EXHIBIT 99
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT
Cenex Harvest States Cooperatives (the "Company"), or persons acting on
behalf of the Company, or outside reviewers retained by the Company making
statements on behalf of the Company, or underwriters, from time to time, may
make, in writing or orally, "forward-looking statements" as defined under the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"). This Cautionary
Statement is for the purpose of qualifying for the "safe harbor" provisions of
the Act and is intended to be a readily available written document that contains
factors which could cause results to differ materially from those projected in
such forward-looking statements. These factors are in addition to any other
cautionary statements, written or oral, which may be made or referred to in
connection with any such forward-looking statement.
The following matters, among others, may have a material adverse effect on
the business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations or
prospects, financial or otherwise, of the Company. Reference to this Cautionary
Statement in the context of a forward-looking statement shall be deemed to be a
statement that any one or more of the following factors may cause actual results
to differ materially from those which might be projected, forecast, estimated or
budgeted by the Company in such forward-looking statement or statements:
COMPANY SUBJECT TO SUPPLY AND DEMAND FORCES. The Company may be adversely
affected by supply and demand relationships, both domestic and international.
Supply is affected by weather conditions, disease, insect damage, acreage
planted, government regulation and policies and commodity price levels. The
business is also affected by transportation conditions, including rail, vessel,
barge and truck. Demand may be affected by foreign governments and their
programs, relationships of foreign countries with the United States, the
affluence of foreign countries, acts of war, currency exchange fluctuations and
substitution of commodities. The current monetary crises in Asia have impacted,
and are expected to continue to impact, exports of U.S. agricultural products.
Demand may also be affected by changes in eating habits, by population growth
and increased or decreased per capita consumption of some products.
The Freedom to Farm Act of 1996, enacted in April of 1996, may affect crop
production in several ways. The Act more narrowly defines what will qualify as
environmentally sensitive acreage for purposes of the conservation reduction
program, with the result that 3 to 4 million acres may be put back into
agricultural production in the future from a present enrollment of 36.4 million
acres. The Act also removes restrictions on the type of crops planted (other
than fruit and vegetables), allowing farmers to plant crops having favorable
prices and thereby increasing the production of those crops. Increased
production may lower prices of certain crops but increase the amount available
for export. However, the Act also reduces Export Enhancement Program subsidies,
which may adversely affect the ability of the U.S. exports to compete with those
of other countries. Reduced demand for U.S. agricultural products may also
adversely affect the demand for fertilizer, chemicals, and petroleum products
sold by the Company and used to produce crops.
COMPANY SUBJECT TO PRICE RISKS. Upon purchase, the Company has risks of
carrying grain and petroleum, including price changes and performance risks
(including delivery, quality, quantity and shipment period), depending upon the
type of purchase contract entered into. The Company is exposed to risks of loss
in the market value of positions held, consisting of grain and petroleum
inventory and purchase contracts at a fixed or partially fixed price, in the
event market prices decrease. The Company is also exposed to risk of loss on its
fixed price or partially fixed price sales contracts in the event market prices
increase.
To reduce the price change risks associated with holding fixed price
positions, the Company generally takes opposite and offsetting positions by
entering into commodity futures contracts (either a straight futures contract or
an options futures contract) on regulated commodity futures exchanges. While
hedging activities reduce the risk of loss from changing market values, such
activities also limit the gain potential which otherwise could result from
changes in market prices. Hedging arrangements do not protect against
nonperformance of a contract. The Company's policy is to generally maintain
hedged positions in grain and petroleum, which are hedgeable, but the Company
can be long or short at any time. The Company's profitability is primarily
derived from margins on grain and products merchandised and processed, not from
hedging transactions.
At any one time the Company's inventory and purchase contracts for delivery
to the Company may be substantial.
OILSEED PROCESSING AND REFINING BUSINESS COMPETITION. Competition in the
soybean processing and refining business is driven by price, transportation
costs, service and product quality. The industry is highly competitive.
Competitors are adding new plants and expanding capacity of existing plants.
Media newsletters and other publications indicate that new crush plants and
refinery operations are being constructed or under strong consideration. The
Company estimates that U.S. crushing capacity has increased by about 30% to 35%
between 1994 and 1998. Refining capacity has increased by an estimated 25% to
30% between 1996 and 1999. Unless exports increase or existing refineries are
closed, this extra capacity is likely to put additional pressure on prices and
erode margins, adversely affecting the profitability of the Oilseed Processing
and Refining Defined Business Unit. Several competitors operate over various
market segments and may be suppliers to, or customers of, other competitors.
MILLING BUSINESS COMPETITIVE TRENDS. Certain major competitors of the Wheat
Milling Defined Business Unit have developed long-term relationships with
customers by locating plants adjacent to pasta manufacturing plants. This trend
could potentially decrease the future demand for semolina from nonintegrated
millers.
YEAR 2000. Although the Company's management believes that the Company has
in place an effective program to address the Year 2000 issue in a timely manner,
it also recognizes that failure to sufficiently resolve all aspects of the Year
2000 issue in a timely fashion presents substantial risks for the Company,
including disruption of normal business processes and additional costs or loss
of revenue. Considerable work remains to be accomplished and unforeseen
difficulties could arise which might adversely affect the Company's ability to
complete its program on schedule. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that the
systems of other companies on which this Company's relies will be remediated in
a timely fashion to avoid having a material adverse effect on the Company's
operations or its financial results.
TAXATION OF COOPERATIVES COULD CHANGE. Although under Subchapter T of the
Internal Revenue Code patronage refunds are excluded in determining taxable
income of a cooperative and patronage refunds are taxable to the recipient,
current income tax laws, regulations and interpretations pertaining to the
receipt of patronage refunds could be changed.
DEPENDENCE ON CERTAIN CUSTOMERS. Each of the Wheat Milling Defined Business
Unit and the Oilseed Processing and Refining Defined Business Unit has certain
major customers. Loss of or a decline in the business done with one or more of
these customers could have a material adverse effect on the operations of the
affected Defined Business Unit. In addition, the Wheat Milling Defined Business
Unit would be adversely affected by a decline in pasta production in the United
States.
The foregoing review of factors pursuant to the Act should not be construed
as exhaustive or as any admission regarding the adequacy of disclosures made by
the Company prior to the effective date of the Act.