UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 
FORM 8-K
 

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): May 14, 2014
 

PILGRIM'S PRIDE CORPORATION
(Exact Name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware 1-9273 75-1285071
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)

1770 Promontory Circle  
Greeley, CO 80634-9038
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (970) 506-8000

Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

¨       Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 
¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 
¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 
¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))



Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure

Attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 is information regarding Pilgrim's Pride Corporation pension and other postretirement benefits disclosed by JBS S.A. in their quarterly financial report submitted to the Comissão de Valores Mobiliários on May 14, 2014.

The information furnished in Item 7.01 and in Exhibit 99.1 shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or incorporated by reference in any of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation's filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits

Exhibit Number       Description  

99.1

Information regarding Pilgrim's Pride Corporation pension and other postretirement benefits disclosed by JBS S.A. in their quarterly financial report submitted to the Comissão de Valores Mobiliários on May 14, 2014




SIGNATURE

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

PILGRIM'S PRIDE CORPORATION

 
 
 
Date:      May 14, 2014         By:    /s/ Fabio Sandri
Fabio Sandri
Chief Financial Officer



Exhibit Index

Exhibit Number       Description  

99.1

Information regarding Pilgrim's Pride Corporation pension and other postretirement benefits disclosed by JBS S.A. in their quarterly financial report submitted to the Comissão de Valores Mobiliários on May 14, 2014




Exhibit 99.1

PILGRIM'S PRIDE CORPORATION
PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS
(Information provided as of March 30, 2014 and for the thirteen weeks then ended has not been audited)

Defined Benefit Plans Obligations and Assets

     The following tables provide reconciliations of the changes in the plans’ projected benefit obligations and fair value of assets as well as statements of the funded status, balance sheet reporting and economic assumptions for these plans:

Thirteen Weeks Ended March 30, 2014
      Pension Benefits       Other Benefits
Change in projected benefit obligation: (In thousands)
       Projected benefit obligation, December 29, 2013 $ 170,030 $ 1,705
       Service cost
       Interest cost 2,026 20
       Actuarial losses (gains) 9,017 52
       Benefits paid (3,603 ) (37 )
              Projected benefit obligation, March 30, 2014 $                                  177,470 $                                  1,740
 
Thirteen Weeks Ended March 30, 2014
Pension Benefits Other Benefits
Change in plan assets: (In thousands)
       Fair value of plan assets, December 29, 2013 $ 108,496 $
       Actual return on plan assets 1,353
       Contributions by employer 1,529 37
       Benefits paid (3,603 ) (37 )
              Fair value of plan assets, March 30, 2014 $ 107,775 $

March 30, 2014 December 29, 2013
Pension Benefits Other Benefits Pension Benefits Other Benefits
Funded status: (In thousands)
              Fair value of plan assets       $ 107,775       $       $ 108,496       $
              Benefit obligations (177,470 ) (1,740 ) (170,030 ) (1,705 )
                     Funded status of plans $             (69,695 ) $              (1,740 ) $             (61,534 ) $              (1,705 )
 
  March 30, 2014 December 29, 2013
Pension Benefits Other Benefits Pension Benefits Other Benefits
Amounts recognized in the consolidated
       balance sheet at the end of period: (In thousands)
              Current liabilities $ (10,560 ) $ (149 ) $ (9,146 ) $ (148 )
              Long-term liabilities (59,135 ) (1,591 ) (52,388 ) (1,557 )
                     Recognized liabilities $ (69,695 ) $ (1,740 ) $ (61,534 ) $ (1,705 )



March 30, 2014 December 29, 2013
Pension Benefits Other Benefits Pension Benefits Other Benefits
Amounts recognized in accumulated other
       comprehensive loss at end of period: (In thousands)
       Net actuarial loss (gain)       $            26,201       $            (74 )       $            16,957       $            (126 )
 
March 30, 2014 December 29, 2013
      Pension Benefits       Other Benefits       Pension Benefits       Other Benefits
Economic assumptions:
       Discount rate              4.58 %           4.58 %               4.95 %            4.95 %

     The accumulated benefit obligation for our defined benefit pension plans was $177.5 million and $170.0 million at March 30, 2014 and December 29, 2013, respectively. Each of our defined benefit pension plans had an accumulated benefit obligation that exceeded the fair value of plan assets at both March 30, 2014 and December 29, 2013.

Plan Assets

     The following table reflects the pension plans’ actual asset allocations:

March 30, 2014 December 29, 2013
Cash and cash equivalents % %
Pooled separate accounts(a):
       Equity funds 5 % 8 %
       Fixed income funds 5 % 3 %
Common collective trust funds(a):
       Equity funds 59 % 60 %
       Fixed income funds 31 % 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:

March 30, 2014 December 29, 2013
    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 $        21 $ $        $ 21 $ 275 $ $        $ 275
Pooled separate accounts:
       Large U.S. equity funds(d) 3,467 3,467 4,828 4,828
       Small/Mid U.S. equity funds(e) 874 874 1,192 1,192
       International equity funds(f) 1,434 1,434 2,019 2,019
       Fixed income funds(g) 5,703 5,703 3,442 3,442
Common collective trust funds:
       Large U.S. equity funds 28,123 28,123 28,784 28,784
       Small U.S. equity funds 16,483 16,483 16,937 16,937
       International equity funds 18,824 18,824 19,420 19,420
       Fixed income funds 32,846 32,846 31,599 31,599
Total assets $ 21 $     107,754 $ $     107,775 $      275 $     108,221 $ $     108,496

(a) Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets are used to determine fair value.
     
(b) Quoted prices in active markets for similar assets and inputs that are observable for the asset are used to determine fair value.
 
(c) Unobservable inputs, such as discounted cash flow models or valuations, are used to determine fair value.
 
(d) This category is comprised of investment options that invest in stocks, or shares of ownership, in large, well-established U.S. companies. These investment options typically carry more risk than fixed income options but have the potential for higher returns over longer time periods.
 
(e) This category is generally comprised of investment options that invest in stocks, or shares of ownership, in small to medium-sized U.S. companies. These investment options typically carry more risk than larger U.S. equity investment options but have the potential for higher returns.
 
(f) This category is comprised of investment options that invest in stocks, or shares of ownership, in companies with their principal place of business or office outside of the U.S.
 
(g) This category is comprised of investment options that invest in bonds, or debt of a company or government entity (including U.S. and non-U.S. entities). 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.

Benefit Payments

     The following table reflects the benefits as of March 30, 2014 expected to be paid through 2023 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)
2014 (remaining)       $ 9,602       $ 111
2015 12,231 151
2016 11,847 153
2017 11,487 154
2018 10,940 153
2019-2023 50,866 723
       Total $           106,973 $           1,445

     We anticipate contributing $7.6 million and $0.1 million to our pension and other postretirement plans, respectively, during the remainder of 2014.

Amounts Included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

     Pre-tax amounts included in accumulated other comprehensive loss that have not yet been recognized in net periodic benefit plan cost and the changes in those amounts are as follows:

Thirteen Weeks Ended March 30, 2014
Pension Benefits Other Benefits
  (In thousands)
Net actuarial loss (gain), December 29, 2013       $ 16,957       $ (126 )
Amortization (14 )
Liability loss 9,017 52
Asset loss 241
       Net actuarial loss (gain), March 30, 2014 $                      26,201 $                      (74 )