Pittsburg, Texas, dec. 11 /prnewswire-firstcall/ -- Pilgrims Pride
corporation (nyse: Ppc) Announced New Pricing In Its Previously Announced Cash
tender Offer For, And Consent Solicitation With Respect To, Any And All Of
gold Kist Inc.s Outstanding 10 1/4% Senior Notes Due march 15, 2014 (cusip
no. 380616ab8, Isin Us380616ab82) (the "notes"). The Tender Offer And Consent
solicitation Are Being Made In Connection With Pilgrims Prides Previously
announced Tender Offer For All Of Gold Kists Outstanding Common Shares.
pilgrims Prides Obligation To Accept For Purchase And To Pay For Notes
properly Tendered And Not Withdrawn Is Subject To The Satisfaction Of Certain
conditions Which Are Described In The Offer To Purchase And Consent
solicitation Statement Dated september 29, 2006 (the "offer To Purchase"),
including The Satisfaction Or Waiver Of All Conditions To The Tender Offer For
gold Kists Common Shares.
On november 30, 2006, Pilgrims Pride Announced That It Was Extending The
tender Offer Expiration Date To 5:00 P.m., new York City Time, On wednesday,
december 27, 2006, Unless Further Extended (the "expiration Date").
Pilgrims Pride Announced That It Had Received The Requisite Consents To
the Proposed Amendments To The Notes And The Indenture Under Which The Notes
were Issued From Holders Of Approximately 99.9% Of The Aggregate Principal
amount Of The Outstanding Notes. Pursuant To The Terms Of The Offer, As A
result Of The Extension Of The Expiration Date, The Consideration Payable To
holders Of Gold Kist Notes Has Been Calculated Using A New Price Determination
date Of december 11, 2006, Which Is The Eleventh Business Day Preceding The
scheduled Expiration Date.
Based On An Assumed Payment Date Of january 2, 2007, Holders Who Validly
tendered Notes With Consents At Or Prior To 5:00 P.m., new York City Time, On
october 13, 2006 (the "consent Date") Are Eligible To Receive $1,152.41 For
each $1,000 Principal Amount Of The Notes (the "total Consideration"). The
total Consideration Includes A Consent Payment Equal To $30 In Cash Per $1,000
principal Amount Of The Notes (the "consent Payment"). The Consent Payment Is
payable Only To Holders Of Notes Validly Tendered With Consents And Not
validly Withdrawn On Or Prior To The Consent Date. Holders Who Validly
tendered Notes With Consents After The Consent Date But At Or Prior To 5:00
p.m., new York City Time, On The Expiration Date Are Eligible To Receive
$1,122.41 For Each $1,000 Principal Amount Of The Notes (the "tender Offer
consideration"). In Addition To The Total Consideration Or The Tender Offer
consideration Payable In Respect Of Notes Purchased In The Offer, Pilgrims
pride Will Pay Accrued And Unpaid Interest From The Last Interest Payment Date
to, But Not Including, The Payment Date. The "payment Date" Is Expected To Be
promptly After The Expiration Date And Immediately Prior To The Closing Of The
transactions Contemplated By The Tender Offer For Gold Kists Common Shares.
The Total Consideration And The Tender Offer Consideration Were Determined
as Of 10:00 A.m., new York City Time On december 11, 2006, Based On The
reference Yield (as Described In The Offer To Purchase) Of 4.571% For The
notes, And A Fixed Spread (as Described In The Offer To Purchase) Of 50 Basis
points For The Notes, Using An Assumed january 2, 2007, Payment Date For
calculation Purposes. The Offer Is Currently Scheduled To Expire At 5:00 P.m.
new York City Time On december 27, 2006. If The Expiration Date Is Extended
for More Than 10 Business Days Following The Expiration Date, A New Price
determination Date Will Be Established (to Be 10:00 A.m. new York City Time On
the Eleventh Business Day Immediately Preceding The New Expiration Date) And
the Tender Offer Consideration And The Total Consideration Will Be
redetermined As Of Such New Price Determination Date. Information Regarding
the Pricing, Tender And Delivery Procedures, The Conditions To The Tender
offer And Consent Solicitation Relating To The Notes And The Proposed
amendments To The Notes And Gold Kist Indenture Are Contained In The Offer To
purchase.
Pilgrims Pride Has Engaged Lehman Brothers Inc. To Serve As The Dealer
manager For The Tender Offer And The Solicitation Agent For The Consent
solicitation. Mellon Investor Services Llc Has Been Retained To Serve As The
depository And Innisfree M>a Incorporated Has Been Retained To Serve As The
information Agent For The Tender Offer And Consent Solicitation. Requests For
documents May Be Directed To Innisfree M>a Incorporated By Telephone At
(877) 687-1874 (toll Free In The U.s. And canada) Or (212) 750-5833 (call
collect) Or In Writing At 501 Madison Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, Ny 10022.
questions Regarding The Tender Offer And Consent Solicitation May Be Directed
to Lehman Brothers Inc. By Telephone At (800) 438-3242 (toll Free In The U.s.)
or (212) 528-7581 (call Collect).
This Press Release Is For Informational Purposes Only And Does Not
constitute An Offer To Purchase Or A Solicitation Of Consents, Which May Be
made Only Pursuant To The Terms Of The Offer To Purchase And Related
documents. The Tender Offer And Consent Solicitation Are Not Being Made In Any
jurisdiction In Which, Or To Or From Any Person To Or From Whom, It Is
unlawful To Make Such Offer Or Solicitation Under Applicable Securities Or
blue Sky Laws. In Any Jurisdiction Where The Laws Require The Tender Offer Or
consent Solicitation To Be Made By A Licensed Broker Or Dealer, The Tender
offer Or Consent Solicitation Shall Be Deemed Made On Behalf Of Pilgrims
pride By Lehman Brothers Inc. Or One Or More Registered Brokers Or Dealers
under The Laws Of Such Jurisdiction.
Pilgrims Pride Corporation
Pilgrims Pride Corporation Is The Second-largest Chicken Producer In The
united States And mexico And The Largest Chicken Producer In puerto Rico.
pilgrims Pride Employs Approximately 40,000 People And Has Major Operations
in Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina,
pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, mexico And puerto Rico, With
other Facilities In Arizona, Florida, Iowa, Mississippi And Utah.
Pilgrims Pride Products Are Sold To Foodservice, Retail And Frozen Entree
customers. Pilgrims Prides 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. 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 Pilgrims Pride Corporation And Its Management, Including As To The
expected Benefits Of The Proposed Transaction With Gold Kist, 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: Matters Affecting The
poultry Industry Generally, Including Fluctuations In The Commodity Prices Of
feed Ingredients, Chicken And Turkey; Additional Outbreaks Of Avian Influenza
or Other Diseases, Either In Our Own Flocks Or Elsewhere, Affecting Our
ability To Conduct Our Operations And/or Demand For Our Poultry Products;
contamination Of Our Products, Which Has Recently And Can In The Future Lead
to Product Liability Claims And Product Recalls; Exposure To Risks Related To
product Liability, Product Recalls, Property Damage And Injuries To Persons,
for Which Insurance Coverage Is Expensive, Limited And Potentially Inadequate;
changes In Laws Or Regulations Affecting Our Operations Or The Application
thereof; Competitive Factors And Pricing Pressures Or The Loss Of One Or More
of Our Largest Customers; Currency Exchange Rate Fluctuations, Trade Barriers,
exchange Controls, Expropriation And Other Risks Associated With Foreign
operations; Management Of Our Cash Resources, Particularly In Light Of Our
leverage, And Restrictions Imposed By And As A Result Of, Our Leverage;
inability To Complete The Proposed Acquisition Or Effectively Integrate Gold
kists Business Or Realize The Associated Cost Savings And Operating Synergies
currently Anticipated; And The Impact Of Uncertainties Of Litigation As Well
as Other Risks Described Under "risk Factors" In Our Annual Report On Form
10-k And Subsequent Filings With The Securities And Exchange Commission.
pilgrims 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.
Important Legal Information
This Press Release Is Provided For Informational Purposes Only And Is
neither An Offer To Purchase Nor A Solicitation Of An Offer To Sell Any
securities Of Gold Kist. Any Offers To Purchase Or Solicitation Of Offers To
sell Gold Kist Notes Will Be Made Only Pursuant To The Offer To Purchase. Gold
kist Noteholders Are Advised To Read These Documents And Any Other Documents
relating To The Tender Offer And Consent Solicitation In Their Entirety
because They Contain Important Information. Gold Kist Noteholders May Obtain
copies Of These Documents For Free By Calling Innisfree M>a Incorporated, The
information Agent For The Offer, At 877-687-1874 (toll Free From The U.s. And
canada).
This Press Release Is Provided For Informational Purposes Only And Is
neither An Offer To Purchase Nor A Solicitation Of An Offer To Sell Any
securities Of Gold Kist. Any Offers To Purchase Or Solicitation Of Offers To
sell Gold Kist Shares Will Be Made Only Pursuant To The Tender Offer Statement
(including The Offer To Purchase, The Letter Of Transmittal And Other Offer
documents) Filed With The Securities And Exchange Commission ("sec") On
september 29, 2006, As Supplemented By The Supplement Dated december 8, 2006.
gold Kist Stockholders Are Advised To Read These Documents And Any Other
documents Relating To The Tender Offer That Are Filed With The Sec Carefully
and In Their Entirety Because They Contain Important Information. Gold Kist
stockholders May Obtain Copies Of These Documents For Free At The Secs
website At http://www.sec.gov Or By Calling Innisfree M>a Incorporated, The
information Agent For The Offer, At 877-687-1874 (toll Free From The U.s. And
canada).
Pilgrims Pride May Solicit Proxies For Use At Gold Kists 2007 Annual
meeting Of Stockholders, Or At Any Adjournment Or Postponement Thereof, To
vote To Increase The Number Of Directors Constituting Gold Kists Entire Board
to 15 And Fill Nine Positions On The Expanded Board With Nominees Of The
president And Chief Executive Officer Of Pilgrims Pride. Investors And
security Holders Are Urged To Read The Proxy Statement And Other Disclosure
documents Regarding The Proposed Transaction, When They Are Filed, Because
they Will Contain Important Information. These Disclosure Documents Will Be
filed With The Securities And Exchange Commission By Pilgrims Pride
corporation And Security Holders May Obtain A Free Copy Of These Disclosure
documents (when They Become Available) And Other Documents Filed With The Sec
by Pilgrims Pride Corporation At The Secs Web Site At http://www.sec.gov .
the Disclosure Documents Filed With The Sec By Pilgrims Pride Corporation May
also Be Obtained For Free By Directing A Request To Pilgrims Pride
corporation At 4845 U.s. Highway 271 N, Pittsburg, Texas, 75686 Attn.
secretary. The Identity Of People Who, Under Sec Rules, May Be Considered
"participants In A Solicitation" Of Proxies From Gold Kist Stockholders For
use At Its 2007 Annual Meeting Of Stockholders And A Description Of Their
direct And Indirect Interest In The Solicitation, By Security Holdings Or
otherwise, Is Contained In The Form 425 Filed By Pilgrims Pride With The Sec
on august 24, 2006.
Contacts:
Joele Frank / Steve Frankel
Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
212-355-4449
source Pilgrims Pride Corporation |