[INTRODUCTION] [HIGHLIGHTS] [LETTER TO THE STAKEHOLDERS] [DAIRY FOODS] [AG SERVICES] [BOARD OF DIRECTORS] [FINANCIAL REVIEW] [SENIOR STRATEGY TEAM]
Financial Overview
Consolidated Statements of Operations
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
Consolidated Statements of Equities
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
Report of Management
Independent Auditors Report
Ten Years in Review
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

12. ACQUISITIONS, MERGERS AND DIVESTITURES

On October 11, 2001, the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding stock of Purina Mills, Inc. (Purina Mills). The Company contributed the stock to Land O'Lakes Farmland Feed LLC in exchange for increasing its ownership in the LLC from its initial ownership percentage of 69% to 92%. The results of operations of Purina Mills are included in the consolidated financial statements since that date. Purina Mills is a commercial and lifestyle feed company. This acquisition allowed the Company to diversify into lifestyle feed products.

The aggregate purchase price was approximately $359.0 million, net of cash acquired, of which $247.0 million represented cash payments for stock and acquisition costs and $112.0 million represented debt retirement. In connection with the acquisition, the Company refinanced certain existing bank financing arrangements and entered into new bank financing arrangements (see Note 7).

The following table summarizes the estimated fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition. The Company is in the process of obtaining final third party valuations of certain assets; thus, the allocation of the purchase price is subject to refinement.

At October 11, 2001

Current assets $ 92,486
Investments 10,430
Property, plant and equipment 218,913
Goodwill 86,872
Other intangibles 98,940
Other assets 32,892

    Total assets acquired 540,533

Current liabilities 64,338
Other liabilities 117,638

    Total liabilities assumed 181,976

    Net assets acquired $ 358,557

Goodwill of $86.9 million was recognized and assigned to the Feed segment. None of the goodwill is expected to be deductible for tax purposes. Of the $98.9 million of acquired identifiable intangible assets, $76.5 million is not subject to amortization, and relates primarily to trade names and trademarks. The remaining intangible assets of $22.4 million, have a weighted average useful life of approximately 12 years and consists of patents in the amount of $16.4 million (14 year weighted average useful life) and contracts of $6.0 million (3 year weighted average useful life).

The following table summarizes the unaudited pro forma results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2000 for the Company as if the Purina Mills acquisition had occurred on January 1, 2001 and 2000, respectively. The unaudited pro forma results of operations are for informational purposes only and do not purport to represent what the Company's results of operations would have been if the acquisition had actually occurred on those dates.

  Pro Forma Year
Ended December 31
 
  2001 2000

Net sales $ 6,638,743 $ 6,608,595
Earnings before extraordinary item 84,705 101,520
Net earnings 70,305 90,735

During 2000, Land O'Lakes completed acquisitions that required cash outlays of $101.1 million. The Company received $184.1 million of net cash proceeds from divestitures.

In January 2000, Land O'Lakes expanded its butter production capacity with the acquisition of Madison Dairy Produce Co. in Madison, Wisconsin. The Company broadened its seed operations during the year by acquiring the seed assets of several companies, including WilFarm LLC, Agro Distribution, Advanta Seeds, Inc. and certain of the seed assets of AgriBioTech Inc. Other acquisitions in 2000 included the purchase of a cheese plant in Gustine, California and a feed mill in Neosho, Missouri.

In April 2000, the Company divested of a swine business in North Carolina for net proceeds of $4.4 million which resulted in a gain of $0.5 million. In July 2000, the Company sold its fluid dairy assets to Dean Foods Company for net proceeds of $179.7 million which resulted in a gain of $88.5 million.

In October 2000, the Company and Farmland entered into a new venture that combined both of their feed businesses into a single entity—Land O'Lakes Farmland Feed, LLC. Land O'Lakes owned 69% of the venture at the date of combination; and as majority-owner, fully consolidates its operating activities.

Land O'Lakes acquisitions in 1999 required cash outlays of $73.9 million. In June 1999, Land O'Lakes acquired the majority of Terra Industries, Inc. (Terra) agricultural retail distribution assets, primarily the assets located in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. The remainder of Terra retail distribution assets was acquired by Agro Distribution, LLC, a joint venture company that was equally owned by Land O'Lakes and Cenex Harvest States Cooperatives. Other acquisitions in 1999 included the purchase of a seed company and a retail farm supply business. The Company also disposed of a flavoring business for $75.9 million of net cash proceeds, which resulted in a gain of $54.2 million.

All of the above acquisitions have been accounted for as purchases and accordingly the acquired assets and liabilities have been recorded at their estimated fair value at the date of acquisition. The operating results are included in the Statements of Operations from the date of acquisition.

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INTRODUCTION | HIGHLIGHTS OF 2001 | LETTER TO THE STAKEHOLDERS | DAIRY FOODS | AG SERVICES
BOARD OF DIRECTORS | FINANCIAL REVIEW | SENIOR STRATEGY TEAM