Imperial Oil
IMO
#463
Rank
A$73.73 B
Marketcap
A$144.97
Share price
-4.22%
Change (1 day)
30.81%
Change (1 year)
Imperial Oil Limited is a Canadian company active in the exploration, production and transportation of oil and natural gas.

Imperial Oil - 10-Q quarterly report FY


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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
þ  QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2008
OR
o  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 of
 (I.R.S. Employer
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 90 days.
   
YES   þ
 NO   o
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   þ     Accelerated filer   o     Non-accelerated filer   o     Smaller reporting Company   o
The registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).
   
YES   o
 NO   þ
The number of common shares outstanding, as of September 30, 2008, was 869,672,953.
 
 

 


 

IMPERIAL OIL LIMITED
 
INDEX
     
  PAGE 
 
    
PART I — Financial Information
    
 
    
Item 1 — Financial Statements.
    
 
    
Consolidated Statement of Income —
    
Three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007
    
Nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007
  3 
 
    
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows —
    
Three months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007
    
Nine months ended September 30, 2008 and 2007
  4 
 
    
Consolidated Balance Sheet —
    
As at September 30, 2008 and December 31, 2007
  5 
 
    
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
  6 
 
    
Item 2 — Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
  12 
 
    
Item 3 — Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.
  15 
 
    
Item 4 — Controls and Procedures.
  15 
 
    
PART II — Other Information
    
 
    
Item 2 — Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
  16 
 
    
Item 6 — Exhibits.
  17 
 
    
SIGNATURES
  17 
 
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, 2007, and Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2008 and June 30, 2008.
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

- 2 -


 

IMPERIAL OIL LIMITED
 
PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.   Financial Statements.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
(U.S. GAAP, unaudited)
                 
          Nine months
  Third quarter to September 30
millions of Canadian dollars 2008  2007  2008  2007 
 
REVENUES AND OTHER INCOME
                
Operating revenues (a)(b)
  9,478   6,306   25,327   18,372 
Investment and other income (4)
  37   124   310   331 
     
TOTAL REVENUES AND OTHER INCOME
  9,515   6,430   25,637   18,703 
     
 
                
EXPENSES
                
Exploration
  34   19   91   90 
Purchases of crude oil and products (c)
  5,727   3,519   15,535   10,142 
Production and manufacturing (5)(d)
  1,092   846   3,183   2,580 
Selling and general (5)
  175   298   794   969 
Federal excise tax (a)
  341   343   981   972 
Depreciation and depletion
  188   205   550   592 
Financing costs (6)(e)
  1   10   (2)  33 
     
TOTAL EXPENSES
  7,558   5,240   21,132   15,378 
     
 
                
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
  1,957   1,190   4,505   3,325 
 
                
INCOME TAXES
  568   374   1,287   1,023 
     
 
                
NET INCOME (3)
  1,389   816   3,218   2,302 
     
 
                
NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE — BASIC (dollars) (8)
  1.57   0.88   3.62   2.46 
NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE — DILUTED (dollars) (8)
  1.57   0.88   3.60   2.45 
DIVIDENDS PER COMMON SHARE (dollars)
  0.10   0.09   0.28   0.26 
 
                
(a)  Federal excise tax included in operating revenues
  341   343   981   972 
(b)  Amounts from related parties included in operating revenues
  637   431   1,856   1,277 
(c)  Amounts to related parties included in purchases of crude oil and products
  1,442   866   3,951   2,357 
(d)  Amounts to related parties included in production and manufacturing expenses
  48   55   138   148 
(e)  Amounts to related parties included in financing costs
     9   (1)  26 
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of these financial statements.

- 3 -


 

IMPERIAL OIL LIMITED
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
(U.S. GAAP, unaudited)
                 
          Nine months
inflow/(outflow) Third quarter to September 30
millions of Canadian dollars 2008  2007  2008  2007 
 
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
                
Net income
  1,389   816   3,218   2,302 
Adjustment for non-cash items:
                
Depreciation and depletion
  188   205   550   592 
(Gain)/loss on asset sales (4)
  (4)  (72)  (236)  (211)
Deferred income taxes and other
  137   9   (105)  98 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
                
Accounts receivable
  128   (23)  (636)  (255)
Inventories and prepaids
  (8)  (51)  (477)  (249)
Income taxes payable
  200   183   559   (225)
Accounts payable
  (409)  (80)  654   400 
All other items — net (a)
  42   27   (110)  (38)
     
CASH FROM (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES
  1,663   1,014   3,417   2,414 
     
 
                
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
                
Additions to property, plant and equipment and intangibles
  (354)  (226)  (905)  (598)
Proceeds from asset sales
  19   82   260   268 
Loans to equity company
     1   (2)   
     
CASH FROM (USED IN) INVESTING ACTIVITIES
  (335)  (143)  (647)  (330)
     
 
                
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
                
Short-term debt — net
     (1)     404 
Repayment of long-term debt
     (250)     (904)
Long-term debt issued
     250      500 
Reduction in capitalized lease obligations
  (1)  (1)  (3)  (2)
Issuance of common shares under stock option plan
     1   6   10 
Common shares purchased (8)
  (610)  (600)  (1,806)  (1,791)
Dividends paid
  (79)  (84)  (242)  (236)
     
CASH FROM (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES
  (690)  (685)  (2,045)  (2,019)
     
 
                
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH
  638   186   725   65 
CASH AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD
  1,295   2,037   1,208   2,158 
     
CASH AT END OF PERIOD
  1,933   2,223   1,933   2,223 
     
 
                
(a)  Includes contribution to registered pension plans
  (6)  (5)  (159)  (158)
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of these financial statements.

- 4 -


 

IMPERIAL OIL LIMITED
 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
(U.S. GAAP, unaudited)
         
  As at  As at 
  Sept. 30  Dec. 31 
millions of Canadian dollars 2008  2007 
 
ASSETS
        
Current assets
        
Cash
  1,933   1,208 
Accounts receivable, less estimated doubtful accounts
  2,770   2,132 
Inventories of crude oil and products
  898   566 
Materials, supplies and prepaid expenses
  273   128 
Deferred income tax assets
  807   660 
   
Total current assets
  6,681   4,694 
 
        
Long-term receivables, investments and other long-term assets
  785   766 
 
        
Property, plant and equipment,
  23,709   22,962 
less accumulated depreciation and depletion
  12,812   12,401 
   
Property, plant and equipment, net
  10,897   10,561 
 
        
Goodwill
  204   204 
Other intangible assets, net
  60   62 
   
 
        
TOTAL ASSETS
  18,627   16,287 
   
 
        
LIABILITIES
        
Current liabilities
        
Short-term debt
  105   105 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (7)(a)
  3,995   3,335 
Income taxes payable
  2,057   1,498 
Current portion of capitalized lease obligations
  3   3 
   
Total current liabilities
  6,160   4,941 
 
        
Capitalized lease obligations
  35   38 
Other long-term obligations (7)
  1,879   1,914 
Deferred income tax liabilities
  1,503   1,471 
   
TOTAL LIABILITIES
  9,577   8,364 
 
        
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
        
Common shares at stated value (8)(b)
  1,546   1,600 
Earnings reinvested (9)
  8,294   7,071 
Accumulated other comprehensive income (10)
  (790)  (748)
   
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
  9,050   7,923 
   
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
  18,627   16,287 
   
(a)  Accounts payable and accrued liabilities include amounts to related parties of $556 million (2007 — $260 million).
(b)  Number of common shares outstanding was 870 million (2007 — 903 million).
The notes to the financial statements are an integral part of these financial statements.

- 5 -


 

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, 2008, and December 31, 2007, and the results of operations and changes in cash flows for the nine months ending September 30, 2008 and 2007. 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 2008 presentation.
The results for the nine months ending September 30, 2008, 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 changes
Uncertainty in income taxes
As of January 1, 2007, the company adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Interpretation No. 48 (FIN 48), “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes”. The cumulative adjustment for the accounting change reported in the first quarter of 2007 was an after-tax gain of $14 million.
Fair value measurements
Effective January 1, 2008, the company adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (FASB) Statement No. 157 (SFAS 157), “Fair Value Measurements” for financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value and nonfinancial assets and liabilities that are remeasured at fair value on a recurring basis. SFAS 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value when an entity is required to use a fair value measure for recognition or disclosure purposes and expands the disclosures about fair value measurements. The initial application of SFAS 157 had no impact on the company’s financial statements.
On January 1, 2009, the company will adopt SFAS 157 for nonfinancial assets and liabilities that are not remeasured at fair value on a recurring basis. The application of SFAS 157 to the company’s nonfinancial assets and liabilities will mostly be limited to the recognition and measurement of nonmonetary exchange transactions, asset retirement obligations and asset impairments. The company does not expect the adoption to have a material impact on the company’s financial statements.

- 6 -


 

IMPERIAL OIL LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)
 
3.  Business segments
                         
Third quarter Upstream  Downstream  Chemical
millions of dollars 2008  2007  2008  2007  2008  2007 
 
REVENUES AND OTHER INCOME
                        
External sales (a)
  1,692   1,028   7,393   4,934   393   344 
Intersegment sales
  1,682   1,227   747   552   132   74 
Investment and other income
  5   85   18   14       
       
 
  3,379   2,340   8,158   5,500   525   418 
       
EXPENSES
                        
Exploration (b)
  34   19             
Purchases of crude oil and products
  1,134   817   6,759   4,243   395   312 
Production and manufacturing
  671   479   369   321   52   46 
Selling and general
  2   2   256   251   19   19 
Federal excise tax
        341   343       
Depreciation and depletion
  124   141   57   59   4   4 
Financing costs
  1                
       
TOTAL EXPENSES
  1,966   1,458   7,782   5,217   470   381 
       
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
  1,413   882   376   283   55   37 
INCOME TAXES
  414   275   106   92   17   13 
       
NET INCOME
  999   607   270   191   38   24 
       
 
                        
Export sales to the United States
  984   490   682   200   250   212 
Cash flows from (used in) operating activities
  1,534   760   93   184   32   60 
CAPEX (b)
  316   184   67   50   3   2 
                         
  Corporate       
Third quarter and Other  Eliminations  Consolidated
millions of dollars 2008  2007  2008  2007  2008  2007 
 
REVENUES AND OTHER INCOME
                        
External sales (a)
              9,478   6,306 
Intersegment sales
        (2,561)  (1,853)      
Investment and other income
  14   25         37   124 
       
 
  14   25   (2,561)  (1,853)  9,515   6,430 
       
EXPENSES
                        
Exploration (b)
              34   19 
Purchases of crude oil and products
        (2,561)  (1,853)  5,727   3,519 
Production and manufacturing
              1,092   846 
Selling and general
  (102)  26         175   298 
Federal excise tax
              341   343 
Depreciation and depletion
  3   1         188   205 
Financing costs
     10         1   10 
       
TOTAL EXPENSES
  (99)  37   (2,561)  (1,853)  7,558   5,240 
       
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
  113   (12)        1,957   1,190 
INCOME TAXES
  31   (6)        568   374 
       
NET INCOME
  82   (6)        1,389   816 
       
 
                        
Export sales to the United States
              1,916   902 
Cash flows from (used in) operating activities
  4   10         1,663   1,014 
CAPEX (b)
  2   9         388   245 
(a) Includes crude oil sales made by Downstream in order to optimize refining operations.
 
(b) Capital and exploration expenditures (CAPEX) include exploration expenses, additions to property, plant, equipment and intangibles and additions to capital leases.

- 7 -


 

IMPERIAL OIL LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)
 
3.  Business segments (continued)
                         
Nine months to September 30 Upstream  Downstream  Chemical
millions of dollars 2008  2007  2008  2007  2008  2007 
 
REVENUES AND OTHER INCOME
                        
External sales (a)
  4,977   3,377   19,223   14,016   1,127   979 
Intersegment sales
  4,528   2,977   2,418   1,609   374   247 
Investment and other income
  14   225   260   38   1    
       
 
  9,519   6,579   21,901   15,663   1,502   1,226 
       
EXPENSES
                        
Exploration (b)
  91   90             
Purchases of crude oil and products
  3,480   2,241   18,202   11,821   1,173   913 
Production and manufacturing
  1,927   1,515   1,097   925   159   140 
Selling and general
  5   6   732   728   56   54 
Federal excise tax
        981   972       
Depreciation and depletion
  359   399   175   180   10   9 
Financing costs
  1   3   (5)  1       
       
TOTAL EXPENSES
  5,863   4,254   21,182   14,627   1,398   1,116 
       
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
  3,656   2,325   719   1,036   104   110 
INCOME TAXES
  1,069   695   180   333   32   36 
       
NET INCOME
  2,587   1,630   539   703   72   74 
       
 
                        
Export sales to the United States
  2,635   1,512   1,275   702   701   576 
Cash flows from (used in) operating activities
  3,075   1,702   336   656   42   1 
CAPEX (b)
  821   495   162   133   7   8 
Total assets as at September 30
  8,790   7,923   7,820   6,889   516   499 
                         
  Corporate       
Nine months to September 30 and Other  Eliminations  Consolidated 
millions of dollars 2008  2007  2008  2007  2008  2007 
 
REVENUES AND OTHER INCOME
                        
External sales (a)
              25,327   18,372 
Intersegment sales
        (7,320)  (4,833)      
Investment and other income
  35   68         310   331 
       
 
  35   68   (7,320)  (4,833)  25,637   18,703 
       
EXPENSES
                        
Exploration (b)
              91   90 
Purchases of crude oil and products
        (7,320)  (4,833)  15,535   10,142 
Production and manufacturing
              3,183   2,580 
Selling and general
  1   181         794   969 
Federal excise tax
              981   972 
Depreciation and depletion
  6   4         550   592 
Financing costs
  2   29         (2)  33 
       
TOTAL EXPENSES
  9   214   (7,320)  (4,833)  21,132   15,378 
       
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
  26   (146)        4,505   3,325 
INCOME TAXES
  6   (41)        1,287   1,023 
       
NET INCOME
  20   (105)        3,218   2,302 
       
 
                        
Export sales to the United States
              4,611   2,790 
Cash flows from (used in) operating activities
  (36)  55         3,417   2,414 
CAPEX (b)
  6   25         996   661 
Total assets as at September 30
  1,956   2,256   (455)  (314)  18,627   17,253 
(a) Includes crude oil sales made by Downstream in order to optimize refining operations.
 
(b) Capital and exploration expenditures (CAPEX) include exploration expenses, additions to property, plant, equipment and intangibles and additions to capital leases.

- 8 -


 

IMPERIAL OIL LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)
 
4.  Investment and other income
Investment and other income includes gains and losses on asset sales as follows:
                 
          Nine months
  Third quarter  to September 30
millions of dollars 2008  2007  2008  2007 
 
Proceeds from asset sales
  19   82   260   268 
Book value of assets sold
  15   10   24   57 
     
Gain/(loss) on asset sales, before tax (a)
  4   72   236   211 
     
Gain/(loss) on asset sales, after tax (a)
  2   51   203   152 
     
(a) Third quarter of 2007 included a gain of $71 million ($51 million, after tax) from the sale of the company’s interest in the Willesden Green producing property.
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:
                 
          Nine months
  Third quarter  to September 30
millions of dollars 2008  2007  2008  2007 
 
Pension benefits:
                
Current service cost
  24   25   71   75 
Interest cost
  67   62   203   185 
Expected return on plan assets
  (82)  (83)  (247)  (247)
Amortization of prior service cost
  5   5   14   15 
Recognized actuarial loss
  22   19   68   57 
     
Net benefit cost
  36   28   109   85 
     
 
                
Other post-retirement benefits:
                
Current service cost
  2   1   5   4 
Interest cost
  7   5   19   17 
Recognized actuarial loss
  1   2   4   5 
     
Net benefit cost
  10   8   28   26 
     
6.  Financing costs
                 
          Nine months
  Third quarter  to September 30
millions of dollars 2008  2007  2008  2007 
 
Debt related interest
  2   18   6   51 
Capitalized interest
  (2)  (9)  (6)  (25)
     
Net interest expense
     9      26 
Other interest
  1   1   (2)  7 
     
Total financing costs
  1   10   (2)  33 
     

- 9 -


 

IMPERIAL OIL LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)
 
7.  Other long-term obligations
         
  As at  As at 
  Sept. 30  Dec. 31 
millions of dollars 2008  2007 
 
Employee retirement benefits (a)
  904   954 
Asset retirement obligations and other environmental liabilities (b)
  516   522 
Share-based incentive compensation liabilities
  253   210 
Other obligations
  206   228 
   
Total other long-term obligations
  1,879   1,914 
   
(a) Total recorded employee retirement benefits obligations also include $59 million in current liabilities
(December 31, 2007 — $59 million).
 
(b) Total asset retirement obligations and other environmental liabilities also include $74 million in current liabilities
(December 31, 2007 — $74 million).
8.  Common shares
         
  As at  As at 
  Sept. 30  Dec. 31 
thousands of shares 2008  2007 
 
Authorized
  1,100,000   1,100,000 
Common shares outstanding
  869,673   903,263 
From 1995 through 2007, the company purchased shares under thirteen 12-month normal course issuer bid share repurchase programs, as well as an auction tender. On June 25, 2008, another 12-month normal course issuer bid program was implemented with an allowable purchase of 44.2 million shares (five percent of the total on June 24, 2008), less shares purchased from Exxon Mobil Corporation and shares purchased by the employee savings plan and company pension fund. The results of these activities are as shown below:
         
  millions of
Year shares  dollars 
 
 
        
1995 - 2006
  795.6   10,453 
 
        
2007 - Third quarter
  12.8   600 
- Full year
  50.5   2,358 
 
        
2008 - Third quarter
  12.4   610 
- Year-to-date
  34.0   1,806 
 
        
Cumulative purchases to date
  880.1   14,617 
Exxon Mobil Corporation’s participation in the above share repurchase maintained its ownership interest in Imperial at 69.6 percent.
The excess of the purchase cost over the stated value of shares purchased has been recorded as a distribution of earnings reinvested.

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IMPERIAL OIL LIMITED
 
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)
 
The following table provides the calculation of net income per common share:
                 
          Nine months
  Third quarter  to September 30
  2008  2007  2008  2007 
 
Net income per common share — basic
                
Net income (millions of dollars)
  1,389   816   3,218   2,302 
 
                
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding (millions of shares)
  877.3   922.0   888.4   935.0 
 
                
Net income per common share (dollars)
  1.57   0.88   3.62   2.46 
Net income per common share — diluted
                
Net income (millions of dollars)
  1,389   816   3,218   2,302 
 
                
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding (millions of shares)
  877.3   922.0   888.4   935.0 
Effect of employee share-based awards (millions of shares)
  6.5   5.9   6.4   5.7 
     
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, assuming dilution (millions of shares)
  883.8   927.9   894.8   940.7 
 
                
Net income per common share (dollars)
  1.57   0.88   3.60   2.45 
9.  Earnings reinvested
                 
          Nine months 
  Third quarter  to September 30 
millions of dollars 2008  2007  2008  2007 
 
Earnings reinvested at beginning of period
  7,581   6,659   7,071   6,462 
Cumulative effect of accounting change (2)
           14 
Net income for the period
  1,389   816   3,218   2,302 
Share purchases in excess of stated value
  (588)  (577)  (1,746)  (1,721)
Dividends
  (88)  (83)  (249)  (242)
     
Earnings reinvested at end of period
  8,294   6,815   8,294   6,815 
     
10.  Comprehensive income
                 
          Nine months 
  Third quarter  to September 30
millions of dollars 2008  2007  2008  2007 
 
Net income
  1,389   816   3,218   2,302 
 
                
Post-retirement benefit liability adjustment (excluding amortization)
        (105)  (28)
Amortization of post retirement benefit liability adjustment included in net periodic benefit costs
  21   18   63   53 
     
Other comprehensive income (net of income taxes)
  21   18   (42)  25 
     
Total comprehensive income
  1,410   834   3,176   2,327 
     

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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 2008 was a record $1,389 million or $1.57 a share on a diluted basis, compared with $816 million or $0.88 a share for the same period last year. Net income for the first nine months of 2008 was $3,218 million or $3.60 a share on a diluted basis, versus $2,302 million or $2.45 a share for the first nine months of 2007.
Earnings in the third quarter were higher than the same quarter of 2007 as earnings improved in all segments. In the Upstream, higher crude oil and natural gas commodity prices were partially offset by the negative impacts of lower volumes, higher royalties, and higher energy and planned maintenance costs. Higher Downstream earnings were primarily due to stronger margins. Chemical earnings benefited from higher margins for polyethylene products. Lower share-based compensation costs also contributed to higher earnings.
For the first nine months, earnings increased primarily due to higher crude oil and natural gas commodity prices. Improved upstream realizations were partially offset by the negative impacts of lower upstream volumes, higher royalties, lower overall downstream margins and a stronger Canadian dollar.
Upstream
Net income in the third quarter was a record $999 million, $392 million higher than the same period in 2007. Increased earnings were primarily due to higher crude oil and natural gas commodity prices totaling about $960 million. Improved realizations were partially offset by the negative impacts of higher royalties of about $150 million, lower conventional volumes from expected reservoir decline of about $95 million, lower cyclical Cold Lake heavy oil production of about $85 million and lower Syncrude volumes of about $70 million. Earnings were also negatively impacted by higher energy and planned Syncrude maintenance costs totaling about $120 million and lower gains from asset divestments of about $50 million.
Net income for the first nine months was $2,587 million versus $1,630 million during the same period last year. Crude oil and natural gas commodity prices were stronger by about $2,500 million. Their positive impact on earnings was partially offset by lower conventional volumes of about $375 million, lower Syncrude volumes of about $130 million and lower cyclical Cold Lake heavy oil production of about $70 million. Earnings were also negatively impacted by higher royalties of about $425 million, a stronger Canadian dollar of about $180 million, higher energy, Syncrude maintenance, and other production costs totaling about $240 million and lower gains from asset divestments of about $140 million.
Gross production of Cold Lake heavy oil averaged 143 thousand barrels a day during the third quarter, versus 160 thousand barrels in the same quarter last year. For the first nine months, gross production was 147 thousand barrels a day this year, compared with 152 thousand barrels in the same period of 2007. Lower production volumes in the third quarter and nine months of 2008 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 79 thousand barrels a day compared with 87 thousand barrels during the same period a year ago. Lower volumes were attributed to planned maintenance of a coker unit which began in the third quarter. During the nine-month period, the company’s share of gross production from Syncrude averaged 71 thousand barrels a day, down from 76 thousand barrels in 2007. Lower volumes were due primarily to unplanned shutdowns in the first quarter and planned maintenance activities in the second and third quarters of 2008.

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IMPERIAL OIL LIMITED
 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (continued ....)
 
In both the third quarter and nine months of 2008, gross production of conventional crude oil averaged 27 thousand barrels a day and was essentially the same when compared to corresponding periods in 2007.
Gross production of natural gas during the third quarter of 2008 decreased to 309 million cubic feet a day from 430 million cubic feet in the same period last year. In the first nine months of the year, gross production was 315 million cubic feet a day, down from 482 million in the first nine months of 2007. The lower production volume was primarily due to the decline, as expected, in production from the Wizard Lake gas cap blowdown, which is largely complete.
Gross production of natural gas liquids (NGLs) available for sale was 9 thousand barrels a day in the third quarter, down from 16 thousand barrels in the same quarter last year. During the first nine months of 2008, gross production of NGLs available for sale decreased to 11 thousand barrels a day, from 17 thousand barrels in 2007. The lower production volumes in the third quarter and the first nine months of 2008 were mainly due to the expected decline in production from Wizard Lake.
Downstream
Net income was $270 million in the third quarter of 2008, compared with $191 million in the same period a year ago. Earnings were higher mainly due to stronger margins in the quarter. Also contributing to higher earnings was increased throughput at the refineries, with refinery utilization averaging 93 percent in the third quarter.
Nine-month net income was $539 million compared with $703 million in 2007. Earnings decreased primarily due to lower overall downstream margins of about $285 million and the negative impact of a stronger Canadian dollar of about $50 million. These factors were partially offset by a gain of $187 million from the sale of the company’s equity investment in Rainbow Pipe Line Co. Ltd. in the second quarter of 2008.
Chemical
Net income was $38 million in the third quarter, compared with $24 million in the same quarter last year. Higher earnings in the third quarter were primarily due to higher margins for polyethylene products partially offset by lower overall sales volumes. Nine-month net income was $72 million, compared with $74 million in 2007. Lower margins for intermediate and other chemical products were essentially offset by higher margins for polyethylene products.
Corporate and other
Net income effects were $82 million in the third quarter, compared with negative $6 million in the same period of 2007. For the nine months of 2008, net income effects were $20 million, versus negative $105 million last year. Favourable earnings effects in the third quarter and the first nine months of 2008 were primarily due to lower share-based compensation charges.

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IMPERIAL OIL LIMITED
 
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (continued .....)
 
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Cash flow from operating activities was $1,663 million during the third quarter of 2008, $649 million higher than the same period last year. Year-to-date cash flow from operating activities was $3,417 million, an increase of $1,003 million from the first nine months of 2007. Higher cash flow in the third quarter and the nine months of 2008 were primarily due to higher earnings.
Investing activities used net cash of $335 million in the third quarter and $647 million in the nine months of 2008, compared to $143 million and $330 million in the corresponding periods in 2007. Additions to property, plant and equipment were $354 million in the third quarter, compared with $226 million during the same quarter of 2007, and $905 million in the first nine months, compared with $598 million in the first nine months of 2007. For the Upstream segment, capital and exploration expenditures included ongoing development drilling at Cold Lake to maintain and expand production capacity, advancing the Kearl oil sands project, investments in facilities improvement at Syncrude, drilling at conventional fields in Western Canada and a 3-D seismic program in the Beaufort Sea. The Downstream segment’s capital expenditures were focused mainly on reducing air emissions and improving refinery reliability and utilization. Proceeds from asset sales were $260 million in the nine months of 2008 compared with $268 million in the corresponding period of 2007.
During the third quarter and the first nine months of 2008, the company repurchased about 12 million shares for $610 million and about 34 million shares for $1,806 million, respectively. Under the current share repurchase program, which began on June 25, 2008, the company has purchased about 14 million shares, including shares purchased from ExxonMobil.
Cash dividends of $242 million were paid in the first nine months of 2008 compared with dividends of $236 million in the same period of 2007. On July 31, 2008, the company declared a quarterly dividend of ten cents a share, an increase of one cent a share from the previous quarter, payable on October 1, 2008. Per-share dividends declared in the first three quarters of 2008 totaled $0.28, up from $0.26 in the same period of 2007.
The above factors led to an increase in the company’s balance of cash to $1,933 million at September 30, 2008, from $1,208 million at the end of 2007.

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IMPERIAL OIL LIMITED
 
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.
Information about market risks for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 does not differ materially from that discussed on page 29 in the company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 and Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2008 and June 30, 2008 except for the following:
           
 
Earnings sensitivity (a)
millions of dollars after tax
         
 
Nine cents decrease (increase) in the value of the Canadian dollar
versus the U.S. dollar
   
+ (-)
    
600
  
 
The sensitivity of net income to changes in the Canadian dollar versus the U.S. dollar decreased from the second quarter of 2008 by about $5 million (after tax) for each one-cent difference. This was primarily due to the decrease in crude oil prices partially offset by the impacts of narrowing price spread between light crude oil and Cold Lake heavy oil and higher industry refining margins.
(a) The amount quoted to illustrate the impact of the sensitivity represents a change of about 10 percent in the value of the commodity at the end of the third quarter 2008. The sensitivity calculation shows the impact on annual net income that results from a change in one factor, after tax and royalties and holding all other factors constant. While the sensitivity is applicable under current conditions, it may not apply proportionately to larger fluctuations.
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, 2008. 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 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
During the period July 1, 2008 to September 30, 2008, the company issued 12,210 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)
                       
 
              (c) Total    
              number of  (d) Maximum 
              shares (or  number (or 
              units)  approximate 
              purchased  dollar value) of 
    (a) Total       as part of  shares (or units) 
    number of  (b) Average  publicly  that may yet be 
    shares (or  price paid  announced  purchased 
    units)  per share (or  plans or  under the plans 
 Period  purchased  unit)  programs  or programs 
 
July 2008
(July 1- July 31)
   1,478,944   $53.52    1,478,944    41,473,215  
 
August 2008
(August 1 — August 31)
   5,190,375   $50.89    5,190,375    36,223,864  
 
September 2008
(September 1 - September 30)
   5,742,545   $46.39    5,742,545    30,417,719  
 
(1) On June 23, 2008, 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 44,194,961 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, 2008 to June 24, 2009. If not previously terminated, the program will end on June 24, 2009.

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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: October 30, 2008/s/ Paul. A. Smith  
 (Signature)  
 Paul A. Smith
Senior Vice-President, Finance and
Administration and Treasurer
(Principal Accounting Officer) 
 
 
   
Date: October 30, 2008 /s/ Brent. A. Latimer  
 (Signature)  
 Brent A. Latimer
Assistant Secretary 
 
 

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