Pilgrim’s Pride makes bid for Goldkist

The acquisition, if completed, would boost Pilgrim’s Pride to a total weekly output of 43 million birds/week, contributing to 79,000 metric tons of processed product or 25% of the US market. This would exceed the current leader, Tyson Foods which holds a dominant 23% market share of 68,000 metric tons/week derived from 42 million birds processed in 39 plants.

The offer signed by Lonnie “Bo” Pilgrim, Chairman of Pilgrim’s Pride, addressed to the Board of Gold Kist, outlined strategic advantages from the acquisition including expanded geographic reach, enhancing customer service, economies of scale and providing security for the 3,200 Gold Kist contractors and 16,000 employees.

Pilgrim’s Pride has extensive experience in acquisition and successful integration of producing assets following purchase of WLR Foods in 2001 and the ConAgra broiler operations in 2003/04.

Gold Kist currently produces 14 million broilers with an average live weight of 2.55 kg each week and is the third largest integrator in the USA with a market share of 8.7%, based on the output from operations in Georgia, Alabama, Florida, and the Carolinas. As of July 1st 2006, Gold Kist had a total asset value of $890 million with total liabilities of $456 million including long term debt of $142 million.

Pilgrim’s Pride is the second largest broiler producer in both the USA and in Mexico, with a US volume of 29 million birds/week with an average live weight of 2.26 kg representing 16% of national production.