v2.4.0.6
Other Non-Current Assets
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Other Non-Current Assets  
Other Non-Current Assets

 

11. Other Non-Current Assets

        Other non-current assets consist of the following:

 
  December 31,  
(US$ in millions)
  2011   2010  

Recoverable taxes, net

  $ 386   $ 964  

Long-term receivables from farmers in Brazil, net

    284     377  

Judicial deposits

    167     172  

Other long-term receivables

    10     129  

Income taxes receivable

    565      

Affiliate loan receivable

    63     65  

Other

    231     238  
           

Total

  $ 1,706   $ 1,945  
           

        Recoverable taxes—Recoverable taxes are reported net of valuation allowances of $41 million and $38 million at December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

        Long-term receivables from farmers in Brazil—Bunge provides financing to farmers in Brazil, primarily through secured advances against farmer commitments to deliver agricultural commodities (primarily soybeans) upon harvest of the then-current year's crop and through credit sales of fertilizer to farmers. These are commercial transactions that are intended to be short-term in nature with amounts expected to be repaid either in cash or through delivery to Bunge of agricultural commodities when the related crops are harvested. These arrangements are typically secured by the farmer's expected current year crop and liens on land, buildings and equipment to ensure recoverability in the event of crop failure. The terms of fertilizer credit sales do not include interest. The secured advances against commitments to deliver soybeans provide for interest between the advance date and the scheduled soybean delivery date. The credit factors considered by Bunge in evaluating farmers before initial advance or extension of credit include, among other things, the credit history of the farmer, financial strength, available agricultural land and available collateral in addition to the expected crop.

        From time to time, weather conditions in certain regions of Brazil and farming economics in general, are adversely affected by factors including volatility in soybean prices, movements in the Brazilian real relative to the U.S. dollar and crop quality and yield issues. In the event of a farmer default resulting from these or other factors, Bunge considers these secured advance and credit sale amounts as past due immediately when the expected soybeans are not delivered as scheduled against advances or when the credit sale amounts are not paid when they come due at the end of the harvest. A large portion of these defaulted accounts resulted from poor crops in certain regions of Brazil in 2005 and 2006. While Brazilian farm economics have improved from those consecutive crop failures, some farmers have continued to face economic challenges due to high debt levels and a strong Brazilian real.

        Upon farmer default, Bunge generally initiates legal proceedings to recover the defaulted amounts. However, the legal recovery process through the judicial system is a long-term process, generally spanning a number of years. As a result, once accounts have been submitted to the judicial process for recovery, Bunge may also seek to renegotiate certain terms with the defaulting farmer in order to accelerate recovery.

        Credit quality and allowance for uncollectible accounts—Bunge adopted the accounting guidance on disclosure about the credit quality of financing receivables and the allowance for credit losses as of December 31, 2010. This guidance requires information to be disclosed at disaggregated levels, defined as portfolio segments and classes. Based upon its analysis of credit losses and risk factors to be considered in determining the allowance for credit losses, Bunge has determined that the long-term receivables from farmers in Brazil represents a single portfolio segment.

        Bunge evaluates this single portfolio segment by class of receivables, which is defined as a level of information (below a portfolio segment) in which the receivables have the same initial measurement attribute and a similar method for assessing and monitoring risk. Bunge has identified accounts in legal collection processes and renegotiated amounts as classes of long-term receivables from farmers. Valuation allowances for accounts in legal collection processes are determined by Bunge on individual accounts based on the fair value of the collateral provided as security for the secured advance or credit sale. The fair value is determined using a combination of internal and external resources, including published information concerning Brazilian land values by region. For determination of the valuation allowances for renegotiated amounts, Bunge considers historical experience with the individual farmers, current weather and crop conditions, as well as the fair value of non-crop collateral.

        Impairment—For both classes, a long-term receivable from farmers in Brazil is considered impaired, based on current information and events, if Bunge determines it to be probable that all amounts due under the original terms of the receivable will not be collected. Recognition of interest income on secured advances to farmers is suspended once the farmer defaults on the originally scheduled delivery of agricultural commodities as the collection of future income is determined to not be probable. No additional interest income is accrued from the point of default until ultimate recovery, where amounts collected are credited first against the receivable and then to any unrecognized interest income.

        The table below summarizes Bunge's recorded investment in long-term receivables from farmers in Brazil for amounts in the legal collection process and renegotiated amounts.

 
  December 31,  
(US$ in millions)
  2011   2010  

Legal collection process (1)

  $ 358   $ 441  

Renegotiated amounts:

             

Current on repayment terms

    125     137  
           

Total

  $ 483   $ 578  
           

(1)
All amounts in legal process are considered past due upon initiation of legal action.

        The average recorded investment in long-term receivables from farmers in Brazil for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 was $561 million and $582 million, respectively. The table below summarizes Bunge's recorded investment in long-term receivables from farmers in Brazil and the related allowance amounts.

 
  December 31, 2011   December 31, 2010  
(US$ in millions)
  Recorded
Investment
  Allowance   Recorded
Investment
  Allowance  

For which an allowance has been provided:

                         

Renegotiated amounts

  $ 64   $ 52   $ 66   $ 39  

Legal collection process

    162     147     180     162  

For which no allowance has been provided:

                         

Renegotiated amounts

    61         71      

Legal collection process

    196         261      
                   

Total

  $ 483   $ 199   $ 578   $ 201  
                   

        The table below summarizes the activity in the allowance for doubtful accounts related to long-term receivables from farmers in Brazil.

 
  December 31,  
(US$ in millions)
  2011   2010  

Beginning balance

  $ 201   $ 232  

Bad debt provision

    32     31  

Recoveries

    (17 )   (15 )

Write-offs

        (57 )

Transfers (1)

    6     4  

Foreign exchange translation

    (23 )   6  
           

Ending balance

  $ 199   $ 201  
           

(1)
Represents reclassifications from allowance for doubtful accounts-current for secured advances to suppliers.

        Judicial deposits—Judicial deposits are funds that Bunge has placed on deposit with the courts in Brazil. These funds are held in judicial escrow relating to certain legal proceedings pending legal resolution and bear interest at the SELIC rate (benchmark rate of the Brazilian central bank).

        Other long-term receivables—Other long-term receivables at December 31, 2010 primarily include installment payments to be received from Bunge's sale of its 33.34% interest in Saipol S.A.S. in December 2009 for 145 million Euros, or its equivalent at that date of approximately $209 million. The sale agreement provided for payment in four equal annual installments, two of which had been received as of January 2011. In the second quarter 2011, Bunge sold this receivable and a loss of $2 million is included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated statement of income for the year ended December 31, 2011.

        Income taxes receivable—Income taxes receivable at December 31, 2011 includes overpayments of current income taxes plus accrued interest. These income tax prepayments are expected to be utilized for settlement of future income tax obligations. Income taxes receivable in Brazil bear interest at the SELIC rate (benchmark rate of the Brazilian central bank).

        Affiliate loans receivable—Affiliate loans receivable are primarily interest bearing receivables from unconsolidated affiliates with an initial maturity of greater than one year.