Variable Interest Entities

9 Months Ended

Feb. 26, 2012

Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]

VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

5. VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

Variable Interest Entities Consolidated

We own a 49.99% interest in Lamb Weston BSW, LLC (“Lamb Weston BSW”), a potato processing venture with Ochoa Ag Unlimited Foods, Inc. (“Ochoa”). We provide all sales and marketing services to Lamb Weston BSW. Under certain circumstances, we could be required to compensate the other equity owner of Lamb Weston BSW for lost profits resulting from significant production shortfalls (“production shortfalls”). Commencing on June 1, 2018, or on an earlier date under certain circumstances, we have a contractual right to purchase the remaining equity interest in Lamb Weston BSW from Ochoa (the “call option”). We are currently subject to a contractual obligation to purchase all of Ochoa’s equity investment in Lamb Weston BSW at the option of Ochoa (the “put option”). The purchase prices under the call option and the put option (the “options”) are based on the book value of Ochoa’s equity interest at the date of exercise, as modified by an agreed-upon rate of return for the holding period of the investment balance. The agreed-upon rate of return varies depending on the circumstances under which any of the options are exercised. As of February 26, 2012, the price at which Ochoa had the right to put its equity interest to us was $32.1 million. This amount is presented within other liabilities in our condensed consolidated balance sheet. We have determined that Lamb Weston BSW is a variable interest entity and that we are the primary beneficiary of the entity. Accordingly, we consolidate the financial statements of Lamb Weston BSW.

In the first quarter of fiscal 2011, we repaid $35.4 million of bank borrowings of Lamb Weston BSW and took assignment of a promissory note from a lender of the joint venture, the balance of which was $36.1 million at February 26, 2012. The promissory note is due in December 2015. The promissory note is currently accruing interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 200 basis points with a floor of 3.25%. In addition, as of February 26, 2012, we provided lines of credit of up to $15.0 million to Lamb Weston BSW. Borrowings under the lines of credit bear interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 200 basis points with a floor of 3.25%. The amounts owed by Lamb Weston BSW to the Company are not reflected in our condensed consolidated balance sheets, as they are eliminated in consolidation.

Our variable interests in Lamb Weston BSW include an equity investment in the venture, the options, the promissory note, certain fees paid to us by Lamb Weston BSW for sales and marketing services, the contingent obligation related to production shortfalls, and the lines of credit advanced to Lamb Weston BSW. Our maximum exposure to loss as a result of our involvement with this venture is equal to our equity investment in the venture, the balance of the promissory note extended to the venture, the amount, if any, advanced under the lines of credit, and the amount, if any, by which the put option exercise price exceeds the fair value of the noncontrolling interest in Lamb Weston BSW on, or after, the put option exercise date. Also, in the event of a production shortfall, we could be required to compensate the other equity owner of Lamb Weston BSW for lost profits. It is not possible to determine the maximum exposure to losses from the potential exercise of the put option or from potential production shortfalls. However, we do not expect to incur material losses resulting from these potential exposures.

We also consolidate the assets and liabilities of several entities from which we lease corporate aircraft. Each of these entities has been determined to be a variable interest entity and we have been determined to be the primary beneficiary of each of these entities. Under the terms of the aircraft leases, we provide guarantees to the owners of these entities of a minimum residual value of the aircraft at the end of the lease term. We also have fixed price purchase options on the aircraft leased from these entities. Our maximum exposure to loss from our involvement with these entities is limited to the difference between the fair value of the leased aircraft and the amount of the residual value guarantees at the time we terminate the leases (the leases expire thru October 2012). The total amount of the residual value guarantees for these aircraft at the end of the respective lease terms is $33.7 million.

Due to the consolidation of these variable interest entities, we reflected in our condensed consolidated balance sheets:

	February 26, 2012		May 29, 2011
Cash and cash equivalents	$	8.1	$	5.3
Receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts		8.6		18.9
Inventories		1.7		1.5
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		0.4		0.3
Property, plant and equipment, net		89.2		91.8
Goodwill		18.8		18.8
Brands, trademarks and other intangibles, net		8.5		9.0
Total assets	$	135.3	$	145.6
Current installments of long-term debt	$	35.8	$	13.4
Accounts payable		8.5		13.1
Accrued payroll		0.6		0.4
Other accrued liabilities		1.2		0.7
Senior long-term debt, excluding current installments		—		30.1
Other noncurrent liabilities (minority interest)		27.1		26.7
Total liabilities	$	73.2	$	84.4

The liabilities recognized as a result of consolidating the Lamb Weston BSW entity do not represent additional claims on our general assets. The creditors of Lamb Weston BSW have claims only on the assets of Lamb Weston BSW. The assets recognized as a result of consolidating Lamb Weston BSW are the property of the venture and are not available to us for any other purpose, other than as a secured lender under the promissory note and lines of credit.

Variable Interest Entities Not Consolidated

We also have variable interests in certain other entities that we have determined to be variable interest entities, but for which we are not the primary beneficiary. We do not consolidate the financial statements of these entities.

We hold a 50% interest in Lamb Weston RDO, a potato processing venture. We provide all sales and marketing services to Lamb Weston RDO. We receive a fee for these services based on a percentage of the net sales of the venture. We reflect the value of our ownership interest in this venture in other assets in our condensed consolidated balance sheets, based upon the equity method of accounting. The balance of our investment was $14.4 million and $13.6 million at February 26, 2012 and May 29, 2011, respectively, representing our maximum exposure to loss as a result of our involvement with this venture. The capital structure of Lamb Weston RDO includes owners’ equity of $28.7 million and term borrowings from banks of $43.0 million as of February 26, 2012. We have determined that we do not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of this venture.

We lease certain office buildings from entities that we have determined to be variable interest entities. The lease agreements with these entities include fixed-price purchase options for the assets being leased, representing our only variable interest in these lessor entities. These leases are accounted for as operating leases, and, accordingly, there are no material assets or liabilities associated with these entities included in our condensed consolidated balance sheets. We have no material exposure to loss from our variable interests in these entities. We have determined that we do not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of these entities. In making this determination, we have considered, among other items, the terms of the lease agreements, the expected remaining useful lives of the assets leased, and the capital structure of the lessor entities.