Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Seaboard Corporation and its domestic and foreign subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Financial information from certain foreign subsidiaries is reported on a one- to three-month lag, depending on the specific entity.

Investments in Affiliates

Investments in Affiliates

Investments in non-consolidated affiliates, where Seaboard has significant influence but does not have a controlling interest, are accounted for by the equity method. Under the equity method of accounting, the initial investment is recorded at cost and the investment is subsequently adjusted for its proportionate share of earnings or losses and dividends, including consideration of basis differences resulting from the difference between the initial carrying amount of the investment and the underlying equity in net assets. Seaboard reviews its investments in affiliates for impairment whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the investments may not be fully recoverable. For the Commodity Trading and Milling (“CT&M”) segment, investments in affiliates are primarily in foreign countries, which are less developed than the U.S., and therefore, expose Seaboard to greater financial risks. At certain times when there are ongoing losses, local economies are depressed, commodity-based markets are less stable or foreign governments cause challenging business conditions, management evaluates the fair value of the equity method investments for impairment. As the fair value of these investments is not readily determinable, management uses other methods to determine fair value such as estimated future cash flows, including assumptions on growth rates and consideration of other local business conditions as applicable.

Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, which 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 consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Foreign Currency Transactions and Translation

Foreign Currency Transactions and Translation

Seaboard has operations in several foreign countries, and the currencies of the countries fluctuate in relation to the U.S. dollar, resulting in foreign currency gains and losses. Certain CT&M segment subsidiaries located in Guyana, Ivory Coast, Senegal, South Africa and Zambia use local currency as their functional currency. Assets and liabilities of these subsidiaries are translated to U.S. dollars at year-end exchange rates, and income and expenses are translated at average exchange rates. Translation gains and losses are recorded as components of other comprehensive income (loss). Also certain non-consolidated affiliates, primarily in the CT&M segment, use local currency as their functional currency.

Seaboard applies highly inflationary accounting for countries whose cumulative inflation rate for a three-year period meets or exceeds 100%. Under highly inflationary accounting, the financial statements of a subsidiary are remeasured into Seaboard’s reporting currency (U.S. dollars) and exchange gains and losses from the remeasurement of monetary assets and liabilities are reflected in net income, rather than accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) on the balance sheet, until the economy is no longer considered highly inflationary. Certain non-monetary assets and liabilities are recorded at the applicable historical exchange rates. Seaboard applies highly inflationary accounting for the Sugar and Alcohol segment, which operates in Argentina.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents include all demand deposits, overnight investments and other highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.

Supplemental Cash Flow Information

Supplemental Cash Flow Information

The amounts paid for interest and income taxes are as follows:

	Years ended December 31,
(Millions of dollars)	2023		2022		2021
Interest, net of interest capitalized	$	56	$	35	$	10
Income taxes, net of refunds		47		101		104

Non-cash activities include capital expenditures of $4 million, $15 million and $5 million that were included in accounts payable as of December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Short-Term Investments

Short-term Investments

Short-term investments are categorized as trading securities and carried at fair value. Changes in the fair value of short-term investments are recorded as unrealized gains and losses included in other investment income (loss), net in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income, with any purchases and sales recorded on a settlement date basis.

Accounts Receivable

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and generally do not bear interest.

The allowance for credit losses is Seaboard’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses using the current expected credit loss model. This model estimates the lifetime of expected credit loss based on historical experience, current conditions and reasonable supportable forecasts. Changes in estimates, developing trends and other new information can have a material effect on future evaluations. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, Seaboard had gross foreign receivables of approximately $522 million and $659 million, respectively, which generally represent more of a collection risk than the domestic receivables; however as of December 31, 2023, no individual material amounts were deemed to have a heightened risk of collectability. Account balances are charged off against the allowance after all means of collection have been exhausted and the potential for recovery is considered remote.

The activity within the allowance for credit losses was as follows:

	Balance at				Balance at
(Millions of dollars)	beginning of year		Provision(a)	Net deductions(b)	end of year
Allowance for Credit Losses:
Year Ended December 31, 2023	$	31	5	(6)	$	30
Year Ended December 31, 2022	$	31	7	(7)	$	31
Year Ended December 31, 2021	$	28	5	(2)	$	31

^(a)Provision amounts are charged to selling, general and administrative expenses.

^(b)Includes write-offs net of recoveries, foreign currency translation adjustments and other adjustments.

Notes Receivable

Notes Receivable

Notes receivable are included in other receivables, if current, and other non-current assets, if long-term. Seaboard’s non-current notes receivable balances, net of reserves, were $41 million and $40 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. There were notes receivable due from affiliates outstanding of $2 million, net as of December 31, 2023 and 2022. Seaboard monitors the credit quality of notes receivable, using the current expected credit loss model.

The activity within the allowance for notes receivable was as follows:

	Balance at				Balance at
(Millions of dollars)	beginning of year		Provision	Net deductions	end of year
Allowance for Notes Receivable:
Year Ended December 31, 2023	$	17	2	(3)	$	16
Year Ended December 31, 2022	$	18	—	(1)	$	17
Year Ended December 31, 2021	$	17	1	—	$	18

Inventories

Inventories

Grain, flour and feed inventories at the CT&M segment’s foreign milling operations are valued at the lower of weighted-average cost and net realizable value (“NRV”). All other inventories are valued at the lower of first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) cost and NRV. In determining NRV, management makes assumptions regarding estimated sales prices, estimated costs to complete and estimated disposal costs. Changes in future market prices or facts and circumstances could result in a material write down in the value of inventory or decreased future margins on the sale of inventory.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are carried at cost and, except for land, depreciated using the straight-line method over an estimated useful life, ranging from 3 to 30 years. Property, plant and equipment under finance leases are stated at the present value of minimum lease payments and subsequently amortized using the straight-line method over the earlier of the end of its useful life or the end of the lease term. Routine and planned major maintenance, repairs and minor renewals are expensed as incurred, while major renewals and improvements are capitalized. Property, plant and equipment and other long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by comparing the carrying amount of the asset to future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. Impairment is recognized if the carrying amount of the assets exceeds the estimated fair value of the assets. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell.

Right of Use Assets and Lease Liabilities

Right of Use Assets and Lease Liabilities

Right of Use (“ROU”) assets and lease liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. The present value of lease payments is determined primarily using the incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the lease commencement date. For leases that do not have readily determinable implicit discount rates, Seaboard adjusts its incremental borrowing rate by the local risk-free interest rate on its term loan with a credit risk premium corresponding to Seaboard’s unreported credit rating. Then Seaboard determines discount rates based on term, country and currency where the leased asset is located. Seaboard accounts for lease and non-lease components as a single lease component for all classes of underlying assets. Seaboard does not recognize ROU assets and lease liabilities for short-term leases with terms greater than 1 month, but less than 12 months.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Prior to 2023, goodwill was assessed annually for impairment by each reporting unit at the quarter-end closest to the anniversary date of the initial acquisition. In 2023, Seaboard changed the date of its annual goodwill test to the fourth quarter to align the testing date of all reporting units and therefore is a preferable change. The change was not material to the financial statements, has been applied prospectively and does not delay, accelerate or avoid any potential impairment charges. Goodwill is assessed more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that impairment is likely. Seaboard first assesses qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not the fair value of any reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If qualitative factors indicate more likely than not that an impairment is possible, Seaboard performs a quantitative impairment test using discounted cash flow analysis by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An impairment charge is recognized for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value. Due to the continued Pork segment operating losses, management performed an interim quantitative goodwill impairment test during the third quarter of 2023 and concluded goodwill was not impaired. No impairments were recorded during 2023 or 2022 based on annual qualitative assessments and certain immaterial reporting units recorded a total of $4 million of impairment charges during 2021.

The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill were as follows:

		Pork		CT&M
(Millions of dollars)		Segment		Segment		Total
Balance as of December 31, 2021	$	18	$	145	$	163
Foreign currency translation		—		(13)		(13)
Acquisition		4		—		4
Balance as of December 31, 2022		22		132		154
Foreign currency translation		—		6		6
Balance as of December 31, 2023	$	22	$	138	$	160

Separable intangible assets with finite lives are amortized over their estimated useful lives and evaluated for impairment similar to property, plant and equipment discussed above. The gross carrying amount and accumulated amortization for finite-lived intangible were as follows:

		December 31, 2023						December 31, 2022
		Customer		Trade				Customer		Trade
(Millions of dollars)		relationships		names		Total		relationships		names		Total
Gross carrying amount	$	51	$	28	$	79	$	51	$	28	$	79
Accumulated amortization and currency translation		(34)		(19)		(53)		(31)		(17)		(48)
Net carrying amount	$	17	$	9	$	26	$	20	$	11	$	31

Amortization of intangible assets was $8 million, $8 million and $9 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Using the exchange rates in effect at year-end, estimated amortization of intangible assets as of December 31, 2023 is $8 million each year for the next three years and $2 million in year four.

Accrued Self-Insurance

Accrued Self-Insurance

Seaboard is self-insured for certain levels of workers’ compensation, health care coverage, property damage, vehicle, product recall and general liability. Liabilities associated with some of these risks are estimated based on actuarially-determined amounts and accrued in part by considering historical claims experience, demographic factors, severity factors and other actuarial assumptions. Changes in estimates to previously recorded reserves are reflected in current operating results.

Asset Retirement Obligation

Asset Retirement Obligation

Seaboard records a long-lived asset and a related liability for the asset retirement obligation costs associated with the closure of all hog lagoons. Based on detailed assessments and appraisals obtained to estimate the future asset retirement obligation costs, Seaboard records the present value of the projected costs in other non-current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. The retirement asset is depreciated over the economic life of the related asset. The following table shows the changes in the asset retirement obligation:

	December 31,
(Millions of dollars)	2023		2022
Beginning balance	$	32	$	29
Accretion expense		2		2
Liability for additional lagoons		—		1
Ending balance	$	34	$	32

Pension Plans

Pension Plans

Seaboard records annual income and expense amounts relating to its pension plans based on calculations which include various actuarial assumptions, including discount rates, mortality, assumed rates of return, compensation increases, and retirement rates. Seaboard reviews its actuarial assumptions on an annual basis and makes modifications to the assumptions based on current rates and trends when it is deemed appropriate to do so. The effect of modifications on the value of plan obligations and assets is recognized immediately within other comprehensive income (loss) and amortized into operating earnings over future periods using the corridor approach. Actuarial (gains) losses that exceed 10% of the greater of the pension benefit obligation or the fair value of plan assets are generally amortized over the average remaining working lifetime of the participants. The measurement date for all plans is December 31. Any overfunded status is recognized as an asset and any underfunded status is recognized as a liability. The service cost component of net periodic benefit cost is recorded in either cost of sales or selling, general and administrative expenses depending upon the employee, and the other components of net periodic benefit cost are recorded in miscellaneous, net in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. Settlements are recognized when lump sum payments on a cumulative basis exceed the service cost plus interest cost for the respective plan.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition

Almost all of Seaboard’s contracts with its customers are less than one year. Seaboard recognizes revenue when control of the promised goods or services is transferred to its customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration it expects to receive in exchange for those goods or services. The majority of Seaboard’s revenue arrangements consist of a single performance obligation as the promise to transfer the individual product or service is not separately identifiable from other promises in the contracts, including shipping and handling and customary storage, and, therefore, not distinct. Revenue from goods and services transferred to customers at a single point in time account for approximately 85% of Seaboard’s net sales. Substantially all of the sales in Seaboard’s Marine segment are recognized ratably over the transit time for each voyage, as the performance obligation to its customers is satisfied.

Seaboard’s transaction prices are mostly fixed, but occasionally include minimal variable consideration for early payment, volume and other similar discounts, which are highly probable based on the history with the respective customers. Taxes assessed by a governmental authority that are collected by Seaboard from a customer are excluded from sales. Seaboard recognizes a financing component only on obligations that extend longer than one year.

Deferred revenue represents cash payments received in advance of Seaboard’s performance or revenue billed that is unearned. The CT&M segment requires certain customers to pay in advance or upon delivery to avoid collection risk. The Marine segment’s deferred revenue balance primarily relates to the unearned portion of billed revenue when a ship is on the water and has not arrived at the designated port. Deferred revenue balances are reduced when revenue is recognized. The majority of the deferred revenue balance as of year-end is recognized as revenue during the following quarter.

Research and Development

Research and Development

Seaboard conducts research and development activities to develop new products and to improve existing products and processes. Seaboard incurred research and development expenses of $361 million, $210 million and $191 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Income Taxes

Income Taxes

Effects of changes in tax laws, including retroactive changes, are recognized in the financial statements in the period that the changes are enacted. Deferred income taxes are recognized for the tax consequences of temporary differences by applying enacted statutory tax rates applicable to future years to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of existing assets and liabilities. Seaboard accounts for the global intangible low-taxed income (“GILTI”) provision and the base-erosion and anti-abuse tax (“BEAT”) provision taxes in the period incurred. For quarters, Seaboard computes its year-to-date provision for income taxes by applying the estimated annual effective tax rate to year-to-date pre-tax income or loss and adjusts the provision for discrete tax items recorded in the period.

Earnings Per Common Share

Earnings Per Common Share

Earnings per common share are based upon the weighted-average shares outstanding during the period. Basic and diluted earnings per share are the same for all periods presented.

Accounting Standards Recently Issued Not Yet Adopted

Accounting Standards Recently Issued Not Yet Adopted

In November 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued guidance that requires incremental segment disclosures on an annual and interim basis related to significant segment expenses. Seaboard will adopt this guidance for the annual reporting period beginning on January 1, 2024 and interim periods within the calendar year beginning on January 1, 2025. The disclosure requirements must be applied retrospectively to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. Seaboard is currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on its related disclosures.

In December 2023, the FASB issued guidance that requires additional detailed income tax disclosures related to standardization and disaggregation of information in the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid by jurisdiction. Seaboard will adopt this guidance for the annual reporting period beginning on January 1, 2025. Seaboard is currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on its disclosures.

Liability reserve estimate

Seaboard accrues liabilities for loss contingencies when it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. If a range of loss is estimated, and some amount within that range appears to be a better estimate than any other amount within that range, then that amount is accrued. If no amount within the range can be identified as a better estimate than any other amount, Seaboard accrues the minimum amount in the range. For such matters where a loss is believed to be reasonably possible, but not probable, or the loss cannot be reasonably estimated, no accrual has been made.

Management's Assessment and Process

In Seaboard's opinion, it has made appropriate and adequate accruals for loss contingencies where necessary as of December 31, 2023. Substantially all of Seaboard's contingencies are subject to uncertainties and, therefore, determining the likelihood of a loss or the measurement of any loss can be complex. Consequently, Seaboard is unable to estimate the range of reasonably possible loss in excess of the amounts accrued. Seaboard's assessments, which result from a complex series of judgments about future events and uncertainties, are based on estimates and assumptions that have been deemed reasonable by management, including an expected probable loss associated with settling or otherwise resolving such contingencies. These estimates and assumptions may prove to be incomplete or inaccurate, and unanticipated events and circumstances may occur that might change such estimates and assumptions. At the end of each reporting period, Seaboard reviews information with respect to its legal proceedings, claims and other related loss contingencies and updates its accruals, disclosures and estimates of reasonably possible loss or range of loss based on such reviews. Costs for defending claims are expensed as incurred. Any receivable for insurance recoveries is recorded separately from the corresponding liability, and only if recovery is determined to be probable and reasonably estimable.