Accounting Policies and Basis of Presentation (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Oct. 01, 2016

Accounting Policies and Basis of Presentation

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with United States (“U.S.”) generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include those related to allowance for doubtful accounts, valuation of inventories, impairment of long-lived assets, potential write-down related to investments in and advances to affiliates and notes receivable from affiliates, income taxes and accrued pension liability. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Supplemental Non-Cash Transactions

Supplemental Non-Cash Transactions

Seaboard had notes receivable from affiliates that accrued pay-in-kind interest income, primarily from one affiliate. On January 4, 2016, the interest on this note receivable was modified to eliminate future pay-in-kind interest as discussed in Note 9 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Seaboard recognized less than $1 million of non-cash accretion of discount and $2 million of non-cash, pay-in-kind interest income and accretion of discount for the three and nine months ended October 1, 2016, respectively, and $4 million and $13 million for the three and nine months ended October 3, 2015, respectively, related to notes receivable from affiliates.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

Recently Issued Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued guidance to develop a single, comprehensive revenue recognition model for all contracts with customers. This guidance requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. This guidance will replace most existing revenue recognition guidance in GAAP when it becomes effective. Seaboard is currently evaluating the impact this new guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. Seaboard will be required to adopt this guidance on January 1, 2018, and it is currently anticipated that Seaboard will apply this guidance using the cumulative effect transition method.

In July 2015, the FASB issued guidance to simplify the subsequent measurement of inventory, excluding inventory measured using last-in, first-out or the retail inventory method. Under the new standard, inventory should be at the lower of cost and net realizable value. The new guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. Seaboard believes the adoption of this guidance will not have a material impact on Seaboard’s financial position or net earnings. 

In January 2016, the FASB issued guidance that requires entities to measure equity investments, other than those accounted for using the equity method of accounting, at fair value and recognize any changes in fair value in net income if a readily determinable fair value exists. For equity investments without readily determinable fair values, the cost method of accounting is eliminated. An entity may elect to record these equity investments at cost, less impairment, and plus or minus subsequent adjustments for observable price changes. The new guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Seaboard believes the adoption of this guidance will not have a material impact on Seaboard’s financial position or net earnings.

In February 2016, the FASB issued guidance that a lessee should recognize in the balance sheet a liability to make lease payments and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. The recognition, measurement, and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease by a lessee have not significantly changed from the previous guidance. For operating leases, a lessee is required to: (1) recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability, initially measured at the present value of the lease payments, in the balance sheet, (2) recognize a single lease cost, calculated so that the cost of the lease is allocated over the lease term on a generally straight-line basis and (3) classify all cash payments within operating activities in the statement of cash flows. It is effective for public entities for fiscal years and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. In transition, lessees are required to recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach, which includes a number of optional practical expedients that entities may elect to apply. Seaboard is currently assessing the potential impact of this new standard.