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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q/A

[ü] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2003

[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                 to                

Commission file number 000-20557

THE ANDERSONS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

OHIO (State of incorporation or organization)		34-1562374 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
480 W. Dussel Drive, Maumee, Ohio (Address of principal executive offices)		43537 (Zip Code)

(419) 893-5050
(Telephone Number)

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year,
if changed since last report.)

Indicate by check ü 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  ü  No      

Indicate by check ü whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes  ü  No      

The registrant had 7.2 million common shares outstanding, no par value, at November 1, 2003.

 

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Part I. Financial Information
	Item 1. Financial Statements
		Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
		Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (continued)
		Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
		Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
		Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity
		Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
	Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
	Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
	Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Part II. Other Information
	Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
Signatures
EX-31.1 302 CERT OF PRESIDENT AND CEO
EX-31.2 302 CERT OF VP, CONTROLLER & CIO
EX-31.3 302 CERT OF VP, FINANCE & TREASURER
EX-32.1 SECTION 1350 CERTIFICATIONS

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THE ANDERSONS, INC.

INDEX

				Page No.
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
		Item 1. Financial Statements
		Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets — September 30, 2003, December 31, 2002 (Restated) and September 30, 2002 (Restated)		3
		Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income — Three months and nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002 (Restated)		5
		Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows — Nine months ended September 30, 2003 and 2002 (Restated)		6
		Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity Nine months ended September 30, 2003 and year ended December 31, 2002 (Restated)		7
		Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements		8
		Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations		15
		Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk		29
		Item 4. Controls and Procedures		31
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
		Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K		32
Signatures				32
Exhibit Index				33

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Explanatory Note:

This Amendment to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q was filed to correct an incorrect reference in the officers’ certifications.

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Part I. Financial Information

Item 1. Financial Statements

				September 30				December 31				September 30
				2003				2002				2002
								(Restated)				(Restated)
Current assets:
	Cash and cash equivalents			$	3,964			$	6,095			$	7,835
	Accounts and notes receivable:
		Trade receivables (net)			56,301				59,800				45,457
		Margin deposits			14,791				—				18,702
					71,092				59,800				64,159
	Inventories:
		Grain			82,175				156,742				108,668
		Agricultural fertilizer and supplies			34,076				25,699				29,325
		Lawn and garden fertilizer and corncob products			33,246				42,947				28,121
		Railcar repair parts			2,006				1,455				775
		Retail merchandise			32,198				29,076				33,628
		Other			348				356				730
					184,049				256,275				201,247
	Railcars available for sale				1,554				550				2,315
	Deferred income taxes				4,574				2,894				4,156
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets				10,666				11,675				6,930
Total current assets					275,899				337,289				286,642
Other assets:
	Pension asset				6,283				5,828				5,054
	Other assets and notes receivable (net)				6,322				5,794				5,686
	Investments in and advances to affiliates				2,310				969				969
					14,915				12,591				11,709
Railcar assets leased to others (net)					26,979				26,399				25,435
Property, plant and equipment:
	Land				11,735				11,735				11,735
	Land improvements and leasehold improvements				29,501				29,122				28,880
	Buildings and storage facilities				97,012				95,892				95,833
	Machinery and equipment				122,774				121,911				121,804
	Software				5,014				4,771				4,152
	Construction in progress				3,685				2,369				2,729
					269,721				265,800				265,133
	Less allowances for depreciation and amortization				178,005				172,861				172,094
					91,716				92,939				93,039
				$	409,509			$	469,218			$	416,825

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

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			September 30				December 31				September 30
			2003				2002				2002
							(Restated)				(Restated)
Current liabilities:
	Notes payable		$	80,000			$	70,000			$	80,000
	Accounts payable for grain			19,853				75,422				25,723
	Other accounts payable			55,766				60,285				63,516
	Customer prepayments and deferred income			12,541				20,448				5,719
	Accrued expenses			18,130				19,604				21,589
	Current maturities of long-term debt			6,983				9,775				9,244
Total current liabilities				193,273				255,534				205,791
Deferred income				1,146				717				549
Other long-term liabilities				308				381				391
Employee benefit plan obligations				13,705				12,198				11,952
Long-term debt, less current maturities				83,241				84,272				84,961
Deferred income taxes				8,946				10,351				7,920
Total liabilities				300,619				363,453				311,564
Shareholders’ equity:
	Common shares (25,000 shares authorized; stated value of $.01 per share; 8,430 shares issued)			84				84				84
	Additional paid-in capital			66,893				66,662				66,638
	Treasury shares (1,282, 1,258 and 1,096 shares at 9/30/03, 12/31/02 and 9/30/02, respectively; at cost)			(13,317	)			(12,558	)			(10,501	)
	Accumulated other comprehensive loss			(530	)			(815	)			(1,432	)
	Unearned compensation			(167	)			(73	)			(112	)
	Retained earnings			55,927				52,465				50,584
				108,890				105,765				105,261
			$	409,509			$	469,218			$	416,825

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

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		Three Months ended								Nine Months ended
		September 30								September 30
		2003				2002				2003				2002
						(Restated)								(Restated)
Sales and merchandising revenues		$	253,027			$	204,868			$	803,828			$	721,430
Cost of sales and merchandising revenues			222,789				171,089				692,978				603,717
Gross profit			30,238				33,779				110,850				117,713
Operating, administrative and general expenses			33,748				34,188				101,055				101,523
Interest expense			1,603				2,042				6,119				7,328
Other income			1,519				734				3,816				2,364
Income (loss) before income taxes and cumulative effect of accounting change			(3,594	)			(1,717	)			7,492				11,226
Income tax expense (benefit)			(1,245	)			(1,087	)			2,529				2,847
Income (loss) before cumulative effect of accounting change			(2,349	)			(630	)			4,963				8,379
Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of income taxes			—				—				—				3,480
Net income (loss)		$	(2,349	)		$	(630	)		$	4,963			$	11,859
Per common share:
Basic earnings (loss) per share:
Income (loss) before cumulative effect of accounting change		$	(0.33	)		$	(0.09	)		$	0.70			$	1.14
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of income tax benefit			—				—				—				0.48
Net income (loss)		$	(0.33	)		$	(0.09	)		$	0.70			$	1.62
Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
Income (loss) before cumulative effect of accounting change		$	(0.33	)		$	(0.09	)		$	0.68			$	1.12
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of income tax benefit			—				—				—				0.46
Net income (loss)		$	(0.33	)		$	(0.09	)		$	0.68			$	1.58
Dividends paid		$	0.07			$	0.065			$	0.21			$	0.195
Weighted average shares outstanding-basic			7,106				7,319				7,139				7,302
Weighted average shares outstanding-diluted			7,106				7,319				7,311				7,499

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

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			Nine months ended
			September 30
			2003				2002
							(Restated)
Operating Activities
Net income			$	4,963			$	11,859
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
	Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of income tax			—				(3,480	)
	Depreciation and amortization			11,416				10,623
	Gain on sale of property, plant and equipment			(287	)			(281	)
	Realized and unrealized loss on railcars			(796	)			24
	Deferred income taxes			(3,085	)			(2,794	)
	Other			361				(350	)
Cash provided by operations before changes in operating assets and liabilities				12,572				15,601
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
	Accounts and notes receivable			(8,147	)			(9,255	)
	Inventories			72,226				37,044
	Prepaid expenses and other assets			77				5,461
	Accounts payable for grain			(55,569	)			(41,245	)
	Other accounts payable and accrued expenses			(12,834	)			(1,663	)
Net cash provided by operating activities				8,325				5,943
Investing Activities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment				(8,006	)			(6,918	)
Purchases of railcars				(16,865	)			(7,113	)
Proceeds from sale of railcars				10,252				14,833
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment				587				405
Investment in affiliates				(1,183	)			—
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities				(15,215	)			1,207
Financing Activities
Net increase (decrease) in short-term borrowings				10,000				(2,600	)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt				2,789				20,229
Payments on long-term debt				(6,612	)			(27,714	)
Change in overdrafts				856				6,254
Proceeds from sale of treasury shares to employees				478				653
Dividends paid				(1,508	)			(1,428	)
Purchase of common shares				(1,244	)			(406	)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities				4,759				(5,012	)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents				(2,131	)			2,138
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period				6,095				5,697
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period			$	3,964			$	7,835

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

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																Accumulated
								Additional								Other
				Common				Paid-in				Treasury				Comprehensive				Unearned				Retained
				Shares				Capital				Shares				Loss				Compensation				Earnings				Total
																								(Restated)			(Restated)
Balance at January 1, 2002				$	84			$	66,431			$	(10,687	)		$	(964	)		$	(83	)		$	40,153			$	94,934
	Net income before cumulative effect of accounting change																								10,764				10,764
	Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax																								3,480				3,480
	Other comprehensive income:
		Cash flow hedge activity															149												149
	Comprehensive income																												14,393
	Stock awards, stock option exercises, and other shares issued to employees and directors (132 shares)								231				754								(145	)							840
	Amortization of unearned compensation																				155								155
	Purchase of treasury shares (216 shares)												(2,625	)															(2,625	)
	Dividends declared ($.265 per common share)																								(1,932	)			(1,932	)
Balance at December 31, 2002					84				66,662				(12,558	)			(815	)			(73	)			52,465				105,765
	Net income																								4,963				4,963
	Other comprehensive income:
		Cash flow hedge activity															285												285
	Comprehensive income																												5,248
	Stock awards, stock option exercises, and other shares issued to employees and directors (76 shares)								231				485								(238	)							478
	Amortization of unearned compensation																				144								144
	Purchase of treasury shares (100 shares)												(1,244	)															(1,244	)
	Dividends declared ($.21 per common share)																								(1,501	)			(1,501	)
Balance at September 30, 2003				$	84			$	66,893			$	(13,317	)		$	(530	)		$	(167	)		$	55,927			$	108,890

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

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Note A –		Restatement of Previously Issued Financial Statements
		In connection with a review of our periodic filings by the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, we concluded that it is appropriate to modify our accounting related to a specific agreement with a third party.
		As previously disclosed, certain of the Company’s agriculture facilities are subject to a five-year marketing agreement (ending May 2003) with a third party that provides for a base level of income and equal sharing of profits earned over the base level. The Company’s share of profits is calculated annually under the marketing agreement based on a formula that recognizes the base level income as revenue on a pro-rata basis over the term of the agreement. The Company previously measured its share of the profits earned in excess of the base-level at the end of each contract year and was recognizing such income over the remaining term of the agreement.
		Upon further review and consideration, we have determined that the Emerging Issues Task Force Topic D-96, “Accounting for Management Fees Based on a Formula,” (“EITF Topic D-96”) applies to the Company’s situation, specifically with respect to provisions of Method 2 described therein, which stipulates that revenues recorded under such arrangements should be the amount that would be due under the formula at any point in time as if the contract was terminated at that date.
		Upon review of the impact of the adjustments necessary to comply with the requirements of EITF Topic D-96, which became effective for the Company as of January 1, 2002, we concluded that restating our 2002 financial statements was appropriate. The transition provisions of EITF Topic D-96 require the impact of the change in accounting to be presented as a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle at the date of adoption. The following tables present the impact of the restatement adjustments on the Company’s previously reported sales and merchandising revenues, cost of sales and merchandising revenues, gross profit, income (loss) before income taxes and cumulative effect of accounting change, income tax expense (benefit), cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of income taxes, and net income (loss) for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2002.

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		Three Months Ended September 30, 2002
		As Previously
Income Statement Caption		Reported				Adjustments				As Restated
Sales and merchandising revenues (b)		$	204,722			$	146			$	204,868
Cost of sales and merchandising revenues (a)			169,887				1,202				171,089
Gross profit (a)			34,835				(1,056	)			33,779
Loss before income taxes and cumulative effect of accounting change			(661	)			(1,056	)			(1,717	)
Income tax benefit			(577	)			(510	)			(1,087	)
Net loss		$	(84	)		$	(546	)		$	(630	)

		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2002
		As Previously
		Reported				Adjustments				As Restated
Sales and merchandising revenues (b)		$	720,651			$	779			$	721,430
Cost of sales and merchandising revenues (a)			599,926				3,791				603,717
Gross profit (a)			120,725				(3,012	)			117,713
Income before income taxes and cumulative effect of accounting change			14,238				(3,012	)			11,226
Income tax expense			3,953				(1,106	)			2,847
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of income taxes			—				3,480				3,480
Net income		$	10,285			$	1,574			$	11,859

(a)		Periods presented “As Previously Reported” include reclassifications made to conform to the September 30, 2003 presentation. These reclassifications related to the adoption of EITF 02-16, “Accounting by a Reseller for Cash Consideration Received from a Vendor,” and had no impact on net income or shareholders’ equity.
(b)		Upon adoption of EITF Topic D-96, the Company has reclassified the current period impact to gross profit of the marketing agreement as a component of sales and merchandising revenues rather than cost of sales. Previously the Company considered the marketing agreement impact as an adjustment to its cost of grain rather than as an adjustment to sales and merchandising revenues and therefore had included the impact in its cost of sales. Prior periods have been reclassified to conform to this presentation.

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		The following tables present a summary of the effects of the restatement on our unaudited condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2002 and September 30, 2002:

		December 31, 2002
		As Previously
Balance Sheet Caption		Reported				Adjustments				As Restated
Current deferred income tax asset		$	3,491			$	(597	)		$	2,894
Customer prepayments and deferred income			21,970				(1,522	)			20,448
Retained earnings			51,540				925				52,465

		September 30, 2002
		As Previously
		Reported				Adjustments				As Restated
Current deferred income tax asset		$	4,924			$	(768	)		$	4,156
Customer prepayments and deferred income			8,061				(2,342	)			5,719
Retained earnings			49,010				1,574				50,584

		Amendment No. 1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2002 was filed on October 24, 2003 and an amendment to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A for the quarter ended March 31, 2003 was filed on October 29, 2003.
Note B –		In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations for the periods indicated, have been made. Such adjustments include the effect of the restatement discussed in Note A as well as normal recurring adjustments.
		The year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited consolidated financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles. A condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2002 was included as the Company operates in several seasonal industries.
		The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in The Andersons, Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2002.
		Certain amounts in the balance sheet as of September 30, 2002 have been reclassified to conform to the September 30, 2003 presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on net income or shareholders’ equity as previously presented. These reclassifications were initially recorded for the

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		2002 annual report to shareholders and are now being reflected in these quarterly condensed consolidated financial statements.
Note C –		In January 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities.” FIN No. 46 provides guidance on identification of a variable interest entity (“VIE”) and on determination of whether the VIE should be consolidated in an enterprise’s financial statements. In general, an enterprise deemed to be the primary beneficiary of a VIE is required to consolidate the VIE. FIN No. 46 is effective immediately for any new VIE established after January 31, 2003 and must be adopted for any pre-existing VIEs at the end of the Company’s fourth quarter.
		Management is in the process of evaluating its lease agreements, equity investments and other arrangements to determine whether any of these arrangements involve a VIE or, if a VIE exists, whether the Company is the primary beneficiary of the VIE. Based on the results of our review to-date, we do not believe that there will be any material impact of this statement on the consolidated financial statements.
		In January 2003, the Emerging Issues Task Force of the FASB (“EITF”) published Issue Number 00-21, “Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables.” This Issue addresses certain aspects of the accounting by a vendor for arrangements under which it will perform multiple revenue-generating activities. This Issue is effective for revenue arrangements entered into in the Company’s 2003 third quarter and future periods. The adoption of this statement was not material to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Note D –		In accordance with our accounting policy for stock-based compensation, we have not recognized any expense relating to our stock options. If we had used the fair value method of accounting, the alternative policy set out in FASB Statement No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” the additional after-tax expense relating to stock options would have been less than $0.1 million in the third quarters of both 2003 and 2002. The following table presents pro forma stock compensation expense, net of tax, net income and earnings per share as if we had included expense related to the fair value of stock options. The stock compensation expense included in our reported earnings was incurred in connection with our restricted stock award plan and was less than $0.1 million in both periods.

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			Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
			September 30								September 30
(in thousands, except for per share data)
			2003				2002				2003				2002
							(Restated)								(Restated)
Stock compensation expense, as reported			$	48			$	39			$	144			$	117
Stock compensation expense, pro forma				112				87				489				385
Net income (loss), as reported				(2,349	)			(630	)			4,963				11,859
Net income (loss), pro forma				(2,413	)			(678	)			4,618				11,591
Basic earnings per share
	Net income (loss), as reported			(0.33	)			(0.09	)			0.70				1.62
	Net income (loss), pro forma			(0.34	)			(0.09	)			0.65				1.59
Diluted earnings per share
	Net income (loss), as reported			(0.33	)			(0.09	)			0.68				1.58
	Net income (loss), pro forma			(0.34	)			(0.09	)			0.63				1.55

Note E –		Basic earnings per share is equal to net income divided by weighted average shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per share is equal to basic earnings per share plus the incremental per share effect of dilutive options and restricted shares.

		Three Months Ended								Nine Months Ended
		September 30								September 30
		2003				2002				2003				2002
						(Restated)								(Restated)
Weighted average shares outstanding – basic			7,106				7,319				7,139				7,302
Restricted shares and shares contingently issuable upon exercise of options			—				—				172				197
Weighted average shares outstanding – diluted			7,106				7,319				7,311				7,499

		Diluted earnings per common share excludes the impact of 919 thousand options for the quarter ended September 30, 2003 as such options were antidilutive. For the nine months ended September 30, 2003, there were no antidilutive options. Diluted earnings per common share excludes the impact of 918 thousand and 137 thousand employee stock options for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2002, respectively, as such options were antidilutive

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Note F –		Segment Information

			Agriculture				Processing				Rail				Retail				Other				Total
	Third Quarter 2003
Revenues from external customers			$	178,376			$	23,522			$	9,252			$	41,877			$	—			$	253,027
Inter-segment sales				5,353				149				215				—				—				5,717
Other income				647				464				128				156				124				1,519
Interest expense (credit)(a)				1,130				420				236				308				(491	)			1,603
Operating income (loss)				(2,828	)			(1,139	)			693				(65	)			(255	)			(3,594	)
Identifiable assets				213,574				68,375				41,955				59,028				26,577				409,509
	Third Quarter 2002
Revenues from external customers			$	138,531			$	20,466			$	5,119			$	40,752			$	—			$	204,868
Inter-segment sales				2,448				92				203				—				—				2,743
Other income				340				63				24				173				134				734
Interest expense (credit) (a)				1,397				493				237				397				(482	)			2,042
Operating income (loss) (b)				188				(1,358	)			733				(60	)			(1,220	)			(1,717	)
Identifiable assets (b)				231,190				61,082				35,385				61,682				27,486				416,825
	Nine months to date, 2003
Revenues from external customers			$	536,044			$	113,072			$	26,315			$	128,397			$	—			$	803,828
Inter-segment sales				10,775				998				689				—				—				12,462
Other income				1,705				782				213				689				427				3,816
Interest expense (credit)(a)				3,804				1,450				702				1,005				(842	)			6,119
Operating income (loss)				4,034				2,567				2,373				1,574				(3,056	)			7,492
	Nine months to date, 2002
Revenues from external customers			$	483,201			$	93,730			$	13,335			$	131,164			$	—			$	721,430
Inter-segment sales				7,301				1,047				658				—				—				9,006
Other income				827				352				57				547				581				2,364
Interest expense (credit)(a)				4,106				1,810				827				1,173				(588	)			7,328
Operating income (loss) (b)				10,278				947				1,253				2,508				(3,760	)			11,226

(a)		The Other category of interest expense includes net interest income at the Company level, representing the rate differential between the interest allocated to the operating segments and the actual rate at which borrowings were made.
(b)		Restated — See below and Note A

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		Three Months Ended September 30, 2002
		As Previously
Operating income (loss)		Reported				Adjustments				As Restated
Agriculture		$	1,244			$	(1,056	)		$	188
Processing			(1,358	)			—				(1,358	)
Rail			733				—				733
Retail			(60	)			—				(60	)
Other			(1,220	)			—				(1,220	)
Operating income (loss)		$	(661	)		$	(1,056	)		$	(1,717	)

		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2002
		As Previously
		Reported				Adjustments				As Restated
Agriculture		$	13,290			$	(3,012	)		$	10,278
Processing			947				—				947
Rail			1,253				—				1,253
Retail			2,508				—				2,508
Other			(3,760	)			—				(3,760	)
Operating income (loss)		$	14,238			$	(3,012	)		$	11,226

Identifiable Assets		September 30, 2002
		As Previously
		Reported				Adjustments				As Restated
Agriculture		$	231,190			$	—			$	231,190
Processing			61,082				—				61,082
Rail			35,385				—				35,385
Retail			61,682				—				61,682
Other (a)			28,254				(768	)			27,486
Total identifiable assets		$	417,593			$	(768	)		$	416,825

(a)

Periods presented “As Previously Reported” include reclassifications made to conform to the September 30, 2003 presentation. These reclassifications had no impact on net income or shareholders’ equity, were initially recorded for the 2002 annual report to shareholders and are now being reflected in these quarterly condensed consolidated financial statements.

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Restatement of Previously Issued Financial Statements

In connection with a review of our periodic filings by the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, we concluded that it is appropriate to modify our accounting related to a specific agreement with a third party.

As previously disclosed, certain of the Company’s agriculture facilities are subject to a five-year marketing agreement (ending May 2003) with a third party that provides for a base level of income and equal sharing of profits earned over the base level. The Company’s share of profits is calculated annually under the marketing agreement based on a formula that recognizes the base level income as revenue on a pro-rata basis over the term of the agreement. The Company previously measured its share of the profits earned in excess of the base-level at the end of each contract year and was recognizing such income over the remaining term of the agreement.

Upon further review and consideration, we have determined that the Emerging Issues Task Force Topic D-96, “Accounting for Management Fees Based on a Formula,” (“EITF Topic D-96”) applies to the Company’s situation, specifically with respect to provisions of Method 2 described therein, which stipulates that revenues recorded under such arrangements should be the amount that would be due under the formula at any point in time as if the contract was terminated at that date.

Upon review of the impact of the adjustments necessary to comply with the requirements of EITF Topic D-96, which became effective for the Company as of January 1, 2002, we concluded that restating our 2002 financial statements was appropriate. The transition provisions of EITF Topic D-96 require the impact of the change in accounting to be presented as a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle at the date of adoption. The following tables present the impact of the restatement adjustments on the Company’s previously reported sales and merchandising revenues, cost of sales and merchandising revenues, gross profit, income (loss) before income taxes and cumulative effect of accounting change, income tax expense (benefit), cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of income taxes, and net income (loss) for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2002.

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		Three Months Ended September 30, 2002
Income Statement Caption		As Previously
		Reported				Adjustments				As Restated
Sales and merchandising revenues (b)		$	204,722			$	146			$	204,868
Cost of sales and merchandising revenues (a)			169,887				1,202				171,089
Gross profit (a)			34,835				(1,056	)			33,779
Loss before income taxes and cumulative effect of accounting change			(661	)			(1,056	)			(1,717	)
Income tax benefit			(577	)			(510	)			(1,087	)
Net loss		$	(84	)		$	(546	)		$	(630	)

		Nine Months Ended September 30, 2002
		As Previously
		Reported				Adjustments				As Restated
Sales and merchandising revenues (b)		$	720,651			$	779			$	721,430
Cost of sales and merchandising revenues (a)			599,926				3,791				603,717
Gross profit (a)			120,725				(3,012	)			117,713
Income before income taxes and cumulative effect of accounting change			14,238				(3,012	)			11,226
Income tax expense			3,953				(1,106	)			2,847
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of income taxes			—				3,480				3,480
Net income		$	10,285			$	1,574			$	11,859

(a)		Periods presented “As Previously Reported” include reclassifications made to conform to the September 30, 2003 presentation. These reclassifications related to the adoption of EITF 02-16, “Accounting by a Reseller for Cash Consideration Received from a Vendor,” and had no impact on net income or shareholders’ equity.
(b)		Upon adoption of EITF Topic D-96, the Company has reclassified the current period impact to gross profit of the marketing agreement as a component of sales and merchandising revenues rather than cost of sales. Previously the Company considered the marketing agreement impact as an adjustment to its cost of grain rather than as an adjustment to sales and merchandising revenues and therefore had included the impact in its cost of sales. Prior periods have been reclassified to conform to this presentation. The following tables present a summary of the effects of the restatement on our unaudited condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2002 and September 30, 2002:

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		December 31, 2002
		As Previously
Balance Sheet Caption		Reported				Adjustments				As Restated
Current deferred income tax asset		$	3,491			$	(597	)		$	2,894
Customer prepayments and deferred income			21,970				(1,522	)			20,448
Retained earnings			51,540				925				52,465

		September 30, 2002
		As Previously
		Reported				Adjustments				As Restated
Current deferred income tax asset		$	4,924			$	(768	)		$	4,156
Customer prepayments and deferred income			8,061				(2,342	)			5,719
Retained earnings			49,010				1,574				50,584

Amendment No. 1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2002 was filed on October 24, 2003 and an amendment to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A for the quarter ended March 31, 2003 was filed on October 29, 2003.

Comparison of the three months ended September 30, 2003 with the three months
ended September 30, 2002, as restated:

Sales and merchandising revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2003 totaled $253.0 million, an increase of $48.2 million, or 24%, from the third quarter of 2002. Sales in the Agriculture Group were up $43.9 million, or 34%. Grain sales were up $39.8 million, or 38%, due to a 24% increase in volume in addition to an 11% increase in the average price per bushel sold. This volume increase resulted primarily from sales of wheat. The increased prices reflect increased demand for corn and soybeans after last fall’s poor harvest as well as changes in the mix of grain sold by the Company (when compared to last year). Sales of fertilizer in the plant nutrient division were up $4.1 million, or 16%, due to a 3% increase in the weighted average price per ton sold in addition to a 12% increase in volume. A portion of the price increase relates to increases in natural gas prices, a basic raw material in the manufacture of nitrogen and urea which are key products used by the plant nutrient division. Generally, this increase can be passed through to customers, although price increases may also drive decreases in volume.

Merchandising revenues in the Agriculture Group were down $4.0 million, or 53%, almost solely due to decreases in space income (before interest charges) in the grain division. Space income is income earned on grain held for our account or for our customers and includes storage fees earned and appreciation / depreciation in the value of

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grain owned. Grain inventories on hand at September 30, 2003 were 29.0 million bushels, of which 6.1 million bushels were stored for others. This compares to 32.7 million bushels on hand at September 30, 2002, of which 5.7 million bushels were stored for others.

The reduction in grain space income is expected to continue at least until completion of this fall’s harvest in the fourth quarter. Bushels received from the wheat harvest (which occurs in the month of July) have doubled that of last year. With a good harvest of corn and soybeans this fall in the Company’s primary markets, the Company would expect to end the year with a higher volume of grain in storage and / or moved through the Company’s facilities. This could lead to higher storage income. The Company cautions, however, that a high volume of grain harvested does not assure higher storage income, which is also dependent on prices in the futures market, among other factors.

The Company completed negotiations of a new marketing agreement with Cargill, Inc. which covers the Company’s Maumee and Toledo, Ohio facilities and two nearby leased Cargill facilities. This new five-year agreement, effective June 1, 2003, provides for income sharing with Cargill over a certain threshold. The lease for the two facilities was also renewed for five additional years. Grain sales to Cargill totaled $154 million in the Company’s 2002 calendar year. There were no sales to any other customer in excess of 10% of consolidated net sales.

On July 31, 2003, the Company announced its intent to purchase the outstanding shares of Agrico Canada Ltd/Lte. Negotiations for this purchase were discontinued in October when the Company and the owners of Agrico Canada Ltd/Lte could not reach agreement on a definitive purchase agreement.

On October 9, 2003, the Company announced its intent to purchase the inventory of Farmer’s Elevator Co-operative of Oakville and lease and operate the facility under a short-term lease. In addition, and subject to completion of due diligence and a definitive purchase agreement as well as approval by the Company’s Board of Directors, the Company is negotiating a purchase of the facility expected to be completed in December 2003.

The Processing Group had a $3.1 million, or 15%, increase in sales resulting primarily from a 9% increase in the average price per ton sold in addition to a 9% increase in volume. In the professional lawn business, serving the golf course and lawn care operator markets, volume was up 2% and sales were up 9% in the third quarter of 2003 as compared to 2002 due primarily to increased market share. In the consumer and industrial lawn businesses, where we serve as contract manufacturer for several large “brand” companies, a manufacturer of private label products and also manufacture our own brands, sales were up 56% resulting from a volume increase of 20% and an increase in the average price per ton of 21%. The cob-based businesses, a much smaller component of the Processing Group, had a 9% increase in sales primarily due to a 7% increase in volume.

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The Rail Group had a $4.1 million, or 81%, increase in sales. Sales of railcars were up $4.2 million and revenue from the leased fleet was up $0.1 million. There were no significant sales of railcars during the third quarter of 2002. The railcar repair and fabrication shops had a $0.2 million sales decrease. A significant order for railcar components should keep both shops busy through the remainder of 2003. Railcars under management at September 30, 2003 were 6,085 compared to 5,576 under management at September 30, 2002. The railcar utilization rate (railcars under management in lease service) increased from 85% to 89% over that same period. The Company also increased its locomotives under management from 51 at September 30, 2002 to 74 at September 30, 2003.

The Company is continuing to evaluate an opportunity it announced on March 11, 2003 whereby it would manage approximately 11,250 railcars and 50 locomotives for several new entities in which the Company would hold a minority interest. Finalization of the transaction is dependent on due diligence and the new entities obtaining debt and equity financing.

The Retail Group had a $1.1 million, or 3%, increase in same-store sales in the third quarter of 2003 when compared to the third quarter of 2002. All but one of the six stores showed increases. We are competing against significant new competitors in the Toledo market. A positive development has been increased sales growth in the specialty food and wine departments that are adjacent to the third party meat markets we had in three of our six stores during the quarter. A third party meat market was opened in a fourth store in late October.

Gross profit for the third quarter of 2003 totaled $30.2 million for the Company, a decrease of $3.5 million, or 10%, from the third quarter of 2002. The Agriculture Group had a $3.7 million, or 25%, decrease in gross profit, resulting primarily from the decrease in merchandising revenues mentioned previously, partially offset by a $0.3 million increase in gross profit on sales in our plant nutrient division. The plant nutrient division’s expansion into specialty and industrial products (which earn higher margins than traditional fertilizers) has helped to maintain the overall gross profit per ton, but the division realized a slight 3% decrease in gross profit per ton sold in the quarter.

Gross profit for the Processing Group decreased $0.6 million, or 11%. Decreases in gross profit resulted from an increased cost per ton that rose faster than the increased selling price per ton mentioned previously. The increased cost per ton resulted primarily from increased cost of raw materials, primarily nitrogen.

Gross profit in the Rail Group increased $0.6 million, or 23%. This increase was due to $0.4 million of increased gross profit on manufacturing and installation of railcar components in the fabrication and rail repair shops. The net lease fleet income increased slightly with an improvement in the utilization rates of cars available for lease service. Lease rates have begun to rebound slowly and this, combined with more cars in service, has helped to increase the gross profit on leased cars.

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Gross profit in the Retail Group increased $0.2 million, or 2%, from the third quarter of 2002. This was due to the increase in sales discussed previously, partially offset by a slight decrease in margins.

Operating, administrative and general expenses for the third quarter of 2003 totaled $33.7 million, a $0.4 million, or 1%, decrease from the third quarter of 2002. Full-time employees decreased 1% from the third quarter of 2002. Expense related to performance incentives and bonuses decreased by $0.7 million due primarily to lower performance in certain operating units and some restructuring of postretirement benefit plans effective in the fourth quarter of 2002. The Company has also experienced a reduction in insurance costs after several years of cost increases and has closely managed its spending on maintenance in the quarter. Increases were felt in professional and contract services relative to increased use of contract employees and expenses relating to discontinued acquisitions and corporate governance.

Interest expense for the third quarter of 2003 was $1.6 million, a $0.4 million, or 22%, decrease from 2002. Average 2003 daily short-term borrowings were 9% lower than the third quarter of 2002 and the average short-term interest rate decreased from 3.08% for the third quarter of 2002 to 1.83% for the third quarter of 2003.

As a result of the above, the pretax loss of $3.6 million for the third quarter of 2003 was double the pretax loss of $1.7 million recognized in the third quarter of 2002. An income tax benefit of $1.2 million was provided at a rate of 34.6%. In the third quarter of 2002, an income tax benefit was provided to achieve a full year expected effective rate of 25.4%, excluding the impact of the cumulative effect adjustment. The Company’s actual 2002 full-year effective tax rate was 32.7%. The current 2003 effective tax rate of 33.8% anticipates lower tax benefits from extraterritorial income exclusions and a somewhat higher state and local income tax rate.

As a result of the above, the third quarter 2003 net loss was $1.7 million lower than the third quarter 2002 restated net loss of $0.6 million. The basic and diluted loss per share of $0.33 for the third quarter of 2003 compares to a basic and diluted restated loss per share of $0.09 in the third quarter of 2002.

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Comparison of the nine months ended September 30, 2003 with the nine months
ended September 30, 2002, as restated:

Sales and merchandising revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2003 totaled $803.8 million, an increase of $82.4 million, or 11%, from the first nine months of 2002. Sales in the Agriculture Group were up $62.5 million, or 14%. Grain sales were up $51.7 million, or 16%, due to a 23% increase in average price per bushel sold, partially offset by an 6% decrease in volume. This volume decrease occurred because increased demand for grain after last fall’s poor harvest caused the Company to sell and ship grain in the fourth quarter of 2002 that it would normally have shipped in 2003. This increased demand has lowered the overall grain stocks worldwide and increased our average price per bushel sold. Sales of fertilizer in the plant nutrient division were up $10.8 million, or 8%, due to a 7% increase in the average price per ton sold and a slight increase in volume. A portion of the price increase relates to increases in natural gas prices, a basic raw material in the manufacture of nitrogen and urea which are key products used by the plant nutrient division. Generally, this increase can be passed through to customers, although a price increase may also reduce consumer demand at the producer level.

Merchandising revenues in the Agriculture Group were down $9.7 million, or 40%, almost solely due to decreases in space income (before interest charges) in the grain division. Space income is income earned on grain held for our account or for our customers and includes storage fees earned and appreciation in the value of grain owned.

The Processing Group had a $19.3 million, or 21%, increase in sales resulting primarily from a 4% increase in the average price per ton sold and a 19% increase in volume. In the professional lawn business, serving the golf course and lawn care operator markets, volume was up 14% and sales up 15% in the first nine months of 2003 as compared to 2002 due primarily to increased market share. In the consumer and industrial lawn businesses, where we serve as contract manufacturer for several large “brand” companies, a manufacturer of private label products and also manufacture our own brands, volume was up 26% and sales up 32%. A portion of this increase relates to a new line of products that we began manufacturing for a major marketer. The cob business, a much smaller component of the Processing Group, had a 9% increase in sales primarily due to a 7% increase in volume.

The Rail Group had a $13.0 million, or 97%, increase in sales. Sales of railcars made up $12.2 million of this increase and the remainder of the increase resulted from $0.6 million of increased revenue from the leased fleet and $0.2 million from increased activity in the repair and fabrication shops. There were no significant sales of railcars during the first nine months of 2002.

The Retail Group had a $2.7 million, or 2%, decrease in same-store sales in the first nine months of 2003 when compared to the first nine months of 2002. The Columbus market showed slight increases with the remaining markets posting decreases. We are competing against significant new competitors in the Toledo market.

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Gross profit for the first nine months of 2003 totaled $110.9 million for the Company, a decrease of $6.9 million, or 6%, from the first nine months of 2002. The Agriculture Group had an $8.5 million, or 15%, decrease in gross profit, resulting primarily from the decrease in merchandising revenues mentioned previously and a slight reduction in gross profit on grain sales, partially offset by a $2.5 million increase in gross profit in our plant nutrient division. The fertilizer gross profit increase resulted from a 1% increase in volume coupled with a 10% increase in gross profit per ton sold.

Gross profit for the Processing Group was flat when compared to the first nine months of 2002. In spite of a 19% increase in volume in the Group, increased costs reduced the gross profit per ton by 12%. The consumer and industrial lawn businesses had increased gross profit for the nine months, but the professional lawn business and the cob-based business both showed decreases. A portion of the consumer and industrial increase relates to a new line of products that we began manufacturing for a major marketer. The professional lawn business gross profit decrease resulted from a higher percentage of sales to lawn-care operators rather than the higher margin products sold to golf courses.

Gross profit in the Rail Group increased $2.3 million, or 36%. This increase was due primarily to the gross profit on installation of railcar components in the fabrication and rail repair shops and, to a lesser extent, gross profit on the sale of railcars. The lease fleet income declined somewhat as cars that are coming off long-term leases are renewing at current rates that are lower in most cases than the previous lease rates. The multi-year low lease rate environment has continued in the rail industry, although certain car types have recently seen improvement in lease rates.

Gross profit in the Retail Group decreased $0.7 million, or 2%, from the first nine months of 2002. This was due to the decrease in sales discussed previously, partially offset by a modest increase in margins, as a result of changes in the mix of products sold.

Operating, administrative and general expenses for the first nine months of 2003 totaled $101.1 million, $0.5 million less than the first nine months of 2002. Expense related to performance incentives and bonuses decreased by $0.7 million due primarily to lower performance in certain operating units. Professional and contract expense was $1.2 million higher for the first nine months of 2003 as compared to 2002 due to increases in external legal fees, corporate governance expenses, accounting and audit fees, and contract labor. A small portion of the increase related to the Agrico acquisition that was not completed.

Interest expense for the first nine months of 2003 was $6.1 million, a $1.2 million, or 17%, decrease from 2002. Average 2003 daily short-term borrowings were 5% higher than the first nine months of 2002 but the average short-term interest rate decreased from 3.16% for the first nine months of 2002 to 2.11% for the first nine months of 2003.

As a result of the above, the pretax income of $7.5 million for the first nine months of 2003 was 33% lower than the restated pretax income of $11.2 million recognized in the

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first nine months of 2002, as restated. Income tax expense of $2.5 million was provided at an expected effective annual rate of 33.8%. In the first nine months of 2002, income tax expense (before considering the cumulative effect adjustment) was provided at 25.4%. The Company’s actual 2002 full-year effective tax rate was 32.7%. The current 2003 effective tax rate of 33.8% anticipates lower tax benefits from extraterritorial income exclusions and a somewhat higher state and local income tax rate.

As a result of the above, net income for the first nine months of 2003 was $3.4 million lower than the 2002 net income before cumulative effect of accounting change of $8.4 million. As discussed in Note A, the Company has restated the 2002 results for a change in accounting principle. The impact of that change is recognized in the first quarter of 2002 and amounted to $3.5 million of increased income. The basic and diluted income of $0.70 and $0.68, respectively, for the first nine months of 2003 compares to a basic and diluted income per share (before the impact of the cumulative effect of change, as restated) of $1.14 and $1.12, respectively, in the first nine months of 2002. The cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle added $0.48 and $0.46, respectively, to the basic and diluted earnings per share for the first nine months of 2002. See also Note A for details of the restatement to the 2002 income statement.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company’s operations provided cash of $8.3 million in the first nine months of 2003, an increase of $2.4 million from the same period in 2002. During this same period, short-term borrowings used to fund these operations were unchanged. Net working capital at September 30, 2003 was $82.6 million, a $0.9 million increase from December 31, 2002 and a $1.8 million increase from the September 30, 2002 restated working capital.

The Company has significant short-term lines of credit available to finance working capital, primarily inventories and accounts receivable. Effective on November 1, 2002, the Company entered into a borrowing arrangement with a syndicate of banks, which provides the Company with $150 million in short-term lines of credit and an additional $50 million in a three-year line of credit. This short-term line was renewed on October 29, 2003. Prior to the syndication agreement, the Company managed several separate short-term lines of credit. The Company had drawn $80.0 million on its short-term line of credit at September 30, 2003. Peak short-term borrowing for the first nine months was $127.2 million on February 27, 2003. Typically, the Company’s highest borrowing occurs in the spring due to seasonal inventory requirements in the fertilizer and retail businesses, credit sales of fertilizer and a customary reduction in grain payables due to the cash needs and market strategies of grain customers.

The Company utilizes interest rate contracts to manage a portion of its interest rate risk on both its short and long-term debt and lease commitments. At September 30, 2003, the fair value of these derivative financial instruments (primarily interest rate swaps and interest rate caps) was less than $0.1 million and is recorded in the consolidated balance sheet.

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A quarterly cash dividend of $0.07 per common share was paid January 22, April 22, and July 22, 2003. Cash dividends of $0.065 per common share were paid quarterly in 2002. A cash dividend of $0.07 per common share was declared on October 1, 2003 and was paid on October 21, 2003. The Company made income tax payments of $4.9 million in the first nine months of 2003 and expects to make payments totaling approximately $1.9 million for the remainder of 2003. During the first nine months of 2003, the Company issued approximately 76 thousand shares to employees and directors under its share compensation plans and purchased 100 thousand shares in open-market transactions.

Total capital spending for 2003 on property, plant and equipment is expected to approximate $22.3 million and is expected to include $1.0 million for improvements and additions to Agriculture Group facilities, $0.3 million for information systems, $9.9 million for acquisitions and investments in the Agriculture and Rail Groups, $0.3 million for manufacturing improvements in the Rail Group, $0.3 million for retail store improvements and $0.4 million for improvements to administrative offices. The remaining amount of $10.1 million will be spent on numerous assets and projects; no single such project is expected to cost more than $0.3 million. The Company also expects to spend $23.5 million in 2003 for the purchase of additional railcars and capitalized modifications on railcars that may then be sold, financed off-balance sheet or owned by the Company for lease to customers.

Certain of the Company’s long-term borrowings include provisions that impose minimum levels of working capital and equity, impose limitations on additional debt and require that grain inventory positions be substantially hedged. The Company was in compliance with all of these provisions at September 30, 2003. In addition, certain of the long-term borrowings are secured by first mortgages on various facilities or are collateralized by railcar assets.

The marketability of the Company’s grain inventories and the availability of short-term lines of credit enhance the Company’s liquidity. In the opinion of management, the Company’s liquidity is adequate to meet its short-term and long-term needs.

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Contractual Obligations

Future payments due under debt and lease obligations as of September 30, 2003 are as follows:

		Payments Due by Period
Contractual Obligations
(in thousands)		Less than												After
		1 year				1-3 years				4-5 years				5 years				Total
Long-term debt		$	6,645			$	14,456			$	28,051			$	37,525			$	86,677
Capital lease obligations			338				719				2,490				—				3,547
Operating leases			8,804				12,518				6,287				8,340				35,949
Other			200				400				400				—				1,000
Total contractual cash obligations		$	15,987			$	28,093			$	37,228			$	45,865			$	127,173

Included in long-term debt are acquisition liabilities that include minimum payments. There are additional contingent sales-based payments to the seller that have not triggered to date and would not be material to the Company if they trigger in the future. The contingency period ends in May 2005.

The Company had standby letters of credit outstanding of $12.0 million at September 30, 2003, of which $8.4 million is a credit enhancement for industrial revenue bonds included in the contractual obligations table above.

The Company’s grain inventories include the value of forward purchase contracts to buy grain. These contracts are marked to the market price and require performance in future periods. The terms of these contracts are consistent with industry standards.

Approximately 70% of the operating lease commitments above relate to 1,959 railcars and 30 locomotives that the Company leases from financial intermediaries. See the following section on Off-Balance Sheet Transactions.

The Company is subject to various loan covenants as highlighted previously. Although the Company is and has been in compliance with its covenants, noncompliance could result in default and acceleration of long-term debt payments. The Company does not anticipate noncompliance with its covenants.

Off-Balance Sheet Transactions

The Company’s Rail Group utilizes leasing arrangements that provide off-balance sheet financing for its activities. The Company leases railcars from financial intermediaries through sale-leaseback transactions, the majority of which involve operating leasebacks. Railcars owned by the Company, or leased by the Company from a financial intermediary, are generally leased to a customer under an operating lease. The Company also arranges non-recourse lease transactions under which it sells railcars or locomotives

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to a financial intermediary, and assigns the related operating lease to the financial intermediary on a non-recourse basis. In such arrangements, the Company generally provides ongoing railcar maintenance and management services for the financial intermediary, and receives a fee for such services. On most of the railcars and locomotives, the Company holds an option to purchase these assets at the end of the lease. Finally, the Company has contracted with railcar users directly to manage their railcars for a fee.

The following table describes the railcar and locomotive positions at September 30, 2003.

Method of Control		Financial Statement		Number
Railcars available for sale		On balance sheet — current			289
Railcar assets leased to others		On balance sheet — non-current			2,250
Railcars leased from financial intermediaries		Off balance sheet			1,959
Railcars — non-recourse arrangements		Off balance sheet			1,587
Total Railcars					6,085
Locomotives — leased from financial intermediaries under limited recourse arrangements		Off balance sheet			30
Locomotives — non-recourse arrangements		Off balance sheet			44
Total Locomotives					74

Additionally, the Company manages 1,264 railcars for a third party customer for which it receives a fee.

The Company has future lease payment commitments aggregating $25.0 million for the railcars leased by the Company from financial intermediaries under various operating leases. Remaining lease terms vary with none exceeding 10 years. The majority of these railcars have been leased to customers at September 30, 2003 over similar terms. The segment manages risk by match funding (which means matching terms between the lease to the customer and the funding arrangement with the financial intermediary), where possible, and ongoing evaluation of lessee credit worthiness. In addition, the Company prefers non-recourse lease transactions, whenever possible, in order to minimize its credit risk.

Critical Accounting Policies

The process of preparing financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the carrying values of the Company’s assets and liabilities as well as the recognition of revenues and expenses. These estimates and judgments are based on the Company’s historical experience and management’s knowledge and understanding of current facts and circumstances. Certain of the Company’s accounting policies are considered critical, as these policies are important to the depiction of the Company’s financial statements and require significant or complex judgment by

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management. Following are the accounting policies management considers critical to the Company’s financial statements.

Grain Inventories The Company marks all grain inventory, forward purchase and sale contracts for grain, and exchange-traded futures and options contracts to the market. Changes in market value are recorded as merchandising revenues in the statement of income. Because the Company marks inventories and sales commitments to the market, gross profit on a grain sale transaction is recognized when a contract for sale of the grain is executed. The related revenue is recognized upon shipment of the grain, at which time title transfers and customer acceptance occurs. Grain sales make up 70-80% of the total sales in the Agriculture Group. Approximately 50% of grain bushels purchased are done so using forward contracts. On the sell-side, approximately 90% of grain bushels sold are done so under forward contracts.

Marketing Agreement The Company has negotiated a marketing agreement that covers certain of its grain facilities (some of which are leased from Cargill). Under this five-year amended and restated agreement (which began in June 2003 and expires in May 2008), the Company sells grain from these facilities to Cargill at market prices. Income earned from operating the facilities (including buying, storing and selling grain and providing grain marketing services to its producer customers) is shared 50/50 with Cargill once it exceeds a threshold amount. Measurement of this threshold is made on a cumulative basis and cash is paid to Cargill at each contract year end. The Company recognizes its pro-rata share of income to date at each month-end and accrues for any payment to Cargill in accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force Topic D-96, Accounting for Management Fees Based on a Formula.

Derivatives – Commodity Contracts The Company utilizes regulated commodity futures and options contracts to hedge its market price exposure on the grain it owns and related forward purchase and sale contracts. These contracts are included in the balance sheet in inventory at their current market value. Realized and unrealized gains and losses in the market value of these futures and option contracts are included in the income statement as a component of sales and merchandising revenues. While the Company considers all of its commodity contracts to be effective economic hedges, the Company does not designate its commodity futures and options contracts as hedges. Therefore the Company does not defer gains and losses on these same contracts as would occur for designated hedges under FASB Statement No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” Both the underlying inventory and forward purchase and sale contracts and the related futures and options contracts are marked to market on a daily basis.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets The Company’s various business segments are each highly capital intensive and require significant investment in facilities and / or rolling stock. In addition, the Company has a limited amount of intangible assets and goodwill (described more fully in Note 2 to the Company’s 2002 restated annual consolidated financial statements) that it acquired in various business combinations. Whenever changing conditions warrant, we review the fair value of the tangible and intangible

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assets that may be impacted. We also annually review the balance of goodwill for impairment in the fourth quarter. These reviews for impairment take into account estimates of future cash flows. Our estimates of future cash flows are based upon a number of assumptions including lease rates, lease terms, operating costs, life of the assets, potential disposition proceeds, budgets and long-range plans. While we believe the assumptions we use to estimate future cash flows are reasonable, there can be no assurance that the expected future cash flows will be realized. If management used different estimates and assumptions in its evaluation of these cash flows, the Company could recognize different amounts of expense in future periods.

Employee Benefit Plans The Company provides substantially all full-time employees with pension benefits and all full-time employees hired prior to January 1, 2003 with postretirement health care benefits. In order to measure the expense and funded status of these employee benefit plans, management makes several estimates and assumptions, including interest rates used to discount certain liabilities, rates of return on assets set aside to fund these plans, rates of compensation increases, employee turnover rates, anticipated mortality rates and anticipated future healthcare cost trends. These estimates and assumptions are based on the Company’s historical experience combined with management’s knowledge and understanding of current facts and circumstances. The Company uses third-party specialists to assist management in measuring the expense and funded status of these employee benefit plans. If management used different estimates and assumptions regarding these plans, the funded status of the plans could vary significantly and then the Company could recognize different amounts of expense over future periods.

Revenue Recognition The Company recognizes revenue for the sales of its products at the time of shipment. Gross profit on sales of grain is recognized when sales contracts are entered into as the Company marks its contracts to the market on a daily basis. Revenues from other merchandising activities are recognized as open grain contracts are marked-to-market or as related services are provided. Sales returns and allowances, if required, are provided for at the time sales are recorded. Shipping and handling costs are included in cost of sales.

The Company sells railcars to financial intermediaries and other customers. Proceeds from railcar sales, including railcars sold in non-recourse transactions, are recognized as revenue at the time of sale if there is no leaseback or the operating lease is assigned to the buyer, non-recourse to the Company. Revenue on operating leases (where the Company is the lessor) and on servicing and maintenance contracts in non-recourse transactions is recognized over the term of the lease or service contract.

Leasing activities The Company accounts for its leasing activity in accordance with FASB Statement No. 13, as amended, and related pronouncements. The Company’s Rail segment leases and manages railcars for third parties and leases railcars for internal use. Most leases to Rail segment customers are structured as operating leases. Railcars leased by the Company to its customers are either owned by the Company, leased from financial intermediaries under operating leases or leased from financial intermediaries under

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capital leases. The leases from financial intermediaries are generally structured as sale-leaseback transactions. Lease income and lease expense are recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.

The Company also has a limited number of direct financing leases with its customers that qualify for capital lease treatment. The net investment in the direct financing lease, consisting of lease receivables and the estimated residual value of the equipment at lease termination and net of unearned income, is included as an asset in the balance sheet.

The Company has financed some of its railcars through a capital lease with a financial intermediary. The terms of this lease required the Company to capitalize the assets and record the net present value of the lease obligation on its balance sheet as a long-term borrowing. There was no gain or loss on this financing transaction. This obligation is included with the Company’s long-term debt as described in Note 8 to the consolidated annual financial statements. The railcars under this lease are being depreciated to their residual value over the term of the lease.

The Company also arranges non-recourse lease transactions under which it sells railcars or locomotives to financial intermediaries and assigns the related operating lease on a non-recourse basis. The Company generally provides ongoing railcar maintenance and management services for the financial intermediaries, and receives a fee for such services when earned. On the date of sale, the Company recognizes the proceeds from sales of railcars in non-recourse lease transactions as revenue. Management and service fees are recognized as revenue, which is generally spread evenly over the lease term.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

The market risk inherent in the Company’s market risk-sensitive instruments and positions is the potential loss arising from adverse changes in commodity prices and interest rates as discussed below.

Commodity Prices

The availability and price of agricultural commodities are subject to wide fluctuations due to unpredictable factors such as weather, plantings, government (domestic and foreign) farm programs and policies, changes in global demand created by population growth and higher standards of living, and global production of similar and competitive crops. To reduce price risk caused by market fluctuations, the Company follows a policy of hedging its inventories and related purchase and sale contracts. The instruments used are exchange-traded futures and options contracts that function as hedges. The market value of exchange-traded futures and options used for hedging has a high, but not perfect correlation, to the underlying market value of grain inventories and related purchase and sale contracts. The less correlated portion of inventory and purchase and sale contract market value (known as basis) is much less volatile than the overall market value of exchange-traded futures and tends to follow historical patterns. The Company manages this less volatile risk using its daily grain position report to constantly monitor its position

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relative to the price changes in the market. The Company’s accounting policy for its futures and options hedges, as well as the underlying inventory positions and purchase and sale contracts, is to mark them to the market price daily and include gains and losses in the statement of income in sales and merchandising revenues.

A sensitivity analysis has been prepared to estimate the Company’s exposure to market risk of its commodity position (exclusive of basis risk). The Company’s daily net commodity position consists of inventories, related purchase and sale contracts and exchange-traded contracts. The fair value of the position is a summation of the fair values calculated for each commodity by valuing each net position at quoted futures market prices. Market risk is estimated as the potential loss in fair value resulting from a hypothetical 10% adverse change in such prices. The result of this analysis, which may differ from actual results, is as follows:

		September 30				December 31
(in thousands)		2003				2002
Net long (short) position		$	446				($2,302	)
Market risk			45				230

Interest Rates

The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt is estimated using quoted market prices or discounted future cash flows based on the Company’s current incremental borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements. In addition, the Company has derivative interest rate contracts recorded in its balance sheet at their fair values. The fair value of these contracts is estimated based on quoted market termination values. Market risk, which is estimated as the potential increase in fair value resulting from a hypothetical one-half percent decrease in interest rates, is summarized below:

		September 30				December 31
(in thousands)		2003				2002
Fair value of long-term debt and interest rate contracts		$	94,637			$	96,358
Fair value in excess of carrying value			4,407				2,236
Market risk			2,956				1,893

Forward Looking Statements

The preceding Management’s Discussion and Analysis contains various “forward-looking statements” which reflect the Company’s current views with respect to future events and financial performance. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those identified below, which could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated. The words “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “will” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements,

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whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The following factors could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated: weather; supply and demand of commodities including grains, fertilizer and other basic raw materials; market prices for grains and the potential for increased margin requirements; environmental and governmental policies; competition; economic conditions; risks associated with acquisitions; interest rates; and income taxes. The Company is subject to various loan covenants as highlighted previously. Although the Company is and has been in compliance with its covenants, noncompliance could result in default and acceleration of long-term debt payments. The Company does not anticipate noncompliance with its covenants.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

The President and Chief Executive Officer; Vice President, Controller and CIO; and Vice President, Finance and Treasurer (the “Certifying Officers”) have evaluated our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in the rules of the SEC, as of the end of the third quarter and have determined that such controls and procedures are effective in providing reasonable assurance that material information relating to the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries was made known to them during the period covered by this report.

Our Certifying Officers are responsible for the accuracy of the financial information that is presented in this report. To meet their responsibility for financial reporting, they have established internal control procedures which they believe are adequate to provide reasonable assurance that the Company’s financial statements are reliable and prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and that the Company’s assets are protected from loss. These procedures are reviewed by the Company’s internal auditors in order to monitor compliance. In addition, our Board’s Audit Committee, which is composed entirely of independent directors, meets regularly with management, internal auditors and the independent auditors to review accounting, auditing and financial matters. This Committee and the independent auditors have free access to each other, with or without management being present.

There were no significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of the Certifying Officers most recent evaluation.

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Part II. Other Information

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

(a)		Exhibits
		31.1 Certification of the President and Chief Executive Officer under Rule 13(a)-14(a)/15d-14(a)
		31.2 Certification of the Vice President, Controller and CIO under Rule 13(a)-14(a)/15d-14(a)
		31.3 Certification of the Vice President, Finance and Treasurer under Rule 13(a)-14(a)/15d-14(a)
		32.1 Section 1350 Certifications
(b)		Reports on Form 8-K. A report on Form 8-K was filed on July 23, 2003. The Company issued a press release announcing earnings results for the quarter ended June 30, 2003.

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.

				THE ANDERSONS, INC. (Registrant)
Date:		December 3, 2003		By /s/Michael J. Anderson Michael J. Anderson President and Chief Executive Officer
Date:		December 3, 2003		By /s/Richard R. George Richard R. George Vice President, Controller and CIO (Principal Accounting Officer)
Date:		December 3, 2003		By /s/Gary L. Smith Gary L. Smith Vice President, Finance and Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer)

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Exhibit Index
The Andersons, Inc.

No.		Description
31.1		Certification of the President and Chief Executive Officer under Rule 13(a)-14(a)/15d-14(a)
31.2		Certification of the Vice President, Controller and CIO under Rule 13(a)-14(a)/15d-14(a)
31.3		Certification of the Vice President, Finance and Treasurer under Rule 13(a)-14(a)/15d-14(a)
32.1		Section 1350 Certifications

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