two companies jointly contributed US$ 11 million to our 2001 consolidated net income. However, the sale of Bahia Sul and Cenibra resulted in one-time gains of US$ 170 million and US$ 507 million, respectively, which are included in non-operating income (expenses).

Others. As for our railroad affiliate, FCA, we recorded an equity loss of US$ 95 million (which included a write-off of goodwill in the amount of US$ 74 million) against a loss of US$ 30 million in 2000. In 2001, the results of our other equity investments were generally lower than in 2000 due to the effects of the devaluation of the real and to lower results of operations of these affiliates as a result of difficult trading conditions in the markets for their respective products.

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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Overview

Our principal uses of funds are for capital expenditures, dividend payments and repayment of debt. We have historically met these requirements by using cash generated from operating activities and also short-term and long-term debt. We believe these sources of funds, together with our cash and cash equivalents on hand, will continue to be adequate to meet our currently anticipated capital requirements.

In addition, from time to time, we review acquisition and investment opportunities and will, if a suitable opportunity arises, make selected acquisitions and investments to implement our business strategy. We generally make investments either directly or through subsidiaries, joint ventures or affiliated companies, and fund these investments through internally generated funds, the issuance of debt or a combination of these methods.

In 2003, our major cash needs include announced expected capital expenditures of US$ 1.7 billion, an announced minimum cash dividend of US$ 400 million, and repayment or refinancing of US$ 717 million in long-term debt that matures in 2003. In addition, we have signed an agreement to acquire, subject to fulfillment or waiver of certain conditions, the remaining 50% of Caemi from Mitsui for US$ 426 million. We expect to meet our cash needs for 2003 primarily through a combination of operating cash flow and new long-term debt.

Sources of Funds

Our principal sources of liquidity are cash and cash equivalents on hand and cash flow from operating activities. In 2002, we generated a net increase in cash and cash equivalents, excluding the effect of exchange rate changes, of US$ 615 million compared to no net change in 2001 and a net decrease of US$ 135 million in 2000. Exchange rate changes decreased our cash and cash equivalents by US$ 641 million in 2002, US$ 94 million in 2001 and US$ 107 in 2000. At December 31, 2002, we had cash and cash equivalents of US$ 1,091 million.

Operating activities provided net cash flows of US$ 2,102 million in 2002, US$ 1,518 million in 2001 and US$ 1,424 million in 2000. The amount in 2002 includes $1,031 million in non-cash expenses relating to foreign exchange and monetary losses.

In addition to the above sources of liquidity, we believe we are well-positioned to raise additional capital in the debt markets to the extent needed. We are among the most highly rated Brazilian corporate borrowers, which we believe enhances our ability to access the debt markets.

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Uses of Funds

Budgeted Capital Expenditures

We have budgeted a total of US$ 1,708 million for capital expenditures in 2003, an amount that exceeds our total capital expenditures in the two previous years combined. The following table sets forth our capital expenditures budget for 2003. These amounts include expenditures on new construction projects as well as expenditures for maintenance and exploration.

      2003 Budgeted Expenditures  
   


      (In millions of US$)  
Ferrous minerals US$ 563.3 (1) 33.0 %
Logistics   281.9   16.5  
Non-ferrous minerals   352.2 (1) 20.6  
Aluminum-related   236.4   13.8  
Energy   72.6   4.2  
Metallic and semi-finished   29.0   1.7  
Corporate areas   105.4   6.2  
Other   67.5   4.0  
   

 
 
  Total US$ 1,708.3   100.0 %
   

 
 

(1)   Under the Mineral Risk Contract, BNDES will pay an aggregate of approximately US$ 25.7 million of the 2003 ferrous minerals and non-ferrous minerals capital expenditures which are included in this budget. See Item 4. Lines of Business – Mining – Current Copper Prospects – Mineral Risk Contract.

Budgeted capital expenditures in the ferrous minerals, logistics, non-ferrous minerals, aluminum-related, energy and corporate areas include the following:

  Our ferrous minerals projects for 2003 are designed to increase our iron ore production capacity and logistical capabilities for the delivery of iron ore and pellets, and include US$ 69.8 million to expand three mines in the Southern System and US$ 45 million to expand mines in the Northern System. In addition, to improve our logistical capabilities, we have budgeted US$ 16.4 million in 2003 for the construction of Pier III at the port of Ponta da Madeira, which is expected to increase the port’s capacity from its current 56 million tons to 70 million tons. Part of the remainder of the capital expenditures for ferrous minerals relates to maintenance, refurbishment and modernization activities.
     
  Our total capital expenditure budget for 2003 also includes an aggregate of US$ 72 million for exploration activities related to ferrous minerals, bauxite, copper, gold and nickel. BNDES, under the Mineral Risk Contract, will participate with approximately US$ 25.7 million. See note 15(e) to our financial statements.
     
  Our non-ferrous mineral projects for 2003 include the Sossego copper project, for which we have budgeted US$ 253.1 million for 2003, the completion of which is expected for the first half of 2004. We have also budgeted US$ 29.4 million for expanding the capacity of the Taquari Vassouras potash mine from 600,000 to 850,000 tons per year.
     
  Budgeted logistics capital expenditures for 2003 are focused primarily on the purchase of wagons and locomotives for the transport of general cargo, principally of agricultural products, fuel, steel products and building materials.
     
  In the aluminum-related businesses, our principal budgeted capital expenditures relate to the development of bauxite mines of MVC in Paragominas (US$ 70.0 million) and expansion of Alunorte’s production capacity (US$ 153.9 million).
     
  In the energy business, we plan to continue to invest in our power generation projects. In 2003, US$ 15.2 million, US$ 16.7 million and US$ 18.5 million have been budgeted for our share of the construction costs of the Candonga, Aimores and Estreito power plants, respectively. Candonga is

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    expected to begin operations in November 2003, while Aimores is expected to come on stream in December.
     
  Our principal corporate center capital expenditures relate to information technology initiatives, including the implementation of enterprise resource planning software for US$ 36.8 million and new hardware for US$ 29.5 million.

Dividends

Dividends paid totaled US$ 602 million in 2002, US$ 1,066 million in 2001 and US$ 246 million in 2000. Our board of directors has approved a proposal to distribute in 2003 a minimum dividend (in the form of dividends and/or interest on shareholders equity) of US$ 400 million. This amount will be paid in two equal installments, on April 30 and October 31, 2003, respectively.

Contractual cash obligations

The following table summarizes our contractual cash obligations at December 31, 2002.

    Payments due by Period (In millions of US$)  

        Less than 1                  
Total year 1-3 years 3-5 years Thereafter
   

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt obligations US$ 3,076   US$ 717   US$ 1,223   US$ 742   US$ 394  
   

 

 

 

 

 
  Total contractual cash obligations US$ 3,076   US$ 717   US$ 1,223   US$ 742   US$ 394  
   

 

 

 

 

 

In July 2002, we entered into a US$ 100 million Export Prepayment Agreement with a final maturity of July 2006. The lender under this agreement has the right to demand payment of the entire amount outstanding in July 2004, subject to compliance with certain notice provisions.

Debt

At December 31, 2002, our aggregate outstanding debt was US$ 3,331 million, consisting of short-term debt of US$ 965 million, including US$ 717 million of current portion of long-term debt, US$ 64 million in loans from joint ventures and affiliated companies and long-term debt (excluding current portion) of US$ 2,366 million outstanding, including US$ 7 million in loans from related parties. Our short-term debt consists primarily of U.S. dollar-denominated trade financing, documented mainly in the form of export prepayments and export sales advances with Brazilian and foreign financial institutions. At December 31, 2002, approximately US$ 465 million of our debt was secured by liens on some of our assets. We describe the average interest rates on our long-term debt in note 12 to our financial statements.

  Our major categories of indebtedness are as follows:
     
  U.S. dollar-denominated foreign loans and financing (US$ 1,465 million at December 31, 2002). These loans primarily include export financing lines, import finance from export credit agencies, loans from commercial banks and multilateral organizations. The loans generally bear floating rate interest at spreads over LIBOR.
     
  U.S. dollar-denominated fixed rate notes (US$ 800 million at December 31, 2002). We have issued two series of fixed rate bonds which bear interest at 10% and 9.375% respectively. The 9.375% bonds mature in 2003 and the 10% bonds mature in 2004. In addition, in 2002, our wholly-owned subsidiary Vale Overseas Limited issued US$ 300 million 8.625% Notes Due 2007 that benefit from an unconditional guarantee from us and a mechanism to protect the investors from political risk events.
     
  U.S. dollar-denominated export securitizations (US$ 300 million at December 31, 2002). We have a $300 million securitization program based on existing and future receivables generated by our subsidiary CVRD Overseas Ltd that relates to exports of iron ore and pellets to six of our customers in Europe, Asia and the United States. The securitization transaction was divided into two fixed rate tranches and one floating rate tranche.

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  Perpetual notes (US$ 63 million at December 31, 2002). We have issued perpetual notes that are exchangeable for 48 billion preferred shares of MRN. Interest is payable on the notes in an amount equal to dividends paid on the underlying preferred shares relating to periods beginning with the 2000 fiscal year.
     
  Local debt (US$ 396 million at December 31, 2002). We have a series of Brazilian loans, principally from BNDES, most of which are indexed to U.S. dollars, and the remainder of which are linked to baskets of currencies or floating rates in Brazil.

Some of our long-term debt instruments contain financial covenants. Our principal covenants require us to maintain certain ratios, such as debt to equity, net debt to EBITDA and interest coverage. We were in full compliance with our financial covenants as of December 31, 2002, and we believe that our existing covenants will not significantly restrict our ability to borrow additional funds as needed to meet our capital requirements. We believe we will be able to operate within the terms of our financial covenants for the foreseeable future. None of these covenants directly restricts our ability to pay dividends on equity securities at the parent company level.

We use derivative instruments to manage our exposure to interest rate fluctuations. See Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

At December 31, 2002, our off-balance sheet arrangements consisted solely of guarantees. At December 31, 2002, we had extended guarantees for borrowings obtained by affiliates and joint ventures in the amount of US$ 516 million, of which US$ 405 million is denominated in U.S. dollars and the remaining US$ 111 million is denominated in local currency. We expect no losses to arise as a result of these guarantees. We have made no charges for extending these guarantees, except in the case of Albras and Samarco. The following table summarizes our guarantees on behalf of affiliates and joint ventures at December 31, 2002.

      Amount of               
Guarantee      
(In millions of   Final
 Counter-
Affiliate or Joint Venture US$) Currency Maturity guarantees

 
 
 
 
Albras  
302
  US$   2007   None
   
44
  R$   2010   None
FCA  
51
  US$   2009   None
   
62
  R$   2012   None
Kobrasco  
13
  US$   2003   None
Nibrasco  
6
  US$   2004   Collateral Pledge
Samarco  
14
  US$   2020   None
Sepetiba Tecon  
19
  US$   2005   None
   
4
  R$   2012   None
Valesul  
1
  R$   2006   None

We do not have (i) any retained or contingent interests in assets transferred to an unconsolidated entity or similar arrangements; (ii) any obligations under derivative instruments that are indexed to our common shares and classified in stockholders’ equity; or (iii) any obligations arising out of a variable interest in an unconsolidated entity.

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Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Overview

Our Conselho de Administração, or board of directors, sets general guidelines and policies for our business and monitors the implementation of those guidelines and policies by our executive officers. The board of directors holds regularly scheduled meetings on a monthly basis and holds additional meetings when called by its chairman, vice-chairman or any two directors. Decisions of the board of directors require a quorum of a majority of the directors and are taken by majority vote.

Under the Brazilian Corporation Law, the board of directors must have at least three members. Each director and his or her respective alternate are elected at a general shareholders’ meeting and are subject to removal at any time. Our by-laws state that the board of directors must consist of eleven members. Our current employees have the right to appoint one director and an alternate. Under the Brazilian Corporation Law, members of the board of directors must be shareholders of CVRD. Members of the board of directors are elected for two-year terms and can be re-elected. Each alternate director serves on behalf of a specific board member. In the absence of the director for whom an alternate director is acting, that alternate director may attend and vote at meetings of the board of directors.

Nine of our current directors and nine of our current alternate directors were appointed to their positions directly by Valepar, our principal shareholder, pursuant to Valepar’s shareholders’ agreement and the provisions of the Brazilian Corporation Law. For a description of the procedures under which our directors are appointed, see Item 10. Additional Information—Memorandum and Articles of Incorporation—Common Shares and Preferred Shares—General. These appointments were approved at our annual shareholders’ meeting held in April 2003. For a description of Valepar’s shareholders’ agreement, see Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—Major Shareholders—Principal Shareholder.

Directors of CVRD

The table below lists the current members of the board of directors. All of our directors were elected in 2003, and their terms will expire in 2005.

   
Year
           
First
   
Elected
Position
Age
 
 
 
   Sérgio Ricardo Silva Rosa(1) 2003   Chairman   44
   João Moisés de Oliveira(1) 2000   Director   58
   Erik Persson(1) 2001   Director   49
   Ricardo Carvalho Giambroni(1) 2001   Director   46
   Arlindo Magno de Oliveira(1) 2003   Director   51
   Luiz Alexandre Bandeira de Mello(1) 2003   Director   55
   Renato da Cruz Gomes(1) 2001   Director   50
   Mário da Silveira Teixeira Júnior(1) 2003   Vice-Chairman   57
   Rômulo de Mello Dias(1) 2001   Director   41
   Claudio Bernardo Guimarães de Moraes(3) 2003   Director   41
   Francisco Valadares Póvoa(2) 1997   Director   53

(1) Appointed by Valepar and approved at the annual shareholders’ meeting.
(2) Appointed by our employees and approved at the annual shareholders’ meeting.
(3) Informally nominated by BNDESPAR and approved at the annual shareholders’ meeting.

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The table below lists the alternate members of the board of directors. One additional alternate director remains to be appointed by Valepar.

 
Year
First
Elected
 
Position
 
Age
 
 
 
   Ivan Luiz Modesto Schara(1) 2003  
Director
 
36
   Gerardo Xavier Santiago(1) 2003  
Director
 
43
   Octávio Mauro Muniz Freire Alves(1) 2001  
Director
 
42
   Jorge Luiz Pacheco(1) 2003  
Director
 
48
   Alcio Ferreira Passos(1) 2003  
Director
 
56
   Luiz Carlos de Freitas(1) 2003  
Director
 
50
   Vacant  
 
   Luiz Maurício Leuzinger(1) 2003  
Director
 
61
   Marcelo Amaral Moraes(1) 2003  
Director
 
35
   Ana Marta Horta Veloso(3) 2003  
Director
 
34
   Otto de Souza Marques Júnior(2) 1997  
Director
 
56

(1) Appointed by Valepar and approved at the annual shareholders’ meeting.
(2) Appointed by our employees and approved at the annual shareholders’ meeting.
(3) Informally nominated by BNDESPAR and approved at the annual shareholders’ meeting.

We have summarized below the business experience, areas of expertise, and principal outside business interests of our current directors:

Sérgio Ricardo Silva Rosa. Mr. Rosa joined our board of directors in April 2003 and was designated as Chairman in May 2003. Mr. Rosa is currently the chief executive officer of PREVI - Caixa de Previdência dos Funcionários do Banco do Brasil, or Previ, where he has been an executive officer since 2000. He is also a director of Valepar S.A., or Valepar, and an executive officer of Litel Participações S.A., or Litel. Prior to joining Previ, Mr. Rosa served as President of the Confederação Nacional dos Bancários from June 1994 to May 2000. From January 1995 to December 1996, Mr. Rosa was a legislator of the municipality of São Paulo. Mr. Rosa has been a director of Brasil Telecon Participações since December 2000, and of Sauípe S.A. since May 2001.

João Moisés de Oliveira. Mr. Oliveira joined our board of directors in 2000. Mr. Oliveira has been an executive officer at Bradespar S.A. since 2000. He is also an executive officer of Eletron S.A. From 1962 to 2000, he worked at Banco Bradesco S.A. and at several companies in which Banco Bradesco S.A. has a direct or indirect ownership interest. He has served as an executive officer of several companies in which Banco Bradesco or Bradespar has or had a direct or indirect ownership interest, including Companhia Siderúgica Belgo Mineira, CSN and São Paulo Alpargatas S.A.

Erik Persson. Mr. Persson joined our board of directors in April 2001. Mr. Persson has been a planning officer at Previ since June 2000, and has worked at Previ since 1977. Mr. Persson has also served as a director of Valepar and Litel since April 2001, and has held a position as director of SEEB Porto Alegre and FEEB Rio Grande do Sul since 1990.

Ricardo Carvalho Giambroni. Mr. Giambroni joined our board of directors in April 2001. In March 2003, he was nominated CEO of Litela Participações S.A., or Litela, and in April 2003, director of Valepar. Mr. Giambroni is a manager of the equity division at Previ. From June 1999 to December 2002, he has been an executive officer of Litel. From June 1997 to April 2001, he was a director of Paranapanema Group and, from April 2001 to December 2002, of Valepar.

Arlindo Magno de Oliveira. Mr. Magno joined our board of directors in April 2003. Since 1996, he has served in a variety of positions at Previ, including among others: member of the conselho fiscal, customer service manager, officer for deliberations and executive officer for planning. From April to October 2002, Mr. Magno was the executive officer in charge of finance and management at CEDAE – Companhia Estadual de Água e Esgoto. He has also acted as a director of several companies, including Companhia de Eletricidade do Estado da Bahia – COELBA, Companhia Energética do Rio Grande do

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Norte – COSERN, CPFL Energia S.A., CPFL Geração de Energia S.A. and ENERCAN – Campos Novos Energia S.A.

Luiz Alexandre Bandeira de Mello. Mr. Bandeira de Mello joined our board of directors in April 2003. He has been an officer of Investvale since December 1994, and an employee of CVRD since 1972, when he first began work at CVRD’s pelletizing complex in Tubarão. Mr. Bandeira de Mello acted as the superintendent officer for a pelletizing complex from 1991 to 1997 and as executive officer of our Hispanobrás, Itabrasco, Nibrasco and Kobrasco affiliates from 1991 to 2000, and as CEO of our pelletizing affiliate Gulf Industrial Investment Co. from October 2000 through January 2003. From 1993 to 1997, Mr. Bandeira de Mello was a member of the board of trustees (conselho de curadores) of Fundação Vale do Rio Doce de Seguridade Social (Valia).

Renato da Cruz Gomes. Mr. Gomes joined our board of directors in April 2001. Mr. Gomes has been an executive officer of Bradespar S.A. since 2000. He is also a director of Bradesplan S.A. and Eletron S.A. From 1976 through 2000, Mr. Gomes held a variety of positions within BNDES and participated on the boards of directors of many companies, namely Elebra Eletrônica, Globo Cabo, Aracruz, Iochpe, Bahia Sul and Latasa. He was also a member of the consulting board of Factor Sinergia – Fundo de Investimento de Valores Mobiliários em Ações and the investments committee of Bradesco Templeton Value and Liquidity Fund. Mr. Gomes has been an executive officer of Valepar since April 25, 2001.

Mário da Silveira Teixeira Júnior. Mr. Teixeira joined our board of directors in April 2003 as vice-chairman. Mr. Teixeira has worked at Banco Bradesco S.A. since 1971, serving in a variety of positions in several companies in which Banco Bradesco holds a direct or indirect ownership interest, including Fundação Bradesco. Currently, he is a director of Banco Bradesco S.A., Fundação Instituto de Moléstias do Aparelho Digestivo e da Nutrição, CPFL Geração de Energia S.A., Valepar, Companhia Paulista de Força e Luz - CPFL and CPFL Energia S.A., BES Investimento do Brasil S.A. - Banco de Investimento, Banco Espírito Santo de Investimento, S.A. He is president of VBC Participações S.A. He also served as a director of many companies, including Bradespar S.A., Companhia de Energia Semesa, COFAP – Companhia Fabricadora de Peças, and CSN. He was also a member of the consulting board and conselho fiscal of Newtechnos Catalisadores Automotivos Ltda., vice-president of ANBID - Associação Nacional dos Bancos de Investimento and director of ABRASCA – Associação das Companhias Abertas.

Rômulo de Mello Dias. Mr. Dias joined our board of directors in April 2001. Since 2000, he has been business development officer and investor relations officer of Bradespar. He is also a director of Net Serviços de Telecomunicações S.A. From 1980 to 2000, he occupied a variety of positions in several companies, among others, Banco do Brasil S.A., Previ, Citibank and Albion Alliance.

Claudio Bernardo Guimarães de Moraes. Mr. Moraes joined our board of directors in April 2003. From 1984 until the present, he has served in a variety of positions at BNDES. From April 2002 to April 2003, Mr. Moraes was a member of our conselho fiscal.

Francisco Valadares Póvoa. Mr. Póvoa joined our board of directors in May 1997. He is also a director of Valepar and CSI and a member of Valia’s board of trustees. He is also the CEO of Investvale. Until March 2001, he was also a director of CSN and was previously an alternate director of CSN. Mr. Póvoa joined us as a mining engineer in 1972 and has held a variety of positions within the CVRD Group.

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Directors of Vale Overseas

Vale Overseas’ directors are as follows:

Position   Age  


   Gabriel Stoliar Director    49  
   Tito Botelho Martins Director    40  

Mr. Stoliar also serves as Vale Overseas’ principal executive officer and Mr. Martins also serves as Vale Overseas’ principal financial and accounting officer. Mr. Stoliar’s experience is summarized below under — Executive Officers.

Tito Botelho Martins. Since August 1999, Mr. Martins has been our corporate finance officer. Currently, Mr. Martins is also a director of Vale Overseas Limited, Caemi, Samarco, GIIC, FCA and chairman of the board of trustees of VALIA. He started to work at CVRD in 1985 as a trainee and held various positions in different departments of CVRD’s financial division. In December 2002, he was also appointed as financial officer of FCA. Mr. Martins has a degree in economics from the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), and obtained an MBA from IEAD/UFRJ.

The business address of the directors is Avenida Graça Aranha, 26, 17th floor, 20030-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Overview

The executive officers are our legal representatives and are responsible for day-to-day operations and the implementation of the general policies and guidelines set forth by the board of directors. Our by-laws provide for a minimum of three and a maximum of nine executive officers. The board of directors appoints executive officers for two-year terms and may remove them at any time. According to the Brazilian Corporation Law, executive officers must be Brazilian residents. The executive officers hold regularly scheduled meetings on a bi-weekly basis and hold additional meetings when called by any executive officer.

On December 27, 2002, our general shareholders’ meeting approved an amendment to our by-laws to increase the number of the executive officers. As a result, we now have one CEO (chief executive officer) and up to eight executive officers, each responsible for business areas that the board of directors assigns to them.

Executive Officers

The table below lists our current executive officers. The term of each of our executive officers expires in 2005.

  Year of          
Appointment Position Age



Roger Agnelli 2002   Chief Executive Officer   44  
Armando de Oliveira Santos 2002   Executive Officer (Ferrous Minerals)   53  
Antonio Miguel Marques 2002   Executive Officer (Holdings and Business Development)   46  
Guilherme Rodolfo Laager 2002   Executive Officer (Logistics)   46  
Fabio de Oliveira Barbosa 2002   Executive Officer (Finance, Accounting and Investor Relations)   42  
Gabriel Stoliar 2002   Executive Officer (Planning and Control)   49  
Diego Hernández 2002   Executive Officer (Non-Ferrous Minerals)   54  
Carla Grasso 2002   Executive Officer (Human Resources and Corporate Services)   41  

We have summarized below the experience, areas of expertise, and principal outside business interests of our current executive officers.

Roger Agnelli. Mr. Agnelli was appointed as our CEO in July 2001. He made his career with the Bradesco group from 1981 through 2001, where he served as executive officer of Banco Bradesco, from 1998 through 2000. He also served as CEO of Bradespar S.A., from March 2000 to July 2001. During that time, he served as chairman of our board of directors and also served as a director of several major Brazilian companies, such as Companhia Paulista de Força e Luz, CSN, Latas de Alumínio S.A. – LATASA, VBC Energia S.A., Brasmotor S.A., Mahle Metal Leve S.A., Rio Grande Energia S.A. and Serra da Mesa Energia S.A. He was also a director of UGB Participações S.A. and vice-president of the National Investment Banks Association (Associação Nacional dos Bancos de Investimento). Currently, Mr. Agnelli is a director of Asea Brown Boveri (ABB) and chairs the Business Cooperation Committee (CCE – Comitê de Cooperação Empresarial) at the Getúlio Vargas Foundation (FGV). He also is a member of the Economic and Social Development Council, advisory organ to the presidency of Brazil. He holds a degree in Economics from the Armando Álvares Penteado Foundation, São Paulo.

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Armando de Oliveira Santos. Mr. Santos was appointed as an executive officer of our ferrous minerals area in October 2001. Currently, Mr. Santos is also a director of Caemi, CPFL, Samarco and Sibra. Since 1970, Mr. Santos has held many different positions within the CVRD Group, including trainee at the railway division, assistant to the CEO and marketing manager and executive officer at Rio Doce America, Inc., or RDA, sales manager of the Far East area, coordinator for planning and sales promotion, general manager and director of Rio Doce International S.A., or RDI, general sales manager and executive officer of the iron ore division, commercial officer and executive officer of RDA and director of CSI. Mr. Santos has a degree in civil engineering from the Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (UFES).

Antonio Miguel Marques. Mr. Marques was appointed as an executive officer of our holdings and business development area in October 2001. Currently, Mr. Marques is CEO of Aluvale and director of Caemi, CST, Fosfértil, MRN, Alunorte, Albras, Valesul and Usiminas, and CEO of Vale do Rio Doce Energia S.A. Prior to that, Mr. Marques has held various positions at Caraíba Metais S.A. Indústria e Comércio, DuPont do Brasil S.A., Billiton Metais S.A., Paranapanema Group and Votarantim Group. Mr. Marques has a degree in engineering from the Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto. He received his postgraduate degree in Mineral Treatment at the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG) and obtained an MBA from COPPEAD, at the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ).

Guilherme Rodolfo Laager. Mr. Laager was appointed as an executive officer of our logistics area in September 2001. Mr. Laager served as logistics, supplying and technological information director for AMBEV, Companhia de Bebidas das Américas from 1989 until August 2000. From 1982 until 1988, Mr. Laager worked for Andersen Consulting and, from 1979 until 1981, for IESA, International de Engenharia S.A. Mr. Laager has a degree in civil engineering from the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and obtained an MBA in business administration from COPPEAD, also at UFRJ.

Fabio de Oliveira Barbosa. Mr. Barbosa was appointed as our chief financial officer in May 2002. He is also an officer of Docepar S.A. Prior to that, Mr. Barbosa served as a member of our board of directors from April 2000 to March 2002. Previously, he served as chairman of the board of directors of BANESPA – Banco do Estado de São Paulo S.A., and also served as a board member of the following companies: Banco do Brasil S.A., Caixa Econômica Federal, CST and TELESP—Telecomunicações de São Paulo. Prior to joining us, Mr. Barbosa has served as secretary of the National Treasury Secretariat at the Ministry of Finance since July 1999, after serving as assistant secretary in the previous four years. From 1992 to 1995, he served as adviser to the Executive Board of the World Bank, in Washington D.C. From 1990 to 1992, he was Deputy and Head of the Fiscal Policy Unit at the Ministry of Economy and Finance. From 1988 to 1990, he was economic advisor and head of the Economic Analysis Unit, both at the Ministry of Planning. Prior to that time, Mr. Barbosa held a variety of positions at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the Paraná State Development Institute, the Ministry of Labor and the Institute for Applied Economic Research.

Gabriel Stoliar. Since October 2001, Mr. Stoliar has served as the chief planning and control officer of CVRD. In September 1997, he was originally appointed as an executive officer of the Corporate Center and Investor Relations area. In 1994, he was appointed director of BNDESPAR. In 1991, Mr. Stoliar assumed the position of superintendent of the operational division responsible for the areas of mining, metallurgy, chemicals, petrochemicals, pulp and paper of BNDESPAR. He was appointed by BNDESPAR in 1988 as manager of operations in the area of capital, electronic and consumer goods. In 1982, he was promoted to manager of BNDES for the project area of FINSOCIAL. In 1978, he was hired by BNDES as an analyst in the area of pulp, paper and petrochemicals. Mr. Stoliar began his career as a business organization consultant at the Institute of Economic and Management Development of the Federation of Industries of Rio de Janeiro. Mr. Stoliar obtained an engineering degree from Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), a post graduate degree in production engineering and an MBA from PDG/EXE-SDE in Rio de Janeiro.

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Diego Hernández. Mr. Hernández has been appointed executive officer of the non-ferrous minerals area in 2002. A Chilean mining engineer, Mr. Hernández obtained his degree from École des Mines de Paris — France in 1973. In December 2001, he joined CVRD to look after the non-ferrous minerals area. From 1996 to 2001, Mr. Hernández was executive president and CEO of Cia. Minera Doña Ines de Collahuasi, the US$ 1.8 billion Copper Megaproject in northern Chile. From 1988 to 1996, he worked for Anglo American Group in Chile as CEO at Mantos Blancos Copper Company, Development Manager — Manto Verde and Santa Barbara Copper Projects — and CEO of Cia. Minera Tres Cruces. From 1985 to 1988, Mr. Hernández worked for Rio Tinto in Brazil at Morro do Ouro Gold Project. Prior to that, he held various positions at mining operations and engineering companies in Chile and Brazil. Through 2000 to 2001, Mr. Hernández was President of Consejo Minero (Chilean Chambers of Mines).

Carla Grasso. Ms. Grasso was appointed as an executive officer of the human resources and corporate services area in October 2001. Prior to joining us, Ms. Grasso served as the economic assistant to the President of Brazil. She has also been deputy coordinator of fiscal policy at the Ministry of the Economy and has held a variety of positions at the Ministry of Social Security. In 1997, she was appointed as an executive officer of Fundação Vale de Rio Doce de Habitação e Desenvolvimento Social. Ms. Grasso has both a degree in Economics and a master in Economics from Universidade de Brasilia (UNB).

FISCAL COUNCIL

Under the Brazilian Corporation Law, we may appoint a conselho fiscal, a fiscal council, as a corporate body independent of our management and external auditors. The primary responsibility of the fiscal council is to review management’s activities and the financial statements, and report its findings to the shareholders. We have established a permanent fiscal council, which may have from three to five members. On April 16, 2003, the shareholders appointed the current members and their respective alternates. Holders of preferred class A shares, including the golden share, may elect one member of the fiscal council and the respective alternate. Non-controlling holders of common shares comprising at least 10% of the common shares outstanding may also elect one member of the fiscal council and the respective alternate. The terms of the members of the fiscal council expire at the next ordinary annual shareholders’ meeting following their election.

The table below lists the current members of the fiscal council.

  First Year of
Appointment
 
Joaquim Vieira Ferreira Levy(1) 2003
Wilson Risolia Rodrigues(2) 2003
Luiz Octavio Nunes West(3) 1998
Vicente Barcelos(3) 2001
Pedro Carlos de Mello(3) 2002
 

(1) Appointed by the preferred shareholders.
(2) Informally nominated by the non-controlling shareholders.
(3) Appointed by Valepar.

The table below lists the alternate members of the fiscal council.

  First Year of
Appointment
 
Tarcísio José Massote de Godoy(1) 2003
Marcelo Bragagnolo Bonini(2) 2003
Ricardo Wiering de Barros(3) 2003
Helder Zenóbio(3) 2003
Aldo Bastos Alfano(3) 2003
 

(1) Appointed by the preferred shareholders.
(2) Informally nominated by the non-controlling shareholders.
(3) Appointed by Valepar.

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ADVISORY COMMITTEES

Our bylaws establish five technical and advisory committees to the board of directors, as follows: Executive Development, Strategic, Finance, Audit and Governance and Ethics. Some committee members are not members of the board of directors.

  The Executive Development Committee is responsible for reporting on general human resources policies; recommending compensation levels for our executive officers; and establishing guidelines for evaluating the performance of our executive officers. The members of the executive development committee are: Francisco Valadares Póvoa, João Moisés de Oliveira, Arlindo Magno de Oliveira and Olga Loffredi.
     
  The Strategic Committee is responsible for reviewing and making recommendations to the board of directors concerning the strategic guidelines and strategic plan submitted annually to the board by our executive officers; the company’s annual and multi-annual investment budgets; investment and/or divestiture opportunities submitted by executive officers, and mergers and acquisitions. The members of the strategic committee are: Roger Agnelli, Gabriel Stoliar, Samir Zraick, José Roberto Mendonça de Barros and Cláudio Roberto Frischtak.
     
  The Finance Committee is responsible for reviewing and making recommendations to the board of directors concerning: the financial policies and the internal financial control systems of the company, compatibility between the level of distributions to shareholders and the parameters established in the annual budget; and consistency with the general policy on dividends and the capital structure of the company. The members of the finance committee are: Roger Agnelli, Fabio de Oliveira Barbosa, Rômulo de Mello Dias and Luiz Carlos Siqueira Aguiar.
     
  The Audit Committee is responsible for recommending the appointment of the independent auditors and the employee responsible for internal auditing of the company to the board of directors; reporting on the policies and the company’s annual auditing plan submitted by the employee responsible for internal auditing, and on its execution; tracking the results of the company’s internal auditing, and identifying, prioritizing, and submitting actions to be accompanied by the executive officers; and analyzing the annual report, as well as the financial statements of the company and making recommendations to the board of directors. The members of the audit committee are: Marcos Fábio Coutinho, Antonio José Figueiredo Ferreira and Ricardo Wiering de Barros.
     
  The Governance and Ethics Committee is responsible for evaluating our corporate governance practices and the workings of the board of directors, and recommending improvements to the code of ethics and our system of management in order to avoid conflicts of interests between the company and its shareholders or administrators; issuing reports on policies relating to corporate responsibility, such as the environment, health, safety and social responsibility of the company submitted by the executive officers; and issuing reports on potential conflicts of interest between the company and its shareholders or administrators. The members of the governance and ethics committee are: Renato da Cruz Gomes, Ricardo Carvalho Giambroni and Ricardo Simonsen.

COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
AND FISCAL COUNCIL MEMBERS

General

Under our by-laws, our shareholders are responsible for establishing the aggregate compensation we pay to the members of our board of directors and our executive officers. Our shareholders determine this annual aggregate compensation at the general shareholders’ meeting each year. In order to establish aggregate director and officer compensation, we believe that our shareholders usually take into account various factors which range from age, experience and skills of our directors and officers to the recent performance of our operations. Once aggregate compensation is established, the members of our board of directors are then responsible for distributing such

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aggregate compensation individually in compliance with our by-laws. The executive development committee of our board of directors makes recommendations to the board concerning the annual aggregate compensation.

For the year ended December 31, 2002, we paid approximately R$8.2 million in aggregate (including benefits in kind granted) to the members of our board of directors and to the executive officers for services in all capacities. For the year ended December 31, 2002, none of our board members and executive officers had any financial or other interests in transactions involving us which was not in the ordinary course of business.

The total number of common shares owned by our directors and executive officers as of May 30, 2003, was 10,547. The total number of preferred shares owned by our directors and executive officers as of May 30, 2003, was 402. None of our directors or executive officers beneficially owns one percent or more of any class of our shares.

Incentive Plans

In addition to fixed compensation, our executive officers are also eligible for bonuses and long-term incentive payments of preferred stock. Each executive officer may receive a bonus based on his or her individual performance and our performance during the fiscal year. The board of directors determines and the shareholders’ meeting approves the total annual amount of compensation. Long-term incentive payments of preferred stock are then based on a portion of the bonus received. The long-term incentive vests over a three-year period and is paid only after the end of three years of service. After the stock is paid in respect of a long term incentive payment, it remains subject to a further holding period during which it may not be sold, but the executive officer will be entitled to dividends paid during the holding period.

Fiscal Council

During 2002, the monthly amount we paid to the members of the fiscal council was the higher of (1) R$4,200 or (2) the equivalent of 10% of the amount paid on average to an executive officer, excluding benefits. We paid an aggregate of US$ 57,000 to members of the fiscal council in 2002. In addition, the members of the fiscal council are reimbursed for travel expenses related to the performance of their functions.

EMPLOYEES

General

The table below sets forth the number of our employees by category as of the dates indicated.

    At December 31,    
 




 
  2000   2001   2002  
 
 
 
 
Ferrous Minerals 4,948   6,584   6,746  
Logistics 4,525   4,725   4,275  
Non-Ferrous Minerals 1,066   1,159   920  
Aluminum, Steel and Fertilizers and Business            
Development     83  
Administrative 903   1,152   1,949  
 
 
 
 
   Total 11,442   13,620   13,973  
 
 
 
 

Wages and Benefits

We establish our annual wage and benefits programs in July of each year following negotiations with our unions. In July 2002, our final proposals to our unions included a 7% salary increase, additions to the list of available medications, provisions for college materials for employees and annual bonus amounts. The provisions of our collective bargaining agreements with our unions also apply to our non-union employees. We have not suffered any material economic loss as a result of labor strikes or stoppages.

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Since 1973, we have sponsored a defined benefit pension plan, known as the old plan, covering substantially all employees, with benefits based on years of service, salary and social security benefits. This plan was funded by monthly contributions we and our employees made, calculated based on periodic actuarial appraisals and administered by Valia. Sponsored by CVRD, Valia is a closed, nonprofit, complementary social security plan with financial and administrative autonomy. With 27 sponsoring companies and over 45 thousand participants (active, retired and pensioners), its overall profitability reached 23.62% in 2002, with a surplus of US$ 29 million, making for an accrued surplus of US$ 83 million.

In May 2000, we implemented a new pension plan, which is primarily a defined contribution plan with a defined benefit feature relative to service prior to May 2000, known as the new plan, and offered our active employees the opportunity to transfer to the new plan. Over 98% of our active employees opted to transfer to the new plan. The old plan will continue in existence, covering almost exclusively retired participants and their beneficiaries.

All employees and their dependants are entitled to supplementary medical assistance, which offers coverage for outpatient and in-hospital treatment, dental care and prescription drug costs. Beneficiaries have free choice of care providers, with part of expenses being reimbursed. Other important fringe benefits offered to employees are an annual amount for school materials, group life insurance, funeral assistance and reimbursement of nursery school costs for employees’ children up to the age of three years.

Equity Ownership

Our employees have an equity stake in our business through Investvale, an association of our current and retired employees. During 2002, Investvale contributed all of its shares to in us in exchange for an interest in Valepar S.A., our principal shareholder. At December 31, 2002, Investvale owned 11,120,369 common shares, representing approximately 8.5% of the total capital of Valepar.

Our by-laws authorize us to establish stock option plans, but to date we have not done so.

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Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions

MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS

Overview

The table below sets forth certain information regarding beneficial ownership of our common and preferred shares as of May 30, 2003, by each person we know to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of any class of our outstanding capital stock, and by all directors and executive officers as a group.

  Shares Owned   Percent of Class  
 
 
 
   Common Shares        
   Valepar S.A(1) 130,715,711   52.3 %
   Litel Participações S.A.(2) 130,715,711   52.3 %
   Previ(3) 130,715,711   52.3 %
   Bradespar S.A.(4) 130,715,711   52.3 %
   BNDESPAR(5) 17,667,640   7.1 %
   Directors and executive officers as a group 10,547   *  
         
   Preferred Shares(6)        
   Directors and executive officers as a group 402   *  
         
   Golden Share        
   Brazilian government 1   100.0 %
         

(1) See the table below for more information on Valepar’s shareholders.
(2) Represents shares owned by Valepar, which may be viewed as beneficially owned by Litel Participações S.A. under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. In general, a person who has or shares voting power or investment power with respect to securities is treated as a beneficial owner of those securities. It does not necessarily imply that the named person has the economic or other benefits of ownership.
(3) Represents shares owned by Valepar, which may be viewed as beneficially owned by Previ through its equity interest in Litel Participações S.A and Litela Participações S.A.
(4) Represents shares owned by Valepar, which may be viewed as beneficially owned by Bradespar S.A., directly and through its equity interests in Eletron S.A., Bradesplan Participações S.A. and Millenium Security Holdings Corp. Bradespar S.A. is controlled by a control group consisting of Cidade de Deus—Cia Comercial Participações, Fundação Bradesco, NCF Participações S.A. and Nova Cidade de Deus Participações S.A.
(5) Excludes common shares owned directly by Valepar, in which BNDESPAR has an ownership interest.
(6) The Brazilian government (National Treasury) owns 5,075,341 preferred shares representing 3.7% of the outstanding preferred shares, and BNDESPAR owns 1,401,978 preferred shares representing 1% of the outstanding preferred shares.
(*) Represents less than 1% of the outstanding shares of the class.

The tables below set forth information as of May 31, 2003 regarding Valepar S.A. share ownership and as of May 23, 2003 regarding Litel Participações S.A. share ownership.

 
Shares Owned
 
Percent of Total
Shares Owned
 
 
 
 
Valepar S.A.        
      Litel Participações S.A(1) 69,258,590   52.98 %  
      Litela Participações S.A.(2) 6,643,814   5.08    
      Eletron S.A.(3) 21,875,000   16.74    
      Bradespar S.A.(3) 721,275   0.55    
      Bradesplan Participações S.A.(3) 14,298,346   10.94    
      Millennium Security Holdings Corp.(3) 5,543,686   4.24    
      BNDESPAR 1,254,631   0.96    
      Investvale(4) 11,120,369   8.51    
 
 
 
         Total 130,715,711   100.00 %  
 
 
 
         
         

(1) Litel owns 16,594,824 preferred Class B shares of Valepar, which represents 71.41% of this class of shares.
(2) Litela owns 6,643,814 preferred Class B shares of Valepar, which represents 28.59% of this class of shares.
(3) Eletron, Bradesplan and Millennium are affiliated companies of Bradespar S.A.
(4) Investvale is an investment club owned by our employees.

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Litel Participações S.A.        
      BB Carteira Ativa 0(1) 202,753,508  
73.59
%  
      BB Carteira Ativa II(1) 53,388,022  
19.38
   
      BB Renda Fixa IV(1) 19,371,990  
7.03
   
      Others 822  
   
      Directors and Executive Officers as a group 7  
   
 
 
 
         Total 275,514,349  
100.00
%  
 
 
 

(1) Each of BB Carteira Ativa 0, BB Carteira Ativa II and BB Renda Fixa IV is a Brazilian investment fund. BB Carteira Ativa 0 is 100% owned by Previ. BB Carteira Ativa II is 59.36% owned by Funcef, 35.8% owned by Petros and 4.84% owned by Fundação Cesp. BB Renda Fixa IV is 100% owned by Previ. Each of Previ, Petros, Funcef and Fundação Cesp is a Brazilian pension fund.

In March 2003, Bradespar announced an agreement with Mitsui under which Mitsui will acquire 15% of the outstanding common shares of Valepar. Under the agreement, Bradespar will sell all of the shares representing this 15% stake unless Litel and Litela exercise an option to take part in the transaction by selling shares equal to 5% of Valepar’s common shares. In the event Litel and Litela exercise this right, Bradespar will sell shares amounting to 10% of Valepar’s common shares. This agreement is subject to certain conditions.

Our Privatization

General

In 1997 we were privatized by the Brazilian government, which transferred voting control to Valepar. As part of the privatization process, the National Treasury and BNDES, the government-owned development bank, together retained 32% of our common shares and 4% of our preferred shares. On March 20, 2002, as the final step of the privatization process, the Brazilian government and BNDES each sold 39,393,919 shares, in the form of common shares or American depositary shares, which together represented 32.1% of our outstanding common shares. Following this offering, BNDESPAR, a wholly-owned subsidiary of BNDES, retained common shares representing approximately 4.8% of our outstanding common shares. The Brazilian government now owns outstanding preferred shares, and a golden share in us, which gives it veto powers over certain actions that we could propose to take, and BNDES owns 5,727 of our common shares. For a detailed description of the veto powers granted to the Brazilian government by virtue of its ownership of the golden share, see Item 10. Additional Information — Common and Preferred Shares — General.

Shareholder Debentures

At the time of the first stage of our privatization in 1997, we issued debentures to our shareholders. The terms of the debentures, which are described below, were established to ensure that our pre-privatization shareholders, including the Brazilian government, would participate alongside us in potential future financial benefits that we derive from exploiting certain mineral resources that were not taken into account in determining the minimum purchase price of our shares in the privatization.

A total of 388,559,056 debentures were issued at a par value of R$ 0.01 (one cent of real), whose value is to be restated in accordance with the variation in the IGP-M as set forth in the Issue Deed. At the time of the privatization, the debentures were distributed, on a one-for-one basis, as a payment for the redemption of the preferred class “B” shares, which had previously been issued as a bonus to the holders of our common shares and preferred Class A shares through a capital increase. The debentures are not redeemable or convertible. Since October 28, 2002, the debentures have been authorized for trading in the secondary market of the SND - Sistema Nacional de Debêntures (the National Debenture System).

Under Central Bank of Brazil regulations, pre-privatization foreign shareholders that held their shares through our ADR program, and institutional investors that held their shares through Annex V of Central Bank of Brazil Rule 1.289/87 (“Annex V”), were not allowed to hold or receive the debentures or any financial benefits relating to the debentures. We sought approval from the Central Bank of Brazil to (i) allow the depositary to hold the debentures on behalf of the ADR holders and the institutional investors, and transfer any financial benefits relating to the debentures as soon as they begin to trade; and (ii) contribute these debentures to a Brazilian investment fund to be created by the depositary, which stocks would be distributed to the ADR holders. The Central Bank of Brazil rejected our request. Following the CVM’s October 2002 decision allowing public trading of the debentures, we renewed our request, but we cannot assure you that the Central Bank of Brazil will approve it. Unless the Central

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Bank of Brazil approves our request, the debentures will not have any value for any foreign shareholder or Annex V institutional investors.

Under the debentures, holders have the right to receive semi-annual payments equal to an agreed percentage of our net revenues (revenues less value added tax, transport fee and insurance expenses related to the trading of the products) from certain identified mineral resources that we owned at the time of the privatization, to the extent that we exceed defined thresholds of sales volume relating to certain mineral resources, and from the sale of mineral rights that we owned at that time. Our obligation to make payments to the holders will cease when the relevant mineral resources are exhausted. See note 15(f) to our consolidated financial statements for a description of the terms of the debentures.

In June 2002, gold sales from our Fazenda Brasileiro mine reached the 26 ton threshold set forth for gold under the Deed for the shareholders debentures. However, because the amount of the associated premium was determined to be only approximately R$2 million, or less than R$ 0.01 per debenture, we have not yet made any payments under the debentures.

Principal Shareholder

Our principal shareholder is Valepar. The shareholders of Valepar have entered into a shareholders’ agreement, ending in 2017. This agreement:

  grants rights of first refusal on any transfer of Valepar shares and preemptive rights on any new issue of Valepar shares;
     
  prohibits the direct acquisition of CVRD shares by Valepar’s shareholders unless authorized by the other shareholders;
     
  prohibits encumbrances on Valepar shares (other than in connection with financing our acquisition);
     
  requires each party generally to retain control of its special purpose company holding its interest in shares of Valepar, unless the rights of first refusal mentioned above are observed;
     
  allocates Valepar’s and our board seats; and
     
  establishes super-majority voting requirements for certain significant actions relating to Valepar or to us.

Golden Share

The Brazilian government holds one golden share, which gives the Brazilian government veto rights over certain changes, including:

  our name,
     
  the headquarters of our head office,
     
  our corporate purpose as regards the working of mineral deposits, and
     
  our continued operation of integrated iron ore mining systems.

For a more detailed description of the golden share, see Item 10. Additional Information—Common Shares and Preferred Shares. Since our privatization, the Brazilian government has not exercised its veto rights.

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American Depositary Shares

As of April 30, 2003, American depositary shares represented 23.5% of our common shares and 49.2% of our preferred shares.

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

At December 31, 2002, we had extended guarantees for borrowings obtained by affiliates and joint ventures in the amount of US$ 516 million of which US$ 405 million is denominated in U.S. dollars and the remaining US$ 111 million in Brazilian currency. See note 15(a) to our consolidated financial statements.

We have commercial relationships in the ordinary course of our business with a number of companies that are affiliated with Previ and Bradespar S.A., which may be deemed to beneficially own the shares owned by Valepar, our principal shareholder. The most significant of these is our relatinship with CST, in which both we and Previ hold an interest. In 2002, CST accounted for approximately 3.8% of our total sales, 4% of our iron ore and pellet sales, 4% of our manganese and ferro alloys sales and 8.7% of our logistics sales. All of our sales to CST are made on arms’ length terms.

For information regarding investments in affiliated companies and joint ventures and for information regarding transactions with major related parties, see notes 10 and 17 to our consolidated financial statements.

Item 8.   Financial Information

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

We and our subsidiaries are defendants in numerous legal actions in the normal course of business, including civil, administrative, tax, social security and labor proceedings. We have set aside or deposited in court amounts to cover estimated contingency losses due to adverse legal judgments. Based on the advice of legal counsel, we believe that the provision made against contingent losses is sufficient to cover probable losses in connection with such actions.

We are currently involved in 23 proceedings before the Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica, or CADE, which is the primary Brazilian antitrust regulator. Most of these proceedings involve post-transaction review of acquisition or joint venture transactions, which is required for nearly all of our acquisitions and joint ventures. The remaining are administrative proceedings alleging that we have engaged in illegal anticompetitive conduct in connection with our logistics and aluminum-related businesses. We intend to defend these claims vigorously. If CADE were to determine that undue concentration exists in any of our industries, it could impose measures to safeguard competition, which could include requirements that we divest operations or respect price restrictions. If CADE were to find that we have engaged in anticompetitive conduct, it could order us to cease the conduct and / or to pay fines. The Caemi transaction is also being reviewed by the European Commission.

Numerous lawsuits challenging the legality of our privatization are pending, including a number of class action lawsuits. Recently, the lower courts issued favorable decisions in these lawsuits. We do not believe that, individually or in the aggregate, these actions will adversely affect the course of the privatization process or otherwise have a material adverse effect on us.

We are a defendant in a public civil action seeking to annul the concession agreement through which we and certain other defendants operate the Praia Mole port terminal. The case, which was first filed in 1998, is still in its initial stages and we believe that the claim is without merit.

We are currently a defendant in two separate actions brought by the municipality of Itabira, in the state of Minas Gerais. It alleges that our Itabira iron ore mining operations have caused environmental and social damages. In one of the actions, filed in August 1996, the municipality of Itabira alleges that our Itabira iron ore mining operations have caused environmental and social damages and claims damages with respect to the degradation of the site of one of our mines, as well as the immediate restoration of the affected ecological complex and the performance of compensatory environmental programs in the region. The damages sought, as adjusted from the date of the claim, amount to approximately US$ 633 million. We believe that this amount is significantly higher than the amount we would actually be responsible for in the event that we were found liable. We have requested the annulment of this action as it represents no actual controversy. In fact, on June 5, 2000, the local environmental authorities granted an

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operating license to our Itabira iron ore mining operations. This license sets forth conditions regarding the environmental restoration of the degraded site and the performance of compensatory environmental programs. We intend to continue to comply with these conditions. In the other action, the municipality of Itabira is claiming the right to be reimbursed for expenses it has incurred in connection with public services rendered as a consequence of our mining activities. The damages sought, as adjusted from the date of the claim, amount to approximately US$ 633 million. We believe that this action is without merit. We are vigorously defending both pending actions.

We are obligated to indemnify the seller from which we purchased our interest in Caemi against certain liabilities in connection with the transaction. In a pending arbitration, other former shareholders of Caemi who also sold their shares in the transaction have alleged that the seller should have closed the transaction earlier, and that certain actions by the seller resulted in a lower sale price for their shares. The former shareholders have requested damages of US$ 74 million plus interest (both compensatory and late-payment interest) plus an unspecified amount of “moral damages.” Hearings in the arbitration were held in May 2003, and the parties expect that post-hearings briefing will be completed by August 2003. We are unable to predict the outcome of the arbitration or the timing of its resolution.

DIVIDENDS AND INTEREST ON SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Under the Brazilian Corporation Law, shareholders are generally entitled to receive an annual mandatory dividend set forth in the company’s by-laws, which may not be lower than 25% of adjusted net income for the relevant year, calculated in accordance with the Brazilian Corporation Law. For a discussion on dividend distribution provisions in our by-laws, see Item 10. Additional Information.

Since our privatization in 1997, and following a recommendation from Valepar, our principal shareholder, we have distributed a dividend equal to at least 50% of the amount of net income for distribution with respect to each fiscal year.

We may make distributions either in the form of dividends or in the form of interest on shareholders’ equity. Dividends with respect to the American depositary shares, and to non-resident holders of common shares, will not be subject to Brazilian withholding tax, except for dividends declared based on profits generated prior to December 31, 1995. These dividends will be subject to Brazilian withholding tax at varying rates. Distributions of interest on shareholders’ equity to shareholders, including holders of American depositary receipts, are currently subject to Brazilian withholding tax of 15%.

We are required to hold an annual shareholders’ meeting by April 30 of each year at which an annual dividend may be declared. Additionally, our board of directors may declare interim dividends. Under the Brazilian Corporation Law, dividends are generally required to be paid to the holder of record on a dividend declaration date within 60 days following the date the dividend was declared, unless a shareholders’ resolution sets forth another date of payment, which, in either case, must occur prior to the end of the fiscal year in which the dividend was declared. A shareholder has a three-year period from the dividend payment date to claim dividends (or payments of interest on shareholders’ equity) in respect of its shares, after which we will have no liability for such payments. Since 1997, all cash distributions we have made have been in the form of interest on shareholders’ equity. See Item 10. Additional Information—Common Shares and Preferred Shares—Payments on Shareholders' Equity.

In November 2002, our board of directors approved a new dividend policy. Under the policy, the board will determine by January 31 of each year a minimum value per share, expressed in U.S. dollars, that will be distributed in that year to our shareholders. The dividend will be paid in reais, equivalent to the value announced in U.S. dollars, in two semi-annual installments, in the form of dividends and/or interest on shareholders equity. This minimum value will be established as a function of our expected performance in the year of distribution. The two semi-annual installments will be paid in the months of April and October. The Executive Board can also propose to the board of directors, depending on our actual performance, a further payment to shareholders of an additional amount per share over and above the minimum payout value initially established. The payment of any additional dividend will occur on the same dates fixed for the payment of the minimum dividend. For 2003, the board of directors has approved a minimum dividend of US$ 1.04 per share.

We make cash distributions on the common shares and preferred class A shares underlying the American depositary shares in Brazilian currency to the custodian on behalf of the depositary. The custodian then converts such proceeds into U.S. dollars and causes such U.S. dollars to be delivered to the depositary for distribution to holders of American depositary receipts. For more information on Brazilian tax policies regarding dividend distributions, see Item 10. Additional Information—Taxation—Brazilian Tax Considerations.

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The table below sets forth the cash distributions we paid to holders of common shares and preferred shares for the periods indicated. We have calculated U.S. dollar conversions using the commercial market rate in effect on the date of payment. We stated amounts gross of any applicable withholding tax.

Year   Payment Date   Reais per Share at
Payment Date
  U.S. Dollars
per Share at

Payment Date
 

 
 
 
 
1998   May 8   1.08   0.88  
    August 31   0.75   0.64  
1999   January 15   0.65   0.44  
    March 31   0.50   0.29  
    August 20   1.11   0.57  
2000   March 1   1.17   0.66  
2001   February 20   3.33   1.66  
2001   December 10   2.305   0.98  
2002   April 30   2.305   0.98  
2002   December 10   2.68   0.71  
2003   April 30   1.62   0.52  

Item 9. The Offer and Listing

PRICE HISTORY OF STOCK

The table below sets forth trading information for our preferred and common American depositary shares, as reported by the New York Stock Exchange (and for periods prior to June 2000, reported by the National Quotations Bureau, Inc.), and our preferred shares and our common shares, as reported by the BOVESPA, for the periods indicated.

    Reais per Common
Share
  Reais per Preferred
Class A Share
  U.S. Dollars per
Preferred American
Depositary Share
  U.S. Dollars per
Common American
Depositary Share
 
   
 
 
 
 
    High   Low   High   Low   High   Low   High   Low  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1998   27.00   10.00   29.10   13.00   25.13   11.38      
1999   42.00   9.80   50.00   13.80   26.50   10.87      
2000   52.40   33.00   59.00   38.82   33.13   19.75      
2001   55.00   42.70   58.70   44.00   26.98   18.65      
2002    109.00   50.00    102.20   50.90   29.51   20.51   30.00   21.75  
1Q01   51.00   42.70   53.60   44.00   26.98   23.05      
2Q01   54.00   46.50   58.60   49.05   25.70   22.05      
3Q01   55.00   46.40   55.00   45.50   23.15   18.65      
4Q02   54.00   47.00   58.70   49.60   23.61   19.00      
1Q02   65.70   50.00   64.20   50.90   27.49   21.52   27.39   26.15  
2Q02   78.10   61.50   75.90   59.80   29.51   23.50   30.00   25.68  
3Q02   89.50   71.50   84.20   65.50   25.35   20.51   27.55   22.75  
4Q02   109.00   84.30   102.20   79.98   27.79   21.04   28.91   21.75  
1Q03   105.01   91.00   100.00   87.50   27.87   24.30   29.50   25.71  
    December 2002   109.00   99.50   102.20   94.00   27.79   25.65   28.91   27.25  
    January 2003   102.00   92.20   97.00   87.71   27.87   24.30   29.15   25.71  
    February 2003   105.01   97.36   100.00   93.06   27.85   26.05   29.18   27.00  
    March 2003   104.00   91.00   98.29   87.50   27.80   25.65   29.50   26.95  
    April 2003   91.99   80.90   88.01   77.45   27.31   25.66   28.50   26.85  
    May 2003   89.29   81.80   84.49   77.96   28.28   26.29   30.10   27.83  
    June 2003(1)   88.89    83.50   82.40   79.20   28.70   27.30   30.80   29.30  
                                   

(1)       through June 25, 2003

TRADING MARKETS

Our publicly traded share capital consists of common shares and preferred shares, each without par value. Our common shares and our preferred shares are publicly traded in Brazil on BOVESPA, under the ticker symbols VALE3, and VALE5, respectively. Our common shares and preferred shares also trade on the LATIBEX, under the ticker symbols XVALO and XVALP, respectively. The LATIBEX is an electronic market created in 1999 by the Madrid stock exchange in order to enable trading of Latin American equity securities in euro denomination.

 

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Our common American depositary shares, each representing one common share, have traded on the New York Stock Exchange since March 2002, under the ticker symbol RIO. Our preferred American depositary shares, each representing one preferred share, have traded on the New York Stock Exchange since June 2000, under the ticker symbol RIOPR. Prior to June 20, 2000, the preferred and common American depositary shares traded in the over-the-counter market. JPMorgan Chase Bank serves as the depositary for both the common and the preferred American depositary shares. At April 30, 2003, there were 126,947,030 American depositary shares outstanding, representing 49.2% of our preferred shares, 23.5% of our common shares or 32.7% of our total share capital.

Item 10. Additional Information

MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

Company Objects and Purposes

Our corporate purpose is defined by our by-laws to include:

  the exploitation of mineral deposits in Brazil and abroad by means of extraction, processing, industrialization, transportation, shipment and commerce of mineral assets;
     
  the building and operation of railways and the exploitation of own or third party rail traffic;
     
  the building and operation of own or third party maritime terminals, and the exploitation of nautical activities for the provision of support within the harbor;
     
  the provision of logistics services integrated with cargo transport, comprising generation, storage, transshipment, distribution and delivery within the context of a multimodal transport system;
     
  the production, processing, transport, industrialization and commerce of all and any source and form of energy, also involving activities of production, generation, transmission, distribution and commerce of its products, derivatives and subproducts;
     
  the carrying-on, in Brazil or abroad, of other activities that may be of direct or indirect consequence for the achievement of its corporate purpose, including research, industrialization, purchase and sale, importation and exportation, the exploitation, industrialization and commerce of forest resources and the provision of services of any kind whatsoever; and
     
  constituting or participating in any fashion in other companies, consortia or associations directly or indirectly related to its business purpose.

Directors’ Powers

Under the Brazilian Corporation Law, if a director or an executive officer has a conflict of interest with the company in connection with any proposed transaction, the director or executive officer may not vote in any decision of the board of directors or of the board of executive officers regarding such transaction and must disclose the nature and extent of the conflicting interest for transcription in the minutes of the meeting. In any case, a director or an executive officer may not transact any business with the company, including any borrowings, except on reasonable or fair terms and conditions that are identical to the terms and conditions prevailing in the market or offered by third parties. Under our by-laws, shareholders set the aggregate compensation payable to directors and executive officers. The board of directors allocates the compensation among its members and the executive officers. See Item 6. Directors, Management and Employees—Compensation. Our by-laws do not establish any mandatory retirement age limits.

COMMON SHARES AND PREFERRED SHARES

Set forth below is certain information concerning our authorized and issued share capital and a brief summary of certain significant provisions of our by-laws and the Brazilian Corporation Law. This description does not

 

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purport to be complete and is qualified by reference to our by-laws (an English translation of which has been filed with the SEC) and to the Brazilian Corporation Law.

General

Our by-laws authorize the issuance of up to 300 million common shares and up to 600 million preferred class A shares, in each case based solely on the approval of the board of directors without any additional shareholder approval.

Each common share entitles the holder thereof to one vote at meetings of our shareholders. Holders of common shares are not entitled to any preference relating to our dividends or other distributions.

Holders of preferred class A shares and the golden share are generally entitled to the same voting rights as holders of common shares, except with respect to the election of members of the board of directors, and are entitled to a minimum annual non-cumulative preferential dividend of (i) at least 3% of the book value per share, calculated in accordance with the financial statements which serve as reference for the payment of dividends, or (ii) 6% of their pro rata share of our paid-in capital, whichever is higher. Non-controlling shareholders holding common shares representing at least 15% of our voting capital and preferred shares representing at least 10% of our total share capital have the right to appoint each one member and an alternate to our board of directors. If no group of common or preferred shareholders meets the thresholds described above, shareholders holding preferred or common shares representing at least 10% of our total share capital are entitled to combine their holdings to appoint one member and an alternate to our board of directors. Holders of preferred class A shares and the golden share may elect one member of the permanent fiscal council and the respective alternate. Non-controlling holders of common shares comprising at least 10% of the common shares outstanding may also elect one member of the fiscal council and an alternate.

The Brazilian government holds one golden share in us. The golden share is a preferred share that entitles its holder to the same rights (including with respect to voting and dividend preference) as holders of preferred class A shares. In addition, the holder of the golden share is entitled to veto any proposed action relating to the following matters:

  (1)
a change in our name;
     
  (2)
a change in the location of our head office;
     
  (3)
a change in our corporate purpose as regards the working of mineral deposits;
     
  (4) any liquidation of our company;
     
  (5) any disposal or winding up of activities of any one or more of the following stages of our iron ore mining integrated systems:
     
    (a)   mineral deposits, ore deposits, mines;
    (b)   railways; or
    (c)   ports and or maritime terminals;
     
  (6)
any change in the by-laws relating to the rights accorded to the classes of capital stock issued by us; and
     
  (7) any change in the by-laws relating to the rights accorded the golden share.

Calculation of Distributable Amount

At each annual shareholders’ meeting, the board of directors is required to recommend, based on the executive officers’ proposal, how to allocate our earnings for the preceding fiscal year. For purposes of the Brazilian Corporation Law, a company’s net income after income taxes and social contribution taxes for such fiscal year, net

 

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of any accumulated losses from prior fiscal years and amounts allocated to employees’ and management’s participation in earnings represents its “net profits” for such fiscal year. In accordance with the Brazilian Corporation Law, an amount equal to our “net profits,” as further reduced by amounts allocated to the legal reserve, to the contingency reserve or to the unrealized income reserve established by us in compliance with applicable law (discussed below) and increased by reversals of reserves constituted in prior years, will be available for distribution to shareholders in any particular year. Such amount, the adjusted net profits, is herein referred to as the distributable amount. We may also establish discretionary reserves, reserves for investment projects and fiscal investment reserves, as discussed below.

Legal Reserve. Under the Brazilian Corporation Law, we are required to maintain a legal reserve to which we must allocate 5% of our “net profits” for each fiscal year until the amount of the reserve equals 20% of our paid-in capital. Net losses, if any, may be charged against the legal reserve.

Discretionary Reserves. Under the Brazilian Corporation Law, a company may also provide for discretionary allocations of “net profits” to the extent set forth in its by-laws. Our by-laws provide for one discretionary depletion reserve which may be taken into account in allocating net profits for any fiscal year. We currently maintain a tax incentive depletion reserve established in respect of certain mining operations. Appropriations to the tax incentive depletion reserve are deductible for tax purposes. The discretionary depletion reserve has not been used since 1996, when the related tax incentive expired. For more details, see note 13 to our consolidated financial statements. There are no limits on the size or amount of proceeds that may be retained in the discretionary depletion reserve. However, the sum of the legal reserve, the depletion reserve and the reserve for investment projects may not exceed the amount of our paid-in capital.

Contingency Reserve. Under the Brazilian Corporation Law, a portion of our “net profits” may also be discretionally allocated to a “contingency reserve” for an anticipated loss that is deemed probable in future years. Any amount so allocated in a prior year must be either reversed in the fiscal year in which the loss was anticipated if such loss does not in fact occur or charged off in the event that the anticipated loss occurs. We have never allocated an amount to the contingency reserve.

Reserve for Investment Projects. Under the Brazilian Corporation Law, we may allocate a portion of our “net profits” for discretionary appropriations for plant expansion and other capital investment projects, the amount of which is based on a capital budget previously presented by management and approved by shareholders. Under Law 10,313, capital budgets with a duration longer than one year must be reviewed at each annual shareholders’ meeting. After completion of the relevant capital projects, we may retain the appropriation until shareholders vote to transfer all or a portion of the reserve to capital or retained earnings.

Unrealized Income Reserve. As of March 1, 2002, under Law 10,313, which amended the Brazilian Corporation Law, the amount by which the mandatory dividend exceeds the “realized” portion of net profits for any particular year may be allocated to the unrealized income reserve. The “realized” portion of net profits is the amount by which “net profits” exceed the sum of (i) our net positive results, if any, from the equity method of accounting for earnings and losses of our subsidiaries and certain affiliates, and (ii) the profits, gains or return obtained on transactions completed after the end of the following fiscal year.

Tax Incentive Investment Reserve. Under the Brazilian tax laws, a portion of “net profits” may also be allocated to a general “tax incentive investment reserve” in amounts corresponding to reductions in our income tax generated by credits for particular government-approved investments.

The Brazilian Corporation Law provides that all discretionary allocations of “net profits,” including discretionary reserves, the contingency reserve, the unrealized income reserve and the reserve for investment projects, are subject to approval by the shareholders voting at the annual meeting and can be transferred to capital or used for the payment of dividends in subsequent years. The fiscal incentive investment reserve and legal reserve are also subject to approval by the shareholders voting at the annual meeting and may be transferred to capital but are not available for the payment of dividends in subsequent years.

Our calculation of “net profits” and allocations to reserves for any fiscal year are determined on the basis of financial statements prepared in accordance with the Brazilian Corporation Law. Our consolidated financial

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statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and, although our allocations to reserves and dividends will be reflected in these financial statements, investors will not be able to calculate such allocations or required dividend amounts from our consolidated financial statements.

Mandatory Dividend

Our by-laws prescribe that we must distribute to our shareholders in the form of dividends or interest on shareholders’ equity an annual amount equal to not less than 25% of the distributable amount, referred to as the mandatory dividend, unless the board of directors advises our shareholders at our general shareholders’ meeting that payment of the mandatory dividend for the preceding year is inadvisable in light of our financial condition. The fiscal council must review any such determination and report it to the shareholders. In addition to the mandatory dividend, our board of directors may recommend to the shareholders payment of dividends from other funds legally available therefore. Any payment of interim dividends will be netted against the amount of the mandatory dividend for that fiscal year. The shareholders must also approve the recommendation of the board of directors with respect to any required distribution. The amount of the mandatory dividend is subject to the size of the legal reserve, the contingency reserve, and the unrealized income reserve. The amount of the mandatory dividend is not subject to the size of the discretionary depletion reserve. See —Calculation of Distributable Amount. To date, our board of directors has never determined that payment of the mandatory dividend was inadvisable.

Since our privatization in 1997, and following a recommendation from Valepar, our principal shareholder, we have distributed a dividend equal to at least 50% of the amount of net income for distribution with respect to each fiscal year.

In November 2002, our board of directors approved a new dividend policy. See Item 8. Financial Information – Dividends and Interest on Shareholders’ Equity.

Dividend Preference of Preferred Shares

Pursuant to our by-laws, holders of preferred class A shares and the golden share are entitled to a minimum annual non-cumulative preferential dividend equal to (i) at least 3% of the book value per share, calculated in accordance with the financial statements which serve as reference for the payment of dividends, or (ii) 6% of their pro rata share of our paid-in capital, whichever is higher. To the extent that we declare dividends in any particular year in amounts which exceed the preferential dividends on preferred shares, and after holders of common shares have received distributions equivalent, on a per share basis, to the preferential dividends on preferred shares, holders of common shares and preferred shares shall receive the same additional dividend amount per share. Since the first step of our privatization in 1997, we have had sufficient distributable amounts to be able to distribute equal amounts to both common and preferred shareholders.

Other Matters Relating to Preferred Shares

Our by-laws do not provide for the conversion of preferred shares into common shares. In addition, the preferred shares do not have any preference upon our liquidation and there are no redemption provisions associated with the preferred shares.

Payments on Shareholders’ Equity

Pursuant to a change in Brazilian tax law effective January 1, 1996, Brazilian companies are permitted to pay limited additional amounts to holders of equity securities and treat such payments as an expense for Brazilian income tax purposes. In accordance with Law No. 9,249 dated December 26, 1995, our by-laws provide for the distribution of interest on shareholders’ equity as an alternative form of payment to shareholders. The interest rate applied is limited to the Brazilian long-term interest rate, or TJLP, for the applicable period. The deduction of the amount of interest paid cannot exceed the greater of (1) 50% of net income (after the deduction of the provision of social contribution on net profits and before the deduction of the provision of the corporate income tax) before

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taking into account any such distribution for the period in respect of which the payment is made or (2) 50% of the sum of retained earnings and profit reserves. Any payment of interest on shareholders’ equity to shareholders is subject to Brazilian withholding income tax at the rate of 15%, except for a beneficiary located in a tax haven jurisdiction (i.e. a country that does not impose income tax or that imposes it at a maximum rate lower than 20%), in which case the rate is 25%. Under our by-laws, the amount paid to shareholders as interest on shareholders’ equity (net of any withholding tax) may be included as part of any mandatory dividend. Under the Brazilian Corporation Law, we are obligated to distribute to shareholders an amount sufficient to ensure that the net amount received, after payment by us of applicable Brazilian withholding taxes in respect of the distribution of interest on shareholders’ equity, is at least equal to the mandatory dividend.

Voting Rights

Each common share entitles the holder thereof to one vote at meetings of our shareholders. Holders of preferred shares are entitled to the same voting rights as holders of common shares except that they may not vote on the election of members of the board of directors, except in the event of dividend arrearages, as described below. One of the members of the permanent fiscal council and his or her alternate are elected by majority vote of the holders of preferred shares. Holders of preferred shares and common shares may, in certain circumstances, combine their respective holdings to elect members of our board of directors.

The golden share entitles the holder thereof to the same voting rights as holders of preferred shares. The golden share also confers certain other significant voting rights in respect of particular actions, as described under — General.

The Brazilian Corporation Law provides that non-voting or restricted-voting shares, such as the preferred shares, acquire unrestricted voting rights beginning when a company has failed for three consecutive fiscal years (or for any shorter period set forth in a company’s constituent documents) to pay any fixed or minimum dividend to which such shares are entitled and continuing until payment thereof is made. Our by-laws do not set forth any such shorter period.

Any change in the preferences or advantages of our preferred class A shares, or the creation of a class of shares having priority over the preferred class A shares, would require the approval of holders of a majority of the outstanding preferred class A shares, voting as a class at a special meeting.

Shareholders’ Meetings

A general shareholders’ meeting convenes each year to decide all matters relating to our corporate purposes and to pass such resolutions as they deem necessary for our protection and well-being.

Pursuant to the Brazilian Corporation Law, shareholders voting at a general shareholders’ meeting have the power, among other powers, to:

  amend the by-laws;
     
  elect or dismiss members of the board of directors and members of the fiscal council at any time;
     
  receive annual reports by management and accept or reject management’s financial statements and recommendations including the allocation of net profits and the distributable amount for payment of the mandatory dividend and allocation to the various reserve accounts;
     
  authorize the issuance of debentures;
     
  suspend the rights of a shareholder in default of obligations established by law or by the by-laws;
     
  accept or reject the valuation of assets contributed by a shareholder in consideration for issuance of capital stock;

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  pass resolutions to reorganize our legal form, to merge, consolidate or split us, to dissolve and liquidate us, to elect and dismiss our liquidators and to examine their accounts; and
     
  authorize management to file for bankruptcy or to request a concordata, a procedure involving protection from creditors similar in nature to reorganization under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

All shareholders meetings, including the annual shareholders’ meeting, are convened by publishing, no fewer than fifteen days prior to the scheduled meeting date and no fewer than three times, a notice in the Diário Oficial do Estado do Rio de Janeiro and in a newspaper with general circulation in the city where we have our registered office, which is Rio de Janeiro. Our shareholders have previously designated Jornal do Commercio for this purpose. Also, as our shares are traded on BOVESPA, we must publish a notice in a São Paulo based newspaper. Such notice must contain the agenda for the meeting and, in the case of an amendment to our by-laws, an indication of the subject matter. In addition, under our by-laws, the holder of the golden share is entitled to a minimum of 15 days prior formal notice to its legal representative of any general shareholders’ meeting to consider any proposed action subject to the veto rights accorded to the golden share. See —Common Shares and Preferred Shares—General.

A shareholders’ meeting may be held if shareholders representing at least one-quarter of the voting capital are present. If no such quorum is present, notice must again be given in the same manner as described above except for the 8 days prior notice, and a meeting may then be convened without any specific quorum requirement, subject to the minimum quorum and voting requirements for certain matters, as discussed below. A shareholder without a right to vote may attend a general shareholders’ meeting and take part in the discussion of matters submitted for consideration.

Except as otherwise provided by law, resolutions of a shareholders’ meeting are passed by a simple majority vote, abstentions not being taken into account. Under the Brazilian Corporation Law, the approval of shareholders representing at least one-half of the issued and outstanding voting shares is required for the types of action described below, as well as, in the case of clause (a) and clause (b), a majority of issued and outstanding shares of the affected class:

  (a) creating a new class of preferred shares or disproportionately increasing an existing class of preferred shares relative to the other classes of shares, other than to the extent permitted by the by-laws;
     
  (b) changing a priority, preference, right, privilege or condition of redemption or amortization of any class of preferred shares or creating any class of non-voting preferred shares that has a priority, preference, right, condition or redemption or amortization superior to an existing class of shares, such as the preferred shares;
     
  (c) reducing the mandatory dividend;
     
  (d) changing the corporate purposes;
     
  (e) merging us with another company or consolidating or splitting us;
     
  (f) dissolving or liquidating us;
     
  (g) participating in a centralized group of companies as defined under the Brazilian Corporation Law; and
     
  (h) canceling any ongoing liquidation of us.

Whenever the shares of any class of capital stock are entitled to vote, each share is entitled to one vote. Annual shareholders’ meetings must be held by April 30 of each year. Shareholders’ meetings are called, convened and presided over by the Chairman or by the Vice-Chairman of our board of directors. A shareholder may be represented at a general shareholders’ meeting by an attorney-in-fact appointed not more than one year before the meeting, who must be a shareholder, a company officer or a lawyer. For a public company, such as us, the attorney-in-fact may also be a financial institution.

Redemption Rights

Our common shares and preferred shares are not redeemable, except that a dissenting shareholder is entitled under the Brazilian Corporation Law to obtain redemption upon a decision made at a shareholders’ meeting by shareholders representing at least 50% of the voting shares:

    (1) to create a new class of preferred shares or to disproportionately increase an existing class of preferred shares relative to the other classes of shares (unless such actions are provided for or authorized by the bylaws);
       
    (2) to modify a preference, privilege or condition of redemption or amortization conferred on one or more classes of preferred shares, or to create a new class with greater privileges than the existing classes of preferred shares;

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  (3) to reduce the mandatory distribution of dividends;
     
  (4) to change our corporate purposes;
     
  (5) to merge us with another company or consolidate us;
     
  (6) to transfer all of our shares to another company in order to make us a wholly-owned subsidiary of such company, an incorporação de ações;
     
  (7) to approve the acquisition of control of another company at a price which exceeds certain limits set forth in the Brazilian Corporation Law;
     
  (8) to approve our participation in a centralized group of companies as defined under the Brazilian Corporation Law; or
     
  (9) in the event that the entity resulting from (a) a merger, (b) an incorporação de ações as described in clause (6) above or (c) a spin-off that we conduct fails to become a listed company within 120 days of the general shareholders’ meeting at which such decision was taken.

Only holders of shares adversely affected by the changes mentioned in items (1) and (2) above may require us to redeem their shares. The right of redemption mentioned in items (5), (6) and (8) above may only be exercised if our shares do not satisfy certain tests of liquidity at the time of the shareholder resolution. The right of redemption lapses 30 days after publication of the minutes of the relevant general shareholders’ meeting, unless, in the case of items (1) and (2) above, the resolution is subject to confirmation by the preferred shareholders (which must be made at a special meeting to be held within one year), in which case the 30 day term is counted from the publication of the minutes of the special meeting.

We would be entitled to reconsider any action giving rise to redemption rights within 10 days following the expiration of such rights if the redemption of shares of dissenting shareholders would jeopardize our financial stability. Law No. 9,457 dated May 5, 1997, which amended the Brazilian Corporation Law, contains provisions which, among other provisions, restrict redemption rights in certain cases and allow companies to redeem their shares at their economic value, subject to certain requirements. Our by-laws currently do not provide that our capital stock will be redeemable at its economic value and, consequently, any redemption pursuant to the Brazilian Corporation Law would be made at no less than the book value per share, determined on the basis of the last balance sheet approved by the shareholders; provided that if the general shareholders’ meeting giving rise to redemption rights occurred more than 60 days after the date of the last approved balance sheet, a shareholder would be entitled to demand that his or her shares be valued on the basis of a new balance sheet dated within 60 days of such general shareholders’ meeting.

Preemptive Rights

Each of our shareholders has a general preemptive right to subscribe for shares in any capital increase, in proportion to his or her shareholding. A minimum period of 30 days following the publication of notice of a capital increase is allowed for the exercise of the right and the right is negotiable. Under our by-laws, our board of directors may decide not to extend preemptive rights to our shareholders or, under Law 10,303, to reduce the 30-day period for the exercise of preemptive rights, in each case with respect to any issuance of shares, debentures convertible into shares and warrants in the context of a public offering, subject to the limit on the number of shares that may be issued with the approval of the board without any additional shareholder approval. In the event of a capital increase which would maintain or increase the proportion of capital represented by preferred shares, holders of preferred American depositary receipts will have preemptive rights to subscribe only to newly issued preferred shares. In the event of a capital increase which would reduce the proportion of capital represented by preferred shares, shareholders will have preemptive rights to subscribe for preferred shares, in proportion to their shareholdings, and for common shares only to the extent necessary to prevent dilution of their overall interest in us. In the event of a capital increase which would maintain or increase the proportion of capital represented by common shares, shareholders will have preemptive rights to subscribe only to newly issued common shares. In the event of a capital increase which would reduce the proportion of capital represented by common shares, holders of common shares will have preemptive rights to subscribe for preferred shares only to the extent necessary to prevent dilution of their overall interest in us.

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Form and Transfer

Our preferred shares and common shares are in book-entry form registered in the name of each shareholder or its nominee. The transfer of such shares is made under the Brazilian Corporation Law which provides that a transfer of shares is effected by our transfer agent, Banco Bradesco S.A., upon presentation of valid share transfer instructions to us by a transferor or its representative. When preferred shares or common shares are acquired or sold on a Brazilian stock exchange, the transfer is effected on the records of our transfer agent by a representative of a brokerage firm or the stock exchange’s clearing system. Transfers of shares by a foreign investor are made in the same way and are executed by the investor’s local agent, who is also responsible for updating the information relating to the foreign investment furnished to the Central Bank.

BOVESPA operates a central clearing system through Companhia Brasileira de Liquidação e Custódia, or CBLC. A holder of our shares may participate in this system and all shares elected to be put into the system will be deposited in custody with CBLC (through a Brazilian institution that is duly authorized to operate by the Central Bank and maintains a clearing account with CBLC). The fact that such shares are subject to custody with the relevant stock exchange will be reflected in our registry of shareholders. Each participating shareholder will, in turn, be registered in the register of our beneficial shareholders that is maintained by CBLC and will be treated in the same way as registered shareholders.

MATERIAL CONTRACTS

For information concerning our material contracts, see Item 4. Information on the Company and Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects.

EXCHANGE CONTROLS AND OTHER LIMITATIONS
AFFECTING SECURITY HOLDERS

There are no restrictions on ownership of our capital stock by individuals or legal entities domiciled outside Brazil. However, the right to convert dividend payments and proceeds from the sale of preferred class A shares or common shares into foreign currency and to remit such amounts outside Brazil is subject to restrictions under foreign investment legislation which generally requires, among other things, that the relevant investment be registered with the Central Bank. These restrictions on the remittance of foreign capital abroad could hinder or prevent the custodian for the preferred class A shares or common shares represented by American depositary shares, or holders who have exchanged American depositary shares for preferred class A shares or common shares, from converting dividends, distributions or the proceeds from any sale of preferred class A shares or common shares, as the case may be, into U.S. dollars and remitting such U.S. dollars abroad. Delays in, or refusal to grant any required government approval for conversions of Brazilian currency payments and remittances abroad of amounts owed to holders of American depositary shares could adversely affect holders of American depositary receipts.

Under Resolution No. 2,689, foreign investors may invest in almost all financial assets and engage in almost all transactions available in the Brazilian financial and capital markets, provided that certain requirements are fulfilled. In accordance with Resolution No. 2,689, the definition of foreign investor includes individuals, legal entities, mutual funds and other collective investment entities, domiciled or headquartered abroad.

Under Resolution No. 2,689, a foreign investor must:

  appoint at least one representative in Brazil, with powers to perform actions relating to its investment,
     
  complete the appropriate foreign investor registration form,
     
  register as a foreign investor with the CVM, and
     
  register its foreign investment with the Central Bank.

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Securities and other financial assets held by foreign investors pursuant to Resolution No. 2,689 must be registered or maintained in deposit accounts or under the custody of an entity duly licensed by the Central Bank or the CVM. In addition securities trading is restricted to transactions carried out on stock exchanges or through organized over-the-counter markets licensed by the CVM, except for subscription, bonification, conversion of debentures into shares, securities indexes, purchase and sale of investment funds quotas and, if permitted by the CVM, going private transactions, canceling or suspension of trading. Moreover, the offshore transfer or assignment of the securities or other financial assets held by foreign investors pursuant to Resolution No. 2,689 are prohibited, except for transfers resulting from a corporate reorganization, or occurring upon the death of an investor by operation of law or will.

Resolution No. 1,927 of the National Monetary Council, which is the restated and amended Annex V to Resolution No. 1,289, which we call the Annex V Regulations, provides for the issuance of depositary receipts in foreign markets in respect of shares of Brazilian issuers. It provides that the proceeds from the sale of American depositary shares by holders of American depositary receipts outside Brazil are free of Brazilian foreign investment controls and holders of American depositary shares who are not resident in a tax haven jurisdiction (i.e. a country or location that does not impose taxes on income or where the maximum income tax rate is lower than 20%, or where the legislation imposes restrictions on disclosure of the shareholding composition or the ownership of the investment) will be entitled to favorable tax treatment.

An electronic registration has been issued by the custodian in the name of JPMorgan Chase Bank, the depositary, with respect to the American depositary shares. Pursuant to this electronic registration, the custodian and the depositary are able to convert dividends and other distributions with respect to the preferred class A shares or common shares represented by American depositary shares into foreign currency and to remit the proceeds outside Brazil. If a holder exchanges American depositary shares for preferred class A shares or common shares, the holder may continue to rely on the custodian’s electronic registration for only five business days after the exchange. After that, the holder must seek to obtain its own electronic registration with the Central Bank under Law No. 4,131 or Resolution No. 2,689. Thereafter, unless the holder has registered its investment with the Central Bank, such holder may not convert into foreign currency and remit outside Brazil the proceeds from the disposition of, or distributions with respect to, such preferred class A shares or common shares. A holder that obtains an electronic registration generally will be subject to less favorable Brazilian tax treatment than a holder of American depositary shares. See Item 10. Additional Information—Taxation—Brazilian Tax Considerations.

There are two principal foreign exchange markets in Brazil (which have operated under identical operational limits and had identical rates since February 1999):

  the commercial rate exchange market, and
     
  the floating rate exchange market.

Most trade and financial foreign-exchange transactions, including transactions relating to the purchase or sale of shares or the payment of dividends or interest with respect to shares, are carried out on the commercial market. Only a Brazilian bank authorized to buy and sell currency in the commercial market may effect purchases of foreign currencies in that market. In both markets, rates are freely negotiated, but may be strongly influenced by Central Bank intervention. See Item 3. Key Information—Exchange Rates.

Under Brazilian law, whenever there is a serious imbalance in Brazil’s balance of payments or reasons to foresee a serious imbalance, the Brazilian government may impose temporary restrictions on the remittance to foreign investors of the proceeds of their investments in Brazil, and on the conversion of Brazilian currency into foreign currencies. Such restrictions may hinder or prevent the custodian or holders who have exchanged American depositary shares for underlying preferred class A shares or common shares from converting distributions or the proceeds from any sale of such shares, as the case may be, into U.S. dollars and remitting such U.S. dollars abroad.

TAXATION

The following summary contains a description of the principal Brazilian and U.S. federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of preferred class A shares, common shares or American depositary

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shares. You should know that it does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all the tax considerations that may be relevant to a holder of preferred class A shares, common shares or American depositary shares.

Holders of preferred class A shares, common shares, or American depositary shares should consult their own tax advisors to discuss the tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of preferred class A shares, common shares or American depositary shares, including, in particular, the effect of any state, local or other national tax laws.

Although there is at present no income tax treaty between Brazil and the United States, the tax authorities of the two countries have had discussions that may result in such a treaty. We cannot predict whether or when such a treaty will enter into force or how it will affect the U.S. holders, as defined below, of preferred class A shares, common shares, or American depositary shares.

Brazilian Tax Considerations

The following discussion summarizes the principal Brazilian tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of American depositary shares by a holder not deemed to be domiciled in Brazil for purposes of Brazilian taxation and, by a holder of preferred class A shares or common shares, who has registered his/her investment in preferred class A shares or common shares with the Central Bank as a U.S. dollar investment (in each case, a non-Brazilian holder). It is based on the tax laws of Brazil and regulations thereunder in effect on the date hereof, which are subject to change (possibly with retroactive effect). This discussion does not specifically address all of the Brazilian tax considerations applicable to any particular non-Brazilian holder. Therefore, each non-Brazilian holder should consult his or her own tax advisor concerning the Brazilian tax consequences of an investment in preferred class A shares, common shares, or American depositary shares.

Taxation of Dividends. Dividends, including dividends paid in kind, paid by us from profits of periods beginning on or after January 1, 1996 (1) to the depositary in respect of the preferred class A shares or common shares underlying the American depositary shares or (2) to a non-Brazilian holder in respect of preferred class A shares or common shares will generally not be subject to Brazilian withholding income tax. Dividends paid from profits generated before January 1, 1996 may be subject to Brazilian withholding income tax at varying rates depending on the year the profits were generated, except in the case of stock dividends, which are not subject to withholding income tax in Brazil unless we redeem the stock within five years from such distribution or the non-Brazilian holder sells the stock in Brazil within this five-year period.

Distributions of Interest of Shareholders’ Equity. Since January 1, 1996, Brazilian corporations may attribute interest on shareholders’ equity as an alternative form of making dividend distributions, which they may pay in cash. They base the calculation on shareholders’ equity as stated in the statutory accounting records. The interest rate applied may not exceed the TJLP as determined by the Brazilian Central Bank from time to time (12% per annum for the three-month period starting April 2003). Also, the amount paid may not be higher, for tax purposes, than the greater of (1) 50% of net income (after the deduction of the provision of social contribution on net profits but before taking into account such payment of interest and the provision of corporate income tax) for the relevant period or (2) 50% of the sum of retained earnings and profit reserves as of the beginning of the year in respect of which the payment is made.

The amount of interest attributed to shareholders is deductible for corporate income tax and social contribution on net profit purposes. Therefore, the benefit to us, as opposed to making a dividend payment, is a reduction in our corporate taxes charge equivalent to 34% of such amount. Subject to certain limitations, income tax is withheld from the shareholders on interest payments at the rate of 15%, except if the beneficiary is exempt from tax in Brazil, which payments are free of Brazilian tax, and except if the beneficiary is located in a tax haven jurisdiction, in which case the applicable rate is 25%. As defined by Brazilian law, a tax haven jurisdiction is a country or a location that does not impose taxes on income or where the maximum income tax rate is lower than 20%, or where the legislation imposes restrictions on the disclosure of the shareholding composition or the ownership of the investment.

Taxation of Gains. For purposes of Brazilian taxation, two types of non-Brazilian holders should be considered: (1) non-Brazilian holders that are not resident or domiciled in tax haven jurisdictions, which are registered before the Central Bank and the CVM to invest in Brazil in accordance with Resolution 2,689 or are holders of American

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depositary shares; and (2) other non-Brazilian holders, which include any and all non-residents in Brazil who invest in the country through any other means and all type of investors that are located in a tax haven jurisdiction. The investors identified in item (1) are subject to a favorable tax treatment, as described below.

Gains realized outside Brazil by a non-Brazilian holder on the sale or disposition of American depositary shares to another non-Brazilian holder are not subject to Brazilian tax.

The deposit of preferred class A shares or common shares in exchange for American depositary shares is not subject to Brazilian income tax if the preferred class A shares or common shares are registered under Resolution 2,689 and the respective holder is not located in a tax haven jurisdiction. If the preferred class A shares or common shares are not registered or if they are registered but the respective holder is located in a tax haven jurisdiction, the deposit of preferred class A shares or common shares in exchange for American depositary shares may be subject to Brazilian capital gains tax at the rate of 15%. The withdrawal of preferred class A shares or common shares in exchange for American depositary shares is not subject to Brazilian income tax. On receipt of the underlying preferred class A shares or common shares, a non-Brazilian holder, registered under Resolution 2,689 may register the U.S. dollar value of such shares with the Central Bank as described below under —Registered Capital. If such non-Brazilian holder does not qualify under Resolution 2,689, it will be subject to the less favorable tax treatment described above in respect of exchanges of preferred class A shares or common shares.

Gains realized outside Brazil by a non-Brazilian holder on the sale or disposition of preferred class A shares or common shares to another non-Brazilian holder are not subject to Brazilian tax. Non-Brazilian holders are subject to income tax imposed at a rate of 15% on gains realized on sales or dispositions of preferred class A shares or common shares that occur in Brazil or with a resident of Brazil, other than on the Brazilian stock, future and commodities exchange, in which case the income tax is imposed at a rate of 20%. With reference to proceeds of a redemption or of a liquidating distribution with respect to the preferred class A shares or common shares, the difference between the amount received and the amount of foreign currency registered with the Central Bank, translated into reais at the commercial market rate on the date of the redemption or liquidation distribution, will be also subject to income tax at a rate of 15%, once such transactions are treated as a sale or disposition carried out outside of the Brazilian stock, future and commodities exchange.

Gains realized arising from transactions on a Brazilian stock, future and commodities exchange, by an investor under Resolution 2,689 and not located in a tax haven jurisdiction are exempt from income tax. The preferential treatment under Resolution 2,689 is no longer applicable if the non-Brazilian holder of class A shares or common shares is resident in a tax haven jurisdiction. As a consequence, gains realized on transactions performed by such holder on the Brazilian stock, futures and commodities exchange are subject to income tax at a rate of 20%.

Non-Brazilian holders are subject to income tax imposed at a rate of 20% on gains realized on sales or dispositions of preferred class A shares or common shares that occur on a Brazilian stock, future and commodities exchange unless such sale or disposition is made by a non-Brazilian holder who is not resident in a tax haven jurisdiction and (1) such sale is made within five business days of the withdrawal of such common shares in exchange for American depositary shares and the proceeds thereof are remitted abroad within such five-day period, or (2) such sale is made under Resolution 2,689 by a registered non-Brazilian holder who obtains registration with the Brazilian securities commission, in which cases the non-Brazilian holder is exempt from income tax.

The gain realized as a result of a transaction on a Brazilian stock, future and commodities exchange is the difference between the amount in Brazilian currency realized on the sale or disposition and the acquisition cost, without any correction for inflation, of the shares sold. The gain realized as a result of a transaction that does not occur on a Brazilian stock, future and commodities exchange will be calculated based on the foreign currency amount registered with the Central Bank. It is possible that the current preferential treatment for holders of American depositary receipts and non-Brazilian holders of preferred class A shares and common shares under Resolution 2,689 will not continue in the future.

Any exercise of preemptive rights relating to the preferred class A shares or common shares will not be subject to Brazilian taxation. Any gain on the sale or assignment of preemptive rights relating to the preferred class A shares or common shares by the depositary that occurs abroad among non-residents will not be subject to Brazilian taxation. In case such sale or assignment is made to a Brazilian party, any gain on the transaction will be subject to

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Brazilian income taxation according to the same rules applicable to the sale or disposition of preferred class A shares or common shares, unless such sale or assignment is performed within the Brazilian stock, future and commodities exchanges and by an investor under Resolution 2,689 who is not a resident in a tax haven jurisdiction, in which the gains are exempt from income tax.

Other Brazilian Taxes. There are no Brazilian inheritance, gift or succession taxes applicable to the ownership, transfer or disposition of preferred class A shares or common shares or American depositary shares by a non-Brazilian holder, except for gift and inheritance taxes which are levied by some states of Brazil on gifts made or inheritances bestowed by individuals or entities not resident or domiciled in Brazil or in the relevant State to individuals or entities resident or domiciled within such state in Brazil. There are no Brazilian stamp, issue, registration, or similar taxes or duties payable by holders of preferred class A shares or common shares or American depositary shares.

A financial transaction tax (the “IOF tax”) may be imposed on a variety of foreign transactions, including the conversion of Brazilian currency into foreign currency (e.g., for purposes of paying dividends and interest) or vice-versa (the “IOF/Câmbio”). The IOF /Câmbio is currently 0% with some specific exceptions, but the Minister of Finance has the legal power to increase the rate to a maximum of 25%. Any such increase will be applicable only prospectively.

IOF tax may also be levied on transactions involving bonds or securities (the “IOF/Títulos”) even if the transactions are effected on the Brazilian stock, futures or commodities exchange. The rate of the IOF/Títulos with respect to preferred class A shares or common shares or American depositary shares is currently 0%. The Minister of Finance, however, has the legal power to increase the rate to a maximum of 1.5% per day. Any such increase will be applicable only prospectively.

In addition to the IOF tax, the temporary contribution on financial transactions (the “CPMF tax”) will be imposed through December 2004 on all fund transfers in connection with financial transactions in Brazil. The CPMF tax will be levied at a rate of 0.38% in 2003 and a rate of 0.08% in 2004. The Brazilian government is considering, however, converting the CPMF tax into a permanent tax.

Registered Capital. The amount of an investment in preferred class A shares or common shares held by a non-Brazilian resident holder who obtains registration under Resolution 2,689, or by the depositary representing such holder, is eligible for registration with the Central Bank; such registration (the amount so registered is referred to as Registered Capital) allows the remittance outside Brazil of foreign currency, converted at the commercial market rate, acquired with the proceeds of distributions on, and amounts realized with respect to disposition of, such preferred class A shares or common shares.

The registered capital for each preferred class A share or common share purchased in the form of an American depositary share, or purchased in Brazil, and deposited with the depositary in exchange for an American depositary share, will be equal to its purchase price (in U.S. dollars) to the purchaser.

The registered capital for a preferred class A share or common share that is withdrawn upon surrender of an American depositary share will be the U.S. dollar equivalent of:


  
(1) the average price of a preferred class A share or common share on the Brazilian stock, future and commodities exchange on which the greatest number of such shares was sold on the day of withdrawal, or

  
(2) if no preferred class A shares or common shares were sold on that day, the average price on the Brazilian stock, future and commodities exchange on which the greatest number of preferred class A shares or common shares were sold in the fifteen trading sessions immediately preceding such withdrawal.

The U.S. dollar value of the preferred class A shares or common shares is determined on the basis of the average commercial market rates quoted by the Central Bank on such date (or, if the average price of preferred class A shares or common shares is determined under clause (2) of the preceding sentence, the average of such average

 

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quoted rates on the same fifteen dates used to determine the average price of the preferred class A shares or common shares).

A non-Brazilian resident holder of preferred class A shares or common shares may experience delays in completing such registration which may delay remittances abroad. Such a delay may adversely affect the amount, in U.S. dollars, received by the non-Brazilian holder.

U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

This discussion only applies to U.S. holders, as defined below, who hold their preferred class A shares or common shares or American depositary shares as capital assets. This discussion does not describe all of the tax consequences that may be relevant in light of a holder’s particular circumstances or to holders subject to special rules, such as:

  certain financial institutions,
     
  insurance companies,
     
  dealers or traders in securities or foreign currencies,
     
  persons holding preferred class A shares, common shares or American depositary shares as part of hedge, straddle, conversion or other integrated transaction,
     
  holders whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar,
     
  partnerships or other entities classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes,
     
  persons subject to the alternative minimum tax, or
     
  persons owning, actually or constructively, 10% or more of our voting shares.

This discussion is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended to the date hereof, administrative pronouncements, judicial decisions and final, temporary and proposed Treasury Regulations, changes to any of which may affect the tax consequences described herein. Holders should consult their tax advisors with regard to the application of the United States federal income tax laws to their particular situations as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction.

This discussion is also based, in part, on representations of the depositary and the assumption that each obligation in the deposit agreement and any related agreement will be performed in accordance with its terms.

As used herein, the term “United States holder” means a beneficial owner of preferred class A shares, common shares, or American depositary shares that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

  a citizen or resident alien individual of the United States,
     
  a corporation created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or of any political subdivision thereof, or
     
  an estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source.

The term United States holder also includes certain former citizens of the United States.

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In general, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, holders of American depositary receipts evidencing American depositary shares will be treated as the beneficial owners of the preferred class A shares or common shares represented by those American depositary shares. Deposits and withdrawals of preferred class A shares or common shares by holders in exchange for American depositary shares will not result in the realization of gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Taxation of Dividends. Subject to the discussion under —Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules below, distributions paid on American depositary shares, preferred class A shares or common shares, including distributions paid in the form of payments of interest on capital for Brazilian tax purposes, out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined for U.S. federal tax purposes, before reduction for any Brazilian income tax withheld by us, will be taxable to you as foreign source dividend income and will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction allowed to corporations.

You will be required to include dividends paid in reais in income in an amount equal to their U.S. dollar value calculated by reference to an exchange rate in effect on the date such items are received. If you hold American depositary shares, you will be considered to receive a dividend when the dividend is received by the depositary.

Under new rules applicable to dividends received after 2002 and before 2009, an individual United States holder generally will be subject to U.S. taxation at a maximum rate of 15%. The reduced rate does not apply to dividends paid in respect of certain short-term (less than 60 days) or hedged positions. You should consult your own tax adviser regarding the implications of these new rules in light of your own particular circumstances.

Subject to generally applicable limitations and restrictions, you will be entitled to a credit against your United States federal income tax liability, or a deduction in computing your U.S. federal taxable income, for Brazilian income taxes withheld by us. You must satisfy minimum holding period requirements to be eligible to claim a foreign tax credit for Brazilian taxes withheld on dividends. The limitation on foreign taxes eligible for credit is calculated separately for specific classes of income. For this purpose dividends paid by us on our shares will generally constitute “passive income.”

Taxation of Capital Gains. Subject to the discussion under —Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules below, upon a sale or exchange of preferred class A shares, common shares or American depositary shares, you will recognize a capital gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes equal to the difference, if any, between the amount realized on the sale or exchange and your adjusted tax basis in the preferred class A shares, common shares or American depositary shares. The net amount of long-term capital gain recognized by an individual United States holder after May 5, 2003 and before January 1, 2009 generally is subject to taxation at a maximum rate of 15 percent. The net long-term capital gain recognized by an individual United States holder before May 6, 2003 or after December 31, 2008 generally is subject to taxation at a maximum rate of 20%. This gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if your holding period in the American depositary shares exceeds one year. Any gain or loss will be U.S. source gain or loss for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes. Consequently, if a Brazilian withholding tax is imposed on the sale or disposition of American depositary shares, preferred class A shares or common shares, and you do not receive significant foreign source income from other sources you may not be able to derive effective U.S. foreign tax credit benefits in respect of such Brazilian withholding tax. You should consult your own tax advisor regarding the application of the foreign tax credit rules to your investment in, and disposition of, American depositary shares, preferred class A shares or common shares.

If a Brazilian tax is withheld on the sale or disposition of shares, the amount realized by a U.S. holder will include the gross amount of the proceeds of such sale or disposition before deduction of the Brazilian tax. See —Brazilian Tax Considerations—Taxation of Gains.

Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules

We believe that we will not be considered a passive foreign investment company for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Passive foreign investment company status depends on a foreign company not earning more than a permitted amount of gross income that is considered “passive income” and not holding more than a permitted percentage of assets, determined by value, that produce or are held to produce passive income. For these purposes, a

 

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company is treated as earning and holding its pro rata share of the income and assets of any corporation in which it owns, directly or indirectly, 25% of the stock, by value. Since this test depends on the composition of a company’s income and assets, and market value of those assets, from time to time, and it is unclear whether certain of our income and assets would be associated with “commodities transactions” that would not be considered “qualified active sales,” there can be no assurance that we will not be considered a passive foreign investment company for any taxable year. If we were treated as a passive foreign investment company for any taxable year during which a U.S. holder held an American depositary share, preferred Class A share or common share, certain adverse consequences could apply to the U.S. holder.

If we are treated as a passive foreign investment company for any taxable year and a U.S. holder does not make the mark to market election described below, gain recognized by such U.S. holder on a sale or other disposition of the American depositary shares or preferred Class A shares or common shares would be allocated ratably over the U.S. holder’s holding period for the American depositary shares, preferred Class A shares or common shares. The amounts allocated to the taxable year of the sale or other exchange and to any year before we became a passive foreign investment company would be taxed as ordinary income. The amount allocated to each other taxable year would be subject to tax at the highest rate in effect for individuals or corporations, as appropriate, and an interest charge would be imposed on the amount allocated to such taxable year. Further, any distribution in respect of American depositary shares, preferred Class A shares or common shares in excess of 125 percent of the average of the annual distributions on American depositary shares or common shares received by the U.S. holder during the preceding three years or the U.S. holder’s holding period, whichever is shorter, would be subject to taxation and an interest charge in the manner described above.

If we are treated as a passive foreign investment company and the preferred Class A shares or common shares or American depositary shares are regularly traded on a “qualified exchange,” a U.S. holder may make a mark-to market election. A “qualified exchange” includes a foreign exchange that is regulated by a governmental authority in which the exchange is located and with respect to which certain other requirements are met. The IRS has not yet identified specific foreign exchanges that are “qualified” for this purpose. The New York Stock Exchange, on which the American depositary shares are expected to be traded, is a qualified exchange for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

A U.S. holder that makes the election generally will include each year as ordinary income the excess, if any, of the fair market value of the American depositary shares, preferred Class A shares or common shares at the end of the taxable year over their adjusted basis, and will be permitted an ordinary loss in respect of the excess, if any, of the adjusted basis of the American depositary shares, preferred Class A shares or common shares over their fair market value at the end of the taxable year (but only to the extent of the net amount of previously included income as a result of the mark-to-market election). The basis of a U.S. holder that makes the election in the American depositary shares, preferred Class A shares or common shares will be adjusted to reflect any such income or loss amounts. Any gain recognized on the sale or other disposition of American depositary shares, preferred Class A shares or common shares will be treated as ordinary income.

If a U.S. holder owns shares or American depositary shares, preferred Class A shares or common shares during a year in which we are considered a passive foreign investment company, the U.S. holder must file Internal Revenue Service Form 8621.

Prospective U.S. holders are urged to consult their tax advisers concerning the consequences to them if we were considered to be a passive foreign investment company.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

Information returns may be filed with the Internal Revenue Service in connection with distributions on the preferred class A shares, common shares or American depositary shares and the proceeds from their sale or other disposition. You may be subject to United States backup withholding tax on these payments if you fail to provide your taxpayer identification number or comply with certain certification procedures or otherwise establish an exemption from backup withholding.

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The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to you will be allowed as a credit against your U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle you to a refund, provided that the required information is furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.

DOCUMENTS ON DISPLAY

We are subject to the information requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and accordingly file reports and other information with the SEC. Reports and other information filed by us with the SEC may be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain copies of these materials by mail from the Public Reference Section of the SEC, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates. You may inspect these reports and other information at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 11 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005, on which our American depositary shares are listed. Our SEC filings are also available to the public from the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov, and at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange. For further information on obtaining copies of our public filings at the New York Stock Exchange, you should call (212) 656-5060.

We also file financial statements and other periodic reports with the CVM.

Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The principal market risks we face are interest rate risk, exchange rate risk and commodity price risk. We manage some of these risks through the use of derivative instruments. Our policy has been to settle all derivatives contracts in cash without physical delivery of product.

Our risk management activities follow policies and guidelines reviewed and approved by our board of directors. These policies and guidelines generally prohibit speculative trading and short selling and require diversification of transactions and counter-parties. We monitor and evaluate our overall position daily in order to evaluate financial results and impact on our cash flow. We also periodically review the credit limits and creditworthiness of our hedging counter-parties. We report the results of our hedging activities to senior management on a monthly basis.

As of January 1, 2001 we have adopted SFAS 133 – “Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities,” as amended by SFAS 137 and SFAS 138, and we recognize all derivatives on our balance sheet at fair value. Accordingly we recognized an initial transition adjustment of $12 million as a charge in our statement of income relative to net unrealized losses on contracts open as of December 31, 2000. Subsequently to January 1, 2001 all derivatives have been adjusted to fair market value at each balance sheet date and the gain or loss included in current earnings.

The asset (liability) balances at December 31, 2002 and 2001 and the movement in fair value of derivative financial instruments is as follows:

  Gold  
Interest
rates
(LIBOR)
  Currencies   Alumina   Total  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Initial unrealized gains and (losses) at January 1, 2001 9   (8 ) (4 )   (3 )
Change in the period 2   (36 ) (4 )   (38 )
Gains and (losses) realized in the period (4 ) 8   4     8  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized gains and (losses) at December 31, 2001 7   (36 ) (4 )   (33 )
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gain recognized upon consolidation of Alunorte       2   2  
Financial settlement (2 ) 24   3   1   26  
Losses in the period (22 ) (68 ) (2 )   (92 )
Effect of exchange rate changes 2   20   2     24  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Unrealized gains and (losses) at December 31, 2002 (15 ) (60 ) (1 ) 3   (73 )
 
 
 
 
 
 

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INTEREST RATE AND EXCHANGE RATE RISK

The table below sets forth our floating and fixed rate long-term debt, categorized by local and foreign currency, and as a percentage of our total long-term debt portfolio at the dates indicated, including loans from both related and unrelated parties, as reflected in our consolidated financial statements.

At December 31,  
 
 
2001   2002  
 
 
 
(in millions of US$, except percentages)  
Floating rate debt:                    
   Real-denominated US$ 116   5.3 % US$ 126   5.3 %
   Foreign currency denominated   1,234   56.9 %   1,293   54.8 %
Fixed rate debt:                    
   Real-denominated   4   0.2 %      
   Foreign currency denominated   816   37.6 %   940   39.9 %
 

 
 

 
 
                     
      Total US$ 2,170   100 % US$ 2,359   100.0 %
 

 
 

 
 

The table below provides information about our debt obligations as of December 31, 2002, which are sensitive to changes in interest rates and exchange rates. The table presents the principal cash flows and related weighted-average interest rates of these obligations by expected maturity date. Weighted-average variable interest rates are based on the applicable reference rate (LIBOR or TJLP) at December 31, 2002. The debt obligations’ actual cash flows are denominated in U.S. dollars or Brazilian reais, as indicated.

  2004   2005   2006   2007   to 2013   Total  
Fair Value
Cash Flow at
December 31,
2002
 
Fair Value
Accounting
December
31, 2002
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  (in millions of US$)  
                                 
U.S. dollar-denominated:                                
Fixed rate                                
         Bonds over 7% US$ 313   US$ —   US$ —   US$ 304   US$ —   US$ 617   US$ 617   US$ 620  
         Loan up to 7% 1   1   2   1     5   5   32  
         Loan over 7% 41   52   50   41   123   308   308   308  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  355   53   52   346   123   929   929   960  
Floating rate                                
         Loan up to 7% 426   261   214   73   92   1,066   1,066   1,280  
         Loan over 7% 4   3   3   2   2   14   14   13  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  430   264   217   75   94   1,080   1,080   1,293  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Subtotal 785   317   269   421   217   2,009   2,009   2,253  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Real-denominated:                                
Floating rate                                
      Loan over 7% 27   16   11   3   68   125   125   126  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Subtotal 27   16   11   3   68   125   125   126  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
            Total US$ 812   US$ 333   US$ 280   US$ 424   US$ 285   US$ 2,134   US$ 2,134   US$ 2,379  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Interest Rate Risk

We are exposed to interest rate risk in our floating-rate debt. Our floating-rate debt consists principally of U.S. dollar borrowings related to trade finance. In general, our foreign currency floating rate debt is principally subject to changes in the London Interbank Offered Rate, or LIBOR. Our floating rate debt denominated in reais is principally subject to changes in the TJLP, as fixed by the Central Bank.

We enter into interest rate derivative transactions primarily to hedge against interest rate fluctuations on our LIBOR-based debt. We generally do not hedge our TJLP-based debt. Our interest rate derivatives portfolio generally consists of option trades which aim to cap our exposure to interest rate fluctuations. A cap is the

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maximum rate we will be required to pay on the notional amount of the debt. Conversely, a floor is the minimum rate we will be required to pay on the notional amount of the debt. Certain caps are subject to knock-out provisions which, if triggered, eliminate the protection provided by the cap.

The table below sets forth certain information with respect to our interest rate derivatives portfolio at December 31, 2001 and 2002:

      At December 31, 2001   At December 31, 2002      

 
  Notional         Unrealized     Notional         Unrealized Final
Value Rate Range gain (loss) Value Rate Range gain (loss) maturity











      (In millions of US $, except rate ranges)  
Cap US$ 1,375   5-8 % US$  2   US$ 500   5.7-11 %  US$   05/2007  
Floor   1,000   5-6.5 %    (28 )   500   5.7-6.3 %    (13 ) 05/2005  
Swap   125   5.5-7.5 %    (10 )   475   5.8-6.7 %    (47 ) 10/2007  
             

           

     
  Total           US$ (36 )           US$  (60 )    
             

           

     

The unrealized loss in the amount of US$ 36 million and US$ 60 million represents the amount payable if all transactions had been settled on December 31, 2001 and 2002, respectively.

Exchange Rate Risk

We are exposed to exchange rate risk associated with our foreign currency denominated debt. On the other hand, a substantial proportion of our revenues are denominated in, or automatically indexed to, the U.S. dollar, while the majority of our costs are expressed in reais. This provides a natural hedge against any devaluation of the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar. When devaluation occurs, the immediate negative impact on foreign currency denominated debt is offset over time by the positive effect of devaluation on future cash flows. In light of this framework, we generally do not use derivative instruments to manage the currency exposure on our long-term dollar denominated debt. However, we do monitor market fluctuations using derivatives to protect against specific risks from the exchange rate variation.

From time to time we enter into foreign exchange derivative swap transactions seeking to change the characteristics of our real-denominated cash investments to US dollar-indexed instruments. The extent of such transactions depends on our perception of market and currency risk, but is never speculative in nature. All such operations are marked-to-market at each balance sheet date and the effect included in financial income or expense. During the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2001 our use of such instruments was not significant.

On the other hand, a portion of our indebtedness is also denominated in euros and in Japanese yen, and we use derivative instruments to protect ourselves against specific risks associated with exchange rate movements in these foreign currencies.

The table below sets forth certain information with respect to our exchange rate derivatives portfolio at December 31, 2001 and 2002. These derivatives are structured forwards that we have purchased, which will require us to purchase foreign currencies as specified below:

  At December 31, 2001   At December 31, 2002      


  Notional       Unrealized   Notional           Unrealized Final
Value Price Range Gain (Loss) Value Price Range Gain (Loss) Maturity
 












      (In millions of US $, except yen amounts)  
Yen purchased US$ 5   ¥ 70-110   US$ (2 ) US$ 4   ¥ 83- 91   US$   5/2005  
          Per US$                 Per US$            
Euro purchased   8     US$ 1.10-1.30     (2 )   5     US$ 1.18-1.23     (1  ) 5/2005  
          Per US$                 Per US$            
             

             

     
   Total             US$ (4 )             US$ (1 )    
             

             

     

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The unrealized losses in the amounts of US$ 4 million and US$ 1 million represent the amounts payable if all transactions had been settled on December 31, 2001 and December 31, 2002, respectively.

COMMODITY PRICE RISK

  We are also exposed to various market risks relating to the volatility of world market prices for:
     
  iron ore and pellets, which represented 65.9% of our 2002 consolidated revenues,
     
  manganese and ferroalloys, which represented 6.6% of our 2002 consolidated revenues,
     
  aluminum-related products, which represented 10.8% of our 2002 consolidated revenues, and
     
  gold, which represented 2.4% of our 2002 consolidated revenues.

We do not enter into derivatives transactions to hedge our iron ore, manganese or ferroalloys exposure. See Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects.

To manage the risk associated with fluctuations in aluminum prices, our affiliates Albras and Alunorte engage in hedging transactions involving put and call options, as well as forward contracts. These derivative instruments allow Albras and Alunorte to establish minimum average profits for their future aluminum production in excess of their expected production costs and therefore ensure stable cash generation. However, they also have the effect of reducing potential gains from price increases in the spot market for aluminum.

The table below sets forth certain information with respect to Albras’s derivatives portfolio at December 31, 2001 and 2002. We have a 51% voting capital interest and a 51% total capital interest in Albras.

 
At December 31, 2001

 
At December 31, 2002

 
 
Notional
Value
 
Price
Range
 
Unrealized
gain (loss)
 
Notional
Value
 
Price
Range
 
Unrealized
Gain (loss)
 
Final
maturity
 
 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 
(Tons of
aluminum)
   
(US$ per ton)
   
(In millions
of US$)
 
(Tons of
Aluminum)
   
(US$ per
ton)
   
(In millions
of US$)
     
Puts purchased 80,000    US$ 1,400-1,600   US$ 9.5   46,500    US$ 1,390-1,500   US$ 5.4   06/2004  
Forwards sold 57,000     1,400-1,600     7.7   39,250     1,400-1,600     5.9   12/2003  
Calls sold 56,000     1,600-1,800     (0.9 ) 59,500     1,580-1,700       06/2004  
Other instruments 132,000           (2.6 ) 106,000           (0.8 ) 12/2008  
           

           

     
   Total           US$ 13.7             US$ 10.5      
           

           

     

The table below sets forth certain information with respect to Alunorte’s derivatives portfolio at December 31, 2001 and 2002. We have a 62.1% voting capital interest and a 57.0% total capital interest in Alunorte. We consolidate Alunorte’s operations in our financial statements.

 
At December 31, 2001

 
At December 31, 2002

 
 
Notional
Value
 
Price
Range
 
Unrealized
gain (loss)
 
Notional
Value
 
Price
Range
 
Unrealized
Gain (loss)
 
Final
maturity
 
 
 

 

 
 

 

 
 
 
(Tons of
aluminum)
   
(US$ per ton)
   
(In millions
of US$)
 
(Tons of
Aluminum)
   
(US$ per
ton)
   
(In millions
of US$)
     
Puts purchased 15,000    US$ 1,400-1,600   US$ 2.4   27,500    US$ 1,400-1,530   US$ 2.3   06/2004  
Forwards sold 26,000     1,400-1,600     4.4   12,000     1,400-1,578     1.7   12/2006  
Calls sold 23,000     1,600-1,800       27,250     1,710-1,732     (0.3 ) 06/2004  
Other instruments 74,000           (1.6 ) 69,500           (0.6 ) 12/2008  
           

           

     
   Total           US$ 5.2             US$ 3.1      
           

           

     

To manage the risk associated with fluctuations in gold prices, we enter into derivative instruments which allow us to establish a minimum profit level for future gold production. However, they may also have the effect of eliminating potential gains on certain price increases in the spot market for gold.

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The table below sets forth certain information with respect to our gold derivatives portfolio at December 31, 2001 and 2002.

 
At December 31, 2001

 
At December 31, 2002

 
 
Quantity

   
Price Range

 
Unrealized gain (loss)

 
Quantity

   
Price Range

 
Unrealized gain (loss)

 
Final Maturity

 
 
(oz.)
   
(US$ per oz.)
   
(in millions ofUS$)
 
(oz.)
   
(US$ per oz.)
   
(in millions of US$)
     
Puts purchased 422,000   US$ 270-340   US$ 10.8   428,000    US$ 270 - 355   US$ 3.1   12/2007  
Calls sold 718,000     308-366     (3.4 ) 595,000     316 – 407     (17.8 ) 12/2007  
Other instruments 25,000             20,000           11/2006  
           

           

     
   Total           US$ 7.4             US$ (14.7 )    
           

           

     

The unrealized gain in the amount of US$ 7 million represents the amount receivable if all transactions had been settled on December 31, 2001. The unrealized loss in the amount of US$ 15 million represents the amount payable if all transactions had been settled on December 31, 2002.

Item 12.  Description of Securities Other than Equity Securities

Not applicable.

PART II

Item 13.  Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies

None.

Item 14.  Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and Use of Proceeds

None.

Item 15.  Controls and Procedures

Within the 90 days prior to the date of this report, the Company carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. Vale Overseas carried out a similar evaluation that relied primarily on the Company’s evaluation of its controls. There are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any system of disclosure controls and procedures, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of the controls and procedures. Accordingly, even effective disclosure controls and procedures can only provide reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives. Based upon and as of the date of the Company’s evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of each of the Company and Vale Overseas concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective in all material respects to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports the Company or Vale Overseas, as applicable, files and submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported as and when required.

There were no significant changes in the Company’s or Vale Overseas’ internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date of their evaluation.

Item 16.  [Reserved]

PART III

Item 17.  Financial Statements

The Registrant has responded to Item 18 in lieu of responding to this Item.

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Item 18.   Financial Statements

Reference is made to pages F-1 through F-51 and B-1 through B-24.

Item 19.   Exhibits

Exhibit  
Number  

 
1.1 By-Laws of Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (English translation)
   
1.2 Memorandum & Articles of Association of Vale Overseas Limited
   
8 List of Subsidiaries
   
10.01 Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of CVRD, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
   
10.02 Certification of Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer of Vale Overseas, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
   

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SIGNATURES

The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this annual report on its behalf.

  COMPANHIA VALE DO RIO DOCE
           
  By:    /s/ Roger Agnelli                                 
      Name:   Roger Agnelli
      Title:   Chief Executive Officer
           
  By:   /s/ Fabio de Oliveira Barbosa                
      Name:   Fabio de Oliveira Barbosa
      Title:   Chief Financial Officer
           
  VALE OVERSEAS LIMITED
           
  By:   /s/ Gabriel Stoliar                                   
      Name:   Gabriel Stoliar
      Title:   Director and Principal Executive Officer
           
  By:   /s/ Tito Botelho Martins                         
      Name:   Tito Botelho Martins
      Title:   Director and Principal Financial Officer

 

 

Date: June 30, 2003

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CERTIFICATIONS

I, Roger Agnelli, certify that:

1.   I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Companhia Vale Do Rio Doce;

2.   Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report;

3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report;

4.   The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and have:

  a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this annual report is being prepared;
     
  b) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this annual report (the “Evaluation Date”); and
     
  c) Presented in this annual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5.   The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

  a)  All significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and
     
  b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and

6.   The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this annual report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

 

 

Date: June 30, 2003

   /s/ Roger Agnelli  
  Name:   Roger Agnelli  
  Title:   Chief Executive Officer  

 

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I, Fabio de Oliveira Barbosa, certify that:

1.   I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Companhia Vale Do Rio Doce;

2.   Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report;

3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report;

4.   The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and have:

  a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this annual report is being prepared;
     
  b) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this annual report (the “Evaluation Date”); and
     
  c)  Presented in this annual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5.   The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

  a) All significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and
     
  b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and

6.   The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this annual report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

 

Date: June 30, 2003

  /s/ Fabio de Oliveira Barbosa
  Name:     Fabio de Oliveira Barbosa
  Title:       Chief Financial Officer

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I, Gabriel Stoliar, certify that:

1.   I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Vale Overseas Limited;

2.   Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report;

3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report;

4.   The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and have:

  a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this annual report is being prepared;
     
  b) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this annual report (the “Evaluation Date”); and
     
  c) Presented in this annual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5.   The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

  a) All significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and
     
  b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and

6.   The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this annual report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

 

Date: June 30, 2003

  /s/ Gabriel Stoliar
  Name:    Gabriel Stoliar
  Title:      Director and Principal Executive Officer

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I, Tito Botelho Martins, certify that:

1.   I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Vale Overseas Limited;

2.   Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and have:

  a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this annual report is being prepared;
     
  b) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this annual report (the “Evaluation Date”); and
     
  c) Presented in this annual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

5. The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent function):

  a) All significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and
     
  b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and

6. The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this annual report whether or not there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

 

Date: June 30, 2003

  /s/ Tito Botelho Martins
  Name:    Tito Botelho Martins
  Title:      Director and Principal Financial Officer

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INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

    Page
   
Companhia Vale do Rio Doce Financial Statements    
     
Report of PricewaterhouseCoopers Auditores Independentes   F-2
     
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2002 and 2001   F-3
     
Consolidated Statements of Income for the three years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000
  F-5
     
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000
  F-6
     
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the three years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000
  F-7
     
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements   F-8
     
Vale Overseas Financial Statements
   
     
Report of PricewaterhouseCoopers Auditores Independentes   F-45
     
Balance sheets as of December 31, 2002 and 2001   F-46
     
Statement of Income and Changes in Accumulated Loss for the year ended December 31, 2002   F-47
     
Statement of Cash Flows for the year ended December 31, 2002   F-48
     
Notes to the Financial Statements   F-49
     
Index to Audit Reports from Independent Accountants listed in Note 20 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of Companhia Vale do Rio Doce
  B-1

 


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Companhia Vale do Rio Doce

In our opinion, based upon our audits and the reports of other auditors, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of income, of cash flows and of changes in stockholders’ equity, present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Companhia Vale do Rio Doce and its subsidiaries at December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2002, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We did not audit the financial statements of certain affiliates, the investments in which total US$343 million and US$441 million at December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively, and equity in earnings of US$60 million, US$53 million and US$213 million for 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively. Also, we did not audit the financial statements of certain majority-owned subsidiaries as at and for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000, which statements reflect total assets of US$969 million and US$500 million at December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively, and total revenues of US$426 million, US$407 million and US$480 million for 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively. The financial statements of these affiliates and subsidiaries were audited by other auditors whose reports thereon have been furnished to us, and our opinion expressed herein, insofar as it relates to the amounts for these affiliates and subsidiaries, is based solely on the reports of the other auditors. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America which require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits and the reports of other auditors provide a reasonable basis for the opinion expressed above.

PricewaterhouseCoopers
Auditores Independentes

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
February 21, 2003

F - 2


Consolidated Balance Sheets
Expressed in millions of United States dollars

  As of December 31  
 
 
  2002   2001  
 
 
 
Assets        
         
Current assets        
      Cash and cash equivalents 1,091   1,117  
      Accounts receivable        
         Related parties 121   106  
         Unrelated parties 539   443  
      Loans and advances to related parties 49   160  
      Inventories 292   323  
      Deferred income tax 211   265  
      Others 286   224  
 
 
 
  2,589   2,638  
 
 
 
         
Property, plant and equipment, net 3,297   3,813  
         
Investments in affiliated companies and joint ventures and other investments and provision for losses on equity investments
732   1,218  
Other assets        
      Goodwill on acquisition of consolidated subsidiaries 412   540  
      Loans and advances        
         Related parties 89   555  
         Unrelated parties 73   100  
      Prepaid pension cost 79   99  
      Deferred income tax 358   227  
      Judicial deposits 239   235  
      Unrealized gain on derivative instruments 3   7  
      Others 84   76  
 
 
 
         
  1,337   1,839  
 
 
 
TOTAL 7,955   9,508  
 
 
 

F - 3


Consolidated Balance Sheets
Expressed in millions of United States dollars
(Continued)
     
  As of December 31  
 
 
  2002     2001  
 
   
 
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity          
Current liabilities          
      Suppliers 325     296  
      Payroll and related charges 76     85  
      Interest attributed to stockholders 3     340  
      Current portion of long-term debt          
         Related parties     22  
         Unrelated parties 717     274  
      Short-term debt 184     589  
      Loans from related parties 64     168  
      Others 139     147  
 
   
 
  1,508     1,921  
 
   
 
Long-term liabilities          
      Employees post-retirement benefits 141     173  
      Long-term debt          
         Related parties     156  
         Unrelated parties 2,359     2,014  
      Loans from related parties 7     21  
      Provisions for contingencies (Note 15) 428     452  
   Unrealized loss on derivative instruments 76     40  
   Others 122     86  
 
   
 
  3,133     2,942  
 
   
 
Minority interests 27     5  
 
   
 
           
Stockholders’ equity          
      Preferred class A stock - 600,000,000          
         no-par-value shares authorized and 138,575,913 issued 904     820  
      Common stock - 300,000,000 no-par-value          
         shares authorized and 249,983,143 issued 1,630     1,479  
      Treasury stock - 4,481 (2001 - 91) preferred and 4,715,170 common shares (88 )   (88 )
      Additional paid-in capital 498     498  
      Other cumulative comprehensive income (5,175 )   (3,465 )
      Appropriated retained earnings 2,230     3,212  
      Unappropriated retained earnings 3,288     2,184  
 
   
 
  3,287     4,640  
 
   
 
TOTAL 7,955     9,508  
 
   
 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

F - 4


Consolidated Statements of Income
Expressed in millions of United States dollars
(except number of shares and per-share amounts)

  Year ended December 31  
 
 
  2002   2001   2000  
 
 
 
 
Operating revenues, net of discounts, returns and allowances            
      Sales of ores and metals            
            Iron ore and pellets 2,820   2,600   2,177  
            Gold 103   139   156  
            Manganese and ferroalloys 283   259   285  
            Potash 91   71   85  
            Others 45   41   42  
 
 
 
 
  3,342   3,110   2,745  
      Revenues from logistic services 458   608   760  
      Aluminum products 462   284   362  
      Other products and services 20   75   202  
 
 
 
 
  4,282   4,077   4,069  
      Value-added tax (159 ) (142 ) (134 )
 
 
 
 
      Net operating revenues 4,123   3,935   3,935  
 
 
 
 
Operating costs and expenses            
      Cost of ores and metals sold (1,579 ) (1,550 ) (1,423 )
      Cost of logistic services (252 ) (378 ) (481 )
      Cost of aluminum products (412 ) (269 ) (334 )
      Others (20 ) (75 ) (191 )
 
 
 
 
  (2,263 ) (2,272 ) (2,429 )
      Selling, general and administrative expenses (224 ) (241 ) (225 )
      Research and development (50 ) (43 ) (48 )
      Employee profit sharing plan (38 ) (38 ) (29 )
      Others (119 ) (379 ) (180 )
 
 
 
 
  (2,694 ) (2,973 ) (2,911 )
 
 
 
 
Operating income 1,429   962   1,024  
 
 
 
 
Non-operating income (expenses)            
      Financial income 127   135   208  
      Financial expenses (375 ) (335 ) (315 )
      Foreign exchange and monetary losses, net (580 ) (426 ) (240 )
      Gain on sale of investments   784   54  
 
 
 
 
  (828 ) 158   (293 )
 
 
 
 
Income before income taxes, equity results and minority interests 601   1,120   731  
 
 
 
 
Income taxes            
   Current (12 ) 46   (10 )
   Deferred 161   172   42  
 
 
 
 
  149   218   32  
 
 
 
 
Equity in results of affiliates and joint ventures and change in provision for            
         losses on equity investments (87 ) (53 ) 322  
Minority interests 17   2   1  
 
 
 
 
Net income 680   1,287   1,086  
 
 
 
 
Basic earnings per Common and Preferred Class A Share 1.77   3.34   2.82  
 
 
 
 
Weighted average number of shares outstanding (thousands of shares)            
      Common shares 249,864   249,864   249,983  
      Preferred Class A shares 135,042   135,042   134,917  

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

F - 5


Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Expressed in millions of United States dollars

  Year ended December 31  
 
 
  2002   2001   2000  
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from operating activities:            
   Net income 680   1,287   1,086  
   Adjustments to reconcile net income with cash provided by operating activities:            
      Depreciation, depletion and amortization 214   212   195  
      Dividends received 91   132   133  
      Equity in results of affiliates and joint ventures and change in provision for losses            
               on equity investments 87   53   (322 )
      Deferred income taxes (161 ) (172 ) (42 )
      Provisions for contingencies 53   79   101  
      Loss on disposals of property, plant and equipment 62   79   47  
      Gain on sale of investments   (784 ) (54 )
      Pension plan 11   32   41  
      Foreign exchange and monetary losses 1,031   460   208  
      Net unrealized derivative losses 66   38    
      Others 46   129   118  
   Decrease (increase) in assets:            
      Accounts receivable (123 ) (49 ) (63 )
      Inventories (69 ) (40 ) (50 )
      Others (105 ) 17   (103 )
   Increase (decrease) in liabilities:            
      Suppliers 102   21   84  
      Payroll and related charges 23   42   (1 )
      Others 94   (18 ) 46  
 
 
 
 
   Net cash provided by operating activities 2,102   1,518   1,424  
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities:            
   Loans and advances receivable            
         Related parties            
                  Additions (101 ) (75 ) (168 )
                  Repayments 75   79   32  
         Others 20   7   8  
   Guarantees and deposits (78 ) (85 ) (98 )
   Additions to investments (1 ) (338 ) (538 )
   Additions to property, plant and equipment (766 ) (595 ) (447 )
   Proceeds from disposals of property, plant and equipment 7   3   1  
   Proceeds from disposal of investments   989   44  
   Net cash used to acquire subsidiaries (45 ) (516 ) (323 )
 
 
 
 
   Net cash used in investing activities (889 ) (531 ) (1,489 )
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities:            
   Short-term debt, net issuances (345 ) (28 ) (278 )
   Loans            
         Related parties            
                  Additions 54   145   8  
                  Repayments (75 ) (44 ) (42 )
   Perpetual notes     120  
   Long-term debt            
         Related parties 17   66   62  
         Others 698   317   750  
   Repayments of long-term debt            
         Related parties (15 ) (40 ) (25 )
         Others (330 ) (310 ) (419 )
   Interest attributed to stockholders (602 ) (1,066 ) (246 )
   Treasury stock   (27 )  
 
 
 
 
   Net cash used in financing activities (598 ) (987 ) (70 )
 
 
 
 
   Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 615     (135 )
   Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (641 ) (94 ) (107 )
   Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 1,117   1,211   1,453  
 
 
 
 
   Cash and cash equivalents, end of period 1,091   1,117   1,211  
 
 
 
 
   Cash paid during the period for:            
Interest on short-term debt
(46 ) (45 ) (48 )
Interest on long-term debt, net of interest capitalized of $ 15 in 2002, $11 in 2001, $12 in 2000
(142 ) (153 ) (128 )
Income tax
(12 ) (46 ) (6 )
   Non-cash transactions            
Special pension plan contribution in shares of CSN
  249    
Exchange of loans receivable for investments
55   35   7  

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

F - 6


Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
Expressed in millions of United States dollars
(except number of shares and per-share amounts)

      Year ended December 31  
 


 
  Shares   2002   2001   2000  
 
 
 
 
 
Preferred class A stock (including one special share)                
      Balance January 1 138,575,913   820   709   709  
Transfer from appropriated retained earnings   84   111    
 
 
 
 
 
      Balance December 31 138,575,913   904   820   709  
 
 
 
 
 
Common stock                
      Balance January 1 249,983,143   1,479   1,279   1,279  
Transfer from appropriated retained earnings   151   200    
 
 
 
 
 
      Balance December 31 249,983,143   1,630   1,479   1,279  
 
 
 
 
 
Treasury stock                
      Balance January 1 (3,666,611 ) (88 ) (61 ) (61 )
      Acquisitions in 2001 (1,048,650 )   (27 )  
      Acquisitions in 2002 (4,390 )      
 
 
 
 
 
      Balance December 31 (4,719,651 ) (88 ) (88 ) (61 )
 
 
 
 
 
Additional paid-in capital                
Balance January 1 and December 31     498   498   498  
     
 
 
 
Other cumulative comprehensive income                
   Amounts not recognized as net periodic pension cost                
      Balance January 1       (100 )  
         Excess of additional minimum liability       151   (151 )
         Tax effect on above       (51 ) 51  
     
 
 
 
      Balance December 31         (100 )
     
 
 
 
Cumulative translation adjustments                
      Balance January 1     (3,475 ) (2,972 ) (2,535 )
         Change in the year     (1,710 ) (503 ) (437 )
     
 
 
 
      Balance December 31     (5,185 ) (3,475 ) (2,972 )
     
 
 
 
Unrealized gain on available-for-sale security                
      Balance January 1       24   54  
      Change in the year       (24 ) (30 )
     
 
 
 
      Balance December 31         24  
     
 
 
 
Adjustments relating to investments in affiliates                
      Balance January 1     10   8   (6 )
      Change in the year       2   14  
     
 
 
 
      Balance December 31     10   10   8  
     
 
 
 
Total other cumulative comprehensive income     (5,175 ) (3,465 ) (3,040 )
     
 
 
 
Appropriated retained earnings                
      Balance January 1     3,212   3,537   3,567  
      Transfer to retained earnings     (747 ) (14 ) (30 )
      Transfer to capital stock     (235 ) (311 )  
     
 
 
 
      Balance December 31     2,230   3,212   3,537  
     
 
 
 
Retained earnings                
      Balance January 1     2,184   1,647   1,186  
            Net income     680   1,287   1,086  
            Interest attributed to stockholders                
Preferred class A stock ($0.84, $1.99 and $1.70 per share in 2002, 2001 and 2000)
    (117 ) (276 ) (230 )
Common stock ($0.84, $1.99 and $1.70 per share in 2002, 2001 and 2000)
    (206 ) (488 ) (425 )
           Appropriation from reserves     747   14   30  
     
 
 
 
      Balance December 31     3,288   2,184   1,647  
 
 
 
 
 
Total stockholders’ equity 383,839,405   3,287   4,640   4,569  
 
 
 
 
 
Comprehensive income is comprised as follows:                
            Net income     680   1,287   1,086  
            Amounts not recognized as net periodic pension cost       100   (100 )
            Cumulative translation adjustments     (1,710 ) (503 ) (437 )
            Unrealized gain on available-for-sale security       (24 ) (30 )
            Adjustments relating to investments in affiliates       2   14  
     
 
 
 
Total comprehensive income (loss)     (1,030 ) 862   533  
     
 
 
 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

F - 7


Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Expressed in millions of United States dollars, unless otherwise stated


   
1  The Company and its operations

Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (CVRD) is a limited liability company, duly organized and existing under the laws of the Federative Republic of Brazil. Our operations are carried out through CVRD and its subsidiary companies, joint ventures and affiliates, and mainly consist of mining, non-ferrous metal production and logistics, as well as energy, aluminum and steel activities. We disposed of most of our investments in pulp and paper during 2001. Further details of our operations and those of our joint ventures and affiliates are described in Note 16.

The main operating subsidiaries we consolidate during the three years ended December 31, 2002 are as follows:

          Head office   Principal
     Subsidiary   % ownership   location   activity
 
 
 
 
  Ferteco Mineração S.A. - FERTECO   100   Brazil   Iron ore and pellets
  Pará Pigmentos S.A.   76   Brazil   Kaolin
  SIBRA - Eletrosiderúrgica Brasileira S.A.   100   Brazil   Manganese and Ferroalloys
  Navegação Vale do Rio Doce S.A. - DOCENAVE   100   Brazil   Shipping
  Vale do Rio Doce Alumínio S.A. - ALUVALE   100   Brazil   Aluminum
  Itabira Rio Doce Company Ltd. - ITACO   100   Cayman Island   Trading
  Rio Doce International Finance Ltd. - RDIF   100   Bahamas   International finance
  CELMAR S.A. - Indústria de Celulose e Papel   85   Brazil   Forestry
  Florestas Rio Doce S.A.   100   Brazil   Forestry
  Rio Doce Manganèse Europe - RDME   100   France   Ferroalloys
  Urucum Mineração S.A.   100   Brazil   Iron ore, Manganese and Ferroalloys
  Alumina do Norte do Brasil S.A - Alunorte (as from June,2002)   57   Brazil   Aluminum
  Salobo Metais S.A. (as from June, 2002)   100   Brazil   Copper
  Mineração Serra do Sossego S.A (as from December, 2001)   100   Brazil   Copper

 

2 Summary of significant accounting policies 

In preparing the consolidated financial information, we are required to use estimates to account for certain assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Our consolidated financial information therefore includes various estimates concerning the selection of useful lives of property, plant and equipment, provisions necessary for contingent liabilities, fair values assigned to assets and liabilities acquired in business combinations, income tax valuation allowances, employee post-retirement benefits and other similar evaluations; actual results may vary from our estimates.

(a) Basis of presentation

We have prepared the consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”), which differ in certain respects from the Brazilian accounting principles that we use in preparing our statutory financial information.

The U.S. dollar amounts for the period presented have been remeasured (translated) from the Brazilian currency amounts in accordance with the criteria set forth in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 52 – “Foreign Currency Translation” ( SFAS 52).

Prior to July 1, 1997, Brazil was considered under SFAS 52 to have a highly inflationary economy and accordingly, up to June 30, 1997, we adopted the U.S. dollar as both our functional currency and reporting currency.

As from July 1, 1997, we concluded that the Brazilian economy had ceased to be highly inflationary and changed our functional currency from the reporting currency (U.S. dollars) to the local currency (Brazilian reais), for Brazilian operations and extensions thereof. Accordingly, we translated the U.S. dollar amounts of non-monetary assets and liabilities into reais at the current exchange rate, and those amounts became the new accounting bases for such assets and liabilities.

We have remeasured all assets and liabilities into U.S. dollars at the current exchange rate at each

F - 8


balance sheet date (R$3.5333 and R$2.3204 to US$1.00 at December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively), and all accounts in the statements of income (including amounts relative to local currency indexation and exchange variances on assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currency) at the average rates prevailing during the period. The translation gain or loss resulting from this remeasurement process is included in the cumulative translation adjustments account in stockholders’ equity.

The net exchange transaction loss included in our statement of income was $515, $410 and $115 in 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively, included within the line “Foreign exchange and monetary losses, net”.

(b) Basis of consolidation

All majority-owned subsidiaries where we have both share and management control are consolidated, with elimination of all significant intercompany accounts and transactions. Investments in unconsolidated affiliates and joint ventures are reported at cost less amortized goodwill plus our equity in undistributed earnings or losses. Included in this category are certain joint ventures in which we have majority ownership but, by force of shareholders’ agreements, do not have effective management control. We provide for losses on equity investments with negative stockholders’ equity where applicable (see Note 10).

We evaluate the carrying value of our listed investments relative to publicly available quoted market prices. If the quoted market price is below book value, and such decline is considered other than temporary, we write-down our equity investments to quoted market value.

We define joint ventures as businesses in which we and a small group of other partners each participate actively in the overall entity management, based on a shareholders agreement. We define affiliates as businesses in which we participate as a minority stockholder but with significant influence over the operating and financial policies of the investee.

(c) Business combinations 

We adopt the procedures determined by SFAS 141 – “Business Combinations” to recognize acquisitions of interests in other companies. The method of accounting used in our business combination transactions is the “purchase method”, which requires that acquirers reasonably determine the fair value of the identifiable assets and liabilities of acquired companies, individually, in order to determine the goodwill paid in the purchase to be recognized as an intangible asset. On the acquisition of assets which include the rights to mine reserves of natural resources, the establishment of values for these assets includes the placing of fair values on purchased reserves, which are classified in the balance sheet as property, plant and equipment.

Goodwill was amortized in a systematic manner over the periods estimated to be benefited through December 31, 2001. As required by SFAS 142 - “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” from January 1, 2002 goodwill resulting from the acquisitions is not amortized, but is tested for impairment at least annually and reduced to fair value to the extent any such impairment is identified.

(d) Inventories

Inventories are stated at the average cost of purchase or production, lower than replacement or realizable values. We record allowances for slow-moving or obsolete inventories when considered appropriate, reflecting our periodic assessment of recoverability. A write-down of inventory utilizing the allowance establishes a new cost basis for the related inventory.

Finished goods inventories include all related materials, labor and direct production expenditures, and exclude general and administrative expenses.

(e) Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost, including interest cost incurred during the construction of major new facilities. We compute depreciation on the straight-line basis at rates which take into consideration the useful lives of the items, such as: from 2% to 20% for the railroads, 5% for ships, 3% for buildings, from 2% to 5% for installations and from 5% to 20% for mining and other equipment. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to operating costs and expenses as incurred.

We capitalize the costs of developing major new ore bodies or expanding the capacity of operating mines and amortize these to operations on the unit-of-production method based on the total probable and proven quantity of ore to be recovered. Exploration costs are expensed until viability of mining activities is established; subsequently such costs are capitalized together with further exploration costs. We capitalize mine development costs as from the time we actually begin such development.

F - 9


(f) Available-for-sale equity securities

Equity securities classified as “available-for-sale” are recorded in accordance with SFAS 115 “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities”. Accordingly, we exclude unrealized holding gains and losses, net of taxes, if applicable, from income and recognize them as a separate component of stockholders’ equity until realized.

(g) Revenues and expenses

Revenues are recognized when title has transferred to the customer or services are rendered. Expenses and costs are recognized on the accrual basis. Revenue from exported products is recognized when such products are loaded on board the ship. Revenue from products sold in the domestic market is recognized when delivery is made to the customer. Revenue from transportation services, other than shipping operations, is recognized when the service order has been fulfilled. Shipping operations are recorded on the completed voyage basis and net revenue, costs and expenses of voyages not completed at period-end are deferred. Anticipated losses on voyages are provided when probable and can be reasonably estimated.

(h) Environmental and site reclamation and restoration costs

Expenditures relating to ongoing compliance with environmental regulations are charged against earnings or capitalized as appropriate. These ongoing programs are designed to minimize the environmental impact of our activities. With respect to our two major iron ore mines at Itabira and Carajás, which have extensive remaining reserves, liabilities for final site reclamation and restoration costs will be recorded when the respective reclamation and restoration strategies can be reasonably determined and the related costs can be reasonably estimated.

(i) Compensated absences

We fully accrue the future employees compensation liability for vacations vested during the year.

(j) Income taxes

In accordance with SFAS 109 - “Accounting for Income Taxes”, the deferred tax effects of temporary differences have been recognized in the consolidated financial statements. A valuation allowance is made when we believe that it is more likely than not that tax assets will not be fully recoverable in the future.

(k) Statement of cash flows

Cash flows relating to overnight financing and investment are reported net. Short-term investments that have a ready market and maturity to us, when purchased, of 90 days or less are considered cash equivalents.

(l) Earnings per share

Earnings per share are computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common and preferred shares outstanding during the period.

(m) Interest attributed to stockholders 

As from January 1, 1996 Brazilian corporations are permitted to attribute interest on stockholders’ equity. The calculation is based on the stockholders’ equity amounts as stated in the statutory accounting records and the interest rate applied may not exceed the long-term interest rate (TJLP) determined by the Brazilian Central Bank. Also, such interest may not exceed 50% of net income for the year nor 50% of retained earnings plus revenue reserves.

The amount of interest attributed to stockholders is deductible for income tax purposes. Accordingly, the benefit to us, as opposed to making a dividend payment, is a reduction in our income tax charge equivalent to the statutory tax rate applied to such amount. Income tax is withheld from the stockholders relative to interest at the rate of 15%, except for interest due to the Brazilian Government which is exempt from tax withholdings.

We have opted to pay such tax-deductible interest to our stockholders and have therefore accrued the amounts due as of December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000, with a direct charge to stockholders’ equity.

Under Brazilian law interest attributable to stockholders is considered as part of the annual minimum dividend (See Note 13). Accordingly such distributions are treated as dividends for accounting purposes.

F - 10


 

n) Derivatives and hedging activities

As of January 1, 2001 we adopted SFAS 133 - “Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities”, as amended by SFAS 137 and SFAS 138. Those standards require that we recognize all derivative financial instruments as either assets or liabilities on our balance sheet and measure such instruments at fair value. Changes in the fair value of derivatives are recorded in each period in current earnings or in other comprehensive income, in the latter case depending on whether a transaction is designated as an effective hedge.

The transition adjustment relating to the fair value of derivatives existing as of December 31, 2000 is recorded as a charge of $8 in our statement of income for the year ended December 31, 2001. In view of the immateriality of this effect of a change in accounting principle the corresponding amount was included with other non-operating expenses. Certain of our affiliated companies and joint ventures also recorded similar charges, of which our portion of $4 is included in the caption “Equity in results of affiliates and joint ventures” in the statement of income.

Further information about our derivatives and hedging activities is included in Note 19.

(o) Comprehensive income

We have disclosed comprehensive income as part of the Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity, in compliance with SFAS 130 – “Reporting Comprehensive Income”.

(p) Recently-issued accounting pronouncements

In June 2001 and August 2001, respectively, the FASB issued SFAS 143 - “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations” and SFAS 144 - “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets”. SFAS 143 is effective for us as from January 1, 2003 and we are still studying the potential effects that adoption may have on our financial statements.

In June 2002, FASB has issued SFAS 146 - “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities”. The standard requires companies to recognize costs associated with exit or disposal activities when they are incurred rather than at the date of a commitment to an exit or disposal plan. SFAS 146 is to be applied prospectively to exit or disposal activities initiated after December 31, 2002. We believe that the adoption of SFAS 146, will not have significant impact on our financial position or results of operations.

In November 2002 the FASB issued FIN 45 - “Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others”. The Interpretation elaborates on the existing disclosure requirements for most guarantees, including loan guarantees such as standby letters of credit. It also clarifies that at the time a company issues a guarantee, the company must recognize an initial liability for the fair value, or market value, of the obligations it assumes under that guarantee and must disclose that information in its interim and annual financial statements. The initial recognition and initial measurement provisions apply on a prospective basis to guarantees issued or modified after December 31, 2002, regardless of the guarantor’s fiscal year-end. The disclosure requirements in the Interpretation, applicable at December 31, 2002 are disclosed in Note 15. We are studying the effect that adoption of the accounting requirements of FIN 45 will have on our financial statements.

(q) Reclassification

Certain reclassifications have been made to the financial statements for 2001 and 2000 to make them comparable with the 2002 presentation.

F - 11


3  Our privatization
   
  In May 1997, we were privatized by the Brazilian Government, which transferred voting control to Valepar S.A. (“Valepar”). The Brazilian Government has retained certain rights with respect to our future decisions and those of Valepar and has also caused us to enter into agreements which may affect our activities and results of operations in the future. These rights and agreements are:
     
  Preferred Special Share. The Brazilian Government holds a preferred special share of CVRD which confers upon it permanent veto rights over changes in our (i) name, (ii) headquarters location, (iii) corporate purpose with respect to mineral exploration, (iv) continued operation of our integrated iron ore mining systems and (v) certain other matters.
     
  Preferred Class A Share of Valepar. The Brazilian Government holds a preferred class A share of Valepar which confers upon it approval rights for a period of five years in respect of (i) concentration of ownership of Valepar by particular types of investors in excess of prescribed limitations and (ii) changes in the Valepar holding company structure relating to ownership of our common shares.
     
  Shareholder revenue interests. On July 7, 1997, we issued to shareholders of record on April 18, 1997 (including the Brazilian Government) revenue interests providing holders thereof with the right to receive semi-annual payments based on a percentage of our net revenues above threshold production volumes from identified mining resources. These instruments are not secured by the corresponding mineral reserves and deposits.
 
  In addition to the preferred special share mentioned above, the National Treasury and the Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social – BNDES, the Government-owned development bank, together held 32% of our common shares and 4% of our preferred shares, which in aggregate represented 22% of our total capital at December 31, 2001. These common shares were sold through a public offering in Brazil and abroad which was completed on March 27, 2002.
 
4  Major acquisitions and disposals during the years presented
 
  We made the following acquisitions during the periods presented. Pro forma information with respect to results of operations is not presented since the effects are not considered material to an understanding of our consolidated financial statements, except with respect to our acquisition of the control of Alunorte in June 2002 (see Note 4 (h)).
 
(a) On May 11, 2000, we acquired the entire capital of Mineração SOCOIMEX S.A., a non-public company whose main activity is production and commercialization of iron ore, for the total price of $55, being an initial cash payment of $47 and two further cash payments of $3 and $5, in 2001 and 2002, respectively. The increment of the fair value over the book value of SOCOIMEX at the date of purchase was entirely attributable to its mineral reserves, which are included in the property, plant and equipment. In August 2000 SOCOIMEX was merged into CVRD.
 
(b) On May 30, 2000, we became the controlling shareholder of S.A. Mineração Trindade – SAMITRI, through the acquisition of 79.27% of the voting capital and 63.06% of the total capital for $520 in cash. At the date of the purchase, SAMITRI was a publicly listed Brazilian iron ore mining company, which also owned a 51% interest in the voting capital of SAMARCO Mineração S.A., a large iron ore pellets producer (see Note 10). On June 29, 2000, we sold 1% of the voting capital of SAMARCO to BHP Brasil Ltda. (BHP), a subsidiary of The Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited of Australia, for $8, to equalize our shareholdings in the joint venture.
 
F - 12

(c)   The assets and liabilities acquired as a result of the above transactions and corresponding goodwill were as follows:
           
        Consolidated Subsidiaries  
       
 
    Unconsolidated          
    joint venture          
    SAMARCO   SAMITRI   SOCOIMEX  
   
 
 
 
  Fair value of assets 1,006   293   77  
  Fair value of liabilities (450 ) (144 ) (22 )
   
 
 
 
  Net assets at fair value 556   149   55  
   
 
 
 
  Interest acquired 50.00 % 63.06 % 100.00 %
           
  Fair value of net assets acquired 278   94   55  
  Attributable to minority stockholders            
     of SAMITRI (36.94%) (103 )    
  Tax benefits 31      
   
 
 
 
  Effective interest acquired 206   94   55  
           
  Purchase price 252   268   55  
   
 
 
 
  Goodwill 46   174    
   
 
 
 

The main assets for which fair values differ from book values are inventories and property, plant and equipment. We determined the fair values of inventories based on the current replacement costs for raw materials and the estimated selling prices for finished goods, net of disposal costs and a selling margin. The fair values of property, plant and equipment were determined based on current replacement costs for similar capacity and the estimated market value of purchased reserves. Deferred taxes were recorded for the differences between fair values and tax bases.

For SAMARCO, SAMITRI and SOCOIMEX inventories were valued at $36, $38 and $9, respectively, property, plant and equipment were valued at $830, $161 and $58, respectively, and the deferred tax liability was $60, $49 and $15, respectively.

We had adopted a policy to amortize the goodwill on the SAMITRI and SAMARCO purchases on the straight-line basis over a period of 6 years, starting on the date of acquisition. However, as explained in Note 2 (c), upon adoption of SFAS 142 on January 1, 2002 such straight-line amortization ceased.

(d) On September 22, 2000 we increased our ownership of SAMITRI, via public tender to 99.25% of the voting capital and 99.19% of the total capital. The cash cost of this purchase was $180 and resulted in additional goodwill of $27, all attributed to SAMARCO.
   
(e)   In October 2000, we acquired 50% of Gulf Industrial Investment Company (GIIC), a pelletizing company located in Bahrain, for $91, including goodwill of $20, now totally amortized.
   
(f) On April 27, 2001 we acquired 100% of Ferteco Mineração S.A. - FERTECO, a non-public company whose main activity is production and commercialization of iron ore and pellets, for $523 in cash.

The assets and liabilities acquired and corresponding goodwill were as follows:

  Fair value of assets 401  
  Fair value of liabilities (251 )
   
 
  Net assets at fair value 150  
  Purchase price 523  
   
 
  Goodwill 373  
   
 

For FERTECO inventories were valued at $57, property, plant and equipment were valued at $178, and the deferred tax liability was $24.

F - 13


(g)   In December 2001, acting through our wholly-owned foreign subsidiary Itabira Rio Doce Company Ltd. - ITACO, we acquired 659,375,000 common shares of Caemi Mineração e Metalurgia S.A. (Caemi), corresponding to 16.82% of its total capital and 50% of its voting capital from Cayman Iron Ore Investment Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (MITSUI) for US$ 279. Caemi is a Brazilian company headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, which operates in the iron ore, kaolin, refractory bauxite and railroad sectors and is accounted for as an equity investee.

This acquisition was approved by the European Commission subject to the commitment for Caemi to sell its equity investment in Quebec Cartier Mining Company (QCM), a Canadian producer of iron ore and pellets.

CVRD and Mitsui, each of which holds 50% of Caemi’s common shares, entered into a shareholder agreement requiring both shareholders to approve all major decisions affecting Caemi.

The estimated net assets and corresponding goodwill were as follows:

    December 31, 2001  
   
 
  Estimated fair value of assets 1,127  
  Estimated fair value of liabilities (734 )
   
 
  Net assets at fair value 393  
       
  Interest in total capital acquired 16.82 %
  Estimated fair value of net assets acquired 66  
  Purchase price 279  
   
 
  Goodwill 213  
   
 
   
(h) On June 27, 2002 we acquired a further 12.62% of the capital of ALUNORTE for $42, increasing our participation to 57.03% (represented by 62.09% of total common stock and 19.05% of total preferred stock). ALUNORTE has been consolidated as from this date.

Unaudited pro forma information with respect to the effect on our consolidated statement of income, reflecting the consolidation of ALUNORTE as if control has been acquired as at January 1, 2001 is as follows:

    2002   2001  
   
 
 
        Pre-                  
    CVRD   acquisition   Pro Forma   CVRD       Pro Forma  
    Consolidated   ALUNORTE   (unaudited)   Consolidated   ALUNORTE   (unaudited)  
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Net operating revenues 4,123   138   4,261   3,935   294   4,229  
  Operating costs and expenses (2,694 ) (151 ) (2,845 ) (2,973 ) (219 ) (3,192 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Operating income 1,429   (13 ) 1,416   962   75   1,037  
  Non-operating income (expenses) (828 ) (38 ) (866 ) 158   (83 ) 75  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Income before income taxes, equity results                        
     and minority interests 601   (51 ) 550   1,120   (8 ) 1,112  
  Income taxes 149     149   218   (5 ) 213  
  Equity in results of affiliates and joint ventures (28 ) 23   (5 ) (49 ) 7   (42 )
  Change in provision for losses on equity investments (59 )   (59 ) (4 )   (4 )
  Minority interests 17   28   45   2     2  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Net income 680     680   1,287   (6 ) 1,281  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
(i)   On January 14, 2000 we sold 20.81% of the capital of Alumina do Norte do Brasil S.A.- ALUNORTE and a beneficial interest in 8% of the capital of Mineração Rio do Norte S.A. - MRN owned by us for an aggregate of $164, resulting in a gain of $54. The total consideration of $164 was received in cash; however, $120 was received through the issue and sale of Perpetual Notes with a fair value of $55 and this fair value continues to be reported as a liability and periodically adjusted based on an early termination formula reflecting the underlying profitability of MRN.
   
(j)   On March 9, 2001 we transferred our 10.33% interest in Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional - CSN to VALIA, as a special pension plan contribution, for $249 (fair market value determined based on the weighted average price of the last thirty trading sessions at the São Paulo stock exchange in the period ended on March 9, 2001). This transfer resulted in a gain of $107. We have provided VALIA with a guarantee that we will make additional contributions to the pension plan if the market value of the CSN shares falls below threshold levels prior to the sale thereof by VALIA. At December 31, 2002 we have provided $1 in respect of this commitment.

F - 14


(k)
On April 27, 2001 we concluded the sale of our 32.00% interest in Bahia Sul Celulose S.A. - BSC for $318, received in cash on May 7, 2001. This operation resulted in a gain of $170.
   
(l)
On June 6, 2001 we concluded the sale of our 51.48% interest in Celulose Nipo-Brasileira S.A. - CENIBRA for $671, received in cash on September 14, 2001. This operation resulted in a gain of $507.
   
5  Income taxes
   
 
Income taxes in Brazil comprise federal income tax and social contribution, which is an additional federal tax. The statutory enacted tax rates applicable in the periods presented are as follows:
   
    Year ended December 31 - %  
   
 
    2002   2001   2000  
   
 
 
 
  Federal income tax 25   25   25  
  Social contribution 9   9   12 to 9  
   
 
 
 
  Composite tax rate 34   34   37 to 34  
   
 
 
 

The amount reported as income tax benefit in our consolidated financial statements is reconciled to the statutory rates as follows:

    Year ended December 31  
   
 
    2002   2001   2000  
   
 
 
 
  Income before income taxes, equity results and minority interests 601   1,120   731  
   
 
 
 
  Federal income tax and social contribution expense at statutory enacted rates (204 ) (381 ) (249 )
  Adjustments to derive effective tax rate:            
     Tax benefit on interest attributed to stockholders 99   260   222  
     Exempt foreign income 196   226   69  
     Tax deductible goodwill in business combination 20   58    
     Tax effect related to provision for losses and write-downs 29   59    
     Tax incentives 4   26   31  
     Valuation allowance (12 ) (44 ) (51 )
     Other non-taxable gains 17   14   10  
   
 
 
 
  Federal income tax and contribution benefit in consolidated            
     statements of income 149   218   32  
   
 
 
 

We have certain tax incentives relative to our iron ore and manganese operations in Carajás and others from gold and potash operations. The incentives comprise full income tax exemption on defined production levels up to 2005 and partial exemption up to 2013. An amount equal to the tax saving must be appropriated to a reserve account within stockholders’ equity (Note 13) and may not be distributed in the form of cash dividends.

F - 15


 

  The major components of the deferred tax accounts in the balance sheet are as follows:
           
    As of December 31  
   


 
    2002   2001  
   
 
 
  Net current deferred tax assets        
  Accrued expenses deductible only when disbursed 211   265  
   
 
 
    211   265  
   
 
 
  Long-term deferred tax assets and liabilities        
  Assets        
  Deferred tax relative to temporary differences 5   18  
  Tax deductible goodwill in business combinations 66   134  
  Related to provision for losses and write-downs of investments 158   120  
  Additional retirement benefits provision 47   58  
  Tax loss carryforwards 187   220  
  Other temporary differences (in 2002 including $94 of Alunorte) 211   21  
   
 
 
    674   571  
   
 
 
  Liabilities        
  Inflationary income (21 ) (25 )
  Prepaid retirement benefit (27 ) (34 )
  Fair value adjustments in business combinations (38 ) (72 )
   
 
 
    (86 ) (131 )
   
 
 
  Valuation allowance        
  Beginning balance (213 ) (201 )
  Translation adjustments 73   32  
  Additions (in 2002 including $92 of Alunorte) (118 ) (44 )
  Reversals 28    
   
 
 
  Ending balance (230 ) (213 )
   
 
 
  Net long-term deferred tax assets 358   227  
   
 
 
           
6  Cash and cash equivalents        
           
    As of December 31  
   
 
    2002   2001  
   
 
 
  Cash 51   22  
  Deposits in local currency 220   76  
  Deposits in United States dollars 820   1,019  
   
 
 
    1,091   1,117  
   
 
 
7 Accounts receivable    
       
    As of December 31  
   
 
    2002   2001  
   
 
 
  Customers        
     Domestic 189   170  
     Export, all denominated in        
        United States dollars 503   408  
   
 
 
    692   578  
  Allowance for doubtful accounts (26 ) (21 )
  Allowance for ore weight credits (6 ) (8 )
  Total 660   549  
   
 
 
         

Accounts receivable from customers in the steel industry amount to 18.4% and 28.3% of domestic receivables (export receivables – 95.1% and 91.5%) at December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively. No single customer accounted for more than 10% of total revenues in any of the years presented.

  F - 16


8 Inventories    
       
    As of December 31  
   
 
    2002   2001  
   
 
 
  Finished products        
     Iron ore 86   110  
     Gold 2   5  
     Manganese 24   27  
     Ferroalloys 27   28  
     Alumina 15    
     Others 10   16  
  Spare parts and maintenance supplies 128   137  
    292   323  
   
 
 

F - 17


9 Property, plant and equipment
                   
a) Per business area:
                   
    As of December 31, 2002   As of December 31, 2001  
   
 
 
        Accumulated           Accumulated      
    Cost   depreciation   Net   Cost   depreciation   Net  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
                           
  Ferrous                        
     Ferrous - Southern System                        
        Mining 728   318   410   1,000   460   540  
        Railroads 646   308   338   935   463   472  
        Marine terminals 99   60   39   194   92   102  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    1,473   686   787   2,129   1,015   1,114  
     Ferrous - Northern System                        
        Mining 483   208   275   678   308   370  
        Railroads 727   292   435   1,075   408   667  
        Marine terminals 139   65   74   202   97   105  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    1,349   565   784   1,955   813   1,142  
        Pelletizing 283   76   207   198   108   90  
        Ferroalloys 171   96   75   206   106   100  
        Energy 58   6   52   82   6   76  
        Construction in progress 406     406   569     569  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    3,740   1,429   2,311   5,139   2,048   3,091  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Non-Ferrous                        
        Potash 39   15   24   50   17   33  
        Gold 119   100   19   256   167   89  
        Kaolin 71   17   54   96   21   75  
        Research and projects 63   48   15   17   9   8  
        Construction in progress 288     288   90     90  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    580   180   400   509   214   295  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Logistics                        
        General cargo 232   109   123   353   179   174  
        Maritime transportation 10   8   2   238   130   108  
        Construction in progress 19       19   23     23  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    261   117   144   614   309   305  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Holdings                        
        Aluminum 248   55   193        
        Others 12   2   10   72   20   52  
        Construction in progress 204     204   45     45  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    464   57   407   117   20   97  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Corporate Center                        
        Corporate 35   13   22   40   17   23  
        Construction in progress 13     13   2     2  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    48   13   35   42   17   25  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Total 5,093   1,796   3,297   6,421   2,608   3,813  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
                           
b) Per type of assets:
   
    As of December 31, 2002   As of December 31, 2001  
   
 
 
        Accumulated           Accumulated      
    Cost   depreciation   Net   Cost   depreciation   Net  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Land and buildings 489   188   301   678   255   423  
  Installations 1,448   590   858   1,415   775   640  
  Equipment 391   196   195   673   306   367  
  Ships 8   5   3   235   127   108  
  Railroads 1,258   568   690   1,675   729   946  
  Mine development costs 193   53   140   302   77   225  
  Others 376   196   180   714   339   375  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    4,163   1,796   2,367   5,692   2,608   3,084  
  Construction in progress 930     930   729     729  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Total 5,093   1,796   3,297   6,421   2,608   3,813  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
                           
 
Losses on disposals of property, plant and equipment totaled $62, $79 and $47 in 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively. Disposals mainly relate to impairment of gold mines, sales of ships and trucks, locomotives and other equipment which were replaced in the normal course of business.

F - 18


   
  In 2002 we sold certain forestry assets of our subsidiary Florestas Rio Doce S.A. for $59 and recorded a gain on this sale of $49.
                                   
(c) Hydroelectric projects
                                   
  We participate in several jointly-owned hydroelectric plants, already in operation or under construction. We have an undivided interest in these plants and are responsible for our proportionate share of the costs of construction and operation and are entitled to our proportionate share of the energy produced.
                                   
  The situation of these projects at December 31, 2002 is as follows:
                                   
      Date of           Our           Our share    
      completion /   Our       share of           of plant    
      expected   interest   Plant in   plant in   Accumulated   Plant under   under    
  Project   completion   %   service   service   depreciation   construction   construction    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
                                   
  Igarapava   September, 1999   38.1   110   42   5        
  Porto Estrela   November, 2001   33.3   48   16   1        
  Funil   January, 2003   51.0         65   33    
  Candonga   November, 2003   50.0         38   19    
  Aimorés   December, 2003   51.0         94   48    
  Capim Branco I   February, 2006   48.4         2   1    
  Capim Branco II   June, 2006   48.4         4   2    
  Foz do Chapecó   July, 2007   40.0         3   1    
  Santa Isabel   August, 2007   43.9              
  Estreito   July, 2007   30.0              
                                   
  Income and expenses relating to operating plants are not material.

 

F - 19


 

10 Investments                                
                                   
    As of December 31  
   
 
                                       
    2002   Investments   Equity Adjustments  
   
 
 
 
                                       
                (1)Net                      
                income                      
    Participation in   (1)Net   (loss) for                      
    capital (%)   equity   the year   2002   2001   2002   2001   2000  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                       
  Investments in affiliated companies and joint ventures voting   total                              
   
 
                             
  Steel                                    
  Usinas Siderúrgicas de Minas Gerais S.A - USIMINAS (2) 22.99   11.46     (131 )   32   (15 )   7  
  Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional - CSN (3)                 9   13  
  Companhia Siderúrgica de Tubarão - CST (4) 20.51   22.85   118   84   27   18   19   (1 ) 22  
  California Steel Industries Inc. - CSI 50.00   50.00   213   37   107   98   19   (3 ) 17  
                                       
  Paper and pulp                                    
  Celulose Nipo-Brasileira S.A. - CENIBRA (3)               9   66  
  Bahia-Sul Celulose S.A - BSC (3)               2   42  
                                       
  Aluminum and bauxite                                    
  Mineração Rio do Norte S.A. - MRN 40.00   40.00   405   94   162   154   38   32   36  
  Valesul Alumínio S.A. - VALESUL 54.51   54.51   72   25   39   51   14   11   12  
  Alumina do Norte do Brasil S.A. - ALUNORTE (6) 62.09   57.03     (51 )   89   (23 ) (6 ) 11  
                                       
  Iron ore and pellets                                    
  Caemi Mineração e Metalurgia S.A. (7) 50.00   16.85   457   (83 ) 77   289   (100 )    
  Companhia Nipo-Brasileira de Pelotização - NIBRASCO 51.11   51.00   23   7   12   16   4   (2 ) 11  
  Companhia Hispano-Brasileira de Pelotização - HISPANOBRÁS 51.00   50.89   27   10   14   18   5   5   9  
  Companhia Coreano-Brasileira de Pelotização - KOBRASCO 50.00   50.00     (31 )   2   (2 ) (8 ) 2  
  Companhia Ítalo-Brasileira de Pelotização - ITABRASCO 51.00   50.90   17   9   9   13   5   4   7  
  Gulf Industrial Investment Company - GIIC 50.00   50.00   73   10   37   38   5   (17 ) 1  
  SAMARCO Mineração S.A. 50.00   50.00   307   56   184   258   28   11   8  
                                       
  Others                                    
  Fertilizantes Fosfatados S.A. - FOSFERTIL (5) 10.96   11.12   227   73   25   29   8   5   5  
  Salobo Metais S.A (6) 100.00   100.00         22        
  Ferrovia Centro-Atlântica S.A - FCA 20.00   45.65             (95 ) (30 )
  Others (8)         35   84   (33 ) (5 ) 21  
                   
 
 
 
 
 
                    728   1,211   (28 ) (49 ) 260  
  Investments at cost                                    
  SIDERAR (market value $30 in 2002 - $11 in 2001) 4.85   4.85       30   15        
  Unrealized holding gains on equity security           (4 )      
  Others         1   5        
                   
 
 
 
 
 
                    759   1,227   (28 ) (49 ) 260  
                   
 
 
 
 
 
  Change in provision for losses on equity investments:                                    
  Alumínio Brasileiro S.A. - ALBRAS                         10   4   66  
  Companhia Ferroviária do Nordeste                         (3 ) (8 ) (4 )
  Companhia Coreano-Brasileira de Pelotização - KOBRASCO                         (14 )    
  Ferroban - Ferrovias Bandeirantes S.A.                         (1 )    
  Ferrovia Centro-Atlântica S.A. - FCA                         (42 )    
  MRS Logística S.A                         (7 )    
  CSN Aceros                         (2 )    
                           
 
 
 
                            (59 ) (4 ) 62  
                           
 
 
 
  Total                         (87 ) (53 ) 322  
                           
 
 
 
  (1) Based on US GAAP financial information.
  (2) Value based on quoted market price at December 31, 2002 is $ 46 compared to net book value of $ 0.
  (3) Investments sold in 2001.
  (4) Value based on quoted market price at December 31, 2002 is $ 130 compared to net book value of $ 27.
  (5) Value based on quoted market price at December 31, 2002 is $ 33 compared to net book value of $ 25.
  (6) Alunorte and Salobo Metais S.A. are consolidated at December 31, 2002, after acquisition of control.
  (7) Value based on quoted market price at December 31, 2002 is $ 97 compared to net book value of $ 77, equity adjustment for 2002 also includes $ 86 of goodwill write-off as at September 30, 2002.
  (8) Includes losses of MRS Logística in 2002 and related equity adjustments of $ 20.

F - 20


Goodwill included in the above investments is as follows:

    As of December 31  
   
 
  Investee 2002   2001  
 
 
 
 
  Alumina do Norte do Brasil S.A. - ALUNORTE   24  
  SAMARCO Mineração S.A 30   41  
  Caemi Mineração e Metalurgia S.A   223  
   
 
 
    30   288  
   
 
 

Based on our revised expectation for profitability and other economic facts, we fully amortized the remaining goodwill relative to FCA and GIIC in 2001. The goodwill relative to Caemi was written-off in September 2002 because the quoted market value for this investment was lower than our acquisition cost over the whole nine-month period to that date.

Information with respect to other major affiliates’ financial position and results of operations is as follows:

    ALUNORTE   ALBRAS   MRN  
   
 
 
 
      As of December 31  
       
 
    June 30,
2002
  2001   2002   2001   2002   2001  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Balance Sheet                        
     Current assets 85   159   158   158   51   55  
     Noncurrent assets 497   509   370   510   504   425  
     Current liabilities (84 ) (95 ) (197 ) (219 ) (45 ) (35 )
     Noncurrent liabilities (413 ) (431 ) (333 ) (463 ) (105 ) (59 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Stockholders’ equity 85   142   (2 ) (14 ) 405   386  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Our participation 57.58 % 45.58 % 51.00 % 51.00 % 40.00 % 40.00 %
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Investments 49   65   (1 ) (7 ) 162   154  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
                               
    Year ended December 31  
   
 
    ALUNORTE   ALBRAS   MRN  
   
 
 
 
    2002(*) 2001   2000   2002   2001   2000   2002   2001   2000  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Statement of Operations                                    
     Net sales 138   294   322   529   472   551   173   211   217  
     Costs and expenses (189 ) (302 ) (327 ) (561 ) (429 ) (452 ) (68 ) (121 ) (109 )
     Income (loss) before income taxes (51 ) (8 ) (5 ) (32 ) 43   99   105   90   108  
     Income taxes   (5 ) 28   52   (35 ) 30   (11 ) (9 ) (17 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Net income (loss) (51 ) (13 ) 23   20   8   129   94   81   91  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Our participation 44.96 % 45.58 % 49.29 % 51.00 % 51.00 % 51.00 % 40.00 % 40.00 % 40.00 %
  Participation in results (23 ) (6 ) 11   10   4   66   38   32   36  
  Change in provision for losses       (10 ) (4 ) (66 )      
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Equity adjustments (23 ) (6 ) 11         38   32   36  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  (*) Six months ended June 30.                                    

The financial position and results of operations of our affiliates in the steel sector are no longer significant to our consolidated financial statements.

The provision for losses on equity investments of $27 and $9 at December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively, relates to our investments in affiliates which have reported negative stockholders’ equity in their financial statements prepared in accordance with US GAAP and in circumstances where we have assumed commitments to fund our share of the accumulated losses, if necessary, through additional capital contributions or other means. Accordingly we (a) first reduce the value of the investment to zero and (b) subsequently provide for our portion of negative equity. The provision is comprised as follows:

F - 21


    Cia                      
    Coreano-   Ferrovia   Cia              
    Brasileira de   Centro-   Ferroviária              
    Pelotização   Atlântica   do Nordeste   ALBRAS   Others   TOTAL  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Provision at January 1, 2001     (6 ) (15 )   (21 )
  Change in provision - results     (8 ) 4     (4 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
        (14 ) (11 )   (25 )
  Payment of capital     10       10  
  Translation adjustment     2   4     6  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Provision at December 31, 2001     (2 ) (7 )   (9 )
  Additional loss provision (14 ) (42 ) (3 ) 10   (10 ) (59 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    (14 ) (42 ) (5 ) 3   (10 ) (68 )
  Payment of capital   42   5       47  
  Translation adjustment (2 )     (4 )   (6 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Provision at December 31, 2002 (16 )     (1 ) (10 ) (27 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 

Our participation in ALUNORTE (45.58% at December 31, 2001) changed several times during the periods presented, but we did not consolidate the financial statements of this investee due to the expected temporary nature of our increased holding (until we acquired control in June 2002).

Movements on the investment account and related provision up to June 2002 are as follows:

        ALUNORTE              
    Total shares of   shares owned              
    ALUNORTE   by CVRD              
    (in thousands)   (in thousands)   Investment   Goodwill   Net  
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Balance December 31, 1999 598,184   443,033   27   78   105  
  Sale of participation in January 2000 598,184   (124,491 ) (7 ) (48 ) (55 )
  Changes in participation-subscriptions by other                    
     shareholders     19     19  
  Capital call 673,494   13,437   5     5  
  Participation in 2000 net income     11     11  
  Translation adjustment     (5 )   (5 )
       
 
 
 
 
  Balance December 31, 2000 673,494   331,979   50   30   80  
  Capital Call 885,410   71,542   20     20  
  Changes in participation-subscriptions by other                    
        shareholders     6     6  
  Participation in 2001 net income     (6 )   (6 )
  Goodwill amortized       (1 ) (1 )
  Translation adjustment     (5 ) (5 ) (10 )
       
 
 
 
 
  Balance December 31, 2001 885,410   403,521   65   24   89  
       
 
 
 
 
  Capital Call 933,817   16,342   9     9  
  Purchase of additional participation 933,817   117,876   11   24   35  
  Changes in participation-subscriptions by other                    
        shareholders     9     9  
  Participation in 2002 net income (to June 30, 2002)     (32 )   (32 )
  Translation adjustment     (13 ) (4 ) (17 )
       
 
 
 
 
  Balance June 30, 2002 933,817   537,739   49   44   93  
       
 
 
 
 

F - 22


On January 14, 2000 we entered into a structured transaction with an unrelated party to sell both 20.81% of the capital of ALUNORTE and a beneficial interest in 8% of the capital of MRN owned by us for a total of $164, resulting in a net gain to us of $54, recorded in other operating income, as follows:

  Book value of 124,491 thousand shares of ALUNORTE sold (7 )
  Goodwill amortized (48 )
  Book value of beneficial interest in 8% of MRN  
   
 
    (55 )
  Cash received by us    
     On transfer of ALUNORTE shares 44  
     On issue and sale of Perpetual Notes 120  
  Fair value of Perpetual Notes (55 )
   
 
  Gain recognized on the transaction 54  
   
 

The Perpetual Notes are exchangeable for 48 billion preferred shares of the affiliate MRN (initially equivalent to 8% of the total number of shares of MRN owned by us). Interest is payable on the Notes in an amount equal to dividends paid on the underlying preferred shares, relative to periods starting as from the 2000 fiscal year. The Notes may be redeemed at our option or the Noteholders at any time by transfer of the underlying preferred shares to the Noteholders, providing the preemptive rights of the existing shareholders of MRN have been waived or have expired. Redemption by transfer of the underlying net assets of MRN is compulsory if certain events occur, including the liquidation or merger of MRN or the transfer of MRN’s asset and liabilities to a consortium formed by its shareholders to take over the operations of MRN. In the event of early termination the Notes may be redeemed, at the option the Noteholders, in lieu of transfer of the shares, for a cash sum equal to $48 plus the net present value of average annual earnings declared and paid by MRN for the three years immediately preceding such termination multiplied by 20 and discounted by 10% per year. This latter amount represents a fair value at December 31, 2002 of $63.

11 Short-term debt

Our short-term borrowings are principally from commercial banks and include import and export financing denominated in United States dollars, as follows:

    As of December 31  
   
 
    2002   2001  
   
 
 
  Export 163   498  
  Import   1  
  Working Capital 21   90  
   
 
 
    184   589  
   
 
 
         
 
Average annual interest rates on short-term borrowings were 3.97%, 4.96% and 8.18% in 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively.

 

F - 23


12 Long-term debt            
               
        As of December 31  
   
 
    Current liabilities   Long-Term liabilities  
   
 
 
    2002   2001   2002   2001  
   
 
 
 
 
  Foreign debt                
  Loans and financing contracted in the following currencies:                
           United States dollars 431   192   1,034   1,104  
           Japanese Yen 1   8   29   27  
           Others 1   2   1   2  
  Fixed Rate Notes - US$ denominated 200     600   500  
  Export Securitization - US$ denominated 25     275   300  
  Perpetual notes     63   55  
  Accrued charges 20   25      
   
 
 
 
 
    678   227   2,002   1,988  
   
 
 
 
 
                   
  Local debt                
 
Indexed by Long-Term Interest Rate - TJLP
8   28   22   9  
 
Indexed by General Price Index-Market (IGPM)
14   21   85   31  
 
Basket of currencies
13   15   32   39  
 
Shareholders revenue interests (Note 3)
    3   3  
 
Indexed by U.S. dollars
1   4   215   100  
 
Accrued charges
3   1      
   
 
 
 
 
    39   69   357   182  
   
 
 
 
 
  Total 717   296   2,359   2,170  
   
 
 
 
 
   
  The long-term portion at December 31, 2002 becomes due in the following years:
         
  2004   819  
  2005   404  
  2006   299  
  2007   443  
  2008 and thereafter   331  
  No due date (Perpetual notes and shareholders revenue interest)   63  
     
 
      2,359  
     
 
       
  At December 31, 2002 annual interest rates on long-term debt were as follows:
       
  Up to 7% 1,682  
  7.1% to 9% 753  
  9.1% to 11% 517  
  Over 11% 61  
  Variable (Perpetual notes) 63  
   
 
    3,076  
   
 

F - 24


The indexes applied to debt and respective percentage variations in each year were as follows:

    2002   2001   2000  
   
 
 
 
  TJLP - Long-Term Interest Rate (effective rate) 3.71   3.34   4.56  
  IGP-M - General Price Index - Market 25.31   10.40   9.95  
  United States Dollar 52.27   18.70   9.30  

Long-term debt at December 31, 2002 is guaranteed or secured as follows:

    Amount of  
    debt  
   
 
  Federal Government guarantee originated prior to 1997 (for which we    
     have provided counter-guarantees) 295  
  Third party guarantees 28  
  Export receivables (securitization) 125  
  Ships 2  

On March 8, 2002 our wholly-owned subsidiary, Vale Overseas Limited, issued $300 of 8.625% Enhanced Guaranteed Notes due March 8, 2007, unconditionally guaranteed by us.

13 Stockholders’ equity

Each holder of common and preferred class A stock is entitled to one vote for each share on all matters that come before a stockholders’ meeting, except for the election of the Board of Directors, which is restricted to the holders of common stock. As described in Note 3, the Brazilian Government holds a preferred special share which confers on it permanent veto rights over certain matters.

As of December 31, 2002, we had acquired 4,719,651 shares to be held in treasury for subsequent disposal or cancellation at an average weighted unit cost of R$27.80 (minimum cost of R$20.07 and maximum of R$52.09).

Both common and preferred stockholders are entitled to receive a dividend of at least 25% of annual net income, upon approval at the annual stockholders’ meeting. In the case of preferred stockholders, this dividend cannot be less than 6% of the preferred capital as stated in the statutory accounting records or, if greater, 3% of the book equity value per share. With respect to each of 2002, 2001 and 2000 we distributed dividends to preferred stockholders in excess of this limit. Interest attributed to stockholders as from January 1, 1996 is considered part of the minimum dividend.

Brazilian law permits the payment of cash dividends only from retained earnings as stated in the statutory accounting records and such payments are made in Reais. At December 31, 2002, we had no undistributed retained earnings. In addition, appropriated retained earnings at December 31, 2002 includes $1,705, related to the unrealized income and expansion reserves, which could be freely transferred to retained earnings and paid as dividends, if approved by the stockholders.

No withholding tax is payable on distribution of profits earned as from January 1, 1996, except for distributions in the form of interest attributed to stockholders as explained in Note 2 (m).

F - 25


 
Brazilian laws and our By-laws require that certain appropriations be made from retained earnings to reserve accounts on an annual basis, all determined in accordance with amounts stated in the statutory accounting records, as detailed below:
           
      Year ended December 31  
   
 
    2002   2001   2000  
   
 
 
 
  Appropriated retained earnings            
        Unrealized income reserve            
              Balance January 1 548   874   1,062  
              Transfer to retained earnings (337 ) (326 ) (188 )
   
 
 
 
              Balance December 31 211   548   874  
        Expansion reserve            
              Balance January 1 1,667   1,546   1,367  
              Transfer to capital stock   (278 )  
              Transfer from (to) retained earnings (173 ) 399   179  
   
 
 
 
              Balance December 31 1,494   1,667   1,546  
        Legal reserve            
 
Balance January 1
325   307   284  
 
Transfer from (to) retained earnings
(84 ) 18   23  
   
 
 
 
              Balance December 31 241   325   307  
        Fiscal incentive depletion reserve            
              Balance January 1 649   771   842  
              Transfer to capital stock (212 )    
              Transfer to retained earnings (153 ) (122 ) (71 )
   
 
 
 
              Balance December 31 284   649   771  
        Fiscal incentive investment reserve            
              Balance January 1 23   39   12  
              Transfer to capital stock (23 ) (33 )  
              Transfer from retained earnings   17   27  
   
 
 
 
              Balance December 31   23   39  
   
 
 
 
     Total appropriated retained earnings 2,230   3,212   3,537  
   
 
 
 
      The purpose and basis of appropriation to such reserves is described below:
     
 
Unrealized income reserve - this represents principally our share of the earnings of affiliates and joint ventures, not yet received in the form of cash dividends.
     
 
Expansion reserve - this is a general reserve for expansion of our activities.
     
 
Legal reserve - this reserve is a requirement for all Brazilian corporations and represents the appropriation of 5% of annual net income under Brazilian GAAP up to a limit of 20% of capital stock under Brazilian GAAP.
     
 
Fiscal incentive depletion reserve - this represents an additional amount relative to mineral reserve depletion equivalent to 20% of the sales price of mining production, which is deductible for tax purposes providing an equivalent amount is transferred from retained earnings to the reserve account. This fiscal incentive expired in 1996.
   
  Fiscal incentive investment reserve - this reserve results from an option to designate a portion of income tax otherwise payable for investment in government approved projects and is recorded in the year following that in which the taxable income was earned. As from 2000, this reserve also contemplates the tax incentives described in Note 5.
 
F - 26

 

14 Pension plans

Since 1973 we have sponsored a defined benefit pension plan (the “Old Plan”) covering substantially all employees, with benefits based on years of service, salary and social security benefits. This plan is administered by Fundação Vale do Rio Doce de Seguridade Social – VALIA and was funded by monthly contributions made by us and our employees, calculated based on periodic actuarial appraisals.

In May 2000, we implemented a new pension plan, which is primarily a defined contribution plan with a defined benefit feature relative to service prior to May 2000 (the “New Plan”), and offered our active employees the opportunity of transferring to the New Plan. Over 98% of our active employees opted to transfer to the New Plan. The Old Plan will continue in existence, covering almost exclusively retired participants and their beneficiaries.

The following information details the status of the defined benefit elements of our plans in accordance with SFAS 132 - “Employers’ Disclosure about Pensions and Other Post-retirement Benefits”:

(a)
Change in benefit obligation        
           
    As of December 31  
   
 
    2002   2001  
   
 
 
  Benefit obligation at beginning of year 1,388   1,596  
  Service cost 2   2  
  Interest cost 120   180  
  Benefits paid (94 ) (88 )
  Effect of exchange rate changes (288 ) (354 )
  Actuarial loss 180   52  
   
 
 
  Benefit obligation at end of year 1,308   1,388  
   
 
 
           
(b) Change in plan assets         
           
    As of December 31  
   
 
    2002   2001  
   
 
 
  Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year 1,374   1,189  
  Actual return on plan assets 277   220  
  Employer contributions (including special contribution in CSN        
     shares of $249 in 2001) 12   266  
  Benefits paid (94 ) (88 )
  Effect of exchange rate changes (284 ) (213 )
   
 
 
  Fair value of plan assets at end of year 1,285   1,374  
   
 
 

Plan assets at December 31, 2002 include $102 of portfolio investments in our own shares ($83 at December 31, 2001) and $8 of shares of related parties ($12 at December 31, 2001), as well as $387 of Federal Government Securities ($551 at December 31, 2001).

F - 27


(c) Accrued pension cost liability (prepaid pension cost)        
           
    As of December 31  
   
 
    2002   2001  
   
 
 
  Funded status, excess of benefit obligation over plan assets 23   14  
  Unrecognized net transitory obligation (65 ) (94 )
  Unrecognized net actuarial loss (37 ) (19 )
   
 
 
  Accrued pension cost liability (prepaid pension cost) (79 ) (99 )
   
 
 
           
(d) Assumptions used in each period (expressed in nominal terms) 
           
    2002   2001  
   
 
 
  Discount rate 11.30% p.a   11.30% p.a  
  Expected return on plan assets 11.30% p.a   11.30% p.a  
  Rate of compensation increase - up to 47 years 6.91% p.a   6.82% p.a.  
           
  Net pension cost includes the following components:
           
    Year ended December 31  
   
 
    2002   2001   2000  
   
 
 
 
  Service cost - benefits earned during the period 2   2   10  
  Interest cost on projected benefit obligation 120   180   171  
  Actual return on assets (277 ) (220 ) (128 )
  Amortization of initial transitory obligation 9   12   15  
  Net deferral 157   58   (22 )
   
 
 
 
    11   32   46  
  Employee contributions     (5 )
   
 
 
 
  Net periodic pension cost 11   32   41  
   
 
 
 

In addition to benefits provided under our pension plan, accruals have been made relative to supplementary benefits extended in previous periods as part of early-retirement programs. Such accruals included in long-term liabilities totaled $141 and $173, at December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively, plus $23 and $28 in current liabilities.

The cost recognized in the years 2002, 2001 and 2000 relative to the defined contribution element of the New Plan was $5, $5 and $3, respectively.

F - 28


 

15  Commitments and contingencies
   
(a)
At December 31, 2002, we had extended guarantees for borrowings obtained by affiliates and joint ventures in the amount of $516, of which $405 is denominated in United States dollars and the remaining $111 in local currency, as follow:
   
      Amount ofguarantee   Denominate
d
currency
      Final
maturity
  Counter
guarantees
  Affiliate or Joint Venture       Purpose    
 
 
 
 
 
 
  ALBRAS   302   US$   Debt guarantee   2007   None
      44   R$   Debt guarantee   2010   None
  FCA   51   US$   Debt guarantee   2009   None
      62   R$   Debt guarantee   2012   None
  KOBRASCO   13   US$   Debt guarantee   2003   None
  SEPETIBA TECON   19   US$   Debt guarantee   2005   None
      4   R$   Debt guarantee   2012   None
  SAMARCO   14   US$   Debt guarantee   2020   None
  VALESUL   1   R$   Debt guarantee   2006   None
                      Collateral
  NIBRASCO   6   US$   Debt guarantee   2004   Pledge

We expect no losses to arise as a result of the above guarantees. We have made no charges for extending these guarantees, except in the case of Albras and Samarco.

(b)
CVRD and its subsidiaries are defendants in numerous legal actions in the normal course of business. Based on the advice of our legal counsel, management believes that the provision made against contingent losses is sufficient to cover probable losses in connection with such actions.

The provision for contingencies and the related judicial deposits are composed as follows:

        As of December 31  
   
 
        2002       2001  
   


 


 
    Provision for   Judicial   Provision for   Judicial  
    contingencies   deposits   contingencies   deposits  
   
 
 
 
 
  Labor claims 109   52   147   50  
  Civil claims 95   32   123   53  
  Tax - related actions 220   153   177   131  
  Others 4   2   5   1  
   
 
 
 
 
  Long-term 428   239   452   235  
   
 
 
 
 

Labor–related actions principally comprise employee claims for (i) payment of time spent travelling from their residences to the work-place, (ii) additional payments for alleged dangerous or unhealthy working conditions and (iii) various other matters, often in connection with disputes about the amount of indemnities paid upon dismissal.

Civil actions principally relate to claims made against us by contractors in connection with losses alleged to have been incurred by them as a result of various past government economic plans during which full indexation of contracts for inflation was not permitted.

Tax-related actions principally comprise our challenges of changes in basis of calculation and rates of certain revenue taxes and of the tax on financial movements – CPMF.

We continue to vigorously pursue our interests in all the above actions but recognize that probably we will incur some losses in the final instance, for which we have made provisions.

Our judicial deposits are made as required by the courts for us to be able to enter or continue a legal

F - 29


action. When judgment is favorable to us, we receive the deposits back; when unfavorable, the deposits are delivered to the prevailing party.

Contingencies settled in the years December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 aggregated $178, $6 and, $36 respectively, and additional provisions aggregated $264, $79 and $101 in these years, respectively.

(c)  
We are defendants in two actions seeking substantial compensatory damages brought by the Municipality of Itabira, State of Minas Gerais, which we believe are without merit. Due to the remote likelihood that any loss will arise therefrom no provision has been made in the financial statements with respect to these two actions.
   
(d)  
We are committed under a take-or-pay agreement to take delivery of approximately 207,660 metric tons per year of aluminum from ALBRAS at market prices. This estimate is based on 51% of ALBRAS expected production and, at a market price of $1,348.00 per metric ton at December 31, 2002, represents an annual commitment of $279. Actual take from Albras was $257, $220 and $242 in 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively.
   
(e)
We and BNDES entered into a contract, known as the Mineral Risk Contract, in March 1997, relating to prospecting authorizations for mining regions where drilling and exploration are still in their early stages. The Mineral Risk Contract provides for the joint development of certain unexplored mineral deposits in approximately two million identified hectares of land in the Carajás region, as well as proportional participation in any financial benefits earned from the development of such resources. Iron ore and manganese deposits already identified and subject to development are specifically excluded from the Mineral Risk Contract.

Pursuant to the Mineral Risk Contract, we and BNDES each agreed to provide $205, which represents half of the $410 in expenditures estimated as necessary to complete geological exploration and mineral resource development projects in the region over a period of five years. Under certain circumstances, this period may be extended for an additional two years. We oversee these projects and BNDES advances us half of our costs on a quarterly basis. Under the Mineral Risk Contract, as of December 31, 2002, each of us and BNDES had remaining commitments to contribute an additional $54 toward exploration and development activities. In the event that either of us wishes to conduct further exploration and development after having spent such $205, the contract provides that each party may either choose to match the other party’s contributions, or may choose to have its financial interest proportionally diluted. If a party’s participation in the project is diluted to an amount lower than 40% of the amount invested in connection with exploration and development projects, then the Mineral Risk Contract provides that the diluted party will lose (1) all the rights and benefits provided for in the Mineral Risk Contract and (2) any amount previously contributed to the project.

Under the Mineral Risk Contract, BNDES has agreed to compensate us for our contribution of existing development and ownership rights in the Carajás region through a finder’s fee production royalty on mineral resources that are discovered and placed into production. This finder’s fee is equal to 3.5% of the revenues derived from the sale of gold, silver and platinum group metals and 1.5% of the revenues derived from the sale of other minerals, including copper, except for gold and other minerals discovered at Serra Leste, for which the finder’s fee is equal to 6.5% of revenues.

(f)
At the time of our privatization in 1997, we issued shareholder revenue interests known in Brazil as “debentures” to our then-existing shareholders, including the Brazilian Government. The terms of the “debentures”, which are described below, were set to ensure that our pre-privatization shareholders, including the Brazilian Government, would participate alongside us in potential future financial benefits that we are able to derive from exploiting our mineral resources.
   
 
In preparation for the issuance of the debentures, we issued series B preferred shares on a one-for-one basis to all holders of our common shares and series A preferred shares. We then exchanged all of the series B shares for the debentures at par value. The debentures are not redeemable or convertible, and do not trade on a stapled basis or otherwise with our common or preferred shares. During 2002 we registered the debentures with the CVM in order to permit trading.

F - 30


Under Brazilian Central Bank regulations, pre-privatization shareholders that held their shares through our preferred share American Depositary Receipt, or ADR, program and institutional investors that held their shares through rule 1,298/87 of Brazilian Central Bank were not permitted to receive the debentures or any financial benefits relating to the debentures. We sought approval from the Central Bank to distribute the debentures to these investors, but the Central Bank rejected our request. We intend to renew our request to the Central Bank, but we cannot be sure that we will succeed. Therefore, unless the Central Bank approves our request, the debentures will not have any value for ADR holders and foreign investors through annex V.

Under the terms of the debentures, holders will have the right to receive semi-annual payments equal to an agreed percentage of our net revenues (revenues less value added tax) from certain identified mineral resources that we owned as of May 1997, to the extent that we exceed defined threshold production volumes of these resources, and from the sale of mineral rights that we owned as of May 1997. Our obligation to make payments to the holders will cease when the relevant mineral resources are exhausted at which time we are required to repay the original par value plus accrued interest. Based on current production levels, and estimates for new projects, we expect to start payments referring to copper resources in 2004, to iron ore resources in approximately 2020 for the Northern System and 2030 for the Southern System, and payments related to other mineral resources in the end of this decade.

The table below summarizes the amounts we will be required to pay under the debentures based on the net revenues we earn from the identified mineral resources and the sale of mineral rights.

  Area Mineral Required Payments by CVRD

  Southern System Iron ore 1.8% of net revenue, after total sales from May 1997 exceeds 1.7 billion tons.
       
  Northern System Iron ore 1.8% of net revenue, after total sales from May 1997 exceeds 1.2 billion tons.
       
  Pojuca, Andorinhas, Liberdade and Sossego Gold and copper 2.5% of net revenue from the beginning of commercialization corresponding to our ownership interest at April 15, 1997.
       
  Igarapé Bahia and Alemão Gold and copper 2.5% of net revenue, after total sales from May 1997 exceeds 70 tons of gold.
       
  Fazenda Brasileiro Gold 2.5% of net revenue after total sales from May 1997 exceeds 26 tons.
       
  Other areas, excluding Carajás/ Serra Leste Gold 2.5% of net revenue.
       
  Other areas owned as of May 1997 Other minerals 1% of net revenue, 4 years after the beginning of the commercialization.
       
  All areas Sale of mineral rights owned as of May 1997 1% of the sales price.
   
(g)
At December 31, 2002 we have provided $15 for environmental liabilities. Such provisions relate to site restoration at mines already closed or which are expected to be closed in the next two years.
   
 
We use various judgments and assumptions when measuring our environmental liabilities. Changes in circumstances, law or technology may affect our estimates and we periodically review the amounts accrued and adjust them as necessary. Our accruals do not reflect unasserted claims because we are currently not aware of any such issues. Also the amounts provided are not reduced by any potential recoveries under cost sharing, insurance or indemnification arrangements because such recoveries are considered uncertain.

F - 31


16  Segment and geographical information

In 1999 we adopted SFAS 131 “Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information” with respect to the information we present about our operating segments. SFAS 131 introduced a “management approach” concept for reporting segment information, whereby financial information is required to be reported on the basis that the top decision-maker uses such information internally for evaluating segment performance and deciding how to allocate resources to segments. Our business segments are currently organized as follows:

Ferrous products - comprises iron ore mining and pellet production, as well as the Northern and Southern transportation systems, including railroads, ports and terminals, as they pertain to mining operations. Manganese mining and ferroalloys are also included in this segment.

Non-ferrous products – comprises the production of gold and other non-ferrous minerals.

Logistics – comprises our transportation systems as they pertain to operation of our ships, ports and railroads for third-party cargoes.

Holdings – divided into the following sub-groups:

  Pulp and paper - up to 2001 comprises our forestation activities and investments in joint ventures and affiliates engaged in the manufacture of pulp and paper products. In 2001 we disposed of most of our investments in pulp and paper and no longer consider this as a major business activity.
     
  Aluminum - comprises aluminum trading activities and investments in subsidiaries, joint ventures and affiliates engaged in bauxite mining, alumina refining and aluminum metal smelting.
     
  Steel - comprises our investments in joint ventures and affiliates operating in the steel industry.
     
  Others - comprises our investments in joint ventures and affiliates engaged in other businesses.

In 2002 we started to allocate our Corporate Center costs to segments. Information for 2001 and 2000 has been reclassified to reflect this same treatment on a comparative basis.

Information presented to top management with respect to the performance of each segment is generally derived directly from the accounting records maintained in accordance with Brazilian corporate law together with certain minor inter-segment allocations.

F - 32


Consolidated net income and principal assets are reconciled as follows:

    2002  
   
 
                Holdings          
               
         
        Non
ferrous
                         
    Ferrous     Logistics   Aluminum(1)   Steel   Others   Eliminations   Consolidated  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  RESULTS                                
  Revenues - Export 4,200   143   41   387       (1,843 ) 2,928  
  Revenues - Domestic 996   96   374   75     3   (190 ) 1,354  
  Cost and expenses (3,773 ) (225 ) (244 ) (426 ) (22 ) 29   2,033   (2,628 )
  Depreciation, depletion and amortization (170 ) (25 ) (14 ) (4 )   (1 )   (214 )
  Pension plan (9 ) (1 ) (1 )         (11 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Operating profit 1,244   (12 ) 156   32   (22 ) 31     1,429  
  Interest revenue 193   1   11   11   3   1   (93 ) 127  
  Interest expense (433 ) (6 ) (5 ) (15 ) (9 )   93   (375 )
  Foreign exchange and monetary losses, net (442 ) (36 ) (18 ) (85 )   1     (580 )
  Equity (65 )   (83 ) 39   22       (87 )
  Income taxes 145     (8 ) 22     (10 )   149  
  Minority interests 2   (6 )   21         17  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Net income 644   (59 ) 53   25   (6 ) 23     680  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                   
  Sales classified by geographic destination:                                
  Export market                                
  Latin America 392     25   27       (207 ) 237  
  United States 340   35   3   10       (190 ) 198  
  Europe 1,799   100   9   318       (734 ) 1,492  
  Middle East 239             (46 ) 193  
  Japan 488   3   1   11       (228 ) 275  
  Asia, other than Japan 942   5   3   21       (438 ) 533  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    4,200   143   41   387       (1,843 ) 2,928  
  Domestic market 996   96   374   75     3   (190 ) 1,354  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    5,196   239   415   462     3   (2,033 ) 4,282  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Assets :                                
  Property, plant and equipment, net 2,346   400   144   383     24     3,297  
  Capital expenditures 524   132   33   63     14     766  
  Investments in affiliated companies and joint ventures and other investments, net of provision for losses 395     (27 ) 201   133   30     732  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Capital employed 2,364   119   161   209   21   3     2,877  
                                   
(1) Control of ALUNORTE was acquired in June 2002 and it was consolidated from then.                      

F - 33


Operating profit by product – after eliminations

                2002  
 
 
          Revenues         Asset write-offs,
depreciation,
depletion and
amortization
         
      
                   
              (1)
Cost
and

expenses
        Pension
plan
  Operating
profit
 
  Export   Domestic   Total     Net        
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ferrous                                
Iron ore 1,642   505   2,147   (966 ) 1,181   (92 ) (7 ) 1,082  
Pellets 530   143   673   (565 ) 108   (5 ) (2 ) 101  
Manganese 24   12   36   (25 ) 11   (6 )   5  
Ferroalloys 176   71   247   (183 ) 64   (5 )   59  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  2,372   731   3,103   (1,739 ) 1,364   (108 ) (9 ) 1,247  
Non ferrous                                
Gold 103     103   (85 ) 18   (50 ) (1 ) (33 )
Potash   91   91   (55 ) 36   (4 )   32  
Kaolin 40   5   45   (28 ) 17   (2 )   15  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  143   96   239   (168 ) 71   (56 ) (1 ) 14  
Aluminum                                
Alumina 85   74   159   (123 ) 36   (4 )   32  
Aluminum 279   1   280   (254 ) 26       26  
Bauxite 23     23   (22 ) 1       1  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  387   75   462   (399 ) 63   (4 )   59  
Logistics                                
Railroads   286   286   (62 ) 224   (95 ) (1 ) 128  
Ports   107   107   (78 ) 29   (7 )   22  
Ships 26   39   65   (72 ) (7 ) (13 )   (20 )
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  26   432   458   (212 ) 246   (115 ) (1 ) 130  
Others   20   20   (89 ) (69 ) 48     (21 )
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  2,928   1,354   4,282   (2,607 ) 1,675   (235 ) (11 ) 1,429  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

(1) Cost and expenses include contingency provisions of $53.

F - 34


  2001  
 
 
              Holdings          
             
         
      Non       Pulp and                      
  Ferrous   ferrous   Logistics   paper   Aluminum   Steel   Others   Eliminations   Consolidated  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                     
RESULTS                                    
Revenues - Export 3,558   173   147   47   283       (1,414 ) 2,794  
Revenues - Domestic 1,083   78   344   8   1       (231 ) 1,283  
Cost and expenses (3,632 ) (176 ) (412 ) (50 ) (259 ) 13     1,645   (2,871 )
Depreciation, depletion and amortization (167 ) (17 ) (26 ) (2 )         (212 )
Pension plan (27 ) (3 ) (2 )           (32 )
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating profit 815   55   51   3   25   13       962  
Interest revenue 169   1   11   3   7   3     (59 ) 135  
Interest expense (368 ) (10 ) (11 )   (1 ) (4 )   59   (335 )
Foreign exchange and monetary losses, net (396 ) (21 ) (10 ) 1           (426 )
Gains on sale of investments       677     107       784  
Equity and provision for losses (3 ) 1   (114 ) 13   41   5   4     (53 )
Minority interests 2         0         2  
Income taxes 220     (3 )   1         218  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income 439   26   (76 ) 697   73   124   4     1,287  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                     
Sales classified by geographic destination:                                    
Export market                                    
Latin America 238     65     9       (118 ) 194  
United States 247   139   21   47   73       (112 ) 415  
Europe 1,469   33   44     173       (635 ) 1,084  
Middle East 216     4           (20 ) 200  
Japan 525     10     12       (155 ) 392  
Asia, other than Japan 863   1   3     16       (374 ) 509  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  3,558   173   147   47   283       (1,414 ) 2,794  
Domestic market 1,083   78   344   8   1       (231 ) 1,283  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  4,641   251   491   55   284       (1,645 ) 4,077  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets :                                    
Property, plant and equipment, net 3,171   240   305   90       7     3,813  
Capital expenditures 508   40   25   22           595  
Investments in affiliated companies and joint ventures and                                    
other investments, net of provision for losses 673   29   34     287   159   36     1,218  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Capital employed 2,976   249   313   50   18   13   7   4   3,630  

F - 35


Operating profit by product - after eliminations

  2001  
 
 
                                 
          Revenues           Asset write-offs,
depreciation,

depletion and

amortization
         
 
  (1)
Cost and
expenses
               
                      Pension
plan
  Operating
profit
 
  Export   Domestic   Total     Net        
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ferrous                                
Iron ore 1.529   474   2.003   (991 ) 1.012   (286 ) (17 ) 709  
Pellets 474   123   597   (451 ) 146   (102 ) (10 ) 34  
Manganese 50   7   57   (43 ) 14   (1 )   13  
Ferroalloys 131   71   202   (143 ) 59       59  
Other ferrous       2   2   (2 )    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  2.184   675   2.859   (1.626 ) 1.233   (391 ) (27 ) 815  
Non ferrous                                
Gold 139     139   (59 ) 80   (55 ) (2 ) 23  
Potash   71   71   (48 ) 23   (4 ) (1 ) 18  
Kaolin 34   7   41   3   44   (30 )   14  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  173   78   251   (104 ) 147   (89 ) (3 ) 55  
Aluminum                                
Alumina 32     32   (32 )        
Aluminum 230   1   231   (208 ) 23       23  
Bauxite 21     21   (19 ) 2       2  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  283   1   284   (259 ) 25       25  
Logistics                                
Railroads   299   299   (207 ) 92   (10 ) (2 ) 80  
Ports   104   104   (73 ) 31   (3 )   28  
Ships 105   100   205   (169 ) 36   (47 )   (11 )
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  105   503   608   (449 ) 159   (60 ) (2 ) 97  
Others 49   26   75   (103 ) (28 ) (2 )   (30 )
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  2.794   1.283   4.077   (2.541 ) 1.536   (542 ) (32 ) 962  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

(1) Cost and expenses include contingency provisions of $79 and sundry provisions of $25.

F - 36


  2000  
 
 
              Holdings          
             
         
      Non       Pulp and                      
  Ferrous   ferrous   Logistics   paper   Aluminum   Steel   Others   Eliminations   Consolidated  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
RESULTS                                    
Revenues - Export 2,850   198   195   121   350       (1,068 ) 2,646  
Revenues - Domestic 1,000   90   403   21   12   1     (104 ) 1,423  
Cost and expenses (2,891 ) (202 ) (416 ) (157 ) (324 ) (7 )   1,188   (2,809 )
Depreciation, depletion and amortization (121 ) (30 ) (22 ) (22 )         (195 )
Pension plan (33 ) (8 )             (41 )
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating profit 805   48   160   (37 ) 38   (6 )   16   1,024  
Interest revenue 225   1   1   7   25   5     (56 ) 208  
Interest expense (321 ) (12 ) (6 )   (2 ) (6 )   32   (315 )
Foreign exchange and monetary losses, net (242 ) (10 ) (2 )   9   (3 )   8   (240 )
Gains on sale of investments         54         54  
Equity and provision for losses 45     (22 ) 108   126   60   5     322  
Minority interests 1                 1  
Income taxes 87     5   (7 ) (5 ) (48 )     32  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income 600   27   136   71   245   2   5     1,086  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                     
Sales classified by geographic destination:                                    
Export market                                    
Latin America 224     30     23       (91 ) 186  
United States 252   156   64   73   39       (108 ) 476  
Europe 969   35   75   48   237       (222 ) 1,142  
Middle East 209     6     16       (19 ) 212  
Japan 544   4   15     34       (308 ) 289  
Asia, other than Japan 652   3   5     1       (320 ) 341  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  2,850   198   195   121   350       (1,068 ) 2,646  
Domestic market 1,000   90   403   21   12   1     (104 ) 1,423  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  3,850   288   598   142   362   1     (1,172 ) 4,069  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets :                                    
Property, plant and equipment, net 3,107   325   374   149           3,955  
Capital expenditures 383   50   14             447  
Investments in affiliated companies and joint ventures and other investments, net of provision for losses 519   31   151   372   262   423   37     1,795  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Capital employed 3,058   316   390   135   (10 ) 1   14   8   3,912  

F - 37


Operating profit by product - after eliminations

                2000  
 
 
                                 
       Revenues               Asset write-offs,
depreciation,

depletion and

amortization
         
 
  (1)
Cost and expenses
               
                      Pension
plan
  Operating
profit
 
  Export   Domestic   Total     Net        
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ferrous                                
Iron ore 1,143   495   1,638   (744 ) 894   (115 ) (18 ) 761  
Pellets 436   103   539   (492 ) 47   (4 ) (14 ) 29  
Manganese 20   14   34   (38 ) (4 )     (4 )
Ferroalloys 158   93   251   (181 ) 70   (11 )   59  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  1,757   705   2,462   (1,455 ) 1,007   (130 ) (32 ) 845  
Non ferrous                                
Gold 156     156   (109 ) 47   (25 ) (5 ) 17  
Potash   85   85   (51 ) 34     (4 ) 30  
Kaolin 37   5   42   (31 ) 11   (10 )   1  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  193   90   283   (191 ) 92   (35 ) (9 ) 48  
Aluminum                                
Alumina 54     54   (46 ) 8       8  
Aluminum 278   12   290   (218 ) 72   (48 )   24  
Bauxite 18     18   (17 ) 1       1  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  350   12   362   (281 ) 81   (48 )   33  
Logistics                                
Railroads   385   385   (174 ) 211   (52 )   159  
Ports   105   105   (60 ) 45   (10 )   35  
Ships 181   89   270   (308 ) (38 ) (12 )   (50 )
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  181   579   760   (542 ) 218   (74 )   144  
Others 165   37   202   (226 ) (24 ) (22 )   (46 )
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  2,646   1,423   4,069   (2,695 ) 1,374   (309 ) (41 ) 1,024  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

(1) Cost and expenses include contingencies provisions of $101 and sundry provisions of $40.

F - 38


17 Related party transactions

Transactions with major related parties (including agencies of the Brazilian Federal Government) resulted in the following balances:

        As of December 31  
   
 
      2002     2001  
   
 
 
    Assets   Liabilities   Assets   Liabilities  
   
 
 
 
 
  AFFILIATED COMPANIES AND JOINT VENTURES                
     FCA 70   1   154   2  
     HISPANOBRAS 18   25   21   28  
     ITABRASCO 19   25   18   17  
     NIBRASCO 26   17   20   5  
     KOBRASCO 40   8   35   25  
     CST 23        
     USIMINAS 5     23    
     ALBRAS 10   58   1   15  
     ALUNORTE(1)     321   76  
     Salobo Metais S.A(1)     70    
     Others 48   53   154   107  
                   
  BRAZILIAN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT (2)                
     Banco do Brasil S.A.     83    
     Rede Ferroviária Federal S.A     11   32  
     BNDES     6   163  
   
 
 
 
 
    259   187   917   470  
   
 
 
 
 
  Current 170   180   350   293  
   
 
 
 
 
  Long-term 89   7   567   177  
   
 
 
 
 
   
(1)
Alunorte and Salobo Metais S.A. are consolidated at December 31, 2002, after acquisition of control during 2002.
   
(2)
The Brazilian Federal Government ceased to be a related party upon the sale of its shares in May 2002 as mentioned in Note 3.

F - 39


These balances are included in the following balance sheet classifications:

       As of December 31  
   
 
      2002     2001  
   
 
 
    Assets   Liabilities   Assets   Liabilities  
   
 
 
 
 
  Current assets                
     Cash and cash equivalents     83    
     Accounts receivable 121     106    
     Loans and advances to related parties 49     160    
     Others     1    
                   
  Other assets                
     Loans and advances to related parties 89     555    
     Others     12    
                   
  Current liabilities                
     Suppliers   116     101  
     Current portion of long-term debt       22  
                   
     Loans from related parties   64     168  
     Others       2  
                   
  Long-term liabilities                
     Long-term debt       156  
     Others   7     21  
   
 
 
 
 
    259   187   917   470  
   
 
 
 
 

The principal amounts of business and financial operations carried out with major related parties are as follows:

    Year ended December 31  
   
 
    2002   2001   2000  
   
 
 
 
    Income   Expense   Income   Expense   Income   Expense  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
  AFFILIATED COMPANIES AND JOINT VENTURES                        
     CST 152     146     166    
     NIBRASCO 146   150   135   132   172   205  
     ALUNORTE (to June 2002) 6     84   38   42   93  
     SIDERAR 35     30     18    
     ITABRASCO 74   53   67   33   66   24  
     HISPANOBRAS 77   77   74   74   75   77  
     KOBRASCO 84   46   75   63   76   18  
     CENIBRA (to May 2001)     30   46   33   123  
     USIMINAS 76     59     47    
     ALBRAS 73   265   5   208   6   216  
     VALESUL 7   1       4    
     MRN   56     17   1   17  
     Others 79   94   99   142   89   75  
  BRAZILIAN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT (to May 2002)                        
     Banco do Brasil S.A 3     27     46   24  
     Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. - PETROBRAS     2   18   6   11  
     Centrais Elétricas Brasileiras S.A     1        
     BNDES   2   1   19   1   18  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    812   744   835   790   848   901  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 

F - 40


These amounts are included in the following statement of income classifications:

                Year ended December 31  
   






 
        2002       2001       2000  
   


 


 


 
    Income   Expense   Income   Expense   Income   Expense  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
                           
  Sales / Cost of iron ore and pellets 599   380   518   349   494   313  
  Revenues from logistic services 66     85     133    
  Sales / Cost of aluminum products 74   314     254     327  
  Financial income/expenses 15   18   180   59   117   79  
  Others 58   32   52   128   104   182  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    812   744   835   790   848   901  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
18 Fair value of financial instruments

The carrying amount of our current financial instruments generally approximates fair market value because of the short-term maturity or frequent repricing of these instruments.

The market value of long-term investments, where available, is disclosed in Note 10 to these financial statements.

Based on borrowing rates currently available to us for bank loans with similar terms and average maturities, the fair market value of long-term debt at December 31, 2002 and 2001 is estimated as follows:

    As of December 31  
   
 
    2002   2001  
   
 
 
  Fair market value 2,379   2,102  
  Carrying value 2,359   2,170  

Fair market value estimates are made at a specific point in time, based on relevant market information and information about the financial instruments. Changes in assumptions could significantly affect the estimates.

19 Derivative financial instruments

Volatility of interest rates, exchange rates and commodity prices are the main market risks to which we are exposed - all three are managed through derivative operations. These have the exclusive aim of reducing exposure to risk. We do not use derivatives for speculation purposes.

We monitor and evaluate our derivative positions on a regular basis and adjust our strategy in response to market conditions. We also periodically review the credit limits and credit worthiness of our counter-parties in these transactions. In view of the policies and practices established for operations with derivatives, management considers the occurrence of non-measurable risk situations as unlikely.

As from January 1, 2001 we adopted SFAS 133 - "Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities", as amended by SFAS 137 and SFAS 138, and began to recognize all derivatives on our balance sheet at fair value. Accordingly we recognized an initial transition adjustment of $12 as a charge in our statement of income relative to net unrealized losses on contracts open as of December 31, 2000. Subsequently to January 1, 2001 all derivatives have been adjusted to fair market value at each balance sheet date and the change included in current earnings.

F - 41

The asset (liability) balances at December 31, 2002 and 2001 and the movement in fair value of derivative financial instruments is as follows:

        Interest
rates (libor)
             
    Gold     Currencies   Alumina   Total  
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Initial unrealized gains and (losses) at January 1, 2001 9   (8 ) (4 )   (3 )
  Change in the period 2   (36 ) (4 )   (38 )
  Gains and (losses) realized in the period (4 ) 8   4     8  
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Unrealized gains and (losses) at December 31, 2001 7   (36 ) (4 )   (33 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Gain recognized upon consolidation of Alunorte       2   2  
  Financial settlement (2 ) 24   3   1   26  
  Losses in the period (22 ) (68 ) (2 )   (92 )
  Effect of exchange rate changes 2   20   2     24  
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Unrealized gains and (losses) at December 31, 2002 (15 ) (60 ) (1 ) 3   (73 )
   
 
 
 
 
 

Realized and unrealized gains and losses are included in our income statement under the following captions:

Gold – operating costs and expenses;
Interest rates – financial expenses;
Currencies – foreign exchange and monetary losses, net.

Final maturity dates for the above instruments are as follows:

  Gold December 2006  
  Interest rates (libor) May 2007  
  Currencies May 2005  
   
(a) Interest Rate and Exchange Rate Risk

Interest rate risks mainly relate to that part of the debt borrowed at floating rates. The foreign currency debt is largely subject to fluctuations in the London Interbank Offered Rate - LIBOR. That portion of local currency denominated debt that is subject to floating rates is linked to the Long Term Interest Rate - TJLP, fixed quarterly by the Brazilian Central Bank. Since May 1998, we have used derivative instruments to protect ourselves against fluctuations in the LIBOR rate.

There is an exchange rate risk associated with our foreign currency denominated debt. On the other hand, a substantial proportion of our revenues are denominated in, or automatically indexed to, the U.S. dollar, while the majority of costs are expressed in reais. This provides a natural hedge against any devaluation of the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar. When events of this nature occur, the immediate negative impact on foreign currency denominated debt is offset over time by the positive effect of devaluation on future cash flows.

With the advent of a floating exchange rate regime in Brazil in January 1999, we adopted a strategy of monitoring market fluctuations, using derivatives to protect against specific risks from exchange rate variation.

From time to time we enter into foreign exchange derivative swap transactions seeking to change the characteristics of our real-denominated cash investments to US dollar-indexed instruments. The extent of such transactions depends on our perception of market and currency risk, but is never speculative in nature. All such operations are marked-to-market at each balance sheet effect included in financial income or expense. During the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2001 our use of such instruments was not significant.

F - 42


(b) Commodity Price Risk

We also use derivative instruments to manage exposure to changing gold prices. Derivatives allow the fixing of an average minimum profit level for future gold production. However, they may also have the effect of eliminating potential gains on certain price increases in the spot market for gold. We manage our contract positions actively, and the results are reviewed at least monthly, allowing adjustments to targets and strategy to be made in response to changing market conditions.

In the case of gold derivatives, our policy has been to settle all contracts through cash payments or receipts, without physical delivery of product.

Our affiliate Albras manages the risk of fluctuating aluminum prices using derivatives, allowing an average minimum profit level for future production and ensuring stable cash generation. However, they may also have the effect of eliminating potential gains on certain price increases in the spot market for aluminum. We account for Albras using the equity method.

20  Information about independent accountants

Our consolidated financial statements are audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers Auditores Independentes. The financial statements of certain of our subsidiaries and affiliates have been audited by independent accountants other than PricewaterhouseCoopers Auditores Independentes and, as mentioned in their report, PricewaterhouseCoopers Auditores Independentes has relied on such audits when expressing their opinion on our consolidated financial statements.

The following entities prepare financial statements in US GAAP which are audited in accordance with auditing standards generally accept in the United States of America:

      Auditors   Years Audited   City   State   Country
     
 
 
 
 
  Alumínio Brasileiro S.A. - ALBRAS   DTT   2002, 2001, 2000   RJ   RJ   Brazil
  Alumina do Norte do Brasil S.A. - ALUNORTE   DTT   2002, 2001, 2000   RJ   RJ   Brazil
  Vale do Rio Doce Alumínio S.A. - ALUVALE   DTT   2002, 2001, 2000   RJ   RJ   Brazil
  Bahia Sul Celulose S.A. (1)   KPMG   2000   SP   SP   Brazil
  California Steel Industries, Inc.   KPMG LLP   2002, 2001, 2000   Orange
County
  CA   USA
  Celulose Nipo-Brasileira S.A. - CENIBRA (1)   DTT   2000   BH   MG   Brazil
  Navegação Vale do Rio Doce S.A. - DOCENAVE   DTT   2002, 2001, 2000   RJ   RJ   Brazil
  DOCEPAR S.A.   DTT   2001, 2000   RJ   RJ   Brazil
  Companhia Hispano-Brasileira de Pelotização - HISPANOBRAS   AA   2001, 2000   Vitória   ES   Brazil
  Companhia Hispano-Brasileira de Pelotização - HISPANOBRAS   DTT   2002   Vitória   ES   Brazil
  Companhia Ítalo-Brasileira de Pelotização - ITABRASCO   AA   2001, 2000   Vitória   ES   Brazil
  Companhia Ìtalo-Brasileira de Pelotização - ITABRASCO   DTT   2002   Vitória   ES   Brazil
  Companhia Coreano Brasileira de Pelotização - KOBRASCO   DTT   2002, 2001, 2000   RJ   RJ   Brazil
  Mineração Rio do Norte S.A.   AA   2001, 2000   RJ   RJ   Brazil
  Mineração Rio do Norte S.A.   DTT   2002   RJ   RJ   Brazil
  Companhia Nipo-Brasileira de Pelotização - NIBRASCO   DTT   2002, 2001, 2000   RJ   RJ   Brazil
  Valesul Alumínio S.A.   KPMG   2002, 2001, 2000   RJ   RJ   Brazil
  Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional (1)   AA   2000   RJ   RJ   Brazil
  SIBRA Eletrosiderúrgica Brasileira S.A.   DTT   2002, 2001, 2000   Salvador   BA   Brazil

(1) Investments sold in 2001

In addition to the above the following entities prepare financial statements in Brazilian GAAP which are audited in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in Brazil.

PricewaterhouseCoopers Auditores Independentes relies on such audits but is responsible for reviewing the US GAAP translation and, if applicable, US GAAP adjustments.

 


F - 43


 

      Auditors   Years Audited   City   State   Country
     
 
 
 
 
  Terminal Vila Velha S.A.   DTT   2002, 2001, 2000   RJ   RJ   Brazil
  Nova Era Silicon S.A.   DTT   2002, 2001, 2000   BH   MG   Brazil

AA - Arthur Andersen S/C (ceased business in 2002)
DTT - Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu
RJ - Rio de Janeiro MG - Minas Gerais
BH - Belo Horizonte
SP - São Paulo
ES - Espírito Santo
BA - Bahia

F - 44


Report of Independent Accountants

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Vale Overseas Limited

In our opinion, the accompanying balance sheets and the related statements of income and changes in accumulated loss and of cash flows, present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Vale Overseas Limited (the “Company”) at December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2002, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America which require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for the opinion expressed above.

 

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers
Auditores Independentes

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
February 6, 2003

F - 45


Vale Overseas Limited
Balance Sheets as of December 31
Expressed in thousands of United States dollars

  2002   2001
 
 
Assets      
       
Current assets      
   Cash and cash equivalents 1   1
   Advances to related parties      
         Rio Doce International Finance Ltd 678    
   Loans and advances to related parties      
         Itabira Rio Doce Ltd. - ITACO 8,122  
   Deferred costs related to long term debt 981  
 
 
  9,782   1
 
 
Other assets      
   Loans to related parties      
         Itabira Rio Doce Ltd. - ITACO 300,000  
   Deferred costs related to long term debt 3,173  
 
 
  303,173  
 
 
TOTAL 312,955   1
 
 
       
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity      
       
Current liabilities      
Advances from related parties
     
         Rio Doce International Finance Ltd 680  
         CVRD Overseas 2    
   Interest on long-term debt 8,122  
   Deferred income related to loans to related parties 981  
 
 
  9,785  
 
 
Long-term liabilities      
   Long-term debt 300,000  
   Deferred income related to loans to related parties 3,173  
 
 
  303,173  
 
 
Stockholders’ equity      
       
Paid-in capital
1   1
Retained earnings
(4 )
 
 
  (3 ) 1
 
 
TOTAL 312,955   1
 
 

See notes to financial statements

F - 46


Vale Overseas Limited
Statement of Income and Changes in Accumulated Loss
For the year ended December 31
Expressed in thousands of United States dollars
(except number of shares and for share amounts)

  2002  
 
 
     
Interest income 21,811  
Interest expense (21,813 )
General and administrative (2 )
 
 
Net loss (4 )
 
 
     
Accumulated loss    
Beginning of year  
Net loss (4 )
 
 
End of year (4 )
 
 
     
     
     
Basic loss per share (0.00 )
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding 1,000  

See notes to financial statements

F - 47


Vale Overseas Limited
Statement of Cash Flows

For the year ended December 31
Expressed in thousands of United States dollars

  2002  
 
 
Cash flows from operating activities:    
Net loss (4 )
Decrease (increase) in assets:    
   Advances to related parties (8,800 )
   Deferred costs related to long term debt (4,154 )
   Loans to related parties (295,773 )
Increase (decrease) in liabilities:    
   Advances from related parties 682  
   Interest on long-term debt 8,122  
   Deferred costs related to loans to related parties (73 )
   Long-term debt 300,000  
 
 
Net cash provided by operating activities  
 
 
     
     
     
     
   Increase in cash and cash equivalents  
   Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year 1  
 
 
   Cash and cash equivalents, end of year 1  
 
 

See notes to financial statements

F - 48


Vale Overseas Limited
Notes to the Financial Statements
(Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise stated)

1 The Company and its operations
   
 
Vale Overseas Limited (the “Company”), located in the Cayman Islands, was constituted in April, 2001 as a special-purpose wholly owned subsidiary of Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (CVRD) and operates principally as a finance company.
   
2   Summary of significant accounting policies
   
 
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“US GAAP”). In preparing the financial statements, the use of estimates is required to account for certain assets, liabilities and transactions; actual results may vary from the estimates. Significant accounting practices are described below:
   
(a)   Income and expenses
   
  Income and expenses are recognized on the accrual basis.
   
(b)   Income tax
   
  The Company’s operations are exempt of taxes in the Cayman Islands.
   
(c)   Statement of cash flows
   
 
Short-term investments that have a ready market and maturity to the Company, when purchased, of 90 days or less are considered cash equivalents.
   
(d)   Loss per share
   
 
Basic loss per share are computed by dividing net loss by the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the year.
   
3   Cash and cash equivalents
   
 
Cash and cash equivalents were all denominated in U.S. dollars and were represented by short-term bank deposits.
   
4   Long-term debt
   
 
Long-term debt consists of 8.625% enhanced guaranteed notes due March 8, 2007, unconditionally guaranteed by CVRD.

F - 49

 


 
 
The Company and CVRD registered the long-term debt under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 to be declared effective for an offer to exchange the notes for a new issue of registered notes and for resale.
 
 
The loan obtained imposes certain limitations on the Company with respect to the incurrence of liens, indebtedness and mergers.
   
5   Related party transactions
 
 
At December 31, 2002 the long term loan receivable of US$ 300,000 thousand from Itabira International Company, a subsidiary of CVRD, has the same terms and maturities the long-term debt obtained in the same amount.
   
6   Stockholders’ equity
 
 
The authorized capital by the immediate parent company CVRD is US$ 1 thousand, composed of 1,000 shares of US$ 1.00 each.
 
*     *    *     *     *
 
 
 
 
 
 

F - 50


INDEX TO AUDIT REPORTS FROM INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS LISTED IN NOTE 20 TO THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF COMPANHIA VALE DO RIO DOCE

Report of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu dated January 17, 2003 with respect to the financial statements of Albras for the three years ended December 31, 2002   B-2
   
Report of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu dated January 17, 2003 with respect to the financial statements of Alunorte for the three years ended December 31, 2002   B-3
   
Report of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu dated January 17, 2003 with respect to the financial statements of Aluvale for the three years ended December 31, 2002   B-4
   
Report of KPMG Auditores Independentes dated February 6, 2001 with respect to the financial statements of Bahia Sul Celulose S.A. for the three years ended December 31, 2000   B-5
   
Report of KPMG LLP dated January 17, 2003 with respect to the financial statements of CSI for the three years ended December 31, 2002   B-6
   
Report of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu dated January 25, 2002 with respect to the financial statements of Cenibra for the two years ended December 31, 2001   B-7
   
Report of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu dated January 22, 2003 with respect to the financial statements of Docenave for the three years ended December 31, 2002   B-8
   
Report of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu dated January 25, 2002 with respect to the financial statements of Docepar for the two years ended December 31, 2001   B-9
   
Report of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu dated January 16, 2003 with respect to the financial statements of Hispanobras for the year ended December 31, 2002   B-10
   
Report of Arthur Andersen S/C dated January 24, 2002 with respect to the financial statements of Hispanobras for the three years ended December 31, 2001   B-11
   
Report of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu dated January 16, 2003 with respect to the financial statements of Itabrasco for the year ended December 31, 2002   B-12
   
Report of Arthur Andersen S/C dated January 24, 2002 with respect to the financial statements of Itabrasco for the three years ended December 31, 2001   B-13
   
Report of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu dated January 17, 2003 with respect to the financial statements of Kobrasco for the three years ended December 31, 2002   B-14
   
Report of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu dated January 15, 2003 with respect to the financial statements of MRN for the year ended December 31, 2002   B-15
   
Report of Arthur Andersen S/C dated January 25, 2002 with respect to the financial statements of MRN for the two years ended December 31, 2001   B-16
   
Report of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu dated January 17, 2003 with respect to the financial statements of Nibrasco for the three years ended December 31, 2002   B-17
   
Report of KPMG Auditores Independentes dated January 7, 2003 with respect to the financial statements of Valesul for the three years ended December 31, 2002   B-18
   
Report of Arthur Andersen S/C dated February 19, 2001 with respect to the financial statements of CSN for the two years ended December 31, 2000   B-19
   
Report of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu dated January 20, 2003 with respect to the financial statements of Sibra for the three years ended December 31, 2002   B-20
   
Report of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu dated January 17, 2003 with respect to the financial statements of TVV for the two years ended December 31, 2002   B-21
   
Report of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu dated January 30, 2002 with respect to the financial statements of TVV for the two years ended December 31, 2001   B-22
     
Report of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu dated January 17, 2003 with respect to the financial statements of Nova Era Silicon S.A. for the two years ended December 31, 2002   B-23
   
Report of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu dated January 25, 2002 with respect to the financial statements of Nova Era Silicon S.A. for the two years ended December 31, 2001 B-24
   

B-1


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INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS’ REPORT

To the Directors and Stockholders of
ALBRAS – Alumínio Brasileiro S.A.
Barcarena – PA

We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of ALBRAS – Alumínio Brasileiro S.A. as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the related statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity (deficit) and cash flows for the three-year period ended December 31, 2002 (all expressed in United States dollars). These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the accompanying financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of ALBRAS – Alumínio Brasileiro S.A. as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the three-year period ended December 31, 2002, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu

 
January 17, 2003

B-2


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INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS’ REPORT

To the Directors and Shareholders
ALUNORTE – Alumina do Norte do Brasil S.A.
Bacarena – PA

We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of ALUNORTE – Alumina do Norte do Brasil S.A. as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the related statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the three-year period ended December 31, 2002 (all expressed in United States dollars). These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the accompanying financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Alunorte – Alumina do Norte do Brasil S.A. as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the three-year period ended December 31, 2002, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu

 
January 17, 2003

B-3


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INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS’ REPORT

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Vale do Rio Doce Alumínio S.A. – ALUVALE

We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Vale do Rio Doce Alumínio S.A. – ALUVALE as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the related statements of operations, cash flows and changes in stockholders’ equity for each of the three-years in the period ended December 31, 2002 (all expressed in United States dollars). These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We did not audit the financial statements of the Valesul Alumínio S.A. as of December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 and Mineraçâo Rio do Norte S.A. as of December 31, 2001 and 2000, the Company’s investment in which are accounted for by use of the equity method. The Company’s equity of US$39,131,000 and US$204,951,000 in the aforementioned affiliated companies’ net assets at December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively, and of US$13,815,000, US$43,569,000 and US$47,861,000 in the companies’ net income for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively, are included in the accompanying financial statements. The financial statements of the above mentioned affiliated companies were audited by other auditors whose reports have been furnished to us, and our opinion, insofar as it relates to the amounts included for such companies is based solely on the reports of such other auditors.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits and the reports of other auditors provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, based on our audits and the reports of other auditors, the accompanying financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Vale do Rio Doce Alumínio S.A. – ALUVALE as of December 31, 2002 and 2001 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three-years in the period ended December 31, 2002 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu

 
January 17, 2003

B-4


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INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT

The Board of Directors and Shareholders of
Bahia Sul Celulose S.A.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Bahia Sul Celulose S.A. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2000 and 1999, and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders’ equity and comprehensive income (loss), and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2000. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Bahia Sul Celulose S.A. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2000 and 1999, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2000, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ KPMG Auditores Independentes

 
São Paulo, Brazil
February 6, 2001

B-5


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INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT

The Board of Directors
California Steel Industries, Inc.:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of California Steel Industries, Inc. and subsidiary as of December 31, 2002 and 2001 and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2002. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of California Steel Industries, Inc. and subsidiary as of December 31, 2002 and 2001 and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2002 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ KPMG LLP

 
Orange County, California
January 17, 2003

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INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ OPINION

To the Shareholders and Directors of
Celulose Nipo-Brasileira S.A. – CENIBRA
Belo Orient/MG

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Celulose Nipo-Brasileira S.A. – CENIBRA as of December 31, 2001 and 2000 and the related statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity and of cash flows for the years then ended (all expressed in United States dollars). These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Celulose Nipo-Brasileira S.A. – CENIBRA and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2001 and 2000, the results of their operations and their cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu

 
January 25, 2002

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INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS’ REPORT

To
The Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Navegação vale do Rio Doce S.A. – DOCENAVE
Rio de Janeiro – RJ
Brazil

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Navegação Vale do Rio Doce S.A. – DOCENAVE and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the related consolidated statements of operations and changes in stockholders’ equity and comprehensive loss for the three-year period ended December 31, 2002 (all expressed in United States dollars). These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We did not audit the financial statements of the affiliated company, Wilsea Shipping, Inc., the Company’s investment in which is accounted for by use of the equity method until March 31, 2002, date on which the affiliated company was closed and liquidated. The Company’s equity of US$647,000 in the aforementioned affiliated company’s net assets at December 31, 2001, and net loss of US$3,000 and US$610,000 and net income of US$13,984,000 in that company’s net income (loss) for the period ended March 31, 2002 and for the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000, respectively, are included in the accompanying financial statements. The financial statements of the above mentioned affiliated company were audited by other auditors whose reports have been furnished to us, and our opinion, insofar as it relates to the amounts included for such company, is based solely on the reports of such other auditors.

We conducted our audits in accordance with standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared solely to enable the Parent Company to prepare its consolidated financial statements and not to report on the Navegação Vale do Rio Doce S.A. – DOCENAVE as a separate entity.

The statements of cash flows for the year ended December 31, 2002 and 2001 and the notes to the financial statements have not been presented; which we have believe are required to be presented in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

In our opinion, based on our audits and the report of other auditors, with the exception of the matter described in the preceding paragraph, the accompanying financial statements referred to above presented fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of VALE DO RIO DOCE NAVEGÃÇAO S.A. – DOCENAVE as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the results of its operation for the three-year period ended December 31, 2002, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu

 
January 22, 2003

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INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ OPINION

To
The Board of Directors and Stockholders of
DOCEPAR S.A.
Rio de Janeiro – RJ
Brazil

We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of DOCEPAR S.A. as of December 31, 2001 and 2000 and the related statements of operations, cash flows and changes in stockholders’ deficiency for the years then ended (all expressed in United States dollars). These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We did not audit the financial statements of the affiliated company, Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional, the Company’s investment which was sold during the year 2000 and was accounted for by use of the equity method. The Company’s gain related to the aforementioned affiliated company was US$4,189,000 and US$3,328,000 for the year ended December 31, 2000 and 1999, respectively. The financial statements of the above-mentioned affiliated company were audited by other auditors whose report has been furnished to us, and our opinion, insofar as it relates to the amounts included for such company, is based solely on the reports of such other auditors.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits and the report of the other auditors provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, based on our audits and the report of the other accountants, the accompanying financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of DOCEPAR S.A. as of December 31, 2001 and 2000 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu

 
January 25, 2002

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INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Companhia Hispano-Brasileira de Pelotização – HISPANOBRAS:
Vitória – Brazil

  1. We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Companhia Hispano-Brasileira de Pelotização – HISPANOBRAS, as of December 31, 2002, and the related statements of income and other comprehensive losses, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the year then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
     
  2. We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
     
  3. In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Companhia Hispano-Brasileira de Pelotização – HISPANOBRAS as of December 31, 2002, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu

 
January 16, 2003

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

“This report is a copy of the previously issued report and Arthur Andersen S/C has not reissued the report”.

To the Stockholders of
Companhia Hispano-Brasileira de
Pelotização – HISPANOBRÁS:

(1) We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of COMPANHIA HISPANO-BRASILEIRA DE PELOTIZAÇÃO – HISPANOBRAS (a Brazilian corporation and a subsidiary of Companhia Vale do Rio Doce), translated into U.S. dollars, as of December 31, 2001 and 2000, and the related translated statements of income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

(2) We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

(3) These translated financial statements have been prepared as the basis for application of the equity method by its stockholders and, accordingly, they translate the assets, liabilities, stockholders’ equity and revenues and expenses of Companhia Hispano-Brasileira de Pelotização – Hispanobrás for that purpose, as explained in Note 2.

(4) In our opinion financial statements referred to in paragraph 1 present fairly, in all material respects, and for the purpose described in the preceding paragraph, the financial position of Companhia Hispano-Brasileira de Pelotização – Hispanobrás as of December 31, 2001 and 2000, and the results of its operations, the changes in its stockholders’ equity and its cash flows for the years ended December 31,2001, 2000 and 1999, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,
 
/s/ Arthur Andersen S/C

 
January 24, 2002

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INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Companhia Ítalo-Brasileira de Pelotização – ITABRASCO
Vitória – Brazil

We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Companhia Ítalo-Brasileira de Pelotização – ITABRASCO, as of December 31, 2002, and the related statements of income and other comprehensive losses, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the year then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Companhia Ítalo-Brasileira de Pelotização – ITABRASCO as of December 31, 2002, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu

 
January 16, 2003

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

“This report is a copy of the previously issued report and Arthur Andersen S/C has not reissued the report”.

To the Stockholders of

Companhia Italo-Brasileira de
Pelotização – ITABRASCO:

(1) We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of COMPANHIA ITALO-BRASILEIRA DE PELOTIZAÇAO – ITABRASCO (a Brazilian corporation and a subsidiary of Companhia Vale do Rio Doce), translated into US dollars, as of December 31, 2001 and 2000, and the related translated statements of income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

(2) We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis,evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

(3) These translated financial statements have been prepared as the basis for application of the equity method by its stockholders and, accordingly, they translate the assets, liabilities, stockholders’ equity and revenues and expenses of Companhia Italo-Brasileira de Pelotização – Itabrasco for that purpose, as explained in Note 2.

(4) In our opinion, the financial statements referred to in paragraph 1 present fairly, in all material respects, and for the purpose described in the preceding paragraph, the financial position of Companhia Italo-Brasileira de Pelotização – Itabrasco as of December 31, 2001 and 2000, and the results of its operations, the changes in its stockholders’ equity and its cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2000 and 1999, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,
 
/s/ Arthur Andersen S/C

 
January 24, 2002

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INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Companhia Coreano-Brasileira de Pelotização – KOBRASCO
Vitória, Brazil

1. We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Companhia Coreano–Brasileira de Pelotização – KOBRASCO as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the related consolidated statements of income and other comprehensive losses, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the three-year period ended December 31, 2002 (all expressed in United States dollars). These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
   
2. We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
   
3. In our report dated January 18, 2002, we expressed an opinion that the 2001 financial statements did not present fairly the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, because the Company did not record an allowance for losses in the amount of US$24,758 thousand as of December 31, 2001, in respect of recoverable value added tax (ICMS) credits raised from purchase of raw materials and other supplies since such realization is uncertain. As described in note 15 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has recorded the allowance and has restated its 2001 financial statements to conform with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Accordingly, our present opinion on the restated 2001 financial statements, as expressed herein, is different from that expressed in our prior report on the previously issued 2001 financial statements.
   
4. In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Companhia Coreano–Brasileira de Pelotização – KOBRASCO as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the consolidated results of its operations and cash flows for the three-year period ended December 31, 2002, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

January 17, 2003
 
/s/ Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu

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INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT

To the Stockholders and Board of Directors of
Mineração Rio do Norte S.A.
Oriximiná – PA

(1) We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Mineração Rio do Norte S.A. (a Brazilian corporation), as of December 31, 2002, and the related statements of income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the year then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit.
   
(2) We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
   
(3) In our opinion, the financial statements referred to in paragraph (1) present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Mineração Rio do Norte S.A. as of December 31, 2002, and the results of its operations, changes in its stockholders’ equity and its cash flows for the year then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu

 
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,
January 15, 2003.

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

“The report is a copy of the previously issued report and Arthur Andersen S/C has not reissued the report.”

To the Stockholders and Board of Directors of
Mineração Rio do Norte S.A.:

(1) We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of MINERAÇÃO RIO DO NORTE S.A. (a Brazilian corporation), translated into US dollars, as of December 31, 2001 and 2000, and the related translated statements of income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

(2) We did not audit the financial statements of the associated company Alunorte – Alumina do Norte do Brasil S.A. as of December 31, 2001 and 2000. This investment represents 4% of the total assets (3% in 2000) and -1% of the net income (7% in 2000). Those statements were audited by other auditors whose report has been furnished to us, and our opinion, insofar as it relates to the amounts included for that entity, is based solely on the report of the other auditors.

(3) We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards in the United States. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits and the report of other auditors provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

(4) These translated financial statements have been prepared as the basis for application of the equity method by the Company’s stockholders and, accordingly, they translate the assets, liabilities, stockholders’ equity and revenues and expenses of Mineração Rio do Norte S.A. for that purpose, as explained in Note 2.

(5) In our opinion, based on our audits and on the report of other auditors, as mentioned in paragraph (2), the financial statements referred to in paragraph (1) present fairly, in all material respects, and for the purpose described in the preceding paragraph, the financial position of Mineração Rio do Norte S.A. as of December 31, 2001 and 2000, and the results of its operations, the changes in its stockholders’ equity and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.

/s/ Arthur Andersen S/C

 
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,
January 25, 2002.

B-16


INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Companhia Nipo-Brasileira de Pelotização – NIBRASCO
Vitória – Brazil

1. We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Companhia Nipo-Brasileira de Pelotização – NIBRASCO as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the related statements of income and other comprehensive losses, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the three-year period ended December 31, 2002 (all expressed in United States dollars). These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
   
2. We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
   
3. In our opinion, the accompanying financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Companhia Nipo-Brasileira de Pelotização – NIBRASCO as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the three-year period ended December 31, 2002, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu

 
January 17, 2003

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INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT

The Board of Directors of
Valesul Alumínio S.A.

We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Valesul Alumínio S.A. (the Company) as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the related statements of income, changes in stockholders’ equity and comprehensive income/loss and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2002. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in Brazil and in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Valesul Alumínio S.A. as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2002, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.

As more fully described in Notes 7 and 10 to the financial statements, the Company has adjusted its property, plant and equipment and deferred income taxes accounting balances as a result of corrections of errors. Consequently, the Company’s financial statements for 2000 referred to above have been restated to conform with these adjustments.

January 7, 2003
 
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
 
/s/ KPMG Auditores Independentes

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

“This report is a copy of the previously issued report and Arthur Andersen S/C has not reissued the report.”

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional

1. We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of COMPANHIA SIDERÚRGICA NACIONAL (a Brazilian corporation) and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2000 and 1999, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
   
2. The financial statements of the affiliate CVRD – Companhia Vale do Rio Doce as of December 31, 2000 and 1999 were audited by other auditors. As of December 31, 2000 this asset represents 14% of the total assets and 28% of the net income (15% and 21% respectively as of December 31, 1999). Our opinion on such asset is based solely on the report of other auditors.
   
3. We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards in the United States. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
   
4. In our opinion, based on our audits and the report of other auditors for the years ended December 31, 2000 and 1999 as mentioned in paragraph (2) above, the consolidated financial statements referred to in paragraph (1) present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Companhia Siderúrgica Nacional and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2000 and 1999, and the results of their operations and cash flows for the years then ended in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.

/s/ Arthur Andersen S/C  

 
   
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,
February 19, 2001 (except for Notes 7, 9 and 21, as to which the date is June 19, 2001).

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INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT

To the Shareholders, Administrative Council and Directors of
SIBRA ELETROSIDERÚRGICA BRASILEIRA S.A.
Simões Filho – BA

1. We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of SIBRA – ELETROSIDERÚRGICA BRASILEIRA S.A. and Subsidiaries, as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in shareholders’ equity and comprehensive income (loss) and cash flows consolidated for the three years ended in the period December 31, 2002. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based, on our audits.
   
2. We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
   
3. In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of SIBRA – ELETROSIDERÚRGICA BRASILEIRA S.A. and Subsidiaries at December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the three years ended in the period December 31, 2002, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America

/s/ Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu

 
DELOITTE TOUCHE TOHMATSU
Auditores Independentes
Salvador — Brazil
 
January 20, 2003

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(Convenience Translation into English from the Original Previously Issued in Portuguese)

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ OPINION

To the
Stockholders and Board of Directors of
TVV – Terminal de Vila Velha S.A.
Vitória – ES

1. We have audited the balance sheets of TVV – Terminal de Vila Velha S.A. as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the related statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity and changes in financial position for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
   
2. We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in Brazil, which included: (a) planning the audit, considering the materiality of the balances, the volume of transactions and the Company’s accounting and internal control systems; (b) examining, on a test basis, the evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements; and (c) the assessment of the accounting principles used and of the significant estimates made by the Company’s management, as well as the presentation of the financial statements taken as a whole.
   
3. In our opinion, the financial statements referred to the first paragraph present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of TVV –Terminal de Vila Velha S.A. as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the results of its operations, the changes in its stockholders’ equity and the changes in its financial position for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting practices adopted in Brazil.
   
4. The translation into English has been made solely for the convenience of readers outside Brazil.

/s/ Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu

 
Rio de Janeiro, January 17, 2003
 

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INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ OPINION

To the Stockholders and Board of Directors of
TVV – Terminal de Vila Velha S.A.

Vitória – ES

We have audited the balance sheets of TVV – Terminal de Vila Velha S.A. as of December 31, 2001 and 2000, and the related statements of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity and changes in financial position for the years then ended (all expressed in Brazilian Reais). These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in Brazil, which included: (a) planning the audit, considering the materiality of the balances, the volume of transactions and the Company’s accounting and internal control systems; (b) examining, on a test basis, the evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements; and (c) the assessment of the accounting principles used and of the significant estimates made by the Company’s management, as well as the presentation of the financial statements taken as a whole.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to in the first paragraph present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of TVV –Terminal de Vila Velha S.A. as of December 31, 2001 and 2000, and the results of its operations, the changes in its stockholders’ equity and the changes in its financial position for the years then ended, in conformity with Brazilian corporate law.

The translation of the financial statements into English have been made solely for the convenience of readers outside of Brazil.

/s/ Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu

 
Vitória, January 30, 2002

 

 

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INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT

To the Management and Shareholders of
Nova Era Silicon S.A.
Belo Horizonte – MG

1. We have audited the accompanying balance sheets, expressed in Brazilian Reais of Nova Era Silicon S.A. as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the related statements of income, changes in shareholders’ equity, and changes in financial position for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
   
2. Except for the matter mentioned in paragraph 3, we conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards in Brazil which included: (a) planning of the engagement, considering the materiality of the balances, the volume of transactions, and the accounting and internal control system of the Company, (b) examination, on a test basis, of the evidence and records supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, and (c) evaluation of the accounting practices used and significant estimates adopted by management of the company, as well as the overall financial statement presentation.
   
3. Through December 31, 2001, the Company calculated depletion on certain of its forests, which net balance was R$3,257,000 as of December 31, 2001, at the annual linear rate of 10% (straight line method). Brazilian accounting practices require that forest depletion be calculated based on the volume of extracted wood in proportion to the total forest potential, applied to the total formation cost. The effects of this departure from accounting practices could not be estimated as of December 31, 2001. In 2002, the Company took a forest inventory and recorded the adjustment corresponding to the volume of wood extracted in prior years, in the amount of R$2,212,000, in the retained earnings account, in shareholders’ equity. It was not possible to estimate the specific effects related to the year ended December 31, 2001.
   
4. As of December 31, 1999, the Company elected to adopt Resolution n° 294, issued by the Brazilian Securities Commission – CVM, and recorded deferred charges, the net loss on exchange variations for the three-month period ended March 31, 1999. As required by Brazilian accounting practices, exchange losses should be charged to expense in the period in which they were incurred. Accordingly, net income for the year ended December 31, 2002 is understated by R$2,066,000 (R$2,066,000 in 2001) and permanent assets and shareholders’ equity are overstated by R$2,066,000, only as of December 31, 2001.
   
5. In our opinion, the balance sheet as of December 31, 2002 presents fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Nova Era Silicon S.A. as of December 31, 2002. In our opinion, except for the effects of the deferral of exchange losses mentioned in paragraph 4 above, the statements of income, changes in shareholders’ equity and changes in financial position for the year ended December 31, 2002, present fairly, in all material respects, the results of its operations, the changes in shareholders’ equity, and the changes in its financial position for the year then ended in accordance with accounting practices established by Brazilian corporate law.
   
6. In our opinion, except for the effects, not measured, of the matter mentioned in paragraph 3 and for the effects of the matter mentioned in paragraph 4, the financial statements referred in the first paragraph present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Nova Era Silicon S.A. as of December 31, 2001, and the results of its operations, the changes in its stockholders’ equity and the changes in its financial position for the year then ended in accordance with accounting practices established by Brazilian corporate law.
   
7. The translation of the financial statements into English has been made solely for the convenience of readers outside Brazil.

/s/ Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu

 
January 17, 2003

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INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT

To the Management and Shareholders of
Nova Era Silicon S.A.
Belo Horizonte – MG

1. We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Nova Era Silicon S.A. as of December 31, 2001 and 2000, and the related statements of income, changes in stockholders’ equity, and changes in financial position for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
2. Except for the matter mentioned in the third paragraph, we conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards in Brazil, which included: (a) planning of the engagement, considering the materiality of the balances, the volume of transactions, and the accounting and internal control system of the Company; (b) examination, on a test basis, of the evidence and records supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements; and (c) evaluation of the accounting practices used and significant estimates adopted by management of the company, as well as the overall financial statement presentation.
3. The Company has calculated the depletion of some of its forests, whose net balance as of December 31, 2001 was R$3.257 thousand (R$3.760 thousand at 2000), at a 10% annual rate (straight line method). As required by accounting principles, depletion of forests should be calculated based on the volume of timber that has been extracted in proportion to total potential volume, applied to total cost. We are unable to measure the effects arising from the adoption of such a procedure as of December 31, 2001 and 2000.
4. As of December 31, 1999, the Company elected to adopt Resolution n 294, issued by the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission – CVM, and recorded in its deferred assets the net loss on exchange variation for the three-month period ended March 31, 1999. As required by accounting principles, exchange variation should be charged to expenses in the period in which they were incurred. Consequently, permanent assets and stockholders’ equity as of December 31, 2001 were overstated by R$2.066 thousand (R$4.218 thousand in 2000), and net income for the year then ended was understated by R$2.062 thousand (R$2.062 thousand in 2000), related to the respective amortization.
5. In our opinion, except for the effects, if any, of the matter mentioned in the third paragraph and for the effects of the matter mentioned in the fourth paragraph, the financial statements referred to in the first paragraph fairly present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Nova Era Silicon S.A. as of December 31, 2001 and 2000, and the results of its operations, the changes in its stockholders’ equity and the changes in its financial position for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles established by Brazilian corporate law.
6. The translation of the financial statements into English have been made solely for the convenience of readers outside of Brazil.
   
/s/ Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu

 
January 25, 2002

 

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