NOTE 8 – CONSOLIDATION OF VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

The Company evaluates whether an entity is a variable interest entity (“VIE”) whenever reconsideration events occur and performs reassessments of all VIE’s quarterly to determine if the primary beneficiary status 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, the VIE is accounted for under the equity or cost methods of accounting, as appropriate. 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.

Significant Nonstrategic Timberland Transactions

On March 28, 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, resulting in a pretax gain of $42.1 million, on May 23, 2005. 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.

The Company completed the second and final phase of these transactions in the first and second quarter of 2006, respectively, with the sale of 15,300 acres and another approximately 5,700 acres.

On May 31, 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 assets of the Buyer SPE are not available to satisfy the liabilities of the Buyer SPE. The Buyer SPE is a separate and distinct legal entity from the Company and no ownership interest in the Buyer SPE is held by the Company, but 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 October 31, 2015 and 2014, assets of the Buyer SPE consisted of $50.9 million of restricted bank financial instruments which are expected to be held to maturity. For each of the years ended October 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Buyer SPE recorded interest income of $2.4 million.

As of October 31, 2015 and 2014, STA Timber had long-term debt of $43.3 million. For each of the years ended October 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, STA Timber recorded interest expense of $2.2 million. STA Timber is exposed to credit-related losses in the event of nonperformance by the issuer of the Deed of Guarantee.

Flexible Packaging 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 Packaging JV”) with Dabbagh Group Holding Company Limited and its subsidiary NSC. The Flexible Packaging JV owns the operations in the Flexible Products & Services segment, with the exception of the North American multiwall packaging business, which was sold in August 2014. The Flexible Packaging JV has been consolidated into the operations of the Company as of its formation date of September 29, 2010.

The Flexible Packaging 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. 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 Packaging 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 Packaging JV were existing businesses acquired by Greif Supra and that were reorganized under Greif Flexibles Asset Holding B.V. and Greif Flexibles Trading Holding B.V. (“Asset Co.” and “Trading Co.”), respectively. The Flexibles Packaging J.V. also includes Global Textile Company LLC (“Global Textile”), which owned and operated a fabric hub in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that commenced operations in the fourth quarter of 2012 and ceased operations in the fourth quarter of 2014. The Company has 51 percent ownership in Trading Co. and 49 percent ownership in Asset Co. and Global Textile. However, Greif Supra and NSC have equal economic interests in the Flexible Packaging JV, notwithstanding the actual ownership interests in the various legal entities.

All investments, loans and capital contributions are to be shared equally by Greif Supra 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 Packaging JV total net assets (Dollars in millions):


As of October 31,	2015		2014
Cash and cash equivalents	$	14.5	$	6.6
Trade accounts receivable, less allowance of $3.2 in 2015 and $4.3 in 2014		47.5		60.1
Inventories		44.7		70.0
Properties, plants and equipment, net		43.1		57.0
Other assets		36.8		45.8
Accounts payable		27.9		43.7
Other liabilities		50.6		47.7

During 2014, there was a conversion of short-term loans payable and accrued interest to equity. This transaction involved loans payable to another Greif entity and those payable to NSC. As of October 31, 2013, Asset Co. had outstanding advances to NSC for $0.6 million which were being used to fund certain costs incurred in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in respect of the fabric hub. These advances were recorded within the current portion related party notes and advances receivable on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. As of October 31, 2013, Asset Co. and Trading Co. held short term loans payable to NSC for $12.7 million, recorded within short-term borrowings on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet. These loans were interest bearing and were used to fund certain operational requirements. The fabric hub ceased operations during the fourth quarter of 2014.

Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest in the Flexible Packaging JV for the years ended October 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 were $14.2 million, $57.0 million and $9.1 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.