Quarterlytics / Consumer Cyclical / Packaged Foods / Dean Foods Company

Dean Foods Company

df · NYSE Consumer Cyclical
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Ticker df
Exchange NYSE
Sector Consumer Cyclical
Industry Packaged Foods
Employees 10,000+
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FY2016 Annual Report · Dean Foods Company
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2016 Annual Report

Dear Fellow Stockholders:
There’s only one thing that excites me more than where Dean Foods is today, and that’s where 
we’re headed. This dynamic company has many opportunities ahead of it, and I’m humbled and 
excited to be the one privileged to lead Dean Foods into the future.

STRONG PROGRESS IN 2016 TO EXPAND INTO 2017
No one can deny our momentum in 2016. We ended the year with our stock trading near its 52-week high while 
we continued to return dividends to our shareholders. We invested in the business and took important steps to 
support our future success. In 2016, we: 

Invested in the 
DairyPure® and 
TruMoo® brands.  
We supported our 
power brands with 
category-leading 
advertising and built 
strategic marketing  
partnerships with the 
Olympics, DreamWorks 
Pictures and Oreo 
cookies to engage 
our consumers
and customers.

Launched new 
products.  
DairyPure Lactose 
Free and Caribou® 
(cid:38)(cid:32)(cid:34)(cid:33)(cid:3)(cid:32)(cid:44)(cid:411)(cid:34)(cid:34)(cid:3)(cid:52)(cid:34)(cid:47)(cid:34)(cid:3)
two new entries into 
the dairy case. Our 
lactose-free milk marks 
(cid:49)(cid:37)(cid:34)(cid:3)(cid:412)(cid:47)(cid:48)(cid:49)(cid:3)(cid:34)(cid:53)(cid:49)(cid:34)(cid:43)(cid:48)(cid:38)(cid:44)(cid:43)(cid:3)
of the DairyPure 
brand into adjacent 
and complementary 
categories while 
the Caribou launch 
enabled us to compete 
in the fast-growing iced 
(cid:32)(cid:44)(cid:411)(cid:34)(cid:34)(cid:3)(cid:32)(cid:30)(cid:49)(cid:34)(cid:36)(cid:44)(cid:47)(cid:54)(cid:509)

Acquired Friendly’s® 
Ice Cream.  
As planned, the 
acquisition of the 
leading Friendly’s 
brand grew our top 
line and proved to be 
accretive to earnings 
while providing a solid 
platform for growth in  
a strategic category.

Developed a joint 
venture with  
Organic Valley®. 
Known as “Organic 
Valley Fresh®, ” the joint 
venture leverages the 
strength of the Organic 
Valley brand and its 
high-quality organic 
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selling, manufacturing 
and distribution 
capabilities of  
Dean Foods. 

Continued our  
strong Food  
Service momentum.  
This is a growing 
channel in the food 
and beverage industry 
that is now nearly the 
same size as retail. 
We are among the 
biggest suppliers to the 
industry’s top players 
and delivered solid  
top-line growth in 2016.

NOW, AS WE MOVE INTO 2017, WE WILL BUILD ON THESE 
SUCCESSES. IN 2017, YOU WILL SEE:

•    Expansion of the DairyPure line. Our new clean-label sour 
cream line was created to beat any competitor in taste and 
texture and began to launch nationwide in January. DairyPure 
sour cream represents another critical step for us as we venture 
(cid:31)(cid:34)(cid:54)(cid:44)(cid:43)(cid:33)(cid:3)(cid:413)(cid:50)(cid:38)(cid:33)(cid:3)(cid:42)(cid:38)(cid:41)(cid:40)(cid:509)

•    Continued category interruption with TruMoo. Meeting 
the demands of consumers, TruMoo now features No GMO 
Ingredients. New choices in our ingredients give parents and 
school nutrition directors further peace of mind and another 
good reason for choosing TruMoo.

•    Renewed focus on ice cream. Buoyed by the Friendly’s 
acquisition, we’re reimagining our ice cream business by 
enhancing our recipes, improving our packaging, and introducing 
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(cid:44)(cid:35)(cid:3)(cid:44)(cid:50)(cid:47)(cid:3)(cid:7)(cid:34)(cid:30)(cid:43)(cid:521)(cid:48)(cid:3)(cid:30)(cid:43)(cid:33)(cid:3)(cid:16)(cid:30)(cid:54)(cid:412)(cid:34)(cid:41)(cid:33)(cid:3)(cid:6)(cid:47)(cid:34)(cid:30)(cid:42)(cid:34)(cid:47)(cid:54)(cid:3)(cid:41)(cid:38)(cid:43)(cid:34)(cid:48)(cid:3)(cid:49)(cid:44)(cid:3)(cid:31)(cid:47)(cid:38)(cid:43)(cid:36)(cid:3)(cid:49)(cid:37)(cid:34)(cid:48)(cid:34)(cid:3)(cid:31)(cid:34)(cid:41)(cid:44)(cid:51)(cid:34)(cid:33)(cid:3)
brands to new areas of the country. 

 
PROGRESS ON THE DEAN FOODS STRATEGIC PLAN
Our team created a three-year strategic plan to set the direction for the 
successful future of the company. It is a comprehensive strategy that 
balances a solid growth agenda with a strong emphasis on productivity. Of 
course, the primary objective is to deliver shareholder value as well as help 
Dean Foods become more resistant to extreme commodity increases. We 
put the plan in motion in 2016, and the successes I highlighted fall under 
(cid:44)(cid:43)(cid:34)(cid:3)(cid:44)(cid:35)(cid:3)(cid:412)(cid:51)(cid:34)(cid:3)(cid:48)(cid:49)(cid:47)(cid:30)(cid:49)(cid:34)(cid:36)(cid:38)(cid:32)(cid:3)(cid:45)(cid:38)(cid:41)(cid:41)(cid:30)(cid:47)(cid:48)(cid:509)(cid:3)(cid:26)(cid:34)(cid:3)(cid:52)(cid:44)(cid:47)(cid:40)(cid:34)(cid:33)(cid:3)(cid:37)(cid:30)(cid:47)(cid:33)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:43)(cid:3)(cid:471)(cid:469)(cid:470)(cid:475)(cid:3)(cid:49)(cid:44)(cid:3)Build & Buy Strong 
Brands as evidenced by our progress on DairyPure and TruMoo as well as 
our acquisition of Friendly’s ice cream. We were able to Strengthen Our 
Private Label Business with some key customer wins. Our relentless focus 
on the Drive Operational Excellence pillar of our strategy continues to be 
a top priority and provides the fuel to drive our plan. We made progress on 
the Enhance Our Future Capabilities pillar with the addition of several 
highly-skilled people, additional training for our leadership team and 
investment in important technology systems. We were able to take initial 
steps to Transform Go To Market with the addition of new manufacturing 
and warehouse distribution capabilities. 

STRATEGIC PILLARS

Build & Buy  
Strong Brands

Strengthen  
Our Private  
Label Business

Drive Operational 
Excellence

Enhance Our  
Future Capabilities

Transform  
Go To Market

CONCLUSION
I see a bright future ahead for Dean Foods. We have 
experienced leaders and hardworking local teams in place 
to drive a strong strategic plan that is the perfect road map 
to a successful future. Our products are on trend in today’s 
rapidly evolving food culture and we really do have what 
(cid:49)(cid:44)(cid:33)(cid:30)(cid:54)(cid:521)(cid:48)(cid:3)(cid:32)(cid:44)(cid:43)(cid:48)(cid:50)(cid:42)(cid:34)(cid:47)(cid:48)(cid:3)(cid:30)(cid:47)(cid:34)(cid:3)(cid:41)(cid:44)(cid:44)(cid:40)(cid:38)(cid:43)(cid:36)(cid:3)(cid:35)(cid:44)(cid:47)(cid:511)(cid:3)(cid:37)(cid:34)(cid:30)(cid:41)(cid:49)(cid:37)(cid:54)(cid:3)(cid:44)(cid:411)(cid:34)(cid:47)(cid:38)(cid:43)(cid:36)(cid:48)(cid:3)(cid:49)(cid:37)(cid:30)(cid:49)(cid:3)(cid:30)(cid:47)(cid:34)(cid:3)
locally sourced with uncluttered ingredient lines and clean 
labels with ingredients that they can read and understand. 
We have a powerful direct-to-store delivery system that 
is second to none in the refrigerated space. Our plant 
network enables us to be close to the farm and close to 
the consumer so we can bring the freshest, “farm to table” 
products to our consumers and retailers shelves every day. 

And retailers and foodservice customers realize better 
today than ever before that we can help them unlock the 
power of Dean Foods to reach their full potential.

Thank you for your continued support and I look forward to 
2017 and beyond.

Sincerely, 
Ralph P. Scozzafava

Adjusted OI
$293MM

Adjusted 
Diluted EPS      
$1.57

2016 FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE*

Adjusted 
(cid:40)(cid:83)(cid:80)(cid:84)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:49)(cid:83)(cid:80)(cid:224)(cid:85)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:1)
$1,985MM

Leverage
1.89x YE

Free Cash Flow
$113M

Return to 
Shareholders      
$58M

(cid:549)(cid:3)(cid:19)(cid:41)(cid:34)(cid:30)(cid:48)(cid:34)(cid:3)(cid:47)(cid:34)(cid:35)(cid:34)(cid:47)(cid:3)(cid:49)(cid:44)(cid:3)(cid:49)(cid:37)(cid:34)(cid:3)(cid:522)(cid:17)(cid:44)(cid:43)(cid:530)(cid:10)(cid:4)(cid:4)(cid:19)(cid:3)(cid:9)(cid:38)(cid:43)(cid:30)(cid:43)(cid:32)(cid:38)(cid:30)(cid:41)(cid:3)(cid:16)(cid:34)(cid:30)(cid:48)(cid:50)(cid:47)(cid:34)(cid:48)(cid:523)(cid:3)(cid:48)(cid:34)(cid:32)(cid:49)(cid:38)(cid:44)(cid:43)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:43)(cid:3)(cid:49)(cid:37)(cid:34)(cid:3)(cid:45)(cid:47)(cid:34)(cid:48)(cid:48)(cid:3)(cid:47)(cid:34)(cid:41)(cid:34)(cid:30)(cid:48)(cid:34)(cid:3)(cid:412)(cid:41)(cid:34)(cid:33)(cid:3)(cid:30)(cid:48)(cid:3)(cid:8)(cid:53)(cid:37)(cid:38)(cid:31)(cid:38)(cid:49)(cid:3)(cid:478)(cid:478)(cid:509)(cid:470)(cid:3)(cid:49)(cid:44)(cid:3)(cid:9)(cid:44)(cid:47)(cid:42)(cid:3)(cid:477)(cid:530)(cid:14)(cid:3)(cid:33)(cid:30)(cid:49)(cid:34)(cid:33)(cid:3)(cid:9)(cid:34)(cid:31)(cid:47)(cid:50)(cid:30)(cid:47)(cid:54)(cid:3)(cid:470)(cid:475)(cid:510)(cid:3)(cid:471)(cid:469)(cid:470)(cid:476)(cid:510)(cid:3)
(cid:35)(cid:44)(cid:47)(cid:3)(cid:42)(cid:44)(cid:47)(cid:34)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:43)(cid:35)(cid:44)(cid:47)(cid:42)(cid:30)(cid:49)(cid:38)(cid:44)(cid:43)(cid:510)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:43)(cid:32)(cid:41)(cid:50)(cid:33)(cid:38)(cid:43)(cid:36)(cid:3)(cid:30)(cid:3)(cid:47)(cid:34)(cid:32)(cid:44)(cid:43)(cid:32)(cid:38)(cid:41)(cid:38)(cid:30)(cid:49)(cid:38)(cid:44)(cid:43)(cid:3)(cid:49)(cid:44)(cid:3)(cid:49)(cid:37)(cid:34)(cid:3)(cid:42)(cid:44)(cid:48)(cid:49)(cid:3)(cid:33)(cid:38)(cid:47)(cid:34)(cid:32)(cid:49)(cid:41)(cid:54)(cid:3)(cid:32)(cid:44)(cid:42)(cid:45)(cid:30)(cid:47)(cid:30)(cid:31)(cid:41)(cid:34)(cid:3)(cid:412)(cid:43)(cid:30)(cid:43)(cid:32)(cid:38)(cid:30)(cid:41)(cid:3)(cid:42)(cid:34)(cid:30)(cid:48)(cid:50)(cid:47)(cid:34)(cid:48)(cid:3)(cid:38)(cid:43)(cid:3)(cid:30)(cid:32)(cid:32)(cid:44)(cid:47)(cid:33)(cid:30)(cid:43)(cid:32)(cid:34)(cid:3)(cid:52)(cid:38)(cid:49)(cid:37)(cid:3)(cid:10)(cid:4)(cid:4)(cid:19)(cid:509)

SETTING THE TABLE

DEAN FOODS COMPANY SNAPSHOT

Dean Foods is a leading food and beverage company and the largest processor and direct-to-store distributor 
of dairy products in the country. We produce more than 50 national, regional, local and private-label milk 
brands as well as leading brands for ice cream, cultured products, creamers, juices, bottled water and more.

Dean Foods 
purchases 10% of
the U.S. milk supply

Dairy Category 
Captain

awarded by Progressive Grocer

Our milk comes
from about 

930,000
cows

from about 4,350 farms

1 gallon 

of milk donated 
every 10 seconds

$340,000

in scholarships awarded 
to employees’ children from 2010-2016

2011

2015

2016

2016

launch

launch

acquisition

joint venture

88

trademarks held 
by Dean Foods

16,000+

employees

33,000

schools served

Operating
since

1925

1,800,000,000

Dean Foods sold almost 1.8 billion individual half pints of TruMoo and DairyPure 
to schools in 2016. That’s almost 10 million cartons each school day. 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

(Mark  One)

Form 10-K

(cid:2) ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13  OR 15(d) OF THE  SECURITIES  EXCHANGE  ACT OF  1934
For The Fiscal Year  Ended  December 31,  2016
OR
(cid:2) TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE  SECURITIES  EXCHANGE  ACT  OF 1934

For the Transition Period  from 

  to 

Commission File Number 001-12755

Dean  Foods Company

(Exact name of Registrant as specified  in  its  charter)

16FEB201705234040

Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

75-2559681

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

2711 North Haskell Avenue Suite 3400
Dallas, Texas 75204
(214) 303-3400
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
area code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)
Securities Registered Pursuant to Section  12(b)  of the Act:

Title of Each Class

Common Stock, $.01 par value

Name of Each  Exchange  on Which Registered

New York Stock  Exchange

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section  12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes (cid:2) No (cid:2)
Indicate  by  check  mark  if  the  registrant  is  not  required  to  file  reports  pursuant  to  Section  13  or  Section  15(d)  of  the

Act. Yes  (cid:2) No (cid:2)

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 (cid:2) No (cid:2)

Indicate  by  check  mark  whether  the  registrant  has  submitted  electronically  and  posted  on  its  corporate  Web  site,  if  any,  every
Interactive  Data  File  required  to  be  submitted  and  posted  pursuant  to  Rule  405  of  Regulation  S-T  (§232.405  of  this  chapter)  during  the
preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes (cid:2) No (cid:2)

Indicate  by  check  mark  if  disclosure  of  delinquent  filers  pursuant  to  Item  405  of  Regulation  S-K  (§229.405  of  this  chapter)  is  not
contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated
by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K (cid:2)

Indicate  by  check  mark  whether  the  registrant  is  a  large  accelerated  filer,  an  accelerated  filer,  a  non-accelerated  filer,  or  a  smaller
reporting company. See the definitions of ‘‘large accelerated filer,’’ ‘‘accelerated filer’’ and ‘‘smaller reporting company’’ in Rule 12b-2 of the
Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer (cid:2)

Smaller  reporting  company (cid:2)

Accelerated filer (cid:2)

Non-accelerated  filer  (cid:2)
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Indicate  by  check  mark  whether  the  registrant  is  a  shell  company  (as  defined  in  Rule  12b-2  of  the  Exchange  Act). Yes  (cid:2) No  (cid:2)
The aggregate market value of the registrant’s voting and non-voting common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant at June 30,
2016, based on the closing price for the registrant’s common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on June 30, 2016, was approximately
$1.64 billion.

The  number of shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding as of February 17, 2017 was 90,759,214.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement for its Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on or about May 10, 2017,
which will be filed within 120 days of the registrant’s fiscal year end, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on
Form 10-K.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I

Item

1

Business

Developments Since January 1, 2016

Overview

Current Business Strategy

Corporate Responsibility, Seasonality, Intellectual Property, Research and Development, and Employees

Government Regulation

Where You Can Get More Information

1A Risk Factors

1B Unresolved Staff Comments

2

3

Properties

Legal Proceedings

4 Mine Safety Disclosures

PART II

5 Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

6

Selected Financial Data

7 Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Business Overview

Our Reportable Segment

Recent Developments

Results of Operations

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Known Trends and Uncertainties

Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

7A Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

8

9

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

9A Controls and Procedures

10 Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

11 Executive Compensation

PART III

12

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

13 Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

14

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

PART IV

15 Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
16

Form 10-K Summary

Signatures

Page

1

2

3

5

6

6

8

8

17

18
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19

20

21

23

23

23

23

24

28

36

38

41

41

42

42
42

4

4

44

44

44
44

(cid:24)4
4
(cid:25)
S-1

Forward-Looking Statements

This Annual Report on Form 10-K (this “Form 10-K”) contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the 
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to 
predict.  Forward-looking  statements  are  predictions  based  on  expectations  and  projections  about  future  events,  and  are  not 
statements of historical fact. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning business strategy, among other things, 
including anticipated trends and developments in and management plans for our business and the markets in which we operate. 
In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words, such as “estimate,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” 
“plan,” “intend,” “believe,” “forecast,” “foresee,” “likely,” “may,” “should,” “goal,” “target,” “might,” “will,” "would," "can,"  
“could,” “predict,” and “continue,” the negative or plural of these words and other comparable terminology. All forward-looking 
statements included in this Form 10-K are based upon information available to us as of the filing date of this Form 10-K, and we 
undertake no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements for any reason. You should not place undue reliance 
on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors 
that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or 
implied by these statements. These factors include the matters discussed in the section entitled “Part I — Item 1A — Risk Factors” 
in this Form 10-K, and elsewhere in this Form 10-K. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described in this 
Form 10-K.

PART I

Item 1. 

Business

We are a leading food and beverage company and the largest processor and direct-to-store distributor of fresh fluid milk 
and other dairy and dairy case products in the United States, with a vision to be the most admired and trusted provider of wholesome, 
great-tasting dairy products at every occasion. 

We manufacture, market and distribute a wide variety of branded and private label dairy and dairy case products, including 
fluid milk, ice cream, cultured dairy products, creamers, ice cream mix and other dairy products to retailers, distributors, foodservice 
outlets, educational institutions and governmental entities across the United States. Our portfolio includes DairyPure®, the country's 
first and largest fresh, white milk national brand, and TruMoo®, the leading national flavored milk brand, along with well-known 
regional dairy brands such as Alta Dena ®, Berkeley Farms ®, Country Fresh ®, Dean’s ®, Friendly's ®, Garelick Farms ®, LAND 
O LAKES ® milk and cultured products (licensed brand), Lehigh Valley Dairy Farms ®, Mayfield ®, McArthur ®, Meadow Gold®, 
Oak Farms ®, PET ® (licensed brand), T.G. Lee ®, Tuscan ® and more. In all, we have more than 50 national, regional and local 
dairy brands, as well as private labels. Dean Foods also makes and distributes ice cream, cultured products, juices, teas and bottled 
water. Due to the perishable nature of our products, we deliver the majority of our products directly to our customers’ locations 
in refrigerated trucks or trailers that we own or lease. We believe that we have one of the most extensive refrigerated direct-to-
store delivery systems in the United States. We sell our products primarily on a local or regional basis through our local and 
regional sales forces, and in some instances, with the assistance of national brokers. Some national customer relationships are 
coordinated by our centralized corporate sales department or national brokers.

Unless stated otherwise, any reference to income statement items in this Form 10-K refers to results from continuing 
operations. Each of the terms "we," "us," "our," "the Company," and "Dean Foods" refers collectively to Dean Foods Company 
and its wholly-owned subsidiaries unless the context indicates otherwise.

Our principal executive offices are located at 2711 North Haskell Avenue, Suite 3400, Dallas, Texas 75204. Our telephone 

number is (214) 303-3400. We maintain a web site at www.deanfoods.com. We were incorporated in Delaware in 1994.

1

Developments Since January 1, 2016

Management Changes — Effective January 1, 2017, Ralph Scozzafava, formerly Executive Vice President and Chief 
Operating Officer, was promoted to Chief Executive Officer and appointed to the Company’s Board of Directors. Gregg A. Tanner 
stepped down as Chief Executive Officer of the Company and resigned from his position as a member of the Company’s Board 
of Directors, effective January 1, 2017. Mr. Tanner will continue to serve in an advisory capacity as an employee of the Company 
through the Annual Stockholders Meeting in May 2017.

Amendment  to  Senior  Secured  Revolving  Credit  Facility  —  On  January  4,  2017,  we  amended  the  credit  agreement 
governing our senior secured revolving credit facility to, among other things, extend the maturity date of the Credit Facility to 
January 4, 2022, modify certain financial covenants and modify certain other terms. Please see "Part II — Item 7 — Management's 
Discussion  & Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and  Results  of  Operations  —  Liquidity  and  Capital  Resources"  for  additional 
information regarding the amendment.

Amendment to Receivables Securitization Facility — On January 4, 2017, we amended our receivables securitization 
facility to, among other things, extend the liquidity termination date to January 4, 2020, reduce the maximum size of the receivables 
securitization facility to $450 million, modify certain financial covenants to be consistent with the amended leverage ratio covenant 
under the Credit Agreement described above, and to modify certain other terms. Please see "Part II —Item 7—Management's 
Discussion  & Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and  Results  of  Operations  —  Liquidity  and  Capital  Resources"  for  additional 
information regarding the amendment. 

Friendly's Acquisition  —  On  June  20,  2016,  we  completed  the  acquisition  of  Friendly’s  Ice  Cream  Holdings  Corp. 
(“Friendly’s  Holdings”),  including  its  wholly-owned  subsidiary,  Friendly’s  Manufacturing  and  Retail,  LLC  (“Friendly’s 
Manufacturing,” and together with Friendly’s Holdings, “Friendly’s”), the Friendly’s® trademark and all intellectual property 
associated with the ice cream business. Friendly’s develops, produces, manufactures, markets, distributes and sells ice cream and 
other frozen dessert-related products, as well as toppings. The total purchase price was $158.2 million. The acquisition was funded 
through a combination of cash on hand and borrowings under our senior secured credit facility and receivables securitization 
facility.  Friendly's  results  of  operations  have  been  included  in  our  Consolidated  Statements  of  Operations  from  the  date  of 
acquisition. 

Other — In March 2016, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. announced that it plans to build a dairy processing plant in Indiana to 
supply certain Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores located in the Midwest. We currently estimate that the impact of this processing 
plant may result in our loss of sales of approximately 100 million gallons annually of very low-margin private-label fluid milk 
volume. Pursuant to our agreement with Wal-Mart, Wal-Mart is required to provide advance notice to us prior to terminating the 
agreement for each specific region. We have not yet received notice of termination from Wal-Mart with respect to its stores in any 
region. Dialogue between the Company and Wal-Mart is ongoing, and we are actively taking steps to optimize our network to 
mitigate the impact of volume losses in the potentially affected region if and when they occur. We do not expect the loss of volume 
resulting from the completion of Wal-Mart’s plant to materially affect our financial results. Further, we expect to continue to supply 
Wal-Mart's private label milk for other Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores across the United States pursuant to our existing agreements.

2

Overview

We manufacture, market and distribute a wide variety of branded and private label dairy and dairy case products, including 
fluid milk, ice cream, cultured dairy products, creamers, ice cream mix and other dairy products to retailers, distributors, foodservice 
outlets, educational institutions and governmental entities across the United States. Our consolidated net sales totaled $7.7 billion
in 2016. The following charts depict our 2016 net sales by product and product sales mix between company branded versus private 
label.

Products

Fluid milk 69%

Brand Mix

Fresh cream(1) 5%

ESL and ESL 
creamers(2) 3%

Cultured  4%

Other beverages(3)
4%

Ice cream(4) 14%

Other(5) 1%

Company 
Brands(6) 49%

Private Label  51%

(1) 
(2) 
(3) 
(4) 
(5) 
(6) 

Includes half-and-half and whipping cream.
Includes creamers and other extended shelf-life fluids.
Includes fruit juice, fruit flavored drinks, iced tea and water.
Includes ice cream, ice cream mix and ice cream novelties.
Includes items for resale such as cream, butter, cheese, eggs and milkshakes.
Includes all national, regional and local brands.

3

 
We sell our products under national, regional and local proprietary or licensed brands. Products not sold under these 
brands are sold under a variety of private labels. We sell our products primarily on a local or regional basis through our local and 
regional sales forces, although some national customer relationships are coordinated by a centralized corporate sales department. 
Our largest customer is Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., including its subsidiaries such as Sam’s Club, which accounted for approximately 
16.7% of our net sales for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Our brands include DairyPure®, the country's first and largest fresh, white milk national brand, and TruMoo®, the leading 
national flavored milk brand. As of December 31, 2016, our national, local and regional proprietary and licensed brands included 
the following:

Alta Dena®
Arctic Splash®
Barbers Dairy®
Barbe’s®
Berkeley Farms®
Broughton™
Brown Cow®
Brown’s Dairy®
Caribou® (licensed brand)

Chug®

Country Fresh™

Country Love®

Creamland™

DairyPure®

Dean’s®

Fieldcrest®

Friendly's®

Fruit Rush®

Gandy’s™

Garelick Farms®

Hygeia®
Jilbert™

Knudsen® (licensed brand)

LAND O LAKES® (licensed brand)
Land-O-Sun & design®
Lehigh Valley Dairy Farms®
Louis Trauth Dairy Inc.®
Mayfield®
McArthur®
Meadow Brook®
Meadow Gold®
Mile High Ice Cream™
Model Dairy®
Morning Glory®
Nature’s Pride®
Nurture®
Nutty Buddy®
Oak Farms®
Orchard Pure®
Over the Moon®

PET® (licensed brand)

Pog® (licensed brand)

Price’s™

Purity™

ReadyLeaf®

Reiter™

Robinson™

Schepps®
Shenandoah’s Pride®

Stroh’s®

Swiss Dairy™

Swiss Premium™

TruMoo®

T.G. Lee®

Turtle Tracks®

Tuscan®

Verifine®

Viva®

We currently operate 66 manufacturing facilities in 32 states located largely based on customer needs and other market 
factors, with distribution capabilities across all 50 states. For more information about our facilities, see “Item 2. Properties.” Due 
to the perishable nature of our products, we deliver the majority of our products directly to our customers’ locations in refrigerated 
trucks or trailers that we own or lease. This form of delivery is called a “direct-to-store delivery” or “DSD” system. We believe 
that we have one of the most extensive refrigerated DSD systems in the United States.

The primary raw material used in our products is conventional milk (which contains both raw milk and butterfat) that 
we purchase primarily from farmers’ cooperatives, as well as from independent farmers. The federal government and certain state 
governments set minimum prices for raw milk and butterfat on a monthly basis. Another significant raw material we use is resin, 
which is a fossil fuel-based product used to make plastic bottles. The price of resin fluctuates based on changes in crude oil and 
natural gas prices. Other raw materials and commodities used by us include diesel fuel, used to operate our extensive DSD system, 
and juice concentrates and sweeteners used in our products. We generally increase or decrease the prices of our private label fluid 
dairy products on a monthly basis in correlation with fluctuations in the costs of raw materials, packaging supplies and delivery 
costs. We manage the pricing of our branded fluid milk products on a longer-term basis, balancing consumer demand with net 
price realization. We continue to balance our product pricing with the execution of our strategy to improve net price realization 
and, in some cases, we are subject to the terms of sales agreements with respect to the means and/or timing of price increases.

We have several competitors in each of our major product and geographic markets. Competition between dairy processors 
for shelf-space with retailers is based primarily on price, service, quality and the expected or historical sales performance of the 
product compared to its competitors’ products. In some cases we pay fees to customers for shelf-space. Competition for consumer 
sales is based on a variety of factors such as brand recognition, price, taste preference and quality. Dairy products also compete 
with many other beverages and nutritional products for consumer sales. 

4

 
The fluid milk category enjoys a number of attractive attributes. This category’s size and pervasiveness, plus the limited 
shelf life of the product, make it an important category for retailers and consumers, as well as a large long-term opportunity for 
the best positioned dairy processors. However, the dairy industry is not without some well documented challenges. It is a mature 
industry that has traditionally been characterized by slow to flat growth and low profit margins. According to the U.S. Department 
of Agriculture ("USDA"), per capita consumption of fluid milk continues to decline. 

 For more information on factors that could impact our business, see “— Government Regulation — Milk Industry 
Regulation” and “Part II — Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — 
Known Trends and Uncertainties — Prices of Conventional Raw Milk and Other Inputs.” See Note 18 to our Consolidated Financial 
Statements for segment, geographic and customer information.

Current Business Strategy

Dean Foods has evolved over the past 20 years through periods of rapid acquisition, consolidation, integration and, 
recently, the separation of our operations including the spin-off of The WhiteWave Foods Company ("WhiteWave") and sale of 
Morningstar Foods ("Morningstar") in 2013. Today, we are a leading food and beverage company and the largest processor and 
direct-to-store distributor of fresh fluid milk and other dairy and dairy case products in the United States. 

Our vision is to be the most admired and trusted provider of wholesome, great-tasting dairy products at every occasion.  
Our strategy is to invest and grow our portfolio of brands while strengthening our operations and capabilities to achieve a more 
profitable core business. Our strategy is anchored by the following five pillars and is underscored by our commitments to safety, 
quality and service, and delivering sustainable profit growth and total shareholder return:

Build and Buy Strong Brands:

• 

• 

Build our existing brands with consumer-led innovation, marketing, and logistical excellence.

Evaluate and consider strategic opportunities. 

Transform Go To Market:

• 

• 

• 

Expand our reach and ability to meet evolving consumer needs.

More profitably serve customers through new delivery and production capabilities.

Drive efficiency through standardized business principles and customer collaboration. 

Drive Operational Excellence:

• 

• 

Increase plant and transportation efficiencies, simplify our portfolio and standardize processes. 

Optimize our network for efficiency and flexibility to deliver new products and routes to market.

Strengthen Private Label Business:

• 

• 

Enhance our profitability by lowering our internal costs, partnering with our customers and driving standard 
practices across our business. 

Enhance our profitability by strategically targeting key customers and channels.

Enhance Future Capabilities:

• 

• 

Foster an engaged and aligned organization that has a consumer mindset.  

Improve processes and technology to enable cross-functional decision-making that creates opportunities to build 
our business.

Corporate Responsibility

Within our business strategies, corporate responsibility remains an integral part of our efforts. As we work to strengthen 
our business, we are committed to do it in a way that is right for our employees, shareholders, consumers, customers, suppliers 
and the environment. We intend to realize savings by reducing waste and duplication while we continue to support programs that 
improve our local communities. We believe that our customers, consumers and suppliers value our efforts to operate in an ethical, 
environmentally sustainable, and socially responsible manner.

5

Seasonality

Our business is affected by seasonal changes in the demand for dairy products. Sales volumes are typically higher in the 
fourth quarter due to increased dairy consumption during seasonal holidays. Fluid milk volumes tend to decrease in the second 
and third quarters of the year primarily due to the reduction in dairy consumption associated with our school customers, partially 
offset by the increase in ice cream and ice cream mix consumption during the summer months. Because certain of our operating 
expenses are fixed, fluctuations in volumes and revenue from quarter to quarter may have a material effect on operating income 
for the respective quarters. 

Intellectual Property

We  are  continually  developing  new  technology  and  enhancing  existing  proprietary  technology  related  to  our  dairy 
operations. Six U.S. and six international patents have been issued to us and six U.S. and two international patent applications are 
pending. Our U.S. patents are expected to expire at various dates between February 2019 and May 2029. If the pending U.S. patent 
applications are granted, those patents would be expected to expire at various dates between June 2035 and October 2036. Our 
international patents are expected to expire at various dates between February 2028 and March 2030. If the pending international 
patent applications are granted, those patents would be expected to expire in March 2030. 

We primarily rely on a combination of trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, confidentiality procedures and contractual 
provisions  to  protect  our  technology  and  other  intellectual  property  rights.  Despite  these  protections,  it  may  be  possible  for 
unauthorized parties to copy, obtain or use certain portions of our proprietary technology or trademarks. 

Research and Development

Our total research and development ("R&D") expense was $3.0 million, $2.3 million and $1.9 million for 2016, 2015
and 2014, respectively. Our R&D activities primarily consist of generating and testing new product concepts, new flavors of 
products and packaging.

Employees

As of December 31, 2016, we had approximately 17,000 employees. Approximately 37% of our employees participate 

in a multitude of collective bargaining agreements of varying duration and terms. 

Government Regulation

Food-Related Regulations

As a manufacturer and distributor of food products, we are subject to a number of food-related regulations, including the 
Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and regulations promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”). 
This comprehensive regulatory framework governs the manufacture (including composition and ingredients), labeling, packaging 
and safety of food in the United States. The FDA:

• 

• 

• 

regulates manufacturing practices for foods through its current good manufacturing practices regulations;

specifies the standards of identity for certain foods, including many of the products we sell; and

prescribes the format and content of certain information required to appear on food product labels.

 We are also subject to the Food Safety Modernization Act of 2011, which, among other things, mandates the FDA to 
adopt preventative controls to be implemented by food facilities in order to minimize or prevent hazards to food safety. In addition, 
the FDA enforces the Public Health Service Act and regulations issued thereunder, which authorizes regulatory activity necessary 
to prevent the introduction, transmission or spread of communicable diseases. These regulations require, for example, pasteurization 
of milk and milk products. We are subject to numerous other federal, state and local regulations involving such matters as the 
licensing and registration of manufacturing facilities, enforcement by government health agencies of standards for our products, 
inspection of our facilities and regulation of our trade practices in connection with the sale of food products.

We use quality control laboratories in our manufacturing facilities to test raw ingredients. In addition, all of our facilities 
have achieved Safety Quality Food ("SQF") Level 3 under the Global Food Safety Initiative. Product quality and freshness are 
essential to the successful distribution of our products. To monitor product quality at our facilities, we maintain quality control 
programs to test products during various processing stages. We believe our facilities and manufacturing practices are in material 
compliance with all government regulations applicable to our business.

6

Employee Safety Regulations

We are subject to certain safety regulations, including regulations issued pursuant to the U.S. Occupational Safety and 
Health Act. These regulations require us to comply with certain manufacturing safety standards to protect our employees from 
accidents. We believe that we are in material compliance with all employee safety regulations applicable to our business.

Environmental Regulations

We are subject to various state and federal environmental laws, regulations and directives, including the Food Quality 
Protection Act  of  1996,  the  Clean Air Act,  the  Clean  Water Act,  the  Resource  Conservation  and  Recovery Act,  the  Federal 
Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act and the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 
1980, as amended. Our plants use a number of chemicals that are considered to be “extremely” hazardous substances pursuant to 
applicable environmental laws due to their toxicity, including ammonia, which is used extensively in our operations as a refrigerant. 
Such chemicals must be handled in accordance with such environmental laws. Also, on occasion, certain of our facilities discharge 
biodegradable wastewater into municipal waste treatment facilities in excess of levels allowed under local regulations. As a result, 
certain of our facilities are required to pay wastewater surcharges or to construct wastewater pretreatment facilities. To date, such 
wastewater surcharges and construction costs have not had a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

We maintain above-ground and under-ground petroleum storage tanks at many of our facilities. We periodically inspect 
these tanks to determine whether they are in compliance with applicable regulations and, as a result of such inspections, we are 
required to make expenditures from time to time to ensure that these tanks remain in compliance. In addition, upon removal of 
the tanks, we are sometimes required to make expenditures to restore the site in accordance with applicable environmental laws. 
To date, such expenditures have not had a material effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

We believe that we are in material compliance with the environmental regulations applicable to our business. We do not 
expect  the  cost  of  our  continued  compliance  to  have  a  material  impact  on  our  capital  expenditures,  earnings,  cash  flows  or 
competitive position in the foreseeable future. In addition, any asset retirement obligations are not material.

Milk Industry Regulation

The federal government establishes minimum prices that we must pay to producers in federally regulated areas for raw 
milk. Raw milk primarily contains raw skim milk in addition to a small percentage of butterfat. Raw milk delivered to our facilities 
is tested to determine the percentage of butterfat and other milk components, and we pay our suppliers for the raw milk based on 
the results of these tests.

The federal government’s minimum prices for Class I milk vary depending on the processor’s geographic location or 
sales area and the type of product manufactured. Federal minimum prices change monthly. Class I butterfat and raw skim milk 
prices (which are the minimum prices we are required to pay for raw milk that is processed into Class I products such as fluid 
milk) and Class II raw skim milk prices (which are the minimum prices we are required to pay for raw milk that is processed into 
Class II products such as cottage cheese, creams, creamers, ice cream and sour cream) for each month are announced by the federal 
government the immediately preceding month. Class II butterfat prices are announced either at the end of the month or the first 
week of the following month in which the price is effective. Some states have established their own rules for determining minimum 
prices for raw milk. In addition to the federal or state minimum prices, we also may pay producer premiums, procurement costs 
and other related charges that vary by location and supplier.

Labeling Regulations

We are subject to various labeling requirements with respect to our products at the federal, state and local levels. At the 
federal level, the FDA has authority to review product labeling, and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) may review 
labeling  and  advertising  materials,  including  online  and  television  advertisements,  to  determine  if  advertising  materials  are 
misleading. Similarly, many states review dairy product labels to determine whether they comply with applicable state laws. We 
believe we are in material compliance with all labeling laws and regulations applicable to our business.

We are also subject to various state and local consumer protection laws.

7

Where You Can Get More Information

Our fiscal year ends on December 31. We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information 

with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

You  may  read  and  copy  any  reports,  statements  or  other  information  that  we  file  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange 
Commission at the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington D.C. 20549. 
You  can  request  copies  of  these  documents,  upon  payment  of  a  duplicating  fee,  by  writing  to  the  Securities  and  Exchange 
Commission. Please call the Securities and Exchange Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation 
of the Public Reference Room.

We file our reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission electronically through the Securities and Exchange 
Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval (“EDGAR”) system. The Securities and Exchange Commission 
maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding companies that 
file electronically with the Securities and Exchange Commission through EDGAR. The address of this Internet site is http://
www.sec.gov.

We also make available free of charge through our website at www.deanfoods.com our Annual Report on Form 10-K, 
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to 
Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically 
file such material with, or furnish it to, the Securities and Exchange Commission. We are not, however, including the information 
contained on our website, or information that may be accessed through links on our website, as part of, or incorporating such 
information by reference into, this Form 10-K.

Our Code of Ethics is applicable to all of our employees and directors. Our Code of Ethics is available on our corporate 
website at www.deanfoods.com, together with the Corporate Governance Principles of our Board of Directors and the charters of 
the Audit, Compensation and Nominating/Corporate Governance Committees of our Board of Directors. Any waivers that we may 
grant to our executive officers or directors under the Code of Ethics, and any amendments to our Code of Ethics, will be posted 
on our corporate website. If you would like hard copies of any of these documents, or of any of our filings with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission, write or call us at:

Dean Foods Company
2711 North Haskell Avenue, Suite 3400
Dallas, Texas 75204
(214) 303-3400
Attention: Investor Relations

Item 1A. 

Risk Factors

Business, Competitive and Strategic Risks

Our results of operations and financial condition depend heavily on commodity prices and the availability of raw 
materials and other inputs. Our failure or inability to respond to high or fluctuating input prices could adversely affect our 
profitability.

Our results of operations and financial condition depend heavily on the cost and supply of raw materials and other inputs 
including conventional raw milk, butterfat, cream and other dairy commodities, many of which are determined by constantly 
changing market forces of supply and demand over which we have limited or no control. Cost increases in raw materials and other 
inputs could cause our profitability to decrease significantly compared to prior periods, as we may be unwilling or unable to 
increase our prices or unable to achieve cost savings to offset the increased cost of these raw materials and other inputs.

Although  we  generally  pass  through  the  cost  of  dairy  commodities  to  our  customers  over  time,  we  believe  demand 
destruction can occur at certain price levels, and we may be unwilling or unable to pass through the cost of dairy commodities, 
which could materially and adversely affect our profitability. Dairy commodity prices can be affected by adverse weather conditions 
(including the impact of climate change) and natural disasters, such as floods, droughts, frost, fires, earthquakes and pestilence, 
which can lower crop and dairy yields and reduce supplies of these ingredients or increase their prices.

Our profitability also depends on the cost and supply of non-dairy raw materials and other inputs, such as sweeteners, 

petroleum-based products, diesel fuel, resin and other non-dairy food ingredients.

8

Our dairy and non-dairy raw materials are generally sourced from third parties, and we are not assured of continued 
supply,  pricing  or  sufficient  access  to  raw  materials  from  any  of  these  suppliers.  Distribution  or  damage  to  our  suppliers' 
manufacturing, transportation or distribution capabilities could impair our ability to make, transport, distribute or sell our products. 
Other events that adversely affect our suppliers and that are out of our control could also impair our ability to obtain the raw 
materials and other inputs that we need in the quantities and at the prices that we desire. Such events include adverse weather 
conditions (including climate change) or natural disasters, government action, or problems with our suppliers’ businesses, finances, 
labor relations, costs, production, insurance, reputation and international demand and supply characteristics.

If we are unable to obtain raw materials and other inputs for our products or offset any increased costs for such raw 
materials and inputs, our business could be negatively affected. While we may enter into forward purchase contracts and other 
purchase  arrangements  with  suppliers  and  may  purchase  over-the-counter  contracts  with  our  qualified  banking  partners  or 
exchange-traded commodity futures contracts for raw materials, these arrangements do not eliminate the risk of negative impacts 
on our business, financial condition and results of operations from commodity price changes.

If we fail to anticipate and respond to changes in consumer preferences, demand for our products could decline.

Consumer  tastes,  preferences  and  consumption  habits  evolve  over  time  and  are  difficult  to  predict.  Demand  for  our 
products depends on our ability to identify and offer products that appeal to these shifting preferences. Factors that may affect 
consumer tastes and preferences include:

• 

• 

• 

• 

dietary trends and increased attention to nutritional values, such as the sugar, fat, protein or calorie content of 
different foods and beverages;

concerns  regarding  the  health  effects  of  specific  ingredients  and  nutrients,  such  as  dairy,  sugar  and  other 
sweeteners, vitamins and minerals;

concerns regarding the public health consequences associated with obesity, particularly among young people; 
and

increasing awareness of the environmental and social effects of product production.

If we fail to anticipate and respond to these changes and trends, we may experience reduced consumer demand for our 

products, which in turn could adversely affect our sales volumes and our business could be negatively affected.

We may be adversely impacted by a changing customer landscape.

Many  of  our  customers,  such  as  supermarkets,  warehouse  clubs  and  food  distributors,  have  experienced  industry 
consolidation in recent years and this consolidation is expected to continue. These consolidations have produced large, more 
sophisticated customers with increased buying power and negotiating strength, who may seek lower prices or more favorable 
terms, and they have increased our dependence on key large-format retailers and discounters. In addition, some of these customers 
are vertically integrated and have re-dedicated key shelf-space currently occupied by our branded products for their private label 
products. We are also seeing certain retailers place a greater emphasis on their own private label products and proprietary brands. 
In addition to the competitive pressures from retail customers, we are facing increased competition from dairy cooperatives and 
other processors. Higher levels of price competition and higher resistance to price increases have had a significant impact on our 
business. If we are unable to respond to these customer dynamics, our business or financial results could be adversely affected.

Volume softness in the dairy category has had a negative impact on our sales and profits.

Industry-wide  volume  softness  across  dairy  product  categories,  particularly  within  fluid  milk,  continued  in  2016. 
Decreasing dairy category volume has increased the impact of declining margins on our business. Periods of declining volumes 
limit the cost and price increases that we can seek to recapture. We may continue to experience periods of volume softness in the 
future. In addition, in recent years, we have experienced a decline in historical volumes from some of our largest customers, which 
has negatively impacted our sales and profitability and which will continue to have a negative impact in the future if we are not 
able to attract and retain a profitable customer and product mix.

9

Our ability to generate positive cash flow and profits will depend partly on our successful execution of our business 

strategy. 

Our ability to generate positive cash flow and profits will depend partly on our successful execution of our business 
strategy. Our business strategy may require significant capital investment and management attention, which may result in the 
diversion of these resources from other business issues and opportunities. Additionally, the successful implementation of our 
current business strategy is subject to our ability to manage costs and expenses, our ability to develop new and innovative products, 
the success of continuing improvement initiatives, our ability to leverage processing and logistical efficiencies, our consumers’ 
demand for our brands and products, the effectiveness of our advertising and targeting of consumers and channels, the availability 
of favorable acquisition opportunities and our ability to attract and retain qualified management and other personnel. There can 
be no assurance that we will be able to successfully implement our business strategy. If we cannot successfully execute our business 
strategy, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely impacted.  

The success of our business strategy depends upon our ability to build our brands. 

Building strong brands is a key component of our business strategy in order to expand sales and volumes and to respond 
to the changing customer landscape. With the launch of our national brands, DairyPure® and TruMoo®, we have expanded from 
a regional branding strategy to a national branding strategy. We have incurred, and may continue to incur in the future, significant 
expenditures for advertising and marketing campaigns in an effort to build brand awareness and preference over other private 
label products. We may not be successful in our efforts to expand our regional brand presence to a national brand presence, and 
we cannot guarantee that our advertising and marketing campaigns will result in customer or consumer acceptance of our brands. 
Further, the success of our national branding strategy requires us to drive operational changes in order to have a national brand 
footprint. If these efforts are unsuccessful or we incur substantial costs in connection with these efforts, our business, operating 
results and financial condition could be adversely affected.

The loss of, or a material reduction in sales volumes purchased by, any of our largest customers could negatively 

impact our sales and profits.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and its subsidiaries, including Sam’s Club, accounted for approximately 16.7% and 16.4% of our 
consolidated net sales in 2016 and 2015, respectively, and our top five customers, including Wal-Mart, collectively accounted for 
approximately 31% and 29% of our consolidated net sales in 2016 and 2015, respectively. In addition, we are indirectly exposed 
to the financial and business risks of our largest customers because, as their business declines, they may correspondingly decrease 
the volumes purchased from us. The loss of, or further declines in sales volumes purchased by, any of our largest customers could 
negatively impact our sales and profits, particularly due to our significant fixed costs and assets, which are difficult to rapidly 
reduce in response to significant volume declines.

Our business operations could be disrupted and the liquidity and market price of our securities could decline if our 

information technology systems fail to perform adequately or experience a security breach.  

We  maintain  a  large  database  of  confidential  information  and  sensitive  data  in  our  information  technology  systems, 
including confidential employee, supplier and customer information, and accounting, financial and other data on which we rely 
for internal and external financial reporting and other purposes. In addition, the efficient operation of our business depends on our 
information technology systems. We rely on our information technology systems, including those of third parties, to effectively 
manage our business data, communications, supply chain, logistics, accounting and other business processes. If we do not allocate 
and  effectively  manage  the  resources  necessary  to  build  and  sustain  an  appropriate  technology  environment,  our  business  or 
financial results could be negatively impacted. In addition, our information technology systems and those of third parties are 
vulnerable to damage or interruption from circumstances beyond our control, including systems failures, viruses, security breaches 
or cyber incidents such as ransomware, intentional cyber attacks aimed at theft of sensitive data or inadvertent cyber-security 
compromises. A security breach of such information or failure of our information technology systems or those of third parties that 
we rely on could result in damage to our reputation, negatively impact our relations with our customers or employees, and expose 
us to liability and litigation. Moreover, a security breach or failure of our information systems could also result in the alteration, 
corruption or loss of the accounting, financial or other data on which we rely for internal and external financial reporting and other 
purposes and, depending on the severity of the security breach or systems failure, could prevent the audit of our financial statements 
or our internal control over financial reporting from being completed on a timely basis or at all, or could negatively impact the 
resulting audit opinions. Any such damage or interruption, or alteration, corruption or loss, could have a material adverse effect 
on our business or could cause our securities to become less liquid and the market price of our securities to decline.

10

We may incur liabilities or harm to our reputation, or be forced to recall products, as a result of real or perceived 

product quality or other product-related issues.

We sell products for human consumption, which involves a number of risks. Product contamination, spoilage, other 
adulteration, misbranding, mislabeling, or product tampering could require us to recall products. We also may be subject to liability 
if our products or operations violate applicable laws or regulations, including environmental, health and safety requirements, or 
in the event our products cause injury, illness or death. In addition, our product advertising could make us the target of claims 
relating to false or deceptive advertising under U.S. federal and state laws, including the consumer protection statutes of some 
states, or laws of other jurisdictions in which we operate. A significant product liability, consumer fraud or other legal judgment 
against us or a widespread product recall may negatively impact our sales, brands, reputation and profitability. Moreover, claims 
or liabilities of this sort might not be covered by insurance or by any rights of indemnity or contribution that we may have against 
others. Even if a product liability, consumer fraud or other claim is found to be without merit or is otherwise unsuccessful, the 
negative publicity surrounding such assertions regarding our products or processes could materially and adversely affect our 
reputation and brand image, particularly in categories that consumers believe as having strong health and wellness credentials. 
Further, the risks to our reputation and brand image are more susceptible on a national scale as a result of our expansion from a 
regional branded platform to a national branded platform. In addition, consumer preferences related to genetically modified foods, 
animal proteins, or the use of certain sweeteners could result in negative publicity and adversely affect our reputation. Any loss 
of consumer confidence in our product ingredients or in the safety and quality of our products would be difficult and costly to 
overcome and could have a material adverse effect on our business.

The failure to successfully identify, consummate and integrate acquisitions into our existing operations could adversely 

affect our financial results.

We regularly evaluate acquisitions and other strategic opportunities as part of our business strategy. If we are unable to 
identify suitable acquisition candidates or successfully consummate the acquisitions and integrate the businesses we acquire, our 
business strategy may not succeed. Potential risks associated with these acquisitions include: 

• 
• 
• 

• 

• 
• 
• 
• 

diversion of management’s attention from other business concerns;
inability to achieve anticipated benefits from these acquisitions in the timeframe we anticipate, or at all;
inherent risks in entering geographic locations, markets or lines of business in which we have limited prior 
experience;
inability to integrate the new operations, technologies and products of the acquired companies successfully with 
our existing businesses;
potential disruption of our ongoing business;
potential loss of key employees and customers of the acquired companies;
possible assumption of unknown liabilities; and
potential disputes with the sellers. 

Moreover, merger and acquisition activities are subject to antitrust and competition laws, which have impacted, and may 

continue to impact, our ability to pursue strategic transactions.

In addition, acquisitions outside the United States may present unique challenges and increase our exposure to the risks 
associated with foreign operations, including foreign currency risks and compliance with foreign rules and regulations. Any or all 
of these risks could materially adversely impact our business and financial results.

We may not realize anticipated benefits from our cost reduction efforts.

We have implemented a number of cost reduction initiatives that we believe are necessary to position our business for 
future success and growth. Our future success and earnings growth depend upon our ability to realize the benefit of our cost 
reduction activities and rationalization plans. In addition, certain of our cost reduction activities have led to increased costs in 
other aspects of our business such as increased conversion or distribution costs. For example, in connection with our plant closures, 
our cost of distribution on a per gallon basis has increased as we have changed distribution routes and transported product into 
areas previously serviced by closed plants. If we fail to properly anticipate and mitigate the ancillary cost increases related to our 
plant closures, we may not realize the benefits of our cost reduction efforts. We must be efficient in executing our plans to achieve 
a lower cost structure and operate efficiently in the highly competitive food and beverage industry, particularly in an environment 
of increased competitive activity and reduced profitability. To capitalize on our cost reduction efforts, it will be necessary to 
carefully evaluate future investments in our business, and concentrate on those areas with the most potential return on investment. 
If we are unable to realize the anticipated benefits from our cost cutting efforts, we could be cost disadvantaged in the marketplace, 
and our competitiveness and our profitability could decrease.

11

Our sales and profits have been, and may continue to be, negatively impacted by the outcome of competitive bidding.

Many of our retail customers have become increasingly price sensitive, which has intensified the competitive environment 
in which we operate. As a result, we have been subject to a number of competitive bidding situations, both formal and informal, 
which have materially reduced our sales volumes and profitability on sales to several customers. We expect this trend of competitive 
bidding to continue. During 2013, as a result of a request for proposal, a significant customer transferred a material portion of its 
business to other suppliers, which resulted in a decline in our fluid milk volumes of approximately 7% during 2013. The loss of 
this volume had a negative effect on our sales and profits. In the event we experience a similar loss, we may have to replace the 
lost  volume  with  lower  margin  business,  which  could  also  negatively  impact  our  profitability. Additionally,  this  competitive 
environment may result in us serving an increasing number of small format customers, which may raise the costs of production 
and distribution, and negatively impact the profitability of our business. If we are unable to structure our business to appropriately 
respond to the pricing demands of our customers, we may lose customers to other processors that are willing to sell product at a 
lower cost, which could negatively impact our sales and profits.

Price concessions to retailers have negatively impacted, and could continue to negatively impact, our operating margins 

and profitability.

In the past, retailers have at times required price concessions that have negatively impacted our margins, and continued 
pressures to make such price concessions could negatively impact our profitability in the future. If we are not able to lower our 
cost structure adequately in response to customer pricing demands, and if we are not able to attract and retain a profitable customer 
mix and a profitable product mix, our profitability could continue to be adversely affected.

Disruption of our supply or distribution chains or transportation systems could adversely affect our business.

Our ability to make, move and sell our products is critical to our success. Damage or disruption to our manufacturing or 
distribution capabilities due to weather (including the impact of climate change), natural disaster, fire, environmental incident, 
terrorism (including eco-terrorism and bio-terrorism), pandemic, strikes, the financial or operational instability of key suppliers, 
distributors, warehousing and transportation providers, or other reasons could impair our ability to manufacture or distribute our 
products. If we are unable, or it is not financially feasible, to mitigate the likelihood or potential impact of such events, our business 
and results of operations could be negatively affected and additional resources could be required to restore our supply chain. In 
addition, we are subject to federal motor carrier regulations, such as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Act, with which our extensive 
DSD system must comply. Failure to comply with such regulations could result in our inability to deliver product to our customers 
in a timely manner, which could adversely affect our reputation and our results.

Failure to maintain sufficient internal production capacity or to enter into co-packing agreements on terms that are 

beneficial for us may result in our inability to meet customer demand and/or increase our operating costs.

The  success  of  our  business  depends,  in  part,  on  maintaining  a  strong  production  platform  and  we  rely  on  internal 
production resources and third-party co-packers to fulfill our manufacturing needs. As part of our ongoing cost reduction efforts, 
we have closed or announced the closure of a number of our plants since late 2012. It is possible that we may need to increase our 
reliance on third parties to provide manufacturing and supply services, commonly referred to as “co-packing” agreements, for a 
number of our products. In particular, there is increasing consumer preference for certain sized extended shelf life (“ESL”) products 
in certain categories and, as a result of the Morningstar divestiture, we are contractually limited in our ability to manufacture ESL 
products. In such case, we must rely on our co-packers. A failure by our co-packers to comply with food safety, environmental, 
or other laws and regulations may disrupt our supply of products and cause damage to the reputation of our brand. If we need to 
enter into additional co-packing agreements in the future, we can provide no assurance that we would be able to find acceptable 
third-party providers or enter into agreements on satisfactory terms. Our inability to establish satisfactory co-packing arrangements 
could limit our ability to operate our business and could negatively affect our sales volumes and results of operations. If we cannot 
maintain sufficient production capacity, either internally or through third-party agreements, we may be unable to meet customer 
demand and/or our manufacturing costs may increase, which could negatively affect our business.

If we are unable to hire, retain and develop our leadership bench, or fail to develop and implement an adequate 

succession plan for current leadership positions, it could have a negative impact on our business.

Our  continued  and  future  success  depends  partly  upon  our  ability  to  hire,  retain  and  develop  our  leadership  bench. 
 Effective succession planning is also a key factor in our long-term success. Any unplanned turnover or failure to develop or 
implement an adequate succession plan to backfill key leadership positions could deplete our institutional knowledge base and 
erode our competitive advantage. Our failure to enable the effective transfer of knowledge or to facilitate smooth transitions with 
regard to key leadership positions, including Mr. Scozzafava's transition as CEO, could adversely affect our long-term strategic 
planning and execution and negatively affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

12

Our existing debt and other financial obligations may restrict our business operations and we may incur even more 

debt.

We  have  substantial  debt  and  other  financial  obligations  and  significant  unused  borrowing  capacity.  We  may  incur 
additional debt in the future. In addition to our other financial obligations, on December 31, 2016, we had $895.1 million of long-
term debt obligations, excluding unamortized discounts and debt issuance costs of $9.0 million. On February 17, 2017, we had 
the ability to borrow up to a combined additional $699.3 million of combined future borrowing capacity under our Credit Facility 
and receivables securitization facility, subject to compliance with certain conditions.

We have pledged substantially all of our assets, other than real property, to secure our Credit Facility. Our debt and related 

debt service obligations could:

• 

• 

• 

• 

require us to dedicate significant cash flow to the payment of principal and interest on our debt, which reduces 
the funds we have available for other purposes, including for funding working capital, capital expenditures, and 
acquisitions and for other general corporate purposes;

limit our flexibility in planning for or reacting to changes in our business and market conditions;

impose on us additional financial and operational restrictions, including restrictions on our ability to, among 
other things, incur additional indebtedness, create liens, guarantee obligations, undertake acquisitions or sales 
of assets, declare dividends and make other specified restricted payments, and make investments; and

place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to businesses in our industry that have less debt or that are 
debt-free. 

To the extent that we incur additional indebtedness in the future, these limitations would likely have a greater impact on 
our business. Failure to make required payments on our debt or comply with the financial covenants or any other non-financial 
or restrictive covenants set forth in the agreements governing our debt could create a default and cause a downgrade to our credit 
rating. Upon a default, our lenders could accelerate the indebtedness, foreclose against their collateral or seek other remedies, 
which would jeopardize our ability to continue our current operations. In those circumstances, we may be required to amend the 
agreements governing our debt, refinance all or part of our existing debt, sell assets, incur additional indebtedness or raise equity. 
Our ability to make scheduled payments on our debt and other financial obligations and comply with financial covenants depends 
on our financial and operating performance, which in turn, is subject to various factors such as prevailing economic conditions 
and to financial, business and other factors, some of which are beyond our control.  See “Part II - Item 7. Management’s Discussion 
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources - Current Debt Obligations” for 
more information.

We may need additional financing in the future, and we may not be able to obtain that financing.

From time to time, we may need additional financing to support our business and pursue our growth strategy, including 
strategic  acquisitions.  Our  ability  to  obtain  additional  financing,  if  and  when  required,  will  depend  on  investor  demand,  our 
operating performance, the condition of the capital markets, and other factors. We cannot assure you that additional financing will 
be available to us on favorable terms when required, or at all. If we are unable to obtain additional financing in the future, our 
business, financial condition, and operations could be materially adversely affected.

Risks Related to Our Common Stock

Our Board of Directors could change our dividend policy at any time.

In  November  2013,  our  Board  of  Directors  adopted  a  dividend  policy  under  which  we  intend  to  pay  quarterly  cash 
dividends on our common stock. Under this policy, holders of our common stock will receive dividends when and as declared by 
our Board of Directors. Pursuant to this policy, we paid quarterly dividends of $0.07 per share ($0.28 per share annually) in 2015, 
which was increased to $0.09 per share ($0.36 per share annually) in March 2016. However, we are not required to pay dividends 
and our stockholders do not have contractual or other legal rights to receive them. Any determination to pay cash dividends on 
our common stock in the future may be affected by business conditions, our views on potential future capital requirements, the 
terms of our debt instruments, legal risks, changes in federal income tax law and challenges to our business model. Furthermore, 
our Board of Directors may decide at any time, in its discretion, not to pay a dividend, to decrease the amount of dividends or to 
change or revoke the dividend policy entirely. If we do not pay dividends, for whatever reason, shares of our common stock could 
become less liquid and the market price of our common stock could decline.

13

Our stock price is volatile and may decline regardless of our operating performance, and you could lose a significant 

part of your investment.

The market price of our common stock has historically been volatile and in the future may be influenced by many factors, 

some of which are beyond our control, including those described in this section and the following:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

changes in financial estimates by analysts or our inability to meet those financial estimates;

strategic actions by us or our competitors, such as acquisitions, restructurings, significant contracts, acquisitions, 
joint marketing relationships, joint ventures or capital commitments;

variations in our quarterly results of operations and those of our competitors;

general economic and stock market conditions;

changes in conditions or trends in our industry, geographies or customers;

terrorist acts;

activism by any large stockholder or group of stockholders;

perceptions  of  the  investment  opportunity  associated  with  our  common  stock  relative  to  other  investment 
alternatives;

actual or anticipated growth rates relative to our competitors; and

speculation by the investment community regarding our business.

In addition, the stock markets, including the New York Stock Exchange, have experienced price and volume fluctuations 
that have affected and continue to affect the market prices of equity securities issued by many companies, including companies 
in our industry. In the past, some companies that have had volatile market prices for their securities have been subject to class 
action or derivative lawsuits. The filing of a lawsuit against us, regardless of the outcome, could have a negative effect on our 
business, financial condition and results of operations, as it could result in substantial legal costs and a diversion of management’s 
attention and resources.

These market and industry factors may materially reduce the market price of our common stock, regardless of our operating 
performance. This volatility may increase the risk that our stockholders will suffer a loss on their investment or be unable to sell 
or otherwise liquidate their holdings of our common stock.

Capital Markets and General Economic Risks

Unfavorable economic conditions may adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The dairy industry is sensitive to changes in international, national and local general economic conditions. Future economic 
decline  or  increased  income  disparity  could  have  an  adverse  effect  on  consumer  spending  patterns.  Increased  levels  of 
unemployment, increased consumer debt levels and other unfavorable economic factors could further adversely affect consumer 
demand for products we sell or distribute, which in turn could adversely affect our results of operations. Consumers may not return 
to historical spending patterns following any future reduction in consumer spending.

The costs of providing employee benefits have escalated, and liabilities under certain plans may be triggered due to 

our actions or the actions of others, which may adversely affect our profitability and liquidity.

We  sponsor  various  defined  benefit  and  defined  contribution  retirement  plans,  as  well  as  contribute  to  various 
multiemployer pension plans on behalf of our employees. Changes in interest rates or in the market value of plan assets could 
affect  the  funded  status  of  our  pension  plans.  This  could  cause  volatility  in  our  benefits  costs  and  increase  future  funding 
requirements  of  our  plans.  Pension  and  post-retirement  costs  also  may  be  significantly  affected  by  changes  in  key  actuarial 
assumptions including anticipated rates of return on plan assets and the discount rates used in determining the projected benefit 
obligation and annual periodic pension costs. Recent changes in federal laws require plan sponsors to eliminate, over defined time 
periods, the underfunded status of plans that are subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act rules and regulations. 
Certain of our defined benefit retirement plans are less than fully funded. Facility closings may trigger cash payments or previously 
unrecognized obligations under our defined benefit retirement plans, and the costs of such liabilities may be significant or may  
compromise our ability to close facilities or otherwise conduct cost reduction initiatives on time and within budget. A significant 
increase in future funding requirements could have a negative impact on our results of operations, financial condition and cash 
flows. In addition to potential changes in funding requirements, the costs of maintaining our pension plans are impacted by various 
factors including increases in healthcare costs and legislative changes such as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and 
the Health Care Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. 

14

Members of the U.S. Congress and the new presidential administration have recently announced plans to repeal and 
replace the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the Health Care Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. However, it 
remains unclear how a repeal or replacement of these programs might affect healthcare costs or legislation.

Future funding requirements, withdrawal liabilities and related charges associated with multiemployer plans in which 

we participate could have a material negative impact on our business.

In addition to our company-sponsored pension plans, we participate in certain multiemployer defined benefit pension 
plans that are administered jointly by labor unions representing certain of our employees and multiple employers like us that have 
employees participating in the plan. We make periodic contributions to these multiemployer pension plans in accordance with the 
provisions of negotiated collective bargaining agreements. Our required contributions to these plans could increase due to a number 
of factors, including the funded status of the plans and the level of our ongoing participation in these plans. Our risk of such 
increased payments may be greater if any of the participating employers in these underfunded plans withdraws from the plan due 
to insolvency and is not able to contribute an amount sufficient to fund the unfunded liabilities associated with its participants in 
the plan. In the event that we decide to withdraw from participation in one of these multiemployer plans, we could be required to 
make additional lump-sum contributions to the relevant plan. These withdrawal liabilities may be significant and could materially 
adversely affect our business and our financial results. 

Some of the plans in which we participate are reported to have significant underfunded liabilities, which could increase 
the amount of any potential withdrawal liability. In addition, under the Pension Protection Act of 2006, special funding rules apply 
to multiemployer pension plans that are classified as “endangered,” “seriously endangered,” or “critical” status. If plans in which 
we participate are in critical status, benefit reductions may apply and/or we could be required to make additional contributions. 
One of the multiemployer pension plans in which we participate was in “critical” status based on that plan's most recent Form 
5500, meaning it was less than 65% funded. Future funding requirements and related charges associated with multiemployer plans 
in which we participate could have a material negative impact on our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

Changes in our credit ratings may have a negative impact on our future financing costs or the availability of capital.

Some of our debt is rated by Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s Investors Service and Fitch Ratings, and there are a number 
of factors beyond our control with respect to these ratings. Our credit ratings are currently considered to be below “investment 
grade.” Although the interest rate on our existing credit facilities is not affected by changes in our credit ratings, such ratings or 
any further rating downgrades may impair our ability to raise additional capital in the future on terms that are acceptable to us, if 
at all, may cause the value of our securities to decline and may have other negative implications with respect to our business. 
Ratings reflect only the views of the ratings agency issuing the rating, are not recommendations to buy, sell or hold our securities 
and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the ratings agency issuing the rating. Each rating should be evaluated 
independently of any other rating.

Legal and Regulatory Risks

Litigation, such as the pending antitrust lawsuit, could expose us to significant liabilities and may have a material 

adverse impact on our reputation and business.

Scrutiny of the dairy industry has resulted, and may continue to result, in litigation against us, such as the private antitrust 
lawsuit  discussed  below.  Such  lawsuits  are  expensive  to  defend,  divert  management’s  attention  and  may  result  in  significant 
judgments. In some cases, these awards would be trebled by statute and successful plaintiffs are entitled to an award of attorneys’ 
fees. Depending on its size, such a judgment could materially and adversely affect our results of operations, cash flows and financial 
condition and impair our ability to continue operations. We may not be able to pay such judgment or to post a bond for an appeal, 
given our financial condition and our available cash resources. In addition, depending on its size, failure to pay such a judgment 
or failure to post an appeal bond could cause us to breach certain provisions of our credit facilities. In either of these or other 
circumstances, we may seek a waiver of or amendment to the terms of our credit facilities, but we may not be able to obtain such 
a  waiver  or  amendment.  Failure  to  obtain  such  a  waiver  or  amendment  would  materially  and  adversely  affect  our  results  of 
operations, cash flows and financial condition and could impair our ability to continue operations. Moreover, such litigation could 
expose us to negative publicity, which could adversely affect our brands, reputation and/or customer preference for our products.

We are defending a private antitrust lawsuit that is scheduled for trial beginning March 28, 2017. The two plaintiffs 
initiated this case in 2007 as a putative class action. Although the court has refused to certify the case as a class action, the two 
original plaintiffs are pursuing their individual claims for damages.  The outcome of this lawsuit is uncertain, and no assurance 
can be given that the outcome will be favorable to us. Plaintiffs claim damages of $57 million. If plaintiffs were to prevail, any 
damage award would be trebled as a matter of law. In addition, if plaintiffs were to prevail, they would be entitled to an award of 
their reasonable attorneys’ fees. The denial of class certification did not act as an adjudication on the merits, either for those named 

15

plaintiffs or for the class of purchasers the named plaintiffs proposed to represent. Therefore, we may be subject to subsequent 
litigation by such purchasers.

Our results of operations could be adversely affected if actual losses from legal claims against us exceed our reserves.

We are party to various litigation claims and legal proceedings. We evaluate these litigation claims and legal proceedings 
to assess the likelihood of unfavorable outcomes and to estimate, if possible, the amount of potential losses. Based on these 
assessments and estimates, we establish reserves and/or disclose the relevant litigation claims or legal proceedings, as appropriate. 
These assessments and estimates are based on the information available to management at the time and involve a significant 
amount of management judgment. Actual outcomes or losses may differ materially from our current assessments and estimates. 
If the amounts we are required to pay as a result of claims against us substantially exceed the sums anticipated by our reserves, if 
established, the need to pay those amounts could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

Labor disputes could adversely affect us.

As of December 31, 2016, approximately 37% of our employees participated in collective bargaining agreements. Our 
collective bargaining agreements are scheduled to expire at various times over the next 3 to 5 years. At any given time, we may 
face a number of union organizing drives. When we negotiate collective bargaining agreements or terms, we and the union may 
disagree on important issues which, in turn, could possibly lead to a strike, work slowdown or other job actions at one or more of 
our locations. In the event of a strike, work slowdown or other labor unrest, or if we are unable to negotiate labor contracts on 
reasonable terms, our ability to supply our products to customers could be impaired, which could result in reduced revenue and 
customer claims, and may distract our management from focusing on our business and strategic priorities. In addition, our ability 
to make short-term adjustments to control compensation and benefits costs or otherwise to adapt to changing business requirements 
may be limited by the terms of our collective bargaining agreements.

Our business is subject to various environmental and health and safety laws and regulations, which may increase our 

compliance costs or subject us to liabilities.

Our  business  operations  are  subject  to  numerous  requirements  in  the  United  States  relating  to  the  protection  of  the 
environment and health and safety matters, including the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Comprehensive Environmental 
Response and the Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, as well as similar state and local statutes and regulations 
in the United States. These laws and regulations govern, among other things, air emissions and the discharge of wastewater and 
other pollutants, the use of refrigerants, the handling and disposal of hazardous materials, and the cleanup of contamination in the 
environment. The costs of complying with these laws and regulations may be significant, particularly relating to wastewater and 
ammonia treatment which are capital intensive. Additionally, we could incur significant costs, including fines, penalties and other 
sanctions, cleanup costs and third-party claims for property damage or personal injury as a result of the failure to comply with, or 
liabilities under, environmental, health and safety requirements. New legislation, as well as current federal and other state regulatory 
initiatives relating to these environmental matters, could require us to replace equipment, install additional pollution controls, 
purchase various emission allowances or curtail operations. These costs could negatively affect our results of operations and 
financial condition.

Changes in laws, regulations and accounting standards could have an adverse effect on our financial results.

We are subject to federal, state and local governmental laws and regulations, including those promulgated by the FDA, 
the USDA, U.S. Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"), Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA"), FTC, 
Department of Transportation, Department of Labor, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and 
Consumer Protection Act of 2010 and numerous related regulations promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission 
and the Financial Accounting Standards Board. Changes in federal, state or local laws, or the interpretations of such laws and 
regulations, may negatively impact our financial results or our ability to market our products. Any or all of these risks could 
adversely impact our financial results.

Violations of laws or regulations related to the food industry, as well as new laws or regulations or changes to existing 

laws or regulations related to the food industry, could adversely affect our business.

The food production and marketing industry is subject to a variety of federal, state and local laws and regulations, including 
food safety requirements related to the ingredients, manufacture, processing, packaging, storage, marketing, advertising, labeling 
quality and distribution of our products, as well as those related to worker health and workplace safety. Our activities are subject 
to extensive regulation. We are regulated by, among other federal and state authorities, the FDA, the EPA, the FTC, and the U.S. 
Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Labor and Transportation. Federal legislation passed in 2016 directs the USDA to adopt 
rules requiring the labeling of products containing or derived from genetically engineered organisms. New rules adopted by the 
FDA  redesigned  the  Nutrition  Facts  label  and  requires  all  packaged  goods  to  use  the  new  label  by  July  2018.  Change  and 

16

implementation of new labels on our products to comply with these rules may result in significant costs to our business.  In addition, 
a growing number of local ordinances across the country have imposed a tax on sweetened beverages, which may have a negative 
impact on our sales, results of operations and our business. In addition, a number of states are considering similar laws. Governmental 
regulations also affect taxes and levies, healthcare costs, energy usage, immigration and other labor issues, all of which may have 
a direct or indirect effect on our business or those of our customers or suppliers.

In addition, our volumes may be impacted by the level of government spending that supports grocery purchases because 
such amounts may impact the level of consumer spending on fluid dairy products. As a meaningful portion of Supplemental 
Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”)  benefits are spent in the dairy category, we are cautious about the impact that any change 
or reduction in these benefits could have on consumer spending in the dairy category. Any reduction or change in SNAP benefits 
or the suspension, curtailment, or expiration of other government spending programs, such as the Special Supplemental Nutrition 
Program for Women, Infants, and Children, could have an adverse impact upon our volumes and our results of operations.

In addition, the marketing and advertising of our products could make us the target of claims relating to alleged false or 
deceptive advertising under federal and state laws and regulations, and we may be subject to initiatives that limit or prohibit the 
marketing and advertising of our products to children. Changes in these laws or regulations or the introduction of new laws or 
regulations could increase our compliance costs, increase other costs of doing business for us, our customers or our suppliers, or 
restrict our actions, which could adversely affect our results of operations. In some cases, increased regulatory scrutiny could 
interrupt distribution of our products or force changes in our production processes or procedures (or force us to implement new 
processes or procedures). For example, the FDA has finalized new regulations pursuant to the Food Safety Modernization Act of 
2011  which  requires,  among  other  things,  that  food  facilities  conduct  contamination  hazard  analysis,  implement  risk-based 
preventive controls and develop track-and-trace capabilities, and there could be unforeseen issues, requirements and costs that 
arise as we come into compliance with these new rules by the various required compliance dates over the next two to three years. 
Further, if we are found to be in violation of applicable laws and regulations in these areas, we could be subject to civil remedies, 
including fines, injunctions or recalls, as well as potential criminal sanctions, any of which could have a material adverse effect 
on our business.

Item 1B. 

Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

17

Item 2. 

Properties

Our corporate headquarters are located in leased premises at 2711 North Haskell Avenue, Suite 3400, Dallas, Texas 75204. 
In addition, we operate 66 manufacturing facilities. We believe that our facilities are well maintained and are generally suitable 
and of sufficient capacity to support our current business operations and that the loss of any single facility would not have a material 
adverse effect on our operations or financial results.

We currently conduct our manufacturing operations within the following facilities, most of which are owned:

Homewood, Alabama(2)

Hammond, Louisiana

City of Industry, California(2)

Franklin, Massachusetts

Hayward, California

Englewood, Colorado

Greeley, Colorado

Deland, Florida

Miami, Florida

Orlando, Florida

Braselton, Georgia
Hilo, Hawaii

Honolulu, Hawaii

Boise, Idaho

Belvidere, Illinois

Harvard, Illinois

Huntley, Illinois

O’Fallon, Illinois

Rockford, Illinois

Decatur, Indiana

Huntington, Indiana

LeMars, Iowa

Louisville, Kentucky

Lynn, Massachusetts

Wilbraham, Massachusetts

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Livonia, Michigan

Marquette, Michigan

Springfield, Ohio

Toledo, Ohio

Erie, Pennsylvania

Lansdale, Pennsylvania

Lebanon, Pennsylvania

Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania

Sharpsville, Pennsylvania

Thief River Falls, Minnesota

Spartanburg, South Carolina

Woodbury, Minnesota
Billings, Montana

Great Falls, Montana

North Las Vegas, Nevada

Reno, Nevada

Florence, New Jersey

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Rensselaer, New York

High Point, North Carolina

Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Athens, Tennessee

Nashville, Tennessee(2)

Dallas, Texas

El Paso, Texas

Houston, Texas

Lubbock, Texas

McKinney, Texas

San Antonio, Texas

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Salt Lake City, Utah

Bismarck, North Dakota

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Marietta, Ohio

St. George, Utah

Richmond, Virginia

Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin

The majority of our manufacturing facilities also serve as distribution facilities. In addition, we have numerous distribution 

branches located across the country, some of which are owned but most of which are leased.

18

Item 3. 

Legal Proceedings

A putative class action antitrust complaint (the “retailer action”) was filed against Dean Foods and other milk processors 
on August 9, 2007 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. Plaintiffs allege generally that we, 
either acting alone or in conjunction with others in the milk industry, lessened competition in the Southeastern United States for 
the sale of processed fluid Grade A milk to retail outlets and other customers. Plaintiffs further allege that the defendants’ conduct 
artificially inflated wholesale prices paid by direct milk purchasers. In March 2012, the district court granted summary judgment 
in favor of defendants, including the Company, as to all counts then remaining. Plaintiffs appealed the district court’s decision, 
and in January 2014, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit reversed the grant of summary judgment as to one 
of the five original counts in the Tennessee retailer action. Following the Sixth Circuit’s denial of our request to reconsider the 
case en banc, the Company petitioned the Supreme Court of the United States for review. On November 17, 2014, the Supreme 
Court denied our petition and the case returned to the district court. On January 19, 2016, the district court granted summary 
judgment to defendants on claims accruing after May 8, 2009. On January 25, 2016, the district court denied summary judgment 
in other respects and denied plaintiffs’ motion for class certification. On February 8, 2016, plaintiffs filed a petition for permission 
to appeal the district court’s order denying class certification. That petition was denied by the Sixth Circuit on June 14, 2016. On 
March 30, 2016, the district court issued an order holding that the case will be judged under an antitrust legal doctrine known as 
the rule of reason. The case is presently scheduled for trial on March 28, 2017. Plaintiffs claim damages in the amount of $57  
million from Dean Foods. If plaintiffs were to prevail, any damage award would be trebled as a matter of law. In addition, if 
plaintiffs were to prevail, they would be entitled to an award of their reasonable attorneys' fees. The Company believes it has 
meritorious defenses to plaintiffs’ claims in the retailer action and intends to defend itself vigorously at trial. Based on our current 
assessment and because at this time it is not possible to predict the outcome of this matter, the Company has not established a 
reserve for this litigation. 

In addition to the pending legal proceeding described above, we are party from time to time to certain claims, litigations, 
audits and investigations. Potential liabilities associated with these other matters are not expected to have a material adverse impact 
on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

Item 4. 

Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

19

PART II

Item 5. 

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity 
Securities

Our common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “DF.” The following table sets forth the 

high and low sales prices of our common stock as quoted on the New York Stock Exchange for the last two fiscal years. 

At February 17, 2017, there were 2,182 record holders of our common stock.

2015:

First Quarter

Second Quarter

Third Quarter

Fourth Quarter

2016:

First Quarter

Second Quarter

Third Quarter

Fourth Quarter

High

Low

$

19.74

$

19.17

18.28

19.41

21.17

18.97

19.67

22.14

15.36

15.76

14.56

15.78

16.48

16.33

15.69

16.10

Dividends — In November 2013, we announced that our Board of Directors had adopted a cash dividend policy. Under 
the policy, holders of our common stock will receive dividends when and as declared by our Board of Directors. On March 3, 
2016, we announced that our Board of Directors declared an increased quarterly dividend of $0.09 per share of common stock, 
from the $0.07 per share quarterly dividend paid in each quarter of 2015. Annual dividend payments totaled approximately $32.8 
million and $26.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.  Beginning in 2015, all awards of restricted 
stock units, performance stock units and phantom stock awards provide for cash dividend equivalent units ("DEUs") which vest 
in cash at the same time as the underlying award.

See “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations —Liquidity and 
Capital Resources — Current Debt Obligations” and Note 8 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for further information 
regarding the terms of our senior secured credit facility, including terms restricting the payment of dividends.

20

Item 6. 

Selected Financial Data

The following selected financial data as of and for each of the years ended December 31, 2012 to 2016 has been derived 
from our audited Consolidated Financial Statements. The operating results of WhiteWave and Morningstar and certain other directly 
attributable expenses, including interest expense, related to the sale of Morningstar, which occurred on January 3, 2013, and the 
spin-off of WhiteWave, which was completed on May 23, 2013, are reflected as discontinued operations in the table below for all 
periods presented. The selected financial data does not purport to indicate results of operations as of any future date or for any 
future period. The selected financial data should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements and the related 
Notes thereto.

2016

Year Ended December 31
2014
(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

2015

2013

2012

Operating data:

Net sales
Cost of sales
Gross profit(1)
Operating costs and expenses:
Selling and distribution
General and administrative
Amortization of intangibles
Facility closing and reorganization costs, net
Litigation settlements(2)
Impairment of goodwill, intangible and other long-lived assets(3)

Other operating (income) loss(4)

Total operating costs and expenses

Operating income
Other (income) expense:
Interest expense(5)
Loss on early retirement of debt(6)
Gain on disposition of WhiteWave common stock(7)
Other income, net

Total other (income) expense

Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes
Income tax expense (benefit)
Income (loss) from continuing operations
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax(8)
Gain (loss) on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax(9)
Net income (loss)

Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest in discontinued
operations
Net income (loss) attributable to Dean Foods Company

Basic earnings (loss) per common share (10):

$ 7,710,226
5,722,710
1,987,516

$ 8,121,661
6,147,252
1,974,409

$ 9,503,196
7,829,733
1,673,463

$ 9,016,321
7,161,734
1,854,587

$ 9,274,662
7,179,403
2,095,259

1,348,349
346,028
20,752
8,719
—
—

—
1,723,848
263,668

66,795
—
—
(5,778)
61,017
202,651
82,034
120,617
(312)
(376)
119,929

1,379,317
350,324
21,653
19,844
—
109,910

—
1,881,048
93,361

66,813
43,609
—
(3,751)
106,671
(13,310)
(5,229)
(8,081)
(1,095)
668
(8,508)

1,355,053
288,744
2,889
4,460
(2,521)
20,820

(4,535)
1,664,910
8,553

61,019
1,437
—
(1,620)
60,836
(52,283)
(32,096)
(20,187)
(652)
543
(20,296)

1,337,745
310,453
3,669
27,008
(1,019)
43,441

2,494
1,723,791
130,796

200,558
63,387
(415,783)
(400)
(152,238)
283,034
(42,325)
325,359
2,803
491,195
819,357

1,419,531
412,957
3,758
55,787
—
—

(57,459)
1,834,574
260,685

150,589
—
—
(1,664)
148,925
111,760
87,945
23,815
139,279
(2,053)
161,041

—

—

—

(6,179)

(2,419)

$

119,929

$

(8,508) $

(20,296) $

813,178

$

158,622

Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Dean Foods
Company
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to Dean
Foods Company
Net income (loss) attributable to Dean Foods Company

1.33

(0.01)

(0.09)

(0.22)

—

—

$

1.32

$

(0.09) $

(0.22) $

Diluted earnings (loss) per common share(10):

Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to Dean Foods
Company
Income (loss) from discontinued operations attributable to Dean
Foods Company
Net income (loss) attributable to Dean Foods Company

Cash dividend declared per common share

Average common shares(10):

1.32

(0.01)

1.31

0.36

$

$

(0.09)

(0.22)

—

(0.09) $

0.28

$

—

(0.22) $

0.28

$

$

$

3.47

5.20

8.67

3.43

5.15

8.58

$

$

— $

0.26

1.46

1.72

0.26

1.44

1.70

—

Basic
Diluted
Other data:

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(11)

Balance sheet data (at end of period):

Total assets(12)
Long-term debt(12)(13)
Other long-term liabilities
Non-controlling interest(14)
Dean Foods Company stockholders’ equity(15)

90,933,886
91,510,483

93,298,467
93,298,467

93,916,656
93,916,656

93,785,611
94,796,236

92,375,378
93,065,912

2.84x

0.87x

0.48x

2.17x

1.56x

$ 2,606,227
886,051
276,630
—
610,556

$ 2,520,163
834,573
272,864
—
545,504

$ 2,768,714
916,257
276,318
—
627,318

$ 2,800,134
895,351
273,314
—
714,315

$ 5,686,907
2,311,567
357,313
102,441
357,187

21

 
 
 
(1) 

(2) 
(3) 

(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

(7) 

(8) 

(9) 
(10) 

(11) 

(12) 

(13) 
(14) 

(15) 

As disclosed in Note 1 to our Consolidated Financial Statements, we include certain shipping and handling costs within 
selling and distribution expense. As a result, our gross profit may not be comparable to other entities that present all 
shipping and handling costs as a component of cost of sales.
Results for 2014 and 2013 include reductions in a litigation settlement liability due to plaintiff class "opt outs." 
During the first quarter of 2015, we approved the launch of DairyPure®, our national white milk brand. In connection 
with the approval of the launch of DairyPure®, we changed our indefinite lived trademarks to finite lived, resulting in a 
triggering event for impairment testing purposes. Based upon our analysis, we recorded a non-cash impairment charge 
of $109.9 million. Results for 2014 include non-cash impairment charges of $20.8 million related to property, plant, and 
equipment at certain of our production facilities. Results for 2013 include non-cash impairment charges of $35.5 million 
related to property, plant and equipment at certain of our production facilities and $7.9 million related to certain finite 
and indefinite-lived intangible assets. See Notes 5 and 15 to our Consolidated Financial Statements.
Results for 2014 and 2013 include the final settlement of certain liabilities associated with the prior disposition of a 
manufacturing facility and the final disposal of assets associated with the closure of one of our manufacturing facilities. 
Results for 2012 include a $58.0 million pre-tax gain on the sale of our interest in Consolidated Container Company. 
Results for 2013 include a charge of $6.8 million related to the write-off of deferred financing costs as a result of the 
termination of our prior senior secured credit facility and the repayment of all related indebtedness. Results for 2012 
include a charge of $3.5 million for the write-off of deferred financing costs as a result of the early retirement of our then-
outstanding 2014 Tranche A and Tranche B term loan borrowings. 
In March 2015, we redeemed the remaining $476.2 million principal amount of our outstanding senior notes due 2016 
at a total redemption price of approximately $521.8 million. As a result, we recorded a $38.3 million pre-tax loss on early 
retirement of long-term debt in the first quarter of 2015. In December 2014, we completed the redemption of our remaining 
$24 million outstanding principal amount of our senior notes due 2018 at a redemption price equal to 104.875% of their 
principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest, or approximately $26.1 million in total. As a result, we recorded a 
$1.4 million pre-tax loss on early retirement of debt in 2014. During the fourth quarter of 2013, we successfully completed 
a cash tender offer for $400 million aggregate principal amount of our senior notes due 2018 and our senior notes due 
2016. We purchased $376.2 million of the senior notes due 2018, for their aggregate principal amount plus a call premium 
of approximately $54 million and $23.8 million of the senior notes due 2016 for their aggregate principal amount plus a 
call premium of approximately $3 million. As a result, we recorded a $63.4 million pre-tax loss on early retirement of 
debt. See Note 8 to our Consolidated Financial Statements.
In July 2013, we disposed of our remaining investment in WhiteWave common stock through a debt-for-equity exchange. 
As a result of the disposition, we recorded a tax-free gain in continuing operations of $415.8 million in the third quarter 
of 2013.
Income (loss) from discontinued operations for each of the five years shown in the table above includes the operating 
results and certain other directly attributable expenses, including interest expense, related to the disposition of Morningstar 
and the spin-off of WhiteWave. See Note 2 to our Consolidated Financial Statements.
Amounts for 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013 relate to the disposition of Morningstar and the spin-off of WhiteWave in 2013. 
Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share and average basic and diluted shares outstanding for the year ended 
December 31, 2012 have been adjusted retroactively to reflect a 1-for-2 reverse stock split effected August 26, 2013.
For purposes of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, “earnings” represents income (loss) before income taxes 
plus fixed charges and “fixed charges” consist of interest on all debt, amortization of deferred financing costs and the 
portion of rental expense that we believe is representative of the interest component of rent expense.
Beginning in the first quarter of 2016, unamortized debt issuance costs, not related to revolving credit agreements, of 
$6.8 million, $7.9 million, $0.9 million, $1.9 million and $10.7 million as of December 31, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 and 
2012,  respectively,  were  reclassified  from  other  assets  and  netted  against  the  outstanding  debt  balance  due  to  the 
retrospective effect of ASU No. 2015-03, Imputation of Interest - Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. 
See Note 1 to our Consolidated Financial Statements.
Includes the current portion of long-term debt.
Upon completion of the WhiteWave IPO on October 31, 2012, we owned an 86.7% economic interest in WhiteWave. 
The sale was accounted for as an equity transaction in accordance with ASC 810 and no gain or loss was recognized as 
we retained the controlling financial interest. The WhiteWave IPO increased our equity attributable to non-controlling 
interest by $98.1 million in 2012 which represented the carrying value of the non-controlling interest. Upon completion 
of the WhiteWave spin-off, we ceased to own a controlling financial interest in WhiteWave, and WhiteWave’s results of 
operations were reclassified as discontinued operations for all periods presented herein.
In  connection  with  the WhiteWave  spin-off,  which  was  completed  on  May  23,  2013,  we  recorded  a  $617.1  million
reduction to additional paid-in-capital. The distribution was recorded through additional paid-in-capital rather than through 
retained earnings, as we were in an accumulated deficit position at the time of the WhiteWave spin-off. 

22

Item 7. 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Business Overview

We are a leading food and beverage company and the largest processor and direct-to-store distributor of fresh fluid milk 
and other dairy and dairy case products in the United States, with a vision to be the most admired and trusted provider of wholesome, 
great-tasting dairy products at every occasion. We manufacture, market and distribute a wide variety of branded and private label 
dairy and dairy case products, including fluid milk, ice cream, cultured dairy products, creamers, ice cream mix and other dairy 
products to retailers, distributors, foodservice outlets, educational institutions and governmental entities across the United States. 
Our consolidated net sales totaled $7.7 billion in 2016. Due to the perishable nature of our products, we deliver the majority of 
our products directly to our customers' locations in refrigerated trucks or trailers that we own or lease. We believe that we have 
one of the most extensive refrigerated DSD systems in the United States. We sell our products primarily on a local or regional 
basis through our local and regional sales forces, and in some instances, with the assistance of national brokers. Some national 
customer relationships are coordinated by our centralized corporate sales department or national brokers.

Our Reportable Segment

We have aligned our leadership team, operating strategy, and sales, logistics and supply chain initiatives into a single 
operating and reportable segment. Unless stated otherwise, any reference to income statement items in these financial statements 
refers to results from continuing operations.

Recent Developments

See  “Part  I  —  Item 1.  Business  —  Developments  Since  January 1,  2016”  for  further  information  regarding  recent 

developments that have impacted our financial condition and results of operations.

23

Results of Operations

Our key performance indicators are brand mix, achieving low cost and volume performance, which are reflected in gross 
profit, operating income and net sales, respectively. We evaluate our financial performance based on sales and operating profit or 
loss before gains and losses on the sale of businesses, facility closing and reorganization costs, asset impairment charges, litigation 
settlements and other nonrecurring gains and losses. The following table presents certain information concerning our financial 
results, including information presented as a percentage of net sales:

2016

2015

2014

Dollars

Percent

Dollars

Percent

Dollars

Percent

Year Ended December 31

Net sales

Cost of sales

Gross profit(1)

Operating costs and expenses:

Selling and distribution

General and administrative
Amortization of intangibles

Facility closing and
reorganization costs, net

Litigation settlements

Impairment of intangible and
long-lived assets

Other operating income

Total operating costs and
expenses

$

7,710.2

100.0% $

(Dollars in millions)
8,121.7

100.0% $

5,722.7

1,987.5

1,348.3

346.0
20.8

8.7

—

—

—

74.2

25.8

17.5

4.5
0.3

0.1

—

—

—

6,147.3

1,974.4

1,379.3

350.3
21.7

19.8

—

109.9

—

75.7

24.3

17.0

4.3
0.3

0.2

—

1.3

—

9,503.2

7,829.7

1,673.5

1,355.1

288.7
2.9

4.5
(2.5)

20.8
(4.5)

1,723.8

22.4

1,881.0

23.1

1,665.0

Operating income

$

263.7

3.4% $

93.4

1.2% $

8.5

100.0%

82.4

17.6

14.3

3.0
—

—

—

0.2

—

17.5

0.1%

(1) 

As disclosed in Note 1 to our Consolidated Financial Statements, we include certain shipping and handling costs within 
selling and distribution expense. As a result, our gross profit may not be comparable to other entities that present all 
shipping and handling costs as a component of cost of sales.

Year Ended December 31, 2016 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2015 

Net Sales — The change in net sales was due to the following:

Volume

Pricing and product mix changes

Acquisitions

Total decrease

Year Ended
December 31,
2016 vs. 2015

(In millions)

$

$

(216.0)
(291.4)
96.0
(411.4)

Net sales decreased $411.4 million, or 5.1%, during the year ended December 31, 2016 as compared to the year ended 
December 31, 2015, primarily due to decreased pricing, as a result of declines in dairy commodity costs from year-ago levels. On 
average, during the year ended December 31, 2016, the Class I price was 9.4% below prior-year levels. 

Net sales were further impacted by a 2.1% total sales volume decline across all products from year-ago levels. Volume 
declines across our fluid milk business, which accounted for 77% of our total sales volume in 2016, were primarily the result of 
large format private label volume we have chosen to exit, as this volume was not consistent with our more disciplined pricing 
architecture. Our total branded white milk volumes decreased 1.8% year-over-year, and we experienced a 2.4% increase in our 
flavored milk volumes. Net sales declines were partially offset by a $96.0 million increase in net sales attributable to volumes 
associated with the Friendly's acquisition.

24

 
 
 
 
 
 
We generally increase or decrease the prices of our private label fluid dairy products on a monthly basis in correlation 
with fluctuations in the costs of raw materials, packaging supplies and delivery costs. We manage the pricing of our branded fluid 
milk products on a longer-term basis, balancing consumer demand with net price realization. However, we continue to balance 
our product pricing with the execution of our strategy to improve net price realization and, in some cases, we are subject to the 
terms  of  our  sales  agreements  with  respect  to  the  means  and/or  timing  of  price  increases,  which  can  negatively  impact  our 
profitability. The following table sets forth the average monthly Class I “mover” and its components, as well as the average monthly 
Class II minimum prices for raw skim milk and butterfat for 2016 compared to 2015:

Class I mover(1)

Class I raw skim milk mover(1)(2)

Class I butterfat mover(2)(3)

Class II raw skim milk minimum(1)(4)

Class II butterfat minimum(3)(4)

Year Ended December 31*

2016

2015

% Change

$

14.80

$

16.34

6.75

2.37

6.47

2.32

8.91

2.21

7.69

2.30

(9.4)%

(24.2)%

7.2 %

(15.9)%

0.9 %

* 

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

The prices noted in this table are not the prices that we actually pay. The federal order minimum prices applicable at any 
given location for Class I raw skim milk or Class I butterfat are based on the Class I mover prices plus producer premiums 
and a location differential. Class II prices noted in the table are federal minimum prices, applicable at all locations. Our 
actual  cost  also  includes  procurement  costs  and  other  related  charges  that  vary  by  location  and  supplier.  Please  see 
“Part I — Item 1. Business —  Government  Regulation —  Milk  Industry  Regulation”  and  “— Known  Trends  and 
Uncertainties — Prices of Conventional Raw Milk and Other Inputs” below for a more complete description of raw milk 
pricing.

Prices are per hundredweight.

We process Class I raw skim milk and butterfat into fluid milk products.

Prices are per pound.

We process Class II raw skim milk and butterfat into products such as cottage cheese, creams and creamers, ice cream 
and sour cream.

Cost of Sales — All expenses incurred to bring a product to completion are included in cost of sales, such as raw material, 
ingredient and packaging costs; labor costs; and plant and equipment costs. Cost of sales decreased 6.9% during the year ended 
December 31, 2016 in comparison to the year ended December 31, 2015, primarily due to decreased dairy commodity costs. The 
Class I price was 9.4% below prior-year levels. In addition, this decrease was due to our ongoing cost and efficiency initiatives 
and lower sales volumes.

Gross Profit — Gross profit percentage increased to 25.8% in 2016 compared to 24.3% in 2015. This increase was 
primarily due to the execution of our branded pricing strategy and the associated increased margin pool for our branded products, 
as well as declining input costs and the impact of our ongoing productivity initiatives. Increases to gross profit were partially offset 
by overall volume declines discussed above.

Operating Costs and Expenses — Our operating expenses decreased $157.2 million, or 8.4%, during the year ended 
December 31, 2016 in comparison to the year ended December 31, 2015. Significant changes to operating costs and expenses in 
the year ended December 31, 2016 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2015 include the following:

• 

Selling and distribution costs decreased by $31.0 million primarily due to lower fuel costs and net logistics cost 
reductions during the year ended December 31, 2016 in comparison to the year ended December 31, 2015, partially 
offset by increased advertising costs.

•  General and administrative costs decreased by $4.3 million primarily due to lower incentive-based compensation 
paid in 2016 as compared to 2015, partially offset by a separation charge of $10.1 million recorded during 2016 in 
connection with the announcement of our CEO succession plan. Additionally, we recorded $4.6 million of acquisition 
costs paid in conjunction with the Friendly's acquisition. See Note 2 to our Consolidated Financial Statements.

• 

Facility closing and reorganization costs decreased by $11.1 million. See Note 15 to our Consolidated Financial 
Statements.

•  We recorded no impairment charges to our intangible assets during the year ended December 31, 2016, compared 
to $109.9 million of impairment charges during the year ended December 31, 2015. See Note 5 to our Consolidated 
Financial Statements.

25

 
 
Other (Income) Expense — Other expense decreased by $45.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2016 as 
compared to the year ended December 31, 2015. This decrease in expense was primarily due to the loss on early retirement of 
long-term debt of $43.6 million recorded on the early retirement of our 2016 senior notes and extinguishment of our prior credit 
facility, which occurred during the first quarter of 2015. Net expense also decreased due to income from royalties of $3.2 million 
in 2016 compared to $1.7 million in 2015.

Income Taxes — Income tax expense was recorded at an effective rate of 40.5% for 2016 compared to a 39.3% effective 
tax benefit rate in 2015. Generally, our effective tax rate varies primarily based on our profitability level and the relative earnings 
of our business units. In 2016, our effective tax rate was also impacted by the establishment of an uncertain tax position. Excluding 
the $3.0 million of tax expense related to this uncertain tax position, our effective tax rate would have been 39.0%. 

Year Ended December 31, 2015 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2014 

Net Sales — The change in net sales was due to the following:

Volume

Pricing and product mix changes

Total decrease

Year Ended
December 31,
2015 vs. 2014

(In millions)

$

$

(293.1)
(1,088.4)
(1,381.5)

Net sales decreased $1.4 billion, or 14.5%, during the year ended December 31, 2015 as compared to the year ended 
December 31, 2014 primarily due to decreased pricing, as a result of significant declines in dairy commodity costs from year-ago 
levels. On average, during the year ended December 31, 2015, the Class I price was approximately 30% below prior-year levels. 

Net sales were further impacted by a 3.1% total sales volume decline across all products from year-ago levels. Volume 
declines across our fluid milk business, which accounted for 75% of our total sales volume in 2015, were primarily impacted by 
choices we have made with respect to our rate realization strategy and channel dynamics, partially offset by an improving fluid 
milk category. Across our other non-fluid milk products, year-over-year volume declines were largely offset by an increase of 
approximately 4% in our ice cream volume performance. 

During the year ended December 31, 2015, the fluid milk category declined on a year-over-year basis; however, 2015 
did reflect improved category performance at retail in comparison to prior years. Despite overall category improvement, our share 
of the fluid milk category decreased in 2015 from 2014 as we executed our plans to improve net price realization. 

26

 
 
The following table sets forth the average monthly Class I “mover” and its components, as well as the average monthly 

Class II minimum prices for raw skim milk and butterfat for 2015 compared to 2014: 

Class I mover(1)

Class I raw skim milk mover(1)(2)

Class I butterfat mover(2)(3)

Class II raw skim milk minimum(1)(4)

Class II butterfat minimum(3)(4)

Year Ended December 31*

2015

2014

% Change

$

16.34

$

8.91

2.21

7.69

2.30

23.29

15.57

2.36

15.53

2.39

(29.8)%

(42.8)%

(6.4)%

(50.5)%

(3.8)%

* 

(1) 
(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

The prices noted in this table are not the prices that we actually pay. The federal order minimum prices applicable at any 
given location for Class I raw skim milk or Class I butterfat are based on the Class I mover prices plus producer premiums 
and a location differential. Class II prices noted in the table are federal minimum prices, applicable at all locations. Our 
actual  cost  also  includes  procurement  costs  and  other  related  charges  that  vary  by  location  and  supplier.  Please  see 
“Part I —  Item 1. Business —  Government  Regulation —  Milk  Industry  Regulation”  and  “— Known  Trends  and 
Uncertainties — Prices of Conventional Raw Milk and Other Inputs” below for a more complete description of raw milk 
pricing.

Prices are per hundredweight.
We process Class I raw skim milk and butterfat into fluid milk products.

Prices are per pound.

We process Class II raw skim milk and butterfat into products such as cottage cheese, creams and creamers, ice cream 
and sour cream.

Cost of Sales — Cost of sales decreased 21.5% during the year ended December 31, 2015 in comparison to the year 
ended December 31, 2014, primarily due to decreased dairy commodity costs. In addition, this decrease was due to our ongoing 
cost and efficiency initiatives and lower sales volumes.

Gross Profit — Gross profit percentage increased to 24.3% in 2015 compared to 17.6% in 2014. This increase was 
primarily due to price adjustments for our private label products, pricing actions and the associated increased margin pool for our 
branded products and the decline in dairy commodity costs. Increases to gross profit were partially offset by overall volume 
declines discussed above.

Operating Costs and Expenses — Our operating expenses increased $216.0 million, or 13.0%, during the year ended 
December 31, 2015 in comparison to the year ended December 31, 2014. Significant changes to operating costs and expenses in 
the year ended December 31, 2015 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2014 include the following:

• 

Selling and distribution costs increased by $24.2 million primarily due to higher advertising costs to support our 
national brands and the distribution inefficiencies associated with delivering products back into areas surrounding 
our closed facilities, as well as transitory costs associated with plant closures.

•  General and administrative costs increased by $61.6 million primarily due to higher incentive-based compensation 
associated with higher earnings for the full year of 2015 as compared to 2014, as well as other employee related 
costs and professional services.

• 

• 

Impairment and incremental amortization of intangible assets of $109.9 million and $18.6 million, respectively.  See 
Note 5 to our Consolidated Financial Statements.

Facility  closing  and  reorganization  costs  increased  $15.3  million.  See  Note  15  to  our  Consolidated  Financial 
Statements.

•  Other operating income decreased by $4.5 million, which is primarily attributable to income related to the final 
settlement of certain liabilities associated with the prior disposition and closure of manufacturing facilities in 2014.

27

 
 
Other (Income) Expense — Other expense increased by $45.8 million during the year ended December 31, 2015 as 
compared to the year ended December 31, 2014. This increase in expense was primarily due to the loss on early retirement of 
long-term debt of $43.6 million recorded on the early retirement of our senior notes due 2016 and termination of our prior credit 
facility, which occurred during the first quarter of 2015. Additionally, interest expense increased $5.8 million during the year ended 
December 31, 2015 as compared to the year ended December 31, 2014. This increase was primarily due to increased interest 
expense resulting from our longer-dated debt maturity profile, stemming from the issuance of our $700 million in aggregate 
principal amount of 6.50% senior notes due 2023 (the "2023 Notes"), the proceeds of which were used to pay down revolving 
debt borrowings and used to extinguish our senior notes due 2016. See Note 8 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for further 
information regarding our debt repayments.

Income Taxes — Income tax benefit was recorded at an effective rate of 39.3% for 2015 compared to a 61.4% effective 
tax benefit rate in 2014. Generally, our effective tax rate varies primarily based on our profitability level and the relative earnings 
of our business units. In 2014, our effective tax rate was also impacted by settlements of various taxing authority examinations 
and several state tax law changes. Excluding these items, our effective tax benefit rate for the year ended December 31, 2014 was 
36.4%.

Liquidity and Capital Resources 

Overview

We believe that our cash on hand coupled with future cash flows from operations and other available sources of liquidity, 
including our  $450 million receivables securitization facility and our $450 million senior secured revolving credit facility, together 
will provide sufficient liquidity to allow us to meet our cash requirements and operate our business for at least the next twelve 
months, including the repayment of the $142 million aggregate principal amount of subsidiary senior notes, which mature on 
October 15, 2017. Additional anticipated uses of cash in 2017 include capital expenditures; working capital; pension contributions; 
financial obligations, including tax payments; and certain other costs that may be necessary to execute our strategic initiatives and 
invest to grow our business. On an ongoing basis, we will evaluate and consider strategic acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, 
or other transactions to create shareholder value and enhance financial performance. However, we may, from time to time, raise 
additional funds through borrowings or public or private sales of debt or equity securities. The amount, nature and timing of any 
borrowings or sales of debt or equity securities will depend on our operating performance and other circumstances; our then-
current commitments and obligations; the amount, nature and timing of our capital requirements; any limitations imposed by our 
current credit arrangements; and overall market conditions. As discussed below, we have also instituted a cash dividend policy 
and may repurchase shares of our common stock opportunistically. 

As of December 31, 2016, we had total cash on hand of $18.0 million, of which $11.3 million was attributable to our 

foreign operations. We are evaluating strategies and alternatives with respect to the cash attributable to our foreign operations.

At December 31, 2016, we had $895.1 million of long-term debt obligations, excluding unamortized discounts and debt 
issuance costs of $9.0 million. As of December 31, 2016, we had $741.2 million ($699.3 million as of February 17, 2017) of 
combined available future borrowing capacity under our senior secured revolving credit facility and receivables securitization 
facility, subject to compliance with the covenants in our credit agreements. 

Strategic Activities Impacting Liquidity

Amendment to Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility — On January 4, 2017, we amended our credit agreement to, 
among other things, (i) extend the maturity date of the senior secured revolving credit facility to January 4, 2022; (ii) modify the 
leverage ratio covenant to add a requirement that we comply with a maximum total net leverage ratio (which, for purposes of 
calculating indebtedness, excludes borrowings under our receivables securitization facility) not to exceed 4.25 to 1.00 and to 
eliminate the maximum senior secured net leverage ratio requirement; (iii) modify the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA” to 
permit  certain  pro  forma  cost  savings  add-backs  in  connection  with  permitted  acquisitions  and  dispositions;  (iv)  modify  the 
definition of “Applicable Rate” to reduce the interest rate margins such that loans outstanding under the revolving credit facility 
will bear interest, at our option, at either (x) the LIBO Rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement) plus a margin of between 1.75%
and 2.50% (initially 2.00%) based on our total net leverage ratio, or (y) the Alternate Base Rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement) 
plus a margin of between 0.75% and 1.50% (initially 1.00%) based on our total net leverage ratio; (v) modify certain negative 
covenants to provide additional flexibility for the incurrence of debt, the payment of dividends and the making of certain permitted 
acquisitions and other investments; (vi) eliminate and release all real property as collateral for loans under the revolving credit 
facility; and (vii) provide the Company the ability to request that increases in the aggregate commitments under the revolving 
credit facility be made available as either revolving loans or term loans. 

28

Amendment to Receivables Securitization Facility — On January 4, 2017, we amended the purchase agreement governing 
our receivables securitization facility to, among other things, (i) extend the liquidity termination date to January 4, 2020, (ii) reduce 
the maximum size of the receivables securitization facility to $450 million, (iii) replace the senior secured net leverage ratio with 
a total net leverage ratio to be consistent with the amended leverage ratio covenant under the Credit Agreement described above, 
and (iv) modify certain pricing terms such that advances outstanding under the receivables securitization facility will bear interest 
between 0.90% and 1.05%, and the Company will pay an unused fee between 0.40% and 0.55% on undrawn amounts, in each 
case based on the Company's total net leverage ratio. 

Friendly's Acquisition  —  On  June  20,  2016,  we  completed  the  acquisition  of  Friendly’s  Ice  Cream  Holdings  Corp. 
(“Friendly’s  Holdings”),  including  its  wholly-owned  subsidiary,  Friendly’s  Manufacturing  and  Retail,  LLC  (“Friendly’s 
Manufacturing,” and together with Friendly’s Holdings, “Friendly’s”), the Friendly’s® trademark and all intellectual property 
associated with the ice cream business. Friendly’s develops, produces, manufactures, markets, distributes and sells ice cream and 
other frozen dessert-related products, as well as toppings. The total purchase price was $158.2 million. This acquisition was funded 
through  a  combination  of  cash  on  hand  and  borrowings  under  our  senior  secured  revolving  credit  facility  and  receivables 
securitization facility.

Cash Dividends — Under our cash dividend policy, holders of our common stock will receive dividends when and as 
declared by our Board of Directors. Beginning in 2015, all awards of restricted stock units, performance stock units and phantom 
stock awards provide for cash dividend equivalent units, which vest in cash at the same time as the underlying award. On March 
3, 2016, we announced that our Board of Directors declared an increased quarterly dividend of $0.09 per share of common stock, 
from the $0.07 per share quarterly dividend paid each quarter in 2014 and 2015. We expect to pay quarterly dividends of $0.09 
per share ($0.36 per share annually) in 2017. Quarterly dividends of $0.09 per share were paid in March, June, September and 
December of 2016, totaling approximately $32.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2016. Quarterly dividends of $0.07 per 
share  were  paid  in  March,  June,  September  and  December  of  2015,  totaling  approximately  $26.2  million  for  the  year  ended 
December 31, 2015. Our cash dividend policy is subject to modification, suspension or cancellation in any manner and at any 
time. See Note 10 to our Consolidated Financial Statements.

Stock Repurchase Program — Since 1998, our Board of Directors has from time to time authorized the repurchase of 
our common stock up to an aggregate of $2.38 billion, excluding fees and commissions. We repurchased 1,371,185 shares for 
$25.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2016, and 3,165,582 shares for $53.0 million during the year ended December 31, 
2015. As of December 31, 2016, $197.1 million was available for repurchases under this program (excluding fees and commissions). 
Our management is authorized to purchase shares from time to time through open market transactions at prevailing prices or in 
privately-negotiated transactions, subject to market conditions and other factors. Shares, when repurchased, are retired. 

Historical Cash Flow

The following table summarizes our cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities for the year ended 

December 31, 2016 compared to year ended December 31, 2015:

Net cash flows from continuing operations:

Operating activities

Investing activities

Financing activities

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

Operating Activities

Year Ended December 31

2016

2015

Change

(In thousands)

$

$

$

257,413
(288,140)
(9,934)
(2,093)
(42,754) $

408,153
(146,247)
(215,896)
(1,638)
44,372

$

$

(150,740)
(141,893)
205,962
(455)
(87,126)

Net cash provided by operating activities was $257.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to net 
cash provided by operating activities of $408.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. Operating cash flows in 2015 
benefited from a reduced working capital investment as collections of receivables in early 2015 were reflective of the higher Class 
I raw milk prices exiting 2014. Conversely, the value of receivables collected in 2016 was lower due to decreased Class I raw milk 
prices exiting 2015. Further contributing to the decrease in operating cash flows in 2016 compared to 2015 was a higher incentive-

29

 
 
 
based compensation payout in the first quarter of 2016 compared to 2015. Additionally, the decrease was attributable to the receipt 
of our 2014 federal income tax refund of $56 million during 2015. 

Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities increased by $141.9 million in the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to the 
year ended December 31, 2015. This increase is primarily attributable to the $158.2 million purchase price for the Friendly's 
acquisition, which closed in the second quarter of 2016.

Financing Activities

Net cash used in financing activities was $9.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2016 compared to net cash used 
in financing activities of $215.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2015. This change was driven by net debt proceeds under 
our credit facilities of $49.1 million in 2016, as compared to net repayments of debt under our credit facilities of $305.3 million
in 2015. Additionally, in 2015 we paid $16.8 million of financing costs in connection with our debt activities. Further contributing 
to the decrease in net cash used in financing activities was a decrease in share repurchases under our stock repurchase program 
to $25.0 million during 2016 from $53.0 million in the prior year period. Offsetting these uses of cash were net proceeds from the 
issuance of debt of $186.5 million in 2015, which reflects proceeds of $700.0 million from the issuance of the 2023 Notes, net of 
repayments on the early retirement of long-term debt of $513.5 million. Additionally, cash used for dividend payments increased 
to $32.8 million in 2016 in comparison to $26.2 million in 2015.

The following table summarizes our cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities for the year ended 

December 31, 2015 compared to year ended December 31, 2014:

Net cash flows from continuing operations:

Operating activities

Investing activities

Financing activities

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

Operating Activities

Year Ended December 31

2015

2014

Change

(In thousands)

$

$

408,153
(146,247)
(215,896)
(1,638)
44,372

$

$

$

152,946
(121,792)
(29,888)
(1,666)

255,207
(24,455)
(186,008)
28

(400) $

44,772

Net cash provided by operating activities was $408.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 compared to net 
cash provided by operating activities of $152.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2014. The increase was primarily driven 
by strong operating results, as well as a reduced working capital investment on a 30% year-over-year decline in the Class I raw 
milk price. 

Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities increased by $24.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2015 in comparison 
to the year ended December 31, 2014. Cash flows from investing activities during 2015 were impacted by lower proceeds from 
the sale of fixed assets of $18.5 million compared to proceeds of $27.6 million in 2014. Additionally, capital expenditures were 
$13.1 million higher during 2015 in comparison to 2014, primarily due to the purchase of our ice cream production facility.

Financing Activities

Net cash used in financing activities increased $186.0 million in the year ended December 31, 2015 in comparison to the 
year-ago period.  This change was driven by net debt payments of $306.7 million in the year ended December 31, 2015 as compared 
to net proceeds from borrowings of $41.4 million in 2014. In addition, we made payments on the early retirement of long-term 
debt of $513.5 million, offset by proceeds from the issuance of $700 million aggregate principal amount of the 2023 Notes. See 
Note 8 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding our debt repayments. Additionally, this increase 
was driven by $53.0 million of share repurchases during 2015, as compared to $25.0 million in 2014. 

30

 
 
 
Current Debt Obligations

Our debt obligations consist of outstanding borrowings and letters of credit issued under our senior secured credit facility 
and receivables securitization facility, our Dean Foods Company Senior Notes Due 2023 and our Subsidiary Senior Notes due 
2017, each of which are described more fully below.  

Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility — In March 2015, we executed a credit agreement, as amended on January 4, 
2017 (as amended, the "Credit Agreement") pursuant to which the lenders provided us with a senior secured revolving credit 
facility in the amount of up to $450 million (the "Credit Facility"). See "— Strategic Activities Impacting Liquidity." Under the 
Credit Agreement, we have the right to request an increase of the aggregate commitments under the Credit Facility by up to $200 
million, which we may request to be made available as either term loans or revolving loans, without the consent of any lenders 
not participating in such increase, subject to specified conditions. The Credit Facility is available for the issuance of up to $75 
million of letters of credit and up to $100 million of swing line loans. The Credit Facility will terminate in January 2022.

Loans outstanding under the Credit Facility bear interest, at our option, at either (i) the LIBO Rate (as defined in the 
Credit Agreement) plus a margin of between 1.75% and 2.50% (2.00% as of February 17, 2017) based on the total net leverage 
ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement), or (ii) the alternate base rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement) plus a margin of 
between 0.75% and 1.50% (1.00% as of February 17, 2017) based on the total net leverage ratio. 

We may make optional prepayments of the loans, in whole or in part, without premium or penalty (other than applicable 
breakage costs). Subject to certain exceptions and conditions described in the Credit Agreement, we will be obligated to prepay 
the Credit Facility, but without a corresponding commitment reduction, with the net cash proceeds of certain asset sales and with 
casualty insurance proceeds. The Credit Facility is guaranteed by our existing and future domestic material restricted subsidiaries 
(as defined in the Credit Agreement), which are substantially all of our wholly-owned U.S. subsidiaries other than the receivables 
securitization facility subsidiaries (the “Guarantors”).

The Credit Facility is secured by a first priority perfected security interest in substantially all of our assets and the assets 
of the Guarantors, whether consisting of personal, tangible or intangible property, including a pledge of, and a perfected security 
interest in, (i) all of the shares of capital stock of the Guarantors and (ii) 65% of the shares of capital stock of the Guarantor’s first-
tier foreign subsidiaries which are material restricted subsidiaries, in each case subject to certain exceptions as set forth in the 
Credit Agreement. The collateral does not include, among other things, (a) all real property, (b) the capital stock and any assets 
of any unrestricted subsidiary, (c) any capital stock of any direct or indirect subsidiary of Dean Holding Company ("Legacy Dean"), 
a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, which owns any real property, or (d) receivables sold pursuant to the receivables 
securitization facility.

 The  Credit Agreement  contains  customary  representations,  warranties  and  covenants,  including,  but  not  limited  to 
specified  restrictions  on  indebtedness,  liens,  guarantee  obligations,  mergers,  acquisitions,  consolidations,  liquidations  and 
dissolutions, sales of assets, leases, payment of dividends and other restricted payments during a default or non-compliance with 
the financial covenants, investments, loans and advances, transactions with affiliates and sale and leaseback transactions. The 
Credit Agreement also contains customary events of default and related cure provisions. We are required to comply with (a) a 
maximum  total  net  leverage  ratio  of  4.25x  (which,  for  purposes  of  calculating  indebtedness,  excludes  borrowings  under  our 
receivables  securitization  facility);  and  (b) a  minimum  consolidated  interest  coverage  ratio  of  2.25x.  In  addition,  the  Credit 
Agreement imposes certain restrictions on our ability to pay dividends and make other restricted payments if our total net leverage 
ratio is in excess of 3.5x.

At February 17, 2017, there were outstanding borrowings of $8.5 million under the Credit Facility. There were no letters 
of credit issued under the Credit Facility as of  February 17, 2017. Our average daily balance under the Credit Facility during the 
year ended December 31, 2016 was $1.5 million. 

Dean  Foods  Receivables  Securitization  Facility  —  On  March  26,  2015,  we  entered  into  an  amended  and  restated 
receivables purchase agreement, as amended on January 4, 2017. See “ — Strategic Activities Impacting Liquidity.” Pursuant to 
the receivables purchase agreement, we have a $450 million receivables securitization facility with a liquidity termination date in 
January 2020 pursuant to which certain of our subsidiaries sell their accounts receivable to two wholly-owned entities intended 
to be bankruptcy-remote. The entities then transfer the receivables to third-party asset-backed commercial paper conduits sponsored 
by major financial institutions. The assets and liabilities of these two entities are fully reflected in our Consolidated Balance Sheets, 
and the securitization is treated as a borrowing for accounting purposes.

The  purchase  agreement  governing  the  receivables  securitization  facility  contains  covenants  consistent  with  those 
contained in the Credit Agreement. Advances outstanding under the receivables securitization facility will bear interest between 
0.90% and 1.05%, and we will pay an unused fee between 0.40% and 0.55% on undrawn amounts, in each case based on our total 
net leverage ratio.

31

 
There were outstanding borrowings of $75.0 million under the receivables securitization facility as of February 17, 2017. 
In addition to letters of credit in the aggregate amount of $117.2 million that were issued but undrawn, the remaining available 
borrowing capacity was $257.8 million at February 17, 2017. Our average daily balance under this facility during the year ended 
December 31, 2016 was $13.8 million. Availability under the receivables securitization facility is calculated using the current 
receivables balance for the seller entities, less adjustments for customer concentration limits, reserve requirements, and other 
adjustments as described in the amended and restated receivables repurchase agreement, not to exceed the total commitment 
amount less current borrowings and outstanding letters of credit.

  Covenant  Compliance  — As  of  December 31,  2016,  we  were  in  compliance  with  all  covenants  under  our  credit 
agreements. As disclosed above, on January 4, 2017, we entered into amendments to our Credit Agreement and the purchase 
agreement governing our receivables securitization facility, which amended certain terms of our financial covenants. The following 
describes our financial covenants pursuant to our current credit agreements. 

The Credit Agreement and the purchase agreement governing our receivables securitization facility require us to maintain 
a total net leverage ratio less than 4.25x as of the end of each fiscal quarter. In addition, the Credit Agreement imposes certain 
restrictions on our ability to pay dividends and make other restricted payments if our total net leverage ratio exceeds 3.5x. As 
described in more detail in our Credit Agreement and the purchase agreement governing our receivables securitization facility, 
the total net leverage ratio is calculated as the ratio of consolidated funded indebtedness, less cash up to $50 million to the extent 
held by us and our restricted subsidiaries, to consolidated EBITDA for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters ended on the 
measurement date. Consolidated funded indebtedness excludes borrowings under our receivables securitization facility and is 
calculated on a pro forma basis to give effect to permitted acquisitions, divestitures or refinancing of indebtedness.

Consolidated EBITDA is comprised of net income for us and our restricted subsidiaries plus interest expense, taxes, 
depreciation and amortization expense and other non-cash expenses, certain pro forma cost savings add-backs in connection with 
permitted acquisitions and dispositions, and certain other add-backs for non-recurring charges and other adjustments permitted in 
calculating covenant compliance under the Credit Agreement, and is calculated on a pro forma basis. In addition, the calculation 
of consolidated EBITDA may include adjustments related to other charges reasonably acceptable to the administrative agent.

The Credit Agreement and the purchase agreement governing our receivables securitization facility require us to maintain 
an interest coverage ratio of at least 2.25x as of the end of each fiscal quarter. As described in more detail in the Credit Agreement 
and the purchase agreement governing our receivables securitization facility, our interest coverage ratio is calculated as the ratio 
of  consolidated  EBITDA  to  consolidated  interest  expense  for  the  period  of  four  consecutive  fiscal  quarters  ended  on  the 
measurement date. Consolidated EBITDA is calculated as described above in the discussion of our leverage ratio. Consolidated 
interest expense is comprised of consolidated interest expense paid or payable in cash by us and our restricted subsidiaries, as 
calculated  in  accordance  with  generally  accepted  accounting  principles,  but  excluding  write-offs  or  amortization  of  deferred 
financing fees and amounts paid on early termination of swap agreements, calculated on a pro forma basis.

Dean Foods Company Senior Notes due 2023 — On February 25, 2015, we issued the 2023 Notes at an issue price of 
100% of the principal amount of the 2023 Notes in a private placement for resale to “qualified institutional buyers” as defined in 
Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and in offshore transactions pursuant to Regulation 
S under the Securities Act.

In connection with the issuance of the 2023 Notes, the Company paid certain arrangement fees of approximately $7.0 
million to initial purchasers and other fees of approximately $1.8 million, which were deferred and netted against the outstanding 
debt balance and will be amortized to interest expense over the remaining term of the 2023 Notes.

The 2023 Notes are senior unsecured obligations. Accordingly, the 2023 Notes rank equally in right of payment with all 
of our existing and future senior obligations and are effectively subordinated in right of payment to all of our existing and future 
secured obligations, including obligations under our Credit Facility and receivables securitization facility, to the extent of the value 
of the collateral securing such obligations. The 2023 Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis, 
jointly and severally, by our subsidiaries that guarantee obligations under the Credit Facility.

The 2023 Notes will mature on March 15, 2023 and bear interest at an annual rate of 6.50%. Interest on the 2023 Notes 

is payable semi-annually in arrears in March and September of each year.

We may, at our option, redeem all or a portion of the 2023 Notes at any time on or after March 15, 2018 at the applicable 
redemption prices specified in the indenture governing the 2023 Notes (the "Indenture"), plus any accrued and unpaid interest to, 
but excluding, the applicable redemption date. We are also entitled to redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the 
2023 Notes before March 15, 2018 with the net cash proceeds that we receive from certain equity offerings at a redemption price 
equal to 106.5% of the principal amount of the 2023 Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable 
redemption date. In addition, prior to March 15, 2018, we may redeem all or a portion of the 2023 Notes, at a redemption price 

32

 
equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus a “make-whole” premium and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but 
excluding, the applicable redemption date. 

If we undergo certain kinds of changes of control, holders of the 2023 Notes have the right to require us to repurchase 
all or any portion of such holder’s 2023 Notes at 101% of the principal amount of the notes being repurchased, plus any accrued 
and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of repurchase.

The Indenture contains covenants that, among other things, limit our ability to: (i) create certain liens; (ii) enter into sale 
and lease-back transactions; (iii) assume, incur or guarantee indebtedness for borrowed money that is secured by a lien on certain 
principal properties (or on any shares of capital stock of our subsidiaries that own such principal property) without securing the 
2023 Notes on a pari passu basis; and (iv) consolidate with or merge with or into, or sell, transfer, convey or lease all or substantially 
all of our properties and assets, taken as a whole, to another person. 

We used the net proceeds from the 2023 Notes to redeem all of our outstanding senior unsecured notes due 2016, as 
described  below,  and  to  repay  a  portion  of  the  outstanding  borrowings  under  our  previous  credit  facility  and  receivables 
securitization facility.

Subsidiary Senior Notes due 2017 — Legacy Dean had certain senior notes outstanding at the time of its acquisition, of 
which one series remains outstanding ($142 million aggregate principal amount) and matures on  October 15, 2017. The carrying 
value of these notes at December 31, 2016 was $139.7 million, net of unamortized discounts of $2.3 million, at 6.90% interest. 
The indenture governing the Legacy Dean senior notes does not contain financial covenants but does contain certain restrictions, 
including a prohibition against Legacy Dean and its subsidiaries granting liens on certain of their real property interests and a 
prohibition against Legacy Dean granting liens on the stock of its subsidiaries. The Legacy Dean senior notes are not guaranteed 
by Dean Foods Company or Legacy Dean’s wholly-owned subsidiaries. 

Dean Foods Company Senior Notes due 2016 — In March 2015, we redeemed the remaining principal amount of $476.2 
million of our outstanding senior notes due 2016 at a total redemption price of approximately $521.8 million. As a result, we 
recorded a $38.3 million pre-tax loss on early retirement of long-term debt in the first quarter of 2015, which consisted of debt 
redemption premiums and unpaid interest of $37.3 million, a write-off of unamortized long-term debt issue costs of $0.8 million
and write-off of the remaining bond discount and interest rate swaps of approximately $0.2 million. The loss was recorded in the 
loss on early retirement of long-term debt line in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. The redemption was financed with 
proceeds from the issuance of the 2023 Notes.

33

Contractual Obligations and Other Long-Term Liabilities

In the normal course of business, we enter into contracts and commitments that obligate us to make payments in the 
future.  The  table  below  summarizes  our  obligations  for  indebtedness,  purchase,  lease  and  other  contractual  obligations  at 
December 31, 2016.

Subsidiary senior notes(1)

Receivables securitization
facility(2)

Senior secured credit facility
(2)

Dean Foods Company senior
notes due 2023(1)

Purchase obligations(3)

Operating leases(4)

Capital leases(5)
Interest payments(6)

Benefit payments(7)

Total(8)

Total

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

Thereafter

Payments Due by Period

$

142.0

$

142.0

$

— $

— $

— $

— $

(in millions)

40.0

9.1

700.0

1,015.2

358.7

4.3

317.8

368.8

—

—

—

40.0

—

—

609.3

164.3

82.4

1.2

61.7

22.7

74.3

1.5

48.7

22.5

—

—

—

98.0

63.1

1.2

47.6

22.4

—

9.1

—

24.0

46.6

0.4

46.0

22.7

—

—

—

23.9

31.0

—

45.5

23.3

—

—

—

700.0

95.7

61.3

—

68.3

255.2

$ 2,955.9

$

919.3

$

351.3

$

232.3

$

148.8

$

123.7

$ 1,180.5

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

(5) 

(6) 

(7) 

Represents face amount.

Represents amounts outstanding under our receivables securitization facility and senior secured revolving credit facility 
at December 31, 2016. As of December 31, 2016, the maturity dates for these facilities were March 31, 2018 and March 
31, 2020, respectively. On January 4, 2017, we amended our receivables securitization facility to extend the maturity 
date to January 4, 2020, and we amended our senior secured credit facility to extend the maturity date to January 4, 2022. 
See  "—Strategic  Activities  Impacting  Liquidity"  above  for  additional  information  regarding  the  January  4,  2017 
amendments to the receivables securitization facility and the senior secured credit facility.

Primarily represents commitments to purchase minimum quantities of raw materials used in our production processes, 
including raw milk, diesel fuel, sugar and cocoa powder. We enter into these contracts from time to time to ensure a 
sufficient supply of raw ingredients.

Represents  future  minimum  lease  payments  under  non-cancelable  operating  leases  related  to  our  distribution  fleet, 
corporate offices and certain of our manufacturing and distribution facilities. See Note 17 to our Consolidated Financial 
Statements for more detail about our lease obligations.

Represents future payments, including interest, under capital leases related to information technology equipment. See 
Note 17 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for more detail about our lease obligations.
Includes fixed rate interest obligations and interest on variable rate debt based on the outstanding balances and interest 
rates in effect at December 31, 2016. Interest that may be due in the future on variable rate borrowings under the Credit 
Facility and receivables securitization facility will vary based on the interest rate in effect at the time and the borrowings 
outstanding at the time.

Represents expected future benefit obligations of $338.7 million and $30.1 million related to our company-sponsored 
pension  plans  and  postretirement  healthcare  plans,  respectively.  In  addition  to  our  company-sponsored  plans,  we 
participate  in  certain  multiemployer  defined  benefit  plans.  The  cost  of  these  plans  is  equal  to  the  annual  required 
contributions determined in accordance with the provisions of negotiated collective bargaining arrangements. These costs 
were approximately $30.1 million, $29.9 million and $28.9 million during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 
2014, respectively; however, the future cost of the multiemployer plans is dependent upon a number of factors, including 
the funded status of the plans, the ability of other participating companies to meet ongoing funding obligations, and the 
level of our ongoing participation in these plans. Because the amount of future contributions we would be contractually 
obligated to make pursuant to these plans cannot be reasonably estimated, such amounts have been excluded from the 
table above. See Note 13 to our Consolidated Financial Statements.

(8) 

The table above excludes our liability for uncertain tax positions of $30.4 million because the timing of any related cash 
payments cannot be reasonably estimated.

34

 
 
 
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Obligations

We offer pension benefits through various defined benefit pension plans and also offer certain health care and life insurance 
benefits to eligible employees and their eligible dependents upon the retirement of such employees. Reported costs of providing 
non-contributory defined pension benefits and other postretirement benefits are dependent upon numerous factors, assumptions 
and estimates. For example, these costs are impacted by actual employee demographics (including age, compensation levels and 
employment periods), the level of contributions made to the plan and earnings on plan assets. Pension and postretirement costs 
also may be significantly affected by changes in key actuarial assumptions, including anticipated rates of return on plan assets 
and the discount rates used in determining the projected benefit obligation and annual periodic pension costs. In 2016 and 2015, 
we made contributions of $5.5 million and $18.8 million, respectively, to our defined benefit pension plans.

Our pension plan assets are primarily comprised of equity and fixed income investments. Changes made to the provisions 
of the plan may impact current and future pension costs. Fluctuations in actual equity market returns, as well as changes in general 
interest rates may result in increased or decreased pension costs in future periods. In accordance with Accounting Standards related 
to “Employers’ Accounting for Pensions,” changes in obligations associated with these factors may not be immediately recognized 
as pension costs on the income statement, but generally are recognized in future years over the remaining average service period 
of plan participants. As such, significant portions of pension costs recorded in any period may not reflect the actual level of cash 
benefits provided to plan participants. In 2016 and 2015, we recorded non-cash pension expense of $6.8 million and $6.6 million, 
respectively, substantially all of which was attributable to periodic expense.

Almost 90% of our defined benefit plan obligations are frozen as to future participation or increases in projected benefit 
obligation. Many of these obligations were acquired in prior strategic transactions. As an alternative to defined benefit plans, we 
offer defined contribution plans for eligible employees.

The weighted average discount rate reflects the rate at which our defined benefit plan obligations could be effectively 
settled. The rate, which is updated annually with the assistance of an independent actuary, uses a model that reflects a bond yield 
curve. The weighted average discount rate for our pension plan obligations was decreased from 4.52% at December 31, 2015 to 
4.29% at December 31, 2016. We expect that our net periodic benefit cost in 2017 will be slightly lower than in 2016. We currently 
expect to contribute $5.3 million to the pension plans in 2017; however, we can elect to fund the pension plan in excess of the 
aforementioned contribution. 

Substantially all of our qualified pension plans are consolidated into one master trust. Our investment objectives are to 
minimize the volatility of the value of our pension assets relative to our pension liabilities and to ensure assets are sufficient to 
pay plan benefits. In 2014, we adopted a broad pension de-risking strategy intended to align the characteristics of our assets relative 
to our liabilities. The strategy targets investments depending on the funded status of the obligation. We anticipate this strategy will 
continue in future years and will be dependent upon market conditions and plan characteristics.

 At December 31, 2016, our master trust was invested as follows: investments in equity securities were at 41%; investments 
in fixed income were at 58%; cash equivalents were at 1% and other investments were less than 1%. We believe the allocation of 
our master trust investments as of December 31, 2016 is generally consistent with the targets set forth by the Investment Committee.

See Notes 13 and 14 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding retirement plans and 

other postretirement benefits.

Other Commitments and Contingencies

In 2001, in connection with our acquisition of Legacy Dean, we purchased Dairy Farmers of America’s (“DFA”) 33.8% 
interest in our operations. In connection with that transaction, we issued a contingent, subordinated promissory note to DFA in 
the original principal amount of $40 million. The promissory note has a 20-year term and bears interest based on the consumer 
price index. Interest will not be paid in cash but will be added to the principal amount of the note annually, up to a maximum 
principal amount of $96 million. We may prepay the note in whole or in part at any time, without penalty. The note will only 
become payable if we materially breach or terminate one of our related milk supply agreements with DFA without renewal or 
replacement. Otherwise, the note will expire in 2021, without any obligation to pay any portion of the principal or interest. Payments 
made under the note, if any, would be expensed as incurred. We have not terminated, and we have not materially breached, any 
of our milk supply agreements with DFA related to the promissory note. We have previously terminated unrelated supply agreements 
with respect to several plants that were supplied by DFA. In connection with our continued focus on cost control and increased 
supply chain efficiency, we continue to evaluate our sources of raw milk supply.

35

We also have the following commitments and contingent liabilities, in addition to contingent liabilities related to ordinary 

course litigation, investigations and audits:

• 

• 

• 

certain indemnification obligations related to businesses that we have divested;

certain lease obligations, which require us to guarantee the minimum value of the leased asset at the end of the lease;

selected levels of property and casualty risks, primarily related to employee health care, workers’ compensation 
claims and other casualty losses; and

• 

certain litigation-related contingencies.

See  Note  17  to  our  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  for  more  information  about  our  commitments  and  contingent 

obligations.

Future Capital Requirements

During 2017, we intend to invest a total of approximately $120 million to $130 million in capital expenditures, primarily 
for our existing manufacturing facilities and in support of our strategic initiatives. We expect cash interest to be approximately 
$59 million to $60 million based upon current debt levels and projected forward interest rates under our Credit Facility. Cash 
interest excludes amortization of deferred financing fees and bond discounts of approximately $5 million. 

At December 31, 2016, $300.3 million was available under the receivables securitization facility, with $440.9 million
also available under the Credit Facility, subject to compliance with the covenants in our credit agreements. Availability under the 
receivables securitization facility is calculated using the current receivables balance for the seller entities, less adjustments for 
vendor concentration limits, reserve requirements and other adjustments as described in our amended and restated receivables 
purchase  agreement,  not  to  exceed  the  total  commitment  amount  less  current  borrowings  and  outstanding  letters  of  credit. 
Availability under the Credit Facility is calculated using the total commitment amount less current borrowings and outstanding 
letters of credit. At February 17, 2017, approximately $699.3 million, subject to compliance with the covenants in our credit 
agreements, was available to finance working capital and for other general corporate purposes under our credit facilities. 

Known Trends and Uncertainties

Prices of Conventional Raw Milk and Other Inputs

Conventional Raw Milk and Butterfat— The primary raw materials used in the products we manufacture, distribute and 
sell are conventional milk (which contains both raw milk and butterfat) and bulk cream. On a monthly basis, the federal government 
and certain state governments set minimum prices for raw milk. The regulated minimum prices differ based on how the raw milk 
is utilized. Raw milk processed into fluid milk is priced at the Class I price and raw milk processed into products such as cottage 
cheese, creams and creamers, ice cream and sour cream is priced at the Class II price. Generally, we pay the federal minimum 
prices for raw milk, plus certain producer premiums (or “over-order” premiums) and location differentials. We also incur other 
raw milk procurement costs in some locations (such as hauling and field personnel). A change in the federal minimum price does 
not necessarily mean an identical change in our total raw milk costs as over-order premiums may increase or decrease. This 
relationship is different in every region of the country and can sometimes differ within a region based on supplier arrangements. 
However, in general, the overall change in our raw milk costs can be linked to the change in federal minimum prices. Because 
our Class II products typically have a higher fat content than that contained in raw milk, we also purchase bulk cream for use in 
some of our Class II products. Bulk cream is typically purchased based on a multiple of the Grade AA butter price on the Chicago 
Mercantile Exchange.

Prices for conventional raw milk for the year ended December 31, 2016 were approximately 9% lower than year-ago 
levels. In the fourth quarter of 2016, Class I raw milk costs were approximately 6% higher than the third quarter of 2016, but were 
slightly lower than the fourth quarter of 2015. In early 2017, Class I raw milk costs were announced at approximately $17 per 
hundredweight. We anticipate potential inflation in Class I raw milk prices of approximately 15 to 20 percent for the full year 
2017 as compared to 2016. Given the multitude of factors that influence the dairy commodity environment, we acknowledge the 
potential for future volatility.

36

 
 Fuel and Resin Costs — We purchase diesel fuel to operate our extensive DSD system, and we incur fuel surcharge 
expense related to the products we deliver through third-party carriers. Although we may utilize forward purchase contracts and 
other instruments to mitigate the risks related to commodity price fluctuations, such strategies do not fully mitigate commodity 
price risk. Adverse movements in commodity prices over the terms of the contracts or instruments could decrease the economic 
benefits we derive from these strategies.

Another significant raw material we use is resin, which is a fossil fuel based product used to make plastic bottles. The 

prices of diesel and resin are subject to fluctuations based on changes in crude oil and natural gas prices. 

For 2017, we expect our resin costs to be lower than 2016 and our fuel costs to be higher than 2016.

Volume Performance

For the year ended December, 31, 2016, our total sales volume declined 2.1% across all products from year-ago levels. 
Volume declines across our fluid milk business, which accounted for approximately 77% of our total sales volume, were primarily 
due to large format private label volume we have chosen to exit, as this volume was not consistent with our more disciplined 
pricing architecture. Our total branded white milk volumes decreased 1.8% year-over-year, and we experienced a 2.4% increase 
in our flavored milk volumes. Our branded white milk includes DairyPure® and our other brands, all of which have varying 
economics across different channels and geographies. Across our other non-fluid milk product categories, year-over-year total 
volume declines were partially offset by an increase of approximately 8% in our ice cream volume performance, primarily due to 
volumes associated with the Friendly's acquisition. 

On a year-over-year basis, fluid milk sales data published by the USDA through December 2016 shows a fluid milk 
category sales volume decline of 1.2% for the fourth quarter of 2016. However, the conventional flavored milk category continues 
to drive improvement in the fluid milk category, with year-over-year growth of approximately 1% for the fourth quarter of 2016. 
Although we saw a slight sequential decrease in our share of the fluid milk category in the fourth quarter of 2016, our share 
increased by 10 basis points versus the fourth quarter of the prior year. Additionally, our branded white milk volume share at 
branded retail in the fourth quarter of 2016 increased by 30 basis points versus the comparable prior year period. 

In total, fluid milk volume performance is consistent with our expectations. For the first quarter of 2017, on a year-over-

year basis, we expect total sales volumes to decline by approximately 1%. 

Tax Rate

Income tax expense was recorded at an effective rate of 40.5% in 2016 compared to a 39.3% effective tax benefit rate in 
2015. Generally, our effective tax rate varies primarily based on our profitability level and the relative earnings of our business 
units. In 2016, our effective tax rate was also impacted by the establishment of an uncertain tax position. Excluding the $3.0 million 
of tax expense related to this uncertain tax position, our effective tax rate would have been 39.0%. 

37

Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates

In certain circumstances, the preparation of our Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires us to use our 
judgment to make certain estimates and assumptions. These estimates affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at 
the date of the Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of net sales and expenses during the reporting period. Our senior management has discussed the 
development and selection of these critical accounting policies, as well as our significant accounting policies (see Note 1 to our Consolidated Financial Statements), with the 
Audit Committee of our Board of Directors. The following accounting policies are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our reported financial results, 
and the estimates they involve require our most difficult, subjective or complex judgments.

Estimate Description

Judgment and/or Uncertainty

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Our goodwill and intangible assets result primarily 
from acquisitions and primarily include trademarks 
with finite lives and customer-related intangible assets.

Goodwill is evaluated for impairment annually and on 
an interim basis when circumstances arise that indicate 
a possible impairment to ensure that the carrying value 
is recoverable. Goodwill is evaluated for impairment if 
we determine that it is more likely than not that the 
book value of a reporting unit exceeds its estimated fair 
value.

Amortizable intangible assets are evaluated for 
impairment upon a significant change in the operating 
environment or whenever circumstances indicate that 
the carrying value may not be recoverable. If an 
evaluation of the undiscounted cash flows indicates 
impairment, the asset is written down to its estimated 
fair value, which is generally based on discounted 
future cash flows.

Our goodwill and intangible assets totaled $326.0 
million as of December 31, 2016.

Considerable management judgment is necessary to 
initially value intangible assets upon acquisition and to 
evaluate those assets and goodwill for impairment 
going forward. We determine fair value using widely 
acceptable valuation techniques including discounted 
cash flows, market multiples analyses and relief from 
royalty analyses.

Assumptions used in our valuations, such as forecasted 
growth rates and our cost of capital, are consistent with 
our internal projections and operating plans.

Trademarks are amortized over their expected useful 
lives. Determining the expected life of a trademark 
requires considerable management judgment and is 
based on an evaluation of a number of factors including 
the competitive environment, trademark history and 
anticipated future trademark support.

Potential Impact if Results Differ
We  believe  that  the  assumptions  used  in  valuing  our 
intangible  assets  and  in  our  impairment  analysis  are 
reasonable, but variations in any of the assumptions may 
result  in  different  calculations  of  fair  values  that  could 
result in a material impairment charge.

We performed a step one valuation of goodwill in 2014.  
Results of our valuation indicated the fair value of our 
reporting  unit  exceeded 
the  carrying  value  by 
approximately $288 million or 16.2%.  In 2016 and 2015, 
a qualitative assessment of goodwill was performed for 
our reporting unit. We assessed economic conditions and 
industry  and  market  considerations,  in  addition  to  the 
overall financial performance of the reporting unit. Based 
on the results of our assessment, we determined that it 
was not necessary to perform a quantitative assessment. 

the 

During the first quarter of 2015, we approved the launch 
of  DairyPure®,  our  national  white  milk  brand.  In 
connection  with 
launch  of 
the  approval  of 
DairyPure®,  we  reclassified  our  previously  identified 
indefinite lived trademarks to finite lived, resulting in a 
triggering event for impairment testing purposes. Based 
upon our analysis, we recorded a non-cash impairment 
charge of $109.9 million and related income tax benefit 
of $41.2 million in the first quarter of 2015. The remaining 
balance for these trademarks is currently being amortized 
on a straight-line basis over their remaining useful lives, 
which range from approximately 4 to 9 years. 

We  can  provide  no  assurance  that  we  will  not  have 
additional impairment charges in future periods as a result 
of changes in our operating results or our assumptions.

38

 
 
 
 
 
 
Estimate Description

Judgment and/or Uncertainty

Potential Impact if Results Differ

Property, Plant and Equipment

We perform impairment tests when circumstances 
indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. 
Indicators of impairment could include significant 
changes in business environment or planned closure of 
a facility.

As a result of certain changes to our business and plans 
for consolidating our production network, during the 
year ended December 31, 2016, we evaluated the 
impact that we expected these changes to have on our 
projected future cash flows. The results of our analysis 
indicated no impairment of our property, plant and 
equipment, outside of facility closing and 
reorganization costs, of which we recognized $8.0 
million of impairment charges during the year ended 
December 31, 2016.

Our property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated 
depreciation, totaled $1.2 billion as of December 31, 
2016.

Insurance Accruals

We retain selected levels of employee health care, 
property and casualty risks, primarily related to 
employee health care, workers’ compensation claims 
and other casualty losses. Many of these potential 
losses are covered under conventional insurance 
programs with third-party insurers with high 
deductibles. In other areas, we are self-insured.

At December 31, 2016, we recorded accrued liabilities 
related to these retained risks of $154.3 million, 
including both current and long-term liabilities. 

If actual results are not consistent with our estimates
and assumptions used to calculate estimated future cash
flows or the proceeds expected to be realized upon
liquidation, we may be exposed to impairment losses
that could be material. Additionally, we can provide no
assurance that we will not have additional impairment
charges in future periods as a result of changes in our
operating results or our assumptions.

Considerable management judgment is necessary to
evaluate the impact of operating changes and to
estimate future cash flows for purposes of determining
whether an asset group needs to be tested for
recoverability. The testing of an asset group for
recoverability involves assumptions regarding the
future cash flows of the asset group (which often
includes consideration of a probability weighting of
estimated future cash flows), the growth rate of those
cash flows, and the remaining useful life over which the
asset group is expected to generate cash flows. In the
event we determine an asset group is not recoverable,
the measurement of an estimated impairment loss
involves a number of management judgments,
including the selection of an appropriate discount rate,
and estimates regarding the cash flows that would
ultimately be realized upon liquidation of the asset
group.

Accrued liabilities related to these retained risks are
calculated based upon loss development factors, which
contemplate a number of variables including claims
history and expected trends. These loss development
factors are developed in consultation with third-party
actuaries.

If actual results differ from our assumptions, we could 
be exposed to material gains or losses.

A 10% change in our insurance liabilities could affect 
net earnings by approximately $9.2 million.

Income Taxes

A liability for uncertain tax positions is recorded to the 
extent a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a 
tax return does not meet certain recognition or 
measurement criteria. A valuation allowance is recorded 
against a deferred tax asset if it is not more likely than 
not that the asset will be realized.

At December 31, 2016, our liability for uncertain tax 
positions, including accrued interest, was $30.4 million, 
and our valuation allowance was $12.0 million.

Considerable management judgment is necessary to 
assess the inherent uncertainties related to the 
interpretations of complex tax laws, regulations and 
taxing authority rulings, as well as to the expiration of 
statutes of limitations in the jurisdictions in which we 
operate.

Additionally, several factors are considered in 
evaluating the realizability of our deferred tax assets, 
including the remaining years available for carry 
forward, the tax laws for the applicable jurisdictions, 
the future profitability of the specific business units, 
and tax planning strategies.

Our judgments and estimates concerning uncertain tax 
positions may change as a result of evaluation of new 
information, such as the outcome of tax audits or 
changes to or further interpretations of tax laws and 
regulations. Our judgments and estimates concerning 
realizability of deferred tax assets could change if any 
of the evaluation factors change.

If such changes take place, there is a risk that our 
effective tax rate could increase or decrease in any 
period, impacting our net earnings.

39

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Estimate Description

Judgment and/or Uncertainty

Employee Benefit Plans

We provide a range of benefits including pension and 
postretirement benefits to our eligible employees and 
retirees.

We record annual amounts relating to these plans,
which include various actuarial assumptions, such as
discount rates, assumed investment rates of return,
compensation increases, employee turnover rates and
health care cost trend rates. We review our actuarial
assumptions on an annual basis and make modifications
to the assumptions based on current rates and trends
when it is deemed appropriate. The effect of the
modifications is generally recorded and amortized over
future periods.

Potential Impact if Results Differ
Different assumptions could result in the recognition of 
different amounts of expense over different periods of 
time.

A 0.25% reduction in the assumed rate of return on plan 
assets or a 0.25% reduction in the discount rate would 
result in an increase in our annual pension expense of 
$0.7 million and $0.4 million, respectively.

A 1% increase in assumed healthcare costs trends 
would increase the aggregate postretirement medical 
obligation by approximately $3.0 million.

40

 
 
 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 1 to our Consolidated Financial Statements.

Item 7A. 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

We are exposed to commodity price fluctuations, including milk, butterfat, sweeteners and other commodity costs used 
in the manufacturing, packaging and distribution of our products, including utilities, natural gas, resin and diesel fuel. To secure 
adequate supplies of materials and bring greater stability to the cost of ingredients and their related manufacturing, packaging and 
distribution, we routinely enter into forward purchase contracts and other purchase arrangements with suppliers. Under the forward 
purchase contracts, we commit to purchasing agreed-upon quantities of ingredients and commodities at agreed-upon prices at 
specified future dates. The outstanding purchase commitment for these commodities at any point in time typically ranges from 
one month’s to one year’s anticipated requirements, depending on the ingredient or commodity. These contracts are considered 
normal purchases. In addition to entering into forward purchase contracts, from time to time we may purchase over-the-counter 
contracts with our qualified banking partners or exchange-traded commodity futures contracts for raw materials that are ingredients 
of our products or components of such ingredients. Our open commodity derivatives recorded at fair value on our balance sheet 
were at a net asset position of $2.4 million as of December 31, 2016. 

Although we may utilize forward purchase contracts and other instruments to mitigate the risks related to commodity 
price fluctuation, such strategies do not fully mitigate commodity price risk. Adverse movements in commodity prices over the 
terms of the contracts or instruments could decrease the economic benefits we expect to derive from these strategies. See Note 9
to our Consolidated Financial Statements.

41

Item 8. 

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Our Consolidated Financial Statements for 2016 are included in this report on the following pages.

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2016 and 2015

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 
2014

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

1.      Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

2.      Acquisitions and Divestitures

3.      Inventories

4.      Property, Plant and Equipment

5.      Goodwill and Intangible Assets
6.      Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses

7.      Income Taxes

8.      Debt

9.      Derivative Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements

10.    Common Stock and Share-Based Compensation

11.    Earnings (Loss) per Share

12.    Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

13.    Employee Retirement and Profit Sharing Plans

14.    Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions

15.    Asset Impairment Charges and Facility Closing and Reorganization Costs

16.    Supplemental Cash Flow Information

17.    Commitments and Contingencies

18.    Segment, Geographic and Customer Information

19.    Quarterly Results of Operations (unaudited)

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Page

F-1

F-2

F-3

F-4

F-5

F-6

F-6

F-11

F-12

F-13

F-13

F-15

F-15

F-18

F-21

F-23

F-28

F-28

F-29

F-37

F-39

F-41

F-41

F-43

F-44

F-46

42

 
DEAN FOODS COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

ASSETS

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

Receivables, net of allowances of $5,118 and $13,960

Income tax receivable

Inventories

Deferred income taxes

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

Total current assets

Property, plant and equipment, net
Goodwill

Identifiable intangible and other assets, net

Deferred income taxes

Total

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Current liabilities:

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

Current portion of debt

Current portion of litigation settlements

Total current liabilities

Long-term debt, net

Deferred income taxes

Other long-term liabilities

Commitments and contingencies (Note 17)

Stockholders’ equity:

Preferred stock, none issued

Common stock, 90,586,741 and 91,428,274 shares issued and outstanding, with a par
value of $0.01 per share

Additional paid-in capital

Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

Total stockholders’ equity

Total

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

December 31

2016

2015

(Dollars in thousands,
except share data)

$

17,980

$

669,200

5,578

284,484

37,504

43,884

1,058,630

1,163,851
154,112

207,897

21,737

60,734

653,156

7,985

253,326

54,735

47,627

1,077,563

1,174,137
86,841

150,236

31,386

$

2,606,227

$

2,520,163

$

706,981

$

741,988

140,806

—

847,787

745,245

126,009

276,630

—

906

653,629

45,654
(89,633)
610,556

1,493

18,414

761,895

833,080

106,820

272,864

—

914

679,916
(49,523)
(85,803)
545,504

$

2,606,227

$

2,520,163

F-1

 
 
 
 DEAN FOODS COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

Net sales

Cost of sales

Gross profit

Operating costs and expenses:

Selling and distribution

General and administrative

Amortization of intangibles

Facility closing and reorganization costs, net

Litigation settlements

Impairment of intangible and long-lived assets

Other operating income

Total operating costs and expenses

Operating income

Other (income) expense:

Interest expense

Loss on early retirement of long-term debt

Other income, net

Total other expense

Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes

Income tax expense (benefit)

Income (loss) from continuing operations

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

Gain (loss) on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax

Net income (loss)

Average common shares:

Basic

Diluted

Basic income (loss) per common share:

Income (loss) from continuing operations

Loss from discontinued operations

Net income (loss)

Diluted income (loss) per common share:

Income (loss) from continuing operations
Loss from discontinued operations

Net income (loss)

Year Ended December 31

2016

2015

2014

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

$

7,710,226

$

8,121,661

$

9,503,196

5,722,710

1,987,516

6,147,252

1,974,409

7,829,733

1,673,463

1,348,349

346,028

20,752

8,719

—

—

—

1,379,317

350,324

21,653

19,844

—

109,910

—

1,723,848

263,668

1,881,048

93,361

1,355,053

288,744

2,889

4,460
(2,521)
20,820
(4,535)
1,664,910

8,553

61,019

1,437
(1,620)
60,836
(52,283)
(32,096)
(20,187)
(652)
543
(20,296)

66,813

43,609
(3,751)
106,671
(13,310)
(5,229)
(8,081)
(1,095)
668
(8,508) $

66,795

—
(5,778)
61,017

202,651

82,034

120,617
(312)
(376)
119,929

90,933,886

91,510,483

1.33
(0.01)
1.32

1.32
(0.01)
1.31

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

$

93,298,467

93,298,467

93,916,656

93,916,656

(0.09) $
—
(0.09) $

(0.09) $
—
(0.09) $

(0.22)
—
(0.22)

(0.22)
—
(0.22)   

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

F-2

 
 
 
DEAN FOODS COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

Net income (loss)

Other comprehensive loss:

Cumulative translation adjustment

Unrealized loss on derivative instruments, net of tax:

Change in fair value of derivative instruments

Less: reclassification adjustments for losses included in net income

Defined benefit pension and other postretirement benefit plans, net of
tax:

Prior service costs arising during the period

Net loss arising during the period

Less: amortization of prior service cost included in net periodic
benefit cost

Other comprehensive loss

Comprehensive income (loss)

Year Ended December 31

2016

2015

2014

$

119,929

(in thousands)
$

(8,508) $

(20,296)

(2,257)

(1,333)

—

—

—
(8,452)

6,879
(3,830)
116,099

$

$

(87)
—

(43)
(5,036)

5,679
(820)
(9,328) $

(802)

(116)
(220)

(659)
(30,159)

4,163
(27,793)
(48,089)

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

F-3

 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)

DEAN FOODS COMPANY

Dean Foods Company Stockholders

Common Stock

Shares

Amount

Additional
Paid-In
Capital

Retained
Earnings
(Accumulated
Deficit)

Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)

Total
Stockholders’
Equity (Deficit)

(Dollars in thousands, except share data)

Balance, January 1, 2014

Issuance of common stock, net of tax impact of share-based compensation
Share-based compensation expense
Share repurchases
Dividends(1)
Net loss
Other comprehensive income (loss) (Note 12):

Change in fair value of derivative instruments, net of tax benefit of $41
Amounts reclassified to statement of operations related to hedging activities, net of tax benefit of $139

Cumulative translation adjustment
Pension liability adjustment, net of tax benefit of $16,073

Balance, December 31, 2014

Issuance of common stock, net of tax impact of share-based compensation
Share-based compensation expense
Share repurchases
Dividends(1)
Net loss
Other comprehensive income (loss) (Note 12):

Change in fair value of derivative instruments, net of tax benefit of $54
Cumulative translation adjustment
Pension and other postretirement benefit liability adjustment, net of tax of $394

Balance, December 31, 2015

Issuance of common stock, net of tax impact of share-based compensation
Share-based compensation expense
Share repurchases
Net income
Dividends(1)
Other comprehensive income (loss) (Note 12):
Cumulative translation adjustment
Pension and other postretirement benefit liability adjustment, net of tax benefit of $678

Balance, December 31, 2016

94,831,377
976,738
—
(1,727,275)
—
—

—

—
—
94,080,840
513,016
—
(3,165,582)
—
—

—
—
—
91,428,274
529,652
—
(1,371,185)
—
—

—
—
90,586,741

$

$

$

$

948
10
—
(17)
—
—

—

—
—
941
5
—
(32)
—
—

—
—
—
914
6
—
(14)
—
—

—
—
906

$

$

$

791,276
7,758
4,556
(24,983)
(26,232)
—

—

—
—
752,375
(1,673)
8,488
(52,978)
(26,296)
—

—
—
—
679,916
(1,754)
8,843
(24,986)
—
(8,390)

—
—
653,629

$

$

$

$

$

(20,719) $
—
—

(57,190) $
—
—

—
(20,296)

—

—
—
(41,015) $
—
—

—
—

(116)
(220)

(802)
(26,655)
(84,983) $
—
—

—
(8,508)

—
—

—
—
—
(49,523) $
—
—

(87)
(1,333)
600
(85,803) $
—
—

119,929
(24,752)

—
—

714,315
7,768
4,556
(25,000)
(26,232)
(20,296)

(116)
(220)

(802)
(26,655)
627,318
(1,668)
8,488
(53,010)
(26,296)
(8,508)

(87)
(1,333)
600
545,504
(1,748)
8,843
(25,000)
119,929
(33,142)

—
—
45,654

$

(2,257)
(1,573)
(89,633) $

(2,257)
(1,573)
610,556

(1)  

Cash dividends declared per common share were $0.36, $0.28 and $0.28 in the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

F-4

 
 
 
 
DEAN FOODS COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net income (loss)
Loss from discontinued operations
(Gain) loss on sale of discontinued operations
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating
activities:

2016

Year Ended December 31
2015
(In thousands)

2014

$

$

119,929
312
376

(8,508) $
1,095
(668)

(20,296)
652
(543)

Depreciation and amortization
Share-based compensation expense
(Gain) loss on divestitures and other, net
Impairment of intangible and long-lived assets
Loss on early retirement of debt
Deferred income taxes
Obligations under litigation settlement
Other, net
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

Receivables, net
Inventories
Prepaid expenses and other assets
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
Income taxes receivable/payable
Litigation settlements

Net cash provided by operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities:

Payments for property, plant and equipment
Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets
Other

Cash flows from financing activities:

Net cash used in investing activities

Repayments of debt
Early retirement of debt
Premiums paid on early retirement of debt
Payments of financing costs
Proceeds from senior secured revolver
Payments for senior secured revolver
Proceeds from receivables securitization facility
Payments for receivables securitization facility
Proceeds from issuance of 2023 notes
Common stock repurchases
Cash dividends paid
Issuance of common stock, net of share repurchases for withholding taxes
Tax savings on share-based compensation

Net cash used in financing activities
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

Change in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

$

178,385
29,830
1,265
—
—
26,376
—
(4,861)

(462)
(19,434)
7,474
(65,165)
2,241
(18,853)
257,413

(144,642)
(158,203)
14,705
—
(288,140)

(1,232)
—
—
—
254,300
(245,200)
945,000
(905,000)
—
(25,000)
(32,828)
(720)
746
(9,934)
(2,093)
(42,754)
60,734
17,980

$

176,884
16,377
2,736
109,910
43,609
(34,359)
—
9,225

94,279
(1,495)
8,148
(46,524)
56,297
(18,853)
408,153

(162,542)
—
18,495
(2,200)
(146,247)

(1,416)
(476,188)
(37,309)
(16,816)
360,670
(430,971)
685,000
(920,000)
700,000
(53,010)
(26,182)
(16)
342
(215,896)
(1,638)
44,372
16,362
60,734

$

164,297
12,276
(7,549)
20,820
1,437
62,927
(2,521)
7,954

3,369
11,237
7,849
(41,253)
(49,105)
(18,605)
152,946

(149,421)
—
27,629
—
(121,792)

(668)
(23,812)
(1,161)
(3,287)
2,277,297
(2,257,246)
2,656,000
(2,634,000)
—
(25,000)
(26,232)
7,861
360
(29,888)
(1,666)
(400)
16,762
16,362

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

F-5

 
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years Ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014

1.  

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Nature of Our Business —We are a leading food and beverage company and the largest processor and direct-to-store 
distributor of fluid milk and other dairy and dairy case products in the United States. We have aligned our leadership team, operating 
strategy, and sales, logistics and supply chain initiatives into a single operating and reportable segment. We process and distribute 
fluid milk and other dairy products, including ice cream, ice cream mix and cultured products, which are marketed under more 
than 50 national, regional and local dairy brands and a wide array of private labels. We also produce and distribute DairyPure®, 
our national white milk brand, and TruMoo®, our national flavored milk brand, as well as juices, teas, bottled water and other 
products.

Basis of Presentation and Consolidation — Our Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. 

generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and include the accounts of our wholly-owned subsidiaries.

We have aligned our leadership team, operating strategy, and sales, logistics and supply chain initiatives into a single 
operating and reportable segment. Unless stated otherwise, any reference to income statement items in these financial statements 
refers to results from continuing operations.

Unless  otherwise  indicated,  references  in  this  report  to  “we,”  “us”  or  “our”  refer  to  Dean  Foods  Company  and  its 

subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

Use of Estimates — The preparation of our Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to 
use our judgment to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of 
contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of net sales and 
expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Cash Equivalents — We consider temporary investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash 

equivalents.

Inventories — Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Our products are valued using the first-in, first-out 
method. The costs of finished goods inventories include raw materials, direct labor and indirect production and overhead costs. 
Reserves for obsolete or excess inventory are not material.

Property, Plant and Equipment — Property, plant and equipment are stated at acquisition cost, plus capitalized interest 
on borrowings during the actual construction period of major capital projects. Also included in property, plant and equipment are 
certain direct costs related to the implementation of computer software for internal use. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-
line method typically over the following range of estimated useful lives of the assets:

Asset
Buildings
Machinery and equipment
Leasehold improvements

Useful Life

15 to 40 years
3 to 20 years
Over the shorter of their estimated useful lives or the
terms of the applicable lease agreements

We test property, plant and equipment for impairment when circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be 
recoverable. Indicators of impairment could include significant changes in business environment or the planned closure of a facility. 
Considerable management judgment is necessary to evaluate the impact of operating changes and to estimate future cash flows. 
See Note 15. Expenditures for repairs and maintenance which do not improve or extend the life of the assets are expensed as 
incurred.

F-6

 
  
  
  
  
Goodwill and Intangible Assets — Identifiable intangible assets, other than indefinite-lived trademarks, are typically 

amortized over the following range of estimated useful lives:

Asset
Customer relationships
Finite-lived trademarks
Customer supply contracts

Noncompetition agreements

Deferred financing costs(1)

Useful Life

5 to 15 years
5 to 10 years
Over the shorter of the estimated useful lives or
the terms of the agreements
Over the shorter of the estimated useful lives or
the terms of the agreements
Over the terms of the related debt

(1) 

Deferred  financing  costs  associated  with  our  receivables  securitization  facility  and  senior  secured  credit  facility  are 
recorded as assets in the identifiable intangible and other assets, net line of our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Beginning 
on January 1, 2016, we adopted ASU No. 2015-03, Imputation of Interest - Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance 
Costs, discussed below. Upon our adoption of ASU No. 2015-03, deferred financing costs associated with the senior notes 
due 2023 were reclassified from other assets to a reduction to the carrying amount of the liability on our Consolidated 
Balance Sheets and retroactively applied to prior periods. All of our deferred financing costs are amortized to interest 
expense over the terms of the related debt. 

In accordance with Accounting Standards related to “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”, we do not amortize goodwill 
and  other  intangible  assets  determined  to  have  indefinite  useful  lives.  Instead,  we  assess  our  goodwill  and  indefinite-lived 
trademarks for impairment annually and when circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. See Note 
5.

Assets Held for Sale — We classify assets as held for sale when management approves and commits to a formal plan of 
sale and our expectation is that the sale will be completed within one year. The net assets of the business held for sale are then 
recorded at the lower of their current carrying value or the fair market value, less costs to sell. As of December 31, 2015 and 2016, 
there were no assets classified as held for sale.

Share-Based Compensation — Share-based compensation expense is recognized for equity awards over the vesting period 
based on their grant date fair value. The fair value of option awards is estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes 
valuation model. The fair value of restricted stock unit awards and performance stock unit awards is equal to the closing price of 
our stock on the date of grant. The fair value of our phantom shares is remeasured at each reporting period based on the closing 
price of our common stock on the last day of the respective reporting period. Compensation expense is recognized only for equity 
awards expected to vest. We estimate forfeitures at the date of grant based on our historical experience and future expectations. 
Share-based compensation expense is included within the same financial statement caption where the recipient’s cash compensation 
is reported. See Note 10.

Revenue Recognition, Sales Incentives and Accounts Receivable — Sales are recognized when persuasive evidence of 
an arrangement exists, the price is fixed or determinable, the product has been delivered to the customer and there is a reasonable 
assurance of collection of the sales proceeds. Sales are recorded net of allowances for returns, trade promotions and prompt pay 
and other discounts. We routinely offer sales incentives and discounts through various regional and national programs to our 
customers and consumers. These programs include rebates, shelf-price reductions, in-store display incentives, coupons and other 
trade promotional activities. These programs, as well as amounts paid to customers for shelf-space in retail stores, are considered 
reductions in the price of our products and thus are recorded as reductions to gross sales. Some of these incentives are recorded 
by estimating incentive costs based on our historical experience and expected levels of performance of the trade promotion. We 
maintain liabilities at the end of each period for the estimated incentive costs incurred but unpaid for these programs. Differences 
between estimated and actual incentive costs are normally insignificant and are recognized in earnings in the period such differences 
are determined.

Bulk cream represents a by-product of our fluid milk manufacturing process. We either use bulk cream in our manufacturing 
process or we dispose of it through third party sales to other companies. We present bulk cream by-product sales as a reduction 
of cost of sales within our Consolidated Statements of Operations. We believe this presentation is reasonable as it allows us to 
report our true cost of fluid milk production.

We provide credit terms to customers generally ranging up to 30 days, perform ongoing credit evaluations of our customers 
and  maintain  allowances  for  potential  credit  losses  based  on  our  historical  experience.  Estimated  product  returns  have  not 
historically been material.

F-7

 
  
  
  
  
  
  
Income Taxes — All of our consolidated U.S. operating subsidiaries are included in our U.S. federal consolidated income 
tax return. Our foreign subsidiary is required to file a local jurisdiction income tax return with respect to its operations, the earnings 
from which are expected to be reinvested indefinitely. At December 31, 2016, no provision had been made for U.S. federal or state 
income tax on approximately $18.5 million of accumulated foreign earnings as they are considered to be indefinitely reinvested. 
Computation of the potential deferred tax liability associated with these undistributed earnings and other basis differences is not 
practicable.

Deferred  income  taxes  arise  from  temporary  differences  between  amounts  recorded  in  the  Consolidated  Financial 
Statements and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the years in which the differences are expected 
to reverse. Deferred tax assets, including the benefit of net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards, are evaluated based on the 
guidelines for realization and are reduced by a valuation allowance if deemed necessary.

We recognize the income tax benefit from an uncertain tax position when it is more likely than not that, based on technical 
merits, the position will be sustained upon examination, including resolutions of any related appeals or litigation processes. We 
recognize accrued interest related to uncertain tax positions as a component of income tax expense, and penalties, if incurred, are 
recognized as a component of operating income.

Advertising Expense — We market our products through advertising and other promotional activities, including media, 
agency, coupons, trade shows and other promotional activities. Advertising expense is charged to income during the period incurred, 
except for expenses related to the development of a major commercial or media campaign which are charged to income during 
the period in which the advertisement or campaign is first presented by the media. Advertising expense totaled $59.6 million in 
2016, $44.8 million in 2015 and $27.5 million in 2014. Prepaid advertising expense totaled $1.9 million in 2016 and $0.7 million
in each of 2015 and 2014.

Shipping  and  Handling  Fees — Our  shipping  and  handling  costs  are  included  in  both  cost  of  sales  and  selling  and 
distribution expense, depending on the nature of such costs. Shipping and handling costs included in cost of sales reflect inventory 
warehouse costs and product loading and handling costs. Shipping and handling costs included in selling and distribution expense 
consist  primarily  of  those  costs  associated  with  moving  finished  products  from  production  facilities  through  our  distribution 
network, including costs associated with its distribution centers, route delivery costs and the cost of shipping products to customers 
through third party carriers. Shipping and handling costs that were recorded as a component of selling and distribution expense 
were $1.1 billion in 2016, and $1.2 billion in each of 2015 and 2014.

Insurance Accruals — We retain selected levels of property and casualty risks, primarily related to employee health care, 
workers’ compensation claims and other casualty losses. Many of these potential losses are covered under conventional insurance 
programs with third party insurers with high deductibles. In other areas, we are self-insured. Accrued liabilities related to these 
retained risks are calculated based upon loss development factors that contemplate a number of factors including claims history 
and expected trends.

Research and Development — Our research and development activities primarily consist of generating and testing new 
product concepts, new flavors of products and packaging. Our total research and development expense was $3.0 million, $2.3 
million and $1.9 million for 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Research and development costs are primarily included in general 
and administrative expenses in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements  

In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 
2015-03, Imputation of Interest - Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. ASU 2015-03 requires debt issuance costs 
related to a recognized debt liability to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that 
debt liability, consistent with debt discounts or premiums. The recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs are 
not affected by this ASU. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-15, Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt 
Issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit Arrangements. ASU 2015-15 clarifies ASU 2015-03 by allowing the presentation 
of debt issuance costs related to a line-of-credit to be recorded as an asset instead of as a direct deduction of the carrying amount 
of the debt liability as required by ASU 2015-03, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line-of-credit 
arrangement. We adopted ASU 2015-03 in the first quarter of 2016 and this presentation has been retroactively applied to prior 
periods. Beginning in the first quarter of 2016, presentation of debt issuance costs, not related to revolving credit agreements, 
were reclassified from other assets and are netted against the outstanding debt balance. See Note 8.

F-8

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements  

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other: Simplifying the Test for Goodwill 
Impairment. The new guidance simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill by removing the second step of the two-step 
impairment test. The amendment requires an entity to perform its annual or interim goodwill impairment test by comparing the 
fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An entity still has the option to perform the qualitative assessment for a 
reporting unit to determine if the quantitative impairment test is necessary. For public companies, this guidance is effective for 
annual periods or any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. The amendment should 
be applied on a prospective basis. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing 
dates after January 1, 2017. The adoption of ASU 2017-04 is not expected to have a material impact on our financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-03, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections and Investments - 
Equity Method and Joint Ventures: Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to Staff Announcements at the September 22, 2016 
and November 17, 2016 EITF Meetings. The new guidance is intended to provide clarity in relation to the disclosure of the impact 
that ASU 2014-09, ASU 2016-02 and ASU 2016-13 will have on our financial statements when adopted. The effective date for 
this guidance is the same as the effective date for ASU 2014-09, ASU 2016-02 and ASU 2016-13. We are currently evaluating the 
effect that the adoption of this standard will have on our financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, Business Combinations: Clarifying the Definition of a Business. 
The new guidance clarifies the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating 
whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. For public companies, this 
standard is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within those periods. The 
amendments should be applied prospectively on or after the effective date. Early application of the amendments is allowed with 
certain restrictions. We are currently evaluating the effect that the adoption of this standard will have on our financial statements.

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-17, Consolidation: Interests Held through Related Parties That Are 
Under Common Control. The new guidance is intended to change how a reporting entity that is the single decision maker of a 
variable interest entity should treat indirect interests in the entity held through related parties that are under common control with 
the reporting entity when determining whether it is the primary beneficiary of that variable interest entity. For public companies, 
this standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. 
Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in an interim period. The adoption of ASU 2016-17 is not expected to have a 
material impact on our financial statements.

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-16, Income Taxes: Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory. 
ASU 2016-16 reduces complexity by allowing the recognition of current and deferred income taxes for an intra-entity asset transfer 
(other than inventory) when the transfer occurs. The new guidance is intended to reduce the complexity of GAAP and diversity 
in practice related to the tax consequences of certain types of intra-entity asset transfers, particularly those involving intellectual 
property. For public companies, this standard is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including 
interim reporting periods within those annual reporting periods. Early adoption is permitted as of the beginning of an annual 
reporting period for which financial statements (interim or annual) have not been issued or made available for issuance. The 
amendments  should  be  applied  on  a  modified  retrospective  basis  through  a  cumulative-effect  adjustment  directly  to  retained 
earnings as of the beginning of the period of adoption. We are currently evaluating the effect that the adoption of this standard 
will have on our financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows: Classification of Certain Cash Receipts 
and Cash Payments. The new guidance is intended to eliminate diversity in practice in how certain cash receipts and cash payments 
are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. The new standard is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal 
years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted for all entities, 
provided that all  of  the  amendments  are  adopted in  the  same  period. The  guidance  requires  application  using a  retrospective 
transition method. We are currently evaluating the effect that the adoption of this standard will have on our financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, Compensation-Stock Compensation - Improvements to Employee 
Share-Based Payment Accounting. ASU 2016-09 simplifies several aspects of the accounting for share-based payment transactions, 
including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, and classification on the statement 
of cash flows. For public companies, the amendments in this standard are effective for annual periods beginning after December 
15, 2016, and interim periods within those annual periods. Amendments related to the timing of when excess tax benefits are 
recognized, minimum statutory withholding requirements, forfeitures, and intrinsic value should be applied using a modified 
retrospective transition method by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment to equity as of the beginning of the period in which 
the guidance is adopted. Amendments related to the presentation of employee taxes paid on the statement of cash flows when an 
employer withholds shares to meet the minimum statutory withholding requirement should be applied retrospectively. Amendments 

F-9

 
requiring recognition of excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies in the income statement and the practical expedient for estimating 
the expected term should be applied prospectively. An entity may elect to apply the amendments related to the presentation of 
excess tax benefits on the statement of cash flows using either a prospective transition method or a retrospective transition method. 
Early adoption is permitted. The adoption of ASU 2016-09 is not expected to have a material impact on our financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases. ASU 2016-02 requires lessees to recognize lease assets 
and  lease  liabilities in  the  balance  sheet  and disclose key  information  about  leasing  arrangements,  such  as  information  about 
variable lease payments and options to renew and terminate leases. The amended guidance will require both operating and finance 
leases to be recognized in the balance sheet. Additionally, the amended guidance aligns lessor accounting to comparable guidance 
in Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The amended guidance is 
effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption 
is permitted. The amendments in this ASU should be adopted using a modified retrospective transition approach, which requires 
application of the new guidance at the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the year of adoption. We do not 
intend to early adopt the standard. We anticipate the impact of this standard to be significant to our Consolidated Balance Sheet 
due to the amount of our lease commitments. See Note 17 for further information regarding these commitments. We are currently 
evaluating the other impacts that ASU 2016-02 will have on our consolidated financial statements.

In  January  2016,  the  FASB  issued  ASU  No.  2016-01, Recognition  and  Measurement  of  Financial  Assets  and 
Liabilities. ASU 2016-01 supersedes existing guidance to classify equity securities with readily determinable fair values into 
different categories and requires equity securities to be measured at fair value with changes in the fair value recognized through 
net income. An entity’s equity investments that are accounted for under the equity method of accounting or result in consolidation 
of an investee are not included within the scope of this amended guidance. The amendments allow equity investments that do not 
have readily determinable fair values to be remeasured at fair value either upon the occurrence of an observable price change or 
upon identification of impairment. The amended guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, including 
interim periods within those fiscal years. The amendments in this ASU should be applied by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment 
to the balance sheet as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. The amendments related to equity securities without readily 
determinable fair values (including disclosure requirements) should be applied prospectively to equity investments that exist as 
of the date of adoption of the Update. Early application of certain amendments in this standard to financial statements of fiscal 
years and interim periods that have not yet been issued is permitted as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. Except for 
the early application of certain amendments discussed above, early adoption of the standard is not permitted. We are currently 
evaluating the effect that the adoption of this standard will have on our financial statements.

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17, Income Taxes - Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes. 
ASU 2015-17 simplifies the presentation of deferred income taxes and requires that deferred tax liabilities and assets be classified 
as noncurrent in a classified statement of financial position. The amendments eliminate the guidance in ASC Topic 740 that requires 
an entity to separate deferred tax liabilities and assets into a current amount and a noncurrent amount in a classified statement of 
financial  position.  The  amendments  in  this  ASU  may  be  applied  retrospectively  or  prospectively  and  became  effective 
beginning January 1, 2017. The adoption of ASU 2015-17 is not expected to have a material impact on our financial statements.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, Inventory - Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory. Under ASU 
2015-11, entities utilizing the FIFO or average cost method should measure inventory at the lower of cost or net realizable value, 
where net realizable value is defined as the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable 
costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. The amendments in this ASU should be applied prospectively. ASU 2015-11 
became effective  beginning January 1, 2017. The adoption of ASU 2015-11 is not expected to have a material impact on our 
financial statements.

 In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. The comprehensive new 
standard will supersede existing revenue recognition guidance and require revenue to be recognized when promised goods or 
services are transferred to customers in amounts that reflect the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in 
exchange  for  those  goods  or  services. Adoption  of  the  new  rules  could  affect  the  timing  of  revenue  recognition  for  certain 
transactions. The standard allows for either “full retrospective” adoption, meaning the standard is applied to all of the periods 
presented, or “modified retrospective” adoption, meaning the standard is applied only to the most current period presented in the 
financial statements. The new standard was originally effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016 and early 
adoption was not permitted. On August 12, 2015, the FASB approved a one year delay of the effective date to reporting periods 
beginning after December 15, 2017, while permitting companies to voluntarily adopt the new standard as of the original effective 
date. In December 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-20, Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue 
from Contracts with Customers, which clarifies narrow aspects of ASC 606 or corrects unintended application of the guidance. 
The effective date and transition requirements for ASU 2016-20 are the same as the effective date and transition requirements for 
ASU 2014-09. We are evaluating the overall impact this guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements. Specifically, 
we are assessing the impact that this guidance may have with respect to the classification of our bulk cream sales, which are 

F-10

currently presented as a reduction to cost of sales, as discussed above in “— Revenue Recognition, Sales Incentives and Accounts 
Receivable”. Additionally, our evaluation will include the impact of the new standard on certain common practices currently 
employed by us and by other manufacturers of consumer products, such as slotting fees, co-operative advertising, rebates and 
other pricing allowances, merchandising funds and consumer coupons. We currently expect to utilize the modified retrospective 
transition method and to adopt the ASU consistent with the deferred mandatory effective date of January 1, 2018. Based on our 
findings to date, we do not expect the standard to have a material impact on our results of operations or financial position; however, 
our assessment is not yet complete. During 2017, we plan to finalize our review and method of adoption.

2.  

ACQUISITIONS AND DIVESTITURES

Friendly's Acquisition

On June 20, 2016, we completed the acquisition of Friendly’s Ice Cream Holdings Corp. (“Friendly’s Holdings”), including 
its wholly-owned subsidiary, Friendly’s Manufacturing and Retail, LLC (“Friendly’s Manufacturing,” and together with Friendly’s 
Holdings, “Friendly’s”), the Friendly’s® trademark and all intellectual property associated with the ice cream business. Friendly’s 
develops, produces, manufactures, markets, distributes and sells ice cream and other frozen dessert-related products, as well as 
toppings. The Friendly's family-dining restaurant chain will continue to be owned and operated by an affiliate of Sun Capital 
Partners, Inc. and will license use of the Friendly’s® trademark from us under license and supply agreements entered into as part 
of the transaction. The aggregate purchase price was $157.3 million and included the base purchase price of $155.0 million plus 
a net working capital adjustment of $2.3 million as of the closing date. Subsequent to the closing date, we finalized the net working 
capital true-up calculation, which resulted in additional consideration transferred to Friendly's of $0.9 million for a total purchase 
price of $158.2 million. This final true-up was reflected as an adjustment to the purchase price as it occurred during the measurement 
period. Additionally, during the fourth quarter of 2016, we finalized our deferred tax calculations which resulted in a decrease to 
our deferred tax liabilities of $11.1 million with an offset to goodwill, as reflected in the table below. The acquisition was funded 
through a combination of cash on hand and borrowings under our senior secured credit facility and receivables securitization 
facility.

Assets acquired and liabilities assumed in connection with the acquisition have been recorded at their fair values. As 
described in further detail below, we determined the fair values based in part on an independent valuation of the net assets acquired, 
which includes identifiable intangible assets of $81.7 million, of which $29.7 million relates to customer relationships that are 
subject to amortization over a period of 15 years. Additionally, we assumed an unfavorable lease contract with a fair value of $5.4 
million, which will be amortized as a reduction of rent expense over the term of the lease agreement.

We recorded goodwill of $67.3 million, which consists of the excess of the net purchase price over the fair value of the 
net assets acquired. This goodwill represents the expected value attributable to an anticipated increased competitive position in 
the ice cream market in the Northeastern United States. The goodwill is not deductible for tax purposes.

The following table provides the fair values of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the acquisition 

date (in thousands):

Receivables, net
Inventories
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Property, plant and equipment, net
Goodwill
Identifiable intangible assets and other long-term assets
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
Other long-term liabilities
Deferred tax liability, net

Net identifiable assets acquired

June 20, 2016

$

$

15,812
11,724
4,036
11,001
67,271
81,709
(9,075)
(6,158)
(18,117)
158,203

We recorded the fair value of the net assets acquired and liabilities assumed in connection with the Friendly's acquisition. 
The fair value measurements were primarily based on significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) developed using company-specific 
information. 

We estimated the fair value of the Friendly’s® trademark based on an income approach using the relief-from-royalty 
method, which is a widely accepted valuation technique that considers the cost savings associated with owning, rather than licensing, 
a trademark. This approach is dependent on a number of factors, including estimates of future growth and trends, royalty rates in 

F-11

the category of intellectual property, discount rates and other variables. The customer relationship intangible assets were valued 
using the “With or Without” method, which is a commonly used valuation technique for customer relationships. This discounted 
cash flow method estimates the fair value of an asset by comparing the value of the business inclusive of the asset to the hypothetical 
value of the same business excluding the asset. The key assumptions used in the methodology are the cash flows estimated with 
and without the customer relationships over the estimated period that would be required to acquire those customers. The fair value 
estimates made in connection with the Friendly’s acquisition are based on a set of assumptions we believe to be reasonable but 
which can be unpredictable and inherently uncertain.

The pro forma impact of the acquisition on consolidated net earnings would not have materially changed reported net 
earnings.  Friendly's  results  of  operations  have  been  included  in  our  Consolidated  Statements  of  Operations  from  the  date  of 
acquisition.

In connection with this transaction, we recorded acquisition-related expenses of approximately $4.6 million during the 
year ended December 31, 2016. These charges included expenses related to due diligence, legal support, investment advisers and 
regulatory matters, as well as other non-material transactional activities. These costs were included in general and administrative 
expenses in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

During the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, we incurred an immaterial amount of expense related to 
other  transactional  activities,  which  is  recorded  in  general  and  administrative  expenses  in  our  Consolidated  Statements  of 
Operations.

WhiteWave and Morningstar Divestitures

During the year ended December 31, 2016, we recognized net losses from discontinued operations of $0.3 million and 
net losses on the sale of discontinued operations, net of tax, of $0.4 million, primarily related to interest expense on uncertain tax 
positions that we retained in connection with these discontinued operations. 

During the year ended December 31, 2015, we recognized net losses from discontinued operations of $1.1 million from 
the finalization of certain pre-separation tax items related to our spin-off of The WhiteWave Foods Company in 2013 and net gains 
on the sale of discontinued operations, net of tax, of $0.7 million, primarily from favorable taxing authority settlements related to 
our sale of Morningstar Foods in 2013. 

3.  

INVENTORIES

Inventories at December 31, 2016 and 2015 consisted of the following:

Raw materials and supplies
Finished goods
Total

December 31

2016

2015

(In thousands)

$

$

110,095
174,389
284,484

$

$

99,272
154,054
253,326

F-12

 
 
 
4.  

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Property, plant and equipment as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 consisted of the following:

Land

Buildings

Leasehold improvements

Machinery and equipment

Construction in progress

Less accumulated depreciation

Total

December 31

2016

2015

(In thousands)

$

174,323

$

673,687

82,284

174,620

666,697

76,985

1,921,436

1,850,012

24,362

32,116

2,876,092
(1,712,241)
1,163,851

$

2,800,430
(1,626,293)
1,174,137

$

Depreciation expense amounted to $151.9 million, $149.7 million and $156.5 million during the years ended December 31, 

2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

There was no material interest capitalized during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015. 

See  Note  15  for  information  regarding  property,  plant  and  equipment  write-downs  incurred  in  conjunction  with  our 

restructuring plans and certain other events.

5.  

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Our goodwill and intangible assets have resulted from acquisitions. Upon acquisition, the purchase price is first allocated 
to identifiable assets and liabilities, including trademarks and customer-related intangible assets, with any remaining purchase 
price recorded as goodwill. Goodwill is not amortized. Finite-lived intangible assets are amortized over their expected useful lives. 
Determining the expected life of an intangible asset is based on a number of factors including the competitive environment, history 
and anticipated future support.

We conduct impairment tests of goodwill annually in the fourth quarter and on an interim basis when circumstances arise 

that indicate a possible impairment. We evaluate goodwill at the reporting unit level. 

In evaluating goodwill for impairment, we may elect to utilize a qualitative assessment to evaluate whether it is more 
likely than not (that is, a likelihood of more than 50 percent) that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. 
If our qualitative assessment indicates that goodwill impairment is more likely than not, we perform a quantitative assessment to 
determine whether goodwill is impaired and to measure the amount of goodwill impairment to be recognized, if any. Under the 
accounting guidance, we also have an option at any time to bypass the qualitative assessment and immediately perform a quantitative 
assessment to estimate the fair value of our reporting unit and identify any potential impairment of goodwill.

We performed a qualitative assessment of goodwill for our reporting unit during 2016. We assessed economic conditions 
and industry and market considerations, in addition to the overall financial performance of the reporting unit. Based on the results 
of our assessment, we determined that it was not necessary to perform a quantitative assessment. Accordingly, no further goodwill 
testing was completed, and we did not recognize any impairment charges related to goodwill during 2016.

As of December 31, 2016, the gross carrying value of goodwill was $2.23 billion and accumulated goodwill impairment 
was $2.08 billion. We recorded a goodwill impairment charge of $2.08 billion in 2011 with no goodwill impairment charges in 
subsequent years. 

F-13

 
 
 
 
The changes in the net carrying amount of goodwill for the year ended December 31, 2016 are as follows (in thousands):

Balance at December 31, 2015

Acquisitions (Note 2)
Balance at December 31, 2016

$

$

86,841

67,271

154,112

We  evaluate  intangible  assets  for  impairment  upon  a  significant  change  in  the  operating  environment  or  whenever 
circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. If an evaluation of the undiscounted cash flows indicates 
impairment, the asset is written down to its estimated fair value, which is generally based on discounted future cash flows.

Prior to 2015, certain of our trademarks were not amortized as our intent was to continue to use these intangible assets 
indefinitely. During the first quarter of 2015, we approved the launch of DairyPure®, our national white milk brand. In connection 
with the approval of the launch of DairyPure®, we re-evaluated our indefinite-lived trademarks and determined them to be finite-
lived, with remaining useful lives of 5 years. The launch of DairyPure® resulted in a triggering event for impairment testing 
purposes. Based upon our testing, we recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $109.9 million and related income tax benefit of 
$41.2 million in the first quarter of 2015. We estimated the fair value of our trademarks based on an income approach using the 
relief-from-royalty method. This approach is dependent on a number of factors, including estimates of future growth and trends, 
royalty  rates  in  the  category  of  intellectual  property,  discount  rates  and  other  variables. We  base  our  fair  value  estimates  on 
assumptions we believe to be reasonable, but which are unpredictable and inherently uncertain. The impairment charge is reported 
in the impairment of intangible assets line in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. 

 In the first quarter of 2016, we further evaluated the remaining useful life of our finite-lived trademarks in conjunction 
with our newly approved strategy around our ice cream brands. Based on our evaluation, we extended the useful lives of certain 
of our finite-lived trademarks. Our remaining trademark values will be amortized on a straight-line basis over their remaining 
useful lives, which range from approximately 4 to 9 years.

The gross and net carrying amounts of our intangible assets other than goodwill as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 were 

as follows:

December 31, 2016

December 31, 2015

Acquisition
Costs(1)

Impairment

Accumulated
Amortization

Net
Carrying
Amount

Acquisition
Costs

Impairment

Accumulated
Amortization

Net
Carrying
Amount

Intangible assets with indefinite lives:

(In thousands)

Trademarks $

$
Intangible assets with finite lives:

52,000

— $

— $

52,000

$

— $

— $

— $

—

Customer-
related and
other
Trademarks

Total

(1) 

$

78,925

$

— $ (37,050) $

41,875

$

49,225

$

— $ (33,700) $

15,525

229,777

(109,910)

(41,824)

78,043

229,777

$ 360,702

$ (109,910) $ (78,874) $ 171,918

$ 279,002

(109,910)

95,444
$ (109,910) $ (58,123) $ 110,969

(24,423)

The increase in the carrying amounts of indefinite-lived trademarks and customer-related intangibles from 
December 31, 2015 to December 31, 2016 is related to the Friendly's acquisition. See Note 2.

Amortization expense on intangible assets for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 was $20.8 million, 
$21.7  million  and  $2.9  million,  respectively. The  amortization  of  intangible  assets  is  reported  on  a  separate  line  item  in  our 
Consolidated Statements of Operations. Estimated aggregate intangible asset amortization expense for the next five years is as 
follows (in millions):

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

$

20.6

20.0

20.0

11.9

10.2

F-14

 
 
 
6.  

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED EXPENSES

Accounts payable and accrued expenses as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 consisted of the following:

Accounts payable
Payroll and benefits, including incentive compensation
Health insurance, workers’ compensation and other insurance costs
Current derivative liability
Customer rebates
Other accrued liabilities

Total

7.  

INCOME TAXES

The following table presents the 2016, 2015 and 2014 income tax expense (benefit):

December 31

2016

2015

(In thousands)

416,847
101,315
60,357
12
41,919
86,531
706,981

$

$

392,646
138,805
62,277
10,023
49,053
89,184
741,988

$

$

Current income taxes:
Federal
State
Foreign

Total current income tax expense (benefit)

Deferred income taxes:
Federal
State

Total deferred income tax expense (benefit)
Total income tax expense (benefit)

Year Ended December 31

2016(1)

2015(2)

2014(3)

(In thousands)

$

$

49,529
5,728
879
56,136

15,164
10,734
25,898
82,034

$

$

$

26,939
1,987
513
29,439

(34,620)
(48)
(34,668)
(5,229) $

(94,983)
1,255
723
(93,005)

54,015
6,894
60,909
(32,096)

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

Excludes $0.5 million of income tax expense related to discontinued operations.

Excludes $0.5 million of income tax expense related to discontinued operations.

Excludes $0.9 million of income tax expense related to discontinued operations.

F-15

 
 
 
 
 
 
The following is a reconciliation of income tax expense (benefit) computed at the U.S. federal statutory tax rate to income 

tax expense (benefit) reported in our Consolidated Statements of Operations:

Year Ended December 31

2016

2015

2014

Amount

Percentage

Amount

Percentage

Amount

Percentage

(In thousands, except percentages)

Tax expense (benefit) at statutory
rate

$

State income taxes
Uncertain tax position
Domestic production activities
deduction

Corporate owned life insurance
Nondeductible executive
compensation

Changes in valuation allowance
Other

Total

$

70,928
9,620
—

(4,393)
—

1,130
1,080
3,669
82,034

35.0% $

4.8
—

(2.2)
—

0.6
0.5
1.8
40.5% $

(4,658)
3,469
—

(2,456)
(947)

851
(2,209)
721
(5,229)

35.0% $
(26.1)
—

(18,299)
2,281
(15,451)

18.5
7.1

(6.4)
16.6
(5.4)
39.3% $

—
(870)

683
3,016
(3,456)
(32,096)

35.0%
(4.4)
29.6

—
1.7

(1.3)
(5.8)
6.6
61.4%

The tax effects of temporary differences giving rise to deferred income tax assets (liabilities) were:

December 31

2016(1)

2015(2)

(In thousands)

$

$

$

93,491
34,777
13,322
8,187
—
—
34,478
8,890
(12,048)
181,097

(208,559)
(29,356)
(916)
(5,576)
(3,458)
(247,865)
(66,768) $

104,675
33,259
15,386
11,061
4,131
3,990
30,799
5,026
(10,968)
197,359

(208,485)
—
—
(8,411)
(1,162)
(218,058)
(20,699)

Deferred income tax assets:
Accrued liabilities
Retirement plans and postretirement benefits
Share-based compensation
Receivables and inventories
Intangible assets
Derivative financial instruments
Net operating loss carryforwards
Tax credit carryforwards
Valuation allowances

Deferred income tax liabilities:

Property, plant and equipment
Intangible assets
Derivative financial instruments
Cancellation of debt
Other

Net deferred income tax liability

(1) 

(2) 

Includes $8.8 million of deferred tax assets related to uncertain tax positions.

Includes $8.7 million of deferred tax assets related to uncertain tax positions.

F-16

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
These net deferred income tax assets (liabilities) are classified in our Consolidated Balance Sheets as follows:

Current assets
Noncurrent assets
Noncurrent liabilities

Total

December 31

2016

2015

(In thousands)

$

$

$

37,504
21,737
(126,009)
(66,768) $

54,735
31,386
(106,820)
(20,699)

At December 31, 2016, we had $34.5 million of tax-effected federal and state net operating losses and $8.9 million of 
federal and state tax credits available for carryover to future years. These items are subject to certain limitations and begin to 
expire in 2017. A valuation allowance of $12.0 million has been established because we do not believe it is more likely than not 
that all of the deferred tax assets related to these items will be realized prior to expiration. Our valuation allowance increased $1.1 
million in 2016 for certain state net operating loss carryforwards that we do not expect to utilize in the future due to law changes 
enacted during 2016.

The following is a reconciliation of gross unrecognized tax benefits, including interest, recorded in our Consolidated 

Balance Sheets:

Balance at beginning of year

Increases in tax positions for current year
Increases in tax positions for prior years
Decreases in tax positions for prior years
Settlement of tax matters
Lapse of applicable statutes of limitations

Balance at end of year

2016

27,829
125
4,542
(199)
(1,887)
—
30,410

December 31

2015

(In thousands)
26,463
$
39
1,327
—
—
—
27,829

$

$

$

$

$

2014

40,478
—
11,432
(21,194)
(4,203)
(50)
26,463

Of the total unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2016, $4.2 million would impact our effective tax rate and $17.3 
million would be recorded in discontinued operations, if recognized. The remaining $8.8 million represents tax positions for which 
the ultimate deductibility is highly certain but for which there is uncertainty about the timing of such deductibility. Due to the 
impact of deferred income tax accounting, the disallowance of the shorter deductibility period would not affect our effective tax 
rate but would accelerate payment of cash to the applicable taxing authority. Due to the anticipated resolution of several uncertain 
tax positions, we expect our gross liability for uncertain tax positions to decrease by approximately $16 million to $21 million
during the next 12 months.

We recognize accrued interest related to uncertain tax positions as a component of income tax expense. Penalties, if 
incurred, are recorded in general and administrative expenses in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. Interest expense 
recorded in income tax expense for 2016, 2015 and 2014 was immaterial. Our liability for uncertain tax positions included accrued 
interest of $2.7 million and $2.2 million at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

As of December 31, 2016, our 2012 through 2015 U.S. consolidated income tax returns remain open for examination by 
the Internal Revenue Service. During 2016, the Joint Committee on Taxation completed their review of our carryback refund claim 
which was requested and received during 2015. State income tax returns are generally subject to examination for a period of three
to five years after filing. We have various state income tax returns in the process of examination, appeals or settlement.

F-17

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
8.  

DEBT

Our long-term debt as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015 consisted of the following:

December 31, 2016

December 31, 2015

Amount

Interest
Rate

Amount

Interest
Rate

(In thousands, except percentages)

Dean Foods Company debt obligations:

Senior secured credit facility

Senior notes due 2023

Subsidiary debt obligations:

Senior notes due 2017

Receivables securitization facility

Capital lease and other

Subtotal

Unamortized discounts and debt issuance
costs(1)

Total debt

Less current portion

Total long-term portion

$

9,100

2.94% * 

$

—

6.50

6.90

1.87

* 

—   

700,000

709,100

142,000

40,000

3,980

185,980

895,080

(9,029)
886,051
(140,806)
745,245

$

—%

6.50

700,000

700,000

142,000

6.90

—   

—   

—

5,212

147,212

847,212

(12,639)
834,573
(1,493)
833,080

$

Represents a weighted average rate, including applicable interest rate margins.

Beginning in the first quarter of 2016, unamortized debt issuance costs, not related to revolving credit agreements, of $6.8 
million and $7.9  million as  of December 31,  2016 and December 31,  2015,  respectively,  are  netted  against  the 
outstanding debt balance due to the retrospective effect of ASU No. 2015-03, Imputation of Interest - Simplifying the 
Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs. See Note 1.

The scheduled debt maturities at December 31, 2016 were as follows (in thousands):

$

$

143,078

41,336

1,174

9,492

—

700,000

895,080
(9,029)
886,051

Thereafter

Subtotal

Less unamortized discounts and debt issuance costs

Total debt

Dean Foods Company Senior Notes due 2023 — On February 25, 2015, we issued $700 million in aggregate principal 
amount of 6.50% senior notes due 2023 (the "2023 Notes") at an issue price of 100% of the principal amount of the 2023 Notes 
in a private placement for resale to “qualified institutional buyers” as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as 
amended (the "Securities Act"), and in offshore transactions pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act.

In connection with the issuance of the 2023 Notes, the Company paid certain arrangement fees of approximately $7.0 
million to initial purchasers and other fees of approximately $1.8 million, which were deferred and netted against the outstanding 
debt balance, and will be amortized to interest expense over the remaining term of the 2023 Notes.

The 2023 Notes are senior unsecured obligations. Accordingly, the 2023 Notes rank equally in right of payment with all 
of our existing and future senior obligations and are effectively subordinated in right of payment to all of our existing and future 

F-18

* 

(1) 

2017

2018

2019
2020

2021

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
secured obligations, including obligations under our senior secured credit facility and receivables securitization facility, to the 
extent of the value of the collateral securing such obligations. The 2023 Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior 
unsecured basis, jointly and severally, by our subsidiaries that guarantee obligations under the Credit Facility (as defined below).

The 2023 Notes will mature on March 15, 2023 and bear interest at an annual rate of 6.50%. Interest on the 2023 Notes  

is payable semi-annually in arrears in March and September of each year.

We may, at our option, redeem all or a portion of the 2023 Notes at any time on or after March 15, 2018 at the applicable 
redemption prices specified in the indenture governing the 2023 Notes (the "Indenture"), plus any accrued and unpaid interest to, 
but excluding, the applicable redemption date. We are also entitled to redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the 
2023 Notes before March 15, 2018 with the net cash proceeds that we receive from certain equity offerings at a redemption price 
equal to 106.5% of the principal amount of the 2023 Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable 
redemption date. In addition, prior to March 15, 2018, we may redeem all or a portion of the 2023 Notes, at a redemption price 
equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus a “make-whole” premium and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but 
excluding, the applicable redemption date. 

If we undergo certain kinds of changes of control, holders of the 2023 Notes have the right to require us to repurchase 
all or any portion of such holder’s 2023 Notes at 101% of the principal amount of the notes being repurchased, plus any accrued 
and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of repurchase.

The Indenture contains covenants that, among other things, limit our ability to: (i) create certain liens; (ii) enter into sale 
and lease-back transactions; (iii) assume, incur or guarantee indebtedness for borrowed money that is secured by a lien on certain 
principal properties (or on any shares of capital stock of our subsidiaries that own such principal property) without securing the 
2023 Notes on a pari passu basis; and (iv) consolidate with or merge with or into, or sell, transfer, convey or lease all or substantially 
all of our properties and assets, taken as a whole, to another person. 

We used the net proceeds from the 2023 Notes to redeem all of our outstanding senior unsecured notes due 2016, as 
described  below,  and  to  repay  a  portion  of  the  outstanding  borrowings  under  our  previous  senior  secured  credit  facility  and 
receivables securitization facility. The carrying value under the 2023 Notes at December 31, 2016 was $693.2 million, net of 
unamortized debt issuance costs of $6.8 million. 

Senior Secured Revolving Credit Facility — In March 2015, we terminated our prior credit facility, replacing it with the 
new credit facility described below. As a result of the termination, we recorded a write-off of unamortized debt issue costs of $5.3 
million during the three months ended March 31, 2015. The write-off was recorded in the loss on early retirement of long-term 
debt line in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

In March 2015, we executed a new credit agreement (the "Credit Agreement") pursuant to which the lenders provided 
us with a senior secured revolving credit facility in the amount of up to $450 million (the "Credit Facility"). Under the Credit 
Agreement, we have the right to request an increase of the aggregate commitments under the Credit Facility by up to $200 million
without the consent of any lenders not participating in such increase, subject to specified conditions. The Credit Facility is available 
for the issuance of up to $75 million of letters of credit and up to $100 million of swing line loans. The Credit Facility will terminate 
in March 2020.

In connection with the execution of the Credit Agreement, we paid certain arrangement fees of approximately $4.8 million
to lenders and other fees of approximately $2.5 million, which were capitalized and will be amortized to interest expense over the 
remaining term of the facility.

Loans outstanding under the Credit Facility bear interest, at our option, at either (i) the LIBO Rate (as defined in the 
Credit Agreement) plus a margin of between 2.25% and 2.75% (2.25% as of December 31, 2016) based on the total net leverage 
ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement), or (ii) the alternate base rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement) plus a margin of 
between 1.25% and 1.75% (1.25% as of December 31, 2016) based on the total net leverage ratio.

We may make optional prepayments of the loans, in whole or in part, without premium or penalty (other than applicable 
breakage costs). Subject to certain exceptions and conditions described in the Credit Agreement, we will be obligated to prepay 
the Credit Facility, but without a corresponding commitment reduction, with the net cash proceeds of certain asset sales and with 
casualty insurance proceeds. The Credit Facility is guaranteed by our existing and future domestic material restricted subsidiaries 
(as defined in the Credit Agreement), which are substantially all of our wholly-owned U.S. subsidiaries other than the receivables 
securitization facility subsidiaries (the "Guarantors").

The Credit Facility is secured by a first priority perfected security interest in substantially all of our assets and the assets 
of the Guarantors, whether consisting of personal, tangible or intangible property, including a pledge of, and a perfected security 

F-19

interest in, (i) all of the shares of capital stock of the Guarantors and (ii) 65% of the shares of capital stock of the Guarantor’s first-
tier foreign subsidiaries which are material restricted subsidiaries, in each case subject to certain exceptions as set forth in the 
Credit Agreement. The collateral does not include, among other things, (a) any real property with an individual net book value 
below $10 million, (b) the capital stock and any assets of any unrestricted subsidiary, (c) any capital stock of any direct or indirect 
subsidiary of Dean Holding Company ("Legacy Dean"), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, which owns any real property, 
or (d) receivables sold pursuant to the receivables securitization facility.

 The  Credit Agreement  contains  customary  representations,  warranties  and  covenants,  including,  but  not  limited  to 
specified  restrictions  on  indebtedness,  liens,  guarantee  obligations,  mergers,  acquisitions,  consolidations,  liquidations  and 
dissolutions, sales of assets, leases, payment of dividends and other restricted payments during a default or non-compliance with 
the financial covenants, investments, loans and advances, transactions with affiliates and sale and leaseback transactions. The 
Credit Agreement also contains customary events of default and related cure provisions. We are required to comply with (a) a 
maximum senior secured net leverage ratio of 2.50x (which, for purposes of calculating indebtedness, excludes borrowings under 
our receivables securitization facility); and (b) a minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio of 2.25x. In addition, the Credit 
Agreement imposes certain restrictions on our ability to pay dividends and make other restricted payments if our total net leverage 
ratio is in excess of 3.25x.

At December 31, 2016, we had outstanding borrowings of $9.1 million under the Credit Facility. Our average daily 
balance under the Credit Facility during the year ended December 31, 2016 was $1.5 million. There were no letters of credit issued 
under the Credit Facility as of December 31, 2016.

On January 4, 2017, we amended the Credit Agreement to, among other things, (i) extend the maturity date of the Credit 
Facility to January 4, 2022; (ii) modify the leverage ratio covenant to add a requirement that we comply with a maximum total 
net leverage ratio (which, for purposes of calculating indebtedness, excludes borrowings under our receivables securitization 
facility) not to exceed 4.25 to 1.00 and to eliminate the maximum senior secured net leverage ratio requirement; (iii) modify the 
definition of “Consolidated EBITDA” to permit certain pro forma cost savings add-backs in connection with permitted acquisitions 
and dispositions; (iv) modify the definition of “Applicable Rate” to reduce the interest rate margins such that loans outstanding 
under the Credit Facility will bear interest, at our option, at either (x) the LIBO Rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement) plus a 
margin of between 1.75% and 2.50% (initially 2.00%) based on our total net leverage ratio, or (y) the Alternate Base Rate (as 
defined in the Credit Agreement) plus a margin of between 0.75% and 1.50% (initially 1.00%) based on our total net leverage 
ratio; (v) modify certain negative covenants to provide additional flexibility for the incurrence of debt, the payment of dividends 
and the making of certain permitted acquisitions and other investments; (vi) eliminate and release all real property as collateral 
for loans under the Credit Facility; and (vii) provide the Company the ability to request that increases in the aggregate commitments 
under the Credit Facility be made available as either revolving loans or term loans. 

Dean Foods Receivables Securitization Facility — We have a $550 million receivables securitization facility pursuant 
to which certain of our subsidiaries sell their accounts receivable to two wholly-owned entities intended to be bankruptcy-remote. 
The entities then transfer the receivables to third-party asset-backed commercial paper conduits sponsored by major financial 
institutions.  The  assets  and  liabilities  of  these  two  entities  are  fully  reflected  in  our  Consolidated  Balance  Sheets,  and  the 
securitization is treated as a borrowing for accounting purposes. In June 2014, the receivables securitization facility was modified 
to, among other things, increase the amount available for the issuance of letters of credit from $300 million to $350 million and 
to extend the liquidity termination date from March 2015 to June 2017. The receivables securitization facility was further amended 
in August 2014 to be consistent with the amended financial covenants under the credit agreement governing our previous credit 
facility. 

In March 2015, the receivables securitization facility was further modified to, among other things, extend the liquidity 
termination date from June 2017 to March 2018 and modify the covenants to be consistent with those contained in the Credit 
Agreement described above.  

In  connection  with  the  modification  of  the  receivables  securitization  facility,  we  paid  certain  arrangement  fees  of 
approximately $0.7 million to lenders, which were capitalized and will be amortized to interest expense over the remaining term 
of the facility.

Based on the monthly borrowing base formula, we had the ability to borrow up to $457.5 million of the total commitment 
amount under the receivables securitization facility as of December 31, 2016. The total amount of receivables sold to these entities 
as of December 31, 2016 was $609.0 million. During the year ended December 31, 2016, we borrowed $945.0 million and repaid 
$905.0 million under the facility with a remaining balance of $40.0 million as of December 31, 2016. In addition to letters of credit 
in the aggregate amount of $117.2 million that were issued but undrawn, the remaining available borrowing capacity was $300.3 
million at December 31, 2016. Our average daily balance under this facility during the year ended December 31, 2016 was $13.8 

F-20

million. The receivables securitization facility bears interest at a variable rate based upon commercial paper and one-month LIBO 
rates plus an applicable margin based on our net leverage ratio.

On January 4, 2017, we amended the purchase agreement governing the receivables securitization facility to, among 
other  things,  (i)  extend  the  liquidity  termination  date  to  January 4,  2020,  (ii)  reduce  the  maximum  size  of  the  receivables 
securitization facility to $450 million, (iii) replace the senior secured net leverage ratio with a total net leverage ratio to be consistent 
with the amended leverage ratio covenant under the amended Credit Agreement described above, and (iv) modify certain pricing 
terms such that advances outstanding under the receivables securitization facility will bear interest between 0.90% and 1.05%, 
and the Company will pay an unused fee between 0.40% and 0.55% on undrawn amounts, in each case based on the Company's 
total net leverage ratio. 

Standby Letter of Credit — In February 2012, in connection with a litigation settlement agreement we entered into with 
the plaintiffs in the Tennessee dairy farmer litigation, we issued a standby letter of credit in the amount of $80 million, representing 
the approximate amount of subsequent payments due under the terms of the settlement agreement. The total amount of the letter 
of credit decreased proportionately as we made each of the four installment payments. We made installment payments in June of 
2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016. As of December 31, 2016, the letter of credit has been reduced to zero as a result of the final annual 
installment payment of $18.9 million, which we made in June 2016. 

Dean Foods Company Senior Notes due 2016 — In March 2015, we redeemed the remaining principal amount of $476.2 
million of our outstanding senior notes due 2016 for a total redemption price of approximately $521.8 million. As a result, we 
recorded a $38.3 million pre-tax loss on early retirement of long-term debt in the first quarter of 2015, which consisted of debt 
redemption premiums and unpaid interest of $37.3 million, a write-off of unamortized long-term debt issue costs of $0.8 million
and a write-off of the remaining bond discount and interest rate swaps of approximately $0.2 million. The loss was recorded in 
the loss on early retirement of long-term debt line in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. The redemption was financed 
with proceeds from the issuance of the 2023 Notes.

Subsidiary Senior Notes due 2017 — Legacy Dean had certain senior notes outstanding at the time of its acquisition, 
of which one series remains outstanding ($142 million aggregate principal amount) and matures on October 15, 2017. The carrying 
value of these notes at December 31, 2016 was $139.7 million, net of unamortized discounts of $2.3 million, at 6.90% interest. 
The indenture governing the Legacy Dean senior notes does not contain financial covenants but does contain certain restrictions, 
including a prohibition against Legacy Dean and its subsidiaries granting liens on certain of their real property interests and a 
prohibition against Legacy Dean granting liens on the stock of its subsidiaries. The Legacy Dean senior notes are not guaranteed 
by Dean Foods Company or Legacy Dean’s wholly-owned subsidiaries.

Redemption of Dean Foods Company Senior Notes due 2018 — In December 2014, we completed the redemption of the 
remaining $24 million outstanding principal amount of our senior notes due 2018 at a redemption price equal to 104.875% of the 
principal amount of the notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, or approximately $26.1 million in total. As a result of 
the redemption, we recorded a $1.4 million pre-tax loss on early extinguishment of debt in the fourth quarter of 2014, which 
consisted of debt redemption premiums of $1.2 million and a write-off of unamortized debt issue costs of $0.2 million. The loss 
was recorded in the loss on early retirement of debt line in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. The redemption was 
financed with borrowings under our prior credit facility.    

See Note 9 for information regarding the fair value of the 2023 Notes and the subsidiary senior notes due 2017 as of 

December 31, 2016 and 2015.

Capital  Lease  Obligations  and  Other  —  Capital  lease  obligations  as  of  December 31,  2016  included  our  leases  for 
information  technology  equipment.  Capital  lease  obligations  as  of  December 31,  2015  included  our  leases  for  information 
technology equipment, as well as a lease for land and building related to one of our production facilities. See Note 17.

9.  

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Derivative Financial Instruments

Commodities  — We  are  exposed  to  commodity  price  fluctuations,  including  milk,  butterfat,  sweeteners  and  other 
commodity costs used in the manufacturing, packaging and distribution of our products, such as natural gas, resin and diesel fuel. 
To secure adequate supplies of materials and bring greater stability to the cost of ingredients and their related manufacturing, 
packaging and distribution, we routinely enter into forward purchase contracts and other purchase arrangements with suppliers. 
Under the forward purchase contracts, we commit to purchasing agreed-upon quantities of ingredients and commodities at agreed-
upon prices at specified future dates. The outstanding purchase commitment for these commodities at any point in time typically 

F-21

ranges from one month’s to one year’s anticipated requirements, depending on the ingredient or commodity. These contracts are 
considered normal purchases.

In addition to entering into forward purchase contracts, from time to time we may purchase over-the-counter contracts 
from our qualified banking partners or enter into exchange-traded commodity futures contracts for raw materials that are ingredients 
of our products or components of such ingredients. All commodities contracts are marked to market in our income statement at 
each reporting period and a derivative asset or liability is recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheet.  

Although we may utilize forward purchase contracts and other instruments to mitigate the risks related to commodity 
price fluctuation, such strategies do not fully mitigate commodity price risk. Adverse movements in commodity prices over the 
terms of the contracts or instruments could decrease the economic benefits we derive from these strategies. As of December 31, 
2016 and 2015, our derivatives recorded at fair value in our Consolidated Balance Sheets were:

Derivative Assets

Derivative Liabilities

December 31,
2016

December 31,
2015

December 31,
2016

December 31,
2015

Derivatives not designated as Hedging Instruments

Commodities contracts — current(1)
Commodities contracts — non-current(2)

Total derivatives

$

$

2,416
—
2,416

$

$

(In thousands)

317
—
317

$

$

12
—
12

$

$

10,023
690
10,713

(1) 

(2) 

Derivative assets and liabilities that have settlement dates equal to or less than 12 months from the respective balance 
sheet  date  were  included  in  prepaid  expenses  and  other  current  assets  and  accounts  payable  and  accrued  expenses, 
respectively, in our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Derivative assets and liabilities that have settlement dates greater than 12 months from the respective balance sheet date 
were  included  in  identifiable  intangible  and  other  assets,  net,  and  other  long-term  liabilities,  respectively,  in  our 
Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability 
in an orderly transaction between market participants. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined 
based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. As a basis for considering assumptions, 
we follow a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows:

•  Level 1 — Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.

•  Level 2 — Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments 
in markets that are not active and model-derived valuations, in which all significant inputs are observable in active 
markets.

•  Level 3 — Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop 

its own assumptions.

A summary of our derivative assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2016

is as follows (in thousands):

Assets — Commodities contracts
Liabilities — Commodities contracts

Fair Value
as of
December 31, 2016
2,416
$
12

$

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

— $
—

$

2,416
12

—
—

F-22

 
 
 
A summary of our derivative assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2015

is as follows (in thousands):

Assets — Commodities contracts
Liabilities — Commodities contracts

Fair Value
as of
December 31, 2015
317
$
10,713

$

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

— $
—

$

317
10,713

—
—

Due to their near-term maturities, the carrying amounts of accounts receivable and accounts payable are considered 
equivalent  to  fair  value.  In  addition,  because  the  interest  rates  on  our  Credit  Facility,  our  prior  credit  facility,  receivables 
securitization facility, and certain other debt are variable, their fair values approximate their carrying values.

The fair values of our Dean Foods Company senior notes and subsidiary senior notes were determined based on quoted 
market prices obtained through an external pricing source which derives its price valuations from daily marketplace transactions, 
with adjustments to reflect the spreads of benchmark bonds, credit risk and certain other variables. We have determined these fair 
values to be Level 2 measurements as all significant inputs into the quotes provided by our pricing source are observable in active 
markets. The following table presents the outstanding principal amounts and fair values of the 2023 Notes and subsidiary senior 
notes at December 31:

2016

2015

Amount
Outstanding

Fair Value

Amount
Outstanding

Fair Value

Dean Foods Company senior notes due 2023
Subsidiary senior notes due 2017

$

700,000
142,000

$

(In thousands)

736,750
146,615

$

700,000
142,000

$

726,250
148,745

Additionally,  we  maintain  a  Supplemental  Executive  Retirement  Plan  (“SERP”),  which  is  a  nonqualified  deferred 
compensation  arrangement  for  our  executive  officers  and  other  employees  earning  compensation  in  excess  of  the  maximum 
compensation that can be taken into account with respect to our 401(k) plan. The SERP is designed to provide these employees 
with retirement benefits from us that are equivalent, as a percentage of total compensation, to the benefits provided to other 
employees. The assets related to this plan are primarily invested in money market and mutual funds and are held at fair value. We 
classify these assets as Level 2 as fair value can be corroborated based on quoted market prices for identical or similar instruments 
in markets that are not active. The following table presents a summary of the SERP assets measured at fair value on a recurring 
basis as of December 31, 2016 (in thousands):

Money market
Mutual funds

Total

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

$

$

27
1,673

— $
—

$

27
1,673

—
—

The following table presents a summary of the SERP assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 

2015 (in thousands):

Money market
Mutual funds

Total

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

$

$

4
1,506

— $
—

$

4
1,506

—
—

10.  

COMMON STOCK AND SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

Our authorized shares of capital stock include one million shares of preferred stock and 250 million shares of common 

stock with a par value of $0.01 per share.

F-23

 
 
 
Cash Dividends — In November 2013, we announced that our Board of Directors had adopted a cash dividend policy. 
Under the policy, holders of our common stock will receive dividends when and as declared by our Board of Directors. Beginning 
in 2015, all awards of restricted stock units, performance stock units and phantom shares provide for cash dividend equivalent 
units, which vest in cash at the same time as the underlying award. On March 3, 2016, we announced that our Board of Directors 
declared an increased quarterly dividend of $0.09 per share of common stock, from the $0.07 per share quarterly dividend paid 
in each quarter of 2015. Pursuant to the policy, we paid quarterly dividends of $0.09 per share ($0.36 per share annually) in March, 
June, September and December of 2016,  totaling approximately $32.8 million. Quarterly dividends of $0.07 per share were paid 
in March, June, September and December of 2014 and 2015, totaling approximately $26.2 million for each of the years ended 
December 31,  2015  and  2014.  Dividends  are  presented  as  a  reduction  to  retained  earnings  in  our  Consolidated  Statement  of 
Stockholders’ Equity unless we have an accumulated deficit as of the end of the period, in which case they are reflected as a 
reduction to additional paid-in capital.

Stock Repurchases — Since 1998, our Board of Directors has from time to time authorized the repurchase of our common 
stock up to an aggregate of $2.38 billion (excluding fees and expenses), of which approximately $197.1 million remained available 
under this program as of December 31, 2016. Our management is authorized to purchase shares from time to time through open 
market transactions at prevailing prices or in privately-negotiated transactions, subject to market conditions and other factors. 
Shares, when repurchased, are retired. We will continue to evaluate opportunities for share repurchases in a strategic manner as a 
mechanism for generating additional shareholder value.

The following table summarizes the share repurchase activity for the years ended (in thousands, except per share data):

Number of shares repurchased

Weighted average purchase price per share

Amount of share repurchases

2016

2015

1,371

$18.21

3,166

$16.73

$

25,000

$

53,010

Stock Award Plans — The Dean Foods Company 2016 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2016 Plan”), approved on May 11, 
2016,  allows  grant  awards  of  various  types  of  equity-based  compensation,  including  stock  options,  stock  appreciation  rights 
(‘‘SARs’’), restricted stock and restricted stock units, performance shares and performance units and other types of stock-based 
awards as compensation to employees, consultants and directors. The maximum number of shares that are available to be awarded 
under the 2016 Plan is 11,750,000 shares of common stock of the Company and is inclusive of the shares remaining available for 
issuance under the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan (the "2007 Plan"), which expired upon the 2016 Plan approval.  

Any shares subject to any award granted under the 2016 Plan or the 2007 Plan which for any reason expires after the 
effective date of the 2016 Plan without having been exercised, or is canceled, terminated or otherwise settled without the issuance 
of stock will again be available for grant under the 2016 Plan. However, to the extent that any options or SARs are exercised by 
delivering the net value of such award in shares (a so-called ‘‘net exercise’’), the total number of shares for which the option or 
SAR is exercised, and not just the net number of shares delivered upon such exercise, will be counted as though issued under the 
2016 Plan. Additionally, any shares that are canceled or surrendered to satisfy a participant’s applicable tax withholding obligations 
in respect of any award granted under the 2016 Plan or the 2007 Plan will not again become available for issuance. If any full-
value award granted under the 2016 Plan or granted under the 2007 Plan expires without having been exercised, or is canceled, 
terminated or otherwise settled without the issuance of stock, that number of shares equal to (x) the number of shares subject to 
such award multiplied by (y) the multiplier applicable under the applicable plan (that is, two shares for each share subject to each 
such full-value award granted under the 2016 Plan and 1.67 for each full-value award granted under the 2007 Plan) will become 
available for issuance under the 2016 Plan. If any stock option award granted under the 2016 Plan or the 2007 Plan expires without 
having been exercised, or is canceled, terminated or otherwise settled without the issuance of stock, there will become available 
for issuance under the 2016 Plan one share of our common stock for each share of our common stock subject to such stock option 
award.

As of December 31, 2016, we had approximately 11.6 million shares, in the aggregate, available for grant under the 2016 

Plan.

Stock Options — We did not grant any stock options during 2014, 2015 or 2016, nor do we plan to in 2017. At  December 31, 

2016, there was no remaining unrecognized stock option expense related to unvested awards. 

Under the terms of our stock option plans, employees and non-employee directors may be granted options to purchase 

our stock at a price equal to the market price on the date the option is granted. 

F-24

Prior to 2014, we did not historically declare or pay a regular cash dividend on our common stock. Stock option awards 

are not impacted by our decision in 2013 to begin paying dividends in 2014.

The following table summarizes stock option activity during the year ended December 31, 2016:

Options outstanding at January 1, 2016

Forfeited and canceled(1)

Exercised

Options outstanding and exercisable at December 31,
2016(2)

Options exercisable at December 31, 2015

Options
3,204,925
(921,142)
(244,954)

2,038,829

3,204,925

Weighted
Average
Exercise Price
20.07

$

Weighted
Average
Contractual Life

Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value

22.24

14.29

19.78

20.07

1.73

$

6,923,656

(1) 

Pursuant to the terms of our stock option plans, options that are forfeited or canceled may be available for future grants. 
Effective May 15, 2013, any stock options surrendered or canceled in satisfaction of participants' exercise proceeds or 
tax withholding obligation will no longer become available for future grants under the plans.

(2) 

As of December 31, 2016, there were no remaining unvested stock options.

The following table summarizes information about options outstanding and exercisable at December 31, 2016:

Range of
Exercise Prices
$8.96 to 10.44

12.60
13.30 to 16.98
17.36
17.48 to 21.14
21.96
23.08 to 24.60
26.06
26.52 to 27.60

Options Outstanding and Exercisable

Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual Life 
(in years)

Number
Outstanding

302,704
112,643
103,961
352,742
23,563
341,142
255,255
463,532
83,287

4.73
3.12
2.89
2.12
1.61
1.04
0.85
0.12
0.39

$

Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price
9.84
12.60
15.56
17.36
18.82
21.96
23.11
26.06
27.29

The following table summarizes additional information regarding our stock option activity (in thousands):

Intrinsic value of options exercised
Fair value of shares vested
Tax benefit related to stock option expense

Year Ended December 31

2016

2015

2014

$

$

1,372
—
—

$

336
453
34

2,078
4,717
169

During the year ended December 31, 2016, net cash received from stock option exercises was $2.2 million and the total 

cash benefit for tax deductions to be realized for these option exercises was $0.5 million.

Restricted Stock Units — We issue restricted stock units ("RSUs") to certain senior employees and non-employee directors 
as part of our long-term incentive program. An RSU represents the right to receive one share of common stock in the future. RSUs 
have no exercise price. RSUs granted to employees generally vest ratably over three years, subject to certain accelerated vesting 
provisions based primarily on a change of control, or in certain cases upon death or qualified disability. RSUs granted to non-
employee directors vest ratably over three years.

F-25

 
 
 
The following table summarizes RSU activity during the year ended December 31, 2016:

RSUs outstanding January 1, 2016

RSUs issued

Shares issued upon vesting

RSUs canceled or forfeited(1)

RSUs outstanding at December 31, 2016

Weighted-average per share grant date fair value

Employees

Directors

871,876

480,117
(257,269)
(221,939)
872,785

94,816

43,547
(55,886)
(2,270)
80,207

Total
966,692

523,664
(313,155)
(224,209)
952,992

$

17.46

$

17.55

$

17.47

(1) 

Pursuant to the terms of our stock unit plans, employees have the option of forfeiting stock units to cover their minimum 
statutory tax withholding when shares are issued.  Any stock units surrendered or canceled in satisfaction of participants’ 
tax withholding obligations are not available for future grants under the plans.

The following table summarizes information about our RSU grants and RSU expense during the years ended December 31, 

2016, 2015 and 2014 (in thousands, except per share amounts):

Year Ended December 31

2016

2015

2014

Total intrinsic value of RSUs vested/distributed during the period
Weighted-average grant date fair value of RSUs granted
Tax benefit related to RSU expense

$

$

8,920
19.13
1,694

$

7,958
16.41
2,303

5,459
14.62
990

At December 31, 2016, there was $8.2 million of total unrecognized RSU expense, all of which is related to unvested 
awards. This compensation expense is expected to be recognized over the weighted-average remaining vesting period of 0.89
years.

Restricted Stock — We offer our non-employee directors the option to receive certain compensation for services rendered 
in either cash or shares of restricted stock equal to 150% of the fee amount. Shares of restricted stock vest one-third on grant, one-
third on the first anniversary of grant and one-third on the second anniversary of grant. The following table summarizes restricted 
stock activity during the year ended December 31, 2016:

Unvested at January 1, 2016
Restricted shares granted
Restricted shares vested

Unvested at December 31, 2016

Shares

39,325
43,124
(40,699)
41,750

Weighted-
Average Grant
Date Fair Value
16.36
$
18.25
17.08
17.61

$

F-26

 
 
Performance Stock Units — Beginning in 2016, performance stock units ("PSUs") were granted as part of our long-term 
incentive compensation program. PSUs cliff vest and settle in shares of our common stock at the end of a three-year performance 
period contingent upon the achievement of specific performance goals established for each calendar year during the performance 
period. The number of shares that may be earned at the end of the vesting period may range from zero to 200 percent of the target 
award amount based on the achievement of the performance goals. The fair value of PSUs is estimated using the market price of 
our common stock on the date of grant, and we recognize compensation expense ratably over the vesting period for the portion 
of the award that is expected to vest. The fair value of the PSUs is remeasured at each reporting period. The following table 
summarizes PSU activity during year ended December 31, 2016:

Outstanding at January 1, 2016

Granted

Vested
Forfeited

Outstanding at December 31, 2016

Weighted
Average Grant
Date
Fair Value

PSUs

— $

90,583
—
—
90,583

$

—

19.13
—
—
19.13

Phantom Shares — We grant phantom shares as part of our long-term incentive compensation program, which are similar 
to RSUs in that they are based on the price of our stock and vest ratably over a three-year period, but are cash-settled based upon 
the value of our stock at each vesting period. The fair value of the awards is remeasured at each reporting period. Compensation 
expense, which is variable, is recognized over the vesting period with a corresponding liability, which is recorded in accounts 
payable and accrued expenses in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. The following table summarizes the phantom share activity 
during the year ended December 31, 2016:

Outstanding at January 1, 2016

Granted

Converted/paid

Forfeited

Outstanding at December 31, 2016

Shares
1,159,519

818,407
(560,712)
(56,152)
1,361,062

Weighted-
Average Grant
Date Fair Value
15.94
$

19.20

16.07

17.47

17.78

$

Share-Based Compensation Expense — The following table summarizes the share-based compensation expense related 

to Dean Foods equity-based awards recognized during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 (in thousands):

Stock options
RSUs
PSUs
Phantom shares
Total

Year Ended December 31

2016

2015

2014

$

$

— $

11,053 (1)
3,601 (1)
15,176   
29,830    $

88
8,407
—
7,882
16,377

$

$

438
4,521
—
7,317
12,276

(1) 

Share-based compensation expense for the year ended December 31, 2016 includes an aggregate of approximately 
$6.0 million of RSU and PSU compensation expense associated with separation charges in connection with our CEO 
succession plan. See “Part I — Item 1. Business — Developments Since January 1, 2016.”

F-27

 
 
 
11.  

EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE

Basic earnings (loss) per share is based on the weighted average number of common shares issued and outstanding during 
each period. Diluted earnings (loss) per share is based on the weighted average number of common shares issued and outstanding 
and the effect of all dilutive common stock equivalents outstanding during each period. Stock option conversions and stock units 
were not included in the computation of diluted loss per share for the years ended December 31, 2015 and 2014 as we incurred a 
loss for each of these periods and any effect on loss per share would have been anti-dilutive. The following table reconciles the 
numerators and denominators used in the computations of both basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share:

Basic earnings (loss) per share computation:

Numerator:

Income (loss) from continuing operations

Denominator:

Average common shares

Basic earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations

Diluted earnings (loss) per share computation:

Numerator:

Income (loss) from continuing operations

Denominator:

Average common shares — basic
Stock option conversion(1)
RSUs and PSUs(2)
Average common shares — diluted

Diluted earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations

(1) Anti-dilutive common shares excluded
(2) Anti-dilutive stock units excluded

Year Ended December 31

2016

2015

2014

(In thousands, except share data)

$

$

$

$

120,617

$

(8,081) $

(20,187)

90,933,886
1.33

$

93,298,467

(0.09) $

93,916,656
(0.22)

120,617

$

(8,081) $

(20,187)

90,933,886
246,116
330,481
91,510,483
1.32
1,262,158
—

93,298,467
—
—
93,298,467

$

(0.09) $

2,933,770
340,398

93,916,656
—
—
93,916,656
(0.22)
3,840,637
312,971

12.  

ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

The  changes  in  accumulated  other  comprehensive  income  (loss)  by  component,  net  of  tax,  during  the  year  ended 

December 31, 2016 were as follows (in thousands):

Pension and Other
Postretirement Benefits
Items

Foreign Currency
Items

Total

Balance, December 31, 2015

Other comprehensive loss before
reclassifications

Amounts reclassified from accumulated
other comprehensive income

Net current-period other comprehensive loss

Balance, December 31, 2016

$

$

(83,279)

$

(2,524)

$

(85,803)

4,284

(5,857) (1)
(1,573)
(84,852)

$

(2,257)

—
(2,257)
(4,781)

$

2,027

(5,857)
(3,830)
(89,633)

(1) 

The  accumulated  other  comprehensive  loss  reclassification  components  are  related  to  amortization  of  unrecognized 
actuarial losses and prior service costs, both of which are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost. See 
Notes 13 and 14.

F-28

 
 
 
 
The  changes  in  accumulated  other  comprehensive  income  (loss)  by  component,  net  of  tax,  during  the  year  ended 

December 31, 2015 were as follows (in thousands):

Gains/Losses on
Cash Flow 
 Hedges

Pension and
 Other
Postretirement
Benefits Items

Foreign 
 Currency
Items

Total

Balance, December 31, 2014

Other comprehensive loss before
reclassifications

Amounts reclassified from accumulated
other comprehensive income
Net current-period other comprehensive
loss

Balance, December 31, 2015

$

$

87

$

(83,879)

$

(1,191)

$

(84,983)

(87)

—

6,475

(1,333)

(5,875) (1)

—

(87)
— $

600
(83,279)

$

(1,333)
(2,524)

$

5,055

(5,875)

(820)
(85,803)

(1) 

The  accumulated  other  comprehensive  loss  reclassification  components  are  related  to  amortization  of  unrecognized 
actuarial losses and prior service costs, both of which are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost. See 
Notes 13 and 14.

13.  

EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT AND PROFIT SHARING PLANS

We sponsor various defined benefit and defined contribution retirement plans, including various employee savings and 
profit sharing plans, and contribute to various multiemployer pension plans on behalf of our employees. Substantially all full-time 
union and non-union employees who have completed one or more years of service and have met other requirements pursuant to 
the plans are eligible to participate in one or more of these plans. During 2016, 2015 and 2014, our retirement and profit sharing 
plan expenses were as follows:

Defined benefit plans
Defined contribution plans
Multiemployer pension and certain union plans

Total

Year Ended December 31

2016

2015

2014

6,805
19,078
30,073
55,956

(In thousands)
6,594
$
16,498
29,930
53,022

$

$

$

$

$

4,729
16,503
28,933
50,165

Defined  Benefit  Plans — The  benefits  under  our  defined  benefit  plans  are  based  on  years  of  service  and  employee 
compensation. Our funding policy is to contribute annually the minimum amount required under Employee Retirement Income 
Security Act regulations plus additional amounts as we deem appropriate.

Included in accumulated other comprehensive loss at December 31, 2016 and 2015 are the following amounts that have 
not yet been recognized in net periodic pension cost: unrecognized prior service costs of $2.1 million ($1.3 million net of tax) and 
$3.0 million ($1.8 million net of tax), respectively, and unrecognized actuarial losses of $141.5 million ($87.4 million net of tax) 
and $136.7 million ($84.1 million net of tax), respectively. Prior service costs and actuarial losses included in accumulated other 
comprehensive income (loss) and expected to be recognized in net periodic pension cost during the year ending December 31, 
2017 are $0.7 million ($0.4 million net of tax) and $10.4 million ($6.4 million net of tax), respectively.

F-29

 
 
 
The reconciliation of the beginning and ending balances of the projected benefit obligation and the fair value of plan 
assets for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the funded status of the plans at December 31, 2016 and 2015 are as 
follows:

Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year

Service cost
Interest cost
Plan participants’ contributions
Plan amendments
Actuarial (gain) loss
Benefits paid
Plan settlements

Benefit obligation at end of year
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year

Actual return on plan assets
Employer contributions
Plan participants’ contributions
Benefits paid
Plan settlements

Fair value of plan assets at end of year
Funded status at end of year

December 31

2016

2015

(In thousands)

$

$

$

333,975
3,173
12,171
—
—
11,578
(21,407)
(757)
338,733

282,753
16,105
5,489
—
(21,407)
(757)
282,183
(56,550) $

345,766
3,631
13,736
10
72
(10,351)
(18,889)
—
333,975

289,526
(6,716)
18,822
10
(18,889)
—
282,753
(51,222)

The underfunded status of the plans of $56.6 million at December 31, 2016 is recognized in our Consolidated Balance 
Sheet and includes $0.8 million classified as a current accrued pension liability. We do not expect any plan assets to be returned 
to us during the year ending December 31, 2017. We currently expect to contribute $5.3 million to the pension plans in 2017; 
however, we can elect to fund the pension plan in excess of the aforementioned contribution. 

A summary of our key actuarial assumptions used to determine benefit obligations as of December 31, 2016 and 2015

follows:

Weighted average discount rate
Rate of compensation increase

December 31

2016

2015

4.29%
3.70%

4.52%
4.00%

F-30

 
 
 
 
 
A summary of our key actuarial assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost for 2016, 2015 and 2014 follows:

Effective discount rate for benefit obligations
Effective rate for interest on benefit obligations
Effective discount rate for service cost
Effective rate for interest on service cost
Expected return on assets
Rate of compensation increase

Components of net periodic benefit cost:

Service cost
Interest cost
Expected return on plan assets

Amortizations:

Prior service cost
Unrecognized net loss
Effect of settlement
Other

Net periodic benefit cost

Year Ended December 31

2016

2015

2014

4.53%
3.76%
4.67%
4.14%
6.75%
4.00%

4.08%
4.08%
4.08%
4.08%
7.00%
4.00%

4.90%
4.90%
4.90%
4.90%
7.00%
4.00%

Year Ended December 31

2016

2015

2014

(In thousands)

$

$

$

3,173
12,171
(18,531)

$

3,631
13,736
(20,026)

3,081
13,979
(18,761)

857
8,822
313
—
6,805

$

856
8,544
—
(147)
6,594

$

787
5,105
538
—
4,729

The overall expected long-term rate of return on plan assets is a weighted-average expectation based on the targeted and 
expected portfolio composition. We consider historical performance and current benchmarks to arrive at expected long-term rates 
of return in each asset category.

The  amortization  of  unrecognized  net  loss  represents  the  amortization  of  investment  losses  incurred.  The  effect  of 
settlement costs in 2016, 2015 and 2014 represents the recognition of net periodic benefit cost related to pension settlements 
reached as a result of plant closures.

Pension plans with an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets follows:

Projected benefit obligation
Accumulated benefit obligation
Fair value of plan assets

December 31

2016

2015

(In millions)

$

338.7
336.3
282.2

334.0
331.3
282.8

$

The accumulated benefit obligation for all defined benefit plans was $336.3 million and $331.3 million at December 31, 

2016 and 2015, respectively.

Almost 90% of our defined benefit plan obligations are frozen as to future participation or increases in projected benefit 
obligation. Many of these obligations were acquired in prior strategic transactions. As an alternative to defined benefit plans, we 
offer defined contribution plans for eligible employees.

At the end of 2015, we changed our approach used to measure service and interest costs for pension and other postretirement 
benefits. In 2015, we measured service and interest costs utilizing a single weighted-average discount rate derived from the yield 
curve used to measure the plan obligations. In 2016, we elected to measure service and interest costs by applying the specific spot 
rates along that yield curve to the plans’ liability cash flows. We believe the new approach provides a more precise measurement 
of service and interest costs by aligning the timing of the plans’ liability cash flows to the corresponding spot rates on the yield 
curve. This change does not affect the measurement of our plan obligations but generally results in lower pension expense in 

F-31

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
periods when the yield curve is upward sloping. We have accounted for this change as a change in accounting estimate and, 
accordingly, have accounted for it on a prospective basis starting in 2016.

Substantially all of our qualified pension plans are consolidated into one master trust. Our investment objectives are to 
minimize the volatility of the value of our pension assets relative to our pension liabilities and to ensure assets are sufficient to 
pay plan benefits. In 2014, we adopted a broad pension de-risking strategy intended to align the characteristics of our assets relative 
to our liabilities. The strategy targets investments depending on the funded status of the obligation. We anticipate this strategy will 
continue in future years and will be dependent upon market conditions and plan characteristics.

 At December 31, 2016, our master trust was invested as follows: investments in equity securities were at 41%; investments 
in fixed income were at 58%; cash equivalents were at 1% and other investments were less than 1%. We believe the allocation of 
our master trust investments as of December 31, 2016 is generally consistent with the targets set forth by the Investment Committee. 

 Estimated pension plan benefit payments to participants for the next ten years are as follows:

2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
Next five years

$ 20.6 million
20.4 million
20.1 million
20.4 million
21.0 million
107.2 million

Fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability 
in an orderly transaction between market participants. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined 
based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. As a basis for considering assumptions, 
we follow a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value of our defined benefit plans’ 
consolidated assets as follows:

•  Level 1 — Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.

•  Level 2 — Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments 
in markets that are not active and model-derived valuations, in which all significant inputs are observable in active 
markets.

•  Level 3 — Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop 

its own assumptions.

F-32

The fair values by category of inputs as of December 31, 2016 were as follows (in thousands):

Equity Securities:

Common Stock
Index Funds:

U.S. Equities(a)
International Equities
Equity Funds(b)
Total Equity Securities

Fixed Income:

Bond Funds(c)
Diversified Funds(d)
Total Fixed Income

Cash Equivalents:

Short-term Investment Funds(e)
Total Cash Equivalents

Other Investments:

Partnerships/Joint Ventures(f)
Total Other Investments

Fair Value as of
December 31, 2016

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

$

275

$

275

$

— $

112,329
—
6,204
118,808

157,361
3,930
161,291

1,921
1,921

—
—
—
275

—
—
—

—
—

112,329
—
6,204
118,533

157,361
—
157,361

1,921
1,921

163
163
282,183

$

$

—
—
275

$

—
—
277,815

$

—

—
—
—
—

—
3,930
3,930

—
—

163
163
4,093

Represents a pooled/separate account that tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Total Stock Market Index.

Represents a pooled/separate account comprised of approximately 90% U.S. large-cap stocks and 10% international 
stocks.

Represents investments primarily in U.S. dollar-denominated, investment grade bonds, including government securities, 
corporate bonds, and mortgage- and asset-backed securities.

Represents a pooled/separate account investment in the General Investment Account of an investment manager. The 
account primarily invests in fixed income debt securities, such as high grade corporate bonds, government bonds and 
asset-backed securities.

Investment is comprised of high grade money market instruments with short-term maturities and high liquidity.

The majority of the total partnership balance is a partnership comprised of a portfolio of two limited partnership funds 
that invest in public and private equity.

F-33

Total

(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

(d) 

(e) 

(f) 

The fair values by category of inputs as of December 31, 2015 were as follows (in thousands):

Equity Securities:

Common Stock
Index Funds:

U.S. Equities(a)
International Equities
Equity Funds(b)
Total Equity Securities

Fixed Income:

Bond Funds(c)
Diversified Funds(d)
Total Fixed Income

Cash Equivalents:

Short-term Investment Funds(e)
Total Cash Equivalents

Other Investments:

Partnerships/Joint Ventures(f)
Total Other Investments

Fair Value as of
December 31, 2015

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

$

241

$

241

$

— $

105,874
—
6,204
112,319

160,419
3,929
164,348

1,975
1,975

—
—
—
241

—
—
—

—
—

105,874
—
6,204
112,078

160,419
—
160,419

1,975
1,975

273
273
278,915

$

$

—
—
241

$

—
—
274,472

$

—

—
—
—
—

—
3,929
3,929

—
—

273
273
4,202

Total

(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

(d) 

(e) 

(f) 

Represents a pooled/separate account that tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Total Stock Market Index.

Represents a pooled/separate account comprised of approximately 90% U.S. large-cap stocks and 10% international 
stocks.

Represents investments primarily in U.S. dollar-denominated, investment grade bonds, including government securities, 
corporate bonds, and mortgage- and asset-backed securities.

Represents a pooled/separate account investment in the General Investment Account of an investment manager. The 
account primarily invests in fixed income debt securities, such as high grade corporate bonds, government bonds and 
asset-backed securities.

Investment is comprised of high grade money market instruments with short-term maturities and high liquidity.

The majority of the total partnership balance is a partnership comprised of a portfolio of two limited partnership funds 
that invest in public and private equity.

Inputs and valuation techniques used to measure the fair value of plan assets vary according to the type of security being 
valued. The common stock investments held directly by the plans are actively traded and fair values are determined based on 
quoted prices in active markets and are therefore classified as Level 1 inputs in the fair value hierarchy.

Fair values of equity securities held through units of pooled or index funds are based on net asset value of the units of 
the funds as determined by the fund manager. These funds are similar in nature to retail mutual funds, but are typically more 
efficient for institutional investors than retail mutual funds. The fair value of pooled funds is determined by the value of the 
underlying assets held by the fund and the units outstanding. The values of the pooled funds are not directly observable, but are 
based on observable inputs and, accordingly, have been classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.

Fair values of fixed income bond funds are typically determined by reference to the values of similar securities traded in 
the marketplace and current interest rate levels. Multiple pricing services are typically employed to assist in determining these 
valuations. These investments are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy as all significant inputs into the valuation are 
readily observable in the marketplace. Investments in diversified funds and investments in partnerships/joint ventures are classified 
as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy as their fair value is dependent on inputs and assumptions which are not readily observable 
in the marketplace.

F-34

A reconciliation of the change in the fair value measurement of the defined benefit plans’ consolidated assets using 

significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) during the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015 is as follows (in thousands):

Balance at December 31, 2014
Actual return on plan assets:

Relating to instruments still held at reporting date

Purchases, sales and settlements (net)
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3
Balance at December 31, 2015
Actual return on plan assets:

Relating to instruments still held at reporting date

Purchases, sales and settlements (net)
Balance at December 31, 2016

Diversified
Funds

Partnerships/
Joint Ventures

Total

2,921

$

567

$

3,488

131
(823)
1,700
3,929

115
(114)
3,930

$

$

(182)
—
(112)
273

(18)
(92)
163

$

$

(51)
(823)
1,588
4,202

97
(206)
4,093

$

$

$

Defined Contribution Plans — Certain of our non-union personnel may elect to participate in savings and profit sharing 
plans sponsored by us. These plans generally provide for salary reduction contributions to the plans on behalf of the participants 
of between 1% and 50% of a participant’s annual compensation and provide for employer matching and profit sharing contributions 
as determined by our Board of Directors. In addition, certain union hourly employees are participants in company-sponsored 
defined  contribution  plans,  which  provide  for  salary  reduction  contributions  according  to  several  schedules,  including  as  a 
percentage of salary, various cents per hour and flat dollar amounts. Additionally, employer contributions are sometimes, although 
not always, provided according to various schedules ranging from flat dollar contributions to matching contributions as a percent 
of salary based on the employees deferral election.

Multiemployer  Pension  Plans — Certain  of  our  subsidiaries  contribute  to  various  multiemployer  pension  and  other 
postretirement benefit plans which cover a majority of our full-time union employees and certain of our part-time union employees. 
Such plans are usually administered by a board of trustees composed of labor representatives and the management of the participating 
companies. The risks of participating in these multiemployer plans are different from single-employer plans in the following 
aspects:

•  Assets contributed to a multiemployer plan by one employer may be used to provide benefits to employees of other 

participating employers;

• 

• 

If a participating employer stops contributing to the plan, the unfunded obligations of the plan may be borne by the 
remaining participating employers; and

If we choose to stop participating in one or more of our multiemployer plans, we may be required to pay those plans 
an amount based on the underfunded status of the plan, referred to as a withdrawal liability.

F-35

Our participation in these multiemployer plans for the year ended December 31, 2016 is outlined in the table below. 
Unless otherwise noted, the most recent Pension Protection Act (“PPA”) Zone Status available in 2016 and 2015 is for the plans’ 
year-end at December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively. The zone status is based on information that we obtained 
from each plan’s Form 5500, which is available in the public domain and is certified by the plan’s actuary. Among other factors, 
plans in the red zone are in "critical" status and generally less than 65% funded, plans in the yellow zone are in "endangered" 
status and less than 80% funded, and plans in the green zone are in "healthy" status and at least 80% funded. The “FIP/RP Status 
Pending/Implemented” column indicates plans for which a funding improvement plan (“FIP”) or a rehabilitation plan (“RP”) is 
either pending or has been implemented. Federal law requires that plans classified in the yellow zone or red zone adopt a funding 
improvement  plan  or  rehabilitation  plan,  respectively,  in  order  to  improve  the  financial  health  of  the  plan.  The  “Extended 
Amortization Provisions” column indicates plans which have elected to utilize the special 30-year amortization rules provided by 
the Pension Relief Act of 2010 to amortize its losses from 2008 as a result of turmoil in the financial markets. The last column in 
the table lists the expiration date(s) of the collective-bargaining agreement(s) to which the plans are subject.

Pension Fund
Western Conference of
Teamsters Pension Plan(1)

Central States, Southeast and
Southwest Areas Pension Plan(2)

Retail, Wholesale & Department
Store International Union and
Industry Pension Fund(3)

Dairy Industry – Union Pension
Plan for Philadelphia Vicinity(4)

Employer
Identification
Number

Pension
Plan
Number

PPA Zone Status

2016

2015

FIP /
RP Status
Pending/
Implemented

Extended
Amortization
Provisions

91-6145047

001

Green

Green

N/A

36-6044243

001

Red

Red

Implemented

63-0708442

001

Green

Green

23-6283288

001 Green(5)

Green

N/A

N/A

No

No

Yes

Yes

Expiration
Date of
Associated
Collective-
Bargaining
Agreement(s)

May 31, 2017 - 
August 31, 2020

January 31, 2017 - 
May 31, 2020

January 28, 2017 -  
July 18, 2020

August 31, 2017 -
September 30, 2018

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

(5) 

We are party to approximately twelve collective bargaining agreements that require contributions to this plan. These 
agreements cover a large number of employee participants and expire on various dates between 2017 and 2020. The 
agreement expiring in March 2019 is the most significant as 32% of our employee participants in this plan are covered 
by that agreement.

There are approximately 21 collective bargaining agreements that govern our participation in this plan. The agreements 
expire on various dates between 2017 and 2020. Approximately 22%, 30%, 39%, and 10% of our employee participants 
in this plan are covered by the agreements expiring in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 respectively.

We are subject to approximately eight collective bargaining agreements with respect to this plan. Approximately 46%,  
50%, 1%, and 3% of our employee participants in this plan are covered by the agreements expiring in 2017, 2018, 2019, 
and 2020 respectively.

We are party to five collective bargaining agreements with respect to this plan. The agreement expiring in September 
2017 is the most significant as 60% of our employee participants in this plan are covered by that agreement.

The most recent PPA Zone Status available in 2016 is for the plan's year-end at December 31, 2015. As of December 31, 
2015, the estimated funding ratio of the plan was 80.8%. As of January 1, 2016, the actuary reported that the estimated 
funding ratio of the plan was 79.56%,  and that the plan was certified to be in endangered status. A notice of endangered 
status  was  provided  to  the  plan’s  participants  and  beneficiaries,  bargaining  parties,  the  Pension  Benefit  Guaranty 
Corporation, and the Department of Labor. At the date of filing of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, Forms 5500 were 
not available for the plan year ended in 2016.

F-36

Information regarding our contributions to our multiemployer pension plans is shown in the table below. There are no 
changes that materially affected the comparability of our contributions to each of these plans during the years ended December 31, 
2016, 2015 and 2014.

Pension Fund
Western Conference of Teamsters
Pension Plan

Central States, Southeast and
Southwest Areas Pension Plan

Retail, Wholesale & Department
Store International Union and
Industry Pension Fund(1)

Dairy Industry – Union Pension
Plan for Philadelphia Vicinity(1)

Other Funds(2)

Total Contributions

Employer
Identification
Number

Pension
Plan
Number

Dean Foods Company Contributions
(in millions)

2016

2015

2014

Surcharge
Imposed(3)

91-6145047

001

$

13.8

$

12.8

$

36-6044243

63-0708442

23-6283288

001

001

001

8.6

1.8

1.9

4.0

9.3

1.3

2.1

4.4

12.9

11.9

1.3

2.0

0.8

No

No

No

No

$

30.1

$

29.9

$

28.9

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

During the 2015 and 2014 plan years, our contributions to these plans exceeded 5% of total plan contributions. At the 
date of filing of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, Forms 5500 were not available for the plan years ending in 2016.

Amounts shown represent our contributions to all other multiemployer pension and other postretirement benefit plans, 
which are immaterial both individually and in the aggregate to our Consolidated Financial Statements.

Federal law requires that contributing employers to a plan in Critical status pay to the plan a surcharge to help correct 
the plan’s financial situation. The amount of the surcharge is equal to a percentage of the amount we would otherwise be 
required to contribute to the plan and ceases once our related collective bargaining agreements are amended to comply 
with the provisions of the rehabilitation plan.

14.  

POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS OTHER THAN PENSIONS

Certain of our subsidiaries provide health care benefits to certain retirees who are covered under specific group contracts. 
As defined by the specific group contract, qualified covered associates may be eligible to receive major medical insurance with 
deductible and co-insurance provisions subject to certain lifetime maximums.

Included in accumulated other comprehensive loss at December 31, 2016 and 2015 are the following amounts that have 
not yet been recognized in net periodic benefit cost: unrecognized prior service costs of $494 thousand ($305 thousand net of tax) 
and $586 thousand ($360 thousand net of tax), respectively, and unrecognized actuarial losses of $6.7 million ($4.1 million net 
of tax) and $5.1 million ($3.1 million net of tax), respectively. The prior service cost and actuarial loss included in accumulated 
other comprehensive income (loss) and expected to be recognized in net periodic benefit cost during the year ending December 31, 
2017 is $92 thousand ($57 thousand net of tax) and $457 thousand ($283 thousand net of tax), respectively.

F-37

The following table sets forth the funded status of these plans:

Change in benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year

Service cost
Interest cost
Employee contributions
Actuarial (gain) loss
Benefits paid

Benefit obligation at end of year
Fair value of plan assets at end of year
Funded status

December 31

2016

2015

(In thousands)

$

$

$

32,132
640
1,085
338
(1,916)
(2,157)
30,122
—
(30,122) $

39,126
821
1,455
389
(8,048)
(1,611)
32,132
—
(32,132)

The unfunded portion of the liability of $30.1 million at December 31, 2016 is recognized in our Consolidated Balance 

Sheet and includes $2.1 million classified as a current accrued postretirement liability.

A summary of our key actuarial assumptions used to determine the benefit obligation as of December 31, 2016 and 2015

follows:

Healthcare inflation:

Healthcare cost trend rate assumed for next year
Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline (ultimate trend rate)
Year of ultimate rate achievement

Weighted average discount rate

December 31

2016

2015

7.00%
4.50%
2038
3.97%

7.27%
4.50%
2038
4.27%

A summary of our key actuarial assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost follows:

Healthcare inflation:

Healthcare cost trend rate assumed for next year
Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline (ultimate trend
rate)

Year of ultimate rate achievement
Effective discount rate for benefit obligations
Effective rate for interest on benefit obligations
Effective discount rate for service cost
Effective rate for interest on service cost

Year Ended December 31

2016

2015

2014

7.27%

4.50%
2038
4.27%
3.52%
4.68%
4.37%

7.70%

4.50%
2029
3.85%
3.85%
3.85%
3.85%

7.90%

4.50%
2029
4.64%
4.64%
4.64%
4.64%

At the end of 2015, we changed our approach used to measure service and interest costs for pension and other postretirement 
benefits. In 2015, we measured service and interest costs utilizing a single weighted-average discount rate derived from the yield 
curve used to measure the plan obligations. In 2016, we elected to measure service and interest costs by applying the specific spot 
rates along that yield curve to the plans’ liability cash flows. We believe the new approach provides a more precise measurement 
of service and interest costs by aligning the timing of the plans’ liability cash flows to the corresponding spot rates on the yield 
curve. This change does not affect the measurement of our plan obligations but generally results in lower pension expense in 
periods when the yield curve is upward sloping. We have accounted for this change as a change in accounting estimate and, 
accordingly, have accounted for it on a prospective basis starting in 2016.

F-38

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Components of net periodic benefit cost:

Service and interest cost

Amortizations:

Prior service cost
Unrecognized net (gain) loss

Other
Net periodic benefit cost

Year Ended December 31

2016

2015

2014

(In thousands)

$

$

1,725

$

2,276

$

2,487

92
(245)
—
1,572

$

92
63
—
2,431

$

65
75
98
2,725

Assumed health care cost trend rates have a significant effect on the amounts reported for the health care plans. A one 

percent change in assumed health care cost trend rates would have the following effects:

Effect on total of service and interest cost components
Effect on postretirement obligation

1-Percentage-
Point Increase

1-Percentage-
Point Decrease

$

(In thousands)
228
2,999

$

(189)
(2,651)

We expect to contribute $2.1 million to the postretirement health care plans in 2017. Estimated postretirement health care 

plan benefit payments for the next ten years are as follows:

2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
Next five years

$

2.1 million
2.1 million
2.3 million
2.3 million
2.3 million
11.4 million

15.  

ASSET IMPAIRMENT CHARGES AND FACILITY CLOSING AND REORGANIZATION COSTS

Asset Impairment Charges

We evaluate our finite-lived intangible and long-lived assets for impairment when circumstances indicate that the carrying 
value may not be recoverable. Indicators of impairment could include, among other factors, significant changes in the business 
environment  or  the  planned  closure  of  a  facility.  Considerable  management  judgment  is  necessary  to  evaluate  the  impact  of 
operating changes and to estimate future cash flows. 

Testing the assets for recoverability involves developing estimates of future cash flows directly associated with, and that 
are expected to arise as a direct result of, the use and eventual disposition of the assets. Other inputs are based on assessment of 
an individual asset’s alternative use within other production facilities, evaluation of recent market data and historical liquidation 
sales values for similar assets. As the inputs for testing recoverability are largely based on management’s judgments and are not 
generally observable in active markets, we consider such measurements to be Level 3 measurements in the fair value hierarchy. 
See Note 9.

The results of our analysis indicated no impairment of our property, plant, and equipment, outside of facility closing and 
reorganization  costs,  for  the  years  ended  December 31,  2016  and  2015. We  can  provide  no  assurance  that  we  will  not  have 
impairment charges in future periods as a result of changes in our business environment, operating results or the assumptions and 
estimates utilized in our impairment tests.

F-39

 
 
 
 
Facility Closing and Reorganization Costs

Costs associated with approved plans within our ongoing network optimization strategies are summarized as follows:

Closure of facilities, net(1)

Facility closing and reorganization costs, net

Year Ended December 31

2016

2015

2014

(In thousands)
19,844
$

8,719

8,719

$

19,844

$

$

$

$

4,460

4,460

(1) 

Reflects charges, net of gains on the sales of assets, associated with closed facilities that were incurred in 2016, 2015 and 
2014. These charges are primarily related to facility closures in Orem, Utah; New Orleans, Louisiana; Rochester, Indiana; 
Riverside, California; Delta, Colorado; Denver, Colorado; Dallas, Texas; Waco, Texas; Springfield, Virginia; Buena Park, 
California; Evart, Michigan; Bangor, Maine; Shreveport, Louisiana; Mendon, Massachusetts; and Sheboygan, Wisconsin, 
as well as other approved closures. We have incurred net charges to date of $73.8 million related to these facility closures 
through December 31, 2016. We expect to incur additional charges related to these facility closures of approximately 
$5.2 million related to contract termination, shutdown and other costs. As we continue the evaluation of our supply chain 
and distribution network, it is likely that we will close additional facilities in the future.

Activity for 2016 and 2015 with respect to facility closing and reorganization costs is summarized below and includes 

items expensed as incurred:

Accrued
Charges at
December 31,
2014

Charges and
Adjustments

Payments

Accrued
Charges at
December 31,
2015

(In thousands)

Charges and
Adjustments

Payments

Accrued
Charges at
December 31,
2016

$

1,283

$

8,803

$

—

2,506

(4,610) $
(2,506)

5,476

$

409

$

—

3,043

6,855

—

149

1,041

$

8,138

12,499

$

(1,718)
(1,041)
(9,875) $

5,286

—

10,762

350

882

4,684

$

(2,275) $
(3,043)

(1,704)
(882)
(7,904) $

3,610

—

3,932

—

7,542

10,531

(3,489)

303

7,345

$

19,844

$

7,979

(3,963)
19

4,035

8,719

Cash charges:

Workforce reduction
costs

Shutdown costs

Lease obligations after
shutdown

Other

Subtotal

Other charges (gains):

Write-down of assets(1)

Gain on sale of related
assets
Other, net

Subtotal

Total

(1) 

The write-down of assets relates primarily to owned buildings, land and equipment of those facilities identified for closure. 
The assets were tested for recoverability at the time the decision to close the facilities was more likely than not to occur. 
Over time, refinements to our estimates used in testing for recoverability may result in additional asset write-downs. The 
write-down  of  assets  can  include  accelerated  depreciation  recorded  for  those  facilities  identified  for  closure.  Our 
methodology  for  testing  the  recoverability  of  the  assets  is  consistent  with  the  methodology  described  in  the  “Asset 
Impairment Charges” section above.

F-40

 
 
 
 
16.  

SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION

Cash paid for interest and financing charges, net of capitalized interest

$

Net cash paid (received) for taxes

Non-cash additions to property, plant and equipment, including capital
leases

Year Ended December 31

2016

2015

2014

(In thousands)
49,593
$
(29,157)

$

60,580

50,630

52,122
(31,469)

4,748

10,129

7,455

17.  

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Contingent Obligations Related to Divested Operations — We have divested certain businesses in prior years. In each 
case, we have retained certain known contingent obligations related to those businesses and/or assumed an obligation to indemnify 
the purchasers of the businesses for certain unknown contingent liabilities, including environmental liabilities. We believe that 
we have established adequate reserves, which are immaterial to the financial statements, for potential liabilities and indemnifications 
related to our divested businesses. Moreover, we do not expect any liability that we may have for these retained liabilities, or any 
indemnification liability, to materially exceed amounts accrued.

Contingent  Obligations  Related  to  Milk  Supply  Arrangements — On  December 21,  2001,  in  connection  with  our 
acquisition of Legacy Dean, we purchased Dairy Farmers of America’s (“DFA”) 33.8% interest in our operations. In connection 
with that transaction, we issued a contingent, subordinated promissory note to DFA in the original principal amount of $40 million. 
The promissory note has a 20-year term that bears interest based on the consumer price index. Interest will not be paid in cash but 
will be added to the principal amount of the note annually, up to a maximum principal amount of $96 million. We may prepay the 
note in whole or in part at any time, without penalty. The note will only become payable if we materially breach or terminate one 
of our related milk supply agreements with DFA without renewal or replacement. Otherwise, the note will expire in 2021, without 
any obligation to pay any portion of the principal or interest. Payments made under the note, if any, would be expensed as incurred. 
We have not terminated, and we have not materially breached, any of our milk supply agreements with DFA related to the promissory 
note. We have previously terminated unrelated supply agreements with respect to several plants that were supplied by DFA. In 
connection with our continued focus on cost control and increased supply chain efficiency, we continue to evaluate our sources 
of raw milk supply.

Insurance — We use a combination of insurance and self-insurance for a number of risks, including property, workers’ 
compensation,  general  liability,  automobile  liability,  product  liability  and  employee  health  care  utilizing  high  deductibles. 
Deductibles vary due to insurance market conditions and risk. Liabilities associated with these risks are estimated considering 
historical claims experience and other actuarial assumptions. Based on current information, we believe that we have established 
adequate reserves to cover these claims. At December 31, 2016 and 2015, we recorded accrued liabilities related to these retained 
risks of $154.3 million and $163.9 million, respectively, including both current and long-term liabilities.

Lease and Purchase Obligations — We lease certain property, plant and equipment used in our operations under both 
capital and operating lease agreements. Such leases, which are primarily for machinery, equipment and vehicles, including our 
distribution fleet, have lease terms ranging from one to 20 years. Certain of the operating lease agreements require the payment 
of additional rentals for maintenance, along with additional rentals based on miles driven or units produced. Certain leases require 
us to guarantee a minimum value of the leased asset at the end of the lease. Our maximum exposure under those guarantees is not 
a material amount. Rent expense was $127.3 million, $125.5 million and $118.9 million for 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

F-41

 
 
 
The net book value of assets under capital leases, which are included in property, plant and equipment in our Consolidated 

Balance Sheets, are as follows:

Year Ended December 31

2016

2015

Machinery and equipment

Less accumulated depreciation

Net book value of assets under capital leases

$

$

$

(In thousands)
5,832
(1,852)
3,980

$

7,514
(2,302)
5,212

Future minimum payments at December 31, 2016 under non-cancelable capital leases and operating leases with terms 

in excess of one year are summarized below:

Capital
Leases

Operating
Leases

2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
Thereafter
Total minimum lease payments
Less amount representing interest
Present value of capital lease obligations

$

$

$

82,451
74,302
63,053
46,583
31,048
61,259
$ 358,696

(In thousands)
1,219
1,430
1,219
398
—
—
4,266
(286)
3,980

We have entered into various contracts, in the normal course of business, obligating us to purchase minimum quantities 
of raw materials used in our production and distribution processes, including conventional raw milk, diesel fuel, sugar and other 
ingredients that are inputs into our finished products. We enter into these contracts from time to time to ensure a sufficient supply 
of raw ingredients. In addition, we have contractual obligations to purchase various services that are part of our production process.

Litigation, Investigations and Audits — We are not party to, nor are our properties the subject of, any material pending 

legal proceedings, other than as set forth below:

A putative class action antitrust complaint (the “retailer action”) was filed against Dean Foods and other milk processors 
on August 9, 2007 in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. Plaintiffs allege generally that we, 
either acting alone or in conjunction with others in the milk industry, lessened competition in the Southeastern United States for 
the sale of processed fluid Grade A milk to retail outlets and other customers. Plaintiffs further allege that the defendants’ conduct 
artificially inflated wholesale prices paid by direct milk purchasers. In March 2012, the district court granted summary judgment 
in favor of defendants, including the Company, as to all counts then remaining. Plaintiffs appealed the district court’s decision, 
and in January 2014, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit reversed the grant of summary judgment as to one 
of the five original counts in the Tennessee retailer action. Following the Sixth Circuit’s denial of our request to reconsider the 
case en banc, the Company petitioned the Supreme Court of the United States for review. On November 17, 2014, the Supreme 
Court denied our petition and the case returned to the district court. On January 19, 2016, the district court granted summary 
judgment to defendants on claims accruing after May 8, 2009. On January 25, 2016, the district court denied summary judgment 
in other respects and denied plaintiffs’ motion for class certification. On February 8, 2016, plaintiffs filed a petition for permission 
to appeal the district court’s order denying class certification. That petition was denied by the Sixth Circuit on June 14, 2016. On 
March 30, 2016, the district court issued an order holding that the case will be judged under an antitrust legal doctrine known as 
the rule of reason. The case is presently scheduled for trial on March 28, 2017. Plaintiffs claim damages in the amount of $57 
million from Dean Foods. If plaintiffs were to prevail, any damage award would be trebled as a matter of law. If plaintiffs were 
to prevail, any damage award would be trebled as a matter of law. In addition, if plaintiffs were to prevail, they would be entitled 
to an award of their reasonable attorneys' fees. The Company believes it has meritorious defenses to plaintiffs’ claims in the retailer 
action and intends to defend itself vigorously at trial. Based on our current assessment and because at this time it is not possible 
to predict the outcome of this matter, the Company has not established a reserve for this litigation. 

F-42

 
 
 
 
 
In addition to the pending legal proceeding described above, we are party from time to time to certain claims, litigations, 
audits and investigations. Potential liabilities associated with these other matters are not expected to have a material adverse impact 
on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

18.  

SEGMENT, GEOGRAPHIC AND CUSTOMER INFORMATION

We operate as a single reportable segment in manufacturing, marketing, selling and distributing a wide variety of branded 
and private label dairy and dairy case products. We operate 66 manufacturing facilities which are geographically located largely 
based on local and regional customer needs and other market factors. We manufacture, market and distribute a wide variety of 
branded and private label dairy case products, including fluid milk, ice cream, cultured dairy products, creamers, ice cream mix 
and other dairy products to retailers, distributors, foodservice outlets, educational institutions and governmental entities across 
the United States. Our products are primarily delivered through what we believe to be one of the most extensive refrigerated direct-
to-store delivery systems in the United States.

Approximate net revenue from external customers for each group of similar products for fiscal 2016, 2015, and 2014

consisted of the following:

Fluid milk
Ice cream(1)
Fresh cream(2)
Extended shelf life and other dairy products(3)
Cultured
Other beverages(4)
Other(5)

Total

Year Ended December 31,

2016

2015
(in millions)

2014

$

$

5,339
1,041
359
231
299
308
133
7,710

$

$

5,728
965
358
250
319
343
159
8,122

$

$

6,984
986
373
283
370
379
128
9,503

(1) 
(2) 
(3) 
(4) 
(5) 

Includes ice cream, ice cream mix and ice cream novelties
Includes half-and-half and whipping creams.
Includes creamers and other extended shelf life fluids.
Includes fruit juice, fruit flavored drinks, iced tea and water.
Includes items for resale such as butter, cheese, eggs and milkshakes.

Our Chief Executive Officer evaluates the performance of our business based on sales and operating income or loss before 
gains and losses on the sale of businesses, facility closing and reorganization costs, litigation settlements, impairments of long-
lived assets and other non-recurring gains and losses.

F-43

All results herein have been recast to present results on a comparable basis. These changes had no impact on consolidated 
net sales and operating income. The amounts in the following tables include our operating results and are obtained from reports 
used by our executive management team and do not include any allocated income taxes or management fees. There are no significant 
non-cash items reported in segment profit or loss other than depreciation and amortization.

Operating income:

Dean Foods

Facility closing and reorganization costs, net

Litigation settlements

Impairment of intangible and long-lived assets

Other operating income

Total

Other (income) expense:

Interest expense
Loss on early retirement of debt

Other income, net

Year Ended December 31,

2016

2015

2014

(in thousands)

$

$

272,387
(8,719)
—

—

—

263,668

$

223,115
(19,844)
—
(109,910)
—

93,361

66,795
—
(5,778)

66,813
43,609
(3,751)

26,777
(4,460)
2,521
(20,820)
4,535

8,553

61,019
1,437
(1,620)

Consolidated income (loss) from continuing operations before
income taxes

$

202,651

$

(13,310) $

(52,283)

Geographic Information — Net sales related to our foreign operations comprised less than 1% of our consolidated net 
sales during the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014. None of our long-lived assets are associated with our foreign 
operations.

Significant Customers — Our largest customer accounted for approximately 16.7%, 16.4%, and 16.4% of our consolidated 

net sales in 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

19.  

QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited)

The following is a summary of our unaudited quarterly results of operations for 2016 and 2015:

2016
Net sales

Gross profit

Income from continuing operations

Net Income (1)

Earnings per common share from continuing operations
(2):

Basic

Diluted

Quarter

First

Second

Third

Fourth

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

$

1,878,828

$

1,848,788

$

1,964,601

$

2,018,009

504,068

39,201

39,201

493,253

33,371

33,371

488,775

14,526

14,526

501,420

33,519

32,831

0.43

0.43

0.37

0.36

0.16

0.16

0.37

0.37

F-44

 
 
 
 
 
 
2015
Net sales

Gross profit

Income (loss) from continuing operations

Net income (loss) (3) (4)

Earnings (loss) per common share from continuing
operations (2):

Basic

Diluted

Quarter

First

Second

Third

Fourth

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

$

2,050,762

$

2,014,706

$

2,033,693

$

2,022,500

478,309
(73,651)
(73,740)

495,641

26,519

26,519

491,988

20,233

20,233

508,471

18,818

18,480

(0.78)
(0.78)

0.28

0.28

0.22

0.22

0.20

0.20

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

(4) 

The results for the first, second, third and fourth quarters of 2016 include facility closing and reorganization costs, net 
of tax and gains on sales of assets, of $0.7 million, $(0.9) million, $5.7 million and $(0.2) million, respectively. See Note 
15. The results for the third quarter of 2016 include a separation charge of $10.1 million in connection with the Company's 
CEO succession plan. See “Part I — Item 1. Business — Developments Since January 1, 2016.”

Earnings (loss) per common share calculations for each of the quarters were based on the basic and diluted weighted 
average number of shares outstanding for each quarter. The sum of the quarters may not necessarily be equal to the full 
year earnings (loss) per common share amount.

The results for the first, second, third and fourth quarters of 2015 include facility closing and reorganization costs, net 
of tax and gains on sales of assets, of $0.8 million, $3.3 million, $1.7 million and $6.4 million, respectively. See Note 
15.

Results for the first quarter of 2015 include a charge of $68.7 million, net of tax, related to impairments of intangible 
assets (Note 5), and a loss of $23.5 million, net of tax, related to the early retirement of a portion of our senior notes due 
2016 (Note 8).

F-45

 
 
 
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Dean Foods Company
Dallas, Texas

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Dean Foods Company and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of 
December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), stockholders' 
equity (deficit), and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2016. Our audits also included the 
financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15. These financial statements and financial statement schedule are the 
responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statements and financial 
statement schedule based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). 
Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements 
are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures 
in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by 
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable 
basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Dean Foods 
Company and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of 
the three years in the period ended December 31, 2016, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United 
States of America. Also, in our opinion, such financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated 
financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the 
Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, based on the criteria established in Internal Control 
- Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report 
dated February 22, 2017 expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Dallas, Texas 
February 22, 2017

F-46

Item 9. 

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

None.

Item 9A. 

Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures 
(as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act, referred to herein as “Disclosure Controls”) as of the end of 
the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The controls evaluation was done under the supervision and with the 
participation of management, including our Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Based upon our 
most recent controls evaluation, our CEO and CFO have concluded that our Disclosure Controls were effective as of December 31, 
2016.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) 
under the Exchange Act) in the quarter ended December 31, 2016 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially 
affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

MANAGEMENT REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Our 
internal control system was designed to provide reasonable assurance to our management and Board of Directors regarding the 
preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements.

All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems 
determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.

We have assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016. In making 
this assessment, we used the criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of 
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on our assessment, management believes that, as of 
December 31, 2016, our internal control over financial reporting is effective based on those criteria.

Our  independent  auditors,  Deloitte &  Touche  LLP,  a  registered  public  accounting  firm,  are  appointed  by  the Audit 
Committee of our Board of Directors. Deloitte & Touche LLP has audited and reported on the consolidated financial statements 
of Dean Foods Company and subsidiaries and our internal control over financial reporting. The reports of our independent auditors 
are contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Our  independent  registered  public  accounting  firm  has  issued  an  audit  report  on  our  internal  control  over  financial 

reporting. This report appears on page 43.

February 22, 2017 

42

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
Dean Foods Company
Dallas, Texas

We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Dean Foods Company and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of 
December 31, 2016, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of 
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. The Company's management is responsible for maintaining effective 
internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, 
included in the accompanying Management Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express 
an opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). 
Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control 
over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control 
over  financial  reporting,  assessing  the  risk  that  a  material  weakness  exists,  testing  and  evaluating  the  design  and  operating 
effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in 
the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the company's principal 
executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the company's board of directors, 
management, and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation 
of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal 
control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in 
reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable 
assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally 
accepted  accounting  principles,  and  that  receipts  and  expenditures  of  the  company  are  being  made  only  in  accordance  with 
authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely 
detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial 
statements.

Because of the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of collusion or improper 
management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. 
Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject 
to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the 
policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 
31, 2016, based on the criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring 
Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the 
consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule as of and for the year ended December 31, 2016 of the Company 
and our report dated February 22, 2017 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial statement 
schedule. 

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Dallas, Texas
February 22, 2017

43

Item 10. 

Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

PART III

Incorporated herein by reference to our proxy statement (to be filed) for our 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders not 

later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this report.

Item 11. 

Executive Compensation

Incorporated herein by reference to our proxy statement (to be filed) for our 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders not 

later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this report.

Item 12. 

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

Incorporated herein by reference to our proxy statement (to be filed) for our 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders not 

later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this report.

Item 13. 

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

Incorporated herein by reference to our proxy statement (to be filed) for our 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders not 

later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this report.

Item 14. 

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

Incorporated herein by reference to our proxy statement (to be filed) for our 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders not 

later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this report.

44

Item  15. 

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

Financial Statements

PART IV

The following Consolidated Financial Statements are filed as part of this Form 10-K or are incorporated herein as indicated:

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2016 and 2015

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 
2014

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity (Deficit) for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

1.      Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

2.      Acquisitions and Divestitures

3.      Inventories

4.      Property, Plant and Equipment

5.      Goodwill and Intangible Assets

6.      Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses

7.      Income Taxes

8.      Debt

9.    Derivative Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements

10.    Common Stock and Share-Based Compensation

11.    Earnings (Loss) per Share

12.    Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

13.    Employee Retirement and Profit Sharing Plans

14.    Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions

15.    Asset Impairment Charges and Facility Closing and Reorganization Costs

16.    Supplemental Cash Flow Information

17.    Commitments and Contingencies

18.    Segment, Geographic and Customer Information

19.    Quarterly Results of Operations (unaudited)
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Financial Statement Schedule

Schedule II — Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

Exhibits

See Index to Exhibits

Page

F-1

F-2

F-3

F-4

F-5

F-6

F-6

F-11

F-12

F-13

F-13

F-15

F-15

F-18

F-21

F-23

F-28

F-28

F-29

F-37

F-39

F-41

F-41

F-43

F-44
F-46

45

 
Item  16. 

Form 10-K Summary

Not applicable.

46

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused 

this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

SIGNATURES

By:

DEAN FOODS COMPANY

/S/    SCOTT K. VOPNI
          Scott K. Vopni

Senior Vice President, Finance and
Chief Accounting Officer

Dated February 22, 2017 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Report has been signed below by the following 

persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacity and on the dates indicated.

Name

Title

Date

/S/    JIM L. TURNER

Jim L. Turner

Chairman of the Board

February 22, 2017

/S/    RALPH SCOZZAFAVA

Chief Executive Officer and Director

February 22, 2017

Ralph Scozzafava

(Principal Executive Officer)

/S/    CHRIS BELLAIRS

Executive Vice President and Chief

February 22, 2017

Chris Bellairs

/S/    SCOTT K. VOPNI

Scott K. Vopni

/S/    JANET HILL

 Janet Hill

/S/    WAYNE MAILLOUX

Wayne Mailloux

/S/    HELEN E. MCCLUSKEY

Helen E. McCluskey

/S/    JOHN R. MUSE

 John R. Muse

/S/    B. CRAIG OWENS

B. Craig Owens

Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

Senior Vice President, Finance and

February 22, 2017

Chief Accounting Officer

(Principal Accounting Officer)

Director

February 22, 2017

Director

February 22, 2017

Director

February 22, 2017

Director

February 22, 2017

Director

February 22, 2017

/S/   ROBERT TENNANT WISEMAN

Robert Tennant Wiseman

Director

February 22, 2017

S-1

 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
DEAN FOODS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
Years Ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014 

SCHEDULE II

Balance at
Beginning of
Period

Charged to
(Reduction in)
Costs and
Expenses

Other

Deductions

(In thousands)

Balance at
End of Period

Description

Year ended December 31, 2016

Allowance for doubtful accounts

Deferred tax asset valuation allowances
Year ended December 31, 2015

Allowance for doubtful accounts

Deferred tax asset valuation allowances
Year ended December 31, 2014

Allowance for doubtful accounts

$

$

$

13,960

$

10,968

(1,515) $
1,080

386

$

—

(7,713) $
—

14,850

$

13,177

$

3,987
(2,209)

(2,155) $
—

(2,722) $
—

5,118

12,048

13,960

10,968

14,850

13,177

Deferred tax asset valuation allowances

8,733

4,444

12,083

$

5,045

$

— $

—

(2,278) $
—

 
 
INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.
3.1

Description

Restated 
Incorporation

Certificate 

of 

Previously Filed as an Exhibit to and
Incorporated by Reference From
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for 
the  quarter  ended  September  30, 
2013

Date Filed

November 12, 2013

3.2

3.3

3.4

3.5

4.1

4.2

4.3

*10.1

*10.2

*10.3

*10.4

*10.5

*10.6

*10.7

*10.8

*10.9

Certificate  of  Amendment  of 
Restated 
of 
Incorporation

Certificate 

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for 
the quarter ended June 30, 2012

August 7, 2012

Certificate  of  Amendment  of 
Restated 
of 
Incorporation

Certificate 

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for 
the  quarter  ended  September  30, 
2013

November 12, 2013

Certificate  of  Amendment  of 
of 
Restated 
Incorporation

Certificate 

Current Report on Form 8-K

May 20, 2014

  Amended and Restated Bylaws

  Current Report on Form 8-K

  May 20, 2014

Specimen  of  Common  Stock 
Certificate

Indenture, dated as of February 25, 
2015, 
Foods 
between  Dean 
the  guarantors  party 
Company, 
thereto and The Bank of New York 
Mellon  Trust  Company,  N.A.,  as 
trustee

Satisfaction  and  Discharge  of 
Indenture

Current Report on Form 8-K

August 15, 2013

Current Report on Form 8-K

March 3, 2015

Current Report on Form 8-K

March 3, 2015

Amended  and  Restated  Executive 
Deferred Compensation Plan

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 
year ended December 31, 2006

March 1, 2007

Post-2004  Executive  Deferred 
Compensation Plan

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 
year ended December 31, 2006

March 1, 2007

Revised and Restated Supplemental 
Executive Retirement Plan

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 
year ended December 31, 2006

March 1, 2007

Amendment  No. 1  to  the  Dean 
Foods  Company  Supplemental 
Executive Retirement Plan

Amendment  No. 2  to  the  Dean 
Foods  Company  Supplemental 
Executive Retirement Plan

Amendment No. 3 to the Dean Foods 
Company  Supplemental  Executive 
Retirement Plan

Dean Foods Company Amended and 
Restated  Executive  Severance  Pay 
Plan

Form  of  Change 
in  Control 
Agreement for the Company’s Chief 
Executive  Officer  and  Executive 
Vice Presidents

Ninth Amended and Restated 1997 
Stock  Option  and  Restricted  Stock 
Plan

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 
year ended December 31, 2006

March 1, 2007

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 
year ended December 31, 2006

March 1, 2007

Filed herewith

Current Report on Form 8-K

November 19, 2010

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for 
the  quarter  ended  September  30, 
2013

November 12, 2013

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for 
the quarter ended March 31, 2012

May 9, 2012

 
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
Exhibit No.
*10.10

Description
Dean  Foods  Company  2007  Stock 
Incentive Plan, as amended

Previously Filed as an Exhibit to and
Incorporated by Reference From

Date Filed

Current Report on Form 8-K

May 20, 2013

*10.11

*10.12

*10.13

*10.14

*10.15

*10.16

*10.17

*10.18

*10.19

*10.20

*10.21

*10.22

*10.23

*10.24

Amendment  to  the  Dean  Foods 
Company 2007 Stock Incentive Plan   

Form  of  Non-Qualified  Stock 
Option Agreement  under  the  Dean 
Foods  Company  2007  Stock 
Incentive Plan

Form  of  Restricted  Stock  Unit 
Award Agreement  under  the  Dean 
Foods  Company  2007  Stock 
Incentive Plan

Form  of  Cash  Performance  Unit 
Agreement  for  Awards  under  the 
Dean  Foods  Company  2007  Stock 
Incentive Plan

Form  of  Phantom  Shares  Award 
Agreement  under  the  Dean  Foods 
Company 2007 Stock Incentive Plan   

Current Report on Form 8-K

November 18, 2014

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 
year ended December 31, 2010

March 1, 2011

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 
year ended December 31, 2010

March 1, 2011

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 
year ended December 31, 2010

March 1, 2011

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 
year ended December 31, 2010

March 1, 2011

Form  of  Dean  Cash  Award 
Agreement

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 
year ended December 31, 2010

March 1, 2011

Form  of  Director’s  Non-Qualified 
Stock Option Agreement under the 
Dean  Foods  Company  2007  Stock 
Incentive Plan

Form of Director’s Restricted Stock 
Unit  Award  Agreement  under  the 
Dean  Foods  Company  2007  Stock 
Incentive Plan

Form of 2013 Restricted Stock Unit 
Award Agreement  under  the  Dean 
Foods  Company  2007  Stock 
Incentive Plan

Form  of  2013  Cash  Performance 
Unit  Agreement  for  Awards  under 
the  Dean  Foods  Company  2007 
Stock Incentive Plan

Form  of  2013  Phantom  Shares 
Award Agreement  under  the  Dean 
Foods  Company  2007  Stock 
Incentive Plan

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 
year ended December 31, 2010

March 1, 2011

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 
year ended December 31, 2010

March 1, 2011

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 
year ended December 31, 2012

February 27, 2013

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 
year ended December 31, 2012

February 27, 2013

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 
year ended December 31, 2012

February 27, 2013

Form  of  2013  Dean  Cash  Award 
Agreement

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 
year ended December 31, 2012

February 27, 2013

of  Director’s  Master 
Form 
Restricted  Stock  Agreement  under 
the  Dean  Foods  Company  2007 
Stock Incentive Plan

Proprietary Information, Inventions 
and  Non-Compete  Agreement 
between  the  Company  and  Gregg 
Tanner dated November 1, 2007

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for 
the quarter ended June 30, 2008

August 8, 2008

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for 
the  quarter  ended  September  30, 
2007

November 9, 2007

 
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Exhibit No.
*10.25

*10.26

*10.27

*10.28

*10.29

*10.30

*10.31

*10.32

Description

the 
Letter  Agreement  between 
Company  and  Gregg  Tanner  dated 
November 1, 2007

Letter  Agreement  between 
the 
Company  and  Gregg  Tanner  dated 
February 25, 2013

Letter Agreement, dated August 31, 
2016, 
Foods 
between  Dean 
Company and Gregg A. Tanner

Letter Agreement, dated November 
8,  2016,  between  Dean  Foods 
Company and Gregg A. Tanner 

Letter  Agreement  between 
the 
Company and Kim Warmbier, dated 
February 25, 2013

the 
Letter  Agreement  between 
Company  and  Brad  Cashaw  dated 
February 10, 2016 

Previously Filed as an Exhibit to and
Incorporated by Reference From
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for 
the  quarter  ended  September  30, 
2007

Date Filed

November 9, 2007

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 
year ended December 31, 2012

February 27, 2013

Current Report on Form 8-K

September 1, 2016

Filed herewith

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 
year ended December 31, 2012

February 27, 2013

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for 
the quarter ended June 30, 2016

August 8, 2016

Letter  Agreement,  dated  July  3, 
Foods 
between  Dean 
2016, 
Company and Russell F. Coleman

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for 
the  quarter  ended  September  30, 
2016

November 7, 2016

Letter Agreement, dated August 31, 
2016, 
Foods 
between  Dean 
Company and Ralph P. Scozzafava

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for 
the  quarter  ended  September  30, 
2016

November 7, 2016

*10.33

Form of Indemnification Agreement

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 
year ended December 31, 2012

February 27, 2013

*10.34

10.35

Offer Letter between the Company 
and Brian Murphy, dated September 
11, 2013

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for 
the  quarter  ended  September  30, 
2013

November 12, 2013

  Current Report on Form 8-K

  March 27, 2015

Seventh  Amended  and  Restated 
Receivables  Purchase  Agreement, 
dated as of March 26, 2015, among 
Dairy  Group  Receivables  L.P.  and 
Dairy Group Receivables II, L.P., as 
Sellers;  the  Servicers,  Companies 
listed 
and  Financial  Institutions 
therein;  and  Cooperatieve  Centrale 
Raiffeisen  -  Boerenleenbank  B.A. 
“Rabobank 
International”,  New 
York Branch, as Agent

 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
Exhibit No.
10.36

10.37

10.38

10.39

10.40

*10.41

*10.42

*10.43

*10.44

*10.45

*10.46

Description
Credit Agreement, dated as of March 
26,  2015  among  Dean  Foods 
Company,  Bank  of America,  N.A., 
as Administrative Agent, JPMorgan 
Chase  Bank,  N.A.  and  Morgan 
Stanley  Senior  Funding,  Inc.,  as 
Syndication Agents, CoBank, ACB, 
Suntrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc., 
Coöperatieve  Centrale  Raiffeisen  - 
Boerenleenbank,  B.A.  “Rabobank 
Nederland,”  New  York  Branch, 
Credit  Agricole  Corporate  & 
Investment  Bank,  and  PNC  Bank, 
National  Association, 
as  Co-
Documentation Agents; and certain 
other lenders that are parties thereto

First  Amendment 
to  Credit 
Agreement  and  Limited  Waiver, 
dated  November  23,  2015,  by  and 
among  the  Company,  each  lender 
party thereto and Bank of America, 
N.A., as Administrative Agent

and 

Separation 
Distribution 
and 
Agreement, dated October 25, 2012, 
by 
among  Dean  Foods 
Company,  The  WhiteWave  Foods 
Company  and  WWF  Operating 
Company

Amended and Restated Tax Matters 
Agreement  dated  May  1,  2013 
between Dean Foods Company and 
The WhiteWave Foods Company

Employee  Matters  Agreement, 
dated  October  25,  2012,  by  and 
between Dean Foods Company, The 
WhiteWave  Foods  Company,  and 
WWF Operating Company

Dean Foods Company 2015 Short-
Term Incentive Compensation Plan

Dean  Foods  Company  2016  Stock 
Incentive Plan

Form  of  Restricted  Stock  Unit 
Award Agreement  under  the  Dean 
Foods  Company  2016  Stock 
Incentive Plan 

Form of Director’s Restricted Stock 
Unit  Award  Agreement  under  the 
Dean  Foods  Company  2016  Stock 
Incentive Plan

Form  of  Performance  Stock  Unit 
Award Agreement  under  the  Dean 
Foods  Company  2016  Stock 
Incentive Plan 

Form  of  Phantom  Shares  Award 
Agreement  under  the  Dean  Foods 
Company 2016 Stock Incentive Plan 

Previously Filed as an Exhibit to and
Incorporated by Reference From

Date Filed

Current Report on Form 8-K

March 27, 2015

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 
year ended December 31, 2015

February 22, 2016

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 
year ended December 31, 2012

February 27, 2013

Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for 
the quarter ended March 31, 2013

May 9, 2013

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the 
year ended December 31, 2012

February 27, 2013

Current Report on Form 8-K

March 10, 2015

Current Report on Form 8-K

May 13, 2016

Current Report on Form 8-K

May 13, 2016

Current Report on Form 8-K

May 13, 2016

Current Report on Form 8-K

May 13, 2016

Current Report on Form 8-K

May 13, 2016

 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
Exhibit No.

Description

*10.47

Dean Foods Company 2016 Short-
Term Incentive Compensation Plan

Previously Filed as an Exhibit to and
Incorporated by Reference From

Date Filed

Current Report on Form 8-K 

March 4, 2016

12

21

23

31.1

31.2

32.1

32.2

99.1

Computation of Ratio of Earnings to 
Fixed Charges

Filed herewith

  List of Subsidiaries

  Filed herewith

  Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP   Filed herewith

Certification  of  Chief  Executive 
Officer  pursuant  to  Section  302  of 
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Certification  of  Chief  Financial 
Officer  pursuant  to  Section  302  of 
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Certification  of  Chief  Executive 
Officer  pursuant  to  Section  906  of 
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Certification  of  Chief  Financial 
Officer  pursuant  to  Section  906  of 
the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Filed herewith

Filed herewith

Furnished herewith

Furnished herewith

Supplemental  Unaudited  Financial 
Information 
for  Dean  Holding 
Company

  Filed herewith

101.INS

  XBRL Instance Document(1)

101.SCH

101.CAL

101.DEF

101.LAB

101.PRE

XBRL Taxonomy Extension
Schema Document(1)

XBRL Taxonomy Calculation
Linkbase Document(1)

XBRL Taxonomy Extension
Definition Linkbase Document(1)

XBRL Taxonomy Label Linkbase
Document(1)

XBRL Taxonomy Presentation
Linkbase Document(1)

(1) 
* 

Filed electronically herewith
This exhibit is a management or compensatory contract.

Attached as Exhibit 101 to this report are the following materials from Dean Foods Company’s Annual Report on Form 
10-K  for  the  fiscal  year  ended  December 31,  2016,  formatted  in  XBRL  (eXtensible  Business  Reporting  Language):  (i) the 
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, (ii) the Consolidated Balance 
Sheets as of December 31, 2016 and 2015, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the years ended 
December 31,  2016,  2015  and  2014,  (iv) the  Consolidated  Statements  of  Stockholders’  Equity  (Deficit)  for  the  years  ended 
December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, (v) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2016, 2015
and 2014, and (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
(This page has been left blank  intentionally.)

How  Has Our Stock Performed?

The following graph compares the cumulative total return of our common stock from December 31, 2011
through December 31, 2016, to the Standard & Poor’s 500 Composite Index and a peer group composed of
U.S.-based manufacturers of food, beverages and other consumer packaged goods. The graph assumes a
$100  investment  on  December  31,  2011,  with  dividends  reinvested.  The  points  plotted  are  as  of
December  31  of  each  year.  In  May  2013,  we  completed  the  spin-off  of  our  former  subsidiary,  The
WhiteWave  Foods  Company;  the  effect  of  the  spin-off  is  reflected  in  the  cumulative  total  return  as  a
reinvested  dividend.  The  stock  price  performance  shown  on  this  graph  may  not  be  indicative  of  future
performance.

The  peer  group  (the  ‘‘2016  Peer  Group’’)  consists  of  the  following  18  companies:  Campbell  Soup
Company;  The  Clorox  Company;  ConAgra  Foods,  Inc.;  Dr  Pepper  Snapple  Group,  Inc.;  Flowers  Foods,
Inc.;  Fresh  Del  Monte  Produce  Inc.;  General  Mills,  Inc.;  The  Hershey  Company;  Hormel  Foods
Corporation;  Ingredion  Incorporated;  The  J.M.  Smucker  Company;  Kellogg  Company;  McCormick  &
Company, Incorporated; Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation; Pinnacle Foods Inc.; Post Holdings, Inc.; Sanderson
Farms,  Inc.;  and  TreeHouse  Foods,  Inc.  The  2016  Peer  Group  is  the  same  peer  group  that  the
Compensation  Committee  of  our  Board  of  Directors  selected  to  compare  us  with  for  purposes  of
determining our executive compensation in 2016.

Comparison of 5 Year Cumulative Total Return
Assumes Initial Investment of $100
December 2016

250.00

200.00

150.00

100.00

50.00

0.00

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

Dean Foods Company

S&P 500 Index - Total Returns

2016 Peer Group

10MAR201716405377

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jim L. Turner
Non-Executive Chairman of
the Board of Dean Foods 
Company and Principal,
JLT Beverages L.P.

Janet Hill
Principal,
Hill Family Advisors

J. Wayne Mailloux
Former Senior Vice President, 
PepsiCo, Inc.

Helen E. McCluskey
Former President and  
(cid:6)(cid:37)(cid:38)(cid:34)(cid:35)(cid:3)(cid:8)(cid:53)(cid:34)(cid:32)(cid:50)(cid:49)(cid:38)(cid:51)(cid:34)(cid:3)(cid:18)(cid:411)(cid:38)(cid:32)(cid:34)(cid:47)(cid:510)(cid:3)
The Warnaco Group Inc.

John R. Muse
Former Chairman,
Kainos Capital, LLC

B. Craig Owens
(cid:9)(cid:44)(cid:47)(cid:42)(cid:34)(cid:47)(cid:3)(cid:6)(cid:37)(cid:38)(cid:34)(cid:35)(cid:3)(cid:9)(cid:38)(cid:43)(cid:30)(cid:43)(cid:32)(cid:38)(cid:30)(cid:41)(cid:3)(cid:18)(cid:411)(cid:38)(cid:32)(cid:34)(cid:47)(cid:510)
(cid:6)(cid:37)(cid:38)(cid:34)(cid:35)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:33)(cid:42)(cid:38)(cid:43)(cid:38)(cid:48)(cid:49)(cid:47)(cid:30)(cid:49)(cid:38)(cid:51)(cid:34)(cid:3)(cid:18)(cid:411)(cid:38)(cid:32)(cid:34)(cid:47)(cid:3) 
and Senior Vice President, Camp-
bell Soup Company

Ralph P. Scozzafava
(cid:6)(cid:37)(cid:38)(cid:34)(cid:35)(cid:3)(cid:8)(cid:53)(cid:34)(cid:32)(cid:50)(cid:49)(cid:38)(cid:51)(cid:34)(cid:3)(cid:18)(cid:411)(cid:38)(cid:32)(cid:34)(cid:47)(cid:510)
Dean Foods Company

Robert T. Wiseman
Former Chairman of the Board 
(cid:30)(cid:43)(cid:33)(cid:3)(cid:6)(cid:37)(cid:38)(cid:34)(cid:35)(cid:3)(cid:8)(cid:53)(cid:34)(cid:32)(cid:50)(cid:49)(cid:38)(cid:51)(cid:34)(cid:3)(cid:18)(cid:411)(cid:38)(cid:32)(cid:34)(cid:47)(cid:510)
Robert Wiseman Dairies Limited

EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP 
TEAM

Ralph P. Scozzafava
(cid:6)(cid:37)(cid:38)(cid:34)(cid:35)(cid:3)(cid:8)(cid:53)(cid:34)(cid:32)(cid:50)(cid:49)(cid:38)(cid:51)(cid:34)(cid:3)(cid:18)(cid:411)(cid:38)(cid:32)(cid:34)(cid:47)

Brad Anderson
Senior Vice President, 
Field Sales

Chris Bellairs
Executive Vice President, 
(cid:6)(cid:37)(cid:38)(cid:34)(cid:35)(cid:3)(cid:9)(cid:38)(cid:43)(cid:30)(cid:43)(cid:32)(cid:38)(cid:30)(cid:41)(cid:3)(cid:18)(cid:411)(cid:38)(cid:32)(cid:34)(cid:47)

Brad Cashaw
Executive Vice President,  
Supply Chain

Russell F. Coleman
Executive Vice President, General 
Counsel, Corporate Secretary 
(cid:30)(cid:43)(cid:33)(cid:3)(cid:10)(cid:44)(cid:51)(cid:34)(cid:47)(cid:43)(cid:42)(cid:34)(cid:43)(cid:49)(cid:3)(cid:4)(cid:411)(cid:30)(cid:38)(cid:47)(cid:48)

Kurt W. Laufer
Senior Vice President, 
Chief Customer, Marketing and 
(cid:12)(cid:43)(cid:43)(cid:44)(cid:51)(cid:30)(cid:49)(cid:38)(cid:44)(cid:43)(cid:3)(cid:18)(cid:411)(cid:38)(cid:32)(cid:34)(cid:47)

S. Craig McCutcheon
Senior Vice President, 
Logistics

Brian Murphy
Senior Vice President, 
(cid:6)(cid:37)(cid:38)(cid:34)(cid:35)(cid:3)(cid:12)(cid:43)(cid:35)(cid:44)(cid:47)(cid:42)(cid:30)(cid:49)(cid:38)(cid:44)(cid:43)(cid:3)(cid:18)(cid:411)(cid:38)(cid:32)(cid:34)(cid:47)

Kimberly Warmbier
Executive Vice President, 
(cid:6)(cid:37)(cid:38)(cid:34)(cid:35)(cid:3)(cid:11)(cid:50)(cid:42)(cid:30)(cid:43)(cid:3)(cid:21)(cid:34)(cid:48)(cid:44)(cid:50)(cid:47)(cid:32)(cid:34)(cid:48)(cid:3)(cid:18)(cid:411)(cid:38)(cid:32)(cid:34)(cid:47)

TRANSFER AGENT
Computershare Shareowner  
Services LLC
P.O. Box 30170
College Station, Texas 77842
tel: 866.557.8698 
www.computershare.com/investor

AUDITOR
Deloitte & Touche LLP
2200 Ross Avenue
Suite 1600
Dallas, Texas 75201
tel: 214.840.7000

MARKET INFORMATION
NYSE: DF

ANNUAL MEETING
May 10, 2017, 10 a.m.
Dallas Museum of Art
1717 North Harwood Street
Dallas, Texas 75201

CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS
Dean Foods Company
2711 North Haskell Avenue 
Suite 3400
Dallas, Texas 75204
tel: 214.303.3400
fax: 214.303.3499
www.deanfoods.com

2711 North Haskell Avenue
Suite 3400,  Dallas, Texas 75204  
214.303.3400   |   www.deanfoods.com