They are dropping like flies. A day after Kinder Morgan announced it would slash its dividend by a more than expected 74% overnight to reflect collapsing commodity prices and a debt-heavy balance sheet, moments ago Freeport McMoRan, the world's second largest copper miner behind Codelco and one of the world's biggest producers of gold, just announced it too would suspend its dividend of $0.20, an action expected to save some $240 million per year.

This follows a comparable dividend cut announced in March of 2015 when the company slashed the bulk of its dividend by 84%, from $0.3125 to $0.05 quarterly.

This however may not be sufficient to stem the bleeding and prevent further turmoil for the company which has seen its stock price drop to the lowest level in over a decade, and as a result the company is also slashing its CapEx guidance from $2 billion for 2016 and 2017 to just $1.2 and $1.8 billion respectively.

The headlines:

FREEPORT-MCMORAN SUSPENSION OF STOCK DIV

FCX IN PACT W/ BANK GROUP TO AMEND LEVERAGE RATIO ON TERM LOAN

FCX IN PACT W/ BANK GROUP TO AMEND LEVERAGE RATIO ON REVOLVER

FCX EVALUATING SALE OF MINORITY INTERESTS IN SOME MINING ASSETS

FREEPORT-MCMORAN NOW SEES '17 CAPEX $1.2B, SAW $2.0B

FREEPORT-MCMORAN NOW SEES '16 CAPEX $1.8B, SAW $2.0B

From the release:

Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX) today announced additional actions in response to market conditions, including further revisions to its oil and gas capital spending plans, additional curtailments in copper and molybdenum production and the suspension of its common stock dividend.

Oil & Gas Review. As previously reported on August 5, 2015, Freeport-McMoRan Oil & Gas (FM O&G) is deferring investments in several long-term projects in response to oil and gas market conditions. Following an ongoing review, capital expenditures for 2016 and 2017 have been reduced further from $2.0 billion per year in 2016 and 2017 to $1.8 billion in 2016 and $1.2 billion in 2017, including idle rig costs. The revised plans, together with initiatives to obtain third party financing or other strategic alternatives, will be pursued with the goal of achieving funding for oil and gas capital spending within its cash flows and resources.



The revised plans incorporate a reduction in rig utilization from three Deepwater Gulf of Mexico drillships to one drillship while increasing production from third quarter 2015 rates of 150 barrels of oil equivalents per day (MBOE/d) to an average of 159 MBOE/d in 2016 and 2017. FM O&G expects to bring eight wells on line in late 2015 and 2016 from its successful tie back drilling operations at the Holstein Deep, Horn Mountain and King Projects in the Deepwater Gulf of Mexico. These projects, combined with other initiatives, are expected to add low cost oil production, enabling cash production costs to decline from $19 per barrel of oil equivalents (BOE) in 2015 to less than $16 per BOE in 2016 and 2017. Under the revised plans, FM O&G’s cash flows would substantially fund its capital expenditures at $45 per barrel of Brent crude oil in 2017.



FM O&G is engaged in ongoing discussions with its rig vendors and other service providers to obtain reductions in costs and to evaluate opportunities to market idled equipment to third parties.



As previously reported on October 6, 2015, the FCX Board is engaged in a strategic review of its oil and gas business to evaluate alternative courses of action designed to improve FCX’s financial position, enhance value to FCX shareholders and achieve self-funding of its oil and gas business from its cash flows and resources. FM O&G’s high quality asset base, its substantial underutilized Deepwater Gulf of Mexico infrastructure, its large inventory of low risk development opportunities and its talented and experienced personnel and management team provide alternatives to generate value.



Mining Review. FCX continues to review its capital projects and costs to maximize cash flow in a weak commodity price environment and to preserve its resources for anticipated improved future market conditions. FCX previously announced a 25 percent reduction in its capital spending for its mining business for 2016 (from $2.7 billion to $2.0 billion, including $0.6 billion in sustaining capital) and announced curtailments at its North America and South America mines totaling 250 million pounds of copper and 20 million pounds of molybdenum per year. FCX is undertaking further actions involving plans for a full shut-down of its Sierrita mine in Arizona and adjustments to its operating plans from its primary molybdenum mines, which will increase its curtailments to approximately 350 million pounds of copper and 34 million pounds of molybdenum per annum. FCX is continuing to evaluate its mining operating plans in response to market conditions and will make further adjustments as required.

FCX is also evaluating other financing alternatives, the potential sale of minority interests in certain mining assets and other actions to provide additional proceeds for debt reduction. FCX has a broad set of natural resource assets that provide alternatives for future actions to enhance its financial flexibility.

Dividend on Common Stock. FCX also announced today that its Board has suspended its annual common stock dividend of $0.20 per share. This action will provide cash savings of approximately $240 million per annum and further enhance FCX’s liquidity during this period of weak market conditions. FCX’s Board will review its financial policy on an ongoing basis and authorize cash returns to shareholders as market conditions improve.



Assuming prices of $2.00 per pound for copper and $45 per barrel Brent crude oil for 2016, FCX estimates consolidated operating cash flow would exceed capital expenditures by more than $600 million.

James R. Moffett, FCX’s Chairman of the Board and Richard C. Adkerson, Vice Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer said, “We are taking further actions to strengthen our financial position during a period of weak and uncertain market conditions. While copper prices have weakened in recent weeks and the near-term copper outlook is uncertain, we view the medium and longer term outlook positively, supported by copper’s important role in the global economy and limitations on global supplies. As we approach 2016, we are positioning the company for free cash flow generation in a weak commodity price environment and remain focused on actions to reduce debt. Our high quality portfolio of long-lived assets, flexible operating structure and experienced management team provide a solid base to address the current market conditions while maintaining an attractive portfolio of assets positioned for long-term success.”



Equity Transactions. Since commencing its $2 billion at-the-market equity programs in August 2015, FCX has sold a total of 154.6 million shares of common stock, generating gross proceeds of $1.6 billion through December 4, 2015. Approximately $0.4 billion remains available under the programs. As of December 4, 2015, FCX had 1.19 billion common shares outstanding.



Amendment to Bank Credit Facility. Following recent declines in prices for its primary products, FCX has reached agreement with its bank group to amend the Leverage Ratio (Net Debt/EBITDA) under its revolving credit facility and $4 billion term loan from the previous limit of 4.75x to 5.5x at December 31, 2015, 5.9x for the first half of 2016, and stepping down to 5.0x by year-end 2016 and 4.25x in 2017. The Leverage Ratio is unchanged at 3.75x thereafter.



FCX is a premier U.S.-based natural resources company with an industry-leading global portfolio of mineral assets, significant oil and gas resources and a growing production profile. FCX is the world’s largest publicly traded copper producer.



FCX’s portfolio of assets includes the Grasberg minerals district in Indonesia, one of the world’s largest copper and gold deposits; significant mining operations in the Americas, including the large-scale Morenci minerals district in North America and the Cerro Verde operation in South America; the Tenke Fungurume minerals district in the DRC; and significant U.S. oil and natural gas assets in the Deepwater GOM, onshore and offshore California and in the Haynesville natural gas shale, and a position in the Inboard Lower Tertiary/Cretaceous natural gas trend onshore in South Louisiana.





