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Darling Ingredients

dar · NYSE Consumer Defensive
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Sector Consumer Defensive
Industry Packaged Foods
Employees 10,000+
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FY2019 Annual Report · Darling Ingredients
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 Annual Report

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Please visit our Investor section of the website

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interactive annual report and shareholder letter. 

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DARLING INGREDIENTS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-K FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 28, 2019 

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 

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

Item 9A.
Item 9B.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
OTHER INFORMATION

PART III

Item 10.
Item 11.
Item 12.

Item 13.

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

AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

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

Page No.

 4
16
38
39
41
42

43
45

47
69
71

133
133
134

135
135

135

136
136

137

142

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PART I

ITEM 1.   BUSINESS

GENERAL

Founded by the Swift meat packing interests and the Darling family in 1882, Darling Ingredients Inc. (“Darling”, and 
together with its subsidiaries, the “Company” or “we,” “us” or “our”) was incorporated in Delaware in 1962 under the name 
“Darling-Delaware Company, Inc.”  Darling changed its name from “Darling-Delaware Company, Inc.” to “Darling International 
Inc.” on December 28, 1993, and from “Darling International Inc.” to “Darling Ingredients Inc.” on May 6, 2014. The address of 
Darling's principal executive office is 5601 N MacArthur Boulevard, Irving, Texas, 75038, and its telephone number at this address 
is (972) 717-0300.

OVERVIEW

We are a global developer and producer of sustainable natural ingredients from edible and inedible bio-nutrients, creating 
a wide range of ingredients and customized specialty solutions for customers in the pharmaceutical, food, pet food, feed, industrial, 
fuel, bioenergy and fertilizer industries.  With operations on five continents, the Company collects and transforms all aspects of 
animal by-product streams into useable and specialty ingredients, such as collagen, edible fats, feed-grade fats, animal proteins 
and meals, plasma, pet food ingredients, organic fertilizers, yellow grease, fuel feedstocks, green energy, natural casings and hides. 
The Company also recovers and converts recycled oils (used cooking oil and animal fats) into valuable feed and fuel ingredients, 
and  collects  and  processes  residual  bakery  products  into  feed  ingredients.  In  addition,  the  Company  provides  environmental 
services, such as grease trap collection and disposal services to food service establishments.  In fiscal year 2019, the Company 
generated $3.4 billion in revenues and $312.6 million in net income attributable to Darling.

North America

We are a leading provider of animal by-product processing, used cooking oil and bakery residual recycling and recovery 
solutions to the U.S. food industry. We operate over 135 processing and transfer facilities in the United States to produce finished 
products such as protein (primarily meat and bone meal (“MBM”) and poultry meal (“PM”)), meat products for the pet food 
industry, blood products (plasma and whole blood), collagen, fats (primarily bleachable fancy tallow (“BFT”), poultry grease 
(“PG”) and yellow grease (“YG”)), bakery by-products (“BBP”) and hides, as well as a range of branded and value-added products. 
Darling sells these products in North America and throughout the world, primarily to producers of animal feed, pet food, biodiesel, 
fertilizer and other consumer and industrial ingredients, including oleo-chemicals, soaps and leather goods, for use as ingredients 
in their products or for further processing.  In the United States, Darling operates a biodiesel facility and is a partner with Valero 
Energy Corporation in Diamond Green Diesel, a renewable diesel facility, both of which convert used cooking oils and animal 
fats into valuable biofuel products.  In Canada, the Company operates under the name Rothsay, which is a leading recycler of 
animal by-products and producer of biodiesel. Rothsay processes raw materials into finished fat and protein products for use in 
animal feed, pet food, biodiesel, fertilizer and other ingredients and manufactures biodiesel for domestic and international markets. 
Rothsay has a network of five rendering plants in Manitoba, Ontario and Nova Scotia and a biodiesel operation in Quebec.

Europe, China, Australia and South America

Darling Ingredients International, our subsidiary, is a worldwide leader in the development and production of specialty 
ingredients from animal by-products for applications in animal feed, pet food, fuel, bioenergy, fertilizer, food and pharmaceuticals. 
Darling Ingredients International operates a global network of 63 production facilities across five continents covering all aspects 
of animal by-product processing through five brands: Rendac (fuel), Sonac (proteins, fats, edible fats and blood products), Ecoson 
(bioenergy and fertilizer), Rousselot (collagen) and CTH (natural casings). Darling Ingredients International's specialized portfolio 
of over 320 products covers all animal origin raw material types and thereby offers a comprehensive, single source solution for 
suppliers. Darling Ingredients International’s rendering and specialties business has leading positions across Europe and China, 
with European operations in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Poland and Italy under the Ecoson, Rendac and Sonac brand 
names. Value-added products include edible fats, blood products, bone products, protein meals and fats. Rousselot is a global 
leading market provider of collagen for the food, pharmaceutical and technical industries with operations in Europe, the United 
States, South America and China. CTH is a leading natural casings company for the sausage industry with operations in Europe, 
China and the United States.

Page 4

  
Operating Segments

The Company's business operates within three reportable operating segments: Feed Ingredients, Food Ingredients and 

Fuel Ingredients. 

The Feed Ingredients operating segment includes the Company's global activities related to (i) the collection and processing 
of beef, poultry and pork animal by-products in North America and Europe into non-food grade oils and protein meals, (ii) the 
collection and processing of bakery residuals in North America into Cookie Meal®, which is predominantly used in poultry and 
swine rations, (iii) the collection and processing of used cooking oil in North America into non-food grade fats, (iv) the collection 
and  processing  of  porcine  and  bovine  blood  in  China,  Europe,  North America  and Australia  into  blood  plasma  powder  and 
hemoglobin, (v) the processing of selected portions of slaughtered animals into a variety of meat products for use in pet food in  
Europe and North America, (vi) the processing of cattle hides and hog skins in North America, (vii) the production of organic 
fertilizers using protein produced from the Company’s animal by-products processing activities in North America and Europe, 
(viii) the rearing and processing of black soldier fly larvae into specialty proteins for use in animal feed and pet food in North 
America; and (ix) the provision of grease trap services to food service establishments in North America.  Non-food grade oils and 
fats produced and marketed by the Company are principally sold to third parties to be used as ingredients in animal feed and pet 
food, as an ingredient for the production of biodiesel and renewable diesel, or to the oleo-chemical industry to be used as an 
ingredient in a wide variety of industrial applications.  Protein meals, blood plasma powder and hemoglobin produced and marketed 
by the Company are sold to third parties to be used as ingredients in animal feed, pet food and aquaculture.    

The Food Ingredients operating segment includes the Company's global activities related to (i) the purchase and processing 
of beef and pork bone chips, beef hides, pig skins, and fish skins into collagen in Europe, China, South America and North America, 
(ii) the collection and processing of porcine and bovine intestines into natural casings in Europe, China and North America, (iii) 
the extraction and processing of porcine mucosa into crude heparin in Europe,  (iv) the collection and refining of animal fat into 
food grade fat in Europe, and (v) the processing of bones to bone chips for the collagen industry and bone ash in Europe.  Collagens 
produced and marketed by the Company are sold to third parties to be used as ingredients in the pharmaceutical, nutriceutical, 
food, pet food, and technical (e.g., photographic) industries.  Natural casings produced and marketed by the Company are sold to 
third parties to be used as an ingredient in the production of sausages and other similar food products.

The Fuel Ingredients operating segment includes the Company's global activities related to (i)  the Company’s share of 
the results of its equity investment in Diamond Green Diesel Holdings LLC, a joint venture with Valero Energy Corporation 
(“Valero”) to convert animal fats, recycled greases, used cooking oil, inedible corn oil, soybean oil, or other feedstocks that become 
economically and commercially viable into renewable diesel (the “DGD Joint Venture”) as described in Note 2 to the Company's 
Consolidated Financial Statements for the period ended December 28, 2019 included herein, (ii) the conversion of animal fats and 
recycled greases into biodiesel in North America, (iii) the conversion of organic sludge and food waste into biogas in Europe, (iv) 
the collection and conversion of fallen stock and certain animal by-products pursuant to applicable EU regulations into low-grade 
energy sources to be used in industrial applications in Europe, and (v) the processing of manure into natural bio-phosphate in 
Europe.

  For financial information about our operating segments and geographic areas, refer to Note 21 and Note 22 to the 

Company's Consolidated Financial Statements for the period ended December 28, 2019 included herein.

Fiscal Year 2019 Net External Sales

Darling’s  net  external  sales  from  fiscal  year  2019  continuing  operations  by  operating  segment  were  as  follows  (in 

thousands):

Net sales:

Feed Ingredients
Food Ingredients
Fuel Ingredients
Total

Fiscal Year
2019

Fiscal Year
2018

Fiscal Year
2017

$ 1,970,561
1,119,085
274,259
$ 3,363,905

58.6% $ 1,952,555
1,139,126
33.3
296,045
8.1
100.0% $ 3,387,726

57.7% $ 2,239,492
1,156,976
33.6
265,783
8.7
100.0% $ 3,662,251

61.1%
31.6
7.3
100.0%

Page 5

 
 
OPERATIONS

Feed Ingredients Segment

Our Feed Ingredients segment consists principally of (i) our U.S. ingredients business, including our fats and proteins, 
used cooking oil, and trap grease collection business, the Rothsay ingredients business, and the ingredients and specialty products 
businesses conducted by Darling Ingredients International under the Sonac name (proteins, fats and plasma products) and (ii) our 
bakery residuals business. 

Animal By-Products

    North American Operations

Raw materials:  The Company's North American animal by-products operations collect beef, poultry and pork by-products, 
which are collected primarily from slaughterhouses, grocery stores, butcher shops and food service establishments.  These raw 
materials are collected in one of two manners.  Certain large suppliers, such as large slaughterhouses, are furnished with bulk 
containers in which the raw material is loaded.  We provide 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 we collect 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.  These raw materials are delivered to plants for processing usually within 24 hours of collection 
to deter spoilage.

Processing operations:  We produce 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 evaporate water and separate fats from 
animal tissue, as well as to sterilize and make the material suitable as an ingredient for animal feed.  The separated fats, tallows 
and greases are then centrifuged and/or refined for purity.  The remaining solid product is pressed to remove additional oils to 
create protein meals.  The protein 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 MBM, PM (both feed 
grade and pet food), PG, tallow, feather meal and blood meal.  In addition, at certain of our facilities, we are able to operate multiple 
process lines simultaneously, which provides us with the flexibility and capacity to manufacture a line of premium and value-
added products in addition to our principal finished products.  Because of these processing controls, we are able to produce premium 
products  that  typically  have  higher  protein  and  energy  content  and  lower  moisture  than standard  finished  products,  and  such 
products command premium prices.

   International Operations

Darling Ingredients International’s ingredients and specialty products businesses are operated under the Sonac name by 
our Sonac C3 and Sonac Blood business activities. The Sonac ingredients and specialty products businesses of Darling Ingredients 
International operate similarly to our North American ingredients division.  However, the Sonac businesses, with the exception 
of Sonac C3, further separate raw material streams to add additional value to each stream. 

Sonac C3 processes animal by-products collected primarily from slaughterhouses, into proteins and fats for applications 
used in the pet food, feed, technical, biofuels and oleo-chemical markets. Oleo-chemical producers use fats to produce specialty 
ingredients used in paint, rubber, paper, concrete, plastics and a variety of other consumer and industrial products.

Sonac Blood processes bovine, porcine and ovine blood by separating blood into plasma and hemoglobin and produces 
specialized end products for application in the feed and pet food markets. Sonac Blood’s end products include plasma, fibrimex, 
globin and hemin.  

   Used Cooking Oil

The Company is a leading collector and processor of used cooking oil in North America for use as a valuable low carbon 
fuel and feed ingredient.  The Company estimates it collects used cooking oil from approximately 120,000 locations.  The Company’s 
primary customer for this product is the DGD Joint Venture.

Page 6

  
   
Raw materials:  Used cooking oil is collected from restaurants, food service establishments and grocery stores.  Many 
of our suppliers operate stores that are part of national chains.  Used cooking oil is placed in various sizes and types of containers 
supplied to the Company under mutually agreeable contract terms.  In some instances, these containers are unloaded directly onto 
our trucks, while in other instances used cooking oil is pumped through a vacuum hose into the truck.  We provide several types 
of containers for used cooking oil collection to food service establishments, 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 collection is determined by the volume of oil generated by the 
restaurant, food service establishment or grocery store.

Processing operations:  The used cooking oil we collect is heated, settled, and purified for use as a feedstock for 

biofuels or as an ingredient for animal feed.

   Bakery Residuals

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

Raw  materials:    Bakery  residuals  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.  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 us.  All of the bakery residuals that the Company collects is bulk loaded, which we believe 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 residuals allows us to significantly streamline our bakery recycling process, reduce personnel costs, 
and maximize freight savings by hauling more tons per load.

Processing operations:  The highly automated bakery residuals 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 residuals 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.

   Other Products/Services

Our Feed Ingredients segment also includes the Company’s organic fertilizer business conducted under the Nature Safe® 

name, insect protein business conducted under the EnviroFlight® name, hides businesses and grease trap services business. 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Our fertilizer operations utilize finished products from our animal by-products division to manufacture organic 
fertilizers from ingredients approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) to be used in organic 
farming which contain no waste by-products (i.e., sludge or sewage waste). The Company's North American 
fertilizer  products  are  predominantly  sold  to  golf  courses,  sports  facilities,  organic  farms  and  landscaping 
companies.

Our EnviroFlight business utilizes technologies which enable the rearing of non-pathogenic black soldier fly 
larvae, which larvae are then processed to produce specialty protein for use as an ingredient in animal feed and 
pet food.

Our hides operations process hides and skins from beef and hog processors, respectively, into outputs used in 
commercial applications, such as the leather industry. We sell treated hides and skins to external customers, the 
majority  of  which  are  tanneries.    Fresh  and  salted  hides  and  fresh  skins  are  sold  to  tanneries,  automotive 
companies, leather processors and to the shoe and furniture industries in Italy, Germany and China.

Our grease trap services business provides our 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. The trap grease we collect is transported to waste treatment centers.   

Page 7

    
Food Ingredients Segment

Our  Food  Ingredients  segment  consists  principally  of  (i)  the  collagen  business  conducted  by  Darling  Ingredients 
International under the Rousselot name, (ii) the natural casings and meat by-products business conducted by Darling Ingredients 
International under the CTH name and (iii) certain specialty products businesses conducted by Darling Ingredients International 
under the Sonac name.  

 Collagen

Rousselot is a global leading market provider of collagen for the food, nutritional pharmaceutical and technical (e.g., 
photographic) industries with operations in Europe, China, South America and the United States.  Rousselot has a network of 11
production plants and 6 sales locations, covering sales into more than 75 countries. With the Rousselot collagen business, the 
Company is part of the growing global collagen market. Collagen is a functional ingredient, which means that it has a role in the 
end product by adding a critical property to it that is largely non-substitutable. Collagen is used in a large variety of end products, 
but only small amounts are used in most products. Currently, available substitutes are limited and do not have the broad functionality 
required for most usages.  Rousselot collagen products have higher sales prices relative to the Company’s other end products, but 
comprise a minimal portion of the cost of final products in many segments, for example the pharmaceutical end markets. We 
believe many end customers focus on collagen quality and consistency, supply reliability, application know-how and regulatory 
support and are therefore relatively less price sensitive to collagen products. Rousselot’s profitability is mainly driven by its ability 
to timely transfer increases in net raw materials costs to its customers in order to realize a relatively stable added value per kilogram 
of collagen, in combination with a strong focus on operations excellence and product quality. Rousselot is involved in all four 
types of collagen (pigskin, hide, bone and fish). Raw material prices are mainly driven by the availability and quality of raw 
material, and sales prices are mainly driven by market demand and the expected availability of collagen supply. As such, securing 
sufficient raw material positions is key to the business. Rousselot enters into formal arrangements related to raw material purchases 
that differ by raw material type, by duration and by regional area.  Rousselot markets its hydrolyzed collagen under the “Peptan” 
brand;  this  fast-growing  specialty  ingredient  is  positioned  specifically  towards  nutritional  supplement  customers  focusing  on 
improved bone, joint and skin health.

    Other Specialty Products 

In addition, our Food Ingredients segment includes the Sonac bone, heparin and edible fat businesses currently operated 

by Darling Ingredients International under the Sonac name: 

• 

• 

• 

Sonac Fat primarily melts, refines and packages animal fat into food grade fat for the food markets.

Sonac Bone processes porcine bones into fat, bone protein, glue, bone ash and bone chips for the feed, pet food, 
food and collagen industries.

Sonac Heparin extracts crude heparin from hydrolyzed mucosa for application in the pharmaceutical industry.

 Natural Casings and Meat By-Products

The CTH business of Darling Ingredients International is a leading natural casings company for the sausage business 

with operations in Europe, China and the United States. The activities of this business are divided into two categories: 

• 

• 

CTH Casings harvests, sorts and sells hog and sheep casings for worldwide food markets, particularly sausage 
manufacturers, and harvests, processes and sells hog and beef bowel package items for global pharmaceutical, 
food and feed market segments. CTH holds a leading position in the highly fragmented global casings market. 

CTH Meat By-Products harvests, purchases and processes hog, sheep and beef meat for customers in the global 
food and European pet food industries. In the meat by-products market, CTH is a major player with established 
sales networks in Europe and Asia.  

Fuel Ingredients Segment

Our Fuel Ingredients segment consists of (i) our investment in the DGD Joint Venture, (ii) our biofuel business conducted 
under the Dar Pro® and Rothsay names and (iii) the bioenergy business conducted by Darling Ingredients International under the 
Ecoson and Rendac names. 

Page 8

      
 
    
 
 
    Diamond Green Diesel

The DGD Joint Venture commenced operations in June 2013.  The DGD Joint Venture operates a renewable diesel plant 
(the “DGD Facility”) located in Norco, Louisiana capable of processing approximately 20,000 barrels per day of input feedstock 
to produce renewable diesel fuel and certain other co-products.  We account for the DGD Joint Venture as an “investment in an 
unconsolidated subsidiary.”  The DGD Joint Venture operates the DGD Facility, which converts animal fats and used cooking oils, 
which are supplied in part by us, and other feedstocks that become economically and commercially viable, such as inedible corn 
oil and soybean oil, into renewable diesel. The DGD Facility uses 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  2.3  billion  pounds  per  year  of  feedstocks  into  renewable  diesel  and  certain  other  co-products. The 
Diamond Green Diesel renewable diesel product is sold to refiners under the Diamond Green Diesel® name to be blended with 
diesel fuel and is interchangeable with diesel produced from petroleum.  For 2019, 2018 and 2017, biodiesel blenders registered 
with the Internal Revenue Service were eligible for a tax incentive in the amount of $1.00 per gallon of renewable diesel blended 
with petroleum diesel to produce a mixture containing at least 0.1% diesel fuel.  In December 2019, this $1.00 per gallon blenders 
tax credit was reinstated retroactively for calendar years 2018 and 2019 and extended for calendar years 2020, 2021 and 2022.  
As a blender, the DGD Joint Venture has recorded approximately $274.7 million (to be received retroactively in fiscal year 2020), 
$155.9 million (to be received retroactively in fiscal year 2020) and $160.4 million (received retroactively in fiscal year 2018) of 
blenders tax credits for fiscal years 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively, with Darling's portion equaling 50%. In August 2018, the 
DGD Joint Venture completed an expansion project that increased the DGD Facility's annual production capacity from 160 million
gallons of renewable diesel to 275 million gallons and expanded outbound logistics for servicing the many developing low carbon 
fuel markets around North America and worldwide.  In November 2018, the joint venture partners approved the DGD Joint Venture 
moving forward with another expansion project to construct a new, parallel facility (the “New Facility”) located next to the current 
DGD Facility. The New Facility is expected to grow the DGD Joint Venture’s annual production capacity by an additional 400 
million gallons from the current capacity of 275 million gallons of renewable diesel to 675 million gallons of renewable diesel 
and provide the capability to separate naphtha for sale into low carbon fuel markets. In addition, the expansion project includes 
further expanded inbound and outbound logistics for servicing the many developing low carbon fuel markets around North America 
and worldwide. The DGD Joint Venture estimates completion and startup of the New Facility in the fourth quarter of 2021, and 
the total cost of the expansion project, including the naphtha production and improved logistics capability, is estimated to be 
approximately $1.1 billion.  Additionally, in September 2019, the Company announced that the DGD Joint Venture was initiating 
an advanced engineering and development cost review for construction of a new renewable diesel plant to be located in Port Arthur, 
Texas. The proposed facility under review would be designed to produce 400 million gallons of renewable diesel annually as well 
as 40 million gallons of renewable naphtha. The final investment decision on the project is expected in 2021, subject to further 
engineering, obtaining necessary permits, and approval by the boards of the Company and Valero. If the decision is made to move 
forward, new plant construction could begin in 2021, with expected operations commencing in 2024.

    Biofuel

We produce biodiesel at our facilities in the United States and Canada. In the United States, we use a portion of our 
rendered animal fats and recycled cooking oils, as well as third-party additives, to produce Bio G-3000™ Premium Diesel Fuel. 
We have the annual capacity to produce approximately two million gallons of Bio G-3000™ at our facility in Butler, Kentucky. 
Our facility in Sainte-Catherine, Quebec also processes tallow and recycled cooking oils produced by us into biodiesel. The Rothsay 
Quebec facility has a current annual capacity to produce approximately 14 million gallons a year. Our biodiesel product is sold to 
our internal divisions, as well as to commercial biodiesel blenders in the United States and Canada, to be used as biodiesel fuel, 
a clean burning additive for diesel fuel, or as a biodegradable solvent or cleaning agent.  For its United States and Canada biodiesel 
operations, the Company recorded approximately $12.6 million in fiscal 2018 for the reinstated 2017 blenders tax credits and 
approximately $19.1 million in December 2019 for the reinstated 2018 and 2019 blenders tax credits.

   Bioenergy

In Europe, Ecoson produces green power from biogas production out of organic sludge and food waste for combined 
heat plant installations.  Ecoson is the largest industrial digestion operation in the Netherlands, with an output matching the annual 
use of energy needs of approximately 11,606 households. In addition, Ecoson's fat refinery produces refined fats and fatty acids. 
Ecoson also processes manure into natural biophosphate for use as fertilizer and green gas.

Rendac collects fallen stock and animal waste, also referred to as Category 1 and Category 2 material under applicable 
EU regulations, from farmers and slaughterhouses, and processes these materials into fats and meals, which can only be used as 
a low grade source of energy or fuel for boilers and cement kilns. With a specialized collection fleet of approximately 300 trucks, 
Rendac collects raw materials in the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium. This business is a market leader in the 
countries  of    Belgium,  Netherlands  and  Luxembourg  (the  "Benelux  region")  and  certain  parts  of  Germany,  a  predominantly 
Page 9

 
 
regulated market with spare capacity requirements and long-term contracts with local governments.  The market for the collection 
and processing of fallen stock in these regions is regulated, and government contracts provide for exclusivity of the service to the 
contracted partner.   

Raw materials pricing and supply contracts

We have two primary pricing arrangements-formula and non-formula arrangements with our 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 prices for a competing ingredient after deducting a fixed processing fee.  We also acquire 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.  The credit received or amount charged for raw materials 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. Since most of our raw materials are residual by-products of meat processing and other food production, we are not able to 
contract with our suppliers to increase supply if demand for our products increases.

A majority of our U.S. volume of rendering raw materials, including all of our significant poultry accounts, and substantially 
all of our bakery feed raw materials are acquired on a “formula basis,” which in most cases is set forth in contracts with our 
suppliers, generally with multi-year terms. These “formulas” allow us to manage the risk associated with decreases in commodity 
prices by adjusting our costs of materials based on changes in the price of our finished products, while also permitting us, 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 us and 
our suppliers of the costs and benefits from movements in commodity prices. A majority of Rothsay’s North American volume of 
rendering raw materials are acquired based on prices fixed on a quarterly basis with suppliers, with the remaining portion acquired 
on a “formula basis.” Darling Ingredients International (including North American operations) acquires a majority of its volume 
of rendering raw materials at spot or quarterly fixed prices and, in general, has no long term contracts with its key suppliers. In 
fiscal year 2019 VION Food provided approximately 10% of  Darling Ingredients International’s raw material supply (based on 
raw materials procured in fiscal year 2019).  Approximately 86% of Darling's U.S. volume of raw materials in fiscal year 2019 
was acquired on a "formula" basis.

Certain of the Company's geographic regions facilities are highly dependent on one or a few suppliers.  During the 2019 
fiscal year, the Company's 10 largest raw materials suppliers in North America accounted for approximately 31% of the total raw 
material processed by the Company in North America, with one single supplier accounting for approximately 7% of the total raw 
material processed in North America.  In Europe, the Company's 10 largest raw material suppliers accounted for approximately 
31% of the total raw material processed by the Company in Europe, with one single supplier accounting for approximately 11%
of the total raw material processed in Europe.  In China, the Company's 10 largest raw material suppliers accounted for approximately 
31% of the total raw material processed by the Company in China, with one single supplier accounting for approximately 6% of 
the total raw material processed in China.  In South America, the Company's 10 largest raw material suppliers accounted for 
approximately 72% of the total raw material processed by the Company in South America, with one single supplier accounting 
for approximately 16% of the total raw material processed in South America.  See “Risk Factors - A significant percentage of our 
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, any operating facilities dependent on such suppliers could be materially 
and  adversely  affected.  (See  “Risk  Factors-Certain  of  our  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.”

MARKETING, SALES AND DISTRIBUTION OF FINISHED PRODUCTS

The Company sells its finished products worldwide.  Finished product sales are primarily managed through our commodity 
trading  departments.   With  respect  to  our  North American  operations,  we  have  trading  departments  located  at  our  corporate 
headquarters in Irving, Texas and at our regional office in Cold Spring, Kentucky.  Darling Ingredients International’s finished 
product sales are managed primarily through trading departments that are located in Son en Breugel, the Netherlands, and through 
various offices located in Europe, Asia, South America and North America.  Where appropriate, we coordinate international sales 
of common products in order to market them more efficiently. Our sales force is in contact with customers daily and coordinates 
the sale, and assists in the distribution of, most finished products produced at our processing plants.  The Company also sells its 
finished products internationally directly to customers or, in some cases, through commodities brokers and agents.  We market 
certain of our finished products under our Dar Pro Ingredients brand, certain specialty products under the Sonac name, collagen 
Page 10

 
products under the Rousselot name and natural casings and meat by-products under the CTH name.  See Note 22 of Notes to 
Consolidated Financial Statements for the period ended December 28, 2019 for a breakdown of the Company’s sales by geographic 
regions.

The Company sells finished products in North America and throughout the world, primarily to producers of animal feed, 
pet food, biofuel, fertilizer and other consumer and industrial products, including oleo-chemicals, soaps and leather goods, for use 
as  ingredients  in  their  products  or  for  further  processing.  Certain  of  our  finished  products  are  ingredients  that  compete  with 
alternatives, such as corn, soybean oil, inedible corn oil, palm oils, soybean meal and heating oil, based on nutritional and functional 
values; therefore, the actual pricing for those finished products, as well as competing products, can be quite volatile.  While the 
Company's principal 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 us to sell into 
the market with the highest return. The Company's premium, value-added and branded products command significantly higher 
pricing relative to the Company's principal finished product lines due to their enhanced nutritional content, which is a function of 
the Company's specialized processing techniques. Customers for our premium, value-added and branded products include feed 
mills, pet food manufacturers, integrated poultry producers, the dairy industry and golf courses.  Feed mills purchase meals, fats, 
blood products, and Cookie Meal® for use as feed ingredients. 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 under supply contracts with us. Oleo-chemical producers use fats as 
feedstocks to produce specialty ingredients used in paint, rubber, paper, concrete, plastics and a variety of other consumer and 
industrial products.  Darling Ingredients International’s premium, value-added and branded products also command higher pricing, 
including with respect to collagen, natural casings, meat by-products, edible fat, heparin and specialty plasma products.

We obtain payment protection for most of our global export sales by requiring payment before shipment, either through 
bank letters of credit or cash against documents at the origin of the sale or guarantees of payment from government agencies.  For 
U.S. sales, we are ordinarily paid for products in U.S. dollars and have not experienced any material currency translation losses 
or any material foreign exchange control difficulties. Darling Ingredients International’s product sales are generally denominated 
in the local currency.  However, in certain markets (such as South America), some product sales are denominated in non-functional 
currencies, such as U.S. dollars and euros. Darling Ingredients International hedges a portion of its non-functional currency product 
sales.

Our management monitors market conditions and prices for our finished products on a daily basis.  If market conditions 
or prices were to significantly change, our 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 raw material cost to 
finished product prices effectively establishes the gross margin on finished product sales at a stable level, providing us some 
protection from finished product price declines.

Finished products produced by the Company are shipped primarily by truck or rail from our plants shortly following 
production.  While there can be some temporary inventory accumulations at various North American and international locations, 
particularly port locations for export shipments, with the exception of collagen and natural casings, inventories rarely exceed three 
weeks’ production and, therefore, we use limited working capital to carry those inventories.  Our limited inventories also reduce 
our  exposure  to  fluctuations  in  finished-product  prices.  With  respect  to  collagen  and  natural  casings,  Darling  Ingredients 
International, in contrast, has historically carried much larger inventories due to the manufacturing process and market dynamics 
related to those products, which requires a greater amount of working capital to carry these investments. Other factors that influence 
competition, markets and the prices that we receive for our finished products include the quality of our finished products, consumer 
health consciousness, worldwide credit conditions, currency fluctuations, tariffs, and government aid and regulations.  From time 
to time, we enter into arrangements with our suppliers of raw materials pursuant to which these suppliers have the option to buy 
back our finished products at market prices.

The Company operates a fleet of trucks, trailers and railcars to transport raw materials from suppliers and finished products 
to customers or ports for transportation by ship.  It also utilizes third party freight companies to cost-effectively transfer materials 
and  augment  our  in-house  logistics  fleet.  Within  our  bakery  and  international  by-products  divisions,  except  for  Rendac, 
substantially all inbound and outbound freight is handled by third party logistics companies.

We believe we are the only global ingredients company with products generated principally from animal-origin raw 
material types; however, we compete with a number of regional and local players in our various sub-segments and end markets.

COMPETITION

Page 11

 
The procurement of raw materials currently presents greater challenges to our business than the sale of finished products. In 
North America, 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).  At 
the same time, there has been limited to no growth in the number of small meat processors, which have historically been a dependable 
source of supply for non-captive renderers, such as us.  In addition, the slaughter rates in the meat processing industry are subject 
to economic conditions and, as a result, during periods of economic 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 in the United States 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 with a number of local slaughtering operations that provide us with raw materials.  In 
North America, we compete 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, 
biodiesel companies, anaerobic digestion companies and others. In addition, U.S. food service establishments have increasingly 
experienced theft of used cooking oil.  A number of our competitors for the procurement of raw material are experienced, well-
capitalized companies that have significant operating experience and historic supplier relationships.  Competition for available 
raw materials is based primarily on price and proximity to the supplier.

In marketing our finished products domestically and internationally, we face competition from other processors and from 
producers of other suitable ingredient alternatives.  However, we differentiate ourselves through the scope and depth of our product 
portfolio and geographic footprint.  While we compete with a number of well capitalized companies across our business, such as 
Cargill, Inc., Tyson Foods, Inc. and JBS & Company in the U.S. products business, and others in the global collagen, bone products, 
and blood products business, we do not have a single competitor that we compete with across all of our products or geographies.

SEASONALITY

Although the amount of raw materials made available to us in each of our segments by our 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 and other severe weather, which can hinder the collection 
of raw materials.  Warm weather can also adversely affect the quality of raw materials processed and our 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 our operating results between periods. The amount of bakery residuals we 
process generally increases during the summer from June to September.  Collagen sales generally decline in the summer.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

The  Company  maintains  valuable  trademarks,  service  marks,  copyrights,  trade  names,  trade  secrets,  proprietary 
technologies and similar intellectual property, and considers our intellectual property to be of material value.  We have registered 
or applied for registration of certain of our intellectual property, including the tricolor triangle used in our signage and logos and 
the names “Darling,” “Darling Ingredients”, “Griffin Industries,” “Dar Pro Solutions,” “Dar Pro,” “Rousselot,” “Sonac,” “Ecoson,” 
“Rendac,”  “Rothsay,”  “Nature  Safe,”  “CleanStar,”  “Peptan,”  “Cookie  Meal,”  and  “Bakery  Feeds,”    and  certain  patents,  both 
domestically and internationally, relating to the process for preparing nutritional supplements and the drying and processing of 
raw materials.

EMPLOYEES AND LABOR RELATIONS

As of December 28, 2019, the Company employed globally approximately 10,100 persons full-time.  While we have no 
national or multi-plant union contracts, at December 28, 2019, approximately 19% of the Company's North American employees 
were covered by multiple collective bargaining agreements.  In addition, approximately 44% of Darling Ingredients International's 
employees are covered by various collective bargaining agreements.  Management believes that our relations with our employees 
and their representatives are satisfactory.  There can be no assurance, however, that these satisfactory arrangements will continue, 
or that new agreements will be reached without union action or on terms satisfactory to us.

REGULATIONS

We are subject to the rules and regulations of various federal, state, local and foreign governmental agencies including, 

but not limited to, the following principal governmental agencies in the following countries:

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United States 

• 

The Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”), which regulates pharmaceutical products and food and feed safety. The 
FDA is responsible for enforcement of rules (21 C.F.R. 589.2000 and 589.2001, referred to herein as the “BSE Feed 
Rule”) to prevent the spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (“BSE”), which is commonly referred to as “mad 
cow” disease.   These regulations prohibit the use of mammalian proteins, with some exceptions, and tallow having more 
than 0.15% impurities in feeds for cattle, sheep and other ruminant animals.  In addition, the BSE Feed Rule prohibits 
the use of brain and spinal cord material from cattle aged 30 months and older or the carcasses of such cattle, if the 
carcasses are not inspected and passed for human consumption and the brain and spinal cord are not removed, in the feed 
or food for all animals.  The FDA has also implemented restrictions on the use of specified risk materials (“SRM”), 
material from nonambulatory disabled cattle, and other specified cattle materials in human food (21 C.F.R. 189.5) and 
in cosmetics (21 C.F.R. 700.27).  In addition, the FDA is responsible for implementing and enforcing the FDA Food 
Safety Modernization Act (“FSMA”), which was signed into law on January 4, 2011, and gave FDA a series of powers 
intended to better protect human and animal health by adopting a modern, preventive and risk-based approach to food 
safety regulation. The FDA finalized major rules under FSMA affecting the production, importation and transport of 
human and animal food. Management believes we are in compliance with the provisions of these rules. The FDA also 
has regulations governing food additives in animal feed and pet food, which could apply to the use of protein from black 
soldier fly larvae in such products. The FDA acknowledges that it considers the listing of animal feed and pet food 
ingredients in the Association of American Feed Control Officials (“AAFCO”) Official Publication to permit marketing 
of such ingredients in interstate commerce, provided there are no safety concerns regarding the use or composition of the 
ingredients. See Item 1A “Risk Factors - Our business may be affected by the impact of animal related disease, such as 
BSE and other food safety issues,” for more information regarding certain FDA rules that affect our business, including 
the BSE Feed Rule and rules and regulations under FSMA.

•  The United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”), which has authority over meat, poultry, and egg products and 
inspects producers to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.  Within the USDA, two agencies exercise 
direct regulatory oversight of our activities:

- Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (“APHIS”) certifies facilities and claims made for exported 
materials to meet importing country requirements and establishes and enforces import requirements for 
live animals and animal by-products as well as plant products, and

- Food Safety and Inspection Service (“FSIS”) regulates sanitation and biosecurity of our facilities and 
our food safety programs at plants producing edible fats and meats, among other things.

On January 12, 2004, FSIS issued three interim final rules designed to enhance its BSE safeguards in order to 
minimize  human  exposure  to  BSE  infective  tissues  and  assure  consumers  of  the  safety  of  the  meat  supply.  These 
regulations prohibited non-ambulatory animals from entering the food chain, required removal of SRMs at slaughter and 
prohibited carcasses from cattle tested for BSE from entering the food chain until the animals tested negative for BSE, 
among other provisions.  On July 13, 2007, FSIS published an affirmation of the interim final rules concerning prohibition 
of SRMs and non-ambulatory animals and the use of stunning devices, with several amendments.

On November 19, 2007, APHIS implemented revised import regulations to allow Canadian cattle 30 months of 
age and older and born on or after March 1, 1999, and bovine products derived from such cattle to be imported into the 
United States for any use, if such cattle and products complied with specific FDA and FSIS regulations. Imports of 
Canadian cattle younger than 30 months of age have been allowed since March 2005. Imports of SRMs from Canadian-
born cattle slaughtered in Canada are not permitted.  On March 4, 2014, APHIS implemented amended import regulations 
concerning cattle and bovine products.  The final rule established a system for classifying regions as to BSE risk that is 
consistent with international standards set by the World Organization for Animal Health (“OIE”), and based importation 
requirements for cattle and beef products on: (i) the inherent risk of BSE infectivity in the commodity to be imported and 
(ii) the BSE risk status of the region from which the commodity originates.

•  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), which regulates air and water discharges and hazardous and solid 
waste requirements among other environmental requirements, as well as local and state environmental agencies with 
jurisdiction over environmental matters affecting the Company's operations.  The EPA also administers the National 
Renewable Fuel Standard Program (“RFS2”).

•  The Association of American Feed Control Officials (“AAFCO”), which is a voluntary membership association of state, 
and federal agencies that regulate the sale and distribution of animal feeds and animal drug remedies.  Although, AAFCO 

Page 13

 
 
has no regulatory authority, it brings together stakeholders and works to develop and implement uniform and equitable 
laws, regulations, standards, definitions, and enforcement polices for regulating the manufacture, labeling, distribution 
and sale of animal feeds. 

• 

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 transportation agencies, which 

regulate the operation of our commercial vehicles.

•  The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”), which is the main federal agency charged with the 

enforcement of worker safety and health legislation.

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

quarterly and other reports filed by publicly traded companies.

European Union and EU Member States

•  The European Commission, Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, which is responsible for EU policy on food 
safety and health and for monitoring the implementation of related laws, including but not limited to food, feed, human 
and animal health, technical uses of animal by-products and packaging.

•  The European Medicines Agency, which is responsible for the scientific evaluation, supervision and safety monitoring 
of human and veterinary pharmaceutical products in the EU and establishes guidance amongst others for bovine-containing 
human and veterinary pharmaceutical products, and maximum residue limits.

•  The European Food Safety Authority, which advises the European Commission, the European Parliament and the EU 
Member  States  on  food  safety  matters,  including  on  animal  feed,  animal  health  and  welfare,  biological  hazards  and 
contaminants.

•  The Council of Europe, European Directorate for the Quality of Medicine and Healthcare, which establishes quality 
standards for safe human and veterinary pharmaceutical products in Europe by developing guidance and standards in the 
areas of blood transfusion, organ, cell and tissue transportation and consumer health issues. 

•  The Council of Europe, European Pharmacopeia, which establishes requirements for the qualitative and quantitative 
composition of human and veterinary pharmaceutical products, the tests to be carried out on medicines and on substances 
and materials used in their production. 

•  The  European  Commission,  Directorate-General  for  the  Environment,  which  is  responsible  for  EU  policy  on  the 
environment and for monitoring the implementation of related laws, including but not limited to Directive 2010/75/EU 
on  Industrial  Emissions  (Integrated  Pollution  Prevention  and  Control)  and  the  Best Available Techniques  Reference 
Document on the Slaughterhouses and Animal By-products Industries.

•  The European Chemicals Agency, which is responsible for the implementation of the Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 on 

the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals. 

•  EU Member States must ensure adequate enforcement, control and supervision of principles set forth in numerous EU 
Directives and Regulations, such as minimum safety and health requirements for the workplace and use of work equipment 
by workers.  EU Member States may be allowed to maintain or establish more stringent measures in their own legislation. 
In general, each EU Member State’s ministry of labor affairs is responsible for regulating health and safety at work and 
labor inspection services and is in charge of controlling compliance with applicable legislation and regulations. 

•  The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (Nederlandse Voedsel- en Warenautoriteit), which issues permits, 
approvals and registrations to establishments or plants engaged in certain activities related to the handling of animal by-
products and food and feed production.  

•  The Belgian Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FASFC) (Federal Agentschap voor de veiligheid van de 
voedselketen  (FAVV)  or Agence  fédérale  pour  la  sécurité  de  la  chaîne  alimentaire  (AFSCA)),  which  issues  permits, 
authorizations, approvals and registrations to establishments or plants engaged in certain activities related to the handling 
of animal by-products and food and feed production.  

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• 

In Belgium, the Public Waste Agency of Flanders (Openbare Vlaamse Afvalstoffenmaatschappij), the Soil and Waste 
Department of the Public Service of Wallonia (Département du Sol et des Déchets du Service Public de Wallonie) and 
Brussels Environment (Leefmilieu Brussel or Bruxelles Environnement), which issues permits, approvals and registrations 
to establishments or plants carrying out certain activities related to the handling of animal by-products and food and feed 
production.  

•  The  German  Competent  Authorities  at  state  (Länder)  level,  which  issue  permits,  approvals  and  registrations  to 
establishments or plants carrying out certain activities related to the handling of animal by-products and food and feed 
production.

• 

In Poland, the General Veterinary Inspectorate (G³ówny Inspektorat Weterynarii), which issues permits, approvals and 
registrations to establishments or plants engaged in certain activities related to the handling of animal by-products and 
food and feed production.

United Kingdom

•  The United Kingdom’s Health and Safety Executive is the government body responsible for enforcing health and safety 
at work legislation, such as the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and enforcing health and safety law in industrial 
workplaces, together with local authorities.

•  The United Kingdom’s Animal and Plant Health Agency issues permits, approvals and registrations to plants carrying 
out certain activities related to the handling of animal by-products. Feed businesses need to be approved or registered 
with their local authority trading standards office.

Canada

•  The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (“CFIA”), which regulates animal health and the disposal of animals and their 

products or by-products.  

•  Canadian provincial ministries of agriculture and the environment, which regulate food safety and quality, air and water 

discharge requirements and the disposal of deadstock.  

•  The Canadian Department of the Environment (“Environment Canada”), which ensures compliance with Canadian federal 
air  and  water  discharge  and  wildlife  management  requirements  and  the  various  provincial  and  local  environmental 
ministries and agencies.  

•  The Canadian Technical Standards and Safety Authority (“TSSA”), a non-profit organization that regulates the safety of 

fuels and pressure vessels and boilers.

China

•  The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, which supervises the import and export 

of food and feed.  

•  The  Ministry  of  Health  of  the  People’s  Republic  of  China,  which  establishes  standards  for  food  and  pharmaceutical 

products. 

•  The Chinese Pharmacopeia, which establishes standards for pharmaceutical products.

•  Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People's Republic of China, which regulates the environmental protection 

standards.

•  Ministry of Labor and Social Security of the People's Republic of China, which establishes the regulations of labor, 

welfare and health insurance.

• 

State Administration of Work Safety, which establishes the work safety standards and regulations. 

Brazil

•  The Ministry of Agriculture, Cattle and Supply (Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento), which regulates 

the production of collagen.

Page 15

  
•  Ministry of Labor (Ministério do Trabalho), which regulates labor health and safety.

•  National Water Agency (ANA), which regulates waste water discharge permits.

• 

State Government Agency CETESB, responsible for the control, supervision, monitoring and licensing process for pollution 
generating activities.

Australia

•  The  Australian  Quarantine  and  Inspection  Service,  which  regulates  the  import  and  export  of  agricultural  products, 

including animal by-products.  

•  The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, which administers meat and animal by-product legislation. 

•  PrimeSafe, which is the principal regulator of meat and animal by-product businesses in the State of Victoria. 

•  The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, which regulates Australia’s competition and consumer protection 

law. 

•  The Australian Securities and Investments Commission, which regulates Australia’s company and financial services laws.

•  Worksafe Victoria, which is the regulator responsible for administering and enforcing occupational health and safety laws 

and regulations in the State of Victoria.

•  Environment Protection Authority Victoria, which administers environmental protection laws in Victoria.

•  Goulburn-Murray Rural Water Corporation, which manages allocation and use of water under local water laws in 

Victoria.

Rules and regulations promulgated by these and other agencies may influence our operating results at one or more facilities.

AVAILABLE INFORMATION

We make available, free of charge, through our investor relations web site, our reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, 
and amendments to those reports, as well as all other filings with the SEC, as soon as reasonably practicable after such materials 
are electronically 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://ir.darlingii.com.  Information contained on these websites is not and should not be deemed to be a part of this report or any 
filing filed with, or furnished to, the SEC by us. 

ITEM 1A.   RISK FACTORS

An investment in Darling involves substantial risks. In consultation with your financial, tax and legal advisors, you should 
carefully  consider,  among  other  matters,  the  following  risks  described  in,  as  well  as  the  other  information  contained  in  or 
incorporated by reference into, this report. If any of the events described in the following risk factors actually occur, our business, 
financial condition, prospects or results of operations could be materially adversely affected, the market price of our common 
stock could decline and you may lose all or part of your investment in the common stock. The risks and uncertainties described 
below are not the only risks we face. Additional risks and uncertainties that are not currently known or that are currently deemed 
to be immaterial may also materially and adversely affect our business operations and financial condition or the market price of 
our common stock. The risks described below also include forward-looking statements and our actual results may differ substantially 
from those discussed in these forward-looking statements. See the section entitled “Forward-Looking Statements” in this report.

Risks Related to the Company 

The prices of many of our products are subject to significant volatility associated with commodities markets.

Our principal finished products include MBM, PM, BFT, YG, PG, BBP and hides, which are commodities.  We also 
manufacture and sell a number of other products that are derived from animal by-products and many of which are commodities 
or compete with commodities.  The prices of these commodities are quoted on, or derived from prices quoted on, established 
commodity markets. Accordingly, our results of operations will be affected by fluctuations in the prevailing market prices of these 
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finished products or of other commodities that may be substituted for our products by our customers. Historically, market prices 
for commodity grains, fats and food stocks have fluctuated in response to a number of factors, including global changes in supply 
and demand resulting from changes in local and global economic conditions, changes in global government agriculture programs, 
changes in energy policies of U.S. and foreign governments, 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 we seek to mitigate the risks associated with price declines, including by diversifying our finished 
products offerings, through the use of formula pricing tied to commodity prices for a substantial portion of our raw materials 
(which may not protect our margins in periods of rapidly declining prices) and hedging, a significant decrease in the market price 
of any of our products or of other commodities that may be substituted for our products would have a material adverse effect on 
our results of operations and cash flow.  Furthermore, rapid and material changes in finished goods prices, including competing 
agricultural-based alternative ingredients, generally have an immediate and, often times, material impact on the Company’s gross 
margin and profitability resulting from the brief lapse of time between the procurement of the raw materials and the sale of the 
finished goods.

The prices available for the Company’s Food Ingredients segment’s collagen, edible fats and natural casings products 
are influenced by other competing ingredients, including plant-based and synthetic hydrocolloids and artificial casings. In the 
collagen operation, in particular, the cost of the Company's animal-based raw material moves in relationship to the selling price 
of the finished goods. The processing time for the Food Ingredients segment's collagen and casings is generally 30 to 60 days, 
which is substantially longer than the Company's Feed Ingredients segment's animal by-products operations. Consequently, the 
Company’s gross margin and profitability in this segment can be influenced by the movement of finished goods prices from the 
time the raw materials were procured until the finished goods are sold.

The Company’s Fuel Ingredients segment, which converts fats and oils into renewable diesel, organic sludge and food 
waste into biogas, and fallen stock into low-grade energy sources, is impacted by world energy prices for oil, electricity and natural 
gas, as well as potential competition from the adoption of non-rendered feedstock in biodiesel markets.

In addition, increases in the market prices of raw materials would require us to raise prices for our premium, value-added 
and branded products to avoid margin deterioration. There can be no assurance as to whether we could implement future 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 our customers. Our results of operations could be materially and adversely affected in the future by this volatility.

Furthermore, an increased preference by meat processors for alternative feed ingredients, such as all vegetable diets in 
the case of poultry producers, could negatively impact the prices of certain of our finished products which would need to be sold 
to alternative markets and destinations. 

Our business is dependent on the procurement of raw materials, which is the most competitive aspect of our business.

Our management believes that the most competitive aspect of our business is the procurement of raw materials rather 
than the sale of finished products.  Many of our raw materials are derived directly or indirectly from animal by-products, which 
results in the following challenges:

• 

• 

• 

• 

In North America, 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).

Concurrently, there has been limited to no growth in the number of small U.S. meat processors, which have 
historically been a dependable source of supply for non-captive or independent U.S. renderers, such as us.

The slaughter rates in the U.S. and international meat processing industry are subject to decline during poor 
economic conditions when consumers generally reduce their consumption of protein, and as a result, during 
such periods of decline, the availability, quantity and quality of raw materials available to independent renderers, 
such as us, decreases.

In addition, the Company has seen an increase in the use of used cooking oil in the production of biofuels, which 
has  increased  competition  for  the  collection  of  used  cooking  oil  from  restaurants  and  other  food  service 
establishments and contributed to an increase in the frequency and magnitude of theft of used cooking oil in the 
United States.

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• 

Furthermore, a decline in the general performance of the global economy (including a decline in consumer 
confidence) and an inability of consumers and companies to obtain credit in the financial markets could have a 
negative impact on our raw material volume, such as through the forced closure of any of our raw material 
suppliers. A significant decrease in available raw materials or a closure of a significant number of raw material 
suppliers  could  materially  and  adversely  affect  our  business,  results  of  operations  and  financial  condition, 
including the carrying value of certain of our assets.  

The rendering industry is highly fragmented and both the rendering and bakery residual industries are very competitive. 
We compete with other rendering businesses and alternative methods of disposal of animal by-products, bakery residue 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, U.S. restaurants experience theft of used cooking oil, the frequency and magnitude 
of which increases with the rise in value of used cooking oil. Depending on market conditions, we either charge a collection fee 
to offset a portion of the cost incurred in collecting raw material, collect on a no pay/no charge basis 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 our collection fees being 
deemed too expensive, the payments we offer being deemed too low or otherwise, our raw material supply will decrease and our 
collection fee revenues will decrease, which could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial 
condition.  In addition, the amount of raw material acquired, which has a direct impact on the amount of finished goods produced, 
can also have a material effect on our gross margin reported, as the Company has a substantial amount of fixed operating costs.  
In addition, we utilize an extensive vehicle fleet to collect and transport raw material, for which we compete with other industries 
for qualified drivers.  The U.S. has been experiencing a growing shortage of truck drivers.  Our failure to hire and retain a sufficient 
number of truck drivers to operate our fleet could negatively impact our ability to collect and transport raw material in an efficient 
and cost-effective manner. 

A majority of the Company's U.S. volume of animal by-product raw materials, including all of its significant U.S. poultry 
accounts, and substantially all of the Company's U.S. bakery feed raw materials, are acquired on a “formula basis,” which in most 
cases is set forth in contracts with our suppliers, generally with multi-year terms. These “formulas” allow us to mitigate the risks 
associated with decreases in commodity prices by adjusting our costs of materials based on changes in the price of our finished 
products, while also permitting us, 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 us and our 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 our business, results of operations 
and financial condition. A majority of Rothsay’s animal by-product raw materials are acquired based on prices fixed on a quarterly 
basis with suppliers, with the remaining portion acquired on a “formula basis.” A majority of Darling Ingredients International’s 
volume of animal by-product raw materials are acquired at spot or quarterly fixed prices.

The DGD Joint Venture subjects us to a number of risks.

In  January  2011,  our  wholly-owned  subsidiary  entered  into  a  limited  liability  company  agreement  (as  subsequently 
amended, the “DGD LLC Agreement”) with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Valero to form the DGD Joint Venture, which was 
formed to design, engineer, construct and operate the DGD Facility, which as a result of the expansion project completed in August 
2018 is now capable of processing approximately 20,000 barrels per day of input feedstock to produce renewable diesel fuel and 
certain other co-products. The DGD Facility, which is located adjacent to Valero’s refinery in Norco, Louisiana, reached mechanical 
completion and began production of renewable diesel in June 2013. Effective May 1, 2019, the DGD LLC Agreement was amended 
and restated for the purpose of updating the agreement in certain respects, including to remove certain provisions that were no 
longer relevant and to add new provisions relating to the DGD Joint Venture’s expansion project currently underway to construct 
a new, parallel facility located next to the current facility, as further described below. As of December 28, 2019, under the equity 
method of accounting, we had an investment in the DGD Joint Venture of approximately $661.5 million included on the consolidated 
balance sheet.  There is no assurance that the DGD Joint Venture will continue to be profitable or allow us to continue to make a 
return on our investment.

In November 2018, the joint venture partners approved the DGD Joint Venture moving forward with another expansion 
project to construct a new, parallel facility (the “New Facility”) located next to the current facility. The New Facility is expected 
to grow the DGD Joint Venture’s annual production capacity by an additional 400 million gallons from the current capacity of 
275 million gallons of renewable diesel to 675 million gallons of renewable diesel and provide the capability to separate naphtha 
for sale into low carbon fuel markets. In addition, the expansion project includes expanded inbound and outbound logistics for 
servicing the many developing low carbon fuel markets around North America and worldwide. The DGD Joint Venture estimates 
completion and startup of the New Facility in the fourth quarter of 2021, and the total cost of the expansion project, including the 
naphtha production and improved logistics capability, is estimated to be approximately $1.1 billion. Based on forecasted margins 
as of the date of this report, the expansion project is expected to be substantially funded by DGD Joint Venture cash flow; however, 
Page 18

 
the DGD LLC Agreement provides that until such time as the New Facility is complete and operational, the joint venture partners 
shall be required to make capital contributions or, if they agree, loans, to the DGD Joint Venture should the excess available cash 
in the DGD Joint Venture, as determined on specified dates and in accordance with the provisions contained in the DGD LLC 
Agreement, fall below $50.0 million. While construction on the expansion project is underway, there is no guarantee that unforeseen 
issues will not arise in connection with the completion or startup of the expansion project, and any unexpected significant changes 
to the scope of the project related thereto could require investment of additional financial resources by the DGD Joint Venture 
and/or the joint venture partners, including the Company, which could be significant.

The DGD Joint Venture is dependent on governmental energy policies and programs, such as the National Renewable 
Fuel Standard Program (“RFS2”) and low carbon fuel standards (“LCFS”) (such as in the state of California), 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 effect on the DGD Joint Venture. See the section entitled “Risk Factors-Risks Related to 
the Company-Our biofuels business may be affected by energy policies of U.S. and foreign governments.” Similarly, the DGD 
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 used by the DGD Joint Venture, 
which could negatively affect the price of renewable diesel and have a material adverse effect on the DGD Joint Venture.

In addition, the operation of a joint venture such as this involves a number of risks that could harm our business and result 

in the DGD Joint Venture not performing as expected, such as:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

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

the unanticipated breakdown or failure of equipment or processes, including any unforeseen issues that may 
arise in connection with the operation of the DGD Facility or completion and startup of any expansion projects 
and the New Facility or the possibility of equipment failure as a result of materials degradation;

the inaccuracy of our assumptions about prices for the renewable diesel that the DGD Joint Venture produces;

unforeseen engineering or environmental issues, including new or more stringent environmental regulations 
affecting operations; 

the inaccuracy of our assumptions about the timing and amount of anticipated revenues and operating costs 
including feedstock prices;

the diversion of management time and resources; 

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

difficulties in establishing and maintaining relationships with suppliers and end user customers;

the risk that one or more competitive new renewable diesel plants are constructed that use different technologies 
from the DGD Facility and result in the marketing of products that are more effective as a substitute for carbon-
based fuels or less expensive than the products marketed by the DGD Joint Venture; 

performance below expected levels of output or efficiency;

disruptions in the ability of the pipelines, vessels, or railroads to transport feedstocks or products because of 
weather events, accidents, derailment, collision, fire, explosion, governmental regulations, or third-party 
actions;

reliance by the DGD Joint Venture on Valero and its adjacent refinery facility for many services and 
processes;

possible impairment of the acquired assets, including intangible assets, in connection with the occurrence of 
any other risks associated with the DGD Joint Venture; 

possible third-party claims of intellectual property infringement; and

Page 19

• 

being forced to sell our equity interests in the DGD Joint Venture pursuant to buy/sell provisions in the DGD 
LLC Agreement such that we would no longer continue to realize the benefits of the DGD Joint Venture.   

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

disrupted, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our biofuels business may be affected by energy policies of U.S. and foreign governments.

Pursuant  to  the  requirements  established  by  the  Energy  Independence  and  Security Act  of  2007,  the  EPA  finalized 
regulations for RFS2 in 2010. 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 Administrator of the EPA.  The volume mandates for 2019 
were 2.1 billion gallons for biomass based diesel, 4.92 billion gallons for advanced biofuel and 19.92 billion gallons for renewable 
fuel.   The EPA has also established a final volume mandate for biomass based diesel for 2020 of 2.43 billion gallons.  In December 
2019, the EPA finalized the volume mandates for 2020 advanced biofuel at 5.09 billion gallons and for renewable fuel at 20.09 
billion gallons.  In addition, the EPA established the 2021 biomass based diesel mandate at 2.43 billion gallons.  Biomass-based 
diesel qualifies to fulfill the biomass based diesel requirement, the non-specified portion of the advanced biofuel requirement and 
the total renewable fuel requirement. In order to qualify as a “renewable fuel” each type of fuel from each type of feedstock is 
required to lower greenhouse gas emissions (“GHG”) by levels specified in the regulation. The EPA has determined that biofuels 
(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 our finished products may be impacted by worldwide 
government policies relating to renewable fuels and GHG. Programs like RFS2 and LCFS and tax credits for biofuels both in the 
United States and abroad may positively impact the demand for our finished products.  In December 2019 the blenders tax credit 
was retroactively reinstated for calendar years 2018 and 2019 and extended for calendar years 2020, 2021, and 2022 at $1.00 per 
gallon.  As a blender, in December 2019, the DGD Joint Venture has recorded approximately $155.9 million of blenders tax credits 
relating to volume sold in 2018 and $274.7 million of blenders tax credits relating to volume sold in 2019, with Darling's portion 
equaling 50%.  For its United States and Canada biodiesel operations, the Company recorded approximately $12.6 million in fiscal 
2018 for the reinstated 2017 blenders tax credits and approximately $19.1 million in December 2019 for the reinstated 2018 and 
2019 blenders tax credits.  While in fiscal 2019, the amount of tax credits for biofuels impacting the Company was material, legal 
challenges or changes to, a failure to enforce, reductions in the mandated volumes under, or discontinuing any of these programs 
could have a negative impact on our business and results of operations.

We are highly dependent on natural gas, diesel fuel and electricity, the price of which can be volatile, and such dependency 
could materially adversely affect our business.

Our operations are highly dependent on the use of natural gas, diesel fuel and electricity. We consume significant volumes 
of natural gas to operate boilers in our plants, which generate steam to heat raw materials. Natural gas prices represent a significant 
cost of facility operations included in cost of sales. We also consume significant volumes of diesel fuel to operate our fleet of 
tractors and trucks used to collect raw materials. 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 our operating results. Although we continually manage these costs and hedge our exposure to changes in fuel prices through 
our formula pricing, and from time to time, derivatives, a material increase in prices for natural gas and/or diesel fuel over a 
sustained period of time could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. We also 
require a significant amount of electricity in operating certain of our facilities, a disruption of which or a significant increase in 
the cost of which could have a material adverse effect on the business and results of operations of the affected facility.

A significant percentage of our revenue is attributable to a limited number of suppliers and customers. 

In fiscal year 2019, the Company's top ten customers for finished products accounted for approximately 25% of product 
sales. In addition, the Company's top ten raw material suppliers accounted for approximately 23% of its raw material supply in 
the same period.  VION Food, Darling Ingredients International’s largest raw materials supplier, accounted for approximately 10% 
of  Darling  Ingredients  International’s  raw  materials  supply  in  fiscal  year  2019.  VION  Food  supplies  Darling  Ingredients 
International with by-products generated by VION Food’s operations.  MFI, Rothsay’s largest raw materials supplier, accounted 
for approximately 20% of Rothsay’s raw materials supply in fiscal year 2019.  In connection with the acquisition of Rothsay, we 
entered into a seven-year supply agreement with MFI that runs through October 27, 2020 to supply us with substantially all of the 
MFI raw materials processed by Rothsay prior to the sale. As of the date of this report, the Company is negotiating with MFI an 
extension to the agreement for the continued supply of MFI raw materials.

Page 20

Disruptions or modifications to, or termination of, our relationships with any of our significant suppliers or customers, 
or financial difficulties experienced by any of our suppliers or customers that lead to curtailment or termination of their operations, 
could cause our businesses to suffer significant financial losses and could have a material adverse effect on our business, earnings, 
financial condition and/or cash flows.

Certain of our operating facilities are highly dependent upon a single or a few suppliers.

Certain of our operating 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, curtail their operations or 
otherwise cease using our collection services, these operating facilities may be materially and adversely affected, which could 
materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

We  face  risks  associated  with  our  international  activities,  which  could  negatively  affect  our  sales  to  customers  in  foreign 
countries and our operations and assets in such countries.

We  conduct  foreign  operations  in  Europe,  Canada, Asia,  South America  and Australia.  While  we  expect  that  our 
geographical diversity reduces our exposure to risks in any one country or part of the world, it also subjects us to the various risks 
and uncertainties relating to international sales and operations, including: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

imposition of tariffs, quotas, trade barriers and other trade protection measures imposed by foreign countries 
regarding the importation of poultry, beef and pork products, in addition to operating, import or export licensing 
requirements imposed by various foreign countries;

imposition of tariffs, quotas, trade barriers and other trade protection measures imposed by the U.S. against 
foreign countries;

imposition of border restrictions by foreign countries with respect to the import of poultry, beef and pork products 
due to animal disease or other perceived health or safety issues;

change in existing trade agreements, such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which could 
negatively impact our business;

impact of currency exchange rate fluctuations between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies, particularly the 
euro, the Canadian dollar, the Chinese renminbi, the Brazilian real, the British pound, the Japanese yen, the 
Australian dollar and the Polish zloty, which may reduce the U.S. dollar value of the revenues, profits and cash 
flows we receive from non-U.S. markets or of our assets in non-U.S. countries or increase our supply costs, as 
measured in U.S. dollars in those markets;

exchange controls and other limits on our ability to import raw materials, import or export finished products or 
to repatriate earnings from overseas, such as exchange controls in effect in China, that may limit our ability to 
repatriate earnings from those countries;

different regulatory structures (including creditor rights that may be different than in the United States) and 
unexpected changes in regulatory environments (including, without limitation, in China), including changes 
resulting in potentially adverse tax consequences or imposition of onerous trade restrictions, price controls, 
industry  controls,  animal  and  human  food  safety  controls,  employee  welfare  schemes  or  other  government 
controls;

political or economic instability, social or labor unrest or changing macroeconomic conditions or other changes 
in political, economic or social conditions in the respective jurisdictions; 

changes in our effective tax rate, including tax rates that may exceed those in the United States, earnings that 
may be subject to withholding requirements and incremental taxes upon repatriation, changes in the mix of our 
business from year to year and from country to country, changes in rules related to accounting for income taxes, 
changes in tax laws in any of the jurisdictions in which we operate and adverse outcomes from tax audits;

compliance with and enforcement of a wide variety of complex U.S. and non-U.S. laws, treaties and regulations, 
including, without limitation, anti-bribery laws such as the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (the “FCPA”), 
the U.K. Bribery Act 2010, the Brazilian corporate anti-corruption law and similar anti-corruption legislation 

Page 21

 
 
in  many  jurisdictions  in  which  we  operate,  as  well  as  economic  and  trade  sanctions  enforced  by  the  U.S. 
Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), the European Union (“EU”) and other 
governmental entities; and

• 

distribution costs, disruptions in shipping or reduced availability or increased costs of freight transportation.    

These risks and uncertainties could jeopardize or limit our ability to transact business in one or more of our international 
markets or in other developing markets and may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows 
and financial condition.

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

We are subject to the rules and regulations of various governmental agencies in the United States, the EU, Canada, China 
and the other countries in which Darling Ingredients International operates. These include rules and regulations administered by 
governmental agencies at the supranational, federal, state, provincial or local level. See Item 1. "Business - Regulations" for a 
listing of certain governmental agencies to which we are subject.

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

Because of our international operations throughout much of the world, we could be adversely affected by violations of 
the FCPA and similar anti-bribery laws, as well as laws and regulations governing international transactions (such as the regulations 
administered by OFAC). The FCPA and similar anti-bribery laws generally prohibit companies and their intermediaries from 
making improper payments or providing anything of value to improperly influence government officials or other third parties for 
the purpose of obtaining or retaining business or obtaining an unfair business advantage.  OFAC regulations and other economic 
sanctions laws and regulations generally prohibit U.S. persons from engaging in transactions or dealings with certain specified 
countries, territories, people or entities. Recent years have seen a substantial increase in the global enforcement of anti-corruption 
laws and economic sanctions laws and regulations. Our operations outside the United States, including in developing countries, 
could increase the risk of such violations. In addition, we may enter into joint ventures with joint venture partners who are domiciled 
in areas of the world with anti-bribery laws, regulations and business practices that differ from those in the United States. There 
is risk that our joint venture partners will violate the FCPA or other applicable anti-bribery laws and regulations. While our policies 
mandate compliance with the FCPA and other anti-bribery laws, as well as economic sanctions, we cannot provide assurance that 
our internal control policies and procedures will always protect us from violations committed by our employees, joint venture 
partners or agents. Violations of the FCPA or other anti-bribery laws, or of economic sanctions laws, or allegations of such violations, 
could result in lengthy investigations and possibly disrupt our business, lead to criminal and/or civil legal proceedings brought by 
governmental agencies and/or third parties, result in material fines and legal and other costs and have a material adverse effect on 
our reputation, business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

Given the competitive nature of our industry, we could be adversely affected by violations of various countries’ antitrust, 
competition  and  consumer  protection  laws.  These  laws  generally  prohibit  companies  and  individuals  from  engaging  in 
anticompetitive and unfair business practices. While our policies mandate compliance with these laws, we cannot provide assurance 
that our internal control policies and procedures will always protect us from violations or reckless or criminal acts committed by 
our employees, joint venture partners or agents.

Seasonal factors and weather, including the physical impacts of climate changes, can impact the availability, quality and volume 
of raw materials that we process and negatively affect our operations. 

The quantity of raw materials available to us is impacted by seasonal factors, including holidays, when raw material 
volumes decline, and cold weather, which can impact the collection of raw materials. In addition, warm weather can adversely 
affect the quality of raw materials processed and our yield on production due to more rapidly degrading raw materials. In addition 
to seasonal impacts, depending upon the location of our facilities and those of our suppliers, our operations could be subject to 
weather impacts, including the physical impacts of climate changes, changes in rainfall patterns, water shortages, changing sea 
levels, changing storm patterns and intensities and changing temperature levels. Physical damage, flooding, excessive snowfall 
Page 22

 
 
 
or drought resulting from changing climate patterns could adversely impact our costs and business operations, the availability and 
costs of our raw materials, and the supply and demand for our end products. These effects could be material to our results of 
operations, liquidity or capital resources.  The quality and volume of the finished products that we are able to produce could be 
negatively impacted by unseasonable or severe weather or unexpected declines in the volume of raw materials available during 
holidays, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. In 
addition, severe weather events may also impact our ability to collect or process raw materials or to transport finished products.

Downturns and volatility in global economies and commodity and credit markets could materially adversely affect our business, 
results of operations and financial condition. 

Our results of operations are materially affected by the conditions of the global economies and the credit, commodities 
and stock markets. Among other things, we may be adversely impacted if our 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 our suppliers and customers. Declining discretionary consumer spending or the loss or impairment of a meaningful number 
of our suppliers or customers could lead to declines in either raw material availability or customer demand. Any tightening in 
credit supply could negatively affect our customers’ ability to pay for our products on a timely basis or at all and could result in 
a requirement for additional bad debt reserves. Although many of our customer contracts are formula-based, continued volatility 
in the commodities markets could negatively impact our 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 
products due to market price declines.

Our business may be adversely impacted by fluctuations in exchange rates, which could affect our ability to comply with our 
financial covenants. 

We carry out transactions in a number of foreign currencies, principally the euro, the Canadian dollar, the Chinese 
renminbi, the Brazilian real, the British pound, the Japanese yen, the Australian dollar and the Polish zloty. To the extent possible, 
we attempt to match revenues and expenses in each of the currencies in which we operate. However, we will still be exposed to 
currency fluctuations when we translate the results of our overseas operations into U.S. dollars, our reporting currency, in the 
preparation of our consolidated financial statements. The exchange rates between these currencies and the U.S. dollar may fluctuate 
and these fluctuations may affect our U.S. dollar-denominated results of operations and financial condition even if our underlying 
operations and financial condition, in local currency terms, remain unchanged. While we have entered into and may from time to 
time enter into the use of currency hedging instruments to provide us with protection from adverse fluctuations in currency exchange 
rates, there can be no assurance that such instruments will successfully protect us from more pronounced swings in such exchange 
rates.  Further, by utilizing these instruments we potentially forego the benefits that might result from favorable fluctuations in 
currency exchange rates.

We also face risks arising from the possible future imposition of exchange controls and currency devaluations.  Exchange 
controls may limit our ability to convert foreign currencies into U.S. dollars or to remit dividends and other payments by our 
foreign subsidiaries located in, or business conducted within, a country imposing such controls.  Currency devaluations would 
result in a diminished value of funds denominated in the currency of the country instituting the devaluation.

Any fluctuations in exchange rates or the imposition of exchange controls or currency devaluation may adversely impact 
our ability to comply with the financial and other covenants under the documents governing our indebtedness, which could affect 
our ability to incur indebtedness, pay dividends, make investments or take other actions that might be in our best interest. Should 
our international operations continue to expand, they will represent a larger part of our business and such exchange rate fluctuations 
may have a greater impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our substantial level of indebtedness could adversely affect our financial condition.

As  of  December 28,  2019,  our  total  indebtedness,  including  trade  debt,  was  approximately  $1.6  billion  and  we  had 
undrawn commitments available for additional borrowings under the revolving loan facility included as part of our senior secured 
credit facilities of up to approximately $911.9 million (after giving effect to approximately $39.0 million of revolver borrowing, 
$3.6 million of outstanding letters of credit and $45.5 million of ancillary facilities). Our high level of indebtedness could have 
important consequences, including the following:

• 

making  it  more  difficult  for  us  to  satisfy  our  obligations  to  our  financial  lenders  and  our  contractual  and 
commercial commitments;

Page 23

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

limiting our ability to obtain additional financing to fund future working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions 
or other general corporate requirements on commercially reasonable terms or at all;

requiring us to use a substantial portion of our cash flows from operations to pay principal and interest on our 
indebtedness instead of other purposes, thereby reducing the amount of our cash flows from operations available 
for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes;

increasing our vulnerability to adverse economic, industry and business conditions;

exposing us to the risk of increased interest rates as certain of our borrowings are at variable rates of interest;

increasing  our  exposure  to  the  impact  on  our  debt  level  of  changes  in  foreign  exchange  rate  conversion  to 
functional currency;

limiting our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industry in which we 
operate;

placing us at a competitive disadvantage compared to other, less leveraged competitors; and

increasing our cost of borrowing.

In addition, the indentures that govern our senior notes and the credit agreement governing our senior secured credit 
facilities contain restrictive covenants that limit our ability to engage in activities that may be in our long-term best interest. Our 
failure  to  comply  with  those  covenants  could  result  in  an  event  of  default  which,  if  not  cured  or  waived,  could  result  in  the 
acceleration of all our funded indebtedness.  See Item 7. “Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results 
of Operations” - “Senior Secured Credit Facilities,” “5.25% Senior Notes due 2027” and “3.625% Senior Notes due 2026.”

Despite our existing level of indebtedness, we and our subsidiaries may still be able to incur substantially more indebtedness, 
which could further exacerbate the risks to our financial condition described above.

We and our subsidiaries may be able to incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future, including additional secured 
indebtedness under the senior secured credit facilities.  Although the indentures that govern the senior notes and the credit agreement 
governing the senior secured credit facilities contain restrictions on our incurrence of additional indebtedness, these restrictions 
are subject to a number of significant qualifications and exceptions, and the additional indebtedness that could be incurred in 
compliance with these restrictions could be substantial. To the extent that we or our subsidiaries incur additional indebtedness, 
the risks associated with our indebtedness, including our possible inability to service our indebtedness, could intensify.  See Item 
7. “Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” - “Senior Secured Credit Facilities,” 
“5.25% Senior Notes due 2027” and “3.625% Senior Notes due 2026.”

We may not be able to generate sufficient cash to service all of our indebtedness and may be forced to take other actions to 
satisfy our obligations under our indebtedness, which may not be successful.

Our ability to make scheduled payments on or to refinance our debt obligations depends on our financial condition and 
operating performance, which are subject to prevailing economic and competitive conditions and to certain financial, business, 
legislative, regulatory and other factors beyond our control. We may be unable to maintain a level of cash flows from operating 
activities sufficient to permit us to pay the principal, premium, if any, and interest on our indebtedness.

If our cash flows and capital resources are insufficient to fund our debt service obligations and to meet our other cash 
needs, we could be forced to reduce or delay investments and capital expenditures or to dispose of material assets or operations, 
seek additional debt or equity capital or restructure or refinance our indebtedness. We may not be able to effect any such alternative 
measures, if necessary, on commercially reasonable terms or at all and, even if successful, such alternative actions may not allow 
us to meet our scheduled debt service obligations and our other cash needs. The credit agreement governing our senior secured 
credit facilities and the indentures governing our senior notes restrict our ability to use the proceeds from the disposition of assets, 
debt incurrence or sales of equity to repay other indebtedness when it becomes due.  We may not be able to consummate any such 
dispositions or to obtain debt or equity proceeds in amounts sufficient to meet any debt service obligations then due, and we may 
be restricted under the credit agreement governing our senior secured credit facilities or the indentures governing our senior notes 
from using any such amounts to service other debt obligations. 

Page 24

If we cannot make scheduled payments under any of the agreements governing our debt, we would be in default under 
such agreements, which could allow lenders under any credit facilities to terminate their commitments to loan money and could 
allow the applicable lenders or other debt holders to declare all outstanding principal and interest of such debt to be immediately 
due and payable, and, in the case of secured debt, to foreclose against the assets securing such debt and apply the proceeds from 
such foreclosure to repay amounts owed to them. Any of these events would likely in turn trigger cross-acceleration or cross-
default provisions in our other debt instruments, which would allow the creditors under those instruments to exercise similar rights. 
If any of these actions are taken, we could be forced into restructuring, bankruptcy or liquidation.

Our ability to repay our indebtedness depends in part on the performance of our subsidiaries, including our non-guarantor 
subsidiaries, and their ability to make payments.

We conduct a significant portion of our operations through our subsidiaries, a number of which operate outside the United 
States. Accordingly, repayment of our indebtedness is dependent, to a significant extent, on the generation of cash flow by our 
subsidiaries and their ability to make such cash available to us. Unless they are guarantors of the indebtedness, our subsidiaries 
do not have any obligation to pay amounts due on the indebtedness or to make funds available for that purpose. Under certain 
circumstances, legal and contractual restrictions may limit our ability to obtain cash from our subsidiaries.  For example, our 
subsidiaries that are organized under the laws of, and operate in, China currently have substantial regulatory restrictions on their 
ability to make cash available to us.  While the credit agreement governing the senior secured credit facilities, the indentures 
governing our senior notes and the agreements governing certain of our other indebtedness will limit the ability of certain of our 
subsidiaries to incur consensual restrictions on their ability to make other intercompany payments to us, these limitations are 
subject to certain significant qualifications and exceptions. 

Our business may be negatively impacted by the occurrence of any disease correctly or incorrectly linked to animals. 

The emergence of diseases such as swine influenza viruses (collectively known as “Swine Flu”) and highly pathogenic 
strains of avian influenza (collectively known as “Bird Flu”) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (“SARS”) 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.  Swine Flu is quite common among pigs and is generally not fatal. However, Swine Flu strains are often 
transmitted to humans and have resulted in fatalities. Bird Flu generally refers to highly aggressive and fatal diseases of birds 
caused by flu viruses that, once established, can spread rapidly from flock to flock and have also been known to affect humans.  
As of the date of this report, various strains of Bird Flu have been and continue to be reported in wild fowl and commercial poultry 
in Europe, North America, the Middle East and parts of Asia.  Reports that these Bird Flu strains can be spread from person to 
person have been rare and have regarded potential transmission as inefficient and not sustained.

Other diseases that are highly contagious within a species, but do not affect other animals and are not transmissible to 
humans, such as porcine epidemic diarrhea (“PED”) virus, may significantly impact production of the susceptible livestock or 
poultry species in a country or region.  African Swine Fever (“ASF”) is a viral and highly contagious disease of pigs and wild 
boar, for which no cures or approved vaccines are available as of the date of this report. In early August 2018, ASF was reported 
in domestic pig herds located in Northeast China and has since become widespread, infecting multiple Chinese and Vietnamese 
provinces and has been reported in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, The Philippines, Timor-Leste and Indonesia in South East Asia 
and the People's Democratic Republic of Korea, Republic of Korea and Mongolia in East Asia. In 2019, the Chinese Ministry of 
Agriculture  and  Rural  Affairs  (“MARA”)  addressed  measures  to  control  the  disease  in  the  “ASF  Epidemic  Emergency 
Implementation Plan”.  The MARA subsequently released guidelines for restocking farms depopulated because of ASF and a 
three-year  plan  for  accelerating  recovery  and  development  of  swine  production  in  China.  The  restrictions  in  transportation 
implemented to control the spread of ASF have created serious dislocations in pork supplies and resulted in strong reduction of 
slaughter numbers and thereby volumes of raw material supplied to our locations in China that process blood and make collagen 
from pork skins. Additionally, the perception, real or implied, that blood meal and dried plasma powder may contribute to the 
spread of ASF, resulted in a temporary ban on the use of porcine plasma in pork feed which negatively affected demand for our 
products as ingredients in porcine animal feed in China. This ban has now been lifted and porcine plasma is once again allowed 
to be used in pork feed provided that certain newly established guidelines are met. ASF has also been reported in Eastern Europe 
since 2007, predominantly in wild boar and to a limited extent in domestic pigs. It spread over long distance to Western Europe, 
where since September 2018 numerous cases have been detected in wild boar in Belgium.  In December 2019, Poland reported 
55 outbreaks of ASF in wild boar near the German border.  On February 6, 2020, the Agriculture Ministry in Greece reported that 
ASF had been detected on a breeding farm in Northern Greece.  This was the first case reported in the country.  Prior to the detection 
in Greece, the spread of ASF in Western Europe had been restricted to wild animals only.  As of the date of this report, this spread 
in Europe has been restricted to wild animals only. As of the date of this report, ASF has not been reported in North or South 
America. In the United States, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has implemented a surveillance plan for 
AFS to strengthen detection capabilities, enhance outbreak preparedness and support claims that ASF is not present in the United 
States. ASF does not infect humans and is not considered a food safety hazard.  Any reports, proven or perceived, that implicate 
Page 25

animal feed or feed ingredients, including but not limited to animal by-products, as contributing to the spread of a contagious 
animal disease could negatively affect demand for our products as ingredients in animal feeds in the affected country or region.

Although no global disease pandemic among humans has been linked to Bird Flu or other emerging diseases as of the 
date of this report, governments may be pressured to address these concerns, including by executive action such as temporarily 
closing certain businesses, including meat and animal processing facilities, within their jurisdictions suspected of contributing to 
the spread of such diseases or by legislative or other policy action, such as prohibiting imports of animals, meat and animal by-
products from countries or regions where the disease is detected or suspected.  If any disease that is correctly or incorrectly linked 
to animals and has a negative impact on meat or poultry consumption or animal production occurs in any jurisdiction in which 
we operate, such occurrence could have a material negative impact on the volume of raw materials available to us or the demand 
for our finished products.

Our business may be affected by the impact of animal related disease, such as BSE and other food safety issues. 

The FDA has put in place restrictions to prevent the spread of BSE, and certain foreign governments have also restricted 
exports of beef and beef products from the United States following the detection of BSE in the United States in December 2003.  
The sixth and most recent case of BSE was reported in a six-year-old mixed-breed beef cow on August 29, 2018.  This was the 
second such case of BSE since the World Organization for Animal Health (the “OIE”) characterized the United States’ BSE status 
as one of “negligible risk” in 2013. This latest case and the previous four cases were the atypical or sporadic form of BSE, which 
is not spread via feed and, therefore, did not affect the “negligible BSE risk” status of the U.S.  Continued concern about BSE in 
the United States, and other countries in which we operate now or in the future, may result in additional regulatory and market 
related challenges that may affect our operations or increase our operating costs.

With respect to human food, pet food and animal feed safety in the United States, the FDA Food Safety Modernization 
Act (“FSMA”) was enacted on January 4, 2011 and gave the FDA new authorities, which became effective immediately, and 
directed the FDA to promulgate new regulations pursuant to the FSMA.  Included among these new authorities and regulations 
are:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Mandatory recall authority for adulterated or misbranded foods where the use of or exposure to such foods is 
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 or misbranded foods voluntarily. The FDA issued guidance on 
its mandatory recall authority in November 2018.

Regulations that define the FDA’s administrative detention authority to include the authority to detain an article 
of food if there is reason to believe the food is adulterated or misbranded.

Section 306 of the FSMA provides that the FDA must refuse admission of food into the United States if a foreign 
food establishment or foreign government refuses to permit entry for an inspection.  In December 2017, FDA 
issued draft guidance on what actions constitute refusal of inspection. 

Section 102 of the FSMA amended facility registration requirements in the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic 
(“FD&C”) Act for domestic and foreign manufacturers, processors, packers or holders of food for human or 
animal consumption, to require that facility registrations be renewed during the fourth quarter of each even-
numbered year, beginning October 1, 2012, and that additional information be included in such registrations.  
FSMA also provides that, if the FDA determines that food manufactured, processed, packed, received, or held 
by a registered facility has a reasonable probability of causing serious adverse health consequences or death to 
humans or animals, the FDA may suspend the registration of a facility that created, caused, or was otherwise 
responsible for such reasonable probability, or knew or had reason to know of such probability and packed, 
received, or held the food.

The FDA issued final rules for preventive controls (“PCs”) for human food and animal feed  (“Human Food PC 
Rule” and “Animal Food PC Rule,” respectively), which apply to registered FDA facilities that manufacture, 
process, pack and hold human or animal food and require these facilities to establish and implement written 
food safety plans, which include hazard analyses, PCs to ensure that significant hazards that are identified as 
needing to be controlled will be significantly reduced or prevented, monitoring of PCs, supply-chain controls 
if appropriate to control a significant hazard, recall plans, corrective action procedures, verification activities 
and record keeping standards. The Human Food PC Rule also updates existing Current Good Manufacturing 
Practices (“CGMPs”), and the Animal Food PC Rule establishes minimum CGMPs for the production, holding 

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• 

• 

• 

and distribution of the human or animal food.  The FDA has issued various guidance and draft guidance documents 
to help food facilities comply with requirements under these final rules.

The FDA issued a regulation relating to Foreign Supplier Verification Programs (“FSVP Rule”) requiring that 
importers of both human and animal food must develop, follow and maintain written procedures verifying that 
their foreign suppliers produce food in a manner that provides the same level of public health protection as the 
Human Food PC Rule, Animal Food PC Rule, or FDA’s regulations established under FSMA regarding produce 
safety, as appropriate, and must ensure that the suppliers’ food is not adulterated and is not misbranded with 
respect to allergen labeling of human food. The FDA has issued various guidance documents to assist importers 
in complying with the FSVP Rule.

Pursuant  to  the  Sanitary  Food  Transportation  Act  of  2005  and  FSMA,  the  FDA  requires  that  sanitary 
transportation practices be used to transport human and animal foods to prevent such food from being adulterated 
during transport and applies to shippers, loaders, carriers by motor vehicle or rail vehicle, and receivers engaged 
in the transportation of food.

The FDA finalized a rule that requires registered human food facilities to conduct a vulnerability assessment 
and implement mitigation strategies, including a written food defense plan, to prevent or mitigate potential acts 
of intentional adulteration of food that could harm the public health.  Most large businesses were required to 
comply with the rule by July 26, 2019, and the FDA issued revised draft guidance in March 2019 to assist covered 
businesses with compliance.

We have followed regulations enacted under the FSMA throughout the rulemaking process and have implemented CGMPs, 
food safety plans and other procedures at our domestic facilities, which we believe comply with the applicable final Human Food 
PC Rule or Animal Food PC Rule.  Similar procedures have been implemented at our foreign facilities for compliance with the 
FSVP Rule.  Such rulemaking and implementation of compliant procedures could, among other things, limit our ability to import 
necessary raw materials or finished products or require us to amend certain of our other operational policies and procedures.  
Unforeseen issues and requirements may arise as the FDA implements and enforces these and other final rules or promulgates 
other new regulations provided for by the FSMA.

The  FDA  has  also  established  a  Reportable  Food  Registry  (“RFR”)  pursuant  to  the  Food  and  Drug Administration 
Amendments Act of 2007 (the “FDAAA”). The guidance documents define a reportable food, which the manufacturer or distributor 
would be required to report in the RFR, to include materials used as ingredients in animal feeds and pet foods, if there is a reasonable 
probability that the use of, or exposure to, such materials will cause serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or 
animals. Finalization of the RFR guidance documents and potential additional requirements relating to the RFR may impose 
additional requirements on us.

In  July  2013,  the  FDA  released  the  “Compliance  Policy  Guide  Sec. 690.800, Salmonella  in  Food  for Animals”  (the 
“CPG”). According to the CPG, any finished pet food contaminated with any species of Salmonella will be considered adulterated 
and the FDA believes regulatory action is warranted in cases involving such pet foods because of the heightened risk to humans 
given the high likelihood of direct human contact with the pet food. 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 for which the feed is intended. Any pathogen, such as Salmonella, that is 
correctly or incorrectly associated with our finished products could have a negative impact on the demand for our finished products 
and could have a material adverse effect on our business, reputation, results of operations or financial condition.

As a result of our international operations, we could be adversely affected by additional non-U.S. regulations regarding 
BSE and other food safety issues.  For example, an enforceable ban on the feeding of restricted animal material to ruminant animals 
was introduced in Australia in 1996.  This ban is part of a comprehensive national program to prevent the entry and establishment 
of the BSE agent in Australia.  Inspections and audits are undertaken to ensure compliance.  In addition, in the EU, harmonized 
rules have been adopted for prevention, control and eradication of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (“TSEs”), which 
includes BSE, in Regulation (EC) No 999/2001, as amended (“TSE Regulation”) and in other instruments such as Regulation 
(EC) No 1069/2009 on animal by-products, as amended (“Animal By-Products Regulation”) and food and other feed hygiene 
regulations.  The TSE Regulation establishes a “feed ban,” which is the basic preventive measure against TSE and consists of a 
ban on the use of processed animal protein (“PAP”), such as MBM, in feed for farmed animals.  Only certain animal proteins 
considered to be safe (such as fishmeal) can be used, but under very strict conditions.  Other animal-derived products besides PAP, 
such as collagen derived from non-ruminants and hydrolyzed protein derived from parts of non-ruminants or from ruminant hides 
and skins, are not subject to the “feed ban.”  In June 2013, the “feed ban” was lifted for the feeding of aquaculture animals, and 
the European Commission has been investigating the options to lift the ban for other non-ruminants, such as pigs and poultry.  
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Although Darling Ingredients International may profit from the possible lifting of the ban for pigs and poultry, changes to the 
“feed ban” may adversely affect Darling Ingredients International, possibly restricting the allowed use of some of their products.  
The TSE Regulation applies to the production and placing on the market of live animals and products of animal origin on the EU 
market.  For that purpose, the BSE status of EU Member States, non-EU members of the European Economic Area and other 
countries or regions (“Third Countries”) is to be determined by classification into one of three categories depending on the BSE 
risk involved: a negligible risk, a controlled risk or an undetermined risk.  This classification is made by the OIE.  The determination 
of BSE status is based on a risk assessment and the implementation of a surveillance program.  For each risk category there are 
trade rules to provide the necessary guarantees for protecting public and animal health.  Currently, the following EU Member 
States are classified as having a controlled BSE risk: France, Greece and Ireland.  The other EU Member States are classified as 
having a negligible BSE risk.  A change in the BSE status of one or more EU Member States may have a negative impact on 
Darling  Ingredients  International.    Under  EU  legislation,  imported  products  from  outside  the  EU  must  meet  the  same  safety 
standards as products produced in EU Member States.  Therefore, the TSE Regulation imposes strict import requirements related 
to TSEs for live animals and animal by-products, such as full traceability of imported animals and animal by-products, a ban on 
the use of MBM in feed for ruminants and the prohibition of the import of specified risk material or mechanically recovered meat.  
The detailed import requirements depend on the BSE status of Third Countries.  The Animal By-Products Regulation establishes 
rules intended to prevent the outbreak of certain diseases such as BSE.  The Animal By-Products Regulation imposes, for example, 
rules for the use and disposal of specified risk material and other high risk material.  A BSE outbreak or other event viewed as 
hazardous to animal or human health could lead to the adoption of more stringent rules on the use and disposal of animal by-
products, which could require Darling Ingredients International to change its production processes and could have a material 
adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial condition.

In addition, the introduction of new EU legislation applicable to the agri-food sector could create additional compliance 
requirements and enforcement risks for us. Regulation (EU) 2019/1381 (“Food Transparency Regulation”) was adopted on June 
20, 2019 and will apply from 27 March 2021. The Food Transparency Regulation strengthens transparency requirements in EU 
food law. Among other things, the European Food Safety Authority (“EFSA”) will be required to disclose scientific data, studies 
and other information supporting applications, including supplementary information supplied by applicants, taking into account 
the protection of confidential information and of personal data. EFSA is tasked with establishing and managing a publicly accessible 
database of studies commissioned or carried out by business operators to support an application or notification in relation to which 
EU law contains provisions for EFSA to provide a scientific output, including a scientific opinion. Business operators will need 
to notify EFSA of the title and the scope of any study commissioned or carried out by them to support an application or a notification, 
as well as the laboratory or testing facility carrying out that study, and its starting and planned completion dates. Any potential 
disclosure  of  unfavorable  studies  and  data  as  well  as  EFSA’s  ultimate  decision-making  power  to  determine  what  constitutes 
confidential information (and therefore subject or not to transparency obligations) may result in adverse publicity, negatively 
impact our reputation and/or require us to disclose commercially sensitive information and data. Regulation (EC) No 2017/625 
(replacing Regulation (EC) No 882/2004) (“Official Controls Regulation”) was adopted on March 15, 2017 and has applied in 
the EU since December 14, 2019, providing a revised framework for EU Member States to verify compliance with agri-food chain 
rules through official controls. The scope of the Official Controls Regulation has been extended and will now cover official controls 
to verify compliance with food and feed law, animal health and welfare, plant health and animal-by products rules. The extension 
of the scope to also cover plant health and animal by-products as well as organics and plant protection products, is intended to 
introduce a more harmonized and coherent approach to official controls and relevant enforcement actions along the entire agri-
food chain. To deter fraudulent practices, the Official Controls Regulation introduces more stringent rules for financial penalties, 
imposed by Member States. Those penalties will need to reflect the economic advantage of the operator or a percentage of the 
operator’s turnover. The Regulation also introduces new provisions to protect whistle-blowers to encourage and facilitate the 
reporting of non-compliance. More stringent and higher financial penalties may potentially result in significant and unexpected 
costs and enhanced provisions regarding whistle-blowers may result in more regulatory investigations and enforcement actions, 
both of which could have a material adverse effect on our business.

We have significant international sales and operations and face risks related to health epidemics which could adversely affect 
our business and results of operations.

In addition to the risks associated with any animal-related diseases (see “Our business may be negatively impacted by 
the occurrence of any disease correctly or incorrectly linked to animals.” and “Our business may be affected by the impact of 
animal related disease, such as BSE and other food safety issues.”), our business and operations could be materially and adversely 
affected by the effects of a widespread outbreak of a contagious disease, including the recent outbreak of the respiratory illness 
caused by a coronavirus strain (COVID-19) first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, or any other outbreak of contagious 
diseases, and other adverse public health developments. These effects could include disruptions or restrictions on our employees’ 
ability to travel, as well as temporary closures of our facilities or the facilities of our customers, suppliers, or other vendors in our 
supply chain. Certain of our facilities in China have experienced disruptions in operations due to the coronavirus.

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Large capital projects can take many years to complete, and market conditions could deteriorate over time, negatively 
impacting project returns.

We may engage in capital projects, such as the DGD Joint Venture expansion projects, based on the forecasted project 
economics and level of return on the capital to be employed in the project. Large-scale projects take many years to complete, and 
market conditions can change from our forecast. As a result, we may be unable to fully realize our expected returns, which could 
negatively impact our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows.

If we or our customers are the subject of product liability or other claims or product recalls we may incur significant and 
unexpected costs and our business reputation could be adversely affected. 

We and our customers for whom we manufacture products may be exposed to product liability or other claims, product 
recalls and adverse public relations if consumption or use of our products is alleged to cause injury or illness to humans or animals. 
In addition, we and our customers may be subject to product liability or other claims, product recalls, and adverse public relations 
resulting from developments relating to the discovery of unauthorized adulterations to food additives or other products or from 
allegations that our food ingredients or other products were mislabeled, were not produced in accordance with the customer’s 
specifications and/or have not performed adequately in the end product, even where food safety or other product safety is not a 
concern. In some cases, we indemnify our customers for product liability and other claims related to our products. Product recalls 
in one jurisdiction may result in product recalls in other jurisdictions, as is the case in the EU, where an EU Member State could 
recall a product in connection with the recall of such product in another EU Member State. Our insurance may not be adequate 
to cover all liabilities we incur in connection with product liability and/or other claims, whether or not legitimate, or product 
recalls, whether voluntary or mandatory. We may not be able to maintain our existing insurance or obtain comparable insurance 
at a reasonable cost for such matters. A judgment against us or against one of our customers for whom we manufacture or provide 
products on a product liability or other claim, or our or their agreement to settle a product liability or other 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 or other claims against us or our customers for whom we manufacture 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 which takes time away from operating our business.  Any such claim could also result in adverse publicity 
and negatively impact our reputation. 

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

Changes in consumer preference could negatively impact our business.

The food and pet food industries in general are subject to changing consumer trends, demands and preferences.  Trends 
within the food and pet food industries change often, and failure to identify and react to changes in these trends could lead to, 
among other things, reduced demand and price reductions for our products or those of our customers for whom we manufacture 
products, and could have an adverse effect on our financial results.

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

Our operations subject us to various and increasingly stringent environmental, health and safety requirements in the 
various jurisdictions where we operate, including those governing air emissions, wastewater discharges, the management, storage 
and disposal of materials in connection with our facilities, occupational health and safety, product packaging and labeling and our 
handling of hazardous materials and wastes, such as gasoline and diesel fuel used by our trucking fleet and operations. Failure to 
comply with these requirements could have significant consequences, including recalls, penalties, injunctive relief, claims for 
personal injury and property and natural resource damages, other claims and negative publicity. Our operations require the control 
of air emissions and odor and the treatment and discharge of wastewater to municipal sewer systems and the environment. We 
operate boilers at many of our facilities and store wastewater in lagoons or, as permitted, discharge it to publicly owned wastewater 
treatment systems or surface waters, or through land application. We have 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.

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We 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. We own or operate numerous properties, have been in 
business for many years and have acquired and disposed of properties and businesses over that time. During that time, we or other 
owners or operators may have generated or disposed of wastes or stored or handled other materials that are or may be considered 
hazardous or may have polluted the soil, surface water or groundwater at or around our facilities. Under some environmental laws, 
such as the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 in the United States, also known 
as the Superfund law, responsibility for the cost of cleanup of a contaminated site can be imposed upon 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. Similar laws outside the United States impose liability for environmental cleanup, often under the polluter pays 
theory of liability but also based upon ownership in some circumstances. There can be no assurance that we will not face extensive 
costs or penalties that would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. For example, we 
have received notice from the EPA relating to alleged river sediment contamination in the Lower Passaic River area of New Jersey. 
See Item 3. “Legal Proceedings.” In addition, future developments, such as more aggressive enforcement policies, new laws or 
discoveries of currently unknown contamination conditions, may also require expenditures that may have a material adverse effect 
on our business and financial condition.

In addition, increasing efforts to control emissions of GHG are likely to impact our operations. We operate in certain 
jurisdictions subject to the Paris Agreement, which mandates reduced GHG emissions in certain participating countries, and the 
EPA’s  rule  establishing  mandatory  GHG  reporting  for  certain  activities  may  apply  to  some  of  our  facilities  if  we  exceed  the 
applicable thresholds. The EPA has also announced a regulatory endangerment finding relating to GHG emissions that has led to 
further regulation of GHG emissions. Legislation to regulate GHG emissions has periodically been proposed in the U.S. Congress 
and a growing number of states and foreign countries are taking action to require reductions in GHG emissions. Future GHG 
emissions limits may require us to incur additional capital and operational expenditures. EPA regulations limiting exhaust emissions 
also have become more restrictive, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the EPA have adopted regulations 
that govern fuel efficiency and GHG emissions. Compliance with these and similar regulations could increase the cost of new 
fleet vehicles and increase our operating expenses. Compliance with future GHG regulations may require expenditures that could 
materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

We have approximately 10,100 employees world-wide and are subject to a wide range of local, provincial and national 
laws and regulations governing the health and safety of workers, including, for example, OSHA in the United States.  We can be 
subject to potential fines and civil and, in egregious cases, criminal actions if we are found to be in violation of worker health and 
safety laws in any of these jurisdictions.  Further, as such laws and regulations change, we may sometimes be required to commit 
to unplanned capital expenditures in order to continue to comply with workplace safety requirements at our facilities.  In addition, 
we operate and maintain an extensive vehicle fleet to transport products to and from customer locations in all jurisdictions where 
we have facilities.  Our fleets and drivers are subject to federal, state, local and foreign laws and licensing requirements applicable 
to commercial fleets, their cargo and their hours and methods of operation.  Failure to comply with these laws and regulations in 
any location could materially adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and reputation.

If we experience difficulties or a significant disruption in our information systems or if we fail to implement new systems and 
software successfully, our business could be materially adversely affected. 

We depend on information systems throughout our business to collect and process data that is critical to our operations 
and accurate financial reporting. Among other things, these information systems process incoming customer orders and outgoing 
supplier  orders,  manage  inventory,  and  allow  us  to  efficiently  collect  raw  materials  and  distribute  products,  process  and  bill 
shipments to and collect cash from our customers, respond to customer and supplier inquiries, contribute to our overall internal 
control processes, maintain records of our property, plant and equipment, record and pay amounts due vendors and other creditors 
and manage our human resource function. 

If we were to experience a disruption in our 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 our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, any such disruption could adversely affect our 
ability to meet our financial reporting obligations. We may also encounter difficulties in developing and implementing new systems 
or maintaining and upgrading existing systems and software. 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 sales or profits, 
or cause us to incur significant costs to reimburse third parties for damages, and, as a result, may have a material adverse effect 
on our results of operations and financial condition.  We could also experience impairment of our reputation if any of these events 
were to occur.

Page 30

 
 
Increased information technology security threats and more sophisticated computer crime pose a risk to our systems, networks, 
products and services.

We rely upon our information systems and networks in connection with a variety of business activities, and we collect 
and store sensitive data.  Increased security threats to information systems and more sophisticated computer crime pose a risk to 
the security of our systems and networks and the confidentiality, availability and integrity of our data.  We are the subject of cyber 
attacks from time to time, and must invest resources to protect our systems and defend against and respond to incidents. A failure 
of or breach in technology security could expose us and our customers and suppliers to risks of misuse of information or systems, 
the compromising of confidential information, manipulation and destruction of data, defective products, production downtimes 
and  operating  disruptions,  which  in  turn  could  adversely  affect  our  reputation,  competitive  position,  business  and  results  of 
operations.  In addition, such breaches in security could result in litigation, regulatory action and potential liability and the costs 
and operational consequences of implementing further data protection measures.

Furthermore,  we  are  subject  to  complex  and  evolving  laws  and  regulations  regarding  privacy,  know-your-customer 
requirements, data protection, cross-border data movement and other matters. Principles concerning the appropriate scope of 
consumer and commercial privacy vary considerably in different jurisdictions, and regulatory and public expectations regarding 
the definition and scope of consumer and commercial privacy may remain fluid. It is possible that these laws may be interpreted 
and applied by various jurisdictions in a manner inconsistent with our current or future practices or inconsistent with one another. 
If personal, confidential or proprietary information of customers or employees in our possession is mishandled or misused, we 
may face regulatory, reputational and operational risks which could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and results 
of operations. For example, European legislators adopted the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) that became effective 
in May 2018, and supersedes EU data protection legislation, imposes more stringent data protection requirements, and provides 
for greater penalties for noncompliance. There are significant outstanding questions relating to the scope and applicability of 
GDPR for companies such as ours. We may face difficulty in fully complying with these regulations and any failure to do so could 
subject us to significant monetary penalties, liabilities, and adverse publicity. Further, California recently enacted a privacy law 
(the “California Consumer Privacy Act” or “CCPA”), which may limit how we may collect and use personal data, and which came 
into effect in January 2020. As the law is new and draft regulations have not yet been finalized, and additional state privacy laws 
may be enacted the impact of these State privacy on us and others in our industry is uncertain. We also may be required to expend 
significant resources to prepare for and comply with the evolving standards. We could be adversely affected if the CCPA and other 
states’ legislation or regulations require changes in our business practices or privacy policies, or if governing jurisdictions interpret 
or implement their legislation or regulations in ways that negatively affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our success is dependent on our key personnel. 

Our 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 our results of operations 
and prospects. We believe that our future success will depend in part on our 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 we will be successful in attracting, motivating and retaining key personnel. The failure to hire and retain such personnel could 
materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

In certain markets we are highly dependent upon a single operating facility and various events beyond our control could cause 
an interruption in the operation of our facilities, which could adversely affect our business in those markets. 

Our facilities are subject to various federal, state, provincial and local environmental and other permitting requirements 
of the countries in which we operate, depending on the locations of those facilities. 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 our facilities, in a majority of our markets we 
would utilize a nearby operating facility to continue to serve our customers in the affected market. In certain markets, however, 
we do 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, we may experience an interruption in our ability to 
service our customers and to procure raw materials, and potentially an impairment of the value of that facility. Any of these 
circumstances may materially and adversely affect our 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 our services.

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We could incur a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting that would require remediation. 

Any future failures to maintain the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, including our internal control 
over financial reporting, could subject us to a loss of public confidence in our internal control over financial reporting and in the 
integrity of our financial statements and our public filings with the SEC and other governmental agencies and could harm our 
operating results or cause us to fail to meet our regulatory reporting obligations in a timely manner.

Changes in our tax rates or exposure to additional income tax liabilities could impact our profitability.

We are subject to income taxes in the United States and in numerous other foreign jurisdictions.  Due to economic and 
political conditions, tax rates in various jurisdictions, including the United States, may be subject to change. Our future effective 
tax rates could be adversely affected by changes in the mix of earnings by jurisdictions with differing statutory tax rates, changes 
in the valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities and changes in tax laws or tax rates. Tax reform enacted in the United States 
in 2017 included changes to U.S. federal income tax rates, imposed significant additional limitations on the deductibility of business 
interest expense and net operating losses and put into effect a number of changes impacting operations outside the United States. 
While we have reflected the expected impact of the new law in our financial statements in accordance with our understanding of 
U.S. tax reform and available guidance, the ultimate effects of U.S. tax reform remain uncertain and there may be further impacts 
of the new law. In particular, additional regulations and guidance may be issued (possibly with retroactive effect) that could 
significantly impact how the new law applies to us and resulting changes could have an adverse effect on us, and such effect could 
be material. In particular, it is uncertain if, and to what extent, various states will conform to the new tax law and foreign countries 
will react by adopting tax legislation or taking other actions that could adversely affect our business.  In addition, the amount of 
income taxes we pay is subject to ongoing audits in various jurisdictions and a material assessment by governing tax authority 
could affect our profitability.

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

As of December 28, 2019, the Company had approximately $1.2 billion of goodwill. We are 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, 
we are 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 us to 
make significant estimates about our 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 
regulation, or changes in competition. Changes in these factors, or changes in actual performance compared with estimates of our 
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. We cannot accurately predict the amount 
and timing of any impairment of assets. Should the value of goodwill become impaired, there may be a material adverse effect on 
our results of operations.

We may be subject to work stoppages at our operating facilities, which could cause interruptions in the manufacturing or 
distribution of our products. 

While we currently have no international, national or multi-plant union contracts, as of December 29, 2018 approximately 
19%  of  Darling’s  North American  employees,  27%  of  Rothsay’s  employees  and  44%  of  Darling  Ingredients  International’s 
employees  were  covered  by  various  collective  bargaining  agreements.  Furthermore,  local  laws  and  regulations  in  certain 
jurisdictions in which we operate provide for worker groups with prescribed powers and rights with regard to working conditions, 
wages and similar matters.  In jurisdictions where such groups do not exist, 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. In contrast, Darling Ingredients International’s collective bargaining agreements generally have one to 
two year terms.  Rothsay agreements generally have terms up to three years. Some of our collective bargaining agreements have 
already expired and are in the process of being renegotiated. There can be no assurance that we will be able to negotiate the terms 
of any expiring or expired agreement in a manner acceptable to us. If our workers were to engage in a strike, work stoppage, 
slowdown or other collective action in the future in any of our locations, we could experience a significant disruption of our 
operations, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. We may also 
be subject to general country strikes or work stoppages unrelated to our business or collective bargaining agreements that could 
have a direct or indirect adverse effect on our business, results of operation or financial condition.

Page 32

 
Litigation or regulatory proceedings may materially adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial 
condition. 

We are a party to various lawsuits, claims and loss contingencies arising in the ordinary course of business, including 
insured worker's compensation, auto, and general liability claims, assertions by certain regulatory and governmental agencies 
related to permitting requirements and/or air, wastewater and storm water discharges from the Company’s processing facilities, 
litigation involving tort, contract, statutory, labor, employment, and other claims, and tax matters. The outcome of litigation, 
particularly class action lawsuits, and regulatory proceedings is difficult to assess or quantify. Plaintiffs (including governmental 
agencies) in these types of lawsuits and proceedings may seek recovery of very large or indeterminate amounts, and the magnitude 
of the potential loss relating to such lawsuits or proceedings may remain unknown for substantial periods of time. The costs of 
responding to or defending future litigation or regulatory proceedings may be significant and any future litigation or regulatory 
proceedings may divert the attention of management away from our strategic objectives. There may also be adverse publicity 
associated with litigation or regulatory proceedings that may decrease customer confidence in our business, regardless of whether 
the allegations are valid or whether we are ultimately found liable. As a result, litigation or regulatory proceedings may have a 
material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. For more information related to our litigation 
and regulatory proceedings, see Item 3. “Legal Proceedings.”

Certain U.S. multiemployer defined benefit pension plans to which we contribute are underfunded and these plans and our 
European pension funds may require minimum funding contributions. 

We participate in various U.S. multiemployer pension plans which provide defined benefits to certain employees covered 
by labor contracts. These plans are not administered by us 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 underfunded 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 U.S. Pension Protection Act, which went into effect in January 2008, 
requires  underfunded  pension  plans  to  improve  their  funding  ratios  within  prescribed  intervals  based  on  the  level  of  their 
underfunding. As a result, our required contributions to these plans may increase in the future. Furthermore, under current law, a 
termination  of,  our  voluntary  withdrawal  from  or  a  mass  withdrawal  of  all  contributing  employers  from  any  underfunded 
multiemployer defined benefit plan to which we contribute would require us to make payments to the plan for our 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. Requirements to pay increased contributions, withdrawal liability and excise taxes could negatively impact our liquidity and 
results of operations. 

In the EU, pension funds are generally subject to the Institution for Occupational Retirement Provision Directive (Directive 
2003/41/EC) (the “IORP Directive”) as implemented in the relevant EU Member States.  The IORP Directive provides for certain 
general solvency requirements but allows EU Member States discretion to impose specific national requirements.  As a result, the 
solvency of EU pension funds are mostly regulated on a national level.  On December 23, 2016, the new IORP Directive (“IORP 
Directive II”) was published on the Official Journal of the European Union and entered into force on January 12, 2017, though 
this did not make substantive changes to the solvency requirements under the original IORP Directive.  The new IORP Directive 
II recognizes in one of its recitals that changes in this area could potentially decrease the willingness of employers to provide 
occupational pension schemes.  EU Member States were required to implement IORP Directive II into national legislation by 
January 13, 2019. The UK introduced new legislation with effect from 13 January 2019 to implement certain parts of IORP 
Directive  II:  (i)  the  Occupational  Pension  Schemes  (Governance)  (Amendment)  Regulations  2018,  SI  2018/1103,  which 
implemented  the  governance  provisions;  (ii)  the  Occupational  Pension  Schemes  (Cross-border  Activities)  (Amendment) 
Regulations 2018, SI 2018/1102, which implemented the requirements relating to cross-border activity and cross-border transfers; 
and (iii) the Pension Protection Fund (Pensionable Service) and Occupational Pension Schemes (Investment and Disclosure) 
(Amendment and Modification) Regulations 2018, SI 2018/988, which (among other things) made amendments to the content 
requirements of statements of investment principles so as to require trustees to state, from 1 October 2019, their policy on ‘financially 
material considerations’. The UK government considered that the other aspects of IORP Directive II were already adequately 
covered by the existing UK law. Given that IORP Directive II has already been implemented in UK law, the European Union 
(Withdrawal) Act 2018 will preserve any legislation made in the UK to implement the obligations under IORP Directive II (including 
those carried over from the original IORP Directive). That legislation is unlikely to change immediately following Brexit, although 
there will be scope later on for the UK legislation and regulation to diverge from that of the EU.

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The insurance coverage that we maintain may not fully cover all operational risks, and if the number or severity of claims for 
which we are self-insured increases, if we are required to accrue or pay additional amounts because the claims prove to be 
more  severe  than  our  recorded  liabilities,  if  our  insurance  premiums  increase  or  if  we  are  unable  to  obtain  insurance  at 
acceptable rates or at all, our financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely affected. 

We maintain property, business interruption and casualty insurance but such insurance may not cover all of the risks 
associated with the hazards of our business and is subject to limitations, including deductibles and maximum liabilities covered. 
We may incur losses beyond the limits, or outside the coverage, of our insurance policies, including liabilities for environmental 
remediation. In the future, the types of insurance we obtain and the level of coverage we maintain may be inadequate or we may 
be unable to continue to maintain our existing insurance or obtain comparable insurance at a reasonable cost.

Our worker’s compensation, auto and general liability policies contain significant deductibles or self-insured retentions. 
We develop bi-yearly and record quarterly an estimate of our projected insurance-related liabilities. We estimate the liabilities 
associated with the risks retained by us, 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 we are self-insured increases, or we are required to accrue or pay additional amounts because the claims prove 
to be more severe than our original assessments, our financial condition and results of operations may be materially adversely 
affected. In addition, in the future, our insurance premiums may increase and we 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 our business, financial condition and results of operations. 

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

We regularly review potential acquisitions of complementary businesses, services or products. However, we may be 
unable to identify suitable acquisition candidates in the future. Even if we identify appropriate acquisition candidates, we may be 
unable to complete or finance such acquisitions on favorable terms, if at all. In addition, the process of integrating an acquired 
business,  service  or  product  into  our  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 our business. Moreover, we 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 us to 
incur debt, assume contingent liabilities or amortize expenses related to intangible assets, any of which could harm our business. 
Finally, acquisitions may be structured in such a manner that would result in the assumption of unknown liabilities not disclosed 
by the seller or uncovered during pre-acquisition due diligence.

We may divest of certain of our brands or businesses from time to time, which could adversely affect us.

We evaluate our business regularly and, from time to time, we may decide to divest ourselves of brands or businesses 
that do not meet our strategic objectives or do not meet our growth or profitability targets. No assurance can be given that we will 
be able to divest of a brand or business on favorable terms or without significant costs or that we will be able to achieve the 
anticipated benefits or cost savings from the divestitures. Any such divestitures may adversely affect our results of operations if 
we are unable to offset the dilutive impacts from the loss of revenue associated with the divested brands or businesses, or otherwise 
achieve the anticipated benefits or cost savings from the divestitures. Moreover, we may incur asset impairment charges related 
to divestitures that reduce our profitability.

Media campaigns related to feed and food ingredient production present reputational and other risks.

Individuals or organizations can use social media platforms to publicize inappropriate or inaccurate stories or perceptions 
about the feed and food ingredient production industries or our company. Such practices could cause damage to the reputations 
of our company and/or the feed and food ingredient production industries in general. This damage could adversely affect our 
financial results.

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Terrorist attacks or acts of war may cause damage or disruption to us and our employees, facilities, information systems, security 
systems, suppliers and customers, which could materially and adversely affect our 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 in certain other countries, and further acts of terrorism, bioterrorism, cyberterrorism, violence or war could 
affect the markets in which we operate, our business operations, our expectations and other forward-looking statements contained 
in this report. 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 conflicts in the Middle East, North Korea and Ukraine, may cause economic and political 
uncertainties and cause our 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 our facilities or those of our suppliers or customers could have an impact on our sales, supply chain, production 
capability and costs and our ability to deliver our finished products.

We may be unable to protect our intellectual property rights.

We maintain valuable patents, trademarks, service marks, copyrights, trade names, trade secrets, proprietary technologies 
and similar intellectual property, and consider our intellectual property to be of material value. Our efforts to protect our intellectual 
property and proprietary rights may not be sufficient.  Patents may not be issued for any pending or future patent applications 
owned by or licensed to us, and the claims allowed under any issued patents may not be sufficiently broad to protect our technology.  
Any issued patents owned by or licensed to us may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented, and the rights under these patents 
may not provide us with competitive advantages.  In addition, competitors may design around our technology or develop competing 
technologies.  Intellectual property rights may also be unavailable or limited in some foreign countries, which could make it easier 
for competitors to capture market position in such countries by utilizing technologies that are similar to those developed or licensed 
by us.  If we do not obtain sufficient protection for our intellectual property, or if we are unable to effectively protect our intellectual 
property rights, our competitiveness could be impaired, which would limit our growth and future revenue.  Any litigation to enforce 
our intellectual property rights, protect our trade secrets or determine the validity and scope of the proprietary rights of others 
could result in substantial costs and diversion of resources, with no assurance of success.

Our products, processes, methods, and equipment may infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others, which may 
cause us to incur unexpected costs or prevent us from selling our products. 

We have in the past and may in the future be subject to legal proceedings and claims in the ordinary course of our business, 
including claims of alleged infringement of patents, trademarks and other intellectual property rights of third parties by us or our 
customers. Any such claims, whether or not meritorious, could result in costly litigation and divert the efforts of our management. 
Moreover, should we be found liable for infringement, we may be required to enter into licensing agreements (which may not be 
available on acceptable terms or at all) or to pay damages and cease making or selling certain products. Any of the foregoing could 
cause us to incur significant costs and prevent us from manufacturing or selling our products and thereby materially adversely 
affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

The healthcare reform legislation in the United States and its implementing regulations could impact the healthcare benefits 
we are required to provide our employees in the United States and cause our compensation costs to increase, potentially reducing 
our net income and adversely affecting our cash flows.

In March 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Affordability 
Reconciliation Act (the “ACA”), was signed into law in the United States. This healthcare reform legislation and its applicable 
implementing regulations contain provisions that could materially impact our future healthcare costs, including the contributions 
we are required to make to our benefit plans. In particular, the requirement that we either offer our full-time employees healthcare 
coverage that satisfies the ACA's affordability and minimum value standards or potentially be subject to an excise tax penalty 
became effective in calendar year 2015.  In addition, beginning in 2016, we had to file information returns with the IRS regarding 
the health insurance coverage offered to our full-time employees in the prior calendar year and furnish to employees a statement 
that includes the same information provided to the IRS.  While we have timely filed such returns and provided our employees 
with the required statements to date, failure to do so in the future could expose us to reporting penalties under applicable sections 
of the Internal Revenue Code. These provisions could reduce our net income and adversely affect our cash flows.

Legislative changes to, or regulatory changes under, all or certain portions of the ACA have been made under the Trump 
administration and more may be likely. On December 20, 2019, President Trump signed Public Law 116-94, a spending bill that 
included provisions repealing the so-called “Cadillac” tax on certain high cost employer-sponsored insurance plans and the annual 
fee imposed on certain health insurance providers based on market share.  President Trump also has signed two executive orders 
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and other directives designed to delay the implementation of certain provisions of the ACA or otherwise circumvent some of the 
requirements  for  health  insurance  mandated  by  the ACA.  Concurrently,  members  of  the  U.S.  Congress  have  proposed  other 
legislation that would repeal or repeal and replace all or part of the ACA. While Congress has not passed comprehensive repeal 
legislation, in addition to Public Law 116-94, bills affecting the implementation of certain taxes under the ACA have been signed 
into law.  The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, passed in December 2017, includes a provision repealing, effective January 1, 2019, the tax-
based shared responsibility payment imposed by the ACA on certain individuals who fail to maintain qualifying health coverage 
for all or part of a year that is commonly referred to as the “individual mandate” (although a few states have adopted individual 
mandate requirements that assess penalties against individuals based on their uninsured status). There is uncertainty with respect 
to the impact that the reform proposals from the President’s administration and U.S. Congress may have, if any, including whether 
additional legislative reform will be enacted and whether any proposals will encompass or potentially alter the full-time employee 
healthcare coverage requirements and reporting obligations imposed on large employers like us.  There have also been various 
litigation challenges to the ACA, some of which are ongoing.  The 2020 U.S. Presidential and Congressional elections may also 
result in unknown changes to healthcare laws.  Any changes may likely take time to unfold, and we cannot predict the ultimate 
content, timing, or effect of any healthcare reform legislation or the impact of potential legislation or related proposals and policies 
on us. We cannot assure that the ACA, as currently enacted or as repealed or amended in the future, will not adversely affect our 
business and financial results and we cannot predict how future federal or state legislative or administrative changes relating to 
healthcare reform will affect our business.

Because of our prior acquisitions and future acquisitions we may engage in, our historical operating results may be of limited 
use in evaluating our historical performance and predicting our future results. 

Darling has acquired a number of businesses in recent years, including Rothsay and VION Ingredients, and we expect 
that we will engage in acquisitions of other businesses from time to time in the future. The operating results of the acquired 
businesses are included in our financial statements from the date of the completion of such acquisitions. All of Darling’s acquisitions 
have been accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting. Use of this method has resulted in a new valuation of the 
assets and liabilities of the acquired companies. We expect a substantial increase in our depreciation and amortization and reduction 
in our operating and net income commensurate with such increase. As a result of these acquisitions and any future acquisitions, 
our historical operating results may be of limited use in evaluating our historical performance and predicting our future results. 

We may incur significant charges in the event we close or divest all or part of a manufacturing plant or facility.

We periodically assess our manufacturing operations in order to manufacture and distribute our products in the most 
efficient manner.  Based on our assessments, we may make capital improvements to modernize certain units, move manufacturing 
or distribution capabilities from one plant or facility to another plant or facility, discontinue manufacturing or distributing certain 
products or close or divest all or part of a manufacturing plant or facility.  The closure or divestiture of all or part of a manufacturing 
plant or facility could result in future charges that could be significant to our business, results of operations and financial condition.

The vote by the United Kingdom mandating its withdrawal from the EU could have an adverse effect on our business, investments 
and future operations in Europe.

The vote on June 23, 2016 by the United Kingdom (the “UK”) to exit the EU, or Brexit, has created uncertainty in the 
global financial markets, but the eventual effects of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU on our business or our investment portfolios 
are uncertain at this time. On March 29, 2017, the Prime Minister of the UK notified the European Council in accordance with 
Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union of the UK’s intention to withdraw from the EU, triggering a two-year period for the 
negotiation of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, which period was subsequently extended. The effect of Brexit on our business 
and investments is uncertain as negotiations commence to determine the future terms of the UK relationship with the EU. The 
effects of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU will depend on agreements the UK makes to retain access to EU markets either during 
a transitional period or more permanently. Brexit could impair the ability of Darling Ingredients International to transact business 
in the future in the UK, including by restricting the free travel of employees from and to the UK and through legal uncertainty 
and potentially divergent national laws and regulations as the UK determines which EU laws to replace or replicate. Furthermore, 
Brexit is likely to continue to adversely affect European and worldwide economic conditions and could contribute to greater 
instability in the global financial markets before and after the terms of the UK’s future relationship with the EU are settled. These 
effects could have an adverse effect on our business, investments and future operations in Europe. A withdrawal agreement and 
a political declaration were agreed at the European Council on October 17, 2019. The UK general election on December 12, 2019 
resulted in an absolute majority of seats for the UK Conservative Party in the House of Commons. On January 9, 2020 the House 
of Commons voted on the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill 2019-20 (the “Withdrawal Bill”), which paved the way 
for the UK to leave the EU on January 31, 2020, on its third reading. The Withdrawal Bill covers "divorce" payments to the EU, 
citizens’ rights, customs arrangements for Northern Ireland, and a planned 11-month transition period. The House of Commons 
approved the Withdrawal Bill by 330 votes to 231, and it was passed by the House of Lords, the UK Parliament’s upper house, 
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without further modifications on January 22, 2020. The UK withdrew from the EU at 23:00 GMT on January 31, 2020, and the 
planned transition period will run from February 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020. During the transition period, the UK will cease 
to be an EU member but will still follow all of the EU’s rules and regulations, and will remain in the single market and the customs 
union and contribute to the EU budget. This transition period would also see the UK and the EU negotiate a trade agreement that 
would be likely to commence immediately following the end of the transition period, and provide an opportunity for businesses 
and the UK government to prepare for the new arrangements. While this transition period may be extended if such an extension 
is requested before the end of June 30, 2020, the UK’s Prime Minister has stated that he will not request an extension. After 
December 31, 2020 or any later date on which the transition period would end, the relationship between the UK and the EU would 
be regulated by any trade agreement concluded during the transition period. A ‘no-deal’ Brexit scenario could still occur. In a no-
deal scenario, the loss of the single-market would see the UK fall back on to basic World Trade Organization Terms, which would 
involve tariffs and checks on UK goods travelling to the EU and vice versa. In the absence of further transitional arrangements 
with the EU, therefore, there is a greater risk that trade between UK and EU businesses will be materially adversely affected, 
particularly in relation to highly regulated products such as pharmaceuticals and products of animal-origin, due to the additional 
regulatory burdens that are likely to be imposed on exporters/importers which may affect the availability of these products.

Risks Related to our Common Stock 

The market price of our common stock has been and may continue to be volatile, which could cause the value of your investment 
to decline. 

The market price of our common stock has been subject to volatility and, in the future, the market price of our common 
stock could fluctuate widely in response to numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control.  Numerous factors, including 
many over which we have no control, may have a significant impact on the market price of our common stock. In addition to the 
risk factors discussed in this report, the price and volume volatility of our common stock may be affected by:

• 

• 

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• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

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actual or anticipated fluctuations in ingredient prices;

actual or anticipated variations in our operating results;

our earnings releases and financial performance;

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

our ability to repay our debt;

our access to financial and capital markets to refinance our debt;

performance of our joint venture investments, including the DGD Joint Venture;

our dividend policy;

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

investor perceptions of us and the industry and markets in which we operate;

governmental legislation or regulation;

currency and exchange rate fluctuations that impact our earnings and balance sheet; and

general economic and market conditions, such as U.S. or global reactions to economic developments, including 
regional recessions, currency devaluations or political unrest.

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

We are 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. The issuance of additional shares of our common stock or convertible 
securities, including our outstanding options, or otherwise, will dilute the ownership interest of our common stockholders. 

Page 37

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

Our common stock is an equity security and is subordinate to our existing and future indebtedness. 

Shares of our common stock are equity interests and do not constitute indebtedness. As such, the shares of common stock 
will rank junior to all of our indebtedness, including our trade debt, and to other non-equity claims on us and our assets available 
to satisfy claims on us, including claims in a bankruptcy, liquidation or similar proceedings. Our existing indebtedness restricts, 
and future indebtedness may restrict, payment of dividends on the 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 our board of directors or a duly authorized committee of the board 
and (ii) as a corporation, we are restricted under applicable Delaware law to making dividend payments and redemption payments 
only from legally available assets. Further, under our certificate of incorporation, there are no restrictions on our business or 
operations or on our ability to incur indebtedness or engage in any transactions arising as to our common stock, subject only to 
the voting rights available to stockholders generally. 

In addition, our rights to participate in the assets of any of our 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 we may ourselves be a creditor of 
that subsidiary), including that subsidiary’s trade creditors and our creditors who have obtained or may obtain guarantees from 
the subsidiaries. As a result, our common stock will be subordinated to our and our subsidiaries’ obligations and liabilities, which 
currently include borrowings and guarantees. See Item 7. “Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and 
Results of Operations” - “Senior Secured Credit Facilities,” “5.25% Senior Notes due 2027” and “3.625% Senior Notes due 2026.”

Our ability to pay any dividends on our common stock may be limited and, consequently, your ability to achieve a return on 
your investment will depend on appreciation in the price of our common stock. 

We have not paid any dividends on our common stock since January 3, 1989 and we have no current plans to do so. Our 
current financing arrangements permit us to pay cash dividends on our common stock within limitations defined by the terms of 
our existing indebtedness, including our senior secured credit facility, 5.25% senior notes due 2027 and 3.625% senior notes due 
2026 and any other indentures or other financing arrangements that we enter into in the future. For example, our senior secured 
credit facility restricts our 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 our common stock will be at the discretion of 
our board of directors and will be based upon our financial condition, operating results, capital requirements, plans for expansion, 
business opportunities, restrictions imposed by any of our financing arrangements, provisions of applicable law and any other 
factors that our 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 your 
investment. 

Our board of directors is authorized to cause us to issue classes or series of preferred stock without any action on the part 
of our 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 designations, preferences, limitations and relative rights senior to 
the rights of our common stock with respect to dividends or upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our business and 
other terms. If we issue 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 we issue preferred shares with voting rights that dilute the voting 
power of the common stock, the rights of holders of the common stock or the market price of the common stock could be adversely 
affected. As of the date of this report, we have no outstanding shares of preferred stock but we have available for issuance 1,000,000
authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock. 

ITEM 1B.  UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

 None.

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ITEM 2.   PROPERTIES

As of December 28, 2019, the Company's corporate headquarters is located at 5601 N MacArthur Boulevard, Irving, 

Texas, 75038.

As of December 28, 2019, the Company operates a global network of over 200 locations, including 144 production 
facilities, across five continents.  All of the processing facilities are owned except for 10 leased facilities and the Company owns 
and leases a network of transfer stations. The following is a listing of a majority of the Company's operating plants as of December 28, 
2019 by operating segment with a description of the plants principal process. 

DESCRIPTION

Bakery Residuals
Animal By-Products
Animal By-Products
Animal By-Products
Animal By-Products
Used Cooking Oil/Trap Processing
Animal By-Products
Bakery Residuals
Animal By-Products
Animal By-Products
Bakery Residuals
Animal By-Products
Animal By-Products
Animal By-Products
Animal By-Products
Animal By-Products
Animal By-Products
Bakery Residuals
Animal By-Products
Animal By-Products
Animal By-Products
Animal By-Products
Animal By-Products
Animal By-Products
Animal By-Products
Fertilizer
Bakery Residuals
Animal By-Products

LOCATION
Feed Ingredients Segment
Albertville, Alabama, United States
Bastrop, Texas, United States
Bellevue, Nebraska, United States
Berlin, Wisconsin, United States
Blue Earth, Minnesota, United States
Blue Island, Illinois, United States
Boise, Idaho, United States
Bryan, Texas, United States
Burgum, Netherlands
Butler, Kentucky, United States
Butler, Kentucky, United States
Clinton, Iowa, United States
Coldwater, Michigan, United States
Collinsville, Oklahoma, United States
Dallas, Texas, United States
Denver, Colorado, United States
Des Moines, Iowa, United States
Doswell, Virginia, United States
Dundas, Ontario, Canada
East Dublin, Georgia, United States
E. St. Louis, Illinois, United States
Ellenwood, Georgia, United States
Fresno, California, United States
Grapeland, Texas, United States
Hamilton, Michigan, United States
Henderson, Kentucky, United States
Henderson, Kentucky, United States
Hickson, Ontario, Canada
Honey Brook, Pennsylvania, United States Bakery Residuals
Houston, Texas, United States
Jackson, Mississippi, United States
Kansas City, Kansas, United States
Kansas City, Kansas, United States
Lexington, Nebraska, United States
Lingen, Germany
Loenen, Netherlands
Los Angeles, California, United States
Luohe, China
Maquoketa, Iowa, United States
Marshville, North Carolina, United States
Maryborough, Australia
Maysville, KY
Maysville, KY
Mason City, Illinois, United States
Mering, Germany
Moorefield, Ontario, Canada
Muscatine, Iowa, United States
Newark, New Jersey, United States
Newberry, Indiana, United States
North Baltimore, Ohio, United States
Omaha, Nebraska, United States

Animal By-Products
Animal By-Products
Animal By-Products
Protein Refining
Animal By-Products
Blood
Animal By-Products
Animal By-Products
Blood
Blood
Bakery Residuals
Blood
Protein Refining
Bakery Residuals
Animal By-Products
Blood
Animal By-Products
Bakery Residuals
Animal By-Products
Animal By-Products
Bakery Residuals
Protein Refining

Page 39

  
Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Osetnica, Poland
Paducah, Kentucky, United States
Pocahontas, Arkansas, United States *
Ravenna, Nebraska, United States
Russellville, Kentucky, United State
San Francisco, California, United States *
Sioux City, Iowa, United States
Smyrna, Georgia, United States
Springdale, Arkansas, United States
Son, Netherlands
Starke, Florida, United States
Suzhou, China
Tacoma, Washington, United States *
Tama, Iowa, United States
Tampa, Florida, United States
Truro, Novia Scotia, Canada
Turlock, California, United States
Turlock, California, United States
Union City, Tennessee, United States
Usnice, Poland
Wahoo, Nebraska, United States
Watts, Oklahoma, United States
Wichita, Kansas, United States
Winesburg, Ohio, United States *
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Animal By-Products
Animal By-Products
Wet Pet Food
Animal By-Products
Wet Pet Food
Animal By-Products
Animal By-Products
Animal By-Products
Trap Processing
Wet Pet Food
Animal By-Products
Animal By-Products
Blood
Animal By-Products
Animal By-Products
Animal By-Products
Used Cooking Oil
Animal By-Products
Fertilizer
Animal By-Products
Animal By-Products
Animal By-Products
Bakery Residuals/Protein Refining
Animal By-Products
Animal By-Products
Animal By-Products

Food Ingredients Segment
Almere, Netherlands
Amparo, Brazil
Angouleme, France
Da'an, China
Dubuque, Iowa, United States
Eindhoven, Netherlands
Elsholz, Germany
Erolzheim, Germany
Gent, Belgium
Girona, Spain
Harlingen, Netherlands
Ilse-Sur-La-Sorgue, France
Kaiping, China
Lubien, Poland
Peabody, Massachusetts, United States
Porto, Portugal
Presidente Epitacio, Brazil
Stoke-on Trent, United Kingdom
Versmold, Germany
Vuren, Netherlands
Wenzhou, China

Fuel Ingredients Segment
Belm-Icker, Germany
Butler, Kentucky, United States
Denderleeuw, Belgium
Jagel, Germany
Rotenburg, Germany
Saint-Catherine, Quebec Canada *
Son, Netherlands

* Leased

Casings
Collagen
Collagen
Collagen
Collagen
Fat
Fat
Fat
Collagen
Collagen
Fat
Collagen
Collagen
Fat
Collagen
Casings
Collagen
Bone
Fat
Bone
Collagen

Bioenergy
Biodiesel
Bioenergy
Bioenergy
Bioenergy
Biodiesel
Bioenergy

Rent expense for our leased properties was $13.0 million in the aggregate in fiscal 2019. We believe our current 

properties are suitable and adequate for their intended purpose.

Page 40

 
ITEM 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The Company is a party to various lawsuits, claims and loss contingencies arising in the ordinary course of its business, 
including insured worker's compensation, auto, and general liability claims, assertions by certain regulatory and governmental 
agencies related to permitting requirements and/or air, wastewater and storm water discharges from the Company's processing 
facilities, litigation involving tort, contract, statutory, labor, employment, and other claims, and tax matters.

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 under these insurance policies 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, 
litigation  and  tax  contingencies.  At  December 28,  2019  and  December 29,  2018,  the  reserves  for  insurance,  environmental, 
litigation  and  tax  contingencies  reflected  on  the  balance  sheet  in  accrued  expenses  and  other  non-current  liabilities  were 
approximately $70.5 million and $66.6 million, respectively.  The Company has insurance recovery receivables of approximately 
$26.2  million  and  $26.1  million  as  of  December 28,  2019  and  December 29,  2018,  related  to  insurance  contingencies.   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 
contingencies will not exceed current estimates.  The Company believes that the likelihood is remote that any additional liability 
from the lawsuits and claims that may not be covered by insurance would have a material effect on the Company's financial 
position, results of operations or cash flows.

Lower Passaic River Area.  In December 2009, the Company, along with numerous other entities, received notice from 
the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) that the Company (as alleged successor-in-interest to The Standard 
Tallow Corporation) is considered a potentially responsible party (a “PRP”) with respect to alleged contamination in the lower 
17-mile  area  of  the  Passaic  River  which  is  part  of  the  Diamond Alkali  Superfund  Site  located  in  Newark,  New  Jersey.   The 
Company’s designation as a PRP is based upon the operation of a former plant sites located in Newark and Kearny, New Jersey 
by The Standard Tallow Corporation, an entity that the Company acquired in 1996.  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.  In March 2016, the Company received another letter from EPA 
notifying the Company that it had issued a Record of Decision (the “ROD”) selecting a remedy for the lower 8.3 miles of the 
lower Passaic River area at an estimated cost of $1.38 billion.  The EPA letter makes no demand on the Company and lays out a 
framework for remedial design/remedial action implementation in which the EPA will first seek funding from major PRPs.  The 
letter  indicates  that  the  EPA  has  sent  the  letter  to  over  100  parties,  which  include  large  chemical  and  refining  companies, 
manufacturing companies, foundries, plastic companies, pharmaceutical companies and food and consumer product companies.  
The EPA has already offered early cash out settlements to 20 of the other PRPs and has stated that other parties who did not 
discharge any of the eight contaminants of concern identified in the ROD (the “COCs”) may also be eligible for cash out settlements 
and conducted a settlement analysis using a third-party allocator.  The Company participated in this allocation process as it asserts 
that it is not responsible for any liabilities of its former subsidiary The Standard Tallow Corporation, which was legally dissolved 
in 2000, and that, in any event, The Standard Tallow Corporation did not discharge any of the COCs.  In November 2019, the 
Company received a cash out settlement offer from the EPA in the amount of $0.6 million ($0.3 million for each of the former 
plant sites in question) for liabilities relating to the lower 8.3 miles of the lower Passaic River area. The Company has accepted 
this settlement offer, which is now subject to the EPA’s administrative approval process, which includes publication and a public 
comment period.  On September 30, 2016, Occidental Chemical Corporation (“OCC”) entered into an agreement with the EPA 
to perform the remedial design for the cleanup plan for the lower 8.3 miles of the Passaic River.  On June 30, 2018, OCC filed a 
complaint in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey against over 100 companies, including the Company, 
seeking cost recovery or contribution for costs under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability 
Act (“CERCLA”) relating to various investigations and cleanups OCC has conducted or is conducting in connection with the 
Passaic River.  According to the complaint, OCC has incurred or is incurring costs which include the estimated cost to complete 
the remedial design for the cleanup plan for the lower 8.3 miles of the Passaic River.  OCC is also seeking a declaratory judgment 
to hold the defendants liable for their proper shares of future response costs, including the remedial action for the lower 8.3 miles 
of the Passaic River.  The Company, along with 40 of the other defendants, had previously received a release from OCC of its 
CERCLA contribution claim of $165 million associated with the costs to design the remedy for the lower 8.3 miles of the Passaic 
River.  Furthermore, in the event the settlement with the EPA described above is consummated, it could preclude certain of the 
claims alleged by OCC against the Company. The Company's ultimate liability, if any, 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, the Company has found no definitive evidence that the former Standard Tallow Corporation plant sites contributed 

Page 41

any of the COCs to the Passaic River and, therefore, there is nothing that leads the Company to believe that this matter will have 
a material effect on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

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 42

 
PART II

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

Market Information

The Company’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “DAR”.  

Holders

The Company has been notified by its stock transfer agent that as of February 19, 2020, there were 141 holders of record 

of the common stock.

Dividend Policy

The Company has not paid any dividends on its common stock since January 3, 1989 and does not expect to pay cash 
dividends in 2020.  The agreements underlying the Company's senior secured credit facilities and senior 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 existing 
or future financing arrangements, and any other factors that the board of directors determines are relevant.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

On August 7, 2017, the Company's Board of Directors approved the extension for an additional two years of its previously 
announced share repurchase program and refreshed the amount of the program back up to its original amount of an aggregate of 
$100.0 million of the Company's Common Stock depending on market conditions. To that point, the Company had previously 
repurchased $10.9 million shares of its Common stock under the program. The repurchases may be made from time to time on 
the open market at prevailing market prices or in negotiated transactions off the market.  On November 6, 2018, the Board approved 
an increase in the share repurchase program from $100.0 million to $200.0 million and extended the term of the program for an 
additional year to August 13, 2020.  Repurchases may occur through August 13, 2020, unless extended or shortened by the Board 
of Directors. Since the inception of the share repurchase program, the Company has repurchased approximately $30.1 million of 
its common stock in open market purchases and, as of the date of this report, has $180.8 million remaining in its share repurchase 
program.

The following table is a summary of equity securities purchased by the Company during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019.

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Period

October 2019:
September 29, 2019 through October 26, 2019
November 2019:
October 27, 2019 through November 23, 2019
December 2019:
November 24, 2019 through December 28, 2019
Total

Total 
Number of 
Shares 
Purchased 
(1)

Average 
Price Paid 
per Share (2)

Total Number 
of Shares 
Purchased as 
part of Publicly 
Announced 
Plans or 
Programs (4)

Maximum Number
(or Approximate
Dollar Value) of
Shares that may yet
be Purchased Under
the Plan or Programs
at End of Period.

407,076

18.47

407,076

$

180,760,509

40,855 (3)

22.84

—

180,760,509

82,337 (3)
530,268

24.07
21.07

—
407,076

$

180,760,509
180,760,509

(1) 

(2) 

All shares purchased during the fourth quarter were acquired by the Company pursuant to the announced share 
repurchase program (other than shares withheld for taxes on restricted stock and exercised options and the strike 
price on exercised options).
The average price paid per share is calculated on a trade date basis and excludes commissions.

Page 43

(3) 
(4) 

Shares withheld for taxes on restricted stock and options.
Represents purchases made during the quarter under the authorization from the Company's Board of Directors, 
as announced, to repurchase up to an aggregate of $200.0 million of the Company's common stock over the 
period ending August 13, 2020, unless extended or shortened by the Board of Directors.

Common Stock Performance Graph

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 and the Dow Jones US Waste and Disposal Service Index for the 
period from January 3, 2015 to December 28, 2019, assuming the investment of $100 on January 4, 2015 and the reinvestment of 
dividends.  The Agri-Equities Index - Tier One is no longer shown as in prior years since it is no longer being produced.

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.

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS

The information required by this Item with respect to Item 201(d) of Regulation S-K appears in Item 12 of this report.

Page 44

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 28, 2019, December 29, 2018, and December 30, 2017, and the related notes thereto.

Fiscal 2018
Fifty-two

Fiscal 2019
Fifty-two

Fiscal 2017
Fifty-two
Weeks Ended Weeks Ended Weeks Ended Weeks Ended Weeks Ended
December 28, December 29, December 30, December 31,

Fiscal 2015
Fifty-two

Fiscal 2016
Fifty-two

2019

2017 (f)
2018 (e)
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)

2016 (f)

January 2,
2016

$

$

$
$
$

$

Statement of Operations Data:

Net sales
Cost of sales and operating expenses (f)
Loss (gain) on sale of assets
Selling, general and administrative expenses (b), (f)
Restructuring and impairment charges
Depreciation and amortization
   Acquisition and integration costs

Equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel (h)
Operating income
Interest expense (a)
Debt extinguishment costs
Foreign currency loss
Loss (gain) on disposal of subsidiaries
Other expense, net, (f)
Equity in net loss/(income) of other unconsolidated
subsidiaries and unconsolidated subsidiaries (h)

Income from continuing operations before income taxes
Income tax (benefit)/expense
Net Income
Net Income attributable to minority interests
Net Income attributable to Darling
Basic earnings per common share
Diluted earnings per common share
Weighted average shares outstanding
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

Other Financial Data:
Adjusted EBITDA  (c)
Depreciation
Amortization
Capital expenditures (d)

Balance Sheet Data:
Working capital (g)
Total assets (g)
Current portion of long-term debt (g)
Total long-term debt less current portion (g)
Stockholders’ equity attributable to Darling

3,363,905 $
2,589,085
(20,582)
358,523
—
325,510
—
364,452
475,821
78,674
12,126
1,311
(2,967)
6,671

3,387,726 $
2,646,374
709
309,264
14,965
321,192
—
159,779
255,001
86,429
23,509
6,431
12,545
7,562

3,662,251 $
2,875,680
(237)
343,502
—
302,100
—
28,239
169,445
88,926
—
6,898
885
8,801

3,391,928 $
2,635,333
—
311,552
—
289,908
401
69,912
224,646
94,187
—
1,854
—
6,533

3,391,255
2,654,025
—
316,383
—
269,904
8,299
71,895
214,539
105,530
—
4,911
—
6,839

(428)

550

(265)

(467)

(1,521)

380,434
59,467
320,967 $
(8,367)
312,600 $
1.90 $
1.86 $

164,633
168,378

436,879 $
251,880
73,630
359,498

117,975
12,031
105,944 $
(4,448)
101,496 $
0.62 $
0.60 $

164,789
167,910

431,379 $
246,002
75,190
321,896

64,200
(69,154)
133,354 $
(4,886)
128,468 $
0.78 $
0.77 $

164,752
166,730

443,306 $
224,125
77,975
274,168

122,539
15,315
107,224 $
(4,911)
102,313 $
0.62 $
0.62 $

164,600
165,212

444,642 $
212,217
77,691
243,523

$

228,949 $

357,444 $

396,962 $

441,451 $

5,345,258
90,996
1,558,429
2,565,819

4,889,354
7,492
1,666,940
2,273,048

4,958,225
16,143
1,698,050
2,244,933

4,698,017
23,247
1,727,696
1,972,994

98,780
13,501
85,279
(6,748)
78,531
0.48
0.48
165,031
165,119

412,548
186,595
83,309
229,848

490,120
4,760,619
45,166
1,885,851
1,870,709

(a)  Included in interest expense for fiscal 2015 is the write-off of deferred loan costs of approximately $10.6 million. 

(b)  Included in selling, general and administrative expense for fiscal 2019 is a gain of approximately $4.4 million and for fiscal 2016 there 

is a gain of approximately $3.1 million from business interruption insurance proceeds. 

Page 45

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(c)  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”).  Adjusted EBITDA 
is calculated below and represents, for any relevant period, net income/(loss) plus depreciation and amortization, goodwill and long-
lived asset impairment and restructuring charges, interest expense,  (income)/loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, income 
tax provision, other income/(expense) and equity in net loss (gain) of unconsolidated subsidiaries.  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 the food ingredients and agriculture industries 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 that were outstanding at December 
28, 2019.  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)

December 28,
2019

December 29,
2018

December 30,
2017

December 31,
2016

January 2,
2016

Net income attributable to Darling

$

Depreciation and amortization
Interest expense
Income tax (benefit)/expense
Restructuring and impairment charges
Other, net
Debt extinguishment costs
Loss (gain) on disposal of subsidiaries
Equity in net income of unconsolidated

subsidiaries

Net income attributable to
noncontrolling interests

Adjusted EBITDA

312,600 $
325,510
78,674
59,467
—
7,982
12,126
(2,967)

101,496 $
321,192
86,429
12,031
14,965
13,993
23,509
12,545

128,468 $
302,100
88,926
(69,154)
—
15,699
—
885

102,313 $
289,908
94,187
15,315
—
8,387
—
—

78,531
269,904
105,530
13,501
—
11,750
—
—

(364,880)

(159,229)

(28,504)

(70,379)

(73,416)

8,367
436,879 $

4,448
431,379 $

4,886
443,306 $

4,911
444,642 $

6,748
412,548

$

(d)  Fiscal 2018 excludes the capital assets acquired in the Kruger Commodities, Inc., Triple - T Foods - Arkansas, Inc., and Sonac Lubien, 
Poland acquisitions of approximately $31.6 million.  Fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015 excludes the capital assets acquired in 
immaterial acquisitions. 

(e)  Subsequent to the date of acquisition, fiscal 2018 includes 32 weeks of contribution from the acquisition of Kruger Commodities, Inc., 

12 weeks from the acquisition of Triple-T Foods - Arkansas, Inc. and 8 weeks from the acquisition of Sonac Lubien. 

(f) 

In fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016, includes certain reclassifications from cost of sales of approximately $0.4 million and $0.2 million, 
respectively and from selling general and administrative costs of approximately $4.0 million and $2.5 million, respectively to other 
income/(expense), net to conform to current presentation for pension expense.

(g)  Fiscal 2015 includes certain reclassifications for deferred loan costs from long-term assets of approximately $29.0 million to current 
and non-current liabilities as reduction of outstanding debt to conform with fiscal 2016 presentation of debt.  The presentation impact 
was to reduce total assets by approximately $29.0 million, increase working capital by approximately $2.1 million, reduce current 
portion of long-term debt by approximately $2.1 million and reduce long-term debt less current portion by approximately $26.9 million. 

(h)  In 2019, the Company continued to evaluate operational developments and the impact of anticipated significant expansion of the DGD 
Joint Venture.  This evaluation was impactful to the consideration of how the Company most appropriately reflects its share of equity 
income from the DGD Joint Venture.  Based on the Company's analysis, it was determined that the DGD Joint Venture has evolved 
into an integral and integrated part of the Company's ongoing operations.  The Company determined this justifies a more meaningful 
and transparent presentation of equity in net income of the DGD Joint Venture as a component of the Company's operating income.  
As a result, the Company has reclassified its equity in net income of the DGD Joint Venture to operating income for fiscal 2018, fiscal  
2017, fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015 to conform with current presentation.

Page 46

 
 
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 in Item 1A of this report under the heading “Risk Factors.”

Fiscal Year 2019 Overview

The Company is a global developer and producer of sustainable natural ingredients from edible and inedible bio-nutrients, 
creating a wide range of ingredients and customized specialty solutions for customers in the pharmaceutical, food, pet food, feed, 
industrial, fuel, bioenergy and fertilizer industries.  With operations on five continents, the Company collects and transforms all 
aspects of animal by-product streams into useable and specialty ingredients, such as collagen, edible fats, feed-grade fats, animal 
proteins and meals, plasma, pet food ingredients, organic fertilizers, yellow grease, fuel feedstocks, green energy, natural casings 
and hides. The Company also recovers and converts recycled oils (used cooking oil and animal fats) into valuable feed and fuel 
ingredients,  and  collects  and  processes  residual  bakery  products  into  feed  ingredients.   In  addition,  the  Company  provides 
environmental services, such as grease trap collection and disposal services to food service establishments. The Company sells 
its products domestically and internationally and operates within three industry segments: Feed Ingredients, Food Ingredients and 
Fuel Ingredients.

The Feed Ingredients operating segment includes the Company's global activities related to (i) the collection and processing 
of beef, poultry and pork animal by-products in North America and Europe into non-food grade oils and protein meals, (ii) the 
collection and processing of bakery residuals in North America into Cookie Meal®, which is predominantly used in poultry and 
swine rations, (iii) the collection and processing of used cooking oil in North America into non-food grade fats, (iv) the collection 
and  processing  of  porcine  and  bovine  blood  in  China,  Europe,  North America  and Australia  into  blood  plasma  powder  and 
hemoglobin, (v) the processing of selected portions of slaughtered animals into a variety of meat products for use in pet food in 
Europe and North America, (vi) the processing of cattle hides and hog skins in North America, (vii) the production of organic 
fertilizers using protein produced from the Company’s animal by-products processing activities in North America and Europe, 
and (viii) the rearing and processing of black soldier fly larvae into specialty proteins for use in animal feed and pet food in North 
America; and (ix) the provision of grease trap services to food service establishments in North America.  Non-food grade oils and 
fats produced and marketed by the Company are principally sold to third parties to be used as ingredients in animal feed and pet 
food, as an ingredient for the production of biodiesel and renewable diesel, or to the oleo-chemical industry to be used as an 
ingredient in a wide variety of industrial applications.  Protein meals, blood plasma powder and hemoglobin produced and marketed 
by the Company are sold to third parties to be used as ingredients in animal feed, pet food and aquaculture.    

The Food Ingredients operating segment includes the Company's global activities related to (i) the purchase and processing 
of beef and pork bone chips, beef hides, pig skins, and fish skins into collagen in Europe, China, South America and North America, 
(ii) the collection and processing of porcine and bovine intestines into natural casings in Europe, China and North America, (iii) 
the extraction and processing of porcine mucosa into crude heparin in Europe, (iv) the collection and refining of animal fat into 
food grade fat in Europe, and (v) the processing of bones to bone chips for the collagen industry and bone ash in Europe.  Collagens 
produced and marketed by the Company are sold to third parties to be used as ingredients in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, 
food, pet food and technical (e.g., photographic) industries.  Natural casings produced and marketed by the Company are sold to 
third parties to be used as an ingredient in the production of sausages and other similar food products.

The Fuel Ingredients operating segment includes the Company's global activities related to (i) the Company’s share of 
the results of its equity investment in Diamond Green Diesel Holdings LLC, a joint venture with Valero Energy Corporation 
(“Valero”)  to convert animal fats, recycled greases, used cooking oil, inedible corn oil, soybean oil, or other feedstocks that become 
economically and commercially viable into renewable diesel (the “DGD Joint Venture”) as described in Note 2 to the Company's 
Consolidated Financial Statements for the period ended December 28, 2019 included herein, (ii) the conversion of animal fats and 
recycled greases into biodiesel in North America, (iii) the conversion of organic sludge and food waste into biogas in Europe, (iv) 
the collection and conversion of fallen stock and certain animal by-products pursuant to applicable E.U. regulations into low-
grade energy sources to be used in industrial applications, and (v) the processing of manure into natural bio-phosphate in Europe.

Corporate Activities principally includes unallocated corporate overhead expenses, acquisition-related expenses, interest 

expense net of interest income, and other non-operating income and expenses.

Page 47

 
Operating Performance Indicators

The Company monitors the performance of its business segments using key financial metrics such as results of operations, 
non-GAAP measurements (Adjusted EBITDA), segment operating income, raw material processed, gross margin percentage, 
foreign currency translation, and corporate activities.  The Company’s operating results can vary significantly due to changes in 
factors such as the fluctuation in energy prices, weather conditions, crop harvests, government policies and programs, changes in 
global demand, changes in standards of living, protein consumption, and global production of competing ingredients.   Due to 
these unpredictable factors that are beyond the control of the Company, forward-looking financial or operational estimates are not 
provided.  The Company is exposed to certain risks associated with a business that is influenced by agricultural-based commodities.  
These risks are further described in Item 1A of this report under the heading “Risk Factors.”

The Company’s Feed Ingredients segment animal by-products, bakery residuals, used cooking oil recovery, and blood 
operations are each influenced by prices for agricultural-based alternative ingredients such as corn oil, soybean oil, soybean meal, 
and palm oil.  In these operations, the costs of the Company's raw materials change with, or in certain cases are indexed to, the 
selling price or the anticipated selling price of the finished goods produced from the acquired raw materials and/or in some cases, 
the price spread between various types of finished products.  The Company believes that this methodology of procuring raw 
materials generally establishes a relatively stable gross margin upon the acquisition of the raw material. Although the costs of raw 
materials for the Feed Ingredients segment are generally based upon actual or anticipated finished goods selling prices, rapid and 
material  changes  in  finished  goods  prices,  including  competing  agricultural-based  alternative  ingredients,  generally  have  an 
immediate and often times, material impact on the Company’s gross margin and profitability resulting from the brief lapse of time 
between the procurement of the raw materials and the sale of the finished goods.  In addition, the volume of raw material volume 
acquired, which has a direct impact on the amount of finished goods produced, can also have a material effect on the gross margin 
reported, as the Company has a substantial amount of fixed operating costs.  

The Company’s Food Ingredients segment collagen and natural casings products are influenced by other competing 
ingredients including plant-based and synthetic hydrocolloids and artificial casings.  In the collagen operation, the cost of the 
Company's animal-based raw material moves in relationship to the selling price of the finished goods.  The processing time for 
the Food Ingredients segment collagen and casings is generally 30 to 60 days, which is substantially longer than the Company's 
Feed Ingredients segment animal by-products operations.  Consequently, the Company’s gross margin and profitability in this 
segment can be influenced by the movement of finished goods prices from the time the raw materials were procured until the 
finished goods are sold.

The Company's Fuel Ingredients segment converts fats into renewable diesel, organic sludge and food waste into biogas, 
and fallen stock into low-grade energy sources.  The Company's gross margin and profitability in this segment are impacted by 
world energy prices for oil, electricity, natural gas and governmental subsidies.      

The reporting currency for the Company's financial statements is the U.S. dollar.  The Company operates in over 15 
countries and therefore, certain of the Company's assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses are denominated in functional currencies 
other than the U.S. dollar, primarily in the Euro, Brazilian real, Chinese renminbi, Canadian dollar, Japanese yen and Polish zloty.  
To prepare the Company's consolidated financial statements, assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses must be translated into 
U.S. dollars at the applicable exchange rate.  As a result, increases or decreases in the value of the U.S. dollar against these other 
currencies will affect the amount of these items recorded in the Company's consolidated financial statements, even if their value 
has not changed in the functional currency.  This could have a significant impact on the Company's results, if such increase or 
decrease in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to these other currencies is substantial.

In 2019, the Company continued to evaluate operational developments and the impact of anticipated significant expansion 
of the DGD Joint Venture.  This evaluation was impactful to the consideration of how the Company most appropriately reflects 
its share of equity income from the DGD Joint Venture.  Based on the Company's analysis, it was determined that the DGD Joint 
Venture has evolved into an integral and integrated part of the Company's ongoing operations.  The Company determined this 
justifies a more meaningful and transparent presentation of equity in net income of the DGD Joint Venture as a component of the 
Company's operating income.  As a result, the Company has reclassified its equity in net income of the DGD Joint Venture to 
operating income for all periods presented. Prior to the third quarter ended September 28, 2019, the equity in Diamond Green 
Diesel was presented below the operating income line in the Company’s published results.  Commencing with the third quarter 
of 2019, the Company is including its equity in earnings of Diamond Green Diesel in operating income for all periods presented.

Results of Operations

Fiscal Year Ended December 28, 2019 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended December 29, 2018 

Page 48

 
 
 
Operating Performance Metrics

Other operating performance metrics indicators which management routinely monitors as an indicator of operating 

performance include:

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Finished product commodity prices
Segment results
Foreign currency exchange
Corporate activities
Non-U.S. GAAP measures

These indicators and their importance are discussed below.

Finished Product Commodity Prices

Prices for finished product commodities that the Company produces in the Feed Ingredients segment are reported each 
business  day  on  the  Jacobsen  Index  (the  “Jacobsen”),  an  established  North American  trading  exchange  price  publisher.   The 
Jacobsen reports industry sales from the prior day's activity by product.  Included on the Jacobsen are reported prices for finished 
products such as MBM, PM and feather meal (“FM”), hides, BFT and YG and corn, which is a substitute commodity for the 
Company's BBP as well as a range of other branded and value-added products, which are products of the Company's Feed Ingredients 
segment.  In the U.S. the Company regularly monitors the Jacobsen for MBM, PM, FM, BFT, YG and corn because it provides a 
daily indication of the Company's U.S. revenue performance against business plan benchmarks.  In Europe, the Company regularly 
monitors Thomson Reuters (“Reuters”) to track the competing commodities palm oil and soy meal. 

Although  the  Jacobsen  and  Reuters  provide  useful  metrics  of  performance,  the  Company's  finished  products  are 
commodities that compete with other commodities such as corn, soybean oil, palm oil complex, soybean meal and heating oil on 
nutritional and functional values.  Therefore, actual pricing for the Company's finished products, as well as competing products, 
can be quite volatile.  In addition, neither the Jacobsen nor Reuters provides forward or future period pricing for the Company's 
commodities.  The Jacobsen and Reuters 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 and Reuters prices, the Company's actual sales 
prices for its finished products may vary significantly from the Jacobsen and Reuters because of production and delivery timing 
differences and because the Company's finished products are delivered to multiple locations in different geographic regions which 
utilize alternative price indexes.  In addition, certain of the Company's premium branded finished products may sell at prices that 
may be higher than the closest product on the related Jacobsen or Reuters index.  During fiscal year 2019, the Company's actual 
sales prices by product trended with the disclosed Jacobsen and Reuters prices.  

Average Jacobsen and Reuters prices (at the specified delivery point) for fiscal year 2019, compared to average Jacobsen 

and Reuters prices for fiscal year 2018 are:

Avg. Price
Fiscal Year 2019

Avg. Price
Fiscal Year 2018

Increase/
(Decrease)

%
Increase/
(Decrease)

Jacobsen:

MBM (Illinois)
Feed Grade PM (Mid-South)
Pet Food PM (Mid-South)
FM (Mid-South)
BFT (Chicago)
YG (Illinois)
Corn (Illinois)

$   230.85/ton
$   241.37/ton
$   522.39/ton
$   352.87/ton
$    28.08/cwt
$    22.01/cwt
$ 3.95/bushel

$   266.75/ton
$   267.76/ton
$   653.24/ton
$   452.31/ton
$    26.34/cwt
$    20.60/cwt
$ 3.66/bushel

$    (35.90)/ton
$    (26.39)/ton
$  (130.85)/ton
$    (99.44)/ton
$        1.74/cwt
$        1.41/cwt
$    0.29/bushel

Palm Oil (CIF Rotterdam)
Soy meal (CIF Rotterdam)

$  568.00/ton
$  347.00/ton

$  597.00/ton
$  405.00/ton

$     (29.00)/ton
$     (58.00)/ton

Reuters:

(13.5)%
(9.9)%
(20.0)%
(22.0)%
6.6 %
6.8 %
7.9 %

(4.9)%
(14.3)%

The following table shows the average Jacobsen and Reuters prices for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2019, compared 

to the average Jacobsen and Reuters prices for the third quarter of fiscal year 2019.

Page 49

 
 
Jacobsen:

MBM (Illinois)
Feed Grade PM (Mid-South)
Pet Food PM (Mid-South)
FM (Mid-South)
BFT (Chicago)
YG (Illinois)
Corn (Illinois)

Reuters:

Avg. Price
4th Quarter
2019

$  230.01/ton
$  223.46/ton
$  408.75/ton
$  283.81/ton
$   25.62/cwt
$   20.39/cwt
$ 3.98/bushel

Avg. Price
3rd Quarter
2019

$  216.29/ton
$  234.60/ton
$  411.77/ton
$  333.43/ton
$    30.50/cwt
$    24.53/cwt
$ 4.16/bushel

Increase/
(Decrease)

$       13.72/ton
$    (11.14)/ton
$      (3.02)/ton
$    (49.62)/ton
$     (4.88)/cwt
$     (4.14)/cwt
$ (0.18)/bushel

Palm Oil (CIF Rotterdam)
Soy meal (CIF Rotterdam)

$  675.00/ton
$  347.00/ton

$  533.00/ton
$  339.00/ton

$     142.00/ton
$         8.00/ton

%
Increase/
(Decrease)

6.3 %
(4.7)%
(0.7)%
(14.9)%
(16.0)%
(16.9)%
(4.3)%

26.6 %
2.4 %

Segment Results

Segment operating income for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2019 was $475.8 million, which reflects an increase 

of $220.8 million or 86.6% as compared to the fiscal year ended December 29, 2018. 

Fiscal Year Ended December 28, 2019
Net Sales
Cost of sales and operating expenses

Gross Margin

Gross Margin %

Feed
Ingredients

Food
Ingredients

Fuel

Ingredients Corporate

Total

$1,970,561
1,519,596
450,965

$ 1,119,085
864,618
254,467

$

274,259
204,871
69,388

$

— $3,363,905
— 2,589,085
774,820
—

22.9%

22.7%

25.3%

—%

23.0%

Loss/ (gain) on sale of assets
Selling, general and administrative expense
Depreciation and amortization
Equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel

Segment operating income/ (loss)

(7,720)
200,487
203,456
—
54,742

(13,175)
97,363
79,671
—
90,608

313
2,762
31,946
364,452
398,819

—
57,911
10,437
—
(68,348)

(20,582)
358,523
325,510
364,452
475,821

Equity in net income of unconsolidated

subsidiaries
Segment income/(loss)

428
55,170

—
90,608

—
398,819

—
(68,348)

428
476,249

Fiscal Year Ended December 29, 2018
Net Sales
Cost of sales and operating expenses

Gross Margin

Gross Margin %

Feed
Ingredients

Food
Ingredients

Fuel

Ingredients Corporate

Total

$1,952,555
1,497,973
454,582

$ 1,139,126
918,141
220,985

$

296,045
230,260
65,785

$

— $3,387,726
— 2,646,374
741,352
—

23.3%

19.4%

22.2%

—%

21.9%

Loss/ (gain) on sale of assets
Selling, general and administrative expense
Restructuring and impairment charges
Depreciation and amortization
Equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel

Segment operating income/(loss)

725
176,722
—
194,292
—
82,843

(282)
91,546
14,965
80,988
—
33,768

266
(4,770)
—
34,981
159,779
195,087

—
45,766
—
10,931
—
(56,697)

709
309,264
14,965
321,192
159,779
255,001

Equity in net loss of unconsolidated

subsidiaries
Segment income/(loss)

(550)
82,293

—
33,768

—
195,087

—
(56,697)

(550)
254,451

Page 50

 
 
Feed Ingredients Segment

Raw material volume. In fiscal year 2019, the raw material processed by the Company's Feed Ingredients segment totaled 
8.74 million metric tons.  Compared to fiscal year 2018, overall raw material volume processed in the Feed Ingredients segment 
increased approximately 1.7%. 

Sales. During the year ended December 28, 2019, net sales for the Feed Ingredients segment were $1,970.6 million as 
compared to $1,952.6 million for the year ended December 29, 2018, an increase of approximately $18.0 million.  Net sales for 
fats were approximately $584.3 million and $564.7 million for the years ended December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, 
respectively. Protein net sales were approximately $791.3 million and $842.9 million for the years ended December 28, 2019 and 
December 29, 2018, respectively.  Other rendering net sales, which include hides, pet food, and service charges, were approximately 
$167.9 million and $129.3 million for the years ended December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, respectively.  Total rendering 
net sales were approximately $1,543.5 million and $1,536.9 million for the years ended December 28, 2019 and December 29, 
2018,  respectively.    Used  cooking  oil  net  sales  were  approximately  $185.7  million  and  $166.7  million  for  the  years  ended 
December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, respectively.  Bakery net sales were approximately $191.6 million and $180.2 million
for the years ended December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, respectively, and other net sales, which includes trap services, 
were approximately $49.8 million and $68.8 million for the years ended December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, respectively.  

The increase in net sales for the Feed Ingredients segment was primarily due to the following (in millions of dollars):

Fats

Proteins

Other
Rendering

Total
Rendering

Net sales year ended December 29, 2018 $ 564.7 $ 842.9 $

129.3 $ 1,536.9 $

Increase/(decrease) in sales volumes
Increase/(decrease) in finished

product prices

Increase/(decrease) due to currency

exchange rates
Other change (1)
Total change

(10.0)

23.3

35.9

(57.4)

(6.3)
—
19.6

(17.5)
—
(51.6)

—

—

(0.6)
39.2
38.6

13.3

(24.4)
39.2
6.6

Net sales year ended December 28, 2019 $ 584.3 $ 791.3 $

167.9 $ 1,543.5 $

Used
Cooking
Oil
166.7 $ 180.2 $ 68.8 $ 1,952.6
30.6

Bakery Other

Total

(1.0)

18.3

—

(21.5)

1.0

12.4

—

(8.1)

(0.3)
—
19.0

(24.8)
20.3
18.0
185.7 $ 191.6 $ 49.8 $ 1,970.6

(0.1)
—
— (18.9)
(19.0)

11.4

(1)  The decrease in other net sales is primarily a result of the sale of the Company's industrial residuals business in May 

2018.

Margins. In the Feed Ingredients segment for fiscal year 2019, the gross margin percentage was 22.9% as compared to 

23.3% for fiscal year 2018. The decrease in fiscal year 2019 was primarily due to lower protein finished product prices.

Segment operating income. Feed Ingredients' operating income for fiscal year 2019 was $54.7 million, a decrease of 
$28.1 million as compared to fiscal year 2018.   This decrease was primarily due to a decrease in protein finished product sales 
prices, lower spreads in poultry pet grade products, higher compensation and depreciation and amortization costs from the addition 
of several new facilities in the U.S.

Food Ingredients Segment

Raw material volume. In fiscal year 2019, the raw material processed by the Company's Food Ingredients segment totaled 
1.08 million metric tons.  Compared to fiscal year 2018, overall raw material volume processed in the Food Ingredients segment 
decreased approximately (3.4)%. The decline was primarily due to certain food grade raw materials being diverted directly to the 
Chinese food markets as a result of ASF.

Sales. Overall sales decreased in the Food Ingredients segment primarily due to lower food grade bone and fat raw material 
volumes and therefore lower sales volumes, lower casings sales prices and strengthening of the U.S. dollar in fiscal year 2019 as 
compared to fiscal year 2018.  These factors were somewhat offset by higher hydrolyzed collagen sales volumes and values.

Page 51

Margins. In the Food Ingredients segment for fiscal year 2019, the gross margin percentage was 22.7% as compared to 
19.4% for fiscal year 2018. The increase is primarily due to improved margins from the growth of the collagen business and the 
closure of the Argentina collagen plant which more than offset lower casing and edible fat margins.

Segment operating income. Food Ingredients' operating income was $90.6 million for fiscal year 2019, an increase of 
$56.8 million or 168.0% as compared to fiscal year 2018.  The increase is primarily due to improved results in the collagen markets, 
a gain on sale of assets in China and no restructuring and impairment charges in the current year as compared to fiscal year 2018 
when the Company closed its Argentina collagen plant.

Fuel Ingredients Segment

Raw material volume. In fiscal year 2019, the raw material processed by the Company's Fuel Ingredients segment totaled 
1.26 million metric tons.  Compared to fiscal year 2018, overall raw material volume processed in the Fuel Ingredients segment 
increased approximately 7.2%.

Sales. Overall sales decreased in the Fuel Ingredients segment primarily due the European business sales that translated 

to less U.S. dollar sales as a result of the strengthening U.S. dollar as well as lower diesel and RIN values in North America.

Margins. In the Fuel Ingredients segment (exclusive of the equity contribution from the DGD Joint Venture) for fiscal 
year 2019, the gross margin percentage was 25.3% as compared to 22.2% for fiscal year 2018.  The increase is primarily related 
to the fiscal year 2018 and fiscal year 2019 blenders tax credits recorded in the fourth quarter of 2019, as compared to 2017 blenders 
tax credits recorded in the first quarter of fiscal year 2018.

Segment  operating  income.The  Company's  Fuel  Ingredients  segment  operating  income  (inclusive  of  the  equity 
contribution from DGD Joint Venture) for fiscal year 2019 was $398.8 million, an increase of $203.7 million or 104.4% as compared 
to fiscal year 2018.  The increase in earnings was primarily due to the reinstated fiscal year 2018 and fiscal year 2019 blenders 
tax credits recorded in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019, as compared to 2017 reinstated blenders tax credits booked in the first 
quarter of fiscal year 2018.

Foreign Currency

During fiscal year 2019, the Euro and Canadian dollar weakened against the U.S. dollar as compared to fiscal year 2018.  
Using actual results for fiscal year 2019 and the prior year's average foreign currency rates for fiscal year 2018 would result in an 
increase in operating income of approximately $16.9 million.  The average rates assumption used in this calculation was the actual 
fiscal average rate for fiscal year 2019 of €1.00:USD$1.12 and CAD$1.00:USD$0.75 as compared to the average rate for fiscal 
year 2018 of €1.00:USD$1.18 and CAD$1.00:USD$0.77, respectively.

Corporate Activities

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.  Selling, general and administrative expenses were $57.9 million during 
fiscal year 2019, a $12.1 million increase from $45.8 million during fiscal year 2018.  The increase was primarily due to an increase 
in corporate related compensation benefits and other corporate expenses. 

Depreciation and Amortization.  Depreciation and amortization charges decreased $0.5 million to $10.4 million during 
fiscal year 2019 as compared to $10.9 million during fiscal year 2018.  The decrease was due to certain of the Company's corporate 
assets becoming fully depreciated as compared to fiscal year 2018.

Interest Expense. Interest expense was $78.7 million for fiscal year 2019, compared to $86.4 million for fiscal year 2018, 
a decrease of $7.7 million. The decrease was primarily due to an interest rate decrease on the Company's euro and U.S. based 
senior notes, a reduction in deferred loan cost amortization and a reduction in term loan A and term loan B interest due to lower 
interest rates and lower debt outstanding as compared to fiscal year 2018.

Debt Extinguishment costs. Debt extinguishment costs were $12.1 million for fiscal year 2019, compared to $23.5 million 
for fiscal year 2018.  The decrease was due to lower tender and redemption premiums and write-off of deferred loan costs on the 
5.375% Senior Notes as compared to the 4.75% Senior Notes extinguished in fiscal year 2018.

Foreign Currency Losses.  Foreign currency losses were $1.3 million during fiscal year 2019, as compared to a loss of 
approximately $6.4 million for fiscal year 2018.  The decrease is due primarily to lower losses on the revaluation of non-functional 
currency liabilities as compared to the same period in fiscal 2018.

Page 52

 
Gain (loss) on Disposal of Subsidiaries.  Gain (loss) on disposal of subsidiaries represents a gain incurred in fiscal year 
2019 on the sale of the Company's trap business in Canada and a gain on the sale of a foreign consolidated joint venture in Europe.  
The loss on sale of subsidiaries in fiscal year 2018 represents the loss recorded on the sale of a domestic subsidiary that more than 
offset a gain recorded on the liquidation of a majority owned foreign joint venture.

Other Income/Expense. Other expense was $6.7 million for fiscal year 2019, compared to $7.6 million in fiscal year 
2018.  The decrease in other expense was primarily due to an increase in insurance proceeds on fire and casualty losses that more 
than offset an increase in the non-service cost component of pension expense and a reduction of interest income.

Equity in Net Income in Investment of Other Unconsolidated Subsidiaries. This primarily represents the Company's pro 
rata share of the net income from its foreign unconsolidated subsidiaries other than the DGD Joint Venture that more than offset 
net losses from a domestic unconsolidated subsidiary.

Income Taxes. The Company recorded income tax expense of $59.5 million for fiscal year 2019, compared to $12.0 
million of income tax expense recorded in fiscal year 2018, an increase of $47.5 million, which was primarily due to an increase 
in income from operations before income taxes. The effective tax rate for fiscal year 2019 and fiscal year 2018 was 15.6% and 
10.2%, respectively.  The effective tax rate for fiscal year 2019 differs from the statutory rate of 21% due primarily to the retroactive 
reinstatement of the biofuel tax incentive for 2018 and 2019 during 2019 and the relative mix of earnings among jurisdictions 
with different tax rates. Excluding the impact of the 2018 and 2019 biofuel tax incentive and tax law changes, the effective tax 
rate for fiscal year 2019 is 27.4%.  The effective tax rate for fiscal year 2018 differs from the statutory rate of 21% due primarily 
to the retroactive reinstatement of the biofuel tax incentive for 2017 during 2018, tax law changes in the Netherlands, and changes 
in valuation allowances primarily related to deferred tax assets for tax losses that are not expected to be utilized in future years. 
Excluding the impact of the 2017 biofuel tax incentive and tax law changes, the effective tax rate for fiscal year 2018 is 34.4%.

Non-U.S. GAAP Measures

Adjusted EBITDA is not a recognized accounting measurement under GAAP; it should not be considered as an alternative 
to net income, as a measure of operating results, or as an alternative to cash flow as a measure of liquidity.  It is presented here 
not as an alternative to net income, but rather as a measure of the Company's operating performance. Since EBITDA (generally, 
net  income  plus  interest  expenses,  taxes,  depreciation  and  amortization)  is  not  calculated  identically  by  all  companies,  the 
presentation  in  this  report  may  not  be  comparable  to  EBITDA  or  adjusted  EBITDA  presentations  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  (income)/loss  of  unconsolidated  subsidiaries.  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.  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, 5.25% Notes and 3.625% Notes that were 
outstanding at December 28, 2019.  However, the amounts shown below for Adjusted EBITDA differ from the amounts calculated 
under similarly titled definitions in the Company’s Senior Secured Credit Facilities, 5.25% Notes and 3.625% Notes, as those 
definitions permit further adjustments to reflect certain other non-recurring costs, non-cash charges and cash dividends from the 
DGD Joint Venture.  Additionally, the Company evaluates the impact of foreign currency exchange on operating cash flow, which 
is defined as segment operating income (loss) plus depreciation and amortization.

Reconciliation of Net Income to (Non-GAAP) Adjusted EBITDA and (Non-GAAP) Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA
Fiscal Year 2019 As Compared to Fiscal Year 2018

Page 53

(dollars in thousands)
Net income attributable to Darling
Depreciation and amortization
Interest expense
Income tax expense
Restructuring and impairment charges
Foreign currency loss
Other expense, net
Debt extinguishment costs
Loss/(gain) on disposal of subsidiaries
Equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel
Equity in net loss/(income) of other unconsolidated subsidiaries
Net (loss)/income attributable to noncontrolling interests
Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP)

Foreign currency exchange impact (1)
Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA to Foreign Currency (Non-GAAP)

DGD Joint Venture Adjusted EBITDA (Darling's Share)

Fiscal Year Ended

December 28,
2019

December 29,
2018

$

$

$

$

312,600 $
325,510
78,674
59,467
—
1,311
6,671
12,126
(2,967)
(364,452)
(428)
8,367
436,879 $

16,898
453,777 $

101,496
321,192
86,429
12,031
14,965
6,431
7,562
23,509
12,545
(159,779)
550
4,448
431,379

—
431,379

389,416 $

174,013

Darling plus Darling's share of DGD Joint Venture Adjusted EBITDA $

826,295 $

605,392

(1) The average rate assumption used in this calculation was the actual fiscal average rate for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2019 
of €1.00:USD$1.12 and CAD$1.00:USD$0.75 as compared to the average rate for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2018 of  
€1.00:USD$1.18 and CAD$1.00:USD$0.77, respectively.

For the fiscal year ended December 28, 2019, the Company generated Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP) of $436.9 million, 
as compared to $431.4 million for the year ended December 29, 2018.  The increase is attributable to higher margin collagen in 
the Feed Ingredients segment. 

On a Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA to Foreign Currency (Non-GAAP) basis, the Company would have generated $453.8 

million for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2019, as compared to $431.4 million for the year ended December 29, 2018. 

DGD Joint Venture Adjusted EBITDA (Darling's Share) is not reflected in the Adjusted EBITDA, the Pro forma Adjusted 
EBITDA, or the Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA to Foreign Currency (Non-GAAP).  See Note 2 to Notes to Consolidated Financial 
Statements included herein for financial information regarding the DGD Joint Venture.

Results of Operations

Fiscal Year Ended December 29, 2018 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended December 30, 2017 

Operating Performance Metrics

Operating performance metrics indicators which management routinely monitors as an indicator of operating 

performance include:

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Finished product commodity prices
Segment results
Foreign currency exchange
Corporate activities
Non-U.S. GAAP measures

These indicators and their importance are discussed below.

Finished Product Commodity Prices

Average Jacobsen and Reuters prices (at the specified delivery point) for fiscal year 2018, compared to average Jacobsen 

and Reuters prices for fiscal year 2017 are:

Page 54

Avg. Price
Fiscal Year 2018

Avg. Price
Fiscal Year 2017

Increase/
(Decrease)

%
Increase/
(Decrease)

Jacobsen:

MBM (Illinois)
Feed Grade PM (Mid-South)
Pet Food PM (Mid-South)
FM (Mid-South)
BFT (Chicago)
YG (Illinois)
Corn (Illinois)

$   266.75/ton
$   267.76/ton
$   653.24/ton
$   452.31/ton
$    26.34/cwt
$    20.60/cwt
$ 3.66/bushel

$   259.54/ton
$   277.42/ton
$   623.89/ton
$   395.84/ton
$    31.93/cwt
$    24.95/cwt
$ 3.59/bushel

$         7.21/ton
$      (9.66)/ton
$       29.35/ton
$       56.47/ton
$      (5.59)/cwt
$      (4.35)/cwt
$    0.07/bushel

Palm Oil (CIF Rotterdam)
Soy meal (CIF Rotterdam)

$  597.00/ton
$  405.00/ton

$  711.00/ton
$  351.00/ton

$   (114.00)/ton
$        54.00/ton

Reuters:

2.8 %
(3.5)%
4.7 %
14.3 %
(17.5)%
(17.4)%
1.9 %

(16.0)%
15.4 %

The following table shows the average Jacobsen and Reuters prices for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2018, compared 

to the average Jacobsen and Reuters prices for the third quarter of fiscal year 2018.

Jacobsen:

MBM (Illinois)
Feed Grade PM (Mid-South)
Pet Food PM (Mid-South)
FM (Mid-South)
BFT (Chicago)
YG (Illinois)
Corn (Illinois)

Reuters:

Avg. Price
4th Quarter
2018

$  250.18/ton
$  267.19/ton
$  540.68/ton
$  405.90/ton
$   25.80/cwt
$   19.91/cwt
$ 3.69/bushel

Avg. Price
3rd Quarter
2018

$  264.78/ton
$  268.13/ton
$  556.48/ton
$  453.58/ton
$    27.70/cwt
$    22.19/cwt
$ 3.53/bushel

Increase/
(Decrease)

$    (14.60)/ton
$      (0.94)/ton
$       15.80/ton
$    (47.68)/ton
$     (1.90)/cwt
$     (2.28)/cwt
$ (0.16)/bushel

Palm Oil (CIF Rotterdam)
Soy meal (CIF Rotterdam)

$  497.00/ton
$  368.00/ton

$  566.00/ton
$  391.00/ton

$    (69.00)/ton
$    (23.00)/ton

%
Increase/
(Decrease)

(5.5)%
(0.4)%
(2.8)%
(10.5)%
(6.9)%
(10.3)%
4.5 %

(12.2)%
(5.9)%

Segment Results

Segment operating income for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2018 was $255.0 million, which reflects an increase 

of $85.6 million or 50.5% as compared to the fiscal year ended December 30, 2017. 

(in thousands, except percentages)
Fiscal Year Ended December 29, 2018
Net Sales
Cost of sales and operating expenses

Gross Margin

Gross Margin %

Feed
Ingredients

Food
Ingredients

Fuel

Ingredients Corporate

Total

$1,952,555
1,497,973
454,582

$ 1,139,126
918,141
220,985

$

296,045
230,260
65,785

$

— $3,387,726
— 2,646,374
741,352
—

23.3%

19.4%

22.2%

—%

21.9%

Loss/ (gain) on sale of assets
Selling, general and administrative expense
Restructuring and impairment charges
Depreciation and amortization
Equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel

Segment operating income/ (loss)

725
176,722
—
194,292
—
82,843

(282)
91,546
14,965
80,988
—
33,768

266
(4,770)
—
34,981
159,779
195,087

—
45,766
—
10,931
—
(56,697)

709
309,264
14,965
321,192
159,779
255,001

Equity in net loss of other unconsolidated

subsidiaries
Segment income/(loss)

(550)
82,293

—
33,768

—
195,087

—
(56,697)

(550)
254,451

Page 55

 
 
 
 
(in thousands, except percentages)
Fiscal Year Ended December 30, 2017
Net Sales
Cost of sales and operating expenses

Gross Margin

Gross Margin %

Feed
Ingredients

Food
Ingredients

Fuel

Ingredients Corporate

Total

$2,239,492
1,744,990
494,502

$ 1,156,976
920,165
236,811

$

265,783
210,525
55,258

$

— $3,662,251
— 2,875,680
786,571
—

22.1%

20.5%

20.8%

—%

21.5%

Loss/ (gain) on sale of assets
Selling, general and administrative expense
Depreciation and amortization
Equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel

Segment operating income/(loss)

(358)
178,347
184,172
—
132,341

218
104,644
75,010
—
56,939

(97)
10,355
31,019
28,239
42,220

—
50,156
11,899
—
(62,055)

(237)
343,502
302,100
28,239
169,445

Equity in net income of unconsolidated

subsidiaries
Segment income/(loss)

265
132,606

—
56,939

—
42,220

—
(62,055)

265
169,710

Feed Ingredients Segment

Raw material volume. In fiscal year 2018, the raw material processed by the Company's Feed Ingredients segment totaled 
8.60 million metric tons.  Compared to fiscal year 2017, overall raw material volume processed in the Feed Ingredients segment 
increased approximately 4.4%. 

 Sales. During the year ended December 29, 2018, net sales for the Feed Ingredients segment were $1,952.6 million as 
compared to $2,239.5 million for the year ended December 30, 2017, a decrease of approximately $286.9 million.  Net sales for 
fats were approximately $564.7 million and $648.3 million for the years ended December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017. 
Protein net sales were approximately $842.9 million and $816.1 million for the years ended December 29, 2018 and December 30, 
2017.  Other rendering net sales, which include hides, pet food, and service charges, were approximately $129.3 million and $286.2 
million for the years ended December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017.  Total rendering net sales were approximately $1,536.9 
million and $1,750.6 million for the years ended December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017.  Used cooking oil net sales were 
approximately $166.7 million and $185.5 million for the years ended December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017.  Bakery net 
sales were approximately $180.2 million and $209.8 million for the years ended December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017 and 
other sales, which includes trap services, and for 2017  industrial residual services, were approximately $68.8 million and $93.6 
million for the years ended December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017.  

The decrease in net sales for the Feed Ingredients segment was primarily due to the following (in millions of dollars):

Fats

Proteins

Other
Rendering

Total
Rendering

Net sales year ended December 30, 2017 $ 648.3 $ 816.1 $

286.2 $ 1,750.6 $

Increase/(decrease) in sales volumes
Increase/(decrease) in finished

product prices

34.7

55.9

(85.9)

16.2

—

—

Used
Cooking
Oil
185.5 $ 209.8 $ 93.6 $ 2,239.5
82.6

Bakery Other

(13.6)

Total

5.6

—

90.6

(69.7)

(13.5)

5.0

—

(78.2)

Increase/(decrease) due to currency

exchange rates
Freight revenue (1)
Other change (2)
Total change

4.8
(37.2)
—
(83.6)

12.4
(57.7)
—
26.8

Net sales year ended December 29, 2018 $ 564.7 $ 842.9 $

0.6
(5.1)
(152.4)
(156.9)
129.3 $ 1,536.9 $

17.8
(100.0)
(152.4)
(213.7)

—
(21.0)

17.8
—
—
— (131.9)
(10.9)
(177.2)
—
(18.8)
(286.9)
166.7 $ 180.2 $ 68.8 $ 1,952.6

— (24.8)
(24.8)

(29.6)

(1)  The decrease in freight revenue represents the impact from adoption of the new revenue standard on current year 
Feed Segment revenue as compared to the same period in fiscal year 2017.  See Note 22 to the Notes for impact on 
consolidated financial statements.

Page 56

(2)  The decrease in other rendering net sales was primarily due to the Company's sale of a portion of its interest in a 
majority owned consolidated subsidiary operating in cattle hides as part of its European operations, which resulted 
in the foreign subsidiary being deconsolidated and accounted for using the equity method of accounting, effective 
January 2018.  In addition, the decrease in other net sales is due to the sale of the Company's industrial residuals 
business in May 2018.

Margins. In the Feed Ingredients segment for fiscal year 2018, the gross margin percentage was 23.3% as compared to 
22.1% for fiscal year 2017. The increase in fiscal year 2018 was primarily due to the new revenue standard whereby the Company 
no longer includes billed freight in revenue, as it did in fiscal year 2017.

Segment operating income. Feed Ingredients' operating income for fiscal year 2018 was $82.8 million, a decrease of 
$49.5 million as compared to fiscal year 2017.  Segment operating income was down in fiscal year 2018 as compared to fiscal 
year 2017 due to lower finished fat product prices and higher depreciation charges from increased capital expenditures that more 
than offset increased raw material volumes.

Food Ingredients Segment

Raw material volume. In fiscal year 2018, the raw material processed by the Company's Food Ingredients segment totaled 
1.11 million metric tons.  Compared to fiscal year 2017, overall raw material volume processed in the Food Ingredients segment 
decreased approximately (0.2)%.

Sales. Overall sales decreased in the Food Ingredients segment as a result of the permanent shut down of the Company's 

Hurlingham, Argentina collagen plant, a more competitive European collagen market and lower edible fat sales prices. 

Margins. In the Food Ingredients segment for fiscal year 2018, the gross margin percentage was 19.4% as compared to 
20.5% for fiscal year 2017.  This decrease was primarily due to lower margins from European collagen due to lower sales volumes 
and pressure on margins from export sales, combined with an increase in raw material prices for casings and a decrease in edible 
fat sales prices.

Segment operating income. Food Ingredients' operating income was $33.8 million for fiscal year 2018, a decrease of 
$23.1 million or (40.6)% as compared to fiscal year 2017.  This decrease was primarily due to the restructuring and impairment 
charges incurred as a result of the Hurlingham, Argentina collagen plant shut down and lower earnings in the European collagen 
market. The casings business delivered slightly lower earnings in fiscal year 2018 due to an increase of raw material prices as 
compared to fiscal year 2017.  The Company's edible fat prices were lower in fiscal year 2018 as a result of competing fat markets 
as compared to fiscal year 2017.

Fuel Ingredients Segment

Raw material volume. In fiscal year 2018, the raw material processed by the Company's Fuel Ingredients segment totaled 
1.18 million metric tons.  Compared to fiscal year 2017, overall raw material volume processed in the Fuel Ingredients segment 
decreased approximately (0.6)%.

Sales. Overall sales increased in the Fuel Ingredients segment primarily due to higher sales volumes at Ecoson and in 
North America  due  to  the  reinstated  fiscal  year  2017  blenders  tax  credits  recorded  in  the  first  quarter  of  fiscal  year  2018  of 
approximately $12.6 million as compared to no blenders tax credits in the same period in fiscal year 2017.

Margins. In the Fuel Ingredients segment (exclusive of the equity contribution from the DGD Joint Venture) for fiscal 
year 2018, the gross margin percentage was 22.2% as compared to 20.8% for fiscal year 2017. This increase was primarily due 
to the reinstated fiscal year 2017 blenders tax credits in North America recorded in the first quarter of fiscal year 2018. 

Segment operating income. The Company's Fuel Ingredients segment income (inclusive of the equity contribution from 
the DGD Joint Venture) for fiscal year 2018 was $195.1 million, an increase of $152.9 million or 362.3% as compared to fiscal 
year 2017.  The increase in earnings was primarily due to the reinstated fiscal year 2017 blenders tax credits in North America 
recorded in the first quarter of fiscal year 2018 as compared to the lack of blenders tax credits in the same period of fiscal year 
2017.

Page 57

 
Foreign Currency

During fiscal year 2018, the U.S. dollar weakened against most of the other functional currencies used by the Company's 
non-domestic operations when compared to fiscal year 2017.  Using actual results for fiscal year 2018 and the prior year's average 
foreign currency rates for fiscal year 2017 would result in a decrease in operating income of approximately $8.6 million.  The 
average rates assumption used in this calculation was the actual fiscal average rate for fiscal year 2018 of €1.00:USD$1.18 and 
CAD$1.00:USD$0.77  as  compared  to  the  average  rate  for  fiscal  year  2017  of  €1.00:USD$1.13  and  CAD$1.00:USD$0.77, 
respectively.

Corporate Activities

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.  Selling, general and administrative expenses were $45.8 million during 
fiscal year 2018, a $4.4 million decrease from $50.2 million during fiscal year 2017.  The decrease was primarily due to a decrease 
in corporate related compensation benefits and other corporate expenses. 

Depreciation and Amortization.  Depreciation and amortization charges decreased $1.0 million to $10.9 million during 
fiscal year 2018 as compared to $11.9 million during fiscal year 2017.  The decrease was due to certain of the Company's corporate 
assets becoming fully depreciated as compared to fiscal year 2017.

Interest Expense. Interest expense was $86.4 million for fiscal year 2018, compared to $88.9 million for fiscal year 2017, 
a decrease of $2.5 million. The decrease was primarily due to an interest rate decrease on the Company's euro based senior notes, 
a reduction in deferred loan cost amortization and a reduction in other debt interest that more than offset an increase in revolver 
interest from higher fiscal year 2018 revolver borrowings as compared to fiscal year 2017.

Debt Extinguishment costs. Debt extinguishment costs were $23.5 million during fiscal year 2018, compared to none for 
fiscal year 2017.  The costs in 2018 were due to tender and redemption premiums and the write-off of deferred loan costs related 
to the retirement of the 4.75% Senior Notes.

Foreign Currency Losses.  Foreign currency losses were $6.4 million during fiscal year 2018, as compared to a loss of 
approximately $6.9 million for fiscal year 2017.  The decrease in foreign currency losses was primarily due to reduction in losses 
on non-designated foreign exchange hedge contracts as compared to fiscal year 2017.

Loss on Disposal of Subsidiaries.  Loss on disposal of subsidiaries represents a loss recorded from the sale of the Company's 
industrial residuals business during fiscal year 2018, that more than offset a gain recorded on the liquidation of a majority owned 
foreign joint venture in fiscal year 2018, as compared to a loss booked in the fourth quarter of 2017 related to the sale of a portion 
of a majority owned foreign subsidiary.

Other Income/Expense. Other expense was $7.6 million for fiscal year 2018, compared to $8.8 million in fiscal year 
2017.  The decrease in other expense for fiscal year 2018 as compared to fiscal year 2017 was primarily due to a decrease in non-
service cost component of pension expense that more than offset an increase in casualty losses in fiscal year 2018 and a reduction 
of interest income.

Equity in Net Income/(loss) of Other Unconsolidated Subsidiaries. This primarily represents the Company's pro rata share 
for fiscal year 2018 net losses of its domestic unconsolidated subsidiary other than the DGD Joint Venture that more than offset 
net  income  from  foreign  unconsolidated  subsidiaries  as  compared  to  fiscal  year  2017,  which  included  net  income  of  foreign 
unconsolidated subsidiaries that more than offset net losses of the Company's domestic unconsolidated subsidiary. 

Income Taxes. The Company recorded income tax expense of $12.0 million for fiscal year 2018, compared to $69.2 
million of income tax benefit recorded in fiscal year 2017, an increase of $81.2 million, which was primarily due to tax law changes 
enacted in December 2017 with respect to several of the Company's major tax jurisdictions.  Specifically, in fiscal year 2017 a 
tax benefit of $75.0 million was recorded due to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act” or “U.S. tax reform”) in the United 
States, which was enacted on December 22, 2017 and a tax benefit of $13.9 million was recorded for tax law changes in Belgium 
and France (“European tax law changes”).  The effective tax rate for fiscal year 2018 and fiscal year 2017 was 10.2% and (107.7)%, 
respectively.  The effective tax rate for fiscal year 2018 differs from the statutory rate of 21% due primarily to the retroactive 
reinstatement of the biofuel tax incentive for 2017 during 2018, tax law changes in the Netherlands, and changes in valuation 
allowances primarily related to deferred tax assets for tax losses that are not expected to be utilized in future years.  The biofuel 
tax incentive expired as of the end of fiscal year 2017.  Excluding the impact of the 2017 biofuel tax incentive and tax law changes, 
the effective tax rate for fiscal year 2018 is 34.4%.  The effective tax rate for fiscal year 2017 differs from the statutory rate of 
35% due primarily to the impact of U.S. tax reform, European tax law changes, the relative mix of earnings among jurisdictions 
Page 58

  
with different tax rates, and subpart F income.  Excluding the impact of U.S. tax reform and European tax law changes, the effective 
tax rate for fiscal year 2017 is 30.8%.

Non-U.S. GAAP Measures

For a discussion of the reasons the Company's management believes the following Non-GAAP financial measures provide 
useful  information  to  investors  and  the  purposes  for  which  the  Company's  management  uses  such  measures,  see  “Results  of 
Operations -  Fiscal Year Ended December 28, 2019 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended December 29, 2018 - Non-U.S. GAAP 
Measures.” 

Reconciliation of Net Income to (Non-GAAP) Adjusted EBITDA and (Non-GAAP) Pro Forma Adjusted EBITDA
Fiscal Year 2018 As Compared to Fiscal Year 2017

(dollars in thousands)
Net income attributable to Darling
Depreciation and amortization
Interest expense
Income tax expense/(benefit)
Restructuring and impairment charges
Foreign currency loss
Other expense, net
Debt extinguishment costs
Loss on disposal of subsidiaries
Equity in net (income) of Diamond Green Diesel
Equity in net loss/(income) of other unconsolidated subsidiaries
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP)

Foreign currency exchange impact (1)
Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA to Foreign Currency (Non-GAAP)

DGD Joint Venture Adjusted EBITDA (Darling's Share)

Fiscal Year Ended

December 29,
2018

December 30,
2017

$

$

$

$

101,496 $
321,192
86,429
12,031
14,965
6,431
7,562
23,509
12,545
(159,779)
550
4,448
431,379 $

(8,565)
422,814 $

128,468
302,100
88,926
(69,154)
—
6,898
8,801
—
885
(28,239)
(265)
4,886
443,306

—
443,306

174,013 $

43,198

Darling plus Darling's share of DGD Joint Venture Adjusted EBITDA $

605,392 $

486,504

(1) The average rate assumption used in this calculation was the actual fiscal average rate for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2018 
of €1.00:USD$1.18 and CAD$1.00:USD$0.77 as compared to the average rate for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2017 of  
€1.00:USD$1.13 and CAD$1.00:USD$0.77, respectively.

For the fiscal year ended December 29, 2018, the Company generated Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP) of $431.4 million, 
as compared to $443.3 million for the year ended December 30, 2017.  The decrease is attributable to lower earnings in the Feed 
Ingredients and Food Ingredients segment. 

On a Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA to Foreign Currency (Non-GAAP) basis, the Company would have generated $422.8 

million for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2018, as compared to $443.3 million for the year ended December 30, 2017. 

DGD Joint Venture Adjusted EBITDA (Darling's Share) is not reflected in the Adjusted EBITDA, the Pro forma Adjusted 
EBITDA, or the Pro forma Adjusted EBITDA to Foreign Currency (Non-GAAP).  See Note 2 to Notes to Consolidated Financial 
Statements included herein for financial information regarding the DGD Joint Venture.

FINANCING, LIQUIDITY, AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Indebtedness

Certain Debt Outstanding at December 28, 2019. On December 28, 2019, debt outstanding under the Company's Amended 

Credit Agreement, the Company's 5.25% Notes and the Company's 3.625% Notes consists of the following (in thousands):

Page 59

Senior Notes:

5.25 % Notes due 2027
Less unamortized deferred loan costs
Carrying value of 5.25% Notes due 2027

3.625 % Notes due 2026 - Denominated in euros
Less unamortized deferred loan costs
Carrying value of 3.625% Notes due 2026

Amended Credit Agreement:

Term Loan B
Less unamortized deferred loan costs
Carrying value of Term Loan B

Revolving Credit Facility:
Maximum availability
Ancillary Facilities
Borrowings outstanding
Letters of credit issued
Availability

Other Debt

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

500,000
(6,494)
493,506

574,096
(6,982)
567,114

495,000
(7,696)
487,304

1,000,000
45,490
39,000
3,636
911,874

62,501

At December 28, 2019, the U.S. dollar was stronger as compared to the euro and weaker as compared to the Canadian 
dollar at December 29, 2018.  Using the euro and Canadian dollar based debt outstanding at December 29, 2018 and comparing 
the closing balance sheet rates at December 28, 2019 to those at December 29, 2018, the U.S. dollar debt balances of euro based 
debt decreased by $16.2 million and the U.S. dollar debt balances of Canadian based debt increased by approximately $0.2 million, 
at December 28, 2019.  The closing balance sheet rate assumptions used in this calculation were the actual fiscal closing balance 
sheet rate at December 29, 2018 of €1.00:USD$1.114750 and CAD$1.00:USD$0.763789 as compared to the closing balance sheet 
rate at December 30, 2017 of €1.00:USD$1.146600 and CAD$1.00:USD$0.735401, respectively.

Senior Secured Credit Facilities. On January 6, 2014, Darling, Darling International Canada Inc. (“Darling Canada”) and 
Darling  International  NL  Holdings  B.V.  (“Darling  NL”)  entered  into  a  Second Amended  and  Restated  Credit Agreement  (as 
subsequently amended, the “Amended Credit Agreement”), restating its then existing Amended and Restated Credit Agreement 
dated September 27, 2013, with the lenders from time to time party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, 
and the other agents from time to time party thereto. Effective December 18, 2017, the Company, and certain of its subsidiaries 
entered into an amendment (the “Fifth Amendment”) with its lenders to the Amended Credit Agreement.  Among other things, 
the Fifth Amendment (i) refinanced the term B loans under the Amended Credit Agreement with new term B loans in an aggregate 
principal amount of $525.0 million with a maturity date of December 18, 2024; (ii) adjusted the applicable margin pricing on 
borrowings under the term B loan; (iii) modified certain of the negative covenants to increase the allowances for certain actions, 
including debt and investments; and (iv) made other updates and changes. Effective December 16, 2016, the Company, and certain 
of its subsidiaries entered into an amendment (the “Fourth Amendment”) with its lenders to the Amended Credit Agreement. 
Among other things, the Fourth Amendment extended the maturity date of the term A loans and revolving credit facility loans 
under the Amended Credit Agreement from September 27, 2018 to December 16, 2021.  For more information regarding the 
Amended Credit Agreement see Note 10 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included herein.

•  As of December 28, 2019, the Company had availability of $911.9 million under the revolving loan facility, taking into 
account an aggregate of $39.0 million in outstanding borrowings, $45.5 million of ancillary facilities and letters of credit 
issued of $3.6 million.

•  As of December 28, 2019, the Company has borrowed all $350.0 million under the term loan A facility and has repaid 

all $350.0 million, which when repaid, cannot be reborrowed. 

•  As of December 28, 2019, the Company has borrowed all $525.0 million under the terms of the term loan B facility and 
repaid approximately $30.0 million, which when repaid, cannot be reborrowed.  The term loan B facility is repayable in 
quarterly installments of 0.25% of the aggregate principal amount of the relevant term loan B facility on the last day of 
each March, June, September and December of each year commencing on the last day of each month falling on or after 
the last day of the first full quarter following December 18, 2017, and continuing until the last day of each quarter period 
ending immediately prior to December 18, 2024; and one final installment in the amount of the relevant term loan B 
facility then outstanding, due on December 18, 2024.  The term loan B facility will mature on December 18, 2024.

Page 60

 
 
•  The interest rate applicable to any borrowings under the term loan B facility will equal the base rate plus 1.00% or LIBOR 

plus 2.00%.

5.25% Senior Notes due 2027. On April 3, 2019, Darling issued and sold $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of 
5.25% Senior Notes due 2027 (the “5.25% Notes”).  The 5.25% Notes, which were offered in a private offering, were issued 
pursuant to a Senior Notes Indenture, dated as of April 3, 2019 (the “5.25% Indenture”), among Darling, the subsidiary guarantors 
party thereto from time to time, and Regions Bank, as trustee.  The gross proceeds from the sale of the Notes, together with cash 
on hand, were used to refinance all of the Company's formerly outstanding 5.375% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “5.375% Notes”), 
by cash tender offer for and redemption of all of the Company's then-outstanding 5.375% Notes, to pay the discount of the initial 
purchasers and to pay other fees and expenses related to the offering of the 5.25% Notes.  The refinancing of the 5.375% Notes 
was completed in the second quarter of 2019. For a description of the terms of the 5.25% Notes see Note 10 of Notes to Consolidated 
Financial Statements.

3.625 % Senior Notes due 2026. On May 2, 2018, Darling Global Finance B.V. issued and sold €515 million aggregate 
principal amount of 3.625% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “3.625% Notes”).  The 3.625% Notes, which were offered in a private 
offering, were issued pursuant to a Senior Notes Indenture, dated as of May 2, 2018, among Darling Global Finance B.V., Darling, 
the subsidiary guarantors party thereto from time to time, Citibank, N.A., London Branch, as trustee and principal paying agent, 
and Citigroup Global Markets Deutschland AG, as principal registrar.  The gross proceeds of the offering, together with borrowings 
under the Company's revolving credit facility, were used to refinance all of the then Company's formerly outstanding 4.75% Senior 
Notes due 2022 (the “4.75% Notes”) by cash tender offer and redemption of those notes and to pay any applicable premiums for 
the refinancing, to pay the commission of the initial purchasers of the 3.625% Notes and to pay the other fees and expenses related 
to the offering.  The refinancing of the 4.75% Notes was completed in the second quarter of 2018.  For a description of the terms 
of the 3.625% Notes see Note 10 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Other debt consists of U.S., Canadian and European ancillary and overdraft facilities and capital lease obligations and 
note arrangements in Brazil, China and Europe that are not part of the Company's Amended Credit Agreement, 5.25% Notes or 
3.625% Notes. 

The classification of long-term debt in the Company’s December 28, 2019 consolidated balance sheet is based on the 

contractual repayment terms of the 5.25% Notes, the 3.625% Notes and debt issued under the Amended Credit Agreement.

As a result of the Company's borrowings under its Amended Credit Agreement, the 5.25% Indenture and the 3.625% 
Indenture, the Company is highly leveraged.  Investors should note that, in order to make scheduled payments on the indebtedness 
outstanding under the Amended Credit Agreement, the 5.25% Notes and the 3.625% Notes, and otherwise, the Company will rely 
in part on a combination of dividends, distributions and intercompany loan repayments from the Company's direct and indirect 
U.S. and foreign subsidiaries.  The Company is prohibited under the Amended Credit Agreement, the 5.25% Indenture and the 
3.625% Indenture from entering (or allowing such subsidiaries to enter) into contractual limitations on the Company's subsidiaries’ 
ability to declare dividends or make other payments or distributions to the Company.  The Company has also attempted to structure 
the Company's consolidated indebtedness in such a way as to maximize the Company's ability to move cash from the Company's 
subsidiaries to Darling or another subsidiary that will have fewer limitations on the ability to make upstream payments, whether 
to Darling or directly to the Company's lenders as a Guarantor.  Nevertheless, applicable laws under which the Company's direct 
and indirect subsidiaries are formed may provide limitations on such dividends, distributions and other payments.  In addition, 
regulatory authorities in various countries where the Company operates or where the Company imports or exports products may 
from  time  to  time  impose  import/export  limitations,  foreign  exchange  controls  or  currency  devaluations  that  may  limit  the 
Company's access to profits from the Company's subsidiaries or otherwise negatively impact the Company's financial condition 
and therefore reduce the Company's ability to make required payments under Amended Credit Agreement, the 5.25% Notes and 
the 3.625% Notes, or otherwise.   In addition, fluctuations in foreign exchange values may have a negative impact on the Company's 
ability to repay indebtedness denominated in U.S. or Canadian dollars or euros.   See “Risk Factors - Our business may be adversely 
impacted by fluctuations in exchange rates, which could affect our ability to comply with our financial covenants” and “- Our 
ability to repay our indebtedness depends in part on the performance of our subsidiaries, including our non-guarantor subsidiaries, 
and their ability to make payments” in Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2019.

As of December 28, 2019, the Company believes it is in compliance with all financial covenants under the Amended 
Credit Agreement, as well as all of the other covenants contained in the Amended Credit Agreement, the 5.25% Indenture and the 
3.625% Indenture.

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Working Capital and Capital Expenditures

On December 28, 2019, the Company had working capital of $228.9 million and its working capital ratio was 1.33 to 1
compared to working capital of $357.4 million and a working capital ratio of 1.66 to 1 on December 29, 2018.  At December 28, 
2019, the Company had unrestricted cash of $72.9 million and funds available under the revolving credit facility of $911.9 million, 
compared  to  unrestricted  cash  of  $107.3  million  and  funds  available  under  the  revolving  credit  facility  of  $929.8  million  at 
December 29, 2018.  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 $362.6 million and $398.6 million for the fiscal years ended December 28, 
2019 and December 29, 2018, respectively, a decrease of $36.0 million due primarily to an increase in net income that was mostly 
offset by equity in net income of the DGD Joint Venture and to changes in operating assets and liabilities that include a decrease 
in cash provided by accounts receivable of approximately $19.8 million, a decrease in prepaid expenses and inventory of $41.5 
million, a decrease in other of approximately $8.8 million, an increase in income taxes refundable/payable of approximately $19.3 
million and an increase in accounts payable and accrued expense of approximately $17.9 million.  Cash used by investing activities 
was $338.1 million during fiscal year 2019, compared to $342.4 million in fiscal year 2018, a decrease in cash used of $4.3 million, 
primarily due to a decrease in proceeds from the sale of assets that was more than offset by an increase in cash received from 
insurance.  Net cash used by financing activities was $54.9 million during fiscal year 2019, compared to $47.6 million in fiscal 
year 2018, an increase in cash used of $7.3 million, primarily due to purchases of common stock that more than offset a decrease 
in debt payments as compared to fiscal year 2018.

Capital expenditures of $359.5 million were made during fiscal year 2019 as compared to $321.9 million in fiscal year 
2018, an increase of $37.6 million, or 11.7%. The increase was primarily due to capital expenditures for expansion in fiscal 2019.  
In fiscal year 2020, the Company expects to incur approximately $236.0 million in maintenance and compliance type capital 
expenditures and approximately $70.0 million for new construction (including expansions) for a total of approximately $306.0 
million.  These costs are expected to be financed using cash flows from operations. Capital expenditures related to compliance 
with environmental regulations were $37.4 million in fiscal year 2019, $32.1 million in fiscal year 2018 and $27.5 million in fiscal 
year 2017.

Accrued Insurance and Pension Plan Obligations

Based upon the annual actuarial estimate, current accruals and claims paid during fiscal year 2019, the Company has 
accrued approximately $9.7 million as of December 28, 2019 that 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 28, 2019.  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.  

Based upon current actuarial estimates, the Company expects to make payments of approximately $0.9 million in order 
to meet minimum pension funding requirements to its domestic plans in fiscal year 2020. In addition, the Company expects to 
make payments of approximately $3.4 million under its foreign pension plans in fiscal year 2020.  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.  The Company has made required and tax deductible discretionary contributions to its domestic pension 
plans in fiscal year 2019 and fiscal year 2018 of approximately $0.9 million and $1.0 million, respectively.  Additionally, the 
Company has made required and tax deductible discretionary contributions to its foreign pension plans in fiscal year 2019 of 
approximately $3.4 million, as compared to $3.5 million in contributions in fiscal year 2018.

The U.S. Pension Protection Act of 2006 (“PPA”) went into effect in January 2008.  The stated goal of the PPA is to 
improve the funding of U.S. pension plans.  U.S. plans in an under-funded status are required to increase employer contributions 
to improve the funding level within PPA timelines.  Volatility in the world equity and other financial markets could have a material 
negative impact on U.S. pension plan assets and the status of required funding under the PPA.  The Company participates in various 
U.S. 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 U.S. 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 U.S. plans in which the Company 

Page 62

 
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 U.S. multiemployer pension plans in which the Company participates and which are not individually significant, 
five plans have certified as critical or red zone and two have certified as endangered or yellow zone, as defined by the PPA.  The 
Company has received notices of withdrawal liability from five U.S. multiemployer pension plans in which it participated.  As a 
result, the Company has an accrued aggregate current liability of approximately $6.0 million representing the present value of 
scheduled withdrawal liability payments under these multiemployer plans.  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.

DGD Joint Venture 

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 DGD Joint Venture.  The DGD Joint Venture is owned 50% / 50% with Valero and 
was formed to design, engineer, construct and operate the DGD Facility, which as a result of its recently expanded capacity is now 
capable of processing approximately 20,000 barrels per day of input feedstock to produce renewable diesel fuel and certain other 
co-products,  and  is  located  adjacent  to  Valero's  refinery  in  Norco,  Louisiana.    The  DGD  Joint  Venture  reached  mechanical 
completion and began the production of renewable diesel in late June 2013. Effective May 1, 2019, the DGD LLC Agreement 
was amended and restated for the purpose of updating the agreement in certain respects, including to remove certain provisions 
that were no longer relevant and to add new provisions relating to the DGD Joint Venture’s recently approved expansion project 
to construct a new, parallel facility located next to the current facility, as further described below.

On May 1, 2019, Darling, through its wholly owned subsidiary Darling Green Energy LLC, (“Darling Green”), and 
Diamond Alternative Energy, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Valero (“Diamond Alternative” and together with Darling Green, 
the “DGD Lenders”) entered into a revolving loan agreement (the “DGD Loan Agreement”) with the DGD Joint Venture. The 
DGD Lenders have committed to make loans available to the DGD Joint Venture in the total amount of $50.0 million with each 
lender committed to $25.0 million of the total commitment.   Any borrowings by the DGD Joint Venture under the DGD Loan 
Agreement are at the applicable annum rate equal to the sum of (a) the LIBO Rate (meaning Reuters BBA Libor Rates Page 3750) 
on such day plus (b) 2.50%.  The DGD Loan Agreement matures on April 29, 2020, unless extended by agreement of the parties. 
The DGD Loan Agreement replaces a similar agreement with lower commitment levels that expired on December 31, 2018.  As 
of December 28, 2019, no amounts are owed to the DGD Lenders under the DGD Loan Agreement.

Based on the sponsor support agreements executed in connection with the initial construction of the DGD Facility, the 
Company contributed a total of approximately $111.7 million for completion of the DGD Facility including the Company's portion 
of cost overruns and working capital funding.  As of December 28, 2019, under the equity method of accounting the Company 
has an investment in the DGD Joint Venture of approximately $661.5 million included on the consolidated balance sheet. 

In August  2018,  the  DGD  Joint  Venture  completed  an  expansion  project  that  increased  the  DGD  Facility's  annual 
production capacity from 160 million gallons of renewable diesel to 275 million gallons and expanded outbound logistics for 
servicing the many developing low carbon fuel markets around North America and worldwide.  In November 2018, the joint 
venture partners approved the DGD Joint Venture moving forward with another expansion project to construct a new, parallel 
facility (the “New Facility”) located next to the current facility. The New Facility is expected to grow the DGD Joint Venture’s 
annual production capacity by an additional 400 million gallons from the current capacity of 275 million gallons of renewable 
diesel to 675 million gallons of renewable diesel and provide the capability to separate naphtha for sale into low carbon fuel 
markets. In addition, the expansion project includes further expanded inbound and outbound logistics for servicing the many 
developing low carbon fuel markets around North America and worldwide.  The DGD Joint Venture estimates completion and 
startup of the New Facility in the fourth quarter of 2021, and the total cost of the expansion project, including the naphtha production 
and improved logistics capability, is estimated to be approximately $1.1 billion.  Based on forecasted margins as of the date of 
this report, the expansion project is expected to be substantially funded by DGD Joint Venture cash flow; however, the DGD LLC 
Agreement provides that until such time as the New Facility is complete and operational, the joint venture partners shall be required 
to make capital contributions or, if they agree, loans, to the DGD Joint Venture should the excess available cash in the DGD Joint 
Venture, as determined on specified dates and in accordance with the provisions contained in the DGD LLC Agreement, fall below 
$50 million.

In April 2019, the joint venture partners adopted a distribution policy that, unless earlier terminated by the partners, will 
remain in place through the construction and completion of the New Facility.  Pursuant to the distribution policy, the DGD Joint 
Venture will make quarterly distributions to the partners to the extent that distributable cash (as determined in accordance with 
the policy) exceeds $50 million and as allowed by the DGD Joint Venture’s forward looking cash forecast.  During the year ended 
December 28, 2019, the DGD Joint Venture made approximately $67.5 million distributions to each of  the partners.

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The Company’s original investment in DGD has expanded since 2011 to the point that it is now integral to how Darling 
operates its business.  Darling traditionally collected and converted used cooking oil and animal fats into feed ingredients which 
were sold on a caloric value to feed animals as well as for industrial technical uses.  Over the past decade, the world’s increasing 
focus on climate change and greenhouse gas has provided a new finished market for the Company’s finished fats ingredients.  
With Darling’s significant fats ownership, this has and continues to transform how Darling operates.  In 2018, a large portion of 
Darling’s total U.S. finished fats products were sold to the DGD Facility as feedstock for renewable diesel.  This percentage is 
expected to noticeably increase both in 2019 and beyond due to the recent DGD capacity expansion completed in August 2018 
and the even larger expansion to be finished in late 2021.  In 2019 and 2018, DGD was Darling’s largest finished product customer 
in terms of sales, with Darling recording sales of $208.7 million and $131.8 million to DGD, respectively.

From a procurement, production and distribution standpoint, DGD has become integral to Darling’s base business. DGD 
is  integral  to  the  Company’s  operations  via  the  combined  vertical  operating  structure  from  collecting  raw  fats,  to  processing 
collected fats at Darling facilities nationwide to transporting the refined fats to the DGD facility as feedstock.  The Darling supply 
chain has become more efficient and sustainable with transparency for verification to obtain full value to low carbon intensity 
markets.  The development of the low carbon markets in North America and Europe has influenced how Darling operates its core 
business and has also been a driver for the recent DGD expansions, which are making DGD much more relevant to Darling’s 
earnings. Since 2011 when construction began on DGD, Darling has invested substantially to increase its U.S. railcar fleet to 
efficiently manage nationwide transportation of Darling fats to DGD.  Additionally, Darling acquired an Iowa location on the 
Mississippi River that further enhances the ability of the Company's Midwest network of facilities to collect and deliver feedstocks 
to DGD via water, rail or truck from a centralized location. Darling has also stepped up collection efforts by providing indoor used 
cooking oil collection units in exchange for extended collection contracts at eating establishments and has moved to more of a 
centralized digital marketing effort with restaurant chains and franchise groups and invested in internet search engine key words 
to  improve  visibility  with  restaurants.    The  Company  also  includes  DGD  in  marketing  efforts  to  emphasize  environmental 
sustainability that restaurants participate in when their used cooking oil is collected by Darling. From a production standpoint, 
Darling now isolates used cooking oil from other fats to preserve identification to qualify for a higher carbon intensity value.  As 
a result, the Company has reclassified its equity in net income of the DGD Joint Venture to operating income for all periods 
presented.

In September 2019, the Company announced that the DGD Joint Venture was initiating an advanced engineering and 
development cost review for construction of a new renewable diesel plant to be located in Port Arthur, Texas.  The proposed facility 
under review would be designed to produce 400 million gallons of renewable diesel annually as well as 40 million gallons of 
renewable naphtha.  The final investment decision on the project is expected in 2021, subject to further engineering, obtaining 
necessary permits, and approval by the boards of the Company and Valero. If the decision is made to move forward, new plant 
construction could begin in 2021, with expected operations commencing in 2024.

Financial Impact of Significant Debt Outstanding

The Company has a substantial amount of indebtedness, which could make it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations 
to our financial lenders and our contractual and commercial commitments, limit our ability to obtain additional financing to fund 
future working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions or other general corporate requirements on commercially reasonable 
terms or at all, require us to use a substantial portion of our cash flows from operations to pay principal and interest on our 
indebtedness instead of other purposes, thereby reducing the amount of our cash flows from operations available for working 
capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes, increase our vulnerability to adverse economic, 
industry and business conditions, expose us to the risk of increased interest rates as certain of our borrowings are at variable rates 
of interest, limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industry in which we operate, place 
us at a competitive disadvantage compared to other, less leveraged competitors, and/or increase our cost of borrowing.

Cash Flows and Liquidity Risks

Management believes that the Company’s cash flows from operating activities consistent with the level generated in 
fiscal  year  2019,  unrestricted  cash  and  funds  available  under  the Amended  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, 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 those factors discussed below under the 
heading “Forward Looking Statements”.  These factors, coupled with volatile prices for natural gas and diesel fuel, currency 
exchange fluctuations, general performance of the U.S. and global economies, disturbances in world financial, credit, commodities 
and stock markets, and any decline in consumer confidence, including the inability of consumers and companies to obtain credit 
due to lack of liquidity in the financial markets, among others, could negatively impact the Company's results of operations in 
fiscal year 2020 and thereafter. The Company reviews the appropriate use of unrestricted cash periodically.  As of the date of this 

Page 64

report, no decision has been made as to non-ordinary course material cash usages at this time; however, potential usages could 
include:  opportunistic  capital  expenditures  and/or  acquisitions  and  joint  ventures;  investments  relating  to  the  Company’s 
renewable energy strategy, including, without limitation, potential required funding obligations with respect to the DGD Joint 
Venture expansion project or 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 
legislation,  regulation  or  mass  termination  of  multiemployer  plans;  and  paying  dividends  or  repurchasing  stock,  subject  to 
limitations under the Amended Credit Agreement, the 5.25% Notes and the 3.625% Notes, as well as suitable cash conservation 
to withstand adverse commodity cycles.  In August 2015, the Company's Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program 
of up to an aggregate of $100.0 million of the Company's Common Stock depending on market conditions.  On August 7, 2017, 
the Company's Board of Directors approved the extension for an additional two years of its previously announced share repurchase 
program and refreshed the amount of the program back up to its original amount of an aggregate of $100.0 million of the Company's 
Common Stock depending on market conditions. To that point, the Company had previously repurchased $10.9 million shares of 
its Common stock under the program. The repurchases may be made from time to time on the open market at prevailing market 
prices or in negotiated transactions off the market.  On November 6, 2018, the Board approved an increase in the share repurchase 
program from $100.0 million to $200.0 million and extended the term of the program for an additional year to August 13, 2020.  
Repurchases may occur through August 13, 2020, unless extended or shortened by the Board of Directors. Since the inception of 
the share repurchase program, the Company has repurchased approximately $30.1 million of its common stock in open market 
purchases and, as of the date of this report, has $180.8 million remaining in its share repurchase program.

Each of the factors described above has the potential to adversely impact the Company's 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.

Sales prices for the principal products that the Company sells are typically influenced by sales prices for agricultural-
based ingredients, 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 agricultural-based alternative ingredients prices, increases in energy prices or the impact of U.S. and foreign regulation (including, 
without limitation, China), changes in foreign exchange rates, imposition of currency controls and currency devaluations 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 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 28, 2019 (in thousands):

Contractual obligations(a):
Long-term debt obligations (b)
Operating lease obligations (c)
Capital lease obligations (c)
Estimated interest payable (d)
Purchase commitments (e)
Pension funding obligation (f)
Other obligations (b)

Total

Total

Less than
1 Year

1 – 3
Years

3 – 5
Years

More than
5 Years

$ 1,608,096 $

162,626
151
418,030
99,053
4,822
62,356

$ 2,355,134 $

29,000 $
46,062
119
69,721
84,520
4,822
61,881
296,125 $

10,000 $
57,959
23
137,304
14,533
—
239
220,058 $

495,000 $
32,517
9
121,613
—
—
58

649,197 $

1,074,096
26,088
—
89,392
—
—
178
1,189,754

(a)  The above table does not reflect uncertain tax positions at December 28, 2019.  The Company's uncertain tax position is 

approximately $7.8 million.

(b)  Represents debt obligations outstanding as of December 28, 2019.  See Note 10 to Notes to Consolidated Financial 

Statements.

(c)  See Note 9 to Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. 

(d)  Interest payable was calculated using the current rate for the debt that was outstanding as of December 28, 2019.
(e)  Purchase commitments were determined based on specified contracts for natural gas, diesel fuel and finished product 

purchases.

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(f)  Pension funding requirements are determined annually based upon a third party actuarial estimate.  The Company expects 
to  make  approximately  $4.8  million  in  required  contributions  to  domestic  and  foreign  pension  plans  in  fiscal  year 
2020.  The Company is not able to estimate pension funding requirements beyond the next twelve months. The accrued 
pension benefit liability was approximately $56.6 million at the end of fiscal year 2019.  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 28, 2019 relate 
to letters of credit, foreign bank guarantees, forward purchase agreements and employment agreements.  The Company has excluded 
these items from the balance sheet in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

The following table summarizes the Company’s other commercial commitments, including both on- and off-balance 
sheet arrangements that are part of the Company's Amended Credit Agreement and other foreign bank guarantees that are not a 
part of the Company's Amended Credit Agreement at December 28, 2019 (in thousands):

Other commercial commitments:
Standby letters of credit
Standby letters of credit (ancillary facility)
Foreign bank guarantees
Total other commercial commitments:

$

$

3,636
20,490
11,430
35,556

OFF BALANCE SHEET OBLIGATIONS

Based upon the underlying purchase agreements, the Company has commitments to purchase $95.7 million of commodity 
products, consisting of approximately $52.2 million of finished and raw material products and approximately $43.5 million of 
natural gas and diesel fuel commitments during the next two years, which are not included in liabilities on the Company’s balance 
sheet at December 28, 2019. 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 the next two years, in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

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 of Notes to 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 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 and pension liability.  Each of 
these estimates is discussed in greater detail in the following discussion.

Long-Lived Assets

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 year 2018, the Company shut down the operations at its Hurlingham, 
Argentina plant and recorded impairment charges related to its long-lived assets of approximately $2.4 million.  In fiscal year 
2019, no triggering event occurred requiring that the Company perform testing of its long-lived assets for impairment.

Goodwill Valuation

The Company performed the annual goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets impairment assessments at October 
26, 2019 and concluded that the Company's goodwill for all reporting units and all recorded indefinite-lived intangible assets were 
not impaired as of that date.  Goodwill and indefinite lived assets are tested annually or more frequently if events or changes in 

Page 66

 
 
 
 
 
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.

Based on the Company’s annual impairment testing at October 26, 2019, October 27, 2018 and October 28, 2017, the 
fair values of the Company’s reporting units containing goodwill exceeded the related carrying value.  However, based on the 
Company's annual impairment testing at October 26, 2019, the fair value of four of the Company's eight reporting units was less 
than 30% in excess of its carrying value and one reporting unit (Canada Feed) was less than 10% in excess of the estimated fair 
value with goodwill of approximately $178.6 million, which was substantially less than the percentage by which the other reporting 
units with goodwill exceeded their carrying values.  The Company determined the fair value of reporting units with the assistance 
of a valuation expert who assisted the Company primarily using the Income Approach to determine the fair value of the Company's 
reporting  units.    Key  assumptions  that  impacted  the  discounted  cash  flow  model  were  raw  material  volumes,  gross  margins, 
terminal growth rates and discount rates.  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 these four reporting units could decrease in the future and result in an 
impairment to goodwill.  The amount of goodwill allocated to these four reporting units was approximately $504.0 million.  The 
Company's management believes the biggest risk to these reporting units is decreasing finished product prices impacting gross 
margins and an economic slowdown that would impact raw material suppliers.   Goodwill was approximately $1,223.3 million
and $1,229.2 million at December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, respectively.

Pension Liability

The Company has retirement and pension plans covering a substantial number of its domestic and foreign employees.  
Major assumptions used in the accounting for these employee benefit plans include the discount rate, expected return on plan 
assets, rate of increase in employee compensation levels, mortality rates and trends in health care costs. The actuarial assumptions 
used may differ materially from actual results due to changing market and economic conditions, higher or lower withdrawal rates 
or longer or shorter life spans of participants.  These differences may result in a significant impact to the amount of net periodic 
benefit cost recorded in future periods. 

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 2.77% at December 28, 2019 and 3.68% at December 29, 
2018, respectively.  The net periodic benefit cost for fiscal year 2020 would increase by approximately $1.2 million if the discount 
rate  was  0.5%  lower  at  a  weighted  average  of  2.27%.  The  net  periodic  benefit  cost  for  fiscal  year  2020  would  decrease  by 
approximately $1.1 million if the discount rate was 0.5% higher at a weighted average of 3.27%.

NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In December 2019, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”)  
No. 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes.  This ASU amends Topic 740 Income Taxes, which will eliminate 
certain exceptions in accounting for income taxes, improves consistency in application and clarifies existing guidance.  The standard  
is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted.  The Company is currently evaluating 
the impact of this standard.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a 
Cloud Computing Arrangement that is a Service Contract.  This ASU amends Subtopic 350-40, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other 
Internal - Use Software, which will align the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement 
that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use 
software.  The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 and for interim periods therein, with early 
adoption permitted.  Implementation should be applied either retrospectively or prospectively to all implementation costs incurred 
after the date of adoption.  The Company adopted the new accounting standard effective December 30, 2018 and the adoption did 
not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-14, Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit Plans.  
This ASU amends Subtopic 715-20, Compensation - Retirement Benefits - Defined Benefit Plans - General, which modifies the 
disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other postretirement plans by removing and adding 
certain disclosures for these plans.  The standard is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2020,  with early adoption 
permitted.  The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard.

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In  August  2018,  the  FASB  issued  ASU  No.  2018-13,  Changes  to  the  Disclosure  Requirements  for  Fair  Value 
Measurements.  This ASU amends Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement, which changes the disclosure requirements for fair value 
measurements by removing, adding and modifying certain disclosures.  The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after 
December 15, 2019 and for interim periods therein, with early adoption permitted.  The initial adoption of this ASU is not expected 
to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-12, Targeted Improvement to Accounting for Hedging Activities.  This 
ASU amends Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, which is intended to more closely align hedge accounting with companies' risk 
management strategies and simplify the application of hedge accounting.  The guidance includes certain targeted improvements 
to ease the operational burden of applying hedge accounting.  The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 
2018 and for interim periods therein with early adoption permitted.  The Company will be required to apply the guidance on a 
cumulative-effect basis with adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption with disclosure on 
a prospective basis.  The Company adopted this ASU on December 30, 2018 and the initial adoption of this ASU did not have a 
material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04 Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment.  This ASU amends 
Topic 350, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other, which will simplify the goodwill impairment calculation by eliminating Step 2 from 
the current goodwill impairment test.  Under the new guidance, an entity should perform its annual, or interim, goodwill impairment 
test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount.  An entity should recognize an impairment charge 
for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit's fair value; however, the loss recognized should not 
exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit.  The ASU eliminates existing guidance that requires an entity 
to determine goodwill impairment by calculating the implied fair value of goodwill by hypothetically assigning the fair value of 
a reporting unit to all of the assets and liabilities as if that reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination.  This ASU 
is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 and interim periods within those fiscal years.  The initial adoption 
of this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of 
Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.  Under ASU 2016-13, existing guidance on reporting credit losses for trade and other 
receivables and available for sale debt securities will be replaced with a new forward-looking “expected loss” model that generally 
will result in the earlier recognition of allowances for losses.  This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 
2019 and interim periods therein. The initial adoption of this ASU is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's 
consolidated financial statements. 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The Company adopted the new standard on 
December 30, 2018 using the modified retrospective approach and is using the effective date as the Company's date of initial 
application and consequently, financial information will not be updated and the disclosures required under the this ASU will not 
be provided for dates and periods before December 30, 2018. The Company has elected the package of expedients, which permits 
the Company not to reassess under the new standard the Company's prior conclusions about lease identification, lease classification 
and initial direct costs.  The Company did not elect the use-of-hindsight or the practical expedient pertaining to land easements; 
the latter not being applicable to the Company. 

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Annual Report on Form 10-K includes “forward-looking” statements that involve risks and uncertainties.  The words 
such as “estimate,” “project,” “planned,” “contemplate,” “potential,” “possible,” “proposed,” “intend,” “believe,” “anticipate,” 
“expect,”  “may,”  “will,”  “would,”  “should,”  “could,”  and  similar  expressions  are  intended  to  identify  forward-looking 
statements.  All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this report are forward looking statements, 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, the 
Company's financial position and the Company's use of cash.  Forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current 
expectations and assumptions regarding its business, the economy and other future conditions.  The Company cautions readers 
that any such forward-looking statements it makes are not guarantees of future performance and that actual results may differ 
materially from anticipated results or expectations expressed in its forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, 
including many that are beyond the Company's control. 

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: existing and unknown future limitations on the ability of the Company's direct and 
indirect subsidiaries to make their cash flow available to the Company for payments on the Company's indebtedness or other 
Page 68

purposes; global demands for bio-fuels and grain and oilseed commodities, which have exhibited volatility, and can impact the 
cost of feed for cattle, hogs and poultry, thus affecting available rendering feedstock and selling prices for the Company’s products; 
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, reduced consumer demand or other factors, reduced volume from food service establishments, or otherwise; 
reduced demand for animal feed; reduced finished product prices, including a decline in fat and used cooking oil finished product 
prices; changes to worldwide government policies relating to renewable fuels and GHG emissions that adversely affect programs 
like the U.S. government's renewable fuel standard, low carbon fuel standards (“LCFS”) and tax credits for biofuels both in the 
United  States  and  abroad;  possible  product  recall  resulting  from  developments  relating  to  the  discovery  of  unauthorized 
adulterations to food or food additives; the occurrence of 2009 H1N1 flu (initially known as Swine Flu), highly pathogenic strains 
of avian influenza (collectively known as Bird Flu), SARS, BSE, PED or other diseases associated with animal origin in the United 
States or elsewhere, such as the outbreak of ASF in China and elsewhere; escalation in the outbreak of the coronavirus; unanticipated 
costs and/or reductions in raw material volumes related to the Company’s compliance with the existing or unforeseen new U.S. 
or foreign (including, without limitation, China) regulations (including new or modified animal feed, Bird Flu, SARS, PED, BSE 
or ASF or similar or unanticipated regulations) affecting the industries in which the Company operates or its value added products; 
risks associated with the DGD Joint Venture, including possible unanticipated operating disruptions and issues relating to the 
announced expansion project; risks and uncertainties relating to international sales and operations, including imposition of tariffs, 
quotas,  trade  barriers  and  other  trade  protections  imposed  by  foreign  countries;  difficulties  or  a  significant  disruption  in  the 
Company's information systems or failure to implement new systems and software successfully, including the Company's ongoing 
enterprise resource planning project; risks relating to possible third party claims of intellectual property infringement; increased 
contributions  to  the  Company’s  pension  and  benefit  plans,  including  multiemployer  and  employer-sponsored  defined  benefit 
pension plans as required by legislation, regulation or other applicable U.S. or foreign law or resulting from a U.S. mass withdrawal 
event; bad debt writeoffs; loss of or failure to obtain necessary permits and registrations; continued or escalated conflict in the 
Middle East, North Korea, Ukraine or elsewhere; uncertainty regarding the exit of the U.K. from the European Union; and/or 
unfavorable export or import markets. These factors, coupled with volatile prices for natural gas and diesel fuel, climate conditions, 
currency exchange fluctuations, general performance of the U.S. and global economies, disturbances in world financial, credit, 
commodities and stock markets, and any decline in consumer confidence and discretionary spending, including the inability of 
consumers and companies to obtain credit due to lack of liquidity in the financial markets, among others, could cause actual results 
to vary materially from the forward-looking statements included in this report or negatively impact the Company's results of 
operations. 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's announced share 
repurchase program may be suspended or discontinued at any time and purchases of shares under the program are subject to market 
conditions and other factors, which are likely to change from time to time.  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.

ITEM 7A.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 Market risks affecting the Company include 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. Additionally, with acquisition of foreign entities we are exposed to foreign 
currency exchange risks, imposition of currency controls and the possibility of currency devaluation.

The Company makes limited use of derivative instruments to manage cash flow risks related to natural gas usage, diesel 
fuel usage, inventory, forecasted sales and foreign currency exchange rates.  The Company does not use derivative instruments 
for trading purposes.   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.  Corn options and future contracts are entered into 
with the intent of managing U.S. forecasted sales of BBP by reducing the impact of changing prices.  Foreign currency forward 
contracts are entered into to mitigate the foreign exchange rate risk for transactions designated in a currency other than the local 
functional currency.  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 28, 2019, the Company had foreign currency option and forward contracts and corn option contracts 
outstanding that qualified and were designated for hedge accounting as well as corn forward contracts and foreign currency forward 
contracts that did not qualify and were not designated for hedge accounting.

Page 69

In fiscal 2018 and fiscal 2019, the Company entered into foreign exchange options and forward contracts that are considered 
cash flow hedges.  Under the terms of the foreign exchange contracts, the Company hedged a portion of its forecasted collagen 
sales in currencies other than the functional currency through the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022.   At December 28, 2019, the 
aggregate fair value of these foreign exchange contracts was approximately $1.3 million.  The December 28, 2019 amounts are 
included in other current assets, accrued expenses and other noncurrent liabilities on the balance sheet, with an offset recorded in 
accumulated other comprehensive income for the effective portion.

In fiscal 2019, 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 second quarter of fiscal 2020. 
At December 28, 2019, the aggregate fair value of the corn contracts was $0.4 million. The amounts are included in other current 
assets on the balance sheet.

As of December 28, 2019, the Company had the following outstanding forward contracts that were entered into to hedge 
the future payments of intercompany notes, foreign currency transactions in currencies other than the functional currency and 
forecasted transactions in currencies other than the functional currency (in thousands):

Functional Currency
Type

Amount

Contract Currency
Type

Amount

Brazilian real
Brazilian real
Euro
Euro
Euro
Euro
Euro
Euro
Polish zloty
British pound
Japanese yen
U.S. dollar
U.S. dollar
Australian dollar

45,908
1,106,077
71,203
26,943
5,159
21,074
13,441
6,905
26,647
94
204,824
705
49,833
432

Euro
U.S. dollar
U.S. dollar
Polish zloty
Japanese yen
Chinese renminbi
Australian dollar
British pound
Euro
Euro
U.S. dollar
Japanese yen
Euro
Euro

9,983
308,320
79,664
115,500
624,510
166,146
21,850
5,930
6,233
113
1,909
77,000
45,000
267

Range of
Hedge rates
4.30 - 4.73
3.35 - 4.30
1.10 - 1.17
4.27 - 4.34
119.53 - 122.68
7.82 - 8.00
1.63
0.84 - 0.90
4.27 - 4.28
0.84
104.63 - 107.92
109.15
1.11
1.60 - 1.64

$

$

U.S.
Equivalent

11,333
308,320
79,664
30,035
5,751
23,492
14,983
7,698
6,969
124
1,909
705
49,833
301
541,117

The above foreign currency contracts had an aggregate fair value of approximately $1.5 million and are included in other 

current assets, noncurrent assets and accrued expenses at December 28, 2019.

Additionally, the Company had corn forward contracts  that are marked to market because they did not qualify for hedge 
accounting at December 28, 2019.  These contracts have an aggregate fair value of approximately $0.6 million and are included 
in current other assets and accrued expenses at December 28, 2019.

As of December 28, 2019, the Company had forward purchase agreements in place for purchases of approximately $43.5 
million of natural gas and diesel fuel commitments.  As of December 28, 2019, the Company had forward purchase agreements 
in place for purchases of approximately $52.2 million of finished product in fiscal 2020 and years beyond.

Interest Rate Sensitivity

At December 28, 2019, the Company's fixed rate debt obligations consist of the 5.25% Notes, the 3.625% Notes and other 
immaterial debt that accrue interest at an annual weighted average fixed rate of approximately 4.37%.  As of December 28, 2019, 
the Company has long-term debt of approximately $0.5 billion subject to variable interest rates under the Company's Senior 
Secured Credit Facilities.  This portion of the Company's debt is sensitive to fluctuations in interest rates.  The Company estimates 
that a 1% increase in interest rates will increase the Company's annual interest expense by approximately $5.1 million.

Foreign Exchange

The Company has significant international operations and is subject to certain opportunities and risks, including currency 
fluctuations.  As a result, the Company is affected by changes in foreign currency exchange rates, particularly with respect to the 
euro, British pound, Canadian dollar, Australian dollar, Chinese renminbi, Brazilian real, Japanese yen.

Page 70

 
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 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018

Consolidated Statements of Operations -

Three years ended December 28, 2019

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income/(Loss) -

Three years ended December 28, 2019

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity -

Three years ended December 28, 2019

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows -

Three years ended December 28, 2019

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Page

 72

 74

76

77

78

79

80

81

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 71

 
 
 
 
DARLING INGREDIENTS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Stockholders and Board of Directors
Darling Ingredients Inc.:

Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Darling Ingredients Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) as of 
December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income/(loss), 
stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 28, 2019, and the related notes 
(collectively, the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all 
material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, and the results of its 
operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 28, 2019, 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) 
(PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 28, 2019, based on criteria established in 
Internal  Control  -  Integrated  Framework  (2013)  issued  by  the  Committee  of  Sponsoring  Organizations  of  the  Treadway 
Commission, and our report dated February 25, 2020 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s 
internal control over financial reporting.

Change in Accounting Principle

As discussed in Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has changed its method of accounting for leases as 
of December 30, 2018, due to the adoption of Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). As discussed 
in Note 22 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has changed its method of accounting for revenue recognition 
as of December 31, 2017, due to the adoption of ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606).

Basis for Opinion

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 are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB 
and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the 
applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the 
audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether 
due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated 
financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included 
examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated  financial statements. Our audits 
also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as 

Page 72

 
 
 
well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable 
basis for our opinion.

Critical Audit Matter

The  critical  audit  matter  communicated  below  is  a  matter  arising  from  the  current  period  audit  of  the  consolidated  financial 
statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or 
disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or 
complex judgment. The communication of a critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial 
statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on 
the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.

Assessment of the carrying value of goodwill

As discussed in Notes 1(b) and 7 to the consolidated financial statements, the goodwill balance as of December 28, 2019 
was $1,223,3 million. The Company performs the goodwill impairment testing on an annual basis at the end of fiscal month 
of October or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of goodwill might exceed 
the fair value of a reporting unit. 

We identified the assessment of the carrying value of goodwill for Company’s reporting units as a critical audit matter because 
of the high degree of subjectivity in evaluating the estimated fair values of the reporting units. The majority of the Company’s 
reporting units fair values approximated their carrying value, indicating a higher risk that the goodwill may be impaired and, 
therefore, resulted in the application of greater auditor judgment. Specifically, the raw material volume and gross margin 
forecasts used to determine the fair value of the reporting unit were challenging to audit as minor changes to those assumptions 
had a significant effect on the Company’s assessment of the carrying value of the goodwill.

The primary procedures we performed to address this critical audit matter included the following. We tested certain internal 
controls over the Company’s goodwill impairment assessment process, including controls related to the determination of 
the  fair  value  of  the  reporting  units  and  the  related  raw  material  volume  and  gross  margin  assumptions. We  performed 
sensitivity analyses over the raw material volume and gross margin assumptions to assess their impact on the Company’s 
determination that the fair value of the reporting units exceeded its carrying value. We evaluated the primary assumptions 
utilized by the Company, which included the Company’s forecasted raw material volume and gross margin assumptions for 
each reporting unit. We compared these forecasts to actual historical raw material volumes and gross margins and to available 
external pricing market data and Board approved capital projects. Lastly, we compared the Company’s historical raw material 
volume and gross margin forecasts to actual results to assess the Company’s ability to accurately forecast.

/s/ KPMG LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 1989.

Dallas, Texas
February 25, 2020

Page 73

 
 
 
DARLING INGREDIENTS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Stockholders and Board of Directors
Darling Ingredients Inc.:

Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting 

We  have  audited  Darling  Ingredients  Inc.  and  subsidiaries’  (the  Company)  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  as  of 
December 28, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of 
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective 
internal control over financial reporting as of December 28, 2019, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated 
Framework (2013) 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) 
(PCAOB),  the  consolidated  balance  sheets  of  the  Company  as  of  December 28,  2019  and  December  29,  2018,  the  related 
consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income/(loss), stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the years in 
the three-year period ended December 28, 2019, and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements), and 
our report dated February 25, 2020, expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.

Basis for Opinion 

The Company’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 are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent 
with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the 
Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. 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 of internal control over financial reporting 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.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting 

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

Page 74

 
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.

Dallas, Texas
February 25, 2020

/s/ KPMG LLP

Page 75

 
DARLING INGREDIENTS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Balance Sheets
December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018 
(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 $8,802
             at December 28, 2019 and $7,830 at December 29, 2018

Inventories
Prepaid expenses
Income taxes refundable
Other current assets

Total current assets

Property, plant and equipment, net
Intangible assets, net
Goodwill
Investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries
Operating lease right-of-use assets
Other assets
Deferred income taxes

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:

Current portion of long-term debt
Accounts payable, principally trade
Income taxes payable
Current operating lease liabilities
Accrued expenses

Total current liabilities

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

Total liabilities

Commitments and contingencies

Stockholders’ equity:

Common stock, $.01 par value; 250,000,000 shares authorized, 168,620,314
and 168,098,177 shares issued at December 28, 2019 and December 29,
2018, respectively

     Additional paid-in capital
     Treasury stock, at cost; 4,845,203 and 3,437,579 shares at
          December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, respectively

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Retained earnings

Total Darling's stockholders’ equity

Noncontrolling interests

Total stockholders’ equity

December 28,
2019

December 29,
2018

$

$

72,935
110

406,338
362,957
46,599
3,317
25,032
917,288

1,802,411
526,394
1,223,291
689,354
124,726
47,400
14,394
5,345,258

90,996
239,252
8,895
37,805
311,391
688,339

1,558,429
91,424
115,785
247,931
2,701,908

1,686
1,560,897

(75,022)
(321,847)
1,400,105
2,565,819
77,531
2,643,350
5,345,258

$

$

$

$

$

$

107,262
107

385,737
341,028
35,247
6,462
22,099
897,942

1,687,858
595,862
1,229,159
410,177
—
53,375
14,981
4,889,354

7,492
219,479
4,043
—
309,484
540,498

1,666,940
—
115,032
231,063
2,553,533

1,681
1,536,157

(47,756)
(304,539)
1,087,505
2,273,048
62,773
2,335,821
4,889,354

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

Page 76

 
 
       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DARLING INGREDIENTS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Operations
Three years ended December 28, 2019 
(in thousands, except per share data)

Net sales
Costs and expenses:

Cost of sales and operating expenses
Loss (gain) on sale of assets
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Restructuring and impairment charges
Depreciation and amortization
Total costs and expenses
Equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel
Operating income

Other expense:

Interest expense
Debt extinguishment costs
Foreign currency losses
Gain (loss) on disposal of subsidiaries
Other expense, net

Total other expense

Equity in net income/(loss) of other unconsolidated subsidiaries
Income from operations before income taxes

December 28,
2019
3,363,905

$

December 29,
2018
3,387,726

$

December 30,
2017
3,662,251

$

2,589,085
(20,582)
358,523
—
325,510
3,252,536
364,452
475,821

(78,674)
(12,126)
(1,311)
2,967
(6,671)
(95,815)

428
380,434

2,646,374
709
309,264
14,965
321,192
3,292,504
159,779
255,001

(86,429)
(23,509)
(6,431)
(12,545)
(7,562)
(136,476)

(550)
117,975

2,875,680
(237)
343,502
—
302,100
3,521,045
28,239
169,445

(88,926)
—
(6,898)
(885)
(8,801)
(105,510)

265
64,200

Income tax expense/(benefit)

59,467

12,031

(69,154)

Net income

320,967

105,944

133,354

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

(8,367)

(4,448)

(4,886)

Net income attributable to Darling

Net income per share:

Basic
Diluted

$

$
$

312,600

$

101,496

$

128,468

1.90
1.86

$
$

0.62
0.60

$
$

0.78
0.77

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

Page 77

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
DARLING INGREDIENTS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME/(LOSS)
Three years ended December 28, 2019 
(in thousands)

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

Foreign currency translation
Pension adjustments
Natural gas swap derivative adjustments
Corn option derivative adjustments
Heating oil derivative adjustments
Foreign exchange derivative adjustments

Total other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax
Total comprehensive income
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling

interests

Comprehensive income attributable to Darling

$

December 28,
2019

December 29,
2018

December 30,
2017

$

320,967

$

105,944

$

133,354

(11,934)
1,535
—
278
(3,141)
(3,723)
(16,985)
303,982

(87,474)
(2,730)
23
(1,687)
—
1,081
(90,787)
15,157

121,810
5,829
(18)
(1,078)
—
—
126,543
259,897

8,690
295,292

$

3,894
11,263

$

947
258,950

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

Page 78

 
 
 
DARLING INGREDIENTS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
Three years ended December 28, 2019 
(in thousands, except share data)

Common Stock

Number of
Outstanding
Shares

$.01
par
Value

Additional
Paid-In
Capital

Treasury
Stock

Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss

Stockholders'
equity
attributable
to Darling

Retained
Earnings

Non-
controlling
Interest

Total
Stockholders'
Equity

164,612,558 $ 1,676 $ 1,499,431 $ (40,909) $

(340,006) $ 852,802 $

1,972,994 $

103,228 $

2,076,222

(43)

(43)

128,468

128,468

—

—

—

—
—

—

—

—
—
(210,206)
251,085

—

—

—

—
—

—

—

—
—
—
3

—

—

—

(1,721)
—

—

—

—

—

—

—
—

—

—

—
14,831

—
—
— (3,154)
—

3,073

—

—

—

—
5,829

(18)

(1,078)

125,749
—
—
—

—

—
—

—

—

—
—
—
—

164,653,437 $ 1,679 $ 1,515,614 $ (44,063) $

(209,524) $ 981,227 $

—

—

—

—
—

—

—

—

—

—
(198,516)
205,677

—

—

—

—
—

—

—

—

—

—
—
2

—

—

—

—
—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—
—

—

—

—

—

18,260

—
— (3,693)
—

2,283

(4,782)

—

—

—
(2,730)

23

(1,687)

1,081

(86,920)

—
—
—

4,782

101,496

—

—
—

—

—

—

—

—
—
—

164,660,598 $ 1,681 $ 1,536,157 $ (47,756) $

(304,539) $ 1,087,505 $

—

—

—
—

—

—

—

—
—
(1,407,624)
522,137

—

—

—
—

—

—

—

—
—
—
5

—

—

—
—

—

—

—

—

—

—
—

—

—

—

—
21,007

—
—
— (27,266)
—

3,733

—

—

—
1,535

(3,141)

278

(3,723)

(12,257)
—
—
—

312,600

—

—
—

—

—

—

—
—
—
—

163,775,111 $ 1,686 $ 1,560,897 $ (75,022) $

(321,847) $ 1,400,105 $

—

4,886

(4,020)

(17,391)
—

—

—

—

(1,721)
5,829

(18)

(1,078)

125,749
14,831
(3,154)
3,076
2,244,933 $

(3,939)
—
—
—
82,764 $

—

101,496

—

—
(2,730)

23

(1,687)

1,081

(86,920)

18,260
(3,693)
2,285
2,273,048 $
312,600

—

—
1,535

(3,141)

278

(3,723)

—

4,448

(9,710)

(14,175)
—

—

—

—

(554)

—
—
—
62,773 $
8,367

(5,964)

12,032
—

—

—

—

(12,257)
21,007
(27,266)
3,738
2,565,819 $

323
—
—
—
77,531 $

(43)

133,354

(4,020)

(19,112)
5,829

(18)

(1,078)

121,810
14,831
(3,154)
3,076
2,327,697

—

105,944

(9,710)

(14,175)
(2,730)

23

(1,687)

1,081

(87,474)
18,260
(3,693)
2,285
2,335,821
320,967

(5,964)

12,032
1,535

(3,141)

278

(3,723)

(11,934)
21,007
(27,266)
3,738
2,643,350

Balances at December 31, 2016
Adjustment to initially apply FASB ASC
No. 2016-09 Improvements to Employee
Share-Based Payment Accounting

Net income

Distribution of noncontrolling interest

earnings

Deductions to noncontrolling interests
Pension liability adjustments, net of tax

Natural gas swap derivative adjustment,

net of tax

Corn option derivative adjustment, net of

tax

Foreign currency translation adjustments
Stock-based compensation
Treasury stock
Issuance of common stock
Balances at December 30, 2017
Adjustment to initially apply FASB ASC
No. 2018-02 Reclassification of Certain
Tax Effects from Accumulated Other
Comprehensive Income

Net income
Distribution of noncontrolling interest

earnings

Deductions to noncontrolling interests
Pension liability adjustments, net of tax
Natural gas swap derivative adjustment,

net of tax

Corn option derivative adjustment, net of

tax

Foreign exchange derivative adjustment,

net of tax

Foreign currency translation adjustments

Stock-based compensation
Treasury stock
Issuance of common stock
Balances at December 29, 2018
Net income

Distribution of noncontrolling interest

earnings

Additions to noncontrolling interests
Pension liability adjustments, net of tax
Heating oil derivative adjustment, net of

tax

Corn option derivative adjustment, net of

tax

Foreign exchange derivative adjustment,

net of tax

Foreign currency translation adjustments
Stock-based compensation
Treasury stock
Issuance of common stock
Balances at December 28, 2019

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

Page 79

  
 
DARLING INGREDIENTS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Three years ended December 28, 2019 
(in thousands)

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net income

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

Depreciation and amortization
Deferred income taxes
Loss/(gain) on sale of assets
Loss/(gain) on disposal of subsidiaries
Asset impairment
Gain on insurance proceeds from insurance settlement
Increase in long-term pension liability
Stock-based compensation expense
Debt extinguishment costs
Write-off deferred loan costs
Deferred loan cost amortization
Equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel and other unconsolidated subsidiaries
Distributions of earnings from Diamond Green Diesel and other unconsolidated subsidiaries

             Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net
                   of effects from acquisitions:

Accounts receivable
Income taxes refundable/payable
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 subsidiaries
       Proceeds from sale of investment in subsidiaries
       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

Net cash overdraft financing

Deferred loan costs

Issuance of common stock

Repurchase of common stock

Minimum withholding taxes paid on stock awards

Deductions of noncontrolling interest

Distributions to noncontrolling interests

Net cash used in financing activities

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash flows

Net increase/(decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

Accrued capital expenditures

Cash paid during the year for:

Interest, net of capitalized interest

Income taxes, net of refunds

Non-cash operating activities

          Operating lease right of use asset obtained in exchange for new lease liabilities

Non-cash financing activities

Debt issued for service contract assets

December 28,
2019

December 29,
2018

December 30,
2017

$

320,967

$

105,944

$

133,354

325,510
20,530
(20,582)
(2,967)
—
(6,600)
1,831
21,007
12,126
270
5,846
(364,880)
69,213

(26,086)
9,542
(39,111)
32,436
3,569
362,621

(359,498)
(1,431)
(2,000)
3,671
18,235
6,600
(3,651)
(338,074)

517,606

(581,163)

469,227

(461,669)

38,367

(7,027)

39

(19,260)

(4,472)

—

(6,533)

(54,885)

(3,986)

(34,324)

107,369

73,045

6,714

79,132

29,778

40,596

25

$

$

$

$

$

$

321,192
(16,974)
709
12,545
2,907
(1,253)
1,463
18,779
23,509
320
7,870
(159,229)
67,638

(6,347)
(9,809)
2,391
14,534
12,426
398,615

(321,896)
(107,727)
(12,250)
82,760
19,328
1,253
(3,883)
(342,415)

624,620

(686,628)

543,898

(510,974)

3,460

(9,668)

182

—

(2,215)

—

(10,257)

(47,582)

(8,165)

453

106,916

107,369

5,951

75,006

33,162

$

$

$

$

302,100
(98,805)
(237)
885
—
(1,427)
2,383
17,598
—
766
8,736
(28,504)
26,761

3,482
9,360
(15,022)
73,386
(24,380)
410,436

(274,168)
(12,144)
(4,750)
—
8,090
6,054
(7,135)
(284,053)

33,401

(149,623)

199,495

(204,935)

(714)

(6,717)

22

—

(3,049)

(17,451)

(5,281)

(154,852)

20,528

(7,941)

114,857

106,916

1,521

78,233

26,304

— $

—

22

$

9,459

$

$

$

$

$

$

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

Page 80

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DARLING INGREDIENTS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

NOTE 1.  GENERAL

(a)  

NATURE OF OPERATIONS

Darling Ingredients Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Darling”, and together with its subsidiaries, the “Company”), is a 
global developer and producer of sustainable natural ingredients from edible and inedible bio-nutrients, creating a 
wide range of ingredients and customized specialty solutions for customers in the pharmaceutical, food, pet food, 
feed, industrial, fuel, bioenergy and fertilizer industries.  The Company’s business operations is conducted through a 
global network of over 200 locations across five continents within three business segments, Feed Ingredients, Food 
Ingredients and Fuel Ingredients.  Comparative segment revenues and related financial information are presented in 
Note 21 to the consolidated financial statements.

(b) 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

(1)   Basis of Presentation

The  consolidated  financial  statements  include  the  accounts  of  Darling  and  its  consolidated  subsidiaries. 
Noncontrolling  interests  represents  the  outstanding  ownership  interest  in  the  Company's  consolidated 
subsidiaries that are not owned by the Company. In the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations, 
the  noncontrolling  interest  in  net  income  of  the  consolidated  subsidiaries  is  shown  as  an  allocation  of  the 
Company's net income and is presented separately as “Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests”.  In 
the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets, noncontrolling interests represents the ownership interests in the 
Company consolidated subsidiaries' net assets held by parties other than the Company.  These ownership interests 
are presented separately as “Noncontrolling interests” within “Stockholders' Equity.” All 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 28, 2019, the 52 weeks 
ended December 29, 2018, and the 52 weeks ended December 30, 2017.

(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. Cash balances are recorded net of book overdrafts when a bank right-of-offset exists. 
All other book overdrafts are recorded in accounts payable and the change in the related balance is reflected in 
operating activities on the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.  In addition, the Company has bank overdrafts, 
which are considered a form of short-term financing with changes in the related balance reflected in financing 
activities in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. 

Restricted cash represents amounts required to be set aside to cover self-insurance claims and collateral for 
environmental claims.  The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted 
cash on the consolidated balance sheet that sum to the total of the same amounts shown in the Consolidated 
Statements of Cash Flows (in thousands):

Cash and cash equivalents
Restricted cash

Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
shown in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

December 28,
2019

December 29,
2018

$

$

72,935 $
110

107,262
107

73,045 $

107,369

Page 81

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

(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.  The Company has entered into 
agreements  with  third  party  banks  to  factor  certain  of  the  Company's  trade  receivables  in  order  to  enhance 
working capital by turning trade receivables into cash faster.  Under these agreements, the Company will sell 
certain selected customers trade receivables to the third party banks without recourse for cash less a nominal 
fee.  For the year ended December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, the Company sold approximately $204.1 
million and $113.5 million of its trade receivables and incurred approximately $1.2 million and $0.6 million in 
fees, which are recorded as interest expense, respectively.  For the year ended December 30, 2017, no receivables 
were factored.

(5)   Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value.  Cost is primarily determined using the first-
in, first-out (FIFO) method for the Feed Ingredients and Fuel Ingredients segments.  In the Food Ingredients 
segment cost is primarily determined based on the weighted average cost.

(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, 3 to 8 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 Industries Inc. on December 17, 2010 (which was subsequently converted to a 
limited liability company) and its subsidiaries (“Griffin”) and trade names acquired in the acquisition of its 
Darling Ingredients International business.  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, product development, consulting, 
land use rights and leasehold agreements.  Amortization expense is calculated using the straight-line method 
over the estimated useful lives of the assets ranging from:  5 to 21 years for collection routes; 10 to 20 years for 
permits;  3  to  7  years  for  non-compete  covenants;  and  4  to  15  years  for  trade  names.  Royalty,  product 
development, consulting, land use rights and leasehold agreements are generally 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 

Page 82

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

future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized by the amount for which the carrying amount of the asset 
exceeds the fair value of the asset.  

(8)  Goodwill

The Company performed the annual goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets impairment assessments at 
October 26, 2019 and concluded that the Company's goodwill for all reporting units and all recorded indefinite-
lived intangible assets were not impaired as of that date.  Goodwill and indefinite lived assets are tested 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 2019, 2018 and 2017, the fair values of the Company’s reporting units containing goodwill exceeded 
the related carrying values.  Goodwill was approximately $1,223.3 million and $1,229.2 million at December 28, 
2019 and December 29, 2018, respectively.  See Note 7 for further information on the Company’s goodwill. 

(9)  Leases

The Company accounts for leases in accordance with Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) Topic 842, 
leases.  The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception for which the Company recognizes 
the right-of-use (“ROU”) asset and a lease liability at the lease commencement date.  For operating leases, the 
lease liability is initially and subsequently measured at the present value of the unpaid lease payments at the 
lease commencement date. In determining the lease liability, the Company applies a discount rate to the minimum 
lease payments within each lease.  ASC 842 requires the Company to use the rate of interest that a lessee would 
have to pay to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term an amount equal to the lease payments in a 
similar economic environment.  To estimate the Company's incremental borrowing rate over various terms, a 
comparable market yield curve consistent with the Company's credit quality is determined.  The lease term for 
all of the Company's leases include the noncancellable period of the lease plus any additional periods covered 
by either a Company option to extend the lease that the Company is reasonably certain to exercise or when a 
triggering event occurs.  The Company has elected to not recognize a ROU asset and lease liability with an 
initial term of 12 months or less at lease commencement.  Current operating leases are included on the Company's 
balance sheet as a ROU asset, current operating lease liabilities and long-term operating lease liabilities.  For 
finance leases, the lease liability is initially measured in the same manner and date as for the operating leases, 
and is subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method. Finance leases are included 
in property, plant and equipment, current portion of long-term debt and long-term debt, net of current portion, 
but are not significant to the Company.  

The ROU asset is initially measured at cost, which comprises the initial amount of the lease liability adjusted 
for lease payments made at or before the lease commencement date, plus any direct costs incurred less any lease 
incentives received.  For operating leases, the ROU asset is subsequently measured throughout the lease term 
at the carrying amount of the lease liability, plus initial direct costs, plus (minus) any prepaid (accrued) lease 
payments, less the unamortized balance of the lease incentives received.  Some leases payments contain rent 
escalation  clauses  (including  index-based  escalations),  initially  measured  using  the  index  at  the  lease 
commencement date. The Company recognizes minimum rental expense on a straight-line basis based on the 
fixed components of the lease arrangement.  

The Company uses the long-lived assets impairment guidance in ASC subtopic 360-10, Property, Plant and 
Equipment - Overall, to determine whether the ROU asset is impaired, and if so, the amount of the impairment 
loss to recognize.  The Company monitors for events or changes in circumstances that require a reassessment 
of one of its leases.  When a reassessment results in the remeasurement of a lease liability, a corresponding 
adjustment is made to the carrying amount of the corresponding ROU asset unless doing so would reduce the 
carrying amount of the ROU asset to an amount less than zero.  In that case, the amount of the adjustment that 
would result in a negative ROU asset balance is recorded in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Page 83

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

As  a  result  of  adopting  the  new  lease  standard,  the  Company  recognized  additional  operating  liabilities  of 
approximately $134.4 million with a corresponding ROU asset of approximately $135.7 million as of December 
30, 2018.

(10)  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.

(11)  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 taxable income in future years.  

The Company recognizes tax benefits from uncertain tax positions only if it is more likely than not that the tax 
position will be sustained upon examination by the relevant taxing authority.  Adjustments are made to the 
reserves for uncertain tax positions when facts and circumstances change or additional information is available. 
Judgment is required to assess the impact of ongoing audits conducted by tax authorities in determining the 
Company’s consolidated income tax provision. The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties on tax 
related matters as a component of income tax expense.

(12)  Earnings per Share

Basic income per common share is computed by dividing net income attributable to Darling by the weighted 
average  number  of  common  shares  including  non-vested  and  restricted  shares  with  participation  rights 
outstanding  during  the  period.  Diluted  income  per  common  share  is  computed  by  dividing  net  income 
attributable to Darling 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, except per share data)

December 28,

2019

December 29,

2018

December 30,

2017

Income

Shares

Per-
Share

Income

Shares

Per-
Share

Income

Shares

Per-
Share

Basic:

Net income attributable to Darling

$ 312,600

164,633

$ 1.90

$101,496

164,789

$ 0.62

$128,468

164,752

$ 0.78

Diluted:

Effect of dilutive securities

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

Less: Pro-forma treasury shares

Diluted:

—

—

5,983

(2,238)

—

—

—

—

5,234

(2,113)

—

—

—

—

3,865

(1,887)

—

—

Net income attributable to Darling

$ 312,600

168,378

$ 1.86

$101,496

167,910

$ 0.60

$128,468

166,730

$ 0.77

Page 84

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

For fiscal 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively, 638,146, 693,172 and 340,504 outstanding stock options were 
excluded from diluted income per common share as the effect was antidilutive.  For fiscal 2019, 2018 and 2017, 
respectively, 611,187, 502,292 and 288,616 non-vested stock were excluded from diluted income per common 
share as the effect was antidilutive.

(13)  Stock Based Compensation

The Company recognizes compensation expense ratably over the vesting period 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 
and non-employee directors 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. The Company's policy is to account 
for forfeitures in the period they occur, rather than estimating a forfeiture rate.  The Company does not reclassify 
excess tax benefits from operating activities to financing activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.  
Additionally, the Company excludes the excess tax benefits from the assumed proceeds available to repurchase 
shares of common stock in the computation of the Company's diluted earnings per share.  The Company records 
tax benefit or expense within income tax expense for the year ended December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018 
related to the excess tax expense on stock options, nonvested stock, director restricted stock units and performance 
units.  Prior to fiscal 2017, the Company recorded excess tax benefit or expense as reduction of additional paid-
in capital.  

Total stock-based compensation recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended 
December 28, 2019, December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017 was approximately $21.0 million, $18.8 million
and $17.6 million, respectively, which is included in selling, general and administrative expenses, and the related 
income tax benefit recognized was approximately $4.3 million, $3.9 million and $3.7 million, respectively.  See 
Note 13 for further information on the Company’s stock-based compensation plans. 

(14)  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.

(15)  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 5.25% Senior Notes 
due 2027, 3.625% Senior Notes due 2026, term loans and revolver borrowings outstanding at December 28, 
2019, as described in Note 10 have a fair value based on market valuation from a third-party banks.  The  carrying 
amount for the Company’s other debt is not deemed to be significantly different than the carrying value.  See 
Note 17 for financial instruments' fair values. 

(16)  Derivative Instruments

The Company makes limited use of derivative instruments to manage cash flow risks related to natural gas 
usage, inventory, forecasted sales and foreign currency exchange rates.  The Company does not use derivative 
instruments for trading purposes.  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 

Page 85

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

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. Soybean meal options are entered into with the intent of managing the impact 
of changing prices for poultry meal sales.  Corn options and future contracts are entered into with the intent of 
managing U.S. forecasted sales of BBP by reducing the impact of changing prices.   Foreign currency forward 
contracts are entered into to mitigate the foreign exchange rate risk for transactions designated in a currency 
other than the local functional currency. 

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 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 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.  Hedge accounting treatment ceases if or when the hedge transaction is no longer probable 
of occurring or the hedge relationship correlation no longer qualifies for hedge accounting.

At December 28, 2019, the Company had foreign currency option and forward contracts and corn option contracts 
outstanding that qualified and were designated for hedge accounting as well as corn forward contracts and foreign 
currency forward contracts that did not qualify and were not designated for hedge accounting.

(17)  Revenue Recognition

The Company recognizes revenue on sales when control of the promised finished product is transferred to the 
Company's customers in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in 
exchange for the finished product.  Service revenues are recognized when the service occurs.  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 control of the promised 
finished product is transferred to the Company's customer.  See Note 22 to the consolidated financial statements.

(18)  Related Party Transactions

The Company announced in January 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  “DGD  Joint  Venture”).    The  Company  has  related  party  sale 
transactions and loan transactions with the DGD Joint Venture.  See Note 24 for further information on the 
Company's related party transactions.

(19)  Foreign Currency Translation and Remeasurement

Foreign currency translation is included as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income and reflects 
the adjustments resulting from translating the foreign currency denominated financial statements of foreign 
subsidiaries into U.S. dollars. The functional currency of the Company's foreign subsidiaries is the currency of 
the primary economic environment in which the entity operates, which is generally the local currency of the 
country.  Accordingly, assets and liabilities of the foreign subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars at fiscal 
year end exchange rates, including intercompany foreign currency transactions that are of long-term investment 
nature.  Income and expense items are translated at average exchange rates occurring during the period. Changes 
in exchange rates that affect cash flows and the related receivables or payables are recognized as transaction 
gains and losses in determining net income. The Company incurred net foreign currency translation losses of 
approximately  $12.3  million  and  $86.9  million  in  fiscal  2019  and  fiscal  2018,  respectively.   The  Company 
incurred net foreign currency translation gain of approximately $125.7 million in fiscal 2017.

(20)  Reclassification

Certain  prior  year  amounts  have  been  reclassified  to  conform  to  the  current  year  presentation  including 
reclassification of the Company's equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel to operating income.  See Note 
2 for further discussion. 

Page 86

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

(21)  Subsequent Events

The Company evaluates subsequent events from the end of the most recent fiscal year through the date the 
consolidated financial statements are issued. 

NOTE 2. 

INVESTMENT IN UNCONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES

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 DGD Joint Venture.  The DGD Joint Venture is owned 50% / 50% with 
Valero and was formed to design, engineer, construct and operate a renewable diesel plant (the “DGD Facility”), 
which as result of its recently expanded capacity is now capable of processing approximately 20,000 barrels per day 
of input feedstock to produce renewable diesel fuel and certain other co-products, and is located adjacent to Valero's 
refinery in Norco, Louisiana.  The DGD Joint Venture reached mechanical completion and began the production of 
renewable diesel in late June 2013. 

In  2019,  the  Company  continued  to  evaluate  operational  developments  and  the  impact  of  anticipated  significant 
expansion of the DGD Joint Venture.  This evaluation was impactful to the consideration of how the Company most 
appropriately reflects its share of equity income from the DGD Joint Venture.  Based on the Company's analysis, it 
was determined that the DGD Joint Venture has evolved into an integral and integrated part of the Company's ongoing 
operations.  The Company determined this justifies a more meaningful and transparent presentation of equity in net 
income of the DGD Joint Venture as a component of the Company's operating income.  As a result, the Company has 
reclassified its equity in net income of the DGD Joint Venture to operating income for all periods presented.

Selected financial information for the Company's DGD Joint Venture is as follows:

(in thousands)
Assets:

Total current assets
Property, plant and equipment, net
Other assets

Liabilities and members' equity:

Total current portion of long term debt
Total other current liabilities
Total long term debt
Total other long term liabilities
Total members' equity

Total assets

$

$

$

December 31,
2019

December 31,
2018

668,026 $
713,489
30,710
1,412,225 $

341 $

75,802
8,742
4,422
1,322,918
1,412,225 $

186,258
576,384
24,601
787,243

189
40,619
8,485
539
737,411
787,243

Total liabilities and member's equity

$

(in thousands)
Revenues:

Operating revenues

Expenses:

Year Ended December 31,
2018

2017

2019

$

1,217,504 $

677,663 $

633,908

Total costs and expenses less depreciation,

amortization and accretion expense

Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense

Operating income

Other income
Interest and debt expense, net

Net income

$

438,672
50,767
728,065
2,121
(1,282)
728,904 $

329,636
29,434
318,593
1,919
(955)
319,557 $

547,512
28,955
57,441
1,343
(2,306)
56,478

As of December 28, 2019, under the equity method of accounting, the Company has an investment in the DGD Joint 
Venture of approximately $661.5 million on the consolidated balance sheet and has recorded approximately $364.5

Page 87

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

million,  $159.8  million  and  $28.2  million  in  equity  net  income  of  Diamond  Green  Diesel  for  the  years  ended 
December 28, 2019, December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017, respectively.  Biodiesel blenders registered with 
the Internal Revenue Service were eligible for a tax incentive in the amount of $1.00 per gallon of renewable diesel 
blended with petroleum diesel to produce a mixture containing at least 0.1% diesel fuel.  The blenders tax credit for 
calendar year 2019 and 2018 was approved by the U.S. Congress in December 2019.  In February 2018, the blenders 
tax credits for calendar year 2017 were retroactively reinstated by the U.S. Congress.  Fiscal 2017 results do not 
include any blenders tax credits, while in fiscal 2019, the DGD Joint Venture recorded approximately $274.7 million
for 2019 blenders tax credits and approximately $155.9 million for 2018 blenders tax credits.  In fiscal 2018, the DGD 
Joint Venture recorded approximately $160.4 million for the 2017 reinstated blenders tax credits. In addition, the 
Company received $67.5 million, $65.0 million and $25.0 million for each of the years ended December 28, 2019,  
December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017, in dividend distributions from the DGD Joint Venture.

In addition to the DGD Joint Venture, the Company has investments in other unconsolidated subsidiaries that are 
insignificant to the Company. 

NOTE 3.  ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS

In December 2019, the Company began to consolidate EnviroFlight, LLC due to a loan issued by the Company, which 
resulted in more control by the Company based on variable interest entity literature.  In January 2020, the Company 
acquired the other 50% minority interest in EnviroFlight, LLC from the other joint venture partner for approximately 
$12.2 million, thereby increasing the Company's ownership interest in EnviroFlight, LLC to 100%. 

In October 2018, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of Triple - T Foods - Arkansas, Inc. including 
a wet pet food ingredient operation in Springdale, Arkansas and a cold storage operation in Rogers, Arkansas.  The 
Company paid approximately $50.4 million in cash for assets and assumed liabilities consisting of property, plant and 
equipment of approximately $11.2 million, intangible assets of approximately $21.8 million, consisting of routes, 
permits and non-compete agreements, goodwill of approximately $8.4 million, and other including working capital 
of approximately $9.0 million. The Company finalized the working capital amount and paid holdback amounts in 
fiscal  year  2019,  which  resulted  in  insignificant  adjustments  to  previously  disclosed  amounts.  The  identifiable 
intangible assets have a weighted average life of 15 years.

In September 2018, the Company liquidated a consolidated joint venture that was part of the Company's international 
operations.  The transaction resulted in the Company recording a gain of approximately $3.0 million.

In  May  2018,  the  Company  acquired  substantially  all  of  the  assets  of  Kruger  Commodities,  Inc.  (the  “Kruger 
Acquisition”) including protein conversion facilities in Hamilton, MI and Tama, IA, along with a protein blending 
operation and used cooking oil collection business in Omaha, NE. The Company paid approximately $51.3 million
in cash for assets and assumed liabilities consisting of property, plant and equipment of approximately $15.2 million, 
intangible assets of approximately $15.9 million, consisting of routes, permits and non-compete agreements, goodwill 
of approximately $19.6 million, and other of approximately $0.6 million. The identifiable intangible assets have a 
weighted average life of 15 years.

In  May  2018,  the  Company  sold  its  Terra  Renewal  Services  (“TRS”)  industrial  residuals  business  to American 
Residuals Group, LLC.  TRS is a provider of environmental services focused on the collection, hauling, and disposal 
of non-hazardous, liquid and semi-solid waste streams from the food processing industry.  All of the used cooking oil 
business originally acquired as part of TRS was retained by the Company.  The transaction price for the industrial 
residuals business sold for approximately $80.0 million in cash and resulted in the Company recording a loss on the 
TRS sale of approximately $15.6 million, due to a substantial portion of the original purchase price of TRS being 
allocated to the industrial residuals business.

In January 2018, the Company through a wholly-owned international subsidiary, sold a portion of its interest in a 
majority  owned  consolidated  subsidiary  for  approximately  $2.8  million.  This  transaction  resulted  in  the  foreign 
subsidiary being deconsolidated and accounted for using the equity method of accounting, effective January 2018.  
In fiscal 2017, as part of this transaction, the Company recorded $37.8 million of assets held for sale and $19.2 million 
of liabilities held for sale, which are included in other current assets and accrued liabilities, respectively.  In addition, 
the Company recorded a loss of approximately $0.9 million in fiscal 2017 from this transaction. 

In fiscal  2017, the Company, through a wholly-owned international subsidiary, acquired the  minority interest in one 
of its international subsidiaries for approximately $19.1 million, including transaction costs. 

Page 88

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

Additionally, the Company made other immaterial acquisitions and disposition in fiscal 2019, fiscal 2018 and fiscal 
2017.

NOTE 4. 

INVENTORIES

A summary of inventories follows (in thousands):

Finished product
Work in process
Raw material
Supplies and other

December 28,
2019

December 29,
2018

$

$

199,799
81,841
41,964
39,353
362,957

$

$

176,184
78,501
32,502
53,841
341,028

The Company's work in process inventory represents inventory in the Food Ingredients segment that is in various 
stages of processing.

NOTE 5.  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 28,
2019

December 29,
2018

$

$

157,721
619,212
2,002,237
269,529
9,708
182,392
3,240,799
(1,438,388)
1,802,411

$

$

159,981
548,394
1,757,314
236,465
18,146
213,653
2,933,953
(1,246,095)
1,687,858

NOTE 6. 

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 28,
2019

December 29,
2018

Indefinite Lived Intangible Assets

Trade names

Finite Lived Intangible Assets:

Routes
Permits
Non-compete agreements
Trade names
Royalty, consulting, land use rights and leasehold

Accumulated Amortization:

Routes
Permits
Non-compete agreements
Trade names
Royalty, consulting, land use rights and leasehold

$

52,733
52,733

$

382,263
483,593
3,840
65,670
20,737
956,103

(169,050)
(272,213)
(3,111)
(32,890)
(5,178)
(482,442)
526,394

$

53,472
53,472

386,724
486,359
3,784
72,570
16,528
965,965

(145,702)
(238,123)
(2,501)
(33,242)
(4,007)
(423,575)
595,862

Total Intangible assets, less accumulated amortization

$

Gross intangible routes, permits, trade names, non-compete agreements and other intangibles partially decreased in 
fiscal 2019 and fiscal 2018 by approximately $13.4 million and $5.5 million, respectively as a result of asset retirements 

Page 89

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

and decreased in fiscal 2019 and fiscal 2018 by approximately $0.5 million and $44.6 million from the sale of certain 
subsidiaries.  In addition, gross intangible routes, permits, trade names, non-compete agreements and other intangibles 
partially increased in fiscal 2019 and fiscal 2018 due to acquired intangibles of approximately $5.7 million and $44.1 
million, respectively.  Amortization expense for the three years ended December 28, 2019, December 29, 2018 and 
December 30, 2017, was approximately $73.6 million, $75.2 million and $78.0 million, respectively.  Amortization 
expense for the next five fiscal years is estimated to be $73.5 million, $66.3 million, $64.5 million, $63.0 million and 
$43.4 million.

NOTE 7.  GOODWILL

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

Balance at December 30, 2017

Goodwill
Accumulated impairment losses

Goodwill acquired during year
Goodwill impairment during year
Goodwill disposed of during year

Foreign currency translation
Balance at December 29, 2018

Goodwill
Accumulated impairment losses

Goodwill acquired during year
Goodwill disposed of during year
Foreign currency translation
Balance at December 28, 2019

Goodwill
Accumulated impairment losses

Feed
Ingredients

Food
Ingredients

Fuel
Ingredients

Total

$

848,167 $
(15,914)
832,253
27,645
—
(61,088)
(22,758)

791,966
(15,914)
776,052
396
(636)
1,731

344,471 $

124,369 $

—
344,471
1,608
(461)
(371)
(10,007)

335,701
(461)
335,240
91
—
(6,138)

—
124,369
—
—
—
(6,502)

117,867
—
117,867
—
—
(1,312)

1,317,007
(15,914)
1,301,093
29,253
(461)
(61,459)
(39,267)

1,245,534
(16,375)
1,229,159
487
(636)
(5,719)

793,457
(15,914)
777,543 $

329,654
(461)
329,193 $

116,555
—

116,555 $

1,239,666
(16,375)
1,223,291

$

The process of evaluating goodwill for impairment involves the determination of the fair value of the Company's 
reporting units.  In fiscal 2019, fiscal 2018 and fiscal 2017, the fair values of the Company’s reporting units containing 
goodwill exceeded the related carrying value pursuant to a quantitative assessment completed as of October 26, 2019, 
October 27, 2018 and October 28, 2017, respectively.

NOTE 8.  ACCRUED EXPENSES

Accrued expenses consist of the following (in thousands): 

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

and tax matters  (Note 20)

Medical claims liability
Accrued operating expenses
 Accrued interest payable
Customer deposits
Other accrued expense

December 28,
2019

December 29,
2018

$

$

107,324
18,085
30,231

19,373
8,285
67,194
9,879
18,318
32,702
311,391

$

$

91,851
20,447
31,366

14,030
9,981
62,247
17,536
30,741
31,285
309,484

Page 90

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

NOTE 9.  LEASES

In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 
No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The Company adopted the new standard on December 30, 2018 using the modified 
retrospective approach and is using the effective date as the Company's date of initial application and consequently, 
financial information will not be updated and the disclosures required under the this ASU will not be provided for 
dates and periods before December 30, 2018. The Company has elected the package of expedients, which permits the 
Company not to reassess under the new standard the Company's prior conclusions about lease identification, lease 
classification  and  initial  direct  costs.   The  Company  did  not  elect  the  use-of-hindsight  or  the  practical  expedient 
pertaining to land easements; the latter not being applicable to the Company. 

The  Company  leases  certain  real  and  personal  property  under  non-cancelable  operating  leases.    In  addition,  the 
Company leases a large portion of the Company's fleet of tractors, all of its rail cars, some IT equipment and other 
transportation equipment.   The Company's office leases include certain lease and non-lease components, where the 
Company has elected to exclude the non-lease components from the calculation of the lease liability and ROU asset.  
The Company has finance leases, which are not significant to the Company and not separately disclosed in detail. In 
addition, the Company's other variable lease payments are not significant.

The components of operating lease expense included in cost of sales and operating expenses and selling, general and 
administrative expenses were as follows (in thousands):

Operating lease expense
Short-term lease costs
Total lease cost

Other information (in thousands, except lease terms and discount rates):

Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement lease liabilities

Operating cash flows from operating leases

Operating right-of-use assets, net

Operating lease liabilities, current
Operating lease liabilities, non-current
Total operating lease liabilities

Weighted average remaining lease term - operating leases
Weighted average discount rate - operating leases

$

$

$

$

$

$

Twelve Months Ended
December 28, 2019

48,858
18,163
67,021

Twelve Months Ended
December 28, 2019

47,691

124,726

37,805
91,424
129,229

6.46 years
4.55%

Future annual minimum lease payments and capital lease commitments as of December 28, 2019 were as follows (in 
thousands):

Period Ending Fiscal
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Thereafter

Less amounts representing interest
Lease obligations included in current and long-term liabilities

Page 91

Operating Leases

Capital Leases

$

46,062 $
34,039
23,920
19,287
13,230
26,088
162,626
(33,397)
129,229

119
12
11
5
4
—
151
(6)
145

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

The Company adopted ASU 2016-02 on December 30, 2018 as noted above.  The following disclosure is provided 
for periods prior to adoption.  Future annual minimum lease payments and capital lease commitments as of December 
29, 2018 were as follows (in thousands):

Period Ending Fiscal
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Thereafter

Less amounts representing interest
Capital lease obligations included in current and long-term debt

Operating Leases

Capital Leases

$

$

46,316 $
34,403
22,252
13,091
8,478
28,219
152,759 $

$

271
152
6
6
—
—
435
(20)
415

Rent expense was approximately $51.8 million and $48.7 million, for the fiscal years ended December 29, 2018 and 
December 30, 2017, respectively.

The Company's capital lease assets are included in property, plant and equipment and the capital lease obligations are 
included in the Company's current and long-term debt obligations on the consolidated balance sheet.

NOTE 10.  DEBT

Debt consists of the following (in thousands): 

Amended Credit Agreement:

Revolving Credit Facility ($32.1 million denominated in euro at December 29, 2018)

$

39,000

$

32,105

December 28,
2019

December 29,
2018

Term Loan A ($29.8 million denominated in CAD at December 29, 2018)
Less unamortized deferred loan costs
Carrying value Term Loan A

Term Loan B
Less unamortized deferred loan costs
Carrying value Term Loan B

5.25% Senior Notes due 2027 with effective interest of 5.47%
Less unamortized deferred loan costs
Carrying value 5.25% Senior Notes due 2027

5.375% Senior Notes due 2022 with effective interest of 5.72%
Less unamortized deferred loan costs
Carrying value 5.375% Senior Notes due 2022

3.625% Senior Notes due 2026 - Denominated in euro with effective interest of 3.83%
Less unamortized deferred loan costs - Denominated in euro
Carrying value 3.625% Senior Notes due 2026

Other Notes and Obligations

Less Current Maturities

—
—
—

495,000
(7,696)
487,304

500,000
(6,494)
493,506

—
—
—

574,096
(6,982)
567,114

68,080
(381)
67,699

495,000
(9,024)
485,976

—
—
—

500,000
(4,876)
495,124

590,499
(8,160)
582,339

62,501
1,649,425
90,996
1,558,429

$

11,189
1,674,432
7,492
1,666,940

$

As of December 28, 2019, the Company had capital lease obligations denominated in Canadian dollars included in 
debt.  The total Canadian dollar capital lease obligation was approximately CAD$0.1 million.

Page 92

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

As of December 28, 2019, the Company had outstanding debt under the Company's 3.625% Senior Notes due 2026 
denominated in euros of €515.0 million. See below for discussion relating to the Company's debt agreements.  In 
addition, at December 28, 2019, the Company had capital lease obligations denominated in euros included in debt.  
The total euro capital lease obligation was less than €0.1 million.

As of December 28, 2019, the Company had other notes and obligations that consist of various overdraft facilities of 
approximately $42.2 million, a China working capital line of credit of approximately $17.5 million and other debt of 
approximately $2.8 million.

Senior Secured Credit Facilities. On January 6, 2014, Darling, Darling International Canada Inc. (“Darling Canada”) 
and Darling International NL Holdings B.V. (“Darling NL”) entered into a Second Amended and Restated Credit 
Agreement (as subsequently amended, the “Amended Credit Agreement”), restating its then existing Amended and 
Restated Credit Agreement dated September 27, 2013, with the lenders from time to time party thereto, JPMorgan 
Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the other agents from time to time party thereto.

Effective December 18, 2017, the Company, and certain of its subsidiaries entered into an amendment (the “Fifth 
Amendment”) with its lenders to the Amended Credit Agreement.  Among other things, the Fifth Amendment (i) 
refinanced the term B loans under the Amended Credit Agreement with new term B loans in an aggregate principal 
amount of $525.0 million with a maturity date of December 18, 2024; (ii) adjusted the applicable margin pricing on 
borrowings under the term B loan; (iii) modified certain of the negative covenants to increase the allowances for 
certain actions, including debt and investments; and (iv) made other updates and changes.

Effective December 16, 2016, the Company, and certain of its subsidiaries entered into an amendment (the “Fourth 
Amendment”) with its lenders to the Amended Credit Agreement. Among other things, the Fourth Amendment (i) 
extended the maturity date of the term A loans and revolving credit facility loans under the Amended Credit Agreement 
from September 27, 2018 to December 16, 2021, subject to a 91-day “springing” adjustment if the term B loans are 
outstanding 91 days prior to the maturity date of the term B loans; (ii) reset the amortization schedule of the term A 
loans to their original schedule; (iii) adjusted the applicable margin pricing grid on borrowings under the term A Loan 
and revolving credit facility which adjusts based on the Company’s total leverage ratio as set forth in the Amended 
Credit Agreement; (iv) eliminated the secured leverage ratio financial maintenance covenant so that from and after 
the effective date of the Fourth Amendment the Company’s financial covenants consist of maintaining of total leverage 
ratio not to exceed 5.50 to 1.00 and maintaining an interest coverage ratio of not less than 3.00 to 1.00; (v) modified 
certain of the negative covenants to include a senior leverage ratio incurrence-based test and to increase the allowances 
for certain actions, including debt, investments and restricted payments; and (vi) made other updates and changes.

The Amended Credit Agreement provides for senior secured credit facilities in the aggregate principal amount of 
$1.88 billion comprised of (i) the Company's $350.0 million term loan A facility (ii) the Company's $525.0 million
term loan B facility and (iii) the Company's $1.0 billion five-year revolving loan facility (approximately $150.0 million 
of which will be available for a letter of credit sub-facility and $50.0 million of which will be available for a swingline 
sub-facility)  (collectively,  the  “Senior  Secured  Credit  Facilities”).  The Amended  Credit Agreement  also  permits 
Darling and the other borrowers thereunder to incur ancillary facilities provided by any revolving lender party to the 
Senior Secured Credit Facilities (with certain restrictions).  Up to $948.3 million of the revolving loan facility is 
available to be borrowed by (x) Darling in U.S. dollars, Canadian dollars, euros and other currencies to be agreed and 
available to each applicable lender, (y) Darling Canada in Canadian dollars and (z) Darling NL, Darling Ingredients 
International Holding B.V. (“Darling BV”) and Darling Ingredients Germany Holding GmbH in U.S. dollars, Canadian 
dollars, euros and other currencies to be agreed and available to each applicable lender.  The revolving loan facility 
and term loan A facility will mature on December 16, 2021.  The revolving loan facility will be used for working 
capital needs, general corporate purposes and other purposes not prohibited by the Amended Credit Agreement.

The interest rate applicable to any borrowings under the term loan A facility and the revolving loan facility will equal 
either LIBOR/euro interbank offered rate/CDOR plus 2.00% per annum or base rate/Canadian prime rate plus 1.00%
per annum, subject to certain step-ups or step-downs based on the Company's total leverage ratio. The interest rate 
applicable to any borrowings under the term loan B facility will equal the base rate plus 1.00% or LIBOR plus 2.00%. 

As of December 28, 2019, the Company had $39.0 million outstanding under the revolver at base rate plus a margin 
of 1.00% per annum for a total of 5.75% per annum.  The Company had $495.0 million outstanding under the term 
loan B facility at LIBOR plus a margin of 2.00% per annum for a total of 3.71% per annum.  As of December 28, 
2019, the Company had availability of $911.9 million under the Amended Credit Agreement taking into account 

Page 93

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

amounts borrowed, ancillary facilities and letters of credit issued of $3.6 million.  The Company also has foreign bank 
guarantees that are not part of the Company's Amended Credit Agreement in the amount of approximately $11.4 
million at December 28, 2019.

The Amended Credit Agreement contains various customary representations and warranties by the Company, which 
include  customary  use  of  materiality,  material  adverse  effect  and  knowledge  qualifiers.  The  Amended  Credit 
Agreement also contains (a) certain affirmative covenants that impose certain reporting and/or performance obligations 
on Darling and its restricted subsidiaries, (b) certain negative covenants that generally prohibit, subject to various 
exceptions, Darling and its restricted subsidiaries from taking certain actions, including, without limitation, incurring 
indebtedness, making investments, incurring liens, paying dividends and engaging in mergers and consolidations, sale 
and leasebacks and asset dispositions, (c) financial covenants, which include a maximum total leverage ratio and a 
minimum interest coverage ratio and (d) customary events of default (including a change of control) for financings 
of  this  type.  Obligations  under  the  Senior  Secured  Credit  Facilities  may  be  declared  due  and  payable  upon  the 
occurrence and during the continuance of customary events of default. 

3.625% Senior Notes due 2026. On May 2, 2018, Darling Global Finance B.V. (the “3.625% Issuer”), a wholly-owned 
subsidiary of Darling, issued and sold €515.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.625% Senior Notes due 2026 
(the “3.625% Notes”).  The 3.625% Notes, which were offered in a private offering, were issued pursuant to a Senior 
Notes Indenture, dated as of May 2, 2018 (the “3.625% Indenture”), among Darling Global Finance B.V., Darling, 
the subsidiary guarantors party thereto from time to time, Citibank, N.A., London Branch, as trustee and principal 
paying agent, and Citigroup Global Markets Deutschland AG, as principal registrar.  The gross proceeds of the offering, 
together with borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facility, were used to refinance all of the 4.75% Notes 
(as defined below) by cash tender offer and redemption of those notes and to pay any applicable premiums for the 
refinancing, to pay the commission of the initial purchasers of the 3.625% Notes and to pay the other fees and expenses 
related to the offering.  The refinancing of the 4.75% Notes was completed during the second quarter of 2018.  

The 3.625% Notes will mature on May 15, 2026.  The 3.625% Issuer will pay interest on the 3.625% Notes on May 
15 and November 15 of each year, commencing on November 15, 2018.  Interest on the 3.625% Notes accrues from 
May 2, 2018 at a rate of 3.625% per annum and is payable in cash.  The 3.625% Notes are guaranteed on a senior 
unsecured  basis  by  Darling  and  all  of  Darling's  restricted  subsidiaries  (other  than  any  foreign  subsidiary  or  any 
receivable entity) that guarantee the Senior Secured Credit Facilities (collectively, the “3.625% Guarantors”).  The 
3.625%  Notes  and  the  guarantees  thereof  are  senior  unsecured  obligations  of  the  3.625%  Issuer  and  the  3.625%
Guarantors and rank equally in right of payment to all of the 3.625% Issuer's and the 3.625% Guarantors' existing and 
future senior unsecured indebtedness.  The 3.625% Indenture contains covenants limiting Darling's ability and the 
ability of its restricted subsidiaries (including the 3.625% Issuer) to, among other things: incur additional indebtedness 
or issue preferred stock; pay dividends on or make other distributions or repurchases of Darling's capital stock or 
make other restricted payments; create restrictions on the payment of dividends or certain 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 of substantially all of Darling's assets. 

Other than for extraordinary events such as change of control and defined assets sales, the 3.625% Issuer is not required 
to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments on the 3.625% Notes.  The 3.625% Notes are redeemable, 
in whole or in part, at any time on or after May 15, 2021 at the redemption prices specified in the 3.625% Indenture.  
The 3.625% Issuer may redeem some or all of the 3.625% Notes at any time prior to May 15, 2021, at a redemption 
price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the 3.625% Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the 
redemption date and an Applicable Premium as specified in the 3.625% Indenture and all additional amounts (if any) 
then due or which will become due on the redemption date as a result of the redemption or otherwise (subject to the 
rights of holders on the relevant record dates to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date and additional 
amounts (if any) in respect thereof).

5.25% Senior Notes due 2027. On April 3, 2019, Darling issued and sold $500.0 million aggregate principal amount 
of 5.25% Senior Notes due 2027 (the “5.25% Notes”).  The 5.25% Notes, which were offered in a private offering, 
were issued pursuant to a Senior Notes Indenture, dated as of April 3, 2019 (the “5.25% Indenture”), among Darling, 
the subsidiary guarantors party thereto from time to time, and Regions Bank, as trustee.  The gross proceeds from the 
sale of the Notes, together with cash on hand, were used to refinance all of the Company's 5.375% Notes (as defined 
below), by cash tender offer for and redemption of those notes, to pay the discount of the initial purchasers and to pay 
the other fees and expenses related to the offering of the 5.25% Notes.  The refinancing of the 5.375% Notes was 
completed during the second quarter of 2019.

Page 94

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

The 5.25% Notes will mature on April 15, 2027.  Darling will pay interest on the 5.25% Notes on April 15 and October 
15 of each year, commencing on October 15, 2019.  Interest on the 5.25% Notes accrues from April 3, 2019 at a rate 
of 5.25% per annum and is payable in cash.  The 5.25% Notes are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by Darling 
and all of Darling's restricted subsidiaries (other than foreign subsidiaries) that are borrowers under or that guarantee 
the Senior Secured Credit Facilities (collectively, the “5.25% Guarantors”). The 5.25% Notes and the guarantees 
thereof are senior unsecured obligations of Darling and the 5.25% Guarantors and rank equally in right of payment 
to all of the Darling's and the 5.25% Guarantors' existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness.  The 5.25%
Indenture contains covenants limiting Darling's ability and the ability of its restricted subsidiaries to, grant liens to 
secure indebtedness and merge with or into other companies or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of Darling's 
assets.  In addition, the Company capitalized $7.0 million of deferred loan costs for the issuance of the 5.25% Notes 
in the second quarter of 2019.

Other than for extraordinary events such as change of control and defined assets sales, Darling  is not required to make 
mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments on the 5.25% Notes.  The 5.25% Notes are redeemable, in whole or 
in part, at any time on or after April 15, 2022 at the redemption prices specified in the 5.25% Indenture.  Darling may 
redeem some or all of the 5.25% Notes at any time prior to April 15, 2022, at a redemption price equal to 100% of 
the principal amount of the 5.25% Notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date and an 
Applicable Premium as specified in the 5.25% Indenture and all additional amounts (if any) then due or which will 
become due on the redemption date as a result of the redemption or otherwise (subject to the rights of holders on the 
relevant record dates to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date and additional amounts (if any) in 
respect thereof).

4.75% Senior Notes due 2022. On June 3, 2015, Darling Global Finance B.V.  issued and sold €515.0 million aggregate 
principal amount of the 4.75% Senior Notes due 2022 (the “4.75% Notes”). The Company retired the 4.75% Notes 
in the second quarter of 2018 using the proceeds from the issuance of the 3.625% Notes and incurred charges of 
approximately $23.5 million in debt extinguishment charges including the write-off of deferred loan costs.

5.375% Senior Notes due 2022. On January 2, 2014, Darling Escrow Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of 
Darling, issued $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.375% Notes due 2022 (the “5.375% Notes”).  The 
Company retired the 5.375% Notes  in the second quarter of 2019 using the proceeds from the issuance of the 5.25% 
Notes and incurred charges of approximately $12.1 million in debt extinguishment charges including the write-off 
deferred loan costs.

As of December 28, 2019, the Company believes it is in compliance with all financial covenants under the Amended 
Credit Agreement,  as  well  as  all  of  the  other  covenants  contained  in  the Amended  Credit Agreement,  the  5.25% 
Indenture and the 3.625% Indenture.

Maturities of long-term debt at December 28, 2019 follow (in thousands):

2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
thereafter

Contractual
Debt Payment

$

$

90,996
10,220
40
1,534
493,533
1,074,274
1,670,597

NOTE 11.  OTHER NONCURRENT LIABILITIES

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

Page 95

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

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

matters (Note 20)

Other

December 28,
2019

December 29,
2018

$

$

55,491

$

55,632

54,568
5,726
115,785

$

57,381
2,019
115,032

NOTE 12.  INCOME TAXES

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act” or “U.S. tax reform”) significantly revised the U.S. 
corporate income tax by, among other things, lowering the statutory corporate rate from 35% to 21%, eliminating 
certain deductions, limiting interest expense deductions, enhancing the option for claiming accelerated depreciation 
deductions through 2026, imposing a mandatory one-time tax on accumulated earnings of foreign subsidiaries (also 
referred to as the toll charge or transition tax), and changing how foreign earnings are subject to U.S. tax.  Due to the 
timing of the Tax Act and the substantial changes it brings, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) staff 
issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118, Income Tax Accounting Implications of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (SAB 
118), which provided registrants a measurement period to report the impact of the new U.S. tax law.  During the 
measurement period, provisional amounts for the effects of the tax law were recorded to the extent a reasonable 
estimate could be made.  The effects of the Tax Act on Darling include two major categories: (i) mandatory deemed 
repatriation, and (ii) remeasurement of deferred taxes.   As described further below, we recorded a provisional net tax 
benefit of $75.0 million for the impact of the Tax Act in the year ended December 30, 2017.   Below is a brief description 
of the two categories of effects from U.S. tax reform and its impact on the Company:

(i) Mandatory deemed repatriation - under the Tax Act, a company’s accumulated foreign earnings are deemed to be 
repatriated into the U.S.  The Company recorded a provisional estimate in fiscal 2017 of federal and state tax related 
to deemed repatriation in the amount of approximately $26.2 million.  However, the Company had an existing U.S. 
deferred tax liability associated with foreign earnings that were not permanently reinvested outside the U.S. in the 
amount of $38.3 million.  It is now expected that these foreign earnings can be repatriated to the U.S. without any 
additional U.S. tax above the amount accrued related to the mandatory deemed repatriation.  Accordingly, the Company 
released the entire $38.3 million liability.  This $38.3 million release combined with the $26.2 million amount related 
the mandatory deemed repatriation resulted in the Company recognizing a net provisional tax benefit of $12.1 million
for this item.  

(ii)  Remeasurement of deferred taxes - under the Tax Act, the U.S. corporate income tax rate was reduced from 35%
to 21%.  Accordingly, Darling remeasured the Company's net U.S. deferred tax liability as of December 30, 2017 
using the new 21% federal rate, which resulted in a provisional tax benefit in fiscal 2017 of $62.9 million.  The 
Company has significant net operating loss carryforwards to offset the mandatory one-time repatriation; therefore, 
the Company reduced its deferred tax asset related to its net operating loss carryforwards rather than incurring a toll 
charge liability for which a cash payment would otherwise be required.

Also, in December 2017, Belgium and France enacted tax law changes resulting in a tax benefit of approximately 
$13.9 million. This amount is comprised of a benefit of approximately $4.4 million from the re-measurement of net 
deferred tax liabilities due to a reduction in the corporate tax rate in each country.   Additionally, Belgium enacted a 
new provision increasing its participation exemption to 100%, which generally allows tax-free dividends to be received 
from subsidiaries resulting in a tax benefit of approximately $9.6 million.

During fiscal 2018, as information was collected, analyzed and guidance was issued by the U.S. Treasury Department, 
the IRS and other standard setting bodies in respect to the Tax Act, the Company made adjustments to the provisional 
amounts recorded in fiscal 2017.   An adjustment of approximately $1.7 million of additional tax benefit was made 
in respect to the impact of the mandatory deemed repatriation, which reduced the effective tax rate by approximately 
1.4%.  The accounting for the tax effects of the Tax Act has been completed as of December 29, 2018.

In December 2018, the Netherlands enacted tax law changes resulting in a tax benefit in fiscal 2018 of approximately 
$8.4 million due to the re-measurement of net deferred tax liabilities as a result of a phased in reduction of the corporate 
income tax rate.

U.S. and foreign income from operations before income taxes are as follows (in thousands):

Page 96

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

United States
Foreign
Income from operations before income taxes

$

$

260,867
119,567
380,434

$

$

82,146
35,829
117,975

$

$

179
64,021
64,200

December 28,
2019

December 29,
2018

December 30,
2017

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

Current:

Federal
State
Foreign

Total current

Deferred:

Federal
State
Foreign

Total deferred

December 28,
2019

December 29,
2018

December 30,
2017

$

$

(162) $
341
37,117
37,296

13,465
11,804
(3,098)
22,171
59,467

$

(330) $
(3)
27,935
27,602

4,803
(2,216)
(18,158)
(15,571)
12,031

$

274
(80)
31,256
31,450

(76,056)
622
(25,170)
(100,604)
(69,154)

Income tax expense for the years ended December 28, 2019, December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017, 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):

December 28,
2019

December 29,
2018

December 30,
2017

Computed "expected" tax expense
Change in valuation allowance
Non-deductible compensation expenses
Deferred tax on unremitted foreign

earnings
Sub-Part F income
Foreign rate differential
Change in uncertain tax positions
State income taxes, net of federal benefit
Biofuel tax incentives
Change in tax law

One-time U.S. transition tax
Deferred tax effects

Other, net

$

$

$

79,891
38
3,950

$

24,775
9,700
2,305

1,505
1,122
7,246
1,736
5,686
(46,007)

(31)
3,361
658
3,419
(1,813)
(18,489)

22,470
1,609
1,898

641
6,284
(8,292)
(1,080)
(1,012)
—

—
1,352
2,948
59,467

$

(1,654)
(8,363)
(1,837)
12,031

$

26,243
(115,169)
(2,746)
(69,154)

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and deferred 
tax liabilities at December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018 are presented below (in thousands):

Page 97

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

Deferred tax assets:

Loss contingency reserves
Employee benefits
Pension liability
Intangible assets amortization, including taxable goodwill
Interest expense carryforwards
Tax loss carryforwards
Tax credit carryforwards
Operating lease liabilities
Inventory
Accrued liabilities and 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
Investment in DGD Joint Venture
Operating lease assets
Tax on unremitted foreign earnings
Other

Total gross deferred tax liabilities
Net deferred tax liability

Amounts reported on Consolidated Balance Sheets:

Non-current deferred tax asset
Non-current deferred tax liability

Net deferred tax liability

December 28,
2019

December 29,
2018

$

$

$

$

$

11,193
12,236
13,049
1,485
12,361
80,195
5,653
33,549
5,185
13,677
188,583
(24,759)
163,824

(157,332)
(144,911)
(54,287)
(32,233)
(6,139)
(2,459)
(397,361)
(233,537) $

9,007
10,791
12,882
1,566
16,871
103,618
5,108
—
8,583
12,291
180,717
(27,942)
152,775

(152,841)
(164,011)
(44,857)
—
(5,648)
(1,500)
(368,857)
(216,082)

$

14,394
(247,931)
(233,537) $

14,981
(231,063)
(216,082)

At  December 28,  2019,  the  Company  had  net  operating  loss  carryforwards  for  federal  income  tax  purposes  of 
approximately $106.8 million, $44.6 million of which begin to expire in 2020 through 2036 and $62.2 million of 
which can be carried forward indefinitely.  As a result of the change in ownership which occurred pursuant to the May 
2002 recapitalization, utilization of approximately $0.7 million of the federal net operating loss carryforwards is 
limited to approximately $0.7 million per year for the remaining life of the net operating losses.  The Company had 
a capital loss carry forward for federal income tax purposes of approximately $21.1 million, which expires in 2023
and can only be used in future years in which the Company recognizes capital gains.  The Company had interest 
expense carryforwards of approximately $52.4 million and $25.1 million for federal and state income tax purposes, 
which may be carried forward indefinitely.  The Company had approximately $248.2 million of net operating loss 
carryforwards for state income tax purposes, $239.0 million of which expire in (cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:21)(cid:19) through 2039 and $9.2 million
of which can be carried forward indefinitely.  The Company had foreign net operating loss carryforwards of about 
$151.6 million, $68.6 million of which expire in 2020 through 2037 and $83.0 million of which can be carried forward 
indefinitely.   Also  at  December 28,  2019,  the  Company  had  U.S.  federal  and  state  tax  credit  carryforwards  of 
approximately $1.3 million, and tax credit carryforwards with respect to its foreign tax jurisdictions of approximately 
$4.3 million.  As of December 28, 2019, the Company had a valuation allowance of $7.8 million due to uncertainties 
in respect to its ability to utilize its U.S. (federal and state) net operating loss, capital loss and tax credit carryforwards. 
The Company also had a valuation allowance of $16.9 million due to uncertainties in its ability to utilize foreign net 
operating loss carryforwards, tax credit carryforwards and other foreign deferred tax assets.

At December 28, 2019, the Company had unrecognized tax benefits of approximately $7.8 million. During fiscal  
2017, the Company entered into a settlement agreement with the Darling Ingredients International business seller in 
which an indemnity receivable of $3.0 million was collected and the Company generally accepted responsibility for 
any remaining tax liabilities in pre-acquisition tax years.  All of the unrecognized tax benefits would favorably impact 
the Company's effective tax rate if recognized.  The Company believes it is reasonably possible that unrecognized 
tax benefits could change by $3.9 million in the next twelve months.  The possible change in unrecognized tax benefits 
relates to the resolution of an uncertain tax position upon liquidation of certain subsidiaries. The Company recognizes 

Page 98

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

accrued interest and penalties, as appropriate, related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax 
expense.  As of December 28, 2019, interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits were $0.6 million.

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amounts of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows (in thousands):

December 28,
2019

December 29,
2018

Balance at beginning of Year

$

5,777

$

Change in tax positions related to current year
Change in tax positions related to prior years

Change in tax positions due to settlement with tax authorities
Expiration of the Statute of Limitations

Balance at end of year

$

3,887
(233)
(1,354)
(267)
7,810

$

2,384

237
3,649

—
(493)
5,777

In fiscal 2019, the Company's major taxing jurisdictions are U.S. (federal and state), Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, 
France, Germany and the Netherlands. The Company is subject to regular examination by various tax authorities. 
Although the final outcome of these examinations is not yet determinable, the Company does not anticipate that any 
of the examinations will have a significant impact on the Company's results of operations or financial position.  The 
statute of limitations for the Company's major jurisdictions is open for varying periods, but is generally closed through 
the 2010 tax year. 

Many  of  the  Company's  operations  are  conducted  outside  the  United  States.   As  a  result  of  the Tax Act  and  the 
mandatory repatriation, the Company expects to have access to its offshore earnings with minimal to no additional 
U.S. tax impact.  Therefore, the Company does not consider these earnings to be permanently reinvested offshore. As 
of December 28, 2019, a deferred tax liability of approximately $6.1 million has been recorded for any incremental 
taxes, including foreign withholding taxes, that are estimated to be incurred when those earnings are distributed to 
the U.S. in future years. 

NOTE 13.  STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

On August 7, 2017, the Company's Board of Directors approved the extension for an additional two years of its 
previously announced share repurchase program and refreshed the amount of the program back up to its original 
amount of an aggregate of $100.0 million of the Company's Common Stock depending on market conditions.  To that 
point,  the  Company  had  previously  repurchased  $10.9  million  shares  of  Common  stock  under  the  program. The 
repurchases may be made from time to time on the open market at prevailing market prices or in negotiated transactions 
off the market.  On November 6, 2018, the Board approved an increase in the share repurchase program from $100.0 
million to $200.0 million and extended the term of the program for an additional year to August 13, 2020. During 
Fiscal 2019, the Company repurchased approximately $19.3 million including commissions of its common stock in 
the open market.  Since the inception of the share repurchase program, the Company has repurchased approximately 
$30.1  million  of  its  common  stock  in  open  market  purchases.  As  of  December 28,  2019,  the  Company  has 
approximately $180.8 million remaining under the share repurchase program approved in August 2017.

On  May 9,  2017,  the  shareholders  approved  the  Company's  2017  Omnibus  Incentive Plan  (the  “2017  Omnibus 
Plan”).  The 2017 Omnibus Plan replaced the Company's 2012 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2012 Omnibus Plan”) 
for future grants.  Under the 2017 Omnibus Plan, the Company can 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 20,166,500 common shares available under the 2017 Omnibus Plan which may be granted to participants in any 
plan year (as such term is defined in the 2017 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 2017 Omnibus Plan.  The 2017 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  2017  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  2017 
Omnibus Plan.  For each of fiscal 2017, fiscal 2018 and 2019, the Committee adopted an executive compensation 

Page 99

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

program that includes a long-term incentive component (the “LTIP”) for the Company's key employees, as a subplan 
under the terms of the 2017 Omnibus Plan.  Pursuant to the LTIP, participants receive (i) annual, overlapping grants 
of performance share units (“PSUs”) tied to a three-year, forward looking performance metric and (ii) annual stock 
options grants that vest 33.33% on the first, second and third anniversaries of grant.  The principal purpose of the 
LTIP is to encourage the participants 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 participants.  See “Stock Option Awards”, “Fiscal 
2019 LTIP PSU Awards”, “Fiscal 2018 LTIP PSU Awards” and “Fiscal 2017 LTIP PSU Awards” below for more 
information  regarding  the  stock  options  and  PSU  awards  under  the  2019  LTIP,  2018  LTIP  and  2017  LTIP.   At 
December 28,  2019,  the  number  of  common  shares  available  for  issuance  under  the  2017  Omnibus  Plan  was 
12,522,616.

At December 28, 2019, $6.9 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 with performance based incentives) 
related to outstanding non-vested options and stock awards is expected to be recognized over a weighted average 
period of 1.2 years.

The following is a summary of stock-based compensation awards granted during the years ended December 28, 2019, 
December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017.

Stock Option Awards.  Stock options to purchase Darling common shares are granted by the Committee to certain of 
the Company's employees as part of the Company's LTIPs under the 2017 Omnibus Plan.  For the options granted 
under the fiscal 2019 LTIP, 2018 LTIP and 2017 LTIP, the exercise price was equal to the closing price of Darling 
common shares on the date of grant, which was January 25, 2019, January 29, 2018 and February 6, 2017, respectively, 
and such options vest 33.33% on the first, second and third anniversaries of the grant date.  The Company granted 
610,953 stock options under the 2019 LTIP, 637,115 stock options under the 2018 LTIP and 956,809 stock options 
under the 2017 LTIP.  

During fiscal 2019, 2018 and 2017 only nonqualified stock options were issued and none of the options were incentive 
stock options. The Company’s stock options granted under the LTIPs generally terminate 10 years after the date of 
grant. 

A summary of all stock option activity as of December 28, 2019 and changes during the year ended is as follows:

Options outstanding at December 31, 2016

Granted
Exercised
Forfeited
Expired

Options outstanding at December 30, 2017

Granted
Exercised
Forfeited
Expired

Options outstanding at December 29, 2018

Granted
Exercised
Forfeited
Expired

Options outstanding at December 28, 2019
Options exercisable at December 28, 2019

Number of
shares
2,365,916
956,809
(27,968)
(4,000)
—
3,290,757
637,115
(153,717)
(19,953)
—
3,754,202
610,953
(380,206)
(6,464)
—
3,978,485
2,685,252

$

$
$

Weighted-avg.
remaining
contractual life
8.4 years

7.3 years

6.9 years

Weighted-avg.
exercise price
per share

11.65
12.29
8.51
13.55
—
11.86
18.82
11.49
9.99
—
13.07
21.00
9.83
18.11

—  

14.59
12.70

6.5 years
5.6 years

The fair value of each stock option grant under the LTIPs was estimated on the date of grant using the Black Scholes 
option-pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions and results for fiscal 2019, 2018 and 2017.

Page 100

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

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

2019
0.0%
2.61%
6.00 years
29.6%
$7.16

2018
0.0%
2.54%
5.82 years
29.3%
$6.37

2017
0.0%
2.00%
5.82 years
33.4%
$4.34

The expected lives for options granted during fiscal 2019, 2018 and 2017 were computed using the simplified method 
since the current option plans historical exercise data has not provided a reasonable basis for estimating the expected 
term for the current option grants.

For the year ended December 28, 2019, the amount of cash received from the exercise of options was less than $0.1 
million and the related tax benefit was $0.7 million.  For the year ended December 29, 2018, the amount of cash 
received from the exercise of options was approximately $0.2 million and the related tax benefit was approximately 
$0.1 million.  For the year ended December 30, 2017, the amount of cash received from the exercise of options was 
less than $0.1 million and the related tax benefit was less than $0.1 million.  The total intrinsic value of options 
exercised for the years ended December 28, 2019, December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017 was approximately 
$4.7  million,  $1.1  million  and  $0.2  million,  respectively.  The  fair  value  of  shares  vested  for  the  years  ended 
December 28, 2019, December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017 was approximately $15.5 million, $12.5 million and 
$11.3  million,  respectively.  At  December 28,  2019,  the  aggregate  intrinsic  value  of  options  outstanding  was 
approximately $53.4 million and the aggregate intrinsic value of options exercisable was approximately $41.1 million.

Non-Vested Stock, Restricted Stock Unit and Performance Share Unit Awards. The Company has in the past granted 
non-vested stock and restricted stock unit (RSU) awards to certain of the Company's employees as part of the LTIP 
under the 2012 Omnibus Plan.  Starting in 2016, the Committee made changes to the LTIP and instead of the non-
vested stock and RSU awards, the Company began to grant performance share unit awards as part of the LTIP.  In 
addition, the Company has granted performance share unit awards, individual non-vested stock and RSU awards to 
key employees from time to time at the discretion of the Committee.  Non-vested stock is generally granted to U.S. 
based employees, while RSUs are generally granted to foreign based employees, with each RSU equivalent to one
share of common stock and payable upon vesting in an equivalent number of shares of Darling common stock.  For 
grants made under the 2017 Omnibus Plan, both non-vested stock and RSUs generally vest on the first three anniversary 
dates of the grant. Generally, upon termination of employment (voluntary or with cause), non-vested stock, RSUs and 
discretionary  performance  share  awards  that  have  not  vested  are  forfeited.    Upon,  death,  disability  or  qualifying 
retirement, a pro-rata portion of the unvested non-vested and RSU awards will vest and be payable.

A  summary  of  the  Company’s  non-vested  stock,  restricted  stock  unit  and  performance  share  unit  awards  as  of 
December 28, 2019, and changes during the year ended is as follows:

Stock awards outstanding December 31, 2016

Shares granted
Shares vested
Shares forfeited

Stock awards outstanding December 30, 2017

Shares granted
Shares vested
Shares forfeited

Stock awards outstanding December 29, 2018

Shares granted
Shares vested
Shares forfeited

Stock awards outstanding December 28, 2019

Non-Vested, 
RSU and PSU
Shares

Weighted Average
Grant Date
Fair Value

981,261
104,750
(486,086)
(239,581)
360,344
—
(228,991)
(2,779)
128,574
—
(126,511)
(1,313)
750

$

$

15.56
12.27
13.98
20.90
13.18
—
13.11
12.11
13.32
—
12.13
14.92
15.50

Fiscal 2019 LTIP PSU Awards. On January 25, 2019, the Committee granted 305,195 PSUs under the Company's 
2019 LTIP.  The PSUs are tied to a three-year forward-looking performance period and will be earned based on the 
Company's average return on capital employed (ROCE), as calculated in accordance with the terms of the award 
agreement,  relative  to  the  average  ROCE  of  the  Company's  performance  peer  group  companies  over  the  same 

Page 101

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

performance period, with the earned award to be determined in the first quarter of fiscal 2022, after the final results 
for the relevant performance period are determined. 

Fiscal 2018 LTIP PSU Awards. On January 29, 2018, the Committee granted 295,514 PSUs under the Company's 
2018 LTIP.  The PSUs are tied to a three-year forward-looking performance period and will be earned based on the 
Company's average return on capital employed (ROCE), as calculated in accordance with the terms of the award 
agreement,  relative  to  the  average  ROCE  of  the  Company's  performance  peer  group  companies  over  the  same 
performance period, with the earned award to be determined in the first quarter of fiscal 2021, after the final results 
for the relevant performance period are determined. 

Fiscal 2017 LTIP PSU Awards. On February 6, 2017, the Committee granted 559,388 PSUs under the Company's 
2017 LTIP.  The PSUs are tied to a three-year forward-looking performance period and will be earned based on the 
Company's average return on capital employed (ROCE), as calculated in accordance with the terms of the award 
agreement,  relative  to  the  average  ROCE  of  the  Company's  performance  peer  group  companies  over  the  same 
performance period, with the earned award to be determined in the first quarter of fiscal 2020, after the final results 
for the relevant performance period are determined. 

Under the 2019 LTIP, 2018 LTIP and 2017 LTIP, PSUs were granted at target level; however, actual awards may vary 
between 0% and 225% of the target number of PSUs, depending on the performance level achieved.  In addition, the 
number of PSUs earned may be reduced (up to 30%) or increased (capped at the maximum payout) based on the 
Company's total shareholder return (TSR) over the performance period. 

The fair value of each 2019 LTIP, 2018 LTIP and 2017 LTIP PSU award under the Company's 2019 LTIP, 2018 LTIP 
and 2017 LTIP was estimated on the date of grant using a Monte Carlo model with the following weighted average 
assumptions for fiscal 2019 , fiscal 2018 and fiscal 2017, except for the illiquidity discount, which only pertains to 
the 2017 LTIP PSU's with a holding period requirement.

Weighted Average
Expected dividend yield
Risk-free interest rate
Expected term
Expected volatility
Illiquidity discount

2019
0.0%
2.58%
2.93 years
30.7%
—%

2018
0.0%
2.25%
2.93 years
34.4%
—%

2017
0.0%
1.40%
2.89 years
32.7%
14.0%

A summary of the Company’s 2019, 2018 and 2017 LTIP PSU awards as of December 28, 2019, and changes during 
the year ended is as follows:

LTIP PSU
Shares

Weighted Average
Grant Date
Fair Value

LTIP PSU awards outstanding December 31, 2016

Granted
Additional PSU awards vested from performance
Forfeited

LTIP PSU awards outstanding December 30, 2017

Granted
Additional PSU awards vested from performance
Stock issued for PSUs
Forfeited

LTIP PSU awards outstanding December 29, 2018

Granted
Additional PSU awards vested from performance
Stock issued for PSUs
Forfeited

LTIP PSU awards outstanding December 28, 2019

664,120
559,388
—
(82,492)
1,141,016
295,514
88,151
(26,212)
(16,493)
1,481,976
305,195
235,126
(125,067)
(3,757)
1,893,473

$

$

$

$

7.17
11.14
—
9.99
8.91
20.60
6.95
6.95
9.39
11.15
21.50
7.23
7.84
19.09
12.54

Page 102

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

Nonemployee Director Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit 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 Company's 2004 Omnibus Incentive Plan 
(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 was awarded to each non-employee director on the fourth business 
day after the Company released its earnings for its prior completed fiscal year (the “Date of Award”).  The amount of 
restricted stock to be issued was calculated using the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the third 
business day after the Company released its earnings.  The restricted stock was 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 was 
not transferable. These restrictions lapse with respect to 100% of the restricted stock upon the earliest to occur of (i) 
10 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). 

Beginning in fiscal 2014, the Board discontinued grants to non-employee directors under the Director Restricted Stock 
Plan described above, and in lieu thereof, as an additional element of annual non-employee director compensation, 
pursuant to the 2012 Omnibus Plan, each non-employee director received $90,000 of restricted stock units immediately 
following the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders at which such directors are elected. Beginning in fiscal 
2017, the Board increased the dollar amount of the annual grant of restricted stock units to $110,000, and such grants 
are now made under the 2017 Omnibus Plan.  The number of restricted stock units to be issued is calculated using 
the closing price of the Company’s stock on the date of its annual meeting.  The award vests (and is no longer subject 
to forfeiture) on the first to occur of (i) the first anniversary of the grant date, (ii) the grantee’s separation from service 
as a result of death or disability, or (iii) a change of control.  The award will become “payable” in shares of the 
Company’s stock in a single lump sum payment as soon as possible following a grantee’s separation from service, 
subject to a grantee’s right to elect earlier distributions under certain circumstances.  If a grantee ceases to be a director 
for any reason other than death or disability prior to vesting, the grantee will receive a prorated amount of the award 
up to the date of separation. 

A summary of the Company’s non-employee director restricted stock awards as of December 28, 2019, and changes 
during the year ended is as follows:

Stock awards outstanding December 31, 2016

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

Stock awards outstanding December 30, 2017

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

Stock awards outstanding December 29, 2018

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

Stock awards outstanding December 28, 2019

Restricted stock and 
Restricted Stock Unit
Shares

Weighted Average
Grant Date
Fair Value

111,359
60,575
(14,915)
(2,210)
154,809
61,806
(1,438)
—
215,177
52,990
(6,803)
—
261,364

$

$

14.18
15.63
12.42
14.51
14.91
16.92
13.90
—
15.49
20.76
2.94
—
16.89

NOTE 14.  COMPREHENSIVE INCOME/(LOSS)

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 swap adjustments, corn option adjustments, foreign exchange forward and option adjustments and foreign 
currency translation adjustments. In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-02, Reclassification of Certain 
Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.  This ASU amends Topic 220, Income Statement - 
Reporting Comprehensive Income, which allowed for a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income 

Page 103

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

to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.  The ASU is effective for fiscal 
years beginning after December 15, 2018; however, the Company elected to early adopt ASU No. 2018-02 during the 
quarter  ended  March  31,  2018.  The  adoption  resulted  in  a  $4.8  million  reclassification  from  accumulated  other 
comprehensive loss to retained earnings resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.  

In fiscal 2019, the Company's DGD Joint Venture entered into heating oil derivatives that were deemed to be cash 
flow hedges.  As a result, the Company has accrued the other comprehensive income/(loss) portion belonging to 
Darling with an offset to the investment in DGD as required by FASB ASC Topic 323.

The components of other comprehensive income/(loss) and the related tax impacts for the years ended December 28, 
2019, December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017 are as follows (in thousands):

Before-Tax
Amount

Tax (Expense)
or Benefit

Net-of-Tax
Amount

Year Ended December 30, 2017

Defined Benefit Pension Plans

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

Total defined benefit pension plans

Natural gas swap derivatives

Gain/(loss) reclassified to net income
Gain/(loss) recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)

Total natural gas derivatives

Corn option derivatives

Gain/(loss) reclassified to net income
Gain/(loss) recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)

Total corn options

Foreign currency translation

Other comprehensive income
Other comprehensive income/(loss)

Year Ended December 29, 2018

Defined Benefit Pension Plans

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

Total defined benefit pension plans

Natural gas swap derivatives

Gain/(loss) reclassified to net income
Gain/(loss) recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)

Total natural gas derivatives

Soybean meal option derivatives

Gain/(loss) reclassified to net income
Gain/(loss) recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)

Total soybean meal derivatives

Corn option derivatives

Gain/(loss) reclassified to net income
Gain/(Loss) recognized in other comprehensive income

Total corn options

Foreign exchange derivatives

Gain/(Loss) recognized in other comprehensive income

Total foreign exchange derivatives

Foreign currency translation
Other comprehensive income/(loss)

Year Ended December 28, 2019

Defined Benefit Pension Plans

Actuarial (loss)/gain recognized

Page 104

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

4,027
4,786
35
42
30
8,920

35
(65)
(30)

(5,255)
3,494
(1,761)

121,810
128,939

(7,901)
3,543
(11)
35
498
(3)
9
(3,830)

14
16
30

(8)
8
—

(1,912)
(361)
(2,273)

1,637
1,637
(89,198)
(93,634)

$

$

$

$

(1,264)
(1,801)
(11)
(15)
—
(3,091)

(14)
26
12

2,039
(1,356)
683

—
(2,396)

2,015
(910)
3
(9)
—
1
—
1,100

(3)
(4)
(7)

2
(2)
—

493
93
586

(556)
(556)
1,724
2,847

$

2,763
2,985
24
27
30
5,829

21
(39)
(18)

(3,216)
2,138
(1,078)

121,810
126,543

(5,886)
2,633
(8)
26
498
(2)
9
(2,730)

11
12
23

(6)
6
—

(1,419)
(268)
(1,687)

1,081
1,081
(87,474)
(90,787)

(2,202)

$

211

$

(1,991)

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

Amortization of actuarial loss
Actuarial prior service cost recognized
Amortization of prior service costs
Amortization of settlement
Other

Total defined benefit pension plans

Heating oil swap derivatives

Gain/(loss) recognized in other comprehensive income (loss)

Total heating oil derivatives

Corn option derivatives

Gain/(loss) reclassified to net income
Gain/(Loss) recognized in other comprehensive income

Total corn options

Foreign exchange derivatives

Gain/(loss) reclassified to net income
Gain/(Loss) recognized in other comprehensive income

Total foreign exchange derivatives

Foreign currency translation
Other comprehensive income/(loss)

4,571
9
34
66
16
2,494

(4,188)
(4,188)

422
(51)
371

1,345
(6,887)
(5,542)
(12,771)
(19,636)

$

$

(1,143)
(2)
(9)
(16)
—
(959)

1,047
1,047

(106)
13
(93)

(442)
2,261
1,819
837
2,651

$

3,428
7
25
50
16
1,535

(3,141)
(3,141)

316
(38)
278

903
(4,626)
(3,723)
(11,934)
(16,985)

December 28,
2019

Fiscal Year Ended
December 29,
2018

December 30,
2017

Statement of Operations
Classification

Derivative instruments
Soybean meal option derivatives
Foreign Exchange derivatives
Natural gas swap derivatives
Corn option derivatives

$

— $

Defined benefit pension plans
Amortization of prior service cost
Amortization of actuarial loss
Amortization of curtailment
Amortization of settlement

$

Total reclassifications $

(1,345)
—
(422)
(1,767)
548
(1,219)

(34) $

(4,571)
—
(66)
(4,671)
1,168
(3,503)
(4,722) $

8 $
—
(14)
1,912
1,906
(492)
1,414

(35) $

(3,543)
(498)
3
(4,073)
918
(3,155)
(1,741) $

— Net sales
— Net sales
(35) Cost of sales and operating expenses
5,255 Cost of sales and operating expenses
5,220 Total before tax
(2,025) Income taxes
3,195 Net of tax

(35) (a)
(4,786) (a)
— (a)
(42) (a)

(4,863) Total before tax
1,827 Income taxes
(3,036) Net of tax
159 Net of tax

(a)  These items are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost.  See Note 15 Employee Benefit Plans  

for additional information.

The  following  table  presents  changes  in  each  component  of  accumulated  comprehensive  income/(loss)  as  of 
December 28, 2019  as follows (in thousands):

Page 105

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

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(loss)

December 29, 2018, attributable to Darling, net of tax
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other

comprehensive income

Net current-period other comprehensive income/(loss)
Noncontrolling interest
Accumulated Other Comprehensive loss December 28,

2019, attributable to Darling, net of tax

Fiscal Year Ended December 28, 2019

Foreign Currency
Translation

Derivative
Instruments

Defined Benefit
Pension Plans

Total

$

(270,081) $

1,081 $

(35,539) $

(304,539)

(11,934)

(7,805)

(1,968)

(21,707)

—
(11,934)
323

1,219
(6,586)
—

3,503
1,535
—

4,722
(16,985)
323

$

(282,338) $

(5,505) $

(34,004) $

(321,847)

NOTE 15.  EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

The  Company  has  retirement  and  pension  plans  covering  a  substantial  number  of  its  domestic  and  foreign 
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. Although various defined benefit formulas 
exist for employees, generally these are based on length of service and earnings patterns during employment.  Effective 
January 1, 2012, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the Company to proceed with the restructuring of its 
domestic retirement benefit program to include the closing of Darling's domestic 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 
domestic defined contribution plans.  The Company-sponsored domestic hourly union plan has not been curtailed; 
however, several locations of the Company-sponsored domestic hourly union plan have been curtailed as a result of 
collective bargaining renewals for those sites.

The Company maintains defined contribution plans both domestically and at its foreign entities.  The Company's 
matching portion and annual employer contributions to the Company's domestic defined contribution plans for fiscal 
2019, 2018 and 2017 were approximately $10.6 million, $10.1 million and $9.6 million, respectively. The Company's 
matching portion and annual employer contributions to the Company's foreign defined contribution plans for fiscal 
2019, 2018 and 2017 were approximately $8.4 million, $7.8 million and $7.5 million, respectively.

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 Company uses the month-end date of December 31 as 
the measurement date for all of the Company's defined benefit plans, which is the closest month-end to the Company's 
fiscal year-end.  The following table sets forth the plans’ funded status for the Company's domestic and foreign defined 
benefit plans and amounts recognized in the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheets based on the measurement date 
(December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018) (in thousands):

Page 106

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

December 28,
2019

December 29,
2018

Change in projected benefit obligation:

Projected benefit obligation at beginning of period
Service cost
Interest cost
Employee contributions
Actuarial loss/(gain)
Benefits paid
Effect of curtailment
Effect of settlement
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 contributions
Employee contributions
Benefits paid
Effect of settlement
Other

Fair value of plan assets at end of period

Funded status

Net amount recognized

Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance
   sheets consist of:

Current liability
Noncurrent liability

Net amount recognized

Amounts recognized in accumulated other
   comprehensive loss consist of:

Net actuarial loss
Prior service cost

Net amount recognized  (a)

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

190,666
2,696
6,828
368
20,927
(8,120)
(43)
(903)
(154)
212,265

133,861
26,014
4,343
368
(8,120)
(903)
139
155,702

(56,563)
(56,563) $

204,728
3,064
6,443
410
(12,235)
(7,799)
(474)
(280)
(3,191)
190,666

150,517
(11,922)
4,538
410
(7,799)
(331)
(1,552)
133,861

(56,805)
(56,805)

(1,072) $
(55,491)
(56,563) $

(1,173)
(55,632)
(56,805)

45,062
295
45,357

$

$

47,501
351
47,852

 (a)  Amounts  do  not  include  deferred  taxes  of  $11.4  million  and  $12.3  million  at  December 28,  2019  and 

December 29, 2018, respectively.

The amounts included in “Other” in the above table reflect the impact of foreign exchange translation for plans in 
Brazil,  Belgium,  Canada,  France,  Germany,  Japan,  Netherlands  and  United  Kingdom.   The  Company's  domestic 
pension plan benefits comprise approximately 73% and 74% of the projected benefit obligation for fiscal 2019 and 
fiscal 2018, respectively.  Additionally, the Company has made required and tax deductible discretionary contributions 
to its domestic pension plans in fiscal 2019 and fiscal 2018 of approximately $0.9 million and $1.0 million, respectively.   
The Company made required and tax deductible discretionary contributions to its foreign pension plans in fiscal 2019 
and fiscal 2018 of approximately $3.4 million and $ 3.5 million, respectively.

Projected benefit obligation
Accumulated benefit obligation
Fair value of plan assets

December 28,
2019

December 29,
2018

$

$

212,265
201,708
155,702

190,666
181,642
133,861

Page 107

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

The  Company's  service  cost  component  of  net  periodic  pension  cost  is  included  in  compensation  costs  while  all 
components of net periodic pension cost other than the service cost component are included in the line item “Other 
expense, net” in the Company's Consolidated Statements of Operations.

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

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

December 28,
2019

December 29,
2018

December 30,
2017

$

$

2,696
6,828
(7,270)
4,605
(33)
66
6,892

$

$

3,064
6,443
(8,226)
3,578
(263)
47
4,643

$

$

3,043
6,711
(7,181)
4,821
—
42
7,436

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

Amortization of settlement
Amortization of curtailment

Prior service (cost) credit recognized:

Reclassification adjustments
Prior service cost arising during the period

Other

2019

2018

$

3,428

$

2,633

(1,991)
50
—

25
7
16
1,535

$

(5,886)
(2)
498

26
(8)
9
(2,730)

$

The estimated amount that will be amortized from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic pension 
cost in fiscal 2020 is as follows (in thousands):

Net actuarial loss
Prior service cost

2020

3,417
33
3,450

$

$

Weighted average assumptions used to determine benefit obligations were:

December 28,
2019

December 29,
2018

December 30,
2017

Discount rate
Rate of compensation increase

2.77%
0.40%

3.68%
0.42%

3.40%
0.38%

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

Page 108

December 28,
2019
3.33%
0.42%
6.13%

December 29,
2018
2.30%
0.36%
6.13%

December 30,
2017
3.49%
0.43%
6.17%

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

Consideration was made to the long-term time horizon for the (U.S. and Canada's) 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 with equity exposure on a declining trend since the implementation 
of the glide path for two of the U.S. plans, the Company believes it is reasonable to expect a long-term rate of return 
of 6.4% for the (U.S. and Canada's) plans' investments as a whole.  The remaining foreign plans' assets are principally 
invested under insurance contracts arrangements which have weighted average expected long-term rate of returns of 
3.3%.

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 and changing discount rates are the most critical elements in achieving funding objectives; however, 
contributions are used as a supplemental source of funding as deemed appropriate.

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 U.S. 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 U.S. plans' funded status improves, 
the allocations become more conservative, and the opposite is true when the funded status declines.

Fixed Income
Equities

35% - 80%
20% - 65%

The equity allocation is invested in stocks traded on one of the U.S. stock exchanges or in foreign companies whose 
stock is traded outside the U.S. and/or companies that conduct the major portion of their business outside the U.S.  
Securities convertible into such stocks, convertible bonds and preferred stock, may also be purchased.  The portfolio 
may invest in American Depository Receipts (“ADR”).  The majority of the equities are invested in mutual funds that 
are well-diversified among growth and value stocks, as well as large, mid, and small cap assets.  This mix is balanced 
based on the understanding that large cap stocks are historically less volatile than small cap stocks: however, smaller 
cap stocks have historically outperformed larger cap stocks.  The emerging markets portion of the equity allocation 
is held below 10% due to greater volatility in the asset class. Risk adjusted returns are the primary driver of allocation 
choices within these asset classes.  The portfolio is well-diversified in terms of companies, industries and countries. 

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):

Page 109

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

Total
Fair Value

Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)

Significant Other
Observable
Inputs
(Level 2)

Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
(Level 3)

(In thousands of dollars)
Balances as  December 29, 2018
Fixed Income:
Long Term
Short Term
Equity Securities:

Domestic equities
International equities

Insurance contracts
Total categorized in fair value hierarchy
Other investments measured at NAV
Totals

Balances as December 28, 2019
Fixed Income:
Long Term
Short Term
Equity Securities:

Domestic equities
International equities

Insurance contracts
Total categorized in fair value hierarchy

Other investments measured at NAV
Totals

$

$

$

$

37,223
24,714
9,636
95,275
38,586
133,861

16,154
3,448

52,420
32,167
10,266
114,455
41,247
155,702

$

21,670
2,032

$

21,670
2,032

— $
—

37,223
24,714
—
85,639

—
—
6,299
6,299

—
—

—
—
3,337
3,337

$

$

85,639

$

6,299

$

3,337

$

16,154
3,448

— $
—

52,420
32,167
—
104,189

—
—
5,792
5,792

—
—

—
—
4,474
4,474

$

104,189

$

5,792

$

4,474

The majority of the U.S. and Canada plan pension assets are invested in mutual funds; however, some assets are 
invested in pooled separate accounts (“PSA”) which have similar mutual fund counterparts.  PSA accounts are generally 
used to access lower fund management expenses when compared to their mutual fund counterparts.  The mutual funds 
are generally invested in institutional shares, retirement shares, or A-shares with no loads.  The fair value of each 
mutual fund and PSA is based on the market value of the underlying investments.  The U.S. pension plans PSA for 
fiscal 2019 and fiscal 2018 utilized net asset value (“NAV”) per share (or its equivalent) to measure its investments, 
as a practical expedient in accordance with ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and have not been classified 
in the fair value hierarchy in the above table.  The majority of the foreign pension assets are held under insurance 
contracts where the investment risk for the accumulated benefit obligation rests with the insurer, which the Company 
has no specific detailed asset information. 

The fair value measurement of plan assets using significant unobservable inputs (level 3) changed due to the following:

(in thousands of dollars)
Balance as of December 30, 2017

Unrealized gains relating to instruments still held in the reporting

period.

Purchases, sales, and settlements
Exchange rate changes

Balance as of December 29, 2018

Unrealized gains relating to instruments still held in the reporting

period.

Purchases, sales, and settlements
Exchange rate changes

Balance as of December 28, 2019

Page 110

Insurance
Contracts

3,375

114
—
(152)
3,337

1,168
—
(31)
4,474

$

$

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

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 $4.8 million to meet 
funding requirements for its domestic and foreign pension plans in fiscal 2020.

Estimated Future Benefit Payments

The following benefit payments, which reflect expected future service, as appropriate, are expected to be paid (in 
thousands): 

Year Ending
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
Years 2025 – 2029

$

Pension Benefits

10,546
10,498
10,754
10,675
11,892
64,147

Multiemployer Pension Plans

The Company participates in various multiemployer pension plans which provide defined benefits to certain employees 
covered by labor contracts in the United States.  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 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 significant multiemployer plans (contributions in thousands):  

Pension

Fund

EIN Pension

Pension
Protection Act
Zone Status

Plan Number

2019

2018

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

2019

2018

2017

Agreement

$

1,514 $

1,505 $

1,524 December 2023 (b)

916

1,196

978

1,064

968

980

August 2022 (c)

Total Company Contributions

$

3,626 $

3,547 $

3,472

(a)  

In July 2005 this plan received a 10 year extension from the IRS for amortizing unfunded liabilities. In April 2016 the IRS 
approved a modification of the amortization extension.

(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.  The agreements have expiration dates through December 
31, 2023.

(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 August 2, 2022.

Page 111

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

With respect to the other multiemployer pension plans in which the Company participates and which are not individually 
significant, five plans have certified as critical or red zone,  two plan have certified as endangered or yellow zone, as 
defined by the Pension Protection Act of 2006.   The Company's portion of contributions to all plans amounted to 
$3.6  million,  $3.5  million  and  $3.5  million  for  the  years  ended  December 28,  2019,  December 29,  2018  and 
December 30, 2017, respectively. 

The Company has received notices in prior years of withdrawal liability from five U.S. multiemployer plans in which 
it participated.  As of December 28, 2019, the Company has an aggregate accrued liability of approximately $6.0 
million representing the present value of scheduled withdrawal liability payments under these multiemployer plans.  
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 and foreign currency 
exchange rates.

The Company makes limited use of derivative instruments to manage cash flow risks related natural gas usage, diesel 
fuel usage, inventory, forecasted sales and foreign currency exchange rates. The Company does not use derivative 
instruments for trading purposes.  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.  Corn options and future contracts are entered into with the intent of managing forecasted sales of 
BBP by reducing the impact of changing prices.  Foreign currency forward contracts are entered into to mitigate the 
foreign  exchange  rate  risk  for  transactions  designated  in  a  currency  other  than  the  local  functional  currency.   At 
December 28,  2019,  the  Company  had  foreign  currency  option  and  forward  contracts  and  corn  option  contracts 
outstanding that qualified and were designated for hedge accounting as well as corn forward contracts and foreign 
currency forward 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 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 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

In fiscal 2018 and fiscal 2019, the Company entered into foreign exchange option and forward contracts that are 
considered cash flow hedges.  Under the terms of the foreign exchange contracts, the Company hedged a portion of 
its forecasted collagen sales in currencies other than the functional currency through the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022.   
As of December 28, 2019, the contract positions and activity are not significant to the Company.  At December 28, 
2019 and December 29, 2018, the aggregate fair value of these foreign exchange contracts was approximately $1.3 
million and $1.6 million, respectively.  The December 28, 2019 amounts are included in other current assets,  other 
noncurrent  assets  and  accrued  expenses  on  the  balance  sheet,  with  an  offset  recorded  in  accumulated  other 
comprehensive loss.

In fiscal 2019, 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 second quarter of 
fiscal 2020. At December 28, 2019, the aggregate fair value of the corn contracts was $0.4 million. As of December 29, 
2018 there were no outstanding amounts.  The amounts are included in other current assets on the balance sheet. 

Page 112

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

As of December 28, 2019, the Company had the following outstanding forward contract amounts that were entered 
into to hedge the future payments of intercompany note transactions, foreign currency transactions in currencies other 
than the functional currency and forecasted transactions in currencies other than the functional currency (in thousands):

Functional Currency

Contract Currency

Type

Amount

Type

Amount

Brazilian real
Brazilian real
Euro
Euro
Euro
Euro
Euro
Euro
Polish zloty
British pound
Japanese yen
U.S. dollar
U.S. dollar
Australian dollar

45,908
1,106,077
71,203
26,943
5,159
21,074
13,441
6,905
26,647
94
204,824
705
49,833
432

Euro
U.S. Dollar
U.S. Dollar
Polish zloty
Japanese yen
Chinese renminbi
Australian dollar
British pound
Euro
Euro
U.S. dollar
Japanese yen
Euro
Euro

9,983
308,320
79,664
115,500
624,510
166,146
21,850
5,930
6,233
113
1,909
77,000
45,000
267

The  Company  estimates  the  amount  that  will  be  reclassified  from  accumulated  other  comprehensive  loss  at 
December 28, 2019 into earnings over the next 12 months will be approximately $3.1 million.  As of December 28, 
2019, no amounts have been reclassified into earnings as a result of the discontinuance of cash flow hedges.

The  table  below  summarizes  the  effect  of  derivatives  not  designated  as  hedges  on  the  Company's  consolidated 
statements of operations  for the year ended December 28,  2019,  December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017  (in 
thousands):

Derivatives not designated as
hedging instruments

Foreign exchange
Foreign exchange
Foreign exchange

Foreign exchange

Corn options and futures
Corn options and futures

Location

Foreign currency loss/(gain)
Net sales
Cost of sales and operating

expenses

Selling, general and

administrative expense

Net sales
Cost of sales and operating

expenses

Natural gas and heating oil

Cost of sales and operating

swaps and options
Heating oil swaps and

options
Soybean meal

Soybean oil
Total

expenses

Net sales

Net sales

Net sales

Loss or (Gain) Recognized in Income on
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedges
For The Year Ended
December 29,
2018

December 30,
2017

December 28,
2019

$

1,565 $
903

(2,160) $
2,806

(452)

(1,005)

1,649
670

3,040
683

(1,636)

(543)

(506)

1,031

—

—

—

—

—
2,193 $

—
3,852 $

$

13,460
—

—

(2,763)
212

(1,659)

—

492

(405)

45
9,382

At December 28, 2019, the Company had forward purchase agreements in place for purchases of approximately $43.5 
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.

Page 113

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

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 tables presents the Company's financial instruments that are measured at fair value on a recurring and 
nonrecurring basis as of December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018 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.

Fair Value Measurements at December 28, 2019 Using
Significant Other
Significant
Observable
Unobservable
Inputs
Inputs
(Level 3)
(Level 2)

Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)

Total

(In thousands of dollars)
Assets

Derivative assets

$

Total Assets

Liabilities

Derivative liabilities
5.25% Senior Notes
3.625% Senior Notes
Term Loan B
Revolver
Total Liabilities

4,140 $
4,140

1,593
531,850
605,327
497,475
38,805

$ 1,675,050 $

(In thousands of dollars)
Assets

Derivative assets

$

Total Assets

Liabilities

Derivative liabilities
5.375% Senior Notes
3.625% Senior Notes
Term Loan A
Term Loan B
Revolver
Total Liabilities

4,307 $
4,307

3,235
495,000
585,303
67,739
492,525
31,623

$ 1,675,425 $

Fair Value Measurements at December 29, 2018 Using
Significant
Significant Other
Unobservable
Observable
Inputs
Inputs
(Level 3)
(Level 2)

Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical Assets
(Level 1)

Total

— $
—

—
—
—
—
—
— $

4,140 $
4,140

1,593
531,850
605,327
497,475
38,805
1,675,050 $

—
—

—
—
—
—
—
—

— $
—

—
—
—
—
—
—
— $

4,307 $
4,307

3,235
495,000
585,303
67,739
492,525
31,623
1,675,425 $

—
—

—
—
—
—
—
—
—

Derivative assets and liabilities consist of the Company's corn option and future contracts, foreign currency contracts, 
natural gas swap contracts and heating oil swap contracts 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 discussion on the 
Company's derivatives.

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. 

Page 114

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

The fair value of the senior notes, term loan A, term loan B and revolver debt is based on market quotation from third-
party banks.

NOTE 18.  ASSET IMPAIRMENT, EXIT AND RESTRUCTURING COSTS

In the second quarter of fiscal 2018, management decided to permanently shut down the Company's Hurlingham, 
Argentina collagen plant.  As of December 29, 2018, the Company has incurred restructuring and asset impairment 
charges of approximately $15.0 million, which includes employee termination charges of approximately $8.4 million, 
asset impairment charges of approximately $2.9 million and other factory and operational restructuring charges of 
approximately $3.7 million. 

NOTE 19.  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 2019, 
2018 and 2017.

NOTE 20.  CONTINGENCIES

The Company is a party to various lawsuits, claims and loss contingencies arising in the ordinary course of its business, 
including  insured  worker's  compensation,  auto,  and  general  liability  claims,  assertions  by  certain  regulatory  and 
governmental agencies related to permitting requirements and/or air, wastewater and storm water discharges from the 
Company's processing facilities, litigation involving tort, contract, statutory, labor, employment, and other claims, 
and tax matters.

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 under these insurance policies 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, 
litigation  and  tax  contingencies.  At  December 28,  2019  and  December 29,  2018,  the  reserves  for  insurance, 
environmental, litigation and tax contingencies reflected on the balance sheet in accrued expenses and other non-
current liabilities were approximately $70.5 million and $66.6 million, respectively.  The Company has insurance 
recovery receivables of approximately $26.2 million and $26.1 million, as of December 28, 2019 and December 29, 
2018, related to the insurance contingencies.  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 contingencies will not exceed current 
estimates.  The Company believes that the likelihood is remote that any additional liability from the lawsuits and 
claims that may not be covered by insurance would have a material effect on the Company's financial position, results 
of operations or cash flows.

Lower Passaic River Area.  In December 2009, the Company, along with numerous other entities, received notice 
from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) that the Company (as alleged successor-in-interest 
to The Standard Tallow Corporation) is considered a potentially responsible party (a “PRP”) with respect to alleged 
contamination in the lower 17-mile area of the Passaic River which is part of the Diamond Alkali Superfund Site 
located in Newark, New Jersey.  The Company’s designation as a PRP is based upon the operation of former plant 
sites located in Newark and Kearny, New Jersey by The Standard Tallow Corporation, an entity that the Company 
acquired in 1996.  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.  In March 2016, the Company received another letter from EPA notifying the Company that it 
had issued a Record of Decision the (“ROD”) selecting a remedy for the lower 8.3 miles of the lower Passaic River 
area at an estimated cost of $1.38 billion.  The EPA letter makes no demand on the Company and lays out a framework 
for remedial design/remedial action implementation in which the EPA will first seek funding from major PRPs.  The 
letter indicates that the EPA has sent the letter to over 100 parties, which include large chemical and refining companies, 
manufacturing companies, foundries, plastic companies, pharmaceutical companies and food and consumer product 
companies.  The EPA has already offered early cash out settlements to 20 of the other PRPs and has stated that other 
parties who did not discharge any of the eight contaminants of concern identified in the ROD (the “COCs”) may also 
be eligible for cash out settlements and conducted a settlement analysis using a third-party allocator.  The Company 

Page 115

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

participated in this allocation process as it asserts that it is not responsible for any liabilities of its former subsidiary 
The Standard Tallow Corporation, which was legally dissolved in 2000, and that, in any event, The Standard Tallow 
Corporation did not discharge any of the COCs. In November 2019, the Company received a cash out settlement offer 
from the EPA in the amount of $0.6 million ($0.3 million for each of the former plant sites in question) for liabilities 
relating to the lower 8.3 miles of the lower Passaic River area. The Company has accepted this settlement offer, which 
is now subject to the EPA’s administrative approval process, which includes publication and a public comment period. 
On September 30, 2016, Occidental Chemical Corporation (“OCC”) entered into an agreement with the EPA to perform 
the remedial design for the cleanup plan for the lower 8.3 miles of the Passaic River.  On June 30, 2018, OCC filed 
a complaint in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey against over 100 companies, including 
the Company, seeking cost recovery or contribution for costs under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”) relating to various investigations and cleanups OCC has conducted or 
is conducting in connection with the Passaic River.  According to the complaint, OCC has incurred or is incurring 
costs which include the estimated cost to complete the remedial design for the cleanup plan for the lower 8.3 miles 
of the Passaic River.  OCC is also seeking a declaratory judgment to hold the defendants liable for their proper shares 
of future response costs, including the remedial action for the lower 8.3 miles of the Passaic River.  The Company, 
along with 40 of the other defendants, had previously received a release from OCC of its CERCLA contribution claim 
of $165 million associated with the costs to design the remedy for the lower 8.3 miles of the Passaic River.  Furthermore, 
in the event the settlement with the EPA described above is consummated, it could preclude certain of the claims 
alleged by OCC against the Company. The Company's ultimate liability, if any, 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, the Company has found no definitive evidence that the former Standard Tallow 
Corporation plant sites contributed any of the COCs to the Passaic River and, therefore, there is nothing that leads 
the Company to believe that this matter will have a material effect on the Company's financial position, results of 
operations or cash flows.

NOTE 21.  BUSINESS SEGMENTS

The Company sells its products domestically and internationally and operates within three industry segments: Feed 
Ingredients,  Food  Ingredients  and  Fuel  Ingredients.  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.

Feed Ingredients
Feed Ingredients consists principally of (i) the Company's U.S. ingredients business, including the Company's fats 
and proteins, used cooking oil, trap grease, the Rothsay ingredients business, and the ingredients and specialty products 
businesses conducted by Darling Ingredients International under the Sonac name (proteins, fats, and plasma products) 
and (ii) the Company's bakery residuals business.  Feed Ingredients operations process animal by-products and used 
cooking oil into fats, proteins and hides.

Food Ingredients
Food Ingredients consists principally of (i) the collagen business conducted by Darling Ingredients International under 
the  Rousselot  name,  (ii)  the  natural  casings  and  meat-by-products  business  conducted  by  Darling  Ingredients 
International under the CTH name and (iii) certain specialty products businesses conducted by Darling Ingredients 
International under the Sonac name. 

Fuel Ingredients
The Company's Fuel Ingredients segment consists of (i) the Company's investment in the DGD Joint Venture (ii) the 
Company's  biofuel  business  conducted  under  the  Dar  Pro®  and  Rothsay  names  and  (iii)  the  bioenergy  business 
conducted by Darling Ingredients International under the Ecoson and Rendac names.

Business Segments (in thousands):

Page 116

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

Fiscal Year Ended December 28, 2019
Net Sales
Cost of sales and operating expenses

Gross Margin

Loss (gain) on sale of assets
Selling, general and administrative expense
Depreciation and amortization
Equity in net income of Diamond Green

Diesel
Segment operating income/(loss)

Equity in net income of other unconsolidated

subsidiaries
Segment income/(loss)

Total other expense

Income before income taxes

Feed
Ingredients

Food
Ingredients

Fuel

Ingredients Corporate

Total

$ 1,970,561 $ 1,119,085 $

1,519,596
450,965

(7,720)
200,487
203,456

—
54,742

428
55,170

864,618
254,467

(13,175)
97,363
79,671

—
90,608

—
90,608

274,259 $
204,871
69,388

— $ 3,363,905
— 2,589,085
774,820
—

313
2,762
31,946

—
57,911
10,437

(20,582)
358,523
325,510

364,452
398,819

—
(68,348)

364,452
475,821

—
398,819

—
(68,348)

428
476,249

(95,815)
$ 380,434

Segment assets at December 28, 2019

$ 2,653,363 $ 1,345,526 $ 1,087,701 $ 258,668 $ 5,345,258

Fiscal Year Ended December 29, 2018
Net Sales
Cost of sales and operating expenses

Gross Margin

Loss/(gain) on sale of assets
Selling, general and administrative expense
Restructuring and impairment charges
Depreciation and amortization
Equity in net income of Diamond Green

Diesel
Segment operating income/(loss)

Equity in net loss of unconsolidated

subsidiaries
Segment income/(loss)

Total other expense

Income before income taxes

Feed
Ingredients

Food
Ingredients

Fuel

Ingredients Corporate

Total

$ 1,952,555 $ 1,139,126 $

1,497,973
454,582

918,141
220,985

296,045 $
230,260
65,785

— $ 3,387,726
— 2,646,374
741,352
—

725
176,722
—
194,292

—
82,843

(550)
82,293

(282)
91,546
14,965
80,988

—
33,768

—
33,768

266
(4,770)
—
34,981

—
45,766
—
10,931

159,779
195,087

—
(56,697)

709
309,264
14,965
321,192

159,779
255,001

—
195,087

—
(56,697)

(550)
254,451

(136,476)
$ 117,975

Segment assets at December 29, 2018

$ 2,566,106 $ 1,401,291 $

761,817 $ 160,140 $ 4,889,354

Page 117

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

Fiscal Year Ended December 30, 2017
Net Sales
Cost of sales and operating expenses

Gross Margin

Loss/(gain) on sale of assets
Selling, general and administrative expense
Depreciation and amortization
Equity in net income of Diamond Green

Diesel
Segment operating income/(loss)

Equity in net income of unconsolidated

subsidiaries
Segment income/(loss)

Total other expense

Income before income taxes

Feed
Ingredients

Food
Ingredients

Fuel

Ingredients Corporate

Total

$ 2,239,492 $ 1,156,976 $

1,744,990
494,502

(cid:11)(cid:22)(cid:24)(cid:27)(cid:12)
178,347
184,172

—
132,341

920,165
236,811

(cid:21)(cid:20)(cid:27)
104,644
75,010

—
56,939

265,783 $
210,525
55,258

— $ 3,662,251
— 2,875,680
786,571
—

(cid:11)(cid:28)(cid:26)(cid:12)
10,355
31,019

28,239
42,220

(cid:178)
50,156
11,899

(cid:11)(cid:21)(cid:22)(cid:26)(cid:12)
343,502
302,100

—
(62,055)

28,239
169,445

265
132,606

—
56,939

—
42,220

—
(62,055)

265
169,710

(105,510)
64,200

$

 Business Segment Property, Plant and Equipment (in thousands):

Depreciation and amortization:

Feed Ingredients
Food Ingredients
Fuel Ingredients
Corporate Activities

Total

Capital expenditures:
Feed Ingredients
Food Ingredients
Fuel Ingredients
Corporate Activities

Total     (a)

December 28,
2019

December 29,
2018

December 30,
2017

$

$

$

$

203,456
79,671
31,946
10,437
325,510

229,415
85,501
23,964
20,618
359,498

$

$

$

$

194,292
80,988
34,981
10,931
321,192

237,215
51,659
27,121
5,901
321,896

$

$

$

$

184,172
75,010
31,019
11,899
302,100

191,953
50,099
24,707
7,409
274,168

(a)  Excludes  capital  assets  acquired  by  acquisition  in  fiscal  2018  of  approximately  $31.6  million  and 

excludes immaterial capital assets acquired by acquisition in fiscal 2017. 

Long-lived assets related to the Company's operations in North America, Europe, China, South American and other 
were as follows (in thousands): 

North America
Europe
China
South America
Other

Total

FY 2019
Long-Lived Assets

FY 2018
Long-Lived Assets

$

$

2,991,537 $
1,228,807
124,874
73,477
9,275
4,427,970 $

2,562,389
1,219,084
136,711
64,916
8,312
3,991,412

Page 118

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

NOTE 22.  REVENUE

On December 31, 2017, the Company adopted ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“Topic 
606”), using the modified retrospective basis. Results for reporting periods beginning December 31, 2017 are presented 
under Topic 606, while prior periods are not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with the Company's 
historic accounting under Revenue Recognition (Topic 605).  The adoption did not change the timing of revenue 
recognition as the Company's revenues have been determined to be recognized at a point in time and not over time.  
The Company elected not to capitalize contract fulfillment costs as the recovery of such costs are for a period of less 
than one year's time and are not material to the Company.  At December 28, 2019, there were no contract assets 
recorded on the Consolidated Balance sheets.  Also, the Company elected to treat shipping and handling as fulfillment 
costs under Topic 606, which will result in billed freight recorded in cost of sales and netted against freight costs.  
Sales, value-add, and other taxes collected concurrently with revenue-producing activities are excluded from revenue 
and booked on a net basis.

The Company extends payment terms to its customers based on commercially acceptable practices.  The term between 
invoicing and payment due date is not significant. Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration the Company 
expects to receive in exchange for transferring finished products or performing services, which is generally based on 
executed agreement or purchase order.

Most of the Company's products are shipped based on the customer specifications.  Customer returns are infrequent 
and not material to the Company.  Adjustments to net sales for sales deductions are generally recognized in the same 
period as the sale or when known.  Customers in certain industries or countries may be required to prepay prior to 
shipment in order to maintain payment protection.  These represent short-term prepayment from customers and are 
not material to the Company. 

The following table summarizes the impact of adopting Topic 606 on the Company's consolidated financial statements 
for the year ended December 28, 2019 (in thousands):

Year Ended December 28, 2019
Net sales
Cost of sale and operating expenses

Year Ended December 29, 2018
Net sales
Cost of sales and operating expenses

Impact of changes in accounting policies

As reported

Adjustments

Balances without
adoption of Topic 606

(cid:7)
(cid:7)

$
$

(cid:22)(cid:15)(cid:22)(cid:25)(cid:22)(cid:15)(cid:28)(cid:19)(cid:24)
(cid:21)(cid:15)(cid:24)(cid:27)(cid:28)(cid:15)(cid:19)(cid:27)(cid:24)

3,387,726
2,646,374

184,835
184,835

177,726
177,726

$
$

3,548,740
2,773,920

3,565,452
2,824,100

The following tables presents the Company revenues disaggregated by geographic area and major product types by 
reportable  segment  for  the  years  ended  December 28,  2019,  December 29,  2018  and  December 30,  2017  (in 
thousands):

Page 119

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

Feed Ingredients

Food Ingredients

Fuel Ingredients

Total

Year Ended December 28, 2019

$

Net sales $

$

Net sales $

$

Net sales $

$

Net sales $

1,635,382 $
309,097
16,342
—
9,740
1,970,561 $

584,336 $
185,705
791,284
191,551
167,870
—
—
—
49,815
1,970,561 $

214,623 $
609,999
178,283
51,168
65,012
1,119,085 $

133,898 $

—
—
—
—
894,761
—
—
90,426
1,119,085 $

39,568 $
234,691
—
—
—

274,259 $

— $
—
—
—
—
—
234,691
39,568
—

274,259 $

1,889,573
1,153,787
194,625
51,168
74,752
3,363,905

718,234
185,705
791,284
191,551
167,870
894,761
234,691
39,568
140,241
3,363,905

Feed Ingredients

Food Ingredients

Fuel Ingredients

Total

Year Ended December 29, 2018

1,586,930 $
329,341
28,288
—
7,996
1,952,555 $

564,790 $
166,634
842,878
180,227
129,273
—
—
—
68,753
1,952,555 $

181,213 $
648,933
182,369
53,206
73,405
1,139,126 $

163,815 $

—
—
—
—
886,042
—
—
89,269
1,139,126 $

48,858 $
247,187
—
—
—

296,045 $

— $
—
—
—
—
—
247,187
48,858
—

296,045 $

1,817,001
1,225,461
210,657
53,206
81,401
3,387,726

728,605
166,634
842,878
180,227
129,273
886,042
247,187
48,858
158,022
3,387,726

Geographic Area
North America
Europe
China
South America
Other

Major product types
Fats
Used cooking oil
Proteins
Bakery
Other rendering
Food ingredients
Bioenergy
Biofuels
Other

Geographic Area
North America
Europe
China
South America
Other

Major product types
Fats
Used cooking oil
Proteins
Bakery
Other rendering
Food ingredients
Bioenergy
Biofuels
Other

Page 120

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

Feed Ingredients

Food Ingredients

Fuel Ingredients

Total

Year Ended December 30, 2017 (a)

Geographic Area Revenues
North America
Europe
China
South America
Other

Major product types
Fats
Used cooking oil
Proteins
Bakery
Other rendering
Food ingredients
Bioenergy
Biofuels
Other

$

Net sales $

$

Net sales $

1,696,081 $
503,786
32,103
—
7,522
2,239,492 $

648,328 $
185,516
816,060
209,801
286,183
—
—
—
93,604
2,239,492 $

193,950 $
650,177
177,677
60,111
75,061
1,156,976 $

183,719 $

—
—
—
—
880,128
—
—
93,129
1,156,976 $

46,996 $
218,787
—
—
—

265,783 $

— $
—
—
—
—
—
218,787
46,996
—

265,783 $

1,937,027
1,372,750
209,780
60,111
82,583
3,662,251

832,047
185,516
816,060
209,801
286,183
880,128
218,787
46,996
186,733
3,662,251

(a)  As noted above prior year amounts have not been adjusted under the modified retrospective method for 
billed freight of approximately $160.0 million that is included in net sales for the year ended December 30, 
2017.

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

The  Company  has  two  primary  revenue  streams.    Finished  product  revenues  are  recognized  when  control  of  the 
promised finished product is transferred to the Company's customers, in an amount that reflects the consideration the 
Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for the finished product.  Service revenues are recognized when the 
service occurs.  

Fats and Proteins.  Fats and Proteins include the Company's global activities related to the collection and processing 
of beef, poultry and pork animal by-products into finished products of non-food grade oils, food grade fats and protein 
meal.  Fats and proteins net sales are recognized when the Company ships the finished product to the customer and 
control has been transferred.

Used Cooking Oil.  Used cooking oil includes collection and processing of used cooking oil into finished products 
of non-food grade fats.  Used cooking oil net sales are recognized when the Company ships the finished product to 
the customer and control has been transferred.

Bakery.  Bakery includes collection and processing of bakery residuals into finished product including Cookie Meal®, 
an animal feed ingredient primarily used in poultry and swine rations.  Bakery net sales are recognized when the 
Company ships the finished product to the customer and control has been transferred.

Other Rendering.  Other rendering include hides, pet food products, and service charges.  Hides and pet food net sales 
are recognized when the Company ships the finished product to the customer and control has been transferred.  Service 
revenues are recognized when the service has occurred.

Food Ingredients.  Food ingredients includes collection and processing of pigskin, hide, bone and fish into finished 
product.  Also includes harvesting, sorting and selling of hog and sheep casings as well as harvesting, purchasing and 
processing of hog, sheep and beef meat for pet food industry.  Collagen and CTH meat and casings net sales are 
recognized when the Company ships the finished product to the customer and control has been transferred.

Bioenergy.  Bioenergy includes Ecoson, which converts organic sludge and food waste into biogas and Rendac, which 
collects fallen stock and animal waste for a fee and processes these materials into fats and meals that can only be used 
as low grade energy or fuel for boilers and cement kilns.  Net sales are recognized when the finished product is shipped 

Page 121

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

to the customer and control has been transferred.  Service revenues are recognized in net sales when the service has 
occurred.

Biofuels.  Biofuels includes the North American processing of rendered animal fats, recycled cooking oils and third 
party additives to produce diesel fuel.  Biofuel net sales are recognized when the finished product is shipped to the 
customer and control has been transferred. 

Other.  Other includes grease trap collection and environmental services to food processors in the Feed Ingredients 
segment and Sonac Bone and Sonac Heparin in the Food Ingredients segment.  Net sales are recognized when the 
Company ships the finished product to the customer.  Service revenues are recognized when the service has occurred.

Long-Term Performance Obligations. The Company from time to time enters into long-term contracts to supply certain 
volumes of finished products to certain customers.  Revenue recognized  in 2019 under these long-term supply contracts 
was approximately $41.0 million, with the remaining performance obligations to be recognized in future periods 
(generally 5 years) of approximately $280.8 million.

NOTE 23.  QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED AND IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS):

Net sales
Operating income
Income from operations before income taxes
Net income
Net income attributable to minority interests

$

Net income attributable to Darling
Basic earnings per share
Diluted earnings per share

Year Ended December 28, 2019

First
 Quarter

Second
 Quarter

Third
 Quarter

Fourth
 Quarter (a)

835,104 $
48,551
24,914
19,640
(1,628)
18,012
0.11
0.11

827,324 $
74,124
38,820
31,044
(4,786)
26,258
0.16
0.16

842,049 $
59,859
37,687
26,837
(1,116)
25,721
0.16
0.15

859,428
293,287
279,013
243,446
(837)
242,609
1.48
1.44

Year Ended December 29, 2018

First
 Quarter (b)

Second
 Quarter

Third
 Quarter

Fourth
 Quarter

$

Net sales
Operating income
Income/(loss) from operations before income taxes
Net income/(loss)
Net income attributable to minority interests
Net income/(loss) attributable to Darling
Basic earnings/(loss) per share
Diluted earnings/(loss) per share

875,374 $
128,953
101,787
98,075
(770)
97,305
0.59
0.58

846,646 $
36,754
(27,455)
(29,138)
(1,282)
(30,420)
(0.18)
(0.18)

812,576 $
15,556
(6,540)
(5,137)
(900)
(6,037)
(0.04)
(0.04)

853,130
73,738
50,183
42,144
(1,496)
40,648
0.25
0.24

(a)    In  the  fourth  quarter  of  fiscal  2019,  the  Company's  results  include  2019  and  2018  blenders  tax  credits  of 

approximately $234.4 million.

(b)  In the first quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company's results includes 2017 blenders tax credits of approximately $92.7 

million.

NOTE 24.  RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Raw Material Agreement

The Company has entered into a Raw Material Agreement with the DGD Joint Venture pursuant to which the Company 
will offer to supply certain animal fats and used cooking oil at market prices, up to the DGD Joint Venture's full 
operational requirement of feedstock, but the DGD Joint Venture is not obligated to purchase the raw material offered 

Page 122

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

by the Company.  Additionally, the Company may offer other feedstocks to the DGD Joint Venture, such as inedible 
corn oil, purchased on a resale basis. For the years ended December 28, 2019, December 29, 2018 and December 30, 
2017, the Company has recorded sales to the DGD Joint Venture of approximately $208.7 million, $131.8 million
and $171.3 million, respectively.   At December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, the Company has approximately 
$17.8 million and $8.0 million in outstanding receivables due from the DGD Joint Venture, respectively.  In addition, 
the Company has eliminated additional sales of approximately $5.1 million, $4.6 million and $4.1 million for the year 
ended December 28, 2019, December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017, respectively to the DGD Joint Venture and 
deferred the Company's portion of profit on those sales relating to inventory assets still remaining on the DGD Joint 
Venture's balance sheet at December 28, 2019, December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017 of approximately $0.8 
million, $0.9 million and $0.9 million, respectively.

Revolving Loan Agreement

On May 1, 2019, Darling through its wholly owned subsidiary Darling Green Energy LLC, (“Darling Green”), and 
a third party Diamond Alternative Energy, LLC (“Diamond Alternative” and together with Darling Green, the “DGD 
Lenders”) entered into a revolving loan agreement (the “DGD Loan Agreement”) with the DGD Joint Venture.  The 
DGD Lenders have committed to make loans available to the DGD Joint Venture in the total amount of $50.0 million
with each lender committed to $25.0 million of the total commitment.   Any borrowings by the DGD Joint Venture 
under the DGD Loan Agreement are at the applicable annum rate equal to the sum of (a) the LIBO Rate (meaning 
Reuters BBA Libor Rates Page 3750) on such day plus (b) 2.50%.  The DGD Loan Agreement matures on April 29, 
2020.    The  DGD  Loan Agreement  replaces  a  similar  agreement  with  lower  commitment  levels  that  expired  on 
December 31, 2018.  As of December 28, 2019, no amounts are owed to Darling Green under the DGD Loan Agreement.

Guarantee Agreement

In February 2020, in connection with the DGD Joint Venture’s expansion project at its Norco, LA facility, it has entered 
into  two  agreements  (the  “IMTT Terminaling Agreements”)  with  International-Matex Tank Terminals  (“IMTT”), 
pursuant to which the DGD Joint Venture will move raw material and finished product to and from the IMTT terminal 
facility  by  pipeline,  thereby  providing  better  logistical  capabilities.  As  a  condition  to  entering  into  the  IMTT 
Terminaling Agreements, IMTT required that the Company and Valero guarantee their proportionate share, up to $50 
million each, of the DGD Joint Venture’s obligations under the IMTT Terminaling Agreements (the “Guarantee”), 
subject to the conditions provided for in the IMTT Terminaling Agreements. The Company has not recorded any 
liability as a result of the guarantee, as the Company believes the likelihood of having to make any payments under 
the guarantee is remote.

NOTE 25.  NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In  December  2019,  the  Financial Accounting  Standards  Board  (“FASB”)  issued Accounting  Standards  Update 
(“ASU”)  No. 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes.  This ASU amends Topic 740 Income Taxes, 
which will eliminate certain exceptions in accounting for income taxes, improves consistency in application and 
clarifies existing guidance.  The standard  is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, with early 
adoption permitted.  The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a 
Cloud Computing Arrangement that is a Service Contract.  This ASU amends Subtopic 350-40, Intangibles - Goodwill 
and Other Internal - Use Software, which will align the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred 
in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred 
to develop or obtain internal-use software.  The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 
2019  and  for  interim  periods  therein,  with  early  adoption  permitted.    Implementation  should  be  applied  either 
retrospectively or prospectively to all implementation costs incurred after the date of adoption.  The Company adopted 
the new accounting standard effective December 30, 2018 and the adoption did not have a material impact on the 
Company's consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-14, Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Defined Benefit 
Plans.  This ASU amends Subtopic 715-20, Compensation - Retirement Benefits - Defined Benefit Plans - General, 
which modifies the disclosure requirements for employers that sponsor defined benefit pension or other postretirement 
plans by removing and adding certain disclosures for these plans.  The standard is effective for fiscal years ending 
after December 15, 2020,  with early adoption permitted.  The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this 
standard.

Page 123

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

In August  2018,  the  FASB  issued ASU  No.  2018-13,  Changes  to  the  Disclosure  Requirements  for  Fair  Value 
Measurements.  This ASU amends Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement, which changes the disclosure requirements 
for fair value measurements by removing, adding and modifying certain disclosures.  The standard is effective for 
fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 and for interim periods therein, with early adoption permitted.  The 
initial  adoption  of  this ASU  is  not  expected  to  have  a  material  impact  on  the  Company's  consolidated  financial 
statements.

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-12, Targeted Improvement to Accounting for Hedging Activities.  
This ASU amends Topic 815, Derivatives and Hedging, which is intended to more closely align hedge accounting 
with companies' risk management strategies and simplify the application of hedge accounting.  The guidance includes 
certain targeted improvements to ease the operational burden of applying hedge accounting.  The ASU is effective 
for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018 and for interim periods therein with early adoption permitted.  The 
Company will be required to apply the guidance on a cumulative-effect basis with adjustment to retained earnings as 
of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption with disclosure on a prospective basis.  The Company adopted this 
ASU on December 30, 2018 and the initial adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company's 
consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04 Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment.  This ASU amends 
Topic 350, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other, which will simplify the goodwill impairment calculation by eliminating 
Step 2 from the current goodwill impairment test.  Under the new guidance, an entity should perform its annual, or 
interim, goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount.  An entity 
should recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit's fair 
value; however, the loss recognized should not exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit.  
The ASU eliminates existing guidance that requires an entity to determine goodwill impairment by calculating the 
implied fair value of goodwill by hypothetically assigning the fair value of a reporting unit to all of the assets and 
liabilities as if that reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination.  This ASU is effective for fiscal years 
beginning after December 15, 2019 and interim periods within those fiscal years.  The initial adoption of this ASU is 
not expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement 
of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments.  Under ASU 2016-13, existing guidance on reporting credit losses for trade 
and other receivables and available for sale debt securities will be replaced with a new forward-looking “expected 
loss” model that generally will result in the earlier recognition of allowances for losses.  This ASU is effective for 
fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 and interim periods therein. The initial adoption of this ASU is not 
expected to have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements. 

NOTE 26.  GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The Company's 5.25% Notes and 3.625% Notes (see Note 10) are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by the 
following Notes Guarantors, each of which is a 100% directly or indirectly owned subsidiary of Darling and which 
constitute all of Darling's existing restricted subsidiaries that are Credit Agreement Guarantors (other than Darling's 
foreign subsidiaries, Darling Global Finance B.V., which issued the 3.625% Notes and is discussed further below, or 
any receivables entity): Darling National, Griffin and its subsidiary Craig Protein, Darling Global Holdings Inc., EV 
Acquisition LLC, Rousselot Inc., Rousselot Dubuque Inc., Sonac USA LLC and Rousselot Peabody Inc.  In addition, 
the 3.625% Notes, which were issued by Darling Global Finance B.V., a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Darling, 
are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by Darling. The Notes Guarantors, and Darling in the case of the 3.625%
Notes, fully and unconditionally guaranteed the 5.25% Notes and 3.625% Notes on a joint and several basis.  The 
following financial statements present condensed consolidating financial data for (i) Darling, (ii) the combined Notes 
Guarantors, (iii) the combined other subsidiaries of the Company that did not guarantee the 5.25% Notes or the 3.625%
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 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018, 
and the condensed consolidating statements of operations, the condensed consolidating statements of comprehensive 
income/(loss) and the condensed consolidating statements of cash flows for the years ended December 28, 2019, 
December 29,  2018  and  December 30,  2017.    Separate  financial  information  is  not  presented  for  Darling  Global 
Finance B.V. since it was formed as a special purpose finance subsidiary for the purpose of issuing euro-denominated 
notes such as the 3.625% Notes and therefore does not have any substantial operations or assets.

Page 124

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

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
As of December 28, 2019
(in thousands)

ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents
Restricted cash
Accounts receivable, net
Inventories
Income taxes refundable
Prepaid expenses
Other current assets
Total current assets
Investment in subsidiaries
Property, plant and equipment, net
Intangible assets, net
Goodwill
Investment in unconsolidated subsidiaries
Operating lease right-of-use asset
Other assets
Deferred income taxes

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current portion of long-term debt
Accounts payable
Income taxes payable
Current operating lease liability
Accrued expenses
Total current liabilities
Long-term debt, net of current portion
Long-term operating lease liability
Other noncurrent liabilities
Deferred income taxes
Total liabilities
Total stockholders' equity

Parent

Guarantors

Non-guarantors

Eliminations

Consolidated

$

$

$

$

551 $
103
51,097
26,893
1,106
20,888
5,399
106,037
5,365,956
434,237
44,404
49,902
—
74,005
35,456
—

26 $
—
702,945
86,609
—
2,241
(2,326)
789,495
1,366,635
524,577
170,581
490,748
—
31,243
134
—

72,358 $

7
518,614
249,455
2,211
23,470
40,872
906,987
844,043
843,597
311,409
682,641
689,354
19,478
61,974
14,394

— $
—
(866,318)
—
—
—
(18,913)
(885,231)
(7,576,634)
—
—
—
—
—
(50,164)
—

72,935
110
406,338
362,957
3,317
46,599
25,032
917,288
—
1,802,411
526,394
1,223,291
689,354
124,726
47,400
14,394

6,109,997 $

3,373,413 $

4,373,877 $

(8,512,029) $

5,345,258

40,916 $

893,490
(10)
20,454
116,758
1,071,608
1,040,974
58,970
80,409
122,109
2,374,070
3,735,927
6,109,997 $

10 $

68,983 $

(18,913) $

29,535
—
10,510
32,861
72,916
30
20,281
—
—
93,227
3,280,186
3,373,413 $

182,484
8,905
6,841
161,833
429,046
567,589
12,173
35,376
125,822
1,170,006
3,203,871
4,373,877 $

(866,257)
—
—
(61)
(885,231)
(50,164)
—
—
—
(935,395)
(7,576,634)
(8,512,029) $

90,996
239,252
8,895
37,805
311,391
688,339
1,558,429
91,424
115,785
247,931
2,701,908
2,643,350
5,345,258

Page 125

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

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
As of December 29, 2018
(in thousands)

ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents
Restricted cash
Accounts receivable, net
Inventories
Income taxes refundable
Prepaid expenses
Other current assets
Total current assets
Investment in subsidiaries
Property, plant and equipment, net
Intangible assets, net
Goodwill
Investment in unconsolidated subsidiary
Other assets
Deferred income taxes

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current portion of long-term debt
Accounts payable
Income tax payable
Accrued expenses
Total current liabilities
Long-term debt, net of current portion
Other noncurrent liabilities
Deferred income taxes
Total liabilities
Total stockholders' equity

Parent

Guarantors

Non-guarantors

Eliminations

Consolidated

$

$

$

$

995 $
103
56,113
23,752
2,851
12,890
2,680
99,384
4,880,193
375,824
50,132
49,506
13,969
39,395
—

32 $
—
619,628
83,261
—
2,936
(1,418)
704,439
1,366,126
503,130
200,936
490,748
—
138
—

106,235 $

4
461,005
234,015
3,611
19,421
20,837
845,128
844,044
808,904
344,794
688,905
396,208
13,842
14,981

— $
—
(751,009)
—
—
—
—
(751,009)
(7,090,363)
—
—
—
—
—
—

107,262
107
385,737
341,028
6,462
35,247
22,099
897,942
—
1,687,858
595,862
1,229,159
410,177
53,375
14,981

5,508,403 $

3,265,517 $

3,956,806 $

(7,841,372) $

4,889,354

3,558 $

783,406
(10)
107,572
894,526
1,019,130
78,589
95,710
2,087,955
3,420,448
5,508,403 $

5 $

3,929 $

— $

24,388
—
33,387
57,780
18
—
—
57,798
3,207,719
3,265,517 $

162,678
4,053
168,541
339,201
647,792
36,443
135,353
1,158,789
2,798,017
3,956,806 $

(750,993)
—
(16)
(751,009)
—
—
—
(751,009)
(7,090,363)
(7,841,372) $

7,492
219,479
4,043
309,484
540,498
1,666,940
115,032
231,063
2,553,533
2,335,821
4,889,354

Page 126

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

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
For the year ended December 28, 2019
(in thousands) 

Parent

Guarantors

Non-guarantors

Eliminations

$

652,708 $

1,305,464 $

1,637,861 $

(232,128) $

Consolidated
3,363,905

Net sales
Cost and expenses:

Cost of sales and operating expenses
Loss (gain) on sale of assets
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Depreciation and amortization
Total costs and expenses

Equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel

Operating income/(loss)

Interest expense
Debt extinguishment costs
Foreign currency gains/(losses)
Gain on disposal of subsidiaries
Other income/(expense), net
Equity in net income/(loss) of other unconsolidated

subsidiaries

Earnings in investments in subsidiaries
Income/(loss) from operations before taxes
Income taxes (benefit)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
Net income/(loss) attributable to Darling

515,286
(403)
187,851
61,777
764,511

—
(111,803)

(56,240)
(12,126)
(306)
—
(5,828)

(2,425)
471,827
283,099
(29,501)
—

$

312,600 $

1,078,247
(7,356)
43,855
104,247
1,218,993

—
86,471

(167)
—
4
—
(880)

—
—
85,428
13,354
—
72,074 $

1,227,680
(12,823)
126,817
159,486
1,501,160

364,452
501,153

(22,267)
—
(1,009)
2,967
37

(232,128)
—
—
—
(232,128)

—
—

—
—
—
—
—

2,853
—
483,734
75,614
(8,367)
399,753 $

—
(471,827)
(471,827)
—
—

(471,827) $

2,589,085
(20,582)
358,523
325,510
3,252,536

364,452
475,821

(78,674)
(12,126)
(1,311)
2,967
(6,671)

428
—
380,434
59,467
(8,367)
312,600

Net sales
Cost and expenses:

Cost of sales and operating expenses
Loss (gain) on sale of assets
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Restructuring and impairment charges
Depreciation and amortization
Total costs and expenses

Equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel

Operating income/(loss)

Interest expense
Debt extinguishment costs
Foreign currency gains/(losses)
Gain/(loss) on sale of subsidiaries
Other income/(expense), net
Equity in net income/(loss) of unconsolidated

subsidiaries

Earnings in investments in subsidiaries
Income/(loss) from operations before taxes
Income taxes (benefit)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
Net income/(loss) attributable to Darling

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
For the year ended December 29, 2018
(in thousands) 

Parent

Guarantors

Non-guarantors

Eliminations

$

541,499 $

1,338,376 $

1,738,427 $

(230,576) $

Consolidated
3,387,726

1,080,420
(184)
46,199
—
107,581
1,234,016
—
104,360

7,397
—
(103)
—
(1,019)

—
—
110,635
11,282
—
99,353 $

1,374,502
979
113,350
14,965
164,670
1,668,466
159,779
229,740

(36,994)
(7,874)
(5,897)
3,038
11,944

2,072
—
196,029
19,991
(4,448)
171,590 $

(230,576)
—
—
—
—
(230,576)
—
—

—
—
—
—
—

—
(270,943)
(270,943)
—
—

(270,943) $

2,646,374
709
309,264
14,965
321,192
3,292,504
159,779
255,001

(86,429)
(23,509)
(6,431)
(12,545)
(7,562)

(550)
—
117,975
12,031
(4,448)
101,496

422,028
(86)
149,715
—
48,941
620,598
—
(79,099)

(56,832)
(15,635)
(431)
(15,583)
(18,487)

(2,622)
270,943
82,254
(19,242)
—

$

101,496 $

Page 127

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

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations
For the year ended December 30, 2017
(in thousands)

Parent

Guarantors

Non-guarantors

Eliminations

$

545,699 $

1,464,920 $

1,893,304 $

(241,672) $

Consolidated
3,662,251

Net sales
Cost and expenses:

Cost of sales and operating expenses
Loss (gain) on sale of assets
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Depreciation and amortization
Total costs and expenses

Equity in net income of Diamond Green Diesel

429,983
(302)
150,880
42,366
622,927

—

1,198,528
(257)
55,053
106,406
1,359,730

—

Operating income/(loss)

(77,228)

105,190

Interest expense
Foreign currency gains/(losses)
Loss on sale of subsidiaries
Other income/(expense), net
Equity in net income/(loss) of unconsolidated

subsidiary

Earnings in investments in subsidiaries
Income/(loss) from operations before taxes
Income taxes (benefit)

Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests
Net income/(loss) attributable to Darling

(55,336)
(234)
—
(14,651)

(1,847)
438,580
289,284
160,816

—

15,818
114
—
37

—
—
121,159
(130,508)

—

$

128,468 $

251,667 $

1,488,841
322
137,569
153,328
1,780,060

28,239

141,483

(49,408)
(6,778)
(885)
5,813

2,112
—
92,337
(99,462)

(4,886)
186,913 $

(241,672)
—
—
—
(241,672)

—

—

—
—
—
—

—
(438,580)
(438,580)
—

—

(438,580) $

2,875,680
(237)
343,502
302,100
3,521,045

28,239

169,445

(88,926)
(6,898)
(885)
(8,801)

265
—
64,200
(69,154)

(4,886)
128,468

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

Foreign currency translation
Pension adjustments
Corn option derivative adjustments
Heating oil derivative adjustments
Foreign exchange derivative adjustments
Total other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax
Total comprehensive income/(loss)

Comprehensive income attributable to

noncontrolling interests

Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to

Darling

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income/(Loss)
For the year ended December 28, 2019
(in thousands)

Parent

Guarantors

Non-guarantors

Eliminations

$

320,967 $

72,074 $

399,753 $

(471,827) $

Consolidated
320,967

837
4,287
278
—
—
5,402
326,369

—
—
—
—
—
—
72,074

(12,771)
(2,752)
—
(3,141)
(3,723)
(22,387)
377,366

—
—
—
—
—
—
(471,827)

(11,934)
1,535
278
(3,141)
(3,723)
(16,985)
303,982

—

—

8,690

— $

8,690

$

326,369 $

72,074 $

368,676 $

(471,827) $

295,292

Page 128

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

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income/(Loss)
For the year ended December 29, 2018
(in thousands)

Parent

Guarantors

Non-guarantors

Eliminations

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

Foreign currency translation
Pension adjustments
Natural gas swap derivative adjustments
Corn option derivative adjustments
Foreign exchange derivative adjustments
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax
Total comprehensive income/(loss)

Comprehensive income attributable to

noncontrolling interests

Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to

Darling

$

105,944 $

99,353 $

171,590 $

(270,943) $

Consolidated
105,944

1,724
(4,184)
23
(1,687)
—
(4,124)
101,820 $

(53,387)
—
—
—
—
(53,387)
45,966 $

(35,811)
1,454
—
—
1,081
(33,276)
138,314 $

—
—
—
—
—
—

(270,943) $

(87,474)
(2,730)
23
(1,687)
1,081
(90,787)
15,157

—

—

3,894

—

3,894

101,820 $

45,966 $

134,420 $

(270,943) $

11,263

$

$

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income/(Loss)
For the year ended December 30, 2017
(in thousands)

Parent

Guarantors

Non-guarantors

Eliminations

$

133,354 $

251,667 $

186,913 $

(438,580) $

Consolidated
133,354

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

Foreign currency translation
Pension adjustments
Natural gas swap derivative adjustments
Corn option derivative adjustments

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

Comprehensive income attributable to

noncontrolling interests

Comprehensive income/(loss) attributable to

Darling

$

$

—
4,797
(18)
(1,078)
3,701
137,055 $

—
—
—
—
—

251,667 $

121,810
1,032
—
—
122,842
309,755 $

—
—
—
—
—

(438,580) $

121,810
5,829
(18)
(1,078)
126,543
259,897

—

—

947

—

947

137,055 $

251,667 $

308,808 $

(438,580) $

258,950

Page 129

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

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows
For the year ended December 28, 2019
(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

Proceeds from sale of investment in subsidiary

Note receivable from 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:
Proceeds from long-term debt
Payments on long-term debt
Borrowings from revolving credit facility
Payments on revolving credit facility
Net overdraft financing
Deferred loan costs
Issuance of common stock

Repurchase of common stock

Contributions from parent

Minimum withholding taxes paid on stock awards

Distributions to noncontrolling interests

Net cash provided/(used) in financing activities

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash

equivalent

Net increase/(decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and

restricted cash

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at

beginning of year

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of

year

Parent

Guarantors

Non-guarantors

Eliminations

Consolidated

$

320,967 $
(471,827)
244,255
93,395

72,074 $
—
5,020
77,094

399,753 $

—
(207,621)
192,132

(471,827) $
471,827
—
—

320,967
—
41,654
362,621

(113,632)
(1,157)
(2,393)

—

50,164

1,034
1,493
(131)
(64,622)

500,000
(545,872)
281,000
(242,000)
8,358
(7,027)
39

(19,260)

—

(4,455)

—

(29,217)

—

(444)

1,098

(94,659)
—
(393)

—

—

12,459
5,107
—
(77,486)

—
(7)
—
—
—
—
—

—

393

—

—

386

—

(6)

32

(151,207)
(274)
—

3,671

(50,164)

4,742
—
(3,520)
(196,752)

17,606
(35,284)
188,227
(219,669)
30,009
—
—

—

393

(17)

(6,533)

(25,268)

(3,986)

(33,874)

106,239

—
—
786

—

—

—
—
—
786

—
—
—
—
—
—
—

—

(786)

—

—

(786)

—

—

—

(359,498)
(1,431)
(2,000)

3,671

—

18,235
6,600
(3,651)
(338,074)

517,606
(581,163)
469,227
(461,669)
38,367
(7,027)
39

(19,260)

—

(4,472)

(6,533)

(54,885)

(3,986)

(34,324)

107,369

$

654 $

26 $

72,365 $

— $

73,045

Page 130

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

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows
For the year ended December 29, 2018
(in thousands)

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net income/(loss)
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
Proceeds from sale of investment in subsidiary
Note receivable from 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 provided/(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
Net overdraft financing
Deferred loan costs
Issuances of common stock

Contributions from parent

Minimum withholding taxes paid on stock awards

Distributions to noncontrolling interest

Net cash provided/(used) in financing activities

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash

equivalents

Net increase/(decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and

restricted cash

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at

beginning of year

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of

year

Parent

Guarantors

Non-guarantors

Eliminations

Consolidated

$

105,944 $
(270,943)
323,903
158,904

99,353 $
—
(81,561)
17,792

171,590 $

—
50,329
221,919

(270,943) $
270,943
—
—

105,944
—
292,671
398,615

(115,004)
(100,500)
(12,250)
79,955
—

2,125

750

(299)
(145,223)

—
(15,116)
351,000
(351,000)
3,558
(824)
182

—

(2,210)

—

(14,410)

—

(90,402)
—
(198,880)
—
266,880

1,146

503

—
(20,753)

—
—
—
—
—
—
—

—

—

—

—

—

(116,490)
(7,227)
—
2,805
(266,880)

16,057

—

(3,584)
(375,319)

624,620
(671,512)
192,898
(159,974)
(98)
(8,844)
—

198,880

(5)

(10,257)

165,708

(8,165)

(729)

(2,961)

4,143

1,827

2,993

102,096

—
—
198,880
—
—

—

—

—
198,880

—
—
—
—
—
—
—

(198,880)

—

—

(198,880)

—

—

—

(321,896)
(107,727)
(12,250)
82,760
—

19,328

1,253

(3,883)
(342,415)

624,620
(686,628)
543,898
(510,974)
3,460
(9,668)
182

—

(2,215)

(10,257)

(47,582)

(8,165)

453

106,916

$

1,098 $

32 $

106,239 $

— $

107,369

Page 131

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

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows
For the year ended December 30, 2017
(in thousands)

Parent

Guarantors

Non-guarantors

Eliminations

Consolidated

$

133,354 $
(438,580)
489,302

251,667 $

186,913 $

—
(240,494)

—
28,274

(438,580) $
438,580
—

184,076

11,173

215,187

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net income/(loss)
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

Note receivable from 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 provided/(used) in investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from long-term debt
Payments on long-term debt
Borrowing from revolving credit facility
Payments on revolving credit facility
Net overdraft financing
Deferred loan costs
Issuances of common stock

Contributions from parent

Minimum withholding taxes paid on stock awards

Deductions to noncontrolling interest

Distributions to noncontrolling interests

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash

equivalents

Net increase/(decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and

restricted cash

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at

beginning of year

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of

year

Net cash provided/(used) in financing activities

(89,435)

(83,520)
—

(6,309)

—

2,577
—
(7,135)
(94,387)

—
(79,706)
170,000
(170,000)
—
(6,717)
22

—

(3,034)

—

—

—

254

(74,384)
(12,144)

(13,386)

82,000

3,980
—
—
(13,934)

—
—
—
—
—
—
—

—

—

—

—

—

—

(116,264)
—

—

(82,000)

1,533
6,054
—
(190,677)

33,401
(69,917)
29,495
(34,935)
(714)
—
—

14,945

(15)

(17,451)

(5,281)

(50,472)

20,528

(2,761)

(5,434)

133,354
—
277,082

410,436

(274,168)
(12,144)

(4,750)

—

8,090
6,054
(7,135)
(284,053)

33,401
(149,623)
199,495
(204,935)
(714)
(6,717)
22

—

(3,049)

(17,451)

(5,281)

—

—
—

14,945

—

—
—
—
14,945

—
—
—
—
—
—
—

(14,945)

—

—

—

(14,945)

(154,852)

—

—

—

20,528

(7,941)

114,857

1,573

5,754

107,530

$

1,827 $

2,993 $

102,096 $

— $

106,916

Page 132

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  Rule  13a-15(b)  under  the  Securities  Exchange Act  of  1934,  as  amended  (the  “Exchange Act”),  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 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 28, 2019. 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) (2013).

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 28, 2019.

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 133

 
 
(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 other than SOX control changes related to the upgrade of accounting 
software at its international operations 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 134

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,” “Delinquent Section 16 (a) Reports” and 
“Corporate Governance-Committees of the Board - Audit Committee” included in the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement 
relating to the 2020 annual meeting of stockholders, which will be filed no later than 120 days after December 28, 2019, and such 
information is incorporated herein by reference.

The Company has adopted the Darling Ingredients Inc. Code of Conduct (“Code of Conduct”), which is applicable to all 
of the Company’s employees, including its senior financial officers, the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief 
Accounting Officer, Controller, Treasurer and General Counsel.  A copy of the Company’s Code of Conduct has been posted on 
the “Investor” portion of our web site, at www.darlingii.com.  We intend to satisfy the disclosure requirements of the SEC regarding 
amendments to, or waivers from, the Code of Conduct by posting such information on the same web site. 

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 2020 annual meeting of stockholders, which will be filed no later than 120 
days after December 28, 2019, and such information is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 12.   SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED 

STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS

The  following  table  sets  forth  certain  information  as  of  December 28,  2019,  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.

(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))

6,110,844

(1)

$14.04

12,522,616

             –
6,110,844

        –
$14.04

             –
12,522,616

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 
2004 Omnibus Incentive Plan, 2012 Omnibus Incentive Plan and 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan, each as approved 
by the Company’s stockholders.  See Note 13 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for information 
regarding the material features of the 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan.

Page 135

 
           
 
 
 
 
 
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 2019 annual meeting of stockholders, which will be filed no later than 120 days after December 28, 2019, and such 
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 2020 annual meeting of stockholders, which will 
be filed no later than 120 days after December 28, 2019, and such 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 2020 annual meeting of 
stockholders, which will be filed no later than 120 days after December 28 2019, and such information is incorporated herein by 
reference.

Page 136

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 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018

Consolidated Statements of Operations -

Three years ended December 28, 2019

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income/(Loss) -

Three years ended December 28, 2019

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity -

Three years ended December 28, 2019

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows -

Three years ended December 28, 2019

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Page

 72

 74

76

77

78

79

80

81

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 137

 
 
(3)  Exhibits

(With regard to applicable cross-references in the list of exhibits below, the Company's Current, Quarterly and Annual 
Reports are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under File No. 001-13323).

Exhibit No.

3.1

3.2

3.3

3.4

3.5

4.1

4.2

4.3

10.1

10.2

10.3

10.4

10.5

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).

Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to 
the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 27, 2013 and incorporated herein by 
reference).

Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to 
the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 7, 2014 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 March 1, 2017 and incorporated herein by reference).

Certificate of Designation, Preferences 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).

Senior Notes Indenture, dated as of May 2, 2018, by and among Darling Global Finance B.V., Darling 
Ingredients Inc., the subsidiary guarantors party thereto from time to time, Citibank, N.A., London Branch, 
as trustee and principal paying agent, and Citigroup Global Markets Deutschland AG, as principal registrar 
(filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 2, 2018 and incorporated 
herein by reference).

Senior Notes Indenture, dated as of April 3, 2019, by and among Darling Ingredients Inc., the guarantors 
party thereto from time to time, and Regions Bank, as trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current 
Report on Form 8-K filed April 3, 2019 and incorporated herein by reference).

Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of January 6, 2014, by and among Darling 
International Inc., the other borrowers party thereto from time to time, the lenders party thereto, JPMorgan 
Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the other agents from time to time party thereto (filed as 
Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 10, 2014 and incorporated herein 
by reference).

First Amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of May 13, 2015, among 
the Company, as the parent borrower, the other subsidiary borrowers party thereto, JPMorgan Chase Bank, 
N.A., as administrative agent, and certain lenders party thereto (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s 
Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 15, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference).

Second Amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of September 23, 
2015, among the Company, as the parent borrower, the other subsidiary borrowers party thereto, JPMorgan 
Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and certain lenders party thereto (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the 
Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed September 25, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference).

Third Amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 14, 2015, 
among the Company, as the parent borrower, the other subsidiary borrowers party thereto, JPMorgan Chase 
Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and certain lenders party thereto (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the 
Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 14, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference).

Fourth Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of December 16, 2016, by 
and among Darling Ingredients Inc., as the parent borrower, the other subsidiary borrowers party thereto, the 
subsidiary guarantors, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and certain lenders party 
thereto (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 20, 2016 and 
incorporated herein by reference).

Page 138

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 *

10.22 *

Fifth Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of December 18, 2017, by 
and among Darling Ingredients Inc., as the parent borrower, the other subsidiary borrowers party thereto, the 
subsidiary guarantors, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and certain lenders party 
thereto (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 20, 2017 and 
incorporated herein by reference).

Second Amended and Restated Security Agreement, dated as of January 6, 2014, 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 January 10, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference).

Second Amended and Restated Guaranty Agreement, dated as of January 6, 2014, 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 10.3 to the Company’s 
Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 10, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference).

Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement, dated as of May 1, 2019, 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 May 7, 2019 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).

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).

Darling International Inc. 2004 Omnibus Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current 
Report on Form 8-K filed May 17, 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).

Amendment to Darling International Inc. 2004 Omnibus Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.15 to the 
Company's Current Report on Form 10-K filed February 28, 2017 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).

Amendment to Darling International Inc. 2012 Omnibus Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.17 to the 
Company's Current Report on Form 10-K filed February 28, 2017 and incorporated herein by reference).

Darling Ingredients Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit 4.6 to the Company’s Registration 
Statement on Form S-8 filed May 9, 2017 and incorporated herein by reference).

Form of Performance Award Agreement for use in connection with awards under the 2012 Omnibus 
Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed May 12, 2016 
and incorporated herein by reference).

Form of Stock Option Notice and Agreement for use in connection with awards under the 2012 Omnibus 
Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed May 12, 2016 
and incorporated herein by reference).

Form of Performance Unit Award Agreement under the Darling International Inc. 2012 Omnibus Incentive 
Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 6, 2014 and 
incorporated herein by reference).

Form of Performance Unit Award Agreement for 2017 awards under the 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan (filed 
as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed May 11, 2017 and incorporated 
herein by reference).

Page 139

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 *

10.39 *

21

23.1

Form of Performance Unit Award Agreement under the 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan effective January 
2018 (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed May 9, 2018 and 
incorporated herein by reference).

Form of Stock Option Notice and Agreement for 2017 awards under the 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan (filed 
as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed May 11, 2017 and incorporated 
herein by reference).

Form of Stock Option Notice and Agreement under the 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan effective January 
2018 (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed May 9, 2018 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 10.04 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).

Form of Notice of Grant of Restricted Stock Unit Award (Non-Employee Directors) under the Darling 
International Inc. 2012 Omnibus Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on 
Form 10-Q filed August 7, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference).

Form of Notice of Grant of Restricted Stock Unit Award (Non-Employee Directors) under the Darling 
International Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on 
Form 10-Q filed August 9, 2017 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 10.01 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed 
January 21, 2009 and incorporated herein by reference).

Amendment No. 1, dated as of March 23, 2015, to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement between 
Darling Ingredients Inc. and Randall C. Stuewe (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on 
Form 8-K filed March 25, 2015 and incorporated herein by reference).

Employment Agreement, dated August 21, 2014, between Darling International Netherlands BV and 
J.M.I.M. (Jan) van der Velden (filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed 
May 9, 2018 and incorporated herein by reference).

Employment Agreement, dated February 9, 2016, between Darling International Netherlands BV and Jos 
Vervoort (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed May 8, 2019 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).

Form of Third 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).

Amended and Restated Senior Executive Termination Benefits Agreement, dated effective as of January 1, 
2018, between Darling Ingredients Inc. and John O. Muse (filed as Exhibit 10.36 to the Company's Annual 
Report on Form 10-K filed February 28, 2017 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).

Subsidiaries of the Registrant (filed herewith).

Consent of KPMG LLP (filed herewith).

Page 140

23.2

31.1

31.2

32

99.1

101

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 Brad 
Phillips, 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).

Consolidated Financial Statements of Diamond Green Diesel Holdings LLC and Subsidiary for the year 
ended December 31, 2019 (filed herewith).

Interactive Data Files Pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T: (i) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of
December 28, 2019 and December 29, 2018; (ii) Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended
December 28, 2019, December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017; (iii) Consolidated Statements of
Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 28, 2019, December 29, 2018 and December 30,
2017; (iv) Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 28, 2019,
December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017; (v) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended
December 28, 2019, December 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017; (vi) Notes to the Consolidated Financial
Statements.

104

Cover Page Interactive Data File (formated as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101).

The Exhibits are available upon request from the Company.

*

Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

Page 141

 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. 

SIGNATURES

 DARLING INGREDIENTS INC.

By:

/s/  Randall C. Stuewe
Randall C. Stuewe

Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer

Date:

February 25, 2020

 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/  Brad Phillips
Brad Phillips

/s/  Brenda Snell
Brenda Snell

/s/  Charles Adair
Charles Adair

/s/  D. Eugene Ewing
D. Eugene Ewing

/s/  Linda Goodspeed
Linda Goodspeed

/s/ Dirk Kloosterboer
Dirk Kloosterboer

/s/  Mary R. Korby
Mary R. Korby

/s/  Cynthia Pharr Lee
Cynthia Pharr Lee

/s/  Charles Macaluso
Charles Macaluso

/s/  Gary W. Mize
Gary W. Mize

/s/ Michael E. Rescoe
Michael E. Rescoe

/s/ Nicole M. Ringenberg
Nicole M. Ringenberg

Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer)

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Page 142

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February 25, 2020

February 25, 2020

February 25, 2020

February 25, 2020

February 25, 2020

February 25, 2020

February 25, 2020

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(cid:87)(cid:396)(cid:349)(cid:374)(cid:272)(cid:349)(cid:393)(cid:258)(cid:367)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:296)(cid:296)(cid:349)(cid:272)(cid:286)(cid:3)

(cid:24)(cid:349)(cid:396)(cid:286)(cid:272)(cid:410)(cid:381)(cid:396)(cid:400)(cid:3)

(cid:28)(cid:454)(cid:286)(cid:272)(cid:437)(cid:410)(cid:349)(cid:448)(cid:286)(cid:3)(cid:75)(cid:296)(cid:296)(cid:349)(cid:272)(cid:286)(cid:396)(cid:400)(cid:3)

Randall C. Stuewe 
Chairman and Director  
since February 2003 

Charles Adair 
Director since 2017 

D. Eugene Ewing 
Director since 2011 

Linda Goodspeed 
Director since 2017 

Dirk Kloosterboer 
Director since 2014 

Mary R. Korby 
Director since 2014 

Cynthia Pharr Lee 
Director since 2016 

Charles Macaluso 
Director since 2002 

Gary W. Mize 
Director since 2016 

Michael E. Rescoe 
Director since 2017 

Nicole M. Ringenberg 
Director since 2018 

Randall C. Stuewe 
Chief Executive Officer 

Brad Phillips 
Executive Vice President 
Chief Financial Officer 

John O. Muse 
Executive Vice President 
Chief Administrative Officer 

Rick A. Elrod 
Executive Vice President 
Darling U.S. Rendering Operations 

Jan van der Velden 
Executive Vice President 
International Rendering and Specialties  

John Bullock 
Executive Vice President 
Specialty 
(cid:47)(cid:374)(cid:336)(cid:396)(cid:286)(cid:282)(cid:349)(cid:286)(cid:374)(cid:410)(cid:400)
Chief Strategy Officer 

Jos Vervoort 
Executive Vice President 
Rousselot 

John F. Sterling 
Executive Vice President 
General Counsel and Secretary 

Darling Ingredients Inc. 
(cid:1009)(cid:1010)(cid:1004)(cid:1005)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:381)(cid:396)(cid:410)(cid:346)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:258)(cid:272)(cid:4)(cid:396)(cid:410)(cid:346)(cid:437)(cid:396)(cid:3)(cid:17)(cid:367)(cid:448)(cid:282)(cid:856)
Irving, Texas 75038 
972.717.0300 
www.darlingii.com 

Transfer Agent and Registrar 
Computershare 
C/O Shareholder Services 
P.O. Box 505000 
Louisville, KY 40233-5002 

Overnight correspondence 
Computershare 
C/O Shareholder Services 
(cid:1008)(cid:1010)(cid:1006)(cid:3)(cid:94)(cid:381)(cid:437)(cid:410)(cid:346)(cid:3)(cid:1008)(cid:410)(cid:346)(cid:3)(cid:94)(cid:410)(cid:396)(cid:286)(cid:286)(cid:410)
(cid:94)(cid:437)(cid:349)(cid:410)(cid:286)(cid:3)(cid:1005)(cid:1010)(cid:1004)(cid:1004)
(cid:62)(cid:381)(cid:437)(cid:349)(cid:400)(cid:448)(cid:349)(cid:367)(cid:367)(cid:286)(cid:853)(cid:3)(cid:60)(cid:122)(cid:3)(cid:1008)(cid:1004)(cid:1006)(cid:1004)(cid:1006)
www.computershare.com/investor  

Independent Auditors 
KPMG LLP 
2323 Ross Ave., Suite 1400 
Dallas, Texas 75201 

Annual Meeting 
(cid:68)(cid:258)(cid:455)(cid:3)(cid:1009)(cid:853)(cid:3)(cid:1006)(cid:1004)(cid:1006)(cid:1004)
10:00 a.m. Central Time
Darling Ingredients Inc.
5601 North MacArthur Blvd. 
Irving, Texas 75038 

Form 10-K 
Darling Ingredients Inc.’s Annual Report on 
Form10-K is available upon request without 
charge: 
c/o Investor Relations 
Darling Ingredients Inc. 
(cid:1009)(cid:1010)(cid:1004)(cid:1005)(cid:3)(cid:69)(cid:381)(cid:396)(cid:410)(cid:346)(cid:3)(cid:68)(cid:258)(cid:272)(cid:4)(cid:396)(cid:410)(cid:346)(cid:437)(cid:396)(cid:3)(cid:17)(cid:367)(cid:448)(cid:282)(cid:856)
Irving, Texas 75038 
www.darlingii.com