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FORM 10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.    20549

 

 

[ ü] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2010

 

OR

[    ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from — to —

Commission file number 0-12014

IMPERIAL OIL LIMITED

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

CANADA		98-0017682
(State or other jurisdiction		(I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)		Identification No.)
237 Fourth Avenue S.W.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada		T2P 3M9
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Postal Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 1-800-567-3776

 

 

 

 

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 91 days.

YES  ü      NO       

 

The registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

YES  ü      NO       

 

The registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer (see definition of “accelerated filer” and “large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).

 

 

Large accelerated filer  ü		Accelerated filer
Non-accelerated filer		Smaller reporting company

The registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).

YES           NO ü

 

The number of common shares outstanding, as of September 30, 2010, was 847,599,011.

 

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IMPERIAL OIL LIMITED

 

 

INDEX

 

		PAGE
PART I - Financial Information
Item 1 - Financial Statements.
Consolidated Statement of Income - Nine Months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009			3
Consolidated Balance Sheet - as at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009			4
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows - Nine Months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009			5
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements			6
Item 2 - Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.			11
Item 3 - Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.			13
Item 4 - Controls and Procedures.			14
PART II - Other Information
Item 1A - Risk Factors			15
Item 2 - Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.			15
Item 6 - Exhibits.			16
SIGNATURES			16

 

 

In this report all dollar amounts are expressed in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated. This report should be read in conjunction with the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.

Statements in this report regarding future events or conditions are forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially due to the impact of market conditions, changes in law or governmental policy, changes in operating conditions and costs, changes in project schedules, operating performance, demand for oil and gas, commercial negotiations or other technical and economic factors.

 

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PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements.

IMPERIAL OIL LIMITED

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
(U.S. GAAP, unaudited)		Third Quarter												Nine Months to September 30
millions of Canadian dollars		2010				2009								2010				2009
REVENUES AND OTHER INCOME
Operating revenues (a)(b)			5,828				5,547								18,053				15,461
Investment and other income (4)			23				14								103				73
TOTAL REVENUES AND OTHER INCOME			5,851				5,561								18,156				15,534
EXPENSES
Exploration			54				21								171				126
Purchases of crude oil and products (c)			3,462				3,126								10,759				8,577
Production and manufacturing (d)(5)			961				909								3,003				3,016
Selling and general (5)			271				221								786				822
Federal excise tax (a)			345				331								971				951
Depreciation and depletion			187				194								561				584
Financing costs			3				–								4				3
TOTAL EXPENSES			5,283				4,802								16,255				14,079
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES			568				759								1,901				1,455
INCOME TAXES			150				212								490				410
NET INCOME (3)			418				547								1,411				1,045
NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE - BASIC (dollars) (8)			0.49				0.64								1.66				1.23
NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE - DILUTED (dollars) (8)			0.49				0.64								1.65				1.22
DIVIDENDS PER COMMON SHARE (dollars)			0.11				0.10								0.32				0.30
(a)  Federal excise tax included in operating revenues			345				331								971				951
(b)  Amounts from related parties included in operating revenues			560				432								1,607				1,198
(c)  Amounts to related parties included in purchases of crude oil and products			774				813								1,786				2,161
(d)  Amounts to related parties included in production and manufacturing expenses			68				52								190				163

The information in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements is an integral part of these statements.

 

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IMPERIAL OIL LIMITED

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
(U.S. GAAP, unaudited)   millions of Canadian dollars		As at Sept. 30 2010				As at Dec. 31 2009
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash			51				513
Accounts receivable, less estimated doubtful accounts			1,810				1,714
Inventories of crude oil and products			733				564
Materials, supplies and prepaid expenses			255				247
Deferred income tax assets			460				467
Total current assets			3,309				3,505
Long-term receivables, investments and other long-term assets			763				854
Property, plant and equipment,			29,030				26,421
less accumulated depreciation and depletion			13,970				13,569
Property, plant and equipment, net			15,060				12,852
Goodwill			204				204
Other intangible assets, net			62				58
TOTAL ASSETS			19,398				17,473
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Notes and loans payable			229				109
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (a)(7)			3,571				2,811
Income taxes payable			677				848
Total current liabilities			4,477				3,768
Long-term debt (b)(6)			228				31
Other long-term obligations (7)			2,443				2,839
Deferred income tax liabilities			1,504				1,396
TOTAL LIABILITIES			8,652				8,034
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Common shares at stated value (c)			1,509				1,508
Earnings reinvested			10,389				9,252
Accumulated other comprehensive income (9)			(1,152	)			(1,321	)
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY			10,746				9,439
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY			19,398				17,473

 

(a)	Accounts payable and accrued liabilities included amounts to related parties of $335 million (2009 - $59 million).

(b)	Long-term debt included amounts to related parties of $200 million (2009 - nil).

(c)	Number of common shares authorized and outstanding were 1,100 million and 848 million, respectively (2009 - 1,100 million and 848 million, respectively).

The information in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements is an integral part of these statements.

 

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IMPERIAL OIL LIMITED

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(U.S. GAAP, unaudited) inflow/(outflow)		Third Quarter												Nine Months to September 30
millions of Canadian dollars			2010				2009								2010				2009
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income			418				547								1,411				1,045
Adjustment for non-cash items:
Depreciation and depletion			187				194								561				584
(Gain)/loss on asset sales (4)			(12	)			-								(58	)			(32	)
Deferred income taxes and other			(17	)			(6	)							55				(49	)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable			(33	)			149								(95	)			(220	)
Inventories and prepaids			(58	)			108								(178	)			(82	)
Income taxes payable			60				(230	)							(172	)			(815	)
Accounts payable			375				(86	)							752				283
All other items - net (a)			45				22								(73	)			(50	)
CASH FROM (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES			965				698								2,203				664
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Additions to property, plant and equipment and intangibles			(1,147	)			(554	)							(2,811	)			(1,478	)
Proceeds from asset sales			35				8								95				45
Loans to equity company			(1	)			1								(1	)			2
CASH FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES			(1,113	)			(545	)							(2,717	)			(1,431	)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Short-term debt - net			28				-								117				(2	)
Long-term debt issued			200				-								200				-
Issuance of common shares under stock option plan			-				-								1				-
Common shares purchased			-				-								(3	)			(490	)
Dividends paid			(93	)			(85	)							(263	)			(257	)
CASH FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES			135				(85	)							52				(749	)
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH			(13	)			68								(462	)			(1,516	)
CASH AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD			64				390								513				1,974
CASH AT END OF PERIOD			51				458								51				458
(a) Includes contribution to registered pension plans.			(13	)			(6	)							(378	)			(173	)

The information in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements is an integral part of these statements.

 

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IMPERIAL OIL LIMITED

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (unaudited)

 

1.    Basis of financial statement presentation

These unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles of the United States of America and follow the same accounting policies and methods of computation as, and should be read in conjunction with, the most recent annual consolidated financial statements. In the opinion of the management, the information furnished herein reflects all known accruals and adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position of the company as at September 30, 2010, and December 31, 2009, and the results of operations and changes in cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature. The company’s exploration and production activities are accounted for under the “successful efforts” method. Certain reclassifications to the prior year have been made to conform to the 2010 presentation.

The results for the nine months ended September 30, 2010, are not necessarily indicative of the operations to be expected for the full year.

All amounts are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise indicated.

2.    Accounting change for variable-interest entities

Effective January 1, 2010, the company adopted the authoritative guidance for variable-interest entities (VIEs). The guidance requires the enterprise to qualitatively assess if it is the primary beneficiary of the VIE and, if so, the VIE must be consolidated. The adoption did not have any impact on the company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

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IMPERIAL OIL LIMITED

 

 

 

3.    Business Segments

 

Third Quarter		Upstream												Downstream												Chemical
millions of dollars		2010				2009								2010				2009								2010				2009
REVENUES AND OTHER INCOME
Operating revenues			908				921								4,655				4,380								265				246
Intersegment sales			879				955								416				365								79				69
Investment and other income			5				2								17				4								-				-
			1,792				1,878								5,088				4,749								344				315
EXPENSES
Exploration			54				21								-				-								-				-
Purchases of crude oil and products			545				568								4,047				3,729								244				218
Production and manufacturing			592				549								320				313								49				47
Selling and general			2				-								229				231								16				18
Federal excise tax			-				-								345				331								-				-
Depreciation and depletion			128				133								54				55								3				4
Financing costs			-				-								1				-								-				-
TOTAL EXPENSES			1,321				1,271								4,996				4,659								312				287
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES			471				607								92				90								32				28
INCOME TAXES			123				168								23				28								9				9
NET INCOME			348				439								69				62								23				19
Export sales to the United States			377				405								295				379								161				141
Cash flow from (used in) operating activities			748				436								198				219								31				34
CAPEX (a)			1,151				504								45				64								1				6
Third Quarter		Corporate and Other												Eliminations												Consolidated
millions of dollars		2010				2009								2010				2009								2010				2009
REVENUES AND OTHER INCOME
Operating revenues			-				-								-				-								5,828				5,547
Intersegment sales			-				-								(1,374	)			(1,389	)							-				-
Investment and other income			1				8								-				-								23				14
			1				8								(1,374	)			(1,389	)							5,851				5,561
EXPENSES
Exploration			-				-								-				-								54				21
Purchases of crude oil and products			-				-								(1,374	)			(1,389	)							3,462				3,126
Production and manufacturing			-				-								-				-								961				909
Selling and general			24				(28	)							-				-								271				221
Federal excise tax			-				-								-				-								345				331
Depreciation and depletion			2				2								-				-								187				194
Financing costs			2				-								-				-								3				-
TOTAL EXPENSES			28				(26	)							(1,374	)			(1,389	)							5,283				4,802
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES			(27	)			34								-				-								568				759
INCOME TAXES			(5	)			7								-				-								150				212
NET INCOME			(22	)			27								-				-								418				547
Export sales to the United States			-				-								-				-								833				925
Cash flow from (used in) operating activities			(12	)			9								-				-								965				698
CAPEX (a)			2				1								-				-								1,199				575

 

(a)	Capital and exploration expenditures (CAPEX) include exploration expenses, additions to property, plant, equipment and intangibles and additions to capital leases.

 

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IMPERIAL OIL LIMITED

 

 

 

Nine Months to September 30		Upstream												Downstream												Chemical
millions of dollars		2010				2009								2010				2009								2010				2009
REVENUES AND OTHER INCOME
Operating revenues			3,159				2,560								14,081				12,217								813				684
Intersegment sales			2,790				2,309								1,449				1,110								212				216
Investment and other income			36				25								62				35								3				-
			5,985				4,894								15,592				13,362								1,028				900
EXPENSES
Exploration			171				126								-				-								-				-
Purchases of crude oil and products			1,985				1,400								12,471				10,162								754				650
Production and manufacturing			1,767				1,825								1,079				1,049								157				142
Selling and general			5				2								678				698								49				56
Federal excise tax			-				-								971				951								-				-
Depreciation and depletion			384				398								162				170								9				10
Financing costs			-				1								1				1								-				-
TOTAL EXPENSES			4,312				3,752								15,362				13,031								969				858
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES			1,673				1,142								230				331								59				42
INCOME TAXES			435				309								54				105								15				12
NET INCOME			1,238				833								176				226								44				30
Export sales to the United States			1,295				1,232								919				938								487				361
Cash flow from (used in) operating activities			2,057				244								161				413								44				31
CAPEX (a)			2,838				1,422								129				167								9				12
Total assets as at September 30			12,754				9,887								6,401				6,359								425				416
Nine Months to September 30		Corporate and Other												Eliminations												Consolidated
millions of dollars		2010				2009								2010				2009								2010				2009
REVENUES AND OTHER INCOME
Operating revenues			-				-								-				-								18,053				15,461
Intersegment sales			-				-								(4,451	)			(3,635	)							-				-
Investment and other income			2				13								-				-								103				73
			2				13								(4,451	)			(3,635	)							18,156				15,534
EXPENSES
Exploration			-				-								-				-								171				126
Purchases of crude oil and products			-				-								(4,451	)			(3,635	)							10,759				8,577
Production and manufacturing			-				-								-				-								3,003				3,016
Selling and general			54				66								-				-								786				822
Federal excise tax			-				-								-				-								971				951
Depreciation and depletion			6				6								-				-								561				584
Financing costs			3				1								-				-								4				3
TOTAL EXPENSES			63				73								(4,451	)			(3,635	)							16,255				14,079
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES			(61	)			(60	)							-				-								1,901				1,455
INCOME TAXES			(14	)			(16	)							-				-								490				410
NET INCOME			(47	)			(44	)							-				-								1,411				1,045
Export sales to the United States			-				-								-				-								2,701				2,531
Cash flow from (used in) operating activities			(59	)			(24	)							-				-								2,203				664
CAPEX (a)			4				3								-				-								2,980				1,604
Total assets as at September 30			96				481								(278	)			(321	)							19,398				16,822

 

(a)	Capital and exploration expenditures (CAPEX) include exploration expenses, additions to property, plant, equipment and intangibles and additions to capital leases.

 

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IMPERIAL OIL LIMITED

 

 

 

4.    Investment and other income

Investment and other income includes gains and losses on asset sales as follows:

 

		Third Quarter												Nine Months to September 30
millions of dollars		2010				2009								2010				2009
Proceeds from asset sales			35				8								95				45
Book value of assets sold			23				8								37				13
Gain/(loss) on asset sales, before tax			12				–								58				32
Gain/(loss) on asset sales, after tax			10				–								50				26
5.    Employee retirement benefits   The components of net benefit cost included in production and manufacturing and selling and general expenses in the consolidated statement of income are as follows:
		Third Quarter												Nine Months to September 30
millions of dollars		2010				2009								2010				2009
Pension benefits:
Current service cost			25				20								76				60
Interest cost			77				75								230				227
Expected return on plan assets			(69	)			(67	)							(206	)			(201	)
Amortization of prior service cost			5				4								13				13
Recognized actuarial loss			34				28								103				84
Net benefit cost			72				60								216				183
Other post-retirement benefits:
Current service cost			1				1								4				3
Interest cost			6				7								18				20
Amortization of prior service cost			-				-								(1	)			-
Recognized actuarial loss/(gain)			-				-								-				(1	)
Net benefit cost			7				8								21				22
6.    Long-term debt
						As at Sept. 30												As at Dec. 31
millions of dollars						2010												2009
Long-term debt (a)							200												-
Capital leases							28												31
Total long-term debt							228												31

 

(a)

In the third quarter of 2010, the company borrowed $200 million under an existing agreement with an affiliated company of Exxon Mobil Corporation (ExxonMobil) that provides for a long-term, variable-rate loan from ExxonMobil to the company of up to $5 billion (Canadian) at interest equivalent to Canadian market rates. The agreement is effective until July 31, 2019, cancelable if ExxonMobil provides at least 370 days advance written notice.

In the third quarter, to support the commercial paper program, the company entered into an unsecured committed bank credit facility in the amount of $200 million that matures in July 2012.

 

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IMPERIAL OIL LIMITED

 

 

 

7.    Other long-term obligations

 

		As at Sept. 30								As at Dec. 31
millions of dollars		2010								2009
Employee retirement benefits (a)			1,253								1,682
Asset retirement obligations and other environmental liabilities (b)			796								806
Share-based incentive compensation liabilities			184								144
Other obligations			210								207
Total other long-term obligations			2,443								2,839

 

(a)	Total recorded employee retirement benefits obligations also include $47 million in current liabilities (December 31, 2009 - $47 million).

(b)	Total asset retirement obligations and other environmental liabilities also include $112 million in current liabilities (December 31, 2009 - $114 million).

8.    Net income per share

 

		Third Quarter												Nine Months to September 30
		2010				2009								2010				2009
Net income per common share - basic
Net income (millions of dollars)			418				547								1,411				1,045
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding (millions of shares)			847.6				847.6								847.6				850.5
Net income per common share (dollars)			0.49				0.64								1.66				1.23
Net income per common share - diluted
Net income (millions of dollars)			418				547								1,411				1,045
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding (millions of shares)			847.6				847.6								847.6				850.5
Effect of employee share-based awards (millions of shares)			7.1				7.3								6.9				7.0
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, assuming dilution (millions of shares)			854.7				854.9								854.5				857.5
Net income per common share (dollars)			0.49				0.64								1.65				1.22

9.    Comprehensive income

 

		Third Quarter												Nine Months to September 30
millions of dollars		2010				2009								2010				2009
Net income			418				547								1,411				1,045
Post-retirement benefit liability adjustment (excluding amortization)			-				-								84				(25	)
Amortization of post retirement benefit liability adjustment included in net periodic benefit costs			28				23								85				70
Other comprehensive income (net of income taxes)			28				23								169				45
Total comprehensive income			446				570								1,580				1,090

 

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IMPERIAL OIL LIMITED

 

 

Item 2.

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

OPERATING RESULTS

The company’s net income for the third quarter of 2010 was $418 million or $0.49 a share on a diluted basis, compared with $547 million or $0.64 a share for the same period last year. Net income for the first nine months of 2010 was $1,411 million or $1.65 a share on a diluted basis, versus $1,045 million or $1.22 a share for the nine months of 2009.

Although third quarter earnings were lower, underlying business operations remained strong across all segments of the company. The lower third quarter earnings were primarily attributable to planned maintenance activities at Syncrude, impacting earnings by about $90 million, and the unfavourable foreign exchange effects of a stronger Canadian dollar of about $70 million. These factors were partially offset by the combined impacts of upstream commodity prices and downstream margins totaling about $75 million. The company estimates that third-party pipeline reliability issues negatively impacted third quarter earnings by about $60 million; this effect, which will carry-over in fourth quarter results, has been reflected in the overall commodity price and margins factor above.

For the nine months, earnings increased primarily due to the impacts of higher upstream commodity prices of about $800 million, higher Syncrude volumes of about $90 million and improved refinery operations and lower refinery maintenance activities totaling about $75 million. These factors were partially offset by the unfavourable effects of a stronger Canadian dollar of about $330 million, higher royalty costs due to higher commodity prices of about $240 million, and lower overall downstream margins of about $110 million. Earnings in the nine months of 2010 also included higher gain of about $25 million from sale of non-operating assets.

Upstream

Net income in the third quarter was $348 million versus $439 million in the same period of 2009. Earnings decreased primarily due to higher costs and lower volumes at Syncrude, mainly a result of planned maintenance activities, totaling about $90 million. Earnings were also negatively impacted by the unfavourable foreign exchange effects of a stronger Canadian dollar of about $65 million and lower Cold Lake bitumen production and lower conventional volumes totaling about $25 million. These factors were partially offset by higher crude oil and natural gas commodity prices in the third quarter of 2010 which contributed to higher earnings of about $95 million. Third-party pipeline reliability issues in the third quarter negatively impacted the transportation of western crude oil. The company estimates the negative impact on earnings of about $45 million from lower realizations, the effect of which has been reflected in the commodity price factor above.

Net income for the nine months was $1,238 million versus $833 million during the same period last year. Higher crude oil and natural gas commodity prices in 2010 increased revenues, contributing to higher earnings of about $800 million. Earnings were also positively impacted by higher Syncrude volumes, reflecting improved reliability, of about $90 million. These factors were partially offset by the impact of a stronger Canadian dollar of about $265 million and higher royalty costs due to higher commodity prices of about $240 million.

The average price of Brent crude oil in U.S. dollars, a common benchmark for world oil markets, was $76.85 a barrel in the third quarter and $77.15 a barrel in the nine months of 2010, up about 13 percent and 35 percent from the corresponding periods last year. The company’s average realizations on sales of Canadian conventional crude oil and synthetic crude oil from Syncrude production also increased. The company’s average bitumen realizations were also higher in the third quarter and in the first nine months of 2010, but by less than the relative increase in light crude oil prices, reflecting a widened price spread between the lighter crude oils and Cold Lake bitumen, attributable to third-party pipeline outages.

 

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Gross production of Cold Lake bitumen averaged 139 thousand barrels a day during the third quarter, versus 145 thousand barrels in the same quarter last year. For the nine months, gross production was 143 thousand barrels a day this year, compared with 144 thousand barrels in the same period of 2009. Lower volumes in both periods in 2010 were due to the cyclic nature of production at Cold Lake.

The company’s share of Syncrude’s gross production in the third quarter was 66 thousand barrels a day, versus 78 thousand barrels in the third quarter of 2009. Lower volumes in the third quarter of 2010 were the result of planned maintenance activities, which began in September 2010 and will complete in late October 2010. During the nine months of the year, the company’s share of gross production from Syncrude averaged 71 thousand barrels a day, up from 66 thousand barrels in 2009. Increased production in the nine months of 2010 was due to improved operational reliability.

Gross production of conventional crude oil averaged 22 thousand barrels a day in the third quarter, down from 25 thousand barrels in the third quarter of 2009. In the first nine months of the year, gross production was 23 thousand barrels a day, compared with 25 thousand barrels in 2009. Planned maintenance activities at the Norman Wells field and natural reservoir decline were the main contributors to the lower production in both periods.

Gross production of natural gas during the third quarter of 2010 was 284 million cubic feet a day, down slightly from 291 million cubic feet in the same period last year. In the nine months of the year, gross production was 282 million cubic feet a day, down from 294 million cubic feet in the nine months of 2009. The lower production volume was primarily a result of maintenance activities and natural reservoir decline.

The company is currently reconfiguring its Kearl project development plan to include a combination of debottlenecking and expansion to minimize facility requirements and to reduce the plant footprint. The approach will leverage our execution learnings, take advantage of the investments in infrastructure that would not need to be duplicated in the future and will utilize our successful “design one, build many” approach to replicate facilities. The overall production profile and total resource developed at Kearl remain relatively unchanged for the reconfigured project. It is expected that the capital investments’ spending profile of the first phase of the project will be higher based on the adjustments mentioned above.

Downstream

Net income was $69 million in the third quarter of 2010, compared with $62 million in the same period a year ago. Improved refinery operations as well as improved sales volumes when compared to the low levels in the third quarter of 2009 contributed about $25 million to the earnings increase. These factors were partially offset by lower overall margins of about $20 million, which included the negative impact of the third-party pipeline outages.

Nine-month net income was $176 million, compared with $226 million in 2009. Lower earnings were primarily due to lower overall margins of about $110 million and the unfavourable effects of a stronger Canadian dollar of about $60 million. These factors were partially offset by the favourable impacts of about $75 million associated with improved refinery operations and lower refinery maintenance activities and $35 million gain from sale of non-operating assets.

Chemical

Net income was $23 million in the third quarter, $4 million higher than the same quarter last year. Improved industry margins for polyethylene and intermediate products were partially offset by lower sales volumes for polyethylene products. Nine-month net income was $44 million, up $14 million from the same period in 2009. Improved industry margins were partially offset by lower sales volumes for polyethylene products and higher costs due to planned maintenance activities.

 

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Corporate and other

Net income effects were negative $22 million in the third quarter, compared with $27 million in the same period of 2009. The change in earnings effects was primarily due to changes in share-based compensation charges in the third quarter of 2010. For the nine months of 2010, net income was negative $47 million, in line with the negative $44 million reported last year.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Cash flow generated from operating activities was $965 million during the third quarter of 2010, compared with $698 million in the same period last year. Higher cash flow was primarily driven by working capital effects partially offset by lower earnings. Year-to-date cash flow generated from operating activities was $2,203 million, compared with $664 million in the same period last year. Higher cash flow was primarily due to higher earnings and working capital effects, partially offset by higher 2010 funding contributions to the company’s registered pension plan.

Investing activities used net cash of $1,113 million in the third quarter, an increase of $568 million from the corresponding period in 2009. Additions to property, plant and equipment were $1,147 million in the third quarter, compared with $554 million during the same quarter 2009. For the Upstream segment, expenditures during the quarter were primarily directed towards the advancement of the Kearl oil sands project. Other investments included development drilling at Cold Lake, exploration drilling at Horn River as well as environmental and other projects at Syncrude. The Downstream segment’s capital expenditures were focused mainly on refinery projects to improve reliability, feedstock flexibility, energy efficiency and air emissions.

Cash from financing activities was $135 million in the third quarter, compared with cash used in financing activities of $85 million in the third quarter of 2009. In the third quarter, the company increased its debt level by $228 million by drawing on existing facilities.

During the third quarter of 2010, the company did not make any share repurchases except those to offset the dilutive effects from the exercise of stock options. The company will continue to evaluate its share-purchase program in the context of its overall capital project activities.

Cash dividends of $93 million were paid in the third quarter of 2010 compared with dividends of $85 million in the same period of 2009. Per-share dividends declared in the first nine months of 2010 totaled $0.32, up from $0.30 in the same period of 2009.

The above factors led to a decrease in the company’s balance of cash to $51 million at September 30, 2010, from $513 million at the end of 2009.

 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.

Information about market risks for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 does not differ materially from that discussed on page 23 in the company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009. Additional discussion of risk is highlighted in Part II, Item 1A, Risk Factors, on page 15 of the Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2010.

 

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Item 4.

Controls and Procedures.

As indicated in the certifications in Exhibit 31 of this report, the company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have evaluated the company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2010. Based on that evaluation, these officers have concluded that the company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the company in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is accumulated and communicated to them in a manner that allows for timely decisions regarding required disclosures and are effective in ensuring that such information is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.

There has not been any change in the company’s internal control over financial reporting during the last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1A.     Risk Factors

Information about risk factors does not differ materially from the discussion found in Item 1A of the company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2009. The company’s activities in deep water oil and gas exploration are limited. However, there are operational risks inherent in oil and gas exploration and production activities, as well as the potential to incur substantial financial liabilities if those risks are not effectively managed. The ability to insure such risks is limited by the capacity of the applicable insurance markets, which may not be sufficient to cover the likely cost of a major adverse operating event such as a deepwater well blowout. Accordingly, the company’s primary focus is on prevention, including through our rigorous Operations Integrity Management System. Our future results will depend on the continued effectiveness of these efforts.

Future changes to laws and regulations may have the effect of increasing the cost of, and reducing available opportunities for, offshore exploration and production.

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

During the period July 1, 2010 to September 30, 2010, the company issued 11,727 common shares to employees or former employees outside the U.S.A. for $15.50 per share upon the exercise of stock options. These issuances were not registered under the Securities Act in reliance on Regulation S thereunder.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities (1)

 

Period		(a) Total number of     shares (or units) purchased		(b) Average price paid per share (or     unit)		(c) Total number of shares (or units)     purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs		(d) Maximum number (or approximate dollar     value) of shares (or units) that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs
July 2010 (July 1- July 31)		-		-		-		42,274,061
August 2010 (August 1 - August 31)		-		-		-		42,187,921
September 2010 (Sept 1 - Sept 30)		11,727		$38.3551		11,727		42,089,441

 

(1)

On June 23, 2010, the company announced by news release that it had received final approval from the Toronto Stock Exchange for a new normal course issuer bid and will continue its share repurchase program. The new program enables the company to repurchase up to a maximum of 42,380,333 common shares, including common shares purchased for the company’s employee savings plan, the company’s employee retirement plan and from Exxon Mobil Corporation during the period June 25, 2010 to June 24, 2011. If not previously terminated, the program will end on June 24, 2011.

The company will continue to evaluate its share-purchase program in the context of its overall capital activities.

 

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Item 6. Exhibits.

(31.1)  Certification by the principal executive officer of the company pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a).

(31.2)  Certification by the principal financial officer of the company pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a).

(32.1)  Certification by the chief executive officer and of the company pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.

(32.2)  Certification by the chief financial officer and of the company pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

				IMPERIAL OIL LIMITED (Registrant)
Date:     November 3, 2010				/s/ Paul J. Masschelin
				(Signature)
				Paul J. Masschelin
				Senior Vice-President, Finance and
				Administration and Treasurer
				(Principal Accounting Officer)
Date:     November 3, 2010				/s/ Brent A. Latimer
				(Signature)
				Brent A. Latimer
				Assistant Secretary

 

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