FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

12 Months Ended

Oct. 26, 2014

Note N

Fair Value Measurements

Pursuant to the provisions of ASC 820, the Company’s financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value on a recurring basis in the consolidated financial statements as of October 26, 2014, and October 27, 2013, and their level within the fair value hierarchy, are presented in the table below.

	Fair Value Measurements at October 26, 2014
		Quoted Prices in
	Fair Value at	Active Markets	Significant Other	Significant
	October 26,	for Identical	Observable	Unobservable
(in thousands)	2014	Assets (Level 1)	Inputs (Level 2)	Inputs (Level 3)
Assets at Fair Value:
Cash and cash equivalents(1)	$ 334,174	$ 334,174	$ –	$–
Other trading securities(2)	117,249	39,120	78,129	–
Commodity derivatives(3)	3,461	3,461	–	–
Total Assets at Fair Value	$ 454,884	$ 376,755	$ 78,129	$–
Liabilities at Fair Value:
Deferred compensation(2)	$ 54,809	$ 23,642	$ 31,167	$–
Total Liabilities at Fair Value	$ 54,809	$ 23,642	$ 31,167	$–

	Fair Value Measurements at October 27, 2013
		Quoted Prices in
	Fair Value at	Active Markets	Significant Other	Significant
	October 27,	for Identical	Observable	Unobservable
(in thousands)	2013	Assets (Level 1)	Inputs (Level 2)	Inputs (Level 3)
Assets at Fair Value:
Cash and cash equivalents(1)	$ 434,014	$ 434,014	$ –	$–
Other trading securities(2)	114,300	38,489	75,811	–
Commodity derivatives(3)	6,086	6,086	–	–
Total Assets at Fair Value	$ 554,400	$ 478,589	$ 75,811	$–
Liabilities at Fair Value:
Deferred compensation(2)	$ 52,771	$ 21,257	$ 31,514	$–
Total Liabilities at Fair Value	$ 52,771	$ 21,257	$ 31,514	$–

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of the financial assets and liabilities above:

(1)	The Company’s cash equivalents consist primarily of bank deposits, money market funds rated AAA, or other highly liquid investment accounts. As these investments have a maturity date of three months or less, the carrying value approximates fair value.

(2)	The Company holds trading securities as part of a rabbi trust to fund certain supplemental executive retirement plans and deferred income plans. The rabbi trust is included in other assets on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position and is valued based on the underlying fair value of each fund held by the trust. A majority of the funds held related to the supplemental executive retirement plans have been invested in fixed income funds managed by a third party. The declared rate on these funds is set based on a formula using the yield of the general account investment portfolio that supports the fund, adjusted for expenses and other charges. The rate is guaranteed for one year at issue, and may be reset annually on the policy anniversary, subject to a guaranteed minimum rate. As the value is based on adjusted market rates, and the fixed rate is only reset on an annual basis, these funds are classified as Level 2. The remaining funds held are also managed by a third party, and include equity securities, money market accounts, bond funds, or other portfolios for which there is an active quoted market. Therefore, these securities are classified as Level 1. The related deferred compensation liabilities are included in other long-term liabilities on the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position and are valued based on the underlying investment selections held in each participant’s account. Investment options generally mirror those funds held by the rabbi trust, for which there is an active quoted market. Therefore, these investment balances are classified as Level 1. The Company also offers a fixed rate investment option to participants. The rate earned on these investments is adjusted annually based on a specified percentage of the I.R.S. Applicable Federal Rates in effect and therefore these balances are classified as Level 2.

(3)	The Company’s commodity derivatives represent futures contracts used in its hedging or other programs to offset price fluctuations associated with purchases of corn and soybean meal, and to minimize the price risk assumed when forward priced contracts are offered to the Company’s commodity suppliers. The Company’s futures contracts for corn and soybean meal are traded on the Chicago Board of Trade, while futures contracts for lean hogs are traded on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. These are active markets with quoted prices available and therefore these contracts are classified as Level 1. All derivatives are reviewed for potential credit risk and risk of nonperformance. The Company nets the derivative assets and liabilities for each of its hedging programs, including cash collateral, when a master netting arrangement exists between the Company and the counterparty to the derivative contract. The net balance for each program is included in other current assets or accounts payable, as appropriate, in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. As of October 26, 2014, the Company has recognized the right to reclaim net cash collateral of $11.5 million from various counterparties (including $55.6 million of cash less $44.1 million of realized losses on closed positions). As of October 27, 2013, the Company had recognized the right to reclaim net cash collateral of $25.8 million from various counterparties (including $35.7 million of cash less $9.9 million of realized losses on closed positions).

The Company’s financial assets and liabilities also include accounts receivable, accounts payable, and other liabilities, for which carrying value approximates fair value. The Company does not carry its long-term debt at fair value in its Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. Based on borrowing rates available to the Company for long-term financing with similar terms and average maturities, the fair value of long-term debt, utilizing discounted cash flows (Level 2), was $273.8 million as of October 26, 2014, and $261.7 million as of October 27, 2013.

In accordance with the provisions of ASC 820, the Company also measures certain nonfinancial assets and liabilities at fair value that are recognized or disclosed on a nonrecurring basis (e.g. goodwill, intangible assets, and property, plant and equipment). During fiscal years 2014, 2013, and 2012, there were no material remeasurements of assets or liabilities at fair value on a nonrecurring basis subsequent to their initial recognition.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

+ References+ Details