Document
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
 (Mark One)
ý
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended April 1, 2018
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 1-9273
 pilgrimslogoa04a01a01a01a03.jpg

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PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
 
75-1285071
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
 
1770 Promontory Circle,
Greeley, CO
 
80634-9038
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (970) 506-8000 
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report.)
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  ý    No  ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  ý    No  ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large Accelerated Filer
ý
  
Accelerated Filer
 
¨
 
 
 
 
Non-accelerated Filer
¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
  
Smaller reporting company
 
¨
 
 
 
Emerging growth company
 
¨
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  ý
Number of shares outstanding of the issuer’s common stock, $0.01 par value per share, as of May 10, 2018, was 248,980,659.



INDEX
PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
Item 1.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Item 2.
Item 3.
Item 4.
Item 1.
Item 1A.
Item 5.
Item 6.

1

Table of Contents

PART I.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
April 1, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
 
(In thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
580,811

 
$
581,510

Restricted cash
 
10,657

 
8,021

Trade accounts and other receivables, less allowance for
     doubtful accounts
 
629,829

 
565,478

Accounts receivable from related parties
 
1,471

 
2,951

Inventories
 
1,242,352

 
1,255,070

Income taxes receivable
 
160

 
—

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
 
124,358

 
102,550

Assets held for sale
 
2,923

 
708

Total current assets
 
2,592,561

 
2,516,288

Deferred tax assets
 
3,275

 
—

Other long-lived assets
 
18,629

 
18,165

Identified intangible assets, net
 
628,414

 
617,163

Goodwill
 
1,033,126

 
1,001,889

Property, plant and equipment, net
 
2,121,630

 
2,095,147

Total assets
 
$
6,397,635

 
$
6,248,652

 
 
 
 
 
Accounts payable
 
$
782,757

 
$
733,027

Accounts payable to related parties
 
5,475

 
2,889

Revenue contract liability
 
29,304

 
36,607

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
 
351,558

 
410,152

Income taxes payable
 
122,613

 
222,073

Current maturities of long-term debt
 
149,389

 
47,775

Total current liabilities
 
1,441,096

 
1,452,523

Long-term debt, less current maturities
 
2,625,698

 
2,635,617

Deferred tax liabilities
 
212,316

 
208,492

Other long-term liabilities
 
84,758

 
96,359

Total liabilities
 
4,363,868

 
4,392,991

Common stock
 
2,604

 
2,602

Treasury stock
 
(231,758
)
 
(231,758
)
Additional paid-in capital
 
1,933,780

 
1,932,509

Retained earnings
 
293,361

 
173,943

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
 
26,469

 
(31,140
)
Total Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation stockholders’ equity
 
2,024,456

 
1,846,156

Noncontrolling interest
 
9,311

 
9,505

Total stockholders’ equity
 
2,033,767

 
1,855,661

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
 
$
6,397,635

 
$
6,248,652

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements.

2


PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
Thirteen Weeks Ended
 
 
 
April 1, 2018
 
March 26, 2017
 
 
 
(In thousands, except per share data)
Net sales
 
$
2,746,678

 
$
2,479,340

 
Cost of sales
 
2,459,013

 
2,222,805

 
Gross profit
 
287,665

 
256,535

 
Selling, general and administrative expense
 
85,283

 
89,811

 
Administrative restructuring charges
 
789

 
—

 
Operating income
 
201,593

 
166,724

 
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest
 
50,300

 
19,112

 
Interest income
 
(1,590
)
 
(368
)
 
Foreign currency transaction loss (gain)
 
(1,721
)
 
691

 
Miscellaneous, net
 
(1,617
)
 
(2,843
)
 
Income before income taxes
 
156,221

 
150,132

 
Income tax expense
 
36,997

 
49,394

 
Net income
 
119,224

 
100,738

 
Less: Net income from Granite Holdings Sàrl prior to
acquisition by Pilgrim's Pride Corporation
 
—

 
6,275

 
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling
     interests
 
(194
)
 
542

 
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation
 
$
119,418

 
$
93,921

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average shares of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation common stock outstanding:
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
248,838

 
248,692

 
Effect of dilutive common stock equivalents
 
151

 
234

 
Diluted
 
248,989

 
248,926

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation
     per share of common stock outstanding:
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
 
$
0.48

 
$
0.38

 
Diluted
 
$
0.48

 
$
0.38

 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements.


3


PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
Thirteen Weeks Ended
 
 
April 1, 2018
 
March 26, 2017
 
 
(In thousands)
Net income
 
$
119,224

 
$
100,738
 
Other comprehensive loss:
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation adjustment
 
 
 
 
Gains arising during the period
 
52,565

 
13,827
 
Income tax effect
 
(37
)
 
—
 
Derivative financial instruments designated as cash
flow hedges
 
 
 
 
Gains (losses) arising during the period
 
(15
)
 
78
 
Reclassification to net earnings for losses realized
 
250

 
49
 
Available-for-sale securities
 
 
 
 
Gains arising during the period
 
374

 
—
 
Income tax effect
 
(91
)
 
—
 
Reclassification to net earnings for gains realized
 
(172
)
 
—
 
Income tax effect
 
42

 
—
 
Defined benefit plans
 
 
 
 
Gains arising during the period
 
5,899

 
1,891
 
Income tax effect
 
(1,434
)
 
(714
)
Reclassification to net earnings of losses realized
 
301

 
233
 
Income tax effect
 
(73
)
 
(88
)
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax
 
57,609

 
15,276
 
Comprehensive income
 
176,833

 
116,014
 
Less: Comprehensive income for Granite Holdings Sàrl prior to acquisition by
     Pilgrim's Pride Corporation
 
—

 
20,228
 
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests
 
(194
)
 
542
 
Comprehensive income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation
 
$
177,027

 
$
95,244
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements.



4


PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
Common Stock
 
Treasury Stock
 
Additional
Paid-in
Capital
 
Retained Earnings (Accumulated
Deficit)
 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Loss
 
Noncontrolling
Interest
 
Total
 
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
 
 
(In thousands)
Pilgrim's Pride Corporation balance at December 31, 2017
 
260,168

 
$
2,602

 
(11,416
)
 
$
(231,758
)
 
$
1,932,509

 
$
173,943

 
$
(31,140
)
 
$
9,505

 
$
1,855,661

Net income (loss)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
119,418

 
—

 
(194
)
 
119,224

Other comprehensive income, net of tax
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
57,609

 
—

 
57,609

Share-based compensation plans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stock issued under compensation plans
 
228

 
2

 
—

 
—

 
(2
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Requisite service period recognition
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
1,273

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
1,273

Balance at April 1, 2018
 
260,396

 
$
2,604

 
(11,416
)
 
$
(231,758
)
 
$
1,933,780

 
$
293,361

 
$
26,469

 
$
9,311

 
$
2,033,767

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pilgrim's Pride Corporation balance at December 25, 2016
 
259,682

 
$
2,597

 
(10,636
)
 
$
(217,117
)
 
$
1,686,742

 
$
(520,635
)
 
$
(64,243
)
 
$
9,403

 
$
896,747

Granite Holdings Sàrl balance at December 25, 2016
 
13,000

 
304,691

 
—

 
—

 
1,413,590

 
(262,150
)
 
(265,615
)
 
(1,131
)
 
1,189,385

Combined balance at December 25, 2016
 
272,682

 
307,288

 
(10,636
)
 
(217,117
)
 
3,100,332

 
(782,785
)
 
(329,858
)
 
8,272

 
2,086,132

Net income
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
100,196

 
—

 
542

 
100,738

Other comprehensive income, net of tax
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
15,276

 
—

 
15,276

Share-based compensation plans:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common stock issued under compensation plans
 
486

 
5

 
—

 
—

 
(5
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Requisite service period recognition
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
1,460

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
1,460

Common stock purchased under share repurchase program
 
—

 
—

 
(780
)
 
(14,641
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(14,641
)
Balance at March 26, 2017
 
273,168

 
$
307,293

 
(11,416
)
 
$
(231,758
)
 
$
3,101,787

 
$
(682,589
)
 
$
(314,582
)
 
$
8,814

 
$
2,188,965

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements.

5


PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
Thirteen Weeks Ended
 
 
April 1, 2018
 
March 26, 2017
 
 
(In thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
119,224

 
$
100,738

Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
69,201

 
62,672

Noncash loss on early extinguishment of debt
 
3,918

 
—

Foreign currency transaction loss related to borrowing arrangements
 
5,745

 
2,158

Amortization of premium related to Senior Notes
 
(167
)
 
—

Accretion of discount related to Senior Notes
 
76

 
—

Asset impairment
 
470

 
—

Loss on property disposals
 
80

 
118

Gain on equity-method investments
 
(16
)
 
(13
)
Share-based compensation
 
1,273

 
1,460

Deferred income tax expense (benefit)
 
(4,735
)
 
12,780

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
 
Trade accounts and other receivables
 
(61,945
)
 
(50,492
)
Inventories
 
19,541

 
(62,530
)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
 
(20,777
)
 
(17,754
)
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities
 
(29,171
)
 
(5,412
)
Income taxes
 
(98,784
)
 
25,216

Long-term pension and other postretirement obligations
 
(2,759
)
 
(1,633
)
Other operating assets and liabilities
 
(534
)
 
(1,013
)
Cash provided by operating activities
 
640

 
66,295

Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
 
Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment
 
(76,681
)
 
(121,639
)
Purchase of acquired businesses, net of cash acquired
 
—

 
(359,698
)
Proceeds from property disposals
 
1,021

 
181

Cash used in investing activities
 
(75,660
)
 
(481,156
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
 
Proceeds from revolving line of credit and long-term borrowings
 
502,341

 
662,795

Payments on revolving line of credit, long-term borrowings and capital lease
obligations
 
(433,550
)
 
(334,453
)
Proceeds from equity contribution under Tax Sharing Agreement between
    JBS USA Food Company Holdings and Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation
 
5,558

 
5,038

Payment of capitalized loan costs
 
(4,061
)
 
—

Purchase of common stock under share repurchase program
 
—

 
(14,641
)
Cash provided by financing activities
 
70,288

 
318,739

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
 
6,669

 
2,182

Increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
 
1,937

 
(93,940
)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period
 
589,531

 
297,524

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period
 
$
591,468

 
$
203,584

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements.

6


NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
 
1.
DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
Business
Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation (referred to herein as “Pilgrim’s,” “PPC,” “the Company,” “we,” “us,” “our,” or similar terms) is one of the largest chicken producers in the world, with operations in the United States (“U.S.”), the United Kingdom (“U.K.”), Mexico, France, Puerto Rico and the Netherlands. Pilgrim’s products are sold to foodservice, retail and frozen entrée customers. The Company’s primary distribution is through retailers, foodservice distributors and restaurants throughout the countries listed above. Additionally, the Company exports chicken products to approximately 100 countries. Pilgrim’s fresh chicken products consist of refrigerated (nonfrozen) whole chickens, whole cut-up chickens and selected chicken parts that are either marinated or non-marinated. The Company’s prepared chicken products include fully cooked, ready-to-cook and individually frozen chicken parts, strips, nuggets and patties, some of which are either breaded or non-breaded and either marinated or non-marinated. The Company’s other products include ready-to-eat meals, multi-protein frozen foods, vegetarian foods and desserts. As a vertically integrated company, we control every phase of the production of our products. We operate feed mills, hatcheries, processing plants and distribution centers in 14 U.S. states, the U.K., Mexico, France, Puerto Rico and the Netherlands. As of April 1, 2018, Pilgrim’s had approximately 51,400 employees and the capacity to process approximately 45.2 million birds per work week for a total of more than 13.1 billion pounds of live chicken annually. Approximately 5,200 contract growers supply poultry for the Company’s operations. As of April 1, 2018, JBS S.A., through its indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries (together, “JBS”), beneficially owned 78.5% of the Company’s outstanding common stock.
Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated and combined financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal and recurring adjustments unless otherwise disclosed) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 30, 2018. For further information, refer to the consolidated and combined financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.
Pilgrim’s operates on a 52/53-week fiscal year that ends on the Sunday falling on or before December 31. The reader should assume any reference we make to a particular year (for example, 2018) in the notes to these Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements applies to our fiscal year and not the calendar year.
On September 8, 2017, a subsidiary of the Company acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Granite Holdings Sàrl and its subsidiaries (together, “Moy Park”) from JBS S.A. in a common-control transaction. Moy Park was acquired by JBS S.A. from an unrelated third party on September 30, 2015. The Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements presented for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2017 include the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries combined with the accounts of Moy Park. The Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements presented for the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 and the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet presented as of December 31, 2017 include the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries, including Moy Park. We eliminate all significant affiliate accounts and transactions upon consolidation.
The Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP using management’s best estimates and judgments. These estimates and judgments affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of the contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. The estimates and judgments will also affect the reported amounts for certain revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ materially from these estimates and judgments. Significant estimates made by the Company include the allowance for doubtful accounts, allowances for product claims and sales deductions, reserves related to inventory obsolescence or valuation, useful lives of long-lived assets, goodwill, valuation of deferred tax assets, insurance accruals, valuation of pension and other postretirement benefits obligations, income tax accruals, certain derivative positions and valuations of acquired businesses.

The functional currency of the Company's U.S. and Mexico operations and certain holding-company subsidiaries in Luxembourg, the U.K. and Ireland is the U.S. dollar. The functional currency of its U.K. operations is the British pound. The functional currency of the Company's operations in France and the Netherlands is the euro. For foreign currency-denominated

7

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entities other than the Company's Mexico operations, translation from local currencies into U.S. dollars is performed for most assets and liabilities using the exchange rates in effect as of the balance sheet date. Income and expense accounts are remeasured using average exchange rates for the period. Adjustments resulting from translation of these financial records are reflected as a separate component of Accumulated other comprehensive loss in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. For the Company's Mexico operations, remeasurement from the Mexican peso to U.S. dollars is performed for monetary assets and liabilities using the exchange rate in effect as of the balance sheet date. Remeasurement is performed for non-monetary assets using the historical exchange rate in effect on the date of each asset’s acquisition. Income and expense accounts are remeasured using average exchange rates for the period. Net adjustments resulting from remeasurement of these financial records are reflected in Foreign currency transaction losses (gains) in the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income.

The Company reported an adjustment resulting from the translation of a British pound-denominated note payable owed to JBS S.A. as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive loss in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of April 1, 2018. The Company designated this note payable as a hedge of its net investment in Moy Park.
The Company or its subsidiaries may use derivatives for the purpose of mitigating exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. Foreign currency transaction gains or losses are reported in the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income.
We made the following reclassification to the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet presented as of December 31, 2017 in order to conform to the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet presented as of April 1, 2018:
 
December 31, 2017
 
As Presented in 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K
 
Adjustment Resulting from Adoption of FASB Guidance
 
As Presented in the Condensed Consolidated
Balance Sheet
 
(In thousands)
Accounts payable
$
762,444

 
$
(29,417
)
 
$
733,027

Accrued expense and other current liabilities
417,342

 
(7,190
)
 
410,152

Revenue contract liability
—

 
36,607

 
36,607

Book Overdraft
The majority of the Company’s disbursement bank accounts are zero balance accounts where cash needs are funded as checks are presented for payment by the holder. Checks issued pending clearance that result in overdraft balances for accounting purposes are classified as accounts payable and the change in the related balance is reflected in operating activities on the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Cash Flows.
Restricted Cash
The Company is required to maintain cash balances with a broker as collateral for exchange traded futures contracts. These balances are classified as restricted cash as they are not available for use by the Company to fund daily operations. The balance of restricted cash may also include investments in U.S. Treasury Bills that qualify as cash equivalents, as required by the broker, to offset the obligation to return cash collateral.
The following table reconciles cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash as reported in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets to the total of the same amounts shown in the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Cash Flows:
 
 
April 1, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
 
(In thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
580,811

 
$
581,510

Restricted cash
 
10,657

 
8,021

Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in the
Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Cash Flows
 
$
591,468

 
$
589,531

Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued new accounting guidance on revenue recognition, which provides for a single five-step model to be applied to all revenue contracts with customers. The new standard

8

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also requires additional financial statement disclosures that will enable users to understand the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows relating to customer contracts. Companies have an option to use either a retrospective approach or cumulative effect adjustment approach to implement the standard.

We adopted this standard as of January 1, 2018, the beginning of our 2018 fiscal year, using the cumulative effect adjustment, often referred to as modified retrospective approach. Under this method, we did not restate the prior financial statements presented, and would record any adjustments in the opening balance sheet for January 2018. There was no cumulative effect to be recorded as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. The comparative information was not restated and continues to be presented under the accounting standards in effect for those periods. Additional disclosures will include the amount by which each financial statement line item is affected in the current reporting period during 2018, as compared to the prior guidance.
We expect minimal impact from the adoption of the new standard to the financial statements on a go forward basis, except for expanded disclosures. Revenue is currently recognized at destination and will continue to be recognized at point in time under the new guidance. Additional information regarding revenue recognition is included in “Note 13. Revenue Recognition.”
In February 2016, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on lease arrangements, which, in an effort to increase transparency and comparability among organizations utilizing leasing, requires an entity that is a lessee to recognize the assets and liabilities arising from leases on the balance sheet. This guidance also requires disclosures about the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. In transition, the entity is required to recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach. The provisions of the new guidance will be effective as of the beginning of our 2019 calendar year. Early adoption is permitted. We have elected to adopt the new standard as of the beginning of our 2019 calendar year. We are currently assessing our leasing and other arrangements and evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements.
In June 2016, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on the measurement of credit losses on financial instruments, which, in an effort to provide financial statement users with more decision-useful information about the expected credit losses on financial instruments, replaces the current incurred loss impairment methodology with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. The amendments affect loans, debt securities, trade receivables, net investments in leases, off-balance sheet credit exposures, reinsurance receivables and any other financial assets not excluded from the scope that have the contractual right to receive cash. The provisions of the new guidance will be effective as of the beginning of our 2020 fiscal year. Early adoption is permitted after our 2018 fiscal year. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements and have not yet selected an adoption date.
In March 2017, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on the presentation of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost, which, in an effort to improve consistency and transparency, requires the service cost component of defined benefit pension cost and postretirement benefit cost (“net benefit cost”) to be reported in the same line of the income statement as other compensation costs earned by the employee and the other components of net benefit cost to be reported below income from operations. The new guidance will be effective as of the beginning of our 2019 calender year with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements and have not yet selected an adoption date.

In August 2017, the FASB issued an accounting standard update that simplifies the application of hedge accounting guidance in current GAAP and improves the reporting of hedging relationships to better portray the economic results of an entity’s risk management activities in its financial statements. Among the simplification updates, the standard eliminates the requirement in current GAAP to separately recognize periodic hedge ineffectiveness. Mismatches between the changes in value of the hedged item and hedging instrument may still occur but they will no longer be separately reported. The standard requires the presentation of the earnings effect of the hedging instrument in the same income statement line item in which the earnings effect of the hedged item is reported. The standard is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, but early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact the adoption of this standard will have on our financial statements.

In February 2018, the FASB issued an accounting standard update that allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The Company will need to decide whether to reclassify the stranded tax effects associated with the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings. If the Company chooses to reclassify we will need to calculate the amount of the reclassification and prepare the related disclosures The accounting standards is effective as of the beginning of our 2019 calendar year with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements and have not yet selected an adoption date.

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2.
BUSINESS ACQUISITION
On September 8, 2017, the Company purchased 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Moy Park from JBS S.A. for cash of $301.3 million and a note payable to the seller in the amount of £562.5 million (the "JBS S.A. Promissory Note"). Moy Park is one of the top-ten food companies in the U.K., Northern Ireland's largest private sector business and one of Europe's leading poultry producers. With 4 fresh processing plants, 10 prepared foods cook plants, 3 feed mills, 6 hatcheries and 1 rendering facility currently operating in Northern Ireland, England, France and the Netherlands. Moy Park possesses the capacity to process approximately 6.1 million birds per seven-day work week, in addition to the capacity to produce approximately 460.0 million pounds of prepared foods per year. Its product portfolio comprises fresh and added-value poultry, ready-to-eat meals, breaded and multi-protein frozen foods, vegetarian foods and desserts, supplied to major food retailers and restaurant chains in Europe (including the U.K.). Moy Park has approximately 10,200 employees as of April 1, 2018. The Moy Park operations comprise our U.K. and Europe segment.
The acquisition was treated as a common-control transaction under U.S. GAAP. A common-control transaction is a transfer of net assets or an exchange of equity interests between entities under the control of the same parent. The accounting and reporting for a transaction between entities under common control is not to be considered a business combination under U.S. GAAP. Since there is no change in control over the net assets from the parent’s perspective, there is no change in basis in the assets or liabilities. Therefore, Pilgrim's, as the receiving entity, recognized the assets and liabilities received at their historical carrying amounts, as reflected in the parent’s financial statements. The difference between the proceeds transferred and the carrying amounts of the net assets on the date of the acquisition is recognized in equity.
Transaction costs incurred in conjunction with the acquisition were approximately $19.8 million. These costs were expensed as incurred. Beginning September 8, 2017, the results of operations and financial position of Moy Park have been included in the consolidated results of operations and financial position of the Company. The results of operations and financial position of Moy Park have been combined with the results of operations and financial position of Pilgrim's from September 30, 2015, the common control date, through September 7, 2017. Net sales generated by Moy Park during the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 and March 26, 2017 were $544.3 million and $458.8 million, respectively. Moy Park generated net income during the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 and March 26, 2017 totaling $2.5 million and $6.3 million, respectively.
The following unaudited pro forma information presents the combined financial results for the Company and Moy Park as if the acquisition had been completed at the beginning of the Company’s prior year, December 26, 2016.
 
Thirteen Weeks
Ended
April 1, 2018
 
Thirteen Weeks
Ended
March 26, 2017
 
(In thousands, except per share amount)
Net sales
$
2,746,678

 
$
2,479,340

Net income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation
119,554

 
78,596

Net income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation
per common share - diluted
0.48

 
0.32

The above unaudited pro forma financial information is presented for informational purposes only and does not purport to represent what the Company’s results of operations would have been had it completed the acquisition on the date assumed, nor is it necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected in future periods. Pro forma adjustments exclude cost savings from any synergies resulting from the acquisition.    
3.
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
Fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. Assets and liabilities measured at fair value must be categorized into one of three different levels depending on the assumptions (i.e., inputs) used in the valuation:
Level 1
  
Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
 
 
Level 2
  
Quoted prices in active markets for similar assets and liabilities and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability; or
 
 
Level 3
  
Unobservable inputs, such as discounted cash flow models or valuations.

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The determination of where assets and liabilities fall within this hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.
As of April 1, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company held derivative assets and liabilities that were required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis. Derivative assets and liabilities consist of long and short positions on exchange-traded commodity futures instruments, commodity options instruments and foreign currency instruments to manage translation and remeasurement risk.
The following items were measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
 
 
April 1, 2018
 
 
Level 1
 
Total
 
 
(In thousands)
Fair value assets:
 
 
 
 
     Commodity futures instruments
 
$
4,881

 
$
4,881

     Commodity options instruments
 
3,229

 
3,229

Foreign currency instruments
 
483

 
483

Fair value liabilities:
 
 
 
 
     Commodity futures instruments
 
(3,678
)
 
(3,678
)
     Commodity options instruments
 
(6,129
)
 
(6,129
)
Foreign currency instruments
 
(433
)
 
(433
)
 
 
December 31, 2017
 
 
Level 1
 
Total
 
 
(In thousands)
Fair value assets:
 
 
 
 
     Commodity futures instruments
 
$
301

 
$
301

     Commodity options instruments
 
421

 
421

Foreign currency instruments
 
45

 
45

Fair value liabilities:
 
 
 
 
     Commodity futures instruments
 
(296
)
 
(296
)
     Commodity option instruments
 
(3,551
)
 
(3,551
)
Foreign currency instruments
 
(211
)
 
(211
)
See “Note 7. Derivative Financial Instruments” for additional information.
The valuation of financial assets and liabilities classified in Level 1 is determined using a market approach, taking into account current interest rates, creditworthiness, and liquidity risks in relation to current market conditions, and is based upon unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets in active markets. The valuation of financial assets and liabilities in Level 2 is determined using a market approach based upon quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or other inputs that are observable for substantially the full term of the financial instrument. The valuation of financial assets in Level 3 is determined using an income approach based on unobservable inputs such as discounted cash flow models or valuations. For each class of assets and liabilities not measured at fair value in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet but for which fair value is disclosed, the Company is not required to provide the quantitative disclosure about significant unobservable inputs used in fair value measurements categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.
In addition to the fair value disclosure requirements related to financial instruments carried at fair value, accounting standards require interim disclosures regarding the fair value of all of the Company’s financial instruments. The methods and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value of financial instruments and any changes in methods or significant assumptions from prior periods are also required to be disclosed.
The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of our fixed-rate debt obligation recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets consisted of the following:

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April 1, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
 
Carrying
Amount
 
Fair
Value
 
Carrying
Amount
 
Fair
Value
 
 
 
 
(In thousands)
 
 
Fixed-rate senior notes payable at 5.75%, at Level 1 inputs
 
$
(1,002,799
)
 
$
(973,750
)
 
$
(750,000
)
 
$
(774,375
)
Fixed-rate senior notes payable at 5.875%, at Level 1 inputs
 
(843,180
)
 
(799,000
)
 
(604,820
)
 
(619,080
)
Fixed-rate senior notes payable at 6.25%, at Level 1 inputs
 
(92,128
)
 
(94,742
)
 
(403,444
)
 
(418,787
)
Chattel mortgages, at Level 3 inputs
 
(758
)
 
(747
)
 
(873
)
 
(855
)
See “Note 11. Long-Term Debt and Other Borrowing Arrangements” for additional information.
The carrying amounts of our cash and cash equivalents, derivative trading accounts' margin cash, restricted cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and certain other liabilities approximate their fair values due to their relatively short maturities. Derivative assets were recorded at fair value based on quoted market prices and are included in the line item Prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. Derivative liabilities were recorded at fair value based on quoted market prices and are included in the line item Accrued expenses and other current liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. The fair value of the Company’s Level 1 fixed-rate debt obligations was based on the quoted market price at April 1, 2018 or December 31, 2017, as applicable. The fair value of the Company’s Level 3 fixed-rate debt obligation was based on discounted cash flows at April 1, 2018 or December 31, 2017, as applicable.
 In addition to assets and liabilities that are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis, the Company records certain assets and liabilities at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. Generally, assets are recorded at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as a result of impairment charges when required by U.S. GAAP. There were no significant fair value measurement losses recognized for such assets and liabilities in the periods reported.
4.
TRADE ACCOUNTS AND OTHER RECEIVABLES
Trade accounts and other receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts, consisted of the following:
 
 
April 1, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
 
(In thousands)
Trade accounts receivable
 
$
607,156

 
$
548,472

Notes receivable - current
 
5,130

 
5,130

Other receivables
 
26,011

 
20,021

Receivables, gross
 
638,297

 
573,623

Allowance for doubtful accounts
 
(8,468
)
 
(8,145
)
Receivables, net
 
$
629,829

 
$
565,478

 
 
 
 
 
Account receivable from related parties(a)
 
$
1,471

 
$
2,951

(a)    Additional information regarding accounts receivable from related parties is included in “Note 20. Related Party Transactions.”
Activity in the allowance for doubtful accounts for the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 was as follows (in thousands):
Balance, beginning of period
 
$
(8,145
)
Provision charged to operating results
 
(617
)
Account write-offs and recoveries
 
550

Effect of exchange rate
 
(256
)
Balance, end of period
 
$
(8,468
)
5.
INVENTORIES
Inventories consisted of the following:

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April 1, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
(In thousands)
Live chicken, feed and eggs
$
819,393

 
$
804,136

Finished chicken products
356,719

 
390,412

Total chicken inventories
1,176,112

 
1,194,548

Non-chicken inventories
66,240

 
60,522

Total inventories
$
1,242,352

 
$
1,255,070

6.
INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES
We recognize investments in available-for-sale securities as cash equivalents, current investments or long-term investments depending upon each security's length to maturity. Additionally, those securities identified by management at the time of purchase for funding operations in less than one year are classified as current.
The following table summarizes our investments in available-for-sale securities:
 
 
April 1, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
 
Amortized Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
Amortized Cost
 
Fair
Value
 
 
(In thousands)
Cash equivalents:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fixed income securities
 
$
327,286

 
$
327,286

 
$
330,456

 
$
330,456

Other
 
1,185

 
1,185

 
942

 
942

Securities classified as cash and cash equivalents mature within 90 days. Securities classified as short-term investments mature between 91 and 365 days. Securities classified as long-term investments mature after 365 days. The specific identification method is used to determine the cost of each security sold and each amount reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss to earnings. Gross realized gains during the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 related to the Company’s available-for-sale securities totaled $0.2 million while gross realized losses were immaterial. Gross realized gains and losses for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2017 related to the Company’s available-for-sale securities were immaterial. Proceeds received from the sale or maturity of available-for-sale securities recognized as either short or long-term investments are historically disclosed in the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Cash Flows. No proceeds were received from the sale or maturity of available-for-sale securities recognized as either short or long-term investments during the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 and March 26, 2017. Net unrealized holding gains and losses on the Company’s available-for-sale securities recognized during the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 and March 26, 2017 that have been included in accumulated other comprehensive loss and the net amount of gains and losses reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss to earnings during the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 and March 26, 2017 is disclosed in “Note 15. Stockholders’ Equity”.
7.
DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The Company utilizes various raw materials in its operations, including corn, soybean meal, soybean oil, and energy, such as natural gas, electricity and diesel fuel, which are all considered commodities. The Company considers these raw materials generally available from a number of different sources and believes it can obtain them to meet its requirements. These commodities are subject to price fluctuations and related price risk due to factors beyond our control, such as economic and political conditions, supply and demand, weather, governmental regulation and other circumstances. Generally, the Company purchases derivative financial instruments, specifically exchange-traded futures and options, in an attempt to mitigate price risk related to its anticipated consumption of commodity inputs for approximately the next 12 months. The Company may purchase longer-term derivative financial instruments on particular commodities if deemed appropriate.
The Company has operations in Mexico and Europe (including the U.K.) and, therefore, has exposure to translational foreign exchange risk when the financial results of those operations are remeasured in U.S. dollars. The Company has purchased foreign currency forward contracts to manage this translational foreign exchange risk.
The fair value of derivative assets is included in the line item Prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets while the fair value of derivative liabilities is included in the line item Accrued expenses and other current liabilities on the same statements. Our counterparties require that we post cash collateral for changes in the net fair value of the derivative contracts.

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We have not designated certain derivative financial instruments that we have purchased to mitigate commodity purchase or foreign currency transaction exposures on our Mexico operations as cash flow hedges. Items designated as cash flow hedges are disclosed and described further below. Therefore, we recognized changes in the fair value of these derivative financial instruments immediately in earnings. Gains or losses related to these derivative financial instruments are included in the line item Cost of sales in the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income.
We have designated certain derivative financial instruments related to our U.K. and Europe segment that we have purchased to mitigate foreign currency transaction exposures as cash flow hedges. Before the settlement date of the financial derivative instruments, we recognize changes in the fair value of the effective portion of the cash flow hedge into accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) while we recognize changes in the fair value of the ineffective portion immediately in earnings. When the derivative financial instruments associated with the effective portion are settled, the amount in AOCI is then reclassified to earnings. Gains or losses related to these derivative financial instruments are included in the line item Cost of sales in the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income.
The Company recognized net gains of $6.4 million and net losses of $2.9 million related to changes in the fair value of its derivative financial instruments during the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 and March 26, 2017, respectively. Information regarding the Company’s outstanding derivative instruments and cash collateral posted with (owed to) brokers is included in the following table:
 
April 1, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
(Fair values in thousands)
Fair values:
 
 
 
Commodity derivative assets
$
8,110

 
$
722

Commodity derivative liabilities
(9,807
)
 
(3,847
)
Foreign currency derivative assets
483

 
45

Foreign currency derivative liabilities
(433
)
 
(211
)
Cash collateral posted with brokers
10,657

 
8,021

Derivatives coverage(a):
 
 
 
Corn
11.0
%
 
3.1
%
Soybean meal
12.7
%
 
1.7
%
Period through which stated percent of needs are covered:
 
 
 
Corn
December 2019

 
March 2019

Soybean meal
January 2019

 
December 2018

(a)
Derivatives coverage is the percent of anticipated commodity needs covered by outstanding derivative instruments through a specified date.

The following tables present the components of the gain or loss on derivatives that qualify as cash flow hedges:

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Table of Contents

 
Gain (Loss) Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income on Derivative (Effective Portion)
 
Thirteen Weeks Ended
 
April 1, 2018
 
March 26, 2017
 
(In thousands)
Foreign currency derivatives
$
1

 
$
76

Total
$
1

 
$
76

 
 
 
 
 
Net Realized Gains (Losses) Recognized in Income on Derivative (Ineffective Portion)
 
Thirteen Weeks Ended
 
April 1, 2018
 
March 26, 2017
 
(In thousands)
Foreign currency derivatives
$
—

 
$
—

Total
$
—

 
$
—

 
 
 
 
 
Gain (Loss) Reclassified from AOCI into Income (Effective Portion)
 
Thirteen Weeks Ended
 
April 1, 2018
 
March 26, 2017
 
(In thousands)
Foreign currency derivatives
$
250

 
$
49

Total
$
250

 
$
49

At April 1, 2018, the pre-tax deferred net gains on derivatives recorded in AOCI that are expected to be reclassified to the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income during the next twelve months are $0.2 million. This expectation is based on the anticipated settlements on the hedged investments in foreign currencies that will occur over the next twelve months, at which time the Company will recognize the deferred gains (losses) to earnings.
8.
GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS
The activity in goodwill by segment for the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 was as follows:
 
 
December 31, 2017
 
Currency Translation
 
April 1, 2018
 
 
(In thousands)
U.S.
 
$
41,936

 
$
—

 
$
41,936

U.K. and Europe
 
834,346

 
31,237

 
865,583

Mexico
 
125,607

 
—

 
125,607

     Total
 
$
1,001,889

 
$
31,237

 
$
1,033,126

Identified intangible assets consisted of the following:
 
 
December 31, 2017
 
Amortization
 
Currency Translation
 
Reclassification
 
April 1, 2018
 
(In thousands)
Carrying amount:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Trade names
 
$
79,686

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
(1,343
)
 
$
78,343

     Customer relationships
 
251,952

 
—

 
3,552

 
1,343

 
256,847

     Non-compete agreements
 
320

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
320

Trade names not subject to amortization
 
403,594

 
—

 
15,344

 
—

 
418,938

Accumulated amortization:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

     Trade names
 
(40,888
)
 
(932
)
 
—

 
623

 
(41,197
)
     Customer relationships
 
(77,194
)
 
(5,820
)
 
(891
)
 
(623
)
 
(84,528
)
     Non-compete agreements
 
(307
)
 
(2
)
 
—

 
—

 
(309
)
Total identified intangible assets
 
$
617,163

 
$
(6,754
)
 
$
18,005

 
$
—

 
$
628,414


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Intangible assets are amortized over the estimated useful lives of the assets as follows:
Customer relationships
5-16 years
Trade names
3-20 years
Non-compete agreements
3 years
At April 1, 2018, the Company assessed if events or changes in circumstances indicated that the aggregate carrying amount of its identified intangible assets subject to amortization might not be recoverable. There were no indicators present that required the Company to test the recoverability of the aggregate carrying amount of its identified intangible assets subject to amortization at that date.
9.
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Property, plant and equipment (“PP&E”), net consisted of the following:
 
April 1, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
(In thousands)
Land
$
197,630

 
$
205,087

Buildings
1,685,011

 
1,681,610

Machinery and equipment
2,612,519

 
2,533,522

Autos and trucks
61,499

 
58,159

Construction-in-progress
215,173

 
187,094

PP&E, gross
4,771,832

 
4,665,472

Accumulated depreciation
(2,650,202
)
 
(2,570,325
)
PP&E, net
$
2,121,630

 
$
2,095,147

The Company recognized depreciation expense of $60.6 million and $55.4 million during the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 and March 26, 2017, respectively.
During the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018, Pilgrim's spent $76.7 million on capital projects and transferred $43.5 million of completed projects from construction-in-progress to depreciable assets. Capital expenditures were primarily incurred during the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 to improve efficiencies and reduce costs. During the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2017, the Company spent $121.6 million on capital projects and transferred $56.2 million of completed projects from construction-in-progress to depreciable assets.
During the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018, the Company sold certain PP&E for $1.0 million in cash and recognized net loss on these sales of $0.1 million. PP&E sold in the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 included a processing plant in Alabama and miscellaneous equipment. During the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2017, the Company sold certain PP&E for cash of $0.2 million and recognized net loss on these sales of $0.1 million. PP&E sold in the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2017 included a broiler farm in Alabama, multiple breeder farms in Texas, a vacant lot in Texas and miscellaneous equipment.
 Management has committed to the sale of a processing complex in Minnesota and miscellaneous equipment that no longer fit into the operating plans of the Company. The Company is actively marketing these assets for immediate sale and believes a sale of each asset can be consummated within the next 12 months. At April 1, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the Company reported properties and related assets totaling $2.9 million and $0.7 million, respectively, in the line item Assets held for sale on its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The fair values of the Minnesota processing complex and the miscellaneous equipment that were classified as assets held for sale as of April 1, 2018 were both based on quoted market prices.
The Company tested the recoverability of its Minnesota processing complex held for sale as of April 1, 2018. The Company determined that the aggregate carrying amount at April 1, 2018 of this asset group was not recoverable over the remaining life of the primary asset in the group and recognized impairment cost of $0.5 million within the U.S. segment, which it reported in the line item Administrative restructuring charges on its Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income.

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Table of Contents

The Company has closed or idled various facilities in the U.S. and in the U.K. Neither the Board of Directors nor JBS has determined if it would be in the best interest of the Company to divest any of these idled assets. Management is therefore not certain that it can or will divest any of these assets within one year, is not actively marketing these assets and, accordingly, has not classified them as assets held for sale. The Company continues to depreciate these assets. At April 1, 2018, the carrying amounts of these idled assets totaled $53.2 million based on depreciable value of $173.6 million and accumulated depreciation of $120.4 million.
At April 1, 2018, the Company assessed if events or changes in circumstances indicated that the aggregate carrying amount of its property, plant and equipment held for use might not be recoverable. There were no indicators present that required the Company to test the recoverability of the aggregate carrying amount of its property, plant and equipment held for use at that date.
10.
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Current liabilities, other than current notes payable to banks, income taxes and current maturities of long-term debt, consisted of the following components:
 
April 1, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
(In thousands)
Accounts payable:
 
 
 
Trade accounts
$
718,988

 
$
661,759

Book overdrafts
48,505

 
56,022

Other payables
15,264

 
15,246

Total accounts payable
782,757

 
733,027

Accounts payable to related parties(a)
5,475

 
2,889

Revenue contract liability(b)
29,304

 
36,607

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities:
 
 
 
Compensation and benefits
140,583

 
181,678

Interest and debt-related fees
10,833

 
29,750

Insurance and self-insured claims
83,848

 
79,911

Derivative liabilities:
 
 
 
Commodity futures
3,678

 
296

Commodity options
6,129

 
3,551

Foreign currency derivatives
433

 
211

Other accrued expenses
106,054

 
114,755

Total accrued expenses and other current liabilities
351,558

 
410,152

 
$
1,169,094

 
$
1,182,675

(a)    Additional information regarding accounts payable to related parties is included in “Note 20. Related Party Transactions.”
(b)    Additional information regarding revenue contract liabilities is included in “Note 13. Revenue Recognition.”

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11. LONG-TERM DEBT AND OTHER BORROWING ARRANGEMENTS
Long-term debt and other borrowing arrangements, including current notes payable to banks, consisted of the following components: 
 
Maturity
 
April 1, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
 
 
(In thousands)
Long-term debt and other long-term borrowing arrangements:
 
 
 
 
 
     Senior notes payable, net of premium and discount at 5.75%
2025
 
$
1,002,799

 
$
754,820

Senior notes payable, net of discount at 5.875%
2027
 
843,180

 
600,000

Senior notes payable at 6.25%
2021
 
92,128

 
403,444

U.S. Credit Facility (defined below):
 
 
 
 
 
Term note payable at 2.97%
2022
 
770,000

 
780,000

Revolving note payable at 2.84%
2022
 
—

 
73,262

Mexico Credit Facility (defined below) with notes payable at
TIIE Rate plus 0.95%
2019
 
69,823

 
76,307

Moy Park Multicurrency Revolving Facility with notes payable at
     LIBOR rate plus 2.5%
2018
 
—

 
9,590

Moy Park Receivables Finance Agreement with payables at LIBOR
     plus 1.5%
2020
 
—

 
—

Moy Park France Invoice Discounting Revolver with payables at
     EURIBOR plus 0.8%
2018
 
12,754

 
1,815

Chattels mortgages with payables at weighted average of 3.74%
Various
 
758

 
873

Capital lease obligations
Various
 
8,184

 
9,239

Long-term debt
 
 
2,799,626

 
2,709,350

Less: Current maturities of long-term debt
 
 
(149,389
)
 
(47,775
)
Long-term debt, less current maturities
 
 
2,650,237

 
2,661,575

Less: Capitalized financing costs
 
 
(24,539
)
 
(25,958
)
Long-term debt, less current maturities, net of capitalized financing costs:
 
 
$
2,625,698

 
$
2,635,617

U.S. Senior Notes
On March 11, 2015, the Company completed a sale of $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.75% senior notes due 2025. On September 29, 2017, the Company completed an add-on offering of $250.0 million of these senior notes. The issuance price of this add-on offering was 102.0%, which created gross proceeds of $255.0 million. The additional $5.0 million will be amortized over the remaining life of the senior notes. On March 7, 2018, the Company completed another add-on offering of $250.0 million of these senior notes (together with the senior notes issued in March 2015 and September 2017, the “Senior Notes due 2025”). The issuance price of this add-on offering was 99.25%, which created gross proceeds of $248.1 million. The $1.9 million discount will be amortized over the remaining life of the senior notes. Each issuance of the Senior Notes due 2025 is treated as a single class for all purposes under the 2015 Indenture (defined below) and have the same terms.
The Senior Notes due 2025 are governed by, and were issued pursuant to, an indenture dated as of March 11, 2015 by and among the Company, its guarantor subsidiary and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “2015 Indenture”). The 2015 Indenture provides, among other things, that the Senior Notes due 2025 bear interest at a rate of 5.75% per annum from the date of issuance until maturity, payable semi-annually in cash in arrears, beginning on September 15, 2015 for the Senior Notes due 2025 that were issued in March 2015 and beginning on March 15, 2018 for the Senior Notes due 2025 that were issued in September 2017 and March 2018. The Senior Notes due 2025 are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by the Company’s guarantor subsidiary. In addition, any of the Company’s other existing or future domestic restricted subsidiaries that incur or guarantee any other indebtedness (with limited exceptions) must also guarantee the Senior Notes due 2025. The Senior Notes due 2025 and related guarantees are unsecured senior obligations of the Company and its guarantor subsidiary and rank equally with all of the Company’s and its guarantor subsidiary’s other unsubordinated indebtedness. The Senior Notes due 2025 and the 2015 Indenture also contain customary covenants and events of default, including failure to pay principal or interest on the Senior Notes due 2025 when due, among others.

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On September 29, 2017, the Company completed a sale of $600.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.875% senior notes due 2027. On March 7, 2018, the Company completed an add-on offering of these senior notes (together with the senior notes issued in September 2017, the “Senior Notes due 2027”). The issuance price of this add-on offering was 97.25%, which created gross proceeds of $243.1 million. The $6.9 million discount will be amortized over the remaining life of the Senior Notes due 2027. Each issuance of the Senior Notes due 2027 is treated as a single class for all purposes under the 2017 Indenture (defined below) and have the same terms.
The Senior Notes due 2027 are governed by, and were issued pursuant to, an indenture dated as of September 29, 2017 by and among the Company, its guarantor subsidiary and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “2017 Indenture”). The 2017 Indenture provides, among other things, that the Senior Notes due 2027 bear interest at a rate of 5.875% per annum from the date of issuance until maturity, payable semi-annually in cash in arrears, beginning on March 30, 2018 for the Senior Notes due 2027 that were issued in September 2017 and beginning on March 15, 2018 for the Senior Notes due 2027 that were issued in March 2018. The Senior Notes due 2027 are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by the Company’s guarantor subsidiary. In addition, any of the Company’s other existing or future domestic restricted subsidiaries that incur or guarantee any other indebtedness (with limited exceptions) must also guarantee the Senior Notes due 2027. The Senior Notes due 2027 and related guarantees are unsecured senior obligations of the Company and its guarantor subsidiary and rank equally with all of the Company’s and its guarantor subsidiary’s other unsubordinated indebtedness. The Senior Notes due 2027 and the 2017 Indenture also contain customary covenants and events of default, including failure to pay principal or interest on the Senior Notes due 2027 when due, among others.
The Company used the net proceeds from the sale of the Senior Notes due 2025 and the Senior Notes due 2027 that were issued in September 2017 to repay in full the JBS S.A. Promissory Note issued as part of the Moy Park acquisition and for general corporate purposes. The Company used the net proceeds from the sale of the Senior Notes due 2025 and the Senior Notes due 2027 that were issued in March 2018 to pay the second tender price of Moy Park Notes (as described below), repay a portion of outstanding secured debt, and for general corporate purposes. The Senior Notes due 2025 and the Senior Notes due 2027 were sold to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and outside the United States to non-U.S. persons pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act.
Moy Park Senior Notes
On May 29, 2014, Moy Park (Bondco) plc, a subsidiary of Granite Holdings Sàrl, completed the sale of a £200.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 6.25% senior notes due 2021. On April 17, 2015, the Company completed an add-on offering of £100.0 million of these notes (together with the senior notes issued in May 2014, the “Moy Park Senior Notes”). The Moy Park Notes were sold to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and outside the United States to non-U.S. persons pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act.
The Moy Park Notes are governed by, and were issued pursuant to, an indenture dated as of May 29, 2014 by Moy Park (Bondco) plc, as issuer, Moy Park Holdings (Europe) Limited, Moy Park (Newco) Limited, Moy Park Limited, O’Kane Poultry Limited, as guarantors, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee (the “Moy Park Indenture”). The Moy Park Indenture provides, among other things, that the Moy Park Notes bear interest at a rate of 6.25% per annum from the date of issuance until maturity, payable semiannually in cash in arrears, beginning on November 29, 2014 for the Moy Park Notes that were issued in May 2014 and beginning on May 28, 2015 for the Moy Park Notes that were issued in April 2015. The Moy Park Notes are guaranteed by each of the subsidiary guarantors party to the Moy Park Indenture. The Moy Park Indenture contains customary covenants and events of default that may limit Moy Park (Bondco) plc’s ability and the ability of certain subsidiaries to incur additional debt, declare or pay dividends or make certain investments, among others.
On November 2, 2017, Moy Park (Bondco) plc announced the final results of its previously announced tender offer to purchase for cash any and all of its issued and outstanding Moy Park Notes. As of November 2, 2017, £1.2 million principal amount of Moy Park Notes had been validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn). Moy Park (Bondco) plc purchased all validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) Moy Park Notes on or prior to November 2, 2017, with such settlement occurring on November 3, 2017.
On March 7, 2018, Moy Park (Bondco) plc announced the final results of its second, previously announced, tender offer to purchase for cash any and all of its issued and outstanding Moy Park Notes. As of March 7, 2018, £233.1 million principal amount of Moy Park Notes had been validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn in the second tender). Moy Park (Bondco) plc purchased all validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) Moy Park Notes on or prior to March 7, 2018, with such settlement occurring on March 8, 2018.
On April 23, 2018, the Company gave notice to the Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, of its intent to redeem all of the Moy Park Notes outstanding on May 29, 2018 (the “Redemption Date”) at the redemption price equal to 101.56% of its

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principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding the Redemption Date. As of April 1, 2018, the Moy Park Notes in an aggregate principal amount of £65.7 million were outstanding.
U.S. Credit Facility
On May 8, 2017, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries entered into a Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “U.S. Credit Facility”) with Coöperatieve Rabobank U.A., New York Branch (“Rabobank”), as administrative agent and collateral agent, and the other lenders party thereto. The U.S. Credit Facility provides for a revolving loan commitment of up to $750.0 million and a term loan commitment of up to $800.0 million (the “Term Loans”). The U.S. Credit Facility also includes an accordion feature that allows the Company, at any time, to increase the aggregate revolving loan and term loan commitments by up to an additional $1.0 billion, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including obtaining the lenders’ agreement to participate in the increase.
The revolving loan commitment under the U.S. Credit Facility matures on May 6, 2022. All principal on the Term Loans is due at maturity on May 6, 2022. Installments of principal are required to be made, in an amount equal to 1.25% of the original principal amount of the Term Loans, on a quarterly basis prior to the maturity date of the Term Loans. Covenants in the U.S. Credit Facility also require the Company to use the proceeds it receives from certain asset sales and specified debt or equity issuances and upon the occurrence of other events to repay outstanding borrowings under the U.S. Credit Facility. As of April 1, 2018, the Company had Term Loans outstanding totaling $770.0 million and the amount available for borrowing under the revolving loan commitment was $705.2 million. The Company had letters of credit of $44.8 million and no borrowings outstanding under the revolving loan commitment as of April 1, 2018.
The U.S. Credit Facility includes a $75.0 million sub-limit for swingline loans and a $125.0 million sub-limit for letters of credit. Outstanding borrowings under the revolving loan commitment and the Term Loans bear interest at a per annum rate equal to (i) in the case of LIBOR loans, LIBOR plus 1.50% through April 1, 2018 and, thereafter, based on the Company’s net senior secured leverage ratio, between LIBOR plus 1.25% and LIBOR plus 2.75% and (ii) in the case of alternate base rate loans, the base rate plus 0.50% through April 1, 2018 and, based on the Company’s net senior secured leverage ratio, between the base rate plus 0.25% and base rate plus 1.75% thereafter.
The U.S. Credit Facility contains financial covenants and various other covenants that may adversely affect the Company’s ability to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness, incur liens, pay dividends or make certain restricted payments, consummate certain assets sales, enter into certain transactions with JBS and the Company’s other affiliates, merge, consolidate and/or sell or dispose of all or substantially all of our assets. The U.S. Credit Facility requires the Company to comply with a minimum level of tangible net worth covenant. The U.S. Credit Facility also provides that we may not incur capital expenditures in excess of $500.0 million in any fiscal year. The Company is currently in compliance with the covenants under the U.S. Credit Facility.
All obligations under the U.S. Credit Facility continue to be unconditionally guaranteed by certain of the Company’s subsidiaries and continue to be secured by a first priority lien on (i) the accounts receivable and inventory of our Company and its non-Mexico subsidiaries, (ii) 100% of the equity interests in our domestic subsidiaries, To-Ricos, Ltd. and To-Ricos Distribution, Ltd., and 65% of the equity interests in our direct foreign subsidiaries and (iii) substantially all of the assets of the Company and the guarantors under the U.S. Credit Facility.
Mexico Credit Facility
On September 27, 2016, certain of our Mexican subsidiaries entered into an unsecured credit agreement (the “Mexico Credit Facility”) with BBVA Bancomer, S.A. Institución de Banca Múltiple, Grupo Financiero BBVA Bancomer, as lender. The loan commitment under the Mexico Credit Facility was 1.5 billion Mexican pesos. Outstanding borrowings under the Mexico Credit Facility accrued interest at a rate equal to the Interbank Equilibrium Interest Rate plus 0.95%. The Mexico Credit Facility is scheduled to mature on September 27, 2019. As of April 1, 2018, the U.S. dollar-equivalent loan commitment under the Mexico Credit Facility was $82.5 million, and there were $69.8 million outstanding borrowings under the Mexico Credit Facility that bear interest at a per annum rate of 8.80%. As of April 1, 2018, the U.S. dollar-equivalent borrowing availability was $12.7 million.
Moy Park Multicurrency Revolving Facility Agreement
On March 19, 2015, Moy Park Holdings (Europe) Limited, a subsidiary of Granite Holdings Sàrl, and its subsidiaries, entered into an agreement with Barclays Bank plc, which expired on March 19, 2018. The agreement provided for a multicurrency revolving loan commitment of up to £20.0 million.
Moy Park Receivables Finance Agreement

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Moy Park Limited, a subsidiary of Granite Holdings Sàrl, entered into a £45.0 million receivables finance agreement on January 29, 2016 (the “Receivables Finance Agreement”), with Barclays Bank plc, which matures on January 29, 2020. Outstanding borrowings under the facility bear interest at a per annum rate equal to LIBOR plus 1.5%. The Receivables Finance Agreement includes an accordion feature that allows us, at any time, to increase the commitments by up to an additional £15.0 million, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions. As of April 1, 2018, the U.S. dollar-equivalent loan commitment under the Receivables Finance Agreement was $63.0 million and there were no outstanding borrowings.
The Receivables Finance Agreement contains financial covenants and various other covenants that may adversely affect Moy Park's ability to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness, consummate certain asset sales, enter into certain transactions with JBS and the Company's other affiliates, merge, consolidate and/or sell or dispose of all or substantially all of Moy Park's assets.
Moy Park France Invoice Discounting Facility
In June 2009, Moy Park France Sàrl, a subsidiary of Granite Holdings Sàrl, entered into a €20.0 million invoice discounting facility with GE De Facto (the “Invoice Discounting Facility”). The facility limit was increased €10.0 million in September 2016 to €30.0 million. The Invoice Discounting Facility is payable on demand and the term is extended on an annual basis. The agreement can be terminated by either party with three months’ notice. Outstanding borrowings under the Invoice Discounting Facility bear interest at a per annum rate equal to EURIBOR plus a margin of 0.80%. As of April 1, 2018, the U.S. dollar-equivalent loan commitment, borrowing availability and outstanding borrowings under the Invoice Discounting Facility were $37.0 million, $24.2 million and $12.8 million, respectively.
The Invoice Discounting Facility contains financial covenants and various other covenants that may adversely affect Moy Park's ability to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness, consummate certain asset sales, enter into certain transactions with JBS and the Company's other affiliates, merge, consolidate and/or sell or dispose of all or substantially all of Moy Park's assets.
12.     INCOME TAXES
The Company recorded income tax expense of $37.0 million, a 23.7% effective tax rate, for the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 compared to income tax expense of $49.4 million, a 32.9% effective tax rate, for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2017. The decrease in income tax expense in 2018 resulted primarily from a reduction in the U.S. corporate income tax rate as a result of the recently enacted Tax Act.
On December 22, 2017, the U.S. government enacted comprehensive tax legislation (the “Tax Act”), which significantly revises the ongoing U.S. corporate income tax law by lowering the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate from 35.0% to 21.0%, implementing a territorial tax system, imposing one-time tax on foreign unremitted earnings and setting limitations on deductibility of certain costs (e.g., interest expense), among other things.
The Company is applying the guidance in Staff Accounting Bulletin ("SAB") 118 when accounting for the enactment-date effects of the Tax Act. As of April 1, 2018, the Company has not completed its accounting for all of the tax effects of the Tax Act. In certain cases, as described below, the Company has made a reasonable estimate of certain effects of the Tax Act. In other cases, the Company has not been able to make a reasonable estimate and continues to account for those items based on existing accounting under Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 740, Income Taxes, and the provisions of the tax laws that were in effect immediately prior to enactment. For example, the Company has yet to make a reasonable estimate for the effect of the various federal income tax elements of the Tax Act on its state tax rate. In all cases, the Company will continue to make and refine its calculations as additional analysis is completed. Estimates may also be affected as the Company gains a more thorough understanding of the tax law. These changes could be material to income tax expense.
As of December 31, 2017, the Company estimated no tax liability on foreign unremitted earnings due to a net earnings and profits (“E&P”) deficit on accumulated post-1986 deferred foreign income. Therefore, the Company did not accrue any amount of tax expense for the Tax Act’s one-time transition tax on the foreign subsidiaries’ accumulated, unremitted earnings going back to 1986 for the year ended December 31, 2017. During the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 the Company made sufficient progress in its E&P analysis to support a net E&P deficit on accumulated post-1986 deferred foreign income. Therefore, as of April 1, 2018, the Company estimates no tax liability for the one-time transition tax.  As the Company continues to refine its E&P analysis, the Company will adjust its calculations of the one-time transition tax, which could affect the measurement of this liability.
The Tax Act subjects a U.S. shareholder to tax on global intangible low-taxed income (“GILTI”) earned by certain foreign subsidiaries. The FASB Staff Q&A, Topic 740, No. 5, Accounting for GILTI, states that an entity can make an accounting policy election to either recognize deferred taxes for temporary basis differences expected to reverse as GILTI in future years or provide

21

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for the tax expense related to GILTI in the year the tax is incurred as a period expense only. Given the complexity of the GILTI provisions, the Company is still evaluating the effects of the GILTI provisions and has not yet determined the accounting policy it will elect. As of April 1, 2018, the Company estimates no GILTI tax liability.
The Tax Act provides for a foreign-derived intangible income (“FDII”) deduction, which is available to domestic C corporations that derive income from the export of property and services. As of April 1, 2018, the Company estimated a FDII benefit of $1.2 million, which is reflected in the Company’s estimated annual effective tax rate. The Company will continue to refine its FDII calculations, which may result in changes to this estimated benefit.
In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities (including the impact of available carry back and carry forward periods), projected future taxable income and tax-planning strategies in making this assessment. As of April 1, 2018, the Company did not believe it had sufficient positive evidence to conclude that realization of its federal capital loss carry forwards and a portion of its foreign net deferred tax assets are more likely than not to be realized.
For the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 and March 26, 2017, there is a tax effect of $(1.6) million and $(0.8) million, respectively, reflected in other comprehensive income.
For the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 and March 26, 2017, there are immaterial tax effects reflected in income tax expense due to excess tax benefits related to share-based compensation.
The Company and its subsidiaries file a variety of consolidated and standalone income tax returns in various jurisdictions. In the normal course of business, our income tax filings are subject to review by various taxing authorities. In general, tax returns filed by our Company and our subsidiaries for years prior to 2011 are no longer subject to examination by tax authorities.
13. REVENUE RECOGNITION
The vast majority of the Company's revenue is derived from contracts which are based upon a customer ordering our products. While there may be master agreements, the contract is only established when the customer’s order is accepted by the Company. The Company accounts for a contract, which may be verbal or written, when it is approved and committed by both parties, the rights of the parties are identified along with payment terms, the contract has commercial substance and collectability is probable.
The Company evaluates the transaction for distinct performance obligations, which are the sale of its products to customers. Since its products are commodity market-priced, the sales price is representative of the observable, standalone selling price. Each performance obligation is recognized based upon a pattern of recognition that reflects the transfer of control to the customer at a point in time, which is upon destination (customer location or port of destination), which faithfully depicts the transfer of control and recognition of revenue. There are instances of customer pick-up at the Company's facility, in which case control transfers to the customer at that point and the Company recognizes revenue. The Company's performance obligations are typically fulfilled within days to weeks of the acceptance of the order.
The Company makes judgments regarding the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from revenue and cash flows with customers. Determination of a contract requires evaluation and judgment along with the estimation of the total contract value and if any of the contract value is constrained. Due to the nature of our business, there is minimal variable consideration, as the contract is established at the acceptance of the order from the customer. When applicable, variable consideration is estimated at contract inception and updated on a regular basis until the contract is completed. Allocating the transaction price to a specific performance obligation based upon the relative standalone selling prices includes estimating the standalone selling prices including discounts and variable consideration.
Disaggregated Revenue
Revenue has been disaggregated into the categories below to show how economic factors affect the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows.

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Thirteen Weeks Ended April 1, 2018
 
Domestic
 
Export
 
Net Sales
 
(In thousands)
U.S.
1,765,940

 
75,165

 
1,841,105

U.K. and Europe
464,367

 
79,933

 
544,300

Mexico
361,273

 
—

 
361,273

Net Sales
$
2,591,580

 
$
155,098

 
$
2,746,678


Shipping and Handling Costs
In the rare case when shipping and handling activities are performed after a customer obtains control of the good, the Company has elected to account for shipping and handling as activities to fulfill the promise to transfer the good. When revenue is recognized for the related good before the shipping and handling activities occur, the related costs of those shipping and handling activities are accrued. Shipping and handling costs are recorded within cost of sales.

Contract Costs
The Company can incur incremental costs to obtain or fulfill a contract such as broker expenses that are not expected to be recovered. The amortization period for such expenses is less than one year; therefore, the costs are expensed as incurred.
Taxes
There is no change in accounting for taxes due to the adoption of the new revenue standard, as there is no material change to the timing of revenue recognition. We exclude all taxes assessed by a governmental authority that are both imposed on and concurrent with a specific revenue-producing transaction and collected by the entity from a customer (for example, sales, use, value added, and some excise taxes) from the transaction price.
Contract Balances
The Company receives payment from customers based on terms established with the customer. Payments are typically due within two weeks of delivery. There are rarely contract assets related to costs incurred to perform in advance of scheduled billings. Revenue contract liabilities relate to payments received in advance of satisfying the performance under the customer contract. The revenue contract liability relates to customer prepayments and the advanced consideration received from governmental agency contracts for which performance obligations to the end customer have not been satisfied.
Changes in the revenue contract liability balances during the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 are as follows (in thousands):
Balance, beginning of period
 
$
36,607

Revenue recognized that was included in revenue contract liability at the beginning of the period
 
(11,272
)
Cash received, excluding amounts recognized as revenue during the period
 
3,969

Balance, end of period
 
$
29,304

Accounts Receivable
The Company records accounts receivable when revenue is recognized. The Company records an allowance for doubtful accounts to reduce the receivables balance to an amount it estimates is collectible from customers. Estimates used in determining the allowance for doubtful accounts are based on historical collection experience, current trends, aging of accounts receivable and periodic credit evaluations of customers’ financial condition. The Company writes off accounts receivable when it becomes apparent, based upon age or customer circumstances, that such amounts will not be collected. Generally, the Company does not require collateral for its accounts receivable.
14.
PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS
The Company sponsors programs that provide retirement benefits to most of its employees. These programs include qualified defined benefit pension plans, nonqualified defined benefit retirement plans, a defined benefit postretirement life insurance

23

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plan and defined contribution retirement savings plan. Expenses recognized under all these retirement plans totaled $3.1 million and $1.6 million in the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 and March 26, 2017, respectively.
Defined Benefit Plans Obligations and Assets
The change in benefit obligation, change in fair value of plan assets, funded status and amounts recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets for the defined benefit plans were as follows:
 
Thirteen Weeks Ended 
 April 1, 2018
 
Thirteen Weeks Ended 
 March 26, 2017
 
Pension Benefits
 
Other Benefits
 
Pension Benefits
 
Other Benefits
Change in projected benefit obligation:
(In thousands)
Projected benefit obligation, beginning of period
$
178,247

 
$
1,603

 
$
167,159

 
$
1,648

Interest cost
1,366

 
12

 
1,393

 
13

Actuarial losses (gains)
(6,829
)
 
(48
)
 
785

 
(24
)
Benefits paid
(2,174
)
 
(37
)
 
(2,237
)
 
(37
)
Projected benefit obligation, end of period
$
170,610

 
$
1,530

 
$
167,100

 
$
1,600

 
Thirteen Weeks Ended 
 April 1, 2018
 
Thirteen Weeks Ended 
 March 26, 2017
 
Pension Benefits
 
Other Benefits
 
Pension Benefits
 
Other Benefits
Change in plan assets:
(In thousands)
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of period
$
112,570

 
$
—

 
$
97,526

 
$
—

Actual return on plan assets
541

 
—

 
3,965

 
—

Contributions by employer
2,888

 
37

 
1,926

 
37

Benefits paid
(2,174
)
 
(37
)
 
(2,237
)
 
(37
)
Fair value of plan assets, end of period
$
113,825

 
$
—

 
$
101,180

 
$
—

 
April 1, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
Pension Benefits
 
Other Benefits
 
Pension Benefits
 
Other Benefits
Funded status:
(In thousands)
Unfunded benefit obligation, end of period
$
(56,785
)
 
$
(1,530
)
 
$
(65,677
)
 
$
(1,603
)
 
April 1, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
Pension Benefits
 
Other Benefits
 
Pension Benefits
 
Other Benefits
Amounts recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at end of period:
(In thousands)
Current liability
$
(12,163
)
 
$
(148
)
 
$
(12,168
)
 
$
(149
)
Long-term liability
(44,622
)
 
(1,382
)
 
(53,509
)
 
(1,454
)
Recognized liability
$
(56,785
)
 
$
(1,530
)
 
$
(65,677
)
 
$
(1,603
)
 
April 1, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
Pension Benefits
 
Other Benefits
 
Pension Benefits
 
Other Benefits
Amounts recognized in accumulated other
   comprehensive income (loss) at end of period:
(In thousands)
Net actuarial loss (gain)
$
48,081

 
$
(13
)
 
$
54,235

 
$
35

The accumulated benefit obligation for the Company's defined benefit pension plans was $170.6 million and $178.2 million at April 1, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. Each of the Company's defined benefit pension plans had accumulated benefit obligations that exceeded the fair value of plan assets at April 1, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. As of April 1, 2018, the weighted average duration of the Company's defined benefit pension obligation is 30.93 years.

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Net Periodic Benefit Costs
Net defined benefit pension and other postretirement costs included the following components:
 
Thirteen Weeks Ended April 1, 2018
 
Thirteen Weeks Ended
March 26, 2017
 
Pension Benefits
 
Other Benefits
 
Pension Benefits
 
Other Benefits
 
(In thousands)
Interest cost
$
1,366

 
$
12

 
$
1,393

 
$
13

Estimated return on plan assets
(1,517
)
 
—

 
(1,313
)
 
—

Amortization of net loss
301

 
—

 
233

 
—

Net costs
$
150

 
$
12

 
$
313

 
$
13

Economic Assumptions
The weighted average assumptions used in determining pension and other postretirement plan information were as follows:
 
April 1, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
Pension Benefits
 
Other Benefits
 
Pension Benefits
 
Other Benefits
Assumptions used to measure benefit obligation at end
   of period:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Discount rate
4.07
%
 
3.82
%
 
3.69
%
 
3.39
%
 
Thirteen Weeks Ended 
 April 1, 2018
 
Thirteen Weeks Ended 
 March 26, 2017
 
Pension Benefits
 
Other Benefits
 
Pension Benefits
 
Other Benefits
Assumptions used to measure net pension and other
   postretirement cost:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Discount rate
3.69
%
 
3.39
%
 
4.31
%
 
3.81
%
Expected return on plan assets
5.50
%
 
N/A

 
5.50
%
 
NA

The discount rate represents the interest rate used to determine the present value of future cash flows currently expected to be required to settle the Company's pension and other benefit obligations. The weighted average discount rate for each plan was established by comparing the projection of expected benefit payments to the AA Above Median yield curve. The expected benefit payments were discounted by each corresponding discount rate on the yield curve. For payments beyond 30 years, the Company extended the curve assuming the discount rate derived in year 30 is extended to the end of the plan's payment expectations. Once the present value of the string of benefit payments was established, the Company determined the single rate on the yield curve, that when applied to all obligations of the plan, would exactly match the previously determined present value. As part of the evaluation of pension and other postretirement assumptions, the Company applied assumptions for mortality that incorporate generational white and blue collar mortality trends. In determining its benefit obligations, the Company used generational tables that take into consideration increases in plan participant longevity. As of April 1, 2018 and December 31, 2017, all pension and other postretirement benefit plans used variations of the RP2014 mortality table and the MP2015 mortality improvement scale.
The sensitivity of the projected benefit obligation for pension benefits to changes in the discount rate is set out below. The impact of a change in the discount rate of 0.25% on the projected benefit obligation for other benefits is less than $1,000. This sensitivity analysis is based on changing one assumption while holding all other assumptions constant. In practice, this is unlikely to occur, and changes in some of the assumptions may be correlated. When calculating the sensitivity of the defined benefit obligation to variations in significant actuarial assumptions, the same method (present value of the defined benefit obligation calculated with the projected unit credit method at the end of the reporting period) has been applied as for calculating the liability recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
 
Increase in Discount Rate of 0.25%
 
Decrease in Discount Rate of 0.25%
 
(In thousands)
Impact on projected benefit obligation for pension benefits
$
(4,869
)
 
$
4,621


25

Table of Contents

The expected rate of return on plan assets was primarily based on the determination of an expected return and behaviors for each plan's current asset portfolio that the Company believes are likely to prevail over long periods. This determination was made using assumptions for return and volatility of the portfolio. Asset class assumptions were set using a combination of empirical and forward-looking analysis. To the extent historical results were affected by unsustainable trends or events, the effects of those trends or events were quantified and removed. The Company also considered anticipated asset allocations, investment strategies and the views of various investment professionals when developing this rate.
Plan Assets
The following table reflects the pension plans’ actual asset allocations:
 
April 1, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
Cash and cash equivalents
—
%
 
5
%
Pooled separate accounts(a):
 
 
 
Equity securities
5
%
 
5
%
Fixed income securities
5
%
 
4
%
Common collective trust funds(a):
 
 
 
Equity securities
46
%
 
56
%
Fixed income securities
40
%
 
30
%
Real estate
4
%
 
—
%
Total assets
100
%
 
100
%
(a)
Pooled separate accounts (“PSAs”) and common collective trust funds (“CCTs”) are two of the most common types of alternative vehicles in which benefit plans invest. These investments are pooled funds that look like mutual funds, but they are not registered with the SEC. Often times, they will be invested in mutual funds or other marketable securities, but the unit price generally will be different from the value of the underlying securities because the fund may also hold cash for liquidity purposes, and the fees imposed by the fund are deducted from the fund value rather than charged separately to investors. Some PSAs and CCTs have no restrictions as to their investment strategy and can invest in riskier investments, such as derivatives, hedge funds, private equity funds, or similar investments.
Absent regulatory or statutory limitations, the target asset allocation for the investment of pension assets in the pooled separate accounts is 50% in each of fixed income securities and equity securities and the target asset allocation for the investment of pension assets in the common collective trust funds is 30% in fixed income securities and 70% in equity securities. The plans only invest in fixed income and equity instruments for which there is a readily available public market. The Company develops its expected long-term rate of return assumptions based on the historical rates of returns for equity and fixed income securities of the type in which its plans invest.

26

Table of Contents

The fair value measurements of plan assets fell into the following levels of the fair value hierarchy as of April 1, 2018 and December 31, 2017:
 
April 1, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
Level 1(a)
 
Level 2(b)
 
Level 3(c)
 
Total
 
Level 1(a)
 
Level 2(b)
 
Level 3(c)
 
Total
 
(In thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
6,128

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
6,128

Pooled separate accounts:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Large U.S. equity funds(d)
—

 
2,942

 
—

 
2,942

 
—

 
3,483

 
—

 
3,483

Small/Mid U.S. equity funds(e)
—

 
367

 
—

 
367

 
—

 
420

 
—

 
420

International equity funds(f)
—

 
1,793

 
—

 
1,793

 
—

 
1,665

 
—

 
1,665

Fixed income funds(g)
—

 
5,133

 
—

 
5,133

 
—

 
4,799

 
—

 
4,799

Common collective trusts funds:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Large U.S. equity funds(d)
—

 
18,684

 
—

 
18,684

 
—

 
22,695

 
—

 
22,695

Small U.S. equity funds(e)
—

 
8,365

 
—

 
8,365

 
—

 
20,592

 
—

 
20,592

International equity funds(f)
—

 
25,403

 
—

 
25,403

 
—

 
19,923

 
—

 
19,923

Fixed income funds(g)
—

 
46,046

 
—

 
46,046

 
—

 
32,865

 
—

 
32,865

Real estate(h)
—

 
5,092

 
—

 
5,092

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Total assets
$
—

 
$
113,825

 
$
—

 
$
113,825

 
$
6,128

 
$
106,442

 
$
—

 
$
112,570

(a)
Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets are used to determine fair value.
(b)
Quoted prices in active markets for similar assets and inputs that are observable for the asset are used to determine fair value.
(c)
Unobservable inputs, such as discounted cash flow models or valuations, are used to determine fair value.
(d)
This category is comprised of investment options that invest in stocks, or shares of ownership, in large, well-established U.S. companies. These investment options typically carry more risk than fixed income options but have the potential for higher returns over longer time periods.
(e)
This category is generally comprised of investment options that invest in stocks, or shares of ownership, in small to medium-sized U.S. companies. These investment options typically carry more risk than larger U.S. equity investment options but have the potential for higher returns.
(f)
This category is comprised of investment options that invest in stocks, or shares of ownership, in companies with their principal place of business or office outside of the U.S.
(g)
This category is comprised of investment options that invest in bonds, or debt of a company or government entity (including U.S. and non-U.S. entities). These investment options typically carry more risk than short-term fixed income investment options, but less overall risk than equities.
(h)
This category is comprised of investment options that invest in real estate investment trusts or private equity pools that own real estate. These long-term investments are primarily in office buildings, industrial parks, apartments or retail complexes. These investment options typically carry more risk, including liquidity risk, than fixed income investment options.
The valuation of plan assets in Level 2 is determined using a market approach based upon quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, or other inputs that are observable for substantially the full term of the financial instrument. Level 2 securities primarily include equity and fixed income securities funds.
Benefit Payments
The following table reflects the benefits as of April 1, 2018 expected to be paid through 2027 from the Company's pension and other postretirement plans. Because its pension plans are primarily funded plans, the anticipated benefits with respect to these plans will come primarily from the trusts established for these plans. Because the Company's other postretirement plans are unfunded, the anticipated benefits with respect to these plans will come from its own assets.
 
Pension Benefits
 
Other Benefits
 
(In thousands)
2018
$
13,776

 
$
111

2019
11,889

 
148

2020
11,687

 
146

2021
11,337

 
143

2022
11,160

 
139

2023-2027
50,628

 
611

Total
$
110,477

 
$
1,298


27

Table of Contents

The Company anticipates contributing $9.3 million and less than $0.1 million, as required by funding regulations or laws, to its pension plans and other postretirement plans, respectively, during the remainder of 2018.
Unrecognized Benefit Amounts in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
The amounts in accumulated other comprehensive loss that were not recognized as components of net periodic benefits cost and the changes in those amounts are as follows:
 
Thirteen Weeks Ended 
 April 1, 2018
 
Thirteen Weeks Ended 
 March 26, 2017
 
Pension Benefits
 
Other Benefits
 
Pension Benefits
 
Other Benefits
 
(In thousands)
Net actuarial loss (gain), beginning of period
$
54,235

 
$
35

 
$
46,494

 
$
(31
)
Amortization
(301
)
 
—

 
(233
)
 
—

Actuarial loss (gain)
(6,829
)
 
(48
)
 
785

 
(24
)
Asset loss (gain)
976

 
—

 
(2,652
)
 
—

Net actuarial loss (gain), end of period
$
48,081

 
$
(13
)
 
$
44,394

 
$
(55
)
The Company expects to recognize in net pension cost throughout the remainder of 2018 an actuarial loss of $0.9 million that was recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss at April 1, 2018.
Risk Management
Through its defined benefit plans, the Company is exposed to a number of risks, the most significant of which are detailed below:
Asset volatility. The plan liabilities are calculated using a discount rate set with reference to corporate bond yields; if plan assets under perform this yield, this will create a deficit. The pension plans hold a significant proportion of equities, which are expected to outperform corporate bonds in the long-term while contributing volatility and risk in the short-term. The Company monitors the level of investment risk but has no current plan to significantly modify the mixture of investments. The investment position is discussed more below.
Changes in bond yields. A decrease in corporate bond yields will increase plan liabilities, although this will be partially offset by an increase in the value of the plans’ bond holdings.
The investment position is managed and monitored by a committee of individuals from various departments. This group actively monitors how the duration and the expected yield of the investments are matching the expected cash outflows arising from the pension obligations. The group has not changed the processes used to manage its risks from previous periods. The group does not use derivatives to manage its risk. Investments are well diversified, such that the failure of any single investment would not have a material impact on the overall level of assets. The majority of equities are in U.S. large and small cap companies with some global diversification into international entities. The plans are not exposed to significant foreign currency risk.
Remeasurement
The Company remeasures both plan assets and obligations on a quarterly basis.
15.
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
The following tables provide information regarding the changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):

28

Table of Contents

 
Thirteen Weeks Ended April 1, 2018(a)
 
Gains Related to Foreign Currency Translation
 
Unrealized Losses on Derivative Financial Instruments Classified as Cash Flow Hedges
 
Losses Related to Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
 
Unrealized Holding Gains on Available-for-Sale Securities
 
Total
 
(In thousands)
Balance, beginning of period
$
42,081

 
$
(1,848
)
 
$
(71,434
)
 
$
61

 
$
(31,140
)
Other comprehensive income before
     reclassifications
52,528

 
1

 
4,465

 
283

 
57,277

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other
comprehensive income (loss) to net income
—

 
250

 
228

 
(130
)
 
348

Currency translation
—

 
(16
)
 
—

 
—

 
(16
)
Net current period other comprehensive income
52,528

 
235

 
4,693

 
153

 
57,609

Balance, end of period
$
94,609

 
$
(1,613
)
 
$
(66,741
)
 
$
214

 
$
26,469

 
Thirteen Weeks Ended March 26, 2017(a)
 
Losses Related to Foreign Currency Translation
 
Unrealized Gains on Derivative Financial Instruments Classified as Cash Flow Hedges
 
Losses Related to Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits
 
Unrealized Holding Gains on Available-for-Sale Securities
 
Total
 
(In thousands)
Balance, beginning of period
$
(265,714
)
 
$
99

 
$
(64,243
)
 
$
—

 
$
(329,858
)
Other comprehensive income before
     reclassifications
13,827

 
76

 
1,177

 
—

 
$
15,080

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other
comprehensive income (loss) to net income
—

 
49

 
145

 
—

 
$
194

Currency translation
—

 
2

 
—

 
—

 
2

Net current period other comprehensive income
13,827

 
127

 
1,322

 
—

 
15,276

Balance, end of period
$
(251,887
)
 
$
226

 
$
(62,921
)
 
$
—

 
$
(314,582
)
(a)
All amounts are net of tax. Amounts in parentheses indicate debits to accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
 
 
Amounts Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss(a)
 
 
Details about Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Components
 
Thirteen Weeks Ended
April 1, 2018
 
Thirteen Weeks Ended
March 26, 2017
 
Affected Line Item in the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income
 
 
(In thousands)
 
 
Realized loss on settlement of derivative
     financial instruments classified as cash flow
     hedges
 
$
(250
)
 
$
(49
)
 
Cost of sales
Realized gain on sale of securities
 
172

 
—

 
Interest income
Amortization of defined benefit pension
     and other postretirement plan actuarial
     losses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Union employees pension plan(b)(d)
 
(12
)
 
(6
)
 
Cost of sales
Legacy Gold Kist plans(c)(d)
 
(90
)
 
(71
)
 
Cost of sales
Legacy Gold Kist plans(c)(d)
 
(199
)
 
(156
)
 
Selling, general and administrative expense
Total before tax
 
(379
)
 
(282
)
 
 
Tax benefit
 
31

 
88

 
 
Total reclassification for the period
 
$
(348
)
 
$
(194
)
 
 
(a)
Amounts in parentheses represent debits to results of operations.
(b)
The Company sponsors the Union Plan, a qualified defined benefit pension plan covering certain locations or work groups with collective bargaining agreements.

29

Table of Contents

(c)
The Company sponsors the GK Pension Plan, a qualified defined benefit pension plan covering certain eligible U.S. employees who were employed at locations that the Company purchased through its acquisition of Gold Kist in 2007, the SERP Plan, a nonqualified defined benefit retirement plan covering certain former Gold Kist executives, the Directors’ Emeriti Plan, a nonqualified defined benefit retirement plan covering certain former Gold Kist directors and the Retiree Life Plan, a defined benefit postretirement life insurance plan covering certain retired Gold Kist employees (collectively, the “Legacy Gold Kist Plans”).
(d)
These accumulated other comprehensive loss components are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost. See “Note 14. Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits” to the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements.
Restrictions on Dividends
The U.S. Credit Facility, the 2015 Indenture governing the Senior Notes due 2025 and the 2017 Indenture governing the Senior Notes due 2027 restrict, but do not prohibit, the Company from declaring dividends.
The Moy Park Notes restrict, but do not prohibit, Moy Park from declaring dividends or making any distributions related to securities issues by Moy Park.
16.
INCENTIVE COMPENSATION
The Company sponsors a short-term incentive plan that provides the grant of either cash or share-based bonus awards payable upon achievement of specified performance goals (the “STIP”). Full-time, salaried exempt employees of the Company and its affiliates who are selected by the administering committee are eligible to participate in the STIP. No costs were accrued at April 1, 2018 related to cash bonus awards that could potentially be awarded under the STIP during the remainder of 2018 and 2019. The Company assumed responsibility for the JFC LLC Long-Term Equity Incentive Plan dated January 1, 2014, as amended (the “JFC LTIP”) through its acquisition of JFC LLC and its subsidiaries (together, “GNP”) on January 6, 2017. The Company has accrued $2.2 million in costs related to the JFC LTIP at April 1, 2018. The Company assumed responsibility for the Moy Park Incentive Plan dated January 1, 2013, as amended (the “MPIP”) through its acquisition of Moy Park on September 8, 2017. The Company has accrued $0.7 million in costs related to the MPIP at April 1, 2018.
The Company also sponsors a performance-based, omnibus long-term incentive plan that provides for the grant of a broad range of long-term equity-based and cash-based awards to the Company’s officers and other employees, members of the Board of Directors and any consultants (the “LTIP”). The equity-based awards that may be granted under the LTIP include “incentive stock options,” within the meaning of the IRC, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards and restricted stock units (“RSUs”). At April 1, 2018, we have reserved approximately 4.5 million shares of common stock for future issuance under the LTIP.
The following awards were outstanding during the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018:
Award Type
 
Benefit
Plan
 
Awards Granted
 
Grant
Date
 
Grant Date Fair Value per Award
 
Vesting Condition
 
Vesting Date
 
Awards Forfeited to Date
 
Settlement Method
RSU
 
LTIP
 
389,424

 
01/19/2017
 
18.38

 
Performance / Service
 
(a) 
 
389,424

(a) 
Stock
RSU

LTIP
 
280,000

 
02/14/2018
 
25.59

 
Service
 
01/01/2019
 
—

 
Stock
RSU
 
LTIP
 
161,215

 
03/01/2018
 
24.93

 
Service
 
(b) 

—

 
Stock
RSU
 
LTIP
 
266,478

 
03/01/2018
 
24.93

 
Performance / Service
 
(c) 
 
—

 
Stock
(a)
Performance conditions associated with these awards were not satisfied. Therefore, 100% of the awards were forfeited during the thirteen-weeks ended April 1, 2018.
(b)
The restricted stock units vest in ratable tranches on December 31, 2018, December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2020. Expected compensation cost related to these units totals $4.0 million based on a closing stock price for the Company’s common stock of $24.93 per share on March 1, 2018. Compensation cost will be amortized to profit/loss over the remaining vesting period.
(c)
If performance conditions related to the Company's 2018 operating results are satisfied, the restricted stock units vest in ratable tranches on December 31, 2019, December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2021. Expected compensation cost related to these units totals $6.6 million based on a closing stock price for the Company's common stock of $24.93 per share on March 1, 2018. Compensation cost will be amortized to profit/loss upon satisfaction of the performance conditions over the remaining vesting period.
Compensation costs and the income tax benefit recognized for our share-based compensation arrangements are included below:

30

Table of Contents

 
Thirteen Weeks Ended
 
April 1, 2018
 
March 26, 2017
 
(In thousands)
Share-based compensation cost:
 
 
 
Cost of sales
$
52

 
$
149

Selling, general and administrative expense
1,221

 
1,311

Total
$
1,273

 
$
1,460

 
 
 
 
Income tax benefit
$
310

 
$
417

The Company’s RSU activity is included below:
 
Thirteen Weeks Ended April 1, 2018
 
Thirteen Weeks Ended March 26, 2017
 
Number
 
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
 
Number
 
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
 
(In thousands, except weighted average fair values)
Outstanding at beginning of period
389

 
$
18.39

 
906

 
$
20.00

Granted
708

 
25.19

 
462

 
18.72

Vested
—

 
—

 
(486
)
 
17.73

Forfeited
(389
)
 
18.39

 
(251
)
 
25.36

Outstanding at end of period
708

 
$
25.19

 
631

 
$
18.68

No awards vested during the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018. The total fair value of awards vested during the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2017 was $9.2 million.
At April 1, 2018, the total unrecognized compensation cost related to all nonvested awards was $17.2 million. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.76 years.
Historically, we have issued new shares to satisfy award conversions.
17.      RESTRUCTURING-RELATED ACTIVITIES
During 2017, the Company initiated a restructuring initiative to capitalize on cost-saving opportunities within its GNP operations. Implementation of the initiative is expected to result in total pre-tax charges of approximately $7.0 million, and approximately $5.4 million of these charges are estimated to result in cash outlays. These activities were initiated in the first quarter of 2017 and are expected to be substantially completed by the second quarter of 2020.
The following table provides a summary of our estimates of costs associated with this restructuring initiative by major type of cost:
Type of Cost
 
Total Estimated Amount Expected to be Incurred
 
 
(In thousands)
Employee termination benefits
 
$
4,074

Inventory adjustments
 
472

Asset impairments
 
470

Other charges(a)
 
1,983

Total estimated cost
 
$
6,999

(a) 
Comprised of other costs directly related to the restructuring initiative, including prepaid software impairment, St. Cloud, Minnesota office lease costs, and Luverne, Minnesota plant closure costs.
During the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018, the Company recognized the following costs and incurred the following cash outlays related to this restructuring initiative:

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Table of Contents

 
Expenses
 
Cash Outlays
 
(In thousands)
Employee termination benefits
$
546

 
$
641

Inventory adjustments
(227
)
 
—

Asset impairments
470

 
—

Other charges
—

 
60

Total
$
789

 
$
701

These charges are reported in the line item Administrative restructuring charges on the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income and are recognized in the U.S. segment.
The following table reconciles liabilities and reserves associated with this restructuring initiative from the beginning to the end of the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018. Ending liability balances for employee termination benefits and other charges are reported in the line item Accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The ending reserve balance for inventory adjustments is reported in the line item Inventories in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets.
 
Employee Termination Benefits
 
Inventory
Adjustments
 
Other
Charges
 
Total
 
(In thousands)
Beginning liability or reserve
$
800

 
$
699

 
$
752

 
$
2,251

Restructuring charges
538

 
(227
)
 
—

 
311

Payments and disposals
(641
)
 
(472
)
 
(60
)
 
(1,173
)
Ending liability or reserve
$
697

 
$
—

 
$
692

 
$
1,389

18.      PUERTO RICO HURRICANE IMPACT
Hurricane Maria became the strongest storm to make landfall in Puerto Rico in 85 years when it came ashore on September 20, 2017. The Company suffered significant damage because of the storm. Pilgrim’s lost 2.1 million birds on the island, many of the Company’s contract growers lost their poultry houses, and the Company incurred damage at its processing plant, feed mill and hatchery. PPC does not expect that its operations on the island will be fully functional until the third quarter of 2018.
Estimated damages incurred by the Company through April 1, 2018 included property and casualty losses totaling $5.2 million and a business interruption claim totaling $13.0 million. Pilgrim’s expects to receive insurance proceeds related to these damages in the amount of $9.7 million and has recorded a receivable from its insurance provider for that amount. The amount of insurance recovery related to both the property and casualty losses and the business interruption claim are included in Cost of sales in the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income and are recognized in the U.S. segment.
19.
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
General
The Company is a party to many routine contracts in which it provides general indemnities in the normal course of business to third parties for various risks. Among other considerations, the Company has not recorded a liability for any of these indemnities because, based upon the likelihood of payment, the fair value of such indemnities would not have a material impact on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Financial Instruments
The Company’s loan agreements generally obligate the Company to reimburse the applicable lender for incremental increased costs due to a change in law that imposes (i) any reserve or special deposit requirement against assets of, deposits with or credit extended by such lender related to the loan, (ii) any tax, duty or other charge with respect to the loan (except standard income tax) or (iii) capital adequacy requirements. In addition, some of the Company’s loan agreements contain a withholding tax provision that requires the Company to pay additional amounts to the applicable lender or other financing party, generally if withholding taxes are imposed on such lender or other financing party as a result of a change in the applicable tax law. These increased costs and withholding tax provisions continue for the entire term of the applicable transaction, and there is no limitation

32

Table of Contents

on the maximum additional amounts the Company could be obligated to pay under such provisions. Any failure to pay amounts due under such provisions generally would trigger an event of default, and, in a secured financing transaction, would entitle the lender to foreclose upon the collateral to realize the amount due.
Litigation
The Company is a party to many routine contracts in which it provides general indemnities in the normal course of business to third parties for various risks. Among other considerations, the Company has not recorded a liability for any of these indemnities because, based upon the likelihood of payment, the fair value of such indemnities would not have a material impact on its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
The Company is subject to various legal proceedings and claims which arise in the ordinary course of business. In the Company’s opinion, it has made appropriate and adequate accruals for claims where necessary; however, the ultimate liability for these matters is uncertain, and if significantly different than the amounts accrued, the ultimate outcome could have a material effect on the financial condition or results of operations of the Company. For a discussion of the material legal proceedings and claims, see Part II, Item 1. “Legal Proceedings.” Below is a summary of some of these material proceedings and claims. The Company believes it has substantial defenses to the claims made and intends to vigorously defend these cases.
Tax Claims and Proceedings    
A Mexico subsidiary of the Company is currently appealing an unfavorable tax adjustment proposed by Mexican Tax Authorities due to an examination of a specific transaction undertaken by the Mexico subsidiary during tax years 2009 and 2010.  Amounts under appeal are $24.3 million and $16.1 million for tax years 2009 and 2010, respectively.  No loss has been recorded for these amounts at this time.
Other Claims and Proceedings
    Between September 2, 2016 and October 13, 2016, a series of purported federal class action lawsuits styled as In re Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation, Case No. 1:16-cv-08637 were brought against PPC and 13 other producers by and on behalf of direct and indirect purchasers of broiler chickens alleging violations of federal and state antitrust and unfair competition laws. The complaints, which were filed with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, seek, among other relief, treble damages for an alleged conspiracy among defendants to reduce output and increase prices of broiler chickens from the period of January 2008 to the present. The class plaintiffs have filed three consolidated amended complaints: one on behalf of direct purchasers and two on behalf of distinct groups of indirect purchasers. The defendants, including PPC, filed motions to dismiss these actions. On November 20, 2017, the Court denied all pending motions to dismiss with the exception of certain state-law claims by indirect purchasers that were dismissed or narrowed in scope. Discovery is proceeding and is currently scheduled to be complete by June 13, 2019. In December 2017 and January 2018 four individual direct action complaints (Affiliated Foods, Inc. v. Claxton Poultry Farms, Inc., Case No. 1:17-cv-08850; Winn Dixie Stores, Inc. v. Koch Foods, Inc., Case No. 1:18-cv-00245; Sysco Corp. v. Tyson Foods Inc., et al; Case No. 1:18-cv-00700; and US Foods Inc. v. Tyson Foods Inc., et al; Case No. 1:18-cv-00702) were filed by individual direct purchaser entities, the allegations of which largely mirror those in the class action complaints. The Court’s scheduling order currently requires the substantial completion of document discovery for the class cases by July 18, 2018, with fact discovery ending on June 13, 2019, class certification briefing and expert reports proceeding from July 15, 2019 to March 16, 2020 and summary judgment to proceed 60 days after the Court rules on motions for class certification. The Court has ordered the parties to coordinate scheduling of the direct action complaints with the class complaints with any necessary modifications to reflect time of filing. Discovery will be consolidated.
    On October 10, 2016, Patrick Hogan, acting on behalf of himself and a putative class of persons who purchased shares of PPC’s stock between February 21, 2014 and October 6, 2016, filed a class action complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado against PPC and its named executive officers. The complaint alleges, among other things, that PPC’s SEC filings contained statements that were rendered materially false and misleading by PPC’s failure to disclose that (i) the Company colluded with several of its industry peers to fix prices in the broiler-chicken market as alleged in the In re Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation, (ii) its conduct constituted a violation of federal antitrust laws, (iii) PPC’s revenues during the class period were the result of illegal conduct and (iv) that PPC lacked effective internal control over financial reporting. The complaint also states that PPC’s industry was anticompetitive. On April 4, 2017, the Court appointed another stockholder, George James Fuller, as lead plaintiff. On May 11, 2017, the plaintiff filed an amended complaint, which extended the end date of the putative class period to November 17, 2017. PPC and the other defendants moved to dismiss on June 12, 2017, and the plaintiff filed its opposition on July 12, 2017. PPC and the other defendants filed their reply on August 1, 2017. On March 14, 2018, the Court dismissed the plaintiff’s complaint without prejudice and issued final judgment in favor of PPC and the other defendants. On April 11, 2018, the plaintiff moved for reconsideration of the Court’s decision and for permission to file a Second Amended Complaint. PPC and the other defendants filed a response to the plaintiff’s motion on April 25, 2018.

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On January 27, 2017, a purported class action on behalf of broiler chicken farmers was brought against PPC and four other producers in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, alleging, among other things, a conspiracy to reduce competition for grower services and depress the price paid to growers. The plaintiffs allege violations of the Sherman Act and the Packers and Stockyards Act and seek, among other relief, treble damages. The complaint was consolidated with a subsequently filed consolidated amended class action complaint styled as In re Broiler Chicken Grower Litigation, Case No. CIV-17-033-RJS (the “Grower Litigation”). The defendants (including PPC) jointly moved to dismiss the consolidated amended complaint on September 9, 2017. The Court initially held oral argument on January 19, 2018, during which it considered and granted only motions from certain other defendants. challenging jurisdiction. Oral argument on the remaining pending motions in the Oklahoma court occurred on April 20, 2018. Rulings on the motion are pending. Following the Oklahoma court’s dismissal of certain defendants in January 2018, the plaintiffs filed a separate complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of North Carolina, consisting of the same allegations but strictly against those defendants previously dismissed by the Oklahoma court (the “North Carolina Action”). The plaintiffs sought transfer and consolidation of the North Carolina Action with the Grower Litigation in Oklahoma from the Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation (“JPML”). The JPML has scheduled oral argument on the motion for May 31, 2018. In addition, on March 12, 2018, the Northern District of Texas, Fort Worth Division (“Bankruptcy Court”) enjoined the plaintiffs from litigating the Grower Litigation complaint as pled against the Company because allegations in the consolidated complaint violate the confirmation order relating to the Company’s bankruptcy proceedings in 2008 and 2009. Specifically, the 2009 bankruptcy confirmation order bars any claims against the Company based on conduct occurring before December 28, 2009. On March 13, 2018, Pilgrim’s notified the trial court of the Bankruptcy Court’s injunction. To date, the plaintiffs have not amended the consolidated complaint to comply with the Bankruptcy Court’s injunction order or the confirmation order.
On March 9, 2017, a stockholder derivative action styled as DiSalvio v. Lovette, et al., No. 2017 cv. 30207, was brought against all of PPC’s directors and its Chief Financial Officer, Fabio Sandri, in the District Court for the County of Weld in Colorado. The complaint alleges, among other things, that the named defendants breached their fiduciary duties by failing to prevent PPC and its officers from engaging in an antitrust conspiracy as alleged in the In re Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation, and issuing false and misleading statements as alleged in the Hogan class action litigation. On April 17, 2017, a related stockholder derivative action styled Brima v. Lovette, et al., No. 2017 cv. 30308, was brought against all of PPC’s directors and its Chief Financial Officer in the District Court for the County of Weld in Colorado. The Brima complaint contains largely the same allegations as the DiSalvio complaint. On May 4, 2017, the plaintiffs in both the DiSalvio and Brima actions moved to (i) consolidate the two stockholder derivative cases, (ii) stay the consolidated action until the resolution of the motion to dismiss in the Hogan putative securities class action, and (iii) appoint co-lead counsel. The Court granted the motion on May 8, 2017, staying the proceedings pending resolution of the motion to dismiss in the Hogan action.
In January 2018, a stockholder derivative action entitled Raul v. Nogueira de Souza, et al., was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado against the Company, as nominal defendant, as well as the Company’s directors, its Chief Financial Officer, and majority shareholder, JBS S.A. The complaint alleges, among other things, that (i) defendants permitted the Company to omit material information from its proxy statements filed in 2014 through 2017 related to the conduct of Wesley Mendonça Batista and Joesley Mendonça Batista, (ii) the individual defendants and JBS breached their fiduciary duties by failing to prevent the Company and its officers from engaging in an antitrust conspiracy as alleged in the Broiler Litigation and issuing false and misleading statements as alleged in the Hogan class action litigation. The defendants are currently in discussions with counsel for the Raul plaintiffs regarding the possibility of consolidating the Raul action with the consolidated state court derivative action, which is currently stayed, or in the alternative, determining a motion to dismiss briefing schedule.
On January 25, 2018, a stockholder derivative action styled as Sciabacucchi v. JBS S.A., et al., was brought against all of PPC’s directors, JBS S.A., JBS USA Holding Lux S.à r.l. (“JBS Holding Lux”) and several members of the Batista family, in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware. The complaint alleges, among other things, that the named defendants breached their fiduciary duties arising out of the Company’s acquisition of Moy Park. On March 15, 2018, the members of the Batista family were dismissed from the action without prejudice by stipulation. On March 20, 2018, nominal defendant PPC filed its answer. On March 20, 2018, the remaining defendants, including PPC’s directors, JBS S.A., and JBS Holding Lux moved to dismiss the complaint. On April 19, 2018, director defendants Bell, Macaluso, and Cooper filed their opening brief in support of their motion to dismiss. On April 19, 2018, defendants JBS S.A., JBS Holding Lux, and director defendants Lovette, Nogueira de Souza, Tomazoni, Farahat, Molina, and de Vasconcellos, Jr. filed their opening brief in support of their motion to dismiss.
The Company believes it has strong defenses in each of the above litigations and intends to contest them vigorously. The Company cannot predict the outcome of these actions nor when they will be resolved. If the plaintiffs were to prevail in any of these litigations, the Company could be liable for damages, which could be material and could adversely affect its financial condition or results of operations.
J&F Investigation

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Table of Contents

On May 3, 2017, certain officers of J&F Investimentos S.A. (“J&F,” and the companies controlled by J&F, the “J&F Group” (including a former senior executive and former board members of JBS USA), a company organized in Brazil and an indirect controlling stockholder of the Company, entered into plea bargain agreements (the “Plea Bargain Agreements”) with the Brazilian Federal Prosecutor’s Office (Ministério Público Federal) (the “MPF”), in connection with certain illicit conduct involving improper payments made to Brazilian politicians, government officials and other individuals in Brazil committed by or on behalf of J&F and certain J&F Group companies. The details of such illicit conduct are set forth in separate annexes to the Plea Bargain Agreements, and include admissions of improper payments to politicians and political parties in Brazil over the last 10 years in exchange for receiving, or attempting to receive, favorable treatment for certain J&F Group companies in Brazil.
Pursuant to the terms of the Plea Bargain Agreements, the MPF agreed to grant immunity to the officers in exchange for such officers agreeing, among other considerations, to: (1) pay fines totaling 225.0 million Brazilian reais; and (2) cooperate with the MPF, including providing supporting evidence of the illicit conduct identified in the annexes to the Plea Bargain Agreements.
On June 5, 2017, J&F, in its role as the controlling shareholder of the J&F Group companies, entered into a leniency agreement (the “Leniency Agreement”) with the MPF, whereby J&F assumed responsibility for the conduct that was described in the annexes to the Plea Bargain Agreements. In connection with the Leniency Agreement, J&F has agreed to pay a fine of 10.3 billion Brazilian reais, adjusted for inflation, over a 25-year period. On November 14, 2017, J&F made the initial payment of 50.0 million Brazilian reais on the total fine, which payment was accepted by the MPF. In exchange, the MPF agreed not to initiate or propose any criminal, civil or administrative actions against J&F and the companies of the J&F Group and officers of J&F that ratify or adhere to the Leniency Agreement with respect to such conduct. On August 24, 2017, the Fifth Chamber of Coordination and Reviews of the MPF ratified the Leniency Agreement. On September 8, 2017, the 10th Federal Court of the Federal District in Brasília ratified the Leniency Agreement.
Revocation or non-compliance with certain provisions of the (i) Plea Bargain Agreements by the individuals party thereto and (ii) the Leniency Agreement by J&F, may result in the applicable Plea Bargain Agreement or the Leniency Agreement, as the case may be, being terminated. The termination of the Plea Bargain Agreements or the Leniency Agreement may cause the termination of certain stabilization agreements entered into by JBS S.A. and certain of its subsidiaries, which would permit the lenders of the debt that is subject to the terms of such stabilization agreements to accelerate such debt. A default by JBS S.A. or acceleration of JBS S.A.’s indebtedness could have a material adverse effect on JBS S.A. and its subsidiaries (including the Company).
J&F is conducting an internal investigation in accordance with the terms of the Leniency Agreement, and has engaged outside advisors to assist in conducting this investigation, which is ongoing, and with which we are fully cooperating.
JBS S.A. and the Company have engaged outside U.S. legal counsel to: (i) conduct an independent investigation in connection with matters disclosed in the Leniency Agreement and the Plea Bargain Agreements; and (ii) communicate with relevant U.S. authorities, including the Department of Justice, regarding the factual findings of that investigation. Additionally, JBS S.A. and the Company have taken, and are continuing to take, measures to enhance their compliance programs, including to prevent and detect bribery and corruption. We cannot predict when the investigations mentioned above will be completed or the results of such investigations, including whether any litigation will be brought against us or the outcome or impact of any resulting litigation. We will monitor the results of the investigations. Any proceedings that require us to make substantial payments, affect our reputation or otherwise interfere with our business operations could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.
In September 2017, the MPF requested that the Supreme Court of Brazil (Supremo Tribunal Federal or “STF”) terminate the Plea Bargain Agreements of Joesley Mendonça Batista and another executive of J&F on grounds that they failed to disclose certain conduct to the authorities, as required by their Plea Bargain Agreements. In addition, in February 2018, the MPF requested that the STF terminate the Plea Bargain Agreements of Wesley Mendonça Batista and another executive of J&F on grounds that they omitted certain information that should have been disclosed to the authorities under the Plea Bargain Agreements. The termination requests as to all four individuals are currently pending before the STF.
Separately, Joesley Mendonça Batista and Wesley Mendonça Batista are both under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Brazil (Comissão de Valores Mobiliários) for possible violations of insider trading law involving shares of JBS S.A. and foreign exchange futures contracts prior to the announcement of the Plea Bargain Agreements. Joesley Mendonça Batista and Wesley Mendonça Batista are also facing criminal prosecution by the MPF based on similar allegations.
Any further developments in these matters involving Joesley Mendonça Batista and/or Wesley Mendonça Batista may materially adversely affect the public perception or reputation of JBS S.A. and its subsidiaries (including the Company) and could have a material adverse effect on JBS S.A. and its subsidiaries (including the Company).
20.
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

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Pilgrim’s has been and, in some cases, continues to be a party to certain transactions with affiliated companies.
 
Thirteen Weeks Ended
 
April 1, 2018
 
March 26, 2017
 
(In thousands)
Sales to related parties:
 
 
 
JBS USA Food Company(a)
$
1,529

 
$
4,563

JBS Five Rivers
7,096

 
7,122

JBS Global (U.K.) Ltd.
—

 
19

JBS Chile Ltda
60

 
—

J&F Investimentos Ltd.
—

 
104

Total sales to related parties
$
8,685

 
$
11,789

 
 
 
 
Cost of goods purchased from related parties:
 
 
 
JBS USA Food Company(a)
$
27,824

 
$
27,289

Seara Meats B.V.
4,240

 
3,361

JBS Aves Ltda
703

 
—

JBS Toledo
165

 
—

Total cost of goods purchased from related parties
$
32,932

 
$
30,650

 
 
 
 
Expenditures paid by related parties:
 
 
 
JBS USA Food Company(b)
$
10,499

 
$
10,949

JBS S.A.
—

 
1,859

Total expenditures paid by related parties
$
10,499

 
$
12,808

 
 
 
 
Expenditures paid on behalf of related parties:
 
 
 
JBS USA Food Company(b)
$
2,288

 
$
865

Seara International Ltd.
20

 
—

Total expenditures paid on behalf of related parties
$
2,308

 
$
865

 
April 1, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
(In thousands)
Accounts receivable from related parties:
 
 
 
JBS USA Food Company(a)
$
1,418

 
$
2,826

JBS Chile Ltda.
29

 
108

Seara International Ltd.
23

 
15

Seara Meats B.V.
1

 
2

Total accounts receivable from related parties
$
1,471

 
$
2,951

 
 
 
 
Accounts payable to related parties:
 
 
 
JBS USA Food Company(a)
$
3,558

 
$
440

Seara Meats B.V.
1,844

 
2,410

JBS Toledo
73

 
39

Total accounts payable to related parties
$
5,475

 
$
2,889


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Table of Contents


(a)
The Company routinely executes transactions to both purchase products from JBS USA Food Company (“JBS USA”) and sell products to them. As of April 1, 2018, approximately $0.8 million of goods purchased from JBS USA were in transit and not reflected on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.
(b)
The Company has an agreement with JBS USA to allocate costs associated with JBS USA’s procurement of SAP licenses and maintenance services for its combined companies. Under this agreement, the fees associated with procuring SAP licenses and maintenance services are allocated between the Company and JBS USA in proportion to the percentage of licenses used by each company. The agreement expires on the date of expiration, or earlier termination, of the underlying SAP license agreement. The Company also has an agreement with JBS USA to allocate the costs of supporting the business operations by one consolidated corporate team, which have historically been supported by their respective corporate teams. Expenditures paid by JBS USA on behalf of the Company will be reimbursed by the Company and expenditures paid by the Company on behalf of JBS USA will be reimbursed by JBS USA. This agreement expires on December 31, 2019.
21.    SEGMENT REPORTING
The Company operates in three reportable segments: U.S., U.K. and Europe, and Mexico. The Company measures segment profit as operating income. Corporate expenses are allocated to Mexico based upon various apportionment methods for specific expenditures incurred related thereto with the remaining amounts allocated to the U.S.
On September 8, 2017, the Company acquired Moy Park, one of the top-ten food companies in the U.K., Northern Ireland's largest private sector business and one of Europe's leading poultry producers, from JBS S.A. in a common-control transaction. Moy Park's results from operations subsequent to the common-control date of September 30, 2015 comprise the U.K. and Europe segment.
On January 6, 2017, the Company acquired GNP, a vertically integrated poultry business with locations in Minnesota and Wisconsin. GNP's results from operations subsequent to the acquisition date are included in the U.S. segment.
Information on segments and a reconciliation to income before income taxes are as follows:
 
Thirteen Weeks Ended
 
 
April 1, 2018
 
March 26, 2017
 
 
(In thousands)
U.S.
$
1,841,105

 
$
1,736,405

 
U.K. and Europe
544,300

 
458,848

 
Mexico
361,273

 
284,087

 
Total net sales
$
2,746,678

 
$
2,479,340

 
 
Thirteen Weeks Ended
 
 
April 1, 2018
 
March 26, 2017
 
 
(In thousands)
U.S.
$
127,286

 
$
133,556

 
U.K. and Europe
21,413

 
14,372

 
Mexico
52,870

 
18,772

 
Elimination
24

 
24

 
Total operating income
201,593

 
166,724

 
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest
50,300

 
19,112

 
Interest income
(1,590
)
 
(368
)
 
Foreign currency transaction losses (gains)
(1,721
)
 
691

 
Miscellaneous, net
(1,617
)
 
(2,843
)
 
Income before income taxes
$
156,221

 
$
150,132

 
In addition to the net sales reported above, the U.S. segment also generated intersegment net sales of $26.5 million and $20.5 million in the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 and March 26, 2017, respectively, from transactions with the Mexico segment. These intersegment net sales were transacted at market prices.
Information on segments for goodwill and total assets are as follows:

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Table of Contents

 
April 1, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
(In thousands)
U.S.
$
41,936

 
$
41,936

U.K. and Europe
865,583

 
834,346

Mexico
125,607

 
125,607

Total goodwill
$
1,033,126

 
$
1,001,889

 
April 1, 2018
 
December 31, 2017
 
(In thousands)
U.S.
$
4,784,793

 
$
4,444,918

U.K. and Europe
2,202,251

 
2,226,895

Mexico
969,107

 
934,511

Eliminations(a)
(1,558,516
)
 
(1,357,672
)
Total assets
$
6,397,635

 
$
6,248,652

(a)
Eliminations for the period ended April 1, 2018 include the elimination of the U.S. segment's $191.7 million investment in the Mexico segment, the elimination of $111.1 million in intersegment receivables and payables between the U.S. and Mexico segments and the elimination of the U.S. segment's $1.3 billion investment in the U.K. and Europe segment. Eliminations for the period ended December 31, 2017 include the elimination of the U.S. segment's $191.7 million investment in the Mexico segment and the elimination of $111.1 million in intersegment receivables and payables between the U.S. and Mexico segments and the elimination of the U.S. segment's $1.1 billion investment in the U.K. and Europe segment.
ITEM 2.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS    
Description of the Company
We are one of the largest chicken producers in the world, with operations in the United States (“U.S.”), United Kingdom (“U.K.”), Mexico, France, Puerto Rico and the Netherlands. We operate feed mills, hatcheries, processing plants and distribution centers in 14 U.S. states, the U.K., Mexico, France, Puerto Rico and the Netherlands. As of April 1, 2018, we had approximately 51,400 employees and the capacity to process approximately 45.2 million birds per work week for a total of approximately 13.1 billion pounds of live chicken annually. Approximately 5,200 contract growers supply poultry for our operations. As of April 1, 2018, JBS S.A., through its indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries (together, “JBS”), beneficially owned 78.5% of our outstanding common stock. See “Note 1. Description of Business and Basis of Presentation” of our Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements included in this quarterly report for additional information.
We operate on a 52/53-week fiscal year that ends on the Sunday falling on or before December 31. The reader should assume any reference we make to a particular year (for example, 2018) in this quarterly report applies to our fiscal year and not the calendar year.
Executive Summary
We reported net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation of $119.4 million, or $0.48 per diluted common share, for the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018. These operating results included gross profit of $287.7 million. During the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018, we generated $0.6 million of cash from operations.
Our U.S. and Mexico segments use corn and soybean meal as the main ingredients for feed production, while our U.K. and Europe segment uses wheat as the main ingredient for feed production. The following table compares the highest and lowest prices reached on nearby futures for one bushel of corn, one ton of soybean meal and one metric tonne of wheat during the current and previous years:

38


 
Corn(a)
 
Soybean Meal(a)
 
Wheat(a)
 
Highest
Price
 
Lowest Price
 
Highest Price
 
Lowest Price
 
Highest Price
 
Lowest Price
 
 
 
 
 
 
2018:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
First Quarter
$
4.01

 
$
3.63

 
$
394.10

 
$
319.60

 
£
139.20

 
£
134.70

2017:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fourth Quarter
3.68

 
3.47

 
346.30

 
315.50

 
143.65

 
136.25

Third Quarter
4.15

 
3.46

 
346.20

 
296.50

 
154.00

 
137.25

Second Quarter
3.96

 
3.66

 
321.00

 
297.20

 
150.00

 
140.00

First Quarter
3.86

 
3.55

 
352.70

 
314.10

 
149.15

 
139.35

(a)
We obtain corn and soybean meal prices from the Chicago Board of Trade, and we obtain wheat prices from the London International Financial Futures and Options Exchange.
We purchase derivative financial instruments, specifically exchange-traded futures and options, in an attempt to mitigate price risk related to our anticipated consumption of commodity inputs such as corn, soybean meal, wheat, soybean oil and natural gas. We will sometimes purchase a derivative instrument to minimize the impact of a commodity’s price volatility on our operating results. We will also purchase derivative financial instruments in an attempt to mitigate currency exchange rate exposure related to the financial statements of our Mexico segment that are denominated in Mexican pesos and our U.K. and Europe segment that are denominated in British pounds.
For our Mexico segment, we do not designate derivative financial instruments that we purchase to mitigate commodity purchase or currency exchange rate exposures as cash flow hedges; therefore, we recognize changes in the fair value of these derivative financial instruments immediately in earnings.
For our U.K. and Europe segment, we designate certain derivative financial instruments that we have purchased to mitigate foreign currency transaction exposures as cash flow hedges; therefore, before the settlement date of the financial derivative instruments, we recognize changes in the fair value of the effective portion of the cash flow hedge in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) while we recognize changes in the fair value of the ineffective portion immediately in earnings. When the derivative financial instruments associated with the effective portion are settled, the amount in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) is then reclassified to earnings. Gains or losses related to these derivative financial instruments are included in the line item Cost of sales in the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Statements of Income.
During the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 and March 26, 2017, we recognized net gains totaling $6.4 million and net losses totaling $2.9 million, respectively, related to changes in the fair value of our derivative financial instruments.
Although changes in the market price paid for feed ingredients impact cash outlays at the time we purchase the ingredients, such changes do not immediately impact cost of sales. The cost of feed ingredients is recognized in cost of sales, on a first-in-first-out basis, at the same time that the sales of the chickens that consume the feed grains are recognized. Thus, there is a lag between the time cash is paid for feed ingredients and the time the cost of such feed ingredients is reported in cost of goods sold. For example, corn delivered to a feed mill and paid for one week might be used to manufacture feed the following week. However, the chickens that eat that feed might not be processed and sold for another 42 to 63 days, and only at that time will the costs of the feed consumed by the chicken become included in cost of goods sold.
Commodities such as corn, soybean meal and soybean oil are actively traded through various exchanges with future market prices quoted on a daily basis. These quoted market prices, although a good indicator of the commodity's base price, do not represent the final price for which we can purchase these commodities. There are several components in addition to the quoted market price, such as freight, storage and seller premiums, that are included in the final price that we pay for grain. Although changes in quoted market prices may be a good indicator of the commodity’s base price, the components mentioned above may have a significant impact on the total change in grain costs recognized from period to period.
Market prices for chicken products are currently at levels sufficient to offset the costs of feed ingredients. However, there can be no assurance that chicken prices will not decrease due to such factors as competition from other proteins and substitutions by consumers of non-protein foods because of uncertainty surrounding the general economy and unemployment.
Moy Park Acquisition
On September 8, 2017, we acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding shares of Moy Park from JBS S.A. for cash of $301.3 million and a note payable to the seller in the amount of £562.5 million. Moy Park is one of the top-ten food companies in the U.K., Northern Ireland's largest private sector business and one of Europe's leading poultry producers. With 4 fresh

39


processing plants, 10 prepared foods cook plants, 3 feed mills, 6 hatcheries and 1 rendering facility currently operating in Northern Ireland, England, France and the Netherlands, Moy Park possesses the capacity to process approximately 6.1 million birds per seven-day work week, in addition to the capacity to produce approximately 460.0 million pounds of prepared foods per year. Its product portfolio comprises fresh and added-value poultry, ready-to-eat meals, breaded and multi-protein frozen foods, vegetarian foods and desserts, supplied to major food retailers and restaurant chains in Europe (including the U.K.). Moy Park has approximately 10,200 employees as of April 1, 2018. The Moy Park operations comprise our U.K. and Europe segment. See "Note 2. Business Acquisition" of our Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements included in this report for additional information relating to this acquisition.
The acquisition was treated as a common-control transaction under accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“U.S. GAAP”). A common-control transaction is a transfer of net assets or an exchange of equity interests between entities under the control of the same parent. The accounting and reporting for a transaction between entities under common control is not to be considered a business combination under U.S. GAAP. Accordingly, the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements presented for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2017 include the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries combined with the accounts of Moy Park. The Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements presented for the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 and the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet presented as of December 31, 2017 include the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries, including Moy Park.
2017 Tax Reform
On December 22, 2017, the U.S. government enacted comprehensive tax legislation (the “Tax Act”), which significantly revises the ongoing U.S. corporate income tax law by lowering the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate from 35.0% to 21.0%, implementing a territorial tax system, imposing one-time tax on foreign unremitted earnings and setting limitations on deductibility of certain costs (e.g., interest expense), among other things.
We are applying the guidance in Staff Accounting Bulletin ("SAB") 118 when accounting for the enactment-date effects of the Tax Act. As of April 1, 2018, we have not completed our accounting for all of the tax effects of the Tax Act. In certain cases, as described below, we have made a reasonable estimate of certain effects of the Tax Act.  In other cases, we have not been able to make a reasonable estimate and continue to account for those items based on existing accounting under Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 740, Income Taxes, and the provisions of the tax laws that were in effect immediately prior to enactment. For example, we have yet to make a reasonable estimate for the effect of the various U.S. federal income tax elements of the Tax Act on our state tax rate. In all cases, we will continue to make and refine our calculations as additional analysis is completed. Estimates may also be affected as we gain a more thorough understanding of the Tax Act. These changes could be material to income tax expense.
As of December 31, 2017, we estimated no tax liability on foreign unremitted earnings due to a net earnings and profits (“E&P”) deficit on accumulated post-1986 deferred foreign income. Therefore, we did not accrue any amount of tax expense for the Tax Act’s one-time transition tax on the foreign subsidiaries’ accumulated, unremitted earnings going back to 1986 for the year ended December 31, 2017.  During the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018, we made sufficient progress in our E&P analysis to support a net E&P deficit on accumulated post-1986 deferred foreign income. Therefore, as of April 1, 2018, we estimate no tax liability for the one-time transition tax.  As we continue to refine our E&P analysis, we will adjust our calculations of the one-time transition tax, which could affect the measurement of this liability.
The Tax Act subjects a U.S. shareholder to tax on global intangible low-taxed income (“GILTI”) earned by certain foreign subsidiaries. The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Staff Q&A, Topic 740, No. 5, Accounting for GILTI, states that an entity can make an accounting policy election to either recognize deferred taxes for temporary basis differences expected to reverse as GILTI in future years or provide for the tax expense related to GILTI in the year the tax is incurred as a period expense only. Given the complexity of the GILTI provisions, we are still evaluating the effects of the GILTI provisions and have not yet determined the accounting policy that we will elect. As of April 1, 2018, we estimate no GILTI tax liability.
The Tax Act provides for a foreign-derived intangible income (“FDII”) deduction, which is available to domestic C corporations that derive income from the export of property and services. As of April 1, 2018, we estimated a FDII benefit of $1.2 million, which is reflected in our estimated annual effective tax rate. We will continue to refine our FDII calculations, which may result in changes to this estimated benefit.

Segment and Geographic Reporting
We operate in three reportable segments: U.S., U.K. and Europe, and Mexico. We measure segment profit as operating income. Corporate expenses are allocated to Mexico based upon various apportionment methods for specific expenditures incurred related thereto with the remaining amounts allocated to the U.S. For geographic reporting purposes, we include Puerto Rico within our U.S. segment and combine the U.K., France and the Netherlands operations into our U.K. and Europe segment. See

40


"Note 21. Segment Reporting" of our Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements included in this quarterly report for additional information.
Results of Operations
Thirteen Weeks Ended April 1, 2018 Compared to Thirteen Weeks Ended March 26, 2017
Net sales. Net sales generated in the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 increased $267.3 million, or 10.8%, from net sales generated in the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2017. The following table provides net sales information:
Sources of net sales
 
Thirteen
Weeks Ended
April 1, 2018
 
Change from
Thirteen Weeks Ended
March 26, 2017
Amount
 
Percent
 
 
(In thousands, except percent data)
U.S.(a)
 
$
1,841,105

 
$
104,700

 
6.0
%
U.K. and Europe(b)
 
544,300

 
85,452

 
18.6
%
Mexico(c)
 
361,273

 
77,186

 
27.2
%
     Total net sales
 
2,746,678

 
267,338

 
10.8
%
(a)
U.S. net sales generated in the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 increased $104.7 million, or 6.0%, from U.S. net sales generated in the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2017 primarily because of a net sales per pound increase and an increase in prepared foods sales volume. The net sales per pound increase experienced by our U.S. segment contributed $118.8 million, or 6.8 percentage points, to the increase in net sales. The increase in prepared foods sales volume contributed $30.5 million, or 1.8 percentage points, to the increase in net sales. A decrease in fresh chicken sales volume experienced by our U.S. segment partially offset the effect of the increase in net sales per pound had on U.S. net sales by $44.6 million, or 2.6 percentage points. Included in U.S. net sales generated during the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 and March 26, 2017 were net sales to JBS USA Food Company totaling $1.5 million and $4.6 million, respectively.
(b)
U.K. and Europe net sales generated in the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 increased $85.5 million, or 18.6%, from U.K. and Europe net sales generated in the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2017 primarily because of the favorable impact of foreign currency translation and an increase in sales volume. The favorable impact of foreign currency translation contributed $59.3 million, or 12.9 percentage points, to the increase in net sales. An increase in sales volume contributed $20.2 million, or 4.4 percentage points, and an increase in net sales per pound contributed $5.9 million, or 1.3 percentage points, to the increase in net sales.
(c)
Mexico net sales generated in the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 increased $77.2 million, or 27.2%, from Mexico net sales generated in the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2017 primarily because of an increase in sales volume, an increase in net sales per pound and a positive impact of foreign currency remeasurement. Increased sales volume resulted in an increase in net sales of $11.9 million, or 4.2 percentage points. The increase in net sales per pound contributed $35.3 million, or 12.4 percentage points, and the favorable impact of foreign currency remeasurement contributed $30.0 million, or 10.6 percentage points, to the increase in net sales.
Gross profit. Gross profit increased by $31.1 million, or 12.1%, from $256.5 million generated in the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2017 to $287.7 million generated in the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018. The following tables provide information regarding gross profit and cost of sales information:
Components of gross profit
 
Thirteen
Weeks Ended
April 1, 2018
 
Change from
Thirteen Weeks Ended
March 26, 2017
 
Percent of Net Sales
 
 
Thirteen Weeks Ended
 
Amount
 
Percent
 
April 1, 2018
 
March 26, 2017
 
 
In thousands, except percent data
Net sales
 
$
2,746,678

 
$
267,338

 
10.8
%
 
100.0
%
 
100.0
%
Cost of sales(a)(b)(c)
 
2,459,013

 
236,208

 
10.6
%
 
89.5
%
 
89.7
%
Gross profit
 
$
287,665

 
$
31,130

 
12.1
%
 
10.5
%
 
10.3
%
Sources of gross profit
 
Thirteen
Weeks Ended
April 1, 2018
 
Change from
Thirteen Weeks Ended
March 26, 2017
Amount
 
Percent
 
 
(In thousands, except percent data)
U.S.(a)
 
$
182,370

 
$
(5,936
)
 
(3.2
)%
U.K. and Europe(b)
 
42,733

 
1,403

 
3.4
 %
Mexico(c)
 
62,538

 
35,663

 
132.7
 %
Elimination
 
24

 
—

 
—
 %
Total gross profit
 
$
287,665

 
$
31,130

 
12.1
 %

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Sources of cost of sales
 
Thirteen
Weeks Ended
April 1, 2018
 
Change from
Thirteen Weeks Ended
March 26, 2017
Amount
 
Percent
 
 
(In thousands, except percent data)
U.S.(a)
 
$
1,658,734

 
$
110,635

 
7.1
%
U.K. and Europe(b)
 
501,568

 
84,050

 
20.1
%
Mexico(c)
 
298,735

 
41,523

 
16.1
%
Elimination
 
(24
)
 
—

 
—
%
Total cost of sales
 
$
2,459,013

 
$
236,208

 
10.6
%
(a)
Cost of sales incurred by our U.S. segment during the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 increased $110.6 million, or 7.1%, from cost of sales incurred by our U.S. segment during the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2017. Cost of sales increased primarily because of an increase in feed cost of $26.9 million resulting from increased grain prices and increased live pounds produced, an increase in freight and storage costs of $26.8 million resulting from increased rates from driver shortages and inclement weather, an increase in grower expenses of $23.9 million resulting from increased pay rates and an increase in labor costs of $18.1 million resulting from an increase in the number of operational employees. Other factors affecting cost of sales were individually immaterial.
(b)
Cost of sales incurred by our U.K. and Europe segment during the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 increased $84.1 million, or 20.1%, from cost of sales incurred by our U.K. and Europe segment during the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2017. U.K. and Europe cost of sales increased primarily because an increase in raw material costs of $49.4 million due to increased sales volume and an unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation that contributed $54.6 million to the increase in cost of sales. Other factors affecting cost of sales were individually immaterial.
(c)
Cost of sales incurred by our Mexico segment during the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 increased $41.5 million, or 16.1%, from cost of sales incurred by our Mexico segment during the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2017. Mexico cost of sales increased primarily because of an unfavorable impact of foreign currency remeasurement that contributed $24.8 million to the increase in cost of sales, a $10.1 million increase in grower expenses due to increases in pay rates and a $5.9 million increase in payroll expenses due to an increase in the number of operational employees. Other factors affecting cost of sales were individually immaterial.
Operating income. Operating income increased by $34.9 million, or 20.9%, from $166.7 million generated in the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2017 to $201.6 million generated in the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018. The following tables provide information regarding operating income and SG&A expense:
Components of operating income
 
Thirteen
Weeks Ended
April 1, 2018
 
Change from
Thirteen Weeks Ended
March 26, 2017
 
Percent of Net Sales
Thirteen Weeks Ended
Amount
 
Percent
 
April 1, 2018
 
March 26, 2017
 
 
(In thousands, except percent data)
Gross profit
 
$
287,665

 
$
31,130

 
12.1
 %
 
10.5
%
 
10.3
%
SG&A expense(a)(b)(c)
 
85,283

 
(4,528
)
 
(5.0
)%
 
3.1
%
 
3.6
%
Administrative restructuring charges(d)(e)
 
789

 
789

 
100.0
 %
 
—
%
 
—
%
Operating income
 
$
201,593

 
$
34,869

 
20.9
 %
 
7.3
%
 
6.7
%

42


Sources of operating income
 
Thirteen
Weeks Ended
April 1, 2018
 
Change from
Thirteen Weeks Ended
March 26, 2017
Amount
 
Percent
 
 
(In thousands, except percent data)
U.S.
 
$
127,286

 
$
(6,270
)
 
(4.7
)%
U.K. and Europe
 
21,413

 
7,041

 
49.0
 %
Mexico
 
52,870

 
34,098

 
181.6
 %
Elimination
 
24

 
—

 
—
 %
Total operating income
 
$
201,593

 
$
34,869

 
20.9
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sources of SG&A expense
 
Thirteen
Weeks Ended
April 1, 2018
 
Change from
Thirteen Weeks Ended
March 26, 2017
Amount
 
Percent
 
 
(In thousands, except percent data)
U.S.(a)
 
$
54,296

 
$
(454
)
 
(0.8
)%
U.K. and Europe(b)
 
21,319

 
(5,639
)
 
(20.9
)%
Mexico(c)
 
9,668

 
1,565

 
19.3
 %
Total SG&A expense
 
$
85,283

 
$
(4,528
)
 
(5.0
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sources of administrative restructuring charges
 
Thirteen
Weeks Ended
April 1, 2018
 
Change from
Thirteen Weeks Ended
March 26, 2017
Amount
 
Percent
 
 
(In thousands, except percent data)
U.S.(d)
 
$
789

 
$
789

 
100.0
 %
U.K. and Europe
 
—

 
—

 
—
 %
Mexico
 
—

 
—

 
—
 %
Total administrative restructuring charges
 
$
789

 
$
789

 
100.0
 %
(a)
SG&A expense incurred by our U.S. segment during the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 decreased $0.5 million, or 0.8%, from SG&A expense incurred by our U.S. segment during the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2017, primarily because of a $1.9 million decrease in management fees resulting from lower allocated incentive compensation and $0.8 million decrease in marketing and development expenses resulting from reduced market research, partially offset by a $2.2 million increase in professional service expenses resulting from increased consulting fees and legal fees related to pending litigation. Other factors affecting SG&A expense were individually immaterial.
(b)
SG&A expense incurred by our U.K. and Europe segment during the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 decreased $5.6 million, or 20.9%, from SG&A expense incurred by our U.K. and Europe segment during the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2017. SG&A expense incurred by our U.K. and Europe segment decreased primarily because of a $3.9 million decrease in selling expenses related to freight and a $1.9 million decrease in management fees paid to JBS S.A. Moy Park no longer pays a management fee to JBS S.A. subsequent to its acquisition by Pilgrim's. Other factors affecting SG&A expense were individually immaterial.
(c)
SG&A expense incurred by our Mexico segment during the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 increased $1.6 million, or 19.3%, from SG&A expense incurred by our Mexico segment during the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2017. SG&A expense incurred by our Mexico segment increased primarily because of a $0.9 million increase in payroll expenses resulting from an increase in the number of administrative employees and a $0.6 million increase in costs related to employee relations. Other factors affecting SG&A expense were individually immaterial.
(d)
Administrative restructuring charges incurred by our U.S. segment during the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 included $0.5 million in severance costs related to the GNP acquisition and $0.3 million related to the closure of the Luverne, Minnesota facility.
Net interest expense. Net interest expense increased 159.9% to $48.7 million recognized in the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 from $18.7 million recognized in the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2017 primarily because of early extinguishment of debt related to the redemption of Moy Park's notes and an increase in average borrowings compared to the same period in the prior year. Costs related to the redemption of Moy Park's notes contributed to a $12.9 million increase to interest expense during the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018. Average borrowings increased from $1.8 billion in the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2017 to $2.7 billion in the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018. The weighted average interest rate increased from 4.2% in the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2017 to 5.0% in the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018.
Income taxes. Income tax expense decreased to $37.0 million, a 23.7% effective tax rate, for the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 compared to income tax expense of $49.4 million, a 32.9% effective tax rate, for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2017. The decrease in income tax expense in 2018 resulted primarily from a reduction in the U.S. corporate income tax rate as a result of the recently enacted Tax Act.

43


Liquidity and Capital Resources
The following table presents our available sources of liquidity as of April 1, 2018: 
Source of Liquidity
 
Facility
Amount
 
Amount
Outstanding
 
Amount
Available
 
 
(In millions)
Cash and cash equivalents
 
 
 
 
 
$
580.8

Borrowing arrangements:
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.S. Credit Facility(a)
 
$
750.0

 
$
—

 
705.2

Mexico Credit Facility(b)
 
82.5

 
69.8

 
12.7

U.K. and Europe Credit Facilities(c)
 
100.0

 
12.8

 
87.2

(a)
Availability under the U.S. Credit Facility (as described below) is also reduced by our outstanding standby letters of credit. Standby letters of credit outstanding at April 1, 2018 totaled $44.8 million.
(b)
As of April 1, 2018, the U.S. dollar-equivalent of the amount available under the Mexico Credit Facility (as described below) was $12.7 million.  The Mexico Credit Facility provides for a loan commitment of $1.5 billion Mexican pesos.
(c)
As of April 1, 2018, the U.S. dollar-equivalent of the amount available under the U.K. and Europe Credit Facilities (as described below) was $87.2 million.  The U.K. and Europe Credit Facilities provide for loan commitments of £45.0 million (or $63.0 million U.S. dollar equivalent) and €30.0 million (or $37.0 million U.S. dollar equivalent).
Long-Term Debt and Other Borrowing Arrangements
U.S. Senior Notes
On March 11, 2015, we completed a sale of $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 5.75% senior notes due 2025. On September 29, 2017, we completed an add-on offering of $250.0 million of these senior notes. The issuance price of this add-on offering was 102.0%, which created gross proceeds of $255.0 million. The additional $5.0 million will be amortized over the remaining life of the senior notes. On March 7, 2018, we completed another add-on offering of $250.0 million of these senior notes (together with the senior notes issued in March 2015 and September 2017, the “Senior Notes due 2025”). The issuance price of this add-on offering was 99.25%, which created gross proceeds of $248.1 million. The $1.9 million discount will be amortized over the remaining life of the senior notes. Each issuance of the Senior Notes due 2025 is treated as a single class for all purposes under the 2015 Indenture (defined below) and have the same terms.
The Senior Notes due 2025 are governed by, and were issued pursuant to, an indenture dated as of March 11, 2015 by and among us, our guarantor subsidiary and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “2015 Indenture”). The 2015 Indenture provides, among other things, that the Senior Notes due 2025 bear interest at a rate of 5.75% per annum from the date of issuance until maturity, payable semi-annually in cash in arrears, beginning on September 15, 2015 for the Senior Notes due 2025 that were issued in March 2015 and beginning on March 15, 2018 for the Senior Notes due 2025 that were issued in September 2017 and March 2018. The Senior Notes due 2025 are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by our guarantor subsidiary. In addition, any of our other existing or future domestic restricted subsidiaries that incur or guarantee any other indebtedness (with limited exceptions) must also guarantee the Senior Notes due 2025. The Senior Notes due 2025 and related guarantees are unsecured senior obligations of us and our guarantor subsidiary and rank equally with all of our and our guarantor subsidiary’s other unsubordinated indebtedness. The Senior Notes due 2025 and the 2015 Indenture also contain customary covenants and events of default, including failure to pay principal or interest on the Senior Notes due 2025 when due, among others.
On September 29, 2017, we completed a sale of $600.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 5.875% senior notes due 2027. On March 7, 2018, we completed an add-on offering of these senior notes (together with the senior notes issued in September 2017, the “Senior Notes due 2027”). The issuance price of this add-on offering was 97.25%, which created gross proceeds of $243.1 million. The $6.9 million discount will be amortized over the remaining life of the Senior Notes due 2027. Each issuance of the Senior Notes due 2027 is treated as a single class for all purposes under the 2017 Indenture (defined below) and have the same terms.
The Senior Notes due 2027 are governed by, and were issued pursuant to, an indenture dated as of September 29, 2017 by and among us, our guarantor subsidiary and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “2017 Indenture”). The 2017 Indenture provides, among other things, that the Senior Notes due 2027 bear interest at a rate of 5.875% per annum from the date of issuance until maturity, payable semi-annually in cash in arrears, beginning on March 30, 2018 for the Senior Notes due 2027 that were issued in September 2017 and beginning on March 15, 2018 for the Senior Notes due 2027 that were issued in March 2018. The Senior Notes due 2027 are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by our guarantor subsidiary. In addition, any of our other existing or future domestic restricted subsidiaries that incur or guarantee any other indebtedness (with limited exceptions) must also guarantee the Senior Notes due 2027. The Senior Notes due 2027 and related guarantees are unsecured senior obligations

44


of us and our guarantor subsidiary and rank equally with all of our and our guarantor subsidiary’s other unsubordinated indebtedness. The Senior Notes due 2027 and the 2017 Indenture also contain customary covenants and events of default, including failure to pay principal or interest on the Senior Notes due 2027 when due, among others.
We used the net proceeds from the sale of the Senior Notes due 2025 and the Senior Notes due 2027 that were issued in September 2017 to repay in full the JBS S.A. Promissory Note issued as part of the Moy Park acquisition and for general corporate purposes. We used the net proceeds from the sale of the Senior Notes due 2025 and the Senior Notes due 2027 that were issued in March 2018 to pay the second tender price of Moy Park Notes (as described below), repay a portion of outstanding secured debt, and for general corporate purposes. The Senior Notes due 2025 and the Senior Notes due 2027 were sold to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and outside the United States to non-U.S. persons pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act.
Moy Park Senior Notes
On May 29, 2014, Moy Park (Bondco) plc, a subsidiary of Granite Holdings Sàrl, completed the sale of a £200.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 6.25% senior notes due 2021. On April 17, 2015, we completed an add-on offering of £100.0 million of these notes (together with the senior notes issued in May 2014, the “Moy Park Senior Notes”). The Moy Park Notes were sold to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act, and outside the United States to non-U.S. persons pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act.
The Moy Park Notes are governed by, and were issued pursuant to, an indenture dated as of May 29, 2014 by Moy Park (Bondco) plc, as issuer, Moy Park Holdings (Europe) Limited, Moy Park (Newco) Limited, Moy Park Limited, O’Kane Poultry Limited, as guarantors, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee (the “Moy Park Indenture”). The Moy Park Indenture provides, among other things, that the Moy Park Notes bear interest at a rate of 6.25% per annum from the date of issuance until maturity, payable semiannually in cash in arrears, beginning on November 29, 2014 for the Moy Park Notes that were issued in May 2014 and beginning on May 28, 2015 for the Moy Park Notes that were issued in April 2015. The Moy Park Notes are guaranteed by each of the subsidiary guarantors party to the Moy Park Indenture. The Moy Park Indenture contains customary covenants and events of default that may limit Moy Park (Bondco) plc’s ability and the ability of certain subsidiaries to incur additional debt, declare or pay dividends or make certain investments, among others.
On November 2, 2017, Moy Park (Bondco) plc announced the final results of its previously announced tender offer to purchase for cash any and all of its issued and outstanding Moy Park Notes. As of November 2, 2017, £1.2 million principal amount of Moy Park Notes had been validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn). Moy Park (Bondco) plc purchased all validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) Moy Park Notes on or prior to November 2, 2017, with such settlement occurring on November 3, 2017.
On March 7, 2018, Moy Park (Bondco) plc announced the final results of its second, previously announced, tender offer to purchase for cash any and all of its issued and outstanding Moy Park Notes. As of March 7, 2018, £233.1 million principal amount of Moy Park Notes had been validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn in the second tender). Moy Park (Bondco) plc purchased all validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) Moy Park Notes on or prior to March 7, 2018, with such settlement occurring on March 8, 2018.
On April 23, 2018, we gave notice to the Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, of its intent to redeem all of the Moy Park Notes outstanding on May 29, 2018 (the “Redemption Date”) at the redemption price equal to 101.56% of its principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but excluding the Redemption Date. As of April 1, 2018, the Moy Park Notes in an aggregate principal amount of £65.7 million were outstanding.
U.S. Credit Facility
On May 8, 2017, we and certain of our subsidiaries entered into a Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “U.S. Credit Facility”) with Coöperatieve Rabobank U.A., New York Branch (“Rabobank”), as administrative agent and collateral agent, and the other lenders party thereto. The U.S. Credit Facility provides for a revolving loan commitment of up to $750.0 million and a term loan commitment of up to $800.0 million (the “Term Loans”). The U.S. Credit Facility also includes an accordion feature that allows us, at any time, to increase the aggregate revolving loan and term loan commitments by up to an additional $1.0 billion, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including obtaining the lenders’ agreement to participate in the increase.
The revolving loan commitment under the U.S. Credit Facility matures on May 6, 2022. All principal on the Term Loans is due at maturity on May 6, 2022. Installments of principal are required to be made, in an amount equal to 1.25% of the original principal amount of the Term Loans, on a quarterly basis prior to the maturity date of the Term Loans. Covenants in the U.S. Credit Facility also require us to use the proceeds we receive from certain asset sales and specified debt or equity issuances and

45


upon the occurrence of other events to repay outstanding borrowings under the U.S. Credit Facility. As of April 1, 2018, we had Term Loans outstanding totaling $770.0 million and the amount available for borrowing under the revolving loan commitment was $705.2 million. We had letters of credit of $44.8 million and no borrowings outstanding under the revolving loan commitment as of April 1, 2018.
The U.S. Credit Facility includes a $75.0 million sub-limit for swingline loans and a $125.0 million sub-limit for letters of credit. Outstanding borrowings under the revolving loan commitment and the Term Loans bear interest at a per annum rate equal to (i) in the case of LIBOR loans, LIBOR plus 1.50% through April 1, 2018 and, thereafter, based on our net senior secured leverage ratio, between LIBOR plus 1.25% and LIBOR plus 2.75% and (ii) in the case of alternate base rate loans, the base rate plus 0.50% through April 1, 2018 and, based on our net senior secured leverage ratio, between the base rate plus 0.25% and base rate plus 1.75% thereafter.
The U.S. Credit Facility contains financial covenants and various other covenants that may adversely affect our ability to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness, incur liens, pay dividends or make certain restricted payments, consummate certain assets sales, enter into certain transactions with JBS and our other affiliates, merge, consolidate and/or sell or dispose of all or substantially all of our assets. The U.S. Credit Facility requires us to comply with a minimum level of tangible net worth covenant. The U.S. Credit Facility also provides that we may not incur capital expenditures in excess of $500.0 million in any fiscal year. We are currently in compliance with the covenants under the U.S. Credit Facility.
All obligations under the U.S. Credit Facility continue to be unconditionally guaranteed by certain of our subsidiaries and continue to be secured by a first priority lien on (i) the accounts receivable and our inventory and our non-Mexico subsidiaries, (ii) 100% of the equity interests in our domestic subsidiaries, To-Ricos, Ltd. and To-Ricos Distribution, Ltd., and 65% of the equity interests in our direct foreign subsidiaries and (iii) substantially all of our assets and the guarantors under the U.S. Credit Facility.
Mexico Credit Facility
On September 27, 2016, certain of our Mexican subsidiaries entered into an unsecured credit agreement (the “Mexico Credit Facility”) with BBVA Bancomer, S.A. Institución de Banca Múltiple, Grupo Financiero BBVA Bancomer, as lender. The loan commitment under the Mexico Credit Facility was 1.5 billion Mexican pesos. Outstanding borrowings under the Mexico Credit Facility accrued interest at a rate equal to the Interbank Equilibrium Interest Rate plus 0.95%. The Mexico Credit Facility is scheduled to mature on September 27, 2019. As of April 1, 2018, the U.S. dollar-equivalent loan commitment under the Mexico Credit Facility was $82.5 million, and there were $69.8 million outstanding borrowings under the Mexico Credit Facility that bear interest at a per annum rate of 8.80%. As of April 1, 2018, the U.S. dollar-equivalent borrowing availability was $12.7 million.
Moy Park Multicurrency Revolving Facility Agreement
On March 19, 2015, Moy Park Holdings (Europe) Limited, a subsidiary of Granite Holdings Sàrl, and its subsidiaries, entered into an agreement with Barclays Bank plc, which expired on March 19, 2018. The agreement provided for a multicurrency revolving loan commitment of up to £20.0 million.
Moy Park Receivables Finance Agreement
Moy Park Limited, a subsidiary of Granite Holdings Sàrl, entered into a £45.0 million receivables finance agreement on January 29, 2016 (the “Receivables Finance Agreement”), with Barclays Bank plc, which matures on January 29, 2020. Outstanding borrowings under the facility bear interest at a per annum rate equal to LIBOR plus 1.5%. The Receivables Finance Agreement includes an accordion feature that allows us, at any time, to increase the commitments by up to an additional £15.0 million, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions. As of April 1, 2018, the U.S. dollar-equivalent loan commitment under the Receivables Finance Agreement was $63.0 million and there were no outstanding borrowings.
The Receivables Finance Agreement contains financial covenants and various other covenants that may adversely affect Moy Park's ability to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness, consummate certain asset sales, enter into certain transactions with JBS and our other affiliates, merge, consolidate and/or sell or dispose of all or substantially all of Moy Park's assets.
Moy Park France Invoice Discounting Facility
In June 2009, Moy Park France Sàrl, a subsidiary of Granite Holdings Sàrl, entered into a €20.0 million invoice discounting facility with GE De Facto (the “Invoice Discounting Facility”). The facility limit was increased €10.0 million in September 2016 to €30.0 million. The Invoice Discounting Facility is payable on demand and the term is extended on an annual basis. The agreement can be terminated by either party with three months’ notice. Outstanding borrowings under the Invoice Discounting Facility bear interest at a per annum rate equal to EURIBOR plus a margin of 0.80%. As of April 1, 2018, the U.S.

46


dollar-equivalent loan commitment, borrowing availability and outstanding borrowings under the Invoice Discounting Facility were $37.0 million, $24.2 million and $12.8 million, respectively.
The Invoice Discounting Facility contains financial covenants and various other covenants that may adversely affect Moy Park's ability to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness, consummate certain asset sales, enter into certain transactions with JBS and our other affiliates, merge, consolidate and/or sell or dispose of all or substantially all of Moy Park's assets.
Collateral
Substantially all of our domestic inventories and domestic fixed assets are pledged as collateral to secure the obligations under the U.S. Credit Facility. Under the Moy Park Receivables Finance Agreement, the Company’s receivables in the U.K. and Europe are sold in exchange for the advances requested. There are no borrowings on the Moy Park Receivables Financing Agreement as of April 1, 2018. In addition, there is no collateral pledged on the other U.K. and Europe credit facilities.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We maintain operating leases for various types of equipment, some of which contain residual value guarantees for the market value of assets at the end of the term of the lease. The terms of the lease maturities range from one to ten years. We estimate the maximum potential amount of the residual value guarantees is approximately $50.2 million; however, the actual amount would be offset by any recoverable amount based on the fair market value of the underlying leased assets. No liability has been recorded related to this contingency as the likelihood of payments under these guarantees is not considered to be probable, and the fair value of the guarantees is immaterial. We historically have not experienced significant payments under similar residual guarantees.
We are a party to many routine contracts in which we provide general indemnities in the normal course of business to third parties for various risks. Among other considerations, we have not recorded a liability for any of these indemnities as, based upon the likelihood of payment, the fair value of such indemnities would not have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Historical Flow of Funds
Thirteen Weeks Ended April 1, 2018
Cash provided by operating activities was $0.6 million for the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018. The cash flows provided by operating activities resulted primarily from net income of $119.2 million and net noncash expenses of $75.8 million. These cash flows were offset by the use of $98.8 million in cash related to income taxes, the use of $61.9 million in cash related to trade accounts and other receivables and the use of $29.2 million in cash related to accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities.
The change in trade accounts and other receivables, including accounts receivable from related parties, represented a$61.9 million use of cash related to operating activities for the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018. This change is primarily due to customer payment timing.
The change in inventories represented a $19.5 million source of cash related to operating activities for the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018. This change resulted primarily from a decrease in our finished chicken products.
The change in prepaid expenses and other current assets represented a $20.8 million use of cash related to operating activities for the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018. This change resulted primarily from a net increase in value-added tax receivables.
The change in accounts payable, revenue contract liabilities, accrued expenses and other current liabilities, including accounts payable to related parties, represented a $29.2 million use of cash related to operating activities for the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018. This change resulted primarily from the timing of payments.
The change in income taxes, which includes income taxes receivable, income taxes payable, deferred tax assets, deferred tax liabilities reserves for uncertain tax positions, and the tax components within accumulated other comprehensive loss, represented a $98.8 million use of cash related to operating activities for the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018. This change resulted primarily from the timing of estimated tax payments.
Net noncash expenses provided $75.8 million in cash related to operating activities for the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018. Net noncash expense items included depreciation and amortization of $69.2 million, foreign currency transaction loss

47


related to borrowing arrangements of $5.7 million, and noncash loss on early extinguishment of debt of $3.9 million, which were partially offset by a deferred income tax benefit of $4.7 million.
Cash used in investing activities totaled $75.7 million for the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018. Cash used to acquire property, plant and equipment totaled $76.7 million. Capital expenditures were primarily incurred to improve operational efficiencies and reduce costs. Cash proceeds generated from property disposals totaled $1.0 million during the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018.
Cash proceeds from financing activities totaled $70.3 million for the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018. Cash proceeds from long-term debt totaled $502.3 million and cash proceeds from equity contributions under a tax sharing agreement with JBS USA Food Company Holdings totaled $5.6 million. These sources of cash were partially offset by $433.6 million in cash used for payments on revolving lines of credit, long-term borrowings and capital lease obligations and $4.1 million in cash used to pay capitalized loan costs.
Thirteen Weeks Ended March 26, 2017
Cash provided by operating activities was $66.3 million for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2017. The cash flows provided by operating activities were primarily from net income of $100.7 million, net noncash expenses of $79.2 million and changes in income taxes of $25.2 million. These cash flows were offset by the use of $62.5 million in cash related to inventories, the use of $50.5 million in cash related to trade accounts and other receivables and the use of $5.4 million in cash related to accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities.
The change in trade accounts and other receivables, including accounts receivable from related parties, represented a $50.5 million use of cash related to operating activities for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2017. This change is primarily due to customer payment timing.
The change in inventories represented a $62.5 million use of cash related to operating activities for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2017. This change in cash related to inventories was primarily due to increases in our live chicken and finished chicken products and inventories related to the acquisition of JFC LLC and its subsidiaries (together, "GNP").
The change in prepaid expenses and other current assets represented a $17.8 million use of cash related to operating activities for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2017. This change resulted primarily from a net increase in value-added tax receivables.
The change in accounts payable, revenue contract liabilities, accrued expenses and other current liabilities, including accounts payable to related parties, represented a $5.4 million use of cash related to operating activities for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2017. This change resulted primarily from the timing of payments.
The change in income taxes, which includes income taxes receivable, income taxes payable, deferred tax assets, deferred tax liabilities reserves for uncertain tax positions, and the tax components within accumulated other comprehensive loss, represented a $25.2 million source of cash related to operating activities for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2017. This change resulted primarily from the timing of estimated tax payments.
Net noncash expenses provided $79.2 million in cash related to operating activities for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2017. Net noncash expense items included depreciation and amortization of $62.7 million, cash proceeds of $12.8 million related to deferred income tax expense, cash proceeds of $2.2 million from foreign currency transactions related to borrowing arrangements and cash proceeds of $1.5 million related to share-based compensation.
Cash used in investing activities totaled $481.2 million for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2017. Cash used to acquire GNP, net of cash acquired, totaled $359.7 million, and cash used to acquire property, plant and equipment totaled $121.6 million. Capital expenditures were primarily incurred to improve operational efficiencies, reduce costs and tailor processes to meet specific customer needs in order to further solidify our competitive advantages. Cash proceeds from property disposals totaled $0.2 million.
Cash proceeds from financing activities totaled $318.7 million for the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2017. Cash proceeds from long-term debt totaled $662.8 million and cash proceeds from equity contributions under a tax sharing agreement with JBS USA Food Company Holdings totaled $5.0 million. These sources of cash were partially offset by $334.5 million in cash used for payments on revolving lines of credit, long-term borrowings and capital lease obligations, and $14.6 million in cash used for the purchase of common stock under a share repurchase program.    

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Contractual Obligations    
Contractual obligations at April 1, 2018 were as follows:
Contractual Obligations(a)
 
Total
 
Less than
One Year
 
One to
Three Years
 
Three to
Five Years
 
Greater than
Five Years
 
 
(In thousands)
Long-term debt(b)
 
$
2,795,464

 
$
145,419

 
$
150,045

 
$
650,000

 
$
1,850,000

Interest(c)
 
979,604

 
133,768

 
259,535

 
246,582

 
339,719

Capital leases
 
8,949

 
5,521

 
3,395

 
33

 
—

Operating leases
 
238,598

 
54,877

 
82,540

 
56,581

 
44,600

Derivative liabilities
 
10,240

 
10,240

 
—

 
—

 
—

Purchase obligations(d)
 
320,312

 
318,946

 
1,366

 
—

 
—

Total
 
$
4,353,167

 
$
668,771

 
$
496,881

 
$
953,196

 
$
2,234,319

(a)
The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits at April 1, 2018 was $11.9 million. We did not include this amount in the contractual obligations table above as reasonable estimates cannot be made at this time of the amounts or timing of future cash outflows.
(b)
Long-term debt is presented at face value and excludes $44.8 million in letters of credit outstanding related to normal business transactions.
(c)
Interest expense in the table above assumes the continuation of interest rates and outstanding borrowings as of April 1, 2018.
(d)
Includes agreements to purchase goods or services that are enforceable and legally binding on us and that specify all significant terms, including fixed or minimum quantities to be purchased; fixed, minimum, or variable price provisions; and the approximate timing of the transaction.
We expect cash flows from operations, combined with availability under our credit facilities, to provide sufficient liquidity to fund current obligations, projected working capital requirements, maturities of long-term debt and capital spending for at least the next twelve months.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In May 2014, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on revenue recognition, which provides for a single five-step model to be applied to all revenue contracts with customers. We adopted this new guidance effective January 1, 2018.
In February 2016, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on lease arrangements, which requires an entity that is a lessee to recognize the assets and liabilities arising from leases on the balance sheet. We will adopt this new guidance effective December 31, 2018.
In June 2016, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on the measurement of credit losses on financial instruments, which replaces the current incurred loss impairment methodology with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements and have not yet selected an adoption date.
In March 2017, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on the presentation of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost, which requires the service cost component of net benefit cost to be reported in the same line of the income statement as other compensation costs earned by the employee and the other components of net benefit cost to be reported below income from operations. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements and have not yet selected an adoption date.
In August 2017, the FASB issued an accounting standard update that simplifies the application of hedge accounting guidance in current GAAP and improves the reporting of hedging relationships to better portray the economic results of an entity’s risk management activities in its financial statements. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements and have not yet selected an adoption date.
In February 2018, the FASB issued an accounting standard update that allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements and have not yet selected an adoption date.
See “Note 1. Description of Business and Basis of Presentation” of our Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements included in this quarterly report for additional information relating to these new accounting pronouncements.

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Critical Accounting Policies
During the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018, (i) updates to our critical accounting policies related to the adoption of ASC 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers on January 1, 2018 are included in “Note 13. Revenue Recognition”, (ii) no existing accounting policies became critical accounting policies because of an increase in the materiality of associated transactions or changes in the circumstances to which associated judgments and estimates relate and (iii) other than the changes included in "Note 13. Revenue Recognition", there were no significant changes in the manner in which critical accounting policies were applied or in which related judgments and estimates were developed.
ITEM 3.     QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISKS
Market Risk-Sensitive Instruments and Positions
The risk inherent in our market risk-sensitive instruments and positions is primarily the potential loss arising from adverse changes in commodity prices, foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates and the credit quality of available-for-sale securities as discussed below. The sensitivity analyses presented do not consider the effects that such adverse changes may have on overall economic activity, nor do they consider additional actions our management may take to mitigate our exposure to such changes. Actual results may differ.
Commodity Prices
We purchase certain commodities, primarily corn, soybean meal and wheat, for use as ingredients in the feed we either sell commercially or consume in our live operations. As a result, our earnings are affected by changes in the price and availability of such feed ingredients. In the past, we have from time to time attempted to minimize our exposure to the changing price and availability of such feed ingredients using various techniques, including, but not limited to, (i) executing purchase agreements with suppliers for future physical delivery of feed ingredients at established prices and (ii) purchasing or selling derivative financial instruments such as futures and options.
For this sensitivity analysis, market risk is estimated as a hypothetical 10.0% change in the weighted-average cost of our
primary feed ingredients as of April 1, 2018. However, fluctuations greater than 10.0% could occur. Based on our feed consumption during the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018, such a change would have resulted in a change to cost of sales of approximately $75.4 million, excluding the impact of any feed ingredients derivative financial instruments in that period. A 10.0% change in ending feed ingredient inventories at April 1, 2018 would be $15.3 million, excluding any potential impact on the production costs of our chicken inventories.
We purchase commodity derivative financial instruments, specifically exchange-traded futures and options, in an attempt to mitigate price risk related to our anticipated consumption of commodity inputs for the next 12 months. A 10.0% change in corn and soybean meal prices on April 1, 2018 would have resulted in a change of approximately $0.9 million in the fair value of our net commodity derivative asset position, including margin cash, as of that date.
Interest Rates
Our variable-rate debt instruments represent approximately 30.5% of our total debt at April 1, 2018. Holding other variables constant, including levels of indebtedness, an increase in interest rates of 25 basis points would have increased our interest expense by $0.5 million for the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018.
Market risk for fixed-rate debt is estimated as the potential increase in fair value resulting from a hypothetical decrease in interest rates of 10.0%. Using a discounted cash flow analysis, a hypothetical 10.0% decrease in interest rates would have decreased the fair value of our fixed-rate debt by approximately $11.3 million as of April 1, 2018.
Foreign Currency
Our earnings are also affected by foreign exchange rate fluctuations related to the Mexican peso net monetary position of our Mexico subsidiaries. We manage this exposure primarily by attempting to minimize our Mexican peso net monetary position. We are also exposed to the effect of potential currency exchange rate fluctuations to the extent that amounts are repatriated from Mexico to the U.S. We currently anticipate that the future cash flows of our Mexico subsidiaries will be reinvested in our Mexico segment.
The Mexican peso exchange rate can directly and indirectly impact our financial condition and results of operations in
several ways, including potential economic recession in Mexico because of devaluation of their currency. Foreign currency exchange losses, representing the change in the U.S. dollar value of the net monetary assets of our Mexican subsidiaries denominated in Mexican pesos, were a loss of $0.3 million and a loss of $0.6 million in the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 and March 26,

50


2017, respectively. The average exchange rates for the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 and March 26, 2017 were 18.74 Mexican pesos to 1 U.S. dollar and 20.44 Mexican pesos to 1 U.S. dollar, respectively. For this sensitivity analysis, market risk is estimated as a hypothetical 10.0% deterioration in the current exchange rate used to convert Mexican pesos to U.S. dollars as of April 1, 2018 and March 26, 2017. However, fluctuations greater than 10.0% could occur. Based on the net monetary asset position of our Mexico segment at April 1, 2018, such a change would have resulted in a increase in foreign currency transaction losses recognized in the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 of approximately $2.5 million. Based on the net monetary asset position of our Mexico segment at March 26, 2017, such a change would have resulted in a increase in foreign currency transaction losses recognized in the thirteen weeks ended March 26, 2017 of approximately $1.1 million. No assurance can be given as to how future movements in the Mexican peso could affect our future financial condition or results of operations.

Additionally, we are exposed to foreign exchange-related variability of investments and earnings from our foreign investments in Europe (including the U.K.). Foreign currency market risk is the possibility that our financial results or financial position could be better or worse than planned because of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. At April 1, 2018, our U.K. and Europe segment had net assets of approximately $2.2 billion, denominated in British pounds, after consideration of our derivative and nonderivative financial instruments. Based on our sensitivity analysis, a 10% adverse change in exchange rates would cause a reduction of $220.7 million to our net assets.  

At April 1, 2018, we had foreign currency forward contracts, which were designated and qualify as cash flow hedges, with an aggregate notional amount of $40.4 million to hedge a portion of our investments in Europe (including the U.K.). On the basis of our sensitivity analysis, a weakening of the U.S. dollar against the British pound by 10% would result in a $3.5 million negative change in our cash flows on settlement while a weakening of the U.S. dollar against the euro by 10% would result in a $0.5 million negative change in our cash flows on settlement. No assurance can be given as to how future movements in currency rates could affect our future financial condition or results of operations.
Quality of Investments
Certain retirement plans that we sponsor invest in a variety of financial instruments. We have analyzed our portfolios of investments and, to the best of our knowledge, none of our investments, including money market funds units, commercial paper and municipal securities, have been downgraded, and neither we nor any fund in which we participate hold significant amounts of structured investment vehicles, auction rate securities, collateralized debt obligations, credit derivatives, hedge funds investments, fund of funds investments or perpetual preferred securities. Certain postretirement funds in which we participate hold significant amounts of mortgage-backed securities. However, none of the mortgages collateralizing these securities are considered subprime.
Impact of Inflation
Due to low to moderate inflation in the U.S., Europe (including the U.K.) and Mexico and our rapid inventory turnover rate, the results of operations have not been significantly affected by inflation during the past three-year period.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain written and oral statements made by our Company and subsidiaries of our Company may constitute “forward-looking statements” as defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This includes statements made herein, in our other filings with the SEC, in press releases, and in certain other oral and written presentations. Statements of our intentions, beliefs, expectations or predictions for the future, denoted by the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “plan,” “imply,” “intend,” “should,” “foresee” and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements that reflect our current views about future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Such risks, uncertainties and assumptions include the following:
•
Matters affecting the chicken industry generally, including fluctuations in the commodity prices of feed ingredients and chicken;
•
Our ability to obtain and maintain commercially reasonable terms with vendors and service providers;
•
Our ability to maintain contracts that are critical to our operations;
•
Our ability to retain management and other key individuals;
•
Outbreaks of avian influenza or other diseases, either in our own flocks or elsewhere, affecting our ability to conduct our operations and/or demand for our poultry products;

51


•
Contamination of our products, which has previously and can in the future lead to product liability claims and product recalls;
•
Exposure to risks related to product liability, product recalls, property damage and injuries to persons, for which insurance coverage is expensive, limited and potentially inadequate;
•
Changes in laws or regulations affecting our operations or the application thereof;
•
Our ability to ensure that our directors, officers, employees, agents, third-party intermediaries and the companies to which we outsource certain of our business operations will comply with anti-corruption laws or other laws governing the conduct of business with government entities;
•
New immigration legislation or increased enforcement efforts in connection with existing immigration legislation that cause our costs of business to increase, cause us to change the way in which we do business or otherwise disrupt our operations;
•
Competitive factors and pricing pressures or the loss of one or more of our largest customers;
•
Inability to consummate, or effectively integrate, any acquisition, including the acquisition of Moy Park, or to realize the associated anticipated cost savings and operating synergies;
•
Currency exchange rate fluctuations, trade barriers, exchange controls, expropriation and other risks associated with foreign segments;
•
Restrictions imposed by, and as a result of, Pilgrim's Pride's leverage;
•
Disruptions in international markets and distribution channels;
•
Our ability to maintain favorable labor relations with our employees and our compliance with labor laws;
•
Extreme weather or natural disasters;
•
The impact of uncertainties in litigation; and
•
Other risks described herein and under “Risk Factors” in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 as filed with the SEC.
Actual results could differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements as a result of these factors, among others, many of which are beyond our control.
In making these statements, we are not undertaking, and specifically decline to undertake, any obligation to address or update each or any factor in future filings or communications regarding our business or results, and we are not undertaking to address how any of these factors may have caused changes to information contained in previous filings or communications. Although we have attempted to list comprehensively these important cautionary risk factors, we must caution investors and others that other factors may in the future prove to be important and affect our business or results of operations.
ITEM 4.     CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Under Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), “disclosure controls and procedures” means controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by our Company in the reports that it files with the SEC is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
As of April 1, 2018, an evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is

52


recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms, and that information we are required to disclose in our reports filed with the SEC is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
In connection with the evaluation described above, the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, identified no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Our evaluation of internal control over financial reporting did not include the internal control of Moy Park, which the Company acquired in the third quarter of 2017. The amount of total assets and revenue of Moy Park included in our Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements as of and for the thirteen weeks ended April 1, 2018 was $2.2 billion and $544.3 million, respectively.

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Table of Contents

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Tax Claims and Proceedings
A Mexico subsidiary of the Company is currently appealing an unfavorable tax adjustment proposed by Mexican Tax Authorities due to an examination of a specific transaction undertaken by the Mexico subsidiary during tax years 2009 and 2010.  Amounts under appeal are $24.3 million and $16.1 million for tax years 2009 and 2010, respectively.  No loss has been recorded for these amounts at this time.
Other Claims and Proceedings
Between September 2, 2016 and October 13, 2016, a series of purported federal class action lawsuits styled as In re Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation, Case No. 1:16-cv-08637 were brought against PPC and 13 other producers by and on behalf of direct and indirect purchasers of broiler chickens alleging violations of federal and state antitrust and unfair competition laws. The complaints, which were filed with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, seek, among other relief, treble damages for an alleged conspiracy among defendants to reduce output and increase prices of broiler chickens from the period of January 2008 to the present. The class plaintiffs have filed three consolidated amended complaints: one on behalf of direct purchasers and two on behalf of distinct groups of indirect purchasers. The defendants, including PPC, filed motions to dismiss these actions. On November 20, 2017, the Court denied all pending motions to dismiss with the exception of certain state-law claims by indirect purchasers that were dismissed or narrowed in scope. Discovery is proceeding and is currently scheduled to be complete by June 13, 2019. In December 2017 and January 2018 four individual direct action complaints (Affiliated Foods, Inc. v. Claxton Poultry Farms, Inc., Case No. 1:17-cv-08850; Winn Dixie Stores, Inc. v. Koch Foods, Inc., Case No. 1:18-cv-00245; Sysco Corp. v. Tyson Foods Inc., et al; Case No. 1:18-cv-00700; and US Foods Inc. v. Tyson Foods Inc., et al; Case No. 1:18-cv-00702) were filed by individual direct purchaser entities, the allegations of which largely mirror those in the class action complaints. The Court’s scheduling order currently requires the substantial completion of document discovery for the class cases by July 18, 2018, with fact discovery ending on June 13, 2019, class certification briefing and expert reports proceeding from July 15, 2019 to March 16, 2020 and summary judgment to proceed 60 days after the Court rules on motions for class certification. The Court has ordered the parties to coordinate scheduling of the direct action complaints with the class complaints with any necessary modifications to reflect time of filing. Discovery will be consolidated.
On October 10, 2016, Patrick Hogan, acting on behalf of himself and a putative class of persons who purchased shares of PPC’s stock between February 21, 2014 and October 6, 2016, filed a class action complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado against PPC and its named executive officers. The complaint alleges, among other things, that PPC’s SEC filings contained statements that were rendered materially false and misleading by PPC’s failure to disclose that (i) the Company colluded with several of its industry peers to fix prices in the broiler-chicken market as alleged in the In re Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation, (ii) its conduct constituted a violation of federal antitrust laws, (iii) PPC’s revenues during the class period were the result of illegal conduct and (iv) that PPC lacked effective internal control over financial reporting. The complaint also states that PPC’s industry was anticompetitive. On April 4, 2017, the Court appointed another stockholder, George James Fuller, as lead plaintiff. On May 11, 2017, the plaintiff filed an amended complaint, which extended the end date of the putative class period to November 17, 2017. PPC and the other defendants moved to dismiss on June 12, 2017, and the plaintiff filed its opposition on July 12, 2017. PPC and the other defendants filed their reply on August 1, 2017. On March 14, 2018, the Court dismissed the plaintiff’s complaint without prejudice and issued final judgment in favor of PPC and the other defendants. On April 11, 2018, the plaintiff moved for reconsideration of the Court’s decision and for permission to file a Second Amended Complaint. PPC and the other defendants filed a response to the plaintiff’s motion on April 25, 2018.
On January 27, 2017, a purported class action on behalf of broiler chicken farmers was brought against PPC and four other producers in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, alleging, among other things, a conspiracy to reduce competition for grower services and depress the price paid to growers. The plaintiffs allege violations of the Sherman Act and the Packers and Stockyards Act and seek, among other relief, treble damages. The complaint was consolidated with a subsequently filed consolidated amended class action complaint styled as In re Broiler Chicken Grower Litigation, Case No. CIV-17-033-RJS (the “Grower Litigation”). The defendants (including PPC) jointly moved to dismiss the consolidated amended complaint on September 9, 2017. The Court initially held oral argument on January 19, 2018, during which it considered and granted only motions from certain other defendants challenging jurisdiction. Oral argument on the remaining pending motions in the Oklahoma court occurred on April 20, 2018. Rulings on the motion are pending. Following the Oklahoma court’s dismissal of certain defendants in January 2018, the plaintiffs filed a separate complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of North Carolina, consisting of the same allegations but strictly against those defendants previously dismissed by the Oklahoma court (the “North Carolina Action”). The plaintiffs sought transfer and consolidation of the North Carolina Action with the Grower Litigation in Oklahoma from the Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation (“JPML”). The JPML has scheduled oral argument on the motion for May 31, 2018. In addition, on March 12, 2018,

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the Northern District of Texas, Fort Worth Division (“Bankruptcy Court”) enjoined the plaintiffs from litigating the Grower Litigation complaint as pled against the Company because allegations in the consolidated complaint violate the confirmation order relating to the Company’s bankruptcy proceedings in 2008 and 2009. Specifically, the 2009 bankruptcy confirmation order bars any claims against the Company based on conduct occurring before December 28, 2009. On March 13, 2018, Pilgrim’s notified the trial court of the Bankruptcy Court’s injunction. To date, the plaintiffs have not amended the consolidated complaint to comply with the Bankruptcy Court’s injunction order or the confirmation order.
On March 9, 2017, a stockholder derivative action styled as DiSalvio v. Lovette, et al., No. 2017 cv. 30207, was brought against all of PPC’s directors and its Chief Financial Officer, Fabio Sandri, in the District Court for the County of Weld in Colorado. The complaint alleges, among other things, that the named defendants breached their fiduciary duties by failing to prevent PPC and its officers from engaging in an antitrust conspiracy as alleged in the In re Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation, and issuing false and misleading statements as alleged in the Hogan class action litigation. On April 17, 2017, a related stockholder derivative action styled Brima v. Lovette, et al., No. 2017 cv. 30308, was brought against all of PPC’s directors and its Chief Financial Officer in the District Court for the County of Weld in Colorado. The Brima complaint contains largely the same allegations as the DiSalvio complaint. On May 4, 2017, the plaintiffs in both the DiSalvio and Brima actions moved to (i) consolidate the two stockholder derivative cases, (ii) stay the consolidated action until the resolution of the motion to dismiss in the Hogan putative securities class action, and (iii) appoint co-lead counsel. The Court granted the motion on May 8, 2017, staying the proceedings pending resolution of the motion to dismiss in the Hogan action.
In January 2018, a stockholder derivative action entitled Raul v. Nogueira de Souza, et al., was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado against the Company, as nominal defendant, as well as the Company’s directors, its Chief Financial Officer, and majority shareholder, JBS S.A. The complaint alleges, among other things, that (i) defendants permitted the Company to omit material information from its proxy statements filed in 2014 through 2017 related to the conduct of Wesley Mendonça Batista and Joesley Mendonça Batista, (ii) the individual defendants and JBS breached their fiduciary duties by failing to prevent the Company and its officers from engaging in an antitrust conspiracy as alleged in the Broiler Litigation and issuing false and misleading statements as alleged in the Hogan class action litigation. The defendants are currently in discussions with counsel for the Raul plaintiffs regarding the possibility of consolidating the Raul action with the consolidated state court derivative action, which is currently stayed, or in the alternative, determining a motion to dismiss briefing schedule.
On January 25, 2018, a stockholder derivative action styled as Sciabacucchi v. JBS S.A., et al., was brought against all of PPC’s directors, JBS S.A., JBS USA Holding Lux S.à r.l. (“JBS Holding Lux”) and several members of the Batista family, in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware. The complaint alleges, among other things, that the named defendants breached their fiduciary duties arising out of the Company’s acquisition of Moy Park. On March 15, 2018, the members of the Batista family were dismissed from the action without prejudice by stipulation. On March 20, 2018, nominal defendant PPC filed its answer. On March 20, 2018, the remaining defendants, including PPC’s directors, JBS S.A., and JBS Holding Lux moved to dismiss the complaint. On April 19, 2018, director defendants Bell, Macaluso, and Cooper filed their opening brief in support of their motion to dismiss. On April 19, 2018, defendants JBS S.A., JBS Holding Lux, and director defendants Lovette, Nogueira de Souza, Tomazoni, Farahat, Molina, and de Vasconcellos, Jr. filed their opening brief in support of their motion to dismiss.
We believe we have strong defenses in each of the above litigations and intend to contest them vigorously. We cannot predict the outcome of these actions nor when they will be resolved. If the plaintiffs were to prevail in any of these ligations, we could be liable for damages, which could be material and could adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations.
We are also subject to various legal proceedings and claims which arise in the ordinary course of business. In our opinion, we have made appropriate and adequate accruals for claims where necessary; however, the ultimate liability for these matters is uncertain, and if significantly different than the amounts accrued, the ultimate outcome could have a material effect on the financial condition or results of operations of the Company.
ITEM 1A.
RISK FACTORS
In addition to the other information set forth in this quarterly report, you should carefully consider the risks discussed in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, including under the heading “Item 1A. Risk Factors”, which, along with risks disclosed in this report, are risks we believe could materially affect the Company’s business, financial condition or future results. These risks are not the only risks facing the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to the Company or that it currently deems to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition or future results.
ITEM 5.     OTHER INFORMATION
Issuance of Additional Senior Notes

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On March 7, 2018, the Company completed a sale of $250 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.750% Senior Notes due 2025 (the “Second Additional Senior Notes due 2025”) and of $250 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.875% Senior Notes due 2027 (the “Additional Senior Notes due 2027” and, together with the Second Additional Senior Notes due 2025, the “Notes”). The Company used the net proceeds from the sale of the Notes to pay the tender price of Moy Park Notes described below, repay a portion of outstanding secured debt, and for general corporate purposes.
The Notes were sold to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and outside the United States to non-U.S. persons pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act.
The Company issued the Second Additional Senior Notes due 2025 pursuant to the Company’s existing Indenture dated as of March 11, 2015 by and among the Company, Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation of West Virginia, Inc., and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee (the “2025 Indenture”). The 2025 Indenture provides, among other things, that the Second Additional Senior Notes due 2025 will bear interest at a rate of 5.750% per annum from the date of issuance until maturity, payable semi-annually in cash in arrears, beginning on March 15, 2018. The Second Additional Senior Notes due 2025 were issued at a price of 99.25% of the aggregate principal amount. The Second Additional Senior Notes due 2025 are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation of West Virginia, Inc., Gold’n Plump Poultry, LLC, Gold’n Plump Farms, LLC and JFC LLC (the “Guarantors”). The Second Additional Senior Notes due 2025 and related guarantees are unsecured senior obligations of the Company and Guarantors and rank equally with all of the Company’s and Guarantors’ other unsubordinated indebtedness. The Second Additional Senior Notes due 2025 will be treated as a single class with the existing 2025 senior notes (including those issued in an add-on offering on September 29, 2017) for all purposes under the 2025 Indenture and will have the same terms as those of the existing 2025 senior notes.
The Additional Senior Notes due 2027 are governed by, and were issued pursuant to, the Company’s Indenture dated as of September 29, 2017 by and among the Company, the Guarantors, and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee (the “2027 Indenture” and, together with the 2025 Indenture, the “Indentures”). The 2027 Indenture provides, among other things, that the 2027 Notes will bear interest at a rate of 5.875% per annum from the date of issuance until maturity, payable semi-annually in cash in arrears, beginning on March 15, 2018. The Additional Senior Notes due 2027 were issued at a price of 97.25% of the aggregate principal amount. The 2027 Notes are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by the Guarantors. The 2027 Notes and related guarantees are unsecured senior obligations of the Company and Guarantors and rank equally with all of the Company’s and Guarantors’ other unsubordinated indebtedness. The Additional Senior Notes due 2027 will be treated as a single class with the existing 2027 senior notes for all purposes under the 2027 Indenture and will have the same terms as those of the existing 2027 senior notes.
The Notes and the Indentures also contain customary covenants and events of default, including failure to pay principal or interest on the Notes when due, among others.
Tender of Moy Park Senior Notes
On February 21, 2018, Moy Park (Bondco) plc, a public limited company incorporated under the laws of Northern Ireland (“Bondco”), initiated an offer to purchase for cash any and all of the outstanding £298.8 million aggregate principal amount of 6.25% Senior Notes due 2021 issued by Bondco and guaranteed by Moy Park Holdings (Europe) Ltd., a private company incorporated under the laws of Northern Ireland (“Moy Park”), and certain of its subsidiaries (the “Moy Park Notes”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the offer to purchase distributed to holders of the Moy Park Notes on February 21, 2018 (the “Offer”). The Offer was made by Bondco on behalf of itself and Moy Park, a guarantor under the Moy Park Notes to comply with the Indenture, dated as of May 29, 2014, as amended, among Bondco, the guarantors party thereto, The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, registrar, transfer agent and New York paying agent, The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch, as principal paying agent, and The Bank of New York Mellon SA/NV, Dublin Branch, as Irish paying agent, under which the Moy Park Notes were issued.
On March 7, 2018, Bondco announced the final results of its tender offer to purchase for cash any and all of its issued and outstanding Moy Park Notes. As of March 7, 2018, £233.1 million principal amount of Moy Park Notes had been validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn). Bondco purchased all validly tendered (and not validly withdrawn) Moy Park Notes on or prior to March 7, 2018, with such settlement occurring on March 8, 2018.

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ITEM 6.     EXHIBITS 
2.1

 
2.2

 
2.3

 
2.4

 
2.5

 
3.1

 
3.2

 
4.1

 
4.2

 
4.3

 
4.4

 
4.5

 
4.6

 
4.7

 
4.8

 
12

 
31.1

 
31.2

 
32.1

 
32.2

 
101.INS

 
XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH

 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
101.CAL

 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation
101.DEF

 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition
101.LAB

 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label
101.PRE

 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation
*
 
Filed herewith.
**
 
Furnished herewith.

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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
 
 
 
Date: May 10, 2018
 
/s/ Fabio Sandri
 
 
Fabio Sandri
 
 
Chief Financial Officer
 
 
(Principal Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Duly Authorized Officer)

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