e10vq
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C.
20549
Form 10-Q
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(Mark One)
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þ
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QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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for the quarterly period ended
February 29, 2008.
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o
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TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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for the transition period
from to .
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Commission File Number 0-50150
CHS Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as
specified in its charter)
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Minnesota
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41-0251095
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(State or other jurisdiction
of
incorporation or organization)
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(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
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5500 Cenex Drive
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(651) 355-6000
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Inver Grove Heights, MN 55077
(Address of principal
executive offices,
including zip code)
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(Registrants telephone
number,
including area code)
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Include by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed
all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding
12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant
was required to file such reports), and (2) has been
subject to such filing requirements for the past
90 days. YES þ NO o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large
accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated
filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of
large accelerated filer, accelerated
filer and smaller reporting company in Rule
12b-2 of the
Exchange Act. (Check one):
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Large
accelerated
filer o
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Accelerated
filer o
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Non-accelerated
filer þ
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Smaller
reporting
company o
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(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company
(as defined in
Rule 12b-2
of the Exchange
Act). YES o NO þ
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the
issuers classes of common stock, as of the latest
practicable date.
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Number of shares outstanding at
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Class
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April 9, 2008
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NONE
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NONE
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PART I.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
SAFE
HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE
SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995
This Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q
contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended. These forward-looking statements involve risks and
uncertainties that may cause the Companys actual results
to differ materially from the results discussed in the
forward-looking statements. These factors include those set
forth in Item 2, Managements Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, under the
caption Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements to this Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q
for the quarterly period ended February 29, 2008.
2
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Item 1.
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Financial
Statements
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CHS INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
(Unaudited)
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February 29,
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August 31,
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February 28,
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2008
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2007 *
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2007 *
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(dollars in thousands)
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ASSETS
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Current assets:
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Cash and cash equivalents
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$
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122,351
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$
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357,712
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$
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140,308
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Receivables
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2,012,859
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1,401,251
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1,082,763
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Inventories
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2,714,039
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1,666,632
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1,269,704
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Derivative assets
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1,028,869
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247,082
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351,150
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Other current assets
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1,241,153
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264,181
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420,497
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Total current assets
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7,119,271
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3,936,858
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3,264,422
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Investments
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848,710
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880,592
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754,670
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Property, plant and equipment
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1,873,945
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1,728,171
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1,563,174
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Other assets
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224,199
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208,752
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277,856
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Total assets
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$
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10,066,125
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$
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6,754,373
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$
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5,860,122
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LIABILITIES AND EQUITIES
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Current liabilities:
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Notes payable
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$
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970,975
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$
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672,571
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$
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552,559
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Current portion of long-term debt
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107,108
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98,977
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61,704
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Customer credit balances
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272,745
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110,818
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106,261
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Customer advance payments
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1,269,252
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161,525
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215,206
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Checks and drafts outstanding
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197,585
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143,133
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106,089
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Accounts payable
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1,548,135
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1,120,822
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793,103
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Derivative liabilities
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694,584
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177,209
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210,173
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Accrued expenses
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298,199
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255,631
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246,879
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Dividends and equities payable
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197,682
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374,294
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142,668
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Total current liabilities
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5,556,265
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3,114,980
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2,434,642
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Long-term debt
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1,152,630
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589,344
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654,366
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Other liabilities
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371,409
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377,208
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385,759
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Minority interests in subsidiaries
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192,434
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197,386
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163,028
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Commitments and contingencies
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Equities
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2,793,387
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2,475,455
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2,222,327
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Total liabilities and equities
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$
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10,066,125
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$
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6,754,373
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$
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5,860,122
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* |
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Adjusted to reflect adoption of FASB Staff Position No. AUG
AIR-1; see Note 2 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated
financial statements (unaudited).
3
CHS INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
(Unaudited)
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For the Three Months Ended
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For the Six Months Ended
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February 29,
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February 28,
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February 29,
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February 28,
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2008
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2007 *
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2008
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2007 *
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(dollars in thousands)
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Revenues
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$
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6,891,345
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$
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3,734,580
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$
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13,416,731
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$
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7,485,650
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Cost of goods sold
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6,633,720
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3,586,639
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12,844,469
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7,115,275
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Gross profit
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257,625
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147,941
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572,262
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370,375
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Marketing, general and administrative
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75,005
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58,591
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141,464
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110,693
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Operating earnings
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182,620
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89,350
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430,798
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259,682
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Gain on investments
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(230
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(11,400
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(95,178
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(16,748
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Interest, net
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18,066
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9,003
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31,603
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16,691
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Equity income from investments
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(45,413
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(12,315
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(76,603
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(16,846
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Minority interests
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12,831
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14,470
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35,810
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33,382
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Income before income taxes
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197,366
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89,592
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535,166
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243,203
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Income taxes
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29,335
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5,919
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66,235
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23,151
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Net income
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$
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168,031
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$
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83,673
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$
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468,931
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$
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220,052
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* |
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Adjusted to reflect adoption of FASB Staff Position No. AUG
AIR-1; see Note 2 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated
financial statements (unaudited).
4
CHS INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
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For the Six Months Ended
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February 29,
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February 28,
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2008
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2007 *
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(dollars in thousands)
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Cash flows from operating activities:
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Net income
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$
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468,931
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$
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220,052
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Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in
operating activities:
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Depreciation and amortization
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83,430
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68,947
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Amortization of deferred major repair costs
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14,158
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11,912
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Income from equity investments
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(76,603
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(16,846
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Distributions from equity investments
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19,132
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24,253
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Minority interests
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35,810
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33,382
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Noncash patronage dividends received
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(1,341
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)
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(1,133
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Gain on sale of property, plant and equipment
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(4,298
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)
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(2,840
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Gain on investments
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(95,178
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(16,748
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)
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Deferred taxes
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39,931
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23,151
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Other, net
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(627
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)
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770
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Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
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Receivables
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(603,924
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)
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1,304
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Inventories
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(872,787
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)
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(134,278
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)
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Derivative assets
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(781,787
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)
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(276,877
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)
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Other current assets and other assets
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(704,771
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)
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(196,150
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)
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Customer credit balances
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161,927
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39,792
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Customer advance payments
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901,475
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132,819
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Accounts payable and accrued expenses
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470,614
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(92,605
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)
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Derivative liabilities
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517,375
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112,363
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Other liabilities
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(4,130
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)
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(110
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)
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Net cash used in operating activities
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(432,663
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)
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(68,842
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)
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Cash flows from investing activities:
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Acquisition of property, plant and equipment
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(187,312
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)
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(154,996
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)
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Proceeds from disposition of property, plant and equipment
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5,839
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7,070
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Expenditures for major repairs
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(21,662
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)
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(2,544
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)
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Investments
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(321,167
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)
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(80,457
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)
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Investments redeemed
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34,168
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2,989
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Proceeds from sale of investments
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114,198
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10,918
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Acquisition of business transaction, net
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(13,024
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)
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Changes in notes receivable
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(6,368
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)
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(15,350
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)
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Acquisition of intangibles
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(7,206
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)
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(638
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)
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Other investing activities, net
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429
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(2,557
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)
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Net cash used in investing activities
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(402,105
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)
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(235,565
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)
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Cash flows from financing activities:
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Changes in notes payable
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299,799
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530,513
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Long-term debt borrowings
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600,000
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Principal payments on long-term debt
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(30,233
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)
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(28,684
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)
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Payments for bank fees on debt
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(3,313
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)
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Changes in checks and drafts outstanding
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|
54,442
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|
|
|
49,006
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Distribution to minority owners
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(49,331
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)
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(22,294
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)
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Costs incurred capital equity certificates redeemed
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(34
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)
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(45
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)
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Preferred stock dividends paid
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(7,240
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)
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(5,864
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)
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Retirements of equities
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(69,703
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)
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(57,334
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)
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Cash patronage dividends paid
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(194,980
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)
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(133,108
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)
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|
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|
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Net cash provided by financing activities
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599,407
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332,190
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Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
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(235,361
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)
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27,783
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Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
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357,712
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|
|
|
112,525
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|
|
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Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
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$
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122,351
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$
|
140,308
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
* |
|
Adjusted to reflect adoption of FASB Staff Position No. AUG
AIR-1; see Note 2 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated
financial statements (unaudited).
5
CHS INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
(dollars
in thousands)
|
|
Note 1.
|
Accounting
Policies
|
The unaudited consolidated balance sheets as of
February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2007, the
statements of operations for the three and six months ended
February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2007, and the
statements of cash flows for the six months ended
February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2007 reflect, in
the opinion of our management, all normal recurring adjustments
necessary for a fair statement of the financial position and
results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods
presented. The results of operations and cash flows for interim
periods are not necessarily indicative of results for a full
fiscal year because of, among other things, the seasonal nature
of our businesses. The consolidated balance sheet data as of
August 31, 2007 has been derived from our audited
consolidated financial statements, but does not include all
disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted
in the United States of America.
The consolidated financial statements include our accounts and
the accounts of all of our wholly-owned and majority-owned
subsidiaries and limited liability companies. The effects of all
significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been
eliminated.
These statements should be read in conjunction with the
consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year
ended August 31, 2007, included in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K,
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Commodity
Price Risk
We are exposed to price fluctuations on energy, grain and
oilseed transactions due to fluctuations in the market value of
inventories and fixed or partially fixed purchase and sales
contracts. Our use of derivative instruments reduces the effects
of price volatility, thereby protecting against adverse
short-term price movements, while somewhat limiting the benefits
of short-term price movements. However, fluctuations in
inventory valuations may not be completely hedged, due in part
to the absence of satisfactory hedging facilities for certain
commodities and geographical areas and in part to our assessment
of its exposure from expected price fluctuations.
We generally enter into opposite and offsetting positions using
futures contracts or options to the extent practical, in order
to arrive at a net commodity position within the formal position
limits we set and deem prudent for each of those commodities.
These contracts are purchased and sold through regulated
commodity exchanges. The contracts are economic hedges of price
risk, but are not currently designated or accounted for as
hedging instruments for accounting purposes. These contracts are
recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair values based
on quotes listed on regulated commodity exchanges. Unrealized
gains and losses on these contracts are recognized in cost of
goods sold in our Consolidated Statements of Operations using
market-based prices.
We also manage our risk by entering into fixed-price purchase
and sales contracts with pre-approved producers and by
establishing appropriate limits for individual suppliers.
Fixed-price contracts are entered into with customers of
acceptable creditworthiness, as internally evaluated. We are
also exposed to loss in the event of nonperformance by the
counterparties to the contracts and therefore, contract values
are reviewed and adjusted to reflect potential nonperformance.
These contracts are recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets
at fair values based on the market prices of the underlying
products listed on regulated commodity exchanges, except for
certain fixed-price contracts related to propane in our Energy
segment. The propane contracts within our Energy segment meet
the normal purchase and sales exemption, and thus are not
required to be marked to fair value. Unrealized gains and losses
on fixed-price contracts are recognized in cost of goods sold in
our Consolidated Statements of Operations using market-based
prices.
6
CHS INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited) (Continued)
Goodwill
and Other Intangible Assets
Goodwill was $3.8 million on February 29, 2008,
August 31, 2007 and February 28, 2007, and is included
in other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Intangible assets subject to amortization primarily include
trademarks, customer lists, supply contracts and agreements not
to compete, and are amortized over the number of years that
approximate their respective useful lives (ranging from 1 to
15 years). The gross carrying amount of these intangible
assets was $61.5 million with total accumulated
amortization of $17.8 million as of February 29, 2008.
Intangible assets of $17.1 million (includes
$9.9 million related to the crop nutrients business
transaction) and $2.8 million ($2.1 million non-cash)
were acquired during the six months ended February 29, 2008
and February 28, 2007, respectively. Total amortization
expense for intangible assets during the six-month periods ended
February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2007, was
$6.3 million and $1.3 million, respectively. The
estimated annual amortization expense related to intangible
assets subject to amortization for the next five years will
approximate $10.9 million annually for the first year,
$6.9 million for the next three years and $3.7 million
for the following year.
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board
(FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS)
No. 157, Fair Value Measurements
(SFAS No. 157) which defines fair value,
establishes a framework for measuring fair value in accordance
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States of America, and expands disclosures about fair value
measurements. SFAS No. 157 is effective for financial
assets and liabilities for fiscal years beginning after
November 15, 2007. In February 2008, the FASB issued FASB
Staff Position
(FSP) 157-2,
Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157.
FSP 157-2
delays the effective date of SFAS No. 157 for all
non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities that are not
remeasured at fair value on a recurring basis until fiscal years
beginning after November 15, 2008. Any amounts recognized
upon adoption of this rule as a cumulative effect adjustment
will be recorded to the opening balance of retained earnings in
the year of adoption. We are in the process of evaluating the
effect that the adoption of SFAS No. 157 will have on
our consolidated results of operations and financial condition.
In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159,
The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial
Liabilities. SFAS No. 159 provides entities with
an option to report certain financial assets and liabilities at
fair value, with changes in fair value reported in earnings, and
requires additional disclosures related to an entitys
election to use fair value reporting. It also requires entities
to display the fair value of those assets and liabilities for
which the entity has elected to use fair value on the face of
the balance sheet. SFAS No. 159 is effective for
fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. We are in
the process of evaluating the effect that the adoption of
SFAS No. 159 will have on our consolidated results of
operations and financial condition.
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141R,
Business Combinations. SFAS No. 141R
provides companies with principles and requirements on how an
acquirer recognizes and measures in its financial statements the
identifiable assets acquired, liabilities assumed, and any
noncontrolling interest in the acquiree, as well as the
recognition and measurement of goodwill acquired in a business
combination. SFAS No. 141R also requires certain
disclosures to enable users of the financial statements to
evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business
combination. Acquisition costs associated with the business
combination will generally be expensed as incurred.
SFAS No. 141R is effective for business combinations
occurring in fiscal years beginning after December 15,
2008. Early adoption of SFAS No. 141R is not
permitted. The impact on our consolidated financial statements
of adopting SFAS No. 141R will depend on the nature,
terms and size of business combinations completed after the
effective date.
7
CHS INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited) (Continued)
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160,
Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial
Statements, an Amendment of Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
No. 51. This statement amends ARB No. 51 to
establish accounting and reporting standards for the
noncontrolling interest (minority interest) in a subsidiary and
for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. Upon its adoption,
noncontrolling interests will be classified as equity in our
Consolidated Balance Sheets. Income and comprehensive income
attributed to the noncontrolling interest will be included in
our Consolidated Statements of Operations and our Consolidated
Statements of Equities and Comprehensive Income.
SFAS No. 160 is effective for fiscal years beginning
after December 15, 2008. The provisions of this standard
must be applied retrospectively upon adoption. We are in the
process of evaluating the impact the adoption of
SFAS No. 160 will have on our consolidated financial
statements.
In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161,
Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging
Activities, an Amendment of FASB Statement
No. 133. SFAS No. 161 requires
disclosures of how and why an entity uses derivative
instruments, how derivative instruments and related hedged items
are accounted for and how derivative instruments and related
hedged items affect an entitys financial position,
financial performance, and cash flows. SFAS No. 161 is
effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15,
2008, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating
the impact of the adoption of SFAS No. 161 on our
consolidated financial statements.
Reclassifications
Certain reclassifications have been made to prior periods
amounts to conform to current period classifications. These
reclassifications had no effect on previously reported net
income, equities or total cash flows.
|
|
Note 2.
|
Change in
Accounting Principle Turnarounds
|
During the first fiscal quarter of 2008, we changed our
accounting method for the costs of turnarounds from the accrual
method to the deferral method. Turnarounds are the scheduled and
required shutdowns of refinery processing units for significant
overhaul and refurbishment. Under the deferral accounting
method, the costs of turnarounds are deferred when incurred and
amortized on a straight-line basis over the period of time
estimated to lapse until the next turnaround occurs. The new
method of accounting for turnarounds was adopted in order to
adhere to FSP No. AUG AIR-1 Accounting for Planned
Major Maintenance Activities which prohibits the accrual
method of accounting for planned major maintenance activities.
The comparative financial statements for the three months and
six months ended February 28, 2007 have been adjusted to
apply the new method retrospectively. These deferred costs are
included in our Consolidated Balance Sheets in other assets. The
amortization expenses are included in cost of goods sold in our
Consolidated Statements of Operations. The following
consolidated financial statement line items as of
August 31, 2007 and February 28,
8
CHS INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited) (Continued)
2007 and for the three months and six months ended
February 28, 2007, were affected by this change in
accounting principle:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
August 31, 2007
|
|
|
February 28, 2007
|
|
|
|
As
|
|
|
FSP AUG
|
|
|
|
|
|
As
|
|
|
FSP AUG
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Previously
|
|
|
AIR-1
|
|
|
As
|
|
|
Previously
|
|
|
AIR-1
|
|
|
As
|
|
|
|
Reported
|
|
|
Adjustment
|
|
|
Adjusted
|
|
|
Reported
|
|
|
Adjustment
|
|
|
Adjusted
|
|
|
Consolidated Balance Sheets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other current assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
423,547
|
|
|
$
|
(3,050
|
)
|
|
$
|
420,497
|
|
Other assets
|
|
$
|
147,965
|
|
|
$
|
60,787
|
|
|
$
|
208,752
|
|
|
|
235,641
|
|
|
|
42,215
|
|
|
|
277,856
|
|
Accrued expenses
|
|
|
261,875
|
|
|
|
(6,244
|
)
|
|
|
255,631
|
|
|
|
273,879
|
|
|
|
(27,000
|
)
|
|
|
246,879
|
|
Other liabilities
|
|
|
359,198
|
|
|
|
18,010
|
|
|
|
377,208
|
|
|
|
363,686
|
|
|
|
22,073
|
|
|
|
385,759
|
|
Minority interests in subsidiaries
|
|
|
190,830
|
|
|
|
6,556
|
|
|
|
197,386
|
|
|
|
156,472
|
|
|
|
6,556
|
|
|
|
163,028
|
|
Equities
|
|
|
2,432,990
|
|
|
|
42,465
|
|
|
|
2,475,455
|
|
|
|
2,184,791
|
|
|
|
37,536
|
|
|
|
2,222,327
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
Six Months Ended
|
|
|
|
February 28, 2007
|
|
|
February 28, 2007
|
|
|
|
As
|
|
|
FSP AUG
|
|
|
|
|
|
As
|
|
|
FSP AUG
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Previously
|
|
|
AIR-1
|
|
|
As
|
|
|
Previously
|
|
|
AIR-1
|
|
|
As
|
|
|
|
Reported
|
|
|
Adjustment
|
|
|
Adjusted
|
|
|
Reported
|
|
|
Adjustment
|
|
|
Adjusted
|
|
|
Consolidated Statements of Operations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of goods sold
|
|
$
|
3,588,872
|
|
|
$
|
(2,233
|
)
|
|
$
|
3,586,639
|
|
|
$
|
7,117,666
|
|
|
$
|
(2,391
|
)
|
|
$
|
7,115,275
|
|
Income before income taxes
|
|
|
87,359
|
|
|
|
2,233
|
|
|
|
89,592
|
|
|
|
240,812
|
|
|
|
2,391
|
|
|
|
243,203
|
|
Income taxes
|
|
|
5,050
|
|
|
|
869
|
|
|
|
5,919
|
|
|
|
22,221
|
|
|
|
930
|
|
|
|
23,151
|
|
Net income
|
|
|
82,309
|
|
|
|
1,364
|
|
|
|
83,673
|
|
|
|
218,591
|
|
|
|
1,461
|
|
|
|
220,052
|
|
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
218,591
|
|
|
|
1,461
|
|
|
|
220,052
|
|
Amortization of deferred major repair costs
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,912
|
|
|
|
11,912
|
|
Deferred taxes
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
22,221
|
|
|
|
930
|
|
|
|
23,151
|
|
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other current assets and other assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(199,200
|
)
|
|
|
3,050
|
|
|
|
(196,150
|
)
|
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(84,996
|
)
|
|
|
(7,609
|
)
|
|
|
(92,605
|
)
|
Other liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,090
|
|
|
|
(7,200
|
)
|
|
|
(110
|
)
|
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(71,386
|
)
|
|
|
2,544
|
|
|
|
(68,842
|
)
|
Investing activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expenditures for major repairs
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,544
|
)
|
|
|
(2,544
|
)
|
Net cash used in investing activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(233,021
|
)
|
|
|
(2,544
|
)
|
|
|
(235,565
|
)
|
9
CHS INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited) (Continued)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
February 29,
|
|
|
August 31,
|
|
|
February 28,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
Trade
|
|
$
|
1,975,126
|
|
|
$
|
1,366,428
|
|
|
$
|
1,068,778
|
|
Other
|
|
|
105,118
|
|
|
|
97,783
|
|
|
|
70,409
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,080,244
|
|
|
|
1,464,211
|
|
|
|
1,139,187
|
|
Less allowances for doubtful accounts
|
|
|
67,385
|
|
|
|
62,960
|
|
|
|
56,424
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
2,012,859
|
|
|
$
|
1,401,251
|
|
|
$
|
1,082,763
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
February 29,
|
|
|
August 31,
|
|
|
February 28,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
Grain and oilseed
|
|
$
|
1,552,203
|
|
|
$
|
928,567
|
|
|
$
|
598,351
|
|
Energy
|
|
|
409,926
|
|
|
|
490,675
|
|
|
|
387,020
|
|
Crop nutrients
|
|
|
307,680
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Feed and farm supplies
|
|
|
361,897
|
|
|
|
178,167
|
|
|
|
229,590
|
|
Processed grain and oilseed
|
|
|
77,800
|
|
|
|
66,407
|
|
|
|
52,824
|
|
Other
|
|
|
4,533
|
|
|
|
2,816
|
|
|
|
1,919
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
2,714,039
|
|
|
$
|
1,666,632
|
|
|
$
|
1,269,704
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of February 29, 2008, US BioEnergy Corporation (US
BioEnergy), an ethanol production company, owned and operated
five ethanol plants and had three additional ethanol plants
under construction. During the six months ended
February 29, 2008, we purchased $6.5 million of
additional shares of common stock in US BioEnergy, compared to
$35.1 million during the six months ended February 28,
2007. As of February 29, 2008, our ownership in US
BioEnergy was approximately 20%, and based upon the market value
of $7.33 per share on that date, our investment had a market
value of approximately $116.8 million. Management does not
consider the decline in market value to be permanent, but rather
reflective of currently high corn prices, for which corn is a
major input in ethanol production. As of February 29, 2008,
the carrying value of our investment in US BioEnergy of
$145.6 million exceeded our share of their equity by
$20.6 million, and represented equity method goodwill.
Through February 29, 2008, we were recognizing earnings of
US BioEnergy in our Processing segment, to the extent of our
ownership interest, using the equity method of accounting. In
November 2007, US BioEnergy and VeraSun Energy Corporation
announced that they entered into a definitive merger agreement,
and on March 31, 2008, they announced the closing of the
merger which was effective as of April 1, 2008.
Post-merger, our ownership in the combined entity is
approximately 8%.
During the six months ended February 29, 2008, we invested
$30.3 million in a joint venture (37.5% ownership) included
in our Ag Business segment, that acquired production farmland
and related operations in Brazil, intended to strengthen our
ability to serve customers around the world. The operations
include production of soybeans, corn, cotton and sugarcane, as
well as cotton processing in four locations.
During the six months ended February 28, 2007, we sold
540,000 shares of our CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF)
stock, included in our Ag Business segment, for proceeds of
$10.9 million, and recorded a pretax gain of
$5.3 million, reducing our ownership interest in CF to
approximately 2.9%. During the six months
10
CHS INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited) (Continued)
ended February 29, 2008, we sold all of our remaining
1,610,396 shares of CF stock for proceeds of
$108.3 million and recorded a pretax gain of
$91.7 million.
Agriliance LLC (Agriliance) is owned and governed by United
Country Brands, LLC (50%) and Land OLakes, Inc. (Land
OLakes) (50%). United Country Brands, LLC is a 100% owned
subsidiary of CHS. We account for our share of the Agriliance
investment using the equity method of accounting. In June 2007,
we announced that two business segments of Agriliance were being
repositioned. In September 2007, Agriliance distributed the
assets of the crop nutrients business to us, and the assets of
the crop protection business to Land OLakes. Agriliance
continues to exist as a
50-50 joint
venture and primarily operates an agronomy retail distribution
business. We currently are exploring, with Land OLakes,
the repositioning options for the remaining portions of the
Agriliance retail distribution business. During the six months
ended February 29, 2008, our net contribution to Agriliance
was $240.0 million which supported their working capital
requirements, with Land OLakes making equal contributions
to Agriliance, primarily for crop nutrient and crop protection
product net trade payables that were not assumed by us or Land
OLakes upon the distribution of the crop nutrients and
crop protection assets.
Due to our 50% ownership interest in Agriliance and the 50%
ownership interest of Land OLakes, we were each entitled
to receive 50% of the distributions from Agriliance. Given the
different preliminary values assigned to the assets of the crop
nutrients and the crop protection businesses of Agriliance, at
the closing of the distribution transactions Land OLakes
owed us $133.5 million. Land OLakes paid us
$32.6 million in cash, and in order to maintain equal
capital accounts in Agriliance, they also paid down certain
portions of Agriliances debt on our behalf in the amount
of $100.9 million. Values of the distributed assets were
determined after the closing and in October 2007, we made a
true-up
payment to Land OLakes in the amount of
$45.7 million, plus interest. The final
true-up is
expected to occur during our current fiscal year.
The distribution of assets we received from Agriliance for the
crop nutrients business had a book value of $248.2 million.
We recorded 50% of the value of the net assets received at book
value due to our ownership interest in those assets when they
were held by Agriliance, and 50% of the value of the net assets
at fair value using the purchase method of accounting.
Preliminary values assigned to the net assets as of
September 1, 2007 were as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
Receivables
|
|
$
|
5,219
|
|
Inventories
|
|
|
174,620
|
|
Other current assets
|
|
|
256,390
|
|
Investments
|
|
|
6,096
|
|
Property, plant and equipment
|
|
|
29,682
|
|
Other assets
|
|
|
11,717
|
|
Customer advance payments
|
|
|
(206,252
|
)
|
Accounts payable
|
|
|
(5,584
|
)
|
Accrued expenses
|
|
|
(3,163
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total net assets received
|
|
$
|
268,725
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We have a 50% interest in Ventura Foods, LLC, (Ventura Foods), a
joint venture which produces and distributes primarily vegetable
oil-based products, and is included in our Processing segment.
As of February 29, 2008, the carrying value of our equity
method investees, Agriliance and Ventura Foods, exceeded our
share of their equity by $42.8 million. Of this basis
difference, $3.2 million is being amortized over the
remaining life of the corresponding assets, which is
approximately four years. The balance of the basis difference
represents equity method goodwill.
11
CHS INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited) (Continued)
The following provides summarized unaudited financial
information for our unconsolidated significant equity
investments in Ventura Foods and Agriliance, for the balance
sheets as of February 29, 2008, August 31, 2007 and
February 28, 2007 and statements of operations for the
three-month and six-month periods as indicated below.
Ventura
Foods, LLC
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Three Months Ended
|
|
|
For the Six Months Ended
|
|
|
|
February 29
|
|
|
February 28
|
|
|
February 29
|
|
|
February 28
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
Net sales
|
|
$
|
479,133
|
|
|
$
|
381,594
|
|
|
$
|
960,091
|
|
|
$
|
779,727
|
|
Gross profit
|
|
|
53,315
|
|
|
|
53,035
|
|
|
|
110,044
|
|
|
|
108,499
|
|
Net income
|
|
|
21,449
|
|
|
|
22,208
|
|
|
|
43,110
|
|
|
|
44,215
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
February 29,
|
|
|
August 31,
|
|
|
February 28,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
Current assets
|
|
$
|
440,056
|
|
|
$
|
269,156
|
|
|
$
|
256,146
|
|
Non-current assets
|
|
|
481,273
|
|
|
|
470,359
|
|
|
|
441,605
|
|
Current liabilities
|
|
|
341,851
|
|
|
|
195,376
|
|
|
|
147,944
|
|
Non-current liabilities
|
|
|
309,347
|
|
|
|
309,221
|
|
|
|
307,954
|
|
Agriliance
LLC
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Three Months Ended
|
|
|
For the Six Months Ended
|
|
|
|
February 29
|
|
|
February 28
|
|
|
February 29
|
|
|
February 28
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
Net sales
|
|
$
|
187,660
|
|
|
$
|
497,524
|
|
|
$
|
398,250
|
|
|
$
|
1,167,517
|
|
Gross profit
|
|
|
20,363
|
|
|
|
45,921
|
|
|
|
54,237
|
|
|
|
91,544
|
|
Net loss
|
|
|
(23,670
|
)
|
|
|
(27,392
|
)
|
|
|
(47,186
|
)
|
|
|
(58,781
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
February 29,
|
|
|
August 31,
|
|
|
February 28,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
Current assets
|
|
$
|
614,617
|
|
|
$
|
1,549,691
|
|
|
$
|
1,789,935
|
|
Non-current assets
|
|
|
52,549
|
|
|
|
115,087
|
|
|
|
163,332
|
|
Current liabilities
|
|
|
297,953
|
|
|
|
1,214,774
|
|
|
|
1,583,710
|
|
Non-current liabilities
|
|
|
17,633
|
|
|
|
137,417
|
|
|
|
131,208
|
|
|
|
Note 6.
|
Notes
Payable and Long-term Debt
|
As of August 31, 2007, we had a five-year revolving line of
credit with a syndication of domestic and international banks in
the amount of $1.1 billion, with the ability to expand the
facility an additional $200.0 million. In October 2007, we
expanded that facility, receiving additional commitments in the
amount of $200.0 million from certain lenders under the
agreement. The additional commitments increased the total
borrowing capacity to $1.3 billion on the facility.
In October 2007, we entered into a private placement with
several insurance companies and banks for long-term debt in the
amount of $400.0 million with an interest rate of 6.18%.
The debt is due in equal annual installments of
$80.0 million during years 2013 through 2017.
12
CHS INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited) (Continued)
In December 2007, we established a ten-year long-term credit
agreement through a syndication of cooperative banks in the
amount of $150.0 million, with an interest rate of 5.59%.
Repayments are due in equal semi-annual installments of
$15.0 million each, starting in June 2013 through December
2018.
We have an existing Note Purchase and Private Shelf Agreement
with Prudential Investment Management, Inc. and several other
participating insurance companies with an uncommitted shelf
facility. We borrowed $50.0 million under the shelf
arrangement in February 2008, for which the aggregate long-term
notes have an interest rate of 5.78% and are due in equal annual
installments of $10.0 million during the years 2014 through
2018.
In February 2008, we increased our short-term borrowing capacity
by establishing a $500 million committed line of credit
with a syndication of banks consisting of a
364-day
revolving facility.
Interest, net for the three and six months ended
February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2007 is as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Three Months Ended
|
|
|
For the Six Months Ended
|
|
|
|
February 29
|
|
|
February 28
|
|
|
February 29
|
|
|
February 28
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
$
|
22,058
|
|
|
$
|
12,844
|
|
|
$
|
40,429
|
|
|
$
|
24,127
|
|
Interest income
|
|
|
3,992
|
|
|
|
3,841
|
|
|
|
8,826
|
|
|
|
7,436
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest, net
|
|
$
|
18,066
|
|
|
$
|
9,003
|
|
|
$
|
31,603
|
|
|
$
|
16,691
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Effective September 1, 2007, we adopted FASB Interpretation
No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income
Taxes (FIN 48). This interpretation clarifies the
criteria for recognizing income tax benefits under FASB
Statement 109, Accounting for Income Taxes, and
requires additional disclosures about uncertain tax positions.
FIN 48 requires a taxpayer to determine whether a tax
position is more likely than not (greater than 50 percent)
to be sustained based solely on the technical merits of the
position. If this threshold is met, the tax benefit is measured
and recognized at the largest amount that is greater than
50 percent likely of being realized.
The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits as of
September 1, 2007 and February 29, 2008 was
$7.5 million. There was no impact to our equity as a result
of adoption of FIN 48. Recognition of all or a portion of
the unrecognized tax benefits would affect our effective income
tax rate in the respective period of change.
Any applicable interest and penalties on uncertain tax positions
were included as a component of income tax expense prior to the
adoption of FIN 48, and we continued this classification
subsequent to the adoption. The liability for uncertain income
taxes as of September 1, 2007 and February 29, 2008,
includes interest and penalties of $0.3 million.
We file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction
and various U.S. state and foreign jurisdictions. The
U.S. income tax returns for periods ended after
August 31, 2004, remain subject to examination. With
limited exceptions, we are not subject to state and local income
tax examinations for years before August 31, 2001. It is
not expected that the amount of unrecognized tax benefits will
significantly change within the next twelve months.
13
CHS INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited) (Continued)
Changes in equity for the six-month periods ended
February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2007 are as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal 2008*
|
|
|
Fiscal 2007*
|
|
|
Balances, September 1, 2007 and 2006
|
|
$
|
2,475,455
|
|
|
$
|
2,053,466
|
|
Net income
|
|
|
468,931
|
|
|
|
220,052
|
|
Other comprehensive (loss) income
|
|
|
(56,241
|
)
|
|
|
39,158
|
|
Patronage distribution
|
|
|
(555,150
|
)
|
|
|
(380,009
|
)
|
Patronage accrued
|
|
|
550,000
|
|
|
|
374,000
|
|
Equities retired
|
|
|
(69,703
|
)
|
|
|
(57,334
|
)
|
Equity retirements accrued
|
|
|
159,315
|
|
|
|
57,334
|
|
Equities issued in exchange for elevator properties
|
|
|
1,608
|
|
|
|
864
|
|
Preferred stock dividends
|
|
|
(7,240
|
)
|
|
|
(5,864
|
)
|
Preferred stock dividends accrued
|
|
|
2,413
|
|
|
|
1,955
|
|
Accrued dividends and equities payable
|
|
|
(177,616
|
)
|
|
|
(83,084
|
)
|
Other, net
|
|
|
1,615
|
|
|
|
1,789
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balances, February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2007
|
|
$
|
2,793,387
|
|
|
$
|
2,222,327
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
Adjusted to reflect adoption of FASB Staff Position No. AUG
AIR-1; see Note 2 |
During the three months ended February 29, 2008 and
February 28, 2007, we redeemed $46.4 million and
$35.9 million, respectively, of our capital equity
certificates by issuing shares of our 8% Cumulative Redeemable
Preferred Stock.
|
|
Note 10.
|
Comprehensive
Income
|
Total comprehensive income was $164.3 million and
$96.6 million for the three months ended February 29,
2008 and February 28, 2007, respectively. For the six
months ended February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2007,
total comprehensive income was $412.7 million and
$259.2 million, respectively. Total comprehensive income
primarily consisted of net income and unrealized net gains or
losses on available for sale investments for the three-month and
six-month periods in fiscal 2008. Accumulated other
comprehensive loss on February 29, 2008, was
$43.2 million and primarily consisted of pension liability
adjustments and unrealized net gains or losses on available for
sale investments. On August 31, 2007 and February 28,
2007, accumulated other comprehensive income was
$13.0 million and $52.3 million, respectively.
14
CHS INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited) (Continued)
|
|
Note 11.
|
Employee
Benefit Plans
|
Employee benefits information for the three and six months ended
February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2007 is as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Qualified
|
|
|
Non-Qualified
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pension Benefits
|
|
|
Pension Benefits
|
|
|
Other Benefits
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
Components of net periodic benefit costs for the three months
ended February 29 and February 28:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service cost
|
|
$
|
3,920
|
|
|
$
|
3,556
|
|
|
$
|
315
|
|
|
$
|
258
|
|
|
$
|
262
|
|
|
$
|
223
|
|
Interest cost
|
|
|
5,411
|
|
|
|
4,817
|
|
|
|
550
|
|
|
|
362
|
|
|
|
425
|
|
|
|
419
|
|
Expected return on plan assets
|
|
|
(7,847
|
)
|
|
|
(7,380
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unrecognized net asset obligation amortization
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
183
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prior service cost amortization
|
|
|
541
|
|
|
|
222
|
|
|
|
144
|
|
|
|
106
|
|
|
|
(80
|
)
|
|
|
(128
|
)
|
Actuarial loss (gain) amortization
|
|
|
1,335
|
|
|
|
1,381
|
|
|
|
215
|
|
|
|
39
|
|
|
|
(64
|
)
|
|
|
(6
|
)
|
Transition amount amortization
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
50
|
|
|
|
234
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net periodic benefit cost
|
|
$
|
3,360
|
|
|
$
|
2,596
|
|
|
$
|
1,224
|
|
|
$
|
765
|
|
|
$
|
776
|
|
|
$
|
742
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Components of net periodic benefit costs for the six months
ended February 29 and February 28:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service cost
|
|
$
|
7,693
|
|
|
$
|
7,180
|
|
|
$
|
623
|
|
|
$
|
512
|
|
|
$
|
523
|
|
|
$
|
479
|
|
Interest cost
|
|
|
10,624
|
|
|
|
9,634
|
|
|
|
1,095
|
|
|
|
722
|
|
|
|
850
|
|
|
|
835
|
|
Expected return on plan assets
|
|
|
(15,651
|
)
|
|
|
(14,591
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unrecognized net asset obligation amortization
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
367
|
|
|
|
|
|
Prior service cost amortization
|
|
|
1,082
|
|
|
|
433
|
|
|
|
289
|
|
|
|
231
|
|
|
|
(160
|
)
|
|
|
(256
|
)
|
Actuarial loss (gain) amortization
|
|
|
2,435
|
|
|
|
2,883
|
|
|
|
421
|
|
|
|
55
|
|
|
|
(129
|
)
|
|
|
(20
|
)
|
Transition amount amortization
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
101
|
|
|
|
468
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net periodic benefit cost
|
|
$
|
6,183
|
|
|
$
|
5,539
|
|
|
$
|
2,428
|
|
|
$
|
1,520
|
|
|
$
|
1,552
|
|
|
$
|
1,506
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Employer
Contributions:
National Cooperative Refinery Association (NCRA), of which we
own approximately 74.5%, expects to contribute $3.3 million
to its pension plan during fiscal 2008. No other contributions
are expected.
|
|
Note 12.
|
Segment
Reporting
|
We have aligned our business segments based on an assessment of
how our businesses operate and the products and services they
sell. Our three business segments: Energy, Ag Business and
Processing, create vertical integration to link producers with
consumers. Our Energy segment produces and provides primarily
for the wholesale distribution of petroleum products and
transportation of those products. Our Ag Business segment
purchases and resells grains and oilseeds originated by our
country operations business, by our member cooperatives and by
third parties, and also serves as wholesaler and retailer of
crop inputs. Our Processing segment converts grains and oilseeds
into value-added products.
15
CHS INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited) (Continued)
Corporate administrative expenses are allocated to all three
business segments, and Corporate and Other, based on either
direct usage for services that can be tracked, such as
information technology and legal, and other factors or
considerations relevant to the costs incurred.
Many of our business activities are highly seasonal and
operating results will vary throughout the year. Overall, our
income is generally lowest during the second fiscal quarter and
highest during the third fiscal quarter. Our business segments
are subject to varying seasonal fluctuations. For example, in
our Ag Business segment, agronomy and country operations
businesses experience higher volumes and income during the
spring planting season and in the fall, which corresponds to
harvest. Also in our Ag Business segment, our grain marketing
operations are subject to fluctuations in volumes and earnings
based on producer harvests, world grain prices and demand. Our
Energy segment generally experiences higher volumes and
profitability in certain operating areas, such as refined
products, in the summer and early fall when gasoline and diesel
fuel usage is highest and is subject to global supply and demand
forces. Other energy products, such as propane, may experience
higher volumes and profitability during the winter heating and
crop drying seasons.
Our revenues, assets and cash flows can be significantly
affected by global market prices for commodities such as
petroleum products, natural gas, grains, oilseeds, crop
nutrients and flour. Changes in market prices for commodities
that we purchase without a corresponding change in the selling
prices of those products can affect revenues and operating
earnings. Commodity prices are affected by a wide range of
factors beyond our control, including the weather, crop damage
due to disease or insects, drought, the availability and
adequacy of supply, government regulations and policies, world
events, and general political and economic conditions.
While our revenues and operating results are derived from
businesses and operations which are wholly-owned and
majority-owned, a portion of our business operations are
conducted through companies in which we hold ownership interests
of 50% or less and do not control the operations. We account for
these investments primarily using the equity method of
accounting, wherein we record our proportionate share of income
or loss reported by the entity as equity income from
investments, without consolidating the revenues and expenses of
the entity in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. These
investments principally include our 50% ownership in each of the
following companies: Agriliance LLC (Agriliance), TEMCO, LLC
(TEMCO) and United Harvest, LLC (United Harvest), and our 37.5%
ownership in Multigrain S.A. included in our Ag Business
segment; our 50% ownership in Ventura Foods, LLC (Ventura
Foods), our 24% ownership in Horizon Milling, LLC (Horizon
Milling) and Horizon Milling G.P., and our approximate 20%
ownership in US BioEnergy Corporation (US BioEnergy) included in
our Processing segment; and our 49% ownership in Cofina
Financial, LLC (Cofina Financial) included in Corporate and
Other.
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of
CHS and all of our wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries
and limited liability companies, including NCRA and Provista
Renewable Fuels Marketing, LLC (Provista), included in our
Energy segment. The effects of all significant intercompany
transactions have been eliminated.
Reconciling Amounts represent the elimination of revenues
between segments. Such transactions are executed at market
prices to more accurately evaluate the profitability of the
individual business segments.
16
CHS INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited) (Continued)
Segment information for the three and six months ended
February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2007 is as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ag
|
|
|
|
|
|
Corporate
|
|
|
Reconciling
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Energy*
|
|
|
Business
|
|
|
Processing
|
|
|
and Other
|
|
|
Amounts
|
|
|
Total*
|
|
|
For the Three Months Ended February 29, 2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
$
|
2,399,044
|
|
|
$
|
4,273,984
|
|
|
$
|
290,049
|
|
|
$
|
9,147
|
|
|
$
|
(80,879
|
)
|
|
$
|
6,891,345
|
|
Cost of goods sold
|
|
|
2,321,630
|
|
|
|
4,120,071
|
|
|
|
273,642
|
|
|
|
(744
|
)
|
|
|
(80,879
|
)
|
|
|
6,633,720
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross profit
|
|
|
77,414
|
|
|
|
153,913
|
|
|
|
16,407
|
|
|
|
9,891
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
257,625
|
|
Marketing, general and administrative
|
|
|
24,834
|
|
|
|
35,908
|
|
|
|
6,521
|
|
|
|
7,742
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
75,005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating earnings
|
|
|
52,580
|
|
|
|
118,005
|
|
|
|
9,886
|
|
|
|
2,149
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
182,620
|
|
Gain on investments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(230
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(230
|
)
|
Interest, net
|
|
|
(3,738
|
)
|
|
|
17,417
|
|
|
|
5,441
|
|
|
|
(1,054
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
18,066
|
|
Equity income from investments
|
|
|
(1,153
|
)
|
|
|
(19,481
|
)
|
|
|
(23,320
|
)
|
|
|
(1,459
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(45,413
|
)
|
Minority interests
|
|
|
12,762
|
|
|
|
69
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,831
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before income taxes
|
|
$
|
44,709
|
|
|
$
|
120,000
|
|
|
$
|
27,995
|
|
|
$
|
4,662
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
197,366
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intersegment revenues
|
|
$
|
(71,359
|
)
|
|
$
|
(9,429
|
)
|
|
$
|
(91
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
80,879
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Three Months Ended February 28, 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
$
|
1,713,683
|
|
|
$
|
1,883,836
|
|
|
$
|
177,936
|
|
|
$
|
8,442
|
|
|
$
|
(49,317
|
)
|
|
$
|
3,734,580
|
|
Cost of goods sold
|
|
|
1,629,477
|
|
|
|
1,841,801
|
|
|
|
165,576
|
|
|
|
(898
|
)
|
|
|
(49,317
|
)
|
|
|
3,586,639
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross profit
|
|
|
84,206
|
|
|
|
42,035
|
|
|
|
12,360
|
|
|
|
9,340
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
147,941
|
|
Marketing, general and administrative
|
|
|
22,224
|
|
|
|
23,703
|
|
|
|
6,044
|
|
|
|
6,620
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
58,591
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating earnings
|
|
|
61,982
|
|
|
|
18,332
|
|
|
|
6,316
|
|
|
|
2,720
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
89,350
|
|
Gain on investments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(11,400
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(11,400
|
)
|
Interest, net
|
|
|
(624
|
)
|
|
|
7,412
|
|
|
|
3,879
|
|
|
|
(1,664
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,003
|
|
Equity (income) loss from investments
|
|
|
(1,081
|
)
|
|
|
8,210
|
|
|
|
(18,345
|
)
|
|
|
(1,099
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(12,315
|
)
|
Minority interests
|
|
|
14,448
|
|
|
|
22
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14,470
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before income taxes
|
|
$
|
49,239
|
|
|
$
|
2,688
|
|
|
$
|
32,182
|
|
|
$
|
5,483
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
89,592
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intersegment revenues
|
|
$
|
(48,432
|
)
|
|
$
|
(795
|
)
|
|
$
|
(90
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
49,317
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17
CHS INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited) (Continued)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ag
|
|
|
|
|
|
Corporate
|
|
|
Reconciling
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Energy*
|
|
|
Business
|
|
|
Processing
|
|
|
and Other
|
|
|
Amounts
|
|
|
Total*
|
|
|
For the Six Months Ended February 29, 2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
$
|
4,920,732
|
|
|
$
|
8,109,235
|
|
|
$
|
533,345
|
|
|
$
|
16,773
|
|
|
$
|
(163,354
|
)
|
|
$
|
13,416,731
|
|
Cost of goods sold
|
|
|
4,696,365
|
|
|
|
7,806,529
|
|
|
|
506,759
|
|
|
|
(1,830
|
)
|
|
|
(163,354
|
)
|
|
|
12,844,469
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross profit
|
|
|
224,367
|
|
|
|
302,706
|
|
|
|
26,586
|
|
|
|
18,603
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
572,262
|
|
Marketing, general and administrative
|
|
|
47,400
|
|
|
|
66,596
|
|
|
|
12,018
|
|
|
|
15,450
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
141,464
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating earnings
|
|
|
176,967
|
|
|
|
236,110
|
|
|
|
14,568
|
|
|
|
3,153
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
430,798
|
|
(Gain) loss on investments
|
|
|
(17
|
)
|
|
|
(94,545
|
)
|
|
|
381
|
|
|
|
(997
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(95,178
|
)
|
Interest, net
|
|
|
(9,584
|
)
|
|
|
32,545
|
|
|
|
10,465
|
|
|
|
(1,823
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
31,603
|
|
Equity income from investments
|
|
|
(2,316
|
)
|
|
|
(26,674
|
)
|
|
|
(44,458
|
)
|
|
|
(3,155
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(76,603
|
)
|
Minority interests
|
|
|
35,683
|
|
|
|
127
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
35,810
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before income taxes
|
|
$
|
153,201
|
|
|
$
|
324,657
|
|
|
$
|
48,180
|
|
|
$
|
9,128
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
535,166
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intersegment revenues
|
|
$
|
(149,323
|
)
|
|
$
|
(13,850
|
)
|
|
$
|
(181
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
163,354
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Goodwill
|
|
$
|
3,654
|
|
|
$
|
150
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
3,804
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital expenditures
|
|
$
|
154,117
|
|
|
$
|
28,057
|
|
|
$
|
2,932
|
|
|
$
|
2,206
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
187,312
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
$
|
48,581
|
|
|
$
|
24,218
|
|
|
$
|
7,616
|
|
|
$
|
3,015
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
83,430
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total identifiable assets at February 29, 2008
|
|
$
|
2,682,038
|
|
|
$
|
5,718,242
|
|
|
$
|
807,174
|
|
|
$
|
858,671
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
10,066,125
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Six Months Ended February 28, 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
$
|
3,567,092
|
|
|
$
|
3,688,452
|
|
|
$
|
332,960
|
|
|
$
|
15,748
|
|
|
$
|
(118,602
|
)
|
|
$
|
7,485,650
|
|
Cost of goods sold
|
|
|
3,332,105
|
|
|
|
3,588,644
|
|
|
|
314,039
|
|
|
|
(911
|
)
|
|
|
(118,602
|
)
|
|
|
7,115,275
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross profit
|
|
|
234,987
|
|
|
|
99,808
|
|
|
|
18,921
|
|
|
|
16,659
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
370,375
|
|
Marketing, general and administrative
|
|
|
43,211
|
|
|
|
42,988
|
|
|
|
12,000
|
|
|
|
12,494
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
110,693
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating earnings
|
|
|
191,776
|
|
|
|
56,820
|
|
|
|
6,921
|
|
|
|
4,165
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
259,682
|
|
Gain on investments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(5,348
|
)
|
|
|
(11,400
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(16,748
|
)
|
Interest, net
|
|
|
(239
|
)
|
|
|
12,582
|
|
|
|
6,766
|
|
|
|
(2,418
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16,691
|
|
Equity (income) loss from investments
|
|
|
(2,137
|
)
|
|
|
18,799
|
|
|
|
(31,195
|
)
|
|
|
(2,313
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(16,846
|
)
|
Minority interests
|
|
|
33,409
|
|
|
|
(27
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
33,382
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before income taxes
|
|
$
|
160,743
|
|
|
$
|
30,814
|
|
|
$
|
42,750
|
|
|
$
|
8,896
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
243,203
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intersegment revenues
|
|
$
|
(116,252
|
)
|
|
$
|
(2,176
|
)
|
|
$
|
(174
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
118,602
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Goodwill
|
|
$
|
3,654
|
|
|
$
|
150
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
3,804
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital expenditures
|
|
$
|
130,385
|
|
|
$
|
15,540
|
|
|
$
|
7,918
|
|
|
$
|
1,153
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
154,996
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
$
|
42,394
|
|
|
$
|
16,633
|
|
|
$
|
7,271
|
|
|
$
|
2,649
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
68,947
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total identifiable assets at February 28, 2007
|
|
$
|
2,262,959
|
|
|
$
|
2,321,157
|
|
|
$
|
632,690
|
|
|
$
|
643,316
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
5,860,122
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
Adjusted to reflect adoption of FASB Staff Position No. AUG
AIR-1; see Note 2 |
18
CHS INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited) (Continued)
|
|
Note 13.
|
Commitments
and Contingencies
|
Guarantees
We are a guarantor for lines of credit for related companies. As
of February 29, 2008, our bank covenants allowed maximum
guarantees of $150.0 million, of which $50.5 million
was outstanding. In March 2008, we amended our bank covenants to
allow maximum guarantees of $500.0 million. All outstanding
loans with respective creditors are current as of
February 29, 2008.
Cofina Financial, in which we have a 49% ownership interest,
makes seasonal and term loans to cooperatives and individual
agricultural producers. We may, at our own discretion, choose to
guarantee certain loans made by Cofina Financial. In addition,
we also guarantee certain debt and obligations under contracts
for our subsidiaries and members.
Our obligations pursuant to our guarantees as of
February 29, 2008 are as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guarantee/
|
|
|
Exposure on
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maximum
|
|
|
February 29,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Triggering
|
|
Recourse
|
|
Assets Held
|
Entities
|
|
Exposure
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Nature of Guarantee
|
|
Expiration Date
|
|
Event
|
|
Provisions
|
|
as Collateral
|
|
Mountain Country, LLC
|
|
$
|
150
|
|
|
$
|
5
|
|
|
Obligations by Mountain Country, LLC under credit agreement
|
|
None stated, but may be terminated upon 90 days prior
notice in regard to future obligations
|
|
Credit agreement default
|
|
Subrogation against borrower
|
|
Some or all assets of borrower are held as collateral and
should be sufficient to cover guarantee exposure
|
Provista Renewable Fuels Marketing, LLC
|
|
$
|
10,000
|
|
|
|
3,231
|
|
|
Obligations by Provista under credit agreement
|
|
None stated
|
|
Credit agreement default
|
|
Subrogation against Provista
|
|
None
|
Horizon Milling, LLC
|
|
$
|
5,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Indemnification and reimbursement of 24% of damages related to
Horizon Milling, LLCs performance under a flour sales
agreement
|
|
None stated, but may be terminated by any party upon
90 days prior notice in regard to future obligations
|
|
Nonperformance under flour sale agreement
|
|
Subrogation against Horizon Milling, LLC
|
|
None
|
TEMCO, LLC
|
|
$
|
35,000
|
|
|
|
16,250
|
|
|
Obligations by TEMCO, LLC under credit agreement
|
|
None stated
|
|
Credit agreement default
|
|
Subrogation against TEMCO, LLC
|
|
None
|
TEMCO, LLC
|
|
$
|
1,000
|
|
|
|
1,000
|
|
|
Obligations by TEMCO, LLC under counterparty agreement
|
|
None stated, but may be terminated upon 5 days prior notice
in regard to future obligations
|
|
Nonpayment
|
|
Subrogation against TEMCO, LLC
|
|
None
|
Third parties
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
1,000
|
|
|
Surety for, or indemnificaton of surety for sales contracts
between affiliates and sellers of grain under deferred payment
contracts
|
|
Annual renewal on December 1 in regard to surety for one third
party, otherwise none stated and may be terminated by the
Company at any time in regard to future obligations
|
|
Nonpayment
|
|
Subrogation against affiliates
|
|
Some or all assets of borrower are held as collateral but might
not be sufficient to cover guarantee exposure
|
Cofina Financial, LLC
|
|
$
|
12,193
|
|
|
|
5,172
|
|
|
Loans to our customers that are originated by Cofina and then
sold to ProPartners, which is an affiliate of CoBank
|
|
None stated
|
|
Credit agreement default
|
|
Subrogation against borrower
|
|
Some or all assets of borrower are held as collateral but might
not be sufficient to cover guarantee exposure
|
19
CHS INC.
AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited) (Continued)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guarantee/
|
|
|
Exposure on
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Maximum
|
|
|
February 29,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Triggering
|
|
Recourse
|
|
Assets Held
|
Entities
|
|
Exposure
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Nature of Guarantee
|
|
Expiration Date
|
|
Event
|
|
Provisions
|
|
as Collateral
|
|
Cofina Financial, LLC
|
|
$
|
18,200
|
|
|
|
18,200
|
|
|
Loans made by Cofina to our customers
|
|
None stated
|
|
Credit agreement default
|
|
Subrogation against borrower
|
|
Some or all assets of borrower are held as collateral but might
not be sufficient to cover guarantee exposure
|
Agriliance LLC
|
|
$
|
5,674
|
|
|
|
5,674
|
|
|
Outstanding letter of credit from CoBank to Agriliance LLC
|
|
None stated
|
|
Default under letter of credit reimbursement agreement
|
|
Subrogation against borrower
|
|
None
|
Ag Business segment subsidiaries
|
|
$
|
2,810
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contribution obligations as a participating employer in the
Co-op Retirement Plan
|
|
None stated
|
|
Nonpayment
|
|
None
|
|
None
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
50,532
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
* |
|
The maximum exposure on any given date is equal to the actual
guarantees extended as of that date. |
20
|
|
Item 2.
|
Managements
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations
|
General
The following discussions of financial condition and results of
operations should be read in conjunction with the unaudited
interim financial statements and notes to such statements and
the cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements
found at the beginning of Part I, Item 1, of this
Form 10-Q,
as well as our consolidated financial statements and notes
thereto for the year ended August 31, 2007, included in our
Annual Report on
Form 10-K,
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This
discussion contains forward-looking statements based on current
expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections of
management. Actual results could differ materially from those
anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of
certain factors, as more fully described in the cautionary
statement and elsewhere in this
Form 10-Q.
CHS Inc. (CHS, we or us) is a diversified company, which
provides grain, foods and energy resources to businesses and
consumers on a global basis. As a cooperative, we are owned by
farmers, ranchers and their member cooperatives from the Great
Lakes to the Pacific Northwest and from the Canadian border to
Texas. We also have preferred stockholders that own shares of
our 8% Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock.
We provide a full range of production agricultural inputs such
as refined fuels, propane, farm supplies, animal nutrition and
agronomy products, as well as services, which include hedging,
financing and insurance services. We own and operate petroleum
refineries and pipelines and market and distribute refined fuels
and other energy products under the
Cenex®
brand through a network of member cooperatives and independents.
We purchase grains and oilseeds directly and indirectly from
agricultural producers primarily in the midwestern and western
United States. These grains and oilseeds are either sold to
domestic and international customers, or further processed into
a variety of grain-based food products.
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of
CHS and all of our wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries
and limited liability companies, including National Cooperative
Refinery Association (NCRA) and Provista Renewable Fuels
Marketing, LLC (Provista), included in our Energy segment. The
effects of all significant intercompany transactions have been
eliminated.
We operate three business segments: Energy, Ag Business and
Processing. Together, our three business segments create
vertical integration to link producers with consumers. Corporate
and Other primarily represents our business solutions
operations, which consists of commodities hedging, insurance and
financial services related to crop production. Our Energy
segment produces and provides for the wholesale distribution of
petroleum products and transports those products. Our Ag
Business segment purchases and resells grains and oilseeds
originated by our country operations business, by our member
cooperatives and by third parties, and also serves as wholesaler
and retailer of crop inputs. Our Processing segment converts
grains and oilseeds into value-added products.
Corporate administrative expenses are allocated to all three
business segments, and Corporate and Other, based on either
direct usage for services that can be tracked, such as
information technology and legal, and other factors or
considerations relevant to the costs incurred.
Many of our business activities are highly seasonal and
operating results will vary throughout the year. Overall, our
income is generally lowest during the second fiscal quarter and
highest during the third fiscal quarter. Our business segments
are subject to varying seasonal fluctuations. For example, in
our Ag Business segment, our retail agronomy, crop nutrients and
country operations businesses generally experience higher
volumes and income during the spring planting season and in the
fall, which corresponds to harvest. Also in our Ag Business
segment, our grain marketing operations are subject to
fluctuations in volume and earnings based on producer harvests,
world grain prices and demand. Our Energy segment generally
experiences higher volumes and profitability in certain
operating areas, such as refined products, in the summer and
early fall when gasoline and diesel fuel usage is highest and is
subject to global supply and demand forces. Other energy
products, such as propane, may experience higher volumes and
profitability during the winter heating and crop drying seasons.
21
Our revenues, assets and cash flows can be significantly
affected by global market prices for commodities such as
petroleum products, natural gas, grains, oilseeds, crop
nutrients and flour. Changes in market prices for commodities
that we purchase without a corresponding change in the selling
prices of those products can affect revenues and operating
earnings. Commodity prices are affected by a wide range of
factors beyond our control, including the weather, crop damage
due to disease or insects, drought, the availability and
adequacy of supply, government regulations and policies, world
events, and general political and economic conditions.
While our revenues and operating results are derived from
businesses and operations which are wholly-owned and
majority-owned, a portion of our business operations are
conducted through companies in which we hold ownership interests
of 50% or less and do not control the operations. We account for
these investments primarily using the equity method of
accounting, wherein we record our proportionate share of income
or loss reported by the entity as equity income from
investments, without consolidating the revenues and expenses of
the entity in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. These
investments principally include our 50% ownership in each of the
following companies: Agriliance LLC (Agriliance), TEMCO, LLC
(TEMCO) and United Harvest, LLC (United Harvest), and our 37.5%
ownership in Multigrain S.A. included in our Ag Business
segment; our 50% ownership in Ventura Foods, LLC (Ventura
Foods), our 24% ownership in Horizon Milling, LLC (Horizon
Milling) and Horizon Milling G.P., and our approximately 20%
ownership in US BioEnergy Corporation (US BioEnergy) included in
our Processing segment; and our 49% ownership in Cofina
Financial, LLC (Cofina Financial) included in Corporate and
Other.
Agriliance is owned and governed by United Country Brands, LLC
(50%) and Land OLakes, Inc. (Land OLakes) (50%).
United Country Brands, LLC is a 100% owned subsidiary of CHS. We
account for our share of the Agriliance investment using the
equity method of accounting. In June 2007, we announced that two
business segments of Agriliance were being repositioned. In
September 2007, Agriliance distributed the assets of the crop
nutrients business to us, and the assets of the crop protection
business to Land OLakes. Agriliance continues to exist as
a 50-50
joint venture and primarily operates an agronomy retail
distribution business. We currently are exploring, with Land
OLakes, the repositioning options for the remaining
portions of the Agriliance retail distribution business. During
the six months ended February 29, 2008, we contributed
$240.0 million, net to Agriliance to support their working
capital requirements, with Land OLakes making equal
contributions to Agriliance, primarily for crop nutrient and
crop protection product net trade payables that were not assumed
by us or Land OLakes upon the distribution of the crop
nutrients and crop protection assets.
Due to our 50% ownership interest in Agriliance and the 50%
ownership interest of Land OLakes, we were each entitled
to receive 50% of the distributions from Agriliance. Given the
different preliminary values assigned to the assets of the crop
nutrients and the crop protection businesses of Agriliance, at
the closing of the distribution transactions Land OLakes
owed us $133.5 million. Land OLakes paid us
$32.6 million in cash, and in order to maintain equal
capital accounts in Agriliance, they also paid down certain
portions of Agriliances debt on our behalf in the amount
of $100.9 million. Values of the distributed assets were
determined after the closing and in October 2007, we made a
true-up
payment to Land OLakes in the amount of
$45.7 million, plus interest. The final
true-up is
expected to occur during our current fiscal year.
The distribution of assets we received from Agriliance for the
crop nutrients business had a book value of $248.2 million.
We recorded 50% of the value of the net assets received at book
value due to our ownership interest in those assets when they
were held by Agriliance, and 50% of the value of the net assets
at fair value using the purchase method of accounting.
Preliminary values assigned to the net assets as of
September 1, 2007 totaled $268.7 million.
Certain reclassifications have been made to prior periods
amounts to conform to current period classifications. These
reclassifications had no effect on previously reported net
income, equities or total cash flows.
During the first fiscal quarter of 2008, we changed our
accounting method for the costs of turnarounds from the accrual
method to the deferral method. Turnarounds are the scheduled and
required shutdowns of refinery processing units for significant
overhaul and refurbishment. Under the deferral accounting
method, the costs of turnarounds are deferred when incurred and
amortized on a straight-line basis over the period of time
22
estimated to lapse until the next turnaround occurs. The new
method of accounting for turnarounds was adopted in order to
adhere to FASB Staff Position (FSP) No. AUG
AIR-1 Accounting for Planned Major Maintenance
Activities which prohibits the accrual method of
accounting for planned major maintenance activities. The affect
of this change in accounting principle to our Consolidated
Statement of Operations for the three and six months ended
February 28, 2007, was to increase net income by
$1.4 million and $1.5 million, respectively. In
addition, equity was increased by $42.5 million and
$37.5 million as of August 31, 2007 and
February 28, 2007, respectively.
Effective September 1, 2007, we adopted Financial
Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Interpretation No. 48,
Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes
(FIN 48). This interpretation clarifies the criteria for
recognizing income tax benefits under FASB Statement 109,
Accounting for Income Taxes, and requires additional
disclosures about uncertain tax positions. FIN 48 requires
a taxpayer to determine whether a tax position is more likely
than not (greater than 50 percent) to be sustained based
solely on the technical merits of the position. If this
threshold is met, the tax benefit is measured and recognized at
the largest amount that is greater than 50 percent likely
of being realized. The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits
as of September 1, 2007 and February 29, 2008 was
$7.5 million. There was no impact to our equity as a result
of adoption of FIN 48. Recognition of all or a portion of
the unrecognized tax benefits would affect our effective income
tax rate in the respective period of change. Any applicable
interest and penalties on uncertain tax positions were included
as a component of income tax expense prior to the adoption of
FIN 48, and we continued this classification subsequent to
the adoption. The liability for uncertain income taxes as of
September 1, 2007 and February 29, 2008, includes
interest and penalties of $0.3 million. We file income tax
returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various
U.S. state and foreign jurisdictions. The U.S. income
tax returns for periods ended after August 31, 2004, remain
subject to examination. With limited exceptions, we are not
subject to state and local income tax examinations for years
before August 31, 2001. It is not expected that the amount
of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change within
the next twelve months.
Recent
Events
In November 2007, US BioEnergy and VeraSun Energy Corporation
announced that they have entered into a definitive merger
agreement, and on March 31, 2008, they announced the
closing of the merger which was effective as of April 1,
2008. Post-merger, our ownership in the combined entity is
approximately 8%.
On April 1, 2008, we purchased US BioEnergys 50%
interest in Provista, making CHS the sole owner of Provista.
On April 1, 2008, we acquired Legacy Foods LLC, a producer
of soy-based food products. This business acquisition will be
included in our Processing segment.
Results
of Operations
Comparison
of the three months ended February 29, 2008 and
February 28, 2007
General. We recorded income before income
taxes of $197.4 million during the three months ended
February 29, 2008 compared to $89.6 million during the
three months ended February 28, 2007, an increase of
$107.8 million (120%). These results reflected increased
pretax earnings in our Ag Business segment, and were partially
offset by decreased earnings in our Energy and Processing
segments, along with reduced earnings in Corporate and Other.
Our Energy segment generated income before income taxes of
$44.7 million for the three months ended February 29,
2008 compared to $49.2 million in the three months ended
February 28, 2007. This decrease in earnings of
$4.5 million (9%) is primarily from a net reduction to
margins on refined fuels, which resulted mainly from lower
margins at both our Laurel, Montana refinery and, to a lesser
extent, at our NCRA refinery in McPherson, Kansas. Earnings in
our lubricants and renewable fuels marketing businesses
increased, while propane and transportation operations earnings
decreased during the three months ended February 29, 2008
when compared to the same three-month period of the previous
year.
23
Our Ag Business segment generated income before income taxes of
$120.0 million for the three months ended February 29,
2008 compared to $2.7 million in the three months ended
February 28, 2007, an increase in earnings of
$117.3 million. As previously discussed, during the first
quarter of fiscal 2008, we acquired the crop nutrients business
of Agriliance which generated $7.3 million in earnings for
the three months ended February 29, 2008. Prior to the
acquisition, we reflected 50% of these earnings through our
equity income from our investment in Agriliance. Strong demand
and increased volumes for grain and oilseed products, much of it
driven by increased U.S. ethanol production, contributed to
improved performances by both our grain marketing and country
operations businesses. Our grain marketing operations improved
earnings by $87.7 million during the three months ended
February 29, 2008 compared with the same three-month period
in fiscal 2007, primarily from increased grain volumes, greater
margins on those grains, and strong earning performances from
our joint ventures. Our country operations earnings increased
$20.6 million, primarily as a result of overall improved
product margins, including historically high volumes and margins
on grain, and improved margins on feed, agronomy and energy
transactions. Continued market expansion into Colorado, Oklahoma
and Kansas also increased country operations volumes. Volatility
in the grain markets creates opportunities for increased grain
margins, and additionally during fiscal 2007 and 2008, increased
interest in renewable fuels, and changes in transportation
costs, shifted marketing patterns and dynamics for our grain
marketing business. Improved retail margins generated by
Agriliance, an agronomy joint venture in which we hold a 50%
interest, net of allocated internal expenses, resulted in a
$1.7 million increase in our share of that joint
ventures earnings.
Our Processing segment generated income before income taxes of
$28.0 million for the three months ended February 29,
2008 compared to $32.2 million in the three months ended
February 28, 2007, a decrease in earnings of
$4.2 million (13%). Our share of earnings from our wheat
milling joint ventures, net of allocated expenses, generated
improved net earnings of $11.7 million for the three months
ended February 29, 2008 compared to the same period in the
prior year. Oilseed processing earnings increased
$3.0 million during the three months ended
February 29, 2008 compared to the same period in the prior
year, primarily due to improved margins in our crushing
operations, partially offset by decreased margins in our
refining operations. Our share of pretax earnings, net of
allocated internal expenses, related to US BioEnergy, an ethanol
manufacturing company in which we hold a minority ownership
interest, decreased $7.2 million for the three months ended
February 29, 2008 compared to the same period in the prior
year. Also, in August 2006, US BioEnergy filed a registration
statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission to
register shares of common stock for sale in an initial public
offering (IPO), and in December 2006, the IPO was completed. The
affect of the issuance of additional shares of US BioEnergy was
to dilute our ownership interest down from approximately 25% to
21%. Due to US BioEnergys increase in equity, we
recognized a non-cash net gain of $11.4 million during
fiscal 2007 on our investment to reflect our proportionate share
of the increase in the underlying equity of US BioEnergy. Our
share of earnings from Ventura Foods, our packaged foods joint
venture, net of allocated internal expenses, decreased
$0.5 million during the three months ended
February 29, 2008, compared to the same period in the prior
year.
Corporate and Other generated income before income taxes of
$4.7 million for the three months ended February 29,
2008 compared to $5.5 million in the three months ended
February 28, 2007, a decrease in earnings of
$0.8 million (15%). This reduction in earnings is primarily
attributable to our business solutions insurance services,
partially offset by our financial services.
Net Income. Consolidated net income for the
three months ended February 29, 2008 was
$168.0 million compared to $83.7 million for the three
months ended February 28, 2007, which represents a
$84.3 million (101%) increase.
Revenues. Consolidated revenues were
$6.9 billion for the three months ended February 29,
2008 compared to $3.7 billion for the three months ended
February 28, 2007, which represents a $3.2 billion
(85%) increase. In September, 2007 we began consolidating
revenues from our crop nutrients business acquisition as
previously discussed.
Total revenues include other revenues generated primarily within
our Ag Business segment and Corporate and Other. Our Ag Business
segments country operations elevators and agri-service
centers derive other
24
revenues from activities related to production agriculture,
which include grain storage, grain cleaning, fertilizer
spreading, crop protection spraying and other services of this
nature, and our grain marketing operations receive other
revenues at our export terminals from activities related to
loading vessels. Corporate and Other derives revenues primarily
from our hedging and insurance operations.
Our Energy segment revenues, after elimination of intersegment
revenues, of $2.3 billion increased by $662.4 million
(40%) during the three months ended February 29, 2008
compared to the three months ended February 28, 2007.
During the three months ended February 29, 2008 and
February 28, 2007, our Energy segment recorded revenues
from our Ag Business segment of $71.4 million and
$48.4 million, respectively. The net increase in revenues
of $662.4 million is comprised of a $98.6 million net
increase in sales volume and a net increase of
$563.8 million related to price appreciation on refined
fuels and propane products. Refined fuels revenues increased
$451.1 million (44%), of which $443.7 million was
related to a net average selling price increase and
$7.4 million was attributable to increased volumes,
compared to the same period in the previous year. The sales
price of refined fuels increased $0.78 per gallon (44%) and
volumes increased less than 1% when comparing the three months
ended February 29, 2008 with the same period a year ago.
Higher crude oil prices, strong global demand and limited
refining capacity contributed to the increase in refined fuels
selling prices. Renewable fuels marketing revenues increased
$66.6 million (33%), mostly from a 35% increase in volumes
when compared with the same three-month period in the previous
year. Propane revenues increased by $56.3 million (21%), of
which $84.2 million related to an increase in the net
average selling price, and were partially offset by
$27.9 million related to a decrease in volumes, when
compared to the same period in the previous year. Propane sales
volume decreased 8% in comparison to the same period of the
prior year, while the average selling price increased $0.34 per
gallon (31%). Propane prices tend to follow the prices of crude
oil and natural gas, both of which increased during the three
months ended February 29, 2008 compared to the same period
in 2007. Propane prices are also affected by changes in propane
demand and domestic inventory levels. The decrease in propane
volumes primarily reflects reduced demand caused by higher
prices.
Our Ag Business segment revenues, after elimination of
intersegment revenues, of $4.3 billion, increased
$2.4 billion (127%) during the three months ended
February 29, 2008 compared to the three months ended
February 28, 2007. Grain revenues in our Ag Business
segment totaled $3,576.1 million and $1,663.0 million
during the three months ended February 29, 2008 and
February 28, 2007, respectively. Of the grain revenues
increase of $1,913.1 million (115%), $922.8 million is
due to increased average grain selling prices and
$990.3 million is attributable to increased volumes during
the three months ended February 29, 2008 compared to the
same period last fiscal year. The average sales price of all
grain and oilseed commodities sold reflected an increase of
$2.90 per bushel (55%). The 2007 fall harvest produced good
yields throughout most of the United States, with the quality of
most grains rated as excellent or good. Despite the good
harvest, prices for nearly all grain commodity prices increased
because of strong demand, particularly for corn, which is used
as the feedstock for most ethanol plants as well as for
livestock feed. The average month-end market price per bushel of
spring wheat, soybeans and corn increased approximately $9.04,
$6.06 and $0.94, respectively, when compared to the prices of
those same grains for the three months ended February 28,
2007. Volumes increased 38% during the three months ended
February 29, 2008 compared with the same period of a year
ago. Wheat, corn and soybeans reflected the largest volume
increases compared to the three months ended February 28,
2007. Beginning in September 2007, we began recording revenues
from our crop nutrients business acquisition reflecting
$397.9 million for the three months ended February 29,
2008. Our Ag Business segment non-grain or non-wholesale crop
nutrients product revenues of $290.6 million increased by
$70.6 million (32%) during the three months ended
February 29, 2008 compared to the three months ended
February 28, 2007, primarily the result of increased
revenues of energy, crop nutrient, feed, crop protection and
processed sunflower products. Other revenues within our Ag
Business segment of $32.5 million during the three months
ended February 29, 2008 increased $8.7 million (36%)
compared to the three months ended February 28, 2007,
primarily from grain handling and service revenues.
Our Processing segment revenues, after elimination of
intersegment revenues, of $290.0 million increased
$112.1 million (63%) during the three months ended
February 29, 2008 compared to the three months ended
February 28, 2007. Because our wheat milling and packaged
foods operations are operated through non-
25
consolidated joint ventures, revenues reported in our Processing
segment are entirely from our oilseed processing operations.
Higher average sales prices of processed oilseed increased
revenues by $52.0 million, while processed soybean volumes
increased 9%, accounting for an increase in revenues of
$13.8 million. Oilseed refining revenues increased
$45.4 million (58%), of which $39.8 million was due to
higher average sales prices and $5.6 million was due to a
5% net increase in sales volume. The average selling price of
processed oilseed increased $97 per ton and the average selling
price of refined oilseed products increased $0.16 per pound
compared to the same three-month period of fiscal 2007. The
changes in the average selling price of products are primarily
driven by the average higher price of soybeans.
Cost of Goods Sold. Cost of goods sold of
$6.6 billion increased $3.0 billion (85%) during the
three months ended February 29, 2008 compared to the three
months ended February 28, 2007.
Our Energy segment cost of goods sold, after elimination of
intersegment costs, of $2.3 billion increased by
$669.2 million (42%) during the three months ended
February 29, 2008 compared to the same period of the prior
year. The increase in cost of goods sold is primarily due to
increased per unit costs for refined fuels and propane products.
On a more product-specific basis, the average cost of refined
fuels increased $0.78 (44%) per gallon and volumes increased
less than 1% compared to the three months ended
February 28, 2007. We process approximately
55,000 barrels of crude oil per day at our Laurel, Montana
refinery and 80,000 barrels of crude oil per day at
NCRAs McPherson, Kansas refinery. The average cost
increase is primarily related to higher input costs at our two
crude oil refineries and higher average prices on the refined
products that we purchased for resale compared to the three
months ended February 28, 2007. The average per unit cost
of crude oil purchased for the two refineries increased 54%
compared to the three months ended February 28, 2007.
Renewable fuels marketing cost increased $65.9 million
(33%), mostly from a 35% increase in volumes when compared with
the same three-month period in the previous year. The average
cost of propane increased $0.33 (31%) per gallon, while volumes
decreased 8% compared to the three months ended
February 28, 2007.
Our Ag Business segment cost of goods sold, after elimination of
intersegment costs, of $4.1 billion increased
$2.3 billion (123%) during the three months ended
February 29, 2008 compared to the same period of the prior
year. Grain cost of goods sold in our Ag Business segment
totaled $3,455.7 million and $1,636.4 million during
the three months ended February 29, 2008 and
February 28, 2007, respectively. The cost of grains and
oilseed procured through our Ag Business segment increased
$1,819.3 million (111%) compared to the three months ended
February 28, 2007. This is the result of an increase of
$2.71 (53%) in the average cost per bushel along with a 38% net
increase in bushels sold as compared to the prior year. Wheat,
corn and soybeans reflected the largest volume increases
compared to the three months ended February 28, 2007.
Commodity prices on spring wheat, soybeans and corn have
increased compared to the prices that were prevalent during the
same three-month period in 2007. Beginning in September, 2007 we
began recording cost of goods sold from our crop nutrients
business acquisition reflecting $382.2 million for the
three months ended February 29, 2008. Our Ag Business
segment cost of goods sold, excluding the cost of grains
procured through this segment, increased during the three months
ended February 29, 2008 compared to the three months ended
February 28, 2007, primarily due to higher volumes and
price per unit costs for energy, crop nutrient, feed, crop
protection and processed sunflower products. The volume
increases resulted primarily from acquisitions made and
reflected in the reporting periods.
Our Processing segment cost of goods sold, after elimination of
intersegment costs, of $273.6 million, increased
$108.1 million (65%) compared to the three months ended
February 28, 2007, which was primarily due to increased
costs of soybeans in addition to volume increases in oilseed
refining and soybean crushing.
Marketing, General and
Administrative. Marketing, general and
administrative expenses of $75.0 million for the three
months ended February 29, 2008 increased by
$16.4 million (28%) compared to the three months ended
February 28, 2007. The net increase of $16.4 million
includes $7.6 million from our crop nutrients business
reflected in our Ag Business segment, which were previously
netted in our equity investment reported earnings of Agriliance.
The remaining net change of $8.8 million (15%) includes
increased performance-based incentive plan expense, in addition
to other employee benefits (primarily medical and pension),
general inflation and other acquisitions.
26
Gain on Investments. In August 2006, US
BioEnergy filed a registration statement with the Securities and
Exchange Commission to register shares of common stock for sale
in an initial public offering (IPO), and in December 2006, the
IPO was completed. The affect of the issuance of additional
shares of US BioEnergy was to dilute our ownership interest down
from approximately 25% to 21%. Due to US BioEnergys
increase in equity, we recognized a non-cash net gain of
$11.4 million on our investment to reflect our
proportionate share of the increase in the underlying equity of
US BioEnergy. During the three months ended February 29,
2008, our investment in US BioEnergy reflected a slight change
in ownership resulting in a net gain of $0.2 million. These
gains are reflected in our Processing segment.
Interest, net. Net interest of
$18.1 million for the three months ended February 29,
2008 increased $9.1 million (101%) compared to the same
period in fiscal 2007. Interest expense for the three months
ended February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2007 was
$22.1 million and $12.8 million, respectively.
Interest income, generated primarily from marketable securities,
was $4.0 million and $3.8 million, for the three
months ended February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2007,
respectively. The interest expense increase of $9.3 million
(72%) includes an increase in short-term borrowings, primarily
created by higher working capital needs, and partially offset by
a decrease in the average short-term interest rate and an
increase in capitalized interest of $1.6 million. For the
three months ended February 29, 2008 and February 28,
2007, we capitalized interest of $4.2 million and
$2.6 million, respectively, primarily related to
construction projects in our Energy segment for financing
interest on our coker project. The average level of short-term
borrowings increased $510.3 million during the three months
ended February 29, 2008 compared to the same three-month
period in fiscal 2007, and the average short-term interest rate
decreased 1.15%. Higher commodity prices within our Ag Business
segment in addition to increased volumes and working capital
needs from our crop nutrients business acquisition increased
that segments interest, net by $10.0 million. Also,
in October, 2007, we entered into a private placement with
several insurance companies and banks for additional long-term
debt in the amount of $400.0 million with an interest rate
of 6.18%, which primarily replaced short-term debt. The interest
income net increase of $0.2 million (4%), was primarily at
NCRA within our Energy segment, and relates to marketable
securities, which were partially offset by reduced interest
income in Corporate and Other relating to a decrease of interest
income on our hedging and other services.
Equity Income from Investments. Equity income
from investments of $45.4 million for the three months
ended February 29, 2008 increased $33.1 million
compared to the three months ended February 28, 2007. We
record equity income or loss primarily from the investments in
which we have an ownership interest of 50% or less and have
significant influence, but not control, for our proportionate
share of income or loss reported by the entity, without
consolidating the revenues and expenses of the entity in our
Consolidated Statements of Operations. The net increase in
equity income from investments was attributable to improved
earnings from investments in all of our business segments and
Corporate and Other. These improvements included
$0.1 million for Energy, $27.7 million for Ag
Business, $5.0 million for Processing and $0.3 million
for Corporate and Other.
Our Ag Business segment generated improved earnings of
$27.7 million from equity investments. Our share of equity
investment earnings or losses in Agriliance decreased earnings
by $0.8 million and a Canadian agronomy holding company
showed improved earnings by $1.9 million. In September
2007, Agriliance distributed the assets of the crop nutrients
business to us, and the assets of the crop protection business
to Land OLakes, Inc. Agriliance continues to exist as a
50-50 joint
venture and primarily operates an agronomy retail distribution
business. We had an improvement of $26.5 million from our
share of equity investment earnings in our grain marketing joint
ventures during the three months ended February 29, 2008
compared to the same period the previous year. The improvement
in earnings is primarily related to increased volumes. Our
country operations business reported an aggregate increase in
equity investment earnings of $0.2 million from several
small equity investments.
Our Processing segment generated improved earnings of
$5.0 million from equity investments. During fiscal years
2006, 2007 and through February 29, 2008, we invested
$121.9 million in US BioEnergy, an ethanol manufacturing
company, and recorded reduced equity investment earnings of
$6.6 million during the three months ended
February 29, 2008 compared to the same period in the
previous year, primarily from reduced margin resulting from
higher input costs. Ventura Foods, our vegetable oil-based
products and
27
packaged foods joint venture, recorded slightly reduced earnings
of $0.4 million, and Horizon Milling, our domestic and
Canadian wheat milling joint ventures, recorded improved
earnings of $12.0 million, net compared to the same
three-month period in fiscal 2007. Ventura Foods decrease
in earnings was primarily due to higher selling, general and
administrative expenses. A shifting demand balance for soybeans
for both food and renewable fuels meant addressing supply and
price challenges for both CHS and our Ventura Foods joint
venture. Horizon Millings improved results were related to
merchandising margins during the three months ended
February 29, 2008. Typically results are affected by
U.S. dietary habits and although the preference for a low
carbohydrate diet appears to have reached the bottom of its
cycle, milling capacity, which had been idled over the past few
years because of lack of demand for flour products, can easily
be put back into production as consumption of flour products
increases, which may depress gross margins in the milling
industry.
Our Energy segment generated increased equity investment
earnings of $0.1 million related to improved margins in an
equity investment held by NCRA, and Corporate and Other
generated improved earnings of $0.3 million from equity
investment earnings, primarily from Cofina Financial, our
financial services equity investment, as compared to the three
months ended February 28, 2007.
Minority Interests. Minority interests of
$12.8 million for the three months ended February 29,
2008 decreased by $1.6 million (11%) compared to the three
months ended February 28, 2007. This net increase was a
result of less profitable operations within our majority-owned
subsidiaries compared to the same three-month period in the
prior year. Substantially all minority interests relate to NCRA,
an approximately 74.5% owned subsidiary, which we consolidate in
our Energy segment.
Income Taxes. Income tax expense of
$29.3 million for the three months ended February 29,
2008 compares with $5.9 million for the three months ended
February 28, 2007, resulting in effective tax rates of
14.9% and 6.6%, respectively. The federal and state statutory
rate applied to nonpatronage business activity was 38.9% for the
three-month periods ended February 29, 2008 and
February 28, 2007. The income taxes and effective tax rate
vary each year based upon profitability and nonpatronage
business activity during each of the comparable years.
Comparison
of the six months ended February 29, 2008 and
February 28, 2007
General. We recorded income before income
taxes of $535.2 million during the six months ended
February 29, 2008 compared to $243.2 million during
the six months ended February 28, 2007, an increase of
$292.0 million (120%). These results reflected increased
pretax earnings in each of our Ag Business and Processing
segments and in Corporate and Other, and were partially offset
by decreased earnings in our Energy segment.
Our Energy segment generated income before income taxes of
$153.2 million for the six months ended February 29,
2008 compared to $160.7 million in the six months ended
February 28, 2007. This decrease in earnings of
$7.5 million (5%) is primarily from a net reduction to
margins on refined fuels, which resulted mainly from a planned
major maintenance, during which time our production was reduced
at our Laurel, Montana refinery along with lower margins at that
facility and were partially offset by improved margins at our
NCRA refinery in McPherson, Kansas, which resulted from
continued strong global demand and tight supply in our trade
area. Earnings in our lubricants, propane, transportation and
renewable fuels marketing businesses also improved during the
six months ended February 29, 2008 when compared to the
same six-month period of the previous year.
Our Ag Business segment generated income before income taxes of
$324.7 million for the six months ended February 29,
2008 compared to $30.8 million in the six months ended
February 28, 2007, an increase in earnings of
$293.9 million. In our first fiscal quarter of 2007, we
sold approximately 25% of our investment in CF, a domestic
fertilizer manufacturer in which we held a minority interest,
for which we received cash of $10.9 million and recorded a
gain of $5.3 million. During the first quarter of fiscal
2008, we sold all of our remaining 1,610,396 shares of CF
stock for proceeds of $108.3 million and recorded a pretax
gain of $91.7 million. As previously discussed, during the
first quarter of fiscal 2008, we acquired the crop nutrients
business of Agriliance which generated $20.1 million in
earnings for the six months ended February 29, 2008.
28
Prior to the acquisition, we reflected 50% of these earnings
through our equity income from our investment in Agriliance.
Strong demand and increased volumes for grain and oilseed
products, much of it driven by increased U.S. ethanol
production, contributed to improved performances by both our
grain marketing and country operations businesses. Our country
operations earnings increased $44.8 million, primarily as a
result of overall improved product margins, including
historically high margins on grain, agronomy, feed and processed
sunflower transactions. Continued market expansion into
Colorado, Oklahoma and Kansas also increased country operations
volumes. Our grain marketing operations improved earnings by
$134.1 million during the six months ended
February 29, 2008 compared with the same six-month period
in fiscal 2007, primarily from increased grain volumes and
improved margins, and also included strong earning performances
from our joint ventures. Volatility in the grain markets creates
opportunities for increased grain margins, and additionally
during fiscal 2007 and 2008, increased interest in renewable
fuels, and changes in transportation costs, shifted marketing
patterns and dynamics for our grain marketing business. Improved
retail margins generated by Agriliance, an agronomy joint
venture in which we hold a 50% interest, net of allocated
internal expenses, resulted in an $8.5 million increase in
our share of that joint ventures earnings.
Our Processing segment generated income before income taxes of
$48.2 million for the six months ended February 29,
2008 compared to $42.8 million in the six months ended
February 28, 2007, an increase in earnings of
$5.4 million (13%). Oilseed processing earnings increased
$5.7 million during the six months ended February 29,
2008 compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily
due to improved margins in our crushing operations, partially
offset by slightly decreased margins in our refining operations.
Our share of earnings from our wheat milling joint ventures, net
of allocated expenses, reported improved net earnings of
$18.2 million for the six months ended February 29,
2008 compared to the same period in the prior year. Our share of
pretax earnings, net of allocated internal expenses, related to
US BioEnergy, an ethanol manufacturing company in which we hold
a minority ownership interest, decreased $6.4 million for
the six months ended February 29, 2008 compared to the same
period in the prior year. Also, in August 2006, US BioEnergy
filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange
Commission to register shares of common stock for sale in an
initial public offering (IPO), and in December 2006, the IPO was
completed. The affect of the issuance of additional shares of US
BioEnergy was to dilute our ownership interest down from
approximately 25% to 21%. Due to US BioEnergys increase in
equity, we recognized a non-cash net gain of $11.4 million
during fiscal 2007 on our investment to reflect our
proportionate share of the increase in the underlying equity of
US BioEnergy. Our share of earnings from Ventura Foods, our
packaged foods joint venture, net of allocated internal
expenses, decreased $0.4 million during the six months
ended February 29, 2008, compared to the same period in the
prior year.
Corporate and Other generated income before income taxes of
$9.1 million for the six months ended February 29,
2008 compared to $8.9 million in the six months ended
February 28, 2007, an increase in earnings of
$0.2 million (3%). This improvement is primarily
attributable to our business solutions financial and
hedging services.
Net Income. Consolidated net income for the
six months ended February 29, 2008 was $468.9 million
compared to $220.1 million for the six months ended
February 28, 2007, which represents a $248.8 million
(113%) increase.
Revenues. Consolidated revenues were
$13.4 billion for the six months ended February 29,
2008 compared to $7.5 billion for the six months ended
February 28, 2007, which represents a $5.9 billion
(79%) increase. In September, 2007 we began consolidating
revenues from our crop nutrients business acquisition as
previously discussed.
Total revenues include other revenues generated primarily within
our Ag Business segment and Corporate and Other. Our Ag Business
segments country operations elevators and agri-service
centers derive other revenues from activities related to
production agriculture, which include grain storage, grain
cleaning, fertilizer spreading, crop protection spraying and
other services of this nature, and our grain marketing
operations receive other revenues at our export terminals from
activities related to loading vessels. Corporate and Other
derives revenues primarily from our hedging and insurance
operations.
29
Our Energy segment revenues, after elimination of intersegment
revenues, of $4.8 billion increased by $1.3 billion
(38%) during the six months ended February 29, 2008
compared to the six months ended February 28, 2007. During
the six months ended February 29, 2008 and
February 28, 2007, our Energy segment recorded revenues
from our Ag Business segment of $149.3 million and
$116.3 million, respectively. The net increase in revenues
of $1,320.6 million is comprised of a $295.7 million
net increase in sales volume and a net increase of
$1,024.9 million related to price appreciation on refined
fuels and propane products. Refined fuels revenues increased
$934.0 million (41%), of which $857.2 million was
related to a net average selling price increase and
$76.8 million was attributable to increased volumes,
compared to the same period in the previous year. The sales
price of refined fuels increased $0.68 per gallon (37%) and
volumes increased 2% when comparing the six months ended
February 29, 2008 with the same period a year ago. Higher
crude oil prices, strong global demand and limited refining
capacity contributed to the increase in refined fuels selling
prices. Renewable fuels marketing revenues increased
$156.9 million (47%), mostly from a 54% increase in volumes
when compared with the same six-month period in the previous
year. Propane revenues increased by $66.6 million (15%), of
which $125.9 million related to an increase in the net
average selling price, and were partially offset by
$59.3 million related to a decrease in volumes, when
compared to the same period in the previous year. Propane sales
volume decreased 11% in comparison to the same period of the
prior year, while the average selling price increased $0.32 per
gallon (29%). Propane prices tend to follow the prices of crude
oil and natural gas, both of which increased during the six
months ended February 29, 2008 compared to the same period
in 2007. Propane prices are also affected by changes in propane
demand and domestic inventory levels. The decrease in propane
volumes primarily reflects a loss of crop drying season with
less moisture in the fall 2007 crop and reduced demand due to
higher prices.
Our Ag Business segment revenues, after elimination of
intersegment revenues, of $8.1 billion, increased
$4.4 billion (120%) during the six months ended
February 29, 2008 compared to the six months ended
February 28, 2007. Grain revenues in our Ag Business
segment totaled $6,458.3 million and $3,167.6 million
during the six months ended February 29, 2008 and
February 28, 2007, respectively. Of the grain revenues
increase of $3,290.7 million (104%), $1,582.2 million
is due to increased average grain selling prices and
$1,708.5 million is attributable to increased volumes
during the six months ended February 29, 2008 compared to
the same period last fiscal year. The average sales price of all
grain and oilseed commodities sold reflected an increase of
$2.45 per bushel (50%). The 2007 fall harvest produced good
yields throughout most of the United States, with the quality of
most grains rated as excellent or good. Despite the good
harvest, prices for nearly all grain commodities increased
because of strong demand, particularly for corn, which is used
as the feedstock for most ethanol plants as well as for
livestock feed. The average month-end market price per bushel of
spring wheat, soybeans and corn increased approximately $6.55,
$5.06 and $0.76, respectively, when compared to the prices of
those same grains for the six months ended February 28,
2007. Volumes increased 36% during the six months ended
February 29, 2008 compared with the same period of a year
ago. Wheat, corn, soybeans and barley reflected the largest
volume increases compared to the six months ended
February 28, 2007. Beginning in September, 2007 we began
recording revenues from our crop nutrients business acquisition
reflecting $931.3 million for the six months ended
February 29, 2008. Our Ag Business segment non-grain or
non-wholesale crop nutrients product revenues of
$705.8 million increased by $187.1 million (36%)
during the six months ended February 29, 2008 compared to
the six months ended February 28, 2007, primarily the
result of increased revenues of crop nutrient, energy, feed,
crop protection and processed sunflower products. Other revenues
within our Ag Business segment of $74.6 million during the
six months ended February 29, 2008 increased
$17.9 million (32%) compared to the six months ended
February 28, 2007, primarily from grain handling and
service revenues.
Our Processing segment revenues, after elimination of
intersegment revenues, of $533.2 million increased
$200.4 million (60%) during the six months ended
February 29, 2008 compared to the six months ended
February 28, 2007. Because our wheat milling and packaged
foods operations are operated through non-consolidated joint
ventures, revenues reported in our Processing segment are
entirely from our oilseed processing operations. Higher average
sales prices of processed oilseed increased revenues by
$86.4 million, while processed soybean volumes increased
11%, accounting for an increase in revenues of
$27.8 million. Oilseed refining revenues increased
$83.1 million (53%), of which $69.8 million was due to
higher average sales prices and $13.3 million was due to a
6% net increase in sales volume. The average selling price of
30
processed oilseed increased $86 per ton and the average selling
price of refined oilseed products increased $0.14 per pound
compared to the same six-month period of fiscal 2007. The
changes in the average selling price of products are primarily
driven by the higher price of soybeans.
Cost of Goods Sold. Cost of goods sold of
$12.8 billion increased $5.7 billion (81%) during the
six months ended February 29, 2008 compared to the six
months ended February 28, 2007.
Our Energy segment cost of goods sold, after elimination of
intersegment costs, of $4.5 billion increased by
$1.3 billion (41%) during the six months ended
February 29, 2008 compared to the same period of the prior
year. The increase in cost of goods sold is primarily due to
increased per unit costs for refined fuels and propane products.
On a more product-specific basis, the average cost of refined
fuels increased $0.71 (40%) per gallon and volumes increased 2%
compared to the six months ended February 28, 2007. We
process approximately 55,000 barrels of crude oil per day
at our Laurel, Montana refinery and 80,000 barrels of crude
oil per day at NCRAs McPherson, Kansas refinery. The
average cost increase is primarily related to higher input costs
at our two crude oil refineries and higher average prices on the
refined products that we purchased for resale compared to the
six months ended February 28, 2007. The average per unit
cost of crude oil purchased for the two refineries increased 48%
compared to the six months ended February 28, 2007. The
average cost of propane increased $0.31 (29%) per gallon, while
volumes decreased 11% compared to the six months ended
February 28, 2007.
Our Ag Business segment cost of goods sold, after elimination of
intersegment costs, of $7.8 billion increased
$4.2 billion (117%) during the six months ended
February 29, 2008 compared to the same period of the prior
year. Grain cost of goods sold in our Ag Business segment
totaled $6.2 billion and $3.1 billion during the six
months ended February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2007,
respectively. The cost of grains and oilseed procured through
our Ag Business segment increased $3.1 billion (101%)
compared to the six months ended February 28, 2007. This is
the result of an increase of $2.30 (48%) in the average cost per
bushel along with a 36% net increase in bushels sold as compared
to the prior year. Wheat, corn, soybeans and barley reflected
the largest volume increases compared to the six months ended
February 28, 2007. Commodity prices on soybeans, spring
wheat and corn have increased compared to the prices that were
prevalent during the same six-month period in 2007. Beginning in
September, 2007 we began recording cost of goods sold from our
crop nutrients business acquisition reflecting
$894.2 million for the six months ended February 29,
2008. Our Ag Business segment cost of goods sold, excluding the
cost of grains procured through this segment, increased during
the six months ended February 29, 2008 compared to the six
months ended February 28, 2007, primarily due to higher
volumes and price per unit costs for crop nutrient, energy, feed
and processed sunflower products. The volume increases resulted
primarily from acquisitions made and reflected in the reporting
periods.
Our Processing segment cost of goods sold, after elimination of
intersegment costs, of $506.6 million, increased
$192.7 million (61%) compared to the six months ended
February 28, 2007, which was primarily due to increased
costs of soybeans in addition to volume increases in oilseed
refining and soybean crushing.
Marketing, General and
Administrative. Marketing, general and
administrative expenses of $141.5 million for the six
months ended February 29, 2008 increased by
$30.8 million (28%) compared to the six months ended
February 28, 2007. The net increase of $30.8 million
includes $14.3 million from our crop nutrients business
reflected in our Ag Business segment, which were previously
netted in our equity investment reported earnings of Agriliance.
The remaining net change of $16.5 million (15%) includes
increased performance-based incentive plan expense, in addition
to other employee benefits (primarily medical and pension),
general inflation and other acquisitions.
Gain on Investments. During our first fiscal
quarter in 2007, we sold 540,000 shares of our CF
Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF) stock, included in our Ag
Business segment, for proceeds of $10.9 million, and
recorded a pretax gain of $5.3 million, reducing our
ownership interest in CF to approximately 2.9%. During the six
months ended February 29, 2008, we sold all of our
remaining 1,610,396 shares of CF stock for proceeds of
$108.3 million and recorded a pretax gain of
$91.7 million. Also during the six months ended
February 29, 2008 included in our Energy and Ag Business
segments and Corporate and Other were gains on available for
sale securities sold of $17 thousand, $2.9 million and
$1.0 million, respectively. These gains were
31
partially offset by losses on investments of $0.4 million
in our Processing segment. In August 2006, US BioEnergy filed a
registration statement with the Securities and Exchange
Commission to register shares of common stock for sale in an
initial public offering (IPO), and in December 2006, the IPO was
completed. The affect of the issuance of additional shares of US
BioEnergy was to dilute our ownership interest down from
approximately 25% to 21%. Due to US BioEnergys increase in
equity, we recognized a non-cash net gain of $11.4 million
on our investment to reflect our proportionate share of the
increase in the underlying equity of US BioEnergy.
Interest, net. Net interest of
$31.6 million for the six months ended February 29,
2008 increased $14.9 million (89%) compared to the same
period in fiscal 2007. Interest expense for the six months ended
February 29, 2008 and February, 2007 was $40.4 million
and $24.1 million, respectively. Interest income, generated
primarily from marketable securities, was $8.8 million and
$7.4 million, for the six months ended February 29,
2008 and February 28, 2007, respectively. The interest
expense increase of $16.3 million (68%) includes an
increase in short-term borrowings, primarily created by higher
working capital needs, partially offset by an increase in
capitalized interest of $4.1 million. For the six months
ended February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2007, we
capitalized interest of $8.5 million and $4.4 million,
respectively, primarily related to construction projects in our
Energy segment for financing interest on our coker project. The
average level of short-term borrowings increased
$578.4 million during the six months ended
February 29, 2008 compared to the same six-month period in
fiscal 2007, and the average short-term interest rate decreased
0.61%. Higher commodity prices primarily within our Ag Business
segment in addition to increased volumes and working capital
needs from our crop nutrients business acquisition increased
that segments interest, net by $20.0 million. Also,
in October, 2007, we entered into a private placement with
several insurance companies and banks for additional long-term
debt in the amount of $400.0 million with an interest rate
of 6.18%, which primarily replaced short-term debt. The interest
income net increase of $1.4 million (19%), was primarily at
NCRA within our Energy segment, and relates to marketable
securities, and were partially offset by reduced interest income
in Corporate and Other relating to a decrease of interest income
on our hedging and other services.
Equity Income from Investments. Equity income
from investments of $76.6 million for the six months ended
February 29, 2008 increased $59.8 million compared to
the six months ended February 28, 2007. We record equity
income or loss primarily from the investments in which we have
an ownership interest of 50% or less and have significant
influence, but not control, for our proportionate share of
income or loss reported by the entity, without consolidating the
revenues and expenses of the entity in our Consolidated
Statements of Operations. The net increase in equity income from
investments was attributable to improved earnings from
investments in all of our business segments and Corporate and
Other. These improvements included $0.2 million for Energy,
$45.5 million for Ag Business, $13.3 million for
Processing and $0.8 million for Corporate and Other.
Our Ag Business segment generated improved earnings of
$45.5 million from equity investments. Our share of equity
investment earnings or losses in Agriliance increased earnings
by $5.1 million and includes improved margins for their
retail operations. In September 2007, Agriliance distributed the
assets of the crop nutrients business to us, and the assets of
the crop protection business to Land OLakes. Agriliance
continues to exist as a
50-50 joint
venture and primarily operates an agronomy retail distribution
business. We had an improvement of $38.7 million from our
share of equity investment earnings in our grain marketing joint
ventures during the six months ended February 29, 2008
compared to the same period the previous year. The improvement
in earnings is primarily related to increased volumes. Our
country operations business reported an aggregate increase in
equity investment earnings of $1.7 million from several
small equity investments.
Our Processing segment generated improved earnings of
$13.3 million from equity investments. During fiscal years
2006, 2007 and through February 29, 2008, we invested
$121.9 million in US BioEnergy, an ethanol manufacturing
company, and recorded reduced equity investment earnings of
$4.9 million during the six months ended February 29,
2008 compared to the same period in the previous year, primarily
from reduced margins resulting from higher input costs. Ventura
Foods, our vegetable oil-based products and packaged foods joint
venture, recorded slightly reduced earnings of
$0.6 million, and Horizon Milling, our domestic and
Canadian wheat milling joint ventures, recorded improved
earnings of $18.9 million, net compared to the same
32
six-month period in fiscal 2007. Ventura Foods decrease in
earnings was primarily due to higher selling, general and
administrative expenses. A shifting demand balance for soybeans
for both food and renewable fuels meant addressing supply and
price challenges for both CHS and our Ventura Foods joint
venture. Horizon Millings improved results were related to
merchandising margins during the six months ended
February 29, 2008. Typically results are affected by
U.S. dietary habits and although the preference for a low
carbohydrate diet appears to have reached the bottom of its
cycle, milling capacity, which had been idled over the past few
years because of lack of demand for flour products, can easily
be put back into production as consumption of flour products
increases, which may depress gross margins in the milling
industry.
Our Energy segment generated increased equity investment
earnings of $0.2 million related to improved margins in an
equity investment held by NCRA, and Corporate and Other
generated improved earnings of $0.8 million from equity
investment earnings, primarily from Cofina Financial, our
financial services equity investment, as compared to the six
months ended February 28, 2007.
Minority Interests. Minority interests of
$35.8 million for the six months ended February 29,
2008 increased by $2.4 million (7%) compared to the six
months ended February 28, 2007. This net increase was a
result of more profitable operations within our majority-owned
subsidiaries compared to the same six-month period in the prior
year. Substantially all minority interests relate to NCRA, an
approximately 74.5% owned subsidiary, which we consolidate in
our Energy segment.
Income Taxes. Income tax expense of
$66.2 million for the six months ended February 29,
2008 compares with $23.2 million for the six months ended
February 28, 2007, resulting in effective tax rates of
12.4% and 9.5%, respectively. The federal and state statutory
rate applied to nonpatronage business activity was 38.9% for the
six-month periods ended February 29, 2008 and
February 28, 2007. The income taxes and effective tax rate
vary each year based upon profitability and nonpatronage
business activity during each of the comparable years.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
On February 29, 2008, we had working capital, defined as
current assets less current liabilities, of
$1,563.0 million and a current ratio, defined as current
assets divided by current liabilities, of 1.3 to 1.0, compared
to working capital of $821.9 million and a current ratio of
1.3 to 1.0 on August 31, 2007. On February 28, 2007,
we had working capital of $829.8 million and a current
ratio of 1.3 to 1.0 compared to working capital of
$848.3 million and a current ratio of 1.5 to 1.0 on
August 31, 2006. During the six months ended
February 29, 2008, increases in working capital included
the impact of the cash received from additional long-term
borrowings of $600.0 million and a distribution of crop
nutrients net assets received from Agriliance, our agronomy
joint venture, as previously discussed.
On February 29, 2008, our committed line of credit
consisted of a five-year revolving facility in the amount of
$1.3 billion. This credit facility was established with a
syndicate of domestic and international banks, and our
inventories and receivables financed with it are highly liquid.
On February 29, 2008, we had $797.8 million
outstanding on this line of credit compared with
$440.0 million outstanding on the credit facility in place
on February 28, 2007. In February 2008, we increased our
short-term borrowing capacity by establishing a
$500.0 million committed line of credit with a syndication
of banks consisting of a
364-day
revolver. On February 29, 2008, we had $130.0 million
outstanding on the
364-day
revolver. In addition, we have two commercial paper programs
totaling $125.0 million with banks participating in our
five-year revolver. On February 29, 2008, we had
$36.7 million of commercial paper outstanding compared with
$99.1 million outstanding on February 28, 2007. Due to
recent appreciation in commodity prices, as further discussed in
Cash Flows from Operations, our average borrowings
have been much higher in comparison to prior years. With our
recent long-term borrowings and our additional short-term
borrowing capacity, we believe that we have adequate liquidity
to cover any increase in net operating assets and liabilities in
the foreseeable future.
33
Cash
Flows from Operations
Cash flows from operations are generally affected by commodity
prices and the seasonality of our businesses. These commodity
prices are affected by a wide range of factors beyond our
control, including weather, crop conditions, drought, the
availability and the adequacy of supply and transportation,
government regulations and policies, world events, and general
political and economic conditions. These factors are described
in the preceding cautionary statements and may affect net
operating assets and liabilities, and liquidity.
Our cash flows used in operating activities were
$432.7 million and $68.8 million for the six months
ended February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2007,
respectively. The fluctuation in cash flows when comparing the
two periods is primarily from greater net income, income from
equity investments and gains on investments, and a larger net
increase in operating assets and liabilities during the six
months ended February 29, 2008 compared to
February 28, 2007. Grain prices have been volatile, and
because we hedge most of our grain positions with futures
contracts on regulated exchanges, volatile prices create margin
calls, which are reflected in other current assets and are a use
of cash. In addition, higher commodity prices affect inventory
and receivable balances which consume cash until inventories are
sold and receivables are collected.
Our operating activities used net cash of $432.7 million
during the six months ended February 29, 2008. Net income
of $468.9 million and net non-cash expenses and cash
distributions from equity investments of $14.4 million were
exceeded by an increase in net operating assets and liabilities
of $916.0 million. The primary components of net non-cash
expenses and cash distributions from equity investments included
depreciation and amortization, including major repair costs, of
$97.6 million, deferred tax expense of $39.9 million
and minority interests of $35.8 million, partially offset
by gains on investments of $95.2 million and income from
equity investments, net of redemptions from those investments,
of $57.5 million. Gains on investments were previously
discussed in Results of Operations, and primarily
includes the gain on the sale of all of our shares of CF common
stock. The increase in net operating assets and liabilities was
caused primarily by increased commodity prices reflected in
increased receivables, inventories, derivative assets and
hedging deposits, included in other current assets, partially
offset by an increase in customer advance payments, derivative
liabilities, and accounts payable and accrued expenses on
February 29, 2008, when compared to August 31, 2007.
On February 29, 2008, the market prices of our three
primary grain commodities, spring wheat, soybeans and corn,
increased by $11.33 (164%) per bushel, $6.54 (75%)
per bushel and $2.22 (69%) per bushel, respectively, when
compared to the prices on August 31, 2007. Grain inventory
quantities in our Ag Business segment increased by
19.6 million bushels (13%) when comparing inventories at
February 29, 2008 to August 31, 2007. In addition, our
feed and farm supplies inventories in our Ag Business segment
increased significantly during the period as we began building
fertilizer inventories at our country operations retail
locations in anticipation of spring planting. In general, crude
oil prices increased $27.80 (38%) per barrel on
February 29, 2008 when compared to August 31, 2007.
Our operating activities used net cash of $68.8 million
during the six months ended February 28, 2007. Net income
of $220.1 million and net non-cash expenses and cash
distributions from equity investments of $124.8 million
were exceeded by an increase in net operating assets and
liabilities of $413.7 million. The primary components of
net non-cash expenses and cash distributions from equity
investments included depreciation and amortization, including
major repair costs, of $80.9 million, redemptions from
equity investments net of income from those investments of
$7.4 million, minority interests of $33.4 million and
deferred tax expense of $23.2 million, which were partially
offset by a pretax gain of $5.3 million from the sale of
540,000 shares of our CF stock, included in our Ag Business
segment, and an $11.4 million non-cash gain in our
Processing segment from US BioEnergys IPO transaction as
previously discussed in Results of Operations. The
increase in net operating assets and liabilities was caused
primarily by an increase of $339.9 million in derivative
assets and hedging deposits (included in other current assets),
partially offset by an increase in derivative liabilities of
$112.4 million, due to increases in grain prices on
February 28, 2007 when compared to August 31, 2006.
Increases in inventories also caused an increase in net
operating assets and liabilities. On February 28, 2007, the
market prices of our three primary grain commodities, corn,
soybeans and spring wheat, increased by $1.93 per bushel (83%),
$2.31 per bushel (43%) and $0.55 per bushel (12%), respectively,
when compared to August 31, 2006. Grain inventory
quantities increased in our Ag
34
Business segment by 8.5 million bushels (8%) when comparing
inventories on February 28, 2007 to August 31, 2006.
In addition, our feed and farm supplies inventories in our Ag
Business segment increased significantly during the period
(66%), as we began building fertilizer inventories at our
country operations retail locations in anticipation of spring
planting. Our energy inventories decreased 14% as crude oil
prices in general decreased $8.47 per barrel (12%) on
February 28, 2007 as compared to August 31, 2006.
Crude oil prices are expected to be volatile in the foreseeable
future, but related inventories and receivables turn over in a
relatively short period, thus somewhat mitigating the effects on
operating assets and liabilities. Grain prices are influenced
significantly by global projections of grain stocks available
until the next harvest. Demand for corn by the ethanol industry
created an incentive to divert acres from soybeans and wheat to
corn this past planting year. The effect has been to stabilize
corn prices at a relatively high level, with soybeans and wheat
also showing price appreciation. Grain prices were volatile
during fiscal 2007 and have continued to be volatile during the
first two quarters and into the beginning of the third quarter
of fiscal 2008. We anticipate that high demand for all grains
and oilseeds will likely continue to create higher prices and
price volatility for those commodities.
Cash usage is usually greatest during the second quarter of our
fiscal year as we build inventories at our retail operations in
our Ag Business segment and make payments on deferred payment
contracts which have accumulated over the course of the prior
calendar year. Our net income has historically been the lowest
during our second fiscal quarter and highest during our third
fiscal quarter, although we can not ensure this historical trend
will continue. We believe that we have adequate capacity through
our committed credit facilities to meet any likely increase in
net operating assets and liabilities.
Cash
Flows from Investing Activities
For the six months ended February 29, 2008 and
February 28, 2007, the net cash flows used in our investing
activities totaled $402.1 million and $235.6 million,
respectively.
Excluding investments in Agriliance, further discussed below,
the acquisition of property, plant and equipment comprised the
primary use of cash totaling $187.3 million and
$155.0 million for the six months ended February 29,
2008 and February 28, 2007, respectively. For the year
ending August 31, 2008, we expect to spend approximately
$355.0 million for the acquisition of property, plant and
equipment. Included in our projected capital spending through
fiscal 2008 is completion of the installation of a coker unit at
our Laurel, Montana refinery, along with other refinery
improvements, which will allow us to extract a greater volume of
high value gasoline and diesel fuel from a barrel of crude oil
and less relatively lower value asphalt, that is expected to
increase yields by about 14 percent. The installation of
the coker unit is now complete, with the total cost of the
project expected to be approximately $400 million. Total
expenditures for this project as of February 29, 2008, were
$386.2 million, of which $101.9 million and
$93.0 million were incurred during the six months ended
February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2007, respectively.
During the first fiscal quarter of 2008, we retrospectively
changed our accounting method for the costs of turnarounds from
the accrual method to the deferral method, as previously
discussed. Turnarounds are the scheduled and required shutdowns
of refinery processing units for significant overhaul and
refurbishment. Expenditures for these major repairs during the
six months ended February 29, 2008 and February 28,
2007 were $21.7 million and $2.5 million, respectively.
In October 2003, we and NCRA reached agreements with the EPA and
the State of Montanas Department of Environmental Quality
and the State of Kansas Department of Health and Environment
regarding the terms of settlements with respect to reducing air
emissions at our Laurel, Montana and NCRAs McPherson,
Kansas refineries. These settlements are part of a series of
similar settlements that the EPA has negotiated with major
refiners under the EPAs Petroleum Refinery Initiative. The
settlements take the form of consent decrees filed with the
U.S. District Court for the District of Montana (Billings
Division) and the U.S. District Court for the District of
Kansas. Each consent decree details potential capital
improvements, supplemental environmental projects and
operational changes that we and NCRA have agreed to implement at
the relevant refinery over several years. The consent decrees
also required us and NCRA to pay approximately $0.5 million
in aggregate civil cash penalties. As of February 29, 2008,
the aggregate capital expenditures for
35
us and NCRA related to these settlements was approximately
$23 million, and we anticipate spending an additional
$9 million over the next four years. We do not believe that
the settlements will have a material adverse effect on us or
NCRA.
Investments made during the six months ended February 29,
2008 and February 28, 2007, totaled $321.2 million and
$80.5 million, respectively. As previously discussed, in
September 2007, Agriliance distributed primarily its wholesale
crop nutrients and crop protection assets to us and Land
OLakes, respectively, and continues to operate primarily
its retail distribution business until further repositioning of
that business occurs. During the six months ended
February 29, 2008, we made a $13.0 million net cash
payment to Land OLakes in order to maintain equal capital
accounts in Agriliance, as previously discussed. During the same
period, our net contribution to Agriliance was
$240.0 million which supported their working capital
requirements, with Land OLakes making equal contributions
to Agriliance, primarily for crop nutrient and crop protection
product trade payables that were not assumed by us or Land
OLakes upon the distribution of the crop nutrients and
crop protection assets. Also during the six months ended
February 29, 2008, we invested $30.3 million in a
joint venture (37.5% ownership) included in our Ag Business
segment, that acquired production farmland and related
operations in Brazil, intended to strengthen our ability to
serve customers around the world. These operations include
production of soybeans, corn, cotton and sugarcane, as well as
cotton processing at four locations. Another investment was the
$6.5 million purchase of additional shares of common stock
in US BioEnergy, included in our Processing segment, during the
six months ended February 29, 2008, compared to
$35.1 million during the six months ended February 28,
2007. An additional investment during the six months ended
February 28, 2007, included $22.2 million for an
equity position in a Brazil-based grain handling and
merchandising company, Multigrain S.A., an agricultural
commodities business headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in
which we have a current ownership interest of 37.5% and is
included in our Ag Business segment. This venture, which
includes grain storage and export facilities, builds on our
South American soybean origination, and helps meet customer
needs year-round. We also invested $15.6 million in Horizon
Milling G.P. (24% CHS ownership) during the six months ended
February 28, 2007, a joint venture included in our
Processing segment, that acquired the Canadian grain-based
foodservice and industrial businesses of Smucker Foods of
Canada, which includes three flour milling operations and two
dry baking mixing facilities in Canada.
During the six months ended February 29, 2008 and
February 28, 2007, changes in notes receivable resulted in
a decrease in cash flows of $6.4 million and
$15.4 million, respectively. The notes were primarily from
related party notes receivable at NCRA from its minority owners,
Growmark, Inc. and MFA Oil Company. During the six months ended
February 28, 2007, $8.0 million of the decrease in
cash flows resulted from a note receivable related to our
investment in Multigrain S.A.
Acquisitions of intangibles were $7.2 million and
$0.6 million for the six months ended February 29,
2008 and February 28, 2007, respectively. During the six
months ended February 29, 2008, we paid $5.3 million
related to an acquisition of a distillers dried grain business
included in our Ag Business segment.
Partially offsetting our cash outlays for investing activities
for the six months ended February 29, 2008 and
February 28, 2007, were proceeds from the sale of
investments of $114.2 million and $10.9 million,
respectively, which were previously discussed in Results
of Operations, and primarily include proceeds from the
sale of all of our shares of CF common stock. Also partially
offsetting cash usages for the six months ended
February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2007, were proceeds
from the disposition of property, plant and equipment of
$5.8 million and $7.1 million, respectively, and
investments redeemed totaling $34.2 million and
$3.0 million, respectively.
Cash
Flows from Financing Activities
We finance our working capital needs through short-term lines of
credit with a syndication of domestic and international banks.
In May 2006, we renewed and expanded our committed lines of
revolving credit to include a five-year revolver in the amount
of $1.1 billion, with the ability to expand the facility an
additional $200.0 million. In October 2007, we expanded
that facility, receiving additional commitments in the amount of
$200.0 million from certain lenders under the agreement.
The additional commitments increased the total
36
borrowing capacity to $1.3 billion on the facility. On
February 29, 2008, interest rates for amounts outstanding
on this credit facility ranged from 3.32% to 4.87%. In February
2008, we increased our short-term borrowing capacity by
establishing a $500.0 million committed line of credit with
a syndication of banks consisting of a
364-day
revolver, with interest rates ranging from 3.42% to 3.55% on
February 29, 2008. In addition to these lines of credit, we
have a revolving credit facility dedicated to NCRA, with a
syndication of banks in the amount of $15.0 million
committed. In November 2007, the line of credit dedicated to
NCRA was renewed for an additional year. We also have a
committed revolving line of credit dedicated to Provista
Renewable Fuels Marketing, LLC (Provista), which expires in
November 2009, in the amount of $25.0 million. On
February 29, 2008, August 31, 2007 and
February 28, 2007, we had total short-term indebtedness
outstanding on these various facilities and other miscellaneous
short-term notes payable totaling $934.3 million,
$620.7 million and $453.5 million, respectively.
Proceeds from our long-term borrowings totaling
$600.0 million during the six months ended
February 29, 2008, were used to pay down our five-year
revolver and are explained in further detail below.
During the first quarter of fiscal 2007, we instituted two
commercial paper programs, totaling up to $125.0 million,
with two banks participating in our five-year revolving credit
facility. Terms of our five-year revolving credit facility allow
a maximum usage of commercial paper of $200.0 million at
any point in time. The commercial paper programs do not increase
our committed borrowing capacity in that we are required to have
at least an equal amount of undrawn capacity available on our
five-year revolving facility as to the amount of commercial
paper issued. On February 29, 2008, we had
$36.7 million of commercial paper outstanding, all with
maturities of three months or less from their date of issuance
with interest rates ranging from 3.80% to 3.90%, compared to
$51.9 million and $99.1 million outstanding on
August 31, 2007 and February 28, 2007, respectively.
We typically finance our long-term capital needs, primarily for
the acquisition of property, plant and equipment, with long-term
agreements with various insurance companies and banks. In June
1998, we established a long-term credit agreement through the
cooperative banks. This facility committed $200.0 million
of long-term borrowing capacity to us, with repayments through
fiscal 2009. The amount outstanding on this credit facility was
$62.3 million, $75.4 and $86.9 million on
February 29, 2008, August 31, 2007 and
February 28, 2007, respectively. Interest rates on
February 29, 2008 ranged from 5.25% to 7.13%. Repayments of
$13.1 million and $11.5 million were made on this
facility during the six months ended February 29, 2008 and
February 28, 2007, respectively.
Also in June 1998, we completed a private placement offering
with several insurance companies for long-term debt in the
amount of $225.0 million with an interest rate of 6.81%.
Repayments are due in equal annual installments of
$37.5 million each in the years 2008 through 2013.
In January 2001, we entered into a note purchase and private
shelf agreement with Prudential Insurance Company. The long-term
note in the amount of $25.0 million has an interest rate of
7.9% and is due in equal annual installments of approximately
$3.6 million, in the years 2005 through 2011. A subsequent
note for $55.0 million was issued in March 2001, related to
the private shelf facility. The $55.0 million note has an
interest rate 7.43% and is due in equal annual installments of
approximately $7.9 million, in the years 2005 through 2011.
Repayments of $3.6 million were made during each of the six
months ended February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2007.
In October 2002, we completed a private placement with several
insurance companies for long-term debt in the amount of
$175.0 million, which was layered into two series. The
first series of $115.0 million has an interest rate of
4.96% and is due in equal semi-annual installments of
approximately $8.8 million during the years 2007 through
2013. The second series of $60.0 million has an interest
rate of 5.60% and is due in equal semi-annual installments of
approximately $4.6 million during years 2012 through 2018.
Repayments of $8.8 million were made on the first series
notes during each of the six months ended February 29, 2008
and February 28, 2007.
In March 2004, we entered into a note purchase and private shelf
agreement with Prudential Capital Group, and in April 2004, we
borrowed $30.0 million under this arrangement. One
long-term note in the amount of $15.0 million has an
interest rate of 4.08% and is due in full at the end of the
six-year term in
37
2010. Another long-term note in the amount of $15.0 million
has an interest rate of 4.39% and is due in full at the end of
the seven-year term in 2011. In April 2007, we amended our Note
Purchase and Private Shelf Agreement with Prudential Investment
Management, Inc. and several other participating insurance
companies to expand the uncommitted facility from
$70.0 million to $150.0 million. We borrowed
$50.0 million under the shelf arrangement in February 2008,
for which the aggregate long-term notes have an interest rate of
5.78% and are due in equal annual installments of
$10.0 million during the years 2014 through 2018.
In September 2004, we entered into a private placement with
several insurance companies for long-term debt in the amount of
$125.0 million with an interest rate of 5.25%. Repayments
are due in equal annual installments of $25.0 million
during years 2011 through 2015.
In October 2007, we entered into a private placement with
several insurance companies and banks for long-term debt in the
amount of $400.0 million with an interest rate of 6.18%.
Repayments are due in equal annual installments of
$80.0 million during years 2013 through 2017.
In December 2007, we established a ten-year long-term credit
agreement through a syndication of cooperative banks in the
amount of $150.0 million, with an interest rate of 5.59%.
Repayments are due in equal semi-annual installments of
$15.0 million each, starting in June 2013 through December
2018.
Through NCRA, we had revolving term loans outstanding of
$1.5 million and $4.5 million for the six months
ended February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2007,
respectively. Interest rates on February 29, 2008 ranged
from 6.48% to 6.99%. Repayments of $1.5 million were made
during each of the six months ended February 29, 2008 and
February 28, 2007.
On February 29, 2008, we had total long-term debt
outstanding of $1,259.7 million, of which
$213.8 million was bank financing, $1,020.6 million
was private placement debt and $25.3 million was industrial
development revenue bonds and other notes and contracts payable.
The aggregate amount of long-term debt payable presented in the
Managements Discussion and Analysis in our Annual Report
on
Form 10-K
for the year ended August 31, 2007 has not changed
materially during the six months ended February 29, 2008,
other than for the $600.0 million of additional long-term
borrowings discussed previously, of which repayments will start
in 2013 or later years. On February 28, 2007, we had
long-term debt outstanding of $716.1 million. Our long-term
debt is unsecured except for other notes and contracts in the
amount of $8.0 million; however, restrictive covenants
under various agreements have requirements for maintenance of
minimum working capital levels and other financial ratios. In
addition, NCRA term loans of $1.5 million are
collateralized by NCRAs investment in CoBank, ACB. We were
in compliance with all debt covenants and restrictions as of
February 29, 2008.
In December 2006, NCRA entered into an agreement with the City
of McPherson, Kansas related to certain of its ultra-low sulfur
fuel assets, with a cost of approximately $325.0 million.
The City of McPherson issued $325.0 million of Industrial
Revenue Bonds (IRBs) which were transferred to NCRA as
consideration in a financing agreement between the City of
McPherson and NCRA related to the ultra-low sulfur fuel assets.
The term of the financing obligation is ten years, at which time
NCRA has the option of extending the financing obligation or
purchasing the assets for a nominal amount. NCRA has the right
at anytime to offset the financing obligation to the City of
McPherson against the IRBs. No cash was exchanged in the
transaction and none is anticipated to be exchanged in the
future. Due to the structure of the agreement, the financing
obligation and the IRBs are shown net in our consolidated
financial statements. In March 2007, notification was sent to
the bond trustees to pay the IRBs down by $324.0 million,
at which time the financing obligation to the City of McPherson
was offset against the IRBs. The balance of $1.0 million
will remain outstanding until final maturity in ten years.
During the six months ended February 29, 2008, we borrowed
on a long-term basis, $600.0 million, and did not have any
new borrowings during the six months ended February 28,
2007. During the six months ended February 29, 2008 and
February 28, 2007, we repaid long-term debt of
$30.2 million and $28.7 million, respectively.
Distributions to minority owners for the six months ended
February 29, 2008 and February 28, 2007, were
$49.3 million and $22.3 million, respectively, and
were primarily related to NCRA.
38
During the six months ended February 29, 2008 and
February 28, 2007, changes in checks and drafts outstanding
resulted in an increase in cash flows of $54.4 million
$49.0 million, respectively.
In accordance with the bylaws and by action of the Board of
Directors, annual net earnings from patronage sources are
distributed to consenting patrons following the close of each
fiscal year. Patronage refunds are calculated based on amounts
using financial statement earnings. The cash portion of the
patronage distribution is determined annually by the Board of
Directors, with the balance issued in the form of capital equity
certificates. The patronage earnings from the fiscal year ended
August 31, 2007, were distributed during the six months
ended February 29, 2008. The cash portion of this
distribution deemed by the Board of Directors to be 35%, was
$195.0 million. During the six months ended
February 28, 2007, we distributed cash patronage of
$133.1 million.
Redemptions of capital equity certificates approved by the Board
of Directors are divided into two pools, one for non-individuals
(primarily member cooperatives) who may participate in an annual
pro-rata program for equities held by them, and another for
individuals who are eligible for equity redemptions at
age 70 or upon death. The amount that each non-individual
receives under the pro-rata program in any year is determined by
multiplying the dollars available for pro-rata redemptions, if
any that year, as determined by the Board of Directors, by a
fraction, the numerator of which is the amount of patronage
certificates eligible for redemption held by them, and the
denominator of which is the sum of the patronage certificates
eligible for redemption held by all eligible holders of
patronage certificates that are not individuals. In addition to
the annual pro-rata program, the Board of Directors approved
additional equity redemptions targeting older capital equity
certificates which were redeemed in cash in fiscal 2008 and
2007. In accordance with authorization from the Board of
Directors, we expect total redemptions related to the year ended
August 31, 2007, that will be distributed in fiscal 2008,
to be approximately $136.2 million, of which
$69.7 million was redeemed in cash during the six months
ended February 29, 2008 compared to $57.3 million
during the six months ended February 28, 2007. We also
redeemed $46.4 million of capital equity certificates
during the six months ended February 29, 2008, by issuing
shares of our 8% Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
(Preferred Stock) pursuant to a registration statement filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. During the six
months ended February 28, 2007, we redeemed
$35.9 million of capital equity certificates by issuing
shares of our Preferred Stock.
Our Preferred Stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market
under the symbol CHSCP. On February 29, 2008, we had
9,047,780 shares of Preferred Stock outstanding with a
total redemption value of approximately $226.2 million,
excluding accumulated dividends. Our Preferred Stock accumulates
dividends at a rate of 8% per year, which are payable quarterly,
and is redeemable at our option after February 1, 2008. At
this time, we have no current plan or intent to redeem any
Preferred Stock. Dividends paid on our preferred stock during
the six months ended February 29, 2008 and
February 28, 2007 were $7.2 million and
$5.9 million, respectively.
Off
Balance Sheet Financing Arrangements
Lease
Commitments:
Our lease commitments presented in Managements Discussion
and Analysis in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended August 31, 2007 have not materially
changed during the six months ended February 29, 2008.
Guarantees:
We are a guarantor for lines of credit for related companies. As
of February 29, 2008, our bank covenants allowed maximum
guarantees of $150.0 million, of which $50.5 million
was outstanding. In March 2008, we amended our bank covenants to
allow maximum guarantees of $500 million. All outstanding
loans with respective creditors are current as of
February 29, 2008.
39
Debt:
There is no material off balance sheet debt.
Contractual
Obligations
Our contractual obligations are presented in Managements
Discussion and Analysis in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended August 31, 2007. The total obligations
have not materially changed during the six months ended
February 29, 2008, except for the balance sheet changes in
payables and long-term debt and an approximate 115% increase in
grain purchase contracts related to recent appreciation in grain
prices.
On September 1, 2007, Agriliance distributed the net assets
of their crop nutrients business to us, as previously discussed.
We now have additional purchase obligations as of that date
related to the crop nutrients business that were previously
obligations of Agriliance. On February 29, 2008, we had
obligations to purchase approximately 3.2 million tons of
fertilizer through 2010. The average price per ton estimated for
these purchase obligations was approximately $430.
Critical
Accounting Policies
Our Critical Accounting Policies are presented in our Annual
Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended August 31, 2007. There have been no
changes to these policies during the six months ended
February 29, 2008.
Effect of
Inflation and Foreign Currency Transactions
Inflation and foreign currency fluctuations have not had a
significant effect on our operations. We have some grain
marketing, wheat milling and energy operations that impact our
exposure to foreign currency fluctuations, but to date, there
have been no material effects.
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board
(FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS)
No. 157, Fair Value Measurements
(SFAS No. 157) which defines fair value,
establishes a framework for measuring fair value in accordance
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States of America, and expands disclosures about fair value
measurements. SFAS No. 157 is effective for financial
assets and liabilities for fiscal years beginning after
November 15, 2007. In February 2008, the FASB issued FASB
Staff Position
(FSP) 157-2,
Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157.
FSP 157-2
delays the effective date of SFAS No. 157 for all
non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities that are not
remeasured at fair value on a recurring basis until fiscal years
beginning after November 15, 2008. Any amounts recognized
upon adoption of this rule as a cumulative effect adjustment
will be recorded to the opening balance of retained earnings in
the year of adoption. We are in the process of evaluating the
effect that the adoption of SFAS No. 157 will have on
our consolidated results of operations and financial condition.
In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159,
The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial
Liabilities. SFAS No. 159 provides entities with
an option to report certain financial assets and liabilities at
fair value, with changes in fair value reported in earnings, and
requires additional disclosures related to an entitys
election to use fair value reporting. It also requires entities
to display the fair value of those assets and liabilities for
which the entity has elected to use fair value on the face of
the balance sheet. SFAS No. 159 is effective for
fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. We are in
the process of evaluating the effect that the adoption of
SFAS No. 159 will have on our consolidated results of
operations and financial condition.
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141R,
Business Combinations. SFAS No. 141R
provides companies with principles and requirements on how an
acquirer recognizes and measures in its financial statements the
identifiable assets acquired, liabilities assumed, and any
noncontrolling interest in the acquiree, as well as the
recognition and measurement of goodwill acquired in a business
combination. SFAS No. 141R also requires certain
disclosures to enable users of the financial statements to
evaluate the nature and financial
40
effects of the business combination. Acquisition costs
associated with the business combination will generally be
expensed as incurred. SFAS No. 141R is effective for
business combinations occurring in fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 2008. Early adoption of
SFAS No. 141R is not permitted. The impact on our
consolidated financial statements of adopting
SFAS No. 141R will depend on the nature, terms and
size of business combinations completed after the effective date.
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160,
Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial
Statements, an Amendment of ARB No. 51. This
statement amends ARB No. 51 to establish accounting and
reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest (minority
interest) in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a
subsidiary. Upon its adoption, noncontrolling interests will be
classified as equity in our Consolidated Balance Sheet. Income
and comprehensive income attributed to the noncontrolling
interest will be included in our Consolidated Statement of
Operations and our Consolidated Statement of Equities and
Comprehensive Income. SFAS No. 160 is effective for
fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The
provisions of this standard must be applied retrospectively upon
adoption. We are in the process of evaluating the impact the
adoption of SFAS No. 160 will have on our consolidated
financial statements.
In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161,
Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging
Activities, an Amendment of FASB Statement
No. 133. SFAS No. 161 requires
disclosures of how and why an entity uses derivative
instruments, how derivative instruments and related hedged items
are accounted for and how derivative instruments and related
hedged items affect an entitys financial position,
financial performance, and cash flows. SFAS No. 161 is
effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15,
2008, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating
the impact of the adoption of SFAS No. 161 on our
consolidated financial statements.
CAUTIONARY
STATEMENTS FOR PURPOSES OF THE SAFE HARBOR PROVISIONS OF THE
SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT
Any statements contained in this report regarding the outlook
for our businesses and their respective markets, such as
projections of future performance, statements of our plans and
objectives, forecasts of market trends and other matters, are
forward-looking statements based on our assumptions and beliefs.
Such statements may be identified by such words or phrases as
will likely result, are expected to,
will continue, outlook, will
benefit, is anticipated, estimate,
project, management believes or similar
expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to
certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results
to differ materially from those discussed in such statements and
no assurance can be given that the results in any
forward-looking statement will be achieved. For these
statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for
forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statement
speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and we disclaim
any obligation to subsequently revise any forward-looking
statement to reflect events or circumstances after such date or
to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.
Certain factors could cause our future results to differ
materially from those expressed or implied in any
forward-looking statements contained in this report. These
factors include the factors discussed in Item 1A of our
Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2007 under the caption
Risk Factors, the factors discussed below and any
other cautionary statements, written or oral, which may be made
or referred to in connection with any such forward-looking
statements. Since it is not possible to foresee all such
factors, these factors should not be considered as complete or
exhaustive.
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Our revenues and operating results could be adversely affected
by changes in commodity prices.
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Our operating results could be adversely affected if our members
were to do business with others rather than with us.
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We participate in highly competitive business markets in which
we may not be able to continue to compete successfully.
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Changes in federal income tax laws or in our tax status could
increase our tax liability and reduce our net income.
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We incur significant costs in complying with applicable laws and
regulations. Any failure to make the capital investments
necessary to comply with these laws and regulations could expose
us to financial liability.
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Environmental liabilities could adversely affect our results and
financial condition.
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Actual or perceived quality, safety or health risks associated
with our products could subject us to liability and damage our
business and reputation.
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Our operations are subject to business interruptions and
casualty losses; we do not insure against all potential losses
and could be seriously harmed by unexpected liabilities.
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Our cooperative structure limits our ability to access equity
capital.
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Consolidation among the producers of products we purchase and
customers for products we sell could adversely affect our
revenues and operating results.
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If our customers choose alternatives to our refined petroleum
products our revenues and profits may decline.
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Operating results from our agronomy business could be volatile
and are dependent upon certain factors outside of our control.
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Technological improvements in agriculture could decrease the
demand for our agronomy and energy products.
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We operate some of our business through joint ventures in which
our rights to control business decisions are limited.
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Item 3.
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Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
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We did not experience any material changes in market risk
exposures for the period ended February 29, 2008, that
affect the quantitative and qualitative disclosures presented in
our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended August 31, 2007.
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Item 4T.
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Controls
and Procedures
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Under the supervision and with the participation of our
management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief
Financial Officer, we evaluated the effectiveness of our
disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in
Rule 13a-15(e)
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange
Act)) as of February 29, 2008. Based on that
evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial
Officer concluded that, as of that date, our disclosure controls
and procedures were effective.
During the second fiscal quarter ended February 29, 2008,
there was no change in our internal control over financial
reporting (as defined in
Rule 13a-15(f)
under the Exchange Act) that has materially affected, or is
reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control
over financial reporting.
42
PART II.
OTHER INFORMATION
There were no material changes to our risk factors during the
period covered by this report. See the discussion of risk
factors in Item 1A of our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2007.
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Exhibit
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Description
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10
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.1
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Amendment No. 2 to Note Purchase and Shelf Agreement and
Senior Series J Notes totaling $50 million issued
February 8, 2008 (Incorporated by reference to our Current
Report on
Form 8-K
filed February 11, 2008)
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10
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.2
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Credit Agreement
(364-day
Revolving Loan) by and between CHS Inc., CoBank, ACB and the
Syndication Parties dated as of February 14, 2008.
(Incorporated by reference to our Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed February 15, 2008)
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10
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.3
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Third Amendment to 2006 Amended and Restated Credit Agreement by
and among CHS Inc., CoBank, ACB and the Syndication Parties
dated March 5, 2008. (Incorporated by reference to our
Current Report on
Form 8-K
filed March 6, 2008)
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10
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.4
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Second Amendment of CHS Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan
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10
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.5
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Amendment No. 5 to the CHS Inc. Supplemental Executive
Retirement Plan
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10
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.6
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Amendment No. 6 to the CHS Inc. Supplemental Executive
Retirement Plan
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10
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.7
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Amendment No. 1 to the CHS Inc. Special Supplemental
Executive Retirement Plan
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31
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.1
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Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002
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31
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.2
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Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002
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32
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.1
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Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as
Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
of 2002
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32
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.2
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Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as
Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act
of 2002
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements 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.
CHS Inc.
(Registrant)
John Schmitz
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
April 9, 2008
44