EX-99.3 9 c98245exv99w3.htm EXHIBIT 99.3 Exhibit 99.3
Exhibit 99.3
Consolidated Financial Statements
RESPONSIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL REPORTING
The consolidated financial statements and all financial information contained in the annual report are the responsibility of management. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles and, where appropriate, have incorporated estimates based on the best judgment of management.
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the internal control framework set out in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on our evaluation, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2009.
The Board of Directors is responsible for ensuring that management fulfills its responsibilities for financial reporting and internal control, and is responsible for reviewing and approving the consolidated financial statements. The Board carries out this responsibility principally through the Audit, Finance and Risk Committee (the Committee).
The Committee consists of five non-management directors, all of whom are independent as defined by the applicable rules in Canada and the United States. The Committee is appointed by the Board to assist the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibility relating to: the integrity of the Company’s financial statements, news releases and securities filings; the financial reporting process; the systems of internal accounting and financial controls; the professional qualifications and independence of the external auditor; the performance of the external auditors; risk management processes; financing plans; pension plans; and the Company’s compliance with ethics policies and legal and regulatory requirements.
The Committee meets regularly with management and the Company’s auditors, KPMG LLP, Chartered Accountants, to discuss internal controls and significant accounting and financial reporting issues. KPMG has full and unrestricted access to the Committee. KPMG audited the consolidated financial statements and the effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting. Their opinions are included in the annual report.
         
A. Terence Poole
  Bruce Aitken   Ian Cameron
Chairman of the Audit, Finance
  President and   Senior Vice President, Finance and
and Risk Committee
  Chief Executive Officer   Chief Financial Officer
March 5, 2010

 

 


 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of Methanex Corporation
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Methanex Corporation (“the Company”) as at December 31, 2009 and 2008 and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders’ equity, comprehensive income (loss) and cash flows for the years then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards and the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform an audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as at December 31, 2009 and 2008 and the results of its operations and its cash flows of the years then ended, in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), and our report dated March 5, 2010, expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Chartered Accountants
Vancouver, Canada
March 5, 2010

 

2


 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Shareholders and Board of Directors of Methanex Corporation
We have audited Methanex Corporation’s (“the Company”) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the section entitled “Management’s Annual Report on Internal Controls over Financial Reporting” included in the accompanying Management’s Discussion and Analysis. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2009 based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
We also have audited, in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards and the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as at December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders’ equity, comprehensive income (loss) and cash flows for the years then ended, and our report dated March 5, 2010, expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.
Chartered Accountants
Vancouver, Canada
March 5, 2010

 

3


 

Consolidated Balance Sheets
(thousands of US dollars, except number of common shares)
                 
AS AT DECEMBER 31   2009     2008  
            (As adjusted  
            - note 1(o))  
ASSETS
               
Current assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 169,788     $ 328,430  
Receivables (note 2)
    257,418       213,419  
Inventories
    171,554       177,637  
Prepaid expenses
    23,893       16,840  
 
           
 
    622,653       736,326  
Property, plant and equipment (note 4)
    2,183,787       1,899,059  
Other assets (note 6)
    116,977       163,642  
 
           
 
  $ 2,923,417     $ 2,799,027  
 
           
 
               
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Current liabilities:
               
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
  $ 232,924     $ 235,369  
Current maturities on long-term debt (note 7)
    29,330       15,282  
Current maturities on other long-term liabilities (note 8)
    9,350       8,048  
 
           
 
    271,604       258,699  
Long-term debt (note 7)
    884,914       766,675  
Other long-term liabilities (note 8)
    97,185       97,441  
Future income tax liabilities (note 12)
    300,510       299,192  
Non-controlling interest
    133,118       88,604  
Shareholders’ equity:
               
Capital stock
               
25,000,000 authorized preferred shares without nominal or par value Unlimited authorization of common shares without nominal or par value
               
Issued and outstanding common shares at December 31, 2009 were 92,108,242 (2008 — 92,031,392)
    427,792       427,265  
Contributed surplus
    27,007       22,669  
Retained earnings
    806,158       862,507  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (24,871 )     (24,025 )
 
           
 
    1,236,086       1,288,416  
 
           
 
  $ 2,923,417     $ 2,799,027  
 
           
Commitments and contingencies (notes 12 and 18)
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
Approved by the Board:
     
A. Terence Poole
  Bruce Aitken
Director
  Director

 

4


 

Consolidated Statements of Income
(thousands of US dollars, except number of common shares and per share amounts)
                 
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31   2009     2008  
            (As adjusted  
            - note 1(o))  
Revenue
  $ 1,198,169     $ 2,314,219  
Cost of sales and operating expenses
    1,056,342       1,950,416  
Depreciation and amortization
    117,590       107,126  
Inventory writedown (note 3)
          33,373  
 
           
Operating income
    24,237       223,304  
Interest expense (note 10)
    (27,370 )     (38,439 )
Interest and other income (expense)
    (403 )     10,626  
 
           
Income (loss) before income taxes
    (3,536 )     195,491  
Income taxes (note 12):
               
Current
    5,592       (66,148 )
Future
    (1,318 )     39,410  
 
           
 
    4,274       (26,738 )
 
           
Net income
  $ 738     $ 168,753  
 
           
 
               
Basic net income per common share
  $ 0.01     $ 1.79  
Diluted net income per common share
  $ 0.01     $ 1.78  
 
               
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding
    92,063,371       94,520,945  
Diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding
    92,688,510       94,913,956  
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

5


 

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity
(thousands of US dollars, except number of common shares)
                                                 
                                    Accumulated Other     Total  
    Number of             Contributed     Retained     Comprehensive     Shareholders’  
    Common Shares     Capital Stock     Surplus     Earnings     Loss     Equity  
Balance, December 31, 2007 as previously reported
    98,310,254     $ 451,640     $ 16,021     $ 876,348     $ (8,655 )   $ 1,335,354  
Adjustments for retroactive adoption of new accounting policies:
                                               
Goodwill and intangibles (note 1(o))
                      (7,790 )           (7,790 )
Non-controlling interest proportionate share (note 1(o))
                      1,858       3,462       5,320  
 
                                   
Balance, December 31, 2007, as adjusted
    98,310,254       451,640       16,021       870,416       (5,193 )     1,332,884  
Net income and other comprehensive loss, as previously reported
                      172,298       (31,363 )     140,935  
Adjustments for retroactive adoption of new accounting policies:
                                               
Goodwill and intangibles (note 1(o))
                      (5,818 )           (5,818 )
Non-controlling interest proportionate share (note 1(o))
                      2,273       12,531       14,804  
 
                                         
Net income and other comprehensive loss, as adjusted
                      168,753       (18,832 )     149,921  
Compensation expense recorded for stock options
                8,225                   8,225  
Issue of shares on exercise of stock options
    224,016       4,075                         4,075  
Reclassification of grant date fair value on exercise of stock options
          1,577       (1,577 )                  
Payment for shares repurchased
    (6,502,878 )     (30,027 )           (119,829 )           (149,856 )
Dividend payments
                      (56,833 )           (56,833 )
 
                                   
Balance, December 31, 2008
    92,031,392       427,265       22,669       862,507       (24,025 )     1,288,416  
Net income
                      738             738  
Compensation expense recorded for stock options
                4,440                   4,440  
Issue of shares on exercise of stock options
    76,850       425                         425  
Reclassification of grant date fair value on exercise of stock options
          102       (102 )                  
Dividend payments
                      (57,087 )           (57,087 )
Other comprehensive loss
                            (846 )     (846 )
 
                                   
Balance, December 31, 2009
    92,108,242     $ 427,792     $ 27,007     $ 806,158     $ (24,871 )   $ 1,236,086  
 
                                   
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

6


 

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
(thousands of US dollars)
                 
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31   2009     2008  
            (As adjusted  
            - note 1(o))  
Net income
  $ 738     $ 168,753  
Other comprehensive income (loss):
               
Change in fair value of forward exchange contracts, net of tax (note 15)
    36       9  
Change in fair value of interest rate swap contracts, net of tax (note 15)
    (882 )     (18,841 )
 
           
 
    (846 )     (18,832 )
 
           
Comprehensive income (loss)
  $ (108 )   $ 149,921  
 
           
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

7


 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(thousands of US dollars)
                 
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31   2009     2008  
            (As adjusted  
            - note 1(o))  
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
               
Net income
  $ 738     $ 168,753  
Add (deduct) non-cash items:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    117,590       107,126  
Future income taxes
    1,318       (39,410 )
Stock-based compensation
    12,527       2,811  
Other
    7,639       2,797  
Other cash payments, including stock-based compensation
    (11,302 )     (7,565 )
 
           
Cash flows from operating activities before undernoted
    128,510       234,512  
Changes in non-cash working capital (note 13)
    (18,253 )     78,383  
 
           
 
    110,257       312,895  
 
           
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
               
Dividend payments
    (57,087 )     (56,833 )
Payments for shares repurchased
          (149,856 )
Proceeds from limited recourse debt (note 7)
    151,378       204,000  
Equity contributions by non-controlling interest
    45,103       65,198  
Repayment of limited recourse debt
    (15,282 )     (15,282 )
Proceeds on issue of shares on exercise of stock options
    425       4,075  
Financing fees
    (1,949 )      
Repayment of other long-term liabilities
    (11,157 )     (5,990 )
 
           
 
    111,431       45,312  
 
           
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
               
Property, plant and equipment
    (60,906 )     (96,956 )
Egypt plant under construction
    (261,646 )     (382,184 )
Oil and gas assets (note 1(p))
    (22,840 )     (41,781 )
GeoPark financing, net of repayments (note 6)
    (9,285 )     (22,319 )
Change in project debt reserve accounts
    5,229       (1,820 )
Other assets
    (2,454 )     161  
Changes in non-cash working capital related to investing activities (note 13)
    (28,428 )     26,898  
 
           
 
    (380,330 )     (518,001 )
 
           
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents
    (158,642 )     (159,794 )
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
    328,430       488,224  
 
           
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year
  $ 169,788     $ 328,430  
 
           
 
               
SUPPLEMENTARY CASH FLOW INFORMATION
               
Interest paid
  $ 52,767     $ 47,284  
Income taxes paid, net of amounts refunded
  $ 6,363     $ 78,591  
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(Tabular dollar amounts are shown in thousands of US dollars, except where noted)
Years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008
1. Significant accounting policies:
(a) Basis of presentation:
These consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in Canada. These accounting principles are different in some respects from those generally accepted in the United States and the significant differences are described and reconciled in note 19.
These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Methanex Corporation, its wholly owned subsidiaries, less than wholly owned entities for which it has a controlling interest and its proportionate share of the accounts of jointly controlled entities (collectively, the Company). For less than wholly owned entities for which the Company has a controlling interest, a non-controlling interest is included in the Company’s financial statements and represents the non-controlling shareholders’ interest in the net assets of the entity. In accordance with the Accounting Guideline No. 15, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, the Company also consolidates any variable interest entities of which it is the primary beneficiary, as defined. When the Company does not have a controlling interest in an entity, but exerts a significant influence over the entity, the Company applies the equity method of accounting. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated. Preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported and disclosed in the financial statements and related notes. Policies requiring significant estimates are described below. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
(b) Reporting currency and foreign currency translation:
The majority of the Company’s business is transacted in US dollars and, accordingly, these consolidated financial statements have been measured and expressed in that currency. The Company translates foreign currency denominated monetary items at the rates of exchange prevailing at the balance sheet dates and revenues and expenditures at average rates of exchange during the year. Foreign exchange gains and losses are included in earnings.
(c) Cash equivalents:
Cash equivalents include securities with maturities of three months or less when purchased.
(d) Receivables:
The Company provides credit to its customers in the normal course of business. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and maintains reserves for potential credit losses. The Company records an allowance for doubtful accounts or writes down the receivable to estimated net realizable value if not collectible in full. Credit losses have historically been within the range of management’s expectations.
(e) Inventories:
Inventories are valued at the lower of cost and estimated net realizable value. Cost is determined by the first-in first-out basis and includes direct purchase costs, cost of production and transportation.
(f) Property, plant and equipment:
Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. Interest incurred during construction is capitalized to the cost of the asset. Incentive tax credits related to property, plant and equipment are recorded as a reduction in the cost of property, plant and equipment. The benefit of incentive tax credits is recognized in earnings through lower depreciation in future periods.

 

9


 

Depreciation and amortization is generally provided on a straight-line basis, or in the case of the New Zealand operations, on a unit-of-natural gas consumption basis, at rates calculated to amortize the cost of property, plant and equipment from the commencement of commercial operations over their estimated useful lives to estimated residual value.
Routine repairs and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. At regular intervals, the Company conducts a planned shutdown and inspection (turnaround) at its plants to perform major maintenance and replacements of catalyst. Costs associated with these shutdowns are capitalized and amortized over the period until the next planned turnaround.
The Company periodically reviews the carrying value of property, plant and equipment for impairment when circumstances indicate an asset’s value may not be recoverable. If it is determined that an asset’s undiscounted cash flows are less than its carrying value, the asset is written down to its fair value.
(g) Other assets:
Marketing and production rights are capitalized to other assets and amortized to depreciation and amortization expense on an appropriate basis to charge the cost of the assets against earnings.
Financing fees related to undrawn credit facilities are capitalized to other assets and amortized to interest expense over the term of the credit facility. Financing fees related to project debt facilities are capitalized to other assets until the project debt is fully drawn. Once the project debt is fully drawn, these fees are reclassified to long-term debt net of financing fees and amortized to interest expense over the repayment term. Other long-term debt is presented net of financing fees and amortized to interest expense over the repayment term on an effective interest basis.
(h) Asset retirement obligations:
The Company recognizes asset retirement obligations for those sites where a reasonably definitive estimate of the fair value of the obligation can be determined. The Company estimates fair value by determining the current market cost required to settle the asset retirement obligation and adjusts for inflation through to the expected date of the expenditures and discounts this amount back to the date when the obligation was originally incurred. As the liability is initially recorded on a discounted basis, it is increased each period until the estimated date of settlement. The resulting expense is referred to as accretion expense and is included in cost of sales and operating expenses. Asset retirement obligations are not recognized with respect to assets with indefinite or indeterminate lives as the fair value of the asset retirement obligations cannot be reasonably estimated due to uncertainties regarding the timing of expenditures. The Company reviews asset retirement obligations and adjusts the liability as necessary to reflect changes in the estimated future cash flows and timing underlying the fair value measurement.
(i) Employee future benefits:
Accrued pension benefit obligations and related expenses for defined benefit pension plans are determined using current market bond yields to measure the accrued pension benefit obligation. Adjustments to the accrued benefit obligation and the fair value of the plan assets that arise from changes in actuarial assumptions, experience gains and losses and plan amendments that exceed 10% of the greater of the accrued benefit obligation and the fair value of the plan assets are amortized to earnings on a straight-line basis over the estimated average remaining service lifetime of the employee group. The cost for defined contribution benefit plans is expensed as earned by the employees.

 

10


 

(j) Net income per common share:
The Company calculates basic net income per common share by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding and calculates diluted net income per common share under the treasury stock method. Under the treasury stock method, the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the calculation of diluted net income per share assumes that the total of the proceeds to be received on the exercise of dilutive stock options and the unrecognized portion of the grant-date fair value of stock options is applied to repurchase common shares at the average market price for the period. A stock option is dilutive only when the average market price of common shares during the period exceeds the exercise price of the stock option.
A reconciliation of the weighted average number of common shares outstanding is as follows:
                 
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31   2009     2008  
Denominator for basic net income per common share
    92,063,371       94,520,945  
Effect of dilutive stock options
    625,139       393,011  
 
           
Denominator for diluted net income per common share
    92,688,510       94,913,956  
 
           
(k) Stock-based compensation:
The Company grants stock-based awards as an element of compensation. Stock-based awards granted by the Company can include stock options, deferred share units, restricted share units or performance share units.
For stock options granted by the Company, the cost of the service received as consideration is measured based on an estimate of the fair value at the date of grant. The grant-date fair value is recognized as compensation expense over the related service period with a corresponding increase in contributed surplus. On the exercise of stock options, consideration received, together with the compensation expense previously recorded to contributed surplus, is credited to share capital. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to estimate the fair value of each stock option at the date of grant.
Deferred, restricted and performance share units are grants of notional common shares that are redeemable for cash based on the market value of the Company’s common shares and are non-dilutive to shareholders. Performance share units have an additional feature where the ultimate number of units that vest will be determined by the Company’s total shareholder return in relation to a predetermined target over the period to vesting. The number of units that will ultimately vest will be in the range of 50% to 120% of the original grant. The fair value of deferred, restricted and performance share units is initially measured at the grant date based on the market value of the Company’s common shares and is recognized in earnings over the related service period. Changes in fair value are recognized in earnings for the proportion of the service that has been rendered at each reporting date.
Additional information related to the stock option plan, the assumptions used in the Black-Scholes option pricing model and the deferred, restricted and performance share units of the Company are described in note 9.
(l) Revenue recognition:
Revenue is recognized based on individual contract terms when the title and risk of loss to the product transfers to the customer, which usually occurs at the time shipment is made. Revenue is recognized at the time of delivery to the customer’s location if the Company retains title and risk of loss during shipment. For methanol shipped on a consignment basis, revenue is recognized when the customer consumes the methanol. For methanol sold on a commission basis, the commission income is included in revenue when earned.

 

11


 

(m) Financial instruments:
Financial instruments under Canadian GAAP must be classified into one of five categories and, depending on the category, will either be measured at amortized cost or fair value. Held-to-maturity investments, loans and receivables and other financial liabilities are measured at amortized cost. Held for trading financial assets and liabilities and available-for-sale financial assets are measured on the balance sheet at fair value. Changes in the fair value of held-for-trading financial assets and liabilities are recognized in earnings and changes in the fair value of available-for-sale financial assets are recorded in other comprehensive income until the investment is derecognized or impaired at which time the amounts would be recorded in earnings. The Company classifies its cash and cash equivalents as held-for-trading. Accounts receivable are classified as loans and receivables. Accounts payable and accrued liabilities, long-term debt, net of financing costs, and other long-term liabilities are classified as other financial liabilities.
Under these standards, derivative financial instruments, including embedded derivatives, are classified as held for trading and are recorded on the balance sheet at fair value unless exempted. The Company records all changes in fair value of derivative financial instruments in earnings unless the instruments are designated as cash flow hedges. The Company enters into and designates as cash flow hedges certain forward exchange sales contracts to hedge foreign exchange exposure on anticipated sales. The Company also enters into and designates as cash flow hedges certain interest rate swap contracts to hedge variable interest rate exposure on its limited recourse debt. The Company assesses at inception and on an ongoing basis whether the hedges are and continue to be effective in offsetting changes in the cash flows of the hedged transactions. The effective portion of changes in the fair value of these hedging instruments is recognized in other comprehensive income. Any gain or loss in fair value relating to the ineffective portion is recognized immediately in earnings.
(n) Income taxes:
Future income taxes are accounted for using the asset and liability method. The asset and liability method requires that income taxes reflect the expected future tax consequences of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their tax bases. Future income tax assets and liabilities are determined for each temporary difference based on currently enacted or substantially enacted tax rates that are expected to be in effect when the underlying items of income or expense are expected to be realized. The effect of a change in tax rates or tax legislation is recognized in the period of substantive enactment. Future tax benefits, such as non-capital loss carryforwards, are recognized to the extent that realization of such benefits is considered to be more likely than not.
The Company accrues for taxes that will be incurred upon distributions from its subsidiaries when it is probable that the earnings will be repatriated.
The determination of income taxes requires the use of judgment and estimates. If certain judgments or estimates prove to be inaccurate, or if certain tax rates or laws change, the Company’s results of operations and financial position could be materially impacted.
(o) Intangible assets:
On January 1, 2009, the Company adopted CICA Handbook Section 3064, Goodwill and Intangible Assets. This new accounting standard replaces Section 3062, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. Section 3064 expands on the standards for recognition, measurement and disclosure of intangible assets. The impact of the retroactive adoption of this standard on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet at January 1, 2009 is approximately $13 million recorded as a reduction to opening retained earnings and property plant and equipment. The amount relates to certain pre-operating expenditures that have been capitalized to property, plant and equipment at December 31, 2008 that would have been required to be expensed under this new standard. The impact for the year ended December 31, 2009 was an increase to selling, general and administrative expenses of approximately $3.8 million (2008 — $3.5 million).

 

12


 

As a portion of these pre-operating expenditures were incurred in a non-wholly owned subsidiary, the Company has also adjusted the opening non-controlling interest (NCI) and retained earnings balances at December 31, 2008 for the NCI’s proportionate share of approximately $4 million. In addition, the Company has retrospectively reclassified approximately $16 million from accumulated other comprehensive loss to NCI, representing the NCI’s share of accumulated other comprehensive loss to December 31, 2008.
(p) Oil and natural gas exploration and development expenditure:
On August 24, 2009, the Company received final government approval of the agreement signed on May 5, 2008 with Empresa Nacional del Petroleo (ENAP), the Chilean state-owned oil and gas company. The agreement with ENAP is to accelerate gas exploration and development in the Dorado Riquelme exploration block in southern Chile and supply new Chilean-sourced natural gas to the Company’s production facilities in Chile. Under the arrangement the Company funds a 50% participation in the block.
Upon receiving final government approval of the agreement, the Company adopted the CICA guideline on full cost accounting in the oil and gas industry to account for the investment in the Dorado Riquelme block. Under this method, all costs, including internal costs and asset retirement costs, directly associated with the acquisition of, the exploration for, and the development of natural gas reserves are capitalized. Costs are then depleted and amortized using the unit-of-production method based on estimated proved reserves. Capitalized costs subject to depletion include estimated future costs to be incurred in developing proved reserves. Costs of major development projects and costs of acquiring and evaluating significant unproved properties are excluded from the costs subject to depletion until it is determined whether or not proved reserves are attributable to the properties or impairment has occurred. Costs that have been impaired are included in the costs subject to depletion and amortization.
Under the CICA guideline on full cost accounting, an impairment assessment (“ceiling test”) is performed on an annual basis for all oil and gas assets. An impairment loss is recognized in earnings when the carrying amount is not recoverable and the carrying amount exceeds its fair value. The carrying amount is not recoverable if the carrying amount exceeds the sum of the undiscounted cash flows from proved reserves. If the sum of the cash flows is less than the carrying amount, the impairment loss is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the sum of the discounted cash flows of proved and probable reserves. The Company performed the annual ceiling test for its investment in the Dorado Riquelme block and concluded no impairment existed as at December 31, 2009.
As a result of the adoption of the full cost accounting methodology for the oil and gas investment, the Company reclassified the Dorado Riquelme investment from other assets to property, plant and equipment. The net book value of $63.8 million related to the oil and gas assets at December 31, 2009 is comprised of cumulative additions of $64.6 million and asset retirement obligation of $3.8 million net of accumulated depletion of $4.6 million. For the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company contributed $22.8 million (2008 — $41.8 million) to the Dorado Riquelme investment.
(q) Anticipated changes to Canadian generally accepted accounting principles:
The Canadian Accounting Standards Board confirmed January 1, 2011 as the changeover date for Canadian publicly accountable enterprises to start using International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). Consequently, the Company will adopt IFRS in its quarterly and annual reports starting with the first quarter of 2011 and will provide corresponding comparative information for 2010.

 

13


 

2. Receivables:
                 
AS AT DECEMBER 31   2009     2008  
Trade
  $ 191,002     $ 141,716  
Value-added and other tax receivables
    56,264       24,949  
Current portion of GeoPark financing
    8,086       6,000  
Receivable from natural gas supplier
          30,609  
Other
    2,066       10,145  
 
           
 
  $ 257,418     $ 213,419  
 
           
3. Inventories:
Inventories are valued at the lower of cost, determined on a first-in first-out basis, and estimated net realizable value. Substantially all inventories consist of produced and purchased methanol. The amount of inventories included in cost of sales and operating expenses and depreciation and amortization during the year ended December 31, 2009 is $997 million (2008 - $1,860 million). In 2008, the Company recorded a pre-tax charge to earnings of $33.4 million to write down inventories to the lower of cost and estimated net realizable value.
4. Property, plant and equipment:
                         
            ACCUMULATED        
AS AT DECEMBER 31   COST     DEPRECIATION     NET BOOK VALUE  
2009
                       
Plant and equipment
  $ 2,586,920     $ 1,380,379     $ 1,206,541  
Egypt plant under construction (note 18(d))
    854,164             854,164  
Oil & gas assets (note 1(p))
    68,402       4,560       63,842  
Other
    127,623       68,383       59,240  
 
                 
 
  $ 3,637,109     $ 1,453,322     $ 2,183,787  
 
                 
2008
                       
Plant and equipment
  $ 2,544,163     $ 1,299,296     $ 1,244,867  
Egypt plant under construction (note 18(d))
    590,585             590,585  
Other
    127,731       64,124       63,607  
 
                 
 
  $ 3,262,479     $ 1,363,420     $ 1,899,059  
 
                 

 

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5. Interest in Atlas joint venture:
The Company has a 63.1% joint venture interest in Atlas Methanol Company (Atlas). Atlas owns a 1.7 million tonne per year methanol production facility in Trinidad. Included in the consolidated financial statements are the following amounts representing the Company’s proportionate interest in Atlas:
                 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AS AT DECEMBER 31   2009     2008  
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 8,252     $ 35,749  
Other current assets
    72,667       57,374  
Property, plant and equipment
    240,290       249,609  
Other assets
    12,920       18,149  
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    22,380       19,927  
Long-term debt, including current maturities (note 7)
    93,155       106,592  
Future income tax liabilities (note 12)
    18,660       17,942  
 
           
 
               
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31   2009     2008  
Revenue
  $ 194,314     $ 286,906  
Expenses
    158,611       271,493  
 
           
Income before income taxes
    35,703       15,413  
Income tax expense
    (6,127 )     (4,488 )
 
           
Net income
  $ 29,576     $ 10,925  
 
           
                 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31   2009     2008  
Cash inflows from operating activities
  $ 36,166     $ 44,861  
Cash outflows from financing activities
    (14,032 )     (15,852 )
Cash outflows from investing activities
    (3,568 )     (2,977 )
 
           

 

15


 

6. Other assets:
                 
AS AT DECEMBER 31   2009     2008  
Marketing and production rights, net of accumulated amortization
  $ 19,099     $ 27,080  
Restricted cash for debt service reserve account
    12,920       18,149  
Deferred financing costs, net of accumulated amortization
    9,725       15,281  
Defined benefit pension plans (note 17)
    16,003       16,456  
GeoPark financing
    37,969       30,616  
Dorado Riquelme investment
          42,123  
Other
    21,261       13,937  
 
           
 
  $ 116,977     $ 163,642  
 
           
For the year ended December 31, 2009, amortization of marketing and production rights included in depreciation and amortization was $8.0 million (2008 — $7.6 million) and amortization of deferred financing fees included in interest expense was $0.6 million (2008 — $1.1 million).
During 2007, the Company entered into a financing agreement with GeoPark Chile Limited (GeoPark) under which the Company provided $40 million (of which $10 million has been repaid at December 31, 2009) in financing to support and accelerate GeoPark’s natural gas exploration and development activities in the Fell block in southern Chile. GeoPark agreed to supply the Company with all natural gas sourced from the Fell block under a ten-year exclusive supply arrangement. In October 2009 the Company signed an agreement to provide a further $18 million in financing to support GeoPark’s natural gas exploration and development activities in southern Chile of which $15.0 million was provided to GeoPark in 2009. As at December 31, 2009, the outstanding balance is $46.1 million of which $8.1 million, representing the current portion, has been recorded in accounts receivable.
As a result of the adoption of the full cost accounting methodology in 2009 for the oil and gas investment, the Company reclassified the Dorado Riquelme investment from other assets to property, plant and equipment — refer to note 1 (p).

 

16


 

7. Long-term debt:
                 
AS AT DECEMBER 31   2009     2008  
Unsecured notes:
               
 
               
(i) 8.75% due August 15, 2012 (effective yield 8.88%)
  $ 198,627     $ 198,182  
(ii) 6.00% due August 15, 2015 (effective yield 6.10%)
    148,705       148,518  
 
           
 
    347,332       346,700  
 
           
Atlas limited recourse debt facilities (63.1% proportionate share):
               
 
               
(i) Senior commercial bank loan facility with interest payable semi-annually with rates based on LIBOR plus a spread ranging from 2.25% to 2.75% per annum. Principal is paid in 12 semi-annual payments which commenced June 2005.
    7,071       20,890  
 
               
(ii) Senior secured notes bearing an interest rate with semi-annual interest payments of 7.95% per annum. Principal will be paid in 9 semi-annual payments commencing December 2010.
    62,064       61,758  
 
               
(iii) Senior fixed rate bond bearing an interest rate with semi-annual interest payments of 8.25% per annum. Principal will be paid in 4 semi-annual payments commencing June 2015.
    14,769       14,725  
 
               
(iv) Subordinated loans with an interest rate based on LIBOR plus a spread ranging from 2.25% to 2.75% per annum. Principal will be paid in 20 semi-annual payments commencing December 2010.
    9,251       9,219  
 
           
 
    93,155       106,592  
 
           
Egypt limited recourse debt facilities:
               
 
               
(i) International facility to a maximum amount of $139 million with interest payable semi-annually with rates based on LIBOR plus a spread ranging from 1.1% to 1.5% per annum. Principal will be paid in 24 semi-annual payments commencing in September 2010.
    109,074       95,074  
 
               
(ii) Euromed facility to a maximum amount of $146 million with interest payable semi-annually with rates based on LIBOR plus a spread ranging from 1.0% to 1.4%. Principal will be paid in 24 semi-annual payments commencing in September 2010.
    145,600       145,600  
 
               
(iii) Article 18 facility to a maximum amount of $77 million with interest payable semi-annually with rates based on LIBOR plus a spread ranging from 1.3% to 1.7%. Principal will be paid in 24 semi-annual payments commencing in September 2010.
    48,900       33,900  
 
               
(iv) Egyptian facility to a maximum amount of $168 million with interest payable semi-annually with rates based on LIBOR plus a spread ranging from 1.0% to 1.6% per annum. Principal will be paid in 24 semi-annual payments commencing in September 2010.
    168,378       46,000  
 
               
Egypt deferred financing fees
    (10,382 )     (5,346 )
 
           
Egypt limited recourse debt, net of deferred financing fees
    461,570       315,228  
Other limited recourse debt
    12,187       13,437  
 
           
 
    914,244       781,957  
Less current maturities
    (29,330 )     (15,282 )
 
           
 
  $ 884,914     $ 766,675  
 
           

 

17


 

For the year ended December 31, 2009, non-cash accretion, on an effective interest basis, of deferred financing costs included in interest expense was $1.2 million (2008 — $1.3 million).
The minimum principal payments in aggregate and for each of the five succeeding years are as follows:
         
2010
  $ 29,330  
2011
    44,394  
2012
    246,140  
2013
    48,123  
2014
    49,785  
Thereafter
    511,091  
 
     
 
  $ 928,863  
 
     
The Egypt limited recourse debt facilities bear interest at LIBOR plus a spread. The Company has entered into interest rate swap contracts to swap the LIBOR-based interest payments for an average aggregated fixed rate of 4.8% on approximately 75% of the Egypt limited recourse debt facilities for the period September 28, 2007 to March 31, 2015 (note 15).
The Egypt and Atlas limited recourse debt facilities are described as limited recourse as they are secured only by the assets of the Egypt entity and the Atlas joint venture, respectively. Accordingly, the lenders to the limited recourse debt facilities have no recourse to the Company or its other subsidiaries. Under the terms of these limited recourse debt facilities, the entities can make cash or other distributions after fulfilling certain conditions.
The other limited recourse debt is payable over twelve years in equal quarterly principal payments beginning October 2007. Interest on this debt is payable quarterly at LIBOR plus 0.75%.
As at December 31, 2009, the Company has an undrawn, unsecured revolving bank facility of $200 million provided by highly rated financial institutions that expires in May 2012 and is subject to certain financial covenants including an EBITDA to interest coverage ratio and a debt to capitalization ratio, as defined. This credit facility ranks pari passu with the Company’s unsecured notes.
8. Other long-term liabilities:
                 
AS AT DECEMBER 31   2009     2008  
Asset retirement obligations (a)
  $ 16,134     $ 12,029  
Capital lease obligation (b)
    15,921       20,742  
Deferred, restricted and performance share units (note 9)
    21,411       16,224  
Chile retirement arrangement (note 17)
    19,785       17,754  
Fair value of derivative financial instruments (note 15)
    33,284       38,740  
 
           
 
    106,535       105,489  
Less current maturities
    (9,350 )     (8,048 )
 
           
 
  $ 97,185     $ 97,441  
 
           
(a) Asset retirement obligations:
The Company has accrued for asset retirement obligations related to those sites where a reasonably definitive estimate of the fair value of the obligation can be made. Because of uncertainties in estimating future costs and the timing of expenditures related to the currently identified sites, actual results could differ from the amounts estimated. In 2009, the Company accrued an additional $3.8 million for asset retirement obligations related to the oil and gas assets. During the year ended December 31, 2009, cash expenditures applied against the accrual for asset retirement obligations were nil (2008 — $0.2 million). At December 31, 2009, the total undiscounted amount of estimated cash flows required to settle the obligation was $17.8 million (2008 — $13.6 million).

 

18


 

(b) Capital lease obligation:
As at December 31, 2009, the Company has a capital lease obligation related to an ocean shipping vessel. The future minimum lease payments in aggregate until the expiry of the lease are as follows:
         
2010
  $ 8,839  
2011
    8,927  
2012
    8,325  
 
     
 
    26,091  
Less executory and imputed interest costs
    (10,170 )
 
     
 
  $ 15,921  
 
     
9. Stock-based compensation:
The Company provides stock-based compensation to its directors and certain employees through grants of stock options and deferred, restricted or performance share units.
(a) Stock options:
There are two types of options granted under the Company’s stock option plan: incentive stock options and performance stock options. At December 31, 2009, the Company had 3,277,658 common shares reserved for future stock option grants under the Company’s stock option plan.
(i) Incentive stock options:
The exercise price of each incentive stock option is equal to the quoted market price of the Company’s common shares at the date of the grant. Options granted prior to 2005 have a maximum term of ten years with one-half of the options vesting one year after the date of the grant and a further vesting of one-quarter of the options per year over the subsequent two years. Beginning in 2005, all options granted have a maximum term of seven years with one-third of the options vesting each year after the date of grant.
Common shares reserved for outstanding incentive stock options at December 31, 2009 and 2008 are as follows:
                                 
    OPTIONS DENOMINATED IN CAD     OPTIONS DENOMINATED IN USD  
    NUMBER OF STOCK     WEIGHTED AVERAGE     NUMBER OF STOCK     WEIGHTED AVERAGE  
    OPTIONS     EXERCISE PRICE     OPTIONS     EXERCISE PRICE  
Outstanding at December 31, 2007
    104,450     $ 7.79       2,920,981     $ 21.17  
Granted
                1,088,068       28.40  
Exercised
    (21,000 )     9.59       (188,016 )     19.71  
Cancelled
    (7,000 )     11.60       (77,916 )     24.73  
 
                       
Outstanding at December 31, 2008
    76,450       6.95       3,743,117       23.27  
Granted
                1,361,130       6.33  
Exercised
    (20,100 )     5.26       (21,750 )     8.72  
Cancelled
    (1,000 )     5.85       (84,255 )     20.46  
 
                       
Outstanding at December 31, 2009
    55,350     $ 7.58       4,998,242     $ 18.77  
 
                       

 

19


 

Information regarding incentive stock options outstanding at December 31, 2009 is as follows:
                                         
    OPTIONS OUTSTANDING AT     OPTIONS EXERCISABLE AT  
    DECEMBER 31, 2009     DECEMBER 31, 2009  
                    WEIGHTED      
    WEIGHTED AVERAGE     NUMBER OF     AVERAGE     NUMBER OF STOCK     WEIGHTED  
    REMAINING     STOCK OPTIONS     EXERCISE     OPTIONS     AVERAGE  
RANGE OF EXERCISE PRICES   CONTRACTUAL LIFE     OUTSTANDING     PRICE     EXERCISABLE     EXERCISE PRICE  
Options denominated in CAD
                                       
$3.29 to 9.56
    0.8       55,350     $ 7.58       55,350     $ 7.58  
 
                             
Options denominated in USD
                                       
$6.33 to 11.56
    5.8       1,505,030     $ 6.58       165,800     $ 8.55  
$17.85 to 22.52
    3.0       1,457,150       20.26       1,457,150       20.26  
$23.92 to 28.43
    4.7       2,036,062       26.72       1,002,336       26.15  
 
                             
 
    4.5       4,998,242     $ 18.77       2,625,286     $ 21.77  
 
                             
(ii) Performance stock options:
As at December 31, 2009 there were no common shares (2008 — 35,000) reserved for performance stock options.
(iii) Fair value assumptions:
The fair value of each stock option grant was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions:
                 
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31   2009   2008  
Risk-free interest rate
    1.8 %     2.5 %
Expected dividend yield
    2 %     2 %
Expected life of option
  5 years     5 years  
Expected volatility
    44 %     32 %
Expected forfeitures
    5 %     5 %
Weighted average fair value of options granted (USD per share)
  $ 2.06     $ 7.52  
For the year ended December 31, 2009, compensation expense related to stock options was $4.4 million (2008 — $8.2 million).

 

20


 

(b) Deferred, restricted and performance share units:
Directors, executive officers and management receive some elements of their compensation and long-term compensation in the form of deferred, restricted or performance share units. Holders of deferred, restricted and performance share units are entitled to receive additional deferred, restricted or performance share units in lieu of dividends paid by the Company.
Deferred, restricted and performance share units outstanding at December 31, 2009 and 2008 are as follows:
                         
    NUMBER OF     NUMBER OF     NUMBER OF  
    DEFERRED SHARE     RESTRICTED SHARE     PERFORMANCE  
    UNITS     UNITS     SHARE UNITS  
 
                       
Outstanding at December 31, 2007
    359,684       14,482       725,262  
Granted
    41,572       6,000       330,993  
Granted in lieu of dividends
    13,222       537       33,292  
Redeemed
    (3,083 )     (8,496 )      
Cancelled
                (31,899 )
 
                 
Outstanding at December 31, 2008
    411,395       12,523       1,057,648  
Granted
    125,858       15,200       396,470  
Granted in lieu of dividends
    24,543       1,354       52,789  
Redeemed
    (56,620 )     (6,599 )     (395,420 )
Cancelled
                (32,675 )
 
                 
Outstanding at December 31, 2009
    505,176       22,478       1,078,812  
 
                 
The fair value of deferred, restricted and performance share units is initially measured at the grant date based on the market value of the Company’s common shares and is recognized in earnings over the related service period. Changes in fair value are recognized in earnings for the proportion of the service that has been rendered at each reporting date. The fair value of deferred, restricted and performance share units outstanding at December 31, 2009 was $26.7 million (2008 — $17.6 million) compared with the recorded liability of $21.4 million (2008 — $16.2 million). The difference between the fair value and the recorded liability at December 31, 2009 of $5.3 million will be recognized over the weighted average remaining service period of approximately 1.8 years.
For the year ended December 31, 2009, compensation expense related to deferred, restricted and performance share units was a net expense of $8.1 million (2008 — recovery of $5.4 million), included in the compensation expense for the year ended December 31, 2009 was $0.9 million (2008 - recovery of $17.4 million) related to the effect of the change in the Company’s share price.
10. Interest expense:
                 
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31   2009   2008  
Interest expense before capitalized interest
  $ 59,799     $ 56,333  
Less capitalized interest related to Egypt plant under construction
    (32,429 )     (17,894 )
 
           
Interest expense
  $ 27,370     $ 38,439  
 
           
Interest during construction of the Egypt methanol facility is capitalized until the plant is substantially complete and ready for productive use. The Company has secured limited recourse debt of $530 million for its joint venture project to construct a 1.3 million tonne per year methanol facility in Egypt. The Company has entered into interest rate swap contracts to swap the LIBOR-based interest payments for an average aggregated fixed rate of 4.8% plus a spread on approximately 75% of the Egypt limited recourse debt facilities for the period of September 28, 2007 to March 31, 2015. For the year ended December 31, 2009 interest costs of $32.4 million (2008 - $17.9 million) related to this project were capitalized, inclusive of interest rate swaps.

 

21


 

11. Segmented information:
The Company’s operations consist of the production and sale of methanol, which constitutes a single operating segment.
During the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, revenues attributed to geographic regions, based on the location of customers were as follows:
                                                                 
    UNITED                                            
    STATES     CANADA     EUROPE     CHINA     KOREA     OTHER ASIA     LATIN AMERICA     TOTAL  
Revenue
                                                               
2009
  $ 354,605     $ 106,437     $ 198,205     $ 195,315     $ 135,479     $ 83,039     $ 125,089     $ 1,198,169  
2008
  $ 736,730     $ 236,531     $ 494,339     $ 135,083     $ 263,568     $ 209,106     $ 238,862     $ 2,314,219  
As at December 31, 2009 and 2008, the net book value of property, plant and equipment by country was as follows:
                                                                 
                            NEW                          
    CHILE     TRINIDAD     EGYPT     ZEALAND     CANADA     KOREA     OTHER     TOTAL  
Property, plant and equipment                                
2009
  $ 687,313     $ 488,655     $ 854,164     $ 86,730     $ 17,101     $ 14,840     $ 34,984     $ 2,183,787  
2008
  $ 663,411     $ 482,329     $ 590,585     $ 91,442     $ 17,818     $ 15,645     $ 37,829     $ 1,899,059  
12. Income and other taxes:
(a) Income tax expense:
The Company operates in several tax jurisdictions and therefore its income is subject to various rates of taxation. Income tax expense differs from the amounts that would be obtained by applying the Canadian statutory income tax rate to income before income taxes. These differences are as follows:
                 
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31   2009     2008  
 
               
Canadian statutory tax rate
    30.0 %     31.0 %
 
               
Income tax expense (recovery) calculated at Canadian statutory tax rate
  $ (1,060 )   $ 61,701  
Increase (decrease) in income tax expense resulting from:
               
Impact of income and losses taxed in foreign jurisdictions
    (5,499 )     7,183  
Previously unrecognized loss carryforwards and temporary differences
          (25,602 )
Reduction of future income tax liabilities
          (27,342 )
Other
    2,285       10,798  
 
           
Total income tax expense (recovery)
  $ (4,274 )   $ 26,738  
 
           

 

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(b) Net future income tax liabilities:
The tax effect of temporary differences that give rise to future income tax liabilities and future income tax assets are as follows:
                 
AS AT DECEMBER 31   2009     2008  
 
               
Future income tax liabilities:
               
Property, plant and equipment
  $ 234,162     $ 215,226  
Other
    121,668       148,296  
 
           
 
    355,830       363,522  
Future income tax assets:
               
Non-capital loss carryforwards
    126,014       113,262  
Property, plant and equipment
    17,842       24,242  
Other
    74,310       63,459  
 
           
 
    218,166       200,963  
Future income tax asset valuation allowance
    (162,846 )     (136,633 )
 
           
 
    55,320       64,330  
 
           
Net future income tax liabilities
  $ 300,510     $ 299,192  
 
           
At December 31, 2009, the Company had non-capital loss carryforwards available for tax purposes of approximately $281 million in Canada and approximately $97 million in New Zealand. In Canada, these loss carryforwards expire in the period 2010 to 2015, inclusive. In New Zealand the loss carryforwards do not have an expiry date.
(c) Contingent tax liability:
During 2009, the Board of Inland Revenue of Trinidad and Tobago issued an assessment against the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Methanex Trinidad (Titan) Unlimited, in respect of the 2003 financial year. The assessment relates to the deferral of tax depreciation deductions during the five-year tax holiday that ended in 2005. The impact of the amount in dispute as at December 31, 2009 is approximately $23 million in current taxes and $26 million in future taxes, exclusive of any interest charges.
The Company has lodged an objection to the assessment. Based on the merits of the case and legal interpretation, management believes its position should be sustained.

 

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13. Changes in non-cash working capital:
Changes in non-cash working capital for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 are as follows:
                 
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31   2009     2008  
Decrease (increase) in non-cash working capital:
               
Receivables
  $ (43,999 )   $ 188,424  
Inventories
    6,083       134,506  
Prepaid expenses
    (7,053 )     4,049  
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
    (2,445 )     (230,651 )
 
           
 
    (47,414 )     96,328  
Adjustments for items not having a cash effect
    733       8,953  
 
           
Changes in non-cash working capital having a cash effect
  $ (46,681 )   $ 105,281  
 
           
These changes relate to the following activites:
               
Operating
  $ (18,253 )   $ 78,383  
Investing
    (28,428 )     26,898  
 
           
Changes in non-cash working capital
  $ (46,681 )   $ 105,281  
 
           
14. Capital disclosures:
The Company’s objectives in managing its liquidity and capital are to safeguard the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, to provide financial capacity and flexibility to meet its strategic objectives, to provide an adequate return to shareholders commensurate with the level of risk, and to return excess cash through a combination of dividends and share repurchases.
                 
AS AT DECEMBER 31   2009     2008  
Liquidity:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 169,788     $ 328,430  
Undrawn Egypt limited recourse debt facilities
    58,048       209,426  
Undrawn credit facilities
    200,000       250,000  
 
           
Total liquidity
  $ 427,836     $ 787,856  
 
           
 
               
Capitalization:
               
Unsecured notes
  $ 347,332     $ 346,700  
Limited recourse debt facilities, including current portion
    566,912       435,257  
 
           
Total debt
    914,244       781,957  
Non-controlling interest
    133,118       88,604  
Shareholders’ equity
    1,236,086       1,288,416  
 
           
Total capitalization
  $ 2,283,448     $ 2,158,977  
 
           
Total debt to capitalization 1
    40 %     36 %
Net debt to capitalization 2
    35 %     25 %
     
1  
Total debt divided by total capitalization.
 
2  
Total debt less cash and cash equivalents divided by total capitalization less cash and cash equivalents.
The Company manages its liquidity and capital structure and makes adjustments to it in light of changes to economic conditions, the underlying risks inherent in its operations and capital requirements to maintain and grow its operations. The strategies employed by the Company include the issue or repayment of general corporate debt, the issue of project debt, the payment of dividends and the repurchase of shares.

 

24


 

The Company is not subject to any statutory capital requirements and has no commitments to sell or otherwise issue common shares except pursuant to outstanding employee stock options.
In August 2009, the Company entered into a $200 million unsecured revolving credit facility expiring in May 2012 to replace its $250 million credit facility that was set to expire in mid-2010. The undrawn credit facility is provided by highly rated financial institutions and is subject to certain financial covenants including an EBITDA to interest coverage ratio and a debt to capitalization ratio, as defined.
The credit ratings for the Company’s unsecured notes are as follows:
                 
Standard & Poor’s Rating Services
  BBB-   (negative)
Moody’s Investor Services
  Ba1   (stable)   
15. Financial instruments:
Financial instruments are either measured at amortized cost or fair value. Held-to-maturity investments, loans and receivables and other financial liabilities are measured at amortized cost. Held for trading financial assets and liabilities and available-for-sale financial assets are measured on the balance sheet at fair value. Derivative financial instruments are classified as held for trading and are recorded on the balance sheet at fair value unless exempted. Changes in fair value of derivative financial instruments are recorded in earnings unless the instruments are designated as cash flow hedges.
The following table provides the carrying value of each category of financial assets and liabilities and the related balance sheet item:
                 
AS AT DECEMBER 31   2009     2008  
Financial assets:
               
Held for trading financial assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 169,788     $ 328,430  
Debt service reserve accounts included in other assets
    12,920       18,149  
 
               
Loans and receivables:
               
Receivables, excluding current portion of GeoPark financing
    249,332       207,419  
Dorado Riquelme investment included in other assets (note 6)
          42,123  
GeoPark financing, including current portion (note 6)
    46,055       36,616  
 
           
 
  $ 478,095     $ 632,737  
 
           
Financial liabilities:
               
Other financial liabilities:
               
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
  $ 232,924     $ 235,369  
Long-term debt, including current portion
    914,244       781,957  
 
               
Held for trading financial liabilities:
               
Derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges
    33,185       38,100  
Derivative instruments
    99       1,771  
 
           
 
  $ 1,180,452     $ 1,057,197  
 
           
The Egypt limited recourse debt facilities bear interest at LIBOR plus a spread. The Company has entered into interest rate swap contracts to swap the LIBOR-based interest payments for an average aggregated fixed rate of 4.8% plus a spread on approximately 75% of the Egypt limited recourse debt facilities for the period of September 28, 2007 to March 31, 2015.
These interest rate swaps had outstanding notional amounts of $351 million as at December 31, 2009. Under the interest rate swap contracts the maximum notional amount during the term is $368 million. The notional amount increases over the period of expected drawdowns on the Egypt limited recourse debt and decreases over the expected repayment period. At December 31, 2009, these interest rate swap contracts had a negative fair value of $33.2 million (2008 — $38.1 million) recorded in other long-term liabilities. The fair value of these interest rate swap contracts will fluctuate until maturity. Changes in the fair value of derivative financial instruments designated as cash flow hedges have been recorded in other comprehensive income.

 

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At December 31, 2009, the Company’s derivative financial instruments that have not been designated as cash flow hedges include a floating-for-fixed interest rate swap contract with a negative fair value of $0.1 million (2008 — $0.6 million) recorded in other long-term liabilities.
The fair values of the Company’s derivative financial instruments as disclosed above are determined based on quoted market prices received from counterparties and adjusted for credit risk.
The Company is exposed to credit-related losses in the event of non-performance by counterparties to derivative financial instruments but does not expect any counterparties to fail to meet their obligations. The Company deals with only highly rated counterparties, normally major financial institutions. The Company is exposed to credit risk when there is a positive fair value of derivative financial instruments at a reporting date. The maximum amount that would be at risk if the counterparties to derivative financial instruments with positive fair values failed completely to perform under the contracts was nil at December 31, 2009 (2008 — nil).
The carrying values of the Company’s financial instruments approximate their fair values, except as follows:
                                 
    2009     2008  
AS AT DECEMBER 31   CARRYING VALUE     FAIR VALUE     CARRYING VALUE     FAIR VALUE  
Long-term debt
  $ 914,244     $ 840,577     $ 781,957     $ 586,595  
There is no publicly traded market for the limited recourse debt facilities the fair value of which is estimated by reference to current market prices for debt securities with similar terms and characteristics. The fair value of the unsecured notes was calculated by reference to a limited number of small transactions at the end of 2009 and 2008. The fair value of the Company’s unsecured notes will fluctuate until maturity.
16. Financial risk management:
(a) Market risks:
The Company’s operations consist of the production and sale of methanol. Market fluctuations may result in significant cash flow and profit volatility risk for the Company. Its worldwide operating business as well as its investment and financing activities are affected by changes in methanol and natural gas prices and interest and foreign exchange rates. The Company seeks to manage and control these risks primarily through its regular operating and financing activities and uses derivative instruments to hedge these risks when deemed appropriate. This is not an exhaustive list of all risks, nor will the risk management strategies eliminate these risks.
Methanol price risk
The methanol industry is a highly competitive commodity industry and methanol prices fluctuate based on supply and demand fundamentals and other factors. Accordingly it is important to maintain financial flexibility. The Company has adopted a prudent approach to financial management by maintaining a strong balance sheet including back-up liquidity.
Natural gas price risk
Natural gas is the primary feedstock for the production of methanol and the Company has entered into long-term natural gas supply contracts for its production facilities in Chile, Trinidad and Egypt and shorter-term natural gas supply contracts for its New Zealand operations. These natural gas supply contracts include base and variable price components to reduce the commodity price risk exposure. The variable price component is adjusted by formulas related to methanol prices above a certain level.

 

26


 

Interest rate risk
Interest rate risk is the risk that the Company suffers financial loss due to changes in the value of an asset or liability or in the value of future cash flows due to movements in interest rates.
The Company’s interest rate risk exposure is mainly related to long-term debt obligations. Approximately one-half of its debt obligations are subject to interest at fixed rates. The Company also seeks to limit this risk through the use of interest rate swaps which allows the Company to hedge cash flow changes by swapping variable rates of interest into fixed rates of interest.
                 
AS AT DECEMBER 31   2009     2008  
Fixed interest rate debt:
               
Unsecured notes
  $ 347,332     $ 346,700  
Atlas limited recourse debt facilities (63.1% proportionate share)
    76,833       76,483  
 
           
 
  $ 424,165     $ 423,183  
 
           
Variable interest rate debt:
               
Atlas limited recourse debt facilities (63.1% proportionate share)
  $ 16,322     $ 30,109  
Egypt limited recourse debt facilities
    461,570       315,228  
Other limited recourse debt facilities
    12,187       13,437  
 
           
 
  $ 490,079     $ 358,774  
 
           
The Company has entered into interest rate swap contracts to hedge the variability in LIBOR-based interest payments on its Egypt limited recourse debt facilities described in note 15. The notional amount increases over the period of expected drawdowns on the Egypt limited recourse debt and decreases over the expected repayment period. The aggregate impact of these contracts is to swap the LIBOR-based interest payments for an average fixed rate of 4.8% plus a spread on approximately 75% of the Egypt limited recourse debt facilities for the period September 28, 2007 to March 31, 2015. The net fair value of cash flow interest rate swaps was negative $33.2 million as at December 31, 2009. The change in fair value of the interest rate swaps assuming a 1% change in the interest rates along the yield curve would result in a change of approximately $16.1 million as of December 31, 2009. These interest rate swaps are designated as cash flow hedges which results in the effective portion of changes in their fair value being recorded in other comprehensive income.
For fixed interest rate debt, a 1% change in interest rates would result in a change in fair value of the debt (disclosed in note 15) of approximately $13.9 million.
For the variable interest rate debt that is unhedged, a 1% change in LIBOR would result in a change in annual interest payments of $1.4 million.
Foreign currency risk
The Company’s international operations expose the Company to foreign currency exchange risks in the ordinary course of business. Accordingly, the Company has established a policy that provides a framework for foreign currency management and hedging strategies and defines the approved hedging instruments. The Company reviews all significant exposures to foreign currencies arising from operating and investing activities and hedges exposures if deemed appropriate.
The dominant currency in which the Company conducts business is the United States dollar, which is also the reporting currency.

 

27


 

Methanol is a global commodity chemical that is priced in United States dollars. In certain jurisdictions, however, the transaction price is set either quarterly or monthly in the local currency. Accordingly, a portion of the Company’s revenue is transacted in Canadian dollars, euros and to a lesser extent other currencies. For the period from when the price is set in local currency to when the amount due is collected, the Company is exposed to declines in the value of these currencies compared to the United States dollar. The Company also purchases varying quantities of methanol for which the transaction currency is the euro and to a lesser extent other currencies. In addition, some of the Company’s underlying operating costs and capital expenditures are incurred in other currencies. The Company is exposed to increases in the value of these currencies that could have the effect of increasing the United States dollar equivalent of cost of sales and operating expenses and capital expenditures. The Company has elected not to actively manage these exposures at this time except for the net exposure to euro revenues which is hedged through forward exchange contracts each quarter when the euro price for methanol is established.
As of December 31, 2009, the Company had a net working capital asset of $25.5 million in non-US dollar currencies. Each 10% strengthening (weakening) of the US dollar against these currencies would decrease (increase) the value of net working capital and pre-tax cash flows and earnings by approximately $3 million.
(b) Liquidity risks:
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Company will not have sufficient funds to meet its liabilities, such as the settlement of financial debt and lease obligations and payment to its suppliers. The Company maintains liquidity and makes adjustments to it in light of changes to economic conditions, underlying risks inherent in its operations and capital requirements to maintain and grow its operations. At December 31, 2009, the Company had $170 million of cash and cash equivalents. In addition, the Company has an undrawn, unsecured revolving bank facility of $200 million provided by highly rated financial institutions that expires in May 2012.
In addition to the above-mentioned sources of liquidity, the Company constantly monitors funding options available in the capital markets, as well as trends in the availability and costs of such funding, with a view to maintaining financial flexibility and limiting refinancing risks.
(c) Credit risk:
Counterparty credit risk is the risk that the financial benefits of contracts with a specific counterparty will be lost if a counterparty defaults on its obligations under the contract. This includes any cash amounts owed to the Company by those counterparties, less any amounts owed to the counterparty by the Company where a legal right of offset exists and also includes the fair values of contracts with individual counterparties that are recorded in the financial statements.
Trade credit risk
Trade credit risk is defined as an unexpected loss in cash and earnings if the customer is unable to pay its obligations in due time or if the value of the security provided declines. The Company has implemented a credit policy that includes approvals for new customers, annual credit evaluations of all customers and specific approval for any exposures beyond approved limits. The Company employs a variety of risk-mitigation alternatives including certain contractual rights in the event of deterioration in customer credit quality and various forms of bank and parent company guarantees and letters of credit to upgrade the credit risk to a credit rating equivalent or better than the stand-alone rating of the counterparty. Trade credit losses have historically been minimal. However, in the current economic environment the risk of trade credit losses has increased.
Cash and cash equivalents
To manage credit and liquidity risk, the Company invests only in highly rated investment grade instruments that have maturities of three months or less. Limits are also established based on the type of investment, the counterparty and the credit rating.
Derivative financial instruments
To manage credit risk, the Company only enters into derivative financial instruments with highly rated investment grade counterparties.

 

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17. Retirement plans:
(a) Defined benefit pension plans:
The Company has non-contributory defined benefit pension plans covering certain employees. The Company does not provide any significant post-retirement benefits other than pension plan benefits. Information concerning the Company’s defined benefit pension plans, in aggregate, is as follows:
                 
AS AT DECEMBER 31   2009     2008  
Accrued benefit obligations:
               
Balance, beginning of year
  $ 50,020     $ 66,751  
Current service cost
    2,271       2,295  
Interest cost on accrued benefit obligations
    3,088       3,272  
Benefit payments
    (7,602 )     (5,809 )
Gain on curtailment
    (709 )     (844 )
Actuarial loss (gain)
    4,266       (1,537 )
Foreign exchange loss (gain)
    10,309       (14,108 )
 
           
Balance, end of year
    61,643       50,020  
 
 
Fair values of plan assets:
               
Balance, beginning of year
    31,864       44,097  
Actual returns on plan assets
    4,271       (5,086 )
Contributions
    8,555       7,201  
Benefit payments
    (7,602 )     (5,809 )
Foreign exchange gain (loss)
    5,015       (8,539 )
 
           
Balance, end of year
    42,103       31,864  
 
           
Unfunded status
    19,540       18,156  
Unamortized actuarial loss
    (15,758 )     (16,899 )
 
           
Accrued benefit liabilities, net
  $ 3,782     $ 1,257  
 
           
The Company has an unfunded retirement arrangement for its employees in Chile that will be funded at retirement in accordance with Chilean law. At December 31, 2009, the balance of accrued benefit liabilities, net is comprised of $19.8 million recorded in other long-term liabilities for an unfunded retirement arrangement in Chile and $16.0 million recorded in other assets for defined benefit plans in Canada and Europe.
The accrued benefit for the unfunded retirement arrangement in Chile is paid when an employee retires in accordance with Chilean regulations.

 

29


 

The Company’s net defined benefit pension plan expense for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 is as follows:
                 
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31   2009     2008  
Net defined benefit plan pension expense:
               
Current service cost
  $ 2,271     $ 2,295  
Interest cost on accrued benefit obligations
    3,088       3,272  
Actual return on plan assets
    (4,271 )     5,086  
Settlement and termination benefit
    1,521       958  
Actuarial losses (gains)
    3,557       (2,381 )
Other
    481       (3,793 )
 
           
 
  $ 6,647     $ 5,437  
 
           
The Company uses a December 31 measurement date for its defined benefit pension plans. Actuarial reports for the Company’s defined benefit pension plans were prepared by independent actuaries for funding purposes as of December 31, 2007 in Canada. The next actuarial reports for funding purposes for the Company’s Canadian defined benefit pension plans are scheduled to be completed as of December 31, 2010.
The actuarial assumptions used in accounting for the defined benefit pension plans are as follows:
                 
    2009     2008  
Benefit obligation at December 31:
               
Weighted average discount rate
    5.86 %     6.14 %
Rate of compensation increase
    4.14 %     4.16 %
 
Net expense for years ended December 31:
               
Weighted average discount rate
    6.08 %     5.81 %
Rate of compensation increase
    4.54 %     4.62 %
Expected rate of return on plan assets
    7.00 %     7.00 %
The asset allocation for the defined benefit pension plan assets as at December 31, 2009 and 2008 is as follows:
                 
AS AT DECEMBER 31   2009     2008  
Equity securities
    63 %     61 %
Debt securities
    34 %     35 %
Cash and other short-term securities
    3 %     4 %
 
           
Total
    100 %     100 %
 
           
(b) Defined contribution pension plans:
The Company has defined contribution pension plans. The Company’s funding obligations under the defined contribution pension plans are limited to making regular payments to the plans, based on a percentage of employee earnings. Total net pension expense for the defined contribution pension plans charged to operations during the year ended December 31, 2009 was $2.6 million (2008 — $2.5 million).

 

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18. Commitments and contingencies:
(a) Take-or-pay purchase contracts and related commitments:
The Company has commitments under take-or-pay natural gas supply contracts to purchase annual quantities of feedstock supplies and to pay for transportation capacity related to these supplies to 2034. The minimum estimated commitment under these contracts, excluding Argentina natural gas supply contracts, is as follows:
                                           
2010   2011     2012     2013     2014     Thereafter  
$ 177,233   $ 141,186     $ 145,341     $ 150,253     $ 150,722     $ 1,497,567  
(b) Argentina natural gas supply contracts:
The Company has supply contracts with Argentinean suppliers for natural gas sourced from Argentina for a significant portion of the capacity for its facilities in Chile. These contracts have expiration dates between 2017 and 2025 and represent a total future commitment of approximately $1 billion at December 31, 2009. Since June 2007, the Company’s natural gas suppliers from Argentina have curtailed all gas supply to the Company’s plants in Chile in response to various actions by the Argentinean government, including imposing a large increase to the duty on natural gas exports. Under the current circumstances, the Company does not expect to receive any further natural gas supply from Argentina.
(c) Operating lease commitments:
The Company has future minimum lease payments under operating leases relating primarily to vessel charter, terminal facilities, office space, equipment and other operating lease commitments as follows:
                                           
2010   2011     2012     2013     2014     Thereafter  
$ 131,404   $ 121,340     $ 114,722     $ 103,474     $ 94,617     $ 467,369  
(d) Egypt methanol project:
The Company owns 60% of Egyptian Methanex Methanol Company S.A.E. (EMethanex), which is the company that is developing the project, a 1.3 million tonne per year methanol facility at Damietta on the Mediterranean Sea in Egypt. EMethanex has secured limited recourse debt of $530 million. The Company expects commercial operations from the methanol facility to begin in 2010 and the Company will purchase and sell 100% of the methanol from the facility. We estimate that the total remaining capital expenditures, including capitalized interest related to the project financing and working capital, to complete the construction of the Egypt methanol facility will be approximately $93 million. This excludes unpaid capital expenditures recorded in accounts payable at December 31, 2009 of approximately $28 million. These expenditures will be funded from cash generated from operations and cash on hand, cash contributed by the non-controlling shareholders and proceeds from the limited recourse debt facilities. At December 31, 2009, our 60% share of remaining cash equity contributions, including capitalized interest related to the project financing and excluding working capital, is estimated to be approximately $20 million.
The Company’s investment in EMethanex is accounted for using consolidation accounting. This results in 100% of the assets and liabilities of the Egypt entity being included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. The non-controlling shareholder’s interest is presented as “non-controlling interest” on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet.
(e) Purchased methanol:
At December 31, 2009, the Company had commitments to purchase methanol under offtake contracts for approximately 450,000 tonnes for 2010, approximately 380,000 tonnes for each of 2011 and 2012, and approximately 200,000 tonnes for 2013. The pricing under these contracts is referenced to industry pricing at the time of purchase.

 

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19. United States generally accepted accounting principles:
The Company follows generally accepted accounting principles in Canada (Canadian GAAP) which are different in some respects from those applicable in the United States and from practices prescribed by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (US GAAP). The significant differences between Canadian GAAP and US GAAP with respect to the Company’s consolidated financial statements as at and for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 are as follows:
                                 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS   2009     2008  
AS AT DECEMBER 31   CANADIAN GAAP     US GAAP     CANADIAN GAAP     US GAAP  
                  (As adjusted     (As adjusted  
                  - note (1(o))     - note (1(o))  
ASSETS
                               
Current assets
  $ 622,653     $ 622,653     $ 736,326     $ 736,326  
Property, plant and equipment (a)
    2,183,787       2,214,366       1,899,059       1,931,548  
Other assets (d) (g)
    116,977       122,055       163,642       162,620  
 
                       
 
  $ 2,923,417     $ 2,959,074     $ 2,799,027     $ 2,830,494  
 
                       
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
                               
Current liabilities (c)
  $ 271,604     $ 277,309     $ 258,699     $ 262,267  
Long-term debt (g)
    884,914       899,632       766,675       777,582  
Other long-term liabilities (d)
    97,185       103,303       97,441       102,411  
Future income taxes (d) (f)
    300,510       309,559       299,192       309,021  
Non-controlling interest (h)
    133,118             88,604        
 
                               
Shareholders’ equity:
                               
Capital stock (a) (b)
    427,792       833,959       427,265       832,790  
Additional paid-in capital (b)
          26,939             23,112  
Contributed surplus (b)
    27,007             22,669        
Retained earnings
    806,158       414,230       862,507       474,089  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (d)
    (24,871 )     (38,975 )     (24,025 )     (39,382 )
Non-controlling interest (h)
          133,118             88,604  
 
                       
 
    1,236,086       1,369,271       1,288,416       1,379,213  
 
                       
 
  $ 2,923,417     $ 2,959,074     $ 2,799,027     $ 2,830,494  
 
                       
                 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (LOSS)            
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31   2009     2008  
            (As adjusted  
            - note 1(o))  
Net income in accordance with Canadian GAAP
  $ 738     $ 168,753  
 
Add (deduct) adjustments for:
               
Depreciation and amortization (a)
    (1,911 )     (1,911 )
Stock-based compensation (b)
    (130 )     347  
Uncertainty in income taxes (c)
    (2,136 )     (2,892 )
Income tax effect of above adjustments (f)
    669       669  
 
           
Net income (loss) in accordance with US GAAP
  $ (2,770 )   $ 164,966  
 
           
 
Per share information in accordance with US GAAP:
               
Basic net income (loss) per common share
  $ (0.03 )   $ 1.75  
Diluted net income (loss) per common share
  $ (0.03 )   $ 1.74  

 

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF            
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)   2009     2008  
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31   CANADIAN GAAP     ADJUSTMENTS     US GAAP     US GAAP  
                            (As adjusted  
                            - note 1(o))  
Net income (loss)
  $ 738     $ (3,508 )   $ (2,770 )   $ 164,966  
Change in fair value of forward exchange contracts, net of tax
    36             36       9  
Change in fair value of interest rate swap, net of tax
    (882 )           (882 )     (18,841 )
Change related to pension, net of tax (d)
          1,253       1,253       (1,960 )
 
                       
Comprehensive income (loss)
  $ (108 )   $ (2,255 )   $ (2,363 )   $ 144,174  
 
                       
                                 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF            
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS   2009     2008  
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31   CANADIAN GAAP     ADJUSTMENTS     US GAAP     US GAAP  
                            (As adjusted  
                            - note 1(o))  
Balance, beginning of year
  $ (24,025 )   $ (15,357 )   $ (39,382 )   $ (18,590 )
Change in fair value of forward exchange contracts, net of tax
    36             36       9  
Change in fair value of interest rate swap, net of tax
    (882 )           (882 )     (18,841 )
Change related to pension, net of tax (d)
          1,253       1,253       (1,960 )
 
                       
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
  $ (24,871 )   $ (14,104 )   $ (38,975 )   $ (39,382 )
 
                       
(a) Business combination:
Effective January 1, 1993, the Company combined its business with a methanol business located in New Zealand and Chile. Under Canadian GAAP, the business combination was accounted for using the pooling-of-interest method. Under US GAAP, the business combination would have been accounted for as a purchase with the Company identified as the acquirer. For US GAAP purposes, property, plant and equipment at December 31, 2009 has been increased by $30.6 million (2008 — $32.5 million) to reflect the business combination as a purchase. For the year ended December 31, 2009, an adjustment to increase depreciation expense by $1.9 million (2008 — $1.9 million) has been recorded in accordance with US GAAP.
(b) Stock-based compensation:
In 2001, prior to the effective implementation date for fair value accounting related to stock options for Canadian GAAP purposes, the Company granted 946,000 stock options that are accounted for as variable plan options under US GAAP because the exercise price of the stock options is denominated in a currency other than the Company’s functional currency or the currency in which the optionee is normally compensated. Under the intrinsic value method for US GAAP, the final measurement date for variable plan options is the earlier of the exercise date, the forfeiture date and the expiry date. Prior to the final measurement date, compensation expense is measured as the amount by which the quoted market price of the Company’s common shares exceeds the exercise price of the stock options at each reporting date. Compensation expense is recognized ratably over the vesting period. During the year ended December 31, 2009, an adjustment to increase operating expenses by $0.1 million (2008 — decrease of $0.3 million) was recorded in accordance with US GAAP.
(c) Accounting for uncertainty in income taxes:
FASB ASC topic 740, Income Taxes (ASC 740) prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. During the year ended December 31, 2009, adjustments to increase income tax expense by $2.1 million (2008 — $2.9 million) were recorded in accordance with ASC 740.

 

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(d) Defined benefit pension plans:
US GAAP requires the Company to measure the funded status of a defined benefit pension plan at its balance sheet reporting date and recognize the unrecorded overfunded or underfunded status as an asset or liability with the change in that unrecorded funded status recorded to other comprehensive income. Under US GAAP, deferred pension amounts are included in accumulated other comprehensive income. As at December 31, 2009, the impact of this standard on the Company is the reclassification of unrecognized actuarial losses for Canadian GAAP of $15.7 million (2008 — $16.9 million), net of a future income tax recovery of $1.6 million (2008 — $1.5 million) to accumulated other comprehensive loss.
(e) Interest in Atlas joint venture:
US GAAP requires interests in joint ventures to be accounted for using the equity method. Canadian GAAP requires proportionate consolidation of interests in joint ventures. The Company has not made an adjustment in this reconciliation for this difference in accounting principles because the impact of applying the equity method of accounting does not result in any change to net income or shareholders’ equity. This departure from US GAAP is acceptable for foreign private issuers under the practices prescribed by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Details of the Company’s interest in the Atlas joint venture are provided in note 5.
(f) Income tax accounting:
The income tax differences include the income tax effect of the adjustments related to accounting differences between Canadian and US GAAP. During the year ended December 31, 2009, this resulted in an adjustment to increase net income by $0.7 million (2008 — $0.7 million).
(g) Deferred financing fees:
Under Canadian GAAP, the Company is required to present long-term debt net of deferred financing fees. Under US GAAP, the Company is required to present the long-term debt and related finance fees on a gross basis. As at December 31, 2009 and 2008, the Company recorded an adjustment to increase other assets and long-term debt by $14.7 million and $10.9 million, respectively, in accordance with US GAAP.
(h) Non-controlling interests:
Effective January 1, 2009, US GAAP requires that the ownership interests in subsidiaries held by parties other than the parent be clearly identified, labelled and presented in the consolidated statement of financial position within equity, but separate from the parent’s equity. Under this standard, the Company is required to reclassify non-controlling interest on the consolidated balance sheet into shareholders’ equity. This adjustment has also been recorded for the comparative balances.

 

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