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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
[X] Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the fiscal year ended
AUGUST 31, 1996
or
[ ] Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
-------------------------
Commission File
No. 33-94644
-------------------------
MINN-DAK FARMERS COOPERATIVE
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
North Dakota 23-7222188
(State of incorporation) (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
7525 Red River Road
Wahpeton, North Dakota 58075 (701) 642-8411
(Address of principal executive offices) (Registrant's telephone number)
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b)OF THE ACT:
NONE
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g)OF THE ACT:
NONE
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES _X_ NO ___
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to
Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained,
to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information
statements incorporated by reference in part III of this Form 10-K or any
amendment to this Form 10-K. [ ]
As of November 21, 1996, 480 shares of the Registrant's Common Stock
and 58,525 "units" of the Registrant's Preferred Stock, each consisting of 1
share of Class A Preferred Stock, 1 share of Class B Preferred Stock and 1 share
of Class C Preferred Stock, were outstanding. There is only a limited, private
market for shares of the Company's Common or Preferred Stock, as such shares may
be held only by farmer-producers who are eligible for membership in the Company.
The Company's shares are not listed for trading on any exchange or quotation
system. Although transfers of the Company's shares may occur only with the
consent of the Company's Board of Directors, the Company does not verify
information regarding the transfer price in connection with such transfers. A
number of stock transfers, representing approximately 6% of available stock,
were not arms length (estate settlements, estate planning from one generation to
the next, etc.) and an accurate value for that stock was not available.
Management believes less than 1% of the Company's available stock was traded at
arms length during the fiscal year ended 8-31-96. Of the stock transferred at
arms length, the transfers were made during the second and third quarters of the
Company's fiscal year and range in price from $2,300 to $2,500 per unit.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Certain exhibits to this Report are incorporated by reference
from the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File number
33-94644), declared effective on September 11, 1995.
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative ("Minn-Dak" or the "Company") is a North
Dakota agricultural cooperative which was formed in 1972 and has approximately
480 members. Membership in the Company is limited to sugar beet growers located
in those areas of North Dakota and Minnesota within an approximate fifty (50)
mile radius of the Company's offices and sugar beet processing facilities in
Wahpeton, North Dakota. The Company's facilities allow the members to process
their sugar beets into sugar and other products. The products are pooled and
then marketed through the services of a marketing agent under contract with the
Company. The sugar marketing agent, United Sugars Corporation, is a cooperative
owned by its members, the Company, American Crystal Sugar Company, and Southern
Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative. The Company's beet molasses and beet pulp are
also marketed through a marketing agent, Midwest Agri-Commodities. Midwest
Agri-Commodities is a cooperative owned by its members, the Company, American
Crystal Sugar Company and Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative.
Minn-Dak's corporate headquarters are located at 7525 Red River Road,
Wahpeton, North Dakota 58075 (telephone number (701) 642-8411). Its fiscal year
ends August 31.
PRODUCTS AND PRODUCTION
Minn-Dak is engaged primarily in the production and marketing of sugar
from sugar beets. Minn-Dak also markets certain by-products of the sugar it
produces, such as beet molasses and beet pulp. The Company also owns an 80%
interest in Minn-Dak Yeast Company, which has facilities located near the
Company's sugar production location. Minn-Dak Yeast Company provided revenues
totaling approximately 5.8% of the Company's gross revenues for the fiscal year
ended August 31, 1996.
The Company processes sugar beets grown by its members at its sugar
mill located in Wahpeton, North Dakota. The period during which the Company's
plant is in operation to process into sugar and by-products is referred to as
the "campaign." The campaign is expected to begin in September of each year and
continues until the available supply of beets has been depleted, which generally
occurs in March or April of the following year, depending on the size of the
crop. Based on current processing capacity, an average campaign lasts
approximately 200-215 days, assuming normal crop yields.
Once the sugar beets are harvested, rapid processing is important to
maximize sugar extraction and minimize spoilage. Members transport their crop by
truck to receiving stations designated by the Company. Beets are then stored in
the Company's factory yard and at outlying piling stations until processing.
Under the Company's "growers agreement" with its members, the Company furnishes
all loading equipment at loading stations and, after delivery of the beets to
the Company, pays all freight and mileage charges for hauling the sugar beets
from the piling stations to the factory for processing.
Minn-Dak's total sugar production is presently influenced by the amount
and quality of sugar beets grown by its members, the processing capacity of the
Company's plant and by the ability to store harvested beets. Most of the beet
harvest is stored in piles. Although piled sugar beets that have been frozen by
the winter temperatures may be stored for extended periods, beets stored in
unprotected piles at temperatures above freezing must be processed within
approximately 160 days.
Sugar beets deteriorate in storage due to the organic nature of their
existence. Beets harvested prior to obtaining a root temperature of fifty
degrees or less must be processed within seven days or sugar loss will occur and
they will deteriorate. The plant start up in the fall is timed to the
anticipated end processing in the spring. The plan of the Company is, after the
expenditures for plant expansion described herein, to finish processing
unprotected beets prior to March 10, ventilated beets prior to March 31, and
storage shed beets as soon thereafter as is possible.
Unprotected beets are "split" by processing the center of the piles
first. This method allows the processing of the center beets, which do not
freeze and therefore deteriorate more rapidly, at the earliest possible date.
Ventilated beets have culverts with air holes running every eleven feet
into the pile. Prior to freezing of the beets, air is blown into the piles to
bring the pile temperature to an average temperature of approximately
thirty-five degrees. When a week or more of sub zero temperatures are forecast,
the fans are turned on when the temperature reaches zero degrees and continues
to ventilate until the pile temperature reaches zero to five degrees.
After completing expenditures on storage sheds as part of a proposed
expansion (see MINN DAK FARMERS COOPERATIVE STOCK SALE AND EXPANSION PLAN, in
Part 1 Item 1 of this section), storage shed beets will be handled in the same
manner as the ventilated beets. The difference between the processes is the
building itself, which insulates the beets from sun, wind, and warmer spring
temperatures. With the buildings, storage of the beets can run as late as mid
May of each year.
In addition, unprotected and ventilated beets will, in long campaigns,
have extra steps taken to extend their life. Beets are sprayed with lime to
create a reflectance and reduce the harmful impact from the sun's rays in the
spring. Straw is also applied to the sides of some later processed piles to
further insulate the beets from sun, wind, and temperature.
Once the sugar beets arrive in the factory, the basic steps in
producing sugar from them include: washing; slicing into thin strips called
"cossettes"; extracting the sugar from the cossettes in a diffuser; purifying
the resulting "raw juice" and boiling it, first in an evaporator to thicken it
and then in vacuum pans to crystallize the sugar; separating the sugar crystals
in a centrifuge; drying the sugar; and storing sugar in bulk form for bulk and
bag shipping.
The Company's sugar beet by-products include beet molasses and beet
pulp. After the extraction of raw juice from the cossettes, the remaining pulp
is dried and processed into and sold as animal feeds. The beet molasses is the
sugar juice left after all economical means have been taken to extract the sugar
from the sugar juice. The beet molasses is sold primarily to yeast and
pharmaceutical manufacturers and for use in animal feeds. The beet molasses and
beet pulp are marketed through Midwest Agri-Commodities.
RECENT CROPS
Minn-Dak's members harvested 1,506,646 tons of sugar beets from 82,575
acres for the 1996 crop. The crop yield of 18.25 tons per acre for the 1996 crop
was about on par versus the Company's five year average ton per acre. Sugar
content of the 1996 crop at harvest was 18.61%, as compared to an average of
17.21% for the five most recent years. The Company's projected production is 4.2
million hundredweights of sugar from the 1996 crop sugar beets, well above the
five year average of 3.4 million hundredweight. (A "hundredweight" is equal to
one hundred pounds and is hereinafter abbreviated as cwt.)
For a discussion of the 1995, 1994 and 1993 crops and results of
operations for fiscal years 1996, 1995 and 1994, see "Management's Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."
MARKET AND COMPETITION
According to United States government estimates, the United States
market for sugar during the year beginning on October 1, 1995 and ending on
September 30, 1996 will total approximately 179 million cwt. of sugar. That
estimate for 1996 suggests the continuation of a trend of growth in the market
in recent years at a compounded rate of approximately 2% per year. For example,
from a market of approximately 165 million cwt. in 1992, the total domestic
market grew to a total of approximately 179 million cwt. in 1996. Latest
government estimates indicate a projected domestic market for sugar of 185
million cwt in 1997, a 3.5% increase from 1996. However the Company continues to
believe that domestic market growth will average the 2% long term growth trend.
Given the size of the domestic market, the Company's sugar production and sales
represented slightly less than 2.0% of the total domestic market for refined
sugar in fiscal 1996.
The growth in the market for refined sugar in the late 1980's and into
the 1990's is a reversal of trends in the 1970's and early 1980's which resulted
in a reduced market for refined sugar. During the 1970's and early 1980's, high
fructose corn syrup was increasingly used as a replacement for refined sugar in
certain food products. (The prime example of this trend was the use of high
fructose corn syrup in beverages such as soft drinks.) In addition,
non-nutritive sweeteners such as aspartame were developed for use in food
products.
While high fructose corn syrup and non-nutritive sweeteners constitute
a large portion of the overall sweetener market, the Company believes that the
market for sugar will continue to grow at a rate similar to recent trends
because of increased use of refined sugar and population growth.
The Company's main competitors in the domestic market are beet sugar
processors including Holly Sugar Corporation (a division of Imperial Holly
Corporation), Western Sugar Company (a subsidiary of Tate & Lyle, Inc.), The
Amalgamated Sugar Company, Michigan Sugar Company (wholly-owned by Savannah
Foods and Industries, Inc.) and Monitor Sugar Company, Inc. The Company's
products also compete with cane sugar refined by Savannah Foods and Industries,
Inc., California and Hawaiian Sugar Company, Imperial Holly Corporation and
Domino Sugar, a subsidiary of Tate & Lyle, Inc. Because sugar is a fungible
commodity, competition for sales volume is based primarily upon price, customer
service and reliability.
According to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) statistics,
the Red River Valley is generally one of the most cost efficient sugar beet
producing areas in the nation. As a result, the Company's management believes
that it possesses the ability to compete successfully with other American
producers of sugar. In spite of this competitive advantage, substitute sweetener
products and sugar imports could have an adverse effect on the Company's
operations in the future.
GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS AND REGULATION
Domestic sugar prices are supported under a program administered by the
United States Department of Agriculture ("USDA"). The program, which is called
the Agricultural Market Transition Act of 1996, requires the price of sugar to
be maintained above the price at which producers could forfeit sugar to repay
nonrecourse loans obtained through the Commodity Credit Corporation. Such
support prices for sugar are in effect as long as the "Tariff Rate Quota" for
imports of sugar are 1.5 million short tons, raw value or more. Under the tariff
rate quota implemented October 1, 1990, certain sugar producing countries are
assigned a fixed quantity of imports duty-free or subject to minimal duties.
Unlimited additional quantities may be imported upon payment of a tariff of 16
cents per pound prior to shipment (to date, very little sugar has been imported
under this higher tariff level). (Note: the tariff schedule was established at
17 cents on July 1, 1995, 16 cents July 1, 1996 and will reduce by .31 cents
each year for years 1997 through 2001, until it reaches 14.45 cents per pound of
sugar). If the tariff rate quota for sugar is less than 1.5 million short tons,
raw value, the loans then become recourse loans, and price support is no longer
possible through the loans. Further, imports of sugar under the tariff rate
quota are based upon the difference between domestic sugar consumption and
domestic sugar production, with one exception. Under the terms of the General
Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) the minimum imports of sugar are
established at 1,256,000 short tons, raw value. Therefore, even if the
difference between domestic sugar consumption and production are less than
1,256,000 short tons, raw value, GATT will require that 1,256,000 short tons be
imported into the United States from the quota holding foreign countries.
Because this is the first year of the new sugar program, the Company cannot
accurately predict the impact, if any, to the sugar market.
The current sugar program will expire after the 2002 crop and the
nature and scope of future legislation and United States trade policy affecting
the sugar market cannot be accurately predicted and there can be no assurance
that price supports will continue in their present form beyond the 2002 crop
year, or that there will even be enacted a sugar program beyond the existing
program. As a result of uncertainty regarding the impact of the absence of price
supports if no sugar program existed, the Company cannot accurately predict if
any changes in legislation or trade policy would have a material adverse impact
on Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative and its members, or the magnitude of such
impact.
Revenue Canada (the Canadian Department of Revenue) initiated an
investigation in March, 1995 regarding the trade "dumping" of sugar by foreign
exporters of sugar to Canada. This investigation has included inquiries of
United Sugars Corporation and Minn-Dak and involves an examination of potential
"unfair" foreign subsidies and the injury that they may have caused to the
Canadian sugar industry. After a lengthy investigation the Department made a
determination that "dumping" did occur by foreign exporters. In November, 1995
the Canadian International Trade Tribunal found that there were was no injury to
the Canadian sugar industry caused by U.S.-based exporters. But they did
determine that "future" damages could result to members of the Canadian sugar
industry, and that remedial action was appropriate. The outcome of the action
was the imposition of duties on imports of foreign sugar into Canada. Such an
outcome ended the Company's ability to market sugar into Canada. During fiscal
year 1996, the Company, through United Sugars Corporation, exported no sugar
into Canada, compared to a total of approximately 108,000 cwt. (the Company's
share) of sugar in fiscal year 1995. That 108,000 cwt. quantity of sugar
represented approximately 2.5% of the total 1994 crop sugar produced by the
Company. The Company does not expect to sell sugar into Canada again in the
foreseeable future.
MARKETING, CUSTOMERS AND PRICES
Until December 31, 1993 the Company marketed most of its sugar through
the efforts of North Central Sugar Marketing, a sugar marketing cooperative
jointly owned by the Company and Southern Minnesota Sugar Cooperative. Since
January 1, 1994, the Company's sugar has been marketed by United Sugars
Corporation, a cooperative owned by the Company, Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar
Cooperative and American Crystal Sugar Company to market sugar produced by the
three cooperatives. United Sugars Corporation was formed in late 1993, at which
time the Company contributed assets valued at approximately $226,000 (the
Company's share of the value of the assets of North Central Sugar Marketing
Cooperative - the organization that was being merged into United Sugars
Corporation), for the capitalization of United Sugars Corporation. In addition,
the Company has further contributed approximately $552,000 in cash for initial
capitalization of the operations of United Sugars Corporation through fiscal
year 1996, and has agreed to provide additional anticipated cash contributions
totaling $368,000 in 1997 and 1998. The total anticipated capital contribution
of $1,146,000 will be in exchange for an initial ownership interest of 13.53% of
United Sugars Corporation. In addition, through August 31, 1996 the Company has
contributed additional capital to United Sugars Corporation totaling $2,691,000
for the purpose of the purchase of certain fixed assets related to the sales and
distribution of sugar through United Sugars Corporation. At August 31, 1996 the
Company had an ownership interest in United Sugars Corporation (initial
contributed capital plus additional fixed assets) totaling $3,468,922, which
represented 12.63%.
Upon completion of the incorporation and capitalization of United
Sugars Corporation, the Company entered into a "Uniform Member Marketing
Agreement" with United Sugars Corporation. Under that agreement, the sugar
produced by the Company is pooled with sugar produced by American Crystal Sugar
Company and Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative and is then sold through
the efforts of United Sugars Corporation. The Company receives payment for its
sugar by receiving its pro rata share of the net proceeds from the sale of the
pooled sugar. The net proceeds of such sales represent the gross proceeds of the
sale of the sugar, adjusted for the various costs and expenses of marketing the
pooled sugar, including the the Company's pro rata share of the marketing and
sales expenses incurred by United Sugars Corporation. Any net proceeds from the
operation of United Sugars Corporation are distributed to the various members on
a patronage basis.
United Sugars Corporation sells industrial bulk sugar, industrial
bagged sugar, retail bagged sugar, and specialty sugars. The Company's sugar is
marketed by United Sugars Corporation primarily to industrial users such as
confectioners, breakfast cereal manufacturers and bakeries. The customer base of
United Sugars Corporation includes most of the large industrial sugar users,
such as Kraft-General Foods, Hershey's, General Mills, Nabisco, Nestles, Brach
Candy, and Quaker Oats. The customer base also includes retail grocery customers
such as Super Value, Kroegers and others. The Company has no single customer
which accounts for more than ten percent (10%) of its consolidated revenues. For
the fiscal year ended August 31, 1996, 98% of the Company's sugar was marketed
in bulk form, mostly to industrial users, and 2% in bagged powdered sugar.
Fiscal year 1996 was the first year that the Company has shipped other than bulk
sugar for United Sugars Corporation, and represents a consolidated effort by the
members of United Sugars Corporation to create the most efficient method for the
production of the different sugar products needed. For fiscal year 1997, the
Company estimates that it will produce 275,000 cwt of powdered sugar, which
represents 6.5% of the Company's estimated production.
The prices at which United Sugars Corporation sells the Company's sugar
fluctuates periodically based on changes in domestic sugar supply and demand.
The largest portion of the Company's sales are contracted one or more quarters
in advance, with the effect of stabilizing fluctuations in revenue from quarter
to quarter.
The Company markets dried beet pulp and beet molasses through Midwest
Agri-Commodities, a cooperative whose members are the Company, American Crystal
Sugar Company and Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative. Beet pulp is
marketed to livestock feed mixers and livestock feeders in the United States and
foreign markets. For the year ended August 31, 1996, approximately 39% of the
Company's pulp production was exported to Japan, approximately 43% was exported
to Europe and the remaining 18% was sold domestically. The market for beet pulp
is affected by the availability and quality of competitive feedstuffs. Beet
molasses is marketed primarily to yeast manufacturers, pharmaceutical houses,
livestock feed mixers and livestock feeders. By-product sales accounted for
approximately 12% of the Company's total consolidated revenues during fiscal
1996. This relationship is primarily a function of the average market prices for
sugar, beet pulp and beet molasses and is not necessarily indicative of future
relationships between by-product and sugar revenues, because prices of these
commodities fluctuate independently of each other.
The Company is an eighty percent equity owner of Minn-Dak Yeast
Company. Minn-Dak Yeast Company manufactures fresh baker's yeast in a plant
located adjacent to the Company's sugar plant in Wahpeton, North Dakota. The
Company started the yeast business in 1989 in order to add value to its
by-product beet molasses. Beet molasses is the main ingredient (growth medium)
in the fermentation process used to grow baker's yeast to commercial volumes.
The Company's beet molasses is used exclusively in the Minn-Dak Yeast process
and is sold through a supply agreement between the companies. The remaining
twenty percent equity stake is held by Universal Foods Corporation, Milwaukee,
Wisconsin. Minn-Dak Yeast Company also has a long-term marketing agreement
whereby Universal Foods Corporation will buy production of baker's yeast
produced by Minn-Dak Yeast Company in return for certain guaranteed sales
volumes.
MINN-DAK FARMERS COOPERATIVE STOCK SALE AND EXPANSION PLANS
The strategic plan of the Company calls for an expansion of its
processing capacity as well as its length of operating season. This strategic
plan was undertaken in order to increase its chances of continuing to be a long
term viable, profitable business for its shareholders. Expansion of the
processing capabilities of the plant will bring about certain economies of
scale. Company projections indicate that this will allow the Company to continue
to pay its shareholders for beets and a return on their investment similar to
the levels encountered in the past, given all other business factors being
equal. However, the Company cannot say with certainty that, after the expansion
plan has been completed, shareholder returns will be the same as or better than
what has been experienced in the past.
The Company plans to expend approximately $86,200,000 over a three year
period beginning with the fiscal year ended 8-31-96 covered in this report for
improvements and additions to its facilities. Base capital expenditures for uses
other than expansion are estimated to be $31,200,000 and expansion capital
expenditures are estimated to be $56,000,000. The planned capital expenditures
include $14,700,000 for air and water environmental improvements, $1,700,000 for
improvements for beet receiving and storage unrelated to expansion, $23,300,000
for beet receiving and storage improvements to increase capacity, $7,500,000 for
specific factory improvements unrelated to expansion, $24,500,000 for factory
improvements to increase capacity, and appropriate reserves for contingency and
overhead considerations.
$37,400,000 will be raised through the sale of the maximum number of
Units Subscribed via the Company's 1995 stock offering. The funds generated from
the stock offering will be used to assist in paying for the costs associated
with expansion. Those costs not covered through the stock offering will be
funded through a long term debt agreement, with the St. Paul Bank for
Cooperatives for Cooperatives (a cooperative lending institution who acquires
funds from the Funding Corporation, who has agency status) who is providing the
construction financing and is the principal lender.
In fiscal 1996, the Company was able to secure a lease from Richland
County, funded by low interest, fifteen year tax exempt solid waste disposal
bonds in the amount of $12.0 million with zero principle amortization for the
first three years and $1.0 million per year of principle amortization for the
next 12 years. These bonds were required to be secured by a Letter of Credit
from a non-government agency bank (Norwest Bank North Dakota) who in turn was
secured by a Letter of Credit from the St. Paul Bank for Cooperatives, the
Company's primary lender. Solid waste disposal bonds are available under certain
conditions where a by-product of manufacturing must be further manufactured or
refined to produce a salable product and/or reduce the amount of solid waste
produced by a manufacturing plant. In the company's primary case, the funds were
used to fund further manufacturing of a by-product to produce a salable product.
The long term debt created by this expansion will be repaid with funds
generated through depreciation, income tax savings, and reduced costs per cwt of
production. (Depreciation expense is a non-cash expense that under the Company's
accounting procedures reduces the amounts available for payments to the
Company's members. The resources represented by such non-cash expenses are
available as a source of working capital for the Company, which may be used for
payment of long term debt.)
The expansion as of 8-31-96 was on schedule and within budget.
JOINT VENTURE WITH PROGOLD LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY
Minn-Dak is a five percent (5%) equity owner in ProGold Limited
Liability Company ("ProGold"). ProGold was formed in 1994 by three entities for
the purpose of building a plant to produce from corn and market high fructose
corn syrup; and to produce and market corn gluten feed, corn gluten meal and
corn germ, all co-products produced by the plant. The other two equity owners
are American Crystal Sugar Company, Moorhead, Minnesota (46%) and Golden Growers
Cooperative, Fargo, North Dakota (49%). American Crystal Sugar Company is a
cooperative that produces sugar from sugar beets and has approximately 2,300
stockholder-growers that grow sugar beets on approximately 450,000 acres of
land. Golden Growers Cooperative was formed in 1994 by approximately 2,000
shareholder-farmers located in the three state area of North and South Dakota
and Minnesota. An agreement between Minn-Dak and the other parties involved in
the formation of ProGold have agreed upon capital contributions to be made by
each. Minn-Dak has contributed approximately $5.2 million in exchange for its 5%
ownership position, American Crystal Sugar Company has contributed approximately
$48.0 million for its 46% ownership share and Golden Growers Cooperative 51.0
million for its 49% ownership share.
Representatives of ProGold, Minn-Dak, American Crystal Sugar Company
and Golden Growers Cooperative have entered into various agreements relating to
the ownership and operation of ProGold and the corn wet-milling plant The
agreements include (i) Member Control Agreement, (ii) Uniform Member Marketing
Agreement, and (iii) Administrative Services Agreements. Under the terms of the
ProGold member control agreement, in each year after September 1, 1997, the
ProGold Board of Governors can require that the three members of ProGold provide
additional capital contributions in an amount not to exceed $5 million per year,
with each member obligated to provide a portion of the $5 million proportionate
to their ownership share in ProGold. As such, Minn-Dak could be required to make
annual capital contributions in an amount not to exceed $250,000 per year, based
upon its 5% ownership share in ProGold. Any other capital contributions can be
required only with the prior written consent of all of ProGold's owners. Under
the terms of the ProGold Uniform Member Marketing Agreement, the owners of
ProGold would be obligated to deliver to ProGold the corn to be processed at the
plant. Under the terms of the Administrative Services Agreement, ProGold would
be provided services such as accounting, financial planning support and human
resources services by American Crystal Sugar Company.
When ProGold's corn wet-mill plant is fully operational, it is expected
to grind approximately 30 million bushels of corn per year. However, that
quantity will be subject to adjustment depending upon the final operational
characteristics of the facility. Minn-Dak will be responsible for providing corn
to ProGold in proportion to its ownership percentage in ProGold, or 5%. In the
years that ProGold is operating at full capacity, Minn-Dak would be required to
provide approximately 1.5 million bushels of corn to ProGold. Based upon current
market prices for corn, the Minn-Dak would expect to pay approximately $3.6
million each year to provide corn to ProGold. In fiscal year 1997 (which begins
September 1, 1996) when the plant is expected to begin operations, the plant is
expected to run at less than full capacity. Therefore Minn-Dak expects to
deliver approximately 992,000 bushels of corn valued at approximately $3.4
million, based upon fiscal year 1997 budgeted costs for corn. Under the
Company's agreements with ProGold, the Company does not receive payment for the
corn upon delivery. Instead, the Company will receive payment of its
proportionate share of ProGold's revenues from the sale of corn sweeteners and
related products, less its proportionate share of ProGold's operating expenses
(which will not include the cost of corn). The distribution of ProGold's
revenues is intended to provide both compensation for the corn delivered to
ProGold and the Minn-Dak's share of ProGold's profits, if any. While ProGold
intends to distribute net revenues to its members as soon as possible following
receipt of proceeds from the sale of its products, Minn-Dak anticipates that it
will receive periodic distributions from ProGold each year, with a final
distribution to be made following the close of ProGold's fiscal year.
Minn-Dak believes that ProGold will suffer a loss during its initial
operations of the corn wet-milling plant. Minn-Dak's portion of any such loss is
not expected to be material to Minn-Dak or its financial condition. If, through
the operation of the corn wet-milling plant, ProGold is successful in generating
profits for distribution to its members, those distributions would be classified
as non-member patronage and therefore retained by Minn-Dak and would be posted
to Minn-Dak's retained earnings account. However, those distributions, in the
discretion of Minn-Dak's Board of Directors, could act to reduce the amount of
working capital needed by Minn-Dak from its shareholders by reducing future unit
retain and allocated patronage amounts. Minn-Dak has acted in such a manner in
the past with other non-member patronage, such as non-member patronage from its
subsidiary company, Minn-Dak Yeast Company. As described above, any decisions
regarding the application of distributions received by Minn-Dak from ProGold
will be made in the discretion of Minn-Dak's Board of Directors.
GROWERS' CONTRACTS
The Company purchases virtually all of its sugar beets from members
under contract with the Company. All members have three-year contracts with the
Company covering the growing seasons of 1996 through 1998 (the "Growers'
Agreement"). At the end of each year, the Growers Agreement automatically
extends for an additional year, so that such agreements always have a remaining
term of three years, unless notice of termination has been given by the Company
prior to the automatic renewal. In that situation, the agreement will not renew,
but will continue in effect for the two year period then remaining under the
agreement. Each Unit of Preferred Stock currently entitles a member to grow 1.35
acres of sugar beets for sale to the Company. The Company's Board of Directors
has the discretion to adjust the acreage which may be planted for each Unit of
Preferred Stock held by the members. For the 1996 crop year the Company's Board
of Directors authorized members to plant 1.40 acres per share. For the 1997
crop, unless the Company's Board of Directors decide otherwise, the acres will
return to 1.35 acres per unit of Preferred Stock.
Under the terms of the Growers Agreement, each member receives payment
for his or her sugar beets based on a price per pound of extractable sugar. The
price per pound of extractable sugar is determined by dividing the total grower
distribution of net proceeds (less the amount credited to members investment
from member patronage and credited to retained earnings from non-member
patronage) by the total of members' pounds of extractable sugar. Extractable
pounds of sugar are obtained by the processing of beet samples taken from
members' sugar beets during harvest. Each member's grower payment is obtained by
multiplying that member's total pounds of extractable sugar times the price per
pound of extractable sugar as determined above. Under the Growers Agreement,
each member receives an initial installment of the payment for his or her sugar
beets on or about November 15, soon after delivery of his or her crop to the
Company. That initial installment is subject to adjustment by the Cooperative's
Board of Directors and management, but will not exceed 65% of the estimated
price per pound of extractable sugar. A second installment is paid in early
February; that installment, in combination with the first installment, will not
exceed 70% of the estimated price per pound of extractable sugar. A third
installment is paid in early April, with the aggregate of all installments paid
to that date not to exceed 80% of the estimated price per pound of extractable
sugar. A fourth installment payment is paid in July, with the total of
installment payments to that date not to exceed 95% of the estimated price per
pound of extractable sugar. The final payment is determined after the end of the
Company's fiscal year, ending on August 31, and is in an amount necessary to
bring the total of all payments to the price to be paid per pound of extractable
sugar to all growers during the applicable fiscal year. In addition, the
Company's annual patronage net income, which is equal to the Company's sales
less all expenditures and member beet payments, is distributed to the members on
the basis of the pounds of extractable sugar obtained from each of the members'
sugar beets; such amounts are distributed in either cash payments or in the form
of patronage credits to the member's patronage credit account on the books of
the Company.
COMPANY DISTRICTS
The Company's by-laws provide that the Company's members are to be
divided into districts for the purposes of voting and the election of members of
the Board of Directors. Those districts do not have specific geographic
boundaries but, instead, contain a loosely defined area representing the area
served by a particular piling station to which members deliver their sugar beets
for storage until the sugar beets are to be processed. When a member joins the
Company, he or she is assigned to a particular district based upon criteria
including (i) the physical location of the shareholder's sugar beet growing
acres relative to a piling site and (ii) if the previous criteria does not
clearly indicate the district to which the shareholder should be assigned, the
physical location of the shareholder's base of farming operations relative to a
piling site. (Some members deliver sugar beets to more than one piling site due
to the locations of their various fields, even though they are assigned to
membership in only one district.)
Given that shareholders are assigned to districts based upon ease of
delivery of harvested sugar beets and because shareholders own different numbers
of Units of Preferred Stock, each district includes a different number of acres
of sugar beet production and, therefore, a different quantity of sugar beets
delivered to the Company. However, none of the districts provides the Company
with a materially disproportionate quantity of the sugar beets produced by the
Company's members. While the allocation of members to the various districts have
a significant impact on the election of directors, the Company does not believe
that the districts represent a significant factor in the day-to-day business
operations of the Company.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
The Company is not involved in its own research and development
activities, but does participate in some sugar industry research and development
activities. Any research findings are then shared by the entire sugar industry.
Participatory research and development is accomplished through such
organizations as Beet Sugar Development Foundation, Sugar Association, and North
Dakota/Minnesota Research and Education Board. The Company participates in the
organizations listed above through the efforts of its representatives to the
boards of directors of those entities. The Company's representatives, either a
member of the Company's Board of Directors or a management employee of the
Company, allow the Company to participate in and help direct agricultural and
factory operations research and development activities carried out by the listed
organizations. Those organizations also have established various committees on
which the Company has placed certain of its employees; that practice is designed
to provide the company with direct access to any research and development
information available from the applicable committees. (Through its employees,
the Beet Sugar Development Foundation also provides some legislative and
lobbying efforts on a national level. Those efforts are directed at maintaining
funding for the various federal sugarbeet research facilities.) None of the
Company's employees or directors devote a significant portion of their time and
energies to the activities described in this section; instead, such efforts are
a minor portion of their continuing duties on behalf of the Company.
During the fiscal year ended on August 31, 1996, the Company
contributed approximately $58,000 to the North Dakota/Minnesota Research and
Education Board to fund that entity's research and development activities.
$10,000 in connection with research activities of the Beet Sugar Development
Foundation and $44,000 to the Sugar Association for their research activities
and membership dues.
The Company also has established a sugarbeet seed committee which
reviews the performance of new and existing sugarbeet seed varieties. The
committee then advises the Board of Directors with regard to those sugarbeet
seed varieties which should be approved by use by the Company's shareholders.
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
Minn-Dak is subject to extensive federal and/or state environmental
laws and regulations with respect to water and air quality, solid waste disposal
and odor and noise control. The Company conducts an on-going and expanding
control program designed to meet these environmental laws and regulations. While
the Company will continue to have ongoing environmental compliance issues, there
are not currently any pending regulatory enforcement actions and the Company
believes that it is in substantial compliance with applicable environmental laws
and regulations.
The Company cannot accurately predict to what extent future changes in
environmental laws or regulations will have on the cost of operating its
facilities and conducting its business. However, any such changes could have
adverse financial consequences for the Company and its members.
EMPLOYEES
As of August 31, 1996, the Company had 234 full-time employees, of
which 206 were hourly and 28 were salaried. It also employs approximately 295
additional hourly seasonal workers during the sugar beet harvest and processing
campaign. In January, 1995 the Company concluded the negotiations for a
collective bargaining agreement with the American Federation of Grain Millers
(AFL/CIO) union for its factory employee group. The written contract is in
effect from January 23, 1995 through May of the year 2000. Office, clerical,
management and harvest employees are not unionized. Full time employees are
provided with health and dental insurance, a defined benefit pension or
retirement plan, a 401(k) retirement savings plan, a short and long term
disability plan, term life insurance, and vacation and holiday pay plans.
Seasonal workers are provided some of the above employee benefits. The Company
considers its employee relations to be excellent.
ITEM 2 PROPERTIES
The Company operates a single sugarbeet processing factory at Wahpeton,
North Dakota which is located in the Red River Valley. The Company owns the
factory, receiving sites, and the land on which they are located. The 1994 crop
set new records for average daily slice rate (6,967 of beets tons per day),
total tons sliced (1,535,961 tons), and sugar production (4,400,000 cwt.). With
the planned expansion (as more fully explained in Item 1 entitled Stock Sale and
Expansion Plans)., the plant is projected to have the minimum capacity to slice
7,500 tons per day and the $15,200,000 spent on special ventilated storage and
beet storage buildings should extend the number of days the factory is able to
process beets.
Minn-Dak Yeast Company (Minn-Dak is an 80% owner) operates a single
yeast processing factory at Wahpeton, North Dakota which is located in the Red
River Valley. Minn-Dak Yeast Company owns the factory and the land on which it
is located. During fiscal 1996, 25.6 million pounds of yeast were produced which
is at full capacity for the plant.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
From time to time and in the ordinary course of its business, the
Company is named as a defendant in legal proceedings related to various issues,
including worker's compensation claims, tort claims and contractual disputes.
Other than as provided herein, the Company is not currently involved in legal
proceedings which have arisen in the ordinary course of its business and the
Company is also unaware of certain other potential claims which could result in
the commencement of legal proceedings. The Company carries insurance which
provides protection against certain types of claims.
While the Company is not, other than as provided herein, currently
involved in any legal proceedings, the investigation that was conducted by
Revenue Canada and the results stemming from that investigation had an adverse
impact on the Company's business. Revenue Canada (the Canadian Department of
Revenue) initiated an investigation regarding the trade "dumping" of sugar by
foreign exporters of sugar to Canada. This investigation included inquiries of
United Sugars Corporation and the Company and involved an examination of
potential "unfair" foreign subsidies and the injury that they may have caused to
the Canadian sugar industry. The Department made a preliminary determination
that "dumping" did occur by foreign exporters and proceeded to a final
determination of what, if any, damage resulted to members of the Canadian sugar
industry and what remedial action would be appropriate. In November, 1995 the
Canadian International Trade Tribunal found that there was no injury to the
Canadian sugar industry, but that there was potential for "future" injury to
occur. The remedial action resulted in the imposition of duties on imports of
foreign sugar into Canada. Such an outcome significantly limited the Company's
ability to market sugar into Canada. During fiscal year 1996, the Company,
through United Sugars Corporation, exported no sugar into Canada, compared to a
total of approximately 108,000 cwt. (the Company's share) of sugar in fiscal
year 1995. That 108,000 cwt. quantity of sugar represented approximately 2.5% of
the total 1994 crop sugar produced by the Company. The Company does not expect
to sell sugar into Canada again in the foreseeable future.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
There were no matters submitted to a vote of the Company's shareholders
during the quarter ended August 31, 1996.
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
There is only a limited, private market for shares of the Company's
Common or Preferred Stock, as such shares may be held only by farmer-producers
who are eligible for membership in the Company. The Company's shares are not
listed for trading on any exchange or quotation system. Although transfers of
the Company's shares may occur only with the consent of the Company's Board of
Directors, the Company does not verify information regarding the transfer price
in connection with such transfers. A number of stock transfers, representing
approximately 6% of available stock, were not arms length (estate settlements,
estate planning from one generation to the next, etc.) and an accurate value for
that stock was not available. Management believes less than 1% of the Company's
available stock was traded at arms length during the fiscal year ended 8-31-96.
Of the stock transferred at arms length, the transfers were made during the
second and third quarters of the Company's fiscal year and range in price from
$2,300 to $2,500 per unit.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
The following table summarizes selected financial data for each of the
last five completed fiscal years. The selected financial data of the Company
should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and related notes
included elsewhere in this Report.
Fiscal Year Ended August 31,(1)
---------------------------------------------------------------
FINANCIAL DATA
(Numbers in Thousands) 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992
Revenues $ 114,811 $ 133,326 $ 82,081 $ 119,652 $ 96,057
Net Proceeds Before
Accounting Change 56,872 75,422 33,643 70,609 52,452
Cumulative Effect of
Accounting Change(1) 0 0 1,350 0 0
Net Proceeds(2) 56,872 75,422 34,993 70,609 52,452
Total Assets 138,270 99,991 74,771 82,954 70,071
Long-term Debt, including
current maturities net of bond
investments, 1996 55,809 28,269 17,096 17,911 19,825
Members' Investment(3) 57,324 43,992 44,153 41,804 36,474
Property and Equipment
Additions, net of retirements 34,457 9,202 2,041 5,811 6,530
Working Capital 11,845 9,295 8,034 7,362 8,045
Ratio of Long-Term Debt to
Members' Investment(4) .98 .59 0.33 0.40 0.52
Ratio of Net Proceeds to
Fixed Charges(5) 16.76 26.38 22.62 45.48 45.76
PRODUCTION DATA(6)
Acres harvested 74,915 75,878 67,086 65,888 65,709
Tons purchased 1,458,918 1,636,094 834,545 1,350,659 1,223,062
Tons purchased per
acre harvested 19.47 21.56 12.44 20.50 18.61
Net beet payment paid to
member per ton of sugar beets
delivered, plus allocated
patronage and unit retains(7) 38.34 46.41 40.17 52.00 42.84
Sugar hundredweight -
Produced 3,375,570 4,384,485 2,499,307 4,000,566 2,882,459
Sold, including purchased sugar 3,841,443 3,988,284 3,027,614 3,351,156 2,919,786
Pulp tons
Produced 77,352 92,139 50,536 80,884 67,861
Sold 74,743 93,284 49,212 78,709 68,158
Molasses tons
Produced 61,194 62,516 37,170 51,153 60,317
Sold 43,882 46,768 14,821 31,956 40,360
Yeast pounds (in thousands)
Produced 25,556 17,511 21,853 22,064 18,938
Sold 25,495 17,436 21,853 22,064 18,938
(1) On September 1, 1993, the Company adopted Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards Statement #109 (SFAS 109), "Accounting for Income
Taxes". The cumulative effect of application of the new standard resulted
in a benefit from income taxes. See Note 6 to the financial statements for
a more detailed description of the accounting change.
(2) Net Proceeds are the Company's gross revenues, less the costs and expenses
of producing, purchasing and marketing sugar, sugar by-products, yeast,
dietary fiber and resale commodities, but before payments to members for
sugar beets. (For a more complete description of the calculation of Net
Proceeds, see "Description of Business-Growers' Contracts".)
(3) Members' investment includes preferred and common stock, unit retention
capital, allocated patronage and retained earnings (deficit).
(4) Calculated by dividing the Company's long-term debt, exclusive of the
current maturities of such debt, by members' investments.
(5) Computed by dividing (i) the sum of Net Proceeds plus fixed charges, plus
amortization of capitalized interest by (ii) the sum of interest expense
and interest capitalized. The Company does lease certain items, such as
some office equipment. Due to the proportionately small amounts involved,
an interest factor on lease payments have not been included in the total
of the Company's fixed charges or the calculation of this ratio.
(6) Information for a fiscal year relates to the crop planted and harvested in
the preceding calendar year (e.g., information for the fiscal year ended
August 31, 1996, relates to the 1995 crop).
(7) Reflects the total amount paid in cash and allocated to individual grower
equity accounts for each ton of beets delivered.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS:
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Because the Company operates as a cooperative, payments for
member-delivered sugar beets, the principal raw material used in producing the
sugar and agri-products it sells, are subordinated to all member business
expenses. In addition, actual cash payments to members are spread over a period
of approximately one year following delivery of sugar beet crops to the Company
and are net of unit retains and patronage allocated to them, all three of which
remain available to meet the Company's capital requirements. This member
financing arrangement may result in an additional source of liquidity and
reduced outside financing requirements in comparison to a similar business
operated on a non-cooperative basis. However, because sugar is sold throughout
the year (while sugar beets are processed primarily between September and April)
and because substantial amounts of equipment are required for its operations,
the Company has utilized substantial outside financing on both a seasonal and
long-term basis to fund such operations. The majority of such financing has been
provided by the St. Paul Bank for Cooperatives for Cooperatives (the "Bank").
The Company has a short-term line of credit with the Bank in 1996 of
$35,000,000.
The various loan agreements between the Bank and the Company obligate
the Company to achieve certain amounts of working capital and certain financial
activities and also imposes certain restrictions on the Company. As of 8-31-96,
the Company was in compliance with its loan agreements.
Working capital increased $2.5 million for fiscal year 1996. This
increase was the result of the difference between the amount of estimated long
term debt borrowing anticipated to be needed to cover projected year end capital
project demands on working capital and the amount that was actually needed. The
targeted working capital position was approximately $7.0 million. Management's
estimated working capital target for 8-31-97 will again approximate $7.0
million.
Capital expenditures for fiscal 1994 were $2.1 million, fiscal 1995
were $12.1 million, and fiscal 1996 were $30.0 million. Capital expenditures for
fiscal year 1997 are currently estimated at $35.9 million, $33.9 million
resulting from the Company's strategy of expanding capacity and improving
operating efficiencies.
In September, 1994, the Company became a five percent (5%) owner of a
new company, Pro-Gold, to produce corn sweetener products. The total capital for
this purchase was $5.2 million. $1.3 million was be called for this project in
fiscal year 1995 and the remaining $3.9 million in fiscal year 1996.
The Company anticipates that the funds necessary for compliance with
the Bank's working capital requirements and future capital expenditures will be
derived from the net proceeds of a stock offering that was completed in 1996,
Company depreciation, unit retains, non-patronage income, and long-term
borrowing. Those costs not covered through the stock offering will be funded
through a long term debt agreement, with the Bank who is the principal lender.
The long term debt created by this expansion will be repaid with funds generated
through depreciation, income tax savings, and reduced costs per cwt of
production. (Depreciation expense is a non-cash expense that under the Company's
accounting procedures reduces the amounts available for payments to the
Company's members. The resources represented by such non-cash expenses are
available as a source of working capital for the Company, which may be used for
payment of long term debt.) The strategic plan of the Company calls for the
economies of scale generated by the expansion project to first be applied to the
long term debt associated with the project. The initial operational savings and
working capital considerations will be used to pay off the incremental debt for
the project. After the incremental long term debt has been satisfied, the
Company believes that the shareholders will see the savings through operations
and other working capital considerations being reflected in higher per ton beet
payments, all other factors affecting the per ton payments being equal. In
fiscal 1996, the Company was able to secure a lease from Richland County, North
Dakota funded by low interest, fifteen year tax exempt solid waste disposal
bonds in the amount of $12.0 million with zero principle amortization for the
first three years and $1.0 million per year of principle amortization for the
next 12 years. These bonds were required to be secured by a Letter of Credit
from a non-government agency bank (Norwest Bank North Dakota) who in turn was
secured by a Letter of Credit from the St. Paul Bank for Cooperatives, the
Company's primary lender. Solid waste disposal bonds are available under certain
conditions where a by-product of manufacturing must be further manufactured or
refined to produce a salable product and/or reduce the amount of solid waste
produced by a manufacturing plant. In the Company's primary case, the funds were
used to fund further manufacturing of a by-product to produce a salable product.
(See Part 1, Item 1 "MINN DAK FARMERS COOPERATIVE STOCK SALE & EXPANSION PLAN".)
1997 FISCAL YEAR
The Company has distributed to its members the initial installment of
the projected net beet payment for the 1996 sugar beet crop delivered to the
Company by its members in the fall of 1996. That initial payment anticipates an
annual aggregate net beet payment of approximately $69,500,000 for fiscal year
1997 (1996 crop year), based upon (i) an average sugar content of 18.61%, (ii) a
total sugar beet crop of 1,506,646 tons and (iii) the Company's projected
selling price for its sugar. Such an aggregate net beet payment represents a
projected net beet payment per ton of approximately $46.08, based on an average
sugar content of 18.61%. There can be no assurance that the Company's estimates
of the selling price for its sugar or the average sugar recovery from the sugar
beets delivered by the Company's members will be accurate; the Company
anticipates that there will be minor adjustments in its estimates throughout the
fiscal year and that future installments of the beet payment to the Company's
members will reflect such adjustments. Interest expense is expected to increase
$1.5 million to $2.0 million for fiscal year 1997 due to further increases in
long term debt needed to fund plant expansion activities.
COMPARISON OF THE YEARS ENDED AUGUST 31, 1996, AND 1995
Revenue for the year ended August 31, 1996 decreased $18.5 million from
1995. Revenue from total sugar sales decreased 0.8% reflecting a 2.5% increase
in the average selling price per cwt and a 3.3% decrease in cwts sold. Revenue
from pulp sales decreased 11.8% reflecting a reduction of 24.8% in volume and
10.5% increase in the average selling price per ton. Revenue from molasses sales
decreased 4.1% reflecting a 6.6% decrease in volume and an increase of 2.3% in
the average selling price per pound. The decrease in volumes for sugar, pulp and
molasses was primarily due to the lower quality (sugar and purity) of the beets
delivered and quantity (tons) delivered for 1996.
Revenues from yeast sales increased 28.2% reflecting an increase in
volume of 31.6% and a decrease of 5.3% in the average selling price per pound.
Finished product inventories decreased $7.9 million in 1996 primarily due to the
1995 fiscal year crop having domestic marketing quota's imposed on it and having
that excess quota sugar sold during the 1996 fiscal year.
Cost of product sold, exclusive of payments for sugar beets, increased
$.6 million. Sales and Distribution costs increased $.7 million. General and
Administrative expenses decreased ($.2) million. Interest expense increased $.1
million.
Non-member business income increased $1.4 million in fiscal year 1996.
This increase was primarily due to increased net income from the Minn-Dak Yeast
Company subsidiary operations. Minn-Dak Yeast Company had encountered difficult
operating conditions in fiscal year 1995 do to sterilization problems that
plagued plant operations for most of the year. That resulted in reduced
throughput, higher operating costs and reduced income. By fiscal year end 1995
the problem had been solved and production volumes were back to normal and unit
costs were down. This resulted in more normal net income levels for fiscal year
1996.
During the fiscal year ended 8-31-95, the Company recognized a loss on
disposition of fiber assets of $.9 million. The Company had been involved in a
value-added project where dietary fiber for human consumption under the trade
name of Fibrex would be produced from its beet pulp by-product. After building a
production facility and marketing the product for a number of years, sufficient
sales volume at reasonable prices did not appear obtainable. One of the major
marketing considerations was the inability to get GRAS status from the FDA. In
fiscal 1995 the Company elected to discontinue with its attempts to obtain GRAS
status and took the necessary steps to discontinue operations and redirect the
use of the assets.
Net payments to members for sugar beets decreased by $20.0 million in
1996. This decrease was primarily due to the lower quality (sugar and purity) of
the beets delivered and quantity (tons) delivered for 1996.
COMPARISON OF THE YEARS ENDED AUGUST 31, 1995, AND 1994
Revenue for the year ended August 31, 1995 increased $51.2 million from
1994. Revenue from total sugar sales increased 23.6% reflecting a 1.9% increase
in the average selling price per cwt and a 22.1% increase in cwts sold. Revenue
from pulp sales increased 47.4% reflecting an increase of 47.3% in volume and
.2% increase in the average selling price per ton. Revenue from molasses sales
increased 71.6% reflecting a 68.6% increase in volume and an increase of 9.7% in
the average selling price per ton. The increase in volumes for sugar, pulp and
molasses was primarily due to the higher quality (sugar and purity) of the beets
delivered and quantity (tons) delivered for 1995. Revenues from Yeast sales
decreased 59.5% reflecting a decrease in volume of 25.2% and a decrease of 27.4%
in the average selling price per pound. Finished product inventories increased
$10.4 million in 1995 primarily due to the 1995 fiscal year crop having domestic
marketing quotas imposed on the Company and having that excess quota sugar sold
during the 1996 fiscal year.
In 1994, the Company purchased $4.1 million of sugar beets on a
non-member basis from another sugar company as a result of the Company's short
crop and resulting excess available capacity.
Cost of product sold, exclusive of payments for sugar beets, increased
$5.4 million. Sales and Distribution costs increased $5.9 million. General and
Administrative expenses decreased $.1 million. Interest expense increased $1.4
million.
On September 1, 1993, the Company adopted Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards Statement #109 (SFAS109), "Accounting for Income Taxes".
The new standards changed the method of accounting for income taxes from the
deferred method to the asset and liability method. As a result of the change
noted above, the Company recognized a benefit from income taxes totaling $1.4
million representing the cumulative effect of the change on results for the
years prior to September 1, 1993. The adoption has no effect on income before
income taxes for the year ended August 31, 1994.
Non-member business income decreased $2.0 million for the year ended
August 31, 1995. This decrease was primarily due to a change in accounting for
income taxes (see above paragraph) resulting in a $1.4 million one time gain for
fiscal year 1994. Also, the Company's subsidiary, Minn-Dak Yeast Company,
operations encountered production difficulties in the year ended August 31, 1995
due to a sterilization problem in the third and fourth quarters of the fiscal
year, which reduced production by 25% from the prior year.
During the fiscal year ended 8-31-95, the Company recognized a loss on
disposition of fiber assets of $.9 million. The Company had been involved in a
value-added project where dietary fiber for human consumption under the trade
name of Fibrex would be produced from its beet pulp by-product. After building a
production facility and marketing the product for a number of years, sufficient
sales volume at reasonable prices did not appear obtainable. One of the major
marketing considerations was the inability to get GRAS status from the FDA. In
fiscal 1995 the Company elected to discontinue with its attempts to obtain GRAS
status and took the necessary steps to discontinue operations and redirect the
use of the assets.
Net payments to members for sugar beets increased by $42.4 million in
1995. This increase was primarily due to the higher quality (sugar and purity)
of the beets delivered and quantity (tons) delivered for 1995.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT
The Board of Directors
Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative
Wahpeton, North Dakota
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Minn-Dak Farmers
Cooperative (a North Dakota cooperative) as of August 31, 1996, 1995, and 1994,
and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in members'
investments and cash flows for the years then ended. These financial statements
are the responsibility of the cooperative's management. Our responsibility is to
express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. These standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are
free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis,
evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial
statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and
significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall
consolidated financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits
provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion the consolidated financial statements referred to above present
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Minn-Dak Farmers
Cooperative as of August 31, 1996, 1995, and 1994, and the results of its
operations and its cash flows for the years then ended in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles.
As discussed in Notes 1 and 6 to the financial statements, the company changed
its method of accounting for income taxes in fiscal 1994, as required by the
provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109.
October 7, 1996
Eide Helmeke PLLP
Fargo, North Dakota
MINN-DAK FARMERS COOPERATIVE
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
AUGUST 31, 1996, 1995, AND 1994
ASSETS 1996 1995 1994
------------ ------------ ------------
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash $ 853,102 $ 287,007 $ 794,952
------------ ------------ ------------
Receivables:
Trade accounts 10,293,751 11,164,406 6,205,308
Growers 2,840,447 2,250,380 2,066,279
------------ ------------ ------------
13,134,198 13,414,786 8,271,587
------------ ------------ ------------
Advances to affiliate 780,442 731,196 1,073,308
------------ ------------ ------------
Inventories:
Refined sugar, pulp and molasses to be sold
on a pooled basis 7,748,715 15,660,336 5,225,975
Nonmember refined sugar 468,322 109,613 482,939
Dietary pulp fiber 0 0 217,294
Yeast 108,704 91,297 78,051
Materials and supplies 4,026,951 4,108,359 3,951,853
New crop beets 0 0 985,000
Other 97,626 108,014 73,186
------------ ------------ ------------
12,450,318 20,077,619 11,014,298
------------ ------------ ------------
Deferred charges 1,119,274 939,868 1,066,664
------------ ------------ ------------
Prepaid expenses 1,789,078 2,220,282 615,151
------------ ------------ ------------
Property and equipment available for sale 789,350 819,150 0
------------ ------------ ------------
Total current assets 30,915,762 38,489,908 22,835,960
------------ ------------ ------------
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT:
Land and land improvements 11,956,354 10,167,650 8,471,699
Buildings 22,254,129 19,244,883 19,081,592
Factory equipment 72,462,793 59,457,833 58,285,564
Other equipment 2,200,809 1,851,931 1,381,170
Construction in progress 22,352,000 6,047,195 347,160
------------ ------------ ------------
131,226,085 96,769,492 87,567,185
Less accumulated depreciation 48,551,028 45,686,542 44,061,830
------------ ------------ ------------
82,675,057 51,082,950 43,505,355
------------ ------------ ------------
OTHER ASSETS:
Investments restricted for capital lease projects 7,514,242
Investment in stock of other corporations, unconsolidated
marketing subsidiaries and other cooperatives 12,663,265 6,239,135 3,649,228
Deferred income taxes 3,450,000 3,450,000 3,950,000
Other 1,051,761 728,760 830,221
------------ ------------ ------------
24,679,268 10,417,895 8,429,449
------------ ------------ ------------
$138,270,087 $ 99,990,753 $ 74,770,764
============ ============ ============
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS' INVESTMENT 1996 1995 1994
------------ ------------ ------------
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Short-term notes payable $ 0 $ 13,877,000 $ 1,262,000
------------ ------------ ------------
Current portion of long-term debt 2,512,500 2,428,523 2,327,518
------------ ------------ ------------
Accounts payable:
Trade 6,622,505 3,112,788 2,208,230
Growers 6,063,827 6,506,163 6,912,124
------------ ------------ ------------
12,686,332 9,618,951 9,120,354
------------ ------------ ------------
Advances from affiliate 1,202,466 1,064,005 653,291
------------ ------------ ------------
Accrued liabilities 2,669,019 2,206,166 1,439,171
------------ ------------ ------------
Total current liabilities 19,070,317 29,194,645 14,802,334
LONG-TERM DEBT, NET OF CURRENT PORTION 48,810,417 25,840,308 14,767,928
OBLIGATION UNDER CAPITAL LEASE 12,000,000
OTHER 728,296 881,837 882,393
------------ ------------ ------------
Total liabilities 80,609,030 55,916,790 30,452,655
------------ ------------ ------------
MINORITY INTEREST IN EQUITY OF SUBSIDIARY 337,439 81,529 165,585
------------ ------------ ------------
MEMBERS' INVESTMENT:
Preferred stock:
Class A - 100,000, 75,000, and 75,000 shares authorized in 1996, 1995,
and 1994, respectively; $105 par value; 58,525, 52,000, and 52,000
shares issued and outstanding
in 1996, 1995, and 1994, respectively 6,145,125 5,460,000 5,460,000
Class B - 100,000, 75,000, and 75,000 shares authorized in
1996, 1995, and 1994, respectively; $75 par value; 58,525,
52,000, and 52,000 shares issued and outstanding in 1996,
1995, and 1994, respectively 4,389,375 3,900,000 3,900,000
Class C - 100,000, 75,000, and 75,000 shares authorized in
1996, 1995, and 1994, respectively; $76 par value; 58,525,
52,000, and 52,000 shares issued and outstanding in 1996,
1995, and 1994, respectively 4,447,900 3,952,000 3,952,000
------------ ------------ ------------
14,982,400 13,312,000 13,312,000
Common stock, 600, 440, and 440 shares authorized in 1996, 1995, and 1994,
respectively; $250 par value; issued and outstanding, 481, 346, and 345,
shares in 1996, 1995,
and 1994, respectively 120,250 86,500 86,250
Paid in capital in excess of par 10,296,457
Unit retention capital 6,262,469 5,421,441 4,513,590
Qualified allocated patronage 3,720,385 4,296,400 5,751,400
Nonqualifieduallocated patronage 21,575,006 21,507,010 20,611,593
Retained earnings (deficit) 366,651 (630,917) (122,309)
------------ ------------ ------------
57,323,618 43,992,434 44,152,524
------------ ------------ ------------
$138,270,087 $ 99,990,753 $ 74,770,764
============ ============ ============
MINN-DAK FARMERS COOPERATIVE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED AUGUST 31, 1996, 1995, AND 1994
1996 1995 1994
------------- ------------- -------------
REVENUE:
From sales of sugar, by-products, Fibrex, yeast and resale
commodities, net of discounts $ 114,334,522 $ 133,301,561 $ 81,422,106
Other income 476,775 23,982 658,685
------------- ------------- -------------
114,811,297 133,325,543 82,080,791
------------- ------------- -------------
EXPENSES:
Production costs of sugar, by-products, Fibrex, yeast and
resale commodities sold 30,872,535 30,318,782 24,887,586
Purchased beets 4,127,135
Sales and distribution costs 19,955,374 19,302,651 13,404,312
General and administrative 4,213,379 4,412,248 4,461,609
Interest 2,898,338 2,972,574 1,556,979
Loss on disposition of fiber assets 897,742
------------- ------------- -------------
57,939,626 57,903,997 48,437,621
------------- ------------- -------------
NET PROCEEDS RESULTING FROM MEMBER AND
NON-MEMBER BUSINESS BEFORE CUMULATIVE
EFFECT OF ACCOUNTING CHANGE 56,871,671 75,421,546 33,643,170
PLUS CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF ACCOUNTING
CHANGE (See Note 7) 1,350,000
------------- ------------- -------------
NET PROCEEDS RESULTING FROM MEMBER AND
NONMEMBER BUSINESS $ 56,871,671 $ 75,421,546 $ 34,993,170
============= ============= =============
DISTRIBUTION OF NET PROCEEDS:
Credited to members' investment:
Components of net income:
Income (loss) from non-member business $ 929,738 $ (504,766) $ 121,566
Cumulative effect of accounting change 1,350,000
Patronage income 1,620,262 1,439,517 3,039,950
------------- ------------- -------------
Net income 2,550,000 934,751 4,511,516
Unit retention capital 1,389,899 1,636,105 834,555
------------- ------------- -------------
Net credit to members' investment 3,939,899 2,570,856 5,346,071
Payments to members for sugarbeets, net of unit
retention capital 52,931,772 72,850,690 29,647,099
------------- ------------- -------------
NET PROCEEDS RESULTING FROM MEMBER AND
NONMEMBER BUSINESS $ 56,871,671 $ 75,421,546 $ 34,993,170
============= ============= =============
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
MINN-DAK FARMERS COOPERATIVE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED AUGUST 31, 1996, 1995, AND 1994
1996 1995 1994
------------ ------------ ------------
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Income allocated to members' investment $ 2,550,000 $ 934,751 $ 4,511,516
Add (deduct) noncash items:
Depreciation and amortization 3,061,758 2,874,476 2,880,499
Equipment disposals - loss 51,765 893,990 638
Increase in investment due to step up in asset basis of
marketing subsidiary (95,138)
Accrued interest income added to note receivable principal (34,956)
Net loss allocated from unconsolidated marketing subsidiaries 91,083 95,558 118,741
Noncash portion of patronage capital credits (562,047) (373,096) (399,196)
Retention of nonqualified unit retains 1,389,899 1,636,105 834,555
Deferred income taxes 550,000 (1,050,000)
Decrease (increase) in cash surrender of officer life insurance 9,904 1,394 (1,315)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable and advances 231,342 (4,801,087) (1,369,574)
Inventory and prepaid expenses 8,058,505 (10,668,452) 9,996,015
Deferred charges (212,795) 76,796 (183,138)
Other assets (20,719) (15,022)
Accounts payable, advances, and accrued liabilities 3,331,198 544,826 (4,506,516)
------------ ------------ ------------
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 17,979,893 (8,249,761) 10,702,131
------------ ------------ ------------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from disposition of property, plant and equipment 4,055 35,541 26,935
Capital expenditures (30,066,812) (12,057,422) (2,084,748)
Proceeds from notes receivable 691,053
Issuance of long-term receivable (267,055)
Investment in stock of other corporations, unconsolidated
marketing subsidiaries and other cooperatives (5,915,938) (1,714,408) (247,370)
Net proceeds from patronage refunds and equity revolvements 30,601 45,859 46,536
Minority interest in equity of subsidiaries 255,910 (84,057) 1,553
------------ ------------ ------------
Net cash used by investing activities (35,692,184) (13,774,487) (1,833,096)
------------ ------------ ------------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Sale and repurchase of common stock, net (500) 250 (1,000)
Net proceeds from issuance of short-term debt (13,877,000) 12,615,000 (4,878,000)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt 29,000,000 13,500,000
Proceeds from stock offering 12,001,107
Payment of financing fees (406,111)
Payment of long-term debt (5,945,914) (2,326,615) (816,167)
Payment of unit retains and allocated patronage (2,493,196) (2,272,332) (3,109,726)
------------ ------------ ------------
Net cash (used in ) provided by financing activities 18,278,386 21,516,303 (8,804,893)
------------ ------------ ------------
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH 566,095 (507,945) 64,142
CASH, BEGINNING OF YEAR 287,007 794,952 730,810
------------ ------------ ------------
CASH, END OF YEAR $ 853,102 $ 287,007 $ 794,952
============ ============ ============
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Cash payments for:
Interest $ 2,472,853 $ 2,335,411 $ 1,615,512
============ ============ ============
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF NONCASH INVESTING
AND FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Board approval of unit retention capital and allocated patronage
revolvement $ 2,508,452 $ 2,493,196 $ 2,709,679
============ ============ ============
Board approval of distribution of cash portion of qualified
allocated patronage $ 168,700 $ 288,000 $ 287,000
============ ============ ============
Increase in investment in unconsolidated marketing subsidiary by
increasing accounts payable $ -- $ 593,819 $ --
============ ============ ============
Increase in investment from receipt of Economic Development Grant $ 67,830 $ 50,000 $ --
============ ============ ============
Transfer of property and equipment to property and equipment
available for sale $ -- $ 819,150 $ --
============ ============ ============
Aquisition of equipment under capital lease $ 4,485,758
Acquisition of investment restricted for capital lease projects 7,514,242
------------
Proceeds from issuance of obligation under capital lease $ 12,000,000 $ -- $ --
============ ============ ============
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
MINN-DAK FARMERS COOPERATIVE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN MEMBERS' INVESTMENT
FOR THE YEARS ENDED AUGUST 31, 1996, 1995, AND 1994
PAID IN CAPITAL UNIT
PREFERRED COMMON IN EXCESS OF RETENTION
STOCK STOCK PAR VALUE CAPITAL
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
BALANCE, AUGUST 31, 1993 $ 13,312,000 $ 87,250 $ 4,403,382
COMMON STOCK:
Sales (10 shares) 2,500
Repurchase (14 shares) (3,500)
UNIT RETENTION CAPITAL:
Revolvement (724,347)
Proceeds 834,555
REVOLVEMENT OF PRIOR YEARS'
ALLOCATED PATRONAGE
NET INCOME FOR YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 1994
ACCRUED PAYMENT OF CURRENT YEAR'S
QUALIFIED ALLOCATED PATRONAGE
------------ ------------ ------------
BALANCE, AUGUST 31, 1994 $ 13,312,000 $ 86,250 4,513,590
COMMON STOCK:
Sales (4 shares) 1,000
Repurchases (3 shares) (750)
UNIT RETENTION CAPITAL:
Revolvement (728,254)
Proceeds 1,636,105
REVOLVEMENT OF PRIOR YEAR'S
ALLOCATED PATRONAGE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANT
RECEIVED BY INVESTEE
NET INCOME FOR THE YEAR ENDED
AUGUST 31, 1995
ACCRUED PAYMENT OF CURRENT YEAR'S
QUALIFIED ALLOCATED PATRONAGE
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
BALANCE, AUGUST 31, 1995 13,312,000 86,500 5,421,441
COMMON STOCK:
Sales (10 shares) 2,500
Repurchases (12 shares) (3,000)
Stock offering (137 shares) 1,670,400 34,250 10,400,850
Stock issue costs (104,393)
UNIT RETENTION CAPITAL:
Revolvement (548,871)
Proceeds 1,389,899
REVOLVEMENT OF PRIOR YEARS'
ALLOCATED PATRONAGE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANT
RECEIVED BY INVESTEE
NET INCOME FOR THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 1996
ACCRUED PAYMENT OF CURRENT YEAR'S
QUALIFIED ALLOCATED PATRONAGE
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
BALANCE, AUGUST 31, 1996 $ 14,982,400 $ 120,250 $ 10,296,457 6,262,469
============ ============ ============ ============
[WIDE TABLE CONTINUED FROM ABOVE]
QUALIFIED NON-QUALIFIED RETAINED
ALLOCATED ALLOCATED EARNINGS
PATRONAGE PATRONAGE (DEFICIT) TOTAL
------------- ------------ ------------ ------------
BALANCE, AUGUST 31, 1993 $ 5,912,150 $ 19,683,225 $ (1,593,875) $ 41,804,132
COMMON STOCK:
Sales (10 shares) 2,500
Repurchase (14 shares) (3,500)
UNIT RETENTION CAPITAL:
Revolvement (724,347)
Proceeds 834,555
REVOLVEMENT OF PRIOR YEARS' (693,750) (1,291,582) (1,985,332)
ALLOCATED PATRONAGE
NET INCOME FOR YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 1994 820,000 2,219,950 1,471,566 4,511,516
ACCRUED PAYMENT OF CURRENT YEAR'S
QUALIFIED ALLOCATED PATRONAGE (287,000) (287,000)
------------- ------------ ------------ ------------
BALANCE, AUGUST 31, 1994 $ 5,751,400 $ 20,611,593 $ (122,309) $ 44,152,524
COMMON STOCK:
Sales (4 shares) 1,000
Repurchases (3 shares) (750)
UNIT RETENTION CAPITAL:
Revolvement (728,254)
Proceeds 1,636,105
REVOLVEMENT OF PRIOR YEAR'S (1,617,000) (147,942) (1,764,942)
ALLOCATED PATRONAGE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANT 50,000 50,000
RECEIVED BY INVESTEE
NET INCOME FOR THE YEAR ENDED
AUGUST 31, 1995 800,000 693,359 (558,608) 934,751
ACCRUED PAYMENT OF CURRENT YEAR'S
QUALIFIED ALLOCATED PATRONAGE (288,000) (288,000)
------------- ------------ ------------ ------------
BALANCE, AUGUST 31, 1995 4,646,400 21,157,010 (630,917) 43,992,434
COMMON STOCK:
Sales (10 shares) 2,500
Repurchases (12 shares) (3,000)
Stock offering (137 shares) 12,105,500
Stock issue costs (104,393)
UNIT RETENTION CAPITAL:
Revolvement (548,871)
Proceeds 1,389,899
REVOLVEMENT OF PRIOR YEARS' (1,239,315) (720,266) (1,959,581)
ALLOCATED PATRONAGE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANT 67,830 67,830
RECEIVED BY INVESTEE
NET INCOME FOR THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 1996 482,000 1,138,262 929,738 2,550,000
ACCRUED PAYMENT OF CURRENT YEAR'S
QUALIFIED ALLOCATED PATRONAGE (168,700) (168,700)
------------- ------------ ------------ ------------
BALANCE, AUGUST 31, 1996 $ 3,720,385 $ 21,575,006 $ 366,651 $ 57,323,618
============= ============ ============ ============
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED AUGUST 31, 1996, 1995, AND 1994
NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND
CONCENTRATIONS OF RISK
ORGANIZATION - Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative (Minn-Dak) is a North Dakota
cooperative corporation owned by its member-growers for the purpose of
processing sugar beets and marketing sugar and by-products. Minn-Dak Yeast is a
North Dakota corporation engaged primarily in the production and marketing of
bakers yeast.
The majority of the net proceeds from Minn-Dak is from member business, whereas
Minn-Dak Yeast is considered non-member business.
PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION - The financial statements include the accounts of
Minn-Dak and its subsidiary, Minn-Dak Yeast Company, Inc. (Minn-Dak Yeast) which
is 80% owned by the cooperative.
INVENTORIES - Inventories of refined sugar, pulp and molasses to be sold on a
pooled basis are valued at net realizable value, while third-party purchased
refined sugar to be sold on a pooled basis is valued at the lower of cost or
market. Inventories of dietary pulp fiber, yeast, and materials and supplies are
valued at the lower of average cost or market.
In valuing inventories at net realizable value, the cooperative, in effect sells
the remaining inventory to the subsequent years sugar and by-product pool.
DEFERRED CHARGES - Agricultural development and labor procurement costs incurred
in connection with the beet crop to be harvested in September and October are
deferred and subsequently charged to expense during the ensuing processing
period.
PROPERTY, PLANT, EQUIPMENT AND DEPRECIATION - Property, plant and equipment are
stated at cost. Additions, renewals and betterments are capitalized, whereas
expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to expense. The cost and
related accumulated depreciation of assets retired or sold are removed from the
appropriate asset and depreciation accounts and the resulting gain or loss is
reflected in income.
It is the policy of the cooperative to provide depreciation based on methods
designed to amortize the cost of the properties over their estimated useful
lives. Property, plant and equipment are depreciated for financial reporting
purposes, principally using declining balance methods, with estimated useful
lives ranging from 8 to 40 years. Statutory lives and methods are used for
income tax reporting purposes.
Indirect costs capitalized were $435,686, $133,550 and $98,590 for the years
ended August 31, 1996, 1995, and 1994. Construction-period-interest capitalized
for the years ended August 31, 1996, and 1995, were $669,347 and $8,217
respectively. There was no construction-period-interest capitalized for the year
ended August 31, 1994.
EQUITY VALUE INVESTMENTS - The investments in United Sugars Corporation, Midwest
Agri-Commodities Company and ProGold Limited Liability Company are accounted for
using the equity method, wherein the investment is recorded at the amount of the
underlying equity in the net assets of the investments and adjusted to recognize
the cooperative's share of the undistributed earnings or losses.
INVESTMENTS IN OTHER COOPERATIVES - The investments in stocks and capital
credits of other cooperatives are stated at cost, plus the cooperative's share
of allocated patronage and capital credits.
INCOME TAXES - As discussed more fully in Note 6 to the financial statements,
the company adopted SFAS No. 109, ACCOUNTING FOR INCOME TAXES, for the year
ended August 31, 1994.
A consolidated federal income tax return is filed for the cooperative and its
subsidiary. Deferred income taxes are provided for in the timing of certain
temporary deductions/increases for financial and income tax reporting purposes.
Significant temporary differences are as follows:
1. When nonqualified unit retention capital and allocated
patronage are elected by the board of directors, the cooperative is not
allowed an income tax deduction until they are distributed in cash to
the member-producers, whereas qualified unit retention capital and
allocated patronage are deducted when declared.
2. Depreciation - For financial reporting purposes, the
companies use straight-line and accelerated methods of depreciation
with lives of 8 to 40 years, while, for income tax purposes, the
companies use required statutory depreciable lives and methods.
3. Non-qualified patronage credits from investments in other
cooperatives - For financial statement purposes, the companies
recognize income when the patronage credit notification is received
while, for income tax purposes, the companies recognize income when the
patronage is received in cash.
4. Inventory capitalization - For income tax reporting
purposes, certain overhead costs are included as a part of inventory
costs in accordance with inventory capitalization rules. These costs
are charged to expense as incurred for financial reporting purposes.
5. Deferred compensation - For financial reporting purposes,
deferred compensation is charged to expense as amounts are accrued. For
income tax purposes, deferred compensation is deductible when paid.
6. Recognition of vacation pay - For financial reporting
purposes, vacation pay is charged to expense as accrued, whereas, for
income tax purposes, vacation pay is deducted when paid.
ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES - The preparation of financial statements in conformity
with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make
estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities at the date of the financial statements and reported amounts of
revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ
from those estimates.
UNINSURED CASH BALANCE - The company maintains cash balances at various
financial institutions throughout the United States. Accounts at each
institution are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation up to
$100,000. At times during the year, the company's balances exceeded this limit.
CREDIT RISK - The cooperative and subsidiary grant credit to food processors
located throughout the United States. In addition, the cooperative grants credit
to members for sugarbeet seed, located in North Dakota and Minnesota.
NOTE 2 - NATURE OF OPERATIONS
NATURE OF OPERATIONS - Minn-Dak is a North Dakota cooperative corporation owned
by its member-growers for the purpose of processing sugar beets and marketing
sugar and by-products. Minn-Dak Yeast is a North Dakota corporation engaged
primarily in the production and marketing of bakers yeast.
NOTE 3 - SHORT-TERM DEBT
Information regarding short-term debt at August 31, 1996, 1995, and 1994, is as
follows:
1996 1995 1994
Seasonal loan with St. Paul Bank for Cooperatives, due
December 31, 1996, interest variable, currently at 8.00% $ - $ 13,877,000 $ 1,262,000
========== ============ ===========
The cooperative has a $35,000,000 seasonal line of credit with the St. Paul Bank
for Cooperatives, of which there were advances against it of $13,877,000 and
$1,262,000, at August 31, 1995, and 1994, respectively. The seasonal line of
credit is secured with a first lien on substantially all property and equipment
and current assets of Minn-Dak.
Maximum borrowings, average borrowing levels and average interest rates for
short-term debt for the years ended August 31, 1996, 1995, and 1994, are as
follows:
August 31
-----------------------------------------
1996 1995 1994
-----------------------------------------
Maximum borrowings $ 59,566,800 $ 30,769,850 $25,000,000
============ ============ ===========
Average borrowing levels $ 50,578,800 $ 21,798,100 $ 5,142,700
============ ============ ===========
Average interest rates 6.0% 7.0% 4.0%
=== === ===
NOTE 4 - LONG-TERM DEBT
Information regarding long-term debt at August 31, 1996, 1995, and 1994, is as
follows:
August 31
------------------------------------
1996 1995 1994
------------------------------------
Term loan with the St. Paul Bank for Cooperatives, due in varying
principal repayments through September 30, 2008, interest variable,
currently at 6.27% to 8.34%, with a first lien on substantially all
property and equipment and current assets of Minn-Dak $ 51,250,000 $ 28,150,000 $ 16,950,000
1996 1995 1994
---- ---- ----
Term loan with Norwest Bank of North Dakota, N.A., due
August 31, 1997, interest free, secured by equipment 33,415 47,530
------ ------
Term loan with R.S.R. Electric Cooperative, Inc., due
October 12, 2002, interest free, unsecured 72,917 85,416 97,916
--- ----- ------ ------ ------
51,322,917 28,268,831 17,095,446
Less current maturities (2,512,500) (2,428,523) 2,327,518)
----------- ----------- -----------
$ 48,810,417 $ 25,840,308 $ 14,767,928
========== ========== ==========
As to the loan with the St. Paul Bank for Cooperatives, the cooperative has
agreed to the following significant loan conditions:
1. Invest in Class C or other stock of the bank, as may be
designated, in such amounts as may be prescribed by the board of
directors of the bank.
2. Maintain working capital of not less than $6 million, a
current ratio of not less than 1.2:1.0, and a long-term debt to equity
ratio of not less than 1:1.
3. Obtain prior consent from the bank to pay cash patronage
dividends in excess of 35% of qualified patronage income as required by
the Internal Revenue Service to qualify the entire patronage dividend
as an income tax deduction.
Minn-Dak has complied with the terms of its loan agreement for the years ended
August 31, 1996, 1995, and 1994.
In addition, Minn-Dak can make special advance payments on its term loans with
the St. Paul Bank for Cooperatives after its seasonal loans have been paid in
full, with the understanding that the special advance payments will be
readvanced subject to the reinstatement provisions, prior to the granting of any
new seasonal loans. Any such advance payments are subject to a commitment fee of
.25% of the daily unadvanced commitment.
Interest expense, net of amount capitalized, totaled $2,898,338, $2,972,574 and
$1,556,979 for 1996, 1995, and 1994, respectively. Interest capitalized totaled
$669,347 and $8,217 for 1996 and 1995 respectively. No interest was capitalized
in 1994.
Principal amounts due on all the cooperative's long-term debt are as follows:
YEARS ENDING AUGUST 31:
1997 $ 2,512,500
1998 2,512,500
1999 4,637,500
2000 4,637,500
2001 4,637,500
Thereafter 32,385,417
----------
$ 51,322,917
==========
NOTE 5 - OBLIGATIONS UNDER CAPITAL LEASES
During the current year, the cooperative entered into a capital lease with
Richland County, North Dakota for equipment relating to solid waste disposal.
The county has financed the leased assets with a bond issue and accordingly have
structured the cooperative's lease payments to correspond with the bond issue's
interest and principal requirements. Details relative to the cooperatives
obligations under the lease agreement are as follows:
1996
FINAL CURRENT
PAYEE INTEREST MATURITY PORTION TOTAL
----- -------- -------- ------- -----
Richland County, North Dakota 4.85% 1/11 $ 582 ,000 $ 17,509,844
Less deferred finance charges 582,000 5,509,844
---------- ------------
$ - $ 12,000,000
========== ============
Minimum future principal payments required on the obligations under capital
leases are as follows:
YEARS ENDING AUGUST 31:
2000 $ 730,000
2001 775,000
Thereafter 10,495,000
------------
$ 12,000,000
============
Currently, the assets subject to the lease agreement are being constructed and
accordingly are recorded as construction in progress and investments restricted
for capital projects.
NOTE 6 - MEMBERS' INVESTMENT AND GROWER PAYMENTS
The ownership of nondividend bearing common stock is restricted to a
"member-producer," as defined in the bylaws of Minn-Dak. Each member-producer
shall own only one share of common stock and is entitled to one vote at any
meeting of the members. Each member-producer is required to purchase one share
of each of the three preferred stocks for each base acre of sugar beet crops
grown under a grower's contract with Minn-Dak. The preferred shares are
nonvoting and nondividend bearing. All transfers and sales of stock must be
approved by the board of directors.
Minn-Dak's net income, determined in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles consistently applied, shall be distributed annually on the
basis of dollar volume of patronage, in cash or in the form of credits to each
member-producer's patronage credit account as established on the books of the
cooperative. In the event of a loss in any one year, the cooperative shall act
in such a manner as to first recoup the loss from those patrons who were patrons
in the year in which the loss occurred.
Under the terms of Minn-Dak's beet growing contracts with each of its
member-producers, Minn-Dak is obligated to pay the member-producers for beets
delivered at a price per pound of extractable sugar. However, if, in the opinion
of the St. Paul Bank for Cooperatives, the working capital position of the
cooperative is insufficient, Minn-Dak shall retain from the price to be paid per
ton for beets such amounts as are deemed by the bank to be necessary for
operations, the deductions to be made at such time as the bank shall require.
The amount so retained shall be evidenced in the records of Minn-Dak by equity
credits in favor of the growers. The board of directors has the power to
determine whether such retains shall be "qualified" or "nonqualified" for income
tax purposes.
For the year ended August 31, 1996, Minn-Dak had retained $660,435 and $729,464,
respectively for sugar silo and frozen beet storage. This is based on $.50 per
ton of beets delivered for sugar silo storage, and the lesser of the maximum
obligation required or $.50 per ton of beets delivered for frozen beet storage.
For the years ended August 31, 1995, and 1994, Minn-Dak had retained $1,636,105
and $834,555, respectively, for sugar silo and frozen beet storage on the basis
of $1.00 per ton of beets delivered.
During the year ended August 31, 1994, Minn-Dak revolved the remaining 62.5% of
the unit retains and allocated patronage for the fiscal year ended August 31,
1988, totaling $2,709,679.
During the year ended August 31, 1995, Minn-Dak revolved 70% of the unit retains
and allocated patronage for the fiscal year ended August 31, 1989, totaling
$2,493,196.
During the year ended August 31, 1996, Minn-Dak revolved the remaining 30% of
the unit retains and allocated patronage for the fiscal year ended August 31,
1989, and 35% for 1990, totaling $2,508,452.
NOTE 7 - INCOME TAXES
Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative is a nonexempt cooperative as described under
Section 1381(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Accordingly, net
margins from business done with member patrons, which are allocated and paid as
prescribed in Section 1382 of the Code, will be taxable to the members and not
to the cooperative. To the extent that net margins are not allocated and paid as
stated above or arise from business done with non-members, the cooperative shall
have taxable income subject to corporate income tax rates.
Deferred income taxes arise from certain timing differences for financial and
income tax reporting purposes. As discussed in Note 1, the cooperative adopted
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards Statement #109 (SFAS 109),
Accounting for Income Taxes, as of September 1, 1993. The accounting of SFAS 109
changed the company's method of accounting for income taxes from the deferred
method to the asset and liability method. SFAS 109 requires recognition of
deferred tax liabilities and assets for the expected future tax consequences of
events that have been recognized in the financial statements or tax returns.
Under this method, deferred tax liabilities and assets are determined based on
the difference between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax
bases of assets and liabilities using enacted rates in effect in the year in
which the differences are expected to reverse.
As a result of the change noted above, the cooperative recognized a benefit from
income taxes totaling $1,350,000, representing the cumulative effect of the
change on results for years prior to September 1, 1993. The cumulative effect
represented the adjustment of previously recorded deferred tax assets and
liabilities to reflect the currently higher prevailing tax rates. The adoption
has no effect on income before income taxes for the year ended August 31, 1994.
The significant components of deferred tax assets and liabilities included on
the balance sheet at August 31, 1996, 1995, and 1994, are as follows:
1996 1995 1994
----------------------------------------
Deferred tax assets:
Non-qualified unit retains and allocated
patronage due to members $ 10,600,000 $ 10,300,000 $ 9,950,000
Other 1,300,000 880,000 950,000
------------ ------------ ------------
Gross deferred tax assets 11,900,000 11,180,000 10,900,000
Less valuation allowance (1,200,000) (1,440,000) (930,000)
------------ ------------ ------------
Total deferred tax assets 10,700,000 9,740,000 9,970,000
------------ ------------ ------------
Deferred tax liabilities:
Depreciation 6,200,000 5,320,000 5,020,000
Non-qualified patronage credits from
investment in cooperatives 750,000 665,000 645,000
Other 5,000 5,000
------------ ------------ ------------
Total deferred tax liabilities 6,950,000 5,990,000 5,670,000
------------ ------------ ------------
$ 3,750,000 $ 3,750,000 $ 4,300,000
============ ============ ============
Classified as follows:
Current asset $ 300,000 $ 300,000 $ 350,000
Long-term asset 3,450,000 3,450,000 3,950,000
------------ ------------ ------------
Net deferred tax asset $ 3,750,000 $ 3,750,000 $ 4,300,000
============ ============ ============
The cooperative has had non-member income tax losses. These losses have been
used to offset member income. Accordingly, there is no provision for (benefit
from) income taxes recorded for the years ended August 31, 1996, 1995, and 1994.
NOTE 8 - EMPLOYEES' PENSION PLAN
The cooperative has a non-contributory defined benefit plan which covers
substantially all employees who meet certain requirements of age, length of
service and hours worked per year. The benefits provided are based upon the
employee's average monthly compensation during the previous three highest
consecutive years multiplied by a formula and the participant's service ratio.
It is the cooperative's funding policy to contribute to the plan at least the
minimum amount required by ERISA as determined by the actuarial firm.
The 1995 and 1994 assumed discount rate was 8%. The expected long-term rate of
return on plan assets was estimated to be 8% per year and future salary
increases were estimated to be 5.5% per year.
The assets of the cooperative plan are maintained via insurance contracts with
Lincoln National Life Insurance Company of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and mutual funds
with Strong Funds of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The following table sets forth the plan's funded status at August 31, 1996,
1995, and 1994:
1996 1995 1994
---------------------------------------------
Actuarial present value of benefit obligations:
Vested benefit obligation $(4,130,135) $(3,472,526) $(2,834,250)
=========== =========== ===========
Accumulated benefit obligation $(4,314,938) $(3,556,608) $(2,956,290)
=========== =========== ===========
Projected benefit obligation $(7,096,231) $(5,531,507) $(5,114,924)
Plan assets at fair value 5,514,202 4,589,336 4,558,292
----------- ----------- -----------
Projected benefit obligation in excess of plan assets (1,582,029) (942,171) (556,632)
Unrecognized net (gain)/loss 523,555 (87,710) (38,468)
Unrecognized prior service cost 574,562 629,435 684,308
Unrecognized net asset at adoption date
September 1, 1987) (136,279) (154,509) (172,739)
Settlement expense (263,756)
----------- ----------- -----------
Pension liability (620,191) (554,955) (347,287)
Less current portion 144,213 158,407
----------- ----------- -----------
Long-term pension liability $ (475,978) $ (396,548) $ (347,287)
=========== =========== ===========
The net periodic pension cost for the years ended
August 31, 1996, 1995, and
1994, includes the following components:
Service cost-benefits earned during the period $ 313,069 $ 321,773 $ 279,952
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation 442,520 377,445 376,593
Actual return on plan assets (753,673) 103,874 (201,147)
Net amortization and deferral 421,406 (314,313) (60,318)
----------- ----------- -----------
Net periodic pension cost before settlement expense 423,322 488,779 395,080
Settlement expense 263,756
----------- ----------- -----------
Net periodic pension cost $ 423,322 $ 488,779 $ 658,836
=========== =========== ===========
On September 1, 1993, the cooperative's benefit plan included the employees from
Minn-Dak Yeast, Midwest Agri-Commodities (Midwest) and North Central Sugar
Marketing Cooperative (North Central). During 1994, North Central merged with
United Sugars Corporation (United Sugars) resulting in a settlement expense
related to the transfer of assets associated with North Central employees. The
settlement loss represents the difference between the assets transferred as of
August 31, 1994 in excess of the unrecognized net gain.
The cooperative has also entered into an agreement with United Sugars to recover
the settlement expense. The conditions of the agreement stipulate in the event
that United Sugars continues to be a participating employer in their current
plan from August 31, 1994, through September 1, 1996, United Sugars will make a
cash payment to the cooperative of $267,055 plus accrued interest at 6.43%. The
payment from United Sugars is due on or before September 15, 1996.
NOTE 9 - ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
Minn-Dak is subject to extensive federal and state environmental laws and
regulations with respect to water and air quality, solid waste disposal and odor
and noise control. Minn-Dak conducts an ongoing and expanding control program
designed to meet these environmental laws and regulations. While Minn-Dak will
continue to have ongoing environmental compliance issues, currently there are no
pending regulatory enforcement actions and Minn-Dak believes that it is in
substantial compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations.
Minn-Dak cannot predict whether future changes in environmental laws or
regulations might increase the cost of operating its facilities and conducting
its business. Any such changes could have adverse financial consequences for
Minn-Dak and its members.
NOTE 10 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Minn-Dak is expanding its plant facilities as part of a three-year plan, and has
contracted for approximately $50,000,000. As of August 31, 1996, Minn-Dak has
incurred approximately $40,000,000 and was committed to an additional
$10,000,000.
Minn-Dak is subject to various lawsuits and claims which arise in the ordinary
course of its business. While the results of such litigation and claims cannot
be predicted with certainty, management believes the disposition of all such
proceedings, individually or in aggregate, should not have a material adverse
effect on the company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Minn-Dak participates in a multi-employer, self-funded employee medical
insurance plan with Minn-Dak Yeast Company and Midwest Agri-Commodities Company.
The terms of the plan call for the reimbursements to the plan administrator for
all claims paid, up to a maximum amount of $30,000 per employee per year and an
aggregate maximum of $1,400,000 per year.
NOTE 11 - INVESTMENT IN MARKETING COOPERATIVES
Minn-Dak has formed common marketing agency agreements with United Sugars
Corporation (United Sugars) and Midwest Agri-Commodities (Midwest) to be the
exclusive marketing agents for all products produced by them and other member
processors. Prior to January 1, 1994, Minn-Dak marketed its sugar through a
marketing agreement with North Central Sugar Marketing Cooperative (North
Central).
Minn-Dak has a one-third ownership interest in Midwest. The amount of the
investment is accounted for using the equity method. All beet pulp and a portion
of the molasses produced is sold by Midwest as an agent for Minn-Dak. The amount
of sales and related costs to be recognized by each owner is allocated based on
their pro-rata share of production for the year. The owners provide Midwest with
cash advances on an ongoing basis for operating and marketing expenses incurred
by Midwest. Minn-Dak advanced Midwest $2,157,891, $1,777,508 and $1,701,236
respectively, during the years ended August 31, 1996, 1995, and 1994. Minn-Dak
had outstanding advances due from Midwest of $780,442, $731,196 and $1,073,308
as of August 31, 1996, 1995, and 1994, respectively. The owners are guarantors
of the short-term line of credit Midwest has with the St. Paul Bank for
Cooperatives (bank).
On January 1, 1994, Minn-Dak entered into an agreement whereby their investment
in North Central was merged into United Sugars. Minn-Dak had a 50% ownership
interest in North Central and acquired a 13% ownership interest in United Sugars
with one-third voting rights. The amount of the investment is accounted for
using the equity method and the amount of sales and related costs to be
recognized by each owner is allocated based on their pro-rata share of
production for the year. Minn-Dak provided North Central and United Sugars with
cash advances on an ongoing basis for operating and marketing expenses incurred.
During the years ended August 31, 1996, 1995, and 1994, Minn-Dak had advanced
$14,948,115, $16,334,843 and $7,945,850, respectively. Minn-Dak had outstanding
advances due to United for $1,202,466, $1,064,005 and $653,291 for the years
ended August 31, 1996, 1995, and 1994, respectively.
NOTE 12 - OPERATING LEASES
The cooperative is a party to various operating leases for vehicles and
equipment. Future minimum payments for the years ending August 31 under these
obligations are approximately as follows:
1997 $ 712,000
1998 618,000
1999 458,000
2000 349,000
2001 96,000
Thereafter 80,000
Operating lease and contract expenses for the years ended August 31, 1996, 1995,
and 1994, totaled approximately $713,000, $710,000 and $1,012,000, respectively.
NOTE 13 - STOCK TRANSFER RESTRICTION
The cooperative has entered into an agreement with Minn-Dak Yeast's minority
shareholder, whereby neither party shall sell, option or transfer its interest
in Minn-Dak Yeast to any person, firm or corporation (third party) without first
offering, in writing, the other party the right to acquire such interest on the
same terms. If the offer is not accepted by the offeree within 30 days, the
offeror may sell, option or transfer its interest to the third party within 120
days after expiration of the 30-day period.
NOTE 14 - FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The fair value of a financial instrument is generally defined as the amount at
which the instrument could be exchanged in a current transaction between willing
parties, other than in a forced liquidation sale. Quoted market prices are
generally not available for the company's financial instruments. Accordingly,
fair values are based on judgments regarding anticipated cash flows, future
expected loss experience, current economic conditions, risk characteristics of
various financial instruments and other factors. Changes in the assumptions
could significantly affect the estimates.
The following methods and assumptions were used by the company to estimate fair
value of the financial instruments, and the estimated fair values of the
company's financial instruments as of August 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 are as
follows:
INVESTMENTS - The investment in St. Paul Bank for Cooperatives, R.S.R. Electric
Cooperative, Inc. and all other cooperatives are stated at cost, plus the
cooperative's share of allocated patronage and capital credits. The investment
in United Sugars Corporation, Midwest Agri-Commodities and ProGold Limited
Liability Company are accounted for using the equity method, wherein the
investment is recorded at the amount of the underlying equity in the net assets
of the investments and adjusted to recognize the cooperative's share of the
undistributed earnings or losses. Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative believes it is
not practicable to estimate the fair value without incurring excessive costs
because there is no established market for this stock and it is inappropriate to
estimate future cash flows which are largely dependent on future patronage
earnings of the investment.
LONG-TERM DEBT - The fair value of obligations under long-term debt are
estimated based on the quoted market prices for the same or similar issues or on
the current rates offered for debt of similar maturities.
OBLIGATIONS UNDER CAPITAL LEASES - The fair value of obligations under capital
leases, was based on present value models using current financing rates
available to the cooperative. At August 31, 1996, the carrying value of
obligations under capital leases was $12,000,000 and the estimated fair value
was $9,800,000.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT
IDENTIFICATION OF DIRECTORS
The table below lists the current directors of the Comapny. The Board
of Directors consists of one director from each district. Directors must be
common shareholders or representatives of common shareholders belonging to the
district they represent and are elected by the members of that district. In the
case of a common shareholder who is other than a natural person, a duly
appointed or elected representative of such common shareholder may serve as a
director. The directors have been elected to serve three-year terms expiring in
December of the years indicated in the table below. One director is elected each
year from three selected districts. Brief biographies for each of the directors
and directors-elected are included after the table.
Term Expires
Name and Address Age District Director Since in December
- ---------------- --- -------- -------------- -----------
Robert Breuer 64 District #2 - Factory 1984 1998
302 Mooreton Avenue North West
Mooreton, ND 58061
Lawrence Deal 59 District #8 - Lyngaas 1982 1997
RR #1, Box 173
Doran, MN 56522
Michael Hasbargen 51 District #4 - Factory 1993 1996(1)
RR #2, Box 71 East
Breckenridge, MN 56520
John Hought 55 District #6 - Yaggie 1985 1997
RR #2, Box 9
Foxhome, MN 56543
Victor Krabbenhoft 47 District #9 - Peet 1989 1998
RR #2, Box 45
Glyndon, MN 56547
Jack Lacey 55 District #5 - Hawes 1993 1996(2)
RR #1, Box 66
Wendell, MN 56590
Jerry Meyer 58 District #1 - Tyler 1994 1997
1433 15th Street North
Wahpeton, ND 58075
Edward Moen 70 District #3 - Gorder 1989 1998
17060 County Road 8
Colfax, ND 58018
Paul Summer 54 District #7 - Lehman 1993 1996(3)
RR #2, Box 84
Herman, MN 56248
- ------------
1) Mr. Hasbargen's term as a director of the Company from District #4-Factory
East expires on December 10, 1996.
2) Mr. Lacey's term as a director of the Company from District #5-Hawes
expires on December 10, 1996.
3) Mr. Summer's term as director of the Company from District #7-Lehman
expires on December 10, 1996.
ROBERT BREUER has been a director since 1984 and is a former chairman.
Mr. Breuer has been farming since 1958 near Mooreton, ND. He serves on the board
of directors for United Sugars, Minn-Dak Yeast Company, and the Mooreton City
Council, Mooreton, ND.
LAWRENCE DEAL has been a director since 1982 and is a former chairman
and secretary. Mr. Deal has been farming near Doran, MN, since 1959. He is
president of the American Sugarbeet Growers Association, Washington, DC.
MICHAEL HASBARGEN has been a director since 1992 and is currently
serving as board vice chairman. Mr. Hasbargen has been farming near
Breckenridge, MN since graduating from NDSU in Ag Economics in 1967. Mr.
Hasbargen also service on the board of directors of United Sugars Corporation
and Midwest Agri-Commodities Company.
JOHN HOUGHT has been a director since 1985. Mr. Hought has been farming
near Foxhome, MN since 1959. He also serves on the board of directors for
Minn-Dak Yeast Company.
VICTOR KRABBENHOFT has been a director since 1989, currently serves as
board chairman, and is a former vice chairman. Mr. Krabbenhoft has been farming
near Glyndon, MN since 1971. He also serves on the board of directors for
Midwest Agri-Commodities Company, United Sugars Corporation, and Minn-Dak Yeast
Company.
JACK LACEY has been a director since 1993. Mr. Lacey has been farming
with his wife, Sharon, near Wendell, MN since 1963. He is also on the board of
directors for Midwest Agri-Commodities Company and the American Sugarbeet
Growers Association in Washington, DC.
JERRY MEYER has been a director since 1994. Mr. Meyer has been farming
near Fairmount, ND since 1958. He also services on the board of directors for
Minn-Dak Yeast Company.
ED MOEN has been a director since 1989 and is currently serving as
board treasurer. Mr. Moen has been farming near Galchutt, ND since 1945. He also
serves on the board of directors for Midwest Agri-Commodities Company.
PAUL SUMMER has been a director since 1993 and is currently serving as
board secretary. Mr. Summer has been farming near Herman, MN since 1963. He also
serves on the board for United Sugars Corporation.
The Board of Directors meet monthly. The Company provides its directors
with minimal compensation, consisting of (i) a payment of $225.00 per meeting
for regular and special board meetings, (ii) the greater (a) $112.50 for any day
in which directors partake in activities on the Company's behalf for under five
hours or (b) $225.00 for any day in which directors partake in activities on the
Company's behalf for five hours or more. The Chairman of the Board of Directors
also receives a flat $200.00 per month.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The table below lists the principal officers of the Company, none of
whom owns any common or preferred shares. The president and chief executive
officer, executive vice president and chief financial officer, vice president
agriculture, vice president engineering, and vice president operations are
elected annually by the Board of Directors to serve on the board. Brief
biographies for each of the officers are included after the table.
Name Age Position
Larry D. Steward 58 President and Chief Executive Officer
Steven M. Caspers 46 Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
Thomas D. Knudsen 42 Vice President, Agriculture
John E. Groneman 60 Vice President, Engineering
Richard K. Richter 56 Vice President, Operations
Jerald W. Pierson 57 Personnel Director
Jeffrey L. Carlson 41 Director of Technical Services
John S. Nyquist 41 Purchasing Manager
Patricia J. Estes 56 Director of Communications
Kevin R. Shannon 42 Safety and Special Projects Director
LARRY D. STEWARD joined the Company in December, 1990 as president and
chief executive officer. Mr. Steward serves on the boards of United Sugars
Corporation, and Midwest Agri-Commodities. He is chairman of the board of
Minn-Dak Yeast Company, Inc. Mr. Steward is a trustee of United States Beet
Sugar Association, a director on the board of the National Council of Farmer
Cooperatives based in Washington, DC and a board member on the North Dakota
Development Fund based in Bismarck, ND . Prior to joining the Company, Mr.
Steward was midwest sales manager for Harborlite Corporation. From 1963 to 1988
Mr. Steward was employed by Great Western Sugar Company, Denver, Colorado and
from 1984 to 1988 he served as its vice president. Mr. Steward holds a degree in
chemistry and math from the University of Nebraska, Kearney, Nebraska.
STEVEN M. CASPERS is a graduate of the University of North Dakota with
a bachelor of science in business administration and a major in accounting. He
has been employed at the Company since May 5, 1974 and is active in numerous
local civic and fraternal organizations, and national, industry related boards
and committees. He is president of Minn-Dak Yeast Company and services on the
boards of directors of Midwest Agri-Commodities, United Sugars Corporation and
ProGold, LLC.
JOHN E. GRONEMAN is a graduate of Colorado State University with a
bachelor of science in engineering. He began his experience in the sugar
industry in 1960, this includes five years as a factory manager. Mr. Groneman
began employment with the Company on March 1, 1974.
THOMAS D. KNUDSEN is a graduate of North Dakota State University with a
bachelor of science in horticulture and has attended the Beet Sugar Institute at
Fort Collins, Colorado. He began employment with the Company on May 24, 1977.
RICHARD R. RICHTER has completed both the beet and sugar end coursework
of the Beet Sugar Institute of Fort Collins, Colorado. He began his sugar
industry experience in 1958 with employment at the Company beginning in August
of 1976.
JERALD W. PIERSON is a graduate of Black Hills State University with 28
years human resources experience. He is active in numerous local civic and
fraternal organizations including the Greater North Dakota Association, North
Dakota Workers Compensation, and the North Dakota Job Service Employer
Committee. He began his employment with the Company on March 15, 1982.
JEFFREY L. CARLSON is a graduate of the University of Minnesota-Morris
with a bachelor of arts in chemistry and the University of North Dakota with a
Ph.D in physical chemistry. He began his career as a research chemist and an
assistant professor in 1986. Mr. Carlson began his employment with the Company
on June 4, 1990.
JOHN S. NYQUIST attended the North Dakota State College of Science,
majoring in accounting and computer programs. Mr. Nyquist began his purchasing
and inventory control experience in 1975 in the Company storeroom. Mr. Nyquist
is active in local civic and fraternal organizations and the National
Association of Purchasing Managers. Mr. Nyquist began employment with the
Company on September 15, 1975.
PATRICIA J. ESTES is a graduate of Moorhead State University with a
bachelor of science in mass communications and master of arts in liberal arts.
Ms. Estes is active in local civic organizations and began her
publication-communications experience in 1973. Ms. Estes began full-time
employment with the Company on December 26, 1989.
KEVIN R. SHANNON attended Taylor Institute and Vanguard Vo-Tech,
majoring in instrumentation. He is active in local civic organizations. Mr.
Shannon began his technical and supervisory career in 1974. His employment with
the Company began on June 1, 1983. Prior to becoming the safety and special
projects director in September of 1992, Mr. Shannon was the Company's tare lab
supervisor.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Management employees are eligible for performance bonuses which are
partially based upon on the performance of the Company and partially on
achievement of certain management performance objectives. Those performance
objectives are determined by the President and CEO for officers and significant
other management employees of the Company, and by the Board of Directors for the
President and CEO. Management employees are also eligible to participate in the
Company's defined benefit retirement plan as well as its 401(k) retirement
savings plan, each of which are described below.
The Company has established a noncontributory, defined benefit
retirement plan which is available to all eligible employees of the Company. The
benefits of the plan are funded by periodic contributions by the Company to a
retirement trust which invests the contributions and earnings from such
contributions to pay benefits to employees. The plan provides for the payment of
a monthly retirement benefit determined under a formula based on years of
service and each employee's compensation level. See "Executive
Compensation--Qualified Benefits Table." Benefits are paid to the employees upon
reaching early (age 55 or older) or normal (age 65) retirement age. The plan
also provides for the payment of certain disability and death benefits.
The Company maintains a Section 401(k) retirement savings plan that
permits employees to elect to set aside, on a pre-tax basis, a portion of their
gross compensation in trust to pay future retirement benefits. Effective on
April 1, 1995, the Company began providing a matching contribution of 25% of
each employee's first 4% of compensation that is set aside under the plan. The
match increases over time until it reaches 75% of the first 4% in the year 1999.
The amounts set aside by each employee and the Company vest immediately and are
paid to each employee upon the happening of certain events, all as more fully
described in the master plan document. During 1996, Federal law limited employee
pre-tax income contributions to $9,240 for each participating employee. Benefits
under the 401(k) plan begin to be paid to the employee: (i) upon the attainment
of normal retirement age (65), or if the employee chooses, any time after
attaining early retirement date (age 55); (ii) the date the employee terminates
employment with the Company; or (iii) a pre-retirement distribution equal to the
value of the employees 401(k) account, provided the employee has attained age 59
1/2 and provided a written consent of the spouse (if married).
The following table summarizes the amount of compensation paid for
services rendered to the Company during the fiscal year ended August 31, 1996
and the two prior fiscal years to the Company's Chief Executive Officer and
Executive Vice President & CFO:
Name and Other Annual Total
Principal Position Year Salary Bonus Compensation Compensation
- ------------------ ---- ------ ----- ------------ ------------
(1)
---
Larry Steward 1996 $178,017 $ 48,900 $ 15,111 $242,028
President & CEO 1995 $169,802 $ 30,000 $ 37,741 $237,543
1994 $155,393 $ 27,500 $ 14,454 $197,347
Steven Caspers 1996 $111,365 $ 24,000 $ 19,562 $154,927
EVP & CFO 1995 $104,406 $ 22,000 $ 22,570 $148,976
1994 $ 94,104 $-0- $ 6,374 $100,478
- -----------------------------
1) In addition to the salary and bonus described above, Mr. Steward and
Mr. Caspers are provided with "Other Annual Compensation," which
includes the value of the excess life insurance cost, individual LTD
plan, Company match of the 401(k) plan and sold vacation. In fiscal
1996, the company adopted a new policy where Supervisory, Professional
and Management employees are required on or before their anniversary
date in 1997, to attain and maintain their vacation and floating
holiday hour combined balance at two hundred and forty (240) hours or
less. While not encouraged, the cash optioning of vacation and floating
holiday accrued hours is allowable. Employees with account balances in
excess of 240 hours may elect to cash option up to fifty percent (50%)
of the number of hours exceeding 240. Employees at or below the 240
hour limit may elect to cash option fifty percent (50%) of their
combined vacation and floating holiday annually accrued hours.
The Company has entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Steward
which establishes his salary and benefits as an employee of the Company. The
agreement may terminate on sixty days written notice by either party for any
reason. Mr. Steward has been employed by the Company for six years and,
therefore, would be affected by the table limits on the qualified benefits table
below.
In 1992, the Company undertook a compensation review study to determine
that its employees' compensation was commensurate with responsibilities of the
various Company positions, and that the compensation was equitable between jobs
within the Company and externally competitive with other comparable jobs and
responsibilities within the Company's geographic region. The compensation review
study was performed by a national compensation consultant called Hay Management
Consultants. This study was made of all management employees, including Mr.
Steward, and non-union employees. As of August 31, 1996 all employees' wages had
been adjusted to levels consistent with the Hay Management Consultants findings
and recommendations.
QUALIFIED BENEFITS TABLE
The following table reflects the estimated annual benefits payable to a
fully-vested executive officer of the Cooperative under the defined benefit
retirement plan upon retirement at age 65, after 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 years of
annual service at the compensation levels set forth hereon:
Years of Service
------------------------------------------------------------
Pension 15 20 25 30 35
Compensation -- -- -- -- --
------------
$125,000 $ 28,065 $ 37,420 $ 46,775 $ 56,130 $ 65,485
$150,000 $ 34,065 $ 45,420 $ 56,775 $ 68,130 $ 79,485
$175,000 $ 34,065 $ 45,420 $ 56,775 $ 68,130 $ 79,485
$200,000 $ 34,065 $ 45,420 $ 56,775 $ 68,130 $ 79,485
$225,000 $ 34,065 $ 45,420 $ 56,775 $ 68,130 $ 79,485
$250,000 $ 34,065 $ 45,420 $ 56,775 $ 68,130 $ 79,485
$275,000 $ 34,065 $ 45,420 $ 56,775 $ 68,130 $ 79,485
$300,000 $ 34,065 $ 45,420 $ 56,775 $ 68,130 $ 79,485
$325,000 $ 34,065 $ 45,420 $ 56,775 $ 68,130 $ 79,485
$350,000 $ 34,065 $ 45,420 $ 56,775 $ 68,130 $ 79,485
$375,000 $ 34,065 $ 45,420 $ 56,775 $ 68,130 $ 79,485
The two executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table have
years of service under the plan as follows: Mr. Steward has served for 6 years;
Mr. Caspers has served for 22 years.
ITEM 12 SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table presents certain information with respect to the
ownership of preferred shares as of November 21, 1996, by each director. Each
shareholder has direct ownership with respect to the share shown as beneficially
owned, except as otherwise indicated in a footnote. To the Company's knowledge,
as of November 21, 1996, no person owned beneficially more than 5% of the
Company's outstanding preferred shares and none of the prinicipal officers
listed below owned any such shares.
Name Position with Company Number of Shares Percent of Shares
---- --------------------- ---------------- -----------------
Robert Breuer Director 160 less than 1%
Lawrence Deal Director 156 less than 1%
Michael Hasbargen Director 346 less than 1%
John Hought Director 260 less than 1%
Victor Krabbenhoft Director 200 less than 1%
Jack Lacey (1) Director 250 less than 1%
Jerry Meyer Director 436 less than 1%
Ed Moen Director 180 less than 1%
Paul Summer (2) Director 195 less than 1%
All Directors 2183 3.73%
- ------------
(1) Mr. Lacey's shares are grown under the name of Jack Lacey Company.
(2) Mr. Summer's shares are grown under the name of P V Unlimited Corp.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Each of the Company's directors is also a sugar beet grower or a
shareholder member or representative of a shareholder member. By virtue of their
status as such members of the Company, each director or the member he represents
sells sugar beets to the Company and receives payments for those sugar beets.
Such payments for sugar beets often exceed $60,000. However, such payments are
received by the directors or the entities they represent on exactly the same
basis as payments are received by other members of the Company for the delivery
of their sugar beets. Except for the sugar beet sales described in the preceding
sentences, none of the directors or executive officers of the Company have
engaged in any other transactions with the Company involving amounts in excess
of $60,000.
PART IV.
ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
None
REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
The Company was not required to and did not file any reports on Form
8-K during the three months ended August 31, 1996.
EXHIBITS
Index
- -----
3(i) Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of Minn-
Dak Farmers Cooperative
*3(ii) Articles of Incorporation of Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative
3(ii) Amended Bylaws of Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative
10(a) Growers' Agreement (three-year Agreement) (example of agreement
which each Shareholder is required to sign)
*10(b) Uniform Member Marketing Agreement by and between United Sugars
Corporation and Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative
10(c) Supplement to Uniform Member Marketing Agreement by and between
United Sugars Corporation and Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative
*10(d) Capitalization Agreement by and among Southern Minnesota Beet
Sugar Cooperative, Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative, American
Crystal Sugar Company, and United Sugars Corporation
*10(e) Memorandum of Understanding and Uniform Member Marketing
Agreement by and between Midwest Agri-Commodities Company and
Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative
*10(f) Molasses Purchase Contract by and between Minn-Dak Farmers
Cooperative and Universal Foods Corporation (Confidential
Treatment for certain sections)
*10(g) Yeast Purchase Contract by and between Universal Foods
Corporation and Minn-Dak Yeast Company, Inc. (Confidential
Treatment for certain sections)
*10(i) Operating Agreement of ProGold Limited Liability Company
*10(j) ProGold Limited Liability Company Member Control Agreement
*10(k) Agreement for Electrical Service
10(l) Agreements for Coal Supply, Transportation, and Oiling Service
(Confidential Treatment Requested as to certain provisions.)
*10(m) Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative Pension Plan
*10(n) Larry D. Steward Employment Agreement
*10(o) Management Consulting Agreement between Minn-Dak Yeast Company
and Universal Foods Corporation, (Confidential Treatment for
certain sections)
12 Statement re Computation of Ratio of Net Proceeds to Fixed
Charges
*21 Subsidiaries of the Registrant
23 Consent of Independent Auditors
27 Financial Data Schedule
- ---------------------------
* Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration Statement
on Form S-1 (File No. 33-94644), declared effective September 11, 1995.
SIGNATURES
PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934,
THE REGISTRANT HAS DULY CAUSED THIS REPORT TO BE SIGNED ON ITS BEHALF BY THE
UNDERSIGNED, THEREUNTO DULY AUTHORIZED.
MINN-DAK FARMERS COOPERATIVE
BY /S/ Larry D. Steward
---------------------------------
LARRY D. STEWARD, PRESIDENT AND
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934,
THIS REPORT HAS BEEN SIGNED BELOW BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS ON BEHALF OF THE
REGISTRANT AND IN THE CAPACITIES AND ON THE DUTIES INDICATED.
SIGNATURE TITLE REPORT DATE
- ---------- ----- -----------
/s/ Larry D. Steward November 21, 1996
- ------------------------ President and ------------------------
Larry D. Steward Chief Executive Officer
/s/ Steven M. Caspers November 21, 1996
- ------------------------ Vice President - Finance ------------------------
Steven M. Caspers
/s/ Allen E. Larson November 21, 1996
- ------------------------ Controller ------------------------
Allen E. Larson
/s/ Robert Breuer November 21, 1996
- ------------------------ Director ------------------------
Robert Breuer
/s/ Victor Krabbenhoft November 21, 1996
- ------------------------ Director ------------------------
Victor Krabbenhoft
/s/ Lawrence Deal November 21, 1996
- ------------------------ Director ------------------------
Lawrence Deal
/s/ Edward Meon, Jr. November 21, 1996
- ------------------------ Director ------------------------
Edward Meon, Jr.
/s/ Mike Hasbargen November 21, 1996
- ------------------------ Director ------------------------
Mike Hasbargen
/s/ John Hought November 21, 1996
- ------------------------ Director ------------------------
John Hought
/s/ Jack Lacey November 21, 1996
- ------------------------ Director ------------------------
Jack Lacey
/s/ Jerry Meyer November 21, 1996
- ------------------------ Director ------------------------
Jerry Meyer
/s/ Paul Summer November 21, 1996
- ------------------------ Director ------------------------
Paul Summer