Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Business

The Company is principally engaged in procuring, transporting, storing, processing, and merchandising agricultural commodities and products.

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The Company consolidates all entities, including variable interest entities (VIEs), in which it has a controlling financial interest. For VIEs, the Company assesses whether it is the primary beneficiary as defined under the applicable accounting standard. Investments in affiliates, including VIEs through which the Company exercises significant influence but does not control the investee and is not the primary beneficiary of the investee’s activities, are carried at cost plus equity in undistributed earnings since acquisition and are adjusted, where appropriate, for basis differences between the investment balance and the underlying net assets of the investee. The Company’s portion of the results of certain affiliates and results of certain VIEs are included using the most recent available financial statements. In each case, the financial statements are within 93 days of the Company’s year end and are consistent from period to period.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in its consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Reclassification

The Company classified $71 million of intangible amortization in selling, general, and administrative expenses in the year ended December 31, 2016. Prior period amounts of $29 million and $26 million in the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, have been reclassified from other (income) expense - net in the consolidated statements of earnings and in Note 12 to conform to the current presentation.

Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all non-segregated, highly-liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents.

Segregated Cash and Investments

The Company segregates certain cash and investment balances in accordance with regulatory requirements, commodity exchange requirements, insurance arrangements, and lending arrangements. These segregated balances represent deposits received from customers of the Company’s registered futures commission merchant, securities pledged to commodity exchange clearinghouses, and cash and securities pledged as security under certain insurance or lending arrangements. Segregated cash also includes restricted cash held as collateral for various insurance programs of the Company's captive insurance business. Segregated cash and investments primarily consist of cash, United States government securities, and money-market funds.

Receivables

The Company records accounts receivable at net realizable value. This value includes an allowance for estimated uncollectible accounts of $72 million and $70 million at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, to reflect any loss anticipated on the accounts receivable balances. The Company estimates this allowance based on its history of write-offs, level of past-due accounts, and its relationships with, and the economic status of, its customers. Portions of the allowance for uncollectible accounts are recorded in trade receivables, other current assets, and other assets.

Credit risk on receivables is minimized as a result of the large and diversified nature of the Company’s worldwide customer base. The Company manages its exposure to counter-party credit risk through credit analysis and approvals, credit limits, and monitoring procedures. Collateral is generally not required for the Company’s receivables.

Accounts receivable due from unconsolidated affiliates as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 was $232 million and $35 million, respectively.

Inventories

Inventories of certain merchandisable agricultural commodities, which include inventories acquired under deferred pricing contracts, are stated at market value. In addition, the Company values certain inventories using the lower of cost, determined by either the first-in, first-out (FIFO) or last-in, first-out (LIFO) methods, or market.

The following table sets forth the Company’s inventories as of December 31, 2016 and 2015.



	December 31, 2016			December 31, 2015
	(In millions)
LIFO inventories
FIFO value	$	1,390		$	1,077
LIFO valuation reserve	(75		)	(56		)
LIFO inventories carrying value	1,315			1,021
FIFO inventories	2,705			2,756
Market inventories	4,424			4,066
Supplies and other inventories	387			400
Total inventories	$	8,831		$	8,243

Fair Value Measurements

The Company determines fair value based on the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Company uses the market approach valuation technique to measure the majority of its assets and liabilities carried at fair value. Three levels are established within the fair value hierarchy that may be used to report fair value: Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2: Observable inputs, including Level 1 prices that have been adjusted; quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are less active than traded exchanges; and other inputs that are observable or can be substantially corroborated by observable market data. Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are a significant component of the fair value of the assets or liabilities. In evaluating the significance of fair value inputs, the Company generally classifies assets or liabilities as Level 3 when their fair value is determined using unobservable inputs that individually or when aggregated with other unobservable inputs, represent more than 10% of the fair value of the assets or liabilities. Judgment is required in evaluating both quantitative and qualitative factors in the determination of significance for purposes of fair value level classification. Level 3 amounts can include assets and liabilities whose value is determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques, as well as assets and liabilities for which the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation.

Based on historical experience with the Company’s suppliers and customers, the Company’s own credit risk and knowledge of current market conditions, the Company does not view nonperformance risk to be a significant input to fair value for the majority of its forward commodity purchase and sale contracts. However, in certain cases, if the Company believes the nonperformance risk to be a significant input, the Company records estimated fair value adjustments, and classifies the contract in Level 3.

In many cases, a valuation technique used to measure fair value includes inputs from multiple levels of the fair value hierarchy. The lowest level of input that is a significant component of the fair value measurement determines the placement of the entire fair value measurement in the hierarchy. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment, and may affect the classification of fair value assets and liabilities within the fair value hierarchy levels.

The Company’s policy regarding the timing of transfers between levels, including both transfers into and transfers out of Level 3, is to measure and record the transfers at the end of the reporting period.

Derivatives

The Company recognizes all of its derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities at fair value in its consolidated balance sheet. Unrealized gains are reported as other current assets and unrealized losses are reported as accrued expenses and other payables. The accounting for changes in the fair value (i.e., gains or losses) of a derivative instrument depends on whether it has been designated and qualifies as part of a hedging relationship and on the type of hedging relationship. The majority of the Company’s derivatives have not been designated as hedging instruments, and as such, changes in fair value of these derivatives are recognized in earnings immediately. For those derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as hedging instruments, the Company designates the hedging instrument, based upon the exposure being hedged, as a fair value hedge or a cash flow hedge.

For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges (i.e., hedging the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows that is attributable to a particular risk), the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) and reclassified into earnings in the same line item affected by the hedged transaction and in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. The remaining gain or loss on the derivative instrument that is in excess of the cumulative change in the cash flows of the hedged item, if any (i.e., the ineffective portion), hedge components excluded from the assessment of effectiveness, and gains and losses related to discontinued hedges are recognized in the consolidated statement of earnings during the current period.

For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as fair value hedges, changes in the fair value of the hedging instrument and changes in the fair value of the hedged item are recognized in the consolidated statement of earnings during the current period.

Marketable Securities

The Company classifies its marketable securities as available-for-sale. Available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value, with the unrealized gains and losses, net of income taxes, reported as a component of AOCI. The Company monitors its investments for impairment periodically, and recognizes an impairment charge when the decline in fair value of an investment is judged to be other-than-temporary. The Company uses the specific identification method when securities are sold or reclassified out of AOCI into earnings. The Company considers marketable securities maturing in less than one year as short-term. All other marketable securities are classified as long-term.

Property, Plant, and Equipment

Property, plant, and equipment is recorded at cost. Repair and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. The Company generally uses the straight-line method in computing depreciation for financial reporting purposes and generally uses accelerated methods for income tax purposes. The annual provisions for depreciation have been computed principally in accordance with the following ranges of asset lives: buildings - 15 to 40 years; machinery and equipment - 3 to 40 years. The Company capitalized interest on major construction projects in progress of $20 million, $11 million, and $18 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for its income tax positions in accordance with the applicable accounting standards. The liability method is used in accounting for income taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded for temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and reported amounts in the consolidated financial statements using statutory rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recorded in the results of operations in the period that includes the enactment date under the law. Applicable accounting standards prescribe a minimum threshold a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in the consolidated financial statements. The Company recognizes in its consolidated financial statements tax positions determined more likely than not to be sustained upon examination, based on the technical merits of the position.

The Company classifies interest on income tax-related balances as interest expense and classifies tax-related penalties as selling, general and administrative expenses.

Goodwill and other intangible assets

Goodwill and other intangible assets deemed to have indefinite lives are not amortized but are subject to annual impairment tests. Definite-lived intangible assets are amortized over their estimated useful lives of 2 to 50 years and are reviewed for impairment whenever there are indicators that the carrying value of the assets may not be fully recoverable. The Company’s accounting policy is to evaluate goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives for impairment on October 1 of each fiscal year or whenever there are indicators that the carrying value of the assets may not be fully recoverable. The Company recorded impairment charges for goodwill and intangibles totaling $11 million related to computer software and $21 million related to computer software, certain of the Company’s international Oilseeds Processing facilities, and a facility in its Corn Processing segment during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively. There were no impairment charges recorded for goodwill and intangible assets during the year ended December 31, 2014.

Asset Abandonments and Write-Downs

The Company evaluates long-lived assets for impairment whenever indicators of impairment exist. Assets are written down to fair value after consideration of the Company’s ability to utilize the assets for their intended purpose, employ the assets in alternative uses, or sell the assets to recover the carrying value. Fair value is generally based on discounted cash flow analysis which relies on management’s estimate of market participant assumptions (a Level 3 measurement under applicable accounting standards). During the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, impairment charges were $17 million, $108 million, and $35 million, respectively (see Note 18 for additional information).

Payables to Brokerage Customers

Payables to brokerage customers represent the total of customer accounts at the Company’s futures commission merchant with credit or positive balances. Customer accounts are used primarily in connection with commodity transactions and include gains and losses on open commodity trades as well as securities and other deposits made for margins or other purpose as required by the Company or the exchange-clearing organizations or counterparties. Payables to brokerage customers have a corresponding balance in segregated cash and investments and customer omnibus receivable in other current assets.

Revenues

The Company follows a policy of recognizing sales revenue at the time of delivery of the product and when all of the following have occurred: a sales agreement is in place, pricing is fixed or determinable, and collection is reasonably assured. The Company has sales contracts that allow for pricing to occur after title of the goods has passed to the customer. In these cases, the Company continues to report the goods in inventory until it recognizes the sales revenue once the price has been determined. Freight costs and handling charges related to sales are recorded as a component of cost of products sold.

Net sales to unconsolidated affiliates during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014 were $4.2 billion, $5.0 billion, and $5.8 billion, respectively.

Stock Compensation

The Company recognizes expense for its stock compensation based on the fair value of the awards that are granted. The Company’s stock compensation plans provide for the granting of restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance stock units, and stock options. The fair values of stock options and performance stock units are estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option valuation model and a lattice valuation model, respectively. These valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions. Measured compensation cost, net of estimated forfeitures, is recognized ratably over the vesting period of the related stock compensation award.

Research and Development

Costs associated with research and development are expensed as incurred. Such costs incurred, net of expenditures subsequently reimbursed by government grants, were $123 million, $122 million, and $79 million for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015, and 2014, respectively.

Per Share Data

Basic earnings per common share are determined by dividing net earnings attributable to controlling interests by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. In computing diluted earnings per share, average number of common shares outstanding is increased by common stock options outstanding with exercise prices lower than the average market price of common shares using the treasury share method.

Business Combinations

The Company’s acquisitions are accounted for as purchases in accordance with ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations, as amended. Assets acquired and liabilities assumed, based on preliminary purchase price allocations, are adjusted to fair values at acquisition date with the remainder of the purchase price, if any, recorded as goodwill. During the measurement period, which may take up to one year from the acquisition date, adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed may be recorded. Upon the conclusion of the measurement period or the final determination of the values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, whichever comes first, any subsequent adjustments are charged to the consolidated statements of earnings.

Adoption of New Accounting Standards

Effective January 1, 2016, the Company adopted the amended guidance of Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 805, Business Combinations, which simplifies the accounting for adjustments made to provisional amounts recognized in a business combination. The amended guidance requires an acquirer to recognize adjustments to provisional amounts identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. The effect on earnings of changes in depreciation, amortization, or other income effects, if any, as a result of the change to the provisional amounts, calculated as if the accounting had been completed at the acquisition date, shall be recorded in the same period’s financial statements. The amended guidance also requires an entity to present separately on the face of the income statement or disclose in the notes the portion of the amount recorded in current-period earnings by line item that would have been recorded in previous reporting periods if the adjustment to the provisional amounts had been recognized as of the acquisition date. The adoption of this amended guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial results.

Effective January 1, 2016, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update 2016-09, which amended the guidance of ASC Topic 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation, to simplify the accounting for share-based payment award transactions. The areas of simplification include the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement of cash flows. The adoption of this amended guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company’s financial results.

Effective October 1, 2016, the Company adopted the amended guidance of ASC 230, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230), which is intended to clarify how entities should present restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows and to address diversity in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. The amended guidance requires entities to show the changes in the total of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows and a reconciliation of the totals in the statement of cash flows to the related captions in the balance sheet either on the face of the statement of cash flows or in the notes to the financial statements. The amendments also provide guidance on the application of the predominance principle and the presentation and classification of debt prepayments or debt extinguishment costs, settlement of zero-coupon debt instruments or other debt instruments with coupon interest rates that are insignificant in relation to the effective interest rate of the borrowing, contingent consideration payments made after a business combination, proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims, proceeds from the settlement of corporate-owned life insurance policies, distributions received from equity method investees, beneficial interests in securitization transactions, and separately identifiable cash flows. The adoption of the amended guidance pertaining to restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents resulted in expanded disclosures, a decrease of $11 million and $19 million in total cash provided by operating activities for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, an increase of $93 million and $104 million in the ending balances in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents as of December 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and a change in the cash flow presentation. The adoption of the other amendments did not have a significant impact on the Company's consolidated statement of cash flows.

Pending Accounting Standards

Effective January 1, 2017, the Company will be required to adopt the amended guidance of ASC Topic 330, Inventory, which simplifies the measurement of inventory. The amended guidance requires an entity to measure its cost-based inventory at the lower of cost or net realizable value, where net realizable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. The Company does not expect the adoption of this amended guidance to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial results.

Effective January 1, 2017, the Company will be required to adopt the amended guidance of ASC Topic 323, Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures, which simplifies the transition to the equity method of accounting. The amended guidance eliminates the requirement of an investor to adjust the investment, results of operations, and retained earnings retroactively when an investment qualifies for equity method accounting as a result of an increase in the level of ownership interest or degree of influence. The amendments require that the investor add the cost of acquiring the additional interest in the investee to the current basis of the investors’ previously held interest and adopt the equity method of accounting as of the date the investment becomes qualified for equity method accounting. The Company does not expect the adoption of this amended guidance to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial results.

Effective January 1, 2017, the Company will be required to adopt the amended guidance of ASC Topic 810, Consolidation, which affects reporting entities that are required to evaluate whether they should consolidate a variable interest entity in certain situations involving entities under common control. The amended guidance changes the evaluation of whether a reporting entity is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity by changing how a reporting entity that is a single decision maker of a variable interest entity treats indirect interests in the entity held through related parties that are under common control with the reporting entity. The Company will be required to adopt the amended guidance using a retrospective transition approach to all periods presented. The Company does not expect the adoption of this amended guidance to result in the deconsolidation of any of its variable interest entities.

Effective January 1, 2018, the Company will be required to adopt the amended guidance of ASC Subtopic 825-10, Financial Instruments - Overall, which is intended to improve the recognition and measurement of financial instruments. The amended guidance requires an entity to measure equity investments, except those accounted for under the equity method of accounting or those that result in consolidation of the investee, at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income and simplify the impairment assessment of equity investments without readily determinable fair values by using a qualitative assessment to identify impairment. The Company does not expect the adoption of this amended guidance to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial results.

Effective January 1, 2018, the Company will be required to adopt the new guidance of ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which will supersede the revenue recognition requirements in ASC Topic 605, Revenue Recognition. Topic 606 requires the Company to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The new guidance requires the Company to apply the following steps: (1) identify the contract with a customer; (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract; (3) determine the transaction price; (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (5) recognize revenue when, or as, the Company satisfies a performance obligation. The Company will be required to adopt Topic 606 either on a full retrospective basis to each prior reporting period presented or on a modified retrospective basis with the cumulative effect of initially applying the new guidance recognized at the date of initial application. The Company will adopt Topic 606 on a modified retrospective basis and will be required to provide additional disclosures of the amount by which each financial statement line item is affected in the current reporting period, as compared to the guidance that was in effect before the change, and an explanation of the reasons for significant changes. The adoption of this new guidance will require expanded disclosures in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The Company has established a cross-functional implementation team consisting of representatives from all of its business segments. The Company utilized surveys to gather information and identify areas of its business where potential differences could result in applying the requirements of the new standard to its revenue contracts. The results of the surveys indicate potential differences in the area of control transfer. Initial impact assessment also indicates that the majority of the Company's contracts will continue to be recognized at a point in time and that the number of performance obligations and the accounting for variable consideration are not expected to be significantly different from current practice. Many of the Company's sales contracts are considered derivatives under ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and are therefore excluded from the scope of Topic 606. The Company is scheduled to conduct workshops to gather more information about the nature, magnitude, and frequency of the underlying transactions that drove the survey responses resulting in the identification of potential issues. These workshops are expected to be completed by the end of first quarter of 2017. The Company expects to further its assessment of the financial impact of the new guidance on its consolidated financial statements by mid 2017.

Effective January 1, 2018, the Company will be required to adopt the amended guidance of ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes, which requires entities to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer, other than inventory, when the transfer occurs. Under current accounting rules, entities are prohibited from recognizing current and deferred income taxes for an intra-entity asset transfer until the asset has been sold to an outside party. The amended guidance does not change the accounting for the pre-tax effects of an intra-entity asset transfer or for an intra-entity transfer of inventory. The Company will be required to adopt the amended guidance on a modified retrospective approach basis through a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the period of adoption. Early adoption is permitted as of the beginning of an annual period. The Company does not expect the adoption of this amended guidance to have a significant impact on the Company's financial results.

Effective January 1, 2019, the Company will be required to adopt the new guidance of ASC Topic 842, Leases (Topic 842), which will supersede ASC Topic 840, Leases. Topic 842 requires lessees to recognize assets and liabilities for all leases with lease terms of more than 12 months. The Company expects to adopt Topic 842 using a modified retrospective transition approach for leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. The Company has not yet completed the assessment of the impact of the new guidance on its consolidated financial statements.

Effective January 1, 2020, the Company will be required to adopt the amended guidance of ASC Topic 326, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses, which is intended to improve financial reporting by requiring more timely recording of credit losses on loans and other financial instruments held by financial institutions and other organizations. The amended guidance requires the measurement of all expected credit losses for financial assets held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. Early adoption will be permitted for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company does not expect the adoption of this amended guidance to have a significant impact on the Company’s financial results.