Release Details

PITTSBURG, Texas, Sept. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pilgrim's Pride Corporation (Pink Sheets: PGPDQ) and six of its subsidiaries that are debtors and debtors in possession in the chapter 11 cases pending in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas today announced they have filed a joint plan of reorganization and disclosure statement under chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code.

As previously announced, Pilgrim's Pride and JBS have agreed to a transaction representing an enterprise value of approximately $2.8 billion. Under the terms of the plan of reorganization, Pilgrim's Pride has entered into an agreement to sell 64% of the new common stock of the reorganized Pilgrim's Pride to JBS S.A., through its JBS USA Holdings, Inc. subsidiary (JBS U.S.A.), for $800 million in cash.

Proceeds from the sale of the new common stock of the reorganized Pilgrim's Pride to JBS will be used to fund cash distributions to allowed claims under the plan. Under the terms of the plan, all creditors of the Debtors holding allowed claims will be paid in full. All existing Pilgrim's Pride common stock will be cancelled and existing stockholders will receive the same number of new common stock shares, representing 36% of the reorganized Pilgrim's Pride in aggregate. The plan also calls for an exit facility for senior secured financing in an aggregate principal amount of at least $1.65 billion.

The disclosure statement hearing is currently scheduled to take place on October 20, 2009, at 10:30 a.m. CT before the Bankruptcy Court. If the Bankruptcy Court determines that the proposed disclosure statement provides adequate information to vote on the plan, then the proposed disclosure statement and plan, along with the appropriate ballots, will be sent to shareholders to vote on the plan. Since the proposed plan of reorganization represents a "100% plan," with creditors being repaid in full, shareholders represent the only impaired class and will be the only group entitled to vote on the plan of reorganization.

Information about Pilgrim's Pride's restructuring is available at Pilgrim's Pride's website www.pilgrimspride.com or via Pilgrim's Pride's restructuring information line at (888) 830-4659.

This release is not intended to be, and should not in any way be construed as, a solicitation of votes on the plan. The information contained in the proposed disclosure statement should not be relied on for any purpose until a determination by the Bankruptcy Court is made that the proposed disclosure statement contains adequate information.

As previously announced, the Debtors filed voluntary Chapter 11 petitions on December 1, 2008. The Chapter 11 cases are being jointly administered under case number 08-45664. The Company's operations in Mexico and certain operations in the United States were not included in the filing and continue to operate as usual outside of the Chapter 11 process.

About Pilgrim's Pride

Pilgrim's Pride Corporation employs approximately 41,000 people and operates chicken processing plants and prepared-foods facilities in 12 states, Puerto Rico and Mexico. The Company's primary distribution is through retailers and foodservice distributors. For more information, please visit http://www.pilgrimspride.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release that state the intentions, plans, hopes, beliefs, anticipations, expectations or predictions of the future of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation and its management, including expectations as to the Debtors' emergence from Chapter 11, reorganization of the Debtors' business and finances to resolve its operational and liquidity issues, expectations to emerge from Chapter 11 by December 2009 stronger and more competitive, anticipated authorizations being requested of the Bankruptcy Court, the liquidity to be provided by the proposed exit financing, and expectations that the plan should be supported by the Debtors' major constituencies, are forward-looking statements. It is important to note that the actual results could differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements include: the Debtors' ability to obtain court approval with respect to its motions in the Chapter 11 proceedings and the disclosure statement; the ability of the Debtors to obtain confirmation of, and consummate, the Plan; risks associated with third- party motions or objections in the Chapter 11 proceedings, which may interfere with the Company's ability to obtain confirmation of, and consummate, the Plan; the potential adverse effects of the Chapter 11 proceedings on the Debtors' liquidity or results of operations; matters affecting the poultry industry generally; continued compliance with conditions for funding under the debtor-in-possession financing facility and the proposed exit financing; the ability to execute the Debtors' business and restructuring plan to achieve desired cost savings and additional capital to improve liquidity; future pricing for feed ingredients and the Debtors' products; additional outbreaks of avian influenza or other diseases, either in Pilgrim's Pride's flocks or elsewhere, affecting its ability to conduct its operations and/or demand for its poultry products; contamination of Pilgrim's Pride's products, which has previously and can in the future lead to product liability claims and product recalls; exposure to risks related to product liability, product recalls, property damage and injuries to persons, for which insurance coverage is expensive, limited and potentially inadequate; management of cash resources, particularly in light of Pilgrim's Pride's substantial leverage; restrictions imposed by, and as a result of, Pilgrim's Pride's substantial leverage; changes in laws or regulations affecting Pilgrim's Pride's operations or the application thereof; new immigration legislation or increased enforcement efforts in connection with existing immigration legislation that cause the costs of doing business to increase, cause Pilgrim's Pride to change the way in which it does business, or otherwise disrupt its operations; competitive factors and pricing pressures or the loss of one or more of Pilgrim's Pride's largest customers; currency exchange rate fluctuations, trade barriers, exchange controls, expropriation and other risks associated with foreign operations; disruptions in international markets and distribution channels; and the impact of uncertainties of litigation as well as other risks described under "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Pilgrim's Pride Corporation undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Media Contact

Cameron Bruett
Communications
Phone: +1 970.506.7801 | Email: cameron.bruett@jbssa.com