10-K 1 ppc-2016x12x25x10k.htm 10-K
Table of Contents
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

|  | FORM 10-K |  |

(Mark One)

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

For the fiscal year ended December 25, 2016
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, Colorado | 80634-9038
(Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (970) 506-8000
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class | Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, Par Value $0.01 | The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Yes ¨ No x
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, 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 x No ¨
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. x
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, 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 x |  | 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 x
The aggregate market value of the Registrant’s Common Stock, $0.01 par value, held by non-affiliates of the Registrant as of June 26, 2016, was $1,473,125,099. For purposes of the foregoing calculation only, all directors, executive officers and greater than 10% beneficial owners have been deemed affiliates. Number of shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock outstanding as of February 8, 2017 was 248,370,044.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the Company’s Proxy Statement for the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this annual report.

Table of Contents
PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
FORM 10-K
TABLE OF CONTENTS

| PART I | Page
Item 1. | Business | 1
Item 1A. | Risk Factors | 10
Item 1B. | Unresolved Staff Comments | 16
Item 2. | Properties | 17
Item 3. | Legal Proceedings | 18
Item 4. | Mine Safety Disclosures | 19
| PART II |
Item 5. | Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities | 20
Item 6. | Selected Financial Data | 22
Item 7. | Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 25
Item 7A. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk | 40
Item 8. | Financial Statements and Supplementary Data | 43
Item 9. | Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure | 84
Item 9A. | Controls and Procedures | 84
| PART III |
Item 10. | Directors and Executive Officers and Corporate Governance | 87
Item 11. | Executive Compensation | 87
Item 12. | Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters | 87
Item 13. | Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence | 87
Item 14. | Principal Accounting Fees and Services | 87
| PART IV |
Item 15. | Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedule | 88
Signatures |  | 91

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PART I
Forward Looking Statements and Explanatory Note
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,” “plan,” “project,” “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 those described under “Risk Factors” below and elsewhere in this annual report.
Actual results could differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements as a result of these factors, among others, many of which are beyond our control.
In making these statements, we are not undertaking, and specifically decline to undertake, any obligation to address or update each or any factor in future filings or communications regarding our business or results, and we are not undertaking to address how any of these factors may have caused changes in information contained in previous filings or communications. The risks described below are not the only risks we face, and additional risks and uncertainties may also impair our business operations. The occurrence of any one or more of the following or other currently unknown factors could materially adversely affect our business and operating results.
On January 6, 2017, we acquired 100% of the membership interests of JFC LLC and its subsidiaries (together, “GNP”). Unless specifically indicated, data included in this annual report does not include data related to GNP. See “Note 2. Business Acquisitions” of our Consolidated Financial Statements included in the annual report for more information.
Item 1. Business
Company Overview
Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation (referred to herein as “Pilgrim’s,” “PPC,” “the Company,” “we,” “us,” “our,” or similar terms), which was incorporated in Texas in 1968 and reincorporated in Delaware in 1986, is the successor to a partnership founded in 1946 as a retail feed store. JBS S.A., through its indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries (together, “JBS”), beneficially owns 78.5% of our outstanding common stock. We are one of the largest chicken producers in the world with operations in the United States (“U.S.”), Mexico and Puerto Rico. We are primarily engaged in the production, processing, marketing and distribution of fresh, frozen and value-added chicken products to retailers, distributors and foodservice operators. We offer a wide range of products to our customers through strong national and international distribution channels. Pilgrim's fresh chicken products consist of refrigerated (non-frozen) 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.
We market our balanced portfolio of fresh, prepared and value-added chicken products to a diverse set of over 5,000 customers across the U.S., Mexico and in approximately 80 other countries, with no single customer accounting for more than 10% of total sales. We have become a valuable partner to our customers and a recognized industry leader by consistently providing high-quality products and services designed to meet their needs and enhance their business. Our sales efforts are largely targeted towards the foodservice industry, principally chain restaurants and food processors, such as Chick-fil-A®, distributors such as US Foods and Sysco® and retail customers, including grocery store chains and wholesale clubs, such as Kroger®, Costco®, Publix®, and H-E-B®.
As a vertically integrated company, we control every phase of the production process, which helps us better manage food safety and quality, as well as more effectively control margins and improve customer service. As of December 25, 2016, we operate feed mills, hatcheries, processing plants and distribution centers in 12 U.S. states, Puerto Rico and Mexico. Our plants are strategically located to ensure that customers timely receive fresh products. With our global network of approximately 4,045 growers, 32 feed mills, 39 hatcheries, 30 processing plants, six prepared foods cook plants, 20 distribution centers, eight rendering facilities and three pet food plants, we believe we are well positioned to supply the growing demand for our products.
We are one of the largest, and we believe one of the most efficient, producers and sellers of chicken in Mexico. Our presence in Mexico provides access to a market with growing demand and has enabled us to leverage our operational strengths within the region. The market for chicken products in Mexico is still developing, with most sales attributed to fresh, commodity-
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oriented, market price-based business. We believe our Mexico business is well positioned to continue benefiting from these trends in the Mexican consumer market. Additionally, we are an important player in the live market, which accounted for approximately 35% of the industry’s chicken sales in Mexico in 2016.
As of December 25, 2016, we have approximately 39,600 employees and have the capacity to process more than 36.7 million birds per week for a total of more than 10.7 billion pounds of live chicken annually. In 2016, we produced 8.1 billion pounds of chicken products, generating approximately $7.9 billion in net sales and approximately $440.5 million in net income attributable to Pilgrim’s.
On June 29, 2015, we acquired 100% of the equity of Provemex Holdings, LLC and its subsidiaries (together, “Tyson Mexico”) from Tyson Foods, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries. Tyson Mexico is a vertically integrated poultry business based in Gómez Palacio, Durango, Mexico. The acquired business has a production capacity of 2.9 million birds per week in its three plants and currently employs approximately 4,400 people. The acquisition further strengthened our strategic position in the Mexico chicken market.
On January 6, 2017, we acquired 100% of the membership interests of GNP from Maschhoff Family Foods, LLC for a cash purchase price of $350 million, subject to customary working capital adjustments. GNP is a vertically integrated poultry business based in St. Cloud, Minnesota. The acquired business has a production capacity of 2.1 million birds per five-day work week in its three plants and currently employs approximately 1,775 people. The plants are located in geographic areas where Pilgrim’s is not currently present, providing Pilgrim’s the opportunity to expand its production and customer bases. We plan to leverage GNP’s operations to enhance its production efficiencies. Also, the addition of GNP’s Just Bare® product lines join our existing no-antibiotics-ever and organic production capabilities, strengthening our footprint in fast-growing and higher-margin chicken segments. This acquisition further strengthens the Company’s strategic position in the U.S. chicken market.
We operate on the basis of a 52/53-week fiscal year that ends on the Sunday falling on or before December 31. Any reference we make to a particular year (for example, 2016) applies to our fiscal year and not the calendar year. Fiscal 2016 was a 52-week fiscal year.
Our Industry
Industry Overview
The U.S. consumes more chicken than any other protein (approximately 34.4 billion pounds projected in calendar year 2017 according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (“USDA”)), and chicken is the second most consumed protein globally after pork. The U.S. is the world’s largest producer of chicken and is projected to produce approximately 41.1 billion pounds of ready-to-cook broiler meat in calendar year 2017, representing 20.7% of the total world production. Broilers are tender, young chickens suitable for broiling or roasting. Brazil and China produce the second and third most broiler meat, with 15.6% and 12.7% of the world market, respectively, according to the USDA.
According to the USDA, the export of U.S. chicken products increased at an average annual growth rate of 1.8% from 2005 through 2015. The U.S. is the second-largest exporter of broiler meat behind Brazil. The U.S. is projected to export 6.9 billion pounds in calendar year 2017, which would account for 27.5% of the total world exports and 16.7% of the total U.S. production, according to the USDA. The top five exporters are projected to control over 86.6% of the market in 2017.
According to the USDA, chicken production in the U.S. increased from 2005 through 2015 at a compounded annual growth rate of 1.1%. The growth in chicken demand is attributable to (i) relative affordability compared to other proteins such as beef and pork, (ii) the increasingly health conscious nature of U.S. consumers, (iii) chicken’s consistent quality and versatility and (iv) its introduction on many foodservice menus. In addition, global protein demand continues to be strong, consistent with rising standards of living and a growing middle class in developing countries around the world. USDA estimates from 2015 through 2025 show an anticipated increase of global chicken production at a compounded annual growth rate of 1.2%. We believe our relationship with JBS positions us to capture a portion of those emerging markets.
Key Industry Dynamics
Pricing. Items that influence chicken pricing in the U.S. include international demand, changes in production by other broiler producing countries, input costs and the demand associated with substitute products such as beef and pork. We believe our focus on sales mix enables us to adapt to changing supply demand dynamics by adjusting our production to maximize value. We also benefit from a shorter production lifecycle of broilers compared to other proteins. While production for cattle takes approximately 28 to 39 months from breeding to slaughter and the production for pork takes 11 to 12 months, the production lifecycle for the broiler is only ten weeks.
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Feed. Broilers are fed corn and soybean meal as well as certain vitamins and minerals. Corn and soybean meal accounted for approximately 45.7% and 36.3% of our feed costs, respectively, in 2016. Broiler production is significantly more efficient from a feed perspective than cattle or hog production. Approximately two pounds of feed are required for each pound of chicken, as compared to approximately seven and 3.5 pounds for cattle and hogs, respectively. We have sought to mitigate the impact of feed price volatility on our profitability by decreasing the amount of our products that are sold under longer term fixed price contracts, broadening our product portfolio and expanding the variety of contracts within our book of business.
Competitive Strengths
We believe that our competitive strengths will enable us to maintain and grow our position as a leading chicken company and to capitalize on future favorable growth opportunities:
Leading market position in the growing chicken industry. We are one of the largest chicken producers globally and a leading chicken producer in the U.S. with an approximate 16.6% market share, based on ready-to-cook production in 2016, according to WATTPoultryUSA magazine. We believe we can maintain this prominent market position as we are one of the few producers in the chicken industry that can fully satisfy the requirements of large retailers and foodservice companies due to our broad product range, national distribution, vertically integrated operations and technical capabilities. Further, our scale of operations, balanced product portfolio and a wide range of production capabilities enable us to meet both the capacity and quality requirements of our customer base. Finally, we believe we are well positioned with our global footprint to benefit from the growth in the U.S. chicken export market.
Broad product portfolio. We have a diversified product portfolio ranging from large to small birds and from fresh to cooked to processed chicken. In addition, our prepared foods business is focused on our most profitable product lines. We believe we are well positioned to be the primary chicken supplier for large customers due to our ability to provide consistent supply, innovate and develop new products to address consumer desires and provide competitive pricing across a diverse product portfolio. Our balanced portfolio of fresh, prepared and value-added chicken products yields a diversified sales mix, mitigating supply and market volatility and creating more consistent gross margins.
Blue chip and diverse customer base across all industry segments. We benefit from strong relationships with leading companies in every customer segment, including Chick-fil-A®, Sysco®, US Foods, Kroger®, Costco®, Publix®, and H-E-B®, most of whom have been doing business with us for more than five years. We sell our products to a large and diverse customer base, with over 5,000 customers, with no single one accounting for more than 10% of total sales.
Lean and focused enterprise. We are an efficient and lean organization supported by our market-driven business strategy. We have closed, idled or sold plants and distribution centers, reduced or consolidated production at other facilities, streamlined our workforce and reduced administrative and corporate expenses. In addition, we continue to seek to make significant production improvements driven by improved yields, labor, cost savings and product mix. We utilize zero-based budgeting and plant-level profit and loss analysis, driving engagement and ownership over the results at each plant. These strategic initiatives have reduced our cost base, resulting in higher and more sustainable profits. We share corporate headquarters with JBS in Greeley, Colorado, and have integrated certain corporate functions with JBS to save costs.
Robust cash flow generation with disciplined capital allocation. Our leading market position, strong customer relationships and highly efficient operations help drive attractive and we believe sustainable margins. We also have a proven track record of disciplined capital allocation. We have spent approximately $826 million since 2011 in capital spending towards identified projects with rapid payback, further driving our profitability. Since the end of 2011, we have also reduced our net debt from over $1.4 billion to $892 million at the end of 2016.
Experienced management team and results-oriented corporate culture. We have a proven senior management team whose tenure in the chicken industry has spanned numerous market cycles and is among the most experienced in the industry. Our senior management team is led by William W. Lovette, our Chief Executive Officer, who has over 30 years of experience in the chicken industry. Our management team has successfully improved and realigned our business and instilled a corporate culture focused on performance and accountability. We also benefit from management ideas, best practices, and talent shared with the seasoned management team of JBS, which has over 50 years of combined experience operating protein processing facilities in South America, North America and Australia.
Relationship with JBS. We work closely with JBS management to identify areas where Pilgrim’s and JBS can achieve synergies. We share corporate headquarters with JBS in Greeley, Colorado, and have integrated certain corporate functions with JBS to save costs. In addition to cost savings through the integration of certain corporate functions and the rationalization of facilities, our relationship with JBS allows us to enjoy several advantages given its diversified international operations and strong record in commodity risk management. In addition, the expertise of JBS in managing the risk associated with volatile commodity inputs will help us to further improve our operations and manage our margins.
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Business Strategy
We intend to continue growing our business and enhancing profitability by pursuing the following strategies:
Be a valued partner with our key customers. We have developed and acquired complementary markets, distributor relationships and geographic locations that have enabled us to expand our customer base and provide global distribution capabilities for all of our product lines. As a result, we believe we are one of only two U.S. chicken producers that can supply the growing demand for a broad range of price competitive standard and specialized products with well-known brand names on a nationwide basis from a single-source supplier. Additionally, we intend to leverage our innovation capabilities to develop new products along with our customers to accelerate sales and enhance the profitability of chicken products at their businesses. We plan to further enhance our industry position by optimizing our sales mix and accelerating innovation.
Relentless pursuit of operational excellence. As production and sales grow, we continue to focus on improving operating efficiencies by focusing on cost reductions, more effective processes, training and our total quality management program. Specific initiatives include:

• | Benchmarking live and plant costs against the industry;

• | Striving to be in the top 25% of the industry for yields and costs;

• | Fostering a culture of accountability and ownership deeper in the organization;

• | Conducting monthly performance reviews with senior management; and

• | Improving sales mix and price.

Between 2011 and 2016, these initiatives have resulted in approximately $1.0 billion of cumulative operational improvements, including from reduction of plant-related costs and improved sales mix and product yield.
Accountability and ownership culture. We have a results-oriented culture with our business strategy centered on reducing fixed costs and increasing profitability, consistent with JBS values. Our employee accountability has further increased as we have de-layered the organization through our recent restructuring and cost improvement initiatives. In addition, we continue to invest in developing our talent internally. As a result, we have a strong accountability and ownership culture. We strive to be the best managed and most respected company in our industry.
Reportable Business Segment
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 with our U.S. operations. See “Note 19. Business Segment and Geographic Reporting” of our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this annual report for additional information.
Products and Markets
Our primary product types are fresh chicken products, prepared chicken products and value-added export chicken products. We sell our fresh chicken products to the foodservice and retail markets. Our fresh chicken products consist of refrigerated (nonfrozen) whole or cut-up chicken, either pre-marinated or non-marinated and prepackaged case-ready chicken. Our case-ready chicken includes various combinations of freshly refrigerated, whole chickens and chicken parts in trays, bags or other consumer packs labeled and priced ready for the retail grocer’s fresh meat counter. Our fresh chicken sales accounted for 75.4% of our total U.S. chicken sales in 2016.
We also sell prepared chicken products, including portion-controlled breast fillets, tenderloins and strips, delicatessen products, salads, formed nuggets and patties and bone-in chicken parts. These products are sold either refrigerated or frozen and may be fully cooked, partially cooked or raw. In addition, these products are breaded or non-breaded and either pre-marinated or non-marinated. Our prepared chicken products sales accounted for 20.7% of our total U.S. chicken sales in 2016.
E xport and other chicken products primarily consist of whole chickens and chicken parts sold either refrigerated for distributors in the U.S. or frozen for distribution to export markets. We sell U.S.-produced chicken products for export to Mexico, the Middle East, Asia, countries within the Commonwealth of Independent States (the “CIS”) and other world markets. In the U.S., prices of these products are negotiated daily or weekly and are generally related to market prices quoted by the USDA or other public price reporting services. Prices for export sales are determined by supply and demand and local market conditions.
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In certain newly accessed international markets, we have established premium brands, which allow us to market our products at a premium to commodity price levels within those regions. Our export and other chicken products sales accounted for 3.9% of our total U.S. chicken sales in 2016.
Our primary customer markets consist of the foodservice and retail channels, as well as selected export and other markets.
Our foodservice market principally consists of chain restaurants, food processors, broad-line distributors and certain other institutions located throughout the continental U.S. Within this market, we service frozen, fresh and corporate accounts. Fresh and frozen chicken products are usually pre-cut to customer specifications and are often marinated to enhance value and product differentiation. Corporate accounts include further-processed and value-added products supplied to select foodservice customers, improving their ability to manage product consistency and quality in a cost efficient manner. We believe we are positioned to be the primary or secondary supplier to national and international chain restaurants who require multiple suppliers of chicken products. Additionally, we believe we are well suited to be the sole supplier for many regional chain restaurants. Regional chain restaurants often offer better margin opportunities and a growing base of business. We believe that our full-line product capabilities, high-volume production capacities, research and development expertise and extensive distribution and marketing experience are competitive strengths compared to smaller and non-vertically integrated producers.
Our retail market consists primarily of grocery store chains, wholesale clubs and other retail distributors. Our retail market products consist primarily of branded, prepackaged cut-up and whole chicken and chicken parts. We concentrate our efforts in this market on creating value for our customers through category management and supporting key customers in expanding their private label sales programs. Additionally, for many years, we have invested in both trade and retail marketing designed to establish high levels of brand name awareness and consumer preference. We utilize numerous advertising and marketing techniques to develop and strengthen trade and consumer awareness and increase brand loyalty for consumer products marketed under the Gold Kist®, County Post®, Pierce Chicken®, Pilgrim’s Pride® and Pilgrim’s® brands. We believe our efforts to achieve and maintain brand awareness and loyalty help to achieve greater price premiums than would otherwise be the case in certain markets and support and expand our product distribution. We actively seek to identify and address consumer preferences by using sophisticated qualitative and quantitative consumer research techniques in key geographic markets to discover and validate new product ideas, packaging designs and methods.
Our export and other chicken market consists primarily of customers who purchase for distribution in the U.S. or for export to Mexico, the Middle East, Asia, countries within the CIS and other world markets. Our value-added export and other chicken products, with the exception of our exported prepared chicken products, consist of whole chickens and chicken parts sold in bulk, or value-added form, either refrigerated or frozen. We believe that U.S. chicken exports will continue to grow as worldwide demand increases for high-quality, low-cost meat protein sources. We expect that worldwide demand for higher-margin prepared food products will increase over the next several years and believe our strategy of value-added export growth positions us to take advantage of this expected demand.
Historically, we have targeted international markets to generate additional demand for our dark chicken meat, for which there has been less demand in the U.S. than for white chicken meat. We have expanded our portfolio to provide prepared chicken products tailored for export to the international divisions of our U.S. chain restaurant customers, as well as newly identified customers in regions not previously accessed. Through our relationship with JBS, we have developed an international distribution channel focused on growing our tailored export program and expanding value-added products, such as all-vegetable-fed whole griller birds, chicken franks and further processed thigh meat. Utilizing the extensive sales network of JBS, we believe that we can accelerate the sales of value-added chicken products into these international channels.
The following table sets forth, for the periods beginning with 2012, net sales attributable to each of our primary product lines and markets served with those products. We based the table on our internal sales reports and their classification of product types.
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| 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2012
| (In thousands)
U.S. chicken: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fresh chicken | $ | 4,627,137 |  |  | $ | 4,701,943 |  |  | $ | 4,703,993 |  |  | $ | 4,123,089 |  |  | $ | 3,583,854 |
Prepared chicken | 1,269,010 |  |  | 1,672,693 |  |  | 1,787,389 |  |  | 2,046,746 |  |  | 2,239,289 |
Export and other chicken | 313,827 |  |  | 358,878 |  |  | 620,082 |  |  | 715,969 |  |  | 817,723 |
Total U.S. chicken | 6,209,974 |  |  | 6,733,514 |  |  | 7,111,464 |  |  | 6,885,804 |  |  | 6,640,866 |
Mexico chicken | 1,245,644 |  |  | 1,016,200 |  |  | 900,360 |  |  | 864,454 |  |  | 758,023 |
Total chicken | 7,455,618 |  |  | 7,749,714 |  |  | 8,011,824 |  |  | 7,750,258 |  |  | 7,398,889 |
Other products: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. | 461,429 |  |  | 409,840 |  |  | 535,572 |  |  | 614,409 |  |  | 608,619 |
Mexico | 14,076 |  |  | 20,550 |  |  | 35,969 |  |  | 46,481 |  |  | 113,874 |
Total other products | 475,505 |  |  | 430,390 |  |  | 571,541 |  |  | 660,890 |  |  | 722,493 |
Total net sales | $ | 7,931,123 |  |  | $ | 8,180,104 |  |  | $ | 8,583,365 |  |  | $ | 8,411,148 |  |  | $ | 8,121,382 |

The following table sets forth, beginning with 2012, the percentage of net U.S. chicken sales attributable to each of our primary product lines and the markets serviced with those products. We based the table and related discussion on our internal sales reports and their classification of product types and customers.

| 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2012
Fresh chicken | 75.4 |  | 69.8 |  | 66.2 |  | 59.9 |  | 54.0
Prepared chicken | 20.7 |  | 24.9 |  | 25.1 |  | 29.7 |  | 33.7
Export and other chicken | 3.9 |  | 5.3 |  | 8.7 |  | 10.4 |  | 12.3
Total U.S. chicken | 100.0 |  | 100.0 |  | 100.0 |  | 100.0 |  | 100.0

United States Operations
Product Types
Fresh Chicken Overview. Fresh chicken is an important component of our sales and accounted for $4,627.1 million, or 75.4%, of our total U.S. chicken sales in 2016 and $3,583.9 million, or 54.0%, in 2012. Most fresh chicken products are sold to established customers, based upon certain weekly or monthly market prices reported by the USDA and other public price reporting services, plus a markup, which is dependent upon the customer’s location, volume, product specifications and other factors. We believe our practices with respect to sales of fresh chicken are generally consistent with those of our competitors. The majority of these products are sold pursuant to agreements with varying terms that set a price according to formulas based on underlying chicken price markets, subject in many cases to minimum and maximum prices.
Prepared Chicken Overview. In 2016, $1,269.0 million, or 20.7%, of our U.S. chicken sales were in prepared chicken products to foodservice customers and retail distributors, as compared to $2,239.3 million, or 33.7%, in 2012. The production and sale in the U.S. of prepared chicken products reduce the impact of the costs of feed ingredients on our profitability. Feed ingredient costs are the single largest component of our U.S. cost of sales, representing approximately 29.6% of our U.S. cost of sales in 2016. The production of feed ingredients is positively or negatively affected primarily by the global level of supply inventories, demand for feed ingredients, the agricultural policies of the U.S. and foreign governments and weather patterns throughout the world. As further processing is performed, feed ingredient costs become a decreasing percentage of a product’s total production cost, thereby reducing their impact on our profitability. Products sold in this form enable us to charge a premium, reduce the impact of feed ingredient costs on our profitability and improve and stabilize our profit margins.
We establish prices for our prepared chicken products based primarily upon perceived value to the customer, production costs and prices of competing products. The majority of these products are sold pursuant to agreements with varying terms that either set a fixed price for short-term periods or set a price according to formulas based on an underlying commodity market such as corn and chicken price forecasts, subject in many cases to minimum and maximum prices. Many times, these prices are dependent upon the customer’s location, volume, product specifications and other factors.
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Export and Other Chicken Overview. Our export and other chicken products consist of whole chickens and chicken parts sold primarily in bulk, nonbranded form, either refrigerated to distributors in the U.S. or frozen for distribution to export markets, and branded and nonbranded prepared chicken products for distribution to export markets. In 2016, approximately $313.8 million, or 3.9%, of our total U.S. chicken sales were attributable to U.S. chicken export and other chicken products, as compared to $817.7 million, or 12.3%, in 2012.
Markets for Other Products
Presently, this category includes chicken by-products, which we convert into protein products and sell primarily to manufacturers of pet foods. In addition, many of our U.S. feed mills produce and sell some livestock feeds to local dairy farmers and livestock producers. We marketed fresh eggs through private labels until August 2012. In August 2012, we sold our commercial egg operation to Cal-Maine Foods, Inc.
Mexico Operations
Background
Our Mexico operations generated approximately 15.9% of our net sales in 2016. We are one of the largest producers and sellers of chicken in Mexico. We believe that we operate one of the more efficient business models for chicken production in Mexico.
On June 29, 2015, we acquired, indirectly through certain of our Mexican subsidiaries, 100% of the equity of Tyson Mexico from Tyson Foods, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries for cash. Tyson Mexico is a vertically integrated poultry business based in Gómez Palacio, Durango, Mexico. The acquired business has a production capacity of 2.9 million birds per week in its three plants. The acquisition further strengthened our strategic position in the Mexico chicken market.
During 2014 and 2015, we invested approximately $12.5 million in the first phase of a new poultry processing complex in Veracruz, Mexico. We initiated live production operations at this facility in September 2015.
Product Types
While the market for chicken products in Mexico is less developed than in the U.S., with sales attributed to fewer, simpler products, we believe we have been successful in differentiating our products through high-quality client service and product improvements. Additionally, we are an important player in the live market, which accounts for approximately 35% of the chicken sales in Mexico.
Markets
We sell our chicken products primarily to wholesalers, large restaurant chains, fast food accounts and supermarket chains, and also engage in direct retail distribution in selected markets. Our largest presence is by far in the central states of the country where we have been able to gain market share. Our presence in Mexico reaches 75.4% of the population.
Foreign Operations Risks
Our foreign operations pose special risks to our business and operations. A discussion of foreign operations risks is included in “Item 1A. Risk Factors.”
Key Customers
Our two largest customers accounted for approximately 14.4% and 14.9% of our net sales in 2016 and 2015, respectively. No customer accounted for ten percent or more of our net sales in either 2016 or 2015.
Competition
The chicken industry is highly competitive. We are one of the largest chicken producers in the world and we believe our relationship with JBS enhances our competitive position. In the U.S. and Mexico, we compete principally with other vertically integrated poultry companies. However, there is some competition with non-vertically integrated further processors in the U.S. prepared chicken business. We believe vertical integration generally provides significant, long-term cost and quality advantages over non-vertically integrated further processors.
In general, the competitive factors in the U.S. chicken industry include price, product quality, product development, brand identification, breadth of product line and customer service. Competitive factors vary by major market. In the U.S. retail market,
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we believe that product quality, brand awareness, customer service and price are the primary bases of competition. In the foodservice market, competition is based on consistent quality, product development, service and price. The export market is competitive on a global level based on price, product quality, product tailoring, brand identification and customer service. Competitive factors vary by market and may be impacted further by trade restrictions, sanitary and phyto-sanitary issues, brand awareness and the relative strength or weakness of the U.S. dollar against local currencies. We believe that product customization, service and price are the most critical competitive factors for export sales.
In Mexico, where product differentiation has traditionally been limited, we believe product quality and price have been the most critical competitive factors.
Regulation and Environmental Matters
The chicken industry is subject to government regulation, particularly in the health, workplace safety and environmental areas, including provisions relating to the discharge of materials into the environment, by the Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”), the USDA, the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”), the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) and state and local regulatory authorities in the U.S. and by similar governmental agencies in Mexico. Our chicken processing facilities in the U.S. are subject to on-site examination, inspection and regulation by the USDA. The FDA inspects the production of our feed mills in the U.S. Our Mexican food processing facilities and feed mills are subject to on-site examination, inspection and regulation by a Mexican governmental agency that performs functions similar to those performed by the USDA and FDA.
Our operations are subject to extensive regulation by the EPA and other state and local authorities relating to handling and discharge of waste water, storm water, air emissions, treatment, storage and disposal of wastes, handling of hazardous substances and remediation of contaminated soil, surface water and groundwater. Our Mexican operations also are subject to extensive regulation by Mexican environmental authorities. The EPA, Mexican environmental authorities and/or other U.S. or Mexican state and local authorities may, from time to time, adopt revisions to environmental rules and regulations, and/or changes in the terms and conditions of our environmental permits, with which we must comply. Compliance with existing or new environmental requirements, including more stringent limitations imposed or expected in recently-renewed or soon-to be renewed environmental permits, may require capital expenditures and operating expenses which may be significant. Our operations are also subject to regulation by the EPA, OSHA and other state and local regulatory authorities regarding the treatment and disposal of agricultural and food processing wastes, the use and maintenance of refrigeration systems, including ammonia-based chillers, noise, odor and dust management, the operation of mechanized processing equipment, and other operations.
Some of our facilities have been operating for many years, and were built before current environmental, health and safety standards were imposed and/or in areas that recently have become subject to residential and commercial development pressures. We are upgrading wastewater treatment facilities at a number of our facilities, either pursuant to consent agreements with regulatory authorities or on a voluntary basis in anticipation of future permit requirements. We do not anticipate that the capital expenditures associated with these upgrades, which will be spread over a number of years, will be material.
We have from time to time had incidents at our plants involving worker health and safety. These have included ammonia releases due to mechanical failures in chiller systems and worker injuries and fatalities involving processing equipment and vehicle accidents. We have taken preventive measures in response.
Some of our properties have been impacted by contamination from spills or other releases, and we have incurred costs to remediate such contamination. In addition, in the past we acquired businesses with operations such as pesticide and fertilizer production that involved greater use of hazardous materials and generation of more hazardous wastes than our current operations. While many of those operations have been sold or closed, some environmental laws impose strict and, in certain circumstances, joint and several liability for costs of investigation and remediation of contaminated sites on current and former owners and operators of the sites, and on persons who arranged for disposal of wastes at such sites. In addition, current owners or operators of such contaminated sites may seek to recover cleanup costs from us based on past operations or contractual indemnifications. See “Item 1A. Risk Factors” for risks associated with compliance with existing or changing environmental requirement.
We anticipate increased regulation by the USDA concerning food safety, by the FDA concerning the use of medications in feed and by the EPA and various other state agencies concerning discharges to the environment. Although we do not currently anticipate that such increased regulation will have a material adverse effect upon us, new environmental, health and safety requirements that are more stringent than we anticipate, stricter interpretations of existing environmental requirements, or obligations related to the investigation or clean-up of contaminated sites may materially affect our business or operations in the future.
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Employees
As of December 25, 2016, we employed approximately 29,850 persons in the U.S. and approximately 9,750 persons in Mexico. Approximately 42.9% of the Company’s employees were covered under collective bargaining agreements. Substantially all employees covered under collective bargaining agreements are covered under agreements that expire in 2017 or later, with the exception of three processing operations locations, where the collective bargaining agreements expired in 2016. Collective bargaining agreements have been reached for two of these three processing operations locations and we expect to ratify these agreements in 2017. Negotiations are ongoing on the collective borrowing agreement for the remaining processing operations location. We have not experienced any labor-related work stoppage at any location in over ten years. We believe our relationship with our employees and union leadership is satisfactory. At any given time, we will likely be in some stage of contract negotiations with various collective bargaining units. In the absence of agreements, we may become subject to labor disruption at one or more of these locations, which could have an adverse effect on our financial results.
Trademarks
We own registered trademarks which are used in connection with our activity in our business. The trademarks are important to the overall marketing and branding of our products. All major trademarks in our business are registered. In part, our success can be attributed to the existence and continued protection of these trademarks.
Seasonality
The demand for our chicken products generally is greatest during the spring and summer months and lowest during the winter months.
Financial Information about Foreign Operations
Our foreign operations are in Mexico. Geographic financial information is set forth in “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” For additional information, see “Note 19. Business Segment and Geographic Reporting” of our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this annual report.
Available Information
The Company’s Internet website is www.pilgrims.com. The Company makes available, free of charge, through its Internet website, the Company’s annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, directors and officers Forms 3, 4 and 5, and amendments to those reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after electronically filing such materials with, or furnishing them to, the Securities and Exchange Commission. The public may read and copy any materials that the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission at its Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549 and may obtain information about the operation of the Public Information Room by calling the Securities and Exchange Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330.
In addition, the Company makes available, through its Internet website, the Company’s Business Code of Conduct and Ethics, Corporate Governance Guidelines and the written charter of the Audit Committee, each of which is available in print to any stockholder who requests it by contacting the Secretary of the Company at 1770 Promontory Circle, Greeley, Colorado 80634-9038. Information contained on the Company’s website is not included as part of, or incorporated by reference into, this annual report.
Executive Officers
Set forth below is certain information relating to our current executive officers:

Name |  | Age |  | Positions
William W. Lovette |  | 57 |  |  | President and Chief Executive Officer
Fabio Sandri |  | 45 |  |  | Chief Financial Officer

William W. Lovette joined Pilgrim’s as President and Chief Executive Officer on January 3, 2011. He brings more than 30 years of industry leadership experience to Pilgrim’s. He previously served two years as President and Chief Operating Officer of Case Foods, Inc. Before joining Case Foods, Inc., Mr. Lovette spent 25 years with Tyson Foods in various roles in senior management, including President of its International Business Unit, President of its Foodservice Business Unit and Senior Group Vice President of Poultry and Prepared Foods. Mr. Lovette earned a B.S. degree from Texas A&M University. In addition, he is a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program.
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Fabio Sandri has served as the Chief Financial Officer for Pilgrim’s since June 2011. From April 2010 to June 2011, Mr. Sandri served as the Chief Financial Officer of Estacio Participações, the private post-secondary educational institution in Brazil. From November 2008 until April 2010, he was the Chief Financial Officer of Imbra SA, a provider of dental services based in Sao Paolo, Brazil. Commencing in 2005 through October 2008, he was employed by Braskem S.A., a New York Stock Exchange-listed petrochemical company headquartered in Camaçari, Brazil, first from 2005 to 2007 as its strategy director, then from 2007 until his departure as its corporate controller. He earned his Masters in Business Administration in 2001 from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a degree in electrical engineering in 1993 from Escola Politécnica da Universidade de São Paulo.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
The following risk factors should be read carefully in connection with evaluating our business and the forward-looking information contained in this annual report on Form 10-K. Any of the following risks could materially adversely affect our business, operations, industry or financial position or our future financial performance. While we believe we have identified and discussed below all risk factors affecting our business that we believe are material, there may be additional risks and uncertainties that are not presently known or that are not currently believed to be significant that may adversely affect our business, operations, industry, financial position and financial performance in the future.
Industry cyclicality can affect our earnings, especially due to fluctuations in commodity prices of feed ingredients and chicken.
Profitability in the chicken industry is materially affected by the commodity prices of feed ingredients and market prices of chicken, which are determined by supply and demand factors. As a result, the chicken industry is subject to cyclical earnings fluctuations.
The price of feed ingredients is positively or negatively affected primarily by the global level of supply inventories and demand for feed ingredients, the agricultural policies of the U.S. and foreign governments and weather patterns throughout the world. In particular, weather patterns often change agricultural conditions in an unpredictable manner. A significant change in weather patterns could affect supplies of feed ingredients, as well as both the industry’s and our ability to obtain feed ingredients, grow chickens or deliver products. More recently, feed prices have been impacted by increased demand both domestically for ethanol and globally for protein production, as well as grain production levels outside the U.S.
We have recently benefited from low market prices for feed ingredients, but market prices for feed ingredients remain volatile. Consequently, there can be no assurance that the price of corn or soybean meal will not continue to rise as a result of, among other things, increasing demand for these products around the world and alternative uses of these products, such as ethanol and biodiesel production.
Volatility in feed ingredient prices has had, and may continue to have, a materially adverse effect on our operating results, which has resulted in, and may continue to result in, additional noncash expenses due to impairment of the carrying amounts of certain of our assets. We periodically seek, to the extent available, to enter into advance purchase commitments or financial derivative contracts for the purchase of feed ingredients in an effort to manage our feed ingredient costs. The use of these instruments may not be successful. In addition, we have not designated the derivative financial instruments that we have purchased to mitigate commodity purchase exposures as cash flow hedges. Therefore, we recognize changes in the fair value of these derivative financial instruments immediately in earnings. Unexpected changes in the fair value of these instruments could adversely affect the results of our operations. Although we have sought to mitigate the impact of feed price volatility on our profitability by decreasing the amount of our products that are sold under longer term fixed price contracts, these changes will not eliminate the impact of changes in feed ingredient prices on our profitability and would prevent us from profiting on such contracts during times of declining market prices of chicken.
Outbreaks of livestock diseases in general and poultry diseases in particular, including avian influenza, can significantly affect our ability to conduct our operations and demand for our products.
We take precautions designed to ensure that our flocks are healthy and that our processing plants and other facilities operate in a sanitary and environmentally-sound manner. However, events beyond our control, such as the outbreaks of disease, either in our own flocks or elsewhere, could significantly affect demand for our products or our ability to conduct our operations. Furthermore, an outbreak of disease could result in governmental restrictions on the import and export of our fresh chicken or other products to or from our suppliers, facilities or customers, or require us to destroy one or more of our flocks. This could also result in the cancellation of orders by our customers and create adverse publicity that may have a material adverse effect on our ability to market our products successfully and on our business, reputation and prospects.
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For example, there was substantial publicity in 2015 regarding highly pathogenic avian influenza (“HPAI”) H5 in the Pacific, Central, and Mississippi flyways (or migratory bird paths) of North America. The disease was found in wild birds, as well as in a few backyard and commercial poultry flocks. The CDC considers the risk to people from these HPAI H5 infections to be low. No human cases of these HPAI H5 viruses have been detected. In its response effort, the USDA coordinated closely with state officials in affected and bordering states and other federal departments on avian influenza surveillance, reporting and control efforts. The USDA also coordinated with Canada on the HPAI H5 findings that were close to the northern U.S. border. Furthermore, there was substantial publicity in 2012 and 2013 regarding a highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza, known as H7N3, which affected several states in central Mexico. There was also substantial publicity in 2013 regarding a low pathogenic strain of avian influenza, known as H7N9, which affected eastern and northern China in and around the cities of Shanghai and Beijing.
There have been outbreaks of other low pathogenic strains of avian influenza in the U.S. In Mexico, outbreaks of both high and low-pathogenic strains of avian influenza are a fairly common occurrence. Historically, the outbreaks of low pathogenic strains of avian influenza have not generated the same level of concern, or received the same level of publicity or been accompanied by the same reduction in demand for poultry products in certain countries as that associated with highly pathogenic strains such as HPAI H5 and H7N3 or highly infectious strains such as H7N9. Even if no further highly pathogenic or highly contagious strains of avian influenza are confirmed in the U.S. or Mexico, there can be no assurance that outbreaks of these strains in other countries will not materially adversely affect demand for U.S.-produced poultry internationally and/or U.S.-produced or Mexico-produced poultry domestically, and, if any of these strains were to spread to either the U.S. or Mexico, there can be no assurance that it would not significantly affect our ability to conduct our operations and/or demand for our products, in each case, in a manner having a material adverse effect on our business, reputation and/or prospects.
If our poultry products become contaminated, we may be subject to product liability claims and product recalls.
Poultry products may be subject to contamination by disease-producing organisms, or pathogens, such as Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella and generic E.coli. These pathogens are generally found in the environment, and, as a result, there is a risk that, as a result of food processing, they could be present in our processed poultry products. These pathogens can also be introduced as a result of improper handling at the further processing, foodservice or consumer level. These risks may be controlled, although not eliminated, by adherence to good manufacturing practices and finished product testing. We have little, if any, control over proper handling once the product has been shipped. Illness and death may result if the pathogens are not eliminated at the further processing, foodservice or consumer level. Even an inadvertent shipment of contaminated products is a violation of law and may lead to increased risk of exposure to product liability claims, product recalls and increased scrutiny by federal and state regulatory agencies and may have a material adverse effect on our business, reputation and prospects.
Product liability claims or product recalls can adversely affect our business reputation, expose us to increased scrutiny by federal and state regulators and may not be fully covered by insurance.
The packaging, marketing and distribution of food products entail an inherent risk of product liability and product recall and the resultant adverse publicity. We may be subject to significant liability if the consumption of any of our products causes injury, illness or death. We could be required to recall certain products in the event of contamination or damage to the products. In addition to the risks of product liability or product recall due to deficiencies caused by our production or processing operations, we may encounter the same risks if any third party tampers with our products. We cannot assure you that we will not be required to perform product recalls, or that product liability claims will not be asserted against us, in the future. Any claims that may be made may create adverse publicity that would have a material adverse effect on our ability to market our products successfully or on our business, reputation, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
If our poultry products become contaminated, we may be subject to product liability claims and product recalls. There can be no assurance that any litigation or reputational injury associated with product recalls will not have a material adverse effect on our ability to market our products successfully or on our business, reputation, prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
We currently maintain insurance with respect to certain of these risks, including product liability insurance, business interruption insurance and general liability insurance, but in many cases such insurance is expensive, difficult to obtain and no assurance can be given that such insurance can be maintained in the future on acceptable terms, or in sufficient amounts to protect us against losses due to any such events, or at all. Moreover, even though our insurance coverage may be designed to protect us from losses attributable to certain events, it may not adequately protect us from liability and expenses we incur in connection with such events.
Competition in the chicken industry with other vertically integrated poultry companies may make us unable to compete successfully in this industry, which could adversely affect our business.
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The chicken industry is highly competitive. In both the U.S. and Mexico, we primarily compete with other vertically integrated chicken companies.
In general, the competitive factors in the U.S. chicken industry include price, product quality, product development, brand identification, breadth of product line and customer service. Competitive factors vary by major market. In the foodservice market, competition is based on consistent quality, product development, service and price. In the U.S. retail market, we believe that competition is based on product quality, brand awareness, customer service and price. Further, there is some competition with non-vertically integrated further processors in the prepared chicken business. In Mexico, where product differentiation has traditionally been limited, we believe product quality and price have been the most critical competitive factors.
The loss of one or more of our largest customers could adversely affect our business.
Our two largest customers accounted for approximately 14.4% of our net sales in 2016. Our business could suffer significant setbacks in revenues and operating income if we lost one or more of our largest customers, or if our customers’ plans and/or markets should change significantly.
Our foreign operations pose special risks to our business and operations.
We have significant operations and assets located in Mexico and may participate in or acquire operations and assets in other foreign countries in the future. Foreign operations are subject to a number of special risks such as currency exchange rate fluctuations, trade barriers, exchange controls, expropriation and changes in laws and policies, including tax laws and laws governing foreign-owned operations.
Currency exchange rate fluctuations have adversely affected us in the past. Exchange rate fluctuations or one or more other risks may have a material adverse effect on our business or operations in the future.
Our operations in Mexico are conducted through subsidiaries organized under the laws of Mexico. Claims of creditors of our subsidiaries, including trade creditors, will generally have priority as to the assets of our subsidiaries over our claims. Additionally, the ability of our Mexican subsidiaries to make payments and distributions to us may be limited by the terms of our Mexico credit facility and will be subject to, among other things, Mexican law. In the past, these laws have not had a material adverse effect on the ability of our Mexican subsidiaries to make these payments and distributions. However, laws such as these may have a material adverse effect on the ability of our Mexican subsidiaries to make these payments and distributions in the future.
Disruptions in international markets and distribution channels could adversely affect our business.
Historically, we have targeted international markets to generate additional demand for our products. In particular, given U.S. customers’ general preference for white meat, we have targeted international markets for the sale of dark chicken meat, specifically leg quarters, which are a natural by-product of our U.S. operations’ concentration on prepared chicken products. As part of this initiative, we have created a significant international distribution network into several markets in Mexico, the Middle East, Asia and countries within the CIS. Our success in these markets may be, and our success in recent periods has been, adversely affected by disruptions in chicken export markets. For example, dozens of countries, including Mexico, Canada, China, Angola and South Korea, imposed either partial or full bans on the importation of poultry produced in the U.S. after an outbreak of HPAI H5 avian influenza was confirmed in 2015. Additionally, China imposed anti-dumping and countervailing duties on the U.S. chicken producers in 2010, which have deterred Chinese importers from purchases of U.S.-origin chicken products. Russia also banned the importation of chicken and other agricultural products from the U.S. and certain other western countries in August 2014 in retaliation for sanctions imposed by the U.S. and Europe on Russia over its actions in Ukraine.
A significant risk is disruption due to import restrictions and tariffs, other trade protection measures, and import or export licensing requirements. In addition, disruptions may be caused by outbreaks of disease such as avian influenza, either in our flocks or elsewhere in the world, and resulting changes in consumer preferences.
One or more of these or other disruptions in the international markets and distribution channels could adversely affect our business.
Regulation, present and future, is a constant factor affecting our business.
Our operations will continue to be subject to federal, state and local governmental regulation, including in the health, safety and environmental areas. Changes in laws or regulations or the application thereof regarding areas such as wage and hour and environmental compliance may lead to government enforcement actions and resulting litigation by private litigants.
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In addition, unknown matters, new laws and regulations, or stricter interpretations of existing laws or regulations may also materially affect our business or operations in the future.
New immigration legislation or increased enforcement efforts in connection with existing immigration legislation could cause the costs of doing business to increase, cause us to change the way we conduct our business or otherwise disrupt our operations.
Immigration reform continues to attract significant attention in the public arena and the U.S. Congress. If new federal immigration legislation is enacted or if states in which we do business enact immigration laws, such laws may contain provisions that could make it more difficult or costly for us to hire U.S. citizens and/or legal immigrant workers. Additionally, there may be uncertainty as to the position the U.S. will take with respect to immigration following the 2016 U.S. presidential election and related change in the U.S. political agenda, coupled with the transition of administrations. In such case, we may incur additional costs to run our business or may have to change the way we conduct our operations, either of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition. Also, despite our past and continuing efforts to hire only U.S. citizens and/or persons legally authorized to work in the U.S., we may be unable to ensure that all of our employees are U.S. citizens and/or persons legally authorized to work in the U.S. No assurances can be given that enforcement efforts by governmental authorities will not disrupt a portion of our workforce or operations at one or more facilities, thereby negatively impacting our business. Also, no assurance can be given that further enforcement efforts by governmental authorities will not result in the assessment of fines that could adversely affect our financial position, operating results or cash flows.
Loss of essential employees could have a significant negative impact on our business.
Our success is largely dependent on the skills, experience, and efforts of our management and other employees. The loss of the services of one or more members of our senior management or of numerous employees with essential skills could have a negative effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. If we are not able to retain or attract talented, committed individuals to fill vacant positions when needs arise, it may adversely affect our ability to achieve our business objectives.
Our performance depends on favorable labor relations with our employees and our compliance with labor laws. Any deterioration of those relations or increase in labor costs due to our compliance with labor laws could adversely affect our business.
As of December 25, 2016, we employed approximately 29,850 persons in the U.S. and approximately 9,750 persons in Mexico. Approximately 42.9% of the Company’s employees were covered under collective bargaining agreements. Substantially all employees covered under collective bargaining agreements are covered under agreements that expire in 2017 or later, with the exception of three processing operations locations, where the collective bargaining agreements expired in 2016. Collective bargaining agreements have been reached for two of these three processing operations locations and we expect to ratify these agreements in 2017. Negotiations are ongoing on the collective borrowing agreement for the remaining processing operations location. We have not experienced any labor-related work stoppage at any location in over ten years. We believe our relationship with our employees and union leadership is satisfactory. At any given time, we will likely be in some stage of contract negotiations with various collective bargaining units. In the absence of agreements, we may become subject to labor disruption at one or more of these locations, which could have an adverse effect on our financial results.
Extreme weather, natural disasters or other events beyond our control could negatively impact our business.
Bioterrorism, fire, pandemic, extreme weather or natural disasters, including droughts, floods, excessive cold or heat, hurricanes or other storms, could impair the health or growth of our flocks, production or availability of feed ingredients, or interfere with our operations due to power outages, fuel shortages, damage to our production and processing facilities or disruption of transportation channels, among other things. Any of these factors could have an adverse effect on our financial results.
We may face significant costs for compliance with existing or changing environmental, health and safety requirements and for potential environmental obligations relating to current or discontinued operations.
Our operations are subject to extensive and increasingly stringent federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations pertaining to the protection of the environment, including those relating to the discharge of materials into the environment, the handling, treatment and disposal of wastes and remediation of soil and groundwater contamination. Failure to comply with these requirements could have serious consequences for us, including criminal as well as civil and administrative penalties, claims for property damage, personal injury and damage to natural resources and negative publicity. Compliance with existing or changing environmental requirements, including more stringent limitations imposed or expected to be imposed in recently-renewed or soon-to be renewed environmental permits, will require capital expenditures for installation of new or upgraded pollution control equipment at some of our facilities.
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Operations at many of our facilities require the treatment and disposal of wastewater, stormwater and agricultural and food processing wastes, the use and maintenance of refrigeration systems, including ammonia-based chillers, noise, odor and dust management, the operation of mechanized processing equipment, and other operations that potentially could affect the environment, health and safety. Some of our facilities have been operating for many years, and were built before current environmental standards were imposed, and/or in areas that recently have become subject to residential and commercial development pressures. Failure to comply with current and future environmental, health and safety standards could result in the imposition of fines and penalties, and we have been subject to such sanctions from time to time. We are upgrading wastewater treatment facilities at a number of these locations, either pursuant to consent agreements with regulatory authorities or on a voluntary basis in anticipation of future permit requirements.
In the past, we have acquired businesses with operations such as pesticide and fertilizer production that involved greater use of hazardous materials and generation of more hazardous wastes than our current operations. While many of those operations have been sold or closed, some environmental laws impose strict and, in certain circumstances, joint and several liability for costs of investigation and remediation of contaminated sites on current and former owners and operators of the sites, and on persons who arranged for disposal of wastes at such sites. In addition, current owners or operators of such contaminated sites may seek to recover cleanup costs from us based on past operations or contractual indemnifications.
New environmental, health and safety requirements, stricter interpretations of existing requirements, or obligations related to the investigation or clean-up of contaminated sites, may materially affect our business or operations in the future.
JBS beneficially owns a majority of our common stock and has the ability to control the vote on most matters brought before the holders of our common stock.
JBS beneficially owns a majority of the shares and voting power of our common stock and is entitled to appoint a majority of the members of our board of directors. As a result, JBS will, subject to restrictions on its voting power and actions in a stockholders agreement between JBS and us and our organization documents, have the ability to control our management, policies and financing decisions, elect a majority of the members of our board of directors at the annual meeting and control the vote on most matters coming before the holders of our common stock.
Under the stockholders agreement between JBS and us, JBS has the ability to elect up to six members of our board of directors and the other holders of our common stock have the ability to elect up to three members of our board of directors. If the percentage of our outstanding common stock owned by JBS exceeds 80%, then JBS would have the ability to elect one additional member of our board of directors while the other holders of our common stock would have the ability to elect one less member of our board of directors.
Our operations are subject to general risks of litigation.
We are involved on an ongoing basis in litigation relating to alleged antitrust violations or arising in the ordinary course of business or otherwise. For example, between September 2, 2016 and October 13, 2016, ten purported class action lawsuits were brought against Pilgrim’s and 13 other producers by and on behalf of direct and indirect purchasers of broiler chickens. The complaints, which were filed with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, seek, among other relief, treble damages for an alleged conspiracy among defendants to reduce output and increase prices of broiler chickens from the period of January 2008 to the present. See “Item 3. Legal Proceedings.” Trends in litigation may include class actions involving consumers, shareholders, employees or injured persons, and claims relating to commercial, labor, employment, antitrust, securities or environmental matters. Litigation trends and the outcome of litigation cannot be predicted with certainty, and adverse litigation trends and outcomes could result material damages, which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
We depend on contract growers and independent producers to supply us with livestock.
We contract primarily with independent contract growers to raise the live chickens processed in our poultry operations. If we do not attract and maintain contracts with growers or maintain marketing and purchasing relationships with independent producers, our production operations could be negatively affected.
Changes in consumer preference could negatively impact our business.
The food industry in general is subject to changing consumer trends, demands and preferences. Trends within the food industry change often, and failure to identify and react to changes in these trends could lead to, among other things, reduced demand and price reductions for our products, and could have an adverse effect on our financial results.
The consolidation of customers could negatively impact our business.
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Our customers, such as supermarkets, warehouse clubs and food distributors, have consolidated in recent years, and consolidation is expected to continue throughout the U.S. and in other major markets. These consolidations have produced large, sophisticated customers with increased buying power who are more capable of operating with reduced inventories, opposing price increases, and demanding lower pricing, increased promotional programs and specifically tailored products. These customers also may use shelf space currently used for our products for their own private label products. Because of these trends, our volume growth could slow or we may need to lower prices or increase promotional spending for our products, any of which could adversely affect our financial results.
Interruptions in the proper functioning of information systems could disrupt operations and cause unanticipated increases in costs and/or decreases in revenues.
The proper functioning of our information systems is critical to the successful operation of our business. Although our information systems are protected with robust backup systems, including physical and software safeguards and remote processing capabilities, information systems are still vulnerable to natural disasters, power losses, unauthorized access, telecommunication failures, and other problems. In addition, certain software used by us is licensed from, and certain services related to our information systems are provided by, third parties who could choose to discontinue their relationship with us. If critical information systems fail or these systems or related software or services are otherwise unavailable, our ability to process orders, maintain proper levels of inventories, collect accounts receivable, pay expenses, and maintain the security of Company and customer data could be adversely affected. Disruptions or failures of, or security breaches with respect to, our information technology infrastructure could have a negative impact on our operations.
Our future financial and operating flexibility may be adversely affected by significant leverage.
On a consolidated basis, as of December 25, 2016, we had approximately $500.4 million in secured indebtedness, $523.3 million of unsecured indebtedness and had the ability to borrow approximately $682.6 million under our credit agreements. Significant amounts of cash flow will be necessary to make payments of interest and repay the principal amount of such indebtedness.
The degree to which we are leveraged could have important consequences because:

• | It could affect our ability to satisfy our obligations under our credit agreements;

• | A substantial portion of our cash flow from operations is required to be dedicated to interest and principal payments and may not be available for operations, working capital, capital expenditures, expansion, acquisitions or general corporate or other purposes;

• | Our ability to obtain additional financing and to fund working capital, capital expenditures and other general corporate requirements in the future may be impaired;

• | We may be more highly leveraged than some of our competitors, which may place us at a competitive disadvantage;

• | Our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business may be limited;

• | It may limit our ability to pursue acquisitions and sell assets; and

• | It may make us more vulnerable in the event of a continued or new downturn in our business or the economy in general.

Our ability to make payments on and to refinance our debt, including our credit facilities, will depend on our ability to generate cash in the future. This, to a certain extent, is subject to various business factors (including, among others, the commodity prices of feed ingredients and chicken) and general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory, and other factors that are beyond our control.
There can be no assurance that we will be able to generate sufficient cash flow from operations or that future borrowings will be available under our credit facilities in an amount sufficient to enable us to pay our debt obligations, including obligations under our credit facilities, or to fund our other liquidity needs. We may need to refinance all or a portion of their debt on or before maturity. There can be no assurance that we will be able to refinance any of their debt on commercially reasonable terms or at all.
Impairment in the carrying value of goodwill could negatively affect our operating results.
We have a significant amount of goodwill on our Consolidated Balance Sheet. Under generally accepted accounting principles, goodwill must be evaluated for impairment annually or more frequently if events indicate it is warranted. If the carrying
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value of our reporting units exceeds their current fair value as determined based on the discounted future cash flows of the related business, the goodwill is considered impaired and is reduced to fair value by a non-cash charge to earnings. Events and conditions that could result in impairment in the value of our goodwill include changes in the industry in which we operate, particularly the impact of a downturn in the global economy or the economies of geographic regions or countries in which we operate, as well as competition, adverse changes in the regulatory environment, or other factors leading to reduction in expected long-term sales or profitability.
Media campaigns related to food production present risks.
Individuals or organizations can use social media platforms to publicize inappropriate or inaccurate stories or perceptions about the food production industry or our company. Such practices could cause damage to the reputations of our company and/or the food production industry in general. This damage could adversely affect our financial results.
There can be no assurance that GNP can be combined successfully with our business.
In evaluating the terms of our acquisition of GNP, we analyzed the respective businesses of Pilgrim’s Pride and GNP and made certain assumptions concerning their respective future operations. A principal assumption was that the acquisition will produce operating results better than those historically experienced or presently expected to be experienced in the future by us in the absence of the acquisition. There can be no assurance, however, that this assumption is correct or that the businesses of Pilgrim’s Pride and GNP will be successfully integrated in a timely manner.
Assumption of unknown liabilities in acquisitions may harm our financial condition and operating results.
Acquisitions may be structured in such a manner that would result in the assumption of unknown liabilities not disclosed by the seller or uncovered during pre-acquisition due diligence. For example, our acquisition of GNP was structured as an equity purchase in which we effectively assumed all of the liabilities of GNP including liabilities that may be unknown. Such unknown obligations and liabilities could harm our financial condition and operating results.
We may pursue additional opportunities to acquire complementary businesses, which could further increase leverage and debt service requirements and could adversely affect our financial situation if we fail to successfully integrate the acquired business.
We intend to continue to pursue selective acquisitions of complementary businesses in the future. Inherent in any future acquisitions are certain risks such as increasing leverage and debt service requirements and combining company cultures and facilities, which could have a material adverse effect on our operating results, particularly during the period immediately following such acquisitions. Additional debt or equity capital may be required to complete future acquisitions, and there can be no assurance that we will be able to raise the required capital. Furthermore, acquisitions involve a number of risks and challenges, including:
•Diversion of management’s attention;
•The need to integrate acquired operations;
•Potential loss of key employees and customers of the acquired companies;
•Lack of experience in operating in the geographical market of the acquired business; and
•An increase in our expenses and working capital requirements.
Any of these and other factors could adversely affect our ability to achieve anticipated cash flows at acquired operations or realize other anticipated benefits of acquisitions.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
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Item 2. Properties
Operating Facilities
Our main operating facilities are as follows:

|  | Operating |  | Idled |  | Capacity(a) |  | Unit of measure |  | Average Capacity Utilization(b)
Legacy Pilgrim’s Facilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Facilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fresh processing plants |  | 23 |  |  | 6 |  |  | 6.2 million |  | Birds per day |  | 91.0 | %
Prepared foods cook plants |  | 4 |  |  | 3 |  |  | 463.2 million |  | Pounds per year |  | 65.3 | %
Feed mills |  | 23 |  |  | 3 |  |  | 11.2 million |  | Tons per year |  | 82.0 | %
Hatcheries |  | 29 |  |  | 3 |  |  | 2.1 billion |  | Eggs per year |  | 85.9 | %
Rendering |  | 4 |  |  | 2 |  |  | 374,211 |  | Tons per year |  | 72.2 | %
Pet food processing |  | 3 |  |  | — |  |  | 77,651 |  | Tons per year |  | 62.7 | %
Freezers |  | 1 |  |  | 1 |  |  | 125,000 |  | Square feet |  | N/A |
Puerto Rico Facilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fresh processing plant |  | 1 |  |  | — |  |  | 0.1 million |  | Birds per day |  | 102.3 | %
Feed mill |  | 1 |  |  | — |  |  | 0.1 million |  | Tons per year |  | 97.1 | %
Hatchery |  | 1 |  |  | — |  |  | 27.0 million |  | Eggs per year |  | 78.4 | %
Rendering |  | 1 |  |  | — |  |  | 8,050 |  | Tons per year |  | 57.5 | %
Distribution center |  | 1 |  |  | — |  |  | N/A |  |  |  | N/A |
Mexico Facilities |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fresh processing plants |  | 6 |  |  | — |  |  | 1.1 million |  | Birds per day |  | 87.1 | %
Prepared foods cook plants |  | 2 |  |  | — |  |  | 54.4 million |  | Kilograms per year |  | 66.7 | %
Feed mills |  | 8 |  |  | — |  |  | 2.3 million |  | Tons per year |  | 79.5 | %
Hatcheries |  | 9 |  |  | — |  |  | 500.8 million |  | Eggs per year |  | 94.6 | %
Rendering |  | 3 |  |  | — |  |  | 54,240 |  | Tons per year |  | 70.7 | %
Distribution centers |  | 19 |  |  | — |  |  | N/A |  |  |  | N/A |
GNP Facilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fresh processing plants |  | 2 |  |  | — |  |  | 0.4 million |  | Birds per day |  | 100.0% |
Further processing plant |  | 1 |  |  | — |  |  | 47.0 million |  | Pounds per year |  | N/A |
Feed mills |  | 2 |  |  | — |  |  | 0.7 million |  | Tons per year |  | 78.9% |
Hatcheries |  | 2 |  |  | — |  |  | 160.5 million |  | Eggs per year |  | 79.5% |
Grain elevator |  | 1 |  |  | — |  |  | 4.0 million |  | Bushels put through per year |  | 100.0% |

(a) | Capacity and utilization numbers do not include idled facilities.

Other Facilities and Information
In the U.S, our corporate offices share a building with JBS in Greeley, Colorado. We own a building in Richardson, Texas, which houses our computer data center. We also own office buildings in Broadway, Virginia, and Pittsburg, Texas, which house additional administrative, sales and marketing, research and development, and other support activities. We lease building space in St. Cloud, Minnesota, which houses GNP administrative, sales and marketing, and other support activities. We also lease office buildings in Bentonville, Arkansas and Cincinnati, Ohio for members of our sales team and building space in Carrollton, Texas, which houses a second computer data center.
In Mexico, we own an office building in Gómez Palacio, Durango and lease an office building in Santiago de Querétaro, Querétaro, both of which house our Mexican administrative functions. We also lease office space in Mexico City that houses our Mexican marketing office.
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Most of our property, plant and equipment are pledged as collateral on our credit facilities. See “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
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Item 3. Legal Proceedings
Tax Claims and Proceedings
In 2009, the IRS asserted claims against the Company in the Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas, Fort Worth Division (the “Bankruptcy Court”) totaling $74.7 million. Following a series of objections, motions and opposition filed by both parties with the Bankruptcy Court, the Company worked with the IRS through the normal processes and procedures that are available to resolve the IRS’ claims. On December 12, 2012, the Company entered into two Stipulation of Settled Issues agreements with the IRS (the “Stipulations”). The first Stipulation related to the Company’s 2003, 2005, and 2007 tax years and resolved all of the material issues in the case. The second Stipulation related to the Company as the successor in interest to Gold Kist Inc. (“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. The Company is currently working with the IRS to finalize the complete tax calculations associated with the Stipulations.
Other Claims and Proceedings
Between September 2, 2016 and October 13, 2016, ten purported class action lawsuits were filed with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Pilgrim’s and 13 other producers by and on behalf of direct and indirect purchasers of broiler chickens. On October 5, 2016, the Court consolidated the complaints, for pretrial purposes, into actions on behalf of three different putative classes: direct purchasers, indirect purchasers/consumers and commercial/institutional indirect purchasers. These actions are now styled In re Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation. The current operative complaints filed on behalf of each putative class allege, among other things, a conspiracy among defendants to reduce output and fix, increase, maintain, and stabilize the prices of broiler chickens in violation of the U.S. antitrust laws from the period of January 2008 to the present. The complaints on behalf of putative classes of indirect purchasers also include causes of action under various state consumer protection laws, unfair competition laws and unjust enrichment common laws. The complaints seek treble damages, injunctive relief, pre- and post-judgment interest, costs, and attorneys’ fees on behalf of the putative class. Pilgrim’s has filed motions to dismiss these actions.
On October 10, 2016, Patrick Hogan, acting on behalf of himself and a putative class of persons who purchased shares of Pilgrim’s stock between February 21, 2014 and October 6, 2016, filed a class action complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado against Pilgrim’s and its named executive officers. The complaint alleges, among other things, that Pilgrim’s SEC filings contained statements that were rendered materially false and misleading by Pilgrim’s failure to disclose that (i) the company colluded with several of its industry peers to fix prices in the broiler-chicken market as alleged in the In re Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation, (ii) its conduct constituted a violation of federal antitrust laws, (iii) Pilgrim’s revenues during the class period were the result of illegal conduct and (iv) that Pilgrim’s lacked effective internal control over financial reporting, as well as stating that Pilgrim’s industry was anticompetitive. The Court has not yet appointed a lead plaintiff and no consolidated class action complaint has been filed.
On January 27, 2017, a purported class action on behalf of broiler chicken farmers was brought against Pilgrim’s and 10 other producers in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, alleging, among other things, a conspiracy among the defendants to reduce competition in the domestic market for broiler chickens. Plaintiffs’ allegations are similar to those raised in the In re Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation, and seek, among other relief, treble damages.
We believe we have strong defenses in response to the plaintiffs’ allegations and intend to contest these actions vigorously. We cannot predict the outcome of these actions nor when they will be resolved. If the plaintiffs were to prevail in any of these actions, we could be liable for damages, which could be material and could adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations.
The Company is subject to various other legal proceedings and claims, which arise in the ordinary course of its business. In the opinion of management, the aggregate amount of ultimate liability with respect to these actions will not materially affect the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
None.
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PART II
Item 5. Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Market Information
Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market (“NASDAQ”) under the symbol “PPC.” High and low closing prices of the Company’s common stock for 2016 and 2015 are as follows:

|  | 2016 Prices |  | 2015 Prices
Quarter |  | High |  | Low |  | High |  | Low
First |  | $ | 25.15 |  |  | $ | 21.00 |  |  | $ | 37.02 |  |  | $ | 23.55 |
Second |  | 27.50 |  |  | 23.48 |  |  | 27.00 |  |  | 22.59 |
Third |  | 25.82 |  |  | 20.80 |  |  | 23.39 |  |  | 19.41 |
Fourth |  | 21.84 |  |  | 17.38 |  |  | 22.68 |  |  | 18.14 |

Holders
The Company estimates there were approximately 21,600 holders (including individual participants in security position listings) of the Company’s common stock as of February 8, 2017.
Dividends
On May 18, 2016, the Company paid a special cash dividend from retained earnings of approximately $700 million, or $2.75 per share, to stockholders of record as of May 10, 2016. 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 both special cash dividends.
Notwithstanding the special cash dividends paid on May 18, 2016 and February 17, 2015, the Company has no current intention to pay any further dividends to its stockholders. Any change in dividend policy will depend upon future conditions, including earnings and financial condition, general business conditions, any applicable contractual limitations and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors in its discretion.
Both the U.S. Credit Facility and the Indenture governing the Senior Notes restrict, but do not prohibit, the Company from declaring dividends.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities in 2016
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 was originally scheduled to expire on July 27, 2016. On February 10, 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors approved an increase of the share repurchase authorization to $300.0 million and an extension of the expiration date to February 9, 2017. 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. For the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2016, the Company repurchased 5.8 million shares of its common stock under the program for an aggregate cost of $117.9 million and an average price of $20.42 per share. Since the inception of the program, the Company has repurchased 10.6 million shares of its common stock under the program for an aggregate cost of $217.1 million and an average price of $20.41 per share. Set forth below is information regarding our stock repurchases for the thirteen weeks ended December 25, 2016.
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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
September 26, 2016 through October 23, 2016 |  | 2,061,986 |  |  | $ | 20.80 |  |  | 2,061,986 |  |  | $ | 142,211,182 |
October 24, 2016 through November 27, 2016 |  | 2,100,172 |  |  | 20.08 |  |  | 2,100,172 |  |  | 100,032,966 |
November 28, 2016 through December 25, 2016 |  | 686,700 |  |  | 18.17 |  |  | 686,700 |  |  | 87,554,118 |
Total |  | 4,848,858 |  |  | $ | 20.12 |  |  | 4,848,858 |  |  | $ | 87,554,118 |

Total Return on Registrant’s Common Equity
The graph below matches the cumulative 5-Year total return of holders of Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation’s common stock with the cumulative total returns of the Russell 2000 index and a customized peer group of three companies that includes: Hormel Foods Corp, Sanderson Farms Inc. and Tyson Foods Inc. The graph assumes that the value of the investment in our common stock, in each index, and in the peer group (including reinvestment of dividends) was $100 on 12/25/2011 and tracks it through 12/25/2016.
The graph covers the period from December 25, 2011 to December 25, 2016, and reflects the performance of the Company’s single class of common stock. The stock price performance represented by this graph is not necessarily indicative of future stock performance.
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| 12/25/11 |  | 06/30/12 |  | 12/30/12 |  | 06/30/13 |  | 12/29/13 |  | 06/30/14 |  | 12/28/14 |  | 06/30/15 |  | 12/27/15 |  | 06/30/16 |  | 12/25/16
PPC | $ | 100.00 |  |  | $ | 119.37 |  |  | $ | 120.03 |  |  | $ | 249.42 |  |  | $ | 274.96 |  |  | $ | 456.76 |  |  | $ | 568.78 |  |  | $ | 462.35 |  |  | $ | 452.69 |  |  | $ | 569.84 |  |  | $ | 425.37 |
Russell 2000 | 100.00 |  |  | 108.53 |  |  | 116.35 |  |  | 134.80 |  |  | 161.52 |  |  | 166.67 |  |  | 169.43 |  |  | 177.48 |  |  | 161.95 |  |  | 165.53 |  |  | 196.45 |
Peer Group | 100.00 |  |  | 97.99 |  |  | 100.34 |  |  | 131.23 |  |  | 159.64 |  |  | 180.84 |  |  | 196.51 |  |  | 207.23 |  |  | 277.76 |  |  | 294.97 |  |  | 284.30 |

Item 6. Selected Financial Data

(In thousands, except ratios and per share data) | 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2012
Operating Results Data: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net sales | $ | 7,931,123 |  |  | $ | 8,180,104 |  |  | $ | 8,583,365 |  |  | $ | 8,411,148 |  |  | $ | 8,121,382 |
Gross profit(a) | 914,360 |  |  | 1,254,377 |  |  | 1,393,995 |  |  | 845,439 |  |  | 435,832 |
Operating income(a) | 713,510 |  |  | 1,044,891 |  |  | 1,203,115 |  |  | 658,863 |  |  | 250,342 |
Interest expense, net | 44,197 |  |  | 33,875 |  |  | 77,271 |  |  | 84,881 |  |  | 103,529 |
Loss on early extinguishment of debt | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Income (loss) before income taxes(a) | 672,635 |  |  | 992,758 |  |  | 1,102,391 |  |  | 573,940 |  |  | 153,062 |
Income tax expense (benefit)(b) | 232,906 |  |  | 346,796 |  |  | 390,953 |  |  | 24,227 |  |  | (20,980 | )
Net income(a) | 439,729 |  |  | 645,962 |  |  | 711,438 |  |  | 549,713 |  |  | 174,042 |
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest | (803 | ) |  | 48 |  |  | (210 | ) |  | 158 |  |  | (192 | )
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation(a) | 440,532 |  |  | 645,914 |  |  | 711,648 |  |  | 549,555 |  |  | 174,234 |
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(c) | 12.25x |  |  | 20.63x |  |  | 12.96x |  |  | 7.47x |  |  | 2.34x |
Per Common Diluted Share Data: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation | $ | 1.73 |  |  | $ | 2.50 |  |  | $ | 2.74 |  |  | $ | 2.12 |  |  | $ | 0.70 |
Adjusted net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation(d) | 1.75 |  |  | 2.60 |  |  | 2.96 |  |  | 2.14 |  |  | 0.68 |
Book value | 3.53 |  |  | 4.88 |  |  | 8.46 |  |  | 5.75 |  |  | 3.50 |
Balance Sheet Summary: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Working capital | 454,067 |  |  | 899,264 |  |  | 1,138,177 |  |  | 845,584 |  |  | 812,551 |
Total assets | 3,008,218 |  |  | 3,318,443 |  |  | 3,091,718 |  |  | 3,172,402 |  |  | 2,913,869 |
Notes payable and current maturities of long-term debt | 94 |  |  | 28,812 |  |  | 262 |  |  | 410,234 |  |  | 15,886 |
Long-term debt, less current maturities | 1,011,858 |  |  | 985,509 |  |  | 3,980 |  |  | 501,999 |  |  | 1,148,870 |
Total stockholders’ equity | 896,747 |  |  | 1,261,810 |  |  | 2,196,801 |  |  | 1,492,602 |  |  | 908,997 |
Cash Flow Summary: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash flows from operating activities | 755,483 |  |  | 976,828 |  |  | 1,066,692 |  |  | 878,533 |  |  | 199,624 |
Depreciation and amortization(e) | 180,515 |  |  | 158,975 |  |  | 155,824 |  |  | 150,523 |  |  | 147,414 |
Impairment of goodwill and other assets | 790 |  |  | 4,813 |  |  | — |  |  | 4,004 |  |  | 2,770 |
Purchases of investment securities | — |  |  | — |  |  | (55,100 | ) |  | (96,902 | ) |  | (162 | )
Proceeds from sale or maturity of investment securities | — |  |  | — |  |  | 152,050 |  |  | — |  |  | 688 |
Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment | (272,467 | ) |  | (175,764 | ) |  | (171,443 | ) |  | (116,223 | ) |  | (90,327 | )
Purchase of acquired business, net of cash acquired | — |  |  | (373,532 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Cash flows from financing activities | (813,131 | ) |  | (578,647 | ) |  | (905,595 | ) |  | (250,214 | ) |  | (111,029 | )
Other Data: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
EBITDA(f)(g) | 893,515 |  |  | 1,181,970 |  |  | 1,321,774 |  |  | 800,398 |  |  | 393,942 |
Adjusted EBITDA(f)(g) | 899,284 |  |  | 1,213,467 |  |  | 1,352,249 |  |  | 810,316 |  |  | 397,773 |
Key Indicators (as a percent of net sales): |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gross profit(a) | 11.5 | % |  | 15.3 | % |  | 16.2 | % |  | 10.1 | % |  | 5.4 | %
Selling, general and administrative expenses | 2.5 | % |  | 2.5 | % |  | 2.2 | % |  | 2.2 | % |  | 2.2 | %
Operating income(a) | 9.0 | % |  | 12.8 | % |  | 14.0 | % |  | 7.8 | % |  | 3.1 | %
Interest expense, net | 0.6 | % |  | 0.4 | % |  | 0.9 | % |  | 1.0 | % |  | 1.3 | %
Net income(a) | 5.6 | % |  | 7.9 | % |  | 8.3 | % |  | 6.5 | % |  | 2.1 | %

(a) | Operating income and net income include the following restructuring charges for each of the years presented:

| 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2012
| (In millions)
Additional effect on operating income: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Administrative restructuring charges | (1.1 | ) |  | (5.6 | ) |  | (2.3 | ) |  | (5.7 | ) |  | (8.4 | )

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(b) | Income tax expense in 2016, 2015 and 2014 resulted primarily from expense recorded on our year-to-date income. Income tax expense in 2013 resulted primarily from expense recorded on our year-to-date income offset by a decrease in valuation allowance as a result of year-to-date earnings. Income tax benefit in 2012 resulted primarily from a decrease in valuation allowance and a decrease in reserves for unrecognized tax benefits.

(c) | For purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings consist of income before income taxes plus fixed charges (excluding capitalized interest). Fixed charges consist of interest (including capitalized interest) on all indebtedness, amortization of capitalized financing costs and that portion of rental expense that we believe to be representative of interest.

(d) | Adjusted net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation per common diluted share is presented because it is used by us and we believe it is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties, in addition to and not in lieu of results prepared in conformity with GAAP, to compare the performance of companies. Adjusted net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation per common diluted share is not a measurement of financial performance under GAAP, has limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for an analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. It does not reflect the impact of earnings or charges resulting from matters we consider to not be indicative of our ongoing operations.

A reconciliation of net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation per common diluted share to adjusted net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation per common diluted share is as follows:

| 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2012
| (In thousands except per share data)
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation | $ | 440,532 |  |  | $ | 645,914 |  |  | $ | 711,648 |  |  | $ | 549,555 |  |  | $ | 174,234 |
Loss on early extinguishment of debt | — |  |  | 1,470 |  |  | 29,475 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Foreign currency transaction losses (gains) | 3,897 |  |  | 25,940 |  |  | 27,979 |  |  | 4,415 |  |  | (4,810 | )
Adjusted net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation | 444,429 |  |  | 673,324 |  |  | 769,102 |  |  | 553,970 |  |  | 169,424 |
Weighted average diluted shares of common stock outstanding | 254,126 |  |  | 258,676 |  |  | 259,471 |  |  | 259,241 |  |  | 250,216 |
Adjusted net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation per common diluted share | $ | 1.75 |  |  | $ | 2.60 |  |  | $ | 2.96 |  |  | $ | 2.14 |  |  | $ | 0.68 |

(e) | Includes amortization of capitalized financing costs of approximately $3.8 million, $3.6 million, $13.7 million, $9.3 million and $10.1 million in 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively.

(f) | “EBITDA” is defined as the sum of net income (loss) plus interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. “Adjusted EBITDA” is calculated by adding to EBITDA certain items of expense and deducting from EBITDA certain items of income that we believe are not indicative of our ongoing operating performance consisting of: (i) net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests in the period from 2012 through 2016, (ii) restructuring charges in the period from 2012 through 2016 and (iii) foreign currency transaction losses (gains) in the period from 2012 through 2016. EBITDA is presented because it is used by us and we believe it is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties, in addition to and not in lieu of results prepared in conformity with GAAP, to compare the performance of companies. We believe investors would be interested in our Adjusted EBITDA because this is how our management analyzes EBITDA applicable to continuing operations. We also believe that Adjusted EBITDA, in combination with our financial results calculated in accordance with GAAP, provides investors with additional perspective regarding the impact of certain significant items on EBITDA and facilitates a more direct comparison of its performance with its competitors. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not measurements of financial performance under GAAP. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for an analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Some of the limitations of these measures are:

• | They do not reflect our cash expenditures, future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments;

• | They do not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs;

• | They do not reflect the significant interest expense or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments on our debt;

• | Although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements;

• | They are not adjusted for all non-cash income or expense items that are reflected in our statements of cash flows;

• | EBITDA does not reflect the impact of earnings or charges attributable to noncontrolling interests;

• | They do not reflect the impact of earnings or charges resulting from matters we consider to not be indicative of our ongoing operations; and

• | They do not reflect limitations on or costs related to transferring earnings from our subsidiaries to us.

(g) | In addition, other companies in our industry may calculate these measures differently than we do, limiting their usefulness as a comparative measure. Because of these limitations, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities or as a measure of liquidity or an alternative to net income as indicators of our operating performance or any other measures of performance derived in accordance with GAAP. You should compensate for these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and using EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA only on a supplemental basis.

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A reconciliation of net income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA is as follows:

| 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013 |  | 2012
| (In thousands)
Net income | $ | 439,729 |  |  | $ | 645,962 |  |  | $ | 711,438 |  |  | $ | 549,713 |  |  | $ | 174,042 |
Add: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest expense, net (a) | 44,197 |  |  | 33,875 |  |  | 77,271 |  |  | 84,881 |  |  | 103,529 |
Income tax expense (benefit) | 232,906 |  |  | 346,796 |  |  | 390,953 |  |  | 24,227 |  |  | (20,980 | )
Depreciation and amortization (b) | 180,515 |  |  | 158,975 |  |  | 155,824 |  |  | 150,884 |  |  | 147,414 |
Minus: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Amortization of capitalized financing costs(c) | 3,832 |  |  | 3,638 |  |  | 13,712 |  |  | 9,307 |  |  | 10,063 |
EBITDA | 893,515 |  |  | 1,181,970 |  |  | 1,321,774 |  |  | 800,398 |  |  | 393,942 |
Add: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Foreign currency transaction losses (gains)(d) | 3,897 |  |  | 25,940 |  |  | 27,979 |  |  | 4,415 |  |  | (4,810 | )
Restructuring charges(e) | 1,069 |  |  | 5,605 |  |  | 2,286 |  |  | 5,661 |  |  | 8,449 |
Minus: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest | (803 | ) |  | 48 |  |  | (210 | ) |  | 158 |  |  | (192 | )
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 899,284 |  |  | $ | 1,213,467 |  |  | $ | 1,352,249 |  |  | $ | 810,316 |  |  | $ | 397,773 |

(a) | Interest expense, net, consists of interest expense less interest income.

(b) | 2013 includes $0.4 million of asset impairments not included in restructuring charges.

(c) | Amortization of capitalized financing costs is included in both interest expense, net and depreciation and amortization above.

(d) | 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 nonmonetary assets, of the Mexico subsidiaries at current exchange rates. We remeasure nonmonetary assets using the historical exchange rate in effect on the date of each asset’s acquisition. Currency exchange gains or losses resulting from these remeasurements are included in the line item Foreign currency transaction losses (gains) in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

(e) | Restructuring charges includes tangible asset impairment, severance and change-in-control compensation costs, and losses incurred on both the sale of unneeded broiler eggs and flock depletion.

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Our Company
We are one of the largest chicken producers in the world, with operations in the U.S., Mexico and Puerto Rico. We are primarily engaged in the production, processing, marketing and distribution of fresh, frozen and value-added chicken products to retailers, distributors and foodservice operators. We offer a wide range of products to our customers through strong national and international distribution channels. Pilgrim’s fresh chicken products consist of refrigerated (non-frozen) 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.
We market our balanced portfolio of fresh, prepared and value-added chicken products to a diverse set of over 5,000 customers across the U.S., Mexico and in approximately 80 other countries, with no single one accounting for more than 10% of total sales. We have become a valuable partner to our customers and a recognized industry leader by consistently providing high-quality products and services designed to meet their needs and enhance their business. Our sales efforts are largely targeted towards the foodservice industry, principally chain restaurants and food processors such as Chick-fil-A®, distributors such as US Foods and Sysco® and retail customers, including grocery store chains and wholesale clubs such as Kroger®, Costco®, Publix®, and H‑E-B®.
As a vertically integrated company, we control every phase of the production process, which helps us better manage food safety and quality, as well as more effectively control margins and improve customer service. We operate feed mills, hatcheries, processing plants and distribution centers in 12 U.S. states, Puerto Rico and Mexico. Our plants are strategically located to ensure that customers timely receive fresh products. With our global network of approximately 4,045 growers, 32 feed mills, 39 hatcheries, 30 processing plants, six prepared foods cook plants, 20 distribution centers, eight rendering facilities and three pet food plants, we believe we are well positioned to supply the growing demand for our products.
We are one of the largest, and we believe one of the most efficient, producers and sellers of chicken in Mexico. Our presence in Mexico provides access to a market with growing demand and has enabled us to leverage our operational strengths within the region. The market for chicken products in Mexico is still developing with most sales attributed to fresh, commodity-oriented, market price-based business. We believe our Mexico business is well positioned to continue benefiting from these trends in the Mexican consumer market. Additionally, we are an important player in the live market, which accounted for approximately 35% of the industry’s chicken sales in Mexico in 2016.
As of December 25, 2016, we had approximately 39,600 employees and the capacity to process more than 36.7 million birds per week for a total of more than 10.7 billion pounds of live chicken annually. In 2016, we produced 8.1 billion pounds of chicken products, generating approximately $7.9 billion in net revenues and approximately $440.5 million in net income attributable to Pilgrim’s.
We operate on a 52/53-week fiscal year that ends on the Sunday falling on or before December 31. Any reference we make to a particular year (for example, 2016) in this report applies to our fiscal year and not the calendar year.
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Executive Summary
We reported net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation of $440.5 million, or $1.73 per diluted common share, for 2016. These operating results included gross profit of $914.4 million. During 2016, we generated $755.5 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 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
2016: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fourth Quarter | $ | 3.67 |  |  | $ | 3.39 |  |  | $ | 330.80 |  |  | $ | 299.60 |
Third Quarter | 3.94 |  |  | 3.16 |  |  | 401.00 |  |  | 302.80 |
Second Quarter | 4.38 |  |  | 3.52 |  |  | 418.30 |  |  | 266.80 |
First Quarter | 3.73 |  |  | 3.52 |  |  | 275.30 |  |  | 257.20 |
2015: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fourth Quarter | 3.98 |  |  | 3.58 |  |  | 320.70 |  |  | 269.00 |
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 |

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. We recognized $4.3 million in net losses related to changes in the fair value of its derivative financial instruments during 2016. We recognized $21.8 million and $16.1 million in net gains related to changes in the fair value of its derivative financial instruments during 2015 and 2014, respectively.
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.
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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
Special Cash Dividend. On May 18, 2016, the Company paid a special cash dividend from retained earnings of approximately $700.0 million, or $2.75 per share, to stockholders of record on May 10, 2016. The Company used proceeds from the U.S. Credit Facility, along with cash on hand, to fund the special cash dividend. For additional information, see “Note 14. Stockholders’ Equity - Special Cash Dividends” of our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this annual report.
Prepared Foods Recall and Production. During April and May 2016, we ordered recalls of approximately 5.6 million pounds of cooked chicken products after consumers and federal meat inspectors found contamination by certain foreign materials, including wood, plastic, rubber and metal, at one of our prepared foods facilities. At this time, there have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions from the consumption of the recalled products. We are still assessing the full impact of this recall, and we have not included any of these expenses in our 2016 results. To date, the recall and its direct effects have not had a material impact on our financial position or results of operations. Unrelated to the recall, we also made operational improvements in one of our prepared foods facilities that negatively impacted production during 2016, but positioned that facility for future long-term growth.
GNP Acquisition. On January 6, 2017, we acquired 100% of the membership interests of GNP from Maschhoff Family Foods, LLC for a cash purchase price of $350 million, subject to customary working capital adjustments. GNP is a vertically integrated poultry business based in St. Cloud, Minnesota. The acquired business has a production capacity of 2.1 million birds per five-day work week in its three plants and currently employs approximately 1,775 people. This acquisition further strengthens our strategic position in the U.S. chicken market.
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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. For additional information, see “Note 19. Business Segment and Geographic Reporting” of our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this annual report.
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Results of Operations
2016 Compared to 2015
Net sales. Net sales for 2016 decreased $249.0 million, or 3.0%, from 2015. The following table provides additional information regarding net sales:

|  |  |  | Change from 2015 |
Source of net sales |  | 2016 |  | Amount |  | Percent |
|  | (In thousands, except percent data) |
United States |  | $ | 6,671,403 |  |  | $ | (471,951 | ) |  | (6.6 | )% | (a)
Mexico |  | 1,259,720 |  |  | 222,970 |  |  | 21.5 | % | (b)
Total net sales |  | $ | 7,931,123 |  |  | $ | (248,981 | ) |  | (3.0 | )% |

(a) | U.S. net sales generated in 2016 decreased $472.0 million, or 6.6%, from U.S. net sales generated in 2015 primarily because of decreases in both sales volume and net sales per pound. The decrease in sales volume, which resulted from the unfavorable impact that ongoing operational improvements in one of our prepared foods facilities had on production during the period and lower product demand from our commercial customers, contributed $300.5 million, or 4.2 percentage points, to the net sales decrease. Lower net sales per pound, which resulted primarily from lower market prices, contributed $171.4 million, or 2.3 percentage points, to the net sales decrease. Included in U.S. sales generated during 2016 and 2015 were sales to JBS USA Food Company totaling $16.5 million and $21.7 million, respectively.

(b) | Mexico sales generated in 2016 increased $223.0 million, or 21.5%, from Mexico sales generated in 2015, primarily because of an increase in sales volume and an increase in net sales per pound partially offset by the impact of foreign currency translation. The increase in sales volume contributed $310.6 million, or 30.0 percentage points, to the increase in Mexico net sales. The increase in net sales per pound contributed $133.7 million, or 12.9 percentage points, to the increase in Mexico net sales. The increases to net sales was partially offset by the impact of foreign currency translation, which contributed $221.3 million, or 21.3 percentage points, to the decrease in Mexico net sales. Other factors affecting the increase in Mexico net sales were individually immaterial.

Gross profit. Gross profit decreased by $340.0 million, or 27.1%, from $1.3 billion generated in 2015 to $914.4 million generated in 2016. The following tables provide gross profit information:

|  |  |  | Change from 2015 |  | Percent of Net Sales |
Components of gross profit |  | 2016 |  | Amount |  | Percent |  | 2016 |  | 2015 |
|  | (In thousands, except percent data) |
Net sales |  | $ | 7,931,123 |  |  | $ | (248,981 | ) |  | (3.0 | )% |  | 100.0 | % |  | 100.0 | % |
Cost of sales |  | 7,016,763 |  |  | 91,036 |  |  | 1.3 | % |  | 88.5 | % |  | 84.7 | % | (a)(b)
Gross profit |  | $ | 914,360 |  |  | $ | (340,017 | ) |  | (27.1 | )% |  | 11.5 | % |  | 15.3 | % |

Sources of gross profit |  | 2016 |  | Change from 2015 |
Amount |  | Percent |
| (In thousands, except percent data) |
United States |  | $ | 742,085 |  |  | $ | (384,776 | ) |  | (34.1 | )% |
Mexico |  | 172,180 |  |  | 44,759 |  |  | 35.1 | % |
Elimination |  | 95 |  |  | — |  |  | — | % | (c)
Total gross profit |  | $ | 914,360 |  |  | $ | (340,017 | ) |  | (27.1 | )% |

Sources of cost of sales |  | 2016 |  | Change from 2015 |
Amount |  | Percent |
| (In thousands, except percent data) |
United States |  | $ | 5,929,318 |  |  | $ | (87,175 | ) |  | (1.4 | )% | (a)
Mexico |  | 1,087,540 |  |  | 178,211 |  |  | 19.6 | % | (b)
Elimination |  | (95 | ) |  | — |  |  | — | % | (c)
Total cost of sales |  | $ | 7,016,763 |  |  | $ | 91,036 |  |  | 1.3 | % |

(a) | Cost of sales incurred by our U.S. operations in 2016 decreased $87.2 million, or 1.4%, from cost of sales incurred by our U.S. operations in 2015. Cost of sales primarily decreased because of lower sales volume, an $81.5 million decrease in feed ingredients costs and a $17.9 million decrease in freight and storage costs. These costs were partially offset by a $27.0 million increase in contract labor costs, derivative losses of $5.0 million in 2016 compared to derivative gains of $21.3 million in 2015, a $21.3 million increase in wages and benefits, and an $18.1 million increase in co-pack labor costs. Other factors affecting U.S. cost of sales were individually immaterial.

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(b) | Cost of sales incurred by the Mexico operations during 2016 increased $178.2 million, or 19.6%, from cost of sales incurred by the Mexico operations during 2015 primarily because of increased sales volume and a $33.3 million increase in feed ingredient costs. Mexico cost of sales also increased because of a $22.9 million increase in wages and benefits, a $11.9 million increase in freight and storage costs, and a $11.2 increase in in depreciation and amortization costs. These costs were partially offset by the impact of foreign currency translation which contributed $191.9 million, or 21.1 percentage points, to the decrease in cost of sales incurred by our Mexico operations. Other factors affecting cost of sales were individually immaterial.

(c) | Our Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of our company and its majority owned subsidiaries. We eliminate all significant affiliate accounts and transactions upon consolidation.

Operating income. Operating income decreased $331.4 million, or 31.7%, from $949.6 billion generated for 2015 to $572.5 million generated for 2016. The following tables provide operating income information:

|  |  |  | Change from 2015 |  | Percent of Net Sales |
Components of operating income |  | 2016 |  | Amount |  | Percent |  | 2016 |  | 2015 |
|  | (In thousands, except percent data) |
Gross profit |  | $ | 914,360 |  |  | $ | (340,017 | ) |  | (27.1 | )% |  | 11.5 | % |  | 15.3 | % |
SG&A expenses |  | 199,781 |  |  | (4,100 | ) |  | (2.0 | )% |  | 2.5 | % |  | 2.5 | % | (a)(b)
Administrative restructuring charges |  | 1,069 |  |  | (4,536 | ) |  | (80.9 | )% |  | — | % |  | 0.1 | % | (c)
Operating income |  | $ | 713,510 |  |  | $ | (331,381 | ) |  | (31.7 | )% |  | 9.0 | % |  | 12.8 | % |

|  |  |  | Change from 2015 |
Source of operating income |  | 2016 |  | Amount |  | Percent |
|  | (In thousands, except percent data) |
United States |  | $ | 572,558 |  |  | $ | (377,052 | ) |  | (39.7 | )% |
Mexico |  | 140,857 |  |  | 45,671 |  |  | 48.0 | % |
Elimination |  | 95 |  |  | — |  |  | — | % | (d)
Total operating income |  | $ | 713,510 |  |  | $ | (331,381 | ) |  | (31.7 | )% |

Sources of SG&A expenses |  | 2016 |  | Change from 2015 |
Amount |  | Percent |
|  | (In thousands, except percent data) |
United States |  | $ | 168,457 |  |  | $ | (3,189 | ) |  | (1.9 | )% | (a)
Mexico |  | 31,324 |  |  | (911 | ) |  | (2.8 | )% | (b)
Total SG&A expense |  | $ | 199,781 |  |  | $ | (4,100 | ) |  | (2.0 | )% |

Sources of administrative restructuring charges |  | 2016 |  | Change from 2015 |
Amount |  | Percent |
|  | (In thousands, except percent data) |
United States |  | $ | 1,069 |  |  | $ | (4,536 | ) |  | (80.9 | )% | (c)
Total administrative restructuring charges |  | $ | 1,069 |  |  | $ | (4,536 | ) |  | (80.9 | )% |

(a) | SG&A expense incurred by the U.S. operations during 2016 decreased $3.2 million, or 1.9%, from SG&A expense incurred by the U.S. operations during 2015 primarily because of a $5.2 million decrease in brokerage expenses, a $2.6 million decrease in management fees charged for administrative functions shared with JBS USA Food Company Holdings, and a $2.0 million decrease in employee wages and benefits that were partially offset by a a $3.1 million increase in contract labor expenses, and a $2.6 million increase in professional fees expenses. Other factors affecting SG&A expense were individually immaterial.

(b) | SG&A expense incurred by the Mexico operations during 2016 decreased $0.9 million, or 2.8%, from SG&A expense incurred by the Mexico operations during 2015 primarily because of a $15.0 million decrease in management fees charged for administrative functions shared with JBS USA Food Company Holdings, and a $2.6 million decrease in professional fees expenses. These decreases to SG&A expense were partially offset by a $15.9 increase in employee wages and benefits. Other factors affecting SG&A expense were individually immaterial.

(c) | Administrative restructuring charges incurred by the U.S. operations during 2016 decreased $4.5 million, or 80.9%, from administrative restructuring charges incurred during 2015. During 2016, administrative restructuring charges represented impairment costs of $0.8 million related to assets held for sale in Texas and impairment costs of $0.3 million related to the sale of an asset in Louisiana. During 2015, administrative restructuring charges 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.

(d) | Our Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of both our company and its majority owned subsidiaries. We eliminate all significant affiliate accounts and transactions upon consolidation.

Interest expense. Consolidated interest expense increased 22.3% to $45.9 million in 2016 from $37.5 million in 2015, primarily because of an increase in the weighted average interest rate to 4.97% in 2016 from 4.02% in 2015 and an increase in
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average borrowings of $1.4 billion in 2016 from $933.6 million in 2015. As a percent of net sales, interest expense in 2016 and 2015 was 0.58% and 0.46%, respectively.
Income taxes. Our consolidated income tax expense in 2016 was $232.9 million, compared to income tax expense of $346.8 million in 2015. The decrease in income tax expense in 2016 resulted primarily from a decrease in income. We expect a future effective tax rate that is comparative to 2016.
2015 Compared to 2014
Net sales. Net sales for 2015 decreased $403.3 million, or 4.7%, from 2014. The following table provides additional information regarding net sales:

|  |  |  | Change from 2014 |
Source of net sales |  | 2015 |  | Amount |  | Percent |
|  | (In thousands, except percent data) |
United States |  | $ | 7,143,354 |  |  | $ | (503,682 | ) |  | (6.6 | )% | (a)
Mexico |  | 1,036,750 |  |  | 100,421 |  |  | 10.7 | % | (b)
Total net sales |  | $ | 8,180,104 |  |  | $ | (403,261 | ) |  | (4.7 | )% |

(a) | U.S. net sales generated in 2015 decreased $503.7 million, or 6.6%, from U.S. net sales generated in 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 $681.8 million, or 8.9 percentage points, to the sales decrease. An increase in sales volume partially offset the net decrease by $178.2 million, or 2.3 percentage points. Included in U.S. sales generated during 2015 and 2014 were sales to JBS USA Food Company totaling $21.7 million and $39.7 million, respectively.

(b) | Mexico sales generated in 2015 increased $100.4 million, or 10.7%, from Mexico sales generated in 2014, primarily because of net sales generated by the acquired Tyson Mexico operations and an increase in sales volume experienced by our existing operations. The impact of the acquired business contributed $250.6 million, or 26.8 percentage points, to the increase in net sales. The sales volume increase experienced by our existing operations contributed $24.7 million, or 2.6 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 $24.1 million, or 2.6 percentage points. The impact of foreign currency translation on our existing operation offset the impact of the acquired business and the sales volume increase experienced by our existing operations by $150.7 million, or 16.1 percentage points.

Gross profit. Gross profit decreased by $139.6 million, or 10.0%, from $1.4 billion generated in 2014 to $1.3 billion generated in 2015. The following tables provide gross profit information:

|  |  |  | Change from 2014 |  | Percent of Net Sales |
Components of gross profit |  | 2015 |  | Amount |  | Percent |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
|  | (In thousands, except percent data) |
Net sales |  | $ | 8,180,104 |  |  | $ | (403,261 | ) |  | (4.7 | )% |  | 100.0 | % |  | 100.0 | % |
Cost of sales |  | 6,925,727 |  |  | (263,643 | ) |  | (3.7 | )% |  | 84.7 | % |  | 83.8 | % | (a)(b)
Gross profit |  | $ | 1,254,377 |  |  | $ | (139,618 | ) |  | (10.0 | )% |  | 15.3 | % |  | 16.2 | % |

Sources of gross profit |  | 2015 |  | Change from 2014 |
Amount |  | Percent |
| (In thousands, except percent data) |
United States |  | $ | 1,126,861 |  |  | $ | (75,941 | ) |  | (6.3 | )% |
Mexico |  | 127,421 |  |  | (63,772 | ) |  | (33.4 | )% |
Elimination |  | 95 |  |  | 95 |  |  | — | % | (c)
Total gross profit |  | $ | 1,254,377 |  |  | $ | (139,618 | ) |  | (10.0 | )% |

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Sources of cost of sales |  | 2015 |  | Change from 2014 |
Amount |  | Percent |
| (In thousands, except percent data) |
United States |  | $ | 6,016,493 |  |  | $ | (427,741 | ) |  | (6.6 | )% | (a)
Mexico |  | 909,329 |  |  | 164,193 |  |  | 22.0 | % | (b)
Elimination |  | (95 | ) |  | (95 | ) |  | — | % | (c)
Total cost of sales |  | $ | 6,925,727 |  |  | $ | (263,643 | ) |  | (3.7 | )% |

(a) | Cost of sales incurred by our U.S. operations in 2015 decreased $427.7 million, or 6.6%, from cost of sales incurred by our U.S. operations in 2014. Cost of sales decreased primarily because of a $358.2 million decrease in feed ingredients costs, a $33.2 million decrease in wages and benefits, a $17.0 million decrease in utilities costs and a $13.3 million decrease in vehicle costs partially offset by a $24.4 million increase in co-pack labor costs, a $20.9 million increase in contract labor costs, a $20.6 million increase in contract grower costs and a $19.7 million increase in supplies and equipment costs. Other factors affecting U.S. cost of sales were individually immaterial.

(b) | Cost of sales incurred by the Mexico operations during 2015 increased $164.2 million, or 22.0%, from cost of sales incurred by the Mexico operations during 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 $249.1 million, or 33.4 percentage points, to the overall increase in cost of sales incurred by the Mexican operations. 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 $85.0 million, or 11.4 percentage points. The impact of foreign currency translation contributed $126.5 million, or 17.0 percentage points, to the decrease in cost of sales incurred by our existing operations. Decreases in both wage and benefits costs and utilities costs along with a gain related to the sale of property, plant and equipment also contributed $18.0 million, or 2.4 percentage points, to the decrease in cost of sales incurred by our existing operations. The favorable impact that the items listed above had on cost of sales incurred by our existing operations was partially offset by $59.6 million, or 8.0 percentage points, because of higher feed ingredients costs. Other factors affecting cost of sales were individually immaterial.

(c) | Our Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of our company and its majority owned subsidiaries. We eliminate all significant affiliate accounts and transactions upon consolidation.

Operating income. Operating income decreased $158.2 million, or 13.2%, from $1.2 billion generated for 2014 to $1.0 billion generated for 2015. The following tables provide operating income information:

|  |  |  | Change from 2014 |  | Percent of Net Sales |
Components of operating income |  | 2015 |  | Amount |  | Percent |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
|  | (In thousands, except percent data) |
Gross profit |  | $ | 1,254,377 |  |  | $ | (139,618 | ) |  | (10.0 | )% |  | 15.3 | % |  | 16.2 | % |
SG&A expenses |  | 203,881 |  |  | 15,287 |  |  | 8.1 | % |  | 2.5 | % |  | 2.2 | % | (a)(b)
Administrative restructuring charges |  | 5,605 |  |  | 3,319 |  |  | 145.2 | % |  | 0.1 | % |  | — | % | (c)
Operating income |  | $ | 1,044,891 |  |  | $ | (158,224 | ) |  | (13.2 | )% |  | 12.8 | % |  | 14.0 | % |

|  |  |  | Change from 2014 |
Source of operating income |  | 2015 |  | Amount |  | Percent |
|  | (In thousands, except percent data) |
United States |  | $ | 949,610 |  |  | $ | (81,510 | ) |  | (7.9 | )% |
Mexico |  | 95,186 |  |  | (76,809 | ) |  | (42.8 | )% |
Elimination |  | 95 |  |  | 95 |  |  |  | (d)
Total operating income |  | $ | 1,044,891 |  |  | $ | (155,023 | ) |  | (12.9 | )% |

Sources of SG&A expenses |  | 2015 |  | Change from 2014 |
Amount |  | Percent |
|  | (In thousands, except percent data) |
United States |  | $ | 171,646 |  |  | $ | 2,250 |  |  | 1.3 | % | (a)
Mexico |  | 32,235 |  |  | 13,037 |  |  | 67.9 | % | (b)
Total SG&A expense |  | $ | 203,881 |  |  | $ | 15,287 |  |  | 8.1 | % |

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Sources of administrative restructuring charges |  | 2015 |  | Change from 2014 |
Amount |  | Percent |
|  | (In thousands, except percent data) |
United States |  | $ | 5,605 |  |  | $ | 3,319 |  |  | 145.2 | % | (c)
Total administrative restructuring charges |  | $ | 5,605 |  |  | $ | 3,319 |  |  | 145.2 | % |

(a) | SG&A expense incurred by the U.S. operations during 2015 increased $2.3 million, or 1.3%, from SG&A expense incurred by the U.S. operations during 2014 primarily because of an $7.4 million increase in employee wages and benefits, and a $2.6 million increase in management fees charged for administrative functions shared with JBS USA Food Company Holdings that were partially offset by a $5.3 million decrease in brokerage expenses, a $2.0 million decrease in legal services expenses and a $0.5 million decrease in advertising and promotion costs. Other factors affecting SG&A expense were individually immaterial.

(b) | SG&A expense incurred by the Mexico operations during 2015 increased $13.0 million, or 67.9%, from SG&A expense incurred by the Mexico operations during 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 $10.3 million, or 53.5 percentage points, to the overall increase in SG&A expense. An increase in expenses incurred by our existing operations contributed $3.1 million, or 16.3 percentage points, to the overall increase in SG&A expense. SG&A expense incurred by our existing operations increased primarily because of a $1.8 million increase in contract labor, a $1.2 million increase in bad debt expense and a $1.1 million increase in legal services expense . Other factors affecting SG&A expense were individually immaterial.

(c) | Administrative restructuring charges incurred by the U.S. operations during 2015 increased $3.3 million, or 145.2%, from administrative restructuring charges incurred during 2014. During 2015 administrative restructuring charges 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.

(d) | Our Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of both our company and its majority owned subsidiaries. We eliminate all significant affiliate accounts and transactions upon consolidation.

Interest expense. Consolidated interest expense decreased 54.3% to $37.5 million in 2015 from $82.1 million in 2014, primarily because of a decrease in the weighted average interest rate to 4.02% in 2015 from 6.45% in 2014, partially offset by an increase in average borrowings of $933.6 million in 2015 compared to $526.7 million in 2014. As a percent of net sales, interest expense in 2015 and 2014 was 0.46% and 0.96%, respectively.
Income taxes. Our consolidated income tax expense in 2015 was $346.8 million, compared to income tax expense of $390.9 million in 2014. The decrease in income tax expense in 2015 resulted primarily from a decrease in income.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
The following table presents our available sources of liquidity as of December 25, 2016:

Source of Liquidity(a) |  | Facility Amount |  | Amount Outstanding |  | Available |
|  | (In millions) |
Cash and cash equivalents |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 120.3 |  |
Debt facilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Credit Facility (defined below) |  | 700.0 |  |  | — |  |  | 633.1 |  | (a)
Mexico Credit Facility (defined below) |  | 72.8 |  |  | $ | 23.3 |  |  | 49.5 |  | (b)

(a) | Actual borrowings under the revolving loan commitment of 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 December 25, 2016 was $675.8 million. Availability under the U.S. Credit Facility is also reduced by our outstanding standby letters of credit. Standby letters of credit outstanding at December 25, 2016 totaled $42.7 million.

(b) | As of December 25, 2016, the U.S. dollar-equivalent of the amount available under the Mexico Credit Facility (as described below) was $49.5 million. The Mexico Credit Facility provides for a loan commitment of $1.5 billion Mexican pesos.

Long-Term Debt and Other Borrowing Arrangements
Senior and Subordinated 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 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 U.S. 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. No installments of principal are required to be made prior to the maturity date of the Term Loans. Covenants in the U.S. Credit Facility also require the Company to use the proceeds it receives from certain asset sales and specified debt or equity issuances and upon the occurrence of other events to repay outstanding borrowings under the U.S. Credit Facility. The Company had Term Loans outstanding totaling $500.0 million as of December 25, 2016.
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 December 25, 2016 and, based on the Company’s net senior secured leverage ratio, between LIBOR plus 1.25% and LIBOR plus 2.75% and (ii) in the case of alternate base rate loans, the base rate plus 0.50% through December 25, 2016 and, based on the Company’s net senior secured leverage ratio, between the base rate plus 0.25% and base rate plus 1.75% thereafter.
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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 December 25, 2016, the applicable borrowing base was $675.8 million and the amount available for borrowing under the revolving loan commitment was $633.1 million. The Company had letters of credit of $42.7 million and no outstanding borrowings under the revolving loan commitment as of December 25, 2016.
The U.S. Credit Facility contains financial covenants and various other covenants that may adversely affect the Company’s ability to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness, incur liens, pay dividends or make certain restricted payments, consummate certain assets sales, enter into certain transactions with JBS and the Company’s other affiliates, merge, consolidate and/or sell or dispose of all or substantially all of 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 continue to be secured by a first priority lien on (i) the accounts receivable and inventory of our Company and its non-Mexico subsidiaries, (ii) 100% of the equity interests in the Company’s domestic subsidiaries, To-Ricos, Ltd. and To-Ricos Distribution, Ltd., 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.
Mexico Credit Facility
On September 27, 2016, certain of our Mexican subsidiaries entered into an unsecured credit agreement (the “Mexico Credit Facility”) with BBVA Bancomer, S.A. Institución de Banca Múltiple, Grupo Financiero BBVA Bancomer, as lender. The loan commitment under the Mexico Credit Facility is $1.5 billion Mexican pesos. Outstanding borrowings under the Mexico Credit Facility will accrue interest at a rate equal to the Interbank Equilibrium Interest Rate plus 0.95%. The Mexico Credit Facility will mature on September 27, 2019. As of December 25, 2016, the U.S. dollar-equivalent of the loan commitment under the Mexico Credit Facility was $72.8 million, and there were $23.3 million outstanding borrowings under the Mexico Credit Facility that bear interest at a per annum rate of 7.05%. As of December 25, 2016, the U.S. dollar-equivalent borrowing availability was $49.5 million.
Collateral
Substantially all of our domestic inventories and domestic fixed assets are pledged as collateral to secure the obligations under the U.S. Credit Facility.
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 $34.7 million; however, the actual amount would be offset by any recoverable amount based on the fair market value of the underlying leased assets. No liability has been recorded related to this contingency as the likelihood of payments under these guarantees is not considered to be probable, and the fair value of the guarantees is immaterial. We historically have not experienced significant payments under similar residual guarantees.
We are a party to many routine contracts in which we provide general indemnities in the normal course of business to third parties for various risks. Among other considerations, we have not recorded a liability for any of these indemnities as, based upon the likelihood of payment, the fair value of such indemnities would not have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
Capital Expenditures
We anticipate spending between $250 million and $280 million on the acquisition of property, plant and equipment in 2017. Capital expenditures will primarily be incurred to improve efficiencies and reduce costs. We expect to fund these capital expenditures with cash flow from operations and proceeds from the revolving lines of credit under our various debt facilities.
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Indefinite Reinvestment of Foreign Subsidiaries’ Undistributed Earnings
We have determined that the undistributed earnings of our Mexico and Puerto Rico subsidiaries will be indefinitely reinvested and not distributed to the U.S. The undistributed earnings of our Mexico, and Puerto Rico subsidiaries totaled $647.8 million and $24.9 million, respectively, at December 25, 2016.
Contractual Obligations
In addition to our debt commitments at December 25, 2016, we had other commitments and contractual obligations that obligate us to make specified payments in the future. The following table summarizes the total amounts due as of December 25, 2016, under all debt agreements, commitments and other contractual obligations. The table indicates the years in which payments are due under the contractual obligations.

|  | Payments Due By Period
Contractual Obligations(a) |  | Total |  | 2017 |  | Years 2018-2019 |  | Years 2020-2021 |  | After 2022
|  | (In thousands)
Long-term debt(b) |  | $ | 1,023,304 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 23,304 |  |  | $ | 500,000 |  |  | $ | 500,000 |
Interest(c) |  | 279,019 |  |  | 40,325 |  |  | 78,583 |  |  | 59,486 |  |  | 100,625 |
Capital leases |  | 439 |  |  | 122 |  |  | 226 |  |  | 91 |  |  | — |
Operating leases |  | 107,999 |  |  | 26,819 |  |  | 43,586 |  |  | 25,945 |  |  | 11,649 |
Derivative liabilities |  | 6,827 |  |  | 6,827 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Purchase obligations(d) |  | 178,408 |  |  | 177,956 |  |  | 452 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Total |  | $ | 1,595,996 |  |  | $ | 252,049 |  |  | $ | 146,151 |  |  | $ | 585,522 |  |  | $ | 612,274 |

(a) | The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits at December 25, 2016 was $16.8 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 $42.7 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 December 25, 2016.

(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.
Historical Flow of Funds
Fiscal Year 2016
Cash provided by operating activities was $755.5 million and $976.8 million in 2016 and 2015, respectively. The decrease in cash flows provided by operating activities was primarily from net income of $440.0 million for 2016, as compared to net income of $646.0 million for 2015, and changes in working capital (excluding the impacts as a result of changes in foreign currency exchange rates).
Our net working capital position, which we define as current assets less current liabilities, decreased $445.2 million to a surplus of $454.1 million and a current ratio of 1.52 at December 25, 2016, compared to a surplus of $899.2 million and a current ratio of 2.06 at December 27, 2015. The decrease in working capital was primarily caused by cash used in operations.
Trade accounts and other receivables, including accounts receivable from related parties, decreased $30.6 million, or 8.7%, to $321.1 million at December 25, 2016 from $351.7 million at December 27, 2015, primarily due to a decrease in sales.
Inventories increased $11.9 million, or 1.5%, to $813.3 million at December 25, 2016 from $801.4 million at December 27, 2015. The change in inventories was primarily due to slightly increased costs for feed grains and their impact on the value of our live chicken inventories.
Prepaid expenses and other current assets decreased $18.1 million, or 24.0%, to $57.5 million at December 25, 2016 from $75.6 million at December 27, 2015. This change resulted primarily from a $7.6 million decrease in prepaid insurance, a $6.3 million decrease in value-added tax receivables and a $4.2 million reclassification of margin cash from other current assets to restricted cash and cash equivalents.
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Accounts payable and accrued expenses, including accounts payable to related parties, increased $42.3 million, or 5.2%, to $847.2 million at December 25, 2016 from $804.9 million at December 27, 2015. This change resulted primarily from the timing of payments.
Cash used in investing activities was $261.7 million and $534.7 million in 2016 and 2015, respectively. We incurred capital expenditures of $272.5 million and $175.8 million for 2016 and 2015, respectively. In both 2016 and 2015, capital expenditures were primarily incurred for the routine replacement of equipment and to improve efficiencies and reduce costs. Capital expenditures for 2016 and 2015 could not exceed $500 million under the terms of our U.S. credit facility. Cash proceeds generated from property disposals in 2016 and 2015 totaled $10.8 million and $14.6 million, respectively.
Cash used in financing activities was $813.1 million and $578.6 million in 2016 and 2015, respectively. Cash proceeds from long-term debt totaled $616.7 million and $1.7 billion for 2016 and 2015,respectively. Cash was used to repay long-term debt totaling $556.7 million and $683.8 million in 2016 and 2015, respectively. Cash proceeds in 2015 resulting from tax benefits related to share-based compensation totaled $6.5 million. Cash proceeds in 2016 resulting from noncontrolling interests totaled $7.3 million. Cash was used to pay capitalized loan costs totaling $0.7 million and $12.4 million in 2016 and 2015, respectively. Cash was used to pay a special cash dividend of $699.9 million and approximately $1.5 billion in 2016 and 2015, respectively. Additionally, cash was used to purchase common stock of $117.9 million and $99.2 million in 2016 and 2015, respectively.
Fiscal Year 2015
Cash provided by operating activities was $976.8 million and $1.1 billion in 2015 and 2014, respectively. The decrease in cash flows provided by operating activities was primarily from net income of $646.0 million for 2015, as compared to net income of $711.4 million for 2014, and changes in working capital (excluding the impacts as a result of changes in foreign currency exchange rates).
Our net working capital position, which we define as current assets less current liabilities, decreased $238.9 million to a surplus of $899.2 million and a current ratio of 2.06 at December 27, 2015, compared to a surplus of $1.1 billion and a current ratio of 2.58 at December 28, 2014. The decrease in working capital was primarily caused by the use of cash in operations.
Trade accounts and other receivables, including accounts receivable from related parties, decreased $32.5 million, or 8.5%, to $351.7 million at December 27, 2015 from $384.1 million at December 28, 2014 primarily due to a decrease in sales.
Inventories increased $11.1 million, or 1.4%, to $801.5 million at December 27, 2015 from $790.3 million at December 28, 2014. This change in inventories resulted primarily from the impact of the Tyson Mexico acquisition.
Prepaid expenses and other current assets decreased $19.8 million, or 20.8%, to $75.6 million at December 27, 2015 from $95.4 million at December 28, 2014. This change resulted primarily from a $25.1 million decrease in open derivative positions and margin cash on deposit with our derivatives traders.
Accounts payable and accrued expenses, including accounts payable to related parties, increased $88.7 million, or 12.4%, to $804.9 million at December 27, 2015 from $716.2 million at December 28, 2014. This change resulted primarily from the impact of the Tyson Mexico acquisition and the timing of payments.
Cash used in investing activities was $534.7 million and $63.4 million in 2015 and 2014, respectively. We incurred capital expenditures of $175.8 million and $171.4 million for 2015 and 2014, respectively. In both 2015 and 2014, capital expenditures were primarily incurred for the routine replacement of equipment and to improve efficiencies and reduce costs. Capital expenditures for 2015 could not exceed $500 million under the terms of our U.S. credit facility. Cash proceeds generated from property disposals in 2015 and 2014 totaled $14.6 million and $11.1 million, respectively. Cash was used to purchase investment securities totaling $55.1 million in 2014. Cash proceeds generated in 2014 from the sale or maturity of investment securities totaled $152.0 million.
Cash used in financing activities was $578.6 million and $905.6 million in 2015 and 2014, respectively. Cash proceeds in 2015 from long-term debt totaled $1.7 billion. Cash was used to repay long-term debt totaling $683.8 million and $910.2 million in 2015 and 2014, respectively. Cash proceeds in 2015 and 2014 resulting from tax benefits related to share-based compensation totaled $6.5 million and $0.5 million, respectively. Cash proceeds in 2014 resulting from a capital contribution under a tax sharing agreement between JBS USA Holdings and our company totaled $3.8 million. Cash proceeds in 2014 from the sale of subsidiary common stock totaled $0.3 million. Cash was used to pay capitalized loan costs totaling $12.4 million in 2015. Additionally, cash was used in 2015 to pay a special cash dividend of approximately $1.5 billion and to purchase common stock of $99.2 million.
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Recently Issued Accounting Standards Not Adopted as of December 25, 2016
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 identifying and cataloging the various types of revenue transactions to which we are a party. We also continue to evaluate 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 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 first quarter of our 2017 fiscal year. The initial adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on our financial statements.
In February 2016, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on lease arrangements, which, in an effort to increase transparency and comparability among organizations utilizing leasing, requires an entity that is a lessee to recognize the assets and liabilities arising from leases on the balance sheet. This guidance also requires disclosures about the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. In transition, the entity is required to recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach. The provisions of the new guidance will be effective as of the beginning of our 2019 fiscal year. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements and have not yet selected an adoption date.
In March 2016, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on employee share-based payments, which, in an effort to simplify unnecessarily complicated aspects of accounting and reporting for share-based payment transactions, requires an entity to amend accounting and reporting methodology for areas such as the income tax consequences of share-based payments, classification of share-based awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification of share-based payment transactions in the statement of cash flows. The transition approach will vary depending on the area of accounting and reporting methodology to be amended. The provisions of the new guidance will be effective as of the first quarter of our 2017 fiscal year. The initial adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on our financial statements.
In June 2016, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on the measurement of credit losses on financial instruments, which, in an effort to provide financial statement users with more decision-useful information about the expected credit losses on financial instruments, replaces the current incurred loss impairment methodology with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. The amendments affect loans, debt securities, trade receivables, net investments in leases, off-balance sheet credit exposures, reinsurance receivables and any other financial assets not excluded from the scope that have the contractual right to receive cash. The provisions of the new guidance will be effective as of the beginning of our 2020 fiscal year. Early adoption is permitted after our 2018 fiscal year. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements and have not yet selected an adoption date.
In November 2016, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on the classification and presentation of restricted cash in the statement of cash flows in order to eliminate the discrepancies that currently exist in how companies present these changes. The new guidance requires restricted cash to be included with cash and cash equivalents when explaining the changes in cash in the statement of cash flows. The new guidance will be effective as of the beginning of our 2018 fiscal year. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements and have not yet selected an adoption date.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
General. Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The preparation of these financial statements requires us
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to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those related to revenue recognition, customer programs and incentives, allowance for doubtful accounts, inventories, income taxes and product recall accounting. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
We believe the following critical accounting policies affect our more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our financial statements.
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.
Inventory. Live chicken inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market and breeder hen inventories at the lower of cost, less accumulated amortization, or market. The costs associated with breeder hen inventories are accumulated up to the production stage and amortized over their productive lives using the unit-of-production method. Finished poultry products, feed, eggs and other inventories are stated at the lower of cost (average) or market. We record valuations and adjustments for our inventory and for estimated obsolescence at or equal to the difference between the cost of inventory and the estimated market value based upon known conditions affecting inventory obsolescence, including significantly aged products, discontinued product lines, or damaged or obsolete products. We allocate meat costs between our various finished chicken products based on a by-product costing technique that reduces the cost of the whole bird by estimated yields and amounts to be recovered for certain by-product parts. This primarily includes leg quarters, wings, tenders and offal, which are carried in inventory at the estimated recovery amounts, with the remaining amount being reflected as our breast meat cost. Generally, we perform an evaluation of whether any lower of cost or market adjustments are required at the country level based on a number of factors, including: (i) pools of related inventory, (ii) product continuation or discontinuation, (iii) estimated market selling prices and (iv) expected distribution channels. If actual market conditions or other factors are less favorable than those projected by management, additional inventory adjustments may be required.
Property, Plant and Equipment. We record impairment charges on long-lived assets held for use when events and circumstances indicate that the assets may be impaired and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than the carrying amount of those assets. The impairment charge is determined based upon the amount by which the net book value of the assets exceeds their fair market value. In making these determinations, we utilize certain assumptions, including, but not limited to: (i) future cash flows estimated to be generated by these assets, which are based on additional assumptions such as asset utilization, remaining length of service and estimated salvage values, (ii) estimated fair market value of the assets, and (iii) determinations with respect to the lowest level of cash flows relevant to the respective impairment test, generally groupings of related operational facilities. Given the interdependency of our individual facilities during the production process, which operate as a vertically integrated network, we evaluate impairment of assets held for use at the country level (i.e., the U.S. and Mexico). Management believes this is the lowest level of identifiable cash flows for our assets that are held for use in production activities. At the present time, our forecasts indicate that we can recover the carrying value of our assets held for use based on the projected undiscounted cash flows of the operations.
We record impairment charges on long-lived assets held for sale when the carrying amount of those assets exceeds their fair value less appropriate selling costs. Fair value is based on amounts documented in sales contracts or letters of intent accepted by us, amounts included in counteroffers initiated by us, or, in the absence of current contract negotiations, amounts determined using a sales comparison approach for real property and amounts determined using a cost approach for personal property. Under the sales comparison approach, sales and asking prices of reasonably comparable properties are considered to develop a range of unit prices within which the current real estate market is operating. Under the cost approach, a current cost to replace the asset new is calculated and then the estimated replacement cost is reduced to reflect the applicable decline in value resulting from physical deterioration, functional obsolescence and economic obsolescence. Appropriate selling costs includes reasonable broker's commissions, costs to produce title documents, filing fees, legal expenses and the like. We estimate appropriate closing costs as 4% to 6% of asset fair value. This range of rates is considered reasonable for our assets held for sale based on historical experience.
Litigation and Contingent Liabilities. We are subject to lawsuits, investigations and other claims related to employment, environmental, product, and other matters. We are required to assess the likelihood of any adverse judgments or outcomes, as well as potential ranges of probable losses, to these matters. We estimate the amount of reserves required for these contingencies when
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losses are determined to be probable and after considerable analysis of each individual issue. We expense legal costs related to such loss contingencies as they are incurred. With respect to our environmental remediation obligations, the accrual for environmental remediation liabilities is measured on an undiscounted basis. These reserves may change in the future due to changes in our assumptions, the effectiveness of strategies, or other factors beyond our control.
Accrued Self Insurance. Insurance expense for casualty claims and employee-related health care benefits are estimated using historical and current experience and actuarial estimates. Stop-loss coverage is maintained with third-party insurers to limit our total exposure. Certain categories of claim liabilities are actuarially determined. The assumption used to arrive at periodic expenses is reviewed regularly by management. However, actual expenses could differ from these estimates and could result in adjustments to be recognized.
Income Taxes. We follow provisions under ASC No. 740-10-30-27 in the Expenses-Income Taxes topic with regard to members of a group that file a consolidated tax return but issue separate financial statements. We file our own U.S. federal tax return, but we are included in certain state unitary returns with JBS USA Holdings. The income tax expense of our company is computed using the separate return method. The provision for income taxes has been determined using the asset and liability approach of accounting for income taxes. For the unitary states, we have an obligation to make tax payments to JBS USA Holdings for our share of the unitary taxable income, which is included in taxes payable in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Under this approach, deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effect of temporary differences between the book and tax bases of recorded assets and liabilities, net operating losses and tax credit carry forwards. The amount of deferred tax on these temporary differences is determined using the tax rates expected to apply to the period when the asset is realized or the liability is settled, as applicable, based on the tax rates and laws in the respective tax jurisdiction enacted as of the balance sheet date. We recognize potential interest and penalties related to income tax positions as a part of the income tax provision.
Realizability of Deferred Tax Assets. We review our deferred tax assets for recoverability and establish a valuation allowance based on historical taxable income, potential for carry back of tax losses, projected future taxable income, applicable tax strategies, and the expected timing of the reversals of existing temporary differences. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Valuation allowances have been established primarily for net operating loss carry forwards. See “Note 12. Income Taxes” to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this annual report.
Indefinite Reinvestment in Foreign Subsidiaries. We deem our earnings from Mexico and Puerto Rico as of December 25, 2016 to be permanently reinvested. As such, U.S. deferred income taxes have not been provided on these earnings. If such earnings were not considered indefinitely reinvested, certain deferred foreign and U.S. income taxes would be provided.
Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes. We follow provisions under ASC No. 740-10-25 that provide a recognition threshold and measurement criteria for the financial statement recognition of a tax benefit taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Tax benefits are recognized only when it is more likely than not, based on the technical merits, that the benefits will be sustained on examination. Tax benefits that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold are measured using a probability weighting of the largest amount of tax benefit that has greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon settlement. Whether the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold is met for a particular tax benefit is a matter of judgment based on the individual facts and circumstances evaluated in light of all available evidence as of the balance sheet date. See “Note 12. Income Taxes” to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this annual report.
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits. Our pension and other postretirement benefit costs and obligations are dependent on the various actuarial assumptions used in calculating such amounts. These assumptions relate to discount rates, salary growth, long-term return on plan assets and other factors. We base the discount rate assumptions on current investment yields on high-quality corporate long-term bonds. Long-term return on plan assets is determined based on historical portfolio results and management’s expectation of the future economic environment. Actual results that differ from our assumptions are accumulated and, if in excess of the lesser of 10% of the projected benefit obligation or the fair market value of plan assets, amortized over either (i) the estimated average future service period of active plan participants if the plan is active or (ii) the estimated average future life expectancy of all plan participants if the plan is frozen.
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Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Market Risk-Sensitive Instruments and Positions
The risk inherent in our market risk-sensitive instruments and positions is primarily the potential loss arising from adverse changes in commodity prices, foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates and the credit quality of available-for-sale securities as discussed below. The sensitivity analyses presented do not consider the effects that such adverse changes may have on overall economic activity, nor do they consider additional actions our management may take to mitigate our exposure to such changes. Actual results may differ.
Commodity Prices. We purchase certain commodities, primarily corn, soybean meal and 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, (i) executing purchase agreements with suppliers for future physical delivery of feed ingredients at established prices and (ii) purchasing or selling derivative financial instruments such as futures and options.
For this sensitivity analysis, market risk is estimated as a hypothetical 10.0% change in the weighted-average cost of our primary feed ingredients as of December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015. However, fluctuations greater than 10.0% could occur. Based on our feed consumption during 2016 and 2015, such a change would have resulted in a change to cost of sales of approximately $251.2 million and $263.7 million, respectively, excluding the impact of any feed ingredients derivative financial instruments in that period. A 10.0% change in ending feed ingredients inventories at December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015 would be $11.3 million and $8.5 million, respectively, excluding any potential impact on the production costs of our chicken inventories.
We purchase commodity derivative financial instruments, specifically exchange-traded futures and options, in an attempt to mitigate price risk related to its anticipated consumption of commodity inputs for the next 12 months. A 10.0% increase in corn, soybean meal, and soybean oil prices on December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015 would have resulted in an increase of approximately $0.4 million and $0.4 million, respectively, in the fair value of our net commodity derivative position, including margin cash, as of that date.
Interest Rates. Our variable-rate debt instruments represent approximately 50.9% and 51.0% of our total debt at December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015, respectively. 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 and $1.3 million in 2016 and 2015, respectively.
Market risk for fixed-rate debt is estimated as the potential increase in fair value resulting from a hypothetical decrease in interest rates of 10.0%. Using a discounted cash flow analysis, a hypothetical 10.0% decrease in interest rates would have decreased the fair value of our fixed-rate debt by approximately $11.6 million and $7.2 million as of December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015, respectively.
Foreign Currency. Our earnings are also affected by foreign exchange rate fluctuations related to the Mexican peso net monetary position of our Mexico subsidiaries. We manage this exposure primarily by attempting to minimize our Mexican peso net monetary position. We are also exposed to the effect of potential currency exchange rate fluctuations to the extent that amounts are repatriated from Mexico to the U.S. We currently anticipate that the future cash flows of our Mexico subsidiaries will be reinvested in our Mexico operations.
The Mexican peso exchange rate can directly and indirectly impact our financial condition and results of operations in several ways, including potential economic recession in Mexico because of devaluation of their currency. Foreign currency exchange losses, representing the change in the U.S. dollar value of the net monetary assets of our Mexican subsidiaries denominated in Mexican pesos, were $3.9 million, $25.9 million and $28.0 million in 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The average exchange rates for 2016, 2015 and 2014 were 18.64 Mexican pesos to 1 U.S. dollar, 15.85 Mexican pesos to 1 U.S. dollar and 13.30 Mexican pesos to 1 U.S. dollar, respectively. For this sensitivity analysis, market risk is estimated as a hypothetical 10.0% deterioration in the current exchange rate used to convert Mexican pesos to U.S. dollars as of December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015. However, fluctuations greater than 10.0% could occur. Based on the net monetary liability position of our Mexico operations at December 25, 2016, such a change would have resulted in an increase in foreign currency transaction gains recognized in 2016 of approximately $0.4 million. Based on the net monetary liability position of our Mexico operations at December 27, 2015, such a change would have resulted in a decrease in foreign currency transaction losses recognized in 2015 of approximately $1.5 million. No assurance can be given as to how future movements in the Mexican peso could affect our future financial condition or results of operations.
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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.
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Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation as of December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2016, December 27, 2015, and December 28, 2014. In connection with our audits of the consolidated financial statements, we also have audited financial statement schedule II, Valuation and Qualifying Accounts, as of and for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2016, December 27, 2015, and December 28, 2014. These consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation as of December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2016, December 27, 2015, and December 28, 2014, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 25, 2016, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), and our report dated February 8, 2017 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
/s/ KPMG LLP
Denver, Colorado
February 8, 2017
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PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

| December 25, 2016 |  | December 27, 2015
| (In thousands, except share and par value data)
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 120,328 |  |  | $ | 439,638 |
Restricted cash and cash equivalents | 4,979 |  |  | — |
Trade accounts and other receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts | 317,170 |  |  | 348,994 |
Accounts receivable from related parties | 3,913 |  |  | 2,668 |
Inventories | 813,262 |  |  | 801,357 |
Income taxes receivable | — |  |  | 71,410 |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 57,457 |  |  | 75,602 |
Assets held for sale | 5,259 |  |  | 6,555 |
Total current assets | 1,322,368 |  |  | 1,746,224 |
Other long-lived assets | 15,710 |  |  | 15,672 |
Identified intangible assets, net | 38,593 |  |  | 47,453 |
Goodwill | 125,607 |  |  | 156,565 |
Property, plant and equipment, net | 1,505,940 |  |  | 1,352,529 |
Total assets | $ | 3,008,218 |  |  | $ | 3,318,443 |
Notes payable to banks | $ | — |  |  | $ | 28,726 |
Accounts payable | 555,097 |  |  | 482,954 |
Accounts payable to related parties | 1,421 |  |  | 7,000 |
Accrued expenses | 290,699 |  |  | 314,966 |
Income taxes payable | 20,990 |  |  | 13,228 |
Current maturities of long-term debt | 94 |  |  | 86 |
Total current liabilities | 868,301 |  |  | 846,960 |
Long-term debt, less current maturities | 1,011,858 |  |  | 985,509 |
Deferred tax liabilities | 142,651 |  |  | 131,882 |
Other long-term liabilities | 88,661 |  |  | 92,282 |
Total liabilities | 2,111,471 |  |  | 2,056,633 |
Commitments and contingencies |  |  |  |  |
Preferred stock, $.01 par value, 50,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued | — |  |  | — |
Common stock, $.01 par value, 800,000,000 shares authorized; 259,682,000 and 259,685,145 shares issued at year-end 2016 and year-end 2015, respectively; 249,046,139 and 254,823,286 shares outstanding at year-end 2016 and year-end 2015, respectively | 2,597 |  |  | 2,597 |
Treasury stock, at cost, 10,635,861 shares at year-end 2016 | (217,117 | ) |  | (99,233 | )
Additional paid-in capital | 1,686,742 |  |  | 1,675,674 |
Accumulated deficit | (520,635 | ) |  | (261,252 | )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (64,243 | ) |  | (58,930 | )
Total Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation stockholders’ equity | 887,344 |  |  | 1,258,856 |
Noncontrolling interest | 9,403 |  |  | 2,954 |
Total stockholders’ equity | 896,747 |  |  | 1,261,810 |
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | 3,008,218 |  |  | $ | 3,318,443 |

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.
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PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

| Fifty-Two Weeks Ended December 25, 2016 |  | Fifty-Two Weeks Ended December 27, 2015 |  | Fifty-Two Weeks Ended December 28, 2014
| (In thousands, except per share data)
Net sales | $ | 7,931,123 |  |  | $ | 8,180,104 |  |  | $ | 8,583,365 |
Cost of sales | 7,016,763 |  |  | 6,925,727 |  |  | 7,189,370 |
Gross profit | 914,360 |  |  | 1,254,377 |  |  | 1,393,995 |
Selling, general and administrative expense | 199,781 |  |  | 203,881 |  |  | 188,594 |
Administrative restructuring charges | 1,069 |  |  | 5,605 |  |  | 2,286 |
Operating income | 713,510 |  |  | 1,044,891 |  |  | 1,203,115 |
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest | 45,921 |  |  | 37,548 |  |  | 82,097 |
Interest income | (1,724 | ) |  | (3,673 | ) |  | (4,826 | )
Foreign currency transaction losses | 3,897 |  |  | 25,940 |  |  | 27,979 |
Miscellaneous, net | (7,219 | ) |  | (7,682 | ) |  | (4,526 | )
Income before income taxes | 672,635 |  |  | 992,758 |  |  | 1,102,391 |
Income tax expense | 232,906 |  |  | 346,796 |  |  | 390,953 |
Net income | 439,729 |  |  | 645,962 |  |  | 711,438 |
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest | (803 | ) |  | 48 |  |  | (210 | )
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation | $ | 440,532 |  |  | $ | 645,914 |  |  | $ | 711,648 |
Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding: |  |  |  |  |
Basic | 253,669 |  |  | 258,442 |  |  | 258,974 |
Effect of dilutive common stock equivalents | 457 |  |  | 234 |  |  | 497 |
Diluted | 254,126 |  |  | 258,676 |  |  | 259,471 |
Net income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation per share of common stock outstanding: |  |  |  |  |
Basic | $ | 1.74 |  |  | $ | 2.50 |  |  | $ | 2.75 |
Diluted | $ | 1.73 |  |  | $ | 2.50 |  |  | $ | 2.74 |

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.
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PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

|  | Fifty-Two Weeks Ended December 25, 2016 |  | Fifty-Two Weeks Ended December 27, 2015 |  | Fifty-Two Weeks Ended December 28, 2014
|  | (In thousands)
| Net income | $ | 439,729 |  |  | $ | 645,962 |  |  | $ | 711,438 |
| Other comprehensive income (loss): |  |  |  |  |
| Gain (loss) associated with available-for-sale securities, net of tax expense (benefit) of $(40), $22 and $19, respectively | (66 | ) |  | 36 |  |  | (31 | )
| Gain (loss) associated with pension and other postretirement benefits, net of tax expense (benefit) of $(3,181), $2,168 and $(10,173), respectively | (5,247 | ) |  | 3,575 |  |  | (16,775 | )
| Total other comprehensive income (loss) | (5,313 | ) |  | 3,611 |  |  | (16,806 | )
| Comprehensive income | 434,416 |  |  | 649,573 |  |  | 694,632 |
| Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests | (803 | ) |  | 48 |  |  | (210 | )
| Comprehensive income attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation | $ | 435,219 |  |  | $ | 649,525 |  |  | $ | 694,842 |

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.
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PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

| 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 29, 2013 | 259,029 |  |  | $ | 2,590 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 1,653,119 |  |  | $ | (120,156 | ) |  | $ | (45,735 | ) |  | $ | 2,784 |  |  | $ | 1,492,602 |
Comprehensive income: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income (loss) | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 711,648 |  |  | — |  |  | (210 | ) |  | 711,438 |
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax benefit of $10,154 | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (16,806 | ) |  | — |  |  | (16,806 | )
Capital contribution to subsidiary by noncontrolling interest | — |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 332 |  |  | 332 |
Capital contribution under Tax Sharing Agreement between JBS USA Food Company Holdings and Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation (the“TSA”) | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 3,849 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 3,849 |
Share-based compensation plans: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Requisite service period recognition | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 4,928 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 4,928 |
Tax benefit related to share-based compensation | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 458 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 458 |
Balance at December 28, 2014 | 259,029 |  |  | 2,590 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 1,662,354 |  |  | 591,492 |  |  | (62,541 | ) |  | 2,906 |  |  | 2,196,801 |
Comprehensive income: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 645,914 |  |  | — |  |  | 48 |  |  | 645,962 |
Other comprehensive income, net of tax expense of $2,190 | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 3,611 |  |  | — |  |  | 3,611 |
Capital contribution under the TSA | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 3,690 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 3,690 |
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 | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 3,060 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 3,060 |
Tax benefit related to share-based compensation | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 6,474 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 6,474 |
Common stock purchased under share repurchase program | — |  |  | — |  |  | (4,862 | ) |  | (99,233 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (99,233 | )
Special cash dividend | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (1,498,470 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (1,498,470 | )
Other | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 188 |  |  | (188 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Balance at December 27, 2015 | 259,685 |  |  | 2,597 |  |  | (4,862 | ) |  | (99,233 | ) |  | 1,675,674 |  |  | (261,252 | ) |  | (58,930 | ) |  | 2,954 |  |  | 1,261,810 |
Comprehensive income: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net income (loss) | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 440,532 |  |  | — |  |  | (803 | ) |  | 439,729 |
Other comprehensive loss, net of tax benefit of $10,214 | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (5,313 | ) |  | — |  |  | (5,313 | )
Capital contribution to subsidiary by noncontrolling interest | — |  |  | — |  |  |  |  |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 7,252 |  |  | 7,252 |
Capital contribution under the TSA | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 5,039 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 5,039 |
Share-based compensation plans: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Requisite service period recognition | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 6,102 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 6,102 |
Common stock purchased under share repurchase program | — |  |  | — |  |  | (5,774 | ) |  | (117,884 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (117,884 | )
Common stock purchased from retirement plan participants | (3 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (73 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  |  |  | (73 | )
Special cash dividend | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (699,915 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (699,915 | )
Balance at December 25, 2016 | 259,682 |  |  | $ | 2,597 |  |  | (10,636 | ) |  | $ | (217,117 | ) |  | $ | 1,686,742 |  |  | $ | (520,635 | ) |  | $ | (64,243 | ) |  | $ | 9,403 |  |  | $ | 896,747 |

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.
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PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

| Fifty-Two Weeks Ended December 25, 2016 |  | Fifty-Two Weeks Ended December 27, 2015 |  | Fifty-Two Weeks Ended December 28, 2014
| (In thousands)
Cash flows from operating activities: |  |  |  |  |
Net income | $ | 439,729 |  |  | $ | 645,962 |  |  | $ | 711,438 |
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities: |  |  |  |  |
Depreciation and amortization | 180,515 |  |  | 158,975 |  |  | 155,824 |
Asset impairment | 790 |  |  | 4,813 |  |  | — |
Foreign currency transaction losses | — |  |  | — |  |  | 38,129 |
Accretion of bond discount | — |  |  | — |  |  | 2,243 |
Gain on property disposals | (7,660 | ) |  | (10,372 | ) |  | (1,407 | )
Loss on equity method investments | 452 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Share-based compensation | 6,102 |  |  | 2,975 |  |  | 4,928 |
Deferred income tax expense (benefit) | (3,424 | ) |  | 29,512 |  |  | 78,943 |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |  |  |  |  |
Restricted cash and cash equivalents | (4,979 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |
Trade accounts and other receivables | 35,617 |  |  | 61,294 |  |  | (9,526 | )
Inventories | (11,905 | ) |  | 57,078 |  |  | 10,638 |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 18,146 |  |  | 19,840 |  |  | (38,010 | )
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | 38,427 |  |  | 61,882 |  |  | 44,833 |
Income taxes | 74,597 |  |  | (55,428 | ) |  | 74,705 |
Long-term pension and other postretirement obligations | (10,165 | ) |  | (3,500 | ) |  | (5,784 | )
Other | (759 | ) |  | 3,797 |  |  | (262 | )
Cash provided by operating activities | 755,483 |  |  | 976,828 |  |  | 1,066,692 |
Cash flows from investing activities: |  |  |  |  |
Acquisitions of property, plant and equipment | (272,467 | ) |  | (175,764 | ) |  | (171,443 | )
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 | 10,805 |  |  | 14,610 |  |  | 11,108 |
Cash used in investing activities | (261,662 | ) |  | (534,686 | ) |  | (63,385 | )
Cash flows from financing activities: |  |  |  |  |
Proceeds from notes payable to bank | 36,838 |  |  | 28,726 |  |  | — |
Payments on notes payable to bank | (65,564 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |
Proceeds from revolving line of credit and long-term borrowings | 579,876 |  |  | 1,680,000 |  |  | — |
Payments on revolving line of credit, long-term borrowings and capital lease obligations | (556,658 | ) |  | (683,780 | ) |  | (910,234 | )
Proceeds from capital contribution under Tax Sharing Agreement between JBS USA Food Company Holdings and Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation | 3,690 |  |  | — |  |  | 3,849 |
Tax benefit related to share-based compensation | — |  |  | 6,474 |  |  | 458 |
Capital contributions to subsidiary by noncontrolling stockholders | 7,252 |  |  | — |  |  | 332 |
Payment of capitalized loan costs | (693 | ) |  | (12,364 | ) |  | — |
Purchase of common stock under share repurchase program | (117,884 | ) |  | (99,233 | ) |  | — |
Purchase of common stock from retirement plan participants | (73 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |
Payment of special cash dividend | (699,915 | ) |  | (1,498,470 | ) |  | — |
Cash used in financing activities | (813,131 | ) |  | (578,647 | ) |  | (905,595 | )
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | — |  |  | — |  |  | (29,775 | )
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | (319,310 | ) |  | (136,505 | ) |  | 67,937 |
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | 439,638 |  |  | 576,143 |  |  | 508,206 |
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | $ | 120,328 |  |  | $ | 439,638 |  |  | $ | 576,143 |
Supplemental Disclosure Information: |  |  |  |  |
Interest paid (net of amount capitalized) | $ | 41,774 |  |  | $ | 24,210 |  |  | $ | 71,558 |
Income taxes paid | 152,884 |  |  | 360,347 |  |  | 257,152 |

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
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 80 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 December 25, 2016, Pilgrim’s had approximately 39,600 employees and the capacity to process more than 36.7 million birds per week for a total of more than 10.7 billion pounds of live chicken annually. Approximately 4,045 contract growers supply poultry for the Company’s operations. As of December 25, 2016, JBS S.A., through its indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries (together, “JBS”) beneficially owned 78.5% of the Company’s outstanding common stock.
Consolidated Financial Statements
The Company operates on the basis of a 52/53-week fiscal year ending on the Sunday falling on or before December 31. Any reference we make to a particular year (for example, 2016) in the notes to these Consolidated Financial Statements applies to our fiscal year and not the calendar year.
The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation 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 nonmonetary assets, of the Mexico subsidiaries at current exchange rates. We remeasure nonmonetary 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, except for certain accounts which are remeasured at a historical rate. Currency exchange gains or losses are included in the line item Foreign currency transaction losses (gains) in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Revenue Recognition
We recognize revenue when all of the following circumstances are satisfied: (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exits, (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. Taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities are excluded from revenues.
Shipping and Handling Costs
Costs associated with the products shipped to customers are recognized in cost of sales.
Advertising Costs
The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred. Advertising costs are included in selling, general and administrative expenses and totaled $6.2 million, $4.7 million and $4.4 million for 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Research and Development Costs
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred. Research and development costs totaled $3.4 million, $4.1 million and $3.8 million for 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
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Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when acquired to be cash equivalents. 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 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
Investments in Securities
The Company’s current investments are all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when acquired and are, therefore, considered cash equivalents. The Company’s current investments are comprised of fixed income securities, primarily commercial paper, and a money market fund. These investments are classified as available-for-sale. These securities are recorded at fair value, and unrealized holding gains and losses are recorded, net of tax, as a separate component of accumulated other comprehensive income. Investments in fixed income securities with remaining maturities of less than one year and those identified by management at the time of purchase for funding operations in less than one year are classified as current assets. Investments in fixed income securities with remaining maturities in excess of one year that management has not identified at the time of purchase for funding operations in less than one year are classified as long-term assets. Unrealized losses are charged against net earnings when a decline in fair value is determined to be other than temporary. Management reviews several factors to determine whether a loss is other than temporary, such as the length of time a security is in an unrealized loss position, the extent to which fair value is less than amortized cost, the impact of changing interest rates in the short and long term, and the Company’s intent and ability to hold the security for a period of time sufficient to allow for any anticipated recovery in fair value. The Company determines the cost of each security sold and each amount reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income into earnings using the specific identification method. Purchases and sales are recorded on a settlement date basis.
Investments in entities in which the Company has an ownership interest greater than 50% and exercises control over the entity are consolidated in the Consolidated Financial Statements. Investments in entities in which the Company has an ownership interest between 20% and 50% and exercises significant influence are accounted for using the equity method. The Company invests from time to time in ventures in which its ownership interest is less than 20% and over which it does not exercise significant influence. Such investments are accounted for under the cost method. The fair values for investments not traded on a quoted exchange are estimated based upon the historical performance of the ventures, the ventures’ forecasted financial performance and management’s evaluation of the ventures’ viability and business models. To the extent the book value of an investment exceeds its assessed fair value, the Company will record an appropriate impairment charge.
Accounts Receivable
The Company records accounts receivable when revenue is recognized. We record an allowance for doubtful accounts, reducing our receivables balance to an amount we estimate is collectible from our customers. Estimates used in determining the allowance for doubtful accounts are based on historical collection experience, current trends, aging of accounts receivable, and periodic credit evaluations of our customers’ financial condition. We write off accounts receivable when it becomes apparent, based upon age or customer circumstances, that such amounts will not be collected. Generally, the Company does not require collateral for its accounts receivable.
Inventories
Live chicken inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market and breeder hen inventories at the lower of cost, less accumulated amortization, or market. The costs associated with breeder hen inventories are accumulated up to the production stage and amortized over their productive lives using the unit-of-production method. Finished poultry products, feed, eggs and other inventories are stated at the lower of cost (average) or market.
We record valuation adjustments for our inventory and for estimated obsolescence at or equal to the difference between the cost of inventory and the estimated market value based upon known conditions affecting inventory, including significantly aged products, discontinued product lines, or damaged or obsolete products. We allocate meat costs between our various finished chicken products based on a by-product costing technique that reduces the cost of the whole bird by estimated yields and amounts to be recovered for certain by-product parts. This primarily includes leg quarters, wings, tenders and offal, which are carried in inventory at the estimated recovery amounts, with the remaining amount being reflected as our breast meat cost.
Generally, the Company performs an evaluation of whether any lower of cost or market adjustments are required at the country level based on a number of factors, including: (i) pools of related inventory, (ii) product continuation or discontinuation,
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(iii) estimated market selling prices and (iv) expected distribution channels. If actual market conditions or other factors are less favorable than those projected by management, additional inventory adjustments may be required.
Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost, and repair and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of these assets. Estimated useful lives for building, machinery and equipment are five to 33 years and for automobiles and trucks are three to ten years. The charge to income resulting from amortization of assets recorded under capital leases is included with depreciation expense.
The Company records impairment charges on long-lived assets held for use when events and circumstances indicate that the assets may be impaired and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than the carrying amount of those assets. When the above is true, the impairment charge is determined based upon the amount the net book value of the assets exceeds their fair market value. In making these determinations, the Company utilizes certain assumptions, including, but not limited to: (i) future cash flows estimated to be generated by these assets, which are based on additional assumptions such as asset utilization, remaining length of service and estimated salvage values, (ii) estimated fair market value of the assets and (iii) determinations with respect to the lowest level of cash flows relevant to the respective impairment test, generally groupings of related operational facilities. Given the interdependency of the Company’s individual facilities during the production process, which operate as a vertically integrated network, it evaluates impairment of assets held for use at the country level (i.e., the U.S. and Mexico). Management believes this is the lowest level of identifiable cash flows for its assets that are held for use in production activities. At the present time, the Company’s forecasts indicate that it can recover the carrying value of its assets held for use based on the projected undiscounted cash flows of the operations.
The Company records impairment charges on long-lived assets held for sale when the carrying amount of those assets exceeds their fair value less appropriate selling costs. Fair value is based on amounts documented in sales contracts or letters of intent accepted by the Company, amounts included in counteroffers initiated by the Company, or, in the absence of current contract negotiations, amounts determined using a sales comparison approach for real property and amounts determined using a cost approach for personal property. Under the sales comparison approach, sales and asking prices of reasonably comparable properties are considered to develop a range of unit prices within which the current real estate market is operating. Under the cost approach, a current cost to replace the asset new is calculated and then the estimated replacement cost is reduced to reflect the applicable decline in value resulting from physical deterioration, functional obsolescence and economic obsolescence. Appropriate selling costs includes reasonable broker’s commissions, costs to produce title documents, filing fees, legal expenses and the like. We estimate appropriate closing costs as 4% to 6% of asset fair value. This range of rates is considered reasonable for our assets held for sale based on historical experience.
Goodwill and Other Intangibles, net
Goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives are not amortized but are tested for impairment on an annual basis in the fourth quarter of each fiscal year or more frequently if impairment indicators arise. Goodwill represents the excess of the aggregate purchase price over the fair value of the net identifiable assets acquired in a business combination. An impairment loss is recognized for any excess of the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s goodwill over the implied fair value of that goodwill. In accordance with ASC No. 350-20-35 in the Assets – Intangibles – Goodwill and Other topic, management first reviews relevant qualitative factors to determine if an indication of impairment exists for the reporting unit. If management determines there is an indication of impairment of goodwill, a quantitative analysis is performed. Management performed a qualitative analysis noting no indication of impairment of goodwill by reporting unit as of December 25, 2016.
The Company uses various market valuation techniques to determine the fair value of intangible assets.
Identifiable intangible assets with definite lives, such as customer relationships, non-compete agreements and trade names that the Company expects to use for a limited amount of time, are amortized over their estimated useful lives on a straight-line basis. The useful lives range from three to 15 years for trade names with indefinite lives and non-compete agreements and 13 years for customer relationships. Amortizing intangibles are tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying amount may not be recoverable in accordance with ASC No. 360-10-35-21 in the Assets – Property, Plant and Equipment topic. Management analyzed the carrying values of the intangible assets and determined that there were no impairment indicators during the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2016 or December 27, 2015.
Book Overdraft Balances
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
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purposes are classified as accounts payable and the change in the related balance is reflected in operating activities on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
Litigation and Contingent Liabilities
The Company is subject to lawsuits, investigations and other claims related to employment, environmental, product and other matters. The Company is required to assess the likelihood of any adverse judgments or outcomes, as well as potential ranges of probable losses, to these matters. The Company estimates the amount of reserves required for these contingencies when losses are determined to be probable and after considerable analysis of each individual issue. The Company expenses legal costs related to such loss contingencies as they are incurred. The accrual for environmental remediation liabilities is measured on an undiscounted basis. These reserves may change in the future due to changes in the Company’s assumptions, the effectiveness of strategies, or other factors beyond the Company’s control.
Accrued Self Insurance
Insurance expense for casualty claims and employee-related health care benefits are estimated using historical and current experience and actuarial estimates. Stop-loss coverage is maintained with third-party insurers to limit the Company’s total exposure. Certain categories of claim liabilities are actuarially determined. The assumptions used to arrive at periodic expenses are reviewed regularly by management. However, actual expenses could differ from these estimates and could result in adjustments to be recognized.
Asset Retirement Obligations
The Company monitors certain asset retirement obligations in connection with its operations. These obligations relate to clean-up, removal or replacement activities and related costs for “in-place” exposures only when those exposures are moved or modified, such as during renovations of our facilities. These in-place exposures include asbestos, refrigerants, wastewater, oil, lubricants and other contaminants common in manufacturing environments. Under existing regulations, the Company is not required to remove these exposures and there are no plans to undertake a renovation that would require removal of the asbestos or the remediation of the other in-place exposures at this time. The facilities are expected to be maintained and repaired by activities that will not result in the removal or disruption of these in-place exposures at this time. As a result, there is an indeterminate settlement date for these asset retirement obligations because the range of time over which the Company may incur these liabilities is unknown and cannot be reasonably estimated. Therefore, the Company has not recorded the fair value of any potential liability.
Income Taxes
The Company follows provisions under ASC No. 740-10-30-27 in the Expenses-Income Taxes topic with regard to members of a group that file a consolidated tax return but issue separate financial statements. The Company files its own U.S. federal tax return, but it is included in certain state unitary returns with JBS USA Food Company Holdings (“JBS USA Holdings”). The income tax expense of the Company is computed using the separate return method. The provision for income taxes has been determined using the asset and liability approach of accounting for income taxes. For the unitary states, we have an obligation to make tax payments to JBS USA Holdings for our share of the unitary taxable income, which is included in taxes payable in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Under this approach, deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effect of temporary differences between the book and tax bases of recorded assets and liabilities, net operating losses and tax credit carry forwards. The amount of deferred tax on these temporary differences is determined using the tax rates expected to apply to the period when the asset is realized or the liability is settled, as applicable, based on the tax rates and laws in the respective tax jurisdiction enacted as of the balance sheet date.
The Company reviews its deferred tax assets for recoverability and establishes a valuation allowance based on historical taxable income, potential for carry back of tax losses, projected future taxable income, applicable tax strategies, and the expected timing of the reversals of existing temporary differences. A valuation allowance is provided when it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Valuation allowances have been established primarily for net operating loss carry forwards of certain foreign subsidiaries. See “Note 12. Income Taxes” to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
The Company deems its earnings from Mexico and Puerto Rico as of December 25, 2016 to be permanently reinvested. As such, U.S. deferred income taxes have not been provided on these earnings. If such earnings were not considered indefinitely reinvested, certain deferred foreign and U.S. income taxes would be provided.
The Company follows provisions under ASC No. 740-10-25 that provide a recognition threshold and measurement criteria for the financial statement recognition of a tax benefit taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Tax benefits are recognized only when it is more likely than not, based on the technical merits, that the benefits will be sustained on examination. Tax benefits
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that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold are measured using a probability weighting of the largest amount of tax benefit that has greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon settlement. Whether the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold is met for a particular tax benefit is a matter of judgment based on the individual facts and circumstances evaluated in light of all available evidence as of the balance sheet date. See “Note 12. Income Taxes” to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Pension and Other Postemployment Benefits
Our pension and other postemployment benefit costs and obligations are dependent on the various actuarial assumptions used in calculating such amounts. These assumptions relate to discount rates, long-term return on plan assets and other factors. We base the discount rate assumptions on current investment yields on high-quality corporate long-term bonds. We determine the long-term return on plan assets based on historical portfolio results and management’s expectation of the future economic environment. Actual results that differ from our assumptions are accumulated and, if in excess of the lesser of 10% of the projected benefit obligation or the fair market value of plan assets, amortized over either (i) the estimated average future service period of active plan participants if the plan is active or (ii) the estimated average future life expectancy of all plan participants if the plan is frozen.
Operating Leases
Rent expense for operating leases is recorded on a straight-line basis over the lease term unless the lease contains an escalation clause which is not fixed or determinable. The lease term begins when we have the right to control the use of the leased property, which is typically before rent payments are due under the terms of the lease. If a lease has a fixed or determinable escalation clause, the difference between rent expense and rent paid is recorded as deferred rent and is included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Rent for operating leases that do not have an escalation clause or where escalation is based on an inflation index is expensed over the lease term as it is payable.
Risk Management
The Company attempts to mitigate commodity purchase exposures through a program of risk management that includes the use of forward purchase contractual obligations and derivative financial instruments. The Company will also occasionally purchase derivative financial instruments in an attempt to mitigate currency exchange rate exposure related to the net assets of its Mexico operations that are denominated in Mexican pesos. The Company’s Mexico subsidiaries also attempt to mitigate the foreign currency exposure on certain U.S. dollar-denominated transactions through the use of derivative financial instruments. We recognize all derivative financial instruments in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at fair value. We elected not to designate derivative financial instruments executed to mitigate commodity purchase exposures and foreign currency exposures as hedges of forecasted transactions. Therefore, we recognize changes in the fair value of these derivative financial instruments immediately in earnings. Gains or losses related to both the commodity derivative financial instruments and the foreign currency derivative financial instruments are included in the line item Cost of sales in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“U.S. GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. We make significant estimates in regard to receivables collectability; inventory valuation; realization of deferred tax assets; valuation of long-lived assets; valuation of contingent liabilities, liabilities subject to compromise and self insurance liabilities; valuation of pension and other postretirement benefits obligations; and valuation of acquired businesses.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards Not Adopted as of December 25, 2016
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 identifying and cataloging the various types of revenue transactions to which we are a party. We also continue to evaluate 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.
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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. 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 first quarter of our 2017 fiscal year. The initial adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on our financial statements.
In February 2016, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on lease arrangements, which, in an effort to increase transparency and comparability among organizations utilizing leasing, requires an entity that is a lessee to recognize the assets and liabilities arising from leases on the balance sheet. This guidance also requires disclosures about the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. In transition, the entity is required to recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach. The provisions of the new guidance will be effective as of the beginning of our 2019 fiscal year. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements and have not yet selected an adoption date.
In March 2016, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on employee share-based payments, which, in an effort to simplify unnecessarily complicated aspects of accounting and reporting for share-based payment transactions, requires an entity to amend accounting and reporting methodology for areas such as the income tax consequences of share-based payments, classification of share-based awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification of share-based payment transactions in the statement of cash flows. The transition approach will vary depending on the area of accounting and reporting methodology to be amended. The provisions of the new guidance will be effective as of the first quarter of our 2017 fiscal year. The initial adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on our financial statements.
In June 2016, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on the measurement of credit losses on financial instruments, which, in an effort to provide financial statement users with more decision-useful information about the expected credit losses on financial instruments, replaces the current incurred loss impairment methodology with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. The amendments affect loans, debt securities, trade receivables, net investments in leases, off-balance sheet credit exposures, reinsurance receivables and any other financial assets not excluded from the scope that have the contractual right to receive cash. The provisions of the new guidance will be effective as of the beginning of our 2020 fiscal year. Early adoption is permitted after our 2018 fiscal year. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements and have not yet selected an adoption date.
In November 2016, the FASB issued new accounting guidance on the classification and presentation of restricted cash in the statement of cash flows in order to eliminate the discrepancies that currently exist in how companies present these changes. The new guidance requires restricted cash to be included with cash and cash equivalents when explaining the changes in cash in the statement of cash flows. The new guidance will be effective as of the beginning of our 2018 fiscal year. Early adoption is permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of the new guidance on our financial statements and have not yet selected an adoption date.
2. BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS
Tyson Mexico
On June 29, 2015, the Company acquired, indirectly through certain of its Mexican subsidiaries, 100% of the equity of Provemex Holdings, 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 Gómez Palacio, Durango, Mexico. The acquired business has a production capacity of 2.9 million birds per five-day work week in its three plants and currently employs more than 4,400 people in its plants, offices and five distribution centers. This acquisition further strengthened the Company’s strategic position in the Mexico chicken market.
The following table summarizes the consideration paid for Tyson Mexico (in thousands):

Negotiated sales price | $ | 400,000 |
Working capital adjustment | (20,933 | )
Final purchase price | $ | 379,067 |

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The results of operations of the acquired business since June 29, 2015 are included in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. Net sales generated by the acquired business during 2016 and 2015 totaled $141.4 million and $250.6 million, respectively. The significant decrease in net sales during 2016 as compared to 2015 primarily resulted from a shift in sales activity from the acquired business to the Company’s legacy business operating in Mexico. The acquired business generated net income of $6.3 million during 2016 and incurred a net loss of $13.7 million during 2015.
The assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the Tyson Mexico acquisition were 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 fair values recorded were determined based upon various external and internal valuations.
The 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 | 209,139 |
Identifiable intangible assets | 26,411 |
Other long-lived assets | 199 |
Total assets acquired | 341,248 |
Accounts payable | 21,550 |
Other current liabilities | 8,707 |
Long-term deferred tax liabilities | 52,376 |
Other long-term liabilities | 5,155 |
Total liabilities assumed | 87,788 |
Total identifiable net assets | 253,460 |
Goodwill | 125,607 |
Total net assets | $ | 379,067 |

The Company performed a 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 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%. The two trade names were valued at $9.7 million under this approach.

• | Customer relationships. The Company valued Tyson Mexico’s customer relationships using the income approach, specifically the multi-period excess earnings model. Under this model, the fair value of the customer relationships asset is determined by estimating the net cash inflows from the relationships discounted to present value. In estimating the

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fair value of the customer relationships, net sales related to our existing customers were estimated to grow at a rate of 4.0% annually, but we also anticipate losing existing customers at an attrition rate of 7.9%. Income taxes were estimated at 30.0% of pre-tax income, a tax amortization benefit was estimated considering a rate of 23.4% and net cash flows attributable to our existing customers were discounted using a rate of 13.5%. Customer relationships were valued at $16.7 million under this approach.
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The Company recognized the following change in goodwill related to this acquisition during 2016 (in thousands):

Goodwill, beginning of period | $ | 156,565 |
Additional fair value attributed to acquired property, plant and equipment | (51,387 | )
Deferred tax impact related to additional fair value attributed to acquired property, plant and equipment | 15,416 |
Deferred tax impact related to customer relationship intangibles | 5,013 |
Goodwill, end of period | $ | 125,607 |

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 2014.

| 2015 |  | 2014
| (In thousands, except per share amounts)
Net sales | $ | 8,493,804 |  |  | $ | 9,233,138 |
Net income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation | 654,495 |  |  | 705,223 |
Net income attributable to Pilgrim's Pride Corporation per common share - diluted | 2.53 |  |  | 2.72 |

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.
GNP
On January 6, 2017, the Company acquired 100% of the membership interests of JFC LLC and its subsidiaries (together, “GNP”) from Maschhoff Family Foods, LLC for $350 million, subject to customary working capital adjustments. The purchase was funded through cash on hand and borrowings under the U.S. Credit Agreement. GNP is a vertically integrated poultry business based in St. Cloud, Minnesota. The acquired business has a production capacity of 2.1 million birds per five-day work week in its three plants and currently employs approximately 1,775 people. This acquisition further strengthens the Company’s strategic position in the U.S. chicken market.
The following table summarizes the consideration paid for GNP (in thousands):

Negotiated sales price | $ | 350,000 |
Working capital adjustment | 9,707 |
Preliminary purchase price | $ | 359,707 |

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 December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015, the Company held derivative assets and liabilities that were required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis. Derivative assets and liabilities consist of long and short positions on exchange-traded commodity instruments.
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The following items were measured at fair value on a recurring basis:

|  | December 25, 2016
|  | Level 1 |  | Level 2 |  | Level 3 |  | Total
|  | (In thousands)
Fair value assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commodity futures instruments |  | $ | 5,341 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 5,341 |
Commodity options instruments |  | 98 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 98 |
Fair value liabilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commodity futures instruments |  | (4,063 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (4,063 | )
Commodity options instruments |  | (2,764 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (2,764 | )

|  | December 27, 2015
|  | Level 1 |  | Level 2 |  | Level 3 |  | Total
|  | (In thousands)
Fair value assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commodity futures instruments |  | $ | 59 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 59 |
Commodity options instruments |  | 1,618 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 1,618 |
Fair value liabilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Commodity futures instruments |  | (5,436 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (5,436 | )

See “Note 7. Derivative Financial Instruments” for additional information.
The valuation of financial assets and liabilities classified in Level 1 is determined using a market approach, taking into account current interest rates, creditworthiness, and liquidity risks in relation to current market conditions, and is based upon unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets in active markets. The valuation of financial assets and liabilities in Level 2 is determined using a market approach based upon quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or other inputs that are observable for substantially the full term of the financial instrument. The valuation of financial assets in Level 3 is determined using an income approach based on unobservable inputs such as discounted cash flow models or valuations.
In addition to the fair value disclosure requirements related to financial instruments carried at fair value, accounting standards require interim disclosures regarding the fair value of all of the Company’s financial instruments. The methods and significant assumptions used to estimate the fair value of financial instruments and any changes in methods or significant assumptions from prior periods are also required to be disclosed.
The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of our fixed-rate debt obligation recorded in the Consolidated Balance Sheets consisted of the following:

|  | December 25, 2016 |  | December 27, 2015
|  | Carrying Amount |  | Fair Value |  | Carrying Amount |  | Fair Value
|  |  |  | (In thousands) |  |
Fixed-rate senior notes payable at 5.75% |  | $ | (500,000 | ) |  | $ | (503,395 | ) |  | $ | (500,000 | ) |  | $ | (488,750 | )

See “Note 11. Long-Term Debt and Other Borrowing Arrangements” for additional information.
The carrying amounts of our cash and cash equivalents, derivative trading accounts' margin cash, restricted cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and certain other liabilities approximate their fair values due to their relatively short maturities. Derivative assets were recorded at fair value based on quoted market prices and are included in the line item Prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Derivative liabilities were recorded at fair value based on quoted market prices and are included in the line item Accrued expenses and other current liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The fair values of the Company’s fixed-rate debt obligation was based on the quoted market price at December 25, 2016 or December 27, 2015, 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
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
of impairment charges when required by U.S. GAAP. There were no significant fair value measurement losses recognized for such assets and liabilities in the periods reported.
4. TRADE ACCOUNTS AND OTHER RECEIVABLES
Trade accounts and other receivables (including accounts receivable from related parties), less allowance for doubtful accounts, consisted of the following:

| December 25, 2016 |  | December 27, 2015
| (In thousands)
Trade accounts receivable | $ | 305,337 |  |  | $ | 342,466 |
Notes receivable - current | 630 |  |  | 850 |
Other receivables | 15,766 |  |  | 10,578 |
Receivables, gross | 321,733 |  |  | 353,894 |
Allowance for doubtful accounts | (4,563 | ) |  | (4,900 | )
Receivables, net | $ | 317,170 |  |  | $ | 348,994 |
Accounts receivable from related parties(a) | $ | 3,913 |  |  | $ | 2,668 |

(a) | Additional information regarding accounts receivable from related parties is included in “Note 16. Related Party Transactions.”

Changes in the allowance for doubtful accounts were as follows:

|  | Total
|  | (In thousands)
Balance at December 27, 2015 |  | $ | (4,900 | )
Provision charged to operating results |  | (114 | )
Account write-offs and recoveries |  | 451 |
Balance at December 25, 2016 |  | $ | (4,563 | )

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
5. INVENTORIES
Inventories consisted of the following:

| December 25, 2016 |  | December 27, 2015
| (In thousands)
Live chicken and hens | $ | 362,054 |  |  | $ | 365,062 |
Feed, eggs and other | 250,680 |  |  | 215,859 |
Finished chicken products | 182,918 |  |  | 191,988 |
Total chicken inventories | 795,652 |  |  | 772,909 |
Commercial feed, table eggs and other | 17,610 |  |  | 28,448 |
Total inventories | $ | 813,262 |  |  | $ | 801,357 |

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:

| December 25, 2016 |  | December 27, 2015
| Cost |  | Fair Value |  | Cost |  | Fair Value
| (In thousands)
Cash equivalents: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Fixed income securities | $ | 44,865 |  |  | $ | 44,865 |  |  | $ | 290,795 |  |  | $ | 290,795 |
Other | 61 |  |  | 61 |  |  | 54,831 |  |  | 54,831 |

All of the fixed income securities classified as cash and cash equivalents above mature within 90 days and all of the fixed income securities classified as short-term investments above mature within one year. 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 2016 and 2015 related to the Company’s available-for-sale securities totaled $0.9 million and $1.2 million, respectively. Gross realized losses recognized during 2016 and 2015 related to the Company’s available-for-sale securities totaled $83,400 and $25,400, respectively. Proceeds received from the sale or maturity of available-for-sale securities during 2016 and 2015 are disclosed in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Net unrealized holding gains and losses on the Company’s available-for-sale securities recognized during 2016 and 2015 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 2016 and 2015 are disclosed in “Note 14. Stockholders’ Equity.”
7. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The Company utilizes various raw materials in its operations, including corn, soybean meal, soybean oil, sorghum, 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.
The fair value of derivative assets is included in the line item Prepaid expenses and other current assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets while the fair value of derivative liabilities is included in the line item Accrued expenses and other current liabilities on the same statements. Our counterparties require that we post cash collateral for changes in the net fair value of the derivative contracts.
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We have not designated the derivative financial instruments that we have purchased to mitigate commodity purchase or foreign currency transaction exposures as cash flow hedges. Therefore, we recognize 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 Consolidated Statements of Operations. The Company recognized $4.3 million in net losses related to changes in the fair value of its derivative financial instruments during 2016. The Company recognized $21.8 million and $16.1 million in net gains related to changes in the fair value of its derivative financial instruments during 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Information regarding the Company’s outstanding derivative instruments and cash collateral posted with (owed to) brokers is included in the following table:

| December 25, 2016 |  | December 27, 2015
| (Fair values in thousands)
Fair values: |  |  |
Commodity derivative assets | $ | 5,439 |  |  | $ | 1,677 |
Commodity derivative liabilities | (6,827 | ) |  | (5,436 | )
Cash collateral posted with brokers | 4,979 |  |  | 9,381 |
Derivatives Coverage(a): |  |  |
Corn | 2.3 | % |  | 7.0 | %
Soybean meal | 0.3 | % |  | 4.1 | %
Period through which stated percent of needs are covered: |  |  |
Corn | September 2018 |  |  | March 2017 |
Soybean meal | July 2017 |  |  | July 2016 |

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

8. IDENTIFIED INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Identified intangible assets consisted of the following:

| Useful Life (Years) |  | Original Cost |  | Accumulated Amortization |  | Carrying Amount
|  |  |  |  | (In thousands) |  |
December 25, 2016: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Identified intangible assets subject to amortization: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Trade names | 3–15 |  | $ | 40,143 |  |  | $ | (36,537 | ) |  | $ | 3,606 |
Customer relationships | 13 |  | 67,711 |  |  | (42,424 | ) |  | 25,287 |
Non-compete agreements | 3 |  | 300 |  |  | (300 | ) |  | — |
Identified intangible assets not subject to amortization: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Trade names |  |  | 9,700 |  |  | — |  |  | 9,700 |
Total identified intangible assets |  |  | $ | 117,854 |  |  | $ | (79,261 | ) |  | $ | 38,593 |
December 27, 2015: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Identified intangible assets subject to amortization: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Trade names | 3–15 |  | $ | 40,143 |  |  | $ | (34,718 | ) |  | $ | 5,425 |
Customer relationships | 13 |  | 67,711 |  |  | (35,383 | ) |  | 32,328 |
Non-compete agreements | 3 |  | 300 |  |  | (300 | ) |  | — |
Identified intangible assets not subject to amortization: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Trade names |  |  | 9,700 |  |  | — |  |  | 9,700 |
Total identified intangible assets |  |  | $ | 117,854 |  |  | $ | (70,401 | ) |  | $ | 47,453 |

We recognized amortization expense related to identified intangible assets of $8.9 million in 2016, $5.7 million in 2015 and $5.7 million in 2014.
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We expect to recognize amortization expense associated with identified intangible assets of $7.1 million in 2017, $6.9 million in 2018, $5.3 million in 2019, $1.3 million in 2020 and $1.3 million in 2021.
9. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Property, plant and equipment (“PP&E”), net consisted of the following:

| December 25, 2016 |  | December 27, 2015
| (In thousands)
Land | $ | 112,132 |  |  | $ | 105,165 |
Buildings | 1,169,984 |  |  | 1,131,379 |
Machinery and equipment | 1,789,550 |  |  | 1,657,573 |
Autos and trucks | 50,964 |  |  | 53,408 |
Construction-in-progress | 231,874 |  |  | 152,619 |
Property, plant and equipment, gross | 3,354,504 |  |  | 3,100,144 |
Accumulated depreciation | (1,848,564 | ) |  | (1,747,615 | )
Property, plant and equipment, net | $ | 1,505,940 |  |  | $ | 1,352,529 |

The Company recognized depreciation expense of $167.8 million, $146.4 million and $136.4 million during 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
During 2016, the Company spent $272.5 million on capital projects and transferred $207.1 million of completed projects from construction-in-progress to depreciable assets. During 2015, the Company spent $175.8 million on capital projects and transferred $153.5 million of completed projects from construction-in-progress to depreciable assets. Capital expenditures were primarily incurred during 2016 to improve efficiencies and reduce costs.
During 2016, the Company sold certain PP&E for $10.8 million and recognized a gain of $7.7 million. PP&E sold in 2016 included a processing plant in Louisiana, poultry farms in Mexico and Texas, an office building in Texas, vacant land in Alabama and Texas and miscellaneous equipment. During 2015, the Company sold certain PP&E for $14.6 million and recognized a gain of $10.4 million. PP&E sold in 2015 included broiler farms in Mexico, a rendering plant in Arkansas 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 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 December 25, 2016, the Company reported assets held for sale totaling $5.3 million in Assets held for sale on its Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company tested the recoverability of its assets held for sale and determined that the aggregate carrying amount of the Texas processing complex asset group was no longer recoverable over the remaining life of the primary asset in that asset group. The Company recognized impairment loss of $0.8 million in 2016 that was reported as Administrative restructuring charges on the Consolidated Statement of Income.
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 has determined if it would be in the best interest of the Company to divest any of these closed or 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 December 25, 2016, the carrying amount of these idled assets was $61.2 million based on depreciable value of $193.1 million and accumulated depreciation of $131.9 million.
The Company tested the recoverability of its long-lived assets held for use during the thirteen weeks ended December 25, 2016 by comparing the book value of its invested capital, exclusive of assets held for sale, with the undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and eventual disposition of its long-lived assets held for use. The Company determined that the carrying amount of its long-lived assets held for use is recoverable over the remaining life of the primary asset in the group, and the long-lived assets for use pass the Step 1 recoverability test of ASC 360-10-35, Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.
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10. CURRENT LIABILITIES
Current liabilities, other than income taxes and current maturities of long-term debt, consisted of the following components:

| December 25, 2016 |  | December 27, 2015
| (In thousands)
Accounts payable: |  |  |
Trade accounts | $ | 487,214 |  |  | $ | 436,188 |
Book overdrafts | 63,577 |  |  | 44,145 |
Other payables | 4,306 |  |  | 2,621 |
Total accounts payable | 555,097 |  |  | 482,954 |
Accounts payable to related parties(a) | 1,421 |  |  | 7,000 |
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities: |  |  |
Compensation and benefits | 110,385 |  |  | 112,583 |
Interest and debt-related fees | 8,685 |  |  | 8,928 |
Insurance and self-insured claims | 82,544 |  |  | 93,336 |
Derivative liabilities: |  |  |
Futures | 4,063 |  |  | 5,436 |
Options | 2,764 |  |  | — |
Other accrued expenses | 82,258 |  |  | 94,683 |
Total accrued expenses and other current liabilities | 290,699 |  |  | 314,966 |
| $ | 847,217 |  |  | $ | 804,920 |

(a) | Additional information regarding accounts payable to related parties is included in “Note 16. Related Party Transactions.”

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11. LONG-TERM DEBT AND OTHER BORROWING ARRANGEMENTS
Long-term debt consisted of the following components:

| Maturity |  | December 25, 2016 |  | December 27, 2015
Long-term debt and other long-term borrowing arrangements: |  |  | (In thousands)
Senior notes payable at 5.75% | 2025 |  | $ | 500,000 |  |  | $ | 500,000 |
U.S. Credit Facility (defined below): |  |  |  |  |
Term note payable at 1.99% | 2020 |  | 500,000 |  |  | 500,000 |
Mexico Credit Facility (defined below) with notes payable at TIIE rate plus 0.95% | 2019 |  | 23,304 |  |  | — |
Capital lease obligations | Various |  | 376 |  |  | 462 |
Long-term debt |  |  | 1,023,680 |  |  | 1,000,462 |
Less: Current maturities of long-term debt |  |  | (94 | ) |  | (86 | )
Long-term debt, less current maturities |  |  | 1,023,586 |  |  | 1,000,376 |
Less: Capitalized financing costs |  |  | (11,728 | ) |  | (14,867 | )
Long-term debt, less current maturities, net of capitalized financing costs: |  |  | $ | 1,011,858 |  |  | $ | 985,509 |
Current notes payable to banks: |  |  |  |  |
Mexico Credit Facility (defined below) with notes payable at TIIE rate plus 0.90% | 2016 |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 28,726 |

Senior and Subordinated 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 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 U.S. 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. No installments of principal are required to be made prior to the maturity date of the Term Loans. Covenants in the U.S. Credit Facility also require the Company to use the proceeds it receives from certain asset sales and specified debt or equity issuances and upon the occurrence of other events to repay outstanding borrowings under the U.S. Credit Facility. The Company had Term Loans outstanding totaling $500.0 million as of December 25, 2016.
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
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 December 25, 2016 and, based on the Company’s net senior secured leverage ratio, between LIBOR plus 1.25% and LIBOR plus 2.75% and (ii) in the case of alternate base rate loans, the base rate plus 0.50% through December 25, 2016 and, based on the Company’s net senior secured leverage ratio, between the base rate plus 0.25% and base rate plus 1.75% thereafter.
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 December 25, 2016, the applicable borrowing base was $675.8 million and the amount available for borrowing under the revolving loan commitment was $633.1 million. The Company had outstanding letters of credit of $42.7 million and no outstanding borrowings under the revolving loan commitment as of December 25, 2016.
The U.S. Credit Facility contains financial covenants and various other covenants that may adversely affect the Company's ability to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness, incur liens, pay dividends or make certain restricted payments, consummate certain assets sales, enter into certain transactions with JBS and the Company's other affiliates, merge, consolidate and/or sell or dispose of all or substantially all of 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 continue to be secured by a first priority lien on (i) the accounts receivable and inventory of our Company and its non-Mexico subsidiaries, (ii) 100% of the equity interests in the Company’s domestic subsidiaries, To-Ricos, Ltd. and To-Ricos Distribution, Ltd., 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.
Mexico Credit Facility
On September 27, 2016, certain of our Mexican subsidiaries entered into an unsecured credit agreement (the “Mexico Credit Facility”) with BBVA Bancomer, S.A. Institución de Banca Múltiple, Grupo Financiero BBVA Bancomer, as lender. The loan commitment under the Mexico Credit Facility is $1.5 billion Mexican pesos. Outstanding borrowings under the Mexico Credit Facility will accrue interest at a rate equal to the Interbank Equilibrium Interest Rate plus 0.95%. The Mexico Credit Facility will mature on September 27, 2019. As of December 25, 2016, the U.S. dollar-equivalent of the loan commitment under the Mexico Credit Facility was $72.8 million, and there were $23.3 million outstanding borrowings under the Mexico Credit Facility that bear interest at a per annum rate of 7.05%. As of December 25, 2016, the U.S. dollar-equivalent borrowing availability was $49.5 million.
12. INCOME TAXES
Income before income taxes by jurisdiction is as follows:

| 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2014
| (In thousands)
U.S. | $ | 532,853 |  |  | $ | 920,250 |  |  | $ | 953,027 |
Foreign | 139,782 |  |  | 72,508 |  |  | 149,364 |
Total | $ | 672,635 |  |  | $ | 992,758 |  |  | $ | 1,102,391 |

The components of income tax expense (benefit) are set forth below:
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| 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2014
| (In thousands)
Current: |  |  |
Federal | $ | 165,989 |  |  | $ | 248,821 |  |  | $ | 262,403 |
Foreign | 50,130 |  |  | 43,638 |  |  | 22,867 |
State and other | 20,211 |  |  | 26,019 |  |  | 24,056 |
Total current | 236,330 |  |  | 318,478 |  |  | 309,326 |
Deferred: |  |  |  |  |
Federal | (3,529 | ) |  | 32,819 |  |  | 29,737 |
Foreign | (880 | ) |  | (11,249 | ) |  | 31,332 |
State and other | 985 |  |  | 6,748 |  |  | 20,558 |
Total deferred | (3,424 | ) |  | 28,318 |  |  | 81,627 |
| $ | 232,906 |  |  | $ | 346,796 |  |  | $ | 390,953 |

The effective tax rate for 2016 was 34.6% compared to 34.9% for 2015 and 35.5% for 2014.
The following table reconciles the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate to the Company’s effective income tax rate:

| 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |
Federal income tax rate | 35.0 |  | % | 35.0 |  | % | 35.0 |  | %
State tax rate, net | 2.4 |  |  | 2.3 |  |  | 2.6 |  |
Permanent items | (0.3 | ) |  | 0.1 |  |  | 0.4 |  |
Domestic production activity | (1.3 | ) |  | (1.9 | ) |  | (2.4 | ) |
Difference in U.S. statutory tax rate and foreign country effective tax rate | (1.4 | ) |  | (0.9 | ) |  | (1.0 | ) |
Tax credits | (0.6 | ) |  | (0.7 | ) |  | — |  |
Other | 0.8 |  |  | 1.0 |  |  | 0.9 |  |
Total | 34.6 |  | % | 34.9 |  | % | 35.5 |  | %

Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax liabilities and assets are as follows:
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| December 25, 2016 |  | December 27, 2015
| (In thousands)
Deferred tax liabilities: |  |  |
PP&E and identified intangible assets | $ | 182,433 |  |  | $ | 151,761 |
Inventories | 93,114 |  |  | 97,743 |
Insurance claims and losses | 42,186 |  |  | 39,800 |
Other | 6,252 |  |  | 15,054 |
Total deferred tax liabilities | 323,985 |  |  | 304,358 |
Deferred tax assets: |  |  |
Net operating losses | 3,396 |  |  | 4,297 |
Foreign net operating losses | 13,446 |  |  | 16,595 |
Credit carry forwards | 2,080 |  |  | 2,638 |
Allowance for doubtful accounts | 4,274 |  |  | 4,382 |
Accrued liabilities | 57,567 |  |  | 56,753 |
Workers compensation | 38,834 |  |  | 41,217 |
Pension and other postretirement benefits | 21,903 |  |  | 22,559 |
Other | 46,066 |  |  | 31,956 |
Total deferred tax assets | 187,566 |  |  | 180,397 |
Valuation allowance | (6,232 | ) |  | (7,921 | )
Net deferred tax assets | 181,334 |  |  | 172,476 |
Net deferred tax liabilities | $ | 142,651 |  |  | $ | 131,882 |

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 December 25, 2016, the Company believes it has sufficient positive evidence to conclude that realization of its federal and state net deferred tax assets is more likely than not to be realized. The decrease in valuation allowance of $1.7 million during 2016 was primarily due to a decrease in capital loss carry-forwards and foreign net operating losses. As of December 25, 2016, the Company’s valuation allowance is $6.2 million, of which $0.7 million relates to capital loss carry forwards and state net operating losses and $5.5 million relates to its Mexico operations.
As of December 25, 2016, the Company had state net operating loss carry forwards of approximately $112.5 million that will begin to expire in 2017. The Company also had Mexico net operating loss carry forwards at December 25, 2016 of approximately $28.9 million that begin to expire in 2017.
As of December 25, 2016, the Company had approximately $1.8 million of state tax credit carry forwards that begin to expire in 2018.
On November 6, 2009, H.R. 3548 was signed into law and included a provision that allowed most business taxpayers an increased carry back period for net operating losses incurred in 2008 or 2009. As a result, during 2009 the Company utilized $547.7 million of its U.S. federal net operating losses under the expanded carry back provisions of H.R. 3548 and filed a claim for refund of $169.7 million. The Company received $122.6 million in refunds from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) from the carry back claims during 2010. The Company anticipates receipt of the remainder of its claim pending resolution of its litigation with the IRS. See “Note 17. Commitments and Contingencies” for additional information.
The Company has not provided any deferred income taxes on the undistributed earnings of its Mexico and Puerto Rico subsidiaries as of December 25, 2016 based upon the determination that such earnings will be indefinitely reinvested. It is not practicable to determine the amount of incremental taxes that might arise if these earnings were to be remitted.
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For the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015, there is a tax effect of $3.2 million and $2.2 million, respectively, reflected in other comprehensive income.
For the fifty-two weeks ended December 27, 2015, there is a tax effect of $6.5 million reflected in additional paid-in capital due to excess tax benefits related to compensation on dividend equivalent rights and vested stock awards. There were no excess tax benefits for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2016.
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amounts of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:

| December 25, 2016 |  | December 27, 2015
| (In thousands)
Unrecognized tax benefits, beginning of year | $ | 17,110 |  |  | $ | 17,396 |
Increase as a result of tax positions taken during the current year | 1,031 |  |  | 1,015 |
Increase as a result of tax positions taken during prior years | 16 |  |  | 27 |
Decrease as a result of tax positions taken during prior years | (140 | ) |  | (139 | )
Decrease for lapse in statute of limitations | (1,204 | ) |  | (1,189 | )
Unrecognized tax benefits, end of year | $ | 16,813 |  |  | $ | 17,110 |

Included in unrecognized tax benefits of $16.8 million at December 25, 2016, was $7.3 million of tax benefits that, if recognized, would reduce the Company’s effective tax rate. It is not practicable at this time to estimate the amount of unrecognized tax benefits that will change in the next twelve months.
The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in its provision for income taxes. As of December 25, 2016, the Company had recorded a liability of $8.2 million for interest and penalties. During 2016, accrued interest and penalty amounts related to uncertain tax positions decreased by $1.2 million.
The Company operates in the U.S. (including multiple state jurisdictions), Puerto Rico and Mexico. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state or local income tax examinations for years prior to 2010 and is no longer subject to Mexico income tax examinations by taxing authorities for years prior to 2010.
The Company has a tax sharing agreement with JBS USA Holdings effective for tax years beginning 2010. The net tax receivable for tax year 2016 of $5.0 million was accrued in 2016 as a capital contribution and an account receivable from a related party in our Consolidated Balance Sheet.
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13. 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 plan, and defined contribution retirement savings plans. Under all of our retirement plans, the Company’s expenses were $8.1 million, $10.5 million and $5.9 million in 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
The Company used a year-end measurement date of December 25, 2016 for its pension and postretirement benefits plans. Certain disclosures are listed below. Other disclosures are not material to the financial statements.
Qualified Defined Benefit Pension Plans
The Company sponsors two qualified defined benefit pension plans named the Pilgrim’s Pride Retirement Plan for Union Employees (the “Union Plan”) and the Pilgrim’s Pride Pension Plan for Legacy Gold Kist Employees (the “GK Pension Plan”). The Union Plan covers certain locations or work groups within PPC. The GK Pension Plan covers certain eligible U.S. employees who were employed at locations that the Company purchased through its acquisition of Gold Kist in 2007. Participation in the GK Pension Plan was frozen as of February 8, 2007 for all participants with the exception of terminated vested participants who are or may become permanently and totally disabled. The plan was frozen for that group as of March 31, 2007.
Nonqualified Defined Benefit Pension Plans
The Company sponsors two nonqualified defined benefit retirement plans named the Former Gold Kist Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the “SERP Plan”) and the Former Gold Kist Inc. Directors’ Emeriti Retirement Plan (the “Directors’ Emeriti Plan”). Pilgrim’s Pride assumed sponsorship of the SERP Plan and Directors’ Emeriti Plan through its acquisition of Gold Kist in 2007. The SERP Plan provides benefits on compensation in excess of certain IRC limitations to certain former executives with whom Gold Kist negotiated individual agreements. Benefits under the SERP Plan were frozen as of February 8, 2007. The Directors’ Emeriti Plan provides benefits to former Gold Kist directors.
Defined Benefit Postretirement Life Insurance Plan
The Company sponsors one defined benefit postretirement life insurance plan named the Gold Kist Inc. Retiree Life Insurance Plan (the “Retiree Life Plan”). Pilgrim’s Pride assumed defined benefit postretirement medical and life insurance obligations, including the Retiree Life Plan, through its acquisition of Gold Kist in 2007. In January 2001, Gold Kist began to substantially curtail its programs for active employees. On July 1, 2003, Gold Kist terminated medical coverage for retirees age 65 or older, and only retired employees in the closed group between ages 55 and 65 could continue their coverage at rates above the average cost of the medical insurance plan for active employees. These retired employees all reached the age of 65 in 2012 and liabilities of the postretirement medical plan then ended.
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 Consolidated Balance Sheets for these plans were as follows:

| Pension Benefits |  | Other Benefits
| 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2016 |  | 2015
Change in projected benefit obligation: | (In thousands)
Projected benefit obligation, beginning of year | $ | 165,952 |  |  | $ | 190,401 |  |  | $ | 1,672 |  |  | $ | 1,657 |
Interest cost | 5,585 |  |  | 7,754 |  |  | 51 |  |  | 67 |
Actuarial losses (gains) | 10,305 |  |  | (10,944 | ) |  | 46 |  |  | 44 |
Benefits paid | (6,098 | ) |  | (6,074 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |
Settlements(a) | (8,585 | ) |  | (15,185 | ) |  | (121 | ) |  | (96 | )
Projected benefit obligation, end of year | $ | 167,159 |  |  | $ | 165,952 |  |  | $ | 1,648 |  |  | $ | 1,672 |

(a) | A settlement is a transaction that is an irrevocable action, relieves the employer or the plan of primary responsibility for a pension or postretirement obligation and eliminates significant risks related to the obligation and the assets used to affect the settlement. A settlement can be triggered when a plan pays lump sums totaling more than the sum of the plan’s interest cost and service cost. Both the GK Pension Plan and the Retiree Life Plan met this threshold in 2016 and 2015 and the Union Pension Plan met this threshold in 2016.

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| Pension Benefits |  | Other Benefits
| 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2016 |  | 2015
Change in plan assets: | (In thousands)
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year | $ | 96,947 |  |  | $ | 113,552 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |
Actual return on plan assets | 4,460 |  |  | (3,024 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |
Contributions by employer | 10,802 |  |  | 7,678 |  |  | 121 |  |  | 96 |
Benefits paid | (6,098 | ) |  | (6,074 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |
Settlements | (8,585 | ) |  | (15,185 | ) |  | (121 | ) |  | (96 | )
Fair value of plan assets, end of year | $ | 97,526 |  |  | $ | 96,947 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |

| Pension Benefits |  | Other Benefits
| 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2016 |  | 2015
Funded status: | (In thousands)
Unfunded benefit obligation, end of year | $ | (69,633 | ) |  | $ | (69,005 | ) |  | $ | (1,648 | ) |  | $ | (1,672 | )

| Pension Benefits |  | Other Benefits
| 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2016 |  | 2015
Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets at end of year: | (In thousands)
Current liability | $ | (13,113 | ) |  | $ | (10,779 | ) |  | $ | (147 | ) |  | $ | (138 | )
Long-term liability | (56,520 | ) |  | (58,226 | ) |  | (1,501 | ) |  | (1,534 | )
Recognized liability | $ | (69,633 | ) |  | $ | (69,005 | ) |  | $ | (1,648 | ) |  | $ | (1,672 | )

| Pension Benefits |  | Other Benefits
| 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2016 |  | 2015
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss at end of year: | (In thousands)
Net actuarial loss (gain) | $ | 46,494 |  |  | $ | 38,115 |  |  | $ | (31 | ) |  | $ | (79 | )

The accumulated benefit obligation for our defined benefit pension plans was $167.2 million and $166.0 million at December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015, respectively. Each of our defined benefit pension plans had accumulated benefit obligations that exceeded the fair value of plan assets at December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015. As of December 25, 2016, the weighted average duration of our defined benefit obligation is 32.29 years.
Net Periodic Benefit Cost (Income)
Net pension and other postretirement costs included the following components:

| Pension Benefits |  | Other Benefits
| 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2014
| (In thousands)
Interest cost | $ | 5,585 |  |  | $ | 7,754 |  |  | $ | 8,103 |  |  | $ | 51 |  |  | $ | 67 |  |  | $ | 81 |
Estimated return on plan assets | (5,256 | ) |  | (6,684 | ) |  | (6,373 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Settlement loss (gain) | 2,064 |  |  | 3,843 |  |  | 93 |  |  | (2 | ) |  | (4 | ) |  | (9 | )
Amortization of net loss (gain) | 659 |  |  | 714 |  |  | 56 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Net cost | $ | 3,052 |  |  | $ | 5,627 |  |  | $ | 1,879 |  |  | $ | 49 |  |  | $ | 63 |  |  | $ | 72 |

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

| Pension Benefits |  | Other Benefits
| 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2014
Benefit obligation: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Discount rate | 4.31 | % |  | 4.47 | % |  | 4.22 | % |  | 3.81 | % |  | 4.47 | % |  | 4.22 | %
Net pension and other postretirement cost: |  |  |
Discount rate | 4.47 | % |  | 4.22 | % |  | 4.95 | % |  | 4.47 | % |  | 4.22 | % |  | 4.95 | %
Expected return on plan assets | 5.50 | % |  | 5.50 | % |  | 6.00 | % |  | NA |  |  | NA |  |  | NA |

The discount rate represents the interest rate used to determine the present value of future cash flows currently expected to be required to settle the Company’s pension and other benefit obligations. The weighted average discount rate for each plan was established by comparing the projection of expected benefit payments to the AA Above Median yield curve. The expected benefit payments were discounted by each corresponding discount rate on the yield curve. For payments beyond 30 years, the Company extended the curve assuming the discount rate derived in year 30 is extended to the end of the plan’s payment expectations. Once the present value of the string of benefit payments was established, the Company determined the single rate on the yield curve, that when applied to all obligations of the plan, would exactly match the previously determined present value. As part of the evaluation of pension and other postretirement assumptions, the Company applied assumptions for mortality that incorporate generational white and blue collar mortality trends. In determining its benefit obligations, the Company used generational tables that take into consideration increases in plan participant longevity. As of December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015, all pension and other postretirement benefit plans used variations of the RP2014 mortality table and the MP2015 mortality improvement scale.
The sensitivity of the projected benefit obligation for pension benefits to changes in the discount rate is set out below. The impact of a change in the discount rate of 0.25% on the projected benefit obligation for other benefits is less than $1,000. This sensitivity analysis is based on changing one assumption while holding all other assumptions constant. In practice, this is unlikely to occur, and changes in some of the assumptions may be correlated. When calculating the sensitivity of the defined benefit obligation to variations in significant actuarial assumptions, the same method (present value of the defined benefit obligation calculated with the projected unit credit method at the end of the reporting period) has been applied as that for calculating the liability recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

| Increase in Discount Rate of 0.25% |  | Decrease in Discount Rate of 0.25%
| (In thousands)
Impact on projected benefit obligation for pension benefits | $ | (4,486 | ) |  | $ | 4,725 |

The expected rate of return on plan assets was primarily based on the determination of an expected return and behaviors for each plan’s current asset portfolio that the Company believes are likely to prevail over long periods. This determination was made using assumptions for return and volatility of the portfolio. Asset class assumptions were set using a combination of empirical and forward-looking analysis. To the extent historical results were affected by unsustainable trends or events, the effects of those trends or events were quantified and removed. The Company also considered anticipated asset allocations, investment strategies and the views of various investment professionals when developing this rate.
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Plan Assets
The following table reflects the pension plans’ actual asset allocations:

| 2016 |  | 2015
Cash and cash equivalents | — | % |  | — | %
Pooled separate accounts(a): |  |  |
Equity securities | 5 | % |  | 7 | %
Fixed income securities | 5 | % |  | 7 | %
Common collective trust funds(a): |  |  |
Equity securities | 60 | % |  | 57 | %
Fixed income securities | 30 | % |  | 29 | %
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 Securities and Exchange Commission. 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 December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015:

| 2016 |  | 2015(a)
| 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 | $ | 119 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 119 |  |  | $ | 147 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 147 |
Pooled separate accounts: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Large U.S. equity funds(d) | — |  |  | 3,302 |  |  | — |  |  | 3,302 |  |  | — |  |  | 3,816 |  |  | — |  |  | 3,816 |
Small/Mid U.S. equity funds(e) | — |  |  | 406 |  |  | — |  |  | 406 |  |  | — |  |  | 969 |  |  | — |  |  | 969 |
International equity funds(f) | — |  |  | 1,231 |  |  | — |  |  | 1,231 |  |  | — |  |  | 1,606 |  |  | — |  |  | 1,606 |
Fixed income funds(g) | — |  |  | 4,867 |  |  | — |  |  | 4,867 |  |  | — |  |  | 6,337 |  |  | — |  |  | 6,337 |
Common collective trusts funds: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Large U.S. equity funds(d) | — |  |  | 24,547 |  |  | — |  |  | 24,547 |  |  | — |  |  | 22,069 |  |  | — |  |  | 22,069 |
Small/Mid U.S. equity funds(e) | — |  |  | 17,344 |  |  | — |  |  | 17,344 |  |  | — |  |  | 16,843 |  |  | — |  |  | 16,843 |
International equity funds(f) | — |  |  | 17,006 |  |  | — |  |  | 17,006 |  |  | — |  |  | 16,629 |  |  | — |  |  | 16,629 |
Fixed income funds(g) | — |  |  | 28,704 |  |  | — |  |  | 28,704 |  |  | — |  |  | 28,531 |  |  | — |  |  | 28,531 |
Total assets | $ | 119 |  |  | $ | 97,407 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 97,526 |  |  | $ | 147 |  |  | $ | 96,800 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 96,947 |

(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 December 25, 2016 expected to be paid in each of the next five years and in the aggregate for the five years thereafter 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)
2017 | $ | 16,964 |  |  | $ | 147 |
2018 | 11,617 |  |  | 147 |
2019 | 11,088 |  |  | 146 |
2020 | 11,019 |  |  | 144 |
2021 | 10,790 |  |  | 142 |
2022-2026 | 49,927 |  |  | 640 |
Total | $ | 111,405 |  |  | $ | 1,366 |

We anticipate contributing $13.1 million and $0.1 million, as required by funding regulations or laws, to our pension and other postretirement plans, respectively, during 2017.
Unrecognized Benefit Amounts in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Income)
The amounts in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) that were not recognized as components of net periodic benefits cost and the changes in those amounts are as follows:

| Pension Benefits |  | Other Benefits
| 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2014
| (In thousands)
Net actuarial loss (gain), beginning of year | $ | 38,115 |  |  | $ | 43,907 |  |  | $ | 16,957 |  |  | $ | (79 | ) |  | $ | (127 | ) |  | $ | (126 | )
Amortization | (659 | ) |  | (714 | ) |  | (56 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Settlement adjustments | (2,064 | ) |  | (3,843 | ) |  | (93 | ) |  | 2 |  |  | 4 |  |  | 9 |
Actuarial loss (gain) | 10,305 |  |  | (10,944 | ) |  | 24,670 |  |  | 46 |  |  | 44 |  |  | (10 | )
Asset loss (gain) | 797 |  |  | 9,709 |  |  | 2,429 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Net actuarial loss (gain), end of year | $ | 46,494 |  |  | $ | 38,115 |  |  | $ | 43,907 |  |  | $ | (31 | ) |  | $ | (79 | ) |  | $ | (127 | )

The Company expects to recognize in net pension cost throughout 2017 an actuarial loss of $0.9 million that was recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income at December 25, 2016.
Risk Management
Through its defined benefit plans, the Company is exposed to a number of risks, the most significant of which are detailed below:
Asset volatility. The plan liabilities are calculated using a discount rate set with reference to corporate bond yields; if plan assets under perform this yield, this will create a deficit. The pension plans hold a significant proportion of equities, which are expected to outperform corporate bonds in the long-term while contributing volatility and risk in the short-
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term. The Company monitors the level of investment risk but has no current plan to significantly modify the mixture of investments. The investment position is discussed more below.
Changes in bond yields. A decrease in corporate bond yields will increase plan liabilities, although this will be partially offset by an increase in the value of the plans’ bond holdings.
The investment position is managed and monitored by a committee of individuals from various departments. This group actively monitors how the duration and the expected yield of the investments are matching the expected cash outflows arising from the pension obligations. The group has not changed the processes used to manage its risks from previous periods. The group does not use derivatives to manage its risk. Investments are well diversified, such that the failure of any single investment would not have a material impact on the overall level of assets. The majority of equities are in U.S. large and small cap companies with some global diversification into international entities. The plans are not exposed to significant foreign currency risk.
Remeasurement
The Company remeasures both plan assets and obligations on a quarterly basis.
Defined Contribution Plans
The Company sponsors two defined contribution retirement savings plans named the Pilgrim’s Pride Retirement Savings Plan (the “RS Plan”) and the To-Ricos Employee Savings and Retirement Plan (the “To-Ricos Plan”). The RS Plan is an IRC Section 401(k) salary deferral plan maintained for certain eligible U.S. employees. Under the RS Plan, eligible U.S. employees may voluntarily contribute a percentage of their compensation. The Company matches up to 30.0% of the first 2.00% to 6.00% of salary based on the salary deferral and compensation levels up to $245,000. The To-Ricos Plan is an IRC Section 1165(e) salary deferral plan maintained for certain eligible Puerto Rico employees. Under the To-Ricos Plan, eligible employees may voluntarily contribute a percentage of their compensation and there are various company matching provisions. The Company also maintains three postretirement plans for eligible Mexico employees, as required by Mexico law, which primarily cover termination benefits.
The Company’s expenses related to its defined contribution plans totaled $5.0 million, $4.8 million and $3.9 million in 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
14. STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
The following tables provide information regarding the changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss during 2016 and 2015:

| 2016(a) |  | 2015(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 year | $ | (58,997 | ) |  | $ | 67 |  |  | $ | (58,930 | ) |  | $ | (62,572 | ) |  | $ | 31 |  |  | $ | (62,541 | )
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications | (4,836 | ) |  | (411 | ) |  | (5,247 | ) |  | 4,004 |  |  | (260 | ) |  | 3,744 |
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to net income | (410 | ) |  | 344 |  |  | (66 | ) |  | (429 | ) |  | 296 |  |  | (133 | )
Net current year other comprehensive income (loss) | (5,246 | ) |  | (67 | ) |  | (5,313 | ) |  | 3,575 |  |  | 36 |  |  | 3,611 |
Balance, end of year | $ | (64,243 | ) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | (64,243 | ) |  | $ | (58,997 | ) |  | $ | 67 |  |  | (58,930 | )

(a) | All amounts are net of tax. Amounts in parentheses indicate debits.

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Details about Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss Components |  | Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss(a) |  | Affected Line Item in the Consolidated Statements of Operations
| 2016 |  | 2015 |
|  | (In thousands) |  |
Realized gain on sale of securities |  | $ | 552 |  |  | $ | 476 |  |  | Interest income
Amortization of pension and other postretirement plan actuarial losses: |  |  |  |  |  |
Union employees pension plan(b) |  | (20 | ) |  | — |  | (d) | Cost of goods sold
Legacy Gold Kist plans(c) |  | (199 | ) |  | (215 | ) | (d) | Cost of goods sold
Legacy Gold Kist plans(c) |  | (440 | ) |  | (474 | ) | (d) | Selling, general and administrative expense
Total before tax |  | (107 | ) |  | (213 | ) |  |
Tax benefit |  | 40 |  |  | 80 |  |  |
Total reclassification for the period |  | $ | (67 | ) |  | (133 | ) |  |

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

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

(c) | The Company sponsors the GK Pension Plan, a qualified defined benefit pension plan covering certain eligible U.S. employees who were employed at locations that the Company purchased through its acquisition of Gold Kist in 2007, the SERP Plan, a nonqualified defined benefit retirement plan covering certain former Gold Kist executives, the Directors’ Emeriti Plan, a nonqualified defined benefit retirement plan covering certain former Gold Kist directors and the Retiree Life Plan, a defined benefit postretirement life insurance plan covering certain retired Gold Kist employees (collectively, the “Legacy Gold Kist Plans”).

(d) | These accumulated other comprehensive loss components are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost. See “Note 13. Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits” to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Share Repurchase Program and 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 was originally scheduled to expire on July 27, 2016. On February 10, 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors approved an increase of the share repurchase authorization to $300.0 million and an extension of the expiration to February 9, 2017. 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 of December 25, 2016, the Company had repurchased 10,635,861 shares under this program with a market value of approximately $217.1 million. The Company accounted for the shares repurchased using the cost method. The Company currently plans to maintain these shares as treasury stock.
Special Cash Dividends
On May 18, 2016, the Company paid a special cash dividend from retained earnings of approximately $700.0 million, or $2.75 per share, to stockholders of record on May 10, 2016. The Company used proceeds from the U.S. Credit Facility, along with cash on hand, to fund the 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.
Capital Contributions to a Subsidiary
In July 2016, the stockholders of Gallina Pesada, S.A.P.I. de C.V. (“GAPESA”), a subsidiary that is controlled, but not wholly owned, by the Company, contributed additional capital to fund a capacity expansion project in southern Mexico. The Company contributed $2.7 million of additional capital. This contribution was eliminated upon consolidation. The noncontrolling stockholders contributed $7.3 million of additional capital. The respective contributions did not impact either the Company or noncontrolling stockholders’ ownership percentages in GAPESA.
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.
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15. 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 $28.9 million in costs related to the STIP at December 25, 2016 related to cash bonus awards that could potentially be awarded during 2017.
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 and any consultants (the “LTIP”). The equity-based awards that may be granted under the LTIP include “incentive stock options,” within the meaning of the IRC, nonqualified stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock awards (“RSAs”) and restricted stock units (“RSUs”). At December 25, 2016, we have reserved approximately 5.0 million shares of common stock for future issuance under the LTIP.
The following awards were outstanding during 2016:

Award Type |  | Benefit Plan |  | Awards Granted |  | Grant Date |  | Grant Date Fair Value per Award(a) |  | Vesting Condition |  | Vesting Date |  | Estimated Forfeiture Rate |  | Awards Forfeited to Date |  | Settlement Method
RSU |  | LTIP |  | 449,217 |  |  | 02/19/2014 |  | $ | 16.70 |  |  | Service |  | 12/31/2016 |  | 13.49 | % |  | 86,458 |  |  | Stock
RSU |  | LTIP |  | 223,701 |  |  | 03/03/2014 |  | 17.18 |  |  | Performance / Service |  | 12/31/2017 |  | 12.34 | % |  | 55,516 |  |  | Stock
DER | (b) | LTIP |  | 45,961 |  |  | 02/11/2015 |  | 25.87 |  |  | Performance / Service |  | 12/31/2017 |  | 12.34 | % |  | — |  |  | Stock
RSU |  | LTIP |  | 158,226 |  |  | 02/26/2015 |  | 27.51 |  |  | Performance / Service |  | 12/31/2018 |  | (c) |  |  | 158,226 |  |  | Stock
RSU |  | LTIP |  | 251,136 |  |  | 03/30/2016 |  | 25.36 |  |  | Performance / Service |  | 12/31/2019 |  | (d) |  |  | — |  |  | Stock
DER | (b) | LTIP |  | 74,535 |  |  | 10/13/2016 |  | 20.93 |  |  | Service |  | 12/31/2016 |  | 13.49 | % |  | — |  |  | 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) | On February 17, 2015, the Company paid a special cash dividend to stockholders of record as of January 30, 2015 totaling $5.77 per share. On January 27, 2015, the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors agreed to grant Dividend Equivalent Rights (“DERs”) in the form of RSUs to reflect an additional $5.77 in value for each outstanding RSU.

(c) | Performance conditions associated with these awards were not satisfied. Therefore, 100% of the awards were forfeited.

(d) | 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:

| 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2014
| (In thousands)
Share-based compensation cost: |  |  |  |  |
Cost of goods sold | $ | 770 |  |  | $ | 596 |  |  | $ | 395 |
Selling, general and administrative expenses | 5,332 |  |  | 2,379 |  |  | 4,533 |
Total | $ | 6,102 |  |  | $ | 2,975 |  |  | $ | 4,928 |
Income tax benefit | $ | 1,858 |  |  | $ | 868 |  |  | $ | 1,326 |

The Company’s RSA and RSU activity is included below:
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| 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2014
| Number |  | Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value |  | 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 year | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | 30 |  |  | $ | 8.72 |  |  | 203 |  |  | $ | 6.59 |
Granted | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Vested | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (173 | ) |  | 6.62 |
Forfeited | — |  |  | — |  |  | (30 | ) |  | 8.72 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Outstanding at end of year | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | 30 |  |  | $ | 8.72 |
RSUs: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Outstanding at beginning of year | 774 |  |  | $ | 18.78 |  |  | 1,120 |  |  | $ | 11.97 |  |  | 729 |  |  | $ | 8.81 |
Granted | 325 |  |  | 24.35 |  |  | 428 |  |  | 21.00 |  |  | 463 |  |  | 16.70 |
Vested | — |  |  | — |  |  | (671 | ) |  | 8.81 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Forfeited | (193 | ) |  | 24.51 |  |  | (103 | ) |  | 18.90 |  |  | (72 | ) |  | 10.34 |
Outstanding at end of year | 906 |  |  | $ | 20.00 |  |  | 774 |  |  | $ | 18.78 |  |  | 1,120 |  |  | $ | 11.97 |

The total fair value of awards vested in 2015 and 2014 was $22.4 million and $3.2 million, respectively. No awards vested in 2016.
At December 25, 2016, the total unrecognized compensation cost related to all nonvested awards was $8.6 million. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.49 years.
Historically, we have issued new shares to satisfy award conversions.
16. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Pilgrim's has been and, in some cases, continues to be a party to certain transactions with affiliated companies.
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| 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2014
| (In thousands)
JBS USA Food Company Holding: |  |  |  |  |
Letter of credit fees(a) | $ | 202 |  |  | $ | 1,268 |  |  | $ | 1,339 |
Capital contribution under tax sharing agreement(b) | 5,038 |  |  | 3,690 |  |  | 3,849 |
JBS USA Food Company: |  |  |  |  |
Purchases from JBS USA Food Company(c) | 139,476 |  |  | 103,542 |  |  | 115,337 |
Expenditures paid by JBS USA Food Company on behalf of Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation(d) | 40,519 |  |  | 40,611 |  |  | 31,149 |
Sales to JBS USA Food Company(c) | 16,534 |  |  | 21,743 |  |  | 39,682 |
Expenditures paid by Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation on behalf of JBS USA Food Company(d) | 10,586 |  |  | 3,998 |  |  | 4,925 |
Seara International Ltd.: |  |  |  |  |
Purchases from Seara International Ltd. | 2,746 |  |  | 2,784 |  |  | 2,091 |
JBS Global (UK) Ltd.: |  |  |  |  |
Sales to JBS Global (UK) Ltd. | 122 |  |  | 305 |  |  | 255 |
JBS Chile Ltda.: |  |  |  |  |
Sales to JBS Chile Ltda. | 615 |  |  | 100 |  |  | 463 |
Macedo Agroindustrial Ltda.: |  |  |  |  |
Purchases from Macedo Agroindustrial Ltda. | — |  |  | 60 |  |  | — |
JBS Aves Ltda.: |  |  |  |  |
Purchases from JBS Aves Ltda. | — |  |  | — |  |  | 4,072 |
JBS Five Rivers: |  |  |  |  |
Sales to JBS Five Rivers | 14,126 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
J&F Investimentos Ltd.: |  |  |  |  |
Sales to J&F Investimentos Ltd. | 69 |  |  | — |  |  | — |

(a) | JBS USA Food Company Holdings (“JBS USA Holdings”) arranged for letters of credit to be issued on its account in the aggregate 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 workers’ compensation, auto liability and general liability claims. In return for providing this letter of credit, the Company has agreed to reimburse JBS USA Holdings for the letter of credit fees the Company would otherwise incur under its U.S. Credit Facility. The letter of credit arrangements for $40.0 million and $16.5 million were terminated on March 7, 2016 and April 1, 2016, respectively. During 2016, the Company paid JBS USA Holdings $0.2 million for letter of credit fees.

(b) | The Company entered into a tax sharing agreement during 2014 with JBS USA Holdings effective for tax years starting 2010. The net tax receivable for tax year 2016 was accrued in 2016 and will be paid in 2017. The net tax receivable for tax year 2015 was accrued in 2015 and paid in January 2016. The net tax receivable for tax years 2010 through 2014 was accrued in 2014 and paid in January 2015.

(c) | We routinely execute transactions to both purchase products from JBS USA Food Company (“JBS USA”) and sell products to them. As of December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015, the outstanding payable to JBS USA was $1.4 million and $7.0 million, respectively. As of December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015, the outstanding receivable from JBS USA was $3.8 million and $2.6 million, respectively. As of December 25, 2016, approximately $2.9 million of goods from JBS USA were in transit and not reflected on our Consolidated Balance Sheet.

(d) | The Company has an agreement with JBS USA to allocate costs associated with JBS USA’s procurement of SAP licenses and maintenance services for both companies. Under this agreement, the fees associated with procuring SAP licenses and maintenance services are allocated between the Company and JBS USA in proportion to the percentage of licenses used by each company. The agreement expires on the date of expiration, or earlier termination, of the underlying SAP license agreement. The Company also has an agreement with JBS USA to allocate the costs of supporting the business operations by one consolidated corporate team, which have historically been supported by their respective corporate teams. Expenditures paid by JBS USA on behalf of the Company will be reimbursed by the Company and expenditures paid by the Company on behalf of JBS USA will be reimbursed by JBS USA. This agreement expires on December 31, 2019.

17. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
General
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.
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Purchase Obligations
The Company will sometimes enter into noncancelable contracts to purchase capital equipment and certain commodities such as corn, soybean meal, and electricity. At December 25, 2016, the Company was party to outstanding purchase contracts totaling $178.0 million and $0.5 million payable in 2017 and 2018, respectively. There were no outstanding purchase contracts in 2019.
Operating Leases
The Consolidated Statements of Operations include rental expense for operating leases of approximately $32.5 million, $25.3 million and $15.2 million in 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The Company’s future minimum lease commitments under noncancelable operating leases are as follows (in thousands):

2017 |  | $ | 26,819 |
2018 |  | 23,386 |
2019 |  | 20,200 |
2020 |  | 14,364 |
2021 |  | 11,582 |
Thereafter |  | 11,649 |
Total |  | $ | 108,000 |

Certain of the Company’s operating leases include rent escalations. The Company includes the rent escalation in its minimum lease payments obligations and recognizes them as a component of rental expense on a straight-line basis over the minimum lease term.
The Company also maintains 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. The maximum potential amount of the residual value guarantees is estimated to be approximately $34.7 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 such guarantees is immaterial. The Company historically has not experienced significant payments under similar residual guarantees.
Financial Instruments
The Company’s loan agreements generally obligate the Company to reimburse the applicable lender for incremental increased costs due to a change in law that imposes (i) any reserve or special deposit requirement against assets of, deposits with or credit extended by such lender related to the loan, (ii) any tax, duty or other charge with respect to the loan (except standard income tax) or (iii) capital adequacy requirements. In addition, some of the Company’s loan agreements contain a withholding tax provision that requires the Company to pay additional amounts to the applicable lender or other financing party, generally if withholding taxes are imposed on such lender or other financing party as a result of a change in the applicable tax law. These increased cost and withholding tax provisions continue for the entire term of the applicable transaction, and there is no limitation on the maximum additional amounts the Company could be obligated to pay under such provisions. Any failure to pay amounts due under such provisions generally would trigger an event of default, and, in a secured financing transaction, would entitle the lender to foreclose upon the collateral to realize the amount due.
Litigation
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 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.
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Tax Claims and Proceedings
In 2009, the IRS asserted claims against the Company totaling $74.7 million. Following a series of objections, motions and opposition filed by both parties with the Bankruptcy Court, the Company worked with the IRS through the normal processes and procedures that are available to resolve the IRS’ claims. On December 12, 2012, the Company entered into two Stipulations of Settled Issues agreements with the IRS (the “Stipulations”). The first Stipulation related to the Company’s 2003, 2005, and 2007 tax years and resolved all of the material issues in the case. The second Stipulation related to the Company as the successor in interest to Gold Kist Inc. (“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. The Company is currently working with the IRS to finalize the complete tax calculations associated with the Stipulations.
Other Claims and Proceedings
Between September 2, 2016 and October 13, 2016, ten purported class action lawsuits were filed with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Pilgrim’s and 13 other producers by and on behalf of direct and indirect purchasers of broiler chickens. On October 5, 2016, the Court consolidated the complaints, for pretrial purposes, into actions on behalf of three different putative classes: direct purchasers, indirect purchasers/consumers and commercial/institutional indirect purchasers. These actions are now styled In re Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation. The current operative complaints filed on behalf of each putative class allege, among other things, a conspiracy among defendants to reduce output and fix, increase, maintain, and stabilize the prices of broiler chickens in violation of the U.S. antitrust laws from the period of January 2008 to the present. The complaints on behalf of putative classes of indirect purchasers also include causes of action under various state consumer protection laws, unfair competition laws and unjust enrichment common laws. The complaints seek treble damages, injunctive relief, pre- and post-judgment interest, costs, and attorneys’ fees on behalf of the putative class. Pilgrim’s has filed motions to dismiss these actions.
On October 10, 2016, Patrick Hogan, acting on behalf of himself and a putative class of persons who purchased shares of Pilgrim’s stock between February 21, 2014 and October 6, 2016, filed a class action complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado against Pilgrim’s and its named executive officers. The complaint alleges, among other things, that Pilgrim’s SEC filings contained statements that were rendered materially false and misleading by Pilgrim’s failure to disclose that (i) the company colluded with several of its industry peers to fix prices in the broiler-chicken market as alleged in the In re Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation, (ii) its conduct constituted a violation of federal antitrust laws, (iii) Pilgrim’s revenues during the class period were the result of illegal conduct and (iv) that Pilgrim’s lacked effective internal control over financial reporting, as well as stating that Pilgrim’s industry was anticompetitive. The Court has not yet appointed a lead plaintiff and no consolidated class action complaint has been filed.
On January 27, 2017, a purported class action on behalf of broiler chicken farmers was brought against Pilgrim’s and 10 other producers in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, alleging, among other things, a conspiracy among the defendants to reduce competition in the domestic market for broiler chickens. Plaintiffs’ allegations are similar to those raised in the In re Broiler Chicken Antitrust Litigation, and seek, among other relief, treble damages.
We believe we have strong defenses in response to plaintiffs’ allegations and intend to contest these actions vigorously. We cannot predict the outcome of these actions nor when they will be resolved. If the plaintiffs were to prevail in any of these actions, we could be liable for damages, which could be material and could adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations.
18. MARKET RISKS AND CONCENTRATIONS
The Company’s financial instruments that are exposed to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash equivalents, investment securities and trade accounts receivable. The Company’s cash equivalents and investment securities are high-quality debt and equity securities placed with major banks and financial institutions. The Company’s trade accounts receivable are generally unsecured. Credit evaluations are performed on all significant customers and updated as circumstances dictate. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to trade accounts receivable are limited due to the large number of customers and their dispersion across geographic areas. With the exception of one customer that accounts for approximately 9.4% of trade accounts and other receivables at December 25, 2016, and approximately 7.3% of net sales for 2016, the Company does not believe it has significant concentrations of credit risk in its trade accounts receivable.
As of December 25, 2016, we employed approximately 29,850 persons in the U.S. and approximately 9,750 persons in Mexico. Approximately 42.9% of the Company’s employees were covered under collective bargaining agreements. Substantially all employees covered under collective bargaining agreements are covered under agreements that expire in 2017 or later, with the exception of three processing operations locations, where the collective bargaining agreement expired in 2016. Collective
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bargaining agreements have been reached for two of these three processing operations locations and we expect to ratify these agreements in 2017. Negotiations are ongoing on the collective borrowing agreement for the remaining processing operations location. We have not experienced any labor-related work stoppage at any location in over ten years. We believe our relationship with our employees and union leadership is satisfactory. At any given time, we will likely be in some stage of contract negotiations with various collective bargaining units. In the absence of an agreement, we may become subject to labor disruption at one or more of these locations, which could have an adverse effect on our financial results.
The aggregate carrying amount of net assets belonging to our Mexico operations was $673.0 million and $576.6 million at December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015, respectively.
19. 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 with 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.
Net sales to customers by customer location and long-lived assets are as follows:

|  | 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2014
|  | (In thousands)
Net sales to customers by customer location: |  |  |  |  |  |
United States |  | $ | 6,459,729 |  |  | $ | 6,722,455 |  |  | $ | 7,067,408 |
Mexico |  | 1,180,947 |  |  | 1,116,455 |  |  | 1,075,764 |
Asia |  | 99,295 |  |  | 120,288 |  |  | 246,141 |
Canada, Caribbean and Central America |  | 152,058 |  |  | 176,396 |  |  | 80,121 |
Africa |  | 14,124 |  |  | 16,171 |  |  | 49,810 |
Europe |  | 11,174 |  |  | 12,841 |  |  | 44,377 |
South America |  | 11,955 |  |  | 12,114 |  |  | 18,102 |
Pacific |  | 1,841 |  |  | 3,384 |  |  | 1,642 |
Total |  | $ | 7,931,123 |  |  | $ | 8,180,104 |  |  | $ | 8,583,365 |

| December 25, 2016 |  | December 27, 2015
| (In thousands)
Long-lived assets(a): |  |  |
United States | $ | 1,220,263 |  |  | $ | 1,108,776 |
Mexico | 285,677 |  |  | 243,753 |
Total | $ | 1,505,940 |  |  | $ | 1,352,529 |

(a) | For this disclosure, we exclude financial instruments, deferred tax assets and intangible assets in accordance with ASC 280-10-50-41, Segment Reporting. Long-lived assets, as used in ASC 280-10-50-41, implies hard assets that cannot be readily removed.

The following table sets forth, for the periods beginning with 2014, net sales attributable to each of our primary product lines and markets served with those products. We based the table on our internal sales reports and their classification of product types.
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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

| 2016 |  | 2015 |  | 2014
| (In thousands)
U.S. chicken: |  |  |  |  |
Prepared chicken | $ | 1,269,010 |  |  | $ | 1,672,693 |  |  | $ | 1,787,389 |
Fresh chicken | 4,627,137 |  |  | 4,701,943 |  |  | 4,703,993 |
Export and other chicken | 313,827 |  |  | 358,877 |  |  | 620,082 |
Total U.S. chicken | 6,209,974 |  |  | 6,733,513 |  |  | 7,111,464 |
Mexico chicken | 1,245,644 |  |  | 1,016,200 |  |  | 900,360 |
Total chicken | 7,455,618 |  |  | 7,749,713 |  |  | 8,011,824 |
Other products: |  |  |  |  |
U.S. | 461,429 |  |  | 409,841 |  |  | 535,572 |
Mexico | 14,076 |  |  | 20,550 |  |  | 35,969 |
Total other products | 475,505 |  |  | 430,391 |  |  | 571,541 |
Total net sales | $ | 7,931,123 |  |  | $ | 8,180,104 |  |  | $ | 8,583,365 |

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
20. QUARTERLY RESULTS (UNAUDITED)

2016 |  | First |  | Second |  | Third |  | Fourth(a) |  | Year
|  | (In thousands, except per share data)
Net sales |  | $ | 1,962,937 |  |  | $ | 2,028,315 |  |  | $ | 2,031,721 |  |  | $ | 1,908,150 |  |  | $ | 7,931,123 |
Gross profit |  | 237,562 |  |  | 286,131 |  |  | 210,217 |  |  | 180,450 |  |  | 914,360 |
Net income attributable to PPC common stockholders |  | 118,371 |  |  | 152,886 |  |  | 98,657 |  |  | 70,618 |  |  | 440,532 |
Net income per share amounts - basic |  | 0.46 |  |  | 0.60 |  |  | 0.39 |  |  | 0.29 |  |  | 1.74 |
Net income per share amounts - diluted |  | 0.46 |  |  | 0.60 |  |  | 0.39 |  |  | 0.28 |  |  | 1.73 |
Number of days in period |  | 91 |  |  | 91 |  |  | 91 |  |  | 91 |  |  | 364 |

2015 |  | First |  | Second(b) |  | Third(c) |  | Fourth(c) |  | Year
|  | (In thousands, except per share data)
Net sales |  | $ | 2,052,919 |  |  | $ | 2,053,876 |  |  | $ | 2,112,529 |  |  | $ | 1,960,780 |  |  | $ | 8,180,104 |
Gross profit (loss) |  | 377,120 |  |  | 432,020 |  |  | 284,544 |  |  | 160,693 |  |  | 1,254,377 |
Net income attributable to PPC common stockholders |  | 204,215 |  |  | 241,489 |  |  | 137,062 |  |  | 63,148 |  |  | 645,914 |
Net income per share amounts - basic |  | 0.79 |  |  | 0.93 |  |  | 0.53 |  |  | 0.25 |  |  | 2.50 |
Net income per share amounts - diluted |  | 0.79 |  |  | 0.93 |  |  | 0.53 |  |  | 0.25 |  |  | 2.50 |
Number of days in period |  | 91 |  |  | 91 |  |  | 91 |  |  | 91 |  |  | 364 |

2014 |  | First |  | Second |  | Third |  | Fourth |  | Year
|  | (In thousands, except per share data)
Net sales |  | $ | 2,018,065 |  |  | $ | 2,186,817 |  |  | $ | 2,268,048 |  |  | $ | 2,110,435 |  |  | $ | 8,583,365 |
Gross profit |  | 215,106 |  |  | 349,476 |  |  | 450,265 |  |  | 379,148 |  |  | 1,393,995 |
Net income attributable to PPC common stockholders |  | 98,117 |  |  | 190,360 |  |  | 255,983 |  |  | 167,188 |  |  | 711,648 |
Net income per share amounts - basic |  | 0.38 |  |  | 0.74 |  |  | 0.99 |  |  | 0.65 |  |  | 2.75 |
Net income per share amounts - diluted |  | 0.38 |  |  | 0.73 |  |  | 0.99 |  |  | 0.64 |  |  | 2.74 |
Number of days in period |  | 91 |  |  | 91 |  |  | 91 |  |  | 91 |  |  | 364 |

(a) | In the fourth quarter of 2016, the company recognized impairment charges of $1.1 million related to our Dallas, Texas plant held for sale.

(b) | In the second quarter of 2015, the Company recognized impairment charges of $4.8 million related to our Dallas, Texas and Bossier City, Louisiana plants held for sale.

(c) | On June 29, 2015, the Company acquired, indirectly through certain of its Mexican subsidiaries, 100% of the equity of Tyson Mexico from Tyson Foods, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries. The results of operations of the acquired business since June 29, 2015 are included in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. Net sales generated by the acquired business during the third and fourth quarters of 2015 were $128.9 million and $121.7 million, respectively. The acquired business incurred net losses of $2.9 million and $10.8 million during the third and fourth quarters of 2015, respectively.

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SCHEDULE II
PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

|  |  | Additions |  |  |  |  |  |
| Beginning Balance |  | Charged to Operating Results |  | Charged to Other Accounts |  | Deductions |  |  |  | Ending Balance
| (In thousands)
Trade Accounts and Other Receivables— |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
2016 | $ | 4,900 |  |  | $ | 114 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 451 |  |  | (a) |  | $ | 4,563 |
2015 | 2,525 |  |  | 1,060 |  |  | 1,314 |  | (d) | (1 | ) |  | (a) |  | 4,900 |
2014 | 4,056 |  |  | 520 |  |  | — |  |  | 2,051 |  |  | (a) |  | 2,525 |
Trade Accounts and Other Receivables— |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Allowance for Sales Adjustments: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
2016 | $ | 5,662 |  |  | $ | 199,423 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 200,211 |  |  | (b) |  | $ | 4,874 |
2015 | 7,425 |  |  | 150,113 |  |  | — |  |  | 151,876 |  |  | (b) |  | 5,662 |
2014 | 7,089 |  |  | 220,123 |  |  | — |  |  | 219,787 |  |  | (b) |  | 7,425 |
Deferred Tax Assets— |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Valuation Allowance: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
2016 | $ | 7,921 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | (1,689 | ) |  | (c) |  | $ | 6,232 |
2015 | 9,150 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (1,229 | ) |  | (c) |  | 7,921 |
2014 | 10,400 |  |  | (1,250 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (c) |  | 9,150 |

(a) Uncollectible accounts written off, net of recoveries.
(b) Deductions either written off, rebilled or reclassified as liabilities for market development fund rebates.
(c) Reductions in the valuation allowance.
(d) Allowance for doubtful accounts assumed with the acquisition of Tyson Mexico.
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
As of December 25, 2016, an evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”)). Based on that evaluation, the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms, and that information we are required to disclose in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
In connection with the evaluation described above, the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, identified no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Company’s quarter ended December 25, 2016, and that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
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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 adopted the 2013 Framework during the fiscal year ending December 27, 2015.
Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation’s (“PPC”) management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). PPC’s internal control is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
Under the supervision and with the participation of management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, PPC's management assessed the design and operating effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 25, 2016 based on the 2013 Framework. Based on this assessment, management concluded that PPC’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 25, 2016. KPMG LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, has issued an unqualified report on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 25, 2016. That report is included in this Item 9A of this annual report.
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation:
We have audited Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 25, 2016, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting, included in Item 9A. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 25, 2016, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation as of December 25, 2016 and December 27, 2015, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for the fifty-two weeks ended December 25, 2016, December 27, 2015, and December 28, 2014, and our report dated February 8, 2017 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements.
Denver, Colorado
February 8, 2017
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PART III
Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Certain information regarding our executive officers has been presented under “Executive Officers” included in “Item 1. Business,” above.
Reference is made to the sections entitled “Security Ownership,” “Election of JBS Directors,” “Election of Equity Directors and the Founder Director,” “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance,” “Committees of the Board of Directors” and “Related Party Transactions” of the Company’s Proxy Statement for its 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which sections are incorporated herein by reference.
We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, which applies to all employees, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer. The full text of our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is published on our website, at www.pilgrims.com, under the “Investors-Corporate Governance” caption. We intend to disclose future amendments to, or waivers from, certain provisions of this Code on our website within four business days following the date of such amendment or waiver.
Item 11. Executive Compensation
Reference is made to the sections entitled “Security Ownership,” “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance,” “2016 Director Compensation Table,” “Report of the Compensation Committee,” “Compensation Discussion and Analysis,” “Executive Compensation,” “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” and “Related Party Transactions” of the Company’s Proxy Statement for its 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which sections are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table provides certain information about our common stock that may be issued under the Long Term Incentive Plan (the “LTIP”), as of December 25, 2016. For additional information concerning terms of the LTIP, see “Note 15. Incentive Compensation” of our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this annual report.

Plan Category |  | Number of Securities to Be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants and Rights |  | Weighted-Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Option, Warrants and Rights |  | Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans (Excluding Securities Reflected in the First Column)
Equity compensation plans approved by securities holders |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 5,026,705 |
Equity compensation plans not approved by securities holders |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Total |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 5,026,705 |

Reference is made to the section entitled “Security Ownership,” of the Company’s Proxy Statement for its 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which section is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Reference is made to the sections entitled “Corporate Governance” and “Related Party Transactions” of the Company’s Proxy Statement for its 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which sections are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 14. Principal Accounting Fees and Services
The information required by this item is incorporated herein by reference from the section entitled “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm Fee Information” of the Company’s Proxy Statement for its 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
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PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

(a) | Financial Statements

(1) | The financial statements and schedules listed in the index to financial statements and schedules on page 1 of this annual report are filed as part of this annual report.

(2) | All other schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission are not required under the related instructions or are not applicable and therefore have been omitted.

(3) | The financial statements schedule entitled “Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves” is filed as part of this annual report on page 85.

(b) | Exhibits

Exhibit Number

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 (No. 005-81998) filed on December 5, 2006).
2.4 |  |  | Stock Purchase Agreement by and between the Company and JBS USA Holding Lux, S.à.r.l., formerly known as JBS USA Holdings, LLC, dated September 16, 2009 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 2.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (No. 001-09273) filed September 18, 2009).
2.5 |  |  | Amendment No.1 to the Stock Purchase Agreement by and between the Company and JBS USA Holding Lux, S.à.r.l., formerly known as JBS USA Holdings, LLC, dated December 28, 2009 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 2.5 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A (No. 001-09273) 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 (No. 001-09273) 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 (No. 001-09273) 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 Holding Lux, S.à.r.l., formerly known as JBS USA Holdings, LLC, as amended (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.3 to the Company’s Form 8-A (No. 001-09273) 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 (No. 001-09273) filed on December 29, 2009).
4.5 |  |  | Indenture dated as of December 14, 2010 among the Company, Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation of West Virginia, Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (No. 001-09273) filed on December 15, 2010).
4.6 |  |  | Form of Senior 7.875% Note due 2018 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.3 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (No. 001-09273) filed on December 15, 2010).
4.7 |  |  | Form of Guarantee (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.4 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (No. 001-09273) filed on December 15, 2010).

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4.8 |  |  | 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 (No 001-09273) filed on March 11, 2015).
10.1 |  |  | 2005 Deferred Compensation Plan of the Company (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (No. 001-09273) dated December 27, 2004). †
10.2 |  |  | Change to Company Contribution Amount Under the Amended and Restated 2005 Deferred Compensation Plan of the Company (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10‑Q (No. 001-09273) filed July 30, 2008). †
10.3 |  |  | Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation Short-Term Management Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (No. 001-09273) filed on December 30, 2009). †
10.4 |  |  | Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation Long Term Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (No. 001-09273) filed on December 30, 2009). †
10.5 |  |  | Employment Agreement dated January 14, 2011 between the Company and William Lovette (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (No. 001-09273) filed on January 18, 2011). †
10.6 |  |  | Restricted Share Agreement dated January 14, 2011 between the Company and William Lovette (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (No. 001-09273) filed on January 18, 2011). †
10.7 |  |  | Subordinated Loan Agreement dated as of June 23, 2011, between the Company and JBS USA Food Company Holdings, successor by assignment to JBS USA Holdings, LLC, (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (No. 001-09273) filed on June 24, 2011).
10.8 |  |  | Amendment No. 1 to the Subordinated Loan Agreement dated as of October 26, 2011, between the Company and JBS USA Food Company Holdings, successor by assignment to JBS USA Holdings, LLC, (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (No. 001-09273) filed on April 27, 2012).
10.9 |  |  | Amendment No. 2 to the Subordinated Loan Agreement dated as of December 16, 2011, between the Company and JBS USA Food Company Holdings, successor by assignment to JBS USA Holdings, LLC, (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A (No. 001-09273) filed on December 20, 2011).
10.10 |  |  | Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation 2012 Long Term Incentive Program (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (No. 001-09273) filed on September 10, 2012). †
10.11 |  |  | Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (No. 001-09273) filed on September 10, 2012). †
10.12 |  |  | Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated February 11, 2015 among Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, To-Ricos, Ltd. and To-Ricos Distribution, Ltd., Coöperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank B.A., Rabobank Nederland, New York Branch, as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (No. 001-09273) filed on February 12, 2015).
10.13 |  |  | First Amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated April 27, 2016 among Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, To-Ricos, Ltd. and To-Ricos Distribution, Ltd., Coöperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank B.A., Rabobank Nederland, New York Branch, as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (No. 001-09273) filed on July 28, 2016).
10.14 |  |  | Checking Account Loan Opening Contract dated July 23, 2014 among Avícola Pilgrim’s Pride de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., as borrower, Pilgrim’s Pride S. de R.L. de C.V. and Comercializadora de Carnes de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V., as guarantors, and BBVA Bancomer, S.A., Institución de Banca Múltiple, Grupo Financiero BBVA Bancomer, as borrower (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (No. 001-09273) filed on July 28, 2016).
10.15 |  |  | Agreement to Modify Checking Account Loan Opening Contract dated November 3, 2015 among Avícola Pilgrim’s Pride de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., as borrower, Pilgrim’s Pride S. de R.L. de C.V. and Comercializadora de Carnes de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V., as guarantors, and BBVA Bancomer, S.A., Institución de Banca Múltiple, Grupo Financiero BBVA Bancomer, as borrower (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (No. 001-09273) filed on July 28, 2016).

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10.16 |  |  | Checking Account Loan Opening Contract dated September 27, 2016 among Avícola Pilgrim’s Pride de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., as borrower, Pilgrim’s Pride S. de R.L. de C.V. and Comercializadora de Carnes de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V., as guarantors, and BBVA Bancomer, S.A., Institución de Banca Múltiple, Grupo Financiero BBVA Bancomer, as borrower (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (No. 001-09273) filed on October 27, 2016).
10.17 |  |  | Second Amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated October 21, 2016 among Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, To-Ricos, Ltd. and To-Ricos Distribution, Ltd., Coöperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank B.A., Rabobank Nederland, New York Branch, as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (No. 001-09273) filed on October 27, 2016).
12 |  |  | Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges for the years ended December 25, 2016, December 27, 2015, December 28, 2014, December 29, 2013 and December 30, 2012.*
21 |  |  | Subsidiaries of Registrant.*
23.1 |  |  | Consent of KPMG LLP.*
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 of Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.**
32.2 |  |  | Certification of Principal Financial Officer of Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation 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
† |  | Represents a management contract or compensation plan arrangement

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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) 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, on February 8, 2017.

|  | PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION
By: |  | /s/ Fabio Sandri
|  | Fabio Sandri
|  | Chief Financial Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.

Signature |  | Title |  | Date
/s/ Gilberto Tomazoni |  | Chairman of the Board |  | February 8, 2017
Gilberto Tomazoni |  |
/s/ William W. Lovette |  | President and Chief Executive Officer |  | February 8, 2017
William W. Lovette |  | (Principal Executive Officer) |  |
|  | Chief Financial Officer |  |
/s/ Fabio Sandri |  | (Principal Financial Officer and |  | February 8, 2017
Fabio Sandri |  | Principal Accounting Officer) |  |
|  | Director |  | February 8, 2017
Joesley Mendonça Batista |  |
|  | Director |  | February 8, 2017
Wesley Mendonça Batista |  |  |  |
/s/ David E. Bell |  | Director |  | February 8, 2017
David E. Bell |  |
/s/ Michael L. Cooper |  | Director |  | February 8, 2017
Michael L. Cooper |  |
/s/ Wallim Cruz de Vasconcellos Junior |  | Director |  | February 8, 2017
Wallim Cruz de Vasconcellos Junior |  |
/s/ Charles Macaluso |  | Director |  | February 8, 2017
Charles Macaluso |  |
/s/ Andre Nogueira de Souza |  | Director |  | February 8, 2017
Andre Nogueira de Souza |  |  |  |

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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 (No. 005-81998) filed on December 5, 2006).
2.4 |  |  | Stock Purchase Agreement by and between the Company and JBS USA Holding Lux, S.à.r.l., formerly known as JBS USA Holdings, LLC, dated September 16, 2009 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 2.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (No. 001-09273) filed September 18, 2009).
2.5 |  |  | Amendment No.1 to the Stock Purchase Agreement by and between the Company and JBS USA Holding Lux, S.à.r.l., formerly known as JBS USA Holdings, LLC, dated December 28, 2009 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 2.5 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A (No. 001-09273) 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 (No. 001-09273) 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 (No. 001-09273) 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 Holding Lux, S.à.r.l., formerly known as JBS USA Holdings, LLC, as amended (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 3.3 to the Company’s Form 8-A (No. 001-09273) 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 (No. 001-09273) filed on December 29, 2009).
4.5 |  |  | Indenture dated as of December 14, 2010 among the Company, Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation of West Virginia, Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Trustee (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (No. 001-09273) filed on December 15, 2010).
4.6 |  |  | Form of Senior 7.875% Note due 2018 (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.3 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (No. 001-09273) filed on December 15, 2010).
4.7 |  |  | Form of Guarantee (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 4.4 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (No. 001-09273) filed on December 15, 2010).
4.8 |  |  | 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 (No 001-09273) filed on March 11, 2015).
10.1 |  |  | 2005 Deferred Compensation Plan of the Company (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (No. 001-09273) dated December 27, 2004). †
10.2 |  |  | Change to Company Contribution Amount Under the Amended and Restated 2005 Deferred Compensation Plan of the Company (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10‑Q (No. 001-09273) filed July 30, 2008). †
10.3 |  |  | Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation Short-Term Management Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (No. 001-09273) filed on December 30, 2009). †
10.4 |  |  | Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation Long Term Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (No. 001-09273) filed on December 30, 2009). †

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10.5 |  |  | Employment Agreement dated January 14, 2011 between the Company and William Lovette (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (No. 001-09273) filed on January 18, 2011). †
10.6 |  |  | Restricted Share Agreement dated January 14, 2011 between the Company and William Lovette (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (No. 001-09273) filed on January 18, 2011). †
10.7 |  |  | Subordinated Loan Agreement dated as of June 23, 2011, between the Company and JBS USA Food Company Holdings, successor by assignment to JBS USA Holdings, LLC, (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (No. 001-09273) filed on June 24, 2011).
10.8 |  |  | Amendment No. 1 to the Subordinated Loan Agreement dated as of October 26, 2011, between the Company and JBS USA Food Company Holdings, successor by assignment to JBS USA Holdings, LLC, (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (No. 001-09273) filed on April 27, 2012).
10.9 |  |  | Amendment No. 2 to the Subordinated Loan Agreement dated as of December 16, 2011, between the Company and JBS USA Food Company Holdings, successor by assignment to JBS USA Holdings, LLC, (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A (No. 001-09273) filed on December 20, 2011).
10.10 |  |  | Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation 2012 Long Term Incentive Program (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (No. 001-09273) filed on September 10, 2012). †
10.11 |  |  | Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (No. 001-09273) filed on September 10, 2012). †
10.12 |  |  | Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated February 11, 2015 among Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, To-Ricos, Ltd. and To-Ricos Distribution, Ltd., Coöperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank B.A., Rabobank Nederland, New York Branch, as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (No. 001-09273) filed on February 12, 2015).
10.13 |  |  | First Amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated April 27, 2016 among Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, To-Ricos, Ltd. and To-Ricos Distribution, Ltd., Coöperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank B.A., Rabobank Nederland, New York Branch, as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (No. 001-09273) filed on July 28, 2016).
10.14 |  |  | Checking Account Loan Opening Contract dated July 23, 2014 among Avícola Pilgrim’s Pride de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., as borrower, Pilgrim’s Pride S. de R.L. de C.V. and Comercializadora de Carnes de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V., as guarantors, and BBVA Bancomer, S.A., Institución de Banca Múltiple, Grupo Financiero BBVA Bancomer, as borrower (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (No. 001-09273) filed on July 28, 2016).
10.15 |  |  | Agreement to Modify Checking Account Loan Opening Contract dated November 3, 2015 among Avícola Pilgrim’s Pride de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., as borrower, Pilgrim’s Pride S. de R.L. de C.V. and Comercializadora de Carnes de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V., as guarantors, and BBVA Bancomer, S.A., Institución de Banca Múltiple, Grupo Financiero BBVA Bancomer, as borrower (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.3 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (No. 001-09273) filed on July 28, 2016).
10.16 |  |  | Checking Account Loan Opening Contract dated September 27, 2016 among Avícola Pilgrim’s Pride de Mexico, S.A. de C.V., as borrower, Pilgrim’s Pride S. de R.L. de C.V. and Comercializadora de Carnes de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V., as guarantors, and BBVA Bancomer, S.A., Institución de Banca Múltiple, Grupo Financiero BBVA Bancomer, as borrower (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (No. 001-09273) filed on October 27, 2016).
10.17 |  |  | Second Amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated October 21, 2016 among Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, To-Ricos, Ltd. and To-Ricos Distribution, Ltd., Coöperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank B.A., Rabobank Nederland, New York Branch, as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (No. 001-09273) filed on October 27, 2016).
12 |  |  | Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges for the years ended December 25, 2016, December 27, 2015, December 28, 2014, December 29, 2013 and December 30, 2012.*
21 |  |  | Subsidiaries of Registrant.*
23.1 |  |  | Consent of KPMG LLP.*

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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 of Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.**
32.2 |  |  | Certification of Principal Financial Officer of Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation 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
† |  | Represents a management contract or compensation plan arrangement

94