10-K/APeriod: FY2023

Archer-Daniels-Midland Co Annual Report (Amendment), Year Ended Dec 31, 2023

Filed November 18, 2024For Securities:ADM

Summary

Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (ADM) has filed an amendment to its 2023 10-K, primarily to restate its consolidated financial statements due to identified issues with intersegment sales accounting within its Nutrition reporting segment. While the core financial results for revenue and profit are not impacted at the consolidated level, the restatement affects segment-specific historical financial information. The company also disclosed a material weakness in internal controls over financial reporting related to these segment disclosures, stemming from inadequate controls in recording intersegment sales at amounts approximating market. This led to the placement of the former CFO on administrative leave and subsequent departure, and ongoing investigations by the SEC and DOJ. Despite these accounting issues, ADM continues to operate as a global leader in agricultural supply chain management and nutrition. The company highlights its strategic focus on productivity, innovation, and culture, with ongoing investments in regenerative agriculture and sustainable solutions. Its diversified business segments—Ag Services and Oilseeds, Carbohydrate Solutions, and Nutrition—remain key drivers of its operations, with the company actively managing market volatilities and investing in growth initiatives. Investors should remain aware of the ongoing investigations and the remediation efforts being undertaken to strengthen internal controls.

Financial Statements
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Key Highlights

  • 1ADM restated its 2023, 2022, and 2021 segment-specific financial information due to accounting errors in intersegment sales for its Nutrition segment.
  • 2A material weakness in internal control over financial reporting was identified related to inadequate controls for intersegment sales reporting, impacting segment disclosures and impairment test inputs.
  • 3The company is cooperating with ongoing SEC and DOJ investigations related to these accounting practices.
  • 4The former CFO, Vikram Luthar, was placed on administrative leave and has since departed the company.
  • 5Despite the accounting restatements, ADM's consolidated financial statements for earnings, comprehensive income, balance sheets, cash flows, and shareholders' equity remain unaffected.
  • 6ADM continues to advance its strategic pillars of Productivity, Innovation, and Culture, with a focus on sustainable growth and investments in areas like regenerative agriculture.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary reason for this amendment is to restate the segment-specific financial information for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021. This restatement is due to identified accounting errors related to intersegment sales between ADM's Nutrition segment and its Ag Services and Oilseeds and Carbohydrate Solutions segments.

No, the restatement does not impact ADM's consolidated financial statements, including its consolidated statements of earnings, comprehensive income, balance sheets, cash flows, or shareholders' equity. The adjustments are specific to segment reporting and do not affect the company's overall financial position or results of operations.

ADM identified a material weakness in its internal control over financial reporting related to its accounting practices and procedures for segment disclosures. This stems from inadequate controls that allowed certain intersegment sales to be reported at amounts that were not in accordance with accounting standards, impacting the completeness and accuracy of segment disclosures and review controls for impairment tests.

Yes, ADM is cooperating with ongoing voluntary document requests from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) concerning the intersegment sales accounting practices. These investigations are focused on the same subject matter.