v3.20.1
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Bunge is party to claims and lawsuits, primarily non-income tax and labor claims in South America, arising in the normal course of business. Bunge is also involved from time to time in various contract, antitrust, environmental litigation and remediation and other litigation, claims, government investigations and legal proceedings. The ability to predict the ultimate outcome of such matters involves judgments, estimates and inherent uncertainties. Bunge records liabilities related to legal matters when the exposure item becomes probable and can be reasonably estimated. Bunge management does not expect these matters to have a material adverse effect on Bunge’s financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. However, these matters are subject to inherent uncertainties and there exists the remote possibility that a liability arising from these matters could have a material adverse impact in the period the uncertainties are resolved should the liability substantially exceed the amount of provisions included in the consolidated balance sheets. Information regarding the claims appears in Bunge’s Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. Included in other non-current liabilities at March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 are the following amounts related to these matters:
(US$ in millions)
 
March 31,
2020
 
December 31,
2019
Non-income tax claims
 
$
20

 
$
23

Labor claims
 
39

 
50

Civil and other claims
 
76

 
88

Total
 
$
135

 
$
161


Brazil Indirect Taxes
Non-income tax claims - These tax claims relate to ongoing claims against Bunge’s Brazilian subsidiaries, primarily value-added tax claims (ICMS, ISS, IPI and PIS/COFINS). Bunge expects to pay 58 million Brazilian reais (approximately $11 million) in 2020 or 2021 to settle a portion of its outstanding liabilities in amnesty programs in certain Brazilian states regarding certain tax credits.
As of March 31, 2020, the Brazilian federal and state authorities have concluded examinations of the ICMS and PIS COFINS tax returns and have issued outstanding claims (including applicable interest and penalties). The Company continues to evaluate the merits of each of these claims and will recognize them when loss is considered probable. The outstanding claims are comprised of the following:
(US$ in millions)
Years Examined
March 31, 2020
December 31, 2019
ICMS
1990 to Present
$
174

$
221

PIS/COFINS
2004 through 2016
$
208

$
268


Labor claims — The labor claims are principally claims against Bunge’s Brazilian subsidiaries. The labor claims primarily relate to dismissals, severance, health and safety, salary adjustments and supplementary retirement benefits.
Civil and other claims — The civil and other claims relate to various disputes with third parties, including suppliers and customers.
During the first quarter of 2016, Bunge received a notice from the Brazilian Administrative Council for Economic Defense ("CADE") initiating an administrative proceeding against its Brazilian subsidiary and two of its employees, certain of its former employees, several other companies in the Brazilian wheat milling industry, and others for alleged anticompetitive activities in the north and northeast of Brazil. Additionally, in the second quarter of 2018, Bunge received a notification from CADE that it has extended the scope of an existing administrative proceeding relating to alleged anticompetitive practices in the Rio Grande port in Brazil to include certain of Bunge's Brazilian subsidiaries and certain former employees of those subsidiaries. Bunge is defending against these actions; however, the proceedings were put on hold due to a Court injunction obtained by one of the defendants while the Courts determine whether the statute of limitations should be applied to the proceedings. Therefore, Bunge cannot, at this time, reasonably predict the ultimate outcome of the proceedings or sanctions, if any, that may be imposed.
Guarantees — Bunge has issued or was a party to the following guarantees at March 31, 2020:
(US$ in millions)
 
Maximum
Potential
Future
Payments
Unconsolidated affiliates guarantee (1) (2)
 
$
276

Residual value guarantee (3)
 
263

Total
 
$
539

(1)
Bunge has issued financial and performance guarantees to certain financial institutions related to debt of certain of its unconsolidated affiliates. The terms of the guarantees are equal to the terms of the related financings that have maturity dates through 2034. There are no recourse provisions or collateral that would enable Bunge to recover any amounts paid under these guarantees. In addition, a Bunge subsidiary has guaranteed the obligations of two of its affiliates and in connection therewith has secured its guarantee obligations through a pledge of one of its affiliate's shares plus loans receivable from the affiliate to the financial institutions in the event that the guaranteed obligations are enforced. Based on the amounts drawn under such debt facilities at March 31, 2020, Bunge's potential liability was $176 million, and it has recorded a $14 million obligation related to these guarantees, inclusive of expected lifetime credit losses, which are determined based on historical financial information and are not expected to be material.
(2)
Bunge has issued guarantees to certain third parties related to performance of its unconsolidated affiliates. The terms of the guarantees are equal to the completion date of a port terminal that is expected to be completed in 2020. There are no recourse provisions or collateral that would enable Bunge to recover any amounts paid under these guarantees. At March 31, 2020, Bunge's maximum potential future payments under these guarantees was $43 million, and no obligation has been recorded related to these guarantees.
(3)
Bunge has issued guarantees to certain financial institutions that are party to certain operating lease arrangements for railcars, barges, and buildings. These guarantees provide for a minimum residual value to be received by the lessor at
the conclusion of the lease term. These leases expire at various dates from 2020 through 2026. At March 31, 2020, no obligation has been recorded related to these guarantees. Any obligation recorded would be recognized in Current operating lease obligations or Non-current operating lease obligations (see Note 4 - Leases).
Bunge Limited has provided a guarantee to the Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture as Trustee for Bunge North America, Inc. (“BNA”), an indirect wholly‑owned subsidiary, which guarantees all amounts due and owing by BNA to grain producers and/or depositors in the State of Illinois who have delivered commodities to BNA’s Illinois facilities.
In addition, Bunge Limited has provided full and unconditional parent level guarantees of the outstanding indebtedness under certain credit facilities entered into, and senior notes issued, by its 100% owned subsidiaries.  At March 31, 2020, Bunge’s condensed consolidated balance sheet includes debt with a carrying amount of $4,522 million related to these guarantees.  This debt includes the senior notes issued by two of Bunge’s 100% owned finance subsidiaries, Bunge Limited Finance Corp. and Bunge Finance Europe, B.V.  There are largely no restrictions on the ability of Bunge Limited Finance Corp. and Bunge Finance Europe B.V. or any other Bunge subsidiary to transfer funds to Bunge Limited.