Variable Interest Entities

6 Months Ended

Apr. 30, 2012

Variable Interest Entities [Abstract]

VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

NOTE 8 — VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

The Company evaluates whether an entity is a variable interest entity (“VIE”) at the inception of an arrangement or whenever reconsideration events occur and performs reassessments of all VIE’s quarterly to determine if the primary beneficiary designation is appropriate. The Company consolidates VIE’s for which it is the primary beneficiary. If the Company is not the primary beneficiary and an ownership interest is held by the Company, the VIE is accounted for under the equity or cost methods of accounting. When assessing the determination of the primary beneficiary, the Company considers all relevant facts and circumstances, including: the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb the expected losses and/or the right to receive the expected returns of the VIE. One of the companies acquired in 2011 is considered a VIE. However, because the Company is not the primary beneficiary, the Company will report its ownership interest in this acquired company using the equity method of accounting.

Significant Nonstrategic Timberland Transactions

In March 2005, Soterra LLC (a wholly owned subsidiary) entered into two real estate purchase and sale agreements with Plum Creek Timberlands, L.P. (“Plum Creek”) to sell approximately 56,000 acres of timberland and related assets located primarily in Florida for an aggregate sales price of approximately $90 million, subject to closing adjustments. In connection with the closing of one of these agreements, Soterra LLC sold approximately 35,000 acres of timberland and associated assets in Florida, Georgia and Alabama for $51.0 million. The purchase price was paid in the form of cash and a $50.9 million purchase note payable (the “Purchase Note”) by an indirect subsidiary of Plum Creek (the “Buyer SPE”). Soterra LLC contributed the Purchase Note to STA Timber LLC (“STA Timber”), one of the Company’s indirect wholly owned subsidiaries. The Purchase Note is secured by a Deed of Guarantee issued by Bank of America, N.A., London Branch, in an amount not to exceed $52.3 million (the “Deed of Guarantee”), as a guarantee of the due and punctual payment of principal and interest on the Purchase Note.

In May 2005, STA Timber issued in a private placement its 5.20% Senior Secured Notes due August 5, 2020 (the “Monetization Notes”) in the principal amount of $43.3 million. In connection with the sale of the Monetization Notes, STA Timber entered into note purchase agreements with the purchasers of the Monetization Notes (the “Note Purchase Agreements”) and related documentation. The Monetization Notes are secured by a pledge of the Purchase Note and the Deed of Guarantee. The Monetization Notes may be accelerated in the event of a default in payment or a breach of the other obligations set forth therein or in the Note Purchase Agreements or related documents, subject in certain cases to any applicable cure periods, or upon the occurrence of certain insolvency or bankruptcy related events. The Monetization Notes are subject to a mechanism that may cause them, subject to certain conditions, to be extended to November 5, 2020. The proceeds from the sale of the Monetization Notes were primarily used for the repayment of indebtedness. Greif, Inc. and its other subsidiaries have not extended any form of guaranty of the principal or interest on the Monetization Notes. Accordingly, Greif, Inc. and its other subsidiaries will not become directly or contingently liable for the payment of the Monetization Notes at any time.

The Buyer SPE is deemed to be a VIE since the Buyer SPE is not able to satisfy its liabilities without financial support from the Company. While the Buyer SPE is a separate and distinct legal entity from the Company, the Company is the primary beneficiary because it has (1) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance, and (2) the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. As a result, Buyer SPE has been consolidated into the operations of the Company.

As of April 30, 2012 and October 31, 2011, assets of the Buyer SPE consisted of $50.9 million of restricted bank financial instruments. For both of the six month periods ending April 30, 2012 and 2011, the Buyer SPE recorded interest income of $1.2 million.

As of April 30, 2012 and October 31, 2011, STA Timber had long-term debt of $43.3 million. For both of the six month periods ending April 30, 2012 and 2011, STA Timber recorded interest expense of $1.1 million. STA Timber is exposed to credit-related losses in the event of nonperformance by the issuer of the Deed of Guarantee.

Flexible Products Joint Venture

On September 29, 2010, Greif, Inc. and its indirect subsidiary Greif International Holding Supra C.V. (“Greif Supra”) formed a joint venture (referred to herein as the “Flexible Products JV”) with Dabbagh Group Holding Company Limited and its subsidiary National Scientific Company Limited (“NSC”). The Flexible Products JV owns the operations in the Flexible Products & Services segment, with the exception of the North American multi-wall bag business. The Flexible Products JV has been consolidated into the operations of the Company as of its formation date of September 29, 2010.

The Flexible Products JV is deemed to be a VIE since the total equity investment at risk is not sufficient to permit the legal entity to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from the Company. The Company is the primary beneficiary because it has (1) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance, and (2) the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE.

The economic and business purpose underlying the Flexible Products JV is to establish a global industrial flexible products enterprise through a series of targeted acquisitions and major investments in plant, machinery and equipment. All entities contributed to the Flexible Products JV were existing businesses acquired by a subsidiary of Greif, Inc. and were reorganized under Greif Flexibles Asset Holding B.V. and Greif Flexibles Trading Holding B.V. (“Asset Co.” and “Trading Co.”), respectively. The Company has 51 percent ownership in Trading Co. and 49 percent ownership in Asset Co. However, Greif Supra and NSC have equal economic interests in the Flexible Products JV, notwithstanding the actual ownership interests in the various legal entities.

All investments, loans and capital contributions are to be shared equally by Greif, Inc. and NSC and each partner has committed to contribute capital of up to $150 million and obtain third party financing for up to $150 million as required.

The following table presents the Flexible Products JV total net assets (Dollars in millions):

October 31, 2011	Asset Co.		Trading Co.		Flexible Products JV
Total assets	$	192.9	$	171.3	$	364.2
Total liabilities		78.9		57.2		136.1
Net assets	$	114.0	$	114.1	$	228.1

April 30, 2012	Asset Co.		Trading Co.		Flexible Products JV
Total assets	$	184.2	$	150.3	$	334.5
Total liabilities		77.5		50.4		127.9
Net assets	$	106.7	$	99.9	$	206.6

As of April 30, 2012, Asset Co. had outstanding advances to NSC for $13.2 million which are being used to fund certain costs incurred in Saudi Arabia in respect of the fabric hub being constructed and equipped there. These advances are recorded within the current portion related party notes and advances receivable on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet since they are expected to be repaid within the next twelve months. As of April 30, 2012, Asset Co. and Trading Co. held short term loans payable to NSC for $7.5 million recorded within short-term borrowings on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. These loans are interest bearing and are used to fund certain operational requirements. Subsequent to April 30, 2012, the outstanding advances were repaid in full.

Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest in the Flexible Products JV for the three months ending April 30, 2012 and 2011 was $2.4 million and $0.2 million, respectively. Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest in the Flexible Products JV for the six months ending April 30, 2012 and 2011 was $3.8 million and $1.9 million, respectively.

Non-United States Accounts Receivable VIE

As further described in Note 3, Cooperage Receivables Finance B.V. is a party to the European RPA. Cooperage Receivables Finance B.V. is deemed to be a VIE since this entity is not able to satisfy its liabilities without the financial support from the Company. While this entity is a separate and distinct legal entity from the Company and no ownership interest in this entity is held by the Company, the Company is the primary beneficiary because it has (1) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance, and (2) the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. As a result, Cooperage Receivables Finance B.V. has been consolidated into the operations of the Company.