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The following is an excerpt from a 10-K SEC Filing, filed by EXXON MOBIL CORP on 2/28/2008.
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EXXON MOBIL CORP - 10-K - 20080228 - LIQUIDITY_CAPITAL

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Sources and Uses of Cash

 

     2007

    2006

 
     (millions of dollars)  

Net cash provided by/(used in)

                

Operating activities

   $ 52,002     $ 49,286  

Investing activities

     (9,728 )     (14,230 )

Financing activities

     (38,345 )     (36,210 )

Effect of exchange rate changes

     1,808       727  
    


 


Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

   $ 5,737     $ (427 )
    


 


     (Dec. 31)  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 33,981     $ 28,244  

Cash and cash equivalents – restricted

     —         4,604  
    


 


Total cash and cash equivalents

   $ 33,981     $ 32,848  
    


 


Cash and cash equivalents were $34.0 billion at the end of 2007, $5.7 billion higher than the prior year, reflecting a $4.6 billion increase due to the release of the restriction on the restricted cash and cash equivalents and $1.8 billion of positive foreign exchange effects from the weakening of the U.S. dollar in 2007. There were no restricted cash and cash equivalents at the end of 2007 (see note 3 and note 15).

Cash and cash equivalents were $28.2 billion at the end of 2006, comparable to the prior year, as a net reduction from operating, investing and financing activities was partly offset by $0.7 billion of positive foreign exchange effects from the weakening of the U.S. dollar in 2006. Including restricted cash and cash equivalents of $4.6 billion (see note 3 and note 15), total cash and cash equivalents were $32.8 billion at the end of 2006. Cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities are discussed below. For additional details, see the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

        Although the Corporation issues long-term debt from time to time and has access to short-term liquidity, internally generated funds cover the majority of its financial requirements. The management of cash that may be temporarily available as surplus to the Corporation’s immediate needs is carefully controlled, both to optimize returns on cash balances, and to ensure that it is secure and readily available to meet the Corporation’s cash requirements.

        To support cash flows in future periods the Corporation will need to continually find and develop new fields, and continue to develop and apply new technologies and recovery processes to existing fields, in order to maintain or increase production. After a period of production at plateau rates, it is the nature of oil and gas fields eventually to produce at declining rates for the remainder of their economic life. Averaged over all the Corporation’s existing oil and gas fields and without new projects, ExxonMobil’s production is expected to decline at approximately 6 percent per year, consistent with recent historical performance. Decline rates can vary widely by individual field due to a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the type of reservoir, fluid properties, recovery mechanisms, and age of the field. Furthermore, the Corporation’s net interest in production for individual fields can vary with price and contractual terms.

        The Corporation has long been successful at offsetting the effects of natural field decline through disciplined investments and anticipates similar results in the future. Projects are in progress or planned to increase production capacity. However, these volume increases are subject to a variety of risks including project start-up timing, operational outages, reservoir performance, crude oil and natural gas prices, weather events, and regulatory changes. The Corporation’s cash flows are also highly dependent on crude oil and natural gas prices.

        The Corporation’s financial strength, as evidenced by its AAA/Aaa debt rating, enables it to make large, long-term capital expenditures. Capital and exploration expenditures in 2007 were $20.9 billion, reflecting the Corporation’s continued active investment program. The Corporation expects spending in the range from $25 billion to $30 billion for the next several years. Actual spending could vary depending on the progress of individual projects. The Corporation has a large and diverse portfolio of development projects and exploration opportunities, which helps mitigate the overall political and technical risks of the Corporation’s Upstream segment and associated cash flow. Further, due to its financial strength, debt capacity and diverse portfolio of opportunities, the risk associated with failure or delay of any single project would not have a significant impact on the Corporation’s liquidity or ability to generate sufficient cash flows for operations and its fixed commitments. The purchase and sale of oil and gas properties have not had a significant impact on the amount or timing of cash flows from operating activities.

 

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Index to Financial Statements

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Cash Flow from operating activities

2007

Cash provided by operating activities totaled $52.0 billion in 2007, a $2.7 billion increase from 2006. The major source of funds was net income of $40.6 billion, adjusted for the noncash provision of $12.3 billion for depreciation and depletion, both of which increased.

2006

Cash provided by operating activities totaled $49.3 billion in 2006, a $1.1 billion increase from 2005. The major source of funds was net income of $39.5 billion, adjusted for the noncash provision of $11.4 billion for depreciation and depletion, both of which increased. The net timing effects of receipts of notes and accounts receivable, payments of accounts and other payables and contributions to pension funds in 2006 provided a partial offset.

Cash Flow from Investing Activities

2007

Cash used in investing activities netted to $9.7 billion in 2007, $4.5 billion lower than in 2006. Spending for property, plant and equipment of $15.4 billion in 2007 was comparable to the prior year. Proceeds from the sales of subsidiaries, investments and property, plant and equipment of $4.2 billion in 2007 increased $1.1 billion, reflecting a higher level of asset sales in the Downstream business. Additions from the release of the restriction on the restricted cash and cash equivalents were $4.6 billion. Net investments and advances and net additions to marketable securities were $1.3 billion higher in 2007.

2006

Cash used in investing activities totaled $14.2 billion in 2006, $4.0 billion higher than 2005. Spending for property, plant and equipment increased $1.6 billion. Proceeds from the sales of subsidiaries, investments and property, plant and equipment of $3.1 billion in 2006 decreased $3.0 billion, reflecting a lower level of asset sales and the absence of almost $1.4 billion from the sale of the Corporation’s interest in Sinopec in 2005.

Cash Flow from Financing Activities

2007

Cash used in financing activities was $38.3 billion, an increase of $2.1 billion from 2006, reflecting a higher level of purchases of ExxonMobil shares. Dividend payments on common shares increased to $1.37 per share from $1.28 per share and totaled $7.6 billion, a payout of 19 percent. Total consolidated short-term and long-term debt increased $1.2 billion to $9.6 billion at year-end 2007.

Shareholders’ equity increased $7.9 billion in 2007, to $121.8 billion, reflecting $40.6 billion of net income reduced by distributions to ExxonMobil shareholders of $7.6 billion of dividends and $28.0 billion of purchases of shares of ExxonMobil stock to reduce shares outstanding. Shareholders’ equity, and net assets and liabilities, increased $4.2 billion, representing the foreign exchange translation effects of stronger foreign currencies at the end of 2007 on ExxonMobil’s operations outside the United States.

During 2007, Exxon Mobil Corporation purchased 386 million shares of its common stock for the treasury at a gross cost of $31.8 billion. These purchases were to reduce the number of shares outstanding and to offset shares issued in conjunction with company benefit plans and programs. Shares outstanding were reduced by 6.1 percent from 5,729 million at the end of 2006 to 5,382 million at the end of 2007. Purchases were made in both the open market and through negotiated transactions. Purchases may be increased, decreased or discontinued at any time without prior notice.

2006

Cash used in financing activities was $36.2 billion, an increase of $9.3 billion from 2005, reflecting a higher level of purchases of ExxonMobil shares. Dividend payments on common shares increased to $1.28 per share from $1.14 per share and totaled $7.6 billion, a payout of 19 percent. Total consolidated short-term and long-term debt increased $0.3 billion to $8.3 billion at year-end 2006.

        Shareholders’ equity increased $2.7 billion in 2006, to $113.8 billion, reflecting $39.5 billion of net income reduced by distributions to ExxonMobil shareholders of $7.6 billion of dividends and $25.0 billion of purchases of shares of ExxonMobil stock to reduce shares outstanding. Shareholders’ equity, and net assets and liabilities, increased $2.8 billion, representing the foreign exchange translation effects of stronger foreign currencies at the end of 2006 on ExxonMobil’s operations outside the United States. Recognition of the “Postretirement benefits reserves adjustment” under Financial Accounting Standard No. 158 (see note 16) reduced shareholders’ equity by $6.5 billion.

        During 2006, Exxon Mobil Corporation purchased 451 million shares of its common stock for the treasury at a gross cost of $29.6 billion. These purchases were to reduce the number of shares outstanding and to offset shares issued in conjunction with company benefit plans and programs. Shares outstanding were reduced by 6.6 percent from 6,133 million at the end of 2005 to 5,729 million at the end of 2006. Purchases were made in both the open market and through negotiated transactions.

 

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Index to Financial Statements

Commitments

Set forth below is information about the outstanding commitments of the Corporation’s consolidated subsidiaries at December 31, 2007. It combines data from the Consolidated Balance Sheet and from individual notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

     Payments Due by Period

Commitments


   Note
Reference
Number


   2008

   2009-
2012


   2013
and
Beyond


   Total

     (millions of dollars)

Long-term debt (1)

   13    $ —      $ 2,910    $ 4,273    $ 7,183

– Due in one year (2)

          318      —        —        318

Asset retirement obligations (3)

   8      307      1,182      3,652      5,141

Pension and other postretirement obligations (4)

   16      1,392      3,654      7,851      12,897

Operating leases (5)

   10      1,994      5,358      2,564      9,916

Unconditional purchase obligations (6)

   15      490      1,497      778      2,765

Take-or-pay obligations (7)

          956      2,851      2,369      6,176

Firm capital commitments (8)

          7,290      6,332      1,512      15,134

This table excludes commodity purchase obligations (volumetric commitments but no fixed or minimum price) which are resold shortly after purchase, either in an active, highly liquid market or under long-term, unconditional sales contracts with similar pricing terms. Examples include long-term, noncancelable LNG and natural gas purchase commitments and commitments to purchase refinery products at market prices. Inclusion of such commitments would not be meaningful in assessing liquidity and cash flow, because these purchases will be offset in the same periods by cash received from the related sales transactions. The table also excludes net unrecognized tax benefits totaling $4.5 billion as of December 31, 2007, because the Corporation is unable to make reasonably reliable estimates of the timing of cash settlements with the respective taxing authorities. Further details on the unrecognized tax benefits can be found in note 18, Income, Sales-Based and Other Taxes.

Notes:

 

(1) Includes capitalized lease obligations of $409 million.
(2) The amount due in one year is included in notes and loans payable of $2,383 million (note 5).
(3) The discounted present value of upstream asset retirement obligations, primarily asset removal costs at the completion of field life.
(4) The amount by which the benefit obligations exceeded the fair value of fund assets for certain U.S. and non-U.S. pension and other postretirement plans at year end. The payments by period include expected contributions to funded pension plans in 2008 and estimated benefit payments for unfunded plans in all years.
(5) Minimum commitments for operating leases, shown on an undiscounted basis, cover drilling equipment, tankers, service stations and other properties.
(6) Unconditional purchase obligations (UPOs) are those long-term commitments that are noncancelable and that third parties have used to secure financing for the facilities that will provide the contracted goods or services. The undiscounted obligations of $2,765 million mainly pertain to pipeline throughput agreements and include $1,847 million of obligations to equity companies. The present value of the total commitments, which excludes imputed interest of $562 million, was $2,203 million.
(7) Take-or-pay obligations are noncancelable, long-term commitments for goods and services other than UPOs. The undiscounted obligations of $6,176 million mainly pertain to manufacturing supply, pipeline and terminaling agreements and include $1,526 million of obligations to equity companies. The present value of the total commitments, which excludes imputed interest of $1,308 million, totaled $4,868 million.
(8) Firm commitments related to capital projects, shown on an undiscounted basis, totaled approximately $15.1 billion. These commitments were primarily associated with Upstream projects outside the U.S., of which $5.5 billion was associated with West African projects. The Corporation expects to fund the majority of these projects through internal cash flow.

Guarantees

The Corporation and certain of its consolidated subsidiaries were contingently liable at December 31, 2007, for $5,148 million, primarily relating to guarantees for notes, loans and performance under contracts (note 15). Included in this amount were guarantees by consolidated affiliates of $4,591 million, representing ExxonMobil’s share of obligations of certain equity companies. The below-mentioned guarantees are not reasonably likely to have a material effect on the Corporation’s financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.

 

     Dec. 31, 2007

     Equity
Company
Obligations


   Other
Third-Party
Obligations


   Total

     (millions of dollars)

Total guarantees

   $  4,591    $  557    $ 5,148

 

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Index to Financial Statements

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Financial Strength

On December 31, 2007, unused credit lines for short-term financing totaled approximately $5.7 billion (note 5).

The table below shows the Corporation’s fixed-charge coverage and consolidated debt-to-capital ratios. The data demonstrate the Corporation’s creditworthiness. Throughout this period, the Corporation’s long-term debt securities maintained the top credit rating from both Standard & Poor’s (AAA) and Moody’s (Aaa), a rating it has sustained for 89 years.

 

     2007

  2006

  2005

Fixed-charge coverage ratio (times)

   49.9   46.3   50.2

Debt to capital (percent)

   7.1   6.6   6.5

Net debt to capital (percent)

   (24.0)   (20.4)   (22.0)

Credit rating

   AAA/Aaa   AAA/Aaa   AAA/Aaa

Management views the Corporation’s financial strength, as evidenced by the above financial ratios and other similar measures, to be a competitive advantage of strategic importance. The Corporation’s sound financial position gives it the opportunity to access the world’s capital markets in the full range of market conditions, and enables the Corporation to take on large, long-term capital commitments in the pursuit of maximizing shareholder value.

The Corporation makes limited use of derivative instruments, which are discussed in note 12.

Litigation and Other Contingencies

Litigation

As discussed in note 15, a number of lawsuits, including class actions, were brought in various courts against Exxon Mobil Corporation and certain of its subsidiaries relating to the accidental release of crude oil from the tanker Exxon Valdez in 1989. All the compensatory claims have been resolved and paid. All of the punitive damage claims were consolidated in the civil trial that began in 1994. The first judgment from the United States District Court for the District of Alaska in the amount of $5 billion was vacated by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit as being excessive under the Constitution. The second judgment in the amount of $4 billion was vacated by the Ninth Circuit panel without argument and sent back for the District Court to reconsider in light of the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Campbell v. State Farm . The most recent District Court judgment for punitive damages was for $4.5 billion plus interest and was entered in January 2004. The Corporation posted a $5.4 billion letter of credit. ExxonMobil and the plaintiffs appealed this decision to the Ninth Circuit, which ruled on December 22, 2006, that the award be reduced to $2.5 billion. On January 12, 2007, ExxonMobil petitioned the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals for a rehearing en banc of its appeal. On May 23, 2007, with two dissenting opinions, the Ninth Circuit determined not to re-hear ExxonMobil’s appeal before the full court. ExxonMobil filed a petition for writ of certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court on August 20, 2007. On October 29, 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court granted ExxonMobil’s petition for a writ of certiorari. Oral argument was held on February 27, 2008. While it is reasonably possible that a liability for punitive damages may have been incurred from the Exxon Valdez grounding, it is not possible to predict the ultimate outcome or to reasonably estimate any such potential liability.

In December 2000, a jury in the 15th Judicial Circuit Court of Montgomery County, Alabama, returned a verdict against the Corporation in a dispute over royalties in the amount of $88 million in compensatory damages and $3.4 billion in punitive damages in the case of Exxon Corporation v. State of Alabama, et al. The verdict was upheld by the trial court in May 2001. In December 2002, the Alabama Supreme Court vacated the $3.5 billion jury verdict. The case was retried and in November 2003, a state district court jury in Montgomery, Alabama, returned a verdict against Exxon Mobil Corporation. The verdict included $63.5 million in compensatory damages and $11.8 billion in punitive damages. In March 2004, the district court judge reduced the amount of punitive damages to $3.5 billion. ExxonMobil appealed the decision to the Alabama Supreme Court. On November 1, 2007, the Alabama Supreme Court reversed the trial court’s fraud judgment and instructed the district court to enter judgment for ExxonMobil on the fraud claim, eliminating the punitive damage award. The Court also ruled in ExxonMobil’s favor on some of the disputed lease issues, reducing the compensatory award to $52 million plus interest. Following the Alabama Supreme Court’s decision, an appeal bond was canceled and the collateral was subsequently released.

        In 2001, a Louisiana state court jury awarded compensatory damages of $56 million and punitive damages of $1 billion to a landowner for damage caused by a third party that leased the property from the landowner. The third party provided pipe cleaning and storage services for the Corporation and other entities. The Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals reduced the punitive damage award to $112 million in 2005. The Corporation appealed this decision to the Louisiana Supreme Court which, in March 2006, refused to hear the appeal. ExxonMobil has fully accrued and paid the compensatory and punitive damage awards. The Corporation appealed the punitive damage award to the U.S. Supreme Court, which on February 26, 2007, vacated the judgment and remanded the case to the Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals for reconsideration in light of the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Williams v. Phillip Morris USA . On August 8, 2007, the Fourth Circuit issued its decision on remand and declined to reduce the punitive damage award. On November 16, 2007, the Louisiana Supreme Court denied ExxonMobil’s writ for review of the Fourth Circuit’s decision. ExxonMobil has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.

 

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Index to Financial Statements

Based on a consideration of all relevant facts and circumstances, the Corporation does not believe the ultimate outcome of any currently pending lawsuit against ExxonMobil will have a materially adverse effect upon the Corporation’s operations or financial condition. There are no events or uncertainties beyond those already included in reported financial information that would indicate a material change in future operating results or financial condition.

Other Contingencies

In accordance with a nationalization decree issued by Venezuela’s president in February 2007, by May 1, 2007, a subsidiary of the Venezuelan National Oil Company (PdVSA) assumed the operatorship of the Cerro Negro Heavy Oil Project. This Project had been operated and owned by ExxonMobil affiliates holding a 41.67 percent ownership interest in the Project. The decree also required conversion of the Cerro Negro Project into a “mixed enterprise” and an increase in PdVSA’s or one of its affiliate’s ownership interest in the Project, with the stipulation that if ExxonMobil refused to accept the terms for the formation of the mixed enterprise within a specified period of time, the government would “directly assume the activities” carried out by the joint venture. ExxonMobil refused to accede to the terms proffered by PdVSA, and on June 27, 2007, the government expropriated ExxonMobil’s 41.67 percent interest in the Cerro Negro Project.

To date, discussions with Venezuelan authorities have not resulted in an agreement on the amount of compensation to be paid to ExxonMobil. On September 6, 2007, ExxonMobil filed a Request for Arbitration with the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes. ExxonMobil has also filed an arbitration under the rules of the International Chamber of Commerce against PdVSA and a PdVSA affiliate for breach of their contractual obligations under certain Cerro Negro Project agreements. At this time, the net impact of this matter on the Corporation’s consolidated financial results cannot be reasonably estimated. However, the Corporation does not expect the resolution to have a material effect upon the Corporation’s operations or financial condition. At the time the assets were expropriated, ExxonMobil’s remaining net book investment in Cerro Negro producing assets was about $750 million.

CAPITAL AND EXPLORATION EXPENDITURES

 

     2007

   2006

     U.S.

   Non-U.S.

   U.S.

   Non-U.S.

     (millions of dollars)

Upstream (1)

   $ 2,212    $ 13,512    $ 2,486    $ 13,745

Downstream

     1,128      2,175      824      1,905

Chemical

     360      1,422      280      476

Other

     44      —        130      9
    

  

  

  

Total

   $ 3,744    $ 17,109    $ 3,720    $ 16,135
    

  

  

  

 

(1) Exploration expenses included.

Capital and exploration expenditures in 2007 were $20.9 billion, reflecting the Corporation’s continued active investment program. The Corporation expects annual expenditures to range from $25 billion to $30 billion for the next several years. Actual spending could vary depending on the progress of individual projects.

Upstream spending of $15.7 billion in 2007 was down 3 percent from 2006, mainly due to timing of project implementation and related expenditures. During the past three years, Upstream capital and exploration expenditures averaged $15.5 billion. The majority of these expenditures are on development projects, which typically take two to four years from the time of recording proved undeveloped reserves to the start of production from those reserves. The percentage of proved developed reserves has remained relatively stable over the past five years at over 60 percent of total proved reserves, indicating that proved reserves are consistently moved from undeveloped to developed status. Capital and exploration expenditures are not tracked by the undeveloped and developed proved reserve categories. Capital investments in the Downstream totaled $3.3 billion in 2007, an increase of $0.6 billion from 2006, as a result of new investment in China and higher environmental expenditures. Chemical 2007 capital expenditures of $1.8 billion were up $1.0 billion from 2006 due to increased investment in Singapore and China to meet Asia Pacific demand growth.

TAXES

 

     2007

    2006

    2005

 
     (millions of dollars)  

Income taxes

   $ 29,864     $ 27,902     $ 23,302  

Sales-based taxes

     31,728       30,381       30,742  

All other taxes and duties

     44,091       42,393       44,571  
    


 


 


Total

   $ 105,683     $ 100,676     $ 98,615  
    


 


 


Effective income tax rate

     44 %     43 %     41 %

2007

Income, sales-based and all other taxes totaled $105.7 billion in 2007, an increase of $5.0 billion or 5 percent from 2006. Income tax expense, both current and deferred, was $29.9 billion, $2.0 billion higher than 2006, reflecting higher pre-tax income in 2007. The effective tax rate was 44 percent in 2007, compared to 43 percent in 2006. Sales-based and all other taxes and duties of $75.8 billion in 2007 increased $3.0 billion from 2006, reflecting higher prices.

2006

Income, sales-based and all other taxes and duties totaled $100.7 billion in 2006, an increase of $2.1 billion or 2 percent from 2005. Income tax expense, both current and deferred, was $27.9 billion, $4.6 billion higher than 2005, reflecting higher pre-tax income in 2006. The effective tax rate was 43 percent in 2006, compared to 41 percent in 2005. During both periods, the Corporation continued to benefit from the favorable resolution of tax-related issues. Sales-based and all other taxes and duties of $72.8 billion in 2006 decreased $2.5 billion from 2005, reflecting the tax impact of net reporting of purchases and sales of inventory with the same counterparty, only partly offset by the effects of higher prices.

 

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Index to Financial Statements

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS

Environmental Expenditures

 

     2007

   2006

     (millions of dollars)

Capital expenditures

   $ 1,525    $ 1,081

Other expenditures

     2,272      2,127
    

  

Total

   $ 3,797    $ 3,208
    

  

Throughout ExxonMobil’s businesses, new and ongoing measures are taken to prevent and minimize the impact of our operations on air, water and ground. These include a significant investment in refining infrastructure and technology to manufacture clean fuels as well as projects to reduce nitrogen oxide and sulfur oxide emissions and expenditures for asset retirement obligations. ExxonMobil’s 2007 worldwide environmental expenditures for all such preventative and remediation steps, including ExxonMobil’s share of equity company expenditures, were about $3.8 billion. The total cost for such activities is expected to remain in this range in 2008 and 2009 (with capital expenditures approximately 45 percent of the total).

Environmental Liabilities

The Corporation accrues environmental liabilities when it is probable that obligations have been incurred and the amounts can be reasonably estimated. This policy applies to assets or businesses currently owned or previously disposed. ExxonMobil has accrued liabilities for probable environmental remediation obligations at various sites, including multiparty sites where the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has identified ExxonMobil as one of the potentially responsible parties. The involvement of other financially responsible companies at these multiparty sites could mitigate ExxonMobil’s actual joint and several liability exposure. At present, no individual site is expected to have losses material to ExxonMobil’s operations or financial condition. Consolidated company provisions made in 2007 for environmental liabilities were $432 million ($350 million in 2006) and the balance sheet reflects accumulated liabilities of $916 million as of December 31, 2007, and $864 million as of December 31, 2006.

Asset Retirement Obligations

The fair values of asset retirement obligations are recorded as liabilities on a discounted basis when they are incurred, which is typically at the time assets are installed, with an offsetting amount booked as additions to property, plant and equipment ($113 million for 2007). Over time, the liabilities are accreted for the increase in their present value, with this effect included in expenses ($322 million in 2007). Consolidated company expenditures for asset retirement obligations in 2007 were $352 million and the ending balance of the obligations recorded on the balance sheet at December 31, 2007, totaled $5,141 million.

MARKET RISKS, INFLATION AND OTHER UNCERTAINTIES

 

Worldwide Average Realizations (1)


   2007

   2006

   2005

Crude oil and NGL ($/barrel)

   $ 66.02    $ 58.34    $ 48.23

Natural gas ($/kcf)

     5.29      6.08      5.96

 

(1) Consolidated subsidiaries.

Crude oil, natural gas, petroleum product and chemical prices have fluctuated in response to changing market forces. The impacts of these price fluctuations on earnings from Upstream, Downstream and Chemical operations have varied. In the Upstream, based on the 2007 worldwide production levels, a $1 per barrel change in the weighted-average realized price of oil would have approximately a $400 million annual after-tax effect on Upstream consolidated plus equity company earnings. Similarly, a $0.10 per kcf change in the worldwide average gas realization would have approximately a $200 million annual after-tax effect on Upstream consolidated plus equity company earnings. For any given period, the extent of actual benefit or detriment will be dependent on the price movements of individual types of crude oil, taxes and other government take impacts, price adjustment lags in long-term gas contracts, and crude and gas production volumes. Accordingly, changes in benchmark prices for crude oil and natural gas only provide a broad indicator of changes in the earnings experienced in any particular period.

        In the very competitive downstream and chemical environments, earnings are primarily determined by margin capture rather than absolute price levels of products sold. Refining margins are a function of the difference between what a refiner pays for its raw materials (primarily crude oil) and the market prices for the range of products produced. These prices in turn depend on global and regional supply/demand balances, inventory levels, refinery operations, import/export balances and weather.

        The global energy markets can give rise to extended periods in which market conditions are adverse to one or more of the Corporation’s businesses. Such conditions, along with the capital-intensive nature of the industry and very long lead times associated with many of our projects, underscore the importance of maintaining a strong financial position. Management views the Corporation’s financial strength, including the AAA and Aaa ratings of its long-term debt securities by Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s, as a competitive advantage.

        In general, segment results are not dependent on the ability to sell and/or purchase products to/from other segments. Instead, where such sales take place, they are the result of efficiencies and competitive advantages of integrated refinery/chemical complexes. Additionally, intersegment sales are at market-based prices. The products bought and sold between segments can also be acquired in worldwide markets that have substantial liquidity, capacity and transportation capabilities. About 40 percent of the Corporation’s intersegment sales are crude oil produced by the Upstream and sold to the Downstream. Other intersegment sales include those between refineries and chemical plants related to raw materials, feedstocks and finished products.

 

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Index to Financial Statements

Although price levels of crude oil and natural gas may rise or fall significantly over the short to medium term due to political events, OPEC actions and other factors, industry economics over the long term will continue to be driven by market supply and demand. Accordingly, the Corporation tests the viability of all of its assets over a broad range of future prices. The Corporation’s assessment is that its operations will continue to be successful in a variety of market conditions. This is the outcome of disciplined investment and asset management programs. Investment opportunities are tested against a variety of market conditions, including low-price scenarios. As a result, investments that would succeed only in highly favorable price environments are screened out of the investment plan.

The Corporation has had an active asset management program in which underperforming assets are either improved to acceptable levels or considered for divestment. The asset management program involves a disciplined, regular review to ensure that all assets are contributing to the Corporation’s strategic and financial objectives. The result has been the creation of an efficient capital base and has meant that the Corporation has seldom been required to write down the carrying value of assets, even during periods of low commodity prices.

Risk Management

The Corporation’s size, strong capital structure, geographic diversity and the complementary nature of the Upstream, Downstream and Chemical businesses reduce the Corporation’s enterprise-wide risk from changes in interest rates, currency rates and commodity prices. As a result, the Corporation makes limited use of derivative instruments to mitigate the impact of such changes. The Corporation does not engage in speculative derivative activities or derivative trading activities nor does it use derivatives with leveraged features. The Corporation maintains a system of controls that includes the authorization, reporting and monitoring of derivative activity. The Corporation’s limited derivative activities pose no material credit or market risks to ExxonMobil’s operations, financial condition or liquidity. Note 12 summarizes the fair value of derivatives outstanding at year end and the gains or losses that have been recognized in net income.

The Corporation is exposed to changes in interest rates, primarily as a result of its short-term debt and long-term debt carrying floating interest rates. The impact of a 100-basis-point change in interest rates affecting the Corporation’s debt would not be material to earnings, cash flow or fair value. The Corporation’s cash balances exceeded total debt at year-end 2007 and 2006.

The Corporation conducts business in many foreign currencies and is subject to exchange rate risk on cash flows related to sales, expenses, financing and investment transactions. The impacts of fluctuations in exchange rates on ExxonMobil’s geographically and functionally diverse operations are varied and often offsetting in amount. The Corporation makes limited use of currency exchange contracts, commodity forwards, swaps and futures contracts to mitigate the impact of changes in currency values and commodity prices. Exposures related to the Corporation’s limited use of the above contracts are not material.

Inflation and Other Uncertainties

The general rate of inflation in most major countries of operation has been relatively low in recent years and the associated impact on costs has generally been countered by cost reductions from efficiency and productivity improvements. Increased global demand for certain services and materials has resulted in higher operating and capital costs in recent years. The Corporation continues to mitigate these effects through its economies of scale in global procurement and its efficient project management practices.

RECENTLY ISSUED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

Fair Value Measurements

In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Statement No. 157 (FAS 157), “Fair Value Measurements.” FAS 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.

FAS 157 must be adopted by the Corporation no later than January 1, 2008, for all financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value and nonfinancial assets and liabilities that are remeasured at fair value at least annually. FAS 157 must be adopted no later than January 1, 2009, for nonfinancial assets and liabilities that are not remeasured at fair value at least annually. The Corporation does not expect the adoption of FAS 157 to have a material impact on the Corporation’s financial statements.

Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements

In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement No. 160 (FAS 160), “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements – an Amendment of ARB No. 51.” FAS 160 changes the accounting and reporting for minority interests, which will be recharacterized as non-controlling interests and classified as a component of equity.

FAS 160 must be adopted by the Corporation no later than January 1, 2009. FAS 160 requires retrospective adoption of the presentation and disclosure requirements for existing minority interests. All other requirements of FAS 160 will be applied prospectively. The Corporation does not expect the adoption FAS 160 to have a material impact on the Corporation’s financial statements.

 

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The Corporation’s accounting and financial reporting fairly reflect its straightforward business model involving the extracting, refining and marketing of hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon-based products. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. The following summary provides further information about the critical accounting policies and the judgments that are made by the Corporation in the application of those policies.

Oil and Gas Reserves

Evaluations of oil and gas reserves are important to the effective management of Upstream assets. They are integral to making investment decisions about oil and gas properties such as whether development should proceed or enhanced recovery methods should be undertaken. Oil and gas reserve quantities are also used as the basis for calculating unit-of-production depreciation rates and for evaluating impairment. Oil and gas reserves include both proved and unproved reserves. Proved reserves are the estimated quantities of crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids that geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be recoverable in future years from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions; i.e., prices and costs as of the date the estimate is made. Unproved reserves are those with less than reasonable certainty of recoverability and include probable reserves. Probable reserves are reserves that are more likely to be recovered than not.

The estimation of proved reserves, which is based on the requirement of reasonable certainty, is an ongoing process based on rigorous technical evaluations, commercial and market assessment, and detailed analysis of well information such as flow rates and reservoir pressure declines. The estimation of proved reserves is controlled by the Corporation through long-standing approval guidelines. Reserve changes are made within a well-established, disciplined process driven by senior level geoscience and engineering professionals (assisted by a central reserves group with significant technical experience), culminating in reviews with and approval by senior management. Notably, the Corporation does not use specific quantitative reserve targets to determine compensation.

Key features of the reserves estimation process include:

 

   

rigorous peer-reviewed technical evaluations and analysis of well and field performance information (such as flow rates and reservoir pressure declines) and

 

   

a requirement that management make significant funding commitments toward the development of the reserves prior to reporting as proved.

Although the Corporation is reasonably certain that proved reserves will be produced, the timing and amount recovered can be affected by a number of factors including completion of development projects, reservoir performance, regulatory approvals and significant changes in long-term oil and gas price levels.

Proved reserves can be further subdivided into developed and undeveloped reserves. The percentage of proved developed reserves has remained relatively stable over the past five years at over 60 percent of total proved reserves (including both consolidated and equity company reserves), indicating that proved reserves are consistently moved from undeveloped to developed status. Over time, these undeveloped reserves will be reclassified to the developed category as new wells are drilled, existing wells are recompleted and/or facilities to collect and deliver the production from existing and future wells are installed. Major development projects typically take two to four years from the time of recording proved reserves to the start of production from these reserves.

        The year-end reserves volumes as well as the reserves change categories shown in the proved reserves tables are calculated using December 31 prices and costs. These reserves quantities are also used in calculating unit-of-production depreciation rates and in calculating the standardized measure of discounted net cash flow. We understand that the use of December 31 prices and costs is intended to provide a point in time measure to calculate reserves and to enhance comparability between companies.

        Regulations preclude the Corporation from showing in this document the reserves that are calculated in a manner that is consistent with the basis that the Corporation uses to make its investment decisions. The use of year-end prices for reserves estimation introduces short-term price volatility into the process, since annual adjustments are required based on prices occurring on a single day. The Corporation believes that this approach is inconsistent with the long-term nature of the upstream business where production from individual projects often spans multiple decades. The use of prices from a single date is not relevant to the investment decisions made by the Corporation and annual variations in reserves based on such year-end prices are not of consequence in how the business is actually managed.

        Revisions can include upward or downward changes in previously estimated volumes of proved reserves for existing fields due to the evaluation or re-evaluation of (1) already available geologic, reservoir or production data, (2) new geologic, reservoir or production data or (3) changes in year-end prices and costs that are used in the determination of reserves. This category can also include changes associated with the performance of improved recovery projects and significant changes in either development strategy or production equipment/facility capacity.

        The Corporation uses the “successful efforts” method to account for its exploration and production activities. Under this method, costs are accumulated on a field-by-field basis with certain exploratory expenditures and exploratory dry holes being expensed as incurred. Costs of productive wells and development dry holes are capitalized and amortized on the unit-of-production method. The Corporation uses this accounting policy instead of the “full cost” method because it provides a more timely accounting of the success or failure of the Corporation’s exploration and production activities. If the full cost method were used, all costs would be capitalized and depreciated on a country-by-country basis. The capitalized costs would be subject to an impairment test by country. The full cost method would tend to delay the expense recognition of unsuccessful projects.

 

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Impact of Oil and Gas Reserves on Depreciation. The calculation of unit-of-production depreciation is a critical accounting estimate that measures the depreciation of upstream assets. It is the ratio of actual volumes produced to total proved developed reserves (those proved reserves recoverable through existing wells with existing equipment and operating methods), applied to the asset cost. The volumes produced and asset cost are known and, while proved developed reserves have a high probability of recoverability, they are based on estimates that are subject to some variability. While the revisions the Corporation has made in the past are an indicator of variability, they have had a very small impact on the unit-of-production rates because they have been small compared to the large reserves base.

Impact of Oil and Gas Reserves and Prices on Testing for Impairment. Proved oil and gas properties held and used by the Corporation are reviewed for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Assets are grouped at the lowest level for which there are identifiable cash flows that are largely independent of the cash flows of other groups of assets.

The Corporation estimates the future undiscounted cash flows of the affected properties to judge the recoverability of carrying amounts. In general, analyses are based on proved reserves. Where probable reserves exist, an appropriately risk-adjusted amount of these reserves may be included in the impairment evaluation. An asset would be impaired if the undiscounted cash flows were less than its carrying value. Impairments are measured by the amount by which the carrying value exceeds its fair value.

The Corporation performs asset valuation analyses on an ongoing basis as a part of its asset management program. These analyses monitor the performance of assets against corporate objectives. They also assist the Corporation in assessing whether the carrying amounts of any of its assets may not be recoverable. In addition to estimating oil and gas reserve volumes in conducting these analyses, it is also necessary to estimate future oil and gas prices. Trigger events for impairment evaluation include a significant decrease in current and projected prices or reserve volumes, an accumulation of project costs significantly in excess of the amount originally expected, and historical and current operating losses.

In general, the Corporation does not view temporarily low oil and gas prices as a trigger event for conducting the impairment tests. The markets for crude oil and natural gas have a history of significant price volatility. Although prices will occasionally drop significantly, industry prices over the long term will continue to be driven by market supply and demand. On the supply side, industry production from mature fields is declining, but this is being offset by production from new discoveries and field developments. OPEC production policies also have an impact on world oil supplies. The demand side is largely a function of global economic growth. The relative growth/decline in supply versus demand will determine industry prices over the long term and these cannot be accurately predicted. Accordingly, any impairment tests that the Corporation performs make use of the Corporation’s price assumptions developed in the annual planning and budgeting process for the crude oil and natural gas markets, petroleum products and chemicals. These are the same price assumptions that are used for capital investment decisions. Volumes are based on individual field production profiles, which are updated annually. Cash flow estimates for impairment testing exclude the use of derivative instruments.

Supplemental information regarding oil and gas results of operations, capitalized costs and reserves is provided following the notes to consolidated financial statements. The standardized measure of discounted future cash flows is based on the year-end price applied for all future years, as required under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 69 (FAS 69), “Disclosure about Oil and Gas Producing Activities.” Future prices used for any impairment tests will vary from the one used in the FAS 69 disclosure and could be lower or higher for any given year.

Suspended Exploratory Well Costs

The Corporation carries as an asset exploratory well costs when the well has found a sufficient quantity of reserves to justify its completion as a producing well and where the Corporation is making sufficient progress assessing the reserves and the economic and operating viability of the project. Exploratory well costs not meeting these criteria are charged to expense. Assessing whether a project has made sufficient progress is a subjective area and requires careful consideration of the relevant facts and circumstances. The facts and circumstances that support continued capitalization of suspended wells as of year-end 2007 are disclosed in note 9 to the financial statements.

 

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Consolidations

The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of those subsidiaries that the Corporation controls. They also include the Corporation’s share of the undivided interest in certain upstream assets and liabilities. Amounts representing the Corporation’s percentage interest in the underlying net assets of other significant affiliates that it does not control, but exercises significant influence, are included in “Investments, advances and long-term receivables”; the Corporation’s share of the net income of these companies is included in the Consolidated Statement of Income caption “Income from equity affiliates.” The accounting for these non-consolidated companies is referred to as the equity method of accounting.

Majority ownership is normally the indicator of control that is the basis on which subsidiaries are consolidated. However, certain factors may indicate that a majority-owned investment is not controlled and therefore should be accounted for using the equity method of accounting. These factors occur where the minority shareholders are granted by law or by contract substantive participating rights. These include the right to approve operating policies, expense budgets, financing and investment plans and management compensation and succession plans.

Additional disclosures of summary balance sheet and income information for those subsidiaries accounted for under the equity method of accounting can be found in note 6.

Investments in companies that are partially owned by the Corporation are integral to the Corporation’s operations. In some cases they serve to balance worldwide risks and in others they provide the only available means of entry into a particular market or area of interest. The other parties who also have an equity interest in these companies are either independent third parties or host governments that share in the business results according to their percentage ownership. The Corporation does not invest in these companies in order to remove liabilities from its balance sheet. In fact, the Corporation has long been on record supporting an alternative accounting method that would require each investor to consolidate its percentage share of all assets and liabilities in these partially owned companies rather than only its percentage in the net equity. This method of accounting for investments in partially owned companies is not permitted by GAAP except where the investments are in the direct ownership of a share of upstream assets and liabilities. However, for purposes of calculating return on average capital employed, which is not covered by GAAP standards, the Corporation includes its share of debt of these partially owned companies in the determination of average capital employed.

Pension Benefits

The Corporation and its affiliates sponsor approximately 100 defined benefit (pension) plans in about 50 countries. The funding arrangement for each plan depends on the prevailing practices and regulations of the countries where the Corporation operates. Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits (note 16) provides details on pension obligations, fund assets and pension expense.

Some of these plans (primarily non-U.S.) provide pension benefits that are paid directly by their sponsoring affiliates out of corporate cash flow rather than a separate pension fund. Book reserves are established for these plans because tax conventions and regulatory practices do not encourage advance funding. The portion of the pension cost attributable to employee service is expensed as services are rendered. The portion attributable to the increase in pension obligations due to the passage of time is expensed over the term of the obligations, which ends when all benefits are paid. The primary difference in pension expense for unfunded versus funded plans is that pension expense for funded plans also includes a credit for the expected long-term return on fund assets.

For funded plans, including many in the United States, pension obligations are financed in advance through segregated assets or insurance arrangements. These plans are managed in compliance with the requirements of governmental authorities and meet or exceed required funding levels as measured by relevant actuarial and government standards at the mandated measurement dates. In determining liabilities and required contributions, these standards often require approaches and assumptions that differ from those used for accounting purposes.

The Corporation will continue to make contributions to these funded plans as necessary. All defined-benefit pension obligations, regardless of the funding status of the underlying plans, are fully supported by the financial strength of the Corporation or the respective sponsoring affiliate.

        Pension accounting requires explicit assumptions regarding, among others, the long-term expected earnings rate on fund assets, the discount rate for the benefit obligations and the long-term rate for future salary increases. Pension assumptions are reviewed annually by outside actuaries and senior management. These assumptions are adjusted only as appropriate to reflect changes in market rates and outlook. For example, the long-term expected earnings rate on U.S. pension plan assets in 2007 was 9.0 percent. This compares to an actual rate of return over the past decade of 10 percent. The Corporation establishes the long-term expected rate of return by developing a forward-looking, long-term return assumption for each pension fund asset class, taking into account factors such as the expected real return for the specific asset class and inflation. A single, long-term rate of return is then calculated as the weighted average of the target asset allocation and the long-term return assumption for each asset class. A worldwide reduction of 0.5 percent in the long-term rate of return on assets would increase annual pension expense by approximately $140 million before tax.

 

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Differences between actual returns on fund assets and the long-term expected return are not recognized in pension expense in the year that the difference occurs. Such differences are deferred, along with other actuarial gains and losses, and are amortized into pension expense over the expected remaining service life of employees.

Litigation Contingencies

A variety of claims have been made against the Corporation and certain of its consolidated subsidiaries in a number of pending lawsuits. Management has regular litigation reviews, including updates from corporate and outside counsel, to assess the need for accounting recognition or disclosure of these contingencies. The status of significant claims is summarized in note 15.

GAAP requires that liabilities for contingencies be recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred by the date of the balance sheet and that the amount can be reasonably estimated. These amounts are not reduced by amounts that may be recovered under insurance or claims against third parties, but undiscounted receivables from insurers or other third parties may be accrued separately. The Corporation revises such accruals in light of new information. For contingencies where an unfavorable outcome is reasonably possible and which are significant, the Corporation discloses the nature of the contingency and, where feasible, an estimate of the possible loss.

Significant management judgment is required related to contingent liabilities and the outcome of litigation because both are difficult to predict. However, the Corporation has been successful in defending litigation in the past. Payments have not had a materially adverse effect on operations or financial condition. In the Corporation’s experience, large claims often do not result in large awards. Large awards are often reversed or substantially reduced as a result of appeal or settlement.

Tax Contingencies

The Corporation is subject to income taxation in many jurisdictions around the world. Significant management judgment is required in the accounting for income tax contingencies and tax disputes because the outcomes are often difficult to predict.

GAAP requires recognition and measurement of uncertain tax positions that the Corporation has taken or expects to take in its income tax returns. The benefit of an uncertain tax position can only be recognized in the financial statements if management concludes that it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained with the tax authorities. For a position that is likely to be sustained, the benefit recognized in the financial statements is measured at the largest amount that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized. A reserve is established for the difference between a position taken in an income tax return and the amount recognized in the financial statements. The Corporation’s unrecognized tax benefits and a description of open tax years are summarized in note 18.

Foreign Currency Translation

The method of translating the foreign currency financial statements of the Corporation’s international subsidiaries into U.S. dollars is prescribed by GAAP. Under these principles, it is necessary to select the functional currency of these subsidiaries. The functional currency is the currency of the primary economic environment in which the subsidiary operates. Management selects the functional currency after evaluating this economic environment. Downstream and Chemical operations use the local currency, except in countries with a history of high inflation (primarily in Latin America) and Singapore, which uses the U.S. dollar because it predominantly sells into the U.S. dollar export market. Upstream operations also use the local currency as the functional currency, except where crude and natural gas production is predominantly sold in the export market in U.S. dollars. Operations using the U.S. dollar as their functional currency include Malaysia, Indonesia, Angola, Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Russia and the Middle East.

Factors considered by management when determining the functional currency for a subsidiary include: the currency used for cash flows related to individual assets and liabilities; the responsiveness of sales prices to changes in exchange rates; the history of inflation in the country; whether sales are into local markets or exported; the currency used to acquire raw materials, labor, services and supplies; sources of financing; and significance of intercompany transactions.

 

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MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

Management, including the Corporation’s chief executive officer, principal financial officer, and principal accounting officer, is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over the Corporation’s financial reporting. Management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting based on the Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this evaluation, management concluded that Exxon Mobil Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2007.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, audited the effectiveness of the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, as stated in their report included in the Financial Section of this report.

 

LOGO    LOGO    LOGO
Rex W. Tillerson    Donald D. Humphreys    Patrick T. Mulva
Chief Executive Officer   

Sr. Vice President and Treasurer

(Principal Financial Officer)

  

Vice President and Controller

(Principal Accounting Officer)