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BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION (Policies)
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Bunge Limited (“Bunge”), its subsidiaries and variable interest entities (“VIEs”) in which Bunge is considered to be the primary beneficiary, and as a result, include the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of all entities over which Bunge has a controlling financial interest. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”).  Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation have been included. The condensed consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2017 has been derived from Bunge’s audited consolidated financial statements at that date.  Operating results for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2018.  The financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2017, forming part of Bunge’s 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 23, 2018.
Translation of Foreign Currency Financial Statements
Translation of Foreign Currency Financial Statements
Bunge's reporting currency is the U.S. dollar. The functional currency of the majority of Bunge's foreign subsidiaries is their local currency and, as such, amounts included in the consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income (loss), cash flows and changes in equity are translated using average exchange rates during each period. Assets and liabilities are translated at period-end exchange rates and resulting foreign currency translation adjustments are recorded in the consolidated balance sheets as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). However, in accordance with U.S. GAAP, if a foreign entity's economy is determined to be highly inflationary, then such foreign entity's financial statements shall be remeasured as if the functional currency were the reporting currency.
Bunge has significant operations in Argentina and, up until June 30, 2018, it had utilized the official exchange rate of the Argentine peso published by the Argentine government for its commercial transactions and remeasurement purposes of financial statements. Argentina has continued to experience negative economic trends, as evidenced by multiple periods of increasing inflation rates, devaluation of the peso, and increasing borrowing rates, requiring the Argentine government to take mitigating actions. During the second quarter of 2018, it was determined that Argentina's economy should be considered highly inflationary, and as such, beginning on July 1, 2018, Bunge's Argentine subsidiaries changed their functional currency to the U.S. Dollar. This change in functional currency did not have a material impact on Bunge's consolidated financial statements.
Revenue Recognition
Revenue Recognition
The Company’s revenue comprises sales from commodity contracts that are accounted for under ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging (ASC 815) and sales of other products and services that are accounted for under ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC 606). Additional information about the Company’s revenues can be found in Note 19: Segment Information.

Revenue from commodity contracts (ASC 815) - Revenue from commodity contracts primarily relates to forward sales of commodities in the Company’s Agribusiness segment, such as soybeans, soybean meal and oil, corn and wheat, which are accounted for as derivatives at fair value under ASC 815. These forward sales meet the definition of a derivative under ASC 815 as they have an underlying (e.g. the price of soybeans), a notional amount (e.g. metric tons), no initial net investment and can be net settled since the commodity is readily convertible to cash. Bunge does not apply the normal purchase and normal sale exception available under ASC 815 to these contracts. Certain of the Company’s sales in its Edible Oil Products, Milling Products, and Sugar and Bioenergy segments also qualify as derivatives, primarily sales of commodities like bulk soybean and canola oil, and raw sugar.

Revenue from commodity contracts is recognized in Net sales for the contracted amount when the contracts are settled at a point in time by transferring control of the commodity to the customer, similarly to revenue recognized from contracts with customers under ASC 606.  From inception through settlement, these forward sales arrangements are recorded at fair value under ASC 815 with unrealized gains and losses recognized in Cost of goods sold and carried on the consolidated balance sheet as Current assets (see Note 7: Other Current Assets) or Current liabilities (see Note 10: Other Current Liabilities), respectively. Further information about the fair value of these contracts is presented in the Note 11: Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements.  

Revenue from contracts with customers (ASC 606) - Revenue from contracts with customers accounted for under ASC 606 is primarily generated in the Company's Edible Oil Products, Milling Products, Sugar and Bioenergy and Fertilizer segments through the sale of refined edible oil-based products such as packaged vegetable oils, shortenings, margarines and mayonnaise; milled grain products such as wheat flours, bakery mixes, corn-based products, and rice; certain sugar and bioenergy products; and fertilizer products. These sales are accounted for under ASC 606 as these sales arrangements do not meet the aforementioned criteria to be considered derivatives under ASC 815. These revenues are measured based on consideration specified in a contract with a customer, and exclude sales taxes, discounts related to promotional programs and amounts collected on behalf of third parties. The Company recognizes revenue from these contracts at a point in time when it satisfies a performance obligation by transferring control of a product to a customer, generally when legal title and risks and rewards transfer to the customer. Sales terms provide for transfer of title either at the time and point of shipment or at the time and point of delivery and acceptance of the product being sold. In contracts that do not specify the timing of transfer of legal title or transfer of significant risks and rewards of ownership, judgment is required in determining the timing of transfer of control. In such cases, the Company considers standard business practices and the relevant laws and regulations applicable to the transaction to determine when legal title or the significant risks and rewards of ownership are transferred.

The transaction price is generally allocated to performance obligations on a relative standalone selling price basis. Standalone selling prices are estimated based on observable data of the Company’s sales of such products and services to similar customers and in similar circumstances on a standalone basis.  In assessing whether to allocate variable consideration to a specific part of the contract, the Company considers the nature of the variable payment and whether it relates specifically to its efforts to satisfy a specific part of the contract. Variable consideration is generally known upon satisfaction of the performance obligation.

Taxes assessed by a governmental authority that are both imposed on and concurrent with a specific revenue producing transaction, that are collected by the Company from a customer, are excluded from revenue.

Shipping and handling costs associated with outbound freight after control over a product has transferred to a customer are accounted for as a fulfillment cost and are included in Cost of goods sold.

Warranties provided to customers are primarily assurance-type of warranties on the fitness of purpose and merchantability of the Company’s goods and services. The Company does not provide service-type warranties to customers.

Payment is generally due at the time of shipment or delivery, or within a specified time frame after shipment or delivery, which is generally 30-60 days. The Company’s contracts generally provide customers the right to reject any products that do not meet agreed quality specifications. Product returns and refunds are not material.

Additionally, the Company recognizes revenue in the Agribusiness segment from ocean freight and port services over time as the related services are performed.  Performance obligations are typically completed within a fiscal quarter and any unearned revenue or accrued revenues are not material.
New Accounting Pronouncements
New Accounting Pronouncements
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). Under the new provisions, all lessees will be reported on the balance sheet as a right-of-use asset and a liability for the obligation to make payments except for leases with a term of 12 months or less. The standard is effective for Bunge starting January 1, 2019. Bunge has elected the amended transition approach provided by ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements, which allows entities to apply the guidance as of the date of initial application. Bunge has established a project implementation group and is evaluating the impact this guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. Identification of contracts in scope of the new guidance has been completed and the implementation of a new system to perform the reporting and disclosure requirements is underway. We have established accounting policies and proposed changes to existing processes and controls. The Company expects the only significant impact to be reclassifications of and increases to assets and liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet, but at this time, the expected financial impact is not yet known.  The Company does not expect significant impacts to its consolidated statement of comprehensive income, consolidated statement of cash flows, or consolidated statement of changes in equity and redeemable noncontrolling interests.
In February 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued ASU 2018-02, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220) - Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. This ASU allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act ("Tax Act"). Consequently, the ASU eliminates the stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Act and will improve the usefulness of information reported to financial statement users. However, because this ASU only relates to the reclassification of the income tax effects of the Tax Act, the underlying guidance that requires that the effect of a change in tax laws or rates be included in income from continuing operations is not affected. ASU 2018-02 will be effective for Bunge starting January 1, 2019. The adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on Bunge's consolidated financial statements.
Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
In May 2014, the FASB amended ASC (Topic 605) Revenue Recognition and created ASC (Topic 606), Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The core principle of the guidance is that 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. During 2016, the FASB issued additional implementation guidance and practical expedients in ASU 2016-08, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Revenue Gross versus Net), ASU 2016-10, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing, ASU 2016-12, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients, and ASU 2016-20, Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, to improve the guidance. The Company adopted the standard on January 1, 2018 under the modified retrospective approach, applying it only to contracts open as of that date. The impact of adopting the standard has not resulted in a change in accounting treatment for any of the Company’s revenue streams, with the exception of ocean freight voyage charter services. Under ASC 605, the Company recognized revenue and the related cost of goods sold upon loading of the goods onto the vessel, which generally coincides with receipt of payment by the customer. Under ASC 606, the revenue and the related cost of goods sold will instead be recognized over time as the voyages occur and the related expenses are incurred, respectively. As a result of this change in timing, the adoption of the standard resulted in a cumulative-effect credit adjustment to opening retained earnings that was not material.    

Upon the adoption of ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments-Overall (Subtopic 825-10), Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, the Company has made a cumulative effect adjustment to reclassify the unrealized gains/(losses) of equity investments classified as available for sale from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) to opening retained earnings that was not material.

Upon the adoption of ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230), Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (a consensus of the Emerging Issues Task Force), the Company has changed its presentation of cash flows in relation to the Company’s trade receivables securitization program. Particularly impacted are the cash receipts from payments on the deferred purchase price, which are now classified as cash inflows from investing activities, whereas previously they were classified as inflows from operating activities. This ASU has been applied retrospectively and as a result, $1,732 million has been reclassified from cash provided by (used for) operating activities to cash provided by (used for) investing activities in the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. See Note 13 for additional information on the trade receivables securitization program.

Subsequent to the Company's initial adoption of ASU 2016-15, additional interpretative guidance was released by the SEC in the third quarter of 2018 that clarifies the method to be used for calculating the cash received from payments on the deferred purchase price. This additional guidance indicated that an entity must evaluate daily transaction activity to calculate the value of cash received from payments on the deferred purchase price. The company has applied this guidance on a retrospective basis, effective with the Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ending September 30, 2018, which resulted in additional reclassification of cash inflows from operating activities to cash inflows from investing activities.

Upon the adoption of ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230), Restricted Cash (a consensus of the Emerging issues Task Force), the Company has changed the way it presents restricted cash in the statement of cash flows. Effective for 2018, and all prior periods presented, restricted cash is included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported within the condensed consolidated balance sheet that sums to the total of the same such amounts shown in the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows.
(US$ in millions)
September 30, 2018
September 30, 2017
Cash and cash equivalents
$
267

$
389

Restricted cash included in other current assets
4

3

Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown in the statement of cash flows
$
271

$
392



Upon the adoption of ASU 2017-07, Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost, the Company has changed the presentation of net periodic benefit cost related to its employer sponsored defined benefit plans and other postretirement benefits. Effective for 2018 and all prior periods presented, service cost is included in the same income statement line item as other compensation costs arising from services rendered during the period, while other components of net periodic benefit pension cost are now presented separately in Other income (expense), net. The reclassifications associated with the adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on Bunge's condensed consolidated financial statements.