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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_______________________
FORM 10-K
_______________________
(Mark One)
x
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015
or
¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Commission file number: 1-35305  
______________________


POST HOLDINGS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
_______________________
Missouri
 
45-3355106
(State of incorporation)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
 
2503 S. Hanley Road, St. Louis, Missouri
 
63144
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (314) 644-7600
_______________________
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class
 
Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $.01 par value
 
New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
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.     x   Yes     ¨   No
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     x   No
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 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.     x   Yes     ¨   No
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.)     x   Yes     ¨   No
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K 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.   x
Indicate by check mark whether registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of these terms in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.  
Large accelerated filer
 
x
 
Accelerated filer
 
¨
Non-accelerated filer
 
¨
 
Smaller reporting company
 
¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).     ¨   Yes     x   No
The aggregate market value of the registrant’s Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of March 31, 2015, the last day of the registrant’s second quarter, was $2,421,540,228.
Number of shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value, outstanding as of November 16, 2015: 62,080,447
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Certain portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement for its annual meeting of shareholders, to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after September 30, 2015, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this report.
 


TABLE OF CONTENTS


 
 
 
PART I
 
 
 
 
 
 
PART II
 
 
 
 
 
 
PART III
 
 
 
 
 
 
PART IV
 
 
 
 
 
 



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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ON FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), are made throughout this report. These forward-looking statements are sometimes identified by the use of terms and phrases such as “believe,” “should,” “expect,” “project,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “intend,” “plan,” “will,” “can,” “may,” or similar expressions elsewhere in this report. Our results of operations and financial condition may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such statements are based on management’s current views and assumptions, and involve risks and uncertainties that could affect expected results. Those risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to the following:
•
our ability to realize the synergies contemplated by the acquisition of MOM Brands Company (“MOM Brands”);
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our ability to promptly and effectively integrate the MOM Brands business;
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our high leverage and substantial debt, including covenants that restrict the operation of our business;
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our ability to service our outstanding debt or obtain additional financing, including both secured and unsecured debt;
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our ability to continue to compete in our product markets and our ability to retain our market position;
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our ability to identify and complete acquisitions, manage our growth and integrate acquisitions;
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changes in our cost structure, management, financing and business operations;
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significant volatility in the costs of certain raw materials, commodities, packaging or energy used to manufacture our products;
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our ability to maintain competitive pricing, introduce new products or successfully manage our costs;
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our ability to successfully implement business strategies to reduce costs;
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impairment in the carrying value of goodwill or other intangibles;
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the loss or bankruptcy of a significant customer;
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allegations that our products cause injury or illness, product recalls and product liability claims and other litigation;
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our ability to anticipate and respond to changes in consumer preferences and trends;
•
changes in economic conditions and consumer demand for our products;
•
disruptions in the U.S. and global capital and credit markets;
•
labor strikes, work stoppages or unionization efforts;
•
legal and regulatory factors, including advertising and labeling laws, changes in food safety and laws and regulations governing animal feeding operations;
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our ability to comply with increased regulatory scrutiny related to certain of our products and/or international sales;
•
the ultimate impact litigation may have on us, including the lawsuit (to which Michael Foods is a party) alleging violations of federal and state antitrust laws in the egg industry;
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our reliance on third party manufacturers for certain of our products;
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disruptions or inefficiencies in supply chain;
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our ability to recognize the expected benefits of the closing of our Boise, Idaho and Farmers Branch, Texas manufacturing facilities as well as our Parsippany, New Jersey office;
•
our ability to satisfy the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, including with respect to acquired businesses;
•
business disruptions caused by information technology failures and/or technology hacking; 
•
fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates;
•
consolidations in the retail grocery and foodservice industries;

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•
change in estimates in critical accounting judgments and changes to or new laws and regulations affecting our business;
•
losses or increased funding and expenses related to our qualified pension and other post-retirement plans;
•
loss of key employees;
•
our ability to protect our intellectual property;
•
changes in weather conditions, natural disasters, disease outbreaks and other events beyond our control;
•
our ability to successfully operate our international operations in compliance with applicable laws and regulations; and
•
other risks and uncertainties included under “Risk Factors” in this document.
You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that the future results, levels of activity, performance or events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur. Moreover, we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this document to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in our expectations.

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PART I
ITEM 1.    BUSINESS
INTRODUCTION
Post Holdings, Inc. is a Missouri corporation incorporated on September 22, 2011. Our principal executive offices are located at 2503 S. Hanley Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63144. We are a consumer packaged goods holding company, operating in the center-of-the-store, foodservice, ingredient, refrigerated, active nutrition and private label food categories . Unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise indicates, all references in this Form 10-K to “Post,” “the Company,” “us,” “our” or “we” mean Post Holdings, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.
On February 3, 2012, Post completed its legal separation via a tax free spin-off (the “Spin-Off”) from Ralcorp Holdings, Inc. (Ralcorp was subsequently acquired by ConAgra Foods, Inc. on January 29, 2013). On February 6, 2012, Post common stock began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “POST.” In 2012, we had a single operating segment, our Post Foods branded ready-to-eat (“RTE”) cereal business. As a result of acquisitions, we now operate in four reportable segments:
•
Post Consumer Brands : Includes the Post Foods branded RTE cereal operations and the business of MOM Brands Company (“MOM Brands”);
•
Michael Foods Group : Comprised of MFI Holding Corporation (“Michael Foods”), the October 2015 acquisition of Willamette Egg Farms (“WEF”) and Dakota Growers Pasta Company, Inc. (“Dakota Growers”) and produces value-added egg products, refrigerated potato products and cheese and other dairy case products as well as pasta for the the foodservice, retail and food ingredient channels;
•
Active Nutrition : Includes the protein shakes, bars and powders and nutritional supplement businesses of Premier Nutrition Corporation (“PNC”) and Dymatize Enterprises, LLC (“Dymatize”), as well as the  PowerBar  brand; and
•
Private Brands : Includes the businesses of Golden Boy Foods Ltd. (“Golden Boy”) and American Blanching Company (“ABC”), which produce private label peanut and other nut butters, as well as dried fruits and snacking nuts, and provides peanut blanching, granulation and roasting services for the commercial peanut industry, as well as the business of Attune Foods, LLC, which produces premium natural and organic granola, cereals and snacks.
Financial segment information for the four reportable segments for fiscal 2015 is contained in this Annual Report. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”, which we refer to as MD&A, under Item 7 of this report contains financial and other information concerning our business developments and operations and are incorporated into this Item 1.
Additional information about us, including our Form 10, Forms 10-K, Forms 10-Q, Forms 8-K, other securities filings (and amendments thereto), press releases and other important announcements, is available at our website at www.postholdings.com or the Security and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) website at www.sec.gov (for securities filings only). These documents can be printed free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after their electronic filing with the SEC. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines, Global Standards of Business Conduct, Director Code of Ethics, and the charters of the Audit and Corporate Governance and Compensation Committees of our board of directors are also available on our website, from which they can be printed free of charge. All of these documents are also available to shareholders at no charge upon request sent to our corporate secretary (2503 S. Hanley Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63144-2503, Telephone: 314-644-7600). The information on our website is not part of this report.
Our Businesses
Post Consumer Brands
Post Consumer Brands includes the Post Foods and MOM Brands cereal businesses and manufactures, markets and sells branded and private label RTE cereal products. The RTE cereal category has been one of the most prominent categories in the food industry. According to Nielsen’s expanded All Outlets Combined (xAOC) information, the category was approximately $8.7 billion for the 52-week period ended October 24, 2015. We have leveraged the strength of our brands, category expertise, and over a century of institutional knowledge to create a diverse portfolio of cereals. Post Consumer Brands is the third largest seller of RTE cereals in the United States with an 18.2% share of retail dollar sales and a 21.0% share of retail pound sales for the 52-week period ended October 24, 2015, based on Nielsen’s xAOC information. Nielsen’s xAOC is representative of food, drug and mass merchandisers (including Walmart), some club retailers (including Sam’s Club & BJs), some dollar retailers (including Dollar General, Family Dollar & Dollar Tree) and military. Our brands include  Honey Bunches of Oats , the fourth largest brand of RTE cereal in the United States with a 4.6% xAOC dollar market share for the 52-week period ended October 24, 2015, as well as  Pebbles ,  Great Grains ,  Grape-Nuts ,  Post Shredded Wheat ,  Oh’s ,  Honeycomb ,  Golden Crisp ,  Post Raisin Bran ,  Alpha-

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Bits, Shreddies, Malt-O-Meal, Farina, Dyno-Bites  and  MOM’s Best . These products are primarily manufactured through a flexible production platform at eight owned facilities in the United States and Canada.

Michael Foods Group
Through our Michael Foods Group segment, we produce and/or distribute egg products, refrigerated potato products, cheese and other dairy case products and pasta products. Our egg products business produces and distributes numerous egg products under the  Better’n Eggs ,  All Whites ,  Papetti’s ,  Abbotsford Farms ,  Emulsa ,  EasyEgg s,  Table Ready  and Willamette Egg Farms brands, among others. Through this business, we operate 13 egg products production facilities located in the United States and Canada, some of which are fully integrated, from the production and maintenance of laying flocks through the processing of egg products. Refrigerated potato products are marketed under a variety of brands, including  Simply Potatoes ,  Diner’s Choice  and  Farm Fresh, and this business maintains a main processing facility in Minnesota, with a smaller facility located in Nevada. Our cheese and other dairy-case products are marketed principally under the Crystal Farms  brand, and other trademarks include  Crescent Valley ,  Westfield Farms  and  David’s Deli . Through this business, we operate a cheese packaging facility in Lake Mills, Wisconsin, which processes and packages various cheese products for the  Crystal Farms  brand and for various private label customers. Our pasta business, Dakota Growers, has vertically integrated durum wheat milling and pasta production capabilities and produces over 150 different shapes of pasta products at two manufacturing plants. We sell products to the foodservice, food ingredient, retail grocery and private label markets. Our major customers include foodservice distributors, restaurant chains and major retail grocery chains.

Active Nutrition
Our Active Nutrition segment markets and distributes premium protein beverages, bars, powders and gels under the  Premier Protein, Dymatize, Supreme Protein  and PowerBar brands, and ready-to-drink beverages and other liquid-based solutions under the  Joint Juice  brand. The   Active Nutrition segment’s products are primarily manufactured under co-manufacturing agreements at various third party facilities located in the United States and Europe. We also own a facility in Germany that primarily manufactures products for our PowerBar brand. Our active nutrition products are primarily sold in club, grocery, drug and specialty stores as well as online.

Private Brands
Our Private Brands segment manufactures and distributes organic and conventional private label peanut butter and other nut butters, baking nuts, raisins and other dried fruit, and trail mixes, with sales to grocery retailers, food ingredient and foodservice channels primarily in the United States and Canada. We also co-manufacture peanut butter and other nut butters for national brands, private label retail and industrial markets. Our Private Brands business also provides peanut blanching, granulation and roasting services for the commercial peanut industry.

Our Private Brands segment also includes the business of Attune Foods. Through this business we manufacture and market branded premium natural and organic cereals and snacks, including  Uncle Sam  high fiber cereals,  Attune  chocolate probiotic bars and  Erewhon  gluten-free cereals and organic graham crackers. Attune Foods also includes the  Golden Temple ,  Peace Cereal ,  Sweet Home Farm  and  Willamette Valley Granola Company  brands as well as a private label granola business. Attune Foods’ products are largely sold through the natural/specialty channels, as well as in the bulk foods section of both conventional and natural/specialty retailers. Our manufacturing facility in Eugene, Oregon provides us the ability to manufacture a wide variety of product and package formats. Additionally, some products are manufactured under co-manufacturing agreements at various third party facilities located in the United States.

Sales and Marketing
Each of our businesses has developed marketing strategies specific to each product line that emphasize high quality products and customer service. For certain of our products, we have consumer-targeted marketing campaigns, which include television, digital and print advertisements, coupon offers, co-marketing arrangements with complementary consumer product companies and co-op advertising with select retail customers. We also use traditional outdoor, print and digital advertising and social media, as well as more targeted grass roots programs such as sampling events and business drops in order to increase brand awareness and loyalty at both national and local levels. Our internet and social media efforts are used to educate consumers about the nutritional value of our products as well as for product promotion and consumer entertainment.
Our Post Consumer Brands segment sells products primarily through an internal sales staff and broker organizations. We also occasionally sell Post Consumer Brands products to military, internet and foodservice channels and may utilize broker, distribution or similar arrangements for sales of Post Consumer Brands products outside the United States. Our Michael Foods Group segment aligns its sales and marketing efforts by distribution channel, with a dedicated team for each of the foodservice, retail and food ingredient channels. Our Active Nutrition segment uses a flexible sales model that combines a national direct sales force and

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broker network. Our Private Brands segment primarily sells its products through internal sales staff and broker organizations, including a strong broker network that services the natural/specialty and conventional grocery channels.

Research and Development
Our research and development efforts span our business segments. These capabilities extend to ingredients, grains and packaging technologies; new product and process development, as well as analytical support; bench-top and pilot plant capabilities; and research support to operations. We incurred expenses of approximately $16.8 million , $10.2 million and $8.6 million during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2015 , 2014 and 2013 , respectively, for research and development activities.
Raw Materials
Raw materials used in our businesses consist of ingredients and packaging materials. The principal ingredients for most of our businesses are agricultural commodities, including wheat, oats, other grain products, vegetable oils, fruits, peanuts, almonds and other tree nuts, dairy and soy based proteins, cocoa, corn syrup and sugar. We also buy significant amounts of grain to feed layer hens. Additionally, the principal ingredients for the Michael Foods business are eggs, potatoes, cheese and other dairy products. The principal packaging materials are linerboard cartons, corrugated boxes, plastic containers, flexible and beverage packaging and cartonboard.
We purchase raw materials from local, regional, national and international suppliers. With respect to our Michael Foods Group segment, a portion of the division’s egg needs are satisfied by production from our own hens, with the balance being purchased under third-party egg procurement contracts and in the spot market. Certain of our segments, such as the Post Consumer Brands and Private Brands segments, identify raw material sources to ensure that its products meet the standards and certification requirements for non-GMO, organic and gluten-free.
Supply and prices paid for raw materials can fluctuate widely due to weather conditions, feed costs, labor disputes, government policies and regulations, industry consolidation, economic climate, energy shortages, transportation delays, commodity market prices, currency fluctuations and other unforeseen circumstances, such as avian influenza which could affect the domestic poultry industry and our egg supply. We continuously monitor worldwide supply and cost trends of these raw materials to enable us to take appropriate action to obtain ingredients and packaging needed for production. Although the prices of the principal raw materials can be expected to fluctuate, we believe such raw materials to be in adequate supply and generally available from numerous sources.
Cereal processing ovens and most of the Michael Foods production facilities are generally fueled by natural gas or propane, which are obtained from local utilities or other local suppliers. Electricity and steam (generated in on-site, gas-fired boilers) are also used in our processing facilities. Short-term standby propane storage exists at several plants for use in the event of an interruption in natural gas supplies. Oil may also be used to fuel certain operations at various plants in the event of natural gas shortages or when its use presents economic advantages. In addition, considerable amounts of diesel fuel are used in connection with the distribution of our products.
Trademarks and Intellectual Property
We own a number of trademarks that are critical to the success of our businesses. Our Post Consumer Brands business’ key trademarks include Post ® , Honey Bunches of Oats ® , Post Selects ® , Great Grains ® , Spoon Size ® Shredded Wheat , Oh's ® , Grape-Nuts ® , Honeycomb ® Frosted Mini Spooners ® , Golden Puffs ® , Cinnamon Toasters ® , Fruity Dyno-Bites ® , Cocoa Dyno-Bites ® , Berry Colossal Crunch ® and Malt-O-Meal ® . The key trademarks for our Michael Foods Group include Papetti’s ® , All Whites ® , Better’n Eggs ® , Easy Eggs ® , Table Ready ® , Abbotsford Farms ® , Simply Potatoes ® and Crystal Farm s ® . Our Active Nutrition segment’s key trademarks include Premier Protein ® , Joint Juice ® , Dymatize ® , Supreme Protein ® and PowerBar ® , and the key trademarks for our Private Brands segment are Attune ® , Uncle Sam ® , Erewhon ® , Peace Cereal ® and Sweet Home Farm ® . Our trademarks are in most cases protected through registration in the United States and most other markets where the related products are sold.
Certain of our products, such as our Pebbles ™ products, are sold under trademarks that have been licensed from a third party pursuant to a long-term license agreement that covers the sale of such branded cereal products in the United States, Canada and several other international markets.
Similarly, we own several patents in North America. While our patent portfolio as a whole is material to our business, no one patent or group of related patents is material to our business. In addition, we have proprietary trade secrets, technology, know-how processes, and other intellectual property rights that are not registered.
Seasonality
Demand for certain of our products may be influenced by holidays, changes in seasons or other events. For example, demand for our egg products, cheese and snacking and baking nuts tends to increase during the holiday season, which may result in increased net sales during the first quarter of our fiscal year.

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Working Capital
A description of our working capital practices is included in the Liquidity and Capital Resources section of MD&A in Item 7 of this report. Receipts from goods sold, supplemented as required by borrowings, provide for our operating expenses and working capital needs.
Customers
We sell Post Consumer Brands products primarily to grocery, mass merchandise, supercenters, club store and drug store customers. We also sell to military, internet and foodservice channels. Our Michael Foods Group’s primary customers include foodservice distributors, national restaurant chains, retail grocery stores and major food processors. Our Active Nutrition segment’s customers are predominately warehouse club stores, grocery stores, drug stores, convenient stores and supplement stores. Our Private Brands segment’s products are sold to grocery store, foodservice and food ingredient customers as well as natural/specialty grocery stores and conventional grocery stores.
Our largest customer, Walmart, accounted for approximately 10% of our consolidated net sales in fiscal 2015.  No other customer accounted for more than 10% of our fiscal 2015 consolidated net sales, but certain of our segments depend on sales to large customers.  For example, the largest customer of our Post Consumer Brands segment, Walmart, accounted for approximately 27% of Post Consumer Brands’ net sales in fiscal 2015. Additionally, the largest customers of our Michael Foods Group segment, Sysco and US Foods, accounted for approximately 14% and 12%, respectively, of the segment’s net sales in fiscal 2015, and the largest customers of our Active Nutrition business, Costco and Sam’s Club, accounted for approximately 27% and 12%, respectively, of the Active Nutrition segment’s net sales in fiscal 2015. The largest customers of our Private Brands segment, Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s, accounted for approximately 15% and 11%, respectively, of Private Brands’ net sales in fiscal 2015.
For the fiscal years ended September 30, 2015 , 2014 and 2013 , sales to locations outside of the United States were approximately 9%, 13% and 14% of total net sales, respectively. For fiscal year 2015, the amount includes the sales of recent acquisitions including the PowerBar business, ABC and MOM Brands.
Competition
The consumer foods industry is highly competitive, and the food categories in which we participate are also very competitive and highly sensitive to both pricing and promotion. Many of our principal competitors in these categories may have substantially more financial, marketing and other resources. Competition is based on product quality, price, effective promotional activities, and the ability to identify and satisfy dynamic, emerging consumer preferences. Our principal strategies for competing in each of our segments include effective customer relationship management, category insights, superior product quality and food safety, product innovation, an efficient supply chain and price. In addition, in many of our product categories, we compete not only with widely advertised branded products, but also with private label products. The industries in which we operate are expected to remain highly competitive in the foreseeable future.
Governmental Regulation and Environmental Matters
We are subject to regulation by federal, state, local and foreign governmental entities and agencies. Our activities in Canada and Germany are subject to regulations similar to those applicable to our business in the United States. As a producer and distributor of goods for human consumption, our operations must comply with stringent production, storage, distribution, labeling and marketing standards administered by the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”), Department of Commerce and Federal Trade Commission in the United States as well as similar regulatory agencies in Canada and Germany. Products that do not meet regulatory standards may be considered to be adulterated and/or misbranded and subject to recall. Additionally, following the recent adoption of the Food Safety Modernization Act, the FDA is developing additional regulations focused on prevention of food contamination, more frequent inspection of high-risk facilities, increased record-keeping and improved tracing of food.
Certain egg products produced by our Michael Foods Group segment are under the jurisdiction of U.S. Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) regulations regarding quality, labeling and sanitary control, rather than FDA regulations. The Michael Foods egg products division processing plants that break eggs, and some of our other egg-processing operations, are subject to continuous on-site USDA inspection. Our other facilities are subject to periodic inspection by the USDA, FDA and/or state regulatory authorities, such as state departments of agriculture.
Our facilities, like those of similar businesses, are subject to certain safety regulations including regulations issued pursuant to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Act in the United States and similar regulatory agencies in Canada and Germany. These regulations require us to comply with certain manufacturing safety standards to protect our employees from accidents. Additionally, some of the food commodities on which our business relies are subject to governmental agricultural programs. These programs have substantial effects on prices and supplies and are subject to Congressional and administrative review.
Our operations are also subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations with respect to environmental matters, including air quality, wastewater discharge and pretreatment, storm water, waste handling and disposal, and other regulations intended to protect public health and the environment. In the United States, the laws and regulations include the Clean Air Act,

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the Clean Water Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Our foreign facilities are subject to regulations similar to those applicable to us in the United States. We have made, and will continue to make, expenditures to ensure environmental compliance.
Employees
We have approximately 8,500 employees as of November 1, 2015, of which approximately 7,750 are in the United States, approximately 620 are in Canada and approximately 125 are located in other jurisdictions, including Germany. Currently, approximately 13% of our employees are unionized. We have entered into several collective bargaining agreements on terms that we believe are typical for the industries in which we operate. Most of the unionized workers at our facilities are represented under contracts which expire at various times throughout the next several years. As these agreements expire, we believe that the agreements can be renegotiated on terms satisfactory to us. We believe that our relations with employees and their representative organizations are good.
Executive Officers
The section below provides information regarding our executive officers as of November 17, 2015:
William P. Stiritz , age 81, has served as our Executive Chairman since November 2014. Previously, Mr. Stiritz served as the Chairman of our Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer from February 2012 until November 1, 2014. Prior to joining Post, Mr. Stiritz served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ralcorp Holdings, Inc. from 1994 until February 2012.
Robert V. Vitale , age 49, has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer since November 2014. Previously, Mr. Vitale served as our Chief Financial Officer from October 2011 until November 1, 2014. He previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of AHM Financial Group, LLC, a diversified provider of insurance brokerage and wealth management services from 2006 until 2011.
Rich Koulouris , age 59, has served as our Executive Vice President and President and CEO, Private Brands since November 2015. Previously, Mr. Koulouris served as our Executive Vice President and President and CEO, Post Foods Group from February 2015 until November 2015. From January 2014 until joining Post in February 2015, Mr. Koulouris was not engaged in any professional activities as the result of a non-compete agreement with his prior employer. Prior to joining Post and until January 2014, Mr. Koulouris served as Vice President and President of the Ralcorp Food Group of ConAgra Foods, Inc., which acquired Ralcorp in January 2013. From 2003 until the acquisition of Ralcorp in January 2013, Mr. Koulouris served in various senior roles at Ralcorp, most recently as Corporate Vice President and President of Ralcorp Snacks, Sauces & Spreads.
James E. Dwyer, Jr. , age 57, has served as Executive Vice President and President and CEO, Michael Foods Group since November 2014. Previously, Mr. Dwyer served as the President and CEO of our Michael Foods business since June 2014, when Post acquired Michael Foods. Prior to the acquisition, Mr. Dwyer served as the Chief Executive Officer of Michael Foods since October 2009 and its Chairman since July 2013.
Christopher J. Neugent , age 54, has served as our President and CEO, Post Consumer Brands since May 2015, when Post acquired MOM Brands Company. From 2001 until the acquisition, Mr. Neugent served in various roles at MOM Brands Company, most recently as Chairman and CEO.
Jeff A. Zadoks , age 50, has served as our Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since November 2014. Previously, Mr. Zadoks served as our Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer from January 2014 until November 1, 2014, and also our Corporate Controller since October 2011. Prior to joining Post, Mr. Zadoks served as Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer at RehabCare Group, Inc., a leading provider of post-acute care in hospitals and skilled nursing facilities, from February 2010 to September 2011, and as Vice President and Corporate Controller of RehabCare Group from December 2003 until January 2010.
Diedre J. Gray , age 37, has served as our Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer, as well as our Corporate Secretary, since November 2011. Previously, Ms. Gray served as our Legal and Corporate Secretary from December 2011 until September 2012 when she became our Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. Prior to joining Post, Ms. Gray served as Associate General Counsel and Assistant Secretary at MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc. (now SunEdison, Inc.), a semiconductor and solar wafer manufacturing company. Ms. Gray was an attorney at Bryan Cave LLP from 2003 to 2010.

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Available Information
We make available free of charge through our website (www.postholdings.com) reports we file with the SEC, including our annual reports 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 Exchange Act, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. The SEC maintains an internet site containing these reports and proxy and information statements at http://www.sec.gov. Any materials we file can be read and copied online at that site or at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549, on official business days during the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room can be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.

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ITEM 1A.    RISK FACTORS
In addition to the factors discussed elsewhere in this report, the following risks and uncertainties could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operation, financial condition or results.
Risks Related to Our Business
We operate in categories with strong competition.
The food and beverage industry is highly competitive. Our competitors may have substantial financial, marketing and other resources. Increased competition can reduce our sales due to loss of market share or the need to reduce prices to respond to competitive and customer pressures. In most product categories, we compete not only with widely advertised branded products, but also with private label and store brand products. A strong competitive response from one or more of our competitors to our marketplace efforts, or a shift in consumer preferences to competitors’ products, could result in us reducing pricing, increasing marketing or other expenditures or losing market share. Our profits could decrease if a reduction in prices or increased costs are not counterbalanced with increased sales volume.
We must identify changing consumer preferences and develop and offer food products to meet these preferences.
Consumer preferences evolve over time. The success of our food products depends on our ability to identify the tastes and dietary habits of consumers and to offer products that appeal to their preferences, including concerns of consumers regarding health and wellness, obesity, product attributes and ingredients, including carbohydrate content and processed ingredients. Introduction of new products and product extensions requires significant development and marketing investment. If our products fail to meet consumer preferences, or we fail to introduce new and improved products on a timely basis, the return on that investment will be less than anticipated and our strategy to grow sales and profits with investments in marketing and innovation will be less successful. Similarly, demand for our products could be affected by consumer concerns or perceptions regarding the health effects of our products or certain ingredients.
Our business strategy depends on us identifying and completing additional acquisitions and other strategic transactions. We may not be able to successfully consummate favorable transactions or successfully integrate acquired businesses.
We continuously evaluate and may in the future enter into additional strategic transactions. Any such transaction could happen at any time, could be material to our business and could take any number of forms, including, for example, an acquisition, investment or merger, for cash or in exchange for our equity securities, or a divestiture.
Evaluating potential transactions, including divestitures, and integrating businesses after completion of an acquisition requires additional expenditures (including legal, accounting and due diligence expenses, higher administrative costs to support the acquired entities, information technology, personnel and other integration expenses) and may divert the attention of our management from ordinary operating matters. The success of these potential transactions will depend, in part, on our ability to realize the anticipated growth opportunities and cost synergies through the successful integration of the businesses we acquire with our existing businesses. Even if we are successful in integrating acquired businesses, we cannot assure you that these integrations will result in the realization of the full benefit of any anticipated growth opportunities or cost synergies or that these benefits will be realized within the expected time frames. In addition, acquired businesses may have unanticipated liabilities or contingencies.
Our corporate development activities may present financial and operational risks, including integrating or separating personnel and financial and other systems, and may have adverse effects on existing business relationships with suppliers and customers. Future acquisitions could also result in potentially dilutive issuances of equity securities, the incurrence of debt, contingent liabilities and/or amortization expenses related to certain intangible assets and increased operating expenses, all of which could singly or collectively adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
Economic downturns could limit consumer demand for our products.
The willingness of consumers to purchase our products depends in part on general or local economic conditions. In periods of economic uncertainty, consumers may purchase less of our products and may forego certain purchases altogether. In those circumstances, we could experience a reduction in sales of our products. In addition, as a result of economic conditions or competitive actions, we may be unable to raise our prices sufficiently to protect profit margins. Any of these events could have an adverse effect on our results of operations.
Commodity price volatility and higher energy costs could negatively impact profits.
The primary commodities used by our businesses include wheat, semolina, nuts, sugar, edible oils, corn, oats, cocoa, milk and soy based protein. The supply and price of these ingredients are subject to market conditions and are influenced by many factors beyond our control, including weather patterns affecting ingredient production, governmental programs and regulations, insects, and plant diseases. Our primary packaging includes linerboard cartons, corrugated boxes, plastic bags and liners, and flexible beverage packaging. In addition, our manufacturing operations use large quantities of natural gas and electricity. The cost

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of such commodities may fluctuate widely and we may experience shortages in commodity items as a result of commodity market fluctuations, availability, increased demand, weather conditions and natural disasters, as well as other factors outside of our control. Higher prices for natural gas, electricity and fuel may also increase our production and delivery costs. Changes in the prices charged for our products may lag behind changes in our energy and commodity costs. Accordingly, changes in commodity or energy costs may limit our ability to maintain existing margins and have a material adverse effect on our operating profits. Competitive pressures often limit our ability to increase prices in response to higher input costs. If we fail to hedge and prices subsequently increase, or if we institute a hedge and prices subsequently decrease, our costs may be greater than anticipated or greater than our competitors’ costs, and our financial results could be adversely affected.
Michael Foods’ operating results are significantly affected by egg, potato and cheese prices and the prices of corn and soybean meal, which are the primary grains fed to laying hens. Historically, the prices of these raw materials have fluctuated widely. In addition, the Michael Foods cheese and butter products are affected by milk price supports established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Although steps can be taken to mitigate the effects of changes in raw material costs, fluctuations in prices are outside the control of the Michael Foods business, and changes in the price of such items may have a material adverse effect on the Michael Foods business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition. An inability to keep selling prices in line with input costs may result in lower operating profit margins.
Impairment in the carrying value of intangible assets could negatively impact our net worth. If our goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible assets or other long-term assets become impaired, we will be required to record additional impairment charges, which may be significant.
Our balance sheet includes a significant amount of intangible assets, including goodwill, trademarks, trade names and other acquired intangibles. Intangibles and goodwill expected to contribute indefinitely to our cash flows are not amortized, but our management reviews them for impairment on an annual basis or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying value may be impaired. Impairments to intangible assets may be caused by factors outside our control, such as increasing competitive pricing pressures, lower than expected revenue and profit growth rates, changes in industry EBITDA and revenue multiples, changes in discount rates based on changes in cost of capital (interest rates, etc.) or the bankruptcy of a significant customer. These factors, along with other internal and external factors, could negatively impact our net worth and could have a significant impact on our fair valuation determination, which could then result in a material impairment charge in our results of operations. During fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2014, we had an impairment of goodwill and trademark intangible assets. In fiscal 2013 we had an impairment of trademark intangible assets. We could have additional impairments in the future. See further discussion of these impairment losses in MD&A and Notes 2 and 6 of “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” of our audited consolidated financial statements contained in this report.
Unsuccessful implementation of business strategies to reduce costs may adversely affect our results of operations.
Many of our costs, such as raw materials, energy and freight, are outside our control. Therefore, we must seek to reduce costs in other areas, such as through operating efficiency. If we are not able to complete projects designed to reduce costs and increase operating efficiency on time or within budget, our operating profits may be adversely impacted. In addition, if the cost-saving initiatives we have implemented or any future cost-saving initiatives do not generate the expected cost savings and synergies, our results of operations may be adversely affected.
Our Active Nutrition and Michael Foods products are subject to a higher level of regulatory scrutiny, resulting in increased costs of operations and delays in product sales .
Our products and operations are subject to the laws and regulations of the federal Food and Drug Administration (which we refer to as FDA), the USDA, and other applicable laws and regulations. Some of our Active Nutrition products are regulated by the FDA as dietary supplements, which are subject to different FDA regulations and levels of regulatory scrutiny. Certain of Michael Foods’ products, specifically the egg products, are also subject to higher scrutiny by the FDA and the USDA, as well as continuous on-site inspections. It is also possible that federal, state or foreign enforcement authorities might take regulatory or enforcement action, which could result in significant fines or penalties. If we are found to be significantly out of compliance, the FDA could issue a warning letter and/or institute enforcement actions that could result in substantial delays in production or even a temporary shutdown in manufacturing and product sales while the non-conformances are rectified. Also, we may have to recall products and temporarily cease their manufacture and distribution, which would increase our costs and reduce our revenues. Any product liability claims resulting from the failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations would be expensive to defend and could result in substantial damage awards against us or harm our reputation. Any of these events would negatively impact our revenues and costs of operations.
Our Active Nutrition business has significant international sales. The production and marketing of our Active Nutrition products are currently subject to extensive regulation and review by numerous governmental authorities in the United States and will face similar regulation from governmental authorities outside of the United States.


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Our inability to raise prices may adversely affect our results of operations.
Our ability to raise prices for our products may be adversely affected by a number of factors, including but not limited to industry supply, market demand and promotional activity by competitors. If we are unable to increase prices for our products as may be necessary to cover cost increases, our results of operations could be adversely affected. In addition, price increases typically generate lower sales volumes as customers purchase fewer units. If these losses are greater than expected or if we lose distribution as a result of a price increase, our results of operations could be adversely affected.
Loss of a significant customer may adversely affect our results of operations.
A limited number of customer accounts represents a large percentage of our consolidated net sales. Our largest customer, Walmart, accounted for approximately 10% of our net sales in fiscal 2015 . Walmart is also the largest customer of our Post Consumer Brands segment, accounting for approximately 27% of Post Consumer Brands’ net sales in fiscal 2015. Additionally, the largest customers of our Michael Foods Group segment, Sysco and US Foods, accounted for approximately 14% and 12%, respectively, of its net sales in fiscal 2015, and the largest customers of our Active Nutrition segment, Costco and Sam’s Club, accounted for approximately 27% and 12%, respectively, of the Active Nutrition segment’s net sales in fiscal 2015.   The largest customers of our Private Brands segment, Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s, accounted for approximately 15% and 11%, respectively, of Private Brands’ net sales in fiscal 2015.
The success of our businesses depends, in part, on our ability to maintain our level of sales and product distribution through high-volume food distributors, retailers, super centers and mass merchandisers. The competition to supply products to these high-volume stores is intense. Currently, we do not have long-term supply agreements with a substantial number of our retail customers, including our largest customers. These high-volume stores and mass merchandisers frequently reevaluate the products they carry. A decision by our major customers to decrease the amount of merchandise purchased from us, sell a national brand on an exclusive basis or change the manner of doing business with us could reduce our revenues and materially adversely affect our results of operations. In the event of a loss of any of our large customers, or the bankruptcy or serious financial difficulty of any of our large customers, our sales may be adversely affected.
Consolidation among the retail grocery and foodservice industries may hurt profit margins.
Over the past several years, the retail grocery and foodservice industries have undergone significant consolidations and mass merchandisers are gaining market share. As this trend continues and such customers grow larger, they may seek to use their position to improve their profitability through improved efficiency, lower pricing, increased reliance on their own brand name products, increased emphasis on generic and other value brands and increased promotional programs. If we are unable to respond to these requirements, our profitability or volume growth could be negatively impacted. Additionally, if the surviving entity is not a customer, we may lose significant business once held with the acquired retailer.
Our Post Consumer Brands segment operates in the mature ready-to-eat (RTE) cereal market, and the failure or weakening of this market could materially adversely affect our financial results.
Our Post Consumer Brands segment produces and distributes branded, licensed and private label RTE and hot cereals, selling products to grocery stores, big box retailers, and foodservice distributors across the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. The RTE cereal category has experienced weakness in recent years, and we expect this trend to continue. Continuing weaknesses in the RTE category, or the weakening of our major products competing in this category, could have a material adverse impact on our business.
If our products become adulterated, misbranded or mislabeled or become contaminated, we might need to recall those items and may experience product liability claims if consumers are injured.
Selling food products and nutritional supplements involves a number of legal and other risks, including product contamination, spoilage, product tampering, allergens or other adulteration. Additionally, many of the inputs used to make certain of our products, particularly eggs, raw potatoes and peanuts, are vulnerable to contamination by pathogens, naturally occurring disease-producing organisms, such as salmonella. We may need to recall some or all of our products if they become adulterated, mislabeled or misbranded. This could result in destruction of product inventory, negative publicity, temporary plant closings, substantial costs of compliance or remediation and increased scrutiny by federal and state regulatory agencies. Should consumption of any product cause injury, we may be liable for monetary damages as a result of a judgment against us. In addition, adverse publicity, including claims, whether or not valid, that our products or ingredients are unsafe or of poor quality may discourage consumers from buying our products or cause production and delivery disruptions. Any of these events, including a significant product liability claim against us, could result in a loss of consumer confidence in our food products. This could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and/or cash flows.
Pending and future litigation may lead us to incur significant costs.
We are, or may become, party to various lawsuits and claims arising in the normal course of business, which may include lawsuits or claims relating to contracts, intellectual property, product recalls, product liability, false or deceptive advertising,

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employment matters, environmental matters or other aspects of our business. In addition, we may be required to pay damage awards or settlements or become subject to injunctions or other equitable remedies, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial position, cash flows or results of operations. The outcome of litigation is often difficult to predict, and the outcome of pending or future litigation may have a material adverse effect on our financial position, cash flows or results of operations.
In addition to ordinary course of business litigation risk, Michael Foods is currently subject to a lawsuit alleging violations of federal and state antitrust laws in connection with the production and sale of shell eggs and egg products, and seeking unspecified damages. If Michael Foods cannot resolve this matter favorably, it could be subject to (i) monetary damages and/or (ii) injunctive relief. If injunctive relief were to be granted, depending on its scope, it could affect the manner in which Michael Foods operates. The defense of these actions and any other actions brought in the future, is time consuming and diverts management’s attention. Even if Michael Foods is ultimately successful in defending such matters, Michael Foods is likely to incur significant fees, costs and expenses as long as they are ongoing.
While we have various insurance programs in place, the potential liabilities associated with these litigation matters, or those that could arise in the future, could be excluded from coverage or, if covered, could exceed the coverage provided by such programs. In addition, insurance carriers may seek to rescind or deny coverage with respect to pending or future claims or lawsuits. If we do not have sufficient coverage under our policies, or if coverage is denied, we may be required to make material payments to settle litigation or satisfy any judgment. Any of these consequences could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Disruption of our supply chain could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
In coordination with our suppliers, business partners and contract manufacturers, our ability to make, move and sell products is critical to our success. Damage or disruption to our collective manufacturing or distribution capabilities resulting from weather, any potential effects of climate change, natural disaster, disease, fire or explosion, terrorism, pandemics, strikes, repairs or enhancements at our facilities, or other reasons, could impair our ability to manufacture or sell our products. Failure to take adequate steps to mitigate the likelihood or potential impact of such events or to effectively manage such events if they occur, could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations, and may require additional resources to restore our supply chain.
We are currently dependent on third party manufacturers to manufacture many products for our business. Our business could suffer as a result of a third-party manufacturer’s inability to produce our products for us on time and to our specifications.
Our business relies on independent third parties for the manufacture of many products, such as protein bars, shakes and powders and certain cereal and granola products. The business could be materially affected if we fail to develop or maintain our relationships with these third parties, if these parties fail to comply with governmental regulations applicable to the manufacturing of our products, or if any of these third parties ceases doing business with us or goes out of business. Additionally, we cannot be certain that we will not experience operational difficulties with these third-party manufacturers, such as increases in manufacturing costs, reductions in the availability of production capacity, errors in complying with merchandise specifications, insufficient quality control and failure to meet production deadlines. The inability of a third party manufacturer to ship orders in a timely manner, in desirable quantities or to meet our safety, quality and social compliance standards or regulatory requirements could have a material adverse impact on our business.
Termination of our material licenses would have a material adverse effect on our business.
We manufacture and market certain of our products in the United States, Canada and several other locations pursuant to intellectual property license agreements. These licenses give us the right to use certain names, characters and logos in connection with our products and to sell the products in certain regions. If we were to breach any material term of these license agreements and not timely cure the breach, the licensor could terminate the agreement. If the licensor were to terminate our rights to use the names, characters and logos for this or any other reason, the loss of such rights could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Global capital and credit market issues could negatively affect our liquidity, increase our costs of borrowing and disrupt the operations of our suppliers and customers.
U.S. and global credit markets have, from time to time, experienced significant dislocations and liquidity disruptions which caused the spreads on prospective debt financings to widen considerably. These circumstances materially impacted liquidity in the debt markets, making financing terms for borrowers less attractive and in certain cases resulted in the unavailability of certain types of debt financing. Events affecting the credit markets have also had an adverse effect on other financial markets in the U.S., which may make it more difficult or costly for us to raise capital through the issuance of common stock or other equity securities or refinance our existing debt, sell our assets or borrow more money if necessary. Our business could also be negatively impacted if our suppliers or customers experience disruptions resulting from tighter capital and credit markets or a slowdown in the general economy. Any of these risks could impair our ability to fund our operations or limit our ability to expand our business or increase our interest expense, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial results.

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Changing currency exchange rates may adversely affect our earnings and financial position.
We have operations and assets in the United States as well as foreign jurisdictions, and a portion of our contracts and revenues are denominated in foreign currencies. Our consolidated financial statements are presented in U.S. dollars. We therefore must translate our foreign assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses into U.S. dollars at applicable exchange rates. Consequently, fluctuations in the value of foreign currencies may negatively affect the value of these items in our consolidated financial statements. To the extent we fail to manage our foreign currency exposure adequately, we may suffer losses in value of our net foreign currency investment, and our consolidated results of operations and financial position may be negatively affected.
Violations of laws or regulations, as well as new laws or regulations or changes to existing laws or regulations, could adversely affect our business.
The food production and marketing industry is subject to a variety of federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations, including food safety requirements related to the ingredients, manufacturing, processing, storage, marketing, advertising, labeling and distribution of our products as well as those related to worker health and workplace safety. Our activities, both in and outside of the United States, are subject to extensive regulation. In the U.S. we are regulated by, among other federal and state authorities, the FDA, the USDA, U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Departments of Commerce and Labor. We are also regulated by similar authorities abroad. Governmental regulations also affect taxes and levies, healthcare costs, energy usage, immigration and other labor issues, any and/or all of which may have a direct or indirect effect on our business or those of our customers or suppliers. In addition, because we market and advertise our products, we could be the target of claims relating to alleged false or deceptive advertising under federal, state and foreign laws and regulations and may be subject to initiatives to 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 the costs of doing business for us or our customers or suppliers or restrict our actions, causing our results of operations to be adversely affected. As a specific example, possible new laws in the future, similar to legislation that has been introduced in various state legislatures, could require us to alter hen cage sizes. Further, if we are found to be out of compliance with 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 and/or all of which could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Changing rules and regulations applicable to public companies impose significant costs and obligations on us.
As a publicly traded company, we are subject to changing rules and regulations of federal and state government, as well as the stock exchange on which our common stock is listed. These entities, including the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the SEC and the New York Stock Exchange, have issued a significant number of new and increasingly complex requirements and regulations over the course of the last several years and continue to develop additional regulations and requirements in response to laws enacted by Congress. Our efforts to comply with these requirements may result in an increase in expenses and a diversion of management’s time.
We may not be able to operate successfully if we lose key personnel, are unable to hire qualified additional personnel or experience turnover of our management team.
We are highly dependent on our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel to operate and expand our business. If we lose one or more members of our senior management team, or if we fail to attract new employees, our business and financial position, results of operations or cash flows could be harmed.
Changes in weather conditions, natural disasters and other events beyond our control can adversely affect our results of operations.
Changes in weather conditions and natural disasters, such as floods, droughts, frosts, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, fires or pestilence, may affect the cost and supply of commodities and raw materials, including grains, eggs, potatoes, tree nuts, corn syrup and sugar. Additionally, these events can result in reduced supplies of raw materials and longer recoveries of usable raw materials. Competing manufacturers can be affected differently by weather conditions and natural disasters depending on the location of their suppliers and operations. Failure to take adequate steps to reduce the likelihood or mitigate the potential impact of such events, or to effectively manage such events if they occur, particularly when a product is sourced from a single location, could adversely affect our business and results of operations, and/or require additional resources to restore our supply chain.
Unusual agricultural diseases (such as avian influenza) and/or pests could harm our business.
Many of our business activities are subject to a variety of agricultural risks, including disease and pests which can adversely affect the quality and quantity of the raw materials we use, as well as the food products we produce and distribute. Any actual or potential contamination of our products could result in product recalls, market withdrawals, safety alerts, cessation of manufacturing and/or distribution or, if we fail to comply with applicable FDA or USDA requirements, enforcement actions. We could also be subject to product liability claims or adverse publicity if any of our products are alleged to have caused illness or injury.
Avian influenza occasionally affects the domestic poultry industry, leading to hen deaths. In the spring of 2015, an avian influenza outbreak occurred in the Midwest United States affecting a substantial portion of our Michael Foods business’ owned

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and third party contracted flock. As a result of this outbreak, we estimated that the total affected egg supply was approximately 25% of our annualized egg volume commitments. Although we utilize biosecurity measures at our layer locations to protect against disease exposures, if our facilities are exposed to diseases and pests, such exposure could affect a substantial portion of our production facilities in any year and could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations and financial condition.
Labor strikes or work stoppages by our employees could harm our business.
Some of our full-time production and maintenance employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements. A dispute with a union or employees represented by a union could result in production interruptions caused by work stoppages. If a strike or work stoppage were to occur, our results of operations could be adversely affected. In addition, we could be subject to unionization efforts at our non-union facilities. Increased unionization of our workforce could lead to disruptions in our business, increases in our operating costs and/or constraints on our operating flexibility.
In the event of a work stoppage, we have contingency plans in place to manufacture products in other locations to mitigate disruption to the business. However, there are limitations inherent in any plan to mitigate disruption to our business in the event of a work stoppage and, particularly in the case of a prolonged work stoppage, there can be no assurance that it would not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
Increases in costs of medical and other employee health and welfare benefits may reduce our profitability.
With approximately 8,500 employees, our profitability is substantially affected by costs of medical and other health and welfare benefits for these employees as well as certain former employees. These costs can vary substantially as a result of changes in health care laws, costs and experience. These factors may increase the cost of providing medical and other employee health and welfare benefits. We can provide no assurance that we will succeed in limiting future cost increases. If we do not succeed, our profitability could be negatively affected.
We may experience losses or be subject to increased funding and expenses to our qualified pension and other post-retirement plans, which could negatively impact profits.
We maintain qualified defined benefit plans in the United States and Canada for our Post Foods business, and we are obligated to ensure that these plans are funded or paid in accordance with applicable regulations. In the event the assets in which we invest do not perform according to expectations, or the valuation of the projected benefit obligation increases due to changes in interest rates or other factors, we may be required to make significant cash contributions to these plans and recognize increased expense on our financial statements.
Technology failures could disrupt our operations and negatively impact our business.
We are increasingly dependent on information technology networks and systems, including the internet, to process, transmit, and store electronic and financial information, to manage and support a variety of business processes and activities, and to comply with regulatory, legal, and tax requirements. We increasingly rely on information technology systems to process, transmit and store electronic information. For example, our production and distribution facilities and inventory management utilize information technology to increase efficiencies and limit costs. Furthermore, a significant portion of the communications between our personnel, customers and suppliers depends on information technology. Our information technology systems may be vulnerable to a variety of interruptions due to events beyond our control, including, but not limited to, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, telecommunications failures, computer viruses, hackers and other security issues. Such interruptions could negatively impact our business.
If we do not allocate and effectively manage the resources necessary to build and sustain the proper technology infrastructure and to maintain and protect the related automated and manual control processes, we could be subject to billing and collection errors, business disruptions, or damage resulting from security breaches. If any of our significant information technology systems suffer severe damage, disruption, or shutdown, and our business continuity plans do not effectively resolve the issues in a timely manner, our product sales, financial condition, and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected, and we could experience delays in reporting our financial results. In addition, there is a risk of business interruption, litigation risks, and reputational damage from leakage of confidential information.
Our intellectual property rights are valuable and any inability to protect them could reduce the value of our products and brands.
We consider our intellectual property rights, particularly our trademarks, but also our patents, trade secrets, copyrights and licenses, to be a significant and valuable aspect of our business. We attempt to protect our intellectual property rights through a combination of patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret laws, as well as licensing agreements, third party nondisclosure and assignment agreements and the policing of third party misuses of our intellectual property. Our failure to obtain or maintain adequate protection of our intellectual property rights, or any change in law or other changes that serve to lessen or remove the current legal protections of intellectual property, may diminish our competitiveness and could materially harm our business.

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We face the risk of claims that we have infringed third parties’ intellectual property rights. Any claims of intellectual property infringement, even those without merit, could be expensive and time consuming to defend; cause us to cease making, licensing or using products that incorporate the challenged intellectual property; require us to redesign or rebrand our products or packaging, if feasible; divert management’s attention and resources; or require us to enter into royalty or licensing agreements in order to obtain the right to use a third party’s intellectual property. Any royalty or licensing agreements, if required, may not be available to us on acceptable terms or at all. Additionally, a successful claim of infringement against us could result in our being required to pay significant damages, enter into costly license or royalty agreements or stop the sale of certain products, any and/or all of which could have a negative impact on our operating profits and harm our future prospects.
Media campaigns related to food production present risks .
Media outlets, including new social media platforms, provide the opportunity for individuals or organizations to publicize inappropriate or inaccurate stories or perceptions about us or the food industry. Such practices have the ability to cause damage to our brands, the industry generally, or consumers’ perceptions of us or the food production industry and may result in negative publicity and adversely affect our financial results.
We are subject to environmental laws and regulations that can impose significant costs and expose us to potential financial liabilities.
We are subject to extensive and frequently changing federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and the environment, including those limiting the discharge and release of pollutants into the environment and those regulating the transport, use, treatment, storage, disposal and remediation of, and exposure to, solid and hazardous wastes and materials. In addition, our Michael Foods business is subject to particular federal and state environmental requirements governing animal feeding operations involving the management of animal waste, which have become the subject of increasing regulatory scrutiny. Certain environmental laws and regulations can impose joint and several liability without regard to fault on responsible parties, including past and present owners and operators of sites, related to cleaning up sites at which hazardous wastes or materials were disposed or released. Failure to comply with environmental laws and regulations could result in severe fines and penalties by governments or courts of law. In addition, various current and likely future federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations could regulate the emission of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide and methane. We cannot predict the impact that such regulation may have, or that climate change may otherwise have, on our business.
Future events, such as new or more stringent environmental laws and regulations, any new environmental claims, the discovery of currently unknown environmental conditions requiring response action or more vigorous enforcement or a new interpretation of existing environmental laws and regulations, might require us to incur additional costs that could have a material adverse effect on our financial results.
Our international operations subject us to additional risks.
As a result of recent acquisitions, we now have larger operations outside of the United States. We are accordingly subject to a number of risks relating to doing business internationally, any of which could significantly harm our business. These risks include:
•
restriction on the transfer of funds to and from foreign countries, including potentially negative tax consequences;
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exchange controls and currency exchange rates;
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increased exposure to general market and economic conditions outside the United States;
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additional political risk;
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compliance with anti-corruption regulations (including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act);
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data security; and
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foreign tax treaties and policies.
Our financial performance on a U.S. dollar denominated basis is subject to fluctuations in currency exchange rates. Our principal exposure is to the Canadian dollar.

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Our actual operating results may differ significantly from our guidance.
From time to time, we release guidance regarding our future performance or the expected future performance of companies or businesses that we have agreed to acquire. This guidance, which consists of forward-looking statements, is prepared by our management and is qualified by, and subject to, the assumptions and the other information contained or referred to in such release and the factors described under “Forward-Looking Statements” in our current and periodic reports filed with the SEC. Our guidance is not prepared with a view toward compliance with published guidelines of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and neither our independent registered public accounting firm nor any other independent expert or outside party compiles or examines the guidance and, accordingly, no such person expresses any opinion or any other form of assurance with respect thereto.
Guidance is based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while presented with numerical specificity, are inherently subject to business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control and are based upon specific assumptions with respect to future business decisions, some of which will change. We generally state possible outcomes as high and low ranges which are intended to provide a sensitivity analysis as variables are changed but are not intended to represent that actual results could not fall outside of the suggested ranges. The principal reason that we release this data is to provide a basis for our management to discuss our business outlook with analysts and investors. We do not accept any responsibility for any projections or reports published by any such persons.
Guidance is necessarily speculative in nature, and it can be expected that some or all of the assumptions of the guidance furnished by us will not materialize or will vary significantly from actual results. Accordingly, our guidance is only an estimate of what management believes is realizable as of the date of release. Actual results will vary from the guidance. Investors should also recognize that the reliability of any forecasted financial data diminishes the farther in the future that the data is forecast. In light of the foregoing, investors are urged to put the guidance in context and not to place undue reliance on it.  
Any failure to successfully implement our operating strategy or the occurrence of any of the events or circumstances set forth in this report could result in actual operating results being different than the guidance, and such differences may be adverse and material.
If we are unable to continue to satisfy the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or our internal control over financial reporting is not effective, the reliability of our financial statements may be questioned, and our stock price may suffer.
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires any company subject to the reporting requirements of the U.S. securities laws to perform a comprehensive evaluation of its and its consolidated subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting. To comply with this statute, we are required to document and test our internal control procedures, our management is required to assess and issue a report concerning our internal control over financial reporting, and our independent registered public accounting firm is required to issue an opinion on their audit of our internal control over financial reporting.
The rules governing the standards that must be met for management to assess our internal control over financial reporting are complex and require significant documentation, testing and possible remediation to meet the detailed standards under the rules. During the course of its testing, our management may identify material weaknesses or significant deficiencies which may not be remedied in time to meet the annual deadline imposed by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. If our management cannot favorably assess the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting or our independent registered public accounting firm identifies material weaknesses in our internal controls, investor confidence in our financial results may weaken, and our stock price may consequently suffer. As of September 30, 2015, management had determined that our internal control over financial reporting was effective.
We have recently acquired companies that were not subject to Sarbanes-Oxley regulations and, therefore, they may lack the internal controls of a United States public company, which could ultimately affect our ability to ensure compliance with the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
We have recently acquired companies that were not previously subject to Sarbanes-Oxley regulations and accordingly were not required to establish and maintain an internal control infrastructure meeting the standards promulgated under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Our assessment of and conclusion on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2015 did not include the internal controls of the PowerBar business and MOM Brands Company, each of which was acquired during our fiscal year ended September 30, 2015 and will be included in our assessment of and conclusion on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016.
Although our management will continue to review and evaluate the effectiveness of our internal controls in light of these acquisitions, we cannot provide any assurances that there will be no significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. Any significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the internal control structure of our acquired businesses may cause significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and our ability to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

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We may be unable to integrate the MOM Brands business successfully and realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition.
The acquisition of MOM Brands involves the combination of two companies that previously operated as independent companies. We are devoting significant management attention and resources to integrating business practices, cultures and operations. Potential difficulties we may encounter as part of the integration process include the following:
•
the inability to successfully combine the businesses in a manner that permits us to achieve the synergies and other benefits anticipated to result from the acquisition;
•
the challenge of integrating complex systems, operating procedures, regulatory compliance programs, technology, networks and other assets in a seamless manner that minimizes any adverse impact on customers, suppliers, employees and other constituencies;
•
potential unknown liabilities, liabilities that are significantly larger than we currently anticipate and unforeseen increased expenses or delays associated with the acquisition, including cash costs to integrate the two businesses that may exceed the cash costs that we currently anticipate; and
•
the representations and warranties made by MOM Brands in the merger agreement did not survive the closing and we do not have any recourse or indemnification rights against MOM Brands or any of its former owners in the event any of such representations or warranties prove to have been inaccurate or breached.
Accordingly, the contemplated benefits of the acquisition of MOM Brands may not be realized fully, or at all, or may take longer to realize than expected.
Actions of shareholders could cause us to incur substantial costs, divert management’s attention and resources, and have an adverse effect on our business.
From time to time, we may be subject to proposals and other requests from shareholders urging us to take certain corporate actions, including proposals seeking to influence our corporate policies or effecting a change in our management. In the event of such shareholder proposals, particularly with respect to matters which our management and Board of Directors, in exercising their fiduciary duties, disagree with or have determined not to pursue, our business could be adversely affected because responding to actions and requests of shareholders can be costly and time-consuming, disrupting our operations and diverting the attention of management and our employees.  Additionally, perceived uncertainties as to our future direction may result in the loss of potential business opportunities and may make it more difficult to attract and retain qualified personnel, business partners and customers.

Risks Related to our Indebtedness
We have substantial debt and high leverage, which could have a negative impact on our financing options and liquidity position and which could adversely affect our business.
We have a significant amount of debt. We had $4,485.2 million in aggregate principal amount of total debt as of September 30, 2015 . Additionally, our secured revolving credit facility has borrowing capacity of $395.8 million at September 30, 2015 (all of which would be secured when drawn).
Our overall leverage and the terms of our financing arrangements could:
•
limit our ability to obtain additional financing in the future for working capital, capital expenditures and acquisitions;
•
make it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations under the terms of our financing arrangements;
•
limit our ability to refinance our indebtedness on terms acceptable to us or at all;
•
limit our flexibility to plan for and to adjust to changing business and market conditions in the industries in which we operate and increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions;
•
require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to make interest and principal payments on our debt, thereby limiting the availability of our cash flow to fund future investments, capital expenditures, working capital, business activities and other general corporate requirements;
•
limit our ability to obtain additional financing for working capital, for capital expenditures, to fund growth or for general corporate purposes, even when necessary to maintain adequate liquidity, particularly if any ratings assigned to our debt securities by rating organizations were revised downward; and
•
subject us to higher levels of indebtedness than our competitors, which may cause a competitive disadvantage and may reduce our flexibility in responding to increased competition.
Our ability to meet expenses and debt service obligations will depend on our future performance, which will be affected by financial, business, economic and other factors, including potential changes in consumer preferences, the success of product and

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marketing innovation and pressure from competitors. If we do not generate enough cash to pay our debt service obligations, we may be required to refinance all or part of our existing debt, sell assets, borrow more money or raise additional equity.
The agreements governing our debt, including the indentures governing our senior notes, contain, or may in future financings contain, various covenants that limit our ability to take certain actions and also require us to meet financial maintenance tests, failure to comply with which could have a material adverse effect on us.
Our financing arrangements contain restrictions, covenants and events of default that, among other things, require us to satisfy certain financial tests and maintain certain financial ratios and restrict our ability to incur additional indebtedness and to refinance our existing indebtedness. Financing arrangements which we enter into in the future could contain similar restrictions and could additionally require us to comply with similar, new or additional financial tests or to maintain similar, new or additional financial ratios. The terms of our financing arrangements, financing arrangements which we enter into in the future and any future indebtedness may impose various restrictions and covenants on us that could limit our ability to pay dividends, respond to market conditions, provide for capital investment needs or take advantage of business opportunities by limiting the amount of additional borrowings we may incur. These restrictions include compliance with, or maintenance of, certain financial tests and ratios and may limit or prohibit our ability to, among other things:
•
borrow money or guarantee debt;
•
create liens;
•
pay dividends on or redeem or repurchase stock or other securities;
•
make investments and acquisitions;
•
enter into or permit to exist contractual limits on the ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends to us;
•
enter into new lines of business;
•
enter into transactions with affiliates; and
•
sell assets or merge with other companies.
Various risks, uncertainties and events beyond our control could affect our ability to comply with these restrictions and covenants. Failure to comply with any of the restrictions and covenants in our existing or future financing arrangements could result in a default under those arrangements and under other arrangements containing cross-default provisions.
Our credit agreement contains customary financial covenants including a maximum senior secured leverage ratio and a quarterly minimum interest coverage ratio. Our credit agreement permits us, subject to certain exceptions, to incur additional unsecured debt only if, among other conditions, our consolidated interest coverage ratio, calculated as provided in our credit agreement, would be greater than or equal to 2.00 to 1.00 after giving effect to such new debt. The indentures that govern our senior notes contain a similar restriction.
A default would permit lenders to accelerate the maturity of the debt under these arrangements and to foreclose upon any collateral securing the debt. Under these circumstances, we might not have sufficient funds or other resources to satisfy all of our obligations, including our obligations under the notes. In addition, the limitations imposed by financing agreements on our ability to incur additional debt and to take other actions might significantly impair our ability to obtain other financing.
To service our indebtedness and other cash needs, we will require a significant amount of cash. Our ability to generate cash depends on many factors beyond our control.
Our ability to pay interest on our outstanding senior notes, to satisfy our other debt obligations, and to fund any planned capital expenditures, dividends and other cash needs will depend in part upon the future financial and operating performance of our subsidiaries and upon our ability to renew or refinance borrowings. Prevailing economic conditions and financial, business, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors, many of which are beyond our control, will affect our ability to make these payments.
If we are unable to make payments or refinance our debt or obtain new financing under these circumstances, we may consider other options, including:
•
sales of assets;
•
sales of equity;
•
reduction or delay of capital expenditures, strategic acquisitions, investments and alliances; or
•
negotiations with our lenders to restructure the applicable debt.

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Our business may not generate sufficient cash flow from operations, and future borrowings may not be available to us in an amount sufficient to enable us to pay our indebtedness, including the senior notes and our other debt obligations, including the term loan, or to fund our other liquidity needs. We may need to refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness on or before maturity. We may not be able to refinance any of our debt on commercially reasonable terms or at all.
Risks Related to Our Common Stock
Your percentage ownership in Post may be diluted in the future.
As with any publicly traded company, our shareholders’ percentage ownership in Post may be diluted in the future because of equity issuances for acquisitions, capital market transactions or otherwise, including equity awards that we expect will be granted to our directors, officers and employees and the accelerated vesting of other equity awards. For a more detailed description of the stock incentive plan, see “Executive Compensation.”
The market price and trading volume of our common stock may be volatile.
The market price of our common stock could fluctuate significantly for many reasons, including in response to the risk factors listed in this report or for reasons unrelated to our performance, such as reports by industry analysts, investor perceptions, or negative developments relating to our customers, competitors or suppliers, as well as general economic and industry conditions.
Provisions in our articles of incorporation and bylaws and provisions of Missouri law may prevent or delay an acquisition of our company, which could decrease the trading price of our common stock.
Our articles of incorporation, bylaws and Missouri law contain provisions intended to deter coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids by making such practices or bids unacceptably expensive and to incentivize prospective acquirers to negotiate with our board of directors rather than to attempt a hostile takeover. These provisions include, among others:
•
the board of directors is divided into three classes with staggered terms;
•
the board of directors fixes the number of members on the board;
•
elimination of the rights of our shareholders to act by written consent (except when such consent is unanimous) and to call shareholder meetings;
•
rules regarding how shareholders may present proposals or nominate directors for election at shareholder meetings;
•
the right of our board of directors to issue preferred stock without shareholder approval;
•
supermajority vote requirements for certain amendments to our articles of incorporation and bylaws;
•
anti-takeover provisions of Missouri law which may prevent us from engaging in a business combination with an interested shareholder, or which may deter third parties from acquiring amounts of our common stock above certain thresholds; and
•
limitations on the right of shareholders to remove directors.
ITEM 1B.    UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Not applicable.

ITEM 2.    PROPERTIES
We own our principal executive offices and lease corporate administrative offices in St. Louis, Missouri. The general offices and location of our principal operations for each of our businesses are set forth in the summary below. We also lease sales offices mainly in the United States and maintain a number of stand-alone distribution facilities. In addition, there is on-site warehouse space available at many of our manufacturing facilities. Utilization of manufacturing capacity varies by manufacturing plant based upon the type of products assigned and the level of demand for those products.
We own many of our manufacturing facilities. Certain of our owned real property are subject to mortgages or other applicable security interests pursuant to our financing arrangements. Management believes our facilities are suitable and adequate for the purposes for which they are used and are adequately maintained. We generally believe each location or facility provides adequate capacity for current and anticipated future customer demand.

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Post Consumer Brands
The main administrative office for Post Consumer Brands, which we own, is located in Lakeville, Minnesota. Post Consumer Brands also leases domestic administrative and sales offices in Irvine, California and Bentonville, Arkansas. Post Consumer Brands also has administrative office space in Toronto, Canada, which is leased.
Post Consumer Brands has eight owned manufacturing facilities located in Battle Creek, Michigan; Jonesboro, Arkansas; Niagara Falls, Ontario; Asheboro, North Carolina; Tremonton, Utah; St. Ansgar, Iowa; and two facilities, in addition to warehouse space, in Northfield, Minnesota. Post Consumer Brands also maintains approximately 3.2 million square feet of warehouse and distribution space throughout the United States, 2.0 million of which is directly leased by us and 1.2 million of which we contract with third party logistics providers who operate warehouse and distribution space on our behalf. As previously announced, the Modesto, California facility closed in the fourth fiscal quarter of 2014. We expect to sell this facility within a year. As also previously announced, the Parsippany, New Jersey administrative office, which we lease, is expected to close by May 2016 in connection with the expiration of the lease.
Michael Foods Group
The Michael Foods Group’s primary administrative offices, which are leased, are located in Minnetonka, Minnesota. Michael Foods owns six egg products production facilities, which are located in Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska. The egg products business also leases three facilities in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and a facility in Canada for egg product production and/or distribution. Additionally, the egg products business owns five layer facilities located in the United States. With the acquisition of WEF in October 2015, Michael Foods Group also owns two layer facilities in Canby, Oregon and Moses Lake, Washington. The refrigerated potato products business’ main processing facility is located in Chaska, Minnesota, which is owned, and the business also leases a smaller processing facility in North Las Vegas, Nevada. The Michael Foods Group also owns a cheese packaging facility in Lake Mills, Wisconsin for its cheese and other dairy-case products business. Finally, Dakota Growers, which is reported in our Michael Foods Group segment, owns manufacturing facilities in Carrington, North Dakota and New Hope, Minnesota which are used for pasta production.
Active Nutrition
The Active Nutrition segment’s PNC and PowerBar administrative offices, which are leased, are located in Emeryville, California. The Dymatize business owns a manufacturing facility with administrative office space in Farmers Branch, Texas, however, as previously announced, we have closed this facility. Additionally, we own a manufacturing facility in Voerde, Germany and lease office space in Munich, Germany for the PowerBar brand’s international operations.
Private Brands
Our Private Brands business owns manufacturing facilities in Fitzgerald, Georgia, which is used for peanut butter production and peanut blanching, and Eugene, Oregon, which is used for granola and cereal manufacturing. We also lease administrative office space in Eugene, Oregon. Additionally, the Private Brands business leases manufacturing facilities in Troy, Alabama; Blaine, Washington; Markham, Ontario; Brampton, Ontario; and Burnaby, British Columbia for nut butter and snacking nuts production. Additionally, we lease a sales office in Scottsdale, Arizona and lease an administrative office in Burnaby, British Columbia for the Golden Boy business.

ITEM 3.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Antitrust claims:  In late 2008 and early 2009, some 22 class-action lawsuits were filed in various federal courts against Michael Foods, Inc. and approximately 20 other defendants (producers of shell eggs, manufacturers of processed egg products, and egg industry organizations), alleging violations of federal and state antitrust laws in connection with the production and sale of shell eggs and egg products, and seeking unspecified damages. In December 2008, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation ordered the transfer of all cases to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for coordinated and/or consolidated pretrial proceedings. Between late 2010 and early 2012, a number of companies, each of which would be part of the purported class in the antitrust action, brought separate actions against defendants. These “opt-out” cases, brought primarily by various grocery chains and food companies, assert essentially the same allegations as in the main action. The opt-out cases are also pending in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, where they are being treated as related to the main action. On September 18, 2015, the court denied the motion of the Indirect Purchaser Plaintiffs for class certification. On September 21, 2015, the court granted the motion of the Direct Purchaser Plaintiffs to certify a shell-egg subclass, but denied their motion to certify an egg-products subclass.
Michael Foods received a Civil Investigative Demand (“CID”) issued by the Florida Attorney General on November 27, 2008, regarding an investigation of possible anticompetitive activities “relating to the production and sale of eggs or egg products.” The CID requested information and documents related to the pricing and supply of shell eggs and egg products, as well as our

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participation in various programs of United Egg Producers. The Florida Attorney General’s Office has not taken any further enforcement action during the pendency of proceedings in the civil antitrust litigation referenced above.
We do not believe it is possible to estimate the possible loss in connection with these litigated matters. Accordingly, we cannot predict what impact, if any, these matters and any results from such matters could have on our future results of operations.
Other:  We are subject to various other legal proceedings and actions arising in the normal course of our business. In the opinion of management, based upon the information presently known, the ultimate liability, if any, arising from such pending legal proceedings, as well as from asserted legal claims and known potential legal claims which are likely to be asserted, taking into account established accruals for estimated liabilities (if any), are not expected to be material individually and in the aggregate to our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. In addition, while it is difficult to estimate the potential financial impact of actions regarding expenditures for compliance with regulatory matters, in the opinion of management, based upon the information currently available, the ultimate liability arising from such compliance matters is not expected to be material to our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

ITEM 4.    MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
Not applicable.


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PART II
ITEM 5.
MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Common Stock Market Prices and Dividends
Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “POST.” There were approximately 6,269 shareholders of record on November 1, 2015. We did not pay any cash dividends on our common stock during the fiscal years ended September 30, 2015 or 2014. We have no plans to pay cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future, and the indentures governing our debt securities and our credit facilities restrict our ability to pay dividends. The range of high and low sale prices of our common stock as reported by the NYSE is set forth in the table below.
 
Year Ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
High
 
Low
 
High
 
Low
First Quarter
$
42.97

 
$
30.94

 
$
53.90

 
$
38.31

Second Quarter
50.91

 
38.95

 
60.63

 
48.81

Third Quarter
54.65

 
41.63

 
55.76

 
45.55

Fourth Quarter
71.27

 
50.73

 
51.93

 
32.87


Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
There were no purchases of equity securities by the issuer or affiliated purchasers during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015.
Performance Graph
The following performance graph compares the changes, for the period indicated, in the cumulative total value of $100 hypothetically invested in each of (a) Post common stock, (b) the Russell 2000 index and (c) a peer group composed of 14 U.S.-based public companies in the food and consumer packaged goods industries. The peer group companies are: B&G Foods, Inc.; Brown-Forman Corporation; Coca-Cola Bottling Co.; Cott Corporation; Darling International Inc.; Diamond Foods, Inc.; Flowers Foods, Inc.; The Hain Celestial Group, Inc.; J&J Snack Foods Corp.; Pinnacle Foods Inc.; Sanderson Farms, Inc.; Snyder’s-Lance, Inc.; Sunopta Inc. and TreeHouse Foods Inc. This graph covers the period from February 6, 2012 (the first day our common stock began “when-issued” trading on the NYSE) through September 30, 2015.





















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* $100 invested on 2/6/12 in stock or index.
Performance Graph Data
 
Post ($)
 
Russell 2000 Index ($)
 
Peer
Group ($)
2/6/2012
100.00

 
100.00

 
100.00

9/28/2012
111.79

 
101.10

 
112.90

9/30/2013
150.13

 
129.63

 
135.92

9/30/2014
123.39

 
132.99

 
157.05

9/30/2015
219.78

 
132.87

 
176.92

The stock price performance included in this graph is not necessarily indicative of future stock price performance.
This performance graph shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act or incorporated by reference into any of our filings under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.
The information required under this Item 5 concerning equity compensation plan information is set out below under Item 12 and is incorporated herein by this reference.


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ITEM 6.    SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
FIVE YEAR FINANCIAL SUMMARY
(in millions, except per share data)
 
 
Year Ended September 30,
(dollars in millions, except per share data)
 
2015 (c)
 
2014 (c)
 
2013 (c)
 
2012
 
2011
Statements of Operations Data
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales
 
$
4,648.2

 
$
2,411.1

 
$
1,034.1

 
$
958.9

 
$
968.2

Cost of goods sold
 
3,473.8

 
1,789.9

 
609.2

 
530.0

 
516.6

Gross profit
 
1,174.4

 
621.2

 
424.9

 
428.9

 
451.6

Selling, general and administrative expenses
 
734.1

 
459.5

 
298.2

 
274.5

 
239.5

Amortization of intangible assets
 
141.7

 
70.8

 
14.6

 
12.6

 
12.6

Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets (a)
 
60.8

 
295.6

 
2.9

 
—

 
566.5

Other operating expenses, net
 
25.1

 
3.0

 
1.4

 
2.7

 
1.6

Operating profit (loss)
 
212.7

 
(207.7
)
 
107.8

 
139.1

 
(368.6
)
Interest expense, net
 
287.5

 
183.7

 
85.5

 
60.3

 
51.5

Other expense (income)
 
92.5

 
35.5

 
—

 
(1.6
)
 
10.5

(Loss) earnings before income taxes
 
(167.3
)
 
(426.9
)
 
22.3

 
80.4

 
(430.6
)
Income tax (benefit) expense
 
(52.0
)
 
(83.7
)
 
7.1

 
30.5

 
(6.3
)
Net (loss) earnings
 
(115.3
)
 
(343.2
)
 
15.2

 
49.9

 
(424.3
)
Preferred stock dividends
 
(17.0
)
 
(15.4
)
 
(5.4
)
 
—

 
—

Net (loss) earnings available to common shareholders
 
$
(132.3
)
 
$
(358.6
)
 
$
9.8

 
$
49.9

 
$
(424.3
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Loss) Earnings Per Share (b)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Basic
 
$
(2.33
)
 
$
(9.03
)
 
$
0.30

 
$
1.45

 
$
(12.33
)
Diluted
 
$
(2.33
)
 
$
(9.03
)
 
$
0.30

 
$
1.45

 
$
(12.33
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Statements of Cash Flows Data
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
 
$
272.8

 
$
155.8

 
$
76.8

 
$
63.2

 
$
58.7

Cash provided (used) by:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating activities
 
$
451.6

 
$
183.1

 
$
119.2

 
$
144.0

 
$
143.8

Investing activities
 
(1,248.7
)
 
(3,793.6
)
 
(423.8
)
 
(30.9
)
 
(14.9
)
Financing activities
 
1,372.4

 
3,484.2

 
648.8

 
(57.1
)
 
(132.1
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance Sheet Data
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
841.4

 
$
268.4

 
$
402.0

 
$
58.2

 
$
1.7

Working capital (excluding cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and current portion of long-term debt)
 
326.5

 
371.5

 
82.0

 
25.1

 
(0.7
)
Total assets
 
9,220.4

 
7,731.1

 
3,473.8

 
2,732.3

 
2,723.2

Debt, including short-term portion
 
4,527.4

 
3,856.1

 
1,408.6

 
945.6

 
784.5

Other liabilities
 
290.2

 
182.4

 
116.3

 
129.2

 
104.9

Total equity
 
2,976.0

 
2,283.2

 
1,498.6

 
1,231.5

 
1,434.7

____________
(a)
For information about the impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets, see “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” and Notes 2 and 6 of “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.”
(b)
Loss per share for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011 is calculated assuming weighted-average shares outstanding of 34.4 million shares which represents the amount of common shares outstanding following the distribution of one share of Post common stock for every two shares of its former owners’ common stock and the retention of approximately 6.8 million shares by its former owner. For this period, there are no dilutive shares as there were no actual shares or share-based awards outstanding prior to the distribution.
(c)
The data in these columns include results from the fiscal 2015, 2014 and 2013 acquisitions from the respective date of acquisition through September 30, 2015. See Note 5 of “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.”




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ITEM 7.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion summarizes the significant factors affecting the consolidated operating results, financial condition, liquidity, and capital resources of Post Holdings, Inc. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the financial statements under Item 8, and the “Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements” on page 1.
OVERVIEW
We are a consumer packaged goods holding company operating in four reportable segments: Post Consumer Brands, Michael Foods Group, Active Nutrition and Private Brands. Our products are sold through a variety of channels such as grocery, club and drug stores, mass merchandisers, foodservice, ingredient and via the internet.
The United States retail food industry has continued to shift from traditional food retailers (those who carry a full array of refrigerated, frozen and shelf stable products) to specialty retailers who cater to consumers who migrate to either end of the value spectrum. These specialty retailers tend to focus on either value offerings for consumers looking for the maximum value of their food purchases or catering to consumers looking for the highest quality ingredients, unique packaging or products to satisfy particular dietary needs. Additionally, trends to natural products and quick service restaurant offerings are increasing areas of consumer focus. These trends include shifting to products that are organic or natural, as well as convenience offerings that provide greater portability. This changing behavior has prompted us to acquire diverse businesses to meet changing customer and consumer needs. We believe we have the necessary portfolio of products available to address these trends and to continue to focus on consumers’ needs.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
Acquisitions
We have completed the following acquisitions:
Fiscal 2015
•
PowerBar and Musashi brands (“PowerBar”), acquired October 1, 2014;
•
American Blanching Company (“ABC”), acquired November 1, 2014; and
•
MOM Brands Company (“MOM Brands”), acquired May 4, 2015.
Fiscal 2014
•
Dakota Growers Pasta Company, Inc. (“Dakota Growers”), acquired January 1, 2014;
•
Dymatize Enterprises, LLC (“Dymatize”), acquired February 1, 2014;
•
Golden Boy Foods Ltd. (“Golden Boy”), acquired February 1, 2014; and
•
MFI Holding Corporation (“Michael Foods”), acquired June 2, 2014.
Fiscal 2013
•
Attune Foods, Inc. (“Attune”), acquired December 31, 2012;
•
Certain assets of Hearthside Food Solutions (“Hearthside”), acquired May 28, 2013; and
•
Premier Nutrition Corporation (“PNC”), acquired September 3, 2013.
In addition, on October 3, 2015, Post acquired Willamette Egg Farms, LLC (“WEF”).
Segment Reorganization
During the third quarter of fiscal 2015, we reorganized our reportable segments in accordance with ASC 280, “Segment Reporting.” At September 30, 2015, our reportable segments were as follows:
•
Post Consumer Brands: primarily consisting of ready-to-eat (“RTE”) cereals;
•
Michael Foods Group: including the predominantly foodservice and food ingredient egg, potato and pasta businesses and the retail cheese business;
•
Active Nutrition: including protein shakes, bars and powders and nutritional supplements; and
•
Private Brands: primarily consisting of peanut and other nut butters, dried fruit and nuts, and granola.
All segment results reported herein have been reclassified to conform with the September 30, 2015 presentation.
Avian Influenza
During fiscal 2015, our Michael Foods Group egg business was impacted by an outbreak of avian influenza (“AI”) in the Midwest United States, which reduced our available egg supply by approximately 25% of our volume commitments. As a result

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of AI, we have incurred increased costs related to enhanced biosecurity measures, egg supply constraints, production inefficiencies and higher market-based egg prices due to shortness of eggs available on the open market. We have mitigated the increased costs through a combination of aggressive cost containment, management of volume needs with customers and pricing actions to cover the higher cost structure. Through these actions, we have mitigated the impact of AI on the profitability of the egg business. However, these actions do not contemplate further AI outbreaks, and we expect AI to have continued impact on our egg volumes until supply is re-established.
Restructuring, Plant Closures, Divestitures and Assets Held-for-Sale
In September 2015, we announced our plan to close our Dymatize manufacturing facility in Farmers Branch, Texas and permanently transfer production to third party facilities under co-manufacturing agreements. Plant production ceased in the fourth quarter of 2015.
In July 2015, we completed the sale of our PowerBar Australia business and Musashi trademark and our peanut butter plant in Portales, New Mexico.
In May 2015, we announced our plan to consolidate our cereal business administrative offices in Lakeville, Minnesota. As a result of the announcement, we plan to close our office located in Parsippany, New Jersey and relocate those functions as well as certain functions located in Battle Creek, Michigan to the Lakeville office. The office closure is expected to be completed by May 2016.
In March 2015, we announced our plan to close our facility in Boise, Idaho, which manufactures certain PowerBar products distributed in North America. Plant production ceased in June 2015, and we sold the facility in September 2015.
In April 2013, we announced management’s decision to close our plant located in Modesto, California as part of a cost savings and capacity rationalization effort. The transfer of production capabilities and closure of the plant was completed during September 2014 and only routine upkeep and maintenance expenses were incurred in the year ended September 30, 2015.
Related to the closure of our Modesto, California facility, we have land, building and equipment classified as assets held for sale, as well as machinery and equipment related to the manufacturing shutdown of our Dymatize facility which was also classified as held for sale at September 30, 2015. For additional information on our assets held for sale, refer to Note 4 in the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.”
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
Year Ended September 30,
(dollars in millions)
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Net Sales
$
4,648.2

 
$
2,411.1

 
$
1,034.1

 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating Profit (Loss)
$
212.7

 
$
(207.7
)
 
$
107.8

Interest expense, net
287.5

 
183.7

 
85.5

Other expense
92.5

 
35.5

 
—

Income tax (benefit) expense
(52.0
)
 
(83.7
)
 
7.1

Net (Loss) Earnings
$
(115.3
)
 
$
(343.2
)
 
$
15.2

Net Sales
Fiscal 2015 compared to 2014
Net sales increased $2,237.1 million , or 93% , during the year ended September 30, 2015. This increase includes incremental net sales contributions from fiscal 2015 and 2014 acquisitions for the years ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 of $3,363.9 million and $1,185.6 million , respectively. Excluding the impact of acquisitions, net sales increased 5% for the year ended September 30, 2015 compared to the corresponding period in the prior year. For further discussion, refer to “Segment Results” within this section.
Fiscal 2014 compared to 2013
Net sales increased $1,377.0 million , or 133% , during the year ended September 30, 2014. This increase includes incremental net sales contributions from fiscal 2014 and 2013 acquisitions for the years ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 of $1,448.7 million (including $0.7 million of sales to the Post Consumer Brands segment) and $51.7 million (including $0.4 million of sales to the Post Consumer Brands segment), respectively. Excluding the impact of acquisitions, net sales decreased 2% for the year

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ended September 30, 2014 compared to the corresponding period in the prior year. For further discussion, refer to “Segment Results” within this section.
Operating Profit (Loss)
Fiscal 2015 compared to 2014
Operating profit (loss) increased $420.4 million to $212.7 million for the year ended September 30, 2015. This increase includes losses related to the impairment of goodwill and intangible assets of $60.8 million and $295.6 million for the years ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, as well as incremental segment profit contributions from current and prior year acquisitions of $192.6 million and $18.3 million for the years ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Excluding impairment charges and incremental segment profit contributions from acquisitions, operating profit increased 16% for the year ended September 30, 2015 compared to the corresponding period in the prior year. For further discussion, refer to “Segment Results” within this section.
Fiscal 2014 compared to 2013
Operating profit (loss) decreased $315.5 million to $(207.7) million for the year ended September 30, 2014. This decrease includes losses related to the impairment of goodwill and intangible assets of $295.6 million and $2.9 million recorded in fiscal 2014 and 2013, respectively, as well as incremental segment profit contributions from current and prior year acquisitions of $38.8 million and $3.5 million for the years ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Excluding impairment charges and incremental segment profit contributions from acquisitions, operating profit decreased 54% for the year ended September 30, 2014 compared to the corresponding period in the prior year. For further discussion, refer to “Segment Results” within this section.
Interest Expense
Interest expense increased 57% for the year ended September 30, 2015, compared to the prior year. The increase is driven primarily by the increase in the principal balance of outstanding debt due to various debt issuances in 2015 and 2014, as well as an increase in our weighted average interest rate. Our weighted average interest rate was 6.9% and 6.1% at September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The increase in our weighted average interest rate is primarily due to the August 2015 issuances of our 7.75% and 8.00% senior notes.
Interest expense increased $98.2 million to $183.7 million for the year ended September 30, 2014 compared to fiscal 2013. The increase was driven primarily by the increase in outstanding debt due to various debt issuances in 2014 and 2013 and the amortizing note component of our 5.25% tangible equity units (“TEUs”), as well as the prior year July 2013 issuance of an additional $350.0 million of our 7.375% senior notes, partially offset by a decrease in our weighted average interest rate. The term loan and the amortizing note component of the TEUs bear interest at rates of 3.75% and 5.25%, respectively. Our weighted average interest rate was 6.1% and 7.4% at September 30, 2014 and 2013, respectively.
For additional information on our debt, refer to Note 14 in the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” and “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in Item 7A.
Other Expense
During the years ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, we recognized losses of $92.5 million and $35.5 million , respectively, on non-cash mark-to-market adjustments related to our interest rate swaps. These amounts are reported in “Other expense” on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. There were no such losses in the year ended September 30, 2013. For additional information on our interest rate swaps, refer to Note 12 in the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” and “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in Item 7A.
Income Taxes
The effective tax rate for fiscal 2015 was 31.1% compared to 19.6% for fiscal 2014 and 31.8% for fiscal 2013 .
The effective tax rate for fiscal 2015 was affected by incremental tax expense (benefit) of $16.5 million related to the non-deductible goodwill impairment loss, $0.4 million resulting from non-deductible compensation in accordance with the provisions of Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) section 162(m), $0.6 million resulting from non-deductible outside service expenses incurred in relation to merger and acquisition transactions, $6.7 million resulting from recording valuation allowances against the net deferred tax assets of various subsidiaries, $(2.7) million resulting from the receipt of non-taxable interest income, $4.9 million resulting from changes in deferred tax rates and $(3.4) million resulting from changes in uncertain tax positions.
The effective tax rate for fiscal 2014 was affected by incremental tax expense (benefit) of $70.9 million related to the non-deductible goodwill impairment loss, $0.8 million resulting from non-deductible compensation in accordance with the provisions of IRC section 162(m), $2.8 million resulting from non-deductible outside service expenses incurred in relation to merger and acquisition transactions, $2.3 million resulting from recording a valuation allowance against the net deferred tax assets of a Canadian subsidiary, and $(2.9) million resulting from the receipt of non-taxable interest income.

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The effective tax rate for fiscal 2013 was affected by $0.7 million of incremental tax expense resulting from non-deductible compensation in accordance with the provisions of IRC section 162(m), and $0.2 million of incremental tax expense resulting from non-deductible outside service expenses incurred in relation to merger and acquisition transactions.
For fiscal 2015 and 2013, the effective tax rate was reduced by the effects of the Domestic Production Activities Deduction (“DPAD”) of $(5.9) and $(2.9), respectively. There was no DPAD effect on the fiscal 2014 effective tax rate. The effective tax rate was also impacted in all three fiscal years by minor effects of shifts between the relative amounts of domestic and foreign income and state tax apportionment.
SEGMENT RESULTS
We evaluate each segment’s performance based on its segment profit, which is its operating profit before impairment of property and intangible assets, plant closure related costs, restructuring expenses, losses on assets held for sale, gain on sale of plant and other unallocated corporate income and expenses. During the first quarter of fiscal 2015, we changed our methodology for allocating certain corporate costs to segment profit. Accordingly, segment profit for years ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 has been adjusted to align with current year presentation.
 
 
Year Ended September 30,
(dollars in millions)
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Net Sales
 
 
 
 
 
 
Post Consumer Brands
 
$
1,260.8

 
$
963.1

 
$
982.8

Michael Foods Group
 
2,305.7

 
874.8

 
—

Active Nutrition
 
555.0

 
293.3

 
13.9

Private Brands
 
529.7

 
280.6

 
37.8

Eliminations
 
(3.0
)
 
(0.7
)
 
(0.4
)
Total
 
$
4,648.2

 
$
2,411.1

 
$
1,034.1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment Profit (Loss)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Post Consumer Brands
 
$
205.5

 
$
173.4

 
$
174.1

Michael Foods Group
 
188.2

 
21.6

 
—

Active Nutrition
 
(13.8
)
 
(1.8
)
 
1.0

Private Brands
 
41.5

 
19.0

 
2.5

Other Items
 
 
 
 
 
 
General corporate expenses and other
 
(147.9
)
 
(124.3
)
 
(66.9
)
Impairment of goodwill and other intangibles
 
(60.8
)
 
(295.6
)
 
(2.9
)
Operating Profit (Loss)
 
$
212.7

 
$
(207.7
)
 
$
107.8

Fiscal 2015 compared to 2014
The tables below show the incremental impact by segment from acquisitions on net sales and segment profit for the years ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 related to the acquisitions of Dakota Growers, Dymatize, Golden Boy, Michael Foods, PowerBar, ABC and MOM Brands, all of which were completed during fiscal years 2014 and 2015.
Post Consumer Brands
 
Year Ended September 30,
(dollars in millions)
2015
 
2014
Net sales
$
1,260.8

 
$
963.1

Contributions to net sales from acquisitions
329.7

 
—

Net sales excluding acquisition impact
$
931.1

 
$
963.1

 
 
 
 
Segment profit
$
205.5

 
$
173.4

Contributions to segment profit from acquisitions
15.9

 
—

Segment profit excluding acquisition impact
$
189.6

 
$
173.4

Net sales for the Post Consumer Brands segment increased $297.7 million , or 31% , for the year ended September 30, 2015. Excluding the impact of sales from acquisitions, net sales decreased $32.0 million or 3% . The decrease was due to 3% lower volumes and slightly lower average net selling prices for the year ended September 30, 2015. Volume declines are primarily the

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result of significantly lower co-manufacturing volumes. Volumes for branded RTE cereal were down approximately 1% year over year primarily due to lower volumes for Great Grains , Grape-Nuts and Golden Crisp . The decrease in average net selling prices is primarily the result of changes in sales mix with a current year shift to larger package sizes which sell at a lower average selling price per pound, partially offset by lower trade spending and coupon redemption. Net sales were also negatively impacted by unfavorable changes in foreign exchange rates. Compared to the prior year pre-acquisition period, sales for our recently acquired MOM Brands business were up, driven by growth in branded bag and private label products as well as the launch of licensed brands.
Segment profit for the year ended September 30, 2015, increased 19% to $205.5 million when compared to the prior year. Excluding the impact of acquisitions, segment profit increased $16.2 million or 9% . The increase was driven by reduced advertising and promotional spending of $24.3 million, lower raw material costs (primarily packaging, corn, rice, wheat, and oil, partially offset by unfavorable nuts) and favorable manufacturing expense, partially offset by lower volumes and lower average net selling prices, as previously described, costs incurred of $8.6 million related to the integration of Post Foods and MOM Brands as well as unfavorable changes in foreign exchange rates. MOM Brands segment profit was negatively impacted in fiscal 2015 by a $17.0 million acquisition accounting related inventory valuation adjustment. Excluding this impact, MOM Brands contributed $32.9 million to segment profit for the year ended September 30, 2015.
Michael Foods Group
 
Year Ended September 30,
(dollars in millions)
2015
 
2014
Net sales
$
2,305.7

 
$
874.8

Contributions to net sales from acquisitions
2,305.7

 
874.8

Net sales excluding acquisition impact
$
—

 
$
—

 
 
 
 
Segment profit
$
188.2

 
$
21.6

Contributions to segment profit from acquisitions
188.2

 
21.6

Segment profit excluding acquisition impact
$
—

 
$
—

Net sales for the Michael Foods Group segment increased $1,430.9 million to $2,305.7 million for the year ended September 30, 2015, primarily resulting from the inclusion of eight additional months of results in the current year amounts due to the timing of the Michael Foods acquisition in June 2014. Total net sales for the egg, potato and cheese businesses increased 1% for the year ended September 30, 2015, compared to the prior year (partially pre-acquisition) period. In the year ended September 30, 2015, egg product sales were up 1%, with volume down 7%. Lower volumes are due to the impacts of AI which reduced our egg supply available for sale. Despite the lower volumes, revenues increased slightly as a result of substantially higher sales prices on market-based egg sales and price increases taken to offset higher costs incurred as a result of AI. Refrigerated potato products sales were up 1% with volume down 6%, and cheese and other dairy case products sales were down 2%, with volume down 4%. Sales have been positively impacted by the pasta business in the year ended September 30, 2015, compared to the prior year (partially pre-acquisition) period, resulting from increased volumes as well as favorable average selling prices.
Segment profit increased $166.6 million to $188.2 million for the year ended September 30, 2015, primarily resulting from the inclusion of eight additional months of results in the current year amounts due to the timing of the Michael Foods acquisition in June 2014. Segment profit increased in the year ended September 30, 2015 compared to the prior year (partially pre-acquisition) period, primarily resulting from increases in our egg, cheese and pasta businesses, partially offset by declines in our potato business. Egg results improved compared to below average fiscal 2014 results, despite the impacts of AI, due to aggressive cost containment, higher market prices on market-based egg sales and price increases taken to offset AI related costs. Results for our cheese business improved as a result of a favorable pricing environment combined with lower and more stable cheese costs compared to a year ago. Pasta results were strong year over year, driven by volume increases and higher pricing relative to underlying commodity costs. Potato results decreased from the prior year primarily due to the poor quality of the potato crop resulting in higher product costs. Segment profit was negatively impacted in the fiscal 2014 by a $21.0 million acquisition accounting related inventory valuation adjustment.

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Active Nutrition
 
Year Ended September 30,
(dollars in millions)
2015
 
2014
Net sales
$
555.0

 
$
293.3

Contributions to net sales from acquisitions
306.9

 
124.1

Net sales excluding acquisition impact
$
248.1

 
$
169.2

 
 
 
 
Segment loss
$
(13.8
)
 
$
(1.8
)
Contributions to segment loss from acquisitions
(40.3
)
 
(13.7
)
Segment profit excluding acquisition impact
$
26.5

 
$
11.9

Net sales for the Active Nutrition segment increased $261.7 million , or 89% , for the year ended September 30, 2015. Excluding the impact of sales from acquisitions in both periods, net sales increased $78.9 million or 47% . This increase is attributable to strong growth in our Premier Nutrition branded products. Volumes were up 49% fueled by increased distribution of shakes within the club channel. Increased bar volumes and new product introductions also contributed to the volume increases. Volume gains were partially offset by an increase in trade spending for the year ended September 30, 2015. Sales attributable to our prior year acquisition of Dymatize decreased when compared to the prior year (partially pre-acquisition) period. Decreases were primarily driven by fourth quarter production issues resulting in the Company’s decision to close its manufacturing facility and permanently transfer production to third party facilities under co-manufacturing agreements. These fourth quarter declines more than offset higher sales through the first three quarters of fiscal 2015.
Segment loss for the year ended September 30, 2015 was $(13.8) million compared to $(1.8) million in the prior year. Excluding the impact of acquisitions in both periods, segment profit increased $14.6 million or 123% . The increase was driven by higher protein shake and bar volumes, as previously described, and lower raw material costs (primarily milk protein concentrate), partially offset by increased incentive compensation and severance related business reorganization costs. When compared to the prior year (partially pre-acquisition) period, results for our fiscal 2014 acquisition of Dymatize were negatively impacted by lower sales, as previously discussed, as well as a write-off of unsalable inventory of approximately $9.2 million resulting from plant operational and quality issues and unfavorable manufacturing and warehousing costs. Segment profit was negatively impacted in the current year by $5.0 million of PowerBar integration costs and a $1.9 million acquisition accounting related inventory valuation adjustment and in fiscal 2014 by a $3.9 million acquisition accounting related inventory valuation adjustment.
Private Brands
 
Year Ended September 30,
(dollars in millions)
2015
 
2014
Net sales
$
529.7

 
$
280.6

Contributions to net sales from acquisitions
421.6

 
186.7

Net sales excluding acquisition impact
$
108.1

 
$
93.9

 
 
 
 
Segment profit
$
41.5

 
$
19.0

Contributions to segment profit from acquisitions
28.8

 
10.4

Segment profit excluding acquisition impact
$
12.7

 
$
8.6

Net sales for the Private Brands segment increased $249.1 million to $529.7 million (including $3.0 million of sales to the Post Consumer Brands segment) for the year ended September 30, 2015. This increase is primarily due to the impact of current and prior year acquisitions. Excluding this impact, net sales increased $14.2 million or 15% . The increase is primarily the result of 19% higher granola sales in the year ended September 30, 2015, largely resulting from successful selling efforts with new and existing private label granola customers during the year.
When comparing the results of our recently acquired nut butter and fruit and nut businesses to their prior year comparable (partially pre-acquisition) period for the year ended September 30, 2015, net sales increased on higher volumes as well as improved net selling prices. Volume increases were driven by conventional peanut butter and tree nut butters, partially offset by declines in fruit and nut sales and organic peanut butter.
Segment profit increased $22.5 million to $41.5 million for the year ended September 30, 2015. This increase is primarily due to current and prior year acquisitions. Excluding the impact of acquisitions in both periods, segment profit increased $4.1 million due to an increase in granola net sales volumes, as previously discussed. Also contributing to the increase in segment profit are favorable manufacturing costs, lower raw materials costs (primarily packaging) and reduced freight costs.

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When comparing the results of our recently acquired nut butter and fruit and nut businesses to their prior year comparable (partially pre-acquisition) period for the year ended September 30, 2015, segment profit was unfavorably impacted by higher commodity costs, increased fixed manufacturing costs and an increase in amortization expense of acquired intangibles. Segment profit was negatively impacted in the years ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 by inventory valuation adjustments of $1.3 million and $1.2 million, respectively.
Fiscal 2014 compared to 2013
The tables below show the incremental impact by segment from acquisitions on net sales and segment profit for the years ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 related to the acquisitions of Attune, Hearthside, PNC, Dakota Growers, Dymatize, Golden Boy and Michael Foods, all of which were completed during fiscal years 2013 and 2014.
Post Consumer Brands
 
Year Ended September 30,
(dollars in millions)
2014
 
2013
Net sales
$
963.1

 
$
982.8

Contributions to net sales from acquisitions
—

 
—

Net sales excluding acquisition impact
$
963.1

 
$
982.8

 
 
 
 
Segment profit
$
173.4

 
$
174.1

Contributions to segment profit from acquisitions
—

 
—

Segment profit excluding acquisition impact
$
173.4

 
$
174.1

Net sales decreased 2% to $963.1 million primarily due to a 3% decline in average net selling prices partially offset by 1% higher volumes. Volume increases were driven by growth in branded RTE cereal, partially offset by reduced volumes associated with co-manufacturing agreements. The decrease in average net selling prices in fiscal 2014 was the result of higher liquidation sales of aged product and a sales mix shift to larger sized packages, which sell at a lower average price per ounce, and higher trade spending and coupon expense. Additionally, we saw declines in the overall branded RTE cereal category (as measured by Nielsen), with the rate of category decline increasing in 2014, which contributed to increased trade spend to maintain and grow market share positions.
Segment profit decreased $0.7 million to $173.4 million for the year ended September 30, 2014. The decrease was driven by lower average net selling prices as previously described, partially offset by reduced advertising and promotional spending, lower raw material costs (primarily corn, sugar, wheat and fruits), increased volumes and favorable manufacturing expense.
Michael Foods Group
 
Year Ended September 30,
(dollars in millions)
2014
 
2013
Net sales
$
874.8

 
$
—

Contributions to net sales from acquisitions
874.8

 
—

Net sales excluding acquisition impact
$
—

 
$
—

 
 
 
 
Segment profit
$
21.6

 
$
—

Contributions to segment profit from acquisitions
21.6

 
—

Segment profit excluding acquisition impact
$
—

 
$
—

The Michael Foods Group segment had net sales of $874.8 million for the year ended September 30, 2014. Net sales related to our egg, potato and cheese business increased 9% compared to the comparable fiscal 2013 period prior to our ownership. This increase was driven by an 8% increase in volumes, primarily in eggs and potatoes. Net sales were down for our pasta business as compared to the comparable fiscal 2013 period prior to our ownership as certain customers in-sourced pasta production.
Segment profit was $21.6 million for the year ended September 30, 2014. Segment profit was unfavorably impacted by a $21.0 million acquisition accounting related inventory valuation adjustment.

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Active Nutrition
 
Year Ended September 30,
(dollars in millions)
2014
 
2013
Net sales
$
293.3

 
$
13.9

Contributions to net sales from acquisitions
293.3

 
13.9

Net sales excluding acquisition impact
$
—

 
$
—

 
 
 
 
Segment (loss) profit
$
(1.8
)
 
$
1.0

Contributions to segment (loss) profit from acquisitions
(1.8
)
 
1.0

Segment profit excluding acquisition impact
$
—

 
$
—

Net sales for the Active Nutrition segment were  $293.3 million  for the year ended September 30, 2014 compared to $13.9 million in the prior year. Segment loss was $(1.8) million for the year ended September 30, 2014 compared to profit of $1.0 million in the prior year. Fluctuations in both net sales and segment profit were due to the timing of acquisitions within the Active Nutrition segment and the inclusion of additional months of results in fiscal 2014 as compared to fiscal 2013. Segment profit was negatively impacted in the year ended September 30, 2014 by $3.9 million of acquisition accounting related inventory valuation adjustments. Additionally, net sales and segment profit during fiscal 2014 were negatively impacted by incremental costs to address supply chain disruptions at Dymatize and elevated input costs for milk protein concentrate.
Private Brands
 
Year Ended September 30,
(dollars in millions)
2014
 
2013
Net sales
$
280.6

 
$
37.8

Contributions to net sales from acquisitions
280.6

 
37.8

Net sales excluding acquisition impact
$
—

 
$
—

 
 
 
 
Segment profit
$
19.0

 
$
2.5

Contributions to segment profit from acquisitions
19.0

 
2.5

Segment profit excluding acquisition impact
$
—

 
$
—

Net sales for the Private Brands segment were  $280.6 million  (including $0.7 million of sales to the Post Consumer Brands segment) for the year ended September 30, 2014 compared to  $37.8 million  (including $0.4 million of sales to the Post Consumer Brands segment) for the year ended September 30, 2013. Segment profit was  $19.0 million  for the year ended September 30, 2014 compared to  $2.5 million  for the year ended September 30, 2013. Increases in both net sales and segment profit were due to the timing of acquisitions within the Private Brands segment and the inclusion of additional months of results in 2014 as compared to 2013. Segment profit was negatively impacted in fiscal 2014 and 2013 by $1.2 million and $1.4 million, respectively, of acquisition accounting related inventory valuation adjustments.
Other Items
General Corporate Expenses and Other
Fiscal 2015 compared to 2014
General Corporate Expenses and Other increased $23.6 million to $147.9 million during the year ended September 30, 2015. The increase was due to restructuring and plant closure costs of $25.6 million (including $9.7 million related to usable inventory rendered less than fully recoverable recorded as cost of goods sold) compared to $5.6 million in fiscal 2014 and losses on assets held for sale of $34.2 million compared to $5.4 million in fiscal 2014 to adjust the carrying value of the assets to their estimated fair value less estimated selling costs, $12.2 million higher cash and non-cash stock-based compensation expense (including $8.0 million of accelerated stock compensation expense related to an employee retirement and reorganization initiatives) and higher compensation related costs resulting from an increase in holding company headcount to support the larger organization. These cost increases were partially offset by reduced third party acquisition related costs of $15.3 million, reduced accelerated depreciation of $5.9 million as compared to 2014 and reduced losses related to mark-to-market adjustments on commodity hedges of $1.3 million. In addition, prior year results included a loss of $13.1 million related to a hedge of the CAD $320.0 million purchase price of Golden Boy.
Of the total restructuring and plant closure costs for the year ended September 30, 2015, $10.1 million relates to the Post Consumer Brands segment and $15.5 million relates to the Active Nutrition segment. Accelerated depreciation of $2.1 million in the year ended September 30, 2015 relates to the Post Consumer Brands segment. Of the total losses on assets held for sale

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for the year ended September 30, 2015, $15.4 million relates to the Private Brands segment, $11.7 million relates to the Active Nutrition segment and $7.1 million relates to the Post Consumer Brands segment. For the year ended September 30, 2014, the $5.6 million of restructuring and plant closure costs, $8.0 million of accelerated depreciation and $5.4 million of losses on assets held for sale, related to the Post Consumer Brands segment. These amounts are excluded from the measure of segment profit.
Fiscal 2014 compared to 2013
General Corporate Expenses and Other increased $57.4 million to $124.3 million during the year ended September 30, 2014. The increase is due to higher third party acquisition related costs of $24.0 million, increased losses related to mark-to-market adjustments on commodity hedges of $2.0 million, losses on assets held for sale of $5.4 million recorded to adjust the carrying value of the assets to their estimated fair value less estimated selling costs, $4.6 million higher cash and non-cash stock-based compensation expense and higher compensation related costs resulting from an increase in holding company headcount to support the larger organization. Results for the year ended September 30, 2014 also included a loss of $13.1 million related to a hedge of the CAD $320.0 million purchase price of Golden Boy. These cost increases were partially offset by reduced separation related costs of $6.3 million primarily related to third party professional service fees to effect the spin-off from our former owner and duplicative costs incurred by Post to establish stand-alone processes and systems. In addition, we incurred $0.8 million lower restructuring and plant closure costs and reduced accelerated depreciation of $1.6 million in fiscal 2014 as compared to fiscal 2013. Restructuring, plant closure costs and losses on assets held for sale in both years were related to the Post Consumer Brands segment. These amounts are excluded from the measure of segment profit.
Impairment of Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
During fiscal 2015, we recorded non-cash impairment charges totaling  $60.8 million . These charges consist of a goodwill impairment of  $57.0 million  and trademark impairment charges of $3.8 million . The goodwill impairment charge relates to Dymatize, which is reported in the Active Nutrition segment. Trademark impairment charges consist of $3.7 million for our Grape-Nuts brand and $0.1 million for our 100% Bran brand, which are reported in our Post Consumer Brands segment.
During fiscal 2014, we recorded non-cash impairment charges totaling  $295.6 million . These charges consisted of a goodwill impairment of  $212.6 million  and trademark impairment charges of $83.0 million. The goodwill impairment charge includes $181.3 million for the Post Consumer Brands segment and $31.3 million related to Dymatize, which is reported in the Active Nutrition segment. Trademark impairment charges consisted of $34.4 million for our Post brand, $23.0 million for our Honey Bunches of Oats brand, $17.2 million for our Post Shredded Wheat brand and $8.4 million for our Grape-Nuts brand.
During September 2013, we concluded two indefinite-lived trademarks were impaired and we recorded impairment losses of $0.2 million for our  Post Shredded Wheat  brand and $2.7 million for our  Post  brand, which are reported in our Post Consumer Brands segment. For more information, refer to “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” as well as Notes 2 and 6 in the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.”
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
In connection with funding acquisitions and managing our capital structure, we completed the following transactions (for additional information see Note 14, Note 18 and Note 19 in the “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements”):
Fiscal 2015
•
$341.4 million net proceeds through the issuance of 7.475 million shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, at a price to the public of $47.50 per share
•
$700.0 principal value term loan
•
$391.3 million net proceeds through the issuance of 6.73 million shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, at a price to the public of $60.00 per share
•
$800.0 million principal value of 7.75% senior notes
•
$400.0 million principal value of 8.00% senior notes
•
$1,200.0 million principal payment made on the term loan
Fiscal 2014
• $525.0 million principal value of 6.75% senior notes
•
$310.2 million net proceeds through the issuance of 3.0 million shares of 2.5% Series C Cumulative Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock

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•
Revolving credit facility in an aggregate available principal amount of $400.0 million, undrawn during fiscal 2014 with $4.2 million utilized under a letter of credit provision at September 30, 2015
•
$885.0 million principal value term loan
•
$350.0 million principal value of 6.75% senior notes
•
$303.5 million net proceeds through the issuance of 5.750 million shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, at a price to the public of $55.00 per share
•
$289.9 million net proceeds through the issuance of 6.325 million shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, at a price to the public of $47.70 per share
•
$278.6 million net proceeds through a public offering of 2.875 million TEUs each with a stated value of $100.00
•
$630.0 million principal value of 6.00% senior notes
Fiscal 2013
•
$600.0 million principal value of 7.375% senior notes
•
$234.0 million net proceeds through the authorization and issuance of approximately 2.4 million shares of 3.75% Series B Cumulative Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock
The following table shows cash flow data for fiscal years 2015 , 2014 and 2013 , which is discussed below.
 
Year ended September 30,
(dollars in millions)
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Cash provided by operating activities
$
451.6

 
$
183.1

 
$
119.2

Cash used in investing activities
(1,248.7
)
 
(3,793.6
)
 
(423.8
)
Cash provided by financing activities
1,372.4

 
3,484.2

 
648.8

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
(2.3
)
 
(7.3
)
 
(0.4
)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
$
573.0

 
$
(133.6
)
 
$
343.8

Historically, we have generated and expect to continue to generate positive cash flows from operations. We believe our cash on hand, cash flows from operations and our current and possible future credit facilities will be sufficient to satisfy our future working capital requirements, interest payments, research and development activities, capital expenditures, pension contributions and other financing requirements for the foreseeable future. Our ability to generate positive cash flows from operations is dependent on general economic conditions, competitive pressures and other business risk factors. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flows from operations, or otherwise to comply with the terms of our credit facilities, we may be required to seek additional financing alternatives or waivers under our Credit Agreement and indentures governing our senior notes. There can be no assurance that we would be able to obtain additional financing or any such waivers on terms acceptable to us or at all.
Short-term financing needs primarily consist of working capital requirements, principal and interest payments on our long-term debt and dividend payments on our cumulative preferred stock. Long-term financing needs will depend largely on potential growth opportunities, including acquisition activity and repayment or refinancing of our long-term debt obligations.
Operating Activities
Fiscal 2015 compared to 2014
Cash provided by operating activities for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015 increased by $268.5 million compared to the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014 . This increase was primarily driven by incremental cash flows from our 2015 and 2014 acquisitions and $97.7 million of favorable working capital changes during the year ended September 30, 2015, when compared to working capital changes in fiscal 2014, primarily related to the collection of a $55.5 million income tax receivable, partially offset by higher interest payments of $92.2 million , as well as higher payments for federal income taxes of $34.5 million in 2015. In addition, cash provided by operating activities in 2014 included a $20.1 million premium received on the issuances of our senior notes.
Fiscal 2014 compared to 2013
Cash provided by operating activities for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014 increased by $63.9 million compared to the fiscal year ended September 30, 2013. This increase was primarily driven by incremental cash flows from our 2014 and 2013 acquisitions, $62.1 million of favorable working capital changes during the year ended September 30, 2014 when compared to working capital changes in fiscal 2013, as well as lower payments for federal income taxes, partially offset by higher interest

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payments of $67.0 million in the current year and lower premium received on the issuances of our senior notes ($20.1 million in fiscal 2014 compared to $35.1 million in fiscal 2013).
Investing Activities
Fiscal 2015 compared to 2014
Cash used in investing activities for fiscal 2015 decreased by $2,544.9 million compared to fiscal 2014 . The decrease was driven by the reduction of cash paid for acquisitions of $2,324.9 million and $20.4 million of proceeds related to the sale of property during fiscal 2015, primarily relating to the sale of facilities located in Portales, New Mexico (completed on July 29, 2015) and Boise, Idaho (completed on September 22, 2015), as well as $3.8 million of proceeds related to the sale of our PowerBar Australian business and Musashi trademark. In the year ended September 30, 2014, cash used in investing activities was impacted by a $75.0 million payment, classified as an other long-term asset, made as a prepayment of the purchase price for the acquisition of PowerBar as well as escrow deposits of $55.0 million and $14.0 million, classified as restricted cash, related to the acquisitions of PowerBar and ABC, respectively.
Capital expenditures were $107.9 million and $115.5 million in fiscal years 2015 and 2014, respectively. The decrease is primarily due to a reduction of capital expenditures in 2015 related to the closure of our Modesto, California facility and the associated migration of production capacity from Modesto to other facilities. Expenditures in 2014 also included the purchase of a peanut butter manufacturing facility. These decreases were partially offset by an increase in capital expenditures during 2015 related to acquired businesses.
Fiscal 2014 compared to 2013
Cash used in investing activities for fiscal 2014 increased by $3,369.8 million compared to fiscal 2013. The increase was driven by net cash paid in fiscal 2014 for the acquisitions of Dakota Growers, Dymatize, Golden Boy and Michael Foods. Cash used in investing activities was also impacted in fiscal 2014 by a $75.0 million payment, classified as an other long-term asset, made as a prepayment of the purchase price for the acquisition of PowerBar as well as escrow deposits of $55.0 million and $14.0 million, classified as restricted cash, related to the acquisitions of PowerBar and ABC, respectively. Partially offsetting these impacts was a $4.3 million cash inflow related to insurance proceeds received for loss of property at Michael Foods.
Capital expenditures were $115.5 million and $32.8 million in fiscal years 2014 and 2013, respectively. Expenditures in these years primarily related to the closure of our Modesto, California facility and the associated migration of production capacity from Modesto to other facilities as well as expenditures made to build out our stand-alone IT infrastructure in fiscal 2013. Fiscal 2014 and 2013 acquisitions added $43.0 million of capital expenditures in 2014.  Also in fiscal 2014, the Company purchased a peanut butter manufacturing facility located in Portales, New Mexico for $25.8 million.
Financing Activities
Fiscal 2015 compared to 2014
Cash provided by financing activities was $1,372.4 million for fiscal 2015 compared to $3,484.2 million in 2014. Cash provided by financing activities is primarily driven by proceeds from debt and equity issuances and debt repayments all of which are listed above within this section. In addition, in the year ended September 30, 2015, we received proceeds of $15.5 million related to the exercise of stock options.
Fiscal 2014 compared to 2013
Cash provided by financing activities was $3,484.2 million for fiscal 2014 compared to $648.8 million in 2013. The increase was primarily driven by proceeds from debt and equity issuances all of which are listed above within this section. The proceeds from these issuances were used to fund the purchase price of acquisitions completed during 2014.
D ebt Covenants
Under the terms of the Credit Agreement, we are required to comply quarterly with certain financial covenants consisting of ratios for maximum senior secured leverage and minimum interest expense coverage. As of September 30, 2015, we were in compliance with such financial covenants. We do not believe non-compliance is reasonably likely in the foreseeable future.
With limited exceptions, our Credit Agreement permits us to incur additional unsecured debt only if our pro forma consolidated interest expense coverage ratio, calculated as provided in the Credit Agreement, would be greater than or equal to 2.00 to 1.00 after giving effect to such new debt. As of September 30, 2015, our pro forma consolidated interest expense coverage ratio exceeded this threshold.
Contractual Obligations
In the normal course of business, we enter into contracts and commitments which obligate us to make payments in the future. The table below sets forth our significant future obligations by time period as of September 30, 2015 . For consideration of the

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table below, “Less Than 1 Year” refers to obligations due between October 1, 2015 and September 30, 2016, “1-3 Years” refers to obligations due between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2018, “3-5 Years” refers to obligations due between October 1, 2018 and September 30, 2020, and “More Than 5 Years” refers to any obligations due after September 30, 2020.
(dollars in millions)
 Total (f)
 
Less Than 1 Year
 
1-3 Years
 
3-5 Years
 
More Than 5 Years
Debt
$
4,485.2

 
$
16.0

 
$
13.0

 
$
0.7

 
$
4,455.5

Interest on long-term debt(a)
2,256.0

 
312.2

 
613.2

 
612.8

 
717.8

Operating lease obligations(b)
60.9

 
14.3

 
22.0

 
13.7

 
10.9

Purchase obligations(c)
2,462.4

 
786.4

 
863.0

 
508.1

 
304.9

Deferred compensation obligations(d)
14.2

 
1.4

 
3.1

 
2.9

 
6.8

Net benefit obligations(e)
126.1

 
5.0

 
10.9

 
12.4

 
97.8

Total
$
9,404.8

 
$
1,135.3

 
$
1,525.2

 
$
1,150.6

 
$
5,593.7

____________
(a)
Interest on long-term debt is calculated using current market rates. As of September 30, 2015, we have interest rate swaps with a notional value of $1,477.6 million , of which $727.6 million will result in cash payments beginning in June 2016 and ending in May 2021 and $750.0 million which will result in a net settlement in July 2018. Those payments have been excluded from this table. For additional information on our interest rate swaps, refer to “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in Item 7A.
(b)
Operating lease obligations consist of minimum rental payments under noncancelable operating leases, as shown in Note 15 of “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.”
(c)
Purchase obligations are legally binding agreements to purchase goods, services or equipment that specify all significant terms, including: fixed or minimum quantities to be purchased; fixed, minimum or variable price provisions; and the approximate timing of the transaction.
(d)
Deferred compensation obligations have been allocated to time periods based on existing payment plans for terminated and severed employees and the estimated timing of distributions to current employees based on age.
(e)
Benefit obligations consist of future payments related to pension and other postretirement benefits as estimated by an actuarial valuation and shown in Note 16 of “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.”
(f)
We have excluded from the table above $11.3 million, which also excludes interest and penalties, for certain provisions of ASC 740 “Income Taxes” associated with liabilities for uncertain tax positions due to the uncertainty as to the amount and timing of payment, if any. In addition, we have excluded payments for workers compensation, general liability and auto liability claim losses for which we had a liability recorded of $9.9 million at September 30, 2015, of which $3.4 million was classified as current, due to the uncertainty of the amount and timing of payments.
COMMODITY TRENDS AND SEASONALITY
Our company is exposed to price fluctuations primarily from purchases of raw and packaging materials, fuel, and energy. Primary exposures include corn, wheat, soybean oil and meal, nuts, eggs, dairy, durum wheat, whey protein concentrate, milk protein concentrate, natural gas, diesel fuel, linerboard and resin. These costs have been volatile in recent years and future changes in such costs may cause our results of operations and our operating margins to fluctuate significantly. We manage the impact of cost increases, wherever possible, on commercially reasonable terms, by locking in prices on the quantities required to meet our production requirements. In addition, we offset the effect of increased costs by raising prices to our customers. However, for competitive reasons, we may not be able to pass along the full effect of increases in raw materials and other input costs as we incur them. In addition, inflationary pressures can have an adverse effect on Post through higher raw material and fuel costs. We believe that inflation has not had a material adverse impact on our operations for the years ended September 30, 2015 , 2014 and 2013 , but could have a material impact in the future if inflation rates were to significantly exceed our ability to achieve price increases.
Our results are affected by seasonal fluctuations of net sales. Shell egg, cheese and snacking and baking nut prices typically rise seasonally in the first quarter of our fiscal year due to increased demand during holiday periods.
CURRENCY
Certain sales and costs of our foreign operations were denominated in Canadian Dollars and Euro. Consequently, profits from these businesses can be impacted by fluctuations in the value of the Canadian Dollar and Euro relative to the U.S. Dollar.
OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS
As of September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2014, we did not have any material off-balance sheet arrangements that would be reasonably likely to have a material impact on our financial position or results of operations.

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CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
The following discussion is presented pursuant to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission’s Financial Reporting Release No. 60, “Cautionary Advice Regarding Disclosure About Critical Accounting Policies.” The policies below are both important to the representation of Post’s financial condition and results of operations and require management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments.
Under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, we make estimates and assumptions that impact the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses as well as the disclosure of contingent liabilities. We base estimates on past experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Those estimates form the basis for making judgments about carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.
Revenue Recognition - Revenue is recognized when title of goods is transferred to the customer, as specified by the shipping terms. Net sales reflect gross sales, including amounts billed to customers for shipping and handling, less sales discounts and trade allowances (including promotional price buy downs and new item promotional funding). Customer trade allowances are generally computed as a percentage of gross sales. Products are generally sold with no right of return except in the case of goods which do not meet product specifications or are damaged and related reserves are maintained based on return history. If additional rights of return are granted, revenue recognition is deferred. Estimated reductions to revenue for customer incentive offerings are based upon customer redemption history.
Business Combinations - We use the acquisition method in accounting for acquired businesses. Under the acquisition method, our financial statements reflect the operations of an acquired business starting from the completion of the acquisition. The assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded at their respective estimated fair values at the date of the acquisition. Any excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values of the identifiable net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. Significant judgment is often required in estimating the fair value of assets acquired, particularly intangible assets. As a result, in the case of significant acquisitions we normally obtain the assistance of a third-party valuation specialist in estimating fair values of tangible and intangible assets. The fair value estimates are based on available historical information and on expectations and assumptions about the future, considering the perspective of marketplace participants. While we believe those expectations and assumptions are reasonable, they are inherently uncertain. Unanticipated market or macroeconomic events and circumstances may occur, which could affect the accuracy or validity of the estimates and assumptions.
Inventory - Inventories, other than flocks, which are discussed below, are generally valued at the lower of average cost (determined on a first-in, first-out basis) or market value and have been reduced by an allowance for obsolete product and packaging materials. The estimated allowance is based on a review of inventories on hand compared to estimated future usage and sales. Flock inventory represents the cost of purchasing and raising chicken flocks to egg laying maturity. The costs included in our flock inventory include the costs of the chicks, the feed fed to the birds and the labor and overhead costs incurred to operate the pullet facilities until the birds are transferred into the laying facilities, at which time their cost is amortized to operations, as cost of goods sold, over their expected useful lives of one to two years.
Long-Lived Assets - We review long-lived assets, including leasehold improvements, property and equipment, and amortized intangible assets for impairment whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable. Long-lived assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less the cost to sell. Recoverability of assets held for sale is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset or asset group to their fair value less estimated costs to sell. Estimating future cash flows and calculating the fair value of assets requires significant estimates and assumptions by management.
Indefinite Lived Assets - Trademarks with indefinite lives are reviewed for impairment during the fourth quarter of each fiscal year following the annual forecasting process, or more frequently if facts and circumstances indicate the trademark may be impaired. In assessing other intangible assets not subject to amortization for impairment, we have the option to perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of such an intangible asset is less than its carrying amount. If we determine that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of such an intangible asset is less than its carrying amount, then we are not required to perform any additional tests for assessing intangible assets for impairment. However, if we conclude otherwise or elect not to perform the qualitative assessment, then we are required to perform a quantitative impairment test that involves a comparison of the estimated fair value of the intangible asset with its carrying value. If the carrying value of the intangible asset exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess.
In fiscal years 2015, 2014 and 2013, we elected not to perform a qualitative assessment and instead performed a quantitative impairment test. The estimated fair value is determined using an income-based approach (the relief-from-royalty method), which requires significant assumptions for each brand, including estimates regarding future revenue growth, discount rates, and appropriate royalty rates. We estimated royalty rates based on consideration of several factors for each brand, including profit levels, research of external royalty rates by third party experts, and the relative importance of each brand to the Company. Revenue

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growth assumptions are based on historical trends and management’s expectations for future growth by brand. The discount rates are based on a weighted average cost of capital utilizing industry market data of similar companies.
At September 30, 2015, Post recorded impairment losses in the Post Consumer Brands segment of $3.7 million for the Grape-Nuts brand and $0.1 million for the 100% Bran brand to record these trademarks at their estimated current fair values of $11.2 million and zero , respectively. Impairment charges of these Post Foods brands were primarily the result of declines within the branded RTE cereal category and as a result, management’s decisions to reduce advertising and consumer spend for the brands and to no longer pursue product adjacencies related to Grape-Nuts . A change to the management team for the Post Consumer Brands segment occurred in May 2015, and at that time a comprehensive reassessment of brand strategies was performed which resulted in the fourth quarter decisions that triggered the impairments. Due to repeated past impairments, continued weakness in the brand forecasts and a lack of sales growth from recent brand support efforts, as of October 1, 2015, the Grape-Nuts brand will be converted to a definite-lived asset and assigned a 20 year useful life.
At September 30, 2014, we recorded impairment losses in the Post Consumer Brands segment of $34.4 million for our Post brand, $23.0 million for our Honey Bunches of Oats brand, $17.2 million for our Post Shredded Wheat brand and $8.4 million for our Grape-Nuts brand to record these trademarks at their estimated fair values of $144.0 million, $243.9 million, $8.2 million and $14.9 million, respectively. Impairment charges of these Post Foods brands were primarily the result of the acceleration of declines within the branded RTE cereal category, as well as the expectation that revenue and profit growth for Post Foods will be challenged in the medium to long-term. Due to repeated past impairments, continued weakness in the brand forecasts and a lack of sales growth from recent brand support efforts, as of October 1, 2014, the Post Shredded Wheat brand was converted to a definite-lived asset and assigned a 20 year useful life.
At September 30, 2013, we recorded impairment losses in the Post Consumer Brands segment of $0.2 million for our Post Shredded Wheat brand and $2.7 million for our Post brand to record these trademarks at their estimated current fair values of $25.4 million and $178.4 million, respectively.
Goodwill - Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of acquired businesses over the fair market value of their identifiable net assets. We conduct a goodwill impairment qualitative assessment during the fourth quarter of each fiscal year following the annual forecasting process, or more frequently if facts and circumstances indicate that goodwill may be impaired. The goodwill impairment qualitative assessment requires us to perform an assessment to determine if it is more likely than not that the fair value of the business is less than its carrying amount. The qualitative assessment considers various factors, including the macroeconomic environment, industry and market specific conditions, financial performance, cost impacts, and issues or events specific to the business. If adverse qualitative trends are identified that could negatively impact the fair value of the business, we perform a quantitative goodwill impairment test. In fiscal years 2015, 2014 and 2013, we elected not to perform a qualitative assessment and instead performed a quantitative impairment test for all reporting units.
Under the two-step quantitative impairment test, the first step of the evaluation involves comparing the current fair value of each reporting unit to its carrying value, including goodwill. The estimated fair values were determined using a combined income and market approach with a greater weighting on the income approach (75% of the calculation for all reporting units, excluding Dymatize and the international operation of PowerBar which are 100%). The income approach is based on discounted future cash flows and requires significant assumptions, including estimates regarding future revenue, profitability, and capital requirements. The market approach (25% of the calculation for all reporting units, excluding Dymatize and the international operations of PowerBar which are 0%) is based on a market multiple (revenue and EBITDA which stands for earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, and amortization) and requires an estimate of appropriate multiples based on market data. Revenue growth assumptions (along with profitability and cash flow assumptions) were based on historical trends for the reporting units and management's expectations for future growth. The discount rates were based on a risk adjusted weighted average cost of capital utilizing industry market data of businesses similar to the reporting units and based upon management judgment. For the market approach, we used estimated EBITDA and revenue multiples based on industry market data. For the Dymatize and PowerBar International reporting units, the market approach was not used as it was concluded that the selected industry market data was not consistent with a business with the future growth expectations of those reporting units.
If the fair value of a reporting unit determined in the first step of the evaluation is lower than its carrying value, we proceed to the second step, which compares the carrying value of goodwill to its implied fair value. In estimating the implied fair value of goodwill for a reporting unit, we must assign the fair value of the reporting unit (as determined in the first step) to the assets and liabilities associated with the reporting unit as if the reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination. Any excess of the carrying value of goodwill of the reporting unit over its implied fair value is recorded as impairment.
As of September 30, 2015, we recorded a total charge of $57.0 million for the impairment of goodwill. The impairment charge relates to the Active Nutrition segment and is primarily the result of fourth quarter production issues at Dymatize which resulted in the Company’s decision to close its manufacturing facility and permanently transfer production to third party facilities under co-manufacturing agreements. At September 30, 2015, the estimated fair values of the remaining unimpaired reporting units exceed their carrying values in excess of 15%.

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At September 30, 2014, we recorded a total charge of $212.6 million for the impairment of goodwill. The impairment charge included $181.3 million related to Post Consumer Brands segment primarily resulting from the acceleration of declines within the RTE cereal category. Additionally, the expectation was that revenue and profit growth for Post Foods would be challenged in the medium to long-term. The Active Nutrition segment recognized charges of $31.3 million resulting from reduced near-term profitability related to supply chain disruptions at Dymatize and incremental remediation expenses, which were identified subsequent to the initial valuation at the acquisition date of February 1, 2014.
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits - Pension assets and liabilities are determined on an actuarial basis and are affected by the estimated market-related value of plan assets, estimates of the expected return on plan assets, discount rates, future salary increases, and other assumptions inherent in these valuations. We annually review the assumptions underlying the actuarial calculations and make changes to these assumptions, based on current market conditions and historical trends, as necessary. Differences between the actual return on plan assets and the expected return on plan assets and changes to projected future rates of return on plan assets will affect the amount of pension expense or income ultimately recognized. The other postretirement benefits liability (partially subsidized retiree health and life insurance) is also determined on an actuarial basis and is affected by assumptions including the discount rate and expected trends in healthcare costs. Changes in the discount rate and differences between actual and expected healthcare costs will affect the recorded amount of other postretirement benefits expense. For both pensions and postretirement benefit calculations, the assumed discount rate is determined by projecting the plans’ expected future benefit payments as defined for the projected benefit obligation or accumulated postretirement benefit obligation, discounting those expected payments using a theoretical zero-coupon spot yield curve derived from a universe of high-quality (rated AA or better by Moody’s Investor Service) corporate bonds as of the measurement date, and solving for the single equivalent discount rate that results in the same present value. A 1% decrease in the assumed discount rate (from 4.55% to 3.55% for U.S. pension; from 4.60% to 3.60% for U.S. other postretirement benefits; from 3.82% to 2.82% for Canadian pension; and from 3.91% to 2.91% for Canadian other postretirement benefits) would have increased the recorded benefit obligations at September 30, 2015 by approximately $10.8 million for pensions and approximately $23.9 million for other postretirement benefits. The expected return on plan assets was determined based on historical and expected future returns of the various asset classes, using the target allocations of the plans. A 1% decrease in the assumed return on plan assets (from 5.72% to 4.72% for U.S. and from 6.00% to 5.00% for Canadian) would have increased the net periodic benefit cost for the pension plans by approximately $0.4 million. We expect to contribute $6.1 million to the combined pension plans and $2.6 million to our postretirement medical benefit plans in fiscal 2016. Contributions beyond 2016 remain uncertain and will significantly depend on changes in actuarial assumptions, actual return on plan assets and any legislative or regulatory changes that may affect plan funding requirements. See Note 16 of “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” for more information about pension and other postretirement benefit assumptions.
Stock-Based Compensation - Stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the value of the award and is recognized as expense over the vesting period for awards expected to vest. Determining the fair value of share-based awards at the grant date requires judgment, including estimating the expected term, expected stock price volatility, risk-free interest rate, and expected dividends. In addition, judgment is required in estimating the amount of share-based awards that are expected to be forfeited before vesting. For equity awards, the original estimate of the grant date fair value is not subsequently revised unless the awards are modified, but the estimate of expected forfeitures is revised throughout the vesting period and the cumulative stock-based compensation cost recognized is adjusted accordingly. For liability awards, the fair value is remeasured at the end of each reporting period. See Note 17 of “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” for more information about stock-based compensation and our related estimates.
Income Tax - We estimate income tax expense based on taxes in each jurisdiction. We estimate current tax exposures together with temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of items for tax and financial reporting purposes. These temporary differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities. We believe that sufficient income will be generated in the future to realize the benefit of most of our deferred tax assets. Where there is not sufficient evidence that such income is likely to be generated, we establish a valuation allowance against the related deferred tax assets. We are subject to periodic audits by governmental tax authorities of our income tax returns. These audits generally include questions regarding our tax filing positions, including the amount and timing of deductions and the allocation of income among various tax jurisdictions. We evaluate our exposures associated with our tax filing positions, including state and local taxes, and record reserves for estimated exposures.
Based on the provisions of the Tax Allocation Agreement with our former owner, our former owner retained responsibility for income tax liabilities and income tax returns related to all periods prior to the separation date of February 3, 2012. U.S. federal, U.S. state and Canadian income tax returns for the tax years ended September 30, 2014, 2013 and 2012 are subject to examination by the tax authorities in each respective jurisdiction.
See Note 7 of “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” for more information about estimates affecting income taxes.
RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
See Note 3 of “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements” for a discussion regarding recently issued accounting standards.

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ITEM 7A.    QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Commodity Price Risk
In the ordinary course of business, we are exposed to commodity price risks relating to the acquisition of raw materials and fuels. We use futures contracts, options and swaps, to manage certain of these exposures when it is practical to do so. For more information, see “Commodity Trends and Seasonality” and Note 12 of “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.”
Foreign Currency Risk
We have foreign currency exchange rate risk related to our Canadian and German entities, whose functional currencies are the Canadian Dollar and Euro, respectively.
Interest Rate Risk
As of September 30, 2015, we have principal value of indebtedness of  $4,485.2 million  related to our various senior notes issuances, our term loan, our 5.25% tangible equity units, $5.7 million of remaining principal balances for debt and capital leases assumed in the acquisition of Michael Foods and an undrawn $400.0 million revolving credit facility. The revolving credit facility has outstanding letters of credit of $4.2 million which reduces the available borrowing capacity to $395.8 million at September 30, 2015. Of the total $4,485.2 million  outstanding indebtedness, approximately $4,110.8 million bears interest at fixed rates with a weighted-average interest rate of 7.2% and is not subject to change based on changes in market interest rates.
The remaining $374.4 million is variable rate debt comprised of the unpaid principal balance of our term loan, which bears interest at the lower of LIBOR or a 0.75% floor plus a 3% spread. In June 2014, we entered into interest rate swaps, with a two-year forward start date, with a notional value of $727.6 million at September 30, 2015, that obligate us to pay a fixed rate of 3.1% and receive one-month LIBOR. The interest rate swaps have the effect of fixing the interest rate we will incur on our variable rate term loan with cash payments beginning in June 2016 (see Note 12). In addition, as of September 30, 2015, we have interest rate swaps with a $750.0 million notional amount that obligate us to pay a weighted-average fixed rate of approximately 4.0% and receive three-month LIBOR and will result in a net settlement in July 2018.
In November 2015, we converted $650.0 million of our $727.6 million notional amount interest rate swap and entered into an additional $250.0 million notional interest rate swap for a combined $900.0 million interest rate swaps that obligate us to pay a weighted-average fixed rate of 3.67% and receive three-month LIBOR and will result in a net settlement in December 2019.
Borrowings, if any, under the revolving credit facility would bear interest at the Eurodollar Rate or the Base Rate (as such terms are defined in the Credit Agreement) plus an applicable margin ranging from 2.00% to 2.50% for Eurodollar Rate-based loans and from 1.00% to 1.50% for Base Rate-based loans, depending upon our senior secured leverage ratio.




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ITEM 8.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Audited Consolidated Financial Statements
 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Fiscal Years Ended September 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income for the Fiscal Years Ended September 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2015 and 2014
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Fiscal Years Ended September 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the Fiscal Years Ended September 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements


41
Table of Contents

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of Post Holdings, Inc.

In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income/(loss), stockholders’ equity and cash flows present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Post Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries at September 30, 2015 and 2014, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2015 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2015, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company's management is responsible for these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A. Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements and on the Company's internal control over financial reporting 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 audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed 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 (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) 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 (iii) 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 its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

As described in Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, management has excluded PowerBar and MOM Brands Company from its assessment of internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2015 because they were acquired by the Company in a purchase business combination during 2015. We have also excluded PowerBar and MOM Brands Company from our audit of internal control over financial reporting. PowerBar and MOM Brands Company total assets and total revenues collectively represent 12% and 10%, respectively, of the related consolidated financial statement amounts as of and for the year ended September 30, 2015.






/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
St. Louis, Missouri    
November 25, 2015

42

POST HOLDINGS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in millions, except per share data)
 
 
Year Ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Net Sales
$
4,648.2

 
$
2,411.1

 
$
1,034.1

Cost of goods sold
3,473.8

 
1,789.9

 
609.2

Gross Profit
1,174.4

 
621.2

 
424.9

 
 
 
 
 
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses
734.1

 
459.5

 
298.2

Amortization of intangible assets
141.7

 
70.8

 
14.6

Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets
60.8

 
295.6

 
2.9

Other operating expenses, net
25.1

 
3.0

 
1.4

Operating Profit (Loss)
212.7

 
(207.7
)
 
107.8

 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest expense, net
287.5

 
183.7

 
85.5

Other expense
92.5

 
35.5

 
—

(Loss) Earnings before Income Taxes
(167.3
)
 
(426.9
)
 
22.3

Income tax (benefit) expense
(52.0
)
 
(83.7
)
 
7.1

Net (Loss) Earnings
(115.3
)
 
(343.2
)
 
15.2

Preferred stock dividends
(17.0
)
 
(15.4
)
 
(5.4
)
Net (Loss) Earnings Available to Common Shareholders
$
(132.3
)
 
$
(358.6
)
 
$
9.8

 
 
 
 
 
 
(Loss) Earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
$
(2.33
)
 
$
(9.03
)
 
$
0.30

Diluted
$
(2.33
)
 
$
(9.03
)
 
$
0.30

 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted-Average Common Shares Outstanding:
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
56.7

 
39.7

 
32.7

Diluted
56.7

 
39.7

 
33.0

 
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
 



43
Table of Contents


POST HOLDINGS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME
(in millions)
 
Year Ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Net (Loss) Earnings
$
(115.3
)
 
$
(343.2
)
 
$
15.2

Pension and postretirement benefit adjustments, net of tax of $3.3, $5.1 and $(8.2), respectively
(5.2
)
 
(10.4
)
 
14.4

Foreign currency translation adjustments
(56.3
)
 
(4.1
)
 
(2.9
)
Total Comprehensive (Loss) Income
$
(176.8
)
 
$
(357.7
)
 
$
26.7



See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.








































44
Table of Contents

POST HOLDINGS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in millions, except par value)  
 
September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
ASSETS
Current Assets
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
841.4

 
$
268.4

Restricted cash
18.8

 
84.8

Receivables, net
366.2

 
413.7

Inventories
465.3

 
380.7

Deferred income taxes
47.7

 
27.0

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
42.3

 
44.4

Total Current Assets
1,781.7

 
1,219.0

Property, net
1,333.2

 
831.9

Goodwill
3,072.8

 
2,886.7

Other intangible assets, net
2,969.3

 
2,643.0

Other assets
63.4

 
150.5

Total Assets
$
9,220.4

 
$
7,731.1

 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current Liabilities
 
 
 
Current portion of long-term debt
$
16.0

 
$
25.6

Accounts payable
265.2

 
225.0

Other current liabilities
329.8

 
269.3

Total Current Liabilities
611.0

 
519.9

Long-term debt
4,511.4

 
3,830.5

Deferred income taxes
831.8

 
915.1

Other liabilities
290.2

 
182.4

Total Liabilities
6,244.4

 
5,447.9

 
 
 
 
Commitments and Contingencies (See Note 15)


 


 
 
 
 
Shareholders’ Equity
 
 
 
Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value, 50.0 shares authorized
 
 
 
3.75% Series B, 2.4 shares issued and outstanding
0.1

 
0.1

2.50% Series C, 3.2 shares issued and outstanding
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 300.0 shares authorized, 62.1 and 44.8 shares outstanding, respectively
0.6

 
0.5

Additional paid-in capital
3,538.8

 
2,669.3

Accumulated deficit
(421.0
)
 
(305.7
)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(89.1
)
 
(27.6
)
Treasury stock, at cost, 1.8 shares in each year
(53.4
)
 
(53.4
)
Total Shareholders’ Equity
2,976.0

 
2,283.2

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
$
9,220.4

 
$
7,731.1

 
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

45
Table of Contents

POST HOLDINGS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in millions)
 
Year Ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
 
 
 
 
 
Net (loss) earnings
$
(115.3
)
 
$
(343.2
)
 
$
15.2

Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) earnings to net cash flow provided by operating activities:
 
 
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
272.8

 
155.8

 
76.8

Premium from issuance of long-term debt
—

 
20.1

 
35.1

Amortization of deferred financing costs and debt discount/premium, net
36.2

 
15.3

 
4.2

Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets
60.8

 
295.6

 
2.9

Unrealized loss on interest rate swaps
92.5

 
40.4

 
—

Loss on write-down of assets held for sale
34.2

 
5.4

 
—

Non-cash stock-based compensation expense
22.7

 
14.5

 
10.5

Deferred income taxes
(120.1
)
 
(87.5
)
 
(29.1
)
Other, net
7.2

 
2.7

 
(3.3
)
Other changes in current assets and liabilities, net of business acquisitions:
 
 
 
 
 
Decrease (increase) in receivables
89.5

 
(50.3
)
 
(9.7
)
Decrease (increase) in inventories
30.5

 
30.7

 
(10.8
)
(Increase) decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets
(7.0
)
 
(0.2
)
 
6.8

Increase in accounts payable and other current and non-current liabilities
47.6

 
83.8

 
20.6

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
451.6

 
183.1

 
119.2

Cash Flows from Investing Activities
 
 
 
 
 
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired
(1,239.2
)
 
(3,564.1
)
 
(352.9
)
Additions to property
(107.9
)
 
(115.5
)
 
(32.8
)
Restricted cash
72.1

 
(43.3
)
 
(38.1
)
Proceeds from sale of property
20.4

 
—

 
—

Proceeds from sale of business
3.8

 
—

 
—

Cash advance for acquisition
—

 
(75.0
)
 
—

Insurance proceeds on loss of property
2.1

 
4.3

 
—

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities
(1,248.7
)
 
(3,793.6
)
 
(423.8
)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
 
 
 
 
 
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt
1,896.5

 
2,385.6

 
600.0

Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock, net of issuance costs
—

 
310.2

 
234.0

Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs
732.7

 
593.4

 
—

Proceeds from issuance of equity component of tangible equity units, net of issuance costs
—

 
238.1

 
—

Proceeds from issuance of debt component of tangible equity units
—

 
41.8

 
—

Repayments of long-term debt
(1,225.1
)
 
(6.9
)
 
(170.6
)
Payments of preferred stock dividends
(17.1
)
 
(14.4
)
 
(4.2
)
Payments of debt issuance costs
(31.5
)
 
(64.0
)
 
(10.5
)
Proceeds from exercise of stock awards
15.5

 
—

 
—

Other, net
1.4

 
0.4

 
0.1

Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities
1,372.4

 
3,484.2

 
648.8

Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents
(2.3
)
 
(7.3
)
 
(0.4
)
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents
573.0

 
(133.6
)
 
343.8

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Year
268.4

 
402.0

 
58.2

Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Year
$
841.4

 
$
268.4

 
$
402.0

 
See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

46
Table of Contents

POST HOLDINGS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(in millions)
 
Preferred Stock
 
Common Stock
 
 
 
 
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
 
 
 
 
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
Additional Paid-in Capital
 
Retained Earnings (Deficit)
 
Retirement Benefit Adjustments, net of tax
 
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments
 
Treasury Stock
 
Total Shareholders’ Equity
Balance, September 30, 2012
—

 
$
—

 
32.7

 
$
0.3

 
$
1,272.6

 
$
36.6

 
$
(25.4
)
 
$
0.8

 
$
(53.4
)
 
$
1,231.5

Net earnings
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
15.2

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
15.2

Preferred stock dividends declared
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(4.2
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(4.2
)
Issuance of preferred stock
2.4

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
234.0

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
234.0

Activity under stock and deferred compensation plans
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
0.1

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
0.1

Stock-based compensation expense
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
10.5

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
10.5

Net change in retirement benefits, net of tax
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
14.4

 
—

 
—

 
14.4

Foreign currency translation adjustments
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(2.9
)
 
—

 
(2.9
)
Balance, September 30, 2013
2.4

 
$
—

 
32.7

 
$
0.3

 
$
1,517.2

 
$
47.6

 
$
(11.0
)
 
$
(2.1
)
 
$
(53.4
)
 
$
1,498.6

Net loss
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(343.2
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(343.2
)
Preferred stock dividends declared
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(4.3
)
 
(10.1
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(14.4
)
Issuance of common stock
—

 
—

 
12.1

 
0.2

 
593.2

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
593.4

Issuance of preferred stock
3.2

 
0.1

 
—

 
—

 
310.1

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
310.2

Issuance of tangible equity units
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
238.1

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
238.1

Activity under stock and deferred compensation plans
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
0.5

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
0.5

Stock-based compensation expense
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
14.5

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
14.5

Net change in retirement benefits, net of tax
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(10.4
)
 
—

 
—

 
(10.4
)
Foreign currency translation adjustments
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(4.1
)
 
—

 
(4.1
)
Balance, September 30, 2014
5.6

 
$
0.1

 
44.8

 
$
0.5

 
$
2,669.3

 
$
(305.7
)
 
$
(21.4
)
 
$
(6.2
)
 
$
(53.4
)
 
$
2,283.2

Net loss
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(115.3
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(115.3
)
Preferred stock dividends declared
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(17.1
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(17.1
)
Issuance of common stock
—

 
—

 
16.7

 
0.1

 
847.0

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
847.1

Activity under stock and deferred compensation plans
—

 
—

 
0.6

 
—

 
16.9

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
16.9

Stock-based compensation expense
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
22.7

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
22.7

Net change in retirement benefits, net of tax
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(5.2
)
 
—

 
—

 
(5.2
)
Foreign currency translation adjustments
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(56.3
)
 
—

 
(56.3
)
Balance, September 30, 2015
5.6

 
$
0.1

 
62.1

 
$
0.6

 
$
3,538.8

 
$
(421.0
)
 
$
(26.6
)
 
$
(62.5
)
 
$
(53.4
)
 
$
2,976.0

 See accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

47
Table of Contents

POST HOLDINGS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(dollars in millions, except share data or where indicated otherwise)

NOTE 1 — BACKGROUND
Post Holdings, Inc. (“Post” or the “Company”) is a consumer packaged goods holding company operating in the center-of-the-store, foodservice, food ingredient, refrigerated, active nutrition and private brand food categories. The Company’s products are sold through a variety of channels such as grocery, club and drug stores, mass merchandisers, foodservice, ingredient and via the internet. Post operates in four reportable segments: Post Consumer Brands, Michael Foods Group, Active Nutrition and Private Brands. The Post Consumer Brands segment primarily consists of the ready-to-eat (“RTE”) cereal business, the Michael Foods Group segment includes predominantly foodservice and food ingredient egg, potato and pasta businesses and the retail cheese business, the Active Nutrition segment includes protein shakes, bars and powders and nutritional supplements and the Private Brands segment primarily consists of peanut and other nut butters, dried fruit and nuts and granola.
On February 6, 2012, Post common stock began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “POST.”
Unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise indicates, all references in this Form 10-K to “Post,” “the Company,” “us,” “our” or “we” mean Post Holdings, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.
NOTE 2 — SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Principles of Consolidation  — The consolidated financial statements include the operations of Post Holdings, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions have been eliminated.
Use of Estimates and Allocations — The consolidated financial statements of the Company are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which require certain elections as to accounting policy, estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, the disclosure of contingent liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amount of net revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Significant accounting policy elections, estimates and assumptions include, among others, pension and benefit plan assumptions, valuation assumptions of goodwill and other intangible assets, marketing programs and income taxes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Business Combinations — The Company uses the acquisition method in accounting for acquired businesses. Under the acquisition method, our financial statements reflect the operations of an acquired business starting from the completion of the acquisition. The assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded at their respective estimated fair values at the date of the acquisition. Any excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair values of the identifiable net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill.
Cash Equivalents — Cash equivalents include all highly liquid investments with original maturities of less than three months.
Restricted Cash — Restricted cash includes items such as cash deposits which serve as collateral for certain commodity hedging contracts as well as the Company's high deductible workers’ compensation insurance program. In fiscal 2014 , restricted cash also included deposits with third party escrow agents in connection with acquisitions that were credited against the purchase price when the transactions closed.
Receivables — Receivables are reported at net realizable value. This value includes appropriate allowances for doubtful accounts, cash discounts, and other amounts which the Company does not ultimately expect to collect. The Company determines its allowance for doubtful accounts based on historical losses and the economic status of, and its relationship with its customers, especially those identified as “at risk.” A receivable is considered past due if payments have not been received within the agreed upon invoice terms. Receivables are written off against the allowance when the customer files for bankruptcy protection or is otherwise deemed to be uncollectible based upon the Company’s evaluation of the customer’s solvency.
Inventories — Inventories, other than flocks, are generally valued at the lower of average cost (determined on a first-in, first-out basis) or market. Reported amounts have been reduced by an allowance for obsolete product and packaging materials based on a review of inventories on hand compared to estimated future usage and sales. Flock inventory represents the cost of purchasing and raising chicken flocks to egg laying maturity. The costs included in our flock inventory include the costs of the chicks, the feed fed to the birds and the labor and overhead costs incurred to operate the pullet facilities until the birds are transferred into the laying facilities, at which time their cost is amortized to operations, as cost of goods sold, over their expected useful lives of one to two years.
Restructuring Expenses and Assets Held For Sale — Restructuring charges principally consist of severance and other employee separation costs, accelerated depreciation and certain long-lived asset impairments. The Company recognizes restructuring obligations and liabilities for exit and disposal activities at fair value in the period the liability is incurred. Employee severance costs are expensed when they become probable and reasonably estimable under established severance plans. Depreciation expense

48

related to assets that will be disposed of or idled as a part of the restructuring activity is accelerated through the expected date of the asset shut down. Assets are classified as held for sale if the Company has committed to a plan for selling the assets, is actively and reasonably marketing them, and sale is reasonably expected within one year. The carrying value of assets held for sale is included in “Prepaid expenses and other current assets” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. See Note 4 for information about assets held for sale.
Property — Property is recorded at cost, and depreciation expense is generally provided on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the properties. Estimated useful lives range from 1 to 20  years for machinery and equipment and 3 to 40  years for buildings, building improvements and leasehold improvements, and 1 to 5 years for software. Total depreciation expense was $131.1 , $85.0 and $62.2 in fiscal 2015 , 2014 and 2013 , respectively. Any gains and losses incurred on the sale or disposal of assets are included in "Other operating expenses, net." Repair and maintenance costs incurred in connection with on-going and planned major maintenance activities are accounted for under the direct expensing method. During the year ended September 30, 2015, the Company had non-monetary exchanges of fixed assets. The cash and non-cash portions of these transactions were $9.8 and $12.6 , respectively. Property consisted of: 
 
September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
Land and land improvements
$
52.8

 
$
25.6

Buildings and leasehold improvements
791.7

 
295.0

Machinery and equipment
806.0

 
714.2

Software
49.2

 
31.5

Construction in progress
38.0

 
54.7

 
1,737.7

 
1,121.0

Accumulated depreciation
(404.5
)
 
(289.1
)
 
$
1,333.2

 
$
831.9

Other Intangible Assets — Other intangible assets consist primarily of customer relationships and trademarks/brands acquired in business combinations and includes both indefinite and definite-lived assets. Amortization expense related to definite-lived intangible assets, which is provided on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets, was $141.7 , $70.8 , and $14.6 in fiscal 2015 , 2014 and 2013 , respectively. For the definite-lived intangible assets recorded as of September 30, 2015 , amortization expense of $152.6 , $152.6 , $152.5 , $151.7 and $151.6 is scheduled for fiscal 2016 , 2017 , 2018 , 2019 and 2020 , respectively. Other intangible assets consisted of: 
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
Carrying
Amount
 
Accum.
Amort.
 
Net
Amount
 
Carrying
Amount
 
Accum.
Amort.
 
Net
Amount
Subject to amortization:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Customer relationships
$
1,998.6

 
$
(192.7
)
 
$
1,805.9

 
$
1,743.7

 
$
(90.9
)
 
$
1,652.8

Trademarks/brands
780.9

 
(79.1
)
 
701.8

 
554.7

 
(43.9
)
 
510.8

Other
21.3

 
(5.4
)
 
15.9

 
24.7

 
(3.0
)
 
21.7

 
2,800.8

 
(277.2
)
 
2,523.6

 
2,323.1

 
(137.8
)
 
2,185.3

Not subject to amortization:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Trademarks/brands
445.7

 
—

 
445.7

 
457.7

 
—

 
457.7

 
$
3,246.5

 
$
(277.2
)
 
$
2,969.3

 
$
2,780.8

 
$
(137.8
)
 
$
2,643.0

Recoverability of Assets — The Company continually evaluates whether events or circumstances have occurred which might impair the recoverability of the carrying value of its assets, including property, identifiable intangibles and goodwill. Trademarks with indefinite lives are reviewed for impairment during the fourth quarter of each fiscal year following the annual forecasting process, or more frequently if facts and circumstances indicate the trademark may be impaired. The trademark impairment tests require us to estimate the fair value of the trademark and compare it to its carrying value. The estimated fair value is determined using an income-based approach (the relief-from-royalty method), which requires significant assumptions for each brand, including estimates regarding future revenue growth, discount rates, and appropriate royalty rates. Assumptions are determined after consideration of several factors for each brand, including profit levels, research of external royalty rates by third party experts and the relative importance of each brand to the Company. Revenue growth assumptions are based on historical trends and management’s expectations for future growth by brand. The discount rate is based on a weighted-average cost of capital utilizing industry market data of similar companies.

49

In addition, definite-lived assets and indefinite-lived intangible assets are reassessed as needed when information becomes available that is believed to negatively impact the fair market value of an asset. In general, an asset is deemed impaired and written down to its fair value if estimated related future cash flows are less than its carrying amount.
At September 30, 2015, Post recorded impairment losses of $3.7 for the Grape-Nuts brand and $0.1 for the 100% Bran brand to record these trademarks at their estimated current fair values of $11.2 and zero , respectively. Due to repeated past impairments, continued weakness in the brand forecasts and a lack of sales growth from recent brand support efforts, as of October, 1 2015, the Grape-Nuts brand will be converted to a definite-lived asset and assigned a 20 year useful life.
At September 30, 2014, Post recorded impairment losses in the Post Consumer Brands segment of $34.4 for the Post brand, $23.0 for the Honey Bunches of Oats brand, $17.2 for the Post Shredded Wheat brand and $8.4 for the Grape-Nuts brand to record these trademarks at their estimated current fair values of $144.0 , $243.9 , $8.2 and $14.9 , respectively. Due to repeated past impairments, continued weakness in the brand forecasts and a lack of sales growth from recent brand support efforts, as of October 1, 2014, the Post Shredded Wheat brand was converted to a definite-lived asset and assigned a 20 year useful life.
At September 30, 2013, Post recorded impairment losses in the Post Consumer Brands segment of $0.2 for the Post Shredded Wheat brand and $2.7 for the Post brand to record these trademarks at their estimated current fair values of $25.4 and $178.4 , respectively.
These fair value measurements fell within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy as described in Note 13. The trademark and goodwill impairment losses are reported in “Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets” on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. See Note 6 for information about goodwill impairments.
Investments — The Company funds a portion of its deferred compensation liability by investing in certain mutual funds in the same amounts as selected by the participating employees. Because management’s intent is to invest in a manner that matches the deferral options chosen by the participants and those participants can elect to transfer amounts in or out of each of the designated deferral options at any time, these investments have been classified as trading assets and are stated at fair value in “Prepaid expenses and other current assets” and “Other Assets” (see Note 13). Both realized and unrealized gains and losses on these assets are included in “Selling, general and administrative expenses” and offset the related change in the deferred compensation liability.
Revenue — Revenue is recognized when title of goods and risk of loss is transferred to the customer, as specified by the shipping terms. Net sales reflect gross sales, including amounts billed to customers for shipping and handling, less sales discounts and trade allowances (including promotional price buy downs and new item promotional funding). Customer trade allowances are generally computed as a percentage of gross sales. Products are generally sold with no right of return except in the case of goods which do not meet product specifications or are damaged, and related reserves are maintained based on return history. If additional rights of return are granted, revenue recognition is deferred. Estimated reductions to revenue for customer incentive offerings are based upon customer redemption history.
Cost of Goods Sold — Cost of goods sold includes, among other things, inbound and outbound freight costs and depreciation expense related to assets used in production, while storage and other warehousing costs are included in “Selling, general and administrative expenses.” Storage and other warehousing costs totaled $ 103.4 , $ 65.4 and $ 41.5 in fiscal 2015 , 2014 and 2013 , respectively.
Advertising — Advertising costs are expensed as incurred except for costs of producing media advertising such as television commercials or magazine advertisements, which are deferred until the first time the advertising takes place. The amount reported as assets on the balance sheet was insignificant as of September 30, 2015 and 2014 .
Stock-based Compensation — The Company recognizes the cost of employee services received in exchange for awards of equity instruments based on the grant-date fair value of equity awards and the fair market value at each quarterly reporting date for liability awards. That cost is recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award — the requisite service period (usually the vesting period). See Note 17 for disclosures related to stock-based compensation.
Income Tax (Benefit) Provision — Income tax (benefit) provision is estimated based on income taxes in each jurisdiction and includes the effects of both current tax exposures and the temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of items for tax and financial reporting purposes. These temporary differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities. A valuation allowance is established against the related deferred tax assets to the extent that it is not more likely than not that the future benefits will be realized. Reserves are recorded for estimated exposures associated with the Company’s tax filing positions, which are subject to periodic audits by governmental taxing authorities. Interest due to an underpayment of income taxes is classified as income taxes. The Company considers the undistributed earnings of its foreign subsidiaries to be permanently invested, so no U.S. taxes have been provided in relation to the Company's investment in its foreign subsidiaries. See Note 7 for disclosures related to income taxes.

50

NOTE 3 — RECENTLY ISSUED AND ADOPTED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
In September 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2015-16, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Simplifying the Accounting for Measurement-Period Adjustments. The standard requires that adjustments made to provisional amounts recognized in a business combination be recorded in the period such adjustments are determined, rather than retrospectively adjusting previously reported amounts. ASU 2015-16 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2015, and early adoption is permitted. Post early adopted this ASU at September 30, 2015 and all disclosures are made in Note 5.
In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-11, Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory (Topic 330). The standard requires most inventory to be measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value (“NRV”), thereby simplifying the previous guidance under which an entity must measure inventory at the lower of cost or market. Market is defined as replacement cost, NRV, or NRV less a normal profit margin. The ASU will not apply to inventory that is measured using either the last-in, first-out method or the retail inventory method. ASU 2015-11 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2016, and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently in the process of determining the method of adoption and evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance.
In the quarter ended June 30, 2015, Post early adopted ASU 2014-08 “Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity” issued by the FASB in April 2014. ASU 2014-08 provides a revised definition of discontinued operations. The standard update requires that only disposals of components of an entity (or groups of components) that represent a strategic shift that has or will have a major effect on the reporting entity’s operations are reported in the financial statements as discontinued operations. The standard also provides guidance on the financial statement presentations and disclosures of discontinued operations. The implementation of this standard did not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-03 “Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs,” which changes the presentation of debt issuance costs in financial statements. The standards update requires an entity to present debt issuance costs in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the related debt liability rather than as an asset. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-15 “Presentation and Subsequent Measurement of Debt issuance Costs Associated with Line-of-Credit,” which indicates the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) staff would not object to an entity deferring and presenting debt issuance costs related to line-of-credit arrangements as an asset and subsequently amortizing the deferred debt issuance costs ratably over the term of the line-of-credit arrangement, regardless of whether there are any outstanding borrowings on the line-of-credit arrangement. ASU 2015-03 requires retrospective application and is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The Company has not determined the date of adoption, however, at September 30, 2015, the amount of deferred financing fees reported as an asset, excluding amounts related to our line-of-credit arrangement, was $56.5 .
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)," which will supersede all existing revenue recognition guidance under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. The standard's core principle is that a company will recognize revenue when it transfers promised goods or services to a customer in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. In August 2015, FASB issued ASU 2015-14, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers: Deferral of the Effective Date” to defer for one year the effective date of the new revenue standard, making it effective for annual and interim periods beginning on or after December 15, 2017 (i.e. Post’s financial statements for the year ending September 30, 2019), and adoption is not permitted prior to the original effective date of the ASU (i.e. Post’s financial statements for the year ending September 30, 2018). Entities will have the option of using either a full retrospective approach or a modified approach to adopt the guidance in the ASU. The Company is currently in the process of determining the method of adoption and evaluating the impact of adopting this guidance.
NOTE 4 — RESTRUCTURING
In September 2015, the Company announced its plan to close its Dymatize manufacturing facility located in Farmers Branch, Texas and permanently transfer production to third party facilities under co-manufacturing agreements. Plant production ceased in the fourth quarter of 2015.
In May 2015, the Company announced its plan to consolidate its cereal business administrative offices in Lakeville, Minnesota. As a result of the announcement, the Company plans to close its office located in Parsippany, New Jersey and relocate those functions as well as certain functions located in Battle Creek, Michigan to the Lakeville office. The Parsippany office closure is expected to be completed by May 2016.
In March 2015, the Company announced its plan to close its facility in Boise, Idaho, which manufactures certain PowerBar products distributed in North America. Plant production ceased in June 2015 and the facility was sold in September 2015.

51

In April 2013, the Company announced management’s decision to close its plant located in Modesto, California as part of a cost savings and capacity rationalization effort. The transfer of production capabilities and closure of the plant was completed during September 2014, and no additional restructuring costs were incurred in the year ended September 30, 2015.
Amounts related to the restructuring events are shown in the following table. Costs are recognized in “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations with the exception of the accelerated depreciation expense recorded in fiscal years 2014 and 2013, which is included in “Cost of goods sold.” These expenses are not included in the measure of segment performance for any segment (see Note 20).
 
Employee-Related Costs
 
Pension Curtailment
 
Accelerated Depreciation
 
Total
Balance, September 30, 2012
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

Charge to expense
2.1

 
1.7

 
9.6

 
13.4

Cash payments
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Non-cash charges
—

 
(1.7
)
 
(9.6
)
 
(11.3
)
Balance, September 30, 2013
$
2.1

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
2.1

Charge to expense
1.1

 
—

 
8.0

 
9.1

Cash payments
(2.5
)
 
—

 
—

 
(2.5
)
Non-cash charges
—

 
—

 
(8.0
)
 
(8.0
)
Balance, September 30, 2014
$
0.7

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
0.7

Charge to expense
13.2

 
—

 
2.1

 
15.3

Cash payments
(3.4
)
 
—

 
—

 
(3.4
)
Non-cash charges
—

 
—

 
(2.1
)
 
(2.1
)
Balance, September 30, 2015
$
10.5

 
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
10.5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total expected restructuring charge
$
16.4

 
$
1.7

 
$
20.1

 
$
38.2

Cumulative incurred to date
16.4

 
1.7

 
19.7

 
37.8

Remaining expected restructuring charge
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
0.4

 
$
0.4

Assets Held for Sale
Related to the closure of its Modesto, California facility, the Company has land, building and equipment classified as assets held for sale as of September 30, 2015 and 2014. Related to the manufacturing shutdown of its Dymatize facility, the Company has machinery and equipment classified as assets held for sale as of September 30, 2015. The carrying value of the assets included in “Prepaid expenses and other current assets” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets was $11.4 and $16.4 as of September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Held for sale losses of $34.2 and $5.4 were recorded in fiscal 2015 and 2014 , respectively, to adjust the carrying value of the assets to their fair value less estimated selling costs. The held for sale losses recorded in fiscal 2015 include amounts related to the Modesto facility and Dymatize machinery and equipment, as well as held for sale losses of its facilities located in Portales, New Mexico (sold on July 29, 2015) and Boise, Idaho (sold on September 22, 2015), as well as its Australian business and Musashi trademark (sold on July 1, 2015), all of which were classified as held for sale during fiscal 2015. The losses are reported as “Other operating expenses, net” on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
NOTE 5 — BUSINESS COMBINATIONS
Fiscal 2015
On October 1, 2014, the Company completed its acquisition of the  PowerBar  and  Musashi  brands and related worldwide assets from Nestlé S.A (“PowerBar”) for  $150.0 , subject to a working capital adjustment, which resulted in a payment at closing of  $136.1 . In March 2015, a final settlement of net working capital and other adjustments was reached, resulting in an amount back to the Company of approximately $1.7 . PowerBar is reported in Post’s Active Nutrition segment (see Note 20). Based upon the purchase price allocation, the Company has recorded $21.0 of customer relationships to be amortized over a weighted-average period of 18.3 years and $40.0 to trademarks and brands to be amortized over a weighted-average period of 20 years. Net sales and operating loss included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations related to PowerBar were $136.4 and $(7.8) , respectively, for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015. On July 1, 2015, we sold the PowerBar Australian assets and Musashi trademark for $3.8 .

52

On November 1, 2014, the Company completed its acquisition of American Blanching Company (“ABC”) for  $128.0 . ABC is a manufacturer of peanut butter for national brands, private label retail and industrial markets and provider of peanut blanching, granulation and roasting services for the commercial peanut industry. ABC is reported in Post’s Private Brands segment (see Note 20). Based upon the preliminary purchase price allocation, the Company has recorded $63.9 of customer relationships to be amortized over a weighted-average period of 17 years and $8.0 to trademarks and brands to be amortized over a weighted-average period of 10 years. ABC’s operations have been integrated into the Company’s existing peanut butter business, and due to the level of integration, discrete sales and operating profit data is not available for ABC.
On May 4, 2015, Post completed its acquisition of MOM Brands, a manufacturer and distributer of ready-to-eat (“RTE”) cereals. MOM Brands is reported in the Post Consumer Brands segment (see Note 20). The closing purchase price of the transaction was  $1,181.5 and was partially paid by the issuance of 2.45 million shares of the Company’s common stock to the former owners of MOM Brands. The shares were valued at the May 1, 2015 closing price of $46.60 per share for a total issuance of $114.4 . In September 2015, a final settlement of net working capital and other adjustments was reached, resulting in an amount back to the Company of approximately $4.0 . Net sales and operating profit included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations related to MOM Brands were $329.7 and $15.9 , respectively, for the year ended September 30, 2015. Based upon the preliminary purchase price allocation, the Company has recorded $185.6 of customer relationships to be amortized over a weighted-average period of 20 years and $178.8 to trademarks and brands to be amortized over a weighted-average period of 20 years.
Each of the acquisitions was accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting, whereby the results of operations are included in the financial statements from the date of acquisition. The respective purchase prices were allocated to acquired assets and assumed liabilities based on their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition, and any excess was allocated to goodwill, as shown in the table below. Goodwill represents the value the Company expects to achieve through the implementation of operational synergies and the expansion of the business into new or growing segments of the industry. The Company expects substantially all of the final fair value of goodwill related to the acquisitions of PowerBar and MOM Brands to be deductible for U.S. income tax purposes and does not expect the final fair value of goodwill related to the acquisition of ABC to be deductible for U.S. income tax purposes.
Certain estimated values for the MOM Brands acquisition, including goodwill, intangible assets, inventory and deferred taxes, are not yet finalized pending the final purchase price allocations and are subject to change once additional information is obtained.
The following table provides the allocation of the purchase price based upon the fair value of assets and liabilities assumed for each acquisition completed in fiscal 2015. Measurement period adjustments have been made to the allocation of purchase price for current year acquisitions since the date of acquisition related to working capital settlements and the final determination of workers compensation, general liability and auto liability insurance accruals.
 
PowerBar
 
ABC
 
MOM Brands
Cash and cash equivalents
$
2.4

 
$
0.6

 
$
11.1

Receivables
6.5

 
12.8

 
41.7

Inventories
23.1

 
15.5

 
97.9

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
0.1

 
0.4

 
6.2

Property
17.9

 
19.7

 
532.1

Goodwill
18.6

 
49.6

 
195.6

Other intangible assets
61.0

 
71.9

 
364.4

Deferred tax asset - long-term
11.7

 
—

 
—

Other assets
—

 
0.4

 
—

Accounts payable
(1.2
)
 
(9.0
)
 
(33.0
)
Deferred tax liability - current
(0.2
)
 
(0.4
)
 
(5.4
)
Other current liabilities
(4.4
)
 
(2.8
)
 
(24.9
)
Deferred tax liability - long-term
(1.1
)
 
(30.7
)
 
(6.9
)
Other liabilities
—

 
—

 
(1.3
)
Total acquisition cost
$
134.4

 
$
128.0

 
$
1,177.5

Fiscal 2014
On January 1, 2014, Post completed its acquisition of all the stock of Agricore United Holdings Inc. (“Agricore”) from Viterra Inc. Agricore is the parent company of Dakota Growers, a manufacturer of dry pasta for the private label, foodservice and ingredient markets. The purchase price for the transaction was $370.0 in cash, subject to a working capital adjustment, which resulted in a

53

payment at closing of $366.2 . In May 2014, a final settlement of net working capital and other adjustments was reached, resulting in a payment to the Company of $6.5 . Dakota Growers is reported in Post’s Michael Foods Group segment (see Note 20). Based upon the purchase price allocation, the Company recorded $127.2 of customer relationships to be amortized over a weighted-average period of 12.5 years and $22.8 to trademarks/brands to be amortized over a weighted-average period of 18.9 years.
On February 1, 2014, Post completed its acquisition of Dymatize, a manufacturer and marketer of premium protein powders, bars and nutritional supplements. The purchase price for the transaction was  $380.0 in cash, subject to a working capital adjustment, which resulted in a payment at closing of  $392.5 . In September 2015, a final settlement of net working capital and other adjustments was reached, resulting in a payment to the Company of $12.0 , of which $2.5 relieved a previously recorded receivable and the remaining $9.5 was recorded as “Selling, general and administrative expenses.” Dymatize is reported in Post’s Active Nutrition segment (see Note 20). Based upon the purchase price allocation, the Company has recorded $136.8 of customer relationships to be amortized over a weighted-average period of 18 years and $121.1 to trademarks/brands to be amortized over a weighted-average period of 20 years.
On February 1, 2014, Post completed its acquisition of Golden Boy, a manufacturer of private label peanut and other nut butters, as well as dried fruits and baking and snacking nuts. The purchase price for the transaction was CAD $320.0  in cash, subject to a working capital adjustment, which resulted in a payment at closing of approximately CAD $321.1 . In May 2014, a final settlement of net working capital and other adjustments was reached, resulting in an amount paid to the sellers of CAD $2.1 . Golden Boy is reported in Post’s Private Brands segment (see Note 20). Based upon the purchase price allocation, the Company recorded $82.6 of customer relationships to be amortized over a weighted-average period of 11 years, $28.9 to trademarks/brands to be amortized over a weighted-average period of 20 years, and $20.0 to other intangible assets to be amortized over a weighted-average period of 11 years.
On June 2, 2014, the Company completed its acquisition of Michael Foods from affiliates of GS Capital Partners, affiliates of Thomas H. Lee Partners and other owners, which is reported in Post’s Michael Foods Group segment (see Note 20). Michael Foods manufactures and distributes egg products and refrigerated potato products and also distributes cheese and other dairy case products to the retail, foodservice and food ingredient channels. The purchase price the Company paid for the transaction was approximately $2,450.0 , subject to working capital and other adjustments which resulted in a cash payment at closing of approximately $2,539.1 . In August 2014, a final settlement of net working capital and other adjustments was reached, resulting in an amount paid to Post of $10.0 . Based upon the purchase price allocation, the Company recorded $1,126.6 of customer relationships to be amortized over a weighted-average period of 20 years and $217.7 to trademarks/brands to be amortized over a weighted-average period of 19.3 years.
On August 1, 2014, Post Foods, LLC, a subsidiary of the Company, acquired a cereal brand and related inventory for $20.4 . The brand is reported as part of the Post Consumer Brands segment (see Note 20). Based upon the purchase price allocation, the Company recorded $11.8 of customer relationships to be amortized over a weighted-average period of 20 years and $2.6 to trademarks/brands to be amortized over a weighted-average period of 10 years. In addition to the intangibles acquired, the Company purchased $0.4 of inventory and recorded $5.6 of goodwill.
Each of the acquisitions was accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting, whereby the results of operations of each are included in the financial statements from the date of acquisition. The respective purchase prices were allocated to acquired assets and liabilities based on their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition, and any excess was allocated to goodwill, as shown in the following table and discussed above. Goodwill represents the value the Company expects to achieve through the implementation of operational synergies and the expansion of the business into new growing segments of the industry. The Company does not expect the final fair value of goodwill related to the acquisitions of Dakota Growers, Golden Boy and Michael Foods to be deductible for U.S. income tax purposes. The Company estimates approximately $104.4 of tax deductible goodwill and intangible assets will result from the Dymatize acquisition. The Company expects the fair value of goodwill generated by the cereal brand acquisition to be fully tax deductible.

54

 
Dakota Growers
 
Dymatize
 
Golden Boy
 
Michael Foods
Cash and cash equivalents
$
2.9

 
$
1.8

 
$
—

 
$
69.1

Restricted cash
—

 
—

 
—

 
3.4

Receivables
25.3

 
22.5

 
16.4

 
155.1

Income tax receivable
—

 
—

 
—

 
62.5

Inventories
43.4

 
41.0

 
29.8

 
175.7

Deferred tax asset - current
0.3

 
3.0

 
—

 
2.8

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
0.4

 
0.7

 
0.7

 
7.5

Property
86.0

 
15.7

 
10.5

 
328.3

Goodwill
160.5

 
114.9

 
154.1

 
1,181.1

Other intangible assets
150.0

 
257.9

 
131.5

 
1,344.3

Other assets
1.0

 
0.1

 
—

 
8.0

Current portion of long-term debt
—

 
—

 
—

 
(3.7
)
Accounts payable
(5.6
)
 
(17.5
)
 
(10.3
)
 
(109.0
)
Other current liabilities
(25.7
)
 
(8.2
)
 
(8.4
)
 
(79.5
)
Long-term debt
—

 
—

 
—

 
(8.4
)
Deferred tax liability - long-term
(78.4
)
 
(36.5
)
 
(33.8
)
 
(541.4
)
Other liabilities
(0.2
)
 
—

 
(2.1
)
 
(18.5
)
Total acquisition cost
$
359.9

 
$
395.4

 
$
288.4

 
$
2,577.3

The following table summarizes the provisional amounts recognized related to fiscal 2014 acquisitions as of September 30, 2014, as well as measurement period adjustments made in the year ended September 30, 2015 (all of which were recorded in the quarter ended March 31, 2015). All purchase price allocations for fiscal 2014 acquisitions are final as of September 30, 2015.
 
Acquisition Date Amounts Recognized as of September 30, 2014 (a)
 
Adjustments During the Twelve Months Ended September 30, 2015
 
Acquisition Date Amounts Recognized (as Adjusted)
Cash and cash equivalents
$
73.8

 
$
—

 
$
73.8

Restricted cash
3.4

 
—

 
3.4

Receivables (b) (d)
219.6

 
(0.3
)
 
219.3

Income tax receivable
62.5

 
—

 
62.5

Inventories
289.9

 
—

 
289.9

Deferred tax asset - current (b)
5.4

 
0.7

 
6.1

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
9.3

 
—

 
9.3

Property
440.5

 
—

 
440.5

Goodwill
1,605.4

 
5.2

 
1,610.6

Other intangible assets
1,883.7

 
—

 
1,883.7

Other assets
9.1

 
—

 
9.1

Current portion of long-term debt
(3.7
)
 
—

 
(3.7
)
Accounts payable (d)
(142.6
)
 
0.2

 
(142.4
)
Other current liabilities (d)
(121.5
)
 
(0.3
)
 
(121.8
)
Long-term debt
(8.4
)
 
—

 
(8.4
)
Deferred tax liability - long-term (b)
(697.1
)
 
7.0

 
(690.1
)
Other liabilities (b)
(11.8
)
 
(9.0
)
 
(20.8
)
Total acquisition cost (c)
$
3,617.5

 
$
3.5

 
$
3,621.0

Adjustments during the year ended September 30, 2015:
(a) As previously reported in Post’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 11, 2015;

55

(b) The adjustments to “Receivables,” “Deferred income taxes” and “Other liabilities” reflect: 1) the impact on deferred tax assets and related reserves for uncertain tax positions of certain state tax elections made on final pre-acquisition short period tax returns and 2) the impact of certain return to provision adjustments;
(c) Dymatize working capital adjustment; and
(d) Other Dymatize adjustments
Fiscal 2013
On December 31, 2012, the Company purchased substantially all of the assets of Attune Foods, Inc. (“Attune”) for approximately $9.2 of cash. On May 28, 2013, the Company completed its acquisition of certain assets of the branded and private label cereal, granola and snacks business of Hearthside Food Solutions (“Hearthside”) for approximately $159.9 of cash. The Company integrated this business with the Attune business and the combined results are reported in the Private Brands segment (see Note 20). Based upon the purchase price allocations for the Attune and Hearthside acquisitions, the Company recorded  $51.5  of customer relationships to be amortized over a weighted-average period of  19  years,  $14.2  to trademarks/brands to be amortized over a weighted-average period of  24 years, and  $1.6  to other intangible assets to be amortized over a weighted-average period of  2  years.
On September 3, 2013, the Company completed its acquisition of Premier Nutrition Corporation (“PNC”) for approximately $186.0 of cash. PNC is reported in Post’s Active Nutrition segment (see Note 20). Based upon the purchase price allocation, the Company recorded  $53.2  of customer relationships to be amortized over a weighted-average period of  19  years,  $56.3  to trademarks/brands to be amortized over a weighted-average period of  20  years, and  $3.1  to other intangible assets to be amortized over a weighted-average period of  5  years. During the first quarter of fiscal 2014, a final settlement of net working capital was reached, resulting in an increase in total consideration of approximately $0.1 and a corresponding increase in goodwill. In addition, during the second quarter of fiscal 2014, $1.2 of pre-acquisition net operating losses (“NOLs”) were identified and a deferred tax asset was recorded as well as a corresponding decrease to goodwill.
Each of the acquisitions was accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting, whereby the results of operations of each are included in the financial statements from the date of acquisition. The respective purchase prices were allocated to acquired assets and liabilities based on their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition, and any excess was allocated to goodwill, as shown in the following table. Goodwill represents the value the Company expects to achieve through the implementation of operational synergies and the expansion of the business into new growing segments of the industry. The Company expects that the final fair value of goodwill will be fully deductible for U.S. income tax purposes for the Attune and Hearthside acquisitions. The goodwill generated by Post’s acquisition of PNC will not be tax deductible for U.S. income tax purposes, however, certain goodwill generated by PNC business combinations in periods prior to Post’s acquisition transferred to Post and is expected to be tax deductible.  
 
Attune
 
Hearthside
 
PNC
Cash and cash equivalents
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
2.1

Receivables
0.5

 
5.5

 
11.3

Inventories
2.6

 
6.3

 
23.9

Deferred tax asset - current
—

 
—

 
6.9

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
0.1

 
0.2

 
2.8

Property
0.1

 
15.6

 
0.7

Goodwill
3.6

 
71.5

 
47.2

Other intangible assets
3.8

 
63.5

 
112.6

Accounts payable
(1.3
)
 
(2.1
)
 
(15.6
)
Other current liabilities
(0.2
)
 
(0.3
)
 
(2.4
)
Deferred tax liability - long-term
—

 
(0.3
)
 
(2.8
)
Other liabilities
—

 
—

 
(0.7
)
Total acquisition cost
$
9.2

 
$
159.9

 
$
186.0

Acquisition related costs
During the years ended September 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Company incurred acquisition related expenses of $14.1 ,  $29.7  and  $5.7 , respectively, recorded as “Selling, general and administrative expenses.” These costs include amounts for transactions that were signed, spending for due diligence on potential acquisitions that were not signed or announced at the time of the Company’s annual reporting, and spending for divestiture transactions.

56

Pro Forma Information
The following unaudited pro forma information presents a summary of the combined results of operations of the Company and the aggregate results of all businesses acquired in fiscal years 2015 , 2014 and 2013 for the periods presented as if the fiscal 2015 acquisitions had occurred on October 1, 2013, the fiscal 2014 acquisitions had occurred on October 1, 2012 and the fiscal 2013 acquisitions had occurred on October 1, 2011 along with certain pro forma adjustments. These pro forma adjustments give effect to the amortization of certain definite-lived intangible assets, adjusted depreciation based upon fair value of assets acquired, interest expense related to the financing of the business combinations, inventory revaluation adjustment on acquired business and related income taxes. The following unaudited pro forma information has been prepared for comparative purposes only and is 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. 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Pro forma net sales
$
5,123.1

 
$
5,005.8

 
$
3,874.7

Pro forma net (loss) earnings available to common shareholders
$
(89.9
)
 
$
(342.3
)
 
$
11.0

Pro forma basic (loss) earnings per share
$
(1.59
)
 
$
(8.62
)
 
$
0.34

Pro forma diluted (loss) earnings per share
$
(1.59
)
 
$
(8.62
)
 
$
0.33

NOTE 6 — GOODWILL
The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by segment are noted in the following table.
 
Post Consumer Brands
 
Michael Foods Group
 
Active Nutrition
 
Private Brands
 
Total
Balance, September 30, 2013
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Goodwill (gross)
$
1,794.1

 
$
—

 
$
48.3

 
$
75.1

 
$
1,917.5

Accumulated impairment losses
(427.8
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(427.8
)
Goodwill (net)
$
1,366.3

 
$
—

 
$
48.3

 
$
75.1

 
$
1,489.7

Goodwill acquired
5.6

 
1,347.2

 
104.1

 
154.1

 
1,611.0

Impairment loss
(181.3
)
 
—

 
(31.3
)
 
—

 
(212.6
)
Purchase price true-up adjustment
—

 
—

 
(1.1
)
 
—

 
(1.1
)
Currency translation adjustment
(0.4
)
 
—

 
—

 
0.1

 
(0.3
)
Balance, September 30, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Goodwill (gross)
$
1,799.3

 
$
1,347.2

 
$
151.3

 
$
229.3

 
$
3,527.1

Accumulated impairment losses
(609.1
)
 
—

 
(31.3
)
 
—

 
(640.4
)
Goodwill (net)
$
1,190.2

 
$
1,347.2

 
$
120.0

 
$
229.3

 
$
2,886.7

Goodwill acquired
195.6

 
—

 
18.6

 
49.6

 
263.8

Impairment loss
—

 
—

 
(57.0
)
 
—

 
(57.0
)
Purchase price true-up adjustment
—

 
(5.6
)
 
10.8

 
—

 
5.2

Currency translation adjustment
(1.0
)
 
—

 
—

 
(24.9
)
 
(25.9
)
Balance, September 30, 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Goodwill (gross)
$
1,993.9

 
$
1,341.6

 
$
180.7

 
$
254.0

 
$
3,770.2

Accumulated impairment losses
(609.1
)
 
—

 
(88.3
)
 
—

 
(697.4
)
Goodwill (net)
$
1,384.8

 
$
1,341.6

 
$
92.4

 
$
254.0

 
$
3,072.8

Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of acquired businesses over the fair market value of their identifiable net assets. The Company conducts a goodwill impairment qualitative assessment during the fourth quarter of each fiscal year following the annual forecasting process, or more frequently if facts and circumstances indicate that goodwill may be impaired. The goodwill impairment qualitative assessment requires an assessment to determine if it is more likely than not that the fair value of the business is less than its carrying amount. If adverse qualitative trends are identified that could negatively impact the fair value of the business, a quantitative goodwill impairment test is performed. In fiscal years 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Company elected not to perform a qualitative assessment and instead performed a quantitative impairment test for all reporting units.
The estimated fair value is determined using a combined income and market approach with a greater weighting on the income approach ( 75% of the calculation for all reporting units, excluding Dymatize and the international operations of PowerBar which are 100% ). The income approach is based on discounted future cash flows and requires significant assumptions, including estimates regarding future revenue, profitability, and capital requirements. The market approach ( 25% of the calculation for all reporting units, excluding Dymatize and the international operations of PowerBar which are 0% ) is based on a market multiple (revenue

57

and EBITDA which stands for earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, and amortization) and requires an estimate of appropriate multiples based on market data.
As of September 30, 2015, the Company recorded a charge of $57.0 for the impairment of goodwill. The impairment charge relates to the Active Nutrition segment and is primarily the result of fourth quarter production issues at Dymatize which resulted in the Company’s decision to close its manufacturing facility and permanently transfer production to third party facilities under co-manufacturing agreements.
As of September 30, 2014, the Company recorded a total charge of $212.6 for the impairment of goodwill. The Post Consumer Brands segment recognized $181.3 primarily resulting from the acceleration of declines within the branded ready-to-eat cereal category. Additionally, the expectation was that revenue and profit growth would be challenged in the medium to long-term. The Active Nutrition segment recognized charges of $31.3 resulting from reduced near-term profitability related to supply chain disruptions at Dymatize, which were identified subsequent to the initial valuation at the acquisition date of February 1, 2014, and incremental remediation expenses.
For the year ended September 30, 2013, the Company conducted an impairment review and concluded that there was no impairment of goodwill as of September 30, 2013.
These fair value measurements fell within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy as described in Note 13. The goodwill impairment losses are aggregated with trademark impairment losses in “Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
NOTE 7 — INCOME TAXES
The (benefit) provision for income taxes consisted of the following:
 
Year Ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Current:
 
 
 
 
 
Federal
$
59.5

 
$
0.9

 
$
33.0

State
2.9

 
—

 
3.2

Foreign
5.7

 
2.9

 
—

 
68.1

 
3.8

 
36.2

Deferred:
 
 
 
 
 
Federal
(116.0
)
 
(80.1
)
 
(26.8
)
State
(2.1
)
 
(7.3
)
 
(1.8
)
Foreign
(2.0
)
 
(0.1
)
 
(0.5
)
 
(120.1
)
 
(87.5
)
 
(29.1
)
Income tax (benefit) provision
$
(52.0
)
 
$
(83.7
)
 
$
7.1

A reconciliation of income tax (benefit) provision with amounts computed at the statutory federal rate follows:
 
Year Ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Computed tax at federal statutory rate (35%)
$
(58.6
)
 
$
(149.4
)
 
$
7.8

Non-deductible goodwill impairment loss
16.5

 
70.9

 
—

Non-deductible compensation
0.4

 
0.8

 
0.7

Non-deductible transaction costs
0.6

 
2.8

 
0.2

Domestic production activities deduction
(5.9
)
 
—

 
(2.9
)
State income taxes, net of effect on federal tax
(7.2
)
 
(6.6
)
 
1.0

Non-taxable interest income
(2.7
)
 
(2.9
)
 
—

Valuation allowances
6.7

 
2.3

 
—

Change in deferred tax rates
4.9

 
(0.9
)
 
0.3

Uncertain tax positions
(3.4
)
 
(0.2
)
 
0.1

Other, net (none in excess of 5% of computed tax)
(3.3
)
 
(0.5
)
 
(0.1
)
Income tax (benefit) provision
$
(52.0
)
 
$
(83.7
)
 
$
7.1

The effective tax rate for fiscal 2015 was 31.1% compared to 19.6% for fiscal 2014 and 31.8% for fiscal 2013.

58

The effective tax rate for fiscal 2015 was affected by incremental tax expense (benefit) of $16.5 related to the non-deductible goodwill impairment loss, $0.4 resulting from non-deductible compensation in accordance with the provisions of Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) section 162(m), $0.6 resulting from non-deductible outside service expenses incurred in relation to merger and acquisition transactions, $6.7 resulting from recording valuation allowances against the net deferred tax assets of various subsidiaries, $(2.7) resulting from the receipt of non-taxable interest income, $4.9 resulting from changes in deferred tax rates and $(3.4) resulting from changes in uncertain tax positions.
The effective tax rate for fiscal 2014 was affected by incremental tax expense (benefit) of $70.9 related to the non-deductible goodwill impairment loss, $0.8 resulting from non-deductible compensation in accordance with the provisions of IRC section 162(m), $2.8 resulting from non-deductible outside service expenses incurred in relation to merger and acquisition transactions, $2.3 resulting from recording a valuation allowance against the net deferred tax assets of a Canadian subsidiary, and $(2.9) resulting from the receipt of non-taxable interest income.
The effective tax rate for fiscal 2013 was affected by $0.7 of incremental tax expense resulting from non-deductible compensation in accordance with the provisions of IRC section 162(m), and $0.2 of incremental tax expense resulting from non-deductible outside service expenses incurred in relation to merger and acquisition transactions.
For fiscal 2015 and 2013, the effective tax rate was reduced by the effects of the Domestic Production Activities Deduction (“DPAD”) of $(5.9) and $(2.9) , respectively. There was no DPAD effect on the fiscal 2014 effective tax rate. The effective tax rate was also impacted in all three fiscal years by minor effects of shifts between the relative amounts of domestic and foreign income and state tax apportionment.
Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. Deferred tax assets (liabilities) were as follows:
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
Assets
 
Liabilities
 
Net
 
Assets
 
Liabilities
 
Net
Current:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accrued vacation, incentive and severance
$
21.4

 
$
—

 
$
21.4

 
$
6.5

 
$
—

 
$
6.5

Net operating loss carryforwards, credits
5.0

 
—

 
5.0

 
7.3

 
—

 
7.3

Stock-based and deferred compensation
0.6

 
—

 
0.6

 
2.7

 
—

 
2.7

Inventory
15.6

 
—

 
15.6

 
5.6

 
—

 
5.6

Accrued liabilities
4.5

 
—

 
4.5

 
7.1

 
—

 
7.1

Other items
5.4

 
(4.0
)
 
1.4

 
1.4

 
(3.3
)
 
(1.9
)
Total gross deferred income taxes, current
52.5

 
(4.0
)
 
48.5

 
30.6

 
(3.3
)
 
27.3

Valuation allowance
(0.8
)
 
—

 
(0.8
)
 
(0.3
)
 
—

 
(0.3
)
Total current deferred income taxes
51.7

 
(4.0
)
 
47.7

 
30.3

 
(3.3
)
 
27.0

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Noncurrent:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Property
—

 
(150.4
)
 
(150.4
)
 
—

 
(142.5
)
 
(142.5
)
Intangible assets
—

 
(819.6
)
 
(819.6
)
 
—

 
(863.1
)
 
(863.1
)
Pension and other postretirement benefits
47.4

 
—

 
47.4

 
42.9

 
—

 
42.9

Stock-based and deferred compensation
20.9

 
—

 
20.9

 
14.7

 
—

 
14.7

Derivative mark-to-market adjustments
48.8

 
—

 
48.8

 
15.4

 
—

 
15.4

Net operating loss carryforwards, credits
21.2

 
—

 
21.2

 
23.4

 
—

 
23.4

Other items
10.2

 
—

 
10.2

 
1.5

 
—

 
1.5

Total gross deferred income taxes, noncurrent
148.5

 
(970.0
)
 
(821.5
)
 
97.9

 
(1,005.6
)
 
(907.7
)
Valuation allowance
(10.3
)
 
—

 
(10.3
)
 
(7.4
)
 
—

 
(7.4
)
Total non-current deferred income taxes
138.2

 
(970.0
)
 
(831.8
)
 
90.5

 
(1,005.6
)
 
(915.1
)
Total deferred taxes
$
189.9

 
$
(974.0
)
 
$
(784.1
)
 
$
120.8

 
$
(1,008.9
)
 
$
(888.1
)
As of September 30, 2015, Post had federal net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards totaling approximately $85.1 which have expiration dates beginning in fiscal 2021 and extending through fiscal 2034 , state NOL carryforwards totaling approximately $112.3 which have expiration dates beginning in fiscal 2016 and extending through fiscal 2034 and NOL carryforwards in foreign jurisdictions of approximately $14.1 which have expiration dates beginning in fiscal 2026 and extending through fiscal 2034 .

59

Certain of these NOLs and carryforwards were acquired through acquisitions made during fiscal 2013 and 2014. As a result of these ownership changes, the deductibility of the NOLs is subject to limitation under section 382 of the IRC and similar limitations under state tax law. Giving consideration to the section 382 and state limitations, the Company believes it will generate sufficient taxable income to fully utilize the federal and certain state NOLs before they expire. Approximately $3.8 of the State NOLs have been offset by a valuation allowance based on management’s judgment that it is more likely than not that the benefits of those deferred tax assets will not be realized in the future.
The tax benefit of foreign NOLs and certain other deferred tax assets in foreign jurisdictions have been offset by a valuation allowance based on management’s judgment that it is more likely than not that the benefits of those deferred tax assets will not be realized in the future.
No provision has been made for income taxes on undistributed earnings of consolidated non-U.S. subsidiaries of $11.9 at September 30, 2015 since it is our intention to indefinitely reinvest undistributed earnings of our foreign subsidiaries. It is not practicable to estimate the additional income taxes and applicable foreign withholding taxes that would be payable on the remittance of such undistributed earnings.
For fiscal 2015, 2014 and 2013, foreign income (loss) before income taxes was $7.0 , $0.6 and $(2.0) , respectively.
Unrecognized Tax Benefits
The Company recognizes the tax benefit from uncertain tax positions only if it is “more likely than not” the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities. The tax benefits recognized from such positions are measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than fifty percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement. To the extent the Company’s assessment of such tax positions changes, the change in estimate will be recorded in the period in which the determination is made.
Unrecognized tax benefits activity for the years ended September 30, 2015 and 2014 is presented in the following table:
Unrecognized tax benefits, September 30, 2013
 
$
3.6

Additions for tax positions taken in current year and acquisitions
 
4.3

Reductions for tax positions taken in prior years
 
—

Settlements with tax authorities/statute expirations
 
(0.5
)
Unrecognized tax benefits, September 30, 2014
 
$
7.4

Additions for tax positions taken in current year and acquisitions
 
7.2

Reductions for tax positions taken in prior years
 
(2.8
)
Settlements with tax authorities/statute expirations
 
(0.5
)
Unrecognized tax benefits, September 30, 2015
 
$
11.3

The amount of the net unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would directly affect the effective tax rate is $7.9 at September 30, 2015. The Company believes that, due to expiring statutes of limitations and settlements with authorities, it is reasonably possible that the total unrecognized tax benefits may decrease by approximately $2.2 within twelve months of the reporting date.
The Company classifies tax-related interest and penalties as components of income tax expense. The accrued interest and penalties are not included in the table above. The Company had accrued interest and penalties of approximately $2.5 and $0.9 at September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2014, respectively. The Company had net expense of approximately $0.0 , $0.8 and $0.1 for interest and penalties in the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended September 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Interest and penalties were computed on the difference between the tax position recognized for financial reporting purposes and the amount previously taken on the Company’s tax returns.
Based on the provisions of the Tax Allocation Agreement between Post and its former owner, the former owner retained responsibility for income tax liabilities and income tax returns related to all periods prior to the separation date of February 3, 2012. U.S. federal, U.S. state and Canadian income tax returns for the tax years ended September 30, 2014, 2013 and 2012 are subject to examination by the tax authorities in each respective jurisdiction.
For the acquisitions made in 2015, 2014 and 2013, the seller generally retained responsibility for all income tax liabilities through the date of acquisition. With respect to the Michael Foods acquisition, Post assumed all income tax liabilities for those jurisdictions which remain subject to examination, consisting of tax years 2012 through the short year ended June 2, 2014, the date of acquisition.
NOTE 8 — (LOSS) EARNINGS PER SHARE
Basic (loss) earnings per share is based on the average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted (loss) earnings per share is based on the average number of shares used for the basic per share calculation, adjusted for the dilutive effect

60

of stock options, stock appreciation rights and restricted stock equivalents using the “treasury stock” method. The impact of potentially dilutive convertible preferred stock is calculated using the “if-converted” method. The Company’s tangible equity units (“TEUs”) (see Note 18) are assumed to be settled at the minimum settlement amount for weighted-average shares for basic (loss) earnings per share. For diluted (loss) earnings per share, the shares, to the extent dilutive, are assumed to be settled as described in Note 18.
 
Year ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Net (loss) earnings for basic (loss) earnings per share
$
(132.3
)
 
$
(358.6
)
 
$
9.8

Net (loss) earnings for diluted (loss) earnings per share
$
(132.3
)
 
$
(358.6
)
 
$
9.8

 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted-average shares outstanding
51.8

 
38.0

 
32.7

Effect of TEUs on weighted-average shares for basic (loss) earnings per share
4.9

 
1.7

 
—

Weighted-average shares for basic (loss) earnings per share
56.7

 
39.7

 
32.7

Effect of dilutive securities:
 
 
 
 
 
Stock options
—

 
—

 
0.1

Stock appreciation rights
—

 
—

 
0.1

Restricted stock awards
—

 
—

 
0.1

Total dilutive securities
—

 
—

 
0.3

Weighted-average shares for diluted (loss) earnings per share
56.7

 
39.7

 
33.0

 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic (loss) earnings per common share
$
(2.33
)
 
$
(9.03
)
 
$
0.30

Diluted (loss) earnings per common share
$
(2.33
)
 
$
(9.03
)
 
$
0.30

The following table details the securities that have been excluded from the calculation of weighted-average shares for diluted (loss) earnings per share as they were anti-dilutive.
 
Year ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Stock options
4.2

 
3.0

 
0.3

Stock appreciation rights
0.3

 
0.3

 
—

Restricted stock awards
0.5

 
0.4

 
—

TEUs
—

 
1.1

 
—

Preferred shares conversion to common
11.0

 
11.0

 
5.1

NOTE 9 — SUPPLEMENTAL OPERATIONS STATEMENT AND CASH FLOW INFORMATION
 
Year Ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Advertising and promotion expenses
$
137.3

 
$
121.8

 
$
118.4

Repair and maintenance expenses
92.1

 
58.6

 
41.6

Research and development expenses
16.8

 
10.2

 
8.6

Rent expense
23.3

 
11.3

 
4.8

Loss on foreign currency
6.0

 
14.0

 
0.1

Interest income
(0.8
)
 
(1.0
)
 
(0.3
)
Interest paid
235.5

 
143.3

 
76.3

Income taxes paid
46.4

 
11.9

 
25.5


61

NOTE 10 — SUPPLEMENTAL BALANCE SHEET INFORMATION
 
September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
Receivables, net
 
 
 
Trade
$
360.2

 
$
332.2

Income tax receivable
1.0

 
67.1

Other
7.0

 
15.8

 
368.2

 
415.1

Allowance for doubtful accounts
(2.0
)
 
(1.4
)
 
$
366.2

 
$
413.7

Inventories
 
 
 
Raw materials and supplies
$
142.5

 
$
99.2

Work in process
15.3

 
16.3

Finished products
286.8

 
235.8

Flocks
20.7

 
29.4

 
$
465.3

 
$
380.7

Accounts Payable
 
 
 
Trade
$
226.4

 
$
194.3

Book cash overdrafts
8.8

 
12.1

Other
30.0

 
18.6

 
$
265.2

 
$
225.0

Other Current Liabilities
 
 
 
Advertising and promotion
$
61.9

 
$
60.9

Accrued interest
58.6

 
47.8

Accrued compensation
109.0

 
32.4

Acquisition-related accruals
1.4

 
50.7

Income and other taxes payable
19.1

 
5.8

Other
79.8

 
71.7

 
$
329.8

 
$
269.3

Other Liabilities
 
 
 
Pension and other postretirement benefit obligations
$
124.1

 
$
114.1

Interest rate swaps
127.9

 
40.4

Accrued compensation - long-term
15.9

 
12.3

Other
22.3

 
15.6

 
$
290.2

 
$
182.4

NOTE 11 — ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS
 
September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Balance, beginning of year
$
1.4

 
$
0.3

 
$
0.3

Provision charged to expense
0.7

 
0.3

 
—

Write-offs, less recoveries
(0.3
)
 
(0.2
)
 
—

Impact of acquisitions
0.2

 
1.0

 
—

Balance, end of year
$
2.0

 
$
1.4

 
$
0.3

NOTE 12 — DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING
In the ordinary course of business, the Company is exposed to commodity price risks relating to the acquisition of raw materials and supplies, interest rate risks relating to floating rate debt, and foreign currency exchange rate risks relating to its foreign subsidiaries. The Company utilizes derivative financial instruments, including (but not limited to) futures contracts, option contracts, forward contracts and swaps, to manage certain of these exposures by hedging when it is practical to do so. The Company does not hold or issue financial instruments for speculative or trading purposes.
The Company maintains options, futures contracts and interest rate swaps which have been designated as economic hedges of raw materials, energy purchases and variable rate debt.

62

As of September 30, 2015, the notional amounts of commodity contracts and energy futures were $42.2 and $19.9 , respectively. These contracts relate to raw materials that generally will be utilized within the next 12 months. At September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2014, the Company had pledged collateral of $10.7 and $12.6 , respectively, related to its commodity and energy hedging contracts. These amounts are classified as “Restricted cash” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
As of September 30, 2015, the Company had interest rate swaps with a notional amount of $727.6 that obligate Post to pay a fixed rate of 3.1% and receive one-month LIBOR and will result in cash payments beginning in June 2016 and ending in May 2021. In addition, the Company has interest rate swaps with a  $750.0  notional amount that obligate Post to pay a weighted average fixed rate of approximately  4.0%  and receive three-month LIBOR and will result in a net settlement in July 2018.
Commodity and energy derivatives are valued using an income approach based on index prices less the contract rate multiplied by the notional amount. The Company’s calculation of the fair value of interest rate swaps is derived from a discounted cash flow analysis based on the terms of the contract and the relevant interest rate curve.
The following tables present the balance sheet location and fair value of the Company’s derivative instruments on a gross and net basis as of September 30, 2015 and 2014.
 
 
 
 
Fair Value of Assets as of September 30, 2015
 
 
Balance Sheet Location
 
Gross Amounts of Recognized Assets
 
Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet
 
Net Amounts of Assets Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheet
Commodity contracts
 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
 
$
0.4

 
$
—

 
$
0.4

Energy futures
 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
 
0.2

 
—

 
0.2

 
 
 
 
$
0.6

 
$
—

 
$
0.6

 
 
 
 
Fair Value of Liabilities as of September 30, 2015
 
 
Balance Sheet Location
 
Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities
 
Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet
 
Net Amounts of Liabilities Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheet
Commodity contracts
 
Other current liabilities
 
$
1.2

 
$
—

 
$
1.2

Energy futures
 
Other current liabilities
 
4.7

 
—

 
4.7

Interest rate swaps
 
Other current liabilities
 
4.9

 
—

 
4.9

Interest rate swaps
 
Other liabilities
 
127.9

 
—

 
127.9

 
 
 
 
$
138.7

 
$
—

 
$
138.7

 
 
 
 
Fair Value of Liabilities as of September 30, 2014
 
 
Balance Sheet Location
 
Gross Amounts of Recognized Liabilities
 
Gross Amounts Offset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet
 
Net Amounts of Liabilities Presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheet
Commodity contracts
 
Other current liabilities
 
$
8.0

 
$
—

 
$
8.0

Energy futures
 
Other current liabilities
 
0.9

 
—

 
0.9

Interest rate swaps
 
Other current liabilities
 
2.7

 
—

 
2.7

Interest rate swaps
 
Other liabilities
 
40.4

 
—

 
40.4

 
 
 
 
$
52.0

 
$
—

 
$
52.0

The following table presents the recognized (gain) or loss from derivative instruments that were not designated as qualified hedging instruments on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended September 30, 2015 , 2014 and 2013 .

63

 
 
Location of (Gain) Loss Recognized in Earnings
 
Amount of (Gain) Loss Recognized in Earnings
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Commodity contracts
 
Cost of goods sold
 
$
(5.2
)
 
$
12.4

 
$
0.6

Energy futures
 
Cost of goods sold
 
12.8

 
0.4

 
0.3

Foreign exchange contracts
 
Selling, general and administrative expenses
 
—

 
6.3

 
—

Interest rate swaps
 
Other expense
 
92.5

 
35.5

 
—

NOTE 13 — FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
The following table presents the assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis and the basis for that measurement according to the levels in the fair value hierarchy in ASC Topic 820:
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deferred compensation investment
$
10.3

 
$
10.3

 
$
—

 
$
10.2

 
$
10.2

 
$
—

Derivative assets
0.6

 
—

 
0.6

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
$
10.9

 
$
10.3

 
$
0.6

 
$
10.2

 
$
10.2

 
$
—

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deferred compensation liabilities
$
14.2

 
$
—

 
$
14.2

 
$
12.3

 
$
—

 
$
12.3

Derivative liabilities
138.7

 
—

 
138.7

 
52.0

 
—

 
52.0

 
$
152.9

 
$
—

 
$
152.9

 
$
64.3

 
$
—

 
$
64.3

The following table represents the fair value of Post’s long-term debt which is not recorded at fair value in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, but is classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy per ASC Topic 820:
 
September 30,
2015
 
September 30,
2014
Senior notes
$
4,112.5

 
$
2,768.2

Term loan
374.0

 
872.9

TEUs (debt component; see Note 18)
28.6

 
29.5

4.57% 2012 Series Bond maturing September 2017
2.9

 
4.8

Secured notes
—

 
1.1

Capital leases
2.8

 
3.8

 
$
4,520.8

 
$
3,680.3

The fair value hierarchy is based on inputs to valuation techniques that are used to measure fair value that are either observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability based on market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect a reporting entity’s pricing based upon their own market assumptions. The fair value hierarchy consists of three levels: 
Level 1  — Inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
Level 2  — Inputs are quoted prices of similar assets or liabilities in an active market, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable and market-corroborated inputs which are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data.
  Level 3  — Inputs are derived from valuation techniques in which one or more significant inputs or value drivers are unobservable.
The deferred compensation investment is invested primarily in mutual funds and its fair value is measured using the market approach. This investment is in the same funds and purchased in substantially the same amounts as the participants’ selected investment options (excluding Post common stock equivalents), which represent the underlying liabilities to participants in the Company’s deferred compensation plans. Deferred compensation liabilities are recorded at amounts due to participants in cash, based on the fair value of participants’ selected investment options (excluding certain Post common stock equivalents to be

64

distributed in shares) using the market approach. The Company utilizes the income approach to measure fair value for its derivative assets, which include commodity options and futures contracts. The income approach uses pricing models that rely on market observable inputs such as yield curves and forward prices.
Refer to Note 12 for the classification of changes in fair value of derivative assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis within the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
As stated previously (see Note 4), the Company has land, building and equipment classified as assets held for sale as of September 30, 2015 and 2014 related to the closure of its Modesto, California facility as well as equipment held for sale at September 30, 2015 related to the closure of its Dymatize facility. At September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2014, the carrying value and estimated fair value less estimated costs to sell of the assets held for sale was  $11.4 and $16.4 , respectively, and is included in “Prepaid expenses and other current assets” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The fair value of the assets held for sale related to the Modesto, California facility were measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis based on a third-party offer to purchase the facility. The fair value of the assets held for sale related to the Dymatize machinery and equipment was measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis based on information provided by external sources, along with management’s own assumptions. The fair value measurement was categorized as Level 3, as the fair values utilize significant unobservable inputs.
The carrying amounts reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheets for cash and cash equivalents, receivables and accounts payable approximate fair value because of the short maturities (less than 12 months) of these financial instruments.
NOTE 14 — LONG-TERM DEBT
Long-term debt as of the dates indicated consists of the following:
 
September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
7.375% Senior Notes maturing February 2022
$
1,375.0

 
$
1,375.0

6.75% Senior Notes maturing December 2021
875.0

 
875.0

6.00% Senior Notes maturing December 2022
630.0

 
630.0

7.75% Senior Notes maturing March 2024
800.0

 
—

8.00% Senior Notes maturing July 2025
400.0

 
—

Term Loan
374.4

 
882.8

TEUs (see Note 18)
25.1

 
38.4

4.57% 2012 Series Bond maturing September 2017
2.9

 
4.8

Secured notes
—

 
1.1

Capital leases
2.8

 
3.8

 
4,485.2

 
3,810.9

Less: Current Portion
(16.0
)
 
(25.6
)
Plus: Unamortized premium (discount), net
42.2

 
45.2

Total long-term debt
$
4,511.4

 
$
3,830.5

On February 3, 2012, the Company issued 7.375% senior notes due in February 2022 in an aggregate principal amount of $775.0 to Post’s former owner pursuant to a contribution agreement in connection with the internal reorganization. The 7.375% senior notes were issued pursuant to an indenture dated as of February 3, 2012 among the Company, Post Foods, LLC, as guarantor, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee.
On October 25, 2012, the Company issued additional 7.375% senior notes with an aggregate principal value of $250.0 at a price of 106% of par value. On July 18, 2013, the Company issued additional 7.375% senior notes with an aggregate principal value of $350.0 at a price of 105.75% of par value. The premiums related to these 7.375% senior notes are amortized as a reduction to interest expense over the term of the senior notes. Interest payments on the 7.375% senior notes are due semi-annually each February 15 and August 15.
On November 18, 2013, the Company issued $525.0 principal value of 6.75% senior notes due in December 2021. The 6.75% senior notes were issued at par and the Company received $516.2 after paying investment banking and other fees of $8.8 , which will be deferred and amortized to interest expense over the terms of the notes. On March 19, 2014, the Company issued an additional $350.0 principal value of 6.75% senior notes due in December 2021. The additional 6.75% senior notes were issued at 105.75% of par value and the Company received $364.0 after paying investment banking and other fees of $6.1 , which will be deferred and amortized to interest expense over the term of the notes. Interest payments on the 6.75% senior notes are due semi-annually each June 1 and December 1.

65

On June 2, 2014, the Company issued $630.0 principal value of 6.00% senior notes due in December 2022. The 6.00% senior notes were issued at par and the Company received $619.0 after paying investment banking and other fees of $11.0 , which will be deferred and amortized to interest expense over the term of the notes. Interest payments on the 6.00% senior notes are due semi-annually each June 15 and December 15.
On August 18, 2015, the Company issued $800.0 principal value of 7.75% senior notes due in March 2024 and $400.0 principal value of 8.00% senior notes due in July 2025. The 7.75% and 8.00% senior notes were issued at par. The Company received $1,187.9 after paying investment banking and other fees of $12.1 , which will be deferred and amortized to interest expense over the term of the notes. Interest payments on the 7.75% senior notes are due semi-annually each March 15 and September 15. Interest payments on the 8.00% senior notes are due semi-annually each January 15 and July 15.
All of the Company’s senior notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on a senior unsecured basis by each of our existing and future material domestic subsidiaries, with the exception of immaterial subsidiaries (the “Guarantors”). Our foreign subsidiaries do not guarantee the senior notes. These guarantees are subject to release in limited circumstances (only upon the occurrence of certain customary conditions). See Note 21 for additional information.
On January 29, 2014, the Company entered into a Credit Agreement (as amended, the “Credit Agreement”) among the Company, the institutions from time to time party thereto as Lenders (the “Lenders”), Barclays Bank PLC, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Goldman Sachs Bank USA and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners, Barclays Bank PLC, as Syndication Agent, Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch and Goldman Sachs Bank USA, as Documentation Agents, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent for the Lenders. The Credit Agreement, together with a Joinder Agreement No. 1, dated May 1, 2014, provided for a revolving credit facility in an aggregate principal amount of $400.0 (the “Revolving Credit Facility”) and potential incremental revolving and term facilities at the request of the Company and at the discretion of the Lenders, on terms to be determined and in a maximum aggregate amount not to exceed the greater of $600.0 and an amount such that the Company’s pro forma senior secured leverage ratio would not exceed 2.50 to 1.00. The outstanding amounts under the Revolving Credit Facility must be repaid on or before January 29, 2019. The Company incurred $3.6 of issuance costs in connection with the Credit Agreement. The revolving credit facility has outstanding letters of credit of $4.2 which reduces the available borrowing capacity to $395.8 at September 30, 2015.
Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at the Eurodollar Rate or the Base Rate (as such terms are defined in the Credit Agreement) plus an applicable margin ranging from 2.00% to 2.50% for Eurodollar Rate-based loans and from 1.00% to 1.50% for Base Rate-based loans, depending upon the Company’s senior secured leverage ratio.
On June 2, 2014, the Company entered into a Joinder Agreement No. 2 (the “Joinder No. 2”), by and among Barclays Bank PLC, the Company and the guarantors party thereto, and consented to by Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent. The Joinder No. 2 provided for, upon completion of the acquisition of Michael Foods and subject to certain other conditions, an incremental term loan of $885.0 (the “Prior Term Loan”) under the Company’s existing Credit Agreement. Pursuant to the Joinder No. 2, the Company borrowed approximately $885.0 as a Term Loan under the Credit Agreement. The loan was issued at 99.5% of par and the Company received $860.9 after accounting for the original issue discount of $4.4 and paying investment banking and other fees of $19.7 .
On March 6, 2015, the Company entered into a Second Amendment to the Credit Agreement. On May 4, 2015, Post entered into a Joinder Agreement No. 3 (the “Joinder No. 3”), by and among Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, the Company and the guarantors party thereto, and consented to by Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent. The Joinder No. 3 provided for, in connection with the completion of the Company’s acquisition of MOM Brands, an incremental term loan of $700.0 (the “New Term Loan”) under the Company’s Credit Agreement. The Company incurred $19.4 of issuance costs in connection with the Credit Agreement and the New Term Loan as of September 30, 2015. The outstanding amounts under the New Term Loan bear interest at the same rate as the outstanding amounts under the Prior Term Loan. On May 4, 2015, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association resigned as Administrative Agent under the Credit Agreement and was replaced by Barclays Bank PLC.
The Company utilized a portion of the net proceeds from the issuance of the 7.75% senior notes and the 8.00% senior notes, together with the net proceeds from the August 18, 2015 common stock issuance to repay $1,200.0 of the Prior Term Loan and the New Term Loan outstanding under the Credit Agreement. As a result of this repayment, the Company is no longer required to make quarterly term loan principal installment payments. In connection with the early repayment of the term loan, the Company expensed $30.0 of deferred financing fees and unamortized debt discount in the year ended September, 30, 2015.
The Credit Agreement contains customary affirmative and negative covenants for agreements of this type, including delivery of financial and other information, compliance with laws, maintenance of property, existence, insurance and books and records, inspection rights, obligation to provide collateral and guarantees by new subsidiaries, limitations with respect to indebtedness, liens, fundamental changes, restrictive agreements, use of proceeds, amendments of organization documents, accounting changes, prepayments and amendments of indebtedness, dispositions of assets, acquisitions and other investments, transactions with affiliates, dividends and redemptions or repurchases of stock, capital expenditures, and granting liens on certain real property. The

66

Credit Agreement also contains customary financial covenants including: (a) a quarterly maximum senior secured leverage ratio of  3.00  to 1.00, and (b) a quarterly minimum interest coverage ratio of  1.75  to 1.00. With limited exceptions, the Credit Agreement permits the Company to incur additional unsecured debt only if its consolidated interest coverage ratio, calculated as provided in the Credit Agreement, would be greater than  2.00  to 1.00 after giving effect to such new debt.
The Credit Agreement provides for customary events of default, including material breach of representations and warranties, failure to make required payments, failure to comply with certain agreements or covenants, failure to pay, or default under, certain other material indebtedness, certain events of bankruptcy and insolvency, inability to pay debts, the occurrence of one or more unstayed or undischarged judgments in excess of $75.0 , or attachments issued against a material part of the Company’s property, change in control, the invalidity of any loan document, the failure of the collateral documents to create a valid and perfected first priority lien and certain ERISA events. Upon the occurrence of an event of default, the maturity of the loans under the Credit Agreement may be accelerated and the agent and lenders under the Credit Agreement may exercise other rights and remedies available at law or under the loan documents, including with respect to the collateral and guarantees for the Company’s obligations under the Credit Agreement.
The Company’s obligations under the Credit Agreement are unconditionally guaranteed by each of its existing and subsequently acquired or organized material domestic subsidiaries. The Company’s obligations under the Credit Agreement are secured by security interests on substantially all of the personal property assets of the Company and the Guarantors and are secured by the material domestic real property assets of the Company and the Guarantors.
In February 2014, the Company paid $2.5 of financing fees to the underwriters of a financing commitment the Company entered into in September 2013 to fund our acquisition of Dakota Growers. The commitment was not exercised and the Company expensed the full amount to interest expense in the year ended September 30, 2014. In addition, financing costs of $4.3 related to the unused bridge loan and $6.7 for the portion of the term loan commitment not used were immediately recorded to interest expense during the year ended September 30, 2014.
In connection with the acquisition of Michael Foods, the Company assumed debt consisting of a 4.57% 2012 Series Bond and the secured notes. The 4.57% 2012 Series Bond guarantees the repayment of certain industrial revenue bonds used for the expansion of the wastewater treatment facility in Wakefield, Nebraska. The bond bears interest at a rate of 4.57% and matures September 15, 2017. The secured notes, which had a maturity date of November 30, 2014 and were secured by equipment used in Michael Foods’ potato products facility, were paid in full on November 28, 2014.
At September 30, 2015, capital leases consisted of a lease, with an outstanding balance of $2.8 , on Michael Foods’ Winnipeg, Manitoba egg products processing facility which expires August 31, 2022.
Debt Covenants
The terms of the Credit Facility require the Company to comply with certain financial covenants consisting of ratios for maximum senior secured leverage and minimum interest expense coverage. As of September 30, 2015, the Company was in compliance with all such financial covenants. The Company does not believe non-compliance is reasonably likely in the foreseeable future.
NOTE 15 — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Legal Proceedings
Antitrust claims: In late 2008 and early 2009, some 22 class-action lawsuits were filed in various federal courts against Michael Foods, Inc. and approximately 20 other defendants (producers of shell eggs, manufacturers of processed egg products, and egg industry organizations), alleging violations of federal and state antitrust laws in connection with the production and sale of shell eggs and egg products, and seeking unspecified damages. In December 2008, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation ordered the transfer of all cases to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for coordinated and/or consolidated pretrial proceedings. Between late 2010 and early 2012, a number of companies, each of which would be part of the purported class in the antitrust action, brought separate actions against defendants. These “opt-out” cases, brought primarily by various grocery chains and food companies, assert the same allegations as in the main action. The opt-out cases are also pending in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania where they are being treated as related to the main action. On September 18, 2015, the court denied the motion of the Indirect Purchaser Plaintiffs for class certification. On September 21, 2015, the court granted the motion of the Direct Purchaser Plaintiffs to certify a shell-egg subclass, but denied their motion to certify an egg-products subclass.
Michael Foods received a Civil Investigative Demand (“CID”) issued by the Florida Attorney General on November 27, 2008, regarding an investigation of possible anticompetitive activities “relating to the production and sale of eggs or egg products.” The CID requested information and documents related to the pricing and supply of shell eggs and egg products, as well as Michael Foods’ participation in various programs of United Egg Producers. The Florida Attorney General’s Office has not taken any further

67

enforcement action during the pendency of proceedings in the civil antitrust litigation referenced above. Further compliance is suspended pending proceedings in the civil antitrust litigation referenced above.
Post does not believe it is possible to estimate the possible loss in connection with these litigated matters. Accordingly, the Company cannot predict what impact, if any, these matters and any results from such matters could have on the future results of operations.
Other:  The Company is subject to various other legal proceedings and actions arising in the normal course of business. In the opinion of management, based upon the information presently known, the ultimate liability, if any, arising from such pending legal proceedings, as well as from asserted legal claims and known potential legal claims which are likely to be asserted, taking into account established accruals for estimated liabilities (if any), are not expected to be material individually and in the aggregate to the consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. In addition, while it is difficult to estimate the potential financial impact of actions regarding expenditures for compliance with regulatory matters, in the opinion of management, based upon the information currently available, the ultimate liability arising from such compliance matters is not expected to be material to the consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Post’s operations are also subject to various federal, state and local laws and regulations with respect to environmental matters, including air quality, wastewater discharge and pretreatment, storm water, waste handling and disposal, and other regulations intended to protect public health and the environment. In the United States, the laws and regulations include the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The Company’s foreign facilities are subject to local and national regulations similar to those applicable to us in the United States. Additionally, many of the Michael Foods facilities discharge wastewater pursuant to wastewater discharge permits. The Company disposes of waste from its internal egg production primarily by transferring it to farmers for use as fertilizer and disposes of solid waste from potato processing primarily by transferring it to one or more processors who convert it to animal feed. Post has made, and will continue to make, expenditures to ensure environmental compliance.
Lease Commitments
Future minimum rental payments under noncancelable operating leases in effect as of September 30, 2015 were $14.3 , $13.6 , $8.4 , $7.6 , $6.1 and $10.9 for fiscal 2016 , 2017 , 2018 , 2019 , 2020 and thereafter, respectively.
NOTE 16 — PENSION AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS
The Company maintains qualified defined benefit plans in the United States and Canada for our Post Foods business. Certain of the Company’s employees are eligible to participate in the Company’s qualified and supplemental noncontributory defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans (partially subsidized retiree health and life insurance) or separate plans for Post Foods Canada Inc. The following disclosures reflect amounts related to the Company’s employees based on separate actuarial valuations, projections and certain allocations. Amounts for the Canadian plans are included in these disclosures and are not disclosed separately because they do not constitute a significant portion of the combined amounts.
Effective January 1, 2011, benefit accruals for defined benefit pension plans were frozen for all administrative employees and certain production employees.

68

The following table provides a reconciliation of the changes in the plans’ benefit obligations and fair value of assets over the two year period ended September 30, 2015 , and a statement of the funded status and amounts recognized in the combined balance sheets as of September 30 of both years.
 
Pension Benefits
 
Other Benefits
 
Year Ended
September 30,
 
Year Ended
September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Change in benefit obligation
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Benefit obligation at beginning of period
$
51.7

 
$
44.1

 
$
105.2

 
$
87.7

Service cost
3.8

 
3.5

 
2.0

 
1.9

Interest cost
2.2

 
2.2

 
4.8

 
4.5

Plan participants’ contributions
0.7

 
0.7

 
—

 
—

Actuarial loss (gain)
3.7

 
3.7

 
3.1

 
12.8

Benefits paid
(2.4
)
 
(1.9
)
 
(1.3
)
 
(1.1
)
Currency translation
(1.6
)
 
(0.6
)
 
(1.4
)
 
(0.6
)
Benefit obligation at end of period
$
58.1

 
$
51.7

 
$
112.4

 
$
105.2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Change in fair value of plan assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of period
$
41.9

 
$
32.1

 
$
—

 
$
—

Actual return on plan assets
(0.3
)
 
3.9

 
—

 
—

Employer contributions
6.2

 
7.7

 
1.3

 
1.1

Plan participants’ contributions
0.7

 
0.7

 
—

 
—

Benefits paid
(2.4
)
 
(1.9
)
 
(1.3
)
 
(1.1
)
Currency translation
(1.7
)
 
(0.6
)
 
—

 
—

Fair value of plan assets at end of period
44.4

 
41.9

 
—

 
—

Funded status
$
(13.7
)
 
$
(9.8
)
 
$
(112.4
)
 
$
(105.2
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amounts recognized in assets or liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other assets
$
0.5

 
$
1.2

 
$
—

 
$
—

Other current liabilities
—

 
—

 
(2.5
)
 
(2.1
)
Other liabilities
(14.2
)
 
(11.0
)
 
(109.9
)
 
(103.1
)
Net amount recognized
$
(13.7
)
 
$
(9.8
)
 
$
(112.4
)
 
$
(105.2
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net actuarial loss
$
15.1

 
$
9.6

 
$
26.7

 
$
25.3

Prior service cost (credit)
0.6

 
0.9

 
(1.3
)
 
(2.8
)
Total
$
15.7

 
$
10.5

 
$
25.4

 
$
22.5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine benefit obligation
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Discount rate — U.S. plans
4.55
%
 
4.56
%
 
4.60
%
 
4.61
%
Discount rate — Canadian plans
3.82
%
 
4.25
%
 
3.91
%
 
4.45
%
Rate of compensation increase — U.S. plans
3.00
%
 
3.00
%
 
3.00
%
 
3.00
%
Rate of compensation increase — Canadian plans
2.75
%
 
2.75
%
 
2.75
%
 
2.75
%
The accumulated benefit obligation exceeded the fair value of plan assets for the domestic pension plans at September 30, 2015 and September 30, 2014. The aggregate accumulated benefit obligation for pension plans was $55.1 at September 30, 2015 and $48.7 at September 30, 2014 .

69

The following tables provide the components of net periodic benefit cost for the plans and amounts recognized in other comprehensive income.
 
Pension Benefits
 
Year Ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Components of net periodic benefit cost
 
 
 
 
 
Service cost
$
3.8

 
$
3.5

 
$
4.2

Interest cost
2.2

 
2.2

 
1.8

Expected return on plan assets
(2.4
)
 
(2.0
)
 
(1.7
)
Recognized net actuarial loss
0.9

 
0.7

 
1.1

Recognized prior service cost
0.3

 
0.3

 
0.4

Curtailments/settlements/special termination benefits
—

 
—

 
1.7

Net periodic benefit cost
$
4.8

 
$
4.7

 
$
7.5

 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net benefit cost
 
 
 
 
 
Discount rate — U.S. plans
4.56
%
 
5.15
%
 
4.13
%
Discount rate — Canadian plans
4.25
%
 
4.87
%
 
4.25
%
Rate of compensation increase — U.S. plans
3.00
%
 
3.00
%
 
3.00
%
Rate of compensation increase — Canadian plans
2.75
%
 
2.75
%
 
3.00
%
Expected return on plan assets — U.S. plans
5.72
%
 
5.99
%
 
6.00
%
Expected return on plan assets — Canadian plans
6.00
%
 
6.00
%
 
6.25
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Changes in benefit obligation recognized in Total Comprehensive (Loss) Income
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss (gain)
$
6.4

 
$
1.7

 
$
(2.1
)
Recognized loss
(0.9
)
 
(0.7
)
 
(1.1
)
Recognized prior service cost
(0.3
)
 
(0.3
)
 
(0.4
)
Total recognized in other comprehensive income or loss (before tax effects)
$
5.2

 
$
0.7

 
$
(3.6
)

 
Other Benefits
 
Year Ended September 30,
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Components of net periodic benefit cost
 
 
 
 
 
Service cost
$
2.0

 
$
1.9

 
$
2.4

Interest cost
4.8

 
4.5

 
4.0

Recognized net actuarial loss
1.4

 
0.4

 
1.7

Recognized prior service credit
(1.6
)
 
(2.4
)
 
(1.1
)
Net periodic benefit cost
$
6.6

 
$
4.4

 
$
7.0

 
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted-average assumptions used to determine net benefit cost
 
 
 
 
 
Discount rate — U.S. plans
4.61
%
 
5.21
%
 
3.96
%
Discount rate — Canadian plans
4.45
%
 
5.01
%
 
4.39
%
Rate of compensation increase — U.S. plans
3.00
%
 
3.00
%
 
3.00
%
Rate of compensation increase — Canadian plans
2.75
%
 
2.75
%
 
3.00
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Changes in plan assets and benefit obligation recognized in Total Comprehensive (Loss) Income
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss (gain)
$
3.1

 
$
12.8

 
$
(14.9
)
Recognized loss
(1.4
)
 
(0.4
)
 
(1.7
)
Prior service credit
—

 
—

 
(3.5
)
Recognized prior service credit
1.6

 
2.4

 
1.1

Currency translation
(0.3
)
 
—

 
—

Total recognized in other comprehensive income or loss (before tax effects)
$
3.0

 
$
14.8

 
$
(19.0
)

70

For pension benefits, the estimated net actuarial loss and prior service cost (credit) expected to be reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into net periodic benefit cost during 2016 related to pension benefits are $1.1 and $0.3 , respectively. The corresponding amounts related to other postretirement benefits are $1.5 and $(1.1) , respectively.
The expected return on pension plan assets was determined based on historical and expected future returns of the various asset classes, using the target allocation. The broad target allocations are 50.0% equity securities (comprised of 27.5% U.S. equities and 22.5% foreign equities), 39.5% debt securities, 10.0% real assets and 0.5% cash. At September 30, 2015, equity securities were 48.6% , debt securities were 45.2% , real assets were 4.4% and other was 1.8% of the fair value of total plan assets, approximately 80.0% of which was invested in passive index funds. At September 30, 2014, equity securities were 55.8% , debt securities were 37.3% , real assets were 5.7% and other was 1.2% of the fair value of total plan assets, approximately 85.0% of which was invested in passive index funds. The allocation guidelines were established based on management’s determination of the appropriate risk posture and long-term objectives.
The following table represents the pension plan’s assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis and the basis for that measurement (for more information on the fair value framework in ASC Topic 820, refer to Note 13).
 
September 30, 2015
 
September 30, 2014
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
 
Total
 
Level 1
 
Level 2
Mutual funds:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equities
$
21.5

 
$
—

 
$
21.5

 
$
23.4

 
$
—

 
$
23.4

Bonds
4.8

 
4.8

 
—

 
2.6

 
2.6

 
—

Pooled Assets
3.9

 
—

 
3.9

 
3.0

 
—

 
3.0

Fixed income
11.4

 
—

 
11.4

 
10.0

 
—

 
10.0

Real assets
2.0

 
—

 
2.0

 
2.4

 
—

 
2.4

 
43.6

 
4.8

 
38.8

 
41.4

 
2.6

 
38.8

Cash
0.8

 
0.8

 
—

 
0.5

 
0.5

 
—

 
$
44.4

 
$
5.6

 
$
38.8

 
$
41.9

 
$
3.1

 
$
38.8

The fair value of mutual funds is based on quoted net asset values of the shares held by the plan at year end.
For September 30, 2015 measurement purposes, the assumed annual rate of increase in the future per capita cost of covered health care benefits related to domestic plans for 2016 was 8.0% and 6.2% for participants under the age of 65 and over the age of 65, respectively, declining gradually to an ultimate rate of 5.0% for 2022 and beyond. For September 30, 2014 measurement purposes, the assumed annual rate of increase in the future per capita cost of covered health care benefits related to domestic plans for 2015 was 8.5% and 6.4% for participants under the age of 65 and over the age of 65, respectively, declining gradually to an ultimate rate of 5.0% for 2022 and beyond. For September 30, 2015 and 2014 measurement purposes, the assumed annual rate of increase in the future per capita cost of covered health care benefits related to Canadian plans for the following fiscal year was 7.5% and 6.0% , respectively, declining gradually to an ultimate rate of 5.0% for 2021 and beyond for the year ended September 30, 2015 and 5.0% for 2017 and beyond for the year ended September 30, 2014. A 1% change in assumed health care cost trend rates would result in the following changes in the accumulated postretirement benefit obligation and in the total service and interest cost components for fiscal 2015 .
 
Increase
 
Decrease
Effect on postretirement benefit obligation
$
23.6

 
$
(18.5
)
Effect on total service and interest cost
1.6

 
(1.2
)
As of September 30, 2015 , expected future benefit payments and related federal subsidy receipts (Medicare Part D) in the next ten fiscal years were as follows:
 
2016
 
2017
 
2018
 
2019
 
2020
 
2021- 2025
Pension benefits
$
2.4

 
$
2.2

 
$
2.0

 
$
2.1

 
$
2.2

 
$
15.0

Other benefits
2.6

 
3.1

 
3.6

 
4.0

 
4.2

 
24.8

Subsidy receipts
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
0.1

 
1.5

In addition to the above expected benefit payments, the Company expects to make contributions of $6.1 to its defined benefit pension plans and $2.6 to its postretirement medical benefit plans during fiscal 2016.
In addition to the defined benefit plans described above, the Company sponsors a defined contribution 401(k) plan under which it makes matching contributions. The Company expensed $ 11.7 , $ 7.1 and $ 2.8 for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2015 , 2014 and 2013 , respectively.

71

NOTE 17 — STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
On February 3, 2012, the Company established the 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) which permits the issuance of various stock-based compensation awards up to 6.5 million shares. The Plan allows the issuance of stock options, stock appreciation rights, performance shares, restricted stock, restricted stock units or other awards. Awards issued under the Plan have a maximum term of 10 years, provided, however, that the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors may, in its discretion, grant awards with a longer term to participants who are located outside the United States.
Total compensation cost for cash and non-cash stock-based compensation awards recognized in the fiscal years ended 2015 , 2014 and 2013 was $29.2 , $16.6 and $12.0 , respectively, and the related recognized deferred tax benefit for each of those periods was approximately $10.6 , $5.4 and $3.9 , respectively. As of September 30, 2015 , the total compensation cost related to nonvested awards not yet recognized was $27.8 , which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.6 years.
In connection with an employee retirement and reorganization initiatives in fiscal 2015, the Company accelerated the vesting of unvested equity awards for four employees. As a result of this acceleration, the Company recorded $8.0 of incremental stock-based compensation expense in the year ended September 30, 2015.
Stock Appreciation Rights
Information about stock-settled stock appreciation rights (“SSAR”) is summarized in the following table. Upon exercise of each SSAR, the holder will receive the number of shares of Post common stock equal in value to the difference between the exercise price and the fair market value at the date of exercise, less all applicable taxes. The Company uses shares from the Plan to settle SSARs exercised. The total intrinsic value of SSARs exercised was $2.1 , $2.4 and $1.2 in the fiscal years ended September 30, 2015 , 2014 and 2013 , respectively.
 
 
Stock-Settled
Stock
Appreciation Rights
 
Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price Per Share
 
Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term in Years
 
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
Outstanding at September 30, 2014
266,856

 
$
28.68

 
 
 
 
Granted
40,000

 
51.14

 
 
 
 
Exercised
(64,521
)
 
19.75

 
 
 
 
Forfeited
—

 
—

 
 
 
 
Expired
—

 
—

 
 
 
 
Outstanding at September 30, 2015
242,335

 
34.76

 
6.40
 
$
6.0

Vested and expected to vest as of September 30, 2015
242,335

 
34.76

 
6.40
 
6.0

Exercisable at September 30, 2015
157,335

 
27.41

 
5.25
 
5.0

In 2015, 2014 and 2013, the Company granted 40,000 , 30,000 and 35,000 SSARs, respectively, to its non-management members of the Board of Directors. Due to vesting provisions of these awards the Company determined that these awards had subjective acceleration rights such that the Company expensed the grant date fair value upon issuance and recognized $0.7 , $0.5 and $0.4 of related expense for the years ended September 30, 2015 , 2014 and 2013 , respectively.
The following table provides the weighted-average grant date fair value of SSARs granted calculated using the Black-Scholes valuation model, which uses assumptions of expected life (term), expected stock price volatility, risk-free interest rate, and expected dividends (collectively, the “Black-Scholes Model”). The expected term is estimated based on the award’s vesting period and contractual term, along with historical exercise behavior on similar awards. Expected volatilities are based on historical volatility trends and other factors. The risk-free rate is the interpolated U.S. Treasury rate for a term equal to the expected term. The weighted average assumptions and grant date fair values for SSARs granted during fiscal years ended 2015 , 2014 and 2013 are summarized in the table below. For SSARs granted to Company employees prior to the separation from its former owner, the assumptions used in the Black-Scholes model were based on the former owner’s history and stock characteristics.
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Expected term (in years)
6.5
 
6.5
 
6.5
Expected stock price volatility
29.2%
 
28.3%
 
29.4%
Risk-free interest rate
1.58%
 
1.92%
 
1.26%
Expected dividends
0%
 
0%
 
0%
Fair value (per SSAR)
$16.72
 
$17.69
 
$12.19

72

Cash Settled Stock Appreciation Rights
 
Cash-Settled
Stock
Appreciation Rights
 
Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price Per Share
 
Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term in Years
 
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
Outstanding at September 30, 2014
20,628

 
$
18.10

 
 
 
 
Granted
100,000

 
47.70

 
 
 
 
Exercised
(1,587
)
 
18.10

 
 
 
 
Forfeited
—

 
—

 
 
 
 
Expired
—

 
—

 
 
 
 
Outstanding at September 30, 2015
119,041

 
42.97

 
8.86
 
$
1.9

Vested and expected to vest as of September 30, 2015
119,041

 
42.97

 
8.86
 
1.9

Exercisable at September 30, 2015
19,041

 
18.10

 
4.98
 
0.8

The fair value of each cash settled stock appreciation right (“SAR”) was estimated each reporting period using the Black-Scholes Model. The expected term is estimated based on the award’s vesting period and contractual term, along with historical exercise behavior on similar awards. Expected volatilities are based on historical volatility trends and other factors. The risk-free rate is the interpolated U.S. Treasury rate for a term equal to the expected term. The following table presents the assumptions used to remeasure the fair value of outstanding SARs at September 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013.
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Expected term
4.79
 
2.5
 
3.5
Expected stock price volatility
29.7%
 
27.6%
 
27.6%
Risk-free interest rate
1.26%
 
0.83%
 
0.82%
Expected dividends
0%
 
0%
 
0%
Fair value (per right)
$29.10
 
$15.80
 
$23.09
Stock Options
 
Stock Options
 
Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price Per Share
 
Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term in Years
 
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
Outstanding at September 30, 2014
3,020,000

 
$
34.21

 
 
 
 
Granted
1,625,000

 
49.74

 
 
 
 
Exercised
(470,000
)
 
32.91

 
 
 
 
Forfeited
—

 
—

 
 
 
 
Expired
—

 
—

 
 
 
 
Outstanding at September 30, 2015
4,175,000

 
40.40

 
7.73
 
$
78.1

Vested and expected to vest as of September 30, 2015
4,175,000

 
40.40

 
7.73
 
78.1

Exercisable at September 30, 2015
2,083,333

 
33.13

 
6.68
 
54.1

The fair value of each stock option was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes Model. The Company uses the simplified method for estimating a stock option term as it does not have sufficient historical share options exercise experience upon which to estimate an expected term. The expected term is estimated based on the award’s vesting period and contractual term, along with historical exercise behavior on similar awards. Expected volatilities are based on historical volatility trends and other factors. The risk-free rate is the interpolated U.S. Treasury rate for a term equal to the expected term. The weighted average assumptions and fair values for stock options granted during the years ended September 30, 2015 , 2014 and 2013 are summarized in the table below.

73

 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Expected term
5.3
 
5.2
 
7.8
Expected stock price volatility
27.93%
 
26.11%
 
28.32%
Risk-free interest rate
1.57%
 
1.48%
 
1.19%
Expected dividends
0%
 
0%
 
0%
Fair value (per option)
$7.22
 
$10.65
 
$11.54
Restricted Stock Units
 
Restricted Stock Units
 
Weighted
Average
Grant Date Fair Value Per Share
Nonvested at September 30, 2014
228,502

 
$
34.09

Granted
227,719

 
40.52

Vested
(217,638
)
 
33.75

Forfeited
(7,603
)
 
42.74

Nonvested at September 30, 2015
230,980

 
40.47

The grant date fair value of each restricted stock award was determined based upon the closing price of the Company’s stock on the date of grant. Of the 217,638 RSUs that vested in fiscal 2015 , 104,166 will be settled at a future date within 60 days after the holder of the RSUs is no longer an executive officer of the Company. The total vest date fair value of restricted stock units that vested during fiscal 2015 , 2014 and 2013 was $9.3 , $6.3 and $5.3 , respectively.
Cash Settled Restricted Stock Units
 
Cash-Settled
Restricted Stock Units
 
Weighted-
Average
Grant Date Fair Value Per Share
Nonvested at September 30, 2014
174,613

 
$
45.38

Granted
110,000

 
34.04

Vested
(58,997
)
 
40.04

Forfeited
(15,951
)
 
49.94

Nonvested at September 30, 2015
209,665

 
40.59

Cash settled restricted stock awards are liability awards and as such, their fair value is based upon the closing price of the Company’s stock for each reporting period, with the exception of 49,000 units that are valued at the greater of the closing stock price or the grant price of $51.43 . Cash used by the Company to settle restricted stock units was $3.4 , $1.8 and $1.1 for the years ended September 30, 2015 , 2014 and 2013 , respectively.
Deferred Compensation
Post provides for a deferred compensation plan for directors and key employees through which eligible participants may elect to defer payment of all or a portion of their compensation or bonus until some later date. Deferrals for employee participants may be made into Post common stock equivalents (Equity Option) or into a number of funds operated by The Vanguard Group Inc. with a variety of investment strategies and objectives (Vanguard Funds). Deferrals for director participants must be made into Post common stock equivalents and also receive a 33% matching contribution. Deferrals into the Equity Option are distributed in Post stock for employees and cash for directors, while deferrals into the Vanguard Funds are distributed in cash. There are no significant costs related to this deferred compensation plan. Post funds its deferred compensation liability (potential cash distributions) by investing in the Vanguard Funds in the same amounts as selected by the participating employees. Both realized and unrealized gains and losses on these investments are included in “Selling, general and administrative expenses” and offset the related change in the deferred compensation liability.
NOTE 18 — TANGIBLE EQUITY UNITS
In May 2014, the Company completed a public offering of 2.875 million TEUs, each with a stated value of $100.00 . Each TEU is comprised of a prepaid stock purchase contract and a senior amortizing note due June 1, 2017. The prepaid common stock purchase contracts were recorded as additional paid-in capital, net of issuance costs, and the senior notes have been recorded as

74

long-term debt. Issuance costs associated with the debt component were recorded as deferred financing costs within “Prepaid expenses and other current assets” and “Other assets” on the consolidated balance sheets and are being amortized using the effective interest rate method over the term of the instrument to June 1, 2017. Post allocated the proceeds from the issuance of the TEUs to equity and debt based on the relative fair values of the respective components of each TEU. The proceeds received in the offering were $278.6 , which were net of financing fees of $8.9 . The aggregate values assigned upon issuance of each component of the TEUs were as follows (amounts in millions except price per TEU):
 
Equity Component
 
Debt Component
 
TEUs Total
Price per TEU
$
85.48

 
$
14.52

 
$
100.00

Gross proceeds
$
245.7

 
$
41.8

 
$
287.5

Issuance costs
(7.6
)
 
(1.3
)
 
(8.9
)
Net proceeds
$
238.1

 
$
40.5

 
$
278.6

 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance sheet impact (at issuance)
 
 
 
 
 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets (deferred financing fees)
$
—

 
$
0.7

 
$
0.7

Other assets (deferred financing fees)
—

 
0.6

 
0.6

Current portion of long-term debt
—

 
13.3

 
13.3

Long-term debt
—

 
28.5

 
28.5

Additional paid-in capital
238.1

 
—

 
238.1

The senior amortizing note component of each TEU’s initial principal amount of  $14.5219 , bears interest at  5.25%  per annum and has a final installment payment date on June 1, 2017. The Company pays equal quarterly cash installments of  $1.3125  per amortizing note on March 1, June 1, September 1 and December 1 of each year. Payments commenced on September 1, 2014. Each installment constitutes a payment of interest and a partial repayment of principal. Unless settled earlier at the holder’s or the Company’s option, each purchase contract will automatically settle on June 1, 2017 (subject to postponement in certain limited circumstances), and the Company will deliver not more than 2.0964 shares and not less than 1.7114 shares of its common stock per purchase contract, each subject to adjustment. For each purchase contract, the Company will deliver on the third business day immediately following the last trading day of the observation period a number of shares of its common stock determined as described below. The “observation period” will be the 20  consecutive trading day period beginning on, and including, the 22nd scheduled trading day immediately preceding June 1, 2017 (the “mandatory settlement date”). The number of shares of the Company’s common stock issuable upon mandatory settlement of each purchase contract (the “settlement amount”) will be equal to the sum of the “daily settlement amounts” (as defined below) for each of the 20  consecutive trading days during the relevant observation period.
The daily settlement amount for each purchase contract and for each of the 20  consecutive trading days during the observation period will consist of:
•
if the daily volume-weighted average price (“VWAP”) is equal to or greater than $58.4325  per share (the “threshold appreciation price”), subject to adjustment, a number of shares of the Company’s common stock equal to (i) 1.7114  shares of common stock, subject to adjustment (the “minimum settlement rate”)  divided by  (ii) 20;
•
if the daily VWAP is less than $58.4325  per share, subject to adjustment, but greater than $47.70  per share (the “reference price”), subject to adjustment, a number of shares of the Company’s common stock equal to (i)  $100.00   divided by  the daily VWAP  (ii) divided by  20 ; and
•
if the daily VWAP of our common stock is less than or equal to $47.70  per share, subject to adjustment, a number of shares of the Company’s common stock equal to (i) 2.0964  shares of common stock, subject to adjustment (the “maximum settlement rate”),  divided by  (ii) 20.
The initial minimum settlement rate is approximately equal to the TEU stated amount of $100.00  divided by the initial threshold appreciation price of $58.4325 per share. The initial maximum settlement rate is approximately equal to the TEU stated amount of $100.0  divided by the initial reference price of $47.70 per share.
NOTE 19 — SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
In fiscal 2014, the Company issued approximately 3.2 million shares of its 2.5% Series C Cumulative Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock and received net proceeds of $310.2 after paying offering-related fees and expenses of approximately $9.8 . The preferred stock has a $0.01 par value per share and a $100.00 liquidation value per share. The preferred stock earns cumulative dividends at a rate of 2.5% per annum payable quarterly on February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15, beginning on

75

February 15, 2014. The preferred stock is non-voting and ranks senior to our outstanding common stock upon the Company’s dissolution or liquidation. The preferred stock has no maturity date; however, holders of the preferred stock may convert their preferred stock at an initial conversion rate of 1.8477 shares of the Company’s common stock per share of convertible preferred stock, which is equivalent to a conversion price of $54.12 per share of common stock. Additionally, on or after February 15, 2019, the Company will have the option to redeem some or all the preferred stock at a redemption price equal to 100% of the liquidation preference per share, plus accrued and unpaid dividends if the closing sale price of the Company’s common stock has been at least 150% of the conversion price then in effect for at least 20 trading days during any 30 consecutive trading day period.
In March 2014, the Company issued 5.75 million shares of common stock at a price to the public of $55.00 per share. The Company received net proceeds of $303.5 after paying offering related fees and expenses of approximately $12.8 .
In May 2014, the Company issued 6.33 million shares of common stock at a price to the public of $47.70 per share. The Company received net proceeds of $289.9 after paying offering-related fees and expenses of approximately $11.8 .
In February 2015, the Company issued 7.48 million shares of common stock at a price to the public of  $47.50  per share. The Company received net proceeds of  $341.4  after paying offering related fees and expenses of approximately  $13.7 .
On May 4, 2015, the Company completed its acquisition of MOM Brands. The purchase price was partially funded by the issuance of 2.45 million shares of the Company’s common stock to the former owners of MOM Brands. The shares were valued at the May 1, 2015 closing price of $46.60 per share for a total issuance of $114.4 . The Company did not receive any of the proceeds from these shares of common stock.
In August 2015, the Company issued 6.73 million shares of common stock at a price to the public of  $60.00  per share. The Company received net proceeds of  $391.3  after paying offering related fees and expenses of approximately  $12.3 .
Reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into accumulated deficit for the reported periods include the amortization of actuarial loss and prior service cost (credit) for pension and postretirement benefits totaling $1.0 , $(1.0) and $2.1 for the years ended September 30, 2015 , 2014 and 2013 , respectively. Amounts are primarily classified as “Cost of goods sold” on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
NOTE 20 — SEGMENTS
During the third quarter of fiscal 2015, the Company reorganized its management reporting and realigned its reportable segments in accordance with ASC 280, “Segment Reporting.” At September 30, 2015, the reportable segments were as follows:
•
Post Consumer Brands: primarily consisting of RTE cereals;
•
Michael Foods Group: including the predominantly foodservice and food ingredient egg, potato and pasta businesses and the retail cheese business;
•
Active Nutrition: including protein shakes, bars and powders and nutritional supplements; and
•
Private Brands: primarily consisting of peanut and other nut butters, dried fruit and nuts, and granola.
Management evaluates each segment’s performance based on its segment profit, which is its operating profit before impairment of property and intangible assets, facility closure related costs, restructuring expenses, losses on assets held for sale, gain on sale of plant and other unallocated corporate income and expenses. During the first quarter of fiscal 2015, the Company changed its methodology for allocating certain corporate costs to segment profit. Accordingly, segment profit for the years ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 has been adjusted to align with current year presentation.
Post’s external revenues were primarily generated by sales within the United States; foreign (primarily located in Canada) sales were approximately 9% of total net sales. Sales are attributed to individual countries based on the address to which the product is shipped.
As of September 30, 2015 and 2014 , the majority of Post’s tangible long-lived assets were located in the United States; the remainder is located primarily in Canada and has a net carrying value of approximately $47.2 and $56.0 , respectively.
In the fiscal years ended September 30, 2015 , 2014 and 2013 , one customer accounted for $464.1 , $276.8 and $206.1 , respectively, or approximately 10% , 11% and 20% of total net sales, respectively. Each of the segments sells products to this major customer.
The following tables present information about the Company’s operating segments, which are also its reportable segments. Note that “Additions to property and intangibles” excludes additions through business acquisitions (see Note 5) and includes the non-monetary portion of the asset exchange (see Note 2).

76

 
 
 
Year Ended September 30,
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
2013
Net Sales
 
 
 
 
 
 
Post Consumer Brands
$
1,260.8

 
$
963.1

 
$
982.8

 
Michael Foods Group
2,305.7

 
874.8

 
—

 
Active Nutrition
555.0

 
293.3

 
13.9

 
Private Brands
529.7

 
280.6

 
37.8

 
Eliminations
(3.0
)
 
(0.7
)
 
(0.4
)
 
Total
$
4,648.2

 
$
2,411.1

 
$
1,034.1

Segment Profit (Loss)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Post Consumer Brands
$
205.5

 
$
173.4

 
$
174.1

 
Michael Foods Group
188.2

 
21.6

 
—

 
Active Nutrition
(13.8
)
 
(1.8
)
 
1.0

 
Private Brands
41.5

 
19.0

 
2.5

 
Total segment profit
421.4

 
212.2

 
177.6

General corporate expenses and other
147.9

 
124.3

 
66.9

Impairment of goodwill and other intangibles
60.8

 
295.6

 
2.9

Interest expense
287.5

 
183.7

 
85.5

Other expense, net
92.5

 
35.5

 
—

(Loss) earnings before income taxes
$
(167.3
)
 
$
(426.9
)
 
$
22.3

Additions to property and intangibles
 
 
 
 
 
 
Post Consumer Brands
$
19.6

 
$
37.0

 
$
24.7

 
Michael Foods Group
60.5

 
29.2

 
—

 
Active Nutrition
7.2

 
2.0

 
—

 
Private Brands
6.2

 
37.6

 
—

 
Corporate
27.0

 
9.7

 
8.1

 
Total
$
120.5

 
$
115.5

 
$
32.8

Depreciation and amortization
 
 
 
 
 
 
Post Consumer Brands
$
71.2

 
$
51.6

 
$
58.8

 
Michael Foods Group
142.3

 
56.6

 
—

 
Active Nutrition
26.9

 
17.0

 
0.5

 
Private Brands
24.9

 
15.7

 
2.6

 
 
Total segment depreciation and amortization
265.3

 
140.9

 
61.9

 
Corporate and accelerated depreciation
7.5

 
14.9

 
14.9

 
Total
$
272.8

 
$
155.8

 
$
76.8

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
September 30,
 
 
 
2015
 
2014
 
 
Assets, end of year
 
 
 
 
 
 
Post Consumer Brands
$
3,473.0

 
$
2,325.1

 
 
 
Michael Foods Group
3,506.0

 
3,726.5

 
 
 
Active Nutrition
645.4

 
607.1

 
 
 
Private Brands
651.6

 
558.6

 
 
 
Corporate
944.4

 
513.8

 
 
 
Total
$
9,220.4

 
$
7,731.1

 
 

77

NOTE 21 — CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF GUARANTORS
All of the Company’s senior notes (see Note 14) are fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on a senior unsecured basis by each of our existing 100% owned domestic subsidiaries and future domestic subsidiaries, the “Guarantors.” Our foreign subsidiaries, the “Non-Guarantors,” do not guarantee the senior notes. These guarantees are subject to release in limited circumstances (only upon the occurrence of certain customary conditions).
Set forth below are the condensed consolidating financial statements presenting the results of operations, financial position and cash flows of the Parent Company (Post Holdings, Inc.), the Guarantors on a combined basis, the Non-Guarantors on a combined basis and eliminations necessary to arrive at the information for the Company as reported, on a consolidated basis. The Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements present the Parent Company’s investments in subsidiaries using the equity method of accounting. Eliminations represent adjustments to eliminate investments in subsidiaries and intercompany balances and transactions between or among the Parent Company, the Guarantor and the Non-Guarantor subsidiaries. Post Holdings, Inc. and all of its domestic subsidiaries form a single consolidated tax group for U.S. income tax purposes. Accordingly, income tax expense has been presented on the Guarantors’ Condensed Statements of Operations using the consolidated U.S. effective tax rate for the Company. Income tax payable and deferred tax items for the consolidated U.S. tax paying group reside solely on the Parent Company’s Condensed Balance Sheet.

POST HOLDINGS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
Year Ended September 30, 2015
 
Parent
 
 
 
Non-
 
 
 
 
 
Company
 
Guarantors
 
Guarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Total
Net Sales
$
—

 
$
4,177.2

 
$
521.9

 
$
(50.9
)
 
$
4,648.2

Cost of goods sold
—

 
3,082.8

 
441.9

 
(50.9
)
 
3,473.8

Gross Profit
—

 
1,094.4

 
80.0

 
—

 
1,174.4

Selling, general and administrative expenses
8.1

 
675.9

 
50.1

 
—

 
734.1

Amortization of intangible assets
—

 
131.7

 
10.0

 
—

 
141.7

Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets
—

 
60.8

 
—

 
—

 
60.8

Other operating expenses, net
1.3

 
23.6

 
0.2

 
—

 
25.1

Operating (Loss) Profit
(9.4
)
 
202.4

 
19.7

 
—

 
212.7

Interest expense
275.8

 
(1.0
)
 
12.7

 
—

 
287.5

Other expense
92.4

 
0.1

 
—

 
—

 
92.5

(Loss) Earnings before Income Taxes
(377.6
)
 
203.3

 
7.0

 
—

 
(167.3
)
Income tax (benefit) expense
(165.9
)
 
110.4

 
3.5

 
—

 
(52.0
)
Net (Loss) Earnings before Equity in Subsidiaries
(211.7
)
 
92.9

 
3.5

 
—

 
(115.3
)
Equity earnings in subsidiaries
96.4

 
(2.3
)
 
—

 
(94.1
)
 
—

Net (Loss) Earnings
$
(115.3
)
 
$
90.6

 
$
3.5

 
$
(94.1
)
 
$
(115.3
)
Total Comprehensive (Loss) Income
$
(176.8
)
 
$
85.3

 
$
(23.3
)
 
$
(62.0
)
 
$
(176.8
)


78

 
Year Ended September 30, 2014
 
Parent
 
 
 
Non-
 
 
 
 
 
Company
 
Guarantors
 
Guarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Total
Net Sales
$
—

 
$
2,170.1

 
$
266.3

 
$
(25.3
)
 
$
2,411.1

Cost of goods sold
—

 
1,588.2

 
227.0

 
(25.3
)
 
1,789.9

Gross Profit
—

 
581.9

 
39.3

 
—

 
621.2

Selling, general and administrative expenses
20.5

 
416.2

 
22.8

 
—

 
459.5

Amortization of intangible assets
—

 
63.5

 
7.3

 
—

 
70.8

Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets
—

 
295.6

 
—

 
—

 
295.6

Other operating expenses, net
—

 
3.0

 
—

 
—

 
3.0

Operating (Loss) Profit
(20.5
)
 
(196.4
)
 
9.2

 
—

 
(207.7
)
Interest expense
175.4

 
(0.4
)
 
8.7

 
—

 
183.7

Other expense
35.5

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
35.5

(Loss) Earnings before Income Taxes
(231.4
)
 
(196.0
)
 
0.5

 
—

 
(426.9
)
Income tax (benefit) expense
(88.7
)
 
2.3

 
2.7

 
—

 
(83.7
)
Net (Loss) Earnings before Equity in Subsidiaries
(142.7
)
 
(198.3
)
 
(2.2
)
 
—

 
(343.2
)
Equity (loss) earnings in subsidiaries
(200.5
)
 
0.7

 
—

 
199.8

 
—

Net (Loss) Earnings
$
(343.2
)
 
$
(197.6
)
 
$
(2.2
)
 
$
199.8

 
$
(343.2
)
Total Comprehensive (Loss) Income
$
(357.7
)
 
$
(206.3
)
 
$
(8.1
)
 
$
214.4

 
$
(357.7
)

 
Year Ended September 30, 2013
 
Parent
 
 
 
Non-
 
 
 
 
 
Company
 
Guarantors
 
Guarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Total
Net Sales
$
—

 
$
978.8

 
$
73.5

 
$
(18.2
)
 
$
1,034.1

Cost of goods sold
—

 
570.0

 
57.4

 
(18.2
)
 
609.2

Gross Profit
—

 
408.8

 
16.1

 
—

 
424.9

Selling, general and administrative expenses
7.7

 
272.8

 
17.7

 
—

 
298.2

Amortization of intangible assets
—

 
14.6

 
—

 
—

 
14.6

Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets
—

 
2.9

 
—

 
—

 
2.9

Other operating expenses, net
—

 
1.0

 
0.4

 
—

 
1.4

Operating (Loss) Profit
(7.7
)
 
117.5

 
(2.0
)
 
—

 
107.8

Interest expense
85.5

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
85.5

(Loss) Earnings before Income Taxes
(93.2
)
 
117.5

 
(2.0
)
 
—

 
22.3

Income tax (benefit) expense
(30.0
)
 
37.7

 
(0.6
)
 
—

 
7.1

Net (Loss) Earnings before Equity in Subsidiaries
(63.2
)
 
79.8

 
(1.4
)
 
—

 
15.2

Equity earnings in subsidiaries
78.4

 
—

 
—

 
(78.4
)
 
—

Net Earnings (Loss)
$
15.2

 
$
79.8

 
$
(1.4
)
 
$
(78.4
)
 
$
15.2

Total Comprehensive Income (Loss)
$
26.7

 
$
92.4

 
$
(2.5
)
 
$
(89.9
)
 
$
26.7



79

POST HOLDINGS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS
 
September 30, 2015
 
Parent
 
 
 
Non-
 
 
 
 
 
Company
 
Guarantors
 
Guarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Total
 
 
ASSETS
Current Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
809.6

 
$
30.5

 
$
19.2

 
$
(17.9
)
 
$
841.4

Restricted cash
1.1

 
17.0

 
0.7

 
—

 
18.8

Receivables, net
8.5

 
310.0

 
61.7

 
(14.0
)
 
366.2

Inventories
—

 
396.1

 
69.2

 
—

 
465.3

Deferred income taxes
47.5

 
—

 
0.2

 
—

 
47.7

Intercompany notes receivable
7.7

 
—

 
—

 
(7.7
)
 
—

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
12.7

 
27.9

 
1.7

 
—

 
42.3

Total Current Assets
887.1

 
781.5

 
152.7

 
(39.6
)
 
1,781.7

Property, net
—

 
1,286.0

 
47.2

 
—

 
1,333.2

Goodwill
—

 
2,944.8

 
128.0

 
—

 
3,072.8

Other intangible assets, net
—

 
2,873.3

 
96.0

 
—

 
2,969.3

Intercompany receivable
1,129.8

 
—

 
—

 
(1,129.8
)
 
—

Intercompany notes receivable
146.2

 
—

 
—

 
(146.2
)
 
—

Investment in subsidiaries
6,311.9

 
21.9

 
—

 
(6,333.8
)
 
—

Other assets
57.4

 
5.3

 
0.7

 
—

 
63.4

Total Assets
$
8,532.4

 
$
7,912.8

 
$
424.6

 
$
(7,649.4
)
 
$
9,220.4

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current portion of long-term debt
$
14.1

 
$
1.6

 
$
0.3

 
$
—

 
$
16.0

Accounts payable
—

 
254.0

 
43.1

 
(31.9
)
 
265.2

Intercompany notes payable
—

 
—

 
7.7

 
(7.7
)
 
—

Other current liabilities
76.1

 
225.7

 
28.0

 
—

 
329.8

Total Current Liabilities
90.2

 
481.3

 
79.1

 
(39.6
)
 
611.0

Long-term debt
4,507.7

 
1.3

 
2.4

 
—

 
4,511.4

Intercompany payable
—

 
1,124.2

 
5.6

 
(1,129.8
)
 
—

Intercompany notes payable
—

 
—

 
146.2

 
(146.2
)
 
—

Deferred income taxes
807.0

 
—

 
24.8

 
—

 
831.8

Other liabilities
151.5

 
130.9

 
7.8

 
—

 
290.2

Total Liabilities
5,556.4

 
1,737.7

 
265.9

 
(1,315.6
)
 
6,244.4

Total Shareholders’ Equity
2,976.0

 
6,175.1

 
158.7

 
(6,333.8
)
 
2,976.0

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
$
8,532.4

 
$
7,912.8

 
$
424.6

 
$
(7,649.4
)
 
$
9,220.4



80

 
September 30, 2014
 
Parent
 
 
 
Non-
 
 
 
 
 
Company
 
Guarantors
 
Guarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Total
 
 
ASSETS
Current Assets
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
246.6

 
$
15.7

 
$
10.0

 
$
(3.9
)
 
$
268.4

Restricted cash
1.1

 
79.8

 
3.9

 
—

 
84.8

Receivables, net
78.0

 
305.2

 
45.9

 
(15.4
)
 
413.7

Inventories
—

 
336.5

 
44.2

 
—

 
380.7

Deferred income taxes
27.0

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
27.0

Intercompany notes receivable
6.3

 
—

 
—

 
(6.3
)
 
—

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
11.4

 
30.4

 
2.6

 
—

 
44.4

Total Current Assets
370.4

 
767.6

 
106.6

 
(25.6
)
 
1,219.0

Property, net
—

 
775.9

 
56.0

 
—

 
831.9

Goodwill
—

 
2,732.8

 
153.9

 
—

 
2,886.7

Other intangible assets, net
—

 
2,518.5

 
124.5

 
—

 
2,643.0

Intercompany receivable
1,015.4

 
—

 
—

 
(1,015.4
)
 
—

Intercompany notes receivable
178.9

 
—

 
—

 
(178.9
)
 
—

Investment in subsidiaries
5,543.1

 
8.1

 
—

 
(5,551.2
)
 
—

Other assets
61.7

 
86.1

 
2.7

 
—

 
150.5

Total Assets
$
7,169.5

 
$
6,889.0

 
$
443.7

 
$
(6,771.1
)
 
$
7,731.1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Liabilities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current portion of long-term debt
$
22.2

 
$
3.0

 
$
0.4

 
$
—

 
$
25.6

Accounts payable
—

 
212.2

 
32.1

 
(19.3
)
 
225.0

Intercompany notes payable
—

 
—

 
6.3

 
(6.3
)
 
—

Other current liabilities
100.4

 
153.8

 
15.1

 
—

 
269.3

Total Current Liabilities
122.6

 
369.0

 
53.9

 
(25.6
)
 
519.9

Long-term debt
3,824.2

 
2.9

 
3.4

 
—

 
3,830.5

Intercompany payable
—

 
1,013.8

 
1.6

 
(1,015.4
)
 
—

Intercompany notes payable
—

 
—

 
178.9

 
(178.9
)
 
—

Deferred income taxes
883.8

 
—

 
31.3

 
—

 
915.1

Other liabilities
55.7

 
115.9

 
10.8

 
—

 
182.4

Total Liabilities
4,886.3

 
1,501.6

 
279.9

 
(1,219.9
)
 
5,447.9

Total Shareholders’ Equity
2,283.2

 
5,387.4

 
163.8

 
(5,551.2
)
 
2,283.2

Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
$
7,169.5

 
$
6,889.0

 
$
443.7

 
$
(6,771.1
)
 
$
7,731.1

















81

POST HOLDINGS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
Year Ended September 30, 2015
 
Parent
 
 
 
Non-
 
 
 
 
 
Company
 
Guarantors
 
Guarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Total
Net Cash Provided by by Operating Activities
$
(155.4
)
 
$
703.3

 
$
10.6

 
$
(106.9
)
 
$
451.6

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired
(1,060.5
)
 
(177.5
)
 
(1.2
)
 
—

 
(1,239.2
)
Additions to property
—

 
(104.0
)
 
(3.9
)
 
—

 
(107.9
)
Restricted cash
—

 
69.1

 
3.0

 
—

 
72.1

Proceeds from sale of property
—

 
20.4

 
—

 
—

 
20.4

Proceeds from sale of business
2.3

 
1.5

 
—

 
—

 
3.8

Insurance proceeds on loss of property
—

 
2.1

 
—

 
—

 
2.1

Proceeds from equity distributions
542.8

 
0.2

 
—

 
(543.0
)
 
—

Capitalization of subsidiaries
(138.5
)
 
—

 
—

 
138.5

 
—

Net payments for intercompany revolver
(3.5
)
 
—

 
—

 
3.5

 
—

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities
(657.4
)
 
(188.2
)
 
(2.1
)
 
(401.0
)
 
(1,248.7
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt
1,896.5

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
1,896.5

Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs
732.7

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
732.7

Repayments of long-term debt
(1,221.7
)
 
(3.0
)
 
(0.4
)
 
—

 
(1,225.1
)
Payments of preferred stock dividend
(17.1
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(17.1
)
Payments of debt issuance costs
(31.5
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(31.5
)
Proceeds from exercise of stock awards
15.5

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
15.5

Other, net
1.4

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
1.4

Proceeds from Parent capitalization
—

 
128.0

 
0.9

 
(128.9
)
 
—

Payments for equity distributions
—

 
(625.3
)
 
(1.0
)
 
626.3

 
—

Net receipts from intercompany revolver
—

 
—

 
3.5

 
(3.5
)
 
—

Net Cash Provided by (Used in) by Financing Activities
1,375.8

 
(500.3
)
 
3.0

 
493.9

 
1,372.4

Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents
—

 
—

 
(2.3
)
 
—

 
(2.3
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents
563.0

 
14.8

 
9.2

 
(14.0
)
 
573.0

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Year
246.6

 
15.7

 
10.0

 
(3.9
)
 
268.4

Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Year
$
809.6

 
$
30.5

 
$
19.2

 
$
(17.9
)
 
$
841.4




82

 
Year Ended September 30, 2014
 
Parent
 
 
 
Non-
 
 
 
 
 
Company
 
Guarantors
 
Guarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Total
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Operating Activities
$
(110.6
)
 
$
294.1

 
$
1.8

 
$
(2.2
)
 
$
183.1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired
(3,329.1
)
 
52.2

 
(287.2
)
 
—

 
(3,564.1
)
Additions to property
—

 
(111.2
)
 
(4.3
)
 
—

 
(115.5
)
Restricted cash
37.0

 
(76.3
)
 
(4.0
)
 
—

 
(43.3
)
Cash advance for acquisition
—

 
(73.7
)
 
(1.3
)
 
—

 
(75.0
)
Insurance proceeds on loss of property
—

 
4.3

 
—

 
—

 
4.3

Proceeds from equity distributions
102.8

 
—

 
—

 
(102.8
)
 
—

Capitalization of subsidiaries
(323.7
)
 
—

 
—

 
323.7

 
—

Net payments for intercompany revolver
—

 
0.1

 
—

 
(0.1
)
 
—

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities
(3,513.0
)
 
(204.6
)
 
(296.8
)
 
220.8

 
(3,793.6
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt
2,385.6

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
2,385.6

Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock, net of issuance costs
310.2

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
310.2

Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of issuance costs
593.4

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
593.4

Proceeds from issuance of equity component of tangible equity units, net of issuance costs
238.1

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
238.1

Proceeds from issuance of debt component of tangible equity units
41.8

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
41.8

Repayments of long-term debt
(5.6
)
 
(1.3
)
 
—

 
—

 
(6.9
)
Payments of preferred stock dividend
(14.4
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(14.4
)
Payments of debt issuance costs
(64.0
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(64.0
)
Payments for equity distributions
—

 
(102.8
)
 
—

 
102.8

 
—

Proceeds from Parent capitalization
—

 
26.2

 
297.5

 
(323.7
)
 
—

Net receipts from intercompany revolver
—

 
—

 
(0.1
)
 
0.1

 
—

Other, net
0.4

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
0.4

Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities
3,485.5

 
(77.9
)
 
297.4

 
(220.8
)
 
3,484.2

Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents
(6.7
)
 
—

 
(0.6
)
 
—

 
(7.3
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents
(144.8
)
 
11.6

 
1.8

 
(2.2
)
 
(133.6
)
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Year
391.4

 
4.1

 
8.2

 
(1.7
)
 
402.0

Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Year
$
246.6

 
$
15.7

 
$
10.0

 
$
(3.9
)
 
$
268.4


83

 
Year Ended September 30, 2013
 
Parent
 
 
 
Non-
 
 
 
 
 
Company
 
Guarantors
 
Guarantors
 
Eliminations
 
Total
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Operating Activities
$
37.7

 
$
158.3

 
$
4.8

 
$
(81.6
)
 
$
119.2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Business acquisitions, net of cash acquired
(345.8
)
 
(7.1
)
 
—

 
—

 
(352.9
)
Additions to property
—

 
(30.3
)
 
(2.5
)
 
—

 
(32.8
)
Restricted cash
(38.1
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(38.1
)
Payment for equity contributions
39.1

 
—

 
—

 
(39.1
)
 
—

Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities
(344.8
)
 
(37.4
)
 
(2.5
)
 
(39.1
)
 
(423.8
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt
600.0

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
600.0

Proceeds from issuance of preferred stock, net of issuance costs
234.0

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
234.0

Repayments of long-term debt
(170.6
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(170.6
)
Payments of preferred stock dividend
(4.2
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(4.2
)
Payments of debt issuance costs
(10.5
)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(10.5
)
Payments for equity distributions
—

 
(119.0
)
 
—

 
119.0

 
—

Other, net
0.1

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
0.1

Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities
648.8

 
(119.0
)
 
—

 
119.0

 
648.8

Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents
—

 
—

 
(0.4
)
 
—

 
(0.4
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents
341.7

 
1.9

 
1.9

 
(1.7
)
 
343.8

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Year
49.7

 
2.2

 
6.3

 
—

 
58.2

Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Year
$
391.4

 
$
4.1

 
$
8.2

 
$
(1.7
)
 
$
402.0



84

NOTE 22 — SUMMARY QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)
 
First
 
Second
 
Third
 
Fourth
 
Quarter
 
Quarter
 
Quarter
 
Quarter
Fiscal 2015
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales
$
1,073.9

 
$
1,052.7

 
$
1,211.8

 
$
1,309.8

Gross profit
249.1

 
275.5

 
316.5

 
333.3

Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets
—

 
—

 
—

 
60.8

Net (loss) earnings
(97.3
)
 
30.5

 
24.0

 
(72.5
)
Net (loss) earnings available to common shareholders
(101.6
)
 
26.3

 
19.8

 
(76.8
)
Basic (loss) earnings per share
$
(2.04
)
 
$
0.48

 
$
0.34

 
$
(1.21
)
Diluted (loss) earnings per share
$
(2.04
)
 
$
0.45

 
$
0.33

 
$
(1.21
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fiscal 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales
$
297.0

 
$
438.0

 
$
633.0

 
$
1,043.1

Gross profit
114.5

 
129.4

 
148.6

 
228.7

Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets
—

 
—

 
—

 
295.6

Net loss
(2.4
)
 
(18.3
)
 
(35.1
)
 
(287.4
)
Net loss available to common shareholders
(5.0
)
 
(22.6
)
 
(39.3
)
 
(291.7
)
Basic loss per share
$
(0.15
)
 
$
(0.67
)
 
$
(0.92
)
 
$
(5.86
)
Diluted loss per share
$
(0.15
)
 
$
(0.67
)
 
$
(0.92
)
 
$
(5.86
)
NOTE 23 — SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On October 3, 2015, the Company completed the previously announced acquisition of Willamette Egg Farms, LLC (“Willamette Egg”) for $90.0 , subject to net working capital and other adjustments. Willamette Egg is a producer, processor and wholesale distributor of eggs and egg products. Willamette Egg produces shell eggs, specialty shell eggs (including cage-free and organic eggs) and value-added egg products (including liquid and hard cooked eggs). Upon completion of the acquisition, Willamette Egg will be combined with Post’s existing Michael Foods egg business.
The transaction will be accounted for as a business combination under the acquisition method of accounting. The Company will record the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their fair values as of the acquisition date. Due to the limited time since closing of the acquisition, the valuation efforts and related acquisition accounting are incomplete at the time of filing of the consolidated financial statements. As a result, the Company is unable to provide amounts recognized as of the acquisition date for major classes of assets and liabilities acquired, including goodwill. In addition, because the acquisition accounting is incomplete, the Company is unable to provide the supplemental pro forma revenue and earnings for the combined entity, as the pro forma adjustments are expected to primarily consist of estimates for the amortization of identifiable intangible assets acquired and related income tax effects which will result from the purchase price allocation and determination of the fair values for the assets acquired and liabilities assumed.



85

ITEM 9.
CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
Not applicable.
ITEM 9A.    CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Our management, with the Executive Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the Company, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, our Executive Chairman, CEO and CFO concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective to provide reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives.
Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act. Our internal control over financial reporting is designed 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.
During fiscal 2015, we completed the following acquisitions:
• PowerBar  and related worldwide assets from Nestlé S.A (“PowerBar”) in October 2014;
• American Blanching Company (“ABC”) in November 2014; and
• MOM Brands Company (“MOM Brands”) in May 2015.
We have excluded PowerBar and MOM Brands, which were purchase business combinations, from our assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. ABC has been integrated into the Company’s existing peanut butter business and therefore has been included in our assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Total assets excluding goodwill (which is included in control testing) and total third party revenues for PowerBar and MOM Brands represent $1,110.5 million, or 12%, of consolidated assets and $466.1 million, or 10%, of consolidated revenues, respectively.
As of September 30, 2015, management conducted an assessment of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based upon the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) . Management’s assessment included an evaluation of the design of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and testing of the operational effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting. Based on management's assessment utilizing these criteria, our management concluded that, as of September 30, 2015, our internal control over financial reporting was effective.
The effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2015 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report, which appears herein.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We evaluated the changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2015 and concluded that the following activity has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
In connection with our fiscal 2015 acquisitions of PowerBar and MOM Brands, management is in the process of analyzing, evaluating and, where necessary, implementing changes in controls and procedures. As a result, the process may result in additions or changes to the Company's internal control over financial reporting. PowerBar and MOM Brands are excluded from management's report on internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2015.
ITEM 9B.    OTHER INFORMATION
Not applicable.

86

PART III
ITEM 10.    DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
The information regarding directors under the headings “Election of Directors – Information about the Current Directors and Nominees for Election to the Board of Directors,” “Corporate Governance – Board Meetings and Committees,” and “Security Ownership of Certain Shareholders – Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in the Company’s 2016 Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement is hereby incorporated by reference. Information regarding Executive Officers of the Company is included under Item 1 of Part I.
The Company has adopted a code of ethics, our “Global Standards of Business Conduct,” applicable to all corporate officers and employees, which sets forth the Company’s expectations for the conduct of business by officers and employees. The directors have adopted, and are required to abide by, the Directors Code of Ethics. Both documents are available on the Company’s website at www.postholdings.com. In the event the Company modifies either document or waivers of compliance are granted to officers or directors, the Company will post such modifications or waivers on its website or in a report on Form 8-K.
ITEM 11.    EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Information appearing under the headings “Compensation of Officers and Directors,” “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” and “Corporate Governance and Compensation Committee Report” in the Company’s 2016 Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement is hereby incorporated by reference.

ITEM 12.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS
The discussion of the security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management appearing under the headings “Security Ownership of Certain Shareholders” and equity compensation plan information under the heading “Equity Compensation Plan Information” in the Company’s 2016 Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement is hereby incorporated by reference.
ITEM 13.    CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Information appearing under the heading “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” and “Corporate Governance – Director Independence” of the Company’s 2016 Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement is hereby incorporated by reference.
ITEM 14.    PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
The information under the heading “Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in the Company’s 2016 Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement is hereby incorporated by reference.
PART IV
ITEM 15.    EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Documents filed as a part of this report:
1.
Financial Statements . The following are filed as a part of this document under Item 8.
•
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
•
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended September 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013
•
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive (Loss) Income for the years ended September 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013
•
Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2015 and 2014
•
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for years ended September 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013
•
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the years ended September 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013
•
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
2.
Financial Statement Schedules . None. Schedules not included have been omitted because they are not applicable or the required information is shown in the financial statements or notes thereto.
3.
Exhibits . See the Exhibit Index that appears at the end of this document and which is incorporated herein.

87
Table of Contents

SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, Post Holdings, Inc. has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
POST HOLDINGS, INC.
 
 
 
 
 
By:
/s/ William P. Stiritz
 
By:
/s/ Robert V. Vitale
 
William P. Stiritz
 
 
Robert V. Vitale
 
Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board
 
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
November 25, 2015
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Jeff A. Zadoks and Diedre J. Gray and each of them, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resolution, for him and in his name, place, and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this report, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this report has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
 
Title
 
Date
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ William P. Stiritz
 
Executive Chairman and Chairman of the Board
(principal executive officer)
 
November 25, 2015
William P. Stiritz
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Robert V. Vitale
 
Director, President and Chief Executive Officer
(principal executive officer)
 
November 25, 2015
Robert V. Vitale
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Jeff A. Zadoks
 
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
(principal financial and accounting officer)
 
November 25, 2015
Jeff A. Zadoks
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Jay W. Brown
 
Director
 
November 25, 2015
Jay W. Brown
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Edwin H. Callison
 
Director
 
November 25, 2015
Edwin H. Callison
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Gregory L. Curl
 
Director
 
November 25, 2015
Gregory L. Curl
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Robert E. Grote
 
Director
 
November 25, 2015
Robert E. Grote
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ David W. Kemper
 
Director
 
November 25, 2015
David W. Kemper
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ David P. Skarie
 
Director
 
November 25, 2015
David P. Skarie
 
 
 
 


88
Table of Contents

EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No.
 
Description
*‡2.1
 
Stock and Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of February 3, 2014, by and among Gerber Products Company, Nestlé Australia Ltd, Nestlé Deutschland AG, Post Acquisition Sub IV, Inc., Post Australia Pty Ltd and Post Holdings, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.5 to the Company's Form 10-Q filed on May 9, 2014)
*‡2.2
 
Intellectual Property Purchase and License Agreement, dated as of February 3, 2014, by and among Société des Produits Nestlé S.A., Nestec S.A., Post Acquisition Sub IV, Inc. and Post Holdings, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.6 to the Company's Form 10-Q filed on May 9, 2014)

*‡2.3
 
Agreement and Plan of Merger among Post Holdings, Inc., Acquisition Sub, Inc., MFI Holding Corporation and GS Capital Partners VI Fund, L.P. dated as of April 16, 2014 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on April 17, 2014)
*‡ 2.4
 
Stock Purchase Agreement by and among American Blanching Company, ABC Peanut Butter, LLC, Nuts Distributor of America Inc. and Post Holdings, Inc. dated as of August 7, 2014 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.12 to the Company’s Form 10-K filed on November 28, 2014)
*‡ 2.5
 
Agreement and Plan of Merger among Post Holdings, Inc., Acquisition Sub, Inc., MOM Brands Company and Shareholder Representative Services LLC dated as of January 25, 2015 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on January 26, 2015)
*‡ 2.6
 
Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 22, 2015, by and among M.G. Waldbaum Company, and the sellers and owners named therein (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on September 23, 2015)
*3.1
 
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on February 2, 2012)
*3.2
 
Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on February 2, 2012)
*4.1
 
Indenture dated as of February 3, 2012 by and among the Company, the Guarantors (as defined) and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on February 8, 2012)
*4.2
 
Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of 3.75% Series B Cumulative Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on February 26, 2013)
*4.3
 
Indenture dated as of November 18, 2013 by and among the Company, the Guarantors (as defined) and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on November 18, 2013)

*4.4
 
Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of 2.5% Series C Cumulative Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on December 16, 2013)

*4.5
 
Senior Indenture dated May 28, 2014, between Post Holdings, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on May 28, 2014)
*4.6
 
First Supplemental Indenture, dated May 28, 2014, between Post Holdings, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on May 28, 2014)
*4.7
 
Purchase Contract Agreement, dated May 28, 2014, between Post Holdings, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on May 28, 2014)
*4.8
 
Indenture dated as of June 2, 2014 by and among the Company, the Guarantors (as defined) and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 2, 2014)
*4.9
 
Indenture (2024 Notes), dated as of August 18, 2015, by and among Post Holdings, Inc., the Guarantors (as defined therein) and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on August 18, 2015)
*4.10
 
Indenture (2025 Notes), dated as of August 18, 2015, by and among Post Holdings, Inc., the Guarantors (as defined therein) and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K/A filed on August 21, 2015)
* † 10.1
 
Form of Indemnification Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to Amendment No. 4 to the Company’s Form 10, filed January 25, 2012)

89
Table of Contents

Exhibit No.
 
Description
* † 10.2
 
Post Holdings, Inc. 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on February 2, 2012)
* † 10.3
 
Form of Stock-Settled Stock Appreciation Rights Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on February 2, 2012)
* † 10.4
 
Form of Non-Management Director Stock Appreciation Rights Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on February 2, 2012)
* † 10.5
 
Form of Non-Management Director Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on February 2, 2012)
* † 10.6
 
Post Holdings, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan for Key Employees, as amended (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on February 2, 2012)
*† 10.7
 
Post Holdings, Inc. Executive Savings Investment Plan, restated August 15, 2012 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Company’s Form 10-K filed on December 13, 2012)
* † 10.8
 
Post Holdings, Inc. Supplemental Retirement Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on February 2, 2012)
* † 10.9
 
Post Holdings, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Management Directors, as amended and restated (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.11 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on September 14, 2012)
* † 10.10
 
Employment Agreement dated as of May 29, 2012 by and between William P. Stiritz and the Company (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on May 31, 2012)
* † 10.11
 
Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement for Mr. Stiritz (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on May 31, 2012)
* † 10.12
 
Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement for Other Executive Officers of the Company (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on May 31, 2012)
* † 10.13
 
Restricted Stock Unit Agreement for Mr. Stiritz (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on May 31, 2012)
*† 10.14
 
Key Management Bonus Program, as amended and restated (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on September 14, 2012)
* † 10.15
 
Form of Cash-Settled Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (Incorporated by referenced to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on August 9, 2012)
*10.16
 
Amendment to Tax Allocation Agreement dated as of September 26, 2012 by and between Ralcorp Holdings, Inc. and the Company (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.26 to the Company’s Form 10-K filed on December 13, 2012)
*†10.17
 
Form of Cliff Vesting Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on November 26, 2012)
*†10.18
 
Form of Cliff Vesting Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on November 26, 2012)
*†10.19
 
Second Amendment to the Post Holdings, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan for Key Employees effective August 24, 2012 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.28 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on May 13, 2013)
*†10.20
 
Third Amendment to the Post Holdings, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan for Key Employees effective January 29, 2013 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.29 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on May 13, 2013)
*†10.21
 
First Amendment to the Post Holdings, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Management Directors effective January 29, 2013 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.30 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on May 13, 2013)
*†10.22
 
First Amendment to the Post Holdings, Inc. Executive Savings Plan for Non-Management Directors effective January 29, 2013 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.31 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on May 13, 2013)
*†10.23
 
Post Holdings, Inc. 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended and restated (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on February 1, 2013)

90
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Exhibit No.
 
Description
*10.24
 
Purchase Agreement by and among the Company, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, as Initial Purchasers, relating to the sale by the Company of 3.75% Series B Cumulative Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on February 26, 2013)
*†10.25
 
Amendment One to Employment Agreement dated October 15, 2013 by and between William P. Stiritz and the Company (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on October 17, 2013)
*†10.26
 
Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement for Mr. Stiritz (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on October 17, 2013)
*†10.27
 
Form of amended Stock-Settled Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (Incorporated by referenced to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on October 17, 2013)
*†10.28
 
Form of amended Cash-Settled Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (Incorporated by referenced to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on October 17, 2013)
*10.29
 
Purchase Agreement, dated December 10, 2013, by and among the Company, Barclays Capital Inc. and Goldman Sachs & Co., as the Initial Purchasers, relating to the sale by the Company of 2.5% Series C Cumulative Perpetual Convertible Preferred Stock (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on December 16, 2013)
*10.30
 
Credit Agreement, dated January 29, 2014, among the Post Holdings, Inc., the institutions from time to time party thereto as Lenders, Barclays Bank PLC, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Goldman Sachs Bank USA and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners, Barclays Bank PLC, as Syndication Agent, Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Island Branch and Goldman Sachs Bank USA, as Documentation Agents, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on February 3, 2014)
*10.31
 
Commitment Letter of Barclays Bank PLC, Credit Suisse AG, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, WF Investment Holdings, LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and Post Holdings, Inc., dated April 16, 2014 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on April 17, 2014)
*10.32
 
First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of May 1, 2014, by and among Post Holdings, Inc., Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, in its capacity as Administrative Agent, and the Required Lenders and the Guarantors party thereto (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on May 5, 2014)
*10.33
 
Joinder Agreement No. 1, dated as of May 1, 2014, by and among Bank of America, N.A., Barclays Bank PLC, BMO Harris Financing Inc., Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Nomura Corporate Funding Americas, LLC and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, Post Holdings, Inc., and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as administrative agent (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on May 5, 2014)
*10.34
 
Joinder Agreement to Commitment Letter, dated as of May 2, 2014, by and among Barclays Bank PLC, Credit Suisse AG Cayman Islands Branch, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, WF Investment Holdings, LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Goldman Sachs Lending Partners LLC, Bank of Montreal, BMO Capital Markets Corp., Nomura Corporate Funding Americas, LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Bank of America, N.A., SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc., SunTrust Bank, Coöperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank B.A., “Rabobank Nederland”, New York Branch, PNC Bank, National Association, PNC Capital Markets LLC, Stifel Bank & Trust and CoBank, ACB and Post Holdings, Inc. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on May 5, 2014)
*10.35
 
Joinder Agreement No. 2, dated as of June 2, 2014, by and among the Company, the Guarantors (as defined) party thereto and Barclays Bank PLC and consented to by Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on June 2, 2014)
*†10.36
 
Form of Cash-Settled Long-Term Restricted Stock Unit Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.47 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on August 8, 2014)
*†10.37
 
Separation and Release Agreement by and between the Company and Terence E. Block effective November 1, 2014 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.46 to the Company’s Form 10-K filed on November 28, 2014)
*†10.38
 
Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement for Mr. Stiritz dated October 9, 2014 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.47 to the Company’s Form 10-K filed on November 28, 2014)

91
Table of Contents

Exhibit No.
 
Description
*†10.39

 
Amendment Two to Employment Agreement dated October 9, 2014 by and between William P. Stiritz and the Company (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.48 to the Company’s Form 10-K filed on November 28, 2014)
*10.40
 
Commitment Letter of Credit Suisse AG, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, and Barclays Bank PLC, and Post Holdings, Inc., dated January 25, 2015 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on January 26, 2015)
*10.41
 
Second Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of March 6, 2015, by and among Post Holdings, Inc., Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, in its capacity as Administrative Agent, and the Required Lenders and the Guarantors party thereto (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on March 10, 2015)

*10.42
 
Separation and Release Agreement by and between the Company and James L. Holbrook effective March 13, 2015 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.50 to the Company’s Form 10-Q filed on May 8, 2015)

*10.43
 
Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of May 4, 2015, among the Company, Shareholder Representative Services LLC and certain shareholders of MOM Brands (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on May 4, 2015)

*10.44
 
Joinder Agreement No. 3, dated as of May 4, 2015, by and among Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, the Company and the Guarantors (as defined) party thereto, and consented to by Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on May 4, 2015)
* † 10.45
 
Senior Management Bonus Program (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on May 8, 2015)
* † 10.46
 
Form of Management Continuity Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on May 8, 2015)
* † 10.47
 
Form of Cash-Settled Stock Appreciation Right Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Form 8-K filed on May 8, 2015)

* † 10.48
 
Executive Severance Plan effective August 3, 2015 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 8-K filed on August 5, 2015)
** † 10.49
 
Side Letter Agreement, dated October 1, 2015, by and between Post Holdings, Inc. and James E. Dwyer, Jr.
**23.1
 
Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
**24.1
 
Power of Attorney (Included under Signatures)
**31.1
 
Certification of William P. Stiritz pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated November 25, 2015
**31.2
 
Certification of Robert V. Vitale pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated November 25, 2015
**31.3
 
Certification of Jeff A. Zadoks pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated November 25, 2015
**32.1
 
Certification of William P. Stiritz, Robert V. Vitale and Jeff A. Zadoks, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, dated November 25, 2015
**101.INS
 
XBRL Instance Document
**101.SCH
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
**101.CAL
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
**101.DEF
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
**101.LAB
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
**101.PRE
 
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
*
Incorporated by reference
**
Furnished with this Form 10-K
†
These exhibits constitute management contracts, compensatory plans and arrangements.
‡
Schedules and exhibits have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Company hereby undertakes to furnish copies of any of the omitted schedules and exhibits upon request by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.



92


Exhibit 21.1
SUBSIDIARIES OF POST HOLDINGS, INC. (MO)

Name
 
Jurisdiction of Incorporation/Formation
Post Foods, LLC
 
Delaware
Post Foods Canada Inc.
 
British Columbia
Attune Foods, LLC
 
Delaware
Premier Nutrition Corporation
 
Delaware
Agricore United Holdings Inc.
 
Delaware
Dakota Growers Pasta Company, Inc.
 
North Dakota
Primo Piatto, Inc.
 
Minnesota
DNA Dreamfields Company, LLC
 
Ohio
GB Acquisition USA, Inc.
 
Washington
Nuts Distributor of America Inc.
 
Washington
Golden Nut Company (USA) Inc.
 
Washington
Golden Boy Nut Corporation
 
Delaware
Golden Boy Portales, LLC
 
Delaware
PHI Acquisition LP ULC
 
British Columbia
Golden Acquisition Sub, LLC
 
Delaware
PHI Acquisition GP ULC
 
British Columbia
PHI Acquisition Limited Partnership
 
British Columbia
Golden Boy Foods Ltd.
 
British Columbia
Dymatize Holdings, LLC
 
Delaware
TA/DEI-A Acquisition Corp.
 
Delaware
TA/DEI-B1 Acquisition Corp.
 
Delaware
TA/DEI-B2 Acquisition Corp.
 
Delaware
TA/DEI-B3 Acquisition Corp.
 
Delaware
Dymatize Enterprises, LLC
 
Delaware
Supreme Protein, LLC
 
Delaware
Custom Nutriceutical Laboratories, LLC
 
Delaware
Post Acquisition Sub IV, Inc.
 
Delaware
PowerBar Europe GmbH
 
Germany
MFI Holding Corporation
 
Delaware
Michael Foods Group, Inc.
 
Delaware
Michael Foods, Inc.
 
Delaware
MFI Food Canada Ltd.
 
Canada
Michael Foods of Delaware, Inc.
 
Delaware
Farm Fresh Foods, Inc.
 
Nevada
Crystal Farms Refrigerated Distribution Company
 
Minnesota
MFI International, Inc.
 
Minnesota
Northern Star Co.
 
Minnesota
M.G. Waldbaum Company
 
Nebraska
Casa Trucking, Inc.
 
Minnesota
Papetti’s Hygrade Egg Products, Inc.
 
Minnesota
MFI Food Asia, LLC
 
Delaware
MFOSI, LLC
 
Delaware
American Blanching Company
 
Georgia
MOM Brands Company, LLC
 
Minnesota
MOM Brands Ssales, LLC
 
Minnesota





Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements on Form S-8 (No. 333-179316 and No.333-179315) and Form S-3 (No. 333-194459 and No. 333-204057) of Post Holdings, Inc. of our report dated November 25, 2015 relating to the financial statements and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, which appears in this Form 10-K.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
St. Louis, Missouri
November 25, 2015






Exhibit 31.1

Certification pursuant to
Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, William P. Stiritz, certify that:

1.
I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Post Holdings, Inc.;
2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.
The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a.
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b.
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, 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;
c.
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d.
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.
The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a.
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b.
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date:
 
November 25, 2015
 
By:
/s/ William P. Stiritz
 
 
 
 
 
William P. Stiritz
 
 
 
 
 
Executive Chairman
 
 
 
 
 
 






Exhibit 31.2

Certification pursuant to
Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002


I, Robert V. Vitale, certify that:

1.
I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Post Holdings, Inc.;
2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.
The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a.
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b.
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, 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;
c.
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d.
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.
The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a.
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b.
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date:
 
November 25, 2015
 
By:
/s/ Robert V. Vitale
 
 
 
 
 
Robert V. Vitale
 
 
 
 
 
President and Chief Executive Officer







Exhibit 31.3

Certification pursuant to
Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002


I, Jeff A. Zadoks, certify that:

1.
I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Post Holdings, Inc.;
2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
4.
The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a.
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;
b.
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, 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;
c.
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and
d.
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and
5.
The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
a.
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and
b.
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date:
 
November 25, 2015
 
By:
/s/ Jeff A. Zadoks
 
 
 
 
 
Jeff A. Zadoks
 
 
 
 
 
SVP and Chief Financial Officer





Exhibit 32.1


Certification Pursuant to
U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to
to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002


The undersigned, the Executive Chairman of Post Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”), hereby certifies that, to his knowledge on the date hereof:

(a)
the annual report on Form 10-K for the period ended September 30, 2015, filed on the date hereof with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Report) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934: and

(b)
information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date:
 
November 25, 2015
 
By:
/s/ William P. Stiritz
 
 
 
 
 
William P. Stiritz
 
 
 
 
 
Executive Chairman
 
 
 
 
 
 

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Post Holdings, Inc. and will be retained by Post Holdings, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.


Certification Pursuant to
U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to
to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002


The undersigned, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Post Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”), hereby certifies that, to his knowledge on the date hereof:

(a)
the annual report on Form 10-K for the period ended September 30, 2015, filed on the date hereof with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Report) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934: and

(b)
information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Date:
 
November 25, 2015
 
By:
/s/ Robert V. Vitale
 
 
 
 
 
Robert V. Vitale
 
 
 
 
 
President and Chief Executive Officer
 
 
 
 
 
 

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Post Holdings, Inc. and will be retained by Post Holdings, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.






Certification Pursuant to
U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to
to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002


The undersigned, the SVP and Chief Financial Officer of Post Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”), hereby certifies that, to his knowledge on the date hereof:

(a)
the annual report on Form 10-K for the period ended September 30, 2015, filed on the date hereof with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Report) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934: and

(b)
information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.


Date:
 
November 25, 2015
 
By:
/s/ Jeff A. Zadoks
 
 
 
 
 
Jeff A. Zadoks
 
 
 
 
 
SVP and Chief Financial Officer

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Post Holdings, Inc. and will be retained by Post Holdings, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.






Exhibit 10.49



October 1, 2015

Mr. James E. Dwyer, Jr.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxx, xx xxxxx

Dear Jim:

The purpose of this letter (“ Agreement ”) is to set forth the mutual agreement of Post Holdings, Inc. (together with its affiliated companies, the “ Company ”) and you regarding your annual salary, annual bonus, vacation benefits, benefits on death and disability and the Company’s Executive Severance Plan (“Plan”). This Agreement shall be effective upon the date of your signature, subject to Section B8 of this Agreement (“ Effective Date ”).
A.
COMPENSATION and BENEFITS
1.
Annual Base Salary
For as long as you are employed as President and CEO of the Michael Foods business (“ Current Position ”), you will be entitled to receive an annual base salary (“ Annual Base Salary ”) of at least $600,000, the competitiveness of which may be periodically reviewed and adjusted by the Company.
2.
Annual Bonus
For each Company fiscal year, or portion thereof, as long as you are employed in your Current Position, you will participate in such annual bonus arrangements (“ Annual Bonus ”) as may be approved by the Corporate Governance and Compensation Committee (“ Committee ”) of the Board of Directors of the Company. Your Annual Bonus opportunity will be no less than 100% of your Annual Base Salary and your target Annual Bonus will be no less than 100% of your Annual Base Salary (“ Target Bonus ”). Except for the Annual Bonus opportunity and Target Bonus amount provisions as set forth above, all terms and conditions of your Annual Bonus will be governed by the applicable bonus program document applicable to similarly situated employees and any specific Annual Bonus award agreement you receive.
3.
Vacation
You shall be entitled to 25 days of paid time off per year or such greater amount according to your length of service as memorialized in the paid time off and/or vacation policy of Michael Foods (“ Policy ”). The terms and conditions of this benefit are as memorialized in the Policy.
4.
Disability
(a)
Payments While Employed and Disabled

1

i.
For as long as you are employed with the Company, you are eligible for the Company’s short-term disability program (“ STD Program ”) according to the terms of such Program. The STD Program provides short-term continuation of some percentage of an eligible employee’s salary in the event of the employee’s disability. To the extent that you become disabled under the terms of the STD Program while in your Current Position, you will be deemed to have worked for the Company for 13 years for purposes of the STD Program, which will entitle you to be paid at 100% of your Current Weekly Earnings, as such term is defined by the STD Program.
ii.
Long-term disability benefits are provided to eligible employees through the Company’s group long-term disability plan (“ LTD Plan ”). To the extent that you are receiving benefits under the LTD Plan for a period during which you are still employed in your Current Position, and such benefits are less than the payment of the portion of your Annual Base Salary that you would otherwise receive for the same period if you had continued as an active employee, the Company shall pay you the difference in accordance with its normal payroll schedule (“ Company-paid LTD Supplement ”). For the avoidance of doubt, the Company-paid LTD Supplement shall be paid only for so long as you remain employed in your Current Position and are receiving benefits under the LTD Plan.
(b)
Payments Upon Termination of Employment due to Disability
For purposes of this Section A4(b), you are “ Disabled ” or have a “ Disability ” if by a good faith determination by the Company it is sole discretion, you are unable to perform the job responsibilities of your Current Position as a result of a chronic illness or any other physical or mental disability for a period of six (6) consecutive months or more.
While you are in your Current Position, in the event of a Company-initiated termination of your employment from the Company due to your Disability, the Company shall pay you:
i.
any portions of your Annual Base Salary earned through the date of such termination that have not yet been paid, in accordance with the Company’s usual payroll schedule;
ii.
a pro-rated portion of your Target Bonus for the fiscal year in which your termination occurs, to the extent not paid. The pro-rated portion of your Target Bonus shall be determined by multiplying your Target Bonus by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of months, including partial months, in the fiscal year in which your termination occurs through the date of termination and the denominator of which is twelve (12). All obligations under this paragraph shall be paid in lump sum form by March 15 following the calendar year in which your termination due to Disability occurs; and
iii.
an amount equal to two times the sum of your current Annual Base Salary and Target Bonus for the year in which your termination occurs, payable in lump sum form by March 15 following the calendar year in which your termination due to Disability occurs. In the event you become reemployed by the Company during the two-year period that follows your date of termination, you will be required to repay a prorated portion of the payment described in this paragraph to the Company in a time and manner designated by the Company.
Whether a termination of your employment is due to your Disability shall be determined in the sole discretion of the Company. Receipt of any benefits described in this Section A4(b) and the Benefits Subsidy provisions applicable to termination due to Disability as described in Section A6 is conditioned on your timely execution and non-revocation of a release agreement (“ Release Agreement ”) in such form and manner as prescribed by the Company, which shall include, among other things, a waiver of all claims you may have against the Company and a waiver of the portion of any severance benefits that may become payable to you under the terms of a Management Continuity Agreement with such portion to be waived being equal to the amount of any such severance benefits due or payable under this Agreement. The terms of any Release Agreement will be determined by the Company in its sole discretion. The Release Agreement must be executed by you, returned to the Company and become effective and non-revocable within sixty (60) days after your termination of employment in order for any payment described in this Section and the Benefits Subsidy provisions applicable to termination due to Disability otherwise payable to become due and payable to you.

2

5.
Death
(a)
Accrued Salary and Target Bonus
In the event of your death while employed by the Company in your Current Position, the Company shall pay your beneficiary or estate:
i.
any portions of your Annual Base Salary earned through the date of death that have not yet been paid, in accordance with the Company’s usual payroll schedule; and
ii.
a pro-rated portion of your Target Bonus for the fiscal year in which death occurs, to the extent not paid. The pro-rated portion of your Target Bonus shall be determined by multiplying your Target Bonus by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of months, including partial months, in the fiscal year in which death occurs through the date of death and the denominator of which is twelve (12). All obligations under this paragraph shall be paid in lump sum form by March 15 following the calendar year in which the death occurs.
(b)
Enhanced Death Benefit
For as long you are employed with the Company, you are eligible for life insurance benefits under the Post Holdings, Inc. Life Insurance Plan (“ Life Insurance Plan ”) according to the terms of such Life Insurance Plan. As of the Effective Date, the Company-paid portion of the Life Insurance Plan generally provides for a death benefit of two times an employee’s annual salary and bonus received in the calendar year prior to the employee’s death (“ Basic Death Benefit ”). In addition to the Basic Death Benefit, to the extent that your beneficiaries would be entitled to a greater death benefit under the following formula (“ Enhanced Death Benefit ”) than under the Basic Death Benefit, the excess of the Enhanced Death Benefit over the Basic Death Benefit will be paid to your beneficiary or your estate in a lump sum by March 15 following the calendar year in which the death occurs. The Enhanced Death Benefit formula is two (2) times the sum of your Annual Basic Salary and Target Bonus for the fiscal year in which the death occurs. The Enhanced Death Benefit shall be available to you only if you die while in your Current Position.
6.
Benefit Subsidy upon Death or Termination Due to Disability
If you, your spouse and/or eligible dependents (your spouse and eligible dependents being your “ Family Members ”) are covered under the Company medical and dental benefit plans on the date of your death or Company-initiated termination of employment due to your Disability, you and/or your Family Members shall, upon proper application, be eligible for COBRA healthcare continuation coverage under such plans. You/your Family Members shall be responsible for a portion of the cost of COBRA continuation coverage based on the current cost sharing percentage for active employees under the plans and the Company shall pay the remaining portion for a period of eighteen (18) months (“ Benefit Subsidy Period ”) or until such time that you and/or your Family Members retain group health coverage under a subsequent group health plan, whichever is earlier, subject to certain other limits required by law. The Company will increase or decrease your portion of the plans’ cost during the Benefit Subsidy Period at the same time and on the same terms that such changes apply to then-current employees, and the Company need not continue to provide a benefit to you and/or your Family Members if it has terminated that benefit with respect to active employees and/or their family members. Following the end of the Benefit Subsidy Period, you and/or your Family Members shall be responsible for all costs associated with COBRA continuation coverage as provided for by the Company’s benefit plans and procedures. If you and/or your Family Members are not covered by medical or dental benefits at the time of your death or termination, the benefits subsidy describe in this paragraph does not apply. To the extent necessary to avoid negative tax consequences to you, your Family Members, or its employees, the Company reserves the right to impute the value of the Benefit Subsidy as income for Federal income tax purposes.

3

B.
ADDITIONAL TERMS
1.
Internal Revenue Code Section 409A
The payments and benefits under this Agreement are intended to comply with or be exempt from Section 409A of the Code and the regulations and other guidance thereunder. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if you are a specified employee as defined in Code Section 409A, any payment hereunder on account of a separation from service may not be made until at least six months after such separation from service, to the extent required to avoid the adverse tax consequences under Code Section 409A. Any such payment otherwise due in such six-month period shall be suspended and become payable at the end of such six-month period. Any installment payment hereunder shall be treated as a separate payment for purposes of Code Section 409A. Notwithstanding anything hereunder to the contrary, in the event that the period during which you may consider, execute and have a Release Agreement become non-revocable spans two tax years, any payment that could be made or commence during such period shall be made in the later of the two tax years.
2.
No Contract of Employment; MCA
Nothing in this Agreement creates a vested right to be retained in the employment of the Company. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, no payments or benefits shall be paid to you under this Agreement to the extent that payments or other benefits would be paid to you pursuant to the terms of a Management Continuity Agreement. To the extent that payments or benefits are paid to you or received by you under this Agreement and you later become eligible for severance benefits under a Management Continuity Agreement, the amount of your severance benefits under the MCA shall be reduced by the payments and benefits paid or received under this Agreement.
3.
Plan
Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary herein or in the Plan or any amendments thereto:
(a)
You will be eligible to receive Severance Benefits (as such term and all other capitalized terms used in this Section B3 without definition are defined in the Plan) at a level and subject to terms and conditions no less favorable to you than as set forth in the Plan (as modified by this Agreement) as of the date of this Agreement, notwithstanding any subsequent modifications or amendments to the Plan.
(b)
For purposes of determining your eligibility to receive Severance Benefits under the Plan, Article II, Section A1(c) of the Plan shall be deemed to read in its entirety as follows: “ Your employment must not be terminated for Cause.”
4.
No Benefit Earnings
No payment under this Agreement will be considered “benefit earnings” for purposes of any Company benefit plan, except to the extent required under the terms of any such plan or applicable law.



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5.
No Obligation to Continue Plans
Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to limit the ability of the Company to amend or terminate any employee benefit plan, program or policy. However, for the sake of clarity, any amendment or termination of an employee benefit plan, program or policy shall not relieve the Company of its obligations to provide Severance Benefits under Section B3 of this Agreement and benefits equivalent to those available under the STD Program and LTD Plan under Section A4(a) of this Agreement. The Company reserves the right to satisfy any obligation under this Agreement through its purchase of insurance policies or by any other means it determines in its sole discretion.
6.
Withholding
All payments made under this Agreement will be subject to deductions for Federal, state and local taxes and all other legally required or otherwise authorized deductions. The Company makes no guarantees or warranties regarding the tax consequences of any payment.
7.
State of Jurisdiction
This Agreement shall be construed, administered and enforced according to the laws of the State of Missouri without regard to its conflict of law rules except to the extent preempted or superseded by applicable Federal laws.
8.
Effectiveness of Agreement; Reliance
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the effectiveness of this Agreement is expressly conditioned upon your signed agreement to terminate the Amended and Restated Employment Agreement dated June 29, 2010 between you and Michael Foods, Inc. The Company acknowledges that you have agreed to such termination in reliance on the agreements of the Company set forth herein.

If you agree with the terms of this Agreement, please sign and date the letter and return a copy to me at nicole.bolton@postholdings.com .

Yours truly,

/s/ Nicole Bolton
Nicole Bolton
Senior Vice President, Human Resources


/s/ James E. Dwyer, Jr.
 
James E. Dwyer, Jr.
 
 
 
10/2/15
 
Date
 


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