-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, IncSszXODuLmoldsg7ae+JenIHEfif7LRof7Cdk0QeDytGJexZGv7yubxd6kyVZt DmQfbmNO3szFcjZuf3AL0w== 0001104659-08-002373.txt : 20080114 0001104659-08-002373.hdr.sgml : 20080114 20080114095810 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001104659-08-002373 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-Q PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 6 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20071130 FILED AS OF DATE: 20080114 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20080114 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: AMERICAN CRYSTAL SUGAR CO /MN/ CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000004828 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: SUGAR & CONFECTIONERY PRODUCTS [2060] IRS NUMBER: 840004720 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MN FISCAL YEAR END: 0831 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 033-83868 FILM NUMBER: 08527651 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 101 N 3RD ST CITY: MOORHEAD STATE: MN ZIP: 56560 BUSINESS PHONE: 6122028110 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 101 NORTH THIRD STREET CITY: MOORHEAD STATE: MN ZIP: 56560 10-Q 1 a08-1768_110q.htm 10-Q

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 


 

x

Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the period November 30, 2007

 

Commission file number:  33-83868

 

AMERICAN CRYSTAL SUGAR COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Minnesota

 

84-0004720

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

101 North Third Street

Moorhead, Minnesota  56560

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Telephone Number (218) 236-4400

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Indicate by check mark 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, and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

 

YES x

 

 

 

NO o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer.  See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one)

Large accelerated filer o

 

Accelerated filer o

 

Non-accelerated filer x

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in rule 12b-2 of the Act).

 

Yes o

 

 

 

NO x

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

 

 

 

Outstanding at

Class of Common Stock

 

January 7, 2008

$10 Par Value

 

2,875

 

 



 

AMERICAN CRYSTAL SUGAR COMPANY

 

FORM 10-Q

 

INDEX

 

 

 

 

PAGE NO.

 

 

 

 

PART I

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

ITEM 1.

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

5

 

 

 

 

 

ITEM 2.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

 

 

 

  OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND

 

 

 

  FINANCIAL CONDITION

10

 

ITEM 3.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES

 

 

 

  ABOUT MARKET RISK

15

 

ITEM 4.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

15

 

 

 

 

PART II

OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

ITEM 1.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

16

 

ITEM 1A.

RISK FACTORS

16

 

ITEM 2.

UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 

 

 

  AND USE OF PROCEEDS

16

 

ITEM 3.

DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

16

 

ITEM 4.

SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE

 

 

 

  OF SECURITY HOLDERS

16

 

ITEM 5.

OTHER INFORMATION

17

 

ITEM 6.

EXHIBITS

18

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

21

 



 

American Crystal Sugar Company

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)

(In Thousands)

 

Assets

 

 

 

November 30

 

August 31

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2007*

 

Current Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

$

254

 

$

236

 

$

222

 

Receivables:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trade

 

58,290

 

65,751

 

77,010

 

Members

 

3,199

 

2,901

 

2,746

 

Other

 

9,704

 

3,272

 

5,532

 

Advances to Related Parties

 

2,582

 

80

 

7,796

 

Inventories

 

587,973

 

623,694

 

216,563

 

Prepaid Expenses

 

2,306

 

5,596

 

1,204

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Current Assets

 

664,308

 

701,530

 

311,073

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property and Equipment:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Land and Land Improvements

 

58,137

 

55,959

 

57,738

 

Buildings

 

110,457

 

103,215

 

109,123

 

Equipment

 

851,085

 

802,837

 

846,467

 

Construction in Progress

 

26,182

 

19,011

 

23,513

 

Less Accumulated Depreciation

 

(687,317

)

(650,450

)

(672,896

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Property and Equipment

 

358,544

 

330,572

 

363,945

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Property and Equipment Held for Lease

 

127,666

 

137,267

 

129,795

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investments in CoBank, ACB

 

11,627

 

13,138

 

11,627

 

Investments in Marketing Cooperatives

 

5,722

 

5,702

 

5,659

 

Investments in Crystech, LLC

 

 

15,665

 

 

Pension Asset

 

37,428

 

43,683

 

37,400

 

Other Assets

 

16,996

 

18,312

 

15,816

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Other Assets

 

71,773

 

96,500

 

70,502

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Assets

 

$

1,222,291

 

$

1,265,869

 

$

875,315

 

 


The Accompanying Notes are an Integral Part of These Consolidated Financial Statements.

* Derived from audited financial statements

 

1



 

American Crystal Sugar Company

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)

(In Thousands)

Liabilities and Members’ Investments

 

 

 

November 30

 

August 31

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2007*

 

Current Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-Term Debt

 

$

250,612

 

$

276,531

 

$

24,980

 

Current Maturities of Long-Term Debt

 

25,627

 

20,962

 

31,227

 

Accounts Payable

 

26,358

 

22,872

 

38,998

 

Advances Due to Related Parties

 

3,741

 

14,581

 

2,874

 

Accrued Continuing Costs

 

42,094

 

40,283

 

 

Other Current Liabilities

 

26,575

 

25,059

 

32,805

 

Amounts Due Growers

 

237,576

 

250,408

 

143,260

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Current Liabilities

 

612,583

 

650,696

 

274,144

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-Term Debt, Net of Current Maturities

 

160,321

 

184,273

 

157,974

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accrued Employee Benefits

 

41,896

 

40,989

 

39,337

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Liabilities

 

7,673

 

8,239

 

8,240

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

 

822,473

 

884,197

 

479,695

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and Contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minority Interest in ProGold Limited

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liability Company

 

64,235

 

57,318

 

61,735

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Members’ Investments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred Stock

 

38,275

 

38,275

 

38,275

 

Common Stock

 

29

 

29

 

29

 

Additional Paid-In Capital

 

152,261

 

152,261

 

152,261

 

Unit Retains

 

170,363

 

153,961

 

170,363

 

Equity Retention

 

2,687

 

2,694

 

2,687

 

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

 

(8,539

)

(432

)

(8,552

)

Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)

 

(19,493

)

(22,434

)

(21,178

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Members’ Investments

 

335,583

 

324,354

 

333,885

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Liabilities and Members’ Investments

 

$

1,222,291

 

$

1,265,869

 

$

875,315

 

 


The Accompanying Notes are an Integral Part of These Consolidated Financial Statements.

* Derived from audited financial statements

 

2



 

American Crystal Sugar Company

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

For the Three Months
Ended November 30

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

Net Revenue

 

$

304,334

 

$

258,246

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of Sales

 

8,826

 

(35,166

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross Proceeds

 

295,508

 

293,412

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

 

63,032

 

49,923

 

Accrued Continuing Costs

 

42,094

 

40,283

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Proceeds

 

190,382

 

203,206

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Income (Expense):

 

 

 

 

 

Interest Income

 

314

 

476

 

Interest Expense, Net

 

(2,653

)

(3,437

)

Other, Net

 

513

 

400

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Other Expense

 

(1,826

)

(2,561

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds Before Minority Interest and

 

 

 

 

 

Income Tax Expense

 

188,556

 

200,645

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minority Interest

 

(2,500

)

(1,219

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income Tax Expense

 

(1,171

)

(716

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Proceeds Resulting from Member and

 

 

 

 

 

Non-Member Business

 

$

184,885

 

$

198,710

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distributions of Net Proceeds:

 

 

 

 

 

Credited/(Charged) to Members’ Investments:

 

 

 

 

 

Non-Member Business Income

 

$

1,685

 

$

1,030

 

Unit Retains Declared to Members

 

 

 

Net Credit to Members’ Investments

 

1,685

 

1,030

 

Payments To/Due Members for Sugarbeets,

 

 

 

 

 

Net of Unit Retains Declared

 

183,200

 

197,680

 

Total

 

$

184,885

 

$

198,710

 

 

The Accompanying Notes are an Integral Part of These Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

3



 

American Crystal Sugar Company

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the Three Months Ended November 30

(Unaudited)

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

Cash Provided By (Used In) Operating Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net Proceeds Resulting from Member and Non-Member Business

 

$

184,885

 

$

198,710

 

Payments To/Due Members for Sugarbeets, Net of Unit Retains Declared

 

(183,200

)

(197,680

)

Add (Deduct) Non-Cash Items:

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and Amortization

 

17,958

 

17,770

 

Income from Equity Method Investees

 

(14

)

(288

)

(Gain)/Loss on the Disposition of Property and Equipment

 

(6

)

78

 

Deferred Gain Recognition

 

(49

)

(49

)

Minority Interest in ProGold Limited Liability Company

 

2,500

 

1,219

 

Changes in Assets and Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Receivables

 

14,095

 

13,737

 

Inventories

 

(371,410

)

(448,933

)

Prepaid Expenses

 

(1,089

)

(1,138

)

Non Current Pension Asset

 

(28

)

1,742

 

Advances To/Due to Related Parties

 

6,081

 

12,205

 

Accounts Payable

 

(12,640

)

(4,248

)

Accrued Continuing Costs

 

42,094

 

40,283

 

Other Liabilities

 

(4,238

)

(2,255

)

Amounts Due Growers

 

94,316

 

126,760

 

Net Cash Used In Operating Activities

 

(210,745

)

(242,087

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Provided By (Used In) Investing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases of Property and Equipment

 

(9,110

)

(12,830

)

Purchases of Property and Equipment Held for Lease

 

(650

)

(3

)

Proceeds from the Sale of Property and Equipment

 

16

 

5

 

Changes in Other Assets

 

(1,858

)

(661

)

Net Cash Used In Investing Activities

 

(11,602

)

(13,489

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Provided By (Used In) Financing Activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Net Proceeds from Short-Term Debt

 

225,632

 

271,231

 

Proceeds from Issuance of Long-Term Debt

 

3,061

 

 

Long-Term Debt Repayment

 

(6,314

)

(15,764

)

Net Cash Provided By Financing Activities

 

222,379

 

255,467

 

Increase/(Decrease) In Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

32

 

(109

)

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Year

 

222

 

345

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period

 

$

254

 

$

236

 

 

The Accompanying Notes are an Integral Part of These Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

4



 

AMERICAN CRYSTAL SUGAR COMPANY

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED

November 30, 2007 AND 2006

(Unaudited)

 

Note 1:  Basis of Presentation

 

The unaudited consolidated financial statements of American Crystal Sugar Company (the Company) contained herein have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.  However, in the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals, considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.

 

The Company’s consolidated financial statements are comprised of: American Crystal Sugar Company; its wholly-owned subsidiaries Sidney Sugars Incorporated (Sidney Sugars) and Crab Creek Sugar Company (Crab Creek); and ProGold Limited Liability Company (ProGold), a limited liability company in which the Company holds a 51 percent ownership interest.

 

All material inter-company transactions have been eliminated.

 

The operating results for the three months ended November 30, 2007, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ended August 31, 2008.

 

The amount paid to shareholders for sugarbeets (member beet payment) depends on the future selling prices of sugar and agri-products as well as processing and other costs incurred during the remainder of the fiscal year associated with the 2007 Red River Valley sugarbeet crop (RRV crop).  The amount paid to non-member growers for sugarbeets (non-member beet payment) depends on the future selling prices of sugar and the related selling expenses associated with the 2007 Sidney Sugars sugarbeet crop (Sidney crop).  For the purposes of this report, the amount of the beet payments, future revenues and costs have been estimated.  Therefore, adjustments with respect to these estimates may be necessary in the future, as additional information becomes available.

 

These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2007.

 

Note 2: Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

 

The Financial Accounting Standards Board has issued Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109.  This Interpretation clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the financial statements in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes.  This interpretation became effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2008.  See Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.

 

The Financial Accounting Standards Board recently issued Statement No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements – an amendment of  ARB  No. 51.  This Statement requires all entities to report noncontrolling (minority) interests in subsidiaries as equity in the consolidated financial statements.  Its intention is to eliminate the diversity in practice regarding the accounting for transactions between an entity and noncontrolling interests.  This statement becomes effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2010.

 

5



 

Note 3:  Inventories

 

The major components of inventories are as follows (In Thousands):

 

 

 

November 30
2007

 

November 30
2006

 

August 31
2007

 

Refined Sugar, Pulp, Molasses, Other

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agri-Products and Sugarbeet Seed

 

$

247,284

 

$

256,219

 

$

178,078

 

Unprocessed Sugarbeets

 

312,221

 

337,732

 

9,231

 

Maintenance Parts and Supplies

 

28,468

 

29,743

 

29,254

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Inventories

 

$

587,973

 

$

623,694

 

$

216,563

 

 

Sugar, pulp, molasses and other agri-products inventories are valued at estimated net realizable value.  Unprocessed sugarbeets are valued at the estimated gross beet payment.  Maintenance parts and supplies and sugarbeet seed inventories are valued at the lower of average cost or market.

 

Note 4: Short-Term Debt

 

The Company has a seasonal line of credit with a consortium of lenders led by CoBank, ACB of $390 million and a line of credit with Wells Fargo Bank for $1 million.  The Company’s commercial paper program provides short-term borrowings of up to $325 million.  Any borrowings under the commercial paper program along with outstanding short-term letters of credit will act to reduce the available credit under the CoBank, ACB seasonal line of credit by a commensurate amount.  The Company also utilizes the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to meet its short-term borrowing needs.

 

As of November 30, 2007, the Company had outstanding commercial paper of $200.6 million at an average interest rate of 5.98% and maturity dates between December 1, 2007 and February 29, 2008.  The Company also had $50.0 million of outstanding short-term debt with CoBank, ACB as of November 30, 2007, at an interest rate of 5.75% and a maturity date of January 22, 2008.  The Company had no outstanding short-term debt with the CCC as of November 30, 2007.  The Company had $2.1 million of short-term letters of credit outstanding as of November 30, 2007.  The unused seasonal line of credit as of November 30, 2007 was $138.3 million.

 

As of November 30, 2006, the Company had outstanding commercial paper of $236.5 million at an average interest rate of 4.54% and maturity dates between December 1, 2006 and February 28, 2007.  The Company also had $40.0 million of outstanding short-term debt with CoBank, ACB as of November 30, 2006, at an interest rate of 5.05% and a maturity date of December 18, 2006.  The Company had no outstanding short-term debt with the CCC as of November 30, 2006.  The Company had $5.5 million of short-term letters of credit outstanding as of November 30, 2006.  The unused seasonal line of credit as of November 30, 2006 was $119.0 million.

 

Note 5:  Interest Paid and Interest Capitalized

 

Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized, was $1.0 million and $2.2 million for the three months ended November 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.  Interest capitalized, was $ .4 million for both the three months ended November 30, 2007 and 2006.

 

Note 6:  Accrued Continuing Costs

 

For interim reporting, the net proceeds from member business is based on the forecasted gross beet payment and the percentage of the tons of sugarbeets processed to the total estimated tons of sugarbeets to process for a given crop year.  The net proceeds from the operations of Sidney Sugars is based on the forecasted net income for the fiscal year and the percentage of the tons of non-member sugarbeets processed to the total estimated tons of non-member sugarbeets to process for a given fiscal year.

 

6



 

Accrued continuing costs represent the difference between the net proceeds as determined above and actual member business crop year and Sidney Sugars fiscal year revenues realized and expenses incurred through the end of the reporting period.  Accrued continuing costs are reflected in the Consolidated Financial Statements as a cost on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and as a current liability on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

 

Note 7:  Net Periodic Pension and Post-Retirement Costs

 

The following schedules provide the components of the Net Periodic Pension and Post-Retirement Costs for the three months ended November 30, 2007 and 2006:

 

Components of Net Periodic Pension Cost

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended

 

 

 

November 30

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

Service Cost

 

$

941

 

$

883

 

Interest Cost

 

2,038

 

1,977

 

Expected Return on Plan Assets

 

(3,241

)

(2,727

)

Multiple Employer Adjustment

 

 

(14

)

Amortization of Prior Service Costs

 

329

 

728

 

Amortization of Net Actuarial Loss

 

15

 

108

 

Net Periodic Pension Cost

 

$

82

 

$

955

 

 

Components of Net Periodic Post-Retirement Cost

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended

 

 

 

November 30

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

Service Cost

 

$

269

 

$

275

 

Interest Cost

 

466

 

481

 

Amortization of Net Actuarial (Gain)/Loss

 

(56

)

(5

)

Net Periodic Post-Retirement Cost

 

$

679

 

$

751

 

 

The Company does not expect to make any contributions to the pension plans during this fiscal year.  The Company made payments of approximately $25,000 related to the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans during the three months ended November 30, 2007.  The Company expects to make contributions this fiscal year of approximately $3.3 million related to the Supplemental Executive Retirement Plans.

 

The Company made payments of approximately $164,000 related to the post-retirement plans during the three months ended November 30, 2007.  The Company expects to contribute approximately $700,000 related to the post-retirement plans during the current fiscal year.

 

7



 

Note 8:  Members’ Investments

 

 

 

 

 

Shares

 

Shares Issued

 

 

 

Par Value

 

Authorized

 

& Outstanding

 

Preferred Stock:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  January 7, 2008

 

$

76.77

 

600,000

 

498,570

 

  November 30, 2007

 

$

76.77

 

600,000

 

498,570

 

  August 31, 2007

 

$

76.77

 

600,000

 

498,570

 

  November 30, 2006

 

$

76.77

 

600,000

 

498,570

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common Stock:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  January 7, 2008

 

$

10.00

 

4,000

 

2,875

 

  November 30, 2007

 

$

10.00

 

4,000

 

2,878

 

  August 31, 2007

 

$

10.00

 

4,000

 

2,878

 

  November 30, 2006

 

$

10.00

 

4,000

 

2,874

 

 

Note 9: Shipping and Handling Costs

 

The costs incurred for the shipping and handling of products sold are classified in the financial statements as a selling expense on the Statements of Operations.  Shipping and handling costs were $43.3 million and $32.8 million for the three months ended November 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

 

Note 10: ProGold Limited Liability Company

 

The Company is the controlling member of ProGold Limited Liability Company (ProGold), which owns a corn wet-milling plant in Wahpeton, North Dakota, that is currently being leased to Cargill, Incorporated (Cargill).  On November 6, 2007, ProGold entered into an amended lease agreement with Cargill that supersedes and replaces the existing 10 year lease between ProGold and Cargill and provides that (1) Cargill will pay ProGold average annual rental payments equal to $21,900,000, and (2) that the term of the lease be extended until December 31, 2017.

 

Note 11: Segment Reporting

 

The Company has identified two reportable segments: Sugar and Leasing.  The sugar segment is engaged primarily in the production and marketing of sugar from sugarbeets.  It also sells agri-products and sugarbeet seed.  The leasing segment is engaged in the leasing of a corn wet-milling plant used in the production of high-fructose corn syrup sweetener.  The segments are managed separately.  There are no inter-segment sales.  The leasing segment has a major customer that accounts for all of that segment’s revenue.

 

Summarized financial information concerning the Company’s reportable segments for three months ended November 30, 2007 and 2006, is shown below:

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended November 30, 2007

 

 

 

(Dollars In Thousands)

 

 

 

Sugar

 

Leasing

 

Consolidated

 

Net Revenue from External Customers

 

$

297,505

 

$

6,829

 

$

304,334

 

Gross Proceeds

 

$

290,196

 

$

5,312

 

$

295,508

 

Depreciation and Amortization

 

$

15,179

 

$

2,779

 

$

17,958

 

Interest Income

 

$

308

 

$

6

 

$

314

 

Interest Expense

 

$

2,479

 

$

174

 

$

2,653

 

Income from Equity Method Investees

 

$

14

 

$

 

$

14

 

Other Income, Net

 

$

499

 

$

 

$

499

 

Net Proceeds

 

$

182,283

 

$

2,602

 

$

184,885

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital Expenditures

 

$

9,110

 

$

650

 

$

9,760

 

 

8



 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended November 30, 2006

 

 

 

(Dollars In Thousands)

 

 

 

Sugar

 

Leasing

 

Consolidated

 

Net Revenue from External Customers

 

$

252,063

 

$

6,183

 

$

258,246

 

Gross Proceeds

 

$

290,243

 

$

3,169

 

$

293,412

 

Depreciation and Amortization

 

$

14,992

 

$

2,778

 

$

17,770

 

Interest Income

 

$

467

 

$

9

 

$

476

 

Interest Expense

 

$

2,772

 

$

665

 

$

3,437

 

Income from Equity Method Investees

 

$

288

 

$

 

$

288

 

Other Income, Net

 

$

112

 

$

 

$

112

 

Net Proceeds

 

$

197,441

 

$

1,269

 

$

198,710

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital Expenditures

 

$

12,830

 

$

3

 

$

12,833

 

 

 

 

As of November 30, 2007

 

 

 

(Dollars In Thousands)

 

 

 

Sugar

 

Leasing

 

Consolidated

 

Property and Equipment, Net

 

$

358,544

 

$

 

$

358,544

 

Assets Held for Lease, Net

 

$

 

$

127,666

 

$

127,666

 

Segment Assets

 

$

1,086,500

 

$

135,791

 

$

1,222,291

 

 

 

 

As of November 30, 2006

 

 

 

(Dollars In Thousands)

 

 

 

Sugar

 

Leasing

 

Consolidated

 

Property and Equipment, Net

 

$

330,572

 

$

 

$

330,572

 

Assets Held for Lease, Net

 

$

 

$

137,267

 

$

137,267

 

Segment Assets

 

$

1,119,417

 

$

146,452

 

$

1,265,869

 

 

Note 12: Income Taxes

 

On September 1, 2007, the Company adopted the provisions of the Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109.  This Interpretation clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in the financial statements in accordance with FASB Statement No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes.

 

The Company had no unrecognized tax benefits on September 1, 2007.  No interest or penalties are recognized in the consolidated statements of operations or in the consolidated balance sheets.  The Company is no longer subject to U.S. Federal or state income tax examinations by tax authorities for fiscal years 2004 and earlier.

 

Note 13: Environmental Matters

 

The Company’s Crookston, East Grand Forks and Moorhead, Minnesota factories have experienced hydrogen sulfide emissions from their water treatment ponds that have exceeded permissible limits.  On July 19, 2007, the Company received a notice of violation from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) related to emissions that occurred in fiscal 2005 and 2006.  A penalty assessment is currently under consideration by the MPCA.  The Company’s Crookston, East Grand Forks and Moorhead, Minnesota factories also experienced hydrogen sulfide emissions from their water treatment ponds in fiscal 2007 that exceeded permissible limits.  While it is likely that the Company may be assessed penalties and/or fines related to these occurrences, as of the date of this report none have been

 

9



 

assessed.  Any potential penalties and/or fines, while possibly significant, are not expected to be material to the Company.

 

Capital expenditures will be required to prevent future occurrences of the emissions.  The Company’s capital appropriations budgets at the beginning of the current fiscal year included approximately $6.2 million for environmentally related projects at the Company’s factory locations.  Expenditures during the three months ended November 30, 2007 on these projects were approximately $624,000 while total-to-date spending on these projects has been $3.9 million.  Environmental related projects that were placed into service during the three months ended November 30, 2007 totaled approximately $191,000.  The amount and timing of any additional capital expenditures that may be required is not currently known.

 

In October 2007, the East Grand Forks, Minnesota factory experienced emissions from its pellet cooler that exceeded permissible limits.  In July and November 2007, the Company received Compliance Monitoring Survey-Letters of Warning from the MPCA for the East Grand Forks and Moorhead, Minnesota factories.  Corrective actions have been taken related these occurrences.  While the Company may be assessed penalties for these occurrences, as of the date of this report none have been assessed.   Any potential penalties assessed are not expected to be material to the Company.

 

Note 14: Legal Matters

 

Another sugar company has appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals a decision of the United States District Court relative to the determination and transfer of sugar marketing allocations made by the USDA.  If this case is overturned, it could result in the Company experiencing a reduction in marketing allocations equal to the loss of approximately 15,000 acres in future crop years assuming no other related factors were to change.

 

Item 2.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition for the Three Months Ended November 30, 2007 and 2006

 

This report contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.  Such forward-looking statements include, among others, those statements including the words “expect”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “may” and similar expressions.  The Company’s actual results could differ materially from those indicated.  Risk factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, without limitation, market factors, weather and general economic conditions, farm and trade policy, available quantity and quality of sugarbeets.  For a more complete discussion of “Risk Factors”, please refer to the Company’s 2007 Form 10-K.

 

Overview

 

Due to the large size of the 2007 Red River Valley crop, the Company, for the second consecutive year, commenced the harvest and processing of the crop in August as compared to a typical start-up in September.  All the costs incurred prior to the beginning of the Company’s 2008 fiscal year that related to receiving and processing the 2007 sugarbeet crop were deferred in fiscal 2007 and recognized in fiscal 2008.  Similarly, the net realizable values of products produced prior to the beginning of the Company’s 2008 fiscal year that related to the 2007 sugarbeet crop were deferred in fiscal 2007 and recognized in fiscal 2008.

 

The harvest of the sugarbeet crop (Red River Valley crop and Sidney crop) grown during 2007 and to be processed during fiscal 2008 produced a total of 12.5 million tons of sugarbeets, or approximately 23.6 tons of sugarbeets per acre from approximately 529,000 acres.  This represents a decrease in total tons harvested of approximately 3.0 percent compared to the 2006 crop.  The sugar content of the 2007 crop is 18.1 percent as compared to the 18.2 percent sugar content of the 2006 crop.  The Company expects to produce a total of approximately 35.4 million hundredweight of sugar from the 2007 crop, a decrease of approximately 4.9 percent compared to the 2006 crop.  Due to the limits imposed by government sugar marketing allocations, it is anticipated that approximately 3.0 million

 

10



 

hundredweight of sugar produced from the 2007 crop will not be permitted to be sold during the time period of October 1, 2007 to September 30, 2008.

 

Net Proceeds from Member and Non-Member Business for fiscal 2008 are expected to be approximately 22 percent lower than in fiscal 2007.  This decrease is primarily the result of the lower anticipated sugar selling prices along with reduced sugar production.

 

Comparison of the Three Months Ended November 30, 2007 and 2006

 

Revenue for the three months ended November 30, 2007, was $304.3 million, an increase of $46.1 million from the same period last year.  The table below reflects the percentage changes in product revenues, prices and volumes for the three months ended November 30, 2007, as compared to the same period last year.

 

Product

 

Revenue

 

Selling Price

 

Volume

 

Sugar

 

14.0

%

-6.8

%

22.4

%

Pulp

 

21.2

%

13.4

%

6.9

%

Molasses

 

56.6

%

3.6

%

51.2

%

CSB

 

34.1

%

13.7

%

18.0

%

Betaine

 

108.9

%

13.0

%

85.0

%

 

The substantial increases in the volumes of molasses and betaine sold are primarily due to increased availability of saleable product resulting from higher beginning inventory levels as of September 1, 2007 as compared to the inventory levels as of September 1, 2006.

 

Rental revenue on the ProGold operating lease was $6.8 million and $6.2 million for the three months ended November 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

 

Cost of sales for the three months ended November 30, 2007, exclusive of payments to members for sugarbeets, increased $44.0 million as compared to same period last year.  Operating costs decreased $3.5 million primarily as a result of harvesting 3.0 percent less sugarbeets and processing 7.1 percent less sugarbeets during the first three months of fiscal 2008 as compared to the same period last year.  At the end of each reporting period, product inventories are recorded at their net realizable value.  The change in the net realizable value of the product inventories from the beginning of the reporting period is recorded on the balance sheet as either an increase or decrease to inventories with a corresponding dollar for dollar adjustment to cost of sales on the statement of operations.  The increase in the net realizable value of product inventories for the three months ended November 30, 2007 was $88.9 million as compared to an increase of $138.6 million for the previous year’s three month period ended November 30, 2006 resulting in a $49.7 million unfavorable change in the cost of sales between the two years as shown in the table below:

 

Change in the Net Realizable Value of Product Inventories

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended November 30

 

(In Millions)

 

2007

 

2006

 

Change

 

Beginning Product Inventories at Net Realizable Value

 

$

(156.4

)

$

(116.0

)

$

(40.4

)(1)

Ending Product Inventories at Net Realizable Value

 

245.3

 

254.6

 

(9.3

)(2)

Increase in the Net Realizable Value of Product Inventories

 

$

88.9

 

$

138.6

 

$

(49.7

)

 


(1) The change is primarily due to a 47 percent increase in the hundredweight of sugar inventory as of August 31, 2007 as compared to August 31, 2006 partially offset by a 10 percent decrease in the per hundredweight net realizable value of sugar inventory as of August 31, 2007 as compared to August 31, 2006.

 

(2) The change is primarily due to a 7.6 percent decrease in the per hundredweight net realizable value of sugar inventory as of November 30, 2007 as compared to November 30, 2006 partially offset by a 3.6 percent increase in the hundredweight of sugar inventory as of November 30, 2007 as compared to November 30, 2006.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $13.1 million for the three months ended November 30, 2007, as compared to the same period last year.  Selling expenses increased $12.3 million

 

11



 

primarily due to the increase in the volumes of products sold resulting in increased shipping and handling expenses.  General and Administrative expenses increased $ .8 million due to general cost increases.

 

Interest expense decreased $ .8 million for the three months ended November 30, 2007 as compared to the same period last year.  This reflects a decrease in the average borrowing level of short-term and long-term debt and a lower average interest rate for long-term debt partially offset by a higher average interest rate for short-term debt.

 

Non-member business activities resulted in a gain of $1.7 million for the three months ended November 30, 2007, as compared to a gain of $1.0 million for the same period last year.  The increase was primarily related to increased income from the activities of ProGold.

 

Pending Legislation

 

On July 27, 2007, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007.  On December 14, 2007, the U.S. Senate passed the Food and Energy Security Act of 2007.  Currently these bills are in a House-Senate Conference Committee.  The resulting legislation, if signed into law, would replace the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002.  The Company has no way to predict the outcome, but the impact could be material and significant.  Final language is expected prior to the 2008 crop planting.

 

North American Free Trade Agreement

 

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) governs sweetener trade between the United States and Mexico.  Under the NAFTA, tariffs on over-quota imports of sugar from Mexico expired on January 1, 2008.  Excessive imports of Mexican sugar could cause material harm to the U.S. sugar market.  The Company has no way to predict the extent to which Mexico will take advantage of its export opportunities.

 

Regional and Bilateral Free Trade Agreements

 

The United States government is pursuing an aggressive agenda on international trade.  It is seeking to negotiate new free trade agreements with a number of countries and regions that are major producers of sugar.  The Company believes these agreements, if they reach fruition, could negatively impact the Company’s profitability.  If increases in guaranteed access or reductions in sugar tariffs are included in these agreements, excess sugar from these regions could enter the U.S. market and put pressure on domestic sugar prices.

 

On December 14, 2007, the U.S. President signed the U.S.-Peru Free Trade Agreement.  This agreement establishes a duty-free Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ), in addition to that provided under the World Trade Organization (WTO), for those sugar and sugar-containing products for which overall TRQ’s under the U.S. sugar import program are in operation.  This TRQ is set at 9,000 metric tons in year 1 of the agreement and rises to 11,250 metric tons in year 15; after year 15 the in-quota quantity grows by 180 metric tons per year. Eligibility for this TRQ, however, is limited to the amount of Peru’s trade surplus in sugar. In addition to the TRQ described above, a duty-free TRQ of 2,000 metric tons has been established for specialty sugars.  This TRQ does not increase and is not subject to the “net exporter” provision described above.

 

Negotiations on other agreements have been completed.  The U.S.-Colombian Free Trade Agreement was completed on February 27, 2006, and the U.S.-Panama Free Trade Agreement was completed on December 18, 2006.  The Company expects that these trade agreements may be brought before Congress for a vote in 2008.  Quantities of sugar from these countries expected to be permitted into the United States if these agreements are approved by Congress and implemented are as follows:

 

·                  Colombia – the proposed agreement would allow Colombia to export to the U.S. an additional 50,000 metric tons of sugar in the first year of the agreement, rising to more

 

12



 

 

                        than 60,000 tons in year 15, with the first-year increase tripling the duty-free sugar market access Colombia already enjoys.

 

·                  Panama – the proposed agreement includes 7,000 metric tons of additional duty-free access to the U.S. sugar market and provides for duty-free access for U.S. sugar shipments into Panama and requires that at least 6,000 tons of the Panamanian sugar sent to the U.S. be in a raw form.

 

The Administration has indicated its interest in pursuing other bilateral or regional free trade agreements.  These include the Free Trade Area of the Americas, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, South Africa, Thailand, and others.  Since these negotiations are in some cases stalled or at various stages of development the Company is unable to assess the risk associated with these potential agreements.

 

The Doha Round negotiations of the WTO continue to be pursued by the U.S. Administration and some of its international counterparts.  It is unclear at this time whether negotiations will be completed.  If the negotiations are completed, the outcome of any negotiated arrangement could have significant adverse consequences for the Company.

 

The U.S. sugar industry and the Company, as an influential member of such industry, recognize the potential negative impact that could result if these agreements are entered into by the United States and are taking steps to attempt to positively influence the outcome.  The Company and the sugar industry intend to continue to focus significant attention on trade issues in the future.

 

The impact of the various trade agreements on the Company cannot be assessed at this time due to the uncertainty concerning the terms of the agreements and whether they will ultimately be implemented.  It is possible, however, that the passage of various trade agreements could have a material adverse effect on the Company through a reduction in acreage that can be planted by the Company’s shareholders and by the growers for Sidney Sugars Incorporated, and/or a reduction in sugar selling prices, and a corresponding reduction in the beet payment to the shareholders and the Company earnings.  Although the magnitude of the impact cannot be determined at this time, the Company estimates that for every additional 500,000 tons of sugar entering the U.S. market and therefore reducing the overall allotment quantity (and assuming no other variables change), the Company may need to reduce planted acres by approximately 30,000, which would negatively impact shareholder profits.

 

Environmental

 

The Company’s Crookston, East Grand Forks and Moorhead, Minnesota factories have experienced hydrogen sulfide emissions from their water treatment ponds that have exceeded permissible limits.  On July 19, 2007, the Company received a notice of violation from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) related to emissions that occurred in fiscal 2005 and 2006.  A penalty assessment is currently under consideration by the MPCA.  The Company’s Crookston, East Grand Forks and Moorhead, Minnesota factories also experienced hydrogen sulfide emissions from their water treatment ponds in fiscal 2007 that exceeded permissible limits.  While it is likely that the Company may be assessed penalties and/or fines related to these occurrences, as of the date of this report none have been assessed.  Any potential penalties and/or fines, while possibly significant, are not expected to be material to the Company.

 

Capital expenditures will be required to prevent future occurrences of the emissions.  The Company’s capital appropriations budgets at the beginning of the current fiscal year included approximately $6.2 million for environmentally related projects at the Company’s factory locations.  Expenditures during the three months ended November 30, 2007 on these projects were approximately $624,000 while total to date spending on these projects has been $3.9 million.  Environmental related projects that were placed into service during the three months ended November 30, 2007 totaled approximately $191,000.  The amount and timing of any additional capital expenditures that may be required is not currently known.

 

13



 

In October 2007, the East Grand Forks, Minnesota factory experienced emissions from its pellet cooler that exceeded permissible limits.  In July and November 2007, the Company received Compliance Monitoring Survey-Letters of Warning from the MPCA for the East Grand Forks and Moorhead, Minnesota factories.  Corrective actions have been taken related these occurrences.  While the Company may be assessed penalties for these occurrences, as of the date of this report none have been assessed.   Any potential penalties assessed are not expected to be material to the Company.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Under the Company’s Bylaws and Member Grower Contracts, payments for member-delivered sugarbeets, the principal raw material used in producing the sugar and agri-products it sells, are subordinated to all member business expenses.  In addition, the beet payments made to member growers and non-member growers are paid in three payments over the course of a year, and the member payments are made net of any anticipated unit retain for the crop.  These procedures have the effect of providing the Company with an additional source of short-term financing.  This financing arrangement may result in an additional source of liquidity and reduced need for outside financing in comparison to a similar business operated on a non-cooperative basis.

 

Because sugar is sold throughout the year (while sugarbeets are processed primarily in the fall, winter and spring) and because substantial amounts of equipment are required for its operations, the Company has utilized substantial outside financing on both a seasonal and long-term basis to fund its operations.  The majority of such financing has been provided by a consortium of lenders led by CoBank, ACB.

 

The Company has long-term debt availability with CoBank, ACB of $196.5 million, of which $76.9 million in loans and $69.3 million in long-term letters of credit were outstanding as of November 30, 2007.  The unused long-term line of credit as of November 30, 2007, was $50.3 million.  In addition, the Company had long-term debt outstanding, as of November 30, 2007, of $50 million from a private placement of Senior Notes that occurred in September of 1998; $6.4 million from a private placement of Senior Notes that occurred in January of 2003; $51.0 million from ten separate issuances of Pollution Control and Industrial Development Revenue Bonds; and a term loan with Bank of North Dakota of $1.6 million.

 

The Company also has a seasonal line of credit with a consortium of lenders led by CoBank, ACB of $390 million, against which there was a $50 million outstanding balance as of November 30, 2007 and a line of credit with Wells Fargo Bank for $1 million, against which there was no outstanding balance as of November 30, 2007.  The Company’s commercial paper program provides short-term borrowings of up to $325 million of which approximately $200.6 million was outstanding as of November 30, 2007.  The Company had $2.1 million of short-term letters of credit outstanding as of November 30, 2007.  Any borrowings under the commercial paper program along with outstanding short-term letters of credit will act to reduce the available credit under the CoBank, ACB seasonal line of credit by a commensurate amount.  The unused short-term line of credit as of November 30, 2007, was $138.3 million.

 

The Company had outstanding purchase commitments totaling $10.6 million as of November 30, 2007, for equipment and construction contracts related to various capital and maintenance projects.

 

The changes that have occurred in the Company’s financial statements from August 31, 2007, to November 30, 2007, were primarily due to normal business seasonality.  The first three months of the Company’s fiscal year includes: the completion of the sugarbeet harvest; the startup of the processing campaign; the final payments to growers for sugarbeets delivered from the previous year’s crop; and the initial payments to growers for sugarbeets delivered from the current year’s crop.

 

The net cash used by operations was $210.7 million for the three months ended November 30, 2007, as compared to $242.1 million for the same period last year.  This decrease of $31.3 million was primarily due to changes in inventories of $77.5 million partially offset by the changes in the amounts due growers of $32.4 million, changes in accounts payable of $8.4 million and changes in advances due to

 

14



 

 

related parties of $6.1 million.  The change in inventories was due primarily to increased sales this year along with a lower net realizable value of sugar inventory as of November 30, 2007 as compared to the previous year.  The change in the amounts due growers was primarily the result of a lower estimated grower payment for the 2007 crop as compared to the 2006 crop.

 

The net cash used in investing activities was $11.6 million for the three months ended November 30, 2007, as compared to $13.5 million for same period last year.  The decrease of $1.9 million was primarily related to decreased purchases of property and equipment partially offset by an increase in other assets.

 

The net cash provided by financing activities was $222.4 million for the three months ended November 30, 2007, as compared to $255.5 million for the same period last year.  This decrease of $33.1 million was primarily due to decreased borrowings of short-term debt partially offset by decreased payments on long-term debt and proceeds from the disbursement of funds from a previous bond issuance.

 

The Company anticipates that the funds necessary for working capital requirements and future capital expenditures will be derived from operations, short-term borrowings, depreciation, unit retains and long-term borrowings.

 

Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

Market risk is the risk of loss to future earnings, to fair values or to future cash flows that may result from changes in the price of a financial instrument.  The value of a financial instrument may change as a result of changes in the interest rates, exchange rates, commodity prices, equity prices and other market changes.  Market risk is attributed to all market-risk sensitive financial instruments, including long term debt.

 

The Company does not believe that there is any material market risk exposure with respect to interest rates, exchange rates, commodity prices, equity prices and other market changes that would require disclosure under this item.

 

Item 4.   Controls and Procedures

 

The Company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer have reviewed and evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 240.13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of November 30, 2007.  Based on that review and evaluation, which included inquiries made to certain other employees of the Company, the chief executive officer and chief financial officer have concluded that the Company’s current disclosure controls and procedures, as designed and implemented, are effective in ensuring that information relating to the Company required to be disclosed in the reports the Company files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, including ensuring that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.  There were no changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter that may have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

15



 

 PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

 

From time to time and in the ordinary course of its business, the Company is named as a defendant in legal proceedings related to various issues, including worker’s compensation claims, tort claims and contractual disputes.  The Company is currently involved in certain legal proceedings, which have arisen in the ordinary course of the Company’s business.  The Company is also aware of certain other potential claims, which could result in the commencement of legal proceedings.  The Company carries insurance, which provides protection against certain types of claims.  With respect to current litigation and potential claims of which the Company is aware, the Company’s management believes that (i) the Company has insurance protection to cover all or a portion of any judgments which may be rendered against the Company with respect to certain claims or actions and (ii) any judgments which may be entered against the Company and which may exceed such insurance coverage or which may arise in actions involving potential liabilities not covered by insurance policies are not likely to have a material adverse effect upon the Company, or its assets or operations.

 

Another sugar company has appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals a decision of the United States District Court relative to the determination and transfer of sugar marketing allocations made by the USDA.  If this case is overturned, it could result in the Company experiencing a reduction in marketing allocations equal to the loss of approximately 15,000 acres in future crop years assuming no other related factors were to change.

 

Item 1A.  Risk Factors.

 

For a detailed discussion of certain risk factors that could affect the Company’s operations, financial condition or results for future periods, see Item 1A, Risk factors, in the Company’s 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Item 2.  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

 

None

 

Item 3.  Defaults Upon Senior Securities

 

None

 

Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

The Company held meetings in November 2007 with its shareholders from the five geographical districts where the Company’s Red River Valley factories are located.

 

At the Moorhead Factory District Meeting held on November 5, 2007, William A. Hejl was elected as a director, receiving 41 of the 75 votes cast with two abstentions.  His three-year term expires in December 2010.  Mr Hejl is 52 years old and has farmed near Amenia, ND for 20 years.  Mr Hejl currently serves as a director of the American Sugarbeet Growers Association and is the Manager of the Rush River Water Resource District.  Mr Hejl also served as President of the Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association and as President of the World Association of Beet and Cane Growers.  Mr. Hejl replaces David J. Kragnes who was unable to stand for re-election due to the provisions of the Company Bylaws which prohibit a person from serving more than four consecutive terms as a Director.  Michael A. Astrup and Richard Borgen will continue as directors for the Moorhead Factory District.

 

At the Hillsboro Factory District Meeting held on November 6, 2007, Jeff D. McInnes was re-elected as a director, receiving 50 of the 52 votes cast with two abstentions.  His three-year term expires in December 2010.  John Brainard and Francis L. Kritzberger will continue as directors for the Hillsboro Factory District.

 

16



 

At the Crookston Factory District Meeting held on November 6, 2007, Curtis Knutson was elected as a Director, receiving 50 of the 76 votes cast.  His three-year term expires in December 2010.  Mr. Knutson is 50 years old and has farmed near Fisher, Minnesota for 36 years.  Mr. Knutson currently serves on the Polk County Extension Board.  Mr. Knutson is also a sugarbeet seed dealer for Crystal Sugarbeet Seed.  Mr. Knutson replaces Jim A. Ross who sought re-election.  Ronald E. Reitmeier and Steve Williams will continue as Directors for the Crookston Factory District.

 

At the East Grand Forks Factory District Meeting held on November 7, 2007, Curtis E. Haugen was re-elected as a Director, receiving 115 of the 116 votes cast.  His three-year term expires in December 2010.  Brian R. Erickson John F. Gudajtes and will continue as Directors for the East Grand Forks Factory District.

 

At the Drayton Factory District Meeting held on November 8, 2007, William Baldwin was re-elected as a Director, receiving all of the 115 votes cast with one abstentions.  His three-year term expires in December 2010.  Robert M. Green and Neil C. Widner will continue as Directors for the Drayton Factory District.

 

Item 5.  Other Information.

 

None.

 

17



 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

Item No.

 

 

 

Method of Filing

 

 

 

 

 

3.1

 

Restated Articles of Incorporation of American Crystal Sugar Company

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(i) from the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 33-83868), declared effective November 23, 1994.

 

 

 

 

 

3.2

 

Restated By-laws of American Crystal Sugar Company

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(ii) from the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-11693), declared effective November 13, 1996.

 

 

 

 

 

4.1

 

Restated Articles of Incorporation of American Crystal Sugar Company

 

See Exhibit 3.1

 

 

 

 

 

4.2

 

Restated By-laws of American Crystal Sugar Company

 

See Exhibit 3.2

 

 

 

 

 

10.1

 

Form of Operating Agreement between Registrant and ProGold Limited Liability Company

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(u) from the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 33-83868), declared effective November 23, 1994.

 

 

 

 

 

10.2

 

Form of Member Control Agreement between Registrant and ProGold Limited Liability Company

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(v) from the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 33-83868), declared effective November 23, 1994.

 

 

 

 

 

10.3

 

Registrant’s Senior Note Purchase Agreement

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24 from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 1999

 

 

 

 

 

10.4

 

Registrant’s Senior Note Inter-creditor and Collateral Agency Agreement

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.25 from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 1999

 

 

 

 

 

10.5

 

Registrant’s Senior Note Restated Mortgage and Security Agreement

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.26 from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 1999

 

 

 

 

 

++10.6

 

Employment Agreement between the Registrant and James J. Horvath

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.28 from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K form the year ended August 31, 1999

 

 

 

 

 

++10.7

 

Board of Directors Deferred Compensation Plan, dated June 30, 1994

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.29 from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2000

 

18



 

++10.8

 

Long Term Incentive Plan, dated June 23, 1999

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.31 from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2000

 

 

 

 

 

10.9

 

Uniform Member Sugar Marketing Agreement between the Registrant and United Sugars Corporation dated September 1, 2001.

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.27 from the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended November 30, 2001

 

 

 

 

 

10.10

 

Uniform Member Marketing Agreement between the Registrant and Midwest Agri-Commodities Company dated September 1, 2001.

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.28 from the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended November 30, 2001

 

 

 

 

 

10.11

 

Registrant’s Senior Note Purchase Agreement dated January 15, 2003

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.29 from the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended February 28, 2003

 

 

 

 

 

10.12

 

Growers’ Contract (5-year Agreement) for the crop years 2003 through 2007

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.30 from the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended February 28, 2003

 

 

 

 

 

+10.13

 

Beet Loading and Hauling Agreement between the Registrant and Transystems LLC for the crop years 2003 through 2007

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.31 from the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended May 31, 2003

 

 

 

 

 

10.14

 

Stipulation Agreement between Registrant and State of Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, dated August 5, 2003

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.30 from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2003

 

 

 

 

 

10.15

 

Crop year 2005, 2006 and 2007 Sugarbeet Delivery Agreements between Sidney Sugars Incorporated and Growers

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.25 from the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended May 31, 2005

 

 

 

 

 

++10.16

 

Amendment to Employment Agreement dated September 28, 2005 between the Company and James J. Horvath

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 from the Company’s Form 8-K dated September 30, 2005

 

 

 

 

 

++10.17

 

Long Term Incentive Plan, dated August 24, 2005

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.25 from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2005

 

 

 

 

 

10.18

 

Term and Seasonal Loan Agreements between the Registrant and CoBank, ACB dated July 31, 2006

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24 from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

10.19

 

Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Loan Agreement between the Registrant and CoBank, ACB dated November 3, 2006.

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.25 from the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended November 30, 2006.

 

 

 

 

 

++10.20

 

Employment Agreement dated March 21, 2007 between the Registrant and David A. Berg.

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.26 from the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended February 28, 2007.

 

 

 

 

 

10.21

 

Third Amendment to Amended and Restated Loan Agreement between the Registrant and CoBank, ACB dated April 2, 2007.

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 from the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended May 31, 2007

 

19



 

10.22

 

Fourth Amendment to Amended and Restated Loan Agreement between the Registrant and CoBank, ACB dated July 25, 2007.

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

10.23

 

Growers’ Contract (5-year Agreement) for the crop years 2008 through 2012

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24 from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

10.24

 

Commitment and Acceptance Agreement between the Registrant and CoBank, ACB dated November 6, 2007

 

Filed herewith electronically

 

 

 

 

 

21.1

 

List of Subsidiaries of the Registrant

 

Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 21.1 from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2007

 

 

 

 

 

31.1

 

Rule 13a-14(a)/15(d)-14(a) Certification of the Chief Executive Officer

 

Accompanying herewith electronically

 

 

 

 

 

31.2

 

Rule 13a-14(a)/15(d)-14(a) Certification of the Chief Financial Officer

 

Accompanying herewith electronically

 

 

 

 

 

32.1

 

Section 1350 Certification of the Chief Executive Officer

 

Accompanying herewith electronically

 

 

 

 

 

32.2

 

Section 1350 Certification of the Chief Financial Officer

 

Accompanying herewith electronically

 


+              Confidential treatment under Rule 24b-2 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, has been granted with respect to designated portions of this document.

 

++           A management contract or compensatory plan required to be filed with this report.

 

20



 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirement 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.

 

 

 

 

AMERICAN CRYSTAL SUGAR COMPANY

 

 

(Registrant)

 

 

 

 

Date:

January 14, 2008

 

/s/ Thomas S. Astrup

 

 

Thomas S. Astrup

 

Vice President-Finance,

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

Duly Authorized Officer

 

21


EX-10.24 2 a08-1768_1ex10d24.htm EX-10.24

Exhibit 10.24

 

COMMITMENT AND ACCEPTANCE

 

This Commitment and Acceptance is dated to be effective as of November 6, 2007, and is executed by American Crystal Sugar Company, a Minnesota cooperative corporation (“Borrower”), and CoBank, ACB (“Lender”).

 

RECITALS

 

Borrower and Lender are parties to a certain Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated July 31, 2006, as amended from time to time (the “Loan Agreement”).  All capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Loan Agreement.  Pursuant to the Loan Agreement, Lender has provided Borrower a Revolving Loan up to the principal amount of $360,000,000.  According to Section 2.1(f) of the Loan Agreement, Borrower may request that a Loan be increased by up to the aggregate amount of $100,000,000 (the “accordion provision”) in accordance with the terms and conditions thereof.  Borrower wishes to utilize $30,000,000 of the $100,000,000 accordion provision to increase the Revolving Loan from $360,000,000 to $390,000,000 from November 6, 2007 through June 1, 2008.  Borrower has given a Loan Increase Notice to Lender requesting such increase in accordance with the Loan Agreement.  Lender has notified Borrower confirming such increase pursuant to the Loan Agreement.  This Commitment and Acceptance is executed in connection with such increase as required by the Loan Agreement.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged by each party, the parties agree to the following:

 

1.             Revolving Loan Increase.  Lender hereby confirms an increase in the Revolving Loan Amount of $30,000,000 (“Revolving Loan Increase”) effective as of November 6, 2007 through June 1, 2008.  Therefore, the Revolving Loan Amount shall not at any time be greater than Three Hundred Ninety Million Dollars ($390,000,000) from November 6, 2007 through June 1, 2008.  Otherwise, the Revolving Loan Amount shall be defined as set forth in the Loan Agreement.  Borrower hereby accepts the Revolving Loan Increase from November 6, 2007 through June 1, 2008.  The Revolving Loan Increase shall be evidenced by and repayable in accordance with Borrower’s Revolving Note dated November 3, 2006 in the principal amount of $400,000,000.  Borrower shall pay additional Revolving Loan Fees with respect to the Revolving Loan Increase in the amount of $15,000.00 in accordance with Section 2.14(a) of the Loan Agreement, which fees are payable on the date of this Commitment and Acceptance and are not refundable to Borrower.

 

2.             Representations and Warranties.  Borrower restates, represents and warrants the representations and warranties set forth in Article IV of the Loan Agreement as of the date of this Commitment and Acceptance.

 



 

3.             Loan Agreement.  This Commitment and Acceptance is executed pursuant to the Loan Agreement and hereby constitutes a Loan Document executed under the Loan Agreement.  In the event any provision of this Commitment and Acceptance is inconsistent with any provision of the Loan Agreement, the provision of the Loan Agreement shall control.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Commitment and Acceptance to be effective as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

AMERICAN CRYSTAL SUGAR COMPANY,

 

a Minnesota cooperative corporation

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ Samuel S. M. Wai

 

 

Name

Samuel S. M. Wai

 

 

Title

Treasurer

 

 

 

 

CoBANK, ACB

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ Michael Tousignant

 

 

Name

Michael Tousignant

 

 

Title

Vice President

 

 

2


EX-31.1 3 a08-1768_1ex31d1.htm EX-31.1

EXHIBIT 31.1

 

CERTIFICATIONS

 

I, David A. Berg, certify that:

 

1.                                       I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q of American Crystal Sugar Company (the registrant);

 

2.                                       Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.                                       Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.                                       The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15e and 15d-15e) for the registrant and have:

 

a)                                      designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

b)                                     evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

c)                                      disclosed in this report any changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and.

 

5.                                       The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors:

 

a)                                      all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of the internal controls over financial reporting which are likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

b)                                     any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

January 14, 2008

/s/ DAVID A. BERG

 

 

David A. Berg

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 


EX-31.2 4 a08-1768_1ex31d2.htm EX-31.2

EXHIBIT 31.2

 

CERTIFICATIONS

 

I, Thomas S. Astrup, certify that:

 

1.                                       I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q of American Crystal Sugar Company (the registrant);

 

2.                                       Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.                                       Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.                                       The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15e and 15d-15e) for the registrant and have:

 

a)                                      designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

b)                                     evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

c)                                      disclosed in this report any changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and.

 

5.                                       The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors:

 

a)                                      all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of the internal controls over financial reporting which are likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

b)                                     any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

January 14, 2008

/s/ THOMAS S. ASTRUP

 

 

Thomas S. Astrup

 

Vice President-Finance and Chief Financial Officer

 


 

EX-32.1 5 a08-1768_1ex32d1.htm EX-32.1

Exhibit 32.1

 

CERTIFICATE PURSUANT TO SECTION 906

OF SARBANES – OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

The undersigned, David A. Berg, Chief Executive Officer of American Crystal Sugar Company, (the “Company”), does hereby certify that to his knowledge:

 

1.   The Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended November 30, 2007 (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

 

2.   Information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operation of the Company.

 

The foregoing certification is being furnished solely pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350 and is not being filed as part of the Report or as a separate disclosure document.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this instrument to be executed this 14th day of January, 2008.

 

 

By:

/s/ DAVID A. BERG

 

 

 

 

Name: David A. Berg

 

 

Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

 

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

 


EX-32.2 6 a08-1768_1ex32d2.htm EX-32.2

Exhibit 32.2

 

CERTIFICATE PURSUANT TO SECTION 906

OF SARBANES – OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

The undersigned, Thomas S. Astrup, Chief Financial Officer of American Crystal Sugar Company, (the “Company”), does hereby certify that to his knowledge:

 

1.  The Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended November 30, 2007 (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

 

2.  Information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operation of the Company.

 

The foregoing certification is being furnished solely pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350 and is not being filed as part of the Report or as a separate disclosure document.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this instrument to be executed this 14th day of January, 2008.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ THOMAS S. ASTRUP

 

 

 

Name: Thomas S. Astrup

 

 

Title: Vice President-Finance and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

 


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