Derivatives and Fair Value of Financial Instruments

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Derivatives and Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Derivatives and Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Note 10 − Derivatives and Fair Value of Financial Instruments

Seaboard’s assets and liabilities recognized at fair value on a recurring basis have been categorized based on a fair value hierarchy determined as follows:

Level 1 — Observable inputs such as unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 — Inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are observable either directly or indirectly, including quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.

Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market data and require the reporting entity to develop its assumptions.

	December 31,
(Millions of dollars)	2023		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Trading securities – short-term investments:
Domestic equity securities	$	143	$	143	$	—	$	—
Foreign equity securities		96		96		—		—
Domestic debt securities		593		173		420		—
Foreign debt securities		120		3		117		—
Money market funds held in trading accounts		17		17		—		—
Other trading securities		4		—		4		—
Trading securities – other current assets		22		22		—		—
Long-term investment - BDC		68		—		68		—
Derivatives		12		9		3		—
Total assets	$	1,075	$	463	$	612	$	—
Liabilities:
Derivatives	$	9	$	4	$	5	$	—
Total liabilities	$	9	$	4	$	5	$	—

	December 31,
(Millions of dollars)	2022		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3
Assets:
Trading securities – short-term investments:
Domestic equity securities	$	433	$	433	$	—	$	—
Foreign equity securities		169		169		—		—
Domestic debt securities		399		162		237		—
Foreign debt securities		66		—		66		—
Money market funds held in trading accounts		12		12		—		—
Other trading securities		7		—		7		—
Trading securities – other current assets		26		25		1		—
Long-term investment - BDC		63		—		63		—
Derivatives		26		26		—		—
Total assets	$	1,201	$	827	$	374	$	—
Liabilities:
Contingent consideration	$	19	$	—	$	—	$	19
Derivatives		12		2		10		—
Total liabilities	$	31	$	2	$	10	$	19

Financial instruments consisting of cash and cash equivalents, net receivables, lines of credit and accounts payable are carried at cost, which approximates fair value, as a result of the short-term nature of the instruments. The fair value of short-term investments is measured using multiple levels. Debt securities categorized as level 1 in the fair value hierarchy include debt securities held in mutual funds and ETFs. The trading securities classified as other current assets above are assets held for Seaboard’s deferred compensation plans.

Seaboard has a long-term investment in a BDC that primarily lends to and invests in debt securities of privately held companies. This long-term investment is valued at net asset value (“NAV”) but is subject to contractual sale restrictions pursuant to shareholder arrangements.

The fair value of long-term debt is estimated by comparing interest rates for debt with similar terms and maturities. As Seaboard’s long-term debt is mostly variable-rate, its carrying amount approximates fair value. If Seaboard’s long-term debt was measured at fair value on its consolidated balance sheets, it would have been classified as level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. See Note 7 for a discussion of Seaboard’s long-term debt.

During 2023, the euro-denominated contingent consideration liability related to a 2018 acquisition was settled and Seaboard paid $30 million to the sellers. The range for the contingent consideration was between zero and $48 million and payable between five and eight years following the closing, with timing at the discretion of the sellers. The fair value was dependent on the probability of the acquiree achieving certain financial performance targets using earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) as a metric. Prior to settlement, the contingent consideration was classified as level 3 since the calculation depended upon projected company-specific inputs using a Monte Carlo simulation.

Derivatives

Seaboard’s operations are exposed to market risks from changes in commodity prices, foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates and equity prices. Seaboard uses derivatives to manage its commodity and foreign currency fluctuations. From time to time, Seaboard enters into interest rate swap agreements to manage the interest rate risk of certain variable rate long-term debt and enters into equity futures contracts to manage the equity price risk of certain short-term investments. While management believes its derivatives are primarily economic hedges, Seaboard does not perform the extensive record-keeping required to account for these types of transactions as hedges for accounting purposes. As a result, fluctuations in prices and rates could have a material impact on earnings in any given reporting period. Credit risks associated with derivative contracts are not significant as Seaboard minimizes counterparty exposure by dealing with credit-worthy counterparties and uses margin accounts for some accounts. As of December 31, 2023, the maximum amount of credit risk, had the counterparties failed to perform according to the terms of the contract, was $3 million.

Commodity Instruments

Seaboard uses various derivative futures and options to manage some of its risk to price fluctuations for raw materials and other inventories, finished product sales and firm sales commitments. Commodity derivatives are recorded at fair value, with any changes in fair value recognized as a component of cost of sales in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Seaboard had the following aggregated outstanding notional amounts:

		December 31,
(Millions)	Metric	2023	2022
Commodities:
Grain	Bushels	19	8
Hogs	Pounds	133	16
Soybean oil	Pounds	10	26

Foreign Currency Exchange Agreements

Seaboard enters into foreign currency exchange agreements to manage the foreign currency exchange rate risk of certain transactions denominated in foreign currencies. Foreign currency exchange agreements that primarily relate to an underlying commodity transaction are recorded at fair value with changes in value recognized as a component of cost of sales. Other foreign currency exchange agreements are recognized as a component of foreign currency gains (losses), net. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, Seaboard had foreign currency exchange agreements with notional amounts of $152 million and $190 million, respectively, primarily related to the South African rand and euro.

The following table provides the amount of gain (loss) recorded for each type of derivative and where it was recognized in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income:  

(Millions of dollars)		2023		2022
Commodities	Cost of sales	$	(18)	$	(45)
Foreign currencies	Cost of sales		6		(17)
Foreign currencies	Foreign currency gains (losses), net		(2)		6

The following table provides the fair value of each type of derivative held and where each derivative is included in the consolidated balance sheets:

		Asset					Liability
		December 31,		December 31,			December 31,		December 31,
(Millions of dollars)		2023		2022			2023		2022
Commodities	Other current assets	$	9	$	26	Other current liabilities	$	4	$	2
Foreign currencies	Other current assets		3		—	Other current liabilities		5		10

Seaboard’s commodity derivative assets and liabilities are presented in the consolidated balance sheets on a net basis, including netting the derivatives with the related margin accounts. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the commodity derivatives had a margin account balance of $19 million and $3 million, respectively, resulting in a net other current asset in the consolidated balance sheets of $24 million and $27 million, respectively.