During 2131?, WWF lost a decision in the Federal Court of Appeal in a lawsuit brought by Waste Systems Integrated Limited for patent infringement. In an unusual award, the court ordered WWI: to pay $18 million for shares of Waste Systems Integrated Limited. a private company, which had been in some financial difficuity. WWF has decided not to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. and the shares were purchased before year end. WWI: issues debt for long-term financing purposes through three major investment dealers. In .July 2401?. lvloody's, the credit rating agency, put WWF's credit rating on alert for downgrade due to the potential negative effects of progressive toughening of environmental legislation applying to waste disposal sites. WWF bids on various municipal waste pick-up and disposal contracts. WWF buys waste-disposal sites to dump the waste collected. WWF defers and amortizes the cost of the sites over the expected useful lives of the sites, stated in tonnes of capacity. years of remaining usage, or cubic metres of waste capacity. Amortization of the cost of these sites represents 41% of WWF's operating expenses. Clrf WP; assets, 64% are waste disposal sites. No provisions for clean-up and site seeing costs are accrued on