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TRANSFERS (TO) FROM NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011
TRANSFERS (TO) FROM NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS 
TRANSFERS (TO) FROM NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS

 

 

19.                               TRANSFERS (TO) FROM NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS

 

In July 2011, Bunge acquired the remaining 40% interest in a Brazilian sugarcane milling entity that it did not already own, resulting in Bunge owning 100% of this entity. Total consideration paid was $31 million, comprised of $6 million paid at closing, $13 million to be paid within 12 months of closing and $12 million related to the negative noncontrolling equity in the investment.

 

In July 2011, Bunge redeemed shares held by certain third party investors in a private investment fund consolidated by Bunge. The shares were valued at $7 million and represented 22% of the outstanding shares of the fund and 100% of the ownership interest of these investments in the fund. Additionally, the investors received $3 million of dividends representing their share of the cumulative earnings of the fund. This transaction resulted in Bunge’s ownership interest in the fund increasing from 39% at December 31, 2010 to 49% at September 30, 2011. Additionally, during 2010, certain third party investors redeemed their shares in this private investment fund. The shares were valued at $9 million and represented 30% of the outstanding shares of the fund and 100% of the ownership interest in these investments in the fund. Additionally, the investors received $4 million of dividends representing their share of the cumulative earnings of the fund. This resulted in Bunge’s ownership interest in the fund increasing from 31% at December 31, 2009 to 39% at December 31, 2010.

 

In April 2011, Bunge entered into a joint venture in an agricultural commodity trading and merchandising company, which operates in Central America. Bunge has a 70% controlling interest in the joint venture, which it consolidates.  In the second quarter of 2011, the 30% noncontrolling interest holder made a $6 million capital contribution to this joint venture.  Bunge made a proportionate capital contribution of $14 million, which resulted in no ownership change.

 

In March 2011, Bunge sold a 10% interest in a consolidated subsidiary that owns and operates a newly constructed oilseed processing facility in Vietnam for $3 million to a third party.  As a result of this transaction, Bunge has a 90% interest in this subsidiary.

 

Bunge has an 80% controlling interest in a sugarcane mill in Brazil, which it consolidates.  In March 2011, the 20% noncontrolling interest holder and Bunge each made proportionate capital contributions, which resulted in no ownership percentage change. The contribution from the noncontrolling interest holder was $32 million.

 

Bunge has a 51% controlling interest in a joint venture that is developing a grain terminal in Longview, Washington, U.S., which it consolidates.  In the first nine months of 2011, Bunge and the noncontrolling interest holders, which has a 49% interest, made proportionate capital contributions to this joint venture, resulting in no ownership percentage change. The contribution from the noncontrolling interest holders was $23 million.

 

Effective January 1, 2010, Bunge adopted a FASB issued standard that amended the consolidation guidance applied to variable interest entities (VIEs).  As a result of this adoption, Bunge consolidated AGRI-Bunge, LLC, an agribusiness joint venture which originates grains and operates a Mississippi River terminal in the United States in which Bunge has 50% voting power and a 34% interest in the equity and earnings.  Bunge recorded $3 million of noncontrolling equity interest upon its consolidation of this joint venture in the first quarter of 2010.

 

On May 27, 2010, Bunge sold its Brazilian fertilizer nutrients assets, including its direct and indirect 54% ownership interest in the voting common shares and 36% interest in the nonvoting preferred shares of Fosfertil (representing Bunge’s right to approximately 42% of the earnings of Fosfertil, see Note 4). Prior to this date, Fosfertil was a consolidated subsidiary of Bunge.  Effective as of the date of sale and as a result of this transaction, Bunge deconsolidated Fosfertil and derecognized $588 million of noncontrolling interests, which represented approximately 58% of noncontrolling interest in earnings of Fosfertil.