UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

(Mark One)

xQUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED July 31, 2015

 

OR

 

¨TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM              TO             

 

Commission File Number: 001-34755

 

 

 

Limoneira Company

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware 77-0260692

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

1141 Cummings Road, Santa Paula, CA 93060
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (805) 525-5541

 

Not Applicable

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    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 such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). x Yes ¨ No 

 

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

 

¨   Large accelerated filer x  Accelerated filer ¨  Non-accelerated filer ¨  Smaller reporting company
   
  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  ¨ Yes x  No

 

As of August 31, 2015, there were 14,128,830 shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock.

 

 

 

 

 

LIMONEIRA COMPANY

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION 4
   
Item 1. Financial Statements 4
     
Consolidated Balance Sheets – July 31, 2015 and October 31, 2014 4
   
Consolidated Statements of Operations – three and nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014 5
   
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income – three and nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014 6
   
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014 7
   
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 10
   
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 24
     
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk 44
     
Item 4. Controls and Procedures 44
     
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION 45
   
Item 1. Legal Proceedings 45
     
Item 1A. Risk Factors 45
     
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds 45
     
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities 45
     
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures 45
     
Item 5. Other Information 45
     
Item 6. Exhibits 46
     
SIGNATURES 48

 

 2 

 

 

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements.

 

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains both historical and forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this 10-Q are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond the Company’s control. The potential risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual financial condition, results of operations and future performance to differ materially from those expressed or implied include:

 

·changes in laws, regulations, rules, quotas, tariff, and import laws;

 

·weather conditions, including freezes and droughts that affect the production, transportation, storage, import and export of fresh produce;

 

·market responses to industry volume pressures;

 

·increased pressure from crop disease, insects and other pests;

 

·disruption of water supplies or changes in water allocations;

 

·product and raw materials supplies and pricing;

 

·energy supply and pricing;

 

·changes in interest and current exchange rates;

 

·availability of financing for land development activities;

 

·general economic conditions for residential and commercial real estate development;

 

·political changes and economic crisis;

 

·international conflict;

 

·acts of terrorism;

 

·labor disruptions, strikes, shortages or work stoppages;

 

·loss of important intellectual property rights; and

 

·other factors disclosed in our public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

The Company’s actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities could differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. Additional risks of which the Company is not currently aware or which the Company currently deems immaterial could also cause the Company’s actual results to differ, including those discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2014. Although we believe the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, even if our situation changes in the future.

 

The terms the “Company,” “Limoneira”, “we,” “our” and “us” as used throughout this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q refer to Limoneira Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless otherwise indicated.

 

 3 

 

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.Financial Statements

 

Limoneira Company

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited)

 

  

July 31,

2015

  

October 31,

2014

 
Assets          
Current assets:          
Cash  $32,000   $92,000 
Accounts receivable, net   7,626,000    7,236,000 
Cultural costs   2,859,000    3,691,000 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   3,986,000    3,849,000 
Income taxes receivable   -    1,143,000 
Total current assets   14,503,000    16,011,000 
           
Property, plant and equipment, net   122,007,000    105,433,000 
Real estate development   94,923,000    88,088,000 
Equity in investments   3,344,000    3,638,000 
Investment in Calavo Growers, Inc.   27,255,000    24,270,000 
Note receivable   819,000    2,084,000 
Other assets   8,125,000    8,114,000 
Total assets  $270,976,000   $247,638,000 
           
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity          
Current liabilities:          
Accounts payable  $5,457,000   $6,363,000 
Growers payable   6,066,000    5,839,000 
Accrued liabilities   7,219,000    7,539,000 
Fair value of derivative instrument   764,000    809,000 
Current portion of long-term debt   585,000    583,000 
Total current liabilities   20,091,000    21,133,000 
Long-term liabilities:          
Long-term debt, less current portion   84,215,000    67,771,000 
Deferred income taxes   23,294,000    21,792,000 
Other long-term liabilities   5,708,000    6,282,000 
Total liabilities   133,308,000    116,978,000 
Commitments and contingencies   -    - 
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock – $100 par value (50,000 shares authorized: 30,000 shares issued and outstanding at July 31, 2015 and October 31, 2014) (8.75% coupon rate)   3,000,000    3,000,000 
Series B-2 Convertible Preferred Stock – $100 par value (10,000 shares authorized: 9,300 shares issued and outstanding at July 31, 2015 and October 31, 2014) (4% dividend rate on liquidation value of $1,000 per share)   9,331,000    9,331,000 
Stockholders’ equity:          
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock   -    - 
Common stock – $.01 par value (19,900,000 shares authorized: 14,128,830 and 14,078,077 shares issued and outstanding at July 31, 2015 and October 31, 2014, respectively)   141,000    140,000 
Additional paid-in capital   90,394,000    89,770,000 
Retained earnings   27,356,000    23,308,000 
Accumulated other comprehensive income   7,446,000    5,111,000 
Total stockholders’ equity   125,337,000    118,329,000 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity  $270,976,000   $247,638,000 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements

 

 4 

 

 

Limoneira Company

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited)

 

  

Three months ended

July 31,

  

Nine months ended

July 31,

 
   2015   2014   2015   2014 
Revenues:                    
Agribusiness  $28,466,000   $35,173,000   $82,268,000   $83,481,000 
Rental operations   1,311,000    1,182,000    3,769,000    3,483,000 
Real estate development   34,000    121,000    62,000    196,000 
Total revenues   29,811,000    36,476,000    86,099,000    87,160,000 
Costs and expenses:                    
Agribusiness   17,471,000    17,805,000    63,308,000    58,730,000 
Rental operations   907,000    796,000    2,471,000    2,231,000 
Real estate development   325,000    420,000    806,000    1,021,000 
Impairment of real estate development assets   -    435,000    -    435,000 
Selling, general and administrative   3,270,000    3,640,000    10,053,000    10,326,000 
Total costs and expenses   21,973,000    23,096,000    76,638,000    72,743,000 
Operating income   7,838,000    13,380,000    9,461,000    14,417,000 
Other income (expense):                    
Interest (expense) income, net   (45,000)   20,000    (102,000)   59,000 
Equity in earnings of investments   205,000    101,000    193,000    132,000 
Other income, net   91,000    39,000    353,000    254,000 
Total other income   251,000    160,000    444,000    445,000 
                     
Income before income tax provision   8,089,000    13,540,000    9,905,000    14,862,000 
                     
Income tax provision   (2,776,000)   (4,608,000)   (3,477,000)   (5,036,000)
Net income   5,313,000    8,932,000    6,428,000    9,826,000 
Preferred dividends   (159,000)   (171,000)   (477,000)   (302,000)
Net income applicable to common stock  $5,154,000   $8,761,000   $5,951,000   $9,524,000 
                     
Basic net income per common share  $0.36   $0.62   $0.42   $0.68 
                     
Diluted net income per common share  $0.36   $0.61   $0.42   $0.68 
                     
Dividends per common share  $0.05   $0.05   $0.14   $0.12 
                     
Weighted-average common shares outstanding-basic   14,127,000    14,064,000    14,115,000    14,048,000 
Weighted-average common shares outstanding-diluted   14,953,000    14,486,000    14,115,000    14,227,000 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

 5 

 

 

Limoneira Company

 

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (unaudited)

 

  

Three months ended

July 31,

  

Nine months ended

July 31,

 
   2015   2014   2015   2014 
                 
Net income  $5,313,000   $8,932,000   $6,428,000   $9,826,000 
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:                    
Minimum pension liability adjustment   149,000    117,000    447,000    352,000 
Unrealized holding gains on security available-for-sale   1,172,000    1,023,000    1,813,000    1,445,000 
Unrealized gains from derivative instruments   87,000    119,000    75,000    370,000 
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax   1,408,000    1,259,000    2,335,000    2,167,000 
Comprehensive income  $6,721,000   $10,191,000   $8,763,000   $11,993,000 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

 6 

 

 

Limoneira Company

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)

 

  

Nine months ended

July 31,

 
   2015   2014 
Operating activities          
Net income  $6,428,000   $9,826,000 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:          
Depreciation and amortization   2,979,000    2,564,000 
Loss on disposals of assets   357,000    408,000 
Impairment of real estate development assets   -    435,000 
Stock compensation expense   799,000    892,000 
Distributed earnings of investments   303,000    52,000 
Accrued interest on notes receivable   (36,000)   (59,000)
Donation of common stock   100,000    100,000 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:          
Accounts receivable, net   (394,000)   (4,728,000)
Cultural costs   832,000    1,434,000 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   (137,000)   (57,000)
Income taxes receivable   1,143,000    - 
Other assets   208,000    240,000 
Accounts payable and growers payable   (2,073,000)   3,208,000 
Accrued liabilities   (581,000)   3,339,000 
Other long-term liabilities   258,000    121,000 
Net cash provided by operating activities   10,186,000    17,775,000 
           
Investing activities          
Capital expenditures   (23,735,000)   (14,185,000)
Business combination   -    (700,000)
Equity investment contributions   (9,000)   (8,000)
Investments in mutual water companies   (293,000)   (293,000)
Net cash used in investing activities   (24,037,000)   (15,186,000)
           
Financing activities          
Borrowings of long-term debt   93,334,000    40,938,000 
Repayments of long-term debt   (76,888,000)   (50,967,000)
Dividends paid – common   (1,903,000)   (1,687,000)
Dividends paid – preferred   (477,000)   (271,000)
Exchange of common stock   (275,000)   (175,000)
Net proceeds from issuance of preferred stock   -    9,300,000 
Payments of debt financing costs   -    (106,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities   13,791,000    (2,968,000)
           
Net decrease in cash   (60,000)   (29,000)
Cash at beginning of period   92,000    82,000 
Cash at end of period  $32,000   $53,000 

 

 7 

 

 

Limoneira Company

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) (continued)

 

  

Nine months ended

July 31,

 
   2015   2014 
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information          
Cash paid during the period for interest  $1,939,000   $1,730,000 
Cash (received) paid during the period for income taxes, net of payments (refunds)  $(640,000)  $2,095,000 
Non-cash investing and financing activities:          
Unrealized holding gain on Calavo investment  $(2,985,000)  $(2,400,000)
Capital expenditures accrued but not paid at period-end  $1,654,000   $721,000 
Non-cash reduction of note receivable  $1,301,000   $- 
Accrued interest on note receivable  $36,000   $59,000 
Donation of common stock  $100,000   $100,000 
Accrued Series B-2 Convertible Preferred Stock dividends  $31,000   $31,000 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

 8 

 

 

Limoneira Company

 

Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

 

Preface

 

The preparation of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements requires management to make use of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets and liabilities, revenue and expenses and certain financial statement disclosures. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

  

The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for the three months and nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014 and balance sheet as of July 31, 2015 included herein have not been audited by an independent registered public accounting firm, but in management’s opinion, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) necessary to make a fair statement of the financial position at July 31, 2015 and the results of operations and the cash flows for the periods presented herein have been made. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results expected for the full fiscal year.

 

The consolidated balance sheet at October 31, 2014 included herein has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) for complete financial statements.

  

The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Although we believe the disclosures made are adequate to make the information presented not misleading, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules or regulations. These unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2014.

 

 9 

 

 

Limoneira Company

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

 

1. Business

 

Limoneira Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), engages primarily in growing citrus and avocados, picking and hauling citrus, and packing, marketing and selling lemons. The Company is also engaged in residential rentals and other rental operations and real estate development activities.

 

The Company markets and sells lemons directly to foodservice, wholesale and retail customers throughout the United States, Canada, Asia and other international markets. The Company is a member of Sunkist Growers, Inc. (“Sunkist”), an agricultural marketing cooperative, and sells its oranges, specialty citrus and other crops to Sunkist-licensed and other third-party packinghouses.

 

The Company sells all of its avocado production to Calavo Growers, Inc. (“Calavo”), a packing and marketing company listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol CVGW. Calavo’s customers include many of the largest retail and food service companies in the United States and Canada. The Company’s avocados are packed by Calavo, sold and distributed under Calavo brands to its customers.

 

The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and the accounts of all the subsidiaries and investments in which a controlling interest is held by the Company. The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements represent the consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of operations, consolidated statements of comprehensive income and consolidated statements of cash flows of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. The Company’s subsidiaries include: Limoneira International Division, LLC, Limoneira Mercantile, LLC, Windfall Investors, LLC, Templeton Santa Barbara, LLC, and Associated Citrus Packers, Inc. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company considers the criteria established under the Financial Accounting Standards Board – Accounting Standards Code (“FASB ASC”) 810, Consolidations and the effect of variable interest entities, in its consolidation process. These unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the notes thereto included in this quarterly report.

 

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Reclassifications and Adjustments

 

Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior years’ consolidated financial statements to conform to the July 31, 2015 presentation.

 

Immaterial Classification Error - An immaterial error in the classification of an equity method investee’s distributions was corrected in the July 31, 2014 consolidated financial statements which resulted in the reclassification of an equity method investee’s distributions from investing to operating cash flows in the amount of  $184,000 in the consolidated statement of cash flows. The Company has evaluated the materiality of this error both qualitatively and quantitatively in accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 99, Materiality, and determined that this error was not material to our previously reported consolidated financial statements as of October 31, 2014 and prior.

 

Other Reclassifications - Equity in earnings of investments were reclassified as a component of other income (expense) from a separate line item following the income tax provision on the statement of operations.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

Financial Accounting Standards Board – Accounting Standards Update (“FASB ASU”) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606).

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606).” This ASU affects any entity that either enters into contracts with customers to transfer goods or services or enters into contracts for the transfer of nonfinancial assets unless those contracts are within the scope of other standards (e.g., insurance contracts or lease contracts). This ASU will supersede the revenue recognition requirements in Topic 605, Revenue Recognition, and most industry-specific guidance. This ASU also supersedes some cost guidance included in Subtopic 605-35, Revenue Recognition – Construction-Type and Production-Type Contracts. In addition, the existing requirements for the recognition of a gain or loss on the transfer of nonfinancial assets that are not in a contract with a customer (e.g., assets within the scope of Topic 360, Property, Plant, and Equipment, and tangible assets within the scope of Topic 350, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other) are amended to be consistent with the guidance on recognition and measurement (including the constraint on revenue) in this ASU.

 

 10 

 

 

Limoneira Company

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

 

The core principle of the guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. To achieve that core principle, an entity should apply the following steps:

 

·Identify the contract(s) with a customer.

·Identify the performance obligations in the contract.

·Determine the transaction price.

·Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract.

·Recognize revenue when (or as) the entity satisfies a performance obligation.

 

The amendments in this ASU are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period. Early application is not permitted. The Company is evaluating the effect this ASU may have on its consolidated financial statements.

 

FASB Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-03, Interest—Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs

 

The amendments in this ASU require that debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. The recognition and measurement guidance for debt issuance costs are not affected by the amendments in this ASU.

 

The amendments are effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

 

FASB Accounting Standards Update No. 2015-11, Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory

 

The amendments in this ASU do not apply to inventory that is measured using last-in, first-out (LIFO) or the retail inventory method. The amendments apply to all other inventory, which includes inventory that is measured using first-in, first-out (FIFO) or average cost.

 

An entity should measure in scope inventory at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. Subsequent measurement is unchanged for inventory measured using LIFO or the retail inventory method.

 

The amendments in this ASU more closely align the measurement of inventory in GAAP with the measurement of inventory in International Financial Reporting Standards.

 

For public business entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, including interim periods within those fiscal years. For all other entities, the amendments are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. The amendments should be applied prospectively with earlier application permitted as of the beginning of an interim or annual reporting period. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

 

 11 

 

 

Limoneira Company

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

3. Fair Value Measurements

 

Under the FASB ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement and Disclosures, a fair value measurement is determined based on the assumptions that a market participant would use in pricing an asset or liability. A three-tiered hierarchy draws distinctions between market participant assumptions based on (i) observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets (Level 1), (ii) inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are observable either directly or indirectly (Level 2) and (iii) unobservable inputs that require the Company to use present value and other valuation techniques in the determination of fair value (Level 3).

 

The following table sets forth the Company’s financial assets and liabilities as of July 31, 2015 and October 31, 2014, which are measured on a recurring basis during the period, segregated by level within the fair value hierarchy: 

 

July 31, 2015

   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
Assets at fair value:                    
Available-for-sale securities  $27,255,000   $   $   $27,255,000 
Liabilities at fair value:                    
Derivative  $   $1,662,000   $   $1,662,000 

 

October 31, 2014

   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
Assets at fair value:                    
Available-for-sale securities  $24,270,000   $   $   $24,270,000 
Liabilities at fair value:                    
Derivative  $   $1,782,000   $   $1,782,000 

 

Available-for-sale securities consist of marketable securities in Calavo common stock. The Company currently owns 500,000 shares, representing approximately 2.9% of Calavo’s outstanding common stock. These securities are measured at fair value by quoted market prices. Calavo’s stock price at July 31, 2015 and October 31, 2014 was $54.51 and $48.54 per share, respectively.

 

The derivative consists of an interest rate swap, the fair value of which is estimated using industry-standard valuation models. Such models project future cash flows and discount the future amounts to a present value using market-based observable inputs.

 

4. Accounts Receivable

 

The Company grants credit in the course of its operations to customers, cooperatives, companies and lessees of the Company’s facilities. The Company performs periodic credit evaluations of its customers’ financial condition and generally does not require collateral. The Company provides allowances on its receivables, as required, based on accounts receivable aging and certain other factors. As of July 31, 2015 and October 31, 2014 the allowances totaled $163,000 and $442,000, respectively.

 

5. Concentrations

 

Lemons procured from third-party growers were 25% and 23% of lemon supply in the three months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively and 35% and 20% of lemon supply in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

 

The Company sells all of its avocado production to Calavo.

 

 12 

 

 

Limoneira Company

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

6. Real Estate Development Assets

 

Real estate development assets consist of the following:

 

   July 31,
2015
   October 31,
2014
 
East Areas 1 and 2  $58,532,000   $55,016,000 
Templeton Santa Barbara, LLC   11,039,000    11,039,000 
Windfall Investors, LLC   25,352,000    22,033,000 
   $94,923,000   $88,088,000 

 

East Areas 1 and 2

 

In fiscal year 2005, the Company began capitalizing the costs of two real estate development projects east of Santa Paula, California, for the development of 550 acres of land into residential units, commercial buildings and civic facilities. During the three months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company capitalized $1,434,000 and $827,000, respectively, of costs related to these projects. During the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company capitalized $3,516,000 and $2,333,000, respectively, of costs related to these projects. Additionally, in relation to these projects, the Company incurred expenses of $4,000 in each of the three months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014 and $12,000 and $13,000 in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

 

On August 24, 2010, the Company entered into an amendment (the “Amendment”) to a Real Estate Advisory Management Consultant Agreement (the “Consultant Agreement”) with Parkstone Companies, Inc. (the “Consultant”) dated April 1, 2004, that includes provisions for the Consultant to earn a success fee (the “Success Fee”) upon the annexation by the City of Santa Paula, California of East Area I. Under the terms of the Amendment, the Company agrees to pay the Success Fee in an amount equal to 4% of the incremental Property Value under a formula defined in the Amendment.  The Success Fee is due and payable 120 days following the earlier to occur of (a) the sale of all or any portion of East Area I, including any unrelated third party material investment in the property, (b) the determination of an appraised value of the East Area I or (c) the second anniversary of the property annexation (each a “Success Fee Event”).

 

The Success Fee, if any, shall be paid in cash, shares of the Company’s common stock, or any combination of the forgoing at the sole discretion of the Company.  The Success Fee is based on the calculated value of the property, which can vary over time until the settlement date. Accordingly, the Success Fee will be “marked to market” periodically to recognize the potential variability in the property value. Changes in the value, if any, will be recorded to capitalized development costs and additional paid in capital (“APIC”). To the extent that it becomes probable that cash will be used in the settlement rather than stock, such amount of cash will be classified as a liability rather than APIC.

 

If the Success Fee is paid in shares of common stock, deemed to be an equity award, the amount of common stock paid will be determined using a price per share equal to the average of closing prices of the common stock on the NASDAQ Global Market for the 20 trading days ending on the last trading day prior to the earliest occurring Success Fee Event; provided, however, that the price per share shall be no less than $16.00 per share. Previously recognized capitalized development costs will be adjusted to reflect the calculated value of the property upon settlement. The related APIC amount will be adjusted to common stock to reflect the issuance of common stock. To the extent that it becomes probable that cash will be used in the settlement rather than stock, such amount of cash will be classified as a liability rather than APIC/common stock. As of July 31, 2015, the estimated amount of the Success Fee was zero.

 

In connection with facilitating the annexation of East Area 1 into the City of Santa Paula, during February 2013, the Company entered into a Capital Improvement Cost Sharing Agreement for Improvements to Santa Paula Creek Channel (the “Cost Sharing Agreement”) with the Ventura County Watershed Protection District (the “District”). The Cost Sharing Agreement requires the Company to reimburse the District 28.5% of the costs of the improvements, up to a maximum of $5,000,000. Additionally, the Company is required to pay the cost of preparing a study to determine a feasible scope of work and budget for the improvements. No costs have been incurred to date in relation to this agreement. 

 

 13 

 

 

Limoneira Company

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

6. Real Estate Development Assets (continued)

 

Templeton Santa Barbara, LLC

 

The three real estate development parcels within the Templeton Santa Barbara, LLC project are described as Centennial Square (“Centennial”), The Terraces at Pacific Crest (“Pacific Crest”), and Sevilla. The net carrying values of Centennial, Pacific Crest and Sevilla at July 31, 2015 and October 31, 2014 were $2,983,000, $3,370,000 and $4,686,000, respectively. These projects were idle during the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and, as such, no costs were capitalized.

 

During the three months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company capitalized zero and $24,000, respectively, of costs related to these real estate parcels. During the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company capitalized zero and $197,000, respectively, of costs related to these real estate parcels. Additionally, in relation to these parcels, the Company incurred net expenses of $42,000 and $465,000 in the three months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and $128,000 and $527,000 in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The net expenses incurred in fiscal year 2014 include a July 31, 2014 impairment charge of $435,000 recognized on the Centennial property.

 

Windfall Investors, LLC

 

On November 15, 2009, the Company acquired Windfall Investors, LLC, which included $16,842,000 of real estate development assets. During the three months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company capitalized $2,597,000 and $673,000, respectively, of costs primarily related to vineyards and water wells for this real estate development project. During the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company capitalized $3,319,000 and $1,323,000, respectively, of costs primarily related to vineyards and water wells for this real estate development project. Additionally, in relation to this project, the Company incurred net expenses of $245,000 and $265,000, in the three months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and $604,000 and $720,000 in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

 

7. Investment in Calavo Growers, Inc.

 

In June 2005, the Company entered into a stock purchase agreement with Calavo. Pursuant to this agreement, the Company purchased 1,000,000 shares, or approximately 6.9%, of Calavo’s common stock for $10,000,000 and Calavo purchased 1,728,570 shares, or approximately 15.1%, of the Company’s common stock for $23,450,000. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company received net cash consideration of $13,450,000. The Company has classified its marketable securities investment as available-for-sale.

 

In fiscal year 2009, the Company sold 335,000 shares of Calavo stock for a total of $6,079,000, recognizing a gain of $2,729,000. In fiscal year 2013, the Company sold 165,000 shares to Calavo pursuant to the 2005 Stock Purchase Agreement for a total of $4,788,000, recognizing a gain of $3,138,000. The Company continues to own 500,000 shares of Calavo common stock.

 

Changes in the fair value of the available-for-sale securities result in unrealized holding gains or losses for the remaining shares held by the Company. The Company recorded unrealized holding gains of $1,930,000 ($1,172,000 net of tax) and $1,700,000 ($1,023,000 net of tax), during the three months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The Company recorded unrealized holding gains of $2,985,000 ($1,813,000 net of tax) and $2,400,000 ($1,445,000 net of tax), during the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

 

8. Note Receivable

  

During fiscal year 2004, the Company sold a parcel of land in Morro Bay, California and in connection with the sale; the Company recorded a note receivable of $1,300,000. Total principal and interest due was $819,000 and $2,084,000 at July 31, 2015 and October 31, 2014, respectively. Interest continues to accrue on the principal balance of the note and was $12,000 and $20,000 in the three months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively and $36,000 and $59,000 in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

 

In July 2015, the holder of the note completed the drilling of three water wells at the Company’s Windfall Investors, LLC real estate development property. The fair value of the well drilling services was $1,301,000 and the Company recorded a non-cash reduction of the note receivable comprised of $820,000 in accrued interest and $481,000 of principal.

 

 14 

 

 

Limoneira Company

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

9. Other Assets

 

Other assets consist of the following:

 

   July 31,
2015
   October 31,
2014
 
Investments in mutual water companies   $4,024,000   $3,731,000 
Acquired water and mineral rights    1,536,000    1,536,000 
Deferred lease assets and other    1,085,000    1,282,000 
Revolving funds and memberships    344,000    355,000 
Acquired trade names and trademarks, net   456,000    530,000 
Goodwill   680,000    680,000 
   $8,125,000   $8,114,000 

 

10. Accrued Liabilities

 

Accrued liabilities consist of the following:

 

   July 31,
2015
   October 31,
2014
 
Compensation  $1,514,000   $3,280,000 
Property taxes   182,000    500,000 
Income taxes   2,969,000    - 
Interest   251,000    235,000 
Deferred rental income and deposits   808,000    598,000 
Lease expense   675,000    1,458,000 
Lemon supplier payables   -    624,000 
Capital expenditures and other   820,000    844,000 
   $7,219,000   $7,539,000 

 

11. Long-Term Debt

 

Long-term debt is comprised of the following:

 

   July 31,
2015
   October 31,
2014
 
Rabobank revolving credit facility: the interest rate is variable based on the one-month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), which was 0.19% at July 31, 2015, plus 1.80%. Interest is payable monthly and the principal is due in full in June 2018.  $78,664,000   $61,623,000 
Farm Credit West term loan: the interest rate is variable and was 2.75% at July 31, 2015. The loan is payable in quarterly installments through November 2022.   4,367,000    4,756,000 
Farm Credit West non-revolving line of credit: the interest rate is variable and was 2.75% at July 31, 2015. Interest is payable monthly and the principal is due in full in May 2018.   492,000    492,000 
Farm Credit West term loan: the interest rate is variable and was 2.75% at July 31, 2015. The loan is payable in monthly installments through October 2035.   1,277,000    1,475,000 
CNH Capital loans: the interest rate was zero and the loans were paid off in May and July 2015.   -    8,000 
Subtotal   84,800,000    68,354,000 
Less current portion   585,000    583,000 
Total long-term debt, less current portion  $84,215,000   $67,771,000 

 

 15 

 

 

Limoneira Company

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

11. Long-Term Debt (continued)

 

Interest is capitalized on non-bearing orchards, real estate development projects and significant construction in progress. The Company capitalized interest of $651,000 and $559,000 during the three months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and $1,874,000 and $1,757,000 during the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Capitalized interest is included in property, plant and equipment and real estate development assets in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

 

12. Derivative Instrument and Hedging Activities

 

The Company enters into interest rate swaps to minimize the risks and costs associated with its financing activities. Derivative financial instruments are as follows:

 

   Notional Amount   Fair Value Liability 
   July 31,
2015
   October 31,
2014
   July 31,
2015
   October 31,
2014
 
Pay fixed-rate, receive floating-rate forward interest rate swap, beginning July 2013 until June 2018  $40,000,000   $40,000,000   $1,662,000   $1,782,000 

 

In November 2011, the Company entered into a forward interest rate swap agreement with Rabobank International, Utrecht to fix the interest rate at 4.30% on $40,000,000 of its outstanding borrowings under the Rabobank line of credit beginning July 2013 until June 2018. This interest rate swap qualifies as a cash flow hedge and is accounted for as a hedge under the short-cut method. Therefore, the fair value liability is included in fair value of derivative instrument, other long-term liabilities and related accumulated other comprehensive income at July 31, 2015 and October 31, 2014.

 

13. Basic and Diluted Net Income per Share

 

Basic net income per common share is calculated using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period without consideration of the dilutive effect of conversion of preferred stock. Diluted net income per common share is calculated using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period plus the dilutive effect of conversion of preferred stock. The Series B and Series B-2 convertible preferred shares were included in the computation of diluted net income per common share for the three months ended July 31, 2015 because such shares were dilutive. The Series B and Series B-2 convertible preferred shares were excluded from the computation of diluted net income per common share for the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014 because such shares were anti-dilutive.

 

14. Related-Party Transactions

 

The Company rents certain of its residential housing assets to employees on a month-to-month basis. The Company recorded $166,000 and $132,000 of rental revenue from employees in the three months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The Company recorded $459,000 and $405,000 of rental revenue from employees in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. There were no rental payments due from employees at July 31, 2015 and October 31, 2014.

 

The Company has representation on the boards of directors of the mutual water companies in which the Company has investments. The Company recorded capital contributions and purchased water and water delivery services from such mutual water companies, in aggregate, of $364,000 and $202,000 in the three months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The Company recorded capital contributions and purchased water and water delivery services from such mutual water companies, in aggregate, of $1,067,000 and $947,000 in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Such amounts are included in agribusiness expense in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. Payments due to the mutual water companies were, in aggregate, $141,000 and $74,000 at July 31, 2015 and October 31, 2014, respectively.

 

 16 

 

 

Limoneira Company

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

14. Related-Party Transactions (continued)

 

The Company has representation on the board of directors of a non-profit cooperative association that provides pest control services for the agricultural industry. The Company purchased services and supplies of $382,000 and $438,000 from the association in the three months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The Company purchased services and supplies of $1,081,000 and $989,000 from the association in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Such amounts are included in agribusiness expense in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. Payments due to the association were $7,000 and $177,000 at July 31, 2015 and October 31, 2014, respectively.

 

The Company recorded dividend income of $375,000 and $350,000 in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, on its investment in Calavo, which is included in other income (expense), net in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. The Company had $3,027,000 and $6,147,000 of avocado sales to Calavo for the three months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The Company had $7,142,000 and $7,320,000 of avocado sales to Calavo for the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Such amounts are included in agribusiness revenues in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. There was $189,000 and zero receivable by the Company from Calavo at July 31, 2015 and October 31, 2014, respectively. Additionally, the Company leases office space to Calavo and received rental income of $68,000 and $69,000 in the three months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The Company received rental income from Calavo of $204,000 and $207,000 in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Such amounts are included in rental operations revenues in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.

 

Certain members of the Company’s board of directors market lemons through the Company pursuant to its customary marketing agreements. During the three months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, the aggregate amount of lemons procured from entities owned or controlled by members of the board of directors was $774,000 and $915,000, respectively. During the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, the aggregate amount was $1,356,000 and $1,311,000, respectively. Such amounts are included in agribusiness expense in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. Payments due to these board members were $284,000 and $592,000 at July 31, 2015 and October 31, 2014, respectively.

 

On July 1, 2013, the Company and Cadiz Real Estate, LLC (“Cadiz”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cadiz, Inc., entered into a long-term lease agreement (the “Lease”) for a minimum of 320 acres, with an option to lease up to an additional 640 acres, located within 9,600 zoned agricultural acres owned by Cadiz in eastern San Bernardino County, California. The initial term of the Lease runs for 20 years and the annual base rental rate will be equal to the sum of $200 per planted acre and 20% of gross revenues from the sale of harvested lemons (less operating expenses) and will not exceed $1,200 per acre per year. The Company has incurred lease expense of $16,000 and $11,000 in the three months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively and $41,000 and $15,000 in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. A member of the Company’s board of directors serves as the CEO, President and a member of the board of directors of Cadiz, Inc. Additionally, this board member is an attorney with a law firm that provided services to the Company $122,000 and $71,000 in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

 

On February 3, 2015, the Company entered into a Modification of Lease Agreement (the “Amendment”) with Cadiz. The Amendment, among other things, increased by 200 acres the amount of property leased by the Company under the lease agreement dated July 1, 2013. In connection with the Amendment, the Company paid a total of $1,212,000 to acquire existing lemon trees and irrigations systems from Cadiz and a Cadiz tenant.

 

The Company has representation on the board of directors of Colorado River Growers, Inc. (“CRG”), a non-profit cooperative association of fruit growers engaged in the agricultural harvesting and marketing business in Yuma County, Arizona. The Company paid no harvest and third-party grower expense to CRG in the three months ended July 31, 2014 and 2014 and $5,177,000 and $5,505,000 in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Such amounts are included in agribusiness expense in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. Additionally, the Company’s subsidiary, Associated Citrus Packers, Inc. (“Associated”) provided no harvest management and administrative services to CRG in the three months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014 and $305,000 and $295,000 in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Such amounts are included in agribusiness revenues in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. There was $33,000 and $40,000 receivable by Associated from CRG at July 31, 2015 and October 31, 2014, respectively.

 

 17 

 

 

Limoneira Company

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

14. Related-Party Transactions (continued)

 

The Company has representation on the board of directors of Yuma Mesa Irrigation and Drainage District (“YMIDD”). In December 2013, Associated entered into an agreement, as amended in December 2014, with the YMIDD to participate in a Pilot Fallowing Program in which Associated agreed to forego its water allocation for approximately 300 acres of land in exchange for $750 per acre through December 31, 2016, unless terminated sooner by YMIDD. In relation to this program, during the three months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014 the Company recorded income of $50,000 and $43,000, respectively. In relation to this program, during the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014 the Company recorded income of $151,000 and $111,000, respectively, and recorded losses on orchard disposals of $160,000 and $183,000, respectively. These net amounts are included in other income in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. Additionally, the Company purchased no water from YMIDD in the three months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014 and $68,000 and $62,000 in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Such amounts are included in agribusiness expenses in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. There were no amounts receivable from or payments due to YMIDD at July 31, 2015 and October 31, 2014.

 

The Company has a 1.3% interest in Limco Del Mar, Ltd. (“Del Mar”) as a general partner and a 22.1% interest as a limited partner. The Company provides Del Mar with farm management, orchard land development and accounting services, and recognized agribusiness revenue relating to such services of $44,000 and $40,000 in the three months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and $119,000 in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014. The Company also performed contract lemon packing services for Del Mar and recognized agribusiness revenues relating to such services of $367,000 and $396,000 in the three months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively and $470,000 and $517,000 in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Fruit proceeds due to Del Mar were $882,000 and $828,000 at July 31, 2015 and October 31, 2014, respectively, and are included in grower’s payable in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. In the three months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company received no cash distributions and recorded equity in earnings of this investment of $225,000 and $101,000, respectively. In the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, the Company received cash distributions of $495,000 and $184,000, respectively and recorded equity in earnings of this investment of $412,000 and $132,000, respectively.

 

On August 14, 2014, the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Limoneira Chile SpA, invested approximately $1,750,000 for a 35% interest in Rosales S.A. (“Rosales”), a citrus packing, marketing and sales business located in La Serena, Chile. The Company recognized lemon sales of zero and $119,000 to Rosales in the three and nine months ended July 31, 2015, respectively and such amounts are recorded in agribusiness revenues in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. During the three months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, the aggregate amount of lemons procured from Rosales was $415,000 and $555,000, respectively. During the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, the aggregate amount procured was $567,000 and $555,000, respectively. Amounts due to Rosales were $259,000 and zero at July 31, 2015 and October 31, 2014. Additionally, the Company recorded equity losses of this investment of $19,000 and $220,000, which includes amortization of fair value basis differences of $52,000 and $156,000 in the three and nine months ended July 31, 2015, respectively. In August 2015 the Company received a cash distribution of $53,000.

 

15. Income Taxes

 

There has been no material change to the Company’s uncertain tax position for the three and nine month periods ended July 31, 2015. The Company does not expect its unrecognized tax benefits to change significantly over the next 12 months.

 

The Company’s policy is to recognize interest expense and penalties related to income tax matters as a component of income tax expense. The Company has not accrued any interest and penalties associated with uncertain tax positions as of July 31, 2015.

 

 18 

 

 

Limoneira Company

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

16. Retirement Plans

 

The Limoneira Company Retirement Plan (the “Plan”) is a noncontributory, defined benefit, single employer pension plan, which provides retirement benefits for all eligible employees of the Company. Benefits paid by the Plan are calculated based on years of service, highest five-year average earnings, primary Social Security benefit and retirement age. Effective June 2004, the Company froze the Plan and no additional benefits accrued to participants subsequent to that date. The Plan is administered by City National Bank and Mercer Human Resource Consulting.

 

The Plan is funded consistent with the funding requirements of federal law and regulations. There were funding contributions of $125,000 during the three months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, and $375,000 during the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014. 

 

The net periodic pension costs for the Plan for the three months ended July 31 were as follows:

 

   2015   2014 
Administrative expenses  $34,000   $34,000 
Interest cost   213,000    205,000 
Expected return on plan assets   (282,000)   (268,000)
Recognized actuarial loss   246,000    195,000 
Net periodic benefit cost  $211,000   $166,000 

 

The net periodic pension costs for the Plan for the nine months ended July 31 were as follows:

 

   2015   2014 
Administrative expenses  $102,000   $102,000 
Interest cost   639,000    615,000 
Expected return on plan assets   (846,000)   (804,000)
Recognized actuarial loss   738,000    585,000 
Net periodic pension cost  $633,000   $498,000 

 

17. Other Long-Term Liabilities

 

Other long-term liabilities consist of the following:

 

   July 31,
2015
   October 31,
2014
 
Minimum pension liability  $4,474,000   $4,954,000 
Fair value of derivative instrument   898,000    973,000 
Contingent consideration   300,000    300,000 
Other   36,000    55,000 
   $5,708,000   $6,282,000 

 

 19 

 

 

Limoneira Company

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

18. Stock-based Compensation

 

As of July 31, 2015, there are 7,810 shares of common stock issued to employees in connection with a discontinued stock option plan. Such shares are subject to repurchase by the Company and constitute a liability due to the repurchase right. The repurchase obligation of $6,000 is included in other long-term liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets at July 31, 2015 and October 31, 2014.

 

The Company has a stock-based compensation plan (the “Stock Plan”) that allows for the grant of common stock of the Company to members of management based on achievement of certain annual financial performance and other criteria. The number of shares granted is based on a percentage of the employee’s base salary divided by the stock price on the grant date. Shares granted under the Stock Plan generally vest over a two year period.

 

During December 2014, 42,085 shares of common stock were granted to management under the Stock Plan for fiscal year 2014 performance, resulting in total compensation expense of approximately $1,071,000, with $367,000 recognized in the year ended October 31, 2014 and the balance to be recognized over the next two years as the shares vest.  During December 2013, 27,091 shares of common stock were granted to management under the Stock Plan for fiscal 2013 performance, resulting in a total compensation expense of approximately $727,000, with $253,000 recognized in the year ended October 31, 2013 and the balance to be recognized over the next two years as the shares vest. During December 2012, 34,721 shares of common stock were granted to management under the Stock Plan for fiscal year 2012 performance, resulting in total compensation expense of approximately $657,000, with $216,000 recognized in the year ended October 31, 2012 and the balance to be recognized over the next two years as the shares vest.

 

Stock-based compensation expense is included in selling, general and administrative expense and is recognized over the performance and vesting periods as summarized below:

 

Performance  Shares   

Three Months Ended

July 31,

  

Nine Months Ended

July 31,

 
Year  Granted   2015   2014   2015   2014 
2012   34,721   $-   $50,000   $33,000   $150,000 
2013   27,091    59,000    59,000    179,000    177,000 
2014   42,085    88,000    142,000    262,000    262,000 
2015   -    (65,000)   -    -    - 
        $82,000   $251,000   $474,000   $589,000 

 

During December 2014 and January 2015, members of management exchanged a total of 10,907 shares of common stock with a total market price value of $275,000 at the date of the exchanges, for the payment of payroll taxes associated with the vesting of shares under the Stock Plan.

 

During January 2015 and 2014, 15,077 and 13,587 shares, respectively, of common stock were granted to the Company’s non-employee directors under the Company’s stock-based compensation plans. The Company recognized $325,000 and $303,000 of stock-based compensation to non-employee directors during the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

 

On June 25, 2015 the Company’s board of directors authorized a donation of $100,000 of the Company’s common stock to the Museum of Ventura County (the “Museum”), a California non-profit corporation. On June 30, 2015, the Company issued 4,498 unregistered shares of the Company’s common stock with a per share value of $22.23 at the date of issuance. The donation is to be used by the Museum to establish and operate an agriculture museum in Santa Paula, California depicting the history of agriculture in Ventura County.

 

 20 

 

 

 

Limoneira Company

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

19. Segment Information

 

The Company operates in three reportable operating segments: agribusiness, rental operations, and real estate development. The reportable operating segments of the Company are strategic business units with different products and services, distribution processes and customer bases. The agribusiness segment includes farming and citrus packing operations. The rental operations segment includes residential and commercial rental operations, leased land, and organic recycling. The real estate development segment includes real estate development operations. No asset information is provided for reportable segments as these specified amounts are not included in the measure of segment profit or loss reviewed by the company’s chief operating decision maker. The Company measures operating performance, including revenues and earnings, of its operating segments and allocates resources based on its evaluation. The Company does not allocate selling, general and administrative expense, other income (expense), interest expense and income tax expense, or specifically identify them to its operating segments.

 

Segment information for the three months ended July 31, 2015:

 

   Agribusiness   Rental
 Operations
   Real Estate
 Development
   Corporate and
 Other
   Total 
                          
Revenues  $28,466,000   $1,311,000   $34,000   $   $29,811,000 
Costs and expenses   16,680,000    755,000    313,000    3,215,000    20,963,000 
Depreciation and amortization   791,000    152,000    12,000    55,000    1,010,000 
Operating income (loss)  $10,995,000   $404,000   $(291,000)  $(3,270,000)  $7,838,000 

 

Segment information for the three months ended July 31, 2014:

 

   Agribusiness   Rental
Operations
   Real Estate
Development
   Corporate and
Other
   Total 
                     
Revenues  $35,173,000   $1,182,000   $121,000   $   $36,476,000 
Costs and expenses   17,077,000    691,000    833,000    3,593,000    22,194,000 
Depreciation and amortization   728,000    105,000    22,000    47,000    902,000 
Operating income (loss)  $17,368,000   $386,000   $(734,000)  $(3,640,000)  $13,380,000 

 

The following table sets forth revenues by category, by segment for the three months ended:

 

   July 31,
2015
   July 31,
2014
 
         
Lemons  $23,859,000   $26,845,000 
Avocados   3,027,000    6,147,000 
Navel and Valencia oranges   1,020,000    1,711,000 
Specialty citrus and other crops   560,000    470,000 
Agribusiness revenues   28,466,000    35,173,000 
           
Rental operations   728,000    618,000 
Leased land   480,000    496,000 
Organic recycling and other   103,000    68,000 
Rental operations revenues   1,311,000    1,182,000 
           
Real estate development revenues   34,000    121,000 
Total revenues  $29,811,000   $36,476,000 

 

 21 

 

 

Limoneira Company

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

19. Segment Information (continued)

 

Segment information for the nine months ended July 31, 2015

 

   Agribusiness   Rental
Operations
   Real Estate
Development
   Corporate and
Other
   Total 
                     
Revenues  $82,268,000   $3,769,000   $62,000   $   $86,099,000 
Costs and expenses   60,933,000    2,062,000    772,000    9,892,000    73,659,000 
Depreciation and amortization   2,375,000    409,000    34,000    161,000    2,979,000 
Operating income (loss)  $18,960,000   $1,298,000   $(744,000)  $(10,053,000)  $9,461,000 

 

Segment information for the nine months ended July 31, 2014:

 

   Agribusiness   Rental
Operations
   Real Estate
Development
   Corporate and
Other
   Total 
                     
Revenues  $83,481,000   $3,483,000   $196,000   $   $87,160,000 
Costs and expenses   56,669,000    1,923,000    1,398,000    10,189,000    70,179,000 
Depreciation and amortization   2,061,000    308,000    58,000    137,000    2,564,000 
Operating income (loss)  $24,751,000   $1,252,000   $(1,260,000)  $(10,326,000)  $14,417,000 

 

The following table sets forth revenues by category, by segment for the nine months ended:

 

   July 31,
2015
   July 31,
2014
 
         
Lemons  $67,385,000   $65,909,000 
Avocados   7,142,000    7,320,000 
Navel and Valencia oranges   5,054,000    7,031,000 
Specialty citrus and other crops   2,687,000    3,221,000 
Agribusiness revenues   82,268,000    83,481,000 
           
Rental operations   2,012,000    1,833,000 
Leased land   1,413,000    1,469,000 
Organic recycling and other   344,000    181,000 
Rental operations revenues   3,769,000    3,483,000 
           
Real estate development revenues   62,000    196,000 
Total revenues  $86,099,000   $87,160,000 

 

 22 

 

 

Limoneira Company

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

20. Acquisitions and Sale of Property

 

In July 2015, the Company entered into a purchase agreement to acquire 157 acres of lemon, orange and specialty citrus orchards in California’s San Joaquin Valley for approximately $3,300,000. The orchards are being acquired pursuant to purchase options contained in certain operating leases the Company has had since 2012 for approximately 1,000 acres of lemon, orange and specialty citrus and other crops, which the Company refers to as the Sheldon Ranch leases. The Company paid a deposit of $50,000 and escrow is expected to close in September 2015.

 

In September 2015, the Company entered into a purchase agreement to acquire 757 acres of lemon, orange and specialty citrus orchards in California’s San Joaquin Valley, for approximately $15,100,000. The orchards are being acquired pursuant to purchase options contained in the Sheldon Ranches operating leases. The Company paid a deposit of $50,000 and escrow is expected to close in November 2015.

 

On August 21, 2015, the Company sold its Wilson Ranch, which is comprised of 52 acres of land with 33 acres of avocado orchards located near the City of Fillmore, in Ventura County, California. The sales price was $2,750,000 and the gain on the sale was $935,000.

 

21. East Area 1 Joint Venture Development Agreement

 

In September 2015, the Company entered into a Contribution Agreement with an affiliate of Lewis Operating Corp. (“Lewis”), a Southern California land developer, that facilitates upon the completion of certain conditions, the formation of a joint venture for the purpose of developing the Company’s East Area 1 real estate development project (the “Joint Venture”). The Company was paid a $2,000,000 deposit upon entering into the Contribution Agreement. Conditions necessary to close the transaction and form the Joint Venture include approval by the City of Santa Paula of an amendment to the East Area 1 tentative tract map, assignment of various development rights and obligations by the Company to the Joint Venture, completion of a legal parcel map and contribution of the East Area 1 property to the Joint Venture and the payment by Lewis of $18,000,000, comprising total consideration of $20,000,000 for a 50% interest in the Joint Venture. The Contribution Agreement also includes an agricultural lease that allows the Company to continue farming the property during the phased build-out of the project. The Joint Venture partners will share equally in capital contributions to fund project costs until project loan proceeds and or revenues are sufficient to fund the project. In addition, upon closing the transaction, the Company is expected to incur a minimum Capital Placement fee to a consultant of approximately $500,000 plus 2% of the initial land value received by the Company in excess of $100,000,000 to be earned on the successful closing of the Joint Venture transaction.

 

22. Subsequent Events

 

The Company has evaluated events subsequent to July 31, 2015 through the filing date to assess the need for potential recognition or disclosure in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Based upon this evaluation, except as disclosed in the notes to consolidated financial statements, it was determined that no subsequent events occurred that require recognition or disclosure in the unaudited consolidated financial statements.

 

 23 

 

 

Item 2.Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Overview

 

Limoneira Company was incorporated in Delaware in 1990 as the successor to several businesses with operations in California since 1893. We also have agricultural operations in Yuma, Arizona, through our subsidiary, Associated Citrus Packers, Inc. (“Associated”) and in Chile in connection with our 35% interest in Rosales S.A., a citrus packing, marketing and sales business located in La Serena. We are an agribusiness and real estate development company founded and based in Santa Paula, California, committed to responsibly using and managing our approximately 10,700 acres of land, water resources and other assets to maximize long-term shareholder value. Our current operations consist of fruit production, sales and marketing, real estate development and capital investment activities.

 

We are one of California’s oldest citrus growers. According to Sunkist Growers, Inc. (“Sunkist”), we are one of the largest growers of lemons in the United States and, according to the California Avocado Commission, one of the largest growers of avocados in the United States. In addition to growing lemons and avocados, we grow oranges and a variety of specialty citrus and other crops. We have agricultural plantings throughout Ventura and Tulare Counties in California and in Yuma County in Arizona, which plantings consist of approximately 4,200 acres of lemons, 1,200 acres of avocados, 1,400 acres of oranges and 700 acres of specialty citrus and other crops. We also operate our own packinghouses in Santa Paula, California and Yuma, Arizona, where we process and pack lemons that we grow, as well as lemons grown by others.

 

Our water resources include water rights, usage rights and pumping rights to the water in aquifers under, and canals that run through, the land we own. Water for our farming operations is sourced from the existing water resources associated with our land, which includes rights to water in the adjudicated Santa Paula Basin (aquifer) and the un-adjudicated Fillmore, Santa Barbara and Paso Robles Basins (aquifers). We use ground water and water from local water districts in Tulare County, which is in California’s San Joaquin Valley and we use ground water in San Bernardino County. We also use ground water in Arizona from the Colorado River through the Yuma Mesa Irrigation and Drainage District (“YMIDD”).

 

For more than 100 years, we have been making strategic investments in California agriculture and development real estate. We currently have five active real estate development projects in California. Our real estate developments include apartments, single-family homes and approximately 200 completed rental units and another approximately 1,800 units in various stages of planning and development.

 

Business Segment Summary

 

We have three business segments: agribusiness, rental operations and real estate development. Our agribusiness segment includes our farming and lemon packing and sales operations. Our rental operations segment includes our residential and commercial rental operations, leased land operations and organic recycling. Our real estate development segment includes our real estate development projects and development. From a general view, we see our Company as a land and farming company that generates annual cash flows to support its progress into diversified real estate development activities. As real estate developments are monetized, our agribusiness will then be able to expand more rapidly into existing and new regions and markets.

 

Agribusiness

 

We are one of the largest growers of lemons and avocados in the United States and, as a result, our agribusiness segment is the largest of our three segments, representing approximately 95%, 94% and 93% of our fiscal year 2014, 2013 and 2012 consolidated revenues, respectively. We market and sell lemons directly to our foodservice, wholesale and retail customers throughout the United States, Canada, Asia and other international markets. During the three months ended July 31, 2015, lemon sales were comprised of approximately 82% to U.S. and Canada-based customers, 15% to domestic exporters and 3% to international customers. During the nine months ended July 31, 2015, lemon sales were comprised of approximately 75% to U.S. and Canada-based customers, 21% to domestic exporters and 4% to international customers. We are a member of Sunkist, an agricultural marketing cooperative, and we sell our oranges, specialty citrus and other crops to Sunkist-licensed and other third-party packinghouses.

 

Our agribusiness operations are seasonal in nature with quarterly revenue fluctuating depending on the timing and variety of crops being harvested. Cultural costs in our agribusiness tend to be higher in the first and second quarters and lower in the third and fourth quarters because of the timing of expensing cultural costs in the current year that were inventoried in the prior year. Our harvest costs generally increase in the second quarter and peak in the third quarter coinciding with the increasing production and revenue.

 

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Fluctuations in price are a function of global supply and demand with weather conditions, such as unusually low temperatures, typically having the most dramatic effect on the amount of lemons supplied in any individual growing season. We believe we have a competitive advantage by maintaining our own lemon packing operation, even though a significant portion of the costs related to our lemon packing operations are fixed. As a result, cost per carton is a function of fruit throughput. While we regularly monitor our costs for redundancies and opportunities for cost reductions, we also supplement the number of lemons we pack in our packinghouse with additional lemons from other growers. Because the fresh utilization rate for our lemons, or percentage of lemons we harvest and pack that go to the fresh market, is directly related to the quality of lemons we pack and, consequently, the price we receive per 40-pound box, we only pack lemons from other growers if we determine their lemons are of good quality.

 

Our avocado producing business is important to us yet nevertheless faces some constraints on growth as there is little additional land that can be cost-effectively acquired to support new avocado orchards in Southern California. Also, avocado production is cyclical as avocados typically bear fruit on a bi-annual basis with large crops in one year followed by smaller crops the next year. While our avocado production remains volatile, the profitability and cash flow realized from our avocados frequently offsets occasional losses in other crops we grow and helps to diversify our fruit production base.

 

In addition to growing lemons and avocados, we also grow oranges and specialty citrus and other crops, typically utilizing land not suitable for growing high quality lemons. We regularly monitor the demand for the fruit we grow in the ever-changing marketplace to identify trends. For instance, while per capita consumption of oranges in the United States has been decreasing since 2000 primarily as a result of consumers increasing their consumption of mandarin oranges and other specialty citrus, the international market demand for U.S. oranges has increased. As a result, we have focused our orange production on high quality late season Navel oranges primarily for export to Japan, China and Korea, which are typically highly profitable niche markets. We produce our specialty citrus and other crops in response to consumer trends we identify and believe that we are a leader in the niche production and sale of certain of these high margin fruits. Because we carefully monitor the respective markets of specialty citrus and other crops, we believe that demand for the types and varieties of specialty citrus and other crops that we grow will continue to increase throughout the world.

 

Rental Operations

 

Our rental operations segment represented approximately 4%, 5% and 6% of our fiscal year 2014, 2013 and 2012 consolidated revenues, respectively. Our rental housing units generate reliable cash flows which we use to partially fund the operations of all three of our business segments, and provide affordable housing to many of our employees, including our agribusiness employees, a unique employment benefit that helps us maintain a dependable, long-term employee base. In addition, our leased land business provides us with a typically profitable diversification. Revenue from our rental operations segment is generally level throughout the year.

 

Real Estate Development

 

Our real estate development segment represented 1% of our consolidated revenues in fiscal years 2014, 2013 and 2012. We recognize that long-term strategies are required for successful real estate development activities. Our goal is to redeploy real estate earnings and cash flow into the expansion of our agribusiness and other income producing real estate.

 

Water Resources and California Drought

 

Our water resources include water rights, usage rights and pumping rights to the water in aquifers under, and canals that run through the land we own. Water for our California farming operations is sourced from the existing water resources associated with our land, which includes rights to water in the adjudicated Santa Paula Basin (aquifer) and the un-adjudicated Fillmore and Paso Robles Basins (aquifers). We use ground water and water from local water districts in Tulare County and we use ground water in San Bernardino County. Following our acquisition of Associated we began using ground water in Arizona from the Colorado River through the YMIDD.

 

California has historically experienced periods of below average precipitation. Currently, it is experiencing one of its most severe droughts on record. Rainfall, snow levels and water content of snow pack are significantly below historical averages. These conditions have resulted in reduced water levels in streams, rivers, lakes, aquifers and reservoirs. The governor of California declared a drought State of Emergency in February 2014. Federal officials oversee the Central Valley Project, California’s largest water delivery system, and no water is expected to be provided to San Joaquin Valley farmers this year and only 50% of the contracted amount will be provided to urban areas from this water system.

 

The impact of the drought on water consumers varies with the sources of available water. Depending on the location of our agricultural operations, we obtain our water from aquifers, water delivered by water federal, state and local irrigation districts and rainfall.

 

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Water for our farming operations located in Ventura County, California is sourced from the existing water resources associated with our land, which includes approximately 8,600 acre feet of adjudicated water rights in Santa Paula Basin (aquifer) and the un-adjudicated Fillmore Basin.

 

We use a combination of ground water provided by wells and water from various local water districts in Tulare County, California which is in the agriculturally productive San Joaquin Valley.

 

We use ground water provided by wells at the Cadiz Ranch in San Bernardino County, California.

 

Our Associated farming operations in Yuma, Arizona source water from the Colorado River through the YMIDD, where we have access to approximately 11,700 acre feet of Class 3 Colorado River water rights.

 

Our Windfall Farms property located in San Luis Obispo County obtains water from wells deriving water from the Paso Robles Basin.

 

For the fiscal year 2014, irrigation costs for our agricultural operations were $0.3 million greater than fiscal year 2013, resulting from pumping more water from wells and basins due to less rain fall. For the nine months ended July 31, 2015, irrigation costs were similar to the same period in fiscal year 2014. However, costs may increase as we pump more water than our historical averages and federal, state and local water delivery infrastructure costs, may increase to access these limited water supplies. In response to the drought, we have an ongoing plan for irrigation improvements in fiscal year 2015 that includes drilling new wells and upgrading existing wells and irrigation systems.

 

We believe we have access to adequate supplies of water for our agricultural operations as well as our real estate development and rental operations segments of our business and currently do not anticipate the California drought will have a material impact our operating results. However, if the current drought conditions persist or worsen or if regulatory responses to such conditions limit our access to water, our business could be negatively impacted by these conditions and responses in terms of access to water and/or cost of water.

 

China Tulare County Citrus Import Suspension

 

China’s Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine has suspended imports of all citrus fruit from Tulare County, California effective February 17, 2015 due to the detection on certain fruit of Phytophthora syringae, commonly known as brown rot.  We do not expect the suspension to have a material effect on our 2015 operating results because we do not sell a significant amount of fruit to China.

 

Recent Developments 

 

In June 2013, we announced a plan to build 71 agriculture workforce housing units in Santa Paula, California. This project has been substantially completed and we began renting units in May 2015. When fully occupied, annual rental revenue from the additional housing units is anticipated to be approximately $0.9 million. We estimate that the total cost of the development will be approximately $8.8 million and have capitalized approximately $6.2 million of costs related to this project in the nine months ended July 31, 2015.

 

In December 2013, we entered into a construction contract that includes design and construction services for the expansion of our lemon packing facilities.  The project is expected to increase the efficiency of our packing facilities. To date we have capitalized approximately $20.3 million and during the nine months ended July 31, 2015 we capitalized approximately $11.7 million of costs in connection with construction services and equipment. The project is expected to cost approximately $23 million and be operational in 2015.

 

On February 3, 2015, we amended our lease agreement with Cadiz Real Estate, LLC (“Cadiz”). The amendment, among other things; increased by 200 acres the amount of property leased by us under the lease agreement dated July 1, 2013. In connection with the amendment, we paid a total of $1.2 million to acquire existing lemon trees and irrigations systems from Cadiz and a Cadiz tenant.

 

On February 17, 2015, the City of Santa Paula unanimously approved our updated East Area 1 Master Tentative Tract Map, Supplemental Environmental Impact Report and updated Development Agreement. The property is now fully entitled and we have the requisite approvals to break ground on the Santa Paula Gateway (East Areas 1 and 2) project. 

 

On June 24, 2015, we declared a $0.045 per share dividend which was paid on July 15, 2015 in the aggregate amount of approximately $0.6 million to common shareholders of record as of July 6, 2015.

 

 26 

 

 

In July 2015, we entered into a purchase agreement to acquire 157 acres of lemon, orange and specialty citrus orchards in California’s San Joaquin Valley, for approximately $3.3 million. The orchards are being acquired pursuant to purchase options contained in certain operating leases we have had since 2012 for approximately 1,000 acres of lemon, orange and specialty citrus and other crops, which we refer to as the Sheldon Ranch leases. The Company paid a deposit of $50,000 and escrow is expected to close in September 2015.

 

In September 2015, we entered into a purchase agreement to acquire 757 acres of lemon, orange and specialty citrus orchards in California’s San Joaquin Valley, for approximately $15.1 million. The orchards are being acquired pursuant to purchase options contained in the Sheldon Ranches operating leases which we have had since 2012. The Company paid a deposit of $50,000 and escrow is expected to close in November 2015.

 

On August 21, 2015, we sold our Wilson Ranch, which is comprised of 52 acres of land with 33 acres of avocado orchards located in Ventura County, California. The sales price was approximately $2.8 million and the gain on the sale was approximately $0.9 million. The sales price represents approximately $53,000 and $83,000 per acre for total acres and productive avocado acres, respectively.

 

In September 2015, we entered into a Contribution Agreement with an affiliate of Lewis Operating Corp. (“Lewis”), a Southern California land developer, that facilitates upon the completion of certain conditions, the formation of a joint venture for the purpose of developing the Company’s East Area 1 real estate development project (the “Joint Venture”). We were paid a $2.0 million deposit upon entering into the Contribution Agreement. Conditions necessary to close the transaction and form the Joint Venture include approval by the City of Santa Paula of an amendment to the East Area 1 tentative tract map, assignment of various development rights and obligations by us to the Joint Venture, completion of a legal parcel map and contribution of the East Area 1 property to the Joint Venture and the payment by Lewis of $18.0 million, comprising total consideration of $20.0 million for a 50% interest in the Joint Venture. The Contribution Agreement also includes an agricultural lease that allows us to continue farming the property during the phased build-out of the project. We expect to receive $100.0 million from the Joint Venture over the estimated 7 to 10 year life of the project. The Joint Venture partners will share equally in capital contributions to fund project costs until loan proceeds and or revenues are sufficient to fund the project. These funding requirements are currently estimated to total $10.0 to $15.0 million for each Joint Venture partner in the first two years of the project. In addition, upon closing the transaction, we are expected to incur a minimum Capital Placement fee to a consultant of approximately $0.5 million plus 2% of the initial land value received by us in excess of $100.0 million to be earned on the successful closing of the Joint Venture transaction.

 

 27 

 

 

Results of Operations

 

The following table shows the results of operations for the three and nine months ended July 31:

 

   Quarter Ended July 31,   Nine Months Ended July 31, 
   2015   2014   2015   2014 
Revenues:                    
Agribusiness  $28,466,000   $35,173,000   $82,268,000   $83,481,000 
Rental operations   1,311,000    1,182,000    3,769,000    3,483,000 
Real estate development   34,000    121,000    62,000    196,000 
Total revenues   29,811,000    36,476,000    86,099,000    87,160,000 
Costs and expenses:                    
Agribusiness   17,471,000    17,805,000    63,308,000    58,730,000 
Rental operations   907,000    796,000    2,471,000    2,231,000 
Real estate development   325,000    420,000    806,000    1,021,000 
Impairment of real estate development assets   -    435,000    -    435,000 
Selling, general and administrative   3,270,000    3,640,000    10,053,000    10,326,000 
Total costs and expenses   21,973,000    23,096,000    76,638,000    72,743,000 
Operating income (loss):                    
Agribusiness   10,995,000    17,368,000    18,960,000    24,751,000 
Rental operations   404,000    386,000    1,298,000    1,252,000 
Real estate development   (291,000)   (734,000)   (744,000)   (1,260,000)
Selling, general and administrative   (3,270,000)   (3,640,000)   (10,053,000)   (10,326,000)
Operating income   7,838,000    13,380,000    9,461,000    14,417,000 
Other income (expense):                    
Interest income (expense), net   (45,000)   20,000    (102,000)   59,000 
Equity in earnings of investments   205,000    101,000    193,000    132,000 
Other income (expense), net   91,000    39,000    353,000    254,000 
Total other income   251,000    160,000    444,000    445,000 
Income before income tax provision   8,089,000    13,540,000    9,905,000    14,862,000 
Income tax provision   (2,776,000)   (4,608,000)   (3,477,000)   (5,036,000)
Net income  $5,313,000   $8,932,000   $6,428,000   $9,826,000 

 

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

 

Due to significant depreciable assets associated with the nature of our operations and interest costs associated with our capital structure, management believes that earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) and adjusted EBITDA, which excludes impairments on real estate development assets when applicable, is an important measure to evaluate our Company’s results of operations between periods on a more comparable basis. Such measurements are not prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and should not be construed as an alternative to reported results determined in accordance with GAAP. The non-GAAP information provided is unique to our Company and may not be consistent with methodologies used by other companies. EBITDA is summarized and reconciled to net income which management considers to be the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP as follows:

 

   Quarter ended July 31,   Nine Months Ended July 31, 
  2015   2014   2015   2014 
                 
Net income  $5,313,000   $8,932,000   $6,428,000   $9,826,000 
Total interest (income) expense, net   45,000    (20,000)   102,000    (59,000)
Income taxes   2,776,000    4,608,000    3,477,000    5,036,000 
Depreciation and amortization   1,010,000    902,000    2,979,000    2,564,000 
EBITDA   9,144,000    14,422,000    12,986,000    17,367,000 
Impairment of real estate development assets   -    435,000    -    435,000 
Adjusted EBITDA  $9,144,000   $14,857,000   $12,986,000   $17,802,000 

 

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Third Quarter of Fiscal Year 2015 Compared to the Third Quarter of Fiscal Year 2014

 

Revenues

 

Total revenue for the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 was $29.8 million compared to $36.5 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2014. The 18% decrease of $6.7 million was primarily the result of decreased agribusiness revenue, as detailed below:

 

   Agribusiness Revenues for the Quarters Ended July 31, 
   2015   2014   Change 
Lemons  $23,859,000   $26,845,000   $(2,986,000)   (11)%
Avocados   3,027,000    6,147,000    (3,120,000)   (51)%
Navel and Valencia oranges   1,020,000    1,711,000    (691,000)   (40)%
Specialty citrus and other crops   560,000    470,000    90,000    19% 
Agribusiness revenues  $28,466,000   $35,173,000   $(6,707,000)   (19)%

 

·Lemons: The decrease in the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 was primarily the result of lower volume of fresh lemons sold partially offset by higher prices compared to the same period in fiscal year 2014. During the third quarters of fiscal years 2015 and 2014, fresh lemon sales were $21.3 million and $24.1 million, respectively, on 759,000 and 938,000 cartons of lemons sold at average per carton prices of $28.06 and $25.69, respectively. Lemon by-product and other lemon sales were $2.6 million and $2.7 million in the third quarter of fiscal years 2015 and 2014, respectively.

 

·Avocados: The decrease in the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 was primarily the result of decreased prices and volume of avocados sold compared to the same period in fiscal year 2014. Due to early maturing of the California crop and in response to Peruvian avocados that arrived in the U.S. market in June, we accelerated our harvest plan to March through June in fiscal year 2015 compared to April through July in fiscal year 2014. During the third quarter of fiscal year 2015, 3.1 million pounds of avocados were sold at an average per pound price of $0.98 compared to 5.5 million pounds sold at an average per pound price of $1.12 during the same period in fiscal year 2014.

 

·Navel and Valencia oranges: The decrease in the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 was attributable to lower volume of oranges sold partially offset by higher prices compared to the same period in fiscal year 2014. In the third quarter of fiscal year 2015, 123,000 40-pound carton equivalents of oranges were sold at average per carton prices of $8.29 compared to 249,000 40-pound carton equivalents sold at average per carton prices of $6.87 in the third quarter of fiscal year 2014.

 

·Specialty citrus and other crops: The increase in the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 was primarily the result of increased prices of specialty citrus sold partially offset by lower volume compared to the same period in fiscal year 2014. During the third quarter of fiscal year 2015, 18,000 40-pound carton equivalents of specialty citrus were sold at an average per carton price of $31.11 compared to 27,000 40-pound carton equivalents sold at an average per carton price of $17.41 during the same period in fiscal year 2014.

 

Costs and Expenses

 

Our total costs and expenses in the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 were $22.0 million compared to $23.1 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2014, for a 5% decrease of $1.1 million. This decrease was primarily attributable to decreases in our agribusiness costs, real estate development expenses and selling, general and administrative expenses. Costs associated with our agribusiness include packing costs, harvest costs, growing costs, costs related to the fruit we procure and sell for third-party growers and depreciation expense. These costs are discussed further below:

 

   Agribusiness Costs and Expenses for the Quarters Ended July 31, 
   2015   2014   Change 
Packing costs  $5,155,000   $5,055,000   $100,000    2% 
Harvest costs   2,549,000    2,597,000    (48,000)   (2)%
Growing costs   4,030,000    4,159,000    (129,000)   (3)%
Third-party grower costs   4,946,000    5,266,000    (320,000)   (6)%
Depreciation and amortization   791,000    728,000    63,000    9% 
Agribusiness costs and expenses  $17,471,000   $17,805,000   $(334,000)   (2)%

 

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·Packing costs: Packing costs consist of the costs to pack lemons for sale such as labor and benefits, cardboard cartons, fruit treatments, packing and shipping supplies and facility operating costs. The increase in the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 is primarily due to $0.2 million of costs at our Yuma, Arizona packinghouse which was acquired in June 2014 and higher per carton packing costs. During the third quarter of fiscal year 2015, we packed and sold 759,000 cartons of lemons at average per carton costs of $6.79 compared to 938,000 cartons of lemons packed and sold at average per carton costs of $5.39 during the same period in fiscal year 2014. The higher average per carton costs in the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 are primarily attributable to lower volume of lemons packed and sold compared to the same period in 2014.

 

·Harvest costs: The decrease in the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 is primarily attributable to decreased volume of avocados harvested partially offset by increased cost of lemons harvested compared to the same period in fiscal year 2014.

 

·Growing costs: Growing costs, also referred to as cultural costs, consist of orchard maintenance costs such as cultivation, fertilization and soil amendments, pest control, pruning and irrigation. The decrease in the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 is primarily due to decreased lease expense of $0.1 million and net decreased costs of $0.1 million for fertilization and soil amendments, pruning and irrigation compared to the same period in fiscal year 2014. These net decreases primarily reflect farm management decisions based on weather, harvest timing and crop conditions.

 

·Third-party grower costs: We sell fruit that we grow and fruit that we procure from other growers. The cost of procuring fruit from other growers is referred to as third-party grower costs. The decrease in the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 is primarily attributable to decreased volume of third-party grower lemons sold, partially offset by higher prices. Of the 759,000 and 938,000 cartons sold during the third quarter of fiscal years 2015 and 2014, respectively, 207,000 (27%) and 234,000 (25%) were procured from third-party growers at average per carton prices of $22.93 and $20.76, respectively. Additionally, we incurred $0.2 million of costs for purchased, packed fruit to sell in the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 compared to $0.4 million during the same period in fiscal year 2014.

 

·Depreciation expense for the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 was approximately $0.1 million higher than the third quarter of fiscal year 2014 due to an increase in assets placed into service and the acquisition of our Yuma packinghouse in June 2014.

 

Real estate development expenses in the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 were $0.3 million compared to $0.9 million during the same period in fiscal year 2014. In July 2014, we recognized an impairment charge of $0.4 million on our Templeton Santa Barbara, LLC real estate development project. There were no impairment charges recognized in the third quarter of fiscal year 2015.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses in the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 were $3.3 million compared to $3.6 million during the same period in fiscal year 2014. The $0.3 million decrease in the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 is primarily due to decreased incentive compensation of $0.9 million partially offset by increased legal and consulting expenses of $0.5 million associated with our East Area 1 real estate development project.

 

Other Income/Expense

 

Other income (expense), net was $0.3 million of income for the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 compared to $0.2 million of income for the third quarter of fiscal year 2014. The approximately $0.1 million increase in income in the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 was primarily due to increased equity in earnings of our investment in Limco Del Mar, Ltd. compared to the same period in fiscal year 2014.

 

Income Taxes

 

We recorded an estimated income tax provision of $2.8 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 on pre-tax income of $8.1 million compared to an estimated income tax provision of $4.6 million on pre-tax income of $13.5 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2014. Our projected annual effective tax rate for fiscal year 2015 is approximately 35.3%.

 

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Nine Months Ended July 31, 2015 Compared to the Nine Months Ended July 31, 2014

 

Revenues

 

Total revenue for the nine months ended July 31, 2015 was $86.1 million compared to $87.2 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2014. The 1% decrease of $1.1 million was primarily the result of decreased agribusiness revenues as detailed below:

 

   Agribusiness Revenues for the Nine Months Ended July 31, 
   2015   2014   Change 
Lemons  $67,385,000   $65,909,000   $1,476,000    2% 
Avocados   7,142,000    7,320,000    (178,000)   (2)%
Navel and Valencia oranges   5,054,000    7,031,000    (1,977,000)   (28)%
Specialty citrus and other crops   2,687,000    3,221,000    (534,000)   (17)%
Agribusiness revenues  $82,268,000   $83,481,000   $(1,213,000)   (1)%

 

·Lemons: The increase in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 was primarily the result of increased lemon by-product and other lemon sales partially offset by decreased fresh lemon sales compared to the same period in fiscal year 2015. During the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, fresh lemon sales were $57.3 million and $57.8 million, respectively, on 2,339,000 and 2,460,000 cartons of lemons sold at average per carton prices of $24.50 and $23.49, respectively. Additionally, lemon by-product and other lemon sales were $10.1 million and $8.1 million in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The $2.0 million increase in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 is primarily due to higher volume of lemons sold for juice and other by-products compared to the same period in fiscal year 2014.

 

·Avocados: The decrease in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 was primarily the result of decreased prices partially offset by increased volume of avocados sold compared to the same period in fiscal year 2014. In the nine months ended July 31, 2015, 7.0 million pounds of avocados were sold at an average per pound price of $1.02 per pound compared to 6.7 million pounds sold at an average per pound price of $1.09 during the same period in fiscal year 2014.

 

·Navel and Valencia oranges: The decrease in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 was attributable to lower prices and volume of oranges sold compared to the same period in fiscal year 2014. In the nine months ended July 31, 2015, 688,000 40-pound carton equivalents of oranges were sold at average per carton prices of $7.35 compared to 704,000 40-pound carton equivalents sold at average per carton prices of $9.99 during the same period in fiscal year 2014. The higher prices in the nine months ended July 31, 2014 were primarily due to decreased market supply resulting from a period of freezing temperatures in California’s San Joaquin Valley during December 2013.

 

·Specialty citrus and other crops: The decrease in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 was primarily the result of lower prices and decreased volume of specialty citrus sold compared to the same period in fiscal year 2014. In the nine months ended July 31, 2015, 209,000 40-pound carton equivalents of specialty citrus were sold at an average per carton price of $12.86 compared to 220,000 40-pound carton equivalents sold at an average per carton price of $14.64 during the same period in fiscal year 2014. The higher prices in the nine months ended July 31, 2014 were primarily due to decreased market supply resulting from a period of freezing temperatures in California’s San Joaquin Valley during December 2013.

 

Costs and Expenses

 

Total costs and expenses for the nine months ended July 31, 2015 were $76.6 million compared to $72.7 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2015, for a 5% increase of $3.9 million. This increase was primarily attributable to increases in our agribusiness costs partially offset by decreased real estate development expenses and selling, general and administrative expenses. Costs associated with our agribusiness include packing costs, harvest costs, growing costs, costs related to the fruit we procure for third-party growers and depreciation expense. These costs are discussed further below:

 

   Agribusiness Costs and Expenses for the Nine Months Ended July 31, 
   2015   2014   Change 
Packing costs  $16,947,000   $14,141,000   $2,806,000    20% 
Harvest costs   9,753,000    9,266,000    487,000    5% 
Growing costs   16,050,000    15,567,000    483,000    3% 
Third-party grower costs   18,183,000    17,695,000    488,000    3% 
Depreciation and amortization   2,375,000    2,061,000    314,000    15% 
Agribusiness costs and expenses  $63,308,000   $58,730,000   $4,578,000    8% 

 

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·Packing costs: Packing costs consist of the costs to pack lemons for sale such as labor and benefits, cardboard cartons, fruit treatments, packing and shipping supplies and facility operating costs. The increase in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 was primarily attributable to $2.1 million of costs at our Yuma, Arizona packinghouse which was acquired in June 2014 and higher per carton packing costs. In the nine months ended July 31, 2015, we packed and sold 2,339,000 cartons of lemons and 58,000 cartons of specialty citrus at average per carton costs of $7.07 compared to 2,460,000 cartons of lemons packed and sold at average per carton costs of $5.75 during the same period in fiscal year 2014. The higher average per carton costs in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 are primarily attributable to lower volume of lemons packed and sold compared to the same period in 2014.

 

·Harvest costs: The increase in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 was primarily attributable to higher lemon and avocado harvest volumes compared to the same period in fiscal year 2014.

 

·Growing costs: Growing costs, also referred to as cultural costs, consist of orchard maintenance costs such as cultivation, fertilization and soil amendments, pest control, pruning and irrigation. The increase in growing costs in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 is primarily due to net increased costs of $0.8 million for cultivation, fertilization and soil amendments, pest control and pruning partially offset by $0.4 million decreased lease expense compared to the same period in fiscal year 2014. These net increases primarily reflect farm management decisions based on weather, harvest timing and crop conditions.

 

·Third-party grower costs: We sell fruit that we grow and fruit that we procure from other growers. The cost of procuring fruit from other growers is referred to as third-party grower costs. The increase in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 was primarily attributable to higher prices and volume of third-party grower lemons sold. Of the 2,339,000 and 2,460,000 cartons sold during the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, 851,000 (36%) and 850,000 (35%) were procured from third-party growers at average per carton costs of $20.66 and $19.35, respectively. Additionally, we incurred $0.6 million of costs for purchased, packed fruit to sell in the nine months ended July 31, 2015, compared to $1.2 million during the same period in fiscal year 2014.

 

·Depreciation expense for the nine months ended July 31, 2015 was $0.3 million higher than nine months ended July 31, 2014 due to an increase in assets placed into service and the acquisition of our Yuma, Arizona packinghouse in June 2014.

 

Real estate development expenses in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 were $0.8 million compared to $1.5 million during the same period in fiscal year 2014. In July 2014, we recognized an impairment charge of $0.4 million on our Templeton Santa Barbara, LLC real estate development project. There were no impairment charges recognized in the nine months ended July 31, 2015.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 were $10.1 million compared to $10.3 million during the same period in fiscal year 2014. The $0.2 million decrease in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 was primarily due to decreased incentive compensation of $1.1 million partially offset by increased legal and consulting expenses of $0.7 million associated with our East Area 1 real estate development project.

 

Other Income (Expense)

 

Other income, net in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 was similar to the nine months ended July 31, 2014 at $0.4 million.

 

Income Taxes

 

We recorded an estimated income tax provision of $3.5 million in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 on a pre-tax income of $9.9 million compared to an estimated income tax provision of $5.0 million on a pre-tax income of $14.9 million in the nine months ended July 31, 2014. Our projected annual effective tax rate for fiscal year 2015 is approximately 35.3%.

 

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Segment Results of Operations

 

We evaluate the performance of our agribusiness, rental operations and real estate development segments separately to monitor the different factors affecting financial results. Each segment is subject to review and evaluations related to current market conditions, market opportunities and available resources. The following table shows the segment results of operations for the three and nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014:

 

   Quarter Ended July 31,   Nine Months Ended July 31, 
   2015   2014   2015   2014 
Revenues:                                        
Agribusiness  $28,466,000    96%   $35,173,000    96%   $82,268,000    96%   $83,481,000    96% 
Rental operations   1,311,000    5%    1,182,000    4%    3,769,000    4%    3,483,000    4% 
Real estate development   34,000    -    121,000    -    62,000    -    196,000    - 
Total revenues   29,811,000    100%    36,476,000    100%    86,099,000    100%    87,160,000    100% 
Costs and expenses:                                        
Agribusiness   17,471,000    80%    17,805,000    77%    63,308,000    83%    58,730,000    81% 
Rental operations   907,000    4%    796,000    3%    2,471,000    3%    2,231,000    3% 
Real estate development   325,000    1%    855,000    4%    806,000    1%    1,456,000    2% 
Corporate and other   3,270,000    15%    3,640,000    16%    10,053,000    13%    10,326,000    14% 
Total costs and expenses   21,973,000    100%    23,096,000    100%    76,638,000    100%    72,743,000    100% 
Operating income (loss):                                        
Agribusiness   10,995,000         17,368,000         18,960,000         24,751,000      
Rental operations   404,000         386,000         1,298,000         1,252,000      
Real estate development   (291,000)        (734,000)        (744,000)        (1,260,000)     
Corporate and other   (3,270,000)        (3,640,000)        (10,053,000)        (10,326,000)     
Total operating income  $7,838,000        $13,380,000        $9,461,000        $14,417,000      

 

Third Quarter of Fiscal Year 2015 Compared to the third Quarter of Fiscal Year 2014

 

The following analysis should be read in conjunction with the previous section “Results of Operations”.

 

Agribusiness

 

For the third quarter of fiscal year 2015, our agribusiness segment revenue was $28.5 million compared to $35.2 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2014. The 19% decrease of $6.7 million primarily consisted of the following:

 

·Lemon revenue for the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 was $3.0 million lower than the third quarter of fiscal year 2014.

 

·Avocado revenue for the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 was $3.1 million lower than the third quarter of fiscal year 2014.

 

·Navel and Valencia orange revenues for the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 were $0.7 million lower than the third quarter of fiscal year 2014.

 

·Specialty citrus and other crop revenues for the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 were $0.1 million higher than the third quarter of fiscal year 2014.

 

Costs associated with our agribusiness segment include packing costs, harvest costs, growing costs, costs related to the fruit we procure and sell for third-party growers and depreciation expense. For the third quarter of fiscal year 2015, our agribusiness costs were $17.5 million compared to $17.8 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2014. The 2% decrease of $0.3 million primarily consisted of the following:

 

·Packing costs for the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 were $0.1 million higher than the third quarter of fiscal year 2014.

 

·Harvest costs for the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 were similar to the third quarter of fiscal year 2014.

 

·Growing costs for the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 were $0.1 million lower than the third quarter of fiscal year 2014.

 

·Third-party grower costs for the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 were $0.3 million lower than the third quarter of fiscal year 2014.

 

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·Depreciation and amortization expense for the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 was similar to the third quarter of fiscal year 2014.

 

Rental Operations

 

For the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 our rental operations had revenues of $1.3 million compared to $1.2 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2014. The $0.1 million increase in the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 was primarily due to additional rental revenue from our agriculture workforce housing units that we began renting in May 2015.

 

Costs and expenses in our rental operations segment were $0.9 million and $0.8 million in the third quarters of fiscal years 2015 and 2014, respectively. Depreciation expense was similar quarter to quarter at approximately $0.1 million.

 

Real Estate Development

 

Our real estate development segment had no significant revenues in the third quarters of fiscal years 2015 and 2014.

 

Costs and expenses in our real estate development segment were $0.3 million and $0.9 million in the third quarters of fiscal years 2015 and 2014, respectively.

 

Corporate and Other

 

Corporate costs and expenses include selling, general and administrative costs and other costs not allocated to the operating segments. Corporate and other costs for the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 were $3.3 million compared to $3.6 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2014. Depreciation expense was similar quarter to quarter at approximately $50,000.

 

Nine Months Ended July 31, 2015 Compared to the Nine Months Ended July 31, 2014

 

The following analysis should be read in conjunction with the previous section “Results of Operations”.

 

Agribusiness

 

For the nine months ended July 31, 2015, our agribusiness segment revenue was $82.3 million compared to $83.5 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2014. The 1% decrease of $1.2 million primarily consisted of the following:

 

·Lemon revenue for the nine months ended July 31, 2015 was $1.5 million higher than the nine months ended July 31, 2014.

 

·Avocado revenue for the nine months ended July 31, 2015 was $0.2 million lower than the nine months ended July 31, 2014.

 

·Navel and Valencia orange revenues for the nine months ended July 31, 2015 were $2.0 million lower than the nine months ended July 31, 2014.

 

·Specialty citrus and other crop revenues for the nine months ended July 31, 2015 were $0.5 million lower than the nine months ended July 31, 2014.

 

Costs associated with our agribusiness segment include packing costs, harvest costs, growing costs, costs related to the fruit we procure and sell for third-party growers and depreciation expense. For the nine months ended July 31, 2015, our agribusiness costs and expenses were $63.3 million compared to $58.7 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2014. The 8% increase of $4.6 million primarily consisted of the following:

 

·Packing costs for the nine months ended July 31, 2015 were $2.8 million higher than the nine months ended July 31, 2014.

 

·Harvest costs for the nine months ended July 31, 2015 were $0.5 million higher than the nine months ended July 31, 2014.

 

·Growing costs for the nine months ended July 31, 2015 were $0.5 million higher than the nine months ended July 31, 2014.

 

·Third-party grower costs for the six months ended July 31, 2015 were $0.5 million higher than the nine months ended July 31, 2014.

 

·Depreciation and amortization expense for the nine months ended July 31, 2015 was $0.3 million higher than the nine months ended July 31, 2014.

 

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Rental Operations

 

Our rental operations segment had revenues of approximately $3.8 million and $3.5 million in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. The $0.3 million increase in the third quarter of fiscal year 2015 was primarily due to additional rental revenue from our agriculture workforce housing units that we began renting in May 2015 and increased organic recycling and other revenue.

 

Costs in our rental operations segment were approximately $2.5 million and $2.2 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Depreciation expense was $0.4 million and $0.3 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

 

Real Estate Development

 

Our real estate development segment had revenues of approximately $0.1 million and $0.2 million in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

 

Real estate development costs and expenses were approximately $0.8 million and $1.5 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

 

Corporate and Other

 

Corporate costs and expenses include selling, general and administrative costs and other costs not allocated to the operating segments. Corporate and other costs for the nine months ended July 31, 2015 were $0.3 million lower than the nine months ended July 31, 2014. Depreciation expense was similar period to period at approximately $0.1 million.

 

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Seasonal Operations

 

Historically, our agribusiness operations have been seasonal in nature with quarterly revenue fluctuating depending on the timing and variety of crops being harvested. Cultural costs in our agribusiness tend to be higher in the first and second quarters and lower in the third and fourth quarters because of the timing of expensing cultural costs in the current year that were inventoried in the prior year. Our harvest costs generally increase in the second quarter and peak in the third quarter coinciding with the increasing production and revenue. Due to this seasonality and to avoid the inference that interim results are indicative of the estimated results for a full fiscal year, we present supplemental information for 12-month periods ended at the interim date for the current and preceding years.

 

Results of Operations for the Trailing Twelve Months ended July 31, 2015 and July 31, 2014

 

The following table shows the unaudited results of operations for the trailing twelve months ended:

 

   Trailing twelve months ended July 31, 
   2015   2014 
Revenues:          
Agribusiness  $97,309,000   $96,357,000 
Rental operations   4,926,000    4,578,000 
Real estate development   166,000    512,000 
Total revenues   102,401,000    101,447,000 
Costs and expenses:          
Agribusiness   78,903,000    70,556,000 
Rental operations   3,313,000    2,937,000 
Real estate development   1,185,000    1,536,000 
Impairment of real estate development assets   -    435,000 
Selling, general and administrative   14,063,000    13,179,000 
Total costs and expenses   97,464,000    88,643,000 
Operating income   4,937,000    12,804,000 
Other income (expense):          
Interest income (expense), net   (101,000)   79,000 
Equity in earnings of investments   324,000    339,000 
Other income, net   447,000    247,000 
Total other income   670,000    665,000 
Income before income taxes   5,607,000    13,469,000 
Income tax provision   (2,014,000)   (4,727,000)
Net income  $3,593,000   $8,742,000 

 

Twelve Months Ended July 31, 2015 Compared to the Twelve Months Ended July 31, 2014

 

The following analysis should be read in conjunction with the previous section “Results of Operations”.

 

·Total revenues increased $1.0 million in the twelve months ended July 31, 2015 compared to the twelve months ended July 31, 2014 primarily due to increased agribusiness revenues, particularly increased lemon sales.

 

·Total costs and expenses increased $8.9 million in the twelve months ended July 31, 2015 compared to the twelve months ended July 31, 2014 primarily due to increases in our agribusiness costs and selling, general and administrative expenses. The increase in agribusiness costs is associated with increased packing cost primarily associated with the acquisition of our Yuma, Arizona packinghouse and increased cost of fruit procured from third party growers. The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses is primarily attributable to additional salaries, benefits and incentive compensation and other selling, general and administrative expenses including certain consulting and legal expenses associated with our East Area 1 real estate development project and our strategic growth initiatives.

 

·Total other income in the twelve months ended July 31, 2015 was similar to the twelve months ended July 31, 2014 at $0.7 million.

 

·Income tax provision decreased $2.7 million in the twelve months ended July 31, 2015 compared to the twelve months ended July 31, 2014 primarily due to $7.9 million decrease in pretax income.

 

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Overview

 

Our Company’s liquidity and capital position fluctuates during the year depending on seasonal production cycles, weather events, and demand for our products. Typically, our second and third quarters tend to generate greater operating income than our first and fourth quarters due to the volume of fruit harvested. To meet working capital demand and investment requirements of our agribusiness and real estate development segments and to supplement operating cash flows, we utilize our revolving credit facility to fund agricultural inputs and farm management practices until sufficient returns from crops allow us to repay amounts borrowed. Raw materials needed to propagate the various crops grown by us consist primarily of fertilizer, herbicides, insecticides, fuel and water and are readily available from local sources.

 

For the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, net cash provided by operating activities was $10.2 million and $17.8 million, respectively. The significant components of our Company’s cash flows provided by operating activities as included in the unaudited consolidated statements of cash flows are as follows:

 

·Net income for the nine months ended July 31, 2015 was $6.4 million compared to $9.8 million for the first nine months of fiscal year 2014. The decrease of $3.4 million in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 compared to the same period in fiscal year 2014 was primarily attributable to a decrease in operating income of $4.9 million and a decrease in income tax provision of $1.6 million.

 

·Depreciation and amortization increased $0.4 million in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 compared to the same period in fiscal year 2014 due to an increase in assets placed into service and the acquisition of our Yuma, Arizona packinghouse in June 2014.

 

·Loss on disposals of assets was $0.4 million in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014 and was primarily the result of expenses incurred from orchard disposals related to Associated’s Pilot Fallowing Program agreement with YMIDD.

 

·Stock compensation expense was $0.8 million and $0.9 million in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and is comprised primarily of vesting of 2012, 2013 and 2014 grants to management under our stock-based compensation plan plus non-employee directors’ stock-based compensation.

 

·Distributed earnings of investments were $0.3 million and $0.1 million during the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively and were comprised primarily of equity earnings and cash distributions from our investment in Limco Del Mar, Ltd.

 

·Accounts receivable, net balance at July 31, 2015 was $7.6 million compared to $7.2 million at October 31, 2014, resulting in a corresponding decrease in operating cash flows of $0.4 million in the nine months ended July 31, 2015. Accounts receivable, net balance was $10.8 million at July 31, 2014 compared to $6.4 million at October 31, 2013, primarily resulting in a corresponding decrease in operating cash flows of $4.7 million. Our accounts receivable balance typically increases during the first three quarters of our fiscal year due to the seasonal nature of our agribusiness operations. The $0.4 million decrease in operating cash flows in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 compared to the $4.7 million decrease in operating cash flows during same period in fiscal year 2014 is primarily due to fluctuations in price and volume related to agribusiness revenues.

 

·Cultural costs provided $0.8 million in operating cash flows during the nine months ended July 31, 2015 compared to providing $1.4 million in operating cash flows during the same period in fiscal year 2014. This decrease was primarily due to an initial higher amount of capitalized cultural costs carried at the beginning of fiscal year 2014 resulting from the acquisitions of Associated and Lemons 400 and the related increase in amortization of such costs during the nine months ended July 31, 2014 compared to the same period in fiscal year 2015.

 

·Income taxes receivable provided $1.1 million of operating cash flows in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and was primarily the result of a $1.2 million income tax refund received in June 2015.

 

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·Accounts payable and growers payable used $2.1 million of cash from operating activities in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 compared to providing $3.2 million in the same period in fiscal year 2014. The $2.1 million of cash used in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 was primarily the result of $0.9 million decrease in accounts payable, $0.2 million increase in growers payable and $1.4 million of capital expenditures accrued but not paid at period end. The $3.2 million of cash provided in the nine months ended July 31, 2014 was primarily the result of $0.6 million increase in accounts payable and $3.9 million increase in growers payable, partially offset by $0.7 million of capital expenditures accrued but not paid at period end. The $0.2 million increase in growers payable in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 compared to the $3.9 million increase in growers payable during the same period in fiscal year 2014 is primarily due to fluctuations in price and volume and the timing of payments for lemons we procure and sell for third party growers.

 

·Accrued liabilities used $0.6 million in operating cash flows in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 compared to providing $3.3 million of operating cash flows during the same period in fiscal year 2014. The operating cash used in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 is primarily comprised of payments for incentive compensation, property taxes, lease expense and lemon suppliers partially offset by accrued income taxes. The operating cash provided in the nine months ended July 31, 2014 is primarily the result of $5.0 million accrued income taxes partially offset by $1.9 million of income tax payments during the period.

 

·Other long-term liabilities provided $0.3 million of operating cash flows in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and represented $0.6 million of non-cash pension expense offset by $0.4 million of pension contributions for the period. The $0.1 million of operating cash flows provided during the nine months ended July 31, 2014 represented $0.5 million of non-cash pension expense offset by $0.4 million of pension contributions for the period.

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

 

For the nine months ended July 31, 2015, net cash used in investing activities was $24.0 million compared to net cash used in investing activities of $15.2 million during the same period in fiscal year 2014.

 

Net cash used in investing activities is primarily comprised of capital expenditures. Capital expenditures were $23.7 million in the nine months ended July 31, 2015, comprised of $18.5 million for property, plant and equipment primarily related to construction and equipment for our lemon packing facilities of $11.7 million and additional farm worker housing units of $6.2 million and $5.2 million for real estate development projects including $1.7 million for vineyard development at our Windfall Farms Project. Capital expenditures were $14.9 million in the nine months ended July 31, 2014, comprised of $11.0 million for property, plant and equipment primarily related to construction and equipment for our lemon packing facilities of $3.4 million, additional farm worker housing units of $3.6 million and orchard development of $1.9 million, $3.2 million for real estate development projects including $1.1 million for vineyard development at our Windfall Farms Project and $0.7 million for the acquisition of a lemon packing house.

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

 

For the nine months ended July 31, 2015, net cash provided by financing activities was $13.8 million compared to net cash used in financing activities of $3.0 million during the same period in fiscal year 2014.

 

The $13.8 million of cash provided by financing activities during the nine months ended July 31, 2015 is comprised primarily of net borrowings of long-term debt in the amount $16.4 million. The $3.0 million of cash used in financing activities during the nine months ended July 31, 2014 is comprised primarily of net payments of long term debt in the amount of $10.0 million and net proceeds from our issuance of preferred stock in the amount of $9.3 million. Additionally, we paid common and preferred dividends of $2.4 million in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 compared to $2.0 million during the same period in fiscal year 2014.

 

Transactions Affecting Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

We finance our working capital and other liquidity requirements primarily through cash from operations and our Rabobank, NA revolving credit facility (the “Rabobank Credit Facility”). In addition, we have term loans with Farm Credit West, FLCA (each a “Farm Credit West Term Loan” and, collectively, the “Farm Credit West Term Loans”) and a non-revolving line of credit with Farm Credit West, PCA (the “Farm Credit West Line of Credit”). Additional information regarding the Rabobank Credit Facility, the Farm Credit West Term Loans and the Farm Credit West Line of Credit can be found in the notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q.

 

We believe that the cash flows from operations and available borrowing capacity from our existing credit facilities will be sufficient to satisfy our capital expenditures, debt service, working capital needs and other contractual obligations for the remainder of fiscal year 2015. In addition, we have the ability to control a portion of our investing cash flows to the extent necessary based on our liquidity demands.

 

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In December 2013, we entered into a construction contract that includes design and construction services for the expansion of our lemon packing facilities.  The project is expected to increase the efficiency our packing facilities. To date we have capitalized approximately $20.3 million and during the nine months ended July 31, 2015, we capitalized approximately $11.7 million of costs in connection with construction services and equipment. The project is expected to cost approximately $23 million and be operational in 2015.

 

Rabobank Revolving Credit Facility

 

As of July 31, 2015, our outstanding borrowings under the Rabobank Credit Facility were $78.7 million and we had $15.1 million of availability. The Rabobank Credit Facility currently bears interest at a variable rate equal to the one month LIBOR plus 1.80%. The interest rate resets on the first of each month and was 1.99% at July 31, 2015. We have the ability to prepay any amounts outstanding under the Rabobank Credit Facility without penalty. The line of credit provides for maximum borrowings of $100.0 million and the borrowing capacity based on collateral value was $93.8 million at July 31, 2015.

 

Our Company has the option of fixing the interest rate under the Rabobank Credit Facility on any portion of outstanding borrowings using interest rate swaps. Effective July 2013, our Company fixed the interest rate at 4.30% utilizing an interest rate swap on $40.0 million of the Rabobank Credit Facility. Additional information regarding the interest rate swap can be found in the notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q.

 

The Rabobank Credit Facility is secured by certain of our Company’s agricultural properties and a portion of the equity interest in the San Cayetano Mutual Water Company, and subjects our Company to affirmative and restrictive covenants including, among other customary covenants, financial reporting requirements, requirements to maintain and repair any collateral, restrictions on the sale of assets, restrictions on the use of proceeds, prohibitions on the incurrence of additional debt and restrictions on the purchase or sale of major assets. We are also subject to a covenant that our Company will maintain a debt service coverage ratio, as defined in the Rabobank Credit Facility, of less than 1.25 to 1.0 measured annually at October 31, with which we were in compliance at October 31, 2014.

 

Farm Credit West Term Loans and Non-Revolving Credit Facility

 

As of July 31, 2015, we had an aggregate of approximately $6.1 million outstanding under the Farm Credit West Term Loans and Farm Credit West Line of Credit. The following provides further discussion on the term loans and non-revolving credit facility:

 

·Term Loan Maturing November 2022. As of July 31, 2015, we had $4.4 million outstanding under the Farm Credit West Term Loan that matures in November 2022. This term loan bears interest at a variable rate equal to an internally calculated rate based on Farm Credit West’s internal monthly operations and their cost of funds and generally follows the changes in the 90-day treasury rates in increments divisible by 0.25% and is payable in quarterly installments through November 2022. The interest rate resets monthly and was 2.75% at July 31, 2015. This term loan is secured by certain of our agricultural properties.

 

·Term Loan Maturing October 2035. As of July 31, 2015, our wholly owned subsidiary, Windfall Investors, LLC, had $1.3 million outstanding under the Farm Credit West Term Loan that matures in October 2035. This term loan bears interest at a variable rate equal to an internally calculated rate based on Farm Credit West’s internal monthly operations and their cost of funds and generally follows the changes in the 90-day treasury rates in increments divisible by 0.25% and is payable in monthly installments through November 2035. The interest rate resets monthly and was 2.75% at July 31, 2015. This term loan is secured by the Windfall Farms property.

 

·Non-Revolving Line of Credit Maturing May 2018. As of July 31, 2015, we had $0.5 million outstanding under the non-revolving line of credit that matures in May 2018. This line of credit bears interest at a variable rate equal to an internally calculated rate based on Farm Credit West’s internal monthly operations and their cost of funds and generally follows the changes in the 90-day treasury rates in increments divisible by 0.25% with interest payable on a monthly basis. The interest rate resets monthly and was 2.75% at July 31, 2015. This line of credit is secured by certain of our agricultural properties.

 

The Farm Credit West Term Loans and Farm Credit West Line of Credit contain various conditions, covenants and requirements with which our Company and Windfall Investors, LLC must comply. In addition, our Company and Windfall Investors are subject to limitations on, among other things, selling, abandoning or ceasing business operations; merging or consolidating with a third party; disposing of a substantial portion of assets by sale, transfer, gifts or lease except for inventory sales in the ordinary course of business; obtaining credit or loans from other lenders other than trade credit customary in the business; becoming a guarantor or surety on or otherwise liable for the debts or obligations of a third party; and mortgaging, pledging, leasing for over a year, or otherwise making or allowing the filing of a lien on any collateral.

 

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Interest Rate Swap

 

We enter into interest rate swap agreements to manage the risks and costs associated with our financing activities. At July 31, 2015, we had an interest rate swap agreement which locks in the interest rate on $40.0 million of our $84.8 million in debt at 4.30% until June 2018. Additional information regarding the interest rate swap can be found in the notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q. The remaining $44.8 million of debt bears interest at variable rates, which were 2.75% or less at July 31, 2015.

 

Contractual Obligations

 

The following table presents our Company’s contractual obligations at July 31, 2015 for which cash flows are fixed and determinable:

 

   Payments due by Period 
Contractual Obligations:  Total   < 1 year   1-3 years   3-5 years   5+ years 
Fixed rate debt (principal)  $40,000,000   $-   $40,000,000   $-   $- 
Variable rate debt (principal)   44,800,000    585,000    40,375,000    1,287,000    2,553,000 
Operating lease obligations   9,872,000    1,752,000    3,408,000    1,906,000    2,806,000 
Total contractual obligations  $94,672,000   $2,337,000   $83,783,000   $3,193,000   $5,359,000 
                          
Interest payments on fixed and variable rate debt  $8,669,000   $2,714,000   $5,390,000   $246,000   $319,000 

 

We believe that the cash flows from our agribusiness and rental operations business segments as well as available borrowing capacity from our existing credit facilities will be sufficient to satisfy our future capital expenditure, debt service, working capital and other contractual obligations for the remainder of fiscal year 2015. In addition, we have the ability to control the timing of a portion of our investing cash flows to the extent necessary based on our liquidity demands.

 

Fixed Rate and Variable Rate Debt

 

Details of amounts included in long-term debt can be found above and in the notes to the unaudited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q. The table above assumes that long-term debt is held to maturity.

 

Interest Payments on Fixed and Variable Debt

 

The above table assumes that our fixed rate and long-term debt is held to maturity and the interest rates on our variable rate debt remain unchanged for the remaining life of the debt from those in effect at July 31, 2015.

 

Preferred Stock Dividends

 

In 1997, in connection with the acquisition of Ronald Michaelis Ranches, Inc., our Company issued 30,000 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock at $100 par value (the “Series B Stock”). The holders of the Series B Stock are entitled to receive cumulative cash dividends at an annual rate of 8.75% of par value. Such dividends are payable quarterly on the first day of January, April, July and October in each year commencing July 1, 1997 and total $0.3 million annually.

 

During March and April 2014, we issued, in aggregate, 9,300 shares of Series B-2 Preferred Stock at $100 par value (the “Series B-2 Preferred Stock”). The holders of the Series B-2 Preferred Stock are entitled to receive cumulative cash dividends at an annual rate of 4% of the liquidation value of $1,000 per share. Such dividends are payable quarterly on the first day of January, April, July and October in each year commencing July 1, 2014 and total $0.4 million annually.

 

Defined Benefit Plan Contributions

 

We have a noncontributory, defined benefit, single employer pension plan (the “Plan”), which provides retirement benefits for all eligible employees of the Company. Effective June 2004, the Company froze the Plan and no additional benefits accrued to participants subsequent to that date. We may make discretionary contributions to the Plan and we may be required to make contributions to adhere to applicable regulatory funding provisions, based in part on the Plan’s asset valuations and underlying actuarial assumptions. We made funding contributions of $0.5 million, $1.3 million, and $1.3 million for fiscal years 2014, 2013, and 2012, respectively and we expect to contribute approximately $0.5 million to the Plan in fiscal year 2015.

 

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Operating Lease Obligations

 

We have numerous operating lease commitments with remaining terms ranging from less than one year to ten years. We have installed a one mega-watt photovoltaic solar array on one of our agricultural properties located in Ventura County that produces a significant portion of the power to run our lemon packinghouse. The construction of this array was financed by Farm Credit Leasing and we have a long term lease with Farm Credit Leasing for this array. Annual payments for this lease are $0.5 million, and at the end of ten years we have an option to purchase the array for $1.1 million. We entered into a similar transaction with Farm Credit Leasing for a second photovoltaic array at one of our agricultural properties located in the San Joaquin Valley to supply a significant portion of the power to operate four deep water well pumps located our property. Annual lease payments for this facility range from $0.3 million to $0.8 million, and at the end of ten years we have the option to purchase the array for $1.3 million.

 

In January 2012, we entered into a series of operating leases for approximately 1,000 acres of lemon, orange, specialty citrus and other crop orchards in Lindsay, California. Each of the leases is for ten-year terms and provides for four five-year renewal options with an aggregate base rent of approximately $500,000 per year. The leases also contain profit share arrangements with the landowners as additional rent on each of the properties and a provision for the potential purchase of the properties by us in the future. We incurred approximately $0.8 million and $1.2 million of lease expense in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, related to these leases. With the pending purchase of 914 acres described in “Recent Developments”, we expect lease expense to be approximately $0.2 million per year beginning in fiscal year 2016.

 

On July 1, 2013, we entered into a lease agreement with Cadiz, Inc. (“Cadiz”), to develop new lemon orchards on Cadiz’s agricultural property in eastern San Bernardino County, California (the “Cadiz Ranch”). Under the terms of the lease, we have the right to lease and plant up to 1,280 acres of lemons over the next five years at the Cadiz Ranch and have leased 320 acres initially, subject to a mutually agreed upon planting schedule. The lease agreement provides options to plant up to 960 additional acres (320 acres in Option 1 and 640 acres in Option 2) by 2018. The annual rental payment will include a base rent of $200 per planted acre and a lease payment equal to 20% of net cash flow from the harvested crops grown on the Cadiz property. Pursuant to the terms of the lease agreement, the annual rental payment will not exceed $1,200 per acre.

 

On February 3, 2015, we amended our lease agreement with Cadiz. The amendment, among other things; increased by 200 acres the amount of property leased by us under the lease agreement dated July 1, 2013. In connection with the amendment, we paid a total of $1.2 million to acquire existing lemon trees and irrigations systems from Cadiz and a Cadiz tenant. We incurred $41,000 and $15,000 of lease expense in the nine months ended July 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.

 

We lease pollination equipment under a lease through 2022 with annual payments of $0.3 million. We also lease machinery and equipment for our lemon packing operations and other land for our agricultural operations under leases with annual lease commitments that are individually immaterial.

 

Real Estate Development Activities, Capital Expenditures and Related Capital Resources

 

In September 2015, we entered into a Contribution Agreement with an affiliate of Lewis Operating Corp. (“Lewis”), a Southern California land developer, that facilitates upon the completion of certain conditions, the formation of a joint venture for the purpose of developing the Company’s East Area 1 real estate development project (the “Joint Venture”). We were paid a $2.0 million deposit upon entering into the Contribution Agreement. Conditions necessary to close the transaction and form the Joint Venture include approval by the City of Santa Paula of an amendment to the East Area 1 tentative tract map, assignment of various development rights and obligations by us to the Joint Venture, completion of a legal parcel map and contribution of the East Area 1 property to the Joint Venture and the payment by Lewis of $18.0 million, comprising total consideration of $20.0 million for a 50% interest in the Joint Venture. The Contribution Agreement also includes an agricultural lease that allows us to continue farming the property during the phased build-out of the project. We expect to receive $100.0 million from the Joint Venture over the estimated 7 to 10 year life of the project. The Joint Venture partners will share equally in capital contributions to fund project costs until loan proceeds and or revenues are sufficient to fund the project. These funding requirements are currently estimated to total $10.0 to $15.0 million for each Joint Venture partner in the first two years of the project. In addition, upon closing the transaction, we are expected to incur a minimum Capital Placement fee to a consultant of approximately $0.5 million plus 2% of the initial land value received by us in excess of $100.0 million to be earned on the successful closing of the Joint Venture transaction.

 

As noted above under “Transactions Affecting Liquidity and Capital Resources,” we have the ability to control the timing of a portion of our investing cash flows to the extent necessary based upon our liquidity demands. In order for our real estate development operations to reach their maximum potential benefit to our Company, however, we will need to be successful over time in identifying other third party sources of capital to partner with us to move those development projects forward. While we are frequently engaged in discussions with several external sources of capital in respect of all of our development projects, current market conditions for California real estate projects, while improving, continue to be challenging and make it difficult to predict the timing and amounts of future capital that will be required to complete the development of our projects.

 

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Capital Expenditure

 

In December 2013 we entered into a construction contract that includes design and construction services for the expansion of our lemon packing facilities. The project is expected to increase the capacity and efficiency of our packing facilities. The contract is subject to a guaranteed maximum price of approximately $9.3 million which was revised to $11.6 million in March 2015 based on design modifications and finalization of construction costs. The project commenced in fiscal 2014 and is expected to be substantially complete in 2015.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future material effect on our financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

Please see Note 2 to the unaudited consolidated financial statements for the period ended July 31, 2015 elsewhere in this Form 10-Q for information concerning our Company’s Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles requires us to develop critical accounting policies and make certain estimates and judgments that may affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses.  We base our estimates and judgments on historical experience, available relevant data and other information that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances.  Actual results may materially differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions as new or additional information become available in future periods.  We believe the following critical accounting policies reflect our more significant estimates and judgments used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.

 

Revenue RecognitionAs a general policy, revenue and related costs are recognized when (i) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, (ii) delivery has occurred, (iii) selling price is fixed or determinable and (iv) collectability is reasonably assured. We record a sales allowance in the period revenue is recognized as a provision for estimated customer discounts and concessions.

 

Agribusiness revenue Revenue from lemon sales is generally recognized FOB shipping point when the customer takes possession of the fruit from or packinghouse. Revenue from the sales of certain of our Company’s agricultural products is recorded based on estimated proceeds provided by certain of our Company’s sales and marketing partners (Calavo and other third-party packinghouses) due to the time between when the product is delivered by our Company and the closing of the pools for such fruits at the end of each month. Calavo and other third-party packinghouses are agricultural cooperatives or function in a similar manner as an agricultural cooperative. As such, our Company applies specific authoritative agriculture revenue recognition guidance related to transactions between patrons and agriculture marketing cooperatives to record revenue at time of delivery to the packinghouses relating to fruits that are in pools that have not yet closed at month end if (i) the related fruits have been delivered to and accepted by Calavo and other third-party packinghouses (i.e. title has transferred to Calavo and other third-party packinghouses) and (ii) sales price information has been provided by Calavo and other third-party packinghouses (based on the marketplace activity for the related fruit) to estimate with reasonable certainty the final selling price for the fruit upon the closing of the pools. Historically, the revenue that is recorded based on the sales price information provided to our Company by Calavo and other third-party packinghouses at the time of delivery have not materially differed from the actual amounts that are paid after the monthly pools are closed. We also earn commissions on certain brokered fruit sales, which totaled $115,000, $53,000 and $33,000 in fiscal years 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

 

Our Company’s avocados, oranges, specialty citrus and other specialty crops are packed and sold through by Calavo and other third-party packinghouses. Specifically, our Company delivers all of its avocado production from its orchards to Calavo. These avocados are then packed by Calavo at its packinghouse, and sold and distributed under Calavo brands to its customers primarily in the United States and Canada. Our Company’s arrangements with other third-party packinghouses related to its oranges, specialty citrus and other specialty crops are similar to its arrangement with Calavo.

 

Our Company’s arrangements with its third-party packinghouses are such that our Company is the producer and supplier of the product and the third-party packinghouses are our Company’s customers.  The revenues our Company recognizes related to the fruits sold to the third-party packinghouses are based on the volume and quality of the fruits delivered the market price for such fruit, less the packinghouses’ charges to pack and market the fruit. Such packinghouse charges include the grading, sizing, packing, cooling, ripening and marketing of the related fruit.   Our Company bears inventory risk until the product is delivered to the third-party packinghouses at which time title and inventory risk to the product is transferred to the third-party packinghouses and revenue is recognized. Such third-party packinghouse charges are recorded as a reduction of revenue based on the application of specific authoritative revenue recognition guidance related to a “Vendor’s Income Statement Characterization of Consideration Given to a Customer”.  The identifiable benefit our Company receives from the third-party packinghouses for packaging and marketing services cannot be sufficiently separated from the third-party packinghouses’ purchase of our Company’s products.  In addition, our Company is not able to reasonably estimate the fair value of the benefit received from the third-party packinghouses for such services and as such, these costs are characterized as a reduction of revenue in our Company’s consolidated statement of operations.

 

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Revenue from crop insurance proceeds is recorded when the amount of, and the right to receive, the payment can be reasonably determined. We recorded agribusiness revenues from crop insurance proceeds of $184,000, $36,000 and $64,000 in fiscal years 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

 

Rental revenue - Minimum rental revenues are generally recognized on a straight-line basis over the respective initial lease term. Contingent rental revenues are contractually defined as to the percentage of rent received by our Company and are based on fees collected by the lessee. Our Company’s rental arrangements generally require payment on a monthly or quarterly basis.

 

Real estate development revenue Our Company recognizes revenue on real estate development projects in accordance with FASB ASC 360-20, Real Estate Sales, which provides for profit to be recognized in full when real estate is sold, provided that a sale has been consummated and profit is determinable, collection of sales proceeds is estimable with the seller’s receivable not subject to subordination, risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred to the buyer and the earnings process is substantially complete with no significant seller activities or obligations required after the date of sale. To the extent the above conditions are not met, a portion or all of the profit is deferred.

 

Incidental operations may occur during the holding or development period of real estate development projects to reduce holding or development costs. Incremental revenue from incidental operations in excess of incremental costs from incidental operations is accounted for as a reduction of development costs. Incremental costs from incidental operations in excess of incremental revenue from incidental operations are charged to operations.

 

Real estate development costs – We capitalize the planning, entitlement, construction and development costs associated with our various real estate projects.  Costs that are not capitalized, which include property maintenance and repairs, general and administrative and marketing expenses, are expensed as incurred. A real estate development project is considered substantially complete upon the cessation of construction and development activities. Once a project is substantially completed, future costs are expensed as incurred. For the nine months ended July 31, 2015, we capitalized approximately $6.8 million of costs related to our real estate development projects and expensed approximately $0.8 million of costs.

 

Income taxes – Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are computed annually for differences between the financial statement and income tax basis of assets and liabilities that will result in taxable or deductible amounts in the future. Such deferred income tax asset and liability computations are based on enacted tax laws and rates applicable to periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. A valuation allowance is established, when necessary, to reduce deferred income tax assets to the amount expected to be realized.

 

Tax benefits from an uncertain tax position are only recognized if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained upon examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such a position are measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement.

 

Derivative financial instruments – We use derivative financial instruments for purposes other than trading to manage our exposure to interest rates as well as to maintain an appropriate mix of fixed and floating-rate debt. Contract terms of our hedge instruments closely mirror those of the hedged item, providing a high degree of risk reduction and correlation. Contracts that are effective at meeting the risk reduction and correlation criteria are recorded using hedge accounting. If a derivative instrument is a hedge, depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in the fair value of the instrument will be either offset against the change in the fair value of the hedged assets, liabilities or firm commitments through earnings or be recognized in other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. The ineffective portion of an instrument’s change in fair value will be immediately recognized in earnings. Instruments that do not meet the criteria for hedge accounting, or contracts for which we have not elected hedge accounting, are valued at fair value with unrealized gains or losses reported in earnings during the period of change.

 

Impairment of long-lived assets – We evaluate our long-lived assets, including our real estate development projects, for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of these assets may not be recoverable.  As a result of various factors, we recorded impairment charges of $0.4 million, $0.1 million and zero in fiscal years 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.  These charges were based on independent appraisals and other factors and were developed using various facts, assumption and estimates.  Future changes in these facts, assumptions and estimates could result in additional charges. 

 

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Defined benefit retirement plan – As discussed in the notes to our consolidated financial statements, we sponsor a defined benefit retirement plan that was frozen in June 2004, and no future benefits accrued to participants subsequent to that time.  Ongoing accounting for this plan under FASB ASC 715 provides guidance as to, among other things, future estimated pension expense, minimum pension liability and future minimum funding requirements.  This information is provided to us by third-party actuarial consultants.  In developing this data, certain estimates and assumptions are used, including among other things, discount rate, long-term rates of return and mortality tables. During 2014, the Society of Actuaries released a new mortality table, referred to as RP-2014, which is believed to better reflect mortality improvements and is to be used in calculating defined benefit pension obligations. In addition, during fiscal year 2014, the assumed discount rate used to measure the pension obligation decreased from 4.4% to 4.0% as a result of changes in market interest rates. We used RP-2014 to measure our pension obligation as of October 31, 2014 and combined with the decrease in the assumed discount rate, our pension obligation increased by approximately $2.7 million as of October 31, 2014 with a corresponding decrease in other comprehensive income recognized net of tax. Further changes in any of these estimates could materially affect the amounts recorded that are related to our defined benefit retirement plan.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

 

There have been no material changes in the disclosures discussed in the section entitled “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” in Part II, Item 7A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2014 as filed with the SEC on January 12, 2015.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures. As of July 31, 2015, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act. Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report. There have been no significant changes in our internal controls over financial reporting during the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or, to our knowledge, in other factors that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.

 

Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls. Control systems, no matter how well conceived and operated, are designed to provide a reasonable, but not an absolute, level of assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within our Company have been detected. Because of the inherent limitations in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.

 

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.Legal Proceedings

 

We are from time to time involved in legal proceedings arising in the normal course of business. Other than proceedings incidental to our business, we are not a party to, nor is any of our property the subject of, any material pending legal proceedings and no such proceedings are, to our knowledge, threatened against us.

 

Item 1A.Risk Factors

 

Risk factors and uncertainties associated with our business have not changed materially from those disclosed in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2014, as filed with the SEC on January 12, 2015.

 

Item 2.Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

None.

 

Item 3.Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

 

Item 4.Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable.

 

Item 5.Other Information

None.

 

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Item 6.Exhibits

 

Exhibit
Number 
  Exhibit 
3.1   Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Limoneira Company, dated July 5, 1990 (Incorporated by reference to exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10, and amendments thereto, declared effective April 13, 2010 (File No. 000-53885))
     
3.2   Certificate of Merger of Limoneira Company and The Samuel Edwards Associates into Limoneira Company, dated October 31, 1990  (Incorporated by reference to exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10, and amendments thereto, declared effective April 13, 2010 (File No. 000-53885))
     
3.3   Certificate of Merger of McKevett Corporation into Limoneira Company dated December 31, 1994  (Incorporated by reference to exhibit 3.3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10, and amendments thereto, declared effective April 13, 2010 (File No. 000-53885))
     
3.4   Agreement of Merger Between Ronald Michaelis Ranches, Inc. and Limoneira Company, dated June 24, 1997  (Incorporated by reference to exhibit 3.6 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10, and amendments thereto, declared effective April 13, 2010 (File No. 000-53885))
     
3.5   Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation of Limoneira Company, dated April 22, 2003  (Incorporated by reference to exhibit 3.7 to the Company’s Registration Statement of Form 10, and amendments thereto, declared effective April 13, 2010 (File No. 000-53885))
     
3.6   Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation of Limoneira Company, dated March 24, 2010  (Incorporated by reference to exhibit 3.9 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10, and amendments thereto, declared effective April 13, 2010 (File No. 000-53885))
     
3.7   Amended and Restated Bylaws of Limoneira Company (Incorporated by reference to exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed January 14, 2013 (File No. 001-34755))
     
3.7.1   Amendment to Amended and Restated Bylaws of Limoneira Company (Incorporated by reference to exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed September 25, 2013 (File No. 001-34755))
     
3.7.2   Amendment to Amended and Restated Bylaws of Limoneira Company (Incorporated by reference to exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed December 18, 2014 (File No. 001-34755))
     
4.1   Specimen Certificate representing shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share  (Incorporated by reference to exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10, and amendments thereto, declared effective April 13, 2010 (File No. 000-53885))
     
4.2   Rights Agreement dated December 20, 2006 between Limoneira Company and The Bank of New York, as Rights Agent  (Incorporated by reference to exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10, and amendments thereto, declared effective April 13, 2010 (File No. 000-53885))
     
4.3   Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of $8.75 Voting Preferred Stock, $100.00 Par Value, Series B of Limoneira Company, dated May 21, 1997 (Incorporated by reference to exhibit 3.4 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10, and amendments thereto, declare effective April 13, 2010 (File No. 000-53885))
     
4.4   Amended Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of $8.75 Voting Preferred Stock, $100.00 Par Value, Series B of Limoneira Company, dated May 21, 1997 (Incorporated by reference to exhibit 3.4 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10, and amendments thereto, declare effective April 13, 2010 (File No. 000-53885))
     
4.5   Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, $.01 Par Value, of Limoneira Company, dated November 21, 2006  (Incorporated by reference to exhibit 3.8 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10, and amendments thereto, declared effective April 13, 2010 (File No. 000-53885))

 

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Exhibit
Number 
  Exhibit 
4.6   Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of 4% Voting Preferred Stock, $100.00 Par Value, Series B-2 of Limoneira Company, dated March20, 2014 (Incorporated by reference to exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 24, 2014 (File No. 001-34755))
     
31.1*   Certificate of the Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a)
     
31.2*   Certificate of the Principal Financial and Accounting Officer Pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a)
     
32.1*†   Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
     
32.2*†   Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
     
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

 

*Filed herewith

 

In accordance with Item 601(b)(32)(ii) of Regulation S-K and SEC Release Nos. 33-8238 and 34-47986, Final Rule: Management's Reports on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting and Certification of Disclosure in Exchange Act Periodic Reports, the certifications furnished in Exhibit 32.1 and 32.2 hereto are deemed to accompany this Form 10-K and will not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act. Such certifications will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

     
  LIMONEIRA COMPANY
     
September 9, 2015 By: /s/ HAROLD S. EDWARDS 
    Harold S. Edwards
    Director, President and Chief Executive Officer
    (Principal Executive Officer)
     
September 9, 2015 By: /s/ JOSEPH D. RUMLEY 
    Joseph D. Rumley
   

Chief Financial Officer,

Treasurer and Corporate Secretary

    (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

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