SEC Company Response from CONAGRA BRANDS INC. (CAG) (CIK 0000023217) (CAG) — Mar 4, 2005
CONAGRA BRANDS INC. (CAG) (CIK 0000023217)
Date: March 4, 2005 · CIK: 0000023217 · Accession: 0000900440-05-000009
AI Filing Summary & Sentiment
Referenced dates: February 7, 2005
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MCGRATH NORTH MULLIN & KRATZ, PC LLO
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
SUITE 3700 FIRST NATIONAL TOWER
1601 DODGE STREET, OMAHA, NEBRASKA 68102
402-341-3070
FAX: 402-341-0216
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JOHN E. NORTH EDWARD G. WARIN KEITH P. LARSEN VICKI L. COLWELL
DEAN G. KRATZ JAMES S. JANSEN PATRICK C. STEPHENSON MICHELLE M. DOUGLAS
DAVID L. HEFFLINGER J. TERRY MACNAMARA PATRICK E. BROOKHOUSER, JR. JASON D. BENSON
JAMES P. FITZGERALD MICHAEL G. MULLIN DANIEL C. PAPE KATHRYN D. FOLTS
LEO A. KNOWLES NICHOLAS K. NIEMANN MICHAEL J. WEAVER, JR. MICHAEL T. EVERSDEN
TERRENCE D. O'HARE PATRICK J.BARRETT JAMES M. SULENTIC BRIAN T McKERNAN
JOHN F. THOMAS STEVEN F. CASE THOMAS J. KELLEY MICHAELA A. MESSENGER
JEFFREY J. PIRRUCCELLO JAMES G. POWERS TERRY BAUMAN WHITE AMY L. THOMAS
JOHN P. PASSARELLI RONALD L. COMES WILLIAM J. BIRKEL KAREN P. DOUGLAS
LEE H. HAMANN GARY E. WENCE JOHN J. SCHIRGER THOMAS O. KELLEY
RANDAL M.LIMBECK DAVID G. ANDERSON PATRICK J. STRAKA LISA M.KULHAVY
MARK E. ENENBACH DAVID H. ROE AARON A. CLARK ERIC W.TIRITILLI
ROGER J. MILLER ROBERT G. DAILEY PATRICK R. McGILL NATHAN L MAILANDER
TIMOTHY J.PUGH DOUGLAS E. QUINN W. GREGORY O'KIEF KAREN E. I. ANDERSON
ROBERT D. MULLIN, JR. J. SCOTT PAUL CHRISTOPHER M. BIKUS
JAMES D. WEGNER JAMES J. FROST DANIEL E. BLAKELY
THOMAS C. McGOWAN GUY LAWSON THOMAS H. McLEAY
A. STEVENSON BOGUE JOHN A. ANDREASEN JENNIFER J. STRONG
WILLIAM E. HARGENS SANDRA D. MORAR KRISTOPHER J. COVI OF COUNSEL
ROGER W. WELLS DAVID C. NELSON JEFFREY S. PENNE DONALD B. daPARMA
ROBERT J. BOTHE JAMES J. NIEMEIER DIMITER V. TODOROV RODNEY SHKOLNICK
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March 4, 2005
Via EDGAR
H. Roger Schwall
Division of Corporation Finance
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549
RE: ConAgra Foods, Inc.
Form 10-K for the year ended May 30, 2004
Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended November 28, 2004
File number 1-7275
Dear Mr. Schwall:
This letter sets forth ConAgra Foods' responses with respect to the
staff's comment letter dated February 7, 2005 on ConAgra Foods' Form 10-K for
the year ended May 30, 2004 and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended November 28,
2004. The numbered responses in this letter correspond to the numbered
paragraphs of the comment letter. We have also included the comment along with
ConAgra Foods' response for each comment to aid the review process.
1. FORM 10-K, YEAR ENDED MAY 30, 2004
Management's Discussion & Analysis, Page 54
1. Please expand MD&A, including Critical Accounting Policies, to clearly
provide the following information with respect to your pension plans:
(a) The significant assumptions and estimates used to account for
pension plans and how those assumptions are determined; for
example, the method (arithmetic/simple averaging or
geometric/compound averaging) and source of return data used to
determine the expected return assumption and the assumptions,
estimates and data sources used to determine the discount rate;
(b) The effect the pension plans had on results of operations, cash
flow and liquidity, including the total amount of expected
pension returns included in earnings and the amount of cash
outflows used to fund the pension plan;
(c) Any expected change in pension trends, including known changes in
the expected return assumption and discount rate to be used
during the next year and the reasonably likely impact of the
known change in assumption on future results of operation and
cash flows;
(d) The amount of current unrecognized losses on pension assets and
the estimated effect of those losses on future pension expense;
and
(e) A sensitivity analysis that expresses the potential change in
expected pension returns that would result from hypothetical
changes to pension assumptions and estimates.
Response:
The company believes that its disclosures regarding its accounting policies for
pension plans in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year 2004 were
adequate to provide an investor with a reasonable understanding of the
significant judgments used by management in its determination of pension
expense. However, in response to the Staff's comments, the company proposes to
expand its disclosures regarding pension plans under Critical Accounting
Policies beginning with the company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
fiscal quarter ended February 27, 2005, as follows. Certain amounts in the
proposed expanded disclosures were not finalized as of the date of this letter
and have been left blank for purposes of this letter only.
In addition, if the company, prior to the filing of its third quarter Form 10-Q,
determines the expected rate of return and discount rate assumptions to be used
in calculating the pension and postretirement expense for its next fiscal year
and the estimated impact of these assumptions on the company's results of
operations and cash flows, the company will also include this information in the
proposed disclosure.
"The company recognized net pension expense of $75.7 million, $84.4 million, and
$43.8 million respectively in fiscal years 2004, 2003 and 2002, which reflected
expected returns on plan assets of $127.1 million, $113.1 million and $136.0
million, respectively. The company contributed $65.8 million, $233.2 million and
$14.1 million to the company's pension plans in fiscal years 2004, 2003 and
2002, respectively.
One of the significant assumptions used to account for the company's pension
plans is the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets. In developing the
assumed long-term rate of return on plan assets for determining net periodic
pension cost, the company considers long-term historical returns (arithmetic
average) of the plan's investments, the asset allocation among types of
investments, estimated long-term returns by investment type from external
sources, and the current economic environment. Based on this information, the
company selected 7.75% for the long-term rate of return on plan assets for
fiscal year 2004 for its pension plans. The company has selected 7.75% for the
long-term rate of return on plan assets for determination of pension expense for
fiscal 2005. A 25 basis point increase/decrease in the company's expected
long-term rate of return assumption as of the beginning of fiscal 2005 would
decrease/increase net periodic pension cost for the company's pension plans by
approximately $4.3 million.
When calculating expected return on plan assets for pension plans, the company
uses a market-related value of assets that spreads asset gains and losses
(differences between actual return and expected return) over five years. As of
May 30, 2004, the amount of unrecognized losses on company pension plan assets
was $160 million. The amount of unrecognized losses will change each year as the
actual return on plan assets varies from the expected rate of return. Assuming
no further change in the unrecognized losses in future periods, these losses
would be recognized in future years resulting in an increase in net periodic
pension cost of $__ million in fiscal 2005.
Another significant assumption for pension plan accounting is the discount rate.
The company selects a discount rate each year for its plans based upon a
hypothetical bond portfolio for which the cash flows from coupons and maturities
match the year-by-year, projected benefit cash flows for the company's pension
plans. The hypothetical bond portfolio is comprised of high-quality fixed income
debt instruments (usually Moody's Aa) available at the measurement date. Based
on this information, the discount rates selected by the company for
determination of pension expense for the fiscal years ending May 30, 2004, May
25, 2003 and May 26, 2002 were 6.5%, 7.25% and 7.5%, respectively. The company
has selected a discount rate of 6.0% for determination of pension expense for
fiscal 2005. This decrease in the discount rate is expected to increase net
periodic pension cost by $___ but to result in no incremental company
contributions to the pension plans in fiscal 2005. A 25 basis point
increase/decrease in the company's discount rate assumption as of the beginning
of fiscal 2005 would decrease/increase net periodic pension cost for the
company's pension plans by $___.
The rate of compensation increase is another significant assumption used in the
development of accounting information for pension plans. The company determines
this assumption based on its long-term plans for compensation increases and
current economic conditions. Based on this information, the company selected
4.5% for fiscal year 2004 and 5.5% for fiscal years 2003 and 2002 as the rate of
compensation increase for its pension plans. The company has selected 4.5% for
the rate of compensation increase for determination of pension expense for
fiscal 2005. A 25 basis point increase/decrease in the company's rate of
compensation increase assumption as of the beginning of fiscal 2005 would
increase/decrease net periodic pension cost for the company's pension plans by
approximately $___.
The company also provides certain postretirement health care benefits and
accounts for the related plans in accordance with SFAS No. 106, "Employers'
Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other than Pensions." The postretirement
benefit cost and obligation are also dependent on the company's assumptions used
for the actuarially determined amounts. These assumptions include discount rates
(discussed above), health care cost trend rates, inflation rates, retirement
rates, mortality rates and other factors. The health care cost trend assumptions
are developed based on historical cost data, the near-term outlook and an
assessment of likely long-term trends. Assumed inflation rates are based on an
evaluation of external market indicators. Retirement and mortality rates are
based primarily on actual plan experience. The discount rate selected by the
company for determination of postretirement expense for fiscal year 2004 was
6.0%. The company has selected a discount rate of 6.0% for determination of
postretirement expense for fiscal 2005. A 25 basis point increase/decrease in
the company's discount rate assumption as of the beginning of fiscal 2005 would
decrease/increase net periodic postretirement cost for the company's plans by
$__. The company has assumed the initial year increase in cost of health care to
be 10%, with the trend rate decreasing to 5% by 2011. A one percentage point
change in assumed health care cost trend rates would have the following effect:
One Percent One Percent
Increase Decrease
(in millions)
Effect on total service and interest cost $ 4.0 $ (3.3)
Effect on postretirement benefit obligation 50.4 (42.5)
The company provides workers' compensation benefits to its employees. The
measurement of the liability for the company's cost of providing these benefits
is largely based upon actuarial analysis of costs. One significant assumption
made by the company is the discount rate used to calculate the present value of
its obligation. The discount rate used at May 30, 2004 was 6.0%. A 25 basis
point increase/decrease in the discount rate assumption would not have a
material impact on workers' compensation expense."
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES, PAGE 62
2. Expand your discussion of the cash generated from operating activities
to provide explanations of the underlying reasons for the changes in
your working capital accounts. Within your revised discussion you
should consider addressing whether the material line item changes are
indicative of a trend or are non-recurring in nature. Please refer to
FRC Section 501.13 for additional guidance.
Response:
In accordance with FRC Section 501.13, the company disclosed in its discussion
of liquidity and capital resources the decrease of $470 million in amounts sold
under its accounts receivable securitization program. This effectively explains
90% of the change in the company's accounts receivable balances. The company
believes the remaining changes in working capital accounts were not indicative
of significant trends or material non-recurring items, but rather normal
cyclical changes in inventory and accounts payable balances within the company's
industry. The company respectfully submits that it will continue to assess the
nature of changes in its working capital and to provide further details in
future filings of material changes in its working capital accounts which are
indicative of trends or are non-recurring.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES, PAGE 65
3. The disclosures of your critical accounting policies appear to be more
descriptive of the accounting policies utilized, rather than any
specific uncertainties underlying your estimates. These critical
accounting policies appear to have critical judgment and estimation
attributes, but the disclosures you provide do not sufficiently
address these attributes.
Please revise your disclosures to address the material implications of
the uncertainties that are associated with the methods, assumptions
and estimates underlying your critical accounting estimates.
Specifically, you should provide the following:
(a) An analysis of the uncertainties involved in applying the
principle and the variability that is reasonably likely to result
from its application.
(b) An analysis of how you arrived at the measure and how accurate
the estimate or underlying assumptions have been in the past.
(c) An analysis of your specific sensitivity to change based on
outcomes that are reasonably likely to occur and have a material
effect.
Response:
The company believes its existing disclosures in its Annual Report on Form 10-K
for fiscal year 2004 were appropriate to provide an investor with a reasonable
understanding of the significant judgments used by management in its
determination of its critical accounting estimates. However, in response to the
Staff's comments, the company proposes to expand the disclosure relating to
certain of its critical accounting policies beginning with the company's
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended February 27, 2005, as
follows:
Marketing Costs
The company spends approximately $2.8 billion on approximately 200,000
individual marketing programs annually with each prog