1.0.0.3 false RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES false 1 $ false false iso4217_USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 iso4217_USD_per_shares Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares 0 5 RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES 3 us-gaap_ConcentrationRiskDisclosureTextBlock us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false false false false false 1 false false 0 0 <div> 24. RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES AES is a global power producer in 29 countries on five continents. See additional discussion of the Company’s principal markets in Note 15—Segment and Geographic Information. Our principal lines of business are Generation and Utilities. The Generation line of business uses a wide range of technologies, including coal, gas, hydroelectric, and biomass as fuel to generate electricity. Our Utilities business is comprised of businesses that transmit, distribute, and in certain circumstances generate power. In addition, the Company continues to expand its reach into the renewables area. These efforts include projects primarily in wind and solar. POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC RISKS—The Company’s market capitalization was negatively impacted largely in the second half of 2008 and in 2009. During this period, credit markets and global markets deteriorated and experienced increased market volatility, which can pose risks to the overall liquidity and/or asset values of our businesses with heightened unpredictability in currencies, counterparty credit risk and the widening of credit spreads in certain markets. If market conditions are protracted or continue to deteriorate, the Company may be at risk to decreased earnings and cash flows due to, among other factors, adverse fluctuations in the commodities and foreign currency spot markets or deterioration in global macroeconomic conditions. With the tightening of the credit markets, there is a risk that future investments may not be able to be financed through accessing capital and debt markets and may be subject to restrictions in the near future. Currently, the Company has a below-investment grade rating from Standard & Poor’s of BB-. This may limit the ability of the Company to finance new and existing development projects to cash currently available on hand and through reinvestment of earnings. As of December 31, 2009, the Company had $1.8 billion of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents.   During 2009, approximately 82% of our revenue, and all of our revenue from discontinued businesses, was generated outside the United States and a significant portion of our international operations is conducted in developing countries. While our growth strategy evolved as 2009 progressed, to focus on targeted projects in order to maintain our liquidity, we continue to invest in projects in developing countries because the growth rates and the opportunity to implement operating improvements and achieve higher operating margins may be greater than those typically achievable in more developed countries. International operations, particularly the operation, financing and development of projects in developing countries, entail significant risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation:   <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td width="5%"> </td> <td valign="top" width="2%" align="left">•</td> <td valign="top" width="1%"> </td> <td valign="top" align="left"> economic, social and political instability in any particular country or region; </td> </tr> </table>   <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td width="5%"> </td> <td valign="top" width="2%" align="left">•</td> <td valign="top" width="1%"> </td> <td valign="top" align="left"> adverse changes in currency exchange rates; </td> </tr> </table>   <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td width="5%"> </td> <td valign="top" width="2%" align="left">•</td> <td valign="top" width="1%"> </td> <td valign="top" align="left"> government restrictions on converting currencies or repatriating funds; </td> </tr> </table>   <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td width="5%"> </td> <td valign="top" width="2%" align="left">•</td> <td valign="top" width="1%"> </td> <td valign="top" align="left"> unexpected changes in foreign laws and regulations or in trade, monetary or fiscal policies; </td> </tr> </table>   <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td width="5%"> </td> <td valign="top" width="2%" align="left">•</td> <td valign="top" width="1%"> </td> <td valign="top" align="left"> high inflation and monetary fluctuations; </td> </tr> </table>   <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td width="5%"> </td> <td valign="top" width="2%" align="left">•</td> <td valign="top" width="1%"> </td> <td valign="top" align="left"> restrictions on imports of coal, oil, gas or other raw materials required by our generation businesses to operate; </td> </tr> </table>   <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td width="5%"> </td> <td valign="top" width="2%" align="left">•</td> <td valign="top" width="1%"> </td> <td valign="top" align="left"> threatened or consummated expropriation or nationalization of our assets by foreign governments; </td> </tr> </table>   <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td width="5%"> </td> <td valign="top" width="2%" align="left">•</td> <td valign="top" width="1%"> </td> <td valign="top" align="left"> unwillingness of governments, government agencies, similar organizations or other counterparties to honor their contracts; </td> </tr> </table>   <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td width="5%"> </td> <td valign="top" width="2%" align="left">•</td> <td valign="top" width="1%"> </td> <td valign="top" align="left"> unwillingness of governments, government agencies, courts or similar bodies to enforce contracts that are economically advantageous to subsidiaries of the Company and economically unfavorable to counterparties, against such counterparties, whether such counterparties are governments or private parties; </td> </tr> </table>   <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td width="5%"> </td> <td valign="top" width="2%" align="left">•</td> <td valign="top" width="1%"> </td> <td valign="top" align="left"> inability to obtain access to fair and equitable political, regulatory, administrative and legal systems; </td> </tr> </table>   <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td width="5%"> </td> <td valign="top" width="2%" align="left">•</td> <td valign="top" width="1%"> </td> <td valign="top" align="left"> adverse changes in government tax policy; </td> </tr> </table>   <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td width="5%"> </td> <td valign="top" width="2%" align="left">•</td> <td valign="top" width="1%"> </td> <td valign="top" align="left"> difficulties in enforcing our contractual rights or enforcing judgments or obtaining a just result in local jurisdictions; and </td> </tr> </table>   <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td width="5%"> </td> <td valign="top" width="2%" align="left">•</td> <td valign="top" width="1%"> </td> <td valign="top" align="left"> potentially adverse tax consequences of operating in multiple jurisdictions. </td> </tr> </table> Any of these factors, individually or in combination with others, could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, our Latin American operations experience volatility in revenue and earnings which have caused and are expected to cause significant volatility in our results of operations and cash flows. The volatility is caused by regulatory and economic difficulties, political instability and currency devaluations being experienced in many of these countries. This volatility reduces the predictability and enhances the uncertainty associated with cash flows from these businesses. Our inability to predict, influence or respond appropriately to changes in law or regulatory schemes, including any inability to obtain expected or contracted increases in electricity tariff rates or tariff adjustments for increased expenses, could adversely impact our results of operations or our ability to meet publicly announced projections or analysts’ expectations. Furthermore, changes in laws or regulations or changes in the application or interpretation of regulatory provisions in jurisdictions where we operate, particularly our Utilities businesses where electricity tariffs are subject to regulatory review or approval, could adversely affect our business, including, but not limited to:   <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td width="5%"> </td> <td valign="top" width="2%" align="left">•</td> <td valign="top" width="1%"> </td> <td valign="top" align="left"> changes in the determination, definition or classification of costs to be included as reimbursable or pass-through costs; </td> </tr> </table>   <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td width="5%"> </td> <td valign="top" width="2%" align="left">•</td> <td valign="top" width="1%"> </td> <td valign="top" align="left"> changes in the definition or determination of controllable or non-controllable costs; </td> </tr> </table>   <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td width="5%"> </td> <td valign="top" width="2%" align="left">•</td> <td valign="top" width="1%"> </td> <td valign="top" align="left"> adverse changes in tax law; </td> </tr> </table>   <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td width="5%"> </td> <td valign="top" width="2%" align="left">•</td> <td valign="top" width="1%"> </td> <td valign="top" align="left"> changes in the definition of events which may or may not qualify as changes in economic equilibrium; </td> </tr> </table>   <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td width="5%"> </td> <td valign="top" width="2%" align="left">•</td> <td valign="top" width="1%"> </td> <td valign="top" align="left"> changes in the timing of tariff increases; </td> </tr> </table>   <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td width="5%"> </td> <td valign="top" width="2%" align="left">•</td> <td valign="top" width="1%"> </td> <td valign="top" align="left"> other changes in the regulatory determinations under the relevant concessions; or </td> </tr> </table>   <table style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td width="5%"> </td> <td valign="top" width="2%" align="left">•</td> <td valign="top" width="1%"> </td> <td valign="top" align="left"> changes in environmental regulations, including regulations relating to GHG emissions in any of our businesses. </td> </tr> </table> Any of the above events may result in lower margins for the affected businesses, which can adversely affect our business. RISKS RELATED TO FOREIGN CURRENCIES—AES operates businesses in many foreign environments and such operations in foreign countries may be impacted by significant fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. The Company’s financial position and results of operations have been significantly affected by fluctuations in the value of the Brazilian real, the Argentine peso, the Dominican Republic peso, the Euro, the Chilean peso, the Colombian peso and the Philippine peso relative to the U.S. Dollar. RISKS RELATED TO POWER SALES CONTRACTS—Several of the Company’s power plants rely on power sales contracts with one or a limited number of entities for the majority of, and in some case all of, the relevant plant’s output over the term of the power sales contract. The remaining term of the power sales contracts related to the Company’s power plants range from less than one to 37 years. No single customer accounted for 10% or more of total revenue in 2009, 2008, or 2007. The cash flows and results of operations of such plants are dependent on the credit quality of the purchasers and the continued ability of their customers and suppliers to meet their obligations under the relevant power sales contract. If a substantial portion of the Company’s long-term power sales contracts were modified or terminated, the Company would be adversely affected to the extent that it was unable to find other customers at the same level of contract profitability. The loss of one or more significant power sales contracts or the failure by any of the parties to a power sales contract to fulfill its obligations thereunder could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition. </div> 24. RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES AES is a global power producer in 29 countries on five continents. See additional discussion of the Company’s principal false false No definition available. 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