Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Business

The Company is principally engaged in procuring, transporting, storing, processing, and merchandising agricultural commodities and products.

Change in Fiscal Year

On May 3, 2012, the Board of Directors of the Company determined that, in accordance with its Bylaws and upon the recommendation of the Audit Committee, the Company’s fiscal year shall begin on January 1 and end on December 31 of each year, starting on January 1, 2013. The required transition period of July 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012 is included in this Form 10-K report. Amounts included in this report for the year ended December 31, 2012 and the six months ended December 31, 2011 are unaudited.

For purposes of preparing this Form 10-K, the Company's management believes the calendar 2012 is the most directly comparable period to calendar year 2013 results. The calendar year ended December 31, 2012 data is unaudited and has been compiled from the Company's quarterly reports for the quarters' ended March 31, 2012, June 30, 2012, September 30, 2012, and December 31, 2012.

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. The Company consolidates all entities, including variable interest entities (VIEs), in which it has a controlling financial interest. For VIEs, the Company assesses whether it is the primary beneficiary as defined under the applicable accounting standard. Investments in affiliates, including VIEs through which the Company exercises significant influence but does not control the investee and is not the primary beneficiary of the investee's activities, are carried at cost plus equity in undistributed earnings since acquisition and are adjusted, where appropriate, for basis differences between the investment balance and the underlying net assets of the investee. The Company’s portion of the results of certain affiliates and results of certain VIEs are included using the most recent available financial statements. In each case, the financial statements are within 93 days of the Company’s year end and are consistent from period to period.

The Company consolidates Alfred C. Toepfer International (Toepfer), in which the Company has an 80% interest, for which the minority interest was subject to a mandatorily redeemable put option. As a result of the put option, the associated minority interest was reported in other long-term liabilities. On December 31, 2011, the put option expired and the Company reclassified $174 million of minority interest from other long-term liabilities to noncontrolling interests in shareholders’ equity at that date. During 2013, Toepfer became subject to a new mandatorily redeemable put option; and as a result, the Company reclassified $180 million of noncontrolling interest in shareholders' equity to long-term liabilities.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported in its consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

During the second quarter of fiscal year 2011, the Company updated its estimates for service lives of certain of its machinery and equipment assets in order to better match the Company’s depreciation expense with the periods these assets are expected to generate revenue based on planned and historical service periods. The Company accounted for this service life update as a change in accounting estimate as of October 1, 2010 in accordance with the guidance of Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 250, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections, thereby impacting the quarter in which the change occurred and future quarters. The effect of this change on after-tax earnings and diluted earnings per share was an increase of $83 million and $0.13, respectively, for the year ended June 30, 2011.

Reclassifications

Other (income) expense - net in the consolidated statements of earnings for the years ended December 31, 2012 and June 30, 2012 has been reclassified to conform to the current year's presentation where impairment losses on securities are now shown with asset impairment, exit, and restructuring costs. There was no change in earnings before income taxes as a result of this reclassification. This change is also reflected in Notes 13 and 19.

Intangible assets, previously included in other assets, have been reclassified to goodwill and other intangible assets. There was no change in total investments and other assets as a result of this reclassification.

Accrued expenses and other payables in the prior year's consolidated balance sheet have been reclassified to conform to the current year's presentation where payables to brokerage customers are now shown separately from accrued expenses and other payables. There was no change in total current liabilities as a result of this reclassification. This change is also reflected in Note 7 and the prior years' consolidated statements of cash flows with no impact to total cash provided by (used in) operating, investing, or financing activities.

Certain items in the prior year's consolidated statements of cash flows have been reclassified to conform to the current year's presentation with no impact to total cash provided by (used in) operating, investing, or financing activities.

Certain items in Notes 3, 4, 6, and 7 in the prior year have been reclassified to conform to the current year's presentation. There was no change in other current assets and accrued expenses and other payables in the prior year's consolidated balance sheet as a result of the reclassifications.

Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all non-segregated, highly-liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents.

Segregated Cash and Investments

The Company segregates certain cash and investment balances in accordance with regulatory requirements, commodity exchange requirements, insurance arrangements, and lending arrangements. These segregated balances represent deposits received from customers of the Company’s registered futures commission merchant, securities pledged to commodity exchange clearinghouses, and cash and securities pledged as security under certain insurance or lending arrangements. Segregated cash and investments primarily consist of cash, United States government securities, and money-market funds.

Receivables

The Company records accounts receivable at net realizable value. This value includes an allowance for estimated uncollectible accounts of $81 million and $87 million at December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, to reflect any loss anticipated on the accounts receivable balances. The Company estimates this allowance based on its history of write-offs, level of past-due accounts, and its relationships with, and the economic status of, its customers. Portions of the allowance for uncollectible accounts are recorded in trade receivables, other current assets, and other assets.

Credit risk on receivables is minimized as a result of the large and diversified nature of the Company’s worldwide customer base. The Company manages its exposure to counter-party credit risk through credit analysis and approvals, credit limits, and monitoring procedures. Collateral is generally not required for the Company’s receivables.

Accounts receivable due from unconsolidated affiliates as of December 31, 2013 and 2012 was $73 million and $175 million, respectively.

Inventories

Inventories of certain merchandisable agricultural commodities, which include inventories acquired under deferred pricing contracts, are stated at market value. In addition, the Company values certain inventories using the lower of cost, determined by either the first-in, first-out (FIFO) or last-in, first-out (LIFO) methods, or market.

The following table sets forth the Company's inventories as of December 31, 2013 and 2012.



	December 31, 2013			December 31, 2012
	(In millions)

LIFO inventories
FIFO value	$	1,408		$	1,356
LIFO valuation reserve	(297		)	(522		)
LIFO inventories carrying value	1,111			834
FIFO inventories	3,741			5,232
Market inventories	6,059			7,036
Supplies and other inventories	530			734
Total inventories	$	11,441		$	13,836

Fair Value Measurements

The Company determines fair value based on the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The Company uses the market approach valuation technique to measure the majority of its assets and liabilities carried at fair value. Three levels are established within the fair value hierarchy that may be used to report fair value: Level 1: Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Level 2: Observable inputs, including Level 1 prices that have been adjusted; quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are less active than traded exchanges; and other inputs that are observable or can be substantially corroborated by observable market data. Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are a significant component of the fair value of the assets or liabilities. In evaluating the significance of fair value inputs, the Company generally classifies assets or liabilities as Level 3 when their fair value is determined using unobservable inputs that individually or when aggregated with other unobservable inputs, represent more than 10% of the fair value of the assets or liabilities. Judgment is required in evaluating both quantitative and qualitative factors in the determination of significance for purposes of fair value level classification. Level 3 amounts can include assets and liabilities whose value is determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques, as well as assets and liabilities for which the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation.

Based on historical experience with the Company’s suppliers and customers, the Company’s own credit risk and knowledge of current market conditions, the Company does not view nonperformance risk to be a significant input to fair value for the majority of its forward commodity purchase and sale contracts. However, in certain cases, if the Company believes the nonperformance risk to be a significant input, the Company records estimated fair value adjustments, and classifies the contract in Level 3.

In many cases, a valuation technique used to measure fair value includes inputs from multiple levels of the fair value hierarchy. The lowest level of input that is a significant component of the fair value measurement determines the placement of the entire fair value measurement in the hierarchy. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment, and may affect the classification of fair value assets and liabilities within the fair value hierarchy levels.

The Company’s policy regarding the timing of transfers between levels, including both transfers into and transfers out of Level 3, is to measure and record the transfers at the end of the reporting period.

Derivatives

The Company recognizes all of its derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities at fair value in its consolidated balance sheet. Unrealized gains are reported as other current assets and unrealized losses are reported as accrued expenses and other payables. The accounting for changes in the fair value (i.e., gains or losses) of a derivative instrument depends on whether it has been designated and qualifies as part of a hedging relationship and on the type of hedging relationship. The majority of the Company’s derivatives have not been designated as hedging instruments; and as such, changes in fair value of these derivatives are recognized in earnings immediately. For those derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as hedging instruments, the Company designates the hedging instrument, based upon the exposure being hedged, as a fair value hedge or a cash flow hedge.

For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges (i.e., hedging the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows that is attributable to a particular risk), the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) and reclassified into earnings in the same line item affected by the hedged transaction and in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. The remaining gain or loss on the derivative instrument that is in excess of the cumulative change in the cash flows of the hedged item, if any (i.e., the ineffective portion), hedge components excluded from the assessment of effectiveness, and gains and losses related to discontinued hedges are recognized in the consolidated statement of earnings during the current period.

For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as fair value hedges, changes in the fair value of the hedging instrument and changes in the fair value of the underlying are recognized in the consolidated statement of earnings during the current period.

Marketable Securities

The Company classifies its marketable securities as available-for-sale. Available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value, with the unrealized gains and losses, net of income taxes, reported as a component of other comprehensive income. The Company monitors its investments for impairment periodically, and recognizes an impairment charge when the decline in fair value of an investment is judged to be other-than-temporary. The Company uses the specific identification method when securities are sold or reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income into earnings. The Company considers marketable securities maturing in less than one year as short-term. All other marketable securities are classified as long-term.

Property, Plant, and Equipment

Property, plant, and equipment is recorded at cost. Repair and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. The Company generally uses the straight-line method in computing depreciation for financial reporting purposes and generally uses accelerated methods for income tax purposes. The annual provisions for depreciation have been computed principally in accordance with the following ranges of asset lives: buildings - 10 to 40 years; machinery and equipment - 3 to 30 years. The Company capitalized interest on major construction projects in progress of $16 million, $24 million, $12 million, $9 million, $21 million, and $7 million for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the six months ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, and the years ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for its income tax positions in accordance with the applicable accounting standards. The liability method is used in accounting for income taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded for temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and reported amounts in the consolidated financial statements using statutory rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recorded in the results of operations in the period that includes the enactment date under the law. Applicable accounting standards prescribe a minimum threshold a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in the consolidated financial statements. The Company recognizes in its consolidated financial statements tax positions determined more likely than not to be sustained upon examination, based on the technical merits of the position.

The Company classifies interest on income tax-related balances as interest expense and classifies tax-related penalties as selling, general and administrative expenses.

Goodwill and other intangible assets

Goodwill and other intangible assets deemed to have indefinite lives are not amortized but are subject to annual impairment tests. Prior to the fiscal year end change transition period, the Company’s accounting policy was to evaluate goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives for impairment on April 1 of each fiscal year or whenever there were indicators that the carrying value of the assets may not be fully recoverable. Effective in the transition period ended December 31, 2012, the Company voluntarily changed its accounting policy to begin conducting the annual goodwill and indefinite life intangible assets impairment tests on October 1. The change to the annual goodwill and indefinite life intangible assets impairment testing date is preferable under the circumstances as the new impairment testing date is better aligned with the timing of the Company’s annual strategic, planning, and budgeting process, and the timing is more closely aligned with the Company’s annual financial reporting process as a result of the change in year end. The resulting change in accounting principle related to the annual testing date did not delay, accelerate, or avoid an impairment charge of the Company’s goodwill. As it is impracticable to objectively determine the estimates and assumptions necessary to perform the annual goodwill impairment test as of October 1 for periods prior to October 1, 2012, the Company prospectively applied the annual goodwill impairment testing date effective October 1, 2012. During the year ended December 31, 2013, the Company recorded an impairment charge for goodwill of $9 million related to the Company's Brazilian sugar milling business. There were no impairment charges recorded for goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets during the six months and year ended December 31, 2012 and the years ended June 30, 2012 and 2011.

Asset Abandonments and Write-Downs

The Company evaluates long-lived assets for impairment whenever indicators of impairment exist. Assets are written down to fair value after consideration of the ability to utilize the assets for their intended purpose or to employ the assets in alternative uses or sell the assets to recover the carrying value. During the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the six months ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 and the years ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, impairment charges were $84 million, $30 million, $0 million, $337 million, $367 million, and $2 million, respectively (see Note 19 for additional information).

Payables to Brokerage Customers

Payables to brokerage customers represent the total of customer accounts at the Company's futures commission merchant with credit or positive balances. Customer accounts are used primarily in connection with commodity transactions and include gains and losses on open commodity trades as well as securities and other deposits made for margins or other purpose as required by the Company or the exchange-clearing organizations or counterparties. Payables to brokerage customers have a corresponding balance in segregated cash and investments and customer omnibus receivable in other current assets.

Revenues

The Company follows a policy of recognizing sales revenue at the time of delivery of the product and when all of the following have occurred: a sales agreement is in place, pricing is fixed or determinable, and collection is reasonably assured. The Company has sales contracts that allow for pricing to occur after title of the goods has passed to the customer. In these cases, the Company continues to report the goods in inventory until it recognizes the sales revenue once the price has been determined. Freight costs and handling charges related to sales are recorded as a component of cost of products sold.

Net sales to unconsolidated affiliates during the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the six months ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, and the years ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, were $6.9 billion, $7.2 billion, $4.0 billion, $4.5 billion, $7.7 billion, and $7.1 billion, respectively.

Stock Compensation

The Company recognizes expense for its stock compensation based on the fair value of the awards that are granted. The Company’s stock compensation plans provide for the granting of restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance stock units, and stock options. The fair values of stock options and performance stock units are estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option valuation model and a lattice valuation model, respectively. These valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions. Measured compensation cost, net of estimated forfeitures, is recognized ratably over the vesting period of the related stock compensation award.

Research and Development

Costs associated with research and development are expensed as incurred. Such costs incurred, net of expenditures subsequently reimbursed by government grants, were $59 million, $55 million, $28 million, $29 million, $56 million, and $60 million, for the years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, the six months ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, and the years ended June 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Per Share Data

Basic earnings per common share are determined by dividing net earnings attributable to controlling interests by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. In computing diluted earnings per share, average number of common shares outstanding is increased by common stock options outstanding with exercise prices lower than the average market price of common shares using the treasury share method.

As further described in Note 10, certain potentially dilutive securities (the $1.75 billion Equity Units) were excluded from the diluted average shares calculation because their impact was anti-dilutive, except during the third quarter of fiscal 2011. See Note 11 for the earnings per share calculations.

Adoption of New Accounting Standards

Effective January 1, 2013, the Company adopted the amended guidance of Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 220, Comprehensive Income, which requires the Company to present, either on the face of the consolidated statement of earnings or in the notes, the effect on the line items of net income of significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income. The adoption of this amended guidance requires expanded disclosures in the Company's consolidated financial statements but does not impact results (see Note 17).

Effective July 17, 2013, the Company adopted the amended guidance of ASC Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), which permits the Company to use the Overnight Index Swap as a U.S. benchmark interest rate for hedge accounting purposes under Topic 815 in addition to the U.S. treasury interest rates and the London Interbank Offered Rate. The amended guidance also removes the restriction on using different benchmark rates for similar hedges. The adoption of this amended guidance did not have an impact on current period results and is not expected to have any material impact on the Company's financial results.

Pending Accounting Standards

Effective January 1, 2014, the Company will be required to adopt the amended guidance of ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes, which requires the Company to present an unrecognized tax benefit in the financial statements as a reduction to a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward. In situations where a net operating loss carryforward, a similar tax loss, or a tax credit carryforward is not available at the reporting date under the tax law of the applicable jurisdiction or if the Company does not intend to use the deferred tax asset for such purpose, the unrecognized tax benefit should be presented as a liability in the financial statements and should not be combined with deferred tax assets. The Company does not expect a material impact on its financial results as a result of the adoption of this amended guidance.

Effective January 1, 2014, the Company will be required to adopt the amended guidance of ASC Topic 830, Foreign Currency Matters (Topic 830), which requires the Company to transfer currency translation adjustments from other comprehensive income into net income in certain circumstances. The amended guidance aims to resolve diversity in practice as to whether ASC Topic 810, Consolidation or Topic 830 applies to the release of the cumulative translation adjustment into net income when a parent either sells a part or all of its investment in a foreign entity, or no longer holds a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or group of assets that is a nonprofit activity or a business. The Company will be required to apply the amended guidance prospectively. If the Company disposes all or part of a qualifying foreign entity, it will be required to release the portion of cumulative translation adjustment applicable to the disposed entity.

Effective January 1, 2014, the Company will be required to adopt the amended guidance of ASC Topic 405, Liabilities, which addresses the recognition, measurement, and disclosure of obligations resulting from joint and several liability arrangements, for which the total amount under the arrangement is fixed at the reporting date. The amended guidance aims to resolve diversity in practice among companies that are subject to joint and several liabilities. The Company will be required to apply the amended guidance retrospectively to all prior periods presented. The Company does not expect a material impact on its financial results as a result of the adoption of this amended guidance.