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DARLING INGREDIENTS INC. - Quarter Report: 2016 October (Form 10-Q)



UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC  20549
 
FORM 10-Q
 
 (Mark One)      
/X/  QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 For the quarterly period ended October 1, 2016
OR
 
/  /  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
  For the transition period from _______ to _______
 
Commission File Number   001-13323

DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 
 Delaware
 
 36-2495346
 (State or other jurisdiction     
 
(I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)   
 
Identification Number)
 
 
 
 251 O'Connor Ridge Blvd., Suite 300
 
 
 Irving, Texas
 
 75038
(Address of principal executive offices)  
 
(Zip Code)
 
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (972) 717-0300
 
    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 whether the Registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit and post such files).        Yes    X        No ___

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

Large accelerated filer     
X
 
Accelerated filer    
 
 
Non-accelerated filer 
 
 
Smaller reporting company       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).     Yes            No  X  
 
There were 164,604,558 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value, outstanding at November 3, 2016.

1


DARLING INGREDIENTS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED OCTOBER 1, 2016
 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS   

 
 
 
 
Page No.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  61
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


2





DARLING INGREDIENTS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
October 1, 2016 and January 2, 2016
(in thousands, except share data)

 
October 1,
2016
 
January 2,
2016
ASSETS
(unaudited)
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
148,585

 
$
156,884

Restricted cash
294

 
331

Accounts receivable, net
382,857

 
371,392

Inventories
359,095

 
344,583

Prepaid expenses
40,341

 
36,175

Income taxes refundable
13,222

 
11,963

Other current assets
18,609

 
10,460

Total current assets
963,003

 
931,788

Property, plant and equipment, less accumulated depreciation of
   $802,172 at October 1, 2016 and $652,875 at January 2, 2016
1,535,185

 
1,508,167

Intangible assets, less accumulated amortization of
   $286,316 at October 1, 2016 and $252,719 at January 2, 2016
747,522

 
782,349

Goodwill
1,256,376

 
1,233,102

Investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries
261,690

 
247,238

Other assets
35,912

 
41,623

Deferred income taxes
17,196

 
16,352

 
$
4,816,884

 
$
4,760,619

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 

 
 

Current liabilities:
 

 
 

Current portion of long-term debt
$
27,169

 
$
45,166

Accounts payable, principally trade
168,556

 
149,998

Income taxes payable
9,374

 
6,679

Accrued expenses
254,561

 
239,825

Total current liabilities
459,660

 
441,668

Long-term debt, net of current portion
1,818,361

 
1,885,851

Other non-current liabilities
89,517

 
97,809

Deferred income taxes
363,949

 
360,681

Total liabilities
2,731,487

 
2,786,009

Commitments and contingencies


 


Stockholders’ equity:
 

 
 

     Common stock, $0.01 par value; 250,000,000 shares authorized;
        167,619,651 and 167,070,983 shares issued at October 1, 2016
        and at January 2, 2016, respectively
1,676

 
1,671

Additional paid-in capital
1,496,963

 
1,488,783

     Treasury stock, at cost;  3,028,857 and 2,335,607 shares at
       October 1, 2016 and at January 2, 2016, respectively
(40,909
)
 
(34,316
)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(286,314
)
 
(335,918
)
Retained earnings
812,261

 
750,489

Total Darling's stockholders’ equity
1,983,677

 
1,870,709

Noncontrolling interests
101,720

 
103,901

 Total stockholders' equity
$
2,085,397

 
$
1,974,610

 
$
4,816,884

 
$
4,760,619


 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

3


DARLING INGREDIENTS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Three and nine months ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015
(in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)


 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
October 1,
2016
 
October 3,
2015
 
October 1,
2016
 
October 3,
2015
Net sales
$
853,856

 
$
853,762

 
$
2,510,838

 
$
2,587,771

Costs and expenses:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Cost of sales and operating expenses
671,167

 
671,321

 
1,947,175

 
2,024,118

Selling, general and administrative expenses
76,508

 
75,026

 
234,135

 
245,951

Acquisition and integration costs
—

 
1,280

 
401

 
7,807

Depreciation and amortization
70,653

 
67,327

 
212,440

 
199,970

Total costs and expenses
818,328

 
814,954

 
2,394,151

 
2,477,846

Operating income
35,528

 
38,808

 
116,687

 
109,925

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other expense:
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
Interest expense
(23,867
)
 
(24,828
)
 
(71,748
)
 
(82,222
)
Foreign currency gain/(loss)
354

 
(2,461
)
 
(2,241
)
 
(3,299
)
Other income/(expense), net
(2,007
)
 
1,004

 
(5,685
)
 
(704
)
Total other expense
(25,520
)
 
(26,285
)
 
(79,674
)
 
(86,225
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity in net income of unconsolidated subsidiaries
18,138

 
(12,021
)
 
37,633

 
(9,657
)
Income before income taxes
28,146

 
502

 
74,646

 
14,043

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income tax expense/(benefit)
(744
)
 
7,859

 
9,102

 
14,639

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income/(loss)
28,890

 
(7,357
)
 
65,544

 
(596
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
(196
)
 
(1,730
)
 
(3,772
)
 
(5,302
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income/(loss) attributable to Darling
$
28,694

 
$
(9,087
)
 
$
61,772

 
$
(5,898
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic income per share
$
0.17

 
$
(0.06
)
 
$
0.38

 
$
(0.04
)
Diluted income per share
$
0.17

 
$
(0.06
)
 
$
0.37

 
$
(0.04
)


 



The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

4


DARLING INGREDIENTS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME/(LOSS)
Three and nine months ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015
(in thousands)
(unaudited)


 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
October 1, 2016
 
October 3, 2015
 
October 1, 2016
 
October 3, 2015
Net income/(loss)
$
28,890

 
$
(7,357
)
 
$
65,544

 
$
(596
)
Other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation
(5,839
)
 
(43,295
)
 
43,684

 
(129,167
)
Pension adjustments
727

 
780

 
2,104

 
2,327

Corn option derivative adjustments
734

 
1,861

 
1,255

 
574

Total other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax
(4,378
)
 
(40,654
)
 
47,043

 
(126,266
)
Total comprehensive income/(loss)
$
24,512

 
$
(48,011
)
 
$
112,587

 
$
(126,862
)
Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests
(94
)
 
39

 
1,211

 
7,929

Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Darling
$
24,606

 
$
(48,050
)
 
$
111,376

 
$
(134,791
)






The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.


5


DARLING INGREDIENTS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Nine months ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
October 1,
2016
 
October 3,
2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
Net Income/(loss)
$
65,544

 
$
(596
)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
212,440

 
199,970

Loss on disposal of property, plant, equipment and other assets
873

 
627

Gain on insurance proceeds from insurance settlements
(356
)
 
(561
)
Deferred taxes
(5,223
)
 
8,640

Increase/(decrease) in long-term pension liability
(1,105
)
 
678

Stock-based compensation expense
7,953

 
6,468

Write-off deferred loan costs
292

 
10,633

Deferred loan cost amortization
8,393

 
7,380

Equity in net loss/(income) of unconsolidated subsidiaries
(37,633
)
 
9,657

Distributions of earnings from unconsolidated subsidiaries
26,317

 
26,155

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions:
 
 
 
Accounts receivable
(3,058
)
 
7,658

Income taxes refundable/payable
1,432

 
3,955

Inventories and prepaid expenses
(11,368
)
 
7,667

Accounts payable and accrued expenses
27,438

 
(10,318
)
Other
(11,377
)
 
18,641

Net cash provided by operating activities
280,562

 
296,654

Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
Capital expenditures
(168,224
)
 
(162,264
)
       Acquisitions, net of cash acquired
(8,511
)
 
—

Gross proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment and other assets
4,492

 
2,473

Proceeds from insurance settlement
1,537

 
561

Payments related to routes and other intangibles
—

 
(2,939
)
Net cash used by investing activities
(170,706
)
 
(162,169
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
Proceeds from long-term debt
28,765

 
586,199

Payments on long-term debt
(128,364
)
 
(595,872
)
Borrowings from revolving credit facility
83,000

 
78,244

Payments on revolving credit facility
(93,028
)
 
(130,876
)
Net cash overdraft financing
—

 
(1,261
)
Deferred loan costs
—

 
(17,119
)
Issuance of common stock
143

 
171

Repurchase of treasury stock
(5,000
)
 
(5,912
)
Minimum withholding taxes paid on stock awards
(1,843
)
 
(4,838
)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests
(885
)
 
(2,820
)
Net cash used by financing activities
(117,212
)
 
(94,084
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
(943
)
 
(299
)
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
(8,299
)
 
40,102

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
156,884

 
108,784

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
148,585

 
$
148,886

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
 
 
 
Accrued capital expenditures
$
(3,302
)
 
$
940

Cash paid during the period for:
 
 
 
Interest, net of capitalized interest
$
62,395

 
$
57,764

Income taxes, net of refunds
$
14,018

 
$
4,005

Non-cash financing activities
 
 
 
Debt issued for assets
$
10

 
$
2,521

Contribution of assets to unconsolidated subsidiary
$
2,674

 
$
—


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

6


DARLING INGREDIENTS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
October 1, 2016
(unaudited)

(1)
General

The accompanying consolidated financial statements for the three and nine month periods ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015, have been prepared by Darling Ingredients Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Darling”, and together with its subsidiaries, the “Company”) in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  The information furnished herein reflects all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals) that are, in the opinion of management, necessary to present a fair statement of the financial position and operating results of the Company as of and for the respective periods. However, these operating results are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for a full fiscal year. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations.  However, management of the Company believes, to the best of their knowledge, that the disclosures herein are adequate to make the information presented not misleading.  The accompanying consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements contained in the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2016. 

(2)
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

(a)
Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Darling and its consolidated subsidiaries. Noncontrolling interests represent the outstanding ownership interest in the Company's consolidated subsidiaries that are not owned by the Company. In the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations, the noncontrolling interest in net income (loss) of the consolidated subsidiaries is shown as an allocation of the Company's net income and is presented separately as “Net income/(loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests”. In the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets, noncontrolling interests represent the ownership interests in the Company consolidated subsidiaries' net assets held by parties other than the Company. These ownership interests are presented separately as “Noncontrolling interests” within “Stockholders' Equity.” All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

(b)
Fiscal Periods

The Company has a 52/53 week fiscal year ending on the Saturday nearest December 31.  Fiscal periods for the consolidated financial statements included herein are as of October 1, 2016, and include the 13 and 39 weeks ended October 1, 2016, and the 13 and 39 weeks ended October 3, 2015.

(c)
Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue on sales when products are shipped and the customer takes ownership and assumes risk of loss.  Certain customers may be required to prepay prior to shipment in order to maintain payment protection related to certain foreign and domestic sales.  These amounts are recorded as unearned revenue and recognized when the products have shipped and the customer takes ownership and assumes risk of loss. The Company recognizes service revenue in the fiscal month the service occurs.

(d)
Foreign Currency Translation and Remeasurement

Foreign currency translation is included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income and reflects the adjustments resulting from translating the foreign currency denominated financial statements of foreign subsidiaries into U.S. dollars. The functional currency of the Company's foreign subsidiaries is the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates, which is generally the local currency of the country. Accordingly, assets and liabilities of the foreign subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars at fiscal period end exchange rates, including intercompany foreign currency transactions that are of long-term investment nature. Income and expense items are translated at average exchange rates occurring during the period. Changes

7


in exchange rates that affect cash flows and the related receivables or payables are recognized as transaction gains and losses in determining net income. The Company incurred net foreign currency translation gains of approximately $46.2 million for the nine months ended October 1, 2016 and net foreign currency translation losses of approximately $131.8 million for the nine months ended October 3, 2015.

(e)
Reclassifications

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

(f)
Earnings Per Share

Basic income per common share is computed by dividing net income attributable to Darling by the weighted average number of common shares including non-vested and restricted shares outstanding during the period.  Diluted income per common share is computed by dividing net income attributable to Darling by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period increased by dilutive common equivalent shares determined using the treasury stock method.
 
Net Income per Common Share (in thousands, except per share data)
 
Three Months Ended
 
 
 
October 1, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
October 3, 2015
 
 
 
Income
 
Shares
 
Per Share
 
Loss
 
Shares
 
Per Share
Basic:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net Income/(loss) attributable to Darling
$
28,694

 
164,653

 
$
0.17

 
$
(9,087
)
 
165,195

 
$
(0.06
)
Diluted:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Effect of dilutive securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Add: Option shares in the money and dilutive effect of non-vested stock awards
 

 
1,717

 
 

 
 

 
—

 
 

Less: Pro forma treasury shares
 

 
(934
)
 
 

 
 

 
—

 
 

Diluted:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Net income/(loss) attributable to Darling
$
28,694

 
165,436

 
$
0.17

 
$
(9,087
)
 
165,195

 
$
(0.06
)
 
Net Income per Common Share (in thousands, except per share data)
 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
 
October 1, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
October 3, 2015
 
 
 
Income
 
Shares
 
Per Share
 
Loss
 
Shares
 
Per Share
Basic:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net Income/(loss) attributable to Darling
$
61,772

 
164,574

 
$
0.38

 
$
(5,898
)
 
165,086

 
$
(0.04
)
Diluted:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Effect of dilutive securities:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Add: Option shares in the money and dilutive effect of non-vested stock awards
 

 
1,222

 
 

 
 

 
—

 
 

Less: Pro forma treasury shares
 

 
(642
)
 
 

 
 

 
—

 
 

Diluted:
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

Net income/(loss) attributable to Darling
$
61,772

 
165,154

 
$
0.37

 
$
(5,898
)
 
165,086

 
$
(0.04
)

For the three months ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015, respectively, 1,228,334 and 905,903 outstanding stock options were excluded from diluted income per common share as the effect was antidilutive. For the three months ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015, respectively, 887,413 and 646,813 shares of non-vested stock and stock equivalents were excluded from diluted income per common share as the effect was antidilutive.

For the nine months ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015, respectively, 1,122,165 and 947,095 outstanding stock options were excluded from diluted income per common share as the effect was antidilutive. For the nine months ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015, respectively, 812,780 and 685,624 shares of non-vested stock and stock equivalents were excluded from diluted income per common share as the effect was antidilutive.



8


(3)
Inventories

A summary of inventories follows (in thousands):

        
 
October 1, 2016
 
January 2, 2016
Finished product
$
174,727

 
$
164,428

Work in process
92,677

 
84,474

Raw material
39,239

 
48,401

Supplies and other
52,452

 
47,280

 
$
359,095

 
$
344,583


(4)
Intangible Assets

The gross carrying amount of intangible assets not subject to amortization and intangible assets subject to amortization is as follows (in thousands):
        
 
 
October 1, 2016
 
January 2, 2016
Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets
 
 
 
Trade names
$
53,097

 
$
52,466

 
53,097

 
52,466

Finite Lived Intangible Assets:
 

 
 

Routes
385,118

 
390,888

Permits
501,672

 
494,754

Non-compete agreements
3,698

 
6,996

Trade names
76,200

 
75,825

Royalty, consulting, land use rights and leasehold
14,053

 
14,139

 
980,741

 
982,602

Accumulated Amortization:
 
 
 
Routes
(100,731
)
 
(99,819
)
Permits
(162,817
)
 
(134,752
)
Non-compete agreements
(1,672
)
 
(4,628
)
Trade names
(18,922
)
 
(11,959
)
Royalty, consulting, land use rights and leasehold
(2,174
)
 
(1,561
)
 
(286,316
)
 
(252,719
)
Total Intangible assets, less accumulated amortization
$
747,522

 
$
782,349


Gross intangible routes, permits, trade names, non-compete agreements and other intangibles partially decreased in fiscal 2016 as a result of approximately $27.7 million of asset retirements. Amortization expense for the three and nine months ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015, was approximately $19.6 million, $20.8 million and $58.4 million, $63.1 million, respectively.

(5)
Goodwill

Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill (in thousands):
 
Feed Ingredients
Food Ingredients
Fuel Ingredients
Total
Balance at January 2, 2016
 
 
 
 
Goodwill
$
812,797

$
323,385

$
112,834

$
1,249,016

Accumulated impairment losses
(15,914
)
—

—

(15,914
)
 
796,883

323,385

112,834

1,233,102

Goodwill acquired during year
827

—

2

829

Foreign currency translation
13,618

5,166

3,661

22,445

Balance at October 1, 2016
 

 

 
 

Goodwill
827,242

328,551

116,497

1,272,290

Accumulated impairment losses
(15,914
)
—

—

(15,914
)
 
$
811,328

$
328,551

$
116,497

$
1,256,376


9



(6)
Investment in Unconsolidated Subsidiaries

On January 21, 2011 a wholly-owned subsidiary of Darling entered into a limited liability company agreement with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Valero Energy Corporation (“Valero”) to form Diamond Green Diesel Holdings LLC (the “DGD Joint Venture”). The DGD Joint Venture is owned 50% / 50% with Valero and was formed to design, engineer, construct and operate a renewable diesel plant (the “DGD Facility”), which is capable of processing approximately 12,000 barrels per day of input feedstock to produce renewable diesel fuel and certain other co-products, and is located adjacent to Valero's refinery in Norco, Louisiana. The DGD Joint Venture reached mechanical completion and began the production of renewable diesel in late June 2013.

On May 31, 2011, the DGD Joint Venture and Diamond Green Diesel LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the DGD Joint Venture (“Opco”), entered into (i) a facility agreement (the “Facility Agreement”) with Diamond Alternative Energy, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Valero (the “Lender”), and (ii) a loan agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) with the Lender, which provided the DGD Joint Venture with a 14 year multiple advance term loan facility of approximately $221.3 million (the “JV Loan”) to support the design, engineering and construction of the DGD Facility, which is now in production. The Facility Agreement and the Loan Agreement prohibit the Lender from assigning all or any portion of the Facility Agreement or the Loan Agreement to unaffiliated third parties. Opco has also pledged substantially all of its assets to the Lender, and the DGD Joint Venture has pledged all of Opco's equity interests to the Lender, until the JV Loan has been paid in full and the JV Loan has terminated in accordance with its terms.

In addition to the DGD Joint Venture, the Company has investments in other unconsolidated subsidiaries that are insignificant to the Company. Selected financial information for the Company's DGD Joint Venture is as follows (in thousands):

(in thousands)
 
September 30, 2016
December 31, 2015
Assets:
 
 
 
Total current assets
 
$
207,392

$
261,444

Property, plant and equipment, net
 
354,285

356,230

Other assets
 
14,094

3,034

Total assets
 
$
575,771

$
620,708

Liabilities and members' equity:
 
 
 
Total current portion of long term debt
 
$
17,023

$
62,023

Total other current liabilities
 
24,093

19,935

Total long term debt
 
58,009

86,819

Total other long term liabilities
 
408

380

Total members' equity
 
476,238

451,551

Total liabilities and member's equity
 
$
575,771

$
620,708



 
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
(in thousands)
 
September 30, 2016
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2016
September 30, 2015
Revenues:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating revenues
 
$
141,656

$
107,160

 
$
345,650

$
380,048

Expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total costs and expenses less depreciation, amortization and accretion expense
 
96,569

123,779

 
244,643

376,157

Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense
 
7,445

4,959

 
20,370

14,924

Total costs and expenses
 
104,014

128,738

 
265,013

391,081

Operating income
 
37,642

(21,578
)
 
80,637

(11,033
)
Other income
 
114

41

 
199

93

Interest and debt expense, net
 
(1,406
)
(3,122
)
 
(6,148
)
(10,629
)
Net income/(loss)
 
$
36,350

$
(24,659
)
 
$
74,688

$
(21,569
)


10


As of October 1, 2016 under the equity method of accounting, the Company has an investment in the DGD Joint Venture of approximately $238.1 million on the consolidated balance sheet and has recorded an equity net gain of approximately $37.3 million and an equity net loss of approximately $10.8 million for the nine months ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015, respectively. In the second quarter of fiscal 2016, the DGD Joint Venture received $156.4 million of the 2015 calendar year blenders tax credits from the Internal Revenue Service, made a debt payment of approximately $54.7 million and made dividend distributions to each partner in the amount $25.0 million. Additionally, with Congress' extension of the biodiesel blenders tax credit in December 2015 through December 31, 2016, the DGD Joint Venture fiscal 2016 results include blenders tax credits, while no blenders tax credits are included in the same period in the prior year.

(7)
Debt

Debt consists of the following (in thousands): 
        
 
October 1, 2016
 
January 2, 2016
Amended Credit Agreement:
 
 
 
Revolving Credit Facility ($9.4 million denominated in CAD at January 2, 2016)
$
—

 
$
9,358

Term Loan A ($89.3 million and $97.1 million denominated in CAD at October 1, 2016 and January 2, 2016, respectively)
187,590

 
277,181

Less unamortized deferred loan costs
(861
)
 
(1,552
)
Carrying value Term Loan A
186,729

 
275,629

 
 
 
 
Term Loan B
585,000

 
589,500

Less unamortized deferred loan costs
(6,670
)
 
(7,774
)
Carrying value Term Loan B
578,330

 
581,726

 
 
 
 
5.375% Senior Notes due 2022 with effective interest of 5.72%
500,000

 
500,000

Less unamortized deferred loan costs
(7,994
)
 
(8,952
)
Carrying value 5.375% Senior Notes due 2022
492,006

 
491,048

 
 
 
 
4.75% Senior Notes due 2022 - Denominated in euro with effective interest of 5.10%
574,740

 
560,912

Less unamortized deferred loan costs - Denominated in euro
(9,847
)
 
(10,705
)
Carrying value 4.75% Senior Notes due 2022
564,893

 
550,207

 
 
 
 
Other Notes and Obligations
23,572

 
23,049

 
1,845,530

 
1,931,017

Less Current Maturities
27,169

 
45,166

 
$
1,818,361

 
$
1,885,851


In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) No. 2015-03, Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. The ASU amends ASC (Subtopic 835-30), Interest - Imputation of Interest. The new standard requires debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying value of the debt liability, which is similar to the presentation of debt discounts or premiums. The costs will continue to be amortized to interest expense using the effective interest method. On January 3, 2016, the Company adopted this standard as a change in accounting principal on a retrospective basis. As of October 1, 2016 and January 2, 2016, the Company has presented debt issuance costs related to the Company's term loans and senior notes, previously reported in other assets, as direct deductions from the carrying amount of the debt liability. In addition, the Company has presented the debt issuance costs related to the Company's amended credit agreement as a deferred asset within other assets as permitted by ASU No. 2015-15, Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements, which was issued in August 2015. Upon adoption of ASU No. 2015-03, other assets of approximately $29.0 million were reclassified as a deduction from the carrying value of the recognized debt liability at January 2, 2016.

As of October 1, 2016, the Company had outstanding debt under a term loan facility denominated in Canadian dollars of CAD$117.6 million. See below for discussion relating to the Company's debt agreements. In addition, as of October 1,

11


2016, the Company had capital lease obligations denominated in Canadian dollars included in debt. The current and long-term capital lease obligation was approximately CAD$1.8 million and CAD$1.4 million, respectively.

As of October 1, 2016, the Company had outstanding debt under the Company's 4.75% Senior Notes due 2022 denominated in euros of €515.0 million. See below for discussion relating to the Company's debt agreements. In addition, at October 1, 2016, the Company had capital lease obligations denominated in euros included in debt. The current and long-term capital lease obligation was approximately €0.4 million and €0.3 million, respectively.

Senior Secured Credit Facilities. On January 6, 2014, Darling, Darling International Canada Inc. (“Darling Canada”) and Darling International NL Holdings B.V. (“Darling NL”) entered into a Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (as subsequently amended, the “Amended Credit Agreement”), restating its then existing Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated September 27, 2013 (the “Former Credit Agreement”), with the lenders from time to time party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the other agents from time to time party thereto.

The Company's Amended Credit Agreement provides for senior secured credit facilities in the aggregate principal amount of $2.65 billion comprised of (i) the Company's $350.0 million term loan A facility, (ii) the Company's $1.3 billion term loan B facility and (iii) the Company's $1.0 billion five-year revolving loan facility (approximately $250.0 million of which is available for a letter of credit sub-facility and $50.0 million of which is available for a swingline sub-facility) (collectively, the “Senior Secured Credit Facilities”). The Amended Credit Agreement also permits Darling and the other borrowers thereunder to incur ancillary facilities provided by any revolving lender party to the Senior Secured Credit Facilities (with certain restrictions). Up to $350.0 million of the revolving loan facility is available to be borrowed by Darling in U.S. dollars, Canadian dollars, euros and other currencies to be agreed and available to each applicable lender, to be borrowed by Darling Canada in Canadian dollars and to be borrowed by Darling NL, Darling Ingredients International Holding B.V. (“Darling BV”) and CTH Germany GmbH (“CTH”) in U.S. dollars, euros and other currencies to be agreed and available to each applicable lender. The revolving loan facility and term loan A facility will mature on September 27, 2018, and the term loan B facility will mature on January 7, 2021.

The interest rate applicable to any borrowings under the term loan A facility and the revolving loan facility will equal either LIBOR/euro interbank offered rate/CDOR plus 2.50% per annum or base rate/Canadian prime rate plus 1.50% per annum, subject to certain step-downs based on the Company's total leverage ratio. The interest rate applicable to any borrowings under the term loan B facility will equal (a) for U.S. dollar term loans, either the base rate plus 1.50% or LIBOR plus 2.50%, and (b) for euro term loans, the euro interbank offered rate plus 2.75%, in each case subject to a step-down based on Darling’s total leverage ratio. For term loan B loans, the LIBOR rate shall not be less than 0.75%.

As of October 1, 2016, the Company had $86.3 million outstanding under the term loan A facility at LIBOR plus a margin of 2.50% per annum for a total of 3.0625% per annum and $12.0 million outstanding under the term loan A facility at base rate plus a margin of 1.50% per annum for a total of 5.00% per annum. The Company had $585.0 million outstanding under the term loan B facility at LIBOR plus a margin of 2.50% per annum for a total of 3.25% per annum. The Company had CAD$117.6 million outstanding under the term loan A facility at CDOR plus a margin of 2.50% per annum for a total of 3.4624% per annum. As of October 1, 2016, the Company had unused capacity of $973.7 million under the Amended Credit Agreement taking into account amounts borrowed and letters of credit issued of $26.3 million. The Company also has foreign bank guarantees that are not part of the Company's Amended Credit Agreement in the amount of approximately $10.6 million at October 1, 2016.

The Amended Credit Agreement contains various customary representations and warranties by the Company, which include customary use of materiality, material adverse effect and knowledge qualifiers. The Amended Credit Agreement also contains (a) certain affirmative covenants that impose certain reporting and/or performance obligations on Darling and its subsidiaries, (b) certain negative covenants that generally prohibit, subject to various exceptions, Darling and its restricted subsidiaries from taking certain actions, including, without limitation, incurring indebtedness, making investments, incurring liens, paying dividends and engaging in mergers and consolidations, sale and leasebacks and asset dispositions, (c) financial covenants, which include a maximum total leverage ratio, a maximum secured leverage ratio and a minimum interest coverage ratio and (d) customary events of default (including a change of control) for financings of this type. Obligations under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities may be declared due and payable upon the occurrence and during the continuance of customary events of default.

5.375 % Senior Notes due 2022. On January 2, 2014, Darling Escrow Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Darling, issued $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.375% Notes due 2022 (the “5.375% Notes”) pursuant to a 5.375% Notes Indenture, dated as of January 2, 2014 (the “Original 5.375% Indenture”), among Darling Escrow Corporation, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto from time to time, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee

12


(the “5.375% Trustee”). On January 8, 2014, Darling Escrow Corporation merged with and into Darling and entered into a supplemental indenture with Darling, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto and the 5.375% Trustee (the “Supplemental 5.375% Indenture,” and together with the Original 5.375% Indenture, the “5.375% Indenture”), pursuant to which Darling assumed all obligations under the 5.375% Notes and the 5.375% Indenture. Darling and the 5.375% Guarantors completed a registered exchange offer for the 5.375% Notes under the Securities Act during the third quarter of 2014. Darling used a portion of the proceeds from the offering of the 5.375% Notes to pay certain fees and expenses (including bank fees and expenses) related to the offering and the financing of its acquisition of its Darling Ingredients International business from VION Holding, N.V. ( the “VION Acquisition”) and for purposes of satisfying, discharging and redeeming its 8.5% Notes due 2018. Darling used the remaining proceeds of the 5.375% Notes to pay certain other fees and expenses related to the completion of the VION Acquisition and its related financings, to repay a portion of the borrowings under its revolving credit facility used to fund a portion of the consideration for the VION Acquisition and for general corporate purposes.

The 5.375% Notes will mature on January 15, 2022. Darling will pay interest on the 5.375% Notes on January 15 and July 15 of each year, commencing on July 15, 2014. Interest on the 5.375% Notes will accrue at a rate of 5.375% per annum and be payable in cash. The 5.375% Notes are guaranteed on an unsecured senior basis by all of Darling's restricted subsidiaries (other than any foreign subsidiary or any receivables entity) that guarantee the Senior Secured Credit Facilities (the “5.375% Guarantors”). The 5.375% Notes and the guarantees thereof are senior unsecured obligations of Darling and the 5.375% Guarantors and rank equally in right of payment to all of Darling's and the 5.375% Guarantors' existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness. The 5.375% Indenture contains covenants limiting Darling's ability and the ability of its restricted subsidiaries to, among other things: incur additional indebtedness or issue preferred stock; pay dividends on or make distributions or repurchases of Darling's capital stock or make other restricted payments; create restrictions on the payment of dividends or other amounts from Darling's restricted subsidiaries to Darling or Darling's other restricted subsidiaries; make loans or investments; enter into certain transactions with affiliates; create liens; designate Darling's subsidiaries as unrestricted subsidiaries; and sell certain assets or merge with or into other companies or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of Darling's assets.

Other than for extraordinary events such as change of control and defined assets sales, Darling is not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments on the 5.375% Notes. The 5.375% Notes are redeemable, in whole or in part, at any time on or after January 15, 2017 at the redemption prices specified in the 5.375% Indenture. Darling may redeem some or all of the 5.375% Notes at any time prior to January 15, 2017, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 5.375% Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date and an Applicable Premium as specified in the 5.375% Indenture.

4.75 % Senior Notes due 2022. On June 3, 2015, Darling Global Finance B.V. (the “4.75% Issuer”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Darling, issued €515.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 4.75% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “4.75% Notes”) pursuant to a Senior Notes Indenture, dated as of June 3, 2015 (the “4.75% Indenture”), among the 4.75% Issuer, Darling (as guarantor), the subsidiary guarantors party thereto from time to time, Citibank, N.A., London Branch, as trustee (the “4.75% Trustee”) and principal paying agent, and Citigroup Global Markets Deutschland AG, as principal registrar. Darling used the gross proceeds from the sale of the 4.75% Notes to refinance a portion of the term loan B outstanding under Darling's Senior Secured Credit Facilities and to pay certain fees and expenses related to the offering of the 4.75% Notes and the refinancing of the term loan B. Darling intends to use any remaining proceeds for general corporate purposes.
 
The 4.75% Notes will mature on May 30, 2022. The 4.75% Issuer will pay interest on the 4.75% Notes on May 30 and November 30 of each year, commencing on November 30, 2015. Interest on the 4.75% Notes will accrue from June 3, 2015 at a rate of 4.75% per annum and be payable in cash. The 4.75% Notes are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by Darling and all of Darling's restricted subsidiaries (other than any foreign subsidiary, the 4.75% Issuer or any receivables entity) that guarantee the Senior Secured Credit Facilities (collectively “4.75% Guarantors”). The 4.75% Notes and the guarantees thereof are senior unsecured obligations of the 4.75% Issuer and the 4.75% Guarantors and rank equally in right of payment to all of the 4.75% Issuer's and the 4.75% Guarantors' existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness. The 4.75% Indenture contains covenants limiting Darling's ability and the ability of its restricted subsidiaries (including the 4.75% Issuer) to, among other things: incur additional indebtedness or issue preferred stock; pay dividends on or make other distributions or repurchases of Darling's capital stock or make other restricted payments; create restrictions on the payment of dividends or certain other amounts from Darling's restricted subsidiaries to Darling or Darling's other restricted subsidiaries; make loans or investments; enter into certain transactions with affiliates; create liens; designate Darling's subsidiaries as unrestricted subsidiaries; and sell certain assets or merge with or into other companies or otherwise dispose of all of substantially all of Darling's assets.


13


Other than for extraordinary events such as change of control and defined assets sales, the 4.75% Issuer is not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments on the 4.75% Notes. The 4.75% Notes are redeemable, in whole or in part, at any time on or after May 30, 2018 at the redemption prices specified in the 4.75% Indenture. The 4.75% Issuer may redeem some or all of the 4.75% Notes at any time prior to May 30, 2018, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 4.75% Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date and an Applicable Premium as specified in the 4.75% Indenture and all additional amounts (if any) then due or which will become due on the redemption date as a result of the redemption or otherwise (subject to the rights of holders on the relevant record dates to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date and additional amounts (if any) in respect thereof).

As of October 1, 2016, the Company believes it is in compliance with all of the financial covenants under the Amended Credit Agreement, as well as all of the other covenants contained in the Amended Credit Agreement, the 5.375% Indenture and the 4.75% Indenture. 

(8)
Income Taxes
 
The Company has provided income taxes for the three and nine month periods ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015, based on its estimate of the effective tax rate for the entire 2016 and 2015 fiscal years. The Company’s estimated annual effective tax rate is based on forecasts of income by jurisdiction, permanent differences between book and tax income, including Subpart F income and biofuel tax incentives, the relative proportion of income and losses by jurisdiction, and statutory income tax rates. Discrete events such as the assessment of the ultimate outcome of tax audits, audit settlements, recognizing previously unrecognized tax benefits due to the lapsing of statutes of limitation, recognizing or derecognizing deferred tax assets due to projections of income or loss and changes in tax laws are recognized in the period in which they occur.
 
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.  The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. The Company expects to indefinitely reinvest the earnings of its foreign subsidiaries outside of the United States and has generally not provided deferred income taxes on the accumulated earnings of its foreign subsidiaries.

The Company periodically assesses whether it is more likely than not that it will generate sufficient taxable income to realize its deferred income tax assets.  In making this determination, the Company considers all available positive and negative evidence and makes certain assumptions.  The Company considers, among other things, its deferred tax liabilities, the overall business environment, its historical earnings and losses, current industry trends and its outlook for future years.  Certain VION Companies acquired as part of the VION Acquisition have deferred tax assets for tax loss carryforwards, and the Company has recorded valuation allowances in respect to those losses to the extent it has been determined that it is not more likely than not that the deferred tax assets will be realized.

Unrecognized tax benefits represent the difference between tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return and the benefits recognized for financial statement purposes. As of October 1, 2016, the Company had $3.6 million of gross unrecognized tax benefits and $1.8 million of related accrued interest and penalties. An indemnity receivable of $4.7 million has been recorded for the uncertain tax positions related to the VION Acquisition. It is reasonably possible within the next twelve months that the Company’s gross unrecognized tax benefits may decrease by up to $2.4 million, excluding interest and penalties, primarily due to potential settlements and expiration of certain statutes of limitations.

The Company’s major taxing jurisdictions include the United States (federal and state), Canada, the Netherlands, Belgium, Brazil, Germany, France and China. The Company is subject to regular examination by various tax authorities and although the final outcome of these examinations is not yet determinable, the Company does not anticipate that any of the examinations will have a significant impact on the Company's results of operations or financial position. The statute of limitations for the Company’s major tax jurisdictions is open for varying periods, but is generally closed through the 2009 tax year.

(9)  
Other Comprehensive Income

The Company follows FASB authoritative guidance for reporting and presentation of comprehensive income or loss and its components.  Other comprehensive income (loss) is derived from adjustments that reflect pension adjustments, natural gas derivative adjustments, corn option adjustments and interest rate swap derivative adjustments. The components of

14


other comprehensive income (loss) and the related tax impacts for the three and nine months months ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015 are as follows (in thousands):

 
Three Months Ended
 
Before-Tax
Tax (Expense)
Net-of-Tax
 
Amount
or Benefit
Amount
 
October 1, 2016
October 3, 2015
October 1, 2016
October 3, 2015
October 1, 2016
October 3, 2015
Defined benefit pension plans
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortization of prior service cost/(benefit)
$
8

$
(21
)
$
(2
)
$
9

$
6

$
(12
)
Amortization of actuarial loss
1,168

1,286

(447
)
(494
)
721

792

Total defined benefit pension plans
1,176

1,265

(449
)
(485
)
727

780

Corn option derivatives
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss/(gain) reclassified to net income
(861
)
(211
)
334

82

(527
)
(129
)
Gain/(loss) activity recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)
2,060

3,254

(799
)
(1,264
)
1,261

1,990

Total corn option derivatives
1,199

3,043

(465
)
(1,182
)
734

1,861

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation
(5,839
)
(43,295
)
—

—

(5,839
)
(43,295
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive income (loss)
$
(3,464
)
$
(38,987
)
$
(914
)
$
(1,667
)
$
(4,378
)
$
(40,654
)

 
Nine Months Ended
 
Before-Tax
Tax (Expense)
Net-of-Tax
 
Amount
or Benefit
Amount
 
October 1, 2016
October 3, 2015
October 1, 2016
October 3, 2015
October 1, 2016
October 3, 2015
Defined benefit pension plans
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amortization of prior service cost/(benefit)
$
22

$
(61
)
$
(7
)
$
29

$
15

$
(32
)
Amortization of actuarial loss
3,502

3,855

(1,338
)
(1,496
)
2,164

2,359

Amortization of settlement
(123
)
—

48

—

(75
)
—

Total defined benefit pension plans
3,401

3,794

(1,297
)
(1,467
)
2,104

2,327

Corn option derivatives
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss/(gain) reclassified to net income
(3,204
)
(792
)
1,243

307

(1,961
)
(485
)
Gain/(loss) activity recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)
5,255

1,731

(2,039
)
(672
)
3,216

1,059

Total corn option derivatives
2,051

939

(796
)
(365
)
1,255

574

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation
43,684

(129,167
)
—

—

43,684

(129,167
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other Comprehensive income (loss)
$
49,136

$
(124,434
)
$
(2,093
)
$
(1,832
)
$
47,043

$
(126,266
)

The following table presents the amounts reclassified out of each component of other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax for the three and nine months months ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015 as follows (in thousands):


15


 
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
 
 
October 1, 2016
October 3, 2015
October 1, 2016
October 3, 2015
Statement of Operations Classification
Derivative instruments
 
 
 
 
 
Corn option derivatives
$
861

$
211

$
3,204

$
792

Cost of sales and operating expenses
 
861

211

3,204

792

Total before tax
 
(334
)
(82
)
(1,243
)
(307
)
Income taxes
 
527

129

1,961

485

Net of tax
Defined benefit pension plans
 
 
 
 
 
Amortization of prior service (cost)/benefit
$
(8
)
$
21

$
(22
)
$
61

(a)
Amortization of actuarial loss
(1,168
)
(1,286
)
(3,502
)
(3,855
)
(a)
Amortization of settlement
—

—

123

—

(a)
 
(1,176
)
(1,265
)
(3,401
)
(3,794
)
Total before tax
 
449

485

1,297

1,467

Income taxes
 
(727
)
(780
)
(2,104
)
(2,327
)
Net of tax
Total reclassifications
$
(200
)
$
(651
)
$
(143
)
$
(1,842
)
Net of tax

(a)
These items are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost. See Note 11 Employee Benefit Plans for additional information.

The following table presents changes in each component of accumulated comprehensive income (loss) as of October 1, 2016 as follows (in thousands):

 
 
Nine Months Ended October 1, 2016
 
 
Foreign Currency
Derivative
Defined Benefit
 
 
 
Translation
Instruments
Pension Plans
Total
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (loss) January 2, 2016, attributable to Darling, net of tax
 
$
(305,213
)
$
1,843

$
(32,548
)
$
(335,918
)
Other comprehensive gain before reclassifications
 
43,684

3,216

—

46,900

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)
 
—

(1,961
)
2,104

143

Net current-period other comprehensive income
 
43,684

1,255

2,104

47,043

Noncontrolling interest
 
(2,561
)
—

—

(2,561
)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (loss) October 1, 2016, attributable to Darling, net of tax
 
(258,968
)
$
3,098

$
(30,444
)
$
(286,314
)

(10)    Stockholders' Equity

In August 2015, the Company's Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program of up to an aggregate of $100.0 million of the Company's Common Stock depending on market conditions. The repurchases may be made from time to time on the open market at prevailing market prices or in negotiated transactions off the market. Repurchases may occur over the 24 month period ending in August 2017, unless extended or shortened by the Board of Directors. During the first nine months of fiscal 2016, the Company repurchased approximately $5.0 million of its Common Stock in the open market. As of October 1, 2016, the Company has approximately $89.1 million remaining under the share repurchase program approved in August 2015.

Fiscal 2015 Long-Term Incentive Opportunity Awards (2015 LTIP). The Company met the requisite performance measure under the 2015 LTIP. Accordingly, in accordance with the terms of the 2015 LTIP, the Company granted 452,878 stock options, 454,916 shares of nonvested stock and 147,390 restricted stock units in the first quarter of fiscal 2016.

Fiscal 2016 Long-Term Incentive Opportunity Awards (2016 LTIP). On February 25, 2016, the Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of the Company's Board of Directors adopted the 2016 LTIP pursuant to which they awarded certain of the Company's key employees, including the Company's named executive officers', 1,092,942 stock options and 663,419 performance share units (the “PSUs”) under the Company's 2012 Omnibus Incentive Plan. The stock options vest 33.33% on the first, second and third anniversaries of the grant date. The PSUs are tied to two- and three-year forward-looking performance periods and will be earned based on the Company's average return on capital employed (ROCE), as calculated

16


in accordance with the terms of the award agreement, relative to the average ROCE of the Company's performance peer group companies, with the earned award to be determined in the first quarter of fiscal 2018 or fiscal 2019, respectively, after the final results for the relevant performance period are determined. The PSUs were granted at a target of 100%, but each PSU will reduce or increase depending on the Company's ROCE relative to that of the performance peer group companies and is also subject to the application of a total shareholder return (TSR) cap/collar modifier depending on the Company's TSR during the performance period relative to that of the performance peer group companies. In addition, certain of the PSUs have a two-year holding requirement after vesting before the PSUs are settled in shares of the Company's Common Stock.

(11)    Employee Benefit Plans

The Company has retirement and pension plans covering a substantial number of its domestic and foreign employees.  Most retirement benefits are provided by the Company under separate final-pay noncontributory and contributory defined benefit and defined contribution plans for all salaried and hourly employees (excluding those covered by union-sponsored plans) who meet service and age requirements. Although various defined benefit formulas exist for employees, generally these are based on length of service and earnings patterns during employment. Effective January 1, 2012, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the Company to proceed with the restructuring of its domestic retirement benefit program to include the closing of Darling's salaried and hourly defined benefit plans to new participants as well as the freezing of service and wage accruals thereunder effective December 31, 2011 (a curtailment of these plans for financial reporting purposes) and the enhancing of benefits under the Company's domestic defined contribution plans. The Company-sponsored domestic hourly union plan has not been curtailed; however, several locations of the Company-sponsored domestic hourly union plan have been curtailed as a result of collective bargaining renewals for those sites.

In March 2016 a small pension plan acquired in the VION Acquisition was amended to terminate the plan effective in May 2016 (a curtailment of the plan for financial reporting purposes at April 2, 2016).

Net pension cost for the three and nine months months ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015 includes the following components (in thousands):

 
Pension Benefits
 
Pension Benefits
 
Three Months Ended

Nine Months Ended
 
October 1,
2016
October 3,
2015

October 1,
2016
October 3,
2015
Service cost
$
599

$
1,633

 
$
1,921

$
4,978

Interest cost
1,702

2,622

 
5,217

7,907

Expected return on plan assets
(1,886
)
(3,053
)
 
(5,661
)
(9,169
)
Amortization of prior service cost/(benefit)
8

(21
)
 
22

(61
)
Amortization of net loss
1,168

1,286

 
3,502

3,855

Curtailment gain
(62
)
—

 
(1,285
)
—

Settlement gain
—

—

 
(123
)
—

Net pension cost
$
1,529

$
2,467

 
$
3,593

$
7,510


The Company's funding policy for employee benefit pension plans is to contribute annually not less than the minimum amount required nor more than the maximum amount that can be deducted for federal and foreign income tax purposes.  Contributions are intended to provide not only for benefits attributed to service to date, but also for those expected to be earned in the future. Based on actuarial estimates at October 1, 2016, the Company expects to contribute approximately $3.7 million to its pension plans to meet funding requirements during the next twelve months. Additionally, the Company has made tax deductible discretionary and required contributions to its pension plans for the nine months ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015 of approximately $2.9 million and $5.0 million, respectively.  

The Company participates in various multiemployer pension plans which provide defined benefits to certain employees covered by labor contracts.  These plans are not administered by the Company and contributions are determined in accordance with provisions of negotiated labor contracts to meet their pension benefit obligations to their participants.   The Company's contributions to each multiemployer plan represent less than 5% of the total contributions to each such plan. Based on the most currently available information, the Company has determined that, if a withdrawal were to occur, withdrawal liabilities on two of the plans in which the Company currently participates could be material to the Company, with one of these material plans certified as critical or red zone. With respect to the other multiemployer pension plans

17


in which the Company participates and which are not individually significant, six plans have certified as critical or red zone, one plan has certified as endangered or yellow zone as defined by the Pension Protection Act of 2006.

The Company has received notices of withdrawal liability from two U.S. multiemployer plans in which it participated. As of October 1, 2016, the Company has an aggregate accrued liability of approximately $1.9 million representing the present value of scheduled withdrawal liability payments under these multiemployer plans. While the Company has no ability to calculate a possible current liability for under-funded multiemployer plans that could terminate or could require additional funding under the Pension Protection Act of 2006, the amounts could be material.

(12)
Derivatives

The Company’s operations are exposed to market risks relating to commodity prices that affect the Company’s cost of raw materials, finished product prices and energy costs and the risk of changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates.

The Company makes limited use of derivative instruments to manage cash flow risks related to natural gas usage, diesel fuel usage, inventory, forecasted sales and foreign currency exchange rates. The Company does not use derivative instruments for trading purposes.  Natural gas swaps and options are entered into with the intent of managing the overall cost of natural gas usage by reducing the potential impact of seasonal weather demands on natural gas that increases natural gas prices.  Heating oil swaps and options are entered into with the intent of managing the overall cost of diesel fuel usage by reducing the potential impact of seasonal weather demands on diesel fuel that increases diesel fuel prices.  Corn options and future contracts are entered into with the intent of managing U.S. forecasted sales of bakery by-products (“BBP”) by reducing the impact of changing prices.  Foreign currency forward contracts are entered into to mitigate the foreign exchange rate risk for transactions designated in a currency other than the local functional currency. At October 1, 2016, the Company had corn option contracts outstanding that qualified and were designated for hedge accounting as well as heating oil swap contracts, corn option and forward contracts and foreign currency forward contracts that did not qualify and were not designated for hedge accounting.

Entities are required to report all derivative instruments in the statement of financial position at fair value. The accounting for changes in the fair value (i.e., gains or losses) of a derivative instrument depends on whether it has been designated and qualifies as part of a hedging relationship and, if so, on the reason for holding the instrument. If certain conditions are met, entities may elect to designate a derivative instrument as a hedge of exposures to changes in fair value, cash flows or foreign currencies. If the hedged exposure is a cash flow exposure, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is reported initially as a component of other comprehensive income (outside of earnings) and is subsequently reclassified into earnings when the forecasted transaction affects earnings. Any amounts excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness, as well as the ineffective portion of the gain or loss, are reported in earnings immediately. If the derivative instrument is not designated as a hedge, the gain or loss is recognized in earnings in the period of change.

Cash Flow Hedges

In fiscal 2015 and the first nine months of fiscal 2016, the Company entered into corn option contracts on the Chicago Board of Trade that are considered cash flow hedges. Under the terms of the corn option contracts, the Company hedged a portion of its U.S. forecasted sales of BBP through the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017. As of October 1, 2016, some of the contracts have settled while the remaining contract positions and activity are disclosed below. From time to time, the Company may enter into corn option contracts in the future.

As of October 1, 2016, the Company had the following outstanding forward contract amounts that were entered into to hedge the future payments of intercompany note transactions, foreign currency transactions in currencies other than the functional currency and forecasted transactions in currencies other than the functional currency. All of these transactions are currently not designated for hedge accounting (in thousands):


18


Functional Currency
 
Contract Currency
Type
Amount
 
Type
Amount
Brazilian real
28,514

 
Euro
6,850

Brazilian real
73,423

 
U.S. dollar
20,125

Euro
188,728

 
U.S. dollar
211,779

Euro
9,825

 
Polish zloty
43,000

Euro
3,395

 
Japanese yen
385,211

Euro
33,928

 
Chinese renminbi
254,639

Euro
11,126

 
Australian dollar
16,400

Euro
117

 
British pound
100

Polish zloty
19,027

 
Euro
4,379

Japanese yen
25,835

 
U.S. dollar
237


The Company estimates the amount that will be reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive gain at October 1, 2016 into earnings over the next 12 months will be approximately $5.1 million. As of October 1, 2016, no amounts have been reclassified into earnings as a result of the discontinuance of cash flow hedges.

The following table presents the fair value of the Company’s derivative instruments under FASB authoritative guidance as of October 1, 2016 and January 2, 2016 (in thousands):

Derivatives Designated
Balance Sheet
Asset Derivatives Fair Value
as Hedges
Location
October 1, 2016
January 2, 2016
Corn options
Other current assets
$
5,719

$
3,215

 
 
 
 
Total asset derivatives designated as hedges
$
5,719

$
3,215

 
 
 
 
Derivatives Not
Designated as
Hedges
 
 

 

Foreign currency contracts
Other current assets
$
3,457

$
644

Corn options and futures
Other current assets
710

599

 
 
 
 
Total asset derivatives not designated as hedges
$
4,167

$
1,243

 
 
 
 
Total asset derivatives
 
$
9,886

$
4,458


 
Balance Sheet
Liability Derivatives Fair Value
 
Location
October 1, 2016
January 2, 2016
 
 
 
 
Derivatives Not
Designated as
Hedges
 
 

 

Foreign currency contracts
Accrued expenses
$
712

$
4,435

Heating oil swaps and options
Accrued expenses
223

—

Corn options and futures
Accrued expenses
66

2

 
 
 
 
Total liability derivatives not designated as hedges
$
1,001

$
4,437

 
 
 
 
Total liability derivatives
$
1,001

$
4,437



19


The effect of the Company’s derivative instruments on the consolidated financial statements as of and for the three months ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015 is as follows (in thousands):

 
 
 
Derivatives
Designated as
Cash Flow Hedges
 
Gain or (Loss)
Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (“OCI”)
on Derivatives
(Effective Portion) (a)
Gain or (Loss)
Reclassified from
Accumulated OCI
into Income
(Effective Portion) (b)
Gain or (Loss)
Recognized in Income
on Derivatives
(Ineffective Portion and
Amount Excluded from
Effectiveness Testing) (c)
 
2016
2015
2016
2015
2016
2015
Corn options
$
2,060

$
3,254

$
861

$
211

$
323

$
1,206

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
$
2,060

$
3,254

$
861

$
211

$
323

$
1,206


(a)
Amount recognized in accumulated OCI (effective portion) is reported as accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) of approximately $2.1 million and $3.3 million recorded net of taxes of approximately $(0.8) million and $(1.3) million as of October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015, respectively.
(b)
Gains and (losses) reclassified from accumulated OCI into income (effective portion) for corn options are included in cost of sales, respectively, in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.
(c)
Gains and (losses) recognized in income on derivatives (ineffective portion) for corn options are included in other income/ (expense), net in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.

The effect of the Company’s derivative instruments on the consolidated financial statements as of and for the nine months ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015 is as follows (in thousands):

 
 
 
Derivatives
Designated as
Cash Flow Hedges
 
Gain or (Loss)
Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income (“OCI”)
on Derivatives
(Effective Portion) (a)
Gain or (Loss)
Reclassified from
Accumulated OCI
into Income
(Effective Portion) (b)
Gain or (Loss)
Recognized in Income
on Derivatives
(Ineffective Portion and
Amount Excluded from
Effectiveness Testing) (c)
 
2016
2015
2016
2015
2016
2015
Corn options
$
5,255

$
1,731

$
3,204

$
792

$
537

$
479

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
$
5,255

$
1,731

$
3,204

$
792

$
537

$
479


(a)
Amount recognized in accumulated OCI (effective portion) is reported as accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) of approximately $5.3 million and $1.7 million recorded net of taxes of approximately $(2.0) million and $(0.7) million as of October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015, respectively.
(b)
Gains and (losses) reclassified from accumulated OCI into income (effective portion) for corn options are included in cost of sales, respectively, in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.
(c)
Gains and (losses) recognized in income on derivatives (ineffective portion) for corn options are included in other income/ (expense), net in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.

The table below summarizes the effect of derivatives not designated as hedges on the Company's consolidated statements of operations for the three and nine months months ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015 (in thousands):


20


 
 
 
 
Loss or (Gain) Recognized in Income on Derivatives Not Designated as Hedges
 
 
 
 
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments
 
Location
 
October 1, 2016
October 3, 2015
October 1, 2016
October 3, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign Exchange
 
Foreign currency loss/(gain)
 
$
1,871

$
2,003

$
5,954

$
(19,404
)
Foreign Exchange
 
Selling, general and administrative expense
 
(786
)
4,112

(7,565
)
7,103

Corn options and futures
 
Net sales
 
267

(95
)
612

(25
)
Corn options and futures
 
Cost of sales and operating expenses
 
(997
)
(1,516
)
(1,610
)
(1,138
)
Heating Oil swaps and options
 
Net sales
 
323

—

476

—

Heating Oil swaps and options
 
Cost of sales and operating expenses
 
—

11

—

141

Soybean Meal
 
Net sales
 
—

—

7

—

Total
 
 
 
$
678

$
4,515

$
(2,126
)
$
(13,323
)

At October 1, 2016, the Company had forward purchase agreements in place for purchases of approximately $7.7 million of natural gas and diesel fuel.  These forward purchase agreements have no net settlement provisions and the Company intends to take physical delivery of the underlying product.  Accordingly, the forward purchase agreements are not subject to the requirements of fair value accounting because they qualify and the Company has elected to account for these as normal purchases as defined in the FASB authoritative guidance.

(13)    Fair Value Measurements

FASB authoritative guidance defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements.  The following table presents the Company’s financial instruments that are measured at fair value on a recurring and nonrecurring basis as of October 1, 2016 and are categorized using the fair value hierarchy under FASB authoritative guidance.  The fair value hierarchy has three levels based on the reliability of the inputs used to determine the fair value. 

 
 
Fair Value Measurements at October 1, 2016 Using
 
 
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
Significant Other
Observable
Inputs
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(In thousands of dollars)
Total
(Level 1)
(Level 2)
(Level 3)
Assets:
 
 
 
 
Derivative instruments
$
9,886

$
—

$
9,886

$
—

Total Assets
$
9,886

$
—

$
9,886

$
—

 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
Derivative instruments
$
1,001

$
—

$
1,001

$
—

5.375% Senior notes
521,900

—

521,900

—

4.75% Senior notes
586,235

—

586,235

—

Term loan A
188,059

—

188,059

—

Term loan B
589,388

—

589,388

—

Total Liabilities
$
1,886,583

$
—

$
1,886,583

$
—



21


 
 
Fair Value Measurements at January 2, 2016 Using
 
 
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
Significant Other
Observable
Inputs
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(In thousands of dollars)
Total
(Level 1)
(Level 2)
(Level 3)
Assets:
 
 
 
 
Derivative instruments
$
4,458

$
—

$
4,458

$
—

Total Assets
$
4,458

$
—

$
4,458

$
—

 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
Derivative instruments
$
4,437

$
—

$
4,437

$
—

5.375% Senior notes
495,000

—

495,000

—

4.75% Senior notes
541,280

—

541,280

—

Term loan A
277,874

—

277,874

—

Term loan B
577,710

—

577,710

—

Revolver debt
9,218

—

9,218

—

Total Liabilities
$
1,905,519

$
—

$
1,905,519

$
—


Derivative assets consist of the Company’s heating oil swap and option contracts, corn option and future contracts and foreign currency contracts, which represents the difference between observable market rates of commonly quoted intervals for similar assets and liabilities in active markets and the fixed swap rate considering the instruments term, notional amount and credit risk.  See Note 12 (Derivatives) for breakdown by instrument type.

Derivative liabilities consist of the Company’s heating oil swap and option contracts, corn option and future contracts and foreign currency contracts, which represents the difference between observable market rates of commonly quoted intervals for similar assets and liabilities in active markets and the fixed swap rate considering the instruments term, notional amount and credit risk.  See Note 12 (Derivatives) for breakdown by instrument type.

The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses approximates fair value due to the short maturity of these instruments and as such have been excluded from the table above. The carrying amount for the Company's other debt is not deemed to be significantly different than the fair value and all other instruments have been recorded at fair value. 

The fair value of the senior notes, term loan A, term loan B and revolver debt is based on market quotation from third-party banks.

(14)
Contingencies 

The Company is a party to lawsuits, claims and loss contingencies arising in the ordinary course of its business, including insured worker's compensation, auto, and general liability claims, assertions by certain regulatory and governmental agencies related to permitting requirements and/or air, wastewater and storm water discharges from the Company’s processing facilities, litigation involving tort, contract, statutory, labor, employment, and other claims, and tax matters.

The Company’s workers compensation, auto and general liability policies contain significant deductibles or self-insured retentions.  The Company estimates and accrues its expected ultimate claim costs related to accidents occurring during each fiscal year under these insurance policies and carries this accrual as a reserve until these claims are paid by the Company.

As a result of the matters discussed above, the Company has established loss reserves for insurance, environmental, litigation and tax contingencies. At October 1, 2016 and January 2, 2016, the reserves for insurance, environmental, litigation and tax contingencies reflected on the balance sheet in accrued expenses and other non-current liabilities were approximately $54.4 million and $54.6 million, respectively.  The Company has insurance recovery receivables of approximately $12.2 million as of October 1, 2016 and January 2, 2016, related to the insurance contingencies. The Company's management believes these reserves for contingencies are reasonable and sufficient based upon present governmental regulations and information currently available to management; however, there can be no assurance that final costs related to these contingencies will not exceed current estimates. The Company believes that the likelihood is remote that any additional liability from the lawsuits and claims that may not be covered by insurance would have a material effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

22



Lower Passaic River Area. In December 2009, the Company, along with numerous other entities, received notice from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) that the Company (as successor-in-interest to Standard Tallow Company) is considered a potentially responsible party (a “PRP”) with respect to alleged contamination in the lower Passaic River area which is part of the Diamond Alkali Superfund Site located in Newark, New Jersey. The Company’s designation as a PRP is based upon the operation of a former plant site located in Newark, New Jersey by Standard Tallow Company, an entity that the Company acquired in 1996. In the letter, EPA requested that the Company join a group of other parties in funding a remedial investigation and feasibility study at the site. As of the date of this report, the Company has not agreed to participate in the funding group. In March 2016, the Company received another letter from EPA notifying the Company that it had issued a Record of Decision selecting a remedy for the lower 8.3 miles of the lower Passaic River area at an estimated cost of $1.38 billion. The EPA letter makes no demand on the Company and lays out a framework for remedial design/remedial action implementation in which the EPA will first seek funding from major PRPs. The letter indicates that the EPA has sent the letter to over 100 parties, which include large chemical and refining companies, manufacturing companies, foundries, plastic companies, pharmaceutical companies and food and consumer product companies. The Company's ultimate liability, if any, for investigatory costs, remedial costs and/or natural resource damages in connection with the lower Passaic River area cannot be determined at this time; however, as of the date of this report, the Company has found no evidence that the former Standard Tallow Company plant site contributed any of the primary contaminants of concern to the Passaic River and, therefore, there is nothing that leads the Company to believe that this matter will have a material effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Fresno Facility Permit Issue. The Company has been named as a defendant and a real party in interest in a lawsuit filed on April 9, 2012 in the Superior Court of the State of California, Fresno County, styled Concerned Citizens of West Fresno vs. Darling International Inc. The complaint, as subsequently amended, alleges that the Company's Fresno facility is operating without a proper use permit and seeks, among other things, injunctive relief. The complaint had at one time also alleged that the Company's Fresno facility constitutes a continuing private and public nuisance, but the plaintiff has since amended the complaint to drop these allegations. The City of Fresno was also named as a defendant in the original complaint but has since had a judgment entered in its favor and is no longer a defendant in the lawsuit; however, in December 2013 the City of Fresno filed a motion to intervene as a plaintiff in this matter. The Superior Court heard the motion on February 4, 2014, and entered an order on February 18, 2014 denying the motion. Rendering operations have been conducted on the site since 1955, and the Company believes that it possesses all of the required federal, state and local permits to continue to operate the facility in the manner currently conducted and that its operations do not constitute a private or public nuisance. Accordingly, the Company intends to defend itself vigorously in this matter. Discovery has begun and this matter was scheduled for trial in July 2014; however, the parties have agreed to stay the litigation while they participate in a mediation process. While management cannot predict the ultimate outcome of this matter, management does not believe the outcome will have a material effect on the Company's financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

(15)
Business Segments

The Company sells its products domestically and internationally and operates within three industry segments: Feed Ingredients, Food Ingredients and Fuel Ingredients. The measure of segment profit (loss) includes all revenues, operating expenses (excluding certain amortization of intangibles), and selling, general and administrative expenses incurred at all operating locations and excludes general corporate expenses.

Included in corporate activities are general corporate expenses and the amortization of certain intangibles. Assets of corporate activities include cash, unallocated prepaid expenses, deferred tax assets, prepaid pension, and miscellaneous other assets.

Feed Ingredients
Feed Ingredients consists principally of (i) the Company's U.S. ingredients business, including the Company's used cooking oil, trap grease and food residuals collection businesses, the Rothsay ingredients business, and the ingredients and specialty products businesses conducted by Darling Ingredients International under the Sonac name (proteins, fats, and plasma products) and (ii) the Company's bakery residuals business. Feed Ingredients operations process animal by-products and used cooking oil into fats, protein and hides.

Food Ingredients
Food Ingredients consists principally of (i) the gelatin and collagen hydrolysates business conducted by Darling Ingredients International under the Rousselot name, (ii) the natural casings and meat-by-products business conducted by Darling

23


Ingredients International under the CTH name and (iii) certain specialty products businesses conducted by Darling Ingredients International under the Sonac name.

Fuel Ingredients
The Company's Fuel Ingredients segment consists of (i) the Company's biofuel business conducted under the Dar Pro® and Rothsay names (ii) the bioenergy business conducted by Darling Ingredients International under the Ecoson and Rendac names and (iii) the Company's investment in the DGD Joint Venture.

Business Segments (in thousands):

 
Feed Ingredients
Food Ingredients
Fuel Ingredients
Corporate
Total
Three Months Ended October 1, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
Net Sales
$
531,413

$
261,997

$
60,446

$
—

$
853,856

Cost of sales and operating expenses
413,602

211,318

46,247

—

671,167

Gross Margin
117,811

50,679

14,199

—

182,689

 
 
 
 
 
 
Selling, general and administrative expense
38,943

25,352

1,332

10,881

76,508

Acquisition and integration costs
—

—

—

—

—

Depreciation and amortization
43,614

17,383

6,896

2,760

70,653

Segment operating income/(loss)
35,254

7,944

5,971

(13,641
)
35,528

 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity in net income/(loss) of unconsolidated subsidiaries
(36
)
—

18,174

—

18,138

Segment income/(loss)
35,218

7,944

24,145

(13,641
)
53,666

 
 
 
 
 
 
Total other expense
 
 
 
 
(25,520
)
Income before income taxes
 
 
 
 
$
28,146



 
Feed Ingredients
Food Ingredients
Fuel Ingredients
Corporate
Total
Three Months Ended October 3, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
Net Sales
$
525,213

$
269,230

$
59,319

$
—

$
853,762

Cost of sales and operating expenses
409,030

214,406

47,885

—

671,321

Gross Margin
116,183

54,824

11,434

—

182,441

 
 
 
 
 
 
Selling, general and administrative expense
39,718

26,118

4,459

4,731

75,026

Acquisition and integration costs
—

—

—

1,280

1,280

Depreciation and amortization
40,846

17,144

6,729

2,608

67,327

Segment operating income/(loss)
35,619

11,562

246

(8,619
)
38,808

 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity in net income/(loss) of unconsolidated subsidiaries
309

—

(12,330
)
—

(12,021
)
Segment income/(loss)
35,928

11,562

(12,084
)
(8,619
)
26,787

 
 
 
 
 
 
Total other expense
 
 
 
 
(26,285
)
Income before income taxes
 
 
 
 
$
502


24


 
 
Feed Ingredients
Food Ingredients
Fuel Ingredients
Corporate
Total
Nine Months Ended October 1, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
Net Sales
$
1,550,539

$
782,014

$
178,285

$
—

$
2,510,838

Cost of sales and operating expenses
1,202,404

611,151

133,620

—

1,947,175

Gross Margin
348,135

170,863

44,665

—

563,663

 
 
 
 
 
 
Selling, general and administrative expense
127,513

69,566

4,986

32,070

234,135

Acquisition and integration costs
—

—

—

401

401

Depreciation and amortization
130,110

51,823

20,999

9,508

212,440

Segment operating income/(loss)
90,512

49,474

18,680

(41,979
)
116,687

 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity in net income of unconsolidated subsidiaries
290

—

37,343

—

37,633

Segment income/(loss)
90,802

49,474

56,023

(41,979
)
154,320

 
 
 
 
 
 
Total other expense
 
 
 
 
(79,674
)
Income before income taxes
 
 
 
 
$
74,646

 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment assets at October 1, 2016
$
2,493,164

$
1,472,079

$
641,823

$
209,818

$
4,816,884



 
Feed Ingredients
Food Ingredients
Fuel Ingredients
Corporate
Total
Nine Months Ended October 3, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
Net Sales
$
1,602,141

$
822,741

$
162,889

$
—

$
2,587,771

Cost of sales and operating expenses
1,237,936

654,233

131,949

—

2,024,118

Gross Margin
364,205

168,508

30,940

—

563,653

 
 
 
 
 
 
Selling, general and administrative expense
136,397

79,461

6,204

23,889

245,951

Acquisition and integration costs
—

—

—

7,807

7,807

Depreciation and amortization
121,386

51,126

19,959

7,499

199,970

Segment operating income/(loss)
106,422

37,921

4,777

(39,195
)
109,925

 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity in net income/(loss) of unconsolidated subsidiaries
1,128

—

(10,785
)
—

(9,657
)
Segment income/(loss)
107,550

37,921

(6,008
)
(39,195
)
100,268

 
 
 
 
 
 
Total other expense
 
 
 
 
(86,225
)
Income before income taxes
 
 
 
 
$
14,043

 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment assets at January 2, 2016
$
2,438,869

$
1,448,014

$
631,968

$
241,768

$
4,760,619


(16)
Related Party Transactions

Raw Material Agreement

The Company entered into a Raw Material Agreement with the DGD Joint Venture in May 2011 pursuant to which the Company will offer to supply certain animal fats and used cooking oil at market prices, up to the DGD Joint Venture's full operational requirement of feedstock, but the DGD Joint Venture is not obligated to purchase the raw material offered by the Company. Additionally, the Company may offer other feedstocks to the DGD Joint Venture, such as inedible corn oil, purchased on a resale basis. For the three months ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015, the Company has recorded sales to the DGD Joint Venture of approximately $42.4 million and $42.8 million, respectively. For the nine months ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015, the Company has recorded sales to the DGD Joint Venture of approximately $109.0 million and $125.8 million, respectively. At October 1, 2016 and January 2, 2016, the Company has $7.7 million and $5.1 million in outstanding receivables due from the DGD Joint Venture, respectively. In addition, the Company has eliminated approximately $5.8 million of additional sales for the three months ended October 1, 2016 to defer the Company's portion of profit of approximately $1.0 million on those sales relating to inventory assets remaining on the DGD Joint Venture's balance sheet at October 1, 2016.

25



Revolving Loan Agreement

On February 23, 2015, Darling through its wholly owned subsidiary Darling Green Energy LLC, (“Darling Green”) and a third party Diamond Alternative Energy, LLC (“Diamond Alternative” and together with Darling Green, the “DGD Lenders”) entered into a revolving loan agreement (the “DGD Loan Agreement”) with the DGD Joint Venture Opco. The DGD Lenders have committed to making loans available to Opco in the total amount of $10.0 million with each lender committed to $5.0 million of the total commitment. Any borrowings by Opco under the DGD Loan Agreement are at the applicable annum rate equal to the sum of (a) the LIBO Rate (meaning Reuters BBA Libor Rates Page 3750) on such day plus (b) 2.50%. The DGD Loan Agreement matures on December 31, 2016, unless extended by agreement of the parties. During the first nine months of fiscal 2016, Opco borrowed and repaid $2.5 million plus an insignificant amount of interest to Darling Green. As of October 1, 2016, no amounts are owed to Darling Green under the DGD Loan Agreement.

(17)    New Accounting Pronouncements

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. This ASU amends Topic 230, Statement of Cash Flows, which is intended to reduce the existing diversity in practice for classifying various types of cash flows including debt extinguishment costs, zero-coupon debt, contingent consideration related to business combinations, insurance proceeds, equity method distributions and beneficial interests in securitizations. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. This ASU amends Topic 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation, which simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payments, including immediate recognition of all excess tax benefits and deficiencies in the income statement, changing the threshold to qualify for equity classification up to the employees' maximum statutory tax rates, allowing an entity-wide accounting policy election to either estimate the number of awards that are expected to vest or account for forfeitures as they occur, and clarifying the classification on the statement of cash flows for the excess tax benefit and employee taxes paid when an employer withholds shares for tax-withholding purposes. Early adoption is permitted for any entity in any interim or annual period. If an entity early adopts the amendments in an interim period, any adjustments should be reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes that interim period. An entity that elects early adoption must adopt all of the amendments in the same period. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016 and for interim periods therein. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-07, Simplifying the Transition to the Equity Method of Accounting. This ASU amends Topic 323, Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures, which eliminates the requirement to retrospectively apply equity method accounting when an entity increases ownership or influence in a previously held investment. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016 and for interim periods therein. The adoption of this standard will not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (topic 842). Under the new ASU, lessees will be required to recognize the following for all leases (with the exception of short-term leases) at the commencement date: (1) a lease liability, which is a lessee‘s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis; and (2) a right-of-use asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term. Under the new guidance lessor accounting is largely unchanged. The new lease guidance simplified the accounting for sale and leaseback transactions primarily because lessees must recognize lease assets and lease liabilities. Lessees (for capital and operating leases) and lessors (for sales-type, direct financing, and operating leases) must apply a modified retrospective transition approach for leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. The modified retrospective approach would not require any transition accounting for leases that expired before the earliest comparative period presented. This ASU is effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory. This ASU amends Topic 330, Inventory. The ASU simplifies the measurement of inventory by requiring certain inventory to be measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value. The ASU is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016 and for interim periods therein. The adoption of this standard will not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

26



In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which will supersede nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under GAAP. The new ASU introduces a new five-step revenue recognition model in which an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In addition, this ASU requires disclosures sufficient to enable the users to understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers, including qualitative and quantitative disclosures about contracts with customers, significant judgments and changes in judgments, and assets recognized from the costs to obtain or fulfill a contract. In July 2015, the FASB deferred the elective date of the standard by one year. This ASU allows for either full retrospective or modified retrospective adoption and will become effective for the Company for the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard and the transition plan the Company will adopt.

(18)     Guarantor Financial Information

The Company's 5.375% Notes and 4.75% Notes (see Note 7) are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by the following Notes Guarantors, each of which is a 100% directly or indirectly owned subsidiary of Darling and which constitute all of Darling's existing restricted subsidiaries that are Credit Agreement Guarantors (other than Darling's foreign subsidiaries, Darling Global Finance B.V., which issued the 4.75% Notes and is discussed further below, or any receivables entity): Darling National, Griffin and its subsidiary Craig Protein, Darling AWS LLC, Terra Holding Company, Darling Global Holdings Inc., Darling Northstar LLC, TRS, EV Acquisition, Inc., Rousselot Inc., Rousselot Dubuque Inc., Sonac USA LLC and Rousselot Peabody Inc. In addition, the 4.75% Notes, which were issued by Darling Global Finance B.V., a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Darling, are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by Darling. The Notes Guarantors, and Darling in the case of the 4.75% Notes, fully and unconditionally guaranteed the 5.375% Notes and 4.75% Notes on a joint and several basis. The following financial statements present condensed consolidating financial data for (i) Darling, (ii) the combined Notes Guarantors, (iii) the combined other subsidiaries of the Company that did not guarantee the 5.375% Notes or the 4.75% Notes (the “Non-guarantors”), and (iv) eliminations necessary to arrive at the Company's consolidated financial statements, which include condensed consolidated balance sheets as of October 1, 2016 and January 2, 2016, and the condensed consolidating statements of operations, the condensed consolidating statements of comprehensive income and the condensed consolidating statements of cash flows for the three and nine months ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015. Separate financial information is not presented for Darling Global Finance B.V. since it was formed as a special purpose finance subsidiary for the purpose of issuing the 4.75% Notes and therefore does not have any substantial operations or assets.



27



Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
As of October 1, 2016
(in thousands)

 
Parent
Guarantors
Non-guarantors
Eliminations
Consolidated
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
1,377

$
1,742

$
145,466

$
—

$
148,585

Restricted cash
103

—

191

—

294

Accounts receivable
33,178

91,987

354,447

(96,755
)
382,857

Inventories
21,154

97,957

239,984

—

359,095

Income taxes refundable
8,933

—

4,289

—

13,222

Prepaid expenses
14,365

2,623

23,353

—

40,341

Other current assets
7,481

2,038

14,235

(5,145
)
18,609

Total current assets
86,591

196,347

781,965

(101,900
)
963,003

Investment in subsidiaries
4,230,796

1,141,644

803,728

(6,176,168
)
—

Property, plant and equipment, net
223,556

495,111

816,518

—

1,535,185

Intangible assets, net
14,732

300,222

432,568

—

747,522

Goodwill
21,860

549,690

684,826

—

1,256,376

Investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries
1,861

—

259,829

—

261,690

Other assets
30,210

446,233

306,849

(747,380
)
35,912

Deferred taxes
—

—

17,196

—

17,196

 
$
4,609,606

$
3,129,247

$
4,103,479

$
(7,025,448
)
$
4,816,884

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 

 

 
 
 

Current portion of long-term debt
$
5,729

$
—

$
26,585

$
(5,145
)
$
27,169

Accounts payable
39,588

82,352

120,465

(73,849
)
168,556

Income taxes payable
(383
)
373

9,384

—

9,374

Accrued expenses
79,242

31,024

167,200

(22,905
)
254,561

Total current liabilities
124,176

113,749

323,634

(101,899
)
459,660

Long-term debt, net of current portion
1,163,790

—

1,401,951

(747,380
)
1,818,361

Other noncurrent liabilities
54,228

—

35,289

—

89,517

Deferred income taxes
148,518

—

215,431

—

363,949

 Total liabilities
1,490,712

113,749

1,976,305

(849,279
)
2,731,487

Total stockholders’ equity
3,118,894

3,015,498

2,127,174

(6,176,169
)
2,085,397

 
$
4,609,606

$
3,129,247

$
4,103,479

$
(7,025,448
)
$
4,816,884



28


Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
As of January 2, 2016
(in thousands)

 
Parent
Guarantors
Non-guarantors
Eliminations
Consolidated
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
3,443

$
3,993

$
149,448

$
—

$
156,884

Restricted cash
102

—

229

—

331

Accounts receivable
184,472

81,644

310,932

(205,656
)
371,392

Inventories
13,564

89,078

241,941

—

344,583

Income taxes refundable
7,695

—

4,268

—

11,963

Prepaid expenses
13,322

2,262

20,591

—

36,175

Other current assets
5,273

24

22,852

(17,689
)
10,460

Total current assets
227,871

177,001

750,261

(223,345
)
931,788

Investment in subsidiaries
4,072,855

1,141,644

837,604

(6,052,103
)
—

Property, plant and equipment, net
224,208

477,446

806,513

—

1,508,167

Intangible assets, net
17,794

326,231

438,324

—

782,349

Goodwill
21,860

549,690

661,552

—

1,233,102

Investment in unconsolidated subsidiary
—

—

247,238

—

247,238

Other assets
36,488

499,764

314,893

(809,522
)
41,623

Deferred income taxes
—

—

16,352

—

16,352

 
$
4,601,076

$
3,171,776

$
4,072,737

$
(7,084,970
)
$
4,760,619

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 

 

 
 
 

Current portion of long-term debt
$
20,328

$
—

$
42,527

$
(17,689
)
$
45,166

Accounts payable
6,981

210,926

122,136

(190,045
)
149,998

Income taxes payable
(383
)
373

6,689

—

6,679

Accrued expenses
82,854

29,037

143,547

(15,613
)
239,825

Total current liabilities
109,780

240,336

314,899

(223,347
)
441,668

Long-term debt, net of current portion
1,234,002

—

1,461,371

(809,522
)
1,885,851

Other noncurrent liabilities
57,578

1,999

38,232

—

97,809

Deferred income taxes
147,416

—

213,265

—

360,681

 Total liabilities
1,548,776

242,335

2,027,767

(1,032,869
)
2,786,009

 Total stockholders’ equity
3,052,300

2,929,441

2,044,970

(6,052,101
)
1,974,610

 
$
4,601,076

$
3,171,776

$
4,072,737

$
(7,084,970
)
$
4,760,619





29


Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
For the three months ended October 1, 2016
(in thousands)

 
Parent
Guarantors
Non-guarantors
Eliminations
Consolidated
Net sales
$
130,063

$
347,384

$
433,523

$
(57,114
)
$
853,856

Cost and expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of sales and operating expenses
99,705

286,919

341,657

(57,114
)
671,167

Selling, general and administrative expenses
29,987

13,421

33,100

—

76,508

Acquisition and integration costs
—

—

—

—

—

Depreciation and amortization
9,622

24,813

36,218

—

70,653

Total costs and expenses
139,314

325,153

410,975

(57,114
)
818,328

Operating income/(loss)
(9,251
)
22,231

22,548

—

35,528

 
 

 

 
 
 

Interest expense
(15,382
)
4,437

(12,922
)
—

(23,867
)
Foreign currency gains/(losses)
(11
)
(152
)
517

—

354

Other expense, net
(3,439
)
258

1,174

—

(2,007
)
Equity in net income/(loss) of unconsolidated subsidiaries
(362
)
—

18,500

—

18,138

Earnings in investments in subsidiaries
60,952

—

—

(60,952
)
—

Income/(loss) before taxes
32,507

26,774

29,817

(60,952
)
28,146

Income taxes (benefit)
3,813

(3,140
)
(1,417
)
—

(744
)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
—

—

(196
)
—

(196
)
Net income/(loss) attributable to Darling
$
28,694

$
29,914

$
31,038

$
(60,952
)
$
28,694



Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
For the nine months ended October 1, 2016
(in thousands)


 
Parent
Guarantors
Non-guarantors
Eliminations
Consolidated
Net sales
$
367,811

$
994,028

$
1,297,393

$
(148,394
)
$
2,510,838

Cost and expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of sales and operating expenses
288,976

796,001

1,010,592

(148,394
)
1,947,175

Selling, general and administrative expenses
100,449

38,018

95,668

—

234,135

Acquisition and integration costs
—

—

401

—

401

Depreciation and amortization
30,459

75,723

106,258

—

212,440

Total costs and expenses
419,884

909,742

1,212,919

(148,394
)
2,394,151

Operating income/(loss)
(52,073
)
84,286

84,474

—

116,687

 
 

 

 
 
 

Interest expense
(46,242
)
13,391

(38,897
)
—

(71,748
)
Foreign currency gains/(losses)
32

36

(2,309
)
—

(2,241
)
Other expense, net
(10,429
)
380

4,364

—

(5,685
)
Equity in net income/(loss) of unconsolidated subsidiaries
(814
)
—

38,447

—

37,633

Earnings in investments in subsidiaries
157,943

—

—

(157,943
)
—

Income/(loss) before taxes
48,417

98,093

86,079

(157,943
)
74,646

Income taxes (benefit)
(13,355
)
11,961

10,496

—

9,102

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
—

—

(3,772
)
—

(3,772
)
Net income/(loss) attributable to Darling
$
61,772

$
86,132

$
71,811

$
(157,943
)
$
61,772



30


Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
For the three months ended October 3, 2015
(in thousands)

 
Parent
Guarantors
Non-guarantors
Eliminations
Consolidated
Net sales
$
122,670

$
341,936

$
437,905

$
(48,749
)
$
853,762

Cost and expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of sales and operating expenses
92,188

282,218

345,664

(48,749
)
671,321

Selling, general and administrative expenses
23,651

14,285

37,090

—

75,026

Acquisition and integration costs
764

—

516

—

1,280

Depreciation and amortization
8,074

24,409

34,844

—

67,327

Total costs and expenses
124,677

320,912

418,114

(48,749
)
814,954

Operating income/(loss)
(2,007
)
21,024

19,791

—

38,808

 
 

 

 
 
 

Interest expense
(15,339
)
4,635

(14,124
)
—

(24,828
)
Foreign currency gains/(losses)
1

(561
)
(1,901
)
—

(2,461
)
Other expense, net
(1,282
)
1,488

798

—

1,004

Equity in net loss of unconsolidated subsidiaries
—

—

(12,021
)
—

(12,021
)
Earnings in investments in subsidiaries
(45,361
)
—

—

45,361

—

Income/(loss) before taxes
(63,988
)
26,586

(7,457
)
45,361

502

Income taxes (benefit)
(54,901
)
67,707

(4,947
)
—

7,859

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
—

—

(1,730
)
—

(1,730
)
Net income/(loss) attributable to Darling
$
(9,087
)
$
(41,121
)
$
(4,240
)
$
45,361

$
(9,087
)


Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
For the nine months ended October 3, 2015
(in thousands)


 
Parent
Guarantors
Non-guarantors
Eliminations
Consolidated
Net sales
$
369,734

$
1,045,673

$
1,323,884

$
(151,520
)
$
2,587,771

Cost and expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of sales and operating expenses
285,125

845,594

1,044,919

(151,520
)
2,024,118

Selling, general and administrative expenses
91,905

42,322

111,724

—

245,951

Acquisition costs
3,340

—

4,467

—

7,807

Depreciation and amortization
24,228

71,841

103,901

—

199,970

Total costs and expenses
404,598

959,757

1,265,011

(151,520
)
2,477,846

Operating income/(loss)
(34,864
)
85,916

58,873

—

109,925

 
 

 

 
 
 

Interest expense
(45,568
)
14,334

(50,988
)
—

(82,222
)
Foreign currency gains/(losses)
(8
)
(958
)
(2,333
)
—

(3,299
)
Other expense, net
(3,687
)
1,117

1,866

—

(704
)
Equity in net loss of unconsolidated subsidiaries
—

—

(9,657
)
—

(9,657
)
Earnings in investments in subsidiaries
(9,468
)
—

—

9,468

—

Income/(loss) before taxes
(93,595
)
100,409

(2,239
)
9,468

14,043

Income taxes (benefit)
(87,697
)
104,670

(2,334
)
—

14,639

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
—

—

(5,302
)
—

(5,302
)
Net income/(loss) attributable to Darling
$
(5,898
)
$
(4,261
)
$
(5,207
)
$
9,468

$
(5,898
)


31





Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income/(Loss)
For the three months ended October 1, 2016
(in thousands)

 
Parent
Guarantors
Non-guarantors
Eliminations
Consolidated
Net income/(loss)
$
28,890

$
29,914

$
31,038

$
(60,952
)
$
28,890

Other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax:
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation
—

—

(5,839
)
—

(5,839
)
Pension adjustments
659

—

68

—

727

Corn option derivative adjustments
734

—

—

—

734

Total other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax
1,393

—

(5,771
)
—

(4,378
)
Total comprehensive income/(loss)
30,283

29,914

25,267

(60,952
)
24,512

Total comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest
—

—

(94
)
—

(94
)
Total comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Darling
$
30,283

$
29,914

$
25,361

$
(60,952
)
$
24,606




Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income/(Loss)
For the nine months ended October 1, 2016
(in thousands)


 
 
Parent
Guarantors
Non-guarantors
Eliminations
Consolidated
Net income/(loss)
$
65,544

$
86,132

$
71,811

$
(157,943
)
$
65,544

Other comprehensive income/ (loss), net of tax:
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation
—

—

43,684

—

43,684

Pension adjustments
1,975

(75
)
204

—

2,104

Corn option derivative adjustments
1,255

—

—

—

1,255

Total other comprehensive income, net of tax
3,230

(75
)
43,888

—

47,043

Total comprehensive income/(loss)
68,774

86,057

115,699

(157,943
)
112,587

Total comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest
—

—

1,211

—

1,211

Total comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Darling
$
68,774

$
86,057

$
114,488

$
(157,943
)
$
111,376


32



Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income/(Loss)
For the three months ended October 3, 2015
(in thousands)

 
Parent
Guarantors
Non-guarantors
Eliminations
Consolidated
Net income/(loss)
$
(7,357
)
$
(41,121
)
$
(4,240
)
$
45,361

$
(7,357
)
Other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax:
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation
—

—

(43,295
)
—

(43,295
)
Pension adjustments
730

—

50

—

780

Corn option derivative adjustments
1,861

—

—

—

1,861

Total other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax
2,591

—

(43,245
)
—

(40,654
)
Total comprehensive income/(loss)
(4,766
)
(41,121
)
(47,485
)
45,361

(48,011
)
Total comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest
—

—

39

—

39

Total comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Darling
$
(4,766
)
$
(41,121
)
$
(47,524
)
$
45,361

$
(48,050
)



Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income/(Loss)
For the nine months ended October 3, 2015
(in thousands)


 
Parent
Guarantors
Non-guarantors
Eliminations
Consolidated
Net income/(loss)
$
(596
)
$
(4,261
)
$
(5,207
)
$
9,468

$
(596
)
Other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax:
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation
—

—

(129,167
)
—

(129,167
)
Pension adjustments
2,188

—

139

—

2,327

Corn option derivative adjustments
574

—

—

—

574

Total other comprehensive income, net of tax
2,762

—

(129,028
)
—

(126,266
)
Total comprehensive income/(loss)
2,166

(4,261
)
(134,235
)
9,468

(126,862
)
Total comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest
—

—

7,929

—

7,929

Total comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to Darling
$
2,166

$
(4,261
)
$
(142,164
)
$
9,468

$
(134,791
)


33



Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows
For the nine months ended October 1, 2016
(in thousands)

 
Parent
Guarantors
Non-guarantors
Eliminations
Consolidated
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income/(loss)
$
65,544

$
86,132

$
71,811

$
(157,943
)
$
65,544

Earnings in investments in subsidiaries
(157,943
)
—

—

157,943

—

Other operating cash flows
215,375

(74,110
)
73,753

—

215,018

Net cash provided by operating activities
122,976

12,022

145,564

—

280,562

 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Capital expenditures
(33,431
)
(68,145
)
(66,648
)
—

(168,224
)
Acquisitions
—

—

(8,511
)
—

(8,511
)
Note receivable from affiliates
—

53,056

(53,056
)
—

—

Gross proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment and other assets
2,375

816

1,301

—

4,492

Proceeds from insurance settlements
—

—

1,537

—

1,537

Net cash used in investing activities
(31,056
)
(14,273
)
(125,377
)
—

(170,706
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Proceeds for long-term debt
—

—

28,765

—

28,765

Payments on long-term debt
(87,411
)
—

(40,953
)
—

(128,364
)
Borrowings from revolving facilities
83,000

—

—

—

83,000

Payments on revolving facilities
(83,000
)
—

(10,028
)
—

(93,028
)
Issuances of common stock
143

—

—

—

143

Repurchase of treasury stock
(5,000
)
—

—

—

(5,000
)
Minimum withholding taxes paid on stock awards
(1,718
)
—

(125
)
—

(1,843
)
    Distributions to noncontrolling interests
—

—

(885
)
—

(885
)
Net cash used in financing activities
(93,986
)
—

(23,226
)
—

(117,212
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
—

—

(943
)
—

(943
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
(2,066
)
(2,251
)
(3,982
)
—

(8,299
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
3,443

3,993

149,448

—

156,884

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
$
1,377

$
1,742

$
145,466

$
—

$
148,585



34



Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows
For the nine months ended October 3, 2015
(in thousands)

 
Parent
Guarantors
Non-guarantors
Eliminations
Consolidated
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Net income/(loss)
$
(596
)
$
(4,261
)
$
(5,207
)
$
9,468

$
(596
)
Earnings in investments in subsidiaries
9,468

—

—

(9,468
)
—

Other operating cash flows
74,837

39,901

182,512

—

297,250

Net cash provided by operating activities
83,709

35,640

177,305

—

296,654

 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Capital expenditures
(28,830
)
(70,947
)
(62,487
)
—

(162,264
)
Investment in subsidiaries and affiliates
(20
)
(29,541
)
29,541

20

—

Note receivable from affiliates
—

51,019

(51,019
)
—

—

Gross proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment and other assets
707

807

959

—

2,473

Proceeds from insurance settlements
71

490

—

—

561

Payments related to routes and other intangibles
—

—

(2,939
)
—

(2,939
)
Net cash used in investing activities
(28,072
)
(48,172
)
(85,945
)
20

(162,169
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Proceeds for long-term debt
—

—

586,199

—

586,199

Payments on long-term debt
(12,092
)
(55
)
(583,725
)
—

(595,872
)
Borrowings from revolving credit facility
25,000

—

53,244

—

78,244

Payments on revolving credit facility
(60,000
)
—

(70,876
)
—

(130,876
)
Net cash overdraft financing
—

—

(1,261
)
—

(1,261
)
Deferred loan costs
(7,104
)
—

(10,015
)
—

(17,119
)
Issuances of common stock
171

—

—

—

171

Repurchase of treasury stock
(5,912
)
—

—

—

(5,912
)
Contributions from parent
—

—

20

(20
)
—

Minimum withholding taxes paid on stock awards
(4,838
)
—

—

—

(4,838
)
Distributions to noncontolling interests
—

—

(2,820
)
—

(2,820
)
Net cash used in financing activities
(64,775
)
(55
)
(29,234
)
(20
)
(94,084
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
—

—

(299
)
—

(299
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
(9,138
)
(12,587
)
61,827

—

40,102

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
10,447

14,460

83,877

—

108,784

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
$
1,309

$
1,873

$
145,704

$
—

$
148,886



35


Item 2.    MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including those set forth below under the heading “Forward Looking Statements” and elsewhere in this report, and under the heading “Risk Factors” in Part II, Item 1A herein, under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2016, filed with the SEC on March 1, 2016 and in the Company's other public filings with the SEC.

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto contained in this report.

Overview

The Company is a global developer and producer of sustainable natural ingredients from edible and inedible bio-nutrients, creating a wide range of ingredients and customized specialty solutions for customers in the pharmaceutical, food, pet food, feed, industrial, fuel, bioenergy and fertilizer industries. With operations on five continents, the Company collects and transforms all aspects of animal by-product streams into useable and specialty ingredients, such as gelatin, edible fats, feed-grade fats, animal proteins and meals, plasma, pet food ingredients, organic fertilizers, yellow grease, fuel feedstocks, green energy, natural casings and hides. The Company also recovers and converts used cooking oil and commercial bakery residuals into valuable feed and fuel ingredients.  In addition, the Company provides grease trap services to food service establishments, environmental services to food processors and sells restaurant cooking oil delivery and collection equipment. The Company sells its products domestically and internationally and operates within three industry segments: Feed Ingredients, Food Ingredients and Fuel Ingredients.

The Feed Ingredients operating segment includes the Company's global activities related to (i) the collection and processing of beef, poultry and pork animal by-products in North America and Europe into non-food grade oils and protein meals; (ii) the collection and processing of bakery residuals in North America into Cookie Meal®, which is predominantly used in poultry and swine rations; (iii) the collection and processing of used cooking oil in North America into non-food grade fats, as well as the production and sale of cooking oil collection systems; (iv) the collection and processing of porcine and bovine blood in China, Europe, North America and Australia into blood plasma powder and hemoglobin; (v) the processing of cattle hides and hog skins in North America and cattle hides in Europe; (vi) the production of organic fertilizers using protein produced from the Company’s animal by-products processing activities in North America and Europe; and (vii) the provision of grease trap services to food service establishments and environmental services to food processors in North America. Non-food grade oils and fats produced and marketed by the Company are principally sold to third parties to be used as ingredients in animal feed and pet food, as an ingredient for the production of biodiesel and renewable diesel, or to the oleo-chemical industry to be used as an ingredient in a wide variety of industrial applications. Protein meals produced and marketed by the Company are sold to third parties to be used as ingredients in animal feed, pet food and aquaculture. Blood plasma powder and hemoglobin produced and marketed by the Company are sold to third parties to be used as ingredients in animal feed, pet food and aquaculture.

The Food Ingredients operating segment includes the Company's global activities related to (i) the purchase and processing of beef and pork bone chips, beef hides, pig skins, and fish skins into gelatin and hydrolyzed collagen in Europe, China, South America and North America; (ii) the collection and processing of porcine and bovine intestines into natural casings in Europe, China and North America; (iii) the extraction and processing of porcine mucosa into crude heparin in Europe; (iv) the collection and refining of animal fat into food grade fat in Europe; and (v) the processing of bones to bone chips for the gelatin industry and bone ash. Gelatins produced and marketed by the Company are sold to third parties to be used as ingredients in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, food, and technical (i.e., photographic) industries. Natural casings produced and marketed by the Company are sold to third parties to be used as an ingredient in the production of sausages and other similar food products.

The Fuel Ingredients operating segment includes the Company's global activities related to (i) the conversion of animal fats and recycled greases into biodiesel in North America; (ii) the conversion of organic sludge and food waste into biogas in Europe; (iii) the collection and conversion of fallen stock and certain animal by-products pursuant to applicable E.U. regulations into low-grade energy sources to be used in industrial applications; (iv) the processing of manure into natural bio-phosphate in Europe; and (v) the Company’s share of the results of its equity investment in Diamond Green Diesel Holdings LLC, a joint venture with Valero Energy Corporation (the “DGD Joint Venture”), to convert animal fats, recycled greases, used cooking oil, inedible corn oil, soybean oil, or other feedstocks that become economically and commercially viable into

36


renewable diesel as described in Note 6 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statement for the period ended October 1, 2016 included herein.

Corporate Activities principally includes unallocated corporate overhead expenses, acquisition-related expenses, interest expense net of interest income, and other non-operating income and expenses.

Business and Regulatory Developments

During the Winter and Spring of 2015, various H5 strains of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (“Bird Flu”) were spread by migratory birds among commercial poultry flocks in the Midwestern U.S. and Ontario, Canada. No new cases of any H5 strain were reported after June 17, 2015, although a highly pathogenic strain of H7N8 was confirmed on January 15, 2016 in a commercial turkey flock in Indiana. Unlike the H5 strains previously reported, migratory birds are not believed to be responsible for this most recent outbreak. Instead, animal health officials believe a low pathogenic strain of H7N8 present in nearby flocks mutated to be highly pathogenic. This latest outbreak of Bird Flu was confined to a single flock; however, isolated cases of low-pathogenic strains have been reported on commercial farms and bird markets. As of the date of this report, no new cases of highly pathogenic strains have been reported. There have been no reports of humans contracting any of these H5 or H7 strains, nor have there been any reports that these Bird Flu strains can be spread from person to person. For a more detailed discussion of this and other factors that can impact the Company’s business and results of operations, see the Risk Factors discussion in Item 1A of Part II herein and Item 1A of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2016.

The FDA made revisions to regulations proposed on February 5, 2014, for the sanitary transportation of human and animal foods, and published a final rule on April 6, 2016 (“Final Transportation Rule”). Such rulemaking was required under the Sanitary Food Transportation Act of 2005 and the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2011 (“FSMA”). The Final Transportation Rule requires that sanitary transportation practices be used to transport human and animal foods to prevent such food from being adulterated during transport and applies to shippers, carriers by motor vehicle or rail vehicle, receivers and other persons engaged in the transportation of food. Although June 6, 2016 is the effective date for the Final Transportation Rule, the compliance date for businesses like the Company, which employ 500 or more employees is April 6, 2017. On June 16, 2016, the FDA published the third edition of a guidance document to clarify the 2013 rule requiring FDA to be given prior notice before importing articles of food, including food for animals. This latest guidance finalizes a draft guidance published in March 2014 and addresses notification procedures, addresses questions about which food articles are covered by the regulation, and clarifies jurisdictional issues with other federal agencies. On July 14, 2016, the FDA published a final rule amending regulations requiring food facilities to be registered with the FDA (“Final Registration Rule”). FDA authority to make such changes in facility registrations, which were first published as a proposed rule in April 2015, comes from FSMA, which added new provisions to the food facility registration requirements established by the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002. The Final Registration Rule, which became effective on September 12, 2016, requires additional contact information for the owner, operator or agent-in-charge; codified requirements that facility registrations be renewed between October 1 and December 31 of even-numbered years; provides assurances that FDA will be permitted to inspect registered facilities at the times and manner permitted under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act; requires all registrations be made electronically by 2020; and requires FDA to issue an Unique Facility Identifier that facilities will use when renewing registrations in 2020. The Company has followed development of the Final Transportation Rule, prior notice for imports and Final Registration Rule throughout their legislative and rulemaking histories and believes that the Company has in place the procedures and documentation necessary to be in compliance with these rules. On August 24, 2016, the FDA published a draft guidance document which, once finalized, could clarify the FDA’s intentions as the agency begins enforcing the Hazard Analysis and Risk Based Preventive Controls (“HARPC”) regulations required under FSMA that became effective on September 19, 2016. The HARPC draft guidance is for public comment only and is open for comment until February 21, 2017. On August 25, 2016, the FDA published two draft guidance documents, (1) Current Good Manufacturing Practice Requirements (“CGMP”) and (2) procedures for handling human food products that are to be diverted for use in animal food, to assist facilities in complying with FSMA regulations that became effective for animal food producing facilities on September 19, 2016. These two animal food guidance documents are open for comment until November 23, 2016. On October 31, 2016, the FDA published a fourth draft guidance document to explain how a facility is expected to disclose the presence of certain hazards that would require control under the FSMA regulations but were not controlled by that facility (“Hazard Disclosure”). The disclosure that such a hazard was not controlled would be made in documents accompanying the human food, animal food or imported foods. The Hazard Disclosure draft guidance is for public comment only and the comment period closes on May 1, 2017. The Company has followed regulations enacted under FSMA throughout the rulemaking process and has implemented procedures, including HARPC and CGMPs that it believes will be necessary to be in compliance with the new regulations for animal food and human food. Notwithstanding the foregoing, unforeseen issues and requirements may arise as FDA begins enforcement of these new rules and procedures which may affect our operations. For a more detailed discussion of these and other regulations issued by FDA under FSMA that may impact the Company’s

37


business and results of operations, see the Risk Factors discussion in Item 1A of Part I of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2016.

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (“APHIS”) announced its intent to remove BSE-related import restrictions on sheep, goats and other small ruminant animals by publishing a proposed rule on July 18, 2016 (“Small Ruminant Rule”). Removal of these BSE-related restrictions addresses inconsistencies in import regulations that have existed since APHIS amended import regulations for cattle, bison and other large ruminants and their products in 2013. As a result of these inconsistencies, processed animal proteins, other than proteins derived from cattle and other ruminant animals, have been allowed to be imported from Canada into the U.S., but not used cooking oil or fats from mixed species, because Canadian authorities could not verify these fats to be free of materials from sheep, goats and other small ruminant animals. The Small Ruminant Rule proposes to allow imports of live sheep and goats as well as by-products derived from sheep and goats, except for processed animal proteins that have been derived from sheep and goats. Imports of these processed animal proteins will continue to be prohibited because APHIS believes they may become contaminated with bovine materials and present a BSE risk. The comment period for the Small Ruminant Rule closed on September 16, 2016. The Company believes that once finalized, the Small Ruminant Rule will allow fats and oils that were previously denied entry, such as used cooking oil and mixed specie fats, to be imported into the U.S. from Canada. Any rule that either prohibits or allows the importation of animal derived products can potentially affect access to our raw materials and distribution of our finished products. Management will continue to monitor the Small Ruminant Rule as it moves through the rulemaking process.

Operating Performance Indicators

The Company is exposed to certain risks associated with a business that is influenced by agricultural-based commodities. These risks are further described in Item 1A of Part I, “Risk Factors” included in the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2016.

The Company’s Feed Ingredients segment animal by-products, bakery residuals, used cooking oil recovery, and blood operations are each influenced by prices for agricultural-based alternative ingredients such as corn, soybean oil, soybean meal, and palm oil. In these operations, the costs of the Company's raw materials change with, or in certain cases are indexed to, the selling price or the anticipated selling price of the finished goods produced from the acquired raw materials and/or in some cases, the price spread between various types of finished products. The Company believes that this methodology of procuring raw materials generally establishes a relatively stable gross margin upon the acquisition of the raw material. Although the costs of raw materials for the Feed Ingredients segment are generally based upon actual or anticipated finished goods selling prices, rapid and material changes in finished goods prices, including competing agricultural-based alternative ingredients, generally have an immediate and often times, material impact on the Company’s gross margin and profitability resulting from the brief lapse of time between the procurement of the raw materials and the sale of the finished goods. In addition, the amount of raw material volume acquired, which has a direct impact on the amount of finished goods produced, can also have a material effect on the gross margin reported, as the Company has a substantial amount of fixed operating costs.

The Company’s Food Ingredients segment gelatin and natural casings products are influenced by other competing ingredients including plant-based and synthetic hydrocolloids and artificial casings. In the gelatin operation, in particular, the cost of the Company's animal-based raw material moves in relationship to the selling price of the finished goods. The processing time for the Food Ingredients segment gelatin and casings is generally 30 to 60 days, which is substantially longer than the Company's Feed Ingredients segment animal by-products operations. Consequently, the Company’s gross margin and profitability in this segment can be influenced by the movement of finished goods prices from the time the raw materials were procured until the finished goods are sold.

The Company’s Fuel Ingredients segment which converts fats into renewable diesel, organic sludge and food waste into biogas, and fallen stock into low-grade energy sources is impacted by world energy prices for oil, electricity and natural gas.

The reporting currency for the Company's financial statements is the U.S. dollar. The Company operates in over 15 countries and therefore, certain of the Company's assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses are denominated in functional currencies other than the U.S. dollar, primarily in the euro, Brazilian real, Chinese renminbi, Canadian dollar, Argentine peso, Japanese yen and Polish zloty. To prepare the Company's consolidated financial statements, assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses must be translated into U.S. dollars at the applicable exchange rate. As a result, increases or decreases in the value of the U.S. dollar against these other currencies will affect the amount of these items recorded in the Company's consolidated financial statements, even if their value has not changed in the functional currency. This could have a significant impact on the Company's results, if such increase or decrease in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to these other currencies is substantial.

38



The Company monitors the performance of its business segments using key financial metrics such as results of operations, non-GAAP measurements (Adjusted EBITDA), segment operating income, raw material processed, gross margin percentage, foreign currency translation, and corporate activities. The Company’s operating results can vary significantly due to changes in factors such as the fluctuation in energy prices, weather conditions, crop harvests, government policies and programs, changes in global demand, changes in standards of living, protein consumption, and global production of competing ingredients. Due to these unpredictable factors that are beyond the control of the Company forward-looking financial or operational estimates are not provided.

Results of Operations

Three Months Ended October 1, 2016 Compared to Three Months Ended October 3, 2015

Net income attributable to Darling for the three months ended October 1, 2016, was $28.7 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, as compared to a net loss of $(9.1) million, or $(0.06) per diluted share, in the three months ended October 3, 2015. The results for the three months ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015, respectively include the following after-tax costs:
    
Fiscal 2016

•
No material items for three months ended October 1, 2016 were noted.

Fiscal 2015

•
$1.3 million or $0.4 million, net of tax ($0.00 per diluted share) associated with the integration of VION Ingredients and Rothsay and the implementation of internal controls over financial reporting per the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 for VION Ingredients.

When excluding the impact of the above listed items, net income and diluted earnings per common share would have been $28.7 million and $0.17 per diluted share, respectively, for the three months ended October 1, 2016, as compared to $(8.7) million and $(0.06) per share, respectively, for the three months ended October 3, 2015. When comparing the three months ended October 1, 2016 to the three months ended October 3, 2015, net income increased $37.4 million. The increase is primarily attributable to higher earnings from DGD due to the inclusion of the blenders tax credit which was not available as of October 3, 2015, higher Renewable Identification Number (“RIN”) values, and an income tax benefit.

Non-U.S. GAAP Measures

Adjusted EBITDA is not a recognized accounting measurement under GAAP; it should not be considered as an alternative to net income, as a measure of operating results, or as an alternative to cash flow as a measure of liquidity. Adjusted EBITDA is not intended to be a presentation in accordance with GAAP and is presented here not as an alternative to net income, but rather as a measure of the Company’s operating performance. Since EBITDA (generally, net income plus interest expenses, taxes, depreciation and amortization) is not calculated identically by all companies, the presentation in this report may not be comparable to EBITDA or adjusted EBITDA presentations disclosed by other companies. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated below and represents, for any relevant period, net income/(loss) plus depreciation and amortization, goodwill and long-lived asset impairment, interest expense, (income)/loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, income tax provision, other income/(expense) and equity in net loss of unconsolidated subsidiary.  Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA is useful in evaluating the Company's operating performance compared to that of other companies in its industry because the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA generally eliminates the effects of financing, income taxes and certain non-cash and other items that may vary for different companies for reasons unrelated to overall operating performance.  

As a result, the Company’s management uses Adjusted EBITDA as a measure to evaluate performance and for other discretionary purposes.  In addition to the foregoing, management also uses or will use Adjusted EBITDA to measure compliance with certain financial covenants under the Company’s Senior Secured Credit Facilities, 5.375% Notes and 4.75% Notes that were outstanding at October 1, 2016.  However, the amounts shown below for Adjusted EBITDA differ from the amounts calculated under similarly titled definitions in the Company’s Senior Secured Credit Facilities, 5.375% Notes and 4.75% Notes, as those definitions permit further adjustments to reflect certain other non-recurring costs, non-cash charges and cash dividends from the DGD Joint Venture. Additionally, the Company evaluates the impact of foreign exchange impact on operating cash flow, which is defined as segment operating income (loss) plus depreciation and amortization.


39


Reconciliation of Net Income to (Non-GAAP) Adjusted EBITDA and (Non-GAAP) Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA
Third Quarter 2016 As Compared to Third Quarter 2015
 
Three Months Ended
(dollars in thousands)
October 1,
2016
October 3,
2015
Net income/(loss) attributable to Darling
$
28,694

$
(9,087
)
Depreciation and amortization
70,653

67,327

Interest expense
23,867

24,828

Income tax expense/(benefit)
(744
)
7,859

Foreign currency loss/(gain)
(354
)
2,461

Other expense/(income), net
2,007

(1,004
)
Equity in net (income)/loss of unconsolidated subsidiaries
(18,138
)
12,021

Net income attributable to non-controlling interests
196

1,730

Adjusted EBITDA
$
106,181

$
106,135

 
 
 
Acquisition and integration-related expenses
—

1,280

Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP)
$
106,181

$
107,415

 
 
 
Foreign currency exchange impact (1)
(90
)
—

Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA to Foreign Currency (Non-GAAP)
$
106,091

$
107,415

 
 
 
DGD Joint Venture Adjusted EBITDA (Darling's Share)
$
22,543

$
(8,309
)

(1) The average rates assumption used in this calculation was the actual fiscal average rate for the three months ended October 3, 2015 of €1.00:USD$1.11 and CAD$1.00:USD$0.76 as compared to the average rate for the three months ended October 1, 2016 of €1.00:USD$1.12 and CAD$1.00:USD$0.77, respectively.

For the three months ended October 1, 2016, the Company generated Adjusted EBITDA of $106.2 million, as compared to $106.1 million in the same period in fiscal 2015.

On a Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA basis, the Company would have generated $106.2 million in the three months ended October 1, 2016, as compared to a Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA of $107.4 million in the same period in fiscal 2015.

DGD Joint Venture Adjusted EBITDA (Darling's share) is not reflected in the Adjusted EBITDA, the Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA, or the Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA to Foreign Currency. See Note 6 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for financial information regarding the DGD Joint Venture.

Reconciliation of Net Income to (Non-GAAP) Adjusted EBITDA and (Non-GAAP) Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA
Third Quarter 2016 As Compared on a Sequential Basis to Second Quarter 2016


40


 
Three Months Ended
(dollars in thousands)
October 1,
2016
July 2,
2016
Net income/(loss) attributable to Darling
$
28,694

$
31,999

Depreciation and amortization
70,653

69,531

Interest expense
23,867

23,980

Income tax expense/(benefit)
(744
)
7,983

Foreign currency loss/(gain)
(354
)
(8
)
Other expense/(income), net
2,007

2,373

Equity in net (income)/loss of unconsolidated subsidiaries
(18,138
)
(13,852
)
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests
196

1,992

Adjusted EBITDA
$
106,181

$
123,998

 
 
 
Acquisition and integration-related expenses
—

70

Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP)
$
106,181

$
124,068

 
 
 
Foreign currency exchange impact (1)
688

—

Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA to Foreign Currency (Non-GAAP)
$
106,869

$
124,068

 
 
 
DGD Joint Venture Adjusted EBITDA (Darling's Share)
$
22,543

$
18,331


(1) The average rates assumption used in this calculation was the actual fiscal average rate for the three months ended July 2, 2016 of €1.00:USD$1.13 and CAD$1.00:USD$0.78 as compared to the average rate for the three months ended October 1, 2016 of €1.00:USD$1.12 and CAD$1.00:USD$0.77, respectively.

On a sequential basis, for the three months ended October 1, 2016, the Company generated Adjusted EBITDA of $106.2 million, as compared to $124.0 million for the three months ended July 2, 2016, a decrease of $17.8 million. The decrease is primarily attributable to lower finished product prices in both the Food and Feed Ingredients segments. Lower finished product prices for fats and used cooking oil in the Feed Ingredients segment more than offset higher sales volumes which contributed to the decrease in Adjusted EBITDA.

On a Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA basis, the Company would have generated $106.2 million in the three months ended October 1, 2016, as compared to a Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA of $124.1 million in the three months ended July 2, 2016, a decrease of $17.9 million. The decrease is primarily attributable to lower finished product prices in both the Food and Feed Ingredients segments. Lower finished product prices for fats and used cooking oil in the Feed Ingredients segment more than offset higher sales volumes which contributed to the decrease in Adjusted EBITDA.

DGD Joint Venture Adjusted EBITDA (Darling's share) is not reflected in the Adjusted EBITDA, the Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA, or the Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA to Foreign Currency. See Note 6 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for financial information regarding the DGD Joint Venture.

Other Operating Performance Metrics

Other operating performance metrics indicators which management routinely monitors as an indicator of operating performance include:

•
Finished product commodity prices
•
Segment operating income
•
Raw material processed
•
Gross margin percentages
•
Foreign currency
•
Corporate activities

These indicators and their importance are discussed below in greater detail.

Finished Product Commodity Prices  


41


Prices for finished product commodities that the Company produces in the Feed Ingredients segment are reported each business day on the Jacobsen index (the “Jacobsen”), an established North American trading exchange price publisher. The Jacobsen reports industry sales from the prior day's activity by product. The Jacobsen includes reported prices for finished products such as protein (primarily meat and bone meal (“MBM”), poultry meal (“PM”) and feather meal (“FM”)), hides, fats (primarily bleachable fancy tallow (“BFT”) and yellow grease (“YG”)) and corn, which is a substitute commodity for the Company's bakery by-product (“BBP”) as well as a range of branded and value-added products, which are products of the Company's Feed Ingredients segment. In the U.S. the Company regularly monitors the Jacobsen for MBM, PM, FM, BFT, YG and corn because they provide a daily indication of the Company's U.S. revenue performance against business plan benchmarks. In Europe, the Company regularly monitors Thomson Reuters (“Reuters”) to track the competing commodities palm oil and soy meal.

Although the Jacobsen and Reuters provide useful metrics of performance, the Company's finished products are commodities that compete with other commodities such as corn, soybean oil, palm oil complex, soybean meal and heating oil on nutritional and functional values. Therefore actual pricing for the Company's finished products, as well as competing products, can be quite volatile. In addition, neither the Jacobsen nor Reuters provides forward or future period pricing for the Company's commodities. The Jacobsen and Reuters prices quoted below are for delivery of the finished product at a specified location. Although the Company's prices generally move in concert with reported Jacobsen and Reuters prices, the Company's actual sales prices for its finished products may vary significantly from the Jacobsen and Reuters because of production and delivery timing differences and because the Company's finished products are delivered to multiple locations in different geographic regions which utilize alternative price indexes. In addition, certain of the Company's premium branded finished products may sell at prices that may be higher than the closest product on the related Jacobsen or Reuters index. During the third quarter of fiscal 2016, the Company's actual sales prices by product trended with the disclosed Jacobsen and Reuters prices.

Average Jacobsen and Reuters prices (at the specified delivery point) for the third quarter of fiscal 2016, compared to average Jacobsen and Reuters prices for the third quarter of fiscal 2015 are as follows:

 
Avg. Price
3rd Quarter
2016
Avg. Price
3rd Quarter
2015
 
Increase/(Decrease)
%
Increase/(Decrease)
Jacobsen:
 
 
 
 
MBM (Illinois)
$ 325.56/ton
$ 354.91/ton
$ (29.35)/ton
(8.3
)%
Feed Grade PM (Mid-South)
$ 364.37/ton
$ 391.55/ton
$ (27.18)/ton
(6.9
)%
Pet Food PM (Mid-South)
$ 593.47/ton
$ 532.45/ton
$ 61.02/ton
11.5
 %
Feather meal (Mid-South)
$ 432.57/ton
$ 499.12/ton
$ (66.55)/ton
(13.3
)%
BFT (Chicago)
$ 28.59/cwt
$   29.42/cwt
$    (0.83)/cwt
(2.8
)%
YG (Illinois)
$ 24.01/cwt
$   21.48/cwt
$    2.53/cwt
11.8
 %
Corn (Illinois)
$ 3.42/bushel
$ 3.91/bushel
$ (0.49)/bushel
(12.5
)%
Reuters:
 
 
 
 
Palm Oil (CIF Rotterdam)
$ 705.00/MT
$ 558.00/MT
$ 147.00/MT
26.3
 %
Soy meal (CIF Rotterdam)
$ 403.00/MT
$ 380.00/MT
$ 23.00/MT
6.1
 %

The following table shows the average Jacobsen and Reuters prices for the third quarter of fiscal 2016, compared to the average Jacobsen and Reuters prices for the second quarter of fiscal 2016.

42


 
Avg. Price
3rd Quarter
2016
Avg. Price
2nd Quarter
2016
 
Increase/(Decrease)
%
Increase/(Decrease)
Jacobsen:
 
 
 
 
MBM (Illinois)
$ 325.56/ton
$ 328.26/ton
$ (2.70)/ton
(0.8
)%
Feed Grade PM (Mid-South)
$ 364.37/ton
$ 305.58/ton
$ 58.79/ton
19.2
 %
Pet Food PM (Mid-South)
$ 593.47/ton
$ 557.81/ton
$ 35.66/ton
6.4
 %
Feather meal (Mid-South)
$ 432.57/ton
$ 358.91/ton
$ 73.66/ton
20.5
 %
BFT (Chicago)
$ 28.59/cwt
$   32.57/cwt
$     (3.98)/cwt
(12.2
)%
YG (Illinois)
$ 24.01/cwt
$   26.77/cwt
$   (2.76)/cwt
(10.3
)%
Corn (Illinois)
$ 3.42/bushel
$ 3.99/bushel
$ (0.57)/bushel
(14.3
)%
Reuters:
 
 
 
 
Palm Oil (CIF Rotterdam)
$ 705.00/MT
$ 702.00/MT
$ 3.00/MT
0.4
 %
Soy meal (CIF Rotterdam)
$ 403.00/MT
$ 409.00/MT
$ (6.00)/MT
(1.5
)%

During the three months ended October 1, 2016 net sales for the Feed Ingredients segment were $531.4 million as compared to $525.2 million during the three months ended October 3, 2015, an increase of approximately $6.2 million. Net sales for fats were approximately $145.3 million and $136.1 million for the three months ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015. Protein net sales were approximately $205.4 million and $210.1 million for the three months ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015, respectively. Other rendering net sales, which include hides, pet food and service charges, were approximately $63.0 million and $60.3 million for the three months ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015. Total rendering net sales were approximately $413.7 million and $406.5 million for the three months ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015. Used cooking oil net sales were approximately $41.4 million and $39.7 million for the three months ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015. Bakery net sales were approximately $53.8 million and $56.0 million for the three months ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015, and other sales, which includes trap services, industrial residual services and organic fertilizer net sales were approximately $22.5 million and $23.0 million for the three months ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015.

The increase in net sales for the Feed Ingredients segment was primarily due to the following (in millions of dollars):

 
Fats
Proteins
Other Rendering
Total Rendering
Used Cooking Oil
Bakery
Other
Total
Net sales three months ended October 3, 2015
$
136.1

$
210.1

$
60.3

$
406.5

$
39.7

$
56.0

$
23.0

$
525.2

Increase/(decrease) in sales volumes
10.8

26.1

—

36.9

(0.9
)
3.8

—

39.8

Increase/(decrease) in finished product prices
(1.7
)
(31.2
)
—

(32.9
)
2.6

(6.0
)
—

(36.3
)
Increase/(decrease) due to currency exchange rates
0.1

0.4

0.2

0.7

—

—

—

0.7

Other change
—

—

2.5

2.5

—

—

(0.5
)
2.0

Total change
9.2

(4.7
)
2.7

7.2

1.7

(2.2
)
(0.5
)
6.2

Net sales three months ended October 1, 2016
$
145.3

$
205.4

$
63.0

$
413.7

$
41.4

$
53.8

$
22.5

$
531.4


Segment Operating Income

Segment operating income for the three months ended October 1, 2016 was $35.5 million, which reflects a decrease of $3.3 million as compared to the three months ended October 3, 2015. Adjusting the three months ended October 3, 2015 for the net change between the acquisition and integration costs in the three months ended October 1, 2016 as compared to the three months ended October 3, 2015, operating income would have been $40.1 million in the three months ended October 3, 2015.


43


 
(in thousands, except percentages)
Feed Ingredients
Food Ingredients
Fuel Ingredients
Corporate
Total
Three Months Ended October 1, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
Net Sales
$
531,413

$
261,997

$
60,446

$
—

$
853,856

Cost of sales and operating expenses
413,602

211,318

46,247

—

671,167

Gross Margin
117,811

50,679

14,199

—

182,689

 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross Margin %
22.2
%
19.3
%
23.5
%
—
%
21.4
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Selling, general and administrative expense
38,943

25,352

1,332

10,881

76,508

Acquisition and integration costs
—

—

—

—

—

Depreciation and amortization
43,614

17,383

6,896

2,760

70,653

Segment operating income/(loss)
35,254

7,944

5,971

(13,641
)
35,528

 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity in net income of unconsolidated subsidiaries
(36
)
—

18,174

—

18,138

Segment income/(loss)
35,218

7,944

24,145

(13,641
)
53,666


(in thousands, except percentages)
Feed Ingredients
Food Ingredients
Fuel Ingredients
Corporate
Total
Three Months Ended October 3, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
Net Sales
$
525,213

$
269,230

$
59,319

$
—

$
853,762

Cost of sales and operating expenses
409,030

214,406

47,885

—

671,321

Gross Margin
116,183

54,824

11,434

—

182,441

 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross Margin %
22.1
%
20.4
%
19.3
%
—
%
21.4
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Selling, general and administrative expense
39,718

26,118

4,459

4,731

75,026

Acquisition and integration costs
—

—

—

1,280

1,280

Depreciation and amortization
40,846

17,144

6,729

2,608

67,327

Segment operating income/(loss)
35,619

11,562

246

(8,619
)
38,808

 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity in net income of unconsolidated subsidiaries
309

—

(12,330
)
—

(12,021
)
Segment income/(loss)
35,928

11,562

(12,084
)
(8,619
)
26,787


Feed Ingredients operating income for the three months ended October 1, 2016 was $35.3 million, a decrease of $0.3 million as compared to the three months ended October 3, 2015. Earnings for the Feed Ingredients segment were lower due to an increase in depreciation and amortization as a result of new plants in the U.S. and lower finished product prices that more than offset higher production volumes due to higher raw material supply and lower selling, general and administrative expense.
 
Food Ingredients operating income was $7.9 million for the three months ended October 1, 2016, a decrease of $3.7 million as compared to the three months ended October 3, 2015. Selling, general and administrative expense in the Food Ingredients segment was reduced due to gains in currency hedges. The Company's casing business improved compared to the same period in the prior year, primarily due to the re-opening of the Chinese border which was temporarily closed in 2015 to the import of meat by-products which heavily impacted the segment. European edible fats performance declined over the prior year due to lower volumes and sales prices. The gelatin business earnings were down as compared to the prior year due to an inventory value adjustment in China of $3.5 million as a result of the decrease in demand for low bloom gelatin. The gelatin business was also impacted by lower production volumes in three of the Company's gelatin facilities.

Exclusive of the DGD Joint Venture, Fuel Ingredients operating income for the three months ended October 1, 2016 was $6.0 million, an increase of $5.8 million as compared to the three months ended October 3, 2015. The increase in earnings is primarily due to the fact that during the three months ended October 1, 2016 the Canadian biodiesel plant was operating for the full period while in the comparable period in 2015 production was limited. The increase was also attributable to improved Ecoson and Rendac volumes and operating performance and by a decrease in selling, general and administrative expense due to subsidies received from the Netherlands government that is recorded as a credit to selling, general and administrative expense. Including the DGD Joint Venture, the Fuel Ingredients segment income for the three months ended

44


October 1, 2016 was $24.1 million, as compared to segment loss of $12.1 million in the same period of 2015. The increase of $36.2 million is primarily related to an increase in the income of the DGD Joint Venture due to inclusion of the blenders' tax credits in the third quarter of 2016, an increase in petroleum prices and higher RIN values.

Raw Material Processed

Raw material processed represents the quantity in metric tons of raw material collected from the Company’s various raw material suppliers. The volume of raw material processed bears a direct relationship to the volume of finished product produced and available for sale.

Overall, in the three months ended October 1, 2016, the raw material processed by the Company totaled 2.52 million metric tons. Of this amount, 1.97 million metric tons was in the Feed Ingredients segment, 260,000 metric tons was in the Food Ingredients segment, and 290,000 metric tons was in the Fuel Ingredients segment. Globally, on a sequential quarter basis, raw material processed volumes were down by approximately 1.0%, which consisted of a 0.2% decrease in the Feed Ingredients segment, a 5.4% decrease in the Food Ingredients segment, and a 2.1% decrease in the Fuel Ingredients segment.

In the three months ended October 3, 2015, the raw material processed by the Company totaled 2.39 million metric tons. Of this amount, 1.86 million metric tons was in the Feed Ingredients segment, 257,000 metric tons was in the Food Ingredients segment, and 273,000 metric tons was in the Fuel Ingredients segment.
 
As compared to the three months ended October 3, 2015 overall raw material volumes processed were up approximately 5.2%, which consisted of a 5.7% increase in the Feed Ingredients segment, a 1.0% increase in the Food Ingredients segment and a 5.5% increase in the Fuel Ingredients segment. The total raw materials processed, including that for the Fuel Ingredients segment, excludes raw material processed by the DGD Joint Venture.
  
Gross Margin Percentages
    
 
Feed Ingredients
Food Ingredients
Fuel Ingredients
Corporate
Total
Three Months Ended October 1, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
Gross Margin %
22.2
%
19.3
%
23.5
%
—
%
21.4
%

 
Feed Ingredients
Food Ingredients
Fuel Ingredients
Corporate
Total
Three Months Ended October 3, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
Gross Margin %
22.1
%
20.4
%
19.3
%
—
%
21.4
%

Gross margin percentage represents the gross margin dollars (net sales less cost of sales and operating expenses) as a percentage of net sales. Overall, in the three months ended October 1, 2016, the gross margin percentage was 21.4% as compared to 21.4% in the same period of fiscal 2015. When considering the foreign exchange impact, there was no impact on the adjusted gross margins for the three months ended October 1, 2016.

In the Feed Ingredients segment for the three months ended October 1, 2016, the gross margin percentage increased to 22.2% as compared to 22.1% for the same period of fiscal 2015. Considering foreign exchange impact the Feed Ingredients segment gross margins for the three months ended October 1, 2016 were unchanged as compared to the adjusted margins for the comparable period of fiscal 2015.

In the Food Ingredients segment for the three months ended October 1, 2016, the gross margin percentage decreased to 19.3% as compared to 20.4% during the comparable period of fiscal 2015. The decrease is primarily due to decreased earnings in the Company's European edible fats unit due to lower volumes and sales prices and lower earnings in the gelatin business primarily due to production volume and price decreases in China. These declines more than offset improvements in the casing business which improved primarily due to the re-opening of the Chinese border which was temporarily closed in 2015 to the import of meat by-products which heavily impacted the segment. Considering foreign exchange impact the Food Ingredients segment gross margins for the three months ended October 1, 2016 were 5.4% lower as compared to the adjusted margins for the comparable period of fiscal 2015.


45


In the Fuel Ingredients segment (exclusive of the equity contribution from the DGD Joint Venture) for the three months ended October 1, 2016, the gross margin percentage increased to 23.5% as compared to 19.3% for the comparable period of fiscal 2015. This increase is primarily driven by the inclusion of the blenders' tax credits in the third quarter of 2016, higher RIN values, the return to full production of the Canadian biodiesel plant, and improved European Rendac and Ecoson results. Considering foreign exchange impact the Fuel Ingredients segment gross margins for the three months ended October 1, 2016 were 22.8% higher as compared to the adjusted margins for the comparable period of fiscal 2015.

Foreign Currency

During the third quarter of fiscal 2016, the euro and Canadian dollar strengthened against the U.S. dollar as compared to the same period in fiscal 2015. Using actual results for three months ended October 1, 2016 and using the prior year's average currency rate for the three months ended October 3, 2015, this foreign currency translation would result in a decrease in operating income of approximately $0.1 million. The average rates assumptions used in this calculation were the actual fiscal average rate for the three months ended October 3, 2015 of €1.00:USD$1.11 and CAD$1.00:USD$0.76 as compared to the average rate for the three months ended October 1, 2016 of €1.00:USD$1.12 and CAD$1.00:USD$0.77, respectively.

On a sequential period basis, the actual results for the three months ended October 1, 2016 were higher by approximately $0.7 million. This impact is mainly due to a drop in the U.S dollar as compared to the euro and Canadian dollar. The average rates assumptions used in this calculation on a sequential basis were the actual fiscal average rate for the three months ended July 2, 2016 of €1.00:USD$1.13 and CAD$1.00:USD$0.78 as compared to the average rate for the three months ended October 1, 2016 of €1.00:USD$1.12 and CAD$1.00:USD$0.77, respectively.

Corporate Activities

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.  Selling, general and administrative expenses were $10.9 million during the three months ended October 1, 2016, compared to $4.7 million during the three months ended October 3, 2015, an increase of $6.2 million. The increase is primarily due to an increase in corporate related benefits as compared to the three months ended October 3, 2015 and a prior year offsetting gain of $4.2 million recorded for a reduction of a liability for unclaimed property that offset selling, general and administrative expenses. 

Acquisition and Integration Costs.  There were no acquisition and integration costs during the three months ended October 1, 2016, as compared to $1.3 million in the three months ended October 3, 2015. The decrease is primarily due to there being no enterprise resource planning (“ERP”) costs for integration of the Company's Canadian subsidiary which was completed in fiscal 2016 prior to the three months ended October 1, 2016 and no integration of operations and systems and implementation of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 internal controls in connection with the VION Acquisition in fiscal 2016 as compared to the same period of fiscal 2015.

Depreciation and Amortization.  Depreciation and amortization charges increased $0.2 million to $2.8 million during the three months ended October 1, 2016, as compared to $2.6 million during the three months ended October 3, 2015.  The increase in depreciation and amortization is primarily due to the Company's ERP system depreciation.

Interest Expense. Interest expense was $23.9 million during the three months ended October 1, 2016, compared to $24.8 million during the three months ended October 3, 2015, a decrease of $0.9 million. The decrease is primarily due to a reduction in borrowings under the Company's revolving credit line and lower outstanding balances under the Company's term loan A and term loan B debt.

Foreign Currency Gains/(Losses).  Foreign currency gains were $0.4 million during the three months ended October 1, 2016, as compared to foreign currency losses of approximately $2.5 million for the three months ended October 3, 2015. The decrease in currency losses is primarily due to offsetting gains on non-designated foreign exchange hedge contracts related to the Company's intercompany notes as compared to losses on the same type of transactions in 2015.

Other Income/Expense. Other expense was $2.0 million in the three months ended October 1, 2016, compared to other income of $1.0 million in the three months ended October 3, 2015.  The increase in other expense in the three months ended October 1, 2016 as compared to the same period in fiscal 2015 is primarily due to (i) an increase in expense related to the ineffective portion of the Company's product hedges, (ii) an increase in bank service charges, (iii) the reduction of interest income and restoration costs incurred in the Netherlands and Brazil in the third quarter of fiscal 2016 related to fire and casualty losses that occurred in late December 2015.


46


Equity in Net Income/(Loss) in Investment of Unconsolidated Subsidiaries. This primarily represents the Company's portion of the income of the DGD Joint Venture for the three months ended October 1, 2016. The net income in the three months ended October 1, 2016 was $18.1 million compared to a net loss of $12.0 million in the three months ended October 3, 2015. The $30.1 million increase is primarily due to blenders tax credits recorded at the DGD Joint Venture in the third quarter of fiscal 2016, higher RIN values, and higher fuel prices as compared to no blenders tax credits and lower fuel prices in the same period of fiscal 2015.
 
Income Taxes. The Company recorded income tax benefit of $0.7 million for the three months ended October 1, 2016, compared to $7.9 million of income tax expense recorded in the three months ended October 3, 2015, a decrease of $8.6 million. The decrease in tax expense is primarily due to the biofuel tax incentive and Subpart F income. The biofuel tax incentive and the look through rule related to Subpart F income were not enacted tax law during the third quarter of fiscal year 2015.

The quarterly income tax expense is based on the Company’s estimate of its expected tax rate for the full year and any discrete items recognized during the period. The quarterly income tax expense for the three months ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015 is calculated as the difference in the income tax provision for the nine months ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015 and the income tax provision for the six months ended July 2, 2016 and July 4, 2015, respectively.
 
The effective tax rate for the three months ended October 1, 2016 is (2.6)%. The effective tax rate for the three months ended October 1, 2016 differs from the statutory rate of 35% due primarily to the biofuel tax incentive, the relative mix of earnings among jurisdictions with different tax rates (including foreign withholding taxes and state income taxes), Subpart F income and losses that provided no tax benefit. In addition, the effective tax rate for the three months ended October 1, 2016 is impacted due to changes in the relative proportion of pre-tax income and losses by jurisdiction used in determining the Company’s estimated annual effective tax rate for the 2016 fiscal year.

The effective tax rate for the three months ended October 3, 2015 was 1,565.5%. The effective tax rate for the three months ended October 3, 2015 differed from the statutory rate of 35% due primarily to the relative mix of earnings among jurisdictions with different tax rates (including foreign withholding taxes and state income taxes), Subpart F income, non-deductible expenses and discrete items. Also, the effective income tax rate was negatively impacted by changes in losses that provided no tax benefit. The Company also wrote-down $1.8 million of tax assets in a foreign jurisdiction based upon uncertainty as to their ability to be realized. The impact of changes in the annual estimated tax rate and discrete items do not have a direct relationship with the almost break-even pre-tax earnings for the three months ended October 3, 2015.

Results of Operations

Nine Months Ended October 1, 2016 Compared to Nine Months Ended October 3, 2015

Net income attributable to Darling for the nine months ended October 1, 2016, was $61.8 million, or $0.37 per diluted share, as compared to a net loss of $(5.9) million, or $(0.04) per diluted share, in the nine months ended October 3, 2015. The results for the nine months ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015, respectively include the following after-tax costs:

Fiscal 2016

•
$0.4 million or $0.3 million net of tax ($0.00 per diluted share) associated with ERP integration at the Company's Canadian subsidiary. The integration is complete and further expenditures are not anticipated.

Fiscal 2015

•
$7.8 million or $2.7 million net of tax ($0.02 per diluted share) associated with the integration of VION Ingredients and Rothsay related to a staff reduction in Angoulême, France and the implementation of internal controls over financial reporting per the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 during the first nine months of fiscal 2015.
•
$10.6 million or $3.6 million net of tax ($0.02 per diluted share) related to the write-off of deferred loan costs associated with the retirement of the Company's European portion of its term loan B note on June 3, 2015.

When excluding the impact of the above listed items, net income and diluted earnings per common share would have been $62.1 million and $0.37, respectively, for the first nine months ended October 1, 2016, as compared to $0.4 million and $0.00, respectively, for the first nine months ended October 3, 2015. When comparing the first nine months ended October

47


1, 2016 to the first nine months ended October 3, 2015, this adjustment would have resulted in a $61.7 million increase in net income. The increase is primarily attributable to increased margins and production in both the Food and Fuel Ingredients segments, higher raw material volumes in the Feed Ingredients segment and lower selling, general and administrative expense.

Non-U.S. GAAP Measures

For a discussion of the reasons why the Company's management believes the following Non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors and the purposes for which the Company's management uses such measures, see “Results of Operations - Three Months Ended October 1, 2016 Compared to Three Months Ended October 3, 2015 - Non-U.S. GAAP Measures.”

Reconciliation of Net Income to (Non-GAAP) Adjusted EBITDA and (Non-GAAP) Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA
First Nine Months of Fiscal 2016 As Compared to First Nine Months of Fiscal 2015
 
Nine Months Ended
(dollars in thousands)
October 1,
2016
October 3,
2015
Net income/(loss) attributable to Darling
$
61,772

$
(5,898
)
Depreciation and amortization
212,440

199,970

Interest expense
71,748

82,222

Income tax expense/(benefit)
9,102

14,639

Foreign currency loss/(gain)
2,241

3,299

Other expense/(income), net
5,685

704

Equity in net (income)/loss of unconsolidated subsidiaries
(37,633
)
9,657

Net income attributable to non-controlling interests
3,772

5,302

Adjusted EBITDA
$
329,127

$
309,895

 
 
 
Acquisition and integration-related expenses
401

7,807

Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP)
$
329,528

$
317,702

 
 
 
Foreign currency exchange impact (1)
1,427

—

Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA to Foreign Currency (Non-GAAP)
$
330,955

$
317,702

 
 
 
DGD Joint Venture Adjusted EBITDA (Darling's Share)
$
50,503

$
1,946


(1) The average rates assumption used in this calculation was the actual fiscal average rate for the first nine months ended October 3, 2015 of €1.00:USD$1.11 and CAD$1.00:USD$0.79 as compared to the average rate for the first nine months ended October 1, 2016 of €1.00:USD$1.12 and CAD$1.00:USD$0.76, respectively.

For the nine months ended October 1, 2016, the Company generated Adjusted EBITDA of $329.1 million, as compared to $309.9 million in the same period in fiscal 2015. The increase is attributable to higher raw material volumes in the Feed Ingredients segment that more than offset lower finished product prices in the Food and Feed Ingredients segments. Additionally, lower selling, general and administrative expense due to cost reductions and offsetting gains in currency hedges primarily in the Food Ingredients segment also contributed to the increase.

On a Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA basis, the Company would have generated $329.5 million in the first nine months ended October 1, 2016, as compared to a Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA of $317.7 million in the same period in fiscal 2015. The increase in the Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA is attributable to higher raw material volumes in the Feed Ingredients segment that more than offset lower finished product prices in the Food and Feed Ingredients segments. Additionally, lower selling, general and administrative expense due to cost reductions and offsetting gains in currency hedges primarily in the Food Ingredients segment also contributed to the increase.

DGD Joint Venture Adjusted EBITDA (Darling's share) is not reflected in the Adjusted EBITDA, the Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA, or the Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA to Foreign Currency. See Note 6 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for financial information regarding the DGD Joint Venture.


48


Other Operating Performance Metrics

Other operating performance metrics indicators which management routinely monitors as an indicator of operating performance include:

•
Finished product commodity prices
•
Segment operating income
•
Raw material processed
•
Gross margin percentages
•
Foreign currency
•
Corporate activities

These indicators and their importance are discussed below in greater detail.

Finished Product Commodity Prices 

 Average Jacobsen and Reuters prices (at the specified delivery point) for the first nine months of fiscal 2016, compared to average Jacobsen and Reuters prices for the first nine months of fiscal 2015 follow:

 
Avg. Price
First Nine Months
2016
Avg. Price
First Nine Months
2015
 
Increase/(Decrease)
%
Increase/(Decrease)
Jacobsen:
 
 
 
 
MBM (Illinois)
$ 291.60/ton
$ 362.97/ton
$ (71.37)/ton
(19.7
)%
Feed Grade PM (Mid-South)
$ 306.35/ton
$ 427.83/ton
$ (121.48)/ton
(28.4
)%
Pet Food PM (Mid-South)
$ 552.53/ton
$ 569.69/ton
$ (17.16)/ton
(3.0
)%
Feather meal (Mid-South)
$ 356.23/ton
$ 507.34/ton
$ (151.11)/ton
(29.8
)%
BFT (Chicago)
$ 29.41/cwt
$   29.42/cwt
$    (0.01)/cwt
—
 %
YG (Illinois)
$ 24.01/cwt
$   23.10/cwt
$    0.91/cwt
3.9
 %
Corn (Illinois)
$ 3.74/bushel
$ 3.87/bushel
$ (0.13)/bushel
(3.4
)%
Reuters:
 
 
 
 
Palm Oil (CIF Rotterdam)
$ 680.00/MT
$ 621.00/MT
$ 59.00/MT
9.5
 %
Soy meal (CIF Rotterdam)
$ 380.00/MT
$ 404.00/MT
$ (24.00)/MT
(5.9
)%

During the first nine months ended October 1, 2016 net sales for the Feed Ingredients segment were $1,550.5 million as compared to $1,602.1 million during the first nine months ended October 3, 2015, a decrease of approximately $51.6 million. Net sales for fats were approximately $423.5 million and $422.7 million for the first nine months ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015. Protein net sales were approximately $576.5 million and $640.0 million for the first nine months ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015, respectively. Other rendering net sales, which include hides, pet food and service charges, were approximately $200.0 million and $188.1 million for the first nine months ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015. Total rendering net sales were approximately $1,200.0 million and $1,250.8 million for the first nine months ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015. Used cooking oil net sales were approximately $117.4 million and $118.9 million for the first nine months ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015. Bakery net sales were approximately $164.7 million and $164.1 million for the first nine months ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015, and other sales, which includes trap services, industrial residual services and organic fertilizer net sales were approximately $68.4 million and $68.3 million for the first nine months ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015.

The decrease in net sales for the Feed Ingredients segment was primarily due to the following (in millions of dollars):


49


 
Fats
Proteins
Other Rendering
Total Rendering
Used Cooking Oil
Bakery
Other
Total
Net sales first nine months ended October 3, 2015
$
422.7

$
640.0

$
188.1

$
1,250.8

$
118.9

$
164.1

$
68.3

$
1,602.1

Increase/(decrease) in sales volumes
23.3

60.7

—

84.0

0.5

6.5

—

91.0

Increase/(decrease) in finished product prices
(21.0
)
(122.7
)
—

(143.7
)
(1.8
)
(5.9
)
—

(151.4
)
Increase/(decrease) due to currency exchange rates
(1.5
)
(1.5
)
(0.1
)
(3.1
)
(0.2
)
—

—

(3.3
)
Other change
—

—

12.0

12.0

—

—

0.1

12.1

Total change
0.8

(63.5
)
11.9

(50.8
)
(1.5
)
0.6

0.1

(51.6
)
Net sales first nine months ended October 1, 2016
$
423.5

$
576.5

$
200.0

$
1,200.0

$
117.4

$
164.7

$
68.4

$
1,550.5


Segment Operating Income

Segment operating income for the first nine months ended October 1, 2016 was $116.7 million, which reflects an increase of $6.8 million as compared to the first nine months ended October 3, 2015. Adjusting the first nine months ended October 3, 2015 for the net change between the acquisition and integration costs in the first nine months ended October 1, 2016 as compared to the first nine months ended October 3, 2015, operating income would have been $117.3 million in the first nine months ended October 3, 2015.
 
(in thousands, except percentages)
Feed Ingredients
Food Ingredients
Fuel Ingredients
Corporate
Total
Nine Months Ended October 1, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
Net Sales
$
1,550,539

$
782,014

$
178,285

$
—

$
2,510,838

Cost of sales and operating expenses
1,202,404

611,151

133,620

—

1,947,175

Gross Margin
348,135

170,863

44,665

—

563,663

 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross Margin %
22.5
%
21.8
%
25.1
%
—
%
22.4
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Selling, general and administrative expense
127,513

69,566

4,986

32,070

234,135

Acquisition and integration costs
—

—

—

401

401

Depreciation and amortization
130,110

51,823

20,999

9,508

212,440

Segment operating income/(loss)
90,512

49,474

18,680

(41,979
)
116,687

 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity in net income of unconsolidated subsidiaries
290

—

37,343

—

37,633

Segment income/(loss)
90,802

49,474

56,023

(41,979
)
154,320


(in thousands, except percentages)
Feed Ingredients
Food Ingredients
Fuel Ingredients
Corporate
Total
Nine Months Ended October 3, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
Net Sales
$
1,602,141

$
822,741

$
162,889

$
—

$
2,587,771

Cost of sales and operating expenses
1,237,936

654,233

131,949

—

2,024,118

Gross Margin
364,205

168,508

30,940

—

563,653

 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross Margin %
22.7
%
20.5
%
19.0
%
—
%
21.8
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Selling, general and administrative expense
136,397

79,461

6,204

23,889

245,951

Acquisition and integration costs
—

—

—

7,807

7,807

Depreciation and amortization
121,386

51,126

19,959

7,499

199,970

Segment operating income/(loss)
106,422

37,921

4,777

(39,195
)
109,925

 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity in net income of unconsolidated subsidiaries
1,128

—

(10,785
)
—

(9,657
)
Segment income/(loss)
107,550

37,921

(6,008
)
(39,195
)
100,268



50


Feed Ingredients operating income for the first nine months ended October 1, 2016 was $90.5 million, a decrease of $15.9 million as compared to the first nine months ended October 3, 2015. Earnings for the Feed Ingredients segment were lower due to the significant decline in protein finished product prices resulting from near record grain production in fiscal year 2015 and 2016. Higher depreciation and amortization in fiscal 2016 due to placing new plants into production were offset by reduced selling, general and administrative expense.
 
Food Ingredients operating income was $49.5 million for the first nine months ended October 1, 2016, an increase of $11.6 million as compared to the first nine months ended October 3, 2015. The gelatin business earnings improved compared to the prior year primarily due to strong profitability in the Company's North American, South American, and European operations. European edible fats performance normalized over the prior year due to stable sales prices. The Company's casing business improved as compared to the same period in the prior year, due primarily to higher sale volumes. Selling, general and administrative expense was reduced by $9.9 million which included significant gains on currency hedges.

Exclusive of the DGD Joint Venture, Fuel Ingredients operating income for the first nine months ended October 1, 2016 was $18.7 million, an increase of $13.9 million as compared to the first nine months ended October 3, 2015. The increase in earnings is due to improved Ecoson and Rendac volumes and operating performance, improved productivity and margins at the Canadian biodiesel plant, the inclusion of the blenders' tax credit, and higher RIN values in 2016 as compared to the same period in fiscal 2015. The increase in earnings was also attributable to lower selling, general and administrative expense due to subsidies received from the Netherlands government that is recorded as a credit to selling, general and administrative expense. Including the DGD Joint Venture, the Fuel Ingredients segment income for the first nine months ended October 1, 2016 was $56.0 million, as compared to segment loss of $6.0 million in the same period of 2015. The increase of $62.0 million is primarily related to an increase in the income of the DGD Joint Venture due to inclusion of the blenders' tax credits and higher RIN values in the first nine months of 2016 that more than offset a decrease in petroleum prices.

Raw Material Processed

Raw material processed represents the quantity in metric tons of raw material collected from the Company’s various raw material suppliers. The volume of raw material processed bears a direct relationship to the volume of finished product produced and available for sale.

Overall, in the first nine months ended October 1, 2016, the raw material processed by the Company totaled 7.58 million metric tons. Of this amount, 5.91 million metric tons was in the Feed Ingredients segment, 809,000 metric tons was in the Food Ingredients segment, and 865,000 metric tons was in the Fuel Ingredients segment.

In the first nine months ended October 3, 2015, the raw material processed by the Company totaled 7.23 million metric tons. Of this amount, 5.56 million metric tons was in the Feed Ingredients segment, 805,000 metric tons was in the Food Ingredients segment, and 863,000 metric tons was in the Fuel Ingredients segment.
 
As compared to the first nine months ended October 3, 2015, overall volumes in the first nine months ended October 1, 2016 were up approximately 3.6%, which consisted of a 4.6% increase in the Feed Ingredients segment, a 0.3% increase in the Food Ingredients segment and a 0.2% increase in the Fuel Ingredients segment. The total raw materials processed, including that for the Fuel Ingredients segment, excludes raw material processed at the DGD Joint Venture.
  
Gross Margin Percentages
    
 
Feed Ingredients
Food Ingredients
Fuel Ingredients
Corporate
Total
Nine Months Ended October 1, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
Gross Margin %
22.5
%
21.8
%
25.1
%
—
%
22.4
%

 
Feed Ingredients
Food Ingredients
Fuel Ingredients
Corporate
Total
Nine Months Ended October 3, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
Gross Margin %
22.7
%
20.5
%
19.0
%
—
%
21.8
%

Gross margin percentage represents the gross margin dollars (net sales less cost of sales and operating expenses) as a percentage of net sales. Overall, in the first nine months ended October 1, 2016, the gross margin percentage was 22.4% as compared to 21.8% in the same period of fiscal 2015. The gross margin percentage for the first nine months ended October

51


1, 2016 increased 2.8% as compared to the comparable period of fiscal 2015. When considering the foreign currency exchange impact, the gross margins for the first nine months ended October 1, 2016 were 3.2% higher on average as compared to the adjusted margins for the comparable period of fiscal 2015.

In the Feed Ingredients segment for the first nine months ended October 1, 2016, the gross margin percentage decreased to 22.5% as compared to 22.7% for the same period of fiscal 2015. The decrease was primarily related to the decline in protein prices that more than offset increased volumes and stable prices in fats and used cooking oil. Considering foreign currency exchange impact the Feed Ingredients segment gross margins for the first nine months ended October 1, 2016 were 0.9% lower as compared to the adjusted margins for the comparable period of fiscal 2015.

In the Food Ingredients segment for the first nine months ended October 1, 2016, the gross margin percentage increased to 21.8% as compared to 20.5% during the comparable period of fiscal 2015. The increase is primarily due to improved margins and production efficiencies in the North American, South American, and European gelatin business. European edible fats performance normalized over the prior year due to stable sales prices. The Company's casing business profitability increased as compared to the same period in the prior year, due primarily to higher sales prices. Considering foreign currency exchange impact the Food Ingredients segment gross margins for the first nine months ended October 1, 2016 were 6.3% higher as compared to the adjusted margins for the comparable period of fiscal 2015.

In the Fuel Ingredients segment (exclusive of the equity contribution from the DGD Joint Venture) for the first nine months ended October 1, 2016, the gross margin percentage increased to 25.1% as compared to 19.0% for the comparable period of fiscal 2015. This increase is primarily driven by improved margins in the Canadian and European Ecoson and Rendac business units and return to full production of the Canadian biodiesel unit. In addition, the blenders' credits and higher RIN values were included in the first nine months of 2016 but were not available during the same period in 2015. Considering foreign currency exchange impact the Fuel Ingredients segment gross margins for the first nine months ended October 1, 2016 were 32.6% higher as compared to the adjusted margins for the comparable period of fiscal 2015.

Foreign Currency

During the nine months ended October 1, 2016, the U.S. dollar strengthened against most of the other functional currencies used by the Company's non-domestic operations when compared to the same period in fiscal 2015. Using actual results for the first nine months ended October 1, 2016 and the prior year's average foreign currency rates for the first nine months ended October 3, 2015 would result in an increase in operating income of approximately $1.4 million. The average rates assumptions used in this calculation were the actual fiscal average rates for the first nine months ended October 3, 2015 of €1.00:USD$1.11 and CAD$1.00:USD$0.79 as compared to the average rates for the first nine months ended October 1, 2016 of €1.00:USD$1.12 and CAD$1.00:USD$0.76, respectively.

Corporate Activities

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.  Selling, general and administrative expenses were $32.1 million during the first nine months ended October 1, 2016, a $8.2 million increase from $23.9 million during the first nine months ended October 3, 2015. The increase is primarily due to an increase in corporate related benefits as compared to the nine months ended October 3, 2015 and an offsetting gain of $4.2 million recorded in 2015 for a reduction of a liability for unclaimed property. 

Acquisition and Integration Costs.  Acquisition and integration costs were $0.4 million during the first nine months ended October 1, 2016, as compared to $7.8 million in the first nine months ended October 3, 2015. The decrease is primarily due to the termination of the Transitions Services Agreement with Maple Leaf Foods in March 2016 and the inclusion of expenses in fiscal 2015 relating to the integration of operations, systems integration and implementation of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 internal controls in connection with the VION Acquisition.

Depreciation and Amortization.  Depreciation and amortization charges increased $2.0 million to $9.5 million during the first nine months ended October 1, 2016, as compared to $7.5 million during the first nine months ended October 3, 2015.  The increase in depreciation and amortization is primarily due to the Company's ERP system depreciation.

Interest Expense. Interest expense was $71.7 million during the first nine months ended October 1, 2016, compared to $82.2 million during the first nine months ended October 3, 2015, a decrease of $10.5 million. The decrease is primarily due to the prior year charge relating to the write-off of deferred loan costs of approximately $10.6 million related to the retirement of the European term loan B and a decrease in interest expense on reduced debt outstanding in the U.S. and Canada.


52


Foreign Currency Gains/(Losses).  Foreign currency losses were $2.2 million during the first nine months ended October 1, 2016, as compared to $3.3 million for the first nine months ended October 3, 2015. The decrease in currency losses is mainly due to a reduction in losses on non-designated foreign exchange hedge contracts related to the Company's intercompany notes.

Other Income/Expense. Other expense was $5.7 million in the first nine months ended October 1, 2016, compared to $0.7 million in the first nine months ended October 3, 2015.  The increase in other expense in the first nine months ended October 1, 2016 as compared to the same period in fiscal 2015 is mainly due to restoration costs associated with the December 2015 Ecoson fire and casualty losses incurred in the Netherlands and Brazil in the first nine months of fiscal 2016, an increase in bank service charges and a reduction of interest income.

Equity in Net Income/(Loss) in Investment of Unconsolidated Subsidiaries. This primarily represents the Company's portion of the income of the DGD Joint Venture for the first nine months ended October 1, 2016. The net income in the first nine months ended October 1, 2016 was $37.6 million compared to a net loss of $9.7 million in the first nine months ended October 3, 2015. The $47.3 million increase is primarily due to blenders tax credits recorded at the DGD Joint Venture in the first nine months of fiscal 2016 as compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2015 which more than offset decreases due to lower fuel sales prices, downtime of approximately 18 days for scheduled maintenance and a force majeure declared by the KCS railroad due to flooding, as compared to no blenders tax credits and higher fuel prices in the same period in the prior year.
 
Income Taxes. The Company recorded income tax expense of $9.1 million for the first nine months ended October 1, 2016, compared to $14.6 million of income tax expense recorded in the first nine months ended October 3, 2015, a decrease of $5.5 million. The decrease in tax expense is primarily due to the biofuel tax incentive and Subpart F income. The biofuel tax incentive and the look through rule related to Subpart F income were not enacted tax law during the first nine months of fiscal year 2015.

The effective tax rate for the first nine months of fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015 was 12.2% and 104.2%, respectively. The effective tax rate for the first nine months of fiscal 2016 differs from the statutory rate of 35% due primarily to biofuel tax incentives, the relative mix of earnings among jurisdictions with different tax rates (including foreign withholding taxes and state income taxes), Subpart F income and losses that provided no tax benefit. The effective tax rate for the first nine months of fiscal 2015 differed from the statutory rate of 35% due primarily to the relative mix of earnings among jurisdictions with different tax rates (including foreign withholding taxes and state income taxes), Subpart F income, non-deductible expenses and discrete items. In addition, during the nine months ended October 3, 2015, the effective income tax rate was negatively impacted by changes in losses that provided no tax benefit. The Company also wrote-down $1.8 million of tax assets in a foreign jurisdiction based upon uncertainty as to their ability to be realized.

FINANCING, LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Credit Facilities

Indebtedness

Certain Debt Outstanding at October 1, 2016. On October 1, 2016, debt outstanding under the Company's Amended Credit Agreement, the Company's 5.375% Notes and the Company's 4.75% Notes consists of the following (in thousands):


53


        
Senior Notes:
 
5.375 % Notes due 2022
$
500,000

Less unamortized deferred loan costs
(7,994
)
Carrying value of 5.375% Notes due 2022
$
492,006

 
 
4.75 % Notes due 2022 - Denominated in euros
$
574,740

Less unamortized deferred loan costs
(9,847
)
 Carrying value of 4.75% Notes due 2022
$
564,893

 
 
Amended Credit Agreement:
 
Term Loan A
$
187,590

Less unamortized deferred loan costs
(861
)
Carrying value of Term Loan A
186,729

 
 
Term Loan B
$
585,000

Less unamortized deferred loan costs
(6,670
)
Carrying value of Term Loan B
$
578,330

 
 
Revolving Credit Facility:
 
Maximum availability
$
1,000,000

Borrowings outstanding
—

Letters of credit issued
26,272

Availability
$
973,728


During the first nine months of fiscal 2016, the U.S. dollar weakened as compared to the euro and Canadian dollar. Using the euro and Canadian dollar based debt outstanding at October 1, 2016 and comparing the closing balance sheet rates at October 1, 2016 to those at January 2, 2016, the U.S. dollar debt balances of euro based debt and Canadian based debt increased by approximately $13.6 million and $4.8 million, respectively, at October 1, 2016. The closing balance sheet rate assumptions used in this calculation were the actual fiscal closing balance sheet rate at October 1, 2016 of €1.00:USD$1.11600 and CAD$1.00:USD$0.759933 as compared to the closing balance sheet rate at January 2, 2016 of €1.00:USD$1.08915 and CAD$1.00:USD$0.719861, respectively.

Senior Secured Credit Facilities. On January 6, 2014, Darling, Darling Canada and Darling NL entered into the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (as subsequently amended, the “Amended Credit Agreement”), restating its then existing Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated September 27, 2013, with the lenders from time to time party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the other agents from time to time party thereto. For a description of the terms of the Amended Credit Agreement, including the revolving loan, term loan A and term loan B facilities provided thereunder, see Note 7 to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements included herein.

•
As of October 1, 2016, the Company had unused capacity of $973.7 million under the revolving loan facility, taking into account that the Company had no outstanding borrowings and letters of credit issued of $26.3 million. The revolving loan facility will mature on September 27, 2018.

•
As of October 1, 2016, the Company has borrowed all $350.0 million under the term loan A facility and repaid approximately CAD$32.4 million and $101.8 million, which when repaid, cannot be reborrowed. The term loan A facility is repayable in quarterly installments as follows: for the first eight quarters following January 6, 2014, 1.25% of the original principal amount of the term loan A facility, for the ninth through sixteenth quarters following January 6, 2014, 1.875% of the original principal amount of the term loan A facility, and for each quarterly installment after such sixteenth installment until September 27, 2018, 3.75% of the original principal amount of the term loan A facility. The term loan A facility will mature on September 27, 2018.

•
As of October 1, 2016, the Company has borrowed all $1.3 billion under the terms of the term loan B facility and repaid approximately €510.0 million and $15.0 million, which when repaid, cannot be reborrowed. The term loan B facility is repayable in quarterly installments of 0.25% of the aggregate principal amount of the relevant term loan B facility on the last day of each March, June, September and December of each year commencing on the last day of each month falling on or after the last day of the first full quarter following January 6, 2014, and continuing until the last day of each quarter period ending immediately prior to January 7, 2021; and one final installment in the amount of the relevant term loan B facility then outstanding, due on January 7, 2021. The term loan B facility will mature on January 7, 2021.


54


•
The interest rate applicable to any borrowings under the term loan A facility and the revolving loan facility will equal either LIBOR/euro interbank offered rate/CDOR plus 2.50% per annum or base rate/Canadian prime rate plus 1.50% per annum, subject to certain step-downs based on the Company's total leverage ratio. The interest rate applicable to any borrowings under the term loan B facility will equal (a) for U.S. dollar term loans, either the base rate plus 1.50% or LIBOR plus 2.50%, and (b) for euro term loans, the euro interbank offered rate plus 2.75%, in each case subject to a step-down based on Darling’s total leverage ratio. For term loan B loans, the LIBOR rate shall not be less than 0.75%.

5.375% Senior Notes due 2022. On January 2, 2014, Darling Escrow Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Darling, issued and sold $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.375% Notes. The 5.375% Notes, which were offered in a private offering in connection with the VION Acquisition, were issued pursuant to the Original 5.375% Indenture, (as supplemented, the “5.375% Indenture”), among Darling Escrow Corporation, the Subsidiary Guarantors (as defined in the Original 5.375% Indenture) party thereto from time to time and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “5.375% Trustee”).

4.75 % Senior Notes due 2022. On June 3, 2015, Darling Global Finance B.V. (the “4.375% Issuer”), a wholly-owned indirect finance subsidiary of Darling incorporated as a private company with limited liability (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid) under the laws of The Netherlands issued and sold €515.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 4.75% Notes. The 4.75% Notes, which were offered in a private offering, were issued pursuant to a Senior Notes Indenture, dated as of June 3, 2015 (the “4.75% Indenture”), among the 4.375% Issuer, Darling, the subsidiary guarantors party thereto from time to time, Citibank, N.A., London Branch, as trustee (the “4.75% Trustee”) and principal paying agent, and Citigroup Global Markets Deutschland AG, as principal registrar.

The classification of long-term debt in the Company’s October 1, 2016 consolidated balance sheet is based on the contractual repayment terms of the 5.375% Notes, the 4.75% Notes and debt issued under the Amended Credit Agreement.
 
As a result of the Company's borrowings under its Amended Credit Agreement, the 5.375% Indenture and the 4.75% Indenture, the Company is highly leveraged. Investors should note that, in order to make scheduled payments on the indebtedness outstanding under the Amended Credit Agreement, the 5.375% Notes and the 4.75% Notes, and otherwise, the Company will rely in part on a combination of dividends, distributions and intercompany loan repayments from the Company's direct and indirect U.S. and foreign subsidiaries. The Company is prohibited under the Amended Credit Agreement, the 5.375% Indenture and the 4.75% Indenture from entering (or allowing such subsidiaries to enter) into contractual limitations on the Company's subsidiaries’ ability to declare dividends or make other payments or distributions to the Company. The Company has also attempted to structure the Company's consolidated indebtedness in such a way as to maximize the Company's ability to move cash from the Company's subsidiaries to Darling or another subsidiary that will have fewer limitations on the ability to make upstream payments, whether to Darling or directly to the Company's lenders as a Guarantor. Nevertheless, applicable laws under which the Company's direct and indirect subsidiaries are formed may provide limitations on such dividends, distributions and other payments. In addition, regulatory authorities in various countries where the Company operates or where the Company imports or exports products may from time to time impose import/export limitations, foreign exchange controls or currency devaluations that may limit the Company's access to profits from the Company's subsidiaries or otherwise negatively impact the Company's financial condition and therefore reduce the Company's ability to make required payments under the Amended Credit Agreement, the 5.375% Notes and the 4.75% Notes, or otherwise. In addition, fluctuations in foreign exchange values may have a negative impact on the Company's ability to repay indebtedness denominated in U.S. or Canadian dollars or euros. See “Risk Factors - Our business may be adversely impacted by fluctuations in exchange rates, which could affect our ability to comply with our financial covenants” and “ - Our ability to repay our indebtedness depends in part on the performance of our subsidiaries, including our non-guarantor subsidiaries, and their ability to make payments” in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2016 as filed with the SEC on March 1, 2016.
 
Working Capital and Capital Expenditures

On October 1, 2016, the Company had working capital of $503.3 million and its working capital ratio was 2.10 to 1 compared to working capital of $490.1 million and a working capital ratio of 2.11 to 1 on January 2, 2016.  The increase in working capital is primarily due to an increase in inventory quantities, an increase in commodity prices and the impact of foreign translation of the euro and Canadian dollar into U.S. dollars. As of October 1, 2016, the Company had unrestricted cash of $148.6 million and funds available under the revolving credit facility of $973.7 million, compared to unrestricted cash of $156.9 million and funds available under the revolving credit facility of $956.7 million at January 2, 2016. The Company diversifies its cash investments by limiting the amounts deposited with any one financial institution and invests primarily in government-backed securities.

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Net cash provided by operating activities was $280.6 million for the first nine months ended October 1, 2016, as compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $296.7 million for the first nine months ended October 3, 2015, a decrease of $16.1 million due primarily to an increase in net income of approximately $66.1 million and changes in operating assets and liabilities that include a decrease in cash used by accounts receivable of $10.8 million, a decrease in inventory and prepaids of $19.1 million, an increase in cash provided by accounts payable and accrued expenses of approximately $37.7 million and a decrease in cash in other operating cash flow of approximately $29.9 million primarily due to changes in the foreign currency hedge balances.  Cash used by investing activities was $170.7 million for the first nine months ended October 1, 2016, compared to $162.2 million for the first nine months ended October 3, 2015, an increase of $8.5 million, primarily due to cash paid for an acquisition in the current year.  Net cash used by financing activities was $117.2 million for the first nine months ended October 1, 2016, compared to net cash used by financing activities of $94.1 million for the first nine months ended October 3, 2015, an increase of $23.2 million, primarily due to an overall increase in debt payments in the first nine months ended October 1, 2016 as compared to the first nine months ended October 3, 2015.

Capital expenditures of $168.2 million were made during the first nine months of fiscal 2016, compared to $162.3 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2015, for a net increase of $5.9 million (3.6%). The Company expects to incur additional capital expenditures of $62.2 million for the remainder of fiscal 2016. Additionally, included in the planned capital projects are costs associated with the Company's continued implementation of its new ERP system. As of October 1, 2016, the Company has spent life-to-date approximately $39.0 million in capital expenditures for software and design costs related to the implementation of the Oracle E Business Suite ERP system. The total expected cash flow impact of this project will be in the range of $40.0 million to $42.0 million. These costs will be financed using cash flows from operations. Capital expenditures related to compliance with environmental regulations were $9.8 million and $12.6 million during the first nine months ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015, respectively.

Accrued Insurance and Pension Plan Obligations

Based upon the annual actuarial estimate, current accruals and claims paid during the first nine months of fiscal 2016, the Company has accrued approximately $13.6 million it expects will become due during the next twelve months in order to meet obligations related to the Company’s self insurance reserves and accrued insurance obligations, which are included in current accrued expenses at October 1, 2016.  The self insurance reserve is composed of estimated liability for claims arising for workers’ compensation, and for auto liability and general liability claims.  The self insurance reserve liability is determined annually, based upon a third party actuarial estimate.  The actuarial estimate may vary from year to year due to changes in cost of health care, the pending number of claims or other factors beyond the control of management of the Company. 

Based upon current actuarial estimates, the Company expects to contribute approximately $0.6 million to its domestic pension plans in order to meet minimum pension funding requirements during the next twelve months.  In addition, the Company expects to make payments of approximately $3.1 million under its foreign pension plans in the next twelve months.  The minimum pension funding requirements are determined annually, based upon a third party actuarial estimate.  The actuarial estimate may vary from year to year due to fluctuations in return on investments or other factors beyond the control of management of the Company or the administrator of the Company’s pension funds.  No assurance can be given that the minimum pension funding requirements will not increase in the future.  The Company has made tax deductible discretionary and required contributions to its domestic pension plans for the first nine months ended October 1, 2016 of approximately $0.5 million. Additionally, the Company has made required and tax deductible discretionary contributions to its foreign pension plans for the first nine months ended October 1, 2016 of approximately $2.4 million.

The U.S. Pension Protection Act of 2006 (“PPA”) went into effect in January 2008.  The stated goal of the PPA is to improve the funding of U.S. pension plans.  U.S. plans in an under-funded status are required to increase employer contributions to improve the funding level within PPA timelines.  Volatility in the world equity and other financial markets could have a material negative impact on U.S. pension plan assets and the status of required funding under the PPA.  The Company participates in various U.S. multiemployer pension plans which provide defined benefits to certain employees covered by labor contracts.  These plans are not administered by the Company and contributions are determined in accordance with provisions of negotiated labor contracts to meet their pension benefit obligations to their participants. The Company's contributions to each individual U.S. multiemployer plan represent less than 5% of the total contributions to each such plan. Based on the most currently available information, the Company has determined that, if a withdrawal were to occur, withdrawal liabilities for two of the U.S. plans in which the Company currently participates could be material to the Company, with one of these material plans certified as critical or red zone under PPA guidelines. With respect to the other U.S. multiemployer pension plans in which the Company participates and which are not individually significant, six plans have certified as critical or red zone and one has certified as endangered or yellow zone as defined by the PPA. The Company has received notices of withdrawal liability from two U.S. multiemployer pension plans in which it participated. As a result, the Company has an

56


accrued aggregate liability of approximately $1.9 million representing the present value of scheduled withdrawal liability payments under these multiemployer plans. While the Company has no ability to calculate a possible current liability for under-funded multiemployer plans that could terminate or could require additional funding under the PPA, the amounts could be material.

DGD Joint Venture

The Company announced on January 21, 2011 that a wholly-owned subsidiary of Darling entered into a limited liability company agreement with Valero to form the DGD Joint Venture. The DGD Joint Venture is owned 50% / 50% with Valero and was formed to design, engineer, construct and operate the DGD Facility, which is capable of processing approximately 12,000 barrels per day of input feedstock to produce renewable diesel fuel and certain other co-products, and is located adjacent to Valero's refinery in Norco, Louisiana. The DGD Facility reached mechanical completion and began the production of renewable diesel in late June 2013.

On May 31, 2011, the DGD Joint Venture and Diamond Green Diesel LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the DGD Joint Venture (“Opco”), entered into (i) a facility agreement (the “Facility Agreement”) with Diamond Alternative Energy, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Valero (the “Lender”), and (ii) a loan agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) with the Lender, which provided the DGD Joint Venture with a 14 year multiple advance term loan facility of approximately $221.3 million (the “JV Loan”) to support the design, engineering and construction of the DGD Facility, which is now in production. The Facility Agreement and the Loan Agreement prohibit the Lender from assigning all or any portion of the Facility Agreement or the Loan Agreement to unaffiliated third parties. Opco has also pledged substantially all of its assets, consisting of substantially all of the plant, property and equipment of the DGD Facility, to the Lender, and the DGD Joint Venture has pledged all of Opco's equity interests to the Lender, until the JV Loan has been paid in full and the JV Loan has terminated in accordance with its terms.

Based on the sponsor support agreements executed in connection with the Facility Agreement and the Loan Agreement relating to the DGD Joint Venture with Valero, the Company has contributed a total of approximately $111.7 million for completion of the DGD Facility including the Company's portion of cost overruns and working capital funding. As of the date of this report, it is anticipated that substantially all contributions have been made, except for possible additional working capital funding, which is not expected to be material to the Company if it occurs. As of October 1, 2016, under the equity method of accounting, the Company has an investment in the DGD Joint Venture of approximately $238.1 million included on the consolidated balance sheet. Distribution of earnings to the venture partners is prohibited until certain conditions required under the DGD Joint Venture’s Loan Agreement are satisfied, including prepayments of principal by the DGD Joint Venture upon qualifying events. In addition, the DGD Joint Venture has no mandatory distributions to its joint venture partners. The DGD Joint Venture received the $156.4 million of 2015 calendar year blenders credits from the Internal Revenue Service in April 2016. As a result, the DGD Joint Venture made a debt payment of approximately $54.7 million, made dividend distributions to each partner in the amount of $25.0 million and retained the remaining amount for future capital expenditures and general DGD Joint Venture purposes.

In April 2016, the Company announced the planned expansion of the DGD Facility's annual production capacity from 160 million gallons of renewable diesel to 275 million gallons. Final engineering and cost analysis for the project were completed during the third quarter. The estimated construction costs for the project are $190 million, which is expected to be funded by DGD Joint Venture cash flow. The DGD Joint Venture estimates completion of construction and commissioning of the project in early second quarter of 2018. The DGD Joint Venture expects to operate at full capacity throughout the expansion phase, excluding an estimated 15-to-30 days of necessary downtime for final tie-ins. The planned expansion will also include expanded outbound logistics for servicing the many developing low carbon fuel markets around North America and the globe.

On February 23, 2015, Darling through its wholly owned subsidiary Darling Green Energy LLC, ("Darling Green") and a third party Diamond Alternative Energy, LLC ("Diamond Alternative" and together with Darling Green, the "DGD Lenders") entered into a revolving loan agreement (the "DGD Loan Agreement") with the DGD Joint Venture Opco. The DGD Lenders have committed to make loans available to Opco in the total amount of $10.0 million with each lender committed to $5.0 million of the total commitment. Any borrowings by Opco under the DGD Loan Agreement are at the applicable annum rate equal to the sum of (a) the LIBO Rate (meaning Reuters BBA Libor Rates Page 3750) on such day plus (b) 2.50%. The DGD Loan Agreement matures on December 31, 2016, unless extended by agreement of the parties. As of October 1, 2016, no amounts are owed to Darling Green under the DGD Loan Agreement. The DGD Joint Venture, together with its joint venture partners, evaluates its capital structure from time to time, including opportunities to refinance the JV.


57


Financial Impact of Significant Debt Outstanding

The Company has a substantial amount of indebtedness, which could make it more difficult for the Company to satisfy its obligations to its financial lenders and its contractual and commercial commitments, limit the Company's ability to obtain additional financing to fund future working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions or other general corporate requirements on commercially reasonable terms or at all, require the Company to use a substantial portion of its cash flows from operations to pay principal and interest on its indebtedness instead of other purposes, thereby reducing the amount of the Company's cash flows from operations available for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes, increase the Company's vulnerability to adverse economic, industry and business conditions, expose the Company to the risk of increased interest rates as certain of the Company's borrowings are at variable rates of interest, limit the Company's flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in the Company's business and the industry in which the Company operates, place the Company at a competitive disadvantage compared to other, less leveraged competitors, and/or increase the Company's cost of borrowing.

Cash Flows and Liquidity Risks

Management believes that the Company’s cash flows from operating activities consistent with the level generated in the first nine months of fiscal 2016, unrestricted cash and funds available under the Amended Credit Agreement, will be sufficient to meet the Company’s working capital needs and maintenance and compliance-related capital expenditures, scheduled debt and interest payments, income tax obligations, and other contemplated needs through the next twelve months. Numerous factors could have adverse consequences to the Company that cannot be estimated at this time, such as those factors discussed below under the heading “Forward Looking Statements”.  These factors, coupled with volatile prices for natural gas and diesel fuel, currency exchange fluctuations, general performance of the U.S. and global economies, disturbances in world financial, credit, commodities and stock markets, and any decline in consumer confidence, including the inability of consumers and companies to obtain credit due to lack of liquidity in the financial markets, among others, could negatively impact the Company’s results of operations in fiscal 2016 and thereafter.  The Company reviews the appropriate use of unrestricted cash periodically.  Except for expenditures relating to the Company's ongoing installation activities with respect to its ERP system, no decision has been made as to non-ordinary course cash usages at this time; however, potential usages could include:  opportunistic capital expenditures and/or acquisitions and joint ventures;  investments relating to the Company’s renewable energy strategy, including, without limitation, potential investments in additional renewable diesel and/or biodiesel projects;  investments in response to governmental regulations relating to human and animal food safety or other regulations;  unexpected funding required by the legislation, regulation or mass termination of multiemployer plans; and paying dividends or repurchasing stock, subject to limitations under the Amended Credit Agreement, the 5.375 % Notes and the 4.75% Notes, as well as suitable cash conservation to withstand adverse commodity cycles. In August 2015, the Company's Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program of up to an aggregate of $100.0 million of the Company's Common Stock depending on market conditions. The repurchases may be made from time to time on the open market at prevailing market prices or in negotiated transactions off the market. Repurchases may occur over the 24 month period ending in August 2017, unless extended or shortened by the Board of Directors. Since the inception of the share repurchase program, the Company has repurchased approximately $10.9 million of its common stock in open market purchases and has approximately$89.1 million remaining in its share repurchase program.

Each of the factors described above has the potential to adversely impact the Company's liquidity in a variety of ways, including through reduced raw materials availability, reduced finished product prices, reduced sales, potential inventory buildup, increased bad debt reserves, potential impairment charges and/or higher operating costs.

Sales prices for the principal products that the Company sells are typically influenced by sales prices for agricultural-based alternative ingredients, the prices of which are based on established commodity markets and are subject to volatile changes. Any decline in these prices has the potential to adversely impact the Company's liquidity. Any of a decline in raw material availability, a decline in agricultural-based alternative ingredients prices, increases in energy prices or the impact of U.S. and foreign regulation (including, without limitation, China), changes in foreign exchange rates, imposition of currency controls and currency devaluations has the potential to adversely impact the Company's liquidity. A decline in commodities prices, a rise in energy prices, a slowdown in the U.S. or international economy or other factors could cause the Company to fail to meet management's expectations or could cause liquidity concerns.

OFF BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS AND CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

Based upon the underlying purchase agreements, the Company has commitments to purchase $59.4 million of commodity products consisting of approximately $49.3 million of finished products, approximately $7.7 million of natural gas and diesel fuel and approximately $2.4 million of other commitments during the next twelve months, which are not

58


included in liabilities on the Company’s balance sheet at October 1, 2016.  These purchase agreements are entered into in the normal course of the Company’s business and are not subject to derivative accounting. The commitments will be recorded on the balance sheet of the Company when delivery of these commodities occurs and ownership passes to the Company during the remainder of fiscal 2016, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S.

Based upon the underlying lease agreements, the Company expects to pay approximately $35.9 million in operating lease obligations during the next twelve months, which are not included in liabilities on the Company’s balance sheet at October 1, 2016.  These lease obligations are included in cost of sales or selling, general and administrative expense as the underlying lease obligation comes due, in accordance with GAAP.

The following table summarizes the Company’s other commercial commitments, including both on- and off-balance sheet arrangements that are part of the Company's Amended Credit Agreement and other foreign bank guarantees that are not a part of the Company's Amended Credit Agreement at October 1, 2016 (in thousands):

            
Other commercial commitments:
 
Standby letters of credit
$
26,272

Foreign bank guarantees
10,632

Total other commercial commitments:
$
36,904


CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The Company follows certain significant accounting policies when preparing its consolidated financial statements. A complete summary of these policies is included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2016, filed with the SEC on March 1, 2016.

Based on the Company’s annual impairment testing at October 31, 2015, the fair values of the Company’s reporting units containing goodwill exceeded the related carrying value.  However, the fair value of seven of the Company's nine reporting units was less than 30% of its carrying value and the fair value of four of the Company's reporting units (Canada Fuel, Canada Feed, Rousselot and ERS Food) was less than 10% of its carrying value. As of October 1, 2016, goodwill on these four reporting units, which have a fair value of less than 10% of their carrying value, was approximately $531.2 million.  The valuation expert who assisted the Company primarily used the Income Approach to determine the fair value of the Company's reporting units. Key assumptions that impacted the discounted cash flow model were raw material volumes, gross margins, terminal growth rates and discount rates. It is possible, depending upon a number of factors that are not determinable at this time or within the control of the Company, that the fair value of these four reporting units could decrease in the future and result in an impairment to goodwill.  As of October 1, 2016, there were no triggering events noted that would indicate that the goodwill allocated to any of the Company's reporting units is impaired.

NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. This ASU amends Topic 230, Statement of Cash Flows, which is intended to reduce the existing diversity in practice for classifying various types of cash flows including debt extinguishment costs, zero-coupon debt, contingent consideration related to business combinations, insurance proceeds, equity method distributions and beneficial interests in securitizations. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. This ASU amends Topic 718, Compensation - Stock Compensation, which simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payments, including immediate recognition of all excess tax benefits and deficiencies in the income statement, changing the threshold to qualify for equity classification up to the employees' maximum statutory tax rates, allowing an entity-wide accounting policy election to either estimate the number of awards that are expected to vest or account for forfeitures as they occur, and clarifying the classification on the statement of cash flows for the excess tax benefit and employee taxes paid when an employer withholds shares for tax-withholding purposes. Early adoption is permitted for any entity in any interim or annual period. If an entity early adopts the amendments in an interim period, any adjustments should be reflected as of the beginning of the fiscal year that includes that interim period. An entity that elects early adoption must adopt all of the amendments in the same period. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016 and for interim periods therein. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard.


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In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-07, Simplifying the Transition to the Equity Method of Accounting. This ASU amends Topic 323, Investments - Equity Method and Joint Ventures, which eliminates the requirement to retrospectively apply equity method accounting when an entity increases ownership or influence in a previously held investment. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016 and for interim periods therein. The Company does not expect the new guidance to impact the Company's financial statements or related disclosures.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (topic 842). Under the new ASU, lessees will be required to recognize the following for all leases (with the exception of short-term leases) at the commencement date: (1) a lease liability, which is a lessee‘s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis; and (2) a right-of-use asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term. Under the new guidance lessor accounting is largely unchanged. The new lease guidance simplified the accounting for sale and leaseback transactions primarily because lessees must recognize lease assets and lease liabilities. Lessees (for capital and operating leases) and lessors (for sales-type, direct financing, and operating leases) must apply a modified retrospective transition approach for leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. The modified retrospective approach would not require any transition accounting for leases that expired before the earliest comparative period presented. This ASU is effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory. This ASU amends Topic 330, Inventory. The ASU simplifies the measurement of inventory by requiring certain inventory to be measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value. The ASU is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016 and for interim periods therein. The adoption of this standard will not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which will supersede nearly all existing revenue recognition guidance under GAAP. The new ASU introduces a new five-step revenue recognition model in which an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In addition, this ASU requires disclosures sufficient to enable the users to understand the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers, including qualitative and quantitative disclosures about contracts with customers, significant judgments and changes in judgments, and assets recognized from the costs to obtain or fulfill a contract. In July 2015, the FASB deferred the elective date of the standard by one year. This ASU allows for either full retrospective or modified retrospective adoption and will become effective for the Company for the fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard and the transition plan the Company will adopt.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes “forward-looking” statements that involve risks and uncertainties.   The words “believe,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “could,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “planned,” “potential,” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements.  All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this report are forward looking statements, including, without limitation, the statements under the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and located elsewhere herein regarding industry prospects, the Company’s financial position and the Company's use of cash.  Actual results could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including many that are beyond the control of the Company.  Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to be correct.
 
In addition to those factors discussed elsewhere in this report and in the Company's other public filings with the SEC, important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations include: existing and unknown future limitations on the ability of the Company's direct and indirect subsidiaries to make their cash flow available to the Company for payments on the Company's indebtedness or other purposes; global demands for bio-fuels and grain and oilseed commodities, which have exhibited volatility, and can impact the cost of feed for cattle, hogs and poultry, thus affecting available rendering feedstock and selling prices for the Company’s products; reductions in raw material volumes available to the Company due to weak margins in the meat production industry as a result of higher feed costs, reduced consumer demand or other factors, reduced volume from food service establishments, or otherwise; reduced demand for animal feed; reduced finished product prices, including a decline in fat and used cooking oil finished product prices;  changes to worldwide government policies relating to renewable fuels and green house gas (“GHG”) emissions that adversely affect programs like

60


the U.S. government's renewable fuel standard, low carbon fuel standards (“LCFS”) and tax credits for biofuels both in the United States and abroad; possible product recall resulting from developments relating to the discovery of unauthorized adulterations to food or food additives; the occurrence of Bird Flu including, but not limited to H5N1 flu, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (or “BSE”), porcine epidemic diarrhea (“PED”) or other diseases associated with animal origin in the United States or elsewhere; unanticipated costs and/or reductions in raw material volumes related to the Company’s compliance with the existing or unforeseen new U.S. or foreign (including, without limitation, China) regulations (including new or modified animal feed, Bird Flu, PED or BSE or similar or unanticipated regulations) affecting the industries in which the Company operates or its value added products; risks associated with the DGD Joint Venture, including possible unanticipated operating disruptions and issues relating to the announced expansion project; difficulties or a significant disruption in our information systems or failure to implement new systems and software successfully, including our ongoing enterprise resource planning project; risks relating to possible third party claims of intellectual property infringement; increased contributions to the Company’s pension and benefit plans, including multiemployer and employer-sponsored defined benefit pension plans as required by legislation, regulation or other applicable U.S. or foreign law or resulting from a U.S. mass withdrawal event; bad debt write-offs; loss of or failure to obtain necessary permits and registrations; continued or escalated conflict in the Middle East, North Korea, Ukraine or elsewhere; uncertainty regarding the exit of the U.K. from the European Union; and/or unfavorable export or import markets.  These factors, coupled with volatile prices for natural gas and diesel fuel, climate conditions, currency exchange fluctuations, general performance of the U.S. and global economies, disturbances in world financial, credit, commodities and stock markets, and any decline in consumer confidence and discretionary spending, including the inability of consumers and companies to obtain credit due to lack of liquidity in the financial markets, among others, could negatively impact the Company's results of operations. Among other things, future profitability may be affected by the Company’s ability to grow its business, which faces competition from companies that may have substantially greater resources than the Company. The Company's announced share repurchase program may be suspended or discontinued at any time and purchases of shares under the program are subject to market conditions and other factors, which are likely to change from time to time. For more detailed discussion of these factors see the Risk Factors discussion in Item 1A of Part I of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2016. The Company cautions readers that all forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward looking statements, whether as a result of changes in circumstances, new events or otherwise.

Item 3.   QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISKS

Market risks affecting the Company include exposures to changes in prices of the finished products the Company sells, interest rates on debt, availability of raw material supplies and the price of natural gas and diesel fuel used in the Company's plants. Raw materials available to the Company are impacted by seasonal factors, including holidays, when raw material volume declines; warm weather, which can adversely affect the quality of raw material processed and finished products produced; and cold weather, which can impact the collection of raw material. Predominantly all of the Company’s finished products are commodities that are generally sold at prices prevailing at the time of sale. Additionally, with acquisition of foreign entities we are exposed to foreign currency exchange risks, imposition of currency controls and the possibility of currency devaluation.

The Company makes limited use of derivative instruments to manage cash flow risks related to natural gas usage, diesel fuel usage, inventory, forecasted sales and foreign currency exchange rates. The Company does not use derivative instruments for trading purposes. Natural gas swaps and options are entered into with the intent of managing the overall cost of natural gas usage by reducing the potential impact of seasonal weather demands on natural gas that increases natural gas prices. Heating oil swaps and options are entered into with the intent of managing the overall cost of diesel fuel usage by reducing the potential impact of seasonal weather demands on diesel fuel that increases diesel fuel prices. Corn options and future contracts are entered into with the intent of managing U.S. forecasted sales of BBP by reducing the impact of changing prices. Foreign currency forward contracts are entered into to mitigate the foreign exchange rate risk for transactions designated in a currency other than the local functional currency. The interest rate swaps and the natural gas swaps are subject to the requirements of FASB authoritative guidance. Some of the Company's natural gas and diesel fuel instruments are not subject to the requirements of FASB authoritative guidance because some of the natural gas and diesel fuel instruments qualify as normal purchases as defined in FASB authoritative guidance. At October 1, 2016, the Company had corn option contracts outstanding that qualified and were designated for hedge accounting as well as heating oil swap contracts, corn option and forward contracts and foreign currency forward contracts that did not qualify and were not designated for hedge accounting.

In fiscal 2015 and the first nine months of fiscal 2016, the Company entered into corn option contracts that are considered cash flow hedges. Under the terms of the corn option contracts, the Company hedged a portion of its U.S. forecasted sales of BBP through the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017. As of October 1, 2016, the aggregate fair value of these corn option contracts was approximately $5.7 million and is included in other current assets on the balance sheet, with an offset recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income for the effective portion. From time to time, the Company may enter into corn

61


option contracts in the future. Gains and losses arising from open and closed portions of these contracts may have a significant impact on the Company's income if there is significant volatility in the price of corn.

As of October 1, 2016, the Company had the following outstanding forward contracts that were entered into to hedge the future payments of intercompany note transactions, foreign currency transactions in currencies other than the functional currency and forecasted transactions in currencies other than the function currency. All of these transactions are currently not designated for hedge accounting (in thousands):

Functional Currency
 
Contract Currency
 
Range of
U.S.
Type
Amount
 
Type
Amount
 
Hedge rates
Equivalent
Brazilian real
28,514

 
Euro
6,850

 
3.68 - 4.83
$
8,788

Brazilian real
73,423

 
U.S. dollar
20,125

 
3.24 - 4.38
20,125

Euro
188,728

 
U.S. dollar
211,779

 
1.10 - 1.14
211,779

Euro
9,825

 
Polish zloty
43,000

 
4.31 - 4.44
10,965

Euro
3,395

 
Japanese yen
385,211

 
111.64 - 115.76
3,790

Euro
33,928

 
Chinese renminbi
254,639

 
7.46 - 7.52
37,863

Euro
11,126

 
Australian dollar
16,400

 
1.47
12,417

Euro
117

 
British pound
100

 
0.86
130

Polish zloty
19,027

 
Euro
4,379

 
4.29 - 4.40
4,916

Japanese yen
25,835

 
U.S. dollar
237

 
100.53 - 116.63
237

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
311,010


The above foreign currency contracts mature within one year and include hedges on approximately $200.0 million of intercompany notes. The above foreign currency contracts had an aggregate fair value of approximately $2.7 million and are included in other current assets and accrued expenses at October 1, 2016.

Additionally, the Company had corn options contracts and forward contracts and heating oil swaps that are marked to market because they did not qualify for hedge accounting at October 1, 2016. These contracts have an aggregate fair value of approximately $0.4 million and are included in other current assets and accrued expenses at October 1, 2016.

As of October 1, 2016, the Company had forward purchase agreements in place for purchases of approximately $7.7 million of natural gas and diesel fuel and approximately $2.4 million of other commitments in fiscal 2016. As of October 1, 2016, the Company had forward purchase agreements in place for purchases of approximately $49.3 million of finished product in fiscal 2016.

Foreign Exchange

The Company now has significant international operations and is subject to certain opportunities and risks, including currency fluctuations. As a result, the Company is affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates, particularly with respect to the euro, British pound, Canadian dollar, Australian dollar, Chinese renminbi, Brazilian real, Japanese yen and the Argentine peso.

Item 4.   CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.  As required by Rule 13a-15(b) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), the Company's management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, conducted an evaluation, as of the end of the period covered by this report, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures.  As defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures of the Company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms.  Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company's management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.  Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.  Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

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Based on management’s evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting.  As required by Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(d), the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, also conducted an evaluation of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting to determine whether any change occurred during the quarter covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.  Based on that evaluation there has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the last fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report other than SOX control changes related to the upgrade of accounting software at its international operations that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

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DARLING INGREDIENTS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED OCTOBER 1, 2016

PART II:  Other Information
 

Item 1.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The information required by this Item 1 is contained within Note 14 on pages 22 through 23 of this Form 10-Q and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 1A.  RISK FACTORS

Except as set forth below and under “Business and Regulatory Developments” included in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation, there have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K.

The vote by the United Kingdom mandating its withdrawal from the EU could have an adverse affect on the Company's business, investments and future operations in Europe.

The recent vote by the United Kingdom to exit the EU, or Brexit, has created significant volatility in the global financial markets, but the eventual effects of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU on the Company's business or the Company's investment portfolios is uncertain at this time. The effect of Brexit on the Company's business and investments is uncertain as negotiations commence to determine the future terms of the UK relationship with the EU. The effects of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU will depend on agreements the UK makes to retain access to EU markets either during a transitional period or more permanently. Brexit could impair the ability of Darling Ingredients International to transact business in the future in the UK, including by restricting the free travel of employees from and to the UK and through legal uncertainty and potentially divergent national laws and regulations as the UK determines which EU laws to replace or replicate. Furthermore, Brexit is likely to continue to adversely affect European and worldwide economic conditions and could contribute to greater instability in the global financial markets before and after the terms of the UK’s future relationship with the EU are settled. These effects could have an adverse affect on the Company's business, investments and future operations in Europe.

Item 6.  EXHIBITS

 The following exhibits are filed herewith:
 
31.1
Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, of Randall C. Stuewe, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. 
 
31.2
Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, of John O. Muse, the Chief Financial Officer of the Company. 
 
32
Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, of Randall C. Stuewe, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and of John O. Muse, the Chief Financial Officer of the Company.
 
101
Interactive Data Files Pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T: (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of October 1, 2016 and January 2, 2016; (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015; (iii) Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three and nine months ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015; (iv) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended October 1, 2016 and October 3, 2015; (v) Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

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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.

 
 
 
 
DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Date:   
November 10, 2016
By: 
/s/  Randall C. Stuewe
 
 
 
Randall C. Stuewe
 
 
 
Chairman and
 
 
 
Chief Executive Officer
 
 
Date:   
November 10, 2016
By: 
/s/  John O. Muse
 
 
 
John O. Muse
 
 
 
Executive Vice President
 
 
 
Chief Financial Officer
 
 
 
(Principal Financial Officer)

65