ITEM 1 BUSINESS
(a) FINA, Inc. (and subsidiaries, collectively the "Company" or "FINA") was organized in 1956 as American Petrofina, Incorporated and is part of an international group of about 166 companies in 34 countries which are affiliated with PetroFina S.A., a publicly-held corporation organized under the laws of the Kingdom of Belgium. Petrofina Delaware, Incorporated ("PDI") owns approximately 85% and 100% of the Class A and Class B common stock of the Company, respectively. PetroFina S.A. owns 100% of PDI and American Petrofina Holding Company.
On February 25, 1997, the Company received a letter from PetroFina, S.A. ("PetroFina") proposing a merger transaction in which the Company would become a wholly-owned affiliate of PetroFina. The transaction would be a negotiated merger in which each holder of a Class A share not owned by PetroFina and its affiliates would receive the equivalent of $60 U.S. per share in cash, PetroFina shares or a combination of cash and PetroFina shares. PetroFina advised that it intends to seek listing on The New York Stock Exchange of American Depositary Receipts representing shares of PetroFina concurrently with the transaction. Consummation of the merger would be subject, among other things, to approval of the Board of Directors of the Company and the negotiation and execution of a definitive merger agreement containing customary terms and conditions. In its letter, PetroFina acknowledged that the Company may wish to consider the proposal through a special committee of independent directors with its own independent advisors and invited the Company's representatives to meet with PetroFina advisors to discuss the proposal.
Following receipt of the merger proposal, the Board of Directors of the Company acting by written consent appointed a special committee of independent directors (the "Special Committee") to review and evaluate the merger proposal of PetroFina. The Special Committee consists of Ernesto Marcos, Robert L. Mitchell and Patricia M. Wallington. Dr. Marcos and Ms. Wallington currently serve as directors and Mr. Mitchell, a former director of the Company, was re-elected to the Board for the specific purpose of serving on the Special Committee. The members of the Special Committee are not and have not been employees or officers of the Corporation or employees, officers or directors of PetroFina and its affiliates. The Special Committee expects to retain independent legal counsel and independent investment advisors to assist the members of the Special Committee in carrying out their duties and responsibilities.
As of March 6, 1997, the Company has not responded to the PetroFina merger proposal and will not do so until the Special Committee completes its review and evaluation. It is anticipated that the review and evaluation process will be completed in the next 60 days.
The Company is aware of two shareholder suits filed in Delaware challenging the proposed merger. See Item 3 of this Form 10-K Annual Report.
FINA, Inc. is engaged, through its wholly-owned, main operating subsidiary, Fina Oil and Chemical Company ("FOCC"), in crude oil and natural gas exploration and production; petroleum products refining, supply and transportation and marketing; and chemicals manufacturing and marketing. A wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, Fina Natural Gas Company, is engaged in natural gas marketing. Fina Technology, Inc., a subsidiary of the Company, licenses certain proprietary processes to others.
Capital expenditures for 1996 were $263.3 million, or 21% above the prior year's $218.4 million. Capital expenditures by segments of the Company are shown in Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements on pages 31 and 32. Expenditures associated with refining, supply and transportation and marketing were $72.2 million of the total capital expenditures primarily for efficiency and yield improvement projects at both refineries and a marketing investment. Expenditures of $125.3 million for exploration and production were attributable primarily to exploration and development drilling activity. Expenditures relating to chemicals were $54.3 million due to major expansions in two of the Company's four product lines. The capital expenditures budget for 1997 is $261.6 million.
No major individual assets or subsidiaries were acquired or disposed of during the five years ending December 31, 1996.
(b) Segment data is shown in Note 14 "Segment Data" to Consolidated Financial Statements on pages 31 and 32.
(c) The Company has grouped its businesses into (1) crude oil and natural gas exploration and production, and natural gas marketing; (2) petroleum products refining, supply and transportation and marketing; and (3) chemicals manufacturing and marketing, primarily petrochemicals and plastics including polypropylene, styrene monomer, polystyrene and high density polyethylene, and the licensing of certain chemical processes. The energy products are produced by FOCC, a Delaware corporation. Petrochemicals and plastics are manufactured by FOCC and by Cos-Mar Company ("Cos-Mar"), a 50% owned joint venture.
The Company markets gasoline and other refined products, including naphtha, jet fuel, distillates, diesel fuel, heavy oils and asphalt, under the FINA(R) brand or as unbranded products. FINA(R) transportation fuel products are primarily sold through 2578 branded retail outlets, of which 38 are company-owned service stations and the remainder are owned and operated by 225 independent businesses located in 13 states in the Southeastern and Southwestern regions of the United States. The Company also markets petrochemicals and plastics under the FINA(R) brand. Fina Natural Gas Company is engaged in natural gas marketing.
Following are products which accounted for more than 10% of consolidated revenues in 1996, 1995 and 1994, and their appropriate percentage of revenues for the three years:
Additional segment data is shown in Note 14 "Segment Data" to Consolidated Financial Statements on pages 31 and 32 herein.
Sufficient raw material is available in the foreseeable future for supplying the needs of the various manufacturing units of the Company, although political situations in the important oil producing nations can aggravate the supply situation in the United States where imports of oil are necessary to meet demand.
The Company licenses its patented chemical processes throughout the world. The net earnings derived from licensing were not material to the consolidated results of operations in 1996, 1995 and 1994.
The business of the Company cannot be considered seasonal and is sensitive to crude oil and natural gas pricing, margins between crude oil and refined products and chemicals margins. There are, however, fluctuations, such as increased demand for gasoline during summer months. Inflation increases the costs of labor and supplies and increases costs of acquiring and replacing property, plant and equipment.
Inventories of refined products and crude oil vary according to the overall supply environment and in anticipation of price increases or decreases. Payments for crude oil are generally expected by the 20th day of the month following the month in which the crude oil was delivered. Payments for refined products are generally expected within 10 days of billing. Payments for chemicals are generally expected within 30 days of billing. Credit is sometimes extended for a longer period on products when there is a surplus, and in some cases, credit terms are influenced by credit history and financial stability.
No material part of the business is dependent on a single customer or a few customers. Most of the Company's customers are located in the Southern and Midwestern regions of the United States, except with respect to chemicals where customers are located throughout the United States. No single customer accounted for more than 5% of the Company's sales in 1996, 1995 or 1994, and no account receivable from any customer exceeded 5% of the Company's consolidated stockholders' equity at December 31, 1996, 1995 or 1994.
No material portion of the business is subject to renegotiation of profits or termination of contracts or subcontracts at the election of the government.
In both the crude oil and natural gas exploration and production and natural gas marketing segment and the petroleum products refining, supply and transportation and marketing segment, the principal methods of competition are price and availability of product. In the petroleum products and chemicals segments, quality of the product is also a competitive factor.
During 1996, $13.5 million was expended on pollution control and environmental protection capital projects. It is estimated that environmental capital expenditures will be approximately $12.6 million companywide in 1997. Additionally, during 1996, $43.6 million was charged to expense relating to ongoing environmental administration and maintenance activities at operating facilities.
The number of persons employed on December 31, 1996 was 2,615 full time and 49 part time.
(d) Sales, operating profit (loss), and identifiable assets for the three years ended December 31, 1996 were substantially all attributable to domestic operations.
(e) "Executive Officers of the Registrant" are described in Part III, Item 10.
ITEM 2

ITEM 2 PROPERTIES
(a) The Company owns and operates two refineries in Texas. The total raw materials processed at both refineries averaged 211,000 barrels per day for 1996. The Port Arthur, Texas refinery is located on 1,231 acres in Jefferson County, Texas and the Big Spring, Texas refinery is located on 1,259 acres in Howard County, Texas.
The polystyrene plant located in Carville, Louisiana is the largest polystyrene manufacturing plant in the world; total net capacity is 1.025 billion pounds per year. The Carville, Louisiana plant, and the adjacent styrene monomer plant discussed herein, are located on 358 acres in Iberville Parish, Louisiana.
The Company owns and operates a polypropylene plant at La Porte, Texas on 76.5 acres of land in Harris County, Texas. During 1996, the throughput capacity was 1.5 billion pounds per year. The La Porte, Texas, plant is the largest polypropylene manufacturing plant in the world.
The Company purchased a high density polyethylene plant in 1992. The plant is located in Harris County, Texas, in the Bayport area. The plant has a capacity of 420 million pounds per year and is situated on 54.7 acres of land.
The Company operates, for a 50% owned joint venture, a styrene monomer plant located in Carville, Louisiana. Gross production capacity is 2 billion pounds per year. This plant is the largest styrene plant in the world.
A subsidiary of the Company owns a 33% interest in a propylene splitter at Mont Belvieu, Texas, with an approximate capacity of 1.5 billion pounds per year.
Over 1,071 miles of crude oil gathering and mainline pipelines are owned and operated by the Company, together with 372 miles of products pipelines which are leased. The Company also owns storage terminals and owns and leases rail tank cars which are used in its distribution systems.
During 1994, the T/T Brooklyn, a 1.5 million-barrel-capacity tanker, had its long-term lease terminated and the vessel was re-delivered to its owners.
(b) Reserve Quantity information is shown in "Supplemental Oil and Gas Data (Unaudited)" to Consolidated Financial Statements on pages 35 and 36.
(c) 1. Location of Reserves. The Company's major crude oil reserves are located in West Texas in the Permian Basin, and the Company's major gas reserves are located in High Island A571 offshore in the Gulf of Mexico, at Mecom and LaTerre in Louisiana, and in the Texas Rio Grande Valley. All of the Company's proved oil and gas reserves are located in the United States.
2. Reserves Reported to Other Agencies
Total proved net oil and gas reserves as of December 31, 1995 were reported to the Energy Information Agency of the U.S. Department of Energy in May 1996 (EIA-28) in the amounts of 35 million barrels of crude oil and natural gas liquids and 314 BCF of natural gas.
The reserve estimates reported above do not vary by more than five percent from the similar amounts reported to the SEC for the same date.
3. Production
All of the Company's production is located in the United States. Any volumes of natural gas liquids resulting from ownership of processing plant facilities are not significant.
4. Productive Wells and Acreage
As of December 31, 1996:
5. Undeveloped Lease Acreage
Fee, mineral and royalty acreage was 1,036,180 net acres as of December 31, 1996.
6. Drilling Activity
7. Present Activity as of December 31, 1996
At all times the Company has contractual obligations to deliver natural gas, usually on an "as needed" basis. Therefore, contract quantities are not fixed and determinable. In May of 1989, the Company began purchasing gas produced by unaffiliated companies for resale to the Company's customers. During 1996, 182,843 MMCF of gas was purchased and resold from both affiliated and unaffiliated companies. The Company's obligations to deliver natural gas have been met.
On December 31, 1996, the Company was obligated to deliver 6,596,284 barrels of crude oil in January 1997, 2,343,561 barrels in February, 2,745,858 barrels in March and 1,759,355 barrels in April. The Company purchases crude oil either at the lease, on the spot market or on the futures market to fulfill its commitments. The Company met its contractual obligations to date.
ITEM 3

ITEM 3 LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
As of December 31, 1996, neither FINA, Inc. nor any of its subsidiaries was a party to, nor was any of their property subject to, any uninsured material pending legal proceedings or claim which exceeds 10% of the current assets.
The Company understands that following the public announcement of the merger proposal of PetroFina described in Item 1 of this Form 10-K Annual Report, Alan R. Kahn and Kranie Stern, allegedly stockholders of the Company, each filed suit in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware against PetroFina, FINA and its directors at the date of filing. The suits, which purport to be class actions, allege a breach of fiduciary duties and seek to enjoin the merger or, if consummated, to set it aside. The Company will file an answer to each of the suits denying the allegations and intends to contest the litigation vigorously.
Management believes that there is no environmental liability pertaining to proceedings involving a governmental authority with sanctions in excess of $100,000 which is reasonably foreseeable in relation to its business activities and operational permits other than:
1. On March 10, 1993, the United States of America ("USA"), on behalf of the Secretary of the Army and the Army Corps of Engineers ("Corps"), filed a lawsuit seeking injunctive relief requiring FOCC and others to restore and revegetate 37.5 acres of seagrass allegedly damaged during drilling. On December 16, 1993, the USA, at the request of the Corps, filed a second lawsuit seeking an injunction requiring FOCC to remove an oil wellhead and its associated structures from the Laguna Madre. A settlement has been reached assessing penalties against FOCC of $1.4 million, and FOCC will assume responsibility for necessary seagrass remediation with substantial contribution from other parties.
2. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has conducted audits of three locations in Florida as part of an investigation into the repayment of disallowed credits. In two instances, final audit reports were issued with requests for repayment totaling $557,265. An initial report in the remaining audit has been issued requesting a refund of approximately $203,082. FOCC has filed requests for extension of time within which to file request for formal administrative proceedings.
Environmental contingencies and the Company's policy regarding environmental costs are discussed in Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, on pages 29 and 30. A reserve has been established in accordance with the policy. The level of future expenditures for environmental matters, including clean-up obligations, is impossible to determine with any degree of accuracy.
ITEM 4

ITEM 4 SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
There were no matters submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of the Company's fiscal year ended December 31, 1996.
PART II
ITEM 5

ITEM 5 MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANTS' COMMON STOCK AND RELATED SECURITY HOLDER MATTERS
The Class A Common Stock of the Company is traded on the American Stock Exchange under the symbol FI. On February 5, 1997, there were 29,216,972 Class A Common Shares outstanding and 2,409 holders of the shares.
COMMON STOCK MARKET PRICES BY QUARTER AND DIVIDEND PAID PER QUARTER
The Stock Transfer Agent and Registrar of Stock is First Chicago Trust Company of New York, P.O. Box 2500, Jersey City, New Jersey 07303-2500.
ITEM 6

ITEM 6 SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
FINA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA
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(1) Cumulative effect to January 1, 1992 of change in accounting for postretirement benefits other than pensions.
ITEM 7

ITEM 7 MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
DISCUSSION OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Net income for 1996 was $153 million compared to $104 million in 1995 and $102 million in 1994. Net income for 1995 was $143 million prior to an accounting change for Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 121 ("SFAS 121") resulting in a $38 million reduction to net income.
Earnings per common share in 1996 were $4.91. Earnings per common share in 1995, after SFAS 121, were $3.35 compared to $3.27 in 1994. Stockholders' equity was $1.2 billion or $39.96 per common share, in 1996 compared to $1.2 billion, or $37.75 per common share, in 1995 and $1.1 billion, or $36.70 per common share, in 1994. The increase in stockholders' equity in 1996, 1995 and 1994 was attributable to net income less annual dividends of $2.70 per share in 1996, $2.30 per share in 1995 and $1.80 per share in 1994.
Sales and other operating revenues for 1996 were $4.1 billion compared to $3.6 billion in 1995 and $3.4 billion in 1994. The increase in 1996 was primarily due to higher crude oil and natural gas prices, higher refined product prices and higher chemical volumes.
Total assets in 1996 were $2.9 billion. Total assets in 1995 and 1994 were $2.5 billion. The increase in 1996 was principally due to capital expenditures exceeding depreciation, depletion and amortization, additional investments in affiliates, and an increase in receivables.
Cost of raw materials and products purchased increased 16% in 1996 primarily due to higher crude oil and natural gas prices and higher chemical volumes. Direct operating expenses as a percent of sales and other operating revenues were relatively constant for 1996, 1995 and 1994.
Selling, general and administrative expenses were $87.0 million, $86.2 million and $78.1 million in 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.
Interest expense decreased in 1996 from 1995 and 1994 because of lower interest rates, refinancing activities and lower average debt outstanding.
Interest and other income for 1996 is a loss of $2.7 million compared to an $11.1 million loss in 1995 and a $16.0 million gain in 1994. For 1995 and 1994, the gain or the loss was primarily associated with asset sales of exploration and production properties.
Long-term balance sheet obligations less current installments were $587 million at year-end 1996, compared to $498 million at year-end 1995 and $532 million at the end of 1994. Total balance sheet debt was $696 million at year-end 1996 compared to $554 million at year-end 1995 and $650 million at year-end 1994. The increase in 1996 was primarily due to the termination of $120 million of off-balance-sheet financing which consisted of an $80 million accounts receivable sale and a $40 million guaranteed Cos-Mar joint venture borrowing from a bank which was replaced with an additional investment by the Company.
During the fourth quarter of 1995, the Company adopted SFAS 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed of", ("SFAS 121") which resulted in a before-tax addition of $58,723,000 to depreciation, depletion and amortization expense. After tax, the additional charge was $38,173,000 or $1.22 per share. Under SFAS 121, the Company now evaluates impairment of exploration and production assets on a field-by-field basis rather than using a one country cost center for its proved properties. On this basis, certain fields are impaired because they are not expected to recover their entire book value from future cash flows. The value of certain marketing assets in the Company's Downstream business were also impaired under SFAS 121. As a result, the Company recognized a non-cash, pre-tax charge of $52,523,000 related to its exploration and production assets and $6,200,000 related to its marketing assets. The fair values of the impaired assets were determined by using the present value of expected future cash flows for the oil and gas properties and sales prices for similar assets for marketing assets. If estimated future cash flows are not achieved with respect to certain fields, further writedowns may be required.
Crude oil, refined products and chemical inventories are priced at the lower of cost (last-in, first-out, "LIFO") or market on an aggregate basis. Materials and supplies are priced at average cost, not in excess of market; in the case of material salvaged, an allowance is made for obsolescence. The excess of replacement cost of crude oil and refined products and chemicals over LIFO cost at December 31, 1996 was approximately $65.8 million and $7.4 million at December 31, 1995.
The impact of the various lines of business on the financial position and results of operations is discussed in the following text under appropriate operating unit subheadings.
Exploration and Production and Natural Gas Marketing
Revenues and earnings (loss) before interest and income tax were $569.0 million and $69.3 million, $352.9 million and ($66.9 million), and $549.2 million and ($3.4 million) for 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively. Increased net earnings in 1996 were due to higher crude oil and natural gas prices, higher production volumes, lower lifting costs, higher natural gas marketing earnings and the effect of the SFAS 121 charge of $52.5 taken in 1995.
Average crude oil, condensate and natural gas liquids production was 3.8 net million barrels in 1996, an increase from 3.7 net million barrels in 1995. Natural gas production in 1996 was 56.7 billion cubic feet and 52.1 billion cubic feet in 1995.
Average wellhead prices for crude rose $3.80 per barrel to $19.33 in 1996. Average wellhead prices for natural gas were $2.45 per MCF in 1996, up from $1.57 per MCF in 1995.
Increased drilling activity resulted in record reserve additions of 26.1 million barrels of oil equivalent. Finding and development costs in 1996 were $5.71 per barrel oil equivalent, compared to $6.03 in 1995. Lifting costs, at $4.21 per barrel oil equivalent, were improved from $4.35 in 1995.
The Company participated in 29 gross exploratory wells, compared to 17 in 1995 and 8 in 1994. The success rate was 72% compared to 71% in 1995 and 50% in 1994. The Company's participation in net exploratory wells was 23.9, compared with 11.8 in 1995 and 2.7 in 1994. The success rate for net exploratory wells was 75% compared to 73% in 1995 and 56% in 1994.
Natural Gas Marketing sales volumes of 500 million cubic feet per day in 1996 increased from 494 million cubic feet per day in 1995.
Refining, Supply and Transportation and Marketing
Revenues and earnings (loss) before interest and income tax were $2.5 billion and ($16.8 million), $2.2 billion and ($4.7 million) and $2.0 billion and $47.2 million for 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.
Lower results during 1996 were primarily due to lower industry fuels and aromatics margins and increased turnaround activity at both refineries. These factors were partially offset by improved yields and plant operations.
1996 was the fifth consecutive year of low Gulf Coast industry margins primarily due to increased supplies attributed to debottlenecking of industry upgrading capacity and increased imports. Lower aromatics margins generally reflected increased supplies from reducing aromatics in gasoline and increased extraction capacity.
Refinery operations in 1996 included a throughput of 211,000 barrels per day. Throughput was limited by scheduled major turnarounds at the Port Arthur, Texas Refinery and in the Big Spring, Texas Refinery which occurs only once every four years, and by product pipeline constraints. At the Big Spring, Texas Refinery, a major Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit enhancement improved yields of higher value products, but the financial benefits were generally offset by the planned turnaround.
Chemicals
Revenues and earnings before interest and income taxes were $1.0 billion and $231.2 million, $1.1 billion and $290.6 million and $890.3 million and $164.4 million for 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.
Chemicals was the largest contributor to earnings, although down 20.4% from 1995 due to a 40% drop in industry margins reflecting new capacity additions only partially offset by higher volumes. Record production was achieved at all sites; styrene was up 10%, polystyrene up 27%, polypropylene up 37% and polyethylene up 9%.
Total chemical sales volumes were up 25% versus the prior year reflecting the higher production levels and major expansion projects at the polypropylene and polystyrene plants.
In mid-June, a 250 million pound per year crystal polystyrene production line was completed, making the Carville, Louisiana Polystyrene Plant the largest polystyrene plant in the world. At the Polypropylene Plant in LaPorte, Texas, a 500 million pound-per-year expansion started up at the end of 1995, making it the largest polypropylene plant in the world, and it operated in a sold-out position throughout the year. Capacity was doubled at the joint venture Propylene Splitter Plant near Houston. Project implementation began on an expansion of the High Density Polyethylene Plant near Houston that will double the facility's production capacity when completed in mid-1998. Engineering also began on another expansion at the Polypropylene Plant which could further increase capacity by 550 million pounds in late 1998.
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
The Company was contingently liable at December 31, 1996, under pending lawsuits and other claims, some of which involved substantial sums. Considering certain liabilities or reserves that have been set up for the lawsuits and claims, and the difficulty in determining the ultimate liability in some of these matters, internal counsel is of the opinion that the amounts, if any, that ultimately might be due in connection with such lawsuits and claims would not have a material adverse effect upon the Company's consolidated financial condition.
The Company is subject to loss contingencies pursuant to federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations. These regulations, which are currently changing, regulate the discharge of materials into the environment and may require the Company to incur future obligations to investigate the effects of the release or disposal of certain petroleum, chemical and mineral substances at various sites; to remediate or restore these sites; to compensate others for damage to property and natural resources and for remediation and restoration costs. These possible obligations relate to sites owned by the Company or others and associated with past or present operations, including sites at which the Company has been identified as a Potentially Responsible Party ("PRP") under the federal Superfund laws and comparable state laws. The Company is currently participating in environmental investigations, assessments and cleanups under these regulations at federal Superfund and state-managed sites, as well as other cleanup sites, including operating and closed refineries, chemical facilities, service stations, pipelines and terminals. The Company may in the future be involved in additional environmental investigations, assessments and cleanups. The magnitude of future costs will depend on factors such as the unknown nature of contamination at many sites, the unknown timing, extent and method of the remedial actions which may be required and the determination of the Company's liability in proportion to other responsible parties.
Environmental expenditures are expensed or capitalized depending on their future economic benefit. Expenditures that relate to an existing condition caused by past operations and that have no future economic benefit are expensed. Liabilities for expenditures of a noncapital nature are recorded when environmental assessment and/or remediation is probable, and the costs can be reasonably estimated. The Company has accrued for environmental remediation obligations of $20,339,000 and $20,856,000 at December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively. Substantially all amounts accrued are expected to be paid out over the next five to six years. The level of future expenditures for environmental remediation obligations is impossible to determine with any degree of reliability. The Company spent approximately $13,484,000 and $14,782,000 at December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively, in capital expenditures for environmental protection and for compliance with federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations. In addition, the Company expensed $43,621,000 and $43,135,000 in 1996 and 1995, respectively, for ongoing environmental administration and maintenance activities at operating facilities. The Company also paid $10,165,000 for Superfund taxes in 1995. Total environmental cash expenditures are expected to increase over an extended period of time. Estimated environmental capital expenditures for 1997 are $12,598,000.
CAPITAL RESOURCES AND LIQUIDITY
The Company's cash liquidity requirements for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and debt interest over the past three years were financed primarily by a combination of funds generated from operations, borrowings and dispositions of assets.
Operating cash flows, defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, depletion, amortization and lease impairment (EBITDA), was $437.5 million in 1996 compared to $417.9 million in 1995 and $382.9 million in 1996. The increase in 1996 operating cash flows compared to 1994 and 1995 are the result of increased operating profits by the Company due to improved Chemical profits in 1995 and higher Upstream profits in 1996.
During 1996, cash provided by operating activities totaled $221.6 million, compared with $366.2 million in 1995 and $275.4 million in 1994. Cash flow from operating activities during 1995 increased $90.2 million compared to the prior year primarily resulting from a $46.5 million reduction of working capital and a $40.6 million improvement to earnings prior to the non-cash impact of SFAS 121. Cash flow from operating
activities during 1996 decreased $144.6 million compared to 1995 primarily due to the termination of the $80 million account receivable sale and a $10.4 million increase in working capital in 1996 compared to the $46.5 million decrease in working capital in 1995.
The Company's year-end 1996 balance sheet debt was $696 million compared to $554 million at year-end 1995 and $650 million at year-end 1994. The increase in debt during 1996 was primarily due to the termination of the $120 million of off-balance-sheet financing. During 1995, debt was reduced primarily with proceeds from the sale of assets and funds from operations. The majority stockholder of the Company has not been the principal lender in the past three years.
In July 1996, the Company offered initial public debt of $125 million five-year notes at market rates. The proceeds were used to refinance debt at lower costs. The public debt was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form S-3 in June 1996 and carried credit ratings of single A from Standard & Poor's and A-3 from Moody's Investors Service.
The Company replaced its short term bank borrowings with a $400 million commercial paper program supported fully by its unused revolving credit facility in the third quarter of 1996.
In 1993, the Company entered into long-term note agreements with certain insurance companies that provided for unsecured borrowings aggregating $275 million under Series A, Series B, and Series C Senior Notes. Proceeds from these notes were used to repay other debt.
The Company has an unsecured revolving credit facility with a group of banks in the amount of $425 million. Under the facility, the Company has available credit in an amount of $325 million through February 2002.
The Company paid dividends of $2.70 per share in 1996, $2.30 per share in 1995 and $1.80 per share in 1994.
The Company believes that cash provided by operations, together with borrowings available under the revolving credit facility with banks, will be sufficient to fund the Company's working capital requirements, capital expenditures, principal, interest and dividends.
Capital Expenditures
1996 capital expenditures were 21% above 1995. The projected capital expenditures budget in 1997 is $262 million.
IMPACT OF INFLATION AND CHANGING PRICES
The business of the Company is not seasonal but is sensitive to crude oil and natural gas pricing, margins between crude oil and refined products and chemical margins. Inflation impacts the Company by increasing costs of labor and supplies, and increasing costs of acquiring and replacing property, plant and equipment. The replacement cost of property, plant and equipment is generally greater than the historical cost as a result of inflation.
Market conditions continue to be the primary factor in determining the prices and costs of Company products.
MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY FOR CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The management of FINA, Inc. is responsible for the financial information and representations contained in the Consolidated Financial Statements and other sections of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company believes that the financial statements fairly reflect the substance of its transactions and present its consolidated financial position and results of operations in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. In preparing the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company is required to include amounts that are based on estimates and judgments which the Company believes are reasonable under the circumstances.
The Company has developed and maintains a system of internal accounting controls designed to provide reasonable assurance that assets are safeguarded from loss or unauthorized use and that transactions are properly recorded. In establishing and maintaining internal controls, management must exercise judgment in determining that the cost of such controls does not exceed the benefits to be derived.
The Board of Directors exercises its oversight role for the Consolidated Financial Statements through its Audit Committee, which is composed solely of directors who are not officers or employees of the Company. The Audit Committee meets with Company management, internal auditors and the independent auditors to review the audit scope and any recommendations for improvements in the Company's internal accounting controls. The independent auditors are engaged to provide an objective, independent view of the fairness of reported operating results and financial condition.
ITEM 8

ITEM 8 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
FINA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
All other schedules are omitted as the required information is inapplicable or presented in the consolidated financial statements or related notes.
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
The Board of Directors and Stockholders FINA, Inc.:
We have audited the consolidated financial statements of FINA, Inc. and subsidiaries as listed in the accompanying index. In connection with our audits of the consolidated financial statements, we also have audited the consolidated financial statement schedule as listed in the accompanying index. These consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about 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. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of FINA, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1996, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, the related consolidated financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.
As discussed in note 6 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company adopted the provisions of the Financial Accounting Standards Board's Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed Of" in 1995.
KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
Dallas, Texas January 27, 1997, except as to the third paragraph of note 1(a) and note 17, which are as of February 25, 1997, and the third paragraph of note 3, which is as of February 27, 1997
FINA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DECEMBER 31, 1996 AND 1995 (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
ASSETS
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
FINA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS THREE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
FINA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY THREE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 (IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE AND PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
FINA, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS THREE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 (IN THOUSANDS)
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
FINA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 1996
(1) SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
(A) GENERAL
FINA, Inc. with subsidiaries ("the Company") is an integrated energy company. The Company's principal lines of business are crude oil and natural gas exploration and production and natural gas marketing ("Upstream"); petroleum products refining, supply and transportation and marketing ("Downstream"); and chemicals manufacturing and marketing ("Chemicals"). The principal markets for refined products are domestic wholesale and retail markets while natural gas is sold primarily to domestic marketers and local distribution companies. Petrochemical and plastic products are primarily sold to domestic manufacturers of fiber, film, packaging and consumable products. Raw materials are readily available and the Company is not dependant upon a single supplier or a few suppliers.
Class A and Class B common stock are identical in all respects except on any vote for the election of directors. The holders of record of the Class B Common Stock are entitled to elect the smallest number comprising more than half of the directors to be elected and the remaining directors are elected by the holders of record of the Class A Common Stock voting separately as a class. Petrofina Delaware, Incorporated ("PDI") owns 100% of the Class B common stock and approximately 85% of the Class A common stock. PetroFina S.A. ("PetroFina"), a Belgian publicly-held corporation, owns 100% of American Petrofina Holding Company which owns 100% of the stock of PDI.
On February 25, 1997, the Company received a letter from PetroFina proposing a merger transaction in which the Company would become a wholly-owned affiliate of PetroFina. The transaction would be a negotiated merger in which each holder of a Class A share not owned by PetroFina and its affiliates would receive the equivalent of $60 U.S. per share in cash, PetroFina shares or a combination of cash and PetroFina shares. PetroFina advised that it intends to seek listing on The New York Stock Exchange of American Depositary Receipts representing shares of PetroFina concurrently with the transaction. Consummation of the merger would be subject, among other things, to approval of the Board of Directors of the Company and the negotiation and execution of a definitive merger agreement containing customary terms and conditions.
(B) PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all of its significant subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
(C) STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For purposes of reporting cash flows, all certificates of deposit and short term highly liquid debt instruments, such as U.S. Treasury bills and notes, with original maturities of three months or less are considered cash equivalents.
The indirect method is used to present cash flows from operating activities. Additional cash flow information follows:
FINA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
Capital lease obligations of $27,548,000 in 1994 were converted into debt as a result of termination of time charters relating to tankers.
(D) INVESTMENTS IN AFFILIATES
Investments in affiliates in which the Company owns between 20% and 50% of the voting stock are carried at amortized cost adjusted for changes in equity since acquisition.
(E) INVENTORIES
Crude oil and refined products and chemicals are priced at the lower of cost (last-in, first-out) ("LIFO") or market on an aggregate basis. Materials and supplies are priced at average cost, not in excess of market, less an allowance for obsolescence. The excess of replacement cost of crude oil and refined products and chemicals over LIFO cost was $65,846,000 at December 31, 1996 and $7,356,000 at December 31, 1995.
Certain inventory quantities were reduced, resulting in liquidations of LIFO inventory which decreased pretax earnings by approximately $4,400,000 in 1995.
A summary of inventories follows:
(F) PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Oil and gas properties are accounted for in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 19. Costs to acquire mineral interests in oil and gas properties, to drill exploratory wells that find proved reserves and to drill and equip development wells are capitalized. Geological and geophysical costs and costs to drill exploratory wells that do not find proved reserves are expensed.
Unproved oil and gas properties that are individually significant are periodically assessed for impairment of value and, if necessary, a loss is recognized by providing an impairment allowance. The remaining unproved oil and gas properties are aggregated and an overall impairment allowance is provided based on prior experience. Capitalized costs of proved oil and gas properties are depreciated and depleted by the unit-of-production method based on proved oil and gas reserves estimated by Company engineers.
Substantially all other property, plant and equipment is depreciated by the straight-line method at rates based on the estimated useful lives of the classes of property.
Interest is capitalized as a component of the cost of construction and development projects in progress.
Repairs and maintenance are charged to earnings as incurred. Renewals and betterments are capitalized. When assets are sold, retired or otherwise disposed of, the applicable costs and reserves are removed from the accounts and the resulting gain or loss is recognized.
(G) RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Research and development costs, which are expensed as incurred, amounted to $15,192,000, in 1996, $13,200,000 in 1995 and $12,024,000 in 1994.
FINA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
(H) INCOME TAXES
Income taxes are accounted for pursuant to SFAS 109 "Accounting for Income Taxes." The Company files a consolidated Federal income tax return with PDI and its affiliates. Under the terms of the tax sharing agreement with PDI, the Company is allocated Federal income taxes on a separate return basis.
(I) EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE
Earnings per common share is based on the weighted average number of outstanding shares. Shares issuable upon the exercise of stock options are excluded from the computation since their effect is insignificant.
(J) FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The Company utilizes derivative financial instruments to manage market risks and reduce its exposure resulting from fluctuations in interest rates and the prices of crude oil, refined products and natural gas. Derivative instruments used include swap agreements, futures and options contracts and forward purchase commitments. Gains and losses related to qualifying hedges are deferred and included in the measurement of the related transaction, when the hedged transaction occurs. Realized and unrealized changes in the fair value of the remaining derivative financial instruments and forward commitments are recognized in income in the period in which the change occurs. The Company's practice is to not hold or issue financial instruments for trading purposes.
Instruments are either exchange-traded or with counterparties of high credit quality; therefore, the risk of nonperformance by the counterparties is considered to be negligible. Additional information regarding financial instruments is shown in Note 4.
(K) USE OF ESTIMATES
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
(2) PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
A summary of property, plant and equipment follows:
FINA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
Property, plant and equipment includes capitalized lease obligations and related accumulated depreciation of $5,530,000 and $2,242,000 at December 31, 1996, respectively, and $8,102,000 and $4,823,000 at December 31, 1995, respectively.
(3) CURRENT AND LONG TERM DEBT
Short term obligations at December 31, 1996 include $2,000,000 of short-term notes and $269,735,000 of commercial paper of which $200,000,000 was classified as long term debt and discussed in the following paragraph. Short term obligations at December 31, 1995 included $20,000,000 of short term notes. Weighted average interest rates for these obligations at December 31, 1996 and 1995 were 5.53% and 5.85%, respectively.
A summary of long term debt follows:
The Company has a $400,000,000 revolving bank credit facility through May 2000 of which none was outstanding under the facility at December 31, 1996. The Company intends to use borrowings under this facility to finance the repayment of $200,000,000 of commercial paper, classified as long term debt at December 31, 1996. Borrowings under the credit facility bear interest at various market rate options. This facility was subsequently replaced on February 27, 1997 with an amended facility with similar terms.
The Senior Notes and the bank revolving credit facility contain provisions that limit mergers and sales of assets, limit the incurrence of indebtedness and restrict payments to stockholders. No material amounts of current and long term debt are collateralized by Company assets.
Letters of credit are maintained with various banks, aggregating $70,660,000 at December 31, 1996; principally for pollution control, workers' compensation obligations and Department of Energy crude acquisition.
The aggregate maturities of long term debt and capitalized lease obligations for the five years ending December 31, 2001 are as follows: 1997 -- $37,188,000; 1998 -- $63,362,000; 1999 -- $54,225,000; 2000 -- $48,467,000; and 2001 -- $148,736,000.
(4) FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND FAIR VALUES
The Company uses swap agreements, futures and options contracts and forward purchase commitments to reduce its exposure to fluctuations in interest rates and in the prices of crude oil, refined products and natural gas.
FINA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
Interest rate swap agreements are used to help manage interest rate exposure. Amounts to be paid or received under interest rate swap agreements are accrued as interest rates change and are recognized over the life of the swap agreements as an adjustment to interest expense. The related amounts payable to, or receivable from, the counterparties are included in other accrued liabilities. The fair value of the swap agreements was not recognized in the consolidated financial statements since they are accounted for as hedges. These swap agreements expire at various dates through 2003 and effectively convert an aggregate principal amount of $227,453,000 of fixed rate, long term debt into variable rate borrowings and $50,000,000 of variable rate borrowings to fixed at December 31, 1996. The variable interest rates are based on 3 month and 6 month LIBOR rates. At December 31, 1996 and 1995, the weighted average variable interest rates under these agreements were 5.6% and 5.9%, respectively, and fixed rates were 6.2% and 6.5%, respectively.
The estimated fair value of the interest rate swap agreements, based on current market rates, approximated a net receivable of $4,543,000 and a net payable of $815,000 at December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively. Exposure to credit loss could occur when the fair value of the agreements is a net receivable. The outstanding borrowings due under the commercial paper program, to PDI and to various banks bear interest at current market rates and thus, the carrying amount of debt approximates estimated fair value. The estimated fair value of the debt instruments that bear interest at fixed rates was $408,743,000 ($423,680,000 carrying value) at December 31, 1996, and $331,000,000 ($320,000,000 carrying value) at December 31, 1995.
The Company hedges crude oil, refined products and natural gas future purchases and sales commitments. The Company also uses derivative financial instruments to reduce financial exposure from price changes related to anticipated crude oil purchases and refined product and natural gas sales. At December 31, 1996, the Company had futures contracts to purchase crude oil and refined products in the amount of $3,763,000 and forward contracts to purchase crude oil and refined products of $87,197,000. At December 31, 1995, the Company had futures contracts to sell crude oil and refined products in the amount of $13,661,000 and forward contracts to purchase crude oil and refined products of $46,323,000. The estimated fair value and carrying value of these outstanding contracts was a net receivable of $4,295,000 and $62,000 at December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively. Crude and refined product futures and forwards contracts are used to facilitate the supply of crude to the Company's refineries and sales of refined products while attempting to minimize price risk. The Company recognizes realized and unrealized gains and losses on these contracts in income in the period in which the change occurs.
The Company also had futures contracts to sell natural gas as a hedge of equity production in the amount of $19,388,000 at December 31, 1996. The estimated fair value and carrying value of these outstanding contracts was a net receivable of $1,939,000 at December 31, 1996. Gains and losses on these qualifying hedges are deferred and included in the measurement of the related transaction, when the hedged transaction occurs. Derivative financial instruments related to natural gas activities were not significant at December 31, 1995.
The estimated fair values of the futures and forward contracts are based on quoted market prices and generally have maturities of one year or less.
Market value is not readily determinable for certain equity investments and long term receivables with a carrying value of $105,290,000 and $36,572,000 at December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively. The reported amounts of cash equivalents, short term receivables and payables and short term debt approximate fair value due to their short maturities.
FINA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
(5) INCOME TAXES
Actual income tax expense differs from the "normal" income tax expense at U.S. statutory rates as follows:
The tax effects of the primary temporary differences giving rise to the deferred Federal income tax assets and liabilities as determined under SFAS 109 are as follows:
At December 31, 1996, alternative minimum tax credit carryforwards of approximately $54,481,000 are available to reduce future Federal regular income taxes payable over an indefinite period.
(6) IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS
During the fourth quarter of 1995, the Company adopted SFAS 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of" which resulted in a before-tax addition of $58,723,000 to depreciation, depletion and amortization expense. After tax, the additional charge was $38,173,000 or $1.22 per share.
FINA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
Under SFAS 121, the Company now evaluates impairment of exploration and production assets on a field-by-field basis rather than using a one country cost center for its proved properties. On this basis, certain fields are impaired because they are not expected to recover their entire carrying value from future cash flows. In addition to the change in grouping of proved properties, the value of certain marketing assets in the Company's Downstream business were also determined to be impaired under SFAS 121. As a result, the Company recognized a non-cash pre-tax charge of $52,523,000 related to its Upstream exploration and production assets and $6,200,000 related to its Downstream marketing assets. The fair values of the impaired assets were determined by using the present value of expected future cash flows for the oil and gas properties and sales prices for similar assets for certain marketing assets. If estimated future cash flows are not achieved with respect to certain fields, further writedowns may be required.
(7) EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTIONS
Options to purchase shares of Class A Common Stock have been granted to officers and employees under a stock option plan adopted in 1979. The stock option plan expired in 1989, and no further grants will be made under that plan.
A summary of transactions follows:
The option price for options granted is the market value at date of grant. Each option granted expires ten years from date of grant. No amounts are recorded until options are exercised, at which time proceeds in excess of the par value of the shares are credited to additional paid-in capital.
(8) INVESTMENTS AND ADVANCES TO AFFILIATES
The Company and GE Plastics, a wholly-owned subsidiary of General Electric Company ("GE"), are joint venturers in Cos-Mar Company ("Cos-Mar"), a chemical operation. The Company's interest is 50% and is accounted for by the equity method. The venturers reimburse the joint venture for the costs of operating the facility and raw material and finished product inventories are the property of the venturers. Direct operating expenses include charges from the joint venture of $18,326,000 in 1996, $19,346,000 in 1995 and $16,011,000 in 1994. Investments in and advances to the joint venture were $48,263,000 and $11,229,000 at December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively. During 1996, Cos-Mar retired $40,000,000 of Company guaranteed joint venture borrowings from a bank with funds provided from an additional investment by the Company in the joint venture. GE has guaranteed the joint venture's borrowings from a bank, aggregating $74,200,000 at December 31, 1996.
In December 1996, the Company acquired a 34.4% interest in Southwest Convenience Stores ("SCS"). SCS is contributing all of its operating business, including all of its assets and certain defined liabilities and obligations and its area license agreement with the Southland Corporation.
FINA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
(9) EMPLOYEE AND POST RETIREMENT BENEFITS
The Company and its subsidiaries have two defined benefit pension plans covering substantially all employees. The benefits are based on years of service and the employee's final average monthly compensation. The Company's funding policy is to contribute annually not less than the minimum required nor more than the maximum amount that can be deducted for Federal income tax purposes. Contributions are intended to provide not only for benefits attributed to service to date but also for those expected to be earned in the future.
A restoration benefit plan provides supplemental pension benefits to certain participants whose benefits are limited by the defined benefit pension plans. The funding policy is to annually contribute amounts equal to benefit payments made.
A summary of the plans' funded status and the amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheet follows:
FINA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
A summary of the components of pension expense (income) follows:
A summary of the actuarial assumptions used in calculating the plans' present value of projected benefit obligation follows:
The effect on the projected benefit obligation of the actuarial assumption changes was a decrease of approximately $6,081,000 in 1996 and an increase of approximately $19,871,000 in 1995.
In addition to providing pension benefits, certain health care and life insurance benefits are provided to active and certain retired employees who meet eligibility requirements defined in plan documents. The health care benefits in excess of certain limits and the life insurance benefits are insured. The costs of providing these benefits for active employees are expensed when the insurance premiums and claims are paid. The cost of providing these benefits for active employees was $8,619,000 in 1996, $8,594,000 in 1995 and $10,092,000 in 1994.
A summary of the postretirement plan's funded status and the amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheet follows:
FINA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
A summary of the components of net periodic postretirement benefit cost follows:
For measurement purposes, a 7.00% and 6.79% weighted average annual rate of increase in the per capita cost of covered benefits (i.e., health care cost trend rate) for pre-65 and post-65 years of age, respectively, was assumed for 1997; the rate was assumed to decrease gradually to 6% for pre-65 and 5% for post-65 years of age by the year 2002 and remain at that level thereafter. A 7.68% and 7.14% annual rate for pre-65 and post-65 years of age, respectively, was assumed for 1996. The health care cost trend rate assumption has a significant effect on the amounts reported. For example, increasing the assumed health care cost trend rates by one percentage point in each year would increase the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation as of December 31, 1996 by $3,280,000 and the aggregate of the service and interest cost components of net periodic postretirement benefit cost for the year ended December 31, 1996 by $243,000.
The weighted average discount rate used in determining the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation was 7.75%, 7.5% and 8.75% at December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively. The effect on the accumulated benefit obligation of these changes was an decrease of $1,674,000 in 1996 and an increase of $7,766,000 in 1995.
Defined contribution retirement savings plans (Thrift Plans) are available to substantially all employees. The Thrift Plans permit employees to elect salary deferral contributions of up to 10% of their compensation on a tax-deferred basis and requires the Company to match up to the first 6% of the participants' compensation in the highest matched plan subject to salary caps. The expense for the Company's contribution was $5,965,000 in 1996, $5,911,000 in 1995 and $5,963,000 in 1994.
(10) SALE OF ACCOUNTS AND NOTES RECEIVABLE
The Company sold certain accounts and notes receivable with recourse. Accounts receivable sold with recourse were $80,000,000 at December 31, 1995. The Company reimbursed the accounts receivable facility with proceeds from its commercial paper program in 1996. Notes receivable sold with recourse were $15,562,000 and $27,742,000 at December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively. The Company remains obligated to reimburse the purchasers for any uncollectible amounts pursuant to the recourse provisions of the agreements.
(11) LEASES
The Company occupies certain marketing and manufacturing facilities and uses certain equipment under leases expiring at various dates over the next 20 years. Under terms of certain lease agreements, the Company has agreed not to mortgage certain of its interests in oil and gas properties.
FINA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
At December 31, 1996, minimum lease payments on capital and operating leases were as follows:
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(i) Substantially all leases provide that the Company shall pay taxes, maintenance, insurance and certain other operating expenses applicable to the leased properties.
(ii) Minimum payments have not been reduced by minimum sublease rentals of approximately $3,173,000 which are due in the future under noncancellable subleases.
(iii) Presented in the consolidated balance sheet as current installments and noncurrent lease obligations of $2,104,000 and $2,307,000 at December 31, 1996, respectively, and $1,226,000 and $2,115,000 at December 31, 1995, respectively.
Total rental expense was $36,114,000 (net of $451,000 subleases) in 1996, $32,562,000 (net of $676,000 subleases) in 1995 and $26,962,000 (net of $1,191,000 subleases) in 1994. Contingent rentals were not significant.
(12) RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The Company has a 50% interest in joint ventures with PDI in Texas and with PetroFina in Hong Kong which market chemicals in international trade. The Company sold chemicals aggregating $8,728,000 in 1996, $3,652,000 in 1995 and $1,401,000 in 1994 to the joint ventures.
Accounts receivable include $6,418,000 and $3,485,000 at December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively, from affiliates.
Accounts payable include $34,127,000 and $13,410,000 at December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively, to affiliates.
Interest expense relating to borrowings from PDI (see note 3) was $5,125,000 in 1996, $12,938,000 in 1995 and $13,916,000 in 1994. Accrued liabilities include accrued interest of $607,000 at December 31, 1995, payable to PDI for such borrowings. Crude oil and natural gas aggregating $13,245,000 in 1996, $8,953,000 in 1995 and $16,626,000 in 1994 were purchased from PDI in the ordinary course of business.
Refined products and chemicals aggregating $57,913,000 in 1996, $53,542,000 in 1995 and $34,963,000 in 1994 were purchased from PetroFina and its affiliates other than PDI in the ordinary course of business.
(13) CONTINGENCIES
The Company was contingently liable at December 31, 1996, under pending lawsuits and other claims, some of which involved substantial sums. Considering certain liabilities that have been set up for the lawsuits and claims, and the difficulty in determining the ultimate liability in some of these matters, internal counsel is
FINA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
of the opinion that the amounts, if any, that ultimately may be due in connection with such lawsuits and claims would not have a material adverse effect upon the Company's consolidated financial condition.
The Company is subject to loss contingencies pursuant to federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations. These regulations, which are currently changing, regulate the discharge of materials into the environment and may require the Company to incur future obligations to investigate the effects of the release or disposal of certain petroleum, chemical and mineral substances at various sites; to remediate or restore these sites; to compensate others for damage to property and natural resources and for remediation and restoration costs. These possible obligations relate to sites owned by the Company or others and associated with past or present operations, including sites at which the Company has been identified as a potentially responsible party ("PRP") under the federal Superfund law and comparable state laws. The Company is currently participating in environmental investigations, assessments and cleanups under these regulations at federal Superfund and state-managed sites, as well as other cleanup sites, including operating and closed refineries, chemical facilities, service stations, pipelines and terminals. The Company may in the future be involved in additional environmental investigations, assessments and cleanups. The magnitude of future costs will depend on factors such as the unknown nature and contamination at many sites, the unknown timing, extent and method of the remedial actions which may be required and the determination of the Company's liability in proportion to other responsible parties.
Environmental expenditures are expensed or capitalized depending on their future economic benefit. Expenditures that relate to an existing condition caused by past operations and that have no future economic benefit are expensed. Liabilities for expenditures of a noncapital nature are recorded when environmental assessment and/or remediation is probable, and the costs can be reasonably estimated. The Company has accrued for environmental remediation obligations of $20,339,000 and $20,856,000 at December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively. Substantially all amounts accrued are expected to be paid out over the next five to six years. The level of future expenditures for environmental remediation obligations is impossible to determine with any degree of reliability. The Company spent approximately $13,484,000 and $14,782,000 at December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively, in capital expenditures for environmental protection and for compliance with federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations. In addition, the Company expensed $43,621,000 and $43,135,000 in 1996 and 1995, respectively, for ongoing environmental administration and maintenance activities at operating facilities. The Company also paid $10,165,000 for Superfund taxes in 1995. Total environmental cash expenditures at the Company's operating locations are expected to increase over an extended period of time as the Company complies with present and future regulatory requirements. Estimated environmental capital expenditures for 1997 are $12,598,000 (unaudited).
FINA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
(14) SEGMENT DATA
The Company is engaged in crude oil and natural gas exploration and production and natural gas marketing ("Upstream"); petroleum products refining, supply and transportation and marketing ("Downstream"); and chemicals manufacturing and marketing ("Chemicals"). Segment data as of and for the three years ended December 31, 1996 follows (in thousands):
FINA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
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(1) During the fourth quarter of 1995, the Company adopted SFAS 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of Long Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed Of". As a result, the Company recognized a before-tax addition of $58,723,000 to depreciation, depletion and amortization expense, of which $52,523,000 was related to its Upstream business and $6,200,000 was related to its Downstream business. After tax, the additional charge was $38,173,000 or $1.22 per share.
Consolidated totals are after elimination of inter-segment amounts. Operating profit (loss) is sales less operating expenses and is substantially all derived from domestic operations. Identifiable assets are those assets that are used in the operations in each business segment.
Most customers are located in the South and Midwest regions of the United States. No single customer accounted for more than 5% of sales in 1996, 1995 or 1994, and no account receivable from any customer exceeded 5% of consolidated stockholders' equity at December 31, 1996, 1995 or 1994.
(15) FINA OIL AND CHEMICAL COMPANY AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES SUMMARY FINANCIAL DATA
Fina Oil and Chemical Company ("FOCC"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, is the main operating subsidiary of the Company whose principal lines of business include crude oil and natural gas exploration and production; petroleum products refining, supply and transportation and marketing; and chemicals manufacturing and marketing. FOCC issued senior debt securities during 1996 which are unconditionally guaranteed on an unsecured basis by the Company. Following is summary consolidated financial data for FOCC (in thousands):
FINA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
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(1) Primarily consists of payables to related parties.
(2) Gross profit is defined as sales and other operating revenues less cost of raw materials and products purchased; direct operating expenses; taxes, other than on income; and depreciation, depletion, amortization and lease impairment.
(3) In 1995, FOCC adopted SFAS 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of" which resulted in a before-tax addition of $58,723,000 to depreciation, depletion and amortization expense. After tax, the additional charge was $38,173,000.
(16) QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)
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(1) Gross profit is defined as sales and other operating revenues less cost of raw materials and products purchased; direct operating expenses; taxes, other than on income; and depreciation, depletion, amortization and lease impairment.
(2) During the quarter ended December 31, 1995, the Company adopted SFAS 121, "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of" which resulted in a before-tax addition of $58,723,000 to depreciation, depletion and amortization expense. After tax, the additional charge was $38,173,000 or $1.22 per share.
(17) SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On February 25, 1997, the Company received a letter from PetroFina proposing a merger transaction in which the Company would become a wholly-owned affiliate of PetroFina. The transaction would be a negotiated merger in which each holder of a Class A share not owned by PetroFina and its affiliates would receive the equivalent of $60 U.S. per share in cash, PetroFina shares or a combination of cash and PetroFina shares. PetroFina advised that it intends to seek listing on The New York Stock Exchange of American Depositary Receipts representing shares of PetroFina concurrently with the transaction. Consummation of the
FINA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
merger would be subject, among other things, to approval of the Board of Directors of the Company and the negotiation and execution of a definitive merger agreement containing customary terms and conditions.
Following receipt of the merger proposal, the Board of Directors of the Company acting by written consent appointed a special committee of independent directors (the "Special Committee") to review and evaluate the merger proposal of PetroFina. The Special Committee expects to retain independent legal counsel and independent investment advisors to assist the members of the Special Committee in carrying out their duties and responsibilities.
The Company understands that following the public announcement of the merger proposal of PetroFina two shareholders of the Company filed suit in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware against PetroFina, the Company and its directors at the date of filing. The suits, which purport to be class actions, allege a breach of fiduciary duties and seek to enjoin the merger or, if consummated, to set it aside. The Company will file an answer to each of the suits denying the allegations and intends to contest the litigation vigorously. Management is of the opinion, to the best of their knowledge, that the amounts, if any, that ultimately may be due in connection with such suits would not have a material adverse effect upon the Company's consolidated financial condition.
FINA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUPPLEMENTAL OIL AND GAS DATA -- (UNAUDITED)
The following tables set forth supplementary disclosures for oil and gas producing activities in accordance with SFAS 69.
(A) CAPITALIZED COSTS
Capitalized costs relating to oil and gas producing activities and the related amounts of accumulated depreciation, depletion, amortization and lease impairment follow:
(B) COSTS INCURRED
A summary of costs incurred in oil and gas property acquisition, exploration and development activities (both capitalized and charged to expense) for the three years ended December 31, 1996 follows:
The above costs were incurred in the United States.
FINA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUPPLEMENTAL OIL AND GAS DATA -- (UNAUDITED) -- (CONTINUED)
(C) RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR PRODUCING ACTIVITIES
The following table presents the results of operations for oil and gas producing activities for the three years ended December 31, 1996.
(D) RESERVE QUANTITY INFORMATION
The following table presents the Company's estimate of its proved oil and gas reserves, all of which are located in the United States. The Company emphasizes that reserve estimates are inherently imprecise and that estimates of new discoveries are more imprecise than those of producing oil and gas properties. Accordingly, the estimates are expected to change as future information becomes available. The estimates have been prepared by the Company's internal petroleum reservoir engineers.
Oil reserves, which include condensate and natural gas liquids, are stated in thousands of barrels and gas reserves are stated in millions of cubic feet.
FINA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUPPLEMENTAL OIL AND GAS DATA -- (UNAUDITED) -- (CONTINUED)
(E) STANDARDIZED MEASURE OF DISCOUNTED FUTURE NET CASH FLOWS AND CHANGES THEREIN RELATING TO PROVED OIL AND GAS RESERVES
The following table, which presents a standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows and changes therein relating to proved oil and gas reserves, is presented pursuant to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 69. In computing this data, assumptions other than those required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board could produce different results. Accordingly, the data should not be construed as representative of the fair market value of the Company's proved oil and gas reserves.
Future cash inflows were computed by applying year end prices of oil and gas relating to proved reserves to the estimated year end quantities of those reserves. Future price changes were considered only to the extent provided by contractual arrangements in existence at year end. Future development and production costs were computed by estimating the expenditures to be incurred in developing and producing the proved oil and gas reserves at the end of the year, based on year end costs. Future income tax expenses were computed by applying the year end statutory tax rate adjusted for tax credits, with consideration of future tax rates already legislated, to the future pretax net cash flows relating to proved oil and gas reserves, less the tax basis of the properties involved. The standardized measure of discounted future cash flows represents the present value of estimated future net cash flows using a 10% annual discount rate.
SCHEDULE II
FINA, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS THREE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996 (IN THOUSANDS)
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(1) Bad debts written off, less recoveries.
ITEM 9

ITEM 9 CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
There have been no changes in accountants or disagreements by the Registrant with its accountants on accounting or financial disclosures.
PART III
ITEM 10

ITEM 10 DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
There is incorporated by reference pages 4 through 7 of the Company's Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Security Holders to be held April 16, 1997.
ITEM 11

ITEM 11 EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
There is incorporated by reference pages 2 through 3 and 9 through 17 of the Company's Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Security Holders to be held April 16, 1997.
ITEM 12

ITEM 12 SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
There is incorporated by reference the first page and pages 2 through 7 of the Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Security Holders to be held April 16, 1997.
ITEM 13

ITEM 13 CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
There is incorporated by reference pages 4 through 5, 13 and 17 of the Company's Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Security Holders to be held April 16, 1997.
PART IV
ITEM 14

ITEM 14 EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
(a) The following are incorporated by reference or filed as part of this Annual Report:
1. and 2. Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedules:
Reference is made to page 13 of this Form 10-K for a list of all consolidated financial statements and schedules filed as part of this Form 10-K.
No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the last quarter of the period covered by this report. However, a Form 8-K was filed on March 6, 1997 reporting a news release by Petrofina S.A. offering to negotiate a merger whereby the Company would become a wholly-owned affiliate.
3. Exhibits:
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
FINA, INC. (Registrant)
By: /s/ CULLEN M. GODFREY ---------------------------------- Cullen M. Godfrey Senior Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel
Date: March 10, 1997
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
EXHIBIT INDEX