Mexican tax on Beverages Sweetened with HFCS

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2012

Mexican tax on Beverages Sweetened with HFCS

Mexican tax on Beverages Sweetened with HFCS

9.Mexican tax on Beverages Sweetened with HFCS

On January 1, 2002, a discriminatory tax on beverages sweetened with high fructose corn syrup (“HFCS”) approved by the Mexican Congress late in 2001, became effective.  In response to the enactment of the tax, which at the time effectively ended the use of HFCS for beverages in Mexico, the Company ceased production of HFCS 55 at its San Juan del Rio plant, one of its three plants in Mexico.  Over time, the Company resumed production and sales of HFCS and by 2006 had returned to levels attained prior to the imposition of the tax as a result of certain customers having obtained court rulings exempting them from paying the tax.  The Mexican Congress repealed this tax effective January 1, 2007.

On October 21, 2003, the Company submitted, on its own behalf and on behalf of its Mexican affiliate, CPIngredientes, S.A. de C.V. (previously known as Compania Proveedora de Ingredientes), a Request for Institution of Arbitration Proceedings Submitted Pursuant to Chapter 11 of the North American Free Trade Agreement (“NAFTA”) (the “Request”). The Request was submitted to the Additional Office of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes and was brought against the United Mexican States.  In the Request, the Company asserted that the imposition by Mexico of a discriminatory tax on beverages containing HFCS in force from 2002 through 2006 breached various obligations of Mexico under the investment protection provisions of NAFTA.  The case was bifurcated into two phases, liability and damages, and a hearing on liability was held before a Tribunal in July 2006.  In a Decision dated January 15, 2008, the Tribunal unanimously held that Mexico had violated NAFTA Article 1102, National Treatment, by treating beverages sweetened with HFCS produced by foreign companies differently than those sweetened with domestic sugar.  In July 2008, a hearing regarding the quantum of damages was held before the same Tribunal.  The Company sought damages and pre- and post-judgment interest totaling $288 million through December 31, 2008.

In an award rendered August 18, 2009, the Tribunal awarded damages to CPIngredientes in the amount of $58.4 million, as a result of the tax and certain out-of-pocket expenses incurred by CPIngredientes, together with accrued interest.  On October 1, 2009, the Company submitted to the Tribunal a request for correction of this award to avoid effective double taxation on the amount of the award in Mexico.

On March 26, 2010, the Tribunal issued a correction of its August 18, 2009 damages award.  While the amount of damages had not changed, the decision made the damages payable to Corn Products International, Inc. instead of CPIngredientes.

On January 24 and 25, 2011, the Company received cash payments totaling $58.4 million from the Government of the United Mexican States pursuant to the corrected award.  Mexico made these payments pursuant to an agreement with Ingredion Incorporated (formerly Corn Products International, Inc.) that provides for terminating pending post-award litigation and waiving post-award interest.  The $58.4 million award is included in other income in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income for the six months ended June 30, 2011.