body_10k.htm
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549
____________________

FORM 10-K
____________________

(Mark One)
x
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended September 27, 2008
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

Corporate Logo
PILGRIMS PRIDE CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
75-1285071
(State or other jurisdiction of
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)
 
   
4845 US Hwy 271 North
 
Pittsburg, Texas
75686-0093
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip code)
   
Registrants telephone number, including area code:  (903) 434-1000
   

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:  None
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:  Common Stock, Par Value $0.01
 

 

PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
September 27, 2008



Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes  ¨      No  x

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.  Yes  ¨      No  x

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  x     No  ¨

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrants knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer.  See definition of “accelerated filer” and “large accelerated filer” in Rule 12B-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large Accelerated Filer  x Accelerated Filer  o
Non-accelerated Filer  o  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) Smaller reporting company  o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes  ¨      No  x

The aggregate market value of the Registrants Common Stock, $0.01 par value, held by non-affiliates of the Registrant as of March 29, 2008, was $829,596,309. For purposes of the foregoing calculation only, all directors, executive officers and 5% beneficial owners have been deemed affiliates.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Section 12, 13, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court.  Yes  x      No  ¨

Number of shares of the Registrants Common Stock outstanding as of December 11, 2008, was 74,055,733.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the Registrants proxy statement for the 2009 annual meeting of stockholders are incorporated by reference into Part III.


 
2

PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
September 27, 2008



PILGRIMS PRIDE CORPORATION
FORM 10-K
TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I
Page
Business
4
Risk Factors
22
Unresolved Staff Comments
34
Properties
34
Legal Proceedings
35
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
38
     
PART II
 
Market for Registrants Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
 
39
Selected Financial Data
44
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
48
 
of Operations
 
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
75
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data (see Index to Financial Statements and
77
 
Schedules below)
 
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial
77
 
Disclosure
 
Controls and Procedures
78
Other Information
82
     
PART III
 
Directors and Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
83
Executive Compensation
83
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related
83
 
Stockholder Matters
 
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
83
Principal Accounting Fees and Services
84
     
PART IV
 
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
85
 
93
     
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES
 
96
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 27, 2008 and September 29, 2007
98
Consolidated Statements of Operations for each of the three years ended
September 27, 2008
99
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders Equity for each of the three years ended
September 27, 2008
100
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for each of the three years ended
September 27, 2008
101
102
Schedule IIValuation and Qualifying Accounts for each of the three years ended
September 27, 2008
153

 
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PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
September 27, 2008



PART I

Item 1.

Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation (“Pilgrim’s Pride” or the “Company”) operates on the basis of a 52/53-week fiscal year that ends on the Saturday closest to September 30. The reader should assume any reference we make to a particular year (for example, 2008) in this report applies to our fiscal year and not the calendar year.

Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Filings

On December 1, 2008 (the "Petition Date"), the Company and certain of its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Debtor Subsidiaries,” and together with the Company, the "Debtors") filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 of Title 11 of the United States Code (the "Bankruptcy Code") in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas, Fort Worth Division (the "Bankruptcy Court"). The cases are being jointly administered under Case No. 08-45664. The Company’s operations in Mexico and certain operations in the United States were not included in the filing (the “Non-filing Subsidiaries”) and will continue to operate outside of the Chapter 11 process.

Effective December 1, 2008, the New York Stock Exchange delisted our common stock as a result of the Company's filing of its Chapter 11 petitions. Our common stock is now quoted on the Pink Sheets Electronic Quotation Service under the ticker symbol "PGPDQ.PK."

The filing of the Chapter 11 petitions constituted an event of default under certain of our debt obligations, and those debt obligations became automatically and immediately due and payable, subject to an automatic stay of any action to collect, assert, or recover a claim against the Company and the application of applicable bankruptcy law. As a result, the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 27, 2008 includes a reclassification of $1,872.1 million to reflect as current certain long-term debt under its credit facilities that, absent the stay, would have become automatically and immediately due and payable.

Chapter 11 Process

The Debtors are currently operating as "debtors in possession" under the jurisdiction of the Bankruptcy Court and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code and orders of the Bankruptcy Court. In general, as debtors in possession, we are authorized under Chapter 11 to continue to operate as an ongoing business, but may not engage in transactions outside the ordinary course of business without the prior approval of the Bankruptcy Court.

On December 2, 2008, the Bankruptcy Court granted interim approval authorizing the Company and the Debtor Subsidiaries organized in the United States (the "US Subsidiaries") to enter into a Post-Petition Credit Agreement (the "DIP Credit Agreement") among the Company, as borrower, the US Subsidiaries, as guarantors, Bank of Montreal, as agent, and the lenders party thereto. On December 2, 2008, the Company, the US Subsidiaries and the other parties entered into the DIP Credit Agreement, subject to final approval of the Bankruptcy Court.
 
 
 
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PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
September 27, 2008



The DIP Credit Agreement provides for an aggregate commitment of up to $450 million, which permits borrowings on a revolving basis. The Company received interim approval to access $365 million of the commitment pending issuance of the final order by the Bankruptcy Court. Outstanding borrowings under the DIP Credit Agreement will bear interest at a per annum rate equal to 8.0% plus the greatest of (i) the prime rate as established by the DIP agent from time to time, (ii) the average federal funds rate plus 0.5%, or (iii) the LIBOR rate plus 1.0%, payable monthly. The loans under the DIP Credit Agreement were used to repurchase all receivables sold under the Company's Amended and Restated Receivables Purchase Agreement dated September 26, 2008, as amended (“RPA”) and may be used to fund the working capital requirements of the Company and its subsidiaries according to a budget as approved by the required lenders under the DIP Credit Agreement. For additional information on the RPA, see Item 7. "Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsLiquidity and Capital Resources."
Actual borrowings by the Company under the DIP Credit Agreement are subject to a borrowing base, which is a formula based on certain eligible inventory and eligible receivables. The borrowing base formula is reduced by pre-petition obligations under the Fourth Amended and Restated Secured Credit Agreement dated as of February 8, 2007, among the Company and certain of its subsidiaries, Bank of Montreal, as administrative agent, and the lenders parties thereto, as amended, administrative and professional expenses, and the amount owed by the Company and the Debtor Subsidiaries to any person on account of the purchase price of agricultural products or services (including poultry and livestock) if that person is entitled to any grower's or producer's lien or other security arrangement. The borrowing base is also limited to 2.22 times the formula amount of total eligible receivables. As of December 6, 2008, the applicable borrowing base was $324.8 million and the amount available for borrowings under the DIP Credit Agreement was $210.9 million.

The principal amount of outstanding loans under the DIP Credit Agreement, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon, are payable in full at maturity on December 1, 2009, subject to extension for an additional six months with the approval of all lenders thereunder. All obligations under the DIP Credit Agreement are unconditionally guaranteed by the US Subsidiaries and are secured by a first priority priming lien on substantially all of the assets of the Company and the US Subsidiaries, subject to specified permitted liens in the DIP Credit Agreement.

The DIP Credit Agreement allows the Company to provide advances to the Non-filing Subsidiaries of up to approximately $25 million at any time outstanding. Management believes that all of the Non-filing Subsidiaries, including the Companys Mexican subsidiaries, will be able to operate within this limitation.

For additional information on the DIP Credit Agreement, see Item 7. "Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsLiquidity and Capital Resources."
 

 
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PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
September 27, 2008



The Bankruptcy Court has approved payment of certain of the Debtors pre-petition obligations, including, among other things, employee wages, salaries and benefits, and the Bankruptcy Court has approved the Company's payment of vendors and other providers in the ordinary course for goods and services received from and after the Petition Date and other business-related payments necessary to maintain the operation of our businesses. The Debtors have retained, subject to Bankruptcy Court approval, legal and financial professionals to advise the Debtors on the bankruptcy proceedings and certain other "ordinary course" professionals. From time to time, the Debtors may seek Bankruptcy Court approval for the retention of additional professionals.

Shortly after the Petition Date, the Debtors began notifying all known current or potential creditors of the Chapter 11 filing. Subject to certain exceptions under the Bankruptcy Code, the Debtors’ Chapter 11 filing automatically enjoined, or stayed, the continuation of any judicial or administrative proceedings or other actions against the Debtors or their property to recover on, collect or secure a claim arising prior to the Petition Date. Thus, for example, most creditor actions to obtain possession of property from the Debtors, or to create, perfect or enforce any lien against the property of the Debtors, or to collect on monies owed or otherwise exercise rights or remedies with respect to a pre-petition claim are enjoined unless and until the Bankruptcy Court lifts the automatic stay. Vendors are being paid for goods furnished and services provided after the Petition Date in the ordinary course of business.

As required by the Bankruptcy Code, the United States Trustee for the Northern District of Texas appointed an official committee of unsecured creditors (the "Creditors’ Committee"). The Creditors’ Committee and its legal representatives have a right to be heard on all matters that come before the Bankruptcy Court with respect to the Debtors. There can be no assurance that the Creditors’ Committee will support the Debtors’ positions on matters to be presented to the Bankruptcy Court in the future or on any plan of reorganization, once proposed. Disagreements between the Debtors and the Creditors’ Committee could protract the Chapter 11 proceedings, negatively impact the Debtors’ ability to operate and delay the Debtors’ emergence from the Chapter 11 proceedings.

Under Section 365 and other relevant sections of the Bankruptcy Code, we may assume, assume and assign, or reject certain executory contracts and unexpired leases, including, without limitation, leases of real property and equipment, subject to the approval of the Bankruptcy Court and certain other conditions. Any description of an executory contract or unexpired lease in this report, including where applicable our express termination rights or a quantification of our obligations, must be read in conjunction with, and is qualified by, any overriding rejection rights we have under Section 365 of the Bankruptcy Code.

In order to successfully exit Chapter 11, the Debtors will need to propose, and obtain confirmation by the Bankruptcy Court of a plan of reorganization that satisfies the requirements of the Bankruptcy Code. A plan of reorganization would, among other things, resolve the Debtors’ pre-petition obligations, set forth the revised capital structure of the newly reorganized entity and provide for corporate governance subsequent to exit from bankruptcy.

 
 
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PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
September 27, 2008



The Debtors have the exclusive right for 120 days after the Petition Date to file a plan of reorganization and, if we do so, 60 additional days to obtain necessary acceptances of our plan. We will likely file one or more motions to request extensions of these time periods. If the Debtors’ exclusivity period lapsed, any party in interest would be able to file a plan of reorganization for any of the Debtors. In addition to being voted on by holders of impaired claims and equity interests, a plan of reorganization must satisfy certain requirements of the Bankruptcy Code and must be approved, or confirmed, by the Bankruptcy Court in order to become effective.

The timing of filing a plan of reorganization by us will depend on the timing and outcome of numerous other ongoing matters in the Chapter 11 proceedings. There can be no assurance at this time that a plan of reorganization will be confirmed by the Bankruptcy Court or that any such plan will be implemented successfully.

We have incurred and will continue to incur significant costs associated with our reorganization. The amount of these costs, which are being expensed as incurred commencing in November 2008, are expected to significantly affect our results of operations.

Under the priority scheme established by the Bankruptcy Code, unless creditors agree otherwise, pre-petition liabilities and post-petition liabilities must be satisfied in full before stockholders are entitled to receive any distribution or retain any property under a plan of reorganization. The ultimate recovery to creditors and/or stockholders, if any, will not be determined until confirmation of a plan or plans of reorganization. No assurance can be given as to what values, if any, will be ascribed in the Chapter 11 cases to each of these constituencies or what types or amounts of distributions, if any, they would receive. A plan of reorganization could result in holders of our liabilities and/or securities, including our common stock, receiving no distribution on account of their interests and cancellation of their holdings. Because of such possibilities, the value of our liabilities and securities, including our common stock, is highly speculative. Appropriate caution should be exercised with respect to existing and future investments in any of the liabilities and/or securities of the Debtors. At this time there is no assurance we will be able to restructure as a going concern or successfully propose or implement a plan of reorganization.

Going Concern Matters

The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. However, there is substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern based on the factors previously discussed. The Consolidated Financial Statements do not include any adjustments related to the recoverability and classification of recorded assets or the amounts and classification of liabilities or any other adjustments that might be necessary should the Company be unable to continue as a going concern. The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon the ability of the Company to return to historic levels of profitability and, in the near term, restructure its obligations in a manner that allows it to obtain confirmation of a plan of reorganization by the Bankruptcy Court.


 
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PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
September 27, 2008



Management is addressing the Company’s ability to return to profitability by conducting profitability reviews at certain facilities in an effort to reduce inefficiencies and manufacturing costs. The Company reduced production capacity in the near term by closing two production complexes and consolidating operations at a third production complex into its other facilities. This action resulted in a headcount reduction of approximately 2,300 production employees. Subsequent to September 27, 2008, the Company also reduced headcount by 335 non-production employees.

On November 7, 2008, the Board of Directors appointed a Chief Restructuring Officer (“CRO”) for the Company. The appointment of a CRO was a requirement included in the waivers received from the Companys lenders on October 27, 2008. The CRO will assist the Company with cost reduction initiatives, restructuring plans development and long-term liquidity improvement. The CRO reports to the Board of Directors of the Company.

In order to emerge from bankruptcy, the Company will need to obtain alternative financing to replace the DIP Credit Agreement and to satisfy the secured claims of its pre-bankruptcy creditors.

General Development of Business

Overview

The Company, which was incorporated in Texas in 1968 and re-incorporated in Delaware in 1986, is the successor to a partnership founded in 1946 that operated a retail feed store. Over the years, the Company grew as the result of expanding markets, increased market penetration and various acquisitions of farming operations and poultry processors. This included the significant acquisitions in 2004 and 2007 discussed below. Pilgrim’s Pride is one of the largest chicken companies in the United States (“US”), Mexico and Puerto Rico. The Companys prepared chicken products meet the needs of some of the largest customers in the food service industry across the US. Under the well-established Pilgrim's Pride brand name, our fresh chicken retail line is sold in the southeastern, central, southwestern and western regions of the US, throughout Puerto Rico, and in the northern and central regions of Mexico. Additionally, the Company exports commodity chicken products to 80 countries. 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 US states, Puerto Rico and Mexico. We believe this vertical integration has made us one of the highest-quality producers of chicken in North America.
 
We have consistently applied a long-term business strategy of focusing our growth efforts on the historically higher-value prepared chicken products and have become a recognized industry leader in this market. Accordingly, we focused our sales efforts on the foodservice industry, principally chain restaurants and food processors. More recently, we also focused our sales efforts on retailers seeking value-added products. In 2008, we sold 8.4 billion pounds of dressed chicken and generated net sales of $8.5 billion. In 2008, our US operations, including Puerto Rico, accounted for 93.2% of our net sales. Our Mexico operations generated the remaining 6.8% of our net sales.
 

 
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PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
September 27, 2008



Recent Business Acquisition Activities

In December 2006, we acquired a majority of the outstanding common stock of Gold Kist Inc. (“Gold Kist”) through a tender offer. We subsequently acquired all remaining Gold Kist shares and, in January 2007, Gold Kist became our wholly owned subsidiary. Gold Kist operated a fully-integrated chicken production business that included live production, processing, marketing and distribution. This acquisition positioned us as the largest chicken company in the US, and that position provided us with opportunities to expand our geographic reach and customer base and further pursue value-added and prepared chicken opportunities.

In November 2003, we completed the purchase of all the outstanding stock of the corporations represented as the ConAgra Foods, Inc. chicken division (“ConAgra Chicken”). The acquisition provided us with additional lines of specialty prepared chicken products, well-known brands, well-established distributor relationships, and processing facilities located in the southeastern region of the US. The acquisition also included the largest distributor of chicken products in Puerto Rico.

Financial Information about Segments

We operate in two reportable business segments as (i) a producer and seller of chicken products and (ii) a seller of other products. See a discussion of our business segments in Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

Narrative Description of Business

 
Products and Markets

Our chicken products consist primarily of:

(1)
Fresh chicken products, which are refrigerated (non-frozen) whole or cut-up chickens sold to the foodservice industry either pre-marinated or non-marinated. Fresh chicken also includes prepackaged case-ready chicken, which includes various combinations of freshly refrigerated, whole chickens and chicken parts in trays, bags or other consumer packs labeled and priced ready for the retail grocer's fresh meat counter.

(2)
Prepared chicken products, which are products such as portion-controlled breast fillets, tenderloins and strips, delicatessen products, salads, formed nuggets and patties and bone-in chicken parts. These products are sold either refrigerated or frozen and may be fully cooked, partially cooked or raw. In addition, these products are breaded or non-breaded and either pre-marinated or non-marinated.

(3)
Export and other chicken products, which are primarily parts and whole chicken, either refrigerated or frozen for US export or domestic use, and prepared chicken products for US export.


 
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PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
September 27, 2008


 
Our chicken products are sold primarily to:

(1)  
Retail customers, which are customers such as grocery store chains, wholesale clubs and other retail distributors. We sell to our retail customers branded, pre-packaged, cut-up and whole poultry, and fresh refrigerated or frozen whole chicken and chicken parts in trays, bags or other consumer packs.

(2)  
Foodservice customers, which are customers such as chain restaurants, food processors, foodservice distributors and certain other institutions. We sell products to our foodservice customers ranging from portion-controlled refrigerated chicken parts to fully-cooked and frozen, breaded or non-breaded chicken parts or formed products.

(3)  
Export and other product customers, who purchase chicken products for export to Eastern Europe, including Russia; the Far East, including China; Mexico; and other world markets. Our export and other chicken products, with the exception of our exported prepared chicken products, consist of whole chickens and chicken parts sold primarily in bulk, non-branded form, either refrigerated to distributors in the US or frozen for distribution to export markets.

Our other products consist of:

(1)  
Other types of meat along with various other staples purchased and sold by our distribution centers as a convenience to our chicken customers who purchase through the distribution centers.

(2)  
The production and sale of table eggs, commercial feeds and related items, live hogs and proteins.
 
 
 
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PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
September 27, 2008



The following table sets forth, for the periods beginning with 2004, net sales attributable to each of our primary product lines and markets served with those products. We based the table on our internal sales reports and their classification of product types and customers.

   
2008
   
2007(a)
   
2006
   
2005
   
2004(a)
 
   
(52 weeks)
   
(52 weeks)
   
(52 weeks)
   
(52 weeks)
   
(53 weeks)
 
US chicken:
 
(In thousands)
 
Prepared chicken:
                             
Foodservice
  $ 2,033,489     $ 1,897,643     $ 1,567,297     $ 1,622,901     $ 1,647,904  
Retail
    518,576       511,470       308,486       283,392       213,775  
                                         
Total prepared chicken
    2,552,065       2,409,113       1,875,783       1,906,293       1,861,679  
                                         
Fresh chicken:
                                       
Foodservice
    2,550,339       2,280,057       1,388,451       1,509,189       1,328,883  
Retail
    1,041,446       975,659       496,560       612,081       653,798  
                                         
Total fresh chicken
    3,591,785       3,255,716       1,885,011       2,121,270       1,982,681  
                                         
Export and other:
                                       
Export:
                                       
Prepared chicken
    94,795       83,317       64,338       59,473       34,735  
Fresh chicken
    818,239       559,429       257,823       303,150       212,611  
                                         
Total export(c)
    913,034       642,746       322,161       362,623       247,346  
Other chicken by-products
    20,163       20,779       15,448       21,083    
(b)
 
                                         
Total export and other
    933,197       663,525       337,609       383,706       247,346  
                                         
Total US chicken
    7,077,047       6,328,354       4,098,403       4,411,269       4,091,706  
                                         
Mexico chicken
    543,583       488,466       418,745       403,353       362,442  
                                         
Total chicken
    7,620,630       6,816,820       4,517,148       4,814,622       4,454,148  
                                         
Other products:
                                       
US
    869,850       661,115       618,575       626,056       600,091  
Mexico
    34,632       20,677       17,006       20,759       23,232  
                                         
Total other products
    904,482       681,792       635,581       646,815       623,323  
                                         
Total net sales
  $ 8,525,112     $ 7,498,612     $ 5,152,729     $ 5,461,437     $ 5,077,471  
                                         
Total prepared chicken
  $ 2,646,860     $ 2,492,430     $ 1,940,121     $ 1,965,766     $ 1,896,414  

(a)
The Gold Kist acquisition on December 27, 2006 and the ConAgra Chicken acquisition on November 23, 2003 have been accounted for as purchases.

(b)
The Export and other category historically included the sales of certain chicken by-products sold in international markets as well as the export of chicken products. Prior to 2005, by-product sales were not specifically identifiable within the Export and other category. Accordingly, a detail breakout is not available prior to such time; however, the Company believes that the relative split between these categories as shown in 2005 would not be dissimilar in 2004.

(c)
Export items include certain chicken parts that have greater value in the overseas markets than in the US.

 
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PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
September 27, 2008



The following table sets forth, beginning with 2004, the percentage of net US chicken sales attributable to each of our primary product lines and the markets serviced with those products. We based the table and related discussion on our internal sales reports and their classification of product types and customers.

   
2008
   
2007(a)
   
2006
   
2005
   
2004(a)
 
Prepared chicken:
                             
Foodservice
    28.8 %     30.1 %     38.2 %     36.8 %     40.3 %
Retail
    7.3 %     8.1 %     7.5 %     6.4 %     5.2 %
                                         
Total prepared chicken
    36.1 %     38.2 %     45.7 %     43.2 %     45.5 %
                                         
Fresh chicken:
                                       
Foodservice
    36.0 %     36.0 %     33.9 %     34.2 %     32.5 %
Retail
    14.7 %     15.4 %     12.1 %     13.9 %     16.0 %
                                         
Total fresh chicken
    50.7 %     51.4 %     46.0 %     48.1 %     48.5 %
                                         
Export and other:
                                       
Export:
                                       
Prepared chicken
    1.3 %     1.3 %     1.6 %     1.3 %     0.8 %
Fresh chicken
    11.6 %     8.8 %     6.3 %     6.9 %     5.2 %
                                         
Total export(c)
    12.9 %     10.1 %     7.9 %     8.2 %     6.0 %
Other chicken by-products
    0.3 %     0.3 %     0.4 %     0.5 %  
(b)
 
                                         
Total export and other
    13.2 %     10.4 %     8.3 %     8.7 %     6.0 %
                                         
Total US chicken
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
                                         
Total prepared chicken as a percent of US chicken
    37.4 %     39.5 %     47.3 %     44.5 %     46.3 %

(a)
The Gold Kist acquisition on December 27, 2006 and the ConAgra Chicken acquisition on November 23, 2003 have been accounted for as purchases.

(b)  
The Export and other category historically included the sales of certain chicken by-products sold in international markets as well as the export of chicken products. Prior to 2005, by-product sales were not specifically identifiable within the Export and other category. Accordingly, a detail breakout is not available prior to such time; however, the Company believes that the relative split between these categories as shown in 2005 would not be dissimilar in 2004.

(c)
Export items include certain chicken parts that have greater value in the overseas markets than in the US.

UNITED STATES

Product Types

Fresh Chicken Overview.  Our fresh chicken business is an important component of our sales and accounted for $3,591.8 million, or 50.7%, of our total US chicken sales for 2008. In addition to maintaining sales of mature, traditional fresh chicken products, our strategy has been to shift the mix of our US fresh chicken products by continuing to increase sales of faster-growing products, such as marinated whole chicken and chicken parts, and to continually shift portions of this product mix into the higher-value prepared chicken category.
 
 
 
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Most fresh chicken products are sold to established customers, based upon certain weekly or monthly market prices reported by the US Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) and other public price reporting services, plus a markup, which is dependent upon the customer’s location, volume, product specifications and other factors. We believe our practices with respect to sales of fresh chicken are generally consistent with those of our competitors. The majority of these products are sold pursuant to agreements with varying terms that either set a fixed price for the products or set a price according to formulas based on an underlying commodity market, subject in many cases to minimum and maximum prices.

Prepared Chicken Overview.  During 2008, $2,522.1 million of our US chicken sales were in prepared chicken products to foodservice customers and retail distributors, as compared to $1,861.7 million in 2004. These numbers reflect the impact of our historical strategic focus for growth in the prepared chicken markets and our acquisition of Gold Kist. The market for prepared chicken products has experienced, and we believe will continue to experience, greater growth and higher average sales prices than fresh chicken products. Also, the production and sale in the US of prepared chicken products reduce the impact of the costs of feed ingredients on our profitability. Feed ingredient costs are the single largest component of our total US cost of sales, representing approximately 38.1% of our total US cost of sales for 2008. The production of feed ingredients is positively or negatively affected primarily by the global level of supply inventories, demand for feed ingredients, the agricultural policies of the US and foreign governments and weather patterns throughout the world. As further processing is performed, feed ingredient costs become a decreasing percentage of a product’s total production cost, thereby reducing their impact on our profitability. Products sold in this form enable us to charge a premium, reduce the impact of feed ingredient costs on our profitability and improve and stabilize our profit margins.

We establish prices for our prepared chicken products based primarily upon perceived value to the customer, production costs and prices of competing products. The majority of these products are sold pursuant to agreements with varying terms that either set a fixed price for the products or set a price according to formulas based on an underlying commodity market, subject in many cases to minimum and maximum prices. Many times, these prices are dependent upon the customer's location, volume, product specifications and other factors.

Export and Other Chicken Products Overview.  Our export and other products consist of whole chickens and chicken parts sold primarily in bulk, non-branded form, either refrigerated to distributors in the US or frozen for distribution to export markets, and branded and non-branded prepared chicken products for distribution to export markets. In 2008, approximately $933.2 million, or 13.2%, of our total US chicken sales were attributable to US chicken export and other products. These exports and other products, other than the prepared chicken products, have historically been characterized by lower prices and greater price volatility than our more value-added product lines.
 
 
 
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Markets for Chicken Products

Foodservice.  The foodservice market principally consists of chain restaurants, food processors, broad-line distributors and certain other institutions located throughout the continental US. We supply chicken products ranging from portion-controlled refrigerated chicken parts to fully-cooked and frozen, breaded or non-breaded chicken parts or formed products.

We believe the Company is positioned to be the primary or secondary supplier to national and international chain restaurants who require multiple suppliers of chicken products. Additionally, we believe we are well suited to be the sole supplier for many regional chain restaurants. Regional chain restaurants often offer better margin opportunities and a growing base of business.

We believe we have operational strengths in terms of full-line product capabilities, high-volume production capacities, research and development expertise and extensive distribution and marketing experience relative to smaller and non-vertically integrated producers. While the overall chicken market has grown consistently, we believe the majority of this growth in recent years has been in the foodservice market. According to the National Chicken Council, from 2003 through 2007, sales of chicken products to the foodservice market grew at a compounded annual growth rate of approximately 7.5%, versus 6.6% growth for the chicken industry overall. Foodservice growth, outside of any temporary effects resulting from the current recessionary impacts being experienced in the US, is anticipated to continue as food-away-from-home expenditures continue to outpace overall industry rates. According to Technomic Information Services, food-away-from-home expenditures grew at a compounded annual growth rate of approximately 4.9% from 2003 through 2007 and are projected to grow at a 4.8% compounded annual growth rate from 2008 through 2012. Due to internal growth and the impact of both the Gold Kist and ConAgra Chicken acquisitions, our sales to the foodservice market from 2004 through 2008 grew at a compounded annual growth rate of 11.4% and represented 64.8% of the net sales of our US chicken operations in 2008.

Foodservice—Prepared Chicken.  Our prepared chicken sales to the foodservice market were $2,033.5 million in 2008 compared to $1,647.9 million in 2004, a compounded annual growth rate of approximately 5.4%. In addition to the significant increase in sales created by the acquisition of Gold Kist, we attribute this growth in sales of prepared chicken to the foodservice market to a number of factors:

·  
There has been significant growth in the number of foodservice operators offering chicken on their menus and in the number of chicken items offered.

·  
Foodservice operators are increasingly purchasing prepared chicken products, which allow them to reduce labor costs while providing greater product consistency, quality and variety across all restaurant locations.
 
 
 
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·  
There is a strong need among larger foodservice companies for a limited-source supplier base in the prepared chicken market. A viable supplier must be able to ensure supply, demonstrate innovation and new product development and provide competitive pricing. We have been successful in our objective of becoming a supplier of choice by being the primary or secondary prepared chicken supplier to many large foodservice companies because:

·  
We are vertically integrated, giving us control over our supply of chicken and chicken parts;

 ·  
Our further processing facilities, with a wide range of capabilities, are particularly well suited to the high-volume production as well as low-volume custom production runs necessary to meet both the capacity and quality requirements of the foodservice market; and

 ·  
We have established a reputation for dependable quality, highly responsive service and excellent technical support.

·  
As a result of the experience and reputation developed with larger customers, we have increasingly become the principal supplier to mid-sized foodservice organizations.

·  
Our in-house product development group follows a customer-driven research and development focus designed to develop new products to meet customers’ changing needs. Our research and development personnel often work directly with institutional customers in developing products for these customers.

·  
We are a leader in utilizing advanced processing technology, which enables us to better meet our customers’ needs for product innovation, consistent quality and cost efficiency.

Foodservice—Fresh Chicken.  We produce and market fresh, refrigerated chicken for sale to US quick-service restaurant chains, delicatessens and other customers. These chickens have the giblets removed, are usually of specific weight ranges and are usually pre-cut to customer specifications. They are often marinated to enhance value and product differentiation. By growing and processing to customers’ specifications, we are able to assist quick-service restaurant chains in controlling costs and maintaining quality and size consistency of chicken pieces sold to the consumer. Our fresh chicken products sales to the foodservice market were $2,550.3 million in 2008 compared to $1,328.9 million in 2004, a compounded annual growth rate of approximately 17.7%.

Retail.  The retail market consists primarily of grocery store chains, wholesale clubs and other retail distributors. We concentrate our efforts in this market on sales of branded, prepackaged cut-up and whole chicken and chicken parts to grocery store chains and retail distributors. For a number of years, we have invested in both trade and retail marketing designed to establish high levels of brand name awareness and consumer preferences.

 
 
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We utilize numerous marketing techniques, including advertising, to develop and strengthen trade and consumer awareness and increase brand loyalty for consumer products marketed under the Pilgrim’s Pride® brand. Our co-founder, Lonnie “Bo” Pilgrim, is the featured spokesperson in our television, radio and print advertising, and a trademark cameo of a person wearing a Pilgrim’s hat serves as the logo on all of our primary branded products. As a result of this marketing strategy, Pilgrim’s Pride® is a well-known brand name in a number of markets. We believe our efforts to achieve and maintain brand awareness and loyalty help to provide more secure distribution for our products. We also believe our efforts at brand awareness generate greater price premiums than would otherwise be the case in certain markets. We also maintain an active program to identify consumer preferences. The program primarily consists of discovering and validating new product ideas, packaging designs and methods through sophisticated qualitative and quantitative consumer research techniques in key geographic markets.

Due to internal growth and the impact of both the Gold Kist and ConAgra Chicken acquisitions, our sales to the retail market from 2004 through 2008 grew at a compounded annual growth rate of 15.8% and represented 22.0% of the net sales of our US chicken operations in 2008.

Retail—Prepared Chicken.  We sell retail-oriented prepared chicken products primarily to grocery store chains located throughout the US. Our prepared chicken products sales to the retail market were $518.6 million in 2008 compared to $213.8 million in 2004, a compounded annual growth rate of approximately 24.8%. We believe that our growth in this market segment will continue as retailers concentrate on satisfying consumer demand for more products that are quick, easy and convenient to prepare at home.

Retail—Fresh Chicken.  Our prepackaged retail products include various combinations of freshly refrigerated, whole chickens and chicken parts in trays, bags or other consumer packs labeled and priced ready for the retail grocer’s fresh meat counter. Our retail fresh chicken products are sold in the midwestern, southwestern, southeastern and western regions of the US. Our fresh chicken sales to the retail market were $1,041.4 million in 2008 compared to $653.8 million in 2004, a compounded annual growth rate of approximately 12.3% resulting primarily from our acquisition of Gold Kist in 2007. We believe the retail prepackaged fresh chicken business will continue to be a large and relatively stable market, providing opportunities for product differentiation and regional brand loyalty.

Export and Other Chicken Products.  Our export and other chicken products, with the exception of our exported prepared chicken products, consist of whole chickens and chicken parts sold primarily in bulk, non-branded form either refrigerated to distributors in the US or frozen for distribution to export markets. In the US, prices of these products are negotiated daily or weekly and are generally related to market prices quoted by the USDA or other public price reporting services. We sell US-produced chicken products for export to Eastern Europe, including Russia; the Far East, including China; Mexico; and other world markets.

 
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Historically, we have targeted international markets to generate additional demand for our dark chicken meat, which is a natural by-product of our US operations given our concentration on prepared chicken products and the US customers’ general preference for white chicken meat. We have also begun selling prepared chicken products for export to the international divisions of our US chain restaurant customers. We believe that US chicken exports will continue to grow as worldwide demand increases for high-grade, low-cost meat protein sources. Also included in this category are chicken by-products, which are converted into protein products and sold primarily to manufacturers of pet foods.

Markets for Other Products

We have regional distribution centers located in Arizona, Texas and Utah that are primarily focused on distributing our own chicken products; however, the distribution centers also distribute certain poultry and non-poultry products purchased from third parties to independent grocers and quick-service restaurants. Our non-chicken distribution business is conducted as an accommodation to our customers and to achieve greater economies of scale in distribution logistics. Chicken sales from our regional distribution centers are included in the chicken sales amounts contained in the above tables; however, all non-chicken sales amounts are contained in the Other Products sales in the above tables.

We market fresh eggs under the Pilgrim’s Pride® brand name, as well as under private labels, in various sizes of cartons and flats to US retail grocery and institutional foodservice customers located primarily in Texas. We have a housing capacity for approximately 2.1 million commercial egg laying hens which can produce approximately 42 million dozen eggs annually. US egg prices are determined weekly based upon reported market prices. The US egg industry has been consolidating over the last few years, with the 25 largest producers accounting for more than 65% of the total number of egg laying hens in service during 2008. We compete with other US egg producers primarily on the basis of product quality, reliability, price and customer service.

We market a high-nutrient egg called EggsPlus™. This egg contains high levels of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids along with Vitamin E, making the egg a heart-friendly product. Our marketing of EggsPlus™ has received national recognition for our progress in being an innovator in the “functional foods” category.

We produce and sell livestock feeds at our feed mill in Mt. Pleasant, Texas and at our farm supply store in Pittsburg, Texas to dairy farmers and livestock producers in northeastern Texas. We engage in similar sales activities at our other US feed mills.

We also have a small pork operation that we acquired through the Gold Kist acquisition that raises and sells live hogs to processors.
 
 
 
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MEXICO

Background

The Mexico market represented approximately 6.8% of our net sales in 2008. We are the second-largest producer and seller of chicken in Mexico. We believe that we are one of the lower-cost producers of chicken in Mexico.

Product Types

While the market for chicken products in Mexico is less developed than in the US, with sales attributed to fewer, more basic products, we have been successful in differentiating our products through high-quality client service and product improvements such as dry-air chilled, eviscerated products. The supermarket chains consider us the leader in innovation for fresh products. The market for value-added products is increasing. Our strategy is to capitalize on this trend through our vast US experience in both products and quality and our well-known service.

Markets

We sell our chicken products primarily to wholesalers, large restaurant chains, fast food accounts, supermarket chains and direct retail distribution in selected markets. We have national presence and are currently present in all but 2 of the 32 Mexican States, which in total represent 99.7% of the Mexican population.

Foreign Operations Risks

Our foreign operations pose special risks to our business and operations. A discussion of foreign operations risks is included in Item 1A. “Risk Factors.”

GENERAL

Competitive Conditions

The chicken industry is highly competitive and our largest US competitor has greater financial and marketing resources than we do. In addition, our liquidity constraints have had a negative effect on our competitive position, relative to our competitors that are less highly leveraged. See Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources.” In the US, Mexico and Puerto Rico, we compete principally with other vertically integrated poultry companies. We are one of the largest producers of chicken in the US, Mexico and Puerto Rico, and the second largest producer in Mexico. The second largest producer in the US is Tyson Foods, Inc. The largest producer in Mexico is Industrias Bachoco S.A.B. de C.V.
 
 
 
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In general, the competitive factors in the US chicken industry include price, product quality, product development, brand identification, breadth of product line and customer service. Competitive factors vary by major market. In the US retail market, we believe that product quality, brand awareness, customer service and price are the primary bases of competition. In the foodservice market, competition is based on consistent quality, product development, service and price. There is some competition with non-vertically integrated further processors in the US prepared chicken business. We believe vertical integration generally provides significant, long-term cost and quality advantages over non-vertically integrated further processors.

In Mexico, where product differentiation has traditionally been limited, product quality, service and price have been the most critical competitive factors. In July 2003, the US and Mexico entered into a safeguard agreement with regard to imports into Mexico of chicken leg quarters from the US. Under this agreement, a tariff rate for chicken leg quarters of 98.8% of the sales price was established. This tariff was imposed because of concerns that the duty-free importation of such products as provided by the North American Free Trade Agreement would injure Mexico’s poultry industry. This tariff rate was eliminated on January 1, 2008. As a result of the elimination of this tariff, we expect greater amounts of chicken to be imported into Mexico from the US. This could negatively affect the profitability of Mexican chicken producers, including our Mexico operations.

We are not a significant competitor in the distribution business as it relates to products other than chicken. We distribute these products solely as a convenience to our chicken customers. The broad-line distributors do not consider us to be a factor in those markets. The competition related to our other products such as table eggs, feed and protein are much more regionalized and no one competitor is dominant.

Key Customers

Our two largest customers accounted for approximately 16% of our net sales in 2008, and our largest customer, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., accounted for 11% of our net sales.

Regulation and Environmental Matters

The chicken industry is subject to government regulation, particularly in the health and environmental areas, including provisions relating to the discharge of materials into the environment, by the Centers for Disease Control, the USDA, the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) and the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) in the US and by similar governmental agencies in Mexico. Our chicken processing facilities in the US are subject to on-site examination, inspection and regulation by the USDA. The FDA inspects the production of our feed mills in the US. Our Mexican food processing facilities and feed mills are subject to on-site examination, inspection and regulation by a Mexican governmental agency that performs functions similar to those performed by the USDA and FDA. We believe that we are in substantial compliance with all applicable laws and regulations relating to the operations of our facilities.
 
 
 
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We anticipate increased regulation by the USDA concerning food safety, by the FDA concerning the use of medications in feed and by the EPA and various other state agencies concerning discharges to the environment. Although we do not anticipate any regulations having a material adverse effect upon us, a material adverse effect may occur.

Employees and Labor Relations

As of September 27, 2008, we employed approximately 44,750 persons in the US and approximately 5,000 persons in Mexico. There are 13,771 employees at various facilities in the US who are members of collective bargaining units. In Mexico, 2,832 employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements. We have not experienced any work stoppage at any location in over five years. We believe our relations with our employees are satisfactory. At any given time, we will be in some stage of contract negotiation with various collective bargaining units.

Financial Information about Foreign Operations

The Company’s foreign operations are in Mexico. Geographic financial information is set forth in Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation.”

Available Information; NYSE CEO Certification

The Company’s Internet website is http://www.pilgrimspride.com. The Company makes available, free of charge, through its Internet website, the Company’s annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, Directors and Officers Forms 3, 4 and 5, and amendments to those reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after electronically filing such materials with, or furnishing them to, the Securities and Exchange Commission. The public may read and copy any materials that the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission at its Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549 and may obtain information about the operation of the Public Information Room by calling the Securities and Exchange Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330.

In addition, the Company makes available, through its Internet website, the Company’s Business Code of Conduct and Ethics, Corporate Governance Guidelines and the written charter of the Audit Committee, each of which is available in print to any stockholder who requests it by contacting the Secretary of the Company at 4845 US Highway 271 North, Pittsburg, Texas 75686-0093.

As required by the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), the Company submitted its unqualified Section 303A.12(a) Co-Principal Executive Officers Certification for the preceding year to the NYSE.

We included the certifications of the Co-Principal Executive Officers and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and related rules, relating to the quality of the Company's public disclosure, in this report on Form 10-K as Exhibits 31.1, 31.2 and 31.3.
 
 
 
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Executive Officers

Set forth below is certain information relating to our current executive officers:

Name
 
Age
 
Positions
Lonnie "Bo" Pilgrim
 
80
 
Senior Chairman of the Board
Lonnie Ken Pilgrim
 
50
 
Chairman of the Board
J. Clinton Rivers
 
49
 
President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director
Richard A. Cogdill
 
48
 
Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, Treasurer and Director
Robert A. Wright
 
54
 
Chief Operating Officer
William K. Snyder
 
49
 
Chief Restructuring Officer

Lonnie "Bo" Pilgrim has served as Senior Chairman of the Board since July 2007.  He served as Chairman of the Board since the organization of Pilgrim's Pride in July 1968 until July 2007. He also served as Chief Executive Officer from July 1968 to June 1998. Prior to the incorporation of Pilgrim's Pride, Mr. Pilgrim was a partner in its predecessor partnership business founded in 1946.

Lonnie Ken Pilgrim has served as Chairman of the Board since July 2007. Mr. Pilgrim served as Chairman of the Board and Interim President from January 2008 to March 2008. He served as Executive Vice President, Assistant to Chairman from November 2004 until July 2007, and he served as Senior Vice President, Transportation from August 1997 to November 2004. Prior to that, he served as Vice President. He has been a member of the Board of Directors since March 1985, and he has been employed by Pilgrim’s Pride since 1977. He is a son of Lonnie “Bo” Pilgrim.

J. Clinton Rivers has served as President, Chief Executive Officer and Director since March 2008. Mr. Rivers served as Chief Operating Officer from October 2004 to March 2008. He served as Executive Vice President of Prepared Food Operations from November 2002 to October 2004. Mr. Rivers was the Senior Vice President of Prepared Foods Operations from 1999 to November 2002, and was the Vice President of Prepared Foods Operations from 1992 to 1999. From 1989 to 1992, he served as Plant Manager of the Mount Pleasant, Texas Production Facility. Mr. Rivers joined Pilgrim’s Pride in 1986 as the Quality Assurance Manager, and also held positions at Perdue Farms and Golden West Foods.

Richard A. Cogdill has served as Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer since January 1997. Mr. Cogdill became a Director in September 1998. Previously he served as Senior Vice President, Corporate Controller, from August 1992 through December 1996 and as Vice President, Corporate Controller from October 1991 through August 1992. Prior to October 1991, he was a Senior Manager with Ernst & Young LLP. Mr. Cogdill is a Certified Public Accountant.

Robert A. Wright has served as Chief Operating Officer since April 2008. Mr. Wright served as Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing from June 2004 to April 2008. He served as Executive Vice President, Turkey Division from October 2003 to June 2004. Prior to October 2003, Mr. Wright served as President of Butterball Turkey Company for five years.

 
 
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William K. Snyder has served as Chief Restructuring Officer since November 2008. Mr. Snyder has served as a Managing Partner of CRG Partners Group, LLC ("CRG"), a provider of corporate turnaround and restructuring services, since 2001. Mr. Snyder will continue to be employed by CRG and will perform service as Chief Restructuring Officer of the Company through CRG. In connection with his position as Managing Partner of CRG, Mr. Snyder served as court-appointed examiner of Mirant Corporation, Corporate Responsible Partner of Furrs Restaurant Group Inc., Chief Financial Officer of Reliant Building Products Inc., and as a senior executive officer of a number of private companies. Previously, Mr. Snyder was president of his own financial consulting company, The Snyder Company.

Item 1A.  Risk Factors

Forward Looking Statements

Statements of our intentions, beliefs, expectations or predictions for the future, denoted by the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "plan," "project," "imply," "intend," "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 those described under "Risk Factors" below and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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 in information contained in previous filings or communications. The risks described below are not the only risks we face, and additional risks and uncertainties may also impair our business operations. The occurrence of any one or more of the following or other currently unknown factors could materially adversely affect our business and operating results.

Risk Factors

The following risk factors should be read carefully in connection with evaluating our business and the forward-looking information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Any of the following risks could materially adversely affect our business, operations, industry or financial position or our future financial performance. While we believe we have identified and discussed below the most significant risk factors affecting our business, there may be additional risks and uncertainties that are not presently known or that are not currently believed to be significant that may adversely affect our business, operations, industry, financial position and financial performance in the future.
 
 
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Chapter 11 Filing.  We filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code on December 1, 2008.

During our Chapter 11 proceedings, our operations, including our ability to execute our business plan, are subject to the risks and uncertainties associated with bankruptcy. Risks and uncertainties associated with our Chapter 11 proceedings include the following:

·  
Actions and decisions of our creditors and other third parties with interests in our Chapter 11 proceedings may be inconsistent with our plans;

·  
Our ability to obtain court approval with respect to motions in the Chapter 11 proceedings prosecuted from time to time;

·  
Our ability to develop, prosecute, confirm and consummate a plan of reorganization with respect to the Chapter 11 proceedings;

·  
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; and

·  
Risks associated with third parties seeking and obtaining court approval to terminate or shorten the exclusivity period for us to propose and confirm a plan of reorganization, to appoint a Chapter 11 trustee or to convert the cases to Chapter 7 cases.

These risks and uncertainties could affect our business and operations in various ways. For example, negative events or publicity associated with our Chapter 11 proceedings could adversely affect our sales and relationships with our customers, as well as with vendors and employees, which in turn could adversely affect our operations and financial condition, particularly if the Chapter 11 proceedings are protracted. Also, transactions outside the ordinary course of business are subject to the prior approval of the Bankruptcy Court, which may limit our ability to respond timely to certain events or take advantage of certain opportunities.

Because of the risks and uncertainties associated with our Chapter 11 proceedings, the ultimate impact that events that occur during these proceedings will have on our business, financial condition and results of operations cannot be accurately predicted or quantified. We cannot provide any assurance as to what values, if any, will be ascribed in our bankruptcy proceedings to our various pre-petition liabilities, common stock and other securities. As a result of Chapter 11 proceedings, our currently outstanding common stock could have no value and may be canceled under any plan of reorganization we might propose and, therefore, we believe that the value of our various pre-petition liabilities and other securities is highly speculative. Accordingly, caution should be exercised with respect to existing and future investments in any of these liabilities or securities.

 
 
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Our stock is no longer listed on a national securities exchange.  It will likely be more difficult for stockholders and investors to sell our common stock or to obtain accurate quotations of the share price of our common stock.

Effective December 1, 2008, the NYSE delisted our common stock from trading. Our stock is now traded over the counter and is quoted on the Pink Sheet Electronic Quotation Service (“Pink Sheets”). We can provide no assurance that we will be able to re-list our common stock on a national securities exchange or that the stock will continue being traded on the Pink Sheets. The trading of our common stock over the counter negatively impacts the trading price of our common stock and the levels of liquidity available to our stockholders. In addition, securities that trade on the Pink Sheets are not eligible for margin loans and make our common stock subject to the provisions of Rule 15g-9 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, commonly referred to as the "penny stock rule." In connection with the delisting of our stock, there may also be other negative implications, including the potential loss of confidence in our Company by suppliers, customers and employees and the loss of institutional investor interest in our common stock.

Substantial Leverage.  Our substantial indebtedness could adversely affect our financial condition.

We currently have a substantial amount of indebtedness, which could adversely affect our financial condition and could have important consequences to you and we are not in compliance with covenants in a substantial portion of our indebtedness. Our indebtedness:

·  
Makes it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations under our debt securities;

·  
Increases our vulnerability to general adverse economic conditions;

·  
Limits our ability to obtain necessary financing and to fund future working capital, capital expenditures and other general corporate requirements;

·  
Requires us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to payments on our indebtedness, thereby reducing the availability of our cash flow to fund working capital, capital expenditures and for other general corporate purposes;

·  
Limits our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industry in which we operate;

·  
Places us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have less debt;

·  
Limits our ability to pursue acquisitions and sell assets; and

·  
Limits, along with the financial and other restrictive covenants in our indebtedness, our ability to borrow additional funds. Failing to comply with those covenants could result in an event of default or require redemption of indebtedness. Either of these events could have a material adverse effect on us.

 
 
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Our ability to make payments on and to refinance our indebtedness will depend on our ability to generate cash in the future, which is dependent on various factors. These factors include the commodity prices of feed ingredients and chicken and general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control.

Liquidity.  Our liquidity position imposes significant risks to our operations.

Because of the public disclosure of our liquidity constraints, our ability to maintain normal credit terms with our suppliers has become impaired. We have been required to pay cash in advance to certain vendors and have experienced restrictions on the availability of trade credit, which has further reduced our liquidity. If liquidity problems persist, our suppliers could refuse to provide key products and services in the future. In addition, due to public perception of our financial condition and results of operations, in particular with regard to our potential failure to meet our debt obligations, some customers have become reluctant to enter into long-term agreements with us.

The DIP Credit Agreement provides for an aggregate commitment of up to $450 million, which permits borrowings on a revolving basis. The Company received interim approval to access $365 million of the commitment pending issuance of the final order by the Bankruptcy Court. As of December 6, 2008, the applicable borrowing base was approximately $324.8 million and the amount available for borrowings under the DIP Credit Agreement was $210.9 million. There can be no assurance that the amounts of cash from operations together with amounts available under our DIP Credit Agreement will be sufficient to fund operations. In the event that cash flows and available borrowings under the DIP Credit Agreement are not sufficient to meet our liquidity requirements, we may be required to seek additional financing. There can be no assurance that such additional financing would be available or, if available, offered on acceptable terms. Failure to secure any necessary additional financing would have a material adverse impact on our operations. For additional information on our liquidity, see Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources.”

Asset Impairments.  The Company may be required to record an impairment on its long-lived assets.

If the Company is unable to return to profitability, we may be required to record an impairment on tangible assets such as facilities and equipment as well as intangible assets such as intellectual property, which would have a negative impact on our financial results.

Cyclicality and Commodity Prices. Industry cyclicality can affect our earnings, especially due to fluctuations in commodity prices of feed ingredients and chicken.

Profitability in the chicken industry is materially affected by the commodity prices of feed ingredients and chicken, which are determined by supply and demand factors. As a result, the chicken industry is subject to cyclical earnings fluctuations.

 
 
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PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
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The production of feed ingredients is positively or negatively affected primarily by the global level of supply inventories and demand for feed ingredients, the agricultural policies of the United States and foreign governments and weather patterns throughout the world. In particular, weather patterns often change agricultural conditions in an unpredictable manner. A significant change in weather patterns could affect supplies of feed ingredients, as well as both the industry's and our ability to obtain feed ingredients, grow chickens or deliver products.

The cost of corn and soybean meal, our primary feed ingredients, increased significantly from August 2006 to July 2008, before moderating by the date of this report, and there can be no assurance that the price of corn or soybean meal will not significantly rise again as a result of, among other things, increasing demand for these products around the world and alternative uses of these products, such as ethanol and biodiesel production.

High feed ingredient prices have had, and may continue to have, a material adverse effect on our operating results, which has resulted in, and may continue to result in, additional non-cash expenses due to impairment of the carrying amounts of certain of our assets. We periodically seek, to the extent available, to enter into advance purchase commitments or financial derivative contracts for the purchase of feed ingredients in an effort to manage our feed ingredient costs. The use of such instruments may not be successful.

Livestock and Poultry Disease, including Avian Influenza.  Outbreaks of livestock diseases in general and poultry diseases in particular, including avian influenza, can significantly affect our ability to conduct our operations and demand for our products.

We take precautions designed to ensure that our flocks are healthy and that our processing plants and other facilities operate in a sanitary and environmentally-sound manner. However, events beyond our control, such as the outbreaks of disease, either in our own flocks or elsewhere, could significantly affect demand for our products or our ability to conduct our operations. Furthermore, an outbreak of disease could result in governmental restrictions on the import and export of our fresh chicken or other products to or from our suppliers, facilities or customers, or require us to destroy one or more of our flocks. This could also result in the cancellation of orders by our customers and create adverse publicity that may have a material adverse effect on our ability to market our products successfully and on our business, reputation and prospects.

During the first half of 2006, there was substantial publicity regarding a highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza, known as H5N1, which has been affecting Asia since 2002 and which has also been found in Europe and Africa. It is widely believed that H5N1 is being spread by migratory birds, such as ducks and geese. There have also been some cases where H5N1 is believed to have passed from birds to humans as humans came into contact with live birds that were infected with the disease.
 
 
 
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PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
September 27, 2008



Although highly pathogenic H5N1 has not been identified in North America, there have been outbreaks of low pathogenic strains of avian influenza in North America, and in Mexico outbreaks of both high and low-pathogenic strains of avian influenza are a fairly common occurrence. Historically, the outbreaks of low pathogenic avian influenza have not generated the same level of concern, or received the same level of publicity or been accompanied by the same reduction in demand for poultry products in certain countries as that associated with the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain. Accordingly, even if the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain does not spread to North or Central America, there can be no assurance that it will not materially adversely affect demand for North or Central American produced poultry internationally and/or domestically, and, if it were to spread to North or Central America, there can be no assurance that it would not significantly affect our ability to conduct our operations and/or demand for our products, in each case in a manner having a material adverse effect on our business, reputation and/or prospects.

Contamination of Products.  If our poultry products become contaminated, we may be subject to product liability claims and product recalls.

Poultry products may be subject to contamination by disease-producing organisms, or pathogens, such as Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella and generic E.coli. These pathogens are generally found in the environment, and, as a result, there is a risk that they, as a result of food processing, could be present in our processed poultry products. These pathogens can also be introduced as a result of improper handling at the further processing, foodservice or consumer level. These risks may be controlled, although not eliminated, by adherence to good manufacturing practices and finished product testing. We have little, if any, control over proper handling once the product has been shipped. Illness and death may result if the pathogens are not eliminated at the further processing, foodservice or consumer level. Even an inadvertent shipment of contaminated products is a violation of law and may lead to increased risk of exposure to product liability claims, product recalls and increased scrutiny by federal and state regulatory agencies and may have a material adverse effect on our business, reputation and prospects.

In October 2002, one product sample produced in our Franconia, Pennsylvania facility that had not been shipped to customers tested positive for Listeria. We later received information from the USDA suggesting environmental samples taken at the facility had tested positive for both the strain of Listeria identified in the product and a strain having characteristics similar to those of the strain identified in a Northeastern Listeria outbreak. As a result, we voluntarily recalled all cooked deli products produced at the plant from May 1, 2002 through October 11, 2002. We carried insurance designed to cover the direct recall related expenses and certain aspects of the related business interruption caused by the recall.
 
 
 
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PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
September 27, 2008



Product Liability.  Product liability claims or product recalls can adversely affect our business reputation and expose us to increased scrutiny by federal and state regulators.

The packaging, marketing and distribution of food products entail an inherent risk of product liability and product recall and the resultant adverse publicity. We may be subject to significant liability if the consumption of any of our products causes injury, illness or death. We could be required to recall certain of our products in the event of contamination or damage to the products. In addition to the risks of product liability or product recall due to deficiencies caused by our production or processing operations, we may encounter the same risks if any third party tampers with our products. We cannot assure you that we will not be required to perform product recalls, or that product liability claims will not be asserted against us, in the future. Any claims that may be made may create adverse publicity that would have a material adverse effect on our ability to market our products successfully or on our business, reputation, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.

If our poultry products become contaminated, we may be subject to product liability claims and product recalls. There can be no assurance that any litigation or reputational injury associated with product recalls will not have a material adverse effect on our ability to market our products successfully or on our business, reputation, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.

Insurance.  We are exposed to risks relating to product liability, product recall, property damage and injuries to persons for which insurance coverage is expensive, limited and potentially inadequate.

Our business operations entail a number of risks, including risks relating to product liability claims, product recalls, property damage and injuries to persons. We currently maintain insurance with respect to certain of these risks, including product liability insurance, property insurance, workers compensation insurance, business interruption insurance and general liability insurance, but in many cases such insurance is expensive, difficult to obtain and no assurance can be given that such insurance can be maintained in the future on acceptable terms, or in sufficient amounts to protect us against losses due to any such events, or at all. Moreover, even though our insurance coverage may be designed to protect us from losses attributable to certain events, it may not adequately protect us from liability and expenses we incur in connection with such events. For example, the losses attributable to our October 2002 recall of cooked deli products produced at one of our facilities significantly exceeded available insurance coverage. Additionally, in the past, two of our insurers encountered financial difficulties and were unable to fulfill their obligations under the insurance policies as anticipated and, separately, two of our other insurers contested coverage with respect to claims covered under policies purchased, forcing us to litigate the issue of coverage before we were able to collect under these policies.

 
 
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PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
September 27, 2008



Significant Competition.  Competition in the chicken industry with other vertically integrated poultry companies may make us unable to compete successfully in these industries, which could adversely affect our business.

The chicken industry is highly competitive. In both the US and Mexico, we primarily compete with other vertically integrated chicken companies.

In general, the competitive factors in the US chicken industry include:

·  
Price;

·  
Product quality;

·  
Product development;

·  
Brand identification;

·  
Breadth of product line; and

·  
Customer service.

Competitive factors vary by major market. In the foodservice market, competition is based on consistent quality, product development, service and price. In the US retail market, we believe that competition is based on product quality, brand awareness, customer service and price. Further, there is some competition with non-vertically integrated further processors in the prepared chicken business. In addition, our filing for protection under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code and the associated risks and uncertainties may be used by competitors in an attempt to divert our existing customers or may discourage future customers from purchasing our products under long-term arrangements.

In Mexico, where product differentiation has traditionally been limited, product quality and price have been the most critical competitive factors. The North American Free Trade Agreement eliminated tariffs for chicken and chicken products sold to Mexico on January 1, 2003. However, in July 2003, the US and Mexico entered into a safeguard agreement with regard to imports into Mexico of chicken leg quarters from the US. Under this agreement, a tariff rate for chicken leg quarters of 98.8% of the sales price was established. On January 1, 2008, the tariff was eliminated. In connection with the elimination of those tariffs in Mexico, increased competition from chicken imported into Mexico from the US may have a material adverse effect on the Mexican chicken industry in general, and on our Mexican operations in particular.
 
 
 
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PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
September 27, 2008



Loss of Key Customers.  The loss of one or more of our largest customers could adversely affect our business.

Our two largest customers accounted for approximately 16% of our net sales in 2008, and our largest customer, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., accounted for 11% of our net sales. Our filing for protection under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code and the associated risks and uncertainties may affect our customers' perception of our business and increase our risk of losing key customers. Our business could suffer significant setbacks in revenues and operating income if we lost one or more of our largest customers, or if our customers' plans and/or markets should change significantly.

Continued Integration of Gold Kist.  There can be no assurance that Gold Kist can be combined successfully with our business.

In evaluating the terms of our acquisition of Gold Kist, we analyzed the respective businesses of the Company and Gold Kist and made certain assumptions concerning their respective future operations. A principal assumption was that the acquisition will produce operating results better than those historically experienced or expected to be experienced in the future by us in the absence of the acquisition. There can be no assurance, however, that this assumption is correct or that any remaining separate businesses of the Company and Gold Kist will be successfully integrated in a timely manner.

Synergies of Gold Kist.  There can be no assurance that we will achieve anticipated synergies from our acquisition of Gold Kist.

We consummated the Gold Kist acquisition with the expectation that it will result in beneficial synergies, such as cost savings and enhanced growth. Success in realizing these benefits and the timing of this realization depend upon the successful integration of the operations of Gold Kist into the Company, and upon general and industry-specific economic factors. The integration of two independent companies has been and remains a complex, costly and time-consuming process. The difficulties of combining the operations of the companies include, among others:

·  
Transitioning and preserving Gold Kist's customer, contractor, supplier and other important third-party relationships;

·  
Integrating corporate and administrative infrastructures;

·  
Coordinating sales and marketing functions;

·  
Minimizing the diversion of management's attention from ongoing business concerns;

·  
Coordinating geographically separate organizations; and

·  
Retaining key employees.

Even if we are able to effectively integrate the remaining operations of Gold Kist into our existing operations, there can be no assurance that the anticipated synergies will be achieved.
 
 
 
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PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
September 27, 2008



Assumption of Unknown Liabilities in Acquisitions.  Assumption of unknown liabilities in acquisitions may harm our financial condition and operating results.

We do not currently intend to make any acquisition in the near future. However, if we do, acquisitions may be structured in such a manner that would result in the assumption of unknown liabilities not disclosed by the seller or uncovered during pre-acquisition due diligence. For example, our acquisition of Gold Kist was structured as a stock purchase. In that acquisition we assumed all of the liabilities of Gold Kist, including liabilities that may be unknown. These obligations and liabilities could harm our financial condition and operating results.

Foreign Operations Risks.  Our foreign operations pose special risks to our business and operations.

We have significant operations and assets located in Mexico and may participate in or acquire operations and assets in other foreign countries in the future. Foreign operations are subject to a number of special risks, including among others:

·  
Currency exchange rate fluctuations;

·  
Trade barriers;

·  
Exchange controls;

·  
Expropriation; and

·  
Changes in laws and policies, including those governing foreign-owned operations.

Currency exchange rate fluctuations have adversely affected us in the past. Exchange rate fluctuations or one or more other risks may have a material adverse effect on our business or operations in the future.

Our operations in Mexico are conducted through subsidiaries organized under the laws of Mexico. We may rely in part on intercompany loans and distributions from our subsidiaries to meet our obligations. Claims of creditors of our subsidiaries, including trade creditors, will generally have priority as to the assets of our subsidiaries over our claims. Additionally, the ability of our Mexican subsidiaries to make payments and distributions to us will be subject to, among other things, Mexican law. In the past, these laws have not had a material adverse effect on the ability of our Mexican subsidiaries to make these payments and distributions. However, laws such as these may have a material adverse effect on the ability of our Mexican subsidiaries to make these payments and distributions in the future.
 
 
 
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PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
September 27, 2008



Disruptions in International Markets and Distribution Channels.  Disruptions in international markets and distribution channels could adversely affect our business.

Historically, we have targeted international markets to generate additional demand for our chicken dark meat, specifically leg quarters, which are a natural by-product of our US operations, given our concentration on prepared chicken products and the US customers general preference for white meat. As part of this initiative, we have created a significant international distribution network into several markets, including Eastern Europe, including Russia; the Far East, including China; and Mexico. Our success in these markets could be, and in recent periods has been, adversely affected by disruptions in poultry export markets. These disruptions are often caused by restrictions on imports of US-produced poultry products imposed by foreign governments for a variety of reasons, including the protection of their domestic poultry producers and allegations of consumer health issues, and may also be caused by outbreaks of disease such as avian influenza, either in our own flocks or elsewhere in the world, and resulting changes in consumer preferences. There can be no assurance that one or more of these or other disruptions in our international markets and distribution channels will not adversely affect our business.

Government Regulation.  Regulation, present and future, is a constant factor affecting our business.

Our operations are subject to federal, state and local governmental regulation, including in the health, safety and environmental areas. We anticipate increased regulation by various agencies concerning food safety, the use of medication in feed formulations and the disposal of poultry by-products and wastewater discharges.

Also, changes in laws or regulations or the application thereof may lead to government enforcement actions and the resulting litigation by private litigants. We are aware of an industry-wide investigation by the Wage and Hour Division of the US Department of Labor to ascertain compliance with various wage and hour issues, including the compensation of employees for the time spent on such activities such as donning and doffing work equipment. We have been named a defendant in a number of related suits brought by employees. Due, in part, to the government investigation and the recent US Supreme Court decision in IBP, Inc. v. Alvarez, it is possible that we may be subject to additional employee claims.

Unknown matters, new laws and regulations, or stricter interpretations of existing laws or regulations may materially affect our business or operations in the future.
 
 
 
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PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
September 27, 2008



Immigration Legislation and Enforcement.  New immigration legislation or increased enforcement efforts in connection with existing immigration legislation could cause our costs of doing business to increase, cause us to change the way in which we do business or otherwise disrupt our operations.

Immigration reform continues to attract significant attention in the public arena and the United States Congress. If new federal immigration legislation is enacted or if states in which we do business enact immigration laws, such laws may contain provisions that could make it more difficult or costly for us to hire United States citizens and/or legal immigrant workers. In such case, we may incur additional costs to run our business or may have to change the way we conduct our operations, either of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition. Also, despite our past and continuing efforts to hire only United States citizens and/or persons legally authorized to work in the United States, we are unable to ensure that all of our employees are United States citizens and/or persons legally authorized to work in the United States. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement has recently been investigating identity theft within our workforce. With our cooperation, during 2008 US Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested approximately 350 of our employees believed to have engaged in identity theft at five of our facilities. No assurances can be given that further enforcement efforts by governmental authorities will not disrupt a portion of our workforce or our operations at one or more of our facilities, thereby negatively impacting our business.

Key Employee Retention.  Loss of essential employees could have a significant negative impact on our business.

Our success is largely dependent on the skills, experience, and efforts of our management and other employees. Our deteriorating financial performance, along with our Chapter 11 proceedings, creates uncertainty that could lead to an increase in unwanted attrition. The loss of the services of one or more members of our senior management or of numerous employees with essential skills could have a negative effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. If we are not able to attract talented, committed individuals to fill vacant positions when needs arise, it may adversely affect our ability to achieve our business objectives.

Extreme Weather and Natural Disasters.  Extreme weather or natural disasters could negatively impact our business.

Extreme weather or natural disasters, including droughts, floods, excessive cold or heat, hurricanes or other storms, could impair the health or growth of our flocks, production or availability of feed ingredients, or interfere with our operations due to power outages, fuel shortages, damage to our production and processing facilities or disruption of transportation channels, among other things. Any of these factors could have an adverse effect on our financial results.
 
 
 
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PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
September 27, 2008



Control of Voting Stock.  Control over the Company is maintained by affiliates and members of the family of Lonnie "Bo" Pilgrim.

As described in more detail in Item 12. "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters," through two limited partnerships and related trusts and voting agreements, Lonnie "Bo" Pilgrim, Patricia R. Pilgrim, his wife, and Lonnie Ken Pilgrim, his son, control 62.25% of the voting power of our outstanding common stock. Accordingly, they control the outcome of all actions requiring stockholder approval, including the election of directors and significant corporate transactions, such as a merger or other sale of the Company or its assets. This ensures their ability to control the foreseeable future direction and management of the Company. In addition, an event of default under certain agreements related to our indebtedness will occur if Lonnie "Bo" Pilgrim and certain members of his family cease to own at least a majority of the voting power of the outstanding common stock.

Item 1B.  Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

Item 2.  Properties

Operating Facilities

We operate 31 poultry processing plants located in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. We have one chicken processing plant in Puerto Rico and three chicken processing plants in Mexico.

The US chicken processing plants have weekly capacity to process 43.0 million broilers and operated at 90.7% of capacity in 2008.

Our Mexico facilities have the capacity to process 3.27 million broilers per week and operated at 82% of capacity in 2008. Our Puerto Rico processing plant has the capacity to process 0.3 million birds per week based on one eight-hour shift per day. For segment reporting purposes, we include Puerto Rico with our US operations.

In the US, the processing plants are supported by 41 hatcheries, 29 feed mills and 12 rendering plants. The hatcheries, feed mills and rendering plants operated at 88%, 85% and 69% of capacity, respectively, in 2008. In Puerto Rico, the processing plant is supported by one hatchery and one feed mill which operated at 82% and 80% of capacity, respectively, in 2008. In Mexico, the processing plants are supported by six hatcheries, four feed mills and two rendering facilities. The Mexico hatcheries, feed mills and rendering facilities operated at 97%, 84% and 69% of capacity, respectively, in 2008.  
 
 
 
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PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
September 27, 2008



We also operate eleven prepared chicken plants. These plants are located in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia. These plants have the capacity to produce approximately 1,453 million pounds of further processed product per year and in 2008 operated at approximately 90% of capacity.

Other Facilities and Information

We own a partially automated distribution freezer located outside of Pittsburg, Texas, which includes 125,000 square feet of storage area. We operate a commercial egg operation and farm store in Pittsburg, Texas, a commercial feed mill in Mt. Pleasant, Texas and a pork grow-out operation in Jefferson, Georgia. We own office buildings in Pittsburg, Texas and Atlanta, Georgia, which house our executive offices, our Logistics and Customer Service offices and our general corporate functions as well as an office building in Mexico City, which houses our Mexican marketing offices, and an office building in Broadway, Virginia, which houses additional sales and marketing, research and development, and support activities. We lease offices in Dallas, Texas and Duluth, Georgia, which house additional sales and marketing and support activities.

We have five regional distribution centers located in Arizona, Texas, and Utah, one of which we own and four of which we lease.

Most of our domestic property, plant and equipment is pledged as collateral on our long-term debt and credit facilities. See Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation.”

Item 3.  Legal Proceedings

As discussed in Part I above, on December 1, 2008, the Debtors filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the Bankruptcy Court. The cases are being jointly administered under Case No. 08-45664. The Debtors continue to operate their business as "debtors-in-possession" under the jurisdiction of the Bankruptcy Court and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Bankruptcy Code and orders of the Bankruptcy Court.  As of the date of the Chapter 11 filing, virtually all pending litigation against the Company (including the actions described below) is stayed as to the Company, and absent further order of the Bankruptcy Court, no party, subject to certain exceptions, may take any action, also subject to certain exceptions, to recover on pre-petition claims against the Debtors. At this time it is not possible to predict the outcome of the Chapter 11 filings or their effect on our business or the actions described below.
 
 
 
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PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
September 27, 2008



On October 29, 2008, Ronald Alcaldo filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division, styled Ronald Alcaldo, Individually and On Behalf of All Others Similarly Situated v. Pilgrim's Pride Corporation, et al, against the Company and individual defendants Lonnie “Bo” Pilgrim, Lonnie Ken Pilgrim, J. Clinton Rivers, Richard A. Cogdill and Clifford E. Butler. The complaint alleges that the Company and the individual defendants violated sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, by allegedly failing to disclose that "(a) the Company’s hedges to protect it from adverse changes in costs were not working and in fact were harming the Company’s results more than helping; (b) the Company’s inability to continue to use illegal workers would adversely affect its margins; (c) the Company’s financial results were continuing to deteriorate rather than improve, such that the Company’s capital structure was threatened; (d) the Company was in a much worse position than its competitors due to its inability to raise prices for consumers sufficient to offset cost increases, whereas it competitors were able to raise prices to offset higher costs affecting the industry; and (e) the Company had not made sufficient changes to its business to succeed in the more difficult industry conditions." Mr. Alcaldo further alleges that he purports to represent a class of all persons or entities who acquired the common stock of the Company from May 5, 2008 through September 24, 2008. The complaint seeks unspecified injunctive relief and an unspecified amount of damages. On November 21, 2008, the Company and the individual defendants filed a Motion to Dismiss the lawsuit for failure to state a claim, failure to plead fraud with particularity, and failure to satisfy the heightened pleading requirements of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company intends to defend vigorously against the merits of the action and any attempts by Alcaldo to certify a class action. The likelihood of an unfavorable outcome or the amount or range of any possible loss to the Company cannot be determined at this time.

The Wage and Hour Division of the US Department of Labor conducted an industry-wide investigation to ascertain compliance with various wage and hour issues, including the compensation of employees for the time spent on activities such as donning and doffing clothing and personal protective equipment. Due, in part, to the government investigation and the recent US Supreme Court decision in IBP, Inc. v. Alvarez, employees have brought claims against the Company. The claims filed against the Company as of the date of this report include: “Juan Garcia, et al. v. Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, a/k/a Wampler Foods, Inc.”, filed in Pennsylvania state court on January 27, 2006 and subsequently removed to the US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania; “Esperanza Moya, et al. v. Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation and Maxi Staff, LLC”, filed March 23, 2006 in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania; “Barry Antee, et al. v. Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation” filed April 20, 2006 in the Eastern District of Texas; “Stephania Aaron, et al. v. Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation” filed August 22, 2006 in the Western District of Arkansas; “Salvador Aguilar, et al. v. Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation” filed August 23, 2006 in the Northern District of Alabama; “Benford v. Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation” filed November 2, 2006 in the Northern District of Alabama; “Porter v. Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation” filed December 7, 2006 in the Eastern District of Tennessee; “Freida Brown, et al v. Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation” filed March 14, 2007 in the Middle District of Georgia, Athens Division; “Roy Menser, et al v. Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation” filed February 28, 2007 in the Western District of Paducah, Kentucky; “Victor Manuel Hernandez v. Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation” filed January 30, 2007 in the Northern District of Georgia, Rome Division; “Angela Allen et al v. Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation” filed March 27, 2007 in United States District Court, Middle District of Georgia, Athens Division; Daisy Hammond and Felicia Pope v. Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, in the Gainesville
 
 
 
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PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
September 27, 2008


Division, Northern District of Georgia, filed on June 6, 2007; Gary Price v. Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, in the US District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta Division, filed on May 21, 2007; Kristin Roebuck et al v. Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, in the US District Court, Athens, Georgia, Middle District, filed on May 23, 2007; and Elaine Chao v. Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, in the US District Court, Dallas, Texas, Northern District, filed on August 6, 2007. The plaintiffs generally purport to bring a collective action for unpaid wages, unpaid overtime wages, liquidated damages, costs, attorneys' fees, and declaratory and/or injunctive relief and generally allege that they are not paid for the time it takes to either clear security, walk to their respective workstations, don and doff protective clothing, and/or sanitize clothing and equipment. The presiding judge in the consolidated action in El Dorado issued an initial Case Management order on July 9, 2007. Plaintiffs’ counsel filed a Consolidated Amended Complaint and the parties filed a Joint Rule 26(f) Report. A complete scheduling order has not been issued, and discovery has not yet commenced. The parties are currently negotiating the scope of discovery. On March 13, 2008, Judge Barnes issued an opinion and order finding that plaintiffs and potential class members are similarly situated and conditionally certifying the class for a collective action. On May 14, 2008, the Court issued its order modifying and approving the court-authorized notice for current and former employees to opt into the class. Persons who choose to opt into the class are to do so within 90 days after the date on which the first notice was mailed. The opt-in period is now closed. As of October 2, 2008, approximately 12,605 plaintiffs have opted into the class.

As of the date of this report, the following suits have been filed against Gold Kist, now merged into Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, which make one or more of the allegations referenced above: Merrell v. Gold Kist, Inc., in the US District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Gainesville Division, filed on December 21, 2006; Harris v. Gold Kist, Inc., in the US District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Newnan Division, filed on December 21, 2006; Blanke v. Gold Kist, Inc., in the US District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, Waycross Division, filed on December 21, 2006; Clarke v. Gold Kist, Inc., in the US District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, Athens Division, filed on December 21, 2006; Atchison v. Gold Kist, Inc., in the US District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Middle Division, filed on October 3, 2006; Carlisle v. Gold Kist, Inc., in the US District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Middle Division, filed on October 2, 2006; Benbow v. Gold Kist, Inc., in the US District Court for the District of South Carolina, Columbia Division, filed on October 2, 2006; Bonds v. Gold Kist, Inc., in the US District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Northwestern Division, filed on October 2, 2006. On April 23, 2007, Pilgrim’s filed a Motion to Transfer and Consolidate with the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (“JPML”) requesting that all of the pending Gold Kist cases be consolidated into one case. Pilgrim’s Pride withdrew its Motion subject to the Plaintiffs’ counsel’s agreement to consolidate the seven separate actions into the pending Benbow case by dismissing those lawsuits and refiling/consolidating them into the Benbow action. Motions to Dismiss have been filed in all of the pending seven cases, and all of these cases have been formally dismissed. Pursuant to an agreement between the parties, which was approved by Court-order on June 6, 2007, these cases have been consolidated with the Benbow case. On that date, Plaintiffs were authorized to send notice to individuals regarding the pending lawsuits and were instructed that individuals had three months to file consents to opting in as plaintiffs in the consolidated cases. The opt-in period is now closed. To date, there are approximately 3,006 named plaintiffs and opt-in plaintiffs in the consolidated cases. The Company and Plaintiffs have jointly requested the Court to remove 367 opt-in plaintiffs because they do not fall within
 
 
37

PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
September 27, 2008


the class definition. The Court recently ordered that Pilgrim’s can depose and serve written discovery on the named plaintiffs and approximately 10% of the opt-in class. The Company intends to assert a vigorous defense to the litigation. The amount of ultimate liability with respect to any of these cases cannot be determined at this time.

We are subject to various other legal proceedings and claims, which arise in the ordinary course of our business. In the opinion of management, the amount of ultimate liability with respect to these actions will not materially affect our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Item 4.  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

None.
 
 
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PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
September 27, 2008



PART II

 
Item 5.Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Market Information

During the period covered by this report, the Company’s common stock was traded on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “PPC”. Effective December 1, 2008, the NYSE delisted our common stock as a result of the Company's filing of its Chapter 11 petitions. Our common stock is now quoted on the Pink Sheets Electronic Quotation Service under the ticker symbol "PGPDQ.PK."

High and low prices of and dividends relating to the Company’s common stock for the periods indicated were:

   
2008 Prices
   
2007 Prices
   
Dividends
 
Quarter
 
High
   
Low
   
High
   
Low
   
2008
   
2007
 
                                     
First
  $ 35.98     $ 22.52     $ 29.54     $ 23.64     $ 0.0225     $ 0.0225  
Second
  $ 28.96     $ 20.38     $ 33.19     $ 28.59     $ 0.0225     $ 0.0225  
Third
  $ 27.15     $ 12.90     $ 38.17     $ 32.77     $ 0.0225     $ 0.0225  
Fourth
  $ 18.16     $ 3.26     $ 40.59     $ 32.29     $ 0.0225     $ 0.0225  

Holders

The Company estimates there were approximately 29,700 holders (including individual participants in security position listings) of the Company’s common stock as of December 9, 2008.

Dividends

Under the terms of the DIP Credit Agreement and applicable bankruptcy law, the Company may not pay dividends on the common stock while it is in bankruptcy. Any payment of future dividends and the amounts thereof will depend on our emergence from bankruptcy, our earnings, our financial requirements and other factors deemed relevant by our Board of Directors at the time. See Note L—Notes Payable and Long-Term Debt to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 15 for additional discussions of the Company's credit facilities.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Security in 2008

The Company did not repurchase any of its equity securities in 2008.
 
 
 
39

PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
September 27, 2008


 
Total Return on Registrant’s Common Equity

The following graphs compare the performance of the Company with that of the Russell 2000 composite index and a peer group of companies with the investment weighted on market capitalization. The total cumulative return on investment (change in the year-end stock price plus reinvested dividends) for each of the periods for the Company, the Russell 2000 composite index and the peer group is based on the stock price or composite index at the beginning of the applicable period. Companies in the peer group index include Cagle's, Inc., Sanderson Farms Inc., Hormel Foods Corp., Smithfield Foods Inc. and Tyson Foods Inc.

The first graph covers the period from November 21, 2003 through September 27, 2008 and shows the performance of the Company's single class of common stock. On November 21, 2003, each share of the Company's then outstanding Class A common stock and Class B common stock was reclassified into one share of new common stock, which is now the only authorized class of the Company's common stock.

The second graph covers the five years ending September 27, 2008 and shows the performance of the Company's Class A and Class B shares after giving effect to the reclassification into the Company's single class of common stock on November 21, 2003 based on a one to one exchange ratio.

The third graph covers the period from September 27, 2003 through November 20, 2003, the last date on which the Company's Class A and Class B shares traded on the New York Stock Exchange prior to reclassification into a single new class of shares of common stock.

The stock price performance represented by these graphs is not necessarily indicative of future stock performance.
 
 
 
40

PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
September 27, 2008


            
Comparison of 58 Month Cumulative
 
 
 
 
        11/21/03
   
10/2/04
   
10/1/05
   
9/30/06
   
9/29/07
   
9/27/08
 
                                     
Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation
  $ 100.00     $ 190.89     $ 254.14     $ 197.18     $ 251.08     $ 25.79  
Russell 2000
  $ 100.00     $ 113.10     $ 129.73     $ 142.61     $ 160.21     $ 160.21  
Peer Group
  $ 100.00     $ 112.59     $ 131.40     $ 127.35     $ 140.41     $ 110.00  
 
 
 
41

PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
September 27, 2008



Comparison of 5 Year Cumulative
   
9/27/03
   
11/20/03
   
10/2/04
   
10/1/05
   
9/30/06
   
9/29/07
   
9/27/08
 
                                           
Pilgrim's Pride Corporation Class A(1)
  $ 100.00     $ 106.95     $ 212.12     $ 282.40     $ 219.11     $ 279.00     $ 28.65  
Pilgrim's Pride Corporation Class B(1)
  $ 100.00     $ 107.94     $ 211.79     $ 281.96     $ 218.77     $ 278.57     $ 28.61  
Russell 2000
  $ 100.00     $ 107.93     $ 122.74     $ 140.79     $ 154.77     $ 173.86     $ 154.19  
Peer Group
  $ 100.00     $ 110.95     $ 123.52     $ 144.17     $ 139.71     $ 154.04     $ 120.69  

(1)  
On November 21, 2003, each share of the Companys then outstanding Class A common stock and Class B common stock was reclassified
into one share of new common stock, which is now the only authorized class of the Companys common stock.
 
 
42

PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
September 27, 2008



Comparison of 2 Month Cumulative
 
 
   
9/27/03
   
11/20/03
 
             
Pilgrim's Pride Corporation Class A(1)
  $ 100.00     $ 106.95  
Pilgrim's Pride Corporation Class B(1)
  $ 100.00     $ 107.94  
Russell 2000
  $ 100.00     $ 107.93  
Peer Group
  $ 100.00     $ 110.95  

(1)  
On November 21, 2003, each share of the Companys then outstanding Class A common stock and Class B common stock was reclassified
into one share of new common stock, which is now the only authorized class of the Companys common stock.
 
 
43

PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
September 27, 2008



Item 6. Selected Financial Data

(In thousands, except ratios and per share data)
 
Eleven Years Ended September 27, 2008
   
   
2008(a)
     
2007(a)(b)
     
2006(a)
     
2005(a)
   
                                 
Income Statement Data:
                               
Net sales
  $ 8,525,112       $ 7,498,612       $ 5,152,729       $ 5,461,437    
Gross profit (loss)(e)
    (163,495 )       592,730         297,083         751,317    
Goodwill impairment
    501,446                            
Operating income (loss)(e)
    (1,057,696 )       237,191         11,105         458,351    
Interest expense, net
    131,627         118,542         38,965         42,632    
Loss on early extinguishment of debt
            26,463                    
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes(e)
    (1,187,093 )       98,835         (26,626 )       427,632    
Income tax expense (benefit)(f)
    (194,921 )       47,319         1,573         147,543    
Income (loss) from continuing operations(e)
    (992,172 )       51,516         (28,199 )       279,819    
Net income (loss)(e)
    (998,581 )       47,017         (34,232 )       264,979    
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(g)
 
(g)
        1.63 x    
(g)
        7.69 x  
                                         
Per Common Share Data:(h)
                                       
Income (loss) from continuing operations
  $ (14.31 )     $ 0.77       $ (0.42 )     $ 4.20    
Net income (loss)
    (14.40 )       0.71         (0.51 )       3.98    
Cash dividends
    0.09         0.09         1.09         0.06    
Book value
    5.07         17.61         16.79         18.38    
                                         
Balance Sheet Summary:
                                       
Working capital surplus (deficit)
  $ (1,262,242 )     $ 395,858       $ 528,837       $ 404,601    
Total assets
    3,298,709         3,774,236         2,426,868         2,511,903    
Notes payable and current maturities of long-term debt
    1,874,469         2,872         10,322         8,603    
Long-term debt, less current maturities
    67,514         1,318,558         554,876         518,863    
Total stockholders’ equity
    351,741         1,172,221         1,117,328         1,223,598    
                                         
Cash Flow Summary:
                                       
Cash flows from operating activities
  $ (680,726 )     $ 464,010       $ 30,329       $ 493,073    
Depreciation and amortization(i)
    240,305         204,903         135,133         134,944    
Impairment of goodwill and other assets
    514,630                 3,767            
Purchases of investment securities
    (38,043 )       (125,045 )       (318,266 )       (305,458 )  
Proceeds from sale or maturity of investment securities
    27,545         208,676         490,764            
Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment
    (152,501 )       (172,323 )       (143,882 )       (116,588 )  
Business acquisitions, net of equity consideration(b)(c)(d)
            (1,102,069 )                  
Cash flows from financing activities
    797,743         630,229         (38,750 )       18,860    
                                         
Other Data:
                                       
EBITDA(j)
  $ (820,878 )     $ 414,139       $ 143,443       $ 599,274    
                                         
Key Indicators (as a percent of net sales):
                                       
Gross profit (loss)(e)
    (1.9 )
%
    7.9  
%
    5.8  
%
    13.8   %
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    4.4  
%
    4.7  
%
    5.6  
%
    5.4   %
Operating income (loss)(e)
    (12.4 )
%
    3.2  
%
    0.2  
%
    8.4   %
Interest expense, net
    1.5  
%
    1.6  
%
    0.8  
%
    0.8   %
Income (loss) from continuing operations(e)
    (11.6 )
%
    0.7  
%
    (0.5 )
%
    5.1   %
Net income (loss)(e)
    (11.7 )
%
    0.6  
%
    (0.7 )
%
    4.9   %

 
 
44

PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
September 27, 2008




Eleven Years Ended September 27, 2008
   
2004(a)(c)
     
2003(a)
     
2002(a)
     
2001(a)(d)
     
2000
     
1999
     
1998
   
(53 weeks)
                                     
(53 weeks)
           
                                                     
$ 5,077,471       $ 2,313,667       $ 2,185,600       $ 1,975,877       $ 1,499,439       $ 1,357,403       $ 1,331,545    
  611,838         249,363         153,599         197,561         165,828         185,708         136,103    
                                                     
  385,968         137,605         48,457         90,253         80,488         109,504         77,256    
  48,419         30,726         24,199         25,619         17,779         17,666         20,148    
                          1,433                            
  332,899         144,482         28,267         62,728         62,786         90,904         56,522    
  127,142         37,870         (2,475 )       21,051         10,442         25,651         6,512    
  205,757         106,612         30,742         41,677         52,344         65,253         50,010    
  128,340         56,036         14,335         41,137         52,344         65,253         50,010    
  6.22 x       4.37 x       1.21 x       1.80 x       3.04 x       4.33 x       2.96 x  
                                                                   
                                                                   
$ 3.28       $ 2.59       $ 0.75       $ 1.01       $ 1.27       $ 1.58       $ 1.21    
  2.05         1.36         0.35         1.00         1.27         1.58         1.21    
  0.06         0.06         0.06         0.06         0.06         0.05         0.04    
  13.87         10.46         9.59         9.27         8.33         7.11         5.58    
                                                                   
                                                                   
$ 383,726       $ 211,119       $ 179,037       $ 203,350       $ 124,531       $ 154,242       $ 147,040    
  2,245,989         1,257,484         1,227,890         1,215,695         705,420         655,762         601,439    
  8,428         2,680         3,483         5,099         4,657         4,353         5,889    
  535,866         415,965         450,161         467,242         165,037         183,753         199,784    
  922,956         446,696         394,324         380,932         342,559         294,259         230,871    
                                                                   
                                                                   
$ 272,404       $ 98,892       $ 98,113       $ 87,833       $ 130,803       $ 81,452       $ 85,016    
  113,788         74,187         70,973         55,390         36,027         34,536         32,591    
  45,384                                                    
                                                     
                                                     
  (79,642 )       (53,574 )       (80,388 )       (112,632 )       (92,128 )       (69,649 )       (53,518 )  
  (272,097 )       (4,499 )               (239,539 )