ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
There are many factors that could adversely affect our business, results of operations and cash flows, some of which are beyond our control. The following is a description of some important factors that may cause our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows in future periods to differ materially from those currently expected or desired. Factors not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial may also materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Risks Related to Our Business and Our Industry
Geopolitical conflicts and actions arising from them may have an adverse effect on the availability and prices of raw materials and energy supplies, cause supply chain disruptions, or contribute to volatility in foreign exchange and interest rates.
Our business may be adversely affected by new geopolitical conflicts, including impacts from conflicts that affect shipping through the Suez Canal, as well as the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Our operations in Russia and Ukraine accounted for less than one half of one percent of our net sales in 2023, but these locations are in regions that provide sources of raw material and energy supplies for both us and certain companies whose products we distribute. Economic sanctions and export control measures imposed on Russia and designated Russian enterprises, Belarus and certain regions of Ukraine have resulted in increased volatility in the availability and prices of such raw materials and energy supplies. In addition, sanctions and macroeconomic effects of geopolitical conflicts have contributed to greater volatility in foreign exchange and interest rates that affect our financial results. Developments relating to geopolitical conflicts might result in a continuation of these impacts and in other impacts that could adversely affect our business or results of operations.
Changes in consumer practices, preferences and perceptions may lessen the demand for our products, which could reduce our sales and profitability and harm our business.
Food products are often affected by changes in consumer practices and tastes, national, regional and local economic conditions and demographic trends. For instance, changes in prevailing health or dietary preferences causing consumers to avoid food products that contain sweetener products, including high fructose corn syrup, in favor of foods that are perceived as being healthier, have negatively affected our sales and profitability. Increasing concern among consumers, public health professionals and government agencies about the potential health concerns associated with obesity and inactive lifestyles represent a significant cost to some of our customers, including those engaged in the food and soft drink industries, and continue to materially affect demand for our products. Similarly, the increasing availability, use and acceptance of weight loss medications, including the expanded use of medications designed for weight loss in people without diabetes, may reduce sales of food and beverage products that contain our ingredients since the medications regulate appetite and may reduce the overall amount of food and beverages consumed.
Economic conditions may adversely impact demand for our products, reduce access to credit, affect investment returns and cause our customers and others with whom we do business to suffer financial hardship, all of which could adversely impact our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
General business and economic conditions that could affect us include barriers to trade (including as a result of tariffs, duties and border taxes, among other factors), the strength of the economies in which we operate, unemployment, inflation and fluctuations in debt and equity markets. While currently these conditions have not impaired our ability to access credit and equity markets to finance our operations, we are subject to the risk of a further deterioration in the financial markets.
These economic developments could negatively affect our operations through reduced consumer demand for our products, pressure to extend our customers’ payment terms, insolvency of our customers and increased provisions for credit losses, product order delays or cancellations, less attractive supplier finance terms and conditions, and counterparty failures.
In connection with our defined benefit pension plans, adverse changes in investment returns earned on pension assets and discount rates used to calculate pension and related liabilities or changes in required pension funding levels may have an unfavorable impact on future pension expenses and cash flows.
Volatile worldwide economic conditions and market instability may make it difficult for us, our customers and our suppliers to accurately forecast future product demand trends, which could cause us to produce products in excess of demand, increase our inventory carrying costs, and incur additional charges for aged, obsolete or spoiled inventory.
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Alternatively, this forecasting difficulty may cause a shortage of products that could affect our ability to satisfy the demand for our products.
Our reliance on certain industries for a significant portion of our sales could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Of our 2023 net sales, approximately 54 percent were generated by sales to the food industry, approximately 10 percent by sales to the animal nutrition industry, approximately 9 percent by sales to the beverage industry, and approximately 7 percent by sales to the brewing industry. If our customers in any of these industries were to substantially decrease their purchases, our business might be materially adversely affected.
Pandemics could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Pandemics, such as the recent coronavirus pandemic, have had, and could continue to have, negative impacts on our business, including by causing significant volatility in the commodity and currency markets, changes in consumer demand, behavior or preference, disruptions in our supply chain and manufacturing capacity, limitations on our employees’ ability to work and changes in the economic or political conditions in markets we serve, which could constrain or halt shipments to customers. These risks individually and in the aggregate could have a material effect on our operating results, financial condition, cash flows and prospects.
The uncertainty of acceptance of products developed through biotechnology could affect our profitability.
The commercial success of agricultural products developed through biotechnology, including genetically modified corn, depends in part on public acceptance of their development, cultivation, distribution and consumption. Public attitudes can be influenced by claims that genetically modified products are unsafe for consumption or that they pose unknown risks to the environment, even if such claims are not based on scientific studies. These public attitudes can influence regulatory and legislative decisions about biotechnology. The sale of our products, which may contain genetically modified corn, could be delayed or impeded because of adverse public perception regarding the safety of our products and the potential effects of these products on human health, the environment and animals.
Our future growth could be negatively impacted if we fail to continue introducing innovative new products and services or if competitors or customers independently identify or develop new solutions that could compete with our products and services.
A significant portion of our growth depends on innovation in products, processes and services. Our R&D efforts may not result in new products and services at a rate or of a quality sufficient to gain market acceptance. Increasing capabilities from generative artificial intelligence may increase the ability of competitors or customers to identify or develop new solutions that could compete with or reduce demand for our products and services.
It may be difficult to preserve operating margins and maintain market share in the highly competitive environment in which we operate.
We operate in a highly competitive environment. Competition in markets in which we compete is largely based on price, quality and product availability. Many of our products compete with virtually identical or similar products manufactured by other companies in the starch and sweetener industry. In the U.S., our competitors include divisions of larger enterprises that have greater financial resources than we do. Some of these competitors, unlike us, have vertically integrated their corn refining and other operations. Many of our products also compete with products made from raw materials other than corn, including cane and beet sugar. Fluctuation in prices of these competing products may affect prices of, and profits derived from, our products. In addition, government programs supporting sugar prices indirectly impact the price of corn sweeteners, especially high fructose corn syrup. Furthermore, co-products such as corn oil and gluten meal compete with products of the corn dry milling industry and with soybean oil, soybean meal and other products, the price of some of which may be affected by government programs such as tariffs or quotas.
Due to market volatility, we may be unable to pass potential increases in the cost of corn and other raw materials on to customers through product price increases, to purchase quantities of corn and other raw materials at prices sufficient to
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sustain or increase our profitability, or to supply product quantities and meet shipment delivery requirements that our customers demand.
The price and availability of corn and other raw materials are subject to volatility as a result of economic and industry conditions, including supply and demand factors such as supply chain disruptions, crop disease and severe weather conditions that include drought, floods, frost and ocean currents. These conditions are difficult to anticipate, are beyond our control and could adversely impact our profitability by affecting the prices we pay for raw materials.
Inputs to our procurement, production processes and delivery channels, such as raw material, energy, and freight and logistics, may experience price fluctuations, supply chain interruptions, and shortages that could adversely affect our results of operations.
Our finished products are made primarily from corn. Purchased corn and other raw material costs generally account for between 40 percent and 60 percent of our finished product costs. Some of our products are based upon specific varieties of corn that are produced in significantly smaller volumes than yellow dent corn. These specialty grains cost more due to their more limited availability and require planning cycles of up to three years to ensure we receive an adequate supply. We also manufacture certain starch-based products from potatoes. Our current potato starch requirements constitute a material portion of the total available North American supply. It is possible that, in the long term, continued growth in demand for potato starch-based ingredients and new product development could result in capacity constraints. Also, we utilize tapioca in the manufacturing of starch products primarily in Thailand, as well as pulses, gum, rice, stevia and other raw materials around the world. A significant supply disruption or sharp increase in prices of any of these raw materials that we are unable to recover through pricing increases to our customers could have an adverse impact on our growth and profitability, especially if such an event disproportionately affects us as compared to our competitors.
Our business in the past has been adversely affected by fluctuations in our energy costs, which represented approximately 8 percent of our finished product costs in 2023; and could be negatively affected by such fluctuations in future periods. We use energy primarily to create steam required for our production processes and to dry products. We consume natural gas, electricity, coal, fuel oil, wood and other biomass sources to generate energy.
Because we ship products worldwide, our business in the past and has been, and in future periods could be, adversely affected by fluctuations in freight and logistics costs, and disruptions in supply channels between parties and locations that include our suppliers, production and storage facilities, tolling and packaging partners, distributors and customers. Risks to our business include impacts from labor strikes or weather-related events that affect transportation by rail, air, shipping or ground.
The market prices for our raw materials, supply chain freight and logistics, and energy may vary considerably depending on supply and demand, world economies, trade agreements and tariffs and other factors. We purchase these commodities and services based on our anticipated usage and future outlook for these costs. We may not be able to purchase these commodities and services at prices that we can adequately pass on to customers, which could have an adverse impact on our growth and profitability.
An inability to contain costs and working capital could adversely affect our future profitability, cash flows, and growth.
Our future profitability and growth depend on our ability to contain operating costs and per unit product costs and to maintain and implement effective cost control programs, while also maintaining competitive pricing and superior quality products, customer service and support. Our ability to maintain a competitive cost structure depends on continued containment of manufacturing, delivery and administrative costs, as well as the implementation of cost-effective purchasing programs for raw materials, energy and related manufacturing requirements. Our working capital requirements, including margin requirements on open positions on futures exchanges, are directly affected by the price of corn and other agricultural commodities, which may fluctuate significantly and change quickly.
In North America, we sell a large portion of our finished products derived from corn at firm prices established in supply contracts typically lasting for a period of one year. To minimize the effect of volatility in the cost of corn related to these firm-priced supply contracts, we enter into corn futures and options contracts, or take other hedging positions in the corn and soy futures market. These derivative contracts typically mature within one year. At expiration, we settle the derivative contracts at a net amount equal to the change in the price of the commodity from the date we entered the derivative contract, with the intention of offsetting the change in commodity prices from the time we entered the firm-priced supply contracts. The fluctuations in the fair value of these hedging instruments may adversely affect our cash flow. We fund any
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unrealized losses or receive cash for any unrealized gains on futures contracts on a daily basis. While the corn and soy futures contracts or hedging positions are intended to minimize the effect of volatility of corn costs on operating profits, the hedging activity can result in losses, some of which may be material. In addition, our hedging activities may not be fully successful in limiting the effect of volatility in the cost of corn.
If we are unable to contain our operating costs and maintain the productivity and reliability of our production facilities, our profitability and growth could be adversely affected.
Operating difficulties at our manufacturing facilities and liabilities relating to product safety and quality could adversely affect our operating results.
Producing starches and sweeteners through corn refining is a capital-intensive industry. We conduct preventive maintenance and de-bottlenecking programs at our manufacturing facilities designed to maintain and improve grind capacity and facility reliability. If we encounter operating difficulties at a facility for an extended period of time or start-up problems with any capital improvement projects, we may not be able to meet a portion of our sales order commitments and could incur significantly higher operating expenses, both of which could adversely affect our operating results. Furthermore, we use boilers to generate steam required in our production processes. An event that impaired the operation of a boiler for an extended period of time could have a significant adverse effect on the operations of any manufacturing facility in which such event occurred.
In addition, we are subject to risks related to such matters as product safety and quality issues, product recalls, and customer claims, including product liability claims. The liabilities that could result from these risks may not always be covered by, or could exceed the limits of, our insurance coverage related to product liability and the other applicable forms of insurance that we carry. In addition, negative publicity caused by these types of risks may damage our reputation. The occurrence of any of the matters described above could adversely affect our revenues and operating results.
Global climate change and legal, regulatory, or market measures to address climate change, may negatively affect our business, operations and financial results.
We are subject to risks associated with the long-term effects of climate change on the global economy and on our industry in particular. Extreme weather and natural disasters that occur around the globe, such as drought, wildfires, storms, changes in ocean currents and flooding, could make it more difficult and costly for us to manufacture and deliver our products to our customers, obtain raw materials from our suppliers, or perform other critical corporate functions. In particular, if such climate change impacts negatively affect agricultural productivity, we may be subject to decreased availability or less favorable pricing from certain commodities that are necessary for our products, such as corn, specialty grains, rice, stevia, peas and sugar. Adverse weather conditions and natural disasters could reduce crop size and crop quality, which could reduce our supplies of raw materials, lower recoveries of usable raw materials, increase the prices of our raw materials, increase our costs of storing and transporting raw materials, or disrupt production schedules. Our manufacturing operations also could be adversely affected by reduced water availability resulting from droughts.
There is a growing societal concern that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere may have an adverse effect on global temperatures, weather patterns and the frequency and severity of natural disasters. The increasing concern over climate change could result in new domestic or international legal requirements for us to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts of our operations, improve our energy efficiency, or undertake sustainability measures that exceed those we currently pursue. Furthermore, such measures may result in the taxation of greenhouse gas emissions. Any such regulatory requirements could cause disruptions in the manufacture of our products and result in increased capital, procurement, manufacturing and distribution costs. Our reputation and brand could be harmed if we fail, or are seen as having failed, to respond responsibly and effectively to changes in legal and regulatory measures adopted to address climate change.
In addition, changing customer preferences may result in increased demands regarding packaging materials and other components in our products and their environmental impact on sustainability. Moreover, customers may place increasing importance on purchasing products that are sustainably grown and made, requiring us to incur additional costs for increased due diligence and reporting. These demands may cause us to incur additional costs or make other changes to other operations to respond to such demands, which could adversely affect our financial results.
We are or soon will be obligated to comply with new climate-related reporting requirements under SEC rules, California climate-related reporting statutes, laws of member states of the European Union implementing the EU Corporate
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Sustainability Reporting Directive, and other laws and regulations. These sustainability reporting frameworks will require us to provide, at least annually, detailed public disclosures about the greenhouse gas emissions and other climate-related effects our activities produce, the climate-related operating and financial risks we face, and the strategies we pursue to reduce and adapt to the impacts of climate change. We expect to incur substantial costs to prepare these disclosures. If we fail to compile, assess and report the required operating and accounting information in a timely manner and in accordance with mandatory reporting standards, we could be exposed to fines and other sanctions and sustain harm to our reputation.
We may not successfully identify and complete acquisitions, divestitures, or strategic alliances on favorable terms or achieve anticipated synergies relating to any acquisitions or alliances, and such transactions could result in unforeseen operating difficulties and expenditures and require significant management resources.
We regularly review potential acquisitions of complementary businesses, technologies, services, or products, as well as potential divestitures or strategic alliances. We have completed several such acquisitions and strategic alliances in recent years, and divested our business in South Korea on February 1, 2024. We may be unable to find suitable acquisition candidates, divestiture investors, or appropriate partners with which to form partnerships, sell operations or assets, or form strategic alliances. Even if we identify appropriate acquisition, divestiture or alliance candidates, we may be unable to complete such acquisitions, divestitures or alliances on favorable terms, on time, on budget, or at all.
The failure to consummate proposed transactions may result in the diversion of substantial resources, including management time and cash used for transaction-related expenses, that otherwise would be available for developing our ongoing business. Due diligence performed prior to an acquisition may fail to identify a material liability or an issue that could have an adverse impact on the Company’s reputation or reduce or delay the anticipated benefits resulting from the acquisition. In addition, the process of integrating an acquired business, technology, service, or product into our existing business and operations, or of divesting certain operations or businesses, may result in unforeseen operating difficulties and expenditures, including with respect to the retention of strategic talent, systems integration, and internal control effectiveness. Integration of an acquired company or transitioning a divested business or operations may also require significant management resources that otherwise would be available for developing our ongoing business. Moreover, we may not realize the anticipated benefits of any acquisition, divestiture or strategic alliance and such transactions may not generate anticipated financial results. Future acquisitions or divestitures could also require us to issue equity securities, incur debt, assume contingent liabilities, impair assets, or amortize expenses related to intangible assets, any of which could harm our business.
Additionally, we participate in several joint ventures, some of which are intended to be long-term investments, in which we have limited control over governance, financial reporting, and operations. As a result, we face operating, financial, legal and other risks relating to these investments, including risks related to the financial strength of our joint venture partners or their willingness to provide adequate funding for the joint venture, differences in objectives between us and our partners, legal and compliance risks relating to actions or omissions of the joint venture or our partners, and the risk that we will be unable to resolve disputes with the joint venture partner. As a result, these investments may contribute significantly less than we anticipate to our earnings and cash flows.
We operate a multinational business subject to the economic, political and other risks inherent in conducting operations in foreign countries and with foreign currencies.
We have operated in foreign countries and with foreign currencies for many years, and our results are subject to foreign currency exchange fluctuations. We primarily sell products derived from world commodities. Historically, we have been able to adjust local prices relatively quickly to offset the effect of local currency depreciation versus the U.S. dollar, although we cannot guarantee our ability to do this in the future. The anticipated strength in the U.S. dollar may continue to involve risks, as it could take us an extended period of time to fully recapture the impact of a loss of foreign currency value versus the U.S. dollar. We may hedge transactions that are denominated in a currency other than the currency of the operating unit entering into the underlying transaction. Our hedging activities may not be fully successful in limiting the adverse impacts of our currency risks.
Our operations are subject to political, economic and other risks. There has been and continues to be significant political instability in some countries in which we operate. Economic changes, terrorist activity and political unrest may result in business interruption or decreased demand for our products. Country capital controls, such as those in Pakistan and Argentina, may prevent the repatriation of dividends or payments due to us from our subsidiaries in the country. Protectionist trade measures and import and export licensing requirements could also adversely affect our results of operations.
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Our profitability could be negatively impacted if we fail to maintain satisfactory labor relations.
We have employees domiciled in the U.S. as well as worldwide who belong to labor unions. Strikes, lockouts or other work stoppages or slowdowns involving our unionized employees, or attempts to organize for collective bargaining purposes among non-unionized employees, could have a material adverse effect on our business. For example, from September 2022 to January 2023, we experienced a strike involving approximately 103 employees at our production facility in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, although this incident did not have a material impact on our business.
The inability for us to attract, develop, retain, motivate and maintain good relationships with our workforce, including key personnel, could negatively impact our business and our profitability.
Our future success depends on our ability to attract, develop, retain, motivate and maintain good relationships with qualified personnel, particularly those who have extensive expertise in the ingredients solutions industry and who may also have long service with our company. Such personnel are members of our senior executive leadership and work in key areas throughout our U.S. and international operations such as manufacturing, sales, and innovation, all of which are critical to our future growth and profitability. We face intensive competition in retaining and hiring individuals with the requisite expertise, both within and outside the ingredients solutions industry, including from companies that have greater resources than we do.
Changes in labor markets as a result of the recent coronavirus pandemic and other socioeconomic and demographic changes have increased the competition for hiring and retaining talent. As a result of this competition, we may be unable to continue to attract, develop, retain, motivate and maintain good relationships with suitably qualified individuals at acceptable compensation levels who have the managerial, operational, and technical knowledge and experience to meet our needs. Furthermore, any failure by us to manage internal succession or to effectively transfer knowledge from departing employees to others in the organization could adversely affect our business and results of operations. Even if we succeed in hiring new personnel to fill vacancies, lengthy training and orientation periods might be required before new employees are able to achieve acceptable productivity levels. Any failure by us to attract, develop, retain, motivate and maintain good relationships with qualified individuals could adversely affect our business and results of operations.
Natural disasters, war, acts and threats of terrorism, and other significant events could negatively impact our business.
The economies of any countries in which we sell or manufacture products or purchase raw materials could be affected by natural disasters. Such natural disasters could include, among others, earthquakes, floods, or severe weather conditions; war, acts of war or terrorism. Any such event could result in disruptions to operations, asset write-offs, decreased sales and a negative impact on our cash position.
The recognition of impairment charges on goodwill or long-lived assets could adversely impact our future financial position and results of operations.
We have $1.3 billion of total net intangible assets as of December 31, 2023, consisting of $918 million of goodwill and $385 million of other net intangible assets, which constitute 12 percent and 5 percent, respectively, of our total assets as of such date. Additionally, we have $2.9 billion of long-lived assets, or 38 percent of our total assets, as of December 31, 2023.
We perform an annual impairment assessment for goodwill and our indefinite-lived intangible assets and as necessary for other long-lived assets. If the results of such assessments were to show that the fair value of these assets were less than the carrying values, we could be required to recognize a charge for impairment of goodwill or long-lived assets, which could be material.
The future occurrence of a potential indicator of impairment, such as a significant adverse change in the business climate that would require a change in our assumptions or strategic decisions made in response to economic or competitive conditions, could require us to perform an assessment prior to the next required assessment date of July 1, 2024.
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Risks Related to Our Regulatory Compliance
Government policies and regulations could adversely affect our operating results.
Our operating results could be affected by changes in trade, monetary and fiscal policies, laws and regulations, and other activities of the U.S. and foreign governments, agencies and similar organizations. These conditions include, among others, changes in a country’s or region’s economic or political conditions, modification or termination of trade agreements or treaties promoting free trade, creation of new trade agreements or treaties, trade regulations affecting production, pricing and marketing of products, local labor conditions and regulations, including regulations regarding child labor, reduced protection of intellectual property rights, changes in the regulatory or legal environment, restrictions on currency exchange activities, currency exchange rate fluctuations, burdensome taxes and tariffs, and other trade disputes or trade barriers. International risks and uncertainties, including changing social and economic conditions as well as terrorism, political hostilities and war, could limit our ability to transact business in these markets and could adversely affect our revenues and operating results. Furthermore, the national and global regulation or taxation of greenhouse gas emissions could negatively affect our business, operations and financial results.
Our operations could be adversely affected by actions taken in connection with cross-border disputes by the governments of countries in which we conduct business.
Changes in our tax rates or exposure to additional income tax liabilities could impact our profitability.
We are subject to income taxes in the U.S. and in foreign jurisdictions. Our effective tax rates could be adversely affected by changes in the mix of earnings by jurisdiction, changes in tax laws, tax rates changes in the valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities and material adjustments from tax audits.
The recoverability of our deferred tax assets is dependent upon our ability to generate future taxable income. In addition, we are subject to ongoing audits in various jurisdictions and final determinations of prior-year tax liabilities are dependent upon many factors, including negotiations and dispute resolutions with tax or other governmental authorities. The outcome of these final determinations could have a material effect on our profitability and cash flows.
On October 8, 2021, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (“OECD”) members approved a framework for reform of the international tax rule (“Inclusive Framework Statement”). The Inclusive Framework Statement sets forth key terms for a two-pillar solution designed to address the tax challenges arising from the digitalization of the economy. Pillar One focuses on nexus and profit allocation and would apply to multinational enterprises with annual global revenue above 20 billion euros and profitability above 10 percent. Based on these thresholds, we would currently be outside the scope of Pillar One. The Pillar Two rules, which would apply to us, are designed to ensure certain multinational enterprises, with consolidated revenues of at least 750 million euros in at least two out of the last four years, pay a global minimum effective corporate tax rate of 15 percent in each jurisdiction in which they operate.
On February 1, 2023, the U.S. Financial Accounting Standards Board indicated that it believes the minimum tax imposed under Pillar Two is an alternative minimum tax. Therefore, deferred tax assets and liabilities associated with the minimum tax will not be recognized or adjusted for the estimate future effects of the minimum tax but instead will be recognized in the period incurred.
Pillar Two legislation has been enacted in certain jurisdictions in which we operate. The legislation will be effective for the financial year beginning January 1, 2024. We have performed an assessment of our potential exposure to Pillar Two income taxes. This assessment is based on the most recent tax information available regarding the financial performance of the constituent entities in our group. Based on the assessment performed, we do not expect Pillar Two, as currently enacted, to have a material impact on our effective tax rate.
The OECD continues to release additional guidance on Pillar Two, and additional countries are expected to enact legislation. Although is is difficult at this stage to determine with precision the impact future Pillar Two proposals would have, their implementation could adversely impact our effective tax rate.
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During 2023, the Brazilian Government published Law 14.789, effective January 1, 2024, that eliminated the exclusion of certain tax incentives provided by federal, state, and municipal authorities from taxable income and modified the interest on net equity instrument. This law will adversely impact our provision for income taxes.
Risks Related to Our Financing Activities
We may not have access to the funds required for future growth and expansion.
We may not have access to additional funds we need to grow and expand our operations. We expect to fund our capital expenditures from operating cash flow to the extent we are able to do so. If our operating cash flow is insufficient to fund our capital expenditures, we may either reduce our capital expenditures or utilize borrowings under our revolving credit facility, which also provides liquidity support for our commercial paper program. For further strategic growth through mergers or acquisitions, we may also seek to generate additional liquidity through the sale of debt or equity securities in private or public markets, through the sale of assets, or through the sale or divestiture of certain businesses or operations. Our cash flows from operations may not be sufficient to fund anticipated capital expenditures and, in such an event, we may not be able to obtain additional funds from financial markets, from the sale of assets, or from the sale or divestiture of certain businesses or operations at terms favorable to us. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flows or raise sufficient additional funds to cover our capital expenditures or to finance strategic growth opportunities, we may not be able to achieve our desired operating efficiencies and expansion plans, which may adversely impact our competitiveness and, therefore, our results of operations.
Increased interest rates could increase our borrowing costs.
We continue to issue debt securities to finance capital expenditures, working capital and acquisitions, and for other general corporate purposes. An increase in interest rates in the general economy could result in an increase in our borrowing costs for these financings, as well as under our revolving credit facility, which bears interest at an unhedged floating rate.
Risks Related to Our Information Technology Systems
Our information technology systems, processes and sites may suffer interruptions, security incidents, or failures which may affect our ability to conduct our business and cause significant damage to our reputation.
Our operations rely on certain key information technology systems, which are dependent on services provided by third parties and provide critical data connectivity, information and services for internal and external users. These interactions include, among others, ordering and managing materials from suppliers, risk management activities, converting raw materials to finished products, inventory management, shipping products to customers, processing transactions, summarizing and reporting results of operations, human resources benefits and payroll management, complying with regulatory, legal and tax requirements, and other processes necessary to manage our business. Increased information technology security and social engineering threats and more sophisticated computer crime, including advanced persistent threats, pose potential risks to the security of our information technology systems, networks and services, as well as the confidentiality, availability and integrity of our third-party and employee data.
The frequency, sophistication and unpredictability of cybersecurity events globally have increased, and can be acute during times of geopolitical tension or instability between countries or when we make changes to our information technology systems or implement new ones. We have been subjected in the past, and may be subjected in the future, to incidents including phishing, e-mails purporting to come from vendors making payment requests, malware, and communications from look-alike corporate domains, as well as security-related risks resulting from our use of third-party software and services. The use of generative artificial intelligence is increasing the sophistication and effectiveness of these types of social engineering attacks. Future data security incidents could compromise or lead to the loss of material confidential, proprietary or otherwise protected information, seize, destroy or corrupt data, or otherwise disrupt our operations or affect our customers or other stakeholders.
Insider or employee cyber and security threats are also a significant concern for all companies, including ours. Despite our substantial investment in physical and technological security measures, employee training and contractual precautions, our information technology networks and infrastructure (or those of our third-party vendors and other service providers) are potentially vulnerable to unauthorized access to data, loss of access to systems or breaches of confidential information due to criminal conduct, attacks by hackers, employee or insider malfeasance or human error.
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Although we have put in place security measures to protect ourselves against cyber-based attacks and disaster recovery plans for our critical systems that are designed to protect our data and customer data and to prevent data loss and other security incidents, these security measures cannot provide absolute security. In some cases, it is difficult to anticipate, detect or identify indicators of such incidents and assess the damage caused by the incidents. In addition, a failure to promptly disclose such material incidents as required by law may result in additional financial or regulatory consequences.
If our information technology systems are breached, damaged, or cease to function properly due to any number of causes, such as catastrophic events, power outages, security incidents, or cyber-based attacks, and if our cyber security response plans and disaster recovery and our cyber incident response plans do not effectively mitigate the risks on a timely basis, we may encounter significant disruptions that could interrupt our ability to manage our operations, cause loss of valuable data, and damage our reputation. Any such incidents also could subject us to government investigations or private litigation. These factors may adversely impact our revenues, operating results and financial condition. We could also experience delays in reporting our financial results.
The third-party data management providers and other vendors that we rely upon may have or develop security problems or security vulnerabilities which may also affect our systems or data. We cannot guarantee that a data security or privacy breach of their systems or other form of cyber-based attack will not occur in the future. In addition, we use external vendors to perform security assessments on a periodic basis to review and assess our information security. We utilize this information to audit ourselves, monitor the security of our technology infrastructure, and assess whether and how to prioritize the allocation of scarce resources to protect data and systems. However, we cannot ensure that these security assessments and audits will identify or appropriately categorize relevant and contemporary risks or result in the protection of our computer networks against security intrusions. Although we require our third-party vendors contractually to maintain a level of security that is acceptable to us and work closely with key vendors to address potential and actual security concerns and attacks, we cannot ensure that all confidential, proprietary, or personal information will be protected on their systems.
Regardless of whether incidents result from an attack on us directly or on third-party vendors upon which we rely, the costs to address the foregoing security problems and security vulnerabilities before or after a cybersecurity incident could be significant. Remediation efforts may not be successful or timely and could result in interruptions, delays or cessation of service and loss of existing or potential customers that may impede our sales, manufacturing or other critical functions. Breaches of our security measures and the unapproved dissemination of proprietary information or sensitive or confidential data about us, our employees, our customers or other third parties could expose us, our employees, our customers or other affected third parties to a risk of loss or misuse of this information.
Risks Related to Investment in Our Common Stock
Volatility in the stock market, fluctuations in quarterly operating results and other factors could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
The market price for our common stock in the past has been, and in the future may continue to be, significantly affected by factors such as our announcement of new products or services or such announcements by our competitors; technological innovation by us, our competitors or other vendors; quarterly variations in our operating results or the operating results of our competitors; general conditions in our or our customers’ markets; and changes in earnings estimates by analysts or reported results that vary materially from such estimates. In addition, the stock market has experienced significant price fluctuations that have affected the market prices of equity securities of many companies that have been unrelated to the operating performance of any individual company.
We may not continue to pay dividends or to pay dividends at the same rate we have paid in our most recent fiscal quarters.
Our payment of dividends, as well as the amount of any dividends, is solely at the discretion of our Board of Directors. Future dividend payments, if any, also will be subject to our financial results and the availability of statutory surplus funds to pay dividends. These factors could result in a change to our current policy of paying dividends.
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Any failure by us to maintain effective control over financial reporting could result in loss of investor confidence and adversely impact our stock price.
If we experience material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting and are unable to remediate such material weaknesses, or are otherwise unable to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting or our disclosure controls and procedures, our ability to record, process and report financial information accurately and to prepare financial statements within required time periods, could be adversely affected, which could subject us to litigation or investigations requiring management resources and payment of legal and other expenses, negatively affect investor confidence in our financial statements, and adversely impact our stock price. For example, we previously reported a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting, which we fully remediated in fiscal 2021, related to ineffective information technology controls related to user access over certain information technology systems.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ITEM 1C. CYBERSECURITY
We face numerous cybersecurity risks that include cyber-based attacks and other security threats to our systems. We also could be adversely affected by cybersecurity incidents affecting our suppliers and other third-party service providers. To meet these threats, we expend considerable resources on cybersecurity risk management, strategy and governance.
The Board of Directors, directly and through its Audit Committee, oversees our cybersecurity risk management. The Board of Directors reviews material cybersecurity risks we face, approves strategic priorities, and monitors progress made towards those priorities. The Audit Committee is responsible under its charter for reviewing with our management our policies and procedures with respect to cybersecurity risks and the processes management has implemented to monitor and mitigate those risk exposures. On a regular basis, the Audit Committee considers management’s reports on significant changes to our cybersecurity policies and standards, as well as risk mitigation and remediation efforts being undertaken with respect to cybersecurity incidents and under the program generally. The Audit Committee regularly reports to the Board of Directors on its activities with respect to cybersecurity matters.
In general, our incident and crisis management plans are aligned with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) framework for cybersecurity. These plans are intended to provide a framework and processes that allow us to take a consistent approach to cybersecurity before, during and after a cybersecurity incident. Our plans are reviewed and updated periodically. In addition, we conduct cybersecurity tabletop exercises to simulate an actual incident and increase our team’s awareness and preparedness. Based upon these activities, we maintain a risk register to track identified vulnerabilities and associated mitigation plans. We also regularly conduct security awareness training and phishing exercises for our employees around the world to help them identify and report suspicious activity.
We have implemented a number of cybersecurity risk management processes to assess, identify and manage material risks from cybersecurity threats. We conduct real-time monitoring of our environment for suspicious cyber activity using a variety of security tools and centralized logging systems. In addition, we leverage threat intelligence monitoring to stay updated on emerging cyber threats and vulnerabilities and, utilizing this information, conduct regular vulnerability assessments. Furthermore, we conduct regular penetration tests to simulate real-world attacks and identify weaknesses.
To supplement our internal resources, we engage external consultants to conduct independent assessments, perform penetration testing, and provide other cybersecurity-related services as needed. We also utilize external consultants and legal counsel to facilitate cybersecurity tabletop simulations. In addition, we engage external vendors to review and test key controls within our cybersecurity program.
We regularly assess cybersecurity risks associated with our use of suppliers and other third-party service providers. In this process, we classify by level of risk our principal suppliers and other key service providers and evaluate their data security controls and changes in potential cybersecurity risk levels. In addition, our contracts with these service providers require them to promptly report security incidents to us and to provide us with access to relevant information and resources to allow us to conduct related investigations.
Our cybersecurity risk management processes are integrated as part of our overall enterprise risk management (ERM) processes. Our Audit Committee conducts its oversight of our cybersecurity risk management as part of its oversight of our
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enterprise risk management policies and procedures. In addition, we conduct an annual survey of over 150 Ingredion business leaders across multiple functions and geographic locations that asks them to evaluate the potential severity and likelihood of cybersecurity matters, among other enterprise and information technology risks. We solicit their views on information and data security protection against cyber and internal threats, reliability of systems including disaster recovery related to malware or other cyber threats, and system implementation failures, and use the responses to modify our risk mitigation strategies accordingly.
Subject to oversight by our Board of Directors and Audit Committee, as described above, our Chief Digital and Information Officer is responsible for developing and guiding our global information technology and digital strategy, which includes overseeing cybersecurity risk management. The Chief Digital and Information Officer provides guidance on cybersecurity strategy initiatives and risk mitigation activities to the Senior Director, Global Information Security and the associated function. Our Chief Digital and Information Officer and our Senior Director, Global Information Security provide regular reports on security incident activity, including containment and remediation measures as relevant, and other cybersecurity risk management matters to the Board of Directors and the Audit Committee.
Our Chief Digital and Information Officer has over 30 years of experience at multinational companies, including six years of service at our company in his current position as a digital leader and executive, including experience managing and responding to cybersecurity risks. He holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science. Our Senior Director, Global Information Security has over two decades of service at multinational companies and a federal government agency, including over one year of service at our company in his current position dedicated to information technology and cybersecurity, and possesses significant experience in protecting critical data and building cybersecurity-resilient organizations. He holds a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications management and a master’s degree in cybersecurity, as well as a current Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification.
To date, the risks from cybersecurity threats have not materially affected us. Notwithstanding our investment in cybersecurity, however, we may not be successful in preventing or mitigating a cybersecurity incident that could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, or financial condition.
For a discussion of cybersecurity risks affecting our business, see Item 1A - Risk Factors - Risks Related to Our Information Technology Systems.
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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
As of December 31, 2023, we owned or leased, directly and through our consolidated subsidiaries, 47 manufacturing facilities. In addition, we lease our corporate headquarters in Westchester, Illinois; our R&D facility in Bridgewater, New Jersey; and shared service centers in Tulsa, Oklahoma; Guadalajara, Mexico; and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
As of February 21, 2024, after the February 1, 2024 divestiture of our South Korea operations, our four reportable business segments include the following 45 manufacturing facilities:
North America
Cardinal, Ontario, Canada Owned
London, Ontario, Canada Owned
Vanscoy, Saskatchewan, Canada Owned
San Juan del Rio, Queretaro, Mexico Owned
Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico Owned
Mexico City, CDMX, Mexico Owned
Oxnard, California, U.S. Leased
Idaho Falls, Idaho, U.S. Owned
Bedford Park, Illinois, U.S. Owned
Mapleton, Illinois, U.S. Owned
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. Owned
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, U.S. Owned
Fort Fairfield, Maine, U.S. Owned
Belcamp, Maryland, U.S. Owned
North Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. Owned
South Sioux City, Nebraska, U.S. Owned
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S. Owned
Salem, Oregon, U.S. Owned
Charleston, South Carolina, U.S. Owned
Richland, Washington, U.S. Owned
Moses Lake, Washington, U.S. Owned
Plover, Wisconsin, U.S. Owned
South America
Alcantara, Brazil Owned
Balsa Nova, Brazil Owned
Cabo, Brazil Owned
Mogi-Guacu, Brazil Owned
Barranquilla, Colombia Owned
Cali, Colombia Owned
Lima, Peru Owned
Asia-Pacific
Ganzhou, China Owned
Shandong Province, China Owned
Shanghai, China Owned
Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India Owned
Malegaon, Nashik, Maharashtra, India Owned
Enstek, Malaysia Owned
Ban Kao Dien, Thailand Owned
Kalasin, Thailand Owned
Sikhiu, Thailand Owned
Banglen, Thailand Leased
EMEA
Hamburg, Germany Owned
Wesenberg, Germany Owned
Cornwala, Jaranwala, Pakistan Owned
Mehran, Jamshoro, Pakistan Owned
Rakh Canal, Faisalabad, Pakistan Owned
Goole, United Kingdom Partially leased
We believe our manufacturing facilities are sufficient to meet our current production commitments, and we conduct preventive maintenance and de-bottlenecking programs designed to improve grind capacity and facility reliability. Furthermore, we intend to continue capital investments to support updates, modifications, improvements and efficient operations of our facilities for the foreseeable future.
We have electricity or biomass co-generation facilities at our manufacturing facilities in London, Ontario, Canada; Cardinal, Ontario, Canada; Bedford Park, Illinois; Winston-Salem, North Carolina; San Juan del Rio, Queretaro and Mexico City, CDMX, Mexico; Cali, Colombia; Cornwala, Jaranwala, Pakistan; and Balsa Nova and Mogi-Guacu, Brazil. These facilities provide electricity at a lower cost than is available from third parties. We generally own and operate the co-generation facilities, except for the facilities at our Mexico City and Brazil locations, which are owned by and operated pursuant to co-generation agreements with third parties.
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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
In September 2022, following certain air emissions testing Ingredion performed at our Bedford Park, Illinois manufacturing facility, we reported to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (the “Illinois EPA”) that certain emissions had exceeded applicable limits under an air emissions permit. On February 8, 2023, the Illinois EPA issued to us a Notice of Violation with respect to the matter addressed in our report. Violations of the Illinois environmental statute could result in the imposition of civil or criminal monetary penalties. We are engaged in discussions with the Illinois EPA regarding this matter.
In 2015 and 2016, we self-reported certain monitoring and recordkeeping issues relating to environmental regulatory matters involving our Indianapolis, Indiana manufacturing facility. In September 2017, following inspections and our provision of requested information to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”), the EPA issued to us a Notice of Violation, which included additional alleged violations beyond those we self-reported. These additional alleged violations primarily related to the results of stack testing at the facility. The EPA referred the overall matter to the U.S. Department of Justice, Environment and Natural Resources Division (the “DOJ”). In November 2023, in the final resolution of this matter, we entered into a consent decree to settle claims that we violated the Clean Air Act. The consent decree required us to pay a civil penalty of $1.1 million, contribute $0.6 million to the State of Indiana to support Brownfields redevelopment in and around Marion County, Indiana, and undertake projects at the Indianapolis facility to reduce and offset unpermitted emissions of particulate matter and to comply with lower future particulate matter limits.
In addition to the foregoing matters, we are currently subject to claims and suits arising in the ordinary course of business, including those relating to labor matters, certain environmental proceedings and commercial claims. We also routinely receive inquiries from regulators and other government authorities relating to various aspects of our business, including with respect to compliance with laws and regulations relating to the environment, and at any given time we have matters at various stages of resolution with the applicable governmental authorities. The outcomes of these matters are not within our complete control and may not be known for prolonged periods of time. We do not believe that the results of currently known legal proceedings and inquires will be material to us. There can be no assurance, however, that such claims, suits or investigations or those arising in the future, whether taken individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
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PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Market Information: Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “INGR.”
Holders: At February 15, 2024, there were 2,979 holders of record of our common stock.
Dividends: We have a history of paying quarterly dividends. The amount and timing of the dividend payment, if any, is based on a number of factors, including our future estimated earnings, financial position and cash flow. The payment of a dividend, as well as the amount of any dividend, is solely at the discretion of our Board of Directors. Future dividend payments will be subject to our financial results and the availability of funds and statutory surplus to pay dividends.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities: The following provides information about our stock repurchase program during the fourth quarter of 2023:
Total — — —
On September 26, 2022, the Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program authorizing us to purchase up to 6.0 million shares of our outstanding common stock until December 31, 2025. At December 31, 2023, we had 5.0 million shares available for repurchase under the stock repurchase program.
ITEM 6. [RESERVED]
Not applicable.
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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, as used in this “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” the terms “the Company,” “Ingredion,” “we,” “us,” and “our” and similar terms refer to Ingredion Incorporated and its consolidated subsidiaries. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes included elsewhere in this report. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. See “Forward-Looking Statements” above.
Overview
We are a major supplier of high-quality food and industrial ingredient solutions to customers around the world. As of December 31, 2023, we had 47 manufacturing facilities located in North America, South America, Asia-Pacific and EMEA, and we manage and operate our businesses at a regional level. This approach provides us with a unique understanding of the cultures and product requirements in each of the geographic markets in which we operate, bringing added value to our customers. Our ingredients are used by customers in the food, beverage, brewing and animal feed industries, among others.
We acquired a 65 percent controlling interest in Mannitab Pharma Specialties Private Limited (“Mannitab”), an Indian manufacturer of spray dried mannitol and fine grade mannitol, on December 1, 2022; 100 percent of Amishi Drugs and Chemicals Private Limited (“Amishi”), an Indian manufacturer of chemically modified starch-based pharmaceutical excipients, on August 1, 2022; and 100 percent of KaTech, a German-headquartered provider of advanced texture and stabilization solutions to the food and beverage industry, on April 1, 2021. The results of the acquired businesses are included in our consolidated financial results beginning on the respective acquisition dates, which affects the comparability of results between years.
In addition, our share of results in joint ventures are classified in our Consolidated Statements of Income in Other operating (income) expense, and comparability between years and between financial statement line items is affected by the timing of and consideration provided to the investments.
While we identify the impacts of acquisitions and investments on our results, our discussion below also addresses results of operations excluding those impacts, where appropriate, to provide a more comparable and meaningful analysis.
Results of Operations
We have operations in four reportable business segments: North America, South America, Asia-Pacific and EMEA. Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates affect the U.S. dollar amounts of our foreign subsidiaries’ revenues and expenses. For most of our foreign subsidiaries, the local foreign currency is the functional currency. Accordingly, revenues and expenses denominated in the functional currencies of these subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars at the applicable average exchange rates for the period.
Our business performed well and remained resilient throughout fiscal year 2023. Our targeted pricing actions and proactive cost savings initiatives helped overcome inflation and raw material volatility, leading to growth in net sales, operating income, net income and diluted earnings per share in 2023. The increase in our net sales and operating income was driven by price and customer mix, partially offset by lower volumes and impacts of foreign exchange rates. The increase in net income was driven by the above factors in addition to a more favorable effective tax rate primarily due to recent action by the Internal Revenue Service increasing our ability to claim certain foreign tax credits against U.S. taxes.
For 2023, net sales increased 3 percent to $8.2 billion from $7.9 billion for 2022. Our operating income of $957 million for 2023 increased by 26 percent from operating income of $762 million for 2022. Net income attributable to Ingredion for 2023 was $643 million, or $9.60 diluted earnings per share, which represented an increase of 31 percent from $492 million, or $7.34 diluted earnings per share, for 2022. The increases in net sales and operating income were primarily due to favorable price mix, partially offset by volume declines and foreign exchange impacts. The increase in net income was driven by these factors in addition to a more favorable effective tax rate.
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For the Year Ended December 31, 2023
With Comparatives for the Year Ended December 31, 2022
Net sales. Net sales increased 3 percent to $8.2 billion for 2023 compared to $7.9 billion for 2022. The increase in net sales was driven by price and customer mix, partially offset by lower volumes and unfavorable foreign exchange impacts.
Cost of sales. Cost of sales decreased 1 percent to $6.4 billion for 2023 compared to $6.5 billion for 2022. The decrease in cost of sales primarily reflected lower volumes, partially offset by higher input costs. Our gross profit margin increased to 21 percent in 2023 compared to 19 percent in 2022. The increase in gross profit margin was driven by higher net sales in addition to a decrease in cost of sales.
Operating expenses. Operating expenses increased 10 percent to $789 million for 2023 compared to $715 million for 2022. The increase in operating expenses during 2023 was primarily attributable to higher compensation costs and spending to build long-term capabilities. Operating expenses as a percentage of net sales was 10 percent in 2023 and 9 percent in 2022.
Other operating (income) expense. Other operating (income) expense was $8 million of income for 2023 compared to $13 million of expense for 2022. The 2023 income was primarily attributable to income in our Argentina joint venture. The 2022 expense was primarily attributable to charges resulting from a U.S.-based work stoppage.
Restructuring/impairment charges. Restructuring and impairment charges increased to $11 million for 2023 from $4 million for 2022, which primarily reflected an other-than-temporary-impairment to our equity method investments. The 2022 charges were the result of the completion of our Cost Smart restructuring program.
Financing costs. Financing costs increased 15 percent to $114 million for 2023 compared to $99 million for 2022. The increase was primarily due to higher interest rates in 2023 as compared to 2022.
Provision for income taxes. Our effective income tax rates for 2023 and 2022 were 22.4 percent and 24.9 percent, respectively. The decrease in the effective tax rate was primarily driven by the value of the Mexican peso against the U.S. dollar, IRS Notice 2023-55, which increased our ability to claim certain foreign tax credits against U.S. taxes, a favorable country earnings mix primarily due to Brazil tax law developments, and a related increase in our foreign-derived intangible income deduction. The effects of these factors were partially offset by the impact of a change in Brazilian law that became effective in the fourth quarter of 2022 related to non-taxable Brazilian ICMS incentives granted during fiscal years 2018 to 2022.
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests. Net income attributable to non-controlling interests decreased to $8 million for 2023 from $10 million for 2022.
Net Income attributable to Ingredion. Net income attributable to Ingredion for 2023 increased to $643 million from $492 million for 2022. The increase in net income was primarily due to price and customer mix and a more favorable effective tax rate, which was partially offset by lower volumes.
North America
Net sales. North America’s net sales increased 5 percent to $5,188 million for 2023 from $4,934 million for 2022. The increase was primarily driven by price mix, partially offset by volume and unfavorable foreign exchange impacts.
Operating income. North America’s operating income increased 27 percent to $718 million for 2023 from $565 million for 2022. The increase was driven by favorable price mix, partially offset by lower volumes and higher fixed costs.
South America
Net sales. South America’s net sales decreased 6 percent to $1,062 million for 2023 from $1,124 million for 2022. The decrease was primarily driven by volume and price mix, partially offset by favorable foreign exchange impacts.
Operating income. South America’s operating income decreased 16 percent to $142 million for 2023 from $169 million for 2022. The decrease was driven by lower volumes and higher energy costs. On December 13, 2023, the new Argentine government allowed the Argentine peso to devalue from the exchange rate of approximately 366 pesos to one U.S. dollar,
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to 800 pesos to one U.S.dollar. Because our accounting policy is to recognize our share of income from the Argentina joint venture one month in arrears, our 2023 results do not reflect the impact of this devaluation.
Asia-Pacific
Net sales. Asia-Pacific’s net sales decreased 2 percent to $1,089 million for 2023 from $1,107 million for 2022. The decrease was driven by volume and unfavorable foreign exchange impacts, partially offset by price mix.
Operating income. Asia-Pacific’s operating income increased 35 percent to $126 million for 2023 from $93 million for 2022. The increase was primarily driven by lower input costs, partially offset by lower volumes.
EMEA
Net sales. EMEA’s net sales increased 5 percent to $821 million for 2023 from $781 million for 2022. The increase was driven by favorable price mix, partially offset by lower volumes and unfavorable foreign exchange impacts.
Operating income. EMEA’s operating income increased 42 percent to $156 million for 2023 compared to $110 million for 2022. The increase was primarily driven by favorable price mix, partially offset by lower volumes and foreign exchange impacts.
For the Year Ended December 31, 2022
With Comparatives for the Year Ended December 31, 2021
A discussion of the year-over-year comparison of results for 2022 and 2021 is not included in this report and can be found in Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Ingredion’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of December 31, 2023, we had total available liquidity of $1.7 billion. Domestic liquidity of $705 million consisted of $32 million in cash and cash equivalents and $673 million available through our $1.0 billion commercial paper program that had $327 million of outstanding borrowings. The commercial paper program is backed by $1.0 billion of borrowing availability under a five-year revolving credit agreement that we entered on June 30, 2021 as described below.
As of December 31, 2023, we had international liquidity of $1.0 billion, consisting of $369 million of cash and cash equivalents and $8 million of short-term investments held by our operations outside the U.S., as well as $652 million of unused operating lines of credit in foreign countries where we operate. As the parent company, we guarantee certain obligations of our consolidated subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2023, our guarantees aggregated $49 million. We believe that those consolidated subsidiaries will be able to meet their financial obligations as they become due.
Our revolving credit agreement, which is for an unsecured revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of $1.0 billion outstanding at any time, will mature on June 30, 2026. Loans under the facility accrue interest at a per annum rate equal, at our option, to either a specified Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) plus an applicable margin, or a base rate (generally determined according to the highest of the prime rate, the federal funds rate or the specified SOFR plus 1.00 percent) plus an applicable margin. The revolving credit agreement contains customary affirmative and negative covenants that, among other matters, specify customary reporting obligations, and that, subject to exceptions, restrict the incurrence of additional indebtedness by our subsidiaries, the incurrence of liens and the consummation of certain mergers, consolidations and sales of assets. We are subject to compliance, as of the end of each quarter, with a maximum leverage ratio of 3.5 to 1.0 and a minimum ratio of consolidated EBITDA (as defined for purposes of the revolving credit agreement) to consolidated net interest expense of 3.5 to 1.0, with each financial covenant calculated for the most recently completed four-quarter period. As of December 31, 2023, we were in compliance with these financial covenants.
Our commercial paper program allows us to issue senior unsecured notes of short maturities up to a maximum aggregate principal amount of $1.0 billion outstanding at any time. The notes may be sold from time to time on customary terms in the U.S. commercial paper market. We use and intend to continue using the note proceeds for general corporate purposes. During 2023, the average amount of commercial paper outstanding was $397 million with a weighted average interest rate of 5.30 percent over a weighted average maturity of 11 days. As of December 31, 2023, we had $327 million of
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commercial paper outstanding with a weighted average interest rate of 5.50 percent over a weighted average maturity of 11 days. The amount of commercial paper outstanding under this program in 2024 is expected to fluctuate.
As of December 31, 2023, we had total debt outstanding of $2.2 billion, or $1.7 billion excluding the outstanding commercial paper and other short-term borrowings. Our outstanding debt consists of senior notes where repayment will occur commencing in 2026 through 2050. In December 2023, we paid in full without penalty the $200 million principal outstanding on our term loan that was due on December 16, 2024 (“Term Loan”). The weighted average interest rate on our total indebtedness was 4.5 percent for 2023 and 3.5 percent for 2022.
The principal source of our liquidity is our internally generated cash flow, which we supplement as necessary with our ability to borrow under our credit facilities and to raise funds in the capital markets. We currently expect that our available cash balances, future cash flow from operations, proceeds from divestitures, access to debt markets and borrowing capacity under our revolving credit facility and commercial paper program will provide us with sufficient liquidity to fund our anticipated capital expenditures, dividends and other operating, investing and financing activities for at least the next twelve months and for the foreseeable future thereafter. Our future cash flow needs will depend on many factors, including our rate of revenue growth, cost of raw materials, changing working capital requirements, the timing and extent of our expansion into new markets, the timing of introductions of new products, potential or agreed acquisitions of or investments in complementary businesses and technologies, continuing market acceptance of our new products, and general economic and market conditions. We may need to raise additional capital or incur indebtedness to fund our needs for less predictable strategic initiatives, such as acquisitions.
Net Cash Flows
Our cash provided by operating activities increased to $1,057 million in 2023 from $152 million in 2022. The increase in cash provided by operating activities was primarily attributable to changes in working capital and current period net income, which excluded net assets and net liabilities we classified as held for sale for the February 1, 2024 sale of our South Korea business. Cash provided by working capital increased to $77 million in 2023, as compared to cash used for working capital of $664 million in 2022. This increase in cash provided by working capital was primarily due to decreases in inventory and trade accounts receivable, which was partially offset by decreases in accounts payable and accrued liabilities during 2023.
Our cash used for investing activities increased to $329 million in 2023 from $320 million in 2022, primarily due to increased capital expenditures in 2023. In 2023, we used $316 million of cash for capital expenditures and mechanical stores purchases to update, expand and improve our facilities, compared to $300 million we paid in 2022 for the same purposes. Capital investment commitments for 2024 are anticipated to be approximately $340 million.
We used $569 million of cash for financing activities in 2023 compared to cash provided by financing activities of $103 million in 2022. The difference was primarily attributable to increased payments on debt, including the $200 million principal payment on our unsecured Term Loan in December 2023, and a net $203 million reduction of our commercial paper borrowings during 2023.
Also included in cash for financing activities are cash dividends we pay to our common stockholders of record on a quarterly basis. Dividends paid, including those to non-controlling interests, increased 7 percent to $194 million during 2023 from $181 million during 2022. The increase was due to an increase in our quarterly dividend rate per share of common stock, which typically occurs during the third quarter of each fiscal year. During 2023, we also repurchased 1.0 million outstanding shares of our common stock in open market transactions at a net cost of $101 million.
We have not provided foreign withholding taxes, state income taxes and federal and state taxes on foreign currency gains/losses on accumulated undistributed earnings of certain foreign subsidiaries because these earnings are considered to be permanently reinvested. It is not practicable to determine the amount of the unrecognized deferred tax liability related to the undistributed earnings. We do not anticipate the need to repatriate funds to the U.S. to satisfy domestic liquidity needs arising in the ordinary course of business, including liquidity needs associated with our domestic debt service requirements.
Key Financial Performance Metrics
We use certain key financial performance metrics to monitor our progress towards achieving our long-term strategic business objectives. These metrics relate to our ability to drive profitability, create value for stockholders and monitor our financial leverage. We assess whether we are achieving our profitability and value creation objectives by measuring our
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Adjusted Return on Invested Capital (“ROIC”). We monitor our financial leverage by regularly reviewing our ratio of net debt to adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA”). We believe these metrics provide valuable information to help us run our business and are useful to investors.
The metrics Adjusted ROIC and Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA include certain financial measures (Adjusted operating income, net of tax, and Adjusted EBITDA, respectively) that are not calculated in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). We also have presented below the most comparable financial measures calculated using components determined in accordance with GAAP. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures internally for strategic decision-making, forecasting future results and evaluating current performance. Management believes that the non-GAAP financial measures provide a more consistent comparison of our operating results and trends for the periods presented. These non-GAAP financial measures are used in addition to and in conjunction with results presented in accordance with GAAP and reflect an additional way of viewing aspects of our operations that, when viewed with our GAAP results, provides a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting our business. The non-GAAP financial measures should be considered as a supplement to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, the corresponding measures calculated in accordance with GAAP.
In accordance with our long-term strategy, we set certain objectives relating to these key financial performance metrics that we strive to meet. However, no assurance can be given that we will continue to meet our financial performance metric targets. See Item 1A. Risk Factors and Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk for a discussion of factors that could affect our ability to meet those targets. The objectives reflect our current aspirations in light of our present plans and existing circumstances. We may change these objectives from time to time to address new opportunities or changing circumstances as appropriate to meet our long-term needs and those of our stockholders.
A reconciliation of non-GAAP historical financial measures to the most comparable GAAP measure is below.
Adjusted ROIC
Adjusted ROIC is a financial performance ratio not defined under GAAP, and it should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, GAAP financial measures. Ingredion defines Adjusted ROIC as Adjusted operating income, net of tax, divided by average end-of-year balances for current year and prior year Total net debt and equity. Similarly named measures may not be defined and calculated by other companies in the same manner. Ingredion believes Adjusted ROIC is meaningful to investors as it focuses on profitability and value-creating potential, taking into account the amount of capital invested. The most comparable measure calculated using components determined in accordance with GAAP is Return on Invested Capital, which Ingredion defines as Net income, divided by average end-of-year balances for current year and prior year Total net debt and equity, as shown in the table below.
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Year Ended December 31,
Return on Invested Capital ratio (dollars in millions) 2023 2022
Adjusted for:
Provision for income taxes 188 166
Other non-operating expense (income) 4 (5)
Restructuring/impairment charges (i) 11 4
Acquisition/integration costs (ii) — 1
Other matters (iii) 1 20
Adjusted operating income, net of tax (b) 728 575
Less: Cash and cash equivalents (401) (236)
Short-term investments (8) (3)
Share-based payments subject to redemption 55 48
Total redeemable non-controlling interests 43 51
Total net debt and equity $ 5,429 $ 5,506
Average current and prior year Total net debt and equity (c) $ 5,468 $ 5,223
Return on Invested Capital (a ÷ c) 11.9 % 9.6 %
Adjusted Return on Invested Capital (b ÷ c) 13.3 % 11.0 %
_____________________
(i)In 2023, we recorded $11 million of pre-tax restructuring/impairment charges primarily related to an other-than-temporary impairment on our equity method investments. In 2022, we recorded $4 million of pre-tax restructuring charges primarily related to the Cost Smart programs.
(ii)In 2022, acquisition/integration costs were reduced by $4 million as they were included in financing costs.
(iii)In 2023, we recorded pre-tax charges of $5 million primarily related to the impacts of a U.S.-based work stoppage. This was partially offset by $4 million of insurance recoveries. In 2022, we recorded pre-tax charges of $20 million primarily related to the impacts of a U.S.-based work stoppage.
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(iv)The effective income tax rate was 24.9 percent for 2023 and 27.0 percent for 2022.
Year Ended Year Ended
Add back:
Acquisition/integration costs — — 5 —
Restructuring/impairment charges 11 3 4 1
Other matters 1 — 20 5
Other tax matters — 6 — 12
Tax item-Mexico — 15 — 4
Our long-term objective is to maintain an Adjusted ROIC in excess of 10.0 percent. For 2023, we achieved an Adjusted ROIC of 13.3 percent as compared to 11.0 percent for 2022.
Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA
Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA is a financial performance ratio that is not defined under GAAP, and should be considered in addition to, and not as a substitute for, GAAP financial measures. Ingredion defines this measure as Short-term and Long-term debt less Cash and cash equivalents and Short-term investments, divided by Adjusted EBITDA. Similarly named measures may not be defined and calculated by other companies in the same manner. Ingredion believes Total net debt to Adjusted EBITDA is meaningful to investors as it focuses on Ingredion’s leverage on a comparable Adjusted EBITDA basis and helps investors better understand the time required to pay back Ingredion’s outstanding debt. The most comparable ratio calculated using components determined in accordance with GAAP is Total net debt to Income before income taxes, calculated as Short-term and Long-term debt less Cash and cash equivalents and Short-term investments, divided by Income before income taxes, as shown in the table below.
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As of December 31,
Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio (dollars in millions) 2023 2022
Less: Cash and cash equivalents (401) (236)
Short-term investments (8) (3)
Income before income taxes (b) 839 668
Adjusted for:
Depreciation and amortization 219 215
Other non-operating expense (income) 4 (5)
Restructuring/impairment charges (i) 12 4
Acquisition/integration costs (ii) — 1
Other matters (iii) 1 20
Net Debt to Income before income tax ratio (a ÷ b) 2.1 3.4
Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA ratio (a ÷ c) 1.5 2.2
_____________________
(i)During 2023, we recorded $11 million of pre-tax net restructuring/impairment charges primarily related to an other-than-temporary impairment on our equity method investments. This was increased by $1 million as it included a depreciation benefit that was already included in depreciation and amortization line. In 2022, we recorded $4 million of pre-tax restructuring charges primarily related to the Cost Smart programs.
(ii)In 2022, acquisition/integration costs were reduced by $4 million as they were included in financing costs.
(iii)In 2023, we recorded pre-tax charges of $5 million primarily related to the impacts of a U.S.-based work stoppage. This was partially offset by $4 million of insurance recoveries. In 2022, we recorded pre-tax charges of $20 million primarily related to the impacts of a U.S.-based work stoppage.
Our long-term objective is to target a ratio of Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA of 2.5 or less. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the ratio was 1.5 and 2.2, respectively.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions and conditions.
We have identified below the most critical accounting policies upon which the financial statements are based and that involve our most complex and subjective decisions and assessments. Our senior management has discussed the development, selection and disclosure of these policies with members of the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors. These accounting policies are described in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The discussion that follows should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes included elsewhere in this annual report on Form 10-K.
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Business Combinations
Our acquisitions of Amishi in 2022, the majority of shares of Mannitab in 2022, and KaTech in 2021 were accounted for in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 805, Business Combinations. In purchase accounting, identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recognized at their estimated fair values on the date of acquisition and any remaining purchase price is recorded as goodwill. In determining the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, we make significant estimates and assumptions, particularly for long-lived tangible and intangible assets. Critical estimates used in valuing tangible and intangible assets include, but are not limited to, future expected cash flows, discount rates, market prices and asset lives. Although our estimates of fair value are based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable, actual results may differ. See Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Property, Plant and Equipment and Definite-Lived Intangible Assets
We have substantial investments in property, plant and equipment (“PP&E”) and definite-lived intangible assets. For PP&E, we recognize the cost of depreciable assets in operations over the estimated useful life of the assets and evaluate the recoverability of these assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. For definite-lived intangible assets, we recognize the cost of these amortizable assets in operations over their estimated useful life and evaluate the recoverability of the assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. The carrying values of PP&E and definite-lived intangible assets at December 31, 2023 were $2.4 billion and $242 million, respectively.
In assessing the recoverability of the carrying value of PP&E and definite-lived intangible assets, we may have to make projections regarding future cash flows. In developing these projections, we make a variety of important assumptions and estimates that have a significant impact on our assessments of whether the carrying values of PP&E and definite-lived intangible assets should be adjusted to reflect impairment. Among these are assumptions and estimates about the future growth and profitability of the related asset group, anticipated future economic, regulatory and political conditions in the asset group’s market, and estimates of terminal or disposal values.
To optimize our operations, we continually review whether to further consolidate our manufacturing facilities or redeploy assets for other uses when we believe we can achieve a higher return on our investment. This review may result in closing or sale of certain manufacturing facilities, which could have a significant negative impact on our results of operations in the period we decide to close or sell the facility.
The future occurrence of a potential indicator of impairment, such as a significant adverse change in the business climate that would require a change in our assumptions or strategic decisions made in response to economic or competitive conditions, could require us to perform tests of recoverability in the future.
Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets and Goodwill
We have certain indefinite-lived intangible assets in the form of tradenames and trademarks. Our methodology for allocating the purchase price of acquisitions is based on established valuation techniques that reflect the consideration of a number of factors, including valuations performed by third-party appraisers when appropriate. Goodwill is measured as the excess of the cost of an acquired business over the fair value assigned to identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed. We have identified several reporting units for which cash flows are determinable and to which goodwill may be allocated. Goodwill is either assigned to a specific reporting unit or allocated between reporting units based on the relative excess fair value of each reporting unit. The carrying value of indefinite-lived intangible assets and goodwill at December 31, 2023 was $143 million and $918 million, respectively, compared to $143 million and $900 million, respectively, at December 31, 2022.
We assess indefinite-lived intangible assets and goodwill for impairment as of July 1 each year (or more frequently if impairment indicators arise). We first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired, which include net sales derived from these intangibles and certain market and industry conditions. After assessing the qualitative factors, if we determine that it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset is greater than its carrying amount, then we are not required to compute the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset. If the qualitative assessment leads us to conclude otherwise, then we are required to determine the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible assets and perform a quantitative impairment test
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in accordance with ASC subtopic 350-30, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other. Based on our assessment's results, we concluded that as of July 1, 2023, there were no impairments in our indefinite-lived intangible assets.
In testing goodwill for impairment, we first assess qualitative factors in determining whether it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. After assessing the qualitative factors, if we determine that it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value of a reporting unit is greater than its carrying amount, then we do not perform an impairment test. If we conclude otherwise, then we perform the impairment test. Under this impairment test, the fair value of the reporting unit is compared to its carrying value. If the fair value of the reporting unit exceeds the carrying value of its net assets, goodwill is not considered impaired, and no further testing is required. If the carrying value of the net assets exceeds the fair value of the reporting unit, then an impairment exists for the difference between the fair value and carrying value of the reporting unit. This difference may not exceed the goodwill recorded at the reporting unit.
When we test goodwill for impairment, we make certain estimates and judgments, which include identifying reporting units and determining the reporting units' fair values based on both discounted cash flow analyses and an analysis of market multiples. To determine the fair value of reporting units, we use significant assumptions and estimates for discount and long-term net sales growth rates, in addition to operating and capital expenditure requirements. We consider changes in discount rates for the reporting units based on current market interest rates and specific risk factors within each geographic region. We also evaluate qualitative factors, such as legal, regulatory or competitive forces, in estimating the impact to the fair value of the reporting units, noting no significant changes that would result in any reporting unit failing the impairment test. Changes in assumptions concerning projected results or other underlying assumptions could have a significant impact on the fair value of the reporting units in the future. Based on the results of the annual assessment, we concluded that as of July 1, 2023, there were no impairments in our reporting units.
Retirement Benefits
We and our subsidiaries sponsor noncontributory defined benefit pension plans (qualified and non-qualified) covering a substantial portion of employees in the U.S. and Canada, and certain employees in other countries. We also provide healthcare and life insurance benefits for retired employees in the U.S., Canada and Brazil. In order to measure the expense and obligations associated with these benefits, our management must make a variety of estimates and assumptions, including discount rates, expected long-term rates of return, rate of compensation increases, employee turnover rates, retirement rates, mortality rates and other factors. We review our actuarial assumptions on an annual basis as of December 31 (or more frequently if a significant event requiring remeasurement occurs) and modify our assumptions based on current rates and trends when it is appropriate to do so. The effects of modifications are recognized immediately on the Consolidated Balance Sheets but are generally amortized into operating earnings over future periods, with the deferred amount recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss (“AOCL”). We believe the assumptions utilized in recording our obligations under our plans, which are based on our experience, market conditions and input from our actuaries, are reasonable. We use third-party specialists to assist management in evaluating our assumptions and estimates, as well as to appropriately measure the costs and obligations associated with our retirement benefit plans. Had we used different estimates and assumptions for these plans, our retirement benefit obligations and related expense could vary from the actual amounts recorded and such differences could be material. Additionally, adverse changes in investment returns earned on pension assets and discount rates used to calculate pension and postretirement benefit related liabilities or changes in required funding levels may have an unfavorable impact on future expense and cash flow. Net periodic pension and postretirement benefit cost for all of our plans was $12 million in 2023 and $6 million in 2022.
We determine our assumption for the discount rate used to measure year-end pension and postretirement obligations based on high-quality fixed-income investments that match the duration of the expected benefit payments, which has been benchmarked using a long-term, high-quality AA corporate bond index. We use a full yield curve approach in the estimation of the service and interest cost components of benefit cost by applying the specific spot rates along the yield curve used in the determination of the benefit obligation to the relevant projected cash flows. The weighted average discount rate used to determine our obligations under U.S. pension plans as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, was 5.00 percent and 5.19 percent, respectively. The weighted average discount rate used to determine our obligations under non-U.S. pension plans as of 2023 and 2022, was 5.24 percent and 5.66 percent, respectively. The weighted average discount rate used to determine our obligations under our postretirement plans as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, was 7.37 percent and 7.30 percent, respectively.
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A one percentage point decrease in the discount rates at 2023, would have increased the accumulated benefit obligation and projected benefit obligation by the following amounts (millions):
U.S. Pension Plans
Accumulated benefit obligation $ 27
Projected benefit obligation 27
Non-U.S. Pension Plans
Accumulated benefit obligation $ 19
Projected benefit obligation 22
Postretirement Plans
Accumulated benefit obligation $ 9
Our investment approach and related asset allocation for the U.S. and Canadian plans is a liability-driven investment approach by which a higher proportion of investments will be in interest-rate sensitive investments (fixed income) under an active-management approach. The approach seeks to protect the current funded status of the plans from market volatility with a greater asset allocation to interest-rate sensitive assets. The greater allocation to interest-rate sensitive assets is expected to reduce volatility in plan-funded status by more closely matching movements in asset values to changes in liabilities.
Our current investment policy for our pension plans is to balance risk and return through diversified portfolios of actively managed equity index instruments, fixed income index securities and short-term investments. Maturities for fixed income securities are managed so that sufficient liquidity exists to meet near-term benefit payment obligations. The asset allocation is reviewed regularly, and portfolio investments are rebalanced to the targeted allocation when considered appropriate or to raise sufficient liquidity when necessary to meet near-term benefit payment obligations. For 2023, net periodic pension cost, we assumed an expected long-term rate of return on assets, which is based on the fair value of plan assets, of 5.50 percent for U.S. plans and approximately 4.66 percent for Canadian plans. In developing the expected long-term rate of return assumption on plan assets, which consist mainly of U.S. and Canadian debt and equity securities, management evaluated historical rates of return achieved on plan assets and the asset allocation of the plans, input from our independent actuaries and investment consultants, and historical trends in long-term inflation rates. Projected return estimates made by such consultants are based upon broad equity and bond indices. We also maintain several funded pension plans in other international locations. The expected returns on plan assets for these plans are determined based on each plan’s investment approach and asset allocations. A hypothetical 25 basis point decrease in the expected long-term rate of return assumption would increase 2024 net periodic pension cost for the U.S. and Canadian plans by approximately $1 million each.
Healthcare cost trend rates are used in valuing our postretirement benefit obligations and are established based on actual health care cost trends and consultation with actuaries and benefit providers. At December 31, 2023, the health care cost trend rate assumptions for the next year for the U.S., Canadian and Brazilian plans were 7.80 percent, 5.04 percent and 8.94 percent, respectively.
For information related to our benefit plans, see Note 11 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
New Accounting Standards
For information related to our new accounting standards, see Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Hedging: We are exposed to market risk stemming from changes in commodity prices (primarily corn and natural gas), foreign-currency exchange rates and interest rates. In the normal course of business, we actively manage our exposure to these market risks by entering various hedging transactions, authorized under established policies that place controls on these activities. These transactions utilize exchange-traded derivatives or over-the-counter derivatives with investment grade counterparties. Our hedging transactions may include, but are not limited to, a variety of derivative financial instruments such as commodity-related futures, options and swap contracts, forward currency-related contracts and options, interest rate swap agreements and Treasury lock agreements (“T-Locks”). We plan to continue to use derivative instruments to hedge such price risk and, accordingly, we will be required to make cash deposits to or be entitled to receive cash from our margin accounts depending on the movement in the market price of the underlying commodities. See Note 6 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Raw Material, Energy and Other Commodity Exposure: Our principal use of derivative financial instruments is to manage commodity price risk primarily in North America relating to anticipated purchases of corn and natural gas to be used in our manufacturing process. Our finished products are made primarily from corn. Primarily in North America, we sell a large portion of finished products at firm prices established in supply contracts typically lasting for periods of up to one year. In order to minimize the volatility in the cost of corn related to these firm-priced supply contracts, we enter into corn futures contracts or take other hedging positions in the corn futures market. These contracts typically mature within one year. At expiration, we settle the derivative contracts at a net amount equal to the difference between the then-current price of corn and the futures contract price. Although these hedging instruments are subject to fluctuations in value, changes in the value of the underlying exposures we are hedging generally offset such fluctuations. While the corn futures contracts or other hedging positions are intended to minimize the volatility of corn costs on operating profits, occasionally the hedging contracts can incur losses, some of which may be material.
Energy costs represent approximately 8 percent of our cost of sales. The primary use of energy is to create steam in the production process and to dry product. We consume natural gas, electricity, coal, fuel oil, wood and other biomass sources to generate energy. The market prices for these commodities vary depending on supply and demand, world economies and other factors. We purchase these commodities based on our anticipated usage and the future outlook for these costs. We cannot assure that we will be able to purchase these commodities at prices that we can adequately pass through to customers to sustain or increase profitability. We use derivative financial instruments, such as over-the-counter natural gas swaps, to hedge portions of our natural gas costs generally over the following 12 to 24 months, primarily in our North America operations.
At December 31, 2023, we had outstanding futures and option contracts that hedged the forecasted purchase of approximately 109 million bushels of corn, as well as outstanding swap contracts that hedged the forecasted purchase of approximately 28 million mmbtus of natural gas. Based on our overall commodity hedge position at December 31, 2023, a hypothetical 10 percent decline in market prices applied to the fair value of the instruments would result in a charge to other comprehensive loss (“OCL”) of approximately $48 million, net of income tax benefit of $18 million. Any change in the fair value of the contracts, real or hypothetical, would be substantially offset by an inverse change in the value of the underlying hedged item.
Unrealized gains and losses associated with marking our commodities-based cash flow hedge derivative instruments to market are recorded as a component of OCL. As of December 31, 2023, our Accumulated other comprehensive loss (“AOCL”) balance included $46 million of net losses (net of income tax benefit of $17 million) related to these derivative instruments. We anticipate that $45 million of net losses (net of income tax benefit of $16 million) will be reclassified into earnings over the next 12 months. We expect the net losses to be offset by changes in the underlying commodities costs.
Interest Rate Exposure: We are exposed to interest rate risk on our variable rate debt and price risk on our fixed rate debt. As of December 31, 2023, approximately 80 percent, or $1.7 billion principal amount, of our total debt is fixed rate debt and 20 percent, or approximately $450 million principal amount, of our total debt is variable rate debt subject to changes in short-term rates, which could affect our interest costs. We assess market risk based on changes in interest rates utilizing a sensitivity analysis that measures the potential change in earnings, fair values and cash flows based on a hypothetical 1 percentage point change in interest rates at December 31, 2023. A hypothetical increase of 1 percentage point in the weighted average floating interest rate would increase our annual interest expense by approximately $4 million and would change the fair value of our fixed rate debt at December 31, 2023 by approximately $105 million. See Note 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
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Since we have no current plans to repurchase our outstanding fixed rate instruments before their maturities, the impact of market interest rate fluctuations on our long-term debt is not expected to have a material effect on our Consolidated Financial Statements.
We occasionally use T-Locks to hedge our exposure to interest rate changes based on current and projected market conditions. We did not have any T-Locks outstanding as of December 31, 2023. As of December 31, 2023, our AOCL account included $2 million of net losses (net of $1 million tax benefit) related to settled T-Locks. These deferred losses are being amortized to financing costs over the term of the senior notes with which they are associated. The net losses reclassified into earnings over the next 12 months are not anticipated to be material.
Foreign Currencies: Due to our global operations, we are exposed to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates. As a result, we have exposure to translational foreign exchange risk when our foreign operation results are translated to U.S. dollars and to transactional foreign exchange risk when transactions not denominated in the functional currency of the operating unit are revalued.
We selectively use derivative instruments such as forward contracts, currency swaps and options to manage transactional foreign exchange risk. Based on our overall foreign currency transactional exposure at December 31, 2023, we estimate that a hypothetical 10 percent decline in the value of the U.S. dollar would have resulted in a transactional foreign exchange loss of approximately $21 million. At December 31, 2023, our AOCL account included in the equity section of our Consolidated Balance Sheets includes a cumulative translation loss of approximately $1.0 billion. The aggregate net assets of our foreign subsidiaries where the local currency is the functional currency approximated $2.2 billion at December 31, 2023. A hypothetical 10 percent decline in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to foreign currencies would have resulted in a reduction to our cumulative translation loss and a credit to OCL of approximately $250 million
We primarily use derivative financial instruments such as foreign-currency forward contracts, swaps and options to manage our foreign currency transactional exchange risk. We enter foreign-currency derivative instruments that are designated as both cash flow hedging instruments and instruments not designated as hedging instruments for accounting purposes. As of December 31, 2023, we had foreign currency forward sales contracts with an aggregate notional amount of $694 million and foreign currency forward purchase contracts with an aggregate notional amount of $182 million not designated as hedging instruments for accounting purposes. As of December 31, 2023, we also had foreign currency forward sales contracts with an aggregate notional amount of $449 million and foreign currency forward purchase contracts with an aggregate notional amount of $621 million that are classified as cash flow hedges. The amount included in AOCL relating to these hedges at December 31, 2023 was an insignificant amount (net of $1 million income tax expense). We expect $1 million of net losses (net of an insignificant amount of income tax benefit) will be reclassified to earnings over the next 12 months.
Some of the countries in which we operate may experience high inflation. We elect hyperinflation accounting for our affiliate in Argentina, which has high cumulative inflation, determined its functional currency to be the U.S. dollar, and measure its income statement and balance sheet in U.S. dollars using both current and historical exchange rates. The effect of changes in exchange rates on its local currency denominated monetary assets and liabilities is reflected in earnings in financing costs in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Consolidated Statements of Income 43
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income 44
Consolidated Balance Sheets 45
Consolidated Statements of Equity and Redeemable Equity 46
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 47
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 48
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and Board of Directors
Ingredion Incorporated:
Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Ingredion Incorporated and subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, equity and redeemable equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2023, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2023, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, and our report dated February 21, 2024 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Basis for Opinion
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of a critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Evaluation of the pension benefit obligations
As discussed in Note 11 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company’s pension benefit obligations totaled $505 million as of December 31, 2023. The pension benefit obligations are measured at the actuarial present value of the benefits to which employees are entitled based on employee service rendered and the benefits attributed by the pension benefit formula and the employee’s expected date of separation or retirement. The determination of the Company’s pension benefit obligations is dependent, in part, on certain estimates and the selection of assumptions, including discount rates.
We identified the evaluation of certain pension benefit obligations as a critical audit matter. Subjective auditor judgment was required to evaluate the actuarial models and methodology used by the Company to determine the obligations and to
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evaluate the discount rates used. Changes in the discount rates could have a significant impact to the measurement of the pension benefit obligations.
The following are the primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter. We evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of certain internal controls related to the Company’s pension benefit obligations process, including controls related to the assessment of the actuarial models and methodology and the development of the discount rates. For certain plans, we involved an actuarial professional with specialized skill and knowledge, who assisted in:
•understanding and assessing the appropriateness of the actuarial models and methodology used by the Company to determine the obligations;
•the evaluation of the Company’s discount rates, by assessing changes in the discount rates from the prior year and comparing it to the change in published indices, and by evaluating the discount rates based on the pattern of cash flows; and
•the evaluation of the selected yield curve, the consistency of the yield curve with the prior year, and the spot rates, to further assess the discount rates.
/s/ KPMG LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 1997.
Chicago, Illinois
February 21, 2024
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Ingredion Incorporated
Consolidated Statements of Income
(dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts)
Year Ended December 31,
Other operating (income) expense (8) 13 (34)
Restructuring/impairment charges 11 4 387
Other non-operating expense (income) 4 (5) (12)
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests 8 10 8
Net income attributable to Ingredion $ 643 $ 492 $ 117
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Earnings per common share of Ingredion:
See the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
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Ingredion Incorporated
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(in millions)
Year Ended December 31,
Other comprehensive income:
Currency translation adjustment 47 (105) 211
Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests 2 — 9
Comprehensive income attributable to Ingredion $ 641 $ 351 $ 352
See the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
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Ingredion Incorporated
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts)
As of December 31,
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 401 $ 236
Short-term investments 8 3
Prepaid expenses and assets held for sale 261 62
Property, plant and equipment, net 2,370 2,407
Liabilities and stockholders' equity
Current liabilities:
Short-term borrowings $ 448 $ 543
Accrued liabilities and liabilities held for sale 546 466
Other non-current liabilities 480 477
Share-based payments subject to redemption 55 48
Redeemable non-controlling interests 43 51
Ingredion stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock — authorized 25.0 shares — $0.01 par value, none issued — —
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (1,056) (1,048)
Total Ingredion stockholders’ equity 3,538 3,147
Non-redeemable non-controlling interests 14 16
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 7,642 $ 7,561
See the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
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Ingredion Incorporated
Consolidated Statements of Equity and Redeemable Equity
(in millions)
Net income attributable to Ingredion — — — — — 117 — — —
Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interests — — — — — — 11 — (3)
Dividends declared — — — — — (175) (11) — —
Repurchases of common stock, net — — — (68) — — — — —
Share-based compensation, net of issuance — — 8 31 — — — 6 —
Other comprehensive income (loss) — — — — 236 — (3) — 4
Net income attributable to Ingredion — — — — — 492 — — —
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests — — — — — — 9 — 1
Dividends declared — — — — — (181) (5) — —
Repurchases of common stock, net — — — (112) — — — — —
Share-based compensation, net of issuance — — 3 25 — — — 12 —
Fair market value adjustment to non-controlling interests — — (29) — — — — — 29
Non-controlling interest purchases — — — — — — — — (46)
Other comprehensive (loss) — — — — (151) — (6) — (4)
Net income attributable to Ingredion — — — — — 643 — — —
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests — — — — — — 7 — 1
Dividends declared — — — — — (199) (3) — —
Repurchases of common stock, net — — — (101) — — — —
Share-based compensation, net of issuance — — 7 42 — — — 7 —
Fair market value adjustment to non-controlling interests — — 7 — — — — — (7)
Non-controlling interest purchases — — — — — — — — (2)
Other comprehensive (loss) — — — — (8) — (6) — —
See the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
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Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in millions)
Year Ended December 31,
Cash from operating activities
Non-cash charges to net income:
Mechanical stores expense 62 55 55
Impairment on disposition of assets — — 340
Deferred income taxes (6) (3) (61)
Other non-cash charges 69 57 8
Changes in working capital:
Accounts receivable and prepaid expenses 77 (310) (162)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities (79) 158 226
Cash provided by operating activities 1,057 152 392
Cash from investing activities
Capital expenditures and mechanical stores purchases (316) (300) (300)
Proceeds from disposal of manufacturing facilities and properties 2 7 18
Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired — (29) (40)
Cash used for investing activities (329) (320) (335)
Cash from financing activities
Commercial paper (repayments) borrowings, net (63) 140 250
Repurchases of common stock, net (101) (112) (68)
Issuances of common stock for share-based compensation, net 20 9 19
Purchases of non-controlling interests (2) (46) —
Dividends paid, including to non-controlling interests (194) (181) (184)
Cash (used for) provided by financing activities (569) 103 (373)
Effects of foreign exchange rate changes on cash 6 (27) (21)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 165 (92) (337)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 236 328 665
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 401 $ 236 $ 328
See the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
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Ingredion Incorporated
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(dollars in millions, except per share data, unless otherwise noted)
1. Description of the Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Unless the context otherwise requires, all references herein to the “Company,” “Ingredion,” “we,” “us,” and “our” shall mean Ingredion Incorporated and its consolidated subsidiaries.
Description of the business: We primarily manufacture and sell sweeteners, starches, nutrition ingredients and biomaterial solutions derived from wet milling and processing corn and other starch-based materials to a wide range of industries, both domestically and internationally.
Basis of presentation: The Consolidated Financial Statements consist of the accounts of Ingredion, including all subsidiaries. Intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.
Use of estimates: The preparation of the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions about future events. These estimates and the underlying assumptions affect the amounts of assets and liabilities reported, disclosures about contingent assets and liabilities, and reported amounts of revenues and expenses. Such estimates and assumptions impact the value of purchase consideration, accounts receivable, inventories, certain investments, goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets, legal contingencies, income taxes, and pension and other postretirement benefits, among others. These estimates and assumptions are based on our best estimates and judgment. We evaluate our estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors, including the current economic environment, which we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. We will adjust such estimates and assumptions when facts and circumstances dictate. Corn price volatility, adverse changes in the global economic environment, foreign currency devaluations versus the U.S. dollar, and access to credit markets increase the uncertainty inherent in such estimates and assumptions. As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual results could differ significantly from these estimates. Changes in these estimates will be reflected in the financial statements in future periods.
Foreign currency translation: Assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries, other than those whose functional currency is the U.S. dollar, are translated at current exchange rates with the related translation adjustments reported in equity as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive loss (“AOCL”), and income statement accounts are translated at the average exchange rate during the period. The U.S. dollar is the functional currency for our subsidiaries in Mexico and Argentina, and we translate their monetary assets and liabilities at current exchange rates with the related adjustment included in financing costs in our Consolidated Statements of Income. Non-monetary assets and liabilities are translated at historical exchange rates with the related translation adjustments included in AOCL in our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Revenue recognition: Ingredion recognizes revenue under the core principle to depict our transfer of products and solutions to customers in amounts that reflect the consideration we expect to receive. To achieve that core principle, we apply the following five-step approach: (1) identify the contract with a customer, (2) identify the performance obligations in the contract, (3) determine the transaction price, (4) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract, and (5) recognize revenue when a performance obligation is satisfied.
We identify customer purchase orders, which in some cases are governed by a master sales agreement, as the contracts with our customers. For each contract, we consider the transfer of products, each of which is distinct, to be the identified performance obligation. The pricing model can be fixed or variable within the contract. The variable pricing model is based on historical commodity pricing and is determinable before we complete the performance obligation. To determine the transaction price for the contract performance obligations, we also evaluate whether the price could be adjusted, and we may reduce the transaction price for certain sales adjustments such as volume incentive discounts and other discount arrangements. We estimate transaction price adjustments using the expected value method based on our analysis of historical volume incentives or discounts over a period considered adequate to account for current pricing and business trends. Historically, actual volume incentives and discounts relative to those estimated and included when determining the transaction price have not materially differed. We accrue volume incentives and discounts in Accrued liabilities and liabilities held for sale in the Consolidated Balance Sheets when we satisfy the performance obligation. We consider the product price as specified in the contract, net of any discounts, as the standalone selling price as it is an observable input that represents the price if we sold the product to a similar customer in similar circumstances. We do not recognize any significant financing components since payment is due shortly after we satisfy our performance obligation.
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Ingredion Incorporated
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(dollars in millions, except per share data, unless otherwise noted)
We recognize revenue when we satisfy our performance obligation and control is transferred to the customer, which occurs at a point in time, either upon delivery to an agreed upon location or to the customer. Further, in determining whether control has transferred, we consider if there is a present right to payment and legal title, along with risks and rewards of ownership having transferred to the customer.
Shipping and handling activities related to contracts with customers represent fulfillment costs and are recorded in Cost of sales in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Taxes assessed by governmental authorities and collected from customers are accounted for on a net basis and excluded from net sales. We expense costs to obtain a contract when we incur the costs since most contracts are one year or less. These costs primarily include our internal sales force compensation. Under the terms of these programs, the compensation is generally earned, and the costs are recognized when we recognize the revenue.
From time to time, we may enter into long-term contracts with our customers. Historically, such contracts do not result in significant contract assets or liabilities. Any such arrangements are accounted for in Other assets or Accrued liabilities and liabilities held for sale in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Cash and cash equivalents: Cash equivalents consist of all instruments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less and that have virtually no risk of loss in value.
Accounts receivable: Accounts receivable consists of trade and other receivables carried at approximate fair value, net of an allowance for credit losses. The allowance for credit losses is determined using our best estimate of expected credit losses based on historical experience and current forecasts of future economic conditions, and we adjust this estimate over the life of the receivable as needed.
Inventories: Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Costs are predominantly determined using the weighted average method.
Long-term investments: We hold marketable securities and equity investments, which we include in Other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Marketable securities are carried at fair value and we record changes in fair value to Other operating (income) expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income if we maintain the securities for processing transactions that directly support operating activities; otherwise, we record changes in fair value to Other non-operating (income) expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
Equity investments in companies for which we do not have the ability to exercise significant influence are accounted for at fair value, with changes in fair value recorded in Other non-operating expense (income) in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Equity securities without readily determinable fair values are carried at cost, less impairments, if any, and adjusted for observable price changes for the identical or a similar investment of the same issuer. We perform a qualitative impairment assessment to determine if such investments are impaired, which considers all available information, including declines in the financial performance of the issuing entity, the issuing entity’s operating environment and general market conditions. Impairments of equity securities without readily determinable fair value are recorded in Other non-operating expense (income) in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
Equity investments in companies for which we have the ability to exercise significant influence, but not control, are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. Our share of the earnings or losses reported by equity method investees is recognized in Other operating (income) expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Each reporting period, we evaluate declines in the fair value of equity method investments below carrying value to determine if any are other-than-temporary and if so, we write down the investment to its estimated fair value. Impairments are recognized in Restructuring/impairment charges in the Consolidated Statements of Income.
Leases: We determine if an arrangement contains a lease, as well as its classification as an operating lease or finance lease, at the inception of the agreement. Lease assets represent our right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent our obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Lease assets and liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of future lease payments over the lease term. The commencement date used for the calculation of the lease obligations recorded is the latter of the lease start date or January 1, 2019, which is when we adopted Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 842. As most of our leases do not provide an implicit rate, we use an incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the commencement
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Ingredion Incorporated
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(dollars in millions, except per share data, unless otherwise noted)
date to determine the present value of lease payments. The lease asset value includes in our calculation any prepaid lease payments made and any lease incentives received from the arrangement as a reduction of the asset. Certain leases have options to terminate or extend the life of the lease, which we include in the lease asset and lease liability calculation when we have sole discretion to exercise the option and it is reasonably certain we will. We do not separate lease and non-lease components for our leases when it is impracticable to separate them, such as leases with variable payment arrangements. We have certain leases that have variable payments based solely on output or usage of the leased asset, which we do not record in our Consolidated Balance Sheets, but expense as incurred. Lease expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Leases with an initial term of twelve months or less are not recorded on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Property, plant and equipment and definite-lived intangible assets:Property, plant and equipment (“PP&E”) is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and definite-lived intangible assets are stated at cost less accumulated amortization. For PP&E, depreciation is generally computed on the straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of depreciable assets, which range from 25 to 50 years for buildings and from two to 25 years for machinery and equipment. Costs for mechanical stores represent costs for spare parts used in the production process that are capitalized in PP&E as part of machinery and equipment until they are utilized in the manufacturing process and expensed as a period cost. Where permitted by law, accelerated depreciation methods are used for tax purposes. For definite-lived intangible assets, we recognize the cost of these amortizable assets in operations over their estimated useful life, which range from two to 30 years. We review the recoverability of the net book value of PP&E and definite-lived intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset group may not be recoverable. If this review indicates that the carrying values of the asset group will not be recovered, we reduce the carrying values to fair value and recognize an impairment charge. The impairment analysis for long-lived assets occurs before the goodwill impairment assessment described below.
Assets held for sale: We classify long-lived assets or disposal groups as held for sale in the period when all of the following conditions have been met:
•we have approved and committed to a plan to sell the assets or disposal group,
•the asset or disposal group is available for immediate sale in its present condition,
•an active program to locate a buyer and other actions required to complete the sale have been initiated,
•the sale of the asset or disposal group is probable and expected to be completed within one year,
•the asset or disposal group is being actively marketed for sale at a price that is reasonable in relation to its current fair value, and
•it is unlikely that significant changes to the plan will be made or that the plan will be withdrawn.
When all the held for sale criteria are met, we initially measure a long-lived asset or disposal group that is classified as held for sale at the lower of its carrying value or the fair value less any costs to sell, recognize any resulting losses, and cease depreciation and amortization of the long-lived asset or assets within a disposal group. Until the date of sale or until the asset or disposal group are no longer classified as held for sale, we assess fair value less any costs to sell and recognize any resulting losses at each reporting period. Gains are not recognized until the date of the sale.
Indefinite-lived intangible assets and goodwill: We have certain indefinite-lived intangible assets in the form of tradenames and trademarks. Our methodology for allocating the purchase price of acquisitions is based on established valuation techniques that reflect the consideration of a number of factors, including valuations performed by third-party appraisers when appropriate. Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquired entity over the fair value assigned to identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed. We assess indefinite-lived intangible assets and goodwill for impairment annually (or other circumstances requiring assessment), which we perform as of July 1 of each year.
In testing indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment, we first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset is greater than its carrying amount. If not, then we determine the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible assets by performing a quantitative impairment analysis that considers various factors, including net sales derived from these intangibles and certain market and industry conditions.
In testing goodwill for impairment, we first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value of a reporting unit is greater than its carrying amount. If not, then an impairment exists for the difference
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Ingredion Incorporated
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(dollars in millions, except per share data, unless otherwise noted)
between the fair value and carrying value of the reporting unit. This difference is not to exceed the goodwill recorded at the reporting unit.
Hedging instruments: We use derivative financial instruments consisting primarily of commodity futures, swaps and option contracts, forward currency contracts and options, interest rate swaps, and Treasury lock agreements (“T-Locks”).
When we enter a derivative contract, we designate the derivative as a hedge of variable cash flows to be paid related to certain forecasted transactions (“a cash flow hedge”), as a hedge of the fair value of certain fixed (“firm”) commitments (“a fair value hedge”), or as a non-designated hedging instrument. This process includes linking all derivatives that are designated as cash flow or fair value hedges to specific assets and liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, or to specific firm commitments or forecasted transactions. For all hedging relationships, we document the hedging relationships and our risk-management objective and strategy for undertaking the hedge transactions, the hedging instrument, the hedged item, the nature of the risk being hedged, how we will assess the hedging instrument’s effectiveness in offsetting the hedged risk, and a description of the method to measure ineffectiveness. We also formally assesses, both at the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivative that is used in a hedging transaction is highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flows or fair values of hedged items.
For hedging instruments designated as cash flow hedges, unrealized gains and losses associated with marking cash flow hedging contracts to market (fair value) are recorded as a component of other comprehensive loss (“OCL”) and included in the equity section of the Consolidated Balance sheets as part of AOCL. These amounts, as well as their related tax effects, are subsequently reclassified into earnings in the same line item affected by the hedged transaction and in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings, or in the period a hedge is determined to be ineffective. Gains and losses from cash flow hedging instruments reclassified from AOCL to earnings are reported as Cash provided by operating activities on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
For hedging instruments designated as fair value hedges, unrealized gains and losses associated with marking fair value hedging contracts to market (fair value) are recorded in earnings each period. Unrealized gains and losses on hedged items in designated and highly effective fair value hedges are also recorded in earnings each period.
For hedging instruments not designated as hedging instruments for accounting purposes, all realized and unrealized gains and losses from these instruments are recognized in earnings during each accounting period.
We assess the effectiveness of hedging contracts based on changes in the contract’s fair value. The changes in the market value of our hedging contracts have historically been, and are expected to be, highly effective at offsetting changes in the price of hedged items. We discontinue hedge accounting prospectively when it is unlikely or not probable that a forecasted transaction will occur or when we determine that the designation of the derivative as a hedging instrument is no longer appropriate, since the derivative is no longer effective in offsetting changes in the cash flows or fair value of the originally intended hedged transaction. When we discontinue hedge accounting, we continue to carry the derivative on the Consolidated Balance Sheets at its fair value and freeze the deferred gains or losses into AOCL. Changes in the fair value of the derivative are recognized in earnings in the same line item as the original hedged transaction instead of AOCL. Any accumulated gains and losses that were included in AOCL in the period we determined the hedge to be ineffective are also released to earnings.
Pension and other postretirement benefits: All U.S. pension and postretirement benefit plans and most non-U.S. pension and postretirement benefit plans value the vested benefit obligation based on the actuarial present value of the vested benefits to which employees are currently entitled based on their expected date of separation or retirement.
For defined benefit plans, the service cost component of net periodic benefit cost is presented within either Cost of sales or Operating expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Income. The interest cost, expected return on plan assets, amortization of actuarial loss, amortization of prior service credit and settlement loss components of net periodic benefit cost are presented as Other non-operating expense (income) on the Consolidated Statements of Income.
Actuarial gains and losses in excess of 10 percent of the greater of the projected benefit obligation or the market-related value of plan assets are classified in AOCL, along with the related tax impact, and recognized as a component of net periodic benefit cost over the average remaining service period of a plan’s active employees for active defined benefit pension plans and over the average remaining life of a plan’s active employees for frozen defined benefit pension plans.
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