Item 7.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (Continued) 36 Year Ended December 31, 2014 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2013 As an agricultural commodity-based business, the Company is subject to a variety of market factors which affect the Company’s operating results.
Demand for global protein meal and vegetable oil remained strong and steady.
Demand for export of North American corn and soybeans was strong, but logistical challenges during the winter months, including rail delays and river freezes, caused higher costs making U. S.  exports less competitive.
Despite a large harvest in South America, U. S.  grain exports continued for longer than normal in 2014 due to slow South American farmer selling.
U. S.  corn and wheat storage and merchandising opportunities were limited for much of the year until the 2014 record fall harvest.
Corn sweetener demand was steady.
Strong U. S.  ethanol demand from both domestic and export markets, combined with industry logistical and production challenges in the winter months, led to volatile but strong overall 2014 ethanol margins.
South American grain and oilseed origination volumes and margins were challenged by the slow farmer selling.
Cocoa press margins have continued to improve from last year when margins were negatively impacted by excess capacity.
Net earnings attributable to controlling interests increased $0.9 billion to $2.2 billion.
Segment operating profit was $3.9 billion, up 45%, due primarily to improved corn processing and grain merchandising and handling results.
Included in the 2014 segment operating profit was a gain of approximately $156 million upon the Company’s effective dilution in the Pacificor (formerly Kalama Export Company) joint venture, resulting from the contribution of additional assets by another member in exchange for new equity units, a gain of $126 million on the sale of the fertilizer business, long-lived asset impairment charges of $35 million, and Wild Flavors restructuring charges and acquisition costs of $33 million.
In 2013, segment operating profit included a $155 million write-down related to the Company’s GrainCorp investment, a $51 million impairment of certain long-lived assets at its Brazilian sugar mill, and approximately $27 million of other long-lived asset impairment charges principally in the Corn Processing segment.
Excluding these unique items, segment operating profit improved approximately 26% in 2014.
Corporate costs of $785 million in 2014 were higher by $101 million.
Included in 2014 costs were losses of $102 million on Euro foreign currency derivative contracts entered into to economically hedge the anticipated Wild Flavors acquisition and $98 million of non-cash pension settlement charges.
Included in 2013 costs were $54 million of charges related to an anti-corruption settlement, losses of $40 million on Australian dollar foreign currency derivative contracts entered into to economically hedge the proposed GrainCorp acquisition, $21 million costs related to strategic projects, and costs of $32 million primarily related to asset write-downs and allocations of costs between corporate and the operating segments.
In 2014, LIFO inventory reserves declined resulting in pretax LIFO credits to earnings of $245 million compared to LIFO credits of $225 million in 2013.
Excluding LIFO and these other items, corporate costs increased $68 million, which is primarily due to higher enterprise resource planning project, I. T. , and other project-related costs.
Partially offsetting the increase was lower interest expense due principally to lower outstanding long-term debt balances.
The Company’s effective tax rate for 2014 was 28.0% compared to 33.1% for 2013.
The 2014 rate was positively impacted by $47 million of positive discrete tax adjustments and a slight favorable shift in the geographic mix of earnings.
The 2013 rate was negatively impacted by valuation allowances on deferred tax assets, partially offset by favorable discrete income tax benefits related to amounts received from the U. S.  government in the form of biodiesel credits.
Excluding these factors, the effective tax rate for 2013 was approximately 30%.
Analysis of Statements of Earnings Processed volumes by product for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 are as follows (in metric tons):
## Table 0 ##
The Company continued to operate its production facilities, on an overall basis, at or near capacity, adjusting facilities individually, as needed, to react to current and seasonal local supply and demand conditions.
Segment Results As an electronic, multi-dealer platform for trading fixed-income securities, our operations constitute a single business segment.
Because of the highly integrated nature of the financial markets in which we compete and the integration of our worldwide business activities, we believe that results by geographic region, products or types of clients are not necessarily meaningful in understanding our business.
Results of Operations Year Ended December 31, 2009 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2008 Overview Total revenues increased by $21.4 million or 22.9% to $114.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from $93.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2008.
This increase in total revenues was primarily due to an increase in commissions of $22.6 million and in technology products and services revenues of $1.2 million, offset by a decrease in investment income of $2.3 million and other income of $0.4 million.
Technology products and services revenues reflect the impact of the Greenline acquisition in March 2008.
A 15.0% decrease in the average exchange rate of the Pound Sterling compared to the U. S.  dollar from the year ended December 31, 2008 to the year ended December 31, 2009 had the effect of reducing European revenues by $3.7 million.
Total expenses increased by $4.1 million or 5.2% to $84.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from $80.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2008.
An increase in employee compensation and benefits of $6.5 million was offset by declines in professional and consulting fees of $1.3 million and depreciation and amortization of $1.1 million.
The change in the foreign currency rates had the effect of reducing European expenses by $2.2 million.
The 2008 results include Greenline expenses from the date of the acquisition.
Income before taxes increased by $17.2 million or 134.1% to $30.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 from $12.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2008.
Net income increased by $8.2 million or 103.8% to $16.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2009, from $7.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2008.
Revenues Our revenues for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the resulting dollar and percentage changes, were as follows:
## Table 1 ##
compared to earlier levels.
The pre-tax non-cash impairments of certain mineral rights and real estate discussed above under the caption ?Land and Development Impairments?
are not included in segment income.
Liquidity and Capital Resources On January 29, 2018, we announced that a definitive agreement had been signed for us to acquire all of the outstanding shares of KapStone for $35.00 per share and the assumption of approximately $1.36 billion in net debt, for a total enterprise value of approximately $4.9 billion.
In contemplation of the transaction, on March 6, 2018, we issued $600.0 million aggregate principal amount of 3.75% senior notes due 2025 and $600.0 million aggregate principal amount of 4.0% senior notes due 2028 in an unregistered offering pursuant to Rule 144A and Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the ?Securities Act?).
In addition, on March 7, 2018, we entered into the Delayed Draw Credit Facilities (as hereinafter defined) that provide for $3.8 billion of senior unsecured term loans.
On November 2, 2018, in connection with the closing of the KapStone Acquisition, we drew upon the facility in full.
The proceeds of the Delayed Draw Credit Facilities (as hereinafter defined) and other sources of cash were used to pay the consideration for the KapStone Acquisition, to repay certain existing indebtedness of KapStone and to pay fees and expenses incurred in connection with the KapStone Acquisition.
We fund our working capital requirements, capital expenditures, mergers, acquisitions and investments, restructuring activities, dividends and stock repurchases from net cash provided by operating activities, borrowings under our credit facilities, proceeds from our New A/R Sales Agreement (as hereinafter defined), proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment removed from service and proceeds received in connection with the issuance of debt and equity securities.
See ?Note 13.
Debt?t of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.
Funding for our domestic operations in the foreseeable future is expected to come from sources of liquidity within our domestic operations, including cash and cash equivalents, and available borrowings under our credit facilities.
As such, our foreign cash and cash equivalents are not expected to be a key source of liquidity to our domestic operations.
At September 30, 2018, excluding the Delayed Draw Credit Facilities, we had approximately $3.2 billion of availability under our committed credit facilities, primarily under our revolving credit facility, the majority of which matures on July 1, 2022.
This liquidity may be used to provide for ongoing working capital needs and for other general corporate purposes, including acquisitions, dividends and stock repurchases.
Certain restrictive covenants govern our maximum availability under the credit facilities.
We test and report our compliance with these covenants as required and we were in compliance with all of these covenants at September 30, 2018.
At September 30, 2018, we had $104.9 million of outstanding letters of credit not drawn upon.
Cash and cash equivalents were $636.8 million at September 30, 2018 and $298.1 million at September 30, 2017.
We used a significant portion of the cash and cash equivalents on hand at September 30, 2018 in connection with the closing of the KapStone Acquisition.
Approximately 20% of the cash and cash equivalents at September 30, 2018 were held outside of the U. S.  At September 30, 2018, total debt was $6,415.2 million, $740.7 million of which was current.
At September 30, 2017, total debt was $6,554.8 million, $608.7 million of which was current.
Cash Flow Activity
## Table 2 ##
Net cash provided by operating activities during fiscal 2018 increased $520.4 million from fiscal 2017 primarily due to higher cash earnings and lower cash taxes due to the impact of the Tax Act.
Net cash provided by operating activities during fiscal 2017 increased $212.1 million from fiscal 2016 primarily due to a $111.6 million net increase in cash flow from working capital changes plus higher after-tax cash proceeds from our Land and Development segment?s accelerated monetization.
The changes in working capital in fiscal 2018, 2017 and 2016 included a
Depreciation and amortization included in reportable segment profit for the years ended December 31, 2009, 2008 and 2007 was as follows (in millions):

<table><tr><td>(In thousands)</td><td>2014</td><td>2013</td><td>Change</td></tr><tr><td>Oilseeds</td><td>32,208</td><td>31,768</td><td>440</td></tr><tr><td>Corn</td><td>23,668</td><td>23,688</td><td>-20</td></tr><tr><td>Milling and cocoa</td><td>7,318</td><td>7,226</td><td>92</td></tr><tr><td>Total</td><td>63,194</td><td>62,682</td><td>512</td></tr></table>
<table><tr><td></td><td colspan="6">Year Ended December 31,</td></tr><tr><td></td><td colspan="2">2009</td><td colspan="2">2008</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td> $</td><td>% of Revenues</td><td> $</td><td>% of Revenues</td><td>$ Change</td><td>% Change</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td colspan="2">($ in thousands)</td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Commissions</td><td>$96,132</td><td>84.0%</td><td>$73,528</td><td>79.0%</td><td>$22,604</td><td>30.7%</td></tr><tr><td>Technology products and services</td><td>9,778</td><td>8.5</td><td>8,555</td><td>9.2</td><td>1,223</td><td>14.3</td></tr><tr><td>Information and user access fees</td><td>6,252</td><td>5.5</td><td>6,025</td><td>6.5</td><td>227</td><td>3.8</td></tr><tr><td>Investment income</td><td>1,222</td><td>1.1</td><td>3,478</td><td>3.7</td><td>-2,256</td><td>-64.9</td></tr><tr><td>Other</td><td>1,055</td><td>0.9</td><td>1,499</td><td>1.6</td><td>-444</td><td>-29.6</td></tr><tr><td>Total revenues</td><td>$114,439</td><td>100.0%</td><td>$93,085</td><td>100.0%</td><td>$21,354</td><td>22.9%</td></tr></table>
<table><tr><td></td><td>Year Ended September 30,</td></tr><tr><td>(In millions)</td><td>2018</td><td>2017</td><td>2016</td></tr><tr><td>Net cash provided by operating activities</td><td>$2,420.9</td><td>$1,900.5</td><td>$1,688.4</td></tr><tr><td>Net cash used for investing activities</td><td>$-1,298.9</td><td>$-1,285.8</td><td>$-1,351.4</td></tr><tr><td>Net cash used for financing activities</td><td>$-755.1</td><td>$-655.4</td><td>$-231.0</td></tr></table>

Question: What is the growing rate of Information and user access fees in the year where the percentage of Investment income in relation to Revenues is lower?
Answer: 0.03768