UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

 

Form 10-K

 

 

 

 

 

Commission file number: 0-50150

 

 

 

 

CHS Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

 

 

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT: NONE

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT:

 

 

 

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act).

 

YES o     NO þ

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

 

YES o     NO þ

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

 

YES þ     NO o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit and post such files).

 

YES o     NO o

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K:  o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

 

YES o     NO þ

 

State the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the Registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter:

 

The Registrant’s voting and non-voting common equity has no market value (the Registrant is a member cooperative).

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the Registrant’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date: The Registrant has no common stock outstanding.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

None.

 

 

INDEX

 

 

 

 

CHS Inc. (referred to herein as “CHS,” “we” or “us”) is one of the nation’s leading integrated agricultural companies. As a cooperative, we are owned by farmers and ranchers and their member cooperatives (referred to herein as “members”) across the United States. We also have preferred stockholders that own shares of our 8% Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, which is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol CHSCP. On August 31, 2009, we had 10,976,107 shares of preferred stock outstanding. We buy commodities from and provide products and services to patrons (including our members and other non-member customers), both domestic and international. We provide a wide variety of products and services, from initial agricultural inputs such as fuels, farm supplies, crop nutrients and crop protection products, to agricultural outputs that include grains and oilseeds, grain and oilseed processing and food products. A portion of our operations are conducted through equity investments and joint ventures whose operating results are not fully consolidated with our results; rather, a proportionate share of the income or loss from those entities is included as a component in our net income under the equity method of accounting. For the fiscal year ended August 31, 2009, our total revenues were $25.7 billion and our net income was $381.4 million.

 

We have aligned our segments based on an assessment of how our businesses operate and the products and services they sell. Our three segments: Energy, Ag Business and Processing, create vertical integration to link producers with consumers. Our Energy segment derives its revenues through refining, wholesaling and retailing of petroleum products. Our Ag Business segment derives its revenues through the origination and marketing of grain, including service activities conducted at export terminals, through the retail sales of petroleum and agronomy products, processed sunflowers, feed and farm supplies, and records equity income from investments in our agronomy joint ventures, grain export joint ventures and other investments. As of September 2007, our Ag Business segment revenues also include sales of crop nutrient products due to the distribution of that business to us from our Agriliance LLC joint venture. Our Processing segment derives its revenues from the sales of soybean meal and soybean refined oil, and records equity income from wheat milling joint ventures, a vegetable oil-based food manufacturing and distribution joint venture, and through March 2008, an ethanol manufacturing company. We include other business operations in Corporate and Other because of the nature of their products and services, as well as the relative revenues of those businesses. These businesses primarily include our financing, insurance, hedging and other service activities related to crop production.

 

Membership in CHS is restricted to certain producers of agricultural products and to associations of producers of agricultural products that are organized and operating so as to adhere to the provisions of the Agricultural Marketing Act and the Capper-Volstead Act, as amended. Our Board of Directors may establish other qualifications for membership from time to time as it may deem advisable.

 

Our earnings from cooperative business are allocated to members (and to a limited extent, to non-members with which we have agreed to do business on a patronage basis) based on the volume of business they do with us. We allocate these earnings to our patrons in the form of patronage refunds (which are also called patronage dividends) in cash and patron’s equities (capital equity certificates), which may be redeemed over time at the discretion of our Board of Directors. Earnings derived from non-members, which are not allocated patronage, are taxed at federal and state statutory corporate rates and are retained by us as unallocated capital reserve. We also receive patronage refunds from the cooperatives in which we are a member, if those cooperatives have earnings to distribute and if we qualify for patronage refunds from them.

 

Our origins date back to the early 1930s with the founding of the predecessor companies of Cenex, Inc. and Harvest States Cooperatives. CHS Inc. emerged as the result of the merger of those two entities in 1998, and is headquartered in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota.

The following table presents a summary of our primary subsidiary holdings and equity investments for each of our business segments at August 31, 2009:

 

 

Our segment and international sales information in Note 11 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, as well as Item 6 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, are incorporated by reference into the following segment descriptions.

 

The segment financial information presented below may not represent the results that would have been obtained had the relevant segment been operated as an independent business due to efficiencies in scale, corporate cost allocations and intersegment activity.

 

Overview

 

We are the nation’s largest cooperative energy company based on revenues and identifiable assets, with operations that include petroleum refining and pipelines; the supply, marketing (including ethanol and biodiesel) and distribution of refined fuels (gasoline, diesel fuel and other energy products); the blending, sale and distribution of lubricants; and the wholesale supply of propane. Our Energy segment processes crude oil into refined petroleum products at refineries in Laurel, Montana (wholly-owned) and McPherson, Kansas (an entity in which we have an approximate 74.5% ownership interest) and sells those products under the Cenex^® brand to member cooperatives and others through a network of approximately 1,600 independent retail sites, of which two-thirds are convenience stores marketing Cenex^® branded fuels. Our Energy revenues, after elimination of inter-segment revenues, were $7.4 billion and are primarily from gasoline and diesel fuel.

 

Operations

 

Laurel Refinery.  Our Laurel, Montana refinery processes medium and high sulfur crude oil into refined petroleum products that primarily include gasoline, diesel fuel and asphalt. Our Laurel refinery sources approximately 85% of its crude oil supply from Canada, with the balance obtained from domestic sources, and we have access to Canadian and northwest Montana crude through our wholly-owned Front Range Pipeline, LLC and other common carrier pipelines. Our Laurel refinery also has access to Wyoming crude via common carrier pipelines from the south.

 

Our Laurel facility processes approximately 55,000 barrels of crude oil per day to produce refined products that consist of approximately 48% gasoline, 37% diesel fuel and other distillates, and 15% asphalt

and other products. During fiscal 2005, our Board of Directors approved the installation of a coker unit at Laurel, along with other refinery improvements, which allows us to extract a greater volume of high value gasoline and diesel fuel from a barrel of crude oil and less relatively low value asphalt. The project became operational in April 2008, and had a total cost of $418.0 million. Refined fuels produced at Laurel are available via the Yellowstone Pipeline to western Montana terminals and to Spokane and Moses Lake, Washington, south via common carrier pipelines to Wyoming terminals and Denver, Colorado, and east via our wholly-owned Cenex Pipeline, LLC to Glendive, Montana, and Minot and Fargo, North Dakota. Primarily during fiscal 2008, we incurred approximately $28 million in capital expenditures to construct two product terminals, one of which is tied into the Yellowstone Pipeline. Both new terminals are complete and include rail capabilities. These investments were undertaken to preserve our long-term ability to participate in western U.S. markets.

 

McPherson Refinery.  The McPherson, Kansas refinery is owned and operated by National Cooperative Refinery Association (NCRA), of which we own approximately 74.5%. The McPherson refinery processes approximately 85% low and medium sulfur crude oil and 15% heavy sulfur crude oil into gasoline, diesel fuel and other distillates, propane and other products. NCRA sources its crude oil through its own pipelines as well as common carrier pipelines. The low and medium sulfur crude oil is sourced from Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas, and the heavy sulfur crude oil is sourced from Canada.

 

The McPherson refinery processes approximately 80,000 barrels of crude oil per day to produce refined products that consist of approximately 52% gasoline, 45% diesel fuel and other distillates, and 3% propane and other products. Approximately 32% of the refined fuels are loaded into trucks at the McPherson refinery or shipped via NCRA’s proprietary products pipeline to its terminal in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The remaining refined fuel products are shipped to other markets via common carrier pipelines.

 

Renewable Fuels Marketing.  In fiscal 2006, we acquired a 50% ownership interest in an ethanol and biodiesel marketing and distribution company, Provista Renewable Fuels Marketing, LLC (Provista), formerly known as United BioEnergy Fuels, LLC. In fiscal 2008, we acquired the remaining 50% ownership interest of Provista, and in fiscal 2009, Provista was merged into CHS. This business has been consolidated within our financial statements since 2006, and contracts with ethanol and biodiesel production plants to market and distribute their finished products. During fiscal 2009, total sales volumes were 343 million gallons.

 

Other Energy Operations.  We own and operate a propane terminal, four asphalt terminals, seven refined product terminals and three lubricants blending and packaging facilities. We also own and lease a fleet of liquid and pressure trailers and tractors, which are used to transport refined fuels, propane, anhydrous ammonia and other products.

 

Products and Services

 

Our Energy segment produces and sells (primarily wholesale) gasoline, diesel fuel, propane, asphalt, lubricants and other related products and provides transportation services. We obtain the petroleum products that we sell from our Laurel and McPherson refineries, and from third parties. For fiscal 2009, we obtained approximately 58% of the refined products we sold from our Laurel and McPherson refineries, and approximately 42% from third parties.

 

Sales and Marketing; Customers

 

We make approximately 71% of our refined fuel sales to members, with the balance sold to non-members. Sales are made wholesale to member cooperatives and through a network of independent retailers that operate convenience stores under the Cenex/Ampride tradename. We sold approximately 1.3 billion gallons of gasoline and approximately 1.5 billion gallons of diesel fuel in fiscal 2009, excluding NCRA’s sales to minority owners and others totaling approximately 351 million gallons. We also blend, package and wholesale auto and farm machinery lubricants to both members and non-members. In fiscal 2009, our lubricants operations sold approximately 19 million gallons of lube oil. We are one of the nation’s largest propane wholesalers based on revenues. In fiscal 2009, our propane operations sold approximately 643 million

gallons of propane. Most of the propane sold in rural areas is for heating and agricultural usage. Annual sales volumes of propane vary greatly depending on weather patterns and crop conditions.

 

Industry; Competition

 

The petroleum business is highly cyclical. Demand for crude oil and energy products is driven by the condition of local and worldwide economies, local and regional weather patterns and taxation relative to other energy sources, which can significantly affect the price of refined fuel products. Most of our energy product market is located in rural areas, so sales activity tends to follow the planting and harvesting cycles. More fuel-efficient equipment, reduced crop tillage, depressed prices for crops, weather conditions and government programs which encourage idle acres, may all reduce demand for our energy products.

 

Regulation.  Governmental regulations and policies, particularly in the areas of taxation, energy and the environment, have a significant impact on our Energy segment. Our Energy segment’s operations are subject to laws and related regulations and rules designed to protect the environment that are administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Transportation and similar government agencies. These laws, regulations and rules govern the discharge of materials to the environment, air and water; reporting storage of hazardous wastes; the transportation, handling and disposition of wastes; and the labeling of pesticides and similar substances. Failure to comply with these laws, regulations and rules could subject us (and, in the case of the McPherson refinery, NCRA) to administrative penalties, injunctive relief, civil remedies and possible recalls of products. We believe that we and NCRA are in compliance with these laws, regulations and rules in all material respects and do not expect continued compliance to have a material effect on capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position, of either us or NCRA.

 

Like many other refineries, our Energy segment’s refineries recently focused their capital spending on reducing pollution emissions and, at the same, time increasing production to help pay for those expenditures. In particular, our refineries have completed work to comply with the EPA low sulfur fuel regulations that were required by 2006, which lowered the sulfur content of gasoline and diesel fuel. We incurred capital expenditures from fiscal 2003 through 2006 related to this compliance of $88.1 million for our Laurel, Montana refinery and $328.7 million for NCRA’s McPherson, Kansas refinery. The EPA has passed a regulation that requires the reduction of the benzene level in gasoline to be less than 0.62% volume by January 1, 2011. As a result of this regulation, our refineries will incur capital expenditures to reduce the current gasoline benzene levels to the regulated levels. We anticipate the combined capital expenditures for our Laurel, Montana and NCRA refineries to be approximately $134 million, of which $33 million has been spent through August 31, 2009.

 

Competition.  The petroleum refining and wholesale fuels business is very competitive. Among our competitors are some of the world’s largest integrated petroleum companies, which have their own crude oil supplies, distribution and marketing systems. We also compete with smaller domestic refiners and marketers in the midwestern and northwestern United States, with foreign refiners who import products into the United States and with producers and marketers in other industries supplying other forms of energy and fuels to consumers. Given the commodity nature of the end products, profitability in the refining and marketing industry depends largely on margins, as well as operating efficiency, product mix and costs of product distribution and transportation. The retail gasoline market is highly competitive, with much larger competitors that have greater brand recognition and distribution outlets throughout the country and the world. Our owned and non-owned retail outlets are located primarily in the northwestern, midwestern and southern United States.

 

We market refined fuels, motor gasoline and distillate products in five principal geographic areas. The first area includes the midwest and northern plains. Competition at the wholesale level in this area includes the major oil companies ConocoPhillips, Valero and Citgo, independent refiners including Flint Hills Resources and Growmark, Inc., and wholesale brokers/suppliers including Western Petroleum Company. This area has a robust spot market and is influenced by the large refinery center along the gulf coast.

 

To the east of the midwest and northern plains is another unique marketing area. This area centers near Chicago, Illinois and includes eastern Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana. CHS principally competes with the

major oil companies Marathon, BP Amoco and ExxonMobil, independent refineries including Flint Hills Resources and Growmark, Inc., and wholesale brokers/suppliers including U.S. Oil.

 

Another market area is located south of Chicago, Illinois. Most of this area includes Arkansas, Missouri and the northern part of Texas. Competition in this area includes the major oil companies Valero and ExxonMobil, and independent refiners including Lion. This area is principally supplied from the Gulf coast refinery center and is also driven by a strong spot market that reacts quickly to changes in the international and national supply balance.

 

Another geographic area includes Montana, western North Dakota, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, Colorado and western South Dakota. Competition at the wholesale level in this area include the major oil companies ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips, and independent refiners including Frontier Refining and Sinclair. This area is also noted for being fairly well balanced in demand and supply, but is typically influenced by Canadian refined fuels moving into the U.S. through terminals in Canada and by rail from independent Canadian refiners.

 

The last area includes much of Washington and Oregon. We compete with the major oil companies Tesoro, BP Amoco and Chevron in this area. This area is also known for volatile prices and an active spot market.

 

Summary Operating Results

 

Summary operating results and identifiable assets for our Energy segment for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 are shown below:

 

 

Our Ag Business segment includes agronomy, country operations and grain marketing. Revenues in our Ag Business segment primarily include grain sales of $13.0 billion, after elimination of inter-segment revenues.

 

Agronomy

 

Overview

 

Through our fiscal year ended August 31, 2007, we conducted our wholesale, and some of our retail, agronomy operations through our 50% ownership interest in Agriliance LLC (Agriliance), in which Land O’Lakes, Inc. (Land O’Lakes) holds the other 50% ownership interest. Prior to September 2007, Agriliance

was one of North America’s largest wholesale distributors of crop nutrients, crop protection products and other agronomy products based upon annual sales. Our 50% ownership interest in Agriliance is treated as an equity method investment, and therefore, Agriliance’s revenues and expenses are not reflected in our operating results. At August 31, 2009, our equity investment in Agriliance was $80.4 million.

 

In September 2007, Agriliance distributed the assets of the crop nutrients business to us, and the assets of the crop protection business to Land O’Lakes. Due to our 50% ownership interest in Agriliance and the 50% ownership interest of Land O’Lakes, each company was entitled to receive 50% of the distributions from Agriliance. Given the different preliminary values assigned to the assets of the crop nutrients and the crop protection businesses of Agriliance, at the closing of the distribution transactions Land O’Lakes owed us $133.5 million. Land O’Lakes paid us $32.6 million in cash, and in order to maintain equal capital accounts in Agriliance, they also paid down certain portions of Agriliance’s debt on our behalf in the amount of $100.9 million. Values of the distributed assets were finalized after the closing, and in October 2007, we made a true-up payment to Land O’Lakes in the amount of $45.7 million, plus interest. During fiscal 2009, the final true-up amount was determined, and we received $0.9 million from Land O’Lakes.

 

The distribution of assets we received from Agriliance for the crop nutrients business had a book value of $248.2 million. We recorded 50% of the value of the net assets received at book value due to our ownership interest in those assets when they were held by Agriliance, and 50% of the value of the net assets at fair value using the purchase method of accounting. Values assigned to the net assets distributed to us totaled $268.7 million.

 

Agriliance continues to exist as a 50-50 joint venture and primarily operates and sells agronomy products on a retail basis. Subsequent to the end of fiscal 2009, we have, along with Land O’Lakes, sold or reached agreement to sell a substantial number of the Agriliance retail facilities to various third parties, as well as to us and to Land O’Lakes. Sales which have not yet closed are anticipated to close on or before November 30, 2009. We expect to receive cash distributions from Agriliance for proceeds related to these transactions of approximately $50.0 million, net of what we pay for the assets we acquire. We are still attempting to reposition the remaining Agriliance facilities located primarily in Florida.

 

After a fiscal 2005 initial public offering (IPO) transaction for CF Industries, Inc., a crop nutrients manufacturer and distributor, we held an ownership interest in the post-IPO company named CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF) of approximately 3.9% or 2,150,396 shares. During our year ended August 31, 2007, we sold 540,000 shares of our CF stock for proceeds of $10.9 million, and recorded a pretax gain of $5.3 million, reducing our ownership in CF to approximately 2.9%. During the year ended August 31, 2008, we sold our remaining 1,610,396 shares of CF stock for proceeds of $108.3 million and recorded a pretax gain of $91.7 million.

 

There is significant seasonality in the sale of agronomy products and services, with peak activity coinciding with the planting and input seasons. There is also significant volatility in the prices for the crop nutrient products we purchase and sell.

 

Operations

 

Our wholesale crop nutrients business sells approximately 5.8 million tons of fertilizer annually, based on an average of fiscal years 2009 and 2008, making it one of the largest wholesale fertilizer operations in the United States based on tons sold. Product is either delivered directly to the customer from the manufacturer, or through our 15 inland or river warehouse terminals and other non-owned storage facilities located throughout the country. In addition, our Galveston, Texas deep water port and terminal receives fertilizer by vessel from originations such as the Middle East and Caribbean basin where less expensive natural gas tends to give a price advantage over domestically produced fertilizer. The fertilizer is then shipped by rail to destinations within crop producing regions of the country. Based on fertilizer market data, our wholesale crop nutrients, sales account for approximately 11% of the U.S. market.

Primary suppliers for our wholesale crop nutrients business include CF, Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan, Mosaic, Koch Industries, Yara, PIC (Kuwait) and Sabic America. During the year ended August 31, 2009, CF was the largest supplier of crop nutrients to us.

 

Products and Services

 

Our wholesale crop nutrients business sells nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulfate based products. During the year ended August 31, 2009, the primary crop nutrients products purchased by us were urea, potash, UAN, phosphates and ammonia.

 

Sales and Marketing; Customers

 

Our wholesale crop nutrients business sells product to approximately 2,100 local retailers from New York to the west coast and from the Canadian border to Texas. Our largest customers include Agriliance retail operations and our own country operations business, also included in our Ag Business segment. Many of the customers of our crop nutrients business are also customers of our Energy segment or suppliers to our grain marketing business.

 

Industry; Competition

 

Regulation.  Our wholesale crop nutrients operations are subject to laws and related regulations and rules designed to protect the environment that are administered by the EPA, the Department of Transportation and similar government agencies. These laws, regulations and rules govern the discharge of materials to the environment, air and water; reporting storage of hazardous wastes; the transportation, handling and disposition of wastes; and the labeling of pesticides and similar substances. Failure to comply with these laws, regulations and rules could subject us to administrative penalties, injunctive relief, civil remedies and possible recalls of products. We believe that we are in compliance with these laws, regulations and rules in all material respects and do not expect continued compliance to have a material effect on our capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position.

 

Competition.  The wholesale distribution of crop nutrients products is highly competitive and dependent upon relationships with local cooperatives and private retailers, proximity to the customer and competitive pricing. We compete with other large agronomy distributors, as well as other regional or local distributors, retailers and manufacturers. Major competitors in crop nutrients distribution include Koch Industries, Agrium, Terra Industries and a variety of traders and brokers.

 

Country Operations

 

Overview

 

Our country operations business purchases a variety of grains from our producer members and other third parties, and provides cooperative members and producers with access to a full range of products and services including farm supplies and programs for crop and livestock production. Country operations operates 382 locations dispersed throughout Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota and Washington. Most of these locations purchase grain from farmers and sell agronomy products, energy products, feed and seed to those same producers and others, although not all locations provide every product and service.

 

Products and Services

 

Grain Purchasing.  We are one of the largest country elevator operators in North America based on revenues. Through a majority of our elevator locations, our country operations business purchases grain from member and non-member producers and other elevators and grain dealers. Most of the grain purchased is either sold through our grain marketing operations or used for local feed and processing operations. For the year ended August 31, 2009, country operations purchased approximately 418 million bushels of grain,

primarily wheat, corn and soybeans. Of these bushels, 389 million were purchased from members and 280 million were sold through our grain marketing operations.

 

Other Products.  Our country operations business manufactures and sells other products, both directly and through ownership interests in other entities. These include seed, crop nutrients, crop protection products, energy products, animal feed, animal health products and processed sunflowers. We sell agronomy products at 235 locations, feed products at 153 locations and energy products at 154 locations.

 

Industry; Competition

 

Regulation.  Our country operations business is subject to laws and related regulations and rules designed to protect the environment that are; administered by the EPA, the Department of Transportation and similar government agencies. These laws, regulations and rules govern the discharge of materials to the environment, air and water; reporting storage of hazardous wastes; the transportation, handling and disposition of wastes; and the labeling of pesticides and similar substances. Our country operations business is also subject to laws and related regulations and rules administered by the United States Department of Agriculture, the United States Food and Drug Administration, and other federal, state, local and foreign governmental agencies that govern the processing, packaging, storage, distribution, advertising, labeling, quality and safety of feed and grain products. Failure to comply with these laws, regulations and rules could subject us to administrative penalties, injunctive relief, civil remedies and possible recalls of products. We believe that we are in compliance with these laws, regulations and rules in all material respects and do not expect continued compliance to have a material effect on our capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position.

 

Competition.  We compete primarily on the basis of price, services and patronage. Competitors for the purchase of grain include Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), Cargill, Incorporated (Cargill), local cooperatives and smaller private grain companies and processors at the majority of our locations in our trade territory, as previously defined in the “Overview.” In addition, Columbia Grain is also our competitor in Montana and North Dakota.

 

Competitors for our farm supply businesses include Cargill, Agrium, Simplot, Helena, Wilbur Ellis, local cooperatives and smaller private companies at the majority of locations throughout our trade territory. In addition, Land O’Lakes Purina Feed, Hubbard Milling, ADM and Cargill are our major competitors for the sale of feed products.

 

Grain Marketing

 

Overview

 

We are the nation’s largest cooperative marketer of grain and oilseed based on grain storage capacity and grain sales, handling almost 1.8 billion bushels annually. During fiscal 2009, we purchased approximately 56% of our total grain volumes from individual and cooperative association members and our country operations business, with the balance purchased from third parties. We arrange for the transportation of the grains either directly to customers or to our owned or leased grain terminals and elevators awaiting delivery to domestic and foreign purchasers. We primarily conduct our grain marketing operations directly, but do conduct some of our business through joint ventures.

 

Operations

 

Our grain marketing operations purchases grain directly and indirectly from agricultural producers primarily in the midwestern and western United States. The purchased grain is typically contracted for sale for future delivery at a specified location, and we are responsible for handling the grain and arranging for its transportation to that location. The sale of grain is recorded after title to the commodity has transferred and final weights, grades and settlement price have been agreed upon. Amounts billed to the customer as part of a sales transaction include the costs for shipping and handling. Our ability to arrange efficient transportation, including loading capabilities onto unit trains, ocean-going vessels and barges, is a significant part of the services we offer to our customers. Rail, vessel, barge and truck transportation is carried out by third parties,

often under long-term freight agreements with us. Grain intended for export is usually shipped by rail or barge to an export terminal, where it is loaded onto ocean-going vessels. Grain intended for domestic use is usually shipped by rail or truck to various locations throughout the country.

 

We own and operate export terminals, river terminals and elevators involved in the handling and transport of grain. Our river terminals are used to load grain onto barges for shipment to both domestic and export customers via the Mississippi River system. These river terminals are located at Savage and Winona, Minnesota and Davenport, Iowa, as well as terminals in which we have put-through agreements located at St. Louis, Missouri and Beardstown and Havana, Illinois. Our export terminal at Superior, Wisconsin provides access to the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway, and our export terminal at Myrtle Grove, Louisiana serves the gulf market. In the Pacific Northwest, we conduct our grain marketing operations through United Harvest, LLC (a 50% joint venture with United Grain Corporation, a subsidiary of Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (Mitsui)), and TEMCO, LLC (a 50% joint venture with Cargill). United Harvest, LLC, operates grain terminals in Vancouver and Kalama, Washington, and primarily exports wheat. TEMCO, LLC operates an export terminal in Tacoma, Washington, and primarily exports corn and soybeans. These facilities serve the Pacific market, as well as domestic grain customers in the western United States. We also own two 110-car shuttle-receiving elevator facilities in Friona, Texas and Collins, Mississippi that serve large-scale feeder cattle, dairy and poultry producers in those regions.

 

In 2003, we opened an office in Sao Paulo, Brazil for the procurement of soybeans for our grain marketing operations international customers. During the year ended August 31, 2007, we invested $22.2 million in Multigrain AG (Multigrain) for a 37.5% equity position in a Brazil-based grain handling and merchandising company, Multigrain S.A., an agricultural commodities business headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The venture, which includes grain storage and export facilities, builds on our South American soybean origination and helps meet customer needs year-round. During the year ended August 31, 2008, we increased our equity position through a purchase from an existing equity holder for $10.0 million, and also invested an additional $30.3 million which was used by Multigrain to invest in a joint venture that acquired production farmland and related operations, which include production of soybeans, corn, cotton and sugarcane, as well as cotton processing, at four locations. During fiscal 2009, we invested $76.3 million for Multigrain’s increased capital needs resulting from expansion of their operations. Our current ownership interest in Multigrain is 39.35%.

 

We have opened additional international offices between July 2007 and August 2009. These include Geneva, Switzerland; Kiev, Ukraine; and Vostok, Russia for sourcing and marketing grains and oilseeds through the Black Sea and Mediterranean Basin regions to customers worldwide. We have announced our commitment to invest approximately $30 million in a construction project in the port of Odessa, Ukraine, with the resulting port facility to have a grain storage capacity of 120,000 metric tons, and the ability to load Panamax vessels at a pace of 20,000 metric tons per day. Offices in Hong Kong and Shanghai, China serve Pacific Rim customers receiving grains and oilseeds from our origination points in North and South America. The most recent grain merchandising office opened during fiscal 2009 is located in Barcelona, Spain, and subsequent to our fiscal year ended August 31, 2009, we opened another office in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

 

Our grain marketing operations may have significant working capital needs, at any time, depending on commodity prices and other factors. The amount of borrowings for this purpose, and the interest rate charged on those borrowings, directly affects the profitability of our grain marketing operations.

 

Products and Services

 

Our grain marketing operations purchased approximately 1.8 billion bushels of grain during the year ended August 31, 2009, which primarily included corn, soybeans, wheat and distillers dried grains (DDGs). Of the total grains purchased by our grain marketing operations, 698 million bushels were from our individual and cooperative association members, 280 million bushels were from our country operations business and the remainder was from third parties.

Sales and Marketing; Customers

 

Purchasers of our grain and oilseed include domestic and foreign millers, maltsters, feeders, crushers and other processors. To a much lesser extent purchasers include intermediaries and distributors. Our grain marketing operations are not dependent on any one customer, and its supply relationships call for delivery of grain at prevailing market prices.

 

Industry; Competition

 

Regulation.  Our grain marketing operations are subject to laws and related regulations and rules designed to protect the environment that are administered by the EPA, the Department of Transportation and similar government agencies. These laws, regulations and rules govern the discharge of materials to environment, air and water; reporting storage of hazardous wastes; and the transportation, handling and disposition of wastes. Our grain marketing operations are also subject to laws and related regulations and rules administered by the United States Department of Agriculture, the United States Food and Drug Administration, and other federal, state, local and foreign governmental agencies that govern the processing, packaging, storage, distribution, advertising, labeling, quality and safety of food and grain products. Failure to comply with these laws, regulations and rules could subject us to administrative penalties, injunctive relief, civil remedies and possible recalls of products. We believe that we are in compliance with these laws, regulations and rules in all material respects and do not expect continued compliance to have a material effect on our capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position.

 

Competition.  Our grain marketing operations compete for both the purchase and the sale of grain. Competition is intense and margins are low. Some competitors are integrated food producers, which may also be customers. A few major competitors have substantially greater financial resources than we have.

 

In the purchase of grain from producers, location of a delivery facility is a prime consideration, but producers are increasingly willing to transport grain longer distances for sale. Price is affected by the capabilities of the facility; for example, if it is cheaper to deliver to a customer by unit train than by truck, a facility with unit train capabilities provides a price advantage. We believe that our relationships with individual members serviced by our local country operations locations and with our cooperative members give us a broad origination capability.

 

Our grain marketing operations compete for grain sales based on price, services and ability to provide the desired quantity and quality of grains. Location of facilities is a major factor in the ability to compete. Our grain marketing operations compete with numerous grain merchandisers, including major grain merchandising companies such as ADM, Cargill, Bunge and Louis Dreyfus, each of which handle significant grain volumes.

 

The results of our grain marketing operations may be adversely affected by relative levels of supply and demand, both domestic and international, commodity price levels (including grain prices reported on national markets) and transportation costs and conditions. Supply is affected by weather conditions, disease, insect damage, acreage planted and government regulations and policies. Demand may be affected by foreign governments and their programs, relationships of foreign countries with the United States, the affluence of foreign countries, acts of war, currency exchange fluctuations and substitution of commodities. Demand may also be affected by changes in eating habits, population growth, the level of per capita consumption of some products and the level of renewable fuels production.

Summary Operating Results

 

Summary operating results and identifiable assets for our Ag Business segment for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 are shown below:

 

 

Overview

 

Our Processing segment converts raw agricultural commodities into ingredients for finished food products or into finished consumer food products. We have focused on areas that allow us to utilize the products supplied by our member producers. These areas currently include oilseed processing and our joint ventures in wheat milling and foods.

 

Regulation.  Our Processing segment’s operations are subject to laws and related regulations and rules designed to protect the environment that are administered by the EPA, the Department of Transportation and similar government agencies. These laws, regulations and rules govern the discharge of materials to environment, air and water; reporting storage of hazardous wastes; and the transportation, handling and disposition of wastes. Our Processing segment’s operations are also subject to laws and related regulations and rules administered by the United States Department of Agriculture, the United States Food and Drug Administration, and other federal, state, local and foreign governmental agencies that govern the processing, packaging, storage, distribution, advertising, labeling, quality and safety of food and grain products. Failure to comply with these laws, regulations and rules could subject us, or our foods partners to administrative penalties, injunctive relief, civil remedies and possible recalls of products. We believe that we are in compliance with these laws, regulations and rules in all material respects and do not expect continued compliance to have a material effect on our capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position.

 

Oilseed Processing

 

Our oilseed processing operations convert soybeans into soybean meal, soyflour, crude soybean oil, refined soybean oil and associated by-products. These operations are conducted at a facility in Mankato, Minnesota that can crush approximately 40 million bushels of soybeans on an annual basis, producing approximately 960,000 short tons of soybean meal and 460 million pounds of crude soybean oil. The same facility is able to process approximately 1 billion pounds of refined soybean oil annually. Another crushing facility in Fairmont, Minnesota has a crushing capacity of over 45 million bushels of soybeans on an annual basis.

Our oilseed processing operations produce three primary products: refined oils, soybean meal and soyflour. Refined oils are used in processed foods, such as margarine, shortening, salad dressings and baked goods, as well as methyl ester/biodiesel production, and to a lesser extent, for certain industrial uses such as plastics, inks and paints. Soybean meal has high protein content and is used for feeding livestock. Soyflour is used in the baking industry, as a milk replacement in animal feed and in industrial applications. We produce approximately 60,000 tons of soyflour annually, and approximately 20% is further processed at our manufacturing facility in Hutchinson, Kansas, which was a business acquisition in April 2008. This facility manufactures unflavored and flavored textured soy proteins used in human and pet food products, and accounted for approximately 2% of our oilseed processing annual sales in fiscal 2009.

 

Our soy processing facilities are located in areas with a strong production base of soybeans and end-user market for the meal and soyflour. We purchase virtually all of our soybeans from members. Our oilseed crushing operations currently produce approximately 95% of the crude soybean oil that we refine, and purchase the balance from outside suppliers.

 

Our customers for refined oil are principally large food product companies located throughout the United States. However, over 50% of our customers are located in the midwest due to relatively lower freight costs and slightly higher profitability potential. Our largest customer for refined oil products is Ventura Foods, LLC (Ventura Foods), in which we hold a 50% ownership interest and with which we have a long-term supply agreement to supply minimum quantities of edible soybean oils as long as we maintain a minimum 25.5% ownership interest and our price is competitive with other suppliers of the product. Our sales to Ventura Foods accounted for 22% of our soybean oil sold. We also sell soymeal to about 350 customers, primarily feed lots and feed mills in southern Minnesota. In fiscal 2009, Commodity Specialists Company accounted for 18% of our soymeal sold. We sell soyflour to customers in the baking industry both domestically and for export.

 

The refined soybean products industry is highly competitive. Major industry competitors include ADM, Cargill, Ag Processing Inc. and Bunge. These and other competitors have acquired other processors, expanded existing plants or constructed new plants, both domestically and internationally. Price, transportation costs, services and product quality drive competition. We estimate that we have a market share of approximately 4% to 5% of the domestic refined soybean oil and also the domestic soybean crushing capacity.

 

Soybeans are a commodity and their price can fluctuate significantly depending on production levels, demand for the products and other supply factors.

 

Wheat Milling

 

In January 2002, we formed a joint venture with Cargill named Horizon Milling, LLC (Horizon Milling), in which we hold an ownership interest of 24%, with Cargill owning the remaining 76%. Horizon Milling is the largest U.S. wheat miller based on output volume. We own five mills that we lease to Horizon Milling. Sales and purchases of wheat and durum by us to Horizon Milling during fiscal 2009 were $395.8 million and $2.7 million, respectively. Horizon Milling’s advance payments on grain to us were $15.1 million on August 31, 2009, and are included in customer advance payments on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. We account for Horizon Milling using the equity method of accounting and on August 31, 2009, our investment was $57.0 million. On August 31, 2009, our net book value of assets leased to Horizon Milling was $65.3 million.

 

During the year ended August 31, 2007, we invested $15.6 million in Horizon Milling G.P. (24% CHS ownership with Cargill owning the remaining 76%), a joint venture that acquired the Canadian grain-based foodservice and industrial businesses of Smucker Foods of Canada, which includes three flour milling operations and two dry baking mixing facilities in Canada. During the year ended August 31, 2008, we invested an additional $1.9 million in Horizon Milling G.P. We account for the investment using the equity method of accounting and on August 31, 2009, our investment was $19.1 million.

Foods

 

Our primary focus in the foods area is Ventura Foods, LLC (Ventura Foods) which produces and distributes vegetable oil-based products such as margarine, salad dressing and other food products. Ventura Foods was created in 1996, and is owned 50% by us and 50% by Wilsey Foods, Inc., a majority owned subsidiary of Mitsui. We account for our Ventura Foods investment under the equity method of accounting and on August 31, 2009, our investment was $245.5 million.

 

Ventura Foods manufactures, packages, distributes and markets bulk margarine, salad dressings, mayonnaise, salad oils, syrups, soup bases and sauces, many of which utilize soybean oil as a primary ingredient. Approximately 40% of Ventura Foods’ volume, based on sales, comes from products for which Ventura Foods owns the brand, and the remainder comes from products that it produces for third parties. A variety of Ventura Foods’ product formulations and processes are proprietary to it or its customers. Ventura Foods is the largest manufacturer of margarine for the foodservice sector in the U.S. and is a major producer of many other products.

 

Ventura Foods currently has 11 manufacturing and distribution locations across the United States. Ventura Foods sources its raw materials, which consist primarily of soybean oil, canola oil, cottonseed oil, peanut oil and other ingredients and supplies, from various national suppliers, including our oilseed processing operations. It sells the products it manufactures to third parties as a contract manufacturer, as well as directly to retailers, food distribution companies and large institutional food service companies. Ventura Foods sales are approximately 60% in foodservice and the remainder is split between retail and industrial customers who use edible oil products as ingredients in foods they manufacture for resale. During Ventura Foods’ 2009 fiscal year, Sysco accounted for 23% of its net sales.

 

Ventura Foods competes with a variety of large companies in the food manufacturing industry. Major competitors include ADM, Cargill, Bunge, Unilever, ConAgra, ACH Food Companies, Smuckers, Kraft and CF Sauer, Ken’s, Marzetti and Nestle.

 

Renewable Fuels

 

In fiscal 2006, we purchased $70.0 million of common stock in US BioEnergy, an ethanol production company, representing an approximate 24% ownership interest on August 31, 2006. During the year ended August 31, 2007, we made additional investments of $45.4 million. In December 2006, US BioEnergy completed an IPO, and the effect of the issuance of additional shares of its stock was to dilute our ownership interest from approximately 25% to 21%. In addition, on August 29, 2007, US BioEnergy completed an acquisition with total aggregate net consideration comprised of the issuance of US BioEnergy common stock and cash. Due to US BioEnergy’s increase in equity, primarily from these two transactions, we recognized a non-cash net gain of $15.3 million on our investment during the year ended August 31, 2007, to reflect our proportionate share of the increase in the underlying equity of US BioEnergy. During the first quarter of fiscal 2008, we purchased additional shares of US BioEnergy common stock for $6.5 million. Through March 31, 2008, we were recognizing our share of the earnings of US BioEnergy, using the equity method of accounting. Effective April 1, 2008, US BioEnergy and VeraSun Energy Corporation (VeraSun) completed a merger, and our ownership interest in the combined entity was reduced to approximately 8%, compared to an approximate 20% interest in US BioEnergy prior to the merger. As part of the merger transaction, our shares held in US BioEnergy were converted to shares held in the surviving company, VeraSun, at 0.810 per share. As a result of our change in ownership interest, we no longer had significant influence, and therefore, no longer accounted for VeraSun using the equity method. Due to the continued decline of the ethanol industry and other considerations, we determined that an impairment of our VeraSun investment was necessary during fiscal 2008, and as a result, based on VeraSun’s market value of $5.76 per share on August 29, 2008, an impairment charge of $71.7 million was recorded in loss (gain) on investments. Subsequent to August 31, 2008, the market value of VeraSun’s stock price continued to decline, and on October 31, 2008, VeraSun filed for relief under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Consequently, we determined an additional impairment was necessary based on VeraSun’s market value of $0.28 per share on November 3, 2008, and recorded an impairment charge of $70.7 million during our first quarter of fiscal 2009. Due to the outcome of the VeraSun

bankruptcy, during the third quarter of fiscal 2009, we wrote off the remaining investment of $3.6 million. The impairments did not affect our cash flows and did not have a bearing upon our compliance with any covenants under our credit facilities.

 

Summary Operating Results

 

Summary operating results and identifiable assets for our Processing segment for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 are shown below:

 

 

Business Solutions

 

Financial Services.  We have provided open account financing to approximately 100 of our members that are cooperatives (cooperative association members) in the past year. These arrangements involve the discretionary extension of credit in the form of a clearing account for settlement of grain purchases and as a cash management tool.

 

Cofina Financial, LLC.  Cofina Financial, LLC (Cofina Financial), a finance company formed in fiscal 2005, makes seasonal and term loans to member cooperatives and individuals. Through August 31, 2008, we accounted for our 49% ownership interest in Cofina Financial using the equity method of accounting. On September 1, 2008, Cofina Financial became a wholly-owned subsidiary when we purchased the remaining 51% ownership interest for $53.3 million, which included cash of $48.5 million and the assumption of certain liabilities of $4.8 million.

 

Country Hedging, Inc.  Our wholly-owned subsidiary, Country Hedging, Inc., is a registered futures commission merchant and a clearing member of both the Minneapolis Grain Exchange and the Kansas City Board of Trade, and is also a full-service commodity futures and options broker.

 

Ag States Group.  Our wholly-owned subsidiary, Ag States Agency, LLC, is an independent insurance agency. It sells insurance, including group benefits, property and casualty, and bonding programs. Its approximately 2,000 customers are primarily agricultural businesses, including local cooperatives and independent elevators, petroleum outlets, agronomy, feed and seed plants, implement dealers, fruit and vegetable packers/warehouses and food processors. Impact Risk Solutions, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ag States Agency, LLC, conducts the insurance brokerage business of Ag States Group.

 

When we enter into a commodity purchase or sales commitment, we incur risks related to price change and performance (including delivery, quality, quantity and shipment period). We are exposed to risk of loss in the market value of positions held, consisting of inventory and purchase contracts at a fixed or partially fixed price in the event market prices decrease. We are also exposed to risk of loss on our fixed price or partially fixed price sales contracts in the event market prices increase.

 

Our hedging activities reduce the effects of price volatility, thereby protecting against adverse short-term price movements, but also limit the benefits of short-term price movements. To reduce the price change risks associated with holding fixed price commitments, we generally take opposite and offsetting positions by entering into commodity futures contracts or options, to the extent practical, in order to arrive at a net commodity position within the formal position limits we have established and deemed prudent for each commodity. These contracts are purchased and sold on regulated commodity futures exchanges for grain, and regulated mercantile exchanges for refined products and crude oil. We also use over-the-counter (OTC) instruments to hedge our exposure on flat price fluctuations. The price risk we encounter for crude oil and most of the grain and oilseed volume we handle can be hedged. Price risk associated with fertilizer and certain grains cannot be hedged because there are no futures for these commodities and, as a result, risk is managed through the use of forward sales contracts and other pricing arrangements and, to some extent, cross-commodity futures hedging. These contracts are economic hedges of price risk, but are not designated or accounted for as hedging instruments for accounting purposes in any of our operations. They are recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair values based on quotes listed on regulated commodity exchanges or are based on the market prices of the underlying products listed on the exchanges, with the exception of fertilizer and propane contracts, which are accounted for as normal purchase and normal sales transactions. Unrealized gains and losses on these contracts are recognized in cost of goods sold in our Consolidated Statements of Operations using market-based prices.

 

When a futures contract is entered into, an initial margin deposit must be sent to the applicable exchange or broker. The amount of the deposit is set by the exchange and varies by commodity. If the market price of a short futures contract increases, then an additional maintenance margin deposit would be required. Similarly, if the price of a long futures contract decreases, a maintenance margin deposit would be required and sent to the applicable exchange. Subsequent price changes could require additional maintenance margins or could result in the return of maintenance margins.

 

Our policy is to primarily maintain hedged positions in grain and oilseed. Our profitability from operations is primarily derived from margins on products sold and grain merchandised, not from hedging transactions. At any one time, inventory and purchase contracts for delivery to us may be substantial. We have risk management policies and procedures that include net position limits. These limits are defined for each commodity and include both trader and management limits. This policy and computerized procedures in our grain marketing operations require a review by operations management when any trader is outside of position limits and also a review by our senior management if operating areas are outside of position limits. A similar process is used in our energy and wholesale crop nutrients operations. The position limits are reviewed, at least annually, with our management and Board of Directors. We monitor current market conditions and may expand or reduce our net position limits or procedures in response to changes in those conditions. In addition, all purchase and sales contracts are subject to credit approvals and appropriate terms and conditions.

 

Hedging arrangements do not protect against nonperformance by counterparties to contracts. We primarily use exchange traded instruments, which minimizes our counterparty exposure. We evaluate that exposure by reviewing contracts and adjusting the values to reflect potential nonperformance. Risk of nonperformance by counterparties includes the inability to perform because of a counterparty’s financial condition and also the risk that the counterparty will refuse to perform on a contract during periods of price fluctuations where contract prices are significantly different than the current market prices. We manage our risks by entering into fixed price purchase and sales contracts with preapproved producers and by establishing appropriate limits for individual suppliers. Fixed price contracts are entered into with customers of acceptable creditworthiness, as internally evaluated. Historically, we have not experienced significant events of nonperformance on open

contracts. Accordingly, we only adjust the estimated fair values of specifically identified contracts for nonperformance. Although we have established policies and procedures, we make no assurances that historical nonperformance experience will carry forward to future periods.

 

On August 31, 2009, we had 8,802 full, part-time, temporary and seasonal employees, which included approximately 650 employees of NCRA. Of that total, 2,856 were employed in our Energy segment, 4,367 in our country operations business (including approximately 1,182 seasonal and temporary employees), 190 in our crop nutrients operations, 620 in our grain marketing operations, 323 in our Processing segment and 446 in Corporate and Other. In addition to those employed directly by us, many employees work for joint ventures in which we have a 50% or less ownership interest, and are not included in these totals. A portion of all of our segments and Corporate and Other are employed in this manner.

 

Employees in certain areas are represented by collective bargaining agreements. Refinery and pipeline workers in Laurel, Montana are represented by agreements with two separate unions. The United Steel Worker (USW) Union Local 11-443 represents 200 refinery employees for which agreements are in place through February 1, 2012 and the Oil Basin Pipeliners Union (OBP) represents 18 pipeline employees for which agreements are in place through September 1, 2011. The contracts covering the NCRA McPherson, Kansas refinery include 306 employees represented by the United Steel Workers of America (USWA) that are in place through June 2012. There are approximately 168 employees in transportation and lubricant plant operations that are covered by other collective bargaining agreements that expire at various times. Certain production workers in our oilseed processing operations are subject to collective bargaining agreements with the Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco Worker and Grain Millers (BTWGM) (120 employees) and the Pipefitters’ Union (2 employees), for which negotiations are ongoing regarding contracts which expired in June 2009, with plant operations continuing under the provisions of the expired contracts. The BTWGM also represents 43 employees at our Superior, Wisconsin grain export terminal with a contract expiring in 2010. The USWA represents 80 employees at our Myrtle Grove, Louisiana grain export terminal with a contract expiring in 2010, the Teamsters represent 7 employees at our Winona, Minnesota river terminal with a contract expiring in 2011, the Chauffeurs, Teamsters, Warehousemen and Helpers unions represent 4 employees at our Indianapolis, Indiana crop nutrients facility with a contract expiring in December 2012 and the International Longshoremen’s and Warehousemen’s Union (ILWU) represents 32 employees at our Kalama, Washington export terminal with a contract in place through 2009. Finally, certain employees in our country operations business are represented by collective bargaining agreements with two unions: the BTWGM represents 19 employees in two locations, with contracts expiring in December 2011 and June 2010, and the United Food and Commercial Workers represents 7 employees with a contract expiring in July 2011.

 

Introduction

 

We are an agricultural membership cooperative organized under Minnesota cooperative law to do business with member and non-member patrons. Our patrons, not us, are subject to income taxes on income from patronage sources, which is distributed to them. We are subject to income taxes on undistributed patronage income and non-patronage-sourced income. See “— Tax Treatment” below.

 

Distribution of Net Income; Patronage Dividends

 

We are required by our organizational documents annually to distribute net earnings derived from patronage business with members, after payment of dividends on equity capital, to members on the basis of patronage, except that the Board of Directors may elect to retain and add to our unallocated capital reserve an amount not to exceed 10% of the distributable net income from patronage business. We may also distribute net income derived from patronage business with a non-member if we have agreed to conduct business with the

non-member on a patronage basis. Net income from non-patronage business may be distributed to members or added to the unallocated capital reserve, in whatever proportions the Board of Directors deems appropriate.

 

These distributions, referred to as “patronage dividends,” may be made in cash, patrons’ equities, revolving fund certificates, our securities, securities of others or any combination designated by the Board of Directors. From fiscal 1998 and through fiscal 2005, the Board of Directors approved the distributed patronage dividends to be in the form of 30% cash and 70% patrons’ equities (see “— Patrons’ Equities” below). For fiscal 2006 through 2009, the Board of Directors approved the distribution of patronage dividends in the form of 35% cash and 65% patrons’ equities. The Board of Directors may change the mix in the form of the patronage dividends in the future. In making distributions, the Board of Directors may use any method of allocation that, in its judgment, is reasonable and equitable.

 

Patronage dividends distributed during the years ended August 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, were $648.9 million ($227.6 million in cash), $557.2 million ($195.0 million in cash) and $379.9 million ($133.1 million in cash), respectively.

 

By action of the Board of Directors, patronage losses incurred in fiscal 2009 from our wholesale crop nutrients business, totaling approximately $60.0 million, will be offset against the fiscal 2008 wholesale crop nutrients and CF patronage through the cancellation of capital equity certificates.

 

Patrons’ Equities

 

Patrons’ equities are in the form of book entries and represent a right to receive cash or other property when we redeem them. Patrons’ equities form part of our capital, do not bear interest, and are not subject to redemption upon request of a member. Patrons’ equities are redeemable only at the discretion of the Board of Directors and in accordance with the terms of the redemption policy adopted by the Board of Directors, which may be modified at any time without member consent. Redemptions of capital equity certificates approved by the Board of Directors are divided into two pools, one for non-individuals (primarily member cooperatives) who may participate in an annual pro-rata program for equities held by them and another for individuals who are eligible for equity redemptions at age 70 or upon death. The amount that each non-individual receives under the pro-rata program in any year will be determined by multiplying the dollars available for pro-rata redemptions, if any that year, as determined by the Board of Directors, by a fraction, the numerator of which is the face value of patronage certificates eligible for redemption held by them, and the denominator of which is the sum of the patronage certificates eligible for redemption held by all eligible holders of patronage certificates that are not individuals. In addition to the annual pro-rata program, the Board of Directors approved additional equity redemptions to non-individuals in prior years targeting older capital equity certificates which were redeemed in cash in fiscal 2008 and 2007. In accordance with authorization from the Board of Directors, we expect total redemptions related to the year ended August 31, 2009, that will be distributed in fiscal 2010, to be approximately $50.1 million.

 

Cash redemptions of patrons and other equities during the years ended August 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 were $49.7 million, $81.8 million and $70.8 million, respectively. An additional $49.9 million, $46.4 million and $35.9 million of equities were redeemed by issuance of shares of our 8% Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock during the years ended August 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

Governance

 

We are managed by a Board of Directors of not less than 17 persons elected by the members at our annual meeting. Terms of directors are staggered so that no more than six directors are elected in any year. The Board of Directors is currently comprised of 17 directors. Our articles of incorporation and bylaws may be amended only upon approval of a majority of the votes cast at an annual or special meeting of our members, except for the higher vote described under “— Certain Antitakeover Measures” below.

Membership

 

Membership in CHS is restricted to certain producers of agricultural products and to associations of producers of agricultural products that are organized and operating so as to adhere to the provisions of the Agricultural Marketing Act and the Capper-Volstead Act, as amended. The Board of Directors may establish other qualifications for membership, as it may from time to time deem advisable.

 

As a membership cooperative, we do not have common stock. We may issue equity or debt instruments, on a patronage basis or otherwise, to our members. We have two classes of outstanding membership. Individual members are individuals actually engaged in the production of agricultural products. Cooperative associations are associations of agricultural producers and may be either cooperatives or other associations organized and operated under the provisions of the Agricultural Marketing Act and the Capper-Volstead Act, as amended.

 

Voting Rights

 

Voting rights arise by virtue of membership in CHS, not because of ownership of any equity or debt instruments. Members that are cooperative associations are entitled to vote based upon a formula that takes into account the equity held by the cooperative in CHS and the average amount of business done with us over the previous three years.

 

Members who are individuals are entitled to one vote each. Individual members may exercise their voting power directly or through patrons’ associations affiliated with a grain elevator, feed mill, seed plant or any other of our facilities (with certain historical exceptions) recognized by the Board of Directors. The number of votes of patrons’ associations is determined under the same formula as cooperative association members.

 

Most matters submitted to a vote of the members require the approval of a majority of the votes cast at a meeting of the members, although certain actions require a greater vote. See “— Certain Antitakeover Measures” below.

 

Debt and Equity Instruments

 

We may issue debt and equity instruments to our current members and patrons, on a patronage basis or otherwise, and to persons who are neither members nor patrons. Capital Equity Certificates issued by us are subject to a first lien in favor of us for all indebtedness of the holder to us. On August 31, 2009, our outstanding capital includes patrons’ equities (consisting of Capital Equity Certificates and Non-patronage Equity Certificates), 8% Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock and certain capital reserves.

 

Distribution of Assets upon Dissolution; Merger and Consolidation

 

In the event of our dissolution, liquidation or winding up, whether voluntary or involuntary, all of our debts and liabilities would be paid first according to their respective priorities. After such payment, the holders of each share of our preferred stock would then be entitled to receive out of available assets, up to $25.00 per share, plus all dividends accumulated and unpaid on that share, whether or not declared, to and including the date of distribution. This distribution to the holders of our preferred stock would be made before any payment is made or assets distributed to the holders of any security that ranks junior to the preferred stock but after the payment of the liquidation preference of any of our securities that rank senior to the preferred stock. After such distribution to the holders of equity capital, any excess would be paid to patrons on the basis of their past patronage with us. Our bylaws provide for the allocation among our members and nonmember patrons of the consideration received in any merger or consolidation to which we are a party.

 

Certain Antitakeover Measures

 

Our governing documents may be amended upon the approval of a majority of the votes cast at an annual or special meeting. However, if the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, declares that a proposed amendment to our governing documents involves or is related to a “hostile takeover,” the amendment must be adopted by 80% of the total voting power of our members.

The approval of not less than two-thirds of the votes cast at a meeting is required to approve a “change of control” transaction which would include a merger, consolidation, liquidation, dissolution or sale of all or substantially all of our assets. If the Board of Directors determines that a proposed change of control transaction involves a hostile takeover, the 80% approval requirement applies. The term “hostile takeover” is not further defined in the Minnesota cooperative law or our governing documents.

 

Tax Treatment

 

Subchapter T of the Internal Revenue Code sets forth rules for the tax treatment of cooperatives and applies to both cooperatives exempt from taxation under Section 521 of the Internal Revenue Code and to nonexempt corporations operating on a cooperative basis. We are a nonexempt cooperative.

 

As a cooperative, we are not taxed on qualified patronage (minimum cash requirement of 20%) allocated to our members either in the form of equities or cash. Consequently, those amounts are taxed only at the patron level. However, the amounts of any allocated but undistributed patronage earnings (called non-qualified unit retains) are taxable to us when allocated. Upon redemption of any non-qualified unit retains, the amount is deductible to us and taxable to the member.

 

Income derived by us from non-patronage sources is not entitled to the “single tax” benefit of Subchapter T and is taxed to us at corporate income tax rates.

 

NCRA is not consolidated for tax purposes.

 

 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT FOR PURPOSES OF THE SAFE HARBOR PROVISIONS
OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995

 

The information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2009, includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to CHS. In addition, CHS and its representatives and agents may from time to time make other written or oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and its reports to its members and securityholders. Words and phrases such as “will likely result,” “are expected to,” “is anticipated,” “estimate,” “project” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. We wish to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made.

 

Our forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. This Cautionary Statement is for the purpose of qualifying for the “safe harbor” provisions of the Act and is intended to be a readily available written document that contains factors which could cause results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The following matters, among others, may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations or prospects, financial or otherwise. Reference to this Cautionary Statement in the context of a forward-looking statement shall be deemed to be a statement that any one or more of the following factors may cause actual results to differ materially from those which might be projected, forecasted, estimated or budgeted by us in the forward-looking statement or statements.

 

The following factors are in addition to any other cautionary statements, written or oral, which may be made or referred to in connection with any particular forward-looking statement. The following review should not be construed as exhaustive.

 

We undertake no obligation to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.

Our revenues and operating results could be adversely affected by changes in commodity prices.

 

Our revenues, earnings and cash flows are affected by market prices for commodities such as crude oil, natural gas, fertilizer, grain, oilseed, flour and crude and refined vegetable oils. Commodity prices generally are affected by a wide range of factors beyond our control, including weather, disease, insect damage, drought, the availability and adequacy of supply, government regulation and policies, and general political and economic conditions. We are also exposed to fluctuating commodity prices as the result of our inventories of commodities, typically grain, fertilizer and petroleum products, and purchase and sale contracts at fixed or partially fixed prices. At any time, our inventory levels and unfulfilled fixed or partially fixed price contract obligations may be substantial. In addition, we are exposed to the risk of nonperformance by counterparties to contracts. Risk of nonperformance by counterparties includes the inability to perform because of a counterparty’s financial condition and also the risk that the counterparty will refuse to perform a contract during a period of price fluctuations where contract prices are significantly different than the current market prices. Increases in market prices for commodities that we purchase without a corresponding increase in the prices of our products or our sales volume or a decrease in our other operating expenses could reduce our revenues and net income.

 

In our energy operations, profitability depends largely on the margin between the cost of crude oil that we refine and the selling prices that we obtain for our refined products. Although the prices for crude oil reached historical highs during 2008, the prices for both crude oil and for gasoline, diesel fuel and other refined petroleum products fluctuate widely. Factors influencing these prices, many of which are beyond our control, include:

 

 

The long-term effects of these and other conditions on the prices of crude oil and refined petroleum products are uncertain and ever-changing. Increases in crude oil prices without a corresponding increase in the prices of our refined petroleum products could reduce our net income. Accordingly, we expect our margins on, and the profitability of our energy business to fluctuate, possibly significantly, over time.

 

Our operating results could be adversely affected if our members were to do business with others rather than with us.

 

We do not have an exclusive relationship with our members and our members are not obligated to supply us with their products or purchase products from us. Our members often have a variety of distribution outlets and product sources available to them. If our members were to sell their products to other purchasers or purchase products from other sellers, our revenues would decline and our results of operations could be adversely affected.

We participate in highly competitive business markets in which we may not be able to continue to compete successfully.

 

We operate in several highly competitive business segments and our competitors may succeed in developing new or enhanced products that are better than ours, and may be more successful in marketing and selling their products than we are with ours. Competitive factors include price, service level, proximity to markets, product quality and marketing. In some of our business segments, such as Energy, we compete with companies that are larger, better known and have greater marketing, financial, personnel and other resources. As a result, we may not be able to continue to compete successfully with our competitors.

 

Changes in federal income tax laws or in our tax status could increase our tax liability and reduce our net income.

 

Current federal income tax laws, regulations and interpretations regarding the taxation of cooperatives, which allow us to exclude income generated through business with or for a member (patronage income) from our taxable income, could be changed. If this occurred, or if in the future we were not eligible to be taxed as a cooperative, our tax liability would significantly increase and our net income significantly decrease.

 

We incur significant costs in complying with applicable laws and regulations. Any failure to make the capital investments necessary to comply with these laws and regulations could expose us to financial liability.

 

We are subject to numerous federal, state and local provisions regulating our business and operations and we incur and expect to incur significant capital and operating expenses to comply with these laws and regulations. We may be unable to pass on those expenses to customers without experiencing volume and margin losses. For example, capital expenditures for upgrading our refineries, largely to comply with regulations requiring the reduction of sulfur levels in refined petroleum products, were completed in fiscal 2006. We incurred capital expenditures from fiscal years 2003 through 2006 related to these upgrades of $88.1 million for our Laurel, Montana refinery and $328.7 million for the National Cooperative Refinery Association’s (NCRA) McPherson, Kansas refinery. The Environmental Protection Agency has passed a regulation that requires the reduction of the benzene level in gasoline to be less than 0.62% volume by January 1, 2011. As a result of this regulation, our refineries will incur capital expenditures to reduce the current gasoline benzene levels to the regulated levels. We anticipate the combined capital expenditures for our Laurel, Montana and NCRA refineries to be approximately $134 million, of which $33 million has been spent through August 31, 2009.

 

We establish reserves for the future cost of known compliance obligations, such as remediation of identified environmental issues. However, these reserves may prove inadequate to meet our actual liability. Moreover, amended, new or more stringent requirements, stricter interpretations of existing requirements or the future discovery of currently unknown compliance issues may require us to make material expenditures or subject us to liabilities that we currently do not anticipate. Furthermore, our failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations could subject us to administrative penalties and injunctive relief, civil remedies including fines and injunctions, and recalls of our products.

 

Regulations and/or proposed legislation governing green house gas (GHG) emissions could adversely affect our results and financial condition.

 

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently adopted regulations under the Clean Air Act requiring the owners of certain facilities to measure and report their GHG emissions. The regulations apply to our refineries and may also apply to other facilities which we own. The EPA may, in the future, limit GHG emissions. Also, proposed legislation is being considered by Congress to regulate GHG emissions which may include cap and trade provisions or a carbon tax. These regulations and proposed legislation could result in additional costs or a reduction in earnings to us and could have a material adverse affect on our results and financial condition.

Environmental liabilities could adversely affect our results and financial condition.

 

Many of our current and former facilities have been in operation for many years and, over that time, we and other operators of those facilities have generated, used, stored and disposed of substances or wastes that are or might be considered hazardous under applicable environmental laws, including liquid fertilizers, chemicals and fuels stored in underground and above-ground tanks. Any past or future actions in violation of applicable environmental laws could subject us to administrative penalties, fines and injunctions. Moreover, future or unknown past releases of hazardous substances could subject us to private lawsuits claiming damages and to adverse publicity. Liabilities, including legal costs, related to remediation of contaminated properties are not recognized until the related costs are considered probable and can be reasonable estimated.

 

Actual or perceived quality, safety or health risks associated with our products could subject us to liability and damage our business and reputation.

 

If any of our food or feed products became adulterated or misbranded, we would need to recall those items and could experience product liability claims if consumers were injured as a result. A widespread product recall or a significant product liability judgment could cause our products to be unavailable for a period of time or a loss of consumer confidence in our products. Even if a product liability claim is unsuccessful or is not fully pursued, the negative publicity surrounding any assertion that our products caused illness or injury could adversely affect our reputation with existing and potential customers and our corporate and brand image. Moreover, claims or liabilities of this sort might not be covered by our insurance or by any rights of indemnity or contribution that we may have against others. In addition, general public perceptions regarding the quality, safety or health risks associated with particular food or feed products, such as concerns regarding genetically modified crops, could reduce demand and prices for some of the products associated with our businesses. To the extent that consumer preferences evolve away from products that our members or we produce for health or other reasons, such as the growing demand for organic food products, and we are unable to develop products that satisfy new consumer preferences, there will be a decreased demand for our products.

 

Our operations are subject to business interruptions and casualty losses; we do not insure against all potential losses and could be seriously harmed by unexpected liabilities.

 

Our operations are subject to business interruptions due to unanticipated events such as explosions, fires, pipeline interruptions, transportation delays, equipment failures, crude oil or refined product spills, inclement weather and labor disputes. For example:

 

 

We maintain insurance coverages against many, but not all potential losses or liabilities arising from these operating hazards, but uninsured losses or losses above our coverage limits are possible. Uninsured losses and liabilities arising from operating hazards could have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.

Our cooperative structure limits our ability to access equity capital.

 

As a cooperative, we may not sell common stock in our company. In addition, existing laws and our articles of incorporation and bylaws contain limitations on dividends of 8% of any preferred stock that we may issue. These limitations restrict our ability to raise equity capital and may adversely affect our ability to compete with enterprises that do not face similar restrictions.

 

Consolidation among the producers of products we purchase and customers for products we sell could adversely affect our revenues and operating results.

 

Consolidation has occurred among the producers of products we purchase, including crude oil, fertilizer and grain, and it is likely to continue in the future. Consolidation could increase the price of these products and allow suppliers to negotiate pricing, supply availability and other contract terms that are less favorable to us. Consolidation also may increase the competition among consumers of these products to enter into supply relationships with a smaller number of producers resulting in potentially higher prices for the products we purchase.

 

Consolidation among purchasers of our products and in wholesale and retail distribution channels has resulted in a smaller customer base for our products and intensified the competition for these customers. For example, ongoing consolidation among distributors and brokers of food products and food retailers has altered the buying patterns of these businesses, as they have increasingly elected to work with product suppliers who can meet their needs nationwide rather than just regionally or locally. If these distributors, brokers and retailers elect not to purchase our products, our sales volumes, revenues and profitability could be significantly reduced.

 

In the fertilizer market, consolidation at both the producer and customer level increases the threat of direct sales from the producer to the consumer.

 

If our customers choose alternatives to our refined petroleum products our revenues and profits may decline.

 

Numerous alternative energy sources currently under development could serve as alternatives to our gasoline, diesel fuel and other refined petroleum products. If any of these alternative products become more economically viable or preferable to our products for environmental or other reasons, demand for our energy products would decline. Demand for our gasoline, diesel fuel and other refined petroleum products also could be adversely affected by increased fuel efficiencies.

 

Operating results from our agronomy business could be volatile and are dependent upon certain factors outside of our control.

 

Planted acreage, and consequently the volume of fertilizer and crop protection products applied, is partially dependent upon government programs, grain prices and the perception held by the producer of demand for production. Weather conditions during the spring planting season and early summer spraying season also affect agronomy product volumes and profitability.

 

Technological improvements in agriculture could decrease the demand for our agronomy and energy products.

 

Technological advances in agriculture could decrease the demand for crop nutrients, energy and other crop input products and services that we provide. Genetically engineered seeds that resist disease and insects, or that meet certain nutritional requirements, could affect the demand for our crop nutrients and crop protection products. Demand for fuel that we sell could decline as technology allows for more efficient usage of equipment.

We operate some of our business through joint ventures in which our rights to control business decisions are limited.

 

Several parts of our business, including in particular, portions of our grain marketing, wheat milling and foods operations, are operated through joint ventures with third parties. By operating a business through a joint venture, we have less control over business decisions than we have in our wholly-owned or majority-owned businesses. In particular, we generally cannot act on major business initiatives in our joint ventures without the consent of the other party or parties in those ventures.

 

 

As of August 31, 2009, there were no unresolved comments from the Securities and Exchange Commission staff regarding our periodic or current reports.

 

 

We own or lease energy, agronomy, grain handling and processing facilities throughout the United States. Below is a summary of these locations.

 

Energy

 

Facilities in our Energy segment include the following, all of which are owned except where indicated as leased:

 

We have a 74.5% interest in NCRA, which owns and operates the following facilities:

 

 

Ag Business

 

Within our Ag Business segment, we own or lease the following facilities:

 

Crop Nutrients

 

We use ports and terminals in our crop nutrients operations at the following locations:

 

Briggs, Indiana (terminal, owned)
Crescent City, Illinois (terminal, owned)
Crestline, Ohio (terminal, owned)
Fostoria, Ohio (terminal, owned)
Galveston, Texas (deep water port, land leased from port authority)
Grand Forks, North Dakota (terminal, owned)
Green Bay, Wisconsin (terminal, owned)
Indianapolis, Indiana (terminal, leased)
Little Rock, Arkansas (river terminal, leased)
Memphis, Tennessee (river terminal, owned)
Muscatine, Iowa (river terminal, owned)
Post Falls, Idaho (terminal, owned)
St. Paul, Minnesota (river terminal, owned)
Watertown, South Dakota (terminal, owned)
Winona, Minnesota (2 river terminals, owned)

 

Country Operations

 

In our country operations business, we own 369 agri-operations locations (of which some of the facilities are on leased land), 10 feed manufacturing facilities and 3 sunflower plants located in Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota and Washington.

 

Grain Marketing

 

We use grain terminals in our grain marketing operations at the following locations:

 

Collins, Mississippi (owned)
Davenport, Iowa (2 owned)
Friona, Texas (owned)
Kalama, Washington (leased)
Myrtle Grove, Louisiana (owned)
Savage, Minnesota (owned)
Spokane, Washington (owned)
Superior, Wisconsin (owned)
Winona, Minnesota (1 owned, 1 leased)

 

In addition to office space at our corporate headquarters, we have grain marketing offices at the following leased locations:

 

Barcelona, Spain
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Davenport, Iowa
Geneva, Switzerland
Hong Kong
Kansas City, Missouri
Kiev, Ukraine
Lincoln, Nebraska
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Shanghai, China
Vostok, Russia
Winona, Minnesota

 

Processing

 

Within our Processing segment, we own and lease the following facilities:

 

Oilseed Processing

 

We own a campus in Mankato, Minnesota, comprised of a soybean crushing plant, an oilseed refinery, a soyflour plant, a quality control laboratory and an administration office. We also own a crushing plant in Fairmont, Minnesota. In addition, we own a textured soy protein manufacturing plant in Hutchinson, Kansas.

 

Wheat Milling

 

We own five milling facilities at the following locations, all of which are leased to Horizon Milling:

 

Fairmount, North Dakota
Houston, Texas
Kenosha, Wisconsin
Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania
Rush City, Minnesota

 

Corporate and Other

 

Business Solutions

 

In addition to office space at our corporate headquarters, we have offices at the following leased locations:

 

Houston, Texas (Ag States Group)
Indianapolis, Indiana (Ag States Group and Country Hedging, Inc.)
Kansas City, Missouri (Country Hedging, Inc.)
Kewanee, Illinois (Ag States Group)

 

Corporate Headquarters

 

We are headquartered in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. We own a 33-acre campus consisting of one main building with approximately 320,000 square feet of office space and two smaller buildings with approximately 13,400 and 9,000 square feet of space.

 

Our internet address is www.chsinc.com.

 

We are involved as a defendant in various lawsuits, claims and disputes, which are in the normal course of our business. The resolution of any such matters may affect consolidated net income for any fiscal period; however, our management believes any resulting liabilities, individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows during any fiscal year.

 

In October 2003, we and NCRA reached agreements with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the State of Montana’s Department of Environmental Quality and the State of Kansas Department of Health and Environment, regarding the terms of settlements with respect to reducing air emissions at our Laurel, Montana and NCRA’s McPherson, Kansas refineries. These settlements are part of a series of similar settlements that the EPA has negotiated with major refiners under the EPA’s Petroleum Refinery Initiative. The settlements take the form of consent decrees filed with the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana (Billings Division) and the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas. Each consent decree details potential capital improvements, supplemental environmental projects and operational changes that we and NCRA have agreed to implement at the relevant refinery over several years. The consent decrees also required us, and NCRA, to pay approximately $0.5 million in aggregate civil cash penalties. As of August 31, 2009, the aggregate capital expenditures for us and NCRA related to these settlements was approximately $37 million, and we anticipate spending an additional $3 million over the next few years. We do not believe that the settlements will have a material adverse affect on us or NCRA.

 

 

None.

 

 

We have approximately 65,000 members, of which approximately 1,400 are cooperative association members and approximately 63,600 are individual members. As a cooperative, we do not have any common stock that is traded.

 

On August 31, 2009, we had 10,976,107 shares of 8% Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock outstanding, which is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol CHSCP.

 

We have not sold any equity securities during the three years ended August 31, 2009, that were not registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

 

The selected financial information below has been derived from our consolidated financial statements for the years ended August 31. The selected consolidated financial information for August 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this filing. In May 2005, we sold the majority of our Mexican foods business and have recorded the Mexican foods business as discontinued operations.

Summary Consolidated Financial Data

 

The selected financial information below has been derived from our three business segments, and Corporate and Other, for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007. The intercompany revenues between segments were $294.3 million, $359.8 million and $247.7 million for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

Summary Financial Data By Business Segment

 

 

 

Overview

 

The following discussions of financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the accompanying audited financial statements and notes to such statements and the cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements found in Part I, Item 1A of this Form 10-K. This discussion contains forward-looking statements based on current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections of our management. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, as more fully described in the cautionary statement and elsewhere in this Form 10-K.

 

CHS Inc. (CHS, we or us) is a diversified company, which provides grain, foods and energy resources to businesses and consumers on a global basis. As a cooperative, we are owned by farmers, ranchers and their member cooperatives across the United States. We also have preferred stockholders that own shares of our 8% Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock.

 

We provide a full range of production agricultural inputs such as refined fuels, propane, farm supplies, animal nutrition and agronomy products, as well as services, which include hedging, financing and insurance. We own and operate petroleum refineries and pipelines and market and distribute refined fuels and other energy products under the Cenex^® brand through a network of member cooperatives and independent retailers. We purchase grains and oilseeds directly and indirectly from agricultural producers primarily in the midwestern and western United States. These grains and oilseeds are either sold to domestic and international customers, or further processed into a variety of grain-based food products.

 

We have aligned our segments based on an assessment of how our businesses operate and the products and services they sell. Our three segments: Energy, Ag Business and Processing, create vertical integration to link producers with consumers. Our Energy segment produces and provides primarily for the wholesale distribution of petroleum products and transports those products. Our Ag Business segment purchases and resells grains and oilseeds originated by our country operations business, by our member cooperatives and by third parties, and also serves as wholesaler and retailer of crop inputs. Our Processing segment converts grains and oilseeds into value-added products.

 

Summary data for each of our segments for the fiscal years ended August 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, is provided in Item 6 “Selected Financial Data.” Except as otherwise specified, references to years indicate our fiscal year ended August 31, 2009, or ended August 31 of the year referenced.

 

Corporate administrative expenses are allocated to all three segments, and Corporate and Other, based on either direct usage for services that can be tracked, such as information technology and legal, and other factors or considerations relevant to the costs incurred.

 

Many of our business activities are highly seasonal and operating results will vary throughout the year. Overall, our income is generally lowest during the second fiscal quarter and highest during the third fiscal quarter. Our segments are subject to varying seasonal fluctuations. For example, in our Ag Business segment, our retail agronomy, wholesale crop nutrients and country operations businesses generally experience higher volumes and income during the spring planting season and in the fall, which corresponds to harvest. Also in our Ag Business segment, our grain marketing operations are subject to fluctuations in volume and earnings based on producer harvests, world grain prices and demand. Our Energy segment generally experiences higher volumes and profitability in certain operating areas, such as refined products, in the summer and early fall when gasoline and diesel fuel usage is highest and is subject to global supply and demand forces. Other energy products, such as propane, may experience higher volumes and profitability during the winter heating and crop drying seasons.

 

Our revenues, assets and cash flows can be significantly affected by global market prices for commodities such as petroleum products, natural gas, grains, oilseeds, crop nutrients and flour. Changes in market prices for commodities that we purchase without a corresponding change in the selling prices of those products can

affect revenues and operating earnings. Commodity prices are affected by a wide range of factors beyond our control, including the weather, crop damage due to disease or insects, drought, the availability and adequacy of supply, government regulations and policies, world events, and general political and economic conditions.

 

While our revenues and operating results are derived from businesses and operations which are wholly-owned and majority-owned, a portion of our business operations are conducted through companies in which we hold ownership interests of 50% or less and do not control the operations. We account for these investments primarily using the equity method of accounting, wherein we record our proportionate share of income or loss reported by the entity as equity income from investments, without consolidating the revenues and expenses of the entity in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. These investments principally include our 50% ownership in each of the following companies: Agriliance LLC (Agriliance), TEMCO, LLC (TEMCO) and United Harvest, LLC (United Harvest), and our 39.35% ownership in Multigrain S.A. included in our Ag Business segment; our 50% ownership in Ventura Foods, LLC (Ventura Foods), our 24% ownership in Horizon Milling, LLC (Horizon Milling) and Horizon Milling G.P., included in our Processing segment.

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of CHS and all of our wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries, including the National Cooperative Refinery Association (NCRA), which is in our Energy segment. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

 

Recent Events

 

We have explored with Land O’Lakes, Inc. (Land O’Lakes), the repositioning options of the Agriliance retail business. Subsequent to the end of fiscal 2009, we have, along with Land O’Lakes, sold or reached agreement to sell a substantial number of the Agriliance retail facilities to various third parties, as well as to us and to Land O’Lakes. Sales which have not yet closed are anticipated to close on or before November 30, 2009. We expect to receive cash distributions from Agriliance for proceeds related to these transactions of approximately $50.0 million, net of what we pay for the assets we acquire. We are still attempting to reposition the remaining Agriliance facilities located primarily in Florida.

 

Results of Operations

 

Comparison of the years ended August 31, 2009 and 2008

 

General.  We recorded income before income taxes of $443.9 million in fiscal 2009 compared to $874.6 million in fiscal 2008, a decrease of $430.7 million (49%). These results reflected decreased pretax earnings in our Ag Business segment, and Corporate and Other, while our Energy and Processing segments reflected increased pretax earnings.

 

Our Energy segment generated income before income taxes of $359.6 million for the year ended August 31, 2009 compared to $299.7 million in fiscal 2008. This increase in earnings of $59.9 million (20%) is primarily from higher margins on refined fuels mostly from our Laurel, Montana refinery, where during fiscal 2008 we completed a coker project along with other refinery improvements, which allowed us to extract a greater volume of high value gasoline and diesel fuel and less relatively low value asphalt. In addition, during fiscal 2009, we sold 180,000 shares of our NYMEX Holdings common stock for proceeds of $16.1 million and recorded a pretax gain of $15.7 million. Earnings in propane and petroleum equipment businesses also improved during fiscal 2009 compared to fiscal 2008, while our lubricants, transportation and renewable fuels marketing operations experienced lower earnings.

 

Our Ag Business segment generated income before income taxes of $73.1 million for the year ended August 31, 2009 compared to $568.3 million in fiscal 2008, a decrease in earnings of $495.2 million (87%). During fiscal 2008, we sold all of our remaining 1,610,396 shares of CF Industries Holdings, Inc. (CF) stock, a domestic fertilizer manufacturer, in which we held a minority interest, and for which we received proceeds of $108.3 million and recorded a pretax gain of $91.7 million. During the first quarter of fiscal 2008, we received the crop nutrients business of Agriliance, an agronomy joint venture in which we hold a 50% interest, through a distribution of assets to us. Prior to the distribution, we reflected 50% of these earnings through our equity income from our investment in Agriliance. Due to the distribution by Agriliance of the wholesale and

some of the retail businesses to us and Land O’Lakes, the operating performance remaining within the Agriliance operations for fiscal 2009 and 2008 is primarily their retail business. Earnings from our wholesale crop nutrients business are $235.8 million less for fiscal 2009 compared with fiscal 2008. The market for crop nutrients products fell significantly during fiscal 2009 as fertilizer prices, an input to grain production, followed the declining grain prices. During the late fall of 2008, rains impeded the application of fertilizer during that time period, and as a result, we had a higher quantity of inventories on hand at the end of our first fiscal quarter than is typical at that time of year. Because there are no futures contracts or other derivatives that can be used to hedge fertilizer inventories and contracts effectively, an inventory long position with falling prices, creates losses. Depreciation in fertilizer prices continued throughout fiscal 2009, which had the affect of dramatically reducing gross margins on this product. The 2009 spring fertilizer volumes also declined compared to the prior year because of inclement weather that again delayed the application season, and because producers were reluctant to buy fertilizer when the price was still in a rapid decline. This situation was just the opposite during fiscal 2008, when fertilizer prices appreciated rapidly, and the market produced significantly higher margins on inventory that had been purchased at relatively low prices. To reflect our wholesale crop nutrients inventories at net realizable values, we made lower-of-cost or market adjustments during fiscal 2009 totaling approximately $92 million, of which $8.6 million remained at August 31, 2009. Reduced performance by Agriliance, partially offset by a net gain on the sale of a Canadian agronomy equity investment, resulted in a $10.6 million net decrease in earnings from these investments, net of allocated internal expenses. As previously discussed, we anticipate the repositioning of the majority of the remaining Agriliance retail operations to occur during fiscal 2010. Our grain marketing earnings decreased by $123.0 million during fiscal 2009 when compared to fiscal 2008, primarily the result of lower grain margins and reduced earnings from joint ventures. Volatility in the grain markets created exceptional opportunities for grain margins during fiscal 2008, and reduced demand as a result of the world-wide recession lessened those opportunities during fiscal 2009. Our country operations earnings decreased $34.1 million, primarily as a result of reduced grain and crop nutrients margins.

 

Our Processing segment generated income before income taxes of $4.1 million for the year ended August 31, 2009, compared to a net loss of $5.8 million in fiscal 2008, an improvement in earnings of $9.9 million. Our share of losses, net of allocated internal expenses, related to US BioEnergy Corporation (US BioEnergy), an ethanol manufacturing company in which we held a minority ownership interest, increased $4.1 million for fiscal 2009 compared to fiscal 2008. Effective April 1, 2008, US BioEnergy and VeraSun Energy Corporation (VeraSun) completed a merger, and as a result of our change in ownership interest, we no longer had significant influence, and therefore no longer accounted for VeraSun, the surviving entity, using the equity method. During fiscal 2009, we reflected a $74.3 million loss on our investment in VeraSun, which declared bankruptcy in October 2008. The write-off eliminated our remaining investment in that company, as we had reflected an impairment of $71.7 million during fiscal 2008, based on the market value of the VeraSun stock on August 31, 2008. Further discussion is contained below in “Loss (Gain) on Investments.” Oilseed processing earnings decreased $14.5 million during fiscal 2009 compared to fiscal 2008, primarily due to reduced margins and volumes in our crushing operations, partially offset by improved margins in our refining operations. Our share of earnings from our wheat milling joint ventures, net of allocated internal expenses, decreased $19.0 million in fiscal 2009 compared to fiscal 2008, primarily the result of reduced margins on the products sold. Our share of earnings from Ventura Foods, our packaged foods joint venture, net of allocated internal expenses, reflected an increase of $47.5 million during fiscal 2009 compared to fiscal 2008, primarily as the result of decreased commodity prices for inputs, improving margins on the products sold.

 

Corporate and Other generated income before income taxes of $7.2 million for the year ended August 31, 2009 compared to $12.3 million in fiscal 2008, which represented a decrease in earnings of $5.1 million (42%). This decrease in earnings is attributable to our business solutions’ financial and hedging services, due to less activity and our insurance services, due to a soft insurance market.

 

Net Income.  Consolidated net income for the year ended August 31, 2009 was $381.4 million compared to $803.0 million for the year ended August 31, 2008, which represented a $421.6 million (53%) decrease.

Revenues.  Consolidated revenues of $25.7 billion for the year ended August 31, 2009 compared to $32.2 billion for the year ended August 31, 2008, which represented a $6.5 billion (20%) decrease.

 

Total revenues include “other revenues” generated primarily within our Ag Business segment and Corporate and Other. Our Ag Business segment’s country operations elevators and agri-service centers derive other revenues from activities related to production agriculture, which include grain storage, grain cleaning, fertilizer spreading, crop protection spraying and other services of this nature, and our grain marketing operations receive other revenues at our export terminals from activities related to loading vessels. Corporate and Other derives revenues primarily from our financing, hedging and insurance operations.

 

Our Energy segment revenues, after elimination of intersegment revenues, of $7.4 billion decreased by $3.8 billion (34%) during the year ended August 31, 2009 compared to fiscal 2008. During the years ended August 31, 2009 and 2008, our Energy segment recorded revenues from our Ag Business segment of $251.6 million and $322.5 million, respectively, which are eliminated as part of the consolidation process. The net decrease in revenues of $3.8 billion is comprised of a net decrease of $3.2 billion related to lower prices on refined fuels, propane and renewable fuels marketing products and $0.6 billion, primarily related to a decrease in sales volume in our renewable fuels marketing operations. Refined fuels revenues decreased $3.0 billion (38%), of which $2.8 billion was related to a net average selling price decrease and $149.8 million was attributable to slightly decreased volumes, compared to fiscal 2008. The average selling price of refined fuels decreased $1.07 per gallon (36%) and volumes decreased 2% when comparing fiscal 2009 with fiscal 2008. Renewable fuels marketing revenues decreased $549.7 million (48%), mostly from a 35% decrease in volumes, coupled with a decrease in the average selling price of $0.44 per gallon (20%), when compared with fiscal 2008. The decrease in renewable fuels marketing volumes was primarily attributable to the loss of two customers. Propane revenues increased by $7.2 million (1%), of which $145.2 million related to an increase in volumes, partially offset by a decrease of $138.0 million due to a lower average selling price, when compared to fiscal 2008. Propane sales volume increased 20%, while the average selling price decreased $0.23 per gallon (16%) compared to fiscal 2008. The increase in propane volumes primarily reflects increased demand caused by an improved crop drying season, lower prices and a longer home heating season.

 

Our Ag Business segment revenues, after elimination of intersegment revenues, of $17.2 billion decreased $2.5 billion (13%) during the year ended August 31, 2009 compared to fiscal 2008. Grain revenues in our Ag Business segment totaled $13.0 billion and $15.0 billion during the years ended August 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Of the grain revenues decrease of $2.0 billion (13%), $2.3 billion is attributable to decreased average grain selling prices, partially offset by $339.5 million due to increased volumes during fiscal 2009 compared to fiscal 2008. The average sales price of all grain and oilseed commodities sold reflected a decrease of $1.28 per bushel (15%). The average month-end market price per bushel of spring wheat, soybeans and corn decreased approximately $4.55, $2.44 and $1.38, respectively, when compared to the prices of those same grains for fiscal 2008. Volumes increased 2% during fiscal 2009 compared with fiscal 2008. Soybeans reflected a fiscal 2009 fourth quarter volume rally in bushels sold and exceeded last year, partially offset by decreased volumes of wheat, durum and barley, compared to fiscal 2008. Both price declines and relatively flat volumes are reflective of reduced demand as a result of the world-wide recession.

 

In September 2007, we began recording revenues from the distributed crop nutrients business of Agriliance because we now owned 100% of that business, while in the past that investment had been accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Wholesale crop nutrient revenues in our Ag Business segment totaled $2.0 billion and $2.7 billion during the years ended August 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Of the wholesale crop nutrient revenues decrease of $648.6 million (24%), $676.7 million is attributable to decreased volumes, partially offset by $28.1 million due to increased average fertilizer selling prices during fiscal 2009 compared to fiscal 2008. This slightly favorable price variance was created by high priced sales contracts with customers before the collapse in crop nutrient prices in the fall of 2008. The average sales price of all fertilizers sold reflected an increase of $6 per ton (1%) compared with fiscal 2008. Volumes decreased 25% during the year ended August 31, 2009, compared with fiscal 2008, mainly due to higher and volatile fertilizer prices and adverse weather conditions during the fall of 2008 and which continued in the spring of 2009.

Our Ag Business segment non-grain and non-wholesale crop nutrients product revenues of $1.9 billion increased by $34.5 million (2%) during fiscal 2009 compared to fiscal 2008, primarily on account of increased revenues of retail crop nutrients, crop protection, seed, feed and processed sunflower products, partially offset by decreased prices in retail energy. This revenue increase was driven by incremental volumes sold through facilities acquired during fiscal 2009. Other revenues within our Ag Business segment of $209.4 million during fiscal 2009 increased $32.0 million (18%) compared to fiscal 2008, primarily from grain handling and service revenues.

 

Our Processing segment revenues, after elimination of intersegment revenues, of $1.1 billion decreased $159.0 million (12%) during the year ended August 31, 2009 compared to fiscal 2008. Because our wheat milling and packaged foods operations are conducted through non-consolidated joint ventures, sales revenues reported in our Processing segment consist entirely of revenue generated in our oilseed processing operations. Oilseed crushing revenues decreased $103.2 million (15%), of which $82.1 million was due to a 12% net decrease in sales volume and $21.1 million was related to lower average sales prices. Oilseed refining revenues decreased $65.8 million (11%), of which $39.9 million was due to lower average sales prices and $25.9 million was due to a 4% decrease in sales volume. The average selling price of processed soymeal decreased $11 per ton (4%) and the average selling price of refined soybean oil decreased $0.04 per pound (7%) compared to fiscal 2008. The changes in the average selling price of products are primarily driven by the lower market price of soybeans.

 

Cost of Goods Sold.  Consolidated cost of goods sold of $24.8 billion for the year ended August 31, 2009 compared to $31.0 billion for the year ended August 31, 2008, which represents a $6.2 billion (20%) decrease.

 

Our Energy segment cost of goods sold, after elimination of intersegment costs, of $6.9 billion decreased by $3.8 billion (36%) during the year ended August 31, 2009 compared to fiscal 2008. The decrease in cost of goods sold is primarily due to decreased per unit costs for refined fuels products. Specifically, the average cost of refined fuels decreased $1.09 per gallon (38%), while volumes slightly decreased by 2% compared to fiscal 2008. On average, we process approximately 55,000 barrels of crude oil per day at our Laurel, Montana refinery and 80,000 barrels of crude oil per day at NCRA’s McPherson, Kansas refinery. The average cost decrease is primarily related to lower input costs at our two crude oil refineries and lower average prices for the refined products that we purchased for resale compared to fiscal 2008. The aggregate average per unit cost of crude oil purchased for the two refineries decreased 41% compared to fiscal 2008. Renewable fuels marketing costs decreased $545.4 million (48%), mostly from a 35% decrease in volumes driven by the loss of two customers, in addition to a decrease in the average cost of $0.44 per gallon (20%), when compared to fiscal 2008. The average cost of propane decreased $0.24 per gallon (16%), while volumes increased 20% compared to fiscal 2008. The increase in propane volumes primarily reflects increased demand caused by an improved crop drying season, lower prices and a more favorable home heating season.

 

Our Ag Business segment cost of goods sold, after elimination of intersegment costs, of $16.9 billion decreased $2.2 billion (11%) during the year ended August 31, 2009 compared to fiscal 2008. Grain cost of goods sold in our Ag Business segment totaled $12.7 billion and $14.6 billion during the years ended August 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The cost of grains and oilseed procured through our Ag Business segment decreased $1.9 billion (13%) compared to fiscal 2008. This is primarily the result of a $1.24 (15%) decrease in the average cost per bushel, partially offset by a 2% net increase in bushels purchased as compared to fiscal 2008. Wheat, durum and barley volumes decreased while soybeans volumes increased compared to fiscal 2008.

 

In September 2007, we began recording cost of goods sold from the distributed crop nutrients business of Agriliance. Prior to that date, this investment had been accounted for under the equity method of accounting. Wholesale crop nutrients cost of goods sold in our Ag Business segment totaled $2.1 billion and $2.5 billion during the years ended August 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. This decrease of $408.8 million (17%) in wholesale crop nutrients cost of goods sold was partially offset by additional costs of goods sold of approximately $92 million, which was due to a lower-of-cost or market adjustments on inventories. The average cost per ton of fertilizer increased $49 (12%), while net volumes decreased 25% when compared to

fiscal 2008. The net volume decrease is mainly due to higher and volatile prices and inclement fall and spring weather, which made it difficult for farmers to apply fertilizers.

 

Our Ag Business segment cost of goods sold, excluding the cost of grains and wholesale crop nutrients procured through this segment, increased during the year ended August 31, 2009 compared to fiscal 2008, primarily due to volumes sold with our recent acquisitions.

 

Our Processing segment cost of goods sold, after elimination of intersegment costs, of $1.1 billion, decreased $144.2 million (12%) during the year ended August 31, 2009 compared to fiscal 2008, which was primarily due to decreased costs of soybeans and volumes.

 

Marketing, General and Administrative.  Marketing, general and administrative expenses of $355.3 million for the year ended August 31, 2009 increased by $25.3 million (8%) compared to fiscal 2008. The net increase of $25.3 million includes $7.6 million related to consolidating Cofina Financial, expansion of foreign operations within our Ag Business segment, other acquisitions and general inflation.

 

Loss (Gain) on Investments.  We incurred a net loss on investments of $56.3 million for the year ended August 31, 2009, compared to a net gain on investments of $29.2 million during fiscal 2008. During fiscal 2009, we recorded a $74.3 million loss on our investments in VeraSun in our Processing segment due to its bankruptcy, which was partially offset by a gain on investments in our Energy segment as we had sold 180,000 of our shares of NYMEX Holdings common stock for proceeds of $16.1 million and recorded a pretax gain of $15.7 million. Also during fiscal 2009, included in our Ag Business segment, were net gains on investments sold of $2.3 million.

 

As reported in our Ag Business segment for fiscal 2008, we sold all of our remaining shares of CF stock, which generated proceeds of $108.3 million and a pretax gain of $91.7 million. Also during fiscal 2008, included in our Energy and Ag Business segments and Corporate and Other, were other gains on securities sold of $35 thousand, $9.1 million and $0.9 million, respectively. These gains were partially offset by losses on investments of $72.6 million in our Processing segment. During fiscal 2008, we recorded an impairment of our investment in VeraSun of $71.7 million based on VeraSun’s market value of $5.76 per share on August 29, 2008.

 

Interest, net.  Net interest of $70.5 million for the year ended August 31, 2009 decreased $6.0 million (8%) compared to fiscal 2008. Interest expense for the years ended August 31, 2009 and 2008 was $85.7 million and $100.1 million, respectively. The interest expense decrease of $14.4 million (14%) is after the effect of an additional $9.3 million of interest expense resulting from the consolidation of Cofina Financial. Through August 31, 2008, we held a 49% ownership interest in Cofina Financial and accounted for our investment using the equity method of accounting. On September 1, 2008, we purchased the 51% ownership interest held by our joint venture partner. The increase in interest expense related to Cofina Financial to finance its loan portfolio was more than offset by decreases in the average short-term interest rate and short-term borrowing volume used to finance our remaining operations. The average short-term interest rate decreased 3.38% (81%) for loans excluding Cofina Financial, and the average level of short-term borrowings decreased $485.6 million (89%) during the year ended August 31, 2009 compared to fiscal 2008, mostly due to significantly reduced working capital needs resulting from lower commodity prices. For the years ended August 31, 2009 and 2008, we capitalized interest of $5.2 million and $9.8 million, respectively, primarily related to construction projects in our Energy segment. The decrease in capitalized interest reflects the completion of our Laurel, Montana coker project during fiscal 2008. Interest income, generated primarily from marketable securities, was $10.0 million and $13.9 million for the years ended August 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The net decrease in interest income of $3.9 million (28%) was mostly at NCRA within our Energy segment, which primarily relates to marketable securities with interest yields considerably lower than a year ago.

 

Equity Income from Investments.  Equity income from investments of $105.8 million for the year ended August 31, 2009 decreased $44.6 million (30%) compared to fiscal 2008. We record equity income or loss from the investments in which we have an ownership interest of 50% or less and have significant influence, but not control, for our proportionate share of income or loss reported by the entity, without consolidating the

revenues and expenses of the entity in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. The net decrease in equity income from investments was attributable to reduced earnings from investments in our Ag Business and Energy segments, and Corporate and Other of $64.8 million, $1.0 million and $4.7 million, respectively, partially offset by improved net earnings in our Processing segment of $25.9 million.

 

Our Ag Business segment reflected reduced equity investment earnings of $64.8 million. Our share of equity investment earnings or losses in agronomy decreased earnings by $12.2 million, primarily from reduced southern retail margins. During fiscal 2008, our grain marketing export joint ventures generated large earnings due to strong global demand, while fiscal 2009 earnings in these same joint ventures returned to more normal levels, resulting in a net decrease of $51.4 million during fiscal 2009. Our country operations business reported an aggregate decrease in equity investment earnings of $1.2 million from several small equity investments.

 

Our Processing segment reflected improved equity investment earnings of $25.9 million. Ventura Foods, our vegetable oil-based products and packaged foods joint venture, recorded improved equity investment earnings of $47.0 million compared to fiscal 2008. Ventura Foods’ increase in earnings was primarily due to lower commodity prices for inputs, resulting in improved margins on the products sold. Horizon Milling, our domestic and Canadian wheat milling joint ventures, along with a small milling investment, recorded combined reduced equity investment earnings of $19.3 million compared to fiscal 2008. Volatility in the grain markets created wheat procurement opportunities, which increased margins for Horizon Milling during fiscal 2008, and this profit opportunity has been generally limited to normal milling margins during fiscal 2009. During fiscal 2008, we recorded equity earnings of $1.8 million related to US BioEnergy, an ethanol manufacturing company in which we held a minority ownership interest. Effective April 1, 2008, US BioEnergy and VeraSun completed a merger, and as a result of our change in ownership interest we no longer had significant influence and therefore no longer recognized income or losses under the equity method of accounting. At the end of fiscal 2009, we no longer held any investment in this company.

 

Our Energy segment reflected reduced equity investment earnings of $1.0 million related to reduced margins in an equity investment held by NCRA.

 

Corporate and Other reflected reduced equity investment earnings of $4.7 million, as compared to fiscal 2008, primarily due to our consolidation of Cofina Financial which in fiscal 2008 had been reported under the equity method of accounting.

 

Minority Interests.  Minority interests of $59.8 million for the year ended August 31, 2009 decreased by $12.4 million (17%) compared to fiscal 2008. This net decrease was a result of less profitable operations within our majority-owned subsidiaries compared to fiscal 2008. Substantially all minority interests relate to NCRA, an approximately 74.5% owned subsidiary, which we consolidate in our Energy segment.

 

Income Taxes.  Income tax expense of $62.5 million for the year ended August 31, 2009, compared with $71.5 million for fiscal 2008, resulting in effective tax rates of 14.1% and 8.2%, respectively. The federal and state statutory rate applied to nonpatronage business activity was 38.9% for the years ended August 31, 2009 and 2008. The income taxes and effective tax rate vary each year based upon profitability and nonpatronage business activity during each of the comparable years.

 

Comparison of the years ended August 31, 2008 and 2007

 

General.  We recorded income before income taxes of $874.6 million in fiscal 2008 compared to $797.4 million in fiscal 2007, an increase of $77.2 million (10%). These results reflected increased pretax earnings in our Ag Business segment, and Corporate and Other, while our Energy and Processing segments reflected decreased pretax earnings.

 

Our Energy segment generated income before income taxes of $299.7 million for the year ended August 31, 2008 compared to $613.3 million in fiscal 2007. This decrease in earnings of $313.6 million (51%) is primarily from lower margins at the NCRA refinery in McPherson, Kansas and at our Laurel refinery, in addition to reduced margins on refined fuels from a planned major maintenance project, during which time our production was reduced at our Laurel, Montana refinery. Earnings in our lubricants, renewable fuels marketing, propane and transportation businesses improved during fiscal 2008 when compared to fiscal 2007.

Our Ag Business segment generated income before income taxes of $568.3 million for the year ended August 31, 2008 compared to $118.3 million in fiscal 2007, an increase in earnings of $450.0 million (381%). In our first fiscal quarter of 2007, we sold approximately 25% of our investment in CF, a domestic fertilizer manufacturer in which we held a minority interest, for which we received cash of $10.9 million and recorded a gain of $5.3 million. During the first quarter of fiscal 2008, we sold all of our remaining shares of CF stock for proceeds of $108.3 million and recorded a pretax gain of $91.7 million. As previously discussed, during the first quarter of fiscal 2008, we received the crop nutrients business of Agriliance through a distribution of assets to us. This business generated $137.5 million in pretax earnings for fiscal 2008, as the result of strong demand for fertilizer and appreciating prices. Prior to the distribution, we reflected 50% of these earnings through our equity income from our investment in Agriliance. Due to the distribution by Agriliance of the wholesale and some of the retail businesses to us and Land O’Lakes, the operating performance remaining within the Agriliance operations for fiscal 2008 is primarily their retail business. Our share of the remaining agronomy joint venture earnings, net of allocated internal expenses, was $32.0 million less than in fiscal 2007. Strong demand and increased volumes for grain and oilseed products, much of it driven by increased U.S. ethanol production, contributed to improved performances by our country operations and grain marketing businesses. Our country operations earnings increased $74.5 million, primarily as a result of overall improved product margins, including historically high margins on grain and agronomy transactions. Continued market expansion into Colorado, Oklahoma and Kansas also increased country operations volumes. Our grain marketing operations improved earnings by $183.7 million during fiscal 2008 compared with fiscal 2007, primarily from increased grain volumes and improved margins on those grains. Strong earning performances from our joint ventures also contributed to these improved earnings. Volatility in the grain markets creates opportunities for increased grain margins and increased interest in renewable fuels. Changes in transportation costs, and shifting marketing patterns contributed to this volatility.

 

Our Processing segment generated a net loss before income taxes of $5.8 million for the year ended August 31, 2008, compared to income of $53.6 million in fiscal 2007, a decrease in earnings of $59.4 million (111%). Our share of earnings, net of allocated internal expenses, related to US BioEnergy, an ethanol manufacturing company in which we held a minority ownership interest, decreased $96.1 million for fiscal 2008 compared to fiscal 2007. During the fiscal quarter ended August 31, 2008, we recorded an impairment of $71.7 million to our investment in VeraSun, as previously discussed. Effective April 1, 2008, US BioEnergy and VeraSun completed a merger, and as a result of our change in ownership interest we no longer had significant influence, and therefore no longer recognized income or losses under the equity method of accounting. In August 2006, US BioEnergy filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission to register shares of common stock for sale in an initial public offering (IPO), and in December 2006, the IPO was completed. The effect of the issuance of additional shares of US BioEnergy was to dilute our ownership interest down from approximately 25% to 21%. Due to US BioEnergy’s increase in equity, we recognized a non-cash net gain of $15.3 million during fiscal 2007 on our investment to reflect our proportionate share of the increase in the underlying equity of US BioEnergy. Our share of earnings from Ventura Foods, our packaged foods joint venture, net of allocated internal expenses, decreased $15.8 million during fiscal 2008 compared to fiscal 2007, primarily as the result of increased commodity prices reducing margins on the products sold compared to fiscal 2007. Oilseed processing earnings increased $23.5 million during fiscal 2008 compared to fiscal 2007, primarily due to improved margins in our crushing operations, partially offset by slightly reduced margins in our refining operations. Our share of earnings from our wheat milling joint ventures, net of allocated internal expenses, improved by $29.0 million in fiscal 2008 compared to fiscal 2007.

 

Corporate and Other generated income before income taxes of $12.3 million for the year ended August 31, 2008 compared to $12.2 million in fiscal 2007, an increase in earnings of $0.1 million (1%). This improvement was primarily attributable to our business solutions’ financial and hedging services.

 

Net Income.  Consolidated net income for the year ended August 31, 2008 was $803.0 million compared to $756.7 million for the year ended August 31, 2007, which represented a $46.3 million (6%) increase.

 

Revenues.  Consolidated revenues of $32.2 billion for the year ended August 31, 2008 compared to $17.2 billion for the year ended August 31, 2007, which represented a $15.0 billion (87%) increase.

Total revenues include “other revenues” generated primarily within our Ag Business segment and Corporate and Other. Our Ag Business segment’s country operations elevators and agri-service centers derive other revenues from activities related to production agriculture, which include grain storage, grain cleaning, fertilizer spreading, crop protection spraying and other services of this nature, and our grain marketing operations receive other revenues at our export terminals from activities related to loading vessels. Corporate and Other derives revenues primarily from our hedging and insurance operations.

 

Our Energy segment revenues, after elimination of intersegment revenues, of $11.2 billion increased by $3.3 billion (42%) during the year ended August 31, 2008 compared to fiscal 2007. During the years ended August 31, 2008 and 2007, our Energy segment recorded revenues from our Ag Business segment of $322.5 million and $228.9 million, respectively. The net increase in revenues of $3.3 billion is comprised of a net increase of $3.0 billion related to price appreciation, primarily on refined fuels and a $253.7 million net increase in sales volume, primarily on renewable fuels marketing. Refined fuels revenues increased $2.5 billion (46%), of which $2.3 billion was related to a net average selling price increase and $158.3 million was attributable to increased volumes, compared to fiscal 2007. The sales price of refined fuels increased $0.88 per gallon (43%) and volumes increased 2% when comparing fiscal 2008 with fiscal 2007. Higher crude oil prices, strong global demand and limited refining capacity contributed to the increase in refined fuels selling prices. Renewable fuels marketing revenues increased $289.3 million (34%), mostly from a 28% increase in volumes when compared with the same period in the previous year. Propane revenues increased by $148.6 million (25%), of which $199.6 million related to an increase in the net average selling price, and were partially offset by $51.0 million related to a decrease in volumes, when compared to fiscal 2007. Propane sales volume decreased 6% in comparison to the same period of the prior year, while the average selling price increased $0.37 per gallon (34%). Propane prices tend to follow the prices of crude oil and natural gas, both of which increased during fiscal 2008 compared to the same period in 2007. Propane prices are also affected by changes in propane demand and domestic inventory levels. The decrease in propane volumes primarily reflects a loss of crop drying season with less moisture in the fall 2007 harvest and reduced demand due to higher prices.

 

Our Ag Business segment revenues, after elimination of intersegment revenues, of $19.7 billion increased $11.1 billion (130%) during the year ended August 31, 2008 compared to fiscal 2007. Grain revenues in our Ag Business segment totaled $15.0 billion and $7.1 billion during the years ended August 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Of the grain revenues increase of $7.8 billion (110%), $3.6 billion is attributable to increased volumes and $4.2 billion is due to increased average grain selling prices during fiscal 2008 compared to fiscal 2007. The average sales price of all grain and oilseed commodities sold reflected an increase of $3.19 per bushel (59%). The 2007 fall harvest produced good yields throughout most of the United States, with the quality of most grains rated as excellent or good. Despite the good harvest, prices for nearly all grain commodities increased because of strong demand, particularly for corn, which is used as the feedstock for most ethanol plants as well as for livestock feed. The average month-end market price per bushel of spring wheat, soybeans and corn increased approximately $5.62, $5.32 and $1.67, respectively, when compared to the prices of those same grains for fiscal 2007. Volumes increased 32% during fiscal 2008 compared with the same period of a year ago. Corn, wheat, soybeans and barley reflected the largest volume increases compared to fiscal 2007. In September 2007, we began recording revenues from the distributed crop nutrients business of Agriliance reflecting $2.7 billion for fiscal 2008. Our Ag Business segment revenues of $1.8 billion for products other than grain and wholesale crop nutrients increased by $554.2 million (43%) during fiscal 2008 compared to the same period in fiscal 2007, primarily the result of increased revenues of retail crop nutrients, energy, crop protection, feed, seed and processed sunflower products. Other revenues within our Ag Business segment of $177.4 million during fiscal 2008 increased $47.2 million (36%) compared to fiscal 2007, primarily from grain handling and service revenues.

 

Our Processing segment revenues, after elimination of intersegment revenues, of $1.3 billion increased $544.5 million (72%) during the year ended August 31, 2008 compared to fiscal 2007. Because our wheat milling and packaged foods operations are through non-consolidated joint ventures, sales revenues reported in our Processing segment are entirely from our oilseed processing operations. Higher average sales prices of processed oilseed increased revenues by $259.4 million, while processed soybean volumes increased 8%, accounting for an increase in revenues of $51.9 million. Oilseed refining revenues increased $216.6 million

(60%), of which $220.2 million was due to higher average sales prices and were partially offset by $3.6 million due to a less than 1% decrease in sales volume. Oilseed flour revenues increased $8.0 million (49%). The average selling price of processed oilseed increased $124 per ton (69%) and the average selling price of refined oilseed products increased $0.20 per pound (61%) in fiscal 2008 compared to the same period of fiscal 2007. The changes in the average selling price of products are primarily driven by the higher price of soybeans.

 

Cost of Goods Sold.  Consolidated cost of goods sold of $31.0 billion for the year ended August 31, 2008 compared to $16.1 billion for the year ended August 31, 2007, which represents a $14.9 billion (92%) increase.

 

Our Energy segment cost of goods sold, after elimination of intersegment costs, of $10.7 billion increased by $3.7 billion (52%) during the year ended August 31, 2008 compared to fiscal 2007. The increase in cost of goods sold was primarily due to increased per unit costs for refined fuels and propane products. On a more product-specific basis, the average cost of refined fuels increased $0.93 per gallon (47%) and volumes increased 2% compared to fiscal 2007. On average we process approximately 55,000 barrels of crude oil per day at our Laurel, Montana refinery and 80,000 barrels of crude oil per day at NCRA’s McPherson, Kansas refinery. The aggregate average cost increase was primarily related to higher input costs at our two crude oil refineries and higher average prices on the refined products that we purchased for resale compared to fiscal 2007. The average per unit cost of crude oil purchased for the two refineries increased 67% compared to fiscal 2007. The average cost of propane increased $0.36 per gallon (33%), while volumes decreased 6% compared to fiscal 2007.

 

Our Ag Business segment cost of goods sold, after elimination of intersegment costs, of $19.1 billion increased $10.7 billion (128%) during the year ended August 31, 2008 compared to fiscal 2007. Grain cost of goods sold in our Ag Business segment totaled $14.6 billion and $7.0 billion during the years ended August 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The cost of grains and oilseed procured through our Ag Business segment increased $7.6 billion (108%) compared to fiscal 2007. This was the result of an increase of $3.06 (57%) in the average cost per bushel along with a 32% net increase in bushels sold as compared to the prior year. Corn, wheat, soybeans and barley reflected the largest volume increases compared to fiscal 2007. Commodity prices on spring wheat, soybeans and corn increased compared to the prices that were prevalent during the same period in fiscal 2007. In September 2007, we began recording cost of goods sold from the distributed crop nutrients business of Agriliance reflecting $2.5 billion for the year ended August 31, 2008. Our Ag Business segment cost of goods sold, excluding the cost of grains procured through this segment, increased during the year ended August 31, 2008 compared to fiscal 2007, primarily due to higher volumes and price per unit costs for crop nutrients, energy, feed, crop protection, seed and processed sunflower products. The volume increases resulted primarily from acquisitions made and reflected in the reporting periods.

 

Our Processing segment cost of goods sold, after elimination of intersegment costs, of $1.2 billion, increased $514.5 million (71%) during the year ended August 31, 2008 compared to fiscal 2007, which was primarily due to increased costs of soybeans in addition to volume increases in our soybean crushing operations.

 

Marketing, General and Administrative.  Marketing, general and administrative expenses of $330.0 million for the year ended August 31, 2008 increased by $84.6 million (35%) compared to fiscal 2007. The net increase of $84.6 million includes $35.6 million from our crop nutrients business reflected in our Ag Business segment, which was previously recorded in our equity investment reported earnings of Agriliance. The remaining net change of $49.0 million (20%) includes increased performance-based incentive plan expense, in addition to other employee benefits (primarily medical and pension), general inflation and acquisitions.

 

Gain on Investments.  Gain on investments of $29.2 million for the year ended August 31, 2008, increased by $8.6 million (42%). During fiscal 2007, we sold 540,000 shares of our CF stock, included in our Ag Business segment, for proceeds of $10.9 million, and recorded a pretax gain of $5.3 million, reducing our ownership interest in CF to approximately 2.9%. During fiscal 2008, we sold all of our remaining 1,610,396 shares of CF stock for proceeds of $108.3 million and recorded a pretax gain of $91.7 million. Also during fiscal 2008 included in our Energy and Ag Business segments and Corporate and Other were gains on

securities sold of $35 thousand, $9.1 million and $0.9 million, respectively. These gains were partially offset by losses on investments of $72.5 million in our Processing segment. During the fiscal quarter ended August 31, 2008, we recorded an impairment of our investment in VeraSun by $71.7 million, based on VeraSun’s market value of $5.76 per share on August 29, 2008, as previously discussed. Also in August 2006, US BioEnergy, now VeraSun, filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission to register shares of common stock for sale in an initial public offering (IPO), and in December 2006, the IPO was completed. The affect of the issuance of additional shares of US BioEnergy was to dilute our ownership interest down from approximately 25% to 21%. Due to US BioEnergy’s increase in equity, we recognized a non-cash net gain of $15.3 million during fiscal 2007 on our investment to reflect our proportionate share of the increase in the underlying equity of US BioEnergy.

 

Interest, net.  Net interest of $76.5 million for the year ended August 31, 2008 increased $45.4 million (146%) compared to fiscal 2007. Interest expense for the years ended August 31, 2008 and 2007 was $100.1 million and $63.5 million, respectively, reflecting an increase of $36.6 million. The average level of short-term borrowings increased $473.0 million (149%) during the year ended August 31, 2008 compared to fiscal 2007, while the average short-term interest rate decreased 1.70% (30%). Higher commodity prices and increased volumes, primarily within our Ag Business (including the additional working capital needs from our crop nutrients business), and Processing segments, increased those segments’ interest, net by $35.1 million and $7.2 million, respectively. Also, in October 2007, we entered into a private placement with several insurance companies and banks for additional long-term debt in the amount of $400.0 million with an interest rate of 6.18%, which primarily replaced short-term debt. For the years ended August 31, 2008 and 2007, we capitalized interest of $9.8 million and $11.7 million, respectively, primarily related to construction projects in our Energy segment for financing interest on our Laurel, Montana coker project. Interest income, generated primarily from marketable securities, was $13.9 million and $20.7 million for the years ended August 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The net decrease in interest income of $6.8 million (33%), was primarily Corporate and Other relating to a decrease of interest income on our hedging and other services, and was partially offset by increased interest income at NCRA within our Energy segment, which primarily relates to marketable securities.

 

Equity Income from Investments.  Equity income from investments of $150.4 million for the year ended August 31, 2008 increased $40.7 million (37%) compared to fiscal 2007. We record equity income or loss from the investments in which we have an ownership interest of 50% or less and have significant influence, but not control, for our proportionate share of income or loss reported by the entity, without consolidating the revenues and expenses of the entity in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. The net increase in equity income from investments was attributable to improved earnings from investments in our Energy, Ag Business and Processing segments, and Corporate and Other. These improvements included $0.6 million for Energy, $31.2 million for Ag Business, $8.2 million for Processing, and $0.7 million for Corporate and Other.

 

Our Ag Business segment generated improved earnings of $31.2 million from equity investments. Our share of equity investment earnings or losses in Agriliance and a Canadian agronomy joint venture decreased earnings by $37.0 million, primarily related to the distribution of their wholesale crop nutrient and crop protection products businesses, partially offset by improved margins for their southern retail operations. In September 2007, Agriliance distributed the assets of the crop nutrients business to us, and the assets of the crop protection business to Land O’Lakes. Agriliance continues to exist as a 50-50 joint venture and primarily operates an agronomy retail distribution business. We had improvements of $65.9 million from our share of equity investment earnings in our grain marketing joint ventures during the year ended August 31, 2008 compared to fiscal 2007. The improvements in earnings of our grain marketing equity investments were primarily related to increased volumes and improved margins on those volumes at export terminals. Our country operations business reported an aggregate increase in equity investment earnings of $2.3 million from several small equity investments.

 

Our Processing segment generated improved earnings of $8.2 million from equity investments. Our equity investment earnings from US BioEnergy, prior to the merger with VeraSun, were $6.7 million less during fiscal 2008 compared to fiscal 2007, primarily from reduced margins resulting from higher input costs. Ventura Foods, our vegetable oil-based products and packaged foods joint venture, recorded reduced earnings of

$15.6 million, and Horizon Milling, our domestic and Canadian wheat milling joint ventures, along with a small milling investment, recorded combined improved earnings of $30.5 million, net compared to fiscal 2007. Ventura Foods’ decrease in earnings was primarily due to higher commodity prices resulting in lower margins on the products sold. A shifting demand balance for soybeans for both food and renewable fuels meant addressing supply and price challenges for both CHS and our Ventura Foods joint venture. Horizon Milling’s improved results were related to merchandising margins during our fiscal year ended August 31, 2008. Typically, results are affected by U.S. dietary habits and although the preference for a low carbohydrate diet appears to have reached the bottom of its cycle, milling capacity, which had been idled over the past few years because of lack of demand for flour products, can easily be put back into production as consumption of flour products increase, which may depress gross margins in the milling industry.

 

Our Energy segment generated increased equity investment earnings of $0.6 million primarily related to improved margins in an equity investment held by NCRA, and Corporate and Other generated improved earnings of $0.7 million from equity investment earnings, primarily from Cofina Financial, our financial services equity investment, as compared to fiscal 2007.

 

Minority Interests.  Minority interests of $72.2 million for the year ended August 31, 2008, decreased by $71.1 million (50%) compared to fiscal 2007. This net decrease was a result of less profitable operations within our majority-owned subsidiaries compared to fiscal 2007. Substantially all minority interests relate to NCRA, an approximately 74.5% owned subsidiary, which we consolidate in our Energy segment.

 

Income Taxes.  Income tax expense of $71.5 million for the year ended August 31, 2008, compares with $40.7 million for fiscal 2007, resulting in effective tax rates of 8.2% and 5.1%, respectively. During the year ended August 31, 2007, we recognized additional tax benefits of $9.6 million related to export incentive credits. The federal and state statutory rate applied to nonpatronage business activity was 38.9% for the years ended August 31, 2008 and 2007. The income taxes and effective tax rate vary each year based upon profitability and nonpatronage business activity during each of the comparable years.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

On August 31, 2009, we had working capital, defined as current assets less current liabilities, of $1,626.4 million and a current ratio, defined as current assets divided by current liabilities, of 1.5 to 1.0 compared to working capital of $1,738.6 million and a current ratio of 1.4 to 1.0 on August 31, 2008.

 

On August 31, 2009, our committed lines of credit consisted of a five-year revolving facility in the amount of $1.3 billion, which expires in May 2011 and a 364-day revolving facility in the amount of $300.0 million, which expires in February 2010. These credit facilities are established with a syndication of domestic and international banks, and our inventories and receivables financed with them are highly liquid. On August 31, 2009, we had no outstanding amount on our five-year revolver compared with $75.0 million outstanding on August 31, 2008. On August 31, 2009 and 2008, we had no amounts outstanding on our 364-day revolving facilities. In addition to these revolving facilities, we have two commercial paper programs totaling $125.0 million with banks participating in our five-year revolver. On August 31, 2009 and 2008, we had no commercial paper outstanding. Late summer and early fall are typically our lowest points of seasonal borrowings. Due to the decline in commodity prices during the year ended August 31, 2009, as further discussed in “Cash Flows from Operations,” our average borrowings during the year were much lower in comparison to the year ended August 31, 2008. With our current cash balances and available capacity on our committed lines of credit, we believe that we have adequate liquidity to cover any increase in net operating assets and liabilities and expected capital expenditures in the foreseeable future.

 

In addition, our wholly-owned subsidiary, Cofina Financial, makes seasonal and term loans to member cooperatives, businesses and individual producers of agricultural products included in our cash flows from investing activities, and has its own financing explained in further detail below under “Cash Flows from Financing Activities.”

Cash Flows from Operations

 

Cash flows from operations are generally affected by commodity prices and the seasonality of our businesses. These commodity prices are affected by a wide range of factors beyond our control, including weather, crop conditions, drought, the availability and the adequacy of supply and transportation, government regulations and policies, world events and general political and economic conditions. These factors are described in the cautionary statement in Part I, Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and may affect net operating assets and liabilities, and liquidity.

 

Cash flows provided by operating activities were $1,735.5 million, $805.8 million and $407.3 million for the years ended August 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The fluctuation in cash flows from operations between fiscal 2009 and 2008 was primarily from a net decrease in operating assets and liabilities during fiscal 2009, compared to a net increase in fiscal 2008, partially offset by decreased operating earnings in fiscal 2009. Commodity prices have declined significantly during the year ended August 31, 2009, and have resulted in lower working capital needs compared to August 31, 2008. The fluctuations in cash flows from operations between fiscal 2008 and 2007 was primarily the result of a smaller net increase in operating assets and liabilities during fiscal 2008 when compared to fiscal 2007.

 

Our operating activities provided net cash of $1,735.5 million during the year ended August 31, 2009. Net income of $381.4 million, net non-cash expenses and cash distributions from equity investments of $345.6 million and a decrease in net operating assets and liabilities of $1,008.5 million provided the net cash from operating activities. The primary components of net non-cash expenses and cash distributions from equity investments included depreciation and amortization, including amortization of major repair costs, of $221.3 million, minority interests of $59.8 million, loss on investments of $56.3 million and deferred taxes of $44.0 million, which were partially offset by income from equity investments, net of redemptions from those investments, of $25.4 million. Loss on investments was previously discussed in “Results of Operations,” and is primarily comprised of the loss on our VeraSun investment, partially offset by gains from the sales of an agronomy investment and our NYMEX Holdings common stock. The decrease in net operating assets and liabilities was caused primarily by a decline in commodity prices reflected in decreased inventories and receivables, partially offset by a decrease in accounts payable, accrued expenses and customer advance payments on August 31, 2009 when compared to August 31, 2008. On August 31, 2009, the per bushel market prices of our three primary grain commodities, corn, spring wheat and soybeans decreased by $2.42 (43%), $3.40 (39%) and $2.32 (17%), respectively, when compared to the spot prices on August 31, 2008. In general, crude oil market prices decreased $46 per barrel (39%) on August 31, 2009 when compared to August 31, 2008. In addition, on August 31, 2009, fertilizer commodity prices affecting our wholesale crop nutrients and country operations retail businesses reflected decreases between 45% and 71%, depending on the specific products, compared to prices on August 31, 2008. A decrease in grain inventory quantities in our Ag Business segment of 12.4 million bushels (12%) also contributed to the decrease in net operating assets and liabilities when comparing inventories at August 31, 2009 to August 31, 2008.

 

Our operating activities provided net cash of $805.8 million during the year ended August 31, 2008. Net income of $803.0 million and net non-cash expenses and cash distributions from equity investments of $230.0 million were partially offset by an increase in net operating assets and liabilities of $227.2 million. The primary components of net non-cash expenses and cash distributions from equity investments included depreciation and amortization, including amortization of major repair costs, of $210.4 million, minority interests of $72.2 million and deferred taxes of $26.0 million, which were partially offset by income from equity investments, net of distributions, of $40.4 million and a pretax net gain on investments of $29.2 million. Gains on investments were previously discussed in “Results of Operations”, and were primarily comprised of the gain on the sale of all of our shares of CF common stock, partially off set by an impairment of our VeraSun investment. The increase in net operating assets and liabilities was caused primarily by increased commodity prices reflected in increased inventories, receivables, derivative assets and hedging deposits included in other current assets, partially offset by an increase in accounts payable, accrued expenses, customer advance payments and derivative liabilities on August 31, 2008 when compared to August 31, 2007. On August 31, 2008, the per bushel market prices of our three primary grain commodities, corn, soybeans and spring wheat, increased by $2.44 (75%), $4.64 (53%) and $1.69 (24%), respectively, when compared to the

spot prices on August 31, 2007. The affect of increased grain prices on our operating assets and liabilities was partially offset by a decrease in our Ag Business segment grain inventories of 44.7 million bushels (30%) when comparing inventories at August 31, 2008 to August 31, 2007. In general, crude oil market prices increased $41 per barrel (56%) on August 31, 2008 when compared to August 31, 2007. In addition, on August 31, 2008, fertilizer commodity prices affecting our country operations retail businesses reflected increases between 73% and 248%, depending on the specific products, compared to prices on August 31, 2007.

 

Our operating activities provided net cash of $407.3 million during the year ended August 31, 2007. Net income of $756.7 million and net non-cash expenses and cash distributions from equity investments of $288.4 million were partially offset by an increase in net operating assets and liabilities of $637.8 million. The primary components of net non-cash expenses and cash distributions from equity investments included minority interests of $143.2 million, depreciation and amortization, including major repair costs, of $163.8 million and deferred taxes of $50.9 million, which were partially offset by income from equity investments, net of distributions, of $43.0 million and a pretax gain on investments of $20.6 million. The increase in net operating assets and liabilities was caused primarily by increased commodity prices reflected in increased inventories, receivables, derivative assets and hedging deposits included in other current assets, partially offset by an increase in accounts payable, accrued expenses, derivative liabilities and customer advances on August 31, 2007 when compared to August 31, 2006. On August 31, 2007, the per bushel market prices of our three primary grain commodities, soybeans, spring wheat and corn, increased by $3.26 (60%), $2.37 (52%) and $0.92 (40%), respectively, when compared to the spot prices on August 31, 2006. In addition, grain inventories in our Ag Business segment increased by 39.6 million bushels (36%) when comparing inventories at August 31, 2007 to August 31, 2006. In general, crude oil prices increased $4 per barrel (5%) on August 31, 2007 when compared to August 31, 2006.

 

Crude oil prices have increased significantly over the fiscal 2009 low price, likely driven to a large extent by the weakness in the U.S. dollar relative to other world currencies. Grain prices are influenced significantly by global projections of grain stocks available until the next harvest, which has been affected by demand from the ethanol industry in recent years. Grain prices were volatile during fiscal 2008 and 2007, and although they have declined significantly during fiscal 2009, we anticipate continued price volatility, but within a narrower band of real values.

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

 

For the years ended August 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, the net cash flows used in our investing activities totaled $289.9 million, $663.7 million and $530.0 million, respectively.

 

Excluding investments in fiscal 2008, further discussed below, the acquisition of property, plant and equipment comprised the primary use of cash totaling $315.5 million, $318.6 million and $373.3 million for the years ended August 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. Included in our total acquisitions of property, plant and equipment for fiscal 2009 were capital expenditures for an Environmental Protection Agency mandated regulation that requires the reduction of the benzene level in gasoline to be less than 0.62% volume by January 1, 2011. We anticipate the combined capital expenditures to reduce the current gasoline benzene levels to the regulated levels for our Laurel, Montana and NCRA refineries to be approximately $134 million, of which $33 million was spent during the year ended August 31, 2009. Included in our total acquisitions of property, plant and equipment for fiscal 2008 and 2007 were capital expenditures for the installation of a coker unit at our Laurel, Montana refinery, along with other refinery improvements, in the amounts of $132.5 million and $221.5 million, respectively. The coker project was completed in fiscal 2008, and allows us to extract a greater volume of high value gasoline and diesel fuel from a barrel of crude oil and less relatively low value asphalt. For the year ending August 31, 2010, we expect total expenditures for the acquisition of property, plant and equipment to be approximately $490.8 million.

 

Expenditures for major repairs related to our refinery turnarounds were $1.8 million, $21.7 million and $34.7 million during the years ended August 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

In October 2003, we and NCRA reached agreements with the EPA and the State of Montana’s Department of Environmental Quality and the State of Kansas Department of Health and Environment regarding the terms of settlements with respect to reducing air emissions at our Laurel, Montana and NCRA’s McPherson, Kansas refineries. These settlements are part of a series of similar settlements that the EPA has negotiated with major refiners under the EPA’s Petroleum Refinery Initiative. The settlements take the form of consent decrees filed with the U.S. District Court for the District of Montana (Billings Division) and the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas. Each consent decree details potential capital improvements, supplemental environmental projects and operational changes that we and NCRA have agreed to implement at the relevant refinery over several years. The consent decrees also required us, and NCRA, to pay approximately $0.5 million in aggregate civil cash penalties. As of August 31, 2009, the aggregate capital expenditures for us and NCRA related to these settlements was approximately $37 million, and we anticipate spending an additional $3 million over the next few years. We do not believe that the settlements will have a material adverse effect on us, or NCRA.

 

Investments made during the years ended August 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, totaled $120.2 million, $370.2 million and $95.8 million, respectively.

 

During the year ended August 31, 2007, we invested $22.2 million in Multigrain AG (Multigrain) for a 37.5% equity position in a Brazil-based grain handling and merchandising company, Multigrain S.A., headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The venture, included in our Ag Business segment, operates grain storage, export facilities and grain production and builds on our South American soybean origination. During the year ended August 31, 2008, we increased our equity position through a purchase from an existing equity holder for $10.0 million, and also invested an additional $30.3 million which was used by Multigrain to invest in a joint venture that acquired production farmland and related operations. During fiscal 2009, we invested $76.3 million for Multigrain’s increased capital needs resulting from expansion of their operations. Our current ownership interest is 39.35%.

 

We have opened additional international offices between July 2007 and August 2009, which are included in our Ag Business segment. These include Geneva, Switzerland; Kiev, Ukraine; and Vostok, Russia for sourcing and marketing grains and oilseeds through the Black Sea and Mediterranean Basin regions to customers worldwide. We have announced our commitment to invest approximately $30 million in a construction project in the port of Odessa, Ukraine, with the resulting port facility to have grain storage capacity of 120,000 metric tons and the ability to load Panamax vessels at a pace of 20,000 metric tons per day. Offices in Hong Kong and Shanghai, China serve Pacific Rim customers receiving grains and oilseeds from our origination points in North and South America. The most recent grain merchandising office opened during fiscal 2009 is located in Barcelona, Spain, and subsequent to our fiscal year ended August 31, 2009, we opened another office in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

 

We have a 50% interest in Ventura Foods, a joint venture which produces and distributes primarily vegetable oil-based products, and is included in our Processing segment. During the years ended August 31, 2009 and 2008, we made capital contributions to Ventura Foods of $35.0 million and $20.0 million, respectively.

 

As previously discussed, in September 2007, Agriliance distributed its wholesale crop nutrients and crop protection assets to us and Land O’Lakes, respectively, and continues to operate its retail distribution business while further repositioning of that business occurs during fiscal 2010. During the year ended August 31, 2008, we made a $13.0 million net cash payment to Land O’Lakes in order to maintain equal capital accounts in Agriliance, and Land O’Lakes paid us $8.3 million for additional assets distributed to them by Agriliance related to joint venture ownership interests. In addition, during the year ended August 31, 2008, our net contribution to Agriliance was $235.0 million, which supported their working capital requirements for ongoing operations, with Land O’Lakes making equal contributions to Agriliance.

 

During the year ended August 31, 2007, we invested $15.6 million in Horizon Milling G.P. (24% CHS ownership), a joint venture included in our Processing segment, that acquired the Canadian grain-based foodservice and industrial businesses of Smucker Foods of Canada, whose operations include flour milling and

dry baking mixing facilities in Canada. During the year ended August 31, 2008, we invested an additional $1.9 million in Horizon Milling G.P.

 

We purchased $70.0 million of common stock in US BioEnergy, an ethanol production company, during the year ended August 31, 2006, which is reflected in our Processing segment. During the years ended August 31, 2007 and 2008, we made additional investments of $45.4 million and $6.5 million, respectively.

 

Cash acquisitions of businesses, net of cash received, totaled $76.4 million, $47.0 million and $15.1 million during the years ended August 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively. As previously discussed, Cofina Financial became a wholly-owned subsidiary in fiscal 2009 when we purchased the remaining 51% ownership interest for $53.3 million. The purchase included cash of $40.2 million, representing a $48.5 million payment net of cash received of $8.3 million, and the assumption of certain liabilities of $4.8 million. Also during fiscal 2009, our Ag Business segment had acquisitions of $36.2 million. In fiscal 2008, we purchased a soy-based food ingredients business included in our Processing segment and an energy and convenience store business included in our Energy segment. In addition, we acquired and paid for a distillers dried grain business included in our Ag Business segment during fiscal 2008 and 2007.

 

Various other cash acquisitions of intangible assets totaled $2.4 million, $3.4 million and $9.1 million during the years ended August 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

Partially offsetting our cash outlays for investing activities for the year ended August 31, 2009, were changes in notes receivable that resulted in a net increase in cash flows of $123.3 million. This net increase primarily includes an increase in cash flows of $161.2 million from Cofina Financial notes receivable from its customers, partially offset by a decrease in cash flows of $17.1 million from additional related party notes receivable at NCRA from its minority owners. For the years ended August 31, 2008 and 2007, changes in notes receivable resulted in net decreases in cash flows of $67.1 million and $29.3 million, respectively. During fiscal 2008, $46.0 million of the net decrease in cash flows resulted from a note receivable from Cofina Financial, prior to it becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary, and the balance was primarily from related party notes receivable at NCRA from its minority owners. For fiscal 2007, the changes in notes receivable were primarily from related party notes receivable at NCRA.

 

Also partially offsetting our cash outlays for investing activities during the years ended August 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, were proceeds from the sale of investments of $41.8 million, $122.1 million and $10.9 million, respectively, which were previously discussed in “Results of Operations.” These proceeds were primarily from the sale of an agronomy investment and our NYMEX Holdings common stock during fiscal 2009, and the sale of our CF common stock in fiscal 2008 and 2007. In addition, for the years ended August 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, we received redemptions of investments totaling $39.8 million, $43.0 million and $4.9 million, respectively, and received proceeds from the disposition of property, plant and equipment of $10.8 million, $9.3 million and $13.5 million, respectively.

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

 

Working Capital Financing

 

We finance our working capital needs through short-term lines of credit with a syndication of domestic and international banks. In May 2006, we renewed and expanded our committed lines of revolving credit to include a five-year revolver in the amount of $1.1 billion, with the ability to expand the facility an additional $200.0 million. In October 2007, we expanded that facility, receiving additional commitments in the amount of $200.0 million from certain lenders under the agreement. The additional commitments increased the total borrowing capacity to $1.3 billion on the facility. In February 2009, we renewed our 364-day revolver with a syndication of banks for a committed amount of $300.0 million. In addition to these lines of credit, we have a committed revolving credit facility dedicated to NCRA, with a syndication of banks in the amount of $15.0 million. In December 2008, the line of credit dedicated to NCRA was renewed for an additional year. Our wholly-owned subsidiary, CHS Europe S.A., has uncommitted lines of credit to finance its normal trade grain transactions, which are collateralized by $15.7 million of its inventories and receivables as of August 31, 2009. On August 31, 2009 and 2008, we had total short-term indebtedness outstanding on these various

facilities and other miscellaneous short-term notes payable totaling $19.2 million and $106.2 million, respectively, with interest rates ranging from 0.96% to 8.50% on August 31, 2009. Proceeds from our long-term borrowings totaling $600.0 million during the year ended August 31, 2008, were used to pay down our five-year revolver and are explained in further detail below.

 

During the year ended August 31, 2007, we instituted two commercial paper programs, totaling up to $125.0 million, with two banks participating in our five-year revolving credit facility. Terms of our five-year revolving credit facility allow a maximum usage of commercial paper of $200.0 million at any point in time. The commercial paper programs do not increase our committed borrowing capacity in that we are required to have at least an equal amount of undrawn capacity available on our five-year revolving facility as to the amount of commercial paper issued. On August 31, 2009 and 2008, we had no commercial paper outstanding.

 

Cofina Financial Financing

 

Cofina Funding, LLC (Cofina Funding), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cofina Financial, has available credit totaling $212.0 million as of August 31, 2009, under note purchase agreements with various purchasers, through the issuance of short-term notes payable. Cofina Financial sells eligible commercial loans receivable it has originated to Cofina Funding, which are then pledged as collateral under the note purchase agreements. The notes payable issued by Cofina Funding bear interest at variable rates based on commercial paper and/or Eurodollar rates, with a weighted average Eurodollar interest rate of 1.77% as of August 31, 2009. Borrowings by Cofina Funding utilizing the issuance of commercial paper under the note purchase agreements totaled $101.7 million as of August 31, 2009. As of August 31, 2009, $64.7 million of related loans receivable were accounted for as sales when they were surrendered in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 140, “Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities.” As a result, the net borrowings under the note purchase agreements were $37.0 million.

 

Cofina Financial also sells loan commitments it has originated to ProPartners Financial (ProPartners) on a recourse basis. The total capacity for commitments under the ProPartners program is $120.0 million. The total outstanding commitments under the program totaled $95.2 million as of August 31, 2009, of which $74.2 million was borrowed under these commitments with an interest rate of 2.04%.

 

Cofina Financial borrows funds under short-term notes issued as part of a surplus funds program. Borrowings under this program are unsecured and bear interest at variable rates ranging from 1.00% to 1.50% as of August 31, 2009, and are due upon demand. Borrowings under these notes totaled $116.5 million as of August 31, 2009.

 

Long-term Debt Financing

 

We typically finance our long-term capital needs, primarily for the acquisition of property, plant and equipment, with long-term agreements with various insurance companies and banks. In June 1998, we established a long-term credit agreement through cooperative banks, for which we paid the note in full during the year ended August 31, 2009. The amount outstanding on August 31, 2008, was $49.2 million. Repayments of $49.2 million, $26.2 million and $23.0 million were made on this facility during the three years ended August 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

Also in June 1998, we completed a private placement offering with several insurance companies for long-term debt in the amount of $225.0 million with an interest rate of 6.81%. Repayments are due in equal annual installments during the years 2008 through 2013. During each of the years ended August 31, 2009 and 2008, repayments totaled $37.5 million.

 

In January 2001, we entered into a note purchase and private shelf agreement with Prudential Insurance Company. The long-term note in the amount of $25.0 million has an interest rate of 7.9% and is due in equal annual installments of approximately $3.6 million in the years 2005 through 2011. A subsequent note for $55.0 million was issued in March 2001, related to the private shelf facility. The $55.0 million note has an interest rate of 7.43% and is due in equal annual installments of approximately $7.9 million in the years 2005

through 2011. During each of the years ended August 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, repayments on these notes totaled $11.4 million.

 

In October 2002, we completed a private placement with several insurance companies for long-term debt in the amount of $175.0 million, which was layered into two series. The first series of $115.0 million has an interest rate of 4.96% and is due in equal semi-annual installments of approximately $8.8 million during the years 2007 through 2013. The second series of $60.0 million has an interest rate of 5.60% and is due in equal semi-annual installments of approximately $4.6 million during years 2012 through 2018. Repayments of $17.7 million were made on the first series notes during each of the years ended August 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007.

 

In March 2004, we entered into a note purchase and private shelf agreement with Prudential Capital Group, and in April 2004, we borrowed $30.0 million under this arrangement. One long-term note in the amount of $15.0 million has an interest rate of 4.08% and is due in full at the end of the six-year term in 2010. Another long-term note in the amount of $15.0 million has an interest rate of 4.39% and is due in full at the end of the seven-year term in 2011. In April 2007, we amended our Note Purchase and Private Shelf Agreement with Prudential Investment Management, Inc. and several other participating insurance companies to expand the uncommitted facility from $70.0 million to $150.0 million. We borrowed $50.0 million under the shelf arrangement in February 2008, for which the aggregate long-term notes have an interest rate of 5.78% and are due in equal annual installments of $10.0 million during the years 2014 through 2018.

 

In September 2004, we entered into a private placement with several insurance companies for long-term debt in the amount of $125.0 million with an interest rate of 5.25%. The debt is due in equal annual installments of $25.0 million during years 2011 through 2015.

 

In October 2007, we entered into a private placement with several insurance companies and banks for long-term debt in the amount of $400.0 million with an interest rate of 6.18%. Repayments are due in equal annual installments of $80.0 million during the years 2013 through 2017.

 

In December 2007, we established a ten-year long-term credit agreement through a syndication of cooperative banks in the amount of $150.0 million, with an interest rate of 5.59%. Repayments are due in equal semi-annual installments of $15.0 million each, starting in June 2013 through December 2018.

 

Through NCRA, we had revolving term loans that were paid in full during the year ended August 31, 2009. The amount outstanding on August 31, 2008 was $0.5 million. Repayments of $0.5 million, $2.5 million and $3.0 million were made during the years ended August 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

 

On August 31, 2009, we had total long-term debt outstanding of $1,072.0 million, of which $150.0 million was bank financing, $899.8 million was private placement debt and $22.2 million was industrial revenue bonds and other notes and contracts payable. On August 31, 2008, we had long-term debt outstanding of $1,194.9 million. Our long-term debt is unsecured except for other notes and contracts in the amount of $10.3 million; however, restrictive covenants under various agreements have requirements for maintenance of minimum working capital levels and other financial ratios. We were in compliance with all debt covenants and restrictions as of August 31, 2009. The aggregate amount of long-term debt payable as of August 31, 2009 was as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

 

We did not have any new long-term borrowings during the year ended August 31, 2009. During the years ended August 31, 2008 and 2007, we borrowed on a long-term basis, $600.0 million and $4.1 million,

respectively. During the years ended August 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, we repaid long-term debt of $118.9 million, $99.5 million and $60.9 million, respectively.

 

Other Financing

 

Distributions to minority owners for the years ended August 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 were $21.1 million, $63.1 million and $76.8 million, respectively, and were primarily related to NCRA.

 

During the year ended August 31, 2009, changes in checks and drafts outstanding resulted in a decrease in cash flows of $119.3 million, and during the years ended August 31, 2008 and 2007, resulted in an increase in cash flows of $61.1 million and $85.4 million, respectively.

 

In accordance with the bylaws and by action of the Board of Directors, annual net earnings from patronage sources are distributed to consenting patrons following the close of each fiscal year. Patronage refunds are calculated based on amounts using financial statement earnings. The cash portion of the patronage distribution is determined annually by the Board of Directors, with the balance issued in the form of capital equity certificates. Consenting patrons have agreed to take both the cash and capital equity certificate portion allocated to them from our previous fiscal year’s income into their taxable income, and as a result, we are allowed a deduction from our taxable income for both the cash distribution and the allocated capital equity certificates, as long as the cash distribution is at least 20% of the total patronage dividend. The patronage earnings from the fiscal year ended August 31, 2008, were primarily distributed during the second fiscal quarter of the year ended August 31, 2009, and totaled $648.9 million. The cash portion of this distribution, deemed by the Board of Directors to be 35% was $227.6 million. During the years ended August 31, 2008 and 2007, we had patronage refunds of $557.2 million and $379.9 million, respectively, of which the cash portion was $195.0 million and $133.1 million, respectively.

 

Total patronage for the year ended August 31, 2009, is expected to be approximately $426.5 million. The cash portion of this distribution, determined by the Board of Directors to be 35% and to be distributed in fiscal 2010, is expected to be approximately $149.3 million and is classified as a current liability on the August 31, 2009 Consolidated Balance Sheet in dividends and equities payable. By action of the Board of Directors, patronage losses incurred in fiscal 2009 from our wholesale crop nutrients business, totaling approximately $60.0 million, will be offset against the fiscal 2008 wholesale crop nutrients and CF patronage through the cancellation of capital equity certificates.

 

Redemptions of capital equity certificates approved by the Board of Directors are divided into two pools, one for non-individuals (primarily member cooperatives) who may participate in an annual pro-rata program for equities held by them and another for individuals who are eligible for equity redemptions at age 70 or upon death. The amount that each non-individual receives under the pro-rata program in any year is determined by multiplying the dollars available for pro-rata redemptions, if any that year, as determined by the Board of Directors, by a fraction, the numerator of which is the amount of patronage certificates eligible for redemption held by them, and the denominator of which is the sum of the patronage certificates eligible for redemption held by all eligible holders of patronage certificates that are not individuals. In addition to the annual pro-rata program, the Board of Directors approved additional equity redemptions to non-individuals in prior years targeting older capital equity certificates which were redeemed in cash in fiscal 2008 and 2007. In accordance with authorization from the Board of Directors, we expect total redemptions related to the year ended August 31, 2009, that will be distributed in fiscal 2010, to be approximately $50.1 million. These expected distributions are classified as a current liability on the August 31, 2009 Consolidated Balance Sheet.

 

For the years ended August 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, we redeemed in cash, equities in accordance with authorization from the Board of Directors, in the amounts of $49.7 million, $81.8 million and $70.8 million, respectively. An additional $49.9 million, $46.4 million and $35.9 million of capital equity certificates were redeemed in fiscal 2009, 2008 and 2007, respectively, by issuance of shares of our 8% Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (Preferred Stock). The amount of equities redeemed with each share of Preferred Stock issued was $25.90, $25.65 and $26.09, which was the closing price per share of the stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market on January 23, 2009, February 11, 2008 and February 8, 2007, respectively.

Our Preferred Stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol CHSCP. On August 31, 2009, we had 10,976,107 shares of Preferred Stock outstanding with a total redemption value of approximately $274.4 million, excluding accumulated dividends. Our Preferred Stock accumulates dividends at a rate of 8% per year, which are payable quarterly, and is redeemable at our option. At this time, we have no current plan or intent to redeem any Preferred Stock. Dividends paid on our preferred stock during the years ended August 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, were $20.0 million, $16.3 million and $13.1 million, respectively.

 

Off Balance Sheet Financing Arrangements

 

Lease Commitments:

 

We have commitments under operating leases for various refinery, manufacturing and transportation equipment, rail cars, vehicles and office space. Some leases include purchase options at not less than fair market value at the end of the lease term.

 

Total rental expense for all operating leases, net of rail car mileage credits received from the railroad and sublease income for the years ended August 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007, was $61.1 million, $58.3 million and $44.3 million, respectively.

 

Minimum future lease payments required under noncancellable operating leases as of August 31, 2009 were as follows:

 

 

Guarantees:

 

We are a guarantor for lines of credit for related companies. Our bank covenants allow maximum guarantees of $500.0 million, of which $17.3 million was outstanding on August 31, 2009. The underlying loans to the counterparties, for which we provide guarantees, are current as of August 31, 2009.

 

Debt:

 

There is no material off balance sheet debt.

Contractual Obligations

 

We had certain contractual obligations at August 31, 2009 which require the following payments to be made:

 

 

 

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires the use of estimates as well as management’s judgments and assumptions regarding matters that are subjective, uncertain or involve a high degree of complexity, all of which affect the results of operations and financial condition for the periods presented. We believe that of our significant accounting policies, the following may involve a higher degree of estimates, judgments and complexity.

 

Allowances for Doubtful Accounts

 

The allowances for doubtful accounts are maintained at a level considered appropriate by our management based on analyses of credit quality for specific accounts, historical trends of charge-offs and recoveries, and current and projected economic, market and other conditions. Different assumptions, changes in economic circumstances, or the deterioration of the financial condition of our customers, could result in additional provisions to the allowances for doubtful accounts and increased bad debt expense.

 

Inventory Valuation and Reserves

 

Grain, processed grains, oilseed and processed oilseeds are stated at net realizable values which approximates market values. All other inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. The cost of certain energy inventories (wholesale refined products, crude oil and asphalt), are determined on the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method; all other energy inventories are valued on the first-in, first-out (FIFO) and average cost methods. Estimates are used in determining the net realizable value of grain and oilseed and processed grains and oilseeds inventories. These estimates include the measurement of grain in bins and other storage facilities, which use formulas in addition to actual measurements taken to arrive at appropriate quantity. Other

determinations made by management include quality of the inventory and estimates for freight. Grain shrink reserves and other reserves that account for spoilage also affect inventory valuations. If estimates regarding the valuation of inventories, or the adequacy of reserves, are less favorable than management’s assumptions, then additional reserves or write-downs of inventories may be required.

 

Derivative Financial Instruments

 

We enter into exchange-traded commodity futures and options contracts to hedge our exposure to price fluctuations on energy, grain and oilseed transactions to the extent considered practicable for minimizing risk. We do not use derivatives for speculative purposes. Futures and options contracts used for hedging are purchased and sold through regulated commodity exchanges. We also use over-the-counter (OTC) instruments to hedge our exposure on flat price fluctuations. Fluctuations in inventory valuations, however, may not be completely hedged, due in part to the absence of satisfactory hedging facilities for certain commodities and geographical areas and, in part, to our assessment of our exposure from expected price fluctuations. We also manage our risks by entering into fixed-price purchase contracts with pre-approved producers and establishing appropriate limits for individual suppliers. Fixed-price sales contracts are entered into with customers of acceptable creditworthiness, as internally evaluated. The fair value of futures and options contracts is determined primarily from quotes listed on regulated commodity exchanges. Fixed-price purchase and sales contracts are with various counterparties, and the fair values of such contracts are determined from the market price of the underlying product. We are exposed to loss in the event of nonperformance by the counterparties to the contracts and, therefore, contract values are reviewed and adjusted to reflect potential nonperformance. Risk of nonperformance by counterparties includes the inability to perform because of a counterparty’s financial condition and also the risk that the counterparty will refuse to perform a contract during periods of price fluctuations where contract prices are significantly different than the current market prices.

 

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits

 

Pension and other postretirement benefits costs and obligations are dependent on assumptions used in calculating such amounts. These assumptions include discount rates, health care cost trend rates, benefits earned, interest costs, expected return on plan assets, mortality rates and other factors. In accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, actual results that differ from the assumptions are accumulated and amortized over future periods and, therefore, generally affect recognized expenses and the recorded obligations in future periods. While our management believes that the assumptions used are appropriate, differences in actual experience or changes in assumptions may affect our pension and other postretirement obligations and future expenses.

 

Deferred Tax Assets

 

We assess whether a valuation allowance is necessary to reduce our deferred tax assets to the amount that we believe is more likely than not to be realized. While we have considered future taxable income, as well as other factors, in assessing the need for the valuation allowance, in the event that we were to determine that we would not be able to realize all, or part of, our net deferred tax assets in the future, an adjustment to our deferred tax assets would be charged to income in the period such determination was made. We are also significantly impacted by the utilization of loss carryforwards and tax benefits primarily passed to us from National Cooperative Refinery Association (NCRA), which are associated with refinery upgrades that enable NCRA to produce ultra-low sulfur fuels. Our net operating loss carryforwards for tax purposes are available to offset future taxable income. If our loss carryforwards are not used, these loss carryforwards will expire. Our capital loss carryforwards are available to offset future capital gains. If we do not generate enough capital gains to offset these carryforwards they will also expire.

 

Uncertain Tax Positions

 

Tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions are recognized in our financial statements if it is more likely than not that the position would be sustained upon examination by a tax authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. The benefits are measured using a cumulative probability approach.

Under this approach, we record in our financial statements the greatest amount of tax benefits that have a more than 50% probability of being realized upon final settlement with the tax authorities. In determining these tax benefits, we assign probabilities to a range of outcomes that we feel we could ultimately settle on with the tax authorities using all relevant facts and information available at the reporting date.

 

Long-Lived Assets

 

Depreciation and amortization of our property, plant and equipment is provided on the straight-line method by charges to operations at rates based upon the expected useful lives of individual or groups of assets. Economic circumstances, or other factors, may cause management’s estimates of expected useful lives to differ from actual.

 

All long-lived assets, including property plant and equipment, goodwill, investments in unconsolidated affiliates and other identifiable intangibles, are evaluated for impairment on the basis of undiscounted cash flows, at least annually for goodwill, and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. An impaired asset is written down to its estimated fair market value based on the best information available. Estimated fair market value is generally measured by discounting estimated future cash flows. Considerable management judgment is necessary to estimate discounted future cash flows and may differ from actual.

 

We have asset retirement obligations with respect to certain of our refineries and related assets due to various legal obligations to clean and/or dispose of various component parts at the time they are retired. However, these assets can be used for extended and indeterminate periods of time, as long as they are properly maintained and/or upgraded. It is our practice and current intent to maintain refinery and related assets and to continue making improvements to those assets based on technological advances. As a result, we believe that its refineries and related assets have indeterminate lives for purposes of estimating asset retirement obligations because dates or ranges of dates upon which we would retire a refinery and related assets cannot reasonably be estimated at this time. When a date or range of dates can reasonably be estimated for the retirement of any component part of a refinery or related asset, we will estimate the cost of performing the retirement activities and record a liability for the fair value of that cost using established present value techniques.

 

Environmental Liabilities

 

Liabilities, including legal costs, related to remediation of contaminated properties are recognized when the related costs are considered probable and can be reasonably estimated. Estimates of these costs are based on current available facts, existing technology, undiscounted site-specific costs and currently enacted laws and regulations. Recoveries, if any, are recorded in the period in which recovery is considered probable. It is often difficult to estimate the cost of environmental compliance, remediation and potential claims given the uncertainties regarding the interpretation and enforcement of applicable environmental laws and regulations, the extent of environmental contamination and the existence of alternate cleanup methods. All liabilities are monitored and adjusted as new facts or changes in law or technology occur and management believes adequate provisions have been made for environmental liabilities. Changes in facts or circumstances may have an adverse impact on our consolidated financial results.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

We record revenue from grain and oilseed sales after the commodity has been delivered to its destination and final weights, grades and settlement prices have been agreed upon. All other sales are recognized upon transfer of title, which could occur upon either shipment or receipt by the customer, depending upon the transaction. Amounts billed to a customer as part of a sales transaction related to shipping and handling are included in revenues. Service revenues are recorded only after such services have been rendered.

Effect of Inflation and Foreign Currency Transactions

 

We believe that inflation and foreign currency fluctuations have not had a significant effect on our operations during the three years ended August 31, 2009, since we conduct essentially all of our business in U.S. dollars.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In December 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 141(R), “Business Combinations.” SFAS No. 141(R) provides companies with principles and requirements on how an acquirer recognizes and measures in its financial statements the identifiable assets acquired, liabilities assumed, and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree, as well as the recognition and measurement of goodwill acquired in a business combination. SFAS No. 141(R) also requires certain disclosures to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. Acquisition costs associated with the business combination will generally be expensed as incurred. SFAS No. 141(R) is effective for business combinations occurring in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. Early adoption of SFAS No. 141(R) is not permitted. The impact on our consolidated financial statements of adopting SFAS No. 141(R) will depend on the nature and terms of business combinations completed beginning in our first quarter of fiscal 2010.

 

In April 2009, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (FSP) SFAS No. 141(R)-1, “Accounting for Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed in a Business Combination that Arise from Contingencies.” This FSP amends and clarifies SFAS No. 141(R) on initial recognition and measurement, subsequent measurement and accounting, and disclosure of assets and liabilities arising from contingencies in a business combination. It is effective for business combinations occurring in fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008. The impact on our consolidated financial statements of adopting SFAS No. 141(R)-1 will depend on the nature and terms of business combinations completed beginning in our first quarter of fiscal 2010.

 

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements, an Amendment of Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) No. 51.” This statement amends ARB No. 51 to establish accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest (minority interest) in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary. Upon its adoption, noncontrolling interests will be classified as equity in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Income and comprehensive income attributed to the noncontrolling interest will be included in our Consolidated Statements of Operations and our Consolidated Statements of Equities and Comprehensive Income. SFAS No. 160 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The provisions of this standard must be applied retrospectively upon adoption. The adoption of SFAS No. 160 will affect the presentation of these items in our consolidated financial statements beginning in our first quarter of fiscal 2010.

 

In December 2008, the FASB issued FSP SFAS No. 132(R)-1, “Employers’ Disclosures about Postretirement Benefit Plan Assets,” which expands the disclosure requirements about fair value measurements of plan assets for pension plans, postretirement medical plans and other funded postretirement plans. This FSP is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2009, with early adoption permitted. We have chosen not to early adopt as FSP SFAS No. 132(R)-1 is only disclosure related and will not have an impact on our financial position or results of operations.

 

In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 166, “Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets — an amendment of SFAS No. 140”. This statement requires additional disclosures concerning a transferor’s continuing involvement with transferred financial assets. SFAS No. 166 eliminates the concept of a “qualifying special-purpose entity” and changes the requirements for derecognizing financial assets. SFAS No. 166 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2009. We are currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of SFAS No. 166 will have on our consolidated financial statements in fiscal 2011.

 

In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 167, “Amendments to FASB Interpretation No. 46(R),” which requires an enterprise to conduct a qualitative analysis for the purpose of determining whether, based on its variable interests, it also has a controlling interest in a variable interest entity. SFAS No. 167 clarifies that the

determination of whether a company is required to consolidate an entity is based on, among other things, an entity’s purpose and design and a company’s ability to direct the activities of the entity that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance. SFAS No. 167 requires an ongoing reassessment of whether a company is the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity. SFAS No. 167 also requires additional disclosures about a company’s involvement in variable interest entities and any significant changes in risk exposure due to that involvement. SFAS No. 167 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2009. We are currently evaluating the impact that the adoption of SFAS No. 167 will have on our consolidated financial statements in fiscal 2011.

 

In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 168, “FASB Accounting Standards Codification” (Codification) as the single source of authoritative nongovernmental U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) that was launched on July 1, 2009. The Codification does not change current U.S. GAAP, but is intended to simplify user access to all authoritative U.S. GAAP by providing all the authoritative literature related to a particular topic in one place. All existing accounting standard documents have been superseded and all other accounting literature not included in the Codification is considered nonauthoritative. The Codification is effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. The Codification is for disclosure only and will not impact our financial condition or results of operations. We are currently evaluating the impact to our financial reporting process of providing Codification references in our public filings.

 

 

COMMODITY PRICE RISK

 

When we enter into a commodity purchase or sales commitment, we incur risks related to price change and performance (including delivery, quality, quantity and shipment period). We are exposed to risk of loss in the market value of positions held, consisting of inventory and purchase contracts at a fixed or partially fixed price in the event market prices decrease. We are also exposed to risk of loss on our fixed price or partially fixed price sales contracts in the event market prices increase.

 

Our hedging activities reduce the effects of price volatility, thereby protecting against adverse short-term price movements, but also limit the benefits of short-term price movements. To reduce the price change risks associated with holding fixed price commitments, we generally take opposite and offsetting positions by entering into commodity futures contracts or options, to the extent practical, in order to arrive at a net commodity position within the formal position limits we have established and deemed prudent for each commodity. These contracts are purchased and sold on regulated commodity futures exchanges for grain, and regulated mercantile exchanges for refined products and crude oil. We also use over-the-counter (OTC) instruments to hedge our exposure on flat price fluctuations. The price risk we encounter for crude oil and most of the grain and oilseed volume we handle can be hedged. Price risk associated with fertilizer and certain grains cannot be hedged because there are no futures for these commodities and, as a result, risk is managed through the use of forward sales contracts and other pricing arrangements and, to some extent, cross-commodity futures hedging. These contracts are economic hedges of price risk, but are not designated or accounted for as hedging instruments for accounting purposes in any of our operations. They are recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair values based on quotes listed on regulated commodity exchanges or are based on the market prices of the underlying products listed on the exchanges, with the exception of fertilizer and propane contracts, which are accounted for as normal purchase and normal sales transactions. Unrealized gains and losses on these contracts are recognized in cost of goods sold in our Consolidated Statements of Operations using market-based prices.

 

When a futures contract is entered into, an initial margin deposit must be sent to the applicable exchange or broker. The amount of the deposit is set by the exchange and varies by commodity. If the market price of a short futures contract increases, then an additional maintenance margin deposit would be required. Similarly, if the price of a long futures contract decreases, a maintenance margin deposit would be required and sent to the applicable exchange. Subsequent price changes could require additional maintenance margins or could result in the return of maintenance margins.

Our policy is to primarily maintain hedged positions in grain and oilseed. Our profitability from operations is primarily derived from margins on products sold and grain merchandised, not from hedging transactions. At any one time, inventory and purchase contracts for delivery to us may be substantial. We have risk management policies and procedures that include net position limits. These limits are defined for each commodity and include both trader and management limits. This policy and computerized procedures in our grain marketing operations require a review by operations management when any trader is outside of position limits and also a review by our senior management if operating areas are outside of position limits. A similar process is used in our energy and wholesale crop nutrients operations. The position limits are reviewed, at least annually, with our management and Board of Directors. We monitor current market conditions and may expand or reduce our net position limits or procedures in response to changes in those conditions. In addition, all purchase and sales contracts are subject to credit approvals and appropriate terms and conditions.

 

Hedging arrangements do not protect against nonperformance by counterparties to contracts. We primarily use exchange traded instruments, which minimizes our counterparty exposure. We evaluate that exposure by reviewing contracts and adjusting the values to reflect potential nonperformance. Risk of nonperformance by counterparties includes the inability to perform because of a counterparty’s financial condition and also the risk that the counterparty will refuse to perform on a contract during periods of price fluctuations where contract prices are significantly different than the current market prices. We manage our risks by entering into fixed price purchase and sales contracts with preapproved producers and by establishing appropriate limits for individual suppliers. Fixed price contracts are entered into with customers of acceptable creditworthiness, as internally evaluated. Historically, we have not experienced significant events of nonperformance on open contracts. Accordingly, we only adjust the estimated fair values of specifically identified contracts for nonperformance. Although we have established policies and procedures, we make no assurances that historical nonperformance experience will carry forward to future periods.

 

A 10% adverse change in market prices would not materially affect our results of operations, financial position or liquidity, since our operations have effective economic hedging requirements as a general business practice.

 

INTEREST RATE RISK

 

We use fixed and floating rate debt to lessen the effects of interest rate fluctuations on interest expense. Short-term debt used to finance inventories and receivables is represented by notes payable with maturities of 30 days or less, so that our blended interest rate for all such notes approximates current market rates. During fiscal 2009, we entered into an interest rate swap with a notional amount of $150.0 million, expiring in 2010, to lock in the variable interest rate for $150.0 million of our $1.3 billion five-year revolving line of credit. Cofina Financial has interest rate swaps that lock the interest rates of the underlying loans with a combined notional amount of $21.5 million expiring at various times through fiscal 2018, with approximately half of the notional amount expiring during or prior to fiscal 2013. As of August 31, 2009, all of our interest rate swaps, including those of Cofina Financial, do not qualify for hedge accounting due to ineffectiveness caused by repayment of the borrowings or differences in underlying terms. As a result of these not qualifying for hedge accounting, changes in fair value are recorded in earnings within interest, net on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Long-term debt used to finance non-current assets carries various fixed interest rates and is payable at various dates to minimize the effects of market interest rate changes. Our weighted-average interest rate on fixed rate debt outstanding on August 31, 2009 was approximately 5.9%.

 

FOREIGN CURRENCY RISK

 

We conduct essentially all of our business in U.S. dollars, except for grain marketing operations primarily in Brazil and Switzerland, and purchases of products from Canada. We had minimal risk regarding foreign currency fluctuations during fiscal 2009 and in prior years, as substantially all international sales were denominated in U.S. dollars. From time to time, we enter into foreign currency contracts to mitigate currency fluctuations. Foreign currency fluctuations do, however, impact the ability of foreign buyers to purchase U.S. agricultural products and the competitiveness of U.S. agricultural products compared to the same products

offered by alternative sources of world supply. As of August 31, 2009, we had no foreign currency contracts outstanding.

 

 

The financial statements listed in Item 15(a)(1) are set forth beginning on page F-1. Financial statement schedules are included in Schedule II in Item 15(a)(2). Supplementary financial information required by Item 302 of Regulation S-K for each quarter during the years ended August 31, 2009 and 2008 is presented below.

 

 

 

 

None.

 

 

Disclosure of Controls and Procedures:

 

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified by the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure. In designing and evaluating our disclosure procedures, we recognize that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives and we necessarily are required to apply our judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.

 

Our management evaluated, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of August 31, 2009. Based upon that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective, at the reasonable assurance level, as of August 31, 2009, the end of the period covered in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting:

 

The financial statements, financial analyses and all other information included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K were prepared by our management, which is responsible for establishing and maintaining

adequate internal control over financial reporting. Our internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that: pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect our transactions and our dispositions of assets; provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors; and provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition and use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

 

There are inherent limitations in the effectiveness of any internal control, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of controls. Accordingly, even effective internal controls can provide only reasonable assurances with respect to financial statement preparation. Further, because of changes in conditions, the effectiveness of internal controls may vary over time.

 

Management assessed the design and operating effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of August 31, 2009. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control — Integrated Framework. Based on management’s assessment using this framework, we believe that, as of August 31, 2009, our internal control over financial reporting is effective.

 

This Annual Report on Form 10-K does not include an attestation report of our independent registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by our independent registered public accounting firm pursuant to temporary rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit us to provide only management’s report in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Change in Internal Control over Financial Reporting:

 

During our fourth fiscal quarter, there was no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

None.

 

 

The table below lists our directors as of August 31, 2009.

 

 

Bruce Anderson, secretary-treasurer (1995):  Chairman of the Governance Committee. Vice chairman of the North Dakota Agricultural Products Utilization Commission, and past board secretary for North Dakota Farmers Union and Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Company. Serves on North Dakota Coordinating Council for Cooperatives and advisory board for Quentin Burdick Center for Cooperatives. Served two terms in the

North Dakota House of Representatives. Raises small grains near Glenburn, N.D. Mr. Anderson’s principal occupation has been farming for the last five years or longer.

 

Donald Anthony (2006):  Serves on Audit and CHS Foundation Finance and Investment committees. Served as director and chairman for All Points Cooperative of Gothenburg, Neb., and Lexington (Neb.) Co-op Oil. Former director of Farmland Industries. Serves as chairman of Nebraska Beginning Farm Board and is a member of Ag Valley Co-op, CHS Agri-Service Center, Ag Builders of Nebraska, Nebraska Farm Bureau and Nebraska Corn Growers. Holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from the University of Nebraska. Raises corn, soybeans and alfalfa near Lexington, Neb. Mr. Anthony’s principal occupation has been farming for the last five years or longer.

 

Robert Bass, first vice chairman (1994):  Chairman of Audit Committee. Director and officer for the former Co-op Country Partners Cooperative, Baraboo, Wis., and its predecessors for 15 years, and board member of Cooperative Network. Holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education from the University of Wisconsin — Madison. Operates a crop and dairy operation near Reedsburg, Wis. Mr. Bass’ principal occupation has been farming for the last five years or longer.

 

Dennis Carlson (2001):  Serves on Capital and CHS Foundation Finance and Investment Committees. Director and past chairman of Farmers Union Oil Company, Bismarck/Mandan, N.D., and is active in several agricultural and cooperative organizations. Operates a diverse grain and livestock operation near Mandan, N.D. Mr. Carlson’s principal occupation has been farming for the last five years or longer.

 

Curt Eischens, second vice chairman (1990):  Chairman of Corporate Responsibility Committee. Served as a director and chairman of Farmers Co-op Association, Canby, Minn., and as chairman for Cooperative Network. Holds a certificate in farm management from Canby Vocational-Technical College. Operates a corn and soybean farm near Minneota, Minn. Mr. Eischens’ principal occupation has been farming for the last five years or longer.

 

Steve Fritel (2003):  Serves on Corporate Responsibility and Government Relations committees. Director for Rugby (N.D.) Farmers Union Oil Co., former director and chairman for Rugby Farmers Union Elevator, and previous member of the former CHS Wheat Milling Defined Board. Director of North Central Experiment Station Board of Visitors, past member of the Adult Farm and Ranch Business Management Advisory Board and member of numerous agricultural and cooperative organizations. Earned an associate’s degree from North Dakota State College of Science, Wahpeton, N.D. Raises small grains, corn, soybeans and sunflowers near Barton, N.D. Mr. Fritel’s principal occupation has been farming for the last five years or longer.

 

Jerry Hasnedl (1995):  Serves on Capital and Government Relations committees. Previous chairman of the former CHS Wheat Milling Defined Member Board. Former director and secretary for St. Hilaire (Minn.) Cooperative Elevator and Northwest Grain. Member of American Coalition for Ethanol and Cooperative Network and serves on Minnesota Sunflower Research and Promotion Council. Earned associate’s degree in agricultural economics and has certification in advanced farm business from Northland College, Thief River Falls, Minn. Operates a diverse operation near St. Hilaire, Minn., which includes small grains, soybeans, corn, sunflowers, malting barley, canola and alfalfa. Mr. Hasnedl’s principal occupation has been farming for the last five years or longer.

 

David Kayser (2006):  Serves on Governance and CHS Foundation Finance and Investment committees. Past chairman of South Dakota Association of Cooperatives and previously served on CHS Resolutions Committee. Former director and chairman for Farmer’s Alliance, Mitchell, S.D., and member of local school and township boards. Raises corn, soybeans and hay near Alexandria, S.D., and operates a cow-calf and feeder calf business. Mr. Kayser’s principal occupation has been farming for the last five years or longer.

 

James Kile (1992):  Member of Governance and Government Relations committees. Served nearly two decades as a director and chairman of St. John (Wash.) Grange Supply. Represents CHS on the Washington State Council of Farmer Cooperatives and the Idaho Cooperative Council. Director and secretary for the SJE High School Foundation. Holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from Washington State University. Was employed in banking before returning to St. John, Wash., to operate a dryland wheat farm. Mr. Kile’s principal occupation has been farming for the last five years or longer.

Randy Knecht, assistant secretary-treasurer (2001):  Serves on Government Relations and Corporate Responsibility committees. Representative to CHS Managers Council. President of Four Seasons Cooperative, Britton, S.D. Former director and chairman of Northern Electric Cooperative and director of Dakota Value Capture Cooperative. Involved in local school, government and civic organizations, as well as agricultural and cooperative associations, including the American Coalition for Ethanol. Holds a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from South Dakota State University. Operates a diversified crop farm and cattle ranch near Houghton, S.D. Mr. Knecht’s principal occupation has been farming for the last five years or longer.

 

Greg Kruger (2008):  Serves on Government Relations and Corporate Responsibility committees. Chairman of Countryside Cooperative, Durand, Wis., since its creation in 1998, after more than a dozen years as a cooperative director. Served two years each on the CHS Resolutions and CHS Rules and Credentials committees. Serves a wide range of agricultural and local government roles, including as president of Trempealeau County Farm Bureau and chairman of the local land use planning committee. Operates an 80-cow dairy and crop enterprise near Eleva, Wis. Mr. Kruger’s principal occupation has been farming for the last five years or longer.

 

Michael Mulcahey (2003):  Serves on Capital and CHS Foundation Finance and Investment committees. Served for three decades as a director and officer for Crystal Valley Co-op, Mankato, Minn., and its predecessors. Has served as a director and chairman for South Central Federated Feeds and is active in many agricultural, cooperative and civic organizations. Attended Minnesota State University-Mankato and the University of Minnesota-Waseca. Operates a grain farm and raises beef cattle near Waseca, Minn. Mr. Mulcahey’s principal occupation has been farming for the last five years or longer.

 

Richard Owen (1999):  Serves on Governance and Government Relations committees. Director of Mountain View, LLC, president of the Montana Cooperative Development Center and president of ArmorAuto, LLC. Previously served as director and officer for Central Montana Cooperative, Lewistown, Mont., and its predecessor organization. Holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from Montana State University. Raises small grains and specialty crops near Geraldine, Mont. Mr. Owen’s principal occupation has been farming for the last five years or longer.

 

Steve Riegel (2006):  Serves on Capital and Government Relations committees. Director and chairman of Dodge City (Kan.), Cooperative Exchange and its predecessor companies. Previously served as director and officer for Co-op Service, Inc., advisory director for Bucklin (Kan.) National Bank, and has served on local school board. Attended Fort Hays (Kan.) State University, majoring in agriculture, business and animal science. Operates a 300-head cow-calf and stocker cattle operation and raises irrigated corn, soybeans, alfalfa, dryland wheat and milo near Ford, Kan. Mr. Riegel’s principal occupation has been farming for the last five years or longer.

 

Daniel Schurr (2006):  Serves on Audit and Government Relations committees. Served as director and officer for River Valley Cooperative of Mt. Joy, Iowa. Serves on Blackhawk Bank and Trust board and audit and trust committees. Served eight years as director of Great River Bank and Trust. Former local school board member and active in numerous agricultural and community organizations. Named Iowa Jaycees Outstanding Young Farmer in 2004. Holds bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Iowa State University. Raises corn, soybeans and alfalfa near LeClaire, Iowa. Also owns and manages a beef feedlot and cow-calf herd. Mr. Schurr’s principal occupation has been farming for the last five years or longer.

 

Duane Stenzel (1993):  Serves on Audit Committee and is chairman of CHS Foundation Finance and Investment Committee. Previous chairman of the former CHS Oilseed Processing and Refining Defined Board. Active in a wide range of agricultural and cooperative organizations. Member of WFS and Wells Farmers Elevator, where he served as board president and secretary. Raises soybeans, corn and sweet corn near Wells, Minn. Mr. Stenzel’s principal occupation has been farming for the last five years or longer.

 

Michael Toelle, chairman (elected in 1992; chairman since 2002): Chairman of CHS Foundation. Served more than 15 years as director and chairman of Country Partners Cooperative of Browns Valley, Minn., and its predecessor companies. Serves as a CHS representative on the Nationwide Insurance sponsors committee, serves on the 25x’25 Renewable Fuels steering committee, has served as director and chairman of Agriculture

Council of America, and is active in several cooperative and commodity organizations. Holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial technology from Moorhead (Minn.) State University. Operates a grain, hog and beef farm near Browns Valley, Minn. Mr. Toelle’s principal occupation has been farming for the last five years or longer.

 

Director Elections and Voting

 

Director elections are for three-year terms and are open to any qualified candidate. The qualifications for the office of director are as follows:

 

 

The remaining qualifications set forth below must be met at all times commencing six months prior to the time of election and while the individual holds office:

 

 

The following positions on the Board of Directors will be up for re-election at the 2009 Annual Meeting of Members:

 

 

 

 

Voting rights, including those in regard to director elections, arise by virtue of membership in CHS, not because of ownership of any equity or debt instruments; therefore, our preferred stockholders can not recommend nominees to our Board of Directors unless they are members of CHS.

 

The table below lists our executive officers as of August 31, 2009. Officers are appointed by the Board of Directors.

 

 

John D. Johnson, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), began his career with the former Harvest States in 1976 as a feed consultant in the GTA Feeds Division and later became regional sales manager, director of sales and marketing, and general manager of GTA Feeds. Named group vice president of Harvest States Farm Marketing and Supply for Harvest States Cooperatives in 1992 and president and CEO of Harvest States in 1995. Selected president and general manager of CHS upon its creation in 1998 and was named president and CEO in 2000. Serves on the boards of Ventura Foods, LLC, CF Industries Holdings, Inc., National Council of Farmer Cooperatives and the Greater Twin Cities United Way. Holds a degree in business administration from Black Hills State University, Spearfish, S.D.

 

Jay Debertin, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer — Processing, joined CHS in 1984 in its energy division and held positions in energy marketing operations. Named vice president of crude oil supply in 1998, and added responsibilities for raw material supply, refining, pipelines and terminals, trading and risk management, and transportation in 2001. Named to his current position in 2005, where he is responsible for oilseed processing operations and CHS joint venture relationships in wheat milling through Horizon Milling, LLC, and in vegetable oil-based foods through Ventura Foods, LLC. Responsible for CHS strategic direction in renewable energy. Serves on the boards of National Cooperative Refinery Association and Ventura Foods, LLC. Earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of North Dakota and a master’s of business administration degree from the University of Wisconsin — Madison.

 

Patrick Kluempke, Executive Vice President — Corporate Administration, is responsible for human resources, information technology, business risk control, building and office services, board coordination, corporate planning and international relations. Served in the U.S. Army with tours in South Vietnam and South Korea as an aide to General J. Guthrie. Began his career in grain trading and export marketing. Joined CHS in 1983, has held various positions in both the operations and corporate level, and was named to his current position in 2000. Serves on the board of Ventura Foods, LLC. Holds a bachelor’s degree from St. Cloud (Minn.) State University.

 

Thomas D. Larson, Executive Vice President — Business Solutions, began his career as a vocational agriculture teacher and later joined the former Cenex in agronomy sales. Managed a local cooperative in Hoffman, Minn., and then returned to Cenex to hold positions in marketing, planning, agronomy services and retail operation management. Was named Executive Vice President — Member and Public Affairs in 1999 and named to his current position in 2005. Responsibilities include Ag States Group; Country Hedging, Inc.; and Cofina Financial, LLC; along with business solutions consulting, communications, public and governmental affairs, and the CHS Foundation. Serves on the boards of Cofina Financial, Ag States Group, Norick and Country Hedging. Received the National FFA Organization’s Honorary American Farmer Degree in 2006. Holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education from South Dakota State University.

Mark Palmquist, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer — Ag Business, joined the former Harvest States in 1979 as a grain buyer, then moved into grain merchandising. Named vice president and director of grain marketing in 1990 and senior vice president in 1993. Assumed his current responsibilities for grain, crop nutrients and country operations businesses in 2005. Serves on the boards of Agriliance LLC and Multigrain AG. Graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minn., and attended the University of Minnesota MBA program.

 

John Schmitz, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), joined the former Harvest States Cooperatives in 1974. Held accounting and finance positions within the Company, including division controller. Named vice president and controller in 1986 and became CFO for CHS in 1999. Serves on the boards of National Cooperative Refinery Association and Multigrain AG. Member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Minnesota Society of Certified Public Accountants and the National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives. Holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from St. Cloud (Minn.) State University.

 

Leon E. Westbrock, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer — Energy, joined the former Cenex in 1976 in merchandising, and managed local cooperatives in North Dakota and Minnesota. Returned to Cenex to hold various positions, including lubricants manager, director of retailing, and executive vice president of energy. Named to his current position in 2000. Serves as chairman of National Cooperative Refinery Association. Former director of Agriliance LLC and Universal Cooperatives. Named 2009 Agribusiness Leader of the Year by National Agri-Marketing Association. Holds a bachelor’s degree from St. Cloud (Minn.) State University and serves on the St. Cloud State University Foundation Board of Directors.

 

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires our executive officers, directors and persons who beneficially own more than 10% of our 8% Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock to file initial reports of ownership and reports of changes in ownership with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such executive officers, directors and greater than 10% beneficial owners are required by the regulations of the Commission to furnish us with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they file.

 

Based solely upon a review of copies of reports on Forms 3 and 4 and amendments thereto furnished to us during, and reports on Form 5 and amendments thereto furnished to us with respect to, the fiscal year ended August 31, 2009, and based further upon written representations received by us with respect to the need to file reports on Form 5, the following persons filed late reports required by Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act: Mr. Hasnedl was late in filing a Form 4 relating to a transaction in February 2009, Mr. Gaylon Bratland, Vice President — Risk Management, was late in filing a Form 4 relating to a transaction in April 2009, Mr. Larson was late in filing a Form 4 relating to a transaction in July 2009 and Mr. Kluempke was late in filing a Form 4 relating to a transaction in August 2009.

 

We have adopted a code of ethics within the meaning of Item 406(b) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act. This code of ethics applies to all of our officers and employees. We will provide to any person, without charge, upon request, a copy of such code of ethics. A person may request a copy by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

 

CHS Inc.

Attention: Dave Kastelic

5500 Cenex Drive

Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota 55077

(651) 355-6000

 

The Board of Directors has a separately designated standing Audit Committee for the purpose of overseeing our accounting and financial reporting processes and audits of our financial statements. The Audit Committee is comprised solely of directors Mr. Anthony, Mr. Bass (Chairman), Mr. Schurr and Mr. Stenzel, each of whom is an independent director. The Audit Committee has oversight responsibility to our owners relating to our financial statements and the financial reporting process, preparation of the financial reports and other financial information provided by us to any governmental or regulatory body, the systems of internal accounting and financial controls, the internal audit function and the annual independent audit of our financial statements. The Audit Committee assures that the corporate information gathering and reporting systems developed by management represent a good faith attempt to provide senior management and the Board of Directors with information regarding material acts, events and conditions within CHS. In addition, the Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation and oversight of the independent registered public accounting firm.

 

We do not believe that any member of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors is an audit committee “financial expert” as defined in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and rules and regulations thereunder. As a cooperative, our 17-member Board of Directors is nominated and elected by our members. To ensure geographic representation of our members, the Board of Directors represent eight regions in which our members are located. The members in each region nominate and elect the number of directors for that region as set forth in our bylaws. To be eligible for service as a director, a nominee must (i) be an active farmer or rancher, (ii) be a member of CHS or a Cooperative Association Member and (iii) reside in the geographic region from which he or she is nominated. Neither management nor the incumbent directors have any control over the nominating process for directors. Because of the nomination procedure and the election process, we cannot ensure that an elected director will be an audit committee “financial expert.”

 

However, many of our directors, including all of the Audit Committee members, are financially sophisticated and have experience or background in which they have had significant financial oversight responsibilities. The current Audit Committee includes directors who have served as presidents or chairmen of local cooperative association boards. Members of the Board of Directors, including the Audit Committee, also operate large commercial enterprises requiring expertise in all areas of management, including financial oversight.

 

 

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

 

Executive Compensation

 

Overview

 

CHS views employees as valued assets, and strives to provide total reward programs that are equitable and competitive within the market segments in which we compete, and within the framework of the CHS vision, mission and values. In this section, we will outline the compensation and benefit programs as well as the materials and factors used to assist us in making compensation decisions.

 

Compensation Philosophy and Objectives

 

The Corporate Responsibility Committee of our CHS Board of Directors oversees the administration of, and the fundamental changes to, the executive compensation and benefits programs. The primary principles and objectives in compensating executive officers include:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are no material changes anticipated to our compensation philosophy or plans for fiscal 2010.

 

Components of Executive Compensation and Benefits

 

Our executive compensation programs are designed to attract and retain highly qualified executives and to motivate them to optimize member owner returns by achieving specified goals. The compensation program links executive compensation directly to our annual and long-term financial performance. A significant portion of each executive’s compensation is dependent upon meeting financial goals and a smaller portion is linked to other individual performance objectives.

 

Each year, the Corporate Responsibility Committee of the Board of Directors reviews our executive compensation policies with respect to the correlation between executive compensation and the creation of member-owner value, as well as the competitiveness of the executive compensation programs. The Corporate Responsibility Committee, with input from a third party consultant if necessary, determines what, if any, changes are appropriate to our executive compensation programs including the incentive plan goals for the Named Executive Officers. The third party consultant is chosen and hired directly by the Corporate Responsibility Committee to provide guidance regarding market competitive levels of base pay, annual incentive pay and long-term incentive pay as well as market competitive allocations between base pay, annual variable pay and long-term incentive pay for the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The data is shared with our Board of Directors which makes final decisions regarding the Chief Executive Officer’s base bay, annual incentive pay and long-term incentive pay, as well as the allocation of compensation between base pay, annual incentive pay and long-term incentive pay. There are no formal policies for allocation between long-term and cash compensation other than the intention of being competitive with the external market median level of compensation for comparable positions and being consistent with our compensation philosophy and objectives. The Corporate Responsibility Committee recommends to the Board of Directors salary actions relative to our CEO and approves annual and long-term incentive awards based on goal attainment. In turn, the Board of Directors communicates this pay information to the CEO. The CEO is not involved with the selection of the third party consultant and does not participate in, or observe, Corporate Responsibility Committee meetings. Based on review of compensation market data provided by our human resources department (survey sources and pricing methodology are explained under “Components of Compensation”), the Chief Executive Officer decides base compensation levels for the other Named Executive Officers, recommends for Board of Directors approval the annual and long-term incentive levels for the other Named Executive Officers and communicates base and incentive compensation levels to the other Named Executive Officers. The day-to-day design and administration of compensation and benefit plans are managed by our human resources, finance and legal departments.

 

We intend to preserve the deductibility, under the Internal Revenue Code, of compensation paid to our executive officers while maintaining compensation programs to attract and retain highly qualified executives in a competitive environment.

Components of Compensation

 

The executive compensation and benefits programs consist of seven components. Each component is designed to be competitive within the executive compensation market. In determining competitive compensation levels, we analyze information from independent compensation surveys, which include information regarding comparable industries, markets, revenues and companies that compete with us for executive talent. The surveys used for this analysis included a combination of any of the following sources: Hay Executive Compensation Report, Hewitt Total Compensation Measurement, Mercer US Benchmark Database-Executive Positions, Towers Perrin US General Industry Executive Database and Watson Wyatt Survey of Top Management Compensation. The data extracted from these surveys includes median market rates for base salary, annual incentive, total cash compensation and total direct compensation. Companies included in the surveys vary by industry, revenue and number of employees, and represent both public and private ownership, as well as non-profit, government and mutual organizations. The number of companies participating in these surveys ranged from 389 to 2,486, with an average of 1,118. The emphasis of our executive compensation package focuses more on pay-at-risk through annual variable pay and long-term incentive awards in order to better align our programs with general market practices. The goal is to provide our executives with an overall compensation package that is competitive to median compensation in comparable industries, companies and markets. We target the market median for base pay, annual variable pay and long-term incentive pay. In actuality, the CEO and Named Executive Officers are paid in line with market median base pay and annual variable pay for comparable positions and are paid less than the market median for long-term compensation in relation to comparable positions. The following table presents a more detailed breakout of each compensation element: