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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
6 Months Ended
Jun. 29, 2019
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Note 1 – Accounting Policies and Basis of Presentation

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Seaboard Corporation and its domestic and foreign subsidiaries (“Seaboard”). All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Seaboard’s investments in non-consolidated affiliates are accounted for by the equity method. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of Seaboard for the year ended December 31, 2018 as filed in its annual report on Form 10-K. Seaboard’s first three quarterly periods include approximately 13 weekly periods ending on the Saturday closest to the end of March, June and September. Seaboard’s year-end is December 31.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) that, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair presentation of financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Except for new guidance adopted prospectively as discussed below, Seaboard has consistently applied all accounting policies as disclosed in the annual report on Form 10-K to all periods presented in these condensed consolidated financial statements. Results of operations for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for a full year. As Seaboard conducts its commodity trading business with third parties, consolidated subsidiaries and non-consolidated affiliates on an interrelated basis, gross margin on non-consolidated affiliates cannot be clearly distinguished without making numerous assumptions primarily with respect to mark-to-market accounting for commodity derivatives.

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, lease liabilities and right of use (“ROU”) assets and accrued pension liability. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Supplemental Cash Flow Information

Non-cash investing and financing activities included purchases of property, plant and equipment in accounts payable of $15 million and the impact upon adoption of the new leasing guidance further discussed below. During the six months ended June 29, 2019, $42 million and $19 million of leased assets were obtained in exchange for new operating and finance lease liabilities, respectively. Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities was $66 million, all included in net cash from operating activities. Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of finance lease liabilities was $1 million. Seaboard reports the amortization of the ROU asset and the change in the operating lease liabilities in other liabilities, exclusive of debt in the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The change in the carrying amount of goodwill of $2 million from year-end to June 29, 2019 was related to foreign currency exchange differences within the Commodity Trading and Milling (“CT&M”) segment. As of June 29, 2019, intangible assets were $63 million, net of accumulated amortization of $11 million.

Recently Issued Accounting Standard Adopted

On January 1, 2019, Seaboard adopted guidance which requires the recognition of ROU assets and lease liabilities for most leases. As a result of this adoption, Seaboard recorded operating lease ROU assets of $460 million, adjusted for the deferred rent liability balance at year-end, and lease liabilities of $498 million. The adoption of the new guidance did not have a material impact on the condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income and the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows. The accounting for finance leases, formerly called capital leases, remained substantially unchanged. Seaboard adopted the new guidance using the effective date method and, therefore, prior period financials were not revised. Seaboard elected the package of practical expedients available upon transition, which permitted Seaboard to not reassess prior conclusions related to contracts containing leases,

lease classification and initial direct costs. All of Seaboard’s equity method investments must adopt the new standard by December 31, 2020. See Note 4 for additional details on the impact of adopting this new accounting standard.

In June 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued guidance on the measurement of financial instrument credit losses that requires, among other things, the use of a new current expected credit loss ("CECL") model in order to determine the allowance for doubtful accounts with respect to accounts receivable and notes receivable. The CECL model requires estimation of lifetime expected credit loss based on historical experience, current conditions and reasonable supportable forecasts. The new guidance replaces the existing incurred loss model and will be effective for Seaboard on January 1, 2020. Seaboard is currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on the consolidated financial statements.