Archer-Daniels-Midland 10-Q 2024-09-30
Filed 2024-11-18. 8 sections, 305K characters. Original on sec.gov · Markdown · JSON
Cover and table of contents
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2024
OR
☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from __________ to __________
Commission file number 1-44

ARCHER-DANIELS-MIDLAND COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 41-0129150 | ||||||||||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I. R. S. Employer Identification No.) | ||||||||||
| 77 West Wacker Drive, Suite 4600 | |||||||||||
| Chicago, | Illinois | 60601 | |||||||||
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
(312) 634-8100
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered | ||||||
| Common Stock, no par value | ADM | NYSE | ||||||
| 1.000% Notes due 2025 | NYSE |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). Yes ☒ No ☐.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large Accelerated Filer | ☒ | Accelerated Filer | ☐ | Emerging Growth Company | ☐ | ||||||||||||
| Non-accelerated Filer | ☐ | Smaller Reporting Company | ☐ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒.
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
Common Stock, no par value – 478,533,520 shares
(November 12, 2024)
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, are forward-looking statements. You can identify forward-looking statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements may include words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “plan,” “intend,” “believe,” “may,” “outlook,” “will,” “should,” “can have,” “likely,” and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of the timing or nature of future operating or financial performance or other events. For example, all statements the Company makes relating to its future results and operations, growth opportunities, pending litigation and investigations, and timing of the remediation of the Company’s material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances that could cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, assumptions and uncertainties, including, without limitation, those that are described in Item 1A, "Risk Factors" included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2023, as may be updated in subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Except to the extent required by law, Archer-Daniels-Midland Company does not undertake, and expressly disclaims, any duty or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise.
ARCHER-DANIELS-MIDLAND COMPANY
FORM 10-Q FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2024
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION | ||||||||||||||
| Item 1. | Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) | 1 | ||||||||||||
| a) | Statements of Earnings | 1 | ||||||||||||
| b) | Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) | 2 | ||||||||||||
| c) | Balance Sheets | 3 | ||||||||||||
| d) | Statements of Cash Flows | 4 | ||||||||||||
| e) | Statements of Shareholders’ Equity | 5 | ||||||||||||
| f) | Notes to Financial Statements | 6 | ||||||||||||
| Item 2. | Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 37 | ||||||||||||
| Item 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk | 57 | ||||||||||||
| Item 4. | Controls and Procedures | 58 | ||||||||||||
| PART II. OTHER INFORMATION | ||||||||||||||
| Item 1. | Legal Proceedings | 59 | ||||||||||||
| Item 1A. | Risk Factors | 59 | ||||||||||||
| Item 2. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds | 61 | ||||||||||||
| Item 5. | Other Information | 61 | ||||||||||||
| Item 6. | Exhibits | 62 | ||||||||||||
| Signatures | 63 |
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
ARCHER-DANIELS-MIDLAND COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(UNAUDITED)
| Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (In millions, except per share amounts) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Revenues | $ | 19,937 | $ | 21,695 | $ | 64,032 | $ | 70,957 | |||||||||||||||
| Cost of products sold | 18,572 | 19,885 | 59,612 | 65,184 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Gross Profit | 1,365 | 1,810 | 4,420 | 5,773 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Selling, general, and administrative expenses | 905 | 815 | 2,763 | 2,537 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Asset impairment, exit, and restructuring costs | 507 | 79 | 532 | 146 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates | (134) | (83) | (498) | (408) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Interest and investment income | (137) | (152) | (400) | (428) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | 174 | 155 | 527 | 482 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other (income) expense – net | (58) | (35) | (92) | (116) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Earnings Before Income Taxes | 108 | 1,031 | 1,588 | 3,560 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense | 90 | 207 | 370 | 636 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net Earnings Including Non-controlling Interests | 18 | 824 | 1,218 | 2,924 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Less: Net earnings (losses) attributable to non-controlling interests | — | 3 | (15) | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net Earnings Attributable to Archer-Daniels-Midland Company | $ | 18 | $ | 821 | $ | 1,233 | $ | 2,918 | |||||||||||||||
| Average number of shares outstanding – basic | 482 | 540 | 496 | 545 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Average number of shares outstanding – diluted | 483 | 540 | 497 | 546 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Basic earnings per common share | $ | 0.04 | $ | 1.52 | $ | 2.49 | $ | 5.36 | |||||||||||||||
| Diluted earnings per common share | $ | 0.04 | $ | 1.52 | $ | 2.48 | $ | 5.35 | |||||||||||||||
| Dividends per common share | $ | 0.50 | $ | 0.45 | $ | 1.50 | $ | 1.35 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.
ARCHER-DANIELS-MIDLAND COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(UNAUDITED)
| Three Months Ended September 30, | Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (In millions) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net Earnings Including Non-controlling Interests | $ | 18 | $ | 824 | $ | 1,218 | $ | 2,924 | |||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss): | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency translation adjustment | 2 | (245) | (255) | (57) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Tax effect | 34 | (36) | 8 | (8) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net of tax amount | 36 | (281) | (247) | (65) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Pension and other postretirement benefit liabilities adjustment | (8) | — | (15) | (32) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Tax effect | 2 | (3) | 4 | (12) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net of tax amount | (6) | (3) | (11) | (44) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Deferred gain (loss) on hedging activities | 3 | 128 | (115) | (13) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Tax effect | 8 | (28) | 25 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net of tax amount | 11 | 100 | (90) | (9) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Unrealized gain (loss) on investments | — | 5 | (7) | 13 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Tax effect | — | — | (1) | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net of tax amount | — | 5 | (8) | 11 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss) | 41 | (179) | (356) | (107) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Comprehensive income (loss) | 59 | 645 | 862 | 2,817 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests | 1 | 2 | (18) | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Archer-Daniels-Midland Company | $ | 58 | $ | 643 | $ | 880 | $ | 2,816 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.
ARCHER-DANIELS-MIDLAND COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(UNAUDITED)
| September 30, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||
| (In millions) | |||||||||||
| Assets | |||||||||||
| Current Assets | |||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 784 | $ | 1,368 | |||||||
| Segregated cash and investmen |
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Item 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A) should be read in conjunction with the accompanying unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.
Restatement of Previously Issued Consolidated Financial Statements
As described in the Part I, Item 1, Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company has restated its Consolidated Financial Statements as of September 30, 2023 and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023. As a result, the previously reported financial information as of September 30, 2023 and for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, in this MD&A has been updated to reflect the restatements. See Item 1, Note 13. Segment Information, in the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information related to the restatements, including descriptions of the adjustments and the impacts on the Consolidated Financial Statements, as well as a description of certain segment disclosure presentation errors that are being corrected in this report.
Company Overview
Archer-Daniels-Midland Company and its subsidiaries (“ADM” or the “Company”) is an essential global agricultural supply chain manager and processor; a premier human and animal nutrition provider; a trailblazer in groundbreaking solutions to support healthier living; an industry-leading innovator in replacing petroleum-based products; and a leader in sustainability. The Company is one of the world’s leading producers of ingredients for sustainable nutrition. The Company uses its significant global asset base to originate and transport agricultural commodities, connecting to markets in over 190 countries. The Company also processes corn, oilseeds, and wheat into products for food, animal feed, industrial, and energy uses. The Company also engages in the manufacturing, sale, and distribution of a wide array of ingredients and solutions including plant-based proteins, natural flavors, flavor systems, natural colors, emulsifiers, soluble fiber, polyols, hydrocolloids, probiotics, prebiotics, enzymes, botanical extracts, and other specialty food and feed ingredients. The Company uses its global asset network, business acumen, and its relationships with suppliers and customers to efficiently connect the harvest to the home thereby generating returns for its shareholders, principally from margins earned on these activities.
The Company’s operations are organized, managed, and classified into three reportable segments: Ag Services and Oilseeds, Carbohydrate Solutions, and Nutrition. Each of these reportable segments is organized based upon the nature of products and services offered. The Company’s remaining operations are not reportable segments, as defined by the applicable accounting standard, and are classified as Corporate and Other Business. Financial information with respect to the Company’s reportable segments is set forth in Note 13. Segment Information of “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” included in Item 1 “Financial Statements”.
ADM’s recent significant portfolio actions and announcements include:
- the acquisitions in January 2024 of Revela Foods, a Wisconsin-based developer and manufacturer of innovative dairy flavor ingredients and solutions and FDL, a UK-based leading developer and producer of premium flavor and functional ingredient systems. See Note 4. Acquisitions of “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” included in Item 1 “Financial Statements” for further information.
Sustainability is a key driver in ADM’s expanding portfolio of environmentally responsible, plant-derived products. Consumers today increasingly expect their food and drink to come from sustainable ingredients, produced by companies that share their values, and ADM is continually finding new ways to meet those needs through its portfolio actions.
The Company’s strategic transformation is focused on three strategic pillars: Productivity, Innovation, and Culture.
The Productivity pillar includes (1) partnering across various global teams including procurement, supply chain, operations, and commercial to optimize costs and improve production volumes across the enterprise; (2) continued roll out of the 1ADM business transformation program and implementation of improved standardized business processes; and (3) increased use of
ARCHER-DANIELS-MIDLAND COMPANY
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
technology, data analytics, and automation at production facilities, in offices, and with customers to improve efficiencies and customer service.
The Innovation pillar includes expansions and investments in (1) improving the customer experience by leveraging producer relationships and enhancing the use of state-of-the-art digital technology; (2) sustainability-driven innovation, which encompasses the full range of products, solutions, capabilities, and commitments to serve customers’ needs; and (3) growth initiatives, including organic growth with additional capacity to meet growing market demand and strategic objectives.
The Culture pillar focuses on building capabilities and enabling collaboration, teamwork, and agility from process standardization and digitalization and ADM’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, which bring new perspectives and expertise to the Company’s decision-making.
ADM plans to support the three pillars with investments in technology, which include expanding digital capabilities and investing further in research and development.
Environmental and Social Responsibility
The Company’s policy to protect forests, biodiversity, and communities includes provisions that promote conservation of water resources and biodiversity in agricultural landscapes, promote solutions to reduce climate change and greenhouse gas emissions, and support agriculture as a means to advance sustainable development by reducing poverty and increasing food security. Additionally, the policy confirms ADM’s commitment to protect human rights defenders, whistleblowers, complainants, and community spokespersons; ADM’s aspiration to cooperate with all parties necessary to enable access to fair and just remediation; and the Company’s non-compliance protocol for suppliers. In 2022, the Company achieved full traceability of its direct and indirect sourcing throughout its soy supply chains in Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. ADM is committed to eliminating deforestation from all of the Company’s supply chains by end of 2025. In 2023, after a strategic investigation of the impact of conversion of native habitats in its key supply chains, the Company announced its commitment to eliminate conversion of native habitats in high risk areas in South America for direct suppliers of all commodities by end of 2025 and indirect suppliers by 2027, with a December 31, 2025 cutoff date (a date after which conversion of primary native vegetation renders a given area or production unit non-compliant) for both direct and indirect suppliers.
The Company’s environmental goals, collectively called “Strive 35” – an ambitious plan to, by 2035, reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 25 percent from a 2019 baseline, reduce Scope 3 emissions by 25% from a 2021 baseline, reduce energy intensity by 15 percent from a 2019 baseline, reduce water intensity by 10 percent from a 2019 baseline, and achieve a 90 percent landfill diversion rate. In 2023, ADM refined two of its Strive 35 commitments to more meaningfully drive progress: ADM aims to reduce its absolute water withdrawal by 10%, from a 2019 baseline, by 2035, and ADM aims to increase its use of low-carbon energy sources to 25% of total energy used by 2035.
Operating Performance Indicators
The Company is exposed to certain risks inherent to an agricultural-based commodity business. These risks are further described in Pa
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Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The market risk inherent in the Company’s market risk sensitive instruments and positions is the potential loss arising from adverse changes in: commodity market prices as they relate to the Company’s net commodity position, foreign currency exchange rates, and interest rates. Significant changes in market risk sensitive instruments and positions for the three months ended September 30, 2024 are described below. There were no material changes during the period in the Company’s potential loss arising from changes in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates.
For detailed information regarding the Company’s market risk sensitive instruments and positions, see Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Commodities
The availability and prices of agricultural commodities are subject to wide fluctuations due to factors such as changes in weather conditions, crop disease, plantings, government programs and policies, competition, changes in global demand, changes in customer preferences and standards of living, and global production of similar and competitive crops.
The fair value of the Company’s commodity position is a summation of the fair values calculated for each commodity by valuing all of the commodity positions at quoted market prices for the period, where available, or utilizing a close proxy. The Company has established metrics to monitor the amount of market risk exposure, which consist of volumetric limits and value-at-risk (VaR) limits. VaR measures the potential loss, at a 95% confidence level, that could be incurred over a one-year period. Volumetric limits are monitored daily and VaR calculations and sensitivity analysis are monitored weekly.
In addition to measuring the hypothetical loss resulting from an adverse two standard deviation move in market prices (assuming no correlations) over a one-year period using VaR, sensitivity analysis is performed measuring the potential loss in fair value resulting from a hypothetical 10% adverse change in market prices. The highest, lowest, and average weekly position together with the market risk from a hypothetical 10% adverse price change is as follows (in millions).
| Nine Months Ended | Year ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 30, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Long/(Short) | Fair Value | Market Risk | Fair Value | Market Risk | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Highest position | $ | 543 | $ | 54 | $ | 498 | $ | 50 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Lowest position | (265) | (27) | (6) | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Average position | 158 | 16 | 125 | 13 |
The change in fair value of the average position was due to the overall increase in average quantities, partially offset by the decrease in prices of certain commodities.
ARCHER-DANIELS-MIDLAND COMPANY
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As of September 30, 2024, an evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)). Based on that evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of September 30, 2024, due to the material weakness described below.
Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
As disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2023, during the fourth quarter of 2023, in connection with the Investigation, the Company identified a material weakness in its internal control over financial reporting related to the Company’s accounting practices and procedures for segment disclosures. The material weakness resulted from inadequate controls that allowed for certain intersegment sales to be reported at amounts that were not in accordance with ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Specifically, the Company did not have adequate controls in place around measurement of certain intersegment sales between the Company’s reporting segments. In addition, appropriate controls were not in place for the reporting of intersegment sales and for the application of disclosure requirements within ASC 280, Segment Reporting. The absence of adequate controls with respect to the reporting of intersegment sales impacted the completeness and accuracy of the Company’s segment disclosures and review controls over projected financial information utilized in goodwill and other long-lived asset impairment tests.
Remediation Plan
The Company is implementing enhancements to its internal controls to remediate the identified material weakness in its internal control over financial reporting related to the Company’s accounting practices and procedures for intersegment sales and to enhance the reliability of its financial statements with respect to the pricing and reporting of such sales. Specifically, the Company has (i) enhanced the Company’s accounting policies with respect to the measurement of intersegment sales and (ii) improved its documentation of the Company’s pricing guidelines for intersegment sales. In addition, (i) the design and documentation of the execution of pricing and measurement controls for segment disclosure purposes and projected financial information used in impairment analyses have been enhanced, and testing of these controls will continue throughout the balance of the year; and (ii) training for relevant personnel on the measurement of intersegment sales and application of relevant accounting guidance to intersegment sales and segment disclosures has been provided and remains ongoing.
While the Company believes that these efforts will improve its internal control over financial reporting, the Company will not be able to conclude whether the steps the Company is taking will remediate the material weakness in internal control over financial reporting until a sustained period of time has passed to allow management to test the design and operational effectiveness of the new and enhanced controls.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
The Company is undertaking upgrades to its IT platforms and, in particular, certain of its enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems on a worldwide basis, which is expected to occur in phases over the next several years. The Company did not have any further deployments of updated ERP systems during the quarter ended September 30, 2024.
Except for the material weakness described above and the related remediation measures that are being implemented, there have been no changes in internal control over financial reporting during the three months ended September 30, 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company completed the acquisitions of Revela, FDL, PT, and TNS. As a result of the acquisitions, the Company is in the process of reviewing the internal control structures of these businesses and, if necessary, will make appropriate changes as the Company incorporates its controls and procedures into the acquired businesses.
ARCHER-DANIELS-MIDLAND COMPANY
PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The Company is routinely involved in a number of actual or threatened legal actions, including those involving alleged personal injuries, employment law, product liability, intellectual property, environmental issues, alleged tax liability (see Note 10. Income Taxes within“Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” included in Part I, Item 1 herein, “Financial Statements,” for information on income tax matters), and class actions. The Company also routinely receives inquiries from regulators and other government authorities relating to various aspects of its business, and at any given time, the Company has matters at various stages of resolution. The outcomes of these matters are not within the Company’s complete control and may not be known for prolonged periods of time. In some actions, claimants seek damages, as well as other relief including injunctive relief, that could require significant expenditures or result in lost revenues. In accordance with applicable accounting standards, the Company records a liability in its Consolidated Financial Statements for material loss contingencies when a loss is known or considered probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. If the reasonable estimate of a known or probable loss is a range, and no amount within the range is a better estimate than any other, the minimum amount of the range is accrued. If a material loss contingency is reasonably possible but not known or probable, and can be reasonably estimated, the estimated loss or range of loss is disclosed in the notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. When determining the estimated loss or range of loss, significant judgment is required to estimate the amount and timing of a loss to be recorded. Estimates of probable losses resulting from litigation and governmental proceedings involving the Company are inherently difficult to predict, particularly when the matters are in early procedural stages, with incomplete facts or legal discovery; involve unsubstantiated or indeterminate claims for damages; potentially involve penalties, fines, disgorgement, or punitive damages; or could result in a change in business practice. The Company’s estimated loss or range of loss with respect to loss contingencies may change from time to time, and it is reasonably possible the Company will incur actual losses in excess of the amounts currently accrued and such additional amounts may be material. While the Company continues to work with parties with respect to potential resolution, no assurance can be given that it will be successful in doing so and the Company cannot predict the outcome of these matters. See Note 17. Legal Proceedings within “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” included in Part I, Item 1 herein, “Financial Statements,” for information on the Company’s legal proceedings which is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 1A. RISK FACTORS
In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the risk factors discussed in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2023, as supplemented by the risk factors set forth below.
The Company faces risks related to international conflicts, acts of terrorism or war, or other geopolitical events, such as the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, Israel-Hamas war, sanctions, and other economic disruptions.
ADM’s assets and operations could be subject to extensive property damage, business disruption, loss in value, nationalization and expropriation as a result of geopolitical conflicts, acts of terrorism (e.g. purposeful adulteration of the Company’s products), and war, as well as any sanctions or embargoes resulting from these events. The assets and operations located in the region affected by the war between Russia and Ukraine are at an increased risk of property damage, inventory loss, business disruption, and expropriation. In addition, the Company may not be able to realize any financial or other benefits from its investments in Russia due to ongoing sanctions or actions of the Russian government. The Black Sea region is a major exporter of wheat and corn to the world, and the disruption of supply may continue to cause volatility in volumes, prices, and margins of these commodities and related products. While the Company has a robust trade sanctions compliance program, there is a risk that ADM and its related parties could trade with a sanctioned partner due to the number of sanctions taken against Russia. Trade receivables may be at risk of higher defaults, and other third-party risks could affect ADM’s ability to obtain inputs if suppliers are unable to perform or face insolvency, as certain supplies may not be attainable due to sanctions and/or restrictions on cross-border payment transactions. The Company could be materially impacted if, in the worst-case scenario, the conflict in Ukraine advances to other countries. The risk to ADM’s business from the war in Israel could increase if it expands into other countries. In such circumstances, trade policies and the Company’s critical global supply chain and logistical networks could be affected, impairing the Company’s ability to satisfy contractual obligations and impacting working capital requirements. Insurance may not adequately cover these risks. In addition, provisions for certain products that ADM produces, particularly those that support the food services channels, could be materially impacted. The Company continues to monitor risks associated with the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the conflict in Israel along with the Red Sea and other political tensions and evaluate alternatives to reduce the impacts of these risks.
ARCHER-DANIELS-MIDLAND COMPANY
PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
The Company’s failure to successfully complete its ongoing implementations of new enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and upgrades of its information technology (IT) systems could have a material and adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations**.**
The Company is undertaking upgrades to its IT platforms and, in particular, certain of its ERP systems on a worldwide basis, which is expected to occur in phases over the next several years. These upgrades include making changes to legacy systems or acquiring new systems with new functionality, and building new policies, procedures, training programs and monitoring tools. The Company is also engaged in implementations of new ERP systems which has required and will continue to require significant investments of human and financial resources. The Company’s strategy for pursuing these upgrades and implementations will likely evolve over time and may increase the time or expense involved in completing these projects. In implementing new ERPs, the Company may experience significant increases to inherent costs and risks associated with changing and acquiring these systems, policies, procedures and monitoring tools, including capital expenditures, additional operating expenses, demands on management time and other risks and costs of delays or difficulties in transitioning to or integrating new systems policies, procedures or monitoring tools into its current systems. Any significant disruption or deficiency in the design and implementation of any ERP may adversely affect the Company’s ability to operate its business, or maintain effective disclosure controls and internal control over financial reporting. These implementations, modifications and upgrades may not result in productivity improvements at a level that outweighs the costs of implementation, or at all. In addition, difficulties with implementing new technology systems, such as ERPs, delays in the Company’s timeline for planned improvements, significant system failures or the Company’s inability to successfully modify its IT systems, policies, procedures or monitoring tools to respond to changes in its business needs in the past have caused and in the future may cause disruptions in the Company’s business operations, increase security risks, including the risk of cybersecurity breaches, and may have a material and adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
ARCHER-DANIELS-MIDLAND COMPANY
PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
The following table provides information about purchases by the Company during the three months ended September 30, 2024 of equity securities that are registered by the Company pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act. Under the Company’s current stock repurchase program, subject to applicable law, share repurchases may be made from time to time in open market transactions or privately negotiated transactions.
| Period | Total Number of Shares Purchased**(1)** | Average Price Paid per Share | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of a Publicly Announced Program**(2)** | Number of Shares Remaining to be Purchased Under the Program**(2)** | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| July 1, 2024 to | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| July 31, 2024 | — | — | — | 14,764,049 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| August 1, 2024 to | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| August 31, 2024 | — | — | — | 14,764,049 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 1, 2024 to | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 30, 2024 | 11,144 | 61.42 | — | 14,764,049 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 11,144 | 61.42 | — | $ | 14,764,049 |
(1)Total shares purchased represent those shares purchased in the open market as part of the Company’s publicly announced share repurchase program described below, shares received as payment for the exercise price of stock option exercises, and shares received as payment for the withholding taxes on vested restricted stock awards. During the three-month period ended September 30, 2024, there were 11,144 shares received as payments for the withholding taxes on vested restricted stock awards.
(2)On November 5, 2014, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program authorizing the Company to repurchase up to 100,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock during the period commencing January 1, 2015 and ending December 31, 2019. On August 7, 2019, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the extension of the stock repurchase program through December 31, 2024 and the repurchase of up to an additional 100,000,000 shares under the extended program.
Item 5. OTHER INFORMATION
None of the Company’s directors or officers (as defined in Rule 16a-1(f) of the Exchange Act) adopted, modified or terminated any contract, instruction, or written plan for the purchase or sale of ADM’s securities that was intended to satisfy the affirmative defense conditions of Rule 10b5-1(c) of the Exchange Act or any non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement (as defined in Item 408(c) of Regulation S-K) during the three months ended September 30, 2024.
ARCHER-DANIELS-MIDLAND COMPANY
PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
Item 6. EXHIBITS
| Exhibit No. | Description | SEC Document Reference | ||||||||||||
| (3)(i) | Composite Certificate of Incorporation, as amended. | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(i) to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 13, 2001. | ||||||||||||
| (3)(ii) | Bylaws, as amended through November 2, 2022. | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(ii) to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on February 14, 2023). | ||||||||||||
| (10.1) | Offer Letter, by and between the Company and Monish Patolawala. | Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 10, 2024. | ||||||||||||
| (31.1) | Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a–14(a) and Rule 15d–14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. | Filed herewith. | ||||||||||||
| (31.2) | Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a–14(a) and Rule 15d–14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. | Filed herewith. | ||||||||||||
| (32.1) | Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | Furnished herewith. | ||||||||||||
| (32.2) | Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. | Furnished herewith. | ||||||||||||
| (101) | Inline XBRL file set for the Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes in Part I, Item 1, “Financial Statements” and for the information under Part II, Item 5, “Other Information” of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. | Filed herewith. | ||||||||||||
| (104) | Inline XBRL for the cover page of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, included in the Exhibit 101 Inline XBRL file set. | Filed herewith. | ||||||||||||
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| ARCHER-DANIELS-MIDLAND COMPANY | ||||||||
| (Registrant) | ||||||||
| Dated: | November 18, 2024 | /s/ M. Patolawala | ||||||
| M. Patolawala | ||||||||
| Chief Financial Officer | ||||||||
| (Principal Financial Officer and Duly Authorized Officer) | ||||||||