EX-99.2 BYLAWS 10 ggro-20221231xex99d2.htm Golden Growers Cooperative : Exhibit 99.2 - Filed by EDGARhub LLC

PROGOLD, LLC

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2022

WITH INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT



 


INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT

To the Board of Governors
ProGold, LLC
West Fargo, North Dakota

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of ProGold, LLC, which comprise of the balance sheet as of December 31, 2022, the related statements of income, changes in members’ equity, and cash flows for the four month period then ended, and the related notes to the financial statements.

In our opinion, the accompanying financial statements presented fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of ProGold, LLC as of December 31, 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the four month period then ended in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Basis for Opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAS). Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statements section of our report. We are required to be independent of ProGold, LLC and to meet our ethical responsibilities, in accordance with the relevant ethical requirements relating to our audit. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.

Responsibilities of Management for the Financial Statements

Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and for the design, implementation, and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements that are free from material misstatements, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, management is required to evaluate whether there are conditions or events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about ProGold, LLC‘s ability to continue as a going concern for one year after the date that the financial statements are issued.


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Auditor’s Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not absolute assurance andtherefore is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with GAAS will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control. Misstatements are considered materialif there is a substantial likelihood that, individually, or in the aggregate, they would influence the judgement made by a reasonable user based on the financial statements.

In performing an audit in accordance with GAAS, we:

 

Exercise professional judgement and maintain professional skepticism throughout the audit.

Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, and design and perform audit procedures responsible to those risks. Such proceduresinclude examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.

Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit proceduresthat are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of ProGold, LLC’s internal control. Accordingly, no such opinion is expressed.

Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluate the overall presentation of thefinancial statements.

Conclude whether, in our judgement, there are conditions or events, considered in the aggregate,that raise substantial doubt about ProGold, LLC’s ability to continue as a going concern for a reasonable period of time.

We are required to communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, theplanned scope and timing of the audit, significant audit findings, and certain internal control-related matters that we identified during the audit.


Fargo, North Dakota
January 31, 2023

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PROGOLD LLC

BALANCE SHEET
DECEMBER 31, 2022

ASSETS       
CURRENT ASSETS      
       Cash and cash equivalents $  198,916  
       Prepaid insurance   24,072  
               Total current assets   222,988  
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT HELD FOR LEASE      
       Land and land improvements   10,191,265  
       Buildings and equipment   256,397,834  
       Less accumulated depreciation   (230,372,748 )
               Total property and equipment held for lease   36,216,351  
OTHER ASSETS      
       Deferred lease asset   258,720  
               Total assets $  36,698,059  
LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS' EQUITY       
CURRENT LIABILITIES      
       Related party accounts payable $  30,719  
       
MEMBERS' EQUITY   36,667,340  
               Total liabilities and members' equity $  36,698,059  

See Notes to Financial Statements 3


PROGOLD LLC

STATEMENT OF INCOME
FOR THE FOUR MONTH PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2022

REVENUES      
       Related party rental revenue on operating lease $  5,270,115  
       
OPERATING EXPENSES      
       Depreciation   950,320  
       Maintenance   383,352  
       General and administrative   36,999  
       
       Total expenses   1,370,671  
       
       Operating income   3,899,444  
       
NET INCOME $  3,899,444  

See Notes to Financial Statements 4


PROGOLD LLC

STATEMENT OF MEMBERS’ EQUITY
FOR THE FOUR MONTH PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2022

    American                    
    Crystal     Golden           Total  
    Sugar     Growers           Members'  
    Company     Cooperative     Cargill     Equity  
BALANCE, AUGUST 31, 2022 $  -   $  18,585,240   $  18,585,240   $  37,170,480  
     Net income   -     1,949,722     1,949,722     3,899,444  
           Distributions   -     (2,201,292 )   (2,201,292 )   (4,402,584 )
                         
 BALANCE, DECEMBER, 2022 $  -   $  18,333,670   $  18,333,670   $  36,667,340  

See Notes to Financial Statements 5


PROGOLD LLC

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE FOUR MONTH PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2022

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES      
       Net income $  3,899,444  
       Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities    
               Depreciation   950,320  
               Changes in assets and liabilities      
                       Accounts receivable   30  
                       Prepaid expenses   22,015  
                       Other assets   (103,448 )
                       Accounts payable   (366,648 )
       
               Net cash provided by operating activities   4,401,713  
       
       
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES      
       Distributions to members   (4,402,584 )
       
NET CHANGE IN CASH   (871 )
       
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, Beginning of period   199,787  
       
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, End of period $  198,916  

See Notes to Financial Statements 6


PROGOLD LLC

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE FOUR MONTH PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2022

NOTE 1 – SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Nature of Operations

ProGold, LLC (ProGold) is organized as a Minnesota limited liability company. ProGold was owned by American Crystal Sugar Company (51%) and Golden Growers Cooperative (49%). Effective March 1, 2022, American Crystal Sugar Company transferred ownership in ProGold to Cargill, Incorporated, resulting in a 50/50 venture between Cargill and Golden Growers Cooperative. In connection with the ownership change, ProGold elected to change its fiscal year end from August 31 to December 31, beginning September 1, 2022. Operating results are presented herein for the four month period ended December 31, 2022, and may not necessarily be reflective of results that might be achieved during a normal twelve month period. ProGold has been organized with a life of 50 years and its legal existence will terminate on July 13, 2044, absent a business continuation agreement.

Related Party Operating Lease

ProGold leases a corn wet milling facility to Cargill, Inc. under an operating lease which runs through December 31, 2026. Payments are to be received monthly under the lease. The operating lease revenue is recognized as earned ratably over the term of the lease and to the extent that amounts earned exceed amounts received, a deferred lease asset is recorded. The Company generates lease revenue which is recognized under ASC Topic 842, Leases, which falls outside the lease scope of ASC topic 606. The lease requires ProGold to pay $750,000 in fiscal year 2023 and $500,000 for fiscal years 2024 through 2026, to fund infrastructure maintenance. During the term of the lease, Cargill will deploy capital for several approved capital projects and will receive the benefit of depreciation during the term of the lease.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

ProGold Considers all highly liquid debt and equity instruments purchased with a maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. ProGold places its temporary cash investments with high-credit-quality financial institutions. At times, such investments may be in excess of the applicable insurance limit.

Property and Equipment Held for Lease

Property and equipment held for lease are stated at cost. Depreciation on assets placed in service is provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the individual assets, ranging from 5 to 40 years.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

ProGold reviews its property and equipment for impairment whenever events indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may be recoverable. An impairment loss is recorded when the sum of the future cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the asset. An impairment loss is measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its fair value. There were no impairment losses for the period ended December 31, 2022.

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PROGOLD LLC

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE FOUR MONTH PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2022

Related Parties

Golden Growers Cooperative, Cargill, Inc. and American Crystal Sugar are considered related parties for financial reporting purposes.

Revenue Recognition

Revenues are measured based on the amount of consideration specified in the operating lease agreement. Revenues are recognized when and as performance obligations are satisfied, which is when the rental revenue is received each month. The Company’s contracts are generally accounted for as a single performance obligation. The evaluation of contracts with customers, performance obligations, and variable consideration requires significant judgment.

Income Taxes

ProGold is treated in a manner similar to a partnership for federal and state income tax purposes, based upon its current organization. Accordingly, the financial statements do not include any provision for income taxes.

Accounting Estimates

The preparation of the 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 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.

Subsequent Events

Management has evaluated subsequent events through the date of the auditor’s report, which is the date the financials were available to be issued. The Company believes that there have been no significant subsequent events where disclosures are necessary.

NOTE 2 – REVENUE RECOGNITION

The Company generates revenue primarily from rental income related to the operating agreement with Golden Growers Cooperative and Cargill, Incorporated.

Identify Contracts with Customers

Revenue are measured based on the amount of consideration specified in the operating lease agreement. Revenues are recognized when and as performance obligations are satisfied, which is when the rental revenue is received each month. The Company’s contracts are generally accounted for as a single performance obligation. The evaluation of contracts with customers, performance obligations, and variable consideration requires significant judgment.

Performance Obligations

Contracts are considered to contain a single performance obligation, which is the monthly rent. Payment is due based on terms specified in the operating agreement.

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PROGOLD LLC

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE FOUR MONTH PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2022

Variable Consideration

The nature of the Company’s business does not give rise to variable consideration.

Significant Judgments

The evaluation of contracts with customers, performance obligations, and variable consideration requires significant judgment; the decision to combine contracts or separate a combined or single contract into multiple performance obligations could change the amount of revenue and profit recorded in a given period.

NOTE 3 – RELATED PARTY LEASE WITH CARGILL, INC

Future minimum payments to be received under the lease are as follows:

  2023 $  15,500,000  
  2024   16,000,000  
  2025   16,000,000  
  2026   16,000,000  
         
    $ 63,500,000  

NOTE 4 – RELATED PARTY CAPITAL EXPENDITURES AGREEMENT WITH CARGILL, INC

ProGold entered into an Infrastructure Maintenance Agreement with Cargill, Inc in which ProGold agreed to fund Cargill Inc for infrastructure maintenance as set forth in the following schedule:

  2023 $  750,000  
  2024   500,000  
  2025   500,000  
  2026   500,000  
         
    $  2,250,000  

NOTE 5 – DISTRIBUTION TO MEMBERS

Distributions are authorized by the Board of Governors and distributed among Members based on their percentage interest.

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PROGOLD LLC

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE FOUR MONTH PERIOD ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2022

NOTE 6 – ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS

ProGold is subject to extensive federal and state environmental laws and regulations with respect to water and air quality, solid wase disposal and odor and noise control. The operating lease with Cargill, Inc provides that ProGold be responsible for claims arising for occurrences prior to the execution of the original operating lease, December 1, 1997. ProGold believes that it was in substantial compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations prior to that time. The operating lease also provides that Cargill, Inc operate the corn wet milling facility in compliance with all applicable federal and state environmental laws and regulations further the term of the lease.

NOTE 7 – INCOME TAXES

ProGold conducts an annual analysis of its various tax positions, assessing the likelihood of those positions being upheld upon examination with relevant tax authorities. ProGold has determined that it has no unrecognized tax benefits. No interest or penalties are recognized in the statements of operations. ProGold is no longer subject to U.S. Federal or state income tax examinations by tax authorities for fiscal years 2017 and earlier.

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