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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): June 26, 2007
ConocoPhillips
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware
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001-32395
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01-0562944 |
(State or other jurisdiction of
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(Commission
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(I.R.S. Employer |
incorporation)
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File Number)
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Identification No.) |
600 North Dairy Ashford
Houston, Texas 77079
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (281) 293-1000
n/a
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy
the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.13e-4(c))
Item 2.06 Material Impairments.
For a discussion of managements determination that an impairment of our Venezuelan
investments is required under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, please see the
disclosures in Item 8.01, Other Events, below, which are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 8.01 Other Events.
Background
On January 31, 2007, Venezuelas National Assembly passed a law allowing the president of
Venezuela to pass laws on certain matters by decree. On February 26, 2007, the president of
Venezuela issued a decree (the Nationalization Decree) mandating the termination of the
then-existing structures related to our heavy-oil ventures and oil production risk contracts and
the transfer of all rights relating to our heavy-oil ventures and oil production risk contracts to
joint ventures (empresas mixtas) that will be controlled by the Venezuelan national oil company
or its subsidiaries. The Nationalization Decree and its potential impact on our operations in
Venezuela is described in more detail in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended
March 31, 2007, under Note 13 to our Consolidated Financial Statements Contingencies and
Commitments Other Contingencies Venezuela and such description is incorporated herein by
reference.
Update
On June 26, 2007, we announced that we had been unable to reach agreement with respect to our
migration to an Empresa Mixta structure mandated by the Nationalization Decree. Therefore,
pursuant to the Nationalization Decree, Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA) or its affiliates will
directly assume the activities associated with ConocoPhillips interests in the Petrozuata and
Hamaca heavy-oil ventures and the offshore Corocoro development project.
Negotiations continue between ConocoPhillips and Venezuelan authorities concerning
appropriate compensation for the expropriation of the companys interests. We continue to preserve
all our rights with respect to this situation, including our rights under the contracts we signed
and under international and Venezuelan law. We will continue to evaluate our options, including
international arbitration, in realizing prompt, adequate and effective compensation for the value
of our oil investments and operations in Venezuela.
The historical cost-based carrying value of our investment in these projects in Venezuela was
approximately $2.6 billion at May 31, 2007. Also, this expropriation of our oil interests is viewed
as a partial disposition of our Worldwide Exploration and Production reporting unit and, under the
guidance in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible
Assets, requires an allocation of goodwill to the sale or expropriation event, which we estimate
to be approximately $1.9 billion.
Based on Venezuelan statements that the expropriation of our interests in Venezuela occurred
on June 26, 2007, management has determined such expropriation requires a complete impairment,
under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, of our investments in the Petrozuata and
Hamaca heavy-oil ventures and the offshore Corocoro development project. Accordingly, we expect to
record a non-cash impairment, including allocable goodwill, of
approximately $4.5 billion, before- and after-tax, in the second quarter of 2007. We do not
expect this impairment to result in material future cash expenditures.
We believe the value of our Venezuelan operations substantially exceeds the historical
cost-based carrying value plus goodwill allocable to those operations. Although negotiations
continue with Venezuelan authorities, it is not possible to predict with any certainty the outcome
of these negotiations. Additionally, should we pursue other means of dispute resolution, U.S.
generally accepted accounting rules require a claim that is the subject of litigation be presumed
to not be probable of realization. Accordingly, compensation, if any, for our expropriated assets
was not considered when making the impairment determination, since to do so could recognize
compensation for the expropriation prior to its realization.
Additional information on these impairments and the final impairment amount recorded will be
reported in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2007.
At December 31, 2006, we had recorded 1,088 million barrels of oil equivalent of proved
reserves related to Petrozuata and Hamaca, and first-quarter 2007 production from these two joint
ventures, after application of disproportionate OPEC reductions imposed by the Venezuelan
government, averaged 82,000 net barrels per day of crude oil. First-quarter 2007 net income
attributable to our Venezuelan operations was $27 million. Since PDVSA, or its
affiliates, has assumed ownership of our share of the assets in these projects, we will no longer
have crude oil production attributable to these projects. Likewise, the loss of proved reserves
related to these projects will be reflected as a downward adjustment in our year-end 2007 proved
reserves attributable to equity affiliates.
ConocoPhillips 40 percent interest in Block 2 of Plataforma Deltana, a natural gas region on
Venezuelas continental shelf, was not included in the Nationalization Decree.
A copy of our press release issued on June 26, 2007, is filed as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and
incorporated herein by reference.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE SAFE HARBOR PROVISIONS
OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995
This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Forward-looking
statements relate to future events and anticipated results of operations, business strategies, and
other aspects of our operations or operating results. In many cases you can identify
forward-looking statements by terminology such as anticipate, estimate, believe, continue,
could, intend, may, plan, potential, predict, should, will, expect, objective,
projection, forecast, goal, guidance, outlook, effort, target and other similar
words. However, the absence of these words does not mean that the statements are not
forward-looking. Where, in any forward-looking statement, the company expresses an expectation or
belief as to future results, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and believed to
have a reasonable basis. However, there can be no assurance that such expectation or belief will
result or be achieved. The actual results of operations can and will be affected by a variety of
risks and other matters including, but not limited to, crude oil and natural gas prices;
refining and marketing margins; potential failure to achieve, and potential delays in
achieving expected reserves or production levels from existing and future oil and gas development
projects due to operating hazards, drilling risks, and the inherent uncertainties in interpreting
engineering data relating to underground accumulations of oil and gas; unsuccessful exploratory
drilling activities; lack of exploration success; potential disruption or unexpected technical
difficulties in developing new products and manufacturing processes; potential failure of new
products to achieve acceptance in the market; unexpected cost increases or technical difficulties
in constructing or modifying company manufacturing or refining facilities; unexpected difficulties
in manufacturing, transporting or refining synthetic crude oil; international monetary conditions
and exchange controls; potential liability for remedial actions under existing or future
environmental regulations; potential liability resulting from pending or future litigation; general
domestic and international economic and political conditions, as well as changes in tax and other
laws applicable to our business. Other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those described in the forward-looking statements include other economic, business,
competitive and/or regulatory factors affecting our business generally as set forth in our filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
99.1 Press release issued by ConocoPhillips on June 26, 2007.
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 hereunto duly authorized.
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CONOCOPHILLIPS
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June 26, 2007 |
By: |
/s/ Stephen F. Gates |
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Stephen F. Gates |
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Senior Vice President
and General Counsel |
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EXHIBIT INDEX
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Exhibit |
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No. |
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Description |
99.1
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Press release issued by ConocoPhillips on June 26, 2007. |
exv99w1
Exhibit 99.1
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600 North Dairy Ashford (77079-1175)
P. O. Box 2197
Houston, TX 77252-2197
Phone 281.293.1000
www.conocophillips.com |
NEWS RELEASE
ConocoPhillips and Venezuela Unable to Reach Migration Agreement;
Compensation Negotiations Continue
HOUSTON, June 26, 2007 ConocoPhillips and the Venezuelan government were unable to reach
agreement regarding ConocoPhillips migration to an Empresa Mixta structure mandated by Venezuela
decree law 5.200. Therefore, pursuant to the decree, Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA) or its
affiliates will directly assume the activities associated with ConocoPhillips interests in the
Petrozuata and Hamaca heavy-oil ventures and the offshore Corocoro development project.
While negotiations are continuing between ConocoPhillips and Venezuelan authorities concerning
appropriate compensation for the companys interests, the company expects to record a complete
impairment of its entire interest in its oil projects in Venezuela of approximately $4.5 billion,
before- and after-tax, in its second-quarter financial results. While the company is hopeful that
the negotiations will be successful, it has preserved all legal rights including international
arbitration.
Prior to the expropriation of its interests, ConocoPhillips held a 50.1 percent interest in
Petrozuata, a 40 percent interest in Hamaca, and a 32.5 percent interest in Corocoro. At December
31, 2006, ConocoPhillips had recorded 1,088 million barrels of oil equivalent of proved reserves
related to Petrozuata and Hamaca, and first-quarter 2007 production from these two joint ventures,
after application of disproportionate OPEC reductions imposed by the Venezuelan government,
averaged 82,000 net barrels per day of crude oil. First-quarter 2007 net income attributable to
ConocoPhillips Venezuelan operations was $27 million.
Additional information is available in ConocoPhillips filings with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission.
ConocoPhillips [NYSE:COP] is an integrated oil company with interests around the world. For more
information, go to www.conocophillips.com.
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CONTACTS: |
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Bill Tanner (news media)
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281-293-2801 |
Gary Russell (investors)
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212-207-1996 |
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE SAFE HARBOR PROVISIONS
OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Forward-looking
statements relate to future events and anticipated
Page 1 of 2
ConocoPhillips and Venezuela Unable to Reach Migration Agreement; Compensation Negotiations Continue
results of operations, business strategies, and other aspects of our operations or operating
results. In many cases you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as
anticipate, estimate, believe, continue, could, intend, may, plan, potential,
predict, should, will, expect, objective, projection, forecast, goal, guidance,
outlook, effort, target and other similar words. However, the absence of these words does not
mean that the statements are not forward-looking. Where, in any forward-looking statement, the
company expresses an expectation or belief as to future results, such expectation or belief is
expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. However, there can be no assurance
that such expectation or belief will result or be achieved. The actual results of operations can
and will be affected by a variety of risks and other matters including, but not limited to, crude
oil and natural gas prices; refining and marketing margins; potential failure to achieve, and
potential delays in achieving expected reserves or production levels from existing and future oil
and gas development projects due to operating hazards, drilling risks, and the inherent
uncertainties in interpreting engineering data relating to underground accumulations of oil and
gas; unsuccessful exploratory drilling activities; lack of exploration success; potential
disruption or unexpected technical difficulties in developing new products and manufacturing
processes; potential failure of new products to achieve acceptance in the market; unexpected cost
increases or technical difficulties in constructing or modifying company manufacturing or refining
facilities; unexpected difficulties in manufacturing, transporting or refining synthetic crude oil;
international monetary conditions and exchange controls; potential liability for remedial actions
under existing or future environmental regulations; potential liability resulting from pending or
future litigation; general domestic and international economic and political conditions, as well as
changes in tax and other laws applicable to our business. Other factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements include other
economic, business, competitive and/or regulatory factors affecting our business generally as set
forth in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Unless legally required,
ConocoPhillips undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether
as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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