Latest News

US Justice Department is likewise probing ADM's ethanol trading desk, sources state

The U.S. Justice Department is examining ArcherDanielsMidland's. ethanol trading operation as part of a broader probe of the. commodities giant's accounting practices, according to 3. people with understanding of the matter.

The U.S. Attorney's Workplace for the Southern District of New. York (SDNY) is probing whether ADM improperly represented. hedges in its ethanol trading unit, the three sources stated.

ADM, a $28 billion business that makes animal feed,. sweeteners and other products, is also a large manufacturer of. ethanol, a biofuel made from corn.

ADM this week verified reports that the Justice. Department is examining accounting practices connected to. ADM's Nutrition unit which former and current employees had. gotten grand jury subpoenas associating with that probe.

The Chicago-based business stated the investigation was. focused mainly on the Nutrition service.

The Justice Department probe into ADM's ethanol trading. operation was not formerly reported.

The additional examination suggests that the Justice. Department is taking a more comprehensive take a look at ADM's accounting. practices than formerly reported - another challenge for the. business as it looks for to restore investor self-confidence.

A spokesperson for ADM stated the business declined to comment. on the federal government examination beyond what it divulged on. Tuesday. A representative for SDNY also decreased to comment.

ADM said today it was working together with authorities. Federal government examinations are not proof of misbehavior and do. not necessarily lead to charges.

ADM's shares are down more than 13% because it disclosed in. late January that it had suspended its chief financial officer. and was postponing financial results amidst an internal probe into. its Nutrition division accounting. The business's investigation. was triggered by a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). query, ADM said at the time.

The company said the SEC questions concentrated on sales in between. the Nutrition division and its Agricultural Provider & & Oilseeds. and Carbohydrate Solutions systems.

On Tuesday, ADM remedied financial deals in between the. units for its 2018 to 2023 monetary statements, stating it had. overstated the Nutrition unit's operating revenue. It said the. changes did not impact its total outcomes.

ADM rivals have sued the company recently over. its ethanol business.

One high-profile claim brought by Switzerland's AOT. Holding declares that ADM controlled the cost of ethanol to. make money from brief positions it was holding in the derivatives. market. ADM has rejected the allegations and is combating the case,. court records reveal.

According to a January 2023 federal court filing because. case, an ADM employee from the ethanol trading unit divulged he. breached ADM's accounting policy associated to hedging treatment.

The Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and CME. Group, which notes ethanol futures, had continuous. inquiries into matters raised in the AOT case since 2019,. according to a 2023 court filing and to a separate source. acquainted with the matter.

The status of those inquiries was not immediately clear. AOT. decreased to comment. Spokespeople for the CFTC and CME Group. declined to comment.

(source: Reuters)