10-Q 1 l38000e10vq.htm FORM 10-Q e10vq
Table of Contents

 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
     
þ   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2009
     
o   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                      to                     
Commission file number 000-20557
THE ANDERSONS, INC.
(Exact name of the registrant as specified in its charter
     
OHIO
(State of incorporation or organization)
  34-1562374
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     
480 W. Dussel Drive, Maumee, Ohio   43537
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)
(419) 893-5050
(Telephone Number)
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report.)
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 (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files. Yes o No o
      Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
             
Large accelerated filer þ    Accelerated filer o    Non-accelerated filer o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
  Smaller Reporting Company o 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No þ
The registrant had approximately 18.3 million common shares outstanding, no par value, at October 31, 2009.
 
 

 


 

THE ANDERSONS, INC.
INDEX
         
    Page No.
       
       
    3  
    5  
    6  
    7  
    8  
    20  
    33  
    34  
       
    34  
    35  
 EX-31.1
 EX-31.2
 EX-31.3
 EX-32.1

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Part I. Financial Information
Item 1. Financial Statements
The Andersons, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)(In thousands)
                         
    September 30,   December 31,   September 30,
    2009   2008   2008
     
Current assets:
                       
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 180,578     $ 81,682     $ 28,541  
Restricted cash
    3,612       3,927       3,630  
Accounts and notes receivable, net
    101,279       126,255       181,689  
Margin deposits, net
    18,948       13,094       58,077  
Inventories:
                       
Grain
    77,107       223,107       124,228  
Agricultural fertilizer and supplies
    59,515       144,536       194,567  
Lawn and garden fertilizer and corncob products
    22,724       38,011       28,798  
Retail merchandise
    28,343       27,579       30,606  
Other
    3,129       3,687       4,069  
     
 
    190,818       436,920       382,268  
Commodity derivative assets — current
    26,608       84,919       113,427  
Deferred income taxes
    11,159       15,338       8,122  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    40,253       93,827       66,524  
     
Total current assets
    573,255       855,962       842,278  
 
                       
Other assets:
                       
Pension asset
                8,209  
Commodity derivative assets — noncurrent
    2,065       3,662       19,010  
Other assets and notes receivable, net
    26,540       12,433       12,937  
Investments in and advances to affiliates
    143,170       141,055       148,654  
     
 
    171,775       157,150       188,810  
Railcar assets leased to others, net
    181,830       174,132       175,947  
Property, plant and equipment:
                       
Land
    15,175       14,524       13,397  
Land improvements and leasehold improvements
    42,579       39,040       37,617  
Buildings and storage facilities
    127,686       119,174       116,356  
Machinery and equipment
    161,382       151,401       149,202  
Software
    9,933       8,899       8,766  
Construction in progress
    5,020       6,597       8,094  
     
 
    361,775       339,635       333,432  
Less allowances for depreciation and amortization
    (228,425 )     (218,106 )     (215,144 )
     
 
    133,350       121,529       118,288  
     
Total assets
  $ 1,060,210     $ 1,308,773     $ 1,325,323  
     
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

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The Andersons, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (continued)
(Unaudited)(In thousands)
                         
    September 30,   December 31,   September 30,
    2009   2008   2008
         
Current liabilities:
                       
Short-term borrowings
  $     $     $ 43,600  
Accounts payable for grain
    49,166       216,307       72,788  
Other accounts payable
    80,704       97,770       141,405  
Customer prepayments and deferred revenue
    23,364       55,953       85,963  
Commodity derivative liabilities — current
    59,033       67,055       80,874  
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
    34,949       60,437       42,550  
Current maturities of long-term debt — non-recourse
    7,329       13,147       13,494  
Current maturities of long-term debt
    19,438       14,594       14,230  
         
Total current liabilities
    273,983       525,263       494,904  
 
                       
Deferred income and other long-term liabilities
    13,892       12,977       9,988  
Commodity derivative liabilities — noncurrent
    2,360       3,706       6,825  
Employee benefit plan obligations
    29,186       35,513       20,124  
Long-term debt — non-recourse, less current maturities
    20,611       40,055       43,964  
Long-term debt, less current maturities
    286,816       293,955       295,207  
Deferred income taxes
    46,185       32,197       34,895  
         
Total liabilities
    673,033       943,666       905,907  
 
                       
Shareholders’ equity:
                       
The Andersons, Inc. shareholders’ equity:
                       
Common shares, without par value (25,000 shares authorized; 19,198 shares issued and outstanding)
    96       96       96  
Preferred shares, without par value (1,000 shares authorized; none issued)
                 
Additional paid-in-capital
    174,970       173,393       173,228  
Treasury shares (924; 1,069 and 1,040 shares at 9/30/09, 12/31/08 and 9/30/08, respectively; at cost)
    (15,549 )     (16,737 )     (16,459 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (27,126 )     (30,046 )     (10,037 )
Retained earnings
    244,036       226,707       261,652  
         
Total shareholders’ equity of The Andersons, Inc.
    376,427       353,413       408,480  
Noncontrolling interest
    10,750       11,694       10,936  
         
Total shareholders’ equity
    387,177       365,107       419,416  
         
Total liabilities, and shareholders’ equity
  $ 1,060,210     $ 1,308,773     $ 1,325,323  
         
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

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The Andersons, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)(In thousands, except per share data)
                                 
    Three months ended   Nine months ended
    September 30,   September 30,
    2009   2008   2009   2008
           
Sales and merchandising revenues
  $ 601,000     $ 905,712     $ 2,109,346     $ 2,719,413  
Cost of sales and merchandising revenues
    549,990       832,687       1,923,628       2,473,810  
           
Gross profit
    51,010       73,025       185,718       245,603  
 
                               
Operating, administrative and general expenses
    51,303       48,572       144,556       139,836  
Interest expense
    5,123       7,497       15,974       25,140  
Other income (loss):
                               
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates
    5,275       (619 )     2,385       15,801  
Other income, net
    2,443       1,279       6,406       6,318  
       
Income before income taxes
    2,302       17,616       33,979       102,746  
Income tax expense
    685       6,617       12,803       38,045  
           
Net income
    1,617       10,999       21,176       64,701  
Net (income) loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest
    (367 )     1,841       944       1,588  
           
Net income attributable to The Andersons, Inc.
  $ 1,250     $ 12,840     $ 22,120     $ 66,289  
           
 
                               
Earnings per common share:
                               
Basic earnings attributable to The Andersons, Inc. common shareholders
  $ 0.07     $ 0.71     $ 1.21     $ 3.66  
           
Diluted earnings attributable to The Andersons, Inc. common shareholders
  $ 0.07     $ 0.70     $ 1.20     $ 3.59  
           
Dividends paid
  $ 0.0875     $ 0.085     $ 0.260     $ 0.240  
           
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

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The Andersons, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)(In thousands)
                 
    Nine months ended
    September 30,
    2009   2008
       
Operating Activities
               
Net income
  $ 21,176     $ 64,701  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    25,414       21,830  
Bad debt expense
    5,483       2,902  
Equity in earnings/loss of unconsolidated affiliates, net of distributions received
    (2,016 )     5,957  
Gain from pension curtailment
    (4,132 )      
Realized gains on sales of railcars and related leases
    (1,587 )     (4,008 )
Excess tax benefit from share-based payment arrangement
    (559 )     (2,314 )
Deferred income taxes
    16,466       2,438  
Stock based compensation expense
    2,136       3,822  
Lower of cost or market inventory and contract adjustment
    2,944       13,095  
Other
    (155 )     (25 )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
               
Accounts and notes receivable
    19,570       (71,970 )
Inventories
    248,638       121,274  
Commodity derivatives and margin deposits
    44,686       30,917  
Prepaid expenses and other assets
    51,464       (24,239 )
Accounts payable for grain
    (167,141 )     (70,870 )
Other accounts payable and accrued expenses
    (71,214 )     68,806  
       
Net cash provided by operating activities
    191,173       162,316  
 
               
Investing Activities
               
Acquisition of business, net of cash acquired
    (30,480 )     (18,870 )
Purchases of railcars
    (20,587 )     (82,205 )
Proceeds from sale of railcars and related leases
    6,034       54,141  
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
    (12,249 )     (13,097 )
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment
    437       114  
Proceeds received from minority interest
          306  
Change in restricted cash
    315       96  
Investments in affiliates
    (100 )     (35,700 )
       
Net cash used in investing activities
    (56,630 )     (95,215 )
 
               
Financing Activities
               
Net increase in short-term borrowings
          (201,900 )
Proceeds received from issuance of long-term debt
    7,097       219,677  
Payments on long-term debt
    (9,429 )     (63,256 )
Payments of non-recourse long-term debt
    (25,262 )     (12,541 )
Proceeds from sale of treasury shares to employees and directors
    858       1,332  
Purchase of treasury stock
    (229 )      
Payments of debt issuance costs
    (4,494 )     (2,144 )
Dividends paid
    (4,747 )     (4,342 )
Excess tax benefit from share-based payment arrangement
    559       2,314  
       
Net cash used in financing activities
    (35,647 )     (60,860 )
 
               
Increase in cash and cash equivalents
    98,896       6,241  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    81,682       22,300  
       
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 180,578     $ 28,541  
       
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

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The Andersons, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity
(Unaudited)(In thousands)
                                                         
    The Andersons, Inc. Shareholders’              
                            Accumulated                    
            Additional             Other                    
    Common     Paid-in     Treasury     Comprehensive     Retained     Noncontrolling        
    Shares     Capital     Shares     Loss     Earnings     Interest     Total  
     
Balance at December 31, 2007
  $ 96     $ 168,286     $ (16,670 )   $ (7,197 )   $ 199,849     $ 12,219     $ 356,583  
 
                                                     
Net income (loss)
                                    66,289       (1,588 )     64,701  
Other comprehensive income:
                                                       
Unrecognized actuarial loss and prior service costs (net of income tax of $1,676)
                            (2,854 )                     (2,854 )
Cash flow hedge activity (net of income tax of $8)
                            14                       14  
 
                                                     
Comprehensive income
                                                    61,861  
Proceeds received from minority investor
                                            305       305  
Stock awards, stock option exercises and other shares issued to employees and directors, net of income tax of $2,689 (155 shares)
            4,942       211                               5,153  
Dividends declared ($0.2475 per common share)
                                    (4,486 )             (4,486 )
     
Balance at September 30, 2008
    96       173,228       (16,459 )     (10,037 )     261,652       10,936       419,416  
     
 
                                                       
Balance at December 31, 2008
    96       173,393       (16,737 )     (30,046 )     226,707       11,694       365,107  
 
                                                     
Net income (loss)
                                    22,120       (944 )     21,176  
Other comprehensive income:
                                                       
Unrecognized actuarial loss and prior service costs (net of income tax of $1,630)
                            2,799                       2,799  
Cash flow hedge activity (net of income tax of $71)
                            121                       121  
 
                                                     
Comprehensive income
                                                    24,096  
Purchase of treasury shares (20 shares)
                    (229 )                             (229 )
Stock awards, stock option exercises and other shares issued to employees and directors, net of income tax of $456 (166 shares)
            1,577       1,417                               2,994  
Dividends declared ($0.2625 per common share)
                                    (4,791 )             (4,791 )
     
Balance at September 30, 2009
  $ 96     $ 174,970     $ (15,549 )   $ (27,126 )   $ 244,036     $ 10,750     $ 387,177  
     
See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements

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The Andersons, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(unaudited)
Note A: Basis of Presentation and Consolidation
These consolidated financial statements include the accounts of The Andersons, Inc. and its wholly and majority-owned subsidiaries (the “Company”). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.
Investments in unconsolidated entities in which the Company has significant influence, but not control, are accounted for using the equity method of accounting.
In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring items, considered necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations for the periods indicated, have been made. The Company has evaluated subsequent events through the date of issuance, which is November 6, 2009. Operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2009.
The condensed consolidated balance sheet data at December 31, 2008 was derived from audited consolidated financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. A condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2008 has been included as the Company operates in several seasonal industries.
Accounting Standards Codification 810-10-45 (“ASC 810-10-45”) establishes accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. ASC 810-10-45 requires the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary to be presented within equity, separate from the parent’s equity. In addition, the amount of consolidated net income attributable to the parent and the noncontrolling interest must be clearly identified and presented on the face of the income statement with the caption “net income” being defined as net income attributable to the consolidated group. ASC 810-10-45 became effective for the Company beginning with the first quarter of 2009. Prior periods have been revised to reflect the current presentation.
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in The Andersons, Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 (the “2008 Form 10-K”).
The third quarter results include a $0.8 million reduction in pretax income ($0.5 million after tax) related to bad debt reserves and related adjustments that the Company concluded should have been recorded in the second quarter of 2009. Since this amount is an estimate and was not material to the second quarter results, the Company has elected to record this adjustment in the third quarter. Certain balance sheet items have been reclassified from their prior presentation to more appropriately reflect the nature of such items. These reclassifications are not considered material and had no effect on the income statement, statement of shareholders’ equity, current assets, current liabilities, or operating cash flows as previously reported.
New Accounting Pronouncements
In April 2009, the FASB issued ASC 820 “Determining Whether a Market is Not Active and a Transaction is Not Distressed”. This FSP provides additional guidance to highlight and expand on the factors that should be considered in estimating fair value where there has been a significant decrease in market activity for a financial asset. This ASC became effective during the second quarter ended June 30, 2009 and did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

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In April 2009, the FASB issued ASC 825 “Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments”. This FSP requires an entity to provide disclosures about fair value of financial instruments in interim financial information. This ASC became effective during the second quarter ended June 30, 2009 and the Company has provided the required fair value disclosures in our notes to the financial statements.
In May 2009, the FASB issued ASC 855 “Subsequent Events”. ASC 855 requires entities to evaluate subsequent events through the date that the financial statements are issued or are available to be issued. A Company must disclose within their Quarterly Reports on Form 10Q and Annual Report on Form 10K the date through which subsequent events have been evaluated. This ASC became effective during the second quarter ended June 30, 2009 and the Company has provided the required disclosures.
In June 2009, the FASB issued FAS 167 “Amendments to FASB Interpretation No. 46(R)”. FAS 167 amends the analysis an entity must perform to determine if it has a controlling financial interest in a variable interest entity (“VIE”). FAS 167 provides that the primary beneficiary of a VIE must have both of the following characteristics:
    The power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance.
    The obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE.
FAS 167 will be effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2010. The Company is currently assessing what the impact, if any, there will be.
In June 2009, the FASB issued ASC 105 “The FASB Accounting Standards Codification and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles — a replacement of FAS No. 162”. The FASB Codification has become the source of authoritative U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. The Codification supersedes all existing non-SEC accounting and reporting standards. The Codification does not change the current accounting rules, only how they are referenced. This standard became effective for the Company beginning with the third quarter of 2009.
Note B: Master Netting Arrangements
Generally accepted accounting principles permit a party to a master netting arrangement to offset fair value amounts recognized for derivative instruments against the right to reclaim cash collateral or obligation to return cash collateral under the same master netting arrangement. Note 1 of the Company’s 2008 Form 10-K provides information surrounding the Company’s various master netting arrangements related to its futures, options and over-the-counter contracts. At September 30, 2009, December 31, 2008 and September 30, 2008, the Company’s margin deposit assets and margin deposit liabilities consisted of the following:
                                                 
    September 30, 2009   December 31, 2008   September 30, 2008
    Margin   Margin   Margin   Margin   Margin   Margin
    deposit   deposit   deposit   deposit   deposit   deposit
(in thousands)   assets   liabilities   assets   liabilities   assets   liabilities
               
Collateral paid
  $ 10,795     $     $ 26,023     $     $ 67,528     $  
Collateral received
    (13,658 )                 (5,858 )     (101,577 )     (1,197 )
Fair value of derivatives
    21,811             (12,929 )     4,080       92,126       1,017  
               
Balance at end of period
  $ 18,948     $     $ 13,094     $ (1,778 )   $ 58,077     $ (180 )
               
Note C: Derivatives
The Company’s operating results are affected by changes to commodity prices. The grain division has established “unhedged” grain position limits (the amount of grain, either owned or contracted for, that does

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not have an offsetting derivative contract to lock in the price). To reduce the exposure to market price risk on grain owned and forward grain and ethanol purchase and sale contracts, the Company enters into regulated commodity futures contracts for corn, soybeans, wheat and oats and over-the-counter contracts for ethanol. The forward contracts are for physical delivery of the commodity in a future period. Contracts to purchase grain from producers generally relate to the current or future crop years for delivery periods quoted by regulated commodity exchanges. Contracts for the sale of grain to processors or other consumers generally do not extend beyond one year. Contracts for the purchase and sale of ethanol currently do not extend beyond one year. The terms of the contracts for the purchase and sale of grain and ethanol are consistent with industry standards. The Company, although to a lesser extent, also enters into option contracts for the purpose of providing pricing features to its customers and to manage price risk on its own inventory.
All of these contracts are considered derivatives. While the Company considers its commodity contracts to be effective economic hedges, the Company does not designate or account for its commodity contracts as hedges as defined under current accounting standards. The Company records forward commodity contracts on the balance sheet as assets or liabilities, as appropriate, and accounts for them at estimated fair value, the same method it uses to value its grain inventory. The estimated fair value of the regulated commodity futures and options contracts as well as the over-the-counter contracts is recorded on a net basis (offset against cash collateral posted or received) within Margin deposits on the balance sheet. Management determines fair value based on exchange-quoted prices and in the case of its forward purchase and sale contracts, estimated fair value is adjusted for differences in local markets and non-performance risk.
Realized and unrealized gains and losses in the value of commodity contracts (whether due to changes in commodity prices, changes in performance or credit risk, or due to sale, maturity or extinguishment of the commodity contract) and grain inventories are included in sales and merchandising revenues in the statements of income.
The following table presents the fair value of the Company’s commodity derivatives as of September 30, 2009, and the balance sheet line item in which they are located:
         
(in thousands)   September 30, 2009  
Forward commodity contracts included in Commodity derivative assets — current
  $ 26,608  
Forward commodity contracts included in Commodity derivative assets — noncurrent
    2,065  
Forward commodity contracts included in Commodity derivative liabilities — current
    (59,033 )
Forward commodity contracts included in Commodity derivative liabilities — noncurrent
    (2,360 )
Regulated futures and options contracts included in Margin deposits (a)
    16,220  
Over-the-counter contracts included in Margin deposits (a)
    5,591  
 
     
Total estimated fair value of commodity derivatives
  $ (10,909 )
 
     
 
(a)   The fair value of futures, options and over-the-counter contracts are offset by cash collateral posted or received and included as a net amount in the Consolidated Balance Sheets in accordance with ASC 815-10-45-5. See Note B for additional information.

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The gains included in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Income and the line items in which they are located for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 are as follows:
                 
    Three months ended   Nine months ended
(in thousands)   September 30, 2009   September 30, 2009
       
Gains on commodity derivatives included in sales and merchandising revenues
  $ 36,177     $ 55,601  
At September 30, 2009, the Company had the following bushels and gallons outstanding (on a gross basis) on all commodity derivative contracts:
                 
Commodity   Number of bushels (in thousands)   Number of gallons (in thousands)
     
Corn
    197,277        
Soybeans
    38,433        
Wheat
    2,382        
Oats
    6,265        
Ethanol
          205,573  
       
Total
    244,357       205,573  
       
Interest Rate Derivatives
The Company periodically enters into interest rate contracts, including interest rate swaps and caps, to manage interest rate risk on borrowing or financing activities. One of the Company’s long-term interest rate swaps is recorded in other long-term liabilities and is designated as a cash flow hedge; accordingly, changes in the fair value of this instrument are recognized in other comprehensive income. The terms of the swap match the terms of the underlying debt instrument. The deferred derivative gains and losses on the interest rate swap are reclassified into income over the term of the underlying hedged items. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Company reclassified less than $0.1 million of accumulated other comprehensive loss into earnings. The Company expects to reclassify less than $0.1 million of accumulated other comprehensive loss into earnings in the next twelve months.
The Company has other interest rate contracts that are not designated as hedges. While the Company considers all of its interest rate derivative positions to be effective economic hedges of specified risks, these interest rate contracts are recorded on the balance sheet in prepaid expenses and other assets or current and long-term liabilities and changes in fair value are recognized currently in income as interest expense.

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The following table presents the open interest rate contracts at September 30, 2009.
                                     
                    Initial        
Interest Rate                   Notional        
Hedging   Year   Year of   Amount       Interest
Instrument   Entered   Maturity   (in millions)   Hedged Item   Rate
 
Short-term
                                   
Cap
    2008       2010     $ 20.0     Interest rate component of debt — not accounted for as a hedge     4.25 %
 
                                   
Long-term
                                   
Swap
    2005       2016     $ 4.0     Interest rate component of an operating lease — not accounted for as a hedge     5.23 %
Swap
    2006       2016     $ 14.0     Interest rate component of debt — accounted for as cash flow hedge     5.95 %
Cap
    2008       2010     $ 10.0     Interest rate component of debt — not accounted for as a hedge     4.67 %
Cap
    2009       2011     $ 10.0     Interest rate component of debt — not accounted for as a hedge     2.92 %
Cap
    2009       2012     $ 10.0     Interest rate component of debt — not accounted for as a hedge     3.42 %
Cap
    2009       2011     $ 10.0     Interest rate component of debt — not accounted for as a hedge     2.92 %
At September 30, 2009, the Company had recorded the following amounts for the fair value of the Company’s interest rate derivatives:
         
    September 30,  
(in thousands)   2009  
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
       
Interest rate contracts included in other assets
  $ 60  
Interest rate contracts included in deferred income and other long term liabilities
    (378 )
 
     
Total fair value of interest rate derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
  $ (318 )
 
     
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments
       
Interest rate contract included in deferred income and other long term liabilities
  $ (1,797 )
 
     
Total fair value of interest rate derivatives designated as hedging instruments
  $ (1,797 )
 
     
The gains (losses) included in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Income and the line item in which they are located for interest rate derivatives not designated as hedging instruments are as follows:
                 
    Three months ended   Nine months ended
(in thousands)   September 30, 2009   September 30, 2009
     
Interest expense
  $ (54 )   $ 106  

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The gains (losses) included in the Company’s Statement of Shareholders’ Equity and the line item in which they are located for interest rate derivatives designated as hedging instruments are as follows:
                 
    Three months ended   Nine months ended
(in thousands)   September 30, 2009   September 30, 2009
     
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
  $ (138 )   $ 636  
Foreign Currency Derivatives
The Company has entered into a zero cost foreign currency collar to hedge the change in conversion rate between the Canadian dollar and the U.S. dollar for railcar leases in Canada. This zero cost collar, which is being accounted for as a cash flow hedge, has an initial notional amount of $6.8 million and places a floor and ceiling on the Canadian dollar to U.S. dollar exchange rate at $0.9875 and $1.069, respectively. Changes in the fair value of this derivative are included as a component of other comprehensive income or loss. The terms of the collar match the underlying lease agreements and therefore any ineffectiveness is considered immaterial.
At September 30, 2009, the Company had recorded the following amount for the fair value of the Company’s foreign currency derivatives:
         
(in thousands)   September 30, 2009
Foreign currency contract included in other assets
  $ 118  
The losses included in the Company’s Statement of Shareholders’ Equity and the line item in which they are located for foreign currency derivatives designated as hedging instruments are as follows:
                 
    Three months ended   Nine months ended
(in thousands)   September 30, 2009   September 30, 2009
     
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
  $ (192 )   $ (463 )
Note D: Earnings Per Share
Unvested share-based payment awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends are participating securities and shall be included in the computation of earnings per share pursuant to the two-class method. The two-class method of computing earnings per share is an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings per share for common stock and any participating securities according to dividends declared (whether paid or unpaid) and participation rights in undistributed earnings. The Company’s nonvested restricted stock are considered participating securities since the share-based awards contain a non-forfeitable right to dividends irrespective of whether the awards ultimately vest. The two-class method became effective for the Company for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008 and interim periods within those years. The adoption of the two class method reduced the reported amounts of basic and diluted earnings per share for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 by $.01 each per share. The adoption of the two class method did not reduce the reported amounts of basic and diluted earnings per share for the quarter ended September 30, 2008.

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    Three months ended   Nine months ended
    September 30,   September 30,
(in thousands)   2009   2008   2009   2008
           
Net income attributable to The Andersons, Inc.
  $ 1,250     $ 12,840     $ 22,120     $ 66,289  
Less: Distributed and undistributed earnings allocated to nonvested restricted stock
    4       37       72       178  
           
Earnings available to common shareholders
  $ 1,246     $ 12,803     $ 22,048     $ 66,111  
 
                               
Earnings per share — basic:
                               
Weighted average shares outstanding — basic
    18,210       18,085       18,180       18,059  
           
Earnings per common share — basic
  $ 0.07     $ 0.71     $ 1.21     $ 3.66  
           
 
                               
Earnings per share — diluted:
                               
Weighted average shares outstanding — basic
    18,210       18,085       18,180       18,059  
Effect of dilutive options
    198       295       155       350  
           
Weighted average shares outstanding — diluted
    18,408       18,380       18,335       18,409  
           
Earnings per common share — diluted
  $ 0.07     $ 0.70     $ 1.20     $ 3.59  
           
There were no antidilutive stock-based awards outstanding for the third quarter or nine months ended September 30, 2009. There were approximately 16,000 and 4,000 antidilutive stock-based awards outstanding for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2008, respectively.
Note E: Employee Benefit Plans
Included as charges against income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 are the following amounts for pension and postretirement benefit plans maintained by the Company:
                                 
    Pension Benefits
    Three months ended   Nine months ended
    September 30   September 30,
(in thousands)   2009   2008   2009   2008
           
Service cost
  $ 715     $ 666     $ 2,171     $ 1,999  
Interest cost
    1,000       903       3,029       2,710  
Expected return on plan assets
    (1,089 )     (1,259 )     (3,115 )     (3,777 )
Amortization of prior service cost
    (98 )     (154 )     (392 )     (464 )
Recognized net actuarial loss
    877       237       2,789       709  
Curtailment gain
    (4,132 )           (4,132 )      
           
Benefit (income) cost
  $ (2,727 )   $ 393     $ 350     $ 1,177  
           
                                 
    Postretirement Benefits
    Three months ended   Nine months ended
    September 30   September 30,
(in thousands)   2009   2008   2009   2008
     
Service cost
  $ 103     $ 94     $ 309     $ 281  
Interest cost
    289       281       866       843  
Amortization of prior service cost
    (128 )     (128 )     (383 )     (383 )
Recognized net actuarial loss
    156       153       468       458  
           
Benefit cost
  $ 420     $ 400     $ 1,260     $ 1,199  
           
During the third quarter of 2009, the Company announced that it would be freezing its defined benefit plan as of July 1, 2010 for all of its non-retail line of business employees. Pension benefits for the retail line of business employees were frozen at December 31, 2006. As a result of this curtailment, the Company recorded a gain of $4.1 million to recognize the remaining prior service gain, net of a $0.2 million

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curtailment loss, that was recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss. This gain was recorded as a reduction to pension expense in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. As part of this curtailment, the funded status of the Company’s defined benefit plan was remeasured. As a result, the Company recognized a decrease to its employee benefit plan obligation and accumulated other comprehensive loss of $7.2 million.
The Company made contributions to its defined benefit pension plan of $3.0 million and $2.5 million in the first nine months of 2009 and 2008, respectively. The Company currently expects to make a total contribution of approximately $6.0 million in fiscal 2009, which exceeds the required minimum contribution. The Company contributed $10.0 million in fiscal 2008.
The postretirement benefit plan is not funded. Company contributions during the period represent actual claim payments and insurance premiums for covered retirees. In both the third quarters of 2009 and 2008, the Company made payments of $0.2 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, the Company made payments of $0.5 million and $0.6 million, respectively.
Note F: Segment Information
                                                         
    Results of Operations — Segment Disclosures            
            (in thousands)                
    Grain &           Plant   Turf &            
    Ethanol   Rail   Nutrient   Specialty   Retail   Other   Total
                 
Third quarter ended September 30, 2009
                                                       
Revenues from external customers
  $ 450,762     $ 21,156     $ 70,446     $ 21,451     $ 37,185     $     $ 601,000  
Inter-segment sales
    3       97       2,138       174                   2,412  
Equity in earnings of affiliates
    5,271             1                   3       5,275  
Other income, net
    751       66       337       287       111       891       2,443  
Interest expense
    2,207       1,130       998       298       253       237       5,123  
 
                                                       
Operating income (loss) (a)
    8,878       (1,064 )     (2,769 )     (314 )     (2,285 )     (511 )     1,935  
Income attributable to noncontrolling interest
    (367 )                                   (367 )
                 
Income before income taxes
    9,245       (1,064 )     (2,769 )     (314 )     (2,285 )     (511 )     2,302  
                                                         
    Grain &           Plant   Turf &            
    Ethanol   Rail   Nutrient   Specialty   Retail   Other   Total
                 
Third quarter ended September 30, 2008
                                                       
Revenues from external customers
  $ 651,045     $ 28,394     $ 162,018     $ 23,164     $ 41,091     $     $ 905,712  
Inter-segment sales
    3       107       5,743       210                   6,063  
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates
    (620 )           1                         (619 )
Other income, net
    1,012       84       404       76       125       (422 )     1,279  
Interest expense
    4,232       1,041       1,801       341       261       (179 )     7,497  
 
                                                       
Operating income (loss) (a)
    9,443       5,164       7,223       (497 )     (155 )     (1,721 )     19,457  
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
    1,841                                     1,841  
                 
Income before income taxes
    7,602       5,164       7,223       (497 )     (155 )     (1,721 )     17,616  

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    Grain &             Plant     Turf &                    
    Ethanol     Rail     Nutrient     Specialty     Retail     Other     Total  
                 
Nine months ended September 30, 2009
                                                       
Revenues from external customers
  $ 1,431,684     $ 71,688     $ 379,846     $ 105,906     $ 120,222     $     $ 2,109,346  
Inter-segment sales
    8       302       9,095       1,366                   10,771  
Equity in earnings of affiliates
    2,376             6                   3       2,385  
Other income, net
    1,900       253       1,595       828       358       1,472       6,406  
Interest expense
    7,003       3,561       2,995       1,110       752       553       15,974  
 
                                                       
Operating income (loss) (a)
    23,544       437       9,623       5,825       (2,122 )     (2,384 )     34,923  
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
    944                                     944  
                 
Income before income taxes
    22,600       437       9,623       5,825       (2,122 )     (2,384 )     33,979  
                                                         
    Grain &           Plant   Turf &            
    Ethanol   Rail   Nutrient   Specialty   Retail   Other   Total
                 
Nine months ended September 30, 2008
                                                       
Revenues from external customers
  $ 1,845,955     $ 106,346     $ 540,988     $ 98,740     $ 127,384     $     $ 2,719,413  
Inter-segment sales
    13       340       13,172       960                   14,485  
Equity in earnings of affiliates
    15,797             4                         15,801  
Other income, net
    4,770       602       728       265       433       (480 )     6,318  
Interest expense
    17,220       3,103       3,894       1,163       668       (908 )     25,140  
 
                                                       
Operating income (loss) (a)
    31,670       16,464       62,132       3,385       (172 )     (9,145 )     104,334  
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
    1,588                                     1,588  
                 
Income before income taxes
    30,082       16,464       62,132       3,385       (172 )     (9,145 )     102,746  
 
(a)   Operating income (loss), the operating segment measure of profitability, is defined as net sales and merchandising revenues plus identifiable other income less all identifiable operating expenses, including interest expense for carrying working capital and long-term assets and is reported inclusive of net (income) loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest.
Note G: Equity Method Investments and Related Party Transactions
The Company, directly or indirectly, holds investments in seven limited liability companies that are accounted for under the equity method. The Company’s equity in these entities is presented at cost plus its accumulated proportional share of income or loss, less any distributions it has received. See Note 3 in the Company’s 2008 Form 10-K for more information, including descriptions of various arrangements the Company has with certain of these entities, primarily three ethanol LLCs that the Company has ownership interests in (the “ethanol LLCs”).
For the quarters ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, revenues recognized for the sale of ethanol that the Company purchased from its ethanol LLCs were $96.7 million and $125.9 million, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, revenues recognized for the sale of ethanol that the Company purchased from its ethanol LLCs were $285.0 million and $349.2 million, respectively. For the quarters ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, revenues recognized for the sale of corn to the ethanol LLCs were $79.3 million and $105.9 million, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, revenues recognized for the sale of corn to the ethanol LLCs were $285.7 million and $294.7 million, respectively.

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The following table summarizes income (losses) from the Company’s equity method investments by entity.
                                         
    % ownership at   Three months ended   Nine months ended
    September 30, 2009   September 30,   September 30,
(in thousands)   (direct and indirect)   2009   2008   2009   2008
             
The Andersons Albion Ethanol LLC
    49 %   $ 2,214     $ (170 )   $ 3,006     $ 3,601  
The Andersons Clymers Ethanol LLC
    37 %     348       2,236       439       8,203  
The Andersons Marathon Ethanol LLC
    50 %     999       (5,289 )     (2,542 )     (10,404 )
Lansing Trade Group LLC
    49 %     1,710       2,603       1,438       14,281  
Other
    7%-33 %     4       1       44       120  
                   
Total
          $ 5,275     $ (619 )   $ 2,385     $ 15,801  
                   
The Company holds a majority interest (66%) in The Andersons Ethanol Investment LLC (“TAEI”). This consolidated entity holds the 50% interest in The Andersons Marathon Ethanol LLC (“TAME”). In addition to the investment in TAME, TAEI enters into derivative contracts with external parties to economically hedge the impact of a portion of TAME’s input and output commodity prices. The impact of this derivative activity is included in gross profit in the Company’s income statement. For the quarters ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, the impact to gross profit from this derivative activity was a gain of $0.2 million and a loss of $0.1 million, respectively. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, the impact to gross profit was a gain of $0.3 million and a gain of $5.8 million, respectively. The noncontrolling interest in TAEI is attributed 34% of all gains and losses.
The following table presents the Company’s investment balance in each of its equity method investees by entity.
                         
    September 30,   December 31,   September 30,
(in thousands)   2009   2008   2008
         
The Andersons Albion Ethanol LLC
  $ 28,158     $ 25,299     $ 26,393  
The Andersons Clymers Ethanol LLC
    31,179       30,805       32,450  
The Andersons Marathon Ethanol LLC
    27,236       29,777       29,134  
Lansing Trade Group LLC
    55,304       54,025       59,530  
Other
    1,293       1,149       1,147  
         
Total
  $ 143,170     $ 141,055     $ 148,654  
         
In the first quarter of 2009, the Company’s majority-owned subsidiary, TAEI, along with the other 50% partner in TAME, signed a limited guarantee under which each party is guaranteeing 50% of all scheduled installment payments on TAME’s term loan during 2009 (not to exceed $11.0 million in total) as well as the interest accrued through 2009 associated with the loan if TAME were to default on a scheduled loan payment. TAEI, along with the other 50% partner, guaranteed the debt obligation in order for TAME to renegotiate certain of its debt covenants. As of the end of October 2009, TAME had made all of its scheduled quarterly installments for the term of the guarantee. In addition, the Company has signed a guarantee with TAME’s natural gas supplier to guarantee the payment of $4.5 million in natural gas purchases through December 31, 2009. TAME’s other 50% owner has signed a similar guarantee. The Company does not anticipate having to make any payments on this guarantee. The fair value of this guarantee obligation is considered immaterial.

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In the ordinary course of business, the Company will enter into related party transactions with its equity method investees. The following table sets forth the related party transactions entered into for the time periods presented.
                                 
    Three months ended   Nine months ended
    September 30,   September 30,
(in thousands)   2009   2008   2009   2008
           
Sales and revenues
  $ 99,972     $ 125,165     $ 335,833     $ 398,024  
Purchases of product
    97,580       112,800       281,329       319,436  
Lease income
    1,347       1,459       4,095       4,357  
Labor and benefits reimbursement (a)
    2,532       2,384       7,540       7,339  
Accounts receivable at September 30,
    5,501       8,290                  
Accounts payable at September 30,
    11,663       19,156                  
 
(a)   The Company provides employee and administrative support to the ethanol LLCs, and charges them an allocation of the Company’s costs of the related services.
Note H: Fair Value Measurements
The following table presents the Company’s assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at September 30, 2009, December 31, 2008 and September 30, 2008.
                                 
(in thousands)   September 30, 2009
Assets (liabilities)   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total
 
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 180,578     $     $     $ 180,578  
Commodity derivatives, net
          (34,230 )     1,510       (32,720 )
Net margin deposit assets
    18,948                   18,948  
Net margin deposit liabilities
                       
Other assets and liabilities (a)
    9,667             (1,996 )     7,671  
           
Total
  $ 209,193     $ (34,230 )   $ (486 )   $ 174,477  
           
                                 
(in thousands)   December 31, 2008
Assets (liabilities)   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total
 
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 81,682     $     $     $ 81,682  
Commodity derivatives, net
          12,706       5,114       17,820  
Net margin deposit assets
    13,094                   13,094  
Net margin deposit liabilities
          (1,778 )           (1,778 )
Other assets and liabilities (a)
    13,303             (2,367 )     10,936  
           
Total
  $ 108,079     $ 10,928     $ 2,747     $ 121,754  
           
                                 
(in thousands)   September 30, 2008
Assets (liabilities)   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total
 
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 28,541     $     $     $ 28,541  
Commodity derivatives, net
          43,820       918       44,738  
Net margin deposit assets
    58,077                   58,077  
Net margin deposit liabilities
                       
Other assets and liabilities (a)
    8,846             (1,112 )     7,734  
           
Total
  $ 95,464     $ 43,820     $ (194 )   $ 139,090  
           
 
(a)   Included in other assets and liabilities is restricted cash, interest rate derivatives, assets held in a VEBA for healthcare benefits and deferred compensation assets.

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A reconciliation of beginning and ending balances for the Company’s fair value measurements using Level 3 inputs is as follows:
                                 
    2009   2008
    Interest   Commodity   Interest   Commodity
    rate   derivatives,   rate   derivatives,
(in thousands)   derivatives   net   derivatives   net
           
Asset (liability) at December 31,
  $ (2,367 )   $ 5,114     $ (1,167 )   $ 5,561  
Realized gains (losses) included in earnings
    (31 )     (667 )     (152 )     3,346  
Unrealized gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income
    230             (545 )      
New contracts
    92                    
Transfers from level 2
                      161  
Contracts cancelled, transferred to accounts receivable
                      (1,837 )
           
Asset (liability) at March 31,
  $ (2,076 )   $ 4,447     $ (1,864 )   $ 7,231  
Realized gains (losses) included in earnings
    191       (1,806 )     126       3,705  
Unrealized gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income
    272             565        
Transfers from level 2
          391              
New contracts
                162        
           
Asset (liability) at June 30,
  $ (1,613 )   $ 3,032     $ (1,011 )   $ 10,936  
Realized gains (losses) included in earnings
    (54 )     (675 )     (14 )     (10,018 )
Unrealized gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income
    (329 )           (87 )      
Transfers to and from level 2
            (209 )            
Contracts cancelled, transferred to accounts receivable
            (638 )            
           
Asset (liability) at September 30,
  $ (1,996 )   $ 1,510     $ (1,112 )   $ 918  
The Company’s 2008 Form 10-K discloses additional information related to the approach the Company uses to estimate the fair value of the above instruments. This approach has not changed during the first nine months of 2009.
Note I: Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt is estimated using quoted market prices or discounted future cash flows based on the Company’s current incremental borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements. In addition, the Company has derivative interest rate contracts recorded on its balance sheet at their fair values. The fair value of these contracts is estimated based on quoted market termination values.
                 
(in thousands)   September 30, 2009   December 31, 2008
     
Fair value of long-term debt and interest rate contracts
  $ 329,052     $ 353,905  
Fair value in excess of (less than) carrying value
    (7,137 )     (10,213 )
The fair value of the Company’s cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable approximate their carrying value as they are close to maturity.
Note J: Debt Agreements
The Company is party to a borrowing arrangement with a syndicate of banks. This arrangement was amended in April 2009 and now provides the Company with $490 million in short-term lines of credit and $85 million in long-term lines of credit. This is a variable interest rate line that bears interest based on LIBOR plus an applicable margin. This agreement will expire in September 2011.
In 2005, The Andersons Rail Operating I (“TARO I”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, issued $41 million in non-recourse long-term debt for the purpose of purchasing 2,293 railcars and related leases from the Company. This long-term debt has associated debt covenants and as of March 31, 2009, the Company had violated the utilization covenant and debt service coverage ratio covenant associated with

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this debt. This covenant violation did not trigger any cross default provisions under any other debt agreements. The Company has received a waiver of this violation for the quarter ended March 31, 2009. In April 2009, the Company paid an additional $4.0 million to the bank towards its debt obligation. Based on the arrangement with the lender, this additional payment resulted in the exclusion of idle cars from the utilization and debt service coverage ratio calculation. In addition, the Company received a modification to its debt agreement for The Andersons Rail Operating I (“TARO I”), a wholly subsidiary of the Company. The modification reduced the debt service coverage ratio from 1.5 to 1.15. With the modification, the Company does not expect to violate this covenant in the future. The balance outstanding on the TARO I non-recourse long-term debt at September 30, 2009 was $22.6 million.
The Company received a modification to its debt agreement for TOP CAT Holding Company LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. The modification reduced the utilization ratio requirement from 80% to 60%. This reduction in the required utilization ratio, and an additional principal payment of $8.1 million made in the third quarter to exclude certain idle cars from the utilization ratio calculation, is expected to minimize the risk of a rapid amortization event in the future should utilization rates continue to decrease.
Note K: Business Acquisition
On August 1, 2009, the Company acquired the Fertilizer Division of Hartung Brothers, Inc. (“HBI”) for a purchase price of $30.5 million. HBI is a regional wholesale supplier of liquid fertilizers with six facilities located in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
The summarized purchase price allocation for this acquisition is as follows:
         
Inventory
  $ 5,480  
Intangible assets
    7,650  
Goodwill
    4,920  
Property, plant and equipment
    12,466  
Capital lease obligation
    (36 )
 
     
Total purchase price
  $ 30,480  
 
     
The intangible assets include a customers list, a supply agreement and a non-compete agreement, all of which are being amortized over 10 years.
Item 2.     Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Forward Looking Statements
The following “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contains forward-looking statements which relate to future events or future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You are urged to carefully consider these risks and others, including those risk factors listed under Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 (“2008 Form 10-K”). In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “predicts,” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions. Actual events or results may differ materially. These forward-looking statements relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made and the Company undertakes no obligation, other than any imposed by law, to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements.

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Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our critical accounting policies and critical accounting estimates, as described in our 2008 Form 10-K, have not materially changed during the first nine months of 2009.
Executive Overview
Grain & Ethanol Group
The Grain & Ethanol Group operates grain elevators in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois. In addition to storage and merchandising, the Group performs grain trading, risk management and other services for its customers. During the third quarter of 2009, the Group increased its grain storage capacity by approximately 4 million bushels through warehousing agreements in Mason and Woodbury, Michigan. The Group now has over 100 million bushels of storage capacity. The Group is also adding two bins in 2009 at two of its existing facilities which will add another 1.5 million bushels of storage capacity. The Group is a significant investor in three ethanol facilities located in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio with a nameplate capacity of 275 million gallons. In addition to its investment in these facilities, the Group operates the facilities under management contracts and provides grain origination, ethanol and distillers dried grains (“DDG”) marketing and risk management services for which it is separately compensated. The Group is also a significant investor in Lansing Trade Group LLC, an established trading business with offices throughout the country and internationally.
The agricultural commodity-based business is one in which changes in selling prices generally move in relationship to changes in purchase prices. Therefore, increases or decreases in prices of the agricultural commodities that the Company deals in will have a relatively equal impact on sales and cost of sales and a minimal impact on gross profit. As a result, changes in sales for the period may not necessarily be indicative of the Group’s overall performance and more focus should be placed on changes to merchandising revenues and service income.
Grain inventories on hand at September 30, 2009 were 41.6 million bushels, of which 19.5 million bushels were stored for others. This compares to 39.5 million bushels on hand at September 30, 2008, of which 17.4 million bushels were stored for others.
According to the November 2, 2009 Crop Progress Report published by the U. S. Department of Agriculture, the corn and soybean harvest is significantly behind last year in the Company’s primary region (Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Ohio) due to wet weather conditions in the early fall. Although delayed, the U.S. Department of Agriculture expects growers to harvest 76.6 million acres of soybeans this year, the largest on record, and 79.3 million acres of corn. An average of 63% of planted corn was rated as good to excellent in the Company’s primary region which is a slight improvement over conditions at the same time last year. Next year’s winter wheat crop is 65% planted with Illinois being the furthest behind at 35%.
The ethanol industry has seen some improvements in the third quarter of 2009 as corn and natural gas prices continue to drop while ethanol prices have improved. The Company will continue to monitor the volatility in corn and ethanol prices and its impact on the ethanol LLCs closely, including any impact on the recoverability of the Company’s investments.
Rail Group
The Rail Group buys, sells, leases, rebuilds and repairs various types of used railcars and rail equipment. The Group also provides fleet management services to fleet owners and operates a custom steel fabrication business. The Group has a diversified fleet of car types (boxcars, gondolas, covered and open top hoppers, tank cars and pressure differential cars) and locomotives and also serves a wide range of customers.

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Railcars and locomotives under management (owned, leased or managed for financial institutions in non-recourse arrangements) at September 30, 2009 were 23,975 compared to 24,007 at September 30, 2008. The current economic downturn has caused a significant decrease in demand and the Company has had to store many of its cars. The Group’s average utilization rate (railcars and locomotives under management that are in lease service, exclusive of railcars managed for third party investors) has decreased significantly from 93.3% for the quarter ended September 30, 2008 to 74.4% for the quarter ended September 30, 2009. Rail traffic on major U.S. railroads has fallen 19% over the last nine months. While the decrease in rail traffic has continued, it does show a slight increase from the year-to-date period ended June 30, 2009. The economy has also impacted the Group’s repair and fabrication shops which have seen a significant decrease in activity. The Company expects recovery in the rail industry will be a slow moving process.
Plant Nutrient Group
The Company’s Plant Nutrient Group purchases, stores, formulates, manufactures and sells dry and liquid fertilizer to dealers and farmers as well as sells reagents for air pollution control technologies used in coal- fired power plants. In addition, they provide warehousing and services to manufacturers and customers, formulate liquid anti-icers and deicers for use on roads and runways and distribute seeds and various farm supplies. The major fertilizer ingredients sold by the Company are nitrogen, phosphate and potash.
The Group has experienced a significant decrease in volume this year as retailers continue to maintain low levels of inventory. The Group is also continuing to monitor nutrient prices which have been extremely volatile leading to lower-of-cost-or-market inventory and contract write-downs. The Company believes that fertilizer prices have stabilized and the lower-of-cost-or-market issues are behind it. Due to the seasonal nature of the plant nutrient business, the Group typically has a loss in the third quarter, however, in 2008 operating results benefited from unprecedented earnings as a result of quickly escalating fertilizer prices before the significant drop that occurred in the fourth quarter of 2008.
On August 1, 2009, the Company acquired the Fertilizer Division of Hartung Brothers, Inc. (“HBI”) for a purchase price of $30.5 million. HBI is a regional wholesale supplier of liquid fertilizers with six facilities located in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Turf & Specialty Group
The Turf & Specialty Group produces granular fertilizer products for the professional lawn care and golf course markets. It also sells consumer fertilizer and control products for “do-it-yourself” application, to mass merchandisers, small independent retailers and other lawn fertilizer manufacturers and performs contract manufacturing of fertilizer and control products. The Group is one of a limited number of processors of corncob-based products in the United States. These products serve the chemical and feed ingredient carrier, animal litter and industrial markets, and are distributed throughout the United States and Canada and into Europe and Asia. The turf products industry is highly seasonal, with the majority of sales occurring from early spring to early summer. Corncob-based products are sold throughout the year.
The Group continues to see positive results from its focus on proprietary products and expanded product lines, however, many customers have delayed buying product until right when it is needed which has impacted volume for the Group.
Retail Group
The Retail Group includes six large retail stores operated as “The Andersons” and a specialty food market operated as “The Andersons Market”. The Group also operates a sales and service facility for outdoor power equipment. The retail concept is More for Your Home ® and the conventional retail stores focus on providing significant product breadth with offerings in home improvement and other mass merchandise categories, as well as specialty foods, wine and indoor and outdoor garden centers. In the third quarter of 2009, the Group announced that it would be closing its Lima, Ohio retail store before the end of this year.

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The retail business is highly competitive. The Company competes with a variety of retail merchandisers, including home centers, department and hardware stores, as well as local and national grocers.
Other
The “Other” business segment of the Company represents corporate functions that provide support and services to the operating segments. The results contained within this segment include expenses and benefits not allocated back to the operating segments.
Operating Results
                                 
    Three months ended   Nine months ended
    September 30,   September 30,
(in thousands)   2009   2008   2009   2008
           
Sales and merchandising revenues
  $ 601,000     $ 905,712     $ 2,109,346     $ 2,719,413  
Cost of sales
    549,990       832,687       1,923,628       2,473,810  
           
Gross profit
    51,010       73,025       185,718       245,603  
Operating, administrative and general
    51,303       48,572       144,556       139,836  
Interest expense
    5,123       7,497       15,974       25,140  
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates
    5,275       (619 )     2,385       15,801  
Other income, net
    2,443       1,279       6,406       6,318  
       
Income before income taxes
  $ 2,302     $ 17,616     $ 33,979     $ 102,746  
           
The following discussion focuses on the operating results as shown in the Consolidated Statements of Income with a separate discussion by segment. Additional segment information is included in the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements herein in Note F: Segment Information.
Comparison of the three months ended September 30, 2009 with the three months ended September 30, 2008:
Grain & Ethanol Group
                 
    Three months ended
    September 30,
(in thousands)   2009   2008
       
Sales and merchandising revenues
  $ 450,762     $ 651,045  
Cost of sales
    426,274       626,024  
       
Gross profit
    24,488       25,021  
Operating, administrative and general
    19,058       13,579  
Interest expense
    2,207       4,232  
Equity in earnings (loss) of affiliates
    5,271       (620 )
Other income, net
    751       1,012  
       
Operating income before noncontrolling interest
    9,245       7,602  
(Income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
    (367 )     1,841  
       
Operating income
  $ 8,878     $ 9,443  
       
Operating results for the Grain & Ethanol Group decreased $0.6 million over the results from the same period last year. Sales of grain for the Group decreased $165.8 million, or 33%, and is the result of a 32% decrease in the average price per bushel of grain sold, and a 2% decrease in the volume of grain sold. Sales of ethanol decreased $29.2 million, or 23%, and is due to a 27% decrease in the average price per gallon sold partially offset by a 5% increase in volume. Merchandising revenues for the Group decreased $5.3 million over the third quarter of 2008 and is related primarily to a decrease in basis income. Basis is the difference between the local market price of a commodity and the Chicago Board of Trade futures price. During the first half of 2008, futures prices for corn and wheat rose at a substantially higher rate than local spot prices. This caused the Group to incur basis losses on its forward purchase and sale contracts as well as its inventory. In the second half of 2008, futures prices went the opposite direction in

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relation to local spot prices and the Company realized gains on its forward purchase and sale contracts as well as its inventory. The basis changes in the third quarter of 2009 did not increase as dramatically as they did in the third quarter of 2008. In addition weather conditions during the third quarter of 2009 have caused soybean harvest to be delayed into October moving some of the soybean basis appreciation into the fourth quarter of 2009. Revenues from services provided to the ethanol industry were unchanged as compared to the same period last year. Gross profit for the Group remained relatively flat compared to the third quarter of 2008.
Operating expenses for the Group increased $5.5 million, or 40%, over the same period in 2008. The increase is due primarily to increased bad debt reserves taken against customer receivables as the current economic climate has negatively impacted the financial condition of certain of the Company’s grain customers. In addition, incremental expenses related to the Group’s two 2008 acquisitions were $0.7 million. Partially offsetting these increases is $0.4 million in reduced pension expense as a result of the announced curtailment to the Company’s defined benefit plan.
Interest expense for the Group decreased $2.0 million, or 48%, from the same period in 2008. The significant increase in commodity prices in 2008 required the Company to increase short-term borrowings to cover margin calls, which was the main driver for the higher 2008 interest costs for the Group last year.
Equity in earnings of affiliates increased $5.9 million over the same period in 2008. Income from the Group’s three ethanol LLCs increased $6.8 million and is primarily a result of the significant turn around in the operating results of the Group’s investment in The Andersons Marathon Ethanol LLC (“TAME”) as decreasing corn and natural gas prices have improved margins for that entity. In addition, the Company’s share of income from The Andersons Albion Ethanol LLC’s business interruption claim from a fire at its facility was $1.3 million. Income from the Group’s investment in Lansing Trade Group LLC (“LTG”) decreased $0.9 million.
Income attributable to the 34% noncontrolling interest in The Andersons Ethanol Investment LLC (“TAEI”) was $0.4 million in the third quarter of 2009 compared to $1.8 million of losses in the third quarter of 2008. TAEI holds the Company’s 50% investment in TAME and with their improved operating results, the amount attributable to the noncontrolling interest improved as well.
Rail Group
                 
    Three months ended
    September 30,
(in thousands)   2009   2008
       
Sales and merchandising revenues
  $ 21,156     $ 28,394  
Cost of sales
    17,990       19,385  
       
Gross profit
    3,166       9,009  
Operating, administrative and general
    3,166       2,888  
Interest expense
    1,130       1,041  
Other income, net
    66       84  
       
Operating income
  $ (1,064 )   $ 5,164  
       
Operating results for the Rail Group decreased $6.2 million over the results from the same period last year. Leasing revenues decreased $4.6 million, car sales decreased $0.6 million and sales in the Group’s repair and fabrication shops decreased $2.0 million. The decrease in leasing revenues is attributable primarily to a significant decrease in utilization. Fewer cars were sold in the third quarter of 2009 compared to the same period in 2008 and with fewer cars on the rail lines overall, the opportunities for business in the repair and fabrication shops has significantly decreased.
Gross profit for the Group decreased $5.8 million, or 65% over the same period last year. Gross profit in the leasing business decreased $4.7 million, or 71%, and can be attributed to the decreased utilization and increased storage fees compared to the same period last year. Gross profit on car sales decreased $0.3

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million, or 39%, and is attributable to fewer cars sold. Gross profit in the repair and fabrication shops decreased $0.9 million, or 52%, and is due almost entirely to the decrease in sales.
Operating expenses for the Group increased $0.3 million for the quarter in spite of a $0.3 million reduction in pension expense related to the freezing of the Company’s defined benefit plan.
Plant Nutrient Group
                 
    Three months ended
    September 30,
(in thousands)   2009   2008
       
Sales and merchandising revenues
  $ 70,446     $ 162,018  
Cost of sales
    62,240       140,287  
       
Gross profit
    8,206       21,731  
Operating, administrative and general
    10,315       13,112  
Interest expense
    998       1,801  
Equity in earnings of affiliates
    1       1  
Other income, net
    337       404  
       
Operating income
  $ (2,769 )   $ 7,223  
       
Operating results for the Plant Nutrient Group decreased $10.0 million over the same period last year. Sales and merchandising revenues decreased $91.6 million, or 57%, due to a combination of a 12% decrease in volume and a 51% decrease in the average price per ton sold. The decrease in volume is due to retailers continuing to maintain lower inventory holdings. The decrease in the average price per ton sold is due to the unprecedented market price for fertilizers experienced during the first nine months 2008. Gross profit for the Group decreased $13.5 million, or 62%, as a result of the significant decrease in margin per ton sold as well as the volume reduction mentioned previously.
Operating expense for the Group decreased $2.8 million over the same period in 2008. Maintenance expenses decreased $1.1 million due to decreased activity, resulting in less need for maintenance repairs. Performance incentives decreased $0.8 million as a result of the decreased operating performance. As a result of defined benefit plan curtailment, the Group recognized a decrease to their pension expense of $0.5 million. Interest expense for the Group decreased $0.8 million, or 45%, and is the result of lower fertilizer costs which reduced the amount of short-term borrowings needed to fund working capital.
Turf & Specialty Group
                 
    Three months ended
    September 30,
(in thousands)   2009   2008
       
Sales and merchandising revenues
  $ 21,451     $ 23,164  
Cost of sales
    16,983       17,988  
       
Gross profit
    4,468       5,176  
Operating, administrative and general
    4,771       5,408  
Interest expense
    298       341  
Other income, net
    287       76  
       
Operating income
  $ (314 )   $ (497 )
     
Operating results for the Turf & Specialty Group increased $0.2 million over results from the same period last year. Sales and merchandising revenues in the lawn fertilizer business decreased $1.4 million, or 7%, due primarily to sales in the professional line of business. Sales in this line of business decreased $2.5 million, or 16%, as a result of a 19% decrease in the average price per ton sold, partially offset by a 4% increase in volume. Sales within the consumer and industrial lines of business increased $1.2 million, or 38%, as a result of a 44% increase in volume, partially offset by a 4% decrease in the average price per ton sold. Sales in the cob business decreased $0.3 million, or 8%, over the third quarter of 2008 due to a combination of a 7% decrease in volume and a 2% decrease in the average price per ton sold. Gross profit

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for the Group decreased $0.7 million, or 14%, over the same period. The majority of this decrease was experienced in the professional line of business as its gross profit per ton has decreased 34%.
Operating expenses for the Group decreased $0.6 million, or 12%, over the same period last year. This includes $1.0 million of decreased pension expense due to the freezing of the Company’s defined benefit plan. The remaining increase is due to changes among several expense categories.
Retail Group
                 
    Three months ended
    September 30,
(in thousands)   2009   2008
       
Sales and merchandising revenues
  $ 37,185     $ 41,091  
Cost of sales
    26,503       29,003  
       
Gross profit
    10,682       12,088  
Operating, administrative and general
    12,825       12,107  
Interest expense
    253       261  
Other income, net
    111       125  
       
Operating loss
  $ (2,285 )   $ (155 )
       
Operating results for the Retail Group decreased $2.1 million over results from the same period last year. Sales and merchandising revenues decreased $3.9 million, or 10%, over the third quarter of 2008 as a result of a 5% decrease in the average sale per customer as well as a 5% decrease in customer counts. Gross profit decreased $1.4 million, or 12% due primarily to the decrease in sales. Operating expenses for the Group increased 6% and is directly attributable to $0.8 million of severance costs which have been accrued in relation to the fourth quarter closing of the Group’s Lima, Ohio retail store.
Other
                 
    Three months ended
    September 30,
(in thousands)    2009   2008
       
Sales and merchandising revenues
  $     $  
Cost of sales
           
       
Gross profit
           
Operating, administrative and general
    1,168       1,478  
Interest expense (income)
    237       (179 )
Equity in earnings of affiliates
    3        
Other income (loss), net
    891       (422 )
       
Operating loss
  $ (511 )   $ (1,721 )
       
Net corporate operating expenses not allocated to business segments decreased $0.3 million over the third quarter of 2008 and is primarily the result of decreased pension expense partially offset by an increase in charitable contributions.
Other income increased $1.3 million as a result of income earned on the Company’s deferred compensation assets.
As a result of the above, income attributable to The Andersons, Inc. of $1.3 million for the third quarter of 2009 was $11.5 million lower than income attributable to The Andersons, Inc. of $12.8 million recognized in the third quarter of 2008. Income tax expense of $0.7 million was provided at 35.4%. The Company anticipates that its 2009 effective annual rate will be 36.7%. In the third quarter of 2008, income tax expense of $6.6 million was provided at a rate of 34.0%. The Company’s actual 2008 effective tax rate was 33.4%.

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Comparison of the nine months ended September 30, 2009 with the nine months ended September 30, 2008:
Grain & Ethanol Group
                 
    Nine months ended
    September 30,
(in thousands)   2009   2008
     
Sales and merchandising revenues
  $ 1,431,684     $ 1,845,955  
Cost of sales
    1,360,572       1,780,360  
     
Gross profit
    71,112       65,595  
Operating, administrative and general
    45,785       38,860  
Interest expense
    7,003       17,220  
Equity in earnings of affiliates
    2,376       15,797  
Other income, net
    1,900       4,770  
     
Operating income before noncontrolling interest
    22,600       30,082  
(Income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest
    944       1,588  
     
Operating income
  $ 23,544     $ 31,670  
     
Operating results for the Grain & Ethanol Group decreased $8.1 million over the results from the same period last year. Sales of grain for the Group decreased $367.2 million, or 25%, and is the result of a 24% decrease in the average price per bushel of grain sold, and a 2% decrease in the volume of grain sold. Sales of ethanol decreased $64.2 million, or 18%, and is due to a 22% decrease in the average price per gallon sold, partially offset by a 5% increase in volume. Merchandising revenues for the Group increased $16.2 million over the first nine months of 2008 and is related primarily to an increase in basis and storage income. Basis is the difference between the local market price of a commodity and the Chicago Board of Trade futures price. During the first half of 2008, futures prices for corn and wheat rose at a substantially higher rate than the local spot prices. This caused the Group to realize significant basis losses on its forward purchase and sale contracts as well as its inventory. In the first half of 2009, futures prices went the opposite direction in relation to local spot prices and the Company realized gains on its forward purchase and sale contracts as well as its inventory. Some of these gains were lost during the third quarter of 2009 as basis levels began to come down and as basis appreciation for soybeans was pushed into the fourth quarter of 2009 due to a delayed harvest as a result of weather conditions. Revenues from services provided to the ethanol industry were $1.0 million higher than the same period last year as a result of serving three operational facilities for the full nine months ended September 30, 2009 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2008 during which the third facility began operations.
Gross profit for the Group increased $5.5 million over the first nine months of 2008 due primarily to the increases in basis and storage income and the increase in ethanol service fees mentioned previously.
Operating expenses for the Group increased $6.9 million, or 18%, over the same period in 2008 due primarily to increased bad debt reserves taken against customer receivables as the current economic climate has negatively impacted the financial condition of certain of the Company’s grain customers. In addition, incremental expenses related to the Group’s two 2008 acquisitions were $2.4 million.
Interest expense for the Group decreased $10.2 million, or 59%, from the same period in 2008. The significant increase in commodity prices in 2008 required the Company to increase short-term borrowings to cover margin calls which was the main driver for the increased interest costs for the Group last year.
Equity in earnings of affiliates decreased $13.4 million over the same period in 2008. Income from the Group’s three ethanol LLCs decreased $0.5 million and income from Lansing Trade Group LLC (“LTG”) decreased $12.8 million. The decrease in income from LTG was driven primarily from losses in its meats group and reduced performance in its proprietary trading and bio-fuels divisions.

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Other income decreased $2.9 million over the same period last year and relates to both development fees earned in the first quarter of 2008 for the formation of one of the Company’s ethanol joint ventures as well as decreased interest income as interest rates have fallen.
Rail Group
                 
    Nine months ended
    September 30,
(in thousands)   2009   2008
     
Sales and merchandising revenues
  $ 71,688     $ 106,346  
Cost of sales
    57,976       77,086  
     
Gross profit
    13,712       29,260  
Operating, administrative and general
    9,967       10,295  
Interest expense
    3,561       3,103  
Other income, net
    253       602  
     
Operating income
  $ 437     $ 16,464  
     
Operating results for the Rail Group decreased $16.0 million over the results from the same period last year. Leasing revenues decreased $8.6 million, car sales decreased $20.0 million and sales in the Group’s repair and fabrication shops decreased $6.1 million. The decrease in leasing revenues is attributable primarily to a significant decrease in utilization. Fewer cars were sold in the first nine months of 2009 compared to the same period in 2008. With fewer cars on the rail lines overall, the opportunities for business in the repair and fabrication shops has significantly decreased.
Gross profit for the Group decreased $15.5 million, or 53% over the same period last year. Gross profit in the leasing business decreased $10.8 million, or 53%, and can be attributed to the decreased utilization and increased storage expense compared to the same period last year. Gross profit on car sales decreased $2.4 million, or 60%, and is attributable to the fewer number of cars sold. Gross profit in the repair and fabrication shops decreased $2.3 million, or 47%.
Operating expenses for the Group decreased $0.3 million over the same period last year and is related primarily to reduced bad debt expense and performance incentives. Interest expense increased $0.5 million over the first nine months of 2009 and can be attributed to an overall increase in the Company’s long-term debt and the associated interest allocated to the Group.
Plant Nutrient Group
                 
    Nine months ended
    September 30,
(in thousands)   2009   2008
     
Sales and merchandising revenues
  $ 379,846     $ 540,988  
Cost of sales
    335,012       447,183  
     
Gross profit
    44,834       93,805  
Operating, administrative and general
    33,817       28,511  
Interest expense
    2,995       3,894  
Equity in earnings of affiliates
    6       4  
Other income, net
    1,595       728  
     
Operating income
  $ 9,623     $ 62,132  
     
Operating results for the Plant Nutrient Group decreased $52.5 million over the same period last year. Excluding sales from the newly acquired businesses in 2008 and 2009, sales and merchandising revenues decreased $184.2 million, or 36%, due to a combination of a 15% decrease in volume coupled with a 24% decrease in the average price per ton sold. The decrease in volume is due to retailers continuing to maintain lower inventory holdings. The decrease in the average price per ton sold is due to the unprecedented market price for fertilizers experienced during the first nine months 2008. Gross profit for the Group decreased $49.0 million, or 52%, as a result of the significant decrease in margin per ton sold as

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well as the volume reduction mentioned previously. Included in the year-to-date 2009 results are increased sales and gross profit of $23.0 million and $5.9 million, respectively, from the Group’s 2008 and 2009 acquisitions.
Operating expenses for the Group increased $5.3 million over the same period last year. Of this amount, $7.4 million is related to the three new businesses. Excluding these amounts, operating expenses decreased $2.1 million over the same period last year and is related primarily to decreased performance incentives as a result of decreased operating performance.
Other income for the Group increased $0.9 million over the first nine months of 2008 due to forfeited customer prepayments.
Turf & Specialty Group
                 
    Nine months ended
    September 30,
(in thousands)   2009   2008
     
Sales and merchandising revenues
  $ 105,906     $ 98,740  
Cost of sales
    85,405       79,372  
     
Gross profit
    20,501       19,368  
Operating, administrative and general
    14,394       15,085  
Interest expense
    1,110       1,163  
Other income, net
    828       265  
     
Operating income
  $ 5,825     $ 3,385  
     
Operating results for the Turf & Specialty Group increased $2.4 million over results from the same period last year. Sales in the lawn fertilizer business increased $6.9 million, or 8%, due primarily to increased volume within the consumer and industrial lines of business which increased 67%. The average price per ton sold in that line of business increased 4%. The current economic conditions has had a negative impact on the professional line of business with their volume decreasing 17%. Sales in the cob business increased 2% over the first nine months of 2008 due to an increase in volume of 8% partially offset by a 5% decrease in the average price per ton sold. Gross profit for the Group increased $1.1 million, or 6%, over the same period due to the increased volumes mentioned previously.
Operating expenses for the Group decreased $0.7 million compared to the first nine months of 2008 and is primarily related to decreased pension expense as a result of the freezing of the Company’s defined benefit plan. The remaining increase is due to changes among several expense categories.
Retail Group
                 
    Nine months ended
    September 30,
(in thousands)   2009   2008
     
Sales and merchandising revenues
  $ 120,222     $ 127,384  
Cost of sales
    84,663       89,809  
     
Gross profit
    35,559       37,575  
Operating, administrative and general
    37,287       37,512  
Interest expense
    752       668  
Other income, net
    358       433  
     
Operating loss
  $ (2,122 )   $ (172 )
     
Operating results for the Retail Group decreased $2.0 million over results from the same period last year. Sales and merchandising revenues decreased $7.2 million, or 6%, over the first nine months of 2008. The average sale per customer decreased 5% while customer counts remained flat. Gross profit decreased $2.0 million, or 5% due to the decrease in sales. Operating expenses for the Group decreased 1% in spite of the $0.8 million in severance costs related to the closing of the Lima, Ohio retail store.

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Other
                 
    Nine months ended
    September 30,
(in thousands)   2009   2008
     
Sales and merchandising revenues
  $     $  
Cost of sales
           
     
Gross profit
           
Operating, administrative and general
    3,306       9,573  
Interest expense (income)
    553       (908 )
Equity in earnings of affiliates
    3        
Other income (loss), net
    1,472       (480 )
     
Operating loss
  $ (2,384 )   $ (9,145 )
     
Net corporate operating expenses not allocated to business segments decreased $6.3 million over the same period last year. The primary decreases were a $2.3 million decrease in charitable contributions and a $1.7 million decrease in performance incentives.
Other income increased $2.0 million over the first nine months of 2008 as a result of income earned on the Company’s deferred compensation assets.
As a result of the above, income attributable to The Andersons, Inc. of $22.1 million for the first nine months of 2009 was $44.2 million lower than income attributable to The Andersons, Inc. of $66.3 million recognized in the first nine months of 2008. Income tax expense of $12.8 million for the first nine months of 2009 was provided at 36.7%. The Company anticipates that its 2009 effective annual rate will be 36.7%. In the first nine months of 2008, income tax expense of $38.0 million was provided at a rate of 36.5%. The Company’s actual 2008 effective tax rate was 33.4%.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Operating Activities and Liquidity
The Company’s operations provided cash of $191.2 million in the first nine months of 2009, an increase of $28.9 million from the cash provided by operations of $162.3 million in the first nine months of 2008. Net working capital at September 30, 2009 was $299.3 million, a $31.4 million decrease from December 31, 2008 and a $48.1 million decrease from September 30, 2008. There were no short-term borrowings used to fund operations at September 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008. At September 30, 2008, $43.6 million was outstanding. This significant decrease in short-term borrowing needs is due to the decrease in commodity and fertilizer prices from the unprecedented highs experienced in 2008. The decrease in commodity prices and the corresponding return of margin dollars from the Chicago Board of Trade is the reason for the significant increase in cash at September 30, 2009 to $180.6 million. The Company expects the cash balance to decrease during the fourth quarter as the Company purchases grain during the fall harvest.
The Company received net refunds of income tax overpayments of $23.4 million in the first nine months of 2009 and has filed refund requests for an additional $3.6 million.
Investing Activities
Total capital spending for 2009 on property, plant and equipment and business acquisitions is expected to be approximately $62.9 million. Through the first nine months of 2009, the Company has spent $12.2 million on property, plant and equipment within its base business.

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On August 1, 2009, the Company acquired the Fertilizer Division of Hartung Brothers, Inc. (“HBI”) for a purchase price of $30.5 million. HBI is a regional wholesale supplier of liquid fertilizers with six facilities located in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
In addition to spending on conventional property, plant and equipment and business acquisitions, the Company expects to spend up to $75.0 million for the purchase of railcars and locomotives and capitalized modifications of railcars partially offset by proceeds from the sales and dispositions of railcars of $55.0 million. Through September 30, 2009, the Company invested $20.6 million in the purchase of additional railcars and related leases, partially offset by proceeds from sales of $6.0 million.
Financing Arrangements
The Company has significant short-term lines of credit available to finance working capital, primarily inventories, margin calls on commodity contracts and accounts receivable. The Company is party to a borrowing arrangement with a syndicate of banks, which was amended in April 2009, to provide the Company with $490 million in short-term lines of credit and $85 million in long-term lines of credit. The Company had nothing drawn on its short-term line of credit at September 30, 2009. Peak short-term borrowings for the Company to date are $92.7 million on February 6, 2009. Typically, the Company’s highest borrowing occurs in the spring due to seasonal inventory requirements in the fertilizer and retail businesses, credit sales of fertilizer and a customary reduction in grain payables due to the cash needs and market strategies of grain customers.
A cash dividend of $0.0775 was paid in the first and second quarters of 2008. A cash dividend of $0.085 was paid in the third and fourth quarters of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009. A cash dividend of $0.0875 was paid in the second and third quarters of 2009 and on August 13, 2009, the Company declared a cash dividend of $0.0875 per common share payable on October 22, 2009 to shareholders of record on October 1, 2009. During the first nine months of 2009, the Company issued approximately 166 thousand shares to employees and directors under its equity-based compensation plans.
Certain of the Company’s borrowings include covenants that, among other things, impose minimum levels of working capital and equity, and impose limitations on additional debt. The Company was in compliance with all such covenants at September 30, 2009. In addition, certain of the long-term borrowings are collateralized by first mortgages on various facilities or are collateralized by railcar assets. The Company’s non-recourse long-term debt is collateralized by railcar and locomotive assets. Prior to the measurement date but subsequent to June 30, 2009, the Company received a modification to its debt agreement for TOP CAT Holding Company LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. The modification reduced the utilization ratio requirement from 80% to 60%. This reduction in the required utilization ratio is expected to minimize the risk of a rapid amortization event in the future should utilization rates continue to decrease. In addition, the Company received a modification to its debt agreement for The Andersons Rail Operating I (“TARO I”), a wholly subsidiary of the Company. The modification reduced the debt service coverage ratio from 1.5 to 1.15.
Because the Company is a significant consumer of short-term debt in peak seasons and the majority of this is variable rate debt, increases in interest rates could have a significant impact on the profitability of the Company. In addition, periods of high grain prices and/or unfavorable market conditions could require the Company to make additional margin deposits on its exchange traded futures contracts. Conversely, in periods of declining prices, the Company receives a return of cash.
The volatility in the capital and credit markets has had a significant impact on the economy. While this volatile and challenging economic environment is a reality, the Company has continued to have good access to the credit markets. Over the past year, the Company has been able to successfully work with its lenders to expand and contract its borrowing capacity under the short-term line as needed to ensure that it has an adequate liquidity cushion. This is due, in part, to the fact that the Company reduced its reliance on short-term credit facilities by raising $211.2 million in long-term debt during 2008. In the unlikely event the Company was faced with a situation where it was not able to access the capital markets, the Company

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believes it could successfully implement contingency plans to maintain adequate liquidity such as expanding or contracting the amount of its forward grain contracting, which will reduce the impact of grain price volatility on its daily margin calls. Additionally, the Company could begin to liquidate its stored grain inventory as well as execute sales contracts with its customers that align the timing of the receipt of grain from its producers to the shipment of grain to its customers (thereby freeing up working capital that is typically utilized to store the grain for extended periods of time). The Company believes that its operating cash flow, the marketability of its grain inventories, other liquidity contingency plans and its access to sufficient sources of liquidity, will enable it to meet its ongoing funding requirements. At September 30, 2009 the Company’s balance in cash and cash equivalents was $180.6 million.
The Company had standby letters of credit outstanding of $9.1 million at September 30, 2009, of which $8.1 million represents a credit enhancement for industrial revenue bonds. After the standby letters of credit, the Company had $565.9 million remaining available under its former short-term line of credit at September 30, 2009.
Off-Balance Sheet Transactions
The Company’s Rail Group utilizes leasing arrangements that provide off-balance sheet financing for its activities. The Company leases railcars from financial intermediaries through sale-leaseback transactions, the majority of which involve operating leasebacks. Railcars owned by the Company or leased by the Company from a financial intermediary are generally leased to a customer under an operating lease. The Company also arranges non-recourse lease transactions under which it sells railcars or locomotives to a financial intermediary and assigns the related operating lease to the financial intermediary on a non-recourse basis. In such arrangements, the Company generally provides ongoing railcar maintenance and management services for the financial intermediary and receives a fee for such services. On most of the railcars and locomotives that are not on its balance sheet, the Company holds an option to purchase at the end of the lease.
The following table describes the Company’s railcar and locomotive positions at September 30, 2009:
             
Method of Control   Financial Statement   Number
 
Owned-railcar assets available for sale
  On balance sheet — current     57  
Owned-railcar assets
  On balance sheet — noncurrent     13,965  
Railcars leased from financial intermediaries
  Off balance sheet     7,499  
Railcars — non-recourse arrangements
  Off balance sheet     2,330  
 
           
Total Railcars
        23,851  
 
           
 
           
Locomotive assets
  On balance sheet — noncurrent     28  
Locomotives leased from financial intermediaries
  Off balance sheet     4  
Locomotives — leased from financial intermediaries under limited recourse arrangements
  Off balance sheet     14  
Locomotives — non-recourse arrangements
  Off balance sheet     78  
 
           
Total Locomotives
        124  
 
           
In addition, the Company manages 686 railcars for third-party customers or owners for which it receives a fee.

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
The market risk inherent in the Company’s market risk-sensitive instruments and positions is the potential loss arising from adverse changes in commodity prices and interest rates as discussed below.
Commodity Prices
The availability and price of agricultural commodities are subject to wide fluctuations due to unpredictable factors such as weather, plantings, government (domestic and foreign) farm programs and policies, changes in global demand created by demand for ethanol, population growth and higher standards of living, and global production of similar competitive crops. To reduce price risk caused by market fluctuations, the Company follows a policy of entering into economic hedges of its inventories and related purchase and sale contracts. The instruments used are exchange-traded futures and options contracts that function as hedges. The market value of exchange-traded futures and options used for economic hedging has historically had a high, but not perfect correlation, to the underlying market value of grain inventories and related purchase and sale contracts. The less correlated portion of inventory and purchase and sale contract market value (known as basis) is managed by the Company using a daily grain position report to constantly monitor the Company’s position relative to the price changes in the market. In addition, inventory values are affected by the month-to-month spread relationships in the regulated futures markets, as the Company carries inventories over time. These spread relationships are also less volatile than the overall market value and tend to follow historical patterns but also represent risk that cannot be directly hedged. The Company’s accounting policy for its futures and options contracts, as well as the underlying inventory positions and purchase and sale contracts, is to mark them to the market price daily and include gains and losses in the statement of income in sales and merchandising revenues.
A sensitivity analysis has been prepared to estimate the Company’s exposure to market risk of its commodity position (exclusive of basis risk). The Company’s daily net commodity position consists of inventories, related purchase and sale contracts and exchange-traded contracts. The fair value of the position is a summation of the fair values calculated for each commodity by valuing each net position at quoted futures market prices. Market risk is estimated as the potential loss in fair value resulting from a hypothetical 10% adverse change in such prices. The result of this analysis, which may differ from actual results, is as follows:
                 
(in thousands)   September 30, 2009   December 31, 2008
     
Net long (short) position
  $ (2,028 )   $ (325 )
Market risk
    (203 )     (33 )
Interest Rates
The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt is estimated using quoted market prices or discounted future cash flows based on the Company’s current incremental borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements. In addition, the Company has derivative interest rate contracts recorded on its balance sheet at their fair values. The fair value of these contracts is estimated based on quoted market termination values. Market risk, which is estimated as the potential increase in fair value resulting from a hypothetical one-half percent decrease in interest rates, is summarized below:
                 
(in thousands)   September 30, 2009   December 31, 2008
     
Fair value of long-term debt and interest rate contracts
  $ 329,052     $ 353,905  
Fair value in excess of (less than) carrying value
    (7,137 )     (10,213 )
Market risk
    9,072       13,217  

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Item 4. Controls and Procedures
The Company is not organized with one Chief Financial Officer. Our Vice President, Controller and CIO is responsible for all accounting and information technology decisions while our Vice President, Finance and Treasurer is responsible for all treasury functions and financing decisions. Each of them, along with the President and Chief Executive Officer (“Certifying Officers”), are responsible for evaluating our disclosure controls and procedures. These Certifying Officers have evaluated our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, as of September 30, 2009, and have determined that such controls and procedures were effective.
Our Certifying Officers are primarily responsible for the accuracy of the financial information that is presented in this report. To meet their responsibility for financial reporting, they have established internal controls and procedures which they believe are adequate to provide reasonable assurance that the Company’s assets are protected from loss. These procedures are reviewed by the Company’s internal auditors in order to monitor compliance. In addition, our Board of Director’s Audit Committee, which is composed entirely of independent directors, meets regularly with members of management and our internal auditors to review accounting, auditing and financial matters.
There have been no changes during the quarter ended September 30, 2009 in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.
Part II. Other Information
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Our operations are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in this Form 10-Q and could have a material adverse impact on our financial results. These risks can be impacted by factors beyond our control as well as by errors and omissions on our part. The significant factors known to us that could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or operating results are described in the 2008 10-K (Item 1A). There has been no material changes in the risk factors set forth therein.

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Item 6. Exhibits
     (a) Exhibits
     
No.   Description
31.1
  Certification of the President and Chief Executive Officer under Rule 13(a)-14(a)/15d-14(a)
 
   
31.2
  Certification of the Vice President, Controller and CIO under Rule 13(a)-14(a)/15d-14(a)
 
   
31.3
  Certification of the Vice President, Finance and Treasurer under Rule 13(a)-14(a)/15d-14(a)
 
   
32.1
  Certifications Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350

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Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements 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.
         
  THE ANDERSONS, INC.
(Registrant)
 
 
Date: November 6, 2009  By /s/ Michael J. Anderson    
  Michael J. Anderson   
  President and Chief Executive Officer   
 
     
Date: November 6, 2009  By /s/ Richard R. George    
  Richard R. George   
  Vice President, Controller and CIO
(Principal Accounting Officer) 
 
 
     
Date: November 6, 2009  By /s/ Nicholas C. Conrad    
  Nicholas C. Conrad   
  Vice President, Finance and Treasurer
(Principal Financial Officer) 
 

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Exhibit Index
The Andersons, Inc.
     
No.   Description
 
   
31.1
  Certification of the President and Chief Executive Officer under Rule 13(a)-14(a)/15d-14(a)
 
   
31.2
  Certification of the Vice President, Controller and CIO under Rule 13(a)-14(a)/15d-14(a)
 
   
31.3
  Certification of the Vice President, Finance and Treasurer under Rule 13(a)-14(a)/15d-14(a)
 
   
32.1
  Certifications Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350

37