-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, Ip2tGVZVSbpivOY0hLL1mWXsMKc4Wrv11Dimyq87M+E40oX68otPTu3QcdT1EGRY OJoqH5hG6CTkoYj4UJO/QQ== 0001047469-04-025531.txt : 20040806 0001047469-04-025531.hdr.sgml : 20040806 20040805183328 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001047469-04-025531 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: S-4/A PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 8 FILED AS OF DATE: 20040806 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: GOLDEN OVAL EGGS LLC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001271285 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: FOOD & KINDRED PRODUCTS [2000] FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: S-4/A SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-112533 FILM NUMBER: 04955869 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 340 DUPONT AVE NE STREET 2: PO BOX 615 CITY: RENVILLE STATE: MN ZIP: 56284 S-4/A 1 a2128268zs-4a.htm S-4/A
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AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON AUGUST 5, 2004

REGISTRATION NO. 333-112533



SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


Pre-Effective
Amendment No. 5
to
FORM S-4
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


GOLDEN OVAL EGGS, LLC
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  2000
(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
  20-0422519
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

340 Dupont Avenue NE
Renville, Minnesota 56284
(320) 329-8182

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)

 

 



 

 

Golden Oval Eggs, LLC
340 Dupont Avenue NE
Renville, Minnesota 56284
(320) 329-8182

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)

 

 



 

 


COPIES TO:
Mark J. Hanson, Esq.
Ronald D. McFall, Esq.

Lindquist & Vennum P.L.L.P.
4200 IDS Center
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402

 

 

 

 

 

        Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale of the securities to the public: As soon as practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective and all other conditions to the conversion pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger described herein have been satisfied or waived.

        If the securities being registered on this Form are being offered in connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with General Instruction G, check the following box.    o

        If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.    o

        If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.    o


        THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a), MAY DETERMINE.




The information in this Disclosure Statement-Prospectus is not complete and may be changed. The securities to be issued in the conversion may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This Disclosure Statement-Prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities, and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities, in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION. DATED AUGUST 5, 2004.

GRAPHIC

PROPOSED CONVERSION
of Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc., a Minnesota cooperative
(d.b.a. "Golden Oval Eggs")
to a Delaware limited liability company

Dear Member:

        Over the past several years, and particularly in recent months, the Board of Directors of Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc., a Minnesota cooperative (d.b.a. "Golden Oval Eggs") and its management have carefully analyzed Golden Oval's business and structure. As a result of that analysis, it became apparent that significant structural changes were appropriate. After carefully exploring alternatives, the Board of Directors has determined that it is in the best interests of the cooperative and its members to convert from a Minnesota cooperative to a Delaware limited liability company by merging the cooperative into a newly-formed Delaware limited liability company. We believe that the proposed conversion may create opportunities to enhance the value and improve the liquidity of members' equity interests.

        We cannot consummate the merger to effect the conversion without our members' approval. As described in the attached notice of special meeting, we will be holding a special meeting of members at [       ].m. on [                        ], 2004 at [                                    ], Minnesota for the purpose of approving the conversion. To vote, please complete and return the enclosed ballot in the envelope provided. Although we encourage you to vote by mail, you are invited to attend the special meeting and submit your ballot at that time. Your vote is very important. Our Board of Directors has approved the conversion and unanimously recommends that you vote "FOR" approval of the conversion. The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast, in person or by mail, at the special meeting is required to approve the conversion.

        In the conversion, each member would obtain limited liability company "units" issued by the newly-formed Delaware limited liability company, or "LLC". Specifically, the combination of each share of common stock of Golden Oval and a proportionate amount of the patronage equities to be issued by the cooperative would be converted into a Class A unit in the LLC. This will result in an initial offering of the LLC's Class A units, with each member receiving one Class A unit for each share currently held. No public market currently exists for these securities. As part of the conversion, Golden Oval intends to terminate the corn delivery program that has been in place since the cooperative's inception. To that end, each member is also being asked as a separate matter to voluntarily agree to terminate his or her uniform marketing agreement with the cooperative. In anticipation of the completion of the conversion, the cooperative, pursuant to its rights under the uniform marketing agreements, has suspended all delivery requirements under the uniform marketing agreements beginning May 2004. If the conversion is not approved by the cooperative's members, the cooperative will plan to resume the corn delivery program in September 2004. Following the conversion, the LLC will also take steps to terminate any remaining uniform marketing agreements.

        Attached is a Disclosure Statement of the cooperative and Prospectus of the LLC which provides detailed information about the proposed conversion and the new LLC. We encourage you to carefully review the entire Disclosure Statement—Prospectus. Neither the cooperative nor the LLC has authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different from the information contained in the Disclosure Statement—Prospectus. Information on our web site is not part of the Disclosure Statement—Prospectus. Please see "Risk Factors" beginning on page 12 to read about important factors you should consider before voting, including the following:

    tax effects of the conversion itself and LLC operations post-conversion;

    LLC units will be subject to significant transfer restrictions and not tradeable on any established market;

    members of the LLC will vote in proportion to units held, which could allow one or more members to exercise control over significant company matters; and

    termination of the corn delivery program.

        We look forward to seeing many of you at the special meeting. Regardless of the proposed conversion, you should know that our mission remains the same: "To provide our farmer producers, who are owners of the company, a competitive return on their investment."

Marvin Breitkreutz Dana Persson
Chairman President and Chief Executive Officer

        NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THE SECURITIES TO BE ISSUED IN THE MERGER OR DETERMINED IF THIS DISCLOSURE STATEMENT—PROSPECTUS IS ACCURATE OR ADEQUATE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

        The Disclosure Statement—Prospectus is dated [                        ], 2004, and is first being mailed to members on or about [                        ], 2004.


MIDWEST INVESTORS OF RENVILLE, INC.
(D.B.A. "GOLDEN OVAL EGGS")


340 DUPONT AVENUE NE
RENVILLE, MINNESOTA 56284


NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF MEMBERS
TO BE HELD ON [                        ], 2004


To the Members:

        This is a notice of a special meeting of members of Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc., a Minnesota cooperative (d.b.a. "Golden Oval Eggs"), to be held on [                        ], 2004 at [        ].m., local time, at [                        ], [            ], Minnesota, for the following purposes:

        To vote upon a proposal to approve and ratify an Agreement and Plan of Merger by and between Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc., a Minnesota cooperative, and Golden Oval Eggs, LLC, a newly-formed Delaware limited liability company (the "LLC"), pursuant to which the cooperative will be merged with and into the LLC, with the LLC as the surviving entity. The shareholders of the cooperative will become the unitholders of the LLC and receive one Class A unit of the LLC for the combination of each share of the cooperative's common stock they hold as of the effective date of the merger and the patronage associated with the delivery of corn in connection with ownership of that share prior to the merger. If the proposal is approved, the merger is expected to take effect August 31, 2004.

        The close of business on [                        ], 2004 has been fixed as the record date for determining those members of the cooperative entitled to vote at the special meeting and any adjournments or postponements of the meeting.

        As part of the conversion, the cooperative also intends to terminate the corn delivery program that has been in place since the cooperative's inception. To that end, each member is also being asked as a separate matter to voluntarily agree to terminate his or her uniform marketing agreement with the cooperative, with the termination to become effective when and if conversion is completed. Following the conversion, the LLC will also take steps to formally terminate any remaining uniform marketing agreements.

        To vote, please complete and return the enclosed ballot to the cooperative in the envelope provided. If you vote by mail, your ballot will not be counted unless it is received by the cooperative by [                ].m. local (Minnesota) time on [                        ], 2004, or prior to any applicable adjournment or postponement of the meeting. Although you are encouraged to vote by mail, you may vote in person by attending the special meeting (and any adjournments or postponements of the meeting) and submitting your vote on the enclosed ballot at that time. You may vote on the proposed conversion by using the enclosed ballot whether you vote by mail or in person.

  By Order of the Board of Directors

 

Marvin Breitkreutz
Chairman

[                        ], 2004
Renville, Minnesota

        The Board of Directors of the cooperative unanimously recommends that members vote for approval of the merger which will effect the proposed conversion. As of the [                        ], 2004 record date for the determination of members of the cooperative eligible to vote, there were 698 voting members. Directors, their related parties and the chief executive officer of the cooperative comprise nine of those members, representing approximately 1.3% of the total number of members and votes entitled to be cast. All of these persons have indicated that, as members, they will vote in favor of the conversion. The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast, in person or by mail, at the special meeting is required to approve the conversion.



DISCLOSURE STATEMENT—PROSPECTUS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
  Page
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE CONVERSION   1

SUMMARY

 

8

SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

11

RISK FACTORS

 

12

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

 

15

COMPARISON OF RIGHTS OF MEMBERS

 

16

THE SPECIAL MEETING

 

22
  Date, Time, Place and Purpose   22
  Matters To Be Considered   22
  How You Can Vote   22
  Quorum; Who Can Vote; Vote Required   22

THE CONVERSION

 

23
  General   23
  Conversion of Common Stock   23
  Termination of Uniform Marketing Agreements   23
  Background of and Reasons for the Conversion   23
  Recommendation of the Cooperative's Board of Directors   26
  Regulatory Approval   27
  Absence of Dissenters' Rights   27
  Employee Benefit Plans   27
  Federal Securities Law Consequences   27
  Valuation Opinion   27
  Tax Treatment   35
  Accounting Treatment   35
  Effect Upon Loans Secured By Common Stock   35

THE MERGER AGREEMENT

 

36
  Conditions to Consummation of the Merger   36
  Termination   36
  Amendment   36
  Timing   37
  Indemnification and Insurance   37

INTERESTS OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN THE CONVERSION

 

38
  Indemnification   38
  Treatment of Member Equity   38
  Board Representation and Management   38

PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE LLC

 

39

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA OF THE COOPERATIVE

 

41
     

i



MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

42
  Overview   42
  Results Of Operations   44
  Liquidity and Capital Resources   46
  Critical Accounting Estimates   47
  Recent Accounting Pronouncements   48
  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk   49
  Contractual Obligations   50

BUSINESS

 

51
  Overview   51
  Facilities and Production   51
  Sales, Marketing and Customers   53
  Egg Industry and Markets   54
  Competition   55
  Corn Procurement   56
  Governmental Regulation   56
  Environmental Matters   57
  Intellectual Property Rights   58
  Research and Development   58
  Employees   58
  Legal Proceedings   58

MANAGEMENT

 

59
  Directors of the Cooperative and Managers of the LLC   59
  Board Advisor   60
  Committees of the Board of Managers of the LLC   60
  Compensation of Managers   61
  Executive Officers   61
  Executive Compensation   62
  Employment Agreements   63

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

 

64
  Patronage Payments   64
  Coop Country Farmers Elevator   64
  United Mills   64
  Midwest Investors of Iowa, Cooperative   64

PRINCIPAL EQUITYHOLDERS

 

65

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS IN THE LLC

 

66
  Capitalization   66
  Class A Units   66
  Potential Future Classes of Units   66
  Qualifications for Membership   66
  Voting Rights   67
  Meeting of Members   67
  Distributions   67
  Capital Contributions and Initial Capital Accounts   67
  Allocation of Profits and Losses   68
  Termination of Membership   68
  Restrictions on Transfer of Units   69
  Distribution of Assets Upon Liquidation   69
  Amendments to Limited Liability Company Agreement   70
     

ii



FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

 

71
  Legal Opinions and Advice   71
  Characterization of the Conversion for Federal Income Tax Purposes   72
  Tax Consequences of the Conversion to the Cooperative   72
  Tax Consequences of the Conversion to the Members   75
  Tax Status of the LLC   79
  Publicly Traded Partnership Rules   80
  Treatment of the LLC's Operations   83
  Tax Consequences of the LLC's Operations to the Members   83
  Tax Consequences of Disposition of Units   85
  Other Tax Matters   87

LEGAL MATTERS

 

89

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

89

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE COOPERATIVE

 

F-1

APPENDICES

 

 

APPENDIX A—AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 

 

APPENDIX B—CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION OF GOLDEN OVAL EGGS, LLC

 

 

APPENDIX C—AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT OF GOLDEN OVAL EGGS, LLC

 

 

APPENDIX D—VALUATION OPINION

 

 

iii



QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE CONVERSION

        Below are answers to questions that we anticipate will be frequently asked by members of Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc., a Minnesota cooperative (d.b.a. "Golden Oval Eggs"), in connection with making their decision on whether to approve the conversion to a Delaware limited liability company. We encourage you to read this entire document to obtain a more complete answer to these questions.

Q1:   What is the transaction being proposed and what will I receive?

A:

 

The cooperative is proposing to convert from a Minnesota cooperative to a Delaware limited liability company by merging the cooperative into a newly-formed Delaware limited liability company. The LLC will be the surviving entity and the cooperative will cease to exist. As a result of the merger, you will receive one Class A unit issued by the newly-formed Delaware limited liability company, or "LLC," for the combination of each share of common stock of the cooperative you hold and the patronage equities associated with that share. Each Class A unit of the LLC represents a pro rata ownership interest in the assets, profits, losses and distributions of the LLC. There will be no corn delivery rights or obligations associated with the Class A units received.

Q2:

 

Why is the cooperative proposing to convert to a limited liability company?

A:

 

The Board of Directors of the cooperative believes that the proposed conversion may create opportunities to enhance the value and improve the liquidity of members' equity interests. Over the past several years, and particularly in recent months, the Board of Directors and its management have carefully analyzed the cooperative's business and structure. As a result of that analysis, it has become apparent that significant structural changes were appropriate. After carefully exploring alternatives, the Board of Directors has determined that it is in the best interests of the cooperative and its members to effect the proposed conversion. Given the competitive nature of the egg industry, the Board of Directors and management believe that the business will require significant additional capital resources to allow the business to keep pace with the growth, consolidation and cost structure within the industry. We expect that conversion to a limited liability company will afford the business greater access to capital and may increase business combination opportunities. We also believe that the conversion from a cooperative to a limited liability company could improve the liquidity of your investment. See "Reasons for the Conversion."

Q3:

 

Why is the new limited liability company formed under Delaware law, instead of Minnesota or Iowa law?

A:

 

The cooperative has been advised by its legal counsel that many corporations and limited liability companies are formed under Delaware law due to the "business-friendly" nature of the statutes in that state. Given the number of entities that are formed in Delaware, many sophisticated investors are familiar with the Delaware statutes. Based on discussions with the cooperative's advisors, we believe that it may be easier to attract additional capital investment if the LLC is formed under Delaware law rather than under the law of another state.

Q4:

 

How might the conversion enhance the ability of the business to raise capital?

A:

 

The cooperative is generally limited to obtaining equity capital for use in its business from current members or other agricultural producers who agree to deliver corn to the cooperative. In recent years, several attempts have been made to raise capital from the cooperative's current shareholders with limited success. If the conversion is completed, the LLC will be able to offer its units for sale to any potential investor. As a result, we believe that there will be a broader range of potential investors who can be approached for capital investment into the business.
     

1



 

 

As a value-added cooperative, the cooperative has two primary methods of obtaining equity capital for use in its business. First, the cooperative can issue shares of its common stock. However, those shares can only be offered to, and held by, agricultural producers who are willing to enter into a uniform marketing agreement to deliver corn to the cooperative each year. Those shares cannot be sold to investors who fall outside classification as an agricultural producer. Second, the cooperative's Bylaws provide that all member patrons will, through their patronage, furnish capital to the cooperative. Such patronage may be furnished by per-unit retains or through the distribution of less than 100% of the cooperative's patronage. To date, the cooperative has distributed a significant portion of its annual patronage-based earnings to its members in cash. If the conversion is not completed, the cooperative may need to modify its practices in regard to per-unit retains and cash distributions to meet capital requirements.

Q5:

 

How might my liquidity be improved by the conversion?

A:

 

We believe that the conversion from a cooperative to a limited liability company could improve the liquidity of your investment because the limited liability company form, unlike the cooperative form, permits a broader range of potential investors. The cooperative form currently requires the business to limit its membership to producers of agricultural products and associations of agricultural producers, while the LLC may have both producers and non-producers as members. However, we do not expect that there will be a significant improvement in liquidity immediately following the conversion to a limited liability company, and the conversion to a limited liability company may never improve your liquidity. Under the Limited Liability Company Agreement of the LLC, your Class A units will still be subject to various restrictions on transfer, including the need to obtain the consent of the Board of Managers.

Q6:

 

What will happen to the corn delivery program following the conversion?

A:

 

As part of the conversion, we also intend to terminate the corn delivery program that has been in place since the cooperative's inception. The cooperative's Board of Directors and management have examined the impact of the corn delivery system, including the uniform marketing agreement, on the cooperative and its members during the period since the cooperative's inception. The cooperative's Board of Directors and management have come to the belief that the current corn delivery arrangement subjects the cooperative's members to certain risk, including the risk of being required to deliver corn at a price below the then-current market price of the corn. This pricing risk arises because, while the cooperative has historically paid average market prices as posted at local elevators for all corn purchased from its members, the uniform marketing agreements currently in place in fact give the Board of Directors the discretion to pay less than market price for corn delivered by the members. For example, if cash flows are not adequate to cover all operating costs, the corn price paid to members could be reduced. As the cooperative's Board of Directors and management believe that the elimination of the corn delivery program will not have a material adverse impact on the cooperative's business, the ability to reduce the members' risks under the corn delivery program is attractive.
     

2



 

 

In anticipation of the completion of the conversion, the cooperative, pursuant to its rights under the uniform marketing agreements, has suspended all delivery requirements under the uniform marketing agreements beginning May 2004. Each member is being asked as a separate matter to voluntarily agree to terminate his or her uniform marketing agreement with the cooperative, with such termination to become effective if and when the conversion becomes effective. Those members who do not agree to terminate their uniform marketing agreements, will have their agreements survive the conversion although all corn deliveries under those agreements will continue to be suspended. The LLC will proceed to formally terminate those remaining agreements as soon as practicable, pursuant to the termination provisions contained in each of the uniform marketing agreements. If the conversion is not approved by the cooperative's members, none of the uniform marketing agreements will terminate and the cooperative will plan to resume the corn delivery program in September 2004.

Q7:

 

Will I continue to get distributions?

A:

 

All distributions will be at the discretion of the Board of Managers. Subject to that discretion, the LLC expects to make cash distributions sufficient to discharge your anticipated combined federal, state and local income tax liabilities arising from allocations to you of taxable income by the LLC. As discussed below, the ability of the LLC to make distributions may be restricted by applicable legal or contractual restrictions, or a cash shortfall. The Board of Managers of the LLC may also declare further distributions from time to time. In either case, you will be entitled to share in these distributions in proportion to the number of Class A units held.

Q8:

 

What factors will likely affect the amount of distributions the LLC may make?

A:

 

The LLC might limit the amount of distributions it makes for various reasons. For example, the cooperative is party to a number of loan agreements at the current time and the LLC will become subject to those agreements following the conversion and may become subject to additional or different loan agreements in the future. Both the current agreements and any future loan agreements can be expected to contain provisions restricting the ability of the business to distribute earnings and profits to its owners unless certain financial criteria are satisfied. Consequently, the business may have contractual restrictions on its ability to make distributions to its owners.

 

 

In addition, the Board of Managers may determine that the LLC simply does not have sufficient cash to make distributions at a given time. One of the primary ways to grow a business is by reinvesting the earnings of the enterprise, rather than distributing any cash generated by the business. Retained earnings may be used to fund debt repayments, strategic acquisitions, market expansions, working capital requirements, equipment acquisitions, cost-saving measures and efficiencies. The reinvestment of earnings in the business is not unique to the LLC. If the conversion is not consummated, the cooperative may still reinvest a significant portion of its earnings for the same business reasons that would apply to the LLC. The cooperative currently is required to allocate patronage earnings, but is not obligated to distribute all of the allocations in cash. The cooperative is not obligated to distribute non-patronage earnings. Patronage distributions or dividends from non-patronage sources are made based on the business judgment of the Board of Directors and what is believed to be in the best interests of the cooperative and all of its members.
     

3



Q9:

 

How will the cooperative and I be taxed on the conversion?

A:

 

The merger of the cooperative into the LLC will be a taxable event for both the cooperative and its members. The cooperative expects a gain on the conversion of approximately $15.0 million. This is the amount by which the expected value of the cooperative's assets exceeds their tax basis. The expected asset value is based, in part, on a valuation opinion received by the Board of Directors, and is subject to adjustment based on an update of the opinion to be obtained by the cooperative prior to completing the conversion. See "Federal Income Tax Considerations—Tax Consequences of the Conversion to the Cooperative" for a detailed discussion of the cooperative's expected gain. The cooperative currently estimates its taxable income from operations through August 31, 2004 to be approximately $18.5 million. Together with the gain, this will result in approximately $33.5 million of taxable income before special deductions. Approximately $10.4 million of that expected income and gain would be offset by net operating loss carryovers and a deduction arising from issuing Class A units in the merger to holders of certain shares that were issued in 2000 to satisfy outstanding qualified per unit retains (about 7% of the outstanding shares).

 

 

This will result in approximately $23.1 million of taxable income before patronage dividends. This amount and the extent to which it is allocated as patronage dividends will bear on the taxation of both you and the cooperative. If these estimates are accurate, the Board of Directors presently intends to allocate $17.5 million to the patrons as a patronage dividend, of which $10.2 million would be paid in cash and $7.3 million would be issued in the form of qualified written notices of allocation. This means that the cooperative would pay the tax on its current income above the amount allocated as a patronage dividend and that you would pay the tax on your share of the patronage dividend at ordinary income rates with self-employment tax if applicable. Because you and the other shareholders would be taxed on the patronage dividend allocation of $17.5 million, you and the other shareholders would not have gain or loss on the Class A units that would be issued in exchange for the written notices of allocation. See "Federal Income Tax Considerations—Tax Consequences of the Conversion to the Cooperative" for a detailed description of qualified written notices of allocation and their tax consequences.

 

 

If you hold any of the shares that were issued in 2000 in exchange for qualified per unit retains, you will be taxed at ordinary income rates, subject to self-employment tax if applicable, on the value of the Class A units that you receive for those shares (estimated at $2.70 per share).

 

 

The taxable gain or loss that you will recognize on your other shares will depend on whether the value of your Class A units received in the conversion is greater or less than the aggregate tax basis in your common stock of the cooperative. If you purchased your shares in any of the cooperative's stock offerings, you are expected to have a capital loss on this portion of the conversion that will vary depending on your original purchase price.

 

 

All of this is subject to conversion date adjustments and the possibility of future challenges by the Internal Revenue Service. To review tax consequences in more detail, please see "Federal Income Tax Considerations." The actual tax consequences to you of the conversion will depend on your own tax situation. You are encouraged to consult your own tax advisor to determine those consequences.
     

4



Q10:

 

Will the conversion have an impact on my self-employment tax obligations?

A:

 

As part of the conversion, we intend to eliminate the corn delivery program governed by the cooperative's uniform marketing agreement with each of its members. Following that change, any allocations of tax attributes or distributions of cash from the LLC to its members will be received in the member's new role as a passive investor. Given that role, we believe that taxable income allocated by the LLC to the members will not be subject to self-employment taxes, unless the member also is employed by the LLC. That result contrasts with the tax treatment of patronage dividends issued to cooperative members, which typically is subject to self-employment tax in the case of individuals. Amounts paid for corn to LLC members who are individuals and who continue to sell corn to the LLC will continue to be includable in their calculation of net earnings from self-employment.

Q11:

 

What are some of the other tax consequences to me of holding Class A units in the LLC post-conversion?

A:

 

Because we expect the LLC to be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, the LLC will pay no federal income tax on its taxable income and will instead pass its taxable income or loss on to its members in proportion to their relative ownership interests. When the LLC allocates income or loss to you, you will be taxed on that income or, subject to substantial restrictions, you may deduct that loss. This tax will be imposed regardless of whether we actually distribute cash or property to you. As is the case with respect to the common stock you now hold in the cooperative, the actual tax consequences to you of holding Class A units will depend on your own tax situation. You are encouraged to consult your own tax advisor to determine those consequences.

Q12:

 

Will the fiscal or tax years of the LLC differ from those of the cooperative?

 

 

The LLC will continue to use August 31 of each year as its fiscal year end for purposes of reporting the financial results of the business under generally accepted accounting principles. However, as an entity subject to partnership taxation, the tax year of the LLC will be the tax year of the majority of the members of the LLC. As the vast majority of the LLC members are expected to be calendar year taxpayers, the LLC's tax year will end on December 31 of each year.

Q13:

 

How will voting rights change as a result of the conversion?
A:   Rather than voting on the basis of one-member, one-vote, members of the LLC will have one vote for each Class A unit that they hold. In addition, following the conversion, the Board of Managers of the LLC will have the discretion to authorize the use of mail ballots or proxies for votes at any member meeting. If mail ballots or proxies are so authorized, a quorum necessary for the LLC members to conduct business at the meeting will be present if at least 20% of the total voting power of all units outstanding is present at the meeting. Otherwise, the quorum necessary to conduct business will be 10% of total voting power.
Q14:   How will the conversion to a limited liability company affect the composition of the Board of Directors?
A:   Initially, the Board of Managers of the LLC will consist of the same seven individuals who are currently on the Board of Directors of the cooperative. However, going forward, the members of the LLC will elect the Board of Managers on an at-large basis.
     

5



Q15:

 

What interests do management and others have in the conversion?

A:

 

Members of the Board of Directors and their related parties and the chief executive officer of the cooperative will have their shares of common stock and patronage equities converted to Class A units on the same 1-for-1 basis as all of the other members of the cooperative. The individuals serving on the Board of Directors and management are expected to continue to serve in substantially the same capacities for the LLC following the conversion. These persons will also receive certain indemnification rights. See "Interests of Certain Persons in the Conversion."

Q16:

 

What vote is required to approve the conversion?

A:

 

A quorum of members must exist at the special meeting to approve the conversion. If at least 50 members are present or are represented by mail ballot at the special meeting, a quorum will exist. The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast, in person or by mail, at the special meeting is required to approve the conversion.

Q17:

 

Have any of the directors or management of the cooperative indicated whether they will vote for or against the conversion?

A:

 

All seven directors of the cooperative voted in favor of recommending the conversion and submitting it to a vote by the members. As of the [            ], 2004 record date for the determination of members of the cooperative eligible to vote, there were 698 voting members. Directors and their related parties and the chief executive officer of the cooperative comprise nine of those members, representing approximately 1.3% of the total number of members and votes entitled to be cast. All of these persons have indicated that, as members, they will vote in favor of the conversion.

Q18:

 

Assuming the cooperative's members approve the conversion, what else needs to happen in order to allow the conversion to take place?

A:

 

The Merger Agreement contains a number of conditions to each party's obligation to complete the merger, in addition to the need for a favorable vote on the merger by the cooperative's members. In particular, the cooperative's senior lenders will need to give their consent. Representatives of the cooperative's two largest lenders have already indicated orally that, subject to final review by the lenders at the time of the proposed conversion, they intend to consent to the conversion and amend applicable loan documents as appropriate. See "The Merger Agreement—Conditions to Consummation of the Merger" for further details regarding the merger conditions.

Q19:

 

How do I vote?

A:

 

To vote, please complete and return the enclosed ballot to the cooperative, in the envelope provided. If you vote by mail, your ballot will not be counted unless it is received by the cooperative by [           ].m. local (Minnesota) time on [                        ], 2004, or prior to any applicable adjournment or postponement of the meeting. Although you are encouraged to vote by mail, you may vote in person by attending the special meeting (and any adjournments or postponements of the meeting) and submitting your vote to the cooperative on the enclosed ballot at that time. You may vote on the proposed conversion by using the enclosed ballot whether you vote by mail or in person.

Q20:

 

Should I send in my stock certificates?

A:

 

No. You do not need to surrender the certificates representing your shares of common stock of the cooperative or exchange them for new certificates representing Class A units in the LLC. The LLC units will originally be issued to you in book-entry (i.e., uncertificated) form.
Please do not send in your stock certificates with your ballot.
     

6



Q21:

 

Whom should I contact with any further questions?
A:   Marie Staley   Phone: (320) 329-8182
    Vice President of Shareholder Relations   Fax: (320) 329-3246
    Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc.   E-mail: mstaley@goldenovaleggs.net
    340 Dupont Avenue NE    
    P.O. Box 615    
    Renville, MN 56284    

7



SUMMARY

        The following summary highlights selected information from this document and, in conjunction with the preceding "Questions and Answers About the Conversion", is intended to provide an overview of the proposed conversion. To understand the transaction fully and for a more complete description of the legal terms of the conversion, we encourage you to read this entire document, including the section entitled "Risk Factors," the appendices and the financial statements and related notes to those statements included in this document.

        Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc. (d.b.a. "Golden Oval Eggs") is a Minnesota member-owned cooperative association incorporated in March 1994 for the purpose of producing and processing egg products. The cooperative is exempt from federal income taxation under Section 521 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, to the extent permitted under the Internal Revenue Code.

        Golden Oval Eggs, LLC is a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of Delaware in November 2003. The LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the cooperative and was formed for the specific purpose of consummating the cooperative's conversion to a limited liability company. The conversion will be effected by merging the cooperative into the LLC. Following the merger, the LLC will operate as the cooperative's successor. As such, its operations will be a continuance of the operations of the cooperative.

        The cooperative's and the LLC's principal offices are located at 340 Dupont Avenue NE, Renville, Minnesota 56284, and their telephone number is (320) 329-8182.

The conversion   The securities being registered by this document are being issued in connection with the conversion of the cooperative to a Delaware limited liability company.

How the conversion will be completed

 

The cooperative has formed the LLC as a wholly-owned subsidiary.
    The Board of Directors of the cooperative has already approved the merger on behalf of the cooperative as the sole member of the LLC. The following diagram shows the structure of the two entities relative to one another.
    GRAPHIC
         

8


    To effect the conversion, the cooperative will be merged into the LLC. The LLC will be the surviving entity and the cooperative will cease to exist.
    GRAPHIC
    We have attached the agreement which describes the legal terms of the conversion as Appendix A to this document. We encourage you to read the agreement and the discussion of the conversion and the agreement under "The Conversion" and "The Merger Agreement" in this document.
Who can vote   You can vote if you were a voting member of the cooperative as of the close of business on [                        ], 2004. Each voting member will have one vote, regardless of the number of shares of common stock owned.
Accounting treatment   For financial statement purposes, the conversion will be accounted for as a merger between entities under common control. Accordingly, the LLC will record the value of the assets and the liabilities transferred at their carrying amounts on the records of the cooperative, and will recognize no goodwill or intangible asset in connection with the transaction.
Regulatory approval   Other than as necessary to comply with federal and state securities laws, no federal or state regulatory requirements must be complied with or approvals must be obtained in connection with the proposed conversion.
No dissenters' rights   Applicable Minnesota cooperative law does not provide a right to dissent from the conversion vote and demand an appraisal of and cash payment for the fair value of your common stock in connection with the conversion.
Valuation   For purposes of evaluating the potential gain or loss for tax reporting to the cooperative and its members arising in the conversion, the Board of Directors requested and considered the valuation opinion of Greene Holcomb & Fisher LLC that, as of January 9, 2004, (a) the fair market value of the equity of the cooperative was estimated to be $30.4 million, and (b) after applying minority and lack of marketability discounts, as appropriate, the fair market value of a Class A unit of the LLC immediately following the merger, assuming the issuance of 4,581,832 Class A units upon consummation of the merger, was estimated to be $4.07 per Class A unit. See "The Conversion—Valuation Opinion."
         

9


Directors and management following the conversion   The present Board of Directors and management team of the cooperative will continue to manage the LLC after the conversion.
Differences in the rights of members   If the conversion is completed, you will become a member of the LLC and hold Class A units in the LLC. Your rights will be governed by Delaware law and by the Certificate of Formation and Limited Liability Company Agreement of the LLC. In many respects, the rights of members of the LLC under these provisions are similar to your current rights as a member of the cooperative. However, there are some significant differences, including:
      The LLC's allocations of taxable income and distributions, if any, to its members will be based on investment (equity) rather than on patronage.
      Members of the LLC will have one vote for each Class A unit held on matters submitted to members for a vote.
      There are no restrictions placed upon the type of investor who may hold units issued by the LLC, or the amount of units any one investor may hold. However, similar to the cooperative, members of the LLC will be required to hold a minimum of 2,000 Class A units and the units in the LLC will be subject to significant transfer restrictions.
      As part of the conversion, we also intend to terminate the corn delivery program that has been in place since the cooperative's inception.
    See "Comparison of Rights of Members" for a comparison of the material differences between the cooperative's membership interests and the LLC's membership interests.
    We have attached the Certificate of Formation and Limited Liability Company Agreement of the LLC as Appendices B and C to this document. We encourage you to read these documents. They are the legal documents that govern the purpose, powers and internal affairs of the LLC.

10



SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION

        Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the cooperative would merge with and into the LLC if the conversion is completed. The following table presents summary historical financial information of the cooperative and unaudited pro forma financial information of the LLC. The historical information presented as of and for the years ended August 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003 is derived from the cooperative's financial statements, which have been audited by Moore Stephens Frost, independent auditors. The historical information presented as of and for the nine months ended May 31, 2004 is unaudited. The unaudited pro forma income statement information is computed as if the conversion from a cooperative to a limited liability company had been consummated on September 1, 2000. The unaudited pro forma balance sheet information is computed as if the transaction had been consummated on May 31, 2004. We encourage you to read the financial information presented below along with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," as well as the financial statements and related notes included at the end of this document.

        For financial statement purposes, the conversion will be accounted for as a merger of entities under common control, and the unaudited pro forma financial information presented below reflects related required preliminary pro forma adjustments. The unaudited pro forma financial information presented below is based on available information and various assumptions which management of the cooperative believes are reasonable. The unaudited pro forma financial information is provided for illustrative purposes only and does not necessarily reflect what the results of operations or financial position of the LLC would have been if the conversion had actually occurred on the dates specified. For the periods presented, no adjustments to the historical data in the income statement information are required. Therefore, the historical and pro forma presentations for the income statement information are identical for all periods presented. See "Pro Forma Financial Information of the LLC" for a more detailed explanation of this analysis.

Summary Historical Financial Information of the Cooperative and
Pro Forma Financial Information of the LLC
(in thousands, except share, per share, unit and per unit data)

 
  Year Ended August 31,
   
   
 
  Nine Months Ended
May 31, 2004

 
  2001
  2002
  2003
 
  Historical
(Cooperative)

  Pro Forma
(LLC)

  Historical
(Cooperative)

  Pro Forma
(LLC)

  Historical
(Cooperative)

  Pro Forma
(LLC)

  Historical
(Cooperative)

  Pro Forma
(LLC)

 
   
  (unaudited)

   
  (unaudited)

   
  (unaudited)

  (unaudited)

  (unaudited)

Income Statement Data:                                                
  Revenues   $ 35,215   $ 35,215   $ 46,169   $ 46,169   $ 53,052   $ 53,052   $ 62,240   $ 62,240
  Cost of goods sold     31,053     31,053     39,450     39,450     43,300     43,300     35,748     35,748
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Gross profit     4,162     4,162     6,719     6,719     9,752     9,752     26,492     26,492
 
Net income

 

$

3

 

$

3

 

$

299

 

$

299

 

$

3,533

 

$

3,533

 

$

19,509

 

$

19,509
 
Weighted average common shares or Class A units outstanding

 

 

4,189,832

 

 

4,189,832

 

 

4,388,517

 

 

4,388,517

 

 

4,581,832

 

 

4,581,832

 

 

4,581,832

 

 

4,581,832
 
Net income per common share or Class A unit

 

$


 

$


 

$

0.07

 

$

0.07

 

$

0.77

 

$

0.77

 

$

4.26

 

$

4.26
 
Distributions per common share or Class A unit

 

$

0.04

 

$

0.04

 

$


 

$


 

$


 

$


 

$

0.40

 

$

0.40

 


 

As of May 31, 2004

 
  Historical
(Cooperative)

  Pro Forma
(LLC)

 
  (unaudited)

  (unaudited)

Balance Sheet Data:            
  Total assets   $ 84,009   $ 83,773
  Long-term debt, less current maturities   $ 32,570   $ 32,570
  Common shares or Class A units outstanding     4,581,832     4,581,832
  Book value per common share or Class A unit   $ 9.54   $ 9.49

11



RISK FACTORS

        You should carefully consider the risks described below before making a decision on whether or not to approve the merger. In addition to the risks described below, the operations of the cooperative and your current investment in that entity are already subject to a number of existing risks not described below. To the extent that the LLC will be the successor of the cooperative and will continue to operate the business of that entity, those existing risks will also generally be equally applicable to the LLC. In addition, unless indicated otherwise, those risks that are described below that apply to the cooperative are equally applicable to the LLC, and vice versa.

Tax Risks

The merger of the cooperative with and into the LLC will be a taxable event for both the cooperative and its members

        The merger of the cooperative into the LLC will be a taxable event for both the cooperative and its members. The tax consequence to the cooperative depends on the value of its assets and apportionment of the value among specific assets, both of which involve risks described in the following risk factors. The cooperative expects to have taxable gain after deducting its net operating loss carryover. In addition, current year operating earnings will be taxed to the cooperative or to the members, depending on the amount of deductible patronage dividends declared by the Board of Directors.

        The members will recognize gain, loss or ordinary income on the conversion depending on when and how their shares in the cooperative were acquired. The amount will depend on the value of the cooperative's assets, net of liabilities, and customary discounts allowed, both of which involve valuation risks described in the following risk factor, as well your patronage dividends for the current year. If you acquired any of the shares that were issued in 2000 in exchange for qualified per unit retains, you will be required to report as ordinary income, subject to self-employment tax if applicable, the entire value of the Class A units that you receive for those shares. The taxable gain or loss that you will recognize on your other shares will depend on whether the value of your Class A units received in the conversion for those shares is greater or less than the tax basis in your common stock of the cooperative. If you purchased your shares in any of the cooperative's stock offerings, you are expected to have a capital loss on this portion of the conversion. However, these tax implications are subject to conversion date adjustments and the possibility of future challenges by the Internal Revenue Service. To review tax consequences in more detail, please see "Federal Income Tax Considerations."

The Board of Directors of the cooperative is relying on a valuation that is not binding on the Internal Revenue Service

        In evaluating the tax consequences of the conversion, the Board of Directors of the cooperative has relied, in part, on the January 9, 2003 valuation prepared by Greene Holcomb & Fisher LLC. In order to account for changes between the valuation date and the conversion date, Greene Holcomb & Fisher is to provide the Board of Directors with an update of the valuation opinion prior to completion of the conversion. The updated valuation will not be binding on the Internal Revenue Service. Accordingly, the Internal Revenue Service may challenge the valuation as not being an accurate determination of the equity value of the cooperative, and determine that the cooperative or its members must recognize additional taxable income or gain for federal income tax purposes.

The Internal Revenue Service could also challenge other aspects of the conversion transaction that could materially adversely affect the cooperative

        In addition to challenging the overall valuation of the cooperative and the LLC units received in the conversion, the Internal Revenue Service might also challenge other aspects of the transaction. The

12



cooperative and its members could be subjected to additional tax liability if the Internal Revenue Service challenges:

    The apportionment of values to specific assets and the treatment of the resulting gains or losses as capital gain or loss or ordinary income or loss; or

    Treatment of the merger as a constructive distribution of specific assets rather than as a distribution of interests in the LLC.

        There are anti-netting rules that may become operative if these challenges are mounted by the IRS. Specifically, corporate capital losses cannot be offset against any income other than capital gains and, likewise, patronage losses, cannot be offset against nonpatronage income or gain. Please see "Federal Income Tax Considerations—Tax Consequences of the Conversion to the Cooperative—Potential Challenges by the Internal Revenue Service."

The Internal Revenue Service could also challenge post-conversion tax reporting positions to be taken by the LLC that could materially adversely affect the LLC Unitholders

        We expect and intend that the LLC will be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. This means that the LLC will pay no federal or state income tax and members will pay tax on their share of the LLC's net income. However, the LLC would become taxable as a corporation if it elects corporate tax status or if it is treated as a publicly traded partnership because of the manner in which Units are transferred.

        The LLC's taxable income each year will depend in part on the depreciation, amortization and other cost recovery of the tax basis of its assets. The LLC's initial aggregate basis will be based on the fair market value of assets deemed received by the members in the conversion. However, the method of apportioning basis to specific LLC assets is uncertain, and the IRS could challenge the apportionment of basis to specific assets so as to increase the allocation to longer lived assets or assets that cannot be depreciated or amortized such as land and investments. This generally would defer the timing of some of the LLC's depreciation, amortization and other cost recovery deductions, including the expected first year writedown of the basis of the LLC's inventory. See "Federal Income Tax Considerations—Summary of Tax Treatment of Members" and "Federal Income Tax Considerations—The LLC's Basis in Assets."

Your tax liability from your share of the LLC's taxable income may exceed any cash distributions you receive, which means that you may have to satisfy this tax liability using your personal funds

        As described above, the LLC does not expect to pay any federal tax, and all of its profits and losses will "pass through" to its unit holders. You must pay tax on your allocated share of the LLC's taxable income every year. You may not receive cash distributions from the LLC sufficient to satisfy these tax liabilities. This may occur because of various factors, including accounting methodology, lending covenants that restrict the LLC's ability to pay cash distributions, or if the LLC decides to retain cash generated by the business to fund its activities or other obligations. Accordingly, you may be required to satisfy these tax liabilities out of your personal funds.

You may not be able to fully deduct your share of the LLC's losses or your interest expense

        It is likely that a member's interest in the LLC will be treated as a "passive activity" for most unit holders. In the case of unit holders who are individuals or personal services corporations, this means that a unit holder's share of any loss incurred by the LLC will be deductible only against the holder's income or gains from other passive activities, e.g., S corporations and partnerships that conduct a business in which the holder is not a material participant. Some closely held C corporations have more favorable passive loss limitations. Passive activity losses that are disallowed in any taxable year are

13



suspended and may be carried forward and used as an offset against passive activity income in future years. Upon disposition of a taxpayer's entire interest in a passive activity to an unrelated person in a taxable transaction, suspended losses with respect to that activity may then be deducted.

        Many members have borrowed to purchase their equity interest in the cooperative and have been deducting the interest expense. After the conversion, part or all of their interest expense may not be deductible in the same manner because it must be aggregated with other items of income and loss that the member has independently experienced from passive activities and subjected to the passive activity loss limitation.

Any audit of the LLC's tax returns resulting in adjustments could cause the Internal Revenue Service to audit your tax returns, which could result in additional tax liability to you.

        The Internal Revenue Service may audit the LLC's tax returns and may disagree with the positions taken on those returns. The rules regarding partnership taxation are complex. If challenged by the Internal Revenue Service, the courts may not sustain the position taken on the LLC's tax returns. An audit of the LLC's tax returns could lead to separate audits of your tax returns, especially if adjustments are required. This could result in adjustments on your tax returns and in additional tax liabilities, penalties and interest to you.

Other Risks Relating to the Conversion

The units to be issued by the LLC have no public market and no public market is expected to develop

        There is no established public trading market for the Class A units in the LLC, and we do not expect one to develop in the foreseeable future. To maintain its partnership tax status, the LLC does not intend to list the units on any stock exchange or automatic quotation system such as the Nasdaq Stock Market. As a result, you may have to hold your units for an indefinite period of time because you may not be able to readily resell your units.

The units to be issued by the LLC are subject to significant restrictions on transfer

        The ability to transfer Class A units in the LLC is restricted by the Limited Liability Company Agreement. You will be required to obtain the prior consent of the Board of Managers of the LLC before you make any transfers of your units. Transferability of units is restricted in part to ensure that the LLC is not deemed a "publicly traded partnership" and thus taxed as a corporation. See "Federal Income Tax Consequences—Publicly Traded Partnership Rules." As a result, you may have to hold your units for an indefinite period of time because you may not be able to readily resell your units.

The voting structure of the LLC could allow one or more members to exercise control over significant company matters

        One or more members could purchase a majority or other controlling interest in the LLC. Because members of the LLC are entitled to one vote for every Class A unit held, such member or members could exercise control over all matters requiring member approval, including election of managers and approval of significant business transactions, which may have adverse consequences to the other holders of Class A units. If such a concentration of ownership were held by the Board of Managers or management, it may also have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of the LLC, even if such change in control would be beneficial to the other holders of Class A units.

14



The ability of the LLC to issue additional Class A units or other classes of units may dilute or otherwise limit your voting or economic rights in the LLC or have the effect of preventing a change in control

        The Board of Managers of the LLC has the ability to issue an unlimited number of additional Class A units or units of other classes. The Board of Managers also has the ability to establish the designations, powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations or restrictions of any additional class of units, and to alter the relative economic rights of units. Such rights, powers, preferences and privileges may be greater than those associated with the Class A units. Issuances of additional units may have the effect of diluting or otherwise limiting your voting or economic rights in the LLC, particularly if the units are issued on more favorable terms than the Class A units. Issuance of additional classes of units may also have the effect of preventing changes in control of the LLC, even if such change in control would be beneficial to holders of Class A units.

Because we intend to terminate the corn delivery program as part of the conversion, the LLC will be required to acquire substantial quantities of corn in the marketplace.

        As part of the conversion, we intend to terminate the corn delivery program that has been in place since the cooperative's inception. Historically, the corn purchased and used in the operations is obtained primarily through the delivery of corn pursuant to uniform marketing agreements between the cooperative and its members. Each member of the cooperative must enter into a marketing agreement with the cooperative. Under the marketing agreement, the member is obligated to deliver each year to the cooperative up to one bushel of No. 2 yellow corn for each share of the cooperative's common stock owned. The Board of Directors of the cooperative, in its sole discretion, establishes the purchase price to be paid for each bushel of corn delivered. Following the conversion, the LLC will continue to require the same quantities of corn for processing as are currently required. In order to fulfill those requirements, the LLC will be required to acquire substantial quantities of corn in the marketplace, based upon the then-prevailing market price of corn. If the supplies of corn available in the vicinity of each of the cooperative's primary facilities are not adequate, the LLC may not be able to procure adequate supplies of corn at reasonable prices.

Procedural Risks Relating to the Vote

You will not be entitled to assert dissenters' rights, regardless of how you vote on the proposed conversion

        Under applicable Minnesota cooperative law, members of the cooperative who oppose the conversion are not entitled to demand an appraisal of and cash payment for the fair value of their membership interests in the transaction. Therefore, if the conversion is completed, you will be required to accept Class A units issued by the LLC rather than seek cash payment for your common stock of the cooperative.


CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

        This document contains forward-looking statements based on assumptions by the management of the cooperative and its successor, the LLC, as of the date of this document, including assumptions about risks and uncertainties faced by the cooperative and the LLC. When used in this document, the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "will" and similar verbs or expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.

        If management's assumptions prove incorrect or should unanticipated circumstances arise, the cooperative's and the LLC's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated. These differences could be caused by a number of factors or combination of factors including, but not limited to, those factors described under the heading "Risk Factors." Readers are urged to consider such factors when evaluating any forward-looking statement, and the cooperative and the LLC caution you not to put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Neither the cooperative nor the LLC undertakes an obligation to update any forward-looking statements in this report to reflect future events or developments.

15



COMPARISON OF RIGHTS OF MEMBERS

        The rights of members of the cooperative are currently governed by Minnesota law, the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the cooperative, and the Uniform Marketing Agreement entered into between the cooperative and each of its members. Upon completion of the conversion, the rights of members of the LLC will be governed by Delaware law and the Certificate of Formation and Limited Liability Company Agreement of the LLC. The rights of holders of Class A units in the LLC will be different in several respects from the rights of holders of common stock of the cooperative.

        The following is a summary of the material differences between the LLC's membership interests and the cooperative's membership interests. This summary is not intended to be a complete discussion of, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, Minnesota laws governing cooperatives and Delaware laws governing limited liability companies, and the Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws and Uniform Marketing Agreement of the cooperative and the Certificate of Formation and Limited Liability Company Agreement of the LLC. Copies of the Certificate of Formation and Limited Liability Company Agreement of the LLC are attached as Appendices B and C to this document. The Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws and Uniform Marketing Agreement of the cooperative have been previously provided to all of its members. You may obtain additional copies of these documents from the cooperative, without charge, by contacting Marie Staley, Vice President of Shareholder Relations, at the cooperative's offices.

 
  Membership Interests
in the LLC

  Membership Interests
in the Cooperative

Taxation   We anticipate that the LLC will be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. The LLC will pay no tax on its net income. Rather, each member is subject to income tax based on the member's allocable share of income, gain, loss, deduction and credits, whether or not any cash is actually distributed to the member.   Under Subchapter T of the tax code, the cooperative may deduct, and thus not pay tax at the entity level on, patronage earnings which are qualified to the members so long as the cooperative distributes at least 20% of such qualified patronage earnings to its members in cash. The cooperative has historically followed a system in which only amounts that are actually distributed to members in cash are deducted by the cooperative in determining its taxable income. Any portion of the cooperative's annual profit that is not distributed to members and deducted by the cooperative is retained in an unallocated reserve at the cooperative. The cooperative has historically paid entity-level income taxes on those amounts.

Each member is subject to income tax and self-employment taxes, based on the amount of qualified patronage deducted by the cooperative. Each member is also subject to income tax on any dividends declared and paid, in the case of individuals, on stock owned by the member.
                 

16


Limited Liability   Under Delaware law and the Limited Liability Company Agreement, members will not be personally liable for the debts, obligations and liabilities of the LLC.   Members are not personally liable for the debts, obligations and liabilities of the cooperative, but are obligated to deliver corn under the Uniform Marketing Agreement.
Distributions   All distributions will be at the discretion of the Board of Managers. Subject to that discretion, the LLC expects to make cash distributions sufficient to discharge its members' anticipated combined federal, state and local income tax liabilities arising from allocations to them of taxable income by the LLC. The Board of Managers of the LLC may also declare further distributions from time to time. Holders of Class A units are entitled to equivalent per unit distributions.   The Board of Directors of the cooperative is required to allocate its annual net income to members based on patronage, in accordance with the cooperative's Bylaws. Qualifications of patronage earnings and cash distributions of qualified patronage earnings are at the discretion of the Board of Directors of the cooperative.
Corn Delivery Obligations   Under the Limited Liability Company Agreement, members will have no obligation to deliver corn, and the uniform marketing agreements of consenting members will be terminated as part of the conversion. Any remaining uniform marketing agreements will be terminated as soon as possible, under the terms of such agreements, following the conversion.   For each share of common stock owned by a member, the member is obligated to deliver up to one bushel of No. 2 yellow corn to the cooperative, subject to certain adjustments more fully described under "Corn Delivery System."
Capitalization   Following the conversion, based on the number of shares of common stock of the cooperative outstanding as of the [                        ], 2004 record date for the special meeting, the LLC will have 4,581,832 Class A units issued and outstanding, all of which will be held by the persons holding common stock of the cooperative immediately prior to the conversion. Under the Limited Liability Company Agreement, there will be no restrictions on the authority of the Board of Managers of the LLC to issue additional Class A units or units of one or more additional classes. The Board of Managers will have authority to establish the designations, powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations or restrictions of each such additional class.   The cooperative has the authority to issue 50,000,000 shares of common stock, $.01 par value per share, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $.01 par value per share. As of the [                        ], 2004 record date for the special meeting, there were 4,581,832 shares of common stock and no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding.
                 

17


Minimum Equity Ownership   Under the Limited Liability Company Agreement, a member is required to hold at least 2,000 Class A units, or such number and class of units as is established by the Board of Managers of the LLC in the designation of another class. A person who holds less than the minimum member ownership requirements is a non-member unitholder.   Under the cooperative's Bylaws, membership eligibility requires becoming the holder of at least 2,000 shares of common stock.
Voting Rights   Under the Limited Liability Company Agreement, a member will have one vote for each Class A unit held on matters submitted to the members, and holders of units of any other class will have such voting rights as are established for such class by the Board of Managers of the LLC. Cumulative voting for managers will not be allowed.

Voting at a meeting of members will be either in person or, if authorized by the Board of Managers, by ballot (such as by mail ballot) or by proxy.
  Under the cooperative's Bylaws, each member is entitled to one vote upon each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of the members. Cumulative voting for directors is not allowed.

Voting at a meeting of the members is either in person or, if authorized by the Board of Directors, by a mail ballot. Voting by proxy is not allowed.

Shares of preferred stock issued by the cooperative do not entitle the holder to any voting rights. Currently, there are no shares of preferred stock outstanding.
Quorum Requirements   If mail ballots or proxies are authorized for use at a member meeting, a quorum necessary for the LLC members to conduct business at the meeting will be present if at least 20% of the total voting power of all units outstanding is present at the meeting. Otherwise, the quorum necessary to conduct business will be 10% of total voting power.   A quorum of members necessary to conduct business at a meeting will be present if 10% or more of the total number of members is present (in person or, if authorized by the Board of Directors, by mail ballot), or 50 or more members are present if there are more than 500 members.
Annual Meetings   Under the Limited Liability Company Agreement, the annual meeting of the members of the LLC will be held on a date and at a time and place fixed by the Board of Managers of the LLC.   The annual meeting of the members of the cooperative is held on a date and at a time and place fixed by the Board of Directors of the cooperative.
                 

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Termination of Membership   Under the Limited Liability Company Agreement, a person will cease to be a member upon:

• a transfer of all of the member's units;
• death of an individual member, or ceasing to exist of a non-individual member, and no successor is left qualified as determined by the Board of Managers to be a member;
• failure to meet the minimum unit ownership requirements for membership, which for Class A units requires holding a minimum 2,000 units;
• a finding by the Board of Managers that the member has willfully obstructed any lawful purpose or activity of the LLC;
• a finding by the Board of Managers (in its sole discretion) that the member is a competitor of the LLC or is detrimental to the interests of the LLC;
• a finding by the Board of Managers that the member has intentionally or repeatedly violated any provision of the Limited Liability Company Agreement;
• a finding by the Board of Managers that the member has breached any agreement with or obligation to the Company;
• a finding by the Board of Managers that the member has intentionally or repeatedly taken actions that will impede the LLC from accomplishing its purposes; or
• resignation by the member as a member of the LLC.

In the event of termination (other than upon a complete transfer), all non-financial rights related to units held will be terminated and the holder will become a non-member unitholder. A terminated member has no right to require purchase or redemption of the terminated member's units. In the event of termination (other than upon a complete transfer), the LLC will have the option (but not the obligation) to repurchase the terminated member's units at 80% of market price.
  Membership in the cooperative may be terminated by the Board of Directors if:

• the member is ineligible for membership;
• the member breaches the uniform marketing agreement;
• a non-individual member ceases to exist;
• death of an individual member; or
• the member violates the cooperative's Articles or Bylaws, breaches a contract with the cooperative or willfully obstructs any lawful purpose or activity of the cooperative.

Upon membership termination, the cooperative has the option of purchasing the member's shares at book value or converting the shares into a nonvoting interest in the cooperative.
                 

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Amendment of Governing Documents   The Limited Liability Company Agreement may be amended by the Board of Managers, with the approval of a majority of the voting power of the members. In addition, the Board of Managers has the authority to make amendments without member approval in connection with certain ministerial matters, class designations, unit transfer provisions and relative economic rights of LLC units.   The Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the cooperative may be altered, amended or repealed by vote of a majority of the members present at a meeting (in person or, if authorized by the Board of Directors, by mail ballot).
Appraisal Rights of Dissenting Members   Under the Limited Liability Company Agreement, members will not have appraisal rights.   Applicable Minnesota cooperative law does not provide appraisal rights to the members.
Financial Reporting   The LLC will be subject to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, will file annual, quarterly and special reports with the SEC, and, following the filing of a registration statement under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, will also become subject to the proxy rules, management reporting and other requirements of a company registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act.   The cooperative is not subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Transferability   In accordance with the Limited Liability Company Agreement, units in the LLC may be transferred only with Board approval and upon satisfaction or waiver of certain requirements. However, members may pledge their units as security for debt financing. Transferability of units is restricted in part to ensure that the LLC is not deemed a "publicly traded partnership" and thus taxed as a corporation. See "Federal Income Tax Consequences—Publicly Traded Partnership Rules." Transferees may become members only with Board approval and upon satisfaction of other conditions. Unadmitted assignees are deemed to be non-member unitholders.   In accordance with the cooperative's Bylaws, common stock may be transferred only with the consent of the Board of Directors. In addition, common stock may be transferred only to persons eligible for membership, that is, producers of agricultural products and associations of agricultural producers.
                 

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Governance   The LLC will be governed by a Board of Managers, all of whom are elected on an at-large basis. Under the Limited Liability Company Agreement, the number of managers is to be set by the Board of Managers, but may not be less than five. The initial Board of Managers of the LLC will consist of the same seven individuals who are currently serving as members of the Board of Directors of the cooperative.   The cooperative is governed by a Board of Directors. Under the cooperative's Bylaws, the number of directors is currently set at seven. The number of directors may be changed, but may not be less than five. A director must either be a member or a duly elected or appointed representative of a member. Members are currently represented by a director elected in each of seven districts. District boundaries are determined by the Board of Directors to provide fair representation for members.
Indemnification of Directors and Officers   The Limited Liability Company Agreement provides that the LLC generally will indemnify, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, each manager or officer of the LLC, both in connection with his or her capacity as a manager or officer of the LLC and his or her service of any other entity at the request of the LLC.   The cooperative indemnifies, and has the power to purchase and maintain insurance to indemnify, each director or officer of the cooperative, and any person serving at the request of the cooperative as a director, officer, governor or manager of another entity, against various expenses to the extent to which such person may be indemnified under Minnesota law.
Distribution of Assets upon Liquidation   Under the Limited Liability Company Agreement, on winding up of the LLC, subject to any priority distribution rights of any classes of units, the assets of the LLC will be distributed as follows:

• first, to cover debts, obligations and liabilities; and
• then, to unitholders in proportion to their capital account balances in the LLC.
  On liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the cooperative, the assets of the cooperative are to be distributed as follows:

• first, in payment of debts or liabilities;
• second, in payment of the issuance price for outstanding shares on capital stock;
• third, for the retirement of patronage equities; and
• finally, to members in proportion to their historical patronage of the cooperative.

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THE SPECIAL MEETING

Date, Time, Place and Purpose

        This document is being furnished to members of the cooperative in connection with the distribution of ballots by the Board of Directors of the cooperative for use at the special meeting of the members to be held on [            ], 2004 at [            ].m., local time, at [                        ], [            ], Minnesota, and any adjournments or postponements of the special meeting. At the special meeting, members of the cooperative as of the close of business on [            ], 2004 will be eligible to vote on a proposal to approve the conversion. In the conversion, each member would obtain limited liability company "units" issued by the newly-formed Delaware limited liability company, or "LLC". Specifically, the combination of each share of common stock of the cooperative and a proportionate amount of the patronage equities to be issued by the cooperative would be converted into a Class A unit in the LLC. This will result in an initial offering of the LLC's Class A units. No public market currently exists for these securities. Each member is also being asked to voluntarily agree to terminate his or her uniform marketing agreement with the cooperative.

        This document and the enclosed ballot form are first being mailed to members on or about [            ], 2004.

Matters To Be Considered

        The sole purpose of the special meeting will be to consider and vote upon a proposal to approve and ratify an Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger between the cooperative and the LLC, pursuant to which the cooperative will be merged with and into the LLC, with the LLC as the surviving entity. The shareholders of the cooperative will become the unitholders of the LLC and receive one Class A unit of the LLC for the combination of each share of the cooperative's common stock they hold as of the effective date of the merger and the patronage equities associated with such share. A copy of the Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger between the cooperative and the LLC is attached as Appendix A.

How You Can Vote

        You can vote on the proposed merger by completing and returning the enclosed ballot to the cooperative in the envelope provided. If you vote by mail, your ballot will not be counted unless it is received by the cooperative by [            ].m. local (Minnesota) time on [            ], 2004, or prior to any applicable adjournment or postponement of the meeting. Although you are encouraged to vote by mail, you may vote in person by attending the special meeting (and any adjournments or postponements of the meeting) and submitting your vote on the enclosed ballot at that time. You may vote on the proposed conversion by using the enclosed ballot whether you vote by mail or in person. You may revoke your ballot at any time before the vote is called at the special meeting.

Quorum; Who Can Vote; Vote Required

        A quorum of members must exist at the special meeting for the transaction of business including approval of the conversion. If at least 50 members are present or are represented by mail ballot at the special meeting, a quorum will exist. Abstentions will be counted as present for the purposes of determining the presence of a quorum at the special meeting.

        Members of the cooperative of record at the close of business on [            ], 2004 are entitled to notice of and may vote at the special meeting. Each member has one vote. The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast, in person or by mail, at the special meeting is required to approve the conversion. Abstentions will not be counted as votes cast.

        As of the [            ], 2004 record date for the determination of members of the cooperative eligible to vote, there were 698 voting members. Directors and their related parties and the chief executive officer of the cooperative comprise nine of those members, representing approximately 1.3% of the total number of members and votes entitled to be cast. All of these persons have indicated that, as members, they will vote in favor of the conversion.

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THE CONVERSION

General

        The LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the cooperative. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, the cooperative will merge with and into the LLC. The LLC will be the surviving entity. After this merger, the separate corporate existence of the cooperative will cease. All shares of common stock of the cooperative will be automatically cancelled. Upon the conversion, the directors and officers of the cooperative will become the managers and officers of the LLC.

Conversion of Common Stock

        Upon completion of the merger of the cooperative with and into the LLC, each member of the cooperative will be a member of the LLC and will cease to be a member of the cooperative. All outstanding shares of the cooperative's common stock will be converted automatically into Class A units issued by the LLC with the combination of each share of common stock in the cooperative and a proportionate amount of the patronage equities to be issued by the cooperative being converted into a Class A unit in the LLC.

Termination of Uniform Marketing Agreements

        As part of the conversion, we also intend to terminate the corn delivery program that has been in place since the cooperative's inception. In anticipation of the completion of the conversion, the cooperative, pursuant to its rights under the uniform marketing agreements, has suspended all deliveries under the uniform marketing agreements beginning May 2004. Each member is also being asked as a separate matter to voluntarily agree to terminate his or her uniform marketing agreement with the cooperative, with such termination to become effective if and when the conversion becomes effective. Any members who fail to so agree will have their agreements survive the conversion, although all corn deliveries under those agreements will continue to be suspended, and the LLC will proceed to formally terminate those remaining agreements as soon as practicable. If the conversion is not approved by the cooperative's members, none of the uniform marketing agreements will terminate and the cooperative will plan to resume the corn delivery program in September 2004.

Background of and Reasons for the Conversion

        Over the past several years, and particularly in recent months, the Board of Directors and its management have carefully analyzed the cooperative's business and structure. The structure and terms of the conversion from a Minnesota cooperative to a Delaware limited liability company were determined by the cooperative's Board of Directors and senior management after extensive investigation of the anticipated business, tax and other impacts on the cooperative and its members of either converting to another form of entity or remaining a cooperative.

        The decision to effect the conversion is a result of extensive internal discussion among the members of the Board of Directors of the cooperative regarding the possibility of a change in corporate form. This discussion began in conjunction with the consideration of several potential strategic business combination transactions with other egg processors in early 2002. The cooperative and the potential transaction partners were unable to agree upon terms for any of those potential transactions, in significant part due to restrictions on capital raising and business combinations faced by the cooperative due to its present structure. Detailed discussions of corporate structure were engaged in at a long range planning session held by the Board of Directors and management in March 2003. At that planning session, the Board and management discussed the future of the egg industry, which the Board and management believe will likely continue to follow the beef, pork and poultry industries and experience further consolidation within and between the production and processing segments of the industry. In contrast with those comparable industries, in each of which the top five producers typically

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supply at least 80% of the U.S. market, the egg industry has approximately 65 producers making up approximately 80% of production. Given the competitive nature of the egg industry, the Board of Directors and management believe that the business will require significant additional capital resources to allow the business to keep pace with the growth, consolidation and cost structure within the industry. If the business were to remain organized as a cooperative, it may need to look to its members for a portion of its capital requirements. In recent years, several attempts have been made to raise equity capital from the cooperative's current shareholders, with limited success.

        Discussions with other egg processors continued throughout the summer of 2003, but the Board remained unable to reach agreement on terms for any potential transactions, again in significant part due to restrictions on capital raising and business combinations faced by the cooperative. In October 2003, the Board held a meeting at which corporate structure alternatives were discussed and a strategic alternatives committee was formed to study matters such as business growth, access to capital and corporate structure. With the assistance of the Board Advisor, Mark Fisler, and the cooperative's legal counsel, Lindquist & Vennum P.L.L.P., and independent accounting firm, Moore Stephens Frost, the strategic alternatives committee and management studied available alternatives, including the tax implications of those alternatives, and decided to recommend the conversion to a limited liability company. In addition to maintaining the current cooperative structure or converting to a limited liability company, the committee considered:

    converting to a Subchapter C corporation, which could allow for increased marketability of equity over a limited liability company, but which would impose both entity-level and member-level taxation;

    converting to a cooperative subject to the recently-enacted Chapter 308B of the Minnesota Statutes, which would allow for the business to continue to be designated a cooperative for state law purposes, but would subject the business to less flexible statutory governance and distribution provisions than available to a limited liability company; and

    converting to a general or limited partnership, which would similarly be subject to less flexible statutory governance and distribution provisions and also would put at risk all assets of the general partners.

        The cooperative's Board gave consideration to these alternatives and concluded that conversion to a Delaware limited liability company would likely be the most advantageous structure for its business. In November 2003, determining that it is in the best interests of the cooperative and its members to effect the proposed conversion, the Board passed a resolution to authorize the filing of a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission in order to effect the conversion. Ultimately, the cooperative's Board of Directors based its decision to convert to a limited liability company on a number of factors, including those summarized below.

    If the conversion is completed, the LLC will be able to offer its units for sale to any potential investor, not just to agricultural producers who agree to deliver corn to the cooperative each year. As a result, we believe that there will be a broader range of potential investors who can be approached for capital investment into the business. As a value-added cooperative, the cooperative has two primary methods of obtaining equity capital for use in its business. First, the cooperative can issue shares of its common stock. However, those shares can only be offered to, and held by, agricultural producers who are willing to enter into a uniform marketing agreement to deliver corn to the cooperative each year. Those shares cannot be sold to investors who fall outside classification as an agricultural producer. (The cooperative could offer its preferred shares to non-producer investors; however, restrictions under applicable cooperative law severely restrict that option.) Second, the cooperative's Bylaws provide that all member patrons will, through their patronage, furnish capital to the cooperative. Such patronage may be furnished by per-unit retains or through the distribution of less than 100% of the cooperative's patronage. To

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      date, the cooperative has distributed a significant portion of its annual patronage-based earnings to its members in cash. If the conversion is not completed, the cooperative may need to modify its practices in regard to per-unit retains and cash distributions to meet capital requirements.

    We believe that the conversion from a cooperative to a limited liability company could improve the liquidity of your investment because the limited liability company form, unlike the cooperative form, permits a broader range of potential investors. The current cooperative form requires the business to limit its membership to producers of agricultural products and associations of agricultural producers, while the LLC may have both producers and non-producers as members. However, we do not expect that there will be a significant improvement in liquidity immediately following the conversion to a limited liability company, and the conversion to a limited liability company may never improve your liquidity. Under the Limited Liability Company Agreement of the LLC, your Class A units will still be subject to various restrictions on transfer, including the need to obtain the consent of the Board of Managers.

    The cooperative's Board of Directors and management have examined the impact of the corn delivery system, including the uniform marketing agreement, on the cooperative and its members during the period since the cooperative's inception. The cooperative's Board of Directors and management have come to the belief that the current corn delivery arrangement subjects the cooperative's members to certain costs and risks, including the risk of being required to deliver corn at a price below the then-current market price of the corn. As the cooperative's Board of Directors and management believe that the elimination of the corn delivery program will not have a material adverse impact on the cooperative's business, the ability to reduce the members' risks under the corn delivery program is attractive. If, however, corn prices were to rise to abnormally high levels following the completion of the conversion, the business would no longer have the contractual right to reduce cash outflows by unilaterally establishing below-market prices to be paid to its members for the required corn.

    We believe that the conversion from a cooperative to a limited liability company may facilitate potential business combination transactions. One reason for this is, again, the fact that the current cooperative form requires the business to limit its membership to producers of agricultural products and associations of agricultural producers, while the LLC may have both producers and non-producers as members. In its current form, the cooperative cannot readily enter into a transaction to, for example, acquire another egg producer if the parties want to give shares in the cooperative to non-producer equityholders of the other egg producer. Another reason is that applicable Minnesota cooperative law simply does not provide a mechanism by which the cooperative can readily enter into a merger transaction unless the other party to the merger is itself operating as a cooperative.

    The Board of Directors determined that the likely tax impact of the conversion itself, and of operating as a limited liability company post-conversion, upon the cooperative and its members is acceptable. In evaluating the tax consequences of the conversion itself, the Board of Directors has relied, in part, on the valuation opinion and report prepared by Greene Holcomb & Fisher LLC and described in "Valuation Opinion" below. (Greene Holcomb & Fisher, a firm with expertise in such financial matters, had previously performed valuation and advisory work for the cooperative.) In evaluating the consequences of operating as a limited liability company post-conversion, the Board of Directors considered the fact that the LLC would expect to pay no federal income tax on its taxable income and instead pass its taxable income or loss on to its members. The Board of Directors also noted that the LLC expects to make cash distributions sufficient to discharge its members' anticipated combined federal, state and local income tax liabilities arising from allocations to them of taxable income by the LLC.

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    The Board of Directors determined that the other anticipated costs and expenses associated with the conversion are acceptable. These include direct transaction costs such as legal, accounting, advising and printing, and the use of management and other resources towards accomplishing the conversion. Similarly, on an ongoing basis following the conversion, the LLC will face additional accounting, legal and printing expenses because it expects to operate as a partnership for tax purposes and to prepare and file quarterly, annual and other reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    As part of the conversion, we intend to eliminate the corn delivery program governed by the cooperative's uniform marketing agreement with each of its members. Following that change, any allocations of tax attributes or distributions of cash from the LLC to its members will be received in the member's new role as a passive investor. Given that role, we believe that taxable income allocated by the LLC to the members will not be subject to self-employment taxes, unless the member also is employed by the LLC. That result contrasts with the tax treatment of patronage dividends issued to cooperative members which patronage typically is subject to self-employment tax in the case of individuals. Amounts paid for corn to LLC members who are individuals and who continue to sell corn to the LLC will continue to be includable in their calculation of net earnings from self-employment.

    Under Subchapter T of the Internal Revenue Code, the cooperative operates as a cooperative exempt from tax under Section 521 of the Internal Revenue Code. As an exempt cooperative, it is not taxed on amounts of patronage sourced income withheld from its members in the form of qualified per-unit retains or on amounts distributed to its members in the form of Qualified Written Notices of Allocation. Such amounts are instead taxed directly to the members. If the cooperative was not entitled to be taxed under Subchapter T, its revenues would be taxed when earned by the cooperative and the members would be taxed when dividends are distributed. From time to time, the Internal Revenue Service challenges the tax status of various cooperatives, taking the position that the challenged entities are not operating on a cooperative basis and are therefore not entitled to the tax treatment described above. The effect of a successful challenge is that the cooperative would be taxed as a corporation, with taxation at both the entity level and the shareholder level. The Internal Revenue Service has not challenged the cooperative's tax status, and the cooperative would vigorously defend any such challenge. However, if the proposed conversion is not completed and the business instead continues as a cooperative, in addition to any risk of the Internal Revenue Service seeking to retroactively impose entity-level taxation for the operations of the business to date, the cooperative might be subject to the additional risk of being subjected to entity-level taxation for its operations going forward.

        This discussion of factors considered by the cooperative's Board of Directors and management is not intended to be exhaustive, but is believed to include the material factors considered by them. In reaching its determination to approve and recommend the conversion, the Board of Directors considered the above issues and factors collectively without quantifying or assigning a greater weight to any one factor.

Recommendation of the Cooperative's Board of Directors

        The Board of Directors believes that it is in the best interests of the cooperative and its members to convert from a Minnesota cooperative to a Delaware limited liability company. Accordingly, the Board of Directors has unanimously approved the Merger Agreement. The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that members of the cooperative vote "FOR" adoption of the Merger Agreement. If the conversion is not consummated for any reason, the Board of Directors intend to continue to operate the business in a cooperative form.

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Regulatory Approval

        Other than as necessary to comply with federal and state securities laws, no regulatory approvals must be obtained in connection with the proposed conversion.

Absence of Dissenters' Rights

        Members who object to the merger of the cooperative with and into the LLC will have no appraisal or dissenters' rights under applicable Minnesota cooperative law.

Employee Benefit Plans

        Under the Merger Agreement, the LLC will honor all benefits accrued by the cooperative under any benefit plan, policy or arrangement in accordance with the respective terms of those benefit plans and to the extent required by law. All such benefit plans, policies or arrangements will continue to be in effect under the LLC.

Federal Securities Law Consequences

        Under the federal securities laws, units in the LLC received in the conversion by persons who are not affiliates of the LLC under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") may be resold immediately in transactions not involving an issuer, underwriter or dealer. Units received in the conversion by "affiliates" of the LLC may be resold only in compliance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act, in transactions that are exempt from registration under the Securities Act, or pursuant to further registration under the Securities Act. These restrictions are expected to apply to the directors and executive officers of the LLC.

        This document cannot be used in connection with resales of Class A units in the LLC received in the conversion by any person who may be deemed to be an affiliate of the cooperative or the LLC under the Securities Act.

Valuation Opinion

        The cooperative retained Greene Holcomb & Fisher LLC, pursuant to a letter agreement dated December 11, 2003, to render to the Board of Directors a valuation opinion as to (a) the fair market value of the equity of the cooperative immediately prior to the merger, or the "Company Equity Value," and (b) the fair market value of a Class A unit of the LLC immediately following the merger, or the "LLC Unit Value."

        Greene Holcomb & Fisher, as a customary part of its investment banking business, is engaged in the valuation of businesses and their securities in connection with mergers and acquisitions, private placements and valuations for corporate and other purposes. Greene Holcomb & Fisher focuses on providing corporate finance services to middle-market companies. Greene Holcomb & Fisher previously performed certain other unrelated valuation and advisory work for the cooperative earlier in 2003 in connection with a potential business combination transaction with another egg processor. See "—Background of and Reasons for the Conversion." The cooperative paid Greene Holcomb & Fisher a fee of $37,500 for this prior work, plus approximately $1,700 in out-of-pocket expenses. The cooperative retained Greene Holcomb & Fisher in connection with the conversion because of their expertise and familiarity with the cooperative and its industry.

        Pursuant to the engagement letter, on January 9, 2004, Greene Holcomb & Fisher delivered to the Board of Directors its written valuation opinion dated January 9, 2004. Based upon and subject to the assumptions, factors and limitations set forth in the valuation opinion and described below, Greene Holcomb & Fisher opined on January 9, 2004 that the Company Equity Value was estimated by Greene Holcomb & Fisher to be $30.4 million and the LLC Unit Value, assuming the issuance of 4,581,832

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Class A units upon consummation of the merger, was estimated by Greene Holcomb & Fisher to be $4.07 per Class A unit.

        Greene Holcomb & Fisher's valuation opinion is directed to the Board of Directors and is not intended to be and does not constitute a recommendation to any stockholder of the cooperative as to how to vote with respect to the merger. Greene Holcomb & Fisher conducted various analyses of the cooperative and the LLC, but was not asked to and did not opine as to the basic business decision to proceed with or effect the merger, the relative merits of the merger compared to any alternative business strategy or transaction in which the cooperative might engage, the process by which the merger was originated, negotiated, approved or consummated, or any other term, condition or aspect of the merger. Greene Holcomb & Fisher made no representation as to the sufficiency, legal or otherwise, of its valuation opinion for the cooperative's purposes.

        The valuation opinion opined as to the Company Equity Value and the LLC Unit Value as of its date only, and except as contemplated by the engagement letter, Greene Holcomb & Fisher is not obligated to update, revise or reaffirm its valuation opinion. Events could occur which could materially affect the assumptions used in preparing the valuation opinion. Greene Holcomb & Fisher assumed, with the consent of the Board of Directors of the cooperative that, for purposes of its valuation opinion concerning Company Equity Value and LLC Unit Value, the merger occurred as of January 9, 2004. In order to account for changes between the valuation date and the conversion date, the engagement letter contemplates that Greene Holcomb & Fisher will provide the Board of Directors with an update of the valuation opinion prior to completion of the conversion.

        A copy of the valuation opinion is attached to this document as Appendix D and is incorporated in this document by reference. Greene Holcomb & Fisher has consented to the inclusion of its valuation opinion in this document. Members of the cooperative are encouraged to read the valuation opinion in its entirety.

        In arriving at the valuation opinion, Greene Holcomb & Fisher's review included:

    a draft dated December 5, 2003 of a contemplated transaction agreement and the Agreement and Plan of Merger, each by and between the cooperative and the LLC;

    a draft dated December 5, 2003 of the Limited Liability Company Agreement;

    certain financial, operating and business information related to the cooperative on a stand-alone basis, including the cooperative's annual reports (with audited financial statements) for the fiscal years ended August 31, 1998-2002, the cooperative's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2003, and the cooperative's unaudited financial statements for the three months ended November 30, 2003, all prior to restatement for matters related to hedge accounting and SFAS 133;

    certain internal historical financial and other information of the cooperative and certain projected financial and other information of the cooperative and the LLC, prepared for financial planning purposes and furnished by the management of the cooperative, including the cooperative management's projections of the cooperative's and the LLC's financial performance for the fiscal years ending 2004-2008;

    a visit to the cooperative's facility in Renville, Minnesota;

    to the extent publicly available, financial data of selected public companies deemed comparable to the cooperative;

    to the extent publicly available, financial data of selected transactions of companies deemed comparable to the cooperative;

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    a discounted cash flow analysis on the cooperative based on projections that were prepared by the cooperative's management; and

    industry news relating to transactions in the poultry and egg processing marketplace and historical egg prices.

        In addition, Greene Holcomb & Fisher had discussions with members of the management of the cooperative concerning the financial condition, current operating results and business outlook for the cooperative and the LLC.

        In delivering its valuation opinion to the Board of Directors, Greene Holcomb & Fisher prepared and delivered to the Board of Directors a written valuation report containing material analyses relating to the valuation opinion. The following is a summary of the valuation opinion and these material analyses:

Company Equity Value

        The term "Company Equity Value" used in the valuation opinion is understood to mean an estimated amount based on the value of the equity of the cooperative as a whole as of January 9, 2004, on a going concern, as if sold basis, between a willing buyer and a willing seller, neither being under compulsion, each having a reasonable knowledge of all relevant facts.

        Management of the cooperative, based on advice of the cooperative's tax counsel, determined that the existing net operating loss carry forwards of the cooperative will not survive the merger and therefore are not assets for which taxable gain or loss must be determined in the context of the conversion. Accordingly, at the direction of the cooperative's management, Greene Holcomb & Fisher did not, for purposes of determining Company Equity Value, ascribe any value to the net operating loss carry forwards of the cooperative.

LLC Unit Value

        For purposes of the valuation opinion and with the consent of the Board of Directors, Greene Holcomb & Fisher estimated the LLC Unit Value by applying minority and lack of marketability discounts, as appropriate, to each holder's ratable interest in the Company Equity Value to which the LLC will succeed in the merger. Management furnished to Greene Holcomb & Fisher information concerning the number of LLC units to be outstanding following the merger.

        A minority discount accounts for the difference between the value of the cooperative's equity as a whole (which includes control) and the value of the minority interest represented by each LLC Class A unit. To measure the minority discount, Greene Holcomb & Fisher reviewed the control premium paid in 102 selected acquisitions over the prevailing public market price of target companies and selected 70 transactions which met the following criteria:

    transactions with a transaction value of less than $1 billion;

    transactions completed between January 1, 2003 and December 10, 2003;

    transactions where the targets were public companies; and

    transactions with a positive premium of 70% or less. Greene Holcomb & Fisher has advised the cooperative that the 70% threshold was used because transactions with premiums in excess of 70% often involve unusual circumstances not present in typical merger and acquisition transactions.

        This analysis produced a 29.9% median premium paid over the acquired company's stock price 30 days before the announcement of the acquisition. Greene Holcomb & Fisher calculated that this 29.9% control premium equates to a 23.0% minority discount. For example, a stock trading at $100.00

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per share would be worth $129.90 per share with a 29.9% control premium applied, which then requires a 23.0% discount to arrive back at the $100.00 trading price. The 23.0% minority discount was then applied to the results of Greene Holcomb & Fisher's discounted cash flow analysis and comparable transaction analysis described below.

        A lack of marketability discount accounts for an individual stockholder's inability to freely sell shares in the open market. Greene Holcomb & Fisher reviewed the results of approximately 15 studies conducted on the lack of marketability discount and determined, in their judgment, based upon these studies and Greene Holcomb & Fisher's mergers and acquisitions experience, that a 20.0% discount would be appropriate to apply to the discounted cash flow analysis, the comparable transaction analysis and the comparable public company analysis.

        The financial planning data furnished by the cooperative indicated, and Greene Holcomb & Fisher assumed at the Board of Directors' direction and with the Board of Directors' consent and in accordance with the management of the cooperative's projections that, for purposes of the LLC Unit Value, immediately following the merger, no material change in the business, operations, cash flows or capital structure (including that the Class A units are entitled to the entire residual value of the LLC) of the cooperative will occur by reason of the merger.

        Greene Holcomb & Fisher expressed no opinion regarding any potential tax or accounting consequences of the merger. Greene Holcomb & Fisher was not furnished any information concerning, nor did its analyses account for, any potential financial impact of any such tax or accounting consequences of the merger, including any such consequences arising by reason of differences in taxation of income between cooperative corporations and limited liability companies.

Valuation Summary

        Greene Holcomb & Fisher used three generally accepted valuation approaches in estimating the Company Equity Value and the LLC Unit Value and assigned relative weights to each analysis:

    Discounted Cash Flow Analysis (60% weight).

    Comparable Transaction Analysis (25% weight).

    Comparable Public Company Analysis (15% weight).

        During the twelve months prior to the date of the Greene Holcomb & Fisher opinion, egg prices rose to ten-year highs. Liquid egg prices were $0.56 per whole liquid egg pound on January 5, 2004, far above the $0.31 per whole liquid egg pound one year ago and their $0.367 10-year average, yet below their peak of $0.80 reached on December 1, 2003. Management's projections of future results of operations reflect its view that recent egg prices were not sustainable over the long term. In preparing its valuation analysis, Greene Holcomb & Fisher accounted for this expectation by placing a 60% weight on the discounted cash flow analysis, which estimates value based on future projected cash flows when egg prices are assumed to have stabilized, rather than recent historical performance. In contrast, the comparable transaction analysis and the comparable public company analysis methods both rely on historical financial performance to estimate value. Greene Holcomb & Fisher placed 25% and 15% weights on these analyses, respectively. For purposes of conducting the comparable public company analysis, Greene Holcomb & Fisher selected and reviewed data from four public companies deemed comparable to the cooperative, two of which did not have sufficient valuation information. The third comparable company demonstrated volatile pricing behavior over the three months prior to the date of its opinion. For these reasons, Greene Holcomb & Fisher placed a 25% weight on the comparable transaction analysis and a 15% weight on the comparable public company analysis.

30



        Each analysis is described in detailed below. The analyses yield the following results (dollars in millions, except per unit amounts):

Company Equity Value By Valuation Method

  Value
  Weighting
  Weighted
Value

Discounted Cash Flow Analysis   $ 22.6   60.0 % $ 13.6
Comparable Transaction Analysis   $ 44.1   25.0 % $ 11.0
Comparable Public Company Analysis   $ 38.7   15.0 % $ 5.8
         
 
Company Equity Value         100.0 % $ 30.4
Unmarketable Minority Equity Value By Valuation Method

  Value
  Weighting
  Weighted
Value

Discounted Cash Flow Analysis   $ 12.9   60.0 % $ 7.7
Comparable Transaction Analysis   $ 25.1   25.0 % $ 6.3
Comparable Public Company Analysis   $ 31.0   15.0 % $ 4.6
         
 
Company Equity Value         100.0 % $ 18.7

LLC Class A Units to be Outstanding

 

 

4,581,832

LLC Unit Value

 

$

4.07

Discounted Cash Flow Analysis

        Greene Holcomb & Fisher performed a discounted cash flow analysis for the cooperative in which it calculated the present value of the projected hypothetical future cash flows of the cooperative using internal financial planning data prepared by the cooperative's management. Greene Holcomb & Fisher estimated a range of theoretical values for the cooperative based on the net present value of the cooperative's projected annual cash flows from December 1, 2003 through August 31, 2008 and a terminal value for the cooperative in 2008 (calculated based on a multiple of 2008 operating cash flow). Greene Holcomb & Fisher applied a range of discount rates of 14% to 16% and a range of terminal value multiples of 4.0x to 5.0x forecasted 2008 earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.

        Discount rates and multiples were determined by considering multiples from comparable transactions and trading multiples of comparable public companies. In addition, Greene Holcomb & Fisher also considered the commodity nature of the cooperative's business, the size of the cooperative's valuation relative to its competitors, its position in the industry, the inherent risk of improved performance in an increasingly competitive industry and Greene Holcomb & Fisher's recent experience in the mergers and acquisitions marketplace.

        This analysis resulted in the cooperative's company value ranging from a low of $45.8 million, a midpoint of $49.9 million (discount rate of 15% and terminal value multiple of 4.5x), and a high of $54.3 million.

31



        Greene Holcomb & Fisher utilized the midpoint company value to derive the Company Equity Value and the adjusted LLC equity value (in millions).

Description

  Amount
 
Midpoint Company Value   $ 49.9  
Less: Debt   $ (35.1 )
Plus: Cash   $ 7.8  
   
 
Company Equity Value   $ 22.6  

Minority Discount (23.0%)

 

$

(5.2

)
Lack of Marketability Discount (20%)   $ (4.5 )
   
 
Adjusted LLC Equity Value   $ 12.9  

Comparable Transaction Analysis

        Greene Holcomb & Fisher reviewed 52 transactions involving companies that it deemed comparable to the cooperative and which met the following criteria:

    target companies with selected SIC codes;

    transactions announced between January 1, 1990 and January 9, 2004;

    transactions valued at less than $200 million; and

    transactions in which the acquirer purchased 90% or more of the target.

        This analysis produced multiples of selected valuation data as follows:

 
  Company Value to EBITDA(1)
Low   4.4x
Mean   5.3x
Median   5.4x
High   5.9x

(1)
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization for each target company's last twelve-month period prior to the transaction.

        Greene Holcomb & Fisher utilized the mean resulting multiple of company value to EBITDA (5.3x) and derived an average Company Equity Value and an average adjusted LLC equity value (in

32


millions of dollars). References to latest twelve month's EBITDA of the cooperative are for the period ended November 30, 2003.

 
  LTM
(A)

  Average of
Fiscal 2001 to
2003 (B)

  Average of
(A) and (B)

Cooperative EBITDA   $ 18.3   $ 8.6      
Mean Multiple of Company Value to EBITDA     5.3x     5.3x      
   
 
     
Cooperative Value   $ 97.0   $ 45.8      

Less: Debt

 

$

(35.1

)

$

(35.1

)

 

 
Plus: Cash   $ 7.8   $ 7.8      
   
 
     
Company Equity Value   $ 69.7   $ 18.5      
  Average Company Equity Value   $ 44.1

Minority Discount (23.0%)

 

$

(16.0

)

$

(4.3

)

 

 
Lack of Marketability Discount (20.0%)   $ (13.9 ) $ (3.7 )    
   
 
     
Adjusted LLC Equity Value   $ 39.7   $ 10.5      
  Average Adjusted LLC Equity Value   $ 25.1

Comparable Public Company Analysis

        Greene Holcomb & Fisher compared financial information and valuation ratios relating to the cooperative to corresponding data and ratios from the following four publicly traded companies:

    Cagle's, Inc.

    Cal-Maine Foods, Inc.

    Lucille Farms Inc.

    Sanderson Farms, Inc.

        Greene Holcomb & Fisher selected these public companies by conducting industry research and by reviewing companies operating in the egg and dairy processing industry. Greene Holcomb & Fisher also consulted with the cooperative's management to confirm that the comparable company choices of Greene Holcomb & Fisher, selected through individual company research, were indeed comparable to the cooperative's operations. Due to several factors, including these companies' revenue, market breadth, and diversification of product offerings, none of these companies is directly comparable to the cooperative and, in some cases, rendered available data inadequate or not meaningful for purposes of analysis. However, these companies are similar enough to the cooperative and sufficient data was available to conclude that a comparable public company analysis was an appropriate metric to use in the valuation of the cooperative.

        This analysis produced multiples of selected valuation data as follows:

 
  Company Value to EBITDA(1)
 
Cagle's, Inc.   N/A (2)
Cal-Maine Foods, Inc.   5.3x  
Lucille Farms Inc.   N/M (3)
Sanderson Farms, Inc.   4.6x  
  Average   4.9x  

(1)
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization for each company's last reported twelve-month period.

33


(2)
No EBITDA valuation multiple is available because Cagle's, Inc. is unprofitable.

(3)
Not meaningful. Lucille Farms has a market capitalization under $5 million, yielding unreliable valuation information.

        Greene Holcomb & Fisher utilized the average resulting multiple of company value to EBITDA (4.9x) and derived an average Company Equity Value and an average adjusted LLC equity value (in millions of dollars). References to latest twelve month's EBITDA of the cooperative are for the period ended November 30, 2003.

 
  LTM
(A)

  Average of
Fiscal 2001 to
2003 (B)

  Average of
(A) and (B)

Cooperative EBITDA   $ 18.3   $ 8.6      
Average Multiple of Company Value to EBITDA     4.9x     4.9x      
   
 
     
Cooperative Value   $ 89.7   $ 42.3      

Less: Debt

 

$

(35.1

)

$

(35.1

)

 

 
Plus: Cash   $ 7.8   $ 7.8      
   
 
     
Company Equity Value   $ 62.4   $ 15.0      
  Average Company Equity Value   $ 38.7

Minority Discount (23.0%)

 

$

(0

)

$

(0

)

 

 
Lack of Marketability Discount (20.0%)   $ (12.5 ) $ (3.0 )    
   
 
     
Adjusted LLC Equity Value   $ 49.9   $ 12.0      
  Average Adjusted LLC Equity Value   $ 31.0

        For purposes of the valuation opinion, Greene Holcomb & Fisher relied upon and assumed the accuracy and completeness of the projections, financial and other information made available to it and did not assume responsibility for independent verification of such information. Greene Holcomb & Fisher relied upon the assurances of the management of the cooperative that the information provided to Greene Holcomb & Fisher by the cooperative was prepared on a reasonable basis in accordance with industry practice and, with respect to financial planning data and other business outlook information, reflects the best currently available estimates and judgment of management, and that management was not aware of any information or facts that would make the information provided to Greene Holcomb & Fisher incomplete or misleading. Greene Holcomb & Fisher expressed no opinion as to such financial planning data and other business outlook information or the assumptions on which they are based.

        Greene Holcomb & Fisher assumed the merger will be consummated pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement without material modifications thereto and without waiver by any party of any material conditions or obligations thereunder. In addition, in arriving at its opinion, Greene Holcomb & Fisher assumed that, in the course of obtaining any necessary regulatory approvals for the merger, no restrictions, including any divestiture requirements, will be imposed that would have a material adverse effect on the contemplated benefits of the merger.

        In arriving at its opinion, Greene Holcomb & Fisher did not perform any appraisals or valuations of any specific assets or liabilities (contingent or other) of the cooperative, did not make any physical inspection of tangible assets, and was not furnished with any such appraisals or valuations.

        The summary of Greene Holcomb & Fisher's analyses set forth above does not purport to be a complete description of the analyses or factors underlying Greene Holcomb & Fisher's valuation opinion. The preparation of a valuation opinion is a complex process involving subjective judgments and is not necessarily susceptible to partial analysis or summary description. Greene Holcomb & Fisher believes that its analyses must be considered as a whole and that selecting portions of its analyses and

34



the factors considered by it, without considering all analyses and factors, could create a misleading or incomplete view of the processes underlying such analyses and its opinion.

        With respect to the comparable public company analysis and the comparable transaction analysis summarized above, no company or transaction utilized as a comparison is identical to the merger, the cooperative or the LLC and such analyses necessarily involve complex considerations and judgments concerning the differences in financial and operating characteristics of the companies and other factors that could affect the acquisition or public trading values of the companies concerned. Similarly, complex considerations and judgments affect a discounted cash flow analysis. As a result, the estimated values set forth in the valuation opinion should not be considered equivalent to actual values that might be realized in the context of an actual transaction, which may be higher or lower.

        Under the terms of the engagement letter, the cooperative has agreed to pay Greene Holcomb & Fisher a fee of $30,000 for rendering its valuation opinion that is not contingent upon the merger. Whether or not the merger is consummated, the cooperative has agreed to pay the reasonable attorneys fees and other out-of-pocket expenses of Greene Holcomb & Fisher, estimated at approximately $10,700 to date, and to indemnify Greene Holcomb & Fisher, against liabilities incurred. These liabilities include liabilities under the federal securities laws in connection with the engagement of Greene Holcomb & Fisher by the Board of Directors.

Tax Treatment

        The conversion will be a taxable event to the cooperative and its members. Please see Federal Income Tax Considerations for a discussion of important tax matters.

Accounting Treatment

        For financial statement purposes, the conversion will be accounted for as a merger between entities under common control. Accordingly, the LLC will record the value of the assets and the liabilities transferred at their carrying amounts on the records of the cooperative, and will recognize no goodwill or intangible asset in connection with the transaction. This accounting is in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 141, "Business Combinations," which states that the term "business combination" excludes transfers of net assets or exchanges of shares between entities under common control.

Effect Upon Loans Secured By Common Stock

        Upon the conversion to a limited liability company, members of the cooperative will receive Class A units in the LLC and will relinquish ownership of their shares of common stock of the cooperative. If a member of the cooperative has secured a loan with that common stock, the effect of the conversion upon that loan may vary depending on the terms of that loan and the nature and preference of the lender. Members who have secured loans using common stock may wish to consult with their lending institutions to determine if their lenders will require new assignments of security interest in the Class A units or other new collateral to support those loans.

35



THE MERGER AGREEMENT

        The following is a summary of the material terms of the Merger Agreement between the cooperative and the LLC, who are jointly referred to in this section as the "parties" to the agreement. The agreement is formally entitled the "Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger." For more detailed information about these transactions, we encourage you to read the agreement which is included in Appendix A and incorporated by reference into this document.

Conditions to Consummation of the Merger

        The obligations of the parties to consummate the merger are subject to the satisfaction or waiver, where permissible, of the following conditions at or prior to the consummation of the merger:

    Approval of the Merger Agreement by each of the parties, including the approval of the members of the cooperative at the special meeting;

    Absence of any order enjoining the merger;

    The effectiveness of the registration statement of which this document constitutes a part, and absence of Securities and Exchange Commission proceedings to stop the effectiveness;

    Receipt of all consents, approvals and waivers necessary in connection with the merger, including those from the cooperative's lenders;

    All actions, proceedings and documents necessary to carry out the merger shall be reasonably satisfactory to the parties.

        Because the cooperative controls the LLC, the cooperative has the ability to waive or cause to be waived any of the conditions precedent to the conversion, except as limited by law. However, the cooperative does not intend to waive or cause to be waived any condition if the failure of the condition would have a material adverse effect on the business or operations of the LLC post-conversion. For example, we do not intend to complete the conversion if the cooperative has not obtained the approval of its members, the registration statement has not been declared effective, or the cooperative has not obtained the consent of its senior lenders. Representatives of the cooperative's two largest lenders have already indicated orally that, subject to final review of the lenders at the time of the proposed conversion, they intend to consent to the conversion and amend applicable loan documents as appropriate.

Termination

        The Merger Agreement may be terminated and the merger may be abandoned at any time prior to its consummation by:

    Either party if members of the cooperative fail to approve the merger of the cooperative with and into the LLC;

    Written notice of termination delivered by either party; or

    Either party if the conversion has not been consummated on or before December 31, 2004.

Amendment

        The terms of the Merger Agreement may be amended or supplemented at any time by mutual agreement, although consent would be a formality to the extent that the cooperative controls the LLC.

36



Timing

        The merger of the cooperative with and into the LLC will be completed once articles of merger are filed with the Minnesota Secretary of State and a certificate of merger is filed with the Delaware Secretary of State. If the merger is approved, we anticipate that the closing and the filing of these documents will take place and the conversion will take effect August 31, 2004.

Indemnification and Insurance

        From and after the consummation of the merger, the LLC has agreed to indemnify each present and former director, officer, employee or agent of the cooperative. The LLC has also agreed to indemnify each person who, while a director or officer of the cooperative and at the request of the cooperative, serves or has served another corporation, cooperative, partnership, joint venture, or other enterprise as a director, officer or partner. This indemnification obligation covers any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or expenses arising out of or pertaining to matters existing or occurring at or before the consummation of the merger, whether asserted or claimed before or after the consummation of the merger, to the fullest extent permitted by law. The LLC may purchase insurance coverage against these losses, claims or expenses, but is not obligated to do so.

37



INTERESTS OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN THE CONVERSION

        In considering whether to approve the conversion, members of the cooperative should be aware that the directors, officers and certain members of management of the cooperative have interests in the conversion in addition to their interests solely as members of the cooperative, as described below.

Indemnification

        The Merger Agreement provides that the cooperative's directors and officers will have rights to indemnification for all acts or omissions occurring at or before the conversion to the fullest extent permitted by law. The LLC may maintain insurance for such acts or omissions. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to these directors and officers pursuant to the foregoing, the cooperative has been informed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

Treatment of Member Equity

        Each member of the cooperative has equal voting rights of one vote per member. Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, at the time the merger is completed, each outstanding share of common stock of the cooperative (in combination with the patronage equities associated with each such share) will be converted into one Class A unit in the LLC. The Limited Liability Company Agreement of the LLC provides that each member of the LLC will have voting rights in proportion to the number of Class A units held. As a result, members holding a greater number of shares of common stock of the cooperative prior to the conversion will have proportionately greater voting control in the LLC following the conversion.

        As of the [                        ], 2004 record date for the determination of members of the cooperative eligible to vote, there were 698 voting members of the cooperative. Directors and their related parties and the chief executive officer of the cooperative comprise nine of those members, representing 1.3% of the cooperative's voting members. That group beneficially owns a total of 149,920 shares of common stock, or approximately 3.3% of the cooperative's total issued and outstanding common stock. As a result, if the conversion had been completed on that date, these persons would beneficially own 149,920 Class A units in the LLC, or approximately 3.3% of the LLC's total issued and outstanding Class A units. Because of this, these persons will have greater influence over matters submitted to a vote of the membership of the LLC than they had over matters voted upon by the membership of the cooperative. No director or executive officer owns beneficially more than 1.3% of the cooperative's issued and outstanding common stock.

Board Representation and Management

        The individuals serving on the Board of Directors of the cooperative and management are expected to continue to serve in substantially the same capacities for the LLC following the conversion.

38


PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE LLC

        Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, the cooperative would merge with and into the LLC if the conversion is completed. The following table presents summary historical financial information of the cooperative and unaudited pro forma financial information of the LLC. The historical information presented as of and for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003 is derived from the cooperative's financial statements, which have been audited by Moore Stephens Frost, independent auditors. The historical information presented as of and for the nine months ended May 31, 2004 is unaudited. The unaudited pro forma income statement information is computed as if the conversion from a cooperative to a limited liability company had been consummated on September 1, 2000. The unaudited pro forma balance sheet information is computed as if the transaction had been consummated on May 31, 2004. We encourage you to read the financial information presented below along with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," as well as the financial statements and related notes included at the end of this document.

        For financial statement purposes, the conversion will be accounted for as a merger of entities under common control. Accordingly, the LLC will record the value of the assets and the liabilities transferred at their carrying amounts on the records of the cooperative, and will recognize no goodwill or intangible asset in connection with the transaction. The unaudited pro forma financial information presented below reflects related required preliminary pro forma adjustments, and is based on available information and various assumptions which management of the cooperative believes are reasonable. Significant assumptions made in deriving the pro forma information presented below include the following:

    The cooperative would have utilized operating loss carryforwards and patronage dividends to eliminate tax expense and liability for the nine month period ended May 31, 2004.

    The deferred tax asset would have been utilized fully in the conversion, and would not be transferable to the LLC.

    As the LLC will be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes, no provision for income taxes would have been recognized for the periods presented.

    Because the cooperative has historically paid market price for the purchase of corn under its corn delivery program, the termination of that program will have a negligible impact on prices paid by the business to procure corn.

        The unaudited pro forma financial information is provided for illustrative purposes only and does not necessarily reflect what the results of operations or financial position of the LLC would have been if the conversion had actually occurred on the dates specified. For the periods presented, no adjustments to the historical data in the income statement information are required. Therefore, the historical and pro forma presentations for the income statement information are identical for all periods presented.

39


Pro Forma Financial Information Of The LLC
(in thousands, except share, per share, unit and per unit data)

 
  Year Ended August 31,
   
   
 
 
  Nine Months Ended
May 31, 2004

 
 
  2001
  2002
  2003
 
 
  Historical
(Cooperative)

  Pro Forma
(LLC)

  Historical
(Cooperative)

  Pro Forma
(LLC)

  Historical
(Cooperative)

  Pro Forma
(LLC)

  Historical
(Cooperative)

  Pro Forma
(LLC)

 
 
   
  (unaudited)

   
  (unaudited)

   
  (unaudited)

  (unaudited)

  (unaudited)

 
Income Statement Data:                                                  
  Revenues   $ 35,215   $ 35,215   $ 46,169   $ 46,169   $ 53,052   $ 53,052   $ 62,240   $ 62,240  
  Cost of goods sold     31,053     31,053     39,450     39,450     43,300     43,300     35,748     35,748  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Gross profit     4,162     4,162     6,719     6,719     9,752     9,752     26,492     26,492  
  Operating expenses     2,495     2,495     3,339     3,339     3,208     3,208     5,026     5,026  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Income from Operations     1,667     1,667     3,380     3,380     6,544     6,544     21,466     21,466  
  Interest expense     (2,314 )   (2,314 )   (3,466 )   (3,466 )   (3,520 )   (3,520 )   (2,292 )   (2,292 )
  Other income     650     650     385     385     509     509     335     335  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Income before income taxes     3     3     299     299     3,533     3,533     19,509     19,509  
  Income taxes                                  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Net income   $ 3   $ 3   $ 299   $ 299   $ 3,533   $ 3,533   $ 19,509   $ 19,509  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average common shares or Class A units outstanding

 

 

4,189,832

 

 

4,189,832

 

 

4,388,517

 

 

4,388,517

 

 

4,581,832

 

 

4,581,832

 

 

4,581,832

 

 

4,581,832

 
 
Net income per common share or Class A unit

 

$


 

$


 

$

0.07

 

$

0.07

 

$

0.77

 

$

0.77

 

$

4.26

 

$

4.26

 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Distributions per common share or Class A unit

 

$

0.04

 

$

0.04

 

$


 

$


 

$


 

$


 

$

0.40

 

$

0.40

 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 


 

As of May 31, 2004

 
  Historical
(Cooperative)

  Adjustments
  Pro Forma
(LLC)

 
  (unaudited)

   
  (unaudited)

Balance Sheet Data:                
  Current assets   $ 31,640     $ 31,640
  Property, plant and equipment     44,823       44,823
  Other assets     7,546   (236 )(1)   7,310
   
     
  Total assets   $ 84,009   (236 ) $ 83,773
   
     
 
Current liabilities

 

$

7,732

 


 

$

7,732
  Long-term debt, less current maturities     32,570       32,570
  Total patrons' equities   $ 43,707   (236 ) $ 43,471
 
Common shares or Class A units outstanding

 

 

4,581,832

 


 

 

4,581,832
 
Book value per common share or Class A unit

 

$

9.54

 

(.05

)

$

9.49

(1)
The deferred tax asset of $236 was adjusted to zero in accordance with the second assumption above.

40



SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA OF THE COOPERATIVE

        The following table sets forth selected financial data of Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc. (d.b.a. "Golden Oval Eggs"), which will be the predecessor of Golden Oval Eggs, LLC if the conversion is consummated. The information presented as of and for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 is derived from the cooperative's financial statements, which have been audited by Moore Stephens Frost, independent auditors. The information presented as of and for the fiscal year ended August 31, 1999 and the nine months ended May 31, 2003 and 2004 is unaudited. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring items) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included in the unaudited information. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year.

        We encourage you to read the financial data presented below along with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," as well as the financial statements and related notes included at the end of this document.

Selected Financial Data of the Cooperative
(in thousands, except share and per share data)

 
  Year Ended August 31,
  Nine Months Ended
May 31,

 
 
  1999
  2000
  2001
  2002
  2003
  2003
  2004
 
 
  (Unaudited)

   
   
   
   
  (Unaudited)

  (Unaudited)

 
Income Statement Data:                                            
  Revenues   $ 20,344   $ 20,737   $ 35,215   $ 46,169   $ 53,052   $ 36,965   $ 62,240  
  Cost of goods sold     15,638     17,294     31,053     39,450     43,300     32,000     35,748  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Gross profit     4,706     3,443     4,162     6,719     9,752     4,965     26,492  
  Operating expenses     1,476     1,559     2,495     3,339     3,208     2,426     5,026  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Income from Operations     3,230     1,884     1,667     3,380     6,544     2,539     21,466  
  Interest expense     (861 )   (1,038 )   (2,314 )   (3,466 )   (3,520 )   (2,661 )   (2,292 )
  Other income     359     284     650     385     509     371     335  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Income before income taxes     2,728     1,130     3     299     3,533     249     19,509  
  Income taxes     161     2                      
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Net income   $ 2,567   $ 1,128   $ 3   $ 299   $ 3,533   $ 249   $ 19,509  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding

 

 

3,295,537

 

 

3,868,232

 

 

4,189,832

 

 

4,388,517

 

 

4,581,832

 

 

4,581,832

 

 

4,581,832

 
 
Net income per common share

 

$

0.78

 

$

0.29

 

$


 

$

0.07

 

$

0.77

 

$

0.05

 

$

4.26

 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Distributions per common share

 

$

0.55

 

$

0.07

 

$

0. 04

 

$


 

$


 

$


 

$

0.40

 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
  As of August 31,
   
 
  As of
May 31,
2004

 
  1999
  2000
  2001
  2002
  2003
 
  (Unaudited)

   
   
   
   
  (Unaudited)

Balance Sheet Data:                                    
  Current assets   $ 12,796   $ 19,337   $ 15,619   $ 14,420   $ 18,211   $ 31,640
  Property, plant and equipment     14,926     37,967     46,346     42,537     38,118     44,823
  Other assets     5,506     5,528     5,618     9,815     8,531     7,546
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Total assets   $ 33,228   $ 62,832   $ 67,583   $ 66,772   $ 64,860   $ 84,009
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current liabilities

 

$

1,838

 

$

6,173

 

$

9,591

 

$

8,965

 

$

6,025

 

$

7,732
  Long-term debt, less current maturities     11,727     36,384     37,624     35,309     32,804     32,570
  Total patrons' equities   $ 19,663   $ 20,275   $ 20,368   $ 22,498   $ 26,031   $ 43,707
 
Common shares outstanding

 

 

3,868,232

 

 

3,868,232

 

 

4,189,832

 

 

4,581,832

 

 

4,581,832

 

 

4,581,832
 
Book value per common share

 

$

5.08

 

$

5.24

 

$

4.86

 

$

4.91

 

$

5.68

 

$

9.54

41



MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

        We encourage you to read the following discussion in conjunction with the cooperative's financial statements, the notes thereto and the other financial data included elsewhere in this document. The following discussion contains forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on assumptions by the cooperative's management as of the date of this document and are subject to risks and uncertainties, including those under the heading entitled "Risk Factors," that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Because the LLC will be the successor of the cooperative, the following discussion will generally be equally applicable to the LLC on a going-forward basis. The cooperative and the LLC caution readers not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.

Overview

        The cooperative is engaged in the production, breaking, and sale of non-pasteurized liquid whole eggs, liquid whites, and liquid yolks. The cooperative's operations are integrated from the production of eggs, processing of those eggs into liquid eggs, and the transportation of the liquid eggs. The cooperative currently ranks in the top 15 in the nation for production of shell eggs. The cooperative also obtains a relatively small portion of its eggs from third parties for processing, which amount has ranged from 9.1% to 11.8% of total eggs processed for each of the last three fiscal years. The cooperative primarily markets its liquid eggs to further processors of egg products.

        The cooperative's operating income or loss is significantly affected by wholesale liquid egg prices, which can fluctuate widely and are outside of the cooperative's control. Liquid eggs are a commodity product and prices fluctuate in response to supply /demand factors.

        The cooperative's cost of production is materially affected by feed costs, which average approximately 40% of the cooperative's total costs. Approximately 60% of these feed costs are incurred in the procurement of corn and soybeans. The cost of these ingredients is affected by a number of supply and demand factors such as crop production and weather, and other factors, such as the level of grain exports, over which the cooperative has little or no control. The ratio of pounds of feed purchased to pounds of egg product processed from eggs produced "in-line" by the cooperative, or "feed efficiency," has ranged from 2.42 to 2.57 for each of the last three fiscal years.

        One of the primary inputs for feed is corn. Historically, the corn purchased and used in operations is obtained primarily through the delivery of corn pursuant to uniform marketing agreements between the cooperative and each of its members. The Board of Directors of the cooperative, in its sole discretion, establishes the purchase price to be paid for each bushel of corn delivered. The cooperative has historically followed a policy of paying average market prices as posted at local elevators for all corn so purchased. As part of the conversion, we intend to terminate the corn delivery program. Following the conversion, the LLC will continue to require the same quantities of corn for processing as are currently required by the cooperative. In order to fulfill those requirements, the LLC will be required to acquire substantial quantities of corn in the marketplace, based upon the then-prevailing market price of corn. Because the cooperative has always paid average market prices for corn purchased in the corn delivery program, we do not expect to experience any material change in corn procurement costs as a results of the termination of the program.

        Following several years of attractive profits (from fiscal 1996 to fiscal 1999), the cooperative experienced a period of low earnings from fiscal 2000 to fiscal 2002. The primary reason for these results was an industry wide overproduction of eggs in North America ahead of retail and food service demand. This supply/demand imbalance caused egg prices to fall to levels that made most egg producers and processors marginally profitable to unprofitable during this period.

42



        Since the middle of 2003, however, egg prices have risen dramatically. This increase is due to several factors, including: (1) shutdown of several egg production facilities for economic reasons; (2) reduction in the number of laying hens (layers) due to the implementation of animal welfare standards; (3) reduction in layers due to the outbreak of Exotic Newcastle Disease, a contagious and fatal viral disease in birds, in the Southwest and on the West Coast; and (4) increased demand for eggs and egg products due to the number of Americans switching to some form of high protein/low carbohydrate diets.

        Presently, the egg market continues to hover around record high prices, which has sustained a high profit margin for the cooperative in the first half of fiscal 2004. These profit margins far outstrip historical profit margins of the cooperative since inception. Based on management's expertise and experience in the egg business, we believe that these profit margins are not sustainable over the long term and that over time, barring new impacts on the industry from unforeseen circumstances, prices for eggs will return to a level closer to historical averages. The anticipated price adjustments are likely to come primarily from increases in egg production, a commodity product that is fairly easy to produce, as producers seek to capture the excess profits. Or, if supply increases are insufficient, consumer demand for eggs may begin to subside in response to continued high prices. The cooperative is at or near its current production and processing capacities. In response to the current favorable market, the cooperative has begun construction of additional production facilities at its site in Thompson, Iowa, including additional layer barns and a feed mill to meet the corresponding need for increased feed. The cooperative does not expect the construction and operation of the feed mill and related facilities to have a net material effect on its results of operations. In addition, the cooperative will continue to tightly manage its risk management profile by seeking ways to minimize volatility in its operating margins.

        The cooperative sells a portion of its products under contract at non-market prices. Depending upon market circumstances, the prices generated by the cooperative's non-market volume sales tend to be either less or more than what the prevailing open market prices would generate. For the nine months ended May 31, 2004, due to record high market prices for egg products, the cooperative's revenues would have been approximately 16% higher and its gross profit would have been approximately 38% higher if it had sold all of its egg products on the open market. On this same basis, for fiscal 2003, 2002 and 2001, the cooperative's revenues would have been approximately 4% higher, 5% lower and 6% lower, respectively, and its gross profit approximately 21% higher, 38% lower and 54% lower, respectively.

43



Results Of Operations

        The following table presents the amounts sold and weighted average prices of those sales for liquid whole eggs, liquid egg whites and liquid egg yolks for the periods presented.

 
  Year Ended August 31,
   
Product

  Nine Months Ended
May 31, 2004

  2001
  2002
  2003
Whole egg:                        
  Pounds sold (in millions)     60.0     72.9     70.9     64.7
  Average price per pound   $ .333   $ .323   $ .360   $ .490
Egg whites:                        
  Pounds sold (in millions)     30.1     47.6     48.8     32.5
  Average price per pound   $ .216   $ .122   $ .208   $ .587
Egg yolks:                        
  Pounds sold (in millions)     16.0     25.4     26.2     17.2
  Average price per pound   $ .553   $ .659   $ .663   $ .667
Total:                        
  Pounds sold (in millions)     106.0     146.0     145.9     114.4
  Average price per pound   $ .333   $ .316   $ .364   $ .544

    Nine Months Ended May 31, 2004 Compared To Nine Months Ended May 31, 2003

        Revenues.    Revenues for the first nine months of fiscal 2004 were $62.2 million, an increase of $25.3 million or 68.4% as compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2003. The increase in revenues was due primarily to the increase in total pounds of egg products sold and egg product selling prices during the first nine months of fiscal 2004 as compared with the first nine months of fiscal 2003. Pounds sold for the first nine months of fiscal 2004 were 114.4 million, an increase of 6.3 million or 5.8% as compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2003. While the number of layers in production was virtually unchanged between the two periods, the increase in pounds sold resulted primarily from changes in the amount and composition of feed used. Domestic demand for eggs is strong, which has resulted in higher selling prices during the first nine months of fiscal 2004. The cooperative's average selling price per pound for the first nine months of fiscal 2004 was $.544, compared to $.342 for the first nine months of fiscal 2003, an increase of 59.1%. The cooperative's average selling price is the blended price for liquid whole eggs, liquid egg whites and liquid egg yolks. The factors relating to the increase in sales prices are discussed in the overview above.

        Cost of goods sold.    Cost of goods sold for the first nine months of fiscal 2004 was $35.7 million, an increase of $3.7 million or 11.7% as compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2003. The increase is due to an increase in the cost of eggs purchased from third parties for the cooperative's off-line production and an increase in the cost of feed. The cooperative buys a significant number of shell eggs from third parties for processing at its Renville egg breaking facility. The cost of these eggs for the first nine months of fiscal 2004 increased $2.8 million or 96.6% as compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2003. This increase is due primarily to the overall rise in prices in the egg industry. Over this same period, feed costs increased by $1.9 million or 14.4%. Approximately $1.4 million of the increase in feed costs is due to increased feed prices due primarily to increases in the price of soymeal and corn, and approximately $0.5 million is due to an increase in the amount of feed used.

        Operating expenses.    Operating expenses for the first nine months of fiscal 2004 were $5.0 million, an increase of $2.6 million or 107.2% as compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2003. Increased bonus compensation due primarily to record profitability accounts for approximately $1.8 million of the increase. Professional services relating primarily to the potential limited liability company conversion account for approximately $.8 million of the increase.

44



        Total other expense.    Total other expense for the first nine months of fiscal 2004 was $2.0 million, a decrease of $.3 million or 14.5% as compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2003. This reduction was the result of lower interest expense due to lower debt balances.

    Fiscal Year Ended August 31, 2003 Compared To Fiscal Year Ended August 31, 2002

        Revenues.    For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2003, revenues were $53.1 million, an increase of $6.9 million or 14.9% as compared to the fiscal year ended August 31, 2002. While liquid pounds sold by the cooperative remained virtually unchanged between the two years, the average selling price for the eggs was $.3635 per pound for fiscal 2003, an increase of $.0473 per pound or 15% compared to an average price of $.3162 in fiscal 2002. The increase in revenues was due to the increased market price for liquid whole eggs, liquid egg whites and liquid egg yolks sold by the cooperative.

        Cost of goods sold.    Cost of goods sold for fiscal 2003 was $43.3 million, an increase of $3.9 million or 9.8% as compared to fiscal 2002. Feed costs accounted for most of the change with a $3.0 million or 19.1% increase from fiscal 2002 to fiscal 2003. Approximately $.7 million of the increase in feed costs was due to an increase in the amount of feed used, and approximately $2.3 million due to increased feed prices. The remaining increase in cost of goods sold came from a variety of other factors, with no one factor accounting for a meaningful component of the remaining increase.

        Operating expenses.    Operating expenses for fiscal 2003 were $3.2 million, a decrease of $.1 million or 3.9% as compared to fiscal 2002. No one factor accounted for a meaningful amount of the decrease.

        Total other expense.    Total other expense for fiscal 2003 was $3.0 million, a decrease of $70,000 or 2.3%, as compared to fiscal 2002. An increase of $120,000 from litter and inedible egg sales was partially offset by an increase of $50,000 in interest expense.

    Fiscal Year Ended August 31, 2002 Compared To Fiscal Year Ended August 31, 2001

        Revenues.    Revenues for fiscal 2002 were $46.2 million, an increase of $11.0 million or 31.1% as compared to fiscal 2001. Liquid pounds sold by the cooperative in fiscal 2002 were 146 million pounds, an increase of 40 million pounds, or 37.7%, compared to 106 million pounds sold in fiscal 2001. This increase in pounds sold was the result of the cooperative bringing the first phase of the Thompson facility online in stages during fiscal 2001, with seven of the nine barns completed, housed with birds and producing eggs by the end of fiscal 2001, and the bringing online of the remaining two barns towards the beginning of fiscal 2002. The cooperative's average selling price in fiscal 2002 was $.3162 per pound, a decrease of $.0161, or 4.8%, as compared to $.3323 per pound in fiscal 2001. The increase in pounds sold was offset by the reduction in selling price to account for the increased revenues.

        Cost of goods sold.    Cost of goods sold for fiscal 2002 was $39.5 million, an increase of $8.4 million or 27.0% as compared to fiscal 2001. Feed costs for fiscal 2002 were $15.7 million, an increase of $3.4 million or 28% as compared with fiscal 2001. Production costs at the Thompson, Iowa facility increased $4.2 million in fiscal 2002 as compared with fiscal 2001. Both the increase in feed costs and the increase in production costs in Thompson were primarily the result of the increased production referenced above. The remaining increase in costs came from a variety of other factors, with no one factor accounting for a meaningful component of the remaining increase.

        Operating expenses.    Operating expenses for fiscal 2002 were $3.3 million, an increase of $0.8 million, or 33.8%, as compared fiscal 2001. The increase in operating costs were primarily the result of the increase in production referenced above.

        Total other expense.    Total other expense for fiscal 2002 was $3.1 million, an increase of $1.4 million, or 85.2%, as compared to fiscal 2001. Interest expense accounted for $1.2 million of the

45



increase. The increase in interest was due to the increase in debt taken on to complete the build out of the Thompson production and processing facility.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

        The cooperative's working capital at May 31, 2004 was $23.9 million compared to $8.1 million at May 31, 2003. The cooperative's current ratio was 4.1 at May 31, 2004 compared to 2.2 at May 31, 2003. The cooperative has established a $5.5 million working capital line of credit with US Bank. Currently, there is no amount outstanding under the line of credit. This credit line, which protects the cooperative from seasonal cash fluctuations, terminates on December 31, 2004. The cooperative expects that cash flow from operations and proceeds from its existing credit lines will be sufficient to fund operations, to provide adequate capital expenditures (excluding major expansions beyond the current expansion), and to make distributions to its members for at least the next 12 months. The cooperative may require significant additional capital resources in order to proceed with potential future expansions or to otherwise respond to competitive pressures in the industry.

        The production and processing plants were built over the course of the last ten years with completion of the Renville production and processing facility in 1996 and the phase one production and processing completed at Thompson in 2001. Capital expenditures totaled $.3 million in 2003 and $1.3 million in 2002. Capital expenditures for current projects are expected to total approximately $17 million, including approximately $15.5 million for the initial step of the phase two expansion at the Thompson facility (the three layer barns and feed mill and related facilities, as discussed in "Business" below) and approximately $1.5 million to purchase and upgrade the wastewater treatment facilities at Renville. As of May 31, 2004, the cooperative has committed to contracts on the construction projects totaling approximately $15.3 million, with approximately $5 million remaining to be paid under those contracts in fiscal 2004. In addition, the cooperative's expansion will necessitate increases in inventory of approximately $2 million, which would be financed by trade credit and amounts available for borrowing under the cooperative's credit lines. Potential future expansions include the completion of the second phase of the Thompson facilities (the remaining barns needed to mirror phase one, and related improvements necessary to accommodate the increased egg production and processing) at an estimated additional cost of approximately $21.7 million. If the cooperative can make suitable arrangements for the sale of the additional product, the cooperative intends to proceed with these future expansions as its capital resources permit.

        The cooperative's long-term debt at May 31, 2004, including current maturities, was $35.1 million compared to $37.4 million at May 31, 2003. Substantially all trade receivables and inventories collateralize the cooperative's line of credit and property, plant and equipment collateralize the cooperative's long-term debt under its loan agreements. The cooperative is required by certain provisions of its loan agreements to maintain (1) a minimum tangible net worth of not less than $16.5 million; (2) total liabilities to tangible net worth ratio of no more than 3:1; (3) working capital of no less than $3.5 million; (4) an interest coverage ratio of no less than 2:1; (5) a fixed charge coverage ratio no greater than 1:1; (6) capital expenditures not to exceed $.6 million or the amount that will create a fixed charge coverage ratio greater than 1:1; and (7) a debt to net worth ratio of no more than 2:1. In addition, these provisions restrict the cooperative's ability to make distributions, create liens, incur indebtedness and sell assets and properties. As of May 31, 2004, the cooperative was in compliance with these covenants.

        Net cash flow from operations was $22.9 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2004. This increased level of cash flow was primarily the result of improved profit margins resulting from the record high sales prices. The cooperative believes that these profit margins are not sustainable over the long term. See "—Overview" above. Despite the increased levels of sales revenue, outstanding accounts receivable remained unchanged. Increase in corn and soybean prices resulted in an increase in inventory levels of $1.9 million. Overall the changes in net non-cash working capital were not material.

46



This cash flow has allowed the cooperative to (1) pay $9.8 million towards the Thompson expansion, (2) make a $1.8 million distribution to its shareholders, (3) set aside $1.7 million to restricted cash account to be used to pay the 2001 bond debt and (4) increase its cash on hand to $12.1 million.

        Management believes that non-cash working capital levels are appropriate in the current business environment and does not expect a significant increase or reduction of non-cash working capital in the next 12 months.

        Net cash flow from operations improved to $6.3 million in fiscal 2003 from $3.2 million in fiscal 2002. This improvement was a result of improved profit margins due primarily to higher sales prices. The benefit of increased cash flows from operations and flat capital expenditure requirements in fiscal 2003 allowed the cooperative to pay down the revolving line of credit by $3.0 million and to reduce long-term debt by $2.4 million.

Critical Accounting Estimates

        The cooperative prepares its financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The cooperative's significant accounting policies are discussed in detail in Note 1 to the financial statements included at the end of this document. Certain of these accounting policies as discussed below require management to make estimates and assumptions about future events that could materially affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Accounting estimates and assumptions discussed in this section are those that we consider to be the most critical to an understanding of the cooperative's financial statements because they inherently involve significant judgments and uncertainties. Although the cooperative has not experienced any material changes in its financial position or results of operations in connection with these matters in the past, based on management's experience there is a reasonable likelihood that such changes may occur from time to time in the future. For all of these estimates, we caution that future events rarely develop exactly as forecast, and estimates routinely require adjustment.

        Allowance for Doubtful Accounts.    In the normal course of business, the cooperative extends credit to its customers on a short-term basis. Although credit risks associated with its customers are considered minimal, the cooperative routinely reviews its accounts receivable balances and makes provisions for probable doubtful accounts. In circumstances where management is aware of a specific customer's inability to meet its financial obligations to the cooperative (e.g. bankruptcy filings), a specific reserve is recorded to reduce the receivable to the amount expected to be collected. For all other customers, the cooperative recognizes reserves for bad debts based on management's experience and the length of time the receivables are past due, generally the entire balance for amounts more than 90 days past due. As of May 31, 2004, the cooperative had never written off any accounts receivable and had no bad debt reserves.

        Inventories.    Inventories of eggs, feed and supplies are valued principally at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out method) or market. If market prices for eggs and feed grains move substantially lower, the cooperative would record adjustments to write-down the carrying values of eggs and feed inventories to fair market value.

        The cost associated with flock inventories, consisting principally of chick costs, feed, labor, and overhead costs, are accumulated during the growing period of approximately 18 weeks. Capitalized flock costs are then amortized over the productive lives of the flocks, generally 18 to 24 months. High mortality from disease or extreme temperatures would result in abnormal adjustments to write-down flock inventories. As of May 31, 2004, the cooperative had only one abnormal adjustment due to high mortality. The results of this adjustment were non-material to the financial statements. Management continually monitors each flock and attempts to take appropriate actions to minimize the risk of mortality loss.

47



        Long-Lived Assets.    Depreciable long-lived assets are primarily comprised of buildings and improvements and machinery and equipment. Depreciation is provided by the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives based on management's experience, which are 7 to 39 years for buildings and improvements and 3 to 15 years for machinery and equipment. An increase or decrease in the estimated useful lives would result in changes to depreciation expense. As of May 31, 2004, the cooperative had never experienced any changes to asset useful lives.

        The cooperative continually reevaluates the carrying value of its long-lived assets, for events or changes in circumstances, which indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. As part of this reevaluation, if impairment indicators are present, the cooperative estimates the future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset and its eventual disposal. As of May 31, 2004, the cooperative had never found impairment indicators to be present in its reevaluation processes.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

        In August 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement No. 143, "Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations." This statement applies to legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets that result from the acquisition, construction, development or normal operation of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessees. The liability would be recognized in the period in which it is incurred and can be reasonably estimated. The cooperative adopted Statement No. 143 effective September 1, 2002. The cooperative has reviewed its assets and believes it has no assets which will require funds to retire in the future.

        In April 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement No. 149, "Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities." This statement amends Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 to provide clarification on the financial accounting and reporting of derivative instruments and hedging activities and requires that contracts with similar characteristics be accounted for on a comparable basis. The standard is effective for contracts entered into or modified after June 30, 2003, and for hedging relationships designated after June 30, 2003. The cooperative's adoption of Statement No. 149 did not have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations.

        In May 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement No. 150, "Accounting for Certain Instruments with Characteristics of Both Liabilities and Equity." This statement establishes how an issuer classifies and measures certain freestanding financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity and requires that such instruments be classified as liabilities. The standard is effective for financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003. The cooperative's adoption of Statement No. 150 did not have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations.

        In January 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Interpretation No. 46, "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an interpretation of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51." This interpretation requires the consolidation of entities in which an enterprise absorbs a majority of the entity's expected losses, receives a majority of the entity's expected residual returns, or both, as a result of ownership, contractual or other financial interests in the entity. A variable interest entity results from interests in an entity through ownership, contractual relationships, or other pecuniary interest. Under current accounting guidance, entities are generally consolidated by an enterprise only when it has a controlling financial interest through ownership of a majority voting interest in the entity. The cooperative has interests in various affiliates established for the purpose of finished feed production, technology services and rental of real estate. The creditors of the entities do not have recourse to the cooperative. The cooperative is currently evaluating the effects of the issuance of Interpretation No. 46 on the accounting for its ownership interests in these entities.

48



Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

        Market risk is the risk of loss to future earnings, to fair values or to future cash flows that may result from changes in the price of a financial instrument. The value of a financial instrument may change as a result of changes in interest rates, commodity prices, exchange rates, equity prices and other market changes. Market risk is attributed to all market-risk sensitive financial instruments, including long-term debt.

        The cooperative does not believe it is subject to any material market risk exposure with respect to interest rates, commodity prices, exchange rates, equity prices, or other market changes that would require disclosure.

        Commodity Risk.    The cooperative is subject to market risk resulting from changes in commodity prices associated with our feed inputs, particularly corn and soybeans. The availability and price of these ingredients are subject to wide fluctuations due to unpredictable supply and demand factors such as crop production and weather. To manage the potential negative impact of these price fluctuations, the cooperative engages in various hedging and other risk management activities, including the buying and selling of option contracts.

        A portion of the commodity price risks are effectively managed due to the fact that approximately 30% of the cooperative's egg production is under long-term contract for sale on a formula feed pricing basis, where prices automatically vary to take into account changes in feed costs. For the approximately 70% of the cooperative's egg production sold on a market basis, the cooperative manages its commodity price risks by buying and selling corn and soybean meal options through regulated commodity exchanges. The cooperative does not actually purchase commodities under these option contracts. Depending on market fluctuations, the cooperative generally sells the contract prior to maturity and purchases another contract for the same quantity at a different price. Occasionally, a worthless contract is permitted to expire unexercised and a new option purchased in its place. The cooperative does not utilize hedging instruments for speculative purposes.

        The goal of the cooperative's hedging policy is to offset potential adverse price moves for a projected nine to twelve months by a corresponding gain in the hedging account. Gains or losses on these positions are recognized as a component of commodity costs. The cooperative's hedging strategy is designed to be effective during times of both market increases and decreases, with an objective of capturing 60-70% of market price moves. Although these instruments are economic hedges, the cooperative does not designate these contracts as hedges for accounting purposes pursuant to the requirements of SFAS 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.

        The following table presents a sensitivity analysis to illustrate the cooperative's exposure to market risk of its option positions. The table presents the fair value of open positions as of August 31, 2003 and May 31, 2004 and the potential loss in fair value resulting from a hypothetical 10% reduction in fair values as of those dates. The fair value of the cooperative's positions is a summation of the fair values calculated by valuing each net position at quoted market prices as of the applicable date.

 
  Fair Value
  Effect of Hypothetical
Adverse Change

August 31, 2003   $ 451,802   $ 45,180
May 31, 2004   $ 320,521   $ 32,052

        The following examples illustrate the hypothetical effects of changes in commodity prices upon the cooperative's net procurement costs for corn and soybeans. At the beginning of fiscal 2003, the cooperative held options on 3,000,000 bushels of corn, representing approximately 70% of the anticipated usage over the year, as described above. At that time, these contracts had an aggregate market value of $397,500 based on then current futures prices of the optioned corn of $2.4775 per

49



bushel. If corn futures prices increased 10%, the procurement costs on 3,000,000 bushels would be expected to increase by approximately $743,000, which would be partially offset by an expected open position value increase of approximately $458,000, for a net cost increase of approximately $285,000. If futures prices instead decreased 10%, procurement costs would be expected to decrease by approximately $743,000, partially offset by an expected open position value decrease of approximately $270,000, for a net cost decrease of approximately $473,000.

        Similarly, at the beginning of fiscal 2003, the cooperative held options on 20,000 tons of soybean meal with an aggregate market value of $113,000 based on then current futures prices of the optioned soybean meal of $183.40 per ton. If soybean meal futures prices increased 10%, the procurement costs on 20,000 tons would be expected to increase by approximately $366,000, which would be partially offset by an expected open position value increase of approximately $205,000, for a net cost increase of approximately $161,000. If futures prices instead decreased 10%, procurement costs would be expected to decrease by approximately $366,000, partially offset by an expected open position value decrease of approximately $91,000, for a net cost decrease of approximately $275,000.

Contractual Obligations

        The following table presents various known contractual obligations of the cooperative as of August 31, 2003:

 
  Payments due by period
Contractual Obligations

  Total
  Less than
1 year

  1-3 years
  3-5 years
  More than
5 years

Long-Term Debt   32,803,565   2,502,400   5,189,382   5,288,592   22,066,683
Operating Leases   2,015,643   230,969   414,071   282,248   1,088,355
Construction Obligations   9,358,141   9,358,141      
Total   44,177,349   12,091,510   5,603,453   5,570,840   23,155,038

        The data presented in the preceding table does not include any expected interest payments. The cooperative had no material purchase obligations as of August 31, 2003.

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BUSINESS

        To the extent that the LLC will be the successor of the cooperative and will continue to operate the business of the cooperative, unless indicated otherwise, the following discussion of the business, as it applies to the cooperative, is equally applicable to the LLC, and vice versa.

Overview

        The cooperative is a member-owned Minnesota cooperative that is primarily engaged in the business of producing and processing egg products. The cooperative was incorporated on March 17, 1994. The cooperative's fiscal year is from September 1 to August 31. Its principal office is located at 340 Dupont Avenue NE, Renville, Minnesota 56284. The telephone number is 320-329-8182.

        The cooperative's output consists of liquid whole egg, liquid egg white and liquid egg yolk. The egg products produced by the cooperative are sold on a direct basis to companies who further process the raw liquid egg into various finished egg products such as dried eggs, frozen, hard cooked, extended shelf-life liquid, pre-cooked egg patties, specialty egg products, etc. Institutional, food service, restaurants, and food manufacturers in turn purchase these further processed products.

        The cooperative has seen its production increase from approximately 7 million liquid pounds in 1995 to approximately 146 million in 2003. Assuming the current construction of additional layer barns at the Thompson facility is complete, the cooperative expects to have the capacity to produce approximately 175 million liquid pounds of products annually. When the second phase of the Thompson facility is completed, the cooperative expects to reach an annual production capacity of approximately 225 million pounds. The egg industry has been consolidating as producers and processors try to meet the needs of their large customers. We believe that these large customers are looking for a reduced number of reliable suppliers that can give them the high quality product that they need.

        The cooperative had revenues of approximately $53.0 million during fiscal 2003 (ending August 31, 2003), approximately $46.2 million during fiscal year 2002 (ending August 31, 2002) and approximately $35.2 million during fiscal 2001 (ending August 31, 2001).

Facilities and Production

        The cooperative maintains production and processing facilities at both its original 60-acre site in Renville, Minnesota and a second 240-acre site northeast of Thompson, Iowa. The land on which the Thompson facilities are located is leased from Midwest Investors of Iowa, Cooperative. At each location, the cooperative maintains a large layer flock for "in-line" production of eggs.

        The laying barns are equipped with high-rise turbo ventilation systems which are designed to promote better bird health, improved pest control, uniform temperatures and a purer environment for employees working at the facility. The turbo ventilation system dries poultry litter to approximately 15% moisture, which greatly reduces any odor. The dried poultry litter also results in less tonnage being transported to area farm fields for application. The dried poultry litter is marketed to local farmers for its nutrient value to be applied as a soil amendment to farm fields located in the vicinity of the facility.

        After the eggs are produced, they are processed into liquid egg products at one of the cooperative's two egg breaking facilities. The in-line processing facility receives the shell eggs via a conveyor belt directly from the layer barns. At the Renville site, supplementary equipment also allows procurement of "off-line" produced shell eggs from third parties for processing. The egg breaking facilities process the eggs by washing, rinsing, sanitizing and candling the eggs prior to removing the shells. The process then extracts any inedible substances and separates the liquid into whites, yolks or whole eggs. The liquid eggs are then filtered, cooled and pumped into liquid storage tanks. The liquid egg products are then shipped via tanker trucks to customers. The egg shells are currently land applied

51



as crop plant food but, with construction underway on an egg shell recovery facility at the Thompson site, the cooperative expects to be able to begin drying a portion of the shells for utilization as a feed ingredient.

Renville, Minnesota

        Construction of an in-line production and processing layer complex in Renville, Minnesota, began in June 1994, with construction being completed and all 16 barns housed with approximately 2.0 million birds by October 1996. The Renville processing facility presently operates near its current production capacity of approximately 70 million pounds of liquid egg per year.

        The cooperative acquires all of its baby chicks from third-party sources. The cooperative has an exclusive contract pullet growing arrangement for its needs at the Renville operation with The Pullet Connection. The Pullet Connection receives day-old birds, provides housing, labor, and utilities and delivers the pullets to the layer sight at approximately sixteen weeks of age. The cooperative owns the birds, provides all feed and supplies, and pays The Pullet Connection a fixed fee per delivered pullet along with performance incentives determined by certain quality standards. The Pullet Connection's facility has the capacity to house approximately 520,000 pullets.

        Feed for the laying hens at the Renville facility and the pullet growing operations is manufactured at a feed mill owned and operated on a cost basis by United Mills. United Mills is a cooperative venture owned one-third each by Coop Country Farmers Elevator of Renville, Minnesota, Christensen Family Farms and the cooperative. The feed mill is capable of producing 250,000 tons of feed annually. The cooperative uses approximately 65% of the feed manufactured by United Mills. The cooperative believes that it is able to leverage United Mills' volume purchasing power and production capacity to achieve lower feed costs than the cooperative would face if it manufactured feed at its own facilities.

Thompson, Iowa

        In August 1999, construction of a second in-line production and processing layer complex began on the site located near Thompson, Iowa. The project is divided into two phases. Construction of phase one, the east side of the complex, which houses approximately 2.7 million layers and 650,000 pullets, was completed in December 2001. Phase one consists of eleven high-rise barns, segmented by one brooder barn, one starter barn, nine layer barns, an egg processing facility and an operations office. Phase two is the west side of the complex and is planned as a duplicate of the east side brooder, starter and layer barns, as well as a feed mill and related facilities, as described below. As an initial phase two step, the cooperative is in the process of constructing both the feed mill and related facilities and three additional layer barns that are expected to house an additional anticipated .9 million producing hens by September 2004. If the cooperative can make suitable arrangements for the sale of the additional product, the cooperative intends to continue building out in the future as its capital resources permit in order to reach its permitted level of 5.4 million layers and 1.3 million pullets. The Thompson processing facility presently operates near its current production capacity of approximately 76 million pounds of liquid egg per year.

        As with the Renville operations, the cooperative acquires all of its baby chicks for production at the Thompson site from third-party sources. However, the cooperative raises the baby chicks to pullets itself at the Thompson facility.

        Feed for the laying hens at the Thompson facility is currently manufactured by and purchased from a third party, State Line Coop. Because the cooperative believes that the existing local feed manufacturing capacity would be insufficient to meet the requirements of the Thompson operations when the three additional layer barns are housed with birds, the cooperative is in the process of constructing a 400,000 ton annual production capacity feed mill and related egg shell recovery and grain receiving facilities on the Thompson site. The new mill is expected to be operational by

52



September 2004, at which time the cooperative expects to discontinue its purchases from State Line Coop. The cooperative intends to utilize approximately half of the capacity of the feed mill for its own purposes and contract out the remainder of the capacity to outside users.

Sales, Marketing and Customers

        Currently, a majority of the cooperative's egg products are sold at open market prices, although the cooperative has set up a variety of contract arrangements in an effort to reduce price and product sales risk. The cooperative regularly enters into short-term written contracts and verbal agreements that are based on fixed price and open market. The cooperative is also a party to several multi-year written contracts to supply different customers, including some of its largest clients, based on formula pricing, fixed price and toll milling. Those contracts typically involve the customer's agreement to purchase a specified quantity of egg products each year during the term of the applicable agreement, and allow either party to terminate the contract upon specified notice to the other party. Currently, egg products that are priced on a "non-market" basis under these long-term contracts account for approximately 30% of total sales volume, although this percentage tends to fluctuate over time depending on the availability of and interest of the cooperative's management in entering into these types of sales arrangements. Pricing under these non-market contracts is generally reflective of historical average market prices. The current contracts expire at various times over the next five years, subject to termination by either party on from six to 24 months' notice. In the event that any such contractual arrangements were terminated, the cooperative would plan to sell the available products into the commodity markets for such products.

        The cooperative has expanded its customer base with the additional production from the Thompson expansion. The cooperative delivers to over twenty different customers, which customers regularly serve markets in Minnesota, Wisconsin, California, Iowa, Oregon, Alabama, Missouri and Canada.

        Customers of the cooperative include the following:

    Abbotsford Produce

    Ballas Egg Products Corporation (Division of Wabash Valley Produce, Inc.)

    Brown Produce (Division of Wabash Valley Produce, Inc.)

    Canadian Inovatech (Division of Michael Foods, Inc.)

    Cutler Egg Products (Division of MOARK, LLC)

    Deb-El Foods Corporation

    Echo Lake Farm Produce

    Estherville Foods

    Henningson Foods, Inc.

    Mentone Egg Products

    MG Waldbaum (Division of Michael Foods)

    National Foods

    Norco Ranch, Inc. (Division of MOARK, LLC)

    Nulaid Foods, Inc.

    Oskaloosa Foods

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    Papetti's Hygrade Egg (Division of Michael Foods)

    Papetti's of Iowa (Division of Michael Foods)

    Primera Foods

    Rose Acre Farms

    Sunny Fresh Foods

    USDA

    Wabash Valley Produce, Inc.

    Wenk Produce

    Willamette Egg Company

        In the cooperative's most recent fiscal year, there were a number of customers who each represented more than 10% of the cooperative's total sales. Those customers include Primera Foods, Sunny Fresh Foods, Michael Foods and MOARK. Some of the cooperative's sales are made to customers in Canada. In 2001, non-U.S. sales totaled approximately $2,444,000, with sales in 2002 and 2003 increasing to approximately $3,980,000 and $4,798,000, respectively.

Egg Industry and Markets

Production

        Total U.S. egg production during 2003 was 73.93 billion table eggs.

        In 2003, the average number of egg-type laying hens in the U.S. was 276.1 million. Flock size on January 1, 2004 was 280 million layers, an increase of 1.0 million from a year earlier. Rate of lay per day on that same date averaged 71.0 eggs per 100 layers, up 2 percent from a year earlier.

Market Segmentation

        Of the 206.9 million cases of shell eggs produced in 2003:

    60.9 million cases (29%) were further processed into other commodity products such as fresh liquid, pasteurized liquid, frozen, frozen and salted, frozen and sugared and dried eggs;

    125.8 million cases (61%) went to retail;

    18.6 million cases (9%) went for foodservice use; and

    1.6 million cases (1%) were exported.

        The cooperative participates in the 60.9 million cases that are further processed into various types of egg product. This equates to production of approximately 2,400 million pounds of liquid eggs.

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Per Capita Consumption

        The following table provides "per capita consumption" data on a national basis. Note that per capita consumption is a measure of total egg production divided by the total population. It does not represent demand.

Year:

  1994
  1995
  1996
  1997
  1998
  1999
  2000
  2001
  2002
  2003
   
Per Capita Consumption:   236.4   233.5   234.6   235.6   239.7   249.8   251.7   252.8   253.5   254.1    

        Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA has recently adjusted data to reflect 2000 Census figures)

Competition

        Currently, there are approximately 260 egg producing companies nationally with flocks of 75,000 hens or more, representing approximately 95% of all the layers in the U.S. Of these, there are approximately 65 egg producing companies with 1 million plus layers, representing about 80% of all the layers in the U.S. And, of these, there are approximately 9 companies with greater than 5 million layers.

        Egg Industry Magazine ranked the cooperative as the 14th largest producer nationally as of December 31, 2003. The top twenty producers represented 57.3% of the national flock.

Top U.S. Egg Producers
(by millions of layers in production)

Rank
  Company

  City
  State
  Layers
1   Cal-Maine Foods, Inc.   Jackson   MS   21.1
2   Rose Acres   Seymour   IN   17.5
3   Moark LLC   Carthage   MO   14.2
4   Michael Foods Egg Products Co.   Minneapolis   MN   13.8
5   Sparboe Companies   Litchfield   MN   12.0
6   DeCoster Egg Farms (Maine/Iowa)   Turner   ME   10.5
7   Dutchland Farms L.P.   Lancaster   PA   6.9
8   Buckeye Egg Farm   Croton   OH   6.7
9   Fort Recovery Equity   Fort Recovery   OH   6.7
10   ISE America, Inc.   Galena   MD   6.5
11   Midwest Poultry Services, L.P.   Mentone   IN   5.9
12   Hillandale Farms   Lake City   FL   5.7
13   Daybreak Foods   Lake Mills   WI   5.5
14   Golden Oval Eggs   Renville   MN   4.7
15   Fremont Farms of IA   Malcom & Fremont   IA   4.5
16   National Food Co.   Everett   WA   4.0
17   Wabash Valley Produce   Dubois   IN   3.7
18   Tampa Farm Service Inc.   Dover   FL   3.6
19   Hillandale Farms of PA   North Versailles   PA   3.5
20   Hickman's Egg Ranch   Glendale   AZ   3.4
        Total           160.4

        Source: January 2004 Egg Industry Magazine

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        As stated previously, the industry converted 60.9 million cases into approximately 2,400 million pounds of liquid eggs in 2003. In its most recent fiscal year, the cooperative sold 146 million pounds of liquid egg supplying approximately 6% of the market. Some of the cooperative's customers listed above break a number of their own eggs to fulfill their needs while others source all of their liquid egg from outside providers.

Corn Procurement

        One of the primary inputs for feed is corn. Historically, the corn purchased and used in operations is obtained primarily through the delivery of corn pursuant to uniform marketing agreements between the cooperative and each of its members. Under the marketing agreement, the member is obligated to deliver each year to the cooperative up to one bushel of No. 2 yellow corn for each share of the cooperative's common stock owned. The agreement specifies the quality standards and delivery schedule. Under the Uniform Marketing Agreement, the Board of Directors has the discretion to call for deliveries at a rate of less than one bushel of corn for each share of common stock, by providing notice of the reduced delivery requirement prior to August 1 of the applicable year. The Board of Directors of the cooperative, in its sole discretion, establishes the purchase price to be paid for each bushel of corn delivered. The term of the agreement is one year. At the end of each year, the agreement is automatically renewed for a successive one-year term, until timely notice of termination is given.

        Currently, the cooperative has approximately 4.6 million shares of common stock issued and outstanding, representing obligations of the members to deliver up to approximately 4.6 million bushels of corn annually. In fiscal 2003, the Board of Directors called on its members to deliver a total of approximately 4.1 million bushels out of a total of approximately 4.3 million bushels used in the cooperative's operations. In fiscal 2002, approximately 3.7 million bushels were provided by members, also out of a total of approximately 4.3 million bushels used. Prior to fiscal 2002, the cooperative procured 100% of corn used from its members. The cooperative has historically followed a policy of paying average market prices as posted at local elevators for all corn so purchased.

        As part of the conversion, we intend to terminate the corn delivery program. In anticipation of the completion of the conversion, the cooperative, pursuant to its rights under the uniform marketing agreements, has suspended all delivery requirements under the uniform marketing agreements beginning May 2004. If the conversion is not approved by the cooperative's members, the cooperative will plan to resume the corn delivery program in September 2004. Following the conversion, the LLC will continue to require the same quantities of corn for processing as are currently required by the cooperative. In order to fulfill those requirements, the LLC will be required to acquire substantial quantities of corn in the marketplace, based upon the then-prevailing market price of corn. The cooperative's management believes that there are supplies of corn available in the vicinity of each of the cooperative's primary facilities adequate to continue to meet the needs of the business at reasonable prices following the conversion. Because the cooperative has always paid average market prices for corn purchased in the corn delivery program, we do not expect to experience any material change in corn procurement costs as a result of the termination of the program. If, however, corn prices were to rise to abnormally high levels following the completion of the conversion, the business would no longer have the contractual right to reduce cash outflows by unilaterally establishing below-market prices to be paid to its members for the required corn.

Governmental Regulation

        The cooperative is subject to federal and state regulations relating to grading, quality control, labeling, sanitary control and waste disposal. The cooperative's egg processing facilities are subject to regulation by both the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The cooperative believes that it is in material compliance with the applicable regulatory requirements.

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The cooperative maintains its own inspection program to assure compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, the cooperative's standards and customer specifications.

Environmental Matters

        The cooperative is subject to several federal and state environmental regulations. The federal environmental regulations with which it must comply were promulgated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The Environmental Protection Agency has delegated permitting and enforcement authority under each of these acts to Minnesota and Iowa, where the cooperative has facilities. Thus, the cooperative is required to comply with the provisions of regulations promulgated by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, as well as the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, pursuant to these federal acts.

        In Minnesota, the cooperative has obtained the following permits related to environmental regulations:

    The cooperative has a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency that addresses the requirements of the Clean Water Act. This permit will need to be renewed in 2006. The cooperative does not anticipate the cost of renewing this permit to be material.

    The cooperative has a permit to discharge wastewater from its Minnesota processing operations into the City of Renville's sewer system. The cooperative and the City are currently negotiating a new permit, to be effective January 1, 2005. The cost to this permit renewal is not expected to be material. In the future, the cooperative may elect to own and operate the wastewater treatment facilities necessary for the treatment of waste effluent. If it chooses to do this, the permitting costs are not expected to be material.

        In Iowa, the cooperative has obtained or applied for the following permits related to environmental regulations:

    The cooperative has an Animal Feeding Operation construction permit issued in compliance with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources' Animal Feeding Operation regulations, which were promulgated pursuant to the Clean Water Act. The construction permit does not expire unless significant changes in the size or operation of the facility are anticipated. The cooperative is not currently planning any such changes.

    The cooperative has a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for its wastewater treatment operations at the Iowa facility. This permit expires in April 2005, and the cooperative does not expect the cost of permit renewal to be material.

    The cooperative has air quality construction permits from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for various pieces of equipment that are air emission sources at the Iowa facility, including equipment for the feed mill and related egg shell recovery and grain receiving facilities. These permits have no expiration date, but must be modified if emissions from the equipment are anticipated to change. The cooperative is not currently planning any such changes.

        The cooperative also manages any solid waste, such as deceased hens and waste egg shells, pursuant to Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and Iowa Department of Natural Resources solid waste regulations

        The cooperative is also subject to the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act, also known as the federal "Superfund" law. This law establishes

57



liability for releases of hazardous substances to the environment. Under the law, current and former owners and operators of facilities where hazardous substance releases occur are jointly and severally liable for response costs and damages to natural resources caused by the releases. Because both the Minnesota and Iowa facilities were constructed on previously undeveloped agricultural land, and because any hazardous substances utilized by the cooperative are managed according to regulations promulgated by Minnesota and Iowa pursuant to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and any releases of hazardous substances are within permitted or regulatory limits, the cooperative does not believe it has any significant potential liability under the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act.

        The cooperative believes that it is currently in compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations and has all necessary permits for existing operations. As the cooperative expands its operations, it will need to continue to obtain necessary permits and maintain compliance with regulatory reporting requirements. The cooperative maintains an on-going program designed to ensure compliance with environmental laws and regulations. The cooperative cannot predict whether future changes in environmental laws or regulations might increase the cost of operating its facilities and conducting its business. Any such changes could have material financial consequences for the cooperative and its members.

        As noted above, the cooperative has permits to discharge wastewater from its Renville processing operations into the City of Renville's sewer system, and maintain ponds for storm water runoff. In the future, the cooperative may elect to own and operate the wastewater treatment facilities necessary for the treatment of waste effluent. The Thompson site is a totally self-contained operation, complete with its own water wells and water tower, processing wastewater treatment facilities and electrical generating equipment.

Intellectual Property Rights

        The cooperative does not hold any patents and generally uses industry-standard equipment and processing lines in its business. To the extent it develops proprietary uses of such systems, the cooperative relies on a combination of trade secrets, trademarks, nondisclosure agreements and technical measures to establish and protect its proprietary rights.

Research and Development

        As a commodity-based business, the cooperative does not conduct any research and development activities associated with either the development of new products or the development of new technologies for use in producing those products. Instead, as described above, the cooperative relies upon industry-standard processing and related equipment.

Employees

        As of the [                        ], 2004 record date for the special meeting, the cooperative had approximately 220 full-time employees, none of which are covered by collective bargaining agreements. Management considers its employee relations to be good.

Legal Proceedings

        From time to time and in the ordinary course of its business, the cooperative is named as a defendant in legal proceedings related to various issues, including worker's compensation claims, tort claims and contractual disputes. Other than such routine litigation, the cooperative is not currently involved in any material legal proceedings. In addition, the cooperative is not aware of other potential claims that could result in the commencement of legal proceedings. The cooperative carries insurance that provides protection against certain types of claims, up to the policy limits of the cooperative's insurance.

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MANAGEMENT

Directors of the Cooperative and Managers of the LLC

        The cooperative is managed by a Board of Directors. Under the cooperative's Bylaws, the number of directors is currently set at seven. The number of directors may be changed, but may not be less than five. A director must either be a member or a duly elected or appointed representative of a member. Approximately one-third of the directors are elected each year to serve for a three-year term. Members are currently represented by a director elected in each of seven districts. District boundaries are determined by the Board of Directors to provide fair representation for members.

        The LLC will be managed by a Board of Managers, all of whom will be elected on an at-large basis. Under the Limited Liability Company Agreement, the number of managers is to be set by the Board of Managers, but may not be less than five. The initial Board of Managers of the LLC will consist of the same seven individuals who are currently serving as members of the Board of Directors of the cooperative, who will serve for the same terms for which they would otherwise have served as directors of the cooperative. The Board of Managers will be divided into three classes for election purposes. One class of managers will be elected at each annual meeting of members to serve for a three-year term.

        The names, addresses, ages and terms of the current directors of the cooperative and the initial managers of the LLC are as follows:

Name and Address

  Age
  Position
  Term Expires
Marvin Breitkreutz
74268 250th Street
Renville, Minnesota 56284
  61   Manager, Chairman   2006

Mark Chan
P.O. Box 178
Renville, Minnesota 56284

 

45

 

Manager, Secretary/Treasurer

 

2007

Chris Edgington
4440 Dogwood Avenue
St. Ansgar, Iowa 50472

 

42

 

Manager, Vice Chairman

 

2006

Thomas Jacobs
37408 890th Avenue
Olivia, Minnesota 56277

 

49

 

Manager

 

2005

Brad Petersburg
563 390th Street
Hanlontown, Iowa 50444

 

48

 

Manager

 

2007

Randy Tauer
22257 Skyview Avenue
Morgan, Minnesota 56266

 

42

 

Manager

 

2006

Jeff Woodley
12778 450th Street
Thompson, Iowa 50478

 

47

 

Manager

 

2005

        Marvin Breitkreutz.    Mr. Breitkreutz has served as a director of the cooperative since its formation in 1994, serving as its Chairman since April 2002. He has served on the board for Southern Minnesota Sugar Beet Cooperative, is Chairman of the Red River Valley Farmers Insurance Pool, and is a past

59



township supervisor and chairman of the Renville County Farm Bureau. He has owned and operated his farm since 1962. He raises sugar beets, corn and soybeans.

        Mark Chan.    Mr. Chan has served as a director of the cooperative since its formation in 1994, serving as its Secretary/Treasurer since April 2002. He is a past director of Co-op Country Farmers Elevator and ValAdCo. He has been farming since 1982. He is an owner and manager of a family farm corporation, raising corn, soybeans, sugar beets and green peas.

        Chris Edgington.    Mr. Edgington has served as a director of the cooperative since February 2000, serving as its Vice Chairman since April 2002. He currently serves on the board for Ag Ventures Alliance, and has served on the Iowa Extension Council. He is a member of the Iowa Pork Producers and served on the producer leadership committee. He has been farming since 1984. He is the owner and manager of a farrow to finish hog operation with his brother and they raise corn, soybeans, millet and alfalfa.

        Thomas Jacobs.    Mr. Jacobs has served as a director of the cooperative since its formation in 1994. He is a past board member of the Sheep Producers. He has owned and managed his farm since 1976 where he raises sheep, corn, soybeans, peas, sweet corn and sugar beets.

        Brad Petersburg.    Mr. Petersburg has served as a director of the cooperative since February 2000. He has been active in many farmer-owned organizations and is a member and past county board director for the Iowa Farm Bureau, director of Ag Ventures Alliance, director and past president of Exol ethanol cooperative, director of Midwest Grain Processors Cooperative and chairman of U.S. Ag Producers Alliance. He has owned and managed his farm since 1979, raising corn and soybeans.

        Randy Tauer.    Mr. Tauer has served as a director of the cooperative since March 2003. He is currently serving as a board member of the Prairie Farmers Coop and a member of the Corn and Soybean Producers and Pork Producers. He has been farming since 1980. He owns and manages a farrow to finish hog operation and raises corn, soybeans, sweet corn and peas.

        Jeff Woodley.    Mr. Woodley has served as a director of the cooperative since February 2000. He is chairman of Winnebago County Soil and Water Conservation District, director of Hancock and Winnebago County Cattlemen's Association and a member of Ag Ventures Alliance. He has owned and managed his farm since 1988, where he raises corn, soybeans, hay and cattle.

Board Advisor

        The Board of Directors of the cooperative has appointed Mark Fisler to serve the Board of Directors in an advisory capacity, attending Board meetings and providing input as appropriate, particularly on matters relating to business growth, access to capital and corporate structure. Mr. Fisler has served the cooperative in this role since January 2001, and is expected to serve the Board of Managers of the LLC in substantially the same capacity after the conversion. He is President of Accretio Advisors Inc., a corporate financial advisory firm formed in early 2004. Prior to forming Accretio, Mr Fisler was a Senior Vice President in the Corporate Finance Department of Northland Securities, Inc. since March 2003. Prior to joining Northland, Mr. Fisler was a Managing Director of US Bancorp Piper Jaffray Inc. and was employed by it and its predecessors for a span of 18 years.

Committees of the Board of Managers of the LLC

        In connection with the conversion, the Board of Managers of the LLC will appoint a compensation committee, an audit committee, a nomination committee and a strategic alternatives committee.

        The compensation committee will make recommendations to the Board of Managers of the LLC regarding stock and compensation plans, approve transactions of certain officers and grant stock

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options. We expect that Messrs. Breitkreutz, Edgington and Petersburg will serve as the initial members of the compensation committee.

        The audit committee will make recommendations to the Board of Managers of the LLC regarding the selection of independent auditors, review the scope of audit and other services by the independent auditors, review the accounting principles and auditing practices and procedures to be used for the LLC's financial statements and review the results of those audits. We expect that Messrs. Breitkreutz, Chan and Edgington will serve as the initial members of the audit committee.

        The nomination committee will recommend nominees to the Board of Managers of the LLC. We expect that Messrs. Jacobs, Tauer and Woodley will serve as the initial members of the nomination committee.

        The strategic alternatives committee will review potential strategic alternatives for the LLC to pursue with regard to significant business transactions such as potential outside equity investments, and make recommendations to the Board of Managers of the LLC regarding these strategic alternatives. We expect that Messrs. Breitkreutz, Chan and Petersburg will serve as the initial members of the strategic alternatives committee.

Compensation of Managers

        The LLC will provide its managers with a per diem payment of $200 for any day on which a manager undertakes activities on the LLC's behalf, including board meetings and other functions of the LLC. The LLC will also pay each manager a monthly fee of $200, except for the Chairman and Secretary who will be paid monthly fees of $400 and $250, respectively. The LLC will also reimburse its managers for out-of-pocket expenses incurred on behalf of the LLC.

Executive Officers

        Upon completion of the conversion, the current executive officers of the cooperative will hold comparable offices of the LLC on a full-time basis. The table below sets forth information concerning the current executive officers of the cooperative.

Name

  Age
  Position
Dana Persson   47   President/Chief Executive Officer

Terrance Heying

 

63

 

Vice President/Chief Operations Officer

Doug Leifermann

 

49

 

Vice President/Chief Financial Officer

Marie Staley

 

48

 

Vice President of Shareholder Relations

        Dana Persson.    Mr. Persson has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the cooperative since its formation in 1994. He has served on a committee for United Egg Producers since 2001, and has been a member of the Board of Directors for United Mills since 1994, serving as its Chairman of the Board since 2001. Prior to 1994, he served as President/CEO of Co-op Country Farmers Elevator of Renville, Minnesota, and general manager of a number of grain marketing and farm supply cooperatives in Minnesota.

        Terrance Heying.    Mr. Heying has served as Vice President and Chief Operations Manager of the cooperative since its formation in 1994. He is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the egg production complex, and also develops and implements egg production programs, plans, objectives and policies consistent with goals and objectives established in the annual business plan. Prior to joining the cooperative, he owned and managed pullet rearing operations, egg production, shell egg processing, egg breaking, and further processed products. As an entrepreneur in value-added egg products, he

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developed a technique to freeze cooked egg products. He has designed and built special equipment required to process value-added products in addition to designing and constructing all supporting equipment and facilities.

        Doug Leifermann.    Mr. Leifermann has served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for the cooperative since October 2000. He is responsible for the design and implementation of financial controls, along with providing timely information that accurately portrays the financial status of the cooperative. He also provides managerial leadership for the accounting, financial, data processing and budgeting functions of the cooperative. From 1997 to October 2000, he was employed as the Chief Financial Officer for Phenix Biocomposites, a company incorporated to develop and commercialize new biocomposite technology for the construction, furniture, cabinet and design industries.

        Marie Staley.    Ms. Staley has served as Vice President of Shareholder Relations for the cooperative since its formation in 1994. In addition to coordinating the functions of management and the Board of Directors, she is responsible for member relations, communications, shareholder relations, and provides management leadership for the human resources department. She also administers the corn delivery program and share transfer process. She has served as a board member for the Broiler & Egg Association of Minnesota since 2002. Prior to joining the cooperative, she was employed by the St. Paul Bank for Cooperatives.

Executive Compensation

        Upon completion of the conversion, the current executive officers of the cooperative will hold the comparable offices in the LLC on a full-time basis. The following table shows the compensation paid by the cooperative in the years indicated to its President and Chief Executive Officer (to be the President and Chief Executive Officer of the LLC following the conversion) and the three other individuals who were serving as executive officers of the cooperative at the end of its fiscal year 2003.

Summary Compensation Table

 
   
  Annual Compensation
   
Name and Principal Position

  Fiscal
Year

  Salary
  Bonus
  Other Annual
Compensation(1)

  All Other
Compensation(2)

Dana Persson,
President/Chief Executive
Officer
  2003
2002
2001
  $

191,474
164,472
160,000
  $

106,032

33,133
  $

15,570
15,675
19,419
  $

11,488
9,868
9,600

Terrance Heying,
Vice President/Chief
Operations Officer

 

2003
2002
2001

 

 

136,894
131,091
120,000

 

 

66,686

14,501

 

 

14,604
14,680
14,680

 

 

7,800
7,800
7,200

Doug Leifermann,
Vice President/Chief
Financial Officer

 

2003
2002
2001

 

 

100,000
100,000
79,615

 

 

66,686

14,501

 

 

7,778
7,866
7,831

 

 

6,000
6,000
900

Marie Staley,
Vice President of
Shareholder Relations

 

2003
2002
2001

 

 

80,400
80,000
60,000

 

 

64,506

14,501

 

 

115
145
145

 

 

4,800
4,800
3,600

(1)
Includes the following medical insurance contributions: for Mr. Persson, $7,592, $7,592 and $11,336 for 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively; for Mr. Heying, $7,592 annually; and for Mr. Leifermann, $7,592, $7,592 and $6,557 for 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively. Also includes the following personal vehicle usage: for Mr. Persson, $7,770 annually; and for Mr. Heying, $6,840 annually.

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(2)
Consists of matching contributions made by the cooperative to its 401(k) plan.

Employment Agreements

        The cooperative is party to an employment and non-competition agreement with its President/Chief Executive Officer, Dana Persson. The agreement provides for Mr. Persson's employment for an initial period from July 1, 2002 through August 31, 2003. This employment term has been renewed through August 31, 2004 and will continue to renew automatically for successive one-year periods unless notice is given by either party not less than 60 days before the end of the then current employment term.

        Under the agreement, the cooperative is to pay Mr. Persson an annual base salary of $192,000 and an annual bonus based on the cooperative's return on equity for each fiscal year, capped at two times his base salary. If more than 20% of the fixed or operating assets of the cooperative are sold which would represent a proportional capital gain on members' equity allocated to those assets on a pro rata basis, or if a change in control occurs resulting in a capital gain on members' equity, then the cooperative shall pay Mr. Persson a "liquidation" bonus of 2% of the gain on equity. If the cooperative merges or consolidates with another business entity and the asset value of the merged or consolidated business entity is at least 1.5 times the asset value of the cooperative, then Mr. Persson shall be entitled to a "merger" bonus equivalent to 50% of his base salary in the form of stock or other similar equity in the new or surviving company which shall vest over a period of up to three years. Because the proposed conversion involves a merger with a subsidiary and does not involve the acquisition of any additional assets, asset values will not increase as a result of the conversion and, accordingly, the merger bonus provisions of the agreement will not be triggered. In addition, Mr. Persson is entitled to receive matching 401(k) plan contributions of up to 6% of his base salary, the use of a vehicle and other fringe benefits under the cooperative's group benefit plans.

        The agreement may be terminated prior to the end of the initial term or any renewal term due to death or disability, a change in control of the business, mutual agreement of the parties or otherwise upon the election of either party. If Mr. Persson's employment is terminated by the cooperative without cause or due to a change in control, Mr. Persson is entitled to receive payments in an amount equal to his base salary at normal salary payment intervals for a period of 12 months following termination and group benefits for the applicable period, and the unvested portion of any merger bonus will vest upon termination. If Mr. Persson's employment is otherwise terminated prior to the end of the initial term or any renewal term, the cooperative will be under no further duty to make any payments of salary or bonus or provide any benefits, except to the extent of any payment obligations that accrued prior to termination.

        The agreement provides that, for a period of 18 months after termination of the employment term, Mr. Persson may not participate through management or control or be employed by any business or enterprise which is engaged in any business activity similar to that of the cooperative that competes with the cooperative for the cooperative's egg product markets or sources of egg supplies.

        Following the conversion to an LLC, the LLC will employ Mr. Persson on the same terms as described above.

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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

Patronage Payments

        All of the cooperative's directors and its chief executive officer hold common stock of the cooperative and are also agricultural producers and members of the cooperative. By virtue of their membership status and ownership of common stock, each of these individuals is obligated to deliver corn to the cooperative. The amount and terms of the payments received by these individuals (or the entities they represent) for the delivery of corn are made on exactly the same basis as those received by other members of the cooperative for the delivery of their corn. In connection with the conversion, these corn delivery obligations will be terminated, although these individuals may continue to sell corn to the LLC after the conversion on terms similar to those on which the LLC would purchase corn from others.

Coop Country Farmers Elevator

        Coop Country Farmers Elevator, a member holding a significant amount of the cooperative's common stock, provides various services to the cooperative, including corn handling and storage and litter removal. For the year ended August 31, 2003, the cooperative purchased services totaling approximately $95,000 from Coop Country. The cooperative had total sales to Coop Country of approximately $79,000 for the year ending August 31, 2003. The cooperative also leases office space from Coop Country, under a lease terminable by either party upon 90 days notice. Rent expense for the year ended August 31, 2003 totaled approximately $18,000. In addition, as of August 31, 2003, the cooperative had approximately $272,000 payable to Coop Country for payment for corn that was purchased by patrons but delivered directly to the cooperative.

United Mills

        For the year ended August 31, 2003, the cooperative purchased feed totaling approximately $5,030,000 from United Mills. The cooperative has a 331/3% ownership interest in United Mills that has been accounted for using the equity method. Since United Mills is also a cooperative, its income and capital reserves are allocated to its member-patrons on the basis of patronage. Prepaid feed purchased from United Mills totaled approximately $354,000 at August 31, 2002. The cooperative also had advanced United Mills approximately $150,000 for future purchases of feed at August 31, 2003.

Midwest Investors of Iowa, Cooperative

        The cooperative leases the land on which its Thompson, Iowa facilities are located from Midwest Investors of Iowa, Cooperative. The membership and board of directors of Midwest Investors of Iowa is composed in part of the following members of the Board of Directors of the cooperative: Messrs. Breitkreutz, Chan, Edgington, Jacobs and Petersburg. Rent expense for the year ended August 31, 2003 totaled approximately $78,000. The cooperative holds a note receivable from Midwest Investors of Iowa, secured by the real estate, in the amount of $950,000. The note bears interest at eight percent, which is due and payable monthly. The principal balance is due October 2014.

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PRINCIPAL EQUITYHOLDERS

        The following table furnishes information, as of the [            ], 2004 record date of the special meeting, as to actual beneficial ownership of the cooperative's common stock and pro forma ownership of the LLC's Class A units post-conversion by each person known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of the cooperative's issued and outstanding common stock, each of the cooperative's directors and executive officers (who will serve as the LLC's managers and executive officers post-conversion), and all of the cooperative's directors and executive officers as a group.

 
  Beneficial Ownership of Common Stock Prior to Conversion
  Beneficial Ownership of Class A Units Following Conversion
 
Name

 
  Number
  Percentage
  Number
  Percentage
 

Coop Country Farmers Elevator

 

556,993

 

12.2

%

556,993

 

12.2

%

Marvin Breitkreutz(1)

 

25,168

 

0.5

 

25,168

 

0.5

 

Mark Chan(2)

 

13,728

 

0.3

 

13,728

 

0.3

 

Chris Edgington

 

8,288

 

0.2

 

8,288

 

0.2

 

Thomas Jacobs(3)

 

9,720

 

0.2

 

9,720

 

0.2

 

Brad Petersburg

 

60,432

 

1.3

 

60,432

 

1.3

 

Randy Tauer

 

7,288

 

0.2

 

7,288

 

0.2

 

Jeff Woodley(4)

 

20,000

 

0.4

 

20,000

 

0.4

 

Dana Persson

 

5,296

 

0.1

 

5,296

 

0.1

 

Terrance Heying

 


 


 


 


 

Doug Leifermann

 


 


 


 


 

Marie Staley

 


 


 


 


 

All directors/managers and executive officers as a group

 

149,920

 

3.3

 

149,920

 

3.3

 

(1)
Includes 6,864 shares pre-conversion, and 6,864 Class A units post-conversion, held by Mr. Breitkreutz's wife. Also includes 18,304 shares pre-conversion, and 18,304 Class A units post-conversion, held jointly by Mr. Breitkreutz and his spouse.

(2)
Includes 13,728 shares pre-conversion, and 13,728 Class A units post-conversion, held by MC&S Inc., a corporation owned by Mr. Chan and his family.

(3)
Includes 9,720 shares pre-conversion, and 9,720 Class A units post-conversion, held jointly by Mr. Jacobs and his spouse.

(4)
Includes 20,000 shares pre-conversion, and 20,000 Class A units post-conversion, held jointly by Mr. Woodley and his spouse.

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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS IN THE LLC

        The LLC is governed by its Certificate of Formation and Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement and Delaware law. The following is intended to provide a summary of the material features of the units in the LLC. For a more complete description of the units, we encourage you to read the Certificate of Formation and Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the LLC, attached as Appendices B and C to this document.

Capitalization

        Following the conversion, based on the number of shares of common stock of the cooperative outstanding as of the [                        ], 2004 record date for the special meeting, the LLC will have 4,581,832 Class A units issued and outstanding, all of which will be held by the persons holding common stock of the cooperative immediately prior to the conversion. The Board of Managers has the authority to create additional classes of units and to establish the powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such additional classes. There are no limits on the authority of the Board of Managers to issue additional Class A units or units of any other class to existing or new unitholders. There are currently no outstanding units of any other class, nor are there any outstanding options or warrants for the purchase of any units.

Class A Units

        Class A units represent an interest in the LLC. Each person holding Class A units has the right to:

    A pro rata share of the LLC's profits and losses, subject to any preferential rights of any other class of units the LLC may issue in the future;

    Receive distributions when declared by the Board of Managers ratably in proportion to units held, subject to any preferential rights of any other class of units the LLC may issue in the future and to any applicable lender restrictions;

    Participate in the distribution of LLC's assets if it dissolves or liquidates its business, subject to satisfaction of creditors' claims and any preferential rights of any other class of units it may issue in the future;

    Access and review certain information concerning the LLC's business and affairs, if the unitholder is also a member; and

    Vote on matters submitted to a vote of the LLC's members, if the unitholder is also a member.

        The rights and preferences of persons holding Class A units are subject to the rights of the holders of units of any class the LLC may issue in the future.

Potential Future Classes of Units

        The LLC may, by resolution of its Board of Managers, authorize and issue interests in the LLC in the form of units of classes other than Class A units. Any such other class may have voting powers, designations, preferences, limitations and special rights, including delivery or preferred return rights, conversion rights, redemption rights and liquidation rights, any of which may be different from or superior to those of the Class A units or any other class.

Qualifications for Membership

        The initial member of the LLC is the cooperative. Following the conversion, the members of the LLC will be the members of the cooperative who receive Class A units in the conversion. Membership is not limited to agricultural producers. Membership in the LLC is available to any individual,

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corporation or other entity which acquires a minimum of 2,000 Class A units and is approved for membership by the Board of Managers. Minimum member unit ownership requirements for any other class may be established by the Board of Managers in the designations governing such class. If a unitholder fails to meet the minimum member ownership requirements, all non-financial rights relating to the units held will be terminated and the holder of the units will be deemed a non-member unitholder. Furthermore, the units held by the non-member unitholder will be subject to repurchase by the LLC, at the sole discretion of the LLC.

Voting Rights

        Under the Limited Liability Company Agreement, a member has one vote for each Class A unit held on matters submitted to the members for approval. If units of any other class are issued in the future, holders of such class will have such voting rights as are established for such class by the Board of Managers. Voting at a meeting of members is either in person or, if authorized by the Board of Managers, by ballot (such as by mail ballot) or by proxy. Cumulative voting for managers is not allowed. Non-member unitholders have no voting rights.

Meeting of Members

        Under the Limited Liability Company Agreement, the annual meeting of the members of the LLC will be held on a date and at a time and place fixed by the Board of Managers. Special meetings may be called by the Board of Managers or upon the request of 33% of the members regardless of the number of units held by the requesting members.

        The Board of Managers of the LLC will have the discretion to authorize the use of mail ballots or proxies for votes at any member meeting. If mail ballots or proxies are so authorized, a quorum necessary for the LLC members to conduct business at the meeting will be present if at least 20% of the total voting power of all units outstanding is present at the meeting. Otherwise, the quorum necessary to conduct business will be 10% of total voting power.

Distributions

        All distributions will be at the discretion of the Board of Managers. Subject to that discretion, the LLC expects to make cash distributions sufficient to discharge its members' anticipated combined federal, state and local income tax liabilities arising from allocations to them of taxable income by the LLC. The Board of Managers of the LLC may also declare further distributions from time to time. Holders of Class A units are entitled to equivalent per unit distributions. If units of any other class are issued in the future, each unit of such class will have such distribution rights as are established for such class by the Board of Managers.

Capital Contributions and Initial Capital Accounts

        Each unitholder who receives Class A units in the merger will be deemed to have made a capital contribution equal to the unitholder's proportionate share of the money and the tax basis of other property received by the LLC in the merger. This amount will be credited to the unitholder's capital account. The LLC will be deemed to have assumed each unitholder's share of the cooperative's liabilities that it becomes obligated for in the merger. This amount will be charged against the unitholder's capital account. Upon completion of the merger, each unitholder will have a capital account balance equal to the per unit value of Class A units on the conversion date, currently estimated at $4.28.

        The Limited Liability Company Agreement does not require any unitholder to make additional capital contributions to the LLC, except to the extent that Delaware law requires the return of distributions that are made in violation of law. Interest will not accrue on capital contributions, and

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unitholders will have no right to be repaid any capital contribution or to have their capital accounts or units redeemed in any circumstances.

Allocation of Profits and Losses

General Allocation Rules

        Profits allocated to a unitholder increase the unitholder's capital account while allocated losses decrease the unitholder's capital account. Because distributions of cash or property to the unitholders upon liquidation are based on capital account balances, profit and loss allocations directly affect each unitholder's eventual entitlement to distributions. Except for those distributions upon liquidation, unitholders will have no right to be paid with respect to their capital accounts.

        Except as otherwise provided for special allocations and changes in unit ownership that occur during a fiscal year, profits and losses realized by the LLC for each fiscal year initially will be allocated among the unitholders in proportion to the number of Class A units held by each unitholder. However, if the Board of Managers exercises its authority to create another class or classes of units, each unit issued will have such allocation rights as are established for its class by the Board of Managers, and the definition of those rights will affect allocations with respect to the Class A units.

Transfers of Units; Additional Units

        If units are transferred during the fiscal year, a method and convention permitted by the tax code and the regulations will be used to take into account the interests of the transferor and transferee in making allocations with respect to the transferred units in the year of transfer. See "Federal Income Tax Considerations—Tax Consequences of Disposition of Units—Allocations and Distributions Following Unit Transfers" for a discussion of permitted methods and conventions and how they will be selected. The same concepts would apply in determining the distributive share of the LLC's profits and losses that are allocable to purchasers in the year in which additional units are issued. If additional Class A units are issued or if units of a new class are issued, the LLC and the persons acquiring the additional units may agree on which of the permissible methods and conventions will be used. If none are specified, the Board of Managers will designate a permissible method and convention.

Special Allocation Rules

        The general rule for profit and loss allocations is subject to a number of exceptions referred to as special allocations that are generally required by Treasury regulations. One of the special allocations will apply only if the LLC issues a capital interest in consideration of services. Another special allocation rule prevents a loss allocation to a unitholder that has a zero capital account balance at a time when other unitholders have positive capital account balances. Any losses that are reallocated under this rule are reversed by a special allocation of income at the earliest opportunity. The other special allocation rules are likely to apply only if the LLC has cumulative net losses that are greater than net capital contributions (capital contributions less prior distributions).

Termination of Membership

        Under the Limited Liability Company Agreement, a person will cease to be a member upon:

    a transfer of all of the member's units;

    death of an individual member, or ceasing to exist of a non-individual member, and no successor is left qualified as determined by the Board of Managers to be a member;

    failure to meet the minimum unit ownership requirements for membership;

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    a finding by the Board of Managers that the member has willfully obstructed any lawful purpose or activity of the LLC;

    a finding by the Board of Managers (in its sole discretion) that the member is a competitor of the LLC or its affiliates or is a person who is detrimental to the interests of the LLC or its affiliates;

    a finding by the Board of Managers that the member has intentionally or repeatedly violated any provision of the Limited Liability Company Agreement;

    a finding by the Board of Managers that the member has breached any agreement with or obligation to the Company;

    a finding that the Board of Managers that the member has intentionally or repeatedly taken actions that will impede the LLC from accomplishing its purposes; or

    resignation by the member as a member of the LLC.

        In the event of termination (other than upon a complete transfer) all non-financial rights relating to units held will be terminated and the holder will become a non-member unitholder. A terminated member has no right to require purchase or redemption of the terminated member's units. In the event of termination (other than upon a complete transfer), the terminated member's units will be subject to repurchase by the LLC, at the sole discretion of the LLC, at a price equal to 80% of the six month trailing sale price as reasonably determined by the Board of Managers.

Restrictions on Transfer of Units

        Under the Limited Liability Company Agreement, units may not be transferred without approval by the Board of Managers or without compliance with or waiver of certain conditions and procedures. These include the delivery of a legal opinion and transfer instruments to the LLC, and payment of reasonable expenses incurred by the LLC in connection with the transfer.

        Transferability of units is restricted in part to ensure that the limited liability company is not deemed a "publicly traded partnership" and thus taxed as a corporation. See "Federal Income Tax Considerations—Publicly Traded Partnership Rules."

        The pledge of, or granting of a security interest, lien or other encumbrance in, a member's units for the purpose of securing debt financing is not restricted. However, the transfer of units as a result of foreclosure or to a secured party does constitute a transfer, subject to the restrictions described above.

        A transferee may be admitted as a member of the LLC only upon approval by the Board of Managers and upon satisfaction of certain other requirements, including the transfer not being in violation of the transfer restrictions described above and the transferee meeting the minimum unit ownership requirements for membership (which for Class A units requires holding a minimum 2,000 units). In the absence of satisfying these requirements, a transferee will be deemed a non-member unitholder with the same financial rights as other unitholders, but does not become a member of the LLC (and so will not have voting or other governance rights of members).

Distribution of Assets Upon Liquidation

        Under the Limited Liability Company Agreement, on winding up of the LLC, subject to any priority distributions of any classes of units, the assets of the LLC will be distributed as follows:

    first, to creditors in satisfaction of debts, obligations and liabilities (including any loans from unitholders); and

    then, to unitholders in proportion to their capital account balances in the LLC.

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Amendments to Limited Liability Company Agreement

        The Limited Liability Company Agreement may be amended by the Board of Managers, with the approval of a majority of the voting power of the members. In addition, the Board of Managers has the authority to make amendments without member approval in connection with certain ministerial matters, class designations, unit transfer provisions and relative economic rights of LLC units.

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FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

        The following is a summary of material federal income tax considerations that may affect your decision regarding the proposed conversion of the cooperative into a limited liability company. Except as otherwise noted, this summary and the opinion of our legal counsel described below are based on current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, existing and proposed Treasury regulations and current administrative rulings and court decisions, all of which are subject to change. Subsequent changes in these authorities may cause the tax consequences to vary substantially from the consequences described below. Neither this summary nor the opinion of our legal counsel discuss all the tax considerations that may be relevant to particular members in light of their personal circumstances (including their state of residence), or to certain types of members that may be subject to special tax rules. Therefore, members are encouraged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of the conversion to them as well as the tax consequences of subsequent operations.

Legal Opinions and Advice

        Lindquist & Vennum P.L.L.P., Minneapolis, MN, legal counsel to the cooperative, has rendered an opinion that for federal income tax purposes the conversion of the cooperative into the LLC will be a taxable liquidation with the following federal income tax consequences:

    Although there is no legal authority directly on point, the cooperative will recognize gain or loss as if it had sold an interest in each of its assets to each member for a price equal its fair market value,

    each member of the cooperative will recognize gain or loss measured by the difference between the adjusted basis of the member's capital stock and/or patronage equities in the cooperative and the fair market value of the deemed liquidating distribution received by the member, and

    each member may apply customary discounts for lack of marketability and lack of control in determining the fair market value of the liquidating distribution.

        Our legal counsel's opinion has been filed as an exhibit to the securities registration statement of which this document is a part.

        With respect to the formation of the LLC, our legal counsel has opined that, in general, neither gain nor loss will be recognized to either the LLC or to the LLC's members on the deemed contribution to the LLC of the assets that were deemed to have been received by the members in the liquidating distribution. Our legal counsel has advised the cooperative that the discussion of federal income tax consequences that will arise from the ownership and disposition of LLC units insofar as it relates to matters of law and legal conclusions is accurate in all material respects.

        A legal opinion extends only to matters of law. However, the tax consequences to the cooperative and its members are highly dependent on matters of fact that are not addressed in our legal counsel's opinion. In particular, the tax consequences of the conversion will depend in large part on the fair market value of the cooperative's net equity and the amount of the discount applied in valuing the liquidating distribution received by the members. Both are matters of fact that are not addressed in the opinion. You should also know that if the valuation changes prior to the closing of this transaction, our legal counsel's opinion may need to be updated as well. You should know that a legal opinion does not assure the intended tax consequences because it does not bind either the Internal Revenue Service or the courts, and the contemplated transactions are subject to certain risks of challenge by the Internal Revenue Service on both legal and factual grounds as discussed in this section.

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Characterization of the Conversion for Federal Income Tax Purposes

        For state law purposes, the conversion of the cooperative into a limited liability company will occur by the merger of the cooperative into the LLC. For tax purposes, however, the cooperative will treat the conversion as (1) a complete liquidation of the cooperative consisting of the constructive distribution of its assets to its members and the assumption of its liabilities by the members, followed by (2) a constructive contribution of the distributed assets subject to those liabilities to the LLC.

Tax Consequences of the Conversion to the Cooperative

Taxable Liquidation

        The merger of the cooperative into the LLC will be treated as a taxable liquidation of the cooperative. Section 336(a) of the Tax code requires a corporation to recognize gain on liquidating distributions of appreciated property as if it had sold the property to the distributees. The United States Tax Court has held that a corporation's gain on distribution of substantially all of the interests in a partnership must be measured as if the partnership's business was sold in its entirety, which means that certain factors that may bear on the value of the LLC units, such as minority discounts and lack of marketability, cannot be taken into account by the cooperative. POPE & TALBOT, INC. V. COMMISSIONER, 104 T.C. 574 (1995), affirmed 162 F.3d 1236 (9th Cir. 1999).

        The cooperative intends to treat the conversion as a constructive distribution of its assets, subject to its liabilities, rather than as a constructive distribution of interests in the LLC. Accordingly, the cooperative will apportion the aggregate fair market value of its assets among the assets and determine gain or loss asset-by-asset. The aggregate fair market value of the cooperative's assets will be the sum of the value of the cooperative's net equity, plus its liabilities, both determined as of the conversion date. The apportionment of value to specific assets will be based on management's judgment as to the values of each. The net equity value of the cooperative, as determined by the valuation opinion, based in part on the cooperative's unaudited balance sheet information as of November 30, 2003, was close to its net book value for financial statement purposes on that date. Accordingly, management expects to apportion the aggregate conversion date value among the assets in close proximity to their financial statement values unless specific assets are identified for which financial statement values would be inappropriate. This approach will result in gains and losses primarily with respect to those assets that have a tax basis that differ from their financial statement values. Based on the cooperative's estimated book values as of August 31, 2004, and the valuation opinion, this approach would result in approximately $15.0 million of gain realized in the various asset categories as follows:

Cooperative's Estimated Gain on the Conversion by Asset Category*

Inventory   $ 8,400,000  
Land and land improvements     300,000  
Buildings     1,400,000  
Equipment     4,900,000  
   
 
Gain on the conversion   $ 15,000,000  
Less: Net operating loss carryover     (9,500,000 )
Less: Deduction for satisfaction of nonqualified unit retains     (900,000 )
   
 
Net taxable income before income from FY 2004 operations   $ 4,600,000  
   
 

*
The above amounts will be adjusted to conversion date values to determine the gain or loss that the cooperative will report on each of its assets.

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        The cooperative's conversion planning makes it essential to estimate its net income (or loss) from operations for its fiscal year that will end on the conversion date. Operating earnings through the conversion date will be added to the gain estimated above to determine patronage sourced income for the year. Patronage dividends will then be deducted to determine the cooperative's taxable income for fiscal year 2004 through the conversion date, and its resulting tax liability in its final tax return as a cooperative. Since a cooperative has eight and one-half months following the end of its taxable year in which to determine the amount of its patronage dividend, it has considerable control over the amount of its taxable income. Of course, any patronage dividend declared by the cooperative is passed through to patrons as taxable income in the full amount of income allocated as long as at least 20% is paid in cash.

        If the conversion had occurred on November 30, 2003, the taxable income figure would have been between zero and approximately $9.1 million consisting of $2.6 million of gain after net operating loss carryforwards plus $6.5 million of first quarter earnings, less any income that might have been allocated to its patrons as a deductible patronage dividend. If the conversion occurs on August 31, 2004, the cooperative estimates that it will incur a tax liability of approximately $2.2 million, determined as follows:

Cooperative's Estimated Taxable Income and Tax Liability for Conversion Year

Estimated gain on the conversion after special deductions (see schedule above)   $ 4,600,000  
Estimated operating earnings through assumed conversion date     18,500,000  
   
 
Estimated taxable income before patronage dividends     23,100,000  
Less: Estimated allocation of patronage income to the patrons     (17,500,000 )
   
 
Cooperative's estimated taxable income for conversion year   $ 5,600,000  
Cooperative's estimated combined state and federal tax rate     40 %
   
 
Cooperative's estimated tax liability for conversion year   $ 2,240,000  
   
 

        The cooperative's bylaws provide that it must allocate all of its net income to the patrons each year as a patronage dividend on the basis of their patronage except to the extent the Board of Directors, in its discretion, allocates income to a capital reserve. Under state law, the tax code, and the bylaws, a patronage dividend may be distributed in a number of forms, including cash, stock, debt or "written notices of allocation." This process of allocating earnings on the basis of patronage rather than invested capital is one of the characteristics that distinguishes a cooperative from a business corporation.

        In general, a "written notice of allocation" is a written notice by a cooperative to its patrons that states in dollars the amount of the cooperative's earnings that are allocated to the account of each patron and the portion that constitutes a patronage dividend. The notice entitles the holder to be paid the dollar amount stated in the notice at such time as the cooperative's Board of Directors determines that the cooperative's resources are sufficient to pay the stated amount. A "qualified written notice of allocation" is a written notice described in Section 1388(c) of the tax code. To be "qualified," a written notice must be issued within specified time limits and accompanied by cash or check equal to 25% of the stated amount of the written notice, and the patrons must have consented to inclusion of the stated amount in their taxable income for the year in which the notice is received. Both the cash portion of a patronage dividend and the portion issued as qualified written notices may be deducted from the cooperative's taxable income as patronage dividends under Section 1382(b)(1) of the tax code, and both must be reported by the patrons as taxable income in the year the cash and/or written notice is received

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        The amount of the income allocated to the patrons as a patronage dividend is within the discretion of the cooperative's Board of Directors because of its power to credit earnings to a capital reserve. The amount of the patronage dividend that is paid in cash is also within the discretion of the Board of Directors. If the cooperative's actual taxable income before patronage dividends for the conversion year approximates the $23.1 million estimated above, the Board of Directors presently intends to allocate $17.5 million to the patrons as a patronage dividend, of which $10.2 million would be paid in cash to the patrons and $7.2 million would be issued to the patrons in the form of "qualified written notices of allocation." The entire amount allocated to the patrons as a patronage dividend will be taxable to the patrons notwithstanding that less than that amount will be distributed to them in cash. The Board's present intention is subject to change based on circumstances existing at the conversion date, including the cash resources of the cooperative.

Potential Challenges by the Internal Revenue Service

        The conversion has tax risks because the IRS may challenge the cooperative on one or more of the following points, and a challenge would undoubtedly occur well after the end of the eight and one-half month period during which a cooperative may reduce or eliminate its taxable income by declaring a patronage dividend:

    (1)
    the net equity values determined by the valuation and their effect on aggregate asset values,

    (2)
    management's apportionment of values to specific assets and the treatment of the resulting gains or losses as capital gain or loss or ordinary income or loss,

    (3)
    the cooperative's characterization of the taxable liquidation as a constructive distribution of specific assets rather than the alternative characterization as a distribution of interests in the LLC.

        The IRS is not bound by the valuation or by management's apportionment of aggregate values to specific assets. The cooperative expects to have taxable income in the conversion year, so if the IRS successfully challenges the valuation, any increase in value will result in an increase in the cooperative's tax liability.

        In addition, there are anti-netting rules that may become operative if one or more of these challenges are made by the IRS. For example, capital losses incurred by a corporation cannot be offset against any income other than capital gains. Less than $2 million (land and buildings) of the $15 million of conversion gain shown above is capital gain. Therefore, if a successful IRS reapportionment of values among capital gain/loss assets resulted in capital losses greater than the anticipated capital gains, the cooperative would have an increase in taxable income together with a net capital loss that it could not deduct.

        Similarly, if the IRS were to establish that the constructive liquidation was more appropriately treated as a distribution of LLC units, anti-netting rules applicable to transfers of partnership interests would apply, and these rules are more likely to create increased ordinary income together with an unusable capital loss than is the case in the cooperative's intended asset distribution characterization. The conversion of a corporation to a member-owned LLC via a statutory merger into the corporation's wholly owned LLC is a relatively recent form of statutory transaction, and there is no precedential legal authority as to whether it should be treated as a constructive distribution of specific assets or of LLC units for federal income tax purposes. The same tax issues arise when an association that was taxed as a corporation elects to be taxed as a partnership. In that case, Treasury Regulations require the transaction to be treated as a constructive distribution of assets, not LLC units. While the Treasury Department's rationale in issuing those Regulations is helpful in supporting the cooperative's intended characterization, those Regulations address an analogous but distinguishable fact situation and they are not determinative of the proper tax treatment of the merger.

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        The IRS may challenge the cooperative's intended tax treatment under one or more of these grounds, or on other grounds. A successful challenge would result in additional tax liability that would be owed by the LLC as the cooperative's successor in interest. A successful IRS valuation challenge would also have adverse consequences for the cooperative's members because, as discussed below, their tax treatment is dependent on the value attributed to the property they are deemed to receive in the taxable liquidation.

        Nevertheless, the cooperative's management and its Board of Directors have evaluated the tax risks of the conversion with the valuation advice of its outside appraisers and the tax advice of its legal counsel and accountants and have concluded that the benefits of the conversion substantially outweigh the tax risks.

Tax Consequences of the Conversion to the Members

The Conversion is a Taxable Exchange for the Members

        Section 331(a) of the tax code provides that amounts received by a member in complete liquidation of a corporation shall be treated as full payment in exchange for the member's stock. Accordingly, the cooperative's stockholders will recognize any gain or loss inherent in their shares in the cooperative. The amount of the gain or loss will depend on the adjusted tax basis of the members' stock and the value of the liquidating distribution. Gain or loss will be a long-term capital gain or loss if the member has held the stock for more than one year as of the conversion date. This treatment does not apply to LLC units issued in exchange for any of the 321,600 shares that were issued in 2000 in exchange for then outstanding nonqualified unit retains nor to LLC units issued in satisfaction of patronage equities issued with respect to the cooperative's final taxable year. Those items are treated differently as described below.

        The amount of the liquidating distribution will be the fair market value of the LLC units received by each of the cooperative's members. Based on general principles of valuation, the members should be entitled to consider the depressing effect on valuation of the lack of marketability and lack of control that is inherent in a nonpublicly traded LLC unit. The valuation opinion indicates that discounts will result in per unit values that are 38.5% less than each unit's proportionate interest in the overall value of the cooperative's equity.

        The valuation determined the net equity in the cooperative as a going concern to be $30.4 million as of January 9, 2004. This equity value is then reduced to $18.7 million by application of a discounts of approximately 38.5% that reflect the recipient's minority interest in the LLC and the lack of marketability of LLC units. This produces a per unit value of $4.07 for each LLC unit that is received by a member in the conversion. The per unit value will be adjusted as of the conversion date.

        Based on our legal counsel's conclusion that discounts for lack of marketability and lack of control (minority interest) are appropriate, and on the determination of those discounts in the valuation, the cooperative intends to report the liquidating distribution to the members and to the IRS at $4.07 per unit, subject to adjustment to the conversion date value. There is no legal authority that expressly allows minority interest and lack of marketability discounts in this form of transaction. However, the unofficial position of the IRS is that such discounts are appropriate as expressed in its litigation position in the POPE & TALBOT case discussed above and in a private letter ruling. The IRS is not bound by the valuation, its litigating position, the private letter ruling, nor the position of our legal counsel. Thus, the principal tax risk to the members is that the IRS challenges the valuation of the LLC units on factual grounds or by disputing the valuation methodology, the propriety of valuation discounts or the percentage discounts applied.

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Member Capital Gain, Capital Loss and Ordinary Income

        The members will generally determine gain or loss on their shares and patronage equities by subtracting their adjusted basis in those shares and equities from the value of the LLC units received in the conversion. Members have acquired shares at different times and may have a different tax basis for some of their shares than for others. Members also may have purchased shares in private transfers or inherited shares with a basis different than their transferor's basis. Accordingly, members are likely to have differing tax results depending on their share tax basis as discussed below.

        LLC units will also be issued in the merger in exchange for the 321,600 shares of stock in the cooperative that were issued in 2000 in exchange for nonqualified unit retains. That exchange was treated as a tax-free recapitalization. Accordingly, these specific shares retain their tax character as nonqualified per unit retains. Section 1385(c)(2) of the tax code provides in the case of nonqualified per unit retains that: (A) the basis of the unit retain in the hands of the patron to whom the unit retain was issued shall be zero, (B) the basis of the unit retain which was acquired from a decedent shall be its basis in the hands of the decedent, and (C) gain on the disposition of the unit retain by any member shall be ordinary income to the extent of the stated dollar amount of the unit retain. This means that the fair market value of the LLC units issued in exchange for the nonqualified per unit retains will be taxable to the recipient as ordinary income and, if the member is an individual, to self-employment tax as well.

        Patronage equities in the form of qualified written notices of allocation are expected to be issued for the cooperative's fiscal year 2004. These written notices will be satisfied by the issuance of LLC units in the conversion having a value equal to their face amount. Therefore, those patrons of the cooperative will have reported the face amount of the patronage equities as ordinary income. This will give them a basis equal to the fair market value of the LLC units, so they should have no gain or loss on the receipt of LLC units unless the Internal Revenue Service later successfully challenges the value of the LLC units received. See "Federal Income Tax Considerations—Tax Consequences of the Conversion to the Cooperative" for a detailed description of qualified written notices of allocation, how they are taxed to the patrons, and their exchange for Class A units in the conversion.

Summary of Tax Treatment of Members

        The cooperative currently has 4,581,832 shares outstanding and it will issue an identical number of LLC units in the merger. The LLC units, however, must be apportioned among patronage equities to be issued as part of the 2004 patronage dividend and common shares, because each represents a distinct equity interest in the cooperative.

        The LLC units that will be issued in satisfaction of patronage equities will have a conversion date value equal to the face amount of the patronage equities. The balance of the LLC units will be issued among the shareholders in exchange for their shares. The division of the LLC units will depend on the amount of 2004 patronage income that is allocated to the shareholder/patrons as a patronage dividend and the portion of that allocation that will be distributed in patronage equities rather than in cash. Using the same assumptions as to conversion date values for LLC units that were used above, which are subject to change, and assuming the Board of Directors allocates $17.5 million of patronage income

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to the shareholder/patrons, of which $7.2 million is issued in the form of qualified written notices, the allocation of values among the LLC units in the merger will be as follows:

Estimated Value of Liquidating Distribution and Apportionment of LLC Unit Values between Shares and Patronage Equities*

 
  Total
  Per share
Unmarketable minority equity value, per valuation   $ 18,700,000   $ 4.07
Estimated conversion date adjustment (appropriately discounted)     920,000     .20
   
 
Estimated value of liquidating distribution   $ 19,620,000   $ 4.28
   
 

Estimated value of LLC units issued in exchange for shares

 

$

12,370,000

 

$

2.70
Estimated value of LLC units issued in exchange for patron equities     7,250,000     1.58
   
 
Estimated value of liquidating distribution   $ 19,620,000   $ 4.28
   
 

*Assumes that 2004 patronage allocation is made in proportion to shares owned

        The cooperative has members that have acquired their shares at different times and in different amounts whose gain or loss will differ because of differing tax basis. Some members also hold shares that they received in the 2000 exchange of shares in satisfaction of nonqualified unit retains, and will have differing tax consequences upon receipt of LLC units than will the holders of shares that were purchased from the cooperative or elsewhere. The cooperative's analysis, which is based on estimates and which is subject to possible changes to current plans and for conversion date adjustments, suggests that most members who purchased their shares from the cooperative will incur a capital loss on the conversion. Again assuming the conversion occurs on August 31, 2004, the following schedule illustrates some of the per share gain/loss and ordinary income calculations relating to the cooperative's final

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taxable year, the conversion itself, and the one-time inventory adjustment passing through from the LLC:


Estimate of Taxable Income, Gain and Loss Per Share by Shareholder Group

 
  March 1994
Offering

  November 1994
Offering

  1999-2001
Offerings

  2000
Unit Retain
Exchange

 
Estimated per share value of LLC units issued for shares   $ 2.70   $ 2.70   $ 2.70     N/A  
Less: Tax basis (original purchasers)     (3.50 )   (4.00 )   (5.00 )   N/A  
   
 
 
 
 
Estimated capital loss per share (original
purchasers)
  $ (0.80 ) $ (1.30 ) $ (2.30 )   N/A  
   
 
 
 
 

Capital gain/loss on LLC units issued for patronage equities

 

 

N/A

 

 

N/A

 

 

N/A

 

 


 
   
 
 
 
 

Estimated ordinary income per share attributable to the conversion

 

 


 

 


 

 


 

$

2.70

 
Patronage dividend for 2004 (est. $17.5 million total)   $ 3.82   $ 3.82   $ 3.82   $ 3.82  
One-time deduction assuming the LLC elects to continue the cooperative's inventory accounting method (est. $8.4 million total)     (1.83 )   (1.83 )   (1.83 )   (1.83 )
   
 
 
 
 
Estimated per share ordinary income   $ 1.99   $ 1.99   $ 1.99   $ 4.69  
   
 
 
 
 

        This summary does not include post-conversion LLC operations other than the one-time inventory adjustment that represents a reversal of income recognized in the cooperative on the conversion because of its inventory method. The cooperative currently uses the farm price method of valuing inventory for income tax purposes which produces an inventory basis that is substantially lower than it carries inventory in its financial statements (estimated to be $8.4 million lower at August 31, 2004). The cooperative will value inventory at the financial statement value in determining its taxable gain on inventory in the conversion which will result in a gain equal to the book-tax difference ($8.4 million subject to adjustment as of the conversion date). The LLC will also value its inventory at financial statement values in establishing the initial tax basis in its inventory. The LLC intends to adopt the farm price method in its initial income tax return which will effectively reverse the gain recognized by the cooperative in the conversion and result in a one-time deduction for the LLC in the amount of the book-tax difference.

        The tax basis shown in the above schedule is the original issue price and is applicable to those members who acquired their shares in the original issue. The basis amounts shown will not be applicable to shares that have been subsequently transferred by sale, upon death, or as gifts. Members who acquired their shares by purchase from another shareholder will have a basis equal to their purchase price. Members who acquired their shares from a decedent will have a basis equal to the value of the share for estate tax purposes. Members who acquired their shares by gift will have a basis equal to the donor's basis for purposes of determining gain. However, if use of the donor's basis will produce a loss, and if the fair market value at the time of the gift was less than the donor's basis, then the donee's basis will be the fair market value at the time of the gift. Many shareholders will be affected by this rule, so caution should be exercised by any member who makes gifts of shares in anticipation of the conversion.

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Utilization of Capital Losses by Non-Corporate Taxpayers

        Noncorporate taxpayers such as individuals, trusts and estates may deduct capital losses to the extent of capital gains recognized by the taxpayer during the taxable year, plus $3,000. Unused capital losses may not be carried back but may be carried forward indefinitely until they are fully utilized or the taxpayer dies. Thus, an individual member who has no other capital gains or losses could deduct $3,000 per year until the conversion loss is fully deducted or the member dies. In addition to capital gains realized on a sale of capital assets, it also should be noted that net gains arising under Section 1231 of the Internal Revenue Code are treated as capital gains that may be offset by capital loss deductions or carry forwards.

Utilization of Capital Losses by C Corporations

        In the case of a C corporation, capital losses are deductible only to the extent of capital gains. C corporations may not use any part of their capital losses to reduce ordinary taxable income under Section 1211(a) of the Internal Revenue Code. A C corporation deducts its capital losses against its capital gains for the taxable year. A C corporation that sustains capital losses in excess of capital gains in the taxable year has a net capital loss which, in general and subject to limitations, can be carried back three years and forward five years until it is used. The amount of net capital loss, whether long or short-term, carried back or carried forward to another year is treated as a short-term capital loss in the year to which it is carried under Section 1212(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Constructive Partnership Formation

        The merger of the cooperative into the LLC will be treated for tax purposes as a constructive formation of the LLC as a partnership. Accordingly, the members will be treated as having contributed the assets they constructively received in the liquidation of the cooperative subject to the cooperative's liabilities. In general, neither gain nor loss is recognized to a partnership or its partners in the case of a contribution of property to the partnership in exchange for an interest in the partnership under Section 721 of the Internal Revenue Code. The LLC's initial asset basis will be the aggregate bases of those assets in the hands of the contributing members which will reflect discounts for minority interest and lack of marketability as shown above.

Importance of the Valuation to the Cooperative and its Shareholders

        As the above discussion indicates, the cooperative's tax treatment, the tax treatment of the cooperative shareholders and the initial asset basis in the hands of the LLC all depend in significant part on the accuracy of the valuation which is not binding on the IRS or the courts. While we have no reason to believe that the valuation will not be accepted by the IRS, the IRS may challenge the values used in determining gain or loss to the cooperative or its shareholders.

IRS Information Reporting Requirements

        The cooperative is required to file Form 966 notifying the IRS of the taxable liquidation within 30 days of formal adoption of the plan of merger and to supplement the filing if the plan is later amended. The cooperative will be required to issue a Form 1099-DIV to each shareholder whose shares have a value of more than $600 not later than January 31, 2005, and transmit the information to the IRS before February 28, 2005.

Tax Status of the LLC

        The remaining portion of this discussion of "Federal Income Tax Considerations" is a summary of the material federal income tax considerations relating to the tax treatment of the LLC and its members. The summary is not intended to represent a detailed description of the federal income tax

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consequences applicable to a particular member in view of that member's particular circumstances nor is it intended to represent a detailed description of the federal income tax consequences applicable to investors subject to special treatment under the federal income tax laws. The summary is based on current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, current and proposed Treasury regulations, court decisions, and other administrative rulings and interpretations. All of these sources are subject to change, and these changes may be applied retroactively. Any change or future provisions of the Internal Revenue Code or other legal authorities may alter significantly the tax considerations we describe in this summary. Finally, in addition to the general discussion of taxation of limited liability companies and their members, portions of the discussion that follows are specific to the LLC and its members and are subject to the risk of challenge by the Internal Revenue Service. In particular, the discussion in "Tax Treatment of the LLC's Operations" is based in part on factual matters not addressed in the opinion of our legal counsel that relate to aggregate fair market values of assets and the apportionment of those values among specific assets.

        Each member is encouraged to consult his or her own tax advisor regarding the federal, state, and local tax consequences to him or her of the purchase, ownership and sale of the units and of potential changes in applicable tax laws.

        Single-tax treatment and the ability to make cash distributions to members without incurring an entity level federal income tax depends on the treatment of the LLC as a partnership for income tax purposes. The cooperative expects that the LLC will be treated as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. This means that the LLC will pay no federal income tax and members will pay tax on their share of the LLC's net income.

        Under Treasury regulations known as the "check-the-box" regulations, an unincorporated entity such as a limited liability company will be taxed as a partnership unless the entity is considered a publicly traded partnership or the entity affirmatively elects to be taxed as a corporation. The LLC will not elect to be taxed as a corporation and will endeavor to take steps as are feasible and advisable to avoid classification as a publicly traded partnership.

        If the LLC fails to qualify for partnership taxation for whatever reason, it would be treated as a "C corporation" for federal income tax purposes. As a "C corporation," it would be taxed on its taxable income at corporate rates (currently a maximum 35% federal rate), distributions would generally be taxed again to holders of units as corporate dividends (subject to rates of 5% and 15% through 2008), and the holders of units would not be required to report their share of the LLC's income, gains, losses or deductions on their tax returns. Because a tax would be imposed upon the LLC as an entity, the cash available for distribution to members would be reduced by the amount of tax paid which could cause a reduction in the value of the units.

Publicly Traded Partnership Rules

        A partnership that constitutes a "publicly traded partnership" as defined in Section 7704(b) of the Internal Revenue Code is generally treated as a "C corporation" for federal tax purposes. As used in Section 7704, the term "partnership" also includes a limited liability company treated as a partnership for federal tax purposes, such as the LLC. The LLC will seek to avoid being classified as a publicly traded partnership under Section 7704 by restricting transfers of units in the manner described below.

        A partnership is classified as a publicly traded partnership if its interests are either:

    Traded on an established securities market; or

    Readily tradable on a secondary market or its substantial equivalent.

        A partnership "interest" includes any interest in capital or profits of the partnership as well as any financial instrument or contract the value of which is determined by reference to the partnership.

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        Under the Treasury regulations, an "established securities market" includes national, regional and local exchanges, foreign exchanges that satisfy regulatory requirements, and interdealer quotation systems that regularly disseminate firm buy and sell quotations. The LLC does not intend to list units on the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq Stock Market, or on any other exchange or system which would be classified as an established securities market.

        In determining whether interests are "readily tradable on a secondary market or its substantial equivalent," the Treasury regulations provide that interests in a partnership generally are so tradable if, taking into account all of the facts and circumstances, interest holders are able to buy, sell or exchange their interests in a manner that is economically comparable to trading on an established securities market, or under any of the following four circumstances:

    they are regularly quoted by a broker, dealer or other market maker in the interests;

    there are regular quotes from any person who stands ready to buy or sell at a quoted price;

    there are regular and ongoing opportunities for an interest holder to sell or exchange interests through a public means of obtaining offers or information of offers to buy, sell or exchange; or

    the opportunity exists for prospective buyers and sellers to transact in a time frame and with the regularity and continuity comparable to the three circumstances described above.

        However, interests will not be treated as readily tradable on a secondary market or its substantial equivalent under any of these four circumstances unless the partnership participates in the establishment of the market or the inclusion of its interests in the market, or the partnership recognizes any transfers made on the market by redeeming the transferor partner, admitting the transferee as a partner or otherwise recognizing the rights of a transferee. The LLC does not intend to so participate in the establishment of any market that would qualify under any of the four circumstances listed above or the inclusion of any of the interests on such a market. Moreover, the LLC does not intend to recognize transfers of units or other interests made under any of those four circumstances.

        Treasury regulations provide a safe harbor which shelters interests from being deemed readily tradable on a secondary market or its substantial equivalent under the general "facts and circumstances" test when there is a "lack of actual trading" of the interests. The LLC intends to allow only those transfers of interests during any taxable year that permits the LLC to qualify under this "lack of actual trading" safe harbor. This safe harbor applies where the sum of the interests in capital or profits transferred during the tax year of the partnership does not exceed 2% of the total interests in capital or profits. For purposes of testing compliance with this safe harbor, the following types of transfers, which are explained below, are ignored:

    "private" transfers;

    transfers pursuant to a "qualified redemption or repurchase agreement"; and

    transfers through a "qualified matching service".

        A private transfer includes:

    transfers in which the basis of the interest is determined by reference to the transferor's basis, such as a gift, or is determined under Section 732 of the Internal Revenue Code;

    transfers at death, including transfers from an estate or testamentary trust;

    transfers between members of a family, as defined in Section 267(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code;

    transfers involving the issuance of interests by the partnership in exchange for cash, property or services;

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    transfers involving distributions from retirement plans qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code or an individual retirement plan;

    "block" transfers, which are defined as transfers by a member and any related person as defined in Sections 267(b) and 707(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code in one or more transactions during any 30 calendar-day period, of interests which in the aggregate represent more than 2% of the total interests in partnership capital or profits;

    transfers pursuant to a plan of redemption or repurchase maintained by the partnership by which the partners may tender their interests for purchase by the partnership, another partner, or a person related to a partner, but only where either the right to purchase is exercisable only upon the partner's death, disability, retirement, or termination from active service, or the plan is "closed end" so that the partnership does not issue any interests after the initial offering and no partner or person related to a partner provides contemporaneous opportunities to acquire interests in similar or related partnerships which represent substantially identical investments;

    transfers by one or more partners of interests representing more than 50% of the total interests in the capital and profits in one transaction or series of related transactions; and

    transfers not recognized by the partnership.

        Transfers are pursuant to a qualified redemption or repurchase agreement only if:

    the agreement provides that a transfer cannot occur until at least 60 days after the partnership receives written notice of the partner's intent to exercise the redemption or repurchase right;

    the agreement provides that the purchase price not be established until at least 60 days after receipt of notification or that the purchase price not be established more than four times during the entity's tax year; and

    the sum of the interests in capital or profits transferred during the entity's taxable year, not including private transfers, does not exceed 10% of the total interests in capital or profits.

        Transfers are through a qualified matching service only if:

    the matching service consists of a computerized or printed system that lists customers' bid and/or ask prices in order to match prospective buyers and sellers of interests;

    matching occurs either by matching the list of interested buyers with the list of interested sellers or through a bid and ask process that allows interested buyers to bid on the listed interest;

    the seller cannot enter into a binding agreement to sell the interest until the 15th calendar day after his interest is listed, which date must be confirmable by maintenance of contemporaneous records;

    the closing of a sale effected through the matching service does not occur prior to the 45th calendar day after the interest is listed;

    the matching service displays only quotes that do not commit any person to buy or sell an interest at the quoted price, or quotes that express an interest in acquiring an interest without an accompanying price, and does not display quotes at which any person is committed to buy or sell an interest at the quoted price;

    the seller's information is removed within 120 days of its listing and is not re-entered into the system for at least 60 days after its deletion; and

    the sum of the interests in capital or profits transferred during the entity's tax year, not including private transfers, cannot exceed 10% of the total interests in capital or profits.

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Treatment of the LLC's Operations

Flow-through of Taxable Income; Use of Calendar Year

        No federal income tax will be paid by the LLC. Instead, all members will be required to report on their income tax return their allocable share of the income, gains, losses and deductions of the LLC without regard to whether corresponding cash distributions are received.

        Because the LLC will be taxed as a partnership, it will have its own taxable year separate from the taxable years of its members. A partnership generally must use the "majority interest taxable year" which is the taxable year that conforms to the taxable year of the holders of more than 50% of its interests. In the LLC's case, the majority interest taxable year is the calendar year.

The LLC's Basis in Assets

        Section 723 of the Internal Revenue Code provides that the basis of any property contributed to a partnership by a partner is the adjusted basis of the property in the hands of the contributor at the time of the contribution. In this case, each member of the cooperative will be deemed to contribute his or her share of the property that they are deemed to receive in the merger. For example, if the net value of the liquidating distribution is $20 million and liabilities are $40 million, the aggregate basis of the contributed property would be $60 million. The aggregate basis of assets must be apportioned among the categories of assets and to assets within a category for depreciation and other cost recovery purposes. The method for apportioning basis to specific assets acquired by the LLC in a deemed liquidation of a predecessor cooperative is uncertain. The LLC intends to apportion basis to specific assets in accordance with procedures established by the Internal Revenue Service for acquisition of assets that collectively constitute a trade or business. This method establishes a series of asset classes to which basis is apportioned to the extent of the fair market value of assets in each class successively until all basis has been assigned. The valuation opinion does not apportion the net equity to specific assets. This will be done by management using the fair market values of specific assets that it used in determining the cooperative's gain on the deemed liquidation. Because the method of apportioning basis is uncertain and the fair market value of the LLC's net equity is subject to challenge, the IRS might challenge the allocation of basis to specific categories of assets within the LLC so as to increase the allocation to longer lived assets or assets that cannot be depreciated or amortized such as land and investments. This would defer the timing of some of the LLC's depreciation and other cost recovery deductions, including the first-year writedown of inventory described in "Federal Income Tax Considerations—Summary of Tax Treatment of Members".

Taxable Income or Loss from Operations

        The LLC will compute its taxable income or loss in a manner that differs materially from the way the cooperative determines its taxable income or loss. Material changes include the fact that an LLC does not issue patronage dividends and therefore does not receive a patronage dividend deduction. Accordingly, all of the taxable income of the LLC will be reported by the members. LLC losses flow-through to the members, subject to restrictions discussed below, while a cooperative's losses generally produce net operating loss carryovers.

Tax Consequences of the LLC's Operations to the Members

Flow-through of Taxable Income or Loss

        Each member will be required to report on his or her income tax return for the taxable year with which or within which ends the LLC's taxable year his distributive share of the LLC's income, gains, losses and deductions without regard to whether corresponding cash distributions are received. To illustrate, a calendar year member will include his share of the LLC's 2004 taxable income or loss on

83



his 2004 income tax return. A member with a June 30 fiscal year will report his share of the LLC's 2004 taxable income or loss on his income tax return for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2005. The LLC will provide each member with an annual Schedule K-1 indicating the member's share of the LLC's income, loss and their separately stated components.

Tax Treatment of Distributions

        Distributions by the LLC to members generally will not be taxable to the members for federal income tax purposes as long as distributions do not exceed their basis in their units immediately before the distribution. Cash distributions in excess of unit basis—which are considered unlikely—are treated as gain from the sale or exchange of the units under the rules described below for unit dispositions.

Initial Tax Basis of Units and Periodic Basis Adjustments

        Under Section 722 of the Internal Revenue Code, a member's initial basis in his or her membership interest in the LLC will be equal to the sum of the amount of money and the contributor's adjusted basis of any property contributed to the LLC. This amount is increased by a member's share of the LLC's debt. Since the property deemed to be contributed by each member is the property received in the constructive liquidation, each member's initial basis in the LLC units should be equal to the fair market value of those units as reported by the member in determining gain or loss on the conversion transaction as described above plus the member's share of the LLC's debt. The LLC will inform the members of their initial basis in LLC units when conversion date values and liabilities have been determined.

        A member's initial basis in LLC units will be increased to reflect the member's distributive share of the LLC's taxable income and tax-exempt income, amounts attributable to depletion that are not likely to be relevant, and any increase in a member's share of the LLC's debt. If a member makes additional capital contributions at any time, the adjusted unit basis is increased by the amount of any cash contributed or the adjusted basis in any property contributed.

        A member's unit basis will be decreased, but not below zero, by (1) the amount of any cash distributed to the member; (2) the basis of any other property distributed; (3) the amount of depletion deductions; (4) the member's distributive share of losses and nondeductible expenditures of the LLC that are "not properly chargeable to capital account" and (5) any reduction in that member's share of the LLC's debt.

        The unit basis calculations are complex. A member is only required to compute unit basis if the computation is necessary to determine his or her tax liability, but accurate records should be maintained. Typically, basis computations are necessary at the following times:

    The end of a taxable year during which the LLC suffered a loss, for the purpose of determining the deductibility of the member's share of the loss;

    Upon the liquidation or disposition of a member's interest, and

    Upon the nonliquidating distribution of cash or property to a member, in order to ascertain the basis of distributed property or the taxability of cash distributed.

        Except in the case of a taxable sale of a unit or liquidation of the LLC, exact computations usually are not necessary. For example, a member who regularly receives cash distributions that are less than or equal to his or her share of the LLC's taxable income will have a positive unit basis at all times. Consequently, no computations are necessary to demonstrate that cash distributions are not taxable to the member under Section 731(a) (1) of the Internal Revenue Code. The purpose of the basis adjustments is to keep track of a member's "tax investment" in the LLC, with a view toward preventing double taxation or exclusion from taxation of income items upon ultimate disposition of the units.

84



Deductibility of Losses; Passive Loss Limitations

        In general, a member may deduct losses allocated to him, subject to a number of restrictions. Those restrictions include a general rule that losses cannot be deducted if they exceed a member's basis in his or her units nor to the extent they exceed the member's at-risk amount. These specific restrictions are not likely to impact the members of the LLC. However, if the LLC incurs a taxable loss or if taxable income is insufficient to cover interest expense on the member's cooperative related borrowing, the passive activity loss deduction rules are likely to have widespread effect.

        Section 469 of the Internal Revenue Code substantially restricts the ability of taxpayers to deduct losses from passive activities. Passive activities generally include activities conducted by pass-through entities, such as the LLC and other partnerships, limited liability companies or S corporations, in which the taxpayer does not materially participate. Generally, losses from passive activities are deductible only to the extent of the taxpayer's income from other passive activities. Passive activity losses that are not deductible because of these rules may be carried forward and deducted against future passive activity income, or they may be deducted in full upon disposition of a member's entire interest in the LLC to an unrelated party in a fully taxable transaction.

        It is important to note that "passive activities" do not include dividends and interest income that normally is considered to be "passive" in nature; nor do they include farming operations in which the taxpayer is a material participant. A special rule allows closely held C corporations (other than a personal service corporation) to deduct passive activity losses against both passive activity income and "net activity income." Net activity income generally is taxable income exclusive of passive activities and portfolio income such as dividends and interest.

        Members who have borrowed to purchase their equity interest in the cooperative may have been deducting the interest expense. After the conversion, this interest expense will be aggregated with other items of income and loss from passive activities and subjected to the passive activity loss limitation. To illustrate, if a member's only passive activity is the LLC, and if the LLC incurs a net loss, no interest expense on related borrowing would be deductible. If that member's share of the LLC's taxable income is less than the related interest expense, the excess would be nondeductible. In both instances, the disallowed interest would be suspended and would be deductible against future passive activity income or upon disposition of the member's entire interest in the LLC to an unrelated party in a fully taxable transaction.

Alternative Minimum Tax

        If the LLC adopts accelerated methods of depreciation, it is possible that taxable income for Alternative Minimum Tax purposes might exceed regular taxable income passed through to the members. No decision has been made on accelerated depreciation, but we believe that most members are unlikely to be adversely affected by excess alternative minimum taxable income.

Tax Consequences of Disposition of Units

Recognition of Gain or Loss

        Gain or loss will be recognized on a sale of LLC units equal to the difference between the amount realized and the member's basis in the units sold. The amount realized includes cash and the fair market value of other property received plus the member's share of the LLC's debt. Because of the inclusion of debt in basis, it is possible that a member could have a tax liability on sale that exceeds the proceeds of sale. While this a result is common in "tax shelters," it is quite unlikely in the case of a typical business operation such as that of the LLC.

        Gain or loss recognized by a member on the sale or exchange of a unit held for more than one year generally will be taxed as long-term capital gain or loss. A portion of this gain or loss, however,

85



will be separately computed and taxed as ordinary income or loss under Section 751 of the Internal Revenue Code to the extent attributable to depreciation recapture or other "unrealized receivables" or "substantially appreciated inventory" owned by the LLC. The LLC will adopt conventions to assist those members that sell units in apportioning the gain among the various categories.

Allocations and Distributions Following Unit Transfers

        The tax code requires that profits and loss allocations with respect to units that are transferred during the fiscal year must take into account the varying interests of the transferor and transferee during the year. Related regulations recognize several methods, including an interim closing of the books or the daily proration method. The interim closing of the books method allocates profits and losses through the transfer date to the transferor and after the transfer date to the transferee. The proration method is essentially a rule of administrative convenience that allocates the LLC's annual income between the transferor and transferee based on the portion of the year that has elapsed prior to the transfer, or under any other method that is reasonable. Although the rules on other reasonable methods and the use of conventions are not well defined, partnerships and limited liability companies with numerous transfers typically adopt reasonable methods and conventions to reduce the accounting burdens associated with unit transfers. The Limited Liability Company Agreement provides that the LLC initially will determine its profits and loss annually and will allocate the profit or loss for the year of transfer between transferors and transferees of units using a monthly proration. Unit transfers will be recognized as occurring at the beginning of the calendar month following the month in which the notice, documentation and information and approval requirements of the transfer have been substantially complied with. All distributions on or before the end of the calendar month in which the unit transfer requirements have been substantially complied with shall be made to the transferor and all distributions thereafter shall be made to the transferee. The Board of Managers has the authority to adopt another reasonable method and/or convention with respect to the allocations and distributions.

Effect of Tax Code Section 754 Election on Unit Transfers

        The adjusted basis of each member in his LLC units ("outside basis") initially will equal his or her proportionate share of the adjusted basis of the LLC in its assets ("inside basis"). Over time, however, it is probable that changes in unit values and cost recovery deductions will cause the value of a unit to differ materially from the member's proportionate share of the inside basis. Section 754 of the Internal Revenue Code permits a partnership to make an election that allows a transferee who acquires units either by purchase or upon the death of a member to adjust his share of the inside basis to fair market value as reflected by the unit price in the case of a purchase or the estate tax value of the unit in the case of an acquisition upon death of a member. Once the amount of the transferee's basis adjustment is determined, it is allocated among the LLC's various assets pursuant to Section 755 of the Internal Revenue Code.

        A Section 754 election is beneficial to the transferee when his outside basis is greater than his proportionate share of the entity's inside basis. In this case, a special calculation is made solely for the benefit of the transferee that will determine his cost recovery deductions and his gain or loss on disposition of LLC property by reference to his higher outside basis. The Section 754 election will be detrimental to the transferee if his or her outside basis is less than his or her proportionate share of inside basis.

        The Limited Liability Company Agreement provides that the Board of Managers has discretionary authority to make a Section 754 election. The Board of Managers is likely to make such an election only where the tax benefits made available to affected unitholders and their transferees by the election are likely to be sufficient to justify the increased cost and administrative burden of accounting for the resulting basis adjustments. Depending on the circumstances, the value of units may be affected positively or negatively by whether or not the LLC makes a Section 754 election. Once made, a

86



Section 754 election is irrevocable unless the Internal Revenue Service consents to its revocation. Section 743(b) provides that a partnership or LLC is responsible for making the basis adjustments. However, the unit transferees are required to report the basis adjustments. In the event the Board of Managers determines to make a Section 754 election, it will notify the members of the manner in which to comply with applicable rules.

IRS Reporting Requirement

        The Limited Liability Company Agreement contains the requirements for a valid transfer of units, including proper documentation and Board of Managers approval. In addition, the IRS requires a taxpayer who sells or exchanges a unit to notify the LLC in writing within thirty days or, for transfers occurring on or after December 16 of any year, by January 15 of the following year. Although the IRS reporting requirement is limited to "Section 751(a) exchanges," it is likely that any transfer of an LLC unit will constitute a Section 751(a) exchange. The written notice required by the IRS must include the names and addresses of both parties to the exchange, the identifying numbers of the transferor and, if known, of the transferee and the exchange date. The IRS imposes a penalty of $50 for failure to file the written notice unless reasonable cause can be shown.

Other Tax Matters

Tax Information to Members; Consistent Reporting

        The LLC will be required to provide each member with a Schedule K-1 (or authorized substitute therefore) on an annual basis. Harsh penalties are provided for failure to do so unless reasonable cause for the failure is established.

        Each member's Schedule K-1 will set out the holder's distributive share of each item of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit that is required to be separately stated. Each member must report all items consistently with Schedule K-1 or, if an inconsistent position is reported, must notify the IRS of any inconsistency by filing Form 8062 "Notice of Inconsistent Treatment or Administrative Adjustment Request (AAR)" with the original or amended return in which the inconsistent position is taken.

IRS Audit Procedures

        Unified audit rules require the tax treatment of all "partnership items" to be determined at the partnership, rather than the partner, level. Partnership items are those items that are more appropriately determined at the partnership level than at the partner level, as provided by regulations. Since the LLC will be taxed as a partnership, these rules are applicable to it and its members.

        These rules allow the IRS to challenge the reporting position of a partnership by conducting a single administrative proceeding to resolve the issue with respect to all partners. But the IRS must still assess any resulting deficiency against each of the taxpayers who were partners in the year in which the understatement of tax liability arose. Any partner of a partnership can request an administrative adjustment or a refund for his own separate tax liability. Any partner also has the right to participate in partnership-level administrative proceedings. A settlement agreement with respect to partnership items binds all parties to the settlement.

        IRS rules establish the "Tax Matters Partner" as the primary representative of a partnership in dealings with the IRS. The Tax Matters Partner must be a "member-manager" which is defined as an LLC member who, alone or together with others, is vested with the continuing exclusive authority to make the management decisions necessary to conduct the business for which the organization was formed. In the LLC's case, this would be a member of the Board of Managers who is also a member of the LLC. The Limited Liability Company Agreement provides for Board designation of the Tax Matters Partner.

87



        The IRS generally is required to give notice of the beginning of partnership-level administrative proceedings and any resulting administrative adjustment to all partners whose names and addresses are furnished to the IRS. For partnerships with more than 100 partners, however, the IRS generally is not required to give notice to any partner whose profits interest is less than one percent.

        After the IRS makes an administrative adjustment, the Tax Matters Partner (and, in limited circumstances, other partners) may file a petition for readjustment of partnership items in the Tax Court, the district court in which the partnership's principal place of business is located, or the Claims Court.

Elective Procedures for Large Partnerships

        The Internal Revenue Code allows large partnerships to elect streamlined procedures for income tax reporting and IRS audits. This election reduces the number of items that must be separately stated on the Schedules K-1 that are issued to the partners which eases the burden on their tax preparers.

        If the election is made, IRS audit adjustments generally will flow through to the partners for the year in which the adjustment takes effect. However, the partnership may elect to pay an imputed underpayment that is calculated by netting the adjustments to the income and loss items of the partnership and multiplying that amount by the highest tax rate whether individual or corporate. A partner may not file a claim for credit or refund of his allocable share of the payment.

        Timing adjustments are made in the year of audit in order to avoid adjustments to multiple years where possible. In addition, the partnership, rather than the partners individually, generally is liable for any interest and penalties that result from a partnership audit adjustment. Penalties, such as the accuracy and fraud penalties, are determined on a year-by-year basis, without offsets, based on an imputed underpayment. Any payment for Federal income taxes, interest, or penalties, that an electing large partnership is required to make is non-deductible.

        Under the electing large partnership audit rules, a partner is not permitted to report any partnership items inconsistently with the partnership return, even if the partner notifies the IRS of the inconsistency. The IRS may treat a partnership item that was reported inconsistently by a partner as a mathematical or clerical error and immediately assess any additional tax against that partner. The IRS is not required to give notice to individual partners of the commencement of an administrative proceeding or of a final adjustment. Instead, the IRS is authorized to send notice of a partnership adjustment to the partnership itself by certified or registered mail. An administrative adjustment may be challenged in the Tax Court, the district court in which the partnership's principal place of business is located, or the Claims Court. However, only the partnership, and not partners individually, can petition for a readjustment of partnership items.

        The Board of Managers of the LLC will review the large partnership procedures with its legal counsel and certified public accountants to determine whether it appears advantageous to elect to be subject to the new procedures. Because of the substantial cost and administrative burden involved in implementing IRS audit adjustments at the member level under the existing procedures, it is likely that the Board of Managers will decide to make the election.

Self-Employment Tax

        Individuals who patronize the cooperative directly or through a partnership currently are subject to self-employment tax on patronage dividends although at least one retired member has successfully escaped self-employment tax on such payments. The Internal Revenue Code and Treasury regulations provide that general partners are subject to self-employment tax on their distributive share of partnership income and that limited partners who do not render services to the partnership are not subject to self-employment tax. Neither the Internal Revenue Code nor the Treasury regulations

88



address the treatment of LLC members for self-employment tax purposes. Proposed regulations, however, were issued in 1997 that provide generally for imposition of the self-employment tax on limited liability company members only if they (1) have personal liability for limited liability company obligations, have authority to contract on behalf of the limited liability company, or participate in the limited liability company's business for more than 500 hours each year. Few, if any, of the LLC's members would be subject to self-employment tax under this test unless they are employees of the LLC. Members who are employees of the LLC are subject to self-employment taxes not only on their share of the LLC's taxable income, but also on their salary and certain fringe benefits that are not deductible in calculating taxable earnings from self-employment.

        The status of the proposed regulations is uncertain because they were subject to a Congressional moratorium that ended July 1, 1998 and the Treasury has not taken steps to finalize them. Nevertheless, because of the similarity of limited liability company members and limited partners, it is believed to be highly likely that members of the LLC will be treated similar to limited partners, i.e., generally not subject to self-employment tax on their share of LLC earnings. This will represent a substantial saving relative to cooperative taxation for those LLC members whose FICA wages and self-employment earnings are below the maximum FICA income base which is $87,900 for 2004.

Fringe Benefits

        Most fringe benefits available to corporate employees also are available to LLC employees, but there are some differences, particularly if the employee also is a member.

State Income Taxes

        The LLC members generally are subject to tax in their state of residence as well as in those states in which the entity does business if their share of income exceeds the minimum filing requirements. Since the LLC will potentially be doing business in several states, this could create a substantial reporting burden for the members. Most states, however, allow "composite reporting" by partnerships and limited liability companies which means that the entity pays income taxes to the various states and the individual members are relieved of the reporting responsibility in states other than their state of residence and their state of residence generally will allow a tax credit for state income taxes paid by the entity for the benefit of the member. For example, a member who is a resident of Minnesota will report his entire share of the LLC's income but will receive credit on his Minnesota return for taxes paid to Minnesota and other states on his behalf. The Minnesota resident member generally will not have to file individually in other states. This result, however, may vary depending on the state of which a particular member is a resident. Members are encouraged to consult their own tax advisors on this matter.


LEGAL MATTERS

        The validity of the units to be issued in connection with the conversion will be passed upon by Lindquist & Vennum P.L.L.P.


WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

        Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc. does not file annual, quarterly and special reports with the SEC. The LLC has not filed any reports with the SEC, but will do so after the conversion. You may read and copy any reports that the LLC files at the SEC's public reference room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference rooms. The reports also will be available from commercial document retrieval services and at the SEC's web site (http://www.sec.gov).

        YOU SHOULD RELY ONLY ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT TO VOTE ON THE CONVERSION. WE HAVE NOT AUTHORIZED ANYONE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT IS CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT. THIS DOCUMENT IS DATED [                        ], 2004. YOU SHOULD NOT ASSUME THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS DOCUMENT IS ACCURATE AS OF ANY OTHER DATE, AND NEITHER THE MAILING OF THE THIS DOCUMENT TO MEMBERS NOR THE ISSUANCE OF UNITS IN THE CONVERSION SHALL CREATE ANY IMPLICATION TO THE CONTRARY.

89



INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

MIDWEST INVESTORS OF RENVILLE, INC.
(D.B.A. "GOLDEN OVAL EGGS")

 
  Page
Independent Auditor's Report   F-2

Financial Statements as of August 31, 2003 and 2002 and for the years ended August 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001

 

 
  Balance Sheets   F-3
  Statements of Operations   F-4
  Statements of Changes in Patrons' Equity   F-5
  Statements of Cash Flows   F-6
  Notes to Financial Statements   F-7

Condensed Financial Statements as of May 31, 2004 (unaudited) and August 31, 2003 (audited) and for the periods ended May 31, 2004 and 2003 (unaudited)

 

 
 
Balance Sheet

 

F-21
  Statement of Operations   F-22
  Statement of Cash Flows   F-23
  Notes to Condensed Financial Statements   F-24

F-1



Independent Auditor's Report

Board of Directors
Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc.
    d/b/a Golden Oval Eggs
Renville, Minnesota

        We have audited the accompanying balance sheet of Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc. d/b/a Golden Oval Eggs as of August 31, 2003 and 2002, and the related statements of operations, patrons' equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended August 31, 2003. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

        We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

        In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc. d/b/a Golden Oval Eggs as of August 31, 2003 and 2002, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended August 31, 2003 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

                        /s/  MOORE STEPHENS FROST      

                        Certified Public Accountants

Little Rock, Arkansas
October 10, 2003, except for Note 17,
as to which the date is July 26, 2004

F-2


MIDWEST INVESTORS OF RENVILLE, INC.
d/b/a GOLDEN OVAL EGGS

Balance Sheets

August 31, 2003 and 2002

(In Thousands, except per share data)

(as restated)

 
  2003
  2002
 
Assets              
Current assets              
  Cash and cash equivalents   $ 2,429   $ 506  
  Accounts receivable     6,499     4,621  
  Inventories     7,234     7,112  
  Restricted cash     1,212     1,373  
  Prepaid insurance     193     212  
  Other current assets     644     596  
   
 
 
Total current assets     18,211     14,420  
   
 
 
Property, plant and equipment              
  Land and land improvements     6,819     6,781  
  Buildings     21,950     21,950  
  Equipment     34,280     34,031  
  Construction in progress     124     152  
   
 
 
        63,173     62,914  
  Accumulated depreciation     (25,055 )   (20,377 )
   
 
 
Total property, plant and equipment     38,118     42,537  
   
 
 
Other assets              
  Restricted cash     3,938     4,800  
  Investments     1,770     1,962  
  Intangible assets, net     1,637     1,867  
  Note receivable     950     950  
  Deferred tax asset     236     236  
   
 
 
Total other assets     8,531     9,815  
   
 
 
Total assets   $ 64,860   $ 66,772  
   
 
 

Liabilities and Patrons' Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Current liabilities              
  Revolving line of credit   $ 20   $ 2,989  
  Accounts payable     1,381     2,082  
  Accrued interest     472     484  
  Accrued rent and interest-related party     306     228  
  Accrued compensation     791     438  
  Accrued property taxes     262     214  
  Other current liabilities     291     183  
  Current maturities of long-term debt     2,502     2,347  
   
 
 
Total current liabilities     6,025     8,965  
   
 
 
Long-term debt, less current maturities     32,804     35,309  
   
 
 
Patrons' equity              
  Common stock, $.01 par value; 50,000 shares authorized; 4,582 shares issued and outstanding     46     46  
  Additional paid-in capital     19,923     19,923  
  Unallocated capital reserve     6,062     2,529  
   
 
 
Total patrons' equity     26,031     22,498  
   
 
 
Total liabilities and patrons' equity   $ 64,860   $ 66,772  
   
 
 

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

F-3



MIDWEST INVESTORS OF RENVILLE, INC.
d/b/a GOLDEN OVAL EGGS

Statements of Operations

For the Years Ended August 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001

(In Thousands, except per share data)

(as restated)

 
  2003
  2002
  2001
 
Revenues   $ 53,052   $ 46,169   $ 35,215  
Cost of goods sold     43,300     39,450     31,053  
   
 
 
 
  Gross profit     9,752     6,719     4,162  
Operating expenses     3,208     3,339     2,495  
   
 
 
 
  Income from operations     6,544     3,380     1,667  
Other income (expense)                    
  Interest expense     (3,520 )   (3,466 )   (2,314 )
  Other income     509     385     650  
   
 
 
 
Total other expense     (3,011 )   (3,081 )   (1,664 )
   
 
 
 
Income before income taxes     3,533     299     3  
Income taxes              
   
 
 
 
Net income   $ 3,533   $ 299   $ 3  
   
 
 
 
Basic and diluted earnings per common share   $ 0.77   $ 0.07   $  
   
 
 
 
Distributions per common share   $   $   $ 0.04  
   
 
 
 

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

F-4



MIDWEST INVESTORS OF RENVILLE, INC.
d/b/a GOLDEN OVAL EGGS

Statements of Changes in Patrons' Equity

For the Years Ended August 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001

(In Thousands, except per share data)

(as restated)

 
  Common stock
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
  Additional
paid-in
capital

  Per
unit
retainage

  Unallocated
capital
reserve

  Stock
subscription
receivable

  Total
patrons'
equity

 
 
  Shares
  Amount
 
Balance—September 1, 2000   3,868   $ 39   $ 16,491   $ 1,608   $ 2,137   $ (2,046 ) $ 18,229  
  Conversion of per unit retainage to common stock   322     3     1,605     (1,608 )            
  Collection of stock subscription receivable                       2,046     2,046  
  Net income, as restated                   3         3  
  Rescission of distributions declared                   258         258  
  Distributions declared                   (168 )       (168 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance—August 31, 2001, as restated   4,190     42     18,096         2,230         20,368  
  Issuance of common stock   392     4     1,827                 1,831  
  Net income, as restated                   299         299  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance—August 31, 2002, as restated   4,582     46     19,923         2,529         22,498  
  Net income, as restated                   3,533         3,533  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance—August 31, 2003, as restated   4,582   $ 46   $ 19,923   $   $ 6,062   $   $ 26,031  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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

F-5



MIDWEST INVESTORS OF RENVILLE, INC.
d/b/a GOLDEN OVAL EGGS

Statements of Cash Flows

For the Years Ended August 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001

(In Thousands, except per share data)

(as restated)

 
  2003
  2002
  2001
 
Cash flows from operating activities                    
  Net income   $ 3,533   $ 299   $ 3  
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities                    
    Depreciation     4,695     5,117     4,338  
    Amortization     230     231     205  
    Equity in (income) loss of unconsolidated subsidiary         (35 )   32  
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities                    
      Accounts receivable     (1,878 )   (1,172 )   (38 )
      Inventories     (122 )   (435 )   (1,035 )
      Prepaid insurance     19     (99 )   (39 )
      Other current assets     (48 )   (177 )   (1,692 )
      Accounts payable     (701 )   (717 )   (24 )
      Accruals and other current liabilities     575     50     (1,835 )
      Deferred income taxes         96     858  
   
 
 
 
Net cash provided by operating activities     6,303     3,158     773  
   
 
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities                    
  Purchases of property, plant and equipment     (276 )   (1,308 )   (12,716 )
  Retirement of investment in United Mills     217     242     238  
  Purchase of investment in United Mills     (245 )   (240 )   (236 )
  Retirement of investment in other cooperatives     230     47     1  
   
 
 
 
Net cash used by investing activities     (74 )   (1,259 )   (12,713 )
   
 
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities                    
  Net increase (decrease) in revolving line of credit   $ (2,969 ) $ (97 ) $ 3,086  
  Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt         42     3,345  
  Payments of long-term debt     (2,350 )   (2,219 )   (643 )
  Restricted cash     1,023     (974 )   (2,547 )
  Proceeds from sale of additional stock         1,831      
  Collections of stock subscription receivable             2,046  
  Cash distributions             (168 )
  Payment of bond issue costs             (113 )
  Patronage dividend     (10 )   (17 )   (50 )
   
 
 
 
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities     (4,306 )   (1,434 )   4,956  
   
 
 
 
Net increase (decrease) in cash     1,923     465     (6,984 )

Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of year

 

 

506

 

 

41

 

 

7,025

 
   
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents—end of year   $ 2,429   $ 506   $ 41  
   
 
 
 
Supplementary disclosures of cash flow information                    
 
Cash paid (received) during the period for:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
    Interest, net of capitalized interest of $0, $267 and $1,348 during 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively   $ 3,593   $ 3,495   $ 2,234  
  Income taxes         (97 )   (218 )

Supplementary disclosures of non-cash transaction

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
Bond issuance costs financed

 

$


 

$


 

$

105

 
  Recission of distributions declared             258  

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

F-6



MIDWEST INVESTORS OF RENVILLE, INC.
d/b/a GOLDEN OVAL EGGS

Notes to Financial Statements

August 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001

(In Thousands, except per share data)

1.    Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

        a.     Organization—Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc., d/b/a Golden Oval Eggs (the "Company") was incorporated as a cooperative under the laws of the state of Minnesota in March, 1994.

        b.     Business operations and environment—The Company is an integrated poultry cooperative operation that produces and sells liquid egg products, principally in the Midwest, California and Canada.

        The Company operates in an environment wherein the commodity nature of both its products for sale and its primary raw materials causes sales prices and purchase costs to fluctuate, often on a short-term basis, due to the worldwide supply and demand situation for those commodities. The supply and demand factors for its products for sale and the supply and demand factors for its primary raw materials correlate to a degree, but are not the same, thereby causing margins between sales price and production costs to increase, decrease, or invert, often on a short-term basis.

        c.     Cash equivalents—The Company considers all highly liquid cash investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash and cash equivalents.

        d.     Accounts receivable—Accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. The Company reviews their customer accounts on a periodic basis and records a reserve for specific amounts that the Company feels may not be collected. The Company's management deems accounts receivable to be past due based on contractual terms. Amounts will be written off at the point when collection attempts on the accounts have been exhausted. Management uses significant judgment in estimating uncollectible amounts. In estimating uncollectible amounts, management considers factors such as current overall economic conditions, industry-specific economic conditions, historical customer performance and anticipated customer performance. While management believes the Company's processes effectively address its exposure to doubtful accounts, changes in the economy, industry or specific customer conditions may require adjustment to any allowance recorded by the Company. At August 31, 2003 and 2002, no allowance for doubtful accounts is considered necessary by the Company's management.

        e.     Inventories—Pullet inventories are stated at the cost of production which includes the costs of the chicks, feed, overhead and labor. Layer hen inventories are stated at the cost of production which includes the costs of the pullets, feed, overhead and labor. Layer hen flock costs are capitalized to the point at which the pullet goes into production or are purchased and are amortized over the productive lives of the flocks generally 18 to 24 months. Feed, supplies and liquid egg inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or market.

        f.      Investments—Trading Securities—The Company holds certain commodity futures contracts in the regular course of business to manage its exposure against commodity price fluctuations on anticipated purchases of raw materials. The contracts are generally for short durations of less than one year. Although these instruments are economic hedges, the Company does not designate these contracts as hedges for accounting purposes pursuant to the requirements of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities," as amended (see Note 17). As a result, the Company records these contracts as investments

F-7



which are classified as trading securities under SFAS No. 115 "Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities", as amended by SFAS 130, "Reporting Comprehensive Income." Accordingly, these investments are recorded at fair value based on quoted market prices. Unrealized gains and losses are included in earnings in the periods in which they arise. At August 31, 2003, these contracts had a fair value of $452 recorded as current assets on the balance sheet. At August 31, 2002, these contracts had a fair value of $549 recorded as current assets on the balance sheet.

        g.     Property, plant and equipment—Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is provided primarily by the straight-line method over the following lives:

Land improvements   7 to 15 years
Buildings   7 to 39 years
Equipment   3 to 15 years

        Costs of maintenance and repairs that do not improve or extend asset lives are expensed as incurred. Major additions and improvements of existing facilities are capitalized. For retirements or sales of property, the Company removes the original cost and the related accumulated depreciation from the accounts and the resulting gain or loss is reflected in other income in the accompanying statement of operations. Depreciation and repairs and maintenance expenses are allocated to either cost of goods sold or operating expenses in the accompanying statements of operations based on the nature and use of the related asset.

        h.     Long-lived assets—During 2003, the Company adopted SFAS No. 144 "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets" which superceded and amended SFAS No. 121 "Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to be Disposed of." This statement requires that long-lived assets be reviewed for impairment whenever events and circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to future net cash expected to be generated by the asset. If such assets are considered to be impaired, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the excess of the carrying amount over the fair value of the assets. Based on management's assessment, no impairment indicators are present, and therefore no impairment testing is necessary at August 31, 2003. The factors considered by management in performing this assessment include operating results, trends, and prospects as well as the effects of obsolescence, demand, competition, and other economic factors.

        i.      Investments (not in thousands)—Investments include the Company's investments in United Mills (a cooperative), St. Paul Bank for Cooperatives, and four additional cooperatives involved in activities which are similar or complementary to the Company.

        The Company's investment in United Mills represents equities allocated to the Company by United Mills as of United Mills' most recent fiscal year-end, plus an accrual at the Company's fiscal year-end for patronage allocations. The accruals are based on the percentage of the Company's patronage with United Mills in relation to United Mills' total patronage.

F-8


        United Mills maintains a revolving capital account, funded by its patrons. The principal source of this capital account is the contribution, on a monthly basis, of $3.00 per ton of feed purchased. Revolving capital credits may be retired at any time at the discretion of the Board of Directors of United Mills. United Mills has historically followed a policy of retiring capital credits on a monthly basis at the rate of $3.00 per ton of feed purchased during the corresponding month two years prior. These payments to and from United Mills are reflected as purchase of and retirement of investment in United Mills, respectively, in the accompanying statements of cash flows.

        j.      Restricted cash—Restricted cash consists of cash that is restricted as to future use by contractual agreements associated with the outstanding bonds, as well as an escrow account that is being held by the City of Renville, Minnesota in a debt service account. Interest earned on escrow amounts held are added to the account. The balance in this escrow account will be applied at the end of the bond term to pay the final interest and principal payments.

        k.     Intangible assets—In June 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued SFAS No. 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets." SFAS No. 142 requires that goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets no longer be amortized; however, these assets must be tested at least annually, or more frequently if impairment indicators arise, for impairment. Separate intangible assets that have finite lives will continue to be amortized over their useful lives. The Company adopted SFAS No. 142 effective September 1, 2002. Initial adoption of SFAS No. 142 had no impact on the Company's financial position or results of operations. Based on management's assessment of the existing assets, no impairment has occurred at August 31, 2003.

        l.      Income taxes—The Company is subject to Federal and certain other income taxes and operates as a cooperative that qualifies for tax treatment under Subchapter T of the Internal Revenue Code. Accordingly, under specified conditions, the Company can exclude from taxable income amounts distributed as qualified patronage refunds to its members. Provisions for income taxes are recorded only on those earnings not distributed or not expected to be distributed as patronage refunds.

        m.    Fair value—The Company's financial instruments consist primarily of cash equivalents, accounts receivable, long-term receivable, accounts payable, and debt. The carrying amounts of cash equivalents, accounts receivable, and accounts payable approximate their fair values because of the short-term maturity of such instruments. The stated value of the Company's long-term receivables approximates their fair value based on current market rates for financial instruments of the same remaining maturities and risk characteristics. The carrying values of long-term debt instruments approximate their fair value because interest rates on such debt are periodically adjusted and approximate current market rates.

        n.     Revenue recognition—Revenue is recognized by the Company when the following criteria are met: persuasive evidence of an agreement exists; delivery has occurred (FOB shipping point or destination, depending on the customer) or services have been rendered; the Company's price to the buyer is fixed and determinable; and collectibility is reasonably assured. All of the Company's product is shipped in tanker trailers and delivered directly to its customers. Physical delivery is the point in time at which revenue is considered earned since the risks and rewards of ownership generally rest when

F-9



title passes to the customer. Free-on-Board, or FOB terms generally designate at which point title passes to the customer. These terms are contractual between the parties involved. Products shipped FOB shipping point are recognized as revenue when the product leaves the Company's premises. Products shipped FOB destination are recognized as revenue when the product reaches the customer.

        o.     Estimates—The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

        p.     Shipping and handling costs—All shipping and handling costs incurred during the year are included in cost of goods sold in the accompanying statement of operations.

        q.     Reclassifications—Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2002 and 2001 balances in order to conform to the 2003 presentation.

        r.     Recently issued accounting standards—In August 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 143, "Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations." This statement applies to legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets that result from the acquisition, construction, development or normal operation of a long-lived asset, except for certain obligations of lessees. The liability would be recognized in the period in which it is incurred and can be reasonably estimated. The Company adopted SFAS No. 143 effective September 1, 2002. The Company has reviewed its assets and believes it has no assets which will require funds to retire in the future.

        In April 2003, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 149, "Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities." SFAS No. 149 amends SFAS No. 133 to provide clarification on the financial accounting and reporting of derivative instruments and hedging activities and requires that contracts with similar characteristics be accounted for on a comparable basis. The standard is effective for contracts entered into or modified after June 30, 2003, and for hedging relationships designated after June 30, 2003. The company's adoption of SFAS No. 149 did not have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations.

        In May 2003, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 150, "Accounting for Certain Instruments with Characteristics of Both Liabilities and Equity." SFAS No. 150 establishes how an issuer classifies and measures certain freestanding financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity and requires that such instruments be classified as liabilities. The standard is effective for financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003. The Company's adoption of SFAS No. 150 did not have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations.

        In January 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Interpretation No. 46, "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an interpretation of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51" (the Interpretation). The Interpretation requires the consolidation of entities in which an enterprise absorbs a majority of the entity's expected losses, receives a majority of the entity's expected residual

F-10



returns, or both, as a result of ownership, contractual or other financial interests in the entity. A variable interest entity results from interests in an entity through ownership, contractual relationships, or other pecuniary interest. Under current accounting guidance, entities are generally consolidated by an enterprise only when it has a controlling financial interest through ownership of a majority voting interest in the entity.

        The Company has interests in various affiliates (see Note 5 and 11) established for the purpose of finished feed production, technology services and rental of real estate. The creditors of the entities do not have recourse to the Company. The Company is currently evaluating the effects of the issuance of the Interpretation on the accounting for its ownership interests in these entities.

2.    Net Outstanding Checks

        The Company had outstanding checks in excess of bank balances of approximately $1,354 as of August 31, 2002 which is included in accounts payable for financial statement purposes.

3.    Inventories

        Inventories consist of:

 
  2003
  2002
Hens and pullets   $ 6,589   $ 6,214
Feed and supplies     433     761
Eggs and egg products     212     137
   
 
Total inventories   $ 7,234   $ 7,112
   
 

4.    Investments

        The Company's investment in United Mills, a Minnesota cooperative, represents a 33 1/3% ownership interest that has been accounted for using the equity method. Since United Mills is a cooperative, the income and capital reserves are allocated to the member-patrons on the basis of patronage the Company has with the cooperative, which was 50.0%, 59.0% and 59.3% for the years ended August 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively.

        United Mills reported the following financial result:

 
  2003
  2002
Total assets   $ 2,881   $ 2,983
Total liabilities     1,175     1,311
Sales     8,119     7,833
Gross profit     626     698
Net income     37     125

F-11


5.    Intangible Assets

        Intangible assets consist of the following at August 31:

 
  2003
  2002
 
Bond issue cost   $ 2,787   $ 2,787  
Less: accumulated amortization     (1,150 )   (920 )
   
 
 
Net intangible assets   $ 1,637   $ 1,867  
   
 
 

        The amortization period for these intangible assets range from ten to fifteen years. The amortization expense is as follows:

2004   $ 229
2005     194
2006     158
2007     158
2008     158
Thereafter     740

6.    Note Receivable

        The note receivable of $950 at August 31, 2003 and 2002, consisted of a note receivable from a cooperative managed by a common board of directors. The note is secured by certain real estate with the principal balance due during October 2014. The note bears interest at eight percent, which is payable monthly.

7.    Revolving Line of Credit

        The Company has established a revolving short-term line of credit with a maximum indebtedness of the lessor of $6,500 or the limit established by the borrowing base computation with a variable interest rate (4.00% at August 31, 2003). The balance at August 31, 2003 and 2002 was $20 and $2,989, respectively. The weighted average interest rates for these borrowings were 5.08%, and 5.32% for the years ending August 31, 2003 and 2002 based on average amount outstanding. The average amount outstanding on the line of credit was $1,500 and $3,674 with a maximum outstanding month end balance of $3,608 and $5,356 for the years ending August 31, 2003 and 2002. There is a quarterly non-use fee at the rate of one quarter of one percent on the daily average unused amount on the line of credit. The line of credit may be withdrawn immediately upon matured default as defined in the note agreement. The line is through December 31, 2003.

        In accordance with the loan agreements, the Company also has a letter of credit in the amount of $22,808 in support of the corporate bonds. A quarterly letter of credit fee ranging from 1.25% to 2% based on a performance schedule as defined in the agreement.

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8.    Long-Term Debt

        Long-term debt consists of:

 
  2003
  2002
Corporate bonds, series 2000, bearing variable interest (7.31% at August 31, 2003); interest payable semiannually, principal payments due in annual installments from 2002 to 2015 in amounts ranging from $1,230 to $2,470; secured by substantially all land, buildings and equipment of the Thompson, Iowa facility amounting to a net book value of $12,339.   $ 22,470   $ 23,770
Corporate bonds, series 1999, bearing interest at 8.44%; interest payable semiannually, principal payments due in annual installments from 2001 to 2014 in amounts ranging from $432 to $1,240; secured by substantially all land, buildings and equipment of the Renville, Minnesota facility amounting to a net book value of $25,322.     9,397     9,905
Corporate bonds, series 2001, bearing interest at 8.75%; interest payable semiannually, principal payments in equal annual installments of $300 from 2002 to 2011; secured by substantially all land, buildings and equipment of the Renville, Minnesota facility amounting to a net book value of $25,322.     2,400     2,700
Private development bonds, variable interest rate from 5.9% and 6.2%; interest payable semiannually, principal payable annually; unsecured; maturing at various times through December 1996 and December 2004.     275     420
Note payable to a company; non-interest bearing; secured by certain equipment with a net book value of $373; payable in monthly installments of $5 beginning June 2003 through May 2011.     433     450
Note payable to a company; variable interest rate on two-thirds of note balance (2% at August 31, 2003); with remaining one-third of note balance being non-interest bearing; unsecured; payable in annual installments of $30, plus interest, through January 2010.     210     240
Note payable to a company; non-interest bearing; secured by certain equipment with a net book value of $84; payable in monthly installments of $3, maturing June 2006.     102     138
Note payable to a financing company, non-interest bearing; secured by certain equipment with a net book value of $28; payable in monthly installments of $1, maturing January 2005.     19     33
   
 
      35,306     37,656
Less current maturities     2,502     2,347
   
 
Long-term debt, less current maturities   $ 32,804   $ 35,309
   
 

F-13


        Aggregate maturities of long-term debt are as follows:

2004   $ 2,502
2005     2,600
2006     2,589
2007     2,699
2008     2,848
Thereafter     22,068
   
Total   $ 35,306
   

        The effective interest rate on the Corporate Bonds, Series 2000 range from 8.46% to 7.31% through the date of July 10, 2010. The bonds outstanding subsequent to this date will revert to the variable interest rate effective at that time. Settlements of this agreement are accounted for by recording the net interest paid as an adjustment to interest expense on a current basis.

        Certain of the Company's debt agreements contain restrictive covenants, which require that the Company maintain (1) a minimum tangible net worth of not less than $16,500; (2) total liabilities to tangible net worth ratio of no more than 3:1; (3) working capital of no less than $3,500; (4) an interest coverage ratio of no less than 2:1; (5) a fixed charge coverage ratio no greater than 1:1; (6) capital expenditures not to exceed $600 or the amount that will create a fixed charge coverage ratio of not greater than 1:1; and (7) a debt to net worth ratio of no more than 2:1. The Company was in compliance with these covenants at August 31, 2003.

9.    Income Taxes

        Income taxes consist of:

 
  2003
  2002
  2001
Current tax benefit   $   $ (97 ) $
Deferred tax expense         97    
   
 
 
    $   $   $
   
 
 

F-14


        A reconciliation between income taxes at the federal statutory rate and the Company's income taxes is as follows:

 
  2003
  2002
  2001
 
Federal income taxes at statutory rate   $ 1,201   $ 102   $ 1  
State income taxes, net of federal taxes     346     29      
Effect of (utilization) generation of NOL carryforwards     (639 )   1,601     1,445  
Tax basis adjustment for inventory     (341 )   (1,232 )   (1,213 )
Accrued vacation     (4 )   26     28  
263a adjustment     30     27     14  
Tax basis adjustment for depreciation     (593 )   (553 )   (275 )
   
 
 
 
    $   $   $  
   
 
 
 

        The Company is subject to federal income tax only on certain nondeductible expenses and any amount of net proceeds not returned to patrons in the form of cash, qualified written notices of allocation or qualified per unit retainage certificates issued within eight and one-half months after the fiscal year end.

        Temporary differences giving rise to deferred tax assets relate to alternative minimum income tax credit carryforwards. These carryforwards can be utilized to offset the future regular income tax liabilities of the Company. These carryforwards were generated during fiscal 1998 and 1997. The Company has net operating loss carryforwards for federal income tax purpose totaling approximately $11,250. Management anticipates issuing future patronage dividends in amounts sufficient to minimize taxable income of the Company; therefore no consideration has been provided for these operating loss carryforwards in the accompanying financial statements.

10.    Patrons' Equity

        a.     Description of equities—Authorized capital as of August 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, consisted of 50,000 shares of common stock, par value of one cent and 10,000 shares of revolving preferred stock, par value of one cent. As of August 31, 2003 and 2002, common shares issued and outstanding are 4,582. As of August 31, 2001, common shares issued and outstanding are 4,190. Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per common share is computed based on net income divided by the weighted average number of common and potential common shares. Common share equivalents include those related to stock options, convertible notes, and warrants, however, the Company had no such common share equivalents during the years ended August 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001. The weighted average number of common shares outstanding for computing basic and diluted earnings per share was 4,582, 4,389 and 4,190 during the years ended August 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001. No preferred stock was issued or outstanding as of August 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001.

F-15


        b.     Per unit retains—The Company may require investment in its capital in addition to the capital raised through the sale of common and preferred stock. This investment shall be direct capital investments from a retainage on a per unit basis of the products, principally grain, purchased from its members. In addition, such retained amounts shall be made on all products delivered, in the same amount per unit and shall at no time become a part of net annual savings available for patronage.

        Effective September 1, 2000, the Company converted the per unit retains into approximately 322 shares of common stock at the ratio of $5 in allocated per unit retains to one share of common stock.

        c.     Unallocated capital reserve—The Company's net operating margin, less any amount distributed or allocated to patrons as written notices of allocations, is included in the unallocated capital reserve. In accordance with its bylaws, the Company allocates patronage margins to its patrons, as determined for income tax purposes. These allocations may be made in cash, stock or in the form of written notices of allocations in proportions determined by its Board of Directors.

        d.     Distributions—The Company's bylaws provide that, each year, annual savings be distributed to members and patrons on the basis of their patronage with the Company. The distribution can be made in cash, stock or written notices of allocation or any combination thereof. The distributions must be made within 81/2 months after the end of the fiscal year. Declared but unpaid distributions were approximately $168 as of August 31, 2001. During fiscal 2002, the distributions declared but unpaid at August 31, 2001 were rescinded by the Board of Directors and added to the unallocated capital reserve.

11.    Related Party Transactions

        The Company has entered into a grain handler agreement with a cooperative which has an ownership interest in the Company. For the years ended August 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, the Company has purchased services totaling $95, $82 and $173, respectively, from that company, with accounts payable for these services of $11 and $11 as of August 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. In addition, the Company has $272 payable to this related party for payment for corn that was purchased by patrons but delivered directly to the Company.

        For the years ended August 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, the Company has purchased feed totaling $5,030, $4,832 and $4,055, respectively, from United Mills. Prepaid feed, purchased from United Mills, which is included in inventory, totaled $354 at August 31, 2002. The Company also had advanced United Mills $150 for future purchases of feed at August 31, 2003 which is included in other current assets. Included in the accompanying balance sheet are accounts receivable due from United Mills of $81 and $94 as of August 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively with accounts payable to United Mills of approximately $124 as of August 31, 2003.

        The Company leases land from a commonly managed cooperative and the Company holds a note receivable of $950 and mortgage for that land from the cooperative. Rent expense for the years ended August 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 totaled $78, $78 and $72 with $306 and $228 included in other current liabilities at August 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Interest income for the years ended August 31,

F-16



2003, 2002 and 2001 totaled $76 with approximately $297 and $221 due from the related party included in accounts receivable at August 31, 2003 and 2002.

        The Company had approximately $142 and $66 included in accounts receivable at August 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively for litter sales to related parties with total sales of approximately $142, $90 and $164 for the years ending August 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively, which are included in other income in the accompanying statement of operations.

12.    Pension Plan

        The Company has a defined contribution plan with a 401(k) feature which covers all full-time employees that have six months of eligible service. Employees are permitted to contribute up to their individual permissible legal limits. The Company may make, but is not required to make, a matching contribution to the plan of an amount and type determined each year. The Company may also make, but is not required to make, a discretionary contribution to the plan for a plan year. Contributions made by the Company to the plan totaled approximately $208, $184 and $128 for the years ended August 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively.

13.    Commitments and Contingencies

        a.     The Company has entered into an agreement with an independent contractor who will care for and raise a portion of the Company's pullet flocks until they are old enough to be transferred into a layer facility and begin production. This agreement relates to all pullets associated with the Company's Renville, Minnesota pullet flocks. This agreement had an initial term of ten years and expires in 2005. The independent contractor is paid per acceptable pullet delivered to the layer facility.

        b.     The Company leases certain equipment and land under various lease agreements that are classified as operating leases. Rent expense for all operating leases amounted to approximately $315, $250 and $215 for the years ended August 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively, with $78 paid to a related party each year. At August 31, 2003, future minimum rental commitments under noncancellable operating leases are as follows:

 
  Related Party
  Other
  Total
2004   $ 78   $ 153   $ 231
2005     78     149     227
2006     78     109     187
2007     78     77     155
2008     78     50     128
Thereafter     163     925     1,088
   
 
 
    $ 553   $ 1,463   $ 2,016
   
 
 

F-17


        c.     The Company has entered into negotiations for contracts for the construction of a wastewater treatment facility, a feed mill, a shell egg dryer and three layer houses. At November 26, 2003, the Company had committed to contracts for the feed mill, the shell egg dryer and the layer houses totalling approximately $10,000 with approximately $9,000 remaining on the project.

14.    Concentrations of Credit Risk

        Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of trade accounts receivable with customers, cash investments and other short-term investments deposited with financial institutions. The Company generally does not require collateral from its customers. Such credit risk is considered by management to be limited due to its customers' financial resources and past payment history.

        At August 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, the Company maintained cash balances with financial institutions in excess of the federal deposit insurance limit.

15.    Major Customers

        At August 31, 2003, the Company has supply agreements for liquid egg products with two of its major customers, which expire during 2005. Sales to these two customers were as follows: 43% and 26% for the year ending August 31, 2003, 33% and 23% for the year ending August 31, 2002 and 31% and 24% for the year ending August 31, 2001. The Company had balances due from these customers of $689 and $856, $711 and $1,094, and $793 and $2,017 at August 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively.

        Additionally, the Company has two major customers with which it does not have supply agreements. Sales to these two customers were as follows: 11% and 11% for the year ending August 31, 2003, 10% and 10% for the year ending August 31, 2002 and 10% and 7% for the year ending August 31, 2001. The Company had balances due from these customers of $905 and $965, $493 and $893, and $206 and $333 at August 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively.

        The latter customer discussed above has operations in Canada. Sales to the non-U.S. subsidiary of this customer represented 9%, 10% and 7% of total sales for the years ending August 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively. The Company had balances due from these non-U.S. sales of $735, $833 and $333 at August 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively.

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16.    Quarterly Financial Data, As Restated (Unaudited)

        Quarterly financial data, as restated, is as follows:

 
  Net
Sales

  Operating
Income (Loss)

  Net
Income
(Loss)

  Earnings
Per Share
(Basic and
Diluted)

  Outstanding
Shares

Fiscal year 2003 quarter ended:                            
  November 30, 2002   $ 12,152   $ (31 ) $ (771 ) $ (0.17 ) 4,582
  February 28, 2003     11,798     737     (47 )   (0.01 ) 4,582
  May 31, 2003     13,015     1,831     1,066     0.23   4,582
  August 31, 2003     16,087     4,007     3,285     0.72   4,582
   
 
 
 
   
    $ 53,052   $ 6,544   $ 3,533   $ 0.77    
   
 
 
 
   
Fiscal year 2002 quarter ended:                            
  November 30, 2001   $ 11,677   $ 798   $ 130   $ 0.03   4,190
  February 28, 2002     11,115     219     (601 )   (0.13 ) 4,582
  May 31, 2002     11,173     323     (554 )   (0.12 ) 4,582
  August 31, 2002     12,204     2,040     1,324     0.29   4,582
   
 
 
 
   
    $ 46,169   $ 3,380   $ 299   $ 0.07    
   
 
 
 
   
Fiscal year 2001 quarter ended:                            
  November 30, 2000   $ 6,827   $ (669 ) $ (1,120 ) $ (0.27 ) 4,190
  February 28, 2001     8,101     455     32     0.01   4,190
  May 31, 2001     9,904     1,294     749     0.18   4,190
  August 31, 2001     10,383     587     342     0.08   4,190
   
 
 
 
   
    $ 35,215   $ 1,667   $ 3   $    
   
 
 
 
   

17.    Prior Period Adjustments

        The Company has restated its previously issued 2003, 2002 and 2001 financial statements for matters related to hedge accounting and SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities." Subsequent to year-end, the Company determined that it had not been technically compliant with the documentation aspects of SFAS No. 133 and as such, no longer qualified for hedge accounting. Management has determined that this should be treated as a correction of an error and,

F-19



accordingly, is restating the accompanying financial statements as of and for the years ended August 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, as follows:

 
  2003
  2002
  2001
 
Adjustment to mark commodity futures contracts to market through current earnings   $ (863 ) $ 1,085   $ (395 )
Income tax effect of restatement              
   
 
 
 
Total reduction of net earnings   $ (863 ) $ 1,085   $ (395 )
   
 
 
 

        The effect on the Company's previously issued 2003 and 2002 unallocated capital is summarized as follows:

 
  2003
  2002
 
  Previously
Reported

  Increase
(Decrease)

  As
Restated

  Previously
Reported

  Increase
(Decrease)

  As
Restated

Patrons' equity                                    
  Unallocated capital reserve—beginning of year   $ 1,839   $ 690   $ 2,529   $ 2,625   $ (395 ) $ 2,230
  Net income (loss)     4,396     (863 )   3,533     (786 )   1,085     299
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Unallocated capital reserve—end of year   $ 6,235   $ (173 ) $ 6,062   $ 1,839   $ 690   $ 2,529
   
 
 
 
 
 

        The effect on the Company's previously issued statements of operations for the years ended August 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 is summarized as follows:

 
  2003
  2002
  2001
 

 

 

Previously
Reported


 

Increase
(Decrease)


 

Restated


 

Previously
Reported


 

Increase
(Decrease)


 

Restated


 

Previously
Reported


 

Increase
(Decrease)


 

Restated


 
Revenue   $ 53,052   $   $ 53,052   $ 46,169   $   $ 46,169   $ 35,215   $   $ 35,215  
Cost of goods sold     42,437     863     43,300     40,535     (1,085 )   39,450     30,658     395     31,053  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross profit     10,615     (863 )   9,752     5,634     1,085     6,719     4,557     (395 )   4,162  
Operating expenses     3,208         3,208     3,339         3,339     2,495         2,495  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income from operations     7,407     (863 )   6,544     2,295     1,085     3,380     2,062     (395 )   1,667  
Total other expense     (3,011 )       (3,011 )   (3,081 )       (3,081 )   (1,664 )       (1,664 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income (loss) before income taxes     4,396     (863 )   3,533     (786 )   1,085     299     398     (395 )   3  
Income taxes                                      
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss)   $ 4,396   $ (863 ) $ 3,533   $ (786 ) $ 1,085   $ 299   $ 398   $ (395 ) $ 3  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic and diluted earnings per common share   $ 0.96   $ (0.19 ) $ 0.77   $ (0.18 ) $ 0.25   $ 0.07   $ 0.09   $ (0.09 ) $  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

F-20


MIDWEST INVESTORS OF RENVILLE, INC.
d/b/a GOLDEN OVAL EGGS

Balance Sheets

May 31, 2004 and August 31, 2003

(In Thousands)

 
  May 31, 2004
  August 31,
2003

 
 
  (Unaudited)

  (Audited)

 
Assets              
Current assets              
  Cash and cash equivalents   $ 12,096   $ 2,429  
  Accounts receivable     6,486     6,499  
  Inventories     9,184     7,234  
  Restricted cash     3,185     1,212  
  Prepaid insurance     175     193  
  Other current assets     514     644  
   
 
 
Total current assets     31,640     18,211  
   
 
 
Property, plant and equipment              
  Land and land improvements     6,821     6,819  
  Buildings     23,090     21,950  
  Equipment     35,836     34,280  
  Construction in progress     7,333     124  
   
 
 
        73,080     63,173  
  Accumulated depreciation     (28,257 )   (25,055 )
   
 
 
Total property, plant and equipment     44,823     38,118  
   
 
 
Other assets              
  Restricted cash     3,241     3,938  
  Investments     1,651     1,770  
  Intangible assets, net     1,468     1,637  
  Note receivable     950     950  
  Deferred tax asset     236     236  
   
 
 
Total other assets     7,546     8,531  
   
 
 
Total assets   $ 84,009   $ 64,860  
   
 
 

Liabilities and Patrons' Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Current liabilities              
  Revolving line of credit   $   $ 20  
  Accounts payable     1,705     1,381  
  Other current liabilities     252     553  
  Accrued interest     625     472  
  Accrued rent and interest—related party     718     306  
  Accrued compensation     1,951     791  
  Current maturities of long-term debt     2,481     2,502  
   
 
 
Total current liabilities     7,732     6,025  
   
 
 
Long-term debt, less current maturities     32,570     32,804  
   
 
 
Patrons' equity              
  Common stock, $.01 par value; 50,000 shares authorized; 4,582 shares issued and outstanding at May 31, 2004 and August 31, 2003     46     46  
  Additional paid-in capital     19,923     19,923  
  Unallocated capital reserve     23,738     6,062  
   
 
 
Total patrons' equity     43,707     26,031  
   
 
 
Total liabilities and patrons' equity   $ 84,009   $ 64,860  
   
 
 

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

F-21



MIDWEST INVESTORS OF RENVILLE, INC.
d/b/a GOLDEN OVAL EGGS

Statements of Operations

For the Nine Months Ended May 31, 2004 and 2003

(In Thousands, except per share data)

 
  May 31, 2004
  May 31, 2003
 
 
  (Unaudited)

  (Unaudited)

 
Revenues   $ 62,240   $ 36,965  
Cost of goods sold     35,748     32,000  
   
 
 
  Gross profit     26,492     4,965  
Operating expenses     5,026     2,426  
   
 
 
  Income from operations     21,466     2,539  
Other income (expense)              
  Interest expense     (2,292 )   (2,661 )
  Other income     335     371  
   
 
 
Total other expense     (1,957 )   (2,290 )
   
 
 
Income before income taxes     19,509     249  
Income taxes          
   
 
 
Net income   $ 19,509   $ 249  
   
 
 
Weighted average shares outstanding     4,582     4,582  
   
 
 
Net income per share basic and diluted   $ 4.26   $ 0.05  
   
 
 
Dividends per share   $ 0.40   $  
   
 
 

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

F-22



MIDWEST INVESTORS OF RENVILLE, INC.
d/b/a GOLDEN OVAL EGGS

Statements of Cash Flows

For the Nine Months Ended May 31, 2004 and 2003

(In Thousands)

 
  May 31, 2004
  May 31, 2003
 
 
  (Unaudited)

  (Unaudited)

 
Cash flows from operating activities              
  Net income   $ 19,509   $ 249  
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities              
    Depreciation     3,276     3,620  
    Amortization     169     172  
    Loss on sale of property, plant and equipment     61      
    Equity in (income) loss of unconsolidated subsidiary     (92 )    
    Changes in operating assets and liabilities              
      Accounts receivable     13     183  
      Inventories     (1,950 )   (66 )
      Prepaid insurance     18     68  
      Other current assets     130     (156 )
      Accounts payable     324     (463 )
      Accruals and other current liabilities     1,424     357  
   
 
 
Net cash provided by operating activities     22,882     3,964  
   
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities              
  Purchases of property, plant and equipment     (10,046 )   (201 )
  Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment     4      
  Purchase of investment in United Mills     (204 )   (179 )
  Retirement of investment in United Mills     180     177  
  Retirement of investment in other coops     235     132  
   
 
 
Net cash used by investing activities     (9,831 )   (71 )
   
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities              
  Net decrease in revolving line of credit     (20 )   (2,335 )
  Payments of long-term debt     (255 )   (217 )
  Increase in restricted cash     (1,276 )   (1,847 )
  Distributions to patrons     (1,833 )    
   
 
 
Net cash used by financing activities     (3,384 )   (4,399 )
   
 
 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents     9,667     (506 )
Cash and cash equivalents—beginning of period     2,429     506  
   
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents—end of period   $ 12,096   $  
   
 
 
Supplementary disclosures of cash flow information              
 
Cash paid during the period for

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
    Interest   $ 2,139   $ 2,383  
    Taxes          

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

F-23



MIDWEST INVESTORS OF RENVILLE, INC.
d/b/a GOLDEN OVAL EGGS

Selected Information—Substantially all Disclosures Required by
Accounting Principles Generally Accepted in the United States of America
are not Included

May 31, 2004 and August 31, 2003

(In Thousands)

        1.     In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited financial statements contain all adjustments which are of a normal and recurring nature necessary to present fairly the financial position of Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc., d/b/a Golden Oval Eggs (the "Company") as of May 31, 2004 and August 31, 2003 and the results of its operations for the periods ended May 31, 2004 and 2003.

        2.     The results of operations for the periods ended May 31, 2004 and 2003 are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full year.

        3.     Pullet inventories are stated at the cost of production which includes the costs of the chicks, feed, overhead and labor. Layer hen inventories are stated at the cost of production which includes the costs of the pullets, feed, overhead and labor. Layer hen flock costs are capitalized to the point at which the pullet goes into production or are purchased and are amortized over the productive lives of the flocks generally 18 to 24 months. Feed, supplies and liquid egg inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or market. Inventories consisted of the following:

 
  May 31,
2004

  August 31,
2003

 
  (Unaudited)

  (Audited)

Hens and pullets   $ 8,095   $ 6,589
Feed and supplies     789     433
Eggs and egg products     300     212
   
 
Total inventories   $ 9,184   $ 7,234
   
 

        4.     The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

F-24



Appendix A

AMENDED AND RESTATED

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

by and between

MIDWEST INVESTORS OF RENVILLE, INC. (d.b.a. Golden Oval Eggs),
a Minnesota cooperative

and

GOLDEN OVAL EGGS, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company

Dated as of [            ], 2004



AMENDED AND RESTATED

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

        THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this "Merger Agreement") is made and entered into as of [            ], 2004, by and between MIDWEST INVESTORS OF RENVILLE, INC. (d.b.a. Golden Oval Eggs), a Minnesota cooperative (the "Cooperative"), and GOLDEN OVAL EGGS, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the "LLC") (collectively the "Constituent Entities"). This Merger Agreement replaces and supercedes both the Transaction Agreement and the Plan of Merger that were made and entered into December 5, 2003 by and between the Constituent Entities and the Agreement and Plan of Merger that was made and entered into as of February 3, 2004 by and between the Constituent Entities. Such Transaction Agreement, Plan of Merger and Agreement and Plan of Merger shall have no further force and effect as of the date of this Merger Agreement, as first written above.

        WHEREAS, the Cooperative and the LLC are each organized to benefit and serve their respective members; and

        WHEREAS, the Constituent Entities believe their members interests will best be benefited and served if the parties reorganize their business operations and structure whereby the Cooperative will merge with and into the LLC, with the LLC being the surviving entity (the "Merger"); and

        WHEREAS, the parties have now agreed on revised terms and conditions of the Merger, and wish to: (i) memorialize their agreement as more particularly described herein; and (ii) enter into this Merger Agreement for the purpose of effecting the Merger;

        NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the mutual representations, warranties and covenants herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

ARTICLE I
OVERVIEW OF THE TRANSACTIONS

        SECTION 1.01    PURPOSE.    The purpose of the transactions contemplated by this Merger Agreement is to reorganize the structure of the Cooperative from a cooperative association into a Delaware limited liability company. This reorganization will be accomplished through a merger process, whereby the Cooperative shall merge with and into a newly formed wholly-owned subsidiary of the Cooperative, the LLC. Upon completion of the Merger, the Cooperative will cease to exist and the LLC will continue as the sole surviving entity.

        SECTION 1.02    THE MERGER.    Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Merger Agreement the Cooperative will merge with and into the LLC. The LLC shall be the surviving entity.

        SECTION 1.03    CERTIFICATE AND ARTICLES OF MERGER.    At the Closing, a certificate of merger ("Certificate of Merger") and the articles of merger (the "Articles of Merger") shall be executed in compliance with Section 18-209 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act and Section 308B.801 of the Minnesota Cooperative Associations Act, respectively (the "Acts"). The Certificate of Merger shall be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and the Articles of Merger shall be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota, or as otherwise required by the Acts.

        SECTION 1.04    EFFECT OF THE MERGER.    From and after the Effective Time, without any further action by the Constituent Entities or any of their respective members: (a) the LLC, as the surviving entity in the Merger, shall have all of the rights, privileges, immunities and powers, and shall be subject to all the duties and liabilities, of a limited liability company organized under the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act; (b) the LLC, as the surviving entity in the Merger, shall possess all of the rights, privileges, immunities and franchises, of a public as well as private nature, of the

A-1



Cooperative, and all property, real, personal and mixed and all debts due on whatever accounts including all choses in action, and each and every other interest of or belonging to the Cooperative, shall be deemed to be and hereby is vested in the LLC, without further act or deed, and the title to any property, or any interest therein vested in the Cooperative shall not revert or be in any way impaired by reason of the Merger; and (c) the Merger shall have any other effect set forth in the Acts.

        (a)    Certificate of Formation and Limited Liability Company Agreement.    The Certificate of Formation of the LLC and the Limited Liability Company Agreement of the LLC in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall survive the Merger (the "Surviving Entity Certificate" and the "Surviving Entity LLC Agreement" respectively).

        (b)    Directors and Officers.    From and after the Effective Time, without any further action by the Constituent Entities or any of their respective members, the officers and directors of the Cooperative at the Effective Time shall become the directors and officers of the LLC as the surviving entity in the Merger (the "LLC Directors and Officers") to serve until their respective terms have expired and their successors have been duly elected and qualified in accordance with the terms of Surviving Entity Certificate and the Surviving Entity LLC Agreement.

        (c)    Exchange and Conversion of Cooperative Shares.    At the Effective Time, without any further action by the Constituent Entities or any of their respective members or shareholders, the Cooperative shall cease to exist by operation of the Merger and shall cease to be a member of the LLC and all Units and any other interests of the LLC owned by the Cooperative shall be cancelled without payment of any consideration therefor. Taxable gain realized by the Cooperative as a result of the Merger shall constitute proceeds received by the Cooperative from business with or for members and patrons for purposes of Bylaw 7 of the Cooperative's bylaws. The combination of the common stock held by each member of the Cooperative and a proportionate amount of the patronage equities issued by the cooperative shall be automatically converted into a number of "Class A" Units of the LLC equal to the number of shares of common stock held. Each holder of Cooperative common stock and the associated patronage equities shall take such action or cause to be taken such action as the LLC may reasonably deem necessary or appropriate to effect the exchange of the interests hereunder, including, without limitation, the execution and delivery of instruments representing or otherwise relating to the equity interests being converted hereunder. All Units and any other interests in the LLC shall in all instances be governed by the provisions of the Surviving Entity Certificate and the Surviving Entity LLC Agreement.

        SECTION 1.05    FURTHER ASSURANCES.    At any time after the Effective Time, LLC as the Surviving Entity may take any action (including executing and delivering any document) in the name and on behalf of any party to this Merger Agreement in order to carry out and effectuate the transactions contemplated by this Merger Agreement.

        SECTION 1.06    THE CLOSING.    The closing of the Merger (the "Closing") will take place on the date the Effective Time occurs at the office of the Cooperative or on such other date and/or at such other place as the Constituent Entities may agree.

        SECTION 1.07    ACTIONS AT THE CLOSING.    At the Closing, the Cooperative and the LLC shall (i) execute and deliver to each other the various certificates, instruments, and documents referred to in this Merger Agreement, and (ii) execute and file with the Secretary of State of the States of Minnesota and Delaware the Articles of Merger and Certificate of Merger, respectively.

        SECTION 1.08    EFFECTIVE TIME.    The Merger shall become effective at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on August 31, 2004, or at such other date and time as the Constituent entities may agree (the "Effective Time").

        SECTION 1.09    GOVERNING LAW.    This Merger Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Minnesota.

A-2



ARTICLE II
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT

        SECTION 2.01    CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF EACH PARTY TO THE MERGER.    The respective obligations of the Cooperative and the LLC to consummate the Merger and other matters described in this Merger Agreement, are subject to the satisfaction or waiver of each of the following conditions on or before the Effective Time:

            (a)   The Board of Directors and the members of the Cooperative shall have approved this Merger Agreement, all in accordance with the requirements of applicable law and the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Cooperative;

            (b)   The Board of Directors of the Cooperative, acting for the Cooperative as the sole member of the LLC, shall have approved this Merger Agreement in accordance with the requirements of applicable law, the Limited Liability Company Agreement of the LLC and the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Cooperative;

            (c)   No injunction, restraining order or order of any nature issued by any court of competent jurisdiction, government or governmental agency enjoining the Merger shall have been issued and remain in effect;

            (d)   All consents, approvals and waivers which are necessary in connection with the Merger, or any part thereof, shall have been obtained;

            (e)   The Registration Statement of the LLC on Form S-4 shall have become effective under the Securities Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the SEC; and

            (f)    All actions, proceedings and documents necessary to carry out the Merger shall be reasonably satisfactory to the LLC and the Cooperative.

ARTICLE III
POST CLOSING AGREEMENTS

        SECTION 3.01    EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS.    The employee benefit plans of the Cooperative shall remain in effect following the merger, but the plans shall be amended to reflect the new name of the employer. No participant in the employee benefit plan shall accrue any additional gains, no participant's vested percentage shall increase and no participant shall become entitled to a distribution of his or her account solely as a result of the change contemplated by this Merger Agreement. Nothing in this Section 3.01 shall be interpreted as preventing the LLC from amending, modifying or terminating any employee benefit plan of the Cooperative or other contracts, arrangements, commitments or understandings, in accordance with their terms and applicable law.

        SECTION 3.02    INDEMNIFICATION; DIRECTORS' AND OFFICERS; INSURANCE.    From and after the Effective Time, the Surviving Entity shall indemnify each present and former director, officer, employee or agent of the Cooperative and each person who, while a director or officer of the Cooperative and at the request of the Cooperative, serves or has served another corporation, Cooperative, partnership, joint venture or any other enterprise as a director, officer or partner, against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses (including legal fees) arising out of or pertaining to matters existing or occurring at or before the Effective Time, whether asserted or claimed prior to, at or after the Effective Time, to the fullest extent permitted by law and as permitted by the Limited Liability Company Agreement of the LLC. The Surviving Entity may obtain insurance coverage against any such loss, claim or expense, subject to standard exclusions and exceptions to coverage, but is not obligated to do so.

A-3



ARTICLE IV
TERMINATION

        SECTION 4.01    TERMINATION OF MERGER AGREEMENT.    This Merger Agreement may be terminated and the Merger abandoned at any time prior to Closing by:

            (a)   either party hereto if the members of the Cooperative fail to approve the Merger as required by Section 2.01(a);

            (b)   delivery by either party hereto of a written notice of termination to the other; or

            (c)   either party hereto if the Closing has not occurred on or before December 31, 2004.

        SECTION 4.02    EFFECT OF TERMINATION.    If this Merger Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 4.01 above, all rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall terminate without any liability of either party to the other (except for any liability of a party then in breach).

ARTICLE V
MISCELLANEOUS

        SECTION 5.01    WAIVER.    Before the Effective Time, any provision of this Merger Agreement may, to the extent legally allowed, be waived by the party benefited by the provision by an agreement in writing between the parties hereto executed in the same manner as this Merger Agreement.

        SECTION 5.02    AMENDMENT.    The parties by mutual consent may amend, modify or supplement this Merger Agreement in such manner as may be agreed upon in writing.

        SECTION 5.03    BINDING NATURE.    This Merger Agreement shall be binding upon and inure only to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns, provided that neither this Merger Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned or delegated by any of the parties hereto without the prior written consent of the other party hereto.

        SECTION 5.04    COUNTERPARTS.    This Merger Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

        SECTION 5.05    ENTIRE AGREEMENT.    This Merger Agreement and the other documents referred to herein set forth the entire understanding of the parties hereto with respect to the matters provided for herein and supersede all prior agreements, covenants, arrangements, communications, representations or warranties, whether oral or written, by any officer, employee or representative of either party.

        SECTION 5.06    NOTICES.    All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered personally, telecopied (with confirmation) or mailed by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested (documents are deemed to be delivered 3 days after they are mailed), to the parties at the following addresses (or such other address as such party may specify by like notice):

        If to the Cooperative: Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc. (d.b.a. Golden Oval Eggs)

      340 Dupont Avenue NE, P.O. Box 615
      Renville, Minnesota 56284
      Attn: Marvin Breitkreutz

A-4


        If to the LLC: Golden Oval Eggs, LLC

      340 Dupont Avenue NE, P.O. Box 615
      Renville, Minnesota 56284
      Attn: Dana Persson

        SECTION 5.07    CAPTIONS.    The article and section headings of this Merger Agreement are for convenience only and shall not affect the meaning or construction of this Merger Agreement.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Merger Agreement as of the date first set forth above.


 

 

MIDWEST INVESTORS OF RENVILLE, INC.
(d.b.a. Golden Oval Eggs), a Minnesota cooperative association

 

 

    

    By: Marvin Breitkreutz
Its: Chairman, Board of Directors

 

 

GOLDEN OVAL EGGS, LLC,
a Delaware limited liability company

 

 

    

    By: Dana Persson
Its: President and Chief Executive Officer

A-5



Appendix B


CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION
OF
GOLDEN OVAL EGGS, LLC

        The undersigned, being a natural person 18 years of age or older and for the purpose of forming a limited liability company for general business purposes under the Delaware Limited Liability Act, hereby adopts the following Certificate of Formation:

            1.    Name:    The name of the limited liability company is Golden Oval Eggs, LLC.

            2.    Registered Office:    The address of the registered office of the limited liability company is Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle. The name of its registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.

            3.    Organizer:    The name and address of the sole organizer of the limited liability company is Gretchen M. Randall, 4200 IDS Center, 80 South Eighth Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Certificate of Formation of Golden Oval Eggs, LLC this 24th day of November, 2003.


 

/s/  
GRETCHEN M. RANDALL      
 
  Name:   Gretchen M. Randall
Authorized Person

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Appendix C


GOLDEN OVAL EGGS, LLC
AMENDED AND RESTATED

LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

EFFECTIVE UPON ADOPTION



GOLDEN OVAL EGGS, LLC
AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
 
   
  Page
OPERATION, MANAGEMENT, AND INTERESTS IN THE COMPANY   C-1

ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS

 

C-1
  SECTION 1.1   REFERENCE TO CERTAIN TERMS.   C-1
  SECTION 1.2   DEFINITIONS.   C-1

ARTICLE 2. FORMATION, PURPOSE, POWERS

 

C-4
  SECTION 2.1   FORMATION.   C-4
  SECTION 2.2   NAME.   C-4
  SECTION 2.3   PURPOSE; POWERS.   C-4
  SECTION 2.4   PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS.   C-4
  SECTION 2.5   TERM.   C-5
  SECTION 2.6   FILINGS; AGENT FOR SERVICE OF PROCESS.   C-5
  SECTION 2.7   TITLE TO PROPERTY.   C-5
  SECTION 2.8   NO PAYMENTS OF INDIVIDUAL OBLIGATIONS.   C-5
  SECTION 2.9   INDEPENDENT NON-COMPETITIVE ACTIVITIES.   C-5
  SECTION 2.10   LIMITED LIABILITY.   C-6
  SECTION 2.11   MEMBERS AND UNITHOLDERS BOUND WITHOUT EXECUTION.   C-6

ARTICLE 3. UNITS, UNITHOLDERS, FINANCIAL RIGHTS

 

C-6
  SECTION 3.1   RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF UNITHOLDERS.   C-6
  SECTION 3.2   UNITS.   C-6
  SECTION 3.3   CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS.   C-7
  SECTION 3.4   NO CERTIFICATE FOR UNITS.   C-8
  SECTION 3.5   UNIT LEDGER.   C-8
  SECTION 3.6   ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS.   C-8
  SECTION 3.7   UNITHOLDER CONDITIONS AND LIMITATIONS.   C-8
  SECTION 3.8   RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERS.   C-10

ARTICLE 4. MEMBERS AND MEMBER VOTING

 

C-11
  SECTION 4.1   RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS.   C-11
  SECTION 4.2   MINIMUM REQUIRED UNIT HOLDING BY MEMBERS.   C-12
  SECTION 4.3   ADMISSION OF MEMBERS.   C-13
  SECTION 4.4   MEMBER VOTING.   C-13
  SECTION 4.5   MEMBER MEETINGS.   C-14
  SECTION 4.6   TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP.   C-16
  SECTION 4.7   RESIGNATION.   C-17
  SECTION 4.8   CONTINUATION OF THE COMPANY.   C-17

ARTICLE 5. MANAGEMENT OF COMPANY

 

C-17
  SECTION 5.1   GOVERNANCE BY BOARD, CEO.   C-17
  SECTION 5.2   ACTIONS BY BOARD; COMMITTEES; RELIANCE ON AUTHORITY.   C-19
  SECTION 5.3   THE BOARD.   C-19
  SECTION 5.4   BOARD MEETINGS.   C-21
  SECTION 5.5   OFFICERS.   C-22
  SECTION 5.6   LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION OF MANAGERS AND OFFICERS.   C-24
  SECTION 5.7.   CONTRACTS WITH MANAGERS OR THEIR AFFILIATES.   C-24
           

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ARTICLE 6. AMENDMENTS

 

C-25
  SECTION 6.1   AMENDMENTS.   C-25

ARTICLE 7. DISSOLUTION AND WINDING UP

 

C-26
  SECTION 7.1   DISSOLUTION COMMENCEMENT.   C-26
  SECTION 7.2   WINDING UP.   C-26
  SECTION 7.3   RIGHTS OF UNITHOLDERS.   C-26
  SECTION 7.4   NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION.   C-27
  SECTION 7.5   ALLOCATIONS DURING PERIOD OF LIQUIDATION.   C-27
  SECTION 7.6   THE LIQUIDATOR.   C-27
  SECTION 7.7.   FORM OF LIQUIDATING DISTRIBUTIONS.   C-28

ARTICLE 8. MISCELLANEOUS

 

C-28
  SECTION 8.1   NOTICES.   C-28
  SECTION 8.2   BINDING EFFECT.   C-28
  SECTION 8.3   CONSTRUCTION.   C-28
  SECTION 8.4   TIME.   C-28
  SECTION 8.5   HEADINGS.   C-28
  SECTION 8.6   SEVERABILITY.   C-29
  SECTION 8.7   INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE.   C-29
  SECTION 8.8   VARIATION OF TERMS.   C-29
  SECTION 8.9   GOVERNING LAW.   29
  SECTION 8.10   SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE.   C-29
  SECTION 8.11   CONSENT TO JURISDICTION.   C-29
  SECTION 8.12   WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.   C-30

APPENDICES

 

 
  APPENDIX A   PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS OF GOLDEN OVAL EGGS, LLC   C-A-1
  APPENDIX B   AGENT FOR SERVICE OF PROCESS OF GOLDEN OVAL EGGS, LLC   C-B-1
  APPENDIX C   UNIT TRANSFER POLICY OF GOLDEN OVAL EGGS, LLC   C-C-1
  APPENDIX D   BOARD OF MANAGERS OF GOLDEN OVAL EGGS, LLC   C-D-1
  APPENDIX E   ALLOCATIONS, DISTRIBUTIONS, TAX MATTERS, AND ACCOUNTING   C-E-1

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GOLDEN OVAL EGGS, LLC
AMENDED AND RESTATED
LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT

        THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT of Golden Oval Eggs, LLC (the "Company") is adopted and made effective upon adoption by the Board of Managers of the Company with the approval of Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc. (the "Cooperative") as the sole member of the Company.

RECITALS

        The Cooperative has caused the Company to be formed to acquire all of the business and assets of the Cooperative by merger of the Cooperative with and into the Company (the "Merger"). The Cooperative as sole member of the Company previously adopted a Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company dated as of February 3, 2004 (the "Original Agreement"). The Cooperative hereby amends and restates the Original Agreement in its entirety effective as of the date of this Agreement and adopts this Agreement as the limited liability company agreement of the Company.

OPERATION, MANAGEMENT, AND INTERESTS
IN THE COMPANY

ARTICLE 1.
DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1.1    REFERENCE TO CERTAIN TERMS.

        For purposes of this Agreement: (1) references to "Articles" and "Sections" are to those Articles and Sections appearing in this Agreement unless explicitly indicated otherwise; and (2) references to statutes include all rules and regulations under those statutes, and all amendments and successors to those statutes.


SECTION 1.2    DEFINITIONS.

        The definitions in this Section 1.2 (and the definitions in Section 1.10 of Appendix E) apply throughout this Agreement unless the context requires otherwise.

        "Act" means the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act as set forth in the Delaware Code (commencing with Section 18-101 of the Delaware Code), as amended from time to time (or any corresponding provision or provisions of any succeeding law).

        "Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person: (1) a Business Entity directly or indirectly Controlling, Controlled by or under common Control with the Person; (2) an officer, director, general partner, or trustee of a Person that is a Business Entity; or (3) a Person or a representative who is an officer, director, general partner, or trustee of the Business Entity described in clauses (1) or (2) of this sentence.

        "Agreement" means this Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of the Company, as amended, modified, or restated from time to time.

        "Board" or "Board of Managers" means the individuals who are named, appointed or elected as Managers of this Company under Section 5.3 acting collectively pursuant to this Agreement.

        "Business Entity" means a partnership (whether general or limited), joint venture, association, cooperative, corporation, trust, estate, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, unincorporated association, governmental entity, or any other legal entity, including an individual acting as a sole proprietorship or as a business.

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        "CEO" means the Chief Executive Officer of the Company appointed by the Board.

        "Certificate of Formation" means the certificate of formation of the Company as amended or restated and filed with the Delaware Secretary of State pursuant to the Act.

        "Class" is the designated division in Interests as provided in Section 3.2(a).

        "Class A Member" means a Person who holds Class A Units, meets the requirements of Section 4.2(a), is admitted as a Class A Member and has not ceased to be a Class A Member. "Class A Members" mean all Persons who hold Class A Units, meet the requirements of Section 4.2(a), are admitted as Class A Members and have not ceased to be Class A Members.

        "Class A Units" mean Units that are designated as Class A Units pursuant to Section 3.2(a).

        "Company" means Golden Oval Eggs, LLC, the limited liability company formed by the filing of the Certificate of Formation in accordance with the Act and the limited liability company continuing the business of this Company in the event of dissolution of the Company as provided in this Agreement and the Act.

        "Confidential Information" is defined in Section 4.1(c).

        "Control", "Controlling", "Controlled by" and "under common Control with" mean the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Business Entity, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise, or the power to elect at least fifty percent (50%) of the Board of Directors, or persons exercising similar authority with respect to the Business Entity.

        "Cooperative" means Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc., a Minnesota cooperative.

        "Dissolution Event" has the meaning given in Section 7.1(a).

        "Distribution" means a payment of cash or property to a Unitholder based on the Unitholder's Interest in the Company as provided in this Agreement.

        "Effective Date" is the date this Agreement is adopted as provided in the introductory paragraph.

        "Event of Disassociation" has the meaning given in Section 4.6(a).

        "Interest" means, collectively, the Unitholders' financial rights to Profits, Losses and other allocation items, and to receive Distributions and, with respect to Members, the right of the Members to vote on matters and to receive information concerning the business and affairs of the Company as provided for in this Agreement.

        "Lien" means a security interest, lien or other encumbrance in Units pledged or granted for the purpose of securing debt financing.

        "Liquidator" has the meaning given in Section 7.6(a).

        "Managers" is defined in Section 5.3.

        "Member" means a Person who is admitted as a Member under Section 4.3, and who has not ceased to be a Member. "Members"mean all Persons who are Members.

        "Merger" is defined in the Recitals to this Agreement.

        "Original Agreement" is defined in the Recitals to this Agreement.

        "Person" means any individual natural person, or a Business Entity.

        "Property" means all real and personal property acquired by the Company, including cash and any improvements to the Property, and includes both tangible and intangible property.

C-2



        "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933.

        "Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Business Entity, any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, association or other entity Controlled by the Business Entity.

        "Transfer" means, as a noun, any voluntary or involuntary transfer, sale, or other disposition or other transfer, whether by operation of law (e.g., pursuant to a merger) or otherwise, and, as a verb, voluntarily or involuntarily to convey, sell, or otherwise dispose of, but does not include a pledge or grant of a Lien.

        "Transfer Restrictions" means the restrictions on Transfer of Units in Section 3.8 and the Unit Transfer Policy attached as Appendix C.

        "Unit" means the unit of measurement within a Class into which Interests in the Company are divided as provided in Section 3.2(a).

        "Unit Ledger" has the meaning given in Section 3.5.

        "Unit Transfer Policy" is the policy for Transferring Units attached as Appendix C.

        "Unitholder" means a Person who holds Units, whether or not the Person is a Member. "Unitholders" mean all Persons holding Units. Unitholders may be designated with respect to specific types or classes of Units held.


ARTICLE 2.
FORMATION, PURPOSE, POWERS

SECTION 2.1    FORMATION.

        The Company was formed as a Delaware limited liability company pursuant to the Act.


SECTION 2.2    NAME.

        The name of the Company is stated in the Certificate of Formation and all business of the Company shall be conducted in that name or under other names as the Board, without Member approval, may determine. The Board, without Member approval, may change the name of the Company in accordance with the Act.


SECTION 2.3    PURPOSE; POWERS.

        (a)    Purpose.    The Company has been formed for the purpose of, and the nature of the business to be conducted by the Company is, engaging in any lawful act or activity for which limited liability companies may be formed under the Act and engaging in any activities necessary, convenient or incidental to this purpose.

        (b)    Powers.    The Company shall possess and may exercise all the powers and privileges granted by the Act, by any other law, or by this Agreement, together with any lawful powers incidental to those powers and privileges, including the powers and privileges as are necessary or convenient to the conduct, promotion or attainment of the business, purposes or activities of the Company.


SECTION 2.4    PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS.

        The principal place of business of the Company shall be at the place or places stated in the Principal Place of Business attached as Appendix A and incorporated as part of this Agreement. The Principal Place of Business may be amended or changed by resolution of the Board without Member approval. The records required by the Act shall be maintained at one of the Company's principal offices.

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SECTION 2.5    TERM.

        The term of the Company shall continue until the winding up and liquidation of the Company and its business is completed following a Dissolution Event as provided in this Agreement.


SECTION 2.6    FILINGS; AGENT FOR SERVICE OF PROCESS.

        (a)    Maintenance of Delaware Status.    The Board shall take any actions reasonably necessary to perfect and maintain the status of the Company as a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Delaware. The Board shall cause amendments to the Certificate of Formation to be filed whenever required by the Act.

        (b)    Maintenance of Status in Other Jurisdictions.    The Board shall take any and all other actions as may be reasonably necessary to perfect and maintain the status of the Company as a limited liability company or similar type of entity under the laws of any other jurisdictions in which the Company engages in business.

        (c)    Agent For Service of Process.    The name and address of the agent for service of process on the Company in the State of Delaware shall be stated in the Agent for Service of Process attached as Appendix B and incorporated as part of this Agreement, which shall be amended by the Board, without Member approval, to reflect the appointment of any successor.

        (d)    Filings Upon Dissolution.    Upon the dissolution and completion of the winding up and liquidation of the Company, the Board shall cause to be filed a Certificate of Cancellation in accordance with the Act and cause similar filings as necessary to be made under the laws of any other jurisdictions.


SECTION 2.7    TITLE TO PROPERTY.

        All Property owned by the Company is owned by the Company as an entity, and a Unitholder, Member, or Manager does not have any ownership interest in the Property in their individual name. The Company shall hold title to all of its Property in the name of the Company and not in the name of any Unitholder, Member, or Manager.


SECTION 2.8    NO PAYMENTS OF INDIVIDUAL OBLIGATIONS.

        The Company's credit and assets shall be used solely for the benefit of the Company, and an asset of the Company shall not be Transferred or encumbered for, or in payment of, any individual obligation of any Unitholder, Member, or Manager.


SECTION 2.9    INDEPENDENT NON-COMPETITIVE ACTIVITIES.

        Neither this Agreement nor any activity under this Agreement shall prevent a Unitholder, Member, or Manager or any of their Affiliates, acting on their own behalf, from engaging in whatever activities they choose, unless the activities are competitive with the Company or the Company's Affiliates as determined by the Board. Activities, other than activities that are competitive with the Company, or the Company's Affiliates, may be undertaken by a Unitholder, Member, or Manager without having or incurring any obligation to: (1) offer any interest in the activities to the Company or any other Unitholder or Member; or (2) require the Unitholder, Member, or Manager undertaking the activity to allow the Company, the Company's Affiliates, or other Unitholders, Members, Managers, or their Affiliates to participate in any of those activities. As a material part of the consideration for becoming a Unitholder, Member, or Manager, each Unitholder, Member, or Manager shall not have any right or claim of participation in another Unitholder's, Member's or Manager's activities.

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SECTION 2.10    LIMITED LIABILITY.

        Except as otherwise expressly provided by the Act, this Agreement, or agreed to under another written agreement, the debts, obligations, and liabilities of the Company, whether arising in contract, tort or otherwise, are solely the debts, obligations, and liabilities of the Company, and a Unitholder, Member, or Manager of the Company is not obligated personally for any debt, obligation, or liability of the Company solely by reason of being a Unitholder or Member or by acting as a Manager of the Company. The failure of the Company to observe any formalities or requirements relating to the exercise of its powers or management of its business or affairs under this Agreement or the Act shall not be grounds for imposing liability on the Unitholders, Members, or Managers for any debt, obligation, or liability of the Company.


SECTION 2.11    MEMBERS AND UNITHOLDERS BOUND WITHOUT EXECUTION.

        A Member or Unitholder who has Interests in the Company shall be bound by this Agreement without the necessity of executing a physical copy of this Agreement.


ARTICLE 3.
UNITS, UNITHOLDERS, FINANCIAL RIGHTS

SECTION 3.1    RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF UNITHOLDERS.

        The respective rights and obligations of the Unitholders will be determined pursuant to the Act and this Agreement. To the extent that any right or obligation of any Unitholder is different by reason of any provision of this Agreement than it would be in the absence of that provision, this Agreement, to the extent permitted by the Act, will control.


SECTION 3.2    UNITS.

        (a)    Unitholder Interests and Units.    The Interests of the Unitholders will be divided into one or more classes ("Classes"), with the initial Class designated as Class A, and with subsequent Classes as may be established by the Board designated as Class B, Class C and sequentially lettered. Interests within each Class will be divided into units (the "Units") designated as Class A Units (with respect to Class A), Class B Units (with respect to Class B), Class C Units (with respect to Class C), and sequentially lettered. With respect to the Class B and subsequent Classes of Units, the Board of Managers without Member approval is granted the express authority, by resolution and conforming amendments to this Agreement, to fix and establish the designations, powers, preferences, and governance and veto rights including Member voting rights and rights to appoint or elect Managers to the Board, qualifications, limitations or restrictions of each additional Class of Units (and the corresponding obligation to fix and establish these designations, powers, preferences, governance and other rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions whenever any additional Class is established). The power of the Board extends to and includes the express authority to create Classes and Units, without Member approval, which have terms granting the additional Class and the Units (and the holders of the Units) rights, powers, preferences and privileges greater than the rights, powers, preferences and privileges associated with any previously established and designated Class or issued Units. The rights, powers, preferences and privileges are the same for all Units within a Class except as expressly provided otherwise in this Agreement, the Class designation approved by the Board, or the subscription or other agreement regarding the Units approved by the Board.

        (b)    Additional Units.    The Board may issue additional Units without Member approval, including Class A Units, to existing or new Unitholders in exchange for Capital Contributions as provided in Section 3.3(b).

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        (c)    Adjustment of Books and Records and Amendment of this Agreement.    Upon acceptance of Capital Contributions under Section 3.3, the issuance of additional Units, or any change in Unitholders or Members, the Board shall cause the books and records of the Company and the Unit Ledger to be appropriately adjusted, and the Board shall amend this Agreement, without Member approval, to reflect the terms and conditions of the Capital Contributions and the issuance of Units, including any changes to the percentages of allocations and Distributions to different Classes or Units.


SECTION 3.3    CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS.

        (a)    By Unitholders Through the Merger.    Each Person who becomes a Unitholder as a result of the Merger shall be deemed to have made a Capital Contribution consisting of the Person's share of the initial Gross Asset Value (as defined in Appendix E, Section 1.10) of any Property that is owned by the Company immediately after the effective time of the Merger. Each Person's share of the initial Gross Asset Value shall be determined by apportioning the aggregate initial Gross Asset Value entirely to the initial holders of Class A Units in proportion to Class A Units acquired by each Person in the Merger.

        (b)    By Unitholders For Additional Units.    Each Unitholder's Capital Contribution, if any, may be any consideration, whether in cash or a form other than cash (including past or future services), upon execution of any documents and on any other terms and conditions (including, in the case of Units issued to employees and consultants, any vesting and forfeiture provisions) as the Board determines to be appropriate, without Member approval.

        (c)    Additional Contributions Not Required.    A Unitholder is not obligated to make any additional Capital Contributions to the Company or to pay any assessment to the Company, other than the unpaid portion of a Unitholder's written agreement to make Capital Contributions. Units and their holders are not subject to any mandatory assessment, requests or demands for capital.


SECTION 3.4    NO CERTIFICATE FOR UNITS.

        The Units of the Company are not certificated Units unless otherwise determined by the Board. If the Board determines that the Units shall be certificated, the Board shall have the power and authority to make rules and regulations, not inconsistent with this Agreement or the Act, as the Board deems appropriate relating to the issuance, Transfer, conversion, and registration of certificates of the Company, including legend requirements or the appointment or designation of one or more transfer agents and one or more registrars. The Company may act as its own transfer agent and registrar.


SECTION 3.5    UNIT LEDGER.

        The Board shall prepare, amend, and supplement a Unit Ledger without approval of the Members that states the Unitholders and the Class and number of Units held by each Unitholder, the Capital Contribution of the Unitholder, and those Unitholders who are Members of each Class.


SECTION 3.6    ALLOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS.

        (a)    Generally.    The provisions relating to allocations of Profits, Losses and other allocation items of profit and loss, and Distributions are provided in this Section 3.6 and Article 7; Appendix C as to Transfers; and in Article III, Article IV, and Article XII of Appendix E. The provisions of this Section 3.6 may be amended by the Board, without Member approval, to conform with Class designations under Section 3.2(a). Appendix E is attached and incorporated as part of this Agreement. Appendix E may be amended by the Board without Member approval.

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        (b)    Distributions.    Distributions other than Liquidating Distributions will be made on a Class Percentage and then unitary basis in proportion to the Units held in any Class, subject to Section 3.6(a).

        (c)    Liquidating Distributions.    Liquidating Distributions will be made to the Unitholders in accordance with their positive Capital Account balances, subject to Section 3.6(a), after payment of any obligations.

        (d)    Offset.    The Company may offset any debts, liabilities, or amounts owed by a Unitholder to the Company in amounts and at times determined by the Board in their discretion against Distributions or other amounts owed or to be paid to a Unitholder.


SECTION 3.7    UNITHOLDER CONDITIONS AND LIMITATIONS.

        (a)    Interests Are Personal Property.    The interests of a Unitholder (whether or not a Member) in the Company are personal property for all purposes.

        (b)    No Compensation or Reimbursement.    Except as otherwise provided in a written agreement or policy approved by the Board and except for compensation employees receive as employees of the Company, a Unitholder, whether or not a Member, in the status as Unitholder or Member shall not receive any salary, fee, or draw for services rendered to or on behalf of the Company and shall not be reimbursed for any expenses incurred by the Unitholder or Member on behalf of the Company.

        (c)    Advances to Company.    A Unitholder or Affiliate of the Unitholder may, with the consent of the Board, lend or advance money to the Company. If any Unitholder or Affiliate of the Unitholder loans or advances money to the Company on its behalf, the amount of any loan or advance shall not be treated as a contribution to the capital of the Company but shall be a debt due from the Company. The amount of the loan or advance by a lending Unitholder or Affiliate shall be repayable out of the Company's cash and shall bear interest at a rate agreed upon by the Board and the Unitholder. The Unitholders or their Affiliates are not obligated to make any loan or advance to the Company.

        (d)    No Return of Distributions.    Except as required by law, a Unitholder (whether or not a Member) is not obligated by this Agreement to return any Distribution to the Company or pay the amount of any Distribution for the account of the Company or to any creditor of the Company; provided, however, that if any court of competent jurisdiction holds that, notwithstanding this Agreement, any Unitholder is obligated to return or pay any part of any Distribution, the obligation will bind the Unitholder alone and not any other Unitholder. The provisions of the immediately preceding sentence are solely for the benefit of the Unitholders and will not be construed as benefiting any third party. The amount of any Distribution returned to the Company by a Unitholder or upon approval of the Board paid by a Unitholder for the account of the Company or to a creditor of the Company will be added to the account or accounts from which it was subtracted when it was distributed to the Unitholder.

        (e)    Redemption.    The Company, by resolution of the Board, may redeem the Units of a Class of a Unitholder that are not held by a Member of that Class. Unless otherwise provided by resolution of the Board, a Unitholder (whether or not a Member), or any transferee of a Unitholder, does not have a right to: demand, withdraw or receive a return of the Unitholder's (or transferee's) Capital Contributions or Capital Account; to require the purchase or redemption of the Unitholder's (or transferee's) Units or Interest; or to receive a Distribution in partial or complete redemption of the fair value of the Unitholder's Units or Interest in the Company, (except in all cases a redemption authorized by the resolution of the Board under this Section 3.7(e) or as provided in Appendix E, Article XII, or Article 7 of this Agreement following a Dissolution Event), notwithstanding any provisions of the Act or any other provision of law. The other Unitholders and the Company do not have any obligation to purchase or redeem the Units or Interest of any Unitholder or transferee. Each

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Unitholder (whether or not a Member) as a condition of becoming a Unitholder has no right, to receive a Distribution in partial or complete redemption of the fair value of the Units or Interest of any Unitholder upon an Event of Disassociation or otherwise which, in the absence of the provisions in this Agreement, it would otherwise be afforded by Section 18-604 of the Act or any other provision of the Act.

        (f)    Rights of Unitholders Who Are Not Members.    Unless admitted as a Member pursuant to Section 4.3, a Person who acquires Units, or a Person who holds Units and ceases to be a Member, has only the rights of an "unadmitted assignee" and is only entitled to allocations and Distributions with respect to the Units in accordance with this Agreement, and does not have any right to any information or accounting of the affairs of the Company, and is not entitled to inspect the books or records of the Company, and does not have any of the rights of a Member under the Act or this Agreement. Units held by a Person who is not a Member are subject to the Transfer Restrictions.

        (g)    Specific Limitations.    A Unitholder (whether or not a Member) does not have the right, power or authority to: (1) reduce the Unitholder's Capital Account, except as a result of the dissolution of the Company or as otherwise provided by law or in this Agreement; (2) make voluntary Capital Contributions to the Company except when authorized by the Board; (3) bring an action for partition against the Company or any Company assets; (4) cause the termination and dissolution of the Company, except as set forth in this Agreement; (5) require that any Distribution to the Unitholder be made in the form of property other than cash; (6) (in the Unitholder's capacity as a Unitholder or Member) take part in or interfere in any manner with the management of the business and affairs of the Company; (7) (in the Unitholder's capacity as a Unitholder or Member) act for or bind the Company notwithstanding Section 18-402 of the Act; and (8) have any contractual appraisal rights under Section 18-210 of the Act. Each Unitholder (whether or not a Member) by becoming a Unitholder shall have irrevocably waived each of the rights contained in clauses (1) through (8) of this Section 3.7(g).


SECTION 3.8    RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERS.

        (a)    General Restrictions.    The Board shall not approve, and the Company shall not recognize for any purpose, any purported Transfer of Units unless and until the Transfer Restrictions, consisting of the provisions of this Section and the Unit Transfer Policy, have been satisfied or the Board has by resolution specifically waived any unsatisfied provision, condition or restriction. A Transfer of Units approved by the Board that satisfies the provisions and conditions of the Transfer Restrictions (or if any unsatisfied condition is waived), shall be referred to in this Agreement as a "Permitted Transfer".

        (b)    Not Binding Until Entered in Company Books.    A Transfer of Units is not binding on the Company without the approval of the Board and not until the Transfer is entered in the books and records of the Company.

        (c)    Pledge of Units Allowed.    Notwithstanding the Transfer Restrictions, a Unitholder may pledge, grant a Lien on all or any portion of its Units as security for the payment of debt, provided that a subsequent foreclosure or transfer to the secured party in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise shall be considered a Transfer.

        (d)    Unless Permitted, Transfers Void.    A purported Transfer of Units that is not a Permitted Transfer is null and void and of no force or effect whatsoever; provided that, if the Company is required to recognize a Transfer that is not a Permitted Transfer (or if the Board, in its sole discretion, elects to recognize a Transfer that is not a Permitted Transfer), the Units Transferred shall be strictly limited to the transferor's rights to allocations and Distributions as provided by this Agreement with respect to the transferred Units, which allocations and Distributions may be applied or set off against (without limiting any other legal or equitable rights of the Company) to satisfy any debts, obligations, or liabilities for damages that the transferor or transferee of the Units may have to the Company.

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        (e)    Indemnification of Company.    If a Transfer or attempted Transfer of Units is not a Permitted Transfer, the Unitholder and the prospective transferee engaging or attempting to engage in the Transfer is liable to and shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the other Unitholders from all cost, liability, and damage that the Company and any of the other Unitholders may incur (including incremental tax liabilities, lawyers' fees and expenses) as a result of the Transfer or attempted Transfer and efforts to prohibit the transfer or enforce the indemnity.

        (f)    Transferee Subject to Transfer Restrictions.    Units held by a transferee are subject to the Transfer Restrictions.

        (g)    Unit Transfer Policy.    The Unit Transfer Policy shall be consistent with this Agreement and impose conditions and restrictions on Transfers to: (1) preserve the tax status of the Company; (2) comply with state or federal securities laws; (3) require appropriate information from the transferor and transferee regarding the transfer; (4) require representations from the transferor and/or transferee regarding the Transfer; and (5) allow the Board to determine whether or not the transferee is a competitor of the Company or the Company's Affiliates. The Unit Transfer Policy also shall state the permitted method and conventions that shall be used in allocating Profits, Losses, and each item of Profits, and Losses and all other items attributable between the transferor and the transferee. The Unit Transfer Policy is attached as Appendix C, and incorporated as part of this Agreement. The Unit Transfer Policy may be amended by the Board without Member approval.


ARTICLE 4.
MEMBERS AND MEMBER VOTING

SECTION 4.1    RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS.

        (a)    Authority.    The respective rights and obligations of Members will be determined pursuant to the Act and this Agreement. To the extent that the rights or obligations of any Member are different by reason of any provision of this Agreement than they would be in the absence of any provision of this Agreement, to the extent permitted by the Act, this Agreement shall control. A Member, other than a Member acting in his or her capacity as an officer of the Board or an officer of the Company pursuant to delegated authority, does not have the power or authority to act for or on behalf of the Company, to bind the Company by any act, or to incur any expenditures on behalf of the Company, except with the prior consent of the Board.

        (b)    Access to Records.    The Company shall provide to a Member upon written request of the Member: (1) the Class and Number of Units held by the Member; (2) the percentage or share of annual Distributions to which the Member is entitled based upon the Units held by the Member; (3) the voting rights of the Member for each Class of Units held; (4) the most recent audited financial statements of the Company; and (5) copies or internet access to any annual, quarterly, and special reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Board shall prescribe the form and format in which the information in clauses (1) to (5) is transmitted to the Member. For all other information, upon the request of a Member for a proper purpose related to the Member's Interest as determined by the Board, the Board will allow the Member and its designated representatives or agents, upon at least ten (10) business days prior written notice to the Board and during reasonable business hours, to examine the Company's books and records to the extent required by the Act for the proper purpose at the Member's sole cost and expense. Each Member and Unitholder has an expectation of privacy that information about them or their Interests in the Company will not be shared with other Members for an improper purpose. The Member's request for information and right to inspect information is subject to any reasonable standards as may be established by the Board on a case by case basis or from time to time and the inspection rights will be restricted by the Board to protect the rights of other Members and the Company from damage by the requesting Member. The Board has the authority and shall restrict access to and protect Confidential Information of the Company in a manner consistent with this Section 4.1(b) and Section 4.1(c) as deemed appropriate by the Board.

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        (c)    Nondisclosure.    Except as otherwise consented to by the Board, all non-public information furnished to the Member pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise regarding the Company or its business that is not generally available to the public ("Confidential Information") will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed by the Member, or by any of the Member's agents, representatives or employees, in any manner, in whole or in part, except that: (1) a Member will be permitted to disclose Confidential Information to those of the Member's agents, representatives and employees who need to be familiar with the information in connection with the Member's investment in the Company and who are charged with an obligation of confidentiality and nondisclosure to other Persons; (2) a Member will be permitted to disclose Confidential Information to the Member's partners and equity holders so long as they agree to keep the information confidential on the terms set forth in this Agreement; (3) a Member will be permitted to disclose Confidential Information to the extent required by law, so long as the Member will have first provided the Company a reasonable opportunity to contest the necessity of disclosing the information; and (4) a Member will be permitted to disclose Confidential Information with prior written notice to the Company regarding the Persons and the nature of and restrictions on the Confidential Information to be disclosed, only to the Persons and to the extent necessary for the enforcement of any right of the Member arising under this Agreement.


SECTION 4.2    MINIMUM REQUIRED UNIT HOLDING BY MEMBERS.

        (a)    Class A Members.    Class A Members must hold at least two thousand (2,000) Class A Units.

        (b)    Other Classes.    A Unitholder must hold the minimum number and Class of Units required for membership as stipulated in the designation of another Class.


SECTION 4.3    ADMISSION OF MEMBERS.

        (a)    Members Through Merger.    Each Person who receives Units as consideration in the Merger and who satisfies the requirements of Section 4.2 is admitted as a Class A Member with no further action on the part of the Board, the Members, or the Company.

        (b)    Additional Members.    Additional Persons may, upon the approval of the Board, be admitted as Members of the Company with respect to any Class of Units: (1) by meeting the requirements for membership with respect to any Class under Section 4.2 and otherwise under this Agreement including any subscription and payment for Units as determined by the Board; (2) by submitting documents required by the Board to evaluate membership approval; and (3) by submitting an executed document approved by the Board agreeing to be bound by this Agreement. A Person is not admitted as a Member of any Class by the Board unless and until an officer of the Company, acting under authority from the Board, has countersigned the Person's application, subscription agreement, or other document required by the Board for admission as a Member of any Class. The Board in its sole discretion may refuse to admit any Person as a Member of any Class.

        (c)    Admission of Transferees as Members.    A transferee of Units will be admitted as a Member with respect to a Class of Units (if not already a Member) if: (1) the Transfer Restrictions are satisfied with respect to the applicable Transfer; (2) the requirements of Section 4.2 are satisfied with respect to the transferee and the Class of Units, (3) the Board approves the membership of the transferee (which approval may be granted, delayed, considered or withheld in the sole discretion of the Board); and (4) the transferee executes any instruments and satisfies any other requirements that the Board deems reasonably necessary or desirable for admission of the transferee as a Member. In the absence of satisfying the foregoing requirements, the transferee will be a non-member Unitholder with only the rights of an unadmitted assignee as provided in Section 3.7(f).

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SECTION 4.4    MEMBER VOTING.

        (a)    Voting Rights Restricted.    A Member does not have any voting rights except with respect to those matters requiring a Member vote or approval for: (1) the election and removal of Managers; (2) approval of certain mergers or consolidations as provided in Section 5.1(c); (3) approval of certain dispositions of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company under Section 5.1(c); (4) approval of the dissolution of the Company under Article 7; and (5) approval of certain amendments to this Agreement under Article 6, or as specifically provided for in this Agreement.

        (b)    Class A Member Voting Rights.    A Class A Member will be entitled to one (1) vote for each Class A Unit held by the Member. Cumulative voting of the votes for Class A Units is not permitted. A Member of any other Class will be entitled to any additional voting rights as may be stipulated in the designations governing other Classes of Units held.

        (c)    Voting Method for Classes.    Subject to the governance rights of the designation of any other Class of Units, Members shall vote by Class, and the Members shall take action by the affirmative vote of the majority of voting power of each Class authorized to vote as provided in this Agreement for: (1) approval of certain mergers or consolidations as provided in Section 5.1(c); (2) approval of certain dispositions of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company under Sections 5.1(c); (3) approval of dissolution of the Company under Article 7; and (4) approval of certain amendments of this Agreement under Article 6. In the election (or removal) of Managers by the Members under Section 5.3(b), Members shall take action by the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of the Class or Classes electing (or removing) the Manager, present either in person, by proxy, or by mail ballot, at a duly held meeting of the Members at which a quorum is present for the transaction of business.

        (d)    Voting on Procedural and Other Matters.    Except for Class voting matters in Section 4.4(c), the Members shall take action at a Members meeting on procedural and other matters as determined by the Chair by the affirmative vote of the Members (each Member with one vote), without regard to the Class or the Units held, unless objected to by the majority of the voting power of any Class present at the meeting.


SECTION 4.5    MEMBER MEETINGS.

        (a)    Place and Manner of Meeting.    All meetings of Members shall be held at a time and place, within or without the State of Delaware, as stated in the notice of the meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice. Presence in person, or by proxy or mail ballot, constitutes participation in a meeting, except where a person participates in the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of business on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully convened.

        (b)    Conduct of Meetings.    The meetings of the Members shall be presided over by the Chair and shall be conducted in general accordance with the most recent edition of Roberts' Rules of Order, or other rules and procedures as may be determined by the Board in its discretion. Resolutions to be voted on by the Members shall be limited to those that have been approved by the Board for presentation to the Members and contained in the notice of the meeting.

        (c)    Annual Meeting.    The annual meeting of the Members shall be held on a date determined by the Board. Failure to hold the annual meeting at the designated time is not grounds for dissolution of the Company.

        (d)    Special Meetings.    Special meetings of the Members may be called at any time by the Chair or the Board, or by the Secretary upon the request of thirty-three percent (33%) of all Members (total Members without respect to Class) regardless of the number of Units held by the requesting Members. The special meeting request shall state a proper purpose or purposes of the special meeting and the matters if any proposed to be acted on at the special meeting. Except as may be required by applicable

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law, the Board in its discretion may determine whether a special meeting request contains a proper purpose. If the Board determines the purpose is not proper, the Board shall notify the Person requesting the special meeting in writing of the reasons that the requestor's purpose was not proper, and may either revise the purpose and proceed with the procedures to call a special meeting or decline to call a special meeting until a proper purpose is requested.

        (e)    Notice.    The Secretary shall cause a written or printed notice, reviewed by the Company's legal counsel, stating the place, day and time of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting, the proper purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. The notice shall be delivered not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting either personally or by mail, to each Member entitled to vote at the meeting. If mailed, the notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail addressed to the Member at the Member's address as it appears on the records of the Company, with postage prepaid. If the purpose of the meeting is to consider any item requiring Class voting of Members under Section 4.4(c), the notice shall be in a form that is approved by the Board and shall state the purpose, identify the Manager if the purpose is removal, and a summary of the transaction to be considered or a verbatim statement of the amendment to be considered must accompany the notice.

        (f)    Quorum.    At any annual or special meeting of the Members, a quorum necessary for the transaction of business is present if: (1) when the Board has authorized the use of mail ballot or proxies, Members with twenty percent (20%) or more of the voting power are present; and (2) in any other case, Members with ten percent (10%) or more of the voting power are present. If a vote of more than one Class is required, the quorum requirement will be applied to the Members of each Class. The Members present at a duly organized meeting at which a quorum is present may transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the departure or withdrawal of Members leaving less than a quorum, provided however, if the question of a quorum is called and the Chair determines a quorum is not present, the meeting shall be adjourned. The registration of Members eligible to vote shall be verified by the Secretary and shall be reported in the minutes of the meeting.

        (g)    Record Date.    For the purpose of determining Members entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of Members or to make a determination of Members for any other proper purpose, the Board may designate a record date or provide that the record books shall be closed for a stated period not exceeding sixty (60) days. If the record books shall be closed for the purpose of determining Members entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of Members, the books shall be closed for a period not exceeding the period immediately preceding the meeting starting on the date when the notice is mailed or transmitted from the Company and the date of the meeting. In lieu of closing the record books, the Board may fix in advance a date as the record date for determination of Members. Unless otherwise determined by the Board, if the record books are not closed and a record date is not fixed for the determination of Members entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of Members, the date on which notice of the meeting is first mailed or transmitted from the Company, as the case may be, shall be the record date for the determination of Members. When a determination of Members entitled to vote at any meeting of Members has been made as provided in this Section, the determination applies to the reconvening of an adjournment, except where the determination has been made through the closing of record books and the stated period of closing has expired.

        (h)    Ballots; Proxies.    If and to the extent authorized by the Board, a Member may vote at a meeting of Members by alternative ballot (mail or otherwise) or by proxy granted by the Member or by the Member's duly authorized attorney-in-fact. If authorized by the Board, a proxy may be granted in writing, by means of electronic transmission, or as otherwise permitted by applicable law. A proxy shall be filed with the Secretary of the Company before the meeting is convened, as determined by the Board. A proxy shall be considered filed with the Company when received by the Company at its executive offices or other place designated by the Board, unless later revoked. A proxy is not valid after eleven months from the date of its execution, unless otherwise provided in the proxy. A proxy is

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revocable at the discretion of the Member executing the proxy. While the right to vote can be exercised by proxy, only a Member has the right to be recognized in a meeting of the Members unless otherwise determined by the Chair in the Chair's sole discretion.


SECTION 4.6    TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP.

        (a)    Termination Events.    Membership as to any Class may be terminated by the Board upon a determination by the Board that the requirements to be a Member of that Class are not met. Membership in the Company (membership in all Classes) is terminated if any of the following events occur (any of the events are referred to as an "Event of Disassociation"):

            (1)   a Member does not meet the requirements to be a Member with regard to at least one of the Classes of Units held by the Member as determined by the Board;

            (2)   a Member that is an individual dies, or a member that is not an individual ceases to exist as a Business Entity, and leaves no successor qualified as determined by the Board to be a Member;

            (3)   a Member Transfers all of the Member's Units;

            (4)   the Member resigns as a Member with respect to all Classes of Units held under Section 4.7; or

            (5)   the Board by resolution finds that a Member:

                (i)  has intentionally or repeatedly violated any provision of this Agreement;

               (ii)  has breached any agreement with or obligation to the Company;

              (iii)  has intentionally or repeatedly taken actions that will impede the Company from accomplishing its purposes;

              (iv)  is a Person who is a competitor of the Company or a competitor of an Affiliate of the Company;

               (v)  is a Person who is detrimental to the interests of the Company or Affiliates of the Company; or

              (vi)  has willfully obstructed any lawful purpose or activity of the Company.

        (b)    Company's Right of Redemption.    Upon membership termination under clauses (1), (4) or (5) in Section 4.6(a), the Company may, at its option purchase the terminated Member's Units at eighty percent (80%) of the trailing sale price of the Units (as reasonably determined by the Board), measured over the six (6) month period immediately preceding the date the Board determines by resolution to purchase the terminated Member's Units. The Company may exercise the right to purchase the terminated Member's Units at any time after the membership termination. The Board by resolution may waive the Company's right to purchase the terminated Member's Units.


SECTION 4.7    RESIGNATION.

        A Member may resign as a Member of any Class or all Classes at any time. A resignation must be made in writing delivered to the Secretary of the Company, and will take effect at the time specified in the resignation or, if no time is specified, upon receipt. The acceptance of a resignation will not be necessary to make it effective, unless expressly so provided in the resignation. The resignation as a Member does not terminate or cancel any contractual or other obligations of the resigning Member to the Company or obligate the Company to make any distributions to the resigning Member under Section 18-604 of the Act or otherwise, except as approved by resolution of the Board.

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SECTION 4.8    CONTINUATION OF THE COMPANY.

        The occurrence of an Event of Disassociation or any other event which is deemed to terminate the continued membership of a Member in one or all Classes, will not dissolve the Company, the Company's affairs shall not be required to be wound up, and the Company will continue without dissolution.


ARTICLE 5.
MANAGEMENT OF COMPANY

SECTION 5.1    GOVERNANCE BY BOARD, CEO.

        (a)    General Authority.    As provided in this Agreement, the powers and privileges of the Company shall be exercised by or under the authority of the Board, and the business and affairs of the Company shall be governed by the Board, and management of the Company shall be delegated to the CEO. The Company shall not be governed or managed by the Members, except those matters for which consent or approval of the Members is required by this Agreement or any nonwaivable provisions of the Act. The Board by resolution and employment agreement shall allocate and delegate governance and management of the Company between the Board and the CEO. Any delegation or allocation by the Board shall not cause the individuals constituting the Board to cease to be "managers" of the Company for purposes of the Act.

        (b)    Policies, Rules, Regulations.    The Board may adopt policies, rules, and regulations and may take actions as it deems advisable in furtherance of the purposes of the Company, provided that the Board shall not act in a manner contrary to this Agreement.

        (c)    Board Actions Requiring Member Consent.    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the following actions will not be taken by the Company without a resolution describing and authorizing the action that is approved by the Board and is also approved by the Members:

            (1)   mergers or consolidations with or into any other Business Entity which is not an Affiliate of the Company, whether or not the Company is the surviving entity;

            (2)   dispositions (whether effected by merger, sale of assets, lease, equity exchange or otherwise) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, other than through a pledge, security, transfer to a subsidiary under the control of the Company or transfer to effect a securitization of the Company's assets for purposes of debt financing;

            (3)   amendments of this Agreement requiring approval by the Members to the extent provided in Article 6; and

            (4)   dissolution of the Company under Section 7.1.

        (d)    Duty to the Company.    The Board shall cause the Company to conduct its business and operations separate and apart from that of any Member, Manager, or any of their Affiliates. The Board shall take all actions which may be necessary or appropriate: (1) for the continuation of the Company's valid existence as a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Delaware and each other jurisdiction in which the existence is necessary to protect the limited liability of Members and Unitholders or to enable the Company to conduct the business in which it is engaged; and (2) for the accomplishment of the Company's purposes, including the acquisition, development, maintenance, preservation, and operation of Company property in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and applicable laws and regulations. Each Manager shall have the duty to discharge the foregoing duties in good faith, in a manner the Manager reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the Company, and with the care an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would exercise under similar circumstances. A Manager is not under any other duty to the Company or the Members to conduct the affairs of the Company in a particular manner.

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        (e)    Duty of Care and Loyalty.    Without limiting the applicability of Section 5.1(d) or any other provision of this Agreement, the following provisions will be applicable to the Board and to the Managers in their capacity as Managers:

            (1)   the Board and the Managers and the decisions of the Board will have the benefit of the business judgment rule to the same extent as the Board, the Managers and the decisions would have the benefit of the rule if the Board were a board of directors of a Delaware corporation and the Managers were directors; and

            (2)   the Board and the Managers will have the same duties of care and loyalty as they would have if they were a board of directors and directors of a Delaware corporation, but in no event will any member of the Board be liable for any action or inaction for which this Agreement expressly waives liability for the Manager.


SECTION 5.2    ACTIONS BY BOARD; COMMITTEES; RELIANCE ON AUTHORITY.

        (a)    Board Action.    In taking any action under this Agreement, the Managers shall act: (1) collectively through meetings of the Board held and conducted pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement or by written action taken pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement; (2) through committees established pursuant to Section 5.2(b); and (3) through officers of the Board, and through the CEO by resolutions of delegated and reserved authorities and employment agreement. The Board shall take action by the affirmative vote of the Managers present at a duly held meeting of the Board at which a quorum is present.

        (b)    Committees.    The Board, by resolution approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Managers then holding office, may from time to time establish one or more committees, each of which shall be comprised of one or more natural persons who may but need not be Managers or Members, provided that a majority of committee members on each committee must be a Manager or Member. Any committee shall have and may only exercise the authority and duties to the extent provided by the Board in the resolution establishing the committee, subject at all times to the limitations set forth in the Act, this Agreement and to the direction and control of the Board. Unless otherwise provided by the Board, the presence of a majority of the members of the committee constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business at a meeting of the committee, and the committee shall act by the affirmative vote of a majority of committee members present at a duly held meeting. In other matters of procedure the provisions of this Agreement shall apply to committees and their members to the same extent they apply to the Board and Managers, including the provisions with respect to meetings and notice, absent members, written actions, and valid acts. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its proceedings and report the same to the Board. The Board may dissolve any committee at any time.

        (c)    Reliance on Authority.    A Person dealing with the Company, may rely on the authority of an officer of the Board or an officer of the Company in taking an action in the name of the Company without inquiry into the provisions of this Agreement or compliance with this Agreement, regardless of whether the action is actually taken in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, unless the Person dealing with the Company has actual knowledge that the officer lacks authority to act or the Act establishes that the officer lacks authority to act.


SECTION 5.3    THE BOARD.

        (a)    Manager Election and Appointment.    The Board shall consist of individuals appointed or elected under this Section ("Managers") who are the "managers" of the Company for all purposes under the Act. Managers shall be appointed by the Board and Members and elected by the Members at the times, in the manner, and for the terms as prescribed by this Agreement. At least five (5) Managers shall be elected by the Members. The initial Managers comprising the initial Board, who shall serve in the manner and as prescribed by this Agreement consists of the individuals, terms, and

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classification as provided in the Board attached as Appendix D and incorporated as part of this Agreement. The Board may appoint Advisory Managers as provided in Section 5.3(d). The Board or Members may appoint or elect Managers as provided in any Class designation as provided in Section 3.2(a). Other than the initial appointment (which may only be for a term that ends with the next election of Managers by the Members), Managers and Advisory Managers appointed by the Board or Members shall have one year terms beginning and ending at the Annual Members meeting, Managers and Advisory Managers appointed by Members, shall be appointed by Members at the Annual Meeting of Members, and for Managers and Advisory Managers appointed by the Board, shall be appointed by the Board within 30 days after the Annual Meeting of Members. The Board may adopt written procedures for determining the qualification and nomination of Directors. The Board, without Member approval, shall amend Appendix D to comply with any change in Managers. For purposes of this Agreement, the initial Managers in Appendix D shall be deemed to have been elected by the Class A Members.

        (b)    Term.    The elected Managers shall serve three-year terms and until their successors are duly elected and qualified, or until their earlier death, resignation or removal. In order to preserve continuity of governance and the harmonious transition of the initial Board to the elected or appointed Board, the terms of the initial Managers shall be staggered as stated on Appendix D, with all subsequent terms for elected Managers to be for a period of three years. The Board shall adopt nomination, reporting, and other election procedures and policies for the Company in its sole discretion and which may be amended or modified by the Board in its sole discretion.

        (c)    Number.    The Board shall consist of not less than five (5) Managers elected by the Members. The Board by resolution may establish additional Managers elected by the Members. The designations for any Class under Section 3.2(a) may establish additional Managers on the Board elected by the Members or appointed by the Board or by one or more Members. At each Annual Meeting of the Members, elections will be held to fill all vacancies on the Board for elected Managers.

        (d)    Advisory Managers.    The Board may also appoint "Advisory Managers" (who may be invited by the Board to serve the Board in an advisory capacity and attend meetings of the Board, but who will not be members of the Board or "Managers" as used in this Agreement or the Act and who will have no voting rights on the Board).

        (e)    Independent Non-Competitive Activities.    A Manager is only required to devote the time to the affairs of the Company as are necessary to govern the business and affairs of the Company in accordance with this Agreement, and shall be free to serve any other Business Entity or enterprise in any capacity that the Manager deems appropriate in his or her discretion, provided that the other Business Entity or enterprise or one of their Affiliates is not a competitor of the Company or one of the Company's Affiliates as determined by the Board.

        (f)    Resignation.    A Manager may resign at any time. The resignation must be made in writing and shall take effect at the time specified in the written resignation or, if a time is not specified then at the time of its receipt by the Chair or the Secretary of the Company. The acceptance of a resignation is not necessary to make it effective, unless expressly provided in the written resignation.

        (g)    Removal.    A Manager elected by the Members may be removed for any reason at any special meeting of Members by the affirmative vote of the majority of the voting power of the class of Members who elected the Manager. A Manager appointed by one or more Members pursuant to a Class designation may be removed at any time by the appointing Member or Members or as otherwise provided in the Class designation. A Manager appointed by the Board may be removed by the affirmative majority vote of the Managers excluding the Manager to be removed. A Manager elected or appointed by the Members may be removed at any special meeting of the Board by the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the Managers who are not subject to removal for an act or failure to act in a manner that constitutes any of the following: (1) a willful failure to deal fairly with the Company or its

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Members in connection with a matter in which the Manager or officer has a material conflict of interest; (2) a violation of criminal law, unless the Board determines the Manager had reasonable cause to believe that the Manager's or officer's conduct was lawful or no reasonable cause to believe that the conduct was unlawful; (3) a transaction from which the Manager derived an improper personal profit; or (4) willful misconduct. The notice of the meeting shall state that the removal will be discussed and acted upon at the meeting, and must also be provided to the Manager in question at least 10 days in advance of the meeting. The Manager in question has a right to be heard at the meeting.

        (h)    Vacancies.    A vacancy occurring on the Board (whether by reason of an increase in the number of Managers or by reason of a vacancy in an existing Manager seat) may be filled by appointment through an affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining Managers, though less than a quorum. A Manager appointed by the Board to fill a vacancy for an elected Manager shall serve until a successor is elected and qualified at the next annual or special meeting of the Members held for the purpose of electing Managers. At the next annual meeting or special meeting of the Members called for the purpose of electing a Manager, the Members shall elect a Manager to fill the unexpired term of the vacant Manager's position.


SECTION 5.4    BOARD MEETINGS.

        (a)    Meetings.    Regular meetings of the Board shall be held from time to time as determined by the Board. Special meetings of the Board shall be held upon the call of the Chair or three (3) or more Managers. Board meetings shall be held at the principal office of the Company or at another place, either within or without the State of Delaware, as designated by the person calling the meeting and stated in the notice of the meeting or a duly executed waiver of notice of the meeting. Managers may participate in a Board meeting by means of video or audio conferencing or similar communications equipment whereby all Managers participating in the meeting can hear each other.

        (b)    Notice.    Notice of each meeting of the Board, stating the place, day and hour of the meeting, shall be given to each Manager at least three (3) days before the day on which the meeting is to be held. The notice may be given orally, in writing, by facsimile transmission, by electronic mail or by any other form or means of communication that provides reasonable assurances of effective communication. Except as expressly required in this Agreement, the notice or waiver of notice of any special or regular meeting of the Board does not need to specify the business to be transacted or the purpose of the meeting.

        (c)    Waiver.    Whenever a notice is required to be given to a Manager under the provisions of this Agreement, a waiver of the notice in writing signed by the Manager, whether before or after the meeting time stated in the notice, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of the notice. Attendance of a Manager at a meeting of the Board constitutes a waiver of notice of the meeting by the Manager, except where the Manager attends a meeting for the express purpose of stating his or her objection to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

        (d)    Quorum.    One-half of the Managers in office constitute a quorum necessary for the transaction of business at any regular or special meeting of the Board. If less than a quorum is present, those Managers present may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum shall be present.

        (e)    Voting and Act of the Board.    Each Manager has one (1) vote, without regard to the Class or Classes of Members that elected or appointed the Manager, unless otherwise provided in a Class designation. The Board shall take action by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Managers present at a duly held meeting at which a quorum is present. Provided that a quorum is present, there is no requirement that any action of the Board be approved by Managers elected or appointed by a certain Class of Members, unless otherwise provided in a Class designation.

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        (f)    Action Without a Meeting.    An action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the Board may be taken by written action signed by the Managers with a majority of the voting power of the Managers comprising the Board, unless this Agreement prescribes a greater Manager approval for the action to be taken.

        (g)    Compensation.    The Board may fix the compensation, if any, of Managers. Managers shall also be entitled to reimbursement for actual expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Board or conducting other business of the Company.


SECTION 5.5    OFFICERS.

        (a)    Qualification; Election.    Officers of the Board, and the CEO must be natural persons, and shall be elected or appointed by the Board. The officers of the Company shall consist of the following persons:

            (1)   officers of the Board, elected on an annual basis, who shall consist of a Chair and a Vice Chair, who must be Managers, and a Secretary who need not be a Manager and may be appointed by the Board;

            (2)   the CEO who shall be appointed by the Board; and

            (3)   a chief financial officer and other officers and assistant officers of the Company, who shall be appointed by the CEO.

        (b)    Bonds and Insurance.    The Board may require all officers, agents and employees charged by this Company with responsibility for the custody of its funds or property to give bonds. Bonds shall be furnished by a responsible bonding company and approved by the Board, and the cost shall be paid by the Company. The Board shall cause the Company to provide for insurance of the property of the Company, or property which may be in the possession of the Company and not otherwise adequately insured by the owner of the property. In addition, the Board shall cause the Company to provide for insurance covering liability of the Company to all employees and the public, in a commercially reasonable amount as is customary for businesses similar to the Company.

        (c)    Term of Office.    An officer appointed by the Board, other than the CEO, shall hold office for a term of one year and until a successor is duly elected or appointed, unless prior to the end of the term the officer has resigned, deceased or has been removed from office.

        (d)    Removal and Vacancies.    Any officer elected or appointed by the Board may be removed, with or without cause, at any time by a resolution of the Board; provided that the removal is subject to the termination procedures of any written employment agreement with the Company. A vacancy in an office of the Board or the CEO shall be filled by a resolution of the Board. The CEO may remove any officer appointed by the CEO. An officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Company. The resignation is effective without acceptance when the notice is given to the Company, unless a later effective date is specified in the notice.

        (e)    Chief Executive Officer.    The CEO shall have direct and general charge and supervision of all business and administrative operations of the Company and all other duties, responsibilities, authorities and privileges as are set forth in the CEO's employment agreement, if any, as amended from time to time, in addition to those duties, responsibilities, authorities and privileges as are delegated to the CEO by the Board by resolution, or that a CEO of a Delaware corporation would have in respect of a Delaware corporation in the absence of a specific delegation of the duties, responsibilities, authorities and privileges. The CEO may be an officer of any Business Entity in which the Company owns an interest. The CEO shall also perform other duties that may be assigned by the Board to the extent consistent with this Agreement and the CEO's employment agreement, if any, as amended from time to time.

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        (f)    Duties of Other Officers.    Unless provided otherwise by a resolution adopted by the Board, the officers of the Company, other than the CEO, shall have the duties as are customarily associated with their respective offices and shall perform other duties as may from time to time be prescribed by any officer to whom the officer reports.

        (g)    Delegation.    Unless prohibited by a resolution of the Board, an officer elected or appointed by the Board may delegate in writing some or all of the duties and powers of the person's management position to other persons. An officer who delegates the duties or powers of an office remains subject to the standard of conduct for an officer with respect to the discharge of all duties and powers so delegated.


SECTION 5.6    LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION OF MANAGERS AND OFFICERS.

        (a)    Liability Limitation.    A Manager or officer of the Company is not personally liable to the Company or its Members for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty by the Manager or officer; provided that this provision does not eliminate or limit the liability of a Manager or officer for an act or failure to act in a manner that constitutes any of the following: (1) a willful failure to deal fairly with the Company or its Members in connection with a matter in which the Manager or officer has a material conflict of interest; (2) a violation of criminal law, unless the Manager had reasonable cause to believe that the Manager's or officer's conduct was lawful and had no reasonable cause to believe that the conduct was unlawful; (3) a transaction from which the Manager derived an improper personal benefit or profit; or (4) willful misconduct.

        (b)    Indemnification.    To the fullest extent permitted or required by law, the Company, its receiver, or its trustee (in the case of its receiver or trustee, to the extent of Company Property) shall indemnify, defend, save harmless, and pay all judgments and claims against, and reasonable expenses of, each present and former Manager or officer relating to any liability or damage or reasonable expenses incurred with respect to a proceeding if the Manager or officer (or former Manager or officer) was a party to the proceeding as a result of or in connection with (1) his or her capacity as a Manager or officer of the Company (which reasonable expenses including reasonable attorneys' fees may be paid as incurred); or (2) his or her service of any other Person at the request of the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, the Company shall not indemnify, defend, save harmless, or pay any portion of any judgments or claims against, or any expenses of, a Manager or officer (or former Manager or officer) under the foregoing provisions where the judgments and claims or proceedings arise out of or are related to an act or failure to act of the Manager or officer in a manner that constitutes any of the following: (1) a willful failure to deal fairly with the Company or its Members in connection with a matter in which the Manager or officer has a material conflict of interest; (2) a violation of criminal law, unless the Manager or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the Manager's conduct was lawful or no reasonable cause to believe that the conduct was unlawful; (3) a transaction from which the Manager or officer derived an improper personal profit; or (4) willful misconduct.

        (c)    Insurance.    The Company may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of a person in the person's official capacity against any liability or expense asserted against or incurred by the person in or arising from that capacity, whether or not the Company would be required to indemnify the person against the liability.


SECTION 5.7.    CONTRACTS WITH MANAGERS OR THEIR AFFILIATES.

        A contract or transaction between the Company or an Affiliate of the Company and a Manager or the Manager's Affiliate or between the Company and the Company's Affiliate and any other entity in which a Manager or the Manager's Affiliate has a material financial interest, is not void or voidable and does not require the Manager to account to the Company and hold as trustee for the Company

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any profit or benefit derived from the contract or transaction solely for this reason, or solely because the Manager is present at or participates in the Board meeting at which the contract or transaction is authorized, if: (1) the material facts of the Manager's material financial interest are disclosed to the Board; and (2) the contract or transaction is authorized or approved by two-thirds of all of the disinterested Managers. The presence of the interested Manager may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at the meeting at which the contract or transaction is authorized but the interested Manager's presence or vote may not be counted in determining the authorization or approval of the contract or transaction by the necessary two-thirds quantum of consent.


ARTICLE 6.
AMENDMENTS

SECTION 6.1    AMENDMENTS.

        (a)    Procedure For Amendments.    Other than amendments by the Board under Section 6.1(b), amendments to this Agreement shall be proposed solely by the Board and approved by the Members. Following the Board's approval of any proposed amendment, the Board shall submit to the Members a verbatim statement of the proposed amendment, providing that counsel for the Company has approved of the amendment in writing as to form. The Board shall include in any submission to the Members a recommendation as to the proposed amendment. The Board shall seek the approval of the Members on the proposed amendment by consent (written or electronic affirmation as determined by the Board) of the required number of Members or shall call a meeting of the Members to vote on the proposed amendment and to transact any other business deemed appropriate. A proposed amendment is adopted and is effective as an amendment of this Agreement if the amendment is approved by Members of each Class entitled to vote on the amendment. The Board shall incorporate any amendment as a restated Agreement effective as of the effective date of the amendment.

        (b)    Amendments By Board.    This Agreement may be amended by the Board, without Member approval, to the extent provided in: Section 2.4 for the Principal Place of Business; Section 2.6(c) for the Agent for Service of Process; Section 3.2(a), 3.2(b) and Section 3.2(c) for designations of Classes and issuance of Units; Section 3.6 as to Class designations under Section 3.2(a) and Appendix E; Section 3.8(g) for the Unit Transfer Policy; Section 5.3(a) as to the change in Managers; and Section 7.2 as to liquidating Distributions conforming to Class designations under Section 3.2(a) and Appendix E which includes the authority of the Board to amend Appendices A, B, C, D, and E without Member approval.

        (c)    Amendments Of Sections By Specified Percentage.    A provision of this Agreement that requires the approval or consent of a specified percentage or number in interest of the Members or any Class of Members may not be amended without the affirmative vote of Members holding at least the specified percentage or number of voting rights of all of the Members or of the specified Class.

        (d)    Amendment Of This Section.    This Section shall not be amended without the approval or consent of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the voting power of Members holding each Class of Units.


ARTICLE 7.
DISSOLUTION AND WINDING UP

SECTION 7.1    DISSOLUTION COMMENCEMENT.

        (a)    Dissolution Event.    The Company shall dissolve and shall commence winding up and liquidating upon the first to occur of either of the following (each a "Dissolution Event"): (1) the affirmative vote of the Board and a majority of the voting power of each class of Members to dissolve, wind up, and liquidate the Company; or (2) the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution pursuant to the Act.

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        (b)    No Dissolution Prior To Dissolution Event.    The Members agree that, notwithstanding any provision of the Act, the Company shall not dissolve prior to the occurrence of a Dissolution Event.


SECTION 7.2    WINDING UP.

        Upon the occurrence of a Dissolution Event, the Company shall continue solely for the purposes of winding up its affairs in an orderly manner, liquidating its assets, and satisfying the claims of its creditors, Unitholders and Members, and no Unitholder or Member shall take any action that is inconsistent with, or not necessary to or appropriate for, the winding up of the Company's business and affairs, provided that all covenants contained in this Agreement and obligations provided for in this Agreement shall continue to be fully binding upon the Unitholders and Members until the time as the Property has been distributed pursuant to this Section and the Certificate of Formation has been canceled pursuant to the Act. The Liquidator shall be responsible for overseeing the prompt and orderly winding up and dissolution of the Company. The Liquidator appointed under Section 7.6 shall take full account of the Company's liabilities and Property and shall cause the Property or the proceeds from the sale of the Property, to be applied and distributed, to the maximum extent permitted by law, in the following order (subject to any priority Distributions applicable to Units of any specific Class or Classes and Appendix E):

        (1)   first, to creditors (including Managers, Unitholders, Members and Affiliates of Unitholders and Members who are creditors, to the extent otherwise permitted by law) in satisfaction of all of the Company's debts, obligations and liabilities (whether by payment or making of reasonable provision for payment of the liabilities); and

        (2)   second, the excess of the amount paid in Section 7.2(1) above, subject to any priorities in the designation of Unit Classes, to the Unitholders in accordance with the positive balance in their Capital Accounts, as provided in Appendix E, Article XII.


SECTION 7.3    RIGHTS OF UNITHOLDERS.

        Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, in winding up under Section 7.2 each Unitholder shall look solely to the Property of the Company for any Distribution and has no right or power to demand or receive Property other than cash from the Company. If the assets of the Company remaining after payment or discharge of the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company are insufficient to return the Capital Contributions, the Unitholders shall have no recourse against the Company or any other Unitholder or Unitholders.


SECTION 7.4    NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION.

        (a)    Notice to Unitholders and Claimants.    Within thirty (30) days after the occurrence of a Dissolution Event, the Board shall provide written notice of the Dissolution Event to each of the Members and any Unitholders who are not Members, and the Board may notify its known claimants and/or publish notice as further provided in the Act.

        (b)    Certificate of Cancellation.    Upon completion of the distribution of the Company's Property as provided in this Article 7, the Company shall be terminated, and the Liquidator shall cause the filing of a Certificate of Cancellation in accordance with the Act and shall take all other actions as may be necessary to terminate the Company.


SECTION 7.5    ALLOCATIONS DURING PERIOD OF LIQUIDATION.

        During the period commencing on the first day of the Fiscal Year during which a Dissolution Event occurs and ending on the date on which all of the assets of the Company have been distributed to the Unitholders pursuant to Section 7.2 (the "Liquidation Period"), the Unitholders shall continue

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to share Profits, Losses, gain, loss and other items of Company income, gain, loss or deduction in the manner provided in Article 3 and Appendix E.


SECTION 7.6    THE LIQUIDATOR.

        (a)    Definition.    The "Liquidator"shall mean a Person appointed by the Board to oversee the liquidation of the Company. The Liquidator may be the Board or a committee of three or more Managers appointed by the Board.

        (b)    Fees.    The Company is authorized to pay a reasonable fee to the Liquidator for its services performed pursuant to this Article 7 and to reimburse the Liquidator for its reasonable costs and expenses incurred in performing those services.

        (c)    Indemnification.    The Company shall indemnify, save harmless, and pay all judgments and claims against the Liquidator or any officers, directors, agents or employees of the Liquidator relating to any liability or damage incurred by reason of any act performed or omitted to be performed by the Liquidator, or any officers, directors, agents or employees of the Liquidator in connection with the liquidation of the Company, including reasonable attorneys' fees incurred by the Liquidator, officer, director, agent or employee in connection with the defense of any action based on any act or omission, which attorneys' fees may be paid as incurred, except to the extent the liability or damage is caused by the fraud, intentional misconduct of, or a knowing violation of the laws by the Liquidator which was material to the cause of action.


SECTION 7.7.    FORM OF LIQUIDATING DISTRIBUTIONS.

        For purposes of making Distributions required by Section 7.2, the Liquidator may determine whether to distribute all or any portion of the Property in kind or to sell all or any portion of the Property and distribute the proceeds from the sale.


ARTICLE 8.
MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 8.1    NOTICES.

        A notice, payment, demand, or communication required or permitted to be given by any provision of this Agreement shall be in writing, facsimile or electronic communication, as determined by the Board, and shall be deemed to have been delivered, given, and received for all purposes: (1) if delivered personally to the Person or to an officer of the Business Entity to whom the same is directed; or (2) when the same is actually delivered to the recipient's address on record with the Company. Notices, payments and demands shall be transmitted or sent: (1) if to the Company, to the address determined pursuant to Section 2.4; and (2) if to the Unitholders or Members, to the address of the Unitholder or Member on record with the Company.


SECTION 8.2    BINDING EFFECT.

        Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, every covenant, term, and provision of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Members and Unitholders and their respective successors, transferees, and assigns, without the necessity of physical execution of this Agreement.


SECTION 8.3    CONSTRUCTION.

        Every covenant, term, and provision of this Agreement shall be construed simply according to its fair meaning and not strictly for or against any Member or Unitholder.

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SECTION 8.4    TIME.

        In computing any period of time pursuant to this Agreement, the day of the act, event or default from which the designated period of time begins to run shall not be included, but the time shall begin to run on the next succeeding day. The last day of the period so computed shall be included, unless it is a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, in which event the period shall run until the end of the next day which is not a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday.


SECTION 8.5    HEADINGS.

        Section and other headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and are not intended to describe, interpret, define, or limit the scope, extent, or intent of this Agreement or any provision of this Agreement.


SECTION 8.6    SEVERABILITY.

        Every provision of this Agreement is intended to be severable, and, if any term or provision of this Agreement is illegal or invalid for any reason whatsoever, the illegality or invalidity shall not affect the validity or legality of the remainder of this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the illegality or invalidity would be to cause the Members to lose the material benefit of their economic bargain, then the Members agree to negotiate in good faith to amend this Agreement in order to restore the lost material benefit.


SECTION 8.7    INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE.

        Every exhibit, schedule, and other appendix attached to this Agreement and referred to in this Agreement is not incorporated in this Agreement by reference unless this Agreement expressly provides that the exhibit, schedule or appendix is to be incorporated as part of this Agreement.


SECTION 8.8    VARIATION OF TERMS.

        All terms and any variations of the terms shall be deemed to refer to masculine, feminine, or neuter, singular or plural, as the identity of the term may require.


SECTION 8.9    GOVERNING LAW.

        The laws of the State of Delaware shall govern the validity of this Agreement, the construction of its terms, and the interpretation of the rights and duties arising under this Agreement.


SECTION 8.10    SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE.

        Each Member and Unitholder agrees that the other Members and Unitholders would be irreparably damaged if any of the provisions of this Agreement are not performed in accordance with their specific terms and that monetary damages would not provide an adequate remedy. Accordingly, it is agreed that, in addition to any other remedy to which the Company on behalf of the nonbreaching Members may be entitled, at law or in equity, the Company on behalf of the nonbreaching Members shall be entitled to injunctive relief to prevent breaches of the provisions of this Agreement and specifically to enforce the terms and provisions of this Agreement in any action instituted in any court of the United States or any state having subject matter jurisdiction.


SECTION 8.11    CONSENT TO JURISDICTION.

        All actions, suits or proceedings arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the subject matter of this Agreement if brought by a person other than the Company shall be brought and maintained exclusively in the federal courts located in the State of Minnesota, provided that upon determination by

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the Board of Directors, the Company has the right to bring, maintain, or remove any action, suit, or proceeding arising out of or based on this Agreement or the subject matter of this Agreement to any state or federal court located in the State of Delaware. Each of the Unitholders and Members: (1) shall irrevocably be subject to the jurisdiction of the federal courts located in the State of Minnesota (or Delaware as applicable) for the purpose of any action, suit or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the subject matter of this Agreement; and (2) waives to the extent not prohibited by applicable law, and shall not be entitled to assert, by way of motion, as a defense or otherwise, in any action, suit or proceeding, any claim that he, she, or it is not subject personally to the jurisdiction of one of the above-named courts, that he, she, or it is immune from extraterritorial injunctive relief or other injunctive relief, that he, she, or its property is exempt or immune from attachment or execution, that any action, suit or proceeding may not be brought or maintained in one of the above-named courts should be dismissed on the grounds of forum non conveniens, should be transferred to any court other than one of the above-named courts, should be stayed by virtue of the pendency of any other action, suit or proceeding in any court other than one of the above-named courts, or that this Agreement or the subject matter of this Agreement may not be enforced in or by any one of the above-named courts. Each Unitholder, Member, or other party to this Agreement shall be subject to service of process in any suit, action or proceeding in any manner permitted by the laws of the State of Minnesota (or Delaware as applicable), shall be subject to service of process by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, at the address specified in or pursuant to this Agreement on the records of the Company (on grounds that it is reasonably calculated to give actual notice) and waives and shall not be entitled to assert by way of motion, as a defense or otherwise, in any action, suit or proceeding any claim that service of process made in accordance with this Agreement does not constitute good and sufficient service of process. The provisions of this Section shall not restrict the ability of any party to enforce in any court any judgment obtained in the federal courts located in the states of Minnesota or Delaware.


SECTION 8.12    WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.

        To the extent not prohibited by applicable law which cannot be waived, the Company and each of the Unitholders and Members waive and shall not be entitled to assert (whether as plaintiff, defendant or otherwise) any right to trial by jury in any forum in respect of any issue, claim, demand, action or cause of action arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the subject matter of this Agreement, whether now existing or arising later and whether sounding in tort or contract or otherwise.

[REMAINING PART OF THIS PAGE IS

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GOLDEN OVAL EGGS, LLC   LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
    APPENDIX A


APPENDIX A

PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS
OF
GOLDEN OVAL EGGS, LLC

        The principal place of business of Golden Oval Eggs, LLC is 340 Dupont Avenue NE, Renville, Minnesota 56284, and other places as determined by the Board of Managers of Golden Oval
Eggs, LLC.

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GOLDEN OVAL EGGS, LLC   LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
    APPENDIX B


APPENDIX B


AGENT FOR SERVICE
OF PROCESS
OF
GOLDEN OVAL EGGS, LLC

        The name and address of the agent for service of process on Golden Oval Eggs, LLC in the State of Delaware is Corporation Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware 19801.

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GOLDEN OVAL EGGS, LLC   LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
    APPENDIX C


APPENDIX C

UNIT TRANSFER POLICY
OF
GOLDEN OVAL EGGS, LLC

SECTION 1.1.    DEFINITIONS, APPLICABILITY.

        (a)    Definitions.    The definitions of the Limited Liability Company Agreement (the "Agreement") of Golden Oval Eggs, LLC (the "Company") and Appendix E of the Agreement apply to this Unit Transfer Policy (the "Policy").

        (b)    Applicability.    This Policy and Section 3.8 of the Agreement and the other applicable provisions of the Agreement apply to all Transfers of Units of the Company.

        (c)    Intent of Policy.    It is the intent of this Policy as it relates to any Transfers that: (1) the tax status of the Company is the same as for a partnership; (2) this Company preserve its partnership tax status by complying with Regulations, Section 1.7704-1, et seq., and any amendments; and (3) to the extent possible, this Policy shall be read and interpreted to prohibit the free transferability of Units.

SECTION 2.1.    COMPLETE PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN TRANSFERS OF UNITS.

        Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Policy, the following Transfers will be prohibited and the Board of Managers will have no authority to approve any of the following Transfers:

        (1)   a Transfer in violation of the Securities Act or any state securities or blue sky laws applicable to the Company or the Interest to be transferred;

        (2)   a Transfer that would cause the Company to be considered a publicly traded partnership under Section 7704(b) of the Code;

        (3)   a Transfer that would cause the Company to lose its status as a partnership for federal income tax purposes; or

        (4)   a Transfer that would cause a termination of the Company for federal income tax purposes.

SECTION 3.1.    CONDITIONS TO PERMITTED TRANSFERS.

        (a)    Requirement.    A Transfer shall not be treated as a Permitted Transfer unless and until the conditions in this Section are satisfied.

        (b)    Conveyance Documents.    Except in the case of a Transfer involuntarily by operation of law, the transferor and transferee shall execute and deliver to the Company documents and instruments of conveyance as may be necessary or appropriate in the opinion of legal counsel to the Company to effect such Transfer. In the case of a Transfer of Units involuntarily by operation of law, the Transfer shall be confirmed by presentation to the Company of legal evidence of the Transfer, in form and substance satisfactory to legal counsel to the Company. In all cases, the Company shall be reimbursed by the transferor and/or transferee for all costs and expenses that it reasonably incurs in connection with the Transfer.

        (c)    Tax Information.    The transferor and transferee shall furnish the Company with the transferee's taxpayer identification number, sufficient information to determine the transferee's initial tax basis in the Units transferred, and any other information reasonably necessary to permit the Company to file all required federal and state tax returns and other legally required information

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statements or returns. In addition, the transferee must consent to the use of the method and convention of allocating Profits and Losses and each item of profit and loss for the year of the transfer that is specified in the Unit Transfer Policy. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company shall not be required to make any Distribution otherwise provided for in the Agreement with respect to any Transferred Units until it has received this information.

        (d)    Securities Compliance.    Except in the case of a Transfer of Units involuntarily by operation of law, either (1) the Units are registered under the Securities Act, and any applicable state securities laws, or (2) if requested by the Board of Managers in its discretion, the transferor provides an opinion of legal counsel, which opinion and legal counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Board of Managers, to the effect that the Transfer is exempt from all applicable registration requirements and that the Transfer will not violate any applicable laws regulating the Transfer of securities.

        (e)    Does Not Cause Company To Be Investment Company.    Except in the case of a Transfer of Units involuntarily by operation of law, if requested by the Board of Managers in its sole discretion, the transferor shall provide an opinion of legal counsel, which opinion and legal counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Board of Managers, to the effect that the Transfer will not cause the Company to be deemed to be an "investment company" under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

        (f)    Does Not Cause Company To Be Publicly Traded Partnership.    Except in the case of a Transfer of Units involuntarily by operation of law, if requested by the Board of Managers in its discretion, the transferor shall provide an opinion of legal counsel, which opinion and legal counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Board of Managers, to the effect that such Transfer will not cause the Company to be deemed to be a "publicly-traded limited partnership" under applicable provisions of the Code.

        (g)    Transferee Is Not A Competitor Of The Company.    Except in the case of a Transfer of Units involuntarily by operation of law, the Board must determine (in its sole discretion) that the transferee is not a competitor of the Company or the Company's Affiliates, or an Affiliate of a competitor of the Company or a Person who as a Unitholder or Member would or may be detrimental to the interests of the Company. The Unitholder and proposed transferee shall submit information requested by the Board to make the determination.

        (h)    Tax Status Compliance.    Unless otherwise approved by the Board of Managers, a Transfer of Units shall not be made except upon terms which would not, in the opinion of legal counsel chosen by and mutually acceptable to the Board and the transferor, result in the termination of the Company within the meaning of Section 708 of the Code or cause the application of the rules of Sections 168(g)(1)(B) and 168(h) of the Code or similar rules to apply to the Company. In determining whether a particular proposed Transfer will result in a termination of the Company, legal counsel to the Company shall take into account the existence of prior written commitments to Transfer and the commitments shall always be given precedence over subsequent proposed Transfers.

        (i)    Suspension Of Transfers After Dissolution Event.    No notice or request initiating the procedures contemplated by this Section may be given by Unitholder after a Dissolution Event has occurred.

        (j)    Board May Waive Conditions.    Subject to Section 2.1 of this Policy, the Board of Managers shall have the authority to waive any legal opinion or other condition required in this Section.

SECTION 3.2.    DISTRIBUTIONS AND ALLOCATIONS IN RESPECT TO TRANSFERRED UNITS.

        If any Unit is transferred in compliance with the Transfer Restrictions, then Profits and Losses, each item of profit and loss, and all other items attributable to the Units for the fiscal year of the Transfer shall be divided and allocated between the transferor and the transferee by taking into account their varying interests during the fiscal year in accordance with Code Section 706(d). Solely for

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purposes of making the allocations, the Company shall use a monthly proration method and convention that divides and allocates the Profits, Losses and items between the transferor and transferee based on the portion of the year that has elapsed prior to the Transfer determined by recognizing the Transfer as of the beginning of the calendar month following the calendar month in which the notice, documentation and information and approval requirements of the Transfer have been substantially complied with. All Distributions on or before the end of the calendar month in which the requirements have been substantially complied with shall be made to the transferor and all Distributions thereafter shall be made to the transferee. The Board shall have the power and authority to adopt another reasonable method and/or convention with respect to the allocations and Distributions by resolution or by amending this Section; provided, that reasonable notice of any change is given to the Unitholders in advance of the change. Neither the Company, the Board, any Manager nor any Unitholder shall incur any liability for making allocations and Distributions in accordance with the provisions of this Section, whether or not the Board or any Manager or the Company or any Unitholder has knowledge of any Transfer of ownership of any interest in the Company. The Unitholders acknowledge that the method and convention designated herein constitutes an "agreement among the partners" within the meaning of Regulations, Section 1.706-1.

SECTION 3.3. OTHER RULES REGARDING TRANSFERS.

        (a)    Market Of Units Not Made.    A Unitholder may not: (1) make a market in Units; (2) Transfer its Units on an established securities market, a secondary market (or the substantial equivalent of those markets) within the meaning of Code Section 7704(b) (and any Regulations, proposed Regulations, revenue rulings, or other official pronouncements of the Internal Revenue Service or Treasury Department that may be promulgated or published); and (3) in the event the Regulations, revenue rulings, or other pronouncements treat any or all arrangements which facilitate the selling of Company interests and which are commonly referred to as "matching services" as being a secondary market or substantial equivalent of a secondary market, Transfer any Units through a matching service that is not approved in advance by the Company. A Unitholder may not Transfer any Units to any Person unless the Person agrees to be bound by the Transfer Restrictions and to Transfer the Units only to Persons who agree to be similarly bound.

        (b)    Units Acquired For Unitholder's Account.    The acquisition of Units by a Unitholder shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty to the Company and the other Unitholders, that the Unitholder's acquisition of Units is made as principal for the Unitholder's own account and not for resale or distribution of the Units to others in violation of securities laws as determined by the Company and its legal counsel.

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GOLDEN OVAL EGGS, LLC   LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
    APPENDIX D


APPENDIX D

BOARD OF MANAGERS
OF
GOLDEN OVAL EGGS, LLC

Manager and Address

  Position
  Classification
  Term
Expires

Marvin Breitkreutz
74268 250th Street
Renville, Minnesota 56284
 

Manager, Chairman
  Class A Elected   2006

Mark Chan
P.O. Box 178
Renville, Minnesota 56284

 


Manager,
Secretary/Treasurer

 

Class A Elected

 

2007

Chris Edgington
4440 Dogwood Avenue
St. Ansgar, Iowa 50472

 


Manager,
Vice Chairman

 

Class A Elected

 

2006

Thomas Jacobs
37408 890th Avenue
Olivia, Minnesota 56277

 



Manager

 

Class A Elected

 

2005

Brad Petersburg
563 390th Street
Hanlontown, Iowa 50444

 



Manager

 

Class A Elected

 

2007

Randy Tauer
22257 Skyview Avenue
Morgan, Minnesota 56266

 



Manager

 

Class A Elected

 

2006

Jeff Woodley
12778 450 Street
Thompson, Iowa 50478

 



Manager

 

Class A Elected

 

2005

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GOLDEN OVAL EGGS, LLC   LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
    APPENDIX E


APPENDIX E

ALLOCATIONS, DISTRIBUTIONS, TAX MATTERS,
AND ACCOUNTING

CONTENTS

ARTICLE I. THE COMPANY   E-2
  SECTION 1.10.   DEFINITIONS.   E-2

ARTICLE II. CAPITAL AND INTERESTS

 

E-6
  SECTION 2.4.   CAPITAL ACCOUNTS.   E-6

ARTICLE III. ALLOCATIONS

 

E-7
  SECTION 3.1.   PROFITS.   E-7
  SECTION 3.2.   LOSSES.   E-7
  SECTION 3.3.   SPECIAL ALLOCATIONS.   E-7
  SECTION 3.4.   CURATIVE ALLOCATIONS.   E-9
  SECTION 3.5.   LOSS LIMITATION.   E-9
  SECTION 3.6.   OTHER ALLOCATION RULES.   E-9
  SECTION 3.7.   TAX ALLOCATIONS: CODE SECTION 704(C).   E-10

ARTICLE IV. DISTRIBUTIONS

 

E-11
  SECTION 4.1.   NET CASH FLOW.   E-11
  SECTION 4.2.   AMOUNTS WITHHELD.   E-11
  SECTION 4.3.   LIMITATIONS OF DISTRIBUTIONS.   E-11

ARTICLE V. [RESERVED]

 

E-11

ARTICLE VI. [RESERVED]

 

E-11

ARTICLE VII. [RESERVED]

 

E-11

ARTICLE VIII. ACCOUNTING, BOOKS AND RECORDS

 

E-12
  SECTION 8.1.   ACCOUNTING, BOOKS AND RECORDS.   E-12
  SECTION 8.2.   REPORTS.   E-12
  SECTION 8.3.   TAX MATTERS.   E-13

ARTICLE IX. [RESERVED]

 

E-14

ARTICLE X. [RESERVED]

 

E-14

ARTICLE XI. [RESERVED]

 

E-14

ARTICLE XII. DISSOLUTION AND WINDING UP

 

E-14
  SECTION 12.1.   COMPLIANCE WITH CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS OF REGULATIONS; DEFICIT CAPITAL ACCOUNTS.   E-14
  SECTION 12.2.   DEEMED DISTRIBUTION AND RECONTRIBUTION.   E-14
  SECTION 12.3.   CHARACTER OF LIQUIDATING DISTRIBUTIONS.   E-15

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ALLOCATIONS, DISTRIBUTIONS, TAX MATTERS,
AND ACCOUNTING

        The Sections in this Appendix E relate to allocations, distributions, tax matters, accounting, dissolution and other related matters. The numbering of the Sections is not sequential but the Sections are numbered to reflect the numbering conventions of certain forms.


ARTICLE I.
THE COMPANY

SECTION 1.10.    DEFINITIONS.

        The definitions in this section (and the definitions in Section 1.2 of the Agreement) apply to this Appendix E. References to Articles and Sections refer to Articles and Sections in this Appendix E unless the context implies or it is stated otherwise.

        "Adjusted Capital Account Deficit" means, with respect to any Unitholder, the deficit balance, if any, in the Unitholder's Capital Account as of the end of the relevant Fiscal Year, after giving effect to the following adjustments:

        (a)   Credit to the Capital Account any amounts which the Unitholder is deemed to be obligated to restore pursuant to the next to the last sentences in Regulations, Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5); and

        (b)   Debit to the Capital Account the items described in Regulations, Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5) and 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6).

        The foregoing definition is intended to comply and shall be interpreted consistently with the provisions of Regulations, Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d).

        "Capital Account" means the capital account maintained for each Unitholder in accordance with Section 2.4.

        "Capital Contributions" means, with respect to any Unitholder, the amount of cash, property, services rendered, or a promissory note or other obligation to contribute cash or property or to perform services contributed to the Company with respect to the Units in the Company held or purchased by the Unitholder.

        "Class Percentage" is Class A Units 100%.

        "Code" means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.

        "Company Minimum Gain" has the meaning given the term "partnership minimum gain" in Sections 1.704-2(b)(2) and 1.704-2(d) of the Regulations.

        "Depreciation" means, for each Fiscal Year, an amount equal to the depreciation, amortization, or other cost recovery deduction allowable with respect to an asset for the Fiscal Year, except that if the Gross Asset Value of an asset differs from its adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes at the beginning of the Fiscal Year, Depreciation shall be an amount which bears the same ratio to the beginning Gross Asset Value as the federal income tax depreciation, amortization, or other cost recovery deduction for the Fiscal Year bears to the beginning adjusted tax basis; provided, however, that if the adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes of an asset at the beginning of the Fiscal Year is zero, Depreciation shall be determined with reference to the beginning Gross Asset Value using any reasonable method selected by the Board.

        "Fiscal Year" means, subject to a change in Fiscal Year pursuant to Section 8.1(b), the fiscal year of the Company, which shall be the Company's taxable year as determined under Regulations, Section 1.441-1 or Section 1.441-2 and the Regulations under Section 706 of the Code or, if the context

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requires, any portion of a fiscal year for which an allocation of Profits, Losses or other allocation items or a Distribution is to be made; provided that the Board may designate a different fiscal year for GAAP reporting purposes but that designation shall not affect the taxable year of the Company or the provisions of this Agreement relating to Capital Accounts, allocations of Profits, Losses or other allocation items, or Distributions.

        "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in effect in the United States of America from time to time.

        "Gross Asset Value" means with respect to any asset, the asset's adjusted basis for federal income tax purposes, except as follows:

        (a)   The initial Gross Asset Value of any asset contributed by a Unitholder to the Company shall be the gross fair market value of such asset, as determined by the Board, provided that Property owned by the Company immediately after the effective time of the Merger shall be deemed to have been accepted by the Company as a Capital Contribution of Property having an aggregate gross fair market value, net of minority interest and marketability discounts, to be determined by appraisal to be obtained by the Cooperative and approved by the Board shortly before the Merger;

        (b)   The Gross Asset Values of all Company assets shall be adjusted to equal their respective gross fair market values (taking Code Section 7701(g) into account) as determined by the Board as of the following times: (i) the acquisition of an additional interest in the Company by any new or existing Unitholder in exchange for more than a de minimis Capital Contribution; (ii) the Distribution by the Company to a Unitholder of more than a de minimis amount of Company property as consideration for an interest in the Company; (iii) the liquidation of the Company within the meaning of Regulations, Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g); and (iv) other times as the Regulations may permit; provided that an adjustment described in clauses (i), (ii), and (iv) of this subparagraph shall be made only if the Board determines that such adjustment is necessary to reflect the relative economic interests of the Unitholders in the Company;

        (c)   The Gross Asset Value of any item of Company assets distributed to any Unitholder shall be adjusted to equal the gross fair market value (taking Code Section 7701(g) into account) of such asset on the date of Distribution as determined by the Board; and

        (d)   The Gross Asset Values of Company assets shall be increased (or decreased) to reflect any adjustments to the adjusted basis of such assets pursuant to Code Section 734(b) or Code Section 743(b), but only to the extent that such adjustments are taken into account in determining Capital Accounts pursuant to Regulations, Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m) and subparagraph (d) of the definition of "Profits" and "Losses" or Section 3.3(g); provided, however, that Gross Asset Values shall not be adjusted pursuant to this subparagraph (d) to the extent that an adjustment pursuant to subparagraph (b) is required in connection with a transaction that would otherwise result in an adjustment pursuant to this subparagraph (d).

        If the Gross Asset Value of an asset has been determined or adjusted pursuant to subparagraph (b) or (d), the Gross Asset Value shall thereafter be adjusted by the Depreciation taken into account with respect to such asset, for purposes of computing Profits, Losses and other allocation items.

        "Liquidation Period" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.5 of the Agreement.

        "Liquidation Provisions" means the provisions of Article XII of this Appendix E and Article 7 of the Agreement.

        "Liquidator" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.6 of the Agreement.

        "Losses" has the meaning set forth in the definition of "Profits" and "Losses."

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        "Net Cash Flow" means the gross cash proceeds of the Company less the portion thereof used to pay or establish reserves for all Company expenses, debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company, including capital improvements, replacements, and contingencies, all as reasonably determined by the Board. "Net Cash Flow" shall not be reduced by depreciation, amortization, cost recovery deductions, or similar allowances, but shall be increased by any reductions of reserves previously established.

        "Nonrecourse Deductions" has the meaning set forth in Regulations, Sections 1.704-2(b)(1) and 1.704-2(c).

        "Nonrecourse Liability" has the meaning in Regulations, Section 1.704-2(b)(3).

        "Profits" and "Losses" mean, for each Fiscal Year, an amount equal to the Company's taxable income or loss for the Fiscal Year, determined in accordance with Code Section 703(a) (for this purpose, all items of income, gain, loss, or deduction required to be stated separately pursuant to Code Section 703(a)(1) shall be included in taxable income or loss), with the following adjustments (without duplication):

        (a)   Any income of the Company that is exempt from federal income tax and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits or Losses pursuant to this definition of "Profits" and "Losses" shall be added to the taxable income or loss;

        (b)   Any expenditures of the Company described in Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) or treated as Code Section 705(a)(2)(B) expenditures pursuant to Regulations, Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(i), and not otherwise taken into account in computing Profits or Losses pursuant to this definition of "Profits" and "Losses" shall be subtracted from the taxable income or loss;

        (c)   In the event the Gross Asset Value of any Company asset is adjusted pursuant to subparagraphs (b) or (c) of the definition of Gross Asset Value, the amount of the adjustment shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the Gross Asset Value of the asset) or an item of loss (if the adjustment decreases the Gross Asset Value of the asset) from the disposition of the asset and shall be taken into account for purposes of computing Profits or Losses;

        (d)   Gain or loss resulting from any disposition of Property with respect to which gain or loss is recognized for federal income tax purposes shall be computed by reference to the Gross Asset Value of the Property disposed of, notwithstanding that the adjusted tax basis of the Property differs from its Gross Asset Value;

        (e)   In lieu of the depreciation, amortization, and other cost recovery deductions taken into account in computing such taxable income or loss, there shall be taken into account Depreciation for such Fiscal Year, computed in accordance with the definition of Depreciation;

        (f)    To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Company asset pursuant to Code Section 734(b) is required, pursuant to Regulations, Section 1.704-(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts as a result of a Distribution other than in liquidation of a Unitholder's interest in the Company, the amount of the adjustment shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis) from the disposition of the asset and shall be taken into account for purposes of computing Profits or Losses; and

        (g)   Notwithstanding any other provision of this definition, any items which are specially allocated pursuant to Section 3.3 and Section 3.4 shall not be taken into account in computing Profits or Losses.

        The amounts of the items of Company income, gain, loss or deduction available to be specially allocated pursuant to Sections 3.3 and Section 3.4 shall be determined by applying rules analogous to those set forth in subparagraphs (a) through (f) above.

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        "Regulations" means the Income Tax Regulations, including Temporary Regulations, promulgated under the Code, as the regulations are amended from time to time.

        "Regulatory Allocations" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4.

        "Unitholder Nonrecourse Debt" has the same meaning as the term "partner nonrecourse debt" in Regulations, Section 1.704-2(b)(4).

        "Unitholder Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain" means an amount, with respect to each Unitholder Nonrecourse Debt, equal to the Company Minimum Gain that would result if such Unitholder Nonrecourse Debt were treated as a Nonrecourse Liability, determined in accordance with Regulations, Section 1.704-2(i)(3).

        "Unitholder Nonrecourse Deductions" has the same meaning as the term "partner nonrecourse deductions" in Regulations, Sections 1.704-2(i)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(2).


ARTICLE II.
CAPITAL AND INTERESTS

SECTION 2.4.    CAPITAL ACCOUNTS.

        A Capital Account shall be maintained for each Unitholder in accordance with the following provisions. To facilitate the accounting for acquisitions, ownership and transfers of more than one Class of Units by a Unitholder, each Unitholder's Capital Account shall be subdivided into separate Capital Accounts for each Class of Units owned, and the following adjustments to Capital Accounts shall be made by reference to Units of each Class of Units owned:

        (a)   To each Unitholder's Capital Account there shall be credited (i) the initial Gross Asset Value of any Property, including money contributed to the Company as a Capital Contribution with respect to the Units in the Company held by the Unitholder, (ii) the Unitholder's distributive share of Profits and any items in the nature of income or gain which are specially allocated pursuant to Section 3.3 and Section 3.4, and (iii) the amount of any Company liabilities assumed by the Unitholder or which are secured by any Property distributed to the Unitholder. The principal amount of a promissory note which is not readily traded on an established securities market and which is contributed to the Company by the maker of the note (or a Unitholder related to the maker of the note within the meaning of Regulations, Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(c)) shall not be included in the Capital Account of any Unitholder until the Company makes a taxable disposition of the note or until (and to the extent) principal payments are made on the note, all in accordance with Regulations, Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(d)(2);

        (b)   To each Unitholder's Capital Account there shall be debited (i) the Gross Asset Value of any Property including money distributed to the Unitholder pursuant to any provision of this Agreement, (ii) the Unitholder's distributive share of Losses and any items in the nature of expenses or losses which are specially allocated pursuant to Section 3.3 and Section 3.4, and (iii) the amount of any liabilities of the Unitholder assumed by the Company or which are secured by any Property contributed by the Unitholder to the Company including the Unitholder's share, determined in proportion to Class A Units issued in the Merger, of liabilities for which the Company is obligated immediately after the effective time of the Merger;

        (c)   In the event Units are Transferred in accordance with the terms of Article 3 of the Agreement, the transferee shall succeed to the Capital Account of the transferor to the extent it relates to the Transferred Units; and

        (d)   In determining the amount of any liability for purposes of subparagraphs (a) and (b) above there shall be taken into account Code Section 752(c) and any other applicable provisions of the Code and Regulations.

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        The foregoing provisions and the other provisions of this Agreement relating to allocation of Profits, Losses and other allocation items, nonliquidating Distributions, liquidating Distributions, and the maintenance of Capital Accounts, including and subject to Section 12.1 of this Appendix E, are intended to comply with Regulations, Section 1.704-1(b), and shall be interpreted and applied in a manner consistent with the Regulations. In the event the Board shall determine that it is prudent, the Board may modify the manner in which the Capital Accounts, or any debits or credits thereto (including debits or credits relating to liabilities which are secured by contributed or distributed property or which are assumed by the Company or any Unitholders), are computed in order to comply with the Regulations. The Board also shall (i) make any adjustments that are necessary or appropriate to maintain equality between the Capital Accounts of the Unitholders and the amount of capital reflected on the Company's balance sheet, as computed for book purposes, in accordance with Regulations, Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(q), and (ii) make any appropriate modifications in the event unanticipated events might otherwise cause the Agreement not to comply with Regulations, Section 1.704-1(b).


ARTICLE III.
ALLOCATIONS

SECTION 3.1.    PROFITS.

        After giving effect to the special allocations in Section 3.3 and Section 3.4 of this Appendix E, Profits for any Fiscal Year shall be allocated to Classes according to the Class Percentage and then to Unitholders of the Class in proportion to Units held. The Class Percentages are subject to change if the Company issues additional Units pursuant to Section 3.2 of the Agreement.


SECTION 3.2.    LOSSES.

        After giving effect to the special allocations in Section 3.3 and Section 3.4 of this Appendix E, and except as otherwise provided in Section 3.5 of this Appendix E, Losses for any Fiscal Year shall be allocated to Classes according to the Class Percentage and then to Unitholders of the Class in proportion to Units held. The Class Percentages are subject to change if the Company issues additional Units pursuant to Section 3.2 of the Agreement.


SECTION 3.3.    SPECIAL ALLOCATIONS.

        The following special allocations shall be made in the following order:

        (a)    Minimum Gain Chargeback.    Except as otherwise provided in Section 1.704-2(f) of the Regulations, notwithstanding any other provision of this Article III, if there is a net decrease in Company Minimum Gain during any Fiscal Year, each Unitholder shall be specially allocated items of Company income and gain for the Fiscal Year (and, if necessary, subsequent Fiscal Years) in an amount equal to the Unitholder's share of the net decrease in Company Minimum Gain, determined in accordance with Regulations, Section 1.704-2(g). Allocations pursuant to the previous sentence shall be made in proportion to the respective amounts required to be allocated to each Unitholder pursuant thereto. The items to be so allocated shall be determined in accordance with Regulations, Sections 1.704-2(f)(6) and 1.704-2(j)(2). This Section 3.3(a) is intended to comply with the minimum gain chargeback requirement in Regulations, Section 1.704-2(f) and shall be interpreted consistently therewith.

        (b)    Unitholder Minimum Gain Chargeback.    Except as otherwise provided in Regulations, Section 1.704-2(i)(4), notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, if there is a net decrease in Unitholder Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain attributable to a Unitholder Nonrecourse Debt during any Fiscal Year, each Unitholder who has a share of the Unitholder Nonrecourse Debt Minimum Gain attributable to the Unitholder Nonrecourse Debt, determined in accordance with Regulations,

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Section 1.704-2(i)(5), shall be specially allocated items of Company income and gain for the Fiscal Year (and, if necessary, subsequent Fiscal Years) in an amount equal to the Unitholder's share of the net decrease in Unitholder Nonrecourse Debt, determined in accordance with Regulations, Section 1.704-2(i)(4). Allocations pursuant to the previous sentence shall be made in proportion to the respective amounts required to be allocated to each Unitholder pursuant thereto. The items to be so allocated shall be determined in accordance with Regulations, Sections 1.704-2(i)(4) and 1.704-2(j)(2). This Section 3.3(b) is intended to comply and shall be interpreted consistently with the minimum gain chargeback requirement in Regulations, Section 1.704-2(i)(4).

        (c)    Qualified Income Offset.    In the event any Unitholder unexpectedly receives any adjustments, allocations, or Distributions described in Regulations, Sections 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(4), 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(5), or 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d)(6), items of Company income and gain shall be specially allocated to the Unitholder in an amount and manner sufficient to eliminate, to the extent required by the Regulations, the Adjusted Capital Account Deficit of the Unitholder as quickly as possible, provided that an allocation pursuant to this Section 3.3(c) shall be made only if and to the extent that the Unitholder would have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit after all other allocations provided for in this Article III have been tentatively made as if this Section 3.3(c) were not in this Appendix E.

        (d)    Gross Income Allocation.    In the event any Unitholder has a deficit Capital Account at the end of any Fiscal Year which is in excess of the sum of (i) the amount such Unitholder is obligated to restore pursuant to the penultimate sentences of Regulations, Sections 1.704-2(g)(1) and 1.704-2(i)(5), each Unitholder shall be specially allocated items of Company income and gain in the amount of the excess as quickly as possible, provided that an allocation pursuant to this Section 3.3(d) shall be made only if and to the extent that such Unitholder would have a deficit Capital Account in excess of such sum after all other allocations provided for in this Article III have been made as if Section 3.3(c) and this Section 3.3(d) were not in this Appendix E.

        (e)    Nonrecourse Deductions.    Nonrecourse Deductions for any Fiscal Year shall be specially allocated to the Unitholders in the manner which Profits would be allocated under Section 3.1 determined without regard to the other provisions of this Article III.

        (f)    Unitholder Nonrecourse Deductions.    Any Unitholder Nonrecourse Deductions for any Fiscal Year shall be specially allocated to the Unitholder who bears the economic risk of loss with respect to the Unitholder Nonrecourse Debt to which such Unitholder Nonrecourse Deductions are attributable in accordance with Regulations, Section 1.704-2(i)(1).

        (g)    Section 754 Adjustments.    To the extent an adjustment to the adjusted tax basis of any Company asset, pursuant to Code Section 734(b) or Code Section 743(b) is required, pursuant to Regulations, Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(2) or 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4), to be taken into account in determining Capital Accounts as the result of a Distribution to a Unitholder in complete liquidation of the Unitholder's interest in the Company, the amount of the adjustment to Capital Accounts shall be treated as an item of gain (if the adjustment increases the basis of the asset) or loss (if the adjustment decreases such basis) and such gain or loss shall be specially allocated to the Unitholders in accordance with their interests in the Company in the event Regulations, Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(2) applies, or to the Unitholder to whom the Distribution was made in the event Regulations, Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(iv)(m)(4) applies.

        (h)    Issuance of a Capital Interest for Services.    If the Company issues Units in consideration of services that would entitle the recipient to share in liquidation proceeds if the Company were hypothetically liquidated immediately following the issuance (a capital interest for federal income tax purposes), gross receipts of the Company shall be specially allocated to the recipient in the amount of the entitlement.

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SECTION 3.4.    CURATIVE ALLOCATIONS.

        The allocations set forth in Sections 3.3(a) through (g) and 3.5 (the "Regulatory Allocations") are intended to comply with certain requirements of the Regulations. It is the intent that, to the extent possible, all Regulatory Allocations shall be offset either with other Regulatory Allocations or with special allocations of other items of Company income, gain, loss or deduction pursuant to this Section 3.4. Therefore, notwithstanding any other provision of this Article III (other than the Regulatory Allocations), the Board shall make the offsetting special allocations of Company income, gain, loss or deduction in whatever manner it determines appropriate so that, after the offsetting allocations are made, each Unitholder's Capital Account balance is, to the extent possible, equal to the Capital Account balance such Unitholder would have had if the Regulatory Allocations were not part of the Agreement.


SECTION 3.5.    LOSS LIMITATION.

        Losses allocated pursuant to Section 3.2 shall not exceed the maximum amount of Losses that can be allocated without causing any Unitholder to have an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit at the end of any Fiscal Year. In the event some but not all of the Unitholders would have Adjusted Capital Account Deficits as a consequence of an allocation of Losses pursuant to Section 3.2, the limitation set forth in this Section 3.5 shall be applied on a Unitholder by Unitholder basis among the Units, so as to allocate the maximum permissible Losses to each Unitholder under Regulations, Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(d).


SECTION 3.6.    OTHER ALLOCATION RULES.

        (a)   For purposes of determining the Profits, Losses, or any other items allocable to any period, Profits, Losses, and any such other items shall be determined by the Board using any permissible method under Code Section 706 and the Regulations under Code Section 706.

        (b)   If additional Units are issued pursuant to Section 3.2(c) of the Agreement during a Fiscal Year, the Profits, Losses and other items allocated with respect to the Class of Units issued for that Fiscal Year will be allocated among the Unitholders of that Class in a manner that takes into account their varying interests in the Company during the Fiscal Year using any permissible methods under Code Section 706 and the Regulations under Code Section 706 and any conventions permitted by law as may be specified in the terms governing the issuance of the Units or, if not specified, as directed by the Board.

        (c)   The Unitholders agree to be bound by the provisions of this Article III in reporting their shares of Company income and loss for income tax purposes.

        (d)   Solely for purposes of determining a Unitholder's proportionate share of the "excess nonrecourse liabilities" of the Company within the meaning of Regulations, Section 1.752-3(a) (3), the Unitholders' aggregate interests in Company profits shall be deemed to be as provided in the capital accounts.

        (e)   To the extent permitted by Regulations, Section 1.704-2(h) (3), the Unitholders shall endeavor to treat Distributions as having been made from the proceeds of a Nonrecourse Liability or a Unitholder Nonrecourse Debt only to the extent that the Distributions would cause or increase an Adjusted Capital Account Deficit for any Unitholder.


SECTION 3.7.    TAX ALLOCATIONS: CODE SECTION 704(C).

        (a)   In accordance with Code Section 704(c) and the Regulations under Code Section 704(c), income, gain, loss, and deduction with respect to any Property contributed to the capital of the Company shall, solely for tax purposes, be allocated among the Unitholders so as to take into account any variation between the adjusted basis of such Property to the Company for federal income tax

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purposes and its initial Gross Asset Value (computed in accordance with the definition of Gross Asset Value).

        (b)   In the event the Gross Asset Value of any Company asset is adjusted pursuant to subparagraph (b)(ii) of the definition of Gross Asset Value, subsequent allocations of income, gain, loss, and deduction with respect to such asset shall take account of any variation between the adjusted basis of such asset for federal income tax purposes and its Gross Asset Value in the same manner as under Code Section 704(c) and the Regulations under Code Section 704(c).

        (c)   Allocations pursuant to this Section shall be made as required or permitted by Regulations, Section 1.704-3 pursuant to such method provided therein as may reasonably be designated by the Board. Any elections or other decisions relating to allocations under this Section will be made in any manner that the Board reasonably determines to reflect the purpose and intention of this Agreement. Allocations under this Section are solely for purposes of federal, state and local taxes and shall not affect, or in any way be taken into account in computing, any Unitholder's Capital Account or share of Profits, Losses and other allocation items or Distributions under any provision of this Appendix E or the Agreement.


ARTICLE IV.
DISTRIBUTIONS

SECTION 4.1.    NET CASH FLOW.

        The Board may make Distributions of Net Cash Flow at times and in aggregate amounts determined by the Board in its sole discretion. When the Board determines that a Distribution is to be made, except as otherwise provided in the Liquidation Provisions, Net Cash Flow, if any, shall be distributed to each Class by Class Percentage and then to Unitholders of a Class in proportion to Units held. The Class Percentages are subject to change if additional Units are issued pursuant to Section 3.2 of the Agreement.


SECTION 4.2.    AMOUNTS WITHHELD.

        All amounts withheld pursuant to the Code or any provision of any state, local or foreign tax law with respect to any payment, Distribution or allocation to the Company or the Unitholders shall be treated as amounts paid or distributed, as the case may be, to the Unitholders with respect to which the amount was withheld pursuant to this Section for all purposes under this Agreement. The Company is authorized to withhold from payments and Distributions, or with respect to allocations to the Unitholders, and to pay over to any federal, state and local government or any foreign government, any amounts required to be so withheld pursuant to the Code or any provisions of any other federal, state or local law or any foreign law, and shall allocate any such amounts to the Unitholders with respect to which such amount was withheld.


SECTION 4.3.    LIMITATIONS OF DISTRIBUTIONS.

        (a)   The Company shall make no Distributions to the Unitholders except as provided in this Article IV, Article XII, Article 7 of the Agreement, and Section 3.6 of the Agreement.

        (b)   A Unitholder may not receive a Distribution from the Company to the extent that, after giving effect to the Distribution, all liabilities of the Company, other than liability to Unitholders on account of their Capital Contributions, would exceed the Gross Asset Value of the Company's assets.

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ARTICLE V.
[RESERVED]

ARTICLE VI.
[RESERVED]

ARTICLE VII.
[RESERVED]

ARTICLE VIII.
ACCOUNTING, BOOKS AND RECORDS

SECTION 8.1.    ACCOUNTING, BOOKS AND RECORDS.

        (a)   The books and records of the Company shall be kept, and the financial position and the results of its operations recorded, in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied; provided, that the financial provisions in the Agreement relating to Capital Contributions, Profits, Losses and other allocation items, Distributions and Capital Accounts shall be construed and determined in accordance with this Agreement without regard to whether such provisions are inconsistent with GAAP. The books and records shall reflect all the Company's transactions and shall be appropriate and adequate for the Company's business. The Company shall maintain all of the following:

              (i)  a current list of the full name and last known business or residence address of each Unitholder set forth in alphabetical order, together with the Capital Contributions, Capital Account and Units of each Unitholder;

             (ii)  the full name and business address of each Manager;

            (iii)  a copy of the Certificate of Formation and any and all amendments thereto together with executed copies of any powers of attorney pursuant to which the Certificate of Formation or any amendments thereto have been executed;

            (iv)  copies of the Company's federal, state, and local income tax or information returns and reports, if any, for the six most recent taxable years;

             (v)  a copy of this Agreement and any and all amendments thereto together with executed copies of any powers of attorney pursuant to which this Agreement or any amendments thereto have been executed;

            (vi)  copies of the financial statements of the Company, if any, for the six most recent Fiscal Years; and

           (vii)  the Company's books and records as they relate to the internal affairs of the Company for at least the current and past four Fiscal Years.

        (b)   The Company shall use the accrual method of accounting in preparing its financial reports and for tax purposes and shall keep its books and records accordingly. The Board may, without any further consent of the Unitholders (except as specifically required by the Code), apply for IRS consent to, and otherwise effect a change in, the Company's Fiscal Year.


SECTION 8.2.    REPORTS.

        (a)    In General.    The chief financial officer of the Company (or other officer determined by the Board or the CEO) shall be responsible for causing the preparation of financial reports of the Company and the coordination of financial matters of the Company with the Company's accountants.

        (b)    Financial Statements.    The Company shall maintain the financial statements listed in clauses (i) and (ii) below, prepared, in each case (other than with respect to Unitholder's Capital Accounts,

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which shall be prepared in accordance with this Agreement) in accordance with GAAP consistently applied (and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, if required, for purposes of reporting under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Regulation S-X).

              (i)  As soon as practicable following the end of each GAAP Fiscal Year (and in any event not later than one hundred and twenty (120) days after the end of the GAAP Fiscal Year) and at the time as Distributions are made to the Unitholders pursuant to the Liquidation Provisions following the occurrence of a Dissolution Event, a balance sheet of the Company as of the end of the GAAP Fiscal Year and the related statements of operations, statement of Unitholders' Capital and changes therein, and cash flows for the GAAP Fiscal Year, together with appropriate notes to the financial statements and supporting schedules, all of which shall be audited and certified by the Company's accountants, and in each case, to the extent the Company was in existence, setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the immediately preceding GAAP Fiscal Year end (in the case of the balance sheet) and the two (2) immediately preceding GAAP Fiscal Years (in the case of the statements).

             (ii)  If required by the Securities and Exchange Commission, as soon as practicable following the end of the first three quarters of each GAAP Fiscal Year (and in any event not later than forty-five (45) days after the end of such quarter), an unaudited balance sheet of the Company as of the end of such quarter and the related unaudited statements of operations and cash flows for such GAAP Fiscal Quarter and for the GAAP Fiscal Year to date, in each case, to the extent the Company was in existence, setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the prior GAAP Fiscal Year's quarter and the quarter just completed.


SECTION 8.3.    TAX MATTERS.

        (a)    Generally.    The Board shall have the power and authority, without any further consent of the Members being required: (i) to cause the Company to make or revoke any and all elections for federal, state, local, and foreign tax purposes including an election pursuant to Code Section 754; (ii) to extend the statute of limitations for assessment of tax deficiencies against the Unitholders with respect to adjustments to the Company's federal, state, local or foreign tax returns; (iii) to the extent provided in Code Sections 6221 through 6231 and similar provisions of federal, state, local, or foreign law, to represent the Company and the Unitholders before taxing authorities or courts of competent jurisdiction in tax matters affecting the Company or the Unitholders in their capacities as Unitholders; and (iv) to file or amend any tax returns and execute any agreements or other documents relating to or affecting tax matters, including agreements or other documents that bind the Unitholders with respect to tax matters. The Board shall designate a qualifying Member to act as the tax matters partner within the meaning of and pursuant to Regulations, Sections 301.6231(a)(7)-1 and -2 or any similar provision under state or local law.

        (b)    Tax Information.    Necessary tax information shall be delivered to each Unitholder as soon as practicable after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Company but not later than five (5) months after the end of each Fiscal Year.

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ARTICLE IX.
[RESERVED]

ARTICLE X.
[RESERVED]

ARTICLE XI.
[RESERVED]

ARTICLE XII.
DISSOLUTION AND WINDING UP

SECTION 12.1.    COMPLIANCE WITH CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS OF REGULATIONS; DEFICIT CAPITAL ACCOUNTS.

        In the event the Company is "liquidated" within the meaning of Regulations, Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g), Distributions shall be made pursuant to the Liquidation Provisions to the Unitholders who have positive Capital Accounts in compliance with Regulations, Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(b)(2). If any Unitholder has a deficit balance in his Capital Account (after giving effect to all Capital Contributions, Distributions and allocations of Profits, Losses and other allocation items for all Fiscal Years, including the Fiscal Year during which such liquidation occurs), such Unitholder shall have no obligation to make any contribution to the capital of the Company with respect to such deficit, and such deficit shall not be considered a debt owed to the Company or to any other Person for any purpose whatsoever. In the discretion of the Liquidator, a pro rata portion of the Distributions that would otherwise be made to the Unitholders pursuant to the Liquidation Provisions may be:

        (a)   Distributed to a trust established for the benefit of the Unitholders for the purposes of liquidating Company assets, collecting amounts owed to the Company, and paying any contingent or unforeseen liabilities or obligations of the Company. The assets of any such trust shall be distributed to the Unitholders from time to time, in the reasonable discretion of the Liquidator, in the same proportions as the amount distributed to the trust by the Company would otherwise have been distributed to the Unitholders pursuant to Section 7.2 of the Agreement; or

        (b)   Withheld to provide a reasonable reserve for Company liabilities (contingent or otherwise) and to reflect the unrealized portion of any installment obligations owed to the Company, provided that the withheld amounts shall be distributed to the Unitholders as soon as practicable.


SECTION 12.2.    DEEMED DISTRIBUTION AND RECONTRIBUTION.

        Notwithstanding any other provision of the Liquidation Provisions, in the event the Company is liquidated within the meaning of Regulations, Section 1.704-1(b)(2)(ii)(g) but no Dissolution Event has occurred, the Property shall not be liquidated, the debts, obligations and liabilities of the Company shall not be paid or discharged, and the Company's affairs shall not be wound up. Instead, solely for federal income tax purposes, the Company shall be deemed to have contributed all of its Property and liabilities to a new limited liability company in exchange for an interest in the new company, and immediately thereafter, the Company will be deemed to liquidate by distributing the interest in the new company to the Unitholders.


SECTION 12.3.    CHARACTER OF LIQUIDATING DISTRIBUTIONS.

        All payments made in liquidation of the interest of a Unitholder in the Company shall be made in exchange for the interest of such Unitholder in Property pursuant to Section 736(b)(1) of the Code, including the interest of the Unitholder in Company goodwill.

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Appendix D

January 9, 2004

Board of Directors
Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc.
(d.b.a. Golden Oval Eggs)
340 Dupont Avenue N.E.
P.O. Box 615
Renville, MN 56284

Members of the Board:

        We understand that Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc. (d.b.a. Golden Oval Eggs), a Minnesota cooperative corporation (the "Company"), proposes to reorganize (the "Reorganization") the structure of the Company by merger (the "Merger") of the Company into Golden Oval Eggs, LLC, a newly formed Delaware limited liability company ("Newco"). In the Merger, each holder of shares of Company common stock would be issued one Class A unit of Newco (each a Unit and collectively, the "Units") for each share of Company common stock. Upon completion of the Merger, the Company will cease to exist and Newco will continue as the sole surviving entity. The Reorganization will be effected pursuant to a Transaction Agreement and related Agreement and Plan of Merger (collectively, the "Agreement") each by and between the Company and Newco. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the same meaning as in the Agreement.

        For purposes of evaluating the potential gain or loss for tax and accounting reporting to the Company and its members arising in the Reorganization, you have requested our opinion as to (a) the fair market value of the equity of the Company immediately prior to the Merger (the "Company Equity Value") and (b) the fair market value of a Unit of Newco immediately following the Merger (the "Newco Unit Value"). Management of the Company, based on advice of Company tax counsel, has determined that the existing net operating loss carry forwards will not survive the Merger and therefore are not assets for which taxable gain or loss must be determined in the context of the Reorganization. Accordingly, at management's direction, we have not, for purposes of determining Company Equity Value, ascribed any value to the net operating loss carry forwards of the Company.

        For purposes of this opinion and with your consent, (i) Company Equity Value is understood to mean an estimated amount based on the value of the equity of the Company as a whole as of January 9, 2004, on a going concern, as if sold basis, between a willing buyer and a willing seller, neither being under compulsion, each having a reasonable knowledge of all relevant facts, and (ii) we have estimated the Newco Unit Value by applying minority and lack of marketability discounts, as appropriate, to each holder's ratable interest in the Company Equity Value to which Newco will succeed in the Merger. We make no representation as to the sufficiency, legal or otherwise, of our opinion for your purposes. Greene Holcomb & Fisher LLC ("GH&F"), as a customary part of its investment banking business, is engaged in the valuation of businesses and their securities in connection with mergers and acquisitions, private placements and valuations for corporate and other purposes. We will receive a fee for providing this opinion. This opinion fee is not contingent upon the consummation of the Merger. The Company has also agreed to indemnify us against certain liabilities in connection with our services. We have furnished other valuation services to the Company in the last 12 months for which we have received customary fees.

        In arriving at our opinion, we have undertaken the following review, analyses and inquiries:

              (i)  we reviewed a draft dated December 5, 2003 of the Agreement;

             (ii)  we reviewed a draft dated December 5, 2003 of the Newco Limited Liability Company Agreement;

D-1



            (iii)  we reviewed certain financial, operating and business information related to the Company on a stand-alone basis, including the Company's annual reports (with audited financial statements) for the fiscal years ended August 31, 1998-2002, the Company's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2003, and the Company's unaudited financial statements for the three months ended November 30, 2003;

            (iv)  we reviewed certain internal historical financial and other information of the Company and certain projected financial and other information of the Company and Newco, prepared for financial planning purposes and furnished by the management of the Company, including Company management's projections of the Company's and Newco's financial performance for the fiscal years ending 2004-2008;

             (v)  we conducted a visit to the Company's facility in Renville, Minnesota;

            (vi)  to the extent publicly available, we reviewed and analyzed financial data of selected public companies deemed comparable to the Company;

           (vii)  to the extent publicly available, we reviewed and analyzed financial data of selected transactions of companies deemed comparable to the Company;

          (viii)  we conducted a discounted cash flow analysis on the Company based on projections that were prepared by Company management; and

            (ix)  we reviewed industry news relating to transactions in the poultry and egg processing marketplace and historical egg prices.

        We have had discussions with members of the management of the Company concerning the financial condition, current operating results and business outlook for the Company and Newco.

        We have relied upon and assumed the accuracy and completeness of the financial statements and other information provided to us by the Company, or otherwise made available to us, and have not assumed responsibility for the independent verification of such information. We have relied upon the assurances of the management of the Company that the information provided to us as set forth above by the Company has been prepared on a reasonable basis in accordance with industry practice and, with respect to financial planning data and other business outlook information, reflects the best currently available estimates and judgment of management, and that they are not aware of any information or facts that would make the information provided to us incomplete or misleading. We express no opinion as to such financial planning data and other business outlook information or the assumptions on which they are based. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the financial planning data furnished by the Company indicates, and we assume at your direction and with your consent and in accordance with Company management's projections that, for purposes of this opinion, immediately following the Merger, no material change in the business, operations, cash flows or capital structure (including that the Units are entitled to the entire residual value of Newco) of the Company will occur by reason of the Merger. GH&F expresses no opinion regarding any potential tax or accounting consequences of the Merger. We have not been furnished any information concerning, nor have our analyses accounted for, any potential financial impact of any such tax or accounting consequences of the Merger, including any such consequences arising by reason of differences in taxation of income between cooperative corporations and limited liability companies.

        We have also assumed the Merger will be consummated pursuant to the terms of the Agreement without material modifications thereto and without waiver by any party of any material conditions or obligations thereunder. In addition, in arriving at our opinion, we have assumed that, in the course of obtaining any necessary regulatory approvals for the Merger, no restrictions, including any divestiture requirements, will be imposed that would have a material adverse effect on the contemplated benefits of the Merger.

D-2


        In arriving at our opinion, we have not performed any appraisals or valuations of any specific assets or liabilities (contingent or other) of the Company, have not made any physical inspection of tangible assets, and have not been furnished with any such appraisals or valuations.

        This opinion is necessarily based upon the information available to us and facts and circumstances as they exist and are subject to evaluation on the date hereof; events occurring after the date hereof could materially affect the assumptions used in preparing this opinion. In this regard, we have assumed with your consent that for purposes of our opinion concerning Company Equity Value and Newco Unit Value, the Merger occurred as of January 9, 2004. Except as contemplated by the engagement letter between us, we have not undertaken to reaffirm or revise this opinion or otherwise comment upon any events occurring after the date hereof and do not have any obligation to update, revise or reaffirm this opinion.

        This opinion is directed to the Board of Directors of the Company and is not intended to be and does not constitute a recommendation to any shareholder of the Company as to how to vote with respect to the Reorganization. Except as contemplated by the engagement letter between us, this opinion shall not be published or used, nor shall any public references to us be made, without our prior written approval. We were not requested to opine as to, and this opinion does not address, the basic business decision to proceed with or effect the Reorganization or structure thereof, the relative merits of the Reorganization compared to any alternative business strategy or transaction in which the Company might engage, the process by which the Reorganization was originated, negotiated, approved or consummated, or any other term, condition or aspect of the Reorganization.

        Based upon and subject to the foregoing and based upon such other factors as we consider relevant, it is our opinion that, as of the date hereof, the Company Equity Value is estimated to be $30.4 million and the Newco Unit Value, assuming the issuance of 4,581,832 Units upon consummation of the Merger, is estimated to be at $4.07 per Unit.


Sincerely,

 

 

/s/  
GREENE HOLCOMB & FISHER LLC      
GREENE HOLCOMB & FISHER LLC

 

 

D-3



PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 20. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

        The Limited Liability Company Agreement of the registrant authorizes the registrant to indemnify any present or former director or officer to the fullest extent not prohibited by applicable law. The Delaware Limited Company Act authorizes a limited liability company to indemnify its directors, officers, employees or agents in terms sufficiently broad to permit such indemnification under certain circumstances for liabilities (including provisions permitting advances for expenses incurred) arising under the Securities Act of 1933.

        The registrant has agreed that if the merger is completed, all rights to indemnification (including payment of litigation expenses) of current or former directors, officers and employees of the cooperative and its subsidiaries arising from actions taken before the consummation of the merger, under Minnesota law and in the cooperative's articles of incorporation and bylaws, will be assumed by the registrant, continue in full force and effect for six years from the effective date of the merger and be guaranteed by the registrant.

        In addition, the registrant will maintain directors' and officers' liability insurance under which the registrant's directors and officers are insured against loss (as defined in the policy) resulting from claims brought against them for their wrongful acts in such capacities.


Item 21. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

    (a)
    Exhibits.

Number

  Description
2.1   Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger between Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc. and Golden Oval Eggs, LLC (included as Appendix A to the Disclosure Statement—Prospectus)

3.1

 

Certificate of Formation of Golden Oval Eggs, LLC (included as Appendix B to the Disclosure Statement—Prospectus)

3.2

 

Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Golden Oval Eggs, LLC (included as Appendix C to the Disclosure Statement—Prospectus)

5.1

 

Opinion of Lindquist & Vennum P.L.L.P regarding legality*

8.1

 

Opinion of Lindquist & Vennum P.L.L.P regarding tax matters*

10.1

 

Employment and Non-Competition Agreement between Dana Persson and Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc.*

10.2

 

Feed Supply Agreement between State Line Cooperative and Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc.*

10.3

 

Grain Handler Operating Agreement between Co-op Country Farmers Elevator and Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc.*

10.4

 

Grain Handler Operating Agreement between Farmers Cooperative Company and Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc.*

10.5

 

Litter Handling Agreement between Farmers Cooperative Company and Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc.* **
     

II-1



10.6

 

Litter Handling Agreement between Co-op Country Farmers Elevator and Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc.* **

10.7

 

Independent Contractor Agreement for Pullet Production among Pullet Connection, Inc., Barbara Frank and Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc.* **

10.8

 

Joint Venture Agreement between Midwest Investors of Iowa, Cooperative and Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc.*

10.9

 

Land Lease Agreement Between Midwest Investors of Iowa, Cooperative and Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc.*

23.1

 

Consent of Moore Stephens Frost PLC

23.2

 

Consent of Lindquist & Vennum P.L.L.P. (included in exhibit 5.1)

23.3

 

Consent of Greene Holcomb & Fisher LLC*

24.1

 

Power of Attorney*

99.1

 

Form of Mail Ballot of Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc.

99.2

 

Articles of Incorporation of Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc.*

99.3

 

Bylaws of Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc.*

99.4

 

Form of Consent to Termination of Uniform Marketing Agreement

99.5

 

Form of Ballot/Consent Instructions

*
Previously filed.

**
Certain portions of this exhibit have been deleted and filed separately with the Commission pursuant to a request for confidential treatment under Rule 406 under the Securities Act.

(b)
Financial Statement Schedules.

Not applicable.

(c)
Report, Opinion or Appraisal.

Not applicable.


Item 22. Undertakings

            (a)   The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

              (1)   To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

                  (i)  To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

                 (ii)  To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement;

                (iii)  To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change in such information in the registration statement;

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              (2)   That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at the time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

              (3)   To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

            (b)   Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

            (c)   The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that prior to any public reoffering of the securities registered hereunder through use of a prospectus which is a part of this registration statement, by any person or party who is deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of Rule 145(c), the issuer undertakes that such reoffering prospectus will contain the information called for by the applicable registration form with respect to reofferings by persons who may be deemed underwriters, in addition to the information called for by the other items of the applicable form.

            (d)   The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that every prospectus:

                  (i)  that is filed pursuant to paragraph (c) immediately preceding, or

                 (ii)  that purports to meet the requirements of Sections 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act and is used in connection with an offering of securities subject to Rule 415, will be filed as a part of an amendment to the registration statement and will not be used until such amendment is effective, and that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

            (e)   The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to supply by means of a post-effective amendment all information concerning a transaction, and the company being acquired involved therein, that was not the subject of and included in the registration statement when it became effective.

II-3



SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement on Form S-4 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Renville, State of Minnesota on August 5, 2004.

 
   
    GOLDEN OVAL EGGS, LLC

 

 

    /s/  
DANA PERSSON      
    Dana Persson
    President and Chief Executive Officer

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement on Form S-4 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on August 5, 2004.

 
   

 

 

 
/s/  DANA PERSSON      
Dana Persson
President/Chief Executive Officer
(principal executive officer)
   

*

Doug Leifermann
Vice President/Chief Financial Office
(principal financial and accounting officer)

 

 

*

Marvin Breitkreutz
Manager, Chairman

 

 

*

Mark Chan
Manager, Secretary/Treasurer

 

 

*

Chris Edgington
Manager, Vice Chairman

 

 

*

Thomas Jacobs
Manager

 

 

*

Brad Petersburg
Manager

 

 
     


*

Randy Tauer
Manager

 

 

*

Jeff Woodley
Manager

 

 

*By:/s/  
DANA PERSSON      
Dana Persson, Attorney-In-Fact

 

 

'


INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Number

  Description
2.1   Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger between Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc. and Golden Oval Eggs, LLC (included as Appendix A to the Disclosure Statement—Prospectus)

3.1

 

Certificate of Formation of Golden Oval Eggs, LLC (included as Appendix B to the Disclosure Statement—Prospectus)

3.2

 

Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Golden Oval Eggs, LLC (included as Appendix C to the Disclosure Statement—Prospectus)

5.1

 

Opinion of Lindquist & Vennum P.L.L.P regarding legality*

8.1

 

Opinion of Lindquist & Vennum P.L.L.P regarding tax matters*

10.1

 

Employment and Non-Competition Agreement between Dana Persson and Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc.*

10.2

 

Feed Supply Agreement between State Line Cooperative and Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc.*

10.3

 

Grain Handler Operating Agreement between Co-op Country Farmers Elevator and Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc.*

10.4

 

Grain Handler Operating Agreement between Farmers Cooperative Company and Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc.*

10.5

 

Litter Handling Agreement between Farmers Cooperative Company and Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc.* **

10.6

 

Litter Handling Agreement between Co-op Country Farmers Elevator and Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc.* **

10.7

 

Independent Contractor Agreement for Pullet Production among Pullet Connection, Inc., Barbara Frank and Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc.* **

10.8

 

Joint Venture Agreement between Midwest Investors of Iowa, Cooperative and Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc.*

10.9

 

Land Lease Agreement Between Midwest Investors of Iowa, Cooperative and Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc.*

23.1

 

Consent of Moore Stephens Frost PLC

23.2

 

Consent of Lindquist & Vennum P.L.L.P. (included in exhibit 5.1)

23.3

 

Consent of Greene Holcomb & Fisher LLC*

24.1

 

Power of Attorney*

99.1

 

Form of Mail Ballot of Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc.

99.2

 

Articles of Incorporation of Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc.*

99.3

 

Bylaws of Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc.*

99.4

 

Form of Consent to Termination of Uniform Marketing Agreement

99.5

 

Form of Ballot/Consent Instructions

*
Previously filed.

**
Certain portions of this exhibit have been deleted and filed separately with the Commission pursuant to a request for confidential treatment under Rule 406 under the Securities Act.



QuickLinks

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT—PROSPECTUS TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE CONVERSION
SUMMARY
SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION
RISK FACTORS
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
COMPARISON OF RIGHTS OF MEMBERS
THE SPECIAL MEETING
THE CONVERSION
THE MERGER AGREEMENT
INTERESTS OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN THE CONVERSION
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA OF THE COOPERATIVE
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
BUSINESS
MANAGEMENT
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
PRINCIPAL EQUITYHOLDERS
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS IN THE LLC
FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
Estimate of Taxable Income, Gain and Loss Per Share by Shareholder Group
LEGAL MATTERS
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS MIDWEST INVESTORS OF RENVILLE, INC. (D.B.A. "GOLDEN OVAL EGGS")
Independent Auditor's Report
MIDWEST INVESTORS OF RENVILLE, INC. d/b/a GOLDEN OVAL EGGS Statements of Operations For the Years Ended August 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 (In Thousands, except per share data) (as restated)
MIDWEST INVESTORS OF RENVILLE, INC. d/b/a GOLDEN OVAL EGGS Statements of Changes in Patrons' Equity For the Years Ended August 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 (In Thousands, except per share data) (as restated)
MIDWEST INVESTORS OF RENVILLE, INC. d/b/a GOLDEN OVAL EGGS Statements of Cash Flows For the Years Ended August 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 (In Thousands, except per share data) (as restated)
MIDWEST INVESTORS OF RENVILLE, INC. d/b/a GOLDEN OVAL EGGS Notes to Financial Statements August 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 (In Thousands, except per share data)
MIDWEST INVESTORS OF RENVILLE, INC. d/b/a GOLDEN OVAL EGGS Statements of Operations For the Nine Months Ended May 31, 2004 and 2003 (In Thousands, except per share data)
MIDWEST INVESTORS OF RENVILLE, INC. d/b/a GOLDEN OVAL EGGS Statements of Cash Flows For the Nine Months Ended May 31, 2004 and 2003 (In Thousands)
MIDWEST INVESTORS OF RENVILLE, INC. d/b/a GOLDEN OVAL EGGS Selected Information—Substantially all Disclosures Required by Accounting Principles Generally Accepted in the United States of America are not Included May 31, 2004 and August 31, 2003 (In Thousands)
AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION OF GOLDEN OVAL EGGS, LLC
GOLDEN OVAL EGGS, LLC AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
GOLDEN OVAL EGGS, LLC AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
GOLDEN OVAL EGGS, LLC AMENDED AND RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY AGREEMENT
ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS
ARTICLE 2. FORMATION, PURPOSE, POWERS
ARTICLE 3. UNITS, UNITHOLDERS, FINANCIAL RIGHTS
ARTICLE 4. MEMBERS AND MEMBER VOTING
ARTICLE 5. MANAGEMENT OF COMPANY
ARTICLE 6. AMENDMENTS
ARTICLE 7. DISSOLUTION AND WINDING UP
ARTICLE 8. MISCELLANEOUS
APPENDIX A
PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS OF GOLDEN OVAL EGGS, LLC
APPENDIX B
AGENT FOR SERVICE OF PROCESS OF GOLDEN OVAL EGGS, LLC
APPENDIX C
UNIT TRANSFER POLICY OF GOLDEN OVAL EGGS, LLC
APPENDIX D
BOARD OF MANAGERS OF GOLDEN OVAL EGGS, LLC
APPENDIX E
ALLOCATIONS, DISTRIBUTIONS, TAX MATTERS, AND ACCOUNTING
ALLOCATIONS, DISTRIBUTIONS, TAX MATTERS, AND ACCOUNTING
ARTICLE I. THE COMPANY
ARTICLE II. CAPITAL AND INTERESTS
ARTICLE III. ALLOCATIONS
ARTICLE IV. DISTRIBUTIONS
ARTICLE V. [RESERVED]
ARTICLE VI. [RESERVED]
ARTICLE VII. [RESERVED]
ARTICLE VIII. ACCOUNTING, BOOKS AND RECORDS
ARTICLE IX. [RESERVED]
ARTICLE X. [RESERVED]
ARTICLE XI. [RESERVED]
ARTICLE XII. DISSOLUTION AND WINDING UP
PART II INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
SIGNATURES
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
EX-23.1 2 a2139065zex-23_1.htm EXHIBIT 23.1

Exhibit 23.1

Moore Stephens Frost
425 West Capitol
Suite 3300
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201

 

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S CONSENT

 

The Board of Directors

Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc.

d/b/a/ Golden Oval Eggs

 

Re: Pre-effective Amendment No. 5
to Registration Statement on Form S-4,
Registration Number 333-112533

to be filed August 5, 2004

 

We consent to the use in Amendment No. 5 to this Registration Statement of Golden Oval Eggs, LLC on Form S-4 of our report dated October 10, 2003, except for Note 17, as to which the date is July 26, 2004, on the financial statements of Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc. d/b/a/ Golden Oval Eggs appearing in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.

 

We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Selected Financial Data” in such Prospectus.

 

 

/s Moore Stephens Frost

 

Moore Stephens Frost

 

Little Rock, Arkansas

August 5, 2004

 



EX-99.1 3 a2139065zex-99_1.htm EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

BALLOT

 

MIDWEST INVESTORS OF RENVILLE, INC.

(D.B.A. “GOLDEN OVAL EGGS”)

 


 

                This ballot is each member’s opportunity to vote on the proposed conversion of Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc. (d.b.a. “Golden Oval Eggs”) from a cooperative into a Delaware limited liability company.  The proposed conversion is described in the “Disclosure Statement—Prospectus” dated [                  ], 2004.  Each vote for or against the proposed conversion constitutes a member’s vote for or against the following:

 

A proposal to approve and ratify the Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger by and between Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc., a Minnesota cooperative, and Golden Oval Eggs, LLC, a newly-formed Delaware limited liability company (the “LLC”), in the form attached as Appendix A to the Disclosure Statement—Prospectus dated [                  ], 2004, pursuant to which the cooperative will be merged with and into the LLC, with the LLC as the surviving entity.  The shareholders of the cooperative will become the unitholders of the LLC and will receive one Class A unit of the LLC for the combination of each share of the cooperative’s common stock they hold as of the effective date of the merger and the patronage associated with the delivery of corn in connection with ownership of that share prior to the merger.

 

                I vote on the above item as follows:

 

FOR                       AGAINST         

 

                Mark “FOR” if you wish to cast your vote in favor of the proposed conversion or “AGAINST” if you wish to cast your vote against the proposed conversion.

 

                Your Board of Directors unanimously recommends you vote “FOR” the proposed conversion.

 


 

                To vote, please complete and return this ballot to the cooperative as described in the instructions accompanying this ballot. If you vote by mail, your ballot will not be counted unless it is received by the cooperative by [           ] a.m. local (Minnesota) time on [               ], 2004, or prior to any applicable adjournment or postponement of the meeting.  Although you are encouraged to vote by mail, you may vote in person by attending the special meeting described in the Disclosure Statement—Prospectus (and any adjournments or postponements of the meeting) and submitting your vote to the cooperative on this ballot at that time.  You may vote on the proposed merger by using this ballot whether you vote by mail or in person.


EX-99.4 4 a2139065zex-99_4.htm EX-99.4

 

Exhibit 99.4

 

Consent to Termination of Uniform Marketing Agreement

 

 

The undersigned, being a member of Midwest Investors of Renville Inc., a Minnesota cooperative doing business as “Golden Oval Eggs” and party to a Uniform Marketing Agreement with Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc., hereby agrees and consents to the termination of such Uniform Marketing Agreement, provided, however, that such termination shall become effective only upon the effective date of the proposed merger of Midwest Investors of Renville, Inc. with and into Golden Oval Eggs, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. In the event that such merger is not approved by the voting members of the cooperative or otherwise does not become effective prior to December 31, 2004, the undersigned agrees that the Uniform Marketing Agreement shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with its terms and conditions, without amendment or modification.

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have set my hand this       day of                    , 2004.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Signature)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Please Print Name)

 

 

To consent, please complete and return this consent to the cooperative as described in the instructions accompanying this consent.

 



EX-99.5 5 a2139065zex-99_5.htm EXHIBIT 99.5

Exhibit 99.5

 

MIDWEST INVESTORS OF RENVILLE, INC.
(D.B.A. “GOLDEN OVAL EGGS”)

 

BALLOT/CONSENT INSTRUCTIONS

 

Dear Member:

 

Now that we have officially called the Special Meeting to approve the conversion to a limited liability company (as discussed in detail in the bound “Information Statement—Prospectus”), we are providing you with the various materials needed to allow you to register your vote on the conversion and consent to terminate your uniform marketing agreement. These ballot/consent materials are as follows:

 

      •     “Ballot”

      •     “Ballot Envelope”

      •     “Consent to Termination of Uniform Marketing Agreement” (the “Consent”)

      •     “Certification Envelope”

      •     “Return Envelope”

 

After reviewing the Information Statement—Prospectus, please proceed as follows:

 

      •     Voting on the Proposed Conversion

 

To vote on the Proposed Conversion, mark an “X” next to “FOR” or “AGAINST” on the Ballot. Then, fold and place the marked Ballot in the Ballot Envelope (the smallest of the three enclosed envelopes). Do not write your name on the Ballot or on the Ballot Envelope. If you or your family have more than one membership in the cooperative, be certain not to place more than one Ballot in each Ballot Envelope, as this may invalidate your votes.

 

      •     Consenting to Termination of Uniform Marketing Agreement

 

If you wish to consent to the termination of your Uniform Marketing Agreement with the cooperative, sign and date the Consent.

 

      •     Submitting Your Completed Ballot and/or Consent

 

Your completed Ballot (in the sealed Ballot Envelope) and/or your completed Consent must be placed in the middle-sized Certification Envelope which carries your name, as recorded in the membership records of the Cooperative. You need to sign and date the Certification Envelope where indicated. If you or your family have more than one membership in the cooperative, be certain not to place more than one Ballot Envelope and/or Consent in each Certification Envelope, as this may invalidate your Ballot/Consent.

 

If voting by mail, the Certification Envelope must be placed in the larger, postage prepaid Return Envelope addressed to us. If you vote by mail, your Ballot will not be counted unless it is received by the cooperative by [          ].m. local (Minnesota) time on [          ], 2004, or prior to any applicable adjournment or postponement of the meeting. Although you are encouraged to vote by mail, you may vote in person by attending the special meeting (and any adjournments or postponements of the meeting) and submitting your vote in the Certification Envelope at that time.

 

If you have any questions or need any assistance, please contact Marie Staley at (320) 329-8182.

 

Dana Persson
President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 


 


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