1. Summary of Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation. The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of those subsidiaries owned directly or indirectly with more than 50 percent of the voting rights held by the Corporation and for which other shareholders do not possess the right to participate in significant management decisions. They also include the Corporation’s share of the undivided interest in certain upstream assets and liabilities.

Amounts representing the Corporation’s percentage interest in the underlying net assets of other subsidiaries and less-than-majority-owned companies in which a significant ownership percentage interest is held are included in “Investments, advances and long-term receivables”; the Corporation’s share of the net income of these companies is included in the Consolidated Statement of Income caption “Income from equity affiliates.” The Corporation’s share of the cumulative foreign exchange translation adjustment for equity method investments is reported in the Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity. Evidence of loss in value that might indicate impairment of investments in companies accounted for on the equity method is assessed to determine if such evidence represents a loss in value of the Corporation’s investment that is other than temporary. Examples of key indicators include a history of operating losses, a negative earnings and cash flow outlook, significant downward revisions to oil and gas reserves, and the financial condition and prospects for the investee’s business segment or geographic region. If evidence of an other than temporary loss in fair value below carrying amount is determined, an impairment is recognized. In the absence of market prices for the investment, discounted cash flows are used to assess fair value.

Revenue Recognition. The Corporation generally sells crude oil, natural gas and petroleum and chemical products under short-term agreements at prevailing market prices. In some cases (e.g., natural gas), products may be sold under long-term agreements, with periodic price adjustments. In all cases, revenues are recognized when the products are delivered, which occurs when the customer has taken title and has assumed the risks and rewards of ownership, prices are fixed or determinable and collectibility is reasonably assured.

Revenues from the production of natural gas properties in which the Corporation has an interest with other producers are recognized on the basis of the Corporation’s net working interest. Differences between actual production and net working interest volumes are not significant.

Purchases and sales of inventory with the same counterparty that are entered into in contemplation of one another are combined and recorded as exchanges measured at the book value of the item sold.

Sales-Based Taxes. The Corporation reports sales, excise and value-added taxes on sales transactions on a gross basis in the Consolidated Statement of Income (included in both revenues and costs). This gross reporting basis is footnoted on the Consolidated Statement of Income.

Derivative Instruments. The Corporation makes limited use of derivative instruments. The Corporation does not engage in speculative derivative activities or derivative trading activities nor does it use derivatives with leveraged features. When the Corporation does enter into derivative transactions, it is to offset exposures associated with interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates and hydrocarbon prices that arise from existing assets, liabilities and transactions.

The gains and losses resulting from changes in the fair value of derivatives are recorded in income. In some cases, the Corporation designates derivatives as fair value hedges, in which case the gains and losses are offset in income by the gains and losses arising from changes in the fair value of the underlying hedged items.

Inventories. Crude oil, products and merchandise inventories are carried at the lower of current market value or cost (generally determined under the last-in, first-out method – LIFO). Inventory costs include expenditures and other charges (including depreciation) directly and indirectly incurred in bringing the inventory to its existing condition and location. Selling expenses and general and administrative expenses are reported as period costs and excluded from inventory cost. Inventories of materials and supplies are valued at cost or less.

Property, Plant and Equipment. Depreciation, depletion and amortization, based on cost less estimated salvage value of the asset, are primarily determined under either the unit-of-production method or the straight-line method, which is based on estimated asset service life taking obsolescence into consideration. Maintenance and repairs, including planned major maintenance, are expensed as incurred. Major renewals and improvements are capitalized and the assets replaced are retired.

Interest costs incurred to finance expenditures during the construction phase of multiyear projects are capitalized as part of the historical cost of acquiring the constructed assets. The project construction phase commences with the development of the detailed engineering design and ends when the constructed assets are ready for their intended use. Capitalized interest costs are included in property, plant and equipment and are depreciated over the service life of the related assets.

The Corporation uses the “successful efforts” method to account for its exploration and production activities. Under this method, costs are accumulated on a field-by-field basis with certain exploratory expenditures and exploratory dry holes being expensed as incurred. Costs of productive wells and development dry holes are capitalized and amortized on the unit-of-production method.

The Corporation carries as an asset exploratory well costs when the well has found a sufficient quantity of reserves to justify its completion as a producing well and where the Corporation is making sufficient progress assessing the reserves and the economic and operating viability of the project. Exploratory well costs not meeting these criteria are charged to expense.

Acquisition costs of proved properties are amortized using a unit-of-production method, computed on the basis of total proved oil and gas reserves. Significant unproved properties are assessed for impairment individually and valuation allowances against the capitalized costs are recorded based on the estimated economic chance of success and the length of time that the Corporation expects to hold the properties. The cost of properties that are not individually significant are aggregated by groups and amortized over the average holding period of the properties of the groups. The valuation allowances are reviewed at least annually. Other exploratory expenditures, including geophysical costs, other dry hole costs and annual lease rentals, are expensed as incurred.

Unit-of-production depreciation is applied to property, plant and equipment, including capitalized exploratory drilling and development costs, associated with productive depletable extractive properties in the Upstream segment. Unit-of-production rates are based on the amount of proved developed reserves of oil, gas and other minerals that are estimated to be recoverable from existing facilities using current operating methods.

Under the unit-of-production method, oil and gas volumes are considered produced once they have been measured through meters at custody transfer or sales transaction points at the outlet valve on the lease or field storage tank.

Production costs are expensed as incurred. Production involves lifting the oil and gas to the surface and gathering, treating, field processing and field storage of the oil and gas. The production function normally terminates at the outlet valve on the lease or field production storage tank. Production costs are those incurred to operate and maintain the Corporation’s wells and related equipment and facilities. They become part of the cost of oil and gas produced. These costs, sometimes referred to as lifting costs, include such items as labor costs to operate the wells and related equipment; repair and maintenance costs on the wells and equipment; materials, supplies and energy costs required to operate the wells and related equipment; and administrative expenses related to the production activity.

Gains on sales of proved and unproved properties are only recognized when there is no uncertainty about the recovery of costs applicable to any interest retained or where there is no substantial obligation for future performance by the Corporation. Losses on properties sold are recognized when incurred or when the properties are held for sale and the fair value of the properties is less than the carrying value.

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

The Corporation estimates the future undiscounted cash flows of the affected properties to judge the recoverability of carrying amounts. Cash flows used in impairment evaluations are developed using annually updated corporate plan investment evaluation assumptions for crude oil commodity prices and foreign currency exchange rates. Annual volumes are based on individual field production profiles, which are also updated annually. Prices for natural gas and other products are based on corporate plan assumptions developed annually by major region and also for investment evaluation purposes. Cash flow estimates for impairment testing exclude derivative instruments.

Impairment analyses are generally based on proved reserves. Where probable reserves exist, an appropriately risk-adjusted amount of these reserves may be included in the impairment evaluation. Impairments are measured by the amount the carrying value exceeds the fair value.

Asset Retirement Obligations and Environmental Liabilities. The Corporation incurs retirement obligations for certain assets at the time they are installed. The fair values of these obligations are recorded as liabilities on a discounted basis. The costs associated with these liabilities are capitalized as part of the related assets and depreciated. Over time, the liabilities are accreted for the change in their present value.

Liabilities for environmental costs are recorded when it is probable that obligations have been incurred and the amounts can be reasonably estimated. These liabilities are not reduced by possible recoveries from third parties and projected cash expenditures are not discounted.

Foreign Currency Translation. The Corporation selects the functional reporting currency for its international subsidiaries based on the currency of the primary economic environment in which each subsidiary operates. Downstream and Chemical operations primarily use the local currency. However, the U.S. dollar is used in countries with a history of high inflation (primarily in Latin America) and Singapore, which predominantly sells into the U.S. dollar export market. Upstream operations which are relatively self-contained and integrated within a particular country, such as Canada, the United Kingdom, Norway and continental Europe, use the local currency. Some Upstream operations, primarily in Asia, West Africa, Russia and the Middle East, use the U.S. dollar because they predominantly sell crude and natural gas production into U.S. dollar-denominated markets. For all operations, gains or losses from remeasuring foreign currency transactions into the functional currency are included in income.

Share-Based Payments. The Corporation awards share-based compensation to employees in the form of restricted stock and restricted stock units. Compensation expense is measured by the market price of the restricted shares at the date of grant and is recognized in the income statement over the requisite service period of each award. See note 14, Incentive Program, for further details.

2. Accounting Changes

Fair Value Measurements. Effective January 1, 2009, ExxonMobil adopted the authoritative guidance for fair value measurements as they relate to nonfinancial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. The guidance defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value when an entity is required to use a fair value measure for recognition or disclosure purposes and expands the disclosures about fair value measures. The adoption did not have a material impact on the Corporation’s financial statements. The Corporation previously adopted the guidance as it relates to financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value and for nonfinancial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis.

Noncontrolling Interests. Effective January 1, 2009, ExxonMobil adopted the authoritative guidance on consolidation as it relates to noncontrolling interests. The guidance changed the accounting and reporting for minority interests, which were recharacterized as noncontrolling interests and classified as a component of equity. The guidance requires retrospective adoption of the presentation and disclosure requirements for existing minority interests. All other requirements of the guidance will be applied prospectively. The adoption of the guidance did not have a material impact on the Corporation’s financial statements.

Business Combinations. Effective January 1, 2009, ExxonMobil adopted the authoritative guidance for business combinations. This guidance applies prospectively to all transactions in which an entity obtains control of one or more other businesses. In general, the guidance requires the acquiring entity in a business combination to recognize the fair value of all assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the transaction; establishes the acquisition date as the fair value measurement point; and modifies disclosure requirements. It also modifies the accounting treatment for transaction costs by requiring that these be expensed as incurred. The adoption of the guidance did not have a material impact on the Corporation’s financial statements.

Earnings Per Share. Effective January 1, 2009, ExxonMobil adopted the authoritative guidance for earnings per share as it relates to determining whether instruments granted in share-based payment transactions are participating securities. The guidance requires that all unvested share-based payment awards that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends should be included in the basic Earnings Per Share (EPS) calculation. Prior-year EPS numbers have been adjusted retrospectively on a consistent basis with 2009 reporting. This guidance did not affect the consolidated financial position or results of operations.

Oil and Gas Reserves. Effective December 31, 2009, ExxonMobil adopted the authoritative guidance for estimating and disclosing oil and gas reserve quantities. Year-end 2009 proved reserve volumes as well as the 2009 reserve change categories were calculated using average prices during the 12-month period. Year-end 2008 and 2007 reserve volumes were calculated using December 31 prices. The effect on unit-of-production depreciation rates of using 12-month average versus December 31 prices will be applied prospectively commencing in 2010. Additionally, the definition of “oil and gas producing activities” has been expanded to include bitumen extracted through mining activities and hydrocarbons from other non-traditional resources. The amended rules also adopted a reliable technology definition that permits reserves to be added based on field-tested technologies. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Corporation’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

3. Miscellaneous Financial Information

Research and development costs totaled $1,050 million in 2009, $847 million in 2008 and $814 million in 2007.

Net income included before-tax aggregate foreign exchange transaction gains of $54 million, $54 million and $229 million in 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

In 2009, 2008 and 2007, net income included gains of $207 million, $341 million and $327 million, respectively, attributable to the combined effects of LIFO inventory accumulations and draw-downs. The aggregate replacement cost of inventories was estimated to exceed their LIFO carrying values by $17.1 billion and $10.0 billion at December 31, 2009, and 2008, respectively.

Crude oil, products and merchandise as of year-end 2009 and 2008 consist of the following:

4. Cash Flow Information

The Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows provides information about changes in cash and cash equivalents. Highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less when acquired are classified as cash equivalents.

The “Net (gain) on asset sales” in net cash provided by operating activities on the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows includes before-tax gains from the sale of Downstream assets and investments and producing properties in the Upstream in 2009; from the sale of a natural gas transportation business in Germany and other producing properties in the Upstream and Downstream assets and investments in 2008; and from the sale of producing properties in the Upstream and Downstream assets and investments in 2007. These gains are reported in “Other income” on the Consolidated Statement of Income.

The restriction on $4.6 billion of cash and cash equivalents was released in 2007 following an Alabama Supreme Court judgment in ExxonMobil’s favor.

5. Additional Working Capital Information