Edgar Filing: PILGRIMS PRIDE CORP

Definitive Proxy Statement

Index to Financial Statements

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No. )

Filed by the Registrant x Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ¨

Check the appropriate box:

¨	Preliminary Proxy Statement

x	Definitive Proxy Statement

¨	Definitive Additional Materials

¨	Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

¨	Soliciting Material Under 14a-12

PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

¨	No fee required.

x	Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

(1)

Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 10.50% Subordinated Notes due March 4, 2011

(2)

Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

Up to 39.4 million shares of common stock and approximately $194.6 million principal amount of 10.50% Subordinated Notes due March 4, 2011. The actual number of shares and principal amount of the notes to be issued will be determined at closing by reference to the stock price of the Registrant’s Class A common stock and the estimated book value of the business to be acquired.

(3)

Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

$611,686,842, representing $100 million in cash to be paid at the closing by the Registrant, $194.6 million principal amount of 10.50% Subordinated Notes due March 4, 2011, and 31,163,326 shares of common stock valued at $10.175 per share, the average of the high and low sales prices reported on the New York Stock Exchange on August 19, 2003.

(4)

Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

$ 611,686,842

(5)

Total fee paid:

$49,485

x	Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

¨	Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

(1)

Amount Previously Paid:

(2)

Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

(3)

Filing Party:

(4)

Date Filed:

Index to Financial Statements

Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation

110 South Texas Street

Pittsburg, Texas 75686

November 3, 2003

Dear Fellow Stockholder:

You are cordially invited to attend a Special Meeting of Stockholders of Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation to be held on Thursday, November 20, 2003, at 9:00 a.m., Central time, at the Company’s headquarters building, 110 South Texas Street, Pittsburg, Texas.

At the special meeting, you will be asked to vote upon a proposal to reclassify our Class A common stock and Class B common stock into a single class of common stock. At the effective time of this reclassification, each share of Class A common stock and each share of Class B common stock will be reclassified into one (1) share of new common stock. The new common stock will have the voting and other rights described in the accompanying proxy statement. You will also be asked to vote upon a proposal to issue shares of Pilgrim’s Pride common stock to ConAgra Foods, Inc. in connection with the acquisition by Pilgrim’s Pride of the ConAgra chicken division. As more fully described in the accompanying proxy statement, we have entered into an agreement to acquire the ConAgra chicken division in exchange for cash, shares of common stock and subordinated notes. We intend that the proposed reclassification of the common stock will be completed prior to the closing of our acquisition of the ConAgra chicken division and ConAgra Foods will receive shares of our new common stock in the acquisition. If for any reason the proposed reclassification is not completed, then ConAgra Foods will receive shares of our existing Class A common stock.

This booklet includes the Notice of Special Meeting of Stockholders and the proxy statement. The proxy statement contains detailed information about the special meeting, the reclassification of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock, the acquisition and issuance of shares to ConAgra Foods, and Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation and the ConAgra chicken division. In addition, you may obtain information about Pilgrim’s Pride from documents that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We encourage you to read all of this information carefully.

Your board of directors believes that the proposed reclassification of the Pilgrim’s Pride Class A common stock and Class B common stock into a single class of common stock and the issuance of shares of common stock to ConAgra Foods in connection with the acquisition are in the best interests of Pilgrim’s Pride and its stockholders. The Board recommends that you vote “FOR” each of these proposals.

Your vote is important. Whether or not you plan to attend the special meeting in person, please sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card in the enclosed postage-paid envelope. Voting by proxy will ensure your representation at the special meeting if you do not attend in person.

On behalf of your board of directors and the officers and employees of Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, I would like to thank you for your continued support.

Very truly yours,

LOGO

Lonnie “Bo” Pilgrim

Chairman of the Board

Index to Financial Statements

PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

To the Stockholders:

A Special Meeting of Stockholders of Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation will be held at the Company’s headquarters building, 110 South Texas Street, Pittsburg, Texas, at 9:00 a.m., Central time, on Thursday, November 20, 2003, for the following purposes, as more fully described in the attached proxy statement:

To consider and vote upon a proposal to amend Article Fourth of Pilgrim’s Pride’s certificate of incorporation to reclassify the Class A common stock and Class B common stock into a single class of common stock;

To consider and vote upon a proposal to approve the issuance to ConAgra Foods, Inc. of shares of Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation common stock in connection with the proposed acquisition by Pilgrim’s Pride of the ConAgra chicken division, as contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement, dated June 7, 2003, as amended, between Pilgrim’s Pride and ConAgra Foods; and

To transact any other business that may properly come before the special meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

Stockholders of record of the Company’s Class A common stock and Class B common stock at the close of business on October 17, 2003 will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the special meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof.

Regardless of whether you will attend the special meeting, please sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card in the enclosed postage prepaid envelope as soon as possible to ensure that your shares will be voted at the special meeting in accordance with your instructions. Voting by proxy will not prevent you from voting in person at the special meeting.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

LOGO

Richard A. Cogdill

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer

Index to Financial Statements

PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION

110 South Texas Street

Pittsburg, Texas 75686

PROXY STATEMENT

FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

to be held November 20, 2003

Our board of directors is furnishing you this proxy statement to solicit proxies on its behalf to be voted at a Special Meeting of Stockholders to be held at the Company’s headquarters building, 110 South Texas Street, Pittsburg, Texas, at 9:00 a.m., Central time, on Thursday, November 20, 2003. The proxies also may be voted at any adjournments or postponements of the special meeting. We are first sending this proxy statement to stockholders on or about November 3, 2003.

At the special meeting, stockholders will be asked to consider and vote upon proposals to (1) amend Article Fourth of our certificate of incorporation to reclassify our Class A common stock and Class B common stock into a single class of common stock and (2) approve the issuance to ConAgra Foods, Inc. of shares of our common stock in connection with our proposed acquisition of the ConAgra chicken division, as contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement, dated June 7, 2003, as amended, between us and ConAgra Foods.

Our board of directors has fixed the close of business on October 17, 2003 as the record date for the special meeting. Only holders of record of our Class A common stock or Class B common stock on that date are entitled to notice of and to vote at the special meeting, or at any adjournments or postponements of the special meeting. Each stockholder of record on the record date is entitled to one vote for each share of Class A common stock held and twenty votes for each share of Class B common stock held. On the record date, there were 13,523,429 shares of Class A common stock and 27,589,250 shares of Class B common stock issued and outstanding. Approval of the proposed reclassification of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock into a single class of common stock will require the vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of each of the Class A common stock and Class B common stock outstanding on the record date. Approval of the issuance of the shares to ConAgra Foods will require the vote of a majority of the combined voting power of the shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock represented at and voting at the special meeting.

Our chairman, Lonnie “Bo” Pilgrim, and his son, Lonnie Ken Pilgrim, who is one of our directors and officers, collectively own or control 8,618,741 shares (63.7%) of the Class A common stock and 17,163,818 shares (62.2%) of the Class B common stock, and will vote for both proposals, and thus the approval of both proposals is assured.

When the accompanying proxy card is returned properly dated and signed and includes voting instructions, the shares represented by that proxy will be voted as directed by the stockholder submitting the proxy, unless the proxy is revoked before the special meeting. If a proxy is dated, signed and returned, but does not include voting instructions, the shares will be voted “FOR” each of the above proposals. On any other business that may come before the special meeting or any adjournments or postponements of the special meeting, the persons named on the accompanying form of proxy will vote in accordance with their best judgment.

Index to Financial Statements

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SUMMARY TERM SHEET		1
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE SPECIAL MEETING		8
THE SPECIAL MEETING		10
Date, Time, Place and Purpose of the Special Meeting		10
Recommendation of the Board of Directors		10
Outstanding Voting Securities		10
Quorum		11
Proxies		11
Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes		12
Solicitation		12
Other Proposals		12
Independent Auditors		12
Assistance		12
SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL DATA		13
Selected Historical Financial Data of Pilgrim’s Pride		13
Selected Historical Financial Data of the ConAgra Chicken Division		14
PROPOSED RECLASSIFICATION OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK AND CLASS B COMMON STOCK INTO A SINGLE CLASS		16
General		16
Background of the Proposed Reclassification		16
Reasons for the Proposed Reclassification		19
Opinion of Special Committee’s Financial Advisor for the Reclassification		20
Description of the New Common Stock		26
Effects of the Proposed Reclassification		27
Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences		29
Required Vote and Board of Directors’ Recommendation		29
PROPOSED ISSUANCE OF SHARES TO CONAGRA FOODS		29
General		29
Background		30
Reasons for the Acquisition and the Issuance of Shares to ConAgra Foods		33
Certain Risks of the Acquisition		34
Opinion of Pilgrim’s Pride’s Financial Advisor for the Acquisition		35
Recommendation of the Board of Directors		42
Regulatory Filings and Approvals		42
Accounting Treatment		42
Requirement for Stockholder Approval		42
Required Vote		43
THE STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT		43
Overview		43
Purchase Price		43
10.50% Subordinated Notes Due March 4, 2011		46
Closing Conditions under the Stock Purchase Agreement		47
Non-Competition Covenant		48
Certain Representations and Warranties		48
Conduct of Business Pending Closing		50
Indemnification		52
Termination; Termination Fees and Expenses		53
Amendment and Waiver		55

Index to Financial Statements

TRANSACTION AGREEMENTS		55
Share Voting Agreement		55
Registration Rights Agreements		56
Supply Agreements		57
Transition Trademark License Agreement		57
Other Transaction Agreements		58
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE CONAGRA CHICKEN DIVISION		58
Business Overview		58
Other ConAgra Foods Chicken Businesses		59
Products and Markets		59
Competition		60
Properties and Operations		60
Regulation and Environmental Matters		63
Employees and Labor Relations		63
Legal Proceedings		65
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS—CONAGRA CHICKEN DIVISION		65
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA FINANCIAL DATA		72
SECURITY OWNERSHIP		79
NO DISSENTERS’ RIGHTS OF APPRAISAL		80
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS		80
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 2004 ANNUAL MEETING		81
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION		81
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE CONAGRA FOODS CHICKEN BUSINESS (A DIVISION OF CONAGRA FOODS, INC.)		F-1
ANNEX A—OPINION OF MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED		A-1
ANNEX B—OPINION OF CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON LLC		B-1
ANNEX C—CERTIFICATE OF AMENDMENT OF CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION		C-1
ANNEX D—STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT		D-1
ANNEX E—AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT		E-1
ANNEX F—AMENDMENT NO. 2 TO STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT		F-1
ANNEX G—DESCRIPTION OF NOTES		G-1
ANNEX H—ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K OF PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION		H-1
ANNEX I—QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q OF PILGRIM’S PRIDE CORPORATION		I-1

Index to Financial Statements

SUMMARY TERM SHEET

This summary term sheet highlights selected information from this proxy statement and may not contain all of the information that is important to you as a Pilgrim’s Pride stockholder. Accordingly, we encourage you to carefully read this entire document and the documents to which we have referred you.

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The Companies

Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation. Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation is the second-largest poultry producer in the United States – the third-largest in chicken and fifth-largest in turkey – and the second largest chicken company in Mexico. We employ more than 24,500 persons and operate processing and further processing plants, distribution centers, hatcheries and feed mills in Texas, Arkansas, Arizona, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia and Mexico.

Our products are sold to foodservice, retail and frozen entrée customers. The Company’s primary distribution is through retailers and restaurants throughout the United States and in the Northern and Central regions of Mexico and to the foodservice industry nationwide in both countries. For more information, please see “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 81.

We are a Delaware corporation with principal executive offices located at 110 South Texas Street, Pittsburg, Texas 75686. The telephone number of our principal executive offices is (903) 855-1000.

ConAgra Foods, Inc. ConAgra Foods, Inc. (“ConAgra Foods”) is a leading packaged food company, serving a wide variety of food customers. ConAgra Foods operates in four business segments: packaged foods, food ingredients, meat processing and agricultural products. Historically, in its meat processing segment, ConAgra Foods produced and marketed fresh chicken for retail and foodservice customers. ConAgra Foods is a Delaware corporation with principal executive offices located at One ConAgra Drive, Omaha, Nebraska 68102. The telephone number of its principal executive offices is (402) 595-4000.

The ConAgra Foods Chicken Business (referred to in this proxy statement as the ConAgra chicken division) is the fourth-largest chicken producer in the United States. It is a fully-integrated chicken processing business engaged in the production, processing, marketing and distribution of fresh and frozen chicken products. It employs more than 16,000 persons and operates processing and further processing plants, distribution centers, hatcheries and feed mills in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, West Virginia and Puerto Rico, with additional facilities in California, Iowa, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin. For more information, please see “Information Concerning the ConAgra Chicken Division” on page 58.

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The Proposals

You are being asked to consider and vote upon proposals to:

•

amend Article Fourth of our certificate of incorporation to reclassify our Class A common stock and Class B common stock into a single class of common stock; and

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approve the issuance to ConAgra Foods of shares of our common stock in connection with our proposed acquisition of the ConAgra chicken division, as contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement, dated June 7, 2003, as amended, between us and ConAgra Foods.

Index to Financial Statements

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Reclassification of Class A common stock and Class B common stock (Pages 16 through 29)

You are being asked to consider a proposed amendment to our certificate of incorporation that would reclassify the Class A common stock and Class B common stock into a single class of common stock. At the effective time of this reclassification, each share of Class A common stock and each share of Class B common stock will be reclassified into one (1) share of new common stock. The reclassification of the Class A common stock and the Class B common stock on a one-for-one basis is referred to as the exchange ratio.

We believe that this simplified capital structure will enhance stockholder value by eliminating potential investor confusion and perceived negative impact on the market price of our common stock that results from having a dual class structure. We also believe that the reclassification of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock will potentially increase the liquidity, trading volume and trading efficiencies of our common stock, and potentially increase our investor base.

In connection with the proposed reclassification of the Class A common stock and Class B common stock, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated (“Merrill Lynch”) has delivered its written opinion dated August 20, 2003 to a special committee of our board of directors as to the fairness, from a financial point of view, of the exchange ratio pursuant to the proposed reclassification to both the holders of the Class A common stock and the Class B common stock, in each case other than members of the Pilgrim family and their affiliated entities. A copy of Merrill Lynch’s opinion is attached to this proxy statement as Annex A. Merrill Lynch’s opinion sets forth the assumptions made, matters considered and limits on the scope of review undertaken by Merrill Lynch. Each holder of Class A common stock and Class B common stock is encouraged to read Merrill Lynch’s opinion in its entirety. Merrill Lynch’s opinion was intended for the use and benefit of the special committee and the board of directors, does not address the merits of the underlying decision by Pilgrim’s Pride to engage in the reclassification and does not constitute a recommendation to any stockholder as to how that stockholder should vote on the reclassification or any related matter.

Except as to voting rights, the rights of the new common stock will be identical to the rights of the current Class A common stock and Class B common stock. Currently, the holders of Class A common stock are entitled to one vote per share and the holders of Class B common stock are entitled to twenty votes per share on all matters brought before the stockholders. Except as required by law, the Class A common stock and Class B common stock vote as a single class. Each share of existing Class A common stock or Class B common stock that is reclassified into our new common stock will be entitled to cast twenty votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders, until there is a change in the beneficial ownership of such share. After the reclassification, following a change in beneficial ownership of a share, the share will be entitled to only one vote. Shares of new common stock issued after the reclassification will also only be entitled to one vote per share, including the shares to be issued to ConAgra Foods in the ConAgra chicken division acquisition.

Because the Class A common stock currently carries one vote per share and the Class B common stock currently carries twenty votes per share, the reclassification will significantly increase the relative voting power of each Class A share and decrease the relative voting power of each Class B share. At present, the Class A shares and Class B shares possess 2.4% and 97.6%, respectively, of our total voting power. After giving effect to the reclassification, the Class A shares and Class B shares currently outstanding would possess 32.9% and 67.1%, respectively, of our total voting power.

Index to Financial Statements

Stockholders, they have agreed to enter into a voting agreement with us prior to the reclassification. The voting agreement will provide that, as long as the common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, should the combined voting power of shares held by the Majority Stockholders exceed 62.25% of our total voting power, they will vote those shares in excess of that percentage proportionately with the votes of the other Pilgrim’s Pride stockholders.

The board of directors recommends that stockholders vote “FOR” approval of the proposed amendment.

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The Acquisition (Pages 29 through 58)

In accordance with the Stock Purchase Agreement, we have agreed to acquire the ConAgra chicken division through the purchase from ConAgra Foods of all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of four of its wholly-owned subsidiaries. The ConAgra chicken division can generally be viewed as consisting of all of ConAgra Foods’ integrated chicken business (including grow-out, slaughter, processing, further processing, rendering, sales and distribution, both in retail and foodservice, and related assets and employees). The ConAgra chicken division does not include (and we are not acquiring) certain branded packaged foods operations, including the Butterball, Banquet, Marie Callender’s and Country Skillet further chicken processing and marketing operations. Additionally, we will not be acquiring the ConAgra, Butterball, Banquet, Marie Callender’s and Country Skillet trade names.

The purchase price will be calculated based on the “final adjusted net book value” of the assets and liabilities of the ConAgra chicken division on the closing date of the acquisition. “Final adjusted net book value” means the combined consolidated stockholders’ equity of the ConAgra chicken division on the closing date minus approximately $90 million. The consideration payable to ConAgra Foods will consist of a combination of cash, shares of our common stock and our 10.50% subordinated notes due March 4, 2011 (the “Notes”); provided that at our option we may pay the Note portion of the purchase price with cash, subject to certain limitations. The actual number and dollar amount of shares and the principal amount of Notes to be issued, subject to post-closing adjustment, will be determined at the closing of the acquisition by reference to the estimated final adjusted net book value of the ConAgra chicken division on the closing date and the adjusted volume weighted average stock price of the Class A common stock on the New York Stock Exchange from June 10, 2003 (the day after the parties announced the acquisition) through the date five trading days prior to the closing date. See “The Stock Purchase Agreement – Purchase Price – Share Portion.” In addition, the amount we will record on our financial statements for the stock portion of the purchase price will be based on the market price of our common stock on the closing date; however the adjusted volume weighted average stock price is used to compute the number of shares to be issued to ConAgra Foods.

If the estimated final adjusted net book value of the ConAgra chicken division was $525,587,000 (which was the adjusted net book value at August 24, 2003) and the closing date was October 31, 2003, the stock portion of the purchase price would consist of 25,358,860 shares (based on an adjusted volume weighted average price of the Class A common stock of $9.3267 from June 10 through October 24, 2003) and the balance of the consideration would be payable in $100 million in cash and, assuming no post-closing adjustment, approximately $189.1 million in a combination of cash and Notes. On August 13, 2003, we completed the public offering of $100 million of 9⁵/8% Senior Notes due 2011. We intend to pay cash to ConAgra Foods using the proceeds of that offering instead of issuing Notes; provided, however, that if we issue any Notes to ConAgra Foods, the initial principal amount of the Notes must be at least $100 million or such lesser amount as may be acceptable to ConAgra Foods. The acquisition would be valued on our financial statements at approximately $615.4 million plus transaction costs because the stock component of the purchase price would be valued based on our common stock price at closing of $12.87 (which was the closing price of our Class A common stock on October 24, 2003), which currently exceeds the adjusted volume weighted average price of the common stock during the reference period. Accordingly, changes in the final adjusted net book value of the ConAgra chicken division, changes in the volume weighted average price of our common stock and changes in the price of our common stock prior to

Index to Financial Statements

closing will change the amount of stock and Notes payable to ConAgra Foods and the purchase price of the ConAgra chicken division for purposes of our financial statements. We intend that the proposed reclassification of the Class A common stock and Class B common stock will be completed prior to the closing of our acquisition of the ConAgra chicken division and ConAgra Foods will receive shares of our new common stock in the acquisition. If for any reason the proposed reclassification is not completed, then ConAgra Foods will receive shares of our existing Class A common stock.

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The Subordinated Notes (Pages 46 through 47 and Annex G)

Unless we exercise our option to pay all of the Note portion of the purchase price in cash, a portion of the purchase price will consist of the Notes. The Notes will be issued under an indenture between us and a trustee. The Notes will be general unsecured obligations of Pilgrim’s Pride, and are expressly subordinated in right of payment to all of our existing and future senior indebtedness. The Notes will mature on March 4, 2011. Interest on the Notes will accrue at the rate of 10.50% per annum and will be payable semi-annually in arrears on December 15 and June 15.

The Notes may be redeemed by us at any time, in whole or in part, for 100% of the then-outstanding principal and accrued interest, as long as they are held by ConAgra Foods or a ConAgra Foods affiliate. We may not redeem less than all of the Notes from ConAgra Foods if ConAgra Foods holds less than, or the redemption would result in ConAgra Foods holding less than, $100 million of the Notes. If ConAgra Foods should transfer the Notes to an unaffiliated third party,

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up to 35% of the Notes may be redeemed by us at a 10.5% premium prior to the fourth anniversary of their original issuance from the proceeds, and within 45 days after the completion by us, of a public equity issuance; and

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the Notes may be redeemed by us, in whole or in part, at a 5.25% premium from September 15, 2007 through September 14, 2008; at a 2.625% premium from September 15, 2008 through September 14, 2009; and for 100% of the then-outstanding principal and accrued interest at any time after September 14, 2009.

If a change of control (as defined in the indenture) occurs, each noteholder will have the right to require us to repurchase all or any part of that holder’s Notes on the terms set forth in the indenture.

We are not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund payments with respect to the Notes.

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Recommendation of the Board of Directors (Page 42)

Our board of directors has determined that the proposed issuance of shares to ConAgra Foods and the proposed purchase of the ConAgra chicken division are in the best interests of Pilgrim’s Pride and our stockholders. The board of directors recommends that stockholders vote “FOR” approval of the proposed issuance of shares to ConAgra Foods in connection with the ConAgra chicken division acquisition.

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Reasons for the Acquisition and Issuance of Shares to ConAgra Foods; Certain Risks of the Acquisition (Pages 33 through 35)

In reaching its decision that the proposed issuance of the shares to ConAgra Foods and the proposed purchase of the ConAgra chicken division are in the best interests of Pilgrim’s Pride and our stockholders, our board of directors considered, among other things:

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the financial condition and operating results of the ConAgra chicken division;

Index to Financial Statements

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the markets served by the ConAgra chicken division in the United States and Puerto Rico;

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the distributor relationships, Southeastern processing plants and other facilities of the ConAgra chicken division;

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opportunities to achieve significant cost savings through the optimization of production and distribution facilities and the implementation of a “best practices” approach across all operations, including purchasing, production, logistics and shared services;

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the brands of, and variety of products produced by, the ConAgra chicken division, including higher-margin specialty prepared chicken products; and

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the financial and other terms and conditions of the Stock Purchase Agreement and other transaction agreements.

Our board of directors also considered, among other things, the following risks of the proposed acquisition:

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the dilution to the ownership percentage of the holders of the currently outstanding Class A common stock and Class B common stock;

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the potential adverse effect on prevailing market prices for the common stock that might occur due to the availability for resale of one-third of the shares 12 months after the closing;

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the risk that certain aspects of the businesses of Pilgrim’s Pride and the ConAgra chicken division may not be successfully coordinated in a timely manner; and

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certain other factors described in this proxy statement.

In the board of directors’ view, these considerations were not sufficient, either individually or collectively, to outweigh the advantages of the proposed acquisition.

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Opinion of Pilgrim’s Pride’s Financial Advisor for the Acquisition (Pages 35 through 41 and Annex B)

In connection with the proposed acquisition, our financial advisor, Credit Suisse First Boston LLC, delivered a written opinion to our board of directors as to the fairness, from a financial point of view and as of the date of the opinion, to Pilgrim’s Pride of the purchase price provided for in the Stock Purchase Agreement, dated June 7, 2003, prior to its amendment. The full text of Credit Suisse First Boston’s written opinion, dated June 7, 2003, is attached to this proxy statement as Annex B. We encourage you to read this opinion carefully in its entirety for a description of the procedures followed, assumptions made, matters considered and limitations on the review undertaken. Credit Suisse First Boston’s opinion was provided to our board of directors in connection with its evaluation of such purchase price, does not address any other aspect of the proposed acquisition or related transactions, and does not constitute a recommendation to any stockholder as to any matters relating to the acquisition or related transactions. Credit Suisse First Boston was not requested to render an updated opinion in connection with the August 11, 2003 and August 20, 2003 amendments to the Stock Purchase Agreement.

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Closing Conditions (Pages 47 through 48)

The obligations of Pilgrim’s Pride and ConAgra Foods to consummate the acquisition are subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions, including but not limited to:

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approval of the issuance to ConAgra Foods of shares of our common stock pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement by the requisite vote of the holders of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock, voting as a single class;

Index to Financial Statements

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the approval for listing on the New York Stock Exchange of the shares to be issued to ConAgra Foods pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement;

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the absence of any injunction prohibiting consummation of the acquisition; and

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the accuracy of the representations and warranties contained in the Stock Purchase Agreement.

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Non-Competition Covenant (Page 48)

The Stock Purchase Agreement provides that, for five years after the closing, ConAgra Foods will not compete with us in North America or Central America in the business of growing or slaughtering of chickens, an integrated chicken operation growing, slaughtering and processing chickens, the sale of fresh chicken or the sale of fresh frozen chicken that has not been further processed, and will not use, license or allow any third party to use the names “Butterball” or “Country Skillet” as a trademark, service mark, trade name or domain name in connection with any of those activities.

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Amendment and Termination; Termination Fee (Pages 53 through 55)

The Stock Purchase Agreement provides that the parties may amend, modify or supplement the agreement by mutual agreement in writing. The Stock Purchase Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the closing by the mutual consent of Pilgrim’s Pride and ConAgra Foods. Either party also may terminate the Stock Purchase Agreement if the closing has not occurred by December 31, 2003 (unless the failure of the closing to occur was due to any breach of the Stock Purchase Agreement by the party seeking to terminate), or for certain other reasons. If the Stock Purchase Agreement is terminated for certain reasons, the terminating party will be obligated to pay the other party a termination fee of $25 million.

•

Share Voting Agreement (Pages 55 through 56)

In connection with the Stock Purchase Agreement, the Majority Stockholders entered into a Share Voting Agreement with us and ConAgra Foods. In the Share Voting Agreement, the Majority Stockholders agreed, among other things, to vote their shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock in favor of the issuance of shares of our common stock to ConAgra Foods in connection with the acquisition, and in favor of any proposal or action that would, or could reasonably be expected to, facilitate the acquisition. On the record date, the Majority Stockholders beneficially owned over 60% of the outstanding shares of each of the Class A common stock and Class B common stock, and all of such shares will be voted “FOR” the proposed issuance of shares to ConAgra Foods and the proposed reclassification of the Class A common stock and Class B common stock into a single class of common stock. Thus, approval of both proposals is assured.

•

Other Transaction Agreements (Pages 56 through 58)

In connection with the closing of the proposed acquisition, we will enter into various other agreements with ConAgra Foods, including the following:

•

two registration rights agreements, pursuant to which, among other things, we will register the shares and Notes to be issued to ConAgra Foods for resale within 12 months of the closing date, and ConAgra Foods and the Majority Stockholders each will agree to certain restrictions on transfer of their shares of our common stock; and

•

three supply agreements, pursuant to which we will be a preferred supplier of fresh chicken and certain chicken products to ConAgra Foods and they will be a preferred supplier of grain to us in Puerto Rico.

Index to Financial Statements

•

Vote Required to Approve the Proposals (Pages 29 and 43)

Approval of the proposed amendment to our certificate of incorporation to reclassify the Class A common stock and Class B common stock into a single class of common stock will require the vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of each of the Class A common stock and Class B common stock. Approval of the issuance of shares to ConAgra Foods in connection with the acquisition will require the vote of a majority of the combined voting power of the shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock represented at and voting on the proposal at the special meeting. Each share of Class A common stock is entitled to one vote per share and each share of Class B common stock is entitled to twenty votes per share on these matters.

Index to Financial Statements

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE SPECIAL MEETING

This question-and-answer section highlights important information in this proxy statement but does not contain all of the information that is important to you. You should carefully read this entire proxy statement and the other documents we refer you to for a more complete understanding of the matters being considered at the special meeting. In addition, we incorporate by reference important business and financial information about Pilgrim’s Pride into this proxy statement from our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q which are attached hereto as Annex H and Annex I.

Q:	When and where is the special meeting?

A:	The special meeting is scheduled to be held as follows:

Date:

November 20, 2003

Time:

9:00 a.m. Central time

Place:

Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation

Headquarters Building

110 South Texas Street

Pittsburg, Texas 75686

Q:	Who can vote at the special meeting?

You can vote at the special meeting or any postponements or adjournments thereof if you owned shares of Pilgrim’s Pride Class A common stock or Class B common stock at the close of business on the record date, which is October 17, 2003. As of the close of business on that day, 13,523,429 shares of Pilgrim’s Pride Class A common stock and 27,589,250 shares of Class B common stock were outstanding and entitled to vote.

Q:	What am I being asked to vote on?

A:	You are being asked to vote to:

•

Approve an amendment to Article Fourth of our certificate of incorporation, which will reclassify our Class A common stock and Class B common stock into a single class of common stock. See “Proposed Reclassification of Class A common stock and Class B common stock into a Single Class.”

•

Approve the issuance to ConAgra Foods of shares of our common stock in connection with our proposed acquisition of the ConAgra chicken division, as contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement, dated June 7, 2003, as amended, between us and ConAgra Foods. See “Proposed Issuance of Shares to ConAgra Foods.”

Q:	How do I vote?

A:	You may vote your shares either in person or by proxy. There are generally two ways to vote:

•

by completing, executing and returning your proxy card; and

•

by written ballot at the special meeting.

If your shares are held in a brokerage account in your broker’s name (this is called street name), you should follow the voting directions provided by your broker or nominee. You may complete and mail a voting instruction card to your broker or nominee or, in most cases, submit voting instructions to your broker or nominee by telephone or the Internet. If you provide specific voting instructions to your broker or nominee

by mail, telephone or the Internet, your shares should be voted by your broker or nominee as you have directed.

We will pass out written ballots to anyone who wants to vote at the special meeting. If you hold your shares in street name, you must request a legal proxy from your broker to vote at the special meeting.

Index to Financial Statements

Your shares will be voted as you indicate on your proxy card. If you return your proxy card but do not mark your voting preference, the individuals named as proxies will vote your shares “FOR” both proposals described in this proxy statement.

Q:	If my shares are held in my broker’s name, will my broker vote my shares for me?

A:	Your broker will vote your shares only if you provide your broker with instructions on how to vote. You should instruct your broker to vote your shares, following the directions provided by your broker. Without instructions, your shares will not be voted.

Q:	What if I change my mind after submitting a proxy?

Your proxy may be revoked at any time before it is voted at the special meeting by (1) written notice to the Secretary of Pilgrim’s Pride, at Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, 110 South Texas Street, Pittsburg, Texas 75686, Attn: Corporate Secretary, (2) submitting another valid proxy by mail that is later dated and properly signed or (3) voting in person at the special meeting.

Q:	Why is stockholder approval necessary for the issuance of shares to ConAgra Foods?

Our listing agreement with the New York Stock Exchange requires stockholder approval for the issuance of shares in a single transaction or series of related transactions equal to 20% or more of Pilgrim’s Pride’s issued and outstanding common stock. If the ConAgra chicken division had a final adjusted net book value of $525.6 million (which was the adjusted net book value at August 24, 2003) and the adjusted volume weighted average price of our Class A common stock used to compute the share portion of the consideration to be paid to ConAgra Foods was $9.3267 (which was the adjusted volume weighted average price from June 10, 2003 through October 24, 2003, we would issue approximately 25.4 million shares of common stock to ConAgra Foods in the acquisition. This number of shares would represent approximately 38.15% of the total number of shares of common stock outstanding, and approximately 2.99% of our total voting power, after giving effect to the reclassification.

Q:	What vote will be required to approve the proposals?

Approval of the amendment to our certificate of incorporation to reclassify our Class A common stock and Class B common stock into a single class of common stock will require the vote of a majority of the outstanding shares of each of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock. Approval of the issuance of shares to ConAgra Foods will require the vote of a majority of the combined voting power of the shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock represented at and voting on the proposal at the special meeting. Each share of Class A common stock is entitled to one vote per share and each share of Class B common stock is entitled to twenty votes per share on these matters.

Q:	Do I have any appraisal rights if I oppose the proposals?

A:	No. Under Delaware law, stockholders do not have the right to an appraisal of the value of their shares in connection with either proposal.

Index to Financial Statements

THE SPECIAL MEETING

Date, Time, Place and Purpose of the Special Meeting

The special meeting will be held as follows:

Date:

November 20, 2003

Time:

9:00 a.m. Central time

Place:

Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation

Headquarters Building

110 South Texas Street

Pittsburg, Texas 75686

The special meeting will be held for the following purposes:

•

To consider and vote upon a proposal to amend Article Fourth of the certificate of incorporation of Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation (“Pilgrim’s Pride”, “we” or the “Company”) to reclassify our Class A common stock and Class B common stock into a single class of common stock;

•

To consider and vote upon a proposal to approve the issuance to ConAgra Foods, Inc. (“ConAgra Foods”) of shares of our common stock in connection with our proposed acquisition of the ConAgra chicken division, as contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement, dated June 7, 2003, as amended, between us and ConAgra Foods (the “Stock Purchase Agreement”); and

•

To transact any other business that may properly come before the special meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

A copy of the Stock Purchase Agreement is attached to this proxy statement as Annex D, copies of Amendment No. 1 to the Stock Purchase Agreement, dated August 11, 2003, and Amendment No. 2 to the Stock Purchase Agreement, dated August 20, 2003, between us and ConAgra, are attached to this proxy statement as Annex E and Annex F, respectively, and a copy of the Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation is attached to this proxy statement as Annex C. The shares of our common stock to be issued to ConAgra Foods pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement are referred in this proxy statement as the “Shares.”

Recommendation of the Board of Directors

Our board of directors believes that the proposed reclassification of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock into a single class of common stock, and the proposed issuance of the Shares to ConAgra Foods in connection with the purchase of the ConAgra chicken division, are advisable and fair to, and in the best interests of, Pilgrim’s Pride and its stockholders, and recommends that stockholders vote “FOR” the proposals.

Outstanding Voting Securities

Each stockholder of record at the close of business on October 17, 2003 (the “Record Date”), will be entitled to one vote for each share of Class A common stock, $.01 par value per share, and twenty votes for each share of Class B common stock, $.01 par value per share, held on the Record Date. The accompanying proxy card indicates the number of shares to be voted. On the Record Date, there were 13,523,429 shares of Class A common stock issued and outstanding and there were 27,589,250 shares of Class B common stock issued and outstanding. Approval of the proposed amendment to our certificate of incorporation to reclassify our Class A common stock and Class B common stock into a single class of common stock will require the separate class votes of a majority of the shares of the Class A common stock and a majority of the shares of Class B common stock outstanding on the Record Date. Approval of the issuance of the Shares to ConAgra Foods will require the vote of a majority of the combined voting power of the shares of Class A common stock and Class B common

Index to Financial Statements

stock represented at and voting at the special meeting, voting as a single class. Our chairman, Lonnie “Bo” Pilgrim, and his son, Lonnie Ken Pilgrim, who is one of our directors and officers, collectively own or control 8,618,741 shares (63.7%) of the Class A common stock and 17,163,818 shares (62.2%) of the Class B common stock, and will vote for both proposals, and thus the approval of both proposals is assured.

A list of stockholders as of the Record Date for the special meeting will be available for examination by any stockholder, for purposes germane to the special meeting, at the special meeting and, during ordinary business hours, for 10 days prior to the date of the special meeting, at 110 South Texas Street, Pittsburg, Texas 75686.

Quorum

The holders of at least a majority of the combined voting power of Class A common stock and Class B common stock outstanding on the Record Date must be present in person or by proxy at the special meeting for the special meeting to be held. Abstentions and broker non-votes are counted in determining whether at least a majority of the voting power of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock outstanding on the Record Date are present at the special meeting. Our chairman, Lonnie “Bo” Pilgrim, and his son, Lonnie Ken Pilgrim, who is one of our directors and officers, collectively own or control a majority of the combined voting power of the Class A common stock and Class B common stock. Because they will vote for both proposals, the presence of a quorum at the special meeting is assured.

Proxies

Because many of our stockholders are unable to attend the special meeting, the board of directors solicits proxies by mail to give each stockholder an opportunity to vote on all items of business scheduled to come before the special meeting. Each stockholder is urged to:

•

read carefully the material in this proxy statement;

•

specify his or her voting instructions on each item by marking the appropriate boxes on the accompanying proxy card; and

•

sign, date and return the proxy card in the enclosed, postage prepaid envelope.

When the accompanying proxy card is properly executed and returned with voting instructions with respect to any of the items to be voted upon, the shares represented by the proxy will be voted in accordance with the stockholder’s directions by the persons named on the proxy card as proxies of the stockholder. If a proxy card is signed and returned, but no specific voting instructions are given, the shares represented by the proxy card will be voted for both proposals.

Unless otherwise indicated by the stockholder, returned proxy cards also confer upon the persons named on the card, as proxies for the stockholder, discretionary authority to vote all shares of stock represented by the proxy card on any item of business that is properly presented for action at the special meeting, even if not described in this proxy statement. The board of directors, however, has no reason to believe that any item of business not set forth in this proxy statement will come before the special meeting.

The proxy does not affect a stockholder’s right to vote in person at the special meeting. A stockholder may revoke a proxy at any time before it is voted by submitting a later-dated proxy, or by communicating his or her revocation in writing to the Secretary of Pilgrim’s Pride at Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, 110 South Texas Street, Pittsburg, Texas 75686, Attn: Corporate Secretary, or by voting by ballot at the special meeting.

If you hold your shares in “street name,” which means your shares are held of record by a broker, bank or nominee, you must provide the record holder of your shares with instructions on how to vote your shares. Your broker, bank, or nominee will not be able to vote your shares unless the broker, bank or nominee receives

Index to Financial Statements

specific instructions from you. If your shares are held in a street name account, you must contact your broker, bank or other nominee to change your vote.

After carefully reading and considering the information contained in this proxy statement, you should complete, sign, date and return the enclosed proxy card in the enclosed postage-prepaid envelope. You can also vote in person at the special meeting, but we encourage you to submit your proxy even if you plan to attend the special meeting.

Abstentions and Broker Non-Votes

Abstentions and broker non-votes will be counted as votes “AGAINST” the proposal to amend our certificate of incorporation to reclassify our Class A common stock and Class B common stock, and will have no effect on the vote to approve the issuance of the Shares to ConAgra Foods. Abstentions and broker non-votes will count towards the determination of a quorum at the special meeting.

Solicitation

We will bear the cost of the special meeting and the cost of soliciting proxies in the accompanying form, including the cost of mailing the proxy material. In addition to solicitation by mail, our directors, officers and other employees may solicit proxies by telephone or otherwise. They will not be specifically compensated for such services. We will request brokers and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to forward proxies and proxy soliciting material to the beneficial owners of Class A common stock and Class B common stock and to secure their voting instructions, if necessary. We will reimburse them for their reasonable expenses in forwarding proxy soliciting material.

Other Proposals

Except as indicated in this proxy statement, we do not expect any other matters to be raised at the special meeting. If any other matters should properly come before the meeting, the persons named in the enclosed proxy will vote the proxies in accordance with their best judgment.

Independent Auditors

Representatives of Ernst & Young LLP, our independent auditors, are expected to be present at the special meeting, will be given the opportunity to make a statement if they wish to do so, and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

Assistance

If you have any questions about the proposals, the special meeting or how to submit your proxy, need assistance in completing your proxy card, or need additional copies of this proxy statement or the enclosed proxy card, please contact:

Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation

110 South Texas Street

Pittsburg, Texas 75686

Attention: Ric Springstead

Telephone: (903) 855-1000

Index to Financial Statements

SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL DATA

Selected Historical Financial Data of Pilgrim’s Pride

We prepared the selected historical consolidated financial data in the table below using our consolidated financial statements. We derived the consolidated statement of income data for the five fiscal years ended September 28, 2002 and the consolidated balance sheet data as of the last day of each such fiscal year from our consolidated financial statements audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors. We derived the consolidated statement of income data for the nine months ended June 28, 2003 and June 29, 2002 and the consolidated balance sheet data as of June 28, 2003 and June 29, 2002 from our unaudited consolidated financial statements. In the opinion of management, the unaudited interim financial statements for the nine months ended June 28, 2003 and June 29, 2002 include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of our financial position and the results of operations for these periods. Operating results for the nine months ended June 28, 2003 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire fiscal year ending September 27, 2003. The historical data are only a summary and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto for the applicable periods. Our audited consolidated balance sheets as of September 28, 2002 and September 29, 2001 and our audited consolidated statements of income for each of the three fiscal years in the period ended September 28, 2002, and the unaudited consolidated financial statements as of June 28, 2003 and June 29, 2002 and for the nine month periods then ended, are included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q attached hereto as Annex H and Annex I and incorporated by reference in this proxy statement.

	Fiscal Year Ended											Nine Months Ended
	September 26, 1998		October 2, 1999^(a)		September 30, 2000		September 29, 2001^(b)		September 28, 2002			June 29, 2002			June 28, 2003
	(in thousands, except per common share data)
Income Statement Data:
Net sales	$	1,331,545	$	1,357,403	$	1,499,439	$	2,214,712	$	2,533,718		$	1,893,899		$	1,909,874
Gross margin		136,103		185,708		165,828		213,950		165,165			133,495			140,619
Operating income		77,256		109,504		80,488		94,542		29,904			33,004			37,891
Interest expense, net		20,148		17,666		17,779		30,775		32,003			24,886			28,835
Income tax expense (benefit)^(c)		6,512		25,651		10,442		20,724		(12,425	)		(7,453	)		15,346
Net income		50,010		65,253		52,344		41,137		14,335			17,509			30,963
Per Common Share Data:^(d)
Net income		1.21		1.58		1.27		1.00		0.35			0.43			0.75
Cash dividends		0.04		0.045		0.06		0.06		0.06			0.045			0.045
Book value		5.58		7.11		8.33		9.27		9.59			9.68			10.27
Balance Sheet Data (end of period):
Working capital	$	147,040	$	154,242	$	124,531	$	203,450	$	179,038		$	157,980		$	267,844
Total assets		601,439		655,762		705,420		1,215,695		1,227,890			1,218,365			1,278,920
Notes payable and current Maturities of long-term debt		5,889		4,353		4,657		5,099		3,483			5,207			2,635
Long-term debt, less current maturities		199,784		183,753		165,037		467,242		450,161			418,064			480,150
Total stockholders’ equity		230,871		294,259		342,559		380,932		394,324			397,910			422,189

Index to Financial Statements

(a)	Fiscal 1999 had 53 weeks.

(b)

We acquired WLR Foods, Inc. on January 27, 2001 for $239.5 million and the assumption of $45.5 million of indebtedness. The acquisition has been accounted for as a purchase and the results of operations for this acquisition have been included in our consolidated results of operations since the acquisition date.

(c)	Fiscal 2002 includes $11.9 million of tax benefit from changes in Mexican tax laws.

(d)	Historical per share amounts represent both basic and diluted and have been restated to give effect to a stock dividend issued on July 30, 1999.

Selected Historical Financial Data of the ConAgra Chicken Division

The following table presents selected historical financial data of the ConAgra chicken division on a combined basis as of and for the periods indicated. The combined statement of income data for each of the three fiscal years in the period ended May 25, 2003 and the combined balance sheet data as of May 25, 2003 and May 26, 2002 was derived from the ConAgra Foods Chicken Business combined financial statements appearing elsewhere in this proxy statement, which have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors. The combined statement of income data for the fiscal years ended May 28, 2000 and May 30, 1999 and the combined balance sheet data as of August 25, 2002, May 27, 2001, May 28, 2000, and May 30, 1999 was derived from the ConAgra Foods Chicken Business unaudited combined financial statements, which are not included in this proxy statement. The combined statement of income data for the thirteen weeks ended August 24, 2003 and August 25, 2002 and the combined balance sheet data as of August 24, 2003 have been derived from the unaudited combined financial statements of the ConAgra Foods Chicken Business appearing elsewhere in this proxy statement. In the opinion of the ConAgra Foods Chicken Business’ management, the unaudited combined financial statements include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) necessary for a fair presentation of the financial position and the results of operations of the ConAgra chicken division for these periods. The historical data are only a summary and should be read in conjunction with the combined financial statements and related notes thereto for the applicable periods. You should read this selected historical financial data in conjunction with the audited combined financial statements of the ConAgra Foods Chicken Business and notes thereto beginning on page F-1 of this proxy statement.

Index to Financial Statements

	Fiscal Year Ended													Thirteen Weeks Ended
	May 30, 1999(a)		May 28, 2000(b) (c)			May 27, 2001			May 26, 2002(d)		May 25, 2003(e)			August 25, 2002(e)		August 24, 2003(f)
	(in millions)
Income Statement Data:
Net sales	$	1,784.2	$	1,993.2		$	2,341.0		$	2,434.7	$	2,341.7		$	606.5	$	607.0
Cost of goods sold		1,689.9		1,906.6			2,263.7			2,267.3		2,258.1			564.9		582.7

Gross profit		94.3		86.6			77.3			167.4		83.6			41.6		24.3
Selling, general and administrative expenses		56.3		71.8			72.6			79.4		73.0			19.6		18.1
Corporate allocations: Selling, general and administrative		7.6		13.8			20.6			19.0		19.3			4.8		5.3
Corporate allocations: Finance charges		12.3		21.9			31.8			22.7		26.0			6.4		8.8
Restructuring charges		5.9		56.5			—			—		—			—		—

Income (loss) before income taxes		12.2		(77.4	)		(47.7	)		46.3		(34.7	)		10.8		(7.9	)
Income tax expense (benefit)		4.5		(28.5	)		(17.5	)		17.6		(12.9	)		4.0		(3.0	)
Cumulative effect of change in accounting		—		—			—			—		—			—		(0.1	)

Net income (loss)		7.7		(48.9	)		(30.2	)		28.7		(21.8	)		6.8		(5.0	)
Balance Sheet Data (end of period):
Working capital	$	113.3	$	206.7		$	260.4		$	201.7	$	181.8		$	228.0	$	173.9
Total assets		492.1		879.8			882.0			833.1		786.7			853.2		774.2
Long-term debt, less current maturities		3.2		18.5			17.9			17.1		16.6			16.7		16.6

(a)	1999 restructuring charges represent charges for asset impairments.

(b)	2000 restructuring charges include $52.7 million of asset impairments and $3.8 million of other restructuring related charges.

(c)	2000 amounts reflect the acquisition of Seaboard Farms, the poultry division of Seaboard Corporation, for approximately $360 million. Seaboard Farms produced and marketed value-added poultry products primarily to foodservice customers and had annual sales of approximately $480 million.

(d)	As of the beginning of fiscal year 2002, the ConAgra Foods Chicken Business adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (“SFAS”) No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities, as amended.

(e)	As of the beginning of fiscal year 2003, the ConAgra Foods Chicken Business adopted SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.

(f)	As of the beginning of fiscal year 2004, the ConAgra Foods Chicken Business adopted SFAS No. 143, Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations.

Index to Financial Statements

PROPOSED RECLASSIFICATION OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK AND

CLASS B COMMON STOCK INTO A SINGLE CLASS

Item 1 on Proxy Card

General

The board of directors has approved, and recommends that the stockholders adopt, a proposal to amend our certificate of incorporation to reclassify our Class A common stock and Class B common stock into a single class of common stock. A copy of the proposed certificate of amendment to our certificate of incorporation is attached to this proxy statement as Annex C. The following discussion is qualified in its entirety by reference to the amendment, which you should read carefully for more details regarding the provisions we describe and for other provisions that may be important to you.

At the effective time of the reclassification, each share of Class A common stock and each share of Class B common stock will be reclassified into one (1) share of new common stock. The new common stock will be our only class of authorized common stock. Following the reclassification, the Class A common stock and Class B common stock will no longer be listed on the New York Stock Exchange or registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The new common stock will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PPC” and registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. As of the Record Date, there were 13,523,429 shares of Class A common stock outstanding and 27,589,250 shares of Class B common stock outstanding. After giving effect to the reclassification, there will be 41,112,679 shares of our new common stock outstanding, all of which will be held by our current stockholders.

Upon approval by the stockholders, our certificate of incorporation will be amended as described in this proxy statement when the Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation in the form attached to this proxy statement as Annex C is filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. Prior to its filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, the proposed amendment may be abandoned by the board of directors, without further action by the stockholders, at any time before or after the special meeting if for any reason the board of directors deems it advisable.

You should NOT send in your Class A common stock or Class B common stock certificates for exchange. If the reclassification is approved and consummated, your shares of Class A common stock or Class B common stock will automatically be reclassified as our new common stock when the Certificate of Amendment is filed, without any further action. You should retain the certificates for your Class A common stock or Class B common stock, which will be deemed for all purposes to represent the shares of new common stock into which your existing shares were reclassified. While you do not need to exchange your Class A common stock or Class B common stock certificates following this reclassification, you may do so if you wish. Please contact Ric Springstead, Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, 110 South Texas Street, Pittsburg, Texas 75686, Telephone: (903) 855-1000 for further information.

Background of the Proposed Reclassification

Our current dual class capital structure was approved by our stockholders in June 1998. The dual class capital structure was intended to provide additional flexibility to Pilgrim’s Pride, while permitting us to avoid certain adverse income tax consequences that would result if we ceased to qualify as a “family corporation” under section 447 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

A corporation is a “family corporation” if at least 50% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock entitled to vote and at least 50% of all other classes of stock of the corporation are owned by members of the same family and certain other conditions are met. We are controlled by Lonnie “Bo” Pilgrim, our founder and Chairman, and his son Lonnie Ken Pilgrim, who is one of our directors and officers. Collectively, they own approximately 62.25% of our total voting power and over 60% of each class of our common stock. We also meet the other requirements of a “family corporation.”

Index to Financial Statements

Before July 2, 1988, we used the cash method of accounting for federal income tax purposes. Pursuant to changes in the laws enacted by the Revenue Act of 1987, we were required to change our method of accounting from the cash method for federal income tax purposes to the accrual method. As a consequence of this change in our accounting method, we were permitted to create a “suspense account” in the amount of approximately $89.7 million. This account represents deferred income arising from our prior use of the cash method of accounting. Beginning in fiscal 1998, we are generally required to include 1/20th of this amount, or approximately $4.5 million, in taxable income each year for 20 years. As of September 28, 2002, approximately $64.0 million remained to be included in our taxable income in future years. However, the full amount must be included in taxable income in any year that we cease to be a “family corporation.” Accordingly, if the Pilgrim family ceases to own at least 50% of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock entitled to vote, we would cease to be a “family corporation” and would be required to recognize the balance of the “suspense account” in taxable income.

Our dual class structure was intended to allow us to issue equity securities in connection with acquisitions and to raise equity capital or to issue convertible debt or convertible preferred stock as a means to finance future growth, without diluting the voting power of the Pilgrim family in a way that would cause us to incur additional income tax expense.

At the time the dual class capital structure was implemented, our board of directors considered potential disadvantages of the structure, but determined that the potential benefits that it believed would result from the structure would outweigh any potential disadvantages.

At various times since adoption of our dual class capital structure, our board of directors has discussed the possibility that, in practice, certain disadvantages of the dual class capital structure have outweighed potential advantages related to the structure. The board of directors has noted that, with the exception of the pending acquisition of the ConAgra chicken division, we have not used the Class A common stock in connection with any acquisitions, nor have we sold Class A common stock or debt or shares convertible into Class A common stock in any public or private offering in order to raise capital. Given that we have not enjoyed the intended benefits of the Class A common stock, we have felt the disadvantages of the dual class capital structure more strongly, especially in light of the prevalence of single class capital structures among publicly held corporations. The disadvantages of the dual class capital structure that have been noted by the board of directors include, among others, the following:

•

potential confusion due to the complicated nature of our capital structure, which may diminish investor interest, analyst coverage, and the size of our investor base; and

•

impaired liquidity, trading volume, and trading efficiencies.

The board of directors has also noted that the Class A common stock historically traded at a discount to the Class B common stock that it believes to be excessive. Since the adoption of the dual-class structure and prior to the announcement of the proposed reclassification, the Class A common stock generally traded on the New York Stock Exchange at a discount to the Class B common stock. This discount averaged 27.1% from the adoption of the dual-class structure in 1999 through August 5, 2003, and 26.6% over the three months ending August 5, 2003. The trading volume of the Class A common stock averaged approximately 38% that of the Class B common stock from the adoption of the dual-class structure in 1999 through August 5, 2003, and 16.6% over the three months ending August 5, 2003.

From time to time over the last few years, our management has discussed with the New York Stock Exchange and our legal and financial advisors the possibility of combining our two classes of common stock into one class as a means of increasing the trading price of our common stock and enhancing shareholder value. In 2002, we presented a formal proposal to the New York Stock Exchange that the Class A common stock and Class B common stock be reclassified as a new class of common stock, with each reclassified share initially entitled to 20 votes and newly issued shares or transferred shares entitled to one vote per share.

Index to Financial Statements

In July 2003, the New York Stock Exchange preliminarily indicated that, subject to certain conditions described below, it would not object to our proposal under its voting rights rules, and our board of directors appointed a special committee comprised of our five outside directors (Messrs. Charles L. Black, S. Key Coker, Vance C. Miller, James G. Vetter and Donald L. Wass) to evaluate the proposal. The special committee, which does not consist of any member of the Pilgrim family or any of our officers or employees, was charged by the board of directors with determining whether this reclassification of the Class A common stock and Class B common stock was in the best interests of Pilgrim’s Pride, the Class A stockholders and the Class B stockholders, and the terms of any such reclassification, including the rights of the new common stock and the number of new common shares that would be issued for each outstanding share of Class A common stock and Class B common stock, and to make a recommendation to the full board of directors.

In August 2003, the New York Stock Exchange advised us that it would not object to our proposal under its voting rights rules provided that (i) our Majority Stockholders entered into a voting agreement with us so that the reclassification does not increase the percentage of our total voting power controlled by them, (ii) the voting agreement is found satisfactory for its purposes by the New York Stock Exchange, (iii) the voting agreement between us and the Majority Stockholders is legally enforceable and that such enforceability is evidenced by an opinion from counsel to us and the Majority Stockholders, (iv) we agree to notify the New York Stock Exchange of any breach, amendment or termination of the voting agreement and (v) in the event of any breach, amendment or termination of the voting agreement, the New York Stock Exchange reserves the right to take action consistent with its voting rights rules, which could include suspension of trading or delisting of our common stock. We must enter into these agreements with the Majority Stockholders and the New York Stock Exchange prior to effecting the reclassification.

The special committee engaged Merrill Lynch as its financial advisor to assist it in evaluating the exchange ratio. At meetings of the special committee on August 6, August 8, August 11 and August 20, 2003, our management, together with our legal counsel and Merrill Lynch, reviewed the proposed reclassification of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock in the manner described in this proxy statement. At the August 6 meeting, Merrill Lynch presented to the special committee its financial analysis of the proposed exchange ratio and indicated that it was prepared to render a written opinion to the special committee as to the fairness of the proposed exchange ratio to both the holders of Class A common stock and Class B common stock, in each case other than members of the Pilgrim family and their affiliated entities. Merrill Lynch’s presentations at the August 6, August 8 and August 11, 2003 meetings of the special committee were identical to Merrill Lynch’s presentation at the August 20, 2003 meeting that is summarized below under the caption “—Opinion of Special Committee’s Financial Advisor for the Reclassification,” except that the presentation at the August 6 meeting of the special committee did not reflect the recommendation by the special committee of a 1:1 exchange ratio, which was arrived at after the August 6, 2003 presentation by Merrill Lynch to the special committee. At the August 20 meeting, Merrill Lynch reaffirmed its financial analysis and delivered its opinion to the special committee to the effect that, as of August 20, 2003 and based upon the assumptions made, matters considered and limits of review set forth in its written opinion, the exchange ratio pursuant to the proposed reclassification was fair from a financial point of view to both the holders of Class A common stock and Class B common stock, in each case other than members of the Pilgrim family and their affiliated entities. The special committee then unanimously decided that the proposed reclassification was in the best interests of Pilgrim’s Pride, the Class A common stock stockholders and the Class B common stock stockholders, and voted to recommend the proposal to the full board of directors.

Based on the recommendation of the special committee and for the reasons described below, our board of directors subsequently determined that the proposed reclassification was in the best interests of Pilgrim’s Pride and was in the best interests of and fair to the holders of both the Class A common stock and Class B common stock. The board formally approved the reclassification, including by the unanimous vote of the directors that are neither members of the Pilgrim family nor Pilgrim’s Pride officers or employees, voting separately. The directors also recommended that the reclassification be submitted to a vote of our stockholders.

Index to Financial Statements

Reasons for the Proposed Reclassification

At a board meeting held on August 20, 2003, our board of directors determined that it was in the best interests of Pilgrim’s Pride and its stockholders to reclassify the Class A common stock and Class B common stock into new common stock on the terms described in this proxy statement.

In determining whether to approve the reclassification, and in the process of determining that the reclassification is in the best interests of Pilgrim’s Pride and its stockholders, our directors considered a number of factors, and came to believe the reclassification will:

•

eliminate potential investor confusion caused by our dual class capital structure;

•

simplify our capital structure, which may generate increased investor interest, expanded analyst coverage, and a larger investor base;

•

potentially increase the liquidity, trading volume, and trading efficiencies of our common shares;

•

increase efficiency and flexibility in raising capital and issuing additional shares if, when, and to the extent desired; and

•

eliminate a perceived negative impact on the market price of our common stock that results from having a dual class capital structure.

Your board of directors also considered the following factors relating to the reclassification, and believes that each supports its determination that the exchange ratio is fair to all of our stockholders:

•

the analysis and opinion of Merrill Lynch dated August 20, 2003 to the special committee, to the effect that, as of that date and based upon the assumptions made, matters considered and limits of review set forth in its written opinion, the exchange ratio pursuant to the proposed reclassification was fair from a financial point of view to both the holders of Class A common stock and Class B common stock, in each case other than members of the Pilgrim family and their affiliated entities;

•

the holders of the Class A common stock and the holders of the Class B common stock currently have the same economic rights, with the different voting rights representing the only material difference between the Class A common stock and the Class B common stock;

•

in a merger or reorganization transaction, or in a liquidation of the company, each holder of a share of Class A common stock and each holder of a share of Class B common stock is currently entitled to receive the same kind and amount of shares, securities or other property, except that the holders of Class A common stock and Class B common stock could be offered different kinds of shares in a merger or reorganization transaction if the only difference would be their respective voting rights;

•

each holder of a share of Class A common stock and each holder of a share of Class B common stock is currently entitled to receive the same cash dividends per share, if any, declared by the Company;

•

the current and historical trading prices and volumes of the Class A common stock compared to the current and historical trading prices and volumes of the Class B common stock;

•

the trading price differentials between two classes of stock of other similarly situated companies; and

•

the exchange ratios utilized by other companies that reclassified two classes of stock into a single class.

The board of directors also considered that the reclassification would increase the relative voting power of current holders of Class A common stock and decrease the relative voting power of current holders of Class B common stock, and provide greater voting rights to our existing stockholders than it would to persons who

Index to Financial Statements

acquired our common stock in the future, either from us or from our existing stockholders in private or market transactions. Because over 60% of the voting power of both classes of common stock is controlled by the Majority Stockholders, and will continue to be controlled by them after giving effect to the reclassification, the board of directors did not believe that the change in the relative voting power of the Class A stockholders and Class B stockholders resulting from the reclassification prevented a conclusion that the reclassification was fair to and in the best interests of the Class B stockholders, as well as the Class A stockholders. The board noted that the increased voting rights of shares that are subject to the reclassification may encourage our stockholders to retain their shares. The board also considered that our Majority Stockholders have agreed to enter into a voting agreement with us so that the reclassification does not result in an increase in their voting control of Pilgrim’s Pride.

This discussion of information and factors considered by our board of directors is not intended to be exhaustive, but includes all material factors considered by our board of directors in approving the proposed reclassification. Our board of directors did not assign relative weights to the specific factors it considered in reaching its decision to approve the reclassification. In considering the factors described above, individual directors may have given different weight to different factors. Our board of directors relied on the experience and expertise of its financial advisor for quantitative analysis of the exchange ratio for the reclassification. See “—Opinion of Special Committee’s Financial Advisor for the Reclassification” below.

Opinion of Special Committee’s Financial Advisor for the Reclassification

On August 20, 2003, Merrill Lynch delivered its written opinion to the special committee to the effect that, as of that date and based upon the assumptions made, matters considered and limits of review set forth in its written opinion, the exchange ratio pursuant to the proposed reclassification was fair from a financial point of view to both the holders of the Class A common stock and the Class B common stock, in each case other than members of the Pilgrim family and their affiliated entities. A copy of Merrill Lynch’s opinion is attached to this proxy statement as Annex A.

Merrill Lynch’s opinion sets forth the assumptions made, matters considered and limits on the scope of review undertaken by Merrill Lynch. Each holder of Class A common stock and Class B common stock is encouraged to read Merrill Lynch’s opinion in its entirety. Merrill Lynch’s opinion was intended for the use and benefit of the special committee and the board of directors, does not address the merits of the underlying decision by Pilgrim’s Pride to engage in the reclassification and does not constitute a recommendation to any stockholder as to how that stockholder should vote on the reclassification or any related matter. The exchange ratio was determined by the special committee and approved by the board of directors. This summary of Merrill Lynch’s opinion is qualified by reference to the full text of the opinion attached as Annex A.

In arriving at its opinion, Merrill Lynch, among other things:

•

Reviewed Pilgrim’s Pride’s certificate of incorporation as it relates to the rights and privileges of the Class A common stock and the Class B common stock, and held discussions with Pilgrim’s Pride’s outside counsel regarding such rights and privileges;

•

Reviewed a draft of the form of proposed certificate of amendment of the certificate of incorporation of Pilgrim’s Pride providing for the reclassification, which is referred to as the amendment;

•

Conducted discussions with members of senior management of Pilgrim’s Pride concerning the original creation of a dual class structure, the strategic and other reasons behind the decision of Pilgrim’s Pride to engage in the reclassification, and certain other aspects of the reclassification;

•

Reviewed the market prices, trading volumes and trading liquidity for the Class A common stock and the Class B common stock and compared them with the securities of certain publicly traded dual class companies that Merrill Lynch deemed to be relevant;

Index to Financial Statements

•

Compared the proposed financial terms of the reclassification and the exchange ratio with the financial terms of certain other reclassification transactions that Merrill Lynch deemed to be relevant and the exchange ratios used in such transactions;

•

Reviewed a draft of the form of voting agreement to be entered into by the Majority Stockholders;

•

Reviewed a draft of the preliminary proxy statement of Pilgrim’s Pride with respect to the reclassification; and

•

Reviewed such other financial studies and analyses and took into account such other matters as Merrill Lynch deemed necessary, including Merrill Lynch’s assessment of general economic, market and monetary conditions.

In preparing its opinion, Merrill Lynch assumed and relied on the accuracy and completeness of all information supplied or otherwise made available to Merrill Lynch, discussed with or reviewed by or for Merrill Lynch, or publicly available, and Merrill Lynch did not assume any responsibility for independently verifying such information or undertake an independent evaluation or appraisal of any of the assets or liabilities of Pilgrim’s Pride, and was not furnished with any such evaluation or appraisal, nor did Merrill Lynch evaluate the solvency or fair value of Pilgrim’s Pride under any state or federal laws relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or similar matters. In addition, Merrill Lynch did not assume any obligation to conduct any physical inspection of the properties or facilities of Pilgrim’s Pride. Merrill Lynch further assumed that the reclassification will qualify as a tax-free exchange and recapitalization for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and that the final forms of the amendment and the voting agreement to be entered into by the Majority Stockholders will be substantially similar to the last drafts reviewed by Merrill Lynch. Merrill Lynch also assumed that the reclassification will be consummated in accordance with the terms of the amendment and as described in the proxy statement.

Merrill Lynch’s opinion was necessarily based upon market, economic and other conditions as they existed and could be evaluated on, and on the information made available to Merrill Lynch as of, the date of its opinion.

Merrill Lynch was not requested to and did not provide advice concerning the structure, the exchange ratio or any other aspects of the reclassification. In addition, Merrill Lynch was not asked to address, and Merrill Lynch’s opinion did not address, the fairness to, or any other consideration of, the holders of any class of securities, creditors or other constituencies of Pilgrim’s Pride other than the holders of the Class A common stock and the Class B common stock (in each case other than members of the Pilgrim family and their affiliated entities). Merrill Lynch did not express any opinion as to the prices at which the Class A common stock or the Class B common stock will trade following the announcement of the reclassification or as to the prices at which the common stock will trade following consummation of the reclassification. Although Merrill Lynch’s opinion addressed the fairness of the exchange ratio from a financial point of view to the holders of the Class A common stock and the Class B common stock (in each case other than members of the Pilgrim family and their affiliated entities), Merrill Lynch’s opinion did not address the relative fairness of the exchange ratio to the holders of the Class A common stock and the Class B common stock.

The following is a summary of the material financial and comparative analyses performed by Merrill Lynch that were presented to the special committee in connection with its opinion. The financial analyses summarized below include information presented in tabular format. In order to understand fully Merrill Lynch’s financial analyses, the tables must be read together with the text of each summary. The tables alone do not constitute a complete description of the financial analyses. Considering the data described below without considering the full narrative description of the financial analyses, including the methodologies and assumptions underlying the analyses, could create a misleading or incomplete view of Merrill Lynch’s financial analyses.

Index to Financial Statements

Historical Trading Analysis

Merrill Lynch reviewed the historical trading performance and the trading liquidity of the Class A common stock and Class B common stock for the period from June 1, 1999 through August 5, 2003. This analysis included an examination of the percentage by which the daily closing price per share of Class A common stock traded at a premium or a discount to the daily closing price per share of Class B common stock, as well as the percentage by which the daily closing price per share of Class B common stock traded at a premium or a discount to the daily closing price per share of Class A common stock. The trading premium or discount was calculated for all trading days between July 21, 1999, when Class A common stock first began trading, through August 5, 2003. Merrill Lynch also analyzed the ratio of the average daily trading volume of Class B common stock traded relative to the average daily trading volume of Class A common stock, which is referred to as the relative trading liquidity.

This analysis showed the following:

Average Historical Trading & Liquidity⁽¹⁾

	Class A common stock			Class B common stock			Class B common stock/ Class A common stock relative trading liquidity
	(Discount)/ premium to Class B common stock		Trading volume (000s)	(Discount)/ premium to Class A common stock		Trading volume (000s)
Since Split Date⁽²⁾	(27.1	%)	16.1	37.8	%	42.4	2.63x
Last 2-years	(27.2	%)	13.2	37.6	%	47.3	3.60x
Last 1-year	(26.8	%)	13.7	36.7	%	56.2	4.11x
Last 6-months	(27.6	%)	14.9	38.2	%	62.4	4.19x
Last 3-months	(26.6	%)	22.9	36.1	%	88.2	3.85x
Current	(22.9	%)	10.9	29.7	%	65.7	6.03x

(1)

Source: Bloomberg. Trading data through August 5, 2003.

(2)

Class A common stock began trading on the New York Stock Exchange on July 21, 1999.

Merrill Lynch noted that for the various time periods analyzed, the Class B common stock had traded at a premium to the Class A common stock ranging from 29.7% to 38.2%, and the Class B common stock trading volume exceeded the trading volume of the Class A common stock by multiples ranging from 2.63x to 6.03x. Merrill Lynch observed that the Class A common stock traded at a discount to the Class B common stock with significantly less trading volume than the Class B common stock. Merrill Lynch further noted that the premia at which the Class B common stock traded relative to the Class A common stock could be the result of, among other things, the relatively large ratio of the Class B common stock trading volume to the Class A common stock trading volume.

Analysis of Publicly Traded Companies with Dual-Class Capital Structures

Merrill Lynch analyzed a group of seventeen companies, which are referred to as the dual-class companies, that had two classes of common stock publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange with market capitalizations greater than $100 million, where the high-vote shares traded at a premium to low-vote shares. Merrill Lynch derived average trading premia of the high-vote shares over the low-vote shares of the dual-class companies for various periods as set forth below, and compared those premia to the corresponding premia for the Class B common stock over the same periods.

Index to Financial Statements

This analysis showed the following:

Average High-Vote to Low-Vote Premium⁽¹⁾

	Dual class companies	Pilgrim’s Pride
Since Split⁽²⁾	9.6%	37.8%
Last 2-years	9.1%	37.6%
Last 1-year	8.7%	36.7%
Last 6-months	7.7%	38.2%
Last 3-months	5.4%	36.1%
Current	4.4%	29.7%

(1)

Source: Bloomberg. Trading data through August 5, 2003.

(2)

Class A common stock began trading on the New York Stock Exchange on July 21, 1999.

Merrill Lynch noted that for the various time periods analyzed, the premia at which the Class B common stock traded relative to the Class A common stock were significantly larger than the premia at which the high vote stock traded relative to the low vote stock for the dual class companies reviewed. Merrill Lynch further noted that the higher premia at which the Class B common stock traded relative to the Class A common stock could be the result of, among other things, the relatively small combined equity value of Pilgrim’s Pride compared to the combined equity values of other dual class companies and the relatively large ratio of the Class B common stock trading volume to the Class A common stock trading volume compared to the corresponding ratios of other dual class companies, as indicated in Merrill Lynch’s Analysis of Historical Reclassification Transactions summarized below.

Impact of Potential Exchange Ratios on Pro Forma Economic Ownership

Merrill Lynch analyzed the impact of a range of potential exchange ratios on the pro forma economic ownership of the Class A common stock and the Class B common stock. Assuming the Class B common stock were reclassified into new common stock at an exchange ratio equal to 1.0, this analysis showed that if the Class A common stock were reclassified into new common stock at an exchange ratio greater than 1.0, this would imply economic dilution to the holders of the Class B common stock, and if the Class A common stock were reclassified into new common stock at an exchange ratio less than 1.0x, this would imply economic accretion to the holders of the Class B common stock. Similarly, assuming the Class A common stock were reclassified into new common stock at an exchange ratio equal to 1.0, this analysis showed that if the Class B common stock were reclassified into new common stock at an exchange ratio greater than 1.0, this would imply economic dilution to the holders of the Class A common stock, and if the Class B common stock were reclassified into new common stock at an exchange ratio less than 1.0x, this would imply economic accretion to the holders of the Class A common stock.

Potential Accretive or Dilutive Impact of Exchange Ratios

Illustrative Exchange Ratio (Class A common stock for Class B common stock)	Class A Common Stock Economic Impact	Class B Common Stock Economic Impact
Less than 1.0	Dilution	Accretion
Equal to 1.0	Neutral	Neutral
Greater than 1.0	Accretion	Dilution

Analysis of Historical Reclassification Transactions

Merrill Lynch analyzed ten selected historical reclassification transactions in which two classes of common stock of a single company with differential voting rights were reclassified or combined into a single class of

Index to Financial Statements

common stock. Merrill Lynch analyzed the exchange ratio, the combined equity value, the 3-year average trading premium of the high-vote shares over the low-vote shares, the high-vote shares to low-vote shares trading volume ratio, and the days to trade outstanding for both high-vote and low-vote shares for each of these reclassification transactions.

This analysis showed the following:

Selected Historical Reclassification Transactions

(dollars in millions)

Shareholder meeting date	Company	Exchange ratio	Combined equity value⁽¹⁾		3-year average trading premium⁽²⁾		High vote volume/ low vote volume(3)		Days to Trade shares outstanding⁽⁴⁾
Shareholder meeting date	Company	Exchange ratio	Combined equity value⁽¹⁾		3-year average trading premium⁽²⁾		High vote volume/ low vote volume(3)		High vote	Low vote
05/28/03	Florida East Coast Industries Inc.	1.00	$	869.9	(5.1	%)	0.59	x	1,400	718
12/13/02	Reader’s Digest	1.22		2,282.3	(9.0	%)	0.02		1,693	293
05/02/02	Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.	1.00		2,216.8	7.8	%	6.87		61	261
09/21/01	Conoco, Inc.	1.00		17,754.7	2.1	%	2.71		236	274
04/25/01	Raytheon Company	1.00		11,303.4	(2.3	%)	0.41		188	185
04/25/01	Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc.	1.00		3,025.2	(4.7	%)	0.09		2,093	209
01/22/01	Continental Airlines	1.32		3,037.4	1.7	%	0.00		10,394	169
08/15/00	J.M. Smucker Company	1.00		452.2	15.1	%	1.67		710	1,174
06/28/00	Mitchell Energy	1.00		1,317.4	(0.3	%)	0.33		648	260
12/23/98	Remington Oil & Gas	1.15		90.7	9.1	%	0.03		3,560	491

	Pilgrim’s Pride			476.7	38.6	%	3.30		243	394

(1)	As of one day prior to announcement.

(2)	Based on average of available closing prices up to three years prior to announcement. Premium based on high-vote share class to low-vote share class.

(3)	Based on average volume for the 30-day period ended one day prior to announcement.

(4)	Represents number of days required for current volume to equal the number of shares outstanding for the high-vote and low-vote shares, respectively.

Pro Forma Economic and Voting Impact of the Reclassification

Merrill Lynch reviewed the economic and voting ownership of the Class A common stock and the Class B common stock and compared it to the pro forma economic and voting ownership resulting from the reclassification, as well as that resulting from the combined effect of the reclassification and the ConAgra chicken division acquisition.

Index to Financial Statements

This analysis showed the following:

	Current ownership⁽¹⁾				Pro forma reclassification⁽³⁾				Illustrative Pro forma Reclassification and ConAgra acquisition⁽³⁾⁽⁵⁾
	Economic %⁽²⁾		Voting %⁽²⁾		Economic %		Voting %		Economic %		Voting %
Class A common stock Stockholders
Pilgrim Family	63.7	%	1.5	%	21.0	%	21.0	%	11.5	%	20.1	%
Other Insiders	1.1	%	0.0	%	0.4	%	0.4	%	0.2	%	0.3	%
Public	35.2	%	0.8	%	11.6	%	11.6	%	6.4	%	11.1	%

Total	100.0	%	2.4	%	32.9	%	32.9	%	18.1	%	31.6	%
Class B common stock Stockholders
Pilgrim Family	62.2	%	60.7	%	41.7	%	41.7	%	22.9	%	40.1	%
Other Insiders	0.3	%	0.3	%	0.2	%	0.2	%	0.1	%	0.2	%
Public	37.5	%	36.6	%	25.1	%	25.1	%	13.8	%	24.1	%

Total	100.0	%	97.6	%	67.1	%	67.1	%	36.9	%	64.5	%
Combined Stockholders
Pilgrim Family	62.7	%	62.2	%	62.7	%(4)	62.7	%(4)	34.5	%	60.3	%
Other Insiders	0.6	%	0.4	%	0.6	%	0.6	%	0.3	%	0.6	%
Public Stockholders Class A common stock	11.6	%	0.8	%	11.6	%	11.6	%	6.4	%	11.1	%
Public Stockholders Class B common stock	25.1	%	36.6	%	25.1	%	25.1	%	13.8	%	24.1	%
ConAgra Foods	0.0	%	0.0	%	0.0	%	0.0	%	45.0	%	3.9	%

Total	100.0	%	100.0	%	100.0	%	100.0	%	100.0	%	100.0	%

(1)	Source: Pilgrim’s Pride and CDA/Spectrum as of August 5, 2003.

(2)	Class A common stock and Class B common stock economic percentage indicates economic interest within each class. Class A common stock and Class B common stock voting percentage indicates overall voting interest. Voting interest within each class is equal to corresponding economic interest.

(3)	Based on 1.0x shares of common stock for each outstanding Class A common stock and Class B common stock share.

(4)	Voting power in excess of 62.2% will be voted proportionally with that of other shareholders.

(5)	Based on average Class A common stock share closing price from June 10, 2003 to August 5, 2003 of $7.83 per share; assumes 33.7 million shares of common stock issued to ConAgra Foods.

The summary set forth above summarizes the material analyses performed by Merrill Lynch but does not purport to be a complete description of the analyses performed by Merrill Lynch in arriving at its opinion. The preparation of a fairness opinion is a complex process and is not necessarily susceptible to partial or summary description. Accordingly, Merrill Lynch believes that its analyses must be considered as a whole and that selecting portions of its analyses and the factors considered by Merrill Lynch, without considering all analyses and factors, could create an incomplete view of the processes underlying the Merrill Lynch opinion. Merrill Lynch did not assign relative weights to any of its analyses in preparing its opinion. The matters considered by Merrill Lynch in its analyses were based on numerous macroeconomic, operating and financial assumptions with respect to industry performance, general business and economic conditions and other matters, many of which are beyond Pilgrim’s Pride’s and Merrill Lynch’s control and involve the application of complex methodologies and educated judgments. In addition, no company utilized as a comparison in the analyses described above is identical to Pilgrim’s Pride, and none of the transactions utilized as a comparison is identical to the reclassification.

Index to Financial Statements

The special committee selected Merrill Lynch to deliver its opinion because of Merrill Lynch’s reputation as an internationally recognized investment banking firm with substantial experience in transactions similar to the reclassification and because Merrill Lynch is familiar with Pilgrim’s Pride and its business. As part of Merrill Lynch’s investment banking business, Merrill Lynch is continually engaged in the valuation of businesses and their securities in connection with mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, negotiated underwritings, secondary distributions of listed and unlisted securities and private placements.

Merrill Lynch has, in the past, provided financing services to Pilgrim’s Pride and may continue to do so and has received, and may receive, fees for the rendering of those services. During the past two years, Merrill Lynch has received total fees for these services of approximately $900,000. In addition, in the ordinary course of Merrill Lynch’s business, Merrill Lynch and its affiliates may actively trade the Class A common stock and the Class B common stock and other securities of Pilgrim’s Pride for their own account and for the accounts of customers. Accordingly, Merrill Lynch and its affiliates may at any time hold a long or short position in such securities.

Pilgrim’s Pride paid Merrill Lynch a fee in the amount of $500,000 upon delivery of its opinion. In addition, Pilgrim’s Pride has agreed to reimburse Merrill Lynch for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with its engagement (including the reasonable fees and disbursements of legal counsel), and to indemnify Merrill Lynch and related parties from and against liabilities arising out of its engagement, whether arising under the federal securities laws or otherwise.

Description of the New Common Stock

Following the reclassification, our certificate of incorporation will not contain any provision for Class A common stock or Class B common stock. In connection with the elimination of the dual class capital structure, our certificate of incorporation will authorize 160 million shares of common stock instead of 100 million shares of Class A common stock and 60 million shares of Class B common stock.

Except as to voting rights, the rights of the new common stock will be substantially identical to the rights of the current Class A common stock and Class B common stock. Currently, the holders of Class A common stock are entitled to one vote per share and the holders of Class B common stock are entitled to twenty votes per share on all matters brought before the stockholders. Except as required by law, the Class A common stock and Class B common stock vote as a single class. Each share of existing Class A common stock or Class B common stock that is reclassified into our new common stock will be entitled to cast twenty votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders, until there is a change in the beneficial ownership of such share, as determined by us or our transfer agent based upon criteria specified in the certificate of amendment to our certificate of incorporation and written procedures we may adopt from time to time.

Generally, a change in beneficial ownership of an outstanding share of common stock will be deemed to have occurred whenever a change occurs in any person or group of persons who, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise has or shares:

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voting power, which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting of such share of common stock;

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investment power, which includes the power to direct the sale or other disposition of such share of common stock;

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the right to receive or retain the proceeds of any sale or other disposition of such share of common stock; or

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the right to receive any distributions, including cash dividends, in respect of such share of common stock.

Absent proof to the contrary, a change in beneficial ownership will be deemed to have occurred whenever a share of common stock is transferred of record into the name of any other person.

Index to Financial Statements

The following events, however, will not be deemed to result in a change of beneficial ownership:

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any event that occurred prior to the filing of the certificate of amendment under the terms of any contract (other than a contract for the purchase and sale of shares of common stock contemplating prompt settlement), including contracts providing for options, rights of first refusal and similar arrangements in existence at the time of such filing to which any holder of shares of common stock is a party;

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any transfer of any interest in a share of common stock pursuant to a bequest or inheritance by operation of law upon the death of any individual, or by any other transfer to or primarily for the benefit of a family member(s) of the transferor or any trust, partnership or other entity primarily for the benefit of such family member(s), or pursuant to an appointment of a successor trustee, general partner or similar fiduciary or the grant of a proxy or other voting rights to one or more persons with respect to any such trust, partnership or other entity, including a gift;

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any change in the beneficiary of any trust or any distribution of a share of common stock from trust, by reason of birth, death, marriage or divorce, the adoption of a person prior to age 18 or the passage of a given period of time or the attainment by a person of a specific age, or the creation or termination of any guardianship or custodial arrangement;

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any transfer of any interest in a share of common stock from one spouse to another by reason of separation or divorce or under or pursuant to community property laws or other similar laws of any jurisdiction;

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any appointment of a successor trustee, agent, guardian, custodian or similar fiduciary with respect to a share of common stock if neither such successor has nor its predecessor had the power to vote or to dispose of such share of common stock without further instructions from others;

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any change in the person to whom dividends or other distributions in respect of a share of common stock are to be paid pursuant to the issuance or modification of a revocable dividend payment order;

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any transfer of the beneficial ownership of a share of common stock from one of our employee benefit plans to another;

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the grant by any person of the right to vote any shares of which such person is the beneficial owner, provided the agreement, arrangement or understanding to vote such shares arises solely from a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a proxy or consent solicitation made to 10 or more persons; or

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any event occurring under the Share Voting Agreement among the Majority Stockholders and ConAgra Foods or the voting agreement among the Majority Stockholders and us described below.

Following a change in beneficial ownership of a share that is reclassified, the share will be entitled to only one vote. Shares of new common stock issued after the reclassification will also only be entitled to one vote per share, including the shares to be issued to ConAgra Foods in the ConAgra chicken division acquisition. Shares held in street name or by a broker or nominee will be presumed to have been acquired after the reclassification and to therefore have one vote per share. This presumption is rebuttable by the holder’s showing that such share was subject to the reclassification and that no change in beneficial ownership of such share has occurred since the reclassification.

Effects of the Proposed Reclassification

Voting Interest. Because the Class A common stock currently carries one vote per share, and the Class B common stock currently carries twenty votes per share, the reclassification will significantly increase the relative voting power of each share of Class A common stock and decrease the relative voting power of each share of Class B common stock. The following table shows the percentage of our total voting power held as of the Record

Index to Financial Statements

Date by the Majority Stockholders, our other existing stockholders and ConAgra Foods, and the percentage of our total voting power that would be held by each of those groups after giving effect to the proposed reclassification of the Class A common stock and Class B common stock and our proposed acquisition of the ConAgra chicken division as though they had occurred on October 7, 2003:

	Voting Power Prior to the Reclassification and Acquisition		Voting Power After the Reclassification and Acquisition
Majority Stockholders	62.25	%	60.84	%
Other Existing Stockholders	37.75		36.17
ConAgra Foods	—		2.99

Total	100.00	%	100.00	%

Our chairman Lonnie “Bo” Pilgrim, and his son Lonnie Ken Pilgrim, who is one of our directors and officers, directly and through several family trusts and partnerships (collectively, the “Majority Stockholders”), collectively control 62.25% of our total voting power and will continue to control over 62% of our total voting power immediately after the reclassification. So that the reclassification does not increase the percentage of our total voting power controlled by the Majority Stockholders they have agreed to enter into a voting agreement with us prior to the reclassification. The voting agreement will provide that, as long as the common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, should the combined voting power of shares held by the Majority Stockholders exceed 62.25% of our total voting power, they will vote those shares in excess of that percentage proportionately with the votes of the other Pilgrim’s Pride stockholders.

Economic Interest. The reclassification will have no impact on the economic equity interest of holders of Class A common stock and Class B common stock. The shares held by the holders of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock currently represent 32.9% and 67.1%, respectively, of the total outstanding shares of common stock. After the adoption of the proposed amendment to effect the reclassification, the shares of new common stock held by current holders of Class A common stock and Class B common stock would be 32.9% and 67.1%, respectively.

Capitalization. The reclassification will have no impact on the total issued and outstanding shares of common stock. As of the Record Date, there were 41,112,679 shares of common stock issued and outstanding, consisting of 13,523,429 shares of Class A common stock and 27,589,250 shares of Class B common stock. After the reclassification, there will be 41,112,679 shares of the new common stock outstanding. In addition, the amendment will not increase our total number of authorized shares of common stock. The amendment to effect the reclassification authorizes the issuance of 160,000,000 shares of new common stock, which is the combined total number of shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock currently authorized by our certificate of incorporation.

Market Price of Common Stock. After the reclassification, the market price of shares of our new common stock will depend, as before the reclassification, on many factors including our future performance, general market conditions and conditions in the industry in which we operate. Accordingly, we cannot predict the price at which our new common stock will trade following the reclassification, just as we could not predict the prices at which Class A common stock and Class B common stock would trade following the creation of the dual-class structure. On August 21, 2003, the trading day immediately prior to our announcement of the proposed reclassification, the per-share closing prices of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock on the New York Stock Exchange were $10.10 and $13.15 , respectively. On October 29, 2003, the per-share closing prices of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock on the New York Stock Exchange were $12.90 and $13.06, respectively.

Index to Financial Statements

Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences

We have summarized below certain federal income tax consequences of the proposed amendment based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and currently in effect. This summary does not discuss all aspects of federal income taxation that may be relevant to you in light of your individual circumstances. In addition, this summary is included for general information purposes only and is not intended to constitute advice regarding the federal income tax consequences of the proposed amendment. You are urged to consult your own tax advisor with respect to the tax consequences of the proposed amendment, including tax reporting requirements and tax consequences under state, local or foreign law.

We believe that as a result of the proposed amendment:

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no gain or loss will be recognized for federal income tax purposes by any of the holders of our Class A common stock or any of the holders of our Class B common stock upon the reclassification of shares of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock into shares of new common stock;

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the basis of new common stock will be the same as the stockholder’s aggregate basis in the Class A common stock and Class B common stock;

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the holding period of the new common stock will include such stockholder’s holding period for the Class A common stock and Class B common stock, provided that each share of Class A common stock and Class B common stock was held by such stockholder as a capital asset as defined in Section 1221 of the Internal Revenue Code on the effective date of the amendment; and

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no gain or loss will be recognized for federal income tax purposes by us upon the reclassification and conversion of shares of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock into shares of new common stock.

Required Vote and Board of Directors’ Recommendation

Approval of the proposed amendment to our certificate of incorporation to reclassify our Class A common stock and Class B common stock into a single class of common stock will require the separate class votes of a majority of the shares of the Class A common stock and a majority of the shares of Class B common stock outstanding on the Record Date. Abstentions and broker non-votes will have the same effect as votes against the proposal.

The board of directors recommends a vote “FOR” approval of the proposed amendment. Properly dated and signed proxies will be so voted unless stockholders specify otherwise.

PROPOSED ISSUANCE OF SHARES TO CONAGRA FOODS

Item 2 on Proxy Card

General

Our board of directors has approved the Stock Purchase Agreement and the acquisition of the ConAgra chicken division, including the proposed issuance of the Shares to ConAgra Foods as a part of the purchase price. You are being asked to vote at the special meeting on a proposal to approve the issuance of the Shares to ConAgra Foods as contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement.

Under the Stock Purchase Agreement, we would acquire all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the four wholly-owned subsidiaries of ConAgra Foods that comprise its chicken division: ConAgra Poultry Company, To-Ricos, Inc., Lovette Company, Inc. and Hester Industries, Inc. (collectively, the “Acquired Companies”). The ConAgra chicken division can generally be viewed as consisting of all of ConAgra Foods’ integrated chicken business (including grow-out, slaughter, processing, further processing, rendering, sales and

Index to Financial Statements

distribution, both in retail and foodservice, and related assets and employees). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the ConAgra chicken division does not include the further chicken processing and marketing operations included in ConAgra Foods’ packaged foods segment, including, without limitation, the Butterball, Banquet, Marie Callender’s and Country Skillet further processing and marketing operations. Additionally, Pilgrim’s Pride will not be acquiring the ConAgra, Butterball, Banquet, Marie Callender’s and Country Skillet trade names, although after the closing of the acquisition, we will be a preferred supplier of chicken to ConAgra Foods and its operating companies. See “Transaction Agreements – Supply Agreements”).

The purchase price will be calculated based on the final adjusted net book value of the assets and liabilities of the ConAgra chicken division on the closing date of the acquisition. If the estimated final adjusted net book value was $525.6 million (which was the ConAgra chicken division’s adjusted net book value at August 24, 2003), the consideration payable to ConAgra Foods would consist of $100 million in cash, approximately 25.4 million Shares and, assuming no post-closing adjustment, Notes having a principal amount of approximately $189.1 million. On August 13, 2003, we completed the public offering of $100 million of 9⁵/8% Senior Notes due 2011. In addition to the $100 million cash payment required to be made at closing, we intend to pay cash to ConAgra Foods using the proceeds of that offering instead of issuing Notes; provided, however, that if we issue any Notes to ConAgra Foods, the initial principal amount of the Notes must be at least $100 million or such lesser amount as may be acceptable to ConAgra Foods. See “The Stock Purchase Agreement – Purchase Price.” Under this scenario, the amount we would record as the purchase price on our financial statements would be approximately $615.4 million plus transaction costs, assuming our common stock price at closing were $12.87 (which was the closing price of our Class A common stock on October 24, 2003).

Background

Since as early as 1999, we have pursued a strategy of continuing to add value to all of our products and services. In addition to growing our existing business operations, one of the ways that we have executed this strategy has been to take advantage of strategic acquisition opportunities that have enabled us to expand our product mix and distribution capabilities across the United States, particularly for higher-margin prepared foods products. Consistent with that strategy, in January 1999, we acquired a prepared foods processing plant from Plantation Foods, Inc., and in January 2001, we acquired WLR Foods, Inc., which was then the twelfth largest chicken company and fourth largest turkey company in the United States. The WLR Foods merger enabled us to significantly expand our operations in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States, improving our ability to serve our existing customers and our ability to serve additional markets.

Over the last several years, ConAgra Foods has been pursuing an acquisition and divestiture strategy to shift its focus toward its core branded and value-added products. In 2002, for example, ConAgra Foods sold its fresh beef and fresh pork operations. Between September 2002 and February 2003, our senior management began to consider whether we should pursue the acquisition of some of ConAgra Foods’ chicken operations as a means of enhancing our existing capabilities.

In February 2003, we initiated discussions with executives of ConAgra Foods concerning the possible acquisition of some of ConAgra Foods’ facilities, either through purchase or in exchange for one of our processing facilities. On March 7, 2003, Richard A. Cogdill, our executive vice president and chief financial officer, and Patrick Koley, vice president, corporate planning, of ConAgra Foods, signed mutual confidentiality agreements so that we could begin to exchange confidential business information with ConAgra Foods in connection with a possible transaction.

Over the next several weeks, Messrs. Cogdill and Koley continued general discussions about each party’s possible interest in a transaction. On March 20, 2003, representatives of our senior management, including our chairman, Lonnie “Bo” Pilgrim, our vice chairman, Clifford E. Butler, our president and chief operating officer, O.B. Goolsby, Jr., our executive vice president of sales and marketing, Michael J. Murray, and Mr. Cogdill, met in Dallas, Texas with Mr. Koley and Messrs. Jerry Dowd and Tom Southworth, the president and chief operating officer and senior vice president and senior financial officer, respectively, of ConAgra Poultry Company. At this

Index to Financial Statements

meeting, the ConAgra Foods representatives expressed an interest in selling to us several of their facilities in exchange for cash and/or one of our processing facilities. We expressed our interest in a larger acquisition that would include ConAgra Foods’ cooking-related assets, and advised that we would consider the purchase of their fresh chicken operations (i.e., those operations involving the grow-out, slaughter, processing, rendering, sale and distribution of fresh chicken that has not been further processed) in connection with such a larger acquisition.

During April 2003, the parties continued to exchange business information and discuss a possible acquisition by us of several ConAgra Foods’ facilities. On April 18, 2003, Mr. Cogdill advised Mr. Koley that we were interested in pursuing the acquisition of selected fresh chicken facilities and ConAgra Foods’ cooking-related assets for a combination of common stock and debt, based on the book value of the assets and liabilities to be acquired. Additionally, Mr. Cogdill stated that we would be willing to consider the acquisition of other selected ConAgra chicken division facilities in the United States and Puerto Rico. While no proposal for an acquisition was then made, the parties agreed to continue their dialogue.

On April 24, 2003, Mr. Koley advised Mr. Cogdill that ConAgra Foods was interested in discussing the sale to us of selected facilities, and at that time was not interested in a transaction involving any of its cooking operations. Mr. Cogdill advised that we were willing to acquire one of the facilities under discussion, but were not interested in acquiring other fresh operations unless they were part of a larger acquisition including some cooking-related assets. Over the next two weeks, the parties continued to discuss our possible acquisition of one of the ConAgra chicken division’s facilities on a book value basis for the fixed assets plus some working capital components, and arrangements were made for our representatives to visit the facility under discussion.

In early May 2003, Lonnie “Bo” Pilgrim and Dwight Goslee, executive vice president – operation, control and development of ConAgra Foods, had several telephone conversations in which Mr. Pilgrim expressed our interest in meeting with him and Bruce Rohde, president and chief executive officer of ConAgra Foods, to discuss a larger acquisition of ConAgra Foods’ chicken operations. On May 9, 2003, Messrs. Pilgrim, Butler and Cogdill met with Messrs. Rohde and Goslee in Omaha, Nebraska. We expressed our interest in acquiring all of ConAgra Foods’ chicken operations on a book value basis for $100 million in cash, common stock representing approximately 40-45% of the consideration, and a subordinated note for the balance of the consideration. The parties reached a general understanding as to the framework of an acquisition, discussed a schedule for preparation of the requisite documentation and presentation of the matter to each companies’ board of directors, and agreed to direct their counsel to prepare a term sheet for our acquisition of the entire ConAgra chicken division in accordance with the parties’ discussions.

Between May 12 and May 16, the parties and their legal advisors prepared and discussed a term sheet for the proposed acquisition. The parties decided that, in lieu of executing a term sheet, they would proceed promptly with due diligence and commence negotiations directed towards reaching agreement on a definitive stock purchase agreement.

On May 19, 2003, at a special meeting of our board of directors, Messrs. Pilgrim and Cogdill briefed our directors concerning the status and substance of our discussions with ConAgra Foods. The directors discussed the proposed structure and sources of funds for the acquisition. At this meeting, Messrs. Pilgrim and Cogdill received support for continued negotiation of an acquisition. The board also authorized Mr. Cogdill to engage a nationally recognized investment banking firm to advise us in connection with the proposed acquisition and evaluate whether the purchase price to be paid in a proposed acquisition was fair, from a financial point of view, to us. Also, on May 19, 2003, our audit committee authorized Mr. Cogdill to engage our independent auditors to provide certain due diligence services in connection with the proposed acquisition.

Between May 19 and May 22, 2003, our representatives visited all of the major facilities of the ConAgra chicken division to conduct on-site due diligence, and between May 19 and June 6, 2003, our representatives and legal and financial advisors conducted due diligence on the ConAgra chicken division. We also, together with our legal advisors, prepared and negotiated the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement.

On May 28, 2003, at a regular meeting of our board of directors, Mr. Cogdill provided the directors with an update regarding the proposed acquisition of the ConAgra chicken division and the status of negotiations with

Index to Financial Statements

ConAgra Foods regarding the Stock Purchase Agreement. Mr. Cogdill also reviewed with the directors certain unaudited financial information regarding the ConAgra chicken division.

On May 30, 2003, at a special meeting of our board of directors, the board reviewed the terms of a draft Stock Purchase Agreement for the proposed acquisition. Mr. Cogdill and Baker & McKenzie, our legal counsel in connection with the proposed acquisition, reported to the board concerning the status of negotiations relating to the Stock Purchase Agreement and other transaction agreements. Also participating in the meeting were representatives of Credit Suisse First Boston, our financial advisor in connection with the acquisition. Credit Suisse First Boston discussed with the board the financial terms of the proposed acquisition, the types of financial analyses that it would perform in its evaluation of the purchase price and the status of its financial due diligence. The directors discussed the acquisition, the draft stock purchase agreement and other documentation in detail, and authorized Mr. Cogdill to continue to negotiate the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement and other transaction agreements.

On Saturday, June 7, 2003, a special meeting of our board of directors was held to consider the proposed transaction. During this meeting, Mr. Cogdill reviewed the proposed acquisition with the board. The review included the strategic reasons for the proposed acquisition, a financial review, a review of the ConAgra chicken division’s business operations and financial condition, and a report describing the results of our due diligence review. During the board meeting, our counsel, Baker & McKenzie, delivered a presentation concerning the proposed transaction, including a review of the principal terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement and other transaction agreements. In addition, Credit Suisse First Boston reviewed with the board its financial analysis of the purchase price provided for in the Stock Purchase Agreement as of that date and rendered to the board its opinion described below under the caption “—Opinion of Pilgrim’s Pride’s Financial Advisor for the Acquisition” beginning on page 35. After full discussion and consideration, the board unanimously approved the Stock Purchase Agreement and the acquisition and adopted resolutions authorizing and directing our officers to execute and deliver the Stock Purchase Agreement and related transaction agreements, with such changes as may be deemed advisable by such officers, subject to approval by regulatory authorities and the approval by our stockholders of the issuance of Shares to ConAgra Foods in connection with the acquisition. The board also resolved to recommend that our stockholders approve the issuance of shares to ConAgra Foods in connection with the acquisition. For a description of the reasons for the decision and recommendation, see “—Reasons for the Acquisition and the Issuance of Shares to ConAgra Foods” below.

On June 7, 2003, the parties executed the Stock Purchase Agreement. Simultaneously, Lonnie “Bo” Pilgrim, Lonnie Ken Pilgrim and Pilgrim Interests, Ltd., our majority stockholders, signed the Share Voting Agreement with ConAgra Foods. The signing of the Stock Purchase Agreement was publicly announced by the parties on Monday, June 9, 2003.

In August 2003, the parties and their legal advisors prepared and negotiated two amendments to the Stock Purchase Agreement. On August 7, we entered into Amendment No. 1 to the Stock Purchase Agreement with ConAgra Foods. Amendment No. 1 provides that we may pay cash to ConAgra Foods in lieu of all or part of the portion of the purchase price that was to be represented by the Notes, provided that if we issue the Notes in payment of a portion of the purchase price, the initial amount of the Notes must be at least $100 million, or a lesser amount acceptable in writing to ConAgra Foods. On August 20, we entered into Amendment No. 2 to the Stock Purchase Agreement. In Amendment No. 2, ConAgra Foods consented to the reclassification of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock prior to the closing of the ConAgra chicken division acquisition, and agreed that it would receive our new common stock at closing rather than Class A common stock. In addition, the parties amended the manner in which the number of shares to be issued to ConAgra under the Stock Purchase Agreement will be determined. See “The Stock Purchase Agreement — Purchase Price—Share Portion.” Our board of directors considered whether to request another opinion from our financial advisor in view of the amendments to the Stock Purchase Agreement. It was noted that, because the price of our Class A common stock increased significantly since June 6, 2003, which was the last trading day before the acquisition was announced, from $6.00 per share to $12.90 per share on October 29, the number of Shares issuable to ConAgra Foods in the acquisition would likely be less than the number of Shares estimated to be issued at the time Credit Suisse First

Index to Financial Statements

Boston rendered its opinion. Because of the likelihood that fewer shares would need to be issued, the fact that we became contractually obligated to purchase the ConAgra chicken division on June 7, 2003 at the signing of the original Stock Purchase Agreement (subject to the conditions of such agreement) and the fact that the amendments to the Stock Purchase Agreement did not affect the fact that the purchase price to be paid to ConAgra Foods would equal the final adjusted net book value of the ConAgra chicken division on the closing date, the board of directors did not believe that the August 2003 amendments to the Stock Purchase Agreement warranted the additional expense of obtaining an updated opinion.

Reasons for the Acquisition and the Issuance of Shares to ConAgra Foods

Our board of directors believes that the acquisition and the proposed issuance of the Shares to ConAgra Foods are in the best interests of Pilgrim’s Pride. We believe that with ConAgra Foods’ specialty prepared chicken products, brands, well-established distributor relationships and Southeastern United States processing facilities, we will be able to provide customers at every point on the distribution chain with the broadest range of quality value-added chicken products and services available in the market today. We believe that ConAgra Foods’ facilities will allow us to expand our reach across the Southeastern United States, which will complement our existing Central and Mid-Atlantic regional operations in the United States. In addition, our purchase of the ConAgra chicken division will enable us to provide fresh chicken products to supermarkets and other retail customers throughout the Southeastern and Midwestern portions of the United States. Furthermore, as the largest distributor of chicken products in Puerto Rico, our purchase of the ConAgra chicken division will also provide us with a solid foothold in a profitable market. We also believe that the acquisition will present us opportunities to achieve cost savings of at least $50 million over the next three years through the optimization of production and distribution facilities and the implementation of a “best practices” approach across all operations, including purchasing, production, logistics and shared services.

Following the completion of the ConAgra chicken division acquisition, we will be the second largest producer of chicken products in the United States. We estimate that our market share based on total annual chicken production in the United States following the acquisition will be 16.3%, which is nearly twice the estimated market share of the third largest competitor in the chicken industry. The complementary fit of markets, distributor relationships and geographic locations are a few of the many benefits we anticipate realizing from this acquisition. We believe that ConAgra Foods’ established relationship with broad-line national distributors will enable us to expand our customer base and provide nationwide distribution capabilities for all of our product lines. As a result, we believe we will be 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.

We expect that the ConAgra chicken division acquisition will result in significant cost saving opportunities and enhanced growth. We intend to integrate the ConAgra chicken division into Pilgrim’s Pride as rapidly as possible while minimizing disruption to our respective operations. We expect to realize significant annualized cost savings after the ConAgra chicken division acquisition by:

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taking advantage of our geographic presence by optimizing our supply chain management and logistics;

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optimizing the uses of all production and distribution facilities; and

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determining and implementing a “best practices” approach across all operations, including purchasing, production and shared services.

To reach its conclusion to approve, and recommend that the stockholders of Pilgrim’s Pride approve, the issuance of the Shares, the Board considered a number of factors in addition to those listed above, including the following:

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the financial condition and operating results of the ConAgra chicken division, both of which we believe would benefit from the deployment of Pilgrim’s Pride’s business strategies and methodologies;

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the markets served by the ConAgra chicken division in the United States and Puerto Rico, which, as described above, complement our operations both geographically and operationally;

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the financial and other terms and conditions of the Stock Purchase Agreement and other transaction agreements, including that a large component of the purchase price to ConAgra Foods is payable in shares of our common stock and our subordinated debt;

Index to Financial Statements

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the complementary nature of Pilgrim’s Pride’s and ConAgra Foods’ chicken businesses, products, assets, managements, strategic objectives and opportunities; and

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the financial presentation of Credit Suisse First Boston, including its opinion, dated June 7, 2003, to the Board as to the fairness, from a financial point of view and as of that date, of the purchase price provided for in the Stock Purchase Agreement, dated June 7, 2003, prior to its amendment, as more fully described in “—Opinion of Pilgrim’s Pride’s Financial Advisor for the Acquisition.”

In reaching its decision to approve the acquisition, the Stock Purchase Agreement and the issuance of the Shares to ConAgra Foods, and to recommend approval of the issuance of Shares to the Pilgrim’s Pride stockholders, the board of directors did not assign any relative or specific weights to the various factors considered. Instead, the board of directors conducted an overall analysis of the factors described above and the risks described below, including by participating in discussions with and asking questions of our management and our legal and financial advisors. In considering these factors and risks, individual directors may have given different weight to different factors.

Certain Risks of the Acquisition

In deciding whether to approve the issuance of the Shares to ConAgra Foods, our stockholders should consider the following factors, in addition to the other matters set forth in this proxy statement:

Resale of our common stock by ConAgra Foods may cause the market price to fall. Sales of substantial amounts of common stock in the public market after the issuance of the Shares could adversely affect prevailing market prices. Twelve months following the closing of the acquisition, up to one-third of the Shares to be issued to ConAgra Foods may be sold pursuant to an effective registration statement (approximately 8.5 million Shares based upon an assumed estimated final adjusted book value of $525.6 million and an assumed adjusted volume weighted average price of $9.3267). Pursuant to the Registration Rights and Transfer Restriction Agreement, we will register for resale all of the Shares issued to ConAgra Foods within twelve months following the closing. See “Transaction Agreements – Registration Rights Agreements – Registration Rights and Transfer Restrictions Agreement.”

If the businesses cannot be combined successfully, our financial condition and operating results may decline. In evaluating the terms of the acquisition and the issuance of the Shares to ConAgra Foods, we analyzed the respective businesses of Pilgrim’s Pride and the ConAgra chicken division 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. See “—Reasons for the Acquisition and the Issuance of Shares to ConAgra Foods.” There can be no assurance, however, that this assumption is correct or that the businesses of Pilgrim’s Pride and the ConAgra chicken division will be successfully integrated in a timely manner. If we are unable to successfully combine our businesses, our financial condition and operating results may decline.

We may not achieve cost savings and enhanced growth from the acquisition if we do not successfully integrate the ConAgra chicken division operations. We entered into the Stock Purchase Agreement with the expectation that the acquisition will result in beneficial synergies, such as cost savings and enhanced growth. See “—Reasons for the Acquisition and the Issuance of Shares to ConAgra Foods.” Any success in realizing these benefits and the timing of this realization, if any, depend upon the successful integration of the operations of the ConAgra chicken division into Pilgrim’s Pride, and upon general and industry-specific economic factors. The integration of two independent companies is a complex, costly and time-consuming process. The difficulties of combining the operations of the companies include, among others:

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transitioning and preserving the ConAgra chicken division’s customer, contractor, supplier and other important third party relationships;

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integrating corporate and administrative infrastructures;

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coordinating sales and marketing functions;

Index to Financial Statements

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minimizing the diversion of management’s attention from ongoing business concerns;

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coordinating geographically separate organizations; and

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retaining key employees.

Even if Pilgrim’s Pride and the ConAgra chicken division are able to integrate their operations and economic conditions remain stable, there can be no assurance that the anticipated synergies will be achieved.

Liabilities of the Acquired Companies may harm our financial condition and operating results. Because the acquisition is structured as a stock purchase, we will assume all of the liabilities of the Acquired Companies, including liabilities that may be unknown. We negotiated and obtained from ConAgra Foods certain representations and warranties concerning contingent liabilities and other obligations of the Acquired Companies to reduce the risk that we will bear such subsidiaries’ liability for unknown liabilities. ConAgra Foods also agreed to indemnify us for breaches of representations and warranties concerning the pre-closing operations of the ConAgra chicken division and for certain liabilities of the Acquired Companies. Certain of ConAgra Foods’ indemnification obligations are subject to a cap in the aggregate amount of $200 million. Nevertheless, ConAgra Foods’ indemnification obligations are generally subject to a $30 million deductible, and there may be circumstances in which ConAgra Foods’ indemnification obligations do not provide us protection from contingent or other obligations of the Acquired Companies, or other pre-closing liabilities of the ConAgra chicken division. Such obligations and liabilities could harm our financial condition and operating results. See “The Stock Purchase Agreement—Indemnification.”

The issuance of shares to ConAgra Foods will dilute the equity interest and voting power of our current stockholders. The ownership percentage and voting power of the holders of the currently outstanding shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock will be diluted by the issuance of the Shares. Prior to the acquisition, the Class A stockholders collectively owned approximately 32.9% of our total outstanding shares and 2.4% of our total voting power, and the Class B stockholders collectively owned approximately 67.1% of our total outstanding shares and 97.6% of our total voting power. After giving effect to the proposed reclassification of the Class A common stock and Class B common stock into a single class, the current Class A stockholders will own approximately 32.9% of our total outstanding shares and our total voting power, and the Class B stockholders will own approximately 67.1% of our total outstanding shares and our total voting power. After giving effect to the subsequent issuance of approximately 25.4 million Shares to ConAgra Foods, the current Class A stockholders would own approximately 20.34% of our total outstanding shares and approximately 31.91% of our total voting power, and the current Class B stockholders would own approximately 41.51% of our total outstanding shares and 65.10% of our total voting power.

In the board of directors’ view, these considerations were not sufficient, either individually or collectively, to outweigh the advantages of the proposed acquisition.

Opinion of Pilgrim’s Pride’s Financial Advisor for the Acquisition

Credit Suisse First Boston has acted as Pilgrim’s Pride’s financial advisor in connection with the acquisition. Pilgrim’s Pride selected Credit Suisse First Boston based on Credit Suisse First Boston’s experience, reputation and familiarity with Pilgrim’s Pride and its business. Credit Suisse First Boston is an internationally recognized investment banking firm and is regularly engaged in the valuation of businesses and securities in connection with mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, negotiated underwritings, competitive biddings, secondary distributions of listed and unlisted securities, private placements and valuations for corporate and other purposes.

In connection with Credit Suisse First Boston’s engagement, Pilgrim’s Pride requested that Credit Suisse First Boston evaluate the fairness, from a financial point of view, to Pilgrim’s Pride of the purchase price provided for in the Stock Purchase Agreement, dated June 7, 2003, prior to its amendment. On June 7, 2003, at a meeting of the Pilgrim’s Pride board of directors held to evaluate the acquisition, Credit Suisse First Boston rendered to the Pilgrim’s Pride board an oral opinion, which opinion was confirmed by delivery of a written

Index to Financial Statements

opinion dated June 7, 2003, to the effect that, as of that date and based on and subject to the matters described in its opinion, the purchase price provided for in the Stock Purchase Agreement, dated June 7, 2003, prior to its amendment, was fair, from a financial point of view, to Pilgrim’s Pride. Credit Suisse First Boston was not requested to render an updated opinion in connection with the August 11, 2003 and August 20, 2003 amendments to the Stock Purchase Agreement.

The full text of Credit Suisse First Boston’s written opinion, dated June 7, 2003, to the Pilgrim’s Pride board of directors, which sets forth the procedures followed, assumptions made, matters considered and limitations on the review undertaken, is attached as Annex B and is incorporated into this proxy statement by reference. Holders of Pilgrim’s Pride common stock are encouraged to read this opinion carefully and in its entirety. Credit Suisse First Boston’s opinion was provided to the Pilgrim’s Pride board of directors in connection with its evaluation of the purchase price provided for in the Stock Purchase Agreement, dated June 7, 2003, prior to its amendment, and relates only to the fairness, from a financial point of view, to Pilgrim’s Pride of such purchase price. Credit Suisse First Boston’s opinion does not address any other aspect of the proposed acquisition or any related transaction and does not constitute a recommendation to any stockholder as to any matters relating to the proposed acquisition or any related transaction. The summary of Credit Suisse First Boston’s opinion in this proxy statement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the opinion.

In arriving at its opinion, Credit Suisse First Boston reviewed the Stock Purchase Agreement dated June 7, 2003 and related documents, and also reviewed publicly available business and financial information relating to Pilgrim’s Pride. Credit Suisse First Boston reviewed other information relating to Pilgrim’s Pride and business and financial information relating to the ConAgra chicken division, including financial forecasts and other information and data for Pilgrim’s Pride and the ConAgra chicken division, provided to or discussed with Credit Suisse First Boston by the management of Pilgrim’s Pride as well as other business and financial data provided to or discussed with Credit Suisse First Boston by the managements of ConAgra Foods and the Acquired Companies. Credit Suisse First Boston met with the managements of Pilgrim’s Pride, ConAgra Foods and the Acquired Companies to discuss the business and prospects of Pilgrim’s Pride and the ConAgra chicken division. Credit Suisse First Boston considered financial and stock market data of Pilgrim’s Pride and financial data of the ConAgra chicken division and compared those data with similar data for publicly held companies in businesses similar to those of Pilgrim’s Pride and the ConAgra chicken division and considered, to the extent publicly available, the financial terms of business combinations and other transactions that have been effected. Credit Suisse First Boston also considered other information, financial studies, analyses and investigations and financial, economic and market criteria that it deemed relevant.

In connection with its review, Credit Suisse First Boston did not assume any responsibility for independent verification of any of the information that it reviewed or considered and relied on that information being complete and accurate in all material respects. With respect to financial forecasts and other information and data for Pilgrim’s Pride and the ConAgra chicken division provided to or discussed with Credit Suisse First Boston by the management of Pilgrim’s Pride, Credit Suisse First Boston was advised, and assumed, that the forecasts and other information and data, including the potential cost savings and other synergies anticipated by the management of Pilgrim’s Pride to result from the acquisition, were reasonably prepared on bases reflecting the best currently available estimates and judgments of Pilgrim’s Pride’s management as to the future financial performance of Pilgrim’s Pride and the ConAgra chicken division and the other matters covered by such forecasts and other information and data, and further assumed, with Pilgrim’s Pride’s consent, that the financial results reflected in those forecasts and other information and data would be realized in the amounts and at the times projected. With respect to the estimates as to the adjusted net book value of the ConAgra chicken division and other financial data provided to or discussed with Credit Suisse First Boston by the managements of ConAgra Foods and the Acquired Companies, Credit Suisse First Boston was advised, and assumed, that those estimates were reasonably prepared on bases reflecting the best currently available estimates and judgments of the managements of ConAgra Foods and the Acquired Companies and further assumed, with Pilgrim’s Pride’s consent, that the actual adjusted net book value and other financial data would not vary from such estimates in any respect material to Credit Suisse First Boston’s analyses. Credit Suisse First Boston assumed, with Pilgrim’s

Index to Financial Statements

Pride’s consent, that in the course of obtaining the necessary regulatory and third party approvals and consents for the proposed acquisition, no modification, delay, limitation, restriction or condition would be imposed that would have an adverse effect on Pilgrim’s Pride, the ConAgra chicken division or the contemplated benefits to Pilgrim’s Pride of the acquisition and that the acquisition would be consummated as described to Credit Suisse First Boston in accordance with the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement, without waiver, amendment or modification of any material term, condition or agreement. Representatives of Pilgrim’s Pride advised Credit Suisse First Boston, and Credit Suisse First Boston therefore also assumed, with Pilgrim’s Pride’s consent, that the acquisition would be treated as an asset purchase for U.S. federal income tax purposes under Section 338(h)(10) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Credit Suisse First Boston was not requested to, and it did not, make an independent evaluation or appraisal of the assets or liabilities, contingent or otherwise, of Pilgrim’s Pride or the ConAgra chicken division, and Credit Suisse First Boston was not furnished with any evaluations or appraisals. Credit Suisse First Boston did not express any opinion as to what the value of Pilgrim’s Pride Class A common stock (or, if the reclassification is approved, Pilgrim’s Pride common stock) or the Notes actually will be when issued in the acquisition or the prices or values at which Pilgrim’s Pride Class A common stock (or, if the reclassification is approved, Pilgrim’s Pride common stock) or the Notes will trade or otherwise be transferable at any time. Credit Suisse First Boston’s opinion did not address the relative merits of the acquisition as compared to other business strategies that might have been available to Pilgrim’s Pride or Pilgrim’s Pride’s underlying business decision to proceed with the acquisition. Except as described above, Pilgrim’s Pride imposed no other limitations on Credit Suisse First Boston with respect to the investigations made or procedures followed in rendering its opinion.

Although Credit Suisse First Boston evaluated the purchase price provided for in the Stock Purchase Agreement, dated June 7, 2003, prior to its amendment, Credit Suisse First Boston was not requested to, and it did not, recommend the specific consideration payable in the acquisition, which consideration was determined between Pilgrim’s Pride and ConAgra Foods. Credit Suisse First Boston’s opinion was necessarily based on information available to it, and financial, economic, market and other conditions as they existed and could be evaluated on the date of Credit Suisse First Boston’s opinion. Although subsequent developments may affect its opinion, Credit Suisse First Boston does not have any obligation to update, revise or reaffirm its opinion.

In preparing its opinion to the Pilgrim’s Pride board of directors, Credit Suisse First Boston performed a variety of financial and comparative analyses, including those described below. The summary of Credit Suisse First Boston’s analyses described below is not a complete description of the analyses underlying its opinion. The preparation of a fairness opinion is a complex process involving various determinations as to the most appropriate and relevant methods of financial analysis and the application of those methods to the particular circumstances and, therefore, a fairness opinion is not readily susceptible to partial analysis or summary description. In arriving at its opinion, Credit Suisse First Boston made qualitative judgments as to the significance and relevance of each analysis and factor that it considered. Accordingly, Credit Suisse First Boston believes that its analyses must be considered as a whole and that selecting portions of its analyses and factors or focusing on information presented in tabular format, without considering all analyses and factors or the narrative description of the analyses, could create a misleading or incomplete view of the processes underlying its analyses and opinion.

In its analyses, Credit Suisse First Boston considered industry performance, general business, economic, market and financial conditions and other matters, many of which are beyond the control of Pilgrim’s Pride. No company, transaction or business used in Credit Suisse First Boston’s analyses as a comparison is identical to Pilgrim’s Pride, the ConAgra chicken division or the proposed acquisition, and an evaluation of the results of those analyses is not entirely mathematical. Rather, the analyses involve complex considerations and judgments concerning financial and operating characteristics and other factors that could affect the acquisition, public trading or other values of the companies, business segments or transactions analyzed. The estimates contained in Credit Suisse First Boston’s analyses and the ranges of valuations resulting from any particular analysis are not necessarily indicative of actual values or predictive of future results or values, which may be significantly more or less favorable than those suggested by the analyses. In addition, analyses relating to the value of businesses or

Index to Financial Statements

securities do not purport to be appraisals or to reflect the prices at which businesses or securities actually may be sold. Accordingly, the estimates used in, and the results derived from, Credit Suisse First Boston’s analyses are inherently subject to substantial uncertainty.

Credit Suisse First Boston’s opinion and financial analyses were only one of many factors considered by the Pilgrim’s Pride board of directors in its evaluation of the proposed acquisition and should not be viewed as determinative of the views of the Pilgrim’s Pride board of directors or management with respect to the acquisition or the purchase price.

The following is a summary of the material financial analyses underlying Credit Suisse First Boston’s opinion dated June 7, 2003 delivered to the Pilgrim’s Pride board of directors. The financial analyses summarized below include information presented in tabular format. In order to fully understand Credit Suisse First Boston’s financial analyses, the tables must be read together with the text of each summary. The tables alone do not constitute a complete description of the financial analyses. Considering the data in the tables below without considering the full narrative description of the financial analyses, including the methodologies and assumptions underlying the analyses, could create a misleading or incomplete view of Credit Suisse First Boston’s financial analyses.

Analyses of the ConAgra Chicken Division

Using a “Selected Companies Analysis,” a “Precedent Transactions Analysis” and a “Discounted Cash Flow Analysis,” Credit Suisse First Boston derived implied reference ranges for the ConAgra chicken division from these analyses as described below. These implied reference ranges were then compared with the June 7, 2003 estimated purchase price. For purposes of this summary of Credit Suisse First Boston’s analyses, the term “June 7, 2003 estimated purchase price” refers to an estimated purchase price of $586 million based on the net book value of the ConAgra chicken division at May 25, 2003 of $675 million as estimated as of June 7, 2003 by the managements of ConAgra Foods and the Acquired Companies, less a discount amount of $100 million as specified in the Stock Purchase Agreement net of an estimated $10.6 million for reimbursable transaction costs expected to be incurred by ConAgra Foods. These analyses indicated the following approximate implied reference ranges for the ConAgra chicken division, as compared to the June 7, 2003 estimated purchase price:

		Implied Reference Range for ConAgra Chicken Division
Selected Companies Analysis		$500 million – $625 million
Precedent Transactions Analysis		$600 million – $700 million
Discounted Cash Flow Analysis		$575 million – $700 million
Discounted Cash Flow Analysis (with Potential Synergies)		$875 million – $1,000 million

June 7, 2003 Estimated Purchase Price		$586 million

The “Selected Companies Analysis,” the “Precedent Transactions Analysis” and the “Discounted Cash Flow Analysis” for the ConAgra chicken division are described below.

Selected Companies Analysis. Using publicly available information, Credit Suisse First Boston reviewed the market values and trading multiples of the following selected publicly traded companies in the meat and crop industries:

Meat		Crop
• Hormel Foods Corporation		• Archer-Daniels-Midland Company
• Pilgrim’s Pride		• Bunge Limited
• Sanderson Farms, Inc.
• Seaboard Corporation
• Smithfield Foods, Inc.
• Tyson Foods, Inc.

Index to Financial Statements

All multiples were based on closing stock prices on June 5, 2003. Estimated financial data for the selected companies were based on publicly available research analysts’ estimates. Estimated financial data for the ConAgra chicken division were based on internal estimates of Pilgrim’s Pride’s management and the Acquired Companies’ managements. Credit Suisse First Boston compared enterprise values of the ConAgra chicken division and the selected companies as a multiple of latest 12 months and estimated calendar year 2003 earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, commonly referred to as EBITDA, and three-year average EBITDA for the latest 12 fiscal quarters. Credit Suisse First Boston also compared equity values of the ConAgra chicken division and the selected companies as a multiple of latest available net book value. Credit Suisse First Boston then applied a range of selected multiples derived from the selected companies to corresponding financial data for the ConAgra chicken division. This analysis indicated an implied reference range for the ConAgra chicken division of approximately $500 million to $625 million.

Precedent Transactions Analysis. Using publicly available information, Credit Suisse First Boston reviewed the implied enterprise values and purchase price multiples in the following nine selected transactions in the meat industry:

Acquiror		Target
• Swift Foods Company (Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst Incorporated)		• ConAgra Foods, Inc Fresh Beef and Pork
• Smithfield Foods, Inc.		• Packerland Holdings, Inc.
• Smithfield Foods, Inc.		• Moyer Packing Company
• Hormel Foods Corporation		• Jerome Foods, Inc. (d/b/a The Turkey Store Company)
• Tyson Foods, Inc.		• IBP, inc.
• Pilgrim’s Pride		• WLR Foods, Inc.
• Smithfield Foods, Inc.		• Murphy Farms, Inc.
• ConAgra Foods		• Seaboard Corporation Poultry Division
• IBP, inc.		• Thorn Apple Valley, Inc.

All multiples for the selected transactions were based on publicly available financial information. Estimated financial data for the ConAgra chicken division were based on internal estimates of Pilgrim’s Pride’s management and the Acquired Companies’ managements. Credit Suisse First Boston compared enterprise values in each of the selected transactions as a multiple of the target company’s latest 12 months EBITDA and three-year average EBITDA for the latest 12 fiscal quarters prior to the date of public announcement of the relevant transaction. Credit Suisse First Boston also compared equity values in the selected transactions as a multiple of latest available net book value. Credit Suisse First Boston then applied a range of selected multiples derived from the selected transactions to corresponding financial data for the ConAgra chicken division. This analysis indicated an implied reference range for the ConAgra chicken division of approximately $600 million to $700 million.

Discounted Cash Flow Analysis. Credit Suisse First Boston performed a discounted cash flow analysis of the ConAgra chicken division to calculate the estimated present value of the cash flows that the ConAgra chicken division could generate over fiscal years ended May 31, 2004 through 2008 if the ConAgra chicken division were operated independently after giving effect to capital expenditures, increases in working capital, deferred taxes and the payment of taxes. Estimated financial data for the ConAgra chicken division were based on internal estimates of Pilgrim’s Pride’s management. Credit Suisse First Boston applied a range of EBITDA terminal value multiples of 6.0x to 7.0x to the ConAgra chicken division’s calendar year 2008 estimated EBITDA. The present value of the cash flows and terminal values were calculated using discount rates ranging from 7.5% to 10.0%. This analysis indicated an implied reference range for the ConAgra chicken division of approximately $575 million to $700 million.

Credit Suisse First Boston also performed a discounted cash flow analysis of the ConAgra chicken division applying the same assumptions described above but giving effect to potential cost savings and other synergies

Index to Financial Statements

anticipated by the management of Pilgrim’s Pride to result from the acquisition. This analysis indicated an implied reference range for the ConAgra chicken division of approximately $875 million to $1,000 million.

Analyses of Pilgrim’s Pride

Using a “Selected Companies Analysis” and a “Discounted Cash Flow Analysis,” Credit Suisse First Boston derived implied aggregate equity reference ranges for Pilgrim’s Pride from these analyses as described below. These analyses indicated the following approximate implied aggregate equity reference ranges for Pilgrim’s Pride, as compared to the aggregate equity value implied for Pilgrim’s Pride based on the closing prices of Pilgrim’s Pride Class A common stock and Class B common stock on June 5, 2003:

		Implied Aggregate Equity Reference Range for Pilgrim’s Pride
Selected Companies Analysis		$250 million – $425 million
Discounted Cash Flow Analysis		$700 million – $950 million

Aggregate Equity Value of Pilgrim’s Pride Based on Closing Prices of Pilgrim’s Pride Common Stock on June 5, 2003		$321 million

The “Selected Companies Analysis” and the “Discounted Cash Flow Analysis” for Pilgrim’s Pride are described below.

Selected Companies Analysis. Using publicly available information, Credit Suisse First Boston reviewed the market values and trading multiples of the following selected publicly traded companies in the meat and crop industries:

Meat		Crop
• Hormel Foods Corporation		• Archer-Daniels-Midland Company
• Sanderson Farms, Inc.		• Bunge Limited
• Seaboard Corporation
• Smithfield Foods, Inc.
• Tyson Foods, Inc.

All multiples were based on closing stock prices on June 5, 2003. Estimated financial data for the selected companies were based on publicly available research analysts’ estimates. Estimated financial data for Pilgrim’s Pride were based on estimates of Pilgrim’s Pride’s management. Credit Suisse First Boston compared enterprise values of Pilgrim’s Pride and the selected companies as a multiple of latest 12 months and estimated calendar year 2003 EBITDA and three-year average EBITDA for the latest 12 fiscal quarters. Credit Suisse First Boston also compared equity values of Pilgrim’s Pride and the selected companies as a multiple of latest available net book value. Credit Suisse First Boston then applied a range of selected multiples derived from the selected companies to corresponding financial data for Pilgrim’s Pride normalized to eliminate the effect of one-time gains and losses attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride’s business operations. This analysis indicated an implied aggregate equity reference range for Pilgrim’s Pride of approximately $250 million to $425 million.

Discounted Cash Flow Analysis. Credit Suisse First Boston performed a discounted cash flow analysis of Pilgrim’s Pride to calculate the estimated present value of the cash flows that Pilgrim’s Pride could generate over fiscal years ended September 30, 2004 through 2007 on a standalone basis after giving effect to capital expenditures, increases in working capital, deferred taxes and the payment of taxes. Estimated financial data for Pilgrim’s Pride were based on internal estimates of Pilgrim’s Pride’s management. Credit Suisse First Boston applied a range of EBITDA terminal value multiples of 6.0x to 7.0x to Pilgrim’s Pride’s fiscal year 2007 estimated EBITDA. The present value of the cash flows and terminal values were calculated using discount rates ranging from 7.5% to 10.5%. This analysis indicated an implied aggregate equity reference range for Pilgrim’s Pride of approximately $700 million to $950 million.

Index to Financial Statements

Pro Forma Accretion/Dilution Analysis. Credit Suisse First Boston analyzed the potential pro forma financial effect of the acquisition on Pilgrim’s Pride’s fiscal years 2004, 2005 and 2006 estimated earnings per share, commonly referred to as EPS, under two cases, a “management case,” which was based on Pilgrim’s Pride’s internal management estimates for fiscal years 2004, 2005 and 2006 excluding a one-time loss in fiscal year 2004 attributable to Pilgrim’s Pride’s business operations, and a “street case,” which was based on publicly available research analysts’ estimates for Pilgrim’s Pride for fiscal years 2004 and 2005. Each case was analyzed assuming 0%, 50% and 100% of potential cost savings and other synergies anticipated by the management of Pilgrim’s Pride to result from the acquisition were realized. Estimated financial data for the ConAgra chicken division were based on internal estimates of Pilgrim’s Pride’s management. Based on the estimated purchase price for the ConAgra chicken division, this analysis indicated the following:

•

under the management case, the proposed acquisition could be dilutive to Pilgrim’s Pride’s estimated EPS in each of the periods reviewed regardless of the synergy level achieved; and

•

under the street case, the proposed acquisition could be dilutive to Pilgrim’s Pride’s estimated EPS in fiscal year 2004 regardless of the synergy level achieved, dilutive to Pilgrim’s Pride’s estimated EPS in fiscal year 2005 assuming no cost savings or other synergies were realized, and accretive to Pilgrim’s Pride’s estimated EPS in fiscal year 2005 assuming either 50% or 100% of such potential cost savings and other synergies were realized.

The actual results achieved by the combined company may vary from projected results and the variations may be material.

Other Factors

In the course of preparing its opinion, Credit Suisse First Boston also reviewed and considered other information and data, including:

•

the historical price performance and trading volume of Pilgrim’s Pride Class A common stock and Class B common stock and the relationship between movements in Pilgrim’s Pride common stock and selected companies in related industries; and

•

publicly available research analysts’ reports for Pilgrim’s Pride.

Miscellaneous

Pilgrim’s Pride has agreed to pay Credit Suisse First Boston for its financial advisory services in connection with the acquisition an aggregate fee of $3.5 million. Pilgrim’s Pride also has agreed to reimburse Credit Suisse First Boston for its reasonable expenses, including the fees and expenses of legal counsel and any other advisor retained by Credit Suisse First Boston, and to indemnify Credit Suisse First Boston and related parties against liabilities arising out of its engagement, whether arising under the federal securities laws or otherwise.

Credit Suisse First Boston and its affiliates in the past have provided services to Pilgrim’s Pride and ConAgra Foods unrelated to the proposed acquisition, for which services Credit Suisse First Boston and its affiliates have received compensation. Credit Suisse First Boston also acted as sole manager in connection with an underwritten public offering of our senior notes, the proceeds of which will be used to finance the acquisition. During the past two years, Credit Suisse First Boston has received total fees for its services of approximately $3.1 million. In the ordinary course of business, Credit Suisse First Boston and its affiliates may actively trade the securities of Pilgrim’s Pride and ConAgra Foods for their own accounts and for the accounts of customers and, accordingly, may at any time hold long or short positions in those securities.

Index to Financial Statements

Recommendation of the Board of Directors

Our board of directors has determined that the proposed issuance of the Shares to ConAgra Foods and the purchase of the ConAgra chicken division are in the best interests of Pilgrim’s Pride and our stockholders. The board of directors unanimously recommends a vote “FOR” approval of the proposed issuance of the Shares to ConAgra Foods.

Regulatory Filings and Approvals

The acquisition is subject to review by the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the “HSR Act”). Under the HSR Act, Pilgrim’s Pride and ConAgra Foods are required to make pre-acquisition notification filings and to await the expiration or early termination of the statutory waiting period prior to completing the acquisition. On June 10, 2003, the parties filed the required information with the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. The statutory waiting period under the HSR Act expired on July 11, 2003.

Despite expiration of the statutory waiting period, and even after completion of the acquisition, either the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice or the U.S. Federal Trade Commission could challenge, seek to block or block the acquisition under the antitrust laws, as it deems necessary or desirable in the public interest. In addition, in some jurisdictions, a competitor, customer or other third party could initiate a private action under the antitrust laws challenging or seeking to enjoin the acquisition, before or after it is completed. We cannot be sure that a challenge to the acquisition will not be made or that, if a challenge is made, that Pilgrim’s Pride and ConAgra Foods will prevail.

Other than applicable antitrust laws, neither we nor ConAgra Foods are aware of any other regulatory requirements or governmental approvals or actions that may be required to consummate the acquisition, except as described above. Should any such approval or action be required, it is presently contemplated that such approval or action would be sought. There can be no assurance, however, that any such approval or action, if needed, could be obtained and would not be conditioned in a manner that would cause the parties to abandon the acquisition.

Accounting Treatment

The acquisition will be accounted for as a purchase business combination in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, with Pilgrim’s Pride treated as the acquirer. Accordingly, the assets and liabilities of Pilgrim’s Pride are recorded at historical amounts, without restatement to fair values. The assets and liabilities of the ConAgra chicken division will be revalued to estimated fair value at the date of the acquisition, with any excess of the purchase price over the sum of such fair values recorded as goodwill. The estimated fair values are preliminary and subject to change.

Requirement for Stockholder Approval

Our listing agreement with the New York Stock Exchange requires stockholder approval for the issuance of Pilgrim’s Pride common stock that represents in the aggregate more than 20% of the issued and outstanding shares of Pilgrim’s Pride common stock. As of the Record Date, 13,523,429 shares of Pilgrim’s Pride Class A common stock and 27,589,250 shares of Class B common stock were issued and outstanding. If the ConAgra chicken division had a final adjusted net book value of $525.6 million (which was the adjusted net book value at August 24, 2003) and the adjusted volume weighted average price of our Class A common stock used to compute the share portion of the consideration to be paid to ConAgra Foods was $9.3267 (which was the adjusted volume weighted average price from June 10, 2003 through October 24, 2003, we would issue approximately 25.4 million shares of common stock to ConAgra Foods in the acquisition. This number of shares would represent approximately 38.15% of the total number of shares of common stock outstanding, and approximately

Index to Financial Statements

2.99% of our total voting power, after giving effect to the reclassification. Accordingly, stockholder approval of the issuance of the Shares is required.

Although we need to issue the Shares to ConAgra Foods in order to complete the purchase of the ConAgra chicken division, we are not seeking stockholder approval for the purchase of the ConAgra chicken division because stockholder approval of this purchase is not required under Delaware law, our certificate of incorporation or our listing agreement with the New York Stock Exchange. At any time before or after the special meeting and prior to the closing of the ConAgra chicken division acquisition, the board of directors, subject to the terms and conditions of the Stock Purchase Agreement, may abandon the acquisition or amend the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement and other transaction agreements, if for any reason the board deems it advisable to do so.

Required Vote

Approval of the issuance of the Shares to ConAgra Foods will require the vote of a majority of the combined voting power of the shares of Pilgrim’s Pride Class A common stock and Class B common stock represented in person or by proxy and voting at the special meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not affect the outcome of this proposal. Each share of Class A common stock is entitled to one vote per share and each share of Class B common stock is entitled to twenty votes per share.

THE STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT

The following is a summary of certain provisions of the Stock Purchase Agreement and the other transaction agreements not summarized elsewhere in this proxy statement. A copy of the Stock Purchase Agreement is attached to this proxy statement as Annex D and copies of Amendment No. 1 to the Stock Purchase Agreement and Amendment No. 2 to the Stock Purchase Agreement are attached to this proxy statement as Annex E and Annex F, respectively. This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Stock Purchase Agreement, as amended. We urge you to read the Stock Purchase Agreement carefully for more details regarding the provisions we describe below and for other provisions that may be important to you.

Overview

On June 7, 2003, we entered into the Stock Purchase Agreement with ConAgra Foods for our acquisition of the ConAgra chicken division. The Stock Purchase Agreement provides that we will purchase all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Acquired Companies for an aggregate purchase price payable in cash, Shares of our common stock, and subordinated Notes. In connection with the acquisition, we also will enter into certain other agreements with ConAgra Foods and its subsidiaries, including two registration rights agreements, three supply agreements, a transition trademark license agreement, a transition services agreement and an environmental license agreement.

Purchase Price

General. The purchase price will be calculated based on the “Final Adjusted Net Book Value” of the assets and liabilities of the ConAgra chicken division on the closing date of the acquisition. “Final adjusted net book value” means the combined, consolidated stockholders’ equity of the Acquired Companies on the closing date reduced by a discount amount. The discount amount is $100 million less the sum of approximately $10.6 million of reimbursable transaction costs expected to be incurred by ConAgra Foods (consisting of retention bonuses to be paid to certain key employees of the Acquired Companies, up to $600,000 in audit fees relating to the audit of the closing balance sheet and certain out-of-pocket expenses).

Index to Financial Statements

At closing, the consideration payable to ConAgra Foods will be estimated based on ConAgra Foods’ good faith estimate of the adjusted net book value, as of the closing date, of the ConAgra chicken division. Based upon this estimate, we will pay ConAgra Foods at closing $100 million in cash and pay the remainder of the consideration through a combination of Shares and Notes; provided that at our option we may pay the Note portion with cash, subject to certain limitations.

Share Portion. The actual number and dollar amount of Shares to be issued will be determined at the closing of the acquisition by reference to the adjusted volume weighted average stock price (“Adjusted VWAP”) of the Class A common stock on the New York Stock Exchange from June 10, 2003 (the day after the parties announced the acquisition) through the fifth trading day prior to the closing date.

“Adjusted VWAP” means the volume weighted average price (“VWAP”) of the Class A common stock computed over the period from June 10, 2003 through the date five trading days prior to the closing date, except that:

•

if the VWAP Adjustment Amount (as defined below) is greater than zero, then in lieu of the actual trading price of the Class A common stock over the period from August 22, 2003 through the date five trading days prior to the closing date (the “Subsequent Period”), such Adjusted VWAP shall be computed as if all trades in Class A common stock during that period occurred at a VWAP of $9.8292, plus the VWAP Adjustment Amount; and

•

if (a) the VWAP of the Class A common stock over the Subsequent Period is greater than $9.8292, and (b) the average daily volume of the Class A common stock during the period from June 10, 2003 to August 21, 2003 (the “Initial Period”) is less than the average daily trading volume of such stock during the Subsequent Period, then in lieu of the actual trading volume of the Class A common stock over the Subsequent Period, such Adjusted VWAP shall be computed as if the volume of trades during each day in the Subsequent Period was equal to the average daily trading volume of the Class A common stock during the Initial Period.

“VWAP Adjustment Amount” means 50% of the difference between the VWAP of the Class A common stock over the Subsequent Period minus $9.8292, but shall not be less than zero.

From June 10, 2003 through October 24, the Adjusted VWAP was $9.3267. The number of Shares to be issued to ConAgra Foods at closing will equal the lesser of 39,400,000 or the number of Shares determined by dividing (i) forty-five percent (45%) of the estimated adjusted net book value by (ii) the greater of (1) the Adjusted VWAP and (2) $5.35. For example, if the adjusted net book value of the ConAgra chicken division was $525,587,000 (which was the adjusted net book value at August 24, 2003) and the fifth trading day prior to the closing date was October 24, 2003, the share portion of the consideration would consist of 25,358,860 Shares (45% of $525,587,000, divided by $9.3267, the Adjusted VWAP of the Class A common stock from June 10 through October 24, 2003).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the number of Shares to be issued to ConAgra Foods will be based on the Average Price (as defined below) rather than the Adjusted VWAP if the spread between the VWAP of our Class A common stock and the VWAP of our Class B common stock over the Subsequent Period is greater than or equal to 35% of the VWAP of the Class A common stock over that period. “Average Price” means the VWAP of the Class A common stock over the period from June 10, 2003 through the date five trading days prior to the closing date. From August 22, 2003 through October 24, 2003, the spread between the VWAP of the Class A common stock and the VWAP of the Class B common stock was 3.0% of the VWAP of the Class A common stock over that period.

The proposed reclassification of the common stock will be completed prior to the closing of our acquisition of the ConAgra chicken division and ConAgra Foods will receive shares of our new common stock in the acquisition. If for any reason the proposed reclassification is not completed, then ConAgra Foods will receive shares of our existing Class A common stock.

Note Portion. The Stock Purchase Agreement provides that the balance of the estimated consideration to be paid to ConAgra Foods will be paid by our execution and delivery to ConAgra Foods of Notes in the principal

Index to Financial Statements

amount of such balance. For example, if the estimated adjusted net book value was $525.6 million and the share portion consisted of $236.5 million of Shares (45% of the estimated adjusted net book value), we would issue $189.1 million principal amount of Notes. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we may, at our option, pay the Note portion of the consideration with cash, provided that, if we issue any Notes in payment of a portion of the consideration, the initial principal amount of such Notes must be at least $100 million or a lesser amount acceptable to ConAgra Foods. On August 13, 2003, we completed the public offering of $100 million of 9⁵/8% senior notes due 2011. We intend to pay cash to ConAgra Foods using the proceeds of that offering and reduce the dollar amount of Notes to be issued to ConAgra Foods.

Share Price Adjustment. If the Average Price is less than $5.35, we may elect to:

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issue to ConAgra Foods a number of additional Shares equal to (x) the amount by which $5.35 exceeds the Average Price, multiplied by the number of Shares determined above under the caption “Share Portion” (the “Share Price Adjustment”) divided by (y) the Average Price;

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issue to ConAgra Foods additional subordinated debt on the same terms as the Notes, the principal amount of which will equal the Share Price Adjustment;

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deliver to ConAgra Foods an additional amount in cash equal to the Share Price Adjustment; or

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deliver to ConAgra Foods a combination of the forms of additional consideration referred to above having an aggregate value equal to the Share Price Adjustment.

Alternatively, Pilgrim’s Pride and ConAgra Foods may mutually agree that we can deliver to ConAgra Foods some other consideration having a value equal to the Share Price Adjustment; or we can elect to terminate the Stock Purchase Agreement, unless ConAgra Foods agrees in writing, within 48 hours after receipt of written notice from us of our intent to terminate the agreement, that the purchase price will be reduced by an amount equal to the Share Price Adjustment, in which case ConAgra Foods will not be entitled to the Share Price Adjustment and the Stock Purchase Agreement will not be terminated.

Asset Retention. If the estimated adjusted net book value exceeds $600 million, the adjusted net book value will be capped at $600 million unless ConAgra Foods selects one of the following options:

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to retain the Acquired Companies’ Moorefield, West Virginia facility, and all assets located at such facility and rights relating thereto, and recalculate the estimated purchase price on the basis that such facility, assets and rights are excluded from the acquisition and retained by ConAgra Foods; or

•

to terminate the Stock Purchase Agreement.

If ConAgra Foods selects either of the above options, we may agree in writing, within 48 hours after receipt of written notice from ConAgra Foods of its intent to exclude such assets or terminate the agreement, that we will pay the consideration in full even if the adjusted net book value exceeds $600 million, in which case such assets will not be excluded and the Stock Purchase Agreement will not be terminated.

Post-closing Purchase Price Adjustment. Within 60 days after the closing, we will prepare a preliminary closing balance sheet for the Acquired Companies, and a preliminary calculation of Adjusted Net Book Value (as defined in the Stock Purchase Agreement) that will be audited by an independent accountant. If the parties do not object to the preliminary audit report and audited Adjusted Net Book Value within 60 days, they will be issued in final form and the consideration to be paid to ConAgra Foods will be adjusted based upon the Final Adjusted Net Book Value. If a party timely objects to the independent accountant’s report, and the parties are unable to resolve the objection within 30 days, the dispute will be referred to a mutually acceptable independent accountant for resolution. The parties will split the fees and expenses of such independent accountant, and the decision of the independent accountant on the dispute will be binding on the parties.

After the Final Adjusted Net Book Value is agreed upon, the final purchase price will be determined. If the final purchase price is different than the estimated purchase price, we will adjust the aggregate principal amount

Index to Financial Statements

of the Notes originally issued at closing to ConAgra Foods. If such adjustment results in a decrease in the aggregate principal amount of the Notes, then ConAgra Foods will refund to us any interest previously paid on the excess amount of the original Notes and relinquish its right to any accrued but unpaid interest on the excess amount of the original Notes. Additionally, if such adjustment results in a decrease greater than the principal amount of the Notes originally issued to ConAgra Foods, then the Notes will be cancelled in their entirety and ConAgra Foods will pay us any remaining difference in cash.

10.50% Subordinated Notes Due March 4, 2011

As part of the purchase price for the acquisition of the ConAgra chicken division, we will issue to ConAgra Foods our 10.50% subordinated notes; provided that at our option we may pay the Note portion of the purchase price with cash, subject to certain limitations. The principal amount of Notes to be issued will be determined at the closing of the acquisition. The Notes will mature on March 4, 2011 with interest accruing at a rate of 10.50% per annum. The Notes will be payable semi-annually in arrears on December 15 and June 15.

The Notes will be general unsecured obligations of Pilgrim’s Pride. They will rank subordinate in right of payment to all of our existing and future Senior Indebtedness. “Senior Indebtedness” generally means all of our obligations, whether outstanding on the date of the Notes or thereafter incurred, but does not include: (i) any obligation of Pilgrim’s Pride to any subsidiary; (ii) any obligation in respect of the Notes or other indebtedness of Pilgrim’s Pride that by its terms is expressly subordinate, junior or pari passu in right of payment to the Notes; or (iii) any obligations with respect to any capital stock. Because they are unsecured, the Notes will effectively rank behind all of our secured obligations to the extent of the value of the assets securing those obligations. The Notes will rank ahead of any of our future obligations that expressly provide that they are subordinated to the Notes.

The Notes may be redeemed by us at any time, in whole or in part, for 100% of the then-outstanding principal and accrued interest, as long as they are held by ConAgra Foods or a ConAgra Foods affiliate. However, we may redeem all, but not part, of the Notes from ConAgra Foods if ConAgra Foods holds less than, or the redemption would result in ConAgra Foods holding less than, $100 million of the Notes. If ConAgra Foods should transfer the Notes to a third party,

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Upon a change in control of Pilgrim’s Pride, each holder of the Notes will have the right to require us to repurchase all or any part of the holder’s Notes. If ConAgra Foods or a ConAgra Foods affiliate is the holder of the Notes, we will offer a change of control payment in cash equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest. Any other holder of the Notes will be offered a change of control payment in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest.

We will issue the Notes under an indenture with a trustee. The indenture will contain various covenants that will limit our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to, among other things:

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borrow money;

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pay dividends;

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make investments;

Index to Financial Statements

•

sell our assets;

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enter into transactions with affiliates;

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merge or consolidate with other companies;

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issue or sell equity interests in subsidiaries; or

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make payments to us.

The above summary of the terms and provisions of the Notes is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Description of the Notes attached as Annex G to this proxy statement. You should read Annex G carefully for more details regarding the provisions we describe above and for other provisions that may be important to you.

Closing Conditions under the Stock Purchase Agreement

The obligations of Pilgrim’s Pride and ConAgra Foods to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement are subject to the satisfaction or waiver, if legally permissible, of various conditions, including the following conditions set forth in the Stock Purchase Agreement:

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all authorizations, consents, orders, declarations or approvals of, or filings with, or terminations or expirations of waiting periods imposed by, any governmental authority, which the failure to obtain, make or occur would have the effect of making any of the contemplated transactions illegal, shall have been obtained, shall have been made or shall have occurred;

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the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 and any other applicable antitrust laws shall have expired or been terminated;

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the absence of any law, decree, injunction or other order which has the effect of making the contemplated transactions illegal or otherwise prohibiting consummation of the contemplated transactions;

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the issuance of the Shares pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement shall have been approved by the requisite vote of our stockholders in accordance with the rules of the New York Stock Exchange;

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the execution and delivery of certain transitional services and other agreements among Pilgrim’s Pride, ConAgra Foods and/or certain of their respective affiliates; and

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the receipt by each party of an opinion from the other party’s counsel.

Our obligation to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement is also subject to, among other things, the following conditions:

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the representations and warranties of ConAgra Foods set forth in the Stock Purchase Agreement shall be true and correct as of the date of the Stock Purchase Agreement and as of the closing date as if they were made on that date (except to the extent that the representations and warranties speak as of an earlier date), except for such inaccuracies that, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a material adverse effect on the ConAgra chicken division;

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ConAgra Foods shall have performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed by it under the Stock Purchase Agreement on or prior to the closing date;

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ConAgra Foods shall have delivered to us stock certificates representing all of the stock of the Acquired Companies;

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ConAgra Foods shall have delivered to us written resignations of the officers and directors of the Acquired Companies;

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ConAgra Foods shall have delivered to us a certificate of non-foreign status;

Index to Financial Statements

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ConAgra Foods shall have delivered to us a representation letter regarding certain securities law matters;

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ConAgra Foods shall have delivered to us audited combined financial statements;

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no material adverse effect on the ConAgra chicken division shall have been incurred or suffered; and

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ConAgra Foods shall have delivered to us a certificate that certain of these conditions have been satisfied.

The obligation of ConAgra Foods to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement is also subject to, among other things, the following conditions:

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our representations and warranties set forth in the Stock Purchase Agreement shall be true and correct as of the date of the Stock Purchase Agreement and as of the closing date as if they were made on that date (except to the extent that the representations and warranties speak as of an earlier date), except for such inaccuracies that, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a material adverse effect on our business;

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we shall have performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed by us under the Stock Purchase Agreement on or prior to the closing date;

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we shall have delivered to ConAgra Foods the cash consideration, Shares and Notes contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement;

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the Shares of common stock to be issued to ConAgra Foods pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement shall have been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange;

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no material adverse effect on our business shall have been incurred or suffered; and

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we shall have delivered to ConAgra Foods a certificate that certain of these conditions have been satisfied.

Non-Competition Covenant

ConAgra Foods has agreed that, for five years after the closing, neither it nor its subsidiaries will, within North America or Central America (including the Caribbean and Puerto Rico), engage in:

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the growing or slaughtering of chickens;

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an integrated chicken operation that grows, slaughters and processes chickens;

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the sale of fresh chicken; or

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the sale of fresh frozen chicken that has not been further processed.

In addition, during that period and within that territory, neither ConAgra Foods nor its subsidiaries will use, or license or allow any third party use of, the names “Butterball” or “Country Skillet” as a trademark, service mark, trade name or domain name in connection with any of the foregoing activities.

Certain Representations and Warranties

The Stock Purchase Agreement contains representations and warranties of Pilgrim’s Pride and ConAgra Foods relating to, among other things:

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corporate organization and good standing;

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organizational documents;

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effect of Stock Purchase Agreement;

Index to Financial Statements

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absence of conflicts;

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corporate authorization; enforceability;

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capitalization;

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absence of events or circumstances that would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect;

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employee benefit plans;

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environmental matters;

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taxes;

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intellectual property;

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compliance with laws;

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material contracts;

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governmental authorizations;

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subsidiaries;

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legal proceedings;

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brokers and finders;

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labor relations and compliance with employment law;

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absence of liens;

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real estate;

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inventory;

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customers; and

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OSHA matters.

The Stock Purchase Agreement also contains additional representations and warranties of ConAgra Foods with respect to, among others, the following:

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financial statements; absence of undisclosed liabilities;

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conduct of its business since April 20, 2003;

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sufficiency of assets;

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absence of other business activities; and

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related party transactions.

The Stock Purchase Agreement also contains additional representations and warranties of Pilgrim’s Pride with respect to, among others, the following:

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lack of outstanding options, warrants or rights;

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SEC filings and the financial statements contained in these filings;

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proxy statement compliance with applicable laws;

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financing; and

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conduct of our business since March 29, 2003.

The representations and warranties contained in the Stock Purchase Agreement are subject to materiality and knowledge qualifications in many respects, and are subject, in certain cases, to specified exceptions.

Index to Financial Statements

Conduct of Business Pending Closing

Pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, ConAgra Foods has agreed that, from the date of the Stock Purchase Agreement until the closing date, except as otherwise consented to in writing by us or as contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement, each of ConAgra Foods and ConAgra Foods’ affiliates, including the Acquired Companies, shall, among other things:

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conduct and operate the ConAgra chicken division in all material respects in the usual and ordinary course consistent with past practice;

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use reasonable commercial efforts to preserve intact the ConAgra chicken division and its relationships with growers, suppliers, labor unions, customers and others having business dealings with them that are material to the ConAgra chicken division;

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use reasonable commercial efforts to keep available the services of the ConAgra chicken division’s present officers and key employees;

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not adopt or propose any change in the charter documents of the Acquired Companies;

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not authorize for issuance, issue, deliver, sell, pledge, dispose of, encumber or grant any lien on, or authorize or propose the issuance, delivery, sale, pledge, disposition of, encumber or grant of any lien on, any shares of the capital stock of any Acquired Company, or other voting securities or any securities convertible into or exercisable for, or any rights, warrants or options to acquire, any such securities or voting securities or any other ownership interest in any of the Acquired Companies (or interest the value of which is derived by reference to any of the foregoing), or enter into any agreement with respect to any of the foregoing;

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not allow any of the Acquired Companies to acquire or agree to acquire any business or any corporation, partnership, association or other business, operation, organization or division thereof;

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not sell, abandon or otherwise dispose of, or pledge, mortgage or otherwise encumber any material assets of the ConAgra chicken division other than in the ordinary course of business;

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not, other than in the ordinary course of business, waive, release, grant or transfer any rights of material value relating to the ConAgra chicken division;

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not modify or amend, or waive any benefit of, any noncompetition agreement benefiting the ConAgra chicken division;

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not make any change in any method of financial accounting or financial accounting practice relating to the ConAgra chicken division, except as required by applicable law or to comply with GAAP;

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not, except as required by its terms or in the ordinary course of business, amend in any material respect, terminate, renew or renegotiate any material contract or default in any material respect (or take or omit to take any action that with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both, would constitute a default in any material respect) under any material contract or enter into any new contract which would have been deemed to be a material contract if it had been in effect on the date hereof;

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not allow any of the Acquired Companies to declare, issue or make any direct or indirect redemption, purchase or other acquisition of any shares of its capital stock or property, declare, issue or make any distribution or dividend to its stockholders in cash or in kind or split, combine, dividend, distribute or reclassify any shares of its capital stock;

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not dispose of or permit to lapse any rights to the use of any material intellectual property rights benefiting the ConAgra chicken division, or disclose any such material intellectual property rights not a matter of public knowledge, except for any such disclosure required by applicable law or judicial process and disclosures made in the ordinary course of business;

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not effect any increase in, amendment to or establishment of any bonus, insurance, severance, deferred compensation, pension, retirement, profit sharing, stock option, stock purchase or other employee benefit plan or collective bargaining agreement relating to employees of the ConAgra chicken division;

Index to Financial Statements

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not, except in the ordinary course of business, and except as required by contracts in effect on the date of the Stock Purchase Agreement, effect any increase in compensation, bonus, severance or termination pay or other benefits payable to the employees of the ConAgra chicken division;

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not allow any of the Acquired Companies to make any loan, advance or capital contribution to or investment in an aggregate amount in excess of $100,000 (excluding any loan, advance or capital contribution to, or investment in, any acquired company);

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not allow any of the Acquired Companies to incur or assume any indebtedness for borrowed funds, assume, guarantee, endorse, or otherwise become liable or responsible for the obligations of any other person or entity;

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not change in any material respect its existing practices and procedures with respect to the extension of credit or collection of accounts receivable relating to the ConAgra chicken division;

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not enter into, with respect to the ConAgra chicken division, any fixed price agreement having a term greater than one year and involving greater than $2,500,000 during the term of the contract;

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not, other than the routine replacement and repair of equipment and facilities in the ordinary course of business and capital expenditure commitments existing as of the date of the Stock Purchase Agreement, make any individual capital expenditure on behalf of the ConAgra chicken division in an amount in excess of $250,000;

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not make material changes in the production capabilities or capacities of the ConAgra chicken division’s production facilities;

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provide us with copies of: (i) all monthly financial management reports, Agristat reports and weekly consolidated summary profit and loss statements relating to the ConAgra chicken division; (ii) any notice, report or other document filed with or sent to any governmental authority in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement; and (iii) any material notice, report or other document received by any of the Acquired Companies from any governmental authority; and

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notify us in writing of: (i) the discovery by ConAgra Foods of any event, condition, fact or circumstance that occurred or existed on or prior to the date of the Stock Purchase Agreement and that caused or constitutes a material inaccuracy in any representation or warranty made by ConAgra Foods in the Stock Purchase Agreement or in its disclosure schedule thereto; (ii) any event, condition, fact or circumstance that occurs, arises or exists after the date of the Stock Purchase Agreement and that would cause or constitute a material inaccuracy in any representation or warranty made by ConAgra Foods in the Stock Purchase Agreement or in its disclosure schedule thereto if (A) such representation or warranty or delivery of information had been made as of the time of the occurrence, existence or discovery of such event, condition, fact or circumstance, or (B) such event, condition, fact or circumstance had occurred, arisen or existed on or prior to the date of the Stock Purchase Agreement; (iii) any material breach of any covenant or obligation of ConAgra Foods; and (iv) any event, condition, fact or circumstance that would make the timely satisfaction of any of the conditions to the obligations of the parties to complete the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement impossible or unlikely or that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ConAgra chicken division.

Pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement, we have agreed that, from the date of the Stock Purchase Agreement until the closing date, except as otherwise consented to in writing by ConAgra Foods or as contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement, we shall, among other things:

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conduct and operate our business and operations in all material respects in the usual and ordinary course consistent with past practice;

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use our reasonable commercial efforts to preserve intact our business organization and preserve our relationships with growers, suppliers, labor unions, customers and others having business dealings with it that are material to us;

Index to Financial Statements

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use our reasonable commercial efforts to keep available the services of our present officers and key employees;

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not adopt or propose any change to our charter documents, except for the amendment to our certificate of incorporation described in this proxy statement;

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not authorize for issuance, issue, deliver, sell, pledge, dispose of, encumber or grant any lien on, or authorize or propose the issuance, delivery, sale, pledge, disposition of, encumber or grant of any lien on, any shares of our capital stock, or other voting securities or any securities convertible into or exercisable for, or any rights, warrants or options to acquire, any such securities or voting securities or any other ownership interest (or interest the value of which is derived by reference to any of the foregoing), or enter into any agreement with respect to any of the foregoing;

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not acquire or agree to acquire any material business or any material corporation, partnership, association or other business, operation, organization or division thereof;

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not declare, issue or make any direct or indirect redemption, purchase or other acquisition of any shares of our capital stock, declare, issue or make any distribution or dividend to our stockholders in cash or in kind (except normal cash dividends consistent with past practices) or split, combine, dividend, distribute or reclassify any shares of our capital stock;

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provide ConAgra Foods with copies of: (i) all monthly financial management reports, Agristat reports and weekly consolidated summary profit and loss statements relating to us; (ii) any notice, report or other document filed with or sent to any governmental authority in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement; and (iii) any material notice, report or other document received by us from any governmental authority; and

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notify ConAgra Foods in writing of: (i) our discovery of any event, condition, fact or circumstance that occurred or existed on or prior to the date of the Stock Purchase Agreement and that caused or constitutes a material inaccuracy in any representation or warranty made by us in the Stock Purchase Agreement or in our disclosure schedule thereto; (ii) any event, condition, fact or circumstance that occurs, arises or exists after the date of the Stock Purchase Agreement and that would cause or constitute a material inaccuracy in any representation or warranty made by us in the Stock Purchase Agreement or in our disclosure schedule thereto if (A) such representation or warranty or delivery of information had been made as of the time of the occurrence, existence or discovery of such event, condition, fact or circumstance, or (B) such event, condition, fact or circumstance had occurred, arisen or existed on or prior to the date of the Stock Purchase Agreement; (iii) any material breach of any covenant or obligation of ours; and (iv) any event, condition, fact or circumstance that would make the timely satisfaction of any of the conditions to the obligations of the parties to complete the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement impossible or unlikely or that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on our business.

Indemnification

Under the Stock Purchase Agreement, we have agreed, subject to the limitations described below, to indemnify and hold harmless ConAgra Foods and its directors, officers, employees and affiliates from and against all losses resulting from or arising out of:

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any breach of representation or warranty or nonfulfillment of any covenant or agreement on our part under the Stock Purchase Agreement, or any misrepresentation in or omission from any certificate or other instrument furnished or to be furnished to ConAgra Foods under the Stock Purchase Agreement;

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the failure of Pilgrim’s Pride or the Acquired Companies to pay, perform or discharge any of the liabilities of the Acquired Companies other than any pre-closing liabilities of the Acquired Companies to the extent not accrued or disclosed to Pilgrim’s Pride but including obligations under any contract or agreement either (i) to furnish goods, services and other non-cash benefits after the closing or (ii) to pay for goods, services and other non-cash benefits furnished after the closing;

Index to Financial Statements

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all other actions, suits, proceedings, demands, assessments, adjustments, costs and expenses incident to the foregoing including reasonable attorneys’ fees and other out-of-pocket expenses;

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any tax deficiency resulting from a breach of certain of our representations, warranties and covenants;

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any liability for taxes attributable to periods occurring after the closing date; and

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any liability for taxes attributable to an extraordinary transaction, with certain exceptions, effected at our direction in respect of the Acquired Companies at or after the closing.

Under the Stock Purchase Agreement, ConAgra Foods has agreed, subject to the limitations described below, to indemnify and hold harmless Pilgrim’s Pride and our directors, officers, employees and affiliates from and against all losses resulting from or arising out of:

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any breach of representation or warranty or nonfulfillment of any covenant or agreement on the part of ConAgra Foods under the Stock Purchase Agreement, or any misrepresentation in or omission from any certificate or other instrument furnished or to be furnished to us under the Stock Purchase Agreement;

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the ownership or the operation of the assets, businesses and operations of ConAgra Foods and its affiliates other than those relating to the ConAgra chicken division;

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any pre-closing liabilities of the Acquired Companies to the extent not accrued or disclosed to us other than obligations under any contract or agreement either (i) to furnish goods, services and other non-cash benefits after the closing or (ii) to pay for goods, services and other non-cash benefits furnished after the closing;

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any claim for brokerage or finder’s fees or commissions or similar payments based upon any agreement or understanding alleged to have been made with ConAgra Foods or any of its affiliates in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement;

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all other actions, suits, proceedings, demands, assessments, adjustments, costs and expenses incident to the foregoing including reasonable attorneys’ fees and other out-of-pocket expenses;

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any taxes of the Acquired Companies for the pre-closing period that have not been paid or accrued;

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any taxes relating to any member of an affiliated group with which any of the Acquired Companies has filed a tax return on a consolidated, combined or unitary basis for a pre-closing period; and

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any tax deficiency resulting from a breach of certain of ConAgra Foods’ representations, warranties and covenants.

Pilgrim’s Pride’s and ConAgra Foods’ indemnification obligations are subject to the following limitations:

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ConAgra Foods’ indemnification obligations for pre-closing liabilities and each of Pilgrim’s Pride’s and ConAgra Foods’ indemnification obligations for breaches of representations and warranties, with certain exceptions, is subject to an aggregate loss threshold of $30,000,000; and

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neither Pilgrim’s Pride’s nor ConAgra Foods’ aggregate liability for indemnification under the Stock Purchase Agreement, with certain exceptions, shall exceed $200,000,000.

Termination; Termination Fees and Expenses

Termination by Pilgrim’s Pride or ConAgra Foods. Either ConAgra Foods or Pilgrim’s Pride, by action of their respective boards of directors, may terminate the Stock Purchase Agreement and abandon the acquisition at any time prior to the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement:

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by mutual written consent of Pilgrim’s Pride and ConAgra Foods;

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if the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement is not completed by December 31, 2003, as such date may be extended by a 30-day cure period as set forth in the Stock

Index to Financial Statements

Purchase Agreement (the “Termination Date”) (unless the failure to consummate the acquisition is attributable to a failure on the part of the party seeking to terminate the acquisition to perform any material obligation required to be performed by such party at or prior to the Termination Date);

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if (i) any governmental authority of competent jurisdiction issues a final and non-appealable order, decree, or ruling or permanent injunction, having the effect of preventing the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement or (ii) the HSR Act waiting period has failed to terminate prior to the Termination Date or (iii) any approval or consent of the FTC, DOJ or any governmental authority required to consummate the acquisition has not been obtained prior to the termination date; or

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if the Pilgrim’s Pride stockholders do not approve and adopt the issuance of the Shares pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement at a duly convened stockholders meeting at which the vote to approve and adopt the issuance of the Shares was taken (unless the failure to obtain stockholder approval is attributable to a failure on the part of the party seeking to terminate the acquisition to perform any material obligation required to be performed by such party at or prior to the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement and provided that Pilgrim’s Pride may not terminate the acquisition for this reason unless it has paid the applicable termination fees to ConAgra Foods as discussed below).

Termination by Pilgrim’s Pride. Pilgrim’s Pride, by action of our board of directors, may also terminate the Stock Purchase Agreement and abandon the acquisition at any time prior to the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement:

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if the average trading price of our Class A common stock from June 10, 2003 through five trading days prior to the closing of the acquisition is less than $5.35 per share, unless ConAgra Foods agrees to a reduction in the purchase price as set forth in the Stock Purchase Agreement (provided that we may not terminate the acquisition for this reason unless it has paid the applicable termination fees to ConAgra Foods as discussed below);

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if any of ConAgra Foods’ representations and warranties have been breached, unless (a) the impact of the inaccuracies of representations and warranties would not have a material adverse effect on the ConAgra chicken division or (b) the breach, if curable, has been cured by ConAgra Foods within 30 days after its receipt of written notice;

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if any of ConAgra Foods’ covenants or agreements contained in the acquisition have been materially breached and the breach, if curable, has not been cured by ConAgra Foods within 30 days after its receipt of written notice; or

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if, since the date of the Stock Purchase Agreement, there has occurred any event or occurrence, or series of events or occurrences, that has had or is reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate with all other events or occurrences since the date of the acquisition, a material adverse effect on the ConAgra chicken division which is not curable or is not cured within 30 days after written notice is given by us.

Termination by ConAgra Foods. ConAgra Foods, by action of the ConAgra Foods board of directors, may also terminate the Stock Purchase Agreement and abandon the acquisition at any time prior to the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement:

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if the estimated net adjusted book value of the ConAgra chicken division exceeds $600,000,000, unless we agree to pay the purchase price in full as determined in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Stock Purchase Agreement notwithstanding that the net adjusted book value of the ConAgra chicken division exceeds $600,000,000;

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if any of our representations and warranties have been breached, unless (a) the impact of the inaccuracies of representations and warranties would not have a material adverse effect on us or (b) the breach, if curable, has been cured by us within 30 days after its receipt of written notice;

Index to Financial Statements

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if any of our covenants or agreements have been materially breached and the breach, if curable, has not been cured by us within 30 days after its receipt of written notice; or

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if, since the date of the Stock Purchase Agreement, there has occurred any event or occurrence, or series of events or occurrences, that has had or is reasonably likely to have, individually or in the aggregate with all other events or occurrences since the date of the acquisition, a material adverse effect on us which is not curable or is not cured within 30 days after written notice is given by ConAgra Foods.

Termination Fee. If either ConAgra Foods or Pilgrim’s Pride terminates the Stock Purchase Agreement for any reason, other than for reasons set forth above, then the terminating party shall pay a $25,000,000 termination fee to the non-terminating party. In addition, we shall pay the termination fee if we terminate the Stock Purchase Agreement for the following reasons:

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our stockholders do not approve and adopt the issuance of the shares of common stock pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement at a duly convened stockholders meeting at which the vote to approve and adopt the issuance of the shares was taken; and

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the average trading price of our Class A common stock from June 10, 2003 through five trading days prior to the closing of the acquisition is less than $5.35 per share.

Expenses. All fees and expenses incurred in connection with the Stock Purchase Agreement and the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement shall be paid by the party incurring such expenses, whether or not the acquisition is consummated.

Amendment and Waiver

The Stock Purchase Agreement may be amended or modified in writing by ConAgra Foods and Pilgrim’s Pride. At any time prior to the closing, either ConAgra Foods or Pilgrim’s Pride may, in writing, waive compliance with any of the agreements or conditions of the other party contained in the Stock Purchase Agreement.

TRANSACTION AGREEMENTS

The following summary of the terms and provisions of the Share Voting Agreement, Registration Rights Agreements, Supply Agreements, Transition Trademark License Agreement, Transition Services Agreement and Environmental License Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to each of those documents, a copy of which has been filed with the SEC as an exhibit to our Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 9, 2003. You should read these agreements carefully for more details regarding the provisions we describe below and for other provisions that may be important to you.

Share Voting Agreement

In connection with the execution and delivery of the Stock Purchase Agreement, we also entered into a Share Voting Agreement with our chairman Lonnie “Bo” Pilgrim, his son Lonnie Ken Pilgrim, who is one of our directors, and Pilgrim Interests, Ltd., a family limited partnership of which Lonnie “Bo” Pilgrim and Lonnie Ken Pilgrim are the sole general partners (collectively, the “Majority Stockholders”) and ConAgra Foods. The Majority Stockholders collectively beneficially own or may vote a total of 8,618,741 shares of our Class A common stock and 17,163,818 shares of our Class B common stock.

Under the Share Voting Agreement, the Majority Stockholders have agreed to vote all of their shares:

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for the approval and issuance of common stock to ConAgra Foods pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement;

Index to Financial Statements

•

for any other matter submitted to a vote of our stockholders that is necessary to approve the transactions contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement; and

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against any action, agreement, transaction or acquisition proposal that would result in a breach of any of our covenants, representations or warranties or any other of our obligations or agreements contained in the Stock Purchase Agreement or that might postpone, interfere, delay, impede or adversely affect in any material respect the purchase of the ConAgra chicken division as contemplated by the Stock Purchase Agreement.

Irrevocable Proxy. In the Share Voting Agreement, the Majority Stockholders have also granted ConAgra Foods an irrevocable proxy and power of attorney to vote their shares of our common stock on the matters set forth above should the Majority Stockholders fail for any reason to vote in accordance with the Share Voting Agreement.

Representations and Warranties. The Share Voting Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and covenants given by the Majority Stockholders relating to, among other things, ownership of the shares of common stock that are the subject of the agreement and authority to contract.

Restrictions on Transfer. The Share Voting Agreement prohibits the Majority Stockholders from (i) subjecting any of their shares of our common stock to any transfer, encumbrance, sale, gift, pledge, assignment, or other disposition; (ii) granting any proxies or entering into any voting agreement or similar arrangement with respect to their shares of our common stock; or (iii) entering into any contract, option or other agreement that would prevent the Majority Stockholders from performing their obligations under the Share Voting Agreement. The Majority Stockholders further agree not to directly or indirectly offer, sell, or otherwise transfer, acquire or offer to buy, or otherwise trade in or induce others to offer, sell or otherwise transfer, shares of our common stock until the completion of the acquisition.

Termination of the Voting Agreement. The Share Voting Agreement terminates upon the earlier to occur of:

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the completion of the acquisition; or

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the termination of the Stock Purchase Agreement according to its terms.

Registration Rights Agreements

Registration Rights and Transfer Restriction Agreement. In connection with the closing of the Stock Purchase Agreement, we will also enter into a Registration Rights and Transfer Restriction Agreement, which will provide for the registration of the Shares issued to ConAgra Foods pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement no later than twelve months following the closing. We will bear all costs, fees and expenses of each registration, including registration and filing fees, printing expenses and fees and disbursements of counsel and all independent certified public accountants.

Piggy-Back Registration Rights. We must notify ConAgra Foods if we intend to register shares of our common stock for reasons other than for employee stock plans or business combinations, and upon ConAgra Foods’ request, we must include the Shares in such registration. We may, however, exclude some or all of the Shares on the recommendation of the managing underwriter for the proposed offering. We may also withdraw any registration statement and abandon any proposed offering without obtaining ConAgra Foods’ consent.

Tag-Along. ConAgra Foods must notify us if it plans to sell some or all of the Shares pursuant to an underwritten offer not initiated by us, and has agreed to include our common stock in such underwritten offer upon our request. ConAgra Foods may, however, exclude some or all of our common stock upon recommendation of the proposed offering’s managing underwriter.

Index to Financial Statements

Transfer Limitations. The Registration Rights Agreement provides that ConAgra Foods will not, without our consent, (i) except pursuant to a third party tender offer, transfer the Shares during the 12 months following the acquisition or more than 33 1/3% of the Shares in any 12 month period or (ii) acquire additional voting securities, make any offers to acquire any business or material assets of Pilgrim’s Pride, propose that any third party acquire any of our voting securities (other than an acquisition of the Shares), propose any business combination or other extraordinary transaction involving us, join a group with respect to ownership of our voting securities, or enter into negotiations with any third party with respect to the foregoing.

Lonnie “Bo” Pilgrim and Lonnie Ken Pilgrim have agreed that they will not offer to sell or otherwise dispose of any shares of our common stock while ConAgra Foods owns 5% or more of our outstanding common stock. This restriction does not apply to transfers made as a gift to the Pilgrim family, for estate planning purposes or for the sale of up to 120,000 shares of our common stock by the Pilgrim family during any 12 month period.

10.50% Subordinated Notes Due March 4, 2011 Registration Rights Agreement. We will enter into a 10.50% Subordinated Notes Due March 4, 2011 Registration Rights Agreement to provide for the registration of the Notes that will be issued to ConAgra Foods pursuant to the Stock Purchase Agreement no later than twelve months following the completion of the Stock Purchase Agreement. We will bear all costs, fees and expenses of each registration, including registration and filing fees, printing expenses and fees and disbursements of counsel and all independent certified public accountants.

Supply Agreements

Upon the completion of the Stock Purchase Agreement, three separate supply agreements will be entered into. ConAgra Foods and Pilgrim’s Pride will be parties to two of the supply agreements, the “Montgomery Supply Agreement” and “ConAgra Supply Agreement”, while the parties to the third supply agreement, the “Molinos Supply Agreement” will be Molinos De Puerto Rico, Inc. (“Molinos”) and To-Ricos, Inc. (“To-Ricos).

The ConAgra Supply Agreement provides for Pilgrim’s Pride or its operating companies to sell to ConAgra Foods or its operating companies chicken products in amounts similar to the volume of chicken products purchased in the twelve months prior to the date of the agreement for a period of five years. Except for chicken products supplied from the Pilgrim’s Pride Batesville processing facility, pricing of the chicken products will be based on a mutually agreed fair market value. The chicken products supplied from the Pilgrim’s Pride Batesville processing facility will be priced on a cost plus formula.

The Montgomery Supply Agreement provides for ConAgra Foods to sell to Pilgrim’s Pride or its operating companies specific chicken breast products produced at ConAgra Foods’ Montgomery, Alabama facility in amounts similar to the volume of chicken breast products purchased in the twelve months prior to the date of the agreement for a period of two years. The chicken breast products will be priced on a cost plus formula.

The Molinos Supply Agreement provides for Molinos to sell to To-Ricos corn and soybean meal in amounts required by To-Ricos or in such other volumes as the parties may mutually agree upon for a period of five years. The corn and soybean meal will be priced at New Orleans grain market prices with market freight and execution costs.

Transition Trademark License Agreement

In connection with closing of the Stock Purchase Agreement, we will also enter into a Transition Trademark License Agreement (the “License Agreement”) with ConAgra Foods and ConAgra Brands, Inc. (the “Licensors”). The Licensors are the owners of all right, title and interest in the trademarks of “Butterball,” “Country Skillet,” “ConAgra,” “ConAgra Foods” and “ConAgra Poultry Company” (the “Trademarks”). Under the License Agreement, the Licensors will grant to us a non-exclusive, royalty-free and limited license to use the

Index to Financial Statements

Trademarks in connection with the sale, production, processing, marketing, advertising and distribution of products related to the chicken division. Under the terms of the License Agreement, we have agreed to maintain the goodwill and reputation associated with the Trademarks and otherwise comply with the terms standard to trademark licenses. Unless terminated sooner pursuant to the terms of the License Agreement, our right to use the Trademarks in connection with the chicken division shall terminate in one year from the effective date of the License Agreement. The Licensors shall retain all right, title, and interest in the Trademarks, including all goodwill associated therewith.

Other Transaction Agreements

We will also enter into a Transition Services Agreement with ConAgra Foods. ConAgra Foods will provide the Acquired Companies various computer, accounting, administrative and other services during a transitional period following the closing of the Stock Purchase Agreement for twelve months. We have also agreed to provide ConAgra Foods with lab services and vendor rebates during the transitional period. The Environmental License Agreement relates to a poultry processing facility, feedmill and two hatcheries (the “Poultry Operations”) of the Acquired Companies in Batesville, Arkansas. Post-closing, ConAgra Foods will retain and continue to operate an industrial wastewater pre-treatment facility on real estate adjacent to the Poultry Operations that provides wastewater treatment for the Poultry Operations (and certain operations of ConAgra Foods that are not being acquired by us). Under this agreement, ConAgra Foods will continue to provide wastewater collection, treatment and disposal service to the Poultry Operations for a period of one (1) year. In exchange for these services, we will pay to ConAgra Foods, on a monthly basis, $54,000.

INFORMATION CONCERNING THE CONAGRA CHICKEN DIVISION

Business Overview

The business of the ConAgra chicken division is conducted through four of ConAgra Foods’ subsidiaries: ConAgra Poultry Company, Lovette Company, Inc., Hester Industries, Inc. and To-Ricos, Inc. The business is a fully-integrated chicken processing business engaged in the production, processing, marketing and distribution of fresh and frozen chicken products, and in the processing, marketing and distribution of processed and prepared food items. The ConAgra chicken division can generally be viewed as consisting of all of ConAgra Foods’ chicken business (including grow-out, slaughter, processing, further processing, rendering, sales and distribution, both in retail and foodservice and related assets and employees), including the Pierce brand and the Professional Food System (PFS) business conducted by ConAgra Foods.

The ConAgra chicken division sells ice pack, chill pack and frozen chicken, in whole, cut-up and boneless form, primarily under the Country Pride, Easy Entrée, and Pierce brand names to retailers, distributors, and casual dining operators principally in the Eastern, Southeastern, and Central regions of the United States. According to 2002 industry statistics, ConAgra Foods was the fourth largest chicken company in the United States.

The ConAgra chicken division operations presently encompass seventeen hatcheries, thirteen feed mills, fourteen processing plants, and four cook plants. The ConAgra chicken division has contracts with operators of approximately 1,667 chicken grow-out farms that provide it with sufficient housing capacity for its current operations. The ConAgra chicken division also has contracts with operators of 341 chicken breeder farms and 140 pullet farms.

The ConAgra chicken division sells over 3.1 billion pounds annually of processed and prepared food items nationally and regionally, primarily to distributors, foodservice accounts, retailers and club stores, as well as to ConAgra Foods’ packaged foods segment.

Index to Financial Statements

Other ConAgra Foods Chicken Businesses

The ConAgra chicken division does not include, and Pilgrim’s Pride will not be acquiring, the further chicken processing and marketing operations included in ConAgra Foods’ packaged foods segment, including, without limitation, the Butterball, Banquet, Marie Callender’s and Country Skillet further processing and marketing operations. Additionally, Pilgrim’s Pride will not be acquiring the Butterball, Banquet, Marie Callender’s, ConAgra and Country Skillet names.

Products and Markets

Overview. The ConAgra chicken division’s products consist primarily of:

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Prepared chicken products, which are products such as fully cooked breaded wings, 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, and packed for either the foodservice or retail sales channel.

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Fresh chicken, which is refrigerated (non-frozen) whole or cut-up chicken sold to the retail and foodservice industry either pre-marinated or non-marinated. Fresh chicken also includes prepackaged chicken, which 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.

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Export and other chicken products, which are primarily parts and whole chicken, either refrigerated or frozen for U.S. export or domestic use, and chicken prepared foods products for U.S. exports.

The ConAgra chicken division’s products are sold primarily to:

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Foodservice customers, which are customers such as foodservice distributors, chain restaurants, food processors and certain other institutions. The ConAgra chicken division sells to its foodservice customers products ranging from portion-controlled refrigerated chicken parts to fully-cooked and frozen, breaded or non-breaded chicken parts or formed products. The foodservice distributor business has experienced very high year over year sales growth since 1999.

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Retail customers, which are customers such as grocery store chains, wholesale clubs and other retail distributors. The ConAgra chicken division sells to its retail customers branded, pre-packaged, cut-up and whole poultry, and fresh refrigerated or frozen whole chicken and chicken parts in trays, bags or other consumer packs. The division also sells “consumer pack” prepared foods to these same customers, accounting for nearly 18.4% of the retail channel sales.

Market.

Foodservice. The majority of the ConAgra chicken division sales are derived from products sold to the foodservice market. This market principally consists of broad-line distributors, chain restaurants, food processors and certain other institutions located throughout the continental United States. The ConAgra chicken division supplies chicken products ranging from portion-controlled refrigerated chicken parts to fully cooked and frozen, breaded or non-breaded chicken parts or formed products.

Foodservice—Prepared Foods. The majority of the ConAgra chicken division sales to the foodservice market consist of prepared foods products. These sales are sold predominately to broad-line distributors, followed by chain restaurants and delicatessens.

Foodservice—Fresh Chicken. The ConAgra chicken division produces and markets fresh, refrigerated chicken for sale to U.S. quick-service restaurant chains, delicatessens, broad-line distributors and other

Index to Financial Statements

customers. These chickens are usually of specific weight ranges, and are typically pre-cut to customer specifications. They are often marinated to enhance value and product differentiation. By growing and processing to customers’ specifications, the ConAgra chicken division is able to assist quick-service restaurant chains in controlling costs and maintaining quality and size consistency of chicken pieces sold to the consumer.

Retail. The retail market consists primarily of grocery store chains, wholesale clubs and other retail distributors. The ConAgra chicken division concentrates its efforts in this market on sales of branded, prepackaged cut-up and whole chicken to grocery store chains and retail distributors in the Southeast, Midwest, and South Central regions of the United States.

Retail—Prepared Foods. The ConAgra chicken division sells retail packaged prepared chicken products primarily to grocery store chains and club stores located in the Southeast, Midwest, and South Central regions of the United States.

Retail—Fresh Chicken. The ConAgra chicken division’s prepackaged retail products include various combinations of freshly refrigerated, whole chickens and chicken parts in trays, bags or other consumer packs, either labeled and priced ready for the retail grocer’s fresh meat counter or in unit weight scanable packaging. The retail, prepackaged fresh chicken business should continue to be a large and relatively stable market, providing opportunities for product differentiation and brand loyalty.

Export and Other Chicken Products. The ConAgra chicken division’s export and other products consist of whole chickens and chicken parts sold primarily in bulk, non-branded form either refrigerated to distributors in the United States or frozen for distribution to export markets. In the United States, 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. Historically, the ConAgra chicken division has targeted international markets to generate additional demand for its dark meat, which is a natural byproduct of its U.S. operations given its concentration on prepared foods products and the U.S. customers’ general preference for white meat. Also included in these categories are chicken byproducts, which are converted into protein products sold primarily to manufacturers of pet foods.

Competition

The chicken industry is highly competitive and the ConAgra chicken division competes principally 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, competition is based on product quality, brand awareness and customer service. There is some competition with non-vertically integrated further processors in the U.S. prepared food business.

Properties and Operations

Breeding and Hatching. The ConAgra chicken division supplies all of its chicks in the United States by producing its own hatching eggs from domestic breeder flocks in the United States. The ConAgra chicken division currently contracts for approximately 11.7 million square feet of breeder housing on approximately 341 breeder farms in which the breeder stock is housed and fed.

The ConAgra chicken division owns sixteen chicken hatcheries in the United States. These hatcheries are located in Fort Payne, Moulton, and Enterprise, Alabama, Batesville, Atkins and El Dorado, Arkansas, Athens, Canton, Cohutta and Gainesville (2), Georgia, Mayfield (2), Kentucky and Athens, Choudrant, and Natchitoches,

Index to Financial Statements

Louisiana, where eggs are incubated and hatched in a process requiring 21 days. Once hatched, the day old chicks are inspected and vaccinated against common poultry diseases and transported by ConAgra chicken division vehicles to grow-out farms. The ConAgra chicken division’s sixteen hatcheries in the United States have an aggregate production capacity of approximately 16 million chicks per week. In Aibonito, Puerto Rico, the ConAgra chicken division owns one hatchery, which has an aggregate production capacity of approximately 425,000 chicks per week.

Grow-out. The ConAgra chicken division places its U.S. grown chicks on approximately 1,667 contract grow-out farms located in six states. These contract grow-out farms contain approximately 5,572 chicken houses with approximately 89 million square feet of growing facilities. Additionally, the ConAgra chicken division owns and operates a grow-out farm containing six chicken houses with approximately 150,000 square feet of growing facilities in the United States, which account for an insignificant amount of the ConAgra chicken division’s total annual U.S. chicken capacity. On contracted grow-out farms, the farmers provide the facilities, utilities and labor; the ConAgra chicken division supplies the chicks, the feed and all veterinary and technical services. Contract grow-out farmers are paid based on live weight produced under an incentive arrangement. The average grow-out cycle of ConAgra Foods’ chickens is six to seven weeks.

Feed Mills. An important factor in the production of chicken is the rate at which feed is converted into body weight. The quality and composition of the feed is critical to the conversion rate. Accordingly, the ConAgra chicken division formulates and produces its own feed. The primary feed ingredients include corn, milo and soybean meal, which historically have been the largest component of the ConAgra chicken division’s total chicken production costs. In the United States, the ConAgra chicken division operates feed mills located in Faulkville and Enterprise, Alabama, Batesville, Atkins and El Dorado, Arkansas, Athens, Canton, and Gainesville, Georgia, Mayfield, Kentucky, Arcadia and Many, Louisiana and Chattanooga, Tennessee. In the United States, the ConAgra chicken division currently has annual feed requirements of approximately 3.6 million tons and the capacity to produce approximately 4.7 million tons. The ConAgra chicken division owns one feed mill in Las Piedras, Puerto Rico, which produces all of the requirements of its Puerto Rican operations. Puerto Rico’s annual feed requirements are approximately 80,000 tons with a capacity to produce approximately 80,000 tons.

Processing. Once the chickens reach processing weight, they are transported by truck to the ConAgra chicken division’s processing plants. These plants utilize modern, highly automated equipment to process and package the chickens. The ConAgra chicken division has 13 U.S. processing plants which are located in Athens and Enterprise, Alabama, Batesville, Clinton and El Dorado, Arkansas, Athens, Canton, Dalton and Gainesville, Georgia, Mayfield, Kentucky, Farmerville and Natchitoches, Louisiana and Chattanooga, Tennessee. These processing plants have the capacity, under present USDA inspection procedures, to slaughter approximately 15.2 million head of chickens per week, assuming a five-day work week. The ConAgra chicken division’s other processing plant located in Aibonito, Puerto Rico has the capacity to slaughter approximately 329,000 head of chickens per week, assuming a five-day work week.

Prepared Foods Operations.

The ConAgra chicken division operates four prepared food plants. These plants primarily process chicken prepared foods products and are located in Elberton, Georgia, Chattanooga, Tennessee, Farmerville, Louisiana and Moorefield, West Virginia. Further processed prepared foods products include items such as fully cooked breaded wings, portion-controlled breast fillets, tenderloins and strips, formed nuggets and patties and bone-in chicken parts. Prepared foods are sold frozen and may be fully cooked, partially cooked or raw, breaded or non-breaded or pre-marinated or non-marinated.

The ConAgra chicken division Elberton, Georgia prepared foods plant was purchased in January 2000 and expanded in fiscal 2000 and again in fiscal 2001. It includes 173,000 square feet and employs approximately 553 people. This facility has marinating systems, batter/breading systems, fryers, ovens, freezers, a variety of

Index to Financial Statements

packaging systems and cold storage. This facility has capacity to produce approximately 90 million pounds of further processed product annually based on current production mix and is currently operating at approximately 100% of capacity.

The ConAgra chicken division Chattanooga, Tennessee prepared foods plant was purchased in January 2000, includes 37,000 square feet, and employs approximately 301 people. This facility has de-boning and portioning capability, marinating systems, batter/breading and frying systems and individually quick frozen capabilities. This facility has the capacity to produce approximately 50 million pounds of further processed product annually based on current product mix and is currently operating at approximately 100% of capacity.

The ConAgra chicken division Moorefield, West Virginia prepared foods plant was purchased in December 1997. It includes 209,000 square feet and employs approximately 716 people. This facility has marinating systems, batter/breading, frying systems, oven systems and individually quick frozen capabilities. This facility has capacity to produce approximately 100 million pounds of further processed product annually based on current product mix and is currently operating at approximately 100% of capacity.

The ConAgra chicken division Farmerville, Louisiana prepared foods plant was constructed in June 1996. It includes 80,000 square feet and employs approximately 345 people. This facility has marinating systems, batter/breading, frying systems, oven systems and individually quick frozen capabilities. This facility has capacity to produce approximately 50 million pounds of further processed product annually based on current product mix and is currently operating at approximately 85% of capacity.

Other Facilities and Information.

The ConAgra chicken division operates three rendering plants that convert by-products into protein products, located in Farmerville, Louisiana, El Dorado, Arkansas and Russellville, Arkansas. These rendering plants currently process by-products from approximately four million chickens weekly into protein products. These products are used in the manufacture of poultry and livestock feed and pet foods.

The ConAgra chicken division headquarters is located in Duluth, Georgia. Other offices are located at each processing facility.

The ConAgra chicken division’s truck shop facilities are located in Athens and Enterprise, Alabama, Atkins and El Dorado, Arkansas, Athens, Canton and Dalton, Georgia, Mayfield, Kentucky, Farmerville and Robeline, Louisiana and Chattanooga, Tennessee.

The ConAgra chicken division has four laboratory facilities, which are located in Athens and Gainesville, Georgia, Farmerville, Louisiana and Moorefield, West Virginia.

Other facilities include a warehouse in Farmerville, Louisiana, and cold storage plants in Chattanooga, Tennessee and Shreveport, Louisiana.

The ConAgra chicken division engages in the distribution of protein products through its PFS Unit. PFS primarily sells products to both the foodservice and retail channels with retail accounting for 65% of the sales. Products include all proteins with the approximate mix of beef- 40%, chicken – 25%, pork – 20%, other – 15% (fish, shrimp, and processed smoked meats). The principal office of PFS is located in El Dorado, Arkansas with 13 sales and distribution units in Texas, Louisiana, Utah, California, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Mississippi. Each distribution center is run autonomously with a distribution radius of approximately 100 miles. The truck fleet consists of 83 bob trucks and 163 tractor-trailers. PFS employs 550 people.

Index to Financial Statements

Regulation and Environmental Matters

The chicken industry is subject to government regulation, particularly in the health and environmental areas, including provisions relating to the discharge of materials into the environment, by the Centers for Disease Control, the United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”), the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) and the Environmental Protection Agency. The ConAgra chicken division processing facilities are subject to on site examination, inspection and regulation by the USDA. The FDA inspects the production of ConAgra Foods’ feed mills. The ConAgra chicken division incurs approximately $3 million annually to comply with ongoing regulatory and environmental inspection matters.

Employees and Labor Relations

As of July 21, 2003, the ConAgra chicken division employed approximately 15,890 persons, including 2,250 salaried and 13,640 hourly employees.

Approximately 659 employees at the Athens, Alabama processing facility are members of collective bargaining units represented by the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. A collective bargaining agreement with the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union expires in December 2006.

Approximately 19 employees at the Falkville, Alabama feed mill are members of collective bargaining units represented by the Council of the United Textile Workers of America, United Food and Commercial Workers Union. A collective bargaining agreement with the Council of the United Textile Workers of America, United Food and Commercial Workers Union expires in September 2005.

Approximately 687 employees at the Enterprise, Alabama processing plant are members of collective bargaining units represented by the Alabama Mid-South Council of Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. A collective bargaining agreement with the Alabama Mid-South Council of Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union expires in December 2004.

Approximately 13 employees at the Enterprise, Alabama feed mill (drivers and dispatchers) are members of collective bargaining units represented by the Alabama Mid-South Council of Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. A collective bargaining agreement with the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, Mid-South Council expires in February 2007.

Approximately 8 employees at the Enterprise, Alabama feed mill (production and maintenance) are members of collective bargaining units represented by the Alabama Mid-South Council of Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. A collective bargaining agreement with the Alabama Mid-South Council of Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union expires in October 2005.

Approximately 23 employees at the Enterprise, Alabama hatchery are members of a collective bargaining units represented by the Mid-South Council of Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. A collective bargaining agreement with the Alabama Mid-South Council of Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union expires in February 2004.

Approximately 652 employees at the Batesville, Arkansas complex (processing plant, feed mill and hatchery) and the Clinton, Arkansas complex (processing Plant, feed mill and hatchery) are members of collective bargaining units represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Food and Commercial Workers International Union and International Brotherhood of Teamsters. A collective bargaining agreement with the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Food and Commercial Workers International Union and International Brotherhood of Teamsters expires in July 2006.

Approximately 1,384 employees at the El Dorado, Arkansas processing plant are members of collective bargaining units represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. A collective bargaining agreement with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union expires in November 2003.

Index to Financial Statements

Approximately 53 employees at the El Dorado, Arkansas feed mill feed haul, live haul are members of collective bargaining units represented by the Pace International Union. A collective bargaining agreement with the Pace International Union expires in February 2006.

Approximately 1,264 employees at the Athens, Georgia live haul and processing plant are members of collective bargaining units represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. A collective bargaining agreement with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union expires in November 2003.

Approximately 25 employees at the Athens, Georgia feed mill are members of collective bargaining units represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. A collective bargaining agreement with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union expires in December 2004.

Approximately 448 employees at the Elberton, Georgia cook plant are members of collective bargaining units represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. A collective bargaining agreement with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union expires in August 2004.

Approximately 29 employees at the Gainesville, Georgia feed mill are members of collective bargaining units represented by the General Teamsters Local Union. A collective bargaining agreement with the General Teamsters Local Union expires in May 2006.

Approximately 803 employees at the Mayfield, Kentucky processing plant are members of collective bargaining units represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. A collective bargaining agreement with the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union expires in November 2004.

Approximately 99 employees at the Mayfield, Kentucky feed mill are members of collective bargaining units represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. A collective bargaining agreement with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters expires in November 2005.

Approximately 1,481 employees at the Farmerville, Louisiana processing and cook plant are members of collective bargaining units represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers. A collective bargaining agreement with the United Food and Commercial Workers expires in August 2005.

Approximately 511 employees at the Natchitoches, Louisiana processing plant are members of collective bargaining units represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers. A collective bargaining agreement with the United Food and Commercial Workers expires in November 2004.

Approximately 1,097 employees at the Chattanooga, Tennessee processing plant and truck stop are members of collective bargaining units represented by the United Steelworkers of America. A collective bargaining agreement with the United Steelworkers expires in July 2005.

Approximately 263 employees at the Chattanooga, Tennessee cook plant are members of collective bargaining units represented by United Steelworkers of America. A collective bargaining agreement with the United Steelworkers of America expires in September 2005.

Approximately 7 employees at the Aibonito, Puerto Rico feed mill are members of collective bargaining units represented by the Congress of Industrial Unions of Puerto Rico. A collective bargaining agreement with the Congress of Industrial Unions of Puerto Rico expired in October 2003 and negotiations regarding a new agreement are ongoing.

Approximately 27 employees at the Shreveport, Louisiana PFS facility are members of collective bargaining units represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. A collective bargaining agreement with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union expires in March 2006.

Index to Financial Statements

Approximately 8 employees at the Jackson, Mississippi PFS facility are members of collective bargaining units represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. A collective bargaining agreement with the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union expires in July 2006.

Approximately 20 employees at the Arlington, Texas PFS facility are members of collective bargaining units represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. A collective bargaining agreement with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union expires in April 2006.

Approximately 22 employees at the Houston, Texas PFS facility are members of collective bargaining units represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. A collective bargaining agreement with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union expires in February 2006.

Approximately 11 employees at the Green Bay, Wisconsin PFS facility are members of collective bargaining units represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. A collective bargaining agreement with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union expires in October 2005.

The ConAgra chicken division has not experienced a work stoppage since June 1997. ConAgra Foods believes its relations with employees at these locations are satisfactory.

Legal Proceedings

The ConAgra chicken division is a party to a number of lawsuits and claims arising out of the operation of its business. After taking into account liabilities recorded, ConAgra Foods’ management believes the ultimate resolution of such matters should not have a material adverse effect on the ConAgra chicken division’s financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF

OPERATIONS—CONAGRA CHICKEN DIVISION

The following discussion and analysis is intended to provide a summary of significant factors relevant to the ConAgra chicken division’s financial performance and condition. The discussion should be read together with the ConAgra Foods Chicken Business’ financial statements and related notes included elsewhere herein. Years cited in this discussion refer to ConAgra Foods Chicken Business’ fiscal years.

Thirteen Weeks ended August 24, 2003 Compared to Thirteen Weeks ended August 25, 2002

Sales. Net sales of $607.0 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2004 were essentially flat as compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2003, reflecting lower volumes offset by increased sales prices.

Cost of Goods Sold. Cost of goods sold was $582.7 million for first quarter of fiscal 2004, a $17.8 million increase from the same period of the prior year. Gross profit (net sales less cost of goods sold) for the first quarter of fiscal 2004 declined to $24.3 million from $41.6 million in the same period of the prior year.

Gross margin (gross profit as a percent of net sales) declined to 4.0% in the first quarter of fiscal 2004 from 6.9% in the same period in the prior year. This decline primarily reflects higher input costs and $3.2 million of costs associated with a product recall. The recall was triggered when the company’s quality control process detected a small quantity of foreign objects in the production process.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses decreased $1.5 million, or 7.6%, to $18.1 million for first quarter of fiscal 2004. This decrease was primarily a result of lower employee compensation expense. SG&A expenses were 3.0% of net sales during the first quarter of fiscal 2004, as compared to 3.2% of net sales during the same period in the prior year.

Index to Financial Statements

Corporate Allocations-Selling, General and Administrative. Corporate allocations include charges that have been allocated by ConAgra Foods and recorded as an expense for corporate services, including executive, finance, legal and tax. Expenses incurred by ConAgra Foods and allocated to the ConAgra chicken division are determined based on the specific services being provided or are allocated based on ConAgra Foods’ investment in the ConAgra chicken division in proportion to ConAgra Foods’ total investment in its subsidiaries. Such expenses included in allocated selling, general and administrative expenses are $5.3 million and $4.8 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2004 and 2003, respectively.

Corporate Allocations-Finance Charges. Corporate allocations also include charges that have been allocated by ConAgra Foods and recorded as finance charges. ConAgra Foods allocated finance costs of $8.8 million and $6.4 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2004 and 2003, respectively.

Income Taxes. The effective income tax rate was 38.0% for the first quarter of fiscal 2004 compared with 37.2% for the same period of the prior year.

Fiscal 2003 Compared to Fiscal 2002

Sales. Net sales were $2,341.7 million for 2003, a $93.1 million or 3.8% decrease from 2002. This decrease, in part, reflects lower broiler markets, largely in dark meat and wings, primarily impacting the retail channel. The 2003 decrease also reflects the closure of one of the ConAgra chicken division’s distribution centers.

Cost of Goods Sold. Cost of goods sold was $2,258.0 million for 2003, a $9.3 million decrease from 2002. Gross profit (net sales less cost of goods sold) for 2003 declined to $83.6 million from $167.4 million in 2002. Gross margin (gross profit as a percent of net sales) declined to 3.6% in 2003 from 6.9% in 2002. These declines reflect increased grain and deboning costs, offset, in part, by improved processing yields and growth in the foodservice broad-line distributor business.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses decreased $6.3 million, or 8.0%, to $73.0 million for 2003. This decrease was primarily a result of lower compensation costs in 2003 as compared to 2002. SG&A expenses were also favorably impacted by $1.0 million, due to the ConAgra chicken division no longer amortizing goodwill beginning in the first quarter of 2003 as a result of the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets. SG&A expenses were 3.1% of net sales during 2003, as compared to 3.3% of net sales during 2002.

Corporate Allocations—Selling, General and Administrative. Corporate allocations include charges that have been allocated by ConAgra Foods and recorded as an expense for corporate services, including executive, finance, legal and tax. Expenses incurred by ConAgra Foods and allocated to the ConAgra chicken division are determined based on the specific services being provided or are allocated based on ConAgra Foods’ investment in the ConAgra chicken division in proportion to ConAgra Foods’ total investment in its subsidiaries. Such expenses included in allocated selling, general and administrative expenses are $19.3 million and $19.0 million for fiscal 2003 and 2002, respectively.

Corporate Allocations—Finance Charges. Corporate allocations also include charges that have been allocated by ConAgra Foods and recorded as finance charges. ConAgra Foods allocated finance costs of $26.0 million and $22.7 million in fiscal 2003 and 2002, respectively.

Income Taxes. The effective income tax rate was 37.2% for 2003 compared with 38.0% for 2002.

On June 9, 2003, ConAgra Foods announced an agreement to sell its chicken division to Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation. In connection with the expected sale, ConAgra Foods classified the company’s long-lived assets as

Index to Financial Statements

held for sale and recognized an impairment charge of $69.4 million (net of an income tax benefit of $42.6 million) in its financial statements to reduce the carrying amount of goodwill to zero and reflect a reduction in the carrying values of long-lived assets of the ConAgra chicken division to their fair market value, less cost to sell. The ConAgra chicken division has not recognized this impairment charge as it considers its long-lived assets to be fully recoverable on a held for use basis.

Fiscal 2002 Compared to Fiscal 2001

Sales. Net sales were $2,434.7 million for 2002, a $93.7 million or 4.0% increase from 2001. This increase reflects improved broiler markets, especially in dark meat and wings, product mix improvements resulting from a higher proportion of prepared food sales, and improved prices and customer mix within the retail channel.

Cost of Goods Sold. Cost of goods sold was $2,267.4 million for 2002, a $3.6 million increase from 2001. Gross profit (net sales less cost of goods sold) for 2002 increased to $167.4 million from $77.3 million in 2001. Gross margin (gross profit as a percent of net sales) increased to 6.9% in 2002 from 3.3% in 2001. These increases reflect the improved sales pricing and mix discussed above, offset in part by increased grain costs.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. SG&A expenses increased $6.8 million, or 9.3%, to $79.4 million for 2002. This increase can be attributed to increased compensation costs in 2002 as compared to 2001. SG&A expenses were 3.3% of net sales during 2002, compared to 3.1% of net sales during 2001.

Corporate Allocations—Selling, General and Administrative. Corporate allocations include allocated SG&A expenses of $19.0 million and $20.6 million for fiscal 2002 and 2001, respectively.

Corporate Allocations—Finance Charges. Corporate allocations also include allocated finance charges of $22.7 million and $31.8 million in fiscal 2002 and 2001, respectively.

Income Taxes. The effective income tax rate was 38.0% for 2002 compared with 36.7% for 2001.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Sources of Liquidity and Capital. Historically, the ConAgra chicken division’s sources of cash have been from cash flow from operations and advances received from ConAgra Foods.

At August 24, 2003, working capital (current assets less current liabilities) was $173.9 million. At May 25, 2003, working capital was $181.8 million compared with $201.7 million at May 26, 2002. The reduced working capital is primarily a result of management’s continued focus on minimizing trade working capital (accounts receivable plus inventory less accounts payable and accrued expenses).

Cash Flows. Cash flows from operating activities totaled $13.1 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2004 as compared to $8.6 million for the same period of the prior year. The changes in cash flow were primarily due to the ConAgra chicken division’s higher use of trade working capital during the first quarter of the prior fiscal year as compared to the current year, offset in part by lower net income in the first quarter of the current year as compared to the same period in the prior year.

Cash flows from operating activities totaled $81.0 million for 2003 as compared to $144.5 million for 2002 and $8.7 million in 2001. The changes in cash flow were primarily due to changes in net income and significant reductions in trade working capital in 2002.

Cash used in investing activities totaled $8.4 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2004, as compared to $5.1 million in the same period of the prior year. Cash used in investing activities totaled $36.8 million for 2003, as compared to $52.3 million in 2002 and $45.2 million in 2001. Cash flows used in investing activities are primarily capital expenditures incurred for property, plant and equipment.

Index to Financial Statements

Cash used in financing activities totaled $9.3 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2004 as compared to $2.7 million generated in the same period of the prior year. Cash used in financing activities totaled $37.9 million for 2003 and $96.3 million in 2002, as compared to cash provided from financing activities of $32.9 million in 2001. Net cash flow from financing activities primarily reflects changes in net investments and advances/distributions from ConAgra Foods.

Obligations and Commitments. As part of its ongoing operations, the ConAgra chicken division enters into arrangements that obligate it to make future payments under contracts such as debt and lease agreements. Debt obligations, which total $17.0 million, are currently recognized as liabilities in the ConAgra chicken division’s consolidated balance sheet. Operating lease obligations, which total $13.4 million, are not recognized as liabilities in the ConAgra chicken division’s consolidated balance sheet in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. At May 25, 2003, the ConAgra chicken division had no outstanding unconditional purchase obligations.

A summary of the ConAgra chicken division’s contractual obligations at the end of 2003 is as follows:

	Payments Due by Period
Contractual Obligations	Total		Less than 1 Year		2-3 Years		4-5 Years		After 5 Years
	(in millions)
Long-Term Debt	$	17.0	$	.4	$	.1	$	.4	$	16.1
Lease Obligations		13.4		2.1		4.3		1.8		5.2

Total	$	30.4	$	2.5	$	4.4	$	2.2	$	21.3

At August 24, 2003 and May 25, 2003, the ConAgra chicken division had no outstanding commercial commitment arrangements (e.g., guarantees).

Trading Activities. The Company has no “trading” activities as all derivative contracts are considered either normal purchase and sale contracts or hedging contracts which qualify for hedge accounting under SFAS No. 133.

Critical Accounting Policies

The process of preparing financial statements requires the use of estimates on the part of management. The estimates used by management are based on the ConAgra chicken division’s historical experiences combined with management’s understanding of current facts and circumstances. Certain of the ConAgra chicken division’s accounting policies are considered critical as they are both important to the portrayal of the ConAgra chicken division’s financial condition and results and require significant or complex judgment on the part of management. The following is a summary of certain accounting policies considered critical by management of the ConAgra chicken division.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts—The ConAgra chicken division’s allowance for doubtful accounts reflects reserves for customer receivables to reduce receivables to amounts expected to be collected. Management uses significant judgment in estimating uncollectible amounts. In estimating uncollectible amounts, management considers factors such as current overall economic conditions, industry-specific economic conditions, historical customer performance, and anticipated customer performance. While management believes the ConAgra chicken division’s processes effectively address its exposure for doubtful accounts, changes in the economy, industry, or specific customer conditions may require adjustment to the allowance for doubtful accounts recorded by the ConAgra chicken division.

Inventory Valuation—Management reviews its inventory balances to determine if inventories can be sold at amounts equal to or greater than their carrying amounts. The review includes identification of slow moving

Index to Financial Statements

inventories, obsolete inventories, and discontinued products or lines of products. The identification process includes historical performance of the inventory, current operational plans for the inventory, as well as industry and customer specific trends. If the ConAgra chicken division’s actual results differ from management expectations with respect to the selling of its inventories at amounts equal to or greater than their carrying amounts, the ConAgra chicken division would be required to adjust its inventory balances accordingly.

Employment-Related Benefits—The ConAgra chicken division incurs certain employment-related expenses associated with pensions, postretirement health care benefits, and workers’ compensation. In order to measure the expense associated with these employment-related benefits, management must make a variety of estimates including discount rates used to present value certain liabilities, assumed rates of return on assets set aside to fund these expenses, compensation increases, employee turnover rates, anticipated mortality rates, anticipated healthcare costs, and employee accidents incurred but not yet reported to the ConAgra chicken division. The estimates used by management are based on the ConAgra chicken division’s historical experience as well as current facts and circumstances. The ConAgra chicken division uses third-party specialists to assist management in appropriately measuring the expense associated with these employment-related benefits. Different estimates used by management could result in the ConAgra chicken division recognizing different amounts of expense over different periods of time.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets (including property, plant and equipment), Goodwill and Identifiable Intangible Assets—In accordance with applicable accounting literature, the ConAgra chicken division reduces the carrying amount of long-lived assets, goodwill and identifiable intangible assets to their fair value when the fair value of such assets is determined to be less than their carrying amounts (i.e., assets are deemed to be impaired). Fair value is typically estimated using a discounted cash flow analysis, which requires the ConAgra chicken division to estimate the future cash flows anticipated to be generated by the particular asset(s) being tested for impairment as well as select a discount rate to present value the anticipated cash flows. When determining future cash flow estimates, the ConAgra chicken division considers historical results adjusted to reflect current and anticipated operating conditions. Estimating future cash flows requires significant judgment by the ConAgra chicken division in such areas as future economic conditions, industry-specific conditions, product pricing and necessary capital expenditures. The use of different assumptions or estimates for future cash flows could produce different impairment amounts (or none at all) for long-lived assets, goodwill and identifiable intangible assets.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In November 2002, the FASB’s Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) reached a consensus on EITF Issue No. 00-21, Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables. EITF Issue No. 00-21 provides guidance for revenue arrangements that involve the delivery or performance of multiple products or services where performance may occur at different points or over different periods of time. EITF Issue No. 00-21 is effective for revenue arrangements entered into in fiscal periods beginning after June 15, 2003 (i.e., the company’s second quarter of fiscal 2004). The company does not expect the adoption of EITF Issue No. 00-21 to have a material impact on the company’s financial statements.

In May 2003, the EITF reached a consensus on EITF Issue No. 01-8, Determining Whether an Arrangement Contains a Lease. EITF Issue No. 01-8 requires a party to a service contract or similar arrangement to determine whether the arrangement is or includes a lease within the scope of SFAS No. 13, Accounting for Leases. EITF Issue No. 01-8 is effective for arrangements entered into or modified after August 24, 2003 and is not expected to have a material impact on the company’s financial statements.

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

In January 2003, the FASB issued FIN No. 46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities. A variable interest entity (“VIE”) is an entity whose equity investors do not have a controlling financial interest or do not

Index to Financial Statements

have sufficient equity at risk such that the entity cannot finance its own activities. FIN No. 46 provides that VIEs shall be consolidated by the entity deemed to be the primary beneficiary of the VIE. FIN No. 46 is immediately effective for VIEs created after January 31, 2003. For VIEs created prior to February 1, 2003, FIN No. 46 is effective for the ConAgra chicken division in the second quarter of fiscal 2004. The ConAgra chicken division is currently evaluating its relationship with unconsolidated entities which may meet the definition of a VIE. Based on its analysis to date, the ConAgra chicken division has not determined the impact, if any, from the adoption of FIN No. 46.

Related Party Transactions

ConAgra Foods’ executive, finance, legal, tax and other corporate departments perform certain administrative and other services for the ConAgra chicken division. Expenses incurred by ConAgra Foods and allocated to the ConAgra chicken division are determined based on specific services being provided or are allocated based on ConAgra Foods’ investment in the ConAgra chicken division in proportion to ConAgra Foods’ total investment in its subsidiaries. In addition, ConAgra Foods allocates finance costs to the ConAgra chicken division based on ConAgra Foods’ investment in the ConAgra chicken division and net intercompany advances. Management believes that such expense allocations are reasonable. It is not practical to estimate the expenses that would have been incurred by the ConAgra chicken division if it had been operated on a stand-alone basis. Corporate allocations include allocated selling, general and administrative expenses of $5.3 million and $4.8 million for the thirteen week periods ended August 24, 2003 and August 25, 2002, respectively. Allocated finance charges were $8.8 million and $6.4 million for the thirteen week periods ended August 24, 2003 and August 25, 2002, respectively. Corporate allocations include allocated selling, general and administrative expenses of $19.3 million, $19.0 million and $20.6 million for fiscal 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively, and allocated finance charges of $26.0 million, $22.7 million and $31.8 million in fiscal 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively.

The ConAgra chicken division also has transactions in the normal course of business with parties under common ownership. Net sales to related parties were $43.4 million and $39.6 million for the thirteen week periods ended August 24, 2003 and August 25, 2002, respectively. With respect to gross margins associated with related party net sales, certain products are sold at cost while others are sold at prices resulting in gross margins similar to third-party net sales. Net sales to related parties were $134.7 million, $139.2 million and $160.0 million in fiscal years 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively. With respect to gross margins associated with related party net sales, certain products are sold at cost while others are sold at prices resulting in gross margins similar to third-party net sales.

Market Risk

The principal market risks affecting the ConAgra chicken division are exposures to price fluctuations of commodity and energy inputs.

Commodities—The ConAgra chicken division purchases commodity inputs such as chicken, wheat, corn, soybean meal, soybean oil, energy and packaging materials to be used in its operations. These commodities are subject to price fluctuations that may create price risk. The ConAgra chicken division enters into commodity hedges to manage this price risk using physical forward contracts or derivative instruments. ConAgra Foods has policies governing the hedging instrument its businesses may use. These policies include limiting the dollar risk exposure for each of its businesses. The ConAgra chicken division also monitors the amount of associated counter-party credit risk for all non-exchange-traded transactions. The ConAgra chicken division’s trading activities are limited in terms of maximum dollar exposure and monitored to ensure compliance.

The following table presents one measure of market risk exposure using sensitivity analysis. Sensitivity analysis is the measurement of potential loss of fair value resulting from a hypothetical change of 10% in market prices. Actual changes in market prices may differ from hypothetical changes. In reality, as markets move, the

Index to Financial Statements

ConAgra chicken division actively manages its risk and adjusts hedging strategies as appropriate. Fair value was determined using quoted market prices and was based on the ConAgra chicken division’s net derivative position by commodity at each quarter end during the fiscal year. The market risk exposure analysis excludes the underlying commodity positions that are being hedged. The commodities hedged have a high inverse correlation to price changes of the derivative commodity instrument.

Effect of 10% Change in Market Prices

	2003		2002
	(in millions)
Grains
High	$	10.8	$	15.0
Low		4.2		6.0
Average		7.9		9.8

The above mentioned commodities are subject to price volatility caused by commodity market fluctuations, supply and demand, and changes in governmental agricultural programs. Commodity price increases will result in increases in raw material costs and operating costs. The ConAgra chicken division has many years’ experience in hedging against commodity price increases; however, hedging practices reduce but do not eliminate the risk of increased operating costs from commodity price increases.

For the first quarter of fiscal 2004, the maximum potential loss of fair value resulting from a hypothetical change of 10% in market prices was $2.4 million based on the company’s net grain derivative positions at quarter end.

Quarterly Financial Data

The following is a summary of the ConAgra chicken division’s unaudited quarterly results for each of the periods in fiscal 2003 and 2002:

	Net Sales		Gross Profit			Net Income (Loss)
	(in millions)
2004
First	$	607.0	$	24.3		$	(5.0	)

2003
First	$	606.5	$	41.6		$	6.8
Second		590.4		35.4			3.1
Third		546.5		(4.6	)		(21.7	)
Fourth		598.3		11.2			(10.0	)

Year	$	2,341.7	$	83.6		$	(21.8	)

2002
First	$	630.7	$	47.8		$	8.9
Second		618.1		46.4			9.7
Third		575.5		32.0			2.4
Fourth		610.4		41.2			7.7

Year	$	2,434.7	$	167.4		$	28.7

Forward-Looking Statements

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for the ConAgra chicken division contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation

Index to Financial Statements

Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may vary materially from the expectations contained in the forward-looking statements. Future economic circumstances, industry conditions, the ConAgra chicken division’s performance and financial results, availability and prices of raw materials, product pricing, competitive environment and related market conditions, operating efficiencies, access to capital, actions of governments and regulatory factors affecting the ConAgra chicken division’s businesses and other risks described in the ConAgra Foods reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission are examples of factors, among others, that could cause results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. ConAgra Foods cautions that any forward-looking statements included in this proxy statement are made as of the date of this proxy statement.

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA FINANCIAL DATA

The unaudited pro forma financial data is based on our historical consolidated financial statements and the historical combined financial statements of the ConAgra chicken division. The unaudited pro forma financial data reflects the $100 million 9⁵/8% senior notes offering sold pursuant to Pilgrim’s Pride’s prospectus supplement dated August 13, 2003. The proceeds of the 9⁵/8% senior notes offering will be used to reduce the principal amount of 10.5% subordinated notes to be issued in connection with the purchase of the ConAgra chicken division by increasing the amount of cash to be paid to ConAgra Foods in connection with such purchase. The assumptions and adjustments are described in the notes to the unaudited pro forma financial data, including assumptions relating to the allocation of the consideration paid for the assets and liabilities of the ConAgra chicken division based on preliminary estimates of their respective fair values. Although we do not currently expect the final acquisition value to differ significantly, the terms of the Stock Purchase Agreement are likely to result in a purchase price of the ConAgra chicken division that is different from that presented in the unaudited pro forma combined financial statements primarily resulting from the following:

(1)

the purchase price is determined by reference to the adjusted net book value of the assets and liabilities of the ConAgra chicken division as of the closing date of the acquisition. Such amount will vary from the August 24, 2003 information used in the preparation of the unaudited pro forma financial statements; and

(2)

the variability of the common stock portion of the consideration payable to ConAgra Foods, which is based on changes in the market price and trading volume of our common stock for the period from June 10, 2003 through the date five trading days prior to the closing date of the acquisition.

Based on the August 24, 2003 unaudited financial statements of the ConAgra Foods Chicken Business, and our common stock data through October 24, 2003, we have computed the acquisition value at approximately $615.4 million plus transaction costs, consisting of $103.5 million in senior notes, $100 million in subordinated debt, the issuance of 25,358,860 shares of our common stock valued at $12.87 per share and the remainder in secured borrowings. The reclassification of the Class A common stock and Class B common stock has not been included as it has no effect on the unaudited pro forma condensed balance sheet. Our unaudited pro forma statements of operations have been presented as if the acquisition of the ConAgra chicken division had occurred at the beginning of the fiscal year ended September 28, 2002, while the unaudited pro forma balance sheet has been presented as if the acquisition occurred on June 28, 2003. The most recent fiscal year of ConAgra Foods and the ConAgra chicken division ended May 25, 2003, and Pilgrim’s Pride’s most recent fiscal year ended September 27, 2003. As a result, the combined pro forma financial statements have been prepared by adjusting the ConAgra chicken division quarterly results to more closely match the applicable Pilgrim’s Pride reporting periods. However, the ConAgra chicken division information has been included with a one-month lag to the Pilgrim’s Pride reporting periods in order to maintain their existing quarterly periods.

Our unaudited pro forma financial data should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—ConAgra Chicken Division,” our historical

Index to Financial Statements

consolidated financial statements and the historical combined financial statements and the related notes thereto of the ConAgra chicken division either included or incorporated by reference in this proxy. Our unaudited pro forma financial data does not purport to represent what our results of operations would have been if the transactions listed above had actually been completed as of the date indicated and are not intended to project our financial position or results of operations for any future period.

Index to Financial Statements

Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation

Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Balance Sheet

June 28, 2003

(in thousands)

	Pilgrim’s Pride		CCD(A)		Pro Forma Adjustments					Pro Forma Combined
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	16,667	$	6,324	$	(6,324	)	(B	)	$	16,667
Accounts receivable		118,612		105,595		—					224,207
Inventories		358,301		209,639		—					567,940
Prepaids and other current assets		15,300		7,932		—					23,232

Total current assets		508,880		329,490		(6,324	)				832,046
Other assets:
Property, plant and equipment, net		739,203		419,834		34,294		(D	)		1,193,331
Other long-term assets		30,837		37,365		(39,781	)	(C	)		28,421

	$	1,278,920	$	786,689	$	(11,811	)			$	2,053,798

Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and other current liabilities	$	225,513	$	133,421	$	—				$	358,934
Current deferred income tax		12,888		13,882		(13,882	)	(C	)		12,888
Current maturities of long term debt		2,635		400		7,411		(E	)		10,446

Total current liabilities		241,036		147,703		(6,471	)				382,268
Secured debt		280,150		16,635		86,362		(E	)		383,147
9⁵/8% Senior Notes		200,000		—		103,500		(E	)		303,500
10¹/2% Subordinated Notes		—		—		100,000		(E	)		100,000
Deferred income taxes		134,229		11,239		(11,239	)	(C	)		134,229
Other long term liabilities		1,316		780		—					2,096
Total stockholder’s equity		422,189		610,332		(283,963	)	(D	)		748,558

Total liabilities and equity	$	1,278,920	$	786,689	$	(11,811	)			$	2,053,798

Index to Financial Statements

Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation

Unaudited Pro Forma Statement of Operations

For the Year Ended September 28, 2002

(in thousands, except per share data)

	Pilgrim’s Pride			CCD (A)		Pro Forma Adjustments					Pro Forma Combined
Net sales	$	2,533,718		$	2,410,565	$	4,500		(H	)	$	4,948,783
Cost of sales		2,369,309			2,249,386		(16,209	)	(G	)		4,602,486
Non-recurring recoveries		(756	)		—		—					(756	)
Selling, general and administrative expenses		135,261			95,150		—					230,411

Operating income		29,904			66,029		20,709					116,642
Interest expense, net		32,003			23,278		3,844		(E	)		59,125
Other (income) expense, net		(4,009	)		—		—		(D	)		(4,009	)

Income before taxes		1,910			42,751		16,865					61,526
Income tax expense (benefit)		(12,425	)		16,254		6,274		(F	)		10,103

Net income	$	14,335		$	26,497	$	10,591				$	51,423

Earnings per common share:
Basic	$	0.35		$	—	$	0.42				$	0.77
Diluted		0.35			—		0.42					0.77
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic		41,113			—		25,359					66,472
Diluted		41,113			—		25,359					66,472

Index to Financial Statements

Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation

Unaudited Pro Forma Statement of Operations

For the Nine Months Ended June 28, 2003

(in thousands, except per share data)

	Pilgrim’s Pride			CCD (A)			Pro Forma Adjustments					Pro Forma Combined
Net sales	$	1,909,874		$	1,735,148		$	3,350		(H	)	$	3,648,372
Cost of sales		1,805,257			1,693,111			(12,186	)	(G	)		3,486,182
Non-recurring recoveries		(36,002	)		—			—					(36,002	)
Selling, general and administrative expenses		102,728			68,026			—					170,754

Operating income (loss)		37,891			(25,989	)		15,536					27,438
Interest expense, net		28,835			19,649			654		(E	)		49,138
Other (income) expense, net		(37,253	)		—			—		(D	)		(37,253	)

Income (loss) before taxes		46,309			(45,638	)		14,882					15,553
Income tax expense (benefit)		15,346			(16,979	)		5,536		(F	)		3,903

Net income (loss)	$	30,963		$	(28,659	)	$	9,346				$	11,650

Earnings per common share:
Basic	$	0.75		$	—		$	0.37				$	0.18
Diluted		0.75			—			0.37					0.18
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic		41,113			—			25,359					66,472
Diluted		41,113			—			25,359					66,472

Index to Financial Statements

NOTES TO THE UNAUDITED PRO FORMA FINANCIAL DATA

(A)

The fiscal year of ConAgra Foods and the ConAgra chicken division ended May 25, 2003, and the fiscal year of Pilgrim’s Pride ended September 27, 2003. As a result, the combined pro forma financial statements have been prepared by adjusting the ConAgra chicken division quarterly results to more closely match the Pilgrim’s Pride reporting period. However, the ConAgra chicken division information has been included with a one-month lag to the Pilgrim’s Pride reporting periods in order to maintain their existing quarterly periods. In addition, certain reclassifications have been made to the ConAgra chicken division’s historical financial statements to conform to the presentation used by Pilgrim’s Pride.

(B)

Elimination of ConAgra chicken division cash assumed to be distributed prior to closing.

(C)

Represents the elimination of the balance sheet amounts related to derivatives and hedging and and goodwill which are not being acquired. In addition, deferred income taxes are eliminated because, upon the consummation of the acquisition, Pilgrim’s Pride will step-up the tax basis of assets to the value of the acquisition.

(D)

The ConAgra chicken division acquisition will be accounted for as a purchase business combination. The Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Statements do not include any adjustments related to restructuring costs or recurring benefits expected from synergies. The purchase price allocation is preliminary and further adjustments may be made based on the completion of final valuation and other studies. Specifically, upon the closing of the acquisition we will complete a valuation of fixed assets, supply agreements and other agreements and adjust purchase price accordingly. The final valuation of fixed assets, supply agreements and other agreements is not expected to result in a material change to the unaudited pro forma financial data. As previously discussed, the purchase price is dependent on a number of factors, including the trading price and trading volume of our common stock and the adjusted net book value of the ConAgra chicken division assets and liabilities at closing. The following table summarizes the net assets acquired based on the May 25, 2003 balance sheet of the ConAgra chicken division. Purchase consideration is based on the August 24, 2003 balance sheet of the ConAgra chicken division, the closing price of Pilgrim’s Pride Class A common stock on October 24, 2003, and the price and volume changes in our common stock that have occurred since June 10, 2003 (in thousands, except per share amounts).

Net book value of ConAgra chicken division (less cash)	$	604,008

Less assets and liabilities not acquired (C)		(12,860	)

		591,148

Purchase consideration
Pilgrim’s Pride Class A common stock 25,359 shares at $12.87 per share		326,369
Secured financings, net (including $8,200 for transaction costs)		93,773
9⁵/8% Senior Notes due 2011		103,500
10.5% Subordinated notes		100,000
Transaction costs incurred at June 28, 2003		1,800

Total consideration		625,441

Purchase price adjustment	$	34,293

The Company expects that substantially all of this adjustment will be included to adjust the basis of property, plant and equipment.

As discussed above, the purchase price will vary based on the adjusted net book value of the ConAgra chicken division and the price and trading volumes of our common stock up to the closing date of the acquisition.

Index to Financial Statements

(E)

Represents adjustments to long term debt and interest expense to consider the following attributes of the acquisition of the ConAgra chicken division;

Elimination of the corporate allocation: finance charge previously allocated by ConAgra Foods.

ii.

Increase in long-term debt resulting from the issuance of 9 ⁵/8% Senior Notes due 2011.

iii.

Increase in long-term debt resulting from the anticipated issuance of 10.5% subordinated notes to ConAgra Foods as payment for a portion of the purchase price.

iv.

Increase in long-term debt resulting from the issuance of $80.0 million in senior notes from an insurance company having an interest rate equal to United States treasury rates plus 2.6% due in 2014.

Increase in long-term debt resulting from the issuance of $20.0 million in senior notes having an interest rate equal to United States treasury rates plus 2.6%; due in 2010.

vi.

Reduction in outstanding borrowings under our revolving term borrowing facility by $6.2 million from the proceeds of the issuance of our 9⁵/8% Senior Notes due 2011 in excess of amounts applied to the purchase price of the ConAgra chicken division.

vii.

Consideration of the 1% guarantee fee paid to the company’s major stockholder, for his guarantees on the secured debt described in iii. and iv. above.

(F)

Represents the adjustment to estimated income tax expense as a result of the ConAgra chicken division acquisition and the pro forma adjustments.

(G)

Represents the adjustment to depreciation expense based on the fair value preliminarily assigned to property, plant and equipment. On average, the useful life assigned to the property, plant and equipment is assumed to be 10 years.

(H)

In connection with the stock purchase agreement, Pilgrim’s Pride will execute supply agreements under which Pilgrim’s Pride will continue to provide poultry to the other divisions of ConAgra Foods. Historically, the intercompany transfer of certain products was done at values that approximated cost. The supply agreements with ConAgra Foods have two primary sales provisions, summarized as follows:

•

A pricing structure that covers a specific plant, which is substantially dedicated to producing chicken for a ConAgra Foods facility (Specific Plant Pricing Structure), will sell products to ConAgra Foods on a cost plus a specified cent per pound mark-up. During the year ended May 25, 2003, approximately 53% of the pounds sold to other ConAgra Foods operations would have been produced under the Specific Plant Pricing Structure.

•

A pricing structure that generally covers all other sales to ConAgra Foods facilities (All Other Pricing Structure) specifies sales price based on a negotiated periodic adjustment to the representative thirteen-week average of a market-based index. During the year ended May 25, 2003, approximately 47% of the pounds sold to other ConAgra Foods operations would have been produced under the All Other Pricing Structure.

A pro forma adjustment has been included to reflect the increase in net revenues that would result by applying the Specific Plant Pricing Structure to the historical pounds sold applicable to this structure. Although, no specific mark-up is specified in the All Other Pricing Structure the Company believes that the pricing that will result from the operation of these agreements will be at least as favorable as the Specific Plant Pricing Structure. As a result we estimate that the operation of the All Other Pricing Structure if applied on a pro forma basis to historical pounds sold would have increased net revenues and profits by at least an additional $4 million. This amount has not been included, as a pro forma adjustment because the provisions of the All Other Pricing Structure in the supply agreements do not indicate a contractual profit percentage.

Index to Financial Statements

SECURITY OWNERSHIP

The following table sets forth, as of October 17, 2003 (except as otherwise noted), certain information with respect to the beneficial ownership of Pilgrim’s Pride Class A common stock and Class B common stock by (a) each stockholder beneficially owning more than 5% of the outstanding Class A common stock or Class B common stock; (b) each director and certain executive officers of Pilgrim’s Pride who are stockholders of Pilgrim’s Pride; and (c) all executive officers and directors of Pilgrim’s Pride as a group.

Name of Beneficial Owner	Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership of Class A Common Stock	Percent of Class A Common Stock		Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership of Class B Common Stock	Percent of Class B Common Stock
Pilgrim Interests, Ltd. 110 South Texas Street Pittsburg, Texas 75686	7,372,692	54.5	%	14,745,385	53.5	%
Lonnie “Bo” Pilgrim^(a)(b). 110 South Texas Street Pittsburg, Texas 75686	8,422,809	62.3	%	16,928,316	61.4	%
Lonnie Ken Pilgrim^(a)(b)(c) 110 South Texas Street Pittsburg, Texas 75686	7,653,688	56.6	%	15,197,689	55.1	%
ConAgra Foods, Inc.^(d) One ConAgra Drive Omaha, Nebraska 68102	8,500,292	62.9	%	16,965,888	61.5	%
Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc.^(e) 1299 Ocean Avenue, 11th Floor Santa Monica, California 90401	—	—		2,095,400	7.6	%
Wellington Management Company, LLP ^(f) 75 State Street Boston, Massachusetts 02109	—	—		1,504,700	5.5	%
Clifford E. Butler^(b)	74,328		(g)	36,276		(g)
O.B. Goolsby, Jr.^(b)	3,784		(g)	16,222		(g)
Richard A. Cogdill^(b)	28,489		(g)	9,272		(g)
James G. Vetter, Jr.	975		(g)	2,450		(g)
Charles L. Black	500		(g)	—	—
Donald L. Wass, Ph.D.	150		(g)	300		(g)
All executive officers and directors as a group (11 persons)	8,751,645	64.7	%	17,326,368	62.8	%

(a)

Includes 7,372,692 shares of Class A common stock and 14,745,385 shares of Class B common stock held of record by Pilgrim Interests, Ltd., a partnership formed by Mr. Pilgrim’s family of which Lonnie “Bo” Pilgrim and Lonnie Ken Pilgrim are managing partners. Also includes 30,193 shares of Class A common stock and 60,387 shares of Class B common stock held of record by Pilgrim Family Trust I, an irrevocable trust dated June 16, 1987, for the benefit of Lonnie “Bo” Pilgrim’s surviving spouse and children, of which Lonnie Ken Pilgrim and Patty R. Pilgrim, Lonnie “Bo” Pilgrim’s wife, are co-trustees, and 30,193 shares of Class A common stock and 60,386 shares of Class B common stock held of record by Pilgrim Family Trust II, an irrevocable trust dated December 23, 1987, for the benefit of Lonnie “Bo” Pilgrim and his children, of which Lonnie “Bo” Pilgrim and Lonnie Ken Pilgrim are co-trustees. Also includes 22,671 shares of Class A common stock and 45,342 shares of Class B common stock held of record by PFCP, Ltd., a partnership of which Lonnie “Bo” Pilgrim is managing partner. Each of Lonnie “Bo” Pilgrim and Lonnie Ken Pilgrim disclaim beneficial ownership of the Pilgrim’s Pride Class A common stock and Class B common stock held by Pilgrim Interests, Ltd., except to the extent of their respective pecuniary interest therein.

Index to Financial Statements

(b)	Includes shares held in trust by the Pilgrim’s Pride 401(k) Salary Deferral Plan.

(c)

Includes 7,232 shares of Class A common stock and 6,465 shares of Class B common stock held by his wife. Also includes 28,160 shares of Class A common stock and 25,350 shares of Class B common stock held in two irrevocable trusts dated December 15, 1994 and October 31, 1989, of which Lonnie Ken Pilgrim is a co-trustee for the benefit of his children. Lonnie Ken Pilgrim disclaims any beneficial interest in the foregoing shares.

(d)

Represents shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock held of record by Pilgrim Interests, Ltd., Lonnie “Bo” Pilgrim and Lonnie Ken Pilgrim. ConAgra Foods, Inc. filed a Schedule 13D with respect to such shares as a result of the Share Voting Agreement entered into with such persons in connection with the ConAgra chicken division acquisition. See pages 51 through 52 above for a description of the Share Voting Agreement.

(e)

Based on information provided to Pilgrim’s Pride as of December 26, 2002, from Dimensional Fund Advisors Inc. (“Dimensional”). Dimensional, an investment advisor registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisors Act of 1940, furnishes investment advice to four investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, and serves as investment manager to certain other commingled group trusts and separate accounts. These investment companies, trusts and accounts are the “Funds.” In its role as investment advisor or manager, Dimensional possesses voting and/or investment power over the shares of the Pilgrim’s Pride Class A common stock and Class B common stock listed above that are owned by the Funds. All such shares are owned by the Funds. Dimensional disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares.

(f)

Based on information provided to Pilgrim’s Pride as of December 31, 2002, from Wellington Management Company, LLP (“Wellington”). Wellington is an investment advisor registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisors Act of 1940. In its role as investment advisor, Wellington possesses voting and/or investment power over the shares of the Pilgrim’s Pride Class A common stock and Class B common stock listed above that are owned by its clients.

(g)	Less than 1%.

NO DISSENTERS’ RIGHTS OF APPRAISAL

Under Delaware law, the holders of Pilgrim’s Pride Class A common stock and Class B common stock are not entitled to dissenters’ rights of appraisal in connection with this proposed reclassification of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock into a single class of common stock, the proposed stock issuance to ConAgra Foods, or our acquisition of the ConAgra chicken division.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Some of the statements contained in this proxy statement are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Although we believe the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve certain assumptions, risks and uncertainties, and we can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors that are more fully described in the annual reports and quarterly reports we have filed with the SEC that are incorporated by reference in this proxy statement. Management cautions against putting undue reliance on forward-looking statements or projecting any future results based on such statements or present or prior earnings levels. All forward-looking statements in this proxy statement are qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained in this section and elsewhere in this proxy statement and in the documents we incorporate by reference in this proxy statement.

Index to Financial Statements

STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 2004 ANNUAL MEETING

Under our amended and restated corporate bylaws, a stockholder was required to give our Secretary written notice, at our principal executive offices, of its intent to present a proposal at our 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders by October 1, 2003, but not before May 5, 2003. Additionally, in order for stockholder proposals which are submitted pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, to be considered by us for inclusion in our proxy materials for the 2004 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, they were required to be received by our Secretary at our executive offices no later than the close of business on September 8, 2003.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You can read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SEC’s public reference room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. You can obtain information about the operation of the SEC’s public reference room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains a web site that contains information we file electronically with the SEC, which you can access over the Internet at www.sec.gov. Our electronic SEC filings are also available through our website at www.pilgrimspride.com. Information contained on the Pilgrim’s Pride website is not incorporated into this proxy statement and does not constitute a part of this proxy statement. You can also obtain information about us at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.

Statements contained in this proxy statement regarding the contents of any contract or other document are not necessarily complete and each such statement is qualified in its entirety by reference to such contract or other document filed as an exhibit with the SEC.

This proxy statement does not constitute the solicitation of a proxy in any jurisdiction to or from any person to whom or from whom it is unlawful to make such proxy solicitation in such jurisdiction. You should rely only on the information we have provided to vote your shares at the special meeting. We have not authorized any person to provide information other than that provided in this proxy statement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. This proxy statement is dated November 3, 2003. You should not assume that the information in this proxy statement is accurate as of any date other than that date or that any information contained in any document we have incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document incorporated by reference, and the mailing of this proxy statement to stockholders does not create any implication to the contrary.

Index to Financial Statements

Index to Financial Statements

the ConAgra Foods Chicken Business

(A Division of ConAgra Foods, Inc.)


Unaudited Combined Financial Statements:

Combined Balance Sheets at August 24, 2003 and May 25, 2003		F-2

Combined Statements of Earnings for the thirteen weeks ended August 24, 2003 and August 25, 2002		F-3

Combined Statements of Cash Flows for the thirteen weeks ended August 24, 2003 and August 25, 2002		F-4

Notes to Combined Financial Statements		F-5

Audited Combined Financial Statements:

Independent Auditors’ Report		F-9

Combined Balance Sheets at May 25, 2003 and May 26, 2002		F-10

Combined Statements of Earnings for the fiscal years ended May 25, 2003, May 26, 2002 and May 27, 2001		F-11

Combined Statements of Stockholder’s Net Investment and Advances for the fiscal years ended May 25, 2003, May 26, 2002 and May 27, 2001		F-12

Combined Statements of Cash Flows for the fiscal years ended May 25, 2003, May 26, 2002 and May 27, 2001		F-13

Notes to Combined Financial Statements		F-14

F-1

Index to Financial Statements

CONAGRA FOODS CHICKEN BUSINESS

(A Division of ConAgra Foods, Inc.)

COMBINED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in thousands)

(unaudited)

	August 24, 2003			May 25, 2003
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,707		$	6,324
Receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $3,816 and $2,443		112,979			105,595
Inventories		200,259			209,639
Other current assets		8,817			7,932

Total current assets		323,762			329,490

Property, plant and equipment		830,221			827,488
Less accumulated depreciation		(417,208	)		(407,654	)

Property, plant and equipment, net		413,013			419,834

Goodwill		36,344			36,344
Other assets		1,034			1,021

	$	774,153		$	786,689

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S NET INVESTMENT AND ADVANCES
Current liabilities
Current installments of long-term debt	$	120		$	400
Accounts payable		62,200			62,208
Deferred income taxes		13,362			13,882
Other accrued liabilities		74,220			71,213

Total current liabilities		149,902			147,703
Long-term debt, excluding current installments		16,641			16,635
Deferred income taxes		11,239			11,239
Other noncurrent liabilities		1,000			780
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholder’s net investment and advances		595,371			610,332

	$	774,153		$	786,689

See notes to the combined financial statements.

F-2

Index to Financial Statements

CONAGRA FOODS CHICKEN BUSINESS

(A Division of ConAgra Foods, Inc.)

COMBINED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

(Dollars in Thousands)

(unaudited)

	Thirteen weeks ended
	August 24, 2003			August 25, 2002
Net sales	$	607,016		$	606,505
Costs and expenses:
Cost of goods sold		582,747			564,932
Selling, general and administrative expenses		18,081			19,564
Corporate allocations: Selling, general and administrative expenses		5,275			4,775
Corporate allocations: Finance charges		8,810			6,385

Income (loss) before income taxes and cumulative effect of change in accounting		(7,897	)		10,849
Income tax expense (benefit)		(3,001	)		4,036
Cumulative effect of change in accounting		(106	)		—

Net income (loss)	$	(5,002	)	$	6,813

See notes to the combined financial statements.

F-3

Index to Financial Statements

CONAGRA FOODS CHICKEN BUSINESS

(A Division of ConAgra Foods, Inc.)

COMBINED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Dollars in thousands)

(unaudited)

	Thirteen weeks ended
	August 24, 2003			August 25, 2002
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$	(5,002	)	$	6,813
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation		15,276			15,268
Cumulative effect of change in accounting		106			—
Change in operating assets and liabilities		2,692			(13,506	)

Net cash flows from operating activities		13,072			8,575

Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property, plant and equipment		(8,406	)		(5,106	)

Net cash flows from investing activities		(8,406	)		(5,106	)

Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayment of long-term debt		(274	)		(593	)
Stockholder’s net investment and advances/(distributions)		(9,009	)		3,327

Net cash flows from financing activities		(9,283	)		2,734

Net change in cash and cash equivalents		(4,617	)		6,203
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		6,324			—

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$	1,707		$	6,203

See notes to the combined financial statements.

F-4

Index to Financial Statements

CONAGRA FOODS CHICKEN BUSINESS

(A Division of ConAgra Foods, Inc.)

NOTES TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1.	Accounting Policies

The unaudited financial information reflects all adjustments (consisting of normal and recurring adjustments), which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations, financial position, and cash flows for the periods presented. These combined financial statements should be read in conjunction with the combined financial statements and related notes of the ConAgra Foods Chicken Business (the “company”) included elsewhere in this Proxy Statement.

The results of operations for any quarter or a partial fiscal year period are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for other periods or the full fiscal year.

Stock-Based Compensation – The company has stock option plans approved by stockholders, which provide for granting of options to employees for purchase of common stock at prices equal to the fair market value at the time of grant. The company accounts for its employee stock option plans in accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees. Accordingly, no stock-based compensation expense is reflected in net income, as options granted under these plans have an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant.

The following table provides required pro forma information regarding net income assuming the company recognized expense for its employee stock options using the fair value method. The fair value of options was estimated at the date of the grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. Pro forma net income (loss) is as follows:

	Thirteen weeks ended
	August 24, 2003			August 25, 2002
Net income (loss), as reported	$	(5,002	)	$	6,813
Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects		(169	)		(169	)