Archer Daniels Midland Company Reports First Quarter Earnings of $ .77 Per Share

November 3, 2009 7:02 AM EST

Company Executed Well; Sees Demand in Key Markets Improving

DECATUR, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) today announced earnings of $ 496 million and net sales of $ 14.9 billion for the quarter ended September 30, 2009.

"The ADM team executed well, delivering strong sequential earnings growth," said Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer Patricia Woertz. "Earnings were significantly better than the second half of fiscal 2009. As we advance our growth strategy, we are using our financial strength to build shareholder value. Looking ahead, we see demand improving in some key markets, and we have the assets and acumen to capture value as the global economy resets."

    --  Net earnings attributable to ADM for the quarter ended September 30,
        2009, were $ 496 million -- $ .77 per share, down 53% from last year's
        record first quarter.
    --  Net sales for the quarter ended September 30, 2009, were $14.9 billion,
        down 29 %.
    --  Segment operating profit for the quarter ended September 30, 2009, was $
        774 million, down 34 %.
        o Oilseeds Processing profit decreased on lower margins and production.
        o Corn Processing profit improved on lower net corn and manufacturing
          costs.
        o Agricultural Services profit decreased due to reduced demand and less
          volatile commodity market conditions.
        o Other operating profit was materially unchanged. Global wheat milling
          margins improved.

    --  Financial Highlights


(Amounts in millions, except per share data and percentages)

                                      Quarter ended

                                      September 30

                                      2009       2008       % Change

Net sales                             $ 14,921   $ 21,160   (29      %)

Segment operating profit              $ 774      $ 1,176    (34      %)

Net earnings attributable to ADM      $ 496      $ 1,045    (53      %)

Earnings per share                    $ .77      $ 1.62     (52      %)

Average number of shares outstanding    644        645      -



Strategic Investment Activities

To drive earnings growth, the Company advanced its strategy to expand the size and global reach of its core model:

    --  The Company began operations at its new cocoa processing facility in
        Kumasi, Ghana, improving access to a key growing region.
    --  The Company acquired five oceangoing vessels, totaling 250,000 metric
        tons of cargo capacity, enhancing the flexibility and efficiency of its
        transportation network.
    --  The Company acquired an oilseed processing plant in Olomouc, Czech
        Republic, improving access to the Central European market and expanding
        its origination footprint.
    --  The Company began production at its new Columbus, Nebraska, ethanol
        plant. The plant's scale and its integration with the Company's existing
        infrastructure give it a cost-efficient position as the industry meets
        the increased 2010 ethanol mandate.
    --  The Company completed construction of its Clinton, Iowa, cogeneration
        facility which provides cost-effective process steam and electricity to
        its adjacent corn processing complex.
    --  The Company began production at its first sugarcane ethanol plant in
        Brazil, improving its capacity to meet growing Brazilian demand for
        renewable fuel.

New Accounting Standards

Certain amounts in the prior year's Consolidated Statements of Earnings, Segment Operating Analysis, Summary of Financial Condition and Summary of Cash Flows have been restated and presentation formats have been modified to apply the requirements of new accounting standards ASC Topic 810 and ASC Topic 470-20. Effective July 1, 2009, the Company adopted this amended guidance which requires retrospective application to all periods presented.

Discussion of Operations

Net sales decreased 29 % to $ 14.9 billion primarily due to decreased average selling prices and, to a lesser extent, foreign exchange translation impacts. Average selling prices decreased in line with year-over-year declines in underlying commodity costs. There were no material changes in overall sales quantities.

A summary of segment operating profit and net earnings is as follows:


                                                   Quarter ended

                                                   September 30

                                                   2009      2008       Change

Oilseeds Processing                                $ 284     $ 510      $ (226 )

Corn Processing                                      188       118        70

Agricultural Services                                175       428        (253 )

Other                                                127       120        7

Segment operating profit                             774       1,176      (402 )

Corporate                                            (57  )    310        (367 )

Earnings before income taxes                         717       1,486      (769 )

Income taxes                                         (220 )    (440  )    220

Net earnings including noncontrolling interests      497       1,046      (549 )

Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling    (1   )    (1    )    -
interests

Net earnings attributable to ADM                   $ 496     $ 1,045    $ (549 )



Net earnings attributable to ADM decreased $ 549 million, due principally to the $ 402 million decrease in segment operating profit and the reduced impact on Corporate results of the change in LIFO inventory valuations. Income taxes decreased due principally to decreased pretax earnings, partially offset by an increased effective tax rate resulting from changes in the geographic mix of pretax earnings.

Oilseeds Processing Operating Profit


                                          Quarter ended

                                          September 30

                                          2009    2008    Change

Crushing and origination                  $ 135   $ 339   $ (204 )

Refining, packaging, biodiesel and other    70      106     (36  )

Asia                                        79      65      14

Total Oilseeds Processing                 $ 284   $ 510   $ (226 )



Oilseeds Processing operating profit decreased $ 226 million. Crushing and origination results declined $ 204 million due to lower production volumes resulting from a short global soybean supply. Crushing margins and fertilizer results decreased from high prior-year levels as demand was weaker.

Refining, packaging, biodiesel and other operating profit decreased $ 36 million, due principally to lower sales volumes in North America and reduced biodiesel margins in Europe and South America.

Oilseeds results in Asia increased $ 14 million as the Company's investments, principally the equity interest in Wilmar International Limited, continued to perform well.

Corn Processing Operating Profit


                         Quarter ended

                         September 30

                         2009     2008    Change

Sweeteners and starches  $ 194    $ 65    $ 129

Bioproducts                (6  )    53      (59 )

Total Corn Processing    $ 188    $ 118   $ 70



Corn Processing operating profit increased $ 70 million. Sweeteners and starches operating profit increased $ 129 million due to lower net corn and manufacturing costs and higher year-over-year average sweetener selling prices.

Bioproducts operating profit decreased $ 59 million. Ethanol selling prices decreased due to lower gasoline prices and decreased gasoline demand. Bioproducts results were also negatively impacted by low lysine selling prices and by increased startup costs related to the Company's industrial chemicals and sugar businesses.

Agricultural Services Operating Profit


                             Quarter ended

                             September 30

                             2009    2008    Change

Merchandising and handling   $ 157   $ 385   $ (228 )

Transportation                 18      43      (25  )

Total Agricultural Services  $ 175   $ 428   $ (253 )



Agricultural Services operating profit decreased $ 253 million. Merchandising and handling results were lower than the year-ago quarter due to reduced demand resulting from the weaker global economy and less volatile commodity market conditions. Transportation results declined due to lower barge freight rates and reduced northbound barge activity.

Other Operating Profit


             Quarter ended

             September 30

             2009    2008    Change

Processing   $ 107   $ 103   $ 4

Financial      20      17      3

Total Other  $ 127   $ 120   $ 7



Other operating profit increased $ 7 million. Other processing operating profit increased $ 4 million as improved global wheat milling margins and Gruma S.A.B. de C.V. equity earnings were partially offset by a decline in cocoa processing margins and sales volumes. Results for the quarter ended September 30, 2008, included $12 million of profit related to the Company's malting business which was disposed of on July 31, 2008.

Other financial operating profit increased $ 3 million for the quarter, due to improved captive insurance results partially offset by weaker results of the Company's brokerage services business caused by the low short-term interest rate environment.

Corporate Results


                                      Quarter ended

                                      September 30

                                      2009     2008     Change

LIFO income                           $ 76     $ 453    $ (377 )

Investment (expense)/income - net       (65 )    (29 )    (36  )

Gain/(loss) on security transactions    11       (9  )    20

Corporate costs                         (69 )    (94 )    25

Other                                   (10 )    (11 )    1

Total Corporate                       $ (57 )  $ 310    $ (367 )



Corporate results decreased $ 367 million. Market prices for LIFO-based inventories were generally lower resulting in a decrease in LIFO inventory reserves of $76 million compared to a $453 million decrease in last year's quarter. Investment expense - net increased $ 36 million reflecting a decrease in interest income caused by lower short-term rates and lower working capital requirements of the operating segments. Corporate costs were down $ 25 million as employee-related costs and provisions for doubtful accounts decreased.

Conference Call Information

Archer Daniels Midland Company will host a conference call and audio webcast at 8:00 a.m. Central Time on Tuesday, November 3, 2009, to discuss financial results and provide a Company update. In addition, a financial summary slide presentation will be available to download approximately 60 minutes prior to the call. To listen to the call via the Internet or to download the slide presentation, go to www.adm.com/webcast. To listen by telephone, dial 800-901-5247 or 617-786-4501; the access code is 76474255. Replay of the call will be available beginning at 11:00 a.m. Central Time on November 3 to November 10, 2009. To listen to the replay by telephone, dial 888-286-8010 or 617-801-6888; the access code is: 25626820. To listen to the replay online, visit www.adm.com/webcast.

Every day, the 28,000 people of Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) turn crops into renewable products that meet the demands of a growing world. At more than 230 processing plants, we convert corn, oilseeds, wheat and cocoa into products for food, animal feed, chemical and energy uses. We operate the world's premier crop origination and transportation network, connecting crops and markets in more than 60 countries. Our global headquarters is in Decatur, Illinois, and our net sales for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009, were $69 billion. For more information about our Company and our products, visit www.adm.com.


Archer Daniels Midland Company

Consolidated Statements of Earnings

(unaudited)

                                       Quarter ended

                                       September 30

                                       2009        2008

                                       (in millions, except per share amounts)

Net sales and other operating income   $ 14,921    $ 21,160

Cost of products sold                    13,948      19,293

Gross profit                             973         1,867

Selling, general and administrative      354         409
expenses

Other income - net                       (98    )    (28    )

Earnings before income taxes             717         1,486

Income taxes                             220         440

Net earnings including noncontrolling    497         1,046
interests

Less: Net earnings attributable to       (1     )    (1     )
noncontrolling interests

Net earnings attributable to ADM       $ 496       $ 1,045

Diluted earnings per common share      $ .77       $ 1.62

Average number of shares outstanding     644         645

Other income - net consists of:

Interest expense                       $ 98        $ 138

Investment income                        (30    )    (54    )

Net gain on marketable securities        (1     )    (9     )
transactions

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated     (152   )    (123   )
affiliates

Other - net                              (13    )    20

                                       $ (98    )  $ (28    )




Archer Daniels Midland Company

Segment Operating Analysis

(unaudited)

                                            Quarter ended

                                            September 30

                                            2009        2008

                                            (in millions)

Net sales and other operating income

Oilseeds Processing                         $ 6,358     $ 7,772

Corn Processing                               1,916       2,241

Agricultural Services                         5,322       9,569

Other                                         1,325       1,578

Total net sales and other operating income  $ 14,921    $ 21,160

                                            Quarter ended

                                            September 30

                                            2009        2008

                                            (in millions)

Segment operating profit (loss)

Oilseeds Processing                         $ 284       $ 510

Corn Processing                               188         118

Agricultural Services                         175         428

Other                                         127         120

Total segment operating profit                774         1,176

Corporate (1)                                 (57    )    310

Earnings before income taxes                $ 717       $ 1,486

                                            Quarter ended

                                            September 30

                                            2009        2008

                                            (in 000s metric tons)

Processing volumes

Oilseeds Processing                           6,372       7,024

Corn Processing                               4,621       4,589

Wheat, cocoa and malt                         1,910       1,877

Total processing volumes                      12,903      13,490




     Includes LIFO credit of $ 76 million for the quarter ended September 30,
(1)  2009 and $453 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2008,
     respectively.




Archer Daniels Midland Company

Summary of Financial Condition

(unaudited)

                                                 September 30 2009  June 30 2009

                                                 (in millions)

NET INVESTMENT IN

Working capital                                  $ 10,912           $ 10,927

Property, plant, and equipment                     8,366              7,950

Investments in and advances to affiliates          2,559              2,459

Long-term marketable securities                    644                626

Other non-current assets                           1,137              1,139

                                                 $ 23,618           $ 23,101

FINANCED BY

Short-term debt                                  $ 254              $ 356

Long-term debt, including current maturities       7,623              7,640

Deferred liabilities                               1,498              1,452

Shareholders' equity                               14,243             13,653

                                                 $ 23,618           $ 23,101

SUMMARY OF CASH FLOWS

(unaudited)

                                                 Quarter ended

                                                 September 30

                                                 2009               2008

                                                 (in millions)

Operating Activities

Net earnings                                     $ 497              $ 1,046

Depreciation and asset abandonments                196                177

Other - net                                        37                 (457   )

Changes in operating assets and liabilities        1,262              3,914

Total Operating Activities                         1,992              4,680

Investing Activities

Purchases of property, plant and equipment         (497   )           (483   )

Business disposals                                 -                  236

Business acquisitions                              -                  (24    )

Other investing activities                         68                 (28    )

Total Investing Activities                         (429   )           (299   )

Financing Activities

Long-term debt borrowings                          -                  102

Long-term debt payments                            (34    )           (15    )

Net repayments under lines of credit               (107   )           (2,570 )

Purchases of treasury stock                        -                  (100   )

Cash dividends                                     (90    )           (84    )

Other                                              3                  8

Total Financing Activities                         (228   )           (2,659 )

Increase in cash and cash equivalents              1,335              1,722

Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period    1,055              810

Cash and cash equivalents - end of period        $ 2,390            $ 2,532




    Source: Archer Daniels Midland Company


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