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Darling Ingredients

dar · NYSE Consumer Defensive
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FY2012 Annual Report · Darling Ingredients
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forward-thinking

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Darling International Inc.

251 O’Connor Ridge Blvd.

Suite 300

Irving, Texas 75038

S U ST A I N I N G  

I N NO V A T I N G  

R E N E W I N G

forward-thinking

Innovating
sustainability solutions
for the next era

Darling’s spirit of innovation 
continues to drive our focus on 
solutions for sustainability and 
creating value-added products 
and services that meet the 
changing needs of our customers.

We offer our customers over a 
century of experience, a network 
of nationwide locations, outstanding 
service and continuous commitment 
to research and development of 
tomorrow’s recycling solutions, 
including renewable energy. The 
clear industry leader, Darling 
International remains firmly 
positioned as North America’s 
oldest, largest, and most innovative 
recycling and recovery solutions 
company serving the nation’s 
food industry.

SUSTAINING  INNOVATING  RENEWINGSUSTAINING  INNOVATING  RENEWINGSUSTAINING  INNOVATING  RENEWINGSUSTAINING  INNOVATING  RENEWING 
 
To Our Shareholders 

I am pleased to report that fiscal 2012 was our second-best earnings year in Darling’s 130-year history, driven by solid 
contributions from both operating segments. For fiscal year 2012, we posted net income of $130.8 million, or $1.11 per 
share – exceptional financial results considering the volatility and uncertainty we faced in many of our finished product markets. 
Undeniably we viewed fiscal 2012 as a transition year, preparing our business model for the addition of Diamond Green Diesel. All 
said, we remained focused and executed several strategic initiatives that

• drove organic growth in our core rendering segment with the addition of several new key suppliers;
• targeted capital improvements focused on generating meaningful operating efficiencies and fleet upgrades;
• completed the Griffin Industries integration, uniting two industry leaders with unparalleled customer service, and branded our 

rendering process through the launch of DAR PRO Solutions, a Darling/Griffin brand;

• established our entry into the biomass-based renewable diesel market with our flagship Diamond Green Diesel joint venture with 
  Valero, which will begin initial commissioning in phases in early 2013; and
• began the design and implementation of a new Oracle-based operating system that will provide us a platform for future growth.

The common stock of Darling
International Inc. is traded on 
the New York Stock Exchange 
(NYSE) under the symbol “DAR.” 

We also welcomed Colin Stevenson to our management team as Executive Vice President – Chief Financial Officer effective September 1, 2012. 
This allows ample time for a smooth succession as he takes the financial reins from John Muse, our current Executive Vice President – Chief 
Administrative Officer, who plans to retire in 2014. Colin brings a wealth of public accounting and public company CFO experience that will serve us 
well as we continue to execute our strategic plans.

We also highlighted the year by hosting our inaugural investment community investor day held in New York City, with a plant tour visit to our premier 
Newark, N.J., rendering facility. Our event attracted nearly 70 attendees, who gained an in-depth overview of how we recycle food by-product waste streams 
into valuable ingredients for feed, fuel and fertilizer.

Year of Challenge

Fiscal 2012 also proved to be a year of challenge and change. Coinciding market disruptions and extreme weather-related events in multiple hemispheres sent 
traditional commodity markets for corn and soybeans to all time record highs. The fallout from these extreme pricing moves caused a change in our historical 
pricing relationships for many of our finished products. In addition, each of the following impacted the prices for our finished products: commodity market 
competition, particularly inedible corn oil produced from the ethanol industry; erratic export markets, specifically MBM going to Indonesia; and fulfillment of 
bio-fuel mandates, which capped values for our finished product selling prices. Also, Hurricane Sandy challenged our Newark, N.J., facility with a tidal surge that 
shut us down for nearly two weeks.

Leading  with Performa nce

Our focus remains on supporting our customers and providing the highest customer service. For instance, we acquired a grease recovery and trap service 
business in the Northeast to expand service capabilities. We also purchased a river terminal and storage facility in the Midwest as a future site for a bakery 
plant and to accommodate our Diamond Green Diesel joint venture, which may provide a counter-cyclical hedge to fluctuating fat prices. We continue to be 
extremely excited about the prospects for growth from our renewable fuels business, and we commend our partners at Valero for their hard work in bringing 
a world-class renewable fuels plant to market. 

As we usher in 2013, we are well fortified with a powerful balance sheet that affords us significant financial flexibility to seek opportunities to support 
our long-term growth strategy and maximize shareholder value. Darling’s spirit of innovation continues to drive our focus on solutions for sustainability 
and creating value-added products and services that meet the changing needs of our customers.   

The changes and challenges we faced this year required tremendous commitment and flexibility from our entire staff, and I would like to take this 
opportunity to express sincere gratitude for a job well done. As always, we also extend our deepest appreciation for the continued support and 
contributions of our shareholders, business associates, suppliers and customers.

Randall C. Stuewe
Chairman and CEO

Stockholders’ Equity
$55.3 million

+1,821%

2003

Market Cap
$179.4 million

Value Cr eation

+923%

Stockholders’ Equity
$1,062.4 million

Dec. 29, 2012

Market Cap
$1.84 billion

Corporate

Information

Darling International Inc.

251 O’Connor Ridge Blvd., Suite 300

Irving, Texas 75038

972.717.0300

www.darlingii.com

Transfer Agent and Registrar

Computershare Investor Services

P.O. Box 43078

Providence, Rhode Island 02940-3078

Shareholder Inquiries 781.575.2879

www.computershare.com

Independent Auditors

KPMG LLP

717 N. Harwood St., Suite 3100

Dallas, Texas 75201-6585

Annual Meeting

May 7, 2013

10:00 a.m.

Four Seasons Resort and Club at Las Colinas

4150 North MacArthur Blvd.

Irving, Texas 75038

Form 10-K

Darling International Inc.’s Annual Report on Form

10-K is available upon request without charge:

c/o Investor Relations

Darling International Inc.

251 O’Connor Ridge Blvd., Suite 300

Irving, Texas 75038

www.darlingii.com

Principal Office

Directors

Executive Officers

Randall C. Stuewe

Chairman and Director

since February 2003

O. Thomas Albrecht

Director since 2002

D. Eugene Ewing

Director since 2011

Charles Macaluso

Director since 2002

John D. March

Director since 2008

Michael Rescoe

Director since 2011

Michael Urbut

Director since 2005

Randall C. Stuewe

Chief Executive Officer

Robert A. Griffin

President 

John O. Muse

Executive Vice President

Chief Administrative Officer

Colin T. Stevenson

Executive Vice President

Chief Financial Officer

Neil M. Katchen

Executive Vice President

Co-Chief Operations Officer

Martin W. Griffin

Executive Vice President

Co-Chief Operations Officer

John F. Sterling

Executive Vice President

General Counsel and Secretary

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC  20549

FORM 10-K

 (Mark One)      
/X/  ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES

EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 For the fiscal year ended December 29, 2012
OR

/  /  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES

EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

  For the transition period from _______ to _______

Commission File Number   001-13323

DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 Delaware
 (State or other jurisdiction     
of incorporation or organization)   

 251 O'Connor Ridge Blvd., Suite 300
 Irving, Texas
(Address of principal executive offices)  

 36-2495346
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

 75038
(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (972) 717-0300

  Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of Each Class
Common Stock $0.01 par value per share

Name of Exchange on Which Registered
New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:  None

 Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

Yes    X        No ____

Indicate by check mark if the Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the 

Act.    Yes             No   X   

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the 
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to 
file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.       Yes    X         No ____

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, 

every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this 
chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit and post such 
files).        Yes    X        No ___

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, 
and will not be contained, to the best of the Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated 
by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.      X   

Page 1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or 
a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” 
in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer     X   Accelerated filer     

Non-accelerated filer 
(Do not check if a smaller
reporting company)

  Smaller reporting company        

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).     Yes       

     No  X  

As of the last day of the Registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter, the aggregate market value of the 
shares of common stock held by nonaffiliates of the Registrant was approximately $1,897,808,000 based upon the closing price 
of the common stock as reported on the NYSE on that day. (In determining the market value of the Registrant’s common stock 
held by non-affiliates, shares of common stock beneficially owned by directors, officers and holders of more than 10% of the 
Registrant’s common stock have been excluded.  This determination of affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination 
for other purposes.)

There were 117,788,355 shares of common stock, $0.01 par value, outstanding at February 20, 2013.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Selected designated portions of the Registrant's definitive Proxy Statement in connection with the Registrant’s 2013 Annual 

Meeting of stockholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report.

Page 2

 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-K FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 29, 2012

TABLE OF CONTENTS   

Item 1.
Item 1A.
Item 1B.
Item 2.
Item 3.
Item 4.

BUSINESS
RISK FACTORS
UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
PROPERTIES
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

PART I

PART II

Item 5.

MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER 

MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Item 6.
Item 7.

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Item 7A.
Item 8.
Item 9.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURE ABOUT MARKET RISK
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND 

FINANCAL DISCLOSURE

Item 9A.
Item 9B.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
OTHER INFORMATION

PART III

Item 10.
Item 11.
Item 12.

DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT 

AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

Item 13.

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR 

INDEPENDENCE

Item 14.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

PART IV

Item 15.

EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

SIGNATURES

Page 3

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PART I

ITEM 1.   BUSINESS

GENERAL

Founded by the Swift meat packing interests and the Darling family in 1882, Darling International Inc. ("Darling", and 
together with its subsidiaries, the "Company") was incorporated in Delaware in 1962 under the name "Darling-Delaware Company, 
Inc."  On  December 28,  1993,  Darling  changed  its  name  from  "Darling-Delaware  Company,  Inc."  to  "Darling  International 
Inc."  The address of Darling's principal executive office is 251 O'Connor Ridge Boulevard, Suite 300, Irving, Texas, 75038, and 
its telephone number at this address is (972) 717-0300.

The Company is a leading provider of rendering, used cooking oil and bakery residual recycling and recovery solutions 
to the nation's food industry.  The Company collects and recycles animal by-products, bakery residual and used cooking oil from 
poultry and meat processors, commercial bakeries, grocery stores, butcher shops, and food service establishments and provides 
grease trap cleaning services to many of the same establishments.  On December 17, 2010, Darling completed its acquisition of 
Griffin Industries, Inc. (which was subsequently converted to a limited liability company) and its subsidiaries ("Griffin") pursuant 
to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 9, 2010 (the "Merger Agreement"), by and among Darling, DG 
Acquisition Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Darling ("Merger Sub"), Griffin and Robert A. Griffin, as the Griffin shareholders' 
representative.  Merger Sub was merged with and into Griffin (the "Merger"), and Griffin survived the Merger as a wholly-owned 
subsidiary of Darling (the "Griffin Transaction").    The Company operates over 120 processing and transfer facilities located 
throughout  the  United  States  to  process  raw  materials  into  finished  products  such  as  protein  (primarily  meat  and  bone  meal 
("MBM") and poultry meal ("PM")), hides, fats (primarily bleachable fancy tallow ("BFT"), poultry grease ("PG") and yellow 
grease ("YG")) and bakery by-products ("BBP") as well as a range of branded and value-added products.  The Company sells 
these products domestically and internationally, primarily to producers of animal feed, pet food, fertilizer, bio-fuels and other 
consumer and industrial ingredients, including oleo-chemicals, soaps and leather goods for use as ingredients in their products or 
for further processing.

Effective January 2, 2011, as a result of the acquisition of Griffin, the Company's business operations were reorganized 
into two new segments, Rendering and Bakery, in order to better align its business with the underlying markets and customers 
that  the  Company  serves. All  historical  periods  have  been  restated  for  the  changes  to  the  segment  reporting  structure.     The 
Company's fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2011 business and operations include 52 weeks of contribution from the assets acquired in the 
Griffin Transaction as compared to 2 weeks of contribution from these assets in fiscal 2010.  For the financial results of the 
Company's business segments, see Note 20 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

The Company’s net external sales from continuing operations by operating segment were as follows (in thousands):

Fiscal
2012

Fiscal
2011

Fiscal
2010

$ 1,406,061
295,368
$ 1,701,429

82.6% $ 1,501,280
295,969
17.4
100.0% $ 1,797,249

83.5% $
16.5

100.0% $

714,685
10,224
724,909

98.6%
1.4
100.0%

Continuing operations:

Rendering
Bakery

Total

OPERATIONS

Rendering

The Company's largest business activity is rendering.  The Company's rendering operations process animal by-products 
and used cooking oil into fats (primarily BFT, PG and YG), protein (primarily MBM and PM (feed grade and pet food)), and 
hides.  The Company's rendering operations also provide grease trap servicing to food service establishments in exchange for a 
collection fee.  The Company provides rendering services under its Dar Pro Solutions™ brand.

Raw materials

The Company's rendering operations collect two primary types of protein by-products, (i) beef and pork by-products and 
(ii) poultry by-products, which are collected primarily from meat and poultry processors, grocery stores, butcher shops and food 

Page 4

 
service establishments.  These rendering materials are collected in one of two manners.  Certain large suppliers, such as large meat 
processors and poultry processors, are furnished with bulk trailers in which the raw material is loaded.  The Company provides 
the remaining suppliers, primarily grocery stores and butcher shops, with containers in which to deposit the raw material.  The 
containers are picked up by or emptied into the Company’s trucks on a periodic basis.  The type and frequency of service is 
determined  by  individual  supplier  requirements,  the  volume  of  raw  material  generated  by  the  supplier,  supplier  location  and 
weather, among other factors.  The raw materials collected by the Company are transported either directly to a processing plant 
or to a transfer station where materials from several collection routes are loaded into trailers and transported to a processing 
plant.  Collections of animal processing by-products generally are made during the day, and materials are delivered to plants for 
processing within 24 hours of collection to deter spoilage.

The Company also collects used cooking oil and trap grease from restaurants, food service establishments and grocery 
stores.  Many of the Company's customers operate stores that are part of national chains.  Used cooking oil from food service 
establishments is placed in various sizes and types of containers which are supplied by the Company.  In some instances, these 
containers are unloaded directly onto the trucks, while in other instances used cooking oil is pumped through a vacuum hose into 
the  truck.  The  Company  sells  two  types  of  containers  for  used  cooking  oil  collection  to  food  service  establishments  called 
CleanStar® and BOSS, both of which are proprietary self-contained collection systems that are housed either inside or outside 
the establishment, with the used cooking oil pumped directly into collection vehicles via an outside valve.  The frequency of all 
forms of used cooking oil and trap grease raw material collection is determined by the volume of oil generated by the food service 
establishment. The Company either transports trap grease to waste treatment centers or recycles it at its facilities into a host of 
environmentally  safe  product  streams,  including  fuel  and  feed  ingredients.  The  Company  provides  its  customers  with  a 
comprehensive set of solutions to their trap grease disposal needs, including manifests for regulatory compliance, computerized 
routing for consistent cleaning and comprehensive trap cleaning. 

Certain of the Company's rendering facilities are highly dependent on one or a few suppliers.  During the 2012 fiscal 
year, the Company's 10 largest raw materials suppliers accounted for approximately 25% of the total raw material processed by 
the Company with no single supplier accounting for more than 5%.  See "Risk factors—A significant percentage of the Company's 
revenue is attributable to a limited number of suppliers and customers." Should any of these suppliers choose alternate methods 
of disposal, cease or materially decrease their operations, have their operations interrupted by casualty or otherwise cease using 
or reduce the use of the Company’s collection services, the operating facilities serving those customers could be materially and 
adversely affected.  (See "Risk factors-Certain of the Company's operating facilities are highly dependent upon a single or a few 
suppliers.")  For a discussion of the Company’s competition for raw materials, see "Competition."

Processing operations

The Company produces finished products primarily through the grinding, cooking, separating, drying, and blending of 
various raw materials.  The process starts with the collection of animal by-products (including fat, bones, feathers, offal and other 
animal by-products).  The animal by-products are ground and heated to extract water and separate oils and grease from animal 
tissue as well as to sterilize and make the material suitable as an ingredient for animal feed.  The separated oils, tallows, and greases 
are then centrifuged and/or refined for purity.  The remaining solid product is pressed to remove additional oils to create meals.  The 
meal is then sifted through screens and ground further if necessary to produce an appropriately sized protein meal.

The primary finished products derived from the processing of animal by-products are tallow, PG, MBM, PM, feather 
meal, and blood meal.  In addition, at certain of its facilities, the Company is able to operate multiple process lines simultaneously, 
which provides it with the flexibility and capacity to manufacture a line of premium and value-added products in addition to its 
principal finished products.  Because of these processing controls, the Company is able to blend end products together in order to 
produce  premium  products  with  specific  mixes  that  typically  have  higher  protein  and  energy  content  and  lower  moisture 
than standard finished products and command premium prices.

The Company’s hides and skins operations process hides and skins from hog and beef processors into outputs used in 
commercial applications such as the leather industry.  The Company sells treated hides and skins to external customers, the majority 
of which are tanneries.

The Company’s fertilizer operations utilize finished products from the rendering division to manufacture fertilizers from 
USDA approved ingredients that contain no waste by-products (i.e., sludge or sewage waste).  The Company’s primary fertilizer 
product line is Nature Safe®, an organic, protein-based fertilizer, which is produced at its blending plant in Henderson, KY. The 
Company’s fertilizer products are predominately sold to golf courses, sports facilities, organic farms and landscaping companies.

Page 5

Used cooking oil, which is recovered from restaurants, is heated, settled, and purified for use as an animal feed additive 
or is further processed into biodiesel. Products derived from used cooking oil include YG, biodiesel, and Fat for Fuel®, which 
uses grease as a fuel source for industrial boilers and dryers.

Bakery feed

The Company is a leading processor of bakery residuals in the U.S.  The bakery feed division collects bakery residual 
materials and processes the raw materials into BBP, including Cookie Meal®, an animal feed ingredient primarily used in poultry 
rations.

Raw materials

Bakery products are collected from large commercial bakeries that produce a variety of products, including cookies, 
crackers, cereal, bread, dough, potato chips, pretzels, sweet goods and biscuits, among others.  The Company collects these materials 
by bulk loading onsite at the bakeries utilizing proprietary equipment, the majority of which is designed, engineered, manufactured, 
and installed by the Company.  All of the bakery residual that the Company collects is bulk loaded, which represents a significant 
advantage over competitors that receive a large percentage of raw materials from less efficient, manual methods.  The receipt of 
bulk-loaded  bakery  residual  allows  the  Company  to  significantly  streamline  its  bakery  recycling  process,  reduce  personnel, 
eliminate a significant source of wastewater and maximize freight savings by hauling more tons per load.

Processing operations

The highly automated bakery feed production process involves sorting and separating raw material, mixing it to produce 
the appropriate nutritional content, drying it to reduce excess moisture, and grinding it to the consistency of animal feed.  During 
the bakery residual process, packaging materials are removed.  The packaging material is fed into a combustion chamber, along 
with sawdust and heat is produced.  This heat is used in the dryers to remove moisture from the raw materials that have been 
partially ground.  Finally, the dried meal is ground to the specified granularity.  The finished product, which is continually tested 
to ensure that the caloric and nutrient contents meet specifications, is a nutritious additive used in animal feed.

Renewable fuels / Biodiesel

In addition to the rendering and bakery segments, on January 21, 2011, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company 
entered  into  a  limited  liability  company  agreement  (the  "JV Agreement")  with  a  wholly-owned  subsidiary  of Valero  Energy 
Corporation ("Valero") to form Diamond Green Diesel Holdings LLC (the "Joint Venture").  The Joint Venture is owned 50% / 
50% with Valero and was formed to design, engineer, construct and operate a renewable diesel plant (the "Facility") capable of 
producing approximately 9,300 barrels per day of renewable diesel and certain other co-products, to be located adjacent to Valero’s 
refinery in Norco, Louisiana.  The Joint Venture is in the process of constructing the Facility, which is substantially complete with 
the phased commissioning of the Facility currently anticipated to be complete in second quarter 2013.  The Facility is expected 
to convert grease, primarily used cooking oil and animal fats supplied by the Company, and potentially other feed stocks that 
become economically and commercially viable, such as inedible corn oil, into renewable diesel.  The Facility will use an advanced 
hydroprocessing-isomerization process licensed from UOP LLC, known as the Ecofining™ Process, and a pretreatment process 
developed by the Desmet Ballestra Group designed to convert approximately 1.1 billion pounds per year of recycled animal fats, 
recycled cooking oils and other feedstocks into renewable diesel product and certain other co-products.

In addition, the Company utilizes a portion of its rendered animal fats and recycled greases to produce Bio G-3000TM 
Premium Diesel Fuel.  The Company's biodiesel operations utilize raw material inputs sourced from its rendering operations as 
well as several third party additives in order to produce Bio G-3000TM.  The Company has the annual capacity to produce two 
million gallons of Bio G-3000TM.  The Company's biodiesel product is sold to its internal divisions as well as domestic commercial 
biodiesel producers to be used as biodiesel fuel, a clean burning additive for diesel fuel or as a biodegradable solvent or cleaning 
agent.  Bio G-3000TM is currently processed at the Company’s facility in Butler, Kentucky.

Raw materials pricing and supply contracts

The Company has two primary pricing arrangements—formula and non-formula arrangements—with its suppliers of 
poultry, beef, pork, bakery residuals and used cooking oil.  Under a "formula" arrangement, the charge or credit for raw materials 
is tied to published finished product commodity prices after deducting a fixed processing fee.  The Company also acquires raw 
material under "non-formula" arrangements whereby suppliers are either paid a fixed price, are not paid, or are charged a collection 
fee, depending on various economic and competitive factors.  Approximately 80% of the Company's annual volume of raw materials 
is acquired on a "formula" basis.

Page 6

The credit received or amount charged for raw material under both formula and non-formula arrangements is based on 
various factors, including the type of raw materials, demand for the raw materials, the expected value of the finished product to 
be produced, the anticipated yields, the volume of material generated by the supplier and processing and transportation costs.

Formula prices are generally adjusted on a weekly, monthly or quarterly basis while non-formula prices or charges are 

adjusted as needed to respond to changes in finished product prices or related operating costs.

Finished products

The Company's finished products are predominantly proteins (primarily MBM and PM), fats (primarily BFT, PG and 
YG), BBP and hides.  MBM, PM and BBP are used primarily as high protein additives in animal feed and pet food.  Fats are used 
as ingredients in the production of animal feed, pet food, soaps and as a substitute for traditional fuels.  Oleo-chemical producers 
use these fats as feed stocks to produce specialty ingredients used in paint, rubber, paper, concrete, plastics and a variety of other 
consumer and industrial products.  Hides are sold to leather distributors and manufacturers for the production of leather goods.  The 
Company's principal finished products are commodities that compete with other commodities such as corn, soybean oil, inedible 
corn oil, palm oils, soybean meal and heating oil on nutritional and functional values and therefore actual pricing for the Company's 
finished products, as well as competing products, can be quite volatile.  While the Company's finished products are generally sold 
at prices prevailing at the time of sale, the Company's ability to deliver large quantities of finished products from multiple locations 
and to coordinate sales from a central location enables the Company to occasionally receive a premium over the then-prevailing 
market price.

Finished products

The Company's finished products include the following.

Protein Meals

The Company's meal products include MBM, PM, feather meal and blood meal. All of the Company's meal products are 
protein-rich and contain essential minerals and amino acids, which are critically important components of animal feed.  MBM, 
blood  meal,  PM  and  feather  meal  are  sold  to  feed  manufacturers  while  higher  grade  poultry  meal  is  also  sold  to  pet  food 
manufacturers.  Some of the Company’s meals are also used as ingredients in its fertilizer operations.

Animal Fats

The Company produces a range of animal fats from its rendering operations.  Animal fats are an additive in livestock and 
pet foods that contains essential fatty acids and energy and enhances the taste of the foods.  Animal fats are also frequently sold 
to soap and beauty products manufacturers as well as industrial manufacturers of paint, rubber, paper, concrete, plastics and other 
consumer products.  The vast majority of the animal fat that the Company produces is used as a feed additive.

Grease

The Company produces several different types of grease including YG and brown grease.  Grease, similar to animal fats, 
is an essential ingredient in livestock and pet foods due to its fatty acid composition and high energy content.  Due to its nutritional 
content, the majority of the Company's YG is sold to meat and poultry producers who use the grease as a feed additive.  In addition, 
some of the grease produced by the Company's rendering operations is burned as Fat for Fuel® or used to manufacture biodiesel.

Hides and skins

The Company processes cattle hides and hog skins from its own operations and other animal processing facilities.  The 
hides and skins are trimmed and cured in a brine solution that prepares them for tanneries.  Tanneries sell the tanned hides and 
skins primarily to leather companies that use the products in a variety of consumer goods including apparel and vehicle interiors.

Premium, value-added and branded products

The Company's premium, value-added and branded products command significantly higher pricing relative to its principal 
finished product lines due to their enhanced nutritional content, which is a function of the Company's proprietary processing 
techniques.

Page 7

MARKETING, SALES AND DISTRIBUTION OF FINISHED PRODUCTS

The Company sells its finished products worldwide.  Finished product sales are primarily managed through the Company's 
commodity  trading  departments,  which  are  located  at  Darling's  corporate  headquarters  in  Irving,  Texas  and  in  Cold  Spring, 
Kentucky.  The Company also maintains sales offices in Des Moines, Iowa, New Orleans, Louisiana, and Memphis, Tennessee 
for the sale and distribution of selected products.  This sales force is in contact with customers daily and coordinates the sale and 
assists in the distribution of most finished products produced at the Company's processing plants.  The Company sells its finished 
products  internationally  through  commodities  brokers,  Company  agents  and  directly  to  customers  in  various  countries.   The 
Company markets certain of its finished product under its Dar Pro Solutions™ brand.

The Company sells its finished products primarily to producers of livestock feed, oleo-chemicals, bio-fuels, soaps, pet 
foods and leather goods for use as ingredients in their products or for further processing.  The Company's finished products are 
commodities that compete with other commodities such as corn, soybean oil, inedible corn oil, palm oils, soybean meal and heating 
oil on nutritional and functional values and therefore the actual pricing for the Company's finished products, as well a competing 
products, can be quite volatile.  Customers for the Company's premium, value-added and branded products include feed mills, pet 
food manufacturers, integrated poultry producers, the dairy industry and golf courses, among others.  Feed mills purchase meals, 
greases, tallows, and Cookie Meal® for use as feed ingredients.  Oleo-chemical producers use fats as feed stocks to produce 
specialty ingredients used in paint, rubber, paper, concrete, plastics and a variety of other consumer and industrial products. Pet 
food manufacturers require stringent feed safety certifications and consistently demand premium additives that are high in protein 
and  nutritional  content.  As  a  result,  pet  food  manufacturers  typically  purchase  only  premium  or  value-added  products.  The 
Company typically enters into long-term supply contracts with pet food manufacturers.

The Company has no material foreign operations, but exports a portion of its products to customers in various foreign 
countries  or  regions  including Asia,  the  European  Union,  Latin America,  the  Pacific  Rim,  North Africa,  Mexico  and  South 
America.  Total direct export sales were $216.2 million, $270.9 million and $71.0 million for the years ended December 29, 2012, 
December 31, 2011 and January 1, 2011, respectively.  The Company also sells to third parties that export to various foreign 
countries.  The  level  of  export  sales  varies  from  year  to  year  depending  on  the  relative  strength  of  domestic  versus  foreign 
markets.  The Company obtains payment protection for most of its foreign sales by requiring payment before shipment or by 
requiring bank letters of credit or guarantees of payment from U.S. government agencies.  The Company ordinarily is paid for its 
products in U.S. dollars and has not experienced any material currency translation losses or any material foreign exchange control 
difficulties.  See Note 20 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for a breakdown of the Company’s sales by domestic and 
foreign customers.

Following diagnosis of the first U.S. case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy ("BSE") on December 23, 2003,  many 
countries banned imports of U.S.-produced beef and beef products, including MBM and initially BFT, though this initial ban on 
tallow was relaxed to permit imports of U.S.-produced tallow with less than 0.15% impurities.  Most foreign markets that were 
closed to U.S. beef following the discovery of the first U.S. case of BSE have been reopened to U.S beef, although some countries 
only accept boneless beef or beef from cattle less than 30 months of age.  Even though the export markets for U.S. beef rebounded 
to exceed pre-BSE levels and set records for volume in 2011 and value in 2012, most export markets remain closed to MBM 
derived from U.S. beef.

The Company's management monitors market conditions and prices for its finished products on a daily basis.  If market 
conditions or prices were to significantly change, the Company's management would evaluate and implement any measures that 
it may deem necessary to respond to the change in market conditions.  For larger formula-based pricing suppliers, the indexing 
of finished product price to raw material cost effectively fixes the gross margin on finished product sales at a stable level, providing 
some protection to the Company from price declines.

Finished products produced by the Company are shipped primarily FOB plant by truck or rail from the Company's plants 
shortly  following  production.  While  there  are  some  temporary  inventory  accumulations  at  various  port  locations  for  export 
shipments, inventories rarely exceed three weeks’ production and, therefore, the Company uses limited working capital to carry 
inventories and reduces its exposure to fluctuations in commodity prices.  Other factors that influence competition, markets and 
the prices that the Company receives for its finished products include the quality of the Company's finished products, consumer 
health consciousness, worldwide credit conditions and government aid.  From time to time, the Company enters into arrangements 
with its suppliers of raw materials pursuant to which these suppliers buy back the Company’s finished products.

The Company operates a fleet of trucks, trailers and railcars to transport raw materials from suppliers and finished product 
to customers.  It also utilizes third party freight to cost-effectively transfer materials and augment its in-house logistics fleet.  Within 
the Company’s bakery feed division, substantially all inbound and outbound freight is handled by third party logistics companies.

Page 8

COMPETITION

Management of the Company believes that the most challenging aspect of the business is the procurement of raw materials 
rather than the sale of finished products.  Pronounced consolidation within the meat processing industry has resulted in bigger and 
more efficient slaughtering operations, the majority of which utilize "captive" renderers (rendering operations integrated with the 
meat  or  poultry  packing  operation).  Simultaneously,  the  number  of  small  meat  processors,  which  have  historically  been  a 
dependable source of supply for non-captive renderers, such as the Company, has decreased significantly.  The slaughter rates in 
the meat processing industry are subject to decline due to economic conditions, and, as a result, during such periods of decline, 
the availability, quantity and quality of raw materials available to the independent renderers decreases.  These factors have been 
offset, in part, however, by increasing environmental consciousness.  The need for food service establishments to comply with 
environmental regulations concerning the proper disposal of used restaurant cooking oil should continue to provide a growth area 
for this raw material source.  The rendering industry is highly fragmented and very competitive.  The Company competes with 
other rendering, restaurant services and bakery residual businesses, and alternative methods of disposal of animal processing by-
products and used restaurant cooking oil provided by trash haulers, waste management companies and bio-diesel companies, as 
well as the alternative of illegal disposal.  In addition, food service establishments have increasingly experienced theft of used 
cooking  oil.  A  number  of  the  Company's  competitors  for  the  procurement  of  raw  material  are  experienced,  well-capitalized 
companies that have significant operating experience and historic supplier relationships.  Competition for raw materials is based 
primarily on price and proximity to the supplier.

In marketing its finished products domestically and internationally, the Company faces competition from other processors 
and from producers of other suitable commodities.  Tallows and greases are, in certain instances, substitutes for soybean oil, 
inedible corn oil and palm oils, while MBM and PM are a substitute for soybean meal.  Bakery feed is a substitute for corn in 
animal feed.  Consequently, the prices of BFT, PG, YG, MBM, PM and BBP correlate with these substitute commodities.  The 
markets for finished products are impacted mainly by the worldwide supply of and demand for fats, oils, proteins and grains.

SEASONALITY

Although the amount of raw materials made available to the Company by its suppliers is relatively stable on a weekly 
basis, it is impacted by seasonal factors, including holidays, during which the availability of raw materials declines because major 
meat and poultry processors are not operating, and cold weather, which can hinder the collection of raw materials.  The amount 
of  bakery  residuals  the  Company  will  process  generally  increases  on  a  seasonal  basis  during  the  summer  from  June  to 
September.  Warm weather can also adversely affect the quality of raw materials processed and the Company’s yields on production 
because raw material deteriorates more rapidly in warm weather than in cooler weather.  Weather can vary significantly from one 
year to the next and may impact the comparability of operating results of the Company between periods.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

The  Company  maintains  valuable  trademarks,  service  marks,  copyrights,  trade  names,  trade  secrets,  proprietary 
technologies and similar intellectual property, and considers its intellectual property to be of material value.  The Company has 
registered or applied for registration of certain of its intellectual property, including the tricolor triangle used in the Company’s 
signage and logos and the names "Darling," "Griffin Industries," "Dar Pro Solutions," "Dar Pro," "Nature Safe," "CleanStar" and 
"Cookie  Meal"  and  certain  patents,  both  domestically  and  internationally,  relating  to  the  process  for  preparing  nutritional 
supplements and the drying and processing of raw materials.  The Company’s policy generally is to pursue intellectual property 
protection considered necessary or advisable.

EMPLOYEES AND LABOR RELATIONS

As of December 29, 2012, the Company employed approximately 3,400 persons full-time.  While the Company has no 
national  or  multi-plant  union  contracts,  approximately  25%  of  the  Company's  employees  are  covered  by  multiple  collective 
bargaining  agreements.  Management  believes  that  the  Company's  relations  with  its  employees  and  their  representatives  are 
good.  There can be no assurance, however, that new agreements will be reached without union action or will be on terms satisfactory 
to the Company.

REGULATIONS

The Company is subject to the rules and regulations of various federal, state and local governmental agencies.  Material 

rules and regulations and the applicable agencies include:

Page 9

• 

The Food and Drug Administration ("FDA"), which regulates food and feed safety.  Effective August 1997, the FDA 
promulgated a rule prohibiting the use of mammalian proteins, with some exceptions, in feeds for cattle, sheep and other 
ruminant  animals  (21  CFR  589.2000,  referred  to  herein  as  the  "BSE  Feed  Rule")  to  prevent  further  spread  of  BSE, 
commonly referred to as "mad cow disease."  With respect to BSE in the U.S., on October 26, 2009, the FDA began 
enforcing new regulations intended to further reduce the risk of spreading BSE ("Enhanced BSE Rule"). These new 
regulations  included  amending  the  BSE  Feed  Rule  to  prohibit  the  use  of  tallow  having  more  than  0.15%  insoluble 
impurities in feed for cattle or other ruminant animals.  In addition, the FDA implemented rules that prohibit the use of 
brain and spinal cord material from cattle aged 30 months and older or the carcasses of such cattle, if the brain and spinal 
cord are not removed, in the feed or food for all animals.  Company management believes the Company is in compliance 
with the provisions of these rules.

See Item 1A "Risk Factors – The Company’s business may be affected by the impact of BSE and other food safety issues," 
for more information regarding certain FDA rules that affect the Company's business, including changes to the BSE Feed 
Rule.

•  The United States Department of Agriculture ("USDA"), which regulates collection and production methods.  Within the 

USDA, two agencies exercise direct regulatory oversight of the Company's activities:

– Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service ("APHIS"), as the competent authority on animal health 
in the U.S.,  certifies facilities and claims made for exported materials and establishes and enforces import 
requirements for live animals and animal products, and

– Food Safety Inspection Service ("FSIS") regulates sanitation and food safety programs.

On December 30, 2003, the Secretary of Agriculture announced new beef slaughter/meat processing regulations to assure 
consumers of the safety of the meat supply.  These regulations prohibit non-ambulatory animals from entering the food 
chain, require removal of specified risk materials at slaughter and prohibit carcasses from cattle tested for BSE from 
entering the food chain until the animals are shown negative for BSE.

On November 19, 2007, APHIS implemented revised import regulations that allowed Canadian cattle over 30 months of 
age and born after March 1, 1999 and bovine products derived from such cattle to be imported into the U.S. for any use. 
Imports of Canadian cattle younger than 30 months of age have been allowed since March 2005. Imports of SRM from 
Canadian born cattle slaughtered in Canada are not permitted.  On March 16, 2012, APHIS proposed amending import 
regulations for all countries to establish a system for classifying regions as to BSE risk that is consistent with international 
standards set by the World Organization for Animal Health and to base importation requirements for cattle and beef 
products on: (1) the inherent risk of BSE infectivity in the commodity to be imported and (2) the BSE risk status of the 
region from which the commodity originates.  This proposed rule had not been finalized as of the date of this report.

•  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA"), which regulates air and water discharge requirements, as well as 

local and state agencies governing air and water discharge.

• 

State Departments of Agriculture, which regulate animal by-product collection and transportation procedures and animal 
feed quality.

•  The United States Department of Transportation ("USDOT"), as well as local and state agencies, which regulate the 

operation of the Company's commercial vehicles.

•  Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the main federal agency charged with the enforcement of safety and 

health legislation.

•  The Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), which regulates securities and information required in annual and 

quarterly reports filed by publicly traded companies.

These material rules and regulations and other rules and regulations promulgated by other agencies may influence the 

Company’s operating results at one or more facilities.

Page 10

 
 
AVAILABLE INFORMATION

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company is required to file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy 
statements and other information with the SEC, which can be read and/or copies made at the SEC's Public Reference Room at 
100 F Street N.E., Washington D.C. 20549.  Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information about the Public 
Reference Room.  The SEC maintains a web site at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, 
and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC.  The Company files electronically with the SEC.

The Company makes available, free of charge, through its investor relations web site, its reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q 
and 8-K, and amendments to those reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after they are filed with, or furnished to, the SEC 
pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

The Company's website is http://www.darlingii.com and the address for the Company's investor relations web site is 

http://www.darlingii.com/investors.aspx.

ITEM 1A.   RISK FACTORS

Any investment in the Company will be subject to risks inherent to the Company's business.  Before making an investment 
decision in the Company, you should carefully consider the specific risks described below together with all of the other information 
included in or incorporated by reference into this report.  Each of the risks described below could adversely and materially affect 
the Company's business, financial condition and operating results.  The risks and uncertainties the Company has described are 
not the only ones facing the Company.  Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to the Company or those the Company 
currently deems immaterial may also affect business or operations of the Company.  If any of the events described in the following 
risk factors actually occurs, the Company's business, financial condition, prospects or results of operations could be materially 
and adversely affected.  If any of these events occurs, the trading price of the Company's securities could decline and you may 
lose all or part of your investment.  The risks discussed below also include forward-looking statements and the Company's actual 
results may differ substantially from those discussed in these forward-looking statements.  See "Forward-Looking Statements" in 
this filing.

The prices of the Company's products are subject to significant volatility associated with commodities markets.

The Company's finished products are, with certain exceptions, commodities, the prices of which are quoted on, or derived 
from prices quoted on, established commodity markets.  Accordingly, the Company's results of operations will be affected by 
fluctuations in the prevailing market prices of these finished products or of other commodities that may be substituted for the 
Company's products by the Company's customers.  Historically, market prices for commodity grains and food stocks have fluctuated 
in response to a number of factors, including changes in U.S. government farm support programs or energy policies, changes in 
international agricultural trading policies, impact of disease outbreaks on protein sources and the potential effect on supply and 
demand as well as weather conditions during the growing and harvesting seasons.  While the Company seeks to mitigate the risk 
associated with price declines, including through the use of formula pricing tied to commodity prices for a substantial portion of 
the  Company's  raw  materials  and  hedging,  a  significant  decrease  in  the  market  price  of  the  Company's  products  or  of  other 
commodities that may be substituted for the Company's products would have a material adverse effect on the Company's results 
of operations and cash flow.

In addition, increases in the market prices of raw materials would require the Company to seek increased selling prices 
for the Company's premium, value-added and branded products to avoid margin deterioration.  There can be no assurance as to 
whether the Company could implement future selling price increases in response to increases in the market prices of raw materials 
or how any such price increases would affect future sales volumes to the Company's customers.  The Company's results of operations 
would be adversely affected in the future by this volatility.

The Company's business is dependent on the procurement of raw materials, which is the most competitive aspect of the 
Company business.

Management believes that the most competitive aspect of the Company's business is the procurement of raw materials 
rather than the sale of finished products.  Pronounced consolidation within the meat packing industry has resulted in bigger and 
more efficient slaughtering operations, the majority of which utilize "captive" renderers.  Simultaneously, the number of small 
meat processors, which have historically been a dependable source of supply for non-captive renderers, such as the Company, has 
decreased significantly.  The slaughter rates in the meat processing industry are subject to decline due to economic conditions, 
and as a result, during such periods of decline, the availability, quantity and quality of raw materials available to the independent 

Page 11

renderers decreases.  In addition, the Company has seen an increase in the use of restaurant grease in the production of biodiesel, 
which has increased competition for the collection of used cooking oil and contributed to an increase in the frequency and magnitude 
of theft of used cooking oil.  Furthermore, the general performance of the U.S. economy, declining U.S. consumer confidence and 
the inability of consumers and companies to obtain credit due to the current lack of liquidity in the financial markets has had a 
negative impact on the Company's raw material volume, such as through the forced closure of certain of the Company’s raw 
material suppliers.  A significant decrease in available raw materials or a closure of a raw material supplier could materially and 
adversely affect the Company's business and results of operations, including the carrying value of the Company's assets.

The  rendering  industry  is  highly  fragmented  and  both  the  rendering  and  bakery  residual  industries  are  very 
competitive.  The Company competes with other rendering businesses and alternative methods of disposal of animal by-products, 
bakery residual processing and used cooking oil provided by trash haulers, waste management companies and biodiesel companies, 
as well as the alternative of illegal disposal.  See Item 1, "Competition." In addition, restaurants experience theft of used cooking 
oil, the frequency and magnitude of which has increased with the rise in value of used cooking oil.  Depending on market conditions, 
the Company either charges a collection fee to offset a portion of the cost incurred in collecting raw material or will pay for the 
raw material.  To the extent suppliers of raw materials look to alternate methods of disposal, whether as a result of the Company's 
collection fees being deemed too expensive or otherwise, the Company's raw material supply will decrease and the Company’s 
collection fee revenues will decrease, which could materially and adversely affect the Company's business and results of operations.

A  majority  of  Darling's  volume  of  rendering  raw  materials,  including  all  of  its  significant  poultry  accounts,  and 
substantially all of its bakery feed raw materials are acquired on a "formula basis," which in most cases is set forth in contracts 
with the Company's suppliers, generally with multi-year terms.  These "formulas" allow the Company to manage the risk associated 
with decreases in commodity prices by adjusting the Company's costs of materials based on changes in the price of the Company's 
finished products, while also permitting the Company, in certain cases, to benefit from increases in commodity prices.  The formulas 
provided in these contracts are reviewed and modified both during the term of, and in connection with the renewal of, the contracts 
to maintain an acceptable level of sharing between the Company and the Company's suppliers of the costs and benefits from 
movements in commodity prices.  Changes to these formulas or the inability to renew such contracts could have a material adverse 
effect on the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition.

The Company is highly dependent on natural gas and diesel fuel.

The Company's operations are highly dependent on the use of natural gas and diesel fuel.  The Company consumes 
significant volumes of natural gas to operate boilers in the Company's plants, which generate steam to heat raw material.  Natural 
gas prices represent a significant cost of facility operations included in cost of sales.  The Company also consumes significant 
volumes of diesel fuel to operate the Company’s fleet of tractors and trucks used to collect raw material.  Diesel fuel prices represent 
a significant component of cost of collection expenses included in cost of sales.  Prices for both natural gas and diesel fuel can be 
volatile and therefore represent an ongoing challenge to the Company's operating results.  Although the Company continually 
manages these costs and hedges the Company's exposure to changes in fuel prices through the Company's formula pricing and 
derivatives, a material increase in energy prices for natural gas and/or diesel fuel over a sustained period of time could materially 
adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.

A significant percentage of the Company's revenue is attributable to a limited number of suppliers and customers.

In fiscal 2012, Darling's top ten customers for finished products accounted for approximately 29% of product sales.  In 
addition, its top ten raw material suppliers accounted for approximately 25% of its raw material supply in the same period.  A 
disruption to, termination of, or modifications to the Company's relationships with any of the Company's significant suppliers or 
customers could cause the Company's businesses to suffer significant financial losses and could have a material adverse impact 
on the Company's business, earnings, financial condition and/or cash flows.

Certain of the Company's operating facilities are highly dependent upon a single or a few suppliers.

Certain of the Company's rendering facilities are highly dependent on one or a few suppliers.  Should any of these suppliers 
choose alternate methods of disposal, cease their operations, have their operations interrupted by casualty or otherwise cease using 
the Company’s collection services, these operating facilities may be materially and adversely affected, which could materially and 
adversely affect the Company’s business, earnings, financial condition and/or cash flows.

Page 12

The renewable diesel joint venture with Valero will subject the Company to a number of risks.

The Company announced on January 21, 2011 that a wholly-owned subsidiary of Darling entered into the JV Agreement 
with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Valero to form the Joint Venture.  The Joint Venture is owned 50% / 50% with Valero and was 
formed to design, engineer, construct and operate the Facility, which will be capable of producing approximately 9,300 barrels 
per day of renewable diesel fuel and certain other co-products, to be located adjacent to Valero’s refinery in Norco, Louisiana.  The 
Joint Venture is in the process of constructing the Facility under an engineering, procurement and construction contract ("EPC 
Contract") that is intended to fix the Joint Venture's maximum economic exposure for the cost of the Facility, without regard to 
project  scope  changes.  Construction  of  the  Facility  is  substantially  complete  with  the  phased  commissioning  of  the  Facility 
currently anticipated to be complete in second quarter 2013.

On May 31, 2011, the Joint Venture and Diamond Green Diesel LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Joint Venture 
("Opco"), entered into (i) a facility agreement (the "Facility Agreement") with Diamond Alternative Energy, LLC, a wholly-owned 
subsidiary of Valero (the "Lender"), and (ii) a loan agreement (the "Loan Agreement") with the Lender, which will provide the 
Joint Venture with a 14 year multiple advance term loan facility of approximately $221,300,000 (the "JV Loan") to support the 
design, engineering and construction of the Facility, which is now in the final stages of construction.  The Facility Agreement and 
the Loan Agreement prohibit the Lender from assigning all or any portion of the Facility Agreement or the Loan Agreement to 
unaffiliated third parties. Opco has also pledged substantially all of its assets to the Lender, and the Joint Venture has pledged all 
of Opco's equity interests to the Lender, until the JV Loan has been paid in full and the JV Loan has terminated in accordance with 
its terms.

Pursuant to sponsor support agreements executed in connection with the Facility Agreement and the Loan Agreement, 
each of the Company and Valero are committed to contributing approximately $93.2 million of the estimated aggregate costs of 
approximately $407.7 million for the completion of the Facility.  The Company is also required to pay for 50% of any cost overruns 
incurred in connection with the construction of the Facility, including relating to any project scope changes and working capital 
funding.  As of the date of this report, it is anticipated that the project will incur an additional $17.3 million in costs related to 
project scope changes, of which the Company will be responsible for 50%.  As of December 29, 2012 under the equity method 
of accounting, the Company has an investment in the Joint Venture of approximately $62.5 million included on the consolidated 
balance sheet.

The Company is aware that a third party patent holder has filed patent infringement claims against a producer of renewable 
diesel fuel and its owners.  The producer is unrelated to the Company, the Joint Venture or, to our knowledge, Valero.  The Company 
has not, and to its knowledge neither the Joint Venture or Valero has, received any communication from such patent holder regarding 
similar claims against the Joint Venture. The Joint Venture has licensed a process from UOP LLC, a subsidiary of Honeywell 
International Inc., that it will utilize in producing renewable diesel fuel.  The Company believes that the Joint Venture's process 
differs from the process that is the subject of the infringement suit. Accordingly, any patent infringement claim that might be 
asserted in the future against either the Company or the Joint Venture would be vigorously opposed.  However if any patent holder 
successfully challenged the patents under which the Joint Venture operates, the Joint Venture could incur increased expenses or 
the need to modify its operation which could negatively impact the Joint Venture's results of operations.

While construction of the facility is substantially complete, there is no guarantee that unforeseen issues will not arise in 
connection with the startup of the Facility, and any unexpected significant scope changes to the project related thereto could require 
investment of additional significant financial resources by the Company which may require the Company to obtain additional 
financing.  Further, while the two principal technologies to be licensed for the Joint Venture are established technologies, their 
use  together  in  the  manner  currently  contemplated  for  the  Joint  Venture  is  innovative  and  has  not  been  previously 
employed.  Accordingly, if the Facility is completed, there is no guarantee that the Joint Venture will be profitable or allow the 
Company to make a return on the Company’s investment, and the Company may lose the Company's entire investment.

The Joint Venture is dependent on governmental energy policies and programs, such as the National Renewable Fuel 
Standard Program ("RFS2"), which positively impact the demand for and price of renewable diesel.  Any changes to, a failure to 
enforce or a discontinuation of any of these programs could have a material adverse affect on the Joint Venture.  See "Risk Factors
—The Company's business may be affected by energy policies of U.S. and foreign governments."  Similarly, the Joint Venture is 
subject  to  the  risk  that  new  or  changing  technologies  may  be  developed  that  could  meet  demand  for  renewable  diesel  under 
governmental mandates in a more efficient or less costly manner than the technologies to be used by the Joint Venture, which 
could negatively affect the price of renewable diesel and have a material adverse affect on the Joint Venture.

In addition, the commencement and operation of a joint venture such as this involve a number of risks that could harm 

the Company’s business and result in the Joint Venture not performing as expected, such as:

Page 13

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

problems integrating or developing operations, personnel, technologies or products;

the breakdown or failure of equipment or processes;

the failure of the end product to perform as anticipated;

unforeseen engineering and environmental issues;

the inaccuracy of the Company's assumptions about the timing and amount of anticipated costs and revenues;

the diversion of management time and resources;

obtaining permits and other regulatory issues, license revocation and changes in legal requirements;

insufficient experience with the technologies and markets involved;

difficulties in establishing relationships with suppliers and end user customers;

unanticipated cost overruns;

risks commonly associated with the start-up of "greenfield" projects;

performance below expected levels of output or efficiency;

reliance on Valero and its adjacent refinery facility for many services and processes;

subsequent impairment of the acquired assets, including intangible assets; 

possible third party claims of intellectual property infringement; and

being bought out and not realizing the benefits of the Joint Venture.

If  any  of  these  risks  described  above  were  to  materialize  and  the  operations  of  the  Joint Venture  were  significantly 

disrupted, this could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.

The Company's business may be affected by energy and trade policies of U.S. and foreign governments.

Pursuant to the requirements established by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 on February 3, 2010, the 
EPA finalized regulations for RFS2.  The regulation mandated the domestic use of biomass-based diesel (biodiesel or renewable 
diesel) of 1.0 billion gallons in 2012.  Beyond 2012 the regulation requires a minimum of 1.0 billion gallons of biomass-based 
diesel for each year through 2022, which amount is subject to increase by the EPA Administrator.  On September 14, 2012, the 
EPA issued a final rule establishing the biomass-based diesel volume for calendar year 2013 to be 1.28 billion gallons, effective 
on November 26, 2012.  This requirement is unchanged from the volume in a proposed rule issued by the EPA on June 20, 2011.  
Biomass-based diesel also qualifies to fulfill the non-specified portion of the advanced bio-fuel requirement.  In order to qualify 
as a "renewable fuel" each type of fuel from each type of feed stock is required to lower greenhouse gas emissions ("GHG") by 
levels specified in the regulation.  The EPA has determined that bio-fuels (either biodiesel or renewable diesel) produced from 
waste oils, fats and greases result in an 86% reduction in GHG emissions, exceeding the 50% requirement established by the 
regulation.  Prices for the Company's finished products may be impacted by worldwide government policies relating to renewable 
fuels and GHG.  Programs like RFS2 and tax credits for bio-fuels both in the U.S. and abroad may positively impact the demand 
for the Company's finished products.  Accordingly, changes to, a failure to enforce or discontinuing any of these programs could 
have a negative impact on the Company's business and results of operations.

The Company's exports are subject to the imposition of tariffs, quotas, trade barriers and other trade protection measures 
imposed  by  foreign  countries  regarding  the  import  of  the  Company's  MBM,  BFT  and YG.    General  economic  and  political 
conditions as well as the closing of borders by foreign countries to the import of the Company's products due to animal disease 
or other perceived health or safety issues impact the Company.  As a result trade policies of both U.S and foreign countries could 
have a negative impact on the Company's business and results of operations.

The Company may incur material costs and liabilities in complying with government regulations.

The Company is subject to the rules and regulations of various federal, state and local governmental 

agencies.  Material rules and regulations and the applicable agencies include:

Page 14

•  The FDA, which regulates food and feed safety;

•  The USDA, including its agencies APHIS and FSIS, which regulates collection and production methods;

•  The EPA, which regulates air and water discharge requirements, as well as local and state agencies, which monitor air 

and water discharges;

• 

State Departments of Agriculture, which regulate animal by-product collection and transportation procedures and animal 
feed quality;

•  The USDOT, as well as local and state transportation agencies, which regulate the operation of the Company’s commercial 

vehicles;

•  The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which is the main federal agency charged with the enforcement of 

safety and health legislation; and

•  The SEC, which regulates securities and information required in annual and quarterly reports filed by publicly traded 

companies.

The applicable rules and regulations promulgated by these agencies may influence the Company's operating results at 
one or more facilities.  Furthermore, the loss of or failure to obtain necessary federal, state or local permits and registrations at 
one or more of the Company's facilities could halt or curtail operations at impacted facilities, which could result in impairment 
charges related to the affected facility and otherwise adversely affect the Company's operating results.  The Company's failure to 
comply with applicable rules and regulations, including obtaining or maintaining required operating certificates or permits, could 
subject the Company to: (i) administrative penalties and injunctive relief; (ii) civil remedies, including fines, injunctions and 
product recalls; and (iii) adverse publicity.  There can be no assurance that the Company will not incur material costs and liabilities 
in connection with these rules and regulations.

Seasonal factors and weather can impact the quality and volume of raw materials that the Company processes.

The quantity of raw materials available to the Company is impacted by seasonal factors, including holidays, when raw 
material volume declines, and cold weather, which can impact the collection of raw material.  In addition, warm weather can 
adversely affect the quality of raw material processed and the Company's yield on production due to more rapidly degrading raw 
materials.  The quality and volume of finished product that the Company is able to produce could be negatively impacted by 
unseasonable weather or unexpected declines in the volume of raw material available during holidays, which in turn could have 
a material adverse impact on the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition.  In addition, severe weather 
events may also impact the Company's ability to collect raw material or to transport finished product.

Downturns and volatility in global economies and commodity and credit markets could materially adversely affect the 
Company's business and results of operations.

The Company's results of operations are materially affected by the state of the global economies and conditions in the 
credit, commodities and stock markets.  Among other things, the Company may be adversely impacted if the Company's domestic 
and international customers and suppliers are not able to access sufficient capital to continue to operate their businesses or to 
operate them at prior levels.  A decline in consumer confidence or changing patterns in the availability and use of disposable 
income  by  consumers  can  negatively  affect  both  the  Company's  suppliers  and  customers.  Declining  discretionary  consumer 
spending or the loss or impairment of a meaningful number of the Company's suppliers or customers could lead to a dislocation 
in either raw material availability or customer demand.  Tightened credit supply could negatively affect the Company's customers' 
ability to pay for the Company’s products on a timely basis or at all and could result in a requirement for additional bad debt 
reserves.  Although many of the Company's customer contracts are formula-based, continued volatility in the commodities markets 
could negatively impact the Company's revenues and overall profits.  Counterparty risk on finished product sales can also impact 
revenue and operating profits when customers either are unable to obtain credit or refuse to take delivery of finished product due 
to market price declines. 

The Company's business may be affected by the impact of BSE and other food safety issues.

Effective August 1997, the FDA promulgated a rule prohibiting the use of mammalian proteins, with some exceptions, 
in feeds for cattle, sheep and other ruminant animals (referred to herein as the "BSE Feed Rule") to prevent further spread of BSE, 
commonly referred to as "mad cow disease."  Detection of the first case of BSE in the United States in December 2003 resulted 

Page 15

 
in additional U.S. government regulations, finished product export restrictions by foreign governments, market price fluctuations 
for the Company's finished products and reduced demand for beef and beef products by consumers.  Even though the export 
markets for U.S. beef rebounded to exceed pre-BSE levels and set records for volume in 2011 and value in 2012, most export 
markets remain closed to MBM derived from U.S. beef.  On April 24, 2012, the USDA confirmed the occurrence of a new, single 
case of BSE in a dairy cow in central California.  Even though the USDA confirmed that material derived from the cow did not 
enter the food or feed supply and that this appears to be a single, isolated incident of "atypical" BSE which is not spread through 
feed and does not affect humans, Indonesia closed its markets to MBM derived from U.S. beef, and those markets remain closed 
as of the filing date of this Report.  The Company does not expect this trade disruption to have material impact on the Company's 
business, financial condition or results of operations.  Continued concern about BSE in the United States may result in additional 
regulatory and market related challenges that may affect the Company's operations or increase the Company's operating costs.

With respect to BSE in the United States, on October 26, 2009, the FDA began enforcing new regulations intended to 
further reduce the risk of spreading BSE ("Enhanced BSE Rule").  These new regulations amended the BSE Feed Rule to also 
prohibit the use of tallow having more than 0.15% insoluble impurities in feed for cattle or other ruminant animals.  In addition, 
the Enhanced BSE Rule prohibits brain and spinal cord material from cattle aged 30 months and older or the carcasses of such 
cattle, if the brain and spinal cord are not removed, ("Prohibited Cattle Materials") and tallow derived from Prohibited Cattle 
Materials that also contains more than 0.15% insoluble impurities in the feed or food for all animals.  The Company has followed 
the Enhanced BSE Rule since it was first published in 2008 and has made capital expenditures and implemented new processes 
and procedures to be compliant with the Enhanced BSE Rule at all of the Company's operations.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, 
the Company can provide no assurance that unanticipated costs and/or reductions in raw material volumes related to the Company's 
compliance with the Enhanced BSE Rule will not negatively impact the Company’s operations and financial performance.

With respect to human food, pet food and animal feed safety, the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 
2007 (the "FDAAA") directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the FDA to promulgate significant new requirements 
for the pet food and animal feed industries.  As a prerequisite to new requirements specified by the FDAAA, the FDA was directed 
to  establish  a  Reportable  Food  Registry,  which  was  implemented  on  September  8,  2009.  On  June  11,  2009,  the  FDA  issued 
"Guidance for Industry: Questions and Answers Regarding the Reportable Food Registry as Established by the Food and Drug 
Administration Amendments Act of 2007: Draft Guidance."  Stakeholder comments and questions about the Reportable Food 
Registry were incorporated into a second draft guidance ("RFR Draft Guidance"), which was published on September 8, 2009. In 
the RFR Draft Guidance, the FDA defined a reportable food, which the manufacturer or distributor would be required to report 
in the Reportable Food Registry, to include materials used as ingredients in animal feeds and pet foods, if there is reasonable 
probability that the use of such materials will cause serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals.  The FDA 
issued  a  second  version  of  its  RFR  Draft  Guidance  in  May  2010  without  finalizing  it.  On  July  27,  2010,  the  FDA  released 
"Compliance Policy guide Sec. 690.800, Salmonella in Animal Feed, Draft Guidance" ("Draft CPG"), which describes differing 
criteria to determine whether pet food and farmed animal feeds that are contaminated with salmonella will be considered to be 
adulterated  under  section  402(a)(1)  of  the  Food  Drug  and  Cosmetic Act. According  to  the  Draft  CPG,  any  finished  pet  food 
contaminated with any species of salmonella will be considered adulterated because such feeds have direct human contact.  Finished 
animal feeds intended for pigs, poultry and other farmed animals, however, will be considered to be adulterated only if the feed 
is contaminated with a species of salmonella that is considered to be pathogenic for the animal species that the feed is intended 
for.  The impact of the FDAAA and implementation of the Reportable Food Registry on the Company, if any, will not be clear 
until the FDA finalizes its RFR Draft Guidance and the Draft CPG, neither of which were finalized as of the date of this report.  The 
Company believes that it has adequate procedures in place to assure that its finished products are safe to use in animal feed and 
pet food and the Company does not currently anticipate that the FDAAA will have a significant impact on the Company’s operations 
or financial performance.  Any pathogen, such as salmonella, that is correctly or incorrectly associated with the Company’s finished 
products could have a negative impact on the demands for the Company’s finished products.

In addition, the Food Safety Modernization Act ("FSMA") was enacted on January 4, 2011.  The FSMA gave the FDA 
new authorities, which became effective immediately. Included among these is mandatory recall authority for adulterated foods 
that are likely to cause serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals, if the responsible party fails to cease 
distribution and recall such adulterated foods voluntarily.  The FSMA further instructed the FDA to amend existing regulations 
that define its administrative detention authority.  Prior to the FSMA becoming law, FDA had authority to order that an article of 
food be detained only if there was credible evidence or information indicating that the article of food presented a threat of serious 
adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals. On May 5, 2011, FDA issued an interim final rule amending its 
administrative detention authority and lowering both the level of proof and the degree of risk required for detaining an article of 
food. This interim final rule, which became effective on July 3, 2011, gives the FDA authority to detain an article of food if there 
is reason to believe the food is adulterated or misbranded.  The FMSA also requires the FDA to develop new regulations that, 
among other provisions, places additional registration requirements on food and feed producing firms.  Section 102 of the FSMA 
amends facility registration requirements in the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act for domestic and foreign manufacturers, 
processors, packers or holders of food for human or animal consumption. Such facility registrations were previously required to 
Page 16

be updated when changes in a facility occurred, but there were no provisions for renewing facility registrations. The FSMA, 
however, requires that facility registrations be renewed during the fourth quarter of each even-numbered year, beginning October 
1, 2012. FDA delayed the start of facility registration renewals until October 22, 2012, while it completed revisions to its on-line 
registration site and subsequently extended the deadline for completing such registration renewals from December 31, 2012 to 
January 31, 2013.  Other new FDA regulations mandated by the FSMA will require registered facilities to perform hazard analyses 
and to implement preventive plans to control those hazards identified to be reasonably likely to occur; increase the length of time 
that records are required to be retained; and regulate the sanitary transportation of food.  The FDA published its intent to meet the 
preventive control provisions required by the FSMA on January 16, 2013 in two proposed rules for manufactured food and produce 
intended for human consumption: (1) Current Good Manufacturing Practice and Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive 
Controls  for  Human  Food  and  (2)  Standards  for  the  Growing,  Harvesting,  Packing,  and  Holding  of  Produce  for  Human 
Consumption.  Neither of these proposed rules is for animal feed and, as of the date of this filing, the FDA has not published a 
proposed rule for implementing preventive controls for animal feed.  The Company has followed the FSMA throughout its legislative 
history and has renewed registrations for all of its facilities and implemented hazard prevention controls and other procedures that 
the Company believes will be needed to comply with the FSMA.  Such rule-making could, among other things, require the Company 
to amend certain of the Company’s other operational policies and procedures.  While unforeseen issues and requirements may 
arise as the FDA promulgates the new regulations provided for by the FSMA, the Company does not anticipate that the costs of 
compliance with the FSMA will materially impact the Company’s business or operations.

The Company’s business may be negatively impacted by the occurrence of any disease correctly or incorrectly linked to 
animals.

The emergence of diseases such as 2009 H1N1 flu (initially known as "Swine Flu") and highly pathogenic strains of 
avian influenza, including H5N1 and H7N3 avian influenza (both strains are collectively known as "Bird Flu"), that are in or 
associated with animals and have the potential to also threaten humans has created concern that such diseases could spread and 
cause a global pandemic.  Wild migratory birds are usually responsible for spreading the Bird Flu to domestic poultry.  The H5N1 
strain has not been reported in North America.  Outbreaks of the H7N3 strain, however, were reported on chicken farms in Mexico 
during 2012, in July and again in December.  A new outbreak of the H7N3 virus on seven commercial chicken farms in Mexico 
was confirmed February 16, 2013, by Mexican animal health authorities.  As of the date of this report, though, neither Bird Flu 
nor Swine Flu has been linked to a global disease pandemic among humans. Even though such a pandemic has not occurred, 
governments may be pressured to address these concerns and prohibit imports of animals, meat and animal by-products from 
countries or regions where the disease is detected. The occurrence of Swine Flu, Bird Flu or any other disease in the United States 
that is correctly or incorrectly linked to animals and has a negative impact on meat or poultry consumption or animal production 
could have a material negative impact on the volume of raw materials available to the Company or the demand for the Company's 
finished products.

If the Company or the Company's customers are the subject of product liability claims or product recalls, the Company 
may incur significant and unexpected costs and the Company's business reputation could be adversely affected.

The Company and its customers for whom the Company manufactures products may be exposed to product liability 
claims and adverse public relations if consumption or use of the Company's products is alleged to cause injury or illness to humans 
or animals.  In addition, the Company and its customers may be subject to product recalls resulting from developments relating 
to the discovery of unauthorized adulterations to food additives.  The Company's insurance may not be adequate to cover all 
liabilities the Company incurs in connection with product liability claims, whether or not legitimate, or product recalls.  The 
Company may not be able to maintain its existing insurance or obtain comparable insurance at a reasonable cost, if at all.  A product 
liability judgment against the Company or against one of its customers for whom the Company manufactures products, or the 
Company's or its customer's agreement to settle a product liability claim or a product recall, could also result in substantial and 
unexpected expenditures, which would reduce operating income and cash flow.  In addition, even if product liability claims against 
the Company or its customers for whom the Company manufactures products are not successful or are not fully pursued, defending 
these claims would likely be costly and time-consuming and may require management to spend time defending the claims rather 
than operating the Company's business and may result in adverse publicity.

Product liability claims, product recalls or any other events that cause consumers to no longer associate the Company's 
brands or those of the Company's customers for whom the Company manufactures products with high quality and safety, may 
hurt the value of the Company's and the Company's customers' brands and lead to decreased demand for the Company's products.  In 
addition, as a result of any such claims against the Company or product recalls, the Company may be exposed to claims by the 
Company's customers for damage to their reputations and brands.  Product liability claims and product recalls may also lead to 
increased scrutiny by federal and state regulatory agencies of the Company's operations and could have a material adverse effect 
on the Company's brands, business, results of operations and financial condition.

Page 17

The Company's operations are subject to various laws, rules and regulations relating to the protection of the environment 
and to health and safety, and the Company could incur significant costs to comply with these requirements or be subject 
to sanctions or held liable for environmental damages.

The  Company's  operations  subject  the  Company  to  various  and  increasingly  stringent  federal,  state,  and  local 
environmental, health and safety requirements, including those governing air emissions, wastewater discharges, the management, 
storage and disposal of materials in connection with the Company’s facilities and the Company’s handling of hazardous materials 
and wastes, such as gasoline and diesel fuel used by the Company's trucking fleet and operations.  Failure to comply with these 
requirements could have significant consequences, including penalties, claims for personal injury and property and natural resource 
damages, and negative publicity.  The Company's operations require the control of air emissions and odor and the treatment and 
discharge of wastewater to municipal sewer systems and the environment.  The Company operates boilers at many of the Company's 
facilities and stores wastewater in lagoons or discharges it to publicly owned wastewater treatment systems, surface waters or 
through  land  application.  The  Company  operates  and  maintains  a  vehicle  fleet  to  transport  products  to  and  from  customer 
locations.  The Company has incurred significant capital and operating expenditures to comply with environmental requirements, 
including for the upgrade of wastewater treatment facilities, and will continue to incur such costs in the future.  

The Company could be responsible for the remediation of environmental contamination and may be subject to associated 
liabilities and claims for personal injury and property and natural resource damages.  The Company owns or operates numerous 
properties, has been in business for many years and has acquired and disposed of properties and businesses.  During that time, the 
Company or other owners or operators may have generated or disposed of wastes that are or may be considered hazardous or may 
have polluted the soil, surface water or groundwater at or around the Company's facilities.  Under some environmental laws, such 
as the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, also known as CERCLA or Superfund, 
and similar state statutes, responsibility for the cost of cleanup of a contaminated site can be imposed upon any current or former 
site owners and operators, or upon any party that sent waste to the site, regardless of the lawfulness of the activities that led to the 
contamination.  There can be no assurance that the Company will not face extensive costs or penalties that would have a material 
adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and results of operations.  For example, the Company has been named as a 
third-party defendant in a lawsuit pending in the Tierra/Maxus Litigation (as defined herein) and has received notice from the EPA 
with respect to alleged contamination in the Lower Passaic River area.  Future developments, such as more aggressive enforcement 
policies, new laws or discoveries of unknown conditions, may also require expenditures that may have a material adverse effect 
on the Company’s business and financial condition.

In addition, increasing efforts to control emissions of greenhouse gases, or GHG, are likely to impact the Company's 
operations.  The EPA’s recent rule establishing mandatory GHG reporting for certain activities may apply to some of the Company's 
facilities if the Company exceeds the applicable thresholds.  The EPA has also announced a finding relating to GHG emissions 
that may result in promulgation of GHG air quality standards.  Legislation to regulate GHG emissions has been proposed in the 
U.S. Congress and a growing number of states are taking action to require reductions in GHG emissions.  Future GHG emissions 
limits  may  require  the  Company  to  incur  additional  capital  and  operational  expenditures.  EPA  regulations  limiting  exhaust 
emissions also became more restrictive in 2010, and on October 25, 2010, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 
and the EPA proposed new regulations that would govern fuel efficiency and GHG emissions beginning in 2014.  Compliance 
with such regulations could increase the cost of new fleet vehicles and increase the Company's operating expenses.  Compliance 
with future GHG regulations may require expenditures that could affect the Company’s results of operations.

If the Company experiences difficulties or a significant disruption in the Company's information systems or if the Company 
fails to implement new systems and software successfully, the Company's business could be materially adversely affected.

The Company depends on information systems throughout the Company's business to collect and process data that is 
critical to the Company's operations and accurate SEC reporting.  Among other things, these information systems process incoming 
customer orders and outgoing supplier orders, manage inventory, collect raw materials and distribute products, process and bill 
shipments  to  and  collect  cash  from  the  Company's  customers,  respond  to  customer  and  supplier  inquiries,  contribute  to  the 
Company's overall internal control processes, maintain records of the Company's property, plant and equipment, and record and 
pay amounts due vendors and other creditors. 

If the Company were to experience a disruption in its information systems that involve interactions with suppliers and 
customers, it could result in a loss of raw material supplies, sales and customers and/or increased costs, which could have a material 
adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.  In addition, any such disruption could 
adversely affect the Company's ability to meet its financial reporting obligations.  The Company may also encounter difficulties 
in developing new systems or maintaining and upgrading existing systems.  Such difficulties may lead to significant expenses or 
losses due to unexpected additional costs required to implement or maintain systems, disruption in business operations, loss of 

Page 18

sales or profits, or cause the Company to incur significant costs to reimburse third parties for damages, and, as a result, may have 
a material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations.

In order to enhance its technology, customer service, and business processes, the Company has begun a multi-year project 
to replace its existing work management, financial, and supply chain software applications with a new suite of systems including 
a company-wide enterprise resource planning ("ERP") system.  The implementation process involves a number of risks that may 
adversely hinder the Company's business operations and/or affect its financial condition and results of operations, if not implemented 
successfully.  The new ERP system will replace multiple legacy systems, and successful implementation is expected to enhance 
and provide additional benefits to a variety of important business functions, including customer care and billing, procurement and 
accounts payable, operational plant logistics, management reporting, and external financial reporting.  The ERP implementation 
is a complex and time-consuming project that involves substantial expenditures for implementation consultants, system hardware, 
software, and implementation activities, as well as the transformation of business and financial processes.

As with any large software project, there are many factors that may materially affect the schedule, cost, and execution/
implementation of this project.  Those factors include, among others: problems during the design, implementation, and testing 
phases; system delays and/or malfunctions; the risk that suppliers and contractors will not perform as required under their contracts; 
the diversion of management's attention from daily operations to the project; re-works due to changes in business processes or 
financial reporting standards; and other events, some of which are beyond the Company's control.  These types of issues could 
disrupt the Company's business operations and/or its ability to timely and accurately process and report key components of its 
financial results and and/or complete important business processes such as the evaluation of its internal controls and attestation 
activities pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.  Accordingly, material deviations from the project plan or 
unsuccessful execution of the plan may adversely affect the Company's financial position and results of operations.

The Company's success is dependent on its key personnel.

The Company's success depends to a significant extent upon a number of key employees, including members of senior 
management.  The loss of the services of one or more of these key employees could have a material adverse effect on the Company's 
results of operations and prospects.  The Company believes that its future success will depend in part on its ability to attract, 
motivate and retain skilled technical, managerial, marketing and sales personnel. Competition for these types of skilled personnel 
is intense and there can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in attracting, motivating and retaining key personnel. 
The failure to hire and retain these personnel could materially adversely affect the Company's business and results of operations.

In  certain  markets  the  Company  is  highly  dependent  upon  a  single  operating  facility  and  various  events  beyond  the 
Company's control can cause interruption in the operation of the Company's facilities, which could adversely affect its 
business in those markets.

The Company's facilities are subject to various federal, state and local environmental and other permitting requirements, 
depending on their locations.  Periodically, these permits may be reviewed and subject to amendment or withdrawal.  Applications 
for an extension or renewal of various permits may be subject to challenge by community and environmental groups and others.  In 
the event of a casualty, condemnation, work stoppage, permitting withdrawal or delay, severe weather event, or other unscheduled 
shutdown involving one of the Company's facilities, in a majority of the Company's markets it would utilize a nearby operating 
facility to continue to serve its customers.  In certain markets, however, the Company does not have alternate operating facilities.  In 
the event of a casualty, condemnation, work stoppage, permitting withdrawal or delay, severe weather event, or other unscheduled 
shutdown in these markets, the Company may experience an interruption in its ability to service its customers and to procure raw 
materials.  This may materially and adversely affect the Company's business and results of operations in those markets.  In addition, 
after an operating facility affected by a casualty, condemnation, work stoppage, permitting withdrawal or delay or other unscheduled 
shutdown is restored, there could be no assurance that customers who in the interim choose to use alternative disposal services 
would return to use the Company's services.

The Company's level of indebtedness could adversely affect the Company's ability to operate its business, react to changes 
in the economy or its industry and make payments on its indebtedness.

    As of December 29, 2012, the Company had total indebtedness of approximately $250.2 million, consisting of $250.0 
million of 8.5% Senior Notes due 2018 (the "Senior Unsecured Notes") and other insignificant debt and undrawn commitments 
available for additional borrowings under the Company's senior secured credit facilities (the "Senior Secured Credit Facilities"), 
entered into on December 17, 2010.  The Company's level of indebtedness could have important consequences, including the 
following:

Page 19

 
 
• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

a portion of the Company's cash flows from operations will be dedicated to the payment of principal and interest on the 
Company's indebtedness and will not be available for other purposes, including investment in the Company's operations, 
future business opportunities or strategic acquisitions, capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes;

it may limit the Company's flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in its business and the industry in which it 
operates;

the Company may be more highly leveraged than some of its competitors, which may place the Company at a competitive 
disadvantage;

it could make the Company more vulnerable to downturns in general economic or industry conditions or in the Company's 
business; and

it  may  limit,  along  with  the  financial  and  other  restrictive  covenants  in  the  agreements  governing  the  Company's 
indebtedness,  the  Company's  ability  in  the  future  to  obtain  financing,  the  Company's  ability  to  refinance  any  of  its 
indebtedness, or the Company's ability to dispose of assets or borrow money for its working capital requirements, capital 
expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements and general corporate or other purposes on commercially reasonable 
terms or at all.

Despite the Company's existing indebtedness, the Company may still incur more debt, which could exacerbate the risks 
described above.

The Company may be able to incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future.  Although the agreements governing 
the  Company's  indebtedness,  including,  without  limitation,  the  agreements  governing  the  Company's  Senior  Secured  Credit 
Facilities, will limit the Company's ability to incur certain additional indebtedness, these restrictions are subject to a number of 
qualifications and exceptions, and the additional indebtedness that could be incurred in compliance with these restrictions could 
be substantial.  To the extent that the Company incurs additional indebtedness, the risks associated with the Company's leverage 
described above, including the Company's possible inability to service its debt, would increase.

The Company could incur a material weakness in the Company's internal control over financial reporting that would 
require remediation.

The Company's disclosure controls and procedures were deemed to be effective in fiscal 2012.  However, any future 
failures to maintain the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures, including the Company's internal 
control over financial reporting, could subject the Company to a loss of public confidence in its internal control over financial 
reporting and in the integrity of its public filings and financial statements and could harm the Company’s operating results or cause 
the Company to fail to meet its regulatory reporting obligations in a timely manner.  The ongoing integration of the operations of 
Griffin following the Merger could create additional risks to the Company's disclosure controls, including the Company’s internal 
controls over financial reporting.

An impairment in the carrying value of the Company's goodwill or other intangible assets may have a material adverse 
effect on the Company's results of operations.

As of December 29, 2012, the Company has approximately $381.4 million of goodwill.  The Company is required to 
annually test goodwill to determine if impairment has occurred.  Additionally, impairment of goodwill must be tested whenever 
events or changes in circumstances indicate that impairment may have occurred.  If the testing performed indicates that impairment 
has occurred, the Company is required to record a non-cash impairment charge for the difference between the carrying value of 
the goodwill and the implied fair value of the goodwill in the period the determination is made.  The testing of goodwill for 
impairment requires the Company to make significant estimates about its future performance and cash flows, as well as other 
assumptions.  These estimates can be affected by numerous factors, including changes in economic, industry or market conditions, 
changes in business operations or changes in competition.  Changes in these factors, or changes in actual performance compared 
with estimates of the Company's future performance, may affect the fair value of goodwill, which may result in an impairment 
charge.  For example, a deterioration in demand for, or increases in costs for producing a supplier's principal products could lead  
to a reduction in the supplier's output of raw materials, thus impacting the fair value of a plant processing that raw material.  The 
Company cannot accurately predict the amount and timing of any impairment of assets.  Should the value of goodwill become 
impaired, there may be a materially adverse effect on the Company's results of operations.

Page 20

The  Company  may  be  subject  to  work  stoppages  at  its  operating  facilities  which  could  cause  interruptions  in  the 
manufacturing of the Company's products.

While the Company has no national or multi-plant union contracts, approximately 25% of the Company's employees are 
covered by multiple collective bargaining agreements.  Labor organizing activities could result in additional employees becoming 
unionized and higher ongoing labor costs.  Darling's collective bargaining agreements expire at varying times over the next five 
years.  There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to negotiate the terms of any expiring or expired agreement in a 
manner acceptable to the Company.  If the Company's unionized workers were to engage in a strike, work stoppage or other 
slowdown in the future, the Company could experience a significant disruption of its operations, which could have a material 
adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition.

Litigation may materially adversely affect the Company's businesses, financial condition and results of operations.

The Company is a party to several lawsuits, claims and loss contingencies arising in the ordinary course of our business, 
including assertions by certain regulatory and governmental agencies related to permitting requirements and air, wastewater and 
storm water discharges from the Company's processing facilities.  The outcome of litigation, particularly class action lawsuits and 
regulatory  actions,  is  difficult  to  assess  or  quantify.  Plaintiffs  in  these  types  of  lawsuits  may  seek  recovery  of  very  large  or 
indeterminate amounts, and the magnitude of the potential loss relating to such lawsuits may remain unknown for substantial 
periods  of  time.  The  cost  to  defend  future  litigation  may  be  significant  and  any  future  litigation  may  divert  the  attention  of 
management away from the Company's strategic objectives.  There may also be adverse publicity associated with litigation that 
may decrease customer confidence in the Company’s business, regardless of whether the allegations are valid or whether we are 
ultimately found liable.  As a result, litigation may have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition 
and results of operations.

Certain multiemployer defined benefit pension plans to which the Company contributes are under-funded.

 The Company participates in various multiemployer pension plans which provide defined benefits to certain employees 
covered by labor contracts.  These plans are not administered by the Company and contributions are determined in accordance 
with provisions of negotiated labor contracts to meet their pension benefit obligations to their participants.  Based upon the most 
currently available information, certain of these multiemployer plans are under-funded due partially to a decline in the value of 
the assets supporting these plans, a reduction in the number of actively participating members for whom employer contributions 
are required and the level of benefits provided by the plans.  In addition, the Pension Protection Act, which was enacted in August 
2006 and went into effect in January 2008, requires under-funded pension plans to improve their funding ratios within prescribed 
intervals based on the level of their under-funding.  As a result, the Company's required contributions to these plans may increase 
in the future.  Furthermore, under current law, a termination of, the Company’s voluntary withdrawal from or a mass withdrawal 
of all contributing employers from any underfunded multiemployer defined benefit plan to which the Company contributes would 
require the Company to make payments to the plan for the Company’s proportionate share of such multiemployer plan’s unfunded 
vested liabilities.  Also, if a multiemployer defined benefit plan fails to satisfy certain minimum funding requirements, the Internal 
Revenue Service ("IRS") may impose a nondeductible excise tax of 5% on the amount of the accumulated funding deficiency for 
those  employers  not  contributing  their  allocable  share  of  the  minimum  funding  to  the  plan.  For  more  information  on  the 
multiemployer  pension  plans  in  which  the  Company  participates  see  Note  15  to  the  Consolidated  Financial  Statements. 
Requirements to pay increased contributions, withdrawal liability and excise taxes could negatively impact the Company’s liquidity 
and results of operations.

If the number or severity of claims for which the Company is self-insured increases, if the Company is required to accrue 
or pay additional amounts because the claims prove to be more severe than the Company's recorded liabilities, if the 
Company's insurance premiums increase, or if the Company is unable to obtain insurance at acceptable rates or at all, the 
Company's financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.

The Company's workers compensation, auto and general liability policies contain significant deductibles or self-insured 
retentions.  The Company develops bi-yearly and records quarterly an estimate of the Company's projected insurance-related 
liabilities.  The  Company  estimates  the  liabilities  associated  with  the  risks  retained  by  the  Company,  in  part,  by  considering 
historical claims experience, demographic and severity factors and other actuarial assumptions.  Any actuarial projection of losses 
is subject to a degree of variability.  If the number or severity of claims for which the Company is self-insured increases, or the 
Company is required to accrue or pay additional amounts because the claims prove to be more severe than the Company’s original 
assessments, the Company's financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected.  In addition, in the 
future the Company's insurance premiums may increase and the Company may not be able to obtain similar levels of insurance 
on reasonable terms or at all.  Any such inadequacy of, or inability to obtain, insurance coverage could have a material adverse 
effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.

Page 21

The Company may not successfully identify and complete acquisitions on favorable terms or achieve anticipated synergies 
relating to any acquisitions, and such acquisitions could result in unforeseen operating difficulties and expenditures and 
require significant management resources.

The Company regularly reviews potential acquisitions of complementary businesses, services or products.  However, the 
Company may be unable to identify suitable acquisition candidates in the future.  Even if the Company identifies appropriate 
acquisition candidates, the Company may be unable to complete such acquisitions on favorable terms, if at all.  In addition, the 
process of integrating an acquired business, service or product into the Company's existing business and operations may result in 
unforeseen operating difficulties and expenditures.  Integration of an acquired company also may require significant management 
resources that otherwise would be available for ongoing development of the Company's business.  Moreover, the Company may 
not realize the anticipated benefits of any acquisition or strategic alliance and such transactions may not generate anticipated 
financial results.  Future acquisitions could also require the Company to incur debt, assume contingent liabilities or amortize 
expenses related to intangible assets, any of which could harm the Company's business.

Terrorist attacks or acts of war may cause damage or disruption to the Company and the Company's employees, facilities, 
information systems, security systems, suppliers and customers, which could significantly impact the Company's net sales, 
costs and expenses and financial condition.

Terrorist attacks, such as those that occurred on September 11, 2001, have contributed to economic instability in the 
United States, and further acts of terrorism, bioterrorism, cyberterrorism, violence or war could affect the markets in which the 
Company  operates,  the  Company's  business  operations,  the  Company's  expectations  and  other  forward-looking  statements 
contained in this report.  The threat of terrorist attacks in the United States since September 11, 2001 continues to create many 
economic and political uncertainties.  The potential for future terrorist attacks, the U.S. and international responses to terrorist 
attacks and other acts of war or hostility, including the ongoing war in Afghanistan and other conflicts in the Middle East, may 
cause greater uncertainty and cause the Company's business to suffer in ways that cannot currently be predicted.  Events such as 
those referred to above could cause or contribute to a general decline in investment valuations. In addition, terrorist attacks, 
particularly acts of bioterrorism, that directly impact the Company's facilities or those of the Company's suppliers or customers 
could have an impact on the Company's sales, supply chain, production capability and costs and the Company's ability to deliver 
its finished products.

The Company's products may infringe the intellectual property rights of others, which may cause the Company to incur 
unexpected costs or prevent the Company from selling its products.

The  Company  maintains  valuable  trademarks,  service  marks,  copyrights,  trade  names,  trade  secrets,  proprietary 
technologies and similar intellectual property, and considers the Company's intellectual property to be of material value.  The 
Company has in the past and may in the future be subject to legal proceedings and claims in the ordinary course of its business, 
including claims of alleged infringement of patents, trademarks and other intellectual property rights of third parties by the Company 
or its customers.  Any such claims, whether or not meritorious, could result in costly litigation and divert the efforts of the Company's 
management.  Moreover, should the Company be found liable for infringement, the Company may be required to enter into licensing 
agreements (if available on acceptable terms or at all) or to pay damages and cease making or selling certain products.  Any of 
the foregoing could cause the Company to incur significant costs and prevent the Company from manufacturing or selling its 
products.

The recently enacted legislation on healthcare reform and proposed amendments thereto could impact the healthcare 
benefits required to be provided by the Company and cause the Company's compensation costs to increase, potentially 
reducing the Company's net income and adversely affecting its cash flows.

The recently enacted healthcare legislation and proposed amendments thereto contain provisions that could materially 
impact the Company's future healthcare costs.  While the legislation's ultimate impact is not yet known, it is possible that these 
changes could significantly increase the Company's compensation costs, which would reduce the Company's net income and 
adversely affect its cash flows.

The market value of the Company's common stock has been and may continue to be volatile.

The market price of the Company's common stock has been subject to volatility and, in the future, the market price of 
the Company's common stock could fluctuate widely in response to numerous factors, many of which are beyond the Company's 
control.  Numerous factors, including many over which the Company has no control, may have a significant impact on the market 

Page 22

price of the Company’s common stock.  In addition to the risk factors discussed in this report, the price and volume volatility of 
the Company’s common stock may be affected by:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

actual or anticipated fluctuations in commodities prices;

actual or anticipated variations in the Company's results;

the Company's earnings releases and financial performance;

changes in financial estimates or buy/sell recommendations by securities analysts;

the Company's access to financial and capital markets to refinance its debt or its ability to repay indebtedness under the 
Company's Senior Secured Credit Facilities and its Senior Unsecured Notes;

the effect of future sales of substantial amounts of the Company's common stock;

performance of the Company's joint venture investments;

the Company’s dividend policy;

•  market conditions in the industry and the general state of the securities markets;

• 

• 

• 

• 

investor perceptions of the Company and the industry and markets in which it operates;

domestic and foreign governmental legislation or regulation;

currency and exchange rate fluctuations; and

domestic and global general economic and market conditions, such as recessions or significant inflation.

Future sales of the Company's common stock or the issuance of other equity may adversely affect the market price of the 
Company's common stock.

The Company is not restricted from issuing additional common stock, including securities that are convertible into or 
exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, common stock, or common stock issued as restricted shares or through the 
exercise of options granted under a Company equity incentive plan.  The issuance of additional shares of the Company's common 
stock or convertible securities, including the Company's outstanding options, or otherwise, will dilute the ownership interest of 
the Company's common stockholders.

Sales of a substantial number of shares of the Company's common stock or other equity-related securities in the public 
market could depress the market price of the Company's common stock and impair the Company's ability to raise capital through 
the sale of additional equity securities.  The Company cannot predict the effect that future sales of the Company's common stock 
or other equity-related securities would have on the market price of the Company's common stock.

The Company's common stock is an equity security and is subordinate to the Company's existing and future indebtedness.

The Company's common stock is an equity interest and does not constitute indebtedness.  As such, shares of common 
stock rank junior to all of the Company's indebtedness and to other non-equity claims on the Company and the Company’s assets 
available to satisfy claims on the Company, including claims in a bankruptcy, liquidation or similar proceeding.  The Company’s 
existing indebtedness restricts, and future indebtedness may restrict, payment of dividends on its common stock.

Unlike indebtedness, where principal and interest customarily are payable on specified due dates, in the case of common 
stock, (i) dividends are payable only when and if declared by the Company's board of directors or a duly authorized committee 
of the board and (ii) as a corporation, the Company is restricted to only making dividend payments and redemption payments out 
of legally available assets.  Further, the common stock places no restrictions on the Company's business or operations or on the 
Company’s ability to incur indebtedness or engage in any transactions, subject only to the voting rights available to stockholders 
generally.

In addition, any of the Company's rights (including the rights of the holders of the Company's common stock) to participate 
in the assets of any of the Company's subsidiaries upon any liquidation or reorganization of any subsidiary will be subject to the 
prior claims of that subsidiary's creditors (except to the extent the Company may itself be a creditor of that subsidiary), including 

Page 23

that subsidiary’s trade creditors and the Company's creditors who have obtained or may obtain guarantees from the subsidiaries.  As 
a result, the Company's common stock is subordinated to the Company and the Company's subsidiaries' obligations and liabilities, 
which currently include borrowings under the Company's Senior Secured Credit Facilities and the Company's Senior Unsecured 
Notes.

The Company's ability to pay any dividends on its common stock may be limited.

The Company has not paid any dividends on its common stock since January 3, 1989.  The Company's current financing 
arrangements permit the Company to pay cash dividends on the Company’s common stock within limitations defined by the terms 
of the Company's existing indebtedness, including the Company's Senior Secured Credit Facilities, Senior Unsecured Notes and 
any indentures or other financing arrangements that the Company enters into in the future.  For example, the agreements governing 
the Company's Senior Secured Credit Facilities restrict the Company's ability to make payments of dividends in cash if certain 
coverage ratios are not met.  Even if such coverage ratios are met in the future, any determination to pay cash dividends on the 
Company's common stock will be at the discretion of the Company’s board of directors and will be based upon the Company's 
financial condition, operating results, capital requirements, plans for expansion, business opportunities, restrictions imposed by 
any of the Company's financing arrangements, provisions of applicable law and any other factors that the Company's board of 
directors determines are relevant at that point in time.

The issuance of shares of preferred stock could adversely affect holders of common stock, which may negatively impact 
an investment in the Company’s common stock.

The Company's board of directors is authorized to cause the Company to issue classes or series of preferred stock without 
any action on the part of the Company's stockholders.  The board of directors also has the power, without stockholder approval, 
to set the terms of any such classes or series of preferred shares that may be issued, including the designation, preferences, limitations 
and relative rights over the common stock with respect to dividends or upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the 
Company's business and other terms.  If the Company issues preferred shares in the future that have a preference over the common 
stock with respect to the payment of dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, or if the Company issues preferred 
shares with voting rights that dilute the voting power of the common stock, the rights of holders of the Company's common stock 
or the market price of the common stock could be adversely affected.  As of the date of this filing, the Company has no outstanding 
shares of preferred stock but the Company has available for issuance 1,000,000 authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock.

ITEM 1B.  UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

 None.

ITEM 2.   PROPERTIES

The Company's corporate headquarters is located at 251 O’Connor Ridge Boulevard, Suite 300, Irving, Texas, 75038, in 
an office facility where the Company leases approximately 53,000 square feet.  The Company also maintains regional offices in 
Cold Spring, Kentucky and Des Moines, Iowa.

As of December 29, 2012, the Company operates over 120 processing and transfer facilities including the processing 
locations listed below.  All of the processing facilities are owned except for ten leased facilities and the Company owns or leases  
57 transfer stations in the U.S., some of which also process yellow grease and trap.  These transfer stations serve as collection 
points for routing raw material to the processing facilities set forth below.  Some locations service a single business segment while 
others  service  more  than  one  business  segment.  The  following  is  a  listing  of  the  Company’s  operating  facilities  by  business 
segment:

Page 24

  
LOCATION
Rendering Business Segment
Bastrop, TX
Bellevue, NE
Berlin, WI
Blue Earth, MN
Blue Island (Chicago), IL
Boise, ID
Butler, KY
Butler, KY
Calhoun, GA
Cincinnati, OH
Cleveland, OH
Clinton, IA
Coldwater, MI
Collinsville, OK
Columbus, IN
Dallas, TX
Denver, CO
Denver, CO
Des Moines, IA
Detroit, MI
East Dublin, GA
E. St. Louis, IL
Ellenwood, GA
Fairfax, MO
Fresno, CA
Grand Island, NE  (1)
Henderson, KY
Holden, LA
Houston, TX
Indianapolis, IN
Jackson, MS
Kansas City, KS
Kansas City, KS
Kansas City, MO
Lexington, NE
Little Rock, AR
Los Angeles, CA
Lynn Center, IL
Mason City, IL
Newark, NJ
Newberry, IN
No. Las Vegas, NV
Omaha, NE
Quincy, FL
Russellville, KY
San Diego, CA  (1)
San Francisco, CA  (1)
Santa Ana, CA  (1)
Sioux City, IA
Smyrna, GA
Starke, FL
Tacoma, WA  (1)
Tampa, FL
Turlock, CA

DESCRIPTION

Rendering/Yellow Grease
Rendering/Yellow Grease
Rendering/Yellow Grease
Rendering/Yellow Grease
Yellow Grease/Trap
Rendering/Yellow Grease
Rendering/Yellow Grease/Trap
Biodiesel
Yellow Grease
Hides
Yellow Grease/Trap
Rendering/Yellow Grease
Rendering/Yellow Grease
Rendering/Yellow Grease
Rendering/Yellow Grease/Trap
Rendering/Yellow Grease
Rendering/Yellow Grease
Edible Meat and Tallow
Rendering/Yellow Grease
Yellow Grease/Trap
Rendering/Yellow Grease/Trap
Rendering/Yellow Grease/Trap
Rendering/Yellow Grease
Protein Blending
Rendering/Yellow Grease
Pet Food
Fertilizer Blending
Yellow Grease/Trap
Rendering/Yellow Grease/Trap
Yellow Grease/Trap
Rendering/Yellow Grease/Trap
Rendering/Yellow Grease/Trap
Protein Blending
Hides
Rendering/Protein Blending
Yellow Grease/Trap
Rendering/Yellow Grease/Trap
Protein Blending
Rendering/Yellow Grease
Rendering/Yellow Grease/Trap
Rendering/Yellow Grease
Yellow Grease/Trap
Protein Blending
Hides
Rendering/Yellow Grease/Trap
Trap
Rendering/Yellow Grease/Trap
Trap
Rendering/Yellow Grease
Trap
Rendering/Yellow Grease/Trap
Rendering/Yellow Grease/Trap
Rendering/Yellow Grease/Trap
Rendering/Yellow Grease

Page 25

Union City, TN
Wahoo, NE
Wichita, KS

Bakery Feed Segment
Albertville, AL (1)
Butler, KY  (1)
Doswell, VA
Henderson, KY  (1)
Honey Brook, PA
Marshville, NC
Memphis, TN  (1)
North Baltimore, OH
Watts, OK  (1)

Rendering/Yellow Grease
Rendering/Yellow Grease
Rendering/Yellow Grease/Trap

Bakery Feed
Bakery Feed
Bakery Feed/Yellow Grease
Bakery Feed
Bakery Feed
Bakery Feed/Yellow Grease
Bakery Feed
Bakery Feed
Bakery Feed/Yellow Grease

(1)      Property is leased.  Rent expense for these leased properties was $1.3 million in the aggregate in fiscal 2012.

Substantially all assets of the Company, including real property, are either pledged or mortgaged as collateral for 

borrowings under the Company's Senior Secured Credit Facilities. 

ITEM 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The Company is a party to several lawsuits, claims and loss contingencies arising in the ordinary course of its business, 
including assertions by certain regulatory and governmental agencies related to permitting requirements and air, wastewater and 
storm water discharges from the Company's processing facilities.

The Company’s workers compensation, auto and general liability policies contain significant deductibles or self-insured 
retentions.  The Company estimates and accrues its expected ultimate claim costs related to accidents occurring during each fiscal 
year and carries this accrual as a reserve until these claims are paid by the Company.

As a result of the matters discussed above, the Company has established loss reserves for insurance, environmental and 
litigation  matters.  At  December 29,  2012  and  December 31,  2011,  the  reserves  for  insurance,  environmental  and  litigation 
contingencies reflected on the balance sheet in accrued expenses and other non-current liabilities were approximately $37.0 million 
and $38.0 million, respectively.  The Company has insurance recovery receivables of approximately $9.3 million and $9.6 million, 
respectively, related to these liabilities, as of December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011.  The Company’s management believes 
these  reserves  for  contingencies  are  reasonable  and  sufficient  based  upon  present  governmental  regulations  and  information 
currently available to management; however, there can be no assurance that final costs related to these matters will not exceed 
current estimates.  The Company believes that the likelihood is remote that any additional liability from these lawsuits and claims 
that may not be covered by insurance would have a material effect on the financial statements.

Lower Passaic River Area.  The Company has been named as a third party defendant in a lawsuit pending in the Superior 
Court of New Jersey, Essex County, styled New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, The Commissioner of the New 
Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Agency and the Administrator of the New Jersey Spill Compensation Fund, as 
Plaintiffs, vs. Occidental Chemical Corporation, Tierra Solutions, Inc., Maxus Energy Corporation, Repsol YPF, S.A., YPF, S.A., 
YPF Holdings, Inc., and CLH Holdings, as Defendants (Docket No. L-009868-05) (the "Tierra/Maxus Litigation").  In the Tierra/
Maxus Litigation, which was filed on December 13, 2005, the plaintiffs seek to recover from the defendants past and future cleanup 
and removal costs, as well as unspecified economic damages, punitive damages, penalties and a variety of other forms of relief, 
purportedly arising from the alleged discharges into the Passaic River of a particular type of dioxin and other unspecified hazardous 
substances.  The damages being sought by the plaintiffs from the defendants are likely to be substantial.  On February 4, 2009, 
two of the defendants, Tierra Solutions, Inc. ("Tierra") and Maxus Energy Corporation ("Maxus"), filed a third party complaint 
against over 300 entities, including the Company, seeking to recover all or a proportionate share of cleanup and removal costs, 
damages or other loss or harm, if any, for which Tierra or Maxus may be held liable in the Tierra/Maxus Litigation.  Tierra and 
Maxus allege that Standard Tallow Company, an entity that the Company acquired in 1996, contributed to the discharge of the 
hazardous substances that are the subject of this case while operating a former plant site located in Newark, New Jersey.  The 
Company is investigating these allegations, has entered into a joint defense agreement with many of the other third-party defendants 
and intends to defend itself vigorously.  All previously scheduled discovery and trial dates in the case have been stayed pending 
settlement discussions amongst the parties.  Additionally, in December 2009, the Company, along with numerous other entities, 
received notice from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that the Company (as successor-in-interest to 

Page 26

 
Standard Tallow Company) is considered a potentially responsible party with respect to alleged contamination in the lower Passaic 
River area which is part of the Diamond Alkali Superfund Site located in Newark, New Jersey.  In the letter, EPA requested that 
the Company join a group of other parties in funding a remedial investigation and feasibility study at the site.  As of the date of 
this report, the Company has not agreed to participate in the funding group.  The Company's ultimate liability for investigatory 
costs, remedial costs and/or natural resource damages in connection with the lower Passaic River area cannot be determined at 
this time; however, as of the date of this report, there is nothing that leads the Company to believe that these matters will have a 
material effect on the Company's financial position or results of operation.

Fresno Facility Permit Issue.  The Company has been named as a defendant and a real party in interest in a lawsuit filed 
on April 9, 2012 in the Superior Court of the State of California, Fresno County, styled Concerned Citizens of West Fresno vs. The 
City of Fresno and Darling International Inc.  In the complaint, which was subsequently amended on January 31, 2013, the plaintiff 
alleges that the City of Fresno has failed to enforce its own zoning ordinances and permitting requirements and engaged in a 
number of discriminatory practices against the citizens of West Fresno.  In addition, the complaint alleges that the Company's 
Fresno facility is operating without a proper use permit and constitutes a continuing private and public nuisance.  In the complaint 
the plaintiff seeks, among other things, injunctive relief.  Rendering operations have been conducted on the site since 1955, and 
the Company believes that it possesses all of the required federal, state and local permits to continue to operate the facility in the 
manner currently conducted and that its operations do not constitute a private or public nuisance.  Accordingly, the Company 
intends to defend itself vigorously in this matter.  Discovery has begun and this matter is currently scheduled for trial in February 
2014. While management cannot predict the ultimate outcome of this matter, management does not believe the outcome will have 
a material effect on the Company's financial condition or results of operations.

The  Company  is  engaged  in  other  legal  proceedings  from  time  to  time. The  proceedings  described  above  and  such 
other proceedings can be complex and take many months, or even years, to reach resolution, with the final outcome being dependent 
upon a number of variables, some of which are not within the control of the Company. Therefore, although the Company will 
vigorously defend itself in each of the described actions, the ultimate resolution and potential financial impact on the Company 
is uncertain.

ITEM 4.  MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

Page 27

 
PART II

ITEM 5.  MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND 
ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

The Company’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") under the symbol "DAR".  The 
following table sets forth, for the quarters indicated, the high and low closing sales prices per share for the Company's common 
stock as reported on the NYSE.

Fiscal Quarter

2012:

First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter

 2011:

First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter

Market Price

High

Low

$
$
$
$

$
$
$
$

17.90
17.63
18.43
18.50

15.89
19.15
18.51
14.75

$
$
$
$

$
$
$
$

13.27
13.94
16.05
15.22

12.09
14.76
12.59
11.69

On February 20, 2013, the closing sales price of the Company's common stock on the NYSE was $16.87.  The Company 
has been notified by its stock transfer agent that as of February 20, 2013, there were 122 holders of record of the common stock.

The Company has not paid any dividends on its common stock since January 3, 1989 and does not expect to pay cash 
dividends in 2013.  The agreements underlying the Company's Senior Secured  Credit Facilities and Senior Unsecured Notes 
permit  the  Company  to  pay  cash  dividends  on  its  common  stock  within  limitations  defined  in  such  agreements.  Any  future 
determination to pay cash dividends on the Company’s common stock will be at the discretion of the Company’s board of directors 
and will be based upon the Company’s financial condition, operating results, capital requirements, plans for expansion, restrictions 
imposed by any financing arrangements, and any other factors that the board of directors determines are relevant.

Set forth below is a line graph comparing the change in the cumulative total stockholder return on the Company's common 
stock with the cumulative total return of the Russell 2000 Index, the Dow Jones US Waste and Disposal Service Index, and the 
CS-Agribusiness Index for the period from December 29, 2007 to December 29, 2012, assuming the investment of $100 on 
December 29, 2007 and the reinvestment of dividends.

The stock price performance shown on the following graph only reflects the change in the Company's stock price relative 

to the noted indices and is not necessarily indicative of future price performance.

Page 28

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS

The  following  table  sets  forth  certain  information  as  of  December 29,  2012,  with  respect  to  the  Company's  equity 
compensation plans (including individual compensation arrangements) under which the Company's equity securities are authorized 
for  issuance,  aggregated  by  i)  all  compensation  plans  previously  approved  by  the  Company's  security  holders,  and  ii)  all 
compensation plans not previously approved by the Company's security holders.  The table includes:

• 

• 

• 

the number of securities to be issued upon the exercise of outstanding options and granted non-vested stock;

the weighted-average exercise price of the outstanding options and granted non-vested stock; and

the number of securities that remain available for future issuance under the plans.

Page 29

 
 
(a)
Number of securities
to be issued upon
exercise of
outstanding
options, warrants
and rights

(b)
Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding
options, warrants
and rights

(c)
Number of securities
remaining available
for future issuance
under equity
compensation plans
(excluding securities
reflected in column (a))

899,284

(1)

$7.93

11,016,544

             –
899,284

        –
$7.93

             –
11,016,544

Plan Category
Equity compensation plans

approved by security holders

Equity compensation plans not

approved by security holders

Total

(1)  Includes shares underlying options that have been issued and granted non-vested stock pursuant to the Company’s 
2012 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2012 Plan”) as approved by the Company’s stockholders.  See Note 13 of 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for information regarding the material features of the 2012 Plan.

Page 30

 
 
 
 
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

SELECTED HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

The  following  table  presents  selected  consolidated  historical  financial  data  for  the  periods  indicated.  The  selected 
historical consolidated financial data set forth below should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis 
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company for the three years 
ended December 29, 2012, December 31, 2011, and January 1, 2011, and the related notes thereto.

Fiscal 2012
Fifty-two

Fiscal 2011
Fifty-two

Fiscal 2010
Fifty-two
Weeks Ended Weeks Ended Weeks Ended Weeks Ended Weeks Ended
January 1,
December 29, December 31,
2011 (k)
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)

Fiscal 2009
Fifty-two

Fiscal 2008
Fifty-three

January 3,
2009 (i)

January 2,
2010 (j)

2012 (l)

2011

Statement of Operations Data:

Net sales
Cost of sales and operating expenses (a)
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Depreciation and amortization

   Acquisition costs

Goodwill impairment (b)
Operating income
Interest expense (c)
Other (income)/expense, net (a), (d), (e), (f)
Equity in net loss of unconsolidated subsidiary
Income from continuing operations before income

taxes

Income tax expense
Net Income
Basic earnings per common share
Diluted earnings per common share
Weighted average shares outstanding
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

Other Financial Data:

Adjusted EBITDA  (a), (g)
Depreciation
Amortization
Capital expenditures (h)

Balance Sheet Data:
Working capital
Total assets
Current portion of long-term debt
Total long-term debt less current portion
Stockholders’ equity

$

$
$
$

$

1,701,429 $
1,232,604
151,713
85,371
—
—
231,741
24,054
(1,760)
2,662

206,785
76,015
130,770 $
1.11 $
1.11 $

117,592
118,089

317,112 $
57,305
28,066
115,413

1,797,249 $
1,268,221
136,135
78,909
—
—
313,984
37,163
2,955
1,572

272,294
102,876
169,418 $
1.47 $
1.47 $

114,924
115,525

392,893 $
50,891
28,018
60,153

724,909 $
531,699
68,042
31,908
10,798
—
82,462
8,737
3,382
—

70,343
26,100
44,243 $
0.53 $
0.53 $

82,854
83,243

114,370 $
26,328
5,580
24,720

$

158,578 $

92,423 $

30,756 $

1,552,416
82
250,142
1,062,436

1,417,030
10
280,020
920,375

1,382,258
3,009
707,030
464,296

597,806 $
439,817
61,062
25,226
468
—
71,233
3,105
1,249
—

66,879
25,089
41,790 $
0.51 $
0.51 $

82,142
82,475

96,459 $
21,398
3,828
23,638

75,100 $
426,171
5,009
27,539
284,877

807,492
614,567
59,761
24,433
—
15,914
92,817
3,018
(117)
—

89,916
35,354
54,562
0.67
0.66
81,685
82,246

133,164
19,266
5,167
31,006

67,446
394,375
5,000
32,500
236,578

(a)  Fiscal 2011 through fiscal 2008 includes certain prior year immaterial amounts that have been reclassified to conform to 

fiscal 2012 presentation.

(b)  Includes a goodwill impairment charge of $15.9 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008.

(c)  Included in interest expense for fiscal 2010 is approximately $3.1 million for bank financing fees paid as a result of the 
acquisition of Griffin and in fiscal 2011 includes the write-off of approximately $4.9 million in deferred loan costs from 
payments on the term loan portion of the Company's Secured Credit Facilities.  Additionally, fiscal 2012 includes the 
write-off of approximately $0.7 million in deferred loan costs as a result of the final payoff on the term loan portion of 
the Company's Secured Credit Facilities.

(d)  Included in other (income)/expense in fiscal 2010 is a write-off of deferred loan costs of approximately $0.9 million for 

the early termination of a previous senior credit agreement. 

Page 31

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(e)  Included in other (income)/expense in fiscal 2010 is a write-off of property for fire and casualty losses of approximately 

$1.0 million for losses incurred in plant fires at two plant locations.

(f)  Included in other (income)/expense in fiscal 2012 are gain contingencies from insurance proceeds from fiscal 2012 and 

fiscal 2010 fire and casualty losses of approximately $4.7 million.

(g)  Adjusted EBITDA is presented here not as an alternative to net income, but rather as a measure of the Company’s operating 
performance and is not intended to be a presentation in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles 
("GAAP").  Since EBITDA is not calculated identically by all companies, the presentation in this report may not be 
comparable to those disclosed by other companies. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated below and represents, for any relevant 
period, net income/(loss) plus depreciation and amortization, goodwill and long-lived asset impairment, interest expense,  
(income)/loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, income tax provision, other income/(expense) and equity in net 
loss of unconsolidated subsidiary.  The Company believes adjusted EBITDA is a useful measure for investors because 
it is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies in the 
Company's industry.  In addition, management believes that adjusted EBITDA is useful in evaluating the Company's 
operating performance compared to that of other companies in its industry because the calculation of adjusted EBITDA 
generally eliminates the effects of financing, income taxes and certain non-cash and other items that may vary for different 
companies for reasons unrelated to overall operating performance.  As a result, the Company’s management uses adjusted 
EBITDA as a measure to evaluate performance and for other discretionary purposes.  However, adjusted EBITDA is not 
a  recognized  measurement  under    GAAP,  should  not  be  considered  as  an  alternative  to  net  income  as  a  measure  of 
operating results or to cash flow as a measure of liquidity, and is not intended to be a presentation in accordance with 
GAAP.  Also, since adjusted EBITDA is not calculated identically by all companies, the presentation in this report may 
not be comparable to those disclosed by other companies. In addition to the foregoing, management also uses or will use 
adjusted EBITDA to measure compliance with certain financial covenants under the Company’s Senior Secured Credit 
Facilities  and  Senior  Unsecured  Notes.  The  amounts  shown  below  for  adjusted  EBITDA  differ  from  the  amounts 
calculated under similarly titled definitions in the Company’s Senior Secured Credit Facilities and Senior Unsecured 
Notes, as those definitions permit further adjustments to reflect certain other non-cash charges.

Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA

(dollars in thousands)

Net income

Depreciation and amortization
Goodwill impairment
Interest expense
Income tax expense
Other, net
Equity in net loss of

unconsolidated subsidiary

Adjusted EBITDA

December 29,
2012

December 31,
2011

January 1,
2011

January 2,
2010

January 3,
2009

$

$

130,770 $
85,371
—
24,054
76,015
(1,760)

169,418 $
78,909
—
37,163
102,876
2,955

44,243 $
31,908
—
8,737
26,100
3,382

2,662
317,112 $

1,572
392,893 $

—

114,370 $

41,790 $
25,226
—
3,105
25,089
1,249

—
96,459 $

54,562
24,433
15,914
3,018
35,354
(117)

—
133,164

(h)  Excludes the capital assets acquired as part of the RVO BioPur, LLC acquisition in fiscal 2012 of approximately $0.6 
million.  Also, excludes the capital assets acquired as part of the Merger of Griffin and from Nebraska By-Products, Inc. 
of approximately $243.7 million in fiscal 2010 and excludes the capital assets acquired in fiscal 2008 from API Recycling’s 
used cooking oil collection business of $3.4 million.  Finally, also excludes the capital assets acquired in fiscal 2009 from 
Boca Industries, Inc. and Sanimax USA, Inc. of approximately $8.0 million.

(i)  Subsequent to the date of acquisition, fiscal 2008 includes 19 weeks of contribution from the API Recycling used cooking 

oil collection business.

(j)  Subsequent to the date of acquisition, fiscal 2009 includes 45 weeks of contribution from the acquired assets of Boca 
Industries, Inc. and does not include any contribution from assets acquired from Sanimax USA, Inc. as the acquisition 
occurred on December 31, 2009.

(k)  Subsequent to the date of acquisition, fiscal 2010 includes 2 weeks of contribution from the Griffin assets and 31 weeks 

of contribution from the assets of Nebraska By-Products, Inc.

(l)  Subsequent to the date of acquisition, fiscal 2012 includes 29 weeks of contribution from the RVO BioPur, LLC assets.

Page 32

             
 
 
ITEM  7.  MANAGEMENT'S  DISCUSSION  AND  ANALYSIS  OF  FINANCIAL  CONDITION  AND  RESULTS  OF 

OPERATIONS

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contains forward-
looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.  The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated 
in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including those set forth below under the heading "Forward 
Looking Statements" and elsewhere in this report, and in Item 1A of this report under the heading "Risk Factors."

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the historical consolidated financial statements and notes 
thereto included in Item 8.  During fiscal 2010, the Company was organized into two operating business segments, Rendering and 
Restaurant Services.  Effective January 2, 2011, as a result of the acquisition of Griffin (as further described below), the Company's 
business operations were reorganized into two new segments, Rendering and Bakery, in order to better align its business with the 
underlying markets and customers that the Company serves.  All historical periods have been restated for the changes to the 
segment  reporting  structure.    Comparative  segment  revenues  and  related  financial  information  are  discussed  herein  and  are 
presented in Note 20 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Overview

The Company is a leading provider of rendering, used cooking oil and bakery residual recycling and recovery solutions 
to the nation's food industry.  The Company collects and recycles animal by-products, bakery residual and used cooking oil from 
poultry and meat processors,  commercial bakeries, grocery stores, butcher shops, and food service establishments and provides 
grease trap cleaning services to many of the same establishments.  On December 17, 2010, Darling completed its acquisition of 
Griffin pursuant to the Merger Agreement, by and among Darling, Griffin and Robert A. Griffin, as the Griffin shareholders' 
representative.  Griffin survived the Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Darling.  The Company operates over 120 processing 
and transfer facilities located throughout the United States to process raw materials into finished products such as protein (primarily 
meat and bone meal, ("MBM") and poultry meal ("PM")), hides, fats (primarily bleachable fancy tallow ("BFT"), poultry grease 
("PG") and yellow grease ("YG")), and bakery by-product ("BBP") as well as a range of branded and value-added products.  The 
Company sells these products domestically and internationally, primarily to producers of animal feed, pet food, fertilizer, bio-
fuels and other consumer and industrial ingredients, including oleo-chemicals, soaps and leather goods for use as ingredients in 
their  products  or  for  further  processing.  All  of  the  Company's  finished  products  are  commodities  and  are  priced  relative  to 
competing commodities, primarily inedible corn, soybean oil, inedible corn oil and soybean meal.  Finished product prices will 
track as to nutritional and industry value to the ultimate customer’s use of the product.  The Company's fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2011 
business and operations include 52 weeks of contribution from the assets acquired in the Griffin Transaction as compared to 2 
weeks of contribution from these assets in fiscal 2010.  For additional information on the Company's business, see Item 1, "Business," 
and for additional information on the Company's segments, see Note 20 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Fiscal 2012 was once again a strong year for the Company.  Earnings performance was modestly weaker than fiscal 2011, 
but the Company still achieved the second best year in its 130 year history.  Lower finished product prices for the Company's 
industry were the primary driver.  Historically finished product markets continued on the high end of the range and the Company 
saw the global feed grains and oilseed markets touch record highs; however, the Company's finished products became discounted 
versus their traditional and historical relationships.  Aiding these discounts were increased slaughter weights, additional volumes 
of inedible corn oil from the ethanol industry, a continued slowness of MBM exports to Indonesia and the reluctance of Europe 
to allow used cooking oil imports in a meaningful manner.  Overall, raw material volumes for fat and bone for fiscal 2012 was 
about the same as fiscal 2011, and the Company's raw material volumes from restaurants and bakeries were down.  The Company's 
restaurant service benefited as the U.S. economy improved and eating out normalized, however the used cooking oil margins were 
challenged due to competition for raw material and other competing fats.  Energy costs for natural gas and diesel fuel were favorable 
in fiscal 2012 as compared to fiscal 2011.  Overall operating costs were effectively managed and a strong capital improvement 
program was deployed.

The bakery business segment made a solid contribution during fiscal 2012.  Input volumes were sluggish during the first 
half of the year, but returned to historical and anticipated levels by June.  Cookie Meal® prices improved and tracked with the 
rising price of corn, which ultimately drove bakery segment earnings.

Operating income of $231.7 million decreased by $82.3 million in fiscal 2012 compared to fiscal 2011.  The continuing 
challenges faced by the Company as discussed below, indicate there can be no assurance that operating results achieved by the 
Company in fiscal 2012 are indicative of future operating performance of the Company.

Page 33

Summary of Critical Issues Faced by the Company during Fiscal 2012

•  Lower finished product prices for California MBM, BFT, PG and YG as compared to fiscal 2011 is a sign of decreased 
demand due to a slowdown in the domestic and international markets.  These lower prices were partially offset by an 
overall increase in average MBM (Illinois), PM (both feed grade and pet food) and corn prices which are used to price 
BBP.  Overall, finished product prices were unfavorable to the Company's sales revenue, but this unfavorable result was 
partially offset by the reduction in raw material cost, due to the Company's formula pricing arrangements with raw material 
suppliers, which index raw material cost to the prices of finished product derived from the raw material.  The financial 
impact of finished goods prices on sales revenue and raw material cost is summarized below in Results of Operations.  
Comparative sales price information from the Jacobsen Index, an established trading exchange publisher (the "Jacobsen") 
used by management to monitor performance, is provided below in Summary of Key Indicators.

•  The Company collected lower raw material volumes in fiscal 2012 as compared to fiscal 2011 due to overall weaker 
slaughter and processor rates as a result of economic conditions in the animal processing industry.  If the reduction in 
slaughter and processor rates continues or accelerates, there could be a negative impact on the Company's ability to obtain 
raw materials for the Company's operations.

•  Energy prices for natural gas and diesel fuel declined during fiscal 2012 as compared to fiscal 2011.  The financial impact 

of energy costs is summarized below in Results of Operations.

Summary of Critical Issues and Known Trends Faced by the Company in Fiscal 2013 and Thereafter

Critical Issues and Challenges

•  The impact of the 2012 summer drought in the Midwest and other parts of the United States resulted in a significant 
decline in 2012 crop production.   Prices of grains and grain products during fiscal 2012 increased to near historical highs. 
While price increases of these grains and ingredients may be favorable for the selling price of the Company's finished 
products in the short term, the severity of these price increases could be detrimental to the future production economics 
of meat and poultry.   A decrease in production by the meat and poultry processors as a result of these economic conditions 
could have a negative impact on the availability, quantity and quality of raw materials available to the Company in the 
future.

•  During the second quarter of fiscal 2012, Indonesia closed its markets to MBM derived from U.S. beef in response to a 
new, single case of BSE, and those markets remain closed as of the filing date of this Report.  If the Indonesia market 
continues to remain closed, there could be a continuing impact on the Company's West Coast MBM market which could 
have a negative impact on the Company's earnings in future periods. 

• 

Finished product prices for MBM in California and BFT, PG and YG commodities have decreased during fiscal 2012 as 
compared to the same period of fiscal 2011.  No assurance can be given that this decrease in commodity prices for various 
fats and certain regional proteins will not continue in the future, as commodity prices are volatile by their nature.  A 
further decrease in commodity prices could have a significant impact on the Company’s earnings for fiscal 2013 and into 
future periods.

•  The Company collected lower raw material volumes in fiscal 2012 as compared to fiscal 2011 due to overall weaker 
slaughter and processor rates as a result of economic conditions in the animal processing industry.  If this reduction 
continues  or  accelerates,  there  could  be  a  negative  impact  on  the  Company's  ability  to  obtain  raw  materials  for  the 
Company's operations in the future. 

•  The Company consumes significant volumes of natural gas to operate boilers in its plants, which generate steam to heat 
raw material.  Natural gas represents a significant component of factory cost included in cost of sales.  The Company 
also  consumes  significant  volumes  of  diesel  fuel  to  operate  its  fleet  of  tractors  and  trucks  used  to  collect  raw 
material.  Diesel fuel represents a significant component of collection costs included in cost of sales.  Lower natural gas 
and diesel fuel prices were realized during fiscal 2012 as compared to fiscal 2011.  These prices can be volatile and there 
can be no assurance that these prices will not increase in the near future, thereby representing an ongoing challenge to 
the Company’s operating results for future periods.  A material increase in energy prices for natural gas and/or diesel fuel 
over a sustained period of time could materially adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition and results 
of operations.

Page 34

Worldwide Government Energy and Trade Policies

•  As previously noted, prices for the Company’s finished products may be impacted by worldwide government policies 
relating to renewable fuels and greenhouse gas emissions, and programs such as RFS2 and tax credits for bio-fuels both 
in the U.S. and abroad may positively impact the demand for the Company’s finished products.  See the risk factor entitled 
"The Company’s business may be affected by energy and trade policies of U.S. and foreign governments," on page 14, 
for more information regarding RFS2 and how changes to these worldwide government policies could have a negative 
impact on the Company’s business and results of operations.

•  The Company’s exports are subject to the imposition of tariffs, quotas, trade barriers and other trade protection measures 
imposed by foreign countries regarding the import of the Company’s MBM, BFT and YG. General economic and political 
conditions as well as the closing of borders by foreign countries to the import of the Company’s products due to animal 
disease or other perceived health or safety issues impact the Company. As a result trade policies of both U.S and foreign 
countries could have a negative impact on the Company’s business and results of operations.

Other Food Safety and Regulatory Issues

•  Effective August 1997, the FDA promulgated the BSE Feed Rule prohibiting the use of mammalian proteins, with some 
exceptions, in feeds for cattle, sheep and other ruminant animals. The intent of this rule is to prevent the spread of BSE, 
commonly referred to as "mad cow disease."  As previously noted, in October 2009 the FDA began enforcing the Enhanced 
BSE Rule and the Company made capital expenditures and implemented new processes and procedures to be compliant 
with the Enhanced BSE Rule at all of the Company's operations.

Even though the export markets for U.S. beef rebounded to exceed pre-BSE levels and set records for volume in 2011 
and value in 2012, most export markets remain closed to MBM derived from U.S. beef.  Continued concern about BSE 
in the United States may result in additional regulatory and market related challenges that may affect the Company's 
operations or increase the Company's operating costs.

•  With respect to human food, pet food and animal feed safety, the FDAAA was signed into law on September 27, 2007 
as a result of Congressional concern for pet and livestock food safety, following the discovery in March 2007 of pet and 
livestock  food  that  contained  adulterated  imported  ingredients.   As  previously  noted,  the  FDAAA  establishes  the 
Reportable  Food  Registry.   The  impact  of  the  FDAAA  and  implementation  of  the  Reportable  Food  Registry  on  the 
Company, if any, will not be clear until the FDA finalizes its RFR Draft Guidance and the Draft CPG, neither of which 
were finalized as of the date of this report.  The Company believes that it has adequate procedures in place to assure that 
its finished products are safe to use in animal feed and pet food and the Company does not currently anticipate that the 
FDAAA will have a significant impact on the Company’s operations or financial performance.  Any pathogen, such as 
salmonella, that is correctly or incorrectly associated with the Company’s finished products could have a negative impact 
on the demands for the Company’s finished products.

In addition, on January 4, 2011 the FSMA was enacted into law.  As enacted, the FSMA gave the FDA new authorities, 
which became effective immediately. Included among these is mandatory recall authority for adulterated foods that are 
likely to cause serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals, if the responsible party fails to cease 
distribution and recall such adulterated foods voluntarily.  As previously noted, the Company has followed the FSMA 
throughout its legislative history and implemented hazard prevention controls and other procedures that the Company 
believes will be needed to comply with the FSMA.  Such rule-making could, among other things, require the Company 
to amend certain of the Company’s other operational policies and procedures.  While unforeseen issues and requirements 
may arise as the FDA promulgates the new regulations provided for by the FSMA, the Company does not anticipate that 
the costs of compliance with the FSMA will materially impact the Company’s business or operations.

See the risk factor entitled "The Company's business may be affected by the impact of BSE and other food safety issues," 
beginning on page 15, for more information about BSE, including the Enhanced BSE Rule, and other food safety issues 
and their potential effects on the Company, including the potential effects of additional government regulations, finished 
product export restrictions by foreign governments, market price fluctuations for finished goods, reduced demand for 
beef and beef products by consumers and increases in operating costs resulting from BSE-related concerns.

•  The emergence of diseases such as Swine Flu and highly pathogenic strains of avian influenza, including Bird Flu, that 
are in or associated with animals and have the potential to also threaten humans has created concern that such diseases 
could spread and cause a global pandemic.  The H5N1 strain has not been reported in North America.  Outbreaks of the 
H7N3 strain, however, were reported on chicken farms in Mexico during 2012, in July and again in December.  A new 

Page 35

outbreak of the H7N3 virus on seven commercial chicken farms in Mexico was confirmed February 16, 2013, by Mexican 
animal health authorities.  As of the date of this report, though, neither Bird Flu nor Swine Flu has been linked to a global 
disease pandemic among humans.  Even though such a pandemic has not occurred, governments may be pressured to 
address these concerns and prohibit imports of animals, meat and animal by-products from countries or regions where 
the disease is detected. The occurrence of Swine Flu, Bird Flu or any other disease in the United States that is correctly 
or incorrectly linked to animals and has a negative impact on meat or poultry consumption or animal production could 
have a material negative impact on the volume of raw materials available to the Company or the demand for the Company's 
finished products

These challenges indicate there can be no assurance that fiscal 2012 operating results are indicative of future operating 

performance of the Company.

Results of Operations

Fifty-two Week Fiscal Year Ended December 29, 2012 (“Fiscal 2012”) Compared to Fifty-two Week Fiscal Year Ended December 
31, 2011 (“Fiscal 2011”)

Summary of Key Factors Impacting Fiscal 2012 Results:

Principal factors that contributed to a $82.3 million decrease in operating income, which are discussed in greater detail 

in the following section, were: 

•  Decrease in finished product prices, net of reduced raw material cost,
•  Decrease in raw material volumes,
• 
•  A prior year purchase contingency gain not re-occuring in the current year.

Increases in payroll and related benefit costs, and

These decreases were partially offset by:

•  Decrease in energy costs, primarily natural gas and diesel fuel, and
• 

Increase in yield.

Summary of Key Indicators of Fiscal 2012 Performance:

Principal indicators that management routinely monitors and compares to previous periods as an indicator of problems 

or improvements in operating results include:

•  Finished product commodity prices, 
•  Raw material volume,
•  Production volume and related yield of finished product,
•  Energy prices for natural gas quoted on the NYMEX index and diesel fuel,
•  Collection fees and collection operating expenses, and
•  Factory operating expenses.

These indicators and their importance are discussed below in greater detail.

Finished Product Commodity Prices.  Prices for finished product commodities that the Company produces are reported 
each business day on the Jacobsen, an established trading exchange price publisher.  The Jacobsen reports industry sales from the 
prior day's activity by product.  The Jacobsen includes reported prices for MBM, PM (both feed grade and pet food), BFT, PG 
and YG, which are end products of the Company's Rendering Segment. During the first quarter of Fiscal 2012, the Jacobsen 
stopped reporting BBP, which is the end product of the Company's Bakery Segment.  As a result, the Company is reporting prices 
for corn, which is a substitute commodity for BBP. The Company regularly monitors Jacobsen reports on MBM, PM, BFT, PG, 
YG and corn because they provide a daily indication of the Company's revenue performance against business plan benchmarks.  
Although the Jacobsen provides one useful metric of performance, the Company's finished products are commodities that compete 
with other commodities such as corn, soybean oil, inedible corn oil, palm oils, soybean meal and heating oil on nutritional and 
functional values and therefore actual pricing for the Company's finished products, as well as competing products, can be quite 
volatile.  In addition, the Jacobsen does not provide forward or future period pricing.  The Jacobsen prices quoted below are for 
delivery of the finished product at a specified location.  Although the Company's prices generally move in concert with reported 
Jacobsen prices, the Company's actual sales prices for its finished products may vary significantly from the Jacobsen because of 

Page 36

delivery timing differences and because the Company's finished products are delivered to multiple locations in different geographic 
regions which utilize different price indexes.  In addition, certain of the Company's premium branded finished products may also 
sell at prices that may be higher than the closest related product quoted by Jacobsen.  During Fiscal 2012, the Company's actual 
sales prices by product trended with the reported Jacobsen prices.  Average Jacobsen prices (at the specified delivery point) for 
Fiscal 2012, compared to average Jacobsen prices for Fiscal 2011 follow:

Rendering Segment:
MBM (Illinois)
MBM (California)
Feed Grade PM (Carolina)
Pet Food PM (Southeast)
BFT (Chicago)
PG (Southeast)
YG (Illinois)
Bakery Segment:
Corn (Illinois)

Avg. Price
Fiscal 2012

Avg. Price
Fiscal 2011

Increase/
(Decrease)

$405.58/ton
$356.02/ton
$483.78/ton
$713.76/ton
$  43.83/cwt
$  42.71/cwt
$  37.31/cwt

$354.84/ton
$360.32/ton
$400.21/ton
$637.30/ton
$  49.58/cwt
$  45.94/cwt
$  43.19/cwt

$   50.74/ton
$  (4.30/ton)
$   83.57/ton
$   76.46/ton
$  (5.75/cwt)
$  (3.23/cwt)
$  (5.88/cwt)

%
Increase/
(Decrease)

14.3%
(1.2)%
20.9%
12.0%
(11.6)%
(7.0)%
(13.6)%

$7.21/bushel

$6.89/bushel

$ 0.32/bushel

4.6%

The overall decrease in average California MBM, BFT, PG, and YG prices of the finished products the Company sells 
had an unfavorable impact on revenue that was partially offset by an overall increase in average Illinois MBM, average PM (both 
feed grade and pet food) and corn prices and the reduction to the Company's raw material cost resulting from formula pricing 
arrangements, which compute raw material cost based upon the price of finished product.

During the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2012, the Company experienced a significant decline in most of its average commodity 
prices as compared to the third quarter of Fiscal 2012.  The following table shows the average Jacobsen for the fourth quarter of 
Fiscal 2012 as compared to the average Jacobsen for the third quarter of Fiscal 2012.

Rendering Segment:
MBM (Illinois)
MBM (California)
Feed Grade PM (Carolina)
Pet Food PM (Southeast)
BFT (Chicago)
PG (Southeast)
YG (Illinois)
Bakery Segment:
Corn (Illinois)

Avg. Price
4th Quarter 
2012

Avg. Price
3rd Quarter 
2012

Increase/
(Decrease)

%
Increase/
(Decrease)

$417.76/ton
$372.16/ton
$510.87/ton
$777.99/ton
$  36.78/cwt
$  37.52/cwt
$  32.87/cwt

$461.10/ton
$369.04/ton
$557.35/ton
$713.75/ton
$  45.18/cwt
$  43.76/cwt
$  37.35/cwt

$   (43.34/ton)
$        3.12/ton
$   (46.48/ton)
$      64.24/ton
$     (8.40/cwt)
$     (6.24/cwt)
$     (4.48/cwt)

(9.4)%
0.8%
(8.3)%
9.0%
(18.6)%
(14.3)%
(12.0)%

$7.45/bushel

$8.19/bushel

$(0.74/bushel)

(9.0)%

Raw Material Volume.  Raw material volume represents the quantity (pounds) of raw material collected from Rendering 
Segment suppliers, such as beef, poultry and pork processors, grocery stores, butcher shops and food service establishments, or 
in the case of the Bakery Segment, commercial bakeries.  Raw material volumes from the Company's Rendering Segment suppliers 
provide an indication of the future production of MBM, PM (feed grade and pet food), BFT, PG and YG finished products while 
raw material volumes from the Company's Bakery Segment suppliers provide an indication of the future production of BBP finished 
products.

Production Volume and Related Yield of Finished Product.  Finished product production volumes are the end result of 
the Company's production processes, and directly impact goods available for sale, and thus, become an important component of 
sales revenue.  In addition, physical inventory turnover is impacted by both the availability of credit to the Company's customers 
and suppliers and reduced market demand which can lower finished product inventory values.  Yield on production is a ratio of 

Page 37

 
 
 
production volume (pounds), divided by raw material volume (pounds) and provides an indication of effectiveness of the Company's 
production process.  Factors impacting yield on production include the quality of raw material and warm weather during summer 
months, which rapidly degrades raw material.  The quantities of finished products produced varies depending on the mix of raw 
materials used in production.  For example, raw material from cattle yields more fat and protein than raw material from pork or 
poultry.  Accordingly, the mix of finished products produced by the Company can vary from quarter to quarter depending on the 
type of raw material being received by the Company.  The Company cannot increase the production of protein or fat based on 
demand since the type of raw material available will dictate the yield of each finished product.

Energy Prices for Natural Gas Quoted on the NYMEX Index and Diesel Fuel.  Natural gas and heating oil commodity 
prices are quoted each day on the NYMEX exchange for future months of delivery of natural gas and delivery of diesel fuel.  The 
prices are important to the Company because natural gas and diesel fuel are major components of factory operating and collection 
costs and natural gas and diesel fuel prices are an indicator of achievement of the Company's business plan. 

Collection Fees and Collection Operating Expense.  The Company charges collection fees which are included in net 
sales.  Each month the Company monitors both the collection fee charged to suppliers, which is included in net sales, and collection 
expense, which is included in cost of sales.  The importance of monitoring collection fees and collection expense is that they 
provide an indication of achievement of the Company's business plan.  Furthermore, management monitors collection fees and 
collection expense so that the Company can consider implementing measures to mitigate against unforeseen increases in these 
expenses.

Factory Operating Expenses.  The Company incurs factory operating expenses which are included in cost of sales.  Each 
month  the  Company  monitors  factory  operating  expense.   The  importance  of  monitoring  factory  operating  expense  is  that  it 
provides an indication of achievement of the Company's business plan.  Furthermore, when unforeseen expense increases occur, 
the Company can consider implementing measures to mitigate such increases.

Net Sales.  The Company collects and processes animal by-products (fat, bones and offal), including hides, bakery residual 
and used cooking oil to principally produce finished products of MBM, PM (feed grade and pet food), BFT, PG, YG, BBP and 
hides as well as a range of branded and value-added products.  Sales are significantly affected by finished goods prices, quality 
and mix of raw material, and volume of raw material.  Net sales include the sales of produced finished goods, collection fees, fees 
for grease trap services, and finished goods purchased for resale.

During Fiscal 2012, net sales were $1,701.4 million as compared to $1,797.2 million during Fiscal 2011.  The Rendering 
Segments' operations processes animal by-products and used cooking oil into fats (primarily BFT, PG and YG), protein (primarily 
MBM and PM (feed grade and pet food)) and hides.  Fat was approximately $809.7 million and $950.8 million of net sales for 
the year ended December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, and protein was approximately $496.2 million and $447.7 
million of net sales for the year ended December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.  The decrease in Rendering 
Segment sales of $95.2 million and the decrease in Bakery Segment sales of $0.6 million accounted for the $95.8 million decrease 
in sales.  The decrease in net sales was primarily due to the following (in millions of dollars):

Increase/(decrease) in finished product prices
Decrease in raw material volume
Decrease in other sales

Rendering

Bakery

Corporate

Total

$

$

(69.9) $
(27.2)
1.9
(95.2) $

9.7 $

(14.6)
4.3
(0.6) $

— $
—
—
— $

(60.2)
(41.8)
6.2
(95.8)

Further detail regarding the $95.2 million decrease in sales in the Rendering Segment and the $0.6 million decrease in sales in the 
Bakery Segment is as follows:

Rendering

Finished Product Prices:  Lower prices in the overall commodity market for soybean oil, inedible corn oil and palm oil which 
are competing fats to BFT and PG, negatively impacted the Company's finished product prices.  In addition, a decrease in 
global demand for use of YG in bio-fuels negatively impacted the Company's finished product prices.  The $69.9 million 
decrease in Rendering sales resulting from decreases in finished product prices is due to a market-wide decrease in California 
MBM, BFT, PG and YG prices, but was slightly offset by an increase in MBM (Illinois) and PM (both feed grade and pet 
food) prices for Fiscal 2012 as compared to Fiscal 2011.   The market decreases were due to changes in supply/demand in 
both the domestic and export markets for commodity fats and protein meals, including MBM, BFT, PG and YG.

Page 38

 
 
Raw Material Volume:  Rendering volumes decreased Rendering sales by approximately $27.2 million, which is a result of 
weaker slaughter and processor rates as a result of economic conditions in the animal processing industry in Fiscal 2012 as 
compared to Fiscal 2011.

Other Sales:  The $1.9 million increase in other Rendering Segment sales was primarily due to increased purchases of finished 
product for resale and an increase in yield that more than offset a decrease in collection fees and hide sales.

Bakery

Finished Product Prices:  Higher prices in the commodity market for corn positively impacted the Company's BBP finished 
product prices by approximately $9.7 million.

Raw Material Volume:  Lower Bakery volumes decreased Bakery sales by approximately $14.6 million, which is due to 
production cutbacks by the Company's commercial bakery suppliers.

Other Sales: The $4.3 million increase in other Bakery Segment sales is due to an increase in yields.  

Cost of Sales and Operating Expenses.   Cost of sales and operating expenses include the cost of raw material, the cost 
of product purchased for resale and the cost to collect raw material, which includes diesel fuel and processing costs including 
natural gas. The Company utilizes both fixed and formula pricing methods for the purchase of raw materials. Fixed prices are 
adjusted where possible for changes in competition.  Significant changes in finished goods market conditions impact finished 
product inventory values, while raw materials purchased under formula prices are correlated with specific finished goods prices.  
Energy costs, particularly diesel fuel and natural gas, are significant components of the Company's cost structure.  The Company 
has the ability to burn alternative fuels at a majority of its plants to help manage the Company's price exposure to volatile energy 
markets.

During Fiscal 2012, cost of sales and operating expenses were $1,232.6 million as compared to $1,268.2 million during 
Fiscal 2011.  The decrease in Rendering Segment cost of sales and operating expenses of $38.4 million and the increase in Bakery 
Segment cost of sales and operating expenses of $1.5 million accounted for substantially all of the $35.6 million decrease in cost 
of sales and operating expenses.  The decrease in cost of sales and operating expenses was primarily due to the following (in 
millions of dollars):

Increase/(decrease) in raw material costs
Decrease in raw material volume
Increase/(decrease) in other cost of sales
Decrease in energy costs, primarily
      natural gas and diesel fuel

Rendering

Bakery

Corporate

Total

$

$

(34.5) $
(9.4)
12.1

(6.6)
(38.4) $

9.9 $
(6.8)
(1.2)

(0.4)
1.5 $

— $
—
1.5

(0.2)
1.3 $

(24.6)
(16.2)
12.4

(7.2)
(35.6)

Further detail regarding the $38.4 million decrease in cost of sales and operating expenses in the Rendering Segment and the $1.5 
million increase in Bakery Segment is as follows:

Rendering

Raw Material Costs:  A portion of the Company’s volume of raw material is acquired on a formula basis. Under a formula 
arrangement, the cost of raw material is tied to the finished product market for MBM, PM (both feed grade and pet food), 
BFT, PG and YG. Since finished product prices overall were lower in Fiscal 2012 as compared to the same period in Fiscal 
2011, the raw material costs decreased $34.5 million. 

Raw  Material  volume:  Production  cutbacks  from  packers  and  processors  resulted  in  lower  raw  material  available  to  be 
processed and formula pricing resulted in lower cost of sales of approximately $9.4 million.  A portion of the Company's 
volume of raw material is acquired on a formula basis.  Under a formula arrangement, the cost of raw material is tied to 
finished product markets.

Other Cost of Sales:  The $12.1 million increase in other expense includes increases in purchase of finished product for resale 
and increases in payroll and related benefits.

Page 39

Energy Costs:  Both natural gas and diesel fuel are major components of factory and collection  operating costs to the Rendering 
Segment.  During Fiscal 2012, energy costs were lower and are reflected in the $6.6 million decrease due primarily to lower 
natural gas and diesel fuel costs as compared to the same period in Fiscal 2011.

Bakery

Raw Material Costs:  The Company’s Bakery raw material is acquired on a formula basis.  Under these formula arrangements, 
the cost of raw material is tied to the market value of corn.  Since finished product prices overall for corn were higher in Fiscal 
2012 as compared to the same period in Fiscal 2011, the raw material cost increased approximately $9.9 million.

Raw Material Volume:  Production cutbacks from the Company's suppliers resulted in lower raw material available to be 
processed and formula pricing resulted in a decrease to cost of sales of approximately $6.8 million.

Other Costs of Sales:  The $1.2 million decrease in other cost of sales includes decreases in repairs and maintenance and other 
general reductions as a result of less raw material processed.

Energy Costs:  Natural gas is a component of factory operating costs. During Fiscal 2012 natural gas costs were lower as 
compared to Fiscal 2011 and are reflected in the $0.4 million decrease in cost of sales.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.   Selling, general and administrative expenses were $151.7 million during 
Fiscal 2012, a $15.6 million increase (11.5%) from $136.1 million during Fiscal 2011.  Selling, general and administrative expenses 
increased primarily due to payroll and related expense increases and a Fiscal 2011 purchase accounting contingency gain that did 
not re-occur in Fiscal 2012.  The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses is primarily due to the following (in 
millions of dollars): 

Payroll and related benefits expense
Increase from prior year purchase accounting contingency
Increase/(decrease) in other

Rendering

Bakery

Corporate

Total

$

$

5.4 $
3.1
0.2
8.7 $

0.9 $
0.7
(0.3)
1.3 $

5.9 $
—
(0.3)
5.6 $

12.2
3.8
(0.4)
15.6

Depreciation and Amortization.   Depreciation and amortization charges increased $6.5 million (8.2%) to $85.4 million 
during Fiscal 2012 as compared to $78.9 million during Fiscal 2011.  The increase in depreciation and amortization is primarily 
due to a general increase in capital expenditures.

Interest Expense.   Interest expense was $24.1 million during Fiscal 2012 compared to $37.2 million during Fiscal 2011, 
a decrease of $13.1 million, primarily due to a decrease in debt outstanding as a result of prior year and current year payoffs of 
the Company's revolver and term debt facilities, which includes a reduction in the amount of the Company's term loan facility 
deferred loan costs due to write-offs of approximately $0.7 million in Fiscal 2012 as compared to approximately $4.9 million in  
Fiscal 2011.

Other Income/Expense.   Other income was $1.8 million in Fiscal 2012, as compared to other expense of $3.0 million in 
Fiscal 2011.  This increase of $4.8 million is primarily due to insurance recovery proceeds on prior year and current year fire losses 
received in Fiscal 2012 and a decrease in other non-operating expenses that more than offset an increase in casualty loss from 
Hurricane Sandy. 

Equity in Net Loss in Investment of Unconsolidated Subsidiary. Represents the Company's portion of the expenses of the 
Joint Venture with Valero in Fiscal 2012.  In Fiscal 2012 the net loss was $2.7 million compared to $1.6 million in Fiscal 2011.  
The $1.1 million increase in net loss was due to an increase in non-capitalized expenses during construction.

Income Taxes.   The Company recorded income tax expense of $76.0 million for Fiscal 2012, compared to income tax 
expense of $102.9 million recorded in Fiscal 2011, a decrease of $26.9 million, primarily due to a decrease in pre-tax earnings of 
the Company in Fiscal 2012.  The effective tax rate for Fiscal 2012 and Fiscal 2011 is 36.8% and 37.8%, respectively.  The 
difference from the federal statutory rate of 35% in Fiscal 2012 and Fiscal 2011 is primarily due to state taxes and the section 199 
qualified domestic production deduction.

Page 40

Results of Operations

Fifty-two Week Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2011 (“Fiscal 2011”) Compared to Fifty-two Week Fiscal Year Ended January 
1, 2011 (“Fiscal 2010”)

Certain Fiscal 2011 immaterial amounts have been reclassified to conform to the Fiscal 2012 presentation.  These immaterial 
reclassifications changed the previously reported cost of sales and operating expense and other income/expense analysis below.

Summary of Key Factors Impacting Fiscal 2011 Results:

Principal factors that contributed to a $231.5 million increase in operating income, which are discussed in greater detail 

in the following section, were: 

• 
• 

Inclusion of a full 52 weeks of contribution from the acquisition of Griffin, and
Improvements in finished product prices, offset by quality downgrades.

These factors which contributed to increases in operating income were partially offset by:

Increase in raw material costs,

• 
•  Decrease in yield,
• 
• 

Increases in payroll and incentive-related benefits, and
Increase in energy costs primarily diesel fuel.

Summary of Key Indicators of Fiscal 2011 Performance:

Principal indicators that management routinely monitors and compares to previous periods as an indicator of problems 

or improvements in operating results include:

•  Finished product commodity prices, 
•  Raw material volume,
•  Production volume and related yield of finished product,
•  Energy prices for natural gas quoted on the NYMEX index and diesel fuel,
•  Collection fees and collection operating expenses, and
•  Factory operating expenses.

These indicators and their importance are discussed below in greater detail.

Finished Product Commodity Prices.  Prices for finished product commodities that the Company produces are reported 
each business day on the Jacobsen, an established trading exchange price publisher.  The Jacobsen reports industry sales from the 
prior day's activity by product.  The Jacobsen includes reported prices for MBM, PM (both feed grade and pet food), BFT, PG 
and YG, which are end products of the Company's Rendering Segment, as well as BBP, which is the end product of the Company's 
Bakery Segment.  The Company regularly monitors Jacobsen reports on MBM, PM, BFT, PG, YG and BBP because they provide 
a daily indication of the Company's revenue performance against business plan benchmarks.  Although the Jacobsen provides one 
useful metric of performance, the Company's finished products are commodities that compete with other commodities such as 
corn, soybean oil, palm oils, soybean meal and heating oil on nutritional and functional values and therefore actual pricing for the 
Company's finished products, as well as competing products, can be quite volatile.  In addition, the Jacobsen does not provide 
forward or future period pricing.  The Jacobsen prices quoted below are for delivery of the finished product at a specified location.  
Although the Company's prices generally move in concert with reported Jacobsen prices, the Company's actual sales prices for 
its finished products may vary significantly from the Jacobsen because of delivery timing differences and because the Company's 
finished products are delivered to multiple locations in different geographic regions which utilize different price indexes.  In 
addition, certain of the Company's premium branded finished products may also sell at prices that may be higher than the closest 
related product quoted by Jacobsen.  During Fiscal 2011, the Company's actual sales prices by product trended with the reported 
Jacobsen prices.  Average Jacobsen prices (at the specified delivery point) for Fiscal 2011, compared to average Jacobsen prices 
for Fiscal 2010 follow:

Page 41

Rendering Segment:
MBM (Illinois)
Feed Grade PM (Carolina)
Pet Food PM (Southeast)
BFT (Chicago)
PG (Southeast)
YG (Illinois)
Bakery Segment:
BBP (Chicago)

Avg. Price
Fiscal 2011

Avg. Price
Fiscal 2010

Increase/
(Decrease)

$354.84/ton
$400.21/ton
$637.30/ton
$  49.58/cwt
$  45.94/cwt
$  43.19/cwt

$297.35/ton
$366.89/ton
$606.55/ton
$ 33.43 /cwt
$ 29.01 /cwt
$ 26.89 /cwt

$ 57.49/ton
$ 33.32/ton
$ 30.75/ton
$ 16.15/cwt
$ 16.93/cwt
$ 16.30/cwt

%
Increase/
(Decrease)

19.3%
9.1%
5.1%
48.3%
58.4%
60.6%

$236.89/ton

$143.57/ton

$ 93.32/ton

65.0%

The overall increase in average prices of the finished products the Company sells had a favorable impact on revenue that 
was partially offset by the negative impact to the Company's raw material cost resulting from formula pricing arrangements, which 
compute raw material cost based upon the price of finished product.

During the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2011, the Company experienced a significant decline in all of its average commodity 
prices as compared to the third quarter of Fiscal 2011 due to reduced export of feed stock, and a decrease in protein prices, due to 
soft protein meal demand domestically as a result of cut-backs by poultry producers.  The following table shows the average 
Jacobsen for the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2011 as compared to the average Jacobsen for the third quarter of Fiscal 2011.

Rendering Segment:
MBM (Illinois)
Feed Grade PM (Carolina)
Pet Food PM (Southeast)
BFT (Chicago)
PG (Southeast)
YG (Illinois)
Bakery Segment:
BBP (Chicago)

Avg. Price
4th Quarter 
2011

Avg. Price
3rd Quarter 
2011

$309.69/ton
$364.42/ton
$610.57/ton
$  46.40/cwt
$  41.98/cwt
$  38.69/cwt

$353.79/ton
$436.86/ton
$658.59/ton
$  51.06/cwt
$  48.18/cwt
$  45.03/cwt

Decrease

$  (44.10/ton)
$  (72.44/ton)
$  (48.02/ton)
$    (4.66/cwt)
$    (6.20/cwt)
$    (6.34/cwt)

%
Decrease

(12.5)%
(16.6)%
(7.3)%
(9.1)%
(12.9)%
(14.1)%

$239.86/ton

$250.34/ton

$  (10.48/ton)

(4.2)%

Raw Material Volume.  Raw material volume represents the quantity (pounds) of raw material collected from Rendering 
Segment suppliers, such as beef poultry and pork processors, grocery stores, butcher shops and food service establishments, or in 
the case of the Bakery Segment, commercial bakeries.  Raw material volumes from the Company's Rendering Segment suppliers 
provide an indication of the future production of MBM, PM (feed grade and pet food), BFT, PG and YG finished products while 
raw material volumes from the Company's Bakery Segment suppliers provide an indication of the future production of BBP finished 
products.

Production Volume and Related Yield of Finished Product.  Finished product production volumes are the end result of 
the Company's production processes, and directly impact goods available for sale, and thus, become an important component of 
sales revenue.  In addition, physical inventory turnover is impacted by both the availability of credit to the Company's customers 
and suppliers and reduced market demand which can lower finished product inventory values.  Yield on production is a ratio of 
production volume (pounds), divided by raw material volume (pounds) and provides an indication of effectiveness of the Company's 
production process.  Factors impacting yield on production include quality of raw material and warm weather during summer 
months, which rapidly degrades raw material.  The quantities of finished products produced varies depending on the mix of raw 
materials used in production.  For example, raw material from cattle yields more fat and protein than raw material from pork or 
poultry.  Accordingly, the mix of finished products produced by the Company can vary from quarter to quarter depending on the 
type of raw material being received by the Company.  The Company cannot increase the production of protein or fat based on 
demand since the type of raw material available will dictate the yield of each finished product.

Energy Prices for Natural Gas Quoted on the NYMEX Index and Diesel Fuel.  Natural gas and heating oil commodity 
prices are quoted each day on the NYMEX exchange for future months of delivery of natural gas and delivery of diesel fuel.  The 
Page 42

 
 
 
prices are important to the Company because natural gas and diesel fuel are major components of factory operating and collection 
costs and natural gas and diesel fuel prices are an indicator of achievement of the Company's business plan. 

Collection Fees and Collection Operating Expense.  The Company charges collection fees which are included in net 
sales.  Each month the Company monitors both the collection fee charged to suppliers, which is included in net sales, and collection 
expense, which is included in cost of sales.  The importance of monitoring collection fees and collection expense is that they 
provide an indication of achievement of the Company's business plan.  Furthermore, management monitors collection fees and 
collection expense so that the Company can consider implementing measures to mitigate against unforeseen increases in these 
expenses.

Factory Operating Expenses.  The Company incurs factory operating expenses which are included in cost of sales.  Each 
month  the  Company  monitors  factory  operating  expense.   The  importance  of  monitoring  factory  operating  expense  is  that  it 
provides an indication of achievement of the Company's business plan.  Furthermore, when unforeseen expense increases occur, 
the Company can consider implementing measures to mitigate such increases.

Net Sales.  The Company collects and processes animal by-products (fat, bones and offal), including hides, bakery residual 
and used restaurant cooking oil to principally produce finished products of MBM, PM (feed grade and pet food), BFT, PG, YG, 
BBP and hides as well as a range of branded and value-added products.  Sales are significantly affected by finished goods prices, 
quality and mix of raw material, and volume of raw material.  Net sales include the sales of produced finished goods, collection 
fees, fees for grease trap services, and finished goods purchased for resale.

During Fiscal 2011, net sales were $1,797.2 million as compared to $724.9 million during Fiscal 2010.  The Rendering 
Segments' operations processes animal by-products and used cooking -oil into fats (primarily BFT, PG and YG), protein (primarily 
MBM and PM (feed grade and pet food)) and hides.  Fat is approximately $950.8 million and $399.1 million of net sales for the 
year ended December 31, 2011 and January 1, 2011, respectively, and protein is approximately $447.7 million and $243.5 million 
of net sales for the year ended December 31, 2011 and January 1, 2011, respectively.  The increase in Rendering Segment sales 
of $786.5 million and the increase in Bakery Segment sales of $285.8 million accounted for the $1,072.3 million increase in sales.  
The increase in net sales was primarily due to the following (in millions of dollars):

Increase in net sales due to acquisition
      of Griffin
Increase in finished product prices
Increase in other sales
Decrease in yield

Rendering

Bakery

Corporate

Total

$

$

582.4 $
210.7
0.6
(7.2)
786.5 $

285.8 $
—
—
—
285.8 $

— $
—
—
—
— $

868.2
210.7
0.6
(7.2)
1,072.3

Further detail regarding the $786.5 million increase in sales in the Rendering Segment and the $285.8 million increase in sales in 
the Bakery Segment is as follows:

Rendering

Net Sales from Acquisition of Griffin:  The Company's net sales have increased by $582.4 million in the Rendering Segment 
as a result of 52 weeks of contribution from the acquisition of Griffin as compared to two weeks of contribution in Fiscal 
2010. Higher finished product prices for both fats and proteins contributed to strong net sales. 

Finished Product Prices:  Higher prices in the overall commodity market for corn, soybean oil and soybean meal, which are 
competing proteins and fats to MBM and BFT, positively impacted the Company's finished product prices. In addition an 
increase in global demand for use of YG in bio-fuels positively impacted the Company's finished product prices. The $210.7 
million increase in Rendering sales resulting from increases in finished product prices is due to a market-wide increase in 
MBM, BFT and YG prices, but this increase was negatively impacted by extreme summer temperatures in the third quarter 
of Fiscal 2011 which affected raw material quality resulting in lower value protein production and discounting of finished 
fat.  The market increases were due to changes in supply/demand in both the domestic and export markets for commodity 
fats and protein meals, including MBM, BFT and YG.

Page 43

 
Other Sales:  The $0.6 million increase in other Rendering Segment sales was primarily due to an increase in hide sales and 
an increase in purchases of finished product for resale that more than offset lower collection and processing fees and reductions 
in sales from the movement of raw material volumes from Darling plants to Griffin plants.

Yield:  The raw material processed in Fiscal 2011 compared to the same period of Fiscal 2010 yielded less finished product 
for sale and decreased sales by $7.2 million.  The decrease in the relative portion of cattle offal in the raw material collected 
during Fiscal 2011 impacted yields since cattle offal is a higher yielding material than pork and poultry offal.

Bakery

Net Sales from Acquisition of Griffin:  The Bakery Segment was acquired in the Griffin Transaction and net sales have 
increased by $285.8 million as a result of 52 weeks of contribution in Fiscal 2011 as compared to two weeks of contribution 
in Fiscal 2010.  High finished product prices for BBP contributed to strong net sales.

Cost of Sales and Operating Expenses.   Cost of sales and operating expenses include the cost of raw material, the cost 
of product purchased for resale and the cost to collect raw material, which includes diesel fuel and processing costs including 
natural gas. The Company utilizes both fixed and formula pricing methods for the purchase of raw materials. Fixed prices are 
adjusted where possible for changes in competition.  Significant changes in finished goods market conditions impact finished 
product inventory values, while raw materials purchased under formula prices are correlated with specific finished goods prices.  
Energy costs, particularly diesel fuel and natural gas, are significant components of the Company's cost structure.  The Company 
has the ability to burn alternative fuels at a majority of its plants to help manage the Company's price exposure to volatile energy 
markets.

During Fiscal 2011, cost of sales and operating expenses were $1,268.2 million as compared to $531.7 million during 
Fiscal 2010.  The increase in Rendering Segment cost of sales and operating expenses of $529.9 million and Bakery Segment cost 
of sales and operating expenses of $206.8 million accounted for substantially all of the $736.5 million increase in cost of sales 
and operating expenses.  The increase in cost of sales and operating expenses was primarily due to the following (in millions of 
dollars):

Increase in cost of sales and operating 
      expense due to acquisition of Griffin
Increase in raw material costs
Increase in other cost of sales
Increase in energy costs primarily
      diesel fuel

Rendering

Bakery

Corporate

Total

$

$

375.2 $
139.6
11.3

3.8
529.9 $

206.8 $
—
—

—
206.8 $

(0.2) $
—
—

—
(0.2) $

581.8
139.6
11.3

3.8
736.5

Further detail regarding the $529.9 million increase in cost of sales and operating expenses in the Rendering Segment and the 
$206.8 million increase in Bakery Segment is as follows:

Rendering

Cost of Sales and Operating Expenses from Acquisition of Griffin:  The Company's cost of sales and operating expenses 
increased by $375.2 million in the Rendering Segment as a result of 52 weeks of contribution from the acquisition of Griffin 
as compared to two weeks of contribution in Fiscal 2010.

Raw Material Costs:  A portion of the Company’s volume of raw material is acquired on a formula basis. Under a formula 
arrangement, the cost of raw material is tied to the finished product market for MBM, BFT and YG. Since finished product 
prices were higher in Fiscal 2011 as compared to the same period in Fiscal 2010, the raw material costs increased $139.6 
million. 

Other Cost of Sales:  The $11.3 million increase in other cost of sales includes increases in payroll and related benefits, 
increases in repairs and maintenance, increases in purchase of finished product for resale that were partially offset by reductions 
in costs from the movement of raw material volumes from Darling plants to Griffin plants.

Page 44

Energy Costs:  Both natural gas and diesel fuel are major components of collection and factory operating costs to the Rendering 
Segment.  During Fiscal 2011, energy costs were higher and are reflected in the $3.8 million increase due primarily to increased 
diesel fuel costs as compared to the same period in Fiscal 2010.

Bakery

Cost of Sales and Operating Expenses from Acquisition of Griffin:  The Company's cost of sales and operating expenses 
related  to  the  Bakery  Segment  acquired  in  the  Griffin  Transaction  increased  $206.8  million  as  a  result  of  52  weeks  of 
contribution from the acquisition of Griffin as compared to two weeks of contribution in Fiscal 2010. 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.   Selling, general and administrative expenses were $136.1 million during 
Fiscal 2011, a $68.1 million increase (100.1%) from $68.0 million during Fiscal 2010.  Selling, general and administrative expenses 
increased due to 52 weeks of contribution from the acquisition of Griffin, payroll and related expense increases including incentive 
compensation primarily due to better operating results in Fiscal 2011 as compared to Fiscal 2010, an increase in other costs, which 
includes increases in consulting, legal and audit expenses all of which was partially offset by a decrease in expense as a result of 
a decrease in the fair value of a purchase accounting contingency from the Griffin acquisition.  The increase in selling, general 
and administrative expenses is primarily due to the following (in millions of dollars): 

Increases in selling, general and administrative

expense from 52 weeks of contribution
related to Griffin

Increase/(decrease) in other
Payroll and related benefits expense
Decrease in purchase accounting contingency

Rendering

Bakery

Corporate

Total

$

$

27.5 $
(0.7)
(1.6)
(3.1)
22.1 $

9.9 $
0.7
—
(0.7)
9.9 $

21.9 $
7.6
6.6
—
36.1 $

59.3
7.6
5.0
(3.8)
68.1

Depreciation and Amortization.   Depreciation and amortization charges increased $47.0 million (147.3%) to $78.9 million 
during Fiscal 2011 as compared to $31.9 million during Fiscal 2010.  The increase in depreciation and amortization is primarily 
due to the acquisition of Griffin in Fiscal 2010.

Acquisition Costs.  Acquisition costs were $10.8 million during Fiscal 2010, which were primarily due to the Griffin 

Transaction as compared to no acquisition activity in Fiscal 2011.

Interest Expense.   Interest expense was $37.2 million during Fiscal 2011 compared to $8.7 million during Fiscal 2010, 
an increase of $28.5 million, primarily due to an increase in debt outstanding as a result of the Griffin acquisition in December 
2010.  In addition the current year includes a write-off of a portion of the Company's term loan facility's deferred loan costs of 
approximately $4.9 million relating to the extinguishment of a majority of the term loan facility in Fiscal 2011 as compared to 
bank fees paid in association with an unutilized and expired bridge finance facility of $3.1 million in Fiscal 2010.

Other Income/Expense.   Other expense was $3.0 million in Fiscal 2011, a $0.4 million increase from $3.4 million in 
Fiscal 2010.  The increase in other expense is primarily due to an increase in bank service fees that more than offset the decrease 
in costs incurred in the prior year from losses reported as a result of fires at two plant locations and the write-off of deferred loan 
costs due to the termination of the previous credit agreement. 

Equity in Net Loss in Investment of Unconsolidated Subsidiary. Represents the Company's portion of the expenses of 
the Joint Venture with Valero in Fiscal 2011. The Joint Venture losses are primarily from the write-off of capitalized loan costs 
relating to loan discussions with the U.S. Department of Energy that were terminated in favor of another loan agreement by the 
Joint Venture.

Income Taxes.   The Company recorded income tax expense of $102.9 million for Fiscal 2011, compared to income tax 
expense of $26.1 million recorded in Fiscal 2010, an increase of $76.8 million, primarily due to an increase in pre-tax earnings 
of the Company in Fiscal 2011.  The effective tax rate for Fiscal 2011 and Fiscal 2010 is 37.8% and 37.1%, respectively.  The 
difference from the federal statutory rate of 35% in Fiscal 2011 and Fiscal 2010 is primarily due to state taxes and the section 199 
qualified domestic production deduction.

Page 45

 
FINANCING, LIQUIDITY, AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Senior Secured Credit Facilities. On December 17, 2010, the Company entered into a $625 million credit agreement (the 
“Credit Agreement” ) in connection with the Griffin Transaction, consisting of a five-year senior secured revolving loan facility 
and a six-year senior secured term loan facility. On March 25, 2011, the Company amended its Credit Agreement to increase the 
aggregate available principal amount under the revolving loan facility from $325.0 million to $415.0 million (approximately $75.0 
million of which will be available for a letter of credit sub-facility and $15.0 million of which will be available for a swingline 
sub-facility) and to add additional stepdowns to the pricing grid providing lower spread margins to the applicable base or libor 
rate under the Credit Agreement based on defined leverage ratio levels. The principal components of the Credit Agreement consist 
of the following:

•  As of December 29, 2012, the Company had availability of $384.9 million under the revolving loan facility, taking into 

account no outstanding borrowings and letters of credit issued of $30.1 million.

•  As of December 29, 2012, the Company had repaid all of the original $300.0 million term loan facility issued under the 

Credit Agreement.  The amounts that have been repaid on the term loan may not be reborrowed. 

•  The obligations under the Company's Credit Agreement are guaranteed by Darling National, Griffin, and its subsidiary, 

Craig Protein Division, Inc., and are secured by substantially all of the property of the Company.

Senior Notes. On December 17, 2010, Darling issued $250.0 million in aggregate principal amount of its 8.5% Senior 
Notes due 2018 (the "Notes") under an indenture with U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee. The Company will pay 8.5% 
annual cash interest on the Notes on June 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing June 15, 2011. Other than for extraordinary 
events such as change of control and defined assets sales, the Company is not required to make any mandatory redemption or 
sinking fund payments on the Notes. 

•  The Notes are guaranteed on an unsecured basis by Darling's existing restricted subsidiaries, including Darling National, 
Griffin and all of its subsidiaries, other than Darling's foreign subsidiaries, its captive insurance subsidiary and any inactive 
subsidiary with nominal assets. The Notes rank equally in right of payment to any existing and future senior debt of 
Darling. The Notes will be effectively junior to existing and future secured debt of Darling and the guarantors, including 
debt under the Credit Agreement, to the extent of the value of assets securing such debt. The Notes will be structurally 
subordinated to all of the existing and future liabilities (including trade payables) of each of the subsidiaries of Darling 
that do not guarantee the Notes. The guarantees by the guarantors (the “Guarantees”) rank equally in right of payment 
to any existing and future senior indebtedness of the guarantors. The Guarantees will be effectively junior to existing and 
future secured debt of the guarantors including debt under the Credit Agreement, to the extent the value of the assets 
securing such debt. The Guarantees will be structurally subordinated to all of the existing and future liabilities (including 
trade payables) of each of the subsidiaries of each Guarantor that do not guarantee the Notes. 

As of December 29, 2012, the Company believes it is in compliance with all of the covenants, including financial 

covenants, under the Credit Agreement and the Notes indenture. 

The Credit Agreement and Notes consisted of the following elements at December 29, 2012 (in thousands):

Notes:

8.5% Senior Notes due 2018

Credit Agreement:
Term Loan
Revolving Credit Facility:
Maximum availability
Borrowings outstanding
Letters of credit issued
Availability

$

$

$

$

250,000

—

415,000
—
30,119
384,881

The classification of long-term debt in the Company’s December 29, 2012 consolidated balance sheet is based on the 
contractual repayment terms of the Notes and debt issued under the Credit Agreement.  Based upon the underlying terms of the 
Credit Agreement, no amount is included in current liabilities on the Company’s balance sheet at December 29, 2012.

Page 46

 
 
On December 29, 2012, the Company had working capital of $158.6 million and its working capital ratio was 2.20 to 1 
compared to working capital of $92.4 million and a working capital ratio of 1.73 to 1 on December 31, 2011.  The increase in 
working capital is primarily due to an increase in cash and an increase in inventory quantities due to a weakness of exports.  At 
December 29, 2012, the Company had unrestricted cash of $103.2 million and funds available under the revolving credit facility 
of $384.9 million, compared to unrestricted cash of $38.9 million and funds available under the revolving credit facility of $391.6 
million at December 31, 2011.  The Company diversifies its cash investments by limiting the amounts deposited with any one 
financial institution and invests primarily in government-backed securities.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $249.5 million and $240.9 million for the fiscal years ended December 29, 
2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, an increase of $8.6 million due primarily to changes in operating assets and liabilities 
that include an increase in cash from income taxes refundable/payable of approximately $33.4 million, an increase in cash provided 
by accounts payable and accrued expenses of approximately $33.0 million, which more than offset a decrease in cash from an 
escrow receivable of approximately $16.3 million and a decrease in net income of approximately $38.6 million. Cash used by 
investing activities was $153.8 million during Fiscal 2012, compared to $83.7 million in Fiscal 2011, an increase of $70.1 million, 
primarily due to an increase in cash paid for capital expenditures and cash paid for current year investment in an unconsolidated 
subsidiary.  Net cash used by financing activities was $31.4 million during Fiscal 2012 compared to $137.4 million in Fiscal 2011, 
a decrease in the use of cash of $106.0 million primarily due to lower repayments of debt as compared to the prior year. 

Capital expenditures of $115.4 million were made during Fiscal 2012 as compared to $60.2 million in Fiscal 2011, an 
increase of $55.2 million (91.7%).  The increase is due to the initiation and completion of a number of planned capital projects in 
Fiscal 2012.  Additionally, included in the planned capital projects are costs associated with the Company's  initiation of a new 
enterprise resource planning ("ERP")  system.  As of December 29, 2012, the Company had spent approximately $13.8 million 
in capital expenditures for software and design costs related to the implementation of the Oracle E Business Suite ERP system.  
The implementation is expected to be phased-in over the next two years.  The expected cash flow impact of this project will be 
in the range of $32.0 million to $36.0 million of which the Company currently estimates that 50% of the expected cash flow will 
be capitalized and 50% will be treated as expense including cost of internal personnel and outside consultants.  These costs will 
be funded using cash flow from operations.  Capital expenditures related to compliance with environmental regulations were $3.1 
million in Fiscal 2012, $3.7 million in Fiscal 2011 and $3.5 million in Fiscal 2010.

Based upon the annual actuarial estimate, current accruals, and claims paid during Fiscal 2012, the Company has accrued 
approximately $8.5 million it expects will become due during the next twelve months in order to meet obligations related to the 
Company's  self  insurance  reserves  and  accrued  insurance  obligations,  which  are  included  in  current  accrued  expenses  at 
December 29, 2012.  The self insurance reserve is composed of estimated liability for claims arising for workers’ compensation 
and for auto liability and general liability claims.  The self insurance reserve liability is determined annually, based upon a third 
party actuarial estimate.  The actuarial estimate may vary from year to year, due to changes in costs of health care, the pending 
number of claims and other factors beyond the control of management of the Company.  No assurance can be given that the 
Company’s funding obligations under its self insurance reserve will not increase in the future.

Based upon current actuarial estimates, the Company expects to make payments of approximately $0.4 million in order 
to meet minimum pension funding requirements during fiscal 2013.  The minimum pension funding requirements are determined 
annually, based upon a third party actuarial estimate.  The actuarial estimate may vary from year to year, due to fluctuations in 
return on investments or other factors beyond the control of management of the Company or the administrator of the Company’s 
pension  funds.  No  assurance  can  be  given  that  the  minimum  pension  funding  requirements  will  not  increase  in  the 
future.  Additionally, the Company has made required and tax deductible discretionary contributions to its pension plans in Fiscal 
2012 and Fiscal 2011 of approximately $1.9 million and $10.5 million, respectively.

The Pension Protection Act of 2006 ("PPA") was signed into law in August 2006 and went into effect in January 2008.  The 
stated goal of the PPA is to improve the funding of pension plans.  Plans in an under-funded status will be required to increase 
employer contributions to improve the funding level within PPA timelines.  The impact of recent volatility in the world equity and 
other financial markets have had and could continue to have a material negative impact on pension plan assets and the status of 
required funding under the PPA.  The Company participates in various multiemployer pension plans which provide defined benefits 
to certain employees covered by labor contracts.  These plans are not administered by the Company and contributions are determined 
in accordance with provisions of negotiated labor contracts to meet their pension benefit obligations to their participants. The 
Company's contributions to each individual multiemployer plan represent less than 5% of the total contributions to each such plan.  
Based on the most currently available information, the Company has determined that, if a withdrawal were to occur, withdrawal 
liabilities on two of the plans in which the Company currently participates could be material to the Company, with one of these 
material plans certified as critical or red zone. With respect to the other  multiemployer pension plans in which the Company 

Page 47

 
 
participates and which are not individually significant, four plans have certified as critical or red zone, one plan has certified as 
endangered or yellow zone and one plan has certified as seriously endangered or orange zone as defined by the PPA.   In June 
2009,  the  Company  received  a  notice  of  a  mass  withdrawal  termination  and  a  notice  of  initial  withdrawal  liability  from  a 
multiemployer plan in which it participated.  The Company had anticipated this event and as a result had accrued approximately 
$3.2 million as of January 3, 2009 based on the most recent information that was probable and estimable for this plan.  The plan 
had  given  a  notice  of  redetermination  liability  in  December  2009.  In  Fiscal  2010,  the  Company  received  further  third  party 
information confirming the future payout related to this multiemployer plan.  As a result, the Company reduced its liability to 
approximately $1.2 million.  In Fiscal 2010, another underfunded multiemployer plan in which the Company participates gave 
notification of partial withdrawal liability.  As of December 29, 2012, the Company has an accrued liability of approximately $1.0 
million  representing  the  present  value  of  scheduled  withdrawal  liability  payments  under  this  multiemployer  plan.  While  the 
Company has no ability to calculate a possible current liability for under-funded multiemployer plans that could terminate or could 
require additional funding under the PPA, the amounts could be material.

The Company announced on January 21, 2011 that a wholly-owned subsidiary of Darling entered into a limited liability 
company agreement with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Valero Energy Corporation ("Valero") to form Diamond Green Diesel 
Holding LLC (the "Joint Venture").  The Joint Venture is owned 50% / 50% with Valero and was formed to design, engineer, 
construct and operate a renewable diesel plant (the "Facility"), which will be capable of producing approximately 9,300 barrels 
per day of renewable diesel fuel and certain other co-products, to be located adjacent to Valero's refinery in Norco, Louisiana.  
The Joint Venture is in the process of constructing the Facility under an engineering, procurement and construction contract that 
is  intended  to  fix  the  Company's  maximum  economic  exposure  for  the  cost  of  the  Facility,  without  regard  to  project  scope 
changes. Construction of the Facility is substantially complete with the phased commissioning of the Facility currently anticipated 
to be complete in second quarter 2013.

On May 31, 2011, the Joint Venture and Diamond Green Diesel LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Joint Venture 
("Opco"), entered into (i) the Facility Agreement with Diamond Alternative Energy, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Valero 
(the "Lender"), and (ii) the Loan Agreement with the Lender, which will provide the Joint Venture with a 14 year multiple advance 
term loan facility of approximately $221,300,000 (the “JV Loan”) to support the design, engineering and construction of the 
Facility, which is now in the final stages of construction.    The Facility Agreement and the Loan Agreement prohibit the Lender 
from assigning all or any portion of the Facility Agreement or the Loan Agreement to unaffiliated third parties.  Opco has also 
pledged substantially all of its assets to the Lender, and the Joint Venture has pledged all of Opco's equity interests to the Lender, 
until the JV Loan has been paid in full and the JV Loan has terminated in accordance with its terms.

Pursuant to sponsor support agreements executed in connection with the Facility Agreement and the Loan Agreement, 
each of the Company and Valero are committed to contributing approximately $93.2 million of the estimated aggregate costs of 
approximately $407.7 million for the completion of the Facility.  The Company is also required to pay for 50% of any cost overruns 
incurred in connection with the construction of the Facility, including relating to any project scope changes and working capital 
funding.  As of the date of this report, it is anticipated that the project will incur an additional $17.3 million in costs related to 
project scope changes, of which the Company will be responsible for 50%.  As of December 29, 2012, under the equity method 
of accounting, the Company has an investment in the Joint Venture of approximately $62.5 million on the consolidated balance 
sheet.

The Company is aware that a third party patent holder has filed patent infringement claims against a producer of renewable 
diesel fuel and its owners.  The producer is unrelated to the Company, the Joint Venture or, to our knowledge, Valero.  The Company 
has not, and to its knowledge neither the Joint Venture or Valero has, received any communication from such patent holder regarding 
similar claims against the Joint Venture. The Joint Venture has licensed a process from UOP LLC, a subsidiary of Honeywell 
International Inc., that it will utilize in producing renewable diesel fuel.  The Company believes that the Joint Venture's process 
differs from the process that is the subject of the infringement suit. Accordingly, any patent infringement claim that might be 
asserted in the future against either the Company or the Joint Venture would be vigorously opposed.  However if any patent holder 
successfully challenged the patents under which the Joint Venture operates, the Joint Venture could incur increased expenses or 
the need to modify its operation which could negatively impact the Joint Venture's results of operations.

The Company’s management believes that cash flows from operating activities consistent with the level generated in 
Fiscal 2012, unrestricted cash and funds available under the Credit Agreement will be sufficient to meet the Company’s working 
capital needs and maintenance and compliance-related capital expenditures, scheduled debt and interest payments, income tax 
obligations, continued funding of the Joint Venture and other contemplated needs through the next twelve months.  Numerous 
factors could have adverse consequences to the Company that cannot be estimated at this time, such as:  reductions in raw material 
volumes available to the Company due to weak margins in the meat production industry as a result of higher feed costs or other 
factors, reduced volume from food service establishments, reduced demand for animal feed, or otherwise;  a reduction in finished 
product prices;  changes to worldwide government policies relating to renewable fuels and greenhouse gas emissions that adversely 
Page 48

affect  programs  like  RFS2  and  tax  credits  for  bio-fuels  both  in  the  U.S.  and  abroad;  possible  product  recall  resulting  from 
developments relating to the discovery of unauthorized adulterations to food or food additives;  the occurrence of Bird Flu in the 
U.S.;  any additional occurrence of BSE in the U.S. or elsewhere;  unanticipated costs and/or reductions in raw material volumes 
related to the Company’s compliance with the Enhanced BSE Rule; unforeseen new U.S. and foreign regulations affecting the 
rendering industry (including new or modified animal feed, 2009 H1N1 flu, Bird Flu or BSE regulations);  increased contributions 
to the Company’s multiemployer and employer-sponsored defined benefit pension plans as required by the PPA or resulting from 
a mass withdrawal event; bad debt write-offs; loss of or failure to obtain necessary permits and registrations; unexpected cost 
overruns related to the Joint Venture; continued or escalated conflict in the Middle East; and/or unfavorable export markets.  These 
factors, coupled with volatile prices for natural gas and diesel fuel, general performance of the U.S. and global economies and 
declining consumer confidence including the inability of consumers and companies to obtain credit due to the current lack of 
liquidity in the financial markets, among others, could negatively impact the Company’s results of operations in fiscal 2013 and 
thereafter.  The Company cannot provide assurance that the cash flows from operating activities generated in Fiscal 2012 are 
indicative of the future cash flows from operating activities that will be generated by the Company’s operations.  The Company 
reviews the appropriate use of unrestricted cash periodically.  Except for contributions to the Joint Venture and expenditures relating 
to the Company's ongoing enterprise resource planning system project, no decision has been made as to non-ordinary course cash 
usages at this time; however, potential usages could include:  opportunistic capital expenditures and/or acquisitions;  investments 
relating  to  the  Company’s  developing  a  comprehensive  renewable  energy  strategy,  including,  without  limitation,  potential 
investments in additional renewable diesel and/or biodiesel projects;  investments in response to governmental regulations relating 
to human and animal food safety or other regulations;  unexpected funding required by the PPA  requirements or mass termination 
of multiemployer plans; and paying dividends or repurchasing stock, subject to limitations under the Credit Agreement, as well 
as suitable cash conservation to withstand adverse commodity cycles.

The current economic environment in the Company’s markets has the potential to adversely impact its liquidity in a 
variety of ways, including through reduced raw materials availability, reduced finished product prices, reduced sales, potential 
inventory buildup, increased bad debt reserves, potential impairment charges and/or higher operating costs.

The principal products that the Company sells are commodities, the prices of which are based on established commodity 
markets and are subject to volatile changes. Any decline in these prices has the potential to adversely impact the Company's 
liquidity. Any of a decline in raw material availability, a decline in commodities prices, increases in energy prices and the impact 
of the PPA has the potential to adversely impact the Company's liquidity. A decline in commodities prices, a rise in energy prices, 
a slowdown in the U.S. or international economy, continued or escalated conflict in the Middle East, cost overruns in the construction 
of the Facility or other factors, could cause the Company to fail to meet management's expectations or could cause liquidity 
concerns.

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AND OTHER COMMERCIAL COMMITMENTS

The following table summarizes the Company’s expected material contractual payment obligations, including both on- 

and off-balance sheet arrangements at December 29, 2012 (in thousands):

Contractual obligations(a):
Long-term debt obligations (b)
Operating lease obligations (c)
Estimated interest payable (d)
Joint Venture capital contributions (e)
Purchase commitments (f)
Pension funding obligation (g)
Other obligations
Total

Total

Less than
1 Year

1 – 3
Years

3 – 5
Years

More than
5 Years

$

$

250,000 $
90,332
129,807
35,121
23,727
418
224
529,629 $

— $

17,715
21,893
35,121
23,727
418
82
98,956 $

— $

27,323
44,164
—
—
—
142
71,629 $

— $

18,841
42,500
—
—
—
—
61,341 $

250,000
26,453
21,250
—
—
—
—
297,703

(a)  The above table does not reflect uncertain tax positions as the Company has no uncertain tax positions at December 29, 

2012.

(b)  See Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements.

(c)  See Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements.

(d)  Interest payable was calculated using the current rate for the Senior Notes that existed as of December 29, 2012.

(e)  Represents the Company's estimated capital contributions that are expected to be paid to the Joint Venture in fiscal 2013.

Page 49

     
 
(f)  Purchase commitments were determined based on specified contracts for natural gas, diesel fuel and finished product 

purchases.

(g)  Pension funding requirements are determined annually based upon a third party actuarial estimate.  The Company expects 
to make approximately $0.4 million in required contributions to its pension plan in fiscal 2013.  The Company is not able 
to estimate pension funding requirements beyond the next twelve months. The accrued pension benefit liability was 
approximately $31.3 million at the end of Fiscal 2012.  The Company knows certain of  the multiemployer pension plans 
that have not terminated to which it contributes and which are not administered by the Company were under-funded as 
of the latest available information, and while the Company has no ability to calculate a possible current liability for the 
under-funded multiemployer plan to which the Company contributes, the amounts could be material.

The Company's off-balance sheet contractual obligations and commercial commitments as of December 29, 2012, relate 
to operating lease obligations, letters of credit, forward purchase agreements, and employment agreements.  The Company has 
excluded these items from the balance sheet in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S.

The following table summarizes the Company’s other commercial commitments, including both on- and off-balance 

sheet arrangements at December 29, 2012 (in thousands):

Other commercial commitments:
Standby letters of credit
Total other commercial commitments:

$
$

30,119
30,119

OFF BALANCE SHEET OBLIGATIONS

Based upon the underlying purchase agreements, the Company has commitments to purchase $23.7 million of commodity 
products, consisting of approximately $19.2 million of finished products and approximately $4.5 million of natural gas and diesel 
fuel, during the next twelve months, which are not included in liabilities on the Company’s balance sheet at December 29, 2012. 
These purchase agreements are entered into in the normal course of the Company’s business and are not subject to derivative 
accounting. The commitments will be recorded on the balance sheet of the Company when delivery of these commodities occurs 
and ownership passes to the Company during fiscal 2013, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S.

Based on the sponsor support agreements executed in connection with the Facility Agreement and the Loan Agreement 
relating to the Joint Venture with Valero, the Company has committed to contribute an aggregate of approximately $93.2 million 
of  the  estimated  aggregate  costs  for  completion  of  the  Facility.   As  of  December 29,  2012,  the  Company  has  contributed 
approximately $66.7 million and will incur the remaining amount of the commitment through the completion date of the Facility 
which is expected in the second quarter of fiscal 2013.  The Company is also required to pay for 50% of any cost overruns incurred 
in connection with the construction of the Facility, including relating to any project scope changes and working capital funding.  
As of the date of this report, it is anticipated that the project will incur an additional $17.3 million in costs related to project scope 
changes, of which the Company will be responsible for 50%.

Based upon underlying lease agreements, the Company is obligated to pay approximately $17.7 million for operating 
leases during fiscal 2013 which are not included in liabilities on the Company’s balance sheet at December 29, 2012.  These lease 
obligations are included in cost of sales or selling, general and administrative expense on the Company’s Statement of Operations 
as the underlying lease obligation comes due, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The Company follows certain significant accounting policies when preparing its consolidated financial statements.  A 

complete summary of these policies is included in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Certain of the policies require management to make significant and subjective estimates or assumptions that may deviate 
from actual results.  In particular, management makes estimates regarding valuation of inventories, estimates of useful life of long-
lived assets related to depreciation and amortization expense, estimates regarding fair value of the Company’s reporting units and 
future  cash  flows  with  respect  to  assessing  potential  impairment  of  both  long-lived  assets  and  goodwill,  self-insurance, 
environmental and litigation reserves, pension liability, estimates of income tax expense, and estimates of expense related to stock 
options granted.  Each of these estimates is discussed in greater detail in the following discussion.

Page 50

 
 
 
 
 
Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue on sales when products are shipped and the customer takes ownership and assumes 
risk of loss.  Certain customers may be required to prepay prior to shipment in order to maintain payment protection against certain 
foreign and domestic sales.  These amounts are recorded as unearned revenue and recognized when the products have shipped 
and the customer takes ownership and assumes risk of loss.  The Company has formula arrangements with certain suppliers whereby 
the charge or credit for raw materials is tied to published finished product commodity prices after deducting a fixed processing 
fee incorporated into the formula and is recorded as a cost of sale by line of business.  The Company recognizes revenue related 
to grease trap servicing in the month the trap service occurs.

Inventories

The Company’s inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market.  Finished product manufacturing cost is calculated 
using  the  first-in,  first-out  (FIFO)  method,  based  upon  the  Company’s  raw  material  costs,  collection  and  factory  production 
operating expenses, and depreciation expense on collection and factory assets.  Market values of inventory are estimated at each 
plant location, based upon either: 1) the backlog of unfilled sales orders at the balance sheet date, or  2) unsold inventory, calculated 
using regional finished product prices quoted in the Jacobsen at the balance sheet date.  Estimates of market value, based upon 
the backlog of unfilled sales orders or upon the Jacobsen, assume that the inventory held by the Company at the balance sheet 
date will be sold at the estimated market finished product sales price, subsequent to the balance sheet date.  Actual sales prices 
received on future sales of inventory held at the end of a period may vary from either the backlog unfilled sales order price or the 
Jacobsen quotation at the balance sheet date.  These variances could cause actual sales prices realized on future sales of inventory 
to be different than the estimate of market value of inventory at the end of the period.  Inventories were approximately $65.1 
million and $50.8 million at December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

Long-Lived Assets, Depreciation and Amortization Expense and Valuation

The Company’s property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost when acquired.  Depreciation expense is computed on 
property, plant and equipment based upon a straight line method over the estimated useful life of the assets, which is based upon 
a standard classification of the asset group.  Buildings and improvements are depreciated over a useful life of 15 to 30 years, 
machinery and equipment are depreciated over a useful life of 3 to 10 years and vehicles are depreciated over a life of 2 to 6 
years.  These useful life estimates have been developed based upon the Company’s historical experience of asset life utility, and 
whether the asset is new or used when placed in service.  The actual life and utility of the asset may vary from this estimated 
life.  Useful lives of the assets may be modified from time to time when the future utility or life of the asset is deemed to change 
from that originally estimated when the asset was placed in service.  Depreciation expense was approximately $57.3 million, $50.9 
million and $26.3 million in fiscal years ending December 29, 2012, December 31, 2011 and January 1, 2011, respectively.

The Company’s intangible assets, including permits, routes, non-compete agreements, trade names and royalty, consulting 
and leasehold agreements are recorded at fair value when acquired.  Amortization expense is computed on these intangible assets 
based upon a straight line method over the estimated useful life of the assets, which is based upon a standard classification of the 
asset group. Collection routes are amortized over a useful life of 5 to 20 years; non-compete agreements are amortized over a 
useful life of 3 to 7 years; trade names with a finite life are amortized over a useful life of 15 years; royalty, consulting and leasehold 
agreements are amortized over the term of the agreement; and permits are amortized over a useful life of 10 to 20 years.  The 
actual economic life and utility of the asset may vary from this estimated life.  Useful lives of the assets may be modified from 
time to time when the future utility or life of the asset is deemed to change from that originally estimated when the asset was 
placed in service.  Intangible asset amortization expense was approximately $28.1 million, $28.0 million and $5.6 million in fiscal 
years ending December 29, 2012, December 31, 2011 and January 1, 2011, respectively.

The Company reviews the carrying value of long-lived assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances 
indicate that the carrying amount of an asset, or related asset group, may not be recoverable from estimated future undiscounted 
cash flows.  Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset or asset 
group to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset or asset group.  If the carrying amount 
of the asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized by the amount by which the carrying 
amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset.  In Fiscal 2012, Fiscal 2011 and Fiscal 2010, no triggering event occurred 
requiring that the Company perform testing of its long-lived assets for impairment.

The net book value of property, plant and equipment was approximately $453.9 million and $400.2 million at December 29, 
2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.  The net book value of intangible assets was approximately $337.4 million and $362.9 
million at December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

Page 51

 
 
Goodwill Valuation

The Company reviews the carrying value of goodwill on a regular basis, including at the end of each fiscal year, for 
indications of impairment at each reporting unit that has recorded goodwill as an asset.  Impairment is indicated whenever the 
carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds the estimated fair value of a reporting unit.  For purposes of evaluating impairment of 
goodwill, the Company estimates fair value of a reporting unit, based upon future net cash flows.  In calculating these estimates, 
actual historical operating results, current market conditions and anticipated future economic factors, such as future business 
volume, future finished product prices, and future operating costs and expenses are evaluated and estimated as a component of 
the calculation of future cash flows for each reporting unit with recorded goodwill.  The estimates of fair value of these reporting 
units and of future discounted net cash flows from operation of these reporting units could change if actual volumes, prices, costs 
or expenses vary from these estimates.

Based on the Company’s annual impairment testing at the end of the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2012, Fiscal 2011 and Fiscal 
2010, the fair values of the Company’s reporting units containing goodwill exceeded the related carrying value.  However, the 
fair value of one of the Company's reporting units was approximately 11% greater than its carrying value, which was substantially 
less than the percentage by which the fair values of the Company's other seven reporting units with goodwill exceeded their 
carrying values.  It is possible, depending upon a number of factors that are not determinable at this time or within the control of 
the Company, that the fair value of this reporting unit could decrease in the future and result in an impairment to goodwill.  The 
amount of goodwill allocated to this reporting unit was approximately $159.6 million.  The Company's management believes the 
biggest risk to this reporting unit is a prolonged economic slowdown that would impact raw material suppliers.   Goodwill was 
approximately $381.4 million at December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

Self Insurance, Environmental and Legal Reserves

The Company’s workers compensation, auto and general liability policies contain significant deductibles or self insured 
retentions. The Company estimates and accrues for its expected ultimate claim costs related to accidents occurring during each 
fiscal year and carries this accrual as a reserve until these claims are paid by the Company. In developing estimates for self insured 
losses, the Company utilizes its staff, a third party actuary and outside counsel as sources of information and judgment as to the 
expected undiscounted future costs of the claims. The Company accrues reserves related to environmental and litigation matters 
based on estimated undiscounted future costs. With respect to the Company’s self insurance, environmental and litigation reserves, 
estimates of reserve liability could change if future events are different than those included in the estimates of the actuary, consultants 
and management of the Company. At  December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the reserves for self insurance, environmental 
and litigation contingencies aggregated to approximately $37.0 million and $38.0 million, respectively.  The Company has insurance 
recovery receivables of approximately $9.3 million and $9.6 million, respectively, related to these liabilities.

Pension Liability

The Company provides retirement benefits to employees under separate final-pay noncontributory pension plans for 
salaried  and  hourly  employees  (excluding  those  employees  covered  by  a  union-sponsored  plan),  who  meet  service  and  age 
requirements.  Benefits  are  based  principally  on  length  of  service  and  earnings  patterns  during  the  five  years  preceding 
retirement.  Pension expense and pension liability recorded by the Company is based upon an annual actuarial estimate provided 
by a third party administrator.  Factors included in estimates of current year pension expense and pension liability at the balance 
sheet date include estimated future service period of employees, estimated future pay of employees, estimated future retirement 
ages of employees, and the projected time period of pension benefit payments.  Two of the most significant assumptions used to 
calculate future pension obligations are the discount rate applied to pension liability and the expected rate of return on pension 
plan assets.  These assumptions and estimates are subject to the risk of change over time, and each factor has inherent uncertainties 
which neither the actuary nor the Company is able to control or to predict with certainty.  During the third quarter of fiscal 2011, 
as part of the initiative to combine the Darling and Griffin retirement benefit programs, the Company's Board of Directors authorized 
the Company to proceed with the restructuring of its retirement benefit program effective January 1, 2012, to include the closing 
of Darling's salaried and hourly defined benefit plans to new participants as well as the freezing of service and wage accruals 
thereunder effective December 31, 2011 (a curtailment of these plans for financial reporting purposes) and the enhancing of benefits 
under the Company's defined contribution plans.  See Note 15 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for summaries of 
pension plans.

The discount rate applied to the Company’s pension liability is the interest rate used to calculate the present value of the 
pension benefit obligation.  The weighted average discount rate was 3.90% and 4.50% at December 29, 2012 and December 31, 
2011, respectively.  The net periodic benefit cost for fiscal 2013 would increase by approximately $0.9 million if the discount rate 
was 0.5% lower at 3.4%.  The net periodic benefit cost for fiscal 2013 would decrease by approximately $0.9 million if the discount 
rate was 0.5% higher at 4.4%.

Page 52

The expected rate of return on the Company’s pension plan assets is the interest rate used to calculate future returns on 
investment of the plan assets.  The expected return on plan assets is a long-term assumption whose accuracy can only be assessed 
over a long period of time.  The weighted average expected return on pension plan assets was 7.35% and 7.85% for Fiscal 2012 
and Fiscal 2011, respectively.  During Fiscal 2012, the Company’s actual return on pension plan assets was a gain of $13.0 million 
or approximately 13.5% of pension plan assets as compared to Fiscal 2011 where the Company’s actual return on pension plan 
assets was a loss of $3.3 million or approximately (4)% of pension plan assets.

The Company has recorded a pension liability of approximately $31.3 million and $27.3 million at December 29, 2012 
and December 31, 2011, respectively.  The Company’s net pension cost was approximately $3.9 million, $3.2 million and $3.9 
million for the fiscal years ending December 29, 2012, December 31, 2011 and January 1, 2011, respectively.  The projected net 
periodic pension expense for fiscal 2013 is expected to decrease by approximately $0.4 million as compared to Fiscal 2012.

Income Taxes

In calculating net income, the Company includes estimates in the calculation of income tax expense, the resulting tax 
liability and in future realization of deferred tax assets that arise from temporary differences between financial statement presentation 
and tax recognition of revenue and expense.  The Company’s deferred tax assets include a net operating loss carry-forward which 
is limited to approximately $0.7 million per year in future utilization due to the change in control resulting from the May 2002 
recapitalization of the Company. Valuation allowances for deferred tax assets are recorded when it is more likely than not that 
deferred tax assets will not be realized.  

Stock Option Expense

The calculation of expense of stock options issued utilizes the Black-Scholes mathematical model which estimates the 
fair value of the option award to the holder and the compensation expense to the Company, based upon estimates of volatility, 
risk-free rates of return at the date of issue and projected vesting of the option grants.  The Company recorded compensation 
expense related to stock options expense for the year ended December 29, 2012, December 31, 2011 and January 1, 2011 of 
approximately $1.0 million, $0.2 million and $0.1 million, respectively.

NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-05, Presentation of Comprehensive Income.  The ASU amends ASC Topic 
220, Comprehensive Income.  The new standard eliminates the option to report other comprehensive income and its components 
in the statement of changes in equity and instead requires entities to present net income and other comprehensive income in either 
a single continuous statement or in two separate, but consecutive, statements of net income and other comprehensive income.  
Reclassification adjustments between net income and other comprehensive income must be shown on the face of the statement
(s), with no resulting change in net earnings.  In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-12, Deferral of Effective Date 
for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting 
Standards Update No. 2011-05.  This ASU amends ASC Topic 220, Comprehensive Income.  The new standard deferred the 
requirement to present on the face of the financial statements reclassification adjustments for items that are reclassified from other 
comprehensive income to net income while the FASB further deliberates this aspect of the proposal. This update is effective for 
the Company on January 1, 2012 and must be applied retrospectively.  The Company adopted this standard as of March 31, 2012.  
The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.  In February 2013, the FASB 
issued ASU No. 2013-02, Reporting of Amounts Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.  This ASU amends ASC Topic 
220, Comprehensive Income.  This new standard requires an entity to report either on the income statement or disclose in the 
footnotes to the financial statement the effects on earnings from items that are reclassified out of other comprehensive income.  
This update is effective for the Company on December 30, 2012. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this 
standard.

In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-08, Testing Goodwill for Impairment.  The ASU amends ASC Topic 
350, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other.  The new standard is intended to reduce the cost and complexity of the annual goodwill 
impairment test by providing entities an option to perform a “qualitative” assessment to determine whether further impairment 
testing is necessary. Specifically, an entity has the option to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to 
perform the current two-step test. If an entity believes, as a result of its qualitative assessment, that it is more-likely-than-not that 
the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, the quantitative impairment test is required. Otherwise, no further 
testing is required. This standard is effective for annual and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning 

Page 53

 
after December 15, 2011.  Early adoption is permissible. The Company adopted this standard in the first quarter of 2012.  The 
adoption did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.  

In July 2012, the FASB issued ASU No. 2012-02, Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment.  The ASU 
amends ASC Topic 350, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other.   The new standard is intended to reduce the cost and complexity of 
performing an impairment test for indefinite-lived intangible assets by providing entities an option to perform a "qualitative" 
assessment to determine whether further impairment testing is necessary.  The new standard allows an entity to first assess qualitative 
factors to determine if it is more likely than not that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset is less than its carrying 
amount.  If based on its qualitative assessment an entity concludes it is more likely than not that the fair value of an indefinite-
lived intangible asset is less than its carrying amount, quantitative impairment testing is required.   However, if an entity concludes 
otherwise, quantitative impairment testing is not required.  The standards update is effective for annual and interim impairment 
tests performed for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012, with early adoption permitted. The Company is currently 
evaluating the impact of adopting this standard.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Annual Report on Form 10-K includes “forward-looking” statements that involve risks and uncertainties.   The 
words "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "estimate," "intend," "could," "may," "will," "should," "planned," "potential," and similar 
expressions identify forward-looking statements.  All statements other than statements of historical facts included in the Annual 
Report  on  Form  10-K,  including,  without  limitation,  the  statements  under  the  sections  entitled  "Business,"  "Management's 
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Legal Proceedings" and located elsewhere herein 
regarding industry prospects, expectations for construction of the Facility and the Company's financial position are forward-looking 
statements.  Actual results could differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements as a result of certain 
factors, including many that are beyond the control of the Company.  Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected 
in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to be correct.

In addition to those factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Item 1A of this report and elsewhere in this 
report, and in the Company's other public filings with the SEC, important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially 
from  the  Company's  expectations  include:  the  Company's  continued  ability  to  obtain  sources  of  supply  for  its  rendering 
operations;  general economic conditions in the American, European and Asian markets;  a decline in consumer confidence;  prices 
in  the  competing  commodity  markets  which  are  volatile  and  are  beyond  the  Company's  control;  energy  prices;  changes  to 
worldwide government policies relating to renewable fuels and greenhouse gas emissions;  the implementation of the Enhanced 
BSE Rule;  BSE and its impact on finished product prices, export markets, energy prices and government regulations, which are 
still evolving and are beyond the Company's control;  the occurrence of Bird Flu in the U.S.;  possible product recall resulting 
from  developments  relating  to  the  discovery  of  unauthorized  adulterations  (such  as  melamine  or  salmonella)  to  food 
additives;  increased contributions to the Company's multiemployer defined benefit pension plans as required by the PPA or required 
by a withdrawal event;  risks, including future expenditures, relating to the Company's Joint Venture with Valero to construct and 
complete a renewable diesel plant in Norco, Louisiana and possible difficulties completing and obtaining operational viability 
with the plant; risks relating to possible third party claims of intellectual property infringement; challenges associated with the 
Company's ongoing enterprise resource planning system project, including material deviations from the project or unsuccessful 
execution of the implementation plan for the project; and the Company’s ability to combine Darling’s business and Griffin's 
business and to realize the anticipated growth opportunities and cost synergies and to integrate the two businesses efficiently. 
Among other things, future profitability may be affected by the Company's ability to grow its business, which faces competition 
from companies that may have substantially greater resources than the Company.  The Company cautions readers that all forward-
looking statements speak only as of the date made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking 
statements, whether as a result of changes in circumstances, new events or otherwise.

Page 54

 
ITEM 7A.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Market risks affecting the Company are exposures to changes in prices of the finished products the Company sells, interest 
rates on debt, availability of raw material supplies and the price of natural gas and diesel fuel used in the Company’s plants.  Raw 
materials available to the Company are impacted by seasonal factors, including holidays, when raw material volume declines;  warm 
weather, which can adversely affect the quality of raw material processed and finished products produced;  and cold weather, 
which can impact the collection of raw material.  Predominantly all of the Company’s finished products are commodities that are 
generally sold at prices prevailing at the time of sale.

The Company makes limited use of derivative instruments to manage cash flow risks related to interest expense, natural 
gas usage, diesel fuel usage and inventory.  The Company does not use derivative instruments for trading purposes.  Interest rate 
swaps are entered into with the intent of managing overall borrowing costs by reducing the potential impact of increases in interest 
rates on floating-rate long-term debt.  Natural gas swaps and options are entered into with the intent of managing the overall cost 
of  natural  gas  usage  by  reducing  the  potential  impact  of  seasonal  weather  demands  on  natural  gas  that  increases  natural  gas 
prices.  Heating oil swaps and options are entered into with the intent of managing the overall cost of diesel fuel usage by reducing 
the potential impact of seasonal weather demands on diesel fuel that increases diesel fuel prices.  Inventory swaps and options are 
entered into with the intent of managing seasonally high concentrations of MBM, PM, BFT, PG, YG and BBP inventories by 
reducing the potential impact of changing prices.  Corn options and future contracts are entered into with the intent of managing 
forecasted sales of BBP by reducing the impact of changing prices.  The interest rate swaps and the natural gas swaps are subject 
to the requirements of FASB authoritative guidance.  Some of the Company’s natural gas and diesel fuel instruments are not subject 
to the requirements of FASB authoritative guidance because some of the natural gas and diesel fuel instruments qualify as normal 
purchases as defined in FASB authoritative guidance.  At December 29, 2012, the Company had natural gas swaps and corn options 
outstanding that qualified and were designated for hedge accounting as well as heating oil swaps and corn options and future 
contracts that did not qualify and were not designated for hedge accounting.

In Fiscal 2012, the Company entered into natural gas swap contracts that are considered cash flow hedges.  Under the 
terms of the natural gas swap contracts the Company fixed the expected purchase cost of a portion of its plants expected natural 
gas usage into the second quarter of fiscal 2013.  As of December 29, 2012, the aggregate fair value of these natural gas swaps 
was insignificant and is included in other current assets and accrued expenses on the balance sheet, with an offset recorded in 
accumulated other comprehensive income for the effective portion.

In Fiscal 2012, the Company entered into corn option contracts that are considered cash flow hedges.  Under the terms 
of the corn option contracts the Company hedged a portion of its forecasted sales of BBP into the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013.  
As of December 29, 2012, the aggregate fair value of these corn options was approximately $0.5 million and is included in other 
current assets on the balance sheet, with an offset recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income for the effective portion.

Additionally, the Company had corn options and future contracts, heating oil swaps and natural gas swaps that are 
marked to market because they did not qualify for hedge accounting at December 29, 2012.  The corn options and future contracts, 
heating oil swaps and natural gas swaps had an aggregate fair value of $0.1 million and are included in current other assets and 
accrued expenses at December 29, 2012.

As of December 29, 2012, the Company had forward purchase agreements in place for purchases of approximately $4.5 
million of natural gas and diesel fuel in fiscal 2013.  As of December 29, 2012, the Company had forward purchase agreements 
in place for purchases of approximately $19.2 million of finished product in fiscal 2013.

Interest Rate Sensitivity

The Company has no outstanding variable rate debt and the Company’s fixed rate debt obligations consist of the Notes 
and other immaterial debt that accrue interest at an annual weighted average fixed rate of approximately 8.5%.  These obligations 
are not affected by changes in interest rates. The Company’s obligations subject to fixed interest rates consist of (in thousands, 
except interest rates):

Long-term debt:

Fixed rate

Average interest rate

Total

Total

Less than
1 Year

1 – 3
Years

3 – 5
Years

More than
5 Years

$

$

250,224

8.50%

250,224

$

$

82
7.39%
82

$

$

142
7.49%
142

$

$

— $
—%
— $

250,000

8.50%

250,000

Page 55

  
  
 
 
ITEM 8.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Consolidated Financial
      Statements

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control Over
      Financial Reporting

Consolidated Balance Sheets -

December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011

Consolidated Statements of Operations -

Three years ended December 29, 2012

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income -
Three years ended December 29, 2012

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity -

Three years ended December 29, 2012

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows -

Three years ended December 29, 2012

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Page

 57

 58

59

60

61

62

63

64

All other schedules are omitted since the required information is not present or is not present in amounts sufficient to require 
submission of the schedule, or because the information required is included in the consolidated financial statements and notes 
thereto.

Page 56

 
 
 
 
DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Darling International Inc.:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Darling International Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 29, 
2012 and December 31, 2011, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, stockholders' equity, 
and cash flows for each of the years in the 
period ended December 29, 2012. These consolidated financial statements 
are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial 
statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). 
Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements 
are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures 
in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by 
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable 
basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position 
of Darling International Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, and the results of their operations 
and their cash flows for each of the years in the 
period ended December 29, 2012, in conformity with U.S. generally 
accepted accounting principles.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), 
Darling International Inc.'s internal control over financial reporting as of December 29, 2012, based on criteria established in 
Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission 
(COSO), and our report dated February 27, 2013 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal 
control over financial reporting.

Dallas, Texas
February 27, 2013

/S/ KPMG LLP

Page 57

 
 
 
 
 
DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Darling International Inc.:

We have audited Darling International Inc.'s internal control over financial reporting as of December 29, 2012, based on criteria 
established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway 
Commission  (COSO).  Darling  International  Inc.'s  management  is  responsible  for  maintaining  effective  internal  control  over 
financial  reporting  and  for  its  assessment  of  the  effectiveness  of  internal  control  over  financial  reporting,  included  in  the 
accompanying Management's Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an 
opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). 
Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control 
over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control 
over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating 
effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we 
considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability 
of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted 
accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain 
to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets 
of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial 
statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are 
being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable 
assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that 
could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because  of  its  inherent  limitations,  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  may  not  prevent  or  detect  misstatements. Also, 
projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because 
of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, Darling International Inc. maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting 
as of December 29, 2012, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of 
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the 
consolidated balance sheets of Darling International Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, and 
the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the 
years in the three-year period ended December 29, 2012, and our report dated February 27, 2013 expressed an unqualified opinion 
on those consolidated financial statements.

Dallas, Texas
February 27, 2013

/S/ KPMG LLP

Page 58

 
 
 
DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Balance Sheets
December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011 
(in thousands, except share and per share data)

ASSETS
Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents
Restricted cash

       Accounts receivable, less allowance for bad debts of $2,171
             at December 29, 2012 and $2,241 at December 31, 2011

Inventories
Income taxes refundable
Other current assets
Deferred income taxes

Total current assets

Property, plant and equipment, net
Intangible assets, less accumulated amortization of $73,021
         at December 29, 2012 and $82,364 at December 31, 2011
Goodwill
Investment in unconsolidated subsidiary
Other assets

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:

Current portion of long-term debt
Accounts payable, principally trade
Accrued expenses

Total current liabilities

Long-term debt, net of current portion
Other noncurrent liabilities
Deferred income taxes

Total liabilities

Commitments and contingencies

Stockholders’ equity:

Common stock, $.01 par value;  150,000,000 shares authorized, 

118,622,650 and 117,591,822 shares issued at December 29, 2012 
and December 31, 2011, respectively

     Additional paid-in capital
     Treasury stock, at cost; 807,659 and 543,384 shares at
          December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Retained earnings

Total stockholders’ equity

December 29,
2012

December 31,
2011

$

103,249
361

$

98,131
65,065
—
10,847
12,609
290,262

38,936
365

95,807
50,830
17,042
9,235
7,465
219,680

453,927

400,222

$

$

337,402
381,369
62,495
26,961
1,552,416

82
54,014
77,588
131,684

250,142
61,539
46,615
489,980

362,914
381,369
21,733
31,112
1,417,030

10
60,402
66,845
127,257

280,020
58,245
31,133
496,655

1,186
603,836

(10,033)
(31,329)
498,776
1,062,436
1,552,416

$

1,176
587,685

(5,588)
(30,904)
368,006
920,375
1,417,030

$

$

$

The accompanying notes are an integral part
 of these consolidated financial statements.

Page 59

 
 
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Operations
Three years ended December 29, 2012 
(in thousands, except per share data)

Net sales
Costs and expenses:

Cost of sales and operating expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Depreciation and amortization
Acquisition costs

Total costs and expenses
Operating income

Other expense:

Interest expense
Other income/(expense), net

Total other expense

Equity in net loss of unconsolidated subsidiary
Income from operations before income taxes
Income taxes

Net income

Net income per share:

Basic
Diluted

December 29,
2012
1,701,429

$

December 31,
2011
1,797,249

$

January 1,
2011

$

724,909

1,232,604
151,713
85,371
—
1,469,688
231,741

(24,054)
1,760
(22,294)

(2,662)
206,785
76,015

1,268,221
136,135
78,909
—
1,483,265
313,984

(37,163)
(2,955)
(40,118)

(1,572)
272,294
102,876

531,699
68,042
31,908
10,798
642,447
82,462

(8,737)
(3,382)
(12,119)

—
70,343
26,100

$

$
$

130,770

$

169,418

$

44,243

1.11
1.11

$
$

1.47
1.47

$
$

0.53
0.53

The accompanying notes are an integral part
 of these consolidated financial statements.

Page 60

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Three years ended December 29, 2012 
(in thousands)

Net income
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

Pension adjustments
Natural gas swap derivative adjustments
Corn option derivative adjustments
Interest rate swap derivative adjustments

Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Total comprehensive income

$

December 29,
2012

Year Ended
December 31,
2011

January 1,
2011

$

130,770

$

169,418

$

44,243

(1,169)
391
194
159
(425)
130,345

$

(10,146)
(482)
—
712
(9,916)
159,502

$

2,346
(59)
—
507
2,794
47,037

The accompanying notes are an integral part
 of these consolidated financial statements.

Page 61

 
 
 
DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
Three years ended December 29, 2012 
(in thousands, except share data)

Common Stock

Number of
Outstanding
Shares
82,226,690 $

$.01 par
Value

Additional
Paid-In
Capital

Treasury
Stock

Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss

Retained
Earnings

Total
Stockholders'
Equity

(3,855) $
—

(23,782) $
—

154,345 $
44,243

284,877
44,243

—

—

—

—
254,220
—

—
(51,740)
10,130,501
92,559,671 $

—

—

—

—
174,285
—

—
(88,364)
24,402,846
117,048,438 $

—

—

—

—

—
486,697

—

826 $
—

—

—

—
3
—

—
—
101
930 $
—

—

—

—
2
—

—
—
244
1,176 $
—

—

—

—

—
5

—

157,343 $

—

—

—

—
2,401
94

234
—
130,034
290,106 $

—

—

—

—
2,538
492

1,125
—
293,424
587,685 $

—

—

—

—

—
6,808

3,727

2,652
—
2,964

—

—

—
—
—

—
(485)
—
(4,340) $
—

—

—

—
—
—

—
(1,248)
—
(5,588) $
—

—

—

—

—
—

—

—
(4,445)
—

—
(264,275)
544,131
117,814,991 $

—
—
5
1,186 $

603,836 $ (10,033) $

The accompanying notes are an integral part
 of these consolidated financial statements.

Page 62

2,346

507

(59)
—
—

—
—
—
(20,988) $
—

(10,146)

712

(482)
—
—

—
—
—
(30,904) $
—

(1,169)

159

391

194
—

—

—
—
—
(31,329) $

—

—

—
—
—

—
—
—

198,588 $
169,418

—

—

—
—
—

—
—
—

368,006 $
130,770

—

—

—

—
—

—

—
—
—

498,776 $

2,346

507

(59)
2,404
94

234
(485)
130,135
464,296
169,418

(10,146)

712

(482)
2,540
492

1,125
(1,248)
293,668
920,375
130,770

(1,169)

159

391

194
6,813

3,727

2,652
(4,445)
2,969
1,062,436

Balances at January 2, 2010
Net income
Pension liability adjustments, net

of tax

Interest rate swap derivative
adjustment, net of tax
Natural gas swap derivative
adjustment, net of tax
Issuance of non-vested stock
Stock-based compensation
Tax benefits associated with stock-

based compensation

Treasury stock
Issuance of common stock
Balances at January 1, 2011
Net income
Pension liability adjustments, net

of tax

Interest rate swap derivative
adjustment, net of tax
Natural gas swap derivative
adjustment, net of tax
Issuance of non-vested stock
Stock-based compensation
Tax benefits associated with stock-

based compensation

Treasury stock
Issuance of common stock
Balances at December 31, 2011
Net income
Pension liability adjustments, net

of tax

Interest rate swap derivative
adjustment, net of tax
Natural gas swap derivative
adjustment, net of tax

Corn option derivative adjustment, 

net of tax

Issuance of non-vested stock

Stock-based compensation
Tax benefits associated with stock-

based compensation

Treasury stock
Issuance of common stock
Balances at December 29, 2012

  
 
DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Three years ended December 29, 2012
(in thousands)

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net income

     Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

December 29,
2012

December 31,
2011

January 1,
2011

$

130,770

$

169,418

$

44,243

Depreciation and amortization
Deferred income taxes
Loss/(gain) on sale of assets
Gain on insurance proceeds from insurance settlement
Increase/(decrease) in long-term pension liability
Stock-based compensation expense
Write-off deferred loan costs
Deferred loan cost amortization
Equity in net loss of unconsolidated subsidiary
             Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net
                   of effects from acquisitions:

Accounts receivable
Escrow receivable
Income taxes refundable
Inventories and prepaid expenses
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
Other

Net cash provided by operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities:

Capital expenditures
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired
Investment in unconsolidated subsidiary

     Gross proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment and other assets

Proceeds from insurance settlement
Payments related to routes and other intangibles

Net cash used in investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt
Payments on long-term debt
Borrowings from revolving credit facility
Payments on revolving credit facility
Deferred loan costs
Issuance of common stock
Minimum withholding taxes paid on stock awards
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation

Net cash provided/(used) in financing activities

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

Cash paid during the year for:

Interest
Income taxes, net of refunds

Non-cash financing activities

Debt issued for service contract assets

85,371
10,338
1,099
(4,272)
2,790
8,904
725
3,042
2,662

(2,324)
—
17,845
(15,168)
3,923
3,832
249,537

(115,413)
(3,000)
(43,424)
3,870
4,272
(137)
(153,832)

—
(30,032)
—
—
—
72
(4,084)
2,652
(31,392)
64,313
38,936
103,249

21,798
43,491

$

$
$

78,909
24,702
622
—
(895)
3,932
4,920
3,324
1,572

(10,086)
16,267
(15,568)
(5,760)
(29,083)
(1,410)
240,864

(60,153)
(1,754)
(23,305)
1,529
—
—
(83,683)

—
(270,009)
131,000
(291,000)
(399)
293,117
(1,281)
1,125
(137,447)
19,734
19,202
38,936

29,056
88,241

$

$
$

31,908
2,402
51
—
1,353
2,146
851
670
—

(6,276)
(16,267)
(2,632)
(4,661)
25,490
2,232
81,510

(24,720)
(758,182)
—
624
—
(1,367)
(783,645)

550,000
(32,509)
160,000
—
(24,020)
35
(585)
234
653,155
(48,980)
68,182
19,202

7,743
28,114

226

$

— $

—

$

$
$

$

 The accompanying notes are an integral part
 of these consolidated financial statements.

Page 63

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

NOTE 1.  GENERAL

(a)  

NATURE OF OPERATIONS

Darling International Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Darling", and together with its subsidiaries, the "Company"), is 
a leading provider of rendering, used cooking oil and bakery residual recycling and recovery solutions to the nation's 
food industry.  The Company collects and recycles animal by-products, bakery residual and used cooking oil from 
poultry and meat processors, commercial bakeries, grocery stores, butcher shops, and food service establishments 
and provides grease trap cleaning services to many of the same establishments.  On December 17, 2010, Darling 
completed its acquisition of Griffin Industries Inc. (which was subsequently converted to a limited liability company) 
and its subsidiaries ("Griffin") pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 9, 2010 (the 
"Merger Agreement"), by and among Darling, DG Acquisition Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Darling ("Merger 
Sub"), Griffin and Robert A. Griffin, as the Griffin shareholders’ representative.  Merger Sub was merged with and 
into Griffin (the "Merger"), and Griffin survived the Merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Darling (the "Griffin 
Transaction").  The Company operates over 120 processing and transfer facilities located throughout the United States 
to process raw materials into finished products such as protein (primarily meat and bone meal ("MBM") and poultry 
meal ("PM")), hides, fats (primarily bleachable fancy tallow ("BFT"), poultry grease ("PG") and yellow grease ("YG")) 
and bakery by-products ("BBP") as well as a range of branded and value-added products.  The Company sells these 
products domestically and internationally, primarily to producers of animal feed, pet food, fertilizer, bio-fuels and 
other consumer and industrial ingredients including oleo-chemicals, soaps and leather goods for use as ingredients in 
their  products  or  for  further  processing.  Effective  January 2,  2011,  as  a  result  of  the  acquisition  of  Griffin,  the 
Company's business operations were reorganized into two new segments, Rendering and Bakery, in order to better 
align its business with the underlying markets and customers that the Company serves.  All historical periods have 
been restated for the changes to the segment reporting structure.  The Company's fiscal 2012 and fiscal 2011 year end 
results include 52 weeks of contribution from the assets acquired in the Griffin Transaction, as compared to 2 weeks 
of contributions from these assets in fiscal 2010.  For additional information on the Company’s segments, see Note 
20.

(b) 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

(1)   Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries.  All significant 
intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

(2)  Fiscal Year 

The Company has a 52/53 week fiscal year ending on the Saturday nearest December 31.  Fiscal years for the 
consolidated financial statements included herein are for the 52 weeks ended December 29, 2012, the 52 weeks 
ended December 31, 2011, and the 52 weeks ended January 1, 2011.

(3)   Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all short-term highly liquid instruments, with an original maturity of three months or 
less, to be cash equivalents.

(4)   Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The Company maintains allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from customers’ non-
payment of trade accounts receivable owed to the Company.  These trade receivables arise in the ordinary course 
of business from sales of raw material, finished product or services to the Company’s customers.  The estimate 
of  allowance  for  doubtful  accounts  is  based  upon  the  Company’s  bad  debt  experience,  prevailing  market 
conditions,  and  aging  of  trade  accounts  receivable,  among  other  factors.  If  the  financial  condition  of  the 
Company’s customers deteriorates, resulting in the customers’ inability to pay the Company’s receivables as 
they come due, additional allowances for doubtful accounts may be required.

Page 64

 
DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(5)   Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market.  Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) 
method.

(6)   Long Lived Assets

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost.  Depreciation is computed by the straight-line method over 
the estimated useful lives of assets:  1) Buildings and improvements, 15 to 30 years; 2) Machinery and equipment, 
3 to 10 years; 3) Vehicles, 2 to 6 years; and 4) Aircraft, 7 to 10 years.

Maintenance  and  repairs  are  charged  to  expense  as  incurred  and  expenditures  for  major  renewals  and 
improvements are capitalized.

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets with indefinite lives, and therefore, not subject to amortization, consist of trade names acquired 
in the acquisition of Griffin.  Intangible assets subject to amortization consist of:  1) collection routes which are 
made up of groups of suppliers of raw materials in similar geographic areas from which the Company derives 
collection fees and a dependable source of raw materials for processing into finished products;  2) permits that 
represent licensing of operating plants that have been acquired, giving those plants the ability to operate; 3) non-
compete agreements that represent contractual arrangements with former competitors whose businesses were 
acquired;  4)  trade  names;  and  5)  royalty,  consulting  and  leasehold  agreements.  Amortization  expense  is 
calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets ranging from:  5 to 20 
years for collection routes; 10 to 20 years for permits; 3 to 7 years for non-compete covenants; and 15 years for 
trade names.  Royalty, consulting and leasehold agreements are amortized over the term of the agreement.

(7)   Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed of

The  Company  reviews  the  carrying  value  of  long-lived  assets  for  impairment  when  events  or  changes  in 
circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset, or related asset group, may not be recoverable from 
estimated  future  undiscounted  cash  flows.  Recoverability  of  assets  to  be  held  and  used  is  measured  by  a 
comparison  of  the  carrying  amount  of  an  asset  or  asset  group  to  estimated  undiscounted  future  cash  flows 
expected to be generated by the asset or asset group.  If the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its estimated 
future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset 
exceeds the fair value of the asset.  In fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010 no triggering event occurred requiring that 
the Company perform testing of its long-lived assets for impairment.

(8)  Goodwill

Goodwill and indefinite lived assets are tested for impairment annually or more frequently if events or changes 
in circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired.  The Company follows a two-step process for testing 
impairment.  First, the fair value of each reporting unit is compared to its carrying value to determine whether 
an indication of impairment exists.  If impairment is indicated, then the fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill 
is determined by allocating the unit’s fair value of its assets and liabilities (including any unrecognized intangible 
assets) as if the reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination.  The amount of impairment for 
goodwill is measured as the excess of its carrying value over its implied fair value.

In fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, the fair values of the Company’s reporting units containing goodwill exceeded 
the related carrying value.  Goodwill was approximately $381.4 million  at December 29, 2012 and December 31, 
2011, respectively.  See Note 6 for further information on the Company’s goodwill.

Page 65

 
  
 
 
 
 
DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(9)  Environmental Expenditures

Environmental expenditures incurred to mitigate or prevent environmental impacts that have yet to occur and 
that otherwise may result from future operations are capitalized.  Expenditures that relate to an existing condition 
caused by past operations and that do not contribute to current or future revenues are expensed or charged against 
established environmental reserves.  Reserves are established when environmental impacts have been identified 
which are probable to require mitigation and/or remediation and the costs are reasonably estimable.

(10)  Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes using the asset and liability method.  Under the asset and liability 
method,  deferred  tax  assets  and  liabilities  are  recognized  for  the  future  tax  consequences  attributable  to 
differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective 
tax bases.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable 
income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.  The effect on 
deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the 
enactment date.

The Company periodically assesses whether it is more likely than not that it will generate sufficient taxable 
income  to  realize  its  deferred  income  tax  assets.  In  making  this  determination,  the  Company  considers  all 
available positive and negative evidence and makes certain assumptions.  The Company considers, among other 
things, its deferred tax liabilities, the overall business environment, its historical earnings and losses, current 
industry trends and its outlook for future years.  Although the Company is unable to carryback any of its net 
operating losses, based upon recent favorable operating results and future projections, certain net operating 
losses can be carried forward and utilized and other deferred tax assets will be realized.

(11)  Earnings per Share

Basic income per common share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common 
shares including non-vested and restricted shares outstanding during the period.  Diluted income per common 
share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during 
the period increased by dilutive common equivalent shares determined using the treasury stock method.

Net Income per Common Share (in thousands)

December 29,

2012

December 31,

2011

January 1,

2011

Income

Shares

Per-
Share

Income

Shares

Per-
Share

Income

Shares

Per-
Share

$ 130,770

117,592

$ 1.11

$169,418

114,924

$ 1.47

$ 44,243

82,854

$ 0.53

—

—

806

(309)

—

—

—

—

972

(371)

—

—

—

—

778

(389)

—

—

$ 130,770

118,089

$ 1.11

$169,418

115,525

$ 1.47

$ 44,243

83,243

$ 0.53

Basic:

Net income

Diluted:

Effect of dilutive securities

Add: Option shares in the money and
dilutive effect of nonvested stock

Less: Pro-forma treasury shares

Diluted:

Net income

For  fiscal  2012,  2011  and  2010,  respectively,  207,890,  63,272  and  87,843  outstanding  stock  options  were 
excluded from diluted income per common share as the effect was antidilutive.  For fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, 
respectively, 105,486, 330,268 and 75,714 non-vested stock were excluded from diluted income per common 
share as the effect was antidilutive.

Page 66

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(12)  Stock Based Compensation

The Company recognizes compensation expense in an amount equal to the fair value of the share-based payments 
(e.g., stock options and non-vested and restricted stock) granted to employees or by incurring liabilities to an 
employee or other supplier (a) in amounts based, at least in part, on the price of the entity’s shares or other equity 
instruments, or (b) that require or may require settlement by issuing the entity’s equity shares or other equity 
instruments.

Total stock-based compensation recognized in the statements of operations for the years ended December 29, 
2012, December 31, 2011 and January 1, 2011 was approximately $8.9 million, $4.9 million and $2.8 million, 
respectively, which is included in selling, general and administrative costs, and the related income tax benefit 
recognized was approximately $3.5 million, $1.9 million and $1.1 million, respectively.  See Note 13 for further 
information on the Company’s stock-based compensation plans. 

The  benefits  of  tax  deductions  in  excess  of  recognized  compensation  cost  are  reported  as  a  financing  cash 
flow.  For the year ended December 29, 2012, December 31, 2011 and January 1, 2011 the Company recognized 
$2.7 million, $1.1 million and $0.2 million as an increase in financing cash flows.  

(13)  Use of Estimates

The preparation of the consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting 
principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets 
and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements 
and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.  Actual results could differ from 
those estimates.

If it is at least reasonably possible that the estimate of the effect on the financial statements of a condition, 
situation, or set of circumstances that exist at the date of the financial statements will change in the near term 
due to one or more future confirming events and the effect of the change would be material to the financial 
statements, the Company will disclose the nature of the uncertainty and include an indication that it is at least 
reasonably possible that a change in the estimate will occur in the near term.  If the estimate involves certain 
loss contingencies the disclosure will also include an estimate of the probable loss or range of loss or state that 
an estimate cannot be made.

(14)  Financial Instruments

The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued expenses 
approximates  fair  value  due  to  the  short  maturity  of  these  instruments. The  Company's  has  no  term  debt 
outstanding at December 29, 2012.  At December 31, 2011, the term loan had a fair value of approximately 
$30.9 million compared to a carrying amount of $30.0 million.  The  carrying amount for the Company’s other 
debt is not deemed to be significantly different than the amount recorded and all other financial instruments 
have been recorded at fair value as disclosed in Note 17. 

(15)  Derivative Instruments

The Company makes limited use of derivative instruments to manage cash flow risks related to interest expense, 
natural  gas  usage,  diesel  fuel  usage,  inventory  and  forecasted  sales.  The  Company  does  not  use  derivative 
instruments  for  trading  purposes.  Interest  rate  swaps  are  entered  into  with  the  intent  of  managing  overall 
borrowing  costs  by  reducing  the  potential  impact  of  increases  in  interest  rates  on  floating-rate  long-term 
debt.  Natural gas swaps and options are entered into with the intent of managing the overall cost of natural gas 
usage by reducing the potential impact of seasonal weather demands on natural gas that increases natural gas 
prices.  Heating oil swaps are entered into with the intent of managing the overall cost of diesel fuel usage by 
reducing  the  potential  impact  of  seasonal  weather  demands  on  diesel  fuel  that  increases  diesel  fuel 
prices.  Inventory swaps and options are entered into with the intent of managing seasonally high concentrations 
of MBM, PM, BFT, PG, YG and BBP inventories by reducing the potential impact of changing prices.  Corn 
options are entered into with the intent of managing forecasted sales of BBP by reducing the impact of changing 
prices.  At December 29, 2012, the Company had natural gas swaps and corn options outstanding that qualified

Page 67

DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

and were designated for hedge accounting as well as natural gas swaps, heating oil swaps and options and corn 
options and future contracts that did not qualify and were not designated for hedge accounting.

Entities are required to report all derivative instruments in the statement of financial position at fair value. The 
accounting for changes in the fair value (i.e., gains or losses) of a derivative instrument depends on whether it 
has been designated and qualifies as part of a hedging relationship and, if so, on the reason for holding the 
instrument. If certain conditions are met, entities may elect to designate a derivative instrument as a hedge of 
exposures to changes in fair value, cash flows or foreign currencies.  If the hedged exposure is a cash flow 
exposure, the effective portion of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is reported initially as a component 
of other comprehensive income (outside of earnings) and is subsequently reclassified into earnings when the 
forecasted transaction affects earnings. Any amounts excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness as 
well as the ineffective portion of the gain or loss is reported in earnings immediately. If the derivative instrument 
is not designated as a hedge, the gain or loss is recognized in earnings in the period of change.

(16)  Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue on sales when products are shipped and the customer takes ownership and 
assumes risk of loss.  Certain customers may be required to prepay prior to shipment in order to maintain payment 
protection against certain foreign and domestic sales.  These amounts are recorded as unearned revenue and 
recognized when the products have shipped and the customer takes ownership and assumes risk of loss.  The 
Company has formula arrangements with certain suppliers whereby the charge or credit for raw materials is tied 
to published finished product commodity prices after deducting a fixed processing fee incorporated into the 
formula and is recorded as a cost of sale by line of business.  The Company recognizes revenue related to grease 
trap servicing in the month the trap service occurs.

(17)  Related Party Transactions

The Company announced on January 21, 2011 that a wholly-owned subsidiary of Darling entered into a limited 
liability company agreement with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Valero Energy Corporation ("Valero") to form 
Diamond Green Diesel Holdings LLC (the "Joint Venture').  The Company has related party sale transactions 
with  the  Joint Venture.   Additionally,  Darling  through  its  wholly-owned  subsidiary  Griffin,  leases  two  real 
properties located in Butler, Kentucky and real properties located in each of Jackson, Mississippi and Henderson, 
Kentucky from Martom Properties, LLC, an entity owned in part by Martin W. Griffin, the Company’s Executive 
Vice President – Co-Chief Operations Officer.  See Note 9 and Note 22 for further information on the Company's 
related party transactions.

(18)  Reclassification

Certain prior year immaterial amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

(19)  Subsequent Events

The Company has evaluated subsequent events from the end of the most recent fiscal year through the date the 
consolidated financial statements were issued. 

NOTE 2.  ACQUISITIONS

On  December 17,  2010,  Darling  completed  its  acquisition  of  all  of  the  shares  of  Griffin  pursuant  to  the  Griffin 
Transaction.   The  Griffin Transaction  increased  Darling’s  capabilities  by  growing  volumes,  diversifying  the  raw 
material supplies, increasing the ability to better serve the Company’s customers and suppliers and providing new 
opportunities for business growth on a national platform.

The amount of Griffin's revenue and earnings included in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations for the 
year ended January 1, 2011 were $27.7 million and $1.9 million, respectively.

Page 68

DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

As a result of the Griffin Transaction, effective December 17, 2010, the Company began including the operations 
of Griffin into the Company's consolidated financial statements.  The following table presents selected pro forma 
information, for comparative purposes, assuming the Griffin Transaction had occurred on January 4, 2009 for the 
periods presented (unaudited) (in thousands, except per share data):

Net sales
Income from continuing operations
Net income
Earnings per share

Basic
Diluted

January 1,
2011
1,339,589
133,184
85,344

0.92
0.91

$

$
$

The selected unaudited pro forma information is not necessarily indicative of the consolidated results of operations 
for future periods or the results of operations that would have been realized had the Griffin Transaction actually 
occurred on January 4, 2009.

Total consideration paid in the Griffin Transaction was approximately $872.2 million, comprised of $740.5 million 
in cash, the issuance of approximately 10.0 million shares of Darling common stock (valued at the fair market value 
at the closing of $13.06 or approximately $130.6 million), a $16.3 million escrow receivable for certain over funding 
of working capital, a $13.6 million accrued expense for the Company’s election to step up the tax basis of the assets 
acquired in the Griffin Transaction and a long-term liability of approximately $3.8 million of contingent consideration 
for the true-up adjustment as further described below.  During fiscal 2011 working capital adjustments were made 
between bakery goodwill and accounts receivable of approximately $1.7 million , between rendering goodwill and 
accrued expense of approximately $2.0 million, between bakery and rendering goodwill and accounts payable of 
approximately $0.3 million, and the Company received approximately $16.4 million from escrow representing the 
$16.3 million escrow receivable recorded for certain over funding of working capital and other immaterial amounts.  
Additionally, the Company paid approximately $13.8 million to the former Griffin shareholders for the Company's 
election under Section 338(h)(10) of the Internal Revenue Code, an increase of approximately $0.2 million from the 
original $13.6 million accrual.  The tax benefit from the step up in the tax basis of the Griffin assets is expected to 
occur over a period of approximately 15 years.  However, there can be no assurance that the Company will generate 
sufficient income to take advantage of these possible tax deductions.  Further, there could be changes in the tax law 
that could erode the value of the increased tax basis of the Griffin assets.  The tax benefits that may be received by 
the Company as a result of the Section 338(h)(10) election will have no impact on the Company's earnings and will 
impact cash flows only to the extent that the Company has taxable income that is offset by depreciation and amortization 
deductions on the Griffin assets.  The cash consideration in the Griffin Transaction was funded primarily through 
borrowings under the Company's credit agreement and the sale of senior notes as further discussed in Note 10.  The 
shares issued in the Griffin Transaction were issued on terms set forth in the rollover agreement, dated as of November 9, 
2010 (the “Rollover Agreement”), by and among Darling, certain of Griffin's shareholders who qualify as “accredited 
investors” (the “Rollover Shareholders”) pursuant to Rule 501(a) of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities 
Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Robert A. Griffin, as such shareholders' representative to the 
Rollover Shareholders.

The Rollover Agreement provided for a true-up adjustment in which additional cash of up to $15.0 million could have 
been paid by Darling if on the True-Up Date (the last day of the 13th full consecutive month following the closing of 
the Merger), the True-up Market Price (as defined in the Rollover Agreement) had been less than $10.002.  If the 
True-Up Market Price exceeds $10.002, no additional consideration is required to be paid.  The Company initially 
valued this contingent consideration at fair value of approximately $3.8 million based on the probability that the 
Company’s stock would be less than the True-up Market Price as defined above.  At December 31, 2011, the contingent 
consideration was revalued to a value of zero as it was considered almost certain that the True-Up Market Price on 
January 31, 2012 would exceed $10.002 as defined in the Rollover Agreement.  On January 31, 2012, the True-up 
Market Price exceeded $10.002 and therefore, no adjustment was paid under the Rollover Agreement.

The Company also incurred costs as part of the Griffin Transaction for consulting, legal and financing in the amount 
of approximately $37.7 million of which $10.6 million was expensed as acquisition costs and approximately $3.1 
million was recorded as interest expense.  Additionally, approximately $24.0 million was capitalized as deferred loan 
costs, which are included in other assets on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets in fiscal 2010.

Page 69

 
 
 
 
 
DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

The following table summarizes the fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the Griffin Transaction 
as of December 17, 2010 (in thousands):

Cash
Accounts receivable
Inventory
Other current assets
Other assets
Deferred tax asset
Identifiable intangibles
Property and equipment
Goodwill
Accounts payable
Accrued expenses
Other liabilities

Purchase price

$

$

350
33,872
22,623
2,558
3,103
2,538
349,775
234,115
294,669
(46,275)
(14,127)
(11,004)
872,197

The $294.7 million of goodwill was assigned to the rendering and bakery segments in the amounts of $241.5 million 
and  $53.2  million,  respectively.  Of  the  total  amount,  $294.7  million  is  expected  to  be  deductible  for  tax 
purposes.  Identifiable intangibles include trade names with indefinite lives of approximately $92.0 million and definite 
lived intangible assets including trade names of approximately $0.5 million with a weighted average useful life of 15 
years, $228.4 million in permits with a weighted average useful life of 13 years, $25.1 million in routes with a weighted 
average useful life of 5 years, and $3.8 million in non-compete and leasehold agreements with a useful life of 5 years.

The Company notes the acquisitions discussed below are not considered related businesses, therefore are not required 
to be treated as a single business combination.  Pro forma results of operations for these acquisitions have not been 
presented because the effect of each acquisition individually is not deemed material to revenues and net income of 
the Company for any fiscal period presented.  

On  June 8,  2012,  the  Company  completed  its  acquisition  of  substantially  all  of  the  assets  of  RVO  BioPur,  LLC 
("BioPur") for approximately $3.0 million including property plant and equipment of $0.6 million and intangible 
assets of $2.4 million.  Headquartered in Waterbury, Connecticut, BioPur provides used cooking oil collection and 
grease trap services to restaurants and food service establishments in the New England area of the Company's existing 
East coast operations.  The identifiable intangibles have a weighted average life of nine years.

On  May 28,  2010,  the  Company  acquired  certain  rendering  business  assets  from  Nebraska  By-Products,  Inc.  for 
approximately $15.3 million.  The purchase was accounted for as an asset purchase pursuant to the terms of the asset 
purchase agreement between the Company and Nebraska By-Products, Inc. and affiliated companies (the "Nebraska 
Transaction").  The assets acquired in the Nebraska Transaction will increase the Company’s rendering portfolio and 
better serve the Company’s customers within the rendering segment.

Effective May 28, 2010, the Company began including the operations of the Nebraska Transaction into the Company's 
consolidated financial statements.  The Company paid approximately $15.3 million in cash for assets and assumed 
liabilities consisting of property, plant and equipment of $9.6 million, intangible assets of $2.8 million, goodwill of 
$2.8 million and other of $0.1 million on the closing date.  The goodwill from the Nebraska Transaction was assigned 
to the rendering segment and is expected to be deductible for tax purposes.  The identifiable intangibles have a weighted 
average life of eleven years.

On August 25, 2008, Darling completed the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of API Recycling's used 
cooking oil collection business (the "API Transaction").  The API Transaction included additional consideration that 
could be required to be paid each anniversary by the Company, if certain average market prices are achieved over the 
three years following the anniversary of the closing of the API Transaction, less on a prorata basis a long term receivable 
recorded  at  closing.  During  fiscal  2011,  the  Company  paid  approximately  $1.3  million  representing  additional 
consideration of $1.6 million recorded as goodwill less approximately $0.3 million representing a reduction of the 
long term receivable.

Page 70

 
 
 
 
 
 
DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

NOTE 3. 

INVENTORIES

A summary of inventories follows (in thousands):

Finished product
Supplies and other

NOTE 4.  PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

A summary of property, plant and equipment follows (in thousands):

Land
Buildings and improvements
Machinery and equipment
Vehicles
Aircraft
Construction in process

Accumulated depreciation

December 29,
2012

December 31,
2011

$

$

60,064
5,001
65,065

$

$

46,106
4,724
50,830

December 29,
2012

December 31,
2011

$

$

49,619
129,243
414,535
97,198
18,465
71,068
780,128
(326,201)
453,927

$

$

46,386
117,505
372,988
90,651
11,650
39,442
678,622
(278,400)
400,222

NOTE 5. 

INTANGIBLE ASSETS

The gross carrying amount of intangible assets not subject to amortization and intangible assets subject to amortization 
is as follows (in thousands):

December 29,
2012

December 31,
2011

Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets

Trade Names

Finite Lived Intangible Assets:

Routes
Permits
Non-compete agreements
Trade Names
Royalty, consulting and leasehold 

Accumulated Amortization:

Routes
Permits
Non-compete agreements
Trade Names
Royalty, consulting and leasehold

Total Intangible assets, less accumulated amortization

$

Page 71

$

92,002
92,002

$

61,951
251,550
3,654
539
727
318,421

(27,681)
(43,209)
(1,525)
(73)
(533)
(73,021)
337,402

$

92,002
92,002

95,567
251,413
5,018
539
739
353,276

(55,333)
(24,386)
(2,162)
(37)
(446)
(82,364)
362,914

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

Gross intangible routes and non-compete agreements decreased in fiscal 2012 by approximately $37.4 million due to 
asset  retirements.     Amortization  expense  for  the  three  years  ended  December 29,  2012,  December 31,  2011  and 
January 1, 2011, was approximately $28.1 million, $28.0 million and $5.6 million, respectively.  Amortization expense 
for the next five fiscal years is estimated to be $27.8 million, $27.8 million, $27.3 million, $22.0 million and $21.4 
million.

NOTE 6.  GOODWILL

Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill (in thousands):

Balance at December 31, 2011

Goodwill
Accumulated impairment losses

Goodwill acquired during year
Impairment losses

Balance at December 29, 2012

Goodwill
Accumulated impairment losses

Rendering

Bakery

Total

$

$

344,133 $
(15,914)
328,219
—
—

344,133
(15,914)
328,219 $

53,150 $
—
53,150
—
—

53,150
—
53,150 $

397,283
(15,914)
381,369
—
—

397,283
(15,914)
381,369

Certain of the Company's rendering facilities are highly dependent on one or few suppliers.  It is reasonably possible 
that certain of those suppliers could cease their operations or choose a competitor’s services, which could have a 
significant impact on these facilities.

The process of evaluating goodwill for impairment involves the determination of the fair value of the Company's 
reporting units.  In fiscal 2012, fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2010, the fair values of the Company’s reporting units containing 
goodwill exceeded the related carrying value.

NOTE 7. 

INVESTMENT IN UNCONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARY

The Company announced on January 21, 2011 that a wholly-owned subsidiary of Darling entered into a limited liability 
company agreement with Valero to form the Joint Venture.  The Joint Venture is owned 50% / 50% with Valero and 
was formed to design, engineer, construct and operate a renewable diesel plant (the “Facility”), which will be capable 
of producing approximately 9,300 barrels per day of renewable diesel fuel and certain other co-products, to be located 
adjacent to Valero's refinery in Norco, Louisiana.  The Joint Venture is in the process of constructing the Facility under 
an engineering, procurement and construction contract that is intended to fix the Company's maximum economic 
exposure for the cost of the Facility, without regard to project scope changes. Construction of the Facility is substantially 
complete with the phased commissioning of the Facility currently anticipated to be in the second quarter 2013.

On May 31, 2011, the Joint Venture and Diamond Green Diesel LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Joint Venture 
(“Opco”), entered into (i) a facility agreement (the “Facility Agreement”) with Diamond Alternative Energy, LLC, a 
wholly-owned subsidiary of Valero (the “Lender”), and (ii) a loan agreement (the “Loan Agreement”) with the Lender, 
which will provide the Joint Venture with a 14 year multiple advance term loan facility of approximately $221,300,000 
(the “JV Loan”) to support the design, engineering and construction of the Facility, which is now in the final stages 
of construction.    The Facility Agreement and the Loan Agreement prohibit the Lender from assigning all or any 
portion  of  the  Facility Agreement  or  the  Loan Agreement  to  unaffiliated  third  parties.    Opco  has  also  pledged 
substantially all of its assets to the Lender, and the Joint Venture has pledged all of Opco's equity interests to the 
Lender, until the JV Loan has been paid in full and the JV Loan has terminated in accordance with its terms.

Pursuant to sponsor support agreements executed in connection with the Facility Agreement and the Loan Agreement, 
each of the Company and Valero are committed to contributing approximately $93.2 million of the estimated aggregate 
costs of approximately $407.7 million for the completion of the Facility.  The Company is also required to pay for 
50% of any cost overruns incurred in connection with the construction of the Facility, including relating to any project 
scope changes and working capital funding.  As of the date of this report, it is anticipated that the project will incur

Page 72

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

an additional $17.3 million in costs related to project scope changes, of which the Company will be responsible for 
50%.  As of December 29, 2012 under the equity method of accounting, the Company has an investment in the Joint 
Venture of approximately $62.5 million on the consolidated balance sheet and has recorded approximately $2.7 million 
and $1.6 million in losses in the unconsolidated subsidiary for the years ended December 29, 2012 and December 31, 
2011, respectively.

NOTE 8.  ACCRUED EXPENSES

Accrued expenses consist of the following (in thousands):

December 29,
2012

December 31,
2011

Compensation and benefits
Utilities and sewage
Accrued income, ad valorem, and franchise taxes
Reserve for self insurance, litigation, environmental and 

$

tax matters  (Note 19)

Medical claims liability
Other accrued expense

$

36,087
5,114
4,817

8,810
4,671
18,089
77,588

$

$

28,100
4,992
2,164

9,214
5,579
16,796
66,845

NOTE 9.  LEASES

The Company leases ten processing plants and storage locations, land surrounding certain processing plants, three 
office locations and a portion of its transportation equipment under operating leases.  Leases are noncancellable and 
expire  at  various  times  through  the  year  2040.  Minimum  rental  commitments  under  noncancellable  leases  as  of 
December 29, 2012, are as follows (in thousands):

Period Ending Fiscal
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
Thereafter
Total

$

$

Operating Leases

17,715
15,056
12,267
10,347
8,494
26,453
90,332

Darling through its wholly-owned subsidiary Griffin, leases two real properties located in Butler, Kentucky and real 
properties located in each of Jackson, Mississippi and Henderson, Kentucky from Martom Properties, LLC, an entity 
owned in part by Martin W. Griffin, the Company's Executive Vice President – Co-Chief Operations Officer. See Note 
22 for further information on the Company's related party lease transactions.

Rent  expense  for  the  fiscal  years  ended  December 29,  2012,  December 31,  2011  and  January 1,  2011  was  $12.6 
million, $12.3 million and $9.7 million, respectively.

NOTE 10.  DEBT

Credit Facilities

Senior Secured Credit Facilities.  On December 17, 2010, the Company entered into a credit agreement (the “Credit 
Agreement”) in connection with the Griffin Transaction, consisting of a five-year senior secured revolving loan facility 
and a six-year senior secured term loan facility.  On March 25, 2011, the Company amended its Credit Agreement to 
increase the aggregate available principal amount under the revolving loan facility from $325.0 million to $415.0 
million (approximately $75.0 million of which will be available for a letter of credit sub-facility and $15.0 million of 
which will be available for a swingline sub-facility) and to add additional stepdowns to the pricing grid providing

Page 73

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

lower spread margins to the applicable base or Libor rate under the Credit Agreement based on defined leverage ratio 
levels.  As of December 29, 2012, the Company had availability of $384.9 million under the revolving loan facility, 
taking into account no outstanding borrowings and letters of credit issued of $30.1 million.   As of December 29, 
2012, the Company had repaid all of the original $300.0 million term loan issued under the Credit Agreement, including  
$30.0 million repaid in fiscal 2012 and $270.0 million repaid in fiscal 2011.  The amounts that have been repaid on 
the term loan may not be reborrowed.  As a result of the term loan payments, the Company incurred a write-off of its 
senior term loan facilities deferred loan costs of approximately $0.7 million and $4.9 million during the fiscal year 
ending December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, which is included in interest expense.   The revolving 
credit facility has a five-year term ending December 17, 2015.  The Company used the proceeds of the term loan 
facility and a portion of the revolving loan facility to pay a portion of the consideration of its acquisition of Griffin, 
to pay related fees and expenses and to provide for working capital needs and general corporate purposes.

The Credit Agreement allows for borrowings at per annum rates based on the following loan types. With respect to 
any revolving facility loan, i) an alternate base rate means a rate per annum equal to the greatest of (a) the prime rate 
(b) the federal funds effective rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement) plus ½ to 1% and (c) the adjusted London 
Inter-Bank Offer Rate (“LIBOR”) for a month interest period plus 1%, plus in each case, a margin determined by 
reference to a pricing grid under the Credit Agreement and adjusted according to the Company's adjusted leverage 
ratio, and, ii) Eurodollar rate loans bear interest at a rate per annum based on the then applicable LIBOR multiplied 
by the statutory reserve rate plus a margin determined by reference to a pricing grid and adjusted according to the 
Company's adjusted leverage ratio.  With respect to an alternate base rate loan that is a term loan, at no time will the 
alternate base rate be less than 2.50% per annum, plus the term loan alternate base rate margin of 2.50%.  With respect 
to a LIBOR loan that is a term loan, at no time will the LIBOR rate applicable to the term loans (before giving effect 
to any adjustment for reserve requirements) be less than 1.50% per annum, plus the term loan LIBOR margin of 
3.50%.  

The Credit Agreement contains various customary representations and warranties by the Company, which include 
customary use of materiality, material adverse effect and knowledge qualifiers.  The Credit Agreement also contains 
(a) certain affirmative covenants that impose certain reporting and/or performance obligations on the Company, (b) 
certain negative covenants that generally prohibit, subject to various exceptions, the Company from taking certain 
actions, including, without limitation, incurring indebtedness, making investments, incurring liens, paying dividends, 
and  engaging  in  mergers  and  consolidations,  sale  leasebacks  and  sales  of  assets,  (c)  financial  covenants  such  as 
maximum total leverage ratio and a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio and (d) customary events of default (including 
a change of control).  Obligations under the Credit Agreement may be declared due and payable upon the occurrence 
of such customary events of default.

On December 17, 2010, the Company repaid the balance plus accrued interest on the term facility under the former 
credit agreement and incurred a write-off of deferred loan costs of approximately $0.9 million.

Senior Notes.  On December 17, 2010, Darling issued $250.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 8.5% Senior 
Notes due 2018 (the “Restricted Notes”) under an indenture with U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee.  Darling 
used the net proceeds from the sale of the Restricted Notes to finance in part the cash portion of the purchase price 
paid in connection with Darling's acquisition of Griffin.  The Company will pay 8.5% annual cash interest on the 
Restricted Notes on June 15 and December 15 of each year.   Other than for extraordinary events such as change of 
control and defined assets sales, the Company is not required to make any mandatory redemption or sinking fund 
payments on the Restricted Notes. 

The original holders of the Restricted Notes were given the benefit of registration rights pursuant to a registration 
rights agreement (the “Notes Registration Rights Agreement”) with the representative of the initial purchasers.  In 
accordance  with  the  terms  of  the  Notes  Registration  Rights Agreement,  on  June 15,  2011,  the  Company  filed  a 
registration statement on Form S-4 to offer to exchange all outstanding Restricted Notes for $250.0 million 8.5% 
Senior Notes due 2018 (the “Exchange Notes” and collectively with the Restricted Notes, the “Notes”).  The exchange 
offer  was  made  effective  June 27,  2011  and  expired  July 27,  2011  with  the  Company  offering  to  exchange  all 
outstanding Restricted Notes that were validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the expiration or termination of 
the exchange offer for an equal principal amount of the applicable Exchange Notes.  All of the Notes have been 
exchanged.  The terms of the Exchange Notes are substantially identical in all material respects to those of the applicable 
outstanding Restricted Notes, except that transfer restrictions, registration rights and additional interest provisions 
relating to the Restricted Notes do not apply to the Exchange Notes.  The Exchange Notes have been issued under 
the same indenture as the Restricted Notes.  The Company did not receive any proceeds from the exchange offer.   The

Page 74

DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

Exchange Notes may be sold in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions or through a combination of 
such methods.  The Company does not plan to list the Notes on a national market.

The Company may at any time and from time to time purchase Notes in the open market or otherwise.  The Notes are 
redeemable, in whole or in part, at any time on or after December 15, 2014 at the redemption prices specified in the 
indenture.  Prior to December 15, 2014, the Company may redeem all of the Notes at a redemption price of 100% of 
the principal amount of the Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date and an applicable 
premium as specified in the indenture.

On and after December 15, 2014, the Company may redeem all or, from time to time, a part of the Notes (including 
any additional Notes) upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ notice, at the following redemption prices (expressed 
as a percentage of principal amount), plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes, if any, to the applicable redemption 
date (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest 
payment date), if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on December 15 of the years indicated below:

Year
2014
2015
2016 and thereafter

Percentage
104.250%
102.125%
100.000%

In addition, until December 15, 2013, the Company may, at its option, redeem up to 35% of the original principal 
amount of the Notes and any issuance of additional Notes with the net cash proceeds of one or more equity offerings 
at a redemption price equal to 108.5% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the 
redemption date, subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the 
relevant interest payment date; provided that at least 65% of the original principal amount of the Notes and any 
issuance of additional Notes remains outstanding immediately after each such redemption; provided further that the 
redemption occurs within 90 days after the closing of such equity offering.

The indenture contains covenants limiting Darling's ability and the ability of its restricted subsidiaries to, among other 
things;  incur  additional  indebtedness  or  issue  preferred  stock;  pay  dividends  on  or  make  other  distributions  or 
repurchase of Darling's capital stock or make other restricted payments; create restrictions on the payment of dividends 
or other amounts from Darling's restricted subsidiaries to Darling or Darling's other restricted subsidiaries; make loans 
or  investments;  enter  into  certain  transactions  with  affiliates;  create  liens;  designate  Darling's  subsidiaries  as 
unrestricted subsidiaries; and sell certain assets or merge with or into other companies or otherwise dispose of all or 
substantially all of Darling's assets.  

The indenture also provides for customary events of default, including, without limitation, payment defaults, covenant 
defaults, cross acceleration defaults to certain other indebtedness in excess of specified amounts, certain events of 
bankruptcy and insolvency and judgment defaults in excess of specified amounts. If any such event of default occurs 
and is continuing under the indenture, the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the total 
outstanding Notes may declare the principal, premium, if any, interest and any other monetary obligations on all the 
then outstanding Notes issued under the indenture to be due and payable immediately.

The Credit Agreement and the Notes consisted of the following elements at December 29, 2012 and December 31, 
2011, respectively (in thousands):

Page 75

 
 
 
DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

Senior Notes

8.5% Senior Notes due 2018

Credit Agreement:
Term Loan
Revolving Credit Facility:
Maximum availability
Borrowings outstanding
Letters of credit issued
Availability

December 29,
2012

December 31,
2011

$

$

$

$

250,000

$

250,000

— $

30,000

415,000
—
30,119
384,881

$

$

415,000
—
23,440
391,560

In connection with the Credit Agreement and the Notes the Company incurred approximately $24.0 million of deferred 
loan costs.

The obligations under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by Darling National, Griffin, and its subsidiary, Craig 
Protein Division, Inc ("Craig Protein"”) and are secured by substantially all of the property of the Company, including 
a pledge of 100% of the stock of all material domestic subsidiaries and 65% of the capital stock of certain foreign 
subsidiaries.  The Notes are guaranteed on an unsecured basis by Darling’s existing restricted subsidiaries, including 
Griffin and all of its subsidiaries, other than Darling’s foreign subsidiaries, its captive insurance subsidiary and any 
inactive subsidiary with nominal assets.  The Notes rank equally in right of payment to any existing and future senior 
debt of Darling.  The Notes will be effectively junior to existing and future secured debt of Darling and the guarantors, 
including debt under the Credit Agreement, to the extent of the value of assets securing such debt.  The Notes will be  
structurally subordinated to all of the existing and future liabilities (including trade payables) of each of the subsidiaries 
of Darling that do not guarantee the Notes.  The guarantees by the Guarantors (the "Guarantees") rank equally in right 
of payment to any existing and future senior indebtedness of the guarantors.  The Guarantees will be effectively junior 
to existing and future secured debt of the Guarantors including debt under the Credit Agreement, to the extent the 
value of the assets securing such debt. The Guarantees will be structurally subordinated to all of the existing and future 
liabilities (including trade payables) of each of the subsidiaries of each Guarantor that do not guarantee the Notes.

As of December 29, 2012, the Company believes it is in compliance with all of the financial covenants, as well as all 
of the other covenants contained in the Credit Agreement and Indenture.

Debt consists of the following (in thousands):

Credit Agreement:

Revolving Credit Facility
Term Loan

8.5% Senior Notes due 2018
Other Notes

Less Current Maturities

December 29,
2012

December 31,
2011

$

$

— $
—
250,000
224
250,224
82
250,142

$

—
30,000
250,000
30
280,030
10
280,020

Page 76

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

Maturities of long-term debt at December 29, 2012 follow (in thousands):

2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
thereafter

Contractual
Debt Payment

$

$

82
87
55
—
—
250,000
250,224

The Company entered into a Bridge Facility (the "Bridge Facility") commitment with the parties to the Senior Secured 
Facilities in the aggregate principal amount not to exceed $250.0 million.  The proceeds of the Bridge Facility if drawn 
were to be used to finance in part the Griffin Transaction.  The Bridge Facility was available to ensure that the Griffin 
Transaction would close if certain unsecured financing related to the Company's acquisition did not get issued prior 
to the closing of the Merger.  The Company incurred a commitment fee of approximately $3.1 million for the Bridge 
Facility. The Company recorded the commitment fee as interest expense when the Bridge Facility expired in 2010.

NOTE 11.  OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES

Other noncurrent liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):

Accrued pension liability (Note 15)
Reserve for self insurance, litigation, environmental and tax

matters (Note 19)

Other

December 29,
2012

December 31,
2011

$

$

31,278

$

27,318

28,209
2,052
61,539

$

28,810
2,117
58,245

NOTE 12.  INCOME TAXES

Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") authoritative guidance prescribes accounting for and disclosure of 
uncertain tax positions ("UTP") and requires application of a more likely than not threshold to the recognition and 
de-recognition of UTP.  FASB authoritative guidance permits recognition of the amount of tax benefit that has a greater 
than 50 percent likelihood of being realized upon settlement.  A change in judgment related to the expected ultimate 
resolution of UTP is recognized in earnings in the quarter of change.  At December 29, 2012 the Company had no 
gross unrecognized tax positions.  During the year the Company's gross unrecognized tax benefits decreased $0.2 
million primarily as a result of settlements with taxing authorities and expiration of statute of limitations.  The Company 
does not reasonably expect any material change to the Company's unrecognized tax positions in the next twelve 
months.  The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties, as appropriate, related to unrecognized tax benefits 
as a component of income tax expense.

In fiscal 2012, the Company's major taxing jurisdictions include the U.S. (federal and state).  The Company is currently 
under federal examination by the Internal Revenue Service for fiscal 2009 and fiscal 2010.  The Company expects 
the federal examination to be completed in early 2013.  The Company is also currently being examined by several 
state tax agencies.  The Company does not anticipate that any of the federal or state examinations will have a significant 
impact on the Company's results of operations or financial position.  The statute of limitations for the Company's 
federal and material state returns remains open for examination for tax years 2008 to 2011.

Income tax expense attributable to income from continuing operations before income taxes consists of the 
following (in thousands):

Page 77

 
 
 
 
 
 
DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

Current:

Federal
State
Foreign

Total current

Deferred:

Federal
State

Total deferred

December 29,
2012

December 31,
2011

January 1,
2011

$

$

54,982
10,368
58
65,408

10,015
592
10,607
76,015

$

$

58,903
13,461
467
72,831

26,233
3,812
30,045
102,876

$

$

21,491
4,356
—
25,847

256
(3)
253
26,100

Income tax expense for the years ended December 29, 2012, December 31, 2011 and January 1, 2011, differed from 
the amount computed by applying the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate to income from continuing operations 
before income taxes as a result of the following (in thousands):

Computed "expected" tax expense
State income taxes, net of federal benefit
Section 199 qualified domestic
production deduction
Change valuation allowance
Other, net

December 29,
2012

December 31,
2011

January 1,
2011

$

$

72,375
7,124

$

95,303
11,226

$

(4,830)
254
1,092
76,015

$

(5,306)
1
1,652
102,876

$

24,620
2,959

(2,079)
(130)
730
26,100

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and deferred 
tax liabilities at December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are presented below (in thousands):

Deferred tax assets:

Loss contingency reserves
Employee benefits
Pension liability
Intangible assets amortization, including taxable goodwill
Other

Total gross deferred tax assets
Less valuation allowance
Net deferred tax assets

Deferred tax liabilities:

Intangible assets amortization, including taxable goodwill
Property, plant and equipment depreciation
Other

Total gross deferred tax liabilities

Amounts reported on Consolidated Balance Sheets:

Current deferred tax asset
Non-current deferred tax liability

Net deferred tax liability

Page 78

December 29,
2012

December 31,
2011

$

$

$

$

$

10,399
5,074
19,734
678
15,721
51,606
(300)
51,306

(22,083)
(53,772)
(9,457)
(85,312)
(34,006) $

8,867
3,380
19,000
2,957
10,992
45,196
(46)
45,150

(14,152)
(43,472)
(11,194)
(68,818)
(23,668)

$

12,609
(46,615)
(34,006) $

7,465
(31,133)
(23,668)

   
 
 
 
 
 
 
DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

At  December 29,  2012,  the  Company  had  net  operating  loss  carryforwards  for  federal  income  tax  purposes  of 
approximately $5.5 million expiring through 2020.  The availability of the net operating loss carryforwards to reduce 
future taxable income is subject to various limitations.  As a result of the change in ownership which occurred pursuant 
to the May 2002 recapitalization, utilization of the net operating loss carryforwards is limited to approximately $0.7 
million per year for the remaining life of the net operating losses.  Also the Company had U.S. foreign tax credit 
carryforwards of approximately $0.3 million and state tax carryforwards of approximately $0.6 million, which expire 
through 2022.  As of December 29, 2012, the Company had a valuation allowance of $0.3 million due to uncertainties 
upon the Company's estimates of income in the various jurisdictions in which it operates and the period over which 
deferred income tax assets will be recoverable.  The realization of net deferred income tax assets as of December 29, 
2012, is primarily dependent upon the Company's ability to generate future income and foreign source income in the 
U.S.

NOTE 13.  STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

On January 27, 2011, the Company entered into an underwritten public offering for 24,193,548 shares of its common 
stock, at a price to the public of $12.70 per share, pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement. The offering 
closed on February 2, 2011.  In addition, certain former stockholders of Griffin Industries, Inc. (pursuant to such 
stockholders'  contractual  registration  rights)  granted  the  underwriters  a  30-day  option,  which  the  underwriters 
subsequently exercised in full, to purchase from them up to an additional 3,629,032 shares of Darling common stock 
to cover over-allotments.  The Company used the net proceeds of approximately $292.7 million from the offering to 
repay all of its then outstanding revolver balance and a portion of its term loan facility under the Company's Credit 
Agreement.  Darling did not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares by the former stockholders of Griffin.

On December 21, 2010 a special meeting of the stockholders was held and a proposal to approve an amendment to 
Darling's restated certificate of incorporation, as amended, to increase the total number of authorized shares of common 
stock, par value $0.01, from 100,000,000 to 150,000,000 was approved.

On  May 8,  2012,  the  shareholders  approved  the  Company's  2012  Omnibus  Incentive Plan  (the  "2012  Omnibus 
Plan").  The 2012 Omnibus Plan replaced the Company's 2004 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the "2004 Omnibus Plan") 
for future grants.  Under the 2012 Omnibus Plan, the Company is allowed to grant stock options, stock appreciation 
rights, non-vested and restricted stock (including performance stock), restricted stock units (including performance 
units), other stock-based awards, non-employee director awards, dividend equivalents and cash-based awards.  There 
are up to 11,066,544 common shares available under the 2012 Omnibus Plan which may be granted to participants 
in any plan year (as such term is defined in the 2012 Omnibus Plan).  Some of those shares are subject to outstanding 
awards as detailed in the tables below.  To the extent these outstanding awards are forfeited or expire without exercise, 
the shares will be returned to and available for future grants under the 2012 Omnibus Plan.  The 2012 Omnibus Plan’s 
purpose is to attract, retain and motivate employees, directors and third party service providers of the Company and 
to  encourage  them  to  have  a  financial  interest  in  the  Company.  The  2012  Omnibus  Plan  is  administered  by  the 
Compensation Committee (the "Committee") of the Board of Directors.  The Committee has the authority to select 
plan  participants,  grant  awards,  and  determine  the  terms  and  conditions  of  such  awards  as  provided  in  the  2012 
Omnibus Plan.  The Committee has adopted an executive compensation program that includes a long-term incentive 
component (the "LTIP") for the Company's key employees, as a subplan under the terms of the 2012 Omnibus Plan.  The 
principal purpose of the LTIP is to encourage the Company's executives to enhance the value of the Company and, 
hence, the price of the Company’s stock and the stockholders' return.  In addition, the LTIP is designed to create 
retention incentives for the individual and to provide an opportunity for increased equity ownership by executives.  The 
Committee awarded dollar value performance based restricted stock and stock option opportunities under the LTIP 
in each of fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010 to certain of the Company's key employees, including the Chief Executive 
Officer and certain of its Executive Vice Presidents.   The restricted stock and stock options underlying the LTIP are 
issued only if a predetermined financial objective is met by the Company.  The Company met the financial objective 
for fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2010 and those shares and options were issued in accordance with the terms of the LTIP.  
See "Fiscal 2012 Long-Term Incentive Opportunity Awards" below for a discussion of the fiscal 2012 LTIP award 
opportunities.  The Company’s stock options granted under the 2012 Omnibus Plan generally terminate 10 years after 
date of grant.  At December 29, 2012, the number of common shares available for issuance under the 2012 Omnibus 
Plan was 11,016,544.

The  following  is  a  summary  of  stock-based  compensation  granted  during  the  years  ended  December 29,  2012, 
December 31, 2011 and January 1, 2011.

Page 79

 
 
DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

Nonqualified  Stock  Options.  On  March 9,  2010,  the  Company  granted  24,000  nonqualified  stock  options  in  the 
aggregate under the 2004 Omnibus Plan to its non-employee directors.  The exercise price for March 9, 2010 stock 
options was $8.21 per share (fair market value at the close of the trading day immediately preceding the grant date).  All 
of the non-employee director stock options vest 25 percent six months after the grant date and 25 percent on each of 
the first three anniversary dates thereafter.  On March 9, 2010, the Company's board of directors granted 53,722 
nonqualified stock options in the aggregate under the Company’s LTIP to certain of the Company’s employees.  The 
exercise price for the March 9, 2010 stock options was $8.21 per share (fair market value at the close of the trading 
day immediately preceding the grant date).  On March 8, 2011, the Company's board of directors granted 73,834 
nonqualified stock options in the aggregate under the Company’s LTIP to certain of the Company’s employees.  The 
exercise price for the March 8, 2011 stock options was $14.50 per share (fair market value at the close of the trading 
day immediately preceding the grant date).  On March 6, 2012, the Company's board of directors granted 135,733 
nonqualified stock options in the aggregate under the Company's LTIP to certain of the Company's employees.  The 
exercise price for the March 6, 2012 stock options was $16.98 per share (fair market value at the close of the trading 
day immediately preceding the grant date).  All of these awards vest 25 percent upon grant and 25 percent on each of 
the first three anniversary dates of the grant thereafter.

Incentive Stock Options. For fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010 none of the options issued were incentive stock options.

A summary of all stock option activity as of December 29, 2012 and changes during the year ended is presented below.

Options outstanding at December 31, 2011

Granted
Exercised
Forfeited
Expired

Options outstanding at December 29, 2012
Options exercisable at December 29, 2012

Number of
shares

Weighted-avg.
exercise price
per share

Weighted-avg.
remaining
contractual life

813,134
135,733
(226,250)
—
—
722,617
567,738

$

$
$

5.10
16.98
2.73

—  
—  

8.07
6.06

4.8 years
3.7 years

The fair value of each stock option grant under the Company's stock option plan was estimated on the date of grant 
using the Black Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions and results for fiscal 
2012, 2011 and 2010.

Weighted Average
Expected dividend yield
Risk-free interest rate
Expected term
Expected volatility
Fair value of options granted

2012
0.0%
1.14%
5.75 years
62.0%
$9.16

2011
0.0%
2.53%
5.75 years
61.1%
$8.26

2010
0.0%
2.73%
5.77 years
60.2%
$4.80

The expected lives for options granted during fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010 were computed using the simplified method.

At December 29, 2012, $13.7 million of total future equity-based compensation expense (determined using the Black-
Scholes option pricing model and Monte Carlo model for non-vested stock grants) related to outstanding non-vested 
options and stock awards is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.7 years.

For the year ended December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the amount of cash received from the exercise of 
options was approximately $0.1 million and $0.5 million, respectively, and the related tax benefits was approximately 
$2.7 million and $1.1 million, respectively.  For the year  January 1, 2011, the amount of cash received from the 
exercise of options was insignificant and the related tax benefits were approximately $0.2 million, respectively.  The 
total intrinsic value of options exercised for the years ended December 29, 2012, December 31, 2011 and January 1, 
2011 was approximately $3.3 million, $1.4 million and $0.1 million, respectively.  The fair value of shares vested for

Page 80

   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

the years ended December 29, 2012, December 31, 2011 and January 1, 2011 was approximately $8.1 million, $3.7 
million and $2.0 million, respectively.  At December 29, 2012, the aggregate intrinsic value of options outstanding 
was  approximately  $5.6  million  and  the  aggregate  intrinsic  value  of  options  exercisable  was  approximately  $5.4 
million.

Non-Vested Stock Awards.  On March 9, 2010, the Company's board of directors granted 241,183 shares of stock 
under the 2004 Omnibus Plan, 161,183 shares of which were under the Company's LTIP and 80,000 shares of which 
were granted as a discretionary grants to other employees not part of the Company’s LTIP.   At the March 9, 2010 
grant date 60,296 shares vested immediately and the remaining stock awards vest over the next three anniversary 
dates of the grants in equal installments.  On March 8, 2011, the Company's board of directors granted 221,503 shares 
of stock all of which were under the Company's LTIP.  At the March 8, 2011 grant date 55,376 shares vested immediately 
and the remaining stock awards vest over the next three anniversary dates of the grants in equal installments.  On 
August 29, 2011, the Company's board of directors made a discretionary grant of 10,878 shares of stock under the 
2004 Omnibus Plan to certain key employees.  At the August 29, 2011 grant date 2,720 shares vested immediately 
and the remaining stock awards vest over the next three anniversary dates of the grants in equal installments. On 
March 6, 2012, the Company's board of directors granted 375,041 shares of stock under the 2004 Omnibus Plan, 
300,041 shares of which were under the Company's LTIP and 75,000 shares of which were granted as discretionary 
grants to other employees not part of the Company's LTIP.  At the March 6, 2012 grant date 93,761 shares vested 
immediately  and  the  remaining  stock  awards  vest  over  the  next  three  anniversary  dates  of  the  grants  in  equal 
installments.  On May 8, 2012, the Company's board of directors granted 5,000 shares of stock under the 2004 Omnibus 
Plan to a newly employed officer of the Company.  At the May 8, 2012 grant date 1,250 shares vested immediately 
and the remaining shares vest over the next three anniversary dates of the grant in equal installments.  On September 1, 
2012, the Company's board of directors granted 50,000 shares of stock under the 2012 Omnibus Plan to the Company's 
new Chief Financial Officer.  At the September 1, 2012 grant date 25,000 shares vested immediately and the remaining 
shares vest over the next three anniversary dates of the grant in equal installments.

On  November 11,  2010,  the  Company's  board  of  directors  approved  award  opportunities  for  640,000  non-vested 
restricted shares at $12.53 (fair market value at grant date) under the Company's 2010 Special Incentive Program (as 
more fully described below).  These restricted shares vest upon the closing of the Merger and achievement of certain 
varying market conditions over vesting periods spanning 4 years.

A summary of the Company’s non-vested stock awards as of December 29, 2012, and changes during the year ended 
is as follows:

Stock awards outstanding December 31, 2011

Shares granted
Shares vested
Shares forfeited

Stock awards outstanding December 29, 2012

Non-Vested
Shares

Weighted Average
Grant Date
Fair Value

954,270
430,041
(548,287)
—
836,024

$

$

9.18
16.60
10.30
—
12.26

Nonemployee Director Restricted Stock Awards.  On February 24, 2011, the Company's Board of Directors approved 
an Amended and Restated Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Award Plan (the "Director Restricted Stock Plan") 
pursuant to and in accordance with the 2004 Omnibus Plan in order to attract and retain highly qualified persons to 
serve as non-employee directors and to more closely align such directors' interests with the interests of the stockholders 
of the Company by providing a portion of their compensation in the form of Company common stock.

Under the Director Restricted Stock Plan, $60,000 in restricted Company common stock (the "Restricted Stock") will 
be awarded to each non-employee director on the fourth business day after the Company releases its earnings for its 
prior completed fiscal year (the "Date of Award").  The amount of restricted stock to be issued will be calculated using 
the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the third business day after the Company releases its earnings.  The 
Restricted Stock will be subject to a right of repurchase at $0.01 per share upon termination of the holder as a member 
of the Company's board of directors for cause and will not be transferable. These restrictions will lapse with respect

Page 81

 
 
 
DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

to 100% of the Restricted Stock upon the earliest to occur of (i) ten years after the Date of Award, (ii) a Change of 
Control (as defined in the 2004 Omnibus Plan), and (iii) termination of the non-employee director's service with the 
Company, other than for "cause" (as defined in the Director Restricted Stock Plan).  On March 6, 2012, the Company 
issued 21,204 shares of restricted stock in the aggregate to its non-employee directors under the Director Restricted 
Stock Plan.  On March 8, 2011, the Company issued 24,828 shares of restricted stock in the aggregate to its non-
employee directors under the Director Restricted Stock Plan.  On May 18, 2011, the Company issued 4,652 shares of 
restricted stock in the aggregate to its two newly elected non-employee directors under the Director Restricted Stock 
Plan.  On March 9, 2010, the Company issued 14,616 shares of restricted stock in the aggregate to its non-employee 
directors under the Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Award Plan then in effect.  

A summary of the Company’s non-employee director restricted stock awards as of December 29, 2012, and changes 
during the year ended is as follows:

Stock awards outstanding December 31, 2011

Restricted shares granted
Restricted shares where the restriction lapsed
Restricted shares forfeited

Stock awards outstanding December 29, 2012

Restricted
Shares

Weighted Average
Grant Date
Fair Value

87,254
21,204
—
—
108,458

$

$

7.79
16.98
—
—
9.59

Fiscal 2012 Long-Term Incentive Opportunity Awards.  The Committee awarded dollar value performance based 
restricted  stock  and  stock  option  opportunities  under  the  LTIP  for  fiscal  2012  to  certain  of  the  Company's  key 
employees, including the Chief Executive Officer, the President and certain of its Executive Vice Presidents (the "2012 
Restricted Stock and Option Awards").  The restricted stock and stock options underlying the 2012 Restricted Stock 
and Option Awards are issued only if a predetermined financial objective is met by the Company.  The Company met 
the financial objective for fiscal 2012.  Accordingly, in accordance with the terms of the 2012 Restricted Stock and 
Option Awards, it is anticipated that the restricted stock representing 80% of the potential award and stock options 
representing 20% of the potential award will be granted and issued to the recipients on the fourth business day after 
the Company releases its annual financial results for fiscal 2012. The amount of restricted stock and stock options to 
be issued was predetermined using a discounted per share price.  The "Discounted Per Share Price" is derived by 
discounting the closing market price of the Company's common stock as of the last trading day of the immediately 
preceding fiscal year to account for forfeiture of the restricted stock based on, among other things, the probability of 
the failure of the restricted stock to be granted and the failure of the Company to meet the required performance 
measures.  The stock options will have an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the Company's common 
stock on the third business day after the Company releases its annual financial results.

The above 2012 Restricted Stock and Option Awards were deemed equity classified in fiscal 2012 as the shares are 
known, but have not yet been granted.  The prior year LTIP awards were treated as a liability until the grant date when 
the number of shares and options to be issued were known, and then it became equity-classified.  At December 31, 
2011 the Company recorded a liability of approximately $4.0 million on the balance sheet for the long-term incentive 
opportunities.

2010 Special Incentive Program Awards. On November 11, 2010, the Committee approved a 2010 Special Incentive 
Program (the "2010 Special Incentive Program") for certain key employees of the Company pursuant to the Company's 
2004 Omnibus Plan, conditioned upon the closing of the Merger.  Under the 2010 Special Incentive Program, certain 
key employees (the "Participating Employees") upon successful completion of the Merger became eligible to receive 
a total of 640,000 shares of restricted stock of which 463,333 shares have been issued as of December 29, 2012.  The 
stock vests upon the closing of the Merger and achievement of certain varying market conditions over vesting periods 
spanning 4 years.  A Participating Employee will not be entitled to receive any grant under these restricted stock 
awards if such Participating Employee’s employment with the Company has terminated, voluntarily or involuntarily, 
prior to the determination that the conditions to receive such restricted stock award have been fulfilled.

Page 82

 
 
 
DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

NOTE 14.  COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

The Company follows FASB authoritative guidance for reporting and presentation of comprehensive income or loss 
and its components.  Other comprehensive income (loss) is derived from adjustments that reflect pension adjustments, 
natural  gas  derivative  adjustments,  corn  option  adjustments  and  interest  rate  swap  derivative  adjustments.  The 
components of other comprehensive income (loss) and the related tax impacts for the years ended December 29, 2012, 
December 31, 2011 and January 1, 2011 are as follows (in thousands):

Before-Tax
Amount

Tax (Expense)
or Benefit

Net-of-Tax
Amount

$

(228) $

Year Ended January 1, 2011

Defined Benefit Pension Plans

Actuarial (loss)/gain recognized
Amortization of actuarial loss
Amortization of prior service costs

Total defined benefit pension plans

Natural gas swap derivatives

Loss reclassified to net income
Loss recognized in other comprehensive income

Total natural gas derivatives

Interest Swap derivatives

Loss reclassified to net income
Loss recognized in other comprehensive income

Total interest swap derivatives

Other comprehensive income
Year Ended December 31, 2011

Defined Benefit Pension Plans

Actuarial (loss)/gain recognized
Amortization of actuarial loss
Actuarial prior service cost recognized
Amortization of prior service costs

Total defined benefit pension plans

Natural gas swap derivatives

Loss reclassified to net income
Loss recognized in other comprehensive income

Total natural gas derivatives

Interest Swap derivatives

Loss reclassified to net income

Other comprehensive income

Year Ended December 29, 2012

Defined Benefit Pension Plans

Actuarial (loss)/gain recognized
Amortization of actuarial loss
Amortization of prior service costs

Total defined benefit pension plans

Natural gas swap derivatives

Loss reclassified to net income
Loss recognized in other comprehensive income

Corn option derivatives

Loss recognized in other comprehensive income

Total natural gas derivatives

Total corn options

Interest Swap derivatives

Loss reclassified to net income

Other comprehensive income

$

$

$

$

$

$

Page 83

589
3,131
111
3,831

161
(257)
(96)

1,551
(723)
828
4,563

$

(19,280) $
2,724
(103)
90
(16,569)

441
(1,229)
(788)

1,163
(16,194) $

(6,768) $
4,756
103
(1,909)

1,267
(628)
639

317
317

(1,214)
(43)
(1,485)

(62)
99
37

(601)
280
(321)
(1,769) $

$

$

$

7,474
(1,056)
40
(35)
6,423

(170)
476
306

(451)
6,278

2,623
(1,844)
(39)
740

(491)
243
(248)

(123)
(123)

361
1,917
68
2,346

99
(158)
(59)

950
(443)
507
2,794

(11,806)
1,668
(63)
55
(10,146)

271
(753)
(482)

712
(9,916)

(4,145)
2,912
64
(1,169)

776
(385)
391

194
194

159
(425)

260
(693) $

(101)
268

$

DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

NOTE 15.  EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

The Company has retirement and pension plans covering substantially all of its employees.  Most retirement benefits 
are provided by the Company under separate final-pay noncontributory and contributory defined benefit and defined 
contribution plans for all salaried and hourly employees (excluding those covered by union-sponsored plans) who 
meet service and age requirements. Defined benefits are based principally on length of service and earnings patterns 
during the five years preceding retirement.  During the third quarter of fiscal 2011, as part of the initiative to combine 
the Darling and Griffin retirement benefit programs, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the Company to 
proceed with the restructuring of its retirement benefit program effective January 1, 2012, to include the closing of 
Darling's salaried and hourly defined benefit plans to new participants as well as the freezing of service and wage 
accruals thereunder effective December 31, 2011 (a curtailment of these plans for financial reporting purposes) and 
the enhancing of benefits under the Company's defined contribution plans.  However, the Company-sponsored hourly 
union plan has not been curtailed.

Effective January 1, 2012, the Griffin hourly 401(k) plan merged into the Darling International Inc. Hourly 401(k) 
Savings Plan.  Effective January 1, 2012, all of the Company’s hourly employees are eligible to participate in this 
plan, which allows for elective deferrals, an employer match equal to 25% up to 6% of a participants deferrals each 
pay period and an employer contribution based on age (ranging from 2-5% of compensation per year).  Previously, 
the Company's employer match was equal to 100% of the first $10 per pay period deferred by a participant, with a 
maximum of $520 per year, and an employer contribution equal to $520 per year.  Effective January 1, 2012, Darling 
International Inc.'s Hourly 401(k) Savings Plan accepted  the transfer of assets and liabilities of the hourly employees 
of Griffin that had account balances in the Griffin plans which existed prior to January 1, 2012.  The Company's 
matching portion and annual employer contribution to the Darling International Inc. Hourly 401(k) Savings plan  for 
fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010 was approximately $2.3 million, $0.7 million and $0.7 million, respectively.

Effective January 1, 2012, the Griffin salaried 401(k) plan merged into the Darling International Inc. Salaried 401(k) 
Savings Plan, a defined contribution plan, which was amended and now includes an employer match equal to 25% 
up to 6% of a participants deferrals each pay period and an employer contribution based on age (ranging from 3-6% 
of  compensation  per  year).    Previously,  the  Darling  International  Inc.  Salaried  401(k)  Savings  Plan  included  an 
employer contribution based on age (ranging from 2-5% of compensation per year).  Effective January 1, 2012, Darling 
International Inc.'s Salaried 401(k) Savings Plan accepted the transfer of assets and liabilities of the salaried employees 
of Griffin that had account balances in the Griffin plans which existed prior to January 1, 2012.  The Company’s 
matching portion and annual employer contribution portion to the Darling International Inc. Salaried 401(k) Savings 
Plan for fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010 was approximately $4.9 million, $1.5 million and $1.5 million, respectively.

Under  Griffin's  old  defined  contribution  plans  the  Company  made  matching  contributions  for  fiscal  2011  of 
approximately $0.5 million and immaterial amounts in fiscal 2010.

The Company recognizes the over-funded or under-funded status of the Company's defined benefit post-retirement 
plans as an asset or liability in the Company's balance sheet, with changes in the funded status recognized through 
comprehensive income in the year in which they occur.

The following table sets forth the plans’ funded status and amounts recognized in the Company's consolidated balance 
sheets based on the measurement date (December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011) (in thousands):

Page 84

DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

Change in projected benefit obligation:

Projected benefit obligation at beginning of period
Service cost
Interest cost
Actuarial loss
Benefits paid
Effect of curtailment
Other

Projected benefit obligation at end of period

Change in plan assets:

Fair value of plan assets at beginning of period
Actual return on plan assets
Employer contribution
Benefits paid

Fair value of plan assets at end of period

Funded status

Net amount recognized

Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance
   sheets consist of:

Non-current liability

Net amount recognized

Amounts recognized in accumulated other
   comprehensive loss consist of:

Net actuarial loss
Prior service cost

Net amount recognized  (a)

December 29,
2012

December 31,
2011

$

$

$
$

$

$

$

123,553
326
5,451
13,084
(4,617)
—
—
137,797

96,235
13,026
1,875
(4,617)
106,519

111,376
1,178
6,052
18,028
(4,336)
(8,911)
166
123,553

93,308
(3,274)
10,537
(4,336)
96,235

(31,278)
(31,278) $

(27,318)
(27,318)

(31,278) $
(31,278) $

(27,318)
(27,318)

50,714
174
50,888

$

$

48,702
277
48,979

 (a)  Amounts  do  not  include  deferred  taxes  of  $19.4  million  and  $18.6  million  at  December 29,  2012  and 

December 31, 2011, respectively.

Projected benefit obligation
Accumulated benefit obligation
Fair value of plan assets

December 29,
2012

December 31,
2011

$

$

137,797
137,797
106,519

123,553
123,553
96,235

Net pension cost includes the following components (in thousands):

Service cost
Interest cost
Expected return on plan assets
Net amortization and deferral
Curtailment
Net pension cost

December 29,
2012

December 31,
2011

January 1,
2011

$

$

326
5,451
(6,709)
4,845
14
3,927

$

$

1,178
6,052
(6,888)
2,814
63
3,219

$

$

1,056
5,959
(6,389)
3,242
—
3,868

Page 85

 
      
 
 
 
 
 
 
      
 
 
 
      
 
DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) for the year ended (in thousands):

Actuarial (loss)/gain recognized:
Reclassification adjustments
Actuarial (loss)/gain recognized during the

period

Prior service (cost) credit recognized:

Reclassification adjustments
Prior service cost arising during the period

2012

2011

$

2,912

$

1,668

(4,145)

(11,806)

64
—
(1,169) $

55
(63)
(10,146)

$

The estimated amount that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic pension 
cost in fiscal 2013 is as follows (in thousands):

Net actuarial loss
Prior service cost

2013

5,202
59
5,261

$

$

Weighted average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations were:

Discount rate
Rate of compensation increase

December 29,
2012
3.90%
—%

December 31,
2011
4.50%
—%

January 1,
2011
5.55%
4.16%

Weighted average assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost for the employee benefit pension plans 
were:

Discount rate
Rate of increase in future compensation levels
Expected long-term rate of return on assets

December 29,
2012
4.50%
—%
7.35%

December 31,
2011
5.55%
4.16%
7.85%

January 1,
2011
5.90%
4.08%
7.85%

Consideration was made to the long-term time horizon for the plans' benefit obligations as well as the related asset 
class mix in determining the expected long-term rate of return.  Historical returns are also considered, over the long-
term time horizon, in determining the expected return.  Considering the overall asset mix of approximately 60% equity 
and 40% fixed income, several years in the last ten years (except for 2008) having strong double digit returns as well 
as several years of single digit losses, the Company believes it is reasonable to expect a long-term rate of return of 
7.35% for the plans' investments as a whole.

Plan Assets

The Company's pension plan weighted-average asset allocations at December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, by 
asset category, are as follows:

Page 86

 
      
 
 
 
 
      
 
 
      
 
 
 
 
 
DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

Asset Category

Equity Securities
Debt Securities
Total

Plan Assets at

December 29,
2012
61.3%
38.7%
100.0%

December 31,
2011
59.7%
40.3%
100.0%

The investment objectives have been established in conjunction with a comprehensive review of the current and 
projected financial requirements.  The primary investment objectives are:  1) to have the ability to pay all benefit and 
expense obligations when due; 2) to maximize investment returns within reasonable and prudent levels of risk in order 
to minimize contributions; and 3) to maintain flexibility in determining the future level of contributions.

Investment results are the most critical element in achieving funding objectives, while reliance on contributions is a 
secondary element.

The  investment  guidelines  are  based  upon  an  investment  horizon  of  greater  than  ten  years;  therefore,  interim 
fluctuations are viewed with this perspective.  The strategic asset allocation is based on this long-term perspective 
and  the  plans'  funded  status.  However,  because  the  participants’  average  age  is  somewhat  older  than  the  typical 
average plan age, consideration is given to retaining some short-term liquidity.  Analysis of the cash flow projections 
of the plans indicates that benefit payments will continue to exceed contributions.  The results of a thorough asset-
liability study completed during 2012 established a dynamic asset allocation glide path (the "Glide Path") by which 
the plans' asset allocations are determined.  The Glide Path designates intervals based on funded status which contain 
a corresponding allocation to equities/real assets and fixed income.  As the plans' funded status improves, the allocations 
become more conservative, and the opposite is true when the funded status declines.

Based upon the plans’ funded status, time horizon, risk tolerances, performance expectations, asset class constraints 
and asset-liability study results, target asset allocation ranges are as follows:

Fixed Income
Equities

35% - 80%
20% - 65%

The fixed income allocation is primarily invested in corporate and government bonds denominated in U.S. dollar, 
private and publicly traded mortgages, private placement debt and cash equivalents.  The average duration of the 
issues is managed to closely match the duration of the plans' liabilities.   The portfolio is expected to be well-diversified.

The domestic equity allocation is invested in stocks traded on one of the U.S. stock exchanges.  Securities convertible 
into such stocks, convertible bonds and preferred stock, may also be purchased.  The majority of the domestic equities 
are invested in mutual funds that are well-diversified among growth and value stocks categorized in large, mid and 
small cap asset classes.  By definition, small cap investments carry greater risk than large and mid cap, but also are 
expected to create greater returns over time than large and mid cap.  By definition large cap investments carry less 
risk than small and mid cap, and are expected to return less than small and mid cap over time.  By definition mid cap 
investments  fall  between  small  and  large  cap  stocks  concerning  riskiness  and  expected  return.  Small  company 
definitions fluctuate with market levels but generally will be considered companies with market capitalizations between 
$300  million  and  $2  billion.  The  portfolio  will  be  diversified  in  terms  of  individual  company  securities  and 
industries.  No individual equity or individual fixed income investment comprised more than 1.5% of the defined 
benefit plans' total assets (excluding U.S. government issues).

The international equity allocation is invested in companies whose stock is traded outside the U.S. and/or companies 
that conduct the major portion of their business outside of the U.S.  The portfolio may invest in ADR's.  The emerging 
market portion of the international equity investment is held below 10% due to greater volatility in the asset class.  The 
portfolio is well-diversified in terms of companies, industries and countries.

Page 87

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

The diversified asset portion of the allocation will invest in securities with a goal to outpace inflation and preserve 
their value.  The securities in this allocation may consist of inflation-indexed bonds, securities of real estate companies, 
commodity  index-linked  notes,  fixed-income  securities,  securities  of  natural  resource  companies,  master  limited 
partnerships, publicly-listed infrastructure companies, and floating rate debt.

All investment objectives are expected to be achieved over a market cycle anticipated to be a period of five to seven 
years.  Reallocations are performed on a monthly basis to retain target allocation ranges. On a quarterly basis the 
plans' funded status will be recalculated to determine which Glide Path interval allocation is appropriate.

The following table presents fair value measurements for the Company's defined benefit plans’ assets as categorized 
using the fair value hierarchy under FASB authoritative guidance (in thousands):

(In thousands of dollars)
Balances as  December 31, 2011
Fixed Income:
Long Term
Short Term
Equity Securities:

Domestic equities
International equities

Totals

Balances as December 29, 2012

Fixed Income:
Long Term
Short Term
Equity Securities:

Domestic equities
International equities

Totals

Total
Fair Value

Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)

Significant Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)

Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)

$

$

$

$

$

33,872
4,918

47,122
10,323
96,235

40,255
954

44,997
20,313
106,519

$

$

33,872
4,461

47,122
10,323
95,778

14,064
542

43,563
19,551
77,720

$

$

$

$

— $
457

—
—
457

26,191
412

1,434
762
28,799

$

$

$

—
—

—
—
—

—
—

—
—
—

During fiscal 2010 the Company increased its pension investment options allowing for investing directly into mutual 
funds whereby the Company believes it gives the pension plan assets more options and a greater long term return 
potential.  As a result the Company has transferred its pension assets in fiscal 2010 from pooled separate accounts 
("PSA") accounts to assets comprised primarily of mutual funds, which are publicly traded in an active market.  The 
particular shares used in the defined benefit plans are either retirement plan shares or A-shares with no loads.  The 
fair value of each mutual fund is based on the market value of the underlying investments. In fiscal 2012, the Glide 
Path directed the Company to invest in certain PSA's in an effort to minimize the plans' funded status variability as 
compared to fiscal 2011.

Contributions

The Company's funding policy for employee benefit pension plans is to contribute annually not less than the minimum 
amount  required  nor  more  than  the  maximum  amount  that  can  be  deducted  for  federal  income  tax 
purposes.  Contributions are intended to provide not only for benefits attributed to service to date but also for those 
expected to be earned in the future.

Based on current actuarial estimates, the Company expects to make payments of approximately $0.4 million to meet 
funding requirements for its pension plans in fiscal 2013.

Estimated Future Benefit Payments

Page 88

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

The following benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, are expected to be paid (in 
thousands):

Year Ending
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
Years 2018 – 2022

$

Pension Benefits

5,220
5,760
6,030
6,260
6,490
36,480

Multiemployer Pension Plans

The Company participates in various multiemployer pension plans which provide defined benefits to certain employees 
covered by labor contracts.  These plans are not administered by the Company and contributions are determined in 
accordance  with  provisions  of  negotiated  labor  contracts  to  meet  their  pension  benefit  obligations  to  their 
participants.  The Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued guidance requiring companies to provide 
additional disclosures related to individually significant multiemployer pension plans. The Company's contributions 
to each individual multiemployer plan represent less than 5% of the total contributions to each such plan.  Based on 
the most currently available information, the Company has determined that, if a withdrawal were to occur, withdrawal 
liabilities on two of the plans in which the Company currently participates could be material to the Company.  The 
following table provides more detail on these two significant multiemployer plans (contributions in thousands):  

Pension

Fund

EIN Pension

Pension
Protection Act
Zone Status

Plan Number

2012

2011

FIP/RP
Status
Pending/
Implemented

Western Conference of Teamsters
Pension Plan

91-6145047 / 001 Green

Green

Central States, Southeast and
Southwest Areas Pension Plan (a) 36-6044243 / 001

Red

Red

No

Yes

All other multiemployer plans

Contributions

Expiration

Date of  Collective
Bargaining

2012

2011

2010

Agreement

$

1,371 $

1,386 $

1,401

April 2015 (b)

746

1,083

705

1,009

630 December 2014 (c)

869

Total Company Contributions

$

3,200 $

3,100 $

2,900

(a)  

In July 2005 this plan received a 10 year extension from the IRS for amortizing unfunded liabilities.

(b)   The Company has several plants that participate in the Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Plan under collective 
bargaining agreements that require minimum funding contributions.  Certain of these agreements have expired and are being 
renegotiated with others having expiration dates through April 1, 2015.

(c)   The Company has several processing plants that participate in the Central States, Southeast and Southwest Areas Pension 
Plan under collective bargaining agreements that require minimum funding contributions.  Certain of these agreements have 
expired and are being renegotiated with others having expiration dates through December 15, 2014.

With respect to the other multiemployer pension plans in which the Company participates and which are not individually 
significant, four plans have certified as critical or red zone,  one plan has certified as endangered or yellow zone and 
one plan has certified as seriously endangered or orange zone as defined by the Pension Protection Act of 2006.   The 
Company's portion of contributions to all plans  amounted to $3.2 million, $3.1 million and $2.9 million for the years 
ended December 29, 2012, December 31, 2011 and January 1, 2011, respectively. 

In June 2009, the Company received a notice of a mass withdrawal termination and a notice of initial withdrawal 
liability from a multiemployer plan in which it participated.  The Company had anticipated this event and as a result 
had accrued approximately $3.2 million as of January 3, 2009 based on the most recent information that was probable 
and estimable for this plan.  The plan had given a notice of redetermination liability in December 2009.  In fiscal 
2010, the Company received further third party information confirming the future payout related to this multiemployer 
plan.  As a result, the Company reduced its liability to approximately $1.2 million.  In fiscal 2010, another underfunded

Page 89

 
 
 
 
DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

multiemployer  plan  in  which  the  Company  participates  gave  notification  of  partial  withdrawal  liability.  As  of 
December 29, 2012, the Company has an accrued liability of approximately $1.0 million representing the present 
value of scheduled withdrawal liability payments under this multiemployer plan.  While the Company has no ability 
to  calculate  a  possible  current  liability  for  under-funded  multiemployer  plans  that  could  terminate  or  could 
require additional funding under the Pension Protection Act of 2006, the amounts could be material.

NOTE 16.  DERIVATIVES

The Company’s operations are exposed to market risks relating to commodity prices that affect the Company’s cost 
of raw materials, finished product prices and energy costs and the risk of changes in interest rates.

The Company makes limited use of derivative instruments to manage cash flow risks related to interest expense, 
natural gas usage, diesel fuel usage and inventory.  The Company does not use derivative instruments for trading 
purposes.  Interest rate swaps are entered into with the intent of managing overall borrowing costs by reducing the 
potential impact of increases in interest rates on floating-rate long-term debt.  Natural gas swaps and options are 
entered into with the intent of managing the overall cost of natural gas usage by reducing the potential impact of 
seasonal weather demands on natural gas that increases natural gas prices.  Heating oil swaps and options are entered 
into with the intent of managing the overall cost of diesel fuel usage by reducing the potential impact of seasonal 
weather demands on diesel fuel that increases diesel fuel prices.  Inventory swaps and options are entered into with 
the intent of managing seasonally high concentrations of MBM, PM, BFT, PG, YG and BBP inventories by reducing 
the potential impact of changing prices.  Corn options and future contracts are entered into with the intent of managing 
forecasted sales of BBP by reducing the impact of changing prices.  At December 29, 2012, the Company had natural 
gas swaps and corn options outstanding that qualified and were designated for hedge accounting as well as natural 
gas swaps, heating oil swaps and options and corn options and future contracts that did not qualify and were not 
designated for hedge accounting.

Entities  are  required  to  report  all  derivative  instruments  in  the  statement  of  financial  position  at  fair  value.  The 
accounting for changes in the fair value (i.e., gains or losses) of a derivative instrument depends on whether it has 
been designated and qualifies as part of a hedging relationship and, if so, on the reason for holding the instrument.  If 
certain conditions are met, entities may elect to designate a derivative instrument as a hedge of exposures to changes 
in fair value, cash flows or foreign currencies.  If the hedged exposure is a cash flow exposure, the effective portion 
of the gain or loss on the derivative instrument is reported initially as a component of other comprehensive income 
(outside  of  earnings)  and  is  subsequently  reclassified  into  earnings  when  the  forecasted  transaction  affects 
earnings.  Any amounts excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness as well as the ineffective portion of the 
gain or loss are reported in earnings immediately.  If the derivative instrument is not designated as a hedge, the gain 
or loss is recognized in earnings in the period of change.

Cash Flow Hedges

On May 19, 2006, the Company entered into two interest rate swap agreements that were considered cash flow hedges 
according to FASB authoritative guidance.  In December 2010, as a result of the Merger and entry into a new Credit 
Agreement the term loan that specifically related to these interest swap transactions was repaid.  As such, the Company 
discontinued the interest rate swaps and paid approximately $2.0 million representing the fair value of these two 
interest  swap  transactions  at  the  discontinuance  date  with  the  effective  portion  recorded  in  accumulated  other 
comprehensive loss to be reclassified to income over the remaining original term of the interest rate swaps which 
ended April 7, 2012.

In fiscal 2011, the Company entered into natural gas swap contracts that are considered cash flow hedges.  Under the 
terms of the natural gas swap contracts the Company fixed the expected purchase cost of a portion of its plants expected 
natural gas usage through the second quarter of fiscal 2012.  As of December 29, 2012, all of the contracts have expired 
and settled according to the contracts.

In fiscal 2012, the Company has entered into natural gas swap contracts that are considered cash flow hedges.  Under 
the terms of the natural gas swap contracts the Company fixed the expected purchase cost of a portion of its plants 
expected natural gas usage into the second quarter of fiscal 2013.  As of December 29, 2012, some of the contracts 
have expired and settled according to the contracts while the remaining contract positions and activity are disclosed 
below.

Page 90

DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

In fiscal 2012, the Company entered into corn option contracts that are considered cash flow hedges.  Under the terms 
of the corn option contracts the Company hedged a portion of it's forecasted sales of BBP into the fourth quarter of 
fiscal 2013.  As of December 29, 2012, the contracts positions and activity are disclosed below.

The  Company  estimates  the  amount  that  will  be  reclassified  from  accumulated  other  comprehensive  gain  at 
December 29, 2012 into earnings over the next 12 months will be approximately $0.3 million.  As of December 29, 
2012, approximately $0.3 million of losses have been reclassified into earnings as a result of the discontinuance of 
cash flow hedges.

The following table presents the fair value of the Company’s derivative instruments as of December 29, 2012 and 
December 31, 2011 (in thousands):

Derivatives Designated
as Hedges

Natural gas swaps
Corn options

Balance Sheet
Location
Other current assets
Other current assets

Asset Derivatives Fair Value

December 29, 2012
11
$
490

December 31, 2011
—
$
—

Total derivatives designated as hedges

Derivatives not
Designated as
Hedges
Corn options and futures
Heating oil swaps

Total derivatives not designated as hedges

Total asset derivatives

Other current assets
Other current assets

$

$

$

$

501

$

117
104

221

722

$

$

$

—

—
6

6

6

Derivatives Designated
as Hedges

Natural gas swaps

Balance Sheet
Location

Accrued expenses

Liability Derivatives Fair Value

December 29, 2012
21
$

December 31, 2011
669
$

Total derivatives designated as hedges

Derivatives not
Designated as
Hedges

Natural gas swaps
Corn options and futures
Heating oil swaps

Total derivatives not designated as hedges

Total liability derivatives

Accrued Expenses
Accrued Expenses
Accrued Expenses

$

$

$

$

21

$

669

— $
119
4

123

144

$

$

143
—
24

167

836

The effect of the Company's derivative instruments on the consolidated financial statements for the fiscal years ended 
December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are as follows (in thousands):

Page 91

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

Derivatives
Designated as
Cash Flow Hedges

Gain or (Loss)
Recognized in OCI
on Derivatives
(Effective Portion) (a)
2011
2012

Gain or (Loss)
Reclassified From
Accumulated OCI
into Income
(Effective Portion) (b)
2011
2012

Gain or (Loss)
Recognized in Income
On Derivatives
(Ineffective Portion and
Amount Excluded from
Effectiveness Testing) (c)

2012

2011

Interest rate swaps
Corn options
Natural gas swaps

Total

$

$

— $

317
(628)

— $
—
(1,229)

(260) $
—
(1,267)

(1,163) $
—
(441)

— $
159
13

(311) $

(1,229) $

(1,527) $

(1,604) $

172

$

—
—
—

—

(a)  Amount recognized in accumulated OCI (effective portion) is reported as accumulated other comprehensive 
loss of approximately $0.3 million and approximately $1.2 million recorded net of taxes of approximately $0.1 
million  and  approximately  $0.5  million  for  the  year  ended  December 29,  2012  and  December 31,  2011, 
respectively.

(b)  Gains and (losses) reclassified from accumulated OCI into income (effective portion) for interest rate swaps 
and natural gas swaps is included in interest expense and cost of sales, respectively, in the Company’s consolidated 
statements of operations.

(c)  Gains and (losses) recognized in income on derivatives (ineffective portion) for interest rate swaps and natural 
gas swaps is included in other income/(expense), net in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.

At December 29, 2012, the Company had forward purchase agreements in place for purchases of approximately  $4.5 
million of natural gas and diesel fuel.  These forward purchase agreements have no net settlement provisions and the 
Company intends to take physical delivery.  Accordingly, the forward purchase agreements are not subject to the 
requirements of fair value accounting because they qualify as normal purchases as defined.

NOTE 17.  FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT

FASB authoritative guidance which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands 
disclosures about fair value measurements including guidance related to nonrecurring measurements of nonfinancial 
assets and liabilities.

The following table presents the Company's financial instruments that are measured at fair value on a recurring and 
nonrecurring basis as of December 29, 2012 and are categorized using the fair value hierarchy under FASB authoritative 
guidance.  The fair value hierarchy has three levels based on the reliability of the inputs used to determine the fair 
value.

(In thousands of dollars)
Assets

Derivative assets

Total Assets

Liabilities

Derivative liabilities

Senior Notes
Total Liabilities

Fair Value Measurements at December 29, 2012 Using
Significant
Significant Other
Unobservable
Observable
Inputs
Inputs
(Level 3)
(Level 2)

Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)

Total

$

$

722 $
722

144
287,188
287,332 $

Page 92

— $
—

—
—
— $

722 $
722

144
287,188
287,332 $

—
—

—
—
—

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

Derivative assets consist of the Company's natural gas swap contracts, heating oil swap contracts and corn oil option 
and futures, which represents the difference between the observable market rates of commonly quoted intervals for 
similar assets and liabilities in active markets and the fixed swap and option rate considering the instruments term, 
notional amount and credit risk.  See Note 16 Derivatives for breakdown by instrument type.

Derivative liabilities consist of the Company's natural gas swap contracts, heating oil swap contracts and corn option 
and futures, which represent the difference between the observable market rates of commonly quoted intervals for 
similar assets and liabilities in active markets and the fixed swap rate considering the instrument’s term, notional 
amount and credit risk.  See Note 16 Derivatives for breakdown by instrument type.

The  carrying  amount  of  cash  and  cash  equivalents,  accounts  receivable,  accounts  payable  and  accrued  expenses 
approximates fair value due to the short maturity of these instruments and as such have been excluded from the table 
above.  The carrying amount for the Company's other debt is not deemed to be significantly different than the fair 
value and all other instruments have been recorded at fair value. 

The fair value of the senior notes is based on market quotation from a third-party bank.

NOTE 18.  CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK

Concentration of credit risk is limited due to the Company's diversified customer base and the fact that the Company 
sells commodities.  No single customer accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s net sales in fiscal years 2012, 
2011 and 2010.

NOTE 19.  CONTINGENCIES

The Company is a party to several lawsuits, claims and loss contingencies arising in the ordinary course of its business, 
including  assertions  by  certain  regulatory  and  governmental  agencies  related  to  permitting  requirements  and  air, 
wastewater and storm water discharges from the Company's processing facilities.

The Company’s workers compensation, auto and general liability policies contain significant deductibles or self-
insured retentions.  The Company estimates and accrues its expected ultimate claim costs related to accidents occurring 
during each fiscal year and carries this accrual as a reserve until these claims are paid by the Company.

As a result of the matters discussed above, the Company has established loss reserves for insurance, environmental 
and litigation matters.  At December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the reserves for insurance, environmental and 
litigation  contingencies  reflected  on  the  balance  sheet  in  accrued  expenses  and  other  non-current  liabilities  were 
approximately $37.0 million and $38.0 million, respectively.  The Company has insurance recovery receivables of 
approximately $9.3 million and $9.6 million, as of December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively, related 
to these liabilities.  The Company's management believes these reserves for contingencies are reasonable and sufficient 
based upon present governmental regulations and information currently available to management; however, there can 
be no assurance that final costs related to these matters will not exceed current estimates.  The Company believes that 
the likelihood is remote that any additional liability from these lawsuits and claims that may not be covered by insurance 
would have a material effect on the financial statements.

Lower Passaic River Area.  The Company has been named as a third party defendant in a lawsuit pending in the 
Superior  Court  of  New  Jersey,  Essex  County,  styled  New  Jersey  Department  of  Environmental  Protection,  The 
Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Agency and the Administrator of the New 
Jersey Spill Compensation Fund, as Plaintiffs, vs. Occidental Chemical Corporation, Tierra Solutions, Inc., Maxus 
Energy Corporation, Repsol YPF, S.A., YPF, S.A., YPF Holdings, Inc., and CLH Holdings, as Defendants (Docket 
No. L-009868-05) (the “Tierra/Maxus Litigation”).  In the Tierra/Maxus Litigation, which was filed on December 13, 
2005, the plaintiffs seek to recover from the defendants past and future cleanup and removal costs, as well as unspecified 
economic damages, punitive damages, penalties and a variety of other forms of relief, purportedly arising from the 
alleged discharges into the Passaic River of a particular type of dioxin and other unspecified hazardous substances.  
The damages being sought by the plaintiffs from the defendants are likely to be substantial.  On February 4, 2009, 
two of the defendants, Tierra Solutions, Inc. (“Tierra”) and Maxus Energy Corporation (“Maxus”), filed a third party 
complaint against over 300 entities, including the Company, seeking to recover all or a proportionate share of cleanup 
and removal costs, damages or other loss or harm, if any, for which Tierra or Maxus may be held liable in the Tierra/
Maxus Litigation.  Tierra and Maxus allege that Standard Tallow Company, an entity that the Company acquired in

Page 93

DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

1996, contributed to the discharge of the hazardous substances that are the subject of this case while operating a former 
plant site located in Newark, New Jersey.  The Company is investigating these allegations, has entered into a joint 
defense agreement with many of the other third-party defendants and intends to defend itself vigorously.  All previously 
scheduled discovery and trial dates in the case have been stayed pending settlement discussions amongst the parties. 
Additionally, in December 2009, the Company, along with numerous other entities, received notice from the United 
States  Environmental  Protection Agency  (EPA)  that  the  Company  (as  successor-in-interest  to  Standard  Tallow 
Company) is considered a potentially responsible party with respect to alleged contamination in the lower Passaic 
River area which is part of the Diamond Alkali Superfund Site located in Newark, New Jersey.  In the letter, EPA 
requested that the Company join a group of other parties in funding a remedial investigation and feasibility study at 
the site.  As of the date of this report, the Company has not agreed to participate in the funding group.  The Company's 
ultimate liability for investigatory costs, remedial costs and/or natural resource damages in connection with the lower  
Passaic River area cannot be determined at this time; however, as of the date of this report, there is nothing that leads 
the Company to believe that these matters will have a material effect on the Company's financial position or results 
of operation.

Fresno Facility Permit Issue.  The Company has been named as a defendant and a real party in interest in a lawsuit 
filed on April 9, 2012 in the Superior Court of the State of California, Fresno County, styled Concerned Citizens of 
West Fresno vs. The City of Fresno and Darling International Inc.  In the complaint, which was subsequently amended 
on January 31, 2013, the plaintiff alleges that the City of Fresno has failed to enforce its own zoning ordinances and 
permitting requirements and engaged in a number of discriminatory practices against the citizens of West Fresno.  In 
addition,  the  complaint  alleges  that  the  Company's  Fresno  facility  is  operating  without  a  proper  use  permit  and 
constitutes a continuing private and public nuisance.  In the complaint the plaintiff seeks, among other things, injunctive 
relief.  Rendering operations have been conducted on the site since 1955, and the Company believes that it possesses 
all of the required federal, state and local permits to continue to operate the facility in the manner currently conducted 
and that its operations do not constitute a private or public nuisance.  Accordingly, the Company intends to defend 
itself vigorously in this matter.  Discovery has begun and this matter is currently scheduled for trial in February 2014.  
While management cannot predict the ultimate outcome of this matter, management does not believe the outcome 
will have a material effect on the Company's financial condition or results of operations.

NOTE 20.  BUSINESS SEGMENTS

Effective January 2, 2011, as a result of the acquisition of Griffin, the Company's business operations were reorganized 
into two new segments, Rendering and Bakery, in order to better align its business with the underlying markets and 
customers that the Company serves.   All historical periods have been restated for the changes to the segment reporting 
structure.    The Company sells its products domestically and internationally.  The measure of segment profit (loss) 
includes all revenues, operating expenses (excluding certain amortization of intangibles), and selling, general and 
administrative expenses incurred at all operating locations and excludes general corporate expenses.

Included in corporate activities are general corporate expenses and the amortization of intangibles. Assets of corporate 
activities include cash, unallocated prepaid expenses, deferred tax assets, prepaid pension, and miscellaneous other 
assets.

Rendering
Rendering operations process animal by-products and used cooking oil into fats (primarily BFT, PG and YG), protein 
(primarily MBM and PM (feed grade and pet food)) and hides.  Fat was approximately $809.7 million, $950.8 million 
and $399.1 million of net sales for the year ended December 29, 2012, December 31, 2011 and January 1, 2011, 
respectively.  Protein was approximately $496.2 million, $447.7 million and $243.5 million of net sales for the year 
ended December 29, 2012, December 31, 2011 and January 1, 2011, respectively.  Rendering also provides grease 
trap servicing.  Included in Rendering is the National Service Center (“NSC”).  The NSC schedules services such as 
fat and bone and used cooking oil collection and trap cleaning for contracted customers using the Company's resources 
or third party providers.

Bakery
Bakery products are collected from large commercial bakeries that produce a variety of products, including cookies, 
crackers, cereal, bread, dough, potato chips, pretzels, sweet goods and biscuits, among others.  The Company processes 
the raw materials into BBP, including Cookie Meal®, an animal feed ingredient primarily used in poultry rations.

Page 94

DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

Business Segment Net Revenues (in thousands): 

Rendering
Bakery

Total

Business Segment Profit/(Loss)  (in thousands):

December 29,
2012
1,406,061
295,368
1,701,429

$

$

Year Ended
December 31,
2011
1,501,280
295,969
1,797,249

$

$

Rendering
Bakery
Corporate Activities
Interest expense
Net income

December 29,
2012

Year Ended
December 31,
2011

$

$

267,511
57,126
(169,813)
(24,054)
130,770

$

$

329,791
62,259
(185,469)
(37,163)
169,418

January 1,
2011

714,685
10,224
724,909

January 1,
2011

132,502
1,425
(80,947)
(8,737)
44,243

$

$

$

$

Included in Corporate Activities are general corporate expenses and the depreciation of fixed assets related to "Fresh 
Start Reporting."

Business Segment Assets (in thousands): 

Rendering
Bakery
Corporate Activities
Total

December 29,
2012
1,107,052
170,566
274,798
1,552,416

$

$

December 31,
2011
1,092,988
165,885
158,157
1,417,030

$

$

 Business Segment Property, Plant and Equipment (in thousands):

Depreciation and amortization:

Rendering
Bakery
Corporate Activities

Total

Capital expenditures:

Rendering
Bakery
Corporate Activities

Total     (a)

December 29,
2012

December 31,
2011

January 1,
2011

$

$

$

$

66,964
10,711
7,696
85,371

70,873
13,537
31,003
115,413

$

$

$

$

66,412
8,647
3,850
78,909

51,888
6,247
2,018
60,153

$

$

$

$

27,959
426
3,523
31,908

21,431
165
3,124
24,720

(a)  Excludes the capital assets acquired as part of the acquisition of assets related to the BioPur acquisition 
in fiscal 2012 of approximately $0.6 million and the Griffin Transaction and Nebraska Transaction in 
fiscal 2010 of approximately $243.7 million.

Page 95

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

The Company has no material foreign operations, but exports a portion of its products to customers in various foreign 
countries.

Geographic Area Net Trade Revenues (in thousands):

Domestic
Foreign

Total

December 29,
2012
1,485,237
216,192
1,701,429

$

$

December 31,
2011
1,526,351
270,898
1,797,249

$

$

January 1,
2011

$

$

653,909
71,000
724,909

The Company attributes revenues from external customers to individual foreign countries based on the destination of 
the Company's shipments.  For fiscal 2012, 2011 and 2010, no individual foreign country comprised more than 5% 
of the Company’s consolidated revenue.

NOTE 21.  QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED AND IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS):

Net sales
Operating income
Income from operations before

income taxes

Net income

Basic earnings per share
Diluted earnings per share

Net sales
Operating income
Income from operations before

income taxes

Net income

Basic earnings per share
Diluted earnings per share

Year Ended December 29, 2012

First
 Quarter

Second
 Quarter

Third
 Quarter

Fourth
 Quarter

$

387,108
52,510

$

436,674
63,968

$

452,732
65,776

$

424,915
49,487

44,741
28,571

0.24
0.24

57,829
36,225

0.31
0.31

59,307
37,172

0.32
0.31

44,908
28,802

0.24
0.24

Year Ended December 31, 2011

First
 Quarter

Second
 Quarter

Third
 Quarter

Fourth
 Quarter

$

439,898
88,173

$

470,610
92,259

$

455,875
74,553

$

430,866
58,999

73,339
46,562

0.43
0.43

82,486
52,227

0.45
0.44

66,141
41,132

0.35
0.35

50,328
29,497

0.25
0.25

NOTE 22.  RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Lease Agreements

Darling through its wholly-owned subsidiary Griffin Industries LLC, leases two real properties located in Butler, 
Kentucky  and  real  properties  located  in  each  of  Jackson,  Mississippi  and  Henderson,  Kentucky  from  Martom 
Properties, LLC, an entity owned in part by Martin W. Griffin, the Company's Executive Vice President – Co-Chief 
Operations Officer. The lease term for each of the Butler properties and the Jackson property is thirty years, and the 
Company has the right to renew such leases for two additional terms of ten years each.  The annual rental payment 
for each of the Butler properties is $30,000 for the first five years of the lease term and is increased by the increase

Page 96

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

in the consumer price index every five years thereafter.  The annual rental payment for the Jackson property is $221,715 
for the first five years of the lease term and is increased by the increase in the consumer price index every five years 
thereafter.  The lease term for the Henderson property is ten years, and the Company has the right to renew such lease 
for four additional terms of five years each.  The annual rental payment for the Henderson property is $60,000 for the 
first five years of the lease term and is increased by the increase in the consumer price index every five years thereafter.  
Under the terms of each lease, the Company has a right of first offer and right of first refusal for each of the properties.

Raw Material Agreement

The Company has entered into a Raw Material Agreement with the Joint Venture where the Company will offer to  
supply certain animal fats and used cooking oil at market prices, up to the Joint Venture's full operational requirement 
of  feedstock,  but  the  Joint  Venture  is  not  obligated  to  purchase  the  raw  material  offered  by  the  Company.   At  
December 29, 2012, the Company had recorded sales to the Joint Venture of approximately $0.3 million and has a 
current receivable due from the Joint Venture of approximately $0.3 million.

NOTE 23.  NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In June 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-05, Presentation of Comprehensive Income.  The ASU amends ASC 
Topic 220, Comprehensive Income.  The new standard eliminates the option to report other comprehensive income 
and its components in the statement of changes in equity and instead requires entities to present net income and other 
comprehensive income in either a single continuous statement or in two separate, but consecutive, statements of net 
income and other comprehensive income.  Reclassification adjustments between net income and other comprehensive 
income must be shown on the face of the statement(s), with no resulting change in net earnings.  In December 2011, 
the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-12, Deferral of Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications 
of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05. This ASU 
amends ASC Topic 220, Comprehensive Income.  The new standard deferred the requirement to present on the face 
of the financial statements reclassification adjustments for items that are reclassified from other comprehensive income 
to net income while the FASB further deliberates this aspect of the proposal. This update is effective for the Company 
on January 1, 2012 and must be applied retrospectively.  The Company adopted this standard as of March 31, 2012.  
The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.   In February 2013, 
the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-02, Reporting of Amounts Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.  This 
ASU amends ASC Topic 220, Comprehensive Income.  This new standard requires an entity to report either on the 
income statement or disclose in the footnotes to the financial statement the effects on earnings from items that are 
reclassified out of other comprehensive income.  This update is effective for the Company on December 30, 2012. 
The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting this standard.

In September 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-08, Testing Goodwill for Impairment.  The ASU amends ASC 
Topic 350, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other.  The new standard is intended to reduce the cost and complexity of the 
annual goodwill impairment test by providing entities an option to perform a “qualitative” assessment to determine 
whether further impairment testing is necessary. Specifically, an entity has the option to first assess qualitative factors 
to determine whether it is necessary to perform the current two-step test. If an entity believes, as a result of its qualitative 
assessment, that it is more-likely-than-not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, the 
quantitative impairment test is required. Otherwise, no further testing is required. This standard is effective for annual 
and interim goodwill impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011.  Early adoption 
is permissible. The Company adopted this standard in the first quarter of 2012.  The adoption did not have a material 
impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In July 2012, the FASB issued ASU No. 2012-02, Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment.  The 
ASU amends ASC Topic 350, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other.   The new standard is intended to reduce the cost 
and complexity of performing an impairment test for indefinite-lived intangible assets by providing entities an option 
to perform a "qualitative" assessment to determine whether further impairment testing is necessary.  The new standard 
allows an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine if it is more likely than not that the fair value of an 
indefinite-lived intangible asset is less than  its  carrying  amount.  If based on its  qualitative assessment an entity 
concludes it is more likely than not that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset is less than its carrying 
amount,  quantitative  impairment  testing  is  required.      However,  if  an  entity  concludes  otherwise,  quantitative 
impairment testing is not required.  The standards update is effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed 
for  fiscal  years  beginning  after  September  15,  2012,  with  early  adoption  permitted.  The  Company  is  currently 
evaluating the impact of adopting this standard.

Page 97

DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

NOTE 24.  GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The Company's Notes (see Note 10) are guaranteed on an unsecured basis by the Company's 100% directly and 
indirectly owned subsidiaries Darling National, Griffin and its subsidiary Craig Protein (collectively, the "Guarantors").  
The Guarantors fully and unconditionally guaranteed the Notes on a joint and several basis.  The following financial 
statements present condensed consolidating financial data for (i) Darling, the issuer of the Notes, (ii) the combined 
Guarantors,  (iii)  the  combined  other  subsidiaries  of  the  Company  that  did  not  guarantee  the  Notes  (the  "Non-
guarantors"), and (iv) eliminations necessary to arrive at the Company's consolidated financial statements, which 
include condensed consolidated balance sheets as of December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, and the condensed 
consolidating statements of operations, the condensed consolidating statements of comprehensive income and the 
condensed consolidating statements of cash flows for the years ended December 29, 2012, December 31, 2011 and 
January 1, 2011.

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
As of December 29, 2012
(in thousands)

ASSETS
Total current assets
Investment in subsidiaries
Property, plant and equipment, net
Intangible assets, net
Goodwill
Investment in unconsolidated subsidiary
Other assets

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Total current liabilities
Long-term debt, net of current portion
Other noncurrent liabilities
Deferred income taxes
Total liabilities
Total stockholders' equity

Issuer

Guarantors

Non-guarantors

Eliminations

Consolidated

$

174,576 $

455,604 $

1,449,577
148,131
14,497
21,860
—
26,530

—
305,796
322,634
359,243
—
431

3,037 $
—
—
271
266
62,495
—

(342,955) $

(1,449,577)
—
—
—
—
—

290,262
—
453,927
337,402
381,369
62,495
26,961

$

$

$

1,835,171 $

1,443,708 $

66,069 $

(1,792,532) $

1,552,416

414,755 $
250,000
61,365
46,615
772,735
1,062,436
1,835,171 $

59,218 $
142
—
—
59,360
1,384,348
1,443,708 $

666 $
—
174
—
840
65,229
66,069 $

(342,955) $

—
—
—
(342,955)
(1,449,577)
(1,792,532) $

131,684
250,142
61,539
46,615
489,980
1,062,436
1,552,416

Page 98

 
 
 
 
 
DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
As of December 31, 2011
(in thousands)

ASSETS
Total current assets
Investment in subsidiaries
Property, plant and equipment, net
Intangible assets, net
Goodwill
Investment in unconsolidated subsidiary
Other assets

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Total current liabilities
Long-term debt, net of current portion
Other noncurrent liabilities
Deferred income taxes
Total liabilities
Total stockholders' equity

Issuer

Guarantors

Non-guarantors

Eliminations

Consolidated

$

124,675 $

347,989 $

1,286,175
119,898
14,747
21,860
—
27,725

—
280,324
347,874
359,243
—
3,387

3,980 $
—
—
293
266
21,733
—

(256,964) $

(1,286,175)
—
—
—
—
—

219,680
—
400,222
362,914
381,369
21,733
31,112

$

$

$

1,595,080 $

1,338,817 $

26,272 $

(1,543,139) $

1,417,030

317,561 $
280,000
46,011
31,133
674,705
920,375
1,595,080 $

63,718 $
20
12,052
—
75,790
1,263,027
1,338,817 $

2,942 $
—
182
—
3,124
23,148
26,272 $

(256,964) $

—
—
—
(256,964)
(1,286,175)
(1,543,139) $

127,257
280,020
58,245
31,133
496,655
920,375
1,417,030

Net sales
Cost and expenses:

Cost of sales and operating expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Depreciation and amortization
Total costs and expenses

Operating income

Interest expense
Other income/(expense), net
Equity in net loss of unconsolidated subsidiary
Earnings in investments in subsidiaries
Income/(loss) from operations before taxes
Income taxes (benefit)
Net income/(loss)

$

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
For the year ended December 29, 2012
(in thousands)

Issuer

Guarantors

Non-guarantors

Eliminations

$

658,897 $

1,216,264 $

14,425 $

(188,157) $

Consolidated
1,701,429

512,199
80,432
23,542
616,173

42,724

(24,047)
(1,572)
—
119,953
137,058
6,288
130,770 $

894,820
71,141
61,807
1,027,768

188,496

(7)
3,355
—
—
191,844
70,523
121,321 $

13,742
140
22
13,904

521

—
(23)
(2,662)
—
(2,164)
(796)
(1,368) $

(188,157)
—
—
(188,157)

—

—
—
—
(119,953)
(119,953)
—

(119,953) $

1,232,604
151,713
85,371
1,469,688

231,741

(24,054)
1,760
(2,662)
—
206,785
76,015
130,770

Page 99

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
For the year ended December 31, 2011
(in thousands)

Issuer

Guarantors

Non-guarantors

Eliminations

$

721,990 $

1,238,858 $

27,484 $

(191,083) $

Consolidated
1,797,249

Net sales
Cost and expenses:

Cost of sales and operating expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Depreciation and amortization
Total costs and expenses

Operating income

Interest expense
Other income/(expense), net
Equity in net loss of unconsolidated subsidiary
Earnings in investments in subsidiaries
Income/(loss) from operations before taxes
Income taxes (benefit)
Net income/(loss)

$

553,218
67,829
23,531
644,578

77,412

(37,161)
(2,533)
—
145,950
183,668
14,250
169,418 $

879,277
68,149
55,356
1,002,782

236,076

(2)
(479)
—
—
235,595
89,011
146,584 $

26,809
157
22
26,988

496

—
57
(1,572)
—
(1,019)
(385)
(634) $

(191,083)
—
—
(191,083)

—

—
—
—
(145,950)
(145,950)
—

(145,950) $

1,268,221
136,135
78,909
1,483,265

313,984

(37,163)
(2,955)
(1,572)
—
272,294
102,876
169,418

Net sales
Cost and expenses:

Cost of sales and operating expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Depreciation and amortization
Acquisition costs

Total costs and expenses

Operating income

Interest expense
Other income/(expense), net
Earnings in investments in subsidiaries
Income/(loss) from operations before taxes
Income taxes (benefit)
Net income/(loss)

$

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
For the year ended January 1, 2011
(in thousands)

Issuer

Guarantors

Non-guarantors

Eliminations

$

560,270 $

302,074 $

813 $

(138,248) $

Consolidated
724,909

421,841
60,282
21,768
10,798
514,689

45,581

(8,735)
(1,890)
22,258
57,214
12,971
44,243 $

247,357
7,750
10,140
—
265,247

36,827

(2)
(897)
—
35,928
13,330
22,598 $

749
10
—
—
759

54

—
(595)
—
(541)
(201)
(340) $

(138,248)
—
—
—
(138,248)

—

—
—
(22,258)
(22,258)
—
(22,258) $

531,699
68,042
31,908
10,798
642,447

82,462

(8,737)
(3,382)
—
70,343
26,100
44,243

Page 100

  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
For the year ended December 29, 2012
(in thousands)

Issuer

Guarantors

Non-guarantors

Eliminations

Net income
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

Pension adjustments
Natural gas swap derivative adjustments
Corn option derivative adjustments
Interest rate swap derivative adjustments
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax
Total comprehensive income (loss)

$

130,770 $

121,321 $

(1,368) $

(119,953) $

Consolidated
130,770

(1,169)
391
194
159
(425)
130,345 $

$

—
—
—
—
—

121,321 $

—
—
—
—
—
(1,368) $

—
—
—
—
—

(119,953) $

(1,169)
391
194
159
(425)
130,345

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
For the year ended December 31, 2011
(in thousands)

Issuer

Guarantors

Non-guarantors

Eliminations

$

169,418 $

146,584 $

(634) $

(145,950) $

Consolidated
169,418

Net income
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

Pension adjustments
Natural gas swap derivative adjustments
Interest rate swap derivative adjustments
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax
Total comprehensive income (loss)

(10,146)
(482)
712
(9,916)
159,502 $

$

—
—
—
—

146,584 $

—
—
—
—
(634) $

—
—
—
—

(145,950) $

(10,146)
(482)
712
(9,916)
159,502

Net income
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:

Pension adjustments
Natural gas swap derivative adjustments
Interest rate swap derivative adjustments
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax
Total comprehensive income (loss)

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)
For the year ended January 1, 2011
(in thousands)

Issuer

Guarantors

Non-guarantors

Eliminations

$

44,243 $

22,598 $

(340) $

(22,258) $

Consolidated
44,243

2,346
(59)
507
2,794
47,037 $

—
—
—
—
22,598 $

$

—
—
—
—
(340) $

—
—
—
—
(22,258) $

2,346
(59)
507
2,794
47,037

Page 101

 
 
 
DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows
For the year ended December 29, 2012
(in thousands)

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net income
Earnings in investments in subsidiaries
Other operating cash flows

Net cash provided/(used) by operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities:

Capital expenditures
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired
Investment in subsidiaries and affiliates

Gross proceeds from sale of property, plant and

equipment and other assets

Proceeds from insurance settlements
Payments related to routes and other intangibles

Net cash provide/(used) in investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities:

Payments on long-term debt
Issuance of common stock

Contributions from parent

Minimum withholding taxes paid on stock awards

Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation

Net cash provided/(used) in financing activities

Issuer

Guarantors

Non-guarantors

Eliminations

Consolidated

$

130,770 $
(119,953)
175,098
185,915

121,321 $

—
(56,445)
64,876

(1,368) $
—
114
(1,254)

(119,953) $
119,953
—
—

130,770
—
118,767
249,537

(49,619)
(3,000)
(43,449)

2,083
1,305
(137)
(92,817)

(30,000)
72

—

(4,084)

2,652

(31,360)

(65,794)
—
—

1,787
2,967
—
(61,040)

(32)
—

—

—

—

—
—
(43,424)

—
—
—
(43,424)

—
—

—
—
43,449

—
—
—
43,449

—
—

43,449

(43,449)

—

—

—

—

(32)

43,449

(43,449)

(115,413)
(3,000)
(43,424)

3,870
4,272
(137)
(153,832)

(30,032)
72

—

(4,084)

2,652

(31,392)

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

$

61,738
35,207
96,945 $

3,804
1,773
5,577 $

(1,229)
1,956

727 $

—
—
— $

64,313
38,936
103,249

Page 102

DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows
For the year ended December 31, 2011
(in thousands)

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net income
Earnings in investments in subsidiaries
Other operating cash flows

Net cash provided by operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities:

Capital expenditures
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired
Investment in subsidiaries and affiliates

Gross proceeds from sale of property, plant and

equipment and other assets
Net cash provided/(used) in investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities:

Payments on long-term debt
Borrowing from revolving credit facility
Payments on revolving credit facility
Deferred loan costs
Issuances of common stock

Contributions from parent

Minimum withholding taxes paid on stock awards

Excess tax benefits from stock-based

compensation

Issuer

Guarantors

Non-guarantors

Eliminations

Consolidated

$

169,418 $
(145,950)
184,027
207,495

146,584 $

—
(114,532)
32,052

(634) $
—
1,951
1,317

(145,950) $
145,950
—
—

169,418
—
71,446
240,864

(23,835)
(1,754)
(23,330)

961
(47,958)

(270,000)
131,000
(291,000)
(399)
293,117

—

(1,281)

1,125

(36,318)
—
—

568
(35,750)

(9)
—
—
—
—

—

—

—

(9)

—
—
(23,305)

—
(23,305)

—
—
—
—
—

—
—
23,330

—
23,330

—
—
—
—
—

23,330

(23,330)

—

—

—

—

(60,153)
(1,754)
(23,305)

1,529
(83,683)

(270,009)
131,000
(291,000)
(399)
293,117

—

(1,281)

1,125

23,330

(23,330)

(137,447)

Net cash provided/(used) in financing activities

(137,438)

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

$

22,099
13,108
35,207 $

(3,707)
5,480
1,773 $

1,342
614
1,956 $

—
—
— $

19,734
19,202
38,936

Page 103

DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows
For the year ended January 1, 2011
(in thousands)

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net income
Earnings in investments in subsidiaries
Other operating cash flows

Net cash provided by operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities:

Capital expenditures
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired

Gross proceeds from sale of property, plant and

equipment and other assets

Payments related to routes and other intangibles

Net cash used in investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt
Payments on long-term debt
Borrowing from revolving credit facility
Deferred loan costs
Issuances of common stock

Minimum withholding taxes paid on stock awards

Excess tax benefits from stock-based

compensation

Issuer

Guarantors

Non-guarantors

Eliminations

Consolidated

$

44,243 $
(22,258)
46,624
68,609

22,598 $
—
(10,311)
12,287

(340) $
—
954
614

(22,258) $
22,258
—
—

44,243
—
37,267
81,510

(17,648)
(758,182)

406
(1,367)
(776,791)

550,000
(32,500)
160,000
(24,020)
35

(585)

234

(7,072)
—

218
—
(6,854)

—
(9)
—
—
—

—

—

(9)

—
—

—
—
—

—
—
—
—
—

—

—

—

—
—

—
—
—

—
—
—
—
—

—

—

—

(24,720)
(758,182)

624
(1,367)
(783,645)

550,000
(32,509)
160,000
(24,020)
35

(585)

234

653,155

(48,980)
68,182
19,202

Net cash provided/(used) in financing activities

653,164

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

(55,018)
68,126
13,108 $

$

5,424
56
5,480 $

614
—
614 $

—
—
— $

Page 104

ITEM  9.  CHANGES  IN AND  DISAGREEMENTS  WITH ACCOUNTANTS  ON ACCOUNTING AND  FINANCIAL 

PART II

DISCLOSURE

 None.

ITEM 9A.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.

As required by Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(b), the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and 
Chief Financial Officer, conducted an evaluation, as of the end of the period covered by this report, of the effectiveness of the 
design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures.  As defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 
15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures of the Company that are 
designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange 
Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.  Disclosure 
controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be 
disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the 
Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions 
regarding required disclosure.

Based on management’s evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s 

disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.

Internal Control over Financial Reporting.

(a)    Management’s  Annual  Report  on  Internal  Control  over  Financial  Reporting.  Management  of  the  Company  is 
responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 
15d-15(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act.  Those rules define internal control over financial reporting as a process designed 
to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for 
external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that:

• 

• 

• 

Pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and 
dispositions of the assets of the Company;

Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements 
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the Company are 
being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the Company; and

Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition 
of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because  of  its  inherent  limitations,  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  may  not  prevent  or  detect 
misstatements.  Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become 
inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

The Company’s management assessed the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of 
December 29, 2012. In making this assessment, the Company's management used the criteria established in Internal Control-
Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

Based on their assessment, management has concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was 

effective at the reasonable assurance level as of December 29, 2012.

KPMG LLP, the registered public accounting firm that audited the Company's financial statements, has issued an audit 
report on management’s assessment of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, which report is included herein.

Page 105

 
 
(b)    Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm.  The attestation report called for by Item 308(b) of 
Regulation S-K is incorporated herein by reference to Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal 
Control Over Financial Reporting, included in Part II, Item 8, "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this report.

(c)    Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting.  As required by Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(d), the Company's 
management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, also conducted an evaluation of the Company's 
internal control over financial reporting to determine whether any change occurred during the last fiscal quarter of the period 
covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over 
financial reporting.  Based on that evaluation there has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting 
during the last fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially 
affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 9B.  OTHER INFORMATION

None.

Page 106

PART III

ITEM 10.  DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The information required by this Item with respect to Items 401, 405 and 407 of Regulation S-K will appear in the sections 
entitled "Election of Directors,"  "Our Management - Executive Officers and Directors," "Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership 
Reporting Compliance" and "Corporate Governance-Committees of the Board - Audit Committee" included in the Company’s 
definitive Proxy Statement relating to the 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which information is incorporated herein by 
reference.

The Company has adopted the Darling International Inc. Code of Business Conduct ("Code of Business Conduct"), which 
is applicable to all of the Company’s employees, including its senior financial officers, the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial 
Officer, Controller, Treasurer and General Counsel.  The Company has not granted any waivers to the Code of Business Conduct 
to  date.  A  copy  of  the  Company’s  Code  of  Business  Conduct  has  been  posted  on  the  “Investor”  portion  of  our  web  site,  at 
www.darlingii.com.  Shareholders may request a free copy of our Code of Business Conduct from:

Brad Phillips
Darling International Inc.
251 O’Connor Ridge Blvd, Suite 300
Irving, Texas  75038
Phone:  972-717-0300
Fax:  972-717-1588
Email:  bphillips@darlingii.com

ITEM 11.  EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The information required by this Item will appear in the sections entitled "Executive Compensation," "Compensation 
Committee Report" and "Corporate Governance - Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation" included in the 
Company’s definitive Proxy Statement relating to the 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which information is incorporated 
herein by reference.

ITEM 12.   SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED 

STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

The information required by this Item with respect to Item 201(d) of Regulation S-K appears in Item 5 of this report.

The information required by this Item with respect to Item 403 of Regulation S-K will appear in the section entitled 
"Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management" included in the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement 
relating to the 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which information is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 13.   CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

The information required by this Item will appear in the sections entitled "Transactions with Related Persons, Promoters 
and Certain Control Persons,"  "Corporate Governance – Code of Business Conduct" and "Corporate Governance - Independent 
Directors" included in the Company's definitive Proxy Statement relating to the 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which 
information is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 14.   PRINCIPAL  ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

The information required by this Item will appear in the section entitled "Ratification of Selection of Independent 

Registered Public Accountant" included in the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement relating to the 2013 Annual Meeting of 
Stockholders, which information is incorporated herein by reference.

Page 107

 
PART IV

ITEM 15.   EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

(a) Documents filed as part of this report:

(1)  The following consolidated financial statements are included in Item 8.

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Consolidated Financial
      Statements
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control Over
      Financial Reporting

Consolidated Balance Sheets -

December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011

Consolidated Statements of Operations -

Three years ended December 29, 2012

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income -
Three years ended December 29, 2012

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity -

Three years ended December 29, 2012

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows -

Three years ended December 29, 2012

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Page

 57

 58

59

60

61

62

63

64

All other schedules are omitted since the required information is not present or is not present in amounts sufficient to require 
submission of the schedule, or because the information required is included in the consolidated financial statements and notes 
thereto.

Page 108

 
 
(3)  Exhibits

Exhibit No.

2.1

3.1

3.2

3.3

4.1

4.2

4.3

4.4

4.5

4.6

10.1 *

10.2

10.3

10.4

Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 9, 2010, by and among Darling International Inc., DG
Acquisition Corp., Griffin Industries, Inc. and Robert A. Griffin, in his capacity as the Shareholders’
Representative (filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 9, 2010
and incorporated herein by reference).

Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s
Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed May 23, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference).

Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 2, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference).

Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on
Form 8-K filed December 12, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference).

Specimen Common Stock Certificate (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form
S-1 filed May 27, 1994 and incorporated herein by reference).

Certificate of Designation, Preference and Rights of Series A Preferred Stock (filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the
Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed May 23, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference).

Indenture, dated as of December 17, 2010, by and among Darling International Inc., Darling National LLC,
and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on
Form 8-K filed December 20, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).

Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 17, 2010, by and among Griffin Industries, Inc., Craig
Protein Division, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s
Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 20, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).

Form of Senior Indenture for Debt Securities of Darling International Inc. (filed as Exhibit 4.3 to the
Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed November 17, 2010 and incorporated herein by
reference).

Form of Subordinated Indenture for Debt Securities of Darling International Inc. (filed as Exhibit 4.4 to the
Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed November 17, 2010 and incorporated herein by
reference).

Form of Indemnification Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s Registration Statement on
Form S-1 filed on May 27, 1994, and incorporated herein by reference).

Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of December 17, 2010, by and among Darling International Inc.,
the guarantors listed in Schedule 1 thereto, and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC,, as representative of the several
initial purchasers named therein (filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed
December 20, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).

Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of December 17, 2010, by and among Darling International Inc.
and each of the stockholders named therein (filed as Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Current Report on Form
8-K filed December 20, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).

Rollover Agreement, dated as of November 9, 2010, by and among Darling International Inc., certain
investors named therein and Robert A. Griffin, in his capacity as the Investors’ Representative (filed as
Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 9, 2010 and incorporated
herein by reference).

Page 109

10.5

10.6

10.7

10.8

10.9

10.10

10.11

10.12

10.13

10.14

10.15

10.16 *

10.17 *

10.18 *

10.19*

10.20 *

Credit Agreement, dated as of December 17, 2010, by and among, Darling International Inc., the lenders
party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Bank of Montreal, as Syndication
Agent, and PNC Bank, N.A. and Goldman Sachs Bank USA, as Documentation Agents (filed as Exhibit
10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 20, 2010 and incorporated herein by
reference).

First Amendment to the Credit Agreement, dated as of March 25, 2011, among Darling International Inc., as
borrower, the subsidiaries of the borrower party thereto, the lending institutions party thereto and JPMorgan
Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form
8-K filed March 28, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference).

Security Agreement, dated as of December 17, 2010, by and among Darling International Inc., its
subsidiaries signatory thereto and any other subsidiary who may become a party thereto and JPMorgan
Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form
8-K filed December 20, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).

Guaranty Agreement, dated as of December 17, 2010, by Griffin Industries, Inc., Darling National LLC and
Craig Protein Division, Inc (filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed
December 20, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).

Limited Liability Company Agreement, dated as of January 21, 2011, by and among Diamond Green Diesel
Holdings LLC, Darling Green Energy LLC and Diamond Alternative Energy, LLC. (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to
the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 21, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference).

Sponsor Support Agreement, dated as of May 31, 2011, by and between Darling International Inc., Diamond
Green Diesel LLC and Diamond Alternative Energy, LLC (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current
Report on Form 8-K filed June 1, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference).

Raw Material Supply Agreement, dated as of May 31, 2011, by and between Diamond Green Diesel LLC
and Darling International Inc. (filed as Exhibit 10 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed
August 11, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference).

Leases, dated July 1, 1996, between the Company and the City and County of San Francisco (filed pursuant
to temporary hardship exemption under cover of Form SE).

Lease, dated November 24, 2003, between Darling International Inc. and the Port of Tacoma (filed as
Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 29, 2004, and incorporated herein
by reference).

Ground Lease, dated as of December 17, 2010, by and between Martom Properties, LLC and Griffin
Industries, Inc. (Butler, Kentucky) (filed as Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K
filed December 20, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).

Ground Lease, dated as of December 17, 2010, by and between Martom Properties, LLC and Griffin
Industries, Inc. (Henderson, Kentucky) (filed as Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K
filed December 20, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).

1994 Employee Flexible Stock Option Plan (filed as Exhibit 2 to the Company’s Revised Definitive Proxy
Statement filed on April 20, 2001, and incorporated herein by reference).

Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.13 to the Company’s Registration
Statement on Form S-1/A filed on June 5, 2002, and incorporated herein by reference).

Darling International Inc. 2004 Omnibus Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current
Report on Form 8-K filed May 11, 2005, and incorporated herein by reference).

Amendment to Darling International Inc. 2004 Omnibus Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the
Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 22, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference).

Darling International Inc. 2012 Omnibus Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit 99 to the Company’s Registration
Statement on Form S-8 filed May 31, 2012 and incorporated herein by reference).

Page 110

10.21 *

10.22 *

10.23 *

10.24 *

10.25 *

10.26 *

10.27 *

10.28 *

10.29 *

10.30 *

10.31 *

10.32 *

10.33 *

10.34 *

10.35 *

10.36 *

10.37 *

Darling International Inc. Compensation Committee Long-Term Incentive Program Policy Statement (filed
as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 22, 2005, and incorporated herein
by reference).

Darling International Inc. Compensation Committee Executive Compensation Program Policy Statement
adopted January 15, 2009 (filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January
21, 2009 and incorporated herein by reference).

Darling International Inc. Compensation Committee Amended and Restated Executive Compensation
Program Policy Statement adopted January 8, 2010 (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report
on Form 8-K filed January 14, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).

Darling International Inc. Compensation Committee 2011 Amended and Restated Executive Compensation
Program Policy Statement adopted February 3, 2011 (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report
on Form 8-K filed February 9, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference).

Integration Success Incentive Award Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form
8-K filed March 15, 2006 and incorporated herein by reference).

2010 Special Incentive Program (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed
November 17, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).

Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Award Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current
Report on Form 8-K filed March 15, 2006 and incorporated herein by reference).

Amendment No. 1 to Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Award Plan, effective as of January 15, 2009
(filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 21, 2009 and
incorporated herein by reference).

Amended and Restated Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Award Plan, (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the
Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 28, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference).

Notice of Amendment to Grants and Awards, dated as of October 10, 2006 (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the
Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 10, 2006 and incorporated herein by reference).

Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2009, between Darling International
Inc. and Randall C. Stuewe (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed
January 21, 2009, and incorporated herein by reference).

Employment Agreement, dated as of December 17, 2010, by and among Darling International Inc., Griffin
Industries, Inc. and Robert A. Griffin (filed as Exhibit 10.9 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K
filed December 20, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).

Employment Agreement, dated as of December 17, 2010, by and among Darling International Inc., Griffin
Industries, Inc. and Martin W. Griffin (filed as Exhibit 10.10 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K
filed December 20, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).

Form of Senior Executive Termination Benefits Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current
Report on Form 8-K filed November 29, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference).

Form of Addendum to Senior Executive Termination Benefits Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the
Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 12, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference).

Amended and Restated Senior Executive Termination Benefits Agreement dated, as of January 15, 2009,
between Darling International Inc. and John O. Muse (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current
Report on Form 8-K filed January 21, 2009 and incorporated herein by reference).

First Addendum to Amended and Restated Senior Executive Termination Benefits Agreement dated as of
December 8, 2009 by and between Darling International Inc. and John O. Muse (filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the
Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 14, 2009 and incorporated herein by reference).

Page 111

10.38 *

10.39 *

10.40 *

10.41 *

10.42 *

10.43

14

21

23

31.1

31.2

32

101

Second Addendum to Amended and Restated Senior Executive Termination Benefits Agreement dated as of
December 8, 2010 by and between Darling International Inc. and John O. Muse (filed as Exhibit 10.5 to the
Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 13, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).

Form of Addendum to Senior Executive Termination Benefits Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the
Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 13, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).

Form of Senior Executive Termination Benefits Agreement between Darling International Inc. and Colin
Stevenson (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 6, 2012 and
incorporated herein by reference).

Separation and Consulting Agreement dated October 26, 2009, between Darling International Inc. and Mark
A. Myers (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 29, 2009 and
incorporated herein by reference).

Form of Indemnification Agreement between Darling International Inc. and its directors and executive
officers (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 25, 2008, and
incorporated herein by reference).

Underwriting Agreement, dated as of January 27, 2011, by and among Darling International Inc., the selling
stockholders signatory thereto and Goldman, Sachs & Co., as representative of the several underwriters
named in Schedule 1 thereto (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed
January 28, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference).

Darling International Inc. Code of Business Conduct applicable to all employees, including senior executive
officers (filed as Exhibit 14 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 25, 2008, and
incorporated herein by reference).

Subsidiaries of the Registrant (filed herewith).

Consent of KPMG LLP (filed herewith).

Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, of
Randall C. Stuewe, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company (filed herewith).

Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, of John
O. Muse, the Chief Financial Officer of the Company (filed herewith).

Written Statement of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer furnished pursuant to Section 906
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. Section 1350) (filed herewith).

Interactive Data Files Pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T: (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of 
December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011; (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended 
December 29, 2012, December 31, 2011 and January 1, 2011; (iii) Consolidated Statements of 
Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 29, 2012, December 31, 2011 and January 1, 2011; 
(iv) Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 29, 2012, December 31, 
2011 and January 1, 2011; (v) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 29, 
2012, December 31, 2011 and January 1, 2011; (vi) Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

The Exhibits are available upon request from the Company.

*

Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

Page 112

 
SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report 

to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. 

 DARLING INTERNATIONAL INC.

By:

/s/  Randall C. Stuewe
Randall C. Stuewe

Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer

Date:

February 27, 2013

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following 

persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature

Title

Date

/s/  Randall C. Stuewe
Randall C. Stuewe

/s/  Colin Stevenson
Colin Stevenson

/s/  O. Thomas Albrecht
O. Thomas Albrecht

/s/  D. Eugene Ewing
D. Eugene Ewing

/s/  Charles Macaluso
Charles Macaluso

/s/  John D. March
John D. March

/s/  Michael Rescoe
Michael Rescoe

/s/  Michael Urbut
Michael Urbut

Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)

February 27, 2013

Executive Vice President –
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

February 27, 2013

February 27, 2013

February 27, 2013

February 27, 2013

February 27, 2013

February 27, 2013

February 27, 2013

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Page 113

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
INDEX TO EXHIBITS

2.1

3.1

3.2

3.3

4.1

4.2

4.3

4.4

4.5

4.6

10.1 *

10.2

10.3

10.4

10.5

Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 9, 2010, by and among Darling International Inc., DG
Acquisition Corp., Griffin Industries, Inc. and Robert A. Griffin, in his capacity as the Shareholders’
Representative (filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 9, 2010
and incorporated herein by reference).

Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s
Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed May 23, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference).

Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 2, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference).

Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on
Form 8-K filed December 12, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference).

Specimen Common Stock Certificate (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form
S-1 filed May 27, 1994 and incorporated herein by reference).

Certificate of Designation, Preference and Rights of Series A Preferred Stock (filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the
Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed May 23, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference).

Indenture, dated as of December 17, 2010, by and among Darling International Inc., Darling National LLC,
and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on
Form 8-K filed December 20, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).

Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 17, 2010, by and among Griffin Industries, Inc., Craig
Protein Division, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s
Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 20, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).

Form of Senior Indenture for Debt Securities of Darling International Inc. (filed as Exhibit 4.3 to the
Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed November 17, 2010 and incorporated herein by
reference).

Form of Subordinated Indenture for Debt Securities of Darling International Inc. (filed as Exhibit 4.4 to the
Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed November 17, 2010 and incorporated herein by
reference).

Form of Indemnification Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s Registration Statement on
Form S-1 filed on May 27, 1994, and incorporated herein by reference).

Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of December 17, 2010, by and among Darling International Inc.,
the guarantors listed in Schedule 1 thereto, and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC,, as representative of the several
initial purchasers named therein (filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed
December 20, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).

Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of December 17, 2010, by and among Darling International Inc.
and each of the stockholders named therein (filed as Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Current Report on Form
8-K filed December 20, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).

Rollover Agreement, dated as of November 9, 2010, by and among Darling International Inc., certain
investors named therein and Robert A. Griffin, in his capacity as the Investors’ Representative (filed as
Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 9, 2010 and incorporated
herein by reference).

Credit Agreement, dated as of December 17, 2010, by and among, Darling International Inc., the lenders
party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Bank of Montreal, as Syndication
Agent, and PNC Bank, N.A. and Goldman Sachs Bank USA, as Documentation Agents (filed as Exhibit
10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 20, 2010 and incorporated herein by
reference).

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10.6

10.7

10.8

10.9

10.10

10.11

10.12

10.13

10.14

10.15

10.16 *

10.17 *

10.18 *

10.19*

10.20*

10.21 *

First Amendment to the Credit Agreement, dated as of March 25, 2011, among Darling International Inc., as
borrower, the subsidiaries of the borrower party thereto, the lending institutions party thereto and JPMorgan
Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form
8-K filed March 28, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference).

Security Agreement, dated as of December 17, 2010, by and among Darling International Inc., its
subsidiaries signatory thereto and any other subsidiary who may become a party thereto and JPMorgan
Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form
8-K filed December 20, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).

Guaranty Agreement, dated as of December 17, 2010, by Griffin Industries, Inc., Darling National LLC and
Craig Protein Division, Inc (filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed
December 20, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).

Limited Liability Company Agreement, dated as of January 21, 2011, by and among Diamond Green Diesel
Holdings LLC, Darling Green Energy LLC and Diamond Alternative Energy, LLC. (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to
the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 21, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference).

Sponsor Support Agreement, dated as of May 31, 2011, by and between Darling International Inc., Diamond
Green Diesel LLC and Diamond Alternative Energy, LLC (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Current
Report on Form 8-K filed June 1, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference).

Raw Material Supply Agreement, dated as of May 31, 2011, by and between Diamond Green Diesel LLC
and Darling International Inc. (filed as Exhibit 10 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed
August 11, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference).

Leases, dated July 1, 1996, between the Company and the City and County of San Francisco (filed pursuant
to temporary hardship exemption under cover of Form SE).

Lease, dated November 24, 2003, between Darling International Inc. and the Port of Tacoma (filed as
Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 29, 2004, and incorporated herein
by reference).

Ground Lease, dated as of December 17, 2010, by and between Martom Properties, LLC and Griffin
Industries, Inc. (Butler, Kentucky) (filed as Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K
filed December 20, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).

Ground Lease, dated as of December 17, 2010, by and between Martom Properties, LLC and Griffin
Industries, Inc. (Henderson, Kentucky) (filed as Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K
filed December 20, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).

1994 Employee Flexible Stock Option Plan (filed as Exhibit 2 to the Company’s Revised Definitive Proxy
Statement filed on April 20, 2001, and incorporated herein by reference).

Non-Employee Directors Stock Option Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.13 to the Company’s Registration
Statement on Form S-1/A filed on June 5, 2002, and incorporated herein by reference).

Darling International Inc. 2004 Omnibus Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current
Report on Form 8-K filed May 11, 2005, and incorporated herein by reference).

Amendment to Darling International Inc. 2004 Omnibus Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the
Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 22, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference).

Darling International Inc. 2012 Omnibus Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit 99 to the Company’s Registration 
Statement on Form S-8 filed May 31, 2012 and incorporated herein by reference).

Darling International Inc. Compensation Committee Long-Term Incentive Program Policy Statement (filed
as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 22, 2005, and incorporated herein
by reference).

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10.22 *

10.23 *

10.24 *

10.25 *

10.26 *

10.27 *

10.28 *

10.29 *

10.30 *

10.31 *

10.32 *

10.33 *

10.34 *

10.35 *

10.36 *

10.37 *

10.38 *

Darling International Inc. Compensation Committee Executive Compensation Program Policy Statement
adopted January 15, 2009 (filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January
21, 2009 and incorporated herein by reference).

Darling International Inc. Compensation Committee Amended and Restated Executive Compensation
Program Policy Statement adopted January 8, 2010 (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report
on Form 8-K filed January 14, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).

Darling International Inc. Compensation Committee 2011 Amended and Restated Executive Compensation
Program Policy Statement adopted February 3, 2011 (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report
on Form 8-K filed February 9, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference).

Integration Success Incentive Award Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form
8-K filed March 15, 2006 and incorporated herein by reference).

2010 Special Incentive Program (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed
November 17, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).

Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Award Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current
Report on Form 8-K filed March 15, 2006 and incorporated herein by reference).

Amendment No. 1 to Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Award Plan, effective as of January 15, 2009
(filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 21, 2009 and
incorporated herein by reference).

Amended and Restated Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Award Plan, (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the
Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 28, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference).

Notice of Amendment to Grants and Awards, dated as of October 10, 2006 (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the
Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 10, 2006 and incorporated herein by reference).

Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of January 1, 2009, between Darling International
Inc. and Randall C. Stuewe (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed
January 21, 2009, and incorporated herein by reference).

Employment Agreement, dated as of December 17, 2010, by and among Darling International Inc., Griffin
Industries, Inc. and Robert A. Griffin (filed as Exhibit 10.9 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K
filed December 20, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).

Employment Agreement, dated as of December 17, 2010, by and among Darling International Inc., Griffin
Industries, Inc. and Martin W. Griffin (filed as Exhibit 10.10 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K
filed December 20, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).

Form of Senior Executive Termination Benefits Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current
Report on Form 8-K filed November 29, 2007 and incorporated herein by reference).

Form of Addendum to Senior Executive Termination Benefits Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the
Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 12, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference).

Amended and Restated Senior Executive Termination Benefits Agreement dated, as of January 15, 2009,
between Darling International Inc. and John O. Muse (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current
Report on Form 8-K filed January 21, 2009 and incorporated herein by reference).

First Addendum to Amended and Restated Senior Executive Termination Benefits Agreement dated as of
December 8, 2009 by and between Darling International Inc. and John O. Muse (filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the
Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 14, 2009 and incorporated herein by reference).

Second Addendum to Amended and Restated Senior Executive Termination Benefits Agreement dated as of
December 8, 2010 by and between Darling International Inc. and John O. Muse (filed as Exhibit 10.5 to the
Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 13, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).

Page 116

10.39 *

10.40 *

10.41 *

10.42 *

10.43

14

21

23

31.1

31.2

32

101

Form of Addendum to Senior Executive Termination Benefits Agreement (filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the
Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 13, 2010 and incorporated herein by reference).

Form of Senior Executive Termination Benefits Agreement between Darling International Inc. and Colin 
Stevenson (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 6, 2012 and 
incorporated herein by reference).

Separation and Consulting Agreement dated October 26, 2009, between Darling International Inc. and Mark
A. Myers (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 29, 2009 and
incorporated herein by reference).

Form of Indemnification Agreement between Darling International Inc. and its directors and executive
officers (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 25, 2008, and
incorporated herein by reference).

Underwriting Agreement, dated as of January 27, 2011, by and among Darling International Inc., the selling
stockholders signatory thereto and Goldman, Sachs & Co., as representative of the several underwriters
named in Schedule 1 thereto (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed
January 28, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference).

Darling International Inc. Code of Business Conduct applicable to all employees, including senior executive
officers (filed as Exhibit 14 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 25, 2008, and
incorporated herein by reference).

Subsidiaries of the Registrant (filed herewith).

Consent of KPMG LLP (filed herewith).

Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, of
Randall C. Stuewe, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company (filed herewith).

Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, of John
O. Muse, the Chief Financial Officer of the Company (filed herewith).

Written Statement of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer furnished pursuant to Section 906
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (18 U.S.C. Section 1350) (filed herewith).

Interactive Data Files Pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T: (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of 
December 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011; (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended 
December 29, 2012, December 31, 2011 and January 1, 2011; (iii) Consolidated Statements of 
Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 29, 2012, December 31, 2011 and January 1, 2011; 
(iv) Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 29, 2012, December 31, 
2011 and January 1, 2011; (v) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 29, 
2012, December 31, 2011 and January 1, 2011; (vi) Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

The Exhibits are available upon request from the Company.

*

Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

Page 117

 
 
 
 
To Our Shareholders 

I am pleased to report that fiscal 2012 was our second-best earnings year in Darling’s 130-year history, driven by solid 

contributions from both operating segments. For fiscal year 2012, we posted net income of $130.8 million, or $1.11 per 

share – exceptional financial results considering the volatility and uncertainty we faced in many of our finished product markets. 

Undeniably we viewed fiscal 2012 as a transition year, preparing our business model for the addition of Diamond Green Diesel. All 

said, we remained focused and executed several strategic initiatives that

• drove organic growth in our core rendering segment with the addition of several new key suppliers;

• targeted capital improvements focused on generating meaningful operating efficiencies and fleet upgrades;

• completed the Griffin Industries integration, uniting two industry leaders with unparalleled customer service, and branded our 

rendering process through the launch of DAR PRO Solutions, a Darling/Griffin brand;

• established our entry into the biomass-based renewable diesel market with our flagship Diamond Green Diesel joint venture with 

  Valero, which will begin initial commissioning in phases in early 2013; and

• began the design and implementation of a new Oracle-based operating system that will provide us a platform for future growth.

The common stock of Darling

International Inc. is traded on 

the New York Stock Exchange 

(NYSE) under the symbol “DAR.” 

We also welcomed Colin Stevenson to our management team as Executive Vice President – Chief Financial Officer effective September 1, 2012. 

This allows ample time for a smooth succession as he takes the financial reins from John Muse, our current Executive Vice President – Chief 

Administrative Officer, who plans to retire in 2014. Colin brings a wealth of public accounting and public company CFO experience that will serve us 

well as we continue to execute our strategic plans.

We also highlighted the year by hosting our inaugural investment community investor day held in New York City, with a plant tour visit to our premier 

Newark, N.J., rendering facility. Our event attracted nearly 70 attendees, who gained an in-depth overview of how we recycle food by-product waste streams 

into valuable ingredients for feed, fuel and fertilizer.

Year of Challenge

Fiscal 2012 also proved to be a year of challenge and change. Coinciding market disruptions and extreme weather-related events in multiple hemispheres sent 

traditional commodity markets for corn and soybeans to all time record highs. The fallout from these extreme pricing moves caused a change in our historical 

pricing relationships for many of our finished products. In addition, each of the following impacted the prices for our finished products: commodity market 

competition, particularly inedible corn oil produced from the ethanol industry; erratic export markets, specifically MBM going to Indonesia; and fulfillment of 

bio-fuel mandates, which capped values for our finished product selling prices. Also, Hurricane Sandy challenged our Newark, N.J., facility with a tidal surge that 

shut us down for nearly two weeks.

Leading  with Performa nce

Our focus remains on supporting our customers and providing the highest customer service. For instance, we acquired a grease recovery and trap service 

business in the Northeast to expand service capabilities. We also purchased a river terminal and storage facility in the Midwest as a future site for a bakery 

plant and to accommodate our Diamond Green Diesel joint venture, which may provide a counter-cyclical hedge to fluctuating fat prices. We continue to be 

extremely excited about the prospects for growth from our renewable fuels business, and we commend our partners at Valero for their hard work in bringing 

a world-class renewable fuels plant to market. 

As we usher in 2013, we are well fortified with a powerful balance sheet that affords us significant financial flexibility to seek opportunities to support 

our long-term growth strategy and maximize shareholder value. Darling’s spirit of innovation continues to drive our focus on solutions for sustainability 

and creating value-added products and services that meet the changing needs of our customers.   

The changes and challenges we faced this year required tremendous commitment and flexibility from our entire staff, and I would like to take this 

opportunity to express sincere gratitude for a job well done. As always, we also extend our deepest appreciation for the continued support and 

contributions of our shareholders, business associates, suppliers and customers.

Randall C. Stuewe

Chairman and CEO

Stockholders’ Equity

$55.3 million

+1,821%

2003

Market Cap

$179.4 million

Value Cr eation

+923%

Stockholders’ Equity

$1,062.4 million

Dec. 29, 2012

Market Cap

$1.84 billion

Corporate
Information

Principal Office

Directors

Executive Officers

Randall C. Stuewe
Chairman and Director

since February 2003

O. Thomas Albrecht
Director since 2002

D. Eugene Ewing
Director since 2011

Charles Macaluso
Director since 2002

John D. March
Director since 2008

Michael Rescoe
Director since 2011

Michael Urbut
Director since 2005

Darling International Inc.

251 O’Connor Ridge Blvd., Suite 300
Irving, Texas 75038
972.717.0300
www.darlingii.com

Transfer Agent and Registrar

Computershare Investor Services
P.O. Box 43078
Providence, Rhode Island 02940-3078
Shareholder Inquiries 781.575.2879
www.computershare.com

Independent Auditors

KPMG LLP
717 N. Harwood St., Suite 3100
Dallas, Texas 75201-6585

Annual Meeting

May 7, 2013
10:00 a.m.
Four Seasons Resort and Club at Las Colinas
4150 North MacArthur Blvd.
Irving, Texas 75038

Form 10-K

Darling International Inc.’s Annual Report on Form
10-K is available upon request without charge:
c/o Investor Relations
Darling International Inc.
251 O’Connor Ridge Blvd., Suite 300
Irving, Texas 75038
www.darlingii.com

Randall C. Stuewe
Chief Executive Officer

Robert A. Griffin
President 

John O. Muse
Executive Vice President
Chief Administrative Officer

Colin T. Stevenson
Executive Vice President
Chief Financial Officer

Neil M. Katchen
Executive Vice President
Co-Chief Operations Officer

Martin W. Griffin
Executive Vice President
Co-Chief Operations Officer

John F. Sterling
Executive Vice President
General Counsel and Secretary

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
forward-thinking

A N NU A L   RE P O RT

2

0

1

2

A

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A

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Darling International Inc.

251 O’Connor Ridge Blvd.

Suite 300

Irving, Texas 75038

S U ST A I N I N G  

I N NO V A T I N G  

R E N E W I N G

forward-thinking

Innovating

sustainability solutions

for the next era

Darling’s spirit of innovation 

continues to drive our focus on 

solutions for sustainability and 

creating value-added products 

and services that meet the 

changing needs of our customers.

We offer our customers over a 

century of experience, a network 

of nationwide locations, outstanding 

service and continuous commitment 

to research and development of 

tomorrow’s recycling solutions, 

including renewable energy. The 

clear industry leader, Darling 

International remains firmly 

positioned as North America’s 

oldest, largest, and most innovative 

recycling and recovery solutions 

company serving the nation’s 

food industry.

SUSTAINING  INNOVATING  RENEWINGSUSTAINING  INNOVATING  RENEWINGSUSTAINING  INNOVATING  RENEWINGSUSTAINING  INNOVATING  RENEWING