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Investments | 6 Months Ended
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Feb. 28, 2014
Investments [Abstract] |
Investments | Investments As of August 31, 2013, we owned 79.2% of NCRA. In fiscal 2012, we entered into an agreement to purchase the remaining shares of NCRA from Growmark Inc. and MFA Oil Company in separate closings to be held annually through fiscal 2016. Pursuant to this agreement, we made payments during the six months ended February 28, 2014 and 2013 of $66.0 million and $66.0 million respectively; increasing our ownership to 84.0%. The present value of the remaining payments is included as mandatorily redeemable noncontrolling interest on our consolidated balances sheets. In addition to these payments, we paid $16.5 million during the six months ended February 28, 2014 related to the associated crack spread contingent liability. The fair value of the remaining contingent liability was $140.6 million as of February 28, 2014. We have a 24% ownership in Horizon Milling, LLC and Horizon Milling G.P., flour milling joint ventures with Cargill Incorporated (Cargill), which are included in Corporate and Other. On March 4, 2013, we entered into a definitive agreement with Cargill and ConAgra Foods, Inc. to form Ardent Mills, a joint venture combining the North American flour milling operations of the three parent companies, including the Horizon Milling, LLC and Horizon Milling G.P. assets, with CHS holding a 12% interest. Upon closing, Ardent Mills is expected to be financed with funds from third-party borrowings, which would not require credit support from the owners. The borrowings are anticipated to be no less than $600 million with proceeds distributed to each owner in proportion to the ownership interests, adjusted for any deviations in specified working capital target amounts. The transaction is expected to close in fiscal 2014, subject to financing and certain other customary closing conditions. In connection with the closing, the parties will also enter into various ancillary and non-compete agreements including, among other things, an agreement for CHS to supply Ardent Mills with certain wheat and durum products. We have a 50% interest in Ventura Foods, LLC (Ventura Foods), a joint venture which produces and distributes primarily vegetable oil-based products, and is included in Corporate and Other. We account for Ventura Foods as an equity method investment, and as of February 28, 2014, our carrying value of Ventura Foods exceeded our share of their equity by $12.9 million, which represents equity method goodwill.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for investments and other noncurrent assets. + References No definition available. + Details
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