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

 

Form 10-Q

 

 

 

Commission file number 1-4455

 

Dole Food Company, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

One Dole Drive

Westlake Village, California 91362

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (818) 879-6600

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer o     Accelerated filer o     Non-accelerated filer þ

 

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

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

 

 

 

DOLE FOOD COMPANY, INC.

 

INDEX

 

DOLE FOOD COMPANY, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)

 

 

See Accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

DOLE FOOD COMPANY, INC.

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except share data)

 

 

See Accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

DOLE FOOD COMPANY, INC.

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)

 

 

See Accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

DOLE FOOD COMPANY, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

 

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Dole Food Company, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries (“Dole” or the “Company”) include all adjustments necessary, which are of a normal recurring nature, to present fairly the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows. The Company operates under a 52/53-week year. The quarters ended March 24, 2007 and March 25, 2006 are twelve weeks in duration. For a summary of significant accounting policies and additional information relating to the Company’s financial statements, refer to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (“Form 10-K”) for the year ended December 30, 2006.

 

Interim results are subject to seasonal variations and are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for a full year. The Company’s operations are sensitive to a number of factors including weather-related phenomena and their effects on industry volumes, prices, product quality and costs. Operations are also sensitive to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates in both sourcing and selling locations as well as economic crises and security risks in developing countries.

 

Certain amounts in the prior year financial statements and related footnotes have been reclassified to conform with the 2007 presentation.

 

NOTE 2 — RECENTLY ISSUED AND ADOPTED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

In February 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Liabilities — Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115 (“FAS 159”). FAS 159 permits entities to choose to measure certain financial assets and liabilities at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses, arising subsequent to adoption, are reported in earnings. The Company is required to adopt FAS 159 for the first fiscal year beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company is currently evaluating if it will elect the fair value option for any of its eligible financial instruments and other items.

 

During September 2006, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position AUG AIR-1, Accounting For Planned Major Maintenance Activities (“FSP”), which eliminates the acceptability of the accrue-in-advance method of accounting for planned major maintenance activities. As a result, there are three alternative methods of accounting for planned major maintenance activities: direct expense, built-in-overhaul or deferral. The guidance in this FSP became effective for the Company at the beginning of its fiscal 2007 year and requires retrospective application for all financial statement periods presented. The Company had been accruing for planned major maintenance activities associated with its vessel fleet under the accrue-in-advance method. The Company adopted the deferral method of accounting for planned major maintenance activities associated with its vessel fleet. The adoption of this FSP impacted the following balance sheet accounts at December 30, 2006:

 

 

The impact to the condensed consolidated statement of operations for the quarter ended March 25, 2006 was not material.

 

During June 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes-an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (“FIN 48”). FIN 48 clarifies what criteria must be met prior to recognition of the financial statement benefit of a position taken in a tax return. FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition

 

DOLE FOOD COMPANY, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(Unaudited)

of income tax assets and liabilities, classification of current and deferred income tax assets and liabilities, accounting for interest and penalties associated with tax positions, accounting for income taxes in interim periods, and income tax disclosures. The Company adopted FIN 48 at the beginning of its fiscal 2007 year. Refer to Note 4 — Income Taxes for the impact that the adoption of FIN 48 had on the Company’s financial position and results of operations.

 

NOTE 3 — BUSINESS DISPOSITION

 

During the fourth quarter of 2006, the Company completed the sale of its Pacific Coast Truck Center (“Pac Truck”) business. The Pac Truck business consisted of a full service truck dealership that provided medium and heavy-duty trucks to customers in the Pacific Northwest region. In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets (“FAS 144”), the disposition of Pac Truck qualified for discontinued operations treatment. Accordingly, the historical results of operations of this business have been reclassified. Pursuant to FAS 144, the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the quarter ended March 25, 2006 does not reflect the reclassification of Pac Truck as a discontinued operation.

 

NOTE 4 — INCOME TAXES

 

Income tax expense for the quarter ended March 24, 2007 of approximately $1.2 million reflects the Company’s expected effective income tax rate of approximately 43.4% for the full fiscal year ending December 30, 2007 applied to the Company’s pre-tax loss for the quarter after excluding $7.6 million of foreign net operating losses for which no benefit is expected to be realized. Income tax expense also includes interest expense of $2.4 million (net of income tax benefits). The income tax benefit for the quarter ended March 25, 2006 of $4.2 million reflects the Company’s then expected effective income tax rate of approximately 38.2%.

 

For the periods presented, the Company’s effective income tax rate differs from the U.S. federal statutory rate primarily due to earnings from operations being taxed in foreign jurisdictions at a net effective rate lower than the U.S. rate offset by the accrual for current year uncertain tax positions.

 

Adoption of FIN 48:  As discussed in Note 2, the FASB issued FIN 48 in June 2006. The Company adopted the provisions of FIN 48 at the beginning of its fiscal 2007 year. The adoption of FIN 48 impacted the following balance sheet accounts:

 

 

Including the cumulative effect, at the beginning of the year, the Company had approximately $248.8 million of total gross unrecognized tax benefits. If recognized, approximately $124.3 million, net of federal and state tax benefits, would be recorded as a component of income tax expense and accordingly impact the Company’s effective tax rate.

 

The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to its unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense in the condensed consolidated statement of operations. Estimated interest before tax benefits totaled $4 million for the quarter ended March 24, 2007. Accrued interest and penalties before tax benefits was $48.2 million and $52.2 million as of the beginning of fiscal year 2007 and March 24, 2007, respectively.

 

DOLE FOOD COMPANY, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Dole Food Company or one or more of its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, and various states and foreign jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state and local, or non-U.S. income tax examinations by tax authorities for years prior to 2001.

 

Internal Revenue Service Audit:  On June 29, 2006, the IRS completed an examination of the Company’s federal income tax returns for the years 1995 to 2001 and issued a Revenue Agent’s Report (“RAR”) that includes various proposed adjustments. The net tax deficiency associated with the RAR is $175 million, plus interest and penalties. The Company timely filed a protest letter contesting the proposed adjustments contained in the RAR on July 6, 2006 and is pursuing resolution of these issues with the Appeals Division of the IRS. The Company believes that its U.S. federal income tax returns were completed in accordance with applicable laws and regulations and disagrees with the proposed adjustments. The Company also believes that it is adequately reserved with respect to this matter. Management does not believe that any material payments will be made related to these matters within the next twelve months. In addition, management considers it unlikely that the resolution of these matters will have a material adverse effect on its results of operations. The IRS commenced an examination of the Company’s U.S. income tax returns for 2002-2004 in the first quarter of 2007 that is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2008.

 

At this time, the Company does not anticipate that total unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change due to the settlement of audits and the expiration of statutes of limitations prior to March 2008.

 

NOTE 5 — INVENTORIES

 

The major classes of inventories were as follows:

 

 

NOTE 6 — GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

 

Goodwill has been allocated to the Company’s reporting segments as follows:

 

 

The goodwill adjustment related to the adoption of FIN 48 resulted from changes to tax contingencies that existed at the time of the going-private merger transaction in 2003.

 

DOLE FOOD COMPANY, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Details of the Company’s intangible assets were as follows:

 

 

Amortization expense of intangible assets totaled $1 million for each of the quarters ended March 24, 2007 and March 25, 2006. As of March 24, 2007, the estimated remaining amortization expense associated with the Company’s intangible assets for the remainder of 2007 and in each of the next four fiscal years is as follows:

 

 

DOLE FOOD COMPANY, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(Unaudited)

NOTE 7 — NOTES PAYABLE AND LONG-TERM DEBT

 

Notes payable and long-term debt consisted of the following amounts:

 

 

The Company amortized deferred debt issuance costs of $1 million and $1.1 million during the quarters ended March 24, 2007 and March 25, 2006, respectively.

 

As of March 24, 2007, the term loan facilities consisted of $223.3 million of Term Loan B and $744.4 million of Term Loan C. The weighted average variable interest rates at March 24, 2007 for Term Loan B and Term Loan C were LIBOR plus 2%, or 7.5%. Related to the term loan facilities, during 2006 the Company entered into an interest rate swap in order to hedge future changes in interest rates and a cross currency swap to effectively lower the U.S. dollar fixed rate to a Japanese yen fixed interest rate. The fair value of the interest rate swap and cross currency swap was a liability of $7.8 million and an asset of $18.9 million, respectively, at March 24, 2007.

 

As of March 24, 2007, the asset based revolving credit facility (“ABL revolver”) borrowing base was $327.2 million and the amount outstanding under the ABL revolver was $181.8 million. The weighted average variable interest rate for the ABL revolver was LIBOR plus 1.5%, or 7.1% at March 24, 2007. After taking into account approximately $10 million of outstanding letters of credit issued under the ABL revolver, the Company had approximately $135.4 million available for borrowings as of March 24, 2007. In addition, the Company had approximately $86.6 million of letters of credit and bank guarantees outstanding under its pre-funded letter of credit facility as of March 24, 2007.

 

Provisions under the indentures to the Company’s senior notes and debentures require the Company to comply with certain covenants. These covenants include financial performance measures, as well as limitations on, among other things, indebtedness, investments, loans to subsidiaries, employees and third parties, the issuance of guarantees and the payment of dividends. At March 24, 2007, the Company was in compliance with all applicable covenants.

 

DOLE FOOD COMPANY, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

NOTE 8 — SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

Comprehensive Income (Loss) — The components of comprehensive income (loss) were as follows in each period:

 

 

Capital Contribution:  On March 3, 2006, DHM Holding Company, Inc. (“HoldCo”) executed a $150 million senior secured term loan agreement. In March 2006, HoldCo contributed $28.4 million to its wholly-owned subsidiary, Dole Holding Company, LLC (“DHC”), the Company’s immediate parent, which contributed the funds to the Company. As planned, in October 2006, the Company declared a cash capital repayment of $28.4 million to DHC, returning the $28.4 million capital contribution made by DHC in March 2006. The Company repaid this amount during the fourth quarter of 2006.

 

Dividends:  During the quarter ended March 25, 2006, the Company declared and paid dividends of $3.4 million to its parent, DHC. The Company did not declare or pay a dividend to its parent during the quarter ended March 24, 2007.

 

The Company’s ability to declare future dividends is limited under the terms of its senior secured credit facilities and bond indentures. As of March 24, 2007, the Company had no ability to declare and pay future dividends or other similar distributions.

 

DOLE FOOD COMPANY, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

NOTE 9 — EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

 

The components of net periodic benefit cost for the Company’s U.S. and international pension plans and other postretirement benefit (“OPRB”) plans were as follows:

 

 

NOTE 10 — SEGMENT INFORMATION

 

The Company has four reportable operating segments: fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, packaged foods and fresh-cut flowers. These reportable segments are managed separately due to differences in their products, production processes, distribution channels and customer bases.

 

Management evaluates and monitors segment performance primarily through earnings before interest expense and income taxes (“EBIT”). EBIT is calculated by adding interest expense and income taxes to net income (loss). In 2006, EBIT is calculated by subtracting income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes and adding interest expense and income taxes to net income (loss). Management believes that segment EBIT provides useful information for analyzing the underlying business results as well as allowing investors a means to evaluate the financial results of each segment in relation to the Company as a whole. EBIT is not defined under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for net income or cash flow measures prepared in accordance with GAAP or as a measure of the Company’s profitability. Additionally, the Company’s computation of EBIT may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures computed by other companies, because not all companies calculate EBIT in the same fashion.

 

DOLE FOOD COMPANY, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

In the tables below, revenues from external customers and EBIT reflect results from continuing operations.

 

Revenues from external customers and EBIT for the four reportable operating segments and corporate were as follows:

 

Results of Operations

 

 

 

The Company’s equity earnings in unconsolidated subsidiaries, which have been included in EBIT in the table above, relate primarily to the fresh fruit and fresh vegetables operating segments.

 

DOLE FOOD COMPANY, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

Total assets for the reportable operating segments and corporate were as follows:

 

 

NOTE 11 — CONTINGENCIES

 

The Company is a guarantor of indebtedness to some of its key fruit suppliers and other entities integral to the Company’s operations. At March 24, 2007, guarantees of $3 million consisted primarily of amounts advanced under third-party bank agreements to independent growers that supply the Company with product. The Company has not historically experienced any significant losses associated with these guarantees.

 

As of March 24, 2007, letters of credit and bank guarantees outstanding under the $100 million pre-funded letter of credit facility totaled $86.6 million. In addition, the Company issues letters of credit and bonds through major banking institutions, insurance companies and its ABL revolver as required by certain regulatory authorities, vendor and other operating agreements. As of March 24, 2007, total letters of credit and bonds outstanding under these arrangements were $136.2 million.

 

As part of its normal business activities, the Company and its subsidiaries also provide guarantees to various regulatory authorities, primarily in Europe, in order to comply with foreign regulations when operating businesses overseas. These guarantees relate to customs duties and banana import license fees that were granted to the European Union member states’ agricultural authority. These guarantees are obtained from commercial banks in the form of letters of credit or bank guarantees, primarily issued under the Company’s pre-funded letter of credit facility.

 

The Company also provides various guarantees, mostly to foreign banks, in the course of its normal business operations to support the borrowings, leases and other obligations of its subsidiaries. The Company guaranteed $157.6 million of its subsidiaries’ obligations to their suppliers and other third parties as of March 24, 2007.

 

The Company has change of control agreements with certain key executives, under which severance payments and benefits would become payable in the event of specified terminations of employment following a change of control (as defined) of the Company. These agreements are more fully described in Item 11 of the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2006.

 

The Company is involved from time to time in claims and legal actions incidental to its operations, both as plaintiff and defendant. The Company has established what management currently believes to be adequate reserves for pending legal matters. These reserves are established as part of an ongoing worldwide assessment of claims and legal actions that takes into consideration such items as changes in the pending case load (including resolved and new matters), opinions of legal counsel, individual developments in court proceedings, changes in the law, changes in business focus, changes in the litigation environment, changes in opponent strategy and tactics, new developments as a result of ongoing discovery, and past experience in defending and settling similar claims. In the opinion

 

DOLE FOOD COMPANY, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(Unaudited)

of management, after consultation with outside counsel, the claims or actions to which the Company is a party are not expected to have a material adverse effect, individually or in the aggregate, on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

 

A significant portion of the Company’s legal exposure relates to lawsuits pending in the United States and in several foreign countries, alleging injury as a result of exposure to the agricultural chemical DBCP (1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane). DBCP was manufactured by several chemical companies including Dow and Shell and registered by the U.S. government for use on food crops. The Company and other growers applied DBCP on banana farms in Latin America and the Philippines and on pineapple farms in Hawaii. Specific periods of use varied among the different locations. The Company halted all purchases of DBCP, including for use in foreign countries, when the U.S. EPA cancelled the registration of DBCP for use in the United States in 1979. That cancellation was based in part on a 1977 study by a manufacturer which indicated an apparent link between male sterility and exposure to DBCP among factory workers producing the product, as well as early product testing done by the manufacturers showing testicular effects on animals exposed to DBCP. To date, there is no reliable evidence demonstrating that field application of DBCP led to sterility among farm workers, although that claim is made in the pending lawsuits. Nor is there any reliable scientific evidence that DBCP causes any other injuries in humans, although plaintiffs in the various actions assert claims based on cancer, birth defects and other general illnesses.

 

Currently there are 487 lawsuits, in various stages of proceedings, alleging injury as a result of exposure to DBCP, seeking enforcement of Nicaraguan judgments, or seeking to bar Dole’s efforts to resolve DBCP claims in Nicaragua. Nineteen of these lawsuits are currently pending in various jurisdictions in the United States. Of the 19 U.S. lawsuits, 10 have been brought by foreign workers who allege exposure to DBCP in countries where Dole did not have operations during the relevant time period. One case pending in Los Angeles Superior Court with 13 Nicaraguan plaintiffs has a trial date that is pending. The remaining cases are pending in Latin America and the Philippines, including 260 labor cases pending in Costa Rica under that country’s national insurance program. Claimed damages in DBCP cases worldwide total approximately $41 billion, with lawsuits in Nicaragua representing approximately 87% of this amount. In almost all of the non-labor cases, the Company is a joint defendant with the major DBCP manufacturers and, typically, other banana growers. Except as described below, none of these lawsuits has resulted in a verdict or judgment against the Company.

 

In Nicaragua, 187 cases are currently filed in various courts throughout the country, with all but one of the lawsuits brought pursuant to Law 364, an October 2000 Nicaraguan statute that contains substantive and procedural provisions that Nicaragua’s Attorney General formally opined are unconstitutional. In October 2003, the Supreme Court of Nicaragua issued an advisory opinion, not connected with any litigation, that Law 364 is constitutional.

 

Twenty-three cases have resulted in judgments in Nicaragua: $489.4 million (nine cases consolidated with 468 claimants) on December 11, 2002; $82.9 million (one case with 58 claimants) on February 25, 2004; $15.7 million (one case with 20 claimants) on May 25, 2004; $4 million (one case with four claimants) on May 25, 2004; $56.5 million (one case with 72 claimants) on June 14, 2004; $64.8 million (one case with 86 claimants) on June 15, 2004; $27.7 million (one case with 39 claimants) on March 17, 2005; $98.5 million (one case with 150 claimants) on August 8, 2005; $46.4 million (one case with 62 claimants) on August 20, 2005; and $809 million (six cases consolidated with 1,248 claimants) on December 1, 2006. The Company has appealed all judgments, with the Company’s appeal of the August 8, 2005 $98.5 million judgment and the December 1, 2006 $809 million judgment currently pending before the Nicaragua Courts of Appeal.

 

There are 27 active cases currently pending in civil courts in Managua (15), Chinandega (10) and Puerto Cabezas (2), all of which have been brought under Law 364 except for one of the cases pending in Chinandega. In the 26 active cases under Law 364, except for six cases in Chinandega and five cases in Managua, where the Company has not yet been ordered to answer, the Company has sought to have the cases returned to the United States pursuant to Law 364. A Chinandega court in one case has ordered the plaintiffs to respond to our request. In the other two active cases under Law 364 pending there, the Chinandega courts have denied the Company’s

 

DOLE FOOD COMPANY, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(Unaudited)

requests; and the court in Puerto Cabezas has denied the Company’s request in the two cases there. The Company’s requests in ten of the cases in Managua are still pending; and the Company expects to make similar requests in the remaining five cases at the appropriate time. The Company has appealed the two decisions of the court in Puerto Cabezas and the two decisions of the courts in Chinandega.

 

The claimants’ attempted enforcement of the December 11, 2002 judgment for $489.4 million in the United States resulted in a dismissal with prejudice of that action by the United States District Court for the Central District of California on October 20, 2003. The claimants have voluntarily dismissed their appeal of that decision, which was pending before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Defendants’ motion for sanctions against Plaintiffs’ counsel is still pending before the Court of Appeals in that case.

 

Claimants have also indicated their intent to seek enforcement of the Nicaraguan judgments in Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela and other countries in Latin America and elsewhere, including the United States. In Venezuela, the claimants are attempting to enforce five of the Nicaraguan judgments in that country’s Supreme Court: $489.4 million (December 11, 2002); $82.9 million (February 25, 2004); $15.7 million (May 25, 2004); $56.5 million (June 14, 2004); and $64.8 million (June 15, 2004). An action filed to enforce the $27.7 million Nicaraguan judgment (March 17, 2005) in the Colombian Supreme Court was dismissed. In Ecuador, the claimants attempted to enforce the five Nicaraguan judgments issued between February 25, 2004 through June 15, 2004 in the Ecuador Supreme Court. The First, Second and Third Chambers of the Ecuador Supreme Court issued rulings refusing to consider those enforcement actions on the ground that the Supreme Court was not a court of competent jurisdiction for enforcement of a foreign judgment. The plaintiffs subsequently refiled those five enforcement actions in the civil court in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Two of these subsequently filed enforcement actions have been dismissed by the 3rd Civil Court — $15.7 million (May 25, 2004) — and the 12th Civil Court — $56.5 million (June 14, 2004) — in Guayaquil; plaintiffs have sought reconsideration of those dismissals. The remaining three enforcement actions are still pending.

 

The Company believes that none of the Nicaraguan civil trial courts’ judgments will be enforceable against any Dole entity in the U.S. or in any other country, because Nicaragua’s Law 364 is unconstitutional and violates international principles of due process. Among other things, Law 364 is an improper “special law” directed at particular parties; it requires defendants to pay large, non-refundable deposits in order to even participate in the litigation; it provides a severely truncated procedural process; it establishes an irrebuttable presumption of causation that is contrary to the evidence and scientific data; and it sets unreasonable minimum damages that must be awarded in every case.

 

On October 23, 2006, Dole announced that Standard Fruit de Honduras, S.A. reached an agreement with the Government of Honduras and representatives of Honduran banana workers. This agreement establishes a Worker Program that is intended by the parties to resolve in a fair and equitable manner the claims of male banana workers alleging sterility as a result of exposure to the agricultural chemical DBCP. The Honduran Worker Program will not have a material effect on Dole’s financial condition or results of operations. The official start of the Honduran Worker Program was announced on January 8, 2007. On April 19, 2007, Dole and Shell Oil Company entered into an agreement to include Shell in the Worker Program upon approval of the Government of Honduras and the representatives of the Honduran banana workers.

 

As to all the DBCP matters, the Company has denied liability and asserted substantial defenses. While Dole believes there is no reliable scientific basis for alleged injuries from the agricultural field application of DBCP, Dole continues to seek reasonable resolution of pending litigation and claims in the U.S. and Latin America. For example, as in Honduras, Dole is committed to finding a prompt resolution to the DBCP claims in Nicaragua, and is prepared to pursue a structured worker program in Nicaragua with science-based criteria. Although no assurance can be given concerning the outcome of these cases, in the opinion of management, after consultation with legal counsel and based on past experience defending and settling DBCP claims, the pending lawsuits are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

 

DOLE FOOD COMPANY, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

European Union Antitrust Inquiry and U.S. Class Action Lawsuits:  The European Commission (“EC”) is investigating alleged violations of European Union competition (antitrust) laws by banana and pineapple importers and distributors operating within the European Economic Area. On June 2 and 3, 2005, the EC conducted a search of certain of the Company’s offices in Europe. During this same period, the EC also conducted similar unannounced searches of other companies’ offices located in the European Union. The Company is cooperating with the EC and has responded to the EC’s information requests. Although no assurances can be given concerning the course or outcome of that EC investigation, the Company believes that it has not violated the European Union competition laws.

 

Following the public announcement of the EC searches, a number of class action lawsuits were filed against the Company and three competitors in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The lawsuits were filed on behalf of entities that directly or indirectly purchased bananas from the defendants and have now been consolidated into two separate class action lawsuits: one by direct purchasers (customers); and another by indirect purchasers (those who purchased bananas from customers). Both consolidated class action lawsuits allege that the defendants conspired to artificially raise or maintain prices and control or restrict output of bananas. The Company believes these lawsuits are without merit.

 

Honduran Tax Case:  In 2005, the Company received a tax assessment from Honduras of approximately $137 million (including the claimed tax, penalty, and interest through the date of assessment) relating to the disposition of all of the Company’s interest in Cervecería Hondureña, S.A in 2001. The Company believes the assessment is without merit and filed an appeal with the Honduran tax authorities, which was denied. As a result of the denial in the administrative process, in order to negate the tax assessment, on August 5, 2005, the Company proceeded to the next stage of the appellate process by filing a lawsuit against the Honduran government, in the Honduran Administrative Tax Trial Court. The Honduran government is seeking dismissal of the lawsuit and attachment of assets, which the Company is challenging. The Honduran Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the Honduran intermediate appellate court that a statutory prerequisite to challenging the tax assessment on the merits is the payment of the tax assessment or the filing of a payment plan with the Honduran courts; Dole is now challenging the constitutionality of the statute requiring such payment or payment plan. Although no assurance can be given concerning the outcome of this case, in the opinion of management, after consultation with legal counsel, the pending lawsuits and tax-related matters are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

 

Hurricane Katrina Cases:  Dole is one of a number of parties sued, including the Mississippi State Port Authority as well as other third-party terminal operators, in connection with the August 2005 Hurricane Katrina. The plaintiffs assert that they suffered property damage because of the defendants’ alleged failure to reasonably secure shipping containers at the Gulfport, Mississippi port terminal before Hurricane Katrina hit. Dole believes that it took reasonable precautions and that property damage was due to the unexpected force of Hurricane Katrina, a Category 5 hurricane that was one of the costliest disasters in U.S. history. Dole expects that this Katrina-related litigation will not have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or results of operations.

 

Spinach E. coli Outbreak:  On September 15, 2006, Natural Selection Foods LLC recalled all packaged fresh spinach that Natural Selection Foods produced and packaged with Best-If-Used-By dates from August 17 through October 1, 2006, because of reports of illness due to E. coli O157:H7 following consumption of packaged fresh spinach produced by Natural Selection Foods. These packages were sold under 28 different brand names, one of which was DOLE ^®. Natural Selection Foods produced and packaged all spinach items under the DOLE label (with the names “Spinach,” “Baby Spinach” and “Spring Mix”). On September 15, 2006, Dole announced that it supported the voluntary recall issued by Natural Selection Foods. Dole has no ownership or other economic interest in Natural Selection Foods.

 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on September 29, 2006 that all spinach implicated in the current outbreak has traced back to Natural Selection Foods. The FDA stated that this determination was based on

 

DOLE FOOD COMPANY, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(Unaudited)

epidemiological and laboratory evidence obtained by multiple states and coordinated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The trace back investigation has narrowed to four implicated fields on four ranches. FDA and the State of California announced October 12, 2006 that the test results for certain samples collected during the field investigation of the outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 in spinach were positive for E. coli O157:H7. Specifically, samples of cattle feces near one of the implicated ranches tested positive based on matching genetic fingerprints for the same strain of E. coli O157:H7 found in the infected persons.

 

To date, 204 cases of illness due to E. coli O157:H7 infection have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (203 in 26 states and one in Canada) including 31 cases involving a type of kidney failure called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), 104 hospitalizations, and three deaths. Dole is aware of 15 lawsuits that are pending against Natural Selection Foods and Dole, among others. Dole expects that the vast majority of the spinach E. coli O157:H7 claims will be handled outside the formal litigation process. Since Natural Selection Foods, not Dole, produced and packaged the implicated spinach products, Dole has tendered the defense of these and other claims to Natural Selection Foods and its insurance carriers and has sought indemnity from Natural Selection Foods, based on the provisions of the contract between Dole and Natural Selection Foods. Dole expects that the company (and its insurance carriers) that grew the implicated spinach for Natural Selection Foods also will be involved in the resolution of the E. coli O157:H7 claims. Dole expects that the spinach E. coli O157:H7 matter will not have a material adverse effect on Dole’s financial condition or results of operations.

 

NOTE 12 — ASSETS HELD-FOR-SALE

 

The Company reviews its non-core assets with the intention to dispose of those assets that do not meet the Company’s future strategic direction or internal economic return criteria. As a result, the Company is in the process of selling certain long-lived assets. In accordance with FAS 144, the Company has reclassified these assets as held-for-sale.

 

Total assets held-for-sale, related to property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation, by segment were are follows:

 

 

In March 2007, two of the Company’s non-wholly-owned subsidiaries sold land parcels located in central California to subsidiaries of Castle & Cooke, Inc. (“Castle”) for $40.7 million, of which $30.5 million was in cash and $10.2 million was a note receivable. Castle is owned by David H. Murdock, the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. At December 30, 2006, the land parcels were recorded as assets held-for-sale in the consolidated balance sheet. The Company’s share of the gain was approximately $4.6 million, net of income taxes. Since the sale involved the transfer of assets between two parties under common control, the gain on the sale was recorded as an increase to additional paid-in capital.

 

DOLE FOOD COMPANY, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(Unaudited)

 

NOTE 13 — BUSINESS RESTRUCTURING

 

During the first quarter of 2006, the commercial relationship substantially ended between the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Saba Trading AB (“Saba”), and Saba’s largest customer. Saba is a leading importer and distributor of fruit, vegetables and flowers in Scandinavia. Saba’s financial results are included in the fresh fruit reporting segment. Total costs incurred, consisting primarily of employee-related severance costs, amounted to approximately $5.3 million during the quarter ended March 25, 2006. The Company incurred $12.8 million of total related restructuring costs during the 2006 fiscal year. As of March 24, 2007, the remaining amount of accrued severance costs was $1.9 million. The Company currently estimates that this remaining amount will be paid by the end of 2007.

 

NOTE 14 — GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

In connection with the issuance of the 2011 Notes in March 2003 and the 2010 Notes in May 2003, all of the Company’s wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries (“Guarantors”) have fully and unconditionally guaranteed, on a joint and several basis, the Company’s obligations under the indentures related to such Notes and to the Company’s 2009 Notes and 2013 Debentures (the “Guarantees”). Each Guarantee is subordinated in right of payment to the Guarantors’ existing and future senior debt, including obligations under the senior secured credit facilities, and will rank pari passu with all senior subordinated indebtedness of the applicable Guarantor.

 

The accompanying guarantor consolidating financial information is presented on the equity method of accounting for all periods presented. Under this method, investments in subsidiaries are recorded at cost and adjusted for the Company’s share in the subsidiaries’ cumulative results of operations, capital contributions and distributions and other changes in equity. Elimination entries relate primarily to the elimination of investments in subsidiaries and associated intercompany balances and transactions.

 

The following are condensed consolidating statements of operations of the Company for the quarters ended March 24, 2007 and March 25, 2006; condensed consolidating balance sheets as of March 24, 2007 and December 30, 2006; and condensed consolidating statements of cash flows for the quarters ended March 24, 2007 and March 25, 2006.

 

DOLE FOOD COMPANY, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(Unaudited)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
For the Quarter Ended March 24, 2007

 

 

DOLE FOOD COMPANY, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(Unaudited)

For the Quarter Ended March 25, 2006

 

 

DOLE FOOD COMPANY, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(Unaudited)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
As of March 24, 2007

 

 

DOLE FOOD COMPANY, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(Unaudited)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEET
As of December 30, 2006

 

 

DOLE FOOD COMPANY, INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

(Unaudited)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
For the Quarter Ended March 24, 2007