Imperial Oil announces estimated fourth-quarter financial and operating results

Calgary, Alberta, February 2, 2010

Lower oil and natural gas prices and low demand for energy products continued to create challenging business conditions. Despite the ongoing economic downturn, Imperial continued to progress our company growth projects and delivered strong results.

Net income for the fourth quarter was $534 million, down 19 percent from the same period in 2008. While our Upstream earnings in the fourth quarter were up from the same period last year, Downstream earnings in the fourth quarter were significantly impacted by lower overall product demand and margins.

With our strong balance sheet, minimal debt, and long-term disciplined approach, we are well positioned to continue to invest through the business cycle. In the fourth quarter, capital and exploration expenditures increased to $834 million, up 93 percent from the same period last year. For the full year 2009, capital and exploration expenditures were $2,438 million, up 79 percent from 2008.

Our disciplined and long-term focused investment approach will continue to reward our shareholders. In 2009, Imperial distributed a total of $833 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases while we increased investments in major growth opportunities that will bring on new supplies of energy and growth for shareholders.

Click here to read our interim report news release.

Imperial Oil is one of Canada’s largest corporations and a leading member of the country’s petroleum industry. The company is a major producer of crude oil and natural gas, Canada’s largest petroleum refiner and a leading marketer with a coast-to-coast supply network that includes about 1,850 retail service stations.