NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

NOTE 1: ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated condensed financial statements are unaudited and have been prepared by Tyson Foods, Inc. (“Tyson,” “the Company,” “we,” “us” or “our”). Certain information and accounting policies and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Although we believe the disclosures contained herein are adequate to make the information presented not misleading, these consolidated condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017 . Preparation of consolidated condensed financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated condensed financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

We believe the accompanying consolidated condensed financial statements contain all adjustments, which are of a normal recurring nature, necessary to state fairly our financial position as of March 31, 2018 , and the results of operations for the three and six months ended March 31, 2018 , and April 1, 2017 . Results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the full year.

Consolidation

The consolidated condensed financial statements include the accounts of all wholly-owned subsidiaries, as well as majority-owned subsidiaries over which we exercise control and, when applicable, entities for which we have a controlling financial interest or variable interest entities for which we are the primary beneficiary. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In February 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued guidance which allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the "Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" (the "Tax Act"). The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods and interim periods within those annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, our fiscal 2020. Early adoption is permitted and entities will have the choice to apply either in the period of adoption or retrospectively to each period in which the effect of the change in the federal income tax rate in the Tax Act. We are currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements.

In August 2017, the FASB issued guidance that eases certain documentation and assessment requirements of hedge effectiveness and modifies the accounting for components excluded from the assessment. Some of the modifications include the ineffectiveness of derivative gain/loss in highly effective cash flow hedge to be recorded in Other Comprehensive Income, the change in fair value of derivative to be recorded in the same income statement line as the hedged item, and additional disclosures required on the cumulative basis adjustment in fair value hedges and the effect of hedging on financial statement lines for components excluded from the assessment. The amendment also simplifies the application of hedge accounting in certain situations to permit new hedging strategies to be eligible for hedge accounting. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods and interim periods within those annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, our fiscal 2020. Early adoption is permitted and the modified retrospective transition method should be applied. We are currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements.

In May 2017, the FASB issued guidance that clarifies which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting in Topic 718. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods and interim periods within those annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, our fiscal 2019. Early adoption is permitted and the prospective transition method should be applied to awards modified on or after the adoption date. We are currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements.

In March 2017, the FASB issued guidance which shortens the amortization period for certain callable debt securities held at a premium. Specifically, the amendments require the premium to be amortized to the earliest call date. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods and interim periods within those annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, our fiscal 2020. Early adoption is permitted and the modified retrospective transition method should be applied. We are currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements.

In March 2017, the FASB issued guidance which will change the presentation of net periodic benefit cost related to employer sponsored defined benefit plans and other postretirement benefits. Service cost will be included within the same income statement line item as other compensation costs arising from services rendered during the period, while other components of net periodic benefit pension cost will be presented separately outside of operating income. Additionally, only the service cost component will be eligible for capitalization when applicable. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods and interim periods within those annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, our fiscal 2019. Early adoption is permitted and the retrospective transition method should be applied for the presentation of the service cost component and the other components of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit cost in the income statement, and the prospective transition method should be applied, on and after the effective date, for the capitalization of the service cost component of net periodic pension cost and net periodic postretirement benefit in assets. We plan to adopt this guidance beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2019. We do not expect the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In November 2016, the FASB issued guidance which requires entities to show the changes in the total of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods and interim periods within those annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, our fiscal 2019. Early adoption is permitted and the retrospective transition method should be applied. We do not expect the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In October 2016, the FASB issued guidance which requires companies to recognize the income tax effects of intercompany sales and transfers of assets, other than inventory, in the period in which the transfer occurs. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods and interim periods within those annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, our fiscal 2019. Early adoption is permitted and the modified retrospective transition method should be applied. We do not expect the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued guidance which aims to eliminate diversity in practice in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods and interim periods within those annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, our fiscal 2019. Early adoption is permitted and the retrospective transition method should be applied. We do not expect the adoption of this guidance will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued guidance that provides more decision-useful information about the expected credit losses on financial instruments and changes the loss impairment methodology. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods and interim periods within those annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2019, our fiscal 2021. Early adoption is permitted for annual reporting periods and interim periods within those annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, our fiscal 2020. The application of the guidance requires various transition methods depending on the specific amendment. We are currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued guidance which created new accounting and reporting guidelines for leasing arrangements. The guidance requires lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and lease liability for all leases with terms of more than 12 months. Recognition, measurement and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease will depend on classification as a finance or operating lease. The guidance also requires qualitative and quantitative disclosures regarding the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods and interim periods within those annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, our fiscal 2020. Early adoption is permitted and the modified retrospective method should be applied. While we are still evaluating the impact this guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures, we have completed our initial scoping reviews and have made progress in our assessment phase as we continue to identify our leasing processes that will be impacted by the new standard. We have also made progress in developing the policy elections we will make upon adoption and we are implementing software to meet the reporting requirements of this standard. We expect our financial statement disclosures will be expanded to present additional details of our leasing arrangements. At this time, we are unable to reasonably estimate the expected increase in assets and liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets or the impacts to our consolidated financial statements upon adoption.

In January 2016, the FASB issued guidance that requires most equity investments be measured at fair value, with subsequent other changes in fair value recognized in net income. The guidance also impacts financial liabilities under the fair value option and the presentation and disclosure requirements on the classification and measurement of financial instruments. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods and interim periods within those annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, our fiscal 2019. It should be applied by means of a cumulative-effect adjustment to the balance sheet as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption, unless equity securities do not have readily determinable fair values, in which case the amendments should be applied prospectively. We are currently evaluating the impact this guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements.

In May 2014, the FASB issued guidance changing the criteria for recognizing revenue. The guidance provides for a single five-step model to be applied to all revenue contracts with customers. The standard also requires additional financial statement disclosures that will enable users to understand the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows relating to customer contracts. Companies have an option to use either a retrospective approach or cumulative effect adjustment approach to implement the standard. This guidance is effective for annual reporting periods and interim periods within those annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, our fiscal 2019. Early adoption is permitted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, our fiscal 2018. We plan to adopt this guidance using the modified retrospective transition method beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2019. We continue to evaluate the impact of the adoption of this guidance, but currently, do not expect the new guidance to materially impact our consolidated financial statements other than additional disclosure requirements.

Changes in Accounting Principles

In March 2018, the FASB issued guidance which clarifies application of Topic 740 in regards to the Tax Act enacted December 22, 2017. The guidance requires provisional amounts to be reported within the reporting period in which the Tax Act was enacted if a reasonable estimate can be determined or within the measurement period not to exceed one year from the enactment date by which accounting is required to be completed in accordance with Topic 740. Any provisional amounts or adjustments to provisional amounts reported in the measurement period should be included in income from continuing operations as an adjustment to tax expense or benefit in the reporting period the amounts are determined. The guidance was effective immediately and we adopted this guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2018. The impact of adoption had a material impact to our financial statements (see Note 9: Income Taxes).

In March 2016, the FASB issued guidance which simplifies several aspects of the accounting for employee share-based payment transactions, including the accounting for income taxes, forfeitures, and statutory tax withholding requirements, as well as classification of related amounts within the statement of cash flows and impact on earnings per share. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods and interim periods within those annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, our fiscal 2018. We adopted this guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2018. The guidance requires all income tax effects of share-based payment awards to be recognized in the consolidated statements of income when the awards vest or are settled, which is a change from the current guidance that requires such activity to be recorded in capital in excess of par value within stockholders' equity. We adopted this guidance prospectively which may create volatility in our effective tax rate when adopted depending largely on future events and other factors, which may include our stock price, timing of stock option exercises, and the value realized upon vesting or exercise of shares compared to the grant date fair value of those shares. For the three and six months ended March 31, 2018 , the recorded tax benefit was not material. In addition, when calculating potential common shares used to determine diluted earnings per share this guidance requires that assumed proceeds under the treasury stock method be modified to exclude the amount of excess tax benefits that would have been recognized in additional paid-in capital. These changes were applied on a prospective basis which did not have a material impact to diluted earnings per share for the three and six months ended March 31, 2018 . Under the new guidance, companies can also make an accounting policy election to either estimate forfeitures each period or to account for forfeitures as they occur. We changed our accounting policy to account for forfeitures as they occur using the modified retrospective transition method which did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. The guidance changes the presentation of excess tax benefits from a financing activity to an operating activity in the consolidated statements of cash flows. We applied this change prospectively, and thus, prior periods have not been adjusted. This guidance also requires the presentation related to cash paid to a taxing authority when shares are withheld to satisfy the statutory income tax withholding obligation to a financing activity in the consolidated statements of cash flows. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our consolidated statements of cash flows.

In July 2015, the FASB issued guidance which requires management to evaluate inventory at the lower of cost and net realizable value. The guidance is effective for annual reporting periods and interim periods within those annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2016, our fiscal 2018. The prospective transition method was applied. We adopted this guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2018 and it did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

NOTE 2: ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS

Acquisitions

On November 10, 2017, we acquired a value-added protein business for $226 million , net of cash acquired, as part of our strategic expansion initiative. Its results, subsequent to the acquisition closing, are included in our Prepared Foods and Chicken segments. The preliminary purchase price allocation included $21 million of net working capital, including $10 million of cash acquired, $13 million of Property, Plant and Equipment, $90 million of Intangible Assets and $112 million of Goodwill. During the second quarter of fiscal 2018, we recorded measurement period adjustments, which decreased goodwill by $1 million , after obtaining additional information regarding, among other things, asset valuations and liabilities assumed. We completed the allocation of goodwill to our segments in the second quarter of fiscal 2018 using the acquisition method approach. This resulted in $82 million and $29 million of goodwill allocated to our Prepared Foods and Chicken segments, respectively. All of the goodwill acquired is deductible for tax purposes. Certain estimated values for the acquisition, including goodwill, intangible assets, and property, plant and equipment, are not yet finalized and are subject to revision as additional information becomes available and more detailed analyses are completed.

On June 7, 2017, we acquired all of the outstanding common stock of AdvancePierre Foods Holdings, Inc. ("AdvancePierre") as part of our strategy to sustainably feed the world with the fastest growing portfolio of protein brands. The purchase price was equal to $40.25 per share for AdvancePierre's outstanding common stock, or approximately $3.2 billion . We funded the acquisition with existing cash on hand, net proceeds from the issuance of new senior notes and a new term loan facility, as well as borrowings under our commercial paper program. AdvancePierre's results from operations subsequent to the acquisition closing are included in the Prepared Foods and Chicken segments.

The following table summarizes the purchase price allocation and fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date of AdvancePierre. Certain estimated values for the acquisition, including goodwill, intangible assets, property, plant and equipment, and deferred income taxes, are not yet finalized and are subject to revision as additional information becomes available and more detailed analyses are completed. The purchase price was allocated based on information available at acquisition date. During the first quarter of fiscal 2018 , we recorded measurement period adjustments which decreased goodwill by $2 million , primarily related to updated information related to income taxes.

As a result of the acquisition, we recognized a total of $2,980 million of goodwill. The purchase price was assigned to assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values as of the date of acquisition, and any excess was allocated to goodwill, as shown in the table above. Goodwill represents the value we expect to achieve through the implementation of operational synergies and growth opportunities. We completed the allocation of goodwill to our segments in the first quarter of fiscal 2018 using the with-and-without approach of the estimated operating results and synergy impact to fair value of our reporting units. This resulted in $2,412 million and $568 million of goodwill allocated to our Prepared Foods and Chicken segments, respectively. Of the goodwill acquired, $163 million related to previous AdvancePierre acquisitions is expected to be deductible for tax purposes.

We used various valuation techniques to determine fair value, with the primary techniques being discounted cash flow analysis, relief-from-royalty, and multi-period excess earnings valuation approaches, which use significant unobservable inputs, or Level 3 inputs, as defined by the fair value hierarchy. Under these valuation approaches, we are required to make estimates and assumptions about sales, operating margins, growth rates, royalty rates and discount rates based on budgets, business plans, economic projections, anticipated future cash flows and marketplace data.

The acquisition of AdvancePierre was accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting, and consequently, the results of operations for AdvancePierre are reported in our consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition.

The following unaudited pro forma information presents the combined results of operations as if the acquisition of AdvancePierre had occurred at the beginning of fiscal 2016. AdvancePierre's pre-acquisition results have been added to our historical results. The pro forma results contained in the table below include adjustments for amortization of acquired intangibles, depreciation expense, interest expense related to the financing and related income taxes. Any potential cost savings or other operational efficiencies that could result from the acquisition are not included in these pro forma results.

These pro forma results have been prepared for comparative purposes only and are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations as they would have been had the acquisitions occurred on the assumed dates, nor is it necessarily an indication of future operating results.

Dispositions

On April 24, 2017, we announced our intent to sell three non-protein businesses as part of our strategic focus on protein brands. These businesses, which are all part of our Prepared Foods segment, included Sara Lee® Frozen Bakery, Kettle and Van’s® and produce items such as frozen desserts, waffles, snack bars, and soups, sauces and sides. The sale is also expected to include the Chef Pierre®, Bistro Collection®, Kettle Collection™, and Van’s® brands, a license to use the Sara Lee® brand in various channels, as well as our Tarboro, North Carolina, Fort Worth, Texas, and Traverse City, Michigan, prepared foods facilities. In the first quarter of fiscal 2018, we made the decision to sell our pizza crust business, which is also included in our Prepared Foods segment, as part of our strategic focus on protein brands.

We completed the sale of our Kettle business on December 30, 2017, and received net proceeds of $125 million including a working capital adjustment. As a result of the sale, we recorded a pretax gain of $22 million , which is reflected in Cost of Sales in our Consolidated Condensed Statement of Income for the six months ended March 31, 2018 . We utilized the net proceeds to pay down term loan debt.

We anticipate we will close on the sale of the Sara Lee® Frozen Bakery, Van’s®, and pizza crust businesses in the back half of fiscal 2018. We recorded pretax impairment charges totaling $75 million and $101 million for the three and six months ended March 31, 2018, respectively, due to revised estimates of the businesses' fair value based on current expected net sales proceeds. The impairment charges were recorded in Cost of Sales in our Consolidated Condensed Statement of Income, and primarily consisted of goodwill previously classified within assets held for sale.

We have reclassified the assets and liabilities related to these businesses, including allocated goodwill, to assets and liabilities held for sale in our Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets. The amounts of assets and liabilities held for sale will change in future periods due to such items as normal business operations, timing of closing of the sale, as well as final negotiated deal terms.

The Company concluded the businesses were not significant disposal groups and did not represent a strategic shift, and therefore were not classified as discontinued operations for any of the periods presented.

The following table summarizes the net assets and liabilities held for sale:

				in millions
	March 31, 2018			September 30, 2017
Assets held for sale:
Accounts receivable, net	$	2		$	2
Inventories	75			109
Net Property, Plant and Equipment	180			192
Other current assets	1			1
Goodwill	193			312
Intangible Assets, net	191			191
Total assets held for sale	$	642		$	807
Liabilities held for sale:
Accounts payable	$	2		$	1
Other current liabilities	6			3
Total liabilities held for sale	$	8		$	4

NOTE 3: INVENTORIES

Processed products, livestock and supplies and other are valued at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Cost includes purchased raw materials, live purchase costs, growout costs (primarily feed, grower pay and catch and haul costs), labor and manufacturing and production overhead, which are related to the purchase and production of inventories.

At March 31, 2018 , 64% of the cost of inventories was determined by the first-in, first-out ("FIFO") method as compared to 63% at September 30, 2017 . The remaining cost of inventories for both periods is determined by the weighted-average method.

The following table reflects the major components of inventory (in millions):

NOTE 5: RESTRUCTURING AND RELATED CHARGES

In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, our Board of Directors approved a multi-year restructuring program (the “Financial Fitness Program”), which is expected to contribute to the Company’s overall strategy of financial fitness through increased operational effectiveness and overhead reduction. The Company currently anticipates the Financial Fitness Program will result in cumulative pretax charges, once implemented, of approximately $253 million which consist primarily of severance and employee related costs, impairments and accelerated depreciation of technology assets, incremental costs to implement new technology, and contract termination costs. In the second quarter of fiscal 2018, we increased the total cumulative pretax charge estimate by $35 million due to revisions in scope and timing related to implementation of new technology. The majority of this increase is expected to be incurred in fiscal 2019. As part of this program, we anticipate eliminating approximately 550 positions across several areas and job levels with most of the eliminated positions originating from the corporate offices in Springdale, Arkansas; Chicago, Illinois; and Cincinnati, Ohio. For the three and six months ended March 31, 2018 , the Company recognized restructuring and related charges of $12 million and $31 million associated with the Financial Fitness Program, respectively.

The following table reflects the pretax impact of restructuring and related charges in our Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income:

The following table reflects the pretax impact of restructuring and related charges incurred in the three and six months ended March 31, 2018 , the program charges to date and the total estimated program charges, by our reportable segments:

For the three and six months ended March 31, 2018 , the restructuring and related charges consisted of $1 million and $4 million of severance and employee related costs, respectively, and $11 million and $27 million of technology related costs, respectively. The majority of the remaining estimated charges are related to incremental costs to implement new technology and accelerated depreciation of technology assets.

The following table reflects our liability related to restructuring charges which were recognized in other current liabilities in our Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2018 :

Revolving Credit Facility

In March 2018, we amended our existing credit facility which, among other things, increased our line of credit from $1.5 billion to $1.75 billion . This facility supports short-term funding needs and letters of credit and will mature and the commitments thereunder will terminate in March 2023. Amounts available for borrowing under this facility totaled $1.75 billion at March 31, 2018 , net of outstanding letters of credit and outstanding borrowings. At March 31, 2018 , we had no outstanding letters of credit issued under this facility. At March 31, 2018 , we had an additional $106 million of bilateral letters of credit issued separately from the revolving credit facility, none of which were drawn upon. Our letters of credit are issued primarily in support of leasing and workers’ compensation insurance programs and other legal obligations.

If in the future any of our subsidiaries shall guarantee any of our material indebtedness, such subsidiary shall be required to guarantee the indebtedness, obligations and liabilities under this facility.

Commercial Paper Program

We have a commercial paper program under which we may issue unsecured short-term promissory notes ("commercial paper") up to an aggregate maximum principal amount of $1 billion as of March 31, 2018 . As of March 31, 2018 , we had $1 billion of commercial paper outstanding at a weighted average interest rate of 2.28% with maturities of less than 105 days .

Term Loan Tranche B due August 2019

During the first quarter of fiscal 2018, we extinguished the $427 million outstanding balance of the Term Loan Tranche B due in August 2019 using cash on hand and proceeds received from the sale of a non-protein business.

Debt Covenants

Our revolving credit and term loan facilities contain affirmative and negative covenants that, among other things, may limit or restrict our ability to: create liens and encumbrances; incur debt; merge, dissolve, liquidate or consolidate; make acquisitions and investments; dispose of or transfer assets; change the nature of our business; engage in certain transactions with affiliates; and enter into hedging transactions, in each case, subject to certain qualifications and exceptions. In addition, we are required to maintain minimum interest expense coverage and maximum debt-to-capitalization ratios.

Our senior notes also contain affirmative and negative covenants that, among other things, may limit or restrict our ability to: create liens; engage in certain sale/leaseback transactions; and engage in certain consolidations, mergers and sales of assets.

We were in compliance with all debt covenants at March 31, 2018 .

NOTE 9: INCOME TAXES

On December 22, 2017, President Trump signed into law the Tax Act. The Tax Act includes significant changes to the U.S. tax code that will affect our fiscal year ending September 29, 2018, and future periods. Changes include, but are not limited to, (1) reducing the corporate federal income tax rate from 35% to 21% , (2) bonus depreciation that will allow for full expensing of qualified property in the year placed in service, and (3) a general elimination of U.S. federal income taxes on dividends from foreign subsidiaries. Section 15 of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code") stipulates that our fiscal year ending September 29, 2018, will have a blended corporate tax rate of 24.5% , which is based on the applicable tax rates before and after the Tax Act and the number of days in the year. Additionally, the Tax Act includes the repeal of the domestic production activity deduction, a new provision designed to tax global intangible low-taxed income ("GILTI"), a new provision which allows a deduction for foreign-derived intangible income ("FDII"), and a new provision which institutes a base erosion and anti-abuse tax ("BEAT"), beginning with our fiscal year 2019. We are still evaluating these new international provisions; however, we do not expect them to have a material impact to our financial statements.

Changes in the Code from the Tax Act had a material impact on our financial statements in the six months ended March 31, 2018. Under generally accepted accounting principles ("U.S. GAAP") specifically ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes, the tax effects of changes in tax laws must be recognized in the period in which the law is enacted, or December 22, 2017, for the Tax Act. ASC 740 also requires deferred tax assets and liabilities to be measured at the enacted tax rate expected to apply when temporary differences are to be realized or settled. Thus, at the date of enactment, the Company’s deferred taxes were re-measured based upon the new tax rates. The change in deferred taxes is recorded as an adjustment to our deferred tax provision.

The staff of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has recognized the complexity of reflecting the impacts of the Tax Act and issued guidance in Staff Accounting Bulletin 118 ("SAB 118"), which clarifies accounting for income taxes under ASC 740 if information is not yet available or complete and provides for up to a one year period in which to complete the required analyses and accounting (the "measurement period"). SAB 118 describes three scenarios (or "buckets") associated with a company’s status of accounting for income tax reform: (1) a company is complete with its accounting for certain effects of tax reform, (2) a company is able to determine a reasonable estimate for certain effects of tax reform and records that estimate as a provisional amount, or (3) a company is not able to determine a reasonable estimate and therefore continues to apply ASC 740, based on the provisions of the tax laws that were in effect immediately prior to the Tax Act being enacted. The FASB has also issued guidance that essentially adopts the SEC guidance (see Note 1: Accounting Policies).

Our accounting for the Tax Act was incomplete at December 30, 2017 and remains incomplete. However, we were able to make reasonable estimates of certain effects and, therefore, recorded provisional adjustments as follows:

Corporate Tax Rate Reduction : The Tax Act reduced the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% , effective January 1, 2018. This results in a blended corporate tax rate of 24.5% in fiscal year 2018 and 21% thereafter. We analyzed our domestic deferred tax balances to estimate which of those balances are expected to reverse in fiscal 2018 or thereafter, and we re-measured the deferred taxes at 24.5% or 21% accordingly. In the three months ended December 30, 2017, we recorded a discrete net deferred income tax benefit of $994 million with a corresponding provisional reduction to our net deferred income tax liability. In the three months ended March 31, 2018, we recorded an additional $9 million discrete deferred income tax benefit with a corresponding provisional reduction to our net deferred income tax liability. Remeasurement may change as we receive additional information about the timing of deferred income tax reversals.

Transition Tax : The Tax Act requires a one-time Deemed Repatriation Transition Tax on previously untaxed net accumulated and current earnings and profits of our foreign subsidiaries. Based on our analysis of our foreign earnings and profits, net of deficits and foreign tax credits, we do not expect any transition tax to be due for the Company.

Our accounting for the following element of the Tax Act is incomplete, and we were not yet able to make reasonable estimates of the effects. Therefore, no provisional adjustments were recorded.

GILTI : The Tax Act creates a new requirement in tax years beginning after December 31, 2017, that certain income (i.e., GILTI) earned by controlled foreign corporations ("CFCs") must be included currently in the gross income of the CFCs’ U.S. shareholder. Because of the complexity of the new GILTI tax rules, we continue to evaluate this provision of the Tax Act and the application of ASC 740. Under U.S. GAAP, we are allowed to make an accounting policy choice of either (1) treating taxes due on future U.S. inclusions in taxable income related to GILTI as a current-period expense when incurred (the “period cost method”) or (2) factoring such amounts into a company’s measurement of its deferred taxes (the “deferred method”). Our selection of an accounting policy with respect to the new GILTI tax rules will depend, in part, on analyzing our global income to determine whether we expect to have future U.S. inclusions in taxable income related to GILTI and, if so, what the impact is expected to be. Since future U.S. inclusions in taxable income related to GILTI depend on not only our current ownership structure and estimated future results of global operations but also our intent and ability to modify such structure and/or our business, we are not yet able to reasonably estimate the effect of this provision of the Tax Act. Therefore, we have not made any adjustments related to potential GILTI tax in our financial statements and have not made a policy decision regarding whether to record deferred taxes on GILTI.

The changes included in the Tax Act are broad and complex. The final transition impacts of the Tax Act may differ from the above estimates, due to, among other things, changes in interpretations of the Tax Act, any legislative action to address questions that arise because of the Tax Act, any changes in accounting standards for income taxes or related interpretations in response to the Tax Act, or any updates or changes to estimates the company has utilized to calculate the impacts.

Our effective tax rate was 25.3% and 34.3% for the second quarter of fiscal 2018 and 2017 , respectively, and (54.0)% and 34.7% for the six months of fiscal 2018 and 2017, respectively. The remeasurement of deferred income taxes at newly enacted tax rates resulted in a $9 million and $1,003 million income tax benefit, or a (2.2)% and (79.3)% impact on the effective tax rate in the second quarter and six months of fiscal 2018, respectively. The newly enacted tax legislation results in a 24.5% statutory federal income tax rate for fiscal 2018 . The non-deductible impairment related to the anticipated sale of non-protein businesses held for sale increased the effective tax rate for the second quarter and six months of fiscal 2018 by 4.4% and 1.9% , respectively. Additionally, the effective tax rates for the second quarter and six months of fiscal 2018 and fiscal 2017 were impacted by such items as the domestic production deduction, excess tax benefits associated with share-based payments to employees and state income taxes.

Unrecognized tax benefits were $305 million and $316 million at March 31, 2018 , and September 30, 2017 , respectively.

We estimate that during the next twelve months it is reasonably possible that unrecognized tax benefits could decrease by as much as $16 million primarily due to expiration of statutes of limitations in various jurisdictions.

As of September 30, 2017, we had accumulated undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries aggregating approximately $182 million . The Tax Act generally eliminates U.S. federal income taxes on dividends from foreign subsidiaries after December 31, 2017.

As a result, our intention is that excess cash held by our foreign subsidiaries that is not subject to regulatory restrictions is expected to be repatriated net of applicable withholding taxes which are expected to be immaterial. The remainder of accumulated undistributed earnings are expected to be indefinitely reinvested outside of the United States.

NOTE 10: OTHER INCOME AND CHARGES

During the second quarter of fiscal 2018 , we recognized a one-time cash bonus to our hourly frontline employees of $109 million using incremental cash savings from the Tax Act, which was predominantly recorded in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income in Cost of Sales.

The second quarter of fiscal 2018 included $6 million of equity earnings in joint ventures and $1 million in net foreign currency exchange gains, which were recorded in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income in Other, net.

During the six months of fiscal 2018 , we recorded $9 million of equity earnings in joint ventures and $2 million in net foreign currency exchange losses, which were recorded in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income in Other, net.

During the second quarter of fiscal 2017, we recorded a $52 million impairment charge related to our San Diego Prepared Foods operation. The impairment was comprised of $43 million of property, plant and equipment, $8 million of definite lived intangible assets and $1 million of other assets. This charge, of which $44 million was included in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income in Cost of Sales and $8 million was included in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income in Selling, General and Administrative, was triggered by a change in a co-manufacturing contract and ongoing losses.

During the six months of fiscal 2017 , we recorded $16 million of legal cost related to a 1995 plant closure of an apparel manufacturing facility operated by a former subsidiary of The Hillshire Brands Company, which we acquired in fiscal 2014, $6 million of equity earnings in joint ventures and $1 million in net foreign currency exchange losses, which were recorded in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income in Other, net.