UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-K (Mark One) X ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997 OR ___ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from ___________________ to ____________________ Commission file number 1-3390 Seaboard Corporation - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware 04-2260388 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- (State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer incorporation or organization) Identification No.) 9000 W. 67th Street, Shawnee Mission, Kansas 66202 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code (913) 676-8800 ----------------- Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Name of each exchange on Title of each class which registered Common Stock American Stock Exchange $1.00 Par Value Securities registered pursuant of Section 12(g) of the Act: None - -------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Title of class) Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. X FORM 10-K SEABOARD CORPORATION State the aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non- affiliates of the Registrant. The aggregate market value shall be computed by reference to the price at which the stock was sold, or the average bid and asked prices of such stock, as of a specified date within 60 days prior to the date of filing. $136,365,227 (March 6, 1998). On such date, 332,193 shares were held by non-affiliates, and the stock was sold at $410.50 per share. (APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE REGISTRANTS) Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the Registrant's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date: 1,487,519.75 shares of Common Stock as of March 6, 1998. DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE Part I, item 1(b), a part of item 1(c)(1) and the financial information required by item 1(d) and Part II, items 5, 6, 7 and 8 are incorporated by reference to the Registrant's Annual Report to Stockholders furnished to the Commission pursuant to Rule 14a-3(b). Part III, a part of item 10 and items 11, 12 and 13 are incorporated by reference to the Registrant's definitive proxy statement filed pursuant to Regulation 14A for the 1998 annual meeting of stockholders (the "1998 Proxy Statement"). This Form 10-K and its Exhibits (Form 10-K) contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which may include statements concerning projection of revenues, income or loss, capital expenditures, capital structure or other financial items, statements regarding the plans and objectives of management for future operations, statements of future economic performance, statements of the assumptions underlying or relating to any of the foregoing statements and other statements which are other than statements of historical fact. These statements appear in a number of places in this Form 10-K and include statements regarding the intent, belief or current expectations of the Company and its management with respect to (i) the cost and timing of the completion of new or expanded facilities, (ii) the Company's financing plans, (iii) the price of feed stocks and other materials used by the Company, (iv) price for the Company's products and services, or (v) other trends affecting the Company's financial condition or results of operations. Readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially as a result of various factors. The accompanying information contained in this Form 10-K, including without limitation, the information under the headings "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations", identifies important factors which could cause such differences. PART I Item 1. Business (a) General Development of Business Seaboard Corporation, a Delaware corporation, the successor corporation to a company first incorporated in 1928, and subsidiaries ("Registrant"), is a diversified international agribusiness and transportation company which is primarily engaged in domestic pork and poultry production and processing, commodity merchandising, baking, flour milling and shipping. Overseas, the Company is primarily engaged in flour and feed milling, shrimp and produce farming and electric power generation. See Item 1(c) (1) (ii) below for a discussion of developments in specific segments. (b) Financial Information about Industry Segments The information required by Item 1 relating to Industry Segments is hereby incorporated by reference to note 13 of Registrant's Consolidated Financial Statements appearing on pages 45, 46 and 47 of the Registrant's Annual Report to Stockholders furnished to the Commission pursuant to Rule 14a-3(b) and attached as Exhibit 13 to this Report. (c) Narrative Description of Business (1) Business Done and Intended to be Done by the Registrant (i) Principal Products and Services Registrant produces hogs and processes pork in the United States and sells fresh pork to further processors, foodservice and retail, primarily in the western half of the United States and foreign markets. Hogs produced at Company owned or leased facilities are processed at the Company's processing plant. Registrant produces and processes poultry in the United States and sells processed chicken and chicken parts, both directly and through commercial distributors, foodservice and institutional markets, to retail, primarily in the eastern half of the United States and foreign markets. Registrant operates an ocean liner service for containerized cargo between Florida and ports in the Caribbean Basin and South America. Registrant also operates bulk carriers primarily in the Atlantic Basin. Registrant is engaged in Puerto Rico in the milling of flour and the production and distribution of a full line of baked goods. These goods are distributed directly within Puerto Rico and neighboring islands to food service and retail outlets. Registrant trades commodities, such as bulk grains and oil seeds, primarily in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Atlantic Basin. Registrant, by itself or through non-controlled subsidiaries, produces and processes produce and shrimp in Central and South America, primarily for export to the U.S. and Europe. Registrant also brokers fruits, vegetables and shrimp for independent growers. The majority of these products are transported using the Registrant's shipping line and distribution facility in Miami, Florida. Registrant, by itself or through non-controlled subsidiaries, also produces polypropylene bags, operates power generating facilities, operates flour and animal feed mills, produces and refines sugarcane and citrus and produces salmon. The information required by Item 1 with respect to the amount or percentage of total revenue contributed by any class of similar products or services which account for 10% or more of consolidated revenue in any of the last three fiscal years is hereby incorporated by reference to note 13 of Registrant's Consolidated Financial Statements appearing on pages 45, 46 and 47 of the Registrant's Annual Report to Stockholders furnished to the Commission pursuant to rule 14a-3(b) and attached as Exhibit 13 to this report. (ii) Status of Product or Segment Registrant continues to expand its food production and processing segment by further investing in pork and poultry production and processing facilities. The Registrant has announced plans to construct a second pork processing plant capable of processing over four million hogs annually. In addition, the Registrant plans to construct facilities to produce an additional two million market hogs per year. This expansion is anticipated to include two feed mills and additional hog farrowing, nursing and finishing buildings. During 1997, the Registrant expanded and converted its largest poultry processing plant, located in Athens, Georgia, from retail tray-pack to food service production and added an additional cooking line at the Elberton, Georgia, facility. The State of Oklahoma has recently enacted a moratorium on the issuance of permits for pork facilities not yet operating. Under the present legislation, the moratorium will remain in effect for one year unless earlier repealed. The effect of the moratorium could be to delay the Company's expansion plans or to increase related development costs. The Registrant's Argentinean affiliate continues to make improvements to existing operations and expand the sugarcane and citrus fields. (iii) Sources and Availability of Raw Materials None of Registrant's businesses utilize material amounts of raw materials that are dependent on purchases from one supplier or a small group of dominant suppliers. (iv) Patents, Trademarks, Licenses, Franchises and Concessions Registrant uses two trademarks; Gold-n-Fresh and Easy Entrees for retail sales of poultry products. Registrant uses three trademarks, Season Sweet, Chestnut Hill Farms and Cumars Best in marketing fresh fruits, vegetables and shrimp in the United States. Registrant's Puerto Rican Baking business uses three registered trademarks; Holsum, Country Hearth and Bimbo. Patents, trademarks, franchises, licenses and concessions are not material to any of Registrant's other businesses. (v) Seasonal Business Profits from processed pork are generally higher in the fall months. Profitability of the poultry operations is generally higher in the summer months. Produce operations are seasonal, depending on the crop being grown. Generally, crops which are exported to the United States are only in production from November through May. The Registrant's other businesses are not seasonally dependent. (vi) Practices Relating to Working Capital Items There are no unusual industry practices or practices of Registrant relating to working capital items. (vii) Depending on a Single Customer or Few Customers Registrant does not have sales to any one customer equal to 10% or more of Registrant's consolidated revenues, nor sales to a few customers which, if lost, would have a material adverse effect on any such segment or on Registrant taken as a whole. (viii) Backlog Backlog is not material to Registrant's businesses. (ix) Government Contracts No material portion of Registrant's business involved government contracts. (x) Competitive Conditions Competition in Registrant's food production and processing segment comes from a variety of national and regional producers and is based primarily on product performance, customer service and price. In the October 1997 issue of Successful Farming, an industry trade publication, the Registrant was ranked in the top ten pork producers in the United States based on sows in production. In the January 1998 issue of Broiler Industry, an industry trade publication, the Registrant was ranked as one of the top ten largest poultry processors in the United States based on average weekly production of ready-to-cook chicken. Registrant's Puerto Rican baking business is the largest bakery in Puerto Rico. Competition, based on price and product performance, comes primarily from imported baked goods in the cookie and donut lines, and from one Puerto Rican sliced bread baker. Registrant's ocean liner service for containerized cargoes faces competition based on price and customer service. Registrant believes it is among the top five ranking ocean liner services for containerized cargoes in the Caribbean Basin. (xi) Research and Development Activities Registrant does not engage in material research and development activities. (xii) Environmental Compliance Registrant believes that it is in substantial compliance with applicable Federal, state and local provisions relating to environmental protection, and no significant capital expenditures are contemplated in this area. (xiii) Number of Persons Employed by Registrant As of December 31, 1997, Registrant, excluding non-controlled, non- consolidated foreign subsidiaries, had 12,031 employees, of whom 10,230 were employed in the United States (including Puerto Rico). (d) Financial Information about Foreign and Domestic Operations and Export Sales The financial information required by Item 1 relating to export sales is hereby incorporated by reference to note 13 of Registrant's Consolidated Financial Statements appearing on pages 45, 46 and 47 of Registrant's Annual Report to Stockholders furnished to the Commission pursuant to Rule 14a-3(b) and attached as Exhibit 13 to this report. Foreign sales, including sales to non-consolidated foreign subsidiaries, represent less than 10% of Registrant's consolidated revenue. Registrant did not have a material amount of sales or transfers between geographic areas for the periods reported on herein. Registrant considers its relations with the governments of the countries in which its foreign subsidiaries are located to be satisfactory, but these foreign operations are subject to the normal risks of doing business abroad, including expropriation, confiscation, war, insurrection, civil strife and revolution, currency inconvertibility and devaluation, and currency exchange controls. To minimize these risks, Registrant has insured certain investments in and loans to its flour mill and shrimp farm in Ecuador and its flour mill in Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) to the extent deemed appropriate against certain of these risks with the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, an agency of the United States Government. In addition, the Company has purchased commercial insurance to cover certain forms of political risk if physical damage is done to facilities abroad. Item 2. Properties The Registrant currently has production and distribution facilities in the following states: Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. Additionally, the Registrant has wholly or partially owned facilities in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mozambique, Nigeria, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Sierra Leone and Venezuela. (1) Food Production and Processing The Registrant owns a hog processing plant in Oklahoma with a double shift capacity of four million hogs per year. The plant reached double shift capacity in the fourth quarter of 1997. Hog production facilities currently consist of a combination of owned and leased farrowing, nursery and finishing units to support 110,000 sows. Registrant owns three feed mills which have a combined capacity to produce 850,000 tons of feed annually to support the hog production. These facilities are located in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas and Colorado. The principal poultry operations of the Registrant consists of five owned and one leased processing plants. These plants are devoted to various phases of slaughtering, dressing, cutting, packing, deboning or further- processing chickens. The total slaughter capacity is approximately 244 million birds per year. To support these facilities, the Registrant operates four feed mills, four hatcheries and a network of 680 contract growers that supply pullet, breeder and broiler farms. These facilities are located in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky and Tennessee. The Registrant owns in whole or in part seven flour mills with capacity to produce 49,400 cwts of bakery flour and mill feed per day. In addition, Registrant has feed mill capacity of 35 tons per hour to produce formula animal feed. The flour mills, located in Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Guyana, Mozambique, Nigeria, Puerto Rico and Sierra Leone, and the feed mills located in Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador and Nigeria are owned except for a flour mill in Sierra Leone which is located on land which the Government of Sierra Leone has agreed to lease for a remaining term of 16 years, and a Nigerian flour and feed mill with a remaining lease term of 77 years and renewal option of 75 years. The Registrant owns two bakeries in Puerto Rico. The Registrant, by itself or through non-controlled subsidiaries, operates approximately 3,100 acres of shrimp ponds in Honduras and Ecuador. Approximately 2,400 acres are leased for a eighteen year term and the rest are owned. The Registrant owns a non-controlling interest in an Argentinean company which owns approximately 37,000 acres of planted sugarcane and approximately 4,200 acres of planted citrus. In addition, this company owns a sugar mill with a capacity to process 140,000 tons of sugar per year. (2) Transportation Registrant leases a 166,400 square foot warehouse, office space and port terminal land and facilities in Florida which are used in its containerized cargo operations. The Registrant owns six 9,000 metric-ton deadweight dry bulk carriers and three containerized ocean cargo vessels with deadweights ranging from 6,818 to 12,648 metric-tons. In addition, Registrant timecharters, under short-term agreements, between fifteen and eighteen containerized ocean cargo vessels with deadweights ranging from 2,488 to 9,200 metric-tons. Registrant also bare boat charters, under long-term lease agreements, three containerized ocean cargo vessels with deadweights ranging from 12,169 to 12,648 metric tons. (3) Other Registrant owns a floating power generating facility, capable of producing 40 megawatts of power, located in the Port of Rio Haino in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Registrant manages a second power generating facility capable of producing 17.5 megawatts of power also located in the Dominican Republic. Management believes that the Registrant's present facilities are generally adequate and suitable for its current purposes. In general, facilities are fully utilized; however, seasonal fluctuations in inventories and production may occur as a reaction to market demands for certain products. Certain foreign flour mills may operate at less than full capacity due to unavailability of foreign exchange to pay for imported raw materials. Item 3. Legal Proceedings The Company is subject to legal proceedings related to the normal conduct of its business. Although in the opinion of management, none of these actions are expected to result in a final judgement having a materially adverse effect on the consolidated financial statements of the Company, the Company is a defendant in a maritime arbitration claim more fully described in Note 12 of the consolidated financial statements. Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders No matter was submitted during the last quarter of the fiscal year covered by this report to a vote of security holders. Executive Officers of Registrant The following table lists the executive officers and certain significant employees of Registrant. Generally, each executive officer is elected at the Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors following the Annual Meeting of Stockholders and holds his office until the next such annual meeting or until his successor is duly chosen and qualified. There are no arrangements or understandings pursuant to which any executive officer was elected. Name (Age) Positions and Offices with Registrant and Affiliates H. Harry Bresky (72) President of Registrant; President and Treasurer of Seaboard Flour Corporation (SFC) Joe E. Rodrigues (61) Executive Vice President and Treasurer Rick J. Hoffman (43) Vice President Steven J. Bresky (44) Vice President Robert L. Steer (38) Vice President - Finance Douglas W. Schult (41) Vice President - Human Resources David M. Becker (36) Assistant Secretary and Director of Legal Affairs Mr. H. Harry Bresky has served as President of Registrant since 1967 and as President of SFC since 1987, and as Treasurer of SFC since 1973. Mr. Bresky is the father of Steven J. Bresky. Mr. Rodrigues has served as Executive Vice President and Treasurer of Registrant since December 1986. Mr. Hoffman has served as Vice President of Registrant since April 1989. Mr. Steven J. Bresky has served as Vice President of Registrant since April 1989. Mr. Steer has served as Vice President - Finance of Registrant since April 1996. He has been employed with the Registrant since 1984. Mr. Schult has served as Vice President - Human Resources of Registrant since April 1996. He has been employed with the Registrant since February 1995, by M.G. Waldbaum from January 1993 to January 1995 and prior to that by IBP, Inc. Mr. Becker has served as Assistant Secretary of Registrant since May 1994. He has been employed with the Registrant since 1993 and prior to that was employed by the law firm Stinson Mag and Fizzell PC. PART II Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters The information required by Item 5 is hereby incorporated by reference to "Stock Listing" and "Quarterly Financial Data" appearing on pages 48 and 28, respectively, of Registrant's Annual Report to Stockholders furnished to the Commission pursuant to Rule 14a-3(b) and attached as Exhibit 13 to this Report. Item 6. Selected Financial Data The information required by Item 6 is hereby incorporated by reference to the "Summary of Selected Financial Data" appearing on page 4 of Registrant's Annual Report to Stockholders furnished to the Commission pursuant to Rule 14a-3(b) and attached as Exhibit 13 of this Report. Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations The information required by Item 7 is hereby incorporated by reference to "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" appearing on pages 22 through 27 of Registrant's Annual Report to Stockholders furnished to the Commission pursuant to Rule 14a-3(b) and attached as Exhibit 13 to this Report. Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data The information required by Item 8 is hereby incorporated by reference to Registrant's "Quarterly Financial Data," "Independent Auditors' Report," "Consolidated Statements of Earnings," "Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity," " Consolidated Balance Sheets," " Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows" and "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" appearing on pages 28 through 47 of Registrant's Annual Report to Stockholders furnished to the Commission pursuant to Rule 14a-3(b) and attached as Exhibit 13 to this Report. Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure Not applicable. PART III Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of Registrant Refer to "Executive Officers of Registrant" in Part I. Information required by this item relating to directors of Registrant has been omitted since Registrant filed a definitive proxy statement within 120 days after December 31, 1997, the close of its fiscal year. The information required by this item relating to directors is incorporated by reference to "Item 1" appearing on pages 3 and 4 of the 1998 Proxy statement. The information required by this item relating to late filings of reports required under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is incorporated by reference to the last paragraph on page 2 of the Registrant's 1998 Proxy Statement. Item 11. Executive Compensation This item has been omitted since Registrant filed a definitive proxy statement within 120 days after December 31, 1997, the close of its fiscal year. The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to "Executive Compensation and Other Information," "Retirement Plans" and "Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation" appearing on pages 5, 6, 7 and 9 of the 1998 Proxy Statement. Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management This item has been omitted since Registrant filed a definitive proxy statement within 120 days after December 31, 1997, the close of its fiscal year. The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to "Principal Stockholders" appearing on page 2 and "Election of Directors" on page 3 of the 1998 Proxy Statement. Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions This item has been omitted since Registrant filed a definitive proxy statement within 120 days after December 31, 1997, the close of its fiscal year. The information required by this item is incorporated by reference to "Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation" appearing on page 9 of the 1998 Proxy Statement. PART IV Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K (a) The following documents are filed as part of this report: 1. Consolidated financial statements. See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements on page F-1. 2. Consolidated financial statement schedules. See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements on page F-2. 3. Exhibits. 3.1 - Registrant's Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1992. 3.2 - Registrant's By-laws, as amended. 4.1 - Note Purchase Agreement dated December 1, 1993 between the Registrant and various purchasers as listed in the exhibit. The Annexes and Exhibits to the Note Purchase Agreement have been omitted from the filing, but will be provided supplementally upon request of the Commission. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1993. 4.2 Seaboard Corporation 6.49% Senior Note Due December 1, 2005 issued pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement described above. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1993. 4.3 Note Purchase Agreement dated June 1, 1995 between the registrant and various purchasers as listed in the exhibit. The Annexes and Exhibits to the Note Purchase Agreement have been omitted from the filing, but will be provided supplementally upon request of the Commission. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of Registrant's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 9, 1995. 4.4 Seaboard Corporation 7.88% Senior Note Due June 1, 2007 issued pursuant to the Note Purchase Agreement described above. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 of Registrant's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 9, 1995. 4.5 - Seaboard Corporation Note Agreement dated as of December 1, 1993 ($100,000,000 Senior Notes due December 1, 2005). First Amendment to Note Agreement. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.7 of Registrant's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 23, 1996. 4.6 - Seaboard Corporation Note Agreement dates as of June 1, 1995 ($125,000,000 Senior Notes due June 1, 2007). First Amendment to Note Agreement. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8 of Registrant's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 23, 1996. * 10.1 Registrant's Executive Retirement Plan dated January 1, 1997 amending and restating Registrant's Executive Retirement Plan, as amended, dated October 14, 1994 previously filed as incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of Registrant's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 10, 1994. The addenda have been omitted from the filing, but will be provided supplementary upon request of the Commission. * 10.2 Registrant's Summary of Benefits for Excess 401(k) Contributions (Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan). Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Registrant's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 10, 1994. * 10.3 Registrant's Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan for H. Harry Bresky dated March 21, 1995. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 of Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995. * 10.4 Employment Agreement for Joe E. Rodrigues dated July 9, 1986 and amended August 10, 1990. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995. 13 - Sections of Annual Report to security holders incorporated by reference herein. 21 - List of subsidiaries. 27 - Financial Data Schedule (included in electronic copy only). * Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement. (b) Reports on Form 8-K No reports on Form 8-K were filed by Registrant during the last quarter of the fiscal year covered by this report. (c) Exhibits Exhibits begin on page 16. SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. SEABOARD CORPORATION By /s/H. Harry Bresky By /s/Robert L. Steer - --------------------------- --------------------------- H. Harry Bresky, President R.L. Steer, Vice President - (principal executive officer) Finance (principal financial and accounting officer) Date: March 26, 1998 Date: March 26, 1998 Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated. /s/H. Harry Bresky /s/J. E. Rodrigues - ---------------------------- ------------------------- H. Harry Bresky, Director J. E. Rodrigues, Director Date: March 26, 1998 Date: March 26, 1998 /s/David A. Adamsen /s/Thomas J. Shields - ----------------------------- ------------------------- David A. Adamsen, Director Thomas J. Shields, Director Date: March 26, 1998 Date: March 26, 1998 SEABOARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedule (Form 10-K) Securities and Exchange Commission For the year ended December 31, 1997 (With Independent Auditors' Report Thereon) SEABOARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedule Financial Statements -------------------- Stockholders' Annual Report Page ------------------ Independent Auditors' Report 34 Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1997 and December 31, 1996 37 Consolidated Statements of Earnings for the years ended December 31, 1997, December 31, 1996 and December 31, 1995 35 Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the years ended December 31, 1997, December 31, 1996 and December 31, 1995 36 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 1997, December 31, 1996 and December 31, 1995 39 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 40 The foregoing are incorporated by reference. The individual financial statements of the minority-owned nonconsolidated foreign subsidiaries which would be required if each such foreign subsidiary were a Registrant are omitted, because (a) the Registrant's and its other subsidiaries' investments in and advances to such foreign subsidiaries do not exceed 20% of the total assets as shown by the most recent consolidated balance sheet; (b) the Registrant's and its other subsidiaries' proportionate share of the total assets (after intercompany eliminations) of such foreign subsidiaries do not exceed 20% of the total assets as shown by the most recent consolidated balance sheet; and (c) the Registrant's and its other subsidiaries' equity in the earnings before income taxes and extraordinary items of the foreign subsidiaries does not exceed 20% of such income of the Registrant and consolidated subsidiaries compared to the average income for the last five fiscal years. Combined condensed financial information as to assets, liabilities and results of operations have been presented for minority-owned nonconsolidated foreign subsidiaries in note 6 of "Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements." F-1 SEABOARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedule Schedule -------- Page ---- II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts for the years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995 F-4 All other schedules are omitted as the required information is inapplicable or the information is presented in the consolidated financial statements or related consolidated notes. F-2 INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT The Board of Directors and Stockholders Seaboard Corporation: Under date of March 6, 1998, we reported on the consolidated balance sheets of Seaboard Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1997 and 1996, and the related consolidated statements of earnings, stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1997, as contained in the December 31, 1997 annual report to stockholders. These consolidated financial statements and our report thereon are incorporated by reference in the annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997. In connection with our audits of the aforementioned consolidated financial statements, we also audited the related consolidated financial statement schedule as listed in the accompanying index. This financial statement schedule is the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on this financial statement schedule based on our audits. In our opinion, such financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein. As discussed in note 5 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company changed its method of accounting for spare parts and supplies inventories in 1996. KPMG Peat Marwick LLP Kansas City, Missouri March 6, 1998 F-3 Schedule II SEABOARD CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (In Thousands) Balance at Write-offs Balance beginning Provision net of at end of year (1) recoveries of year ----------- --------- ---------- -------- Year ended December 31, 1997: Allowance for doubtful accounts $ 19,448 3,845 2,635 $ 20,658 =========== ========= ========== ======== Year ended December 31, 1996: Allowance for doubtful accounts $ 17,088 4,122 1,762 $ 19,448 =========== ======== ========== ======== Year ended December 31, 1995: Allowance for doubtful accounts $ 9,196 10,554 2,662 $ 17,088 =========== ======== ========== ======== (1) Charged to selling, general and administrative expenses. F-4