Basis of Presentation and Accounting Policies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 30, 2024

Basis of Presentation and Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation and Accounting Policies

Note 1 – Basis of Presentation and Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of Seaboard Corporation and its subsidiaries (“Seaboard”) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the rules and regulations for reporting on Form 10-Q. Accordingly, they do not include certain information and disclosures required for comprehensive financial statements. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in Seaboard’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. The unaudited financial information reflects all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations, financial position and cash flows for the periods presented. Seaboard’s first three quarterly periods include approximately 13 weekly periods ending on the Saturday closest to the end of March, June and September. Results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the full year.

Related-Party Transactions

Seaboard has investments in non-consolidated affiliates to further its business strategies and partner with other entities that have expertise in certain industries and countries. These investments are all accounted for using the equity method of accounting. As Seaboard conducts its agricultural commodity trading business with third parties, consolidated subsidiaries and non-consolidated affiliates on an interrelated basis, cost of sales on affiliate sales transactions cannot be distinguished without making numerous assumptions, primarily with respect to mark-to-market accounting for commodity derivatives. Purchases of raw materials or services from related parties included in cost of sales were $15 million and $26 million for the three months ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023, respectively.

Supplemental Cash Flow Information

Non-cash activities for the three months ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023, included capital expenditures of $6 million and $8 million, respectively, that were in accounts payable. The following table includes supplemental cash and non-cash information related to leases. Seaboard reports the amortization of right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and changes in operating lease liabilities in other liabilities, exclusive of debt in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.

	Three Months Ended
	March 30,		April 1,
(Millions of dollars)	2024		2023
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flows from operating leases	$	47	$	48
Operating cash flows from finance leases		1		2
Financing cash flows from finance leases		14		14
ROU assets obtained in exchange for new lease liabilities:
Operating leases	$	47	$	18
Finance leases		1		1

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The change in the carrying amount of goodwill was related to foreign currency translation of $3 million within the Commodity Trading and Milling (“CT&M”) segment. As of March 30, 2024, intangible assets, included in other non-current assets, were $25 million, which consists of the gross carrying amount of $79 million net of accumulated amortization of $49 million and net of accumulated foreign currency translation of $5 million.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards and Disclosure Rules 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 in the 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, and interim periods 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.

In March 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) adopted final rules to enhance and standardize climate-related disclosures in registration statements and annual reports on Form 10-K. The new rules will require climate-related disclosures related to governance, strategy, risk management, targets and goals and greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, within the notes to the financial statements, the rules would require disclosure of financial statement effects of severe weather events and other natural conditions and other climate-related financial metrics as applicable. Certain elements of the new rules are currently scheduled to become effective for Seaboard’s annual reporting period beginning on January 1, 2025, with the remaining requirements to be phased-in effective for subsequent fiscal years beginning after December 31, 2025. On April 4, 2024, the SEC issued an order staying the effectiveness of the final rules pending completion of the judicial review of consolidated challenges to the rules by the Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Seaboard is currently evaluating the impact the rules will have on its disclosures.