UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

For the transition period from _________to________

 

001-14704

(Commission File Number)

______________

TYSON FOODS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

______________

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.            Yes x      No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No x.

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of December 30, 2006.

 

 

 

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TYSON FOODS, INC.

INDEX

 

 

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

TYSON FOODS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(In millions, except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

 

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TYSON FOODS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(In millions, except per share data)

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

 

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TYSON FOODS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In millions)

(Unaudited)

 

See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.

 

 

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TYSON FOODS, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

 

BASIS OF PRESENTATION

 

The consolidated condensed financial statements have been prepared by Tyson Foods, Inc. (the Company). Certain information and accounting policies and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. Although management of the Company believes the disclosures contained herein are adequate to make the information presented not misleading, these consolidated condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2006. Preparation of consolidated condensed financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions affect reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated condensed financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Management believes the accompanying consolidated condensed financial statements contain all adjustments, including normal recurring accruals and adjustments related to plant closings as disclosed in Note 2, necessary to present fairly its financial position as of December 30, 2006, and the results of its operations and cash flows for the three months ended December 30, 2006, and December 31, 2005. Results of operations and cash flows for the three months ended December 30, 2006, and December 31, 2005, are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the full year.

 

RECLASSIFICATION

 

In fiscal 2007, the Company reclassified an $11 million change in negative book cash balances for the quarter ended December 31, 2005, from Net Changes in Working Capital reported as Operating Activities to Financing Activities reported as Stock Options Exercised and Other in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows to conform with the current period presentation.

 

INVESTMENTS

 

The Company has investments in marketable debt securities. As of December 30, 2006, and September 30, 2006, $2 million and $0, respectively, were due in one year or less and were classified in Other Current Assets in the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets, and $109 million and $115 million, respectively, were classified in Other Assets in the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets, with maturities ranging from one to 32 years. The Company has determined its marketable debt securities are available-for-sale investments. These investments are reported at fair value based on quoted market prices as of the balance sheet date, with unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, recorded in other comprehensive income. The amortized cost of debt securities is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts to maturity. Such amortization is recorded in interest income. The cost of securities sold is based on the specific identification method. Realized gains and losses on sale of debt securities and declines in value judged to be other than temporary are recorded on a net basis in other income. Interest and dividends on securities classified as available-for-sale are recorded in interest income.

 

In the second quarter of fiscal 2006, the Company issued $1.0 billion of new 6.60% senior unsecured notes, which will mature on April 1, 2016. The Company’s short-term investment at September 30, 2006, included $750 million of proceeds from the new issuance and earnings of $20 million on the investment. These funds were on deposit in an interest bearing account with a trustee. In the first quarter of fiscal 2007, the Company used $750 million of the proceeds for repayment of its outstanding $750 million 7.25% Notes, which were due October 1, 2006, and the remaining proceeds were used for general corporate purposes.

 

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RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

In June 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes,” an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (FIN 48). FIN 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006; therefore the Company expects to adopt FIN 48 at the beginning of fiscal 2008. The Company is in process of evaluating the potential impact of FIN 48.

 

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (SFAS No. 157). SFAS No. 157 provides guidance for using fair value to measure assets and liabilities. This standard also responds to investors' requests for expanded information about the extent to which companies measure assets and liabilities at fair value, the information used to measure fair value and the effect of fair value measurements on earnings. SFAS No. 157 applies whenever other standards require (or permit) assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value. The standard does not expand the use of fair value in any new circumstances. SFAS No. 157 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years; therefore, the Company expects to adopt SFAS No. 157 at the beginning of fiscal 2009. The Company is in process of evaluating the potential impact of SFAS No. 157.

 

In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, an amendment of FASB Statements No. 87, 88, 106, and 132(R)” (SFAS No. 158). SFAS No. 158 requires companies to recognize the funded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan as an asset or liability in its consolidated balance sheet and to recognize changes in funded status in the year in which the changes occur through other comprehensive income. This standard also requires companies to measure the funded status of a plan as of the date of its annual consolidated balance sheet, with limited exceptions. SFAS No. 158 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2006; therefore, the Company expects to adopt SFAS No. 158 at the end of fiscal 2007. Based on the information available at December 30, 2006, the Company expects an increase in assets of $6 million, a decrease in liabilities of $9 million, an increase in deferred income taxes payable of $6 million and an increase of $9 million to accumulated other comprehensive income when it adopts SFAS No. 158.

 

In September 2006, the Securities and Exchange Commission staff published Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, “Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements” (SAB 108). SAB 108 addresses quantifying the financial statement effects of misstatements, specifically, how the effects of prior year uncorrected errors must be considered in quantifying misstatements in the current year financial statements. SAB 108 is effective for fiscal years ending after November 15, 2006; therefore, the Company expects to adopt SAB 108 at the end of fiscal 2007. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the potential impact of SAB 108.

 

 

In July 2006, the Company announced its decision to implement a $200 million Cost Management Initiative as part of a strategy to return to profitability. The cost reductions include staffing costs, consulting and professional fees, sales and marketing costs and other expenses. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006, the Company recorded charges of approximately $9 million for employee termination benefits resulting from the termination of approximately 400 employees. Of these charges, $4 million, $3 million, $1 million and $1 million were included, respectively, in the Chicken, Beef, Pork and Prepared Foods segments’ Operating Income and included in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income in Other Charges. In the first quarter of fiscal 2007, the Company recorded an additional $1 million for employee termination benefits. Of these charges, $0.5 million was included in both the Chicken and Beef segments’ Operating Income and included in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income in Other Charges. As of December 30, 2006, approximately $6 million of employee termination benefits had been paid. Employee termination benefits are expected to be paid through September 2007. No material adjustments to the accrual are anticipated at this time.

 

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The Company purchases certain commodities, such as grains, livestock and natural gas, in the course of normal operations. As part of the Company’s commodity risk management activities, the Company uses derivative financial instruments, primarily futures and swaps, to reduce its exposure to various market risks related to these purchases. Contract terms of a financial instrument qualifying as a hedge instrument closely mirror those of the hedged item, providing a high degree of risk reduction and correlation. Contracts designated and highly effective at meeting the risk reduction and correlation criteria are recorded using hedge accounting. If a derivative instrument is a hedge, changes in the fair value of the instrument will be offset either against the change in fair value of the hedged assets, liabilities or firm commitments through earnings or recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. The ineffective portion of an instrument’s change in fair value will be immediately recognized in earnings as a component of cost of sales.

 

The Company had derivative related balances of $35 million and $11 million recorded in other current assets at December 30, 2006, and September 30, 2006, respectively, and $13 million and $23 million in other current liabilities at December 30, 2006, and September 30, 2006, respectively.

 

Cash flow hedges: The Company uses derivatives to moderate the financial and commodity market risks of its business operations. Derivative products, such as futures and option contracts, are considered to be a hedge against changes in the amount of future cash flows related to commodities procurement. The Company also enters into interest rate swap agreements to adjust the proportion of total long-term debt and leveraged equipment loans subject to variable interest rates. Under these interest rate swaps, the Company agrees to pay a fixed rate of interest on a notional principal amount and to receive in return an amount equal to a specified variable rate of interest for the same notional principal amount. These interest rate swaps are considered to be a hedge against changes in the amount of future cash flows associated with the Company’s variable rate interest payments. The fair value of the interest rate swap agreements was not significant at December 30, 2006.

 

The effective portion of the cumulative gain or loss on the derivative instrument is reported as a component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) in Shareholders’ Equity and recognized into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings (for grain commodity hedges, when the chickens that consumed the hedged grain are sold). The remaining cumulative gain or loss on the derivative instrument in excess of the cumulative change in the present value of the future cash flows of the hedged item, if any, is recognized in earnings during the period of change. Ineffectiveness related to the Company’s cash flow hedges was not significant during the three months ended December 30, 2006, and December 31, 2005.

 

Derivative products related to grain procurement, such as futures and option contracts that meet the criteria for hedge accounting, are considered cash flow hedges, as they hedge against changes in the amount of future cash flows related to commodities procurement. The Company does not purchase derivative products related to grain procurement in excess of its physical grain consumption requirements. The Company’s grain procurement hedging activities are for the grain commodity purchase price only and do not hedge other components of grain cost such as basis differential and freight costs. The after tax gains, recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income at December 30, 2006, related to cash flow hedges, were $20 million. These gains will be recognized within the next 12 months. Of these gains, the after tax portion resulting from the Company’s open mark-to-market hedge positions was $8 million as of December 30, 2006. The Company generally does not hedge cash flows related to commodities beyond 12 months.

 

Fair value hedges: The Company designates certain futures contracts as fair value hedges of firm commitments to purchase market hogs for slaughter and natural gas for the operation of its plants. From time to time, the Company also enters into foreign currency forward contracts to hedge changes in fair value of receivables and purchase commitments arising from changes in the exchange rates of foreign currencies; however, the fair value of the foreign exchange contracts was not significant as of December 30, 2006. The changes in the fair value of a derivative highly effective and that is designated and qualifies as a fair value hedge, along with the gain or loss on the hedged asset or liability attributable to the hedged risk (including gains or losses on firm commitments), are recorded in current period earnings. Ineffectiveness results when the change in the fair value of the hedge instrument differs from the change in fair value of the hedged item. Ineffectiveness related to the Company’s fair value hedges was not significant during the three months ended December 30, 2006, and December 31, 2005.

 

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During fiscal 2006, the Company discontinued the use of hedge accounting for certain financial instruments in place to hedge forward cattle purchases. Hedge accounting was discontinued to provide a natural offset to the gains and losses resulting from the Company’s derivatives tied to its forward fixed price sales of boxed beef, as this activity does not qualify for hedge accounting.

 

Undesignated positions: The Company holds positions as part of its risk management activities, primarily certain grains, livestock and natural gas futures, for which it does not apply hedge accounting, but instead marks these positions to fair value through earnings at each reporting date. Changes in market value of derivatives used in the Company’s risk management activities surrounding inventories on hand or anticipated purchases of inventories or supplies are recorded in cost of sales. Changes in market value of derivatives used in the Company’s risk management activities surrounding forward sales contracts are recorded in sales. The Company generally does not enter into undesignated positions beyond 18 months. The Company recognized pretax net gains of approximately $41 million and $2 million in cost of sales for the three months ended December 30, 2006, and December 31, 2005, respectively, related to grain positions for which it did not apply hedge accounting.

 

The Company enters into certain forward sales of boxed beef and boxed pork and forward purchases of cattle at fixed prices. The fixed price sales contracts lock in the proceeds from a sale in the future and the fixed cattle purchases lock in the cost of raw material in the future, although the cost of the livestock and the related boxed beef and pork market prices at the time of the sale or purchase will vary from this fixed price. Therefore, as fixed forward sales and forward purchases of cattle are entered into, the Company also enters into the appropriate number of livestock futures positions. Changes in market value of the open livestock futures positions are marked to market and reported in earnings at each reporting date, even though the economic impact of the Company’s fixed prices being above or below the market price is only realized at the time of sale or purchase. In connection with these livestock futures, the Company recorded realized and unrealized net losses of $5 million for the three months ended December 30, 2006, which included an unrealized pretax loss on open mark-to-market futures positions of approximately $7 million as of December 30, 2006. Net realized and unrealized gains and losses recorded for the three months ended December 31, 2005, related to livestock futures positions were not significant.

 

 

Processed products, livestock (excluding breeders) and supplies and other are valued at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or market. Livestock includes live cattle, chicken and swine. Cost includes purchased raw materials, live purchase costs, growout costs (primarily feed, contract grower pay and catch and haul costs), labor and manufacturing and production overhead, which are related to the purchase and production of inventories. Live chicken consists of broilers and breeders. Breeders are stated at cost less amortization. The costs associated with breeders, including breeder chicks, feed and medicine, are accumulated up to the production stage and amortized to broiler inventory over the productive life of the flock using a standard unit of production. Total inventory consists of the following (in millions):

 

 

 

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The major categories of property, plant and equipment and accumulated depreciation, at cost, are as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

Other current liabilities are as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

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The major components of long-term debt are as follows (in millions):

 

 

The Company has an unsecured revolving credit facility, which expires in September 2010, totaling $1.0 billion that supports the Company’s short-term funding needs and letters of credit. On July 27, 2006, the unsecured revolving credit facility was amended to allow for maximum availability under the revolving credit facility of 50% of inventory, reduced by letters of credit issued and amounts outstanding under its term loan. The reduction of the availability is scheduled to lapse in the third quarter of fiscal 2007 and return to $1.0 billion less outstanding letters of credit. At December 30, 2006, the Company had outstanding letters of credit totaling approximately $299 million issued primarily in support of workers’ compensation insurance programs and derivative activities. There were no draw downs under these letters of credit at December 30, 2006. At December 30, 2006, and September 30, 2006, there were no amounts drawn under the revolving credit facilities. The amount available as of December 30, 2006, was $529 million.

 

Lakeside Farm Industries, Ltd. (Lakeside), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, has an unsecured three-year term agreement (Lakeside Term Loan) with the principal balance due September 2008. The agreement provides for interest rates ranging from LIBOR plus 0.4 percent to LIBOR plus one percent depending on the Company’s debt rating. Interest payments are made at least quarterly. In the first quarter of fiscal 2007, the Company paid down the Lakeside Term Loan by $150 million.

 

The Company has a receivables purchase agreement with three co-purchasers to sell up to $750 million of trade receivables consisting of $375 million expiring in August 2007 and $375 million expiring in August 2009. The receivables purchase agreement has been accounted for as a borrowing and has an interest rate based on commercial paper issued by the co-purchasers. Under this agreement, substantially all of the Company’s accounts receivable are sold to a special purpose entity, Tyson Receivables Corporation (TRC), which is a wholly-owned consolidated subsidiary of the Company. TRC has its own creditors entitled to be satisfied out of all of the assets of TRC prior to any value becoming available to the Company as TRC’s equity holder. At December 30, 2006, there was $25.5 million outstanding under the receivables purchase agreement expiring in August 2007 and $25.5 million under the agreement expiring in August 2009, while at September 30, 2006, there was $79.5 million outstanding under the receivables purchase agreement expiring in August 2007 and $79.5 under the agreement expiring in August 2009.

 

In the second quarter of fiscal 2006, the Company issued $1.0 billion of new senior unsecured notes, which will mature on April 1, 2016 (2016 Notes). The 2016 Notes carried an initial 6.60% interest rate, with interest payments due semi-annually on April 1 and

 

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October 1. In the first quarter of fiscal 2007, the Company used $750 million of the proceeds for the repayment of its outstanding $750 million 7.25% Notes due October 1, 2006.

 

As previously disclosed in the Company’s 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K (Form 10-K), on July 24, 2006, Moody’s Investors Services, Inc. (Moody’s) downgraded the Company’s credit rating applicable to its 2016 Notes from “Baa3” to “Ba1.” This downgrade increased the interest rate on the 2016 Notes from 6.60% to 6.85%, effective on the first day of the interest period during which the rating change required an adjustment to the interest rate (i.e., the issuance of the 2016 Notes). This downgrade will increase annual interest expense and related fees by approximately $5 million, including $2.5 million related to the 2016 Notes. Additionally, on July 31, 2006, Standard & Poor’s (S&P) downgraded the Company’s credit rating applicable to the 2016 Notes from “BBB” to “BBB-.” This downgrade did not result in an increase in the interest rate on the 2016 Notes, nor did it result in an increase in interest expense or related fees for other debt.

 

Also as disclosed in the Form 10-K, on September 18, 2006, TFM, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, guaranteed the 2016 Notes. This guarantee does not extend to the other unsecured senior notes of the Company. Moody’s and S&P did not change the July 2006 credit ratings applicable to the 2016 Notes. However, Moody’s issued a new credit rating of “Ba2,” and S&P issued a new credit rating of “BB+” related to the other unsecured senior notes not guaranteed by TFM. These new ratings did not impact the interest rate applicable to the 2016 Notes. However, other interest expense and related fees for other debt will increase by less than $3 million per year.

 

The revolving credit facility, senior notes, term loan and accounts receivable securitization contain various covenants, the most restrictive of which contain maximum allowed leverage ratios and a minimum required interest coverage ratio.

 

On July 27, 2006, the Company entered into a third amendment to its five-year credit revolving facility and the three-year Lakeside Term Loan. These amendments modified the minimum required interest coverage ratio, temporarily suspended the maximum allowed leverage ratios and implemented temporary minimum consolidated EBITDA requirements. The Company was in compliance with all covenants at December 30, 2006.

 

The Company guarantees debt of outside third parties, which include a lease and grower loans, all of which are substantially collateralized by the underlying assets. Terms of the underlying debt range from one to ten years and the maximum potential amount of future payments as of December 30, 2006, was $79 million. The Company also maintains operating leases for various types of equipment, some of which contain residual value guarantees for the market value for assets at the end of the term of the lease. The terms of the lease maturities range from one to seven years. The maximum potential amount of the residual value guarantees is approximately $96 million, of which, approximately $23 million would be recoverable through various recourse provisions and an undeterminable recoverable amount based on the fair market value of the underlying leased assets. The likelihood of payments under these guarantees is not considered to be probable. At December 30, 2006, and September 30, 2006, no liabilities for guarantees were recorded.

 

The Company has fully and unconditionally guaranteed $374 million of senior notes issued by TFM, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. Additionally, the Company has fully and unconditionally guaranteed $195 million related to the Lakeside Term Loan.

 

TFM, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, has fully and unconditionally guaranteed the Company’s 2016 Notes. The following condensed consolidating financial information is provided for the Company, as issuer, and for TFM, as guarantor, as an alternative to providing separate financial statements for the guarantor.

 

The following financial information presents condensed consolidating financial statements, which include Tyson Foods, Inc. (TFI Parent); Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. (TFM Parent); the Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries on a combined basis; the elimination entries necessary to consolidate the TFI Parent, TFM Parent and the Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries; and Tyson Foods, Inc. on a consolidated basis.

 

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Listed below are certain claims made against the Company and its subsidiaries. In the Company’s opinion, it has made appropriate and adequate reserves, accruals and disclosures where necessary and the Company believes the probability of a material loss beyond the amounts accrued to be remote; however, the ultimate liability for these matters is uncertain, and if accruals and reserves are not adequate, an adverse outcome could have a material effect on the consolidated financial condition or results of operations of the Company. The Company believes it has substantial defenses to the claims made and intends to vigorously defend these cases.

 

Wage and Hour/ Labor Matters:  In 2000, the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) conducted an industry-wide investigation of poultry producers, including the Company, to ascertain compliance with various wage and hour issues. As part of this investigation, the DOL inspected 14 of the Company's processing facilities. On May 9, 2002, a civil complaint was filed against the Company in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, Elaine L. Chao, Secretary of Labor, United States Department of Labor v. Tyson Foods, Inc. The complaint alleges the Company violated the overtime provisions of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) at the Company's chicken-processing facility in Blountsville, Alabama. The complaint does not contain a definite statement of what acts constituted alleged violations of the statute, although the Secretary of Labor indicated in discovery the case seeks to require the Company to compensate all hourly chicken processing workers for pre- and post-shift clothes changing, washing and related activities and for one of two unpaid 30-minute meal periods. The Secretary of Labor seeks unspecified back wages for all employees at the Blountsville facility for a period of two years prior to the date of the filing of the complaint, an additional amount in unspecified liquidated damages and an injunction against future violations at that facility and all other chicken processing facilities operated by the Company. Although no date has been set, the trial of this matter is likely to occur during fiscal 2007.

 

Several private lawsuits are pending against the Company alleging that Tyson failed to compensate poultry plant employees for all hours worked, including overtime compensation, in violation of the FLSA. These lawsuits include M.H. Fox, et al. v. Tyson Foods, Inc. (Fox), filed on June 22, 1999 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, and De Asencio v. Tyson Foods, Inc. (DeAsencio), filed on August 22, 2000 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Each of these matters involves similar allegations that employees should be paid for the time it takes to engage in pre- and post-shift activities such as changing into and out of protective and sanitary clothing, obtaining clothing and walking to and from the changing area, work areas and break areas. Plaintiffs seek or have sought to act as class representatives on behalf of all current and former employees who were allegedly not paid for time worked. Plaintiffs seek back wages, liquidated damages, pre- and post-judgment interest, and attorneys’ fees. In Fox, the District Court denied class certification on November 16, 2006 and ordered the cases of the ten named plaintiffs in the matter to proceed individually in the home jurisdictions of the named plaintiffs. In DeAsencio, plaintiffs appealed a jury verdict and final judgment entered in the Company’s favor on June 22, 2006 in the District Court. The appeal has been fully briefed and the parties are awaiting oral argument and, thereafter, a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

 

On November 21, 2002, a lawsuit titled Emily D. Jordan, et al. v. IBP, inc. and Tyson Foods, Inc., was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. Ten current and former hourly employees of Tyson Fresh Meat’s (TFM) case-ready facility in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, filed a complaint claiming the defendants violated the overtime provisions of the FLSA by failing to pay employees for all hours worked. The suit further alleges employees should be paid for the time it takes to collect, assemble and put on, take off and wash their health, safety and production gear at the beginning and end of their shifts and during their meal period. Finally, the suit alleges the Company deducts 30 minutes per day from employees' paychecks regardless of whether employees obtain a full 30-minute period for their meal. Plaintiffs seek a declaration the defendants did not comply with the FLSA, and an award for an unspecified amount of back pay compensation and benefits, unpaid entitlements, liquidated damages, prejudgment and post-judgment interest, attorney fees and costs. On November 17, 2003, the District Court conditionally certified a collective action based on clothes changing and washing activities and unpaid production work during meal periods, since the plant operations began in April 2001. Approximately 573 current and former employees have opted into the class. Trial is set to begin on February 28, 2008.

 

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Components of net periodic benefit cost for the pension and other postretirement benefit plans recognized in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income were as follows (in millions):

 

 

 

The effective tax rate for the first quarter of fiscal 2007 was 33.4%, as compared to 34.9% for the first quarter of fiscal 2006. The effective rate for the first quarter of fiscal 2007 was reduced by such items as the Extraterritorial Income Exclusion (ETI) benefit, Domestic Production Deduction (DPD) and general business credits, and was increased by certain nondeductible expense items. On October 22, 2004, the President signed into law the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (the AJC Act). This law provides for repeal of the ETI deduction and replacement with a DPD. Phase out of the ETI deduction for fiscal 2007 will allow the Company to take 60% of the prior law deduction for the first quarter of fiscal 2007 and no deduction for the remainder of the year. In addition, the Company’s production income qualifies for the DPD which will be phased in through fiscal 2011 and provides for a deduction of between 3% and 9% of qualifying domestic production income. For fiscal 2007, the deduction will be 3% of qualified income. The first quarter of fiscal 2007 was the first quarter the Company has recognized a benefit relating to the DPD. On December 20, 2006, the President signed into law the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 which provides for the retroactive extension of certain general business credits that expired on December 31, 2005. The Company recognized $4 million of credits relating to fiscal 2006 in the first quarter of fiscal 2007 since the retroactive extension took place in the current quarter.

 

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The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share (in millions, except per share data):