10-Q 1 ppc-09272015x10q.htm 10-Q
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

ý | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 27, 2015
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
PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware |  | 75-1285071
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |  | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
1770 Promontory Circle, Greeley, CO |  | 80634-9038
(Address of principal executive offices) |  | (Zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (970) 506-8000
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report.)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ý No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ý No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large Accelerated Filer | ý |  | Accelerated Filer |  | ¨
Non-accelerated Filer | ¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) |  | Smaller reporting company |  | ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ¨ No ý
Number of shares outstanding of the issuer’s common stock, $0.01 par value per share, as of October 28, 2015, was 255,145,196.

INDEX
PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION |
Item 1. | Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements | 2
| Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets September 27, 2015 and December 28, 2014 | 2
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income Thirteen and Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 27, 2015 and September 28, 2014 | 3
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income Thirteen and Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 27, 2015 and September 28, 2014 | 4
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity Thirteen and Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 27, 2015 and September 28, 2014 | 5
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Thirteen and Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 27, 2015 and September 28, 2014 | 6
| Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as of September 27, 2015 | 7
Item 2. | Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 26
Item 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk | 38
Item 4. | Controls and Procedures | 40
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION | 42
Item 1. | Legal Proceedings | 42
Item 1A. | Risk Factors | 43
Item 2. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds | 43
Item 6. | Exhibits | 44
SIGNATURES | 45
EXHIBIT INDEX | 46

1

Table of Contents

PART I. | FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. | CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
|  | September 27, 2015 |  | December 28, 2014
|  | (Unaudited) |  |
|  | (In thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents |  | $ | 396,719 |  |  | $ | 576,143 |
Trade accounts and other receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts |  | 369,681 |  |  | 378,890 |
Account receivable from related parties |  | 2,581 |  |  | 5,250 |
Inventories |  | 841,273 |  |  | 790,305 |
Income taxes receivable |  | 4,971 |  |  | 10,288 |
Current deferred tax assets |  | 37,561 |  |  | 27,345 |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |  | 96,857 |  |  | 95,439 |
Assets held for sale |  | 6,555 |  |  | 1,419 |
Total current assets |  | 1,756,198 |  |  | 1,885,079 |
Other long-lived assets |  | 31,813 |  |  | 24,406 |
Identified intangible assets, net |  | 32,177 |  |  | 26,783 |
Goodwill |  | 174,431 |  |  | — |
Property, plant and equipment, net |  | 1,347,239 |  |  | 1,182,795 |
Total assets |  | $ | 3,341,858 |  |  | $ | 3,119,063 |
Notes payable to banks |  | $ | 5,869 |  |  | $ | — |
Accounts payable |  | 524,025 |  |  | 399,486 |
Account payable to related parties |  | 10,402 |  |  | 4,862 |
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities |  | 304,459 |  |  | 311,879 |
Income taxes payable |  | 20,874 |  |  | 3,068 |
Current deferred tax liabilities |  | 40,368 |  |  | 25,301 |
Current maturities of long-term debt |  | 102 |  |  | 262 |
Total current liabilities |  | 906,099 |  |  | 744,858 |
Long-term debt, less current maturities |  | 1,000,398 |  |  | 3,980 |
Deferred tax liabilities |  | 89,589 |  |  | 76,216 |
Other long-term liabilities |  | 103,104 |  |  | 97,208 |
Total liabilities |  | 2,099,190 |  |  | 922,262 |
Common stock |  | 2,597 |  |  | 2,590 |
Treasury stock |  | (45,080 | ) |  | — |
Additional paid-in capital |  | 1,672,501 |  |  | 1,662,354 |
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit) |  | (324,400 | ) |  | 591,492 |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |  | (66,002 | ) |  | (62,541 | )
Total Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation stockholders’ equity |  | 1,239,616 |  |  | 2,193,895 |
Noncontrolling interest |  | 3,052 |  |  | 2,906 |
Total stockholders’ equity |  | 1,242,668 |  |  | 2,196,801 |
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity |  | $ | 3,341,858 |  |  | $ | 3,119,063 |

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
2

PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)
|  | Thirteen Weeks Ended |  | Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
|  | September 27, 2015 |  | September 28, 2014 |  | September 27, 2015 |  | September 28, 2014
|  | (In thousands, except per share data)
Net sales |  | $ | 2,112,529 |  |  | $ | 2,268,048 |  |  | $ | 6,219,324 |  |  | $ | 6,472,929 |
Cost of sales |  | 1,827,985 |  |  | 1,817,783 |  |  | 5,125,640 |  |  | 5,458,083 |
Gross profit |  | 284,544 |  |  | 450,265 |  |  | 1,093,684 |  |  | 1,014,846 |
Selling, general and administrative expense |  | 52,620 |  |  | 44,629 |  |  | 150,961 |  |  | 138,437 |
Administrative restructuring charges |  | 792 |  |  | 135 |  |  | 5,605 |  |  | 2,286 |
Operating income |  | 231,132 |  |  | 405,501 |  |  | 937,118 |  |  | 874,123 |
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest |  | 10,501 |  |  | 11,372 |  |  | 26,870 |  |  | 45,407 |
Interest income |  | (319 | ) |  | (1,171 | ) |  | (3,086 | ) |  | (2,974 | )
Foreign currency transaction loss |  | 12,773 |  |  | 6,414 |  |  | 23,806 |  |  | 4,932 |
Miscellaneous, net |  | (2,071 | ) |  | (610 | ) |  | (7,135 | ) |  | (2,609 | )
Income before income taxes |  | 210,248 |  |  | 389,496 |  |  | 896,663 |  |  | 829,367 |
Income tax expense |  | 73,153 |  |  | 133,693 |  |  | 313,751 |  |  | 284,932 |
Net income |  | 137,095 |  |  | 255,803 |  |  | 582,912 |  |  | 544,435 |
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests |  | 33 |  |  | (181 | ) |  | 146 |  |  | (26 | )
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation |  | $ | 137,062 |  |  | $ | 255,984 |  |  | $ | 582,766 |  |  | $ | 544,461 |
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basic |  | 259,280 |  |  | 258,999 |  |  | 259,540 |  |  | 258,966 |
Effect of dilutive common stock equivalents |  | 223 |  |  | 523 |  |  | 225 |  |  | 482 |
Diluted |  | 259,503 |  |  | 259,522 |  |  | 259,765 |  |  | 259,448 |
Net income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation per share of common stock outstanding: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basic |  | $ | 0.53 |  |  | $ | 0.99 |  |  | $ | 2.25 |  |  | $ | 2.10 |
Diluted |  | $ | 0.53 |  |  | $ | 0.99 |  |  | $ | 2.24 |  |  | $ | 2.10 |

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
3

PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Unaudited)
|  | Thirteen Weeks Ended |  | Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
|  | September 27, 2015 |  | September 28, 2014 |  | September 27, 2015 |  | September 28, 2014
|  | (In thousands)
Net income |  | $ | 137,095 |  |  | $ | 255,803 |  |  | $ | 582,912 |  |  | $ | 544,435 |
Other comprehensive income (loss): |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain (loss) associated with available-for-sale securities, net of tax expense of $43, $10, $30 and $30, respectively |  | 70 |  |  | 17 |  |  | 50 |  |  | (12 | )
Loss associated with pension and other postretirement benefits, net of tax benefit of $6,206, $396, $2,129 and $6,105, respectively |  | (10,234 | ) |  | (653 | ) |  | (3,511 | ) |  | (10,068 | )
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax |  | (10,164 | ) |  | (636 | ) |  | (3,461 | ) |  | (10,080 | )
Comprehensive income |  | 126,931 |  |  | 255,167 |  |  | 579,451 |  |  | 534,355 |
Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests |  | 33 |  |  | (181 | ) |  | 146 |  |  | (26 | )
Comprehensive income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation |  | $ | 126,898 |  |  | $ | 255,348 |  |  | $ | 579,305 |  |  | $ | 534,381 |

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
4

PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
(Unaudited)
|  | Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation Stockholders |  |  |  |
|  | Common Stock |  | Treasury Stock |  | Additional Paid-in Capital |  | Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) |  | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss |  | Noncontrolling Interest |  | Total
|  | Shares |  | Amount |  | Shares |  | Amount |
|  | (In thousands)
Balance at December 28, 2014 |  | 259,029 |  |  | $ | 2,590 |  |  | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 1,662,354 |  |  | $ | 591,492 |  |  | $ | (62,541 | ) |  | $ | 2,906 |  |  | $ | 2,196,801 |
Net income |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 582,766 |  |  | — |  |  | 146 |  |  | 582,912 |
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (3,461 | ) |  | — |  |  | (3,461 | )
Share-based compensation plans: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Common stock issued under compensation plans |  | 671 |  |  | 7 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (7 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Common stock forfeited under compensation plans |  | (15 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (85 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (85 | )
Requisite service period recognition |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 2,217 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 2,217 |
Tax benefit related to share-based compensation |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 7,834 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 7,834 |
Treasury stock purchases |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (1,915 | ) |  | (45,080 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (45,080 | )
Special cash dividend |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (1,498,470 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (1,498,470 | )
Other |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 188 |  |  | (188 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Balance at September 27, 2015 |  | 259,685 |  |  | $ | 2,597 |  |  | (1,915 | ) |  | $ | (45,080 | ) |  | $ | 1,672,501 |  |  | $ | (324,400 | ) |  | $ | (66,002 | ) |  | $ | 3,052 |  |  | $ | 1,242,668 |
Balance at December 29, 2013 |  | 259,029 |  |  | $ | 2,590 |  |  | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 1,653,119 |  |  | $ | (120,156 | ) |  | $ | (45,735 | ) |  | $ | 2,784 |  |  | $ | 1,492,602 |
Net income (loss) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 544,461 |  |  | — |  |  | (26 | ) |  | 544,435 |
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (10,080 | ) |  | — |  |  | (10,080 | )
Issuance of subsidiary common stock |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 332 |  |  | 332 |
Share-based compensation plans: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Requisite service period recognition |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 3,504 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 3,504 |
Balance at September 28, 2014 |  | 259,029 |  |  | $ | 2,590 |  |  | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 1,656,623 |  |  | $ | 424,305 |  |  | $ | (55,815 | ) |  | $ | 3,090 |  |  | $ | 2,030,793 |

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
5

PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
|  | Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
|  | September 27, 2015 |  | September 28, 2014
|  | (In thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities: |  |  |  |
Net income |  | $ | 582,912 |  |  | $ | 544,435 |
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities: |  |  |  |
Depreciation and amortization |  | 116,485 |  |  | 112,740 |
Foreign currency transaction gain |  | — |  |  | 8,585 |
Accretion of bond discount |  | — |  |  | 342 |
Asset impairment |  | 4,813 |  |  | — |
Gain on property disposals |  | (9,817 | ) |  | (1,112 | )
Gain on investment securities |  | — |  |  | (49 | )
Share-based compensation |  | 2,132 |  |  | 3,504 |
Deferred income tax benefit |  | (7,214 | ) |  | (79,619 | )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |  |  |  |
Trade accounts and other receivables |  | 40,694 |  |  | (35,785 | )
Inventories |  | 17,162 |  |  | (10,339 | )
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |  | (1,415 | ) |  | (16,694 | )
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other current liabilities |  | 92,159 |  |  | 36,686 |
Income taxes |  | 17,836 |  |  | 239,944 |
Long-term pension and other postretirement obligations |  | (2,668 | ) |  | (1,764 | )
Other operating assets and liabilities |  | 3,235 |  |  | 1,534 |
Cash provided by operating activities |  | 856,314 |  |  | 802,408 |
Cash flows from investing activities: |  |  |  |
Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment |  | (129,848 | ) |  | (131,349 | )
Purchase of acquired business, net of cash acquired |  | (373,532 | ) |  | — |
Purchases of investment securities |  | — |  |  | (55,100 | )
Proceeds from sale or maturity of investment securities |  | — |  |  | 152,050 |
Proceeds from property disposals |  | 13,553 |  |  | 8,422 |
Cash used in investing activities |  | (489,827 | ) |  | (25,977 | )
Cash flows from financing activities: |  |  |  |
Proceeds from note payable to bank |  | 5,869 |  |  | — |
Proceeds from revolving line of credit and long-term borrowings |  | 1,680,000 |  |  | — |
Payments on revolving line of credit, long-term borrowings and capital lease obligations |  | (683,742 | ) |  | (410,199 | )
Tax benefit related to share-based compensation |  | 7,834 |  |  | — |
Sale of subsidiary common stock |  | — |  |  | 332 |
Payment of capitalized loan costs |  | (12,322 | ) |  | — |
Purchase of treasury stock |  | (45,080 | ) |  | — |
Payment of special cash dividends |  | (1,498,470 | ) |  | — |
Cash used in financing activities |  | (545,911 | ) |  | (409,867 | )
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents |  | — |  |  | (6,173 | )
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |  | (179,424 | ) |  | 360,391 |
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period |  | 576,143 |  |  | 508,206 |
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period |  | $ | 396,719 |  |  | $ | 868,597 |

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
6

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

1. | DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Business
Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation (referred to herein as “Pilgrim’s,” “PPC,” “the Company,” “we,” “us,” “our,” or similar terms) is one of the largest chicken producers in the world, with operations in the United States (“U.S.”), Mexico and Puerto Rico. Pilgrim's products are sold to foodservice, retail and frozen entrée customers. The Company's primary distribution is through retailers, foodservice distributors and restaurants throughout the United States and Puerto Rico and in the northern and central regions of Mexico. Additionally, the Company exports chicken products to approximately 95 countries. Pilgrim's fresh chicken products consist of refrigerated (nonfrozen) whole chickens, whole cut-up chickens and selected chicken parts that are either marinated or non-marinated. The Company's prepared chicken products include fully cooked, ready-to-cook and individually frozen chicken parts, strips, nuggets and patties, some of which are either breaded or non-breaded and either marinated or non-marinated. 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 12 U.S. states, Puerto Rico and Mexico. As of September 27, 2015, Pilgrim's had approximately 39,200 employees and the capacity to process more than 37 million birds per week for a total of more than 11 billion pounds of live chicken annually. Approximately 3,900 contract growers supply poultry for the Company's operations. As of September 27, 2015, JBS USA Holdings, Inc. (“JBS USA”), an indirect subsidiary of Brazil-based JBS S.A., beneficially owned 75.8% of the Company's outstanding common stock.
Consolidated Financial Statements
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal and recurring adjustments unless otherwise disclosed) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 27, 2015. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2014.
Pilgrim’s operates on a 52/53-week fiscal year that ends on the Sunday falling on or before December 31. The reader should assume any reference we make to a particular year (for example, 2015) in the notes to these Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements applies to our fiscal year and not the calendar year.
The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries. We eliminate all significant affiliate accounts and transactions upon consolidation.
The Company measures the financial statements of its Mexico subsidiaries as if the U.S. dollar were the functional currency. Accordingly, we remeasure assets and liabilities, other than non-monetary assets, of the Mexico subsidiaries at current exchange rates. We remeasure non-monetary assets using the historical exchange rate in effect on the date of each asset’s acquisition. We remeasure income and expenses at average exchange rates in effect during the period. Currency exchange gains or losses are included in the line item Foreign currency transaction loss in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income.
Reportable Segment
We operate in one reportable business segment, as a producer and seller of chicken products we either produce or purchase for resale.
Revenue Recognition
We recognize revenue when all of the following circumstances are satisfied: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) price is fixed or determinable, (iii) collectability is reasonably assured and (iv) delivery has occurred. Delivery occurs in the period in which the customer takes title and assumes the risks and rewards of ownership of the products specified in the customer’s purchase order or sales agreement. Revenue is recorded net of estimated incentive offerings including special pricing agreements, promotions and other volume-based incentives. Revisions to these estimates are charged back to net sales in the period in which the facts that give rise to the revision become known.
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Book Overdraft
The majority of the Company's disbursement bank accounts are zero balance accounts where cash needs are funded as checks are presented for payment by the holder. Checks issued pending clearance that result in overdraft balances for accounting purposes are classified as accounts payable and the change in the related balance is reflected in operating activities on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued new accounting guidance on revenue recognition, which provides for a single five-step model to be applied to all revenue contracts with customers. The new standard also requires additional financial statement disclosures that will enable users to understand the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows relating to customer contracts. Companies have an option to use either a retrospective approach or cumulative effect adjustment approach to implement the standard. In June 2015, the FASB agreed to defer by one year the mandatory effective date of this standard, but will also provide entities the option to adopt the new guidance as of the original effective date. The provisions of the new guidance will be effective as of the beginning of our 2018 fiscal year, but we have the option to adopt the guidance as early as the beginning of our 2017 fiscal year. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements and have not yet selected either a transition approach to implement the standard or an adoption date.
In April 2015, the FASB issued new presentation guidance for debt issuance costs, which requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. An entity should apply the new guidance on a retrospective basis, wherein the balance sheet of each individual period presented should be adjusted to reflect the period-specific effects of applying the new guidance. Upon transition, an entity is required to comply with the applicable disclosures for a change in an accounting principle. These disclosures include the nature of and reason for the change in accounting principle, the transition method, a description of the prior-period information that has been retrospectively adjusted, and the effect of the change on the financial statement line items The provisions of the new guidance will be effective as of the beginning of our 2016 fiscal year. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements.
In July 2015, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on the subsequent measurement of inventory, which, in an effort to simplify unnecessarily complicated accounting guidance that can result in several potential outcomes, requires an entity to measure inventory at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. Current accounting guidance requires an entity to measure inventory at the lower of cost or market. Market could be replacement cost, net realizable value, or net realizable value less an approximately normal profit margin. The provisions of the new guidance will be effective as of the beginning of our 2017 fiscal year. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements.
In September 2015, the FASB issued new accounting and presentation guidance for adjustments to provisional amounts recognized in business combinations, which, in an effort to reduce the cost and complexity of financial reporting, requires an acquiring entity in a business combination to recognize adjustments to provisional amounts identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. The guidance also requires an acquiring entity in a business combination to present separately on the face of the income statement or disclose in the notes the portion of the amount recorded in current-period earnings by line item that would have been recorded in previous reporting periods if the adjustment to the provisional amounts had been recognized as of the acquisition date. The provisions of the new guidance will be effective as of the beginning of our 2016 fiscal year. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements.

2. | BUSINESS ACQUISITION

On June 29, 2015, the Company acquired, indirectly through certain of its Mexican subsidiaries, 100% of the equity of Provemex Holding LLC and its subsidiaries (together, "Tyson Mexico") from Tyson Foods, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries for cash. Tyson Mexico is a vertically integrated poultry business based in Gomez Palacio, Durango, Mexico. The acquired business has a production capacity of three million birds per week in its three plants and employs more than 5,400 people in its plants, offices and seven distribution centers. The acquisition further strengthens the Company's strategic position in the Mexico chicken market. The Company expects to maintain these operations working to capacity with the existing workforce. The Company plans to keep all current labor contracts in place.
The following table summarizes the consideration paid for Tyson Mexico (in thousands):
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Negotiated sales price | $ | 400,000 |
Working capital adjustment | (20,933 | )
Final purchase price | $ | 379,067 |

The results of operations of the acquired business since June 29, 2015 are included in the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. Net sales generated by the acquired business from the acquisition date through September 27, 2015 totaled $128.9 million. The acquired business incurred a net loss from the acquisition date through September 27, 2015 totaling $2.9 million.
The assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the Tyson Mexico acquisition have been measured at their fair values at June 29, 2015 as set forth below. The excess of the purchase price over the fair values of the net tangible assets and identifiable intangible assets was recorded as goodwill. The factors contributing to the recognition of the amount of goodwill are based on several strategic and synergistic benefits that are expected to be realized from the acquisition as well the assembled workforce. These benefits include complementary product offerings, an enhanced footprint in Mexico and attractive synergy opportunities and value creation. The Company does not have tax basis in the goodwill, and therefore, the goodwill is not deductible for tax purposes. The preliminary fair values recorded were determined based upon a preliminary valuation and the estimates and assumptions used in such valuation are subject to change, which could be significant, within the measurement period (up to one year from the acquisition date). The primary areas of acquisition accounting that are not yet finalized relate to the preliminary valuation, amounts for income taxes including deferred tax accounts, uncertain tax positions and net operating loss carryforwards inclusive of associated limitations and valuation allowances, certain legal matters and residual goodwill.
The preliminary fair values recorded for the assets acquired and liabilities assumed for Tyson Mexico are as follows (in thousands):

Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 5,535 |
Trade accounts and other receivables | 24,173 |
Inventories | 68,130 |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 7,661 |
Property, plant and equipment | 157,752 |
Identifiable intangible assets | 9,700 |
Other long-lived assets | 199 |
Total assets acquired | 273,150 |
Accounts payable | 21,550 |
Other current liabilities | 9,504 |
Long-term deferred tax liabilities | 32,305 |
Other long-term liabilities | 5,155 |
Total liabilities assumed | 68,514 |
Total identifiable net assets | 204,636 |
Goodwill | 174,431 |
Total net assets | $ | 379,067 |

The Company has evaluated and continues to evaluate pre-acquisition contingencies relating to Tyson Mexico that existed as of the acquisition date. Based on the evaluation to date, the Company has preliminarily determined that certain pre-acquisition contingencies are probable in nature and estimable as of the acquisition date. Accordingly, the Company has preliminarily recorded its best estimates for these contingencies as part of the preliminary valuation of the assets and liabilities acquired for Tyson Mexico. The Company continues to gather information relating to all pre-acquisition contingencies that it has assumed from Tyson Mexico. Any changes to the pre-acquisition contingency amounts recorded during the measurement period will be included in the final valuation and related amounts recognized. Subsequent to the end of the measurement period any adjustments to pre-acquisition contingency amounts will be reflected in the Company's results of operations.
The Company performed a preliminary valuation of the assets and liabilities of Tyson Mexico at June 29, 2015. Significant assumptions used in the preliminary valuation and the bases for their determination are summarized as follows:

• | Property, plant and equipment, net. Property, plant and equipment at fair value gave consideration to the highest and best use of the assets. The valuation of the Company's real property improvements and the majority of its personal property

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was based on the cost approach. The valuation of the Company's land, as if vacant, and certain personal property assets was based on the market or sales comparison approach.

• | Indefinite-lived trade names. The Company valued two indefinite-lived trade names using the income approach, specifically the relief from royalty method. Under this method, the asset value of each trade name was determined by estimating the hypothetical royalties that would have to be paid if it was not owned. Royalty rates were selected based on consideration of several factors, including (i) prior transactions involving Tyson Mexico trade names, (ii) incomes derived from license agreements on comparable trade names within the food and non-alcoholic beverages industry and (iii) the relative profitability and perceived contribution of each trade name. Royalty rates used in the determination of the fair values of the two trade names ranged from 4.0% to 5.0% of expected net sales related to the respective trade names and trade name maintenance costs were estimated as 1.4% of the royalty saved. The Company anticipates using both trade names for an indefinite period as demonstrated by the sustained use of each subject trade name. In estimating the fair value of the trade names, net sales related to the respective trade names were estimated to grow at a rate of 3.5% to 4.0% annually with a terminal year growth rate of 3.8%. Income taxes were estimated at 30.0% of pre-tax income, a tax amortization benefit was estimated considering a rate of 15.0% and the hypothetical savings generated by avoiding royalty costs were discounted using a rate of 12.0%. Trade names were valued at $9.7 million under this approach.

The following unaudited pro forma information presents the combined financial results for the Company and Tyson Mexico as if the acquisition had been completed at the beginning of the Company's prior year, December 30, 2013.

| Thirteen Weeks Ended September 28, 2014 |  | Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 27, 2015 |  | Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 28, 2014
| (In thousands, except per share amounts)
Net sales | $ | 2,437,628 |  |  | $ | 6,532,971 |  |  | $ | 6,969,493 |
Net income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation | 269,884 |  |  | 603,533 |  |  | 546,949 |
Net income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation per common share - diluted | 1.04 |  |  | 2.32 |  |  | 2.10 |

The above unaudited pro forma financial information is presented for informational purposes only and does not purport to represent what the Company's results of operations would have been had it completed the acquisition on the date assumed, nor is it necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected in future periods. Pro forma adjustments exclude cost savings from any synergies resulting from the acquisition.

3. | FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. Assets and liabilities measured at fair value must be categorized into one of three different levels depending on the assumptions (i.e., inputs) used in the valuation:

Level 1 |  | Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
Level 2 |  | Quoted prices in active markets for similar assets and liabilities and inputs that are observable for the asset or liability; or
Level 3 |  | Unobservable inputs, such as discounted cash flow models or valuations.

The determination of where assets and liabilities fall within this hierarchy is based upon the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.
As of September 27, 2015 and December 28, 2014, the Company held certain items that were required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis. These included derivative assets and liabilities and deferred compensation plan assets. Derivative assets and liabilities consist of long and short positions on exchange-traded commodity futures instruments. The following items were measured at fair value on a recurring basis:
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|  | September 27, 2015
|  | Level 1 |  | Level 2 |  | Level 3 |  | Total
|  | (In thousands)
Derivative assets - commodity futures instruments |  | $ | 4,825 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 4,825 |
Derivative assets - commodity options instruments |  | 115 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 115 |
Derivative assets - foreign currency instruments |  | 1,611 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 1,611 |
Derivative liabilities - commodity futures instruments |  | (6,372 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (6,372 | )
Derivative liabilities - commodity options instruments |  | (4,965 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (4,965 | )
Fixed-rate senior notes payable at 5.75% |  | (495,940 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (495,940 | )

The valuation of financial assets and liabilities classified in Level 1 is determined using a market approach, taking into account current interest rates, creditworthiness, and liquidity risks in relation to current market conditions, and is based upon unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets in active markets. The valuation of financial assets and liabilities in Level 2 is determined using a market approach based upon quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or other inputs that are observable for substantially the full term of the financial instrument. The valuation of financial assets in Level 3 is determined using an income approach based on unobservable inputs such as discounted cash flow models or valuations.
In addition to the fair value disclosure requirements related to financial instruments carried at fair value, accounting standards require interim disclosures regarding the fair value of all of the Company’s financial instruments. The methods and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value of financial instruments and any changes in methods or significant assumptions from prior periods are also required to be disclosed. The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of financial assets and liabilities recorded in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets consisted of the following:

|  | September 27, 2015 |  | December 28, 2014 |  |
|  | Carrying Amount |  | Fair Value |  | Carrying Amount |  | Fair Value |  | Note Reference
|  |  |  | (In thousands) |  |  |  |
Derivative assets - commodity futures instruments |  | $ | 4,825 |  |  | $ | 4,825 |  |  | $ | 8,416 |  |  | $ | 8,416 |  |  | 6
Derivative assets - commodity options instruments |  | 115 |  |  | 115 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 6
Derivative assets - foreign currency instruments |  | 1,611 |  |  | 1,611 |  |  | 2,563 |  |  | 2,563 |  |  | 6
Derivative liabilities - commodity futures instruments |  | (6,372 | ) |  | (6,372 | ) |  | (8,580 | ) |  | (8,580 | ) |  | 6
Derivative liabilities - commodity options instruments |  | (4,965 | ) |  | (4,965 | ) |  | (14,103 | ) |  | (14,103 | ) |  | 6
Fixed-rate senior notes payable |  | (500,000 | ) |  | (495,940 | ) |  | (3,633 | ) |  | (3,979 | ) |  | 9

Derivative assets were recorded at fair value based on quoted market prices and are included in the line item Prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. Derivative liabilities were recorded at fair value based on quoted market prices and are included in the line item Accrued expenses and other current liabilities on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet. The fair values of the Company’s long-term debt and other borrowing arrangements were estimated by calculating the net present value of future payments for each debt obligation or borrowing by: (i) using a risk-free rate applicable for an instrument with a life similar to the remaining life of each debt obligation or borrowing plus the current estimated credit risk spread for the Company or (ii) using the quoted market price at September 27, 2015 or December 28, 2014, as applicable.
In addition to assets and liabilities that are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis, the Company records certain assets and liabilities at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. Generally, assets are recorded at fair value on a nonrecurring basis as a result of impairment charges when required by U.S. GAAP. There were no significant fair value measurement losses recognized for such assets and liabilities in the periods reported.
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4. | TRADE ACCOUNTS AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

Trade accounts and other receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts, consisted of the following:

|  | September 27, 2015 |  | December 28, 2014
|  | (In thousands)
Trade accounts receivable |  | $ | 356,686 |  |  | $ | 371,268 |
Notes receivable - current |  | 910 |  |  | 1,088 |
Other receivables |  | 16,583 |  |  | 9,059 |
Receivables, gross |  | 374,179 |  |  | 381,415 |
Allowance for doubtful accounts |  | (4,498 | ) |  | (2,525 | )
Receivables, net |  | $ | 369,681 |  |  | $ | 378,890 |
Account receivable from related parties(a) |  | $ | 2,581 |  |  | $ | 5,250 |

(a) Additional information regarding accounts receivable from related parties is included in "Note 15. Related Party Transactions."

5. | INVENTORIES

Inventories consisted of the following:

| September 27, 2015 |  | December 28, 2014
| (In thousands)
Live chicken and hens | $ | 395,860 |  |  | $ | 363,438 |
Feed, eggs and other | 216,034 |  |  | 198,681 |
Finished chicken products | 225,735 |  |  | 227,649 |
Total chicken inventories | 837,629 |  |  | 789,768 |
Commercial feed and other | 3,644 |  |  | 537 |
Total inventories | $ | 841,273 |  |  | $ | 790,305 |

6. | INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES

We recognize investments in available-for-sale securities as cash equivalents, current investments or long-term investments depending upon each security's length to maturity. Additionally, those securities identified by management at the time of purchase for funding operations in less than one year are classified as current.
The following table summarizes our investments in available-for-sale securities:

|  | September 27, 2015 |  | December 28, 2014
|  | Amortized Cost |  | Fair Value |  | Amortized Cost |  | Fair Value
|  | (In thousands)
Cash equivalents: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fixed income securities |  | $ | 262,738 |  |  | $ | 262,738 |  |  | $ | 204,286 |  |  | $ | 204,286 |
Other |  | 51 |  |  | 51 |  |  | 80 |  |  | 80 |

All of the securities classified as cash and cash equivalents above mature within 90 days. The specific identification method is used to determine the cost of each security sold and each amount reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss to earnings. Gross realized gains recognized during the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 and the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014 related to the Company's available-for-sale securities totaled approximately $193,200, $390,400, $51,900 and $310,000, respectively. Gross realized losses recognized during the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 and the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014 related to the Company's available-for-sale securities totaled approximately $5,400, $25,400, $7,700 and $8,100, respectively. Proceeds received from the sale or maturity of available-for-sale securities during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 and September 28, 2014 are disclosed in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Net unrealized holding gains and losses on the
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Company's available-for-sale securities recognized during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 and September 28, 2014 that have been included in accumulated other comprehensive loss and the net amount of gains and losses reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss to earnings during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 and September 28, 2014 are disclosed in “Note 13. Stockholders' Equity.”

7. | DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The Company utilizes various raw materials in its operations, including corn, soybean meal, soybean oil, sorghum and energy, such as natural gas, electricity and diesel fuel, which are all considered commodities. The Company considers these raw materials generally available from a number of different sources and believes it can obtain them to meet its requirements. These commodities are subject to price fluctuations and related price risk due to factors beyond our control, such as economic and political conditions, supply and demand, weather, governmental regulation and other circumstances. Generally, the Company purchases derivative financial instruments, specifically exchange-traded futures and options, in an attempt to mitigate price risk related to its anticipated consumption of commodity inputs for approximately the next 12 months. The Company may purchase longer-term derivative financial instruments on particular commodities if deemed appropriate.
The Company has operations in Mexico and, therefore, has exposure to translational foreign exchange risk when the financial results of those operations are translated to U.S. dollars. Generally, the Company purchases derivative financial instruments such as foreign currency forward contracts to manage this translational foreign exchange risk.
The fair value of derivative assets is included in the line item Prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets while the fair value of derivative liabilities is included in the line item Accrued expenses and other current liabilities on the same statements. Our counterparties require that we post cash collateral for changes in the net fair value of the derivative contracts.
We have not designated the derivative financial instruments that we have purchased to mitigate commodity purchase transaction exposures as cash flow hedges. Therefore, we recognized changes in the fair value of these derivative financial instruments immediately in earnings. Gains or losses related to these derivative financial instruments are included in the line item Cost of sales in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. The Company recognized net gains of $2.7 million and net gains of $28.0 million related to changes in the fair value of its derivative financial instruments during the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 and September 28, 2014. We also recognized net gains of $31.7 million and net gains of $14.0 million related to changes in the fair value of its derivative financial instruments during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 and September 28, 2014, respectively. Information regarding the Company’s outstanding derivative instruments and cash collateral posted with (owed to) brokers is included in the following table:

| September 27, 2015 |  | December 28, 2014
| (Fair values in thousands)
Fair values: |  |  |
Commodity derivative assets | $ | 4,940 |  |  | $ | 8,416 |
Commodity derivative liabilities | (11,337 | ) |  | (22,683 | )
Cash collateral posted with brokers | 26,275 |  |  | 25,205 |
Foreign currency derivative assets | 1,611 |  |  | 2,563 |
Derivatives coverage(a): |  |  |
Corn | 3.4 | % |  | (8.2 | )%
Soybean meal | 4.9 | % |  | (16.1 | )%
Period through which stated percent of needs are covered: |  |  |
Corn | March 2017 |  |  | September 2016 |
Soybean meal | December 2016 |  |  | July 2015 |

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

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8. | PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Property, plant and equipment (“PP&E”), net consisted of the following:

| September 27, 2015 |  | December 28, 2014
| (In thousands)
Land | $ | 103,772 |  |  | $ | 66,798 |
Buildings | 1,123,176 |  |  | 1,086,690 |
Machinery and equipment | 1,640,364 |  |  | 1,537,241 |
Autos and trucks | 53,913 |  |  | 52,639 |
Construction-in-progress | 158,621 |  |  | 129,701 |
PP&E, gross | 3,079,846 |  |  | 2,873,069 |
Accumulated depreciation | (1,732,607 | ) |  | (1,690,274 | )
PP&E, net | $ | 1,347,239 |  |  | $ | 1,182,795 |

The Company recognized depreciation expense of $38.8 million and $33.9 million during the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 and September 28, 2014, respectively. The Company recognized depreciation expense of $109.4 million and $101.1 million during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 and September 28, 2014, respectively.
During the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015, we spent $129.8 million on capital projects and transferred $101.5 million of completed projects from construction-in-progress to depreciable assets. Capital expenditures were primarily incurred during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 to improve efficiencies and reduce costs in the U.S. and to expand capacity in Mexico.
During the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015, the Company sold certain PP&E for cash of $11.4 million and $13.6 million, respectively, and recognized net gains on these sales of $8.5 million and $9.8 million, respectively. PP&E sold in 2015 included broiler farms in Mexico, a rendering plant in Arkansas and miscellaneous equipment. During the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014, the Company sold certain PP&E for cash of $4.1 million and $8.4 million and recognized a net loss of $26,700 and a net gain of $1.1 million, respectively. PP&E sold in 2014 included a warehouse, a commercial building and a vehicle maintenance center in Texas, an office building in Mexico City, a processing plant in Franconia, Pennsylvania, and miscellaneous equipment.
Management has committed to the sale of certain properties and related assets, including, but not limited to, a processing complex in Texas, a processing plant in Louisiana and other miscellaneous assets, which no longer fit into the operating plans of the Company. The Company is actively marketing these properties and related assets for immediate sale and believes a sale of each property can be consummated within the next 12 months. At September 27, 2015 and December 28, 2014, the Company reported properties and related assets totaling $6.6 million and $1.4 million, respectively, in the line item Assets held for sale on its Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company tested the recoverability of its assets held for sale and determined that the aggregate carrying amounts of the Texas processing complex asset group and the Louisiana processing plant asset group were recoverable over the remaining life of the respective primary asset in each asset group.
The Company has closed or idled various processing complexes, processing plants, hatcheries, broiler farms, and feed mills throughout the U.S. Neither the Board of Directors nor JBS USA has determined if it would be in the best interest of the Company to divest any of these idled assets. Management is therefore not certain that it can or will divest any of these assets within one year, is not actively marketing these assets and, accordingly, has not classified them as assets held for sale. The Company continues to depreciate these assets. At September 27, 2015, the carrying amount of these idled assets was $52.7 million based on depreciable value of $149.9 million and accumulated depreciation of $97.2 million.
The Company last tested the recoverability of its long-lived assets held and used in December 2014. At that time, the Company determined that the carrying amount of its long-lived assets held and used was recoverable over the remaining life of the primary asset in the group and that long-lived assets held and used passed the Step 1 recoverability test under ASC 360-10-35, Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets. There were no indicators present during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 that required the Company to test its long-lived assets held and used for recoverability.
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9. | CURRENT LIABILITIES

Current liabilities, other than current notes payable to banks, income taxes and current maturities of long-term debt, consisted of the following components:

| September 27, 2015 |  | December 28, 2014
| (In thousands)
Accounts payable: |  |  |
Trade accounts | $ | 480,155 |  |  | $ | 347,107 |
Book overdrafts | 37,811 |  |  | 47,320 |
Other payables | 6,059 |  |  | 5,059 |
Total accounts payable | 524,025 |  |  | 399,486 |
Accounts payable to related parties(a) | 10,402 |  |  | 4,862 |
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities: |  |  |
Compensation and benefits | 98,888 |  |  | 123,495 |
Interest and debt-related fees | 1,714 |  |  | 780 |
Insurance and self-insured claims | 88,639 |  |  | 85,240 |
Derivative liabilities: |  |  |
Futures | 6,372 |  |  | 8,580 |
Options | 4,965 |  |  | 14,103 |
Other accrued expenses | 103,881 |  |  | 79,681 |
Total accrued expenses and other current liabilities | 304,459 |  |  | 311,879 |
| $ | 838,886 |  |  | $ | 716,227 |

(a) Additional information regarding accounts payable from related parties is included in "Note 15. Related Party Transactions."

10. | LONG-TERM DEBT AND OTHER BORROWING ARRANGEMENTS

Long-term debt and other borrowing arrangements, including current notes payable to banks, consisted of the following components:

| Maturity |  | September 27, 2015 |  | December 28, 2014
|  |  | (In thousands)
Long-term debt and other long-term borrowing arrangements: |  |  |  |  |
Senior notes payable at 5.75% | 2025 |  | $ | 500,000 |  |  | $ | — |
U.S. Credit Facility (defined below): |  |  |  |  |
Term note payable at 1.45% | 2020 |  | 500,000 |  |  | — |
Revolving note payable | 2020 |  | — |  |  | — |
JBS USA Holdings, Inc. Subordinated Loan Facility | 2015 |  | — |  |  | — |
Other | Various |  | 500 |  |  | 4,242 |
Long-term debt |  |  | 1,000,500 |  |  | 4,242 |
Less: Current maturities of long-term debt |  |  | (102 | ) |  | (262 | )
Long-term debt, less current maturities |  |  | $ | 1,000,398 |  |  | $ | 3,980 |
Current notes payable to banks |  |  |  |  |
Mexico Credit Facility (defined below) with notes payable at TIIE Rate plus 1.05% | 2016 |  | $ | 5,869 |  |  | $ | — |

Senior Notes
On March 11, 2015, the Company completed a sale of $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.75% senior notes due 2025 (the “Senior Notes”). The Company used the net proceeds from the sale of the Senior Notes to repay $350.0 million
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and $150.0 million of the term loan indebtedness under the the U.S. Credit Facility (defined below) on March 12, 2015 and April 22, 2015, respectively. The Notes were sold to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and outside the United States to non-U.S. persons pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act.
The Senior Notes are governed by, and were issued pursuant to, an indenture dated as of March 11, 2015 by and among the Company, its guarantor subsidiary and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Indenture”). The Indenture provides, among other things, that the Senior Notes bear interest at a rate of 5.75% per annum from the date of issuance until maturity, payable semi-annually in cash in arrears, beginning on September 15, 2015. The Senior Notes are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by the Company's guarantor subsidiary. In addition, any of the Company’s other existing or future domestic restricted subsidiaries that incur or guarantee any other indebtedness (with limited exceptions) must also guarantee the Senior Notes. The Senior Notes and related guarantees are unsecured senior obligations of the Company and its guarantor subsidiary and rank equally with all of the Company’s and its guarantor subsidiary's other unsubordinated indebtedness. The Senior Notes and the Indenture also contain customary covenants and events of default, including failure to pay principal or interest on the Senior Notes when due, among others.
U.S. Credit Facility
On February 11, 2015, the Company and its subsidiaries, To-Ricos, Ltd. and To-Ricos Distribution, Ltd., entered into a Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “U.S. Credit Facility”) with Coöperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank B.A., Rabobank Nederland, New York Branch (“Rabobank”), as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto. The U.S. Credit Facility provides for a revolving loan commitment of up to $700.0 million and a term loan commitment of up to $1.0 billion (the “Term Loans”). The U.S. Credit Facility also includes an accordion feature that allows us, at any time, to increase the aggregate revolving loan and term loan commitments by up to an additional $1.0 billion, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including obtaining the lenders’ agreement to participate in the increase.
The revolving loan commitment under the U.S. Credit Facility matures on February 10, 2020. All principal on the Term Loans is due at maturity on February 10, 2020. Because the Company prepaid $350.0 million of the Term Loans with proceeds from the Senior Notes, the Company is not required to pay quarterly installments. Covenants in the U.S. Credit Facility also require the Company to use the proceeds it receives from certain asset sales and specified debt or equity issuances and upon the occurrence of other events to repay outstanding borrowings under the U.S. Credit Facility. The Company had Term Loans outstanding totaling $500.0 million as of September 27, 2015.
The U.S. Credit Facility includes a $75.0 million sub-limit for swingline loans and a $125.0 million sub-limit for letters of credit. Outstanding borrowings under the revolving loan commitment and the Term Loans bear interest at a per annum rate equal to (i) in the case of LIBOR loans, LIBOR plus 1.50% through September 27, 2015 and, based on our net senior secured leverage ratio, between LIBOR plus 1.25% and LIBOR plus 2.75% and (ii) in the case of alternate base rate loans, the base rate plus 0.50% through September 27, 2015 and, based on our net senior secured leverage ratio, between the base rate plus 0.25% and base rate plus 1.75% thereafter.
Actual borrowings by the Company under the revolving loan commitment of the U.S. Credit Facility are subject to a borrowing base, which is a formula based on certain eligible inventory, eligible receivables and restricted cash under the control of Rabobank, in its capacity as administrative agent. The borrowing base formula will be reduced by the sum of (i) inventory reserves, (ii) rent and collateral access reserves, and (iii) any amount more than 15 days past due that is owed by the Company or its 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. As of September 27, 2015, the applicable borrowing base was $700.0 million and the amount available for borrowing under the revolving loan commitment was $679.9 million. The Company had letters of credit of $20.1 million and no outstanding borrowings under the revolving loan commitment as of September 27, 2015.
The U.S. Credit Facility contains financial covenants and various other covenants that may adversely affect the Company's ability to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness, incur liens, pay dividends or make certain restricted payments, consummate certain assets sales, enter into certain transactions with JBS USA and the Company's other affiliates, merge, consolidate and/or sell or dispose of all or substantially all of the Company's assets. The U.S. Credit Facility requires the Company to comply with a minimum level of tangible net worth covenant. The U.S. Credit Facility also provides that the Company may not incur capital expenditures in excess of $500.0 million in any fiscal year. The Company is currently in compliance with the covenants under the U.S. Credit Facility.
All obligations under the U.S. Credit Facility will continue to be unconditionally guaranteed by certain of the Company's subsidiaries and will continue to be secured by a first priority lien on (i) the domestic (including Puerto Rico) accounts and inventory of the Company and its subsidiaries, (ii) 100% of the equity interests in the Company's domestic subsidiaries and 65% of the
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equity interests in the Company's direct foreign subsidiaries and (iii) substantially all of the assets of the Company and the guarantors under the U.S. Credit Facility.
Subordinated Loan Agreement
On June 23, 2011, the Company entered into a Subordinated Loan Agreement with JBS USA (the “Subordinated Loan Agreement”). Pursuant to the terms of the Subordinated Loan Agreement, the Company agreed to reimburse JBS USA up to $56.5 million for draws upon any letters of credit issued for JBS USA's account that support certain obligations of the Company or its subsidiaries. JBS USA agreed to arrange for letters of credit to be issued on its account in the amount of $56.5 million to an insurance company serving the Company in order to allow that insurance company to return cash it held as collateral against potential workers compensation, auto and general liability claims. In return for providing this letter of credit, the Company has agreed to reimburse JBS USA for the letter of credit cost the Company would otherwise incur under its U.S. Credit Facility (as defined below). In the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015, the Company reimbursed JBS USA $0.3 million and $0.7 million, respectively, for letter of credit costs. As of September 27, 2015, the Company has accrued an obligation of $0.1 million to reimburse JBS USA for letter of credit costs incurred on its behalf. There remains no other commitment of JBS USA to make advances under the Subordinated Loan Agreement.
Mexico Credit Facility
On July 23, 2014, certain of our Mexican subsidiaries entered into an unsecured credit agreement (the “Mexico Credit Facility”) with BBVA Bancomer, S.A. Institución de Banca Múltiple, Grupo Financiero BBVA Bancomer, as lender. The loan commitment under the Mexico Credit Facility is Mex$560.0 million. Outstanding borrowings under the Mexico Credit Facility will accrue interest at a rate equal to the Interbank Equilibrium Interest Rate plus 1.05%. The Mexico Credit Facility will mature on July 23, 2017. As of September 27, 2015, the U.S. dollar-equivalent of the loan commitment under the Mexico Credit Facility was $33.0 million, and there were $5.9 million outstanding borrowings due January 2016 under the Mexico Credit Facility that bear interest at a per annum rate of 4.33%.

11. | INCOME TAXES

The Company recorded income tax expense of $313.8 million, a 35.0% effective tax rate, for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 compared to income tax expense of $284.9 million, a 34.4% effective tax rate, for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014. The income tax expense recognized for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 and September 28, 2014, respectively, was primarily the result of the tax expense recorded on the Company's year-to-date income.
In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities (including the impact of available carry back and carry forward periods), projected future taxable income and tax-planning strategies in making this assessment. As of September 27, 2015, the Company did not believe it had sufficient positive evidence to conclude that realization of its federal capital loss carry forwards and a portion of its foreign net deferred tax assets are more likely than not to be realized.
For the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 and September 28, 2014, there is tax effect of $2.1 million and $6.1 million, respectively, reflected in other comprehensive income.
For the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015, there is tax effect of $7.8 million reflected in additional paid-in-capital due to excess tax benefits related to compensation on dividend equivalent rights and vested stock awards. For the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014, there is no tax effect reflected in additional paid-in-capital due to excess compensation.
With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state or local income tax examinations by taxing authorities for years prior to 2009 and is no longer subject to Mexico income tax examinations by taxing authorities for years prior to 2009.
The United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals rendered judgment in favor of the Company regarding the IRS' amended proof of claim relating to the tax year ended June 26, 2004 for Gold Kist Inc. (“Gold Kist”). See “Note 16. Commitments and Contingencies” for additional information.

12. | PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

The Company sponsors programs that provide retirement benefits to most of its employees. These programs include qualified defined benefit pension plans, nonqualified defined benefit retirement plans, a defined benefit postretirement life insurance
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plan and defined contribution retirement savings plans. Expenses recognized under all of these retirement plans totaled $2.3 million, $1.5 million, $8.4 million and $4.3 million in the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 and September 28, 2014 and the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 and September 28, 2014, respectively.
Defined Benefit Plans Obligations and Assets
The change in benefit obligation, change in fair value of plan assets, funded status and amounts recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets for these defined benefit plans were as follows:

| Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 27, 2015 |  | Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 28, 2014
| Pension Benefits |  | Other Benefits |  | Pension Benefits |  | Other Benefits
Change in projected benefit obligation: | (In thousands)
Projected benefit obligation, beginning of period | $ | 190,401 |  |  | $ | 1,657 |  |  | $ | 170,030 |  |  | $ | 1,705 |
Interest cost | 5,815 |  |  | 50 |  |  | 6,078 |  |  | 60 |
Actuarial losses (gains) | 981 |  |  | (11 | ) |  | 14,908 |  |  | 76 |
Benefits paid | (4,622 | ) |  | (96 | ) |  | (8,636 | ) |  | (111 | )
Curtailments and settlements | (14,265 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Projected benefit obligation, end of period | $ | 178,310 |  |  | $ | 1,600 |  |  | $ | 182,380 |  |  | $ | 1,730 |

| Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 27, 2015 |  | Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 28, 2014
| Pension Benefits |  | Other Benefits |  | Pension Benefits |  | Other Benefits
Change in plan assets: | (In thousands)
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of period | $ | 113,552 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 108,496 |  |  | $ | — |
Actual return on plan assets | (3,822 | ) |  | — |  |  | 3,549 |  |  | — |
Contributions by employer | 7,603 |  |  | 96 |  |  | 11,492 |  |  | 111 |
Benefits paid | (4,622 | ) |  | (96 | ) |  | (8,636 | ) |  | (111 | )
Curtailments and settlements | (14,265 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Fair value of plan assets, end of period | $ | 98,446 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 114,901 |  |  | $ | — |

| September 27, 2015 |  | December 28, 2014
| Pension Benefits |  | Other Benefits |  | Pension Benefits |  | Other Benefits
Funded status: | (In thousands)
Unfunded benefit obligation, end of period | $ | (79,864 | ) |  | $ | (1,600 | ) |  | $ | (76,849 | ) |  | $ | (1,657 | )

| September 27, 2015 |  | December 28, 2014
| Pension Benefits |  | Other Benefits |  | Pension Benefits |  | Other Benefits
Amounts recognized in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at end of period: | (In thousands)
Current liability | $ | (9,358 | ) |  | $ | (129 | ) |  | $ | (9,373 | ) |  | $ | (129 | )
Long-term liability | (70,506 | ) |  | (1,471 | ) |  | (67,476 | ) |  | (1,528 | )
Recognized liability | $ | (79,864 | ) |  | $ | (1,600 | ) |  | $ | (76,849 | ) |  | $ | (1,657 | )

| September 27, 2015 |  | December 28, 2014
| Pension Benefits |  | Other Benefits |  | Pension Benefits |  | Other Benefits
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss at end of period: | (In thousands)
Net actuarial loss (gain) | $ | 49,558 |  |  | $ | (138 | ) |  | $ | 43,907 |  |  | $ | (127 | )

The accumulated benefit obligation for our defined benefit pension plans was $178.3 million and $190.0 million at September 27, 2015 and December 28, 2014, respectively. Each of our defined benefit pension plans had accumulated benefit obligations that exceeded the fair value of plan assets at September 27, 2015 and December 28, 2014, respectively.
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Net Periodic Benefit Costs
Net defined benefit pension and other postretirement costs included the following components:

| Thirteen Weeks Ended September 27, 2015 |  | Thirteen Weeks Ended September 28, 2014
| Pension Benefits |  | Other Benefits |  | Pension Benefits |  | Other Benefits
| (In thousands)
Interest cost | $ | 1,938 |  |  | $ | 16 |  |  | $ | 2,026 |  |  | $ | 20 |
Estimated return on plan assets | (1,671 | ) |  | — |  |  | (1,593 | ) |  | — |
Settlement loss | 357 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Amortization of net loss | 179 |  |  | — |  |  | 14 |  |  | — |
Net costs | $ | 803 |  |  | $ | 16 |  |  | $ | 447 |  |  | $ | 20 |

| Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 27, 2015 |  | Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 28, 2014
| Pension Benefits |  | Other Benefits |  | Pension Benefits |  | Other Benefits
| (In thousands)
Interest cost | $ | 5,815 |  |  | $ | 50 |  |  | $ | 6,078 |  |  | $ | 60 |
Estimated return on plan assets | (5,013 | ) |  | — |  |  | (4,780 | ) |  | — |
Settlement loss | 3,629 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Amortization of net loss | 536 |  |  | — |  |  | 42 |  |  | — |
Net costs | $ | 4,967 |  |  | $ | 50 |  |  | $ | 1,340 |  |  | $ | 60 |

Economic Assumptions
The weighted average assumptions used in determining pension and other postretirement plan information were as follows:

| September 27, 2015 |  | December 28, 2014
| Pension Benefits |  | Other Benefits |  | Pension Benefits |  | Other Benefits
Assumptions used to measure benefit obligation at end of period: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Discount rate | 4.45 | % |  | 4.45 | % |  | 4.22 | % |  | 4.22 | %

| Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 27, 2015 |  | Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 28, 2014
| Pension Benefits |  | Other Benefits |  | Pension Benefits |  | Other Benefits
Assumptions used to measure net pension and other postretirement cost: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Discount rate | 4.22 | % |  | 4.22 | % |  | 4.95 | % |  | 4.95 | %
Expected return on plan assets | 6.00 | % |  | NA |  |  | 6.00 | % |  | NA |

Discount rates were determined based on current investment yields on high-quality corporate long-term bonds. The expected rate of return on plan assets was determined based on the current interest rate environment and historical market premiums relative to the fixed income rates of equities and other asset classes. We also take into consideration anticipated asset allocations, investment strategies and the views of various investment professionals when developing this rate.
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Plan Assets
The following table reflects the pension plans’ actual asset allocations:

| September 27, 2015 |  | December 28, 2014
Cash and cash equivalents | — | % |  | — | %
Pooled separate accounts(a): |  |  |
Equity securities | 6 | % |  | 6 | %
Fixed income securities | 7 | % |  | 6 | %
Common collective trust funds(a): |  |  |
Equity securities | 56 | % |  | 60 | %
Fixed income securities | 31 | % |  | 28 | %
Total assets | 100 | % |  | 100 | %

(a) | Pooled separate accounts (“PSAs”) and common collective trust funds (“CCTs”) are two of the most common types of alternative vehicles in which benefit plans invest. These investments are pooled funds that look like mutual funds, but they are not registered with the SEC. Often times, they will be invested in mutual funds or other marketable securities, but the unit price generally will be different from the value of the underlying securities because the fund may also hold cash for liquidity purposes, and the fees imposed by the fund are deducted from the fund value rather than charged separately to investors. Some PSAs and CCTs have no restrictions as to their investment strategy and can invest in riskier investments, such as derivatives, hedge funds, private equity funds, or similar investments.

Absent regulatory or statutory limitations, the target asset allocation for the investment of pension assets in the pooled separate accounts is 50% in each of fixed income securities and equity securities and the target asset allocation for the investment of pension assets in the common collective trust funds is 30% in fixed income securities and 70% in equity securities. The plans only invest in fixed income and equity instruments for which there is a ready public market. We develop our expected long-term rate of return assumptions based on the historical rates of returns for equity and fixed income securities of the type in which our plans invest.
The fair value measurements of plan assets fell into the following levels of the fair value hierarchy as of September 27, 2015 and December 28, 2014:

| September 27, 2015 |  | December 28, 2014
| Level 1(a) |  | Level 2(b) |  | Level 3(c) |  | Total |  | Level 1(a) |  | Level 2(b) |  | Level 3(c) |  | Total
| (In thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 157 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 157 |  |  | $ | 33 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 33 |
Pooled separate accounts: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Large U.S. equity funds(d) | — |  |  | 3,745 |  |  | — |  |  | 3,745 |  |  | — |  |  | 4,147 |  |  | — |  |  | 4,147 |
Small/Mid U.S. equity funds(e) | — |  |  | 933 |  |  | — |  |  | 933 |  |  | — |  |  | 1,062 |  |  | — |  |  | 1,062 |
International equity funds(f) | — |  |  | 1,481 |  |  | — |  |  | 1,481 |  |  | — |  |  | 1,719 |  |  | — |  |  | 1,719 |
Fixed income funds(g) | — |  |  | 6,687 |  |  | — |  |  | 6,687 |  |  | — |  |  | 6,609 |  |  | — |  |  | 6,609 |
Common collective trusts funds: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Large U.S. equity funds(d) | — |  |  | 23,116 |  |  | — |  |  | 23,116 |  |  | — |  |  | 29,964 |  |  | — |  |  | 29,964 |
Small U.S. equity funds(e) | — |  |  | 16,273 |  |  | — |  |  | 16,273 |  |  | — |  |  | 18,411 |  |  | — |  |  | 18,411 |
International equity funds(f) | — |  |  | 15,856 |  |  | — |  |  | 15,856 |  |  | — |  |  | 19,730 |  |  | — |  |  | 19,730 |
Fixed income funds(g) | — |  |  | 30,198 |  |  | — |  |  | 30,198 |  |  | — |  |  | 31,877 |  |  | — |  |  | 31,877 |
Total assets | $ | 157 |  |  | $ | 98,289 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 98,446 |  |  | $ | 33 |  |  | $ | 113,519 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 113,552 |

(a) | Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets are used to determine fair value.

(b) | Quoted prices in active markets for similar assets and inputs that are observable for the asset are used to determine fair value.

(c) | Unobservable inputs, such as discounted cash flow models or valuations, are used to determine fair value.

(d) | This category is comprised of investment options that invest in stocks, or shares of ownership, in large, well-established U.S. companies. These investment options typically carry more risk than fixed income options but have the potential for higher returns over longer time periods.

(e) | This category is generally comprised of investment options that invest in stocks, or shares of ownership, in small to medium-sized U.S. companies. These investment options typically carry more risk than larger U.S. equity investment options but have the potential for higher returns.

(f) | This category is comprised of investment options that invest in stocks, or shares of ownership, in companies with their principal place of business or office outside of the U.S.

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(g) | This category is comprised of investment options that invest in bonds, or debt of a company or government entity (including U.S. and non-U.S. entities). It may also include real estate investment options that directly own property. These investment options typically carry more risk than short-term fixed income investment options (including, for real estate investment options, liquidity risk), but less overall risk than equities.

The valuation of plan assets in Level 2 is determined using a market approach based upon quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, or other inputs that are observable for substantially the full term of the financial instrument. Level 2 securities primarily include equity and fixed income securities funds.
Benefit Payments
The following table reflects the benefits as of September 27, 2015 expected to be paid through 2024 from our pension and other postretirement plans. Because our pension plans are primarily funded plans, the anticipated benefits with respect to these plans will come primarily from the trusts established for these plans. Because our other postretirement plans are unfunded, the anticipated benefits with respect to these plans will come from our own assets.

| Pension Benefits |  | Other Benefits
| (In thousands)
2015 (remaining) | $ | 3,365 |  |  | $ | 32 |
2016 | 12,937 |  |  | 130 |
2017 | 12,502 |  |  | 130 |
2018 | 11,769 |  |  | 130 |
2019 | 11,278 |  |  | 130 |
2020-2024 | 52,157 |  |  | 627 |
Total | $ | 104,008 |  |  | $ | 1,179 |

We anticipate contributing $1.8 million, as required by funding regulations or laws, to our pension plans during the remainder of 2015. We do not anticipate making further contributions to our other postretirement plans during the remainder of 2015.
Unrecognized Benefit Amounts in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
The amounts in accumulated other comprehensive loss that were not recognized as components of net periodic benefits cost and the changes in those amounts are as follows:

| Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 27, 2015 |  | Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 28, 2014
| Pension Benefits |  | Other Benefits |  | Pension Benefits |  | Other Benefits
| (In thousands)
Net actuarial loss (gain), beginning of period | $ | 43,907 |  |  | $ | (127 | ) |  | $ | 16,957 |  |  | $ | (126 | )
Amortization | (536 | ) |  | — |  |  | (42 | ) |  | — |
Curtailment and settlement adjustments | (3,629 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Actuarial loss (gain) | 981 |  |  | (11 | ) |  | 14,908 |  |  | 76 |
Asset loss (gain) | 8,835 |  |  | — |  |  | 1,232 |  |  | — |
Net actuarial loss (gain), end of period | $ | 49,558 |  |  | $ | (138 | ) |  | $ | 33,055 |  |  | $ | (50 | )

The Company expects to recognize in net pension cost throughout the remainder of 2015 an actuarial loss of $0.2 million that was recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss at September 27, 2015.
Remeasurement
The Company remeasures both plan assets and obligations on a quarterly basis.
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13. | STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
The following tables provide information regarding the changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss:

| Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 27, 2015(a) |  | Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 28, 2014(a)
| Losses Related to Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits |  | Unrealized Holding Gains on Available-for-Sale Securities |  | Total |  | Losses Related to Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits |  | Unrealized Holding Gains on Available-for-Sale Securities |  | Total
| (In thousands)
Balance, beginning of period | $ | (62,572 | ) |  | $ | 31 |  |  | $ | (62,541 | ) |  | $ | (45,797 | ) |  | $ | 62 |  |  | $ | (45,735 | )
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications | (3,845 | ) |  | 133 |  |  | (3,712 | ) |  | (10,094 | ) |  | 169 |  |  | (9,925 | )
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to net income | 334 |  |  | (83 | ) |  | 251 |  |  | 26 |  |  | (181 | ) |  | (155 | )
Net current period other comprehensive income (loss) | (3,511 | ) |  | 50 |  |  | (3,461 | ) |  | (10,068 | ) |  | (12 | ) |  | (10,080 | )
Balance, end of period | $ | (66,083 | ) |  | $ | 81 |  |  | $ | (66,002 | ) |  | $ | (55,865 | ) |  | $ | 50 |  |  | $ | (55,815 | )

(a) | All amounts are net of tax. Amounts in parentheses indicate debits to accumulated other comprehensive loss.

|  | Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss(a) |  |
Details about Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Components |  | Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 27, 2015 |  | Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 28, 2014 |  | Affected Line Item in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
|  | (In thousands) |  |
Realized gain on sale of securities |  | $ | 133 |  |  | $ | 290 |  |  | Selling, general and administrative expense
Amortization of defined benefit pension and other postretirement plan actuarial losses: |  |  |  |  |  |
Union employees pension plan(b)(d) |  | (19 | ) |  | — |  |  | Cost of sales
Legacy Gold Kist plans(c)(d) |  | (161 | ) |  | — |  |  | Cost of sales
Legacy Gold Kist plans(c)(d) |  | (356 | ) |  | (42 | ) |  | Selling, general and administrative expense
Total before tax |  | (403 | ) |  | 248 |  |  |
Tax benefit (expense) |  | 152 |  |  | (93 | ) |  |
Total reclassification for the period |  | $ | (251 | ) |  | 155 |  |  |

(a) | Amounts in parentheses represent debits to results of operations.

(b) | The Company sponsors the Pilgrim's Pride Retirement Plan for Union Employees, a qualified defined benefit pension plan covering certain locations or work groups with collective bargaining agreements.

(c) | The Company sponsors the Pilgrim's Pride Plan for Legacy Gold Kist Employees, a qualified defined benefit pension plan covering certain eligible U.S. employees who were employed at locations that the Company purchased through its acquisition of Gold Kist in 2007, the Former Gold Kist Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, a nonqualified defined benefit retirement plan covering certain former Gold Kist executives, the Former Gold Kist Inc. Directors' Emeriti Plan, a nonqualified defined benefit retirement plan covering certain former Gold Kist directors, and the Gold Kist Inc. Retiree Life Insurance Plan, a defined benefit postretirement life insurance plan covering certain retired Gold Kist employees.

(d) | These accumulated other comprehensive income components are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost. See “Note 12. Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits” to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Treasury Stock
On July 28, 2015, the Company's Board of Directors approved a $150.0 million share repurchase authorization. The Company plans to repurchase shares through various means, which may include but are not limited to open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions, the use of derivative instruments and/or accelerated share repurchase programs. The share repurchase program expires on July 27, 2016. The extent to which the Company repurchases its shares and the timing of such repurchases will vary and depend upon market conditions and other corporate considerations, as determined by the Company’s management team. The Company reserves the right to limit or terminate the repurchase program at any time without notice. As
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of September 27, 2015, the Company had repurchased 1,914,977 shares under this program with a market value of approximately $45.1 million. The Company accounted for the shares repurchased using the cost method.
Special Cash Dividend
On February 17, 2015, the Company paid a special cash dividend from retained earnings of approximately $1.5 billion, or $5.77 per share, to stockholders of record as of January 30, 2015. The Company used proceeds from the U.S. Credit Facility, along with cash on hand, to fund the special cash dividend.
Restrictions on Dividends
Both the U.S. Credit Facility and the Indenture governing the Senior Notes restrict, but do not prohibit, the Company from declaring dividends.

14. | INCENTIVE COMPENSATION

The Company sponsors a short-term incentive plan that provides the grant of either cash or share-based bonus awards payable upon achievement of specified performance goals (the “STIP”). Full-time, salaried exempt employees of the Company and its affiliates who are selected by the administering committee are eligible to participate in the STIP. The Company has accrued $19.4 million in costs related to the STIP at September 27, 2015 related to cash bonus awards that could potentially be awarded during the remainder of 2015 and 2016.
The Company also sponsors a performance-based, omnibus long-term incentive plan that provides for the grant of a broad range of long-term equity-based and cash-based awards to the Company's officers and other employees, members of the Board of Directors and any consultants (the “LTIP”). The equity-based awards that may be granted under the LTIP include “incentive stock options,” within the meaning of the Internal Revenue Code, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards (“RSAs”) and restricted stock units (“RSUs”). At September 27, 2015, we have reserved approximately 5.1 million shares of common stock for future issuance under the LTIP.
The following awards were outstanding during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015:

Award Type |  | Benefit Plan |  | Awards Granted |  | Grant Date |  | Grant Date Fair Value per Award(a) |  | Vesting Condition |  | Vesting Date |  | Vesting Date Fair Value per Award(a) |  | Estimated Forfeiture Rate |  | Awards Forfeited to Date |  | Settlement Method
RSU |  | LTIP |  | 608,561 |  |  | 02/04/2013 |  | $ | 8.89 |  |  | Service |  | 12/31/2014 |  | $ | 32.79 |  |  | 9.66 | % |  | 144,382 |  |  | Stock
RSA |  | LTIP |  | 15,000 |  |  | 02/25/2013 |  | 8.72 |  |  | Service |  | 02/24/2015 |  | 27.55 |  |  | — | % |  | — |  |  | Stock
RSA |  | LTIP |  | 15,000 |  |  | 02/25/2013 |  | 8.72 |  |  | Service |  | 02/24/2016 |  |  |  | — | % |  | 15,000 |  |  | Stock
RSU |  | LTIP |  | 206,933 |  |  | 02/26/2013 |  | 8.62 |  |  | Service |  | 12/31/2014 |  | 32.79 |  |  | — | % |  | — |  |  | Stock
RSU |  | LTIP |  | 462,518 |  |  | 02/19/2014 |  | 16.70 |  |  | Service |  | 12/31/2016 |  |  |  | 13.49 | % |  | 61,669 |  |  | Stock
RSU |  | LTIP |  | 269,662 |  |  | 03/03/2014 |  | 17.18 |  |  | Performance / Service |  | 12/31/2017 |  |  |  | 12.34 | % |  | 23,499 |  |  | Stock
RSU |  | LTIP |  | 158,226 |  |  | 02/26/2015 |  | 27.51 |  |  | Performance / Service |  | 12/31/2018 |  |  |  | (b) |  |  | 13,158 |  |  | Stock

(a) | The fair value of each RSA and RSU granted or vested represents the closing price of the Company's common stock on the respective grant date or vesting date.

(b) | The estimated forfeiture rate for these awards will be set if or when performance conditions associated with the awards are satisfied.

Compensation costs and the income tax benefit recognized for our share-based compensation arrangements are included below:
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| Thirteen Weeks Ended |  | Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
| September 27, 2015 |  | September 28, 2014 |  | September 27, 2015 |  | September 28, 2014
| (In thousands)
Share-based compensation cost: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cost of sales | $ | 166 |  |  | $ | 60 |  |  | $ | 431 |  |  | $ | 231 |
Selling, general and administrative expense | 698 |  |  | 1,067 |  |  | 1,701 |  |  | 3,273 |
Total | $ | 864 |  |  | $ | 1,127 |  |  | $ | 2,132 |  |  | $ | 3,504 |
Income tax benefit | $ | 261 |  |  | $ | 156 |  |  | $ | 620 |  |  | $ | 672 |

The Company’s RSA and RSU activity is included below:

| Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 27, 2015 |  | Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 28, 2014
| Number |  | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value |  | Number |  | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
| (In thousands, except weighted average fair values)
RSAs: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Outstanding at beginning of period | 30 |  |  | $ | 8.72 |  |  | 203 |  |  | $ | 6.59 |
Vested | (15 | ) |  | 8.72 |  |  | (173 | ) |  | 6.22 |
Forfeited | (15 | ) |  | 8.72 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Outstanding at end of period | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | 30 |  |  | $ | 8.72 |
RSUs: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Outstanding at beginning of period | 1,120 |  |  | $ | 11.97 |  |  | 729 |  |  | $ | 8.81 |
Granted | 428 |  |  | 21.00 |  |  | 462 |  |  | 16.70 |
Vested | (671 | ) |  | 8.81 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Forfeited | (85 | ) |  | 18.51 |  |  | (71 | ) |  | 10.34 |
Outstanding at end of period | 792 |  |  | $ | 18.83 |  |  | 1,120 |  |  | $ | 11.97 |

The total fair value of awards vested during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 and September 28, 2014 was $22.4 million and $3.2 million, respectively.
At September 27, 2015, the total unrecognized compensation cost related to all nonvested awards was $10.0 million. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.39 years.
Historically, we have issued new shares to satisfy award conversions.
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15. | RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The Company enters into transactions in the normal course of business with affiliates of JBS S.A. Company management has analyzed the terms of all contracts executed with related parties and believes that they are substantially similar to, and contain terms no less favorable to us than, those obtainable from unaffiliated parties. The following table presents the impact of these transactions on the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income:

| Thirteen Weeks Ended |  | Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
| September 27, 2015 |  | September 28, 2014 |  | September 27, 2015 |  | September 28, 2014
| (In thousands)
JBS USA: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Letter of credit fees(a) | $ | 317 |  |  | $ | 335 |  |  | $ | 950 |  |  | $ | 1,005 |
JBS USA, LLC: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Purchases from JBS USA, LLC(b) | 28,765 |  |  | 31,994 |  |  | 83,059 |  |  | 85,333 |
Expenditures paid by JBS USA, LLC on behalf of Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation(c) | 11,514 |  |  | 2,099 |  |  | 28,483 |  |  | 21,013 |
Sales to JBS USA, LLC(b) | 5,197 |  |  | 2,763 |  |  | 17,442 |  |  | 36,234 |
Expenditures paid by Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation on behalf of JBS USA, LLC(c) | 519 |  |  | 891 |  |  | 2,548 |  |  | 2,197 |
JBS Chile Ltda.: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sales to JBS Chile Ltda. | 35 |  |  | — |  |  | 269 |  |  | — |
JBS Global (UK) Ltd.: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Sales to JBS Global (UK) Ltd. | 18 |  |  | — |  |  | 49 |  |  | — |

(a) | Beginning on October 26, 2011, JBS USA arranged for letters of credit to be issued on its account in the amount of $56.5 million to an insurance company on our behalf in order to allow that insurance company to return cash it held as collateral against potential liability claims. We agreed to reimburse JBS USA up to $56.5 million for potential draws upon these letters of credit. We reimburse JBS USA for the letter of credit costs we would have otherwise incurred under our credit facilities. During 2015, we have paid JBS USA $0.7 million for letter of credit costs. As of September 27, 2015, the Company has accrued an obligation of $0.1 million to reimburse JBS USA for letter of credit costs incurred on its behalf.

(b) | We routinely execute transactions to both purchase products from JBS USA, LLC and sell products to them. As of September 27, 2015 and December 28, 2014, the outstanding payable to JBS USA, LLC was $10.4 million and $4.8 million, respectively. As of September 27, 2015 and December 28, 2014, the outstanding receivable from JBS USA, LLC was $2.5 million and $1.4 million, respectively. As of September 27, 2015, approximately $1.7 million of goods from JBS USA, LLC were in transit and not reflected on our Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.

(c) | The Company has an agreement with JBS USA, LLC to allocate costs associated with JBS USA, LLC's procurement of SAP licenses and maintenance services for its combined companies. Under this agreement, the fees associated with procuring SAP licenses and maintenance services are allocated between the Company and JBS USA, LLC in proportion to the percentage of licenses used by each company. The agreement expires on the date of expiration, or earlier termination, of the underlying SAP license agreement. The Company also has an agreement with JBS USA, LLC to allocate the costs of supporting the business operations by one consolidated corporate team, which have historically been supported by their respective corporate teams. Expenditures paid by JBS USA, LLC on behalf of the Company will be reimbursed by the Company and expenditures paid by the Company on behalf of JBS USA, LLC will be reimbursed by JBS USA, LLC. This agreement expires on December 31, 2016.

On June 25, 2015, the Company signed an intercompany revolving note to its indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, Pilgrim's Pride S. de R.L. de C.V., in a principal amount of $100.0 million. The note bears interest based on three-month LIBOR plus a margin of 2.5% and has a maturity date of June 24, 2020. The proceeds of the note were used to fund a portion of the purchase price of the acquisition of Tyson Mexico (as defined in “Note 2. Business Acquisition”). Interest is payable quarterly and principal is due upon maturity. The outstanding note balance eliminates upon consolidation. As of September 27, 2015, outstanding borrowings totaled $64.5 million.
On December 28, 2009, JBS USA became the holder of the majority of the common stock of the Company. As of September 27, 2015, JBS USA beneficially owned 75.8% of the total outstanding shares of the Company's common stock.

16. | COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

We are a party to many routine contracts in which we provide general indemnities in the normal course of business to third parties for various risks. Among other considerations, we have not recorded a liability for any of these indemnities as based upon the likelihood of payment, the fair value of such indemnities would not have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
The Company is subject to various legal proceedings and claims which arise in the ordinary course of business. In the Company’s opinion, it has made appropriate and adequate accruals for claims where necessary; however, the ultimate liability for these matters is uncertain, and if significantly different than the amounts accrued, the ultimate outcome could have a material
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effect on the financial condition or results of operations of the Company. For a discussion of the material legal proceedings and claims, see Part II, Item 1. “Legal Proceedings.” Below is a summary of some of these material proceedings and claims. The Company believes it has substantial defenses to the claims made and intends to vigorously defend these cases.
Tax Claims and Proceedings
In 2009, the IRS asserted claims against the Company totaling $74.7 million. We entered into two Stipulations of Settled Issues agreements with the IRS on December 12, 2012 that accounted for approximately $29.3 million of the claims and should result in no additional tax due.
In connection with the remaining $45.4 million claimed by the IRS, we filed a petition in the U.S. Tax Court (“Tax Court”) on May 26, 2010 in response to a Notice of Deficiency that was issued to the Company as the successor in interest to Gold Kist. The Notice of Deficiency and the Tax Court proceeding related to an ordinary loss that Gold Kist claimed for its tax year ended June 26, 2004. On December 11, 2013, the Tax Court issued its opinion in the Tax Court case holding the loss that Gold Kist claimed for its tax year ended June 26, 2004 was capital in nature. On April 14, 2014, the Company appealed the Tax Court's findings of fact and conclusions of law to the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals (the “Fifth Circuit”). On February 25, 2015, the Fifth Circuit issued its opinion, which reversed the Tax Court’s judgment and rendered judgment in favor of the Company. The IRS did not appeal the Fifth Circuit's decision, which has become final, and no additional tax should be due in connection with this matter.
ERISA Claims and Proceedings
Claims have been brought against certain current and former directors, executive officers and employees of the Company, the Pilgrim’s Pride Administrative Committee and the Pilgrim’s Pride Pension Committee seeking unspecified damages under section 502 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), 29 U.S.C. §1132. These claims were brought by individual participants in the Pilgrim’s Pride Retirement Savings Plan, individually and on behalf of a putative class, alleging that the defendants breached fiduciary duties to plan participants and beneficiaries or otherwise violated ERISA. Although the Company is not a named defendant in these claims, our bylaws require us to indemnify our current and former directors and officers from any liabilities and expenses incurred by them in connection with actions they took in good faith while serving as an officer or director. In these actions the plaintiffs assert claims in excess of $35.0 million. The likelihood of an unfavorable outcome or the amount or range of any possible loss to the Company cannot be determined at this time.

ITEM 2. | MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Description of the Company
We are one of the largest chicken producers in the world, with operations in the United States (“U.S.”), Mexico and Puerto Rico. We operate feed mills, hatcheries, processing plants and distribution centers in 12 U.S. states, Puerto Rico and Mexico. As of September 27, 2015, we had approximately 39,200 employees and the capacity to process more than 37 million birds per week for a total of more than 11 billion pounds of live chicken annually. Approximately 3,900 contract growers supply poultry for our operations. As of September 27, 2015, JBS USA Holdings, Inc. (“JBS USA”), an indirect subsidiary of Brazil-based JBS S.A., beneficially owned 75.8% of our outstanding common stock. See “Note 1. Description of Business and Basis of Presentation” of our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in this quarterly report for additional information.
We operate on a 52/53-week fiscal year that ends on the Sunday falling on or before December 31. The reader should assume any reference we make to a particular year (for example, 2015) in this report applies to our fiscal year and not the calendar year.
Executive Summary
We reported net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation of $137.1 million, or $0.53 per diluted common share, for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015. These operating results included gross profit of $284.5 million. During the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015, we generated $268.2 million of cash from operations.
We reported net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation of $582.8 million, or $2.24 per diluted common share, for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015. These operating results included gross profit of $1,093.7 million. During the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015, we generated $856.3 million of cash from operations.
Market prices for feed ingredients remain volatile. Consequently, there can be no assurance that our feed ingredients prices will not increase materially and that such increases would not negatively impact our financial position, results of operations
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and cash flow. The following table compares the highest and lowest prices reached on nearby futures for one bushel of corn and one ton of soybean meal during the current year and previous two years:

| Corn |  | Soybean Meal
| Highest Price |  | Lowest Price |  | Highest Price |  | Lowest Price
2015: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Third Quarter | $ | 4.34 |  |  | $ | 3.48 |  |  | $ | 374.80 |  |  | $ | 302.40 |
Second Quarter | 4.10 |  |  | 3.53 |  |  | 326.40 |  |  | 286.50 |
First Quarter | 4.13 |  |  | 3.70 |  |  | 377.40 |  |  | 317.50 |
2014: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fourth Quarter | 4.14 |  |  | 3.21 |  |  | 411.60 |  |  | 304.60 |
Third Quarter | 4.24 |  |  | 3.23 |  |  | 464.20 |  |  | 307.20 |
Second Quarter | 5.16 |  |  | 4.39 |  |  | 506.00 |  |  | 448.40 |
First Quarter | 4.92 |  |  | 4.12 |  |  | 470.50 |  |  | 416.50 |
2013: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fourth Quarter | 4.49 |  |  | 4.12 |  |  | 464.60 |  |  | 392.80 |
Third Quarter | 7.17 |  |  | 4.49 |  |  | 535.50 |  |  | 396.00 |
Second Quarter | 7.18 |  |  | 6.29 |  |  | 490.30 |  |  | 391.80 |
First Quarter | 7.41 |  |  | 6.80 |  |  | 438.50 |  |  | 398.20 |

We purchase derivative financial instruments, specifically exchange-traded futures and options, in an attempt to mitigate price risk related to our anticipated consumption of commodity inputs such as corn, soybean meal, sorghum, wheat, soybean oil and natural gas. We will sometimes take a short position on a derivative instrument to minimize the impact of a commodity's price volatility on our operating results. We will also occasionally purchase derivative financial instruments in an attempt to mitigate currency exchange rate exposure related to the financial statements of our Mexico operations that are denominated in Mexican pesos. We do not designate derivative financial instruments that we purchase to mitigate commodity purchase or currency exchange rate exposures as cash flow hedges; therefore, we recognize changes in the fair value of these derivative financial instruments immediately in earnings. During the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 and September 28, 2014, we recognized net gains totaling $2.7 million and $28.0 million, respectively, related to changes in the fair values of our derivative financial instruments.
Although changes in the market price paid for feed ingredients impact cash outlays at the time we purchase the ingredients, such changes do not immediately impact cost of sales. The cost of feed ingredients is recognized in cost of sales, on a first-in-first-out basis, at the same time that the sales of the chickens that consume the feed grains are recognized. Thus, there is a lag between the time cash is paid for feed ingredients and the time the cost of such feed ingredients is reported in cost of goods sold. For example, corn delivered to a feed mill and paid for one week might be used to manufacture feed the following week. However, the chickens that eat that feed might not be processed and sold for another 42 to 63 days, and only at that time will the costs of the feed consumed by the chicken become included in cost of goods sold.
Commodities such as corn, soybean meal, sorghum, wheat and soybean oil are actively traded through various exchanges with future market prices quoted on a daily basis. These quoted market prices, although a good indicator of the commodity's base price, do not represent the final price for which we can purchase these commodities. There are several components in addition to the quoted market price, such as freight, storage and seller premiums, that are included in the final price that we pay for grain. Although changes in quoted market prices may be a good indicator of the commodity’s base price, the components mentioned above may have a significant impact on the total change in grain costs recognized from period to period.
Market prices for chicken products are currently at levels sufficient to offset the costs of feed ingredients. However, there can be no assurance that chicken prices will not decrease due to such factors as competition from other proteins and substitutions by consumers of non-protein foods because of uncertainty surrounding the general economy and unemployment.
Recent Developments
Tyson Mexico Acquisition. On June 29, 2015, we acquired, indirectly through certain of our Mexican subsidiaries, 100% of the equity of Provemex Holding LLC and its subsidiaries (together, "Tyson Mexico") from Tyson Foods, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries for cash. Tyson Mexico is a vertically integrated poultry business based in Gomez Palacio, Durango, Mexico. The acquired business has a production capacity of three million birds per week in its three plants and employs more than 5,400 people in its plants, offices and seven distribution centers. The acquisition further strengthens our strategic position in the Mexico
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chicken market. We expect to maintain these operations working to capacity with the existing workforce. We plan to keep all current labor contracts in place.
Amended and Restated U.S. Credit Facility. On February 11, 2015, we and certain of our subsidiaries entered into a Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “U.S. Credit Facility”) with Coöperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank B.A., Rabobank Nederland, New York Branch (“Rabobank”), as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto. The U.S. Credit Facility amends and restates our existing credit agreement dated August 7, 2013 with CoBank, ACB, as administrative agent and collateral agent, and other lenders party thereto. The U.S. Credit Facility provides for a revolving loan commitment of up to $700.0 million and a term loan commitment of up to $1.0 billion. The U.S. Credit Facility also includes an accordion feature that allows us, at any time, to increase the aggregate revolving loan and term loan commitments by up to an additional $1.0 billion, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including obtaining the lenders’ agreement to participate in the increase. For additional information regarding the U.S. Credit Facility, see “ - Liquidity and Capital Resources - Long-Term Debt and Other Borrowing Arrangements - U.S. Credit Facility.”
Special Cash Dividend. On January 14, 2015, we declared a special cash dividend of $5.77 per share with a total payment amount of approximately $1.5 billion. The special cash dividend was paid on February 17, 2015 to stockholders of record as of January 30, 2015 using proceeds from certain borrowings under the U.S. Credit Facility and cash on hand. For additional information, see “Note 13. Stockholders' Equity - Special Cash Dividend” of our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in this quarterly report.
Senior Notes Due 2025. On March 11, 2015, we completed a sale of $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 5.75% senior notes due 2025 (the “Senior Notes”). We used the net proceeds from the sale of the Senior Notes to repay $350.0 million and $150.0 million of the term loan indebtedness under the U.S. Credit Facility on March 12, 2015 and April 22, 2015, respectively. For additional information regarding the Senior Notes due 2025, see “ - Liquidity and Capital Resources - Long-Term Debt and Other Borrowing Arrangements - Senior Notes.”
Business Segment and Geographic Reporting
We operate in one reportable business segment, as a producer and seller of chicken products we either produce or purchase for resale in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Mexico. We conduct separate operations in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Mexico; however, for geographic reporting purposes, we include Puerto Rico within our U.S. operations. Corporate expenses are allocated to Mexico based upon various apportionment methods for specific expenditures incurred related thereto with the remaining amounts allocated to the U.S.
Results of Operations
Thirteen Weeks Ended September 27, 2015 Compared to Thirteen Weeks Ended September 28, 2014
Net sales. Net sales generated in the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 decreased $155.5 million, or 6.9%, from net sales generated in the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014. The following table provides net sales information:

Sources of net sales |  | Thirteen Weeks Ended September 27, 2015 |  | Change from Thirteen Weeks Ended September 28, 2014 |
Amount |  | Percent |
|  | (In thousands, except percent data) |
United States |  | $ | 1,798,375 |  |  | $ | (227,902 | ) |  | (11.2 | )% | (a)
Mexico |  | 314,154 |  |  | 72,383 |  |  | 29.9 | % | (b)
Total net sales |  | $ | 2,112,529 |  |  | $ | (155,519 | ) |  | (6.9 | )% |

(a) | U.S. net sales generated in the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 decreased $227.9 million, or 11.2%, from U.S. net sales generated in the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014 primarily because of decreased net sales per pound. Lower net sales per pound, which reflects a slight shift in product mix toward lower-priced fresh chicken products when compared to the same period in the prior year, contributed $223.9 million, or 11.0 percentage points, to the net sales decrease. Decreases in sales volume contributed to the net decrease by $4.0 million, or 0.2 percentage points. Included in U.S. net sales generated during the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 and September 28, 2014 were net sales to JBS USA, LLC totaling $5.2 million and $2.8 million, respectively.

(b) | Mexico net sales generated in the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 increased $72.4 million, or 29.9%, from Mexico net sales generated in the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014 primarily because of net sales generated by the recently acquired Tyson Mexico operations and an increase in sales volume experience by our existing operations. The impact of the acquired business contributed $128.9 million, or 53.3 percentage points, to the increase in net sales. The sales volume increase experienced by our existing operations contributed $23.3 million, or 9.6 percentage points, to the increase in net sales. The impact of of the acquired business and the sales volume increase experienced by our existing operations were partially offset by a decrease in net sales per pound experienced by our existing operations and the impact of foreign currency translation on our existing operations. The decrease in net sales per pound experienced by our existing operations offset the impact of the acquired business and the sales volume increase experienced by our existing operations by $48.7 million, or 20.1 percentage points. The impact of foreign currency translation

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on our existing operations offset the impact of the acquired business and the sales volume increase experienced by our existing operations by $31.1 million, or 12.9 percentage points.
Gross profit . Gross profit decreased by $165.7 million, or 36.8%, from $450.3 million generated in the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014 to $284.5 million generated in the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015. The following tables provide information regarding gross profit and cost of sales information:

Components of gross profit |  | Thirteen Weeks Ended September 27, 2015 |  | Change from Thirteen Weeks Ended September 28, 2014 |  | Percent of Net Sales |
|  | Thirteen Weeks Ended |
| Amount |  | Percent |  | September 27, 2015 |  | September 28, 2014 |
|  | In thousands, except percent data |
Net sales |  | $ | 2,112,529 |  |  | $ | (155,519 | ) |  | (6.9 | )% |  | 100.0 | % |  | 100.0 | % |
Cost of sales |  | 1,827,985 |  |  | 10,202 |  |  | 0.6 | % |  | 86.5 | % |  | 80.1 | % | (a)(b)
Gross profit |  | $ | 284,544 |  |  | $ | (165,721 | ) |  | (36.8 | )% |  | 13.5 | % |  | 19.9 | % |

Sources of gross profit |  | Thirteen Weeks Ended September 27, 2015 |  | Change from Thirteen Weeks Ended September 28, 2014 |
Amount |  | Percent |
|  | (In thousands, except percent data) |
United States |  | $ | 246,093 |  |  | $ | (145,321 | ) |  | (37.1 | )% | (a)
Mexico |  | 38,427 |  |  | (20,424 | ) |  | (34.7 | )% | (b)
Elimination |  | 24 |  |  | 24 |  |  | — | % |
Total gross profit |  | $ | 284,544 |  |  | $ | (165,721 | ) |  | (36.8 | )% |

Sources of cost of sales |  | Thirteen Weeks Ended September 27, 2015 |  | Change from Thirteen Weeks Ended September 28, 2014 |
Amount |  | Percent |
|  | (In thousands, except percent data) |
United States |  | $ | 1,552,282 |  |  | $ | (82,581 | ) |  | (5.1 | )% | (a)
Mexico |  | 275,727 |  |  | 92,807 |  |  | 50.7 | % | (b)
Elimination |  | (24 | ) |  | (24 | ) |  | — | % |
Total cost of sales |  | $ | 1,827,985 |  |  | $ | 10,202 |  |  | 0.6 | % |

(a) | Cost of sales incurred by the U.S. operations during the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 decreased $82.6 million, or 5.1%, from cost of sales incurred by the U.S. operations during the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014. Cost of sales decreased primarily because of a $125.8 million decrease in feed ingredients costs, and a $2.7 million decrease in utilities costs. These decreases in cost of sales components were partially offset by derivative gains of $3.0 million recognized in the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to derivative gains of $27.3 million recognized in the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014, a $13.1 million increase in contract grower costs, a $8.8 million increase in contract labor costs, a $6.0 million increase in co-pack labor and meat, and a $4.8 million increase in supplies and equipment cost. Other factors affecting cost of sales were individually immaterial.

(b) | Cost of sales incurred by the Mexico operations during the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 increased $92.8 million, or 50.7%, from cost of sales incurred by the Mexico operations during the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014. Cost of sales increased primarily because of costs incurred by the acquired Tyson Mexico operations partially offset by costs incurred by our existing operations. Cost of sales incurred by the acquired Tyson Mexico operations contributed $119.8 million, or 65.5 percentage points, to the increase in Mexico cost of sales. Decreased cost of sales incurred by our existing operations partially offset the impact of the cost of sales incurred by the acquired business by $27.0 million, or 14.7 percentage points. Cost of sales incurred by our existing operations decreased primarily because of an aggregate $7.0 million gain recognized on the sale of property, plant and equipment, a $2.1 million decrease in wage and benefits costs, a $1.6 million decrease in utilities costs and a $1.1 million decrease in vehicle costs. Other factors affecting cost of sales were individually immaterial.

Operating income. Operating income decreased by $174.4 million, or 43.0%, from $405.5 million generated in the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014 to $231.1 million generated in the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015. The following tables provide information regarding operating income, SG&A expense and administrative restructuring charges:
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Components of operating income |  | Thirteen Weeks Ended September 27, 2015 |  | Change from Thirteen Weeks Ended September 28, 2014 |  | Percent of Net Sales |
Thirteen Weeks Ended |
Amount |  | Percent |  | September 27, 2015 |  | September 28, 2014 |
|  | (In thousands, except percent data) |
Gross profit |  | $ | 284,544 |  |  | $ | (165,721 | ) |  | (36.8 | )% |  | 13.5 | % |  | 19.9 | % |
SG&A expense |  | 52,620 |  |  | 7,991 |  |  | 17.9 | % |  | 2.5 | % |  | 2.0 | % | (a)(b)
Administrative restructuring charges |  | 792 |  |  | 657 |  |  | 486.7 | % |  | — | % |  | — | % | (c)
Operating income |  | $ | 231,132 |  |  | $ | (174,369 | ) |  | (43.0 | )% |  | 10.9 | % |  | 17.9 | % |

Sources of operating income |  | Thirteen Weeks Ended September 27, 2015 |  | Change from Thirteen Weeks Ended September 28, 2014 |
Amount |  | Percent |
|  | (In thousands, except percent data) |
United States |  | $ | 203,755 |  |  | $ | (147,561 | ) |  | (42.0 | )% |
Mexico |  | 27,353 |  |  | (26,832 | ) |  | (49.5 | )% |
Elimination |  | 24 |  |  | 24 |  |  | — | % |
Total operating income |  | $ | 231,132 |  |  | $ | (174,369 | ) |  | (43.0 | )% |
Sources of SG&A expense |  | Thirteen Weeks Ended September 27, 2015 |  | Change from Thirteen Weeks Ended September 28, 2014 |
Amount |  | Percent |
|  | (In thousands, except percent data) |
United States |  | $ | 41,546 |  |  | $ | 1,583 |  |  | 4.0 | % | (a)
Mexico |  | 11,074 |  |  | 6,408 |  |  | 137.3 | % | (b)
Total SG&A expense |  | $ | 52,620 |  |  | $ | 7,991 |  |  | 17.9 | % |
Sources of administrative restructuring charges |  | Thirteen Weeks Ended September 27, 2015 |  | Change from Thirteen Weeks Ended September 28, 2014 |
Amount |  | Percent |
|  | (In thousands, except percent data) |
United States |  | $ | 792 |  |  | $ | 657 |  |  | 486.7 | % | (c)
Mexico |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — | % |
Total administrative restructuring charges |  | $ | 792 |  |  | $ | 657 |  |  | 486.7 | % |

(a) | SG&A expense incurred by the U.S. operations during the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 increased $1.6 million, or 4.0%, from SG&A expense incurred by the U.S. operations during the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014 primarily because of $2.3 million increase in wages and benefits partially offset by a $0.8 million decrease in outside services costs. Other factors affecting SG&A expense were individually immaterial.

(b) | SG&A expense incurred by the Mexico operations during the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 increased $6.4 million, or 137.3%, from SG&A expense incurred by the Mexico operations during the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014 primarily because of expenses incurred by the acquired Tyson Mexico operations and an increase in SG&A expense incurred by our existing operations. Expenses incurred by the acquired Tyson Mexico business contributed $5.3 million, or 112.8 percentage points, to the overall increase in SG&A expenses. An increase in expenses incurred by our existing operations contributed $1.1 million, or 24.5 percentage points, to the overall increase in SG&A expenses. SG&A expense incurred by our existing operations increased primarily because of a $0.6 million increase in bad debt expense. Other factors affecting SG&A expense were individually immaterial.

(c) | Administrative restructuring charges incurred by the U.S. operations during the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 represented a $0.8 million loss related to the sale of a rendering plant in Arkansas. During the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014, we incurred administrative restructuring charges composed of live operations rationalization costs of $0.1 million.

Net interest expense. Net interest expense decreased 0.2% to $10.2 million recognized in the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 from $10.2 million recognized in the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014 primarily because of a decrease in the weighted average interest rate compared to the same period in the prior year. The weighted average interest rate decreased from 7.9% in the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014 to 4.1% in the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015. The impact of the weighted average interest rate on interest expense was partially offset by higher average borrowings. Average borrowings increased from $500.0 million in the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014 to $1.0 billion in the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 due to increased borrowings related to our Senior Notes and U.S. Credit Facility term notes.
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Income taxes. Income tax expense decreased to $73.2 million, a 34.8% effective tax rate, for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 compared to income tax expense of $133.7 million, a 34.3% effective tax rate, for the thirteen weeks ended September 28, 2014. The decrease in income tax expense in 2015 resulted primarily from a decrease in income.
Thirty-nine weeks Ended September 27, 2015 Compared to Thirty-nine weeks Ended September 28, 2014
Net sales. Net sales generated in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 decreased $253.6 million, or 3.9%, from net sales generated in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014. The following table provides net sales information:

Sources of net sales |  | Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 27, 2015 |  | Change from Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 28, 2014 |
Amount |  | Percent |
|  | (In thousands, except percent data) |
United States |  | $ | 5,479,993 |  |  | $ | (278,711 | ) |  | (4.8 | )% | (a)
Mexico |  | 739,331 |  |  | 25,106 |  |  | 3.5 | % | (b)
Total net sales |  | $ | 6,219,324 |  |  | $ | (253,605 | ) |  | (3.9 | )% |

(a) | U.S. net sales generated in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 decreased $278.7 million, or 4.8%, from U.S. net sales generated in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014 primarily because of a decrease in net sales per pound. Lower net sales per pound, which reflects a slight shift in product mix toward lower-priced fresh chicken products when compared to the same period in the prior year, contributed $323.6 million, or 5.6 percentage points, to the sales decrease. An increase in sales volume partially offset the net decrease by $44.8 million, or 0.8 percentage points. Included in U.S. net sales generated during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 and September 28, 2014 were net sales to JBS USA, LLC totaling $17.4 million and $36.2 million, respectively.

(b) | Mexico net sales generated in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 increased $25.1 million, or 3.5%, from Mexico net sales generated in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014 primarily because of net sales generated by the recently acquired Tyson Mexico operations and an increase in sales volume experienced by our existing operations. The impact of the acquired business contributed $128.9 million, or 18.0 percentage points, to the increase in net sales. The sales volume increase experienced by our existing operations contributed $46.5 million, or 6.5 percentage points, to the increase in net sales. The impact of of the acquired business and the sales volume increase experienced by our existing operations was partially offset by a decrease in net sales per pound achieved by our existing operations and the impact of foreign currency translation on our existing operations. The decrease in net sales per pound achieved by our existing operations offset the impact of the acquired business and the sales volume increase experienced by our existing operations by $36.7 million, or 5.1 percentage points. The impact of foreign currency translation on our existing operations offset the impact of the acquired business and the sales volume increase experienced by our existing operations by $113.6 million, or 15.9 percentage points.

Gross profit . Gross profit increased by $78.8 million, or 7.8%, from $1.0 billion generated in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014 to $1.1 billion generated in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015. The following tables provide information regarding gross profit and cost of sales information:

Components of gross profit |  | Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 27, 2015 |  | Change from Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 28, 2014 |  | Percent of Net Sales |
|  | Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended |
| Amount |  | Percent |  | September 27, 2015 |  | September 28, 2014 |
|  | In thousands, except percent data |
Net sales |  | $ | 6,219,324 |  |  | $ | (253,605 | ) |  | (3.9 | )% |  | 100.0 | % |  | 100.0 | % |
Cost of sales |  | 5,125,640 |  |  | (332,443 | ) |  | (6.1 | )% |  | 82.4 | % |  | 84.3 | % | (a)(b)
Gross profit |  | $ | 1,093,684 |  |  | $ | 78,838 |  |  | 7.8 | % |  | 17.6 | % |  | 15.7 | % |

Sources of gross profit |  | Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 27, 2015 |  | Change from Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 28, 2014 |
Amount |  | Percent |
|  | (In thousands, except percent data) |
United States |  | $ | 968,836 |  |  | $ | 110,219 |  |  | 12.8 | % | (a)
Mexico |  | 124,777 |  |  | (31,452 | ) |  | (20.1 | )% | (b)
Elimination |  | 71 |  |  | 71 |  |  | — | % |
Total gross profit |  | $ | 1,093,684 |  |  | $ | 78,838 |  |  | 7.8 | % |

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Sources of cost of sales |  | Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 27, 2015 |  | Change from Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 28, 2014 |
Amount |  | Percent |
|  | (In thousands, except percent data) |
United States |  | $ | 4,511,157 |  |  | $ | (388,930 | ) |  | (7.9 | )% | (a)
Mexico |  | 614,554 |  |  | 56,558 |  |  | 10.1 | % | (b)
Elimination |  | (71 | ) |  | (71 | ) |  | — | % |
Total cost of sales |  | $ | 5,125,640 |  |  | $ | (332,443 | ) |  | (6.1 | )% |

(a) | Cost of sales incurred by the U.S. operations during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 decreased $388.9 million, or 7.9%, from cost of sales incurred by the U.S. operations during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014. Cost of sales decreased primarily because of a $327.1 million decrease in feed ingredients costs, derivative gains of $31.6 million recognized in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to derivative gains of $13.2 million recognized in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014, a $28.5 million decrease in wages and benefits, and a $12.5 million decrease in utilities costs. These decreases in cost of sales components were partially offset by a $20.6 million increase in contract grower costs, a $20.2 million increase in co-pack labor and meat, a $16.7 million increase in contract labor, and a $14.2 million increase in supplies and equipment costs. Other factors affecting cost of sales were individually immaterial.

(b) | Cost of sales incurred by the Mexico operations during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 increased $56.6 million, or 10.1%, from cost of sales incurred by the Mexico operations during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014 primarily because of costs incurred by the acquired Tyson Mexico operations partially offset by a decrease in cost of sales incurred by our existing operations. Cost of sales incurred by the acquired Tyson Mexico operations contributed $119.8 million, or 21.4 percentage points, to the overall increase in cost of sales. The decrease in cost of sales incurred by our existing operations partially offset the impact of the cost of sales incurred by the acquired business by $63.3 million, or 11.3 percentage points. Cost of sales incurred by our existing operations decreased primarily because of an aggregate $4.1 million gain related to the sale of property, plant and equipment, a $4.0 million decrease in wage and benefits costs, a $4.0 million decrease in utilities costs and a $2.4 million decrease in vehicle costs. Other factors affecting cost of sales were individually immaterial.

Operating income. Operating income increased by $63.0 million, or 7.2%, from $874.1 million generated in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014 to $937.1 million generated in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015. The following tables provide information regarding operating income, SG&A expense and administrative restructuring charges:

Components of operating income |  | Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 27, 2015 |  | Change from Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 28, 2014 |  | Percent of Net Sales |
Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended |
Amount |  | Percent |  | September 27, 2015 |  | September 28, 2014 |
|  | (In thousands, except percent data) |
Gross profit |  | $ | 1,093,684 |  |  | $ | 78,838 |  |  | 7.8 | % |  | 17.6 | % |  | 15.7 | % |
SG&A expense |  | 150,961 |  |  | 12,524 |  |  | 9.0 | % |  | 2.4 | % |  | 2.1 | % | (a)(b)
Administrative restructuring charges |  | 5,605 |  |  | 3,319 |  |  | 145.2 | % |  | 0.1 | % |  | — | % | (c)
Operating income |  | $ | 937,118 |  |  | $ | 62,995 |  |  | 7.2 | % |  | 15.1 | % |  | 13.5 | % |

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Sources of operating income |  | Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 27, 2015 |  | Change from Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 28, 2014 |
Amount |  | Percent |
|  | (In thousands, except percent data) |
United States |  | $ | 833,193 |  |  | $ | 101,491 |  |  | 13.9 | % |
Mexico |  | 103,854 |  |  | (38,567 | ) |  | (27.1 | )% |
Elimination |  | 71 |  |  | 71 |  |  | — | % |
Total operating income |  | $ | 937,118 |  |  | $ | 62,995 |  |  | 7.2 | % |
Sources of SG&A expense |  | Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 27, 2015 |  | Change from Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 28, 2014 |
Amount |  | Percent |
|  | (In thousands, except percent data) |
United States |  | $ | 130,038 |  |  | $ | 5,409 |  |  | 4.3 | % | (a)
Mexico |  | 20,923 |  |  | 7,115 |  |  | 51.5 | % | (b)
Total SG&A expense |  | $ | 150,961 |  |  | $ | 12,524 |  |  | 9.0 | % |
Sources of administrative restructuring charges |  | Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 27, 2015 |  | Change from Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 28, 2014 |
Amount |  | Percent |
|  | (In thousands, except percent data) |
United States |  | $ | 5,605 |  |  | $ | 3,319 |  |  | 145.2 | % | (c)
Mexico |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — | % |
Total administrative restructuring charges |  | $ | 5,605 |  |  | $ | 3,319 |  |  | 145.2 | % |

(a) | SG&A expense incurred by the U.S. operations during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 increased $5.4 million, or 4.3%, from SG&A expense incurred by the U.S. operations during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014 primarily because of $6.1 million increase in employee wages and benefits partially offset by a $2.3 million decrease in professional fees. Other factors affecting SG&A expense were individually immaterial.

(b) | SG&A expense incurred by the Mexico operations during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 increased $7.1 million, or 51.5%, from SG&A expense incurred by the Mexico operations during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014 primarily because of expenses incurred by the acquired Tyson Mexico operations and an increase in SG&A expense incurred by our existing operations. Expenses incurred by the acquired Tyson Mexico business contributed $5.3 million, or 38.1 percentage points, to the overall increase in SG&A expense. An increase in expenses incurred by our existing operations contributed $1.8 million, or 13.4 percentage points, to the overall increase in SG&A expense. SG&A expense incurred by our existing operations increased primarily because of a $1.0 million increase in contract labor and a $0.8 million increase in bad debt expense. Other factors affecting SG&A expense were individually immaterial.

(c) | Administrative restructuring charges incurred by the U.S. operations during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 represented impairment costs of $4.8 million related to assets held for sale in Louisiana and Texas and a loss of $0.8 million related to the sale of a rendering plant in Arkansas. During the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014, administrative restructuring charges incurred by the U.S. operations were composed of (i) live operations rationalization costs of $0.9 million, (ii) employee-related costs of $0.6 million, (iii) other exit or disposal costs of $0.4 million and (iv) inventory valuations costs of $0.3 million.

Net interest expense. Net interest expense decreased 43.9% to $23.8 million recognized in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 from $42.4 million recognized in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014 primarily because of a decrease in the weighted average interest rate compared to the same period in the prior year. The weighted average interest rate decreased from 8.1% in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014 to 4.2% in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015. The impact of the weighted average interest rate on interest expense was partially offset by higher average borrowings. Average borrowings increased from $636.8 million in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014 to $909.5 million in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 due to increased borrowings related to our Senior Notes and U.S. Credit Facility term notes.
Income taxes. Income tax expense increased to $313.8 million, a 35.0% effective tax rate, for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 compared to income tax expense of $284.9 million, a 34.4% effective tax rate, for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014. The increase in income tax expense in 2015 resulted primarily from an increase in income.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
The following table presents our available sources of liquidity as of September 27, 2015:

Source of Liquidity |  | Facility Amount |  | Amount Outstanding |  | Amount Available |
|  | (In millions) |
Cash and cash equivalents |  |  |  |  |  | $ | 396.7 |  |
Borrowing arrangements: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Credit Facility |  | $ | 700.0 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | 679.9 |  | (a)
Mexico Credit Facility |  | 33.0 |  |  | 5.9 |  |  | 27.1 |  | (b)

(a) | Actual borrowings under our U.S. Credit Facility are subject to a borrowing base, which is a formula based on certain eligible inventory and eligible receivables. The borrowing base in effect at September 27, 2015 was $700.0 million. Availability under the U.S. Credit Facility is also reduced by our outstanding standby letters of credit. Standby letters of credit outstanding at September 27, 2015 totaled $20.1 million.

(b) | As of September 27, 2015, the U.S. dollar-equivalent of the amount available under the Mexico Credit Facility (as described below) was $27.1 million. The Mexico Credit Facility provides for a loan commitment of 560.0 million Mexican pesos.

Long-Term Debt and Other Borrowing Arrangements
Senior Notes
On March 11, 2015, the Company completed a sale of $500.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.75% senior notes due 2025 (the “Senior Notes”). The Company used the net proceeds from the sale of the Senior Notes to repay $350.0 million and $150.0 million of the term loan indebtedness under the the U.S. Credit Facility (defined below) on March 12, 2015 and April 22, 2015, respectively. The Notes were sold to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and outside the United States to non-U.S. persons pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act.
The Senior Notes are governed by, and were issued pursuant to, an indenture dated as of March 11, 2015 by and among the Company, its guarantor subsidiary and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (the “Indenture”). The Indenture provides, among other things, that the Senior Notes bear interest at a rate of 5.75% per annum from the date of issuance until maturity, payable semi-annually in cash in arrears, beginning on September 15, 2015. The Senior Notes are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by the Company's guarantor subsidiary. In addition, any of the Company’s other existing or future domestic restricted subsidiaries that incur or guarantee any other indebtedness (with limited exceptions) must also guarantee the Senior Notes. The Senior Notes and related guarantees are unsecured senior obligations of the Company and its guarantor subsidiary and rank equally with all of the Company’s and its guarantor subsidiary's other unsubordinated indebtedness. The Senior Notes and the Indenture also contain customary covenants and events of default, including failure to pay principal or interest on the Senior Notes when due, among others.
U.S. Credit Facility
On February 11, 2015, the Company and its subsidiaries, To-Ricos, Ltd. and To-Ricos Distribution, Ltd., entered into the U.S. Credit Facility with Rabobank, as administrative agent, and the other lenders party thereto. The U.S. Credit Facility provides for a revolving loan commitment of up to $700.0 million and a term loan commitment of up to $1.0 billion (the “Term Loans”). The U.S. Credit Facility also includes an accordion feature that allows us, at any time, to increase the aggregate revolving loan and term loan commitments by up to an additional $1.0 billion, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including obtaining the lenders’ agreement to participate in the increase.
The revolving loan commitment under the U.S. Credit Facility matures on February 10, 2020. All principal on the Term Loans is due at maturity on February 10, 2020. Because the Company prepaid $350.0 million of the Term Loans with proceeds from the Senior Notes, the Company is not required to pay quarterly installments. Covenants in the U.S. Credit Facility also require the Company to use the proceeds it receives from certain asset sales and specified debt or equity issuances and upon the occurrence of other events to repay outstanding borrowings under the U.S. Credit Facility. The Company had Term Loans outstanding totaling $500.0 million as of September 27, 2015.
The U.S. Credit Facility includes a $75.0 million sub-limit for swingline loans and a $125.0 million sub-limit for letters of credit. Outstanding borrowings under the revolving loan commitment and the Term Loans bear interest at a per annum rate equal to (i) in the case of LIBOR loans, LIBOR plus 1.50% through September 27, 2015 and, based on our net senior secured leverage ratio, between LIBOR plus 1.25% and LIBOR plus 2.75% and (ii) in the case of alternate base rate loans, the base rate plus 0.50% through September 27, 2015 and, based on our net senior secured leverage ratio, between the base rate plus 0.25% and base rate plus 1.75% thereafter.
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Actual borrowings by the Company under the revolving loan commitment of the U.S. Credit Facility are subject to a borrowing base, which is a formula based on certain eligible inventory, eligible receivables and restricted cash under the control of Rabobank, in its capacity as administrative agent. The borrowing base formula will be reduced by the sum of (i) inventory reserves, (ii) rent and collateral access reserves, and (iii) any amount more than 15 days past due that is owed by the Company or its 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. As of September 27, 2015, the applicable borrowing base was $700.0 million and the amount available for borrowing under the revolving loan commitment was $679.9 million. The Company had letters of credit of $20.1 million and no outstanding borrowings under the revolving loan commitment as of September 27, 2015.
The U.S. Credit Facility contains financial covenants and various other covenants that may adversely affect the Company's ability to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness, incur liens, pay dividends or make certain restricted payments, consummate certain assets sales, enter into certain transactions with JBS USA and the Company's other affiliates, merge, consolidate and/or sell or dispose of all or substantially all of the Company's assets. The U.S. Credit Facility requires the Company to comply with a minimum level of tangible net worth covenant. The U.S. Credit Facility also provides that the Company may not incur capital expenditures in excess of $500.0 million in any fiscal year. The Company is currently in compliance with the covenants under the U.S. Credit Facility.
All obligations under the U.S. Credit Facility will continue to be unconditionally guaranteed by certain of the Company's subsidiaries and will continue to be secured by a first priority lien on (i) the domestic (including Puerto Rico) accounts and inventory of the Company and its subsidiaries, (ii) 100% of the equity interests in the Company's domestic subsidiaries and 65% of the equity interests in the Company's direct foreign subsidiaries and (iii) substantially all of the assets of the Company and the guarantors under the U.S. Credit Facility.
Subordinated Loan Agreement
On June 23, 2011, the Company entered into a Subordinated Loan Agreement with JBS USA (the “Subordinated Loan Agreement”). Pursuant to the terms of the Subordinated Loan Agreement, the Company agreed to reimburse JBS USA up to $56.5 million for draws upon any letters of credit issued for JBS USA's account that support certain obligations of the Company or its subsidiaries. JBS USA agreed to arrange for letters of credit to be issued on its account in the amount of $56.5 million to an insurance company serving the Company in order to allow that insurance company to return cash it held as collateral against potential workers compensation, auto and general liability claims. In return for providing this letter of credit, the Company has agreed to reimburse JBS USA for the letter of credit cost the Company would otherwise incur under its U.S. Credit Facility (as defined below). In the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015, the Company reimbursed JBS USA $0.3 million and $0.7 million, respectively, for letter of credit costs. As of September 27, 2015, the Company has accrued an obligation of $0.1 million to reimburse JBS USA for letter of credit costs incurred on its behalf. There remains no other commitment of JBS USA to make advances under the Subordinated Loan Agreement.
Mexico Credit Facility
On July 23, 2014, certain of our Mexican subsidiaries entered into an unsecured credit agreement (the “Mexico Credit Facility”) with BBVA Bancomer, S.A. Institución de Banca Múltiple, Grupo Financiero BBVA Bancomer, as lender. The loan commitment under the Mexico Credit Facility is Mex$560.0 million. Outstanding borrowings under the Mexico Credit Facility will accrue interest at a rate equal to the Interbank Equilibrium Interest Rate plus 1.05%. The Mexico Credit Facility will mature on July 23, 2017. As of September 27, 2015, the U.S. dollar-equivalent of the loan commitment under the Mexico Credit Facility was $33.0 million, and there were $5.9 million outstanding borrowings due January 2016 under the Mexico Credit Facility that bear interest at a per annum rate of 4.33%.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We maintain operating leases for various types of equipment, some of which contain residual value guarantees for the market value of assets at the end of the term of the lease. The terms of the lease maturities range from one to ten years. We estimate the maximum potential amount of the residual value guarantees is approximately $1.4 million; however, the actual amount would be offset by any recoverable amount based on the fair market value of the underlying leased assets. No liability has been recorded related to this contingency as the likelihood of payments under these guarantees is not considered to be probable, and the fair value of the guarantees is immaterial. We historically have not experienced significant payments under similar residual guarantees.
We are a party to many routine contracts in which we provide general indemnities in the normal course of business to third parties for various risks. Among other considerations, we have not recorded a liability for any of these indemnities as, based
35

upon the likelihood of payment, the fair value of such indemnities would not have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Historical Flow of Funds
Cash provided by operating activities was $856.3 million and $802.4 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 and September 28, 2014, respectively. The increase in cash flows provided by operating activities was primarily as a result of increased net income for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014.
Our working capital position, which we define as current assets less current liabilities, decreased $290.1 million to $850.1 million and a current ratio of 1.94 at September 27, 2015 compared to $1.1 billion and a current ratio of 2.53 at December 28, 2014. The decrease in working capital during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 was primarily a result of an increase in income taxes payable, and an increase in accounts payable, as described below. Our working capital position increased $451.2 million to $1.3 billion and a current ratio of 2.47 at September 28, 2014 compared to $845.6 million and a current ratio of 1.78 at December 29, 2013. The increase in working capital during thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014 was primarily the result of the generation of cash from operations.
Trade accounts and other receivables decreased $9.2 million, or 2.4%, to $369.7 million at September 27, 2015 from $378.9 million at December 28, 2014. The change in trade accounts and other receivables resulted primarily from a decrease in sales generated in the two weeks ended September 27, 2015 as compared to sales generated in the two weeks ended December 28, 2014 partially offset by the impact of the Tyson Mexico acquisition. Trade accounts and other receivables increased $34.6 million, or 9.1%, to $413.6 million at September 28, 2014 from $379.1 million at December 29, 2013. The change in trade accounts and other receivables resulted primarily from an increase in sales generated in the two weeks ended September 28, 2014 as compared to sales generated in the two weeks ended December 29, 2013.
Inventories increased $51.0 million, or 6.4%, to $841.3 million at September 27, 2015 from $790.3 million at December 28, 2014. This change in inventories resulted primarily from the impact of the Tyson Mexico acquisition and increased costs for feed grains and their impact on the value of our live chicken inventories. Inventories increased $9.1 million, or 1.1%, to $817.9 million at September 28, 2014 from $808.8 million at December 29, 2013. This change in inventories was primarily due to increased costs for feed grains and their impact on the value of our live chicken inventories.
Prepaid expenses and other current assets increased $1.4 million, or 1.5%, to $96.9 million at September 27, 2015 from $95.4 million at December 28, 2014. This change resulted primarily from a $1.1 million increase in margin cash on deposit with our derivatives traders. Prepaid expenses and other current assets increased $15.5 million, or 25.1%, to $77.4 million at September 28, 2014 from $61.8 million at December 29, 2013. This change resulted primarily from a $5.6 million increase in value-added tax receivables and a $3.9 million increase in margin cash on deposit with our derivatives traders.
Accounts payable, including accounts payable to JBS USA, increased $130.1 million, or 32.2%, to $534.4 million at September 27, 2015 from $404.3 million at December 28, 2014. This change resulted primarily from the impact of the Tyson Mexico acquisition and use of a financing vehicle that extends the terms of many of our payables. Accounts payable, including accounts payable to related parties, increased $11.5 million, or 3.1%, to $358.7 million at September 28, 2014 from $374.3 million at December 29, 2013. This change resulted primarily from an $18.6 million increase in trade payables and a $2.0 million decrease in the payable to JBS USA.
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities decreased $7.4 million, or 2.4%, to $304.5 million at September 27, 2015 from $311.9 million at December 28, 2014. This change resulted primarily from a $22.6 million decrease in accrued compensation and benefits costs and a $1.5 million decrease in derivative liabilities that was partially offset by the impact of the Tyson Mexico acquisition and an $8.9 million increase in accrued interest. Accrued expenses and other current liabilities decreased $23.8 million, or 8.4%, to $307.2 million at September 28, 2014 from $283.4 million at December 29, 2013. This change resulted primarily from a $19.8 million increase in other accrued liabilities such as property taxes, legal fees and contract grower compensation, a $5.4 million increase in accrued compensation and benefits costs, a $4.6 million increase in derivative liabilities and a $4.5 million increase in accrued interest that was partially offset by a $10.6 million decrease in accrued insurance and self-insured claims costs.
Income taxes, which includes income taxes receivable, income taxes payable, both current and noncurrent deferred tax assets, both current and noncurrent deferred tax liabilities and reserves for uncertain tax positions, increased $40.1 million, or 47.6%, to a net liability position of $124.4 million at September 27, 2015 from a net liability position of $84.3 million at December 28, 2014. This change resulted primarily from tax expense recorded on our year-to-date income, the timing of estimated tax payments (including a $58.0 million estimated tax payment due in September 2015 that was paid in October 2015) and the impact of the Tyson Mexico acquisition. Income taxes changed from a net asset position of $32.4 million at December 29, 2013
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to a net liability position of $127.3 million at September 28, 2014. This change resulted primarily from tax expense recorded on our year-to-date income that was based on a higher effective tax rate. We experienced a higher effective tax rate in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014 due to a decrease in the total valuation allowance in 2013 that resulted primarily from the utilization of almost all of our domestic net operating losses.
Cash used in investing activities was $489.8 million and $26.0 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 and September 28, 2014, respectively. Cash used to purchase Tyson Mexico during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 totaled $373.5 million. Capital expenditures totaled $129.8 million and $131.3 million in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 and September 28, 2014, respectively. Capital expenditures decreased by $1.5 million primarily because of the number of projects that were active during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 when compared to the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014. Capital expenditures for 2015 cannot exceed $500.0 million under the U.S. Credit Facility. Cash proceeds from property disposals in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 and September 28, 2014 were $13.6 million and $8.4 million, respectively. Cash used to purchase investment securities totaled $55.1 million in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014. Cash proceeds from the sale or maturity of investment securities in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014 was $152.0 million.
Cash used in financing activities was $545.9 million and $409.9 million in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 and September 28, 2014, respectively. Cash proceeds drawn from our revolving line of credit and long-term borrowings totaled $1.7 billion in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015. No cash proceeds were drawn from our revolving line of credit and long-term borrowings in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 28, 2014. Cash provided in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 through a current note payable to bank totaled $5.8 million. Cash provided in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015, included a tax benefit related to share-based compensation of $7.8 million. Cash used to repay revolving line of credit obligations, long-term borrowings and capital lease obligations was $683.7 million and $410.2 million in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 and September 28, 2014, respectively. Cash was used in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 to pay a special cash dividend of approximately $1.5 billion, to purchase treasury stock of $45.1 million and to pay capitalized loan costs of $12.3 million related to both the amendment and restatement of the U.S. Credit Facility and the sale of the Senior Notes.
Contractual Obligations
Contractual obligations at September 27, 2015 were as follows:

Contractual Obligations(a) |  | Total |  | Less than One Year |  | One to Three Years |  | Three to Five Years |  | Greater than Five Years
|  | (In thousands)
Long-term debt(b) |  | $ | 1,000,000 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 500,000 |  |  | $ | 500,000 |
Interest(c) |  | 304,510 |  |  | 37,734 |  |  | 71,875 |  |  | 65,526 |  |  | 129,375 |
Capital leases |  | 611 |  |  | 171 |  |  | 245 |  |  | 195 |  |  | — |
Operating leases |  | 59,871 |  |  | 10,642 |  |  | 31,960 |  |  | 11,135 |  |  | 6,134 |
Derivative liabilities |  | 11 |  |  | 11 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Purchase obligations(d) |  | 140,892 |  |  | 135,928 |  |  | 4,964 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Total |  | $ | 1,505,895 |  |  | $ | 184,486 |  |  | $ | 109,044 |  |  | $ | 576,856 |  |  | $ | 635,509 |

(a) | The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits at September 27, 2015 was $16.1 million. We did not include this amount in the contractual obligations table above as reasonable estimates cannot be made at this time of the amounts or timing of future cash outflows.

(b) | Long-term debt is presented at face value and excludes $20.1 million in letters of credit outstanding related to normal business transactions.

(c) | Interest expense in the table above assumes the continuation of interest rates and outstanding borrowings as of September 27, 2015.

(d) | Includes agreements to purchase goods or services that are enforceable and legally binding on us and that specify all significant terms, including fixed or minimum quantities to be purchased; fixed, minimum, or variable price provisions; and the approximate timing of the transaction.

W e expect cash flows from operations, combined with availability under the U.S. Credit Facility, to provide sufficient liquidity to fund current obligations, projected working capital requirements, maturities of long-term debt and capital spending for at least the next twelve months.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued new accounting guidance on revenue recognition, which provides for a single five-step model to be applied to all revenue contracts with customers.
In April 2015, the FASB issued new presentation guidance for debt issuance costs, which requires that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts.
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In July 2015, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on the subsequent measurement of inventory, which, in an effort to simplify unnecessarily complicated accounting guidance that can result in several potential outcomes, requires an entity to measure inventory at the lower of cost or net realizable value.
In September 2015, the FASB issued new accounting and presentation guidance for adjustments to provisional amounts recognized in business combinations, which, in an effort to reduce the cost and complexity of financial reporting, requires an acquiring entity in a business combination to recognize adjustments to provisional amounts identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined.
See “Note 1. Description of Business and Basis of Presentation” of our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in this quarterly report for additional information relating to these new accounting pronouncements.
Critical Accounting Policies
During the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015, (i) we did not change any of our existing critical accounting policies, (ii) no existing accounting policies became critical accounting policies because of an increase in the materiality of associated transactions or changes in the circumstances to which associated judgments and estimates relate and (iii) there were no significant changes in the manner in which critical accounting policies were applied or in which related judgments and estimates were developed.

ITEM 3. | QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISKS

Market Risk-Sensitive Instruments and Positions
The risk inherent in our market risk-sensitive instruments and positions is primarily the potential loss arising from adverse changes in commodity prices, foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates and the credit quality of investments as discussed below. The sensitivity analyses presented do not consider the effects that such adverse changes may have on overall economic activity, nor do they consider additional actions our management may take to mitigate our exposure to such changes. Actual results may differ.
Commodity Prices
We purchase certain commodities, primarily corn, soybean meal and sorghum, for use as ingredients in the feed we either sell commercially or consume in our live operations. As a result, our earnings are affected by changes in the price and availability of such feed ingredients. In the past, we have from time to time attempted to minimize our exposure to the changing price and availability of such feed ingredients using various techniques, including, but not limited to, executing purchase agreements with suppliers for future physical delivery of feed ingredients at established prices and purchasing or selling derivative financial instruments such as futures and options.
Market risk is estimated as a hypothetical 10.0% change in the weighted-average cost of our primary feed ingredients as of September 27, 2015. However, fluctuations greater than 10.0% frequently occur in the ordinary course of business. Based on our feed consumption during the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015, such a change would have resulted in a change to cost of sales of $61.6 million, excluding the impact of any feed ingredients derivative financial instruments in that period. A 10.0% change in ending feed ingredient inventories at September 27, 2015 would be $10.3 million, excluding any potential impact on the production costs of our chicken inventories.
The Company purchases commodity derivative financial instruments, specifically exchange-traded futures and options, in an attempt to mitigate price risk related to its anticipated consumption of commodity inputs for the next 12 months. A 10.0% change in corn, soybean meal and soybean oil prices on September 27, 2015 would have resulted in a change of approximately $2.1 million in the fair value of our net commodity derivative asset position, including margin cash, as of that date.
Interest Rates
Our variable-rate debt instruments represent approximately 51.0% of our total debt at September 27, 2015. Holding other variables constant, including levels of indebtedness, an increase in interest rates of 25 basis points would have increased our interest expense by $0.3 million for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015.
Market risk for fixed-rate debt is estimated as the potential increase in fair value resulting from a hypothetical decrease in interest rates of 10.0%. Using a discounted cash flow analysis, a hypothetical 10.0% decrease in interest rates would have decreased the fair value of our fixed-rate debt by approximately $10.3 million as of September 27, 2015.
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Foreign Currency
Our earnings are also affected by foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations related to the Mexican peso net monetary position of our Mexican subsidiaries. We manage this exposure primarily by attempting to minimize our Mexican peso net monetary position. We are also exposed to the effect of potential currency exchange rate fluctuations to the extent that amounts are repatriated from Mexico to the U.S. We currently anticipate that the cash flows of our Mexico subsidiaries will be reinvested in our Mexico operations. In addition, the Mexican peso exchange rate can directly and indirectly impact our financial condition and results of operations in several ways, including potential economic recession in Mexico because of devaluation of their currency. The impact on our financial position and results of operations resulting from a hypothetical change in the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the Mexican peso cannot be reasonably estimated. Foreign currency exchange gains (losses), representing the change in the U.S. dollar value of the net monetary assets of our Mexican subsidiaries denominated in Mexican pesos, was a loss of $23.8 million and a loss of $5.0 million in the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 and September 28, 2014, respectively. The average exchange rates for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 and September 28, 2014 were Mex $16.39 to $1.00 and Mex$13.11 to $1.00, respectively. No assurance can be given as to how future movements in the Mexican peso could affect our future financial condition or results of operations.
Quality of Investments
Certain retirement plans that we sponsor invest in a variety of financial instruments. We have analyzed our portfolios of investments and, to the best of our knowledge, none of our investments, including money market funds units, commercial paper and municipal securities, have been downgraded, and neither we nor any fund in which we participate hold significant amounts of structured investment vehicles, auction rate securities, collateralized debt obligations, credit derivatives, hedge funds investments, fund of funds investments or perpetual preferred securities. Certain postretirement funds in which we participate hold significant amounts of mortgage-backed securities. However, none of the mortgages collateralizing these securities are considered subprime.
Impact of Inflation
Due to low to moderate inflation in the U.S. and Mexico and our rapid inventory turnover rate, the results of operations have not been significantly affected by inflation during the past three-year period.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain written and oral statements made by our Company and subsidiaries of our Company may constitute “forward-looking statements” as defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This includes statements made herein, in our other filings with the SEC, in press releases, and in certain other oral and written presentations. Statements of our intentions, beliefs, expectations or predictions for the future, denoted by the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “plan,” “imply,” “intend,” “should,” “foresee” and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements that reflect our current views about future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Such risks, uncertainties and assumptions include the following:

• | Matters affecting the chicken industry generally, including fluctuations in the commodity prices of feed ingredients and chicken;

• | Our ability to obtain and maintain commercially reasonable terms with vendors and service providers;

• | Our ability to maintain contracts that are critical to our operations;

• | Our ability to retain management and other key individuals;

• | Outbreaks of avian influenza or other diseases, either in our own flocks or elsewhere, affecting our ability to conduct our operations and/or demand for our poultry products;

• | Contamination of our products, which has previously and can in the future lead to product liability claims and product recalls;

• | Exposure to risks related to product liability, product recalls, property damage and injuries to persons, for which insurance coverage is expensive, limited and potentially inadequate;

• | Changes in laws or regulations affecting our operations or the application thereof;

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• | New immigration legislation or increased enforcement efforts in connection with existing immigration legislation that cause our costs of business to increase, cause us to change the way in which we do business or otherwise disrupt our operations;

• | Competitive factors and pricing pressures or the loss of one or more of our largest customers;

• | Inability to consummate, or effectively integrate, any acquisition, including the acquisition of Tyson Mexico, or to realize the associated anticipated cost savings and operating synergies;

• | Currency exchange rate fluctuations, trade barriers, exchange controls, expropriation and other risks associated with foreign operations;

• | Disruptions in international markets and distribution channels;

• | Our ability to maintain favorable labor relations with our employees and our compliance with labor laws;

• | Extreme weather or natural disasters;

• | The impact of uncertainties in litigation; and

• | Other risks described herein and under “Risk Factors” in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2014 as filed with the SEC.

Actual results could differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements as a result of these factors, among others, many of which are beyond our control.
In making these statements, we are not undertaking, and specifically decline to undertake, any obligation to address or update each or any factor in future filings or communications regarding our business or results, and we are not undertaking to address how any of these factors may have caused changes to information contained in previous filings or communications. Although we have attempted to list comprehensively these important cautionary risk factors, we must caution investors and others that other factors may in the future prove to be important and affect our business or results of operations.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Under Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), “disclosure controls and procedures” means controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by our company in the reports that it files with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by our company in the reports that it files with the SEC is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
As of September 27, 2015, an evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation and in light of the material weakness in internal control over financial reporting disclosed in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2014, which weakness had not been fully remedied at September 27, 2015, the Company’s management concluded the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of September 27, 2015. However, giving full consideration to the material weakness described below, the Company’s management has concluded that the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in this quarterly report present fairly, in all material respects, the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods disclosed in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S.
A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement in our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Management has identified a material weakness in the design and operating effectiveness of general information technology controls. Specifically, the Company's process lacks sufficient internal controls intended to ensure (i) that access to applications and data, and the ability to make program changes, were adequately restricted to appropriate personnel and (ii) that the activities of individuals with access to modify data and make program changes were appropriately monitored.
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Remediation Plan for Material Weakness in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Management does not believe any unauthorized entries were made despite the potential access to those applications and data by certain of our IT personnel. In response to the material weakness described above, the Company has developed a remediation plan, with oversight from the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors. As part of the remediation process, the Company is enhancing its processes for authorizing access to systems and monitoring activities of individuals who are granted access to ensure that all information technology controls designed to restrict access to applications and data, and the ability to make program changes, operate in a manner that provides management with assurance that such access is properly restricted to the appropriate personne l.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Other than actions we have taken to remedy the material weakness described above, the Company’s management, including the Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, identified no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
On May 14, 2013, the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) published Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) (the “2013 Framework”) and related illustrative documents as an update to Internal Control-Integrated Framework (1992) (the “1992 Framework”). While the 2013 Framework’s internal control components (i.e., control environment, risk assessment, control activities, information and communication, and monitoring activities) are the same as those in the 1992 Framework, the 2013 Framework, among other matters, requires companies to assess whether 17 principles are present and functioning in determining whether their system of internal control is effective. The Company is adopting the 2013 Framework during the fiscal year ending December 27, 2015.
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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. | LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Tax Claims and Proceedings
In 2009, the IRS asserted claims against us totaling $74.7 million. Following a series of objections, motions and opposition filed by both parties in the federal court system, we worked with the IRS through the normal processes and procedures that are available to resolve the IRS’ claims. On December 12, 2012, we entered into two Stipulation of Settled Issues agreements with the IRS. The first Stipulation related to our 2003, 2005, and 2007 tax years and resolved all of the material issues in the case. The second Stipulation related to us as the successor in interest to Gold Kist for the tax years ended June 30, 2005 and September 30, 2005, and resolved all substantive issues in the case. These Stipulations accounted for approximately $29.3 million of the claims and should result in no additional tax due.
In connection with the remaining $45.4 million claimed by the IRS, we filed a petition in Tax Court on May 26, 2010 in response to a Notice of Deficiency that was issued to us as the successor in interest to Gold Kist. The Notice of Deficiency and the Tax Court proceeding relate to an ordinary loss that Gold Kist claimed for its tax year ended June 26, 2004. On December 11, 2013, the Tax Court issued its opinion in the Tax Court case holding the loss that Gold Kist claimed for its tax year ended June 26, 2004 was capital in nature. On April 14, 2014, we appealed the Tax Court's findings of fact and conclusions of law to the Fifth Circuit. On February 25, 2015, the Fifth Circuit issued its opinion, which reversed the Tax Court’s judgment and rendered judgment in our favor. The IRS did not appeal the Fifth Circuit's decision, which has become final, and no additional tax should be due in connection with this matter.
ERISA Claims and Proceedings
On December 17, 2008, Kenneth Patterson filed suit in the Marshall Court against Lonnie “Bo” Pilgrim, Lonnie Ken Pilgrim, Clifford E. Butler, J. Clinton Rivers, Richard A. Cogdill, Renee N. DeBar, our Compensation Committee and other unnamed defendants (the “Patterson action”). On January 2, 2009, a nearly identical suit was filed by Denise M. Smalls in the same court against the same defendants (the “Smalls action”). The complaints in both actions, brought pursuant to section 502 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), 29 U.S.C. §1132, alleged that the individual defendants breached fiduciary duties to participants and beneficiaries of the Pilgrim’s Pride Stock Investment Plan (the “Stock Plan”), as administered through the Pilgrim’s Pride Retirement Savings Plan (the “RSP”), and the To-Ricos, Inc. Employee Savings and Retirement Plan (the “To-Ricos Plan”) (collectively, the “Plans”) by failing to sell the common stock held by the Plans before it declined in value in late 2008. Patterson and Smalls further alleged that they purported to represent a class of all persons or entities who were participants in or beneficiaries of the Plans at any time between May 5, 2008 through the present and whose accounts held our common stock or units in our common stock. Both complaints sought actual damages in the amount of any losses the Plans suffered, to be allocated among the participants’ individual accounts as benefits due in proportion to the accounts’ diminution in value, attorneys’ fees, an order for equitable restitution and the imposition of constructive trust, and a declaration that each of the defendants have breached their fiduciary duties to the Plans’ participants.
On July 20, 2009, the Marshall Court entered an order consolidating the Smalls and Patterson actions. On August 12, 2009, the Marshall Court ordered that the consolidated case will proceed under the caption “In re Pilgrim’s Pride Stock Investment Plan ERISA Litigation, No. 2:08-cv-472-TJW.”
Patterson and Smalls filed a consolidated amended complaint (“Amended Complaint”) on March 2, 2010. The Amended Complaint names as defendants the Pilgrim’s Pride Board of Directors, Lonnie “Bo” Pilgrim, Lonnie Ken Pilgrim, Charles L. Black, Linda Chavez, S. Key Coker, Keith W. Hughes, Blake D. Lovette, Vance C. Miller, James G. Vetter, Jr., Donald L. Wass, J. Clinton Rivers, Richard A. Cogdill, the Pilgrim’s Pride Pension Committee, Robert A. Wright, Jane Brookshire, Renee N. DeBar, the Pilgrim’s Pride Administrative Committee, Gerry Evenwel, Stacey Evans, Evelyn Boyden, and “John Does 1-10.” The Amended Complaint purports to assert claims on behalf of persons who were participants in or beneficiaries of the RSP or the To-Ricos Plan at any time between January 29, 2008 through December 1, 2008 (“the alleged class period”), and whose accounts included investments in the Company’s common stock.
Like the original Patterson and Smalls complaints, the Amended Complaint alleges that the defendants breached ERISA fiduciary duties to participants and beneficiaries of the RSP and To-Ricos Plan by permitting both Plans to continue investing in the Company’s common stock during the alleged class period. The Amended Complaint also alleges that certain defendants were “appointing” fiduciaries who failed to monitor the performance of the defendant-fiduciaries they appointed. Further, the Amended Complaint alleges that all defendants are liable as co-fiduciaries for one another’s alleged breaches. Plaintiffs seek actual damages in the amount of any losses the RSP and To-Ricos Plan attributable to the decline in the value of the common stock held by the Plans, to be allocated among the participants’ individual accounts as benefits due in proportion to the accounts’ alleged diminution
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in value, costs and attorneys’ fees, an order for equitable restitution and the imposition of constructive trust, and a declaration that each of the defendants have breached their ERISA fiduciary duties to the RSP and To-Ricos Plan’s participants.
The Defendants filed a motion to dismiss the Amended Complaint on May 3, 2010. On August 29, 2012, the Magistrate judge issued a Report and Recommendation to deny the Defendants’ motion to dismiss the complaint on grounds that the complaint included too many exhibits. Defendants filed objections with the Marshall Court, and on October 29, 2012, the Marshall Court adopted the Recommendation of the Magistrate Judge and entered an order denying Defendants’ motion to dismiss. On November 11, 2012, Plaintiffs filed a motion for class certification. The motion is fully briefed and was argued to the Marshall Court on February 28, 2013. The parties are awaiting a decision on the motion.
Other Claims and Proceedings
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 1A. | RISK FACTORS

In addition to the other information set forth in this quarterly report, you should carefully consider the risks discussed in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2014, including under the heading “Item 1A. Risk Factors”, which, along with risks disclosed in this report, are risks we believe could materially affect the Company’s business, financial condition or future results. These risks are not the only risks facing the Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to the Company or that it currently deems to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect the Company’s business, financial condition or future results.

ITEM 2. | UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

On July 28, 2015, our Board of Directors approved a $150.0 million share repurchase authorization. We plan to repurchase shares through various means, which may include but are not limited to open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions, the use of derivative instruments and/or accelerated share repurchase programs. The share repurchase program expires on July 27, 2016. The extent to which we repurchase our shares and the timing of such repurchases will vary and depend upon market conditions and other corporate considerations, as determined by our management team. We reserve the right to limit or terminate the repurchase program at any time without notice. As of September 27, 2015, we had repurchased 1,914,977 shares under this program with a market value of approximately $45.1 million. Set forth below is information regarding our stock repurchases for the thirteen weeks ended September 27, 2015.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Period |  | Total Number of Shares Purchased |  | Average Price Paid per Share |  | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs |  | Approximate Dollar Value of the Shares That May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
June 29, 2015 through July 26, 2015 |  | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | — |  |  | $ | 150,000,000 |
July 27, 2015 through August 30, 2015 |  | 350,000 |  |  | 21.75 |  |  | 350,000 |  |  | 142,387,995 |
August 31, 2015 through September 27, 2015 |  | 1,564,977 |  |  | 23.94 |  |  | 1,564,977 |  |  | 104,920,378 |
Total |  | 1,914,977 |  |  | $ | 23.54 |  |  | 1,914,977 |  |  | $ | 104,920,378 |

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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

2.1 |  |  | Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated September 15, 1986, by and among Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, a Texas corporation; Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, a Delaware corporation; and Doris Pilgrim Julian, Aubrey Hal Pilgrim, Paulette Pilgrim Rolston, Evanne Pilgrim, Lonnie “Bo” Pilgrim, Lonnie Ken Pilgrim, Greta Pilgrim Owens and Patrick Wayne Pilgrim (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-8805) effective November 14, 1986).
2.2 |  |  | Agreement and Plan of Merger dated September 27, 2000 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 2 of WLR Foods, Inc.’s current report on Form 8-K (No. 000-17060) dated September 28, 2000).
2.3 |  |  | Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of December 3, 2006, by and among the Company, Protein Acquisition Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and Gold Kist Inc. (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 99.(D)(1) to Amendment No. 11 to the Company’s Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO filed on December 5, 2006).
2.4 |  |  | Stock Purchase Agreement by and between the Company and JBS USA Holdings, Inc., dated September 16, 2009 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 2.1 of the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed September 18, 2009).
2.5 |  |  | Amendment No.1 to the Stock Purchase Agreement by and between the Company and JBS USA Holdings, Inc., dated December 28, 2009 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 2.5 of the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K/A filed January 22, 2010).
3.1 |  |  | Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Form 8-A filed on December 27, 2012).
3.2 |  |  | Amended and Restated Corporate Bylaws of the Company (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.2 of the Company’s Form 8-A filed on December 27, 2012).
4.1 |  |  | Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (included as Exhibit 3.1).
4.2 |  |  | Amended and Restated Corporate Bylaws of the Company (included as Exhibit 3.2).
4.3 |  |  | Stockholders Agreement dated December 28, 2009 between the Company and JBS USA Holdings, Inc., as amended (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form 8-A filed on December 27, 2012).
4.4 |  |  | Form of Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed on December 29, 2009).
4.5 |  |  | Indenture dated as of March 11, 2015 among the Company, Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation of West Virginia, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee, Form of Senior 5.750% Note due 2025, and Form of Guarantee attached (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed on March 11, 2015).
12 |  |  | Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 and September 28, 2014.*
31.1 |  |  | Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
31.2 |  |  | Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
32.1 |  |  | Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.**
32.2 |  |  | Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.**
101.INS |  |  | XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH |  |  | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
101.CAL |  |  | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation
101.DEF |  |  | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition
101.LAB |  |  | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label
101.PRE |  |  | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation

* |  | Filed herewith.

** |  | Furnished herewith.

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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

|  | PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
Date: October 28, 2015 |  | /s/ Fabio Sandri
|  | Fabio Sandri
|  | Chief Financial Officer
|  | (Principal Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer and Duly Authorized Officer)

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EXHIBIT INDEX

2.1 |  |  | Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated September 15, 1986, by and among Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, a Texas corporation; Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, a Delaware corporation; and Doris Pilgrim Julian, Aubrey Hal Pilgrim, Paulette Pilgrim Rolston, Evanne Pilgrim, Lonnie “Bo” Pilgrim, Lonnie Ken Pilgrim, Greta Pilgrim Owens and Patrick Wayne Pilgrim (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (No. 33-8805) effective November 14, 1986).
2.2 |  |  | Agreement and Plan of Merger dated September 27, 2000 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 2 of WLR Foods, Inc.’s current report on Form 8-K (No. 000-17060) dated September 28, 2000).
2.3 |  |  | Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of December 3, 2006, by and among the Company, Protein Acquisition Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and Gold Kist Inc. (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 99.(D)(1) to Amendment No. 11 to the Company’s Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO filed on December 5, 2006).
2.4 |  |  | Stock Purchase Agreement by and between the Company and JBS USA Holdings, Inc., dated September 16, 2009 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 2.1 of the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed September 18, 2009).
2.5 |  |  | Amendment No.1 to the Stock Purchase Agreement by and between the Company and JBS USA Holdings, Inc., dated December 28, 2009 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 2.5 of the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K/A filed January 22, 2010).
3.1 |  |  | Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Form 8-A filed on December 27, 2012).
3.2 |  |  | Amended and Restated Corporate Bylaws of the Company (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.2 of the Company’s Form 8-A filed on December 27, 2012).
4.1 |  |  | Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (included as Exhibit 3.1).
4.2 |  |  | Amended and Restated Corporate Bylaws of the Company (included as Exhibit 3.2).
4.3 |  |  | Stockholders Agreement dated December 28, 2009 between the Company and JBS USA Holdings, Inc., as amended (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form 8-A filed on December 27, 2012).
4.4 |  |  | Form of Common Stock Certificate (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed on December 29, 2009).
4.5 |  |  | Indenture dated as of March 11, 2015 among the Company, Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation of West Virginia, Inc. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Trustee, Form of Senior 5.750% Note due 2025, and Form of Guarantee attached (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s current report on Form 8-K filed on March 11, 2015).
12 |  |  | Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 27, 2015 and September 28, 2014.*
31.1 |  |  | Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
31.2 |  |  | Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*
32.1 |  |  | Certification of Principal Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.**
32.2 |  |  | Certification of Principal Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.**
101.INS |  |  | XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH |  |  | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
101.CAL |  |  | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation
101.DEF |  |  | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition
101.LAB |  |  | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label
101.PRE |  |  | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation

* |  | Filed herewith.

** |  | Furnished herewith.

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