Item 1A. Risk Factors
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
The following information supplements our risks and uncertainties disclosed under "Risk Factors" in Item 1A of Part 1 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. The risks and uncertainties described in our risk factors have the potential to materially affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. These risks are not exclusive and additional risks to which we are subject include the factors mentioned under “Forward-Looking Statements” and the risks described in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
We may not be able to complete the divestiture of the Company's Grain & Protein (“G&P business”), which could adversely affect our business or results of operations.
We recently announced the planned sale of the majority of the Company’s G&P business to American Industrial Partners (“AIP”) in an all-cash transaction valued at $700 million, subject to working capital and other customary closing adjustments. Closing the transaction is dependent upon obtaining required regulatory approvals (primarily competition and antitrust approvals) and fulfilling other closing conditions, all of which, at least in part, are not within our control. The Stock and Asset Purchase Agreement (“the Agreement”) entitles AGCO and AIP to terminate the Agreement under certain circumstances, including the failure of the closing to occur by November 25, 2024, subject to an extension to January 27, 2025 in certain circumstances where certain regulatory approvals have not been obtained. Under certain circumstances, AIP will be obligated to pay AGCO a termination fee of $49 million. In addition, divestitures and other strategic transactions involve many risks, including difficulties in the separation of the divested business, loss of customers, retention or obligation to indemnify certain liabilities, the failure of counterparties to satisfy payment obligations, unfavorable market conditions that may impact any earnout or contingency payment due to us and unexpected difficulties in losing employees of the divested business. In addition, we may be unable to achieve anticipated benefits from the transaction in the time frame that we anticipate, or at all. All of these risks, as well as the others that typically accompany a large transaction, could adversely affect our business or results of operations.
We are, and in the past have been, subject to the actions of activist stockholders, which could divert management’s attention and negatively impact our business.
The Company values constructive input from investors and regularly engages in dialogue with its shareholders regarding strategy and performance. The Company’s Board of Directors and management team are committed to acting in the best interests of all the Company’s shareholders. Stockholders may, from time to time, engage in proxy solicitations or advance stockholder proposals, or otherwise attempt to effect changes and assert influence on our board of directors and management. Responding to some of these actions can be costly and time-consuming, may disrupt the Company’s operations and divert the attention of the Board of Directors, management and the Company’s employees. Such activities could interfere with the Company’s ability to execute its strategic plan. Any perceived uncertainties as to our future direction and control, our ability to execute on our strategy, or changes to the composition of our board of directors or senior management team arising from a proxy contest could lead to the perception of a change in the direction of our business or instability which may affect the market price and volatility of the Company’s common stock, result in the loss of potential business opportunities, make it more difficult to pursue our strategic initiatives, or limit our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel and business partners, any of which could adversely affect our business and operating results. We may choose to initiate, or may become subject to, litigation as a result of a proxy contest or matters arising from a proxy contest, which would serve as a further distraction to our board of directors and management and would require us to incur significant additional costs. In addition, actions such as those described above could cause significant fluctuations in our stock price based upon temporary or speculative market perceptions or other factors that do not necessarily reflect the underlying fundamentals and prospects of our business.
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ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
There were no purchases of our common stock made by or on behalf of us during the three months ended June 30, 2024.
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