1 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549 FORM 11-K ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For fiscal year ended December 31, 1997 A. Full title of the Plan: DEAN FOODS COMPANY INVESTMENT AND PROFIT SHARING PLAN B. Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office: DEAN FOODS COMPANY 3600 N. RIVER ROAD FRANKLIN PARK, ILLINOIS 60131 TELEPHONE: 847/678-1680 2 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Administrator has duly caused this annual report to be signed by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. DEAN FOODS COMPANY INVESTMENT AND PROFIT SHARING PLAN By: /s/ Gerald W. Berger ----------------------------------------- Gerald W. Berger Member of Plan Administrative Committee for Dean Foods Company Investment and Profit Sharing Plan Date: June 26, 1998 3 DEAN FOODS COMPANY INVESTMENT AND PROFIT SHARING PLAN ---------------------------------- FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -------------------- DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND 1996 -------------------------- 4 DEAN FOODS COMPANY INVESTMENT AND PROFIT SHARING PLAN ---------------------------------- INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ----------------------------- Page ---- Report of independent accountants 1 Financial statements: Statement of net assets available for plan benefits at December 31, 1997 and 1996 2 Statement of changes in net assets available for plan benefits for the year ended December 31, 1997 3 Notes to financial statements 4-12 Assets held for investment as of December 31, 1997 Schedule I Transactions or series of transactions in excess of five percent of the current value of plan assets for the year ended December 31, 1997 Schedule II Note: All other supplementary schedules have been omitted because they are not applicable. 5 REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS --------------------------------- May 8, 1998 To the Participants and Administrator of the Dean Foods Company Investment and Profit Sharing Plan In our opinion, the accompanying statement of net assets available for plan benefits and the related statement of changes in net assets available for plan benefits present fairly, in all material respects, the financial status of the Dean Foods Company Investment and Profit Sharing Plan at December 31, 1997 and 1996, and the changes in its financial status for the year ended December 31, 1997, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. These financial statements are the responsibility of the plan administrator; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards which require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by the plan administrator, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for the opinion expressed above. Our audits were performed for the purposes of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The additional information included in Schedules I and II is presented for purposes of additional analysis and is not a required part of the basic financial statements but is additional information required by the Department of Labor's rules and regulations for reporting and disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. The fund information in the footnotes to the financial statements is presented for purposes of additional analysis rather than to present the net assets available for plan benefits and changes in net assets available for benefits of each fund. Schedules I and II and the fund information have been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audits of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, are fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole. 6 DEAN FOODS COMPANY INVESTMENT AND PROFIT SHARING PLAN ---------------------------------- STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR PLAN BENEFITS AT DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND 1996 ----------------------------- 1997 1996 ---- ---- Investments, at market value (Note 3): Holding account $ 13,923 $ 2,186,848 Balanced fund 37,089,229 29,516,748 Equity Income fund 76,538,427 57,273,781 Dean Foods stock fund 36,639,387 19,609,744 Government fixed fund 53,657,680 54,758,632 Reiter Dairy Plan fund 217,022 279,184 International fund 8,186,463 6,309,615 Equity growth fund 22,604,396 16,379,296 Furman 1,454,844 - Florida Plan fund 291,740 735,296 ------------ ------------ Total investments $236,693,111 $187,049,144 ------------ ------------ Employer and employee contributions receivable 1,152,948 1,069,181 Employer profit sharing contribution receivable 3,590,242 2,967,659 Loans to participants 8,751,038 5,058,869 Interest and dividends receivable 317,044 2,523 ------------ ------------ Net assets available for Plan benefits $250,504,383 $196,147,376 ============ ============ The accompanying notes are an integral part of this statement. - 2 - 7 DEAN FOODS COMPANY INVESTMENT AND PROFIT SHARING PLAN ---------------------------------- STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR PLAN BENEFITS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 ----------------------- Source of assets: Investment income: Net unrealized depreciation in market value of investments $ (2,079,602) Realized net gains on sales of investments 45,777,901 Interest 3,579,473 Dividends 666,356 Other Income 55,110 ------------ 47,999,238 ------------ Contributions: Employer contributions 2,587,849 Employee contributions 14,145,971 Profit sharing contributions 6,506,954 ------------ 23,240,774 ------------ Participant rollovers from other plans 2,565,431 ------------ Total sources of assets 73,805,443 ------------ Application of assets: Benefit payments to Plan participants 19,292,178 Fees and expenses 156,258 ------------ Total applications of assets 19,448,436 Increase in net assets during the year 54,357,007 Net assets available for Plan benefits, beginning of year 196,147,376 ------------ Net assets available for Plan benefits, end of the year $250,504,383 ============ The accompanying notes are an integral part of this statement. DEAN FOODS COMPANY - 3 - 8 INVESTMENT AND PROFIT SHARING PLAN ---------------------------------- NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ----------------------------- NOTE 1 - GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN: - ----------------------------------------- The Dean Foods Company Investment and Profit Sharing Plan (the Plan) is a defined-contribution profit sharing plan that provides retirement benefits to employees of Dean Foods Company (the Company) who have met certain length-of-service requirements. A committee appointed by the Board of Directors of the Company is responsible for the administration of the Plan. Assets of the Plan are held in trust funds maintained at The Northern Trust Company (the Trustee). Participants' contributions are permitted in an amount not to exceed thirteen percent of their annual compensation. The Company is required to match participant contributions in an amount equal to twenty-five percent of the first six percent of elective contributions. In addition, the Company may elect to make an annual supplemental contribution to the Plan out of its current or accumulated net profits. Effective January 1, 1998, the Company increased the employer match under the Company's savings and investment plan from 25% to 50% of the first 6% of pay contributed by employees. The Company also increased the employee maximum savings limit from 13% to 16% of annual compensation. Additionally, in July 1997, the Company approved a resolution to eliminate the annual profit sharing contributions paid under the 401(k) plan after the fiscal 1998 contributions. Participants are eligible to contribute to the Plan at the date of hire. Participants vest immediately in their elective contributions, including any investment income earned pertaining to such contributions. Participants become forty percent vested in Company contributions and related earnings after two years of credited service, with vesting percentages increasing in twenty-percent increments each subsequent year until participants are fully vested after five years of credited service. Participants become fully vested in all accounts upon retirement or after attaining age sixty-five, or upon termination by reason of death or disability. Separate accounts are maintained for each participant for Company contributions and employee elective contributions. Participants direct the investment of all contributions to established funds in one percent increments. Plan income is allocated to each participant's account, based on the relative value of individual participant accounts to the total of all participants' accounts. Forfeitures from terminated participants are used to reduce subsequent employer contributions. The Company believes that the Plan will continue indefinitely, but reserves the right to terminate the Plan at any time. In the event of termination of the Plan, all assets of the Plan would become fully vested with the participants and would be distributed in accordance with the provisions of the Plan. - 4 - 9 NOTE 2 -SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES: - --------------------------------------------------- Basis of accounting - ------------------- The financial statements have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting. Contributions - ------------- Employer matching and profit sharing contributions are recorded in the year accrued by the Company. Employee contributions are recorded in the year withheld by the Company from employee payrolls or in the year of occurrence for a qualified rollover contribution as defined in Section 408(d)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Provisions of the Plan specify that no Company contributions and a maximum of forty percent of any participant's contributions may be invested in the Dean Foods stock fund. Investments - ----------- Purchases and sales of securities, including gains and losses on such sales, are recorded as of the trade date for the first six months of the year and as of the settlement date thereafter due to a change in the manner in which information is presented per the trustee statements. Pending trade sales/purchases for the latter six months of the year are netted against ending investment market values. Realized gains or losses resulting from the sale of securities are based on the difference between the selling price and the cost of the securities, cost being determined on a specific identification basis. In accordance with the policy of stating investments at market value, the net increase or decrease in the unrealized value of investments for the year is reflected in the statement of changes in net assets available for plan benefits. Market values of investments are based on published market quotations where available. Investments in collective funds are stated at the year-end unit values as determined by the Trustee, multiplied by the number of units owned. Investment income is recorded as earned. Expenses of the Plan - -------------------- Trustee fees and other administrative expenses of the Plan are paid by the Plan. Legal and audit fees associated with the Plan are paid by the Company. Benefits payable - ---------------- In accordance with authoritative guidance for accounting and disclosure by employee benefit plans, participant distributions payable are not presented as a liability in the statement of net assets or included in benefit payments in the statement of changes in net assets, resulting in a difference between the Plan's Form 5500 and the accompanying financial statements. Benefit payment obligations existing at December 31, 1997 and 1996 were $681,650 and $197,516, respectively. - 5 - 10 The following is a reconciliation of net assets available for benefits per the financial statements to the Form 5500: December 31, -------------------------- 1997 1996 ------------ ------------ Net assets available for benefits per the financial statements $250,504,383 $196,147,376 Amounts payable to withdrawing participants (681,650) (197,516) ------------ ------------ Net assets available for benefits per the Form 5500 $249,822,733 $195,949,860 ============ ============ The following is a reconciliation of benefits paid to participants per the financial statements to the Form 5500: Year ended December 31, 1997 ------------ Benefits paid to participants per the financial statements $ 19,292,178 Add: Amounts payable to withdrawing participants at December 31, 1997 681,650 Less: Amounts payable to withdrawing participants at December 31, 1996 (197,516) ------------ Benefits paid to participants per the Form 5500 $ 19,776,312 ============ - 6 - 11 NOTE 3 - INVESTMENTS: - --------------------- Effective October 1, 1995, the Plan began offering an international equity fund and an equity growth fund and July 1, 1997, the Plan began offering a small caps fund. These funds are comprised of stocks, bonds and cash. The balanced fund, international equity fund, one-half of the equity growth fund and government fixed fund are managed by Diversified Investment Advisors, formerly Mutual of New York. One-half of the equity fund is managed by ARK Investments, a division of Diversified Investment Advisors and the other half is managed by Oppenheimer. The other half of the equity growth fund and the small caps fund is managed by Mackay Shields and Furman Selz, respectively. These funds hold various securities and financial instruments under investment guidelines specified by the respective investment advisors. The Reiter Dairy Plan fund and the Florida Plan funds are frozen. The assets in the Reiter Dairy Plan fund and the Florida Plan fund are being liquidated as they mature. The GIC fund merged into the government fixed fund in 1996. The Dean Foods stock fund, which is managed by the Trustee, consists of Dean Foods Company Common Stock ($1 par value). - 7 - 12 The Plan's assets are invested as follows: December 31, 1997 -------------------------------------------- Shares/ par value Cost Market value --------- ---- ------------ Holding account: Cash $ 13,923 $ 13,923 Balance fund: Corporate bonds 24,696,584 37,089,229 Equity Income fund: Common stock 69,555,106 73,414,400 Short-term investments 3,124,026 3,124,026 Government fixed fund: U.S. government issues 53,657,868 53,657,680 Reiter Dairy Plan fund: Short-term investments 43,520 43,520 Growth/Income fund 221,200 173,502 Dean Foods stock fund: Common stock 610,219 17,749,494 36,639,387 Equity growth fund: Common stock 20,556,382 22,604,395 International fund: Common stock 6,859,957 8,186,463 Florida Plan fund: Short-term investments 291,740 291,740 Small Caps fund: Common Stock 1,414,930 1,454,846 ------------ ------------ $198,184,730 $236,693,111 ============ ============ - 8 - 13 December 31, 1996 -------------------------------------------- Shares/ par value Cost Market value --------- ---- ------------ Holding account: Cash $ 2,186,848 $ 2,186,848 Balance fund: Corporate bonds 21,840,133 29,516,748 Equity Income fund: Common stock 32,068,876 57,273,781 Government fixed fund: U.S. government issues 54,758,821 54,758,632 Reiter Dairy Plan fund: Short-term investments 76,622 76,622 Growth/income funds 256,300 202,562 Dean Foods stock fund: Common stock 608,198 16,236,376 19,609,744 Equity growth fund: Common stock 13,029,655 16,379,296 International fund: Common stock 5,242,720 6,309,615 Florida Plan fund: Common stock 550,168 520,652 Short-term investments 214,644 214,644 ------------ ------------ $146,461,163 $187,049,144 ============ ============ - 9 - 14 The changes in unrealized appreciation/(depreciation) of investments during the year ended December 31, 1997 were as follows: January 1, December 31, 1997 Appreciation 1997 balance (Depreciation) balance ------- -------------- ------- Balanced fund $ 7,676,615 $ 4,716,030 $ 12,392,645 Equity income fund 25,204,905 (21,345,611) 3,859,294 Reiter Dairy Plan fund (53,738) 6,040 (47,698) Government fixed fund (189) - (189) Small Caps Fund - 39,914 39,914 Dean Foods stock fund 3,373,368 15,516,525 18,889,893 Equity growth fund 3,349,641 (1,301,628) 2,048,013 International fund 1,066,895 259,612 1,326,507 Florida Plan fund (29,516) 29,516 - ------------ ------------ ------------- Total $ 40,587,981 $ (2,079,602) $ 38,508,379 ============ ============ ============= The aggregate proceeds, costs, and realized gains/(losses) resulting from the sale of investments for the year ended December 31, 1997 were as follows: Aggregate Aggregate Realized proceeds cost gain/(loss) -------- ---- ----------- Balanced fund $ 3,444,556 $ 2,376,393 $ 1,068,163 Equity income fund 82,031,867 44,180,546 37,851,321 Small caps fund 71,415 69,570 1,845 Government fixed fund 13,353,727 13,353,727 - Dean Foods stock fund 3,369,224 2,232,432 1,136,792 Equity growth fund 22,148,713 16,618,883 5,529,830 International fund 1,058,406 846,033 212,373 Reiter Dairy 395 35,100 (34,705) Florida Plan fund 562,450 550,168 12,282 ------------ ------------ ------------- Total $126,040,753 $ 80,262,852 $ 45,777,901 ============ ============ ============= - 10 - 15 NOTE 4 - SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL STATEMENT BALANCES BY FUND: - --------------------------------------------------------- Following is a summary of certain financial statement balances by fund at December 31, 1997 and 1996: Interest and Dividend Benefit 1997 Receivables Contribution Income Payments ---- ----------- ------------ ------------ -------- Balanced fund $ 2,568,194 $ 4,174,945 $ 2,012 $ 5,401,810 Equity income fund 3,846,306 6,419,102 335,555 6,752,262 Small caps fund 123,468 124,397 928 1,929,218 Government fixed fund 3,039,737 5,422,740 3,408,018 2,893,827 Reiter Dairy Plan fund 240 - 3,468 38,584 Dean Foods stock fund 1,484,312 2,544,489 476,981 1,543,374 Equity growth fund 1,927,503 3,219,945 3,592 77,169 International fund 820,101 1,335,156 625 578,765 Florida Plan fund 1,411 - 14,650 77,169 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Total $13,811,272 $23,240,774 $ 4,245,829 $19,292,178 =========== =========== =========== =========== Interest and Dividend Benefit 1996 Receivables Contribution Income Payments ---- ----------- ------------ ------------ -------- Balanced fund $ 1,744,907 $ 3,826,201 $ 1,795 $ 1,274,738 Equity income fund 2,569,852 5,614,991 2,778 2,549,476 GIC fund - - 14,559 - Government fixed fund 2,129,943 5,493,932 3,465,843 5,678,379 Reiter Dairy Plan fund 354 - 2,816 115,886 Dean Foods stock fund 1,051,871 2,346,409 444,350 927,082 Equity growth fund 1,132,865 2,449,990 895 579,426 International fund 467,318 983,128 488 347,656 Florida Plan fund 1,122 - 12,642 115,885 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Total $ 9,098,232 $20,714,651 $ 3,946,166 $11,588,528 =========== =========== =========== =========== - 11 - 16 NOTE 5 - INCOME TAX STATUS: - --------------------------- The Plan administrator has received a favorable determination letter for the Plan from the Internal Revenue Service dated February 22, 1996. There have been no material changes to the plan during 1997. As such, the current determination letter is effective, and no provision for income taxes has been made in the accompanying financial statements. NOTE 6 - SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS: - --------------------------------- Investments with fair values in excess of 5% of net assets available for benefits at December 31, 1997 and 1996 were: 1997 1996 ---- ---- *Dean Foods Company Common Stock $ 36,644,771 $ 19,614,386 Dean Foods Equity Growth Fund Mutual Fund 22,604,074 16,379,297 Dean Foods Equity Value Fund Mutual Fund 73,414,400 57,273,781 Diversified Investment Advisors Balanced Fund Mutual Fund 37,089,009 29,516,748 Money Government U.S. Government and Fixed Fund Agency Issues 53,651,826 54,758,631 - 12 - 17 SCHEDULE I ---------- DEAN FOODS COMPANY INVESTMENT AND PROFIT SHARING PLAN ---------------------------------- ASSETS HELD FOR INVESTMENT AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1997 (LINE 27a OF FORM 5500) ----------------------------------------------- Description Identity of Issue Of Investment Cost Fair Value - ----------------- ------------- ---- ---------- *Dean Foods Company Common Stock $ 17,754,878 $ 36,644,771 Diversified Investment Advisors International Equity Fund Mutual Fund 6,860,009 8,186,489 Dean Foods Equity Growth Fund Mutual Fund 20,556,056 22,604,074 Dean Foods Equity Income Fund Mutual Fund 69,555,106 73,414,400 Diversified Investment Advisors Balanced Fund Mutual Fund 24,696,362 37,089,009 Money Government U.S. Government and Fixed Fund Agency Issues 53,651,826 53,651,826 Frank Russell Real Estate Equity Fund Mutual Fund 291,740 291,740 Dean Foods Master Trust Furman Selz Mutual Fund 1,413,951 1,453,865 *Participant Loans Loans at 6-9% - 8,751,038 *Northern Trust Collective Short-Term Investment Fund Cash Equivalents 3,183,434 3,183,434 Sundry Assets Miscellaneous 221,389 173,503 ------------ ------------ $198,184,751 $245,444,149 ============ ============ *Party in interest - 13 - 18 SCHEDULE II ----------- DEAN FOODS COMPANY INVESTMENT AND PROFIT SHARING PLAN ---------------------------------- TRANSACTIONS OR SERIES OF TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING AN AMOUNT IN EXCESS OF FIVE PERCENT OF THE CURRENT VALUE OF ASSETS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997 (LINE 27d OF FORM 5500) ------------------------------------------------------------ Description of asset (include interest Expense Identity of party rate and maturity in Selling incurred with Cost of involved case of loan) Purchase Price Price Lease Rental transaction asset -------- ------------- -------------- ----- ----------- ----------- ---- Dean Foods Master Trust Mackay Shields 19,402,311 - - - - Diversified Investment Advisors Equity Value Fund 35,977,129 - - - - Diversified Investment Advisors Equity Growth Fund - 19,402,312 - - 14,285,845 Diversified Investment Advisors Equity Income Fund - 35,637,923 - - 19,915,739 Diversified Investment Advisors Equity Income Fund - 35,977,129 - - 17,915,740 The Northern Trust Collective Investment Company Fund 35,637,990 - - - - The Northern Trust Collective Investment - Company Fund 30,260,482 - - 30,260,482 Dean Foods Master Trust Mackay Shields 21,666,050 - - - - Dean Foods Master Trust Mackay Shields - 1,172,876 - - 1,112,538 Diversified Investment Advisor Equity Value Fund 37,913,871 - - - - Diversified Investment Advisor Equity Value Fund - 1,784,313 - - 1,713,406 Diversified Investment Advisor Equity Growth Fund 2,479,238 - - - - Diversified Investment Advisor Equity Growth Fund - 20,975,837 - - 15,506,345 Diversified Investment Advisor Equity Incom 5,297,993 - - - - Diversified Investment Advisor Equity Incom - 74,512,906 - - 37,357,619 The Northern Trust Collective Investment Company Fund 59,144,424 - - - - The Northern Trust Collective Investment Company Fund - 58,141,666 - - 58,141,666 Diversified Investment Government Fixed Fund Fund 12,315,519 - - - - Diversified Investment Government Fixed Fund Fund - 13,353,727 - - 13,353,727 Current value of asset on Identity of party transaction Net gain involved date or (loss) -------- ------------- --------- Dean Foods Master Trust 19,402,311 - Diversified Investment Advisors 35,977,129 - Diversified Investment Advisors 19,402,312 5,116,467 Diversified Investment Advisors 35,637,923 15,722,184 Diversified Investment Advisors 35,977,129 18,061,389 The Northern Trust Company 35,637,990 - The Northern Trust Company 30,260,482 - Dean Foods Master Trust 21,666,050 - Dean Foods Master Trust 1,172,876 60,338 Diversified Investment Advisor 37,913,871 - Diversified Investment Advisor 1,784,313 70,906 Diversified Investment Advisor 2,479,238 - Diversified Investment Advisor 20,975,837 5,469,492 Diversified Investment Advisor 5,297,993 - Diversified Investment Advisor 74,512,906 37,155,287 The Northern Trust Company 59,144,424 - The Northern Trust Company 58,141,666 - Diversified Investment Fund 12,315,519 - Diversified Investment Fund 13,353,727 - 19 EXHIBIT 1 --------- CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS ---------------------------------- We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 2-94753) of Dean Foods Company of our report dated May 8, 1998 appearing on page 4 of the Annual Report of Deans Foods Company Investment and Profit Sharing Plan on Form 11-K for the year ended December 31, 1997. Price Waterhouse LLP Chicago, Illinois June 26, 1998