DARLING INGREDIENTS INC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

March 30, 2024

(1)General

The accompanying consolidated financial statements for the three month periods ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023, have been prepared by Darling Ingredients Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Darling”, and together with its subsidiaries, the “Company” or “we”, “us” or “our”) in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The information furnished herein reflects all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals) that are, in the opinion of management, necessary to present a fair statement of the financial position and operating results of the Company as of and for the respective periods. However, these operating results are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for a full fiscal year. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. However, management of the Company believes, to the best of their knowledge, that the disclosures herein are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. The accompanying consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements contained in the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2023.

(2)Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

(a)Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Darling and its consolidated subsidiaries. Noncontrolling interests represent 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 represent the ownership interests in the Company’s 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.

(b)Fiscal Periods

The Company has a 52/53 week fiscal year ending on the Saturday nearest December 31. Fiscal periods for the consolidated financial statements included herein are as of March 30, 2024, and include the 13 weeks ended March 30, 2024, and the 13 weeks ended April 1, 2023.

(c)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 shown on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of March 30, 2024, primarily represented acquisition consideration hold-back amounts that are part of the purchase price set aside in escrow in the Company’s name for possible indemnification claims by the Company, which amounts will be paid to the sellers in the future if no claims arise. At December 30, 2023, restricted cash primarily represented amounts set aside as collateral for foreign construction projects and U.S. environmental claims and was insignificant to the Company. Restricted cash included in other long term assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of March 30, 2024 and December 30, 2023, primarily represented acquisition consideration hold-back amounts that are part of the purchase price set aside in escrow in the Company’s name for possible indemnification claims by the Company, which amounts will be paid to the sellers in the future if no claims arise. A reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash reported within the Consolidated Balance Sheets that sum to the total of the same such amounts shown in the Consolidated Statement of Cash flows is as follows (in thousands):

(d)Accounts Receivable Factoring

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 sells certain selected customers’ trade receivables to third party banks without recourse for cash less a nominal fee. For the three months ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023, the Company sold approximately $137.4 million and $161.4 million of its trade receivables and incurred approximately $2.2 million and $2.0 million in fees, respectively, which are recorded as interest expense.

(e)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 related to certain foreign and domestic sales. These amounts are recorded as unearned revenue in accrued expenses and recognized when control of the promised finished product is transferred to the Company's customer. See Note 20 (Revenue) to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements included herein.

(f)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 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.

For the three months ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023, respectively, no outstanding stock options were excluded from diluted income per common share as the effect would be antidilutive. For the three months ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023, respectively,576,692 and 333,085 shares of non-vested stock and stock equivalents were excluded from diluted income per common share as the effect was antidilutive.

(g)Out-of-Period Adjustment

During the quarter ended March 30, 2024, the Company determined the inventory balance at its recently acquired Gelnex subsidiary was overstated by approximately $25.1 million at December 30, 2023. The overstatement was the result of an error in calculating the elimination of deferred profit in inventory on intercompany product sales from South America.

During the first quarter of fiscal 2024, the Company recorded an adjustment to earnings of approximately $17.9 million, net of tax. The Company assessed the impact of this out-of-period adjustment and concluded that it was not material to the financial statements previously issued for any interim or annual period during 2023, and the adjustment during the quarter ended March 30, 2024 is not expected to be material to the annual financial statements for fiscal 2024. The out-of-period adjustment is included in the Food Ingredients segment results.

(h)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.

As a result of the Russia-Ukraine war, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the current inflationary environment, we have evaluated the potential impact to the Company's operations and for any indicators of potential triggering events that could indicate certain of the Company's assets may be impaired. Through the three months ended March 30, 2024, the Company has not observed any impairments of the Company's assets or a significant change in their fair value due to the Russia-Ukraine war, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or inflation.

(3)Investment in Unconsolidated Subsidiaries

On January 21, 2011, 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 (“DGD” or the “DGD Joint Venture”). The DGD Joint Venture is owned 50% /50% with Valero.

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

As of March 30, 2024, under the equity method of accounting, the Company has an investment in the DGD Joint Venture of approximately $2,307.5 million on the consolidated balance sheet. The Company has recorded equity in net income from the DGD Joint Venture of approximately $78.4 million and $94.3 million for the three months ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023, respectively. In December 2019, the blender tax credits were extended for calendar years 2020, 2021 and 2022. On August 16, 2022, the U.S. government enacted the Inflation Reduction Act ( the “IR Act”). As part of the IR Act, the blender tax credits were extended as is until December 31, 2024. After 2024, the Clean Fuels Production Credit (the “CFPC”) becomes effective from 2025 through 2027. Under the CFPC, on-road transportation fuel receives a base credit of up to $1.00 per gallon of renewable diesel multiplied by the fuel's emission reduction percentage as long as it is produced at a qualifying facility and it meets prevailing wage requirements and apprenticeship requirements. In contrast to the blenders tax credits, the CFPC requires that production must take place in the United States. For the three months ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023, the DGD Joint Venture recorded approximately $331.1 million and $246.0 million of blenders tax credits, respectively. The blenders tax credits are recorded as a reduction of cost of sales by the DGD Joint Venture. In the three months ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023, respectively, the Company made $90.0 million and $75.0 million capital contributions to the DGD Joint Venture. In the three months ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023, the Company receivedno dividend distributions from the DGD Joint Venture, respectively. As of March 30, 2024, the DGD Joint Venture has borrowings outstanding of $100.0 million under their unsecured revolving credit facility.

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

(4)Acquisitions

Miropasz Group

On January 31, 2024, a wholly-owned international subsidiary of the Company acquired all of the shares of the Miropasz Group (the “Miropasz Acquisition”), a rendering company in Poland that is now in our Feed Ingredients segment, for a cash purchase price of approximately €105.6 million (approximately $114.3 million USD at the exchange rate of €1.0:USD$1.082198 on the closing date). In addition, the Company incurred a liability of approximately €7.0 million (approximately $7.6 million USD at the exchange rate on the closing date) for acquisition consideration hold-back amount that is part of the purchase price set aside in escrow in the Company's name for possible indemnification claims by the Company, which amounts will be paid to the sellers in the future if no claims arise. The hold-back amount represents a noncash investing activity during the period of acquisition. The Company recorded assets and liabilities on a preliminary basis consisting of property, plant and equipment of approximately $21.2 million, identifiable intangibles which includes routes and immaterial land use rights of approximately $34.9 million with a weighted average life of 17 years, other net assets of approximately $2.4 million which includes cash, working capital and net debt, and goodwill of approximately $63.4 million. Due to the complexity of acquiring foreign entities, the Company is still assessing the provisional amounts recorded for assets acquired and liabilities assumed including possible future purchase price adjustments to property, plant and equipment, intangible assets and taxes, and thus the final determination of the value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed may result in retrospective adjustment to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed with a corresponding adjustment to goodwill. Goodwill is expected to strengthen the Company's base Feed Ingredients business and is nondeductible for tax purposes.

Gelnex

On March 31, 2023, the Company acquired all of the shares of Gelnex, a leading global producer of collagen products (the “Gelnex Acquisition”). The Gelnex Acquisition includes a network offive processing facilities in South America andone in the United States. The initial purchase price of approximately $1.2 billion was comprised of an initial cash payment of approximately $1.1 billion, which consisted of a payment of approximately R$4.3 billion Brazilian real (approximately $853.3 million USD at the exchange rate of R$5.08:USD$1.00 on the closing date) and a payment of approximately $243.5 million in USD, and is subject to various post-closing adjustments in accordance with the stock purchase agreement. In addition, the Company incurred a liability of approximately $104.1 million for acquisition consideration hold-back amounts that are part of the purchase price set aside in escrow in the Company's name for possible indemnification claims by the Company, which amounts will be paid to the sellers in the future if no claims arise. The hold-back amount represents a noncash investing activity during the period of acquisition. The Gelnex Acquisition gives us immediate capacity to serve the growing needs of our collagen customers and the growing gelatin market. The initial purchase price was financed by borrowing all of the Company's term A-3 facility of $300.0 million and term A-4 facility of $500.0 million, with the remainder coming through revolver borrowings under the Company's Amended Credit Agreement. During the third quarter of fiscal 2023, the Company made a cash payment for working capital purchase price adjustment per the stock purchase agreement of approximately $14.1 million with an offset to goodwill. The Company obtained new information about facts and circumstances that existed at the acquisition date during the first quarter of fiscal 2024 that resulted in measurement period adjustments to increase property, plant and equipment by approximately $13.7 million, decrease intangible assets by approximately $9.5 million, decrease goodwill by approximately $9.1 million, increase deferred tax liabilities by approximately $5.1 million, increase deferred tax assets by approximately $8.1 million and a decrease in other assets and liabilities of approximately $0.1 million.

The following table summarizes the final fair value of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed in the Gelnex Acquisition as of March 31, 2023 (in thousands):

The $542.6 million of goodwill from the Gelnex Acquisition, which is expected to strengthen the Company's gelatin business and expand its ability to service increased demand of its collagen customer base, is assigned to the Food

Ingredients segment. Of the goodwill booked in the Gelnex Acquisition approximately $425.0 million is expected to be deductible for tax purposes. The identifiable intangible assets include $331.0 million in customer relationships with a weighted average life of 11.4 years and $8.5 million in trade name with a life of 5 years for a total weighted average life of approximately 11.3 years.

The amount of net sales and net income (loss) from the Gelnex Acquisition included in the Company's consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended March 30, 2024 was $65.9 million and $(36.1) million, respectively.

As a result of the Gelnex Acquisition, effective March 31, 2023, the Company began including the operations of the Gelnex Acquisition in the Company's consolidated financial statements. The following table presents selected pro forma information, for comparative purposes, assuming the Gelnex Acquisition had occurred on January 1, 2023, for the periods presented (in thousands):

FASA Group

On August 1, 2022, the Company acquired all of the shares of the FASA Group, the largest independent rendering company in Brazil, pursuant to a stock purchase agreement dated May 5, 2022 (the “FASA Acquisition”). The FASA Group, with its 14 rendering plants and an additionaltwo plants under construction at the time of acquisition, will supplement the Company's global supply of waste fats, making it a leader in the supply of low-carbon waste fats and oils.

The Company initially paid approximately R$2.9 billion Brazilian real in cash (approximately $562.6 million USD at the exchange rate of R$5.16:USD$1.00 on the closing date) for all the shares of the FASA Group, subject to certain post-closing adjustments and a contingent payment based on future earnings growth in accordance with the terms set forth in the stock purchase agreement. Under the stock purchase agreement, such contingent payment could range from R$0 to a maximum of R$1.0 billion if future earnings growth reaches certain levels over athree-year period. The Company completed an analysis as of the acquisition date for this contingency and recorded a liability of approximately R$428.2 million (approximately $83.0 million USD at the exchange rate in effect on the closing date of the acquisition) representing the present value of the contingency utilizing assistance from external valuation experts and the use of a Monte Carlo model representing the probability weighted present value of the expected payment to be made under the agreement using the income approach. The Company analyzes the contingent consideration liability using a Monte Carlo model each quarter and any change in fair value is recorded through operating income as changes in fair value of contingent consideration.

The hold-back and contingent consideration amounts represent noncash investing activities during the period of acquisition. The Company initially financed the FASA Acquisition by borrowing approximately $515.0 million of revolver borrowings under the Company's Amended Credit Agreement, with the remainder coming from cash on hand. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022, the Company made a cash payment for working capital purchase price adjustment per the stock purchase agreement of approximately $7.1 million with an offset to goodwill.

The following table summarizes the final fair value of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed in the FASA Acquisition as of August 1, 2022 (in thousands):

The $301.9 million of goodwill from the FASA Acquisition, which is expected to strengthen the Company's base business and expand its ability to provide additional low carbon intensity feedstocks to fuel the growing demand for renewable diesel, was assigned to the Feed Ingredients segment and is nondeductible for tax purposes. The identifiable intangible assets include $108.6 million in routes with a weighted average life of 12 years and $10.9 million in trade name with a life of 5 years for a total weighted average life of approximately 11.4 years.

The Company notes that pro forma results of operations discussed above does not include the Miropasz Acquisition or other acquisitions individually or in the aggregate as those acquisitions are not deemed material to net sales, total assets and net income of the Company for any period presented.

Additionally, the Company completed other immaterial acquisitions in the first three months of fiscal 2023.

The Company incurred acquisition costs and integration costs of approximately $4.1 million and $7.0 million for the three months ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023, respectively.

(5)Inventories

A summary of inventories follows (in thousands):

(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):

Gross intangible assets changed due to net acquisition and retirement activity in the first three months of fiscal 2024 by approximately $25.4 million and $246.0 million, respectively, and the remaining change is due to foreign exchange impact. Amortization expense for the three months ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023, was approximately $28.0 million and $26.1 million, respectively.

(7)Goodwill

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

(8)Accrued Expenses

Accrued expenses consist of the following (in thousands):

(9)Debt

Debt consists of the following (in thousands):

As of March 30, 2024, the Company had outstanding debt under the revolving credit facility denominated in euros of €162.0 million and outstanding debt under the Company's 3.625% Senior Notes due 2026 denominated in euros of €515.0 million. In addition, at March 30, 2024, the Company had finance lease obligations denominated in euros of approximately €7.7 million.

As of March 30, 2024, the Company had other notes and obligations of $125.5 million that consist of various overdraft facilities of approximately $56.9 million, Brazilian notes of approximately $36.4 million, a China working capital line of credit of approximately $2.0 million and other debt of approximately $30.2 million, including U.S. finance lease obligations of approximately $4.3 million.

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.

The interest rate applicable to any borrowings under the revolving credit facility equals the adjusted term secured overnight financing rate (SOFR) for U.S. dollar borrowings or the adjusted euro interbank rate (EURIBOR) for euro borrowings or the adjusted daily simple Sterling overnight index average (SONIA) for British pound borrowings or the Canadian dollar offered rate (CDOR) for Canadian dollar borrowings plus 1.50% per annum or base rate or the adjusted term SOFR for U.S. dollar borrowings or Canadian prime rate for Canadian dollar borrowings or the adjusted daily simple European short term rate (ESTR) for euro borrowings or the adjusted daily SONIA rate for British pound borrowings plus 0.50% per annum subject to certain step-ups or step-downs based on the Company's total leverage ratio. The interest rate applicable to any borrowing under the term A-1 facility and term A-3 facility equals the adjusted term SOFR plus 1.625% per annum subject to certain step-ups and step-downs based on the Company's total leverage ratio. The interest rate applicable to any borrowing under the term A-2 facility and term A-4 facility equals the adjusted term SOFR plus 1.50% per annum subject to certain step-ups or step-downs based on the Company's total leverage ratio.

As of March 30, 2024, the Company had (i) $460.0 million outstanding under the revolver at SOFR plus a margin of 1.50% per annum for a total of 6.93016% per annum, (ii) $399.0 million outstanding under the term A-1 facility at SOFR plus a margin of 1.625% per annum for a total of 7.05516% per annum, (iii) $478.1 million outstanding under the term A-2 facility at SOFR plus a margin of 1.50% per annum for a total of 6.93016% per annum, (iv) $299.3 million outstanding under the term A-3 facility at SOFR plus a margin 1.625% per annum for a total of 7.05516% per annum, (v) $487.5 million outstanding under the term A-4 facility at SOFR plus a margin 1.50% per annum for a total of 6.93016% per annum, (vi) €152.0 million outstanding under the revolving credit facility at EURIBOR plus a margin of 1.50% per annum for a total of 5.32957% per annum and (vii) €10.0 million outstanding under the revolving credit facility at ESTR plus a margin of 0.25% per annum for a total of 4.158% per annum. As of March 30, 2024, the Company had revolving credit facility availability of $811.1 million, under the Amended Credit Agreement taking into account amounts borrowed, ancillary facilities of $52.6 million and letters of credit issued of $1.4 million. The Company also had foreign bank guarantees of approximately $11.6 million and U.S. bank guarantees of approximately $10.7 million that are not part of the Company's Amended Credit Agreement at March 30, 2024.

As of March 30, 2024, the Company believes it is in compliance with all of the financial covenants under the Amended Credit Agreement, as well as all of the other covenants contained in the Amended Credit Agreement, the 6% Senior Notes due 2030, the 5.25% Senior Notes due 2027 and the 3.625% Senior Notes due 2026.

(10)Other Noncurrent Liabilities

Other noncurrent liabilities consist of the following (in thousands):

(11)Income Taxes

The Company has provided income taxes for the three month periods ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023, based on its estimate of the effective tax rate for the entire 2024 and 2023 fiscal years. The Company’s estimated annual effective tax rate is based on forecasts of income by jurisdiction, permanent differences between book and tax income, the relative proportion of income and losses by jurisdiction, and statutory income tax rates. Discrete events such as the assessment of the ultimate outcome of tax audits, audit settlements, recognizing previously unrecognized tax benefits due to the lapsing of statutes of limitation, recognizing or derecognizing deferred tax assets due to projections of income or loss and changes in tax laws are recognized in the period in which they occur.

Unrecognized tax benefits represent the difference between tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return and the benefits recognized for financial statement purposes. As of March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023, the Company had $13.6 million and $18.3 million, respectively of gross unrecognized tax benefits and $1.7 million and $1.3 million, respectively of related accrued interest and penalties. The Company's gross unrecognized tax benefits are not expected to decrease significantly within the next twelve months.

On August 16, 2022, the U.S. government enacted the IR Act that includes tax incentives for energy and climate initiatives, among other provisions. The blender tax credits, which are refundable excise tax credits, have been extended through December 31, 2024. After 2024, the CFPC, a transferable income tax credit, becomes effective from 2025 through 2027. We are assessing these tax incentives, which could materially change our pre-tax or after-tax amounts and impact our tax rate in future years. We will continue to evaluate the applicability and effect of the IR Act as more guidance is issued.

The Company’s major taxing jurisdictions include the United States (federal and state), Canada, the Netherlands, Belgium, Brazil, Germany, France and China. The Company is subject to regular examination by various tax authorities and 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 tax jurisdictions is open for varying periods, but is generally closed through the 2013 tax year.

(12)Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss)

The components of other comprehensive income/(loss) and the related tax impacts for the three months ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023 are as follows (in thousands):

The following table presents the amounts reclassified out of each component of other comprehensive income/(loss), net of tax for the three months ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023 as follows (in thousands):

(a)These items are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost. See Note 14 (Employee Benefit Plans) to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statement included herein for additional information.

The following table presents changes in each component of accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) as of March 30, 2024 as follows (in thousands):

(13)Stockholders' Equity

Fiscal 2024 Long-Term Incentive Opportunity Awards (2024 LTIP). On December 15, 2023, the Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of the Company's Board of Directors adopted the 2024 LTIP pursuant to which on January 3, 2024 the Company awarded certain of the Company's key employees,162,913 restricted stock units and 244,376 performance share units (the “PSUs”) under the Company's 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan. The restricted stock units vest 33.33% on the first, second and third anniversaries of the grant date. The PSUs are tied to athree-year forward-looking performance period and will be earned based on the Company's average return on gross investment (“ROGI”), as calculated in accordance with the terms of the award agreement, relative to the average ROGI of the Company's performance peer group companies, with the earned award to be determined in the first quarter of fiscal 2027, after the final results for the relevant performance period are determined. The PSUs were granted at a target of 100%, but each PSU will reduce or increase (up to 225%) depending on the Company's ROGI relative to that of the performance peer group companies and is also subject to the application of a total shareholder return (“TSR”) cap/collar modifier depending on the Company's TSR during the performance period relative to that of the performance peer group companies.

As previously announced, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program in August 2017, then refreshed and increased the program on December 9, 2021 up to an aggregate of $500.0 million of the Company's Common Stock depending on market conditions, and extended the program to August 13, 2024. During the first three months of fiscal 2024, the Company did not repurchase any of its common stock under the share repurchase program. As of March 30, 2024, the Company had approximately $321.6 million remaining under the share repurchase program.

(14)Employee Benefit Plans

Net pension cost for the three months ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023 includes the following components (in thousands):

Based on actuarial estimates at March 30, 2024, the Company expects to contribute approximately $4.3 million to its pension plans to meet funding requirements during the next twelve months. Additionally, the Company has made tax deductible discretionary and required contributions to its pension plans for the three months ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023 of approximately $0.6 million and $0.8 million, respectively.

The Company participates in various 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 multiemployer plan represent less than 5% of the total contributions to each plan. Based on the most currently available information, the Company has determined that, if a withdrawal were to occur, withdrawal liabilities ontwo of the plans in which the Company currently participates could be material to the Company. 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 as defined by the Pension Protection Act of 2006.

The Company currently has withdrawal liabilities recorded onfour U.S. multiemployer plans in which it participated. As of March 30, 2024, the Company has an aggregate accrued liability of approximately $4.6 million representing the present value of scheduled withdrawal liability payments on the multiemployer plans that have given notice of withdrawal. 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.

(15)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, 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 to interest rates, natural gas usage, diesel fuel usage, inventory, forecasted sales and foreign currency exchange rates. The Company does not use derivative instruments for trading purposes. Interest rate swaps are entered into with the intent of managing overall borrowing costs by reducing the potential impact of increases in interest rates on floating-rate long-term debt. 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. Soybean meal forwards and 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 bakery by-products (“BBP”) by reducing the impact of changing prices. Foreign currency forward and option contracts are entered into to mitigate the foreign exchange rate risk for transactions designated in a currency other than the local functional currency.

At March 30, 2024, the Company had foreign exchange forward contracts and interest rate swaps 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.

In the first quarter of fiscal 2024 and 2023, 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.

Cash Flow Hedges

In the first quarter of fiscal 2023, the Company entered into interest rate swaps that are designated as cash flow hedges. The notional amount of these swaps totaled $900.0 million. Under the contracts, the Company is obligated to pay a weighted average rate of 4.007% while receiving the 1-month SOFR rate. Under the terms of the interest rate swaps, the Company hedged a portion of its variable rate debt into the first quarter of 2026. At March 30, 2024 and December 30, 2023, the aggregate fair value of these interest rate swaps was approximately $10.3 million and $3.7 million, respectively. These amounts are included in other current assets, other assets, accrued expenses and noncurrent liabilities on the balance sheet, with an offset recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss.

In the first quarter of fiscal 2023, the Company also entered into cross currency swaps that are designated as cash flow hedges. The notional amount of these swaps was €519.2 million. Under the contracts, the Company is obligated to pay a 4.6% euro denominated fixed rate while receiving a weighted average U.S. dollar fixed rate of 5.799%. Under the terms of the cross currency swaps, the Company hedged its intercompany notes receivable into the first quarter of 2025. Accordingly, changes in the fair value of the cash flow hedge are initially recorded as gains and/or losses as a component of accumulated other comprehensive loss. We immediately reclassify from accumulated other comprehensive loss to earnings an amount to offset the remeasurement recognized in earnings associated with the respective intercompany loan. Additionally, we reclassify amounts from accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) associated with the interest rate differential between the U.S. dollar and a Euro to interest income. At March 30, 2024 and December 30, 2023, the aggregate fair value of these cross currency swaps was approximately $0.8 million and $10.8 million, respectively. These amounts are included in other current assets and noncurrent liabilities on the balance sheet, with an offset recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss.

In fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2024, the Company entered into foreign exchange forward contracts that are designated as cash flow hedges. Under the terms of the foreign exchange contracts, the Company hedged a portion of its forecasted sales in currencies other than the functional currency through the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025. At March 30, 2024 and December 30, 2023, the aggregate fair value of these foreign exchange contracts was approximately $8.9 million and $15.9 million, respectively. These amounts are included in other current assets, accrued expenses, other assets and other non-current liabilities on the balance sheet, with an offset recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss.

The Company may enter into corn option contracts, soybean meal forward contracts and heating oil swap and option contracts from time to time. There were not any open designated corn option contracts. soybean meal forward and heating oil swap and option contracts by the Company at March 30, 2024 and December 30, 2023, respectively.

As of March 30, 2024, the Company had the following designated and non-designated outstanding forward and option contract amounts that were entered into to hedge foreign currency transactions in currencies other than the functional currency and forecasted transactions in currencies other than the functional currency (in thousands):

The Company estimates the amount that will be reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss at March 30, 2024 into earnings over the next 12 months for all cash flow hedges will be approximately $14.6 million. As of March 30, 2024, 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 three months ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023 (in thousands):

At March 30, 2024, the Company had forward purchase agreements in place for purchases of approximately $188.1 million of natural gas and diesel fuel. The Company intends to take physical delivery of the commodities under the forward purchase agreements and accordingly, these contracts are not subject to the requirements of fair value accounting because they qualify as normal purchases.

(16)Fair Value Measurements

FASB authoritative guidance defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. The following table presents the Company’s financial instruments that are measured at fair value on a recurring and nonrecurring basis as of March 30, 2024 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.

Derivative assets and liabilities consist of the Company’s corn option and future contracts, foreign currency forward and option contracts, soybean meal forward contracts, interest rate swap contracts and cross currency swap contracts which represent the difference between observable market rates of commonly quoted intervals for similar assets and liabilities in active markets and the fixed swap rate considering the instruments term, notional amount and credit risk. See Note 15 (Derivatives) to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for discussion on the Company's derivatives.

The carrying amount of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, 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 fair value of the senior notes, term loan A-1, term loan A-2, term loan A-3, term loan A-4 and revolver debt is based on market quotation from third-party banks. The carrying amount of the Company's other debt is not deemed to be significantly different from the fair value and all other instruments have been recorded at fair value.

The fair value measurement of contingent consideration liability uses significant unobservable inputs (level 3). We estimated the fair value of the FASA contingent consideration using a Monte Carlo simulation methodology from a third-party that includes simulating the forecasted net income or earnings plus interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) using a Geometric Brownian Motion in a risk-neutral framework. The assumptions used in the FASA contingent consideration analysis as of March 30, 2024 included the EBITDA forecast through the remaining term of the contingent consideration, an EBITDA discount rate, an EBITDA volatility, credit spread, risk-free rate and exchange rate. Significant increases and decreases in these inputs could result in a significantly lower or higher fair value measurement of the FASA contingent consideration. The changes in contingent consideration are due to the following:

(17)Restructuring and Asset Impairment Charges

In December 2022, the Company's management reviewed our global network of collagen plants for optimization opportunities and decided to close our Peabody, Massachusetts plant in 2023. In addition to charges incurred in fiscal 2022, the Company incurred additional restructuring charges in the first three months of fiscal 2023 in the Food Segment for employee termination costs of approximately $4.4 million. In addition, the Company incurred approximately $0.1 million of employee termination costs in the first three months of fiscal 2023 in the Feed Segment related to closing down of a processing location in Europe and transferring the material to another processing location in Europe.

(18)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 various matters including labor and employment, employees benefits, occupational safety and health, wage and hour, compliance, sustainability, permitting requirements, environmental matters, including air, wastewater and storm water discharges from the Company’s processing facilities and other federal, state and local issues, 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, regulatory, governmental, environmental, litigation and tax contingencies. At March 30, 2024 and December 30, 2023, the reserves for insurance, regulatory, governmental, environmental, litigation and tax contingencies reflected on the balance sheet in accrued expenses and other non-current liabilities was approximately $97.1 million and $95.1 million, respectively. The Company has insurance recovery receivables reflected on the balance sheet in other assets of approximately $36.0 million as of March 30, 2024 and December 30, 2023, 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 (the “Lower 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 March 2016, the Company received another letter from the 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 made no demand on the Company and laid out a framework for remedial design/remedial action implementation under which the EPA would first seek funding from major PRPs. The letter indicated that the EPA had 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 Company 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 theeight contaminants of concern identified in the ROD (the “COCs”). Subsequently, the EPA conducted a settlement analysis using a third-party allocator and offered early cash out settlements to those PRPs for whom the third-party allocator determined did not discharge any of the COCs. The Company participated in this allocation process, and in November 2019, 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 accepted this settlement offer, and the settlement became effective on April 16, 2021 following the completion of the EPA's administrative approval process. In September 2021, the EPA released a ROD selecting an interim remedy for the upper nine miles of the Lower Passaic River at an expected additional cost of $441 million. In October 2022, the Company, along with other settling defendants, entered into a Consent Decree with the EPA pursuant to which the Company paid $0.3 million to settle liabilities for both of the former plant sites in question related to the upper nine miles of the Lower Passaic River. The Company paid this amount into escrow, as the settlement is subject to the EPA’s administrative approval process, which includes publication, a public comment period and court approval. 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 Lower 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 Lower 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 Lower 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 Lower 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 Lower Passaic River. Furthermore, the Company's settlements with the EPA described above 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.

(19)Business Segments

The Company sells its products domestically and internationally, operating within three industry segments: Feed Ingredients, Food Ingredients and Fuel Ingredients. The measure of segment income/(loss) includes all revenues, operating expenses (excluding certain amortization of intangibles), and selling, general and administrative expenses incurred at all operating locations and excludes corporate activities.

Included in corporate activities are general corporate expenses and the amortization of certain 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, Darling Canada, and the ingredients and specialty products businesses conducted by Darling Ingredients International under the Sonac and FASA names (proteins, fats, and blood 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 and Gelnex names, (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 and (ii) the bioenergy business conducted by Darling Ingredients International under the Ecoson and Rendac names.

Business Segments (in thousands):

(20)Revenue

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 an 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 Company elected to treat shipping and handling as fulfillment costs, 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 following tables present the Company revenues disaggregated by geographic area and major product types by reportable segment for the three months ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023 (in thousands):

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 to date in 2024 under these long-term supply contracts was approximately $39.8 million, with the remaining performance obligations to be recognized in future periods (generally four years) of approximately $759.3 million.

(21)Related Party Transactions

Raw Material Agreement

The Company entered into a Raw Material Agreement with the DGD Joint Venture in May 2011 pursuant to which the Company will offer to supply certain animal fats and used cooking oil at market prices, but the DGD Joint Venture is not obligated to purchase the raw material offered 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 three months ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023, the Company recorded sales to the DGD Joint Venture of approximately

$246.7 million and $338.6 million, respectively. At March 30, 2024 and December 30, 2023, the Company hadzero and $172.3 million in outstanding receivables due from the DGD Joint Venture, respectively. At March 30, 2024 and December 30, 2023, the Company had $0.7 million andzero in deferred revenue with the DGD Joint Venture, respectively. In addition, the Company has eliminated approximately $62.1 million and $63.4 million of additional sales for the three months ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023, respectively to defer the Company's portion of profit of approximately $10.0 million and $15.6 million on those sales relating to inventory assets remaining on the DGD Joint Venture's balance sheet at March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023, respectively.

Revolving Loan Agreement

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 “2019 DGD Loan Agreement”) with the DGD Joint Venture, pursuant to which the DGD Lenders committed to making 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 2019 DGD Loan Agreement were 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%. On June 15, 2023, the DGD Lenders entered into a new revolving loan agreement (the “2023 DGD Loan Agreement”) with the DGD Joint Venture that replaced and superseded in its entirety the 2019 DGD Loan Agreement and pursuant to which the DGD Lenders have committed to making loans available to the DGD Joint Venture in the total amount of $200.0 million with each lender committed to $100.0 million of the total commitment. Any borrowings by the DGD Joint Venture under the 2023 DGD Loan Agreement are at the applicable annum rate equal to the sum of (a) Term SOFR on such day plus (b)2.50%. The 2023 DGD Loan Agreement expires on June 15, 2026. In December 2022, the DGD Joint Venture borrowed all $50.0 million available under the 2019 DGD Loan Agreement, including the Company's full $25.0 million commitment, which was repaid in fiscal 2023. In January 2024, the DGD Joint Venture borrowed all $200.0 million available under the 2023 DGD Loan Agreement, including the Company's full $100.0 million commitment, which was repaid in March 2024. The DGD Joint Venture paid interest to the Company for the three months ended March 30, 2024 and April 1, 2023 of approximately $1.6 million and $0.4 million, respectively. As of March 30, 2024 and December 30, 2023, zero was owed to Darling Green under the 2023 DGD Loan Agreement and the 2019 DGD Loan Agreement, respectively. This note receivable amount is included in other current assets on the balance sheet and is included in investing activities on the cash flow statement.

Guarantee Agreements

In February 2020, in connection with the DGD Joint Venture’s expansion project at its Norco, LA facility, it entered intotwo 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 a maximum of approximately $50 million each, of the DGD Joint Venture’s obligations under the IMTT Terminaling Agreements (the “IMTT Guarantee”), subject to the conditions provided for in the IMTT Terminaling Agreements. The Company has not recorded any liability as a result of the IMTT Guarantee, as the Company believes the likelihood of having to make any payments under the IMTT Guarantee is remote.

In April 2021, in connection with the DGD Joint Venture’s expansion project at its Port Arthur, TX facility, it entered intotwo agreements (the “GTL Terminaling Agreements”) with GT Logistics, LLC (“GTL”), pursuant to which the DGD Joint Venture will move raw material and finished product to and from the GTL terminal facility by pipeline, thereby providing better logistical capabilities. As a condition to entering into the GTL Terminaling Agreements, GTL required that the Company and Valero guarantee their proportionate share, up to a maximum of approximately $160 million each, of the DGD Joint Venture’s obligations under the GTL Terminaling Agreements (the “GTL Guarantee”), subject to the conditions provided for in the GTL Terminaling Agreements. The maximum amount of the GTL Guarantee is reduced over the 20-year initial term of the GTL Terminaling Agreements as the termination fee under such agreements declines. The Company has not recorded any liability as a result of the GTL Guarantee, as the Company believes the likelihood of having to make any payments under the GTL Guarantee is remote.

(22)Cash Flow Information

The following table sets forth supplemental cash flow information and non-cash transactions (in thousands):

(23)New Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2023, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740) Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, which expands the disclosures required in an entity's income tax rate reconciliation table and disclosure of income taxes paid both in U.S. and foreign jurisdictions. The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024 and should be applied prospectively. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating this ASU to determine its impact on the Company’s disclosure, but does not expect this update to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements other than additional information to be provided in the footnote disclosure.

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280) Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures. The amendment requires disclosure of significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker and included within each reported measure of segment profit or loss, an amount and description of its composition for other segment items, and interim disclosures of a reportable segment's profit or loss and assets. The amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and for interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024 and should be applied retrospectively. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating this ASU to determine its impact on the Company’s disclosure, but does not expect this update to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements other than additional information to be provided in the footnote disclosure.