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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC  20549
 
FORM 10-K
 
 (Mark One)      
☒ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 For the fiscal year ended
January 2, 2021
OR
☐TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
  For the transition period from _______ to _______
 
Commission File Number   001-13323

DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Delaware36-2495346
 (State or other jurisdiction     (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)   Identification Number)
5601 N MacArthur Blvd., 
Irving, Texas 75038
(Address of principal executive offices)  (Zip Code)
 
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (972) 717-0300
 
  Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each ClassTrading Symbol(s)Name of Exchange on Which Registered
Common Stock $0.01 par value per shareDARNew York Stock Exchange(“NYSE”)
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:  None

 Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Yes ☒  No ☐

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes  ☐   No ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.       Yes ☒     No ☐
 
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit files).        Yes ☒     No ☐

Page 1

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer☒Accelerated filer    ☐
Non-accelerated filer ☐ Smaller reporting company       ☐
Emerging growth company☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the Registrant has elected not to use the extended transition
period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of Exchange
Act.☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report. ☒

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐  No ☒
 
As of the last business day of the Registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter, the aggregate market value of the shares of common stock held by nonaffiliates of the Registrant was approximately $3,705,533,000 based upon the closing price of the common stock as reported on the NYSE on that day. (In determining the market value of the Registrant’s common stock held by non-affiliates, shares of common stock beneficially owned by directors, officers and holders of more than 10% of the Registrant’s common stock have been excluded.  This determination of affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes.)

There were 162,600,207 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value, outstanding at February 24, 2021.


DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
 
Selected designated portions of the Registrant's definitive Proxy Statement in connection with the Registrant’s 2021 Annual Meeting of stockholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report.
Page 2



DARLING INGREDIENTS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-K FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JANUARY 2, 2021


TABLE OF CONTENTS   

 
 
  Page No.
  
   
 4
   
 


Page 3

PART I


ITEM 1. BUSINESS

GENERAL

Founded by the Swift meat packing interests and the Darling family in 1882, Darling Ingredients Inc. (“Darling”, and together with its subsidiaries, the “Company” or “we,” “us” or “our”) was incorporated in Delaware in 1962 under the name “Darling-Delaware Company, Inc.”  Darling changed its name from “Darling-Delaware Company, Inc.” to “Darling International Inc.” on December 28, 1993, and from “Darling International Inc.” to “Darling Ingredients Inc.” on May 6, 2014. The address of Darling's principal executive office is 5601 N MacArthur Boulevard, Irving, Texas, 75038, and its telephone number at this address is (972) 717-0300.
OVERVIEW

We are a global developer and producer of sustainable natural ingredients from edible and inedible bio-nutrients, creating a wide range of ingredients and customized specialty solutions for customers in the pharmaceutical, food, pet food, feed, industrial, fuel, bioenergy and fertilizer industries. With operations on five continents, the Company collects and transforms all aspects of animal by-product streams into useable and specialty ingredients, such as collagen, edible fats, feed-grade fats, animal proteins and meals, plasma, pet food ingredients, organic fertilizers, yellow grease, fuel feedstocks, green energy, natural casings and hides. The Company also recovers and converts recycled oils (used cooking oil and animal fats) into valuable feed ingredients, and collects and processes residual bakery products into feed ingredients. In addition, the Company provides environmental services, such as grease trap collection and disposal services to food service establishments. In fiscal year 2020, the Company generated $3.6 billion in revenues and $296.8 million in net income attributable to Darling.

North America

We are a leading provider of animal by-product processing, used cooking oil and bakery residual recycling and recovery solutions to the U.S. food industry. We operate over 135 processing and transfer facilities in the United States to produce finished products such as protein (primarily meat and bone meal (“MBM”) and poultry meal (“PM”)), meat products for the pet food industry, blood products (plasma and whole blood), collagen, fats (primarily bleachable fancy tallow (“BFT”), poultry grease (“PG”) and yellow grease (“YG”)), bakery by-products (“BBP”) and hides, as well as a range of branded and value-added products. Darling sells these products in North America and throughout the world, primarily to producers of animal feed, pet food, biodiesel, fertilizer and other consumer and industrial ingredients, including oleo-chemicals, soaps and leather goods, for use as ingredients in their products or for further processing. In the United States, Darling is a partner with Valero Energy Corporation in Diamond Green Diesel, a renewable diesel facility, which converts used cooking oils and animal fats into valuable biofuel products. In Canada, the Company operates under the name Rothsay, which is a leading recycler of animal by-products. Rothsay processes raw materials into finished fat and protein products for use in animal feed, pet food, fertilizer and other ingredients. Rothsay has a network of six facilities in Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia.

Europe, China, Australia and South America

Darling Ingredients International, our subsidiary, is a worldwide leader in the development and production of specialty ingredients from animal by-products for applications in animal feed, pet food, fuel, bioenergy, fertilizer, food and pharmaceuticals. Darling Ingredients International operates a global network of 66 production facilities across five continents covering all aspects of animal by-product processing through five brands: Rendac (fuel), Sonac (proteins, fats, edible fats and blood products), Ecoson (bioenergy and fertilizer), Rousselot (collagen) and CTH (natural casings). Darling Ingredients International's specialized portfolio of over 340 products covers all animal origin raw material types and thereby offers a comprehensive, single source solution for suppliers. Darling Ingredients International’s rendering and specialties business has leading positions across Europe and China, with European operations in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Poland and Italy under the Ecoson, Rendac and Sonac brand names. Value-added products include edible fats, blood products, bone products, protein meals and fats. Rousselot is a global leading market provider of collagen for the food, pharmaceutical and technical industries with operations in Europe, the United States, South America and China. CTH is a leading natural casings company for the sausage industry with operations in Europe, China and the United States.

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Operating Segments

The Company's business operates within three reportable operating segments: Feed Ingredients, Food Ingredients and Fuel Ingredients.

The Feed Ingredients operating segment includes the Company's global activities related to (i) the collection and processing of beef, poultry and pork animal by-products in North America and Europe into non-food grade oils and protein meals, (ii) the collection and processing of bakery residuals in North America into Cookie Meal®, which is predominantly used in poultry and swine rations, (iii) the collection and processing of used cooking oil in North America into non-food grade fats, (iv) the collection and processing of porcine and bovine blood in China, Europe, North America and Australia into blood plasma powder and hemoglobin, (v) the processing of selected portions of slaughtered animals into a variety of meat products for use in pet food in Europe and North America, (vi) the processing of cattle hides and hog skins in North America, (vii) the production of organic fertilizers using protein produced from the Company’s animal by-products processing activities in North America and Europe, (viii) the rearing and processing of black soldier fly larvae into specialty proteins for use in animal feed and pet food in North America; and (ix) the provision of grease trap services to food service establishments in North America. Non-food grade oils and fats produced and marketed by the Company are principally sold to third parties to be used as ingredients in animal feed and pet food, as an ingredient for the production of biodiesel and renewable diesel, or to the oleo-chemical industry to be used as an ingredient in a wide variety of industrial applications. Protein meals, blood plasma powder and hemoglobin produced and marketed by the Company are sold to third parties to be used as ingredients in animal feed, pet food and aquaculture.

The Food Ingredients operating segment includes the Company's global activities related to (i) the purchase and processing of beef and pork bone chips, beef hides, pig skins, and fish skins into collagen in Europe, China, South America and North America, (ii) the collection and processing of porcine and bovine intestines into natural casings in Europe, China and North America, (iii) the extraction and processing of porcine mucosa into crude heparin in Europe, (iv) the collection and refining of animal fat into food grade fat in Europe, and (v) the processing of bones to bone chips for the collagen industry and bone ash in Europe. Collagens produced and marketed by the Company are sold to third parties to be used as ingredients in the pharmaceutical, nutriceutical, food, pet food, and technical (e.g., photographic) industries. Natural casings produced and marketed by the Company are sold to third parties to be used as an ingredient in the production of sausages and other similar food products.

The Fuel Ingredients operating segment includes the Company's global activities related to (i) the Company’s share of the results of its equity investment in Diamond Green Diesel Holdings LLC, a joint venture with Valero Energy Corporation (“Valero”) to convert animal fats, recycled greases, used cooking oil, inedible corn oil, soybean oil, or other feedstocks that become economically and commercially viable into renewable diesel (the “DGD Joint Venture”) as described in Note 2 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements for the period ended January 2, 2021 included herein, (ii) the conversion of organic sludge and food waste into biogas in Europe, (iii) the collection and conversion of fallen stock and certain animal by-products pursuant to applicable EU regulations into low-grade energy sources to be used in industrial applications in Europe, and (iv) the processing of manure into natural bio-phosphate in Europe.

For financial information about our operating segments and geographic areas, refer to Note 21 and Note 22 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements for the period ended January 2, 2021 included herein.

Fiscal Year 2020 Net External Sales

Darling’s net external sales from fiscal year 2020 continuing operations by operating segment were as follows (in thousands):
 Fiscal Year
2020		Fiscal Year
2019		Fiscal Year
2018
Net sales:     
Feed Ingredients$2,072,104 58.0 %$1,970,561 58.6 %$1,952,555 57.7 %
Food Ingredients1,185,701 33.2 1,119,085 33.3 1,139,126 33.6 
Fuel Ingredients314,118 8.8 274,259 8.1 296,045 8.7 
Total$3,571,923 100.0 %$3,363,905 100.0 %$3,387,726 100.0 %
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OPERATIONS

Feed Ingredients Segment

Our Feed Ingredients segment consists principally of (i) our U.S. ingredients business, including our fats and proteins, used cooking oil, and trap grease collection business, the Rothsay ingredients business, and the ingredients and specialty products businesses conducted by Darling Ingredients International under the Sonac name (proteins, fats and plasma products) and (ii) our bakery residuals business.
Animal By-Products

North American Operations

Raw materials: The Company's North American animal by-products operations collect beef, poultry and pork by-products, which are collected primarily from slaughterhouses, grocery stores, butcher shops and food service establishments. These raw materials are collected in one of two manners.  Certain large suppliers, such as large slaughterhouses, are furnished with bulk containers in which the raw material is loaded.  We provide the remaining suppliers, primarily grocery stores and butcher shops, with containers in which to deposit the raw material.  The containers are picked up by, or emptied into, the Company’s trucks on a periodic basis.  The type and frequency of service is determined by individual supplier requirements, the volume of raw material generated by the supplier, supplier location and weather, among other factors. The raw materials we collect are transported either directly to a processing plant or to a transfer station where materials from several collection routes are loaded into trailers and transported to a processing plant.  These raw materials are delivered to plants for processing usually within 24 hours of collection to deter spoilage.

Processing operations: We produce finished products primarily through the grinding, cooking, separating, drying, and blending of various raw materials.  The process starts with the collection of animal by-products, including fat, bones, feathers, offal and other animal by-products.  The animal by-products are ground and heated to evaporate water and separate fats from animal tissue, as well as to sterilize and make the material suitable as an ingredient for animal feed.  The separated fats, tallows and greases are then centrifuged and/or refined for purity.  The remaining solid product is pressed to remove additional oils to create protein meals.  The protein meal is then sifted through screens and ground further if necessary to produce an appropriately sized protein meal. The primary finished products derived from the processing of animal by-products are MBM, PM (both feed grade and pet food), PG, tallow, feather meal and blood meal.  In addition, at certain of our facilities, we are able to operate multiple process lines simultaneously, which provides us with the flexibility and capacity to manufacture a line of premium and value-added products in addition to our principal finished products.  Because of these processing controls, we are able to produce premium products that typically have higher protein and energy content and lower moisture than standard finished products, and such products command premium prices.
International Operations

Darling Ingredients International’s ingredients and specialty products businesses are operated under the Sonac name by our Sonac C3 and Sonac Blood business activities. The Sonac ingredients and specialty products businesses of Darling Ingredients International operate similarly to our North American ingredients division. However, the Sonac businesses, with the exception of Sonac C3, further separate raw material streams to add additional value to each stream.

Sonac C3 processes animal by-products collected primarily from slaughterhouses, into proteins and fats for applications used in the pet food, feed, technical, biofuels and oleo-chemical markets. Oleo-chemical producers use fats to produce specialty ingredients used in paint, rubber, paper, concrete, plastics and a variety of other consumer and industrial products.

Sonac Blood processes bovine, porcine and ovine blood by separating blood into plasma and hemoglobin and produces specialized end products for application in the feed and pet food markets. Sonac Blood’s end products include plasma, fibrimex, globin and hemin.

Used Cooking Oil

The Company is a leading collector and processor of used cooking oil in North America for use as a valuable low carbon fuel and feed ingredient. The Company estimates it collects used cooking oil from approximately 120,000 locations. The Company’s primary customer for this product is the DGD Joint Venture.

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Raw materials: Used cooking oil is collected from restaurants, food service establishments and grocery stores. Many of our suppliers operate stores that are part of national chains. Used cooking oil is placed in various sizes and types of containers supplied to the Company under mutually agreeable contract terms. In some instances, these containers are unloaded directly onto our trucks, while in other instances used cooking oil is pumped through a vacuum hose into the truck.  We provide several types of containers for used cooking oil collection to food service establishments, which are proprietary self-contained collection systems that are housed either inside or outside the establishment, with the used cooking oil pumped directly into collection vehicles via an outside valve. The frequency of all forms of used cooking oil collection is determined by the volume of oil generated by the restaurant, food service establishment or grocery store.

Processing operations: The used cooking oil we collect is heated, settled, and purified for use as a feedstock for biofuels or as an ingredient for animal feed.

Bakery Residuals

The Company is a leading processor of bakery residuals in the United States.  The bakery residuals division, which operates solely in the United States, collects bakery residual materials and processes the raw materials into BBP, including Cookie Meal®, an animal feed ingredient primarily used in poultry and swine rations.

Raw materials: Bakery residuals are collected from large commercial bakeries that produce a variety of products, including cookies, crackers, cereal, bread, dough, potato chips, pretzels, sweet goods and biscuits.  The Company collects these materials by bulk loading onsite at the bakeries utilizing proprietary equipment, the majority of which is designed, engineered, manufactured and installed by us.  All of the bakery residuals that the Company collects is bulk loaded, which we believe represents a significant advantage over competitors that receive a large percentage of raw materials from less efficient, manual methods.  The receipt of bulk-loaded bakery residuals allows us to significantly streamline our bakery recycling process, reduce personnel costs, and maximize freight savings by hauling more tons per load.

Processing operations: The highly automated bakery residuals production process involves sorting and separating raw material, mixing it to produce the appropriate nutritional content, drying it to reduce excess moisture, and grinding it to the consistency of animal feed.  During the bakery residuals process, packaging materials are removed.  The packaging material is fed into a combustion chamber along with sawdust, and heat is produced.  This heat is used in the dryers to remove moisture from the raw materials that have been partially ground.  Finally, the dried meal is ground to the specified granularity.  The finished product, which is continually tested to ensure that the caloric and nutrient contents meet specifications, is a nutritious additive used in animal feed.
Other Products/Services

Our Feed Ingredients segment also includes the Company’s organic fertilizer business conducted under the Nature Safe® name, insect protein business conducted under the EnviroFlight® name, hides businesses and grease trap services business.

•Our fertilizer operations utilize finished products from our animal by-products division to manufacture organic fertilizers from ingredients approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) to be used in organic farming which contain no waste by-products (i.e., sludge or sewage waste). The Company's North American fertilizer products are predominantly sold to golf courses, sports facilities, organic farms and landscaping companies.

•Our EnviroFlight business utilizes technologies which enable the rearing of non-pathogenic black soldier fly larvae, which larvae are then processed to produce specialty protein for use as an ingredient in animal feed and pet food.

•Our hides operations process hides and skins from beef and hog processors, respectively, into outputs used in commercial applications, such as the leather industry. We sell treated hides and skins to external customers, the majority of which are tanneries. Fresh and salted hides and fresh skins are sold to tanneries, automotive companies, leather processors and to the shoe and furniture industries in Italy, Germany and China.

•Our grease trap services business provides our customers with a comprehensive set of solutions to their trap grease disposal needs, including manifests for regulatory compliance, computerized routing for consistent cleaning and comprehensive trap cleaning. The trap grease we collect is transported to waste treatment centers.
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Food Ingredients Segment

Our Food Ingredients segment consists principally of (i) the collagen business conducted by Darling Ingredients International under the Rousselot name, (ii) the natural casings and meat by-products business conducted by Darling Ingredients International under the CTH name and (iii) certain specialty products businesses conducted by Darling Ingredients International under the Sonac name.
Collagen
Rousselot is a global leading market provider of collagen for the food, nutritional pharmaceutical and technical (e.g., photographic) industries with operations in Europe, China, South America and the United States. Rousselot has a network of 11 production plants and 6 sales locations, covering sales into more than 75 countries. With the Rousselot collagen business, the Company is part of the growing global collagen market. Collagen is a functional ingredient, which means that it has a role in the end product by adding a critical property to it that is largely non-substitutable. Collagen is used in a large variety of end products, but only small amounts are used in most products. Currently, available substitutes are limited and do not have the broad functionality required for most usages. Rousselot collagen products have higher sales prices relative to the Company’s other end products, but comprise a minimal portion of the cost of final products in many segments, for example the pharmaceutical end markets. We believe many end customers focus on collagen quality and consistency, supply reliability, application know-how and regulatory support and are therefore relatively less price sensitive to collagen products. Rousselot’s profitability is mainly driven by its ability to timely transfer increases in net raw materials costs to its customers in order to realize a relatively stable added value per kilogram of collagen, in combination with a strong focus on operations excellence and product quality. Rousselot is involved in all four types of collagen (pigskin, hide, bone and fish). Raw material prices are mainly driven by the availability and quality of raw material, and sales prices are mainly driven by market demand and the expected availability of collagen supply. As such, securing sufficient raw material positions is key to the business. Rousselot enters into formal arrangements related to raw material purchases that differ by raw material type, by duration and by regional area. Rousselot markets its hydrolyzed collagen under the “Peptan” brand; this fast-growing specialty ingredient is positioned specifically towards nutritional supplement customers focusing on improved bone, joint and skin health.
Other Specialty Products

In addition, our Food Ingredients segment includes the Sonac bone, heparin and edible fat businesses currently operated by Darling Ingredients International under the Sonac name:

•Sonac Fat primarily melts, refines and packages animal fat into food grade fat for the food markets.

•Sonac Bone processes porcine bones into fat, bone protein, glue, bone ash and bone chips for the feed, pet food, food and collagen industries.

•Sonac Heparin extracts crude heparin from hydrolyzed mucosa for application in the pharmaceutical industry.
Natural Casings and Meat By-Products
The CTH business of Darling Ingredients International is a leading natural casings company for the sausage business with operations in Europe, China and the United States. The activities of this business are divided into two categories:

•CTH Casings harvests, sorts and sells hog and sheep casings for worldwide food markets, particularly sausage manufacturers, and harvests, processes and sells hog and beef bowel package items for global pharmaceutical, food and feed market segments. CTH holds a leading position in the highly fragmented global casings market.

•CTH Meat By-Products harvests, purchases and processes hog, sheep and beef meat for customers in the global food and European pet food industries. In the meat by-products market, CTH is a major player with established sales networks in Europe and Asia.


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Fuel Ingredients Segment

Our Fuel Ingredients segment consists of (i) our investment in the DGD Joint Venture and (ii) the bioenergy business conducted by Darling Ingredients International under the Ecoson and Rendac names.

Diamond Green Diesel

The DGD Joint Venture commenced operations in June 2013 and operates a renewable diesel plant located next to Valero’s St. Charles Refinery in Norco, Louisiana (the “DGD Norco Facility”), with a current production capacity of 290 million gallons of renewable diesel per year. Renewable diesel is a low-carbon transportation fuel that is interchangeable with diesel produced from petroleum and is produced at the DGD Norco Facility using an advanced hydroprocessing-isomerization process licensed from UOP LLC, known as the Ecofining™ Process, and a pretreatment process developed by the Desmet Ballestra Group to convert fats (animal fats, used cooking oils, distillers corn oil and vegetable oils) into renewable diesel, renewable naphtha and other light end renewable hydrocarbons. The DGD Joint Venture began an expansion of the DGD Norco Facility in 2019, which is expected to increase its renewable diesel production by 400 million gallons per year and provide the capability to separate renewable naphtha (approximately 30 million gallons) and other light end renewable hydrocarbons for sale into low carbon fuel markets. In addition, the expansion project includes expanded inbound and outbound logistics, thereby improving feedstock sourcing flexibility as well as finished product marketing flexibility. The DGD Joint Venture estimates completion and startup of the expanded portion of the facility in the fourth quarter of 2021, and the total cost of the expansion project, including the naphtha production and improved logistics capability, is estimated to be approximately $1.1 billion. Additionally, in January 2021, we and our DGD Joint Venture partner approved the construction of a new facility to be located next to Valero’s Port Arthur Refinery in Port Arthur, Texas, capable of producing 470 million gallons per year of renewable diesel and 20 million gallons per year of renewable naphtha and having similar logistics flexibilities as those of the DGD Norco Facility. The new plant is anticipated to commence operations in the second half of 2023 and is estimated to cost approximately $1.45 billion to construct. Once operational, the new plant is expected to increase the DGD Joint Venture’s total renewable diesel production capacity to almost 1.2 billion gallons per year.

The DGD Norco Facility receives feedstocks primarily by rail and trucks owned by third-parties. We are a party to a raw material supply agreement with the DGD Joint Venture pursuant to which we are obligated to offer to supply the DGD Joint Venture a portion of the feedstock requirements at the DGD Norco Facility at market rates; however, the DGD Joint Venture is not obligated to purchase all or any part of its feedstock requirements from us. The DGD Joint Venture’s renewable diesel is sold under the Diamond Green Diesel® brand primarily to obligated parties who produce or import petroleum-based fuels into areas subject to renewable fuels obligations. The DGD Joint Venture sells renewable diesel domestically and exports renewable diesel into global markets, primarily Canada and Europe. Renewable diesel is distributed primarily by rail and ships owned by third-parties.

We account for the DGD Joint Venture as an “investment in an unconsolidated subsidiary.”

Bioenergy

In Europe, Ecoson produces green power from biogas production out of organic sludge and food waste for combined heat plant installations.  Ecoson is the largest industrial digestion operation in the Netherlands, with an output matching the annual use of energy needs of approximately 14,000 households. In addition, Ecoson's fat refinery produces refined fats and fatty acids. Ecoson also processes manure into natural biophosphate for use as fertilizer and green gas.

Rendac collects fallen stock and animal waste, also referred to as Category 1 and Category 2 material under applicable EU regulations, from farmers and slaughterhouses, and processes these materials into fats and meals, which can only be used as a low grade source of energy or fuel for boilers and cement kilns. With a specialized collection fleet of approximately 250 trucks, Rendac collects raw materials in the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium. This business is a market leader in the countries of Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg (the "Benelux region") and certain parts of Germany, a predominantly regulated market with spare capacity requirements and long-term contracts with local governments. The market for the collection and processing of fallen stock in these regions is regulated, and government contracts provide for exclusivity of the service to the contracted partner.

Biodiesel

In December 2020, due to unfavorable economics in the biodiesel industry, the Company made the decision to shut down processing operations at its biodiesel facilities located in the United States and Canada, and there are no current plans to resume biodiesel production at these facilities in the future. The closure of the facilities will create additional feedstock for
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growth of renewable diesel in DGD Joint Venture. As a result, the Company has recorded restructuring and asset impairment charges related to these plants as described in Note 18 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements for the period ended January 2, 2021 included herein.
Raw materials pricing and supply contracts

We have two primary pricing arrangements-formula and non-formula arrangements with our suppliers of poultry, beef, pork, bakery residuals and used cooking oil.  Under a “formula” arrangement, the charge or credit for raw materials is tied to published finished product prices for a competing ingredient after deducting a fixed processing fee.  We also acquire raw material under “non-formula” arrangements whereby suppliers are either paid a fixed price, are not paid, or are charged a collection fee, depending on various economic and competitive factors.  The credit received or amount charged for raw materials under both formula and non-formula arrangements is based on various factors, including the type of raw materials, demand for the raw materials, the expected value of the finished product to be produced, the anticipated yields, the volume of material generated by the supplier and processing and transportation costs. Formula prices are generally adjusted on a weekly, monthly or quarterly basis, while non-formula prices or charges are adjusted as needed to respond to changes in finished product prices or related operating costs. Since most of our raw materials are residual by-products of meat processing and other food production, we are not able to contract with our suppliers to increase supply if demand for our products increases.

A majority of our U.S. volume of rendering raw materials, including all of our significant poultry accounts, and substantially all of our bakery feed raw materials are acquired on a “formula basis,” which in most cases is set forth in contracts with our suppliers, generally with multi-year terms. These “formulas” allow us to manage the risk associated with decreases in commodity prices by adjusting our costs of materials based on changes in the price of our finished products, while also permitting us, in certain cases, to benefit from increases in commodity prices. The formulas provided in these contracts are reviewed and modified both during the term of, and in connection with the renewal of, the contracts to maintain an acceptable level of sharing between us and our suppliers of the costs and benefits from movements in commodity prices. Approximately 88% of Darling's U.S. volume of raw materials in fiscal year 2020 was acquired on a "formula" basis. A majority of Rothsay’s North American volume of rendering raw materials are acquired based on prices fixed on a quarterly basis with suppliers, with the remaining portion acquired on a “formula basis.” Darling Ingredients International (including North American operations) acquires a majority of its volume of rendering raw materials at spot or quarterly fixed prices and, in general, has no long term contracts with its key suppliers.

Certain of the Company's geographic regions facilities are highly dependent on one or a few suppliers.  During the 2020 fiscal year, the Company's 10 largest raw materials suppliers in North America accounted for approximately 31% of the total raw material processed by the Company in North America, with one single supplier accounting for approximately 7% of the total raw material processed in North America. In Europe, the Company's 10 largest raw material suppliers accounted for approximately 31% of the total raw material processed by the Company in Europe, with one single supplier accounting for approximately 11% of the total raw material processed in Europe. In China, the Company's 10 largest raw material suppliers accounted for approximately 32% of the total raw material processed by the Company in China, with one single supplier accounting for approximately 8% of the total raw material processed in China. In South America, the Company's 10 largest raw material suppliers accounted for approximately 64% of the total raw material processed by the Company in South America, with one single supplier accounting for approximately 18% of the total raw material processed in South America. See “Risk Factors - A significant percentage of our revenue is attributable to a limited number of suppliers and customers.”  Should any of these suppliers choose alternate methods of disposal, cease or materially decrease their operations, have their operations interrupted by casualty, or otherwise cease using, or reduce the use of, the Company’s collection services, any operating facilities dependent on such suppliers could be materially and adversely affected.  (See “Risk Factors-Certain of our operating facilities are highly dependent upon a single or a few suppliers.”) For a discussion of the Company’s competition for raw materials, see “Competition.”

MARKETING, SALES AND DISTRIBUTION OF FINISHED PRODUCTS

The Company sells its finished products worldwide.  Finished product sales are primarily managed through our commodity trading departments. With respect to our North American operations, we have trading departments located at our corporate headquarters in Irving, Texas and at our regional office in Cold Spring, Kentucky.  Darling Ingredients International’s finished product sales are managed primarily through trading departments that are located in Son en Breugel, the Netherlands, and through various offices located in Europe, Asia, South America and North America. Where appropriate, we coordinate international sales of common products in order to market them more efficiently. Our sales force is in contact with customers daily and coordinates the sale, and assists in the distribution of, most finished products produced at our processing plants.  The Company also sells its finished products internationally directly to customers or, in some cases, through commodities brokers and agents. We market certain of our finished products under our Dar Pro Ingredients brand, certain specialty products under
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the Sonac name, collagen products under the Rousselot name and natural casings and meat by-products under the CTH name. See Note 22 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for a breakdown of the Company’s sales by geographic regions.

The Company sells finished products in North America and throughout the world, primarily to producers of animal feed, pet food, biofuel, fertilizer and other consumer and industrial products, including oleo-chemicals, soaps and leather goods, for use as ingredients in their products or for further processing.  Certain of our finished products are ingredients that compete with alternatives, such as corn, soybean oil, inedible corn oil, palm oils, soybean meal and heating oil, based on nutritional and functional values; therefore, the actual pricing for those finished products, as well as competing products, can be quite volatile. While the Company's principal finished products are generally sold at prices prevailing at the time of sale, the Company's ability to deliver large quantities of finished products from multiple locations and to coordinate sales from a central location enables us to sell into the market with the highest return. The Company's premium, value-added and branded products command significantly higher pricing relative to the Company's principal finished product lines due to their enhanced nutritional content, which is a function of the Company's specialized processing techniques. Customers for our premium, value-added and branded products include feed mills, pet food manufacturers, integrated poultry producers, the dairy industry and golf courses. Feed mills purchase meals, fats, blood products, and Cookie Meal® for use as feed ingredients. Pet food manufacturers require stringent feed safety certifications and consistently demand premium additives that are high in protein and nutritional content. As a result, pet food manufacturers typically purchase only premium or value-added products under supply contracts with us. Oleo-chemical producers use fats as feedstocks to produce specialty ingredients used in paint, rubber, paper, concrete, plastics and a variety of other consumer and industrial products. Darling Ingredients International’s premium, value-added and branded products also command higher pricing, including with respect to collagen, natural casings, meat by-products, edible fat, heparin and specialty plasma products.

We obtain payment protection for most of our global export sales by requiring payment before shipment, either through bank letters of credit or cash against documents at the origin of the sale or guarantees of payment from government agencies. For U.S. sales, we are ordinarily paid for products in U.S. dollars and have not experienced any material currency translation losses or any material foreign exchange control difficulties. Darling Ingredients International’s product sales are generally denominated in the local currency. However, in certain markets (such as South America), some product sales are denominated in non-functional currencies, such as U.S. dollars and euros. Darling Ingredients International hedges a portion of its non-functional currency product sales.
Our management monitors market conditions and prices for our finished products on a daily basis.  If market conditions or prices were to significantly change, our management would evaluate and implement any measures that it may deem necessary to respond to the change in market conditions.  For larger formula-based pricing suppliers, the indexing of raw material cost to finished product prices effectively establishes the gross margin on finished product sales at a stable level, providing us some protection from finished product price declines.

Finished products produced by the Company are shipped primarily by truck or rail from our plants shortly following production. While there can be some temporary inventory accumulations at various North American and international locations, particularly port locations for export shipments, with the exception of collagen and natural casings, inventories rarely exceed three weeks’ production and, therefore, we use limited working capital to carry those inventories. Our limited inventories also reduce our exposure to fluctuations in finished-product prices. With respect to collagen and natural casings, Darling Ingredients International, in contrast, has historically carried much larger inventories due to the manufacturing process and market dynamics related to those products, which requires a greater amount of working capital to carry these investments. Other factors that influence competition, markets and the prices that we receive for our finished products include the quality of our finished products, consumer health consciousness, worldwide credit conditions, currency fluctuations, tariffs, and government aid and regulations.  From time to time, we enter into arrangements with our suppliers of raw materials pursuant to which these suppliers have the option to buy back our finished products at market prices.

The Company operates a fleet of trucks, trailers and railcars to transport raw materials from suppliers and finished products to customers or ports for transportation by ship.  It also utilizes third party freight companies to cost-effectively transfer materials and augment our in-house logistics fleet.  Within our bakery and international by-products divisions, except for Rendac, substantially all inbound and outbound freight is handled by third party logistics companies.

COMPETITION

We believe we are the only global ingredients company with products generated principally from animal-origin raw material types; however, we compete with a number of regional and local players in our various sub-segments and end markets.

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The procurement of raw materials currently presents greater challenges to our business than the sale of finished products. In North America, consolidation within the meat processing industry has resulted in bigger and more efficient slaughtering operations, the majority of which utilize “captive” renderers (rendering operations integrated with the meat or poultry packing operation).  At the same time, there has been limited to no growth in the number of small meat processors, which have historically been a dependable source of supply for non-captive renderers, such as us.  In addition, the slaughter rates in the meat processing industry are subject to economic conditions and, as a result, during periods of economic decline, the availability, quantity and quality of raw materials available to the independent renderers decreases.  These factors have been offset, in part, however, by increasing environmental consciousness.  The need for food service establishments in the United States to comply with environmental regulations concerning the proper disposal of used restaurant cooking oil should continue to provide a growth area for this raw material source.  The rendering industry is highly fragmented with a number of local slaughtering operations that provide us with raw materials. In North America, we compete with other rendering, restaurant services and bakery residual businesses, and alternative methods of disposal of animal processing by-products and used restaurant cooking oil provided by trash haulers, waste management companies, biodiesel companies, anaerobic digestion companies and others. In addition, U.S. food service establishments have increasingly experienced theft of used cooking oil.  A number of our competitors for the procurement of raw material are experienced, well-capitalized companies that have significant operating experience and historic supplier relationships.  Competition for available raw materials is based primarily on price and proximity to the supplier.

In marketing our finished products domestically and internationally, we face competition from other processors and from producers of other suitable ingredient alternatives.  However, we differentiate ourselves through the scope and depth of our product portfolio and geographic footprint. While we compete with a number of well capitalized companies across our business, such as Cargill, Inc., Tyson Foods, Inc. and JBS & Company in the U.S. products business, and others in the global collagen, bone products, and blood products business, we do not have a single competitor that we compete with across all of our products or geographies.

SEASONALITY

Although the amount of raw materials made available to us in each of our segments by our suppliers is relatively stable on a weekly basis, it is impacted by seasonal factors, including holidays, during which the availability of raw materials declines because major meat and poultry processors are not operating, and cold and other severe weather, which can hinder the collection of raw materials.  Warm weather can also adversely affect the quality of raw materials processed and our yields on production because raw material deteriorates more rapidly in warm weather than in cooler weather.  Weather can vary significantly from one year to the next and may impact the comparability of our operating results between periods. The amount of bakery residuals we process generally increases during the summer from June to September.  Collagen sales generally decline in the summer.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

The Company maintains valuable trademarks, service marks, copyrights, trade names, trade secrets, proprietary technologies and similar intellectual property, and considers our intellectual property to be of material value.  We have registered or applied for registration of certain of our intellectual property, including the tricolor triangle used in our signage and logos and the names “Darling,” “Darling Ingredients”, “Griffin Industries,” “Dar Pro Solutions,” “Dar Pro,” “Rousselot,” “Sonac,” “Ecoson,” “Rendac,” “Rothsay,” “Nature Safe,” “CleanStar,” “Peptan,” “Cookie Meal,” and “Bakery Feeds,” and certain patents, both domestically and internationally, relating to the process for preparing nutritional supplements and the drying and processing of raw materials.

HUMAN CAPITAL

We are committed to having an engaged, diverse and inclusive workplace that fosters learning, development and innovation, and we are committed to building a culture and working environment that is inclusive and respectful for all, and where our employees can do their best work and feel valued for their contributions. We are keenly aware that our people are fundamental to the ongoing success of our business. Accordingly, we are committed to the health, safety and wellness of our employees. In this regard, we have a strong health and safety program that focuses on implementing policies and training programs, as well as performing self-audits, to ensure that our employees remain injury free. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we implemented significant changes that we determined were in the best interests of our employees, as well as the communities in which we operate. These included comprehensive cleaning of work areas, temperature scans, additional hygiene measures, face coverings and social distancing protocols, travel restrictions, limitation of access to our facilities, a work from home strategy and the use of collaboration tools to stay connected.

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We retain talent by providing employees with training, mentoring and career development. To facilitate growth and development, we’ve put several initiatives in place, including leadership training programs such as Darling Leadership Academy, Darling University and Darling Involve International Leadership Training.

As of January 2, 2021, the Company employed globally approximately 10,000 persons full-time. While we have no national or multi-plant union contracts, at January 2, 2021, approximately 19% of the Company's North American employees were covered by multiple collective bargaining agreements. In addition, approximately 44% of Darling Ingredients International's employees are covered by various collective bargaining agreements.  Management believes that our relations with our employees and their representatives are satisfactory.  There can be no assurance, however, that these satisfactory arrangements will continue, or that new agreements will be reached without union action or on terms satisfactory to us.

REGULATIONS

We are subject to the rules and regulations of various federal, state, local and foreign governmental agencies including, but not limited to, the following principal governmental agencies in the following countries:

United States

•The Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”), which regulates pharmaceutical products and food and feed safety. The FDA is responsible for enforcement of rules (21 C.F.R. 589.2000 and 589.2001, referred to herein as the “BSE Feed Rule”) to prevent the spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (“BSE”), which is commonly referred to as “mad cow” disease. These regulations prohibit the use of mammalian proteins, with some exceptions, and tallow having more than 0.15% impurities in feeds for cattle, sheep and other ruminant animals. In addition, the BSE Feed Rule prohibits the use of brain and spinal cord material from cattle aged 30 months and older or the carcasses of such cattle, if the carcasses are not inspected and passed for human consumption and the brain and spinal cord are not removed, in the feed or food for all animals.  The FDA has also implemented restrictions on the use of specified risk materials (“SRM”), material from nonambulatory disabled cattle, and other specified cattle materials in human food (21 C.F.R. 189.5) and in cosmetics (21 C.F.R. 700.27). In addition, the FDA is responsible for implementing and enforcing the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (“FSMA”), which gives FDA a series of powers intended to better protect human and animal health by adopting a modern, preventive and risk-based approach to food safety regulation. In addition, to various authorities granted to the FDA by FSMA, the FDA has also finalized major rules under FSMA affecting the production, importation and transport of human and animal food. These authorities and regulations include:

▪Mandatory recall authority for adulterated or misbranded foods where the use of or exposure to such foods is likely to cause serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals, if the responsible party fails to cease distribution and recall such adulterated or misbranded foods voluntarily.
▪Regulations that define the FDA’s administrative detention authority to include the authority to detain an article of food if there is reason to believe the food is adulterated or misbranded.
▪Section 306 of the FSMA provides that the FDA must refuse admission of food into the United States if a foreign food establishment or foreign government refuses to permit entry for an inspection.
▪Section 102 of the FSMA amended facility registration requirements in the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic (“FD&C”) Act for domestic and foreign manufacturers, processors, packers or holders of food for human or animal consumption, to require that facility registrations be renewed during the fourth quarter of each even-numbered year, beginning October 1, 2012, and that additional information be included in such registrations. FSMA also provides that, if the FDA determines that food manufactured, processed, packed, received, or held by a registered facility has a reasonable probability of causing serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals, the FDA may suspend the registration of a facility that created, caused, or was otherwise responsible for such reasonable probability, or knew or had reason to know of such probability and packed, received, or held the food.
▪The FDA has issued final rules for preventive controls (“PCs”) for human food and animal feed (“Human Food PC Rule” and “Animal Food PC Rule,” respectively), which apply to registered FDA facilities that manufacture, process, pack and hold human or animal food and require these facilities to establish and implement written food safety plans, which include hazard analyses, PCs to ensure that significant hazards that are identified as needing to be controlled will be significantly reduced or prevented, monitoring of PCs,
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supply-chain controls if appropriate to control a significant hazard, recall plans, corrective action procedures, verification activities and record keeping standards. The Human Food PC Rule also updates existing Current Good Manufacturing Practices (“CGMPs”), and the Animal Food PC Rule establishes minimum CGMPs for the production, holding and distribution of the human or animal food.
▪The FDA has issued a regulation relating to Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (“FSVP Rule”) requiring that importers of both human and animal food must develop, follow and maintain written procedures verifying that their foreign suppliers produce food in a manner that provides the same level of public health protection as the Human Food PC Rule, Animal Food PC Rule, or FDA’s regulations established under FSMA regarding produce safety, as appropriate, and must ensure that the suppliers’ food is not adulterated and is not misbranded with respect to allergen labeling of human food.
▪Under FSMA, the Sanitary Transportation Food Act of 2005, and FDA’s regulation, sanitary transportation practices must be used to transport human and animal foods to prevent such food from being adulterated during transport and applies to shippers, loaders, carriers by motor vehicle or rail vehicle, and receivers engaged in the transportation of food.
▪The FDA has finalized a rule that requires registered human food facilities to conduct a vulnerability assessment and implement mitigation strategies, including a written food defense plan, to prevent or mitigate potential acts of intentional adulteration of food that could harm the public health.
▪The FDA has proposed to establish additional traceability recordkeeping requirements for persons that manufacture, process, pack, or hold foods that appear on a list of “high risk” foods. The tentative list of high risk foods includes certain fruits and vegetables, shell eggs, and certain types of seafood, among other products. Entities that are subject to the rule would be required to establish and maintain traceability program records containing required information. The deadline for comments to the proposed rule was November 23, 2020 and the final rule is pending.

Management believes we are in compliance with these provisions of FSMA and the finalized rules.

The FDA also has regulations governing food additives in animal feed and pet food, which could apply to the use of protein from black soldier fly larvae in such products. The FDA acknowledges that it considers the listing of animal feed and pet food ingredients in the Association of American Feed Control Officials (“AAFCO”) Official Publication to permit marketing of such ingredients in interstate commerce, provided there are no safety concerns regarding the use or composition of the ingredients. See Item 1A “Risk Factors - Our business may be affected by the impact of animal related disease, such as BSE and other food safety issues,” for more information regarding the BSE Feed Rule.
 
•The United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”), which has authority over meat, poultry, and egg products and inspects producers to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations. Within the USDA, two agencies exercise direct regulatory oversight of our activities:

- Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (“APHIS”) certifies facilities and claims made for exported materials to meet importing country requirements and establishes and enforces import requirements for live animals and animal by-products as well as plant products, and
 
- Food Safety and Inspection Service (“FSIS”) regulates sanitation and biosecurity of our facilities and our food safety programs at plants producing edible fats and meats, among other things.

In 2004, FSIS issued three interim final rules designed to enhance its BSE safeguards in order to minimize human exposure to BSE infective tissues and assure consumers of the safety of the meat supply.  These regulations prohibited non-ambulatory animals from entering the food chain, required removal of SRMs at slaughter and prohibited carcasses from cattle tested for BSE from entering the food chain until the animals tested negative for BSE, among other provisions. In 2007, FSIS published an affirmation of the interim final rules concerning prohibition of SRMs and non-ambulatory animals and the use of stunning devices, with several amendments.

In 2007, APHIS implemented revised import regulations to allow Canadian cattle 30 months of age and older and born on or after March 1, 1999, and bovine products derived from such cattle to be imported into the United States for any use, if such cattle and products complied with specific FDA and FSIS regulations. Imports of Canadian cattle
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younger than 30 months of age have been allowed since March 2005. Imports of SRMs from Canadian-born cattle slaughtered in Canada are not permitted. In 2014, APHIS implemented amended import regulations concerning cattle and bovine products. The final rule established a system for classifying regions as to BSE risk that is consistent with international standards set by the World Organization for Animal Health (“OIE”), and based importation requirements for cattle and beef products on: (i) the inherent risk of BSE infectivity in the commodity to be imported and (ii) the BSE risk status of the region from which the commodity originates.

•The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), which regulates air and water discharges and hazardous and solid waste requirements among other environmental requirements, as well as local and state environmental agencies with jurisdiction over environmental matters affecting the Company's operations. The EPA also administers the National Renewable Fuel Standard Program (“RFS2”).

•The Association of American Feed Control Officials (“AAFCO”), which is a voluntary membership association of state, and federal agencies that regulate the sale and distribution of animal feeds and animal drug remedies. Although, AAFCO has no regulatory authority, it brings together stakeholders and works to develop and implement uniform and equitable laws, regulations, standards, definitions, and enforcement polices for regulating the manufacture, labeling, distribution and sale of animal feeds.

•State Departments of Agriculture, which regulate animal by-product collection and transportation procedures and animal feed quality.

•The United States Department of Transportation (“USDOT”), as well as local and state transportation agencies, which regulate the operation of our commercial vehicles.

•The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”), which is the main federal agency charged with the enforcement of worker safety and health legislation.

•The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), which regulates securities and information required in annual, quarterly and other reports filed by publicly traded companies.

European Union and EU Member States

•The European Union, which has competence to adopt legislation which is binding on the EU Member States related to inter alia, employment and social affairs, agriculture, environment, consumer protection and public health.

•The European Commission, Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, which is responsible for EU policy on food safety and health and for monitoring the implementation of related laws, including but not limited to food, feed, human and animal health, technical uses of animal by-products and packaging.

•The European Medicines Agency, which is responsible for the scientific evaluation, supervision and safety monitoring of human and veterinary medicinal products in the EU and establishes guidance amongst others for bovine-containing human and veterinary medicinal products, and maximum residue limits.

•The European Food Safety Authority, which advises the European Commission, the European Parliament and the EU Member States on food safety matters, including on animal feed, animal health and welfare, biological hazards and contaminants.

•The Council of Europe's, European Directorate for the Quality of Medicine and Healthcare, which establishes quality standards for safe human and veterinary medicinal products in Europe by developing guidance and standards in the areas of blood transfusion, organ, cell and tissue transportation and consumer health issues.

•The European Commission, Directorate-General for the Environment, which is responsible for EU policy on the environment and for monitoring the implementation of related laws, including but not limited to Directive 2010/75/EU on Industrial Emissions (Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control) and, together with other Directorate-Generals of the European Commission, the Best Available Techniques Reference Document on the Slaughterhouses and Animal By-products Industries.

•The European Chemicals Agency, which is responsible for the implementation of the Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals.

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•EU Member States must correctly transpose, implemented and apply EU Directive and EU Regulations, including ensure adequate and effective enforcement, control and supervision of the relevant principles such as minimum safety and health requirements for the workplace and use of work equipment by workers. EU Member States may be allowed to maintain or establish more stringent measures in their own legislation. In general, each EU Member State is responsible for regulating health and safety at work and labor inspection services and is in charge of controlling compliance with applicable legislation and regulations.

•The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (Nederlandse Voedsel- en Warenautoriteit), which issues permits, approvals and registrations to establishments or plants engaged in certain activities related to the handling of animal by-products and food and feed production.

•The Belgian Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC) (Federal Agentschap voor de veiligheid van de voedselketen (FAVV) or Agence fédérale pour la sécurité de la chaîne alimentaire (AFSCA)), which issues federal permits, authorizations, approvals and registrations to establishments or plants engaged in certain activities related to the handling of animal by-products and food and feed production.

•At a regional level in Belgium, the Public Waste Agency of Flanders (Openbare Vlaamse Afvalstoffenmaatschappij), the Soil and Waste Department of the Public Service of Wallonia (Département du Sol et des Déchets du Service Public de Wallonie) and Brussels Environment (Leefmilieu Brussel or Bruxelles Environnement), which issues regional/local permits, approvals and registrations to establishments or plants carrying out certain activities related to the handling of animal by-products and food and feed production.

•The German Competent Authorities at state (Länder) level, which issue permits, approvals and registrations to establishments or plants carrying out certain activities related to the handling of animal by-products and food and feed production.

•The Polish, the General Veterinary Inspectorate (G³ówny Inspektorat Weterynarii), which issues permits, approvals and registrations to establishments or plants engaged in certain activities related to the handling of animal by-products and food and feed production.

United Kingdom

•The United Kingdom’s Health and Safety Executive is the government body responsible for enforcing health and safety at work legislation, such as the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and enforcing health and safety law in industrial workplaces, together with local authorities.

•The United Kingdom’s Animal and Plant Health Agency issues permits, approvals and registrations to plants carrying out certain activities related to the handling of animal by-products. Feed businesses need to be approved or registered with their local authority trading standards office.

Canada

•The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (“CFIA”), which regulates animal health and the disposal of animals and their products or by-products.

•Canadian provincial ministries of agriculture and the environment, which regulate food safety and quality, air and water discharge requirements and the disposal of deadstock.

•The Canadian Department of the Environment (“Environment Canada”), which ensures compliance with Canadian federal air and water discharge and wildlife management requirements and the various provincial and local environmental ministries and agencies.

•The Canadian Technical Standards and Safety Authority (“TSSA”), a non-profit organization that regulates the safety of fuels and pressure vessels and boilers.

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China

•The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, which supervises the import and export of food and feed.

•The Ministry of Health of the People’s Republic of China, which establishes standards for food and pharmaceutical products.

•The Chinese Pharmacopeia, which establishes standards for pharmaceutical products.

•Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People's Republic of China, which regulates the environmental protection standards.

•Ministry of Labor and Social Security of the People's Republic of China, which establishes the regulations of labor, welfare and health insurance.

•State Administration of Work Safety, which establishes the work safety standards and regulations.

Brazil

•The Ministry of Agriculture, Cattle and Supply (Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento), which regulates the production of collagen.

•Ministry of Labor (Ministério do Trabalho), which regulates labor health and safety.

•National Water Agency (ANA), which regulates waste water discharge permits.

•State Government Agency CETESB, responsible for the control, supervision, monitoring and licensing process for pollution generating activities.

Australia

•The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service, which regulates the import and export of agricultural products, including animal by-products.

•The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, which administers meat and animal by-product legislation.

•PrimeSafe, which is the principal regulator of meat and animal by-product businesses in the State of Victoria.

•The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, which regulates Australia’s competition and consumer protection law.

•The Australian Securities and Investments Commission, which regulates Australia’s company and financial services laws.

•Worksafe Victoria, which is the regulator responsible for administering and enforcing occupational health and safety laws and regulations in the State of Victoria.

•Environment Protection Authority Victoria, which administers environmental protection laws in Victoria.

•Goulburn-Murray Rural Water Corporation, which manages allocation and use of water under local water laws in Victoria.

Rules and regulations promulgated by these and other agencies may influence our operating results at one or more facilities.

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

We make available, free of charge, through our investor relations web site, our reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, and amendments to those reports, as well as all other filings with the SEC, as soon as reasonably practicable after such materials are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

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The Company's website is http://www.darlingii.com and the address for the Company's investor relations web site is http://ir.darlingii.com. Information contained on these websites is not and should not be deemed to be a part of this report or any filing filed with, or furnished to, the SEC by us.

ITEM 1A.   RISK FACTORS

An investment in Darling involves substantial risks. In consultation with your financial, tax and legal advisors, you should carefully consider, among other matters, the following risks described in, as well as the other information contained in or incorporated by reference into, this report. If any of the events described in the following risk factors actually occur, our business, financial condition, prospects or results of operations could be materially adversely affected, the market price of our common stock could decline and you may lose all or part of your investment in the common stock. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only risks we face. Additional risks and uncertainties that are not currently known or that are currently deemed to be immaterial may also materially and adversely affect our business operations and financial condition or the market price of our common stock. The risks described below also include forward-looking statements and our actual results may differ substantially from those discussed in these forward-looking statements. See the section entitled “Forward-Looking Statements” in this report.

Summary of Risk Factors

The following is a summary of some of the risks and uncertainties that could materially and adversely affect our business, operating results, financial condition and the actual outcome of matters as to which forward-looking statements are made in this report. In addition to the summary below, you should carefully review the detailed risk factors discussed later in this section.

Risks and uncertainties that may affect, or have affected, our business, operating results and financial condition include, but are not limited to, the following:

•The prices of many of our products are subject to significant volatility associated with commodities markets;
•Our business is dependent on the procurement of raw materials, which is the most competitive aspect of our business;
•The DGD Joint Venture subjects us to a number of risks;
•Our biofuels business may be affected by energy policies of U.S. and foreign governments;
•We are highly dependent on natural gas, diesel fuel and electricity, the price of which can be volatile, and such dependency could materially adversely affect our business;
•A significant percentage of our revenue is attributable to a limited number of suppliers and customers;
•Certain of our operating facilities are highly dependent upon a single or a few suppliers;
•We face risks associated with our international activities, which could negatively affect our sales to customers in foreign countries and our operations and assets in such countries;
•Seasonal factors and weather, including the physical impacts of climate changes, can impact the availability, quality and volume of raw materials that we process and negatively affect our operations;
•If we or our customers are the subject of product liability or other claims or product recalls, we may incur significant and unexpected costs and our business reputation could be adversely affected;
•In certain markets we are highly dependent upon a single operating facility and various events beyond our control could cause an interruption in the operation of our facilities, which could adversely affect our business in those markets;
•Media campaigns related to feed and food ingredient production present reputational and other risks;
•An impairment in the carrying value of our goodwill or other intangible assets may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations;
•Our operations are subject to various laws, rules and regulations relating to the protection of the environment and to health and safety, and we could incur significant costs to comply with these requirements or be subject to sanctions or held liable for environmental damages;
•Our business may be negatively impacted by the occurrence of any disease correctly or incorrectly linked to animals;
•Our business may be affected by the impact of animal related disease, such as BSE and other food safety issues;
•Pandemics, epidemics or disease outbreaks, such as the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”), may disrupt our business, including, among other things, our supply chain and production processes, each of which could materially affect our operations, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations;
•We may be subject to work stoppages at our operating facilities, which could cause interruptions in the manufacturing or distribution of our products;
•Certain U.S. multiemployer defined benefit pension plans to which we contribute are underfunded and these plans may require minimum funding contributions;
•Our substantial level of indebtedness could adversely affect our financial condition;
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•Despite our existing level of indebtedness, we and our subsidiaries may still be able to incur substantially more indebtedness, which could further exacerbate the risks to our financial condition described above;
•We may not be able to generate sufficient cash to service all of our indebtedness and may be forced to take other actions to satisfy our obligations under our indebtedness, which may not be successful;
•Our ability to repay our indebtedness depends in part on the performance of our subsidiaries, including our non-guarantor subsidiaries, and their ability to make payments;
•The market price of our common stock has been and may continue to be volatile, which could cause the value of your investment to decline;
•Our ability to pay any dividends on our common stock may be limited and, consequently, your ability to achieve a return on your investment will depend on appreciation in the price of our common stock;
•Future sales of our common stock or the issuance of other equity may adversely affect the market price of our common stock;
•Our common stock is an equity security and is subordinate to our existing and future indebtedness;
•The issuance of shares of preferred stock could adversely affect holders of common stock, which may negatively impact your investment;
•We may incur material costs and liabilities in complying with government regulations;
•Downturns and volatility in global economies and commodity and credit markets could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition;
•Our business may be adversely impacted by fluctuations in exchange rates, which could affect our ability to comply with our financial covenants;
•Large capital projects can take many years to complete, and market conditions could deteriorate over time, negatively impacting project returns;
•Changes in consumer preference could negatively impact our business;
•If we experience difficulties or a significant disruption in our information systems or if we fail to implement new systems and software successfully, our business could be materially adversely affected;
•Increased information technology security threats and more sophisticated computer crime pose a risk to our systems, networks, products and services;
•Our success is dependent on our key personnel;
•We could incur a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting that would require remediation;
•Changes in our tax rates or exposure to additional income tax liabilities could impact our profitability;
•Litigation or regulatory proceedings may materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition;
•Our European pension funds may require minimum funding contributions;
•The insurance coverage that we maintain may not fully cover all operational risks, and if the number or severity of claims for which we are self-insured increases, if we are required to accrue or pay additional amounts because the claims prove to be more severe than our recorded liabilities, if our insurance premiums increase or if we are unable to obtain insurance at acceptable rates or at all, our financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected;
•We may not successfully identify and complete acquisitions on favorable terms or achieve anticipated synergies relating to any acquisitions, and such acquisitions could result in unknown liabilities, unforeseen operating difficulties and expenditures and require significant management resources;
•We may divest of certain of our brands or businesses from time to time, which could adversely affect us;
•Terrorist attacks or acts of war may cause damage or disruption to us and our employees, facilities, information systems, security systems, suppliers and customers, which could materially and adversely affect our net sales, costs and expenses and financial condition;
•We may be unable to protect our intellectual property rights;
•Our products, processes, methods, and equipment may infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others, which may cause us to incur unexpected costs or prevent us from selling our products;
•The healthcare reform legislation in the United States and its implementing regulations could impact the healthcare benefits we are required to provide our employees in the United States and cause our compensation costs to increase, potentially reducing our net income and adversely affecting our cash flows;
•We may incur significant charges in the event we close or divest all or part of a manufacturing plant or facility; and
•The vote by the United Kingdom mandating its withdrawal from the EU could have an adverse effect on our business, investments and future operations in Europe.

Risks Related to the Company

The prices of many of our products are subject to significant volatility associated with commodities markets.

Our principal finished products in our Feed Ingredients segment include MBM, PM, BFT, YG, PG, BBP and hides, which are commodities. We also manufacture and sell a number of other products that are derived from animal by-products and
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many of which are commodities or compete with commodities. The prices of these commodities are quoted on, or derived from prices quoted on, established commodity markets. Accordingly, our results of operations will be affected by fluctuations in the prevailing market prices of these finished products or of other commodities that may be substituted for our products by our customers. Historically, market prices for commodity grains, fats and food stocks have fluctuated in response to a number of factors, including global changes in supply and demand resulting from changes in local and global economic conditions, global government agriculture programs, energy policies of U.S. and foreign governments, and international agricultural trading policies, the impact of disease outbreaks on protein sources and the potential effect on supply and demand, as well as weather conditions during the growing and harvesting seasons. While we seek to mitigate the risks associated with price declines, a significant decrease in the market price of any of our products or of other commodities that may be substituted for our products would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and cash flow. Furthermore, rapid and material changes in finished goods prices, including competing agricultural-based alternative ingredients, generally have an immediate and, often times, material impact on the Company’s gross margin and profitability resulting from the brief lapse of time between the procurement of the raw materials and the sale of the finished goods. Increases in the market prices of raw materials would require us to raise prices for our premium, value-added and branded products to avoid margin deterioration. There can be no assurance as to whether we could implement future price increases in response to increases in the market prices of raw materials or how any such price increases would affect future sales volumes to our customers. Our results of operations could be materially and adversely affected in the future by this volatility. Furthermore, an increased preference by meat processors for alternative feed ingredients, such as all vegetable diets in the case of poultry producers, could negatively impact the prices of certain of our finished products which would need to be sold to alternative markets and destinations.

The prices available for the Company’s Food Ingredients segment’s collagen, edible fats and natural casings products are influenced by other competing ingredients, including plant-based and synthetic hydrocolloids and artificial casings. In the collagen operation, in particular, the cost of the Company's animal-based raw material moves in relationship to the selling price of the finished goods. The processing time for the Food Ingredients segment's collagen and casings is generally 30 to 60 days, which is substantially longer than the Company's Feed Ingredients segment's animal by-products operations. Consequently, the Company’s gross margin and profitability in this segment can be influenced by the movement of finished goods prices during the period from when the raw materials were procured until the finished goods are sold.

The Company’s Fuel Ingredients segment, which converts fats and oils into renewable diesel, organic sludge and food waste into biogas, and fallen stock into low-grade energy sources, is impacted by world energy prices for oil, electricity and natural gas, as well as potential competition from the adoption of non-rendered feedstock in biodiesel markets.

Our business is dependent on the procurement of raw materials, which is the most competitive aspect of our business.

Our management believes that the most competitive aspect of our business is the procurement of raw materials rather than the sale of finished products. Many of our raw materials are derived directly or indirectly from animal by-products, which results in the following challenges:

•In North America, consolidation within the meat processing industry has resulted in bigger and more efficient slaughtering operations, the majority of which utilize “captive” renderers (rendering operations integrated with the meat or poultry packing operation).

•Concurrently, there has been limited to no growth in the number of small U.S. meat processors, which have historically been a dependable source of supply for non-captive or independent U.S. renderers, such as us.

•The slaughter rates in the U.S. and international meat processing industry are subject to decline during poor economic conditions when consumers generally reduce their consumption of protein, and as a result, during such periods of decline, the availability, quantity and quality of raw materials available to independent renderers, such as us, decreases.

•In addition, the Company has seen an increase in the use of used cooking oil in the production of biofuels, which has increased competition for the collection of used cooking oil from restaurants and other food service establishments and contributed to an increase in the frequency and magnitude of theft of used cooking oil in the United States.

•Furthermore, a decline in the general performance of the global economy (including a decline in consumer confidence) and an inability of consumers and companies to obtain credit in the financial markets could have a negative impact on our raw material volume, such as through the forced closure of any of our raw material suppliers. A significant decrease in available raw materials or a closure of a significant number of raw material suppliers could materially and
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adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition, including the carrying value of certain of our assets.

The rendering industry is highly fragmented and both the rendering and bakery residual industries are very competitive. We compete with other rendering businesses and alternative methods of disposal of animal by-products, bakery residue and used cooking oil provided by trash haulers, waste management companies and biodiesel companies, as well as the alternative of illegal disposal. See Item 1. “Competition.” In addition, U.S. restaurants experience theft of used cooking oil, the frequency and magnitude of which increases with the rise in value of used cooking oil. Depending on market conditions, we either charge a collection fee to offset a portion of the cost incurred in collecting raw material, collect on a no pay/no charge basis or will pay for the raw material. To the extent suppliers of raw materials look to alternate methods of disposal, whether as a result of our collection fees being deemed too expensive, the payments we offer being deemed too low or otherwise, our raw material supply will decrease and our collection fee revenues will decrease, which could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, the amount of raw material acquired, which has a direct impact on the amount of finished goods produced, can also have a material effect on our gross margin reported, as the Company has a substantial amount of fixed operating costs. In addition, we utilize an extensive vehicle fleet to collect and transport raw material, for which we compete with other industries for qualified drivers. The U.S. has been experiencing a growing shortage of truck drivers. Our failure to hire and retain a sufficient number of truck drivers to operate our fleet could negatively impact our ability to collect and transport raw material in an efficient and cost-effective manner.

A majority of the Company's U.S. volume of animal by-product raw materials, including all of its significant U.S. poultry accounts, and substantially all of the Company's U.S. bakery feed raw materials, are acquired on a “formula basis,” which allow us to adjust our costs of materials based on changes in the price of our finished products, and are in most cases set forth in contracts with our suppliers, generally with multi-year terms. The formulas provided in these contracts are reviewed and modified during the term and at renewal of the contracts to maintain acceptable risk allocations between us and our suppliers related to movements in commodity prices. Changes to these formulas or the inability to renew such contracts could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. A majority of Rothsay’s animal by-product raw materials are acquired based on prices fixed on a quarterly basis with suppliers, with the remaining portion acquired on a “formula basis.” A majority of Darling Ingredients International’s volume of animal by-product raw materials are acquired at spot or quarterly fixed prices.

The DGD Joint Venture subjects us to a number of risks.

In January 2011, Darling, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, entered into a limited liability company agreement (as subsequently amended, the “DGD LLC Agreement”) with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Valero to form the DGD Joint Venture, which was formed to design, engineer, construct and operate the DGD Norco Facility. As of January 2, 2021, under the equity method of accounting, we had an investment in the DGD Joint Venture of approximately $772.8 million included on the consolidated balance sheet. There is no assurance that the DGD Joint Venture will continue to be profitable or allow us to continue to make a return on our investment.

The DGD Joint Venture began an expansion of the DGD Norco Facility in 2019. The DGD Joint Venture estimates completion and startup of the expanded portion of the facility in the fourth quarter of 2021, and the total cost of the expansion project, including the naphtha production and improved logistics capability, is estimated to be approximately $1.1 billion. Based on forecasted margins as of the date of this report, the expansion project is expected to be substantially funded by DGD Joint Venture cash flow; however, the DGD LLC Agreement provides that until such time as the expansion of the DGD Norco Facility is complete and operational, the joint venture partners shall be required to make capital contributions or, if they agree, loans, to the DGD Joint Venture should the excess available cash in the DGD Joint Venture, as determined and in accordance with the DGD LLC Agreement, fall below $50.0 million. Additionally, in January 2021, the joint venture partners approved the construction of a new facility to be located next to Valero’s Port Arthur Refinery in Port Arthur, Texas, capable of producing 470 million gallons per year of renewable diesel and 20 million gallons per year of renewable naphtha and having similar logistics flexibilities as those of the DGD Norco Facility. The new plant is anticipated to commence operations in the second half of 2023 and the total cost of the expansion project is estimated to be approximately $1.45 billion. Based on forecasted margins as of the date of this report, the Port Arthur expansion project is expected to be substantially funded by DGD Joint Venture cash flow; however, if the DGD Joint Venture cash flow is not sufficient to fully fund the project, the DGD Joint Venture may need to borrow funds or the joint venture partners may be required to contribute additional funds to complete the project. While construction on these expansion projects is underway, there is no guarantee that unforeseen issues will not arise in connection with the completion or startup of either of the expansion projects, and any unexpected significant changes to the scope of the projects related thereto could require investment of additional financial resources by the DGD Joint Venture and/or the joint venture partners, including the Company, which could be significant.

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The DGD Joint Venture is dependent on governmental energy policies and programs, such as the National Renewable Fuel Standard Program (“RFS2”) and low carbon fuel standards (“LCFS”) (such as in the state of California), which positively impact the demand for and price of renewable diesel. Any changes to, a failure to enforce or a discontinuation of any of these programs could have a material adverse effect on the DGD Joint Venture. See the section entitled “Risk Factors-Risks Related to the Company-Our biofuels business may be affected by energy policies of U.S. and foreign governments.” Similarly, the DGD Joint Venture is subject to the risk that new or changing technologies may be developed that could meet demand for renewable diesel under governmental mandates in a more efficient or less costly manner than the technologies used by the DGD Joint Venture, which could negatively affect the price of renewable diesel and have a material adverse effect on the DGD Joint Venture.

In addition, the operation of a joint venture such as this involves a number of risks that could harm our business and result in the DGD Joint Venture not performing as expected, such as:

•problems integrating or developing operations, personnel, technologies or products;

•the unanticipated breakdown or failure of equipment or processes, including any unforeseen issues that may arise in connection with the operation of the DGD Norco Facility or completion and startup of any expansion projects, including the Norco and Port Arthur expansion projects, or the possibility of equipment failure as a result of materials degradation;

•the inaccuracy of our assumptions about prices for the renewable diesel that the DGD Joint Venture produces;

•unforeseen engineering or environmental issues, including new or more stringent environmental regulations affecting operations;

•the inaccuracy of our assumptions about the timing and amount of anticipated revenues and operating costs including feedstock prices;

•the diversion of management time and resources;

•difficulty in obtaining and maintaining permits and other regulatory issues, potential license revocation and changes in legal requirements;

•difficulties in establishing and maintaining relationships with suppliers and end user customers;

•the risk that one or more competitive new renewable diesel plants are constructed that use different technologies from the DGD Norco Facility and result in the marketing of products that are more effective as a substitute for carbon-based fuels or less expensive than the products marketed by the DGD Joint Venture;

•performance below expected levels of output or efficiency;

•disruptions in the ability of the pipelines, vessels, or railroads to transport feedstocks or products because of weather events (such as hurricanes), accidents, derailment, collision, fire, explosion, governmental regulations, or third-party actions;

•reliance by the DGD Joint Venture on Valero and its adjacent refinery facility for many services and processes;

•possible impairment of the acquired assets, including intangible assets, in connection with the occurrence of any other risks associated with the DGD Joint Venture;

•possible third-party claims of intellectual property infringement; and

•being forced to sell our equity interests in the DGD Joint Venture pursuant to buy/sell provisions in the DGD LLC Agreement such that we would no longer continue to realize the benefits of the DGD Joint Venture.

If any of these risks described above were to materialize and the operations of the DGD Joint Venture were significantly disrupted, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.


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Our biofuels business may be affected by energy policies of U.S. and foreign governments.

Prices for our finished products may be impacted by worldwide government policies relating to renewable fuels and greenhouse gas emissions (“GHG”). Programs like RFS2 and LCFS and tax credits for biofuels both in the United States and abroad may positively impact the demand for our finished products.

Pursuant to the requirements established by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, the finalized 2010 RFS2 regulation mandated the domestic use of biomass-based diesel (biodiesel or renewable diesel) of 1.0 billion gallons in 2012 and a minimum of 1.0 billion gallons of biomass-based diesel for each year from 2012 through 2022, which amount is subject to increase by the Administrator of the EPA. The volume mandates for 2020 and 2021 were 2.43 billion gallons for biomass based diesel and for 2020, 5.09 billion gallons for advanced biofuel and 20.09 billion gallons for renewable fuel. The EPA has not yet established final volume mandates for 2021 for either advanced biofuel or renewable fuel or the 2022 mandate for biomass based diesel. Biomass-based diesel qualifies to fulfill the biomass based diesel requirement, the non-specified portion of the advanced biofuel requirement and the total renewable fuel requirement. In order to qualify as a “renewable fuel” each type of fuel from each type of feedstock is required to lower GHG by levels specified in the regulation. The EPA has determined that biofuels (either biodiesel or renewable diesel) produced from waste oils, fats and greases result in an 86% reduction in GHG emissions, exceeding the 50% requirement established by the regulation.
In December 2019 the blenders tax credit was retroactively reinstated for calendar years 2018 and 2019 and extended for calendar years 2020, 2021, and 2022 at $1.00 per gallon. As a blender, the DGD Joint Venture has recorded approximately $287.9 million of blenders tax credits for fiscal 2020, with Darling's portion equaling 50%. For its United States and Canada biodiesel operations, the Company recorded approximately $8.2 million of blenders tax credits for fiscal 2020. While in fiscal 2020, the amount of tax credits for biofuels impacting the Company was material, legal challenges or changes to, a failure to enforce, reductions in the mandated volumes under, or discontinuing any of these programs could have a negative impact on our business and results of operations.

We are highly dependent on natural gas, diesel fuel and electricity, the price of which can be volatile, and such dependency could materially adversely affect our business.

Our operations are highly dependent on the use of natural gas, diesel fuel and electricity. We consume significant volumes of natural gas to operate boilers in our plants, which generate steam to heat raw materials, and natural gas prices represent a significant cost of facility operations included in cost of sales. We also consume significant volumes of diesel fuel to operate our fleet of tractors and trucks used to collect raw materials, and diesel fuel prices represent a significant component of cost of collection expenses included in cost of sales. Prices for both natural gas and diesel fuel can be volatile and therefore represent an ongoing challenge to our operating results. Although we continually manage these costs and hedge our exposure to changes in fuel prices through our formula pricing, and from time to time, derivatives, a material increase in prices for natural gas and/or diesel fuel over a sustained period of time could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. We also require a significant amount of electricity in operating certain of our facilities, a disruption of which or a significant increase in the cost of which could have a material adverse effect on the business and results of operations of the affected facility.

A significant percentage of our revenue is attributable to a limited number of suppliers and customers.

In fiscal year 2020, the Company's top ten customers for finished products accounted for approximately 27% of product sales. In addition, the Company's top ten raw material suppliers accounted for approximately 24% of its raw material supply in the same period. Disruptions or modifications to, or termination of, our relationship with any of our significant suppliers or customers, or financial difficulties experienced by any of our suppliers or customers that lead to curtailment or termination of their operations, could cause our businesses to suffer significant financial losses and could have a material adverse effect on our business, earnings, financial condition and/or cash flows.

Certain of our operating facilities are highly dependent upon a single or a few suppliers.

Certain of our operating facilities are highly dependent on one or a few suppliers. Should any of these suppliers choose alternate methods of disposal, cease their operations, have their operations interrupted by casualty, curtail their operations or otherwise cease using our collection services, these operating facilities may be materially and adversely affected, which could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.


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We face risks associated with our international activities, which could negatively affect our sales to customers in foreign countries and our operations and assets in such countries.

We conduct foreign operations in Europe, Canada, Asia, South America and Australia. While we expect that our geographical diversity reduces our exposure to risks in any one country or part of the world, it also subjects us to the various risks and uncertainties relating to international sales and operations, including:

•imposition of tariffs, quotas, trade barriers and other trade protection measures imposed by the United States against foreign countries or by foreign countries against others regarding the importation of poultry, beef and pork products, in addition to operating, import or export licensing requirements imposed by various foreign countries;

•imposition of border restrictions by foreign countries with respect to the import of poultry, beef and pork products due to animal disease or other perceived health or safety issues;

•change in existing trade agreements, such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (“NAFTA”), which could negatively impact our business;

•impact of currency exchange rate fluctuations between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies, particularly the euro, the Canadian dollar, the Chinese renminbi, the Brazilian real, the British pound, the Japanese yen, the Australian dollar and the Polish zloty, which may reduce the U.S. dollar value of the revenues, profits and cash flows we receive from non-U.S. markets or of our assets in non-U.S. countries or increase our supply costs, as measured in U.S. dollars in those markets;

•exchange controls and other limits on our ability to import raw materials, import or export finished products or to repatriate earnings from overseas, such as exchange controls in effect in China, that may limit our ability to repatriate earnings from those countries;

•different regulatory structures (including creditor rights that may be different than in the United States) and unexpected changes in regulatory environments (including, without limitation, in China), including changes resulting in potentially adverse tax consequences or imposition of onerous trade restrictions, price controls, industry controls, animal and human food safety controls, employee welfare schemes or other government controls;

•political or economic instability, social or labor unrest or changing macroeconomic conditions or other changes in political, economic or social conditions in the respective jurisdictions;

•changes in tax laws or to tax rates in any of the jurisdictions in which we operate and adverse outcomes from tax audits;

•compliance with and enforcement of a wide variety of complex U.S. and non-U.S. laws, treaties and regulations, including, without limitation, anti-bribery laws such as the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (the “FCPA”), the U.K. Bribery Act 2010, the Brazilian corporate anti-corruption law and similar anti-corruption legislation in many jurisdictions in which we or our joint venture partners operate, as well as economic and trade sanctions enforced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), the European Union (“EU”) and other governmental entities; and

•distribution costs, disruptions in shipping or reduced availability or increased costs of freight transportation.

These risks and uncertainties could jeopardize or limit our ability to transact business in one or more of our international markets or in other developing markets and may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

Seasonal factors and weather, including the physical impacts of climate changes, can impact the availability, quality and volume of raw materials that we process and negatively affect our operations.

The quantity of raw materials available to us is impacted by seasonal factors, including holidays, when raw material volumes decline, and cold weather, which can impact the collection of raw materials. In addition, warm weather can adversely affect the quality of raw materials processed and our yield on production due to more rapidly degrading raw materials. In addition to seasonal impacts, depending upon the location of our facilities and those of our suppliers, our operations could be subject to weather impacts, including the physical impacts of climate changes, changes in rainfall patterns, water shortages,
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changing sea levels, changing storm patterns and intensities and changing temperature levels. Physical damage, flooding, excessive snowfall or drought resulting from changing climate patterns could adversely impact our costs and business operations, the availability and costs of our raw materials, and the supply and demand for our end products. These effects could be material to our results of operations, liquidity or capital resources. The quality and volume of the finished products that we are able to produce could be negatively impacted by unseasonable or severe weather or unexpected declines in the volume of raw materials available during holidays, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, severe weather events may also impact our ability to collect or process raw materials or to transport finished products.

If we or our customers are the subject of product liability or other claims or product recalls we may incur significant and unexpected costs and our business reputation could be adversely affected.

We and our customers for whom we manufacture products may be exposed to product liability or other claims, product recalls and adverse public relations if consumption or use of our products is alleged to cause injury or illness to humans or animals. In addition, we and our customers may be subject to product liability or other claims, product recalls, and adverse public relations resulting from developments relating to the discovery of unauthorized adulterations to food additives or other products or from allegations that our food ingredients or other products were mislabeled, were not produced in accordance with the customer’s specifications and/or have not performed adequately in the end product, even where food safety or other product safety is not a concern. In some cases, we indemnify our customers for product liability and other claims related to our products. Product recalls in one jurisdiction may result in product recalls in other jurisdictions, as is the case in the EU, where the European Commission and the EU Member States exchange information about recalls. Our insurance may not be adequate to cover all liabilities we incur in connection with product liability and/or other claims, whether or not legitimate, or product recalls, whether voluntary or mandatory, and we may not be able to maintain our existing insurance or obtain comparable insurance at a reasonable cost for such matters. A judgment against us or against one of our customers for whom we manufacture or provide products on a product liability or other claim, or our or their agreement to settle a product liability or other claim, or a product recall, could also result in substantial and unexpected expenditures, which would reduce operating income and cash flow. In addition, even if product liability or other claims against us or our customers for whom we manufacture products are not successful or are not fully pursued, defending these claims would likely be costly and time-consuming and may require significant management attention.

Product liability or other claims, product recalls or any other events that cause consumers to no longer associate our brands or those of our customers for whom we manufacture products with high quality and safety may result in adverse publicity and negatively impact our reputation and the value of our and their brands and lead to decreased demand for our products. In addition, as a result of any such claims against us or product recalls, we may be exposed to claims by our customers for damage to their reputations and brands. Product liability or other claims and product recalls may also lead to increased scrutiny or investigations by federal, state and foreign regulatory agencies of our operations and could have a material adverse effect on our brands, business, results of operations and financial condition.

In certain markets we are highly dependent upon a single operating facility and various events beyond our control could cause an interruption in the operation of our facilities, which could adversely affect our business in those markets.

Our facilities are subject to various federal, state, provincial and local environmental and other permitting requirements of the countries in which we operate and our facilities are located. Periodically, these permits may be reviewed and subject to amendment or withdrawal. Applications for an extension or renewal of various permits may be subject to challenge by community and environmental groups and others. In the event of a casualty, condemnation, work stoppage, permitting withdrawal or delay, severe weather event, or other unscheduled shutdown involving one of our facilities, in a majority of our markets we would utilize a nearby operating facility to continue to serve our customers in the affected market; however, in certain markets we do not have alternate operating facilities. If any of these events occur in such markets, we may experience an interruption in our ability to service our customers and to procure raw materials, and potentially an impairment of the value of that facility. Any of these circumstances may materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations in those markets. In addition, after an operating facility affected by such an event and unscheduled shutdown is restored, there could be no assurance that customers who in the interim choose to use alternative disposal services would return to use our services.

Media campaigns related to feed and food ingredient production present reputational and other risks.

Individuals or organizations can use social media platforms to publicize inappropriate or inaccurate stories or perceptions about the feed and food ingredient production industries or our company. Such practices could cause damage to the reputations of our company and/or the feed and food ingredient production industries in general. This damage could adversely affect our financial results.
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An impairment in the carrying value of our goodwill or other intangible assets may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

As of January 2, 2021, the Company had approximately $1.3 billion of goodwill. We are required to annually test goodwill to determine if impairment has occurred, as well as whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that impairment may have occurred. If the testing performed indicates that impairment has occurred, we are required to record a non-cash impairment charge for the difference between the carrying value of the goodwill and the implied fair value of the goodwill in the period the determination is made. The testing of goodwill for impairment requires us to make significant estimates about our future performance and cash flows, as well as other assumptions. These estimates can be affected by numerous factors, including changes in economic, industry or market conditions, changes in business operations or regulation, or changes in competition. Changes in these factors, or changes in actual performance compared with estimates of our future performance, may affect the fair value of goodwill, which may result in an impairment charge. We cannot accurately predict the amount and timing of any impairment of assets. Should the value of goodwill become impaired, there may be a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

Risks Related to Legal and Regulatory Compliance

Our operations are subject to various laws, rules and regulations relating to the protection of the environment and to health and safety, and we could incur significant costs to comply with these requirements or be subject to sanctions or held liable for environmental damages.

Our operations subject us to various and increasingly stringent environmental, health and safety requirements in the various jurisdictions where we operate, including those governing air emissions, wastewater discharges, the management, storage and disposal of materials in connection with our facilities, occupational health and safety, product packaging and labeling and our handling of hazardous materials and wastes, such as gasoline and diesel fuel used by our trucking fleet and operations. Failure to comply with these requirements could have significant consequences, including recalls, penalties, injunctive relief, claims for personal injury and property and natural resource damages, other claims and negative publicity. Our operations require the control of air emissions and odor and the treatment and discharge of wastewater to municipal sewer systems and the environment. We operate boilers at many of our facilities and store wastewater in lagoons or, as permitted, discharge it to publicly owned wastewater treatment systems or surface waters, or through land application. We have incurred significant capital and operating expenditures to comply with environmental requirements, including for the upgrade of wastewater treatment facilities, and will continue to incur such costs in the future.

We could be responsible for the remediation of environmental contamination and may be subject to associated liabilities and claims for personal injury and property and natural resource damages. We own or operate numerous properties, have been in business for many years and have acquired and disposed of properties and businesses over that time. During that time, we or other owners or operators may have generated or disposed of wastes or stored or handled other materials that are or may be considered hazardous or may have polluted the soil, surface water or groundwater at or around our facilities. Under some environmental laws, such as the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 in the United States, also known as the Superfund law, responsibility for the cost of cleanup of a contaminated site can be imposed upon current or former site owners and operators, or upon any party that sent waste to the site, regardless of the lawfulness of the activities that led to the contamination. Similar laws outside the United States impose liability for environmental cleanup, often under the polluter pays theory of liability but also based upon ownership in some circumstances. There can be no assurance that we will not face extensive costs or penalties that would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. For example, we have received notice from the EPA relating to alleged river sediment contamination in the Lower Passaic River area of New Jersey. See Item 3. “Legal Proceedings.” In addition, future developments, such as more aggressive enforcement policies, new laws or discoveries of currently unknown contamination conditions, may also require expenditures that may have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition.

In addition, increasing efforts to control emissions of GHG are likely to impact our operations. We operate in certain jurisdictions subject to the Paris Agreement, which mandates reduced GHG emissions in certain participating countries, and the EPA’s rule establishing mandatory GHG reporting for certain activities may apply to some of our facilities if we exceed the applicable thresholds. The EPA has also announced a regulatory endangerment finding relating to GHG emissions that has led to further regulation of GHG emissions. Legislation to regulate GHG emissions has periodically been proposed in the U.S. Congress, and a growing number of states and foreign countries are taking action to require reductions in GHG emissions. Future GHG emissions limits may require us to incur additional capital and operational expenditures. EPA regulations limiting exhaust emissions also have become more restrictive, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the EPA have adopted regulations that govern fuel efficiency and GHG emissions. Compliance with these and similar regulations could
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increase the cost of new fleet vehicles and increase our operating expenses. Compliance with future GHG regulations may require expenditures that could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

We have approximately 10,000 employees world-wide and are subject to a wide range of local, provincial and national laws and regulations governing the health and safety of workers, including, for example, OSHA in the United States. We can be subject to potential fines and civil and, in egregious cases, criminal actions if we are found to be in violation of worker health and safety laws in any of these jurisdictions. Further, as such laws and regulations change, we may sometimes be required to commit to unplanned capital expenditures in order to continue to comply with workplace safety requirements at our facilities. In addition, we operate and maintain an extensive vehicle fleet to transport products to and from customer locations in all jurisdictions where we have facilities. Our fleets and drivers are subject to federal, state, local and foreign laws and licensing requirements applicable to commercial fleets, their cargo and their hours and methods of operation. Failure to comply with these laws and regulations in any location could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and reputation.

Risks Relating to Global Disease Outbreaks or Pandemics

Our business may be negatively impacted by the occurrence of any disease correctly or incorrectly linked to animals.

The emergence of diseases such as swine influenza viruses (collectively known as “Swine Flu”) and highly pathogenic strains of avian influenza (collectively known as “Bird Flu”) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (“SARS”), including SARS-coronavirus 2 (“CoV-2”), that are in or associated with animals and have the potential to also threaten humans has created concern that such diseases could spread and cause a global pandemic. As of the date of this report, various strains of Bird Flu have been and continue to be reported in wild fowl and commercial poultry in Europe, North America, the Middle East and parts of Asia.

Other diseases that are highly contagious within a species, but do not affect other animals and are not transmissible to humans, such as porcine epidemic diarrhea (“PED”) virus, may significantly impact production of the susceptible livestock or poultry species in a country or region. African Swine Fever (“ASF”) is a viral and highly contagious disease of pigs and wild boar, for which no cures or approved vaccines are available as of the date of this report. In the past few years, ASF has become widespread in multiple Chinese and Vietnamese provinces and has been reported in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, The Philippines, Timor-Leste and Indonesia in South East Asia and the People's Democratic Republic of Korea, Republic of Korea and Mongolia. In 2019, the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (“MARA”) addressed measures to control ASF in China in the “ASF Epidemic Emergency Implementation Plan”. The resulting restrictions in transportation have created serious dislocations in pork supplies and resulted in strong reduction of slaughter numbers and thereby volumes of raw material supplied to our locations in China that process blood and make collagen from pork skins. Additionally, the perception, real or implied, that blood meal and dried plasma powder may contribute to the spread of ASF, resulted in a temporary ban on the use of porcine plasma in pork feed which negatively affected demand for our products as ingredients in porcine animal feed in China. This ban has now been lifted and porcine plasma is once again allowed to be used in pork feed provided that certain newly established guidelines are met. ASF has also been reported in Eastern Europe since 2007. The disease has been detected in both domestic and feral pigs in several EU (primarily Eastern European) Member States in the past years, and the European Union is taking measures to address the “unprecedented spread” of ASF. As of the date of this report, ASF has not been reported in North or South America. In the United States, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (“APHIS”) has implemented a surveillance plan to strengthen ASF detection capabilities and enhance outbreak preparedness. ASF does not infect humans and is not considered a food safety hazard. Any reports, proven or perceived, that implicate animal feed or feed ingredients, including but not limited to animal by-products, as contributing to the spread of a contagious disease could negatively affect demand for our products as ingredients in animal feeds in the affected country or region.

Although no global disease pandemic among humans has been linked to Bird Flu or other emerging diseases as of the date of this report, governments may be pressured to address these concerns, including by executive action such as temporarily closing certain businesses, including meat and animal processing facilities, within jurisdictions suspected of contributing to the spread of such diseases or by legislative or other policy action, such as prohibiting imports of animals, meat and animal by-products from countries or regions where the disease is detected or suspected. If any disease is correctly or incorrectly linked to animals and has a negative impact on meat or poultry consumption or animal production in any jurisdiction in which we operate, such occurrence could have a material negative impact on the volume of raw materials available to us or the demand for our finished products.


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Our business may be affected by the impact of animal related disease, such as BSE and other food safety issues.

The FDA has put in place restrictions to prevent the spread of BSE, and certain foreign governments have also restricted exports of beef and beef products from the United States following the detection of BSE in the United States in December 2003. The sixth and most recent case of BSE was reported in a six-year-old mixed-breed beef cow in August, 2018, which was the second case of BSE since the World Organization for Animal Health (the “OIE”) characterized the United States’ BSE status as one of “negligible risk” in 2013. While this latest case and the previous four cases were the atypical or sporadic form of BSE, which is not spread via feed and, therefore, did not affect the “negligible BSE risk” status of the United States, continued concern about BSE in the United States, and other countries in which we operate now or in the future, may result in additional regulatory and market related challenges that may affect our operations or increase our operating costs.

With respect to human food, pet food and animal feed safety in the United States, the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (“FSMA”) gives the FDA various authorities and directs the FDA to promulgate new regulations pursuant to the FSMA, as described in the section entitled “Business—Regulations” included in this report.

We have followed regulations enacted under the FSMA throughout the rulemaking process and have implemented Current Good Manufacturing Practices, food safety plans and other procedures at our domestic facilities, which we believe comply with the applicable final rules for preventive controls for human food and animal feed. Similar procedures have been implemented at our foreign facilities for compliance with the Foreign Supplier Verification Programs rule. Such rulemaking and implementation of compliant procedures could, among other things, limit our ability to import necessary raw materials or finished products or require us to amend certain of our other operational policies and procedures. Unforeseen issues and requirements may arise as the FDA implements and enforces these and other final rules or promulgates other new regulations provided for by the FSMA.

The FDA has also established a Reportable Food Registry (“RFR”) pursuant to the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007 (the “FDAAA”), and has defined a reportable food, which the manufacturer or distributor would be required to report in the RFR, to include materials used as ingredients in animal feeds and pet foods if there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, such materials will cause serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals. Finalization of the RFR guidance documents and potential additional requirements relating to the RFR may impose additional requirements on us.

According to the “Compliance Policy Guide Sec. 690.800, Salmonella in Food for Animals” (the “CPG”), any finished pet food contaminated with any species of Salmonella will be considered adulterated, and the FDA believes regulatory action is warranted in cases involving such pet foods because of the heightened risk to humans given the high likelihood of direct human contact with pet food. Finished animal feeds intended for pigs, poultry and other farmed animals, however, will be considered to be adulterated only if the feed is contaminated with a species of Salmonella that is considered to be pathogenic for the animal species for which the feed is intended. Any pathogen, such as Salmonella, that is correctly or incorrectly associated with our finished products could have a negative impact on the demand for our finished products and could have a material adverse effect on our business, reputation, results of operations or financial condition.

As a result of our international operations, we could be adversely affected by additional non-U.S. regulations regarding BSE and other food safety issues. For example, an enforceable ban on the feeding of restricted animal material to ruminant animals is in place in Australia as part of a comprehensive national program to prevent the entry and establishment of the BSE agent in Australia and inspections and audits are undertaken to ensure compliance. In addition, in the EU, harmonized rules have been adopted for prevention, control and eradication of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (“TSEs”), which includes BSE, in Regulation (EC) No 999/2001, as amended (“TSE Regulation”) and in other instruments such as Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 on animal by-products, as amended (“Animal By-Products Regulation”) and other food and feed hygiene regulations. The TSE Regulation establishes a “feed ban” consisting of a ban on the use of processed animal protein (“PAP”), in feed for ruminants. Only certain animal proteins considered to be safe (such as fishmeal) can be used, but under very strict conditions. A ban on feeding MBM to ruminants has been in place in the EU since 1994. The ban was expanded in 2001 with the prohibition of feeding all PAP to all farmed animals, subject to certain limited exceptions. In 2009, the BSE-related feed ban was supplemented with provisions prohibiting intra-species recycling applicable to all food-producing animals. Other animal-derived products besides PAP, such as collagen derived from non-ruminants and hydrolyzed protein derived from parts of non-ruminants or from ruminant hides and skins, are not subject to the “feed ban.” The “feed ban” has been lifted for pig and poultry PAP in the feed of aquaculture animals, and insect PAP (a new source of animal protein) in the feed of aquaculture animals. The European Commission aims to present proposals to authorize the feeding of non-ruminant farmed animals with insect PAP, and to reauthorize the feeding of poultry with pig PAP and the feeding of pigs with poultry PAP.

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Although Darling Ingredients International may profit from the possible lifting of the ban for pigs and poultry, changes to the “feed ban” may also adversely affect Darling Ingredients International, possibly restricting the allowed use of some of their products. The TSE Regulation applies to the production and placing on the market of live animals and products of animal origin on the EU market. For that purpose, the BSE status of EU Member States, non-EU members of the European Economic Area and other countries or regions (“Third Countries”) is to be determined by classification into one of three categories depending on the BSE risk involved: a negligible risk, a controlled risk or an undetermined risk. This classification is made by the OIE. The determination of BSE status is based on a risk assessment and the implementation of a surveillance program. For each risk category there are trade rules to provide the necessary guarantees for protecting public and animal health. Currently, the following EU Member States are classified as having a controlled BSE risk: France, Greece and Ireland. The other EU Member States are classified as having a negligible BSE risk. A change in the BSE status of one or more EU Member States may have a negative impact on Darling Ingredients International. Under EU legislation, imported products from outside the EU must meet the same safety standards as products produced in EU Member States. Therefore, the TSE Regulation imposes strict import requirements related to TSEs for live animals and animal by-products, such as full traceability of imported animals and animal by-products, a ban on the use of MBM in feed for ruminants and the prohibition of the import of specified risk material or mechanically recovered meat. The detailed import requirements depend on the BSE status of Third Countries. The Animal By-Products Regulation establishes rules intended to prevent the outbreak of certain diseases such as BSE. It imposes, for example, rules for the use and disposal of specified risk material and other high risk material. A BSE outbreak or other event viewed as hazardous to animal or human health could lead to the adoption of more stringent rules on the use and disposal of animal by-products, which could require Darling Ingredients International to change its production processes and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.

In addition, the introduction of new EU legislation applicable to the agri-food sector could create additional compliance requirements and enforcement risks for us. Regulation (EU) 2019/1381 (“Food Transparency Regulation”) will apply from March 27, 2021. The Food Transparency Regulation strengthens transparency requirements in EU food law. Among other things, the European Food Safety Authority (“EFSA”) will be required to disclose scientific data, studies and other information supporting applications, including supplementary information supplied by applicants, taking into account the protection of confidential information and of personal data. EFSA is tasked with establishing and managing a publicly accessible database of studies commissioned or carried out by business operators to support an application or notification in relation to which EU law contains provisions for EFSA to provide a scientific output, including a scientific opinion. Business operators will need to notify EFSA of the title and the scope of any study commissioned or carried out by them to support an application or a notification, as well as the laboratory or testing facility carrying out that study, and its starting and planned completion dates. Any potential disclosure of unfavorable studies and data as well as EFSA’s ultimate decision-making power to determine what constitutes confidential information (and therefore subject or not to transparency obligations) may result in adverse publicity, negatively impact our reputation and/or require us to disclose commercially sensitive information and data. Regulation (EC) No 2017/625 (“Official Controls Regulation”) requires that the EU Member States verify compliance with agri-food chain rules through official controls. The scope of the Official Controls Regulation has been extended and will now cover official controls to verify compliance with food and feed law, animal health and welfare, plant health and animal-by products rules. To deter fraudulent practices, the Official Controls Regulation introduces more stringent rules for financial penalties, imposed by EU Member States. Those penalties must reflect the economic advantage of the operator or a percentage of the operator’s turnover. The Regulation also introduces new provisions to protect whistle-blowers to encourage and facilitate the reporting of non-compliance. More stringent and higher financial penalties may potentially result in significant and unexpected costs and enhanced provisions regarding whistle-blowers may result in more regulatory investigations and enforcement actions, both of which could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Pandemics, epidemics or disease outbreaks, such as the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”), may disrupt our business, including, among other things, our supply chain and production processes, each of which could materially affect our operations, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.

The actual or perceived effects of a disease outbreak, epidemic, pandemic or similar widespread public health concern, such as COVID-19, could negatively affect our operations, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations. While to date we have experienced no material negative effects on our business and results of operations as a result of the current COVID-19 outbreak, the situation remains dynamic and subject to rapid and possibly material change, including but not limited to changes that may materially affect the operations of our supply chain partners and finished product customers, which ultimately could result in material negative effects on our business and results of operations.

The spread of pandemics, epidemics or disease outbreaks such as COVID-19 may disrupt our third-party business partners’ ability to meet their obligations to us, which may negatively affect our operations. These third parties include those who supply our raw materials and other necessary operating materials and logistics and transportation services providers. Ports and other channels of entry may be closed or operate at only a portion of capacity, as workers may be prohibited or otherwise
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unable to report to work, and means of transporting products within regions or countries may be limited for the same reason. As a result of the current COVID-19 outbreak, transport restrictions related to quarantines or travel bans have been put in place and global supply may become constrained, each of which may cause the price of certain raw materials used in our products to increase and/or we may experience disruptions to our operations. In addition, COVID-19 and similar outbreaks may affect the prices and demand for our finished products.

Workforce limitations and travel restrictions resulting from pandemics, epidemics or disease outbreaks such as COVID-19 and related government actions may affect many aspects of our business. If a significant percentage of our workforce is unable to work, including because of illness or travel or government restrictions in connection with pandemics or disease outbreaks, our operations and financial reporting capabilities may be negatively affected. In addition, pandemics or disease outbreaks could result in a widespread health crisis that could adversely affect the economies and financial markets of many countries, resulting in an economic downturn that could affect our raw material supply and our customers’ demand for our finished products.

Our efforts to manage and mitigate these factors may be unsuccessful, and the effectiveness of these efforts depends on factors beyond our control, including the duration and severity of any pandemic, epidemic or disease outbreak, as well as third party actions taken to contain its spread and mitigate public health effects.

The risks described above also apply to the DGD Joint Venture and its business and operations.

Risks Related to our Labor Force

We may be subject to work stoppages at our operating facilities, which could cause interruptions in the manufacturing or distribution of our products.

While we currently have no international, national or multi-plant union contracts, as of January 2, 2021 approximately 19% of Darling’s U.S. employees, 26% of Rothsay’s employees and 44% of Darling Ingredients International’s employees were covered by various collective bargaining agreements. Furthermore, local laws and regulations in certain jurisdictions in which we operate provide for worker groups with prescribed powers and rights with regard to working conditions, wages and similar matters. In jurisdictions where such groups do not exist, labor organizing activities could result in additional employees becoming unionized and higher ongoing labor costs. Darling’s collective bargaining agreements expire at varying times over the next five years. In contrast, Darling Ingredients International’s collective bargaining agreements generally have one to two year terms, while Rothsay agreements generally have terms up to three years. Some of our collective bargaining agreements have already expired and are in the process of being renegotiated. There can be no assurance that we will be able to negotiate the terms of any expiring or expired agreement in a manner acceptable to us. If our workers were to engage in a strike, work stoppage, slowdown or other collective action in the future in any of our locations, we could experience a significant disruption of our operations, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. We may also be subject to general country strikes or work stoppages unrelated to our business or collective bargaining agreements that could have a direct or indirect adverse effect on our business, results of operation or financial condition.

Certain U.S. multiemployer defined benefit pension plans to which we contribute are underfunded and these plans may require minimum funding contributions.

We participate in various U.S. multiemployer pension plans which provide defined benefits to certain employees covered by labor contracts. These plans are not administered by us and contributions are determined in accordance with provisions of negotiated labor contracts to meet their pension benefit obligations to their participants. Based upon the most currently available information, certain of these multiemployer plans are underfunded due partially to a decline in the value of the assets supporting these plans, a reduction in the number of actively participating members for whom employer contributions are required and the level of benefits provided by the plans. In addition, the U.S. Pension Protection Act, which went into effect in January 2008, requires underfunded pension plans to improve their funding ratios within prescribed intervals based on the level of their underfunding. As a result, our required contributions to these plans may increase in the future. Furthermore, under current law, a termination of, our voluntary withdrawal from or a mass withdrawal of all contributing employers from any underfunded multiemployer defined benefit plan to which we contribute would require us to make payments to the plan for our proportionate share of such multiemployer plan’s unfunded vested liabilities. Also, if a multiemployer defined benefit plan fails to satisfy certain minimum funding requirements, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) may impose a nondeductible excise tax of 5% on the amount of the accumulated funding deficiency for those employers not contributing their allocable share of the minimum funding to the plan. Requirements to pay increased contributions, withdrawal liability and excise taxes could negatively impact our liquidity and results of operations.

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Risks Related to our Indebtedness

Our substantial level of indebtedness could adversely affect our financial condition.

As of January 2, 2021, our total indebtedness, including trade debt, was approximately $1.5 billion and we had undrawn commitments available for additional borrowings under the revolving loan facility included as part of our senior secured credit facilities of up to approximately $893.9 million (after giving effect to approximately $55.0 million of revolver borrowing, $3.9 million of outstanding letters of credit and $47.2 million of ancillary facilities). Our high level of indebtedness could have important consequences, including the following:

•making it more difficult to satisfy our obligations to our financial lenders and our contractual and commercial commitments; limiting our ability to obtain additional financing to fund future working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions or other general corporate requirements on commercially reasonable terms or at all;

•requiring us to use a substantial portion of our cash flows from operations to pay principal and interest on our indebtedness instead of for other purposes, thereby reducing the amount of our cash flows from operations available for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes;

•increasing our vulnerability to adverse economic, industry and business conditions;

•exposing us to the risk of increased interest rates as certain of our borrowings are at variable rates of interest;

•increasing our exposure to changes in foreign exchange rate conversion to functional currency;

•limiting our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industry in which we operate;

•placing us at a competitive disadvantage compared to other, less leveraged competitors; and

•increasing our cost of borrowing.

In addition, the indentures that govern our senior notes and the credit agreement governing our senior secured credit facilities contain restrictive covenants that limit our ability to engage in activities that may be in our long-term best interest. Our failure to comply with those covenants could result in an event of default which, if not cured or waived, could result in the acceleration of all our funded indebtedness. See Item 7. “Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” - “Senior Secured Credit Facilities,” “5.25% Senior Notes due 2027” and “3.625% Senior Notes due 2026.”

Despite our existing level of indebtedness, we and our subsidiaries may still be able to incur substantially more indebtedness, which could further exacerbate the risks to our financial condition described above.

Although the indentures that govern the senior notes and the credit agreement governing the senior secured credit facilities contain restrictions on our incurrence of additional indebtedness, these restrictions are subject to a number of significant qualifications and exceptions, and the additional indebtedness that we and our subsidiaries could incur in compliance with these restrictions could be substantial. To the extent that we or our subsidiaries incur additional indebtedness, the risks associated with our indebtedness, including our possible inability to service our indebtedness, could intensify. See Item 7. “Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” - “Senior Secured Credit Facilities,” “5.25% Senior Notes due 2027” and “3.625% Senior Notes due 2026.”

We may not be able to generate sufficient cash to service all of our indebtedness and may be forced to take other actions to satisfy our obligations under our indebtedness, which may not be successful.

Our ability to make scheduled payments on or to refinance our debt obligations depends on our financial condition and operating performance, which are subject to prevailing economic and competitive conditions and to certain financial, business, legislative, regulatory and other factors beyond our control. We may be unable to maintain a level of cash flows from operating activities sufficient to permit us to pay the principal, premium, if any, and interest on our indebtedness.

If our cash flows and capital resources are insufficient to fund our debt service obligations and to meet our other cash needs, we could be forced to reduce or delay investments and capital expenditures or to dispose of material assets or operations, seek additional debt or equity capital or restructure or refinance our indebtedness. We may not be able to effect any such
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alternative measures, if necessary, on commercially reasonable terms or at all and, even if successful, such alternative actions may not allow us to meet our scheduled debt service obligations and our other cash needs. The credit agreement governing our senior secured credit facilities and the indentures governing our senior notes restrict our ability to use the proceeds from the disposition of assets, debt incurrence or sales of equity to repay other indebtedness. We may not be able to consummate any such dispositions or to obtain debt or equity proceeds in amounts sufficient to meet any debt service obligations, and we may be restricted under such credit agreement or indentures from using any such amounts to service other debt obligations.

If we cannot make scheduled payments under any of the agreements governing our debt, we would be in default under such agreements, which could allow lenders under any credit facilities to terminate their commitments to loan money and could allow the applicable lenders or other debt holders to declare all outstanding principal and interest of such debt to be immediately due and payable, and, in the case of secured debt, to foreclose against the assets securing such debt and apply the proceeds from such foreclosure to repay amounts owed to them. Any of these events would likely in turn trigger cross-acceleration or cross-default provisions in our other debt instruments, which would allow the creditors under those instruments to exercise similar rights. If any of these actions are taken, we could be forced into restructuring, bankruptcy or liquidation.

Our ability to repay our indebtedness depends in part on the performance of our subsidiaries, including our non-guarantor subsidiaries, and their ability to make payments.

We conduct a significant portion of our operations through our subsidiaries, a number of which operate outside the United States. Accordingly, repayment of our indebtedness is dependent, to a significant extent, on the generation of cash flow by our subsidiaries and their ability to make such cash available to us. Unless they are guarantors of the indebtedness, our subsidiaries do not have any obligation to pay amounts due on the indebtedness or to make funds available for that purpose. Under certain circumstances, legal and contractual restrictions may limit our ability to obtain cash from our subsidiaries. For example, our subsidiaries that are organized under the laws of, and operate in, China currently have substantial regulatory restrictions on their ability to make cash available to us. While the credit agreement governing the senior secured credit facilities, the indentures governing our senior notes and the agreements governing certain of our other indebtedness will limit the ability of certain of our subsidiaries to incur consensual restrictions on their ability to make other intercompany payments to us, these limitations are subject to certain significant qualifications and exceptions.

Risks Related to our Common Stock

The market price of our common stock has been and may continue to be volatile, which could cause the value of your investment to decline.

The market price of our common stock has been subject to volatility and, in the future, the market price of our common stock could fluctuate widely in response to numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control. Numerous factors, including many over which we have no control, may have a significant impact on the market price of our common stock. In addition to the risk factors discussed in this report, the price and volume volatility of our common stock may be affected by:

•actual or anticipated fluctuations in ingredient prices;

•actual or anticipated variations in our operating results;

•our earnings releases and financial performance;

•changes in financial estimates or buy/sell recommendations by securities analysts;

•our ability to repay our debt;

•our access to financial and capital markets to refinance our debt;

•performance of our joint venture investments, including the DGD Joint Venture;

•our dividend policy;

•market conditions in the industry and the general state of the securities markets;

•investor perceptions of us and the industry and markets in which we operate;

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•governmental legislation or regulation;

•currency and exchange rate fluctuations that impact our earnings and balance sheet; and

•general economic and market conditions, such as U.S. or global reactions to economic developments, including regional recessions, currency devaluations or political unrest.

Our ability to pay any dividends on our common stock may be limited and, consequently, your ability to achieve a return on your investment will depend on appreciation in the price of our common stock.

We have not paid any dividends on our common stock since January 3, 1989 and we have no current plans to do so. Our current financing arrangements permit us to pay cash dividends on our common stock within limitations defined by the terms of our existing indebtedness, including our senior secured credit facility, 5.25% senior notes due 2027 and 3.625% senior notes due 2026 and any other indentures or other financing arrangements that we enter into in the future. For example, our senior secured credit facility restricts our ability to make payments of dividends in cash if certain coverage ratios are not met. Even if such coverage ratios are met in the future, any determination to pay cash dividends on our common stock will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will be based upon our financial condition, operating results, capital requirements, plans for expansion, business opportunities, restrictions imposed by any of our financing arrangements, provisions of applicable law and any other factors that our board of directors determines are relevant at that point in time.

Future sales of our common stock or the issuance of other equity may adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

We are not restricted from issuing additional common stock, including securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, common stock. The issuance of additional shares of our common stock or convertible securities, including our outstanding options, or otherwise, will dilute the ownership interest of our common stockholders.

Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock or other equity-related securities in the public market could depress the market price of our common stock and impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities. We cannot predict the effect that future sales of our common stock or other equity-related securities would have on the market price of our common stock.

Our common stock is an equity security and is subordinate to our existing and future indebtedness.

Shares of our common stock are equity interests and do not constitute indebtedness. As such, the shares of common stock will rank junior to all of our indebtedness, including our trade debt, and to other non-equity claims on us and our assets available to satisfy claims on us, including claims in a bankruptcy, liquidation or similar proceedings. Our existing indebtedness restricts, and future indebtedness may restrict, payment of dividends on the common stock.

Unlike indebtedness, where principal and interest customarily are payable on specified due dates, in the case of common stock, (i) dividends are payable only when and if declared by our board of directors or a duly authorized committee of the board and (ii) as a corporation, we are restricted under applicable Delaware law to making dividend payments and redemption payments only from legally available assets. Further, under our certificate of incorporation, there are no restrictions on our business or operations or on our ability to incur indebtedness or engage in any transactions arising as to our common stock, subject only to the voting rights available to stockholders generally.

In addition, our rights to participate in the assets of any of our subsidiaries upon any liquidation or reorganization of any subsidiary will be subject to the prior claims of that subsidiary’s creditors (except to the extent we may ourselves be a creditor of that subsidiary), including that subsidiary’s trade creditors and our creditors who have obtained or may obtain guarantees from the subsidiaries. As a result, our common stock will be subordinated to our and our subsidiaries’ obligations and liabilities, which currently include borrowings and guarantees. See Item 7. “Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” - “Senior Secured Credit Facilities,” “5.25% Senior Notes due 2027” and “3.625% Senior Notes due 2026.”


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The issuance of shares of preferred stock could adversely affect holders of common stock, which may negatively impact your investment.

Our board of directors is authorized to cause us to issue classes or series of preferred stock without any action on the part of our stockholders. The board of directors also has the power, without stockholder approval, to set the terms of any such classes or series of preferred shares that may be issued, including the designations, preferences, limitations and relative rights senior to the rights of our common stock with respect to dividends or upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our business and other terms. If we issue preferred shares in the future that have a preference over the common stock with respect to the payment of dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or if we issue preferred shares with voting rights that dilute the voting power of the common stock, the rights of holders of the common stock or the market price of the common stock could be adversely affected. As of the date of this report, we have no outstanding shares of preferred stock but we have available for issuance 1,000,000 authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock.

General Risks Related to our Business

We may incur material costs and liabilities in complying with government regulations.

We are subject to the rules and regulations of various governmental agencies in the United States, the EU, Canada, China and the other countries in which Darling Ingredients International operates. These include rules and regulations administered by governmental agencies at the supranational, federal, state, provincial or local level. See Item 1. "Business - Regulations" for a listing of certain governmental agencies to which we are subject.

The applicable rules, regulations and guidance promulgated by these and other agencies, which are likely to change over time, affect our operations and may influence our operating results at one or more facilities. Furthermore, the loss of or failure to obtain necessary federal, state, provincial or local permits and registrations at one or more of our facilities could halt or curtail operations at impacted facilities, which could result in impairment charges related to the affected facility and otherwise adversely affect our operating results. In addition, our failure to comply with applicable rules, regulations and guidance, including obtaining or maintaining required operating certificates or permits, could subject us to: (i) administrative penalties and injunctive relief; (ii) civil remedies, including fines, injunctions and product recalls; and/or (iii) adverse publicity. There can be no assurance that we will not incur material costs and liabilities in connection with these rules, regulations and guidance.

Because of our international operations throughout much of the world, we could be adversely affected by violations of the FCPA and similar anti-bribery laws, as well as laws and regulations governing international transactions (such as the regulations administered by OFAC). Recent years have seen a substantial increase in the global enforcement of anti-corruption laws and economic sanctions laws and regulations. Our operations outside the United States, including in developing countries, could increase the risk of such violations. In addition, we may enter into joint ventures with joint venture partners who are domiciled in areas of the world with anti-bribery laws, regulations and business practices that differ from those in the United States. There is risk that our joint venture partners will violate the FCPA and other anti-bribery laws and regulations, as well as OFAC and economic sanctions. While our policies mandate compliance with the FCPA and other anti-bribery laws, as well as OFAC and economic sanctions, we cannot provide assurance that our internal control policies and procedures will always protect us from violations committed by our employees, joint venture partners or agents. Violations of the FCPA or other anti-bribery laws, or of OFAC or other economic sanctions laws, or allegations of such violations, could result in lengthy investigations and possibly disrupt our business, lead to criminal and/or civil legal proceedings brought by governmental agencies and/or third parties, result in material fines and legal and other costs and have a material adverse effect on our reputation, business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

Given the competitive nature of our industry, we could be adversely affected by violations of various countries’ antitrust, competition and consumer protection laws. These laws generally prohibit companies and individuals from engaging in anticompetitive and unfair business practices. While our policies mandate compliance with these laws, we cannot provide assurance that our internal control policies and procedures will always protect us from violations or reckless or criminal acts committed by our employees, joint venture partners or agents.

Downturns and volatility in global economies and commodity and credit markets could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Our results of operations are materially affected by the conditions of the global economies and the credit, commodities and stock markets. Among other things, we may be adversely impacted if our domestic and international customers and suppliers are not able to access sufficient capital to continue to operate their businesses or to operate them at prior levels. A
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decline in consumer confidence or changing patterns in the availability and use of disposable income by consumers can negatively affect both our suppliers and customers. Declining discretionary consumer spending or the loss or impairment of a meaningful number of our suppliers or customers could lead to declines in either raw material availability or customer demand. Any tightening in credit supply could negatively affect our customers’ ability to pay for our products on a timely basis or at all and could result in a requirement for additional bad debt reserves. Although many of our customer contracts are formula-based, continued volatility in the commodities markets could negatively impact our revenues and overall profits. Counterparty risk on finished product sales can also impact revenue and operating profits when customers either are unable to obtain credit or refuse to take delivery of finished products due to market price declines.

Our business may be adversely impacted by fluctuations in exchange rates, which could affect our ability to comply with our financial covenants.

We carry out transactions in a number of foreign currencies, principally the euro, the Canadian dollar, the Chinese renminbi, the Brazilian real, the British pound, the Japanese yen, the Australian dollar and the Polish zloty. To the extent possible, we attempt to match revenues and expenses in each of the currencies in which we operate. However, we will still be exposed to currency fluctuations when we translate the results of our overseas operations into U.S. dollars, our reporting currency, in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements, which may affect our U.S. dollar-denominated results of operations and financial condition even if our underlying operations and financial condition, in local currency terms, remain unchanged. While we from time to time utilize currency hedging instruments to protect us from adverse fluctuations in currency exchange rates, there can be no assurance that such instruments will successfully protect us from more pronounced swings in such exchange rates. Further, by utilizing these instruments we potentially forego any benefits that result from favorable fluctuations in exchange rates.

We also face risks arising from the possible future imposition of exchange controls and currency devaluations. Exchange controls may limit our ability to convert foreign currencies into U.S. dollars or to remit dividends and other payments by our foreign subsidiaries located in, or business conducted within, a country imposing such controls. Currency devaluations would result in a diminished value of funds denominated in the currency of the country instituting the devaluation.

Any fluctuations in exchange rates or the imposition of exchange controls or currency devaluation may adversely impact our ability to comply with the financial and other covenants under the documents governing our indebtedness, which could affect our ability to incur indebtedness, pay dividends, make investments or take other actions that might be in our best interest. Should our international operations continue to expand, they will represent a larger part of our business and such exchange rate fluctuations may have a greater impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Large capital projects can take many years to complete, and market conditions could deteriorate over time, negatively impacting project returns.

We may engage in capital projects, such as the DGD Joint Venture expansion projects, based on the forecasted project economics and level of return on the capital to be employed in the project. Large-scale projects take many years to complete, and market conditions can change from our forecast. As a result, we may be unable to fully realize our expected returns, which could negatively impact our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.

Changes in consumer preference could negatively impact our business.

The food and pet food industries in general are subject to changing consumer trends, demands and preferences. Trends within the food and pet food industries change often, and failure to identify and react to changes in these trends could lead to, among other things, reduced demand and price reductions for our products or those of our customers for whom we manufacture products, and could have an adverse effect on our financial results.

If we experience difficulties or a significant disruption in our information systems or if we fail to implement new systems and software successfully, our business could be materially adversely affected.

We depend on information systems throughout our business to collect and process data that is critical to our operations and accurate financial reporting. Among other things, these information systems process incoming customer orders and outgoing supplier orders, manage inventory, and allow us to efficiently collect raw materials and distribute products, process and bill shipments to and collect cash from our customers, respond to customer and supplier inquiries, contribute to our overall internal control processes, maintain records of our property, plant and equipment, record and pay amounts due vendors and other creditors and manage our human resource function.

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If we were to experience a disruption in our information systems that involve interactions with suppliers and customers, it could result in a loss of raw material supplies, sales and customers and/or increased costs, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, any such disruption could adversely affect our ability to meet our financial reporting obligations. We may also encounter difficulties in developing and implementing new systems or maintaining and upgrading existing systems and software. Such difficulties may lead to significant expenses or losses due to unexpected additional costs required to implement or maintain systems, disruption in business operations, loss of sales or profits, or cause us to incur significant costs to reimburse third parties for damages, and, as a result, may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. We could also experience impairment of our reputation if any of these events were to occur.

Increased information technology security threats and more sophisticated computer crime pose a risk to our systems, networks, products and services.

We rely upon our information systems and networks in connection with a variety of business activities, and we collect and store sensitive data. Increased security threats to information systems and more sophisticated computer crime pose a risk to the security of our systems and networks and the confidentiality, availability and integrity of our data. We are the subject of cyber attacks from time to time, and must invest resources to protect our systems and defend against and respond to incidents. A failure of or breach in technology security could expose us and our customers and suppliers to risks of misuse of information or systems, the compromising of confidential information, manipulation and destruction of data, defective products, production downtimes and operating disruptions, which in turn could adversely affect our reputation, competitive position, business and results of operations. In addition, such breaches in security could result in litigation, regulatory action and potential liability and the costs and operational consequences of implementing further data protection measures.

Furthermore, we are subject to complex and evolving laws and regulations regarding privacy, know-your-customer requirements, data protection, cross-border data movement and other matters. Principles concerning the appropriate scope of consumer and commercial privacy vary considerably in different jurisdictions, and regulatory and public expectations regarding the definition and scope of consumer and commercial privacy may remain fluid. It is possible that these laws may be interpreted and applied by various jurisdictions in a manner inconsistent with our current or future practices or inconsistent with one another. If personal, confidential or proprietary information of customers or employees in our possession is mishandled or misused, we may face regulatory, reputational and operational risks which could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. For example, European legislators adopted the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) that became effective in May 2018, and supersedes EU data protection legislation, imposes more stringent data protection requirements, and provides for greater penalties for noncompliance. There are significant outstanding questions relating to the scope and applicability of GDPR for companies such as ours. We may face difficulty in fully complying with these regulations and any failure to do so could subject us to significant monetary penalties, liabilities, and adverse publicity. Further, California recently enacted a privacy law (the “California Consumer Privacy Act” or “CCPA”), which may limit how we may collect and use personal data, and which came into effect in January 2020. As draft regulations have not yet been finalized and additional state privacy laws may be enacted, the impact of these state privacy laws on us and others in our industry is uncertain. We also may be required to expend significant resources to prepare for and comply with the evolving standards. We could be adversely affected if the CCPA and other states’ legislation or regulations require changes in our business practices or privacy policies, or if governing jurisdictions interpret or implement their legislation or regulations in ways that negatively affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our success is dependent on our key personnel.

Our success depends to a significant extent upon a number of key employees, including members of senior management. The loss of the services of one or more of these key employees could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and prospects. We believe that our future success will depend in part on our ability to attract, motivate and retain skilled technical, managerial, marketing and sales personnel. Competition for these types of skilled personnel is intense and there can be no assurance that we will be successful in attracting, motivating and retaining key personnel. The failure to hire and retain such personnel could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

We could incur a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting that would require remediation.

Any future failures to maintain the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, including our internal control over financial reporting, could subject us to a loss of public confidence in our internal control over financial reporting and in the integrity of our financial statements and our public filings with the SEC and other governmental agencies and could harm our operating results or cause us to fail to meet our regulatory reporting obligations in a timely manner.

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Changes in our tax rates or exposure to additional income tax liabilities could impact our profitability.

We are subject to income taxes in the United States and in numerous other foreign jurisdictions. Significant judgment is required in determining our worldwide income tax provision, tax assets, and accruals for other taxes, and there are many transactions and calculations where the ultimate tax determination is uncertain. Our future effective tax rates could be adversely affected by changes in the mix of earnings by jurisdictions with differing statutory tax rates, changes in the valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities and changes in tax laws or tax rates. Furthermore, we are regularly subject to audit by tax authorities with respect to both income and other non-income taxes. Unfavorable audit results or tax rulings, or other changes resulting in significant additional tax liabilities, could have material adverse effects upon our earnings, cash flows, and financial condition.

Litigation or regulatory proceedings may materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

We are a party to various lawsuits, claims and loss contingencies arising in the ordinary course of business, including insured worker's compensation, auto, and general liability claims, assertions by certain regulatory and governmental agencies related to permitting requirements and/or air, wastewater and storm water discharges from the Company’s processing facilities, litigation involving tort, contract, statutory, labor, employment, and other claims, and tax matters. The outcome of litigation, particularly class action lawsuits, and regulatory proceedings is difficult to assess or quantify. Plaintiffs (including governmental agencies) in these types of lawsuits and proceedings may seek recovery of very large or indeterminate amounts, and the magnitude of the potential loss relating to such lawsuits or proceedings may remain unknown for substantial periods of time. The costs of responding to or defending future litigation or regulatory proceedings may be significant and any future litigation or regulatory proceedings may divert the attention of management away from our strategic objectives. There may also be adverse publicity associated with litigation or regulatory proceedings that may decrease customer confidence in our business, regardless of whether the allegations are valid or whether we are ultimately found liable. As a result, litigation or regulatory proceedings may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. For more information related to our litigation and regulatory proceedings, see Item 3. “Legal Proceedings.”

Our European pension funds may require minimum funding contributions.

In the UK and the EU, pension funds are generally subject to the Institution for Occupational Retirement Provision Directive (Directive 2003/41/EC) (the “IORP Directive”) as implemented in the relevant EU Member States (and the UK). The IORP Directive provides for certain general solvency requirements but allows EU Member States discretion to impose specific national requirements. As a result, the solvency of EU pension funds are mostly regulated on a national level. On December 23, 2016, the new IORP Directive (“IORP Directive II”) was published on the Official Journal of the European Union and entered into force on January 12, 2017, though this did not make substantive changes to the solvency requirements under the original IORP Directive. The new IORP Directive recognizes in one of its recitals that changes in this area could potentially decrease the willingness of employers to provide occupational pension schemes. EU Member States were required to implement IORP Directive II into national legislation by January 13, 2019. The UK introduced new legislation with effect from 13 January 2019 to implement certain parts of IORP Directive II: (i) the Occupational Pension Schemes (Governance) (Amendment) Regulations 2018, SI 2018/1103, which implemented the governance provisions; (ii) the Occupational Pension Schemes (Cross-border Activities) (Amendment) Regulations 2018, SI 2018/1102, which implemented the requirements relating to cross-border activity and cross-border transfers; and (iii) the Pension Protection Fund (Pensionable Service) and Occupational Pension Schemes (Investment and Disclosure) (Amendment and Modification) Regulations 2018, SI 2018/988, which (among other things) made amendments to the content requirements of statements of investment principles so as to require trustees to state, from 1 October 2019, their policy on ‘financially material considerations’. The UK government considered that the other aspects of IORP Directive II were already adequately covered by the existing UK law. Given that IORP Directive II has already been implemented in UK law, the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 has preserved any legislation made in the UK to implement the obligations under IORP Directive II (including those carried over from the original IORP Directive). That legislation has not changed immediately following Brexit, although there will be scope later on for the UK legislation and regulation to diverge from that of the EU.

The insurance coverage that we maintain may not fully cover all operational risks, and if the number or severity of claims for which we are self-insured increases, if we are required to accrue or pay additional amounts because the claims prove to be more severe than our recorded liabilities, if our insurance premiums increase or if we are unable to obtain insurance at acceptable rates or at all, our financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.

We maintain property, business interruption and casualty insurance but such insurance may not cover all of the risks associated with the hazards of our business and is subject to limitations, including deductibles and maximum liabilities covered.
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We may incur losses beyond the limits, or outside the coverage, of our insurance policies, including liabilities for environmental remediation. Additionally, our worker’s compensation, auto and general liability policies contain significant deductibles or self-insured retentions. We develop bi-yearly and record quarterly an estimate of our projected insurance-related liabilities. We estimate the liabilities associated with the risks retained by us, in part, by considering historical claims experience, demographic and severity factors and other actuarial assumptions. Any actuarial projection of losses is subject to a degree of variability. If the number or severity of claims for which we are self-insured increases, or we are required to accrue or pay additional amounts because the claims prove to be more severe than our original assessments, our financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected. In addition, in the future, the types of insurance we obtain and the level of coverage we maintain may be inadequate or we may be unable to continue to maintain our existing insurance or obtain comparable insurance at a reasonable cost. Any such inadequacy of, or inability to obtain, insurance coverage could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We may not successfully identify and complete acquisitions on favorable terms or achieve anticipated synergies relating to any acquisitions, and such acquisitions could result in unknown liabilities, unforeseen operating difficulties and expenditures and require significant management resources.

We regularly review potential acquisitions of complementary businesses, services or products. However, we may be unable to identify suitable acquisition candidates in the future. Even if we identify appropriate acquisition candidates, we may be unable to complete or finance such acquisitions on favorable terms, if at all. In addition, the process of integrating an acquired business, service or product into our existing business and operations may result in unforeseen operating difficulties and expenditures. Integration of an acquired company also may require significant management resources that otherwise would be available for ongoing development of our business. Moreover, we may not realize the anticipated benefits of any acquisition or strategic alliance and such transactions may not generate anticipated financial results. Future acquisitions could also require us to incur debt, assume contingent liabilities or amortize expenses related to intangible assets, any of which could harm our business. Finally, acquisitions may be structured in such a manner that would result in the assumption of unknown liabilities not disclosed by the seller or uncovered during pre-acquisition due diligence.

We may divest of certain of our brands or businesses from time to time, which could adversely affect us.

We evaluate our business regularly and, from time to time, we may decide to divest ourselves of brands or businesses that do not meet our strategic objectives or do not meet our growth or profitability targets. No assurance can be given that we will be able to divest of a brand or business on favorable terms or without significant costs or that we will be able to achieve the anticipated benefits or cost savings from the divestitures. Any such divestitures may adversely affect our results of operations if we are unable to offset the dilutive impacts from the loss of revenue associated with the divested brands or businesses, or otherwise achieve the anticipated benefits or cost savings from the divestitures. Moreover, we may incur asset impairment charges related to divestitures that reduce our profitability.

Terrorist attacks or acts of war may cause damage or disruption to us and our employees, facilities, information systems, security systems, suppliers and customers, which could materially and adversely affect our net sales, costs and expenses and financial condition.

Terrorist attacks, such as those that occurred on September 11, 2001, have contributed to economic instability in the United States and in certain other countries, and further acts of terrorism, bioterrorism, cyberterrorism, violence or war could affect the markets in which we operate, our business operations, our expectations and other forward-looking statements contained in this report. The potential for future terrorist attacks, the U.S. and international responses to terrorist attacks and other acts of war or hostility, including the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, North Korea and Ukraine, may cause economic and political uncertainties and cause our business to suffer in ways that cannot currently be predicted. Events such as those referred to above could cause or contribute to a general decline in investment valuations. In addition, terrorist attacks, particularly acts of bioterrorism, that directly impact our facilities or those of our suppliers or customers could have an impact on our sales, supply chain, production capability and costs and our ability to deliver our finished products.

We may be unable to protect our intellectual property rights.

We maintain valuable patents, trademarks, service marks, copyrights, trade names, trade secrets, proprietary technologies and similar intellectual property, and consider our intellectual property to be of material value. Our efforts to protect our intellectual property and proprietary rights may not be sufficient. Patents may not be issued for any pending or future patent applications owned by or licensed to us, and the claims allowed under any issued patents may not be sufficiently broad to protect our technology. Any issued patents owned by or licensed to us may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented, and the rights under these patents may not provide us with competitive advantages. In addition, competitors may design around our technology or develop competing technologies. Intellectual property rights may also be unavailable or limited in some foreign countries, which could make it easier for competitors to capture market position in such countries by utilizing
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technologies that are similar to those developed or licensed by us. If we do not obtain sufficient protection for our intellectual property, or if we are unable to effectively protect our intellectual property rights, our competitiveness could be impaired, which would limit our growth and future revenue. Any litigation to enforce our intellectual property rights, protect our trade secrets or determine the validity and scope of the proprietary rights of others could result in substantial costs and diversion of resources, with no assurance of success.

Our products, processes, methods, and equipment may infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others, which may cause us to incur unexpected costs or prevent us from selling our products.

We have in the past and may in the future be subject to legal proceedings and claims in the ordinary course of our business, including claims of alleged infringement of patents, trademarks and other intellectual property rights of third parties by us or our customers. Any such claims, whether or not meritorious, could result in costly litigation and divert the efforts of our management. Moreover, should we be found liable for infringement, we may be required to enter into licensing agreements (which may not be available on acceptable terms or at all) or to pay damages and cease making or selling certain products. Any of the foregoing could cause us to incur significant costs and prevent us from manufacturing or selling our products and thereby materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

The healthcare reform legislation in the United States and its implementing regulations could impact the healthcare benefits we are required to provide our employees in the United States and cause our compensation costs to increase, potentially reducing our net income and adversely affecting our cash flows.

In March 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act (the “ACA”), was signed into law in the United States. This healthcare reform legislation and its applicable implementing regulations contain provisions that could materially impact our future healthcare costs, including the contributions we are required to make to our benefit plans. In particular, the requirement that we either offer our full-time employees healthcare coverage that satisfies the ACA's affordability and minimum value standards or potentially be subject to an excise tax penalty became effective in calendar year 2015. In addition, beginning in 2016, we had to file information returns with the IRS regarding the health insurance coverage offered to our full-time employees in the prior calendar year and furnish to employees a statement that includes the same information provided to the IRS. While we have timely filed such returns and provided our employees with the required statements to date, failure to do so in the future could expose us to reporting penalties under applicable sections of the Internal Revenue Code. These provisions could reduce our net income and adversely affect our cash flows.

Legislative changes to, or regulatory changes under, all or certain portions of the ACA have been made under the Trump administration and more may be likely. On December 20, 2019, President Trump signed Public Law 116-94, a spending bill that included provisions repealing the so-called “Cadillac” tax on certain high cost employer-sponsored insurance plans and the annual fee imposed on certain health insurance providers based on market share. President Trump also signed two executive orders and other directives designed to delay the implementation of certain provisions of the ACA or otherwise circumvent some of the requirements for health insurance mandated by the ACA. Concurrently, members of the U.S. Congress have proposed other legislation that would repeal or repeal and replace all or part of the ACA. While Congress has not passed comprehensive repeal legislation, in addition to Public Law 116-94, bills affecting the implementation of certain taxes under the ACA have been signed into law. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, passed in December 2017, includes a provision repealing, effective January 1, 2019, the tax-based shared responsibility payment imposed by the ACA on certain individuals who fail to maintain qualifying health coverage for all or part of a year that is commonly referred to as the “individual mandate” (although a few states have adopted individual mandate requirements that assess penalties against individuals based on their uninsured status). There is uncertainty with respect to the impact that the reform proposals from the President’s administration and U.S. Congress may have, if any, including whether additional legislative reform will be enacted and whether any proposals will encompass or potentially alter the full-time employee healthcare coverage requirements and reporting obligations imposed on large employers like us. There have also been various litigation challenges to the ACA, some of which are ongoing. The 2020 U.S. Presidential and Congressional elections may also result in unknown changes to healthcare laws. Any changes may likely take time to unfold, and we cannot predict the ultimate content, timing, or effect of any healthcare reform legislation or the impact of potential legislation or related proposals and policies on us. We cannot assure that the ACA, as currently enacted or as repealed or amended in the future, will not adversely affect our business and financial results and we cannot predict how future federal or state legislative or administrative changes relating to healthcare reform will affect our business.

We may incur significant charges in the event we close or divest all or part of a manufacturing plant or facility.

We periodically assess our manufacturing operations in order to manufacture and distribute our products in the most efficient manner. Based on our assessments, we may make capital improvements to modernize certain units, move manufacturing or distribution capabilities from one plant or facility to another plant or facility, discontinue manufacturing or distributing certain products or close or divest all or part of a manufacturing plant or facility. The closure or divestiture of all or
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part of a manufacturing plant or facility could result in future charges that could be significant to our business, results of operations and financial condition.

The vote by the United Kingdom mandating its withdrawal from the EU could have an adverse effect on our business, investments and future operations in Europe.

The vote on June 23, 2016 by the United Kingdom (the “UK”) to exit the EU (“Brexit”), created uncertainty in the global financial markets. In December 2020, the EU and the UK reached an agreement on the future relationship between the two markets (the “EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement”). The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement will affect Darling Ingredients International’s business in Europe with respect to goods and employees. The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement applied since January 1, 2021 and entails, inter alia, that customs checks and controls apply to all UK exports entering the EU as well as EU exports entering the UK. Based on the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, the UK is considered a third country when it comes to imports in the EU. As a result, imports of products that are derived from animal by-products into the EU from the UK must follow third country rules, including being accompanied by an export health certificate or model declaration form, and may be subject to veterinary checks and having to enter through designated board inspection posts. This may delay imports/exports between the EU and the UK and may entail additional costs. The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement may also impair the ability of Darling Ingredients International to transact business in the future in the UK, including by restricting the free travel of employees as UK citizens will no longer have the freedom to live in the EU, and will need visas to work in the EU, other than short-term visits for specific purposes (e.g. attending meetings, conducting training) in accordance with local immigration laws. The same restrictions will apply to EU citizens in the UK. Moreover, there will continue to be some legal uncertainty for a while and the laws applicable in the EU and UK will start to diverge as the UK adopts its own legislation. Furthermore, Brexit is likely to continue to adversely affect European and worldwide economic conditions and could contribute to greater instability in the global financial markets for a while to come. These effects could have an adverse effect on our business, investments and future operations in Europe.

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
  
As of January 2, 2021, the Company's corporate headquarters is located at 5601 N MacArthur Boulevard, Irving, Texas, 75038.

As of January 2, 2021, the Company operates a global network of over 200 locations, including 147 production facilities, across five continents. All of the processing facilities are owned except for 10 leased facilities and the Company owns and leases a network of transfer stations. The following is a listing of a majority of the Company's operating plants as of January 2, 2021 by operating segment with a description of the plants principal process.
LOCATIONDESCRIPTION
Feed Ingredients Segment
Albertville, Alabama, United StatesBakery Residuals
Bastrop, Texas, United StatesAnimal By-Products
Bellevue, Nebraska, United StatesAnimal By-Products
Berlin, Wisconsin, United StatesAnimal By-Products
Blue Earth, Minnesota, United StatesAnimal By-Products
Blue Island, Illinois, United StatesUsed Cooking Oil/Trap Processing
Boise, Idaho, United StatesAnimal By-Products
Bryan, Texas, United StatesBakery Residuals
Burgum, NetherlandsAnimal By-Products
Butler, Kentucky, United StatesAnimal By-Products
Butler, Kentucky, United StatesBakery Residuals
Clinton, Iowa, United StatesAnimal By-Products
Coldwater, Michigan, United StatesAnimal By-Products
Collinsville, Oklahoma, United StatesAnimal By-Products
Dallas, Texas, United StatesAnimal By-Products
Denver, Colorado, United StatesAnimal By-Products
Des Moines, Iowa, United StatesAnimal By-Products
Doswell, Virginia, United StatesBakery Residuals
Dundas, Ontario, CanadaAnimal By-Products
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East Dublin, Georgia, United StatesAnimal By-Products
E. St. Louis, Illinois, United StatesAnimal By-Products
Ellenwood, Georgia, United StatesAnimal By-Products
Fresno, California, United StatesAnimal By-Products
Grapeland, Texas, United StatesAnimal By-Products
Hamilton, Michigan, United StatesAnimal By-Products
Henderson, Kentucky, United StatesFertilizer
Henderson, Kentucky, United StatesBakery Residuals
Hickson, Ontario, CanadaAnimal By-Products
Honey Brook, Pennsylvania, United StatesBakery Residuals
Houston, Texas, United StatesAnimal By-Products
Jackson, Mississippi, United StatesAnimal By-Products
Kansas City, Kansas, United StatesAnimal By-Products
Kansas City, Kansas, United StatesProtein Refining
Lexington, Nebraska, United StatesAnimal By-Products
Lingen, GermanyBlood
Loenen, NetherlandsAnimal By-Products
Los Angeles, California, United StatesAnimal By-Products
Luohe, ChinaBlood
Maquoketa, Iowa, United StatesBlood
Marshville, North Carolina, United StatesBakery Residuals
Maryborough, AustraliaBlood
Maysville, Kentucky, United StatesProtein Refining
Maysville, Kentucky, United StatesBakery Residuals
Mason City, Illinois, United StatesAnimal By-Products
Mering, GermanyBlood
Moorefield, Ontario, CanadaAnimal By-Products
Muscatine, Iowa, United StatesBakery Residuals
Newark, New Jersey, United StatesAnimal By-Products
Newberry, Indiana, United StatesAnimal By-Products
North Baltimore, Ohio, United StatesBakery Residuals
Omaha, Nebraska, United StatesProtein Refining
Omaha, Nebraska, United StatesAnimal By-Products
Osetnica, PolandAnimal By-Products
Paducah, Kentucky, United StatesWet Pet Food
Pocahontas, Arkansas, United States *Animal By-Products
Ravenna, Nebraska, United StatesWet Pet Food
Russellville, Kentucky, United StateAnimal By-Products
Saint-Catherine, Quebec, Canada*Used Cooking Oil
San Francisco, California, United States *Animal By-Products
Sioux City, Iowa, United StatesAnimal By-Products
Smyrna, Georgia, United StatesTrap Processing
Springdale, Arkansas, United StatesWet Pet Food
Son, NetherlandsAnimal By-Products
Starke, Florida, United StatesAnimal By-Products
Suzhou, ChinaBlood
Tacoma, Washington, United States *Animal By-Products
Tama, Iowa, United StatesAnimal By-Products
Tampa, Florida, United StatesAnimal By-Products
Truro, Novia Scotia, CanadaUsed Cooking Oil
Turlock, California, United StatesAnimal By-Products
Turlock, California, United StatesFertilizer
Union City, Tennessee, United StatesAnimal By-Products
Usnice, PolandAnimal By-Products
Wahoo, Nebraska, United StatesAnimal By-Products
Watts, Oklahoma, United StatesBakery Residuals/Protein Refining
Wichita, Kansas, United StatesAnimal By-Products
Winesburg, Ohio, United States *Animal By-Products
Winnipeg, Manitoba, CanadaAnimal By-Products
Food Ingredients Segment
Almere, NetherlandsCasings
Amparo, BrazilCollagen
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Angouleme, FranceCollagen
Da'an, ChinaCollagen
Dubuque, Iowa, United StatesCollagen
Eindhoven, NetherlandsFat
Elsholz, GermanyFat
Erolzheim, GermanyFat
Gent, BelgiumCollagen
Girona, SpainCollagen
Harlingen, NetherlandsFat
Ilse-Sur-La-Sorgue, FranceCollagen
Kaiping, ChinaCollagen
Lubien, PolandFat
Peabody, Massachusetts, United StatesCollagen
Porto, PortugalCasings
Presidente Epitacio, BrazilCollagen
Stoke-on Trent, United KingdomBone
Versmold, GermanyFat
Vuren, NetherlandsBone
Wenzhou, ChinaCollagen
Fuel Ingredients Segment
Belm-Icker, GermanyBioenergy
Denderleeuw, BelgiumBioenergy
Denderleeuw, BelgiumDigester
Jagel, GermanyBioenergy
Rotenburg, GermanyBioenergy
Son, NetherlandsBioenergy
Son, NetherlandsDigester
* Leased
 
Rent expense for our leased properties was $17.0 million in the aggregate in fiscal 2020. We believe our current properties are suitable and adequate for their intended purpose.

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The Company is a party to various lawsuits, claims and loss contingencies arising in the ordinary course of its business, including insured worker's compensation, auto, and general liability claims, assertions by certain regulatory and governmental agencies related to permitting requirements and environmental matters, including air, wastewater and storm water discharges from the Company's processing facilities, litigation involving tort, contract, statutory, labor, employment, and other claims, and tax matters.

The Company’s workers compensation, auto and general liability policies contain significant deductibles or self-insured retentions.  The Company estimates and accrues its expected ultimate claim costs related to accidents occurring during each fiscal year under these insurance policies and carries this accrual as a reserve until these claims are paid by the Company.

As a result of the matters discussed above, the Company has established loss reserves for insurance, environmental, litigation and tax contingencies. At January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, the reserves for insurance, environmental, litigation and tax contingencies reflected on the balance sheet in accrued expenses and other non-current liabilities were approximately $66.2 million and $70.5 million, respectively. The Company has insurance recovery receivables of approximately $27.0 million and $26.2 million as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, related to insurance contingencies. The Company’s management believes these reserves for contingencies are reasonable and sufficient based upon present governmental regulations and information currently available to management; however, there can be no assurance that final costs related to these contingencies will not exceed current estimates.  The Company believes that the likelihood is remote that any additional liability from the lawsuits and claims that may not be covered by insurance would have a material effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Lower Passaic River Area. In December 2009, the Company, along with numerous other entities, received notice from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) that the Company (as alleged successor-in-interest to The Standard Tallow Corporation) is considered a potentially responsible party (a “PRP”) with respect to alleged contamination in
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the lower 17-mile area of the Passaic River which is part of the Diamond Alkali Superfund Site located in Newark, New Jersey. The Company’s designation as a PRP is based upon the operation of a former plant sites located in Newark and Kearny, New Jersey by The Standard Tallow Corporation, an entity that the Company acquired in 1996. In the letter, EPA requested that the Company join a group of other parties in funding a remedial investigation and feasibility study at the site. As of the date of this report, the Company has not agreed to participate in the funding group. In March 2016, the Company received another letter from EPA notifying the Company that it had issued a Record of Decision (the “ROD”) selecting a remedy for the lower 8.3 miles of the lower Passaic River area at an estimated cost of $1.38 billion. The EPA letter makes no demand on the Company and lays out a framework for remedial design/remedial action implementation in which the EPA will first seek funding from major PRPs. The letter indicates that the EPA has sent the letter to over 100 parties, which include large chemical and refining companies, manufacturing companies, foundries, plastic companies, pharmaceutical companies and food and consumer product companies. The EPA has already offered early cash out settlements to 20 of the other PRPs and has stated that other parties who did not discharge any of the eight contaminants of concern identified in the ROD (the “COCs”) may also be eligible for cash out settlements and conducted a settlement analysis using a third-party allocator. The Company participated in this allocation process as it asserts that it is not responsible for any liabilities of its former subsidiary The Standard Tallow Corporation, which was legally dissolved in 2000, and that, in any event, The Standard Tallow Corporation did not discharge any of the COCs. In November 2019, the Company received a cash out settlement offer from the EPA in the amount of $0.6 million ($0.3 million for each of the former plant sites in question) for liabilities relating to the lower 8.3 miles of the lower Passaic River area. The Company has accepted this settlement offer, which is now subject to the EPA’s administrative approval process, which includes publication and a public comment period. On September 30, 2016, Occidental Chemical Corporation (“OCC”) entered into an agreement with the EPA to perform the remedial design for the cleanup plan for the lower 8.3 miles of the Passaic River. On June 30, 2018, OCC filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey against over 100 companies, including the Company, seeking cost recovery or contribution for costs under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”) relating to various investigations and cleanups OCC has conducted or is conducting in connection with the Passaic River. According to the complaint, OCC has incurred or is incurring costs which include the estimated cost to complete the remedial design for the cleanup plan for the lower 8.3 miles of the Passaic River. OCC is also seeking a declaratory judgment to hold the defendants liable for their proper shares of future response costs, including the remedial action for the lower 8.3 miles of the Passaic River. The Company, along with 40 of the other defendants, had previously received a release from OCC of its CERCLA contribution claim of $165 million associated with the costs to design the remedy for the lower 8.3 miles of the Passaic River. Furthermore, in the event the settlement with the EPA described above is consummated, it could preclude certain of the claims alleged by OCC against the Company. The Company's ultimate liability, if any, for investigatory costs, remedial costs and/or natural resource damages in connection with the lower Passaic River area cannot be determined at this time; however, as of the date of this report, the Company has found no definitive evidence that the former Standard Tallow Corporation plant sites contributed any of the COCs to the Passaic River and, therefore, there is nothing that leads the Company to believe that this matter will have a material effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

    The Company is engaged in other legal proceedings from time to time. The proceedings described above and such other proceedings can be complex and take many months, or even years, to reach resolution, with the final outcome being dependent upon a number of variables, some of which are not within the control of the Company. Therefore, although the Company will vigorously defend itself in each of the described actions, the ultimate resolution and potential financial impact on the Company is uncertain.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.
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PART II


ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Market Information

The Company’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “DAR”.  

Holders

The Company has been notified by its stock transfer agent that as of February 24, 2021, there were 128 holders of record of the common stock.

Dividend Policy

The Company has not paid any dividends on its common stock since January 3, 1989 and does not expect to pay cash dividends in 2021.  The agreements underlying the Company's senior secured credit facilities and senior notes permit the Company to pay cash dividends on its common stock within limitations defined in such agreements.  Any future determination to pay cash dividends on the Company’s common stock will be at the discretion of the Company’s board of directors and will be based upon the Company’s financial condition, operating results, capital requirements, plans for expansion, restrictions imposed by any existing or future financing arrangements, and any other factors that the board of directors determines are relevant.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

On August 3, 2020, the Company's Board of Directors approved the extension for an additional two years of its previously announced share repurchase program and refreshed the amount of the program back up to its original amount of an aggregate of $200.0 million of the Company's Common Stock depending on market conditions. Under this program, we repurchased 2,187,685 shares for approximately $55.0 million in fiscal 2020. As of the date of this report, the Company had approximately $200.0 million remaining in its share repurchase program initially approved in August 2017 and subsequently extended to August 13, 2022.

Separate from this share repurchase program, a total of 646,961 shares were withheld from equity award recipients to cover payroll taxes on the vesting of shares of restricted stock, restricted stock units, exercised options and the strike price on exercised options during fiscal 2020 pursuant to the terms of our 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan and 2012 Omnibus plan, as amended.

Common Stock Performance Graph

Set forth below is a line graph comparing the change in the cumulative total stockholder return on the Company's common stock with the cumulative total return of the Russell 2000 Index and the Dow Jones US Waste and Disposal Service Index for the period from January 2, 2016 to January 2, 2021, assuming the investment of $100 on January 2, 2016 and the reinvestment of dividends.

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The stock price performance shown on the following graph only reflects the change in the Company's stock price relative to the noted indices and is not necessarily indicative of future price performance.

dar-20210102_g1.jpg

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS

The information required by this Item with respect to Item 201(d) of Regulation S-K appears in Item 12 of this report.


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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

SELECTED HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

The following table presents selected consolidated historical financial data for the periods indicated.  The selected historical consolidated financial data set forth below should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company for the three years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019, and December 29, 2018, and the related notes thereto.
Fiscal 2020Fiscal 2019Fiscal 2018Fiscal 2017Fiscal 2016
Fifty-threeFifty-twoFifty-twoFifty-twoFifty-two
Weeks EndedWeeks EndedWeeks EndedWeeks EndedWeeks Ended
January 2,December 28,December 29,December 30,December 31,
2021 (f)20192018 (f)20172016
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Statement of Operations Data:     
Net sales $3,571,923 $3,363,905 $3,387,726 $3,662,251 $3,391,928 
Cost of sales and operating expenses2,688,815 2,589,085 2,646,374 2,875,680 2,635,333 
Loss (gain) on sale of assets426 (20,582)709 (237)— 
Selling, general and administrative expenses (b)378,496 358,523 309,264 343,502 311,552 
Restructuring and asset impairment charges38,167 — 14,965 — — 
Depreciation and amortization350,178 325,510 321,192 302,100 289,908 
   Acquisition and integration costs— — — — 401 
Equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel (e)315,095 364,452 159,779 28,239 69,912 
Operating income430,936 475,821 255,001 169,445 224,646 
Interest expense (a)72,686 78,674 86,429 88,926 94,187 
Debt extinguishment costs— 12,126 23,509 — — 
Foreign currency loss2,290 1,311 6,431 6,898 1,854 
Loss (gain) on disposal of subsidiaries— (2,967)12,545 885 — 
Other expense, net5,534 6,671 7,562 8,801 6,533 
Equity in net loss/(income) of other unconsolidated subsidiaries and unconsolidated subsidiaries(3,193)(428)550 (265)(467)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
353,619 380,434 117,975 64,200 122,539 
Income tax (benefit)/expense53,289 59,467 12,031 (69,154)15,315 
Net Income$300,330 $320,967 $105,944 $133,354 $107,224 
Net Income attributable to noncontrolling interests(3,511)(8,367)(4,448)(4,886)(4,911)
Net Income attributable to Darling$296,819 $312,600 $101,496 $128,468 $102,313 
Basic earnings per common share$1.83 $1.90 $0.62 $0.78 $0.62 
Diluted earnings per common share$1.78 $1.86 $0.60 $0.77 $0.62 
Weighted average shares outstanding162,572 164,633 164,789 164,752 164,600 
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding167,208 168,378 167,910 166,730 165,212 
Other Financial Data:     
Adjusted EBITDA  (c)$504,186 $436,879 $431,379 $443,306 $444,642 
Depreciation276,132 251,880 246,002 224,125 212,217 
Amortization74,046 73,630 75,190 77,975 77,691 
Capital expenditures (d)280,115 359,498 321,896 274,168 243,523 
Balance Sheet Data:     
Working capital$311,689 $228,949 $357,444 $396,962 $441,451 
Total assets5,613,331 5,345,258 4,889,354 4,958,225 4,698,017 
Current portion of long-term debt27,538 90,996 7,492 16,143 23,247 
Total long-term debt less current portion1,480,531 1,558,429 1,666,940 1,698,050 1,727,696 
Stockholders’ equity attributable to Darling2,891,909 2,565,819 2,273,048 2,244,933 1,972,994 
 
(a)Included in interest expense for fiscal 2020 is the write-off of deferred loan costs of approximately $3.1 million.
(b)Included in selling, general and administrative expense for fiscal 2019 is a gain of approximately $4.4 million and for fiscal 2016 there is a gain of approximately $3.1 million from business interruption insurance proceeds.
(c)Adjusted EBITDA is presented here not as an alternative to net income, but rather as a measure of the Company’s operating performance and is not intended to be a presentation in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles
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(“GAAP”).  Adjusted EBITDA is calculated below and represents, for any relevant period, net income/(loss) plus depreciation and amortization, goodwill and long-lived asset impairment and restructuring charges, interest expense, (income)/loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, income tax provision, other income/(expense) and equity in net loss (gain) of unconsolidated subsidiaries.  The Company believes adjusted EBITDA is a useful measure for investors because it is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies in the Company's industry.  In addition, management believes that adjusted EBITDA is useful in evaluating the Company's operating performance compared to that of other companies in the food ingredients and agriculture industries because the calculation of adjusted EBITDA generally eliminates the effects of financing, income taxes and certain non-cash and other items that may vary for different companies for reasons unrelated to overall operating performance.  As a result, the Company’s management uses adjusted EBITDA as a measure to evaluate performance and for other discretionary purposes.  However, adjusted EBITDA is not a recognized measurement under GAAP, should not be considered as an alternative to net income as a measure of operating results or to cash flow as a measure of liquidity, and is not intended to be a presentation in accordance with GAAP.  Also, since adjusted EBITDA is not calculated identically by all companies, the presentation in this report may not be comparable to those disclosed by other companies. In addition to the foregoing, management also uses or will use adjusted EBITDA to measure compliance with certain financial covenants under the Company’s senior secured credit facilities and senior notes that were outstanding at January 2, 2021.  The amounts shown below for adjusted EBITDA differ from the amounts calculated under similarly titled definitions in the Company’s Senior Secured Credit Facilities and Senior Unsecured Notes, as those definitions permit further adjustments to reflect certain other non-cash charges.
Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA
 
(dollars in thousands)		January 2,
2021		December 28,
2019		December 29,
2018		December 30,
2017		December 31,
2016
Net income attributable to Darling$296,819 $312,600 $101,496 $128,468 $102,313 
Depreciation and amortization350,178 325,510 321,192 302,100 289,908 
Interest expense72,686 78,674 86,429 88,926 94,187 
Income tax (benefit)/expense53,289 59,467 12,031 (69,154)15,315 
 Restructuring and asset impairment charges38,167 — 14,965 — — 
Other, net7,824 7,982 13,993 15,699 8,387 
Debt extinguishment costs
— 12,126 23,509 — — 
Loss (gain) on disposal of subsidiaries
— (2,967)12,545 885 — 
Equity in net income of unconsolidated subsidiaries
(318,288)(364,880)(159,229)(28,504)(70,379)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
3,511 8,367 4,448 4,886 4,911 
Adjusted EBITDA$504,186 $436,879 $431,379 $443,306 $444,642 
 
(d)Fiscal 2020 excludes capital assets acquired in the Belgium group and the Marengo Fabricated Steel Ltd acquisitions of approximately $18.4 million and Fiscal 2018 excludes the capital assets acquired in the Kruger Commodities, Inc., Triple - T Foods - Arkansas, Inc., and Sonac Lubien, Poland acquisitions of approximately $31.6 million. Fiscal 2019, fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016 excludes the capital assets acquired in immaterial acquisitions.
(e)In fiscal 2019, the $364.5 million equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel (DGD) includes approximately $78 million of Darling's share of DGD's blenders tax credits (BTC) from fiscal 2018. In fiscal 2018, the $159.8 million equity in net income of DGD included approximately $80 million of Darling's share of DGD's BTC from fiscal 2017. In fiscal 2017, the $28.2 million of equity in net income of DGD excludes approximately $80 million of Darling's share of DGD's BTC from fiscal 2017 that was recognized in fiscal 2018. See Note 2 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements included herein.

(f)Subsequent to the date of acquisition, Fiscal 2020 includes nine weeks of contribution from the Belgium group acquisition and two weeks of contribution from the Marengo Fabricated Steel acquisition. Fiscal 2018 includes 32 weeks of contribution from the acquisition of Kruger Commodities, Inc., 12 weeks from the acquisition of Triple-T Foods - Arkansas, Inc. and eight weeks from the acquisition of Sonac Lubien.
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ITEM 7.  MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including those set forth below under the heading “Forward Looking Statements” and in Item 1A of this report under the heading “Risk Factors.”

Fiscal Year 2020 Overview

The Company is a global developer and producer of sustainable natural ingredients from edible and inedible bio-nutrients, creating a wide range of ingredients and customized specialty solutions for customers in the pharmaceutical, food, pet food, feed, industrial, fuel, bioenergy and fertilizer industries. With operations on five continents, the Company collects and transforms all aspects of animal by-product streams into useable and specialty ingredients, such as collagen, edible fats, feed-grade fats, animal proteins and meals, plasma, pet food ingredients, organic fertilizers, yellow grease, fuel feedstocks, green energy, natural casings and hides. The Company also recovers and converts recycled oils (used cooking oil and animal fats) into valuable feed and collects and processes residual bakery products into feed ingredients.  In addition, the Company provides environmental services, such as grease trap collection and disposal services to food service establishments. The Company sells its products domestically and internationally and operates within three industry segments: Feed Ingredients, Food Ingredients and Fuel Ingredients.

The Feed Ingredients operating segment includes the Company's global activities related to (i) the collection and processing of beef, poultry and pork animal by-products in North America and Europe into non-food grade oils and protein meals, (ii) the collection and processing of bakery residuals in North America into Cookie Meal®, which is predominantly used in poultry and swine rations, (iii) the collection and processing of used cooking oil in North America into non-food grade fats, (iv) the collection and processing of porcine and bovine blood in China, Europe, North America and Australia into blood plasma powder and hemoglobin, (v) the processing of selected portions of slaughtered animals into a variety of meat products for use in pet food in Europe and North America, (vi) the processing of cattle hides and hog skins in North America, (vii) the production of organic fertilizers using protein produced from the Company’s animal by-products processing activities in North America and Europe, and (viii) the rearing and processing of black soldier fly larvae into specialty proteins for use in animal feed and pet food in North America; and (ix) the provision of grease trap services to food service establishments in North America. Non-food grade oils and fats produced and marketed by the Company are principally sold to third parties to be used as ingredients in animal feed and pet food, as an ingredient for the production of biodiesel and renewable diesel, or to the oleo-chemical industry to be used as an ingredient in a wide variety of industrial applications. Protein meals, blood plasma powder and hemoglobin produced and marketed by the Company are sold to third parties to be used as ingredients in animal feed, pet food and aquaculture.

The Food Ingredients operating segment includes the Company's global activities related to (i) the purchase and processing of beef and pork bone chips, beef hides, pig skins, and fish skins into collagen in Europe, China, South America and North America, (ii) the collection and processing of porcine and bovine intestines into natural casings in Europe, China and North America, (iii) the extraction and processing of porcine mucosa into crude heparin in Europe, (iv) the collection and refining of animal fat into food grade fat in Europe, and (v) the processing of bones to bone chips for the collagen industry and bone ash in Europe. Collagens produced and marketed by the Company are sold to third parties to be used as ingredients in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, food, pet food and technical (e.g., photographic) industries. Natural casings produced and marketed by the Company are sold to third parties to be used as an ingredient in the production of sausages and other similar food products.

The Fuel Ingredients operating segment includes the Company's global activities related to (i) the Company’s share of the results of its equity investment in Diamond Green Diesel Holdings LLC, a joint venture with Valero Energy Corporation (“Valero”) to convert animal fats, recycled greases, used cooking oil, inedible corn oil, soybean oil, or other feedstocks that become economically and commercially viable into renewable diesel (the “DGD Joint Venture”) as described in Note 2 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements for the period ended January 2, 2021 included herein, (ii) the conversion of organic sludge and food waste into biogas in Europe, (iii) the collection and conversion of fallen stock and certain animal by-products pursuant to applicable E.U. regulations into low-grade energy sources to be used in industrial applications, and (iv) the processing of manure into natural bio-phosphate in Europe.
Corporate Activities principally includes unallocated corporate overhead expenses, acquisition-related expenses, interest expense net of interest income, and other non-operating income and expenses.

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Observations on the Effects of COVID-19

In January 2020, the World Health Organization (“WHO”) declared the coronavirus disease (“COVID-19”) a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. On February 28, 2020, the WHO raised its assessment of the COVID-19 threat from high to very high at a global level due to the continued increase in the number of cases and affected countries, and on March 11, 2020, the WHO characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic. Since then, various federal, state and local government-imposed movement restrictions and initiatives have been implemented worldwide to reduce the global transmission of COVID-19, including reduced or eliminated food services, the promotion of social distancing and the adoption of remote working policies.

To date, these restrictions have not had a material impact on the Company’s operations, as the Company operates in industries that are deemed “critical” and “essential” under the rules imposing these restrictions; however, the Company did incur approximately $7.5 million of COVID-19 related charges globally in fiscal year 2020. The Company has implemented operational guidelines throughout the Company's organization consistent with the applicable governmental and regulatory policies in the geographies the Company operates intended to protect the Company's employees and prevent the spread of the virus in the Company's workplace, and to date, all of the Company's facilities are operational. The Company believes the severity and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic is uncertain and such uncertainty will likely continue. Among the items that could have a significant impact on the Company's future results is a reduction in the Company's raw material supply due to disruptions in the operations of the Company's third-party suppliers. Accordingly, while to date the Company has experienced no material negative effects on the Company's business and results of operations as a result of the current COVID-19 outbreak, the situation remains dynamic and subject to rapid and possibly material change, including but not limited to changes that may materially affect the operations of the Company's supply chain partners and finished product customers, which ultimately could result in material negative effects on the Company's business and results of operations. Additionally, the Company’s raw material supplies are globally diverse. During the second quarter of 2020, the Company experienced various disruptions in raw material supplies and sales of its specialty collagens and gelatins, both of which returned to more normalized levels during the third quarter of 2020. However, it is possible that COVID-19 might cause similar disruptions to the Company's business and operations in the future.

DGD has also implemented operational guidelines in its organization, and to date, COVID-19 has not had a material impact on DGD’s operations. We expect that biofuel regulations and mandates will continue supporting renewable diesel demand; however, a prolonged or significant decline in overall fuel demand could negatively impact the sales and profitability of DGD’s business.

The extent to which COVID-19 impacts the Company’s and DGD's results will depend on future developments, which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including new information which may emerge concerning the severity of COVID-19 and any actions to contain the virus or treat its impact, among others. For additional information regarding the risks associated with COVID-19, see the important information in Item 1A. Risk Factors, under the caption “Pandemics, epidemics or disease outbreaks, such as the novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”), may disrupt our business, including, among other things, our supply chain and production processes, each of which could materially affect our operations, liquidity, financial condition and results of operations.”
    
Operating Performance Indicators

The Company monitors the performance of its business segments using key financial metrics such as results of operations, non-GAAP measurements (Adjusted EBITDA), segment operating income, raw material processed, gross margin percentage, foreign currency translation, and corporate activities. The Company’s operating results can vary significantly due to changes in factors such as the fluctuation in energy prices, weather conditions, crop harvests, government policies and programs, changes in global demand, changes in standards of living, protein consumption, and global production of competing ingredients. Due to these unpredictable factors that are beyond the control of the Company, forward-looking financial or operational estimates are not provided. The Company is exposed to certain risks associated with a business that is influenced by agricultural-based commodities. These risks are further described in Item 1A of this report under the heading “Risk Factors.”

    The Company’s Feed Ingredients segment animal by-products, bakery residuals, used cooking oil recovery, and blood operations are each influenced by prices for agricultural-based alternative ingredients such as corn oil, soybean oil, soybean meal, and palm oil. In these operations, the costs of the Company's raw materials change with, or in certain cases are indexed to, the selling price or the anticipated selling price of the finished goods produced from the acquired raw materials and/or in some cases, the price spread between various types of finished products. The Company believes that this methodology of procuring raw materials generally establishes a relatively stable gross margin upon the acquisition of the raw material. Although the costs of raw materials for the Feed Ingredients segment are generally based upon actual or anticipated finished goods selling
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prices, rapid and material changes in finished goods prices, including competing agricultural-based alternative ingredients, generally have an immediate and often times, material impact on the Company’s gross margin and profitability resulting from the brief lapse of time between the procurement of the raw materials and the sale of the finished goods. In addition, the volume of raw material volume acquired, which has a direct impact on the amount of finished goods produced, can also have a material effect on the gross margin reported, as the Company has a substantial amount of fixed operating costs.

    The Company’s Food Ingredients segment collagen and natural casings products are influenced by other competing ingredients including plant-based and synthetic hydrocolloids and artificial casings. In the collagen operation, the cost of the Company's animal-based raw material moves in relationship to the selling price of the finished goods. The processing time for the Food Ingredients segment collagen and casings is generally 30 to 60 days, which is substantially longer than the Company's Feed Ingredients segment animal by-products operations. Consequently, the Company’s gross margin and profitability in this segment can be influenced by the movement of finished goods prices from the time the raw materials were procured until the finished goods are sold.

The Company's Fuel Ingredients segment converts fats into renewable diesel, organic sludge and food waste into biogas, and fallen stock into low-grade energy sources. The Company's gross margin and profitability in this segment are impacted by world energy prices for oil, electricity, natural gas and governmental subsidies.

The reporting currency for the Company's financial statements is the U.S. dollar. The Company operates in over 15 countries and therefore, certain of the Company's assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses are denominated in functional currencies other than the U.S. dollar, primarily in the Euro, Brazilian real, Chinese renminbi, Canadian dollar and Polish zloty. To prepare the Company's consolidated financial statements, assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses must be translated into U.S. dollars at the applicable exchange rate. As a result, increases or decreases in the value of the U.S. dollar against these other currencies will affect the amount of these items recorded in the Company's consolidated financial statements, even if their value has not changed in the functional currency. This could have a significant impact on the Company's results, if such increase or decrease in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to these other currencies is substantial.

In 2019, the Company continued to evaluate operational developments and the impact of anticipated significant expansion of the DGD Joint Venture. This evaluation was impactful to the consideration of how the Company most appropriately reflects its share of equity income from the DGD Joint Venture. Based on the Company's analysis, it was determined that the DGD Joint Venture has evolved into an integral and integrated part of the Company's ongoing operations. The Company determined this justifies a more meaningful and transparent presentation of equity in net income of the DGD Joint Venture as a component of the Company's operating income.

Results of Operations

Fiscal Year Ended January 2, 2021 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended December 28, 2019

Fiscal 2020 includes an additional week of operations which occurs every five to six years. In Fiscal 2020 the additional week occurred in the fourth quarter and increased net sales and operating income by approximately $73 million and $8 million, respectively.

Operating Performance Metrics

Other operating performance metrics indicators which management routinely monitors as an indicator of operating performance include:

•Finished product commodity prices
•Segment results
•Foreign currency exchange
•Corporate activities
•Non-U.S. GAAP measures

These indicators and their importance are discussed below.

Finished Product Commodity Prices

Prices for finished product commodities that the Company produces in the Feed Ingredients segment are reported each business day on the Jacobsen Index (the “Jacobsen”), an established North American trading exchange price publisher. The
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Jacobsen reports industry sales from the prior day's activity by product. Included on the Jacobsen are reported prices for finished products such as MBM, PM and feather meal (“FM”), hides, BFT and YG and corn, which is a substitute commodity for the Company's BBP as well as a range of other branded and value-added products, which are products of the Company's Feed Ingredients segment. In the U.S. the Company regularly monitors the Jacobsen for MBM, PM, FM, BFT, YG and corn because it provides a daily indication of the Company's U.S. revenue performance against business plan benchmarks. In Europe, the Company regularly monitors Thomson Reuters (“Reuters”) to track the competing commodities palm oil and soy meal.

Although the Jacobsen and Reuters provide useful metrics of performance, the Company's finished products are commodities that compete with other commodities such as corn, soybean oil, palm oil complex, soybean meal and heating oil on nutritional and functional values. Therefore, actual pricing for the Company's finished products, as well as competing products, can be quite volatile. In addition, neither the Jacobsen nor Reuters provides forward or future period pricing for the Company's commodities. The Jacobsen and Reuters prices quoted below are for delivery of the finished product at a specified location. Although the Company's prices generally move in concert with reported Jacobsen and Reuters prices, the Company's actual sales prices for its finished products may vary significantly from the Jacobsen and Reuters because of production and delivery timing differences and because the Company's finished products are delivered to multiple locations in different geographic regions which utilize alternative price indexes. In addition, certain of the Company's premium branded finished products may sell at prices that may be higher than the closest product on the related Jacobsen or Reuters index. During fiscal year 2020, the Company's actual sales prices by product trended with the disclosed Jacobsen and Reuters prices.

Average Jacobsen and Reuters prices (at the specified delivery point) for fiscal year 2020, compared to average Jacobsen and Reuters prices for fiscal year 2019 are:
 Avg. Price
Fiscal Year 2020		Avg. Price
Fiscal Year 2019		 
Increase/(Decrease)		%
Increase/(Decrease)
Jacobsen:
MBM (Illinois)$ 261.43/ton$ 230.85/ton$ 30.58/ton13.2 %
Feed Grade PM (Mid-South)$ 251.13/ton$ 241.37/ton$ 9.76/ton4.0 %
Pet Food PM (Mid-South)$ 633.61/ton$ 522.39/ton$ 111.22/ton21.3 %
FM (Mid-South)$ 314.20/ton$ 352.87/ton$ (38.67)/ton(11.0)%
BFT (Chicago)$ 31.48/cwt$   28.08/cwt$    3.40/cwt12.1 %
YG (Illinois)$ 21.95/cwt$   22.01/cwt$    (0.06)/cwt(0.3)%
Corn (Illinois)$ 3.75/bushel$ 3.95/bushel$ (0.20)/bushel(5.1)%
Reuters:
Palm Oil (CIF Rotterdam)$ 707.00/ton$ 568.00/ton$ 139.00/ton24.5 %
Soy meal (CIF Rotterdam)$ 394.00/ton$ 347.00/ton$ 47.00/ton13.5 %

The following table shows the average Jacobsen and Reuters prices for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2020, compared to the average Jacobsen and Reuters prices for the third quarter of fiscal year 2020.
 Avg. Price
4th Quarter
2020		Avg. Price
3rd Quarter
2020		 
Increase/(Decrease)		%
Increase/(Decrease)
Jacobsen:
MBM (Illinois)$ 305.29/ton$ 212.91/ton$ 92.38/ton43.4 %
Feed Grade PM (Mid-South)$ 283.65/ton$ 226.07/ton$ 57.58/ton25.5 %
Pet Food PM (Mid-South)$ 733.12/ton$ 581.80/ton$ 151.32/ton26.0 %
FM (Mid-South)$ 405.49/ton$ 267.91/ton$ 137.58/ton51.4 %
BFT (Chicago)$ 34.24/cwt$   29.04/cwt$     5.20/cwt17.9 %
YG (Illinois)$ 25.22/cwt$   19.48/cwt$    5.74/cwt29.5 %
Corn (Illinois)$ 4.29/bushel$ 3.55/bushel$ 0.74/bushel20.8 %
Reuters:
Palm Oil (CIF Rotterdam)$ 850.00/ton$ 690.00/ton$ 160.00/ton23.2 %
Soy meal (CIF Rotterdam)$ 485.00/ton$ 379.00/ton$ 106.00/ton28.0 %


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Segment Results

Segment operating income for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2021 was $430.9 million, which reflects a decrease of $44.9 million or (9.4)% as compared to the fiscal year ended December 28, 2019.
Feed IngredientsFood IngredientsFuel IngredientsCorporateTotal
Fiscal Year Ended January 2, 2021
Net Sales$2,072,104 $1,185,701 $314,118 $— $3,571,923 
Cost of sales and operating expenses1,544,524 920,682 223,609 — 2,688,815 
Gross Margin527,580 265,019 90,509 — 883,108 
Gross Margin %25.5 %22.4 %28.8 %— %24.7 %
Loss/ (gain) on sale of assets19 482 (75)— 426 
Selling, general and administrative expense209,748 97,406 16,014 55,328 378,496 
Restructuring and asset impairment charges— — 38,167 — 38,167 
Depreciation and amortization221,187 83,752 34,218 11,021 350,178 
Equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel— — 315,095 — 315,095 
Segment operating income/ (loss)96,626 83,379 317,280 (66,349)430,936 
Equity in net income of unconsolidated subsidiaries
3,193 — — — 3,193 
Segment income/(loss)99,819 83,379 317,280 (66,349)434,129 

Feed IngredientsFood IngredientsFuel IngredientsCorporateTotal
Fiscal Year Ended December 28, 2019
Net Sales$1,970,561 $1,119,085 $274,259 $— $3,363,905 
Cost of sales and operating expenses1,519,596 864,618 204,871 — 2,589,085 
Gross Margin450,965 254,467 69,388 — 774,820 
Gross Margin %22.9 %22.7 %25.3 %— %23.0 %
Loss/ (gain) on sale of assets(7,720)(13,175)313 — (20,582)
Selling, general and administrative expense200,487 97,363 2,762 57,911 358,523 
Depreciation and amortization203,456 79,671 31,946 10,437 325,510 
Equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel— — 364,452 — 364,452 
Segment operating income/(loss)54,742 90,608 398,819 (68,348)475,821 
Equity in net income of unconsolidated subsidiaries428 — — — 428 
Segment income/(loss)55,170 90,608 398,819 (68,348)476,249 

Feed Ingredients Segment

Raw material volume. In fiscal year 2020, the raw material processed by the Company's Feed Ingredients segment totaled 8.95 million metric tons. Compared to fiscal year 2019, overall raw material volume processed in the Feed Ingredients segment increased approximately 2.4%.

Sales. During the year ended January 2, 2021, net sales for the Feed Ingredients segment were $2,072.1 million as compared to $1,970.6 million for the year ended December 28, 2019, an increase of approximately $101.5 million. Net sales for fats were approximately $661.7 million and $584.3 million for the years ended January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, respectively. Protein net sales were approximately $830.2 million and $791.3 million for the years ended January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, respectively. Other rendering net sales, which include hides, pet food, and service charges, were approximately $178.6 million and $167.9 million for the years ended January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, respectively. Total rendering net sales were approximately $1,670.5 million and $1,543.5 million for the years ended January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, respectively. Used cooking oil net sales were approximately $176.7 million and $185.7 million for the
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years ended January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, respectively. Bakery net sales were approximately $183.8 million and $191.6 million for the years ended January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, respectively, and other net sales, which includes trap services, were approximately $41.1 million and $49.8 million for the years ended January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, respectively.

The increase in net sales for the Feed Ingredients segment was primarily due to the following (in millions of dollars):
FatsProteinsOther RenderingTotal RenderingUsed Cooking OilBakeryOtherTotal
Net sales year ended December 28, 2019$584.3 $791.3 $167.9 $1,543.5 $185.7 $191.6 $49.8 $1,970.6 
Increase/(decrease) in sales volumes
66.6 20.2 — 86.8 (11.7)(0.6)— 74.5 
Increase/(decrease) in finished product prices
10.5 16.1 — 26.6 2.8 (7.2)— 22.2 
Increase/(decrease) due to currency exchange rates
0.3 2.6 0.1 3.0 (0.1)— — 2.9 
Other change— — 10.6 10.6 — — (8.7)1.9 
Total change77.4 38.9 10.7 127.0 (9.0)(7.8)(8.7)101.5 
Net sales year ended January 2, 2021$661.7 $830.2 $178.6 $1,670.5 $176.7 $183.8 $41.1 $2,072.1 

Margins. In the Feed Ingredients segment for fiscal year 2020, the gross margin percentage was 25.5% as compared to 22.9% for fiscal year 2019. The increase in fiscal year 2020 was primarily due to overall increasing protein and fat finished product sales prices and increased sales volumes.

Segment operating income. Feed Ingredients' operating income for fiscal year 2020 was $96.6 million, an increase of $41.9 million or 76.6% as compared to fiscal year 2019. This increase was primarily due to increasing overall protein and fat finished product sales prices that more than offset higher depreciation and amortization and a lower gain on sale of assets.

Food Ingredients Segment

Raw material volume. In fiscal year 2020, the raw material processed by the Company's Food Ingredients segment totaled 1.08 million metric tons. Compared to fiscal year 2019, overall raw material volume processed in the Food Ingredients segment increased approximately 0.4%.

Sales. Overall sales increased in the Food Ingredients segment primarily due to higher sales prices in collagen and edible fat sales markets.

Margins. In the Food Ingredients segment for fiscal year 2020, the gross margin percentage was 22.4% as compared to 22.7% for fiscal year 2019. The slight decrease is primarily a result of the sales mix in collagen business that more than offset higher fat prices.

Segment operating income. Food Ingredients' operating income was $83.4 million for fiscal year 2020, a decrease of $7.2 million or (7.9)% as compared to fiscal year 2019. The decrease is primarily due to the gain on the sale of assets in China reported last year and the impact of a weak Brazilian real as well as lower sales volumes in Europe as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak in fiscal year 2020.

Fuel Ingredients Segment

Raw material volume. In fiscal year 2020, the raw material processed by the Company's Fuel Ingredients segment, excluding the DGD Joint Venture, totaled 1.31 million metric tons. Compared to fiscal year 2019, overall raw material volume processed in the Fuel Ingredients segment increased approximately 3.4%.

Sales. Overall sales increased in the Fuel Ingredients segment primarily due to higher sales volumes in Europe.

Margins. In the Fuel Ingredients segment (exclusive of the equity contribution from the DGD Joint Venture) for fiscal year 2020, the gross margin percentage was 28.8% as compared to 25.3% for fiscal year 2019. The increase is primarily due to higher sales volumes from improved demand and finished prices in Europe.
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Segment operating income. The Company's Fuel Ingredients segment operating income (inclusive of the equity contribution from DGD Joint Venture) for fiscal year 2020 was $317.3 million, a decrease of $81.5 million or (20.4)% as compared to fiscal year 2019. The decrease in earnings was primarily due to the reinstated fiscal year 2018 and fiscal year 2019 blenders tax credits recorded in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019 as compared to one year of blenders tax credits recorded in fiscal 2020 and $38.2 million restructuring and asset impairment charges due to the shut down of processing operations at the Company's biodiesel facilities located in the United States and Canada.

Foreign Currency

During fiscal year 2020, the Euro strengthened against the U.S. dollar as compared to fiscal year 2019. Using actual results for fiscal year 2020 and the prior year's average foreign currency rates for fiscal year 2019 would result in a decrease in operating income of approximately $6.4 million. The average rates assumption used in this calculation was the actual average rate for fiscal year 2020 of €1.00:USD$1.14 and CAD$1.00:USD$0.75 as compared to the average rate for fiscal year 2019 of €1.00:USD$1.12 and CAD$1.00:USD$0.75, respectively.

Corporate Activities

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.  Selling, general and administrative expenses were $55.3 million during fiscal year 2020, a $2.6 million decrease from $57.9 million during fiscal year 2019. The decrease was primarily due to lower legal fees, and lower travel related costs that more than offset an increase in insurance costs.

Depreciation and Amortization.  Depreciation and amortization charges increased $0.6 million to $11.0 million during fiscal year 2020 as compared to $10.4 million during fiscal year 2019.  The increase was primarily due to the increased leasehold improvement and office equipment depreciation expense at the Company's corporate office in fiscal year 2020.

Interest Expense. Interest expense was $72.7 million for fiscal year 2020, compared to $78.7 million for fiscal year 2019, a decrease of $6.0 million. The decrease was primarily due to lower term loan B debt outstanding and lower interest rates that were partially offset by an increase in deferred loan costs from the pay down of the term loan B and a decrease in capitalized interest.

Debt Extinguishment costs. There were no debt extinguishment costs in fiscal year 2020 as compared to $12.1 million for fiscal year 2019, which were related to the termination of the 5.375% Senior Notes.

Foreign Currency Losses.  Foreign currency losses were $2.3 million during fiscal year 2020, as compared to a loss of approximately $1.3 million for fiscal year 2019. The increase is due primarily to higher losses on the revaluation of non-functional currency liabilities as compared to the same period in fiscal 2019.

Gain (loss) on Disposal of Subsidiaries.  There were no gains or losses on disposal of subsidiaries in fiscal year 2020 as compared to a $3.0 million gain incurred in fiscal year 2019.

Other Expense, net. Other expense was $5.5 million for fiscal year 2020, compared to $6.7 million in fiscal year 2019.  The decrease in other expense was primarily due to a decrease in pension expense, a decrease in insurance proceeds on fire and casualty losses and a decrease in interest income.

Equity in Net Income in Investment of Other Unconsolidated Subsidiaries. The change in this line item is not significant and primarily represents the Company's pro rata share of the net income from its foreign unconsolidated subsidiaries.

Income Taxes. The Company recorded income tax expense of $53.3 million for fiscal year 2020, compared to $59.5 million of income tax expense recorded in fiscal year 2019, a decrease of $6.2 million, which was primarily due to a decrease in income from operations before income taxes. The effective tax rate for fiscal year 2020 and fiscal year 2019 was 15.1% and 15.6%, respectively. The effective tax rate for both fiscal years 2020 and 2019 differs from the statutory rate of 21% due primarily to the biofuel tax incentives and the relative mix of earnings among jurisdictions with different tax rates.

Non-U.S. GAAP Measures

Adjusted EBITDA is not a recognized accounting measurement under GAAP; it should not be considered as an alternative to net income, as a measure of operating results, or as an alternative to cash flow as a measure of liquidity. It is presented here not as an alternative to net income, but rather as a measure of the Company's operating performance. Since EBITDA (generally, net income plus interest expenses, taxes, depreciation and amortization) is not calculated identically by all
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companies, the presentation in this report may not be comparable to EBITDA or adjusted EBITDA presentations disclosed by other companies. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated below and represents, for any relevant period, net income/(loss) plus depreciation and amortization, goodwill and long-lived asset impairment, interest expense, (income)/loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, income tax provision, other income/(expense) and equity in net (income)/loss of unconsolidated subsidiaries.  Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA is useful in evaluating the Company's operating performance compared to that of other companies in its industry because the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA generally eliminates the effects of financing, income taxes and certain non-cash and other items that may vary for different companies for reasons unrelated to overall operating performance.  

As a result, the Company’s management uses Adjusted EBITDA as a measure to evaluate performance and for other discretionary purposes.  In addition to the foregoing, management also uses or will use Adjusted EBITDA to measure compliance with certain financial covenants under the Company's Senior Secured Credit Facilities, 5.25% Notes and 3.625% Notes that were outstanding at January 2, 2021. However, the amounts shown below for Adjusted EBITDA differ from the amounts calculated under similarly titled definitions in the Company’s Senior Secured Credit Facilities, 5.25% Notes and 3.625% Notes, as those definitions permit further adjustments to reflect certain other non-recurring costs, non-cash charges and cash dividends from the DGD Joint Venture. Additionally, the Company evaluates the impact of foreign currency exchange on operating cash flow, which is defined as segment operating income (loss) plus depreciation and amortization.

Reconciliation of Net Income to (Non-GAAP) Adjusted EBITDA and (Non-GAAP) Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA
Fiscal Year 2020 As Compared to Fiscal Year 2019
Fiscal Year Ended
(dollars in thousands)January 2,
2021		December 28,
2019
Net income attributable to Darling$296,819 $312,600 
Depreciation and amortization350,178 325,510 
Interest expense72,686 78,674 
Income tax expense53,289 59,467 
Restructuring and asset impairment charges38,167 — 
Foreign currency losses2,290 1,311 
Other expense, net5,534 6,671 
Debt extinguishment costs— 12,126 
Gain on disposal of subsidiaries— (2,967)
Equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel(315,095)(364,452)
Equity in net income of other unconsolidated subsidiaries(3,193)(428)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests3,511 8,367 
Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP)$504,186 $436,879 
Foreign currency exchange impact (1)(6,419)— 
Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA to Foreign Currency (Non-GAAP)$497,767 $436,879 
DGD Joint Venture Adjusted EBITDA (Darling's Share)$337,348 $389,416 
Darling plus Darling's share of DGD Joint Venture Adjusted EBITDA$841,534 $826,295 

(1) The average rate assumption used in this calculation was the actual fiscal average rate for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2021 of €1.00:USD$1.14 and CAD$1.00:USD$0.75 as compared to the average rate for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2019 of €1.00:USD$1.12 and CAD$1.00:USD$0.75, respectively.

For the fiscal year ended January 2, 2021, the Company generated Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP) of $504.2 million, as compared to $436.9 million for the year ended December 28, 2019. The increase is primarily due to overall increasing protein and fat finished product sales prices and increased sales volumes in the Feed Ingredients segment.

On a Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA to Foreign Currency (Non-GAAP) basis, the Company would have generated $497.8 million for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2021, as compared to $436.9 million for the year ended December 28, 2019.

DGD Joint Venture Adjusted EBITDA (Darling's Share) is not reflected in the Adjusted EBITDA or the Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA to Foreign Currency (Non-GAAP). In fiscal 2019, the $364.5 million equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel includes approximately $78 million of blenders tax credits from fiscal 2018. See Note 2 to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for financial information regarding the DGD Joint Venture.
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The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations for the year ended December 29, 2018 and for the year ended December 28, 2019 compared to the year ended December 29, 2018 are included in Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results in our 2019 Form 10-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

FINANCING, LIQUIDITY, AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Indebtedness

Certain Debt Outstanding at January 2, 2021. On January 2, 2021, debt outstanding under the Company's Amended Credit Agreement, the Company's 5.25% Notes and the Company's 3.625% Notes consists of the following (in thousands):
        
Senior Notes: 
5.25 % Notes due 2027$500,000 
Less unamortized deferred loan costs(5,747)
Carrying value of 5.25% Notes due 2027$494,253 
3.625 % Notes due 2026 - Denominated in euros$632,163 
Less unamortized deferred loan costs(6,586)
Carrying value of 3.625% Notes due 2026$625,577 
Amended Credit Agreement: 
Term Loan B$300,000 
Less unamortized deferred loan costs(3,798)
Carrying value of Term Loan B$296,202 
Revolving Credit Facility: 
Maximum availability$1,000,000 
Ancillary Facilities47,188 
Borrowings outstanding55,000 
Letters of credit issued3,891 
Availability$893,921 
Other Debt
$37,037 

At January 2, 2021, the U.S. dollar was weaker as compared to the euro at December 28, 2019. Using the euro based debt outstanding at December 28, 2019 and comparing the closing balance sheet rates at January 2, 2021 to those at December 28, 2019, the U.S. dollar debt balances of euro based debt increased by $57.8 million, at January 2, 2021. The closing balance sheet rate assumptions used in this calculation were the actual fiscal closing balance sheet rate at January 2, 2021 of €1.00:USD$1.227500 as compared to the closing balance sheet rate at December 28, 2019 of €1.00:USD$1.114750.

Senior Secured Credit Facilities. On January 6, 2014, Darling, Darling International Canada Inc. (“Darling Canada”) and Darling International NL Holdings B.V. (“Darling NL”) entered into a Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (as subsequently amended, the “Amended Credit Agreement”), restating its then existing Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated September 27, 2013, with the lenders from time to time party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the other agents from time to time party thereto. Effective September 18, 2020, the Company, and certain of its subsidiaries entered into an amendment (the “Sixth Amendment”) with its lenders to the Amended Credit Agreement. Among other things, the Sixth Amendment (i) extended the maturity date of the revolving credit facility under the Credit Agreement from December 16, 2021 to September 18, 2025, (ii) increased the leverage ratio applicable to achieving the lowest applicable margin on borrowings under the revolving credit facility from 1.0 to 1.5, (iii) eliminated or modified certain of the negative covenants to increase the allowances for certain actions, including the incurrence of debt and investments, (iv) limited guarantees from, and security with respect to, entities organized outside of the United States and Canada to a limited group of foreign subsidiary holding companies, (v) included a collateral release mechanism, subject to the consent of the term loan B lenders, upon the Company achieving certain investment grade credit ratings, and (vi) made other market updates and changes. For more information regarding the Amended Credit Agreement see Note 10 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included herein.

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•As of January 2, 2021, the Company had availability of $893.9 million under the revolving loan facility, taking into account an aggregate of $55.0 million in outstanding borrowings, $47.2 million of ancillary facilities and letters of credit issued of $3.9 million.

•As of January 2, 2021, the Company has borrowed all $525.0 million under the terms of the term loan B facility and repaid approximately $225.0 million, which when repaid, cannot be reborrowed. The term loan B facility is repayable in quarterly installments of 0.25% of the aggregate principal amount of the relevant term loan B facility on the last day of each March, June, September and December of each year commencing on the last day of each month falling on or after the last day of the first full quarter following December 18, 2017, and continuing until the last day of each quarter period ending immediately prior to December 18, 2024; and one final installment in the amount of the relevant term loan B facility then outstanding, due on December 18, 2024. The term loan B facility will mature on December 18, 2024.

•The interest rate applicable to any borrowings under the revolving credit facility will equal either LIBOR/euro interbank offered rate/CDOR plus 1.50% per annum or base rate/Canadian prime rate plus 0.50% per annum, subject to certain step-downs or step-ups based on the Company's total leverage ratio. The interest rate applicable to any borrowings under the term loan B facility will equal the base rate plus 1.00% or LIBOR plus 2.00%.

5.25% Senior Notes due 2027. On April 3, 2019, Darling issued and sold $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.25% Senior Notes due 2027 (the “5.25% Notes”). The 5.25% Notes, which were offered in a private offering, were issued pursuant to a Senior Notes Indenture, dated as of April 3, 2019 (the “5.25% Indenture”), among Darling, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto from time to time, and Regions Bank, as trustee. The 5.25% Notes are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by Darling and all of Darling's restricted subsidiaries (other than foreign subsidiaries). For a description of the terms of the 5.25% Notes see Note 10 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included herein.

3.625 % Senior Notes due 2026. On May 2, 2018, Darling Global Finance B.V. issued and sold €515.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.625% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “3.625% Notes”). The 3.625% Notes, which were offered in a private offering, were issued pursuant to a Senior Notes Indenture, dated as of May 2, 2018 (the “3.625% Indenture”), among Darling Global Finance B.V., Darling, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto from time to time, Citibank, N.A., London Branch, as trustee and principal paying agent, and Citigroup Global Markets Deutschland AG, as principal registrar. The 3.625% Notes are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by Darling and all of Darling's restricted subsidiaries (other than any foreign subsidiary or any receivable entity) that guarantee the Senior Secured Credit Facilities. For a description of the terms of the 3.625% Notes see Note 10 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included herein.

Other debt consists of U.S., Canadian and European ancillary and overdraft facilities and capital lease obligations and note arrangements in Brazil, China and Europe that are not part of the Company's Amended Credit Agreement, 5.25% Notes or 3.625% Notes.

The classification of long-term debt in the Company’s January 2, 2021 consolidated balance sheet is based on the contractual repayment terms of the 5.25% Notes, the 3.625% Notes and debt issued under the Amended Credit Agreement.

As a result of the Company's borrowings under its Amended Credit Agreement, the 5.25% Indenture and the 3.625% Indenture, the Company is highly leveraged. Investors should note that, in order to make scheduled payments on the indebtedness outstanding under the Amended Credit Agreement, the 5.25% Notes and the 3.625% Notes, and otherwise, the Company will rely in part on a combination of dividends, distributions and intercompany loan repayments from the Company's direct and indirect U.S. and foreign subsidiaries. The Company is prohibited under the Amended Credit Agreement, the 5.25% Indenture and the 3.625% Indenture from entering (or allowing such subsidiaries to enter) into contractual limitations on the Company's subsidiaries’ ability to declare dividends or make other payments or distributions to the Company. The Company has also attempted to structure the Company's consolidated indebtedness in such a way as to maximize the Company's ability to move cash from the Company's subsidiaries to Darling or another subsidiary that will have fewer limitations on the ability to make upstream payments, whether to Darling or directly to the Company's lenders as a Guarantor. Nevertheless, applicable laws under which the Company's direct and indirect subsidiaries are formed may provide limitations on such dividends, distributions and other payments. In addition, regulatory authorities in various countries where the Company operates or where the Company imports or exports products may from time to time impose import/export limitations, foreign exchange controls or currency devaluations that may limit the Company's access to profits from the Company's subsidiaries or otherwise negatively impact the Company's financial condition and therefore reduce the Company's ability to make required payments under the Amended Credit Agreement, the 5.25% Notes and the 3.625% Notes, or otherwise. In addition, fluctuations in foreign exchange values may have a negative impact on the Company's ability to repay indebtedness denominated in U.S. or Canadian dollars or euros. See “Risk Factors - Our business may be adversely impacted by fluctuations in exchange rates, which could
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affect our ability to comply with our financial covenants” and “- Our ability to repay our indebtedness depends in part on the performance of our subsidiaries, including our non-guarantor subsidiaries, and their ability to make payments” in Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2021.

As of January 2, 2021, the Company believes it is in compliance with all financial covenants under the Amended Credit Agreement, as well as all of the other covenants contained in the Amended Credit Agreement, the 5.25% Indenture and the 3.625% Indenture.

Working Capital and Capital Expenditures

On January 2, 2021, the Company had working capital of $311.7 million and its working capital ratio was 1.46 to 1 compared to working capital of $228.9 million and a working capital ratio of 1.33 to 1 on December 28, 2019.  At January 2, 2021, the Company had unrestricted cash of $81.6 million and funds available under the revolving credit facility of $893.9 million, compared to unrestricted cash of $72.9 million and funds available under the revolving credit facility of $911.9 million at December 28, 2019.  The Company diversifies its cash investments by limiting the amounts deposited with any one financial institution and invests primarily in government-backed securities.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $624.7 million and $362.6 million for the fiscal years ended January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, respectively, an increase of $262.1 million due primarily to a decrease in net income that was more than offset by the effect of sale of assets, the effect of asset impairments, a positive impact from equity in net income of the DGD Joint Venture as well as an increase in distributions from unconsolidated subsidiaries of approximately $138.1 million and to changes in operating assets and liabilities that include an increase in cash provided by accounts receivable of approximately $48.5 million, an increase in prepaid expenses and inventory of $20.4 million, a decrease in income taxes refundable/payable of approximately $5.3 million and a decrease in accounts payable and accrued expense of approximately $21.2 million. Cash used by investing activities was $310.6 million during fiscal year 2020, compared to $338.1 million in fiscal year 2019, a decrease in cash used of $27.5 million, primarily due to a decrease in capital expenditures that more than offset an increase in acquisition costs and a decrease in proceeds from the sale of assets, a decrease in proceeds from the sale of subsidiaries and a decrease in insurance proceeds.  Net cash used by financing activities was $307.0 million during fiscal year 2020, compared to $54.9 million in fiscal year 2019, an increase in cash used of $252.1 million, primarily due to an increase in debt payments, an increase from the repurchase of common stock and an increase from the acquisition of noncontrolling interest as compared to fiscal year 2019.
 
Capital expenditures of $280.1 million were made during fiscal year 2020 as compared to $359.5 million in fiscal year 2019, a decrease of $(79.4) million, or (22.1)%. The Company had originally planned to spend approximately $306.0 million in capital expenditures for fiscal year 2020; however, due to the COVID-19 outbreak and the government-imposed movement and work restrictions, the Company initiated a temporary reduction in non-essential capital expenditures until the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak improved. The Company returned to regular capital expenditures in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020. In fiscal year 2021, the Company expects to incur approximately $230 million in maintenance and compliance type capital expenditures and approximately $82 million primarily for expansion projects for a total of approximately $312 million. These costs are expected to be financed using cash flows from operations. Capital expenditures related to compliance with environmental regulations were $38.7 million in fiscal year 2020, $37.4 million in fiscal year 2019 and $32.1 million in fiscal year 2018.

Accrued Insurance and Pension Plan Obligations

Based upon the annual actuarial estimate, current accruals and claims paid during fiscal year 2020, the Company has accrued approximately $10.4 million as of January 2, 2021 that it expects will become due during the next twelve months in order to meet obligations related to the Company's self insurance reserves and accrued insurance obligations, which are included in current accrued expenses at January 2, 2021.  The self insurance reserve is composed of estimated liability for claims arising for workers’ compensation and for auto liability and general liability claims.  The self insurance reserve liability is determined annually, based upon a third party actuarial estimate.  The actuarial estimate may vary from year to year, due to changes in costs of health care, the pending number of claims and other factors beyond the control of management of the Company.  

Based upon current actuarial estimates, the Company expects to make payments of approximately $0.3 million in order to meet minimum pension funding requirements to its domestic plans in fiscal year 2021. In addition, the Company expects to make payments of approximately $3.5 million under its foreign pension plans in fiscal year 2021.  The minimum pension funding requirements are determined annually, based upon a third party actuarial estimate.  The actuarial estimate may vary from year to year, due to fluctuations in return on investments or other factors beyond the control of management of the
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Company or the administrator of the Company’s pension funds.  No assurance can be given that the minimum pension funding requirements will not increase in the future.  The Company has made required and tax deductible discretionary contributions to its domestic pension plans in fiscal year 2020 and fiscal year 2019 of approximately $7.5 million and $0.9 million, respectively. Additionally, the Company has made required and tax deductible discretionary contributions to its foreign pension plans in fiscal year 2020 of approximately $4.0 million, as compared to $3.4 million in contributions in fiscal year 2019.

The U.S. Pension Protection Act of 2006 (“PPA”) went into effect in January 2008.  The stated goal of the PPA is to improve the funding of U.S. pension plans.  U.S. plans in an under-funded status are required to increase employer contributions to improve the funding level within PPA timelines.  Volatility in the world equity and other financial markets could have a material negative impact on U.S. pension plan assets and the status of required funding under the PPA.  The Company participates in various U.S. multiemployer pension plans which provide defined benefits to certain employees covered by labor contracts.  These plans are not administered by the Company and contributions are determined in accordance with provisions of negotiated labor contracts to meet their pension benefit obligations to their participants. The Company's contributions to each individual U.S. multiemployer plan represent less than 5% of the total contributions to each such plan. Based on the most currently available information, the Company has determined that, if a withdrawal were to occur, withdrawal liabilities on two of the U.S. plans in which the Company currently participates could be material to the Company, with one of these material plans certified as critical or red zone. With respect to the other U.S. multiemployer pension plans in which the Company participates and which are not individually significant, five plans have certified as critical or red zone and two have certified as endangered or yellow zone, as defined by the PPA. The Company has received notices of withdrawal liability from five U.S. multiemployer pension plans in which it participated. During fiscal year 2020, the Company settled one of the withdrawal liabilities for approximately $2.5 million. As a result, the Company has an accrued aggregate current liability of approximately $2.7 million representing the present value of scheduled withdrawal liability payments under these multiemployer plans. While the Company has no ability to calculate a possible current liability for under-funded multiemployer plans that could terminate or could require additional funding under the PPA, the amounts could be material.

DGD Joint Venture

In January 2011, Darling, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, entered into a limited liability company agreement (as subsequently amended, the “DGD LLC Agreement”) with Valero to form the DGD Joint Venture. The DGD Joint Venture is owned 50% / 50% with Valero and was formed to design, engineer, construct and operate the DGD Norco Facility located adjacent to Valero's refinery in Norco, Louisiana. The DGD Norco Facility reached mechanical completion and began the production of renewable diesel in late June 2013 and is currently capable of producing 290 million gallons of renewable diesel per year and certain other co-products. Effective May 1, 2019, the DGD LLC Agreement was amended and restated for the purpose of updating the agreement in certain respects, including to remove certain provisions that were no longer relevant and to add new provisions relating to the DGD Joint Venture’s ongoing expansion project to construct a new, parallel facility located next to the current facility, as further described below.

On May 1, 2019, Darling, through its wholly owned subsidiary Darling Green Energy LLC, (“Darling Green”), and Diamond Alternative Energy, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Valero (“Diamond Alternative” and together with Darling Green, the “DGD Lenders”) entered into a revolving loan agreement (the “DGD Loan Agreement”) with the DGD Joint Venture. The DGD Lenders have committed to make loans available to the DGD Joint Venture in the total amount of $50.0 million with each lender committed to $25.0 million of the total commitment. Any borrowings by the DGD Joint Venture under the DGD Loan Agreement are at the applicable annum rate equal to the sum of (a) the LIBO Rate (meaning Reuters BBA Libor Rates Page 3750) on such day plus (b) 2.50%. The DGD Loan Agreement matures on April 29, 2021, unless extended by agreement of the parties. The DGD Loan Agreement replaced a similar agreement with lower commitment levels that expired on December 31, 2018. As of January 2, 2021, no amounts are owed to the DGD Lenders under the DGD Loan Agreement.

Based on the sponsor support agreements executed in connection with the initial construction of the DGD Norco Facility, the Company contributed a total of approximately $111.7 million for completion of the DGD Norco Facility including the Company's portion of cost overruns and working capital funding. As of January 2, 2021, under the equity method of accounting the Company has an investment in the DGD Joint Venture of approximately $772.8 million included on the consolidated balance sheet.

The DGD Joint Venture began work on an expansion of the DGD Norco Facility in 2019, which is expected to increase its renewable diesel production by 400 million gallons per year and provide the capability to separate renewable naphtha (approximately 30 million gallons) and other light end renewable hydrocarbons for sale into low carbon fuel markets. In addition, the expansion project includes expanded inbound and outbound logistics, thereby improving feedstock sourcing flexibility as well as finished product marketing flexibility. The DGD Joint Venture estimates completion and startup of the expanded portion of the facility in the fourth quarter of 2021, and the total cost of the expansion project, including the naphtha
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production and improved logistics capability, is estimated to be approximately $1.1 billion. Based on forecasted margins as of the date of this report, the expansion project is expected to be substantially funded by DGD Joint Venture cash flow; however, the DGD LLC Agreement provides that until such time as the expansion of the DGD Norco Facility is complete and operational, the joint venture partners shall be required to make capital contributions or, if they agree, loans, to the DGD Joint Venture should the excess available cash in the DGD Joint Venture, as determined and in accordance with the DGD LLC Agreement, fall below $50 million. Additionally, in January 2021, the joint venture partners approved the construction of a new facility to be located next to Valero’s Port Arthur Refinery in Port Arthur, Texas, capable of producing 470 million gallons per year of renewable diesel and 20 million gallons per year of renewable naphtha and having similar logistics flexibilities as those of the DGD Norco Facility. The new plant is anticipated to commence operations in the second half of 2023 and the total cost of the expansion project is estimated to be approximately $1.45 billion. Once operational, the new plant is expected to increase the DGD Joint Venture’s total renewable diesel production capacity to almost 1.2 billion gallons per year. Based on forecasted margins as of the date of this report, the Port Arthur expansion project is expected to be substantially funded by DGD Joint Venture cash flow; however, if the DGD Joint Venture cash flow is not sufficient to fully fund the project, the DGD Joint Venture may need to borrow funds or the joint venture partners may be required to contribute additional funds to complete the project.

In April 2019, the joint venture partners adopted a distribution policy that, unless earlier terminated by the partners, will remain in place through the construction and completion of the expansion of the DGD Norco Facility. Pursuant to the distribution policy, the DGD Joint Venture will make quarterly distributions to the partners to the extent that distributable cash (as determined in accordance with the policy) exceeds $50 million and as allowed by the DGD Joint Venture’s forward looking cash forecast. During the year ended January 2, 2021, the DGD Joint Venture made approximately $205.2 million in distributions to each of the partners.

The Company’s original investment in DGD has expanded since 2011 to the point that it is now integral to how the Company operates its business. The Company traditionally collected and converted used cooking oil and animal fats into feed ingredients which were sold on a caloric value to feed animals as well as for industrial technical uses. Over the past decade, the world’s increasing focus on climate change and greenhouse gas has provided a new finished market for the Company’s finished fats ingredients. With the Company’s significant fats ownership, this has and continues to transform how the Company operates. In 2020, a large portion of Darling’s total U.S. finished fats products were sold to the DGD Norco Facility as feedstock for renewable diesel. In 2020, 2019 and 2018, DGD was the Company’s largest finished product customer in terms of sales, with the Company recording sales to DGD in those years of $264.1 million, $208.7 million and $131.8 million, respectively.
From a procurement, production and distribution standpoint, DGD has become integral to the Company’s base business. DGD is integrated into the Company’s operations via the combined vertical operating structure from collecting raw fats, to processing collected fats at the Company facilities nationwide to transporting the refined fats to the DGD Norco Facility as feedstock. The Company supply chain has become more efficient and sustainable with transparency for verification to obtain full value to low carbon intensity markets. The development of the low carbon markets in North America and Europe has influenced how the Company operates its core business and has also been a driver for the recent DGD expansions, which are making DGD much more relevant to the Company’s earnings. Since 2011 when construction began on DGD, Darling has invested substantially to increase its U.S. railcar fleet to efficiently manage nationwide transportation of Darling fats to DGD. Additionally, the Company acquired an Iowa location on the Mississippi River that further enhances the ability of the Company's Midwest network of facilities to collect and deliver feedstocks to DGD via water, rail or truck from a centralized location. The Company has also stepped up collection efforts by providing indoor used cooking oil collection units in exchange for extended collection contracts at eating establishments and has moved to more of a centralized digital marketing effort with restaurant chains and franchise groups and invested in internet search engine key words to improve visibility with restaurants. The Company also includes DGD in marketing efforts to emphasize environmental sustainability that restaurants participate in when their used cooking oil is collected by the Company. From a production standpoint, the Company now isolates used cooking oil from other fats to preserve identification to qualify for a higher carbon intensity value. As a result, the Company includes its equity in net income of the DGD Joint Venture as operating income.

Financial Impact of Significant Debt Outstanding

The Company has a substantial amount of indebtedness, which could make it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations to our financial lenders and our contractual and commercial commitments, limit our ability to obtain additional financing to fund future working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions or other general corporate requirements on commercially reasonable terms or at all, require us to use a substantial portion of our cash flows from operations to pay principal and interest on our indebtedness instead of other purposes, thereby reducing the amount of our cash flows from operations available for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes, increase our
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vulnerability to adverse economic, industry and business conditions, expose us to the risk of increased interest rates as certain of our borrowings are at variable rates of interest, limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industry in which we operate, place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to other, less leveraged competitors, and/or increase our cost of borrowing.

Cash Flows and Liquidity Risks

Management believes that the Company’s cash flows from operating activities consistent with the level generated in fiscal year 2020, unrestricted cash and funds available under the Amended Credit Agreement, will be sufficient to meet the Company’s working capital needs and maintenance and compliance-related capital expenditures, scheduled debt and interest payments, income tax obligations, and other contemplated needs through the next twelve months.  Numerous factors could have adverse consequences to the Company that cannot be estimated at this time, such as negative impacts from the current COVID-19 outbreak and those factors discussed below under the heading “Forward Looking Statements”. These factors, coupled with volatile prices for natural gas and diesel fuel, currency exchange fluctuations, general performance of the U.S. and global economies, disturbances in world financial, credit, commodities and stock markets, and any decline in consumer confidence, including the inability of consumers and companies to obtain credit due to lack of liquidity in the financial markets, among others, could negatively impact the Company's results of operations in fiscal year 2021 and thereafter. The Company reviews the appropriate use of unrestricted cash periodically.  As of the date of this report, no decision has been made as to non-ordinary course material cash usages at this time; however, potential usages could include:  opportunistic capital expenditures and/or acquisitions and joint ventures;  investments relating to the Company’s renewable energy strategy, including, without limitation, potential required funding obligations with respect to the DGD Joint Venture expansion projects or potential investments in additional renewable diesel; investments in response to governmental regulations relating to human and animal food safety or other regulations;  unexpected funding required by the legislation, regulation or mass termination of multiemployer plans; and paying dividends or repurchasing stock, subject to limitations under the Amended Credit Agreement, the 5.25% Notes and the 3.625% Notes, as well as suitable cash conservation to withstand adverse commodity cycles. The Company's Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program of up to an aggregate of $200.0 million of the Company's Common Stock depending on market conditions. The repurchases may be made from time to time on the open market at prevailing market prices or in negotiated transactions off the market. The program runs through August 13, 2022, unless further extended or shortened by the Board of Directors. During fiscal year 2020, the Company repurchased approximately $55.0 million of its common stock in the open market. As of January 2, 2021, the Company had approximately $200.0 million remaining in its share repurchase program.

Each of the factors described above has the potential to adversely impact the Company's liquidity in a variety of ways, including through reduced raw materials availability, reduced finished product prices, reduced sales, potential inventory buildup, increased bad debt reserves, potential impairment charges and/or higher operating costs.

Sales prices for the principal products that the Company sells are typically influenced by sales prices for agricultural-based ingredients, the prices of which are based on established commodity markets and are subject to volatile changes. Any decline in these prices has the potential to adversely impact the Company's liquidity. Any of a decline in raw material availability, a decline in agricultural-based alternative ingredients prices, increases in energy prices or the impact of U.S. and foreign regulation (including, without limitation, China), changes in foreign exchange rates, imposition of currency controls and currency devaluations has the potential to adversely impact the Company's liquidity. A decline in commodities prices, a rise in energy prices, a slowdown in the U.S. or international economy or other factors, could cause the Company to fail to meet management's expectations or could cause liquidity concerns.

Supplemental Guarantor Financial Information

The following is a description of the terms and conditions of the guarantees with respect to senior notes for which Darling is an issuer or provides full and unconditional guarantee.

Note Guarantees

The Company's 5.25% Notes and 3.625% Notes (see Note 10 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included herein) are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by the following Notes Guarantors, each of which is a 100% directly or indirectly owned subsidiary of Darling and which constitute all of Darling's existing restricted subsidiaries that are Credit Agreement Guarantors (other than Darling's foreign subsidiaries, Darling Global Finance B.V., which issued the 3.625% Notes and is discussed further below, or any receivables entity): Darling National, Griffin and its subsidiary Craig Protein, DarPro Storage Solutions LLC, Darling Global Holdings Inc., EV Acquisition LLC, Rousselot Inc., Rousselot Dubuque Inc., Sonac USA LLC and Rousselot Peabody Inc. (collectively, the Notes Guarantors). In addition, the 3.625% Notes, which were issued
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by Darling Global Finance B.V., a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Darling, are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by Darling. The Notes Guarantors, and Darling in the case of the 3.625% Notes, fully and unconditionally guaranteed the 5.25% Notes and 3.625% Notes on a joint and several basis. The following financial tables present summarized financial information for (i) Darling, (ii) the combined Notes Guarantors, (iii) the combined other subsidiaries of the Company that did not guarantee the 5.25% Notes or the 3.625% Notes (the “Non-guarantors”), and (iv) eliminations necessary to arrive at the Company's consolidated summarized financial information, which include summarized condensed consolidated balance sheets as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, and the summarized condensed consolidating statements of operations for the years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018. Separate financial information is not presented for Darling Global Finance B.V. since it was formed as a special purpose finance subsidiary for the purpose of issuing euro-denominated notes such as the 3.625% Notes and therefore does not have any substantial operations or assets.

Summarized Financial Information

Condensed Balance Sheet Information
(in thousands)

January 2, 2021ParentNotes GuarantorsNon-guarantorsEliminationsConsolidated
Current assets$103,728 $881,669 $1,177,869 $(1,176,272)$986,994 
Noncurrent assets6,476,886 2,465,785 3,753,644 (8,069,978)4,626,337 
Current liabilities1,345,233 77,573 428,771 (1,176,272)675,305 
Noncurrent liabilities1,254,518 19,755 826,157 (116,613)1,983,817 
Stockholders' equity3,980,863 3,250,126 3,676,585 (7,953,365)2,954,209 
December 28, 2019
Current assets$106,037 $789,495 $906,987 $(885,231)917,288 
Noncurrent assets6,003,960 2,583,918 3,466,890 (7,626,798)4,427,970 
Current liabilities1,071,608 72,916 429,046 (885,231)688,339 
Noncurrent liabilities1,302,462 20,311 740,960 (50,164)2,013,569 
Stockholders' equity3,735,927 3,280,186 3,203,871 (7,576,634)2,643,350 

Condensed Statements of Operations Information
(in thousands) 
For the year ended January 2, 2021ParentNotes GuarantorsNon-guarantorsEliminationsConsolidated
Net sales$740,912 $1,301,933 $1,740,001 $(210,923)$3,571,923 
Total costs and expenses827,070 1,197,946 1,641,989 (210,923)3,456,082 
Equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel— — 315,095 — 315,095 
Operating income(86,158)103,987 413,107 — 430,936 
Net income allocable to Darling296,819 87,587 330,321 (417,908)296,819 
For the year ended December 28, 2019
Net sales$652,708 $1,305,464 $1,637,861 $(232,128)$3,363,905 
Total costs and expenses764,511 1,218,993 1,501,160 (232,128)3,252,536 
Equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel— — 364,452 — 364,452 
Operating income(111,803)86,471 501,153 — 475,821 
Net income allocable to Darling312,600 72,074 399,753 (471,827)312,600 
For the year ended December 29, 2018
Net sales$541,499 $1,338,376 $1,738,427 $(230,576)$3,387,726 
Total costs and expenses620,598 1,234,016 1,668,466 (230,576)3,292,504 
Equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel— — 159,779 — 159,779 
Operating income(79,099)104,360 229,740 — 255,001 
Net income allocable to Darling101,496 99,353 171,590 (270,943)101,496 
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CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AND OTHER COMMERCIAL COMMITMENTS

The following table summarizes the Company’s expected material contractual payment obligations, including both on- and off-balance sheet arrangements at January 2, 2021 (in thousands):

 TotalLess than
1 Year		1 – 3
Years		3 – 5
Years		More than
5 Years
Contractual obligations(a):     
Long-term debt obligations (b)$1,487,163 $— $— $355,000 $1,132,163 
Operating lease obligations (c)167,681 44,723 61,327 34,463 27,168 
Finance lease obligations (c)3,876 952 1,495 831 598 
Operating lease obligations not yet effective (c)1,214 321 505 388 — 
Estimated interest payable (d)329,808 60,593 119,063 107,950 42,202 
Purchase commitments (e)192,782 133,789 58,993 — — 
Pension funding obligation (f)3,840 3,840 — — — 
Other obligations (b)33,301 26,633 6,336 88 244 
Total$2,219,665 $270,851 $247,719 $498,720 $1,202,375 

(a)    The above table does not reflect uncertain tax positions at January 2, 2021. The Company's uncertain tax position is approximately $5.0 million.
(b)    Represents debt obligations outstanding as of January 2, 2021. See Note 10 to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included herein.
(c)    See Note 9 to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included herein.
(d)    Interest payable was calculated using the current rate for the debt that was outstanding as of January 2, 2021.
(e)    Purchase commitments were determined based on specified contracts for natural gas, diesel fuel and finished product purchases.
(f)    Pension funding requirements are determined annually based upon a third party actuarial estimate.  The Company expects to make approximately $3.8 million in required contributions to domestic and foreign pension plans in fiscal year 2021.  The Company is not able to estimate pension funding requirements beyond the next twelve months. The accrued pension benefit liability was approximately $57.0 million at the end of fiscal year 2020.  The Company knows certain of the multiemployer pension plans that have not terminated to which it contributes and which are not administered by the Company were under-funded as of the latest available information, and while the Company has no ability to calculate a possible current liability for the under-funded multiemployer plan to which the Company contributes, the amounts could be material.

The Company's off-balance sheet contractual obligations and commercial commitments as of January 2, 2021 relate to letters of credit, foreign bank guarantees, forward purchase agreements and employment agreements.  The Company has excluded these items from the balance sheet in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

The following table summarizes the Company’s other commercial commitments, including both on- and off-balance sheet arrangements that are part of the Company's Amended Credit Agreement and other foreign bank guarantees that are not a part of the Company's Amended Credit Agreement at January 2, 2021 (in thousands):
        
Other commercial commitments: 
Standby letters of credit$3,891 
Standby letters of credit (ancillary facility)24,334 
Foreign bank guarantees12,529 
Total other commercial commitments:$40,754 
 
OFF BALANCE SHEET OBLIGATIONS

Based upon the underlying purchase agreements, the Company has commitments to purchase $192.8 million of commodity products, consisting of approximately $77.4 million of finished and raw material products and approximately $84.7 million of natural gas and diesel fuel and approximately $30.7 million of other commitments during the next three years, which are not included in liabilities on the Company’s balance sheet at January 2, 2021. These purchase agreements are entered into in
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the normal course of the Company’s business and are not subject to derivative accounting. The commitments will be recorded on the balance sheet of the Company when delivery of these commodities occurs and ownership passes to the Company during the next three years, in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
The Company follows certain significant accounting policies when preparing its consolidated financial statements.  A complete summary of these policies is included in Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included herein.

Certain of the policies require management to make significant and subjective estimates or assumptions that may deviate from actual results.  In particular, management makes estimates regarding fair value of the Company’s reporting units and future cash flows with respect to assessing potential impairment of both long-lived assets and goodwill and pension liability.  Each of these estimates is discussed in greater detail in the following discussion.

Long-Lived Assets

The Company reviews the carrying value of long-lived assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset, or related asset group, may not be recoverable from estimated future undiscounted cash flows.  Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset or asset group to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset or asset group.  If the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset. In December 2020, due to unfavorable economics in the biodiesel industry, the Company made the decision to shut down processing operations at its biodiesel facilities located in the United States and Canada, and there are no current plans to resume biodiesel production at these facilities in the future. The Company recorded asset impairment charges related to its long-lived assets of approximately $6.2 million. In fiscal year 2018, the Company shut down operations at its Hurlingham, Argentina plant and recorded asset impairment charges related to its long-lived assets of approximately $2.4 million. In fiscal year 2019, no triggering event occurred requiring that the Company perform testing of its long-lived assets for impairment.

Goodwill Valuation

The Company performed the annual goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets impairment assessments at October 24, 2020, and prior to finalizing the impairment testing a triggering event occurred, where due to unfavorable economics in the biodiesel industry, the Company made the decision to shut down the processing operations at its biodiesel facilities located in the United States and Canada, both of which represent a separate reporting unit. Goodwill and indefinite lived assets are tested annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired.  The Company uses the quantitative approach to impairment testing by comparing the fair value of the Company's reporting units to their respective carrying amounts and records an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amounts exceeds the fair value; however, the loss recognized if any will not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit.

Based on the Company’s annual impairment testing at October 26, 2019 and October 27, 2018, the fair values of the Company’s reporting units containing goodwill exceeded the related carrying value. During the annual impairment testing at October 24, 2020 and prior to finalizing the impairment testing a triggering event occurred resulting in the Company making the decision to shut down the Company's biodiesel facilities as described above, and recording goodwill impairment charges of approximately $31.6 million. Based on the Company's annual impairment testing at October 24, 2020, the fair value of the remaining six reporting units was greater than 30% in excess of its carrying value. The Company determined the fair value of reporting units with the assistance of a valuation expert who assisted the Company primarily using the Income Approach to determine the fair value of the Company's reporting units. Key assumptions that impacted the discounted cash flow model were raw material volumes, gross margins, terminal growth rates and discount rates. It is possible, depending upon a number of factors that are not determinable at this time or within the control of the Company, that the fair value of these six reporting units could decrease in the future and result in an impairment to goodwill. The Company's management believes the biggest risk to these reporting units is decreasing finished product prices impacting gross margins and an economic slowdown that would impact raw material suppliers. Goodwill was approximately $1,260.2 million and $1,223.3 million at January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, respectively.

Pension Liability

The Company has retirement and pension plans covering a substantial number of its domestic and foreign employees. Major assumptions used in the accounting for these employee benefit plans include the discount rate, expected return on plan
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assets, rate of increase in employee compensation levels, mortality rates and trends in health care costs. The actuarial assumptions used may differ materially from actual results due to changing market and economic conditions, higher or lower withdrawal rates or longer or shorter life spans of participants. These differences may result in a significant impact to the amount of net periodic benefit cost recorded in future periods.

The discount rate applied to the Company’s pension liability is the interest rate used to calculate the present value of the pension benefit obligation.  The weighted average discount rate was 2.10% at January 2, 2021 and 2.77% at December 28, 2019, respectively.  The net periodic benefit cost for fiscal year 2021 would increase by approximately $1.3 million if the discount rate was 0.5% lower at a weighted average of 1.60%.  The net periodic benefit cost for fiscal year 2021 would decrease by approximately $1.1 million if the discount rate was 0.5% higher at a weighted average of 2.60%.

NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In March 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform Topic 848, Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. The update provides optional guidance for a limited period of time to ease the potential burden in accounting for (or reorganizing the effects of) contract modifications on financial reporting, caused by reference rate reform. This ASU is effective for all entities as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. The adoption of this ASU in the first quarter of fiscal 2020 did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. This ASU amends Topic 740 Income Taxes, which eliminates certain exceptions in accounting for income taxes, improves consistency in application and clarifies existing guidance. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-14, Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans. This ASU amends Subtopic 715-20, Compensation - Retirement Benefits - Defined Benefit Plans - General, which modifies the disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other postretirement plans by removing and adding certain disclosures for these plans. The standard is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurements. This ASU amends Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement, which changes the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements by removing, adding and modifying certain disclosures. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 and for interim periods therein, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04 Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. This ASU amends Topic 350, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other, which will simplify the goodwill impairment calculation by eliminating Step 2 from the current goodwill impairment test. Under the new guidance, an entity should perform its annual, or interim, goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An entity should recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit's fair value; however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. The ASU eliminates existing guidance that requires an entity to determine goodwill impairment by calculating the implied fair value of goodwill by hypothetically assigning the fair value of a reporting unit to all of the assets and liabilities as if that reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. Under ASU 2016-13, existing guidance on reporting credit losses for trade and other receivables and available for sale debt securities will be replaced with a new forward-looking “expected loss” model that generally will result in the earlier recognition of allowances for losses. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 and interim periods therein. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.


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FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Annual Report on Form 10-K includes “forward-looking” statements that involve risks and uncertainties.  The words such as “estimate,” “project,” “planned,” “contemplate,” “potential,” “possible,” “proposed,” “intend,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “could,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.  All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this report are forward looking statements, including, without limitation, the statements under the sections entitled “Business,” “Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Legal Proceedings” and located elsewhere herein regarding industry prospects, the Company's financial position and the Company's use of cash.  Forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current expectations and assumptions regarding its business, the economy and other future conditions. The Company cautions readers that any such forward-looking statements it makes are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results may differ materially from anticipated results or expectations expressed in its forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including many that are beyond the Company's control.

In addition to those factors discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of this report and elsewhere in this report, and in the Company's other public filings with the SEC, important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include: existing and unknown future limitations on the ability of the Company's direct and indirect subsidiaries to make their cash flow available to the Company for payments on the Company's indebtedness or other purposes; global demands for bio-fuels and grain and oilseed commodities, which have exhibited volatility, and can impact the cost of feed for cattle, hogs and poultry, thus affecting available rendering feedstock and selling prices for the Company’s products; reductions in raw material volumes available to the Company due to weak margins in the meat production industry as a result of higher feed costs, reduced consumer demand or other factors, reduced volume from food service establishments, or otherwise; reduced demand for animal feed; reduced finished product prices, including a decline in fat and used cooking oil finished product prices; changes to worldwide government policies relating to renewable fuels and GHG emissions that adversely affect programs like the U.S. government's renewable fuel standard, low carbon fuel standards (“LCFS”) and tax credits for biofuels both in the United States and abroad; possible product recall resulting from developments relating to the discovery of unauthorized adulterations to food or food additives; the occurrence of 2009 H1N1 flu (initially known as Swine Flu), highly pathogenic strains of avian influenza (collectively known as Bird Flu), SARS, BSE, PED or other diseases associated with animal origin in the United States or elsewhere, such as the outbreak of ASF in China and elsewhere; the occurrence of pandemics, epidemics or disease outbreaks, such as the current COVID-19 outbreak; unanticipated costs and/or reductions in raw material volumes related to the Company’s compliance with the existing or unforeseen new U.S. or foreign (including, without limitation, China) regulations (including new or modified animal feed, Bird Flu, SARS, PED, BSE or ASF or similar or unanticipated regulations) affecting the industries in which the Company operates or its value added products; risks associated with the DGD Joint Venture, including possible unanticipated operating disruptions and issues relating to the announced expansion project; risks and uncertainties relating to international sales and operations, including imposition of tariffs, quotas, trade barriers and other trade protections imposed by foreign countries; difficulties or a significant disruption in the Company's information systems or failure to implement new systems and software successfully; risks relating to possible third party claims of intellectual property infringement; increased contributions to the Company’s pension and benefit plans, including multiemployer and employer-sponsored defined benefit pension plans as required by legislation, regulation or other applicable U.S. or foreign law or resulting from a U.S. mass withdrawal event; bad debt writeoffs; loss of or failure to obtain necessary permits and registrations; continued or escalated conflict in the Middle East, North Korea, Ukraine or elsewhere; uncertainty regarding the exit of the U.K. from the European Union; and/or unfavorable export or import markets. These factors, coupled with volatile prices for natural gas and diesel fuel, climate conditions, currency exchange fluctuations, general performance of the U.S. and global economies, disturbances in world financial, credit, commodities and stock markets, and any decline in consumer confidence and discretionary spending, including the inability of consumers and companies to obtain credit due to lack of liquidity in the financial markets, among others, could cause actual results to vary materially from the forward-looking statements included in this report or negatively impact the Company's results of operations. Among other things, future profitability may be affected by the Company’s ability to grow its business, which faces competition from companies that may have substantially greater resources than the Company. The Company's announced share repurchase program may be suspended or discontinued at any time and purchases of shares under the program are subject to market conditions and other factors, which are likely to change from time to time. The Company cautions readers that all forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward looking statements, whether as a result of changes in circumstances, new events or otherwise.

ITEM 7A.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 Market risks affecting the Company include exposures to changes in prices of the finished products the Company sells, interest rates on debt, availability of raw material supplies and the price of natural gas and diesel fuel used in the Company's plants. Raw materials available to the Company are impacted by seasonal factors, including holidays, when raw
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material volume declines; warm weather, which can adversely affect the quality of raw material processed and finished products produced; and cold weather, which can impact the collection of raw material. Predominantly all of the Company’s finished products are commodities that are generally sold at prices prevailing at the time of sale. Additionally, with acquisition of foreign entities we are exposed to foreign currency exchange risks, imposition of currency controls and the possibility of currency devaluation.

The Company makes limited use of derivative instruments to manage cash flow risks related to natural gas usage, diesel fuel usage, inventory, forecasted sales and foreign currency exchange rates. The Company does not use derivative instruments for trading purposes. Natural gas swaps and options are entered into with the intent of managing the overall cost of natural gas usage by reducing the potential impact of seasonal weather demands on natural gas that increases natural gas prices. Heating oil swaps and options are entered into with the intent of managing the overall cost of diesel fuel usage by reducing the potential impact of seasonal weather demands on diesel fuel that increases diesel fuel prices. Corn options and future contracts are entered into with the intent of managing U.S. forecasted sales of BBP by reducing the impact of changing prices. Foreign currency forward contracts are entered into to mitigate the foreign exchange rate risk for transactions designated in a currency other than the local functional currency. The interest rate swaps and the natural gas swaps are subject to the requirements of FASB authoritative guidance. Some of the Company's natural gas and diesel fuel instruments are not subject to the requirements of FASB authoritative guidance because some of the natural gas and diesel fuel instruments qualify as normal purchases as defined in FASB authoritative guidance.  At January 2, 2021, the Company had foreign currency option and forward contracts, soybean meal forward contracts and corn option contracts outstanding that qualified and were designated for hedge accounting as well as corn forward contracts and foreign currency forward contracts that did not qualify and were not designated for hedge accounting.

In fiscal 2020, fiscal 2019 and fiscal 2018, the Company entered into foreign exchange option and forward contracts that are considered cash flow hedges. Under the terms of the foreign exchange contracts, the Company hedged a portion of its forecasted collagen sales in currencies other than the functional currency through the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022. At January 2, 2021, the aggregate fair value of these foreign exchange contracts was approximately $11.6 million. The January 2, 2021 are included in other current assets, other noncurrent assets and accrued expenses on the balance sheet, with an offset recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss.

In fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019, the Company entered into corn option contracts that are considered cash flow hedges. Under the terms of the corn option contracts the Company hedged a portion of its forecasted sales of BBP into the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021. At January 2, 2021, the aggregate fair value of the corn contracts was $6.8 million. The amounts are included in accrued expenses on the balance sheet.

In fiscal 2020, the Company entered into soybean meal forward contracts to hedge a portion of its forecasted poultry meal sales into the second quarter of fiscal 2021. As of January 2, 2021, the aggregate fair value of the soybean meal contracts was $0.4 million and was recorded in other current assets on the balance sheet.

As of January 2, 2021, the Company had the following outstanding forward contracts that were entered into to hedge the future payments of intercompany notes, foreign currency transactions in currencies other than the functional currency and forecasted transactions in currencies other than the functional currency (in thousands):
Page 67

Functional CurrencyContract CurrencyRange ofU.S.
TypeAmountTypeAmountHedge ratesEquivalent
Brazilian real64,919 Euro9,645 6.31 - 6.98$12,499 
Brazilian real1,189,357 U.S. dollar257,300 3.35 - 6.25257,300 
Euro33,671 U.S. dollar40,514 1.17 - 1.2440,514 
Euro22,229 Polish zloty100,000 4.48 - 4.5327,286 
Euro4,838 Japanese yen605,514 123.14 - 126.435,939 
Euro15,360 Chinese renminbi122,801 7.87 - 8.0318,855 
Euro13,349 Australian dollar21,850 1.6416,386 
Euro2,488 British pound2,269 0.91 - 0.923,054 
Euro32 Canadian dollar50 1.5639 
Polish zloty24,824 Euro5,506 4.50 - 4.516,603 
Polish zloty2,253 U.S. dollar608 3.71608 
British pound232 Euro253 0.92317 
British pound150 U.S. dollar200 1.33200 
Japanese yen258,547 U.S. dollar2,505 102.77 - 106.622,505 
U.S. dollar531 Japanese yen55,000 103.58531 
U.S. dollar114,078 Euro95,000 1.20 - 1.22114,078 
Canadian dollar10,205 U.S. dollar8,000 1.288,000 
$514,714 

The above foreign currency contracts had an aggregate fair value of approximately $14.7 million and are included in other current assets, noncurrent assets and accrued expenses at January 2, 2021.

    Additionally, the Company had corn forward contracts that are marked to market because they did not qualify for hedge accounting at January 2, 2021.  These contracts have an aggregate fair value of approximately $0.7 million and are included in current other assets and accrued expenses at January 2, 2021.

As of January 2, 2021, the Company had forward purchase agreements in place for purchases of approximately $84.7 million of natural gas and diesel fuel and approximately $30.7 million of other commitments during the next three years.  As of January 2, 2021, the Company had forward purchase agreements in place for purchases of approximately $77.4 million of finished and raw material products in fiscal 2021 and years beyond.

Interest Rate Sensitivity

At January 2, 2021, the Company's fixed rate debt obligations consist of the 5.25% Notes, the 3.625% Notes and other immaterial debt that accrue interest at an annual weighted average fixed rate of approximately 4.34%. As of January 2, 2021, the Company has long-term debt of approximately $0.4 billion subject to variable interest rates under the Company's Senior Secured Credit Facilities. This portion of the Company's debt is sensitive to fluctuations in interest rates. The Company estimates that a 1% increase in interest rates will increase the Company's annual interest expense by approximately $3.6 million.

Foreign Exchange

The Company has significant international operations and is subject to certain opportunities and risks, including currency fluctuations. As a result, the Company is affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates, particularly with respect to the euro, British pound, Canadian dollar, Australian dollar, Chinese renminbi, Brazilian real and Japanese yen.
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ITEM 8.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA



INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 Page
  
 70
 72
 
 
 
 
 

All other schedules are omitted since the required information is not present or is not present in amounts sufficient to require submission of the schedule, or because the information required is included in the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto.


Page 69

DARLING INGREDIENTS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 


To the Stockholders and Board of Directors
Darling Ingredients Inc.:
 
Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Darling Ingredients Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income/(loss), stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three‑year period ended January 2, 2021, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three‑year period ended January 2, 2021, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of January 2, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, and our report dated March 2, 2021 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Change in Accounting Principle
As discussed in Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has changed its method of accounting for leases as of December 30, 2018, due to the adoption of Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-02 Leases (Topic 842).

Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.


Page 70


Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of this critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

Assessment of the carrying value of goodwill
As discussed in notes 1(8) and 7 to the consolidated financial statements, the goodwill balance as of January 2, 2021 was $1,260 million. The Company performs goodwill impairment testing on an annual basis or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of goodwill might exceed the fair value of a reporting unit.

We identified the assessment of the carrying value of goodwill for two of the Company’s reporting units as a critical audit matter because of the high degree of subjectivity in evaluating the estimated fair values of these reporting units. The Company’s operations in these reporting units are heavily dependent on commodity prices and thus had a higher risk associated with management’s estimate of each reporting unit’s fair value. Specifically, the raw material volume and gross margin forecasts used to determine the fair value of the reporting units were challenging to audit as minor changes to those assumptions could have a significant effect on the Company’s assessment of the carrying value of goodwill in these two reporting units.
The following are the primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter. We evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of certain internal controls over the Company’s goodwill impairment assessment process, including controls related to the determination of the fair value of the reporting units and the related forecasted raw material volume and gross margin assumptions. We performed sensitivity analyses over the forecasted raw material volume and gross margin assumptions to assess their impact on the Company’s determination that the fair value of the reporting units exceeded its carrying value. We evaluated the significant assumptions utilized by the Company, which included the Company’s forecasted raw material volume and gross margin assumptions for each reporting unit. We compared these forecasts to actual historical raw material volumes and gross margins and to available external commodity pricing market data and Board approved capital projects. We also compared the Company’s historical raw material volume and gross margin forecasts to actual results for these reporting units to assess the Company’s ability to accurately forecast.

/s/ KPMG LLP


We have served as the Company’s auditor since 1989.
 
Dallas, Texas
March 2, 2021
Page 71

DARLING INGREDIENTS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES


Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm




To the Stockholders and Board of Directors
Darling Ingredients Inc.:

 
Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We have audited Darling Ingredients Inc. and subsidiaries’ (the Company) internal control over financial reporting as of January 2, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of January 2, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income/(loss), stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended January 2, 2021, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements), and our report dated March 2, 2021 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.

The Company acquired certain privately owned Belgium companies (the Belgium Group Acquisition) and Marengo Fabricated Steel Ltd (Marengo) during 2020, and management excluded from its assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of January 2, 2021, the Belgium Group Acquistion and Marengo internal control over financial reporting which represent less than 1% of total assets and total revenues included in the consolidated financial statements of the Company as of and for the year ended January 2, 2021. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting of the Company also excluded an evaluation of the internal control over financial reporting of the Belgium Group Acquisition and Marengo.

Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material






Page 72

weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.



/s/ KPMG LLP
 
Dallas, Texas
March 2, 2021
Page 73

DARLING INGREDIENTS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets
January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
 
 
ASSETS
January 2,
2021		December 28,
2019
Current assets:  
Cash and cash equivalents$81,617 $72,935 
Restricted cash103 110 
       Accounts receivable, less allowance for bad debts of $10,815
             at January 2, 2021 and $8,802 at December 28, 2019
405,387 406,338 
Inventories405,922 362,957 
Prepaid expenses47,793 46,599 
Income taxes refundable3,883 3,317 
Other current assets42,289 25,032 
Total current assets986,994 917,288 
Property, plant and equipment, net1,863,814 1,802,411 
Intangible assets, net473,680 526,394 
Goodwill1,260,240 1,223,291 
Investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries804,682 689,354 
Operating lease right-of-use assets146,563 124,726 
Other assets60,682 47,400 
Deferred income taxes16,676 14,394 
 $5,613,331 $5,345,258 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY  
Current liabilities:  
Current portion of long-term debt$27,538 $90,996 
Accounts payable, principally trade255,340 239,252 
Income taxes payable17,497 8,895 
Current operating lease liabilities39,459 37,805 
Accrued expenses335,471 311,391 
Total current liabilities675,305 688,339 
Long-term debt, net of current portion1,480,531 1,558,429 
Long-term operating lease liabilities109,707 91,424 
Other noncurrent liabilities117,371 115,785 
Deferred income taxes276,208 247,931 
Total liabilities2,659,122 2,701,908 
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity:  
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 250,000,000 shares authorized, 169,880,238 and 168,620,314 shares issued at January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, respectively
1,699 1,686 
     Additional paid-in capital1,597,429 1,560,897 
     Treasury stock, at cost; 7,679,849 and 4,845,203 shares at
          January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, respectively
(151,710)(75,022)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss(252,433)(321,847)
Retained earnings1,696,924 1,400,105 
Total Darling's stockholders’ equity2,891,909 2,565,819 
Noncontrolling interests62,300 77,531 
Total stockholders’ equity2,954,209 2,643,350 
$5,613,331 $5,345,258 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Page 74

DARLING INGREDIENTS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Three years ended January 2, 2021
(in thousands, except per share data)
 
 January 2,
2021		December 28,
2019		December 29,
2018
Net sales$3,571,923 $3,363,905 $3,387,726 
Costs and expenses:   
Cost of sales and operating expenses2,688,815 2,589,085 2,646,374 
Loss (gain) on sale of assets426 (20,582)709 
Selling, general and administrative expenses378,496 358,523 309,264 
Restructuring and asset impairment charges38,167 — 14,965 
Depreciation and amortization350,178 325,510 321,192 
Total costs and expenses3,456,082 3,252,536 3,292,504 
Equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel315,095 364,452 159,779 
Operating income430,936 475,821 255,001 
Other expense:   
Interest expense(72,686)(78,674)(86,429)
Debt extinguishment costs— (12,126)(23,509)
Foreign currency losses(2,290)(1,311)(6,431)
Gain (loss) on disposal of subsidiaries— 2,967 (12,545)
Other expense, net(5,534)(6,671)(7,562)
Total other expense(80,510)(95,815)(136,476)
Equity in net income/(loss) of other unconsolidated subsidiaries3,193 428 (550)
Income from operations before income taxes353,619 380,434 117,975 
Income tax expense53,289 59,467 12,031 
Net income300,330 320,967 105,944 
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests(3,511)(8,367)(4,448)
Net income attributable to Darling$296,819 $312,600 $101,496 
Net income per share:   
Basic$1.83 $1.90 $0.62 
Diluted$1.78 $1.86 $0.60 
 

  
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Page 75

DARLING INGREDIENTS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME/(LOSS)
Three years ended January 2, 2021
(in thousands)

 January 2, 2021December 28, 2019December 29, 2018
Net income$300,330 $320,967 $105,944 
Other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax:  
Foreign currency translation70,320 (11,934)(87,474)
Pension adjustments(4,313)1,535 (2,730)
Natural gas swap derivative adjustments— — 23 
Corn option derivative adjustments(5,731)278 (1,687)
Soybean meal derivative adjustments297 — — 
Heating oil derivative adjustments1,104 (3,141)— 
Foreign exchange derivative adjustments6,621 (3,723)1,081 
Total other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax68,298 (16,985)(90,787)
Total comprehensive income368,628 303,982 15,157 
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests
2,395 8,690 3,894 
Comprehensive income attributable to Darling$366,233 $295,292 $11,263 






The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


Page 76

DARLING INGREDIENTS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
  
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
Three years ended January 2, 2021
(in thousands, except share data)
Common Stock
Number of Outstanding Shares
$0.01 par Value
Additional Paid-In CapitalTreasury StockAccumulated Other Comprehensive LossRetained EarningsStockholders' equity attributable to DarlingNon-controlling InterestsTotal Stockholders' Equity
Balances at December 30, 2017164,653,437 $1,679 $1,515,614 $(44,063)$(209,524)$981,227 $2,244,933 $82,764 $2,327,697 
Adjustment to initially apply FASB ASC No. 2018-02 Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
— — — — (4,782)4,782 — — — 
Net income— — — — — 101,496 101,496 4,448 105,944 
Distribution of noncontrolling interest earnings
— — — — — — — (9,710)(9,710)
Deductions to noncontrolling interests
— — — — — — — (14,175)(14,175)
Pension liability adjustments, net of tax
— — — — (2,730)— (2,730)— (2,730)
Natural gas swap derivative adjustment, net of tax
— — — — 23 — 23 — 23 
Corn option derivative adjustment, net of tax
— — — — (1,687)— (1,687)— (1,687)
Foreign exchange derivative adjustment, net of tax
— — — — 1,081 — 1,081 — 1,081 
Foreign currency translation adjustments
— — — — (86,920)— (86,920)(554)(87,474)
Stock-based compensation— — 18,260 — — — 18,260 — 18,260 
Treasury stock(198,516)— — (3,693)— — (3,693)— (3,693)
Issuance of common stock205,677 2 2,283 — — — 2,285 — 2,285 
Balances at December 29, 2018164,660,598 $1,681 $1,536,157 $(47,756)$(304,539)$1,087,505 $2,273,048 $62,773 $2,335,821 
Net income— — — — — 312,600 312,600 8,367 320,967 
Distribution of noncontrolling interest earnings
— — — — — — — (5,964)(5,964)
Additions to noncontrolling interests— — — — — — — 12,032 12,032 
Pension liability adjustments, net of tax
— — — — 1,535 — 1,535 — 1,535 
Heating oil derivative adjustment, net of tax
— — — — (3,141)— (3,141)— (3,141)
Corn option derivative adjustment, net of tax
— — — — 278 — 278 — 278 
Foreign exchange derivative adjustment, net of tax
— — — — (3,723)— (3,723)— (3,723)
Foreign currency translation adjustments
— — — — (12,257)— (12,257)323 (11,934)
Stock-based compensation— — 21,007 — — — 21,007 — 21,007 
Treasury stock(1,407,624)— — (27,266)— — (27,266)— (27,266)
Issuance of common stock522,137 5 3,733 — — — 3,738 — 3,738 
Balances at December 28, 2019163,775,111 $1,686 $1,560,897 $(75,022)$(321,847)$1,400,105 $2,565,819 $77,531 $2,643,350 
Net income— — — — — 296,819 296,819 3,511 300,330 
Distribution of noncontrolling interest earnings
— — — — — — — (4,480)(4,480)
Deductions to noncontrolling interests— — 3,258 — — — 3,258 (13,146)(9,888)
Pension liability adjustments, net of tax
— — — — (4,313)— (4,313)— (4,313)
Heating oil derivative adjustment, net of tax
— — — — 1,104 — 1,104 — 1,104 
Corn option derivative adjustment, net of tax
— — — — (5,731)— (5,731)— (5,731)
  Soybean meal derivative adjustment, net of tax— — — — 297 — 297 — 297 
Foreign exchange derivative adjustment, net of tax
— — — — 6,621 — 6,621 — 6,621 
Foreign currency translation adjustments
— — — — 71,436 — 71,436 (1,116)70,320 
Issuance of non-vested stock11,000 — 221 — — — 221 — 221 
Stock-based compensation— — 23,001 — — — 23,001 — 23,001 
Treasury stock(2,834,646)— — (76,688)— — (76,688)— (76,688)
Issuance of common stock1,248,924 13 10,052 — — — 10,065 — 10,065 
Balances at January 2, 2021162,200,389 $1,699 $1,597,429 $(151,710)$(252,433)$1,696,924 $2,891,909 $62,300 $2,954,209 
    The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
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DARLING INGREDIENTS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Three years ended January 2, 2021
(in thousands)
 January 2,
2021		December 28,
2019		December 29,
2018
Cash flows from operating activities:   
Net income$300,330 $320,967 $105,944 
     Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:   
Depreciation and amortization350,178 325,510 321,192 
Deferred income taxes15,814 20,530 (16,974)
Loss/(gain) on sale of assets426 (20,582)709 
Loss/(gain) on disposal of subsidiaries— (2,967)12,545 
Asset impairment37,802 — 2,907 
Gain on insurance proceeds from insurance settlement(293)(6,600)(1,253)
Increase/(decrease) in long-term pension liability(6,555)1,831 1,463 
Stock-based compensation expense23,222 21,007 18,779 
Debt extinguishment costs— 12,126 23,509 
Write-off deferred loan costs3,052 270 320 
Deferred loan cost amortization5,357 5,846 7,870 
Equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel and other unconsolidated subsidiaries(318,288)(364,880)(159,229)
Distributions of earnings from Diamond Green Diesel and other unconsolidated subsidiaries207,328 69,213 67,638 
         Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net
                   of effects from acquisitions:
   
Accounts receivable22,362 (26,086)(6,347)
Income taxes refundable/payable4,200 9,542 (9,809)
Inventories and prepaid expenses(18,666)(39,111)2,391 
Accounts payable and accrued expenses11,200 32,436 14,534 
Other(12,818)3,569 12,426 
Net cash provided by operating activities624,651 362,621 398,615 
Cash flows from investing activities:   
Capital expenditures(280,115)(359,498)(321,896)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired(29,793)(1,431)(107,727)
Investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries— (2,000)(12,250)
       Proceeds from sale of investment in subsidiaries— 3,671 82,760 
       Gross proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment and other assets2,797 18,235 19,328 
Proceeds from insurance settlement293 6,600 1,253 
Payments related to routes and other intangibles(3,810)(3,651)(3,883)
Net cash used in investing activities(310,628)(338,074)(342,415)
Cash flows from financing activities:   
Proceeds from long-term debt34,569 517,606 624,620 
Payments on long-term debt(232,726)(581,163)(686,628)
Borrowings from revolving credit facility495,691 469,227 543,898 
Payments on revolving credit facility(480,604)(461,669)(510,974)
Net cash overdraft financing(37,692)38,367 3,460 
Deferred loan costs(4,292)(7,027)(9,668)
Issuance of common stock67 39 182 
Repurchase of common stock(55,044)(19,260)— 
Minimum withholding taxes paid on stock awards(11,918)(4,472)(2,215)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest(8,784)— — 
Distributions to noncontrolling interests(6,253)(6,533)(10,257)
Net cash used in financing activities(306,986)(54,885)(47,582)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash flows1,638 (3,986)(8,165)
Net increase/(decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash8,675 (34,324)453 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year73,045 107,369 106,916 
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year$81,720 $73,045 $107,369 
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:   
Accrued capital expenditures$(4,967)$6,714 $5,951 
Cash paid during the year for:   
Interest, net of capitalized interest$66,216 $79,132 $75,006 
Income taxes, net of refunds$36,779 $29,778 $33,162 
Non-cash operating activities
          Operating lease right of use asset obtained in exchange for new lease liabilities
$58,052 $40,596 $— 
Non-cash financing activities
Debt issued for service contract assets$8,123 $25 $22 
  The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Page 78

DARLING INGREDIENTS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

NOTE 1.    GENERAL

(a)     NATURE OF OPERATIONS

Darling Ingredients Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Darling”, and together with its subsidiaries, the “Company” or “we”, “us” or “our”), is a global developer and producer of sustainable natural ingredients from edible and inedible bio-nutrients, creating a wide range of ingredients and customized specialty solutions for customers in the pharmaceutical, food, pet food, feed, industrial, fuel, bioenergy and fertilizer industries.  The Company’s business operations is conducted through a global network of over 200 locations across five continents within three business segments, Feed Ingredients, Food Ingredients and Fuel Ingredients. Comparative segment revenues and related financial information are presented in Note 21 to the consolidated financial statements.

(b)SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

(1)     Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Darling and its consolidated subsidiaries. Noncontrolling interests represents the outstanding ownership interest in the Company's consolidated subsidiaries that are not owned by the Company. In the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations, the noncontrolling interest in net income of the consolidated subsidiaries is shown as an allocation of the Company's net income and is presented separately as “Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests”. In the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets, noncontrolling interests represents the ownership interests in the Company consolidated subsidiaries' net assets held by parties other than the Company. These ownership interests are presented separately as “Noncontrolling interests” within “Stockholders' Equity.” All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

(2)    Fiscal Year 

The Company has a 52/53 week fiscal year ending on the Saturday nearest December 31.  Fiscal years for the consolidated financial statements included herein are for the 53 weeks ended January 2, 2021, the 52 weeks ended December 28, 2019, and the 52 weeks ended December 29, 2018.

(3)     Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all short-term highly liquid instruments, with an original maturity of three months or less, to be cash equivalents. Cash balances are recorded net of book overdrafts when a bank right-of-offset exists. All other book overdrafts are recorded in accounts payable and the change in the related balance is reflected in operating activities on the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. In addition, the Company has bank overdrafts, which are considered a form of short-term financing with changes in the related balance reflected in financing activities in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.

Restricted cash represents amounts required to be set aside as collateral for environmental claims and are insignificant to the Company.

(4)     Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The Company maintains allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from customers’ non-payment of trade accounts receivable owed to the Company.  These trade receivables arise in the ordinary course of business from sales of raw material, finished product or services to the Company’s customers.  The estimate of allowance for doubtful accounts is based upon the Company’s bad debt experience adjusted for differences in asset-specific risk characteristic, current economic conditions and forecast of future economic conditions. If the financial condition of the Company’s customers deteriorates, resulting in the customers’ inability to pay the Company’s receivables as they come due, additional allowances for doubtful accounts may be required. The Company has entered into agreements with third party banks to factor certain of the
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DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

Company's trade receivables in order to enhance working capital by turning trade receivables into cash faster. Under these agreements, the Company will sell certain selected customers trade receivables to the third party banks without recourse for cash less a nominal fee. For the year ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, the Company sold approximately $345.6 million, $204.1 million and $113.5 million, respectively of its trade receivables and incurred approximately $1.1 million, $1.2 million and $0.6 million in fees, which are recorded as interest expense, respectively.

(5)     Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value.  Cost is primarily determined using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method for the Feed Ingredients and Fuel Ingredients segments. In the Food Ingredients segment cost is primarily determined based on the weighted average cost.

(6)     Long Lived Assets

Property, Plant and Equipment
 
Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost.  Depreciation is computed by the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of assets:  1) Buildings and improvements, 15 to 30 years; 2) Machinery and equipment, 3 to 10 years; 3) Vehicles, 3 to 8 years; and 4) Aircraft, 7 to 10 years.
         
Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred and expenditures for major renewals and improvements are capitalized.

        Intangible Assets
 
Intangible assets with indefinite lives, and therefore, not subject to amortization, consist of trade names acquired in the acquisition of Griffin Industries Inc. on December 17, 2010 (which was subsequently converted to a limited liability company) and its subsidiaries (“Griffin”) and trade names acquired in the acquisition of its Darling Ingredients International business.  Intangible assets subject to amortization consist of:  1) collection routes which are made up of groups of suppliers of raw materials in similar geographic areas from which the Company derives collection fees and a dependable source of raw materials for processing into finished products;  2) permits that represent licensing of operating plants that have been acquired, giving those plants the ability to operate; 3) non-compete agreements that represent contractual arrangements with former competitors whose businesses were acquired; 4) trade names; and 5) royalty, product development, consulting, land use rights and leasehold agreements.  Amortization expense is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets ranging from:  5 to 21 years for collection routes; 10 to 20 years for permits; 3 to 7 years for non-compete covenants; and 4 to 15 years for trade names.  Royalty, product development, consulting, land use rights and leasehold agreements are generally amortized over the term of the agreement.

(7)     Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed of

The Company reviews the carrying value of long-lived assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset, or related asset group, may not be recoverable from estimated future undiscounted cash flows.  Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset or asset group to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset or asset group.  If the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized by the amount for which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset.  In fiscal 2020, the Company recorded asset impairment charges related to its long-lived assets of approximately $6.2 million. See Note 18 to the consolidated financial statements.

(8)    Goodwill

Goodwill and indefinite lived assets are tested annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired.  The Company uses the quantitative approach to impairment testing by comparing the fair value of the Company's reporting units to their respective carrying
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DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

amounts and records an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amounts exceeds the fair value; however, the loss recognized if any will not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. The Company performed its annual goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets impairment assessments at October 24, 2020 and prior to finalizing the impairment testing a triggering event occurred, which due to unfavorable economics in the biodiesel industry, the Company made the decision to shut down processing operations at its biodiesel facilities located in the United States and Canada, and there are no current plans to resume biodiesel production at these facilities in the future. As a result, the Company recorded goodwill impairment charges in fiscal 2020.

In fiscal 2019 and 2018, the fair values of the Company’s reporting units containing goodwill exceeded the related carrying values.  Goodwill was approximately $1,260.2 million and $1,223.3 million at January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, respectively.  See Note 7 for further information on the Company’s goodwill.

(9)    Leases

The Company accounts for leases in accordance with Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) Topic 842, leases. The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception for which the Company recognizes the right-of-use (“ROU”) asset and a lease liability at the lease commencement date. For operating leases, the lease liability is initially and subsequently measured at the present value of the unpaid lease payments at the lease commencement date. In determining the lease liability, the Company applies a discount rate to the minimum lease payments within each lease. ASC 842 requires the Company to use the rate of interest that a lessee would have to pay to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term an amount equal to the lease payments in a similar economic environment. To estimate the Company's incremental borrowing rate over various terms, a comparable market yield curve consistent with the Company's credit quality is determined. The lease term for all of the Company's leases include the noncancellable period of the lease plus any additional periods covered by either a Company option to extend the lease that the Company is reasonably certain to exercise or when a triggering event occurs. The Company has elected to not recognize a ROU asset and lease liability with an initial term of 12 months or less at lease commencement. Current operating leases are included on the Company's balance sheet as a ROU asset, current operating lease liabilities and long-term operating lease liabilities. For finance leases, the lease liability is initially measured in the same manner and date as for the operating leases, and is subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method. Finance leases are included in property, plant and equipment, current portion of long-term debt and long-term debt, net of current portion, but are not significant to the Company.

The ROU asset is initially measured at cost, which comprises the initial amount of the lease liability adjusted for lease payments made at or before the lease commencement date, plus any direct costs incurred less any lease incentives received. For operating leases, the ROU asset is subsequently measured throughout the lease term at the carrying amount of the lease liability, plus initial direct costs, plus (minus) any prepaid (accrued) lease payments, less the unamortized balance of the lease incentives received. Some leases payments contain rent escalation clauses (including index-based escalations), initially measured using the index at the lease commencement date. The Company recognizes minimum rental expense on a straight-line basis based on the fixed components of the lease arrangement.

The Company uses the long-lived assets impairment guidance in ASC subtopic 360-10, Property, Plant and Equipment - Overall, to determine whether the ROU asset is impaired, and if so, the amount of the impairment loss to recognize. The Company monitors for events or changes in circumstances that require a reassessment of one of its leases. When a reassessment results in the remeasurement of a lease liability, a corresponding adjustment is made to the carrying amount of the corresponding ROU asset unless doing so would reduce the carrying amount of the ROU asset to an amount less than zero. In that case, the amount of the adjustment that would result in a negative ROU asset balance is recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

(10)    Environmental Expenditures

Environmental expenditures incurred to mitigate or prevent environmental impacts that have yet to occur and that otherwise may result from future operations are capitalized.  Expenditures that relate to an existing condition caused by past operations and that do not contribute to current or future revenues are expensed or charged against established environmental reserves.  Reserves are established when environmental impacts
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DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

have been identified which are probable to require mitigation and/or remediation and the costs are reasonably estimable.

(11)    Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method.  Under the asset and liability method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.  The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

The Company periodically assesses whether it is more likely than not that it will generate sufficient taxable income to realize its deferred income tax assets.  In making this determination, the Company considers all available positive and negative evidence and makes certain assumptions.  The Company considers, among other things, its deferred tax liabilities, the overall business environment, its historical earnings and losses, current industry trends and its outlook for taxable income in future years.  
 
The Company recognizes tax benefits from uncertain tax positions only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained upon examination by the relevant taxing authority. Adjustments are made to the reserves for uncertain tax positions when facts and circumstances change or additional information is available. Judgment is required to assess the impact of ongoing audits conducted by tax authorities in determining the Company’s consolidated income tax provision. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties on tax related matters as a component of income tax expense.

(12)    Earnings per Share

Basic income per common share is computed by dividing net income attributable to Darling by the weighted average number of common shares including non-vested and restricted shares with participation rights outstanding during the period.  Diluted income per common share is computed by dividing net income attributable to Darling by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period increased by dilutive common equivalent shares determined using the treasury stock method.
Net Income per Common Share (in thousands, except per share data)
 January 2,December 28,December 29,
 202120192018
 IncomeSharesPer-ShareIncomeSharesPer-ShareIncomeSharesPer-Share
Basic: 
Net income attributable to Darling$296,819 162,572$1.83 $312,600 164,633$1.90 $101,496 164,789$0.62 
Diluted: 
Effect of dilutive securities 
Add: Option shares in the money and dilutive effect of nonvested stock
— 6,526— — 5,983— — 5,234— 
Less: Pro-forma treasury shares— (1,890)— — (2,238)— —(2,113)— 
Diluted: 
Net income attributable to Darling$296,819 167,208$1.78 $312,600 168,378$1.86 $101,496 167,910$0.60 

For fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, 24,356, 638,146 and 693,172 outstanding stock options were excluded from diluted income per common share as the effect was antidilutive.  For fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively, 392,909, 611,187 and 502,292 shares of non-vested stock were excluded from diluted income per common share as the effect was antidilutive.
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DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)


(13)    Stock Based Compensation

The Company recognizes compensation expense ratably over the vesting period in an amount equal to the fair value of the share-based payments (e.g., stock options and non-vested and restricted stock) granted to employees and non-employee directors or by incurring liabilities to an employee or other supplier (a) in amounts based, at least in part, on the price of the entity’s shares or other equity instruments, or (b) that require or may require settlement by issuing the entity’s equity shares or other equity instruments. The Company's policy is to account for forfeitures in the period they occur, rather than estimating a forfeiture rate. The Company does not reclassify excess tax benefits from operating activities to financing activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Additionally, the Company excludes the excess tax benefits from the assumed proceeds available to repurchase shares of common stock in the computation of the Company's diluted earnings per share. The Company records tax benefit or expense within income tax expense for the year ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018 related to the excess tax expense on stock options, nonvested stock, director restricted stock units and performance units.

Total stock-based compensation recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018 was approximately $23.2 million, $21.0 million and $18.8 million, respectively, which is included in selling, general and administrative expenses, and the related income tax benefit recognized was approximately $1.9 million, $1.7 million and $2.4 million, respectively.  See Note 13 for further information on the Company’s stock-based compensation plans. 

(14)    Use of Estimates

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and 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.

If it is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect on the financial statements of a condition, situation, or set of circumstances that exist at the date of the financial statements will change in the near term due to one or more future confirming events, and the effect of the change would be material to the financial statements, the Company will disclose the nature of the uncertainty and include an indication that it is at least reasonably possible that a change in the estimate will occur in the near term.  If the estimate involves certain loss contingencies, the disclosure will also include an estimate of the probable loss or range of loss or state that an estimate cannot be made.

As a result of the current global coronavirus disease (“COVID-19”) pandemic, and related government imposed movement restrictions and initiatives implemented to reduce the global transmission of COVID-19, we have evaluated the potential impact to the Company's operations and for any indicators of potential triggering events that could indicate certain of the Company's assets may be impaired. Through the twelve months ended January 2, 2021, the Company has not observed any impairments of the Company's assets or a significant change in their fair value due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

(15)    Financial Instruments

The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximates fair value due to the short maturity of these instruments.  The Company's 5.25% Senior Notes due 2027, 3.625% Senior Notes due 2026, term loan and revolver borrowings outstanding at January 2, 2021, as described in Note 10 have a fair value based on market valuation from third-party banks. The carrying amount for the Company’s other debt is not deemed to be significantly different than the fair value. See Note 17 for financial instruments' fair values.

(16)    Derivative Instruments

The Company makes limited use of derivative instruments to manage cash flow risks related to natural gas usage, inventory, forecasted sales and foreign currency exchange rates.  The Company does not use derivative instruments for trading purposes.  Natural gas swaps and options are entered into with the intent of managing
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DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

the overall cost of natural gas usage by reducing the potential impact of seasonal weather demands on natural gas that increases natural gas prices.  Heating oil swaps and options are entered into with the intent of managing the overall cost of diesel fuel usage by reducing the potential impact of seasonal weather demands on diesel fuel that increases diesel fuel prices. Soybean meal options are entered into with the intent of managing the impact of changing prices for poultry meal sales.  Corn options and future contracts are entered into with the intent of managing U.S. forecasted sales of BBP by reducing the impact of changing prices. Foreign currency forward and option contracts are entered into to mitigate the foreign exchange rate risk for transactions designated in a currency other than the local functional currency.
   
Entities are required to report all derivative instruments in the statement of financial position at fair value. The accounting for changes in the fair value (i.e., gains or losses) of a derivative instrument depends on whether it has been designated and qualifies as part of a hedging relationship and, if so, on the reason for holding the instrument. If certain conditions are met, entities may elect to designate a derivative instrument as a hedge of exposures to changes in fair value, cash flows or foreign currencies.  If the hedged exposure is a cash flow exposure, the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is reported initially as a component of other comprehensive income (outside of earnings) and is subsequently reclassified into earnings when the forecasted transaction affects earnings. Any amounts excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness is reported in earnings immediately. If the derivative instrument is not designated as a hedge, the gain or loss is recognized in earnings in the period of change. Hedge accounting treatment ceases if or when the hedge transaction is no longer probable of occurring or the hedge relationship correlation no longer qualifies for hedge accounting.

At January 2, 2021, the Company had foreign currency option and forward contracts, soybean meal forward contracts and corn option contracts outstanding that qualified and were designated for hedge accounting as well as corn forward contracts and foreign currency forward contracts that did not qualify and were not designated for hedge accounting.

(17)    Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue on sales when control of the promised finished product is transferred to the Company's customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for the finished product. Service revenues are recognized when the service occurs. Certain customers may be required to prepay prior to shipment in order to maintain payment protection against certain foreign and domestic sales.  These amounts are recorded as unearned revenue and recognized when control of the promised finished product is transferred to the Company's customer. See Note 22 to the consolidated financial statements.

(18)    Related Party Transactions

The Company announced in January 2011 that a wholly-owned subsidiary of Darling entered into a limited liability company agreement with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Valero Energy Corporation (“Valero”) to form Diamond Green Diesel Holdings LLC (the “DGD Joint Venture”). The Company has related party sale transactions and loan transactions with the DGD Joint Venture.  See Note 24 for further information on the Company's related party transactions.

(19)    Foreign Currency Translation and Remeasurement

Foreign currency translation is included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss and reflects the adjustments resulting from translating the foreign currency denominated financial statements of foreign subsidiaries into U.S. dollars. The functional currency of the Company's foreign subsidiaries is the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates, which is generally the local currency of the country. Accordingly, assets and liabilities of the foreign subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars at fiscal year end exchange rates, including intercompany foreign currency transactions that are of long-term investment nature. Income and expense items are translated at average exchange rates occurring during the period. Changes in exchange rates that affect cash flows and the related receivables or payables are recognized as transaction gains/(losses) in determining net income. The Company incurred net foreign currency translation gains/(losses) of approximately $71.4 million, $(12.3) million and $(86.9) million in fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, respectively.


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DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(20)    Subsequent Events

The Company evaluates subsequent events from the end of the most recent fiscal year through the date the consolidated financial statements are issued. 

NOTE 2.    INVESTMENT IN UNCONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

On January 21, 2011 a wholly-owned subsidiary of Darling entered into a limited liability company agreement with Valero to form the DGD Joint Venture. The DGD Joint Venture is owned 50% / 50% with Valero and was formed to design, engineer, construct and operate a renewable diesel plant located adjacent to Valero's refinery in Norco, Louisiana. The DGD Joint Venture reached mechanical completion and began the production of renewable diesel in late June 2013. Effective May 1, 2019, the limited liability company agreement was amended and restated for the purpose of updating the agreement in certain respects, including to remove certain provisions that were no longer relevant and to add new provisions relating to the DGD Joint Venture's ongoing expansion project to construct a new, parallel facility located next to the existing facility.

In 2019, the Company continued to evaluate operational developments and the impact of anticipated significant expansion of the DGD Joint Venture. This evaluation was impactful to the consideration of how the Company most appropriately reflects its share of equity income from the DGD Joint Venture. Based on the Company's analysis, it was determined that the DGD Joint Venture has evolved into an integral and integrated part of the Company's ongoing operations. The Company determined this justifies a more meaningful and transparent presentation of equity in net income of the DGD Joint Venture as a component of the Company's operating income.

Selected financial information for the Company's DGD Joint Venture is as follows:
(in thousands)December 31, 2020December 31, 2019
Assets:
Total current assets$383,557 $668,026 
Property, plant and equipment, net1,238,726 713,489 
Other assets36,082 30,710 
Total assets$1,658,365 $1,412,225 
Liabilities and members' equity:
Total current portion of long term debt$517 $341 
Total other current liabilities99,787 75,802 
Total long term debt8,705 8,742 
Total other long term liabilities3,758 4,422 
Total members' equity1,545,598 1,322,918 
Total liabilities and member's equity$1,658,365 $1,412,225 
Year Ended December 31,
(in thousands)202020192018
Revenues:
Operating revenues$1,267,477 $1,217,504 $677,663 
Expenses:
Total costs and expenses less depreciation, amortization and accretion expense
592,781 438,672 329,636 
Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense44,882 50,767 29,434 
Operating income629,814 728,065 318,593 
Other income1,636 2,121 1,919 
Interest and debt expense, net(1,260)(1,282)(955)
Net income$630,190 $728,904 $319,557 

As of January 2, 2021, under the equity method of accounting, the Company has an investment in the DGD Joint Venture of approximately $772.8 million on the consolidated balance sheet and has recorded approximately $315.1 million, $364.5 million and $159.8 million in equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel for the years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, respectively. Biodiesel blenders registered with the Internal Revenue Service are currently eligible for a tax incentive in the amount of $1.00 per gallon of renewable
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DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

diesel blended with petroleum diesel to produce a mixture containing at least 0.1% diesel fuel. In December 2019, the blenders tax credit was reinstated by the U.S. Congress retroactively for calendar year 2018 and 2019 and extended for calendar years 2020 through 2022. In February 2018, the blenders tax credits for calendar year 2017 were retroactively reinstated by the U.S. Congress. In fiscal 2020, the DGD Joint Venture recorded approximately $287.9 million in blenders tax credits. In fiscal 2019, the DGD Joint Venture recorded approximately $274.7 million for 2019 blenders tax credits and approximately $155.9 million for 2018 blenders tax credits. In fiscal 2018, the DGD Joint Venture recorded approximately $160.4 million for the 2017 reinstated blenders tax credits. In addition, the Company received $205.2 million, $67.5 million and $65.0 million for each of the years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, in dividend distributions from the DGD Joint Venture.

In addition to the DGD Joint Venture, the Company has investments in other unconsolidated subsidiaries that are insignificant to the Company.

NOTE 3.    ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS

In December 2020, the Company acquired substantially all the assets of Marengo Fabricated Steel Ltd (the “Marengo Acquisition”) a grease collection equipment manufacturer. The Company purchased the Marengo Acquisition for $10.8 million consisting of cash paid of approximately $10.5 million and a hold back amount of approximately $0.3 million. The Company recorded assets and liabilities consisting of property, plant and equipment of approximately $3.6 million, goodwill of approximately $5.7 million and other net assets of approximately $1.5 million. The amounts have been recorded on a preliminary basis pending working capital finalization. The Company does not expect a material change from the amounts recorded.

In October 2020, a wholly-owned international subsidiary acquired all the shares of a Belgium privately owned group of companies (the “Belgium Group Acquisition”). The Company purchased the Belgium Group Acquisition for approximately $24.4 million after purchase price adjustments consisting of cash paid of approximately $19.3 million and a hold back amount of approximately $5.1 million. The Company recorded assets and liabilities consisting of property, plant and equipment of approximately $14.8 million, intangible assets of approximately $6.4 million, goodwill of approximately $8.9 million and net working capital liabilities of approximately $5.7 million. The amounts have been recorded on a preliminary basis pending working capital finalization and other open acquisition related matters. The Company does not expect a material change from the working capital and other open acquisition related matters. The identifiable intangibles have a weighted average life of 12 years.
In December 2019, the Company began to consolidate EnviroFlight, LLC due to a loan issued by the Company, which resulted in more control by the Company based on variable interest entity literature. In January 2020, the Company acquired the other 50% minority interest in EnviroFlight, LLC from the other joint venture partner for approximately $8.8 million, along with the purchase of intellectual property of approximately $3.4 million for a total of approximately $12.2 million, thereby increasing the Company's ownership interest in EnviroFlight, LLC to 100%.

In October 2018, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of Triple - T Foods - Arkansas, Inc. including a wet pet food ingredient operation in Springdale, Arkansas and a cold storage operation in Rogers, Arkansas. The Company paid approximately $50.4 million in cash for assets and assumed liabilities consisting of property, plant and equipment of approximately $11.2 million, intangible assets of approximately $21.8 million, consisting of routes, permits and non-compete agreements, goodwill of approximately $8.4 million, and other including working capital of approximately $9.0 million. The Company finalized the working capital amount and paid holdback amounts in fiscal year 2019, which resulted in insignificant adjustments to previously disclosed amounts. The identifiable intangible assets have a weighted average life of 15 years.

In May 2018, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of Kruger Commodities, Inc. including protein conversion facilities in Hamilton, MI and Tama, IA, along with a protein blending operation and used cooking oil collection business in Omaha, NE. The Company paid approximately $51.3 million in cash for assets and assumed liabilities consisting of property, plant and equipment of approximately $15.2 million, intangible assets of approximately $15.9 million, consisting of routes, permits and non-compete agreements, goodwill of approximately $19.6 million, and other of approximately $0.6 million. The identifiable intangible assets have a weighted average life of 15 years.

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DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

In May 2018, the Company sold its Terra Renewal Services (“TRS”) industrial residuals business to American Residuals Group, LLC. TRS is a provider of environmental services focused on the collection, hauling, and disposal of non-hazardous, liquid and semi-solid waste streams from the food processing industry. All of the used cooking oil business originally acquired as part of TRS was retained by the Company. The transaction price for the industrial residuals business sold for approximately $80.0 million in cash and resulted in the Company recording a loss on the TRS sale of approximately $15.6 million, due to a substantial portion of the original purchase price of TRS being allocated to the industrial residuals business.

Additionally, the Company made other immaterial acquisitions and dispositions in fiscal 2020, fiscal 2019 and fiscal 2018.

NOTE 4.    INVENTORIES

A summary of inventories follows (in thousands):
        
 January 2, 2021December 28, 2019
Finished product$233,044 $199,799 
Work in process87,223 81,841 
Raw material36,746 41,964 
Supplies and other48,909 39,353 
 $405,922 $362,957 

The Company's work in process inventory represents inventory in the Food Ingredients segment that is in various stages of processing.

NOTE 5.    PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

A summary of property, plant and equipment follows (in thousands):
        
 January 2, 2021December 28, 2019
Land$170,237 $157,721 
Buildings and improvements684,459 619,212 
Machinery and equipment2,219,797 2,002,237 
Vehicles302,641 269,529 
Aircraft9,708 9,708 
Construction in process179,095 182,392 
3,565,937 3,240,799 
Accumulated depreciation(1,702,123)(1,438,388)
$1,863,814 $1,802,411 

NOTE 6.    INTANGIBLE ASSETS

The gross carrying amount of intangible assets not subject to amortization and intangible assets subject to amortization is as follows (in thousands):
        
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 January 2, 2021December 28, 2019
Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets  
Trade names$55,349 $52,733 
 55,349 52,733 
Finite Lived Intangible Assets:  
Routes397,342 382,263 
Permits494,191 483,593 
Non-compete agreements3,300 3,840 
Trade names65,675 65,670 
Royalty, product development, consulting, land use rights and leasehold25,909 20,737 
 986,417 956,103 
Accumulated Amortization:
Routes(203,392)(169,050)
Permits(315,246)(272,213)
Non-compete agreements(2,981)(3,111)
Trade names(39,491)(32,890)
Royalty, product development, consulting, land use rights and leasehold(6,976)(5,178)
(568,086)(482,442)
Total Intangible assets, less accumulated amortization$473,680 $526,394 

Gross intangible routes, permits, trade names, non-compete agreements and other intangibles changed due to acquired intangibles of approximately $6.5 million, a decrease of approximately $5.8 million as a result of asset retirements and a decrease of approximately $3.0 million due to asset impairment and the remaining change is due to foreign exchange impact. Amortization expense for the three years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, was approximately $74.0 million, $73.6 million and $75.2 million, respectively. Amortization expense for the next five fiscal years is estimated to be $67.9 million, $65.9 million, $64.8 million, $44.2 million and $36.7 million.

NOTE 7.    GOODWILL

Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill (in thousands):
 Feed IngredientsFood IngredientsFuel IngredientsTotal
Balance at December 29, 2018
Goodwill$791,966 $335,701 $117,867 $1,245,534 
Accumulated impairment losses(15,914)(461)— (16,375)
776,052 335,240 117,867 1,229,159 
Goodwill acquired during year396 91 — 487 
Goodwill disposed of during year(636)— — (636)
Foreign currency translation1,731 (6,138)(1,312)(5,719)
Balance at December 28, 2019   
Goodwill793,457 329,654 116,555 1,239,666 
Accumulated impairment losses(15,914)(461)— (16,375)
 777,543 329,193 116,555 1,223,291 
Goodwill acquired during year13,925 — 714 14,639 
Goodwill impairment during year— — (31,580)(31,580)
Foreign currency translation22,939 21,642 9,309 53,890 
Balance at January 2, 2021   
Goodwill830,321 351,296 126,578 1,308,195 
Accumulated impairment losses(15,914)(461)(31,580)(47,955)
 $814,407 $350,835 $94,998 $1,260,240 
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DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)


The process of evaluating goodwill for impairment involves the determination of the fair value of the Company's reporting units. In fiscal 2019 and fiscal 2018, the fair values of the Company’s reporting units containing goodwill exceeded the related carrying value pursuant to a quantitative assessment completed as of October 26, 2019 and October 27, 2018, respectively. The Company performed its annual goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets impairment assessments at October 24, 2020 and prior to finalizing the impairment testing a triggering event occurred, which due to unfavorable economics in the biodiesel industry, the Company made the decision to shut down processing operations at its biodiesel facilities located in the United States and Canada, and there are no current plans to resume biodiesel production at these facilities in the future. As a result, the Company recorded goodwill impairment charges in fiscal 2020 of approximately $31.6 million. See Note 18 to the consolidated financial statements for further discussion on asset impairment. Based on the Company's annual impairment testing at October 24, 2020, the remaining reporting units fair value exceeded their carrying value.

NOTE 8.    ACCRUED EXPENSES

Accrued expenses consist of the following (in thousands): 
        
 January 2, 2021December 28, 2019
Compensation and benefits
$121,497 $107,324 
Utilities and sewage
18,902 18,085 
Accrued ad valorem, and franchise taxes
39,167 30,231 
 Reserve for self insurance, litigation, environmental and tax matters (Note 20)
11,460 19,373 
Medical claims liability
8,855 8,285 
Accrued operating expenses
62,601 67,194 
 Accrued interest payable9,197 9,879 
Customer deposits
14,443 18,318 
Other accrued expense
49,349 32,702 
 $335,471 $311,391 
 
NOTE 9.    LEASES

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The Company adopted the new standard on December 30, 2018 using the modified retrospective approach and is using the effective date as the Company's date of initial application and consequently, financial information will not be updated and the disclosures required under the this ASU will not be provided for dates and periods before December 30, 2018. The Company has elected the package of expedients, which permits the Company not to reassess under the new standard the Company's prior conclusions about lease identification, lease classification and initial direct costs. The Company did not elect the use-of-hindsight or the practical expedient pertaining to land easements; the latter not being applicable to the Company.

The Company leases certain real and personal property under non-cancelable operating leases. In addition, the Company leases a large portion of the Company's fleet of tractors, all of its rail cars, some IT equipment and other transportation equipment. The Company's office leases include certain lease and non-lease components, where the Company has elected to exclude the non-lease components from the calculation of the lease liability and ROU asset. The Company has finance leases, which are not significant to the Company and not separately disclosed in detail. In addition, the Company's other variable lease payments are not significant.

The components of operating lease expense included in cost of sales and operating expenses and selling, general and administrative expenses were as follows (in thousands):
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DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

Year EndedYear Ended
January 2, 2021December 28, 2019
Operating lease expense$45,362 $48,858 
Short-term lease costs25,868 18,163 
Total lease cost$71,230 $67,021 

Other information (in thousands, except lease terms and discount rates):
Year Ended
January 2, 2021December 28, 2019
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement lease liabilities
Operating cash flows from operating leases$52,055 $47,691 
Operating right-of-use assets, net$146,563 $124,726 
Operating lease liabilities, current$39,459 $37,805 
Operating lease liabilities, non-current109,707 91,424 
Total operating lease liabilities$149,166 $129,229 
Weighted average remaining lease term - operating leases6.30 years6.46 years
Weighted average discount rate - operating leases4.22 %4.55 %

Future annual minimum lease payments and finance lease commitments as of January 2, 2021 were as follows (in thousands):
Period Ending FiscalOperating LeasesFinance Leases
2021$44,723 $952 
202233,145 858 
202328,182 637 
202421,551 486 
202512,912 345 
Thereafter27,168 598 
167,681 3,876 
Less amounts representing interest(18,515)(140)
Lease obligations included in current and long-term liabilities149,166 3,736 

As of January 2, 2021, the Company also has additional operating leases that have not yet commenced, primarily for buildings and machinery and equipment, with fixed payments over their noncancellable terms of approximately $1.2 million. These operating leases will commence in 2021 with noncancellable terms of 5 years.

Rent expense was approximately $51.8 million for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2018.

The Company's finance lease assets are included in property, plant and equipment and the capital lease obligations are included in the Company's current and long-term debt obligations on the consolidated balance sheet.

NOTE 10.    DEBT

Debt consists of the following (in thousands): 
        
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DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

January 2, 2021December 28, 2019
Amended Credit Agreement:  
Revolving Credit Facility $55,000 $39,000 
Term Loan B300,000 495,000 
Less unamortized deferred loan costs(3,798)(7,696)
Carrying value Term Loan B296,202 487,304 
5.25% Senior Notes due 2027 with effective interest of 5.47%
500,000 500,000 
Less unamortized deferred loan costs(5,747)(6,494)
Carrying value 5.25% Senior Notes due 2027
494,253 493,506 
3.625%Senior Notes due 2026 - Denominated in euro with effective interest of 3.83%
632,163 574,096 
Less unamortized deferred loan costs - Denominated in euro(6,586)(6,982)
Carrying value 3.625% Senior Notes due 2026
625,577 567,114 
Other Notes and Obligations37,037 62,501 
1,508,069 1,649,425 
Less Current Maturities27,538 90,996 
$1,480,531 $1,558,429 

As of January 2, 2021, the Company had outstanding debt under the Company's 3.625% Senior Notes due 2026 denominated in euros of €515.0 million. See below for discussion relating to the Company's debt agreements. In addition, at January 2, 2021, the Company had capital lease obligations denominated in euros of approximately €3.0 million.

As of January 2, 2021, the Company had other notes and obligations that consist of various overdraft facilities of approximately $4.3 million, a China working capital line of credit of approximately $16.2 million and other debt of approximately $16.5 million.

Senior Secured Credit Facilities. On January 6, 2014, Darling, Darling International Canada Inc. (“Darling Canada”) and Darling International NL Holdings B.V. (“Darling NL”) entered into a Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (as subsequently amended, the “Amended Credit Agreement”), restating its then existing Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated September 27, 2013, with the lenders from time to time party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the other agents from time to time party thereto.

Effective September 18, 2020, the Company, and certain of its subsidiaries entered into an amendment (the “Sixth Amendment”) with its lenders to the Amended Credit Agreement. Among other things, the Sixth Amendment (i) extended the maturity date of the revolving credit facility under the Amended Credit Agreement from December 16, 2021 to September 18, 2025, (ii) increased the leverage ratio applicable to achieving the lowest applicable margin on borrowing under the revolving credit facility from 1.0 to 1.5, (iii) eliminated or modified certain of the negative covenants to increase the allowances for certain actions, including the incurrence of debt and investments, (iv) limited guarantees from, and security with respect to, entities organized outside of the United States and Canada to a limited group of foreign subsidiary holding companies, (v) included a collateral release mechanism, subject to the consent of the term loan B lenders, upon the Company achieving certain investment grade credit ratings, and (vi) made other market updates and changes.

Effective December 18, 2017, the Company, and certain of its subsidiaries entered into an amendment (the “Fifth Amendment”) with its lenders to the Amended Credit Agreement. Among other things, the Fifth Amendment (i) refinanced the term B loans under the Amended Credit Agreement with new term B loans in an aggregate principal amount of $525.0 million with a maturity date of December 18, 2024; (ii) adjusted the applicable margin pricing on borrowings under the term B loan; (iii) modified certain of the negative covenants to increase the allowances for certain actions, including debt and investments; and (iv) made other updates and changes.

Effective December 16, 2016, the Company, and certain of its subsidiaries entered into an amendment (the “Fourth Amendment”) with its lenders to the Amended Credit Agreement. Among other things, the Fourth Amendment (i) adjusted the applicable margin pricing grid on borrowings under the revolving credit facility which adjusts based
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DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

on the Company's total leverage ratio as set forth in the Amended Credit Agreement; (ii) eliminated the secured leverage ratio financial maintenance covenant so that from and after the effective date of the Fourth Amendment the Company’s financial covenants consist of maintaining a total leverage ratio not to exceed 5.50 to 1.00 and maintaining an interest coverage ratio of not less than 3.00 to 1.00; (iii) modified certain of the negative covenants to include a senior leverage ratio incurrence-based test and to increase the allowances for certain actions, including debt, investments and restricted payments; and (iv) made other updates and changes.

The Amended Credit Agreement provides for senior secured credit facilities in the aggregate principal amount of $1.525 billion comprised of (i) the Company's $525.0 million term loan B facility and (iii) the Company's $1.0 billion five-year revolving loan facility (up to $150.0 million of which will be available for a letter of credit sub-facility and $50.0 million of which will be available for a swingline sub-facility) (collectively, the “Senior Secured Credit Facilities”). The Amended Credit Agreement also permits Darling and the other borrowers thereunder to incur ancillary facilities provided by any revolving lender party to the Senior Secured Credit Facilities (with certain restrictions). Up to $970.0 million of the revolving loan facility is available to be borrowed by (x) Darling in U.S. dollars, Canadian dollars, euros and other currencies to be agreed and available to each applicable lender, (y) Darling Canada in Canadian dollars and (z) Darling NL, Darling Ingredients International Holding B.V. (“Darling BV”) in U.S. dollars, Canadian dollars, euros and other currencies to be agreed and available to each applicable lender. The remaining $30.0 million must be borrowed in U.S. dollars only by Darling. The revolving loan facility will mature on September 18, 2025. The revolving credit facility will be used for working capital needs, general corporate purposes and other purposes not prohibited by the Amended Credit Agreement.

The interest rate applicable to any borrowings under the revolving loan facility will equal either LIBOR/euro interbank offered rate/CDOR plus 1.50% per annum or base rate/Canadian prime rate plus 0.50% per annum, subject to certain step-ups or step-downs based on the Company's total leverage ratio. The interest rate applicable to any borrowings under the term loan B facility will equal the base rate plus 1.00% or LIBOR plus 2.00%.

As of January 2, 2021, the Company had $30.0 million outstanding under the revolver at base rate plus a margin of 0.50% per annum for a total of 3.75% per annum and $25.0 million outstanding under the revolver at LIBOR plus a margin of 1.50% per annum for a total of 1.65% per annum. The Company had $300.0 million outstanding under the term loan B facility at LIBOR plus a margin of 2.00% per annum for a total of 2.15% per annum. As of January 2, 2021, the Company had availability of $893.9 million under the Amended Credit Agreement taking into account amounts borrowed, ancillary facilities and letters of credit issued of $3.9 million. The Company also has foreign bank guarantees that are not part of the Company's Amended Credit Agreement in the amount of approximately $12.5 million at January 2, 2021. The Company capitalized approximately $4.3 million of deferred loan costs in the year ended January 2, 2021 in connection with the Sixth Amendment.
The Amended Credit Agreement contains various customary representations and warranties by the Company, which include customary use of materiality, material adverse effect and knowledge qualifiers. The Amended Credit Agreement also contains (a) certain affirmative covenants that impose certain reporting and/or performance obligations on Darling and its restricted subsidiaries, (b) certain negative covenants that generally prohibit, subject to various exceptions, Darling and its restricted subsidiaries from taking certain actions, including, without limitation, incurring indebtedness, making investments, incurring liens, paying dividends and engaging in mergers and consolidations, sale and leasebacks and asset dispositions, (c) financial covenants, which include a maximum total leverage ratio and a minimum interest coverage ratio and (d) customary events of default (including a change of control) for financings of this type. Obligations under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities may be declared due and payable upon the occurrence and during the continuance of customary events of default.

3.625% Senior Notes due 2026. On May 2, 2018, Darling Global Finance B.V. (the “3.625% Issuer”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Darling, issued and sold €515.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.625% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “3.625% Notes”). The 3.625% Notes, which were offered in a private offering, were issued pursuant to a Senior Notes Indenture, dated as of May 2, 2018 (the “3.625% Indenture”), among Darling Global Finance B.V., Darling, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto from time to time, Citibank, N.A., London Branch, as trustee and principal paying agent, and Citigroup Global Markets Deutschland AG, as principal registrar. The gross proceeds of the offering, together with borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facility, were used to refinance all of the 4.75% Notes (as defined below) by cash tender offer and redemption of those notes and to pay any applicable premiums for the refinancing, to pay the commission of the initial purchasers of the 3.625% Notes and to pay the other fees and expenses related to the offering. The refinancing of the 4.75% Notes was completed during the second quarter of 2018.

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DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

The 3.625% Notes will mature on May 15, 2026. The 3.625% Issuer will pay interest on the 3.625% Notes on May 15 and November 15 of each year, commencing on November 15, 2018. Interest on the 3.625% Notes accrues from May 2, 2018 at a rate of 3.625% per annum and is payable in cash. The 3.625% Notes are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by Darling and all of Darling's restricted subsidiaries (other than any foreign subsidiary or any receivable entity) that guarantee the Senior Secured Credit Facilities (collectively, the “3.625% Guarantors”). The 3.625% Notes and the guarantees thereof are senior unsecured obligations of the 3.625% Issuer and the 3.625% Guarantors and rank equally in right of payment to all of the 3.625% Issuer's and the 3.625% Guarantors' existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness. The 3.625% Indenture contains covenants limiting Darling's ability and the ability of its restricted subsidiaries (including the 3.625% Issuer) to, among other things: incur additional indebtedness or issue preferred stock; pay dividends on or make other distributions or repurchases of Darling's capital stock or make other restricted payments; create restrictions on the payment of dividends or certain other amounts from Darling's restricted subsidiaries to Darling or Darling's other restricted subsidiaries; make loans or investments; enter into certain transactions with affiliates; create liens; designate Darling's subsidiaries as unrestricted subsidiaries; and sell certain assets or merge with or into other companies or otherwise dispose of all of substantially all of Darling's assets.

Other than for extraordinary events such as change of control and defined assets sales, the 3.625% Issuer is not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments on the 3.625% Notes. The 3.625% Notes are redeemable, in whole or in part, at any time on or after May 15, 2021 at the redemption prices specified in the 3.625% Indenture. The 3.625% Issuer may redeem some or all of the 3.625% Notes at any time prior to May 15, 2021, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 3.625% Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date and an Applicable Premium as specified in the 3.625% Indenture and all additional amounts (if any) then due or which will become due on the redemption date as a result of the redemption or otherwise (subject to the rights of holders on the relevant record dates to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date and additional amounts (if any) in respect thereof).

5.25% Senior Notes due 2027. On April 3, 2019, Darling issued and sold $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.25% Senior Notes due 2027 (the “5.25% Notes”). The 5.25% Notes, which were offered in a private offering, were issued pursuant to a Senior Notes Indenture, dated as of April 3, 2019 (the “5.25% Indenture”), among Darling, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto from time to time, and Regions Bank, as trustee. The gross proceeds from the sale of the Notes, together with cash on hand, were used to refinance all of the Company's 5.375% Notes (as defined below), by cash tender offer for and redemption of those notes, to pay the discount of the initial purchasers and to pay the other fees and expenses related to the offering of the 5.25% Notes. The refinancing of the 5.375% Notes was completed during the second quarter of 2019.

The 5.25% Notes will mature on April 15, 2027. Darling will pay interest on the 5.25% Notes on April 15 and October 15 of each year, commencing on October 15, 2019. Interest on the 5.25% Notes accrues from April 3, 2019 at a rate of 5.25% per annum and is payable in cash. The 5.25% Notes are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by Darling and all of Darling's restricted subsidiaries (other than foreign subsidiaries) that are borrowers under or that guarantee the Senior Secured Credit Facilities (collectively, the “5.25% Guarantors”). The 5.25% Notes and the guarantees thereof are senior unsecured obligations of Darling and the 5.25% Guarantors and rank equally in right of payment to all of the Darling's and the 5.25% Guarantors' existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness. The 5.25% Indenture contains covenants limiting Darling's ability and the ability of its restricted subsidiaries to, grant liens to secure indebtedness and merge with or into other companies or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of Darling's assets.

Other than for extraordinary events such as change of control and defined assets sales, Darling is not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments on the 5.25% Notes. The 5.25% Notes are redeemable, in whole or in part, at any time on or after April 15, 2022 at the redemption prices specified in the 5.25% Indenture. Darling may redeem some or all of the 5.25% Notes at any time prior to April 15, 2022, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 5.25% Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date and an Applicable Premium as specified in the 5.25% Indenture and all additional amounts (if any) then due or which will become due on the redemption date as a result of the redemption or otherwise (subject to the rights of holders on the relevant record dates to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date and additional amounts (if any) in respect thereof).

4.75% Senior Notes due 2022. On June 3, 2015, Darling Global Finance B.V. issued and sold €515.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 4.75% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “4.75% Notes”). The Company retired the 4.75% Notes in the second quarter of 2018 using the proceeds from the issuance of the 3.625% Notes and incurred
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DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

charges of approximately $23.5 million in debt extinguishment charges including the write-off of deferred loan costs.

5.375% Senior Notes due 2022. On January 2, 2014, Darling Escrow Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Darling, issued $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.375% Notes due 2022 (the “5.375% Notes”). The Company retired the 5.375% Notes in the second quarter of 2019 using the proceeds from the issuance of the 5.25% Notes and incurred charges of approximately $12.1 million in debt extinguishment charges including the write-off of deferred loan costs.

As of January 2, 2021, the Company believes it is in compliance with all financial covenants under the Amended Credit Agreement, as well as all of the other covenants contained in the Amended Credit Agreement, the 5.25% Indenture and the 3.625% Indenture.

Maturities of long-term debt at January 2, 2021 follow (in thousands):
 
Contractual
Debt Payment
2021$27,538 
20224,697 
20233,075 
2024300,514 
202555,378 
thereafter1,132,998 
$1,524,200 

NOTE 11.    OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES

Other noncurrent liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):

 January 2, 2021December 28, 2019
Accrued pension liability (Note 15)$55,757 $55,491 
Reserve for self insurance, litigation, environmental and tax
matters (Note 20)		59,111 54,568 
Other2,503 5,726 
 $117,371 $115,785 


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DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

NOTE 12.    INCOME TAXES

U.S. and foreign income from operations before income taxes are as follows (in thousands):
        
January 2, 2021December 28, 2019December 29, 2018
United States
$265,950 $260,867 $82,146 
Foreign87,669 119,567 35,829 
Income from operations before income taxes
$353,619 $380,434 $117,975 

Income tax expense attributable to income from operations before income taxes consists of the following (in thousands):
         
January 2, 2021December 28, 2019December 29, 2018
Current:  
Federal
$(72)$(162)$(330)
State
1,595 341 (3)
Foreign36,453 37,117 27,935 
Total current
37,976 37,296 27,602 
Deferred:  
Federal
20,827 13,465 4,803 
State
840 11,804 (2,216)
Foreign
(6,354)(3,098)(18,158)
Total deferred
15,313 22,171 (15,571)
$53,289 $59,467 $12,031 

Income tax expense for the years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, differed from the amount computed by applying the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate to income from continuing operations before income taxes as a result of the following (in thousands):
        
January 2, 2021December 28, 2019December 29, 2018
Computed "expected" tax expense$74,260 $79,891 $24,775 
Change in valuation allowance(522)38 9,700 
Non-deductible compensation expenses4,723 3,950 2,305 
Deferred tax on unremitted foreign earnings
(548)1,505 (31)
Sub-Part F income45 1,122 3,361 
Foreign rate differential7,077 7,246 658 
Change in uncertain tax positions(4,650)1,736 3,419 
State income taxes, net of federal benefit2,702 5,686 (1,813)
Biofuel tax incentives(31,725)(46,007)(18,489)
Change in tax law3,699 1,352 (10,017)
Other, net(1,772)2,948 (1,837)
$53,289 $59,467 $12,031 

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities at January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019 are presented below (in thousands):

        
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DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 January 2, 2021December 28, 2019
Deferred tax assets:  
Loss contingency reserves$9,805 $11,193 
Employee benefits13,027 12,236 
Pension liability13,053 13,049 
Intangible assets amortization, including taxable goodwill1,474 1,485 
Interest expense carryforwards402 12,361 
Tax loss carryforwards68,730 80,195 
Tax credit carryforwards6,610 5,653 
Operating lease liabilities38,930 33,549 
Inventory5,935 5,185 
Accrued liabilities and other12,925 13,677 
Total gross deferred tax assets170,891 188,583 
Less valuation allowance(24,228)(24,759)
Net deferred tax assets146,663 163,824 
Deferred tax liabilities:
Intangible assets amortization, including taxable goodwill(169,277)(157,332)
Property, plant and equipment depreciation(133,712)(144,911)
Investment in DGD Joint Venture(52,238)(54,287)
Operating lease assets(38,049)(32,233)
Tax on unremitted foreign earnings(10,234)(6,139)
Other(2,685)(2,459)
Total gross deferred tax liabilities(406,195)(397,361)
Net deferred tax liability$(259,532)$(233,537)
Amounts reported on Consolidated Balance Sheets:
Non-current deferred tax asset$16,676 $14,394 
Non-current deferred tax liability(276,208)(247,931)
Net deferred tax liability$(259,532)$(233,537)
     
At January 2, 2021, the Company had net operating loss carryforwards for federal income tax purposes of approximately $56.7 million which can be carried forward indefinitely.  The Company had a capital loss carry forward for federal income tax purposes of approximately $21.1 million, which expires in 2023 and can only be used in future years in which the Company recognizes capital gains. The Company had approximately $274.4 million of net operating loss carryforwards for state income tax purposes, $257.9 million of which expire in 2021 through 2040 and $16.5 million of which can be carried forward indefinitely. The Company had foreign net operating loss carryforwards of about $144.0 million, $57.8 million of which expire in 2021 through 2037 and $86.2 million of which can be carried forward indefinitely. Also at January 2, 2021, the Company had U.S. federal and state tax credit carryforwards of approximately $1.3 million, and tax credit carryforwards with respect to its foreign tax jurisdictions of approximately $5.3 million. As of January 2, 2021, the Company had a valuation allowance of $7.1 million due to uncertainties in respect to its ability to utilize its U.S. (federal and state) net operating loss, capital loss and tax credit carryforwards. The Company also had a valuation allowance of $17.1 million due to uncertainties in its ability to utilize foreign net operating loss carryforwards, tax credit carryforwards and other foreign deferred tax assets.

At January 2, 2021, the Company had unrecognized tax benefits of approximately $5.0 million. All of the unrecognized tax benefits would favorably impact the Company's effective tax rate if recognized. The Company believes it is reasonably possible that unrecognized tax benefits could change by $0.2 million in the next twelve months. The possible change in unrecognized tax benefits relates to expiration of certain statutes of limitation. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties, as appropriate, related to unrecognized tax benefits as a
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DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

component of income tax expense. As of January 2, 2021, interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits were $0.4 million.

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amounts of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows (in thousands):
January 2, 2021December 28, 2019
Balance at beginning of Year$7,810 $5,777 
Change in tax positions related to current year9 3,887 
Change in tax positions related to prior years(2,780)(233)
Change in tax positions due to settlement with tax authorities— (1,354)
Expiration of the Statute of Limitations— (267)
Balance at end of year$5,039 $7,810 

In fiscal 2020, the Company's major taxing jurisdictions are U.S. (federal and state), Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany and the Netherlands. The Company is subject to regular examination by various tax authorities. Although the final outcome of these examinations is not yet determinable, the Company does not anticipate that any of the examinations will have a significant impact on the Company's results of operations or financial position. The statute of limitations for the Company's major jurisdictions is open for varying periods, but is generally closed through the 2013 tax year.

The Company expects to have access to its offshore earnings with minimal to no additional U.S. tax impact. Therefore, the Company does not consider these earnings to be permanently reinvested offshore. As of January 2, 2021, a deferred tax liability of approximately $10.2 million has been recorded for any incremental taxes, including foreign withholding taxes, that are estimated to be incurred when those earnings are distributed to the U.S. in future years.

On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the "CARES Act") was enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The US Congress approved an additional relief package in December 2020 that extended and/or enhanced certain provisions of the CARES Act as well as certain sunsetting corporate tax provisions. In addition, governments around the world have enacted or implemented various forms of tax relief measures in response to the economic conditions in the wake of COVID-19. These COVID-19 tax relief measures have limited applicability and no material impact to the Company. The Company will continue to monitor legislative and regulatory developments related to COVID-19 tax relief.

NOTE 13.    STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

On August 3, 2020, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the extension for an additional two years of its previously announced share repurchase program and refreshed the amount of the program back up to its original amount of an aggregate of $200.0 million of the Company's Common Stock depending on market conditions. During fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019, the Company repurchased approximately $55.0 million and $19.3 million including commissions of its common stock in the open market, respectively. As of January 2, 2021, the Company has approximately $200.0 million remaining under the share repurchase program initially approved in August 2017 and subsequently extended to August 13, 2022.

On May 9, 2017, the shareholders approved the Company's 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2017 Omnibus Plan”).  The 2017 Omnibus Plan replaced the Company's 2012 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2012 Omnibus Plan”) for future grants. Under the 2017 Omnibus Plan, the Company can grant stock options, stock appreciation rights, non-vested and restricted stock (including performance stock), restricted stock units (including performance units), other stock-based awards, non-employee director awards, dividend equivalents and cash-based awards.  There are up to 20,166,500 common shares available under the 2017 Omnibus Plan which may be granted to participants in any plan year (as such term is defined in the 2017 Omnibus Plan).  Some of those shares are subject to outstanding awards as detailed in the tables below.  To the extent these outstanding awards are forfeited or expire without exercise, the shares will be returned to and available for future grants under the 2017 Omnibus Plan.  The 2017 Omnibus Plan’s purpose is to attract, retain and motivate employees, directors and third party service providers of the Company and to encourage them to have a financial interest in the Company.  The 2017 Omnibus Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors.  The Committee has the authority to select plan participants, grant awards, and determine the terms and conditions of such awards as
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DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

provided in the 2017 Omnibus Plan.  For each of fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018, the Committee adopted an executive compensation program that includes a long-term incentive component (the “LTIP”) for the Company's key employees, as a subplan under the terms of the 2017 Omnibus Plan.  Pursuant to the LTIP, for each of fiscal 2020, 2019, and 2018, participants received (i) annual, overlapping grants of performance share units (“PSUs”) tied to a three-year, forward looking performance metric and (ii) annual stock options grants that vest 33.33% on the first, second and third anniversaries of grant. The principal purpose of the LTIP is to encourage the participants to enhance the value of the Company and, hence, the price of the Company’s stock and the stockholders' return.  In addition, the LTIP is designed to create retention incentives for the individual and to provide an opportunity for increased equity ownership by participants. See “Stock Option Awards”, “Fiscal 2020 LTIP PSU Awards”, “Fiscal 2019 LTIP PSU Awards” and “Fiscal 2018 LTIP PSU Awards” below for more information regarding the stock options and PSU awards under the 2020 LTIP, 2019 LTIP and 2018 LTIP. At January 2, 2021, the number of common shares available for issuance under the 2017 Omnibus Plan was 10,824,222.

At January 2, 2021, $7.4 million of total future equity-based compensation expense (determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model and Monte Carlo model for non-vested stock grants with performance based incentives) related to outstanding non-vested options and stock awards is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.2 years.
 
The following is a summary of stock-based compensation awards granted during the years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018.

Stock Option Awards. Stock options to purchase Darling common shares were granted by the Committee to certain of the Company's employees as part of the Company's LTIPs in effect for each of fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018 under the 2017 Omnibus Plan. For the options granted under the fiscal 2020 LTIP, 2019 LTIP and 2018 LTIP, the exercise price was equal to the closing price of Darling common shares on the date of grant, which was January 6, 2020, January 25, 2019 and January 29, 2018, respectively, and such options vest 33.33% on the first, second and third anniversaries of the grant date. The Company granted 550,941 stock options under the 2020 LTIP, 610,953 stock options under the 2019 LTIP and 637,115 stock options under the 2018 LTIP.

During fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018 only nonqualified stock options were issued and none of the options were incentive stock options. The Company’s stock options granted under the LTIPs generally terminate 10 years after the date of grant. 

A summary of all stock option activity as of January 2, 2021 and changes during the year ended is as follows:
        
 Number of
shares		Weighted-avg.
exercise price
per share		Weighted-avg.
remaining
contractual life
Options outstanding at December 30, 20173,290,757 $11.86 7.3 years
Granted637,115 18.82 
Exercised(153,717)11.49 
Forfeited(19,953)9.99 
Expired— — 
Options outstanding at December 29, 20183,754,202 13.07 6.9 years
Granted610,953 21.00 
Exercised(380,206)9.83 
Forfeited(6,464)18.11 
Expired— — 
Options outstanding at December 28, 20193,978,485 14.59 6.5 years
Granted550,941 28.89  
Exercised(837,911)12.01  
Forfeited— —  
Expired— —  
Options outstanding at January 2, 20213,691,515 $17.31 6.2 years
Options exercisable at January 2, 20212,527,003 $14.07 5.3 years
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DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 
The fair value of each stock option grant under the LTIPs was estimated on the date of grant using the Black Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions and results for fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018.
    

Weighted Average202020192018
Expected dividend yield0.0%0.0%0.0%
Risk-free interest rate1.65%2.61%2.54%
Expected term5.94 years6.00 years5.82 years
Expected volatility27.4%29.6%29.3%
Fair value of options granted$8.64$7.16$6.37

The expected life of options granted in fiscal 2020 were computed using the Company's historical data based on exercised and cancelled options. The expected lives for options granted during fiscal 2019 and 2018 were computed using the simplified method since the option plans historical exercise data did not provided a reasonable basis for estimating the expected term for the option grants.

For the year ended January 2, 2021, the amount of cash received from the exercise of options was approximately $0.1 million and the related tax benefit was $2.4 million. For the year ended December 28, 2019, the amount of cash received from the exercise of options was less than approximately $0.1 million and the related tax benefit was approximately $0.4 million. For the year ended December 29, 2018, the amount of cash received from the exercise of options was less than $0.2 million and the related tax benefit was approximately $0.2 million. The total intrinsic value of options exercised for the years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018 was approximately $19.5 million, $4.7 million and $1.1 million, respectively.  The fair value of shares vested for the years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018 was approximately $17.4 million, $15.5 million and $12.5 million, respectively.  At January 2, 2021, the aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding was approximately $149.0 million and the aggregate intrinsic value of options exercisable was approximately $110.2 million.

Non-Vested Stock, Restricted Stock Unit and Performance Share Unit Awards. The Company has in the past granted non-vested stock and restricted stock unit (RSU) awards to certain of the Company's employees as part of the LTIP under the 2012 Omnibus Plan. Starting in 2016, the Committee made changes to the LTIP and instead of the non-vested stock and RSU awards, the Company began to grant performance share unit awards as part of the LTIP. In addition, the Company has granted performance share unit awards, individual non-vested stock and RSU awards to key employees from time to time at the discretion of the Committee. Non-vested stock is generally granted to U.S. based employees, while RSUs are generally granted to foreign based employees, with each RSU equivalent to one share of common stock and payable upon vesting in an equivalent number of shares of Darling common stock. For grants made under the 2017 Omnibus Plan, both non-vested stock and RSUs generally vest on the first three anniversary dates of the grant. Generally, upon termination of employment (voluntary or with cause), non-vested stock, RSUs and discretionary performance share awards that have not vested are forfeited. Upon, death, disability or qualifying retirement, a pro-rata portion of the unvested non-vested and RSU awards will vest and be payable. In fiscal 2020, the Committee granted 11,000 non-vested shares of stock to various individuals that vest on the first anniversary of the grant.

A summary of the Company’s non-vested stock, restricted stock unit and performance share unit awards as of January 2, 2021, and changes during the year ended is as follows:


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DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)



 Non-Vested, RSU and PSU
Shares		Weighted Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Stock awards outstanding December 30, 2017360,344 $13.18 
Shares granted— — 
Shares vested(228,991)13.11 
Shares forfeited(2,779)12.11 
Stock awards outstanding December 29, 2018128,574 13.32 
Shares granted— — 
Shares vested(126,511)12.13 
Shares forfeited(1,313)14.92 
Stock awards outstanding December 28, 2019750 15.50 
Shares granted11,000 35.66 
Shares vested(375)15.50 
Shares forfeited— — 
Stock awards outstanding January 2, 202111,375 $35.00 

Fiscal 2020 LTIP PSU Awards. On January 6, 2020, the Committee granted 224,481 PSUs under the Company's 2020 LTIP. The PSUs are tied to a three-year forward-looking performance period and will be earned based on the Company's average return on capital employed (ROCE), as calculated in accordance with the terms of the award agreement, relative to the average ROCE of the Company's performance peer group companies over the same performance period, with the earned award to be determined in the first quarter of fiscal 2023, after the final results for the relevant performance period are determined.

Fiscal 2019 LTIP PSU Awards. On January 25, 2019, the Committee granted 305,195 PSUs under the Company's 2019 LTIP. The PSUs are tied to a three-year forward-looking performance period and will be earned based on the Company's average return on capital employed (ROCE), as calculated in accordance with the terms of the award agreement, relative to the average ROCE of the Company's performance peer group companies over the same performance period, with the earned award to be determined in the first quarter of fiscal 2022, after the final results for the relevant performance period are determined.

Fiscal 2018 LTIP PSU Awards. On January 29, 2018, the Committee granted 295,514 PSUs under the Company's 2018 LTIP. The PSUs are tied to a three-year forward-looking performance period and will be earned based on the Company's average return on capital employed (ROCE), as calculated in accordance with the terms of the award agreement, relative to the average ROCE of the Company's performance peer group companies over the same performance period, with the earned award to be determined in the first quarter of fiscal 2021, after the final results for the relevant performance period are determined.

Under the 2020 LTIP, 2019 LTIP and 2018 LTIP, PSUs were granted at target level; however, actual awards may vary between 0% and 225% of the target number of PSUs, depending on the performance level achieved. In addition, the number of PSUs earned may be reduced (up to 30%) or increased (capped at the maximum payout) based on the Company's total shareholder return (TSR) over the performance period.

The fair value of each 2020 LTIP, 2019 LTIP and 2018 LTIP PSU award under the Company's 2020 LTIP, 2019 LTIP and 2018 LTIP was estimated on the date of grant using a Monte Carlo model with the following weighted average assumptions for fiscal 2020, fiscal 2019 and fiscal 2018.
                
Weighted Average202020192018
Expected dividend yield0.0%0.0%0.0%
Risk-free interest rate1.55%2.58%2.25%
Expected term2.99 years2.93 years2.93 years
Expected volatility25.8%30.7%34.4%

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DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

A summary of the Company’s 2020, 2019 and 2018 LTIP PSU awards as of January 2, 2021, and changes during the year ended is as follows:
    
 LTIP PSU
Shares		Weighted Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
LTIP PSU awards outstanding December 30, 20171,141,016 $8.91 
Granted295,514 20.60 
Additional PSU awards vested from performance88,151 6.95 
Stock issued for PSUs(26,212)6.95 
Forfeited(16,493)9.39 
LTIP PSU awards outstanding December 29, 20181,481,976 $11.15 
Granted305,195 21.50 
Additional PSU awards vested from performance235,126 7.23 
Stock issued for PSUs(125,067)7.84 
Forfeited(3,757)19.09 
LTIP PSU awards outstanding December 28, 20191,893,473 $12.54 
Granted224,481 31.80 
Additional PSU awards vested from performance434,666 11.14 
Stock issued for PSUs(349,210)8.91 
Forfeited(332)26.88 
LTIP PSU awards outstanding January 2, 20212,203,078 $14.80 

Nonemployee Director Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit Awards.  On February 24, 2011, the Company's Board of Directors approved an Amended and Restated Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Award Plan (the “Director Restricted Stock Plan”) pursuant to and in accordance with the Company's 2004 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2004 Omnibus Plan”) in order to attract and retain highly qualified persons to serve as non-employee directors and to more closely align such directors' interests with the interests of the stockholders of the Company by providing a portion of their compensation in the form of Company common stock. Under the Director Restricted Stock Plan, $60,000 in restricted Company common stock was awarded to each non-employee director on the fourth business day after the Company released its earnings for its prior completed fiscal year (the “Date of Award”).  The amount of restricted stock to be issued was calculated using the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the third business day after the Company released its earnings.  The restricted stock was subject to a right of repurchase at $0.01 per share upon termination of the holder as a member of the Company's board of directors for cause and was not transferable. These restrictions lapse with respect to 100% of the restricted stock upon the earliest to occur of (i) 10 years after the date of award, (ii) a Change of Control (as defined in the 2004 Omnibus Plan), and (iii) termination of the non-employee director's service with the Company, other than for “cause” (as defined in the Director Restricted Stock Plan). 

Beginning in fiscal 2014, the Board discontinued grants to non-employee directors under the Director Restricted Stock Plan described above, and in lieu thereof, as an additional element of annual non-employee director compensation, pursuant to the 2012 Omnibus Plan, each non-employee director received $90,000 of restricted stock units immediately following the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders at which such directors are elected. Beginning in fiscal 2017, the Board increased the dollar amount of the annual grant of restricted stock units to $110,000, and such grants are now made under the 2017 Omnibus Plan. The number of restricted stock units to be issued is calculated using the closing price of the Company’s stock on the date of its annual meeting. The award vests (and is no longer subject to forfeiture) on the first to occur of (i) the first anniversary of the grant date, (ii) the grantee’s separation from service as a result of death or disability, or (iii) a change of control. The award will become “payable” in shares of the Company’s stock in a single lump sum payment as soon as possible following a grantee’s separation from service, subject to a grantee’s right to elect earlier distributions under certain circumstances. If a grantee ceases to be a director for any reason other than death or disability prior to vesting, the grantee will receive a prorated amount of the award up to the date of separation.

A summary of the Company’s non-employee director restricted stock awards as of January 2, 2021, and changes during the year ended is as follows:
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DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)


        
 Restricted stock and Restricted Stock Unit
Shares		Weighted Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Stock awards outstanding December 30, 2017154,809 $14.91 
Restricted shares granted61,806 16.92 
Restricted shares where the restriction lapsed(1,438)13.90 
Restricted shares forfeited— — 
Stock awards outstanding December 29, 2018215,177 15.49 
Restricted shares granted52,990 20.76 
Restricted shares where the restriction lapsed(6,803)2.94 
Restricted shares forfeited— — 
Stock awards outstanding December 28, 2019261,364 16.89 
Restricted shares granted48,267 20.51 
Restricted shares where the restriction lapsed(73,354)16.33 
Restricted shares forfeited— — 
Stock awards outstanding January 2, 2021236,277 $17.79 

NOTE 14.    COMPREHENSIVE INCOME/(LOSS)

The Company follows FASB authoritative guidance for reporting and presentation of comprehensive income or loss and its components.  Other comprehensive income (loss) is derived from adjustments that reflect pension adjustments, natural gas swap adjustments, corn option adjustments, soybean meal forward adjustments, foreign exchange forward and option adjustments, heating oil swap adjustments and foreign currency translation adjustments. In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-02, Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. This ASU amends Topic 220, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income, which allowed for a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018; however, the Company elected to early adopt ASU No. 2018-02 during the quarter ended March 31, 2018. The adoption resulted in a $4.8 million reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive loss to retained earnings resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

In fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019, the Company's DGD Joint Venture entered into heating oil derivatives that were deemed to be cash flow hedges. As a result, the Company has accrued the other comprehensive income/(loss) portion belonging to Darling with an offset to the investment in DGD as required by FASB ASC Topic 323.

The components of other comprehensive income/(loss) and the related tax impacts for the years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018 are as follows (in thousands):

Before-TaxTax (Expense)Net-of-Tax
Amountor BenefitAmount
Year Ended December 29, 2018
Defined Benefit Pension Plans
Actuarial (loss)/gain recognized$(7,901)$2,015 $(5,886)
Amortization of actuarial loss3,543 (910)2,633 
Actuarial prior service cost recognized(11)3 (8)
Amortization of prior service costs35 (9)26 
Amortization of curtailment498 — 498 
Amortization of settlement(3)1 (2)
Other9 — 9 
Total defined benefit pension plans(3,830)1,100 (2,730)
Natural gas swap derivatives
Gain/(loss) reclassified to net income14 (3)11 
Gain/(loss) recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)16 (4)12 
Total natural gas derivatives30 (7)23 
Soybean meal option derivatives
Gain/(loss) reclassified to net income(8)2 (6)
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DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

Gain/(loss) recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)8 (2)6 
Total soybean meal derivatives000
Corn option derivatives
Gain/(loss) reclassified to net income(1,912)493 (1,419)
Gain/(loss) recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)(361)93 (268)
Total corn options(2,273)586 (1,687)
Foreign exchange derivatives
Gain/(loss) recognized in other comprehensive income1,637 (556)1,081 
Total foreign exchange derivatives1,637 (556)1,081 
Foreign currency translation(89,198)1,724 (87,474)
Other comprehensive income/(loss)$(93,634)$2,847 $(90,787)
Year Ended December 28, 2019
Defined Benefit Pension Plans
Actuarial (loss)/gain recognized$(2,202)$211 $(1,991)
Amortization of actuarial loss4,571 (1,143)3,428 
Actuarial prior service cost recognized9 (2)7 
Amortization of prior service costs34 (9)25 
Amortization of settlement66 (16)50 
Other16 — 16 
Total defined benefit pension plans2,494 (959)1,535 
Heating oil swap derivatives
Gain/(loss) recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)(4,188)1,047 (3,141)
Total heating oil derivatives(4,188)1,047 (3,141)
Corn option derivatives
Gain/(loss) reclassified to net income422 (106)316 
Gain/(loss) recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)(51)13 (38)
Total corn options371 (93)278 
Foreign exchange derivatives
Gain/(loss) reclassified to net income1,345 (442)903 
Gain/(loss) recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)(6,887)2,261 (4,626)
Total foreign exchange derivatives(5,542)1,819 (3,723)
Foreign currency translation(12,771)837 (11,934)
Other comprehensive income/(loss)$(19,636)$2,651 $(16,985)
Year Ended January 2, 2021
Defined Benefit Pension Plans
Actuarial (loss)/gain recognized$(9,470)$2,547 $(6,923)
Amortization of actuarial loss3,405 (862)2,543 
Amortization of prior service costs33 (8)25 
Amortization of curtailment69 (15)54 
Amortization of settlement(30)7 (23)
Other11 — 11 
Total defined benefit pension plans(5,982)1,669 (4,313)
Heating oil swap derivatives
Gain/(loss) recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)1,457 (353)1,104 
Total heating oil derivatives1,457 (353)1,104 
Soybean meal option derivatives
Gain/(loss) reclassified to net income49 (12)37 
Gain/(loss) recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)349 (89)260 
Total soybean meal derivatives398 (101)297 
Corn option derivatives
Gain/(loss) reclassified to net income123 (31)92 
Gain/(loss) recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)(7,803)1,980 (5,823)
Total corn options(7,680)1,949 (5,731)
Foreign exchange derivatives
Gain/(loss) reclassified to net income(13,809)5,114 (8,695)
Gain/(loss) recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)24,325 (9,009)15,316 
Total foreign exchange derivatives10,516 (3,895)6,621 
Foreign currency translation73,845 (3,525)70,320 
Other comprehensive income/(loss)$72,554 $(4,256)$68,298 
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DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

Fiscal Year Ended
January 2, 2021December 28, 2019December 29, 2018Statement of Operations Classification
Derivative instruments
Soybean meal option derivatives$(49)$— $8 Net sales
Foreign Exchange derivatives13,809 (1,345)— Net sales
Natural gas swap derivatives— — (14)Cost of sales and operating expenses
Corn option derivatives(123)(422)1,912 Cost of sales and operating expenses
13,637 (1,767)1,906 Total before tax
(5,071)548 (492)Income taxes
8,566 (1,219)1,414 Net of tax
Defined benefit pension plans
Amortization of prior service cost
$(33)$(34)$(35)(a)
Amortization of actuarial loss(3,405)(4,571)(3,543)(a)
Amortization of curtailment(69)— (498)(a)
Amortization of settlement30 (66)3 (a)
(3,477)(4,671)(4,073)Total before tax
878 1,168 918 Income taxes
(2,599)(3,503)(3,155)Net of tax
Total reclassifications$5,967 $(4,722)$(1,741)Net of tax

(a)These items are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost. See Note 15 Employee Benefit Plans for additional information.

The following table presents changes in each component of accumulated comprehensive loss as of January 2, 2021 as follows (in thousands):
Fiscal Year Ended January 2, 2021
Foreign CurrencyDerivativeDefined Benefit
TranslationInstrumentsPension PlansTotal
Accumulated Other Comprehensive loss December 28, 2019, attributable to Darling, net of tax$(282,338)$(5,505)$(34,004)$(321,847)
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications
70,320 10,857 (6,912)74,265 
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income
— (8,566)2,599 (5,967)
Net current-period other comprehensive income/(loss)70,320 2,291 (4,313)68,298 
Noncontrolling interest(1,116)— — (1,116)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive loss January 2, 2021, attributable to Darling, net of tax$(210,902)$(3,214)$(38,317)$(252,433)

NOTE 15.    EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

The Company has retirement and pension plans covering a substantial number of its domestic and foreign employees.  Most retirement benefits are provided by the Company under separate final-pay noncontributory and contributory defined benefit and defined contribution plans for all salaried and hourly employees (excluding those covered by union-sponsored plans) who meet service and age requirements. Although various defined benefit formulas exist for employees, generally these are based on length of service and earnings patterns during employment. Effective January 1, 2012, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the Company to proceed with the restructuring of its domestic retirement benefit program to include the closing of Darling's domestic salaried and hourly defined benefit plans to new participants as well as the freezing of service and wage accruals thereunder effective December 31, 2011 (a curtailment of these plans for financial reporting purposes) and the enhancing of benefits under the Company's domestic defined contribution plans. The Company-sponsored domestic hourly union plan has not been curtailed; however, several locations of the Company-sponsored domestic hourly union plan have been curtailed as a result of collective bargaining renewals for those sites.

The Company maintains defined contribution plans both domestically and at its foreign entities. The Company's matching portion and annual employer contributions to the Company's domestic defined contribution plans for fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018 were approximately $11.3 million, $10.6 million and $10.1 million, respectively. The
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DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

Company's matching portion and annual employer contributions to the Company's foreign defined contribution plans for fiscal 2020, 2019 and 2018 were approximately $8.5 million, $8.4 million and $7.8 million, respectively.

The Company recognizes the over-funded or under-funded status of the Company's defined benefit post-retirement plans as an asset or liability in the Company's balance sheet, with changes in the funded status recognized through comprehensive income in the year in which they occur. The Company uses the month-end date of December 31 as the measurement date for all of the Company's defined benefit plans, which is the closest month-end to the Company's fiscal year-end. The following table sets forth the plans’ funded status for the Company's domestic and foreign defined benefit plans and amounts recognized in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets based on the measurement date (December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019) (in thousands):
    
 January 2,
2021		December 28,
2019
Change in projected benefit obligation:  
Projected benefit obligation at beginning of period$212,265 $190,666 
Service cost3,060 2,696 
Interest cost5,721 6,828 
Employee contributions360 368 
Plan combinations5,362 — 
Actuarial loss16,427 20,927 
Benefits paid(8,274)(8,120)
Effect of curtailment(747)(43)
Effect of settlement(2,208)(903)
Other4,011 (154)
Projected benefit obligation at end of period235,977 212,265 
Change in plan assets:  
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of period155,702 133,861 
Actual return on plan assets16,029 26,014 
Employer contributions11,460 4,343 
Employee contributions360 368 
Plan combinations4,537 — 
Benefits paid(8,274)(8,120)
Effect of settlement(2,208)(903)
Other1,372 139 
Fair value of plan assets at end of period178,978 155,702 
Funded status(56,999)(56,563)
Net amount recognized$(56,999)$(56,563)
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance
   sheets consist of:		  
Current liability$(1,242)$(1,072)
Noncurrent liability(55,757)(55,491)
Net amount recognized$(56,999)$(56,563)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other
   comprehensive loss consist of:		  
Net actuarial loss$51,145 $45,062 
Prior service cost194 295 
Net amount recognized  (a)$51,339 $45,357 

(a)    Amounts do not include deferred taxes of $13.0 million and $11.4 million at January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, respectively.

The amounts included in “Other” in the above table reflect the impact of foreign exchange translation for plans in Brazil, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Netherlands and United Kingdom. The Company's domestic pension plan benefits comprise approximately 71% and 73% of the projected benefit obligation for fiscal 2020 and
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

fiscal 2019, respectively. Additionally, the Company has made required and tax deductible discretionary contributions to its domestic pension plans in fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019 of approximately $7.5 million and $0.9 million, respectively. The Company made required and tax deductible discretionary contributions to its foreign pension plans in fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019 of approximately $4.0 million and $ 3.4 million, respectively.

A significant component of the overall increase in the Company's benefit obligation for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2021 was from the change in the weighted-average discount rates at the measurement dates, which decreased from 2.77% at December 31, 2019 to 2.10% at December 31, 2020.
    
 January 2,
2021		December 28,
2019
Projected benefit obligation$235,977 $212,265 
Accumulated benefit obligation221,238 201,708 
Fair value of plan assets178,978 155,702 

The Company's service cost component of net periodic pension cost is included in compensation costs while all components of net periodic pension cost other than the service cost component are included in the line item “Other expense, net” in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Net pension cost includes the following components (in thousands):
    
 January 2,
2021		December 28,
2019		December 29,
2018
Service cost$3,060 $2,696 $3,064 
Interest cost5,721 6,828 6,443 
Expected return on plan assets(8,161)(7,270)(8,226)
Net amortization and deferral3,438 4,605 3,578 
Curtailment(678)(33)(263)
Settlement(22)66 47 
Net pension cost$3,358 $6,892 $4,643 
Weighted average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations were:
    
 January 2,
2021		December 28,
2019		December 29,
2018
Discount rate2.10%2.77%3.68%
Rate of compensation increase0.45%0.40%0.42%

Weighted average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost for the employee benefit pension plans were:
        
 January 2,
2021		December 28,
2019		December 29,
2018
Discount rate2.13%3.33%2.30%
Rate of increase in future compensation levels0.41%0.42%0.36%
Expected long-term rate of return on assets5.92%6.13%6.13%

Consideration was made to the long-term time horizon for the (U.S. and Canada's) plans' benefit obligations as well as the related asset class mix in determining the expected long-term rate of return.  Historical returns are also considered, over the long-term time horizon, in determining the expected return.  Considering the overall asset mix of approximately 60% equity and 40% fixed income with equity exposure on a declining trend since the implementation of the glide path for the U.S. plans, the Company believes it is reasonable to expect a long-term rate of return of 6.4% for the (U.S. and Canada's) plans' investments as a whole. The remaining foreign plans' assets are principally invested under insurance contracts arrangements which have weighted average expected long-term rate of returns of 1.8%.
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 
The investment objectives have been established in conjunction with a comprehensive review of the current and projected financial requirements.  The primary investment objectives are:  1) to have the ability to pay all benefit and expense obligations when due; 2) to maximize investment returns within reasonable and prudent levels of risk in order to minimize contributions; and 3) to maintain flexibility in determining the future level of contributions.

Investment results and changing discount rates are the most critical elements in achieving funding objectives; however, contributions are used as a supplemental source of funding as deemed appropriate.

The investment guidelines are based upon an investment horizon of greater than ten years; therefore, interim fluctuations are viewed with this perspective.  The strategic asset allocation is based on this long-term perspective and the plans' funded status.  However, because the participants’ average age is somewhat older than the typical average plan age, consideration is given to retaining some short-term liquidity.  Analysis of the cash flow projections of the plans indicates that benefit payments will continue to exceed contributions.  The results of a thorough asset-liability study completed during 2012 established a dynamic asset allocation glide path (the “Glide Path”) by which the U.S. plans' asset allocations are determined. The Glide Path designates intervals based on funded status which contain a corresponding allocation to equities/real assets and fixed income. As the U.S. plans' funded status improves, the allocations become more conservative, and the opposite is true when the funded status declines.
            
Fixed Income
35% - 80%
Equities
20% - 65%

The equity allocation is invested in stocks traded on one of the U.S. stock exchanges or in foreign companies whose stock is traded outside the U.S. and/or companies that conduct the major portion of their business outside the U.S. Securities convertible into such stocks, convertible bonds and preferred stock, may also be purchased.  The portfolio may invest in American Depository Receipts (“ADR”). The majority of the equities are invested in mutual funds that are well-diversified among growth and value stocks, as well as large, mid, and small cap assets. This mix is balanced based on the understanding that large cap stocks are historically less volatile than small cap stocks: however, smaller cap stocks have historically outperformed larger cap stocks. The emerging markets portion of the equity allocation is held below 10% due to greater volatility in the asset class. Risk adjusted returns are the primary driver of allocation choices within these asset classes. The portfolio is well-diversified in terms of companies, industries and countries.

The diversified asset portion of the allocation will invest in securities with a goal to outpace inflation and preserve their value. The securities in this allocation may consist of inflation-indexed bonds, securities of real estate companies, commodity index-linked notes, fixed-income securities, securities of natural resource companies, master limited partnerships, publicly-listed infrastructure companies, and floating rate debt.

All investment objectives are expected to be achieved over a market cycle anticipated to be a period of five to seven years.  Reallocations are performed on a monthly basis to retain target allocation ranges. On a quarterly basis the plans' funded status will be recalculated to determine which Glide Path interval allocation is appropriate.

The following table presents fair value measurements for the Company's defined benefit plans’ assets as categorized using the fair value hierarchy under FASB authoritative guidance (in thousands):
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

TotalQuoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets		Significant Other
Observable
Inputs		Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(In thousands of dollars)Fair Value(Level 1)(Level 2)(Level 3)
Balances as  December 28, 2019    
Fixed Income:    
Long Term$16,154 $16,154 $— $— 
Short Term3,448 3,448 — — 
Equity Securities:    
Domestic equities52,420 52,420 — — 
International equities32,167 32,167 — — 
Insurance contracts10,266 — 5,792 4,474 
Total categorized in fair value hierarchy114,455 104,189 5,792 4,474 
Other investments measured at NAV41,247 
Totals$155,702 $104,189 $5,792 $4,474 
Balances as January 2, 2021    
Fixed Income:    
Long Term$20,082 $20,082 $— $— 
Short Term3,585 3,585 — — 
Equity Securities:    
Domestic equities55,454 55,454 — — 
International equities35,022 35,022 — — 
Insurance contracts14,337 — 11,088 3,249 
Total categorized in fair value hierarchy
128,480 114,143 11,088 3,249 
Other investments measured at NAV50,498 
Totals$178,978 $114,143 $11,088 $3,249 

The majority of the U.S. and Canada plan pension assets are invested in mutual funds; however, some assets are invested in pooled separate accounts (“PSA”) which have similar mutual fund counterparts. PSA accounts are generally used to access lower fund management expenses when compared to their mutual fund counterparts. The mutual funds are generally invested in institutional shares, retirement shares, or A-shares with no loads. The fair value of each mutual fund and PSA is based on the market value of the underlying investments. The U.S. pension plans PSA for fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019 utilized net asset value (“NAV”) per share (or its equivalent) to measure its investments, as a practical expedient in accordance with ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy in the above table. The majority of the foreign pension assets are held under insurance contracts where the investment risk for the accumulated benefit obligation rests with the insurer, which the Company has no specific detailed asset information.

The fair value measurement of plan assets using significant unobservable inputs (level 3) changed due to the following:
Insurance
(in thousands of dollars)Contracts
Balance as of December 29, 2018$3,337 
Unrealized gains relating to instruments still held in the reporting period.
1,168 
Purchases, sales, and settlements— 
Exchange rate changes(31)
Balance as of December 28, 20194,474 
Unrealized gains relating to instruments still held in the reporting period.
400 
Purchases, sales, and settlements(1,956)
Exchange rate changes331 
Balance as of January 2, 2021$3,249 


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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

Contributions

The Company's funding policy for employee benefit pension plans is to contribute annually not less than the minimum amount required nor more than the maximum amount that can be deducted for federal income tax purposes.  Contributions are intended to provide not only for benefits attributed to service to date but also for those expected to be earned in the future.

Based on current actuarial estimates, the Company expects to make payments of approximately $3.8 million to meet funding requirements for its domestic and foreign pension plans in fiscal 2021.
 
Estimated Future Benefit Payments

The following benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, are expected to be paid (in thousands): 

Year EndingPension Benefits
2021$11,947 
202210,528 
202310,953 
202412,035 
202512,938 
Years 2026 – 203066,317 

Multiemployer Pension Plans

The Company participates in various multiemployer pension plans which provide defined benefits to certain employees covered by labor contracts in the United States.  These plans are not administered by the Company and contributions are determined in accordance with provisions of negotiated labor contracts to meet their pension benefit obligations to their participants.  The FASB issued guidance requiring companies to provide additional disclosures related to individually significant multiemployer pension plans. The Company's contributions to each individual multiemployer plan represent less than 5% of the total contributions to each such plan. Based on the most currently available information, the Company has determined that, if a withdrawal were to occur, withdrawal liabilities on two of the plans in which the Company currently participates could be material to the Company. The following table provides more detail on these significant multiemployer plans (contributions in thousands):
Expiration
PensionEIN PensionPension Protection Act Zone StatusFIP/RP Status Pending/ContributionsDate of Collective Bargaining
FundPlan Number20202019Implemented202020192018Agreement
Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Plan91-6145047 / 001GreenGreenNo$1,429 $1,514 $1,505 April 2025 (b)
Central States, Southeast and Southwest Areas Pension Plan (a)36-6044243 / 001RedRedYes886 916 978 May 2023 (c)
All other multiemployer plans914 1,196 1,064 
Total Company Contributions$3,229 $3,626 $3,547 

(a)     In July 2005 this plan received a 10 year extension from the IRS for amortizing unfunded liabilities. In April 2016 the IRS approved a modification of the amortization extension.

(b)     The Company has several plants that participate in the Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Plan under collective bargaining agreements that require minimum funding contributions. Certain of these agreements have expired and are being renegotiated with others having expiration dates through April 1, 2025.

(c)     The Company has several processing plants that participate in the Central States, Southeast and Southwest Areas Pension Plan under collective bargaining agreements that require minimum funding contributions. The agreements have expiration dates through May 1, 2023.

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DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

With respect to the other multiemployer pension plans in which the Company participates and which are not individually significant, five plans have certified as critical or red zone, two plan have certified as endangered or yellow zone, as defined by the Pension Protection Act of 2006. The Company's portion of contributions to all plans amounted to $3.2 million, $3.6 million and $3.5 million for the years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, respectively.

The Company has received notices in prior years of withdrawal liability from five U.S. multiemployer plans in which it participated. During fiscal 2020, the Company settled one of the withdrawal liabilities for approximately $2.5 million. As of January 2, 2021, the Company has an aggregate accrued liability of approximately $2.7 million representing the present value of scheduled withdrawal liability payments on the remaining multiemployer plans that have given notices of withdrawals. While the Company has no ability to calculate a possible current liability for under-funded multiemployer plans that could terminate or could require additional funding under the Pension Protection Act of 2006, the amounts could be material.

NOTE 16.    DERIVATIVES

The Company’s operations are exposed to market risks relating to commodity prices that affect the Company’s cost of raw materials, finished product prices and energy costs and the risk of changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates.

The Company makes limited use of derivative instruments to manage cash flow risks related to natural gas usage, diesel fuel usage, inventory, forecasted sales and foreign currency exchange rates. The Company does not use derivative instruments for trading purposes.  Natural gas swaps and options are entered into with the intent of managing the overall cost of natural gas usage by reducing the potential impact of seasonal weather demands on natural gas that increases natural gas prices.  Heating oil swaps and options are entered into with the intent of managing the overall cost of diesel fuel usage by reducing the potential impact of seasonal weather demands on diesel fuel that increases diesel fuel prices.  Corn options and future contracts are entered into with the intent of managing forecasted sales of BBP by reducing the impact of changing prices.  Foreign currency forward and option contracts are entered into to mitigate the foreign exchange rate risk for transactions designated in a currency other than the local functional currency.  At January 2, 2021, the Company had foreign currency option and forward contracts, soybean meal forward contracts and corn option contracts outstanding that qualified and were designated for hedge accounting as well as corn forward contracts and foreign currency forward contracts that did not qualify and were not designated for hedge accounting.
    
Entities are required to report all derivative instruments in the statement of financial position at fair value.  The accounting for changes in the fair value (i.e., gains or losses) of a derivative instrument depends on whether it has been designated and qualifies as part of a hedging relationship and, if so, on the reason for holding the instrument.  If certain conditions are met, entities may elect to designate a derivative instrument as a hedge of exposures to changes in fair value, cash flows or foreign currencies.  If the hedged exposure is a cash flow exposure, the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is reported initially as a component of other comprehensive income (outside of earnings) and is subsequently reclassified into earnings when the forecasted transaction affects earnings.  Any amounts excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness are reported in earnings immediately.  If the derivative instrument is not designated as a hedge, the gain or loss is recognized in earnings in the period of change.

Cash Flow Hedges

In fiscal 2020, fiscal 2019 and fiscal 2018, the Company entered into foreign exchange option and forward contracts that are considered cash flow hedges. Under the terms of the foreign exchange contracts, the Company hedged a portion of its forecasted collagen sales in currencies other than the functional currency through the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022. At January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, the aggregate fair value of these foreign exchange contracts was approximately $11.6 million and $1.3 million, respectively. The January 2, 2021 amounts are included in other current assets, other noncurrent assets and accrued expenses on the balance sheet, with an offset recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss.

In fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2019, the Company entered into corn option contracts that are considered cash flow hedges. Under the terms of the corn option contracts the Company hedged a portion of its forecasted sales of BBP into the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021. At January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, the aggregate fair value of the
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DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

corn contracts was $6.8 million and $0.4 million, respectively. The amounts are included in accrued expenses on the balance sheet.

In fiscal 2020, the Company entered into soybean meal forward contracts to hedge a portion of its forecasted poultry meal sales into the second quarter of fiscal 2021. As of January 2, 2021, the aggregate fair value of the soybean meal contracts was $0.4 million and was recorded in other current assets on the balance sheet. As of December 28, 2019 there were no outstanding amounts.

As of January 2, 2021, the Company had the following outstanding forward contract amounts that were entered into to hedge the future payments of intercompany note transactions, foreign currency transactions in currencies other than the functional currency and forecasted transactions in currencies other than the functional currency (in thousands):
Functional CurrencyContract Currency
TypeAmountTypeAmount
Brazilian real64,919 Euro9,645 
Brazilian real1,189,357 U.S. Dollar257,300 
Euro33,671 U.S. Dollar40,514 
Euro22,229 Polish zloty100,000 
Euro4,838 Japanese yen605,514 
Euro15,360 Chinese renminbi122,801 
Euro13,349 Australian dollar21,850 
Euro2,488 British pound2,269 
Euro32 Canadian dollar50 
Polish zloty24,824 Euro5,506 
Polish zloty2,253 U.S. dollar608 
British pound232 Euro253 
British pound150 U.S. dollar200 
Japanese yen258,547 U.S. dollar2,505 
U.S. dollar531 Japanese yen55,000 
U.S. dollar114,078 Euro95,000 
Canadian dollar10,205 U.S. dollar8,000 

The Company estimates the amount that will be reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss at January 2, 2021 into earnings over the next 12 months will be approximately $3.0 million.  As of January 2, 2021, no amounts have been reclassified into earnings as a result of the discontinuance of cash flow hedges.
    
The table below summarizes the effect of derivatives not designated as hedges on the Company's consolidated statements of operations for the year ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018 (in thousands):

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DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

Loss or (Gain) Recognized in Income on Derivatives Not Designated as Hedges
For The Year Ended
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
LocationJanuary 2, 2021December 28, 2019December 29, 2018
Foreign exchangeForeign currency loss/(gain)$(3,840)$1,565 $(2,160)
Foreign exchange
Net sales
(778)903 2,806 
Foreign exchange
Cost of sales and operating expenses
(664)(452)(1,005)
Foreign exchange
Selling, general and administrative expense
4,976 1,649 3,040 
Corn options and futuresNet sales(1,091)670 683 
Corn options and futures
Cost of sales and operating expenses
(50)(1,636)(543)
Natural gas and heating oil swaps and options
Cost of sales and operating expenses
— (506)1,031 
Heating oil swaps and options
Net sales
(38)— — 
Total$(1,485)$2,193 $3,852 

At January 2, 2021, the Company had forward purchase agreements in place for purchases of approximately $84.7 million of natural gas and diesel fuel.  The Company intends to take physical delivery of the commodities under the forward purchase agreements and accordingly, these contracts are not subject to the requirements of fair value accounting because they qualify as normal purchases.
 
NOTE 17.    FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT

FASB authoritative guidance which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements including guidance related to nonrecurring measurements of nonfinancial assets and liabilities.

The following tables presents the Company's financial instruments that are measured at fair value on a recurring and nonrecurring basis as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019 and are categorized using the fair value hierarchy under FASB authoritative guidance.  The fair value hierarchy has three levels based on the reliability of the inputs used to determine the fair value.

  Fair Value Measurements at January 2, 2021 Using
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets		Significant Other
Observable
Inputs		Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(In thousands of dollars)Total(Level 1)(Level 2)(Level 3)
Assets
Derivative assets$17,358 $— $17,358 $— 
Total Assets17,358 — 17,358 — 
Liabilities
Derivative liabilities9,778 — 9,778 — 
5.25% Senior Notes531,300 — 531,300 — 
3.625% Senior Notes646,323 — 646,323 — 
Term Loan B298,500 — 298,500 — 
Revolver54,175 — 54,175 — 
Total Liabilities$1,540,076 $— $1,540,076 $— 
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DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

  Fair Value Measurements at December 28, 2019 Using
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets		Significant Other
Observable
Inputs		Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(In thousands of dollars)Total(Level 1)(Level 2)(Level 3)
Assets
Derivative assets$4,140 $— $4,140 $— 
Total Assets4,140 — 4,140 — 
Liabilities
Derivative liabilities1,593 — 1,593 — 
5.25% Senior Notes531,850 — 531,850 — 
3.625% Senior Notes605,327 — 605,327 — 
Term Loan B497,475 — 497,475 — 
Revolver38,805 — 38,805 — 
Total Liabilities$1,675,050 $— $1,675,050 $— 

Derivative assets and liabilities consist of the Company's corn option and future contracts, foreign currency forward and option contracts and soybean meal forward contracts which represent the difference between the observable market rates of commonly quoted intervals for similar assets and liabilities in active markets and the fixed swap rate considering the instrument’s term, notional amount and credit risk.  See Note 16 Derivatives for discussion on the Company's derivatives.

The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximates fair value due to the short maturity of these instruments and as such have been excluded from the table above. The carrying amount for the Company's other debt is not deemed to be significantly different than the fair value and all other instruments have been recorded at fair value. 

The fair value of the senior notes, term loan B and revolver debt is based on market quotation from third-party banks.

NOTE 18.    RESTRUCTURING AND ASSET IMPAIRMENT CHARGES

In December 2020, due to unfavorable economics in the biodiesel industry, the Company made the decision to shut down processing operations at its biodiesel facilities located in the United States and Canada, and there are no current plans to resume biodiesel production at these facilities in the future. As of January 2, 2021, the Company has incurred restructuring and asset impairment charges of approximately $38.2 million, which includes asset impairment charges of approximately $37.8 million and other factory and operational restructuring charges of approximately $0.4 million. Employee termination costs were not incurred for the period ended January 2, 2021 due to all U.S. employees being transferred to other U.S. plants and the employees in Canada were not given their notifications until after January 2, 2021. The employee termination costs to be recorded in the first quarter of 2021 by Canada will not be significant.

In the second quarter of fiscal 2018, management decided to permanently shut down the Company's Hurlingham, Argentina collagen plant. As of December 29, 2018, the Company incurred restructuring and asset impairment charges of approximately $15.0 million, which included employee termination charges of approximately $8.4 million, asset impairment charges of approximately $2.9 million and other factory and operational restructuring charges of approximately $3.7 million.

NOTE 19.    CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK

Concentration of credit risk is limited due to the Company's diversified customer base and the fact that the Company sells commodities.  No single customer accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s net sales in fiscal years 2020, 2019 and 2018.


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DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

NOTE 20.    CONTINGENCIES

The Company is a party to various lawsuits, claims and loss contingencies arising in the ordinary course of its business, including insured worker's compensation, auto, and general liability claims, assertions by certain regulatory and governmental agencies related to permitting requirements and environmental matters, including air, wastewater and storm water discharges from the Company's processing facilities, litigation involving tort, contract, statutory, labor, employment, and other claims, and tax matters.

The Company’s workers compensation, auto and general liability policies contain significant deductibles or self-insured retentions.  The Company estimates and accrues its expected ultimate claim costs related to accidents occurring during each fiscal year under these insurance policies and carries this accrual as a reserve until these claims are paid by the Company.

As a result of the matters discussed above, the Company has established loss reserves for insurance, environmental, litigation and tax contingencies.  At January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, the reserves for insurance, environmental, litigation and tax contingencies reflected on the balance sheet in accrued expenses and other non-current liabilities were approximately $66.2 million and $70.5 million, respectively.  The Company has insurance recovery receivables of approximately $27.0 million and $26.2 million, as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, related to the insurance contingencies. The Company's management believes these reserves for contingencies are reasonable and sufficient based upon present governmental regulations and information currently available to management; however, there can be no assurance that final costs related to these contingencies will not exceed current estimates.  The Company believes that the likelihood is remote that any additional liability from the lawsuits and claims that may not be covered by insurance would have a material effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Lower Passaic River Area. In December 2009, the Company, along with numerous other entities, received notice from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) that the Company (as alleged successor-in-interest to The Standard Tallow Corporation) is considered a potentially responsible party (a “PRP”) with respect to alleged contamination in the lower 17-mile area of the Passaic River which is part of the Diamond Alkali Superfund Site located in Newark, New Jersey. The Company’s designation as a PRP is based upon the operation of former plant sites located in Newark and Kearny, New Jersey by The Standard Tallow Corporation, an entity that the Company acquired in 1996. In the letter, EPA requested that the Company join a group of other parties in funding a remedial investigation and feasibility study at the site. As of the date of this report, the Company has not agreed to participate in the funding group. In March 2016, the Company received another letter from EPA notifying the Company that it had issued a Record of Decision the (“ROD”) selecting a remedy for the lower 8.3 miles of the lower Passaic River area at an estimated cost of $1.38 billion. The EPA letter makes no demand on the Company and lays out a framework for remedial design/remedial action implementation in which the EPA will first seek funding from major PRPs. The letter indicates that the EPA has sent the letter to over 100 parties, which include large chemical and refining companies, manufacturing companies, foundries, plastic companies, pharmaceutical companies and food and consumer product companies. The EPA has already offered early cash out settlements to 20 of the other PRPs and has stated that other parties who did not discharge any of the eight contaminants of concern identified in the ROD (the “COCs”) may also be eligible for cash out settlements and conducted a settlement analysis using a third-party allocator. The Company participated in this allocation process as it asserts that it is not responsible for any liabilities of its former subsidiary The Standard Tallow Corporation, which was legally dissolved in 2000, and that, in any event, The Standard Tallow Corporation did not discharge any of the COCs. In November 2019, the Company received a cash out settlement offer from the EPA in the amount of $0.6 million ($0.3 million for each of the former plant sites in question) for liabilities relating to the lower 8.3 miles of the lower Passaic River area. The Company has accepted this settlement offer, which is now subject to the EPA’s administrative approval process, which includes publication and a public comment period. On September 30, 2016, Occidental Chemical Corporation (“OCC”) entered into an agreement with the EPA to perform the remedial design for the cleanup plan for the lower 8.3 miles of the Passaic River. On June 30, 2018, OCC filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey against over 100 companies, including the Company, seeking cost recovery or contribution for costs under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”) relating to various investigations and cleanups OCC has conducted or is conducting in connection with the Passaic River. According to the complaint, OCC has incurred or is incurring costs which include the estimated cost to complete the remedial design for the cleanup plan for the lower 8.3 miles of the Passaic River. OCC is also seeking a declaratory judgment to hold the defendants liable for their proper shares of future response costs, including the remedial action for the lower 8.3 miles of the Passaic River. The Company, along with 40 of the other defendants, had previously received a release
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DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

from OCC of its CERCLA contribution claim of $165 million associated with the costs to design the remedy for the lower 8.3 miles of the Passaic River. Furthermore, in the event the settlement with the EPA described above is consummated, it could preclude certain of the claims alleged by OCC against the Company. The Company's ultimate liability, if any, for investigatory costs, remedial costs and/or natural resource damages in connection with the lower Passaic River area cannot be determined at this time; however, as of the date of this report, the Company has found no definitive evidence that the former Standard Tallow Corporation plant sites contributed any of the COCs to the Passaic River and, therefore, there is nothing that leads the Company to believe that this matter will have a material effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

NOTE 21.    BUSINESS SEGMENTS

The Company sells its products domestically and internationally and operates within three industry segments: Feed Ingredients, Food Ingredients and Fuel Ingredients. The measure of segment profit (loss) includes all revenues, operating expenses (excluding certain amortization of intangibles), and selling, general and administrative expenses incurred at all operating locations and excludes general corporate expenses.

Included in corporate activities are general corporate expenses and the amortization of intangibles. Assets of corporate activities include cash, unallocated prepaid expenses, deferred tax assets, prepaid pension, and miscellaneous other assets.

Feed Ingredients
Feed Ingredients consists principally of (i) the Company's U.S. ingredients business, including the Company's fats and proteins, used cooking oil, trap grease, the Rothsay ingredients business, and the ingredients and specialty products businesses conducted by Darling Ingredients International under the Sonac name (proteins, fats, and blood products) and (ii) the Company's bakery residuals business. Feed Ingredients operations process animal by-products and used cooking oil into fats, proteins and hides.

Food Ingredients
Food Ingredients consists principally of (i) the collagen business conducted by Darling Ingredients International under the Rousselot name, (ii) the natural casings and meat-by-products business conducted by Darling Ingredients International under the CTH name and (iii) certain specialty products businesses conducted by Darling Ingredients International under the Sonac name.

Fuel Ingredients
The Company's Fuel Ingredients segment consists of (i) the Company's investment in the DGD Joint Venture and (ii) the bioenergy business conducted by Darling Ingredients International under the Ecoson and Rendac names.

Business Segments (in thousands):
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DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

Feed IngredientsFood IngredientsFuel IngredientsCorporateTotal
Fiscal Year Ended January 2, 2021
Net Sales$2,072,104 $1,185,701 $314,118 $— $3,571,923 
Cost of sales and operating expenses1,544,524 920,682 223,609 — 2,688,815 
Gross Margin527,580 265,019 90,509 — 883,108 
Loss (gain) on sale of assets19 482 (75)— 426 
Selling, general and administrative expense209,748 97,406 16,014 55,328 378,496 
Restructuring and asset impairment charges— — 38,167 — 38,167 
Depreciation and amortization221,187 83,752 34,218 11,021 350,178 
Equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel
— — 315,095 — 315,095 
Segment operating income/(loss)96,626 83,379 317,280 (66,349)430,936 
Equity in net income of other unconsolidated subsidiaries
3,193 — — — 3,193 
Segment income/(loss)99,819 83,379 317,280 (66,349)434,129 
Total other expense(80,510)
Income before income taxes$353,619 
Segment assets at January 2, 2021$2,708,922 $1,335,769 $1,160,132 $408,508 $5,613,331 

Feed IngredientsFood IngredientsFuel IngredientsCorporateTotal
Fiscal Year Ended December 28, 2019
Net Sales$1,970,561 $1,119,085 $274,259 $— $3,363,905 
Cost of sales and operating expenses1,519,596 864,618 204,871 — 2,589,085 
Gross Margin450,965 254,467 69,388 — 774,820 
Loss/(gain) on sale of assets(7,720)(13,175)313 — (20,582)
Selling, general and administrative expense200,487 97,363 2,762 57,911 358,523 
Depreciation and amortization203,456 79,671 31,946 10,437 325,510 
Equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel
— — 364,452 — 364,452 
Segment operating income/(loss)54,742 90,608 398,819 (68,348)475,821 
Equity in net income of unconsolidated subsidiaries428 — — — 428 
Segment income/(loss)55,170 90,608 398,819 (68,348)476,249 
Total other expense(95,815)
Income before income taxes$380,434 
Segment assets at December 28, 2019$2,653,363 $1,345,526 $1,087,701 $258,668 $5,345,258 

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DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

Feed IngredientsFood IngredientsFuel IngredientsCorporateTotal
Fiscal Year Ended December 29, 2018
Net Sales$1,952,555 $1,139,126 $296,045 $— $3,387,726 
Cost of sales and operating expenses1,497,973 918,141 230,260 — 2,646,374 
Gross Margin454,582 220,985 65,785 — 741,352 
Loss/(gain) on sale of assets725 (282)266 — 709 
Selling, general and administrative expense176,722 91,546 (4,770)45,766 309,264 
Restructuring and asset impairment charges— 14,965 — — 14,965 
Depreciation and amortization194,292 80,988 34,981 10,931 321,192 
Equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel
— — 159,779 — 159,779 
Segment operating income/(loss)82,843 33,768 195,087 (56,697)255,001 
Equity in net loss of unconsolidated subsidiaries(550)— — — (550)
Segment income/(loss)82,293 33,768 195,087 (56,697)254,451 
Total other expense(136,476)
Income before income taxes$117,975 

 Business Segment Property, Plant and Equipment (in thousands):
         
 January 2,
2021		December 28,
2019		December 29,
2018
Capital expenditures:
Feed Ingredients$176,530 $229,415 $237,215 
Food Ingredients68,250 85,501 51,659 
Fuel Ingredients
30,638 23,964 27,121 
Corporate Activities
4,697 20,618 5,901 
Total (a)$280,115 $359,498 $321,896 

(a)    Excludes capital assets acquired by acquisition in fiscal 2020 and fiscal 2018 of approximately $18.4 million and $31.6 million, respectively.

Long-lived assets related to the Company's operations in North America, Europe, China, South American and other were as follows (in thousands):
        
FY 2020FY 2019
Long-Lived AssetsLong-Lived Assets
North America$3,056,047 $2,991,537 
Europe1,357,070 1,228,807 
China127,549 124,874 
South America74,720 73,477 
Other10,951 9,275 
Total$4,626,337 $4,427,970 

NOTE 22.    REVENUE

The Company extends payment terms to its customers based on commercially acceptable practices. The term between invoicing and payment due date is not significant. Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration the Company expects to receive in exchange for transferring finished products or performing services, which is generally based on executed agreement or purchase order.
Page 117
DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)


Most of the Company's products are shipped based on the customer specifications. Customer returns are infrequent and not material to the Company. Adjustments to net sales for sales deductions are generally recognized in the same period as the sale or when known. Customers in certain industries or countries may be required to prepay prior to shipment in order to maintain payment protection. These represent short-term prepayment from customers and are not material to the Company. The Company elected to treat shipping and handling as fulfillment costs, which will result in billed freight recorded in cost of sales and netted against freight costs. Sales, value-add, and other taxes collected concurrently with revenue-producing activities are excluded from revenue and booked on a net basis.

The following tables presents the Company revenues disaggregated by geographic area and major product types by reportable segment for the years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018 (in thousands):

Year Ended January 2 2021
Feed IngredientsFood IngredientsFuel IngredientsTotal
Geographic Area
North America$1,694,705 $244,929 $20,869 $1,960,503 
Europe352,748 650,671 293,249 1,296,668 
China13,676 188,417 — 202,093 
South America— 38,238 — 38,238 
Other10,975 63,446 — 74,421 
Net sales$2,072,104 $1,185,701 $314,118 $3,571,923 
Major product types
Fats$661,774 $142,963 $— $804,737 
Used cooking oil176,691 — — 176,691 
Proteins830,195 — — 830,195 
Bakery183,759 — — 183,759 
Other rendering178,601 — — 178,601 
Food ingredients— 947,928 — 947,928 
Bioenergy— — 293,249 293,249 
Biofuels— — 20,869 20,869 
Other41,084 94,810 — 135,894 
Net sales$2,072,104 $1,185,701 $314,118 $3,571,923 

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DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

Year Ended December 28, 2019
Feed IngredientsFood IngredientsFuel IngredientsTotal
Geographic Area
North America$1,635,382 $214,623 $39,568 $1,889,573 
Europe309,097 609,999 234,691 1,153,787 
China16,342 178,283 — 194,625 
South America— 51,168 — 51,168 
Other9,740 65,012 — 74,752 
Net sales$1,970,561 $1,119,085 $274,259 $3,363,905 
Major product types
Fats$584,336 $133,898 $— $718,234 
Used cooking oil185,705 — — 185,705 
Proteins791,284 — — 791,284 
Bakery191,551 — — 191,551 
Other rendering167,870 — — 167,870 
Food ingredients— 894,761 — 894,761 
Bioenergy— — 234,691 234,691 
Biofuels— — 39,568 39,568 
Other49,815 90,426 — 140,241 
Net sales$1,970,561 $1,119,085 $274,259 $3,363,905 

Year Ended December 29, 2018
Feed IngredientsFood IngredientsFuel IngredientsTotal
Geographic Area Revenues
North America$1,586,930 $181,213 $48,858 $1,817,001 
Europe329,341 648,933 247,187 1,225,461 
China28,288 182,369 — 210,657 
South America— 53,206 — 53,206 
Other7,996 73,405 — 81,401 
Net sales$1,952,555 $1,139,126 $296,045 $3,387,726 
Major product types
Fats$564,790 $163,815 $— $728,605 
Used cooking oil166,634 — — 166,634 
Proteins842,878 — — 842,878 
Bakery180,227 — — 180,227 
Other rendering129,273 — — 129,273 
Food ingredients— 886,042 — 886,042 
Bioenergy— — 247,187 247,187 
Biofuels— — 48,858 48,858 
Other68,753 89,269 — 158,022 
Net sales$1,952,555 $1,139,126 $296,045 $3,387,726 

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

The Company has two primary revenue streams. Finished product revenues are recognized when control of the promised finished product is transferred to the Company's customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for the finished product. Service revenues are recognized in net sales when the service occurs.

Fats and Proteins. Fats and Proteins include the Company's global activities related to the collection and processing of beef, poultry and pork animal by-products into finished products of non-food grade oils, food grade fats and protein meal. Fats and proteins net sales are recognized when the Company ships the finished product to the customer and control has been transferred.
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DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)


Used Cooking Oil. Used cooking oil includes collection and processing of used cooking oil into finished products of non-food grade fats. Used cooking oil net sales are recognized when the Company ships the finished product to the customer and control has been transferred.

Bakery. Bakery includes collection and processing of bakery residuals into finished product including Cookie Meal®, an animal feed ingredient primarily used in poultry and swine rations. Bakery net sales are recognized when the Company ships the finished product to the customer and control has been transferred.

Other Rendering. Other rendering include hides, pet food products, and service charges. Hides and pet food net sales are recognized when the Company ships the finished product to the customer and control has been transferred. Service revenues are recognized in net sales when the service has occurred.

Food Ingredients. Food ingredients includes collection and processing of pigskin, hide, bone and fish into finished product. It also includes harvesting, sorting and selling of hog and sheep casings as well as harvesting, purchasing and processing of hog, sheep and beef meat for pet food industry. Collagen and CTH meat and casings net sales are recognized when the Company ships the finished product to the customer and control has been transferred.

Bioenergy. Bioenergy includes Ecoson, which converts organic sludge and food waste into biogas and Rendac, which collects fallen stock and animal waste for a fee and processes these materials into fats and meals that can only be used as low grade energy or fuel for boilers and cement kilns. Net sales are recognized when the finished product is shipped to the customer and control has been transferred. Service revenues are recognized in net sales when the service has occurred.

Biofuels. Biofuels includes the North American processing of rendered animal fats, recycled cooking oils and third party additives to produce diesel fuel. Biofuel net sales are recognized when the finished product is shipped to the customer and control has been transferred.

Other. Other includes grease trap collection and environmental services to food processors in the Feed Ingredients segment and Sonac Bone and Sonac Heparin in the Food Ingredients segment. Net sales are recognized when the Company ships the finished product to the customer and control has been transferred. Service revenues are recognized in net sales when the service has occurred.

Long-Term Performance Obligations. The Company from time to time enters into long-term contracts to supply certain volumes of finished products to certain customers. Revenue recognized in 2020 and 2019 under these long-term supply contracts was approximately $54.0 million and $41.0 million, respectively, with the remaining performance obligations to be recognized in future periods (generally 2 years) of approximately $168.6 million.

NOTE 23.    QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED AND IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS):
 Year Ended January 2, 2021
 First
 Quarter		Second
 Quarter		Third
 Quarter		Fourth
 Quarter (a)
Net sales$852,842 $848,673 $850,569 $1,019,839 
Operating income122,829 106,288 127,455 74,364 
Income from operations before income taxes
104,391 86,441 106,417 56,370 
Net income86,091 66,495 101,605 46,139 
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests(581)(1,056)(480)(1,394)
Net income attributable to Darling
85,510 65,439 101,125 44,745 
Basic earnings per share0.52 0.40 0.62 0.28 
Diluted earnings per share0.51 0.39 0.61 0.27 

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DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

 Year Ended December 28, 2019
 First
 Quarter		Second
 Quarter		Third
 Quarter		Fourth
 Quarter (b)
Net sales$835,104 $827,324 $842,049 $859,428 
Operating income48,551 74,124 59,859 293,287 
Income from operations before income taxes24,914 38,820 37,687 279,013 
Net income19,640 31,044 26,837 243,446 
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests(1,628)(4,786)(1,116)(837)
Net income attributable to Darling18,012 26,258 25,721 242,609 
Basic earnings per share0.11 0.16 0.16 1.48 
Diluted earnings per share0.11 0.16 0.15 1.44 
 
(a) In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020, the Company's results include restructuring and asset impairment charges of approximately $38.2 million.

(b) In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019, the Company's results include 2019 and 2018 blenders tax credits of approximately $234.4 million.

NOTE 24.    RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Raw Material Agreement

The Company entered into a Raw Material Agreement with the DGD Joint Venture in May 2011 pursuant to which the Company will offer to supply certain animal fats and used cooking oil at market prices, but the DGD Joint Venture is not obligated to purchase the raw material offered by the Company. Additionally, the Company may offer other feedstocks to the DGD Joint Venture, such as inedible corn oil, purchased on a resale basis. For the years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, the Company has recorded sales to the DGD Joint Venture of approximately $264.1 million, $208.7 million and $131.8 million, respectively. At January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, the Company has approximately $14.2 million and $17.8 million in outstanding receivables due from the DGD Joint Venture, respectively. In addition, the Company has eliminated additional sales of approximately $7.4 million, $5.1 million and $4.6 million for the years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, respectively to the DGD Joint Venture and deferred the Company's portion of profit on those sales relating to inventory assets still remaining on the DGD Joint Venture's balance sheet at January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018 of approximately $1.4 million, $0.8 million and $0.9 million, respectively.

Revolving Loan Agreement

On May 1, 2019, Darling through its wholly owned subsidiary Darling Green Energy LLC, (“Darling Green”), and a third party Diamond Alternative Energy, LLC (“Diamond Alternative” and together with Darling Green, the “DGD Lenders”) entered into a revolving loan agreement (the “DGD Loan Agreement”) with the DGD Joint Venture. The DGD Lenders have committed to make loans available to the DGD Joint Venture in the total amount of $50.0 million with each lender committed to $25.0 million of the total commitment. Any borrowings by the DGD Joint Venture under the DGD Loan Agreement are at the applicable annum rate equal to the sum of (a) the LIBO Rate (meaning Reuters BBA Libor Rates Page 3750) on such day plus (b) 2.50%. The DGD Loan Agreement matures on April 29, 2021. The DGD Loan Agreement replaces a similar agreement with lower commitment levels that expired on December 31, 2018. As of January 2, 2021, no amounts are owed to Darling Green under the DGD Loan Agreement.

Guarantee Agreement

In February 2020, in connection with the DGD Joint Venture’s expansion project at its Norco, LA facility, it has entered into two agreements (the “IMTT Terminaling Agreements”) with International-Matex Tank Terminals (“IMTT”), pursuant to which the DGD Joint Venture will move raw material and finished product to and from the IMTT terminal facility by pipeline, thereby providing better logistical capabilities.  As a condition to entering into the IMTT Terminaling Agreements, IMTT required that the Company and Valero guarantee their proportionate share, up to $50 million each, of the DGD Joint Venture’s obligations under the IMTT Terminaling Agreements (the “Guarantee”), subject to the conditions provided for in the IMTT Terminaling Agreements. The Company has
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DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

not recorded any liability as a result of the guarantee, as the Company believes the likelihood of having to make any payments under the guarantee is remote.

NOTE 25.    NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform Topic 848, Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. The update provides optional guidance for a limited period of time to ease the potential burden in accounting for (or reorganizing the effects of) contract modifications on financial reporting, caused by reference rate reform. This ASU is effective for all entities as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. The adoption of this ASU in the first quarter of fiscal 2020 did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. This ASU amends Topic 740 Income Taxes, which eliminates certain exceptions in accounting for income taxes, improves consistency in application and clarifies existing guidance. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-14, Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans. This ASU amends Subtopic 715-20, Compensation - Retirement Benefits - Defined Benefit Plans - General, which modifies the disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other postretirement plans by removing and adding certain disclosures for these plans. The standard is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurements. This ASU amends Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement, which changes the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements by removing, adding and modifying certain disclosures. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 and for interim periods therein, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04 Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. This ASU amends Topic 350, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other, which will simplify the goodwill impairment calculation by eliminating Step 2 from the current goodwill impairment test. Under the new guidance, an entity should perform its annual, or interim, goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An entity should recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit's fair value; however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. The ASU eliminates existing guidance that requires an entity to determine goodwill impairment by calculating the implied fair value of goodwill by hypothetically assigning the fair value of a reporting unit to all of the assets and liabilities as if that reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments. Under ASU 2016-13, existing guidance on reporting credit losses for trade and other receivables and available for sale debt securities will be replaced with a new forward-looking “expected loss” model that generally will result in the earlier recognition of allowances for losses. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 and interim periods therein. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

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PART II

ITEM 9.  CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None.

ITEM 9A.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.

As required by Rule 13a-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, conducted an evaluation, as of the end of the period covered by this report, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures.  As defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures of the Company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.  Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Based on management’s evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.

Internal Control over Financial Reporting.

(a)    Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting.  Management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act.  Those rules define internal control over financial reporting as a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that:
 
•Pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company;
•Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and
•Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.  Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

The Company’s management assessed the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of January 2, 2021. In making this assessment, the Company's management used the criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) (2013).

Based on their assessment, management has concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective at the reasonable assurance level as of January 2, 2021.

In October 2020, a wholly-owned international subsidiary acquired all the shares of a Belgium privately owned group of companies (the “Belgium Group Acquisition”) and in December 2020, the Company acquired substantially all the assets of Marengo Fabricated Steel Ltd (the “Marengo Acquisition”). The Company is currently in the process of integrating the
Page 123

Belgium Group Acquisition and the Marengo Acquisition pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. The Company is evaluating changes to processes, information technology systems and other components of internal controls over financial reporting as part of its ongoing integration activities, and as a result, controls will be periodically changed. These acquisitions are not deemed material but due to the timing of the acquisitions the internal controls over financial reporting of the Belgium Group Acquisition and the Marengo Acquisition were excluded from management’s assessment of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of January 2, 2021. These acquisitions represent less than 1% of total net sales and represent less than 1% of the Company’s consolidated total assets as of January 2, 2021.
 
KPMG LLP, the registered public accounting firm that audited the Company's financial statements, has issued an audit report on management’s assessment of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, which report is included herein.

(b)    Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm.  The attestation report called for by Item 308(b) of Regulation S-K is incorporated herein by reference to Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, included in Part II, Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this report.

(c)    Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting.  As required by Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(d), the Company's management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, also conducted an evaluation of the Company's internal control over financial reporting to determine whether any change occurred during the last fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.  Based on that evaluation there has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the last fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report other than SOX control changes related to the upgrade of accounting software at its international operations that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 9B.  OTHER INFORMATION

None.

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PART III


ITEM 10.  DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The information required by this Item with respect to Items 401, 405 and 407 of Regulation S-K will appear in the sections entitled “Election of Directors,”  “Our Management - Executive Officers and Directors,” “Delinquent Section 16 (a) Reports” and “Corporate Governance-Committees of the Board - Audit Committee” included in the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement relating to the 2021 annual meeting of stockholders, which will be filed no later than 120 days after January 2, 2021, and such information is incorporated herein by reference.

The Company has adopted the Darling Ingredients Inc. Code of Conduct (“Code of Conduct”), which is applicable to all of the Company’s employees, including its senior financial officers, the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, Controller, Treasurer and General Counsel.  A copy of the Company’s Code of Conduct has been posted on the “Investor” portion of our web site, at www.darlingii.com.  We intend to satisfy the disclosure requirements of the SEC regarding amendments to, or waivers from, the Code of Conduct by posting such information on the same web site.

ITEM 11.  EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The information required by this Item will appear in the sections entitled “Executive Compensation,” “Compensation Committee Report” and “Corporate Governance - Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” included in the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement relating to the 2021 annual meeting of stockholders, which will be filed no later than 120 days after January 2, 2021, and such information is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 12.   SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS

The following table sets forth certain information as of January 2, 2021, with respect to the Company's equity compensation plans (including individual compensation arrangements) under which the Company's equity securities are authorized for issuance, aggregated by (i) all compensation plans previously approved by the Company's security holders, and (ii) all compensation plans not previously approved by the Company's security holders.  The table includes:
 
•the number of securities to be issued upon the exercise of outstanding options and granted non-vested stock;
•the weighted-average exercise price of the outstanding options and granted non-vested stock; and
•the number of securities that remain available for future issuance under the plans.
Plan Category(a)
Number of securities
to be issued upon
exercise of
outstanding
options, warrants
and rights		(b)
Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding
options, warrants
and rights		(c)
Number of securities
remaining available
for future issuance
under equity
compensation plans
(excluding securities
reflected in column (a))
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders
6,134,056(1)$16.4210,824,222
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
 
             –		 
        –		 
             –
Total6,134,056$16.4210,824,222
 
(1)    Includes shares underlying options that have been issued and granted non-vested stock pursuant to the Company’s 2004 Omnibus Incentive Plan, 2012 Omnibus Incentive Plan and 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan, each as approved by the Company’s stockholders.  See Note 13 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for information regarding the material features of the 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan.
Page 125

 
The information required by this Item with respect to Item 403 of Regulation S-K will appear in the section entitled “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” included in the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement relating to the 2021 annual meeting of stockholders, which will be filed no later than 120 days after January 2, 2021, and such information is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 13.   CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

The information required by this Item will appear in the sections entitled “Transactions with Related Persons, Promoters and Certain Control Persons,”  “Corporate Governance – Code of Business Conduct” and “Corporate Governance - Independent Directors” included in the Company's definitive Proxy Statement relating to the 2021 annual meeting of stockholders, which will be filed no later than 120 days after January 2, 2021, and such information is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 14.   PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

The information required by this Item will appear in the section entitled “Ratification of Selection of Independent Registered Public Accountant” included in the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement relating to the 2021 annual meeting of stockholders, which will be filed no later than 120 days after January 2 2021, and such information is incorporated herein by reference.

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PART IV


ITEM 15.   EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES


(a) Documents filed as part of this report:

(1) The following consolidated financial statements are included in Item 8.
 Page
  
 70
 72
 
 
 
 

 
 
All other schedules are omitted since the required information is not present or is not present in amounts sufficient to require submission of the schedule, or because the information required is included in the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto.
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(3) Exhibits

(With regard to applicable cross-references in the list of exhibits below, the Company's Current, Quarterly and Annual Reports are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under File No. 001-13323).
Exhibit No.
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
10.1
10.2
10.3
10.4
10.5
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10.6
10.7
10.8
10.9
10.10
10.11
10.12
10.13
10.14 *
10.15 *
10.16 *
10.17 *
10.18 *
10.19 *
10.20 *
10.21 *
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10.22 *
10.23 *
10.24 *
10.25 *
10.26 *
10.27 *
10.28 *
10.29 *
10.30 *
10.31 *
10.32 *
10.33 *
10.34 *
10.35 *
10.36 *
10.37 *
10.38 *
21
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23.1
23.2
31.1
31.2
32
99.1
101Interactive Data Files Pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T: (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019; (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018; (iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (loss) for the years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018; (iv) Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018; (v) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended January 2, 2021, December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018; (vi) Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
104Cover Page Interactive Data File (formated as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).
The Exhibits are available upon request from the Company.
*Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

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SIGNATURES
 
 Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. 
   
 DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
    
  By:/s/  Randall C. Stuewe
   Randall C. Stuewe
   Chairman of the Board and
   Chief Executive Officer
    
  Date:March 2, 2021
 
 Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature Title Date
     
/s/  Randall C. Stuewe Chairman of the Board and March 2, 2021
Randall C. Stuewe Chief Executive Officer  
  (Principal Executive Officer)  
     
/s/  Brad Phillips Chief Financial Officer March 2, 2021
Brad Phillips (Principal Financial Officer)  
/s/  Brenda Snell Chief Accounting Officer March 2, 2021
Brenda Snell(Principal Accounting Officer)
/s/  Beth Albright Director March 2, 2021
Beth Albright    
/s/  Charles Adair Director March 2, 2021
Charles Adair    
/s/  Linda Goodspeed Director March 2, 2021
Linda Goodspeed    
/s/ Dirk KloosterboerDirectorMarch 2, 2021
Dirk Kloosterboer
     
/s/  Mary R. KorbyDirectorMarch 2, 2021
Mary R. Korby    
/s/  Gary W. Mize Director March 2, 2021
Gary W. Mize    
/s/ Michael E. Rescoe Director March 2, 2021
Michael E. Rescoe    
/s/ Nicole M. RingenbergDirectorMarch 2, 2021
Nicole M. Ringenberg
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