v2.4.0.6
Commitments and Contingencies (Tables)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2010
Commitments and Contingencies  
Liabilities related to general claims and lawsuits included in other non-current liabilities

 
  December 31,  
(US$ in millions)
  2010   2009  

Tax claims

  $ 127   $ 135  

Labor claims

    78     97  

Civil and other

    114     110  
           

Total

  $ 319   $ 342  
           
Maximum potential future payments related to guarantees

(US$ in millions)
  Maximum
Potential Future
Payments
 

Customer financing (1)

  $ 71  

Unconsolidated affiliates financing (2)

    56  
       

Total

  $ 127  
       

(1)
Bunge has issued guarantees to third parties in Brazil related to amounts owed these third parties by certain of Bunge's customers. The terms of the guarantees are equal to the terms of the related financing arrangements, which are generally one year or less, with the exception of guarantees issued under certain Brazilian government programs, primarily from 2006 and 2007, where terms are up to five years. In the event that the customers default on their payments to the third parties and Bunge would be required to perform under the guarantees, Bunge has obtained collateral from the customers. At December 31, 2010, Bunge had approximately $58 million of tangible property that had been pledged to Bunge as collateral against certain of these refinancing arrangements. Bunge evaluates the likelihood of the customer repayments of the amounts due under these guarantees based upon an expected loss analysis and records the fair value of such guarantees as an obligation in its consolidated financial statements. Bunge's recorded obligation related to these outstanding guarantees was $8 million at December 31, 2010.

(2)
Bunge issued guarantees to certain financial institutions related to debt of certain of its unconsolidated joint ventures. The terms of the guarantees are equal to the terms of the related financings which have maturity dates in 2012 and 2018. There are no recourse provisions or collateral that would enable Bunge to recover any amounts paid under these guarantees. At December 31, 2010, Bunge's recorded obligation related to these guarantees was $4 million.
Future minimum payment obligations under freight supply agreements

(US$ in millions)
   
 

Less than 1 year

  $ 302  

1 to 3 years

    269  

3 to 5 years

    188  

After five years

    1,046  
       

Total

  $ 1,805