Discontinued Operations

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Discontinued Operations

Discontinued Operations

14.  Discontinued Operations

On October 26, 2010, the Venezuelan government, through Presidential Decree No. 7.751, expropriated the assets of Owens-Illinois de Venezuela and Fabrica de Vidrios Los Andes, C.A., two of the Company’s subsidiaries in that country, which in effect constituted a taking of the going concerns of those companies.  Shortly after the issuance of the decree, the Venezuelan government installed temporary administrative boards to control the expropriated assets.

Since the issuance of the decree, the Company has cooperated with the Venezuelan government, as it is compelled to do under Venezuelan law, to provide for an orderly transition while ensuring the safety and well-being of the employees and the integrity of the production facilities.  The Company has been engaged in negotiations with the Venezuelan government in relation to certain aspects of the expropriation, including the compensation payable by the government as a result of its expropriation. On September 26, 2011, the Company, having been unable to reach an agreement with the Venezuelan government regarding fair compensation, commenced an arbitration against Venezuela through the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes.  The Company is unable at this stage to predict the amount, or timing of receipt, of compensation it will ultimately receive.