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Accounting Policies and Basis of Presentation
3 Months Ended
Mar. 29, 2014
Accounting Policies and Basis of Presentation  
Accounting Policies and Basis of Presentation

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, 2013 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 accruals) which, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair presentation of financial position, results of operations and cash flows.  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 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, goodwill and other intangible assets, income taxes and accrued pension liability.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Supplemental Non-Cash Transactions

Seaboard has notes receivable from affiliates which accrue pay-in-kind interest income, primarily from one affiliate as discussed in Note 9. Seaboard recognized $3,628,000 and $3,111,000, respectively, of non-cash, pay-in-kind interest income and accretion of discount for the first quarter ended March 29, 2014 and March 30, 2013, respectively, related to these notes receivable.