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, 2013

 

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  (I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation or Organization) 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, 2013, there were 13,310,790 shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock.

 
 

 

LIMONEIRA COMPANY

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION 4
   
Item 1. Financial Statements (unaudited) 4
     
Consolidated Balance Sheets – July 31, 2013 and October 31, 2012 4
   
Consolidated Statements of Operations - three and nine months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012 5
   
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - three and nine months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012 6
   
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - nine months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012 7
   
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 9
   
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 23
     
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 43
     
Item 4. Controls and Procedures 43
     
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION 44
   
Item 1. Legal Proceedings 44
     
Item 1A. Risk Factors 44
     
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds 44
     
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities 44
     
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures 44
     
Item 5. Other Information 44
     
Item 6. Exhibits 45
     
SIGNATURES 46

  

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, tariffs and import laws;

 

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

 

·market responses to industry volume pressures;

 

·increased pressure from 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 crises;

 

·international conflict;

 

·acts of terrorism;

 

·labor disruptions, strikes 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, 2012. 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. We undertake no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, even if our situation changes in the future.

 

The terms the “Company,” “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,
2013
   October 31,
2012
 
Assets          
Current assets:          
Cash  $157,000   $11,000 
Accounts receivable, net   9,962,000    4,252,000 
Notes receivable – related parties   6,000    42,000 
Cultural costs   1,485,000    2,254,000 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   1,905,000    2,116,000 
Income taxes receivable   -    712,000 
Total current assets   13,515,000    9,387,000 
           
Property, plant and equipment, net   55,813,000    53,380,000 
Real estate development   82,571,000    77,772,000 
Equity in investments   1,593,000    8,947,000 
Investment in Calavo Growers, Inc.   13,580,000    15,701,000 
Notes receivable – related parties   16,000    16,000 
Notes receivable   2,004,000    2,296,000 
Other assets   5,673,000    5,123,000 
Total assets  $174,765,000   $172,622,000 
           
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity          
Current liabilities:          
Accounts payable  $4,811,000   $3,670,000 
Growers payable   2,695,000    2,085,000 
Accrued liabilities   6,463,000    4,017,000 
Fair value of derivative instrument   -    1,072,000 
Current portion of long-term debt   558,000    760,000 
Total current liabilities   14,527,000    11,604,000 
Long-term liabilities:          
Long-term debt, less current portion   47,404,000    88,875,000 
Deferred income taxes   11,452,000    10,488,000 
Other long-term liabilities   7,014,000    8,953,000 
Total long-term liabilities   65,870,000    108,316,000 
Commitments and contingencies          
Stockholders’ equity:          
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock – $100.00 par value (50,000 shares
authorized: 30,000 shares issued and outstanding at July 31, 2013
and October 31, 2012) (8.75% coupon rate)
   3,000,000    3,000,000 
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock – $.01 par value (20,000 shares
authorized: 0 issued or outstanding at July 31, 2013 and October 31, 2012)
   -    - 
Common Stock – $.01 par value (19,900,000 shares authorized:          
13,310,790 and 11,203,180 shares issued and outstanding at July 31,
2013 and October 31, 2012, respectively)
   133,000    112,000 
Additional paid-in capital   72,130,000    35,714,000 
Retained earnings   20,773,000    16,398,000 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (1,668,000)   (2,522,000)
Total stockholders’ equity   94,368,000    52,702,000 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity  $174,765,000   $172,622,000 

 

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,
 
   2013   2012   2013   2012 
Revenues:                    
Agribusiness  $28,626,000   $23,664,000   $67,114,000   $47,912,000 
Rental operations   1,064,000    962,000    3,155,000    2,959,000 
Real estate development   239,000    74,000    328,000    162,000 
Total revenues   29,929,000    24,700,000    70,597,000    51,033,000 
Costs and expenses:                    
Agribusiness   15,932,000    13,554,000    51,781,000    36,624,000 
Rental operations   638,000    649,000    1,895,000    1,747,000 
Real estate development   444,000    266,000    913,000    755,000 
Selling, general and administrative   2,958,000    2,525,000    8,997,000    7,809,000 
Total costs and expenses   19,972,000    16,994,000    63,586,000    46,935,000 
Operating income   9,957,000    7,706,000    7,011,000    4,098,000 
Other income (expense):                    
Interest expense   -    (148,000)   (124,000)   (394,000)
Interest income from derivative instrument   269,000    172,000    711,000    527,000 
Gain on sale of stock in Calavo Growers, Inc.   -    -    3,138,000    - 
Interest income   19,000    26,000    65,000    78,000 
Other income, net   1,000    6,000    389,000    214,000 
Total other income   289,000    56,000    4,179,000    425,000 
                     
Income before income tax provision and equity in earnings (losses) of investments   10,246,000    7,762,000    11,190,000    4,523,000 
Income tax provision   (3,772,000)   (2,696,000)   (3,544,000)   (1,501,000)
Equity in earnings (losses) of investments   133,000    15,000    (1,656,000)   (13,000)
Net income   6,607,000    5,081,000    5,990,000    3,009,000 
Preferred dividends   (66,000)   (66,000)   (197,000)   (197,000)
Net income applicable to common stock  $6,541,000   $5,015,000   $5,793,000   $2,812,000 
                     
Basic net income per common share  $0.49   $0.45   $0.46   $0.25 
                     
Diluted net income per common share  $0.49   $0.45   $0.46   $0.25 
                     
Dividends per common share  $0.04   $0.03   $0.12   $0.09 
                     
Weighted-average common shares outstanding-basic   13,308,000    11,198,000    12,473,000    11,201,000 
Weighted-average common shares outstanding-diluted   13,308,000    11,198,000    12,473,000    11,201,000 

 

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,
 
   2013   2012   2013   2012 
                 
Net income  $6,607,000   $5,081,000   $5,990,000   $3,009,000 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:                    
Minimum pension liability adjustment   155,000    123,000    465,000    369,000 
Unrealized holding (losses) gains on security available-for-sale   (361,000)   (680,000)   (283,000)   1,766,000 
Unrealized gains (losses) from derivative instruments   701,000    (454,000)   672,000    (1,366,000)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax   495,000    (1,011,000)   854,000    769,000 
Comprehensive income  $7,102,000   $4,070,000   $6,844,000   $3,778,000 

 

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, 
   2013   2012 
Operating activities          
Net income  $5,990,000   $3,009,000 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:          
Depreciation and amortization   1,638,000    1,571,000 
Gain on sale of stock in Calavo Growers, Inc.   (3,138,000)   - 
Loss on disposals/sales of assets   -    217,000 
Stock compensation expense   675,000    811,000 
Equity in losses of investments   1,656,000    13,000 
Deferred income taxes   398,000    - 
Amortization of deferred financing costs   26,000    28,000 
Non-cash interest income on derivative instruments   (711,000)   (527,000)
Accrued interest on notes receivable   (59,000)   (59,000)
Donation of common stock   100,000    100,000 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:          
Accounts and notes receivable   (5,910,000)   (5,634,000)
Cultural costs   769,000    (699,000)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets   260,000    (334,000)
Income taxes receivable   712,000    1,324,000 
Other assets   (322,000)   (125,000)
Accounts payable and growers payable   1,098,000    3,384,000 
Accrued liabilities   2,286,000    1,281,000 
Other long-term liabilities   (410,000)   152,000 
Net cash provided by operating activities   5,058,000    4,512,000 
           
Investing activities          
Capital expenditures   (8,045,000)   (6,355,000)
Acquisition of agriculture business   -    (803,000)
Net proceeds from sale of stock in Calavo Growers, Inc.   4,788,000    - 
Net proceeds from sale of HM East Ridge, LLC property   5,713,000    - 
Cash distributions from equity investments   110,000    - 
Equity investment contributions   (125,000)   (98,000)
Collection of note receivable   350,000    - 
Investments in mutual water companies and water rights   (312,000)   (303,000)
Other   -    (10,000)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities   2,479,000    (7,569,000)
           
Financing activities          
Borrowings of long-term debt   41,545,000    27,734,000 
Repayments of long-term debt   (83,218,000)   (23,345,000)
Dividends paid – Common   (1,418,000)   (1,050,000)
Dividends paid – Preferred   (197,000)   (197,000)
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock   35,897,000    - 
Repurchase of common stock   -    (6,000)
Payments of debt financing costs   -    (91,000)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities   (7,391,000)   3,045,000 
           
Net increase (decrease) in cash   146,000    (12,000)
Cash at beginning of period   11,000    21,000 
Cash at end of period  $157,000   $9,000 

 

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

 

7
 

 

Limoneira Company

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) (continued)

 

   Nine months ended July 31, 
   2013   2012 
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information          
Cash paid during the period for interest  $1,705,000   $2,652,000 
Cash paid during the period for income taxes, net of (refunds) received  $(300,000)  $(400,000)
Non-cash investing and financing transactions:          
Unrealized holding loss (gain) on investment in Calavo Growers, Inc.  $470,000   $(2,933,000)
Capital expenditures accrued but not paid at period-end  $375,000   $233,000 
Accrued interest on note receivable  $59,000   $59,000 
Donation of common stock  $100,000   $100,000 

 

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 and nine months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012 and balance sheet as of July 31, 2013 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, 2013 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, 2013 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results expected for the full fiscal year.

 

The consolidated balance sheet at October 31, 2012 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 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 U.S. generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules or regulations. These unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the October 31, 2012 consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2012.

 

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 NASDAQ under the symbol CVGW. Calavo’s customers include many of the largest retail and foodservice 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 (loss) and consolidated statements of cash flows of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. The Company’s subsidiaries include: Limoneira Company International Division, LLC, Limoneira Mercantile, LLC, Windfall Investors, LLC and Templeton Santa Barbara, LLC. 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

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

FASB ASU 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220).

 

In June 2011, the FASB issued guidance regarding the presentation of comprehensive income. The new standard requires the presentation of comprehensive income, the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The new standard also requires presentation of adjustments for items that are reclassified from other comprehensive income to net income in the statement where the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income are presented. The updated guidance is effective on a retrospective basis for financial statements issued for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2011.

 

In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU 2011-12 Comprehensive Income (Topic 220) to defer the effective date for those aspects of ASU 2011-05 relating to the presentation of reclassification adjustments out of accumulated other comprehensive income. These aspects of this guidance will be effective on a prospective basis for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2012. The adoption of this standard will only impact the presentation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements and will have no impact on the reported results of operations.

 

FASB ASU 2012-04, Technical Corrections and Improvements.

 

In October 2012, the FASB issued guidance clarifying the Codification correcting unintended application of guidance, which includes amendments identifying when the use of fair value should be linked to the definition of fair value in Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement. Amendments to the Codification without transition guidance are effective upon issuance, and amendments subject to transition guidance will be effective for fiscal periods beginning after December 15, 2012. The adoption of this guidance will not have a material impact on our financial statements.

 

10
 

 

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, 2013, that are measured on a recurring basis during the period, segregated by level within the fair value hierarchy:

 

 

   Level 1   Level 2   Level 3   Total 
Assets at fair value:                    
Available- for -sale securities  $13,580,000   $   $   $13,580,000 
Liabilities at fair value:                    
Derivative  $   $2,010,000   $   $2,010,000 

 

Available-for-sale securities consist of marketable securities in Calavo common stock. The Company currently owns 500,000 shares, representing approximately 3.4% of Calavo’s outstanding common stock. These securities are measured at fair value by quoted market prices. Calavo’s stock price at July 31, 2013 was $27.16 per share.

 

The derivative consists of an interest rate swap (see Note 11), 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. At July 31, 2013 and October 31, 2012, the allowances totaled $129,000 and $109,000, respectively.

 

5. Concentrations

 

Sales to a customer for lemons represented 8% and 6% of total revenues in the three and nine months ended July 31, 2013, respectively. The Company sells all of its avocado production to Calavo (see Note 13).

 

Lemons procured from third-party growers accounted for 20% of lemon supply in the three months ended July 31, 2013, of which one third-party grower accounted for 6% of lemon supply. Lemons procured from third-party growers accounted for 54% of lemon supply in the nine months ended July 31, 2013, of which two third-party growers accounted for 17% and 12% of lemon supply, respectively.

 

11
 

 

Limoneira Company

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

6. Real Estate Development Assets

 

Real estate development assets consist of the following:

 

   July 31,
2013
   October 31,
2012
 
         
East Areas 1 and 2  $50,910,000   $47,384,000 
Templeton Santa Barbara, LLC   11,210,000    10,532,000 
Windfall Investors, LLC   20,451,000    19,856,000 
   $82,571,000   $77,772,000 

 

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, 2013 and 2012, the Company capitalized $1,712,000 and $832,000, respectively, of costs related to these projects. During the nine months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company capitalized $3,526,000 and $2,147,000, respectively, of costs related to these projects. Additionally, in relation to these projects, the Company has incurred net expenses of $3,000 and $16,000 in the three months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $7,000 and $55,000 in the nine months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, 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 cash or common stock at the discretion of the Company, 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”). In February 2013, East Area 1 was annexed into the City of Santa Paula. Annexation was required in order to re-zone the land for residential, commercial and light industrial development. As of July 31, 2013, 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. As of July 31, 2013, $150,000 has been accrued for the cost of the study.

 

On May 8, 2013, the Company amended the mitigation agreement it has with the Santa Paula Union High School District, which is associated with the East Area 1 development agreement. In exchange for the release of approximately 7 acres of property previously reserved for school facilities within East Area 1, subject to certain conditions, the amendment requires the Company to pay a total of $1,750,000 comprised of $1,000,000 that was paid in June of 2013 and an increase in school facility fees of $1,500 per unit for each of the first 500 certificates of occupancy issued in connection with the residential development of East Area 1. Such costs have and will be capitalized as real estate development costs.

 

In May 2013, the Ventura Local Area Formation Commission unanimously approved the annexation of the East Area 2 real estate development project into the City of Santa Paula. The annexation was recorded during August 2013.

 

12
 

 

Limoneira Company

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

6. Real Estate Development Assets (continued)

 

Templeton Santa Barbara, LLC

 

The four real estate development parcels within the Templeton Santa Barbara, LLC project are located in Santa Maria, California and are described as Centennial Square (“Centennial”), The Terraces at Pacific Crest (“Pacific Crest”), Sevilla and East Ridge. The net carrying values of Centennial, Pacific Crest and Sevilla at July 31, 2013 were $3,141,000, $3,382,000 and $4,687,000, respectively, and at October 31, 2012 were $2,889,000, $3,165,000 and $4,478,000, respectively.

 

During the three months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company capitalized $172,000 and $298,000, respectively, of costs related to these real estate parcels. During the nine months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company capitalized $678,000 and $804,000, respectively, of costs related to these real estate parcels. Additionally, in relation to these parcels, the Company incurred net expenses of $3,000 and net incidental income of $3,000 in the three months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and net expenses of $29,000 and $13,000 in the nine months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

 

In February 2010, the Company and HM Manager, LLC formed a limited liability company, HM East Ridge, LLC (“East Ridge”), for the purpose of developing the East Ridge parcel. The Company’s initial capital contribution into East Ridge was the land parcel with a net carrying value of $7,207,000. The Company made cash contributions of zero to East Ridge during the three months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $91,000 and $88,000 during the nine months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Since the Company has significant influence over, but less than a controlling interest in, East Ridge, the Company is accounting for its investment in East Ridge using the equity method of accounting and the investment is included in equity in investments in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets at October 31, 2012.

 

On April 8, 2013, the Company and HM East Ridge, LLC entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement to sell its East Ridge parcel of property for $6,000,000. The transaction closed in June 2013 and generated net proceeds of $5,713,000. The Company recognized a loss of $1,754,000, which is included in equity in earnings (losses) of investments in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations.

 

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, 2013 and 2012, the Company capitalized $184,000 and $247,000, respectively, of costs related to this real estate development project. During the nine months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, the Company capitalized $595,000 and $649,000, respectively, of costs related to this real estate development project. Additionally, in relation to this project, the Company has incurred net expenses of $199,000 and $175,000, in the three months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $549,000 and $524,000 in the nine months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

 

13
 

  

Limoneira Company

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

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.

 

On April 11, 2013, the Company sold 165,000 shares of Calavo stock at a price of $29.02 per share (the closing price on April 10, 2013). Calavo repurchased the shares pursuant to the 2005 stock purchase agreement between the companies. Following the sale, the Company continues to own 500,000 shares of Calavo common stock. The net proceeds to the Company from the sale were $4,788,000 and the Company recognized a gain of $3,138,000.

 

Additionally, 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 (losses) of ($600,000) (($361,000) net of tax) and ($1,130,000) (($680,000) net of tax), during the three months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Company recorded unrealized holding (losses) gains of ($470,000) (($283,000) net of tax) and $2,933,000 ($1,766,000 net of tax), during the nine months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

 

8. Notes Receivable

 

In connection with the Company’s stock grant program, the Company has recorded total notes receivable and accrued interest from certain employees of $22,000 and $58,000 at July 31, 2013 and October 31, 2012, respectively.

 

In February 2013, the Company received $350,000 from the lessee of a retail facility owned by the Company for payment in full of a note receivable issued in connection with tenant improvements made to the property.

 

9. Other Assets

 

Other assets consist of the following:

 

   July 31,
2013
   October 31,
2012
 
         
Investments in mutual water companies  $2,103,000   $1,791,000 
Acquired water and mineral rights   1,536,000    1,536,000 
Deferred lease assets and other   1,647,000    1,437,000 
Revolving funds and memberships   387,000    359,000 
   $5,673,000   $5,123,000 

 

14
 

 

Limoneira Company

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

10. Long-Term Debt

 

Long-term debt is comprised of the following:

 

   July 31,
2013
   October 31,
2012
 
Rabobank revolving credit facility secured by property with a net book value of $12,260,000  At July 31, 2013 and October 31, 2012. The interest rate is variable based on the one-month London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), which was 0.20% at July 31, 2013 plus 1.80%. Interest is payable monthly and the principal is due in full in June 2018.  $40,000,000   $61,261,000 
           
Farm Credit West term loan secured by property with a net book value of $11,618,000 at July 31, 2013 and $11,626,000 at October 31, 2012. The interest rate is variable and was 2.75% at July 31, 2013. The loan is payable in quarterly installments through November 2022.   5,385,000    5,743,000 
           
Farm Credit West term loan secured by property with a net book value of $11,626,000 at October 31, 2012. The interest rate was variable and was 3.25% at October 31, 2012. The loan was paid in full in February 2013.   -    861,000 
           
Farm Credit West non-revolving line of credit secured by property with a net book value of $3,884,000 at July 31, 2013 and $3,864,000 at October 31, 2012. The interest rate is variable and was 2.75% at July 31, 2013. Interest is payable monthly and the principal is due in full in May 2018.   492,000    13,000,000 
           
Farm Credit West term loan secured by property with a net book value of $20,451,000 at July 31, 2013 and $19,856,000 at October 31, 2012. The interest rate is fixed at 3.65% until November 2014, becoming variable for the remainder of the loan. The loan is payable in monthly installments through October 2035.   2,085,000    8,770,000 
           
Subtotal   47,962,000    89,635,000 
Less current portion   558,000    760,000 
Total long-term debt, less current portion  $47,404,000   $88,875,000 

 

In November 2011, the Company entered into a Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Line of Credit Agreement dated as of December 15, 2008, between the Company and Rabobank in order to (i) increase the revolving line of credit from $80,000,000 to the lesser of $100,000,000 or 60% of the appraised value of any real estate pledged as collateral, which was $87,000,000 at July 31, 2013, (ii) amend the interest rate such that the line of credit bears interest equal to LIBOR plus 1.80% effective July 1, 2013 and (iii) extend the maturity date from June 30, 2013 to June 30, 2018. The Company is subject to an annual financial covenant and certain other restrictions measured at its fiscal year end.

 

Interest is capitalized on non-bearing orchards, real estate development projects and significant construction in progress. The Company capitalized interest of $626,000 and $746,000 during the three months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $1,920,000 and $2,118,000 during the nine months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Capitalized interest is included in property, plant and equipment and real estate development assets in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

 

15
 

 

Limoneira Company

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

11. Derivative Instruments 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,
2013
   October 31,
2012
   July 31,
2013
   October 31,
2012
 
Pay fixed-rate, receive floating-rate interest rate swap, matured June 2013  $-   $42,000,000   $-   $1,072,000 
Pay fixed-rate, receive floating-rate forward interest rate swap, beginning July 2013 until June 2018  $40,000,000   $40,000,000   $2,010,000   $2,768,000 

 

In April 2010, the Company cancelled two interest rate swaps with notional amounts of $10,000,000 each and amended the remaining interest rate swap from a notional amount of $22,000,000 to a notional amount of $42,000,000. This remaining interest rate swap was also amended to a pay-fixed rate of 3.63%, which was 62 basis points lower than the original pay-fixed rate. The floating-rate and maturity date of the amended interest rate swap remain unchanged. The Company did not incur any out-of-pocket fees related to the cancellation or amendment of these interest rate swaps.

 

These interest rate swaps previously qualified as cash flow hedges and were accounted for as hedges under the short-cut method. On the amendment date of the swap agreements, the fair value liability and the related accumulated other comprehensive loss balance was $2,015,000. The accumulated other comprehensive loss balance was amortized and included in interest income from derivative instruments over the period of the original swap agreements. Amortization for the three month periods ended July 31, 2013 and 2012 was $90,000 and $135,000, respectively. Amortization for the nine month periods ended July 31, 2013 and 2012 was $361,000 and $405,000, respectively. The accumulated other comprehensive loss balance was fully amortized at July 31, 2013.

 

As a result of the re-negotiated terms of the derivatives above, the remaining interest rate swap with a notional amount of $42,000,000 no longer qualified for hedge accounting as of April 30, 2010. Therefore, mark to market adjustments to the underlying fair value liability were recorded in interest income from derivative instruments and the liability balance was recorded in other long-term liabilities and fair value of derivative instrument in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The mark to market adjustments recognized by the Company during the three month periods ended July 31, 2013 and 2012 resulted in non-cash interest income of $359,000 and $307,000, respectively. The mark to market adjustments recognized by the Company during the nine month periods ended July 31, 2013 and 2012 resulted in non-cash interest income of $1,072,000 and $932,000, respectively. This swap matured in June 2013.

 

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 other long-term liabilities and related accumulated other comprehensive loss at July 31, 2013 and October 31, 2012.

 

12. 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 stock-based compensation. Diluted net income per common share is calculated using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding plus the dilutive effect of stock-based compensation calculated using the treasury stock method. There was no dilution due to stock-based compensation for the three and nine month periods ended July 31, 2013 and 2012. The Series B convertible preferred shares are anti-dilutive.

 

16
 

 

Limoneira Company

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

13. Related-Party Transactions

 

The Company rents certain of its residential housing assets to employees on a month-to-month basis. The Company recorded $127,000 and $121,000 of rental income from employees in the three months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Company recorded $392,000 and $387,000 of rental income from employees in the nine months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. There were no rental payments due from employees at July 31, 2013 and October 31, 2012.

 

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 $213,000 and $137,000 in the three months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Company recorded capital contributions and purchased water and water delivery services from such mutual water companies, in aggregate, of $903,000 and $794,000 in the nine months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, 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, $64,000 and $20,000 at July 31, 2013 and October 31, 2012, respectively.

 

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 $438,000 and $416,000 from the association in the three months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Company purchased services and supplies of $801,000 and $902,000 from the association in the nine months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Such amounts are included in agribusiness expense in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. Payments due to the association were $143,000 and $72,000 at July 31, 2013 and October 31, 2012, respectively.

 

The Company recorded dividend income of $432,000 and $366,000 in the nine months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, 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 $7,748,000 and $5,530,000 of avocado sales to Calavo for the three months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Company had $10,455,000 and $6,255,000 of avocado sales to Calavo for the nine months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Such amounts are included in agribusiness revenues in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations. The amounts receivable from Calavo were $3,081,000 and zero at July 31, 2013 and October 31, 2012, respectively. Additionally, the Company leases office space to Calavo and received rental income of $69,000 and $67,000 in the three months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The Company received rental income from Calavo of $205,000 and $198,000 in the nine months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, 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 arrangements. During the three months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, the aggregate amount of lemons procured from entities owned or controlled by members of the Board of Directors was $798,000 and $618,000, respectively. During the nine months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, the aggregate amount was $1,023,000 and $1,091,000, respectively. Such amounts are included in agribusiness expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Payments due to these Board members were $445,000 and $705,000 at July 31, 2013 and October 31, 2012, 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. As of July 31, 2013, no acres have been planted on the leased property; therefore no lease expense has been incurred. 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.

 

14. Income Taxes

 

The Company’s effective tax rate for the nine months ended July 31, 2013 is approximately 37.2%, inclusive of certain discrete items and an adjustment to reconcile the fiscal year 2012 tax provision to the 2012 tax return.

 

There has been no material change to the Company’s uncertain tax position for the three and nine month periods ended July 31, 2013. The Company does not expect its unrecognized tax benefits to change significantly over the next 12 months.

 

17
 

 

Limoneira Company

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

14. Income Taxes (continued)

 

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, 2013.

 

15. 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 $975,000 and $159,000 during the three months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and $1,127,000 and $425,000 during the nine months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. 

  

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

 

   2013   2012 
         
Service cost  $41,000   $37,000 
Interest cost   180,000    201,000 
Expected return on plan assets   (240,000)   (248,000)
Recognized actuarial loss   258,000    205,000 
Net periodic pension cost  $239,000   $195,000 

 

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

 

   2013   2012 
         
Service cost  $123,000   $110,000 
Interest cost   540,000    603,000 
Expected return on plan assets   (720,000)   (743,000)
Recognized actuarial loss   774,000    614,000 
Net periodic pension cost  $717,000   $584,000 

 

16. Other Long-term Liabilities

 

Other long-term liabilities consist of the following:

 

   July 31,
2013
   October 31,
2012
 
         
Minimum pension liability  $4,949,000   $6,130,000 
Fair value of derivative instrument   2,010,000    2,768,000 
Other   55,000    55,000 
   $7,014,000   $8,953,000 

 

18
 

 

Limoneira Company

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

17. Stockholders’ Equity

 

As of July 31, 2013, 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 obligation. The repurchase obligation of $6,000 is included in other long-term liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets at July 31, 2013 and October 31, 2012, respectively.

 

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 three year period. During December 2012, 34,721 shares of common stock were issued to management under the Stock Plan for fiscal year 2012 performance. This resulted 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. No shares were granted for fiscal year 2011 performance. Shares may be granted for fiscal year 2013, when it is determined whether or not the performance criteria have been achieved. Stock-based compensation expense is included in selling, general and administrative expense and is recognized over the performance and vesting periods as summarized below:

 

       Three Months Ended
July 31,
   Nine Months Ended
July 31,
 
Performance
Year
  Shares
Granted
   2013   2012   2013   2012 
2010   62,287   $-   $135,000   $91,000   $406,000 
2012   34,721    50,000    225,000    159,000    225,000 
2013   -    75,000    -    225,000    - 
        $125,000   $360,000   $475,000   $631,000 

 

During January 2013, members of management exchanged 9,642 and 214 shares of common stock with fair market values of $21.40 and $18.92 per share (at the date of the exchanges), respectively, for the payment of payroll taxes associated with the vesting of shares under the Company’s stock-based compensation programs.

 

During January 2013, 9,040 shares of common stock were granted to the Company’s non-employee directors under the Company’s stock-based compensation plans. The Company incurred no stock-based compensation to non-employee directors during the three months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012. The Company recognized $200,000 and $180,000 of stock-based compensation to non-employee directors during the nine months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

 

During February 2013, members of management exchanged 1,154 shares of common stock with a fair market value of $21.75 per share (at the date of the exchange) for the repayment of notes issued in relation to payroll taxes associated with the vesting of shares under the Company’s stock-based compensation programs.

 

During February 2013, the Company sold 2,070,000 shares of common stock at a price of $18.50 per share in a public offering. See Note 19.

 

On May 21, 2013, 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 28, 2013, the Company issued 4,859 unregistered shares of the Company’s common stock with a per share value of $20.58 at the date of the 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.

 

19
 

 

Limoneira Company

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

18. 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. 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, 2013:

 

   Agribusiness   Rental
Operations
   Real Estate
Development
   Corporate 
and Other
   Total 
                     
Revenues  $28,626,000   $1,064,000   $239,000   $   $29,929,000 
Costs and expenses   15,541,000    541,000    429,000    2,910,000    19,421,000 
Depreciation and amortization   391,000    97,000    15,000    48,000    551,000 
Operating income (loss)  $12,694,000   $426,000   $(205,000)  $(2,958,000)  $9,957,000 

 

Segment information for the three months ended July 31, 2012:

 

   Agribusiness   Rental
Operations
   Real Estate
Development
   Corporate 
and Other
   Total 
                     
Revenues  $23,664,000   $962,000   $74,000   $   $24,700,000 
Costs and expenses   13,208,000    556,000    253,000    2,472,000    16,489,000 
Depreciation and amortization   346,000    93,000    13,000    53,000    505,000 
Operating income (loss)  $10,110,000   $313,000   $(192,000)  $(2,525,000)  $7,706,000 

 

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

 

   July 31,
2013
   July 31,
2012
 
         
Lemons  $19,112,000   $15,460,000 
Avocados   7,748,000    5,530,000 
Navel and Valencia oranges   1,470,000    2,057,000 
Specialty citrus and other crops   296,000    617,000 
Agribusiness revenues   28,626,000    23,664,000 
           
Rental operations   603,000    564,000 
Leased land   427,000    354,000 
Organic recycling and other   34,000    44,000 
Rental operations revenues   1,064,000    962,000 
           
Real estate development revenues   239,000    74,000 
Total revenues  $29,929,000   $24,700,000 

 

20
 

 

Limoneira Company

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

18. Segment Information (continued)

 

Segment information for the nine months ended July 31, 2013:

 

   Agribusiness   Rental
Operations
   Real Estate
Development
   Corporate 
and Other
   Total 
                     
Revenues  $67,114,000   $3,155,000   $328,000   $   $70,597,000 
Costs and expenses   50,611,000    1,618,000    867,000    8,852,000    61,948,000 
Depreciation and amortization   1,170,000    277,000    46,000    145,000    1,638,000 
Operating income (loss)  $15,333,000   $1,260,000   $(585,000)  $(8,997,000)  $7,011,000 

 

Segment information for the nine months ended July 31, 2012:

 

   Agribusiness   Rental
Operations
   Real Estate
Development
   Corporate
and Other
   Total 
                     
Revenues  $47,912,000   $2,959,000   $162,000   $   $51,033,000 
Costs and expenses   35,530,000    1,469,000    716,000    7,649,000    45,364,000 
Depreciation and amortization   1,094,000    278,000    39,000    160,000    1,571,000 
Operating income (loss)  $11,288,000   $1,212,000   $(593,000)  $(7,809,000)  $4,098,000 

 

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

 

   July 31,
2013
   July 31,
2012
 
         
Lemons  $48,593,000   $35,625,000 
Avocados   10,455,000    6,255,000 
Navel and Valencia oranges   5,168,000    3,345,000 
Specialty citrus and other crops   2,898,000    2,687,000 
Agribusiness revenues   67,114,000    47,912,000 
           
Rental operations   1,788,000    1,702,000 
Leased land   1,286,000    1,112,000 
Organic recycling and other   81,000    145,000 
Rental operations revenues   3,155,000    2,959,000 
           
Real estate development revenues   328,000    162,000 
Total revenues  $70,597,000   $51,033,000 

 

21
 

 

Limoneira Company

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited) (continued)

 

19. Public Offering of Common Stock

 

On August 24, 2011, the Company’s shelf registration statement became effective for an aggregate amount of up to $100 million of common stock. During February 2013, the Company completed the sale of 2,070,000 shares of common stock, at a price of $18.50 per share, to institutional and other investors in a registered offering under the shelf registration statement. The offering represented 16% of the Company’s outstanding common stock on an after-issued basis. Upon completion of the offering and issuance of common stock, the Company had 13,307,085 shares of common stock outstanding. The gross proceeds of the offering totaled $38,295,000 and after an underwriting discount of $2,106,000 and other offering expenses of $292,000, the net proceeds were $35,897,000. The planned uses of proceeds from the offering are general corporate purposes, which may include repayment of debt, real estate development, including activities related to East Area 1 and future acquisitions of agriculture properties. During February 2013, the Company used the net offering proceeds to repay long-term debt.

 

20. Business Combination

 

On September 6, 2013 (the “Acquisition Date”) the Company completed the acquisition of all of the outstanding stock of Associated Citrus Packers, Inc. (“ACP”), a privately owned Arizona corporation, for approximately $18.6 million (the “Acquisition”). The purchase price consists of the issuance of 705,000 unregistered shares of the Company’s common stock with an aggregate value of $16.0 million, based on the Company’s stock price on the Acquisition Date, $1.0 million in cash and the repayment of $1.6 million in ACP’s long term debt. The Acquisition was structured as a tax-free reorganization under section 368 of the Internal Revenue Code. The Acquisition provides for a potential purchase price adjustment based on the net assets acquired and for a holdback from payment of 5% ($850,000) of the stock and cash purchase price for a period of one year to allow for potential indemnification claims as defined in the merger agreement. Upon completion of the Acquisition, ACP became a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. ACP owns approximately 1,300 acres of property in Yuma, Arizona, comprised of 950 acres of productive lemon orchards, 350 acres of other crops and agriculture equipment and facilities. The transaction will be accounted for under the acquisition method. The Company has not completed its fair value analysis to allocate the purchase price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the acquisition, however, a significant amount of the fair value is expected to be recorded to land and productive lemon orchards. Transactions costs incurred in connection with the acquisition as of July 31, 2013 are approximately $60,000, which are included in selling, general and administrative expense. The results of operations of ACP will be included in the consolidated results of operations of the Company from the Acquisition Date.

 

21. Subsequent Events

 

The Company has evaluated events subsequent to July 31, 2013 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.

 

22
 

 

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 are an agribusiness and real estate development company founded and based in Santa Paula, California, committed to responsibly using and managing our approximately 8,271 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, the largest grower 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, which plantings consist of approximately 2,060 acres of lemons, 1,169 acres of avocados, 1,654 acres of oranges and 773 acres of specialty citrus and other crops. We also operate our own packinghouse in Santa Paula, California, where we process and pack lemons that we grow, as well as lemons grown by others.

 

Our water resources include water rights, usage 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 and Paso Robles Basins (aquifers). We also use ground water and water from local water districts in Tulare County, which is in the San Joaquin Valley.

 

For more than 100 years, we have been making strategic investments in California agribusiness and real estate development. We currently have six active real estate development projects in California. Our real estate developments range from apartments to single-family homes and include approximately 200 completed units and another approximately 2,000 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 currently generates the majority of our revenue from its farming and lemon packing operations; our rental operations segment generates revenue from our housing, organic recycling and commercial and leased land operations; and our real estate development segment generates revenue from the sale of real estate development projects. Generally, we see the 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 development projects are monetized, our agribusiness will then be able to expand more rapidly into new regions and markets.

 

Agribusiness

 

We are one of the largest growers of lemons and the largest grower of avocados in the United States and, as a result, our agribusiness segment is the largest of our three segments, representing approximately 93%, 88% and 87% of our fiscal year 2012, 2011 and 2010 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, 2013, lemon sales were comprised of approximately 74% to U.S. and Canada-based customers, 25% to domestic exporters and 1% to international customers. During the nine months ended July 31, 2013, lemon sales were comprised of approximately 72% to U.S. and Canada-based customers, 27% to domestic exporters and 1% 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.

 

Historically, our agricultural operations have been seasonal in nature with quarterly revenue fluctuating depending on the timing and variety of the crops being harvested. Cultural costs in our agribusiness segment 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.

 

23
 

 

Fluctuations in price are a function of global supply and demand with weather conditions, such as unusually low or high 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 operating 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 the 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 carton, we only pack lemons from other growers if we determine their lemons are of high 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, 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 and Valencia 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 6% of our fiscal year 2012 consolidated revenues and approximately 7% of our fiscal year 2011 and 2010 consolidated revenues. 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 year 2012, 5% of our consolidated revenues in fiscal year 2011 and 6% of our consolidated revenues in fiscal year 2010. We recognize that long-term strategies are required for successful real estate development activities. We plan to redeploy real estate earnings and cash flow into the expansion of our agribusiness and other income producing real estate.

 

Recent Developments

 

In February, 2013, our East Area 1 real estate development project was annexed into the City of Santa Paula. The annexation enables us to proceed with our master planned community project consisting of up to 1,500 residential units, 210,000 square feet of commercial space and 350,000 square feet of light industrial space. Annexation into the City of Santa Paula was required in order to re-zone the land for residential, commercial and light industrial development. We have begun tract mapping of the area for development and will be applying for infrastructure building permits and expect to break ground on the project in late 2014. We are projecting to begin home sales in 2015. In May 2013, the Ventura Local Area Formation Commission unanimously approved the annexation of our East Area 2 real estate development project into the City of Santa Paula. The annexation was recorded during August 2013.

 

On August 24, 2011, our shelf registration statement became effective for an aggregate amount of up to $100 million of common stock. During February 2013, we completed the sale of 2,070,000 shares of common stock, at a price of $18.50 per share, to institutional and other investors in a registered offering under the shelf registration statement. The offering represented 16% of our outstanding common stock on an after-issued basis. Upon completion of the offering and issuance of common stock, we had 13,307,085 shares of common stock outstanding. The gross proceeds of the offering totaled $38,295,000 and after an underwriting discount of $2,106,000 and other offering expenses of $292,000, the net proceeds were $35,897,000. The planned use of proceeds from the offering are general corporate purposes, which may include repayment of debt, real estate development, including activities related to East Area 1 and future acquisitions of agriculture properties. During February 2013, we used the net offering proceeds to repay long-term debt.

 

24
 

 

On June 25, 2013, we declared a $0.0375 per share dividend paid on July 16, 2013 in the aggregate amount of $499,000 to common shareholders of record on July 8, 2013.

 

In April 2013, we purchased land for use as a citrus orchard for a purchase price of $375,000 cash. The acquisition was for approximately 25 acres of agricultural property located adjacent to the Sheldon Ranch. This acquisition was accounted for as an asset purchase with substantially the entire purchase price allocated to land.

 

On April 8, 2013, the Company and HM East Ridge, LLC entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement to sell its East Ridge parcel of property for $6,000,000. The property is located in the city of Santa Maria, County of Santa Barbara, California and includes approximately 40 acres of land. The transaction closed in June 2013 and generated net proceeds of $5,713,000. The Company recognized a loss on its investment in HM East Ridge, LLC of $1,754,000, which is included in equity in earnings (losses) of investments in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. During July 2013, we used the net sale proceeds to repay long-term debt.

 

On April 11, 2013, we sold 165,000 shares of Calavo Growers, Inc. (“Calavo ”) common stock at a price of $29.02 per share (the closing price on April 10, 2013). Calavo repurchased the shares pursuant to a stock purchase agreement between the companies in 2005. Following the sale of shares of Calavo, we continue to own 500,000 shares of Calavo common stock. The net proceeds to our Company from the sale were $4,788,000, resulting in a gain of $3,138,000. We used the proceeds to repay our long-term debt.

 

In June 2013, we announced that we plan to build 71 agriculture workforce housing units in Santa Paula, California, that will be available for rent to local agriculture workers and Limoneira employees. We estimate that the total cost of the development will be approximately $8.5 million and will be completed and available for rent during 2014. When fully occupied, annual rental revenue from the additional housing units is anticipated to be approximately $850,000 to $900,000.

 

On July 1, 2013, we entered into a lease agreement (the “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 Agreement, Limoneira has secured the right to plant up to 1,280 acres of lemons over the next five years at the Cadiz Ranch operations in the Cadiz Valley. The Agreement provides that Limoneira will initially plant 320 acres of lemons at the Cadiz Ranch and will also hold options to plant up to 960 additional acres 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 Cadiz property. The annual rental payment will not exceed a total of $1,200 per acre.

 

On September 6, 2013 (the “Acquisition Date”) we completed the acquisition of all of the outstanding stock of Associated Citrus Packers, Inc. (“ACP”), a privately owned Arizona corporation, for approximately $18.6 million (the “Acquisition”). The purchase price consists of the issuance of 705,000 unregistered shares of our common stock with an aggregate value of $16.0 million, based on our stock price on the Acquisition Date, $1.0 million in cash and the repayment of $1.6 million in ACP’s long term debt. The Acquisition was structured as a tax-free reorganization under section 368 of the Internal Revenue Code. The Acquisition provides for a potential purchase price adjustment based on the net assets acquired and for a holdback from payment of 5% ($850,000) of the stock and cash purchase price for a period of one year to allow for potential indemnification claims as defined in the merger agreement. Upon completion of the Acquisition, ACP became a wholly owned subsidiary of our Company. ACP owns approximately 1,300 acres of property in Yuma, Arizona, comprised of 950 acres of productive lemon orchards, 350 acres of other crops and agriculture equipment and facilities. The transaction will be accounted for under the acquisition method. We have not completed our fair value analysis to allocate the purchase price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in the acquisition, however, a significant amount of the fair value is expected to be recorded to land and productive lemon orchards. Transactions costs incurred in connection with the acquisition as of July 31, 2013 are approximately $60,000, which are included in selling, general and administrative expense. The results of operations of ACP will be included in our consolidated results of operations from the Acquisition Date.

 

25
 

 

Results of Operations

 

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

 

   Quarters Ended July 31,   Nine Months Ended July 31, 
   2013   2012   2013   2012 
Revenues:                    
Agribusiness  $28,626,000   $23,664,000   $67,114,000   $47,912,000 
Rental operations   1,064,000    962,000    3,155,000    2,959,000 
Real estate development   239,000    74,000    328,000    162,000 
Total revenues   29,929,000    24,700,000    70,597,000    51,033,000 
Costs and expenses:                    
Agribusiness   15,932,000    13,554,000    51,781,000    36,624,000 
Rental operations   638,000    649,000    1,895,000    1,747,000 
Real estate development   444,000    266,000    913,000    755,000 
Selling, general and administrative   2,958,000    2,525,000    8,997,000    7,809,000 
Total costs and expenses   19,972,000    16,994,000    63,586,000    46,935,000 
Operating income:                    
Agribusiness   12,694,000    10,110,000    15,333,000    11,288,000 
Rental operations   426,000    313,000    1,260,000    1,212,000 
Real estate development   (205,000)   (192,000)   (585,000)   (593,000)
Selling, general and administrative   (2,958,000)   (2,525,000)   (8,997,000)   (7,809,000)
Operating income   9,957,000    7,706,000    7,011,000    4,098,000 
Other income (expense):                    
Interest expense   -    (148,000)   (124,000)   (394,000)
Interest income from derivative instrument   269,000    172,000    711,000    527,000 
Gain on sale of stock in Calavo Growers, Inc.   -    -    3,138,000    - 
Interest income and other   (20,000)   32,000    454,000    292,000 
Total other income   289,000    56,000    4,179,000    425,000 
Income tax provision   (3,772,000)   (2,696,000)   3,544,000    (1,501,000)
Equity in earnings (losses) of investments   133,000    15,000    (1,656,000)   (13,000)
Net income  $6,607,000   $5,081,000   $5,990,000   $3,009,000 

 

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 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 (loss) 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, 
   2013   2012   2013   2012 
                 
Net income  $6,607,000   $5,081,000   $5,990,000   $3,009,000 
Total interest income, net   (288,000)   (50,000)   (652,000)   (211,000)
Income taxes   3,772,000    2,696,000    3,544,000    1,501,000 
Depreciation and amortization   551,000    505,000    1,638,000    1,571,000 
EBITDA  $10,642,000   $8,232,000   $10,520,000   $5,870,000 

 

26
 

 

Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2013 Compared to Third Quarter Fiscal Year 2012

 

Revenues

 

Total revenue for the third quarter of fiscal year 2013 was $29.9 million compared to $24.7 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2012. The 21% increase of $5.2 million was primarily the result of increased agribusiness revenue, as detailed below:

 

   Agribusiness Revenues for the Quarters Ended July 31, 
   2013   2012   Change 
             
Lemons  $19,112,000   $15,460,000   $3,652,000    24%
Avocados   7,748,000    5,530,000    2,218,000    40%
Navel and Valencia oranges   1,470,000    2,057,000    (587,000)   (29)%
Specialty citrus and other crops   296,000    617,000    (321,000)   (52)%
Agribusiness revenues  $28,626,000   $23,664,000   $4,962,000    21%

 

·Lemons: The increase in the third quarter of fiscal year 2013 was primarily the result of increased volume of fresh lemons sold at higher prices. During the third quarters of fiscal years 2013 and 2012, fresh lemon sales were $16.9 million and $13.3 million, respectively, on 934,000 and 794,000 cartons of lemons sold at average per carton prices of $18.09 and $16.75, respectively. The higher average per carton prices in fiscal year 2013 compared to fiscal year 2012 were primarily due to more favorable overall market conditions. Additionally, lemon by-product and other lemon sales were $2.2 million in the third quarters of fiscal years 2013 and 2012.

 

·Avocados: The increase in the third quarter of fiscal year 2013 was the result of increased volume, partially offset by lower prices. The California avocado crop typically experiences alternating years of high and low production due to plant physiology. During the third quarter of fiscal year 2013, 10.4 million pounds of avocados were sold at an average per pound price of $0.75 compared to 6.8 million pounds sold at an average per pound price of $0.81 during the same period in fiscal year 2012.

 

·Navel and Valencia oranges: The decrease in the third quarter of fiscal year 2013 was the result of decreased volume sold at lower prices. During the third quarter of fiscal year 2013, 162,000 field boxes of oranges were sold at an average per field box price of $9.07 compared to 182,000 field boxes sold at an average per field box price of $11.30 during the same period in fiscal year 2012. Lower prices in the third quarter of fiscal year 2013 were primarily due to smaller fruit sizes from lack of annual rainfall in fiscal year 2013 compared to fiscal year 2012.

 

·Specialty citrus and other crops: The decrease in the third quarter of fiscal year 2013 was primarily the result of decreased volume of specialty citrus and other crops sold at lower prices. During the third quarter of fiscal year 2013, 22,000 field boxes of specialty citrus and other crops were sold at an average per field box price of $13.45 compared to 32,000 field boxes sold at an average per field box price of $19.28 during the same period in fiscal year 2012.

 

Costs and Expenses

 

Our total costs and expenses in the third quarter of fiscal year 2013 were $20.0 million compared to $17.0 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2012, an 18% increase of $3.0 million. This increase was primarily attributable to increases in our agribusiness costs and selling, general and administrative expenses. Costs associated with our agribusiness include packing costs, harvest costs, growing costs, costs related to the lemons we procure from third-party growers and depreciation expense. These costs are discussed further below:

 

   Agribusiness Costs and Expenses for the Quarters Ended July 31, 
   2013   2012   Change 
             
Packing costs  $5,104,000   $3,959,000   $1,145,000    29%
Harvest costs   3,120,000    2,931,000    189,000    6%
Growing costs   4,278,000    3,677,000    601,000    16%
Third-party grower costs   3,039,000    2,641,000    398,000    15%
Depreciation and amortization   391,000    346,000    45,000    13%
Agribusiness costs and expenses  $15,932,000   $13,554,000   $2,378,000    18%

 

27
 

 

·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 2013 was primarily attributable to a higher volume of fresh lemons packed and sold compared to the same period in fiscal year 2012. During the third quarter of fiscal year 2013, we packed and sold 934,000 cartons at average per carton costs of $5.46 compared to 794,000 cartons packed and sold at average per carton costs of $4.99 during the same period in fiscal year 2012. The $0.47 increase in average per carton costs during the second quarter of fiscal year 2013 was mainly due to $0.27 per carton increase in costs for purchased, packed fruit to sell, $0.16 per carton increase in labor and benefits, $0.06 per carton increase in cardboard cartons and $0.02 per carton net decrease in supplies and other packing costs compared to the same period in fiscal year 2012.

 

·Harvest costs: The increase in the third quarter of fiscal year 2013 was primarily attributable to higher avocado harvest volumes compared to the same period in fiscal year 2012.

 

·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 the third quarter of fiscal year 2013 was primarily attributable to $0.6 million growing costs from the Sheldon Ranch, comprised of $0.4 million of costs associated with the current harvest period and $0.2 million of net lease expense. In comparison, the Sheldon Ranch incurred $0.2 million of growing costs during the third quarter of fiscal year 2012, comprised of $0.1 million of costs associated with the current harvest period and $0.1 million of net lease expense. Additionally, during the third quarter of fiscal year 2013, cultivation and irrigation increased, in aggregate, $0.2 million on our remaining ranches due to weather and the timing of harvest cycles compared to the third quarter of fiscal year 2012.

 

·Third-party grower costs: We sell lemons that we grow and lemons that we procure from other growers. The cost of procuring lemons from other growers is referred to as third-party grower costs. The increase in the third quarter of fiscal year 2013 was primarily attributable to higher cost of third-party grower lemons compared to the third quarter of fiscal year 2012. Of the 934,000 and 794,000 cartons sold during the third quarter of fiscal years 2013 and 2012, respectively, 231,000 (25%) and 218,000 (27%) were procured from third-party growers at average per carton costs of $13.16 and $12.11, respectively.

 

Selling, general and administrative costs in the third quarter of fiscal year 2013 were $2.9 million compared to $2.5 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2012. This 17% increase of $0.4 million was primarily due to the following:

 

·$0.2 million increase in salaries, benefits and incentive compensation due to employee compensation increases and incentive compensation in the third quarter of fiscal year 2013 compared to the same period in fiscal year 2012.

 

·$0.2 million increase in other selling, general and administrative expenses, including certain consulting expenses associated with our strategic growth initiatives, in the third quarter of fiscal year 2013 compared to the same period in fiscal year 2012.

 

Other Income (Expense)

 

Other income (expense) for the third quarter of fiscal year 2013 was $0.3 million of income compared to $0.1 million of income for the third quarter of fiscal year 2012. The $0.2 million increase in income was primarily attributable to the following:

 

·$0.1 million decrease in interest expense as a result of lower average debt levels in the third quarter of fiscal year 2013 compared to the same period in fiscal year 2012 due to repayments of long-term debt made with the proceeds from our February 2013 public offering of common stock. As a result, all interest incurred during the third quarter of fiscal year 2013 was capitalized on non-bearing orchards, real estate development projects and significant construction in progress.

 

·$0.1 million increase in income from fair value adjustments on one of our interest rate swaps in the third quarter of fiscal year 2013 compared to the same period in fiscal year 2012.

 

28
 

 

Income Taxes

 

We recorded an estimated income tax provision of $3.8 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2013 on pre-tax earnings of $10.4 million compared to an estimated income tax provision of $2.7 million on pre-tax earnings of $7.8 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2012.

 

Our projected annual effective tax rate for fiscal year 2013 is 36.3% at July 31, 2013, resulting in a 36.3% effective tax rate, after certain discrete items, for the third quarter of fiscal year 2013. In comparison, our projected annual effective tax rate was 33.7% at July 31, 2012, resulting in a 34.9% effective tax rate, after certain discrete items, for the third quarter of fiscal year 2012.

 

Equity in Earnings of Investments

 

Equity in earnings of investments was $0.1 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2013 compared to $15,000 for the third quarter of fiscal year 2012. The increase is primarily due to earnings recognized on our investment in Limco Del Mar, Ltd.

 

Nine Months Ended July 31, 2013 Compared to the Nine Months Ended July 31, 2012

 

Revenues

 

Total revenue for the nine months ended July 31, 2013 was $70.6 million compared to $51.0 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2012. The 38% increase of $19.6 million was primarily the result of increased agribusiness revenues as detailed below:

 

   Agribusiness Revenues for the Nine Months Ended July 31, 
   2013   2012   Change 
             
Lemons  $48,593,000   $35,625,000   $12,968,000    36%
Avocados   10,455,000    6,255,000    4,200,000    67%
Navel and Valencia oranges   5,168,000    3,345,000    1,823,000    54%
Specialty citrus and other crops   2,898,000    2,687,000    211,000    8%
Agribusiness revenues  $67,114,000   $47,912,000   $19,202,000    40%

 

·Lemons: The increase in the nine months ended July 31, 2013 was primarily the result of increased volume of fresh lemons sold partially offset by lower prices. During the nine months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, fresh lemon sales were $42.8 million and $31.6 million, respectively, on 2,683,000 and 1,897,000 cartons of lemons sold at average per carton prices of $15.95 and $16.66, respectively. The lower average per carton prices in fiscal year 2013 compared to fiscal year 2012 were primarily due to less favorable overall market conditions during the first six months of fiscal year 2013. Additionally, lemon by-product and other lemon sales were $5.8 million in the nine months ended July 31, 2013 compared to $4.0 million during the same period in fiscal year 2012.

 

·Avocados: The increase in the nine months ended July 31, 2013 was primarily the result of increased volume, partially offset by lower prices. The California avocado crop typically experiences alternating years of high and low production due to plant physiology. During the nine months ended July 31, 2013, 13.7 million pounds of avocados were sold at an average per pound price of $0.75 per pound compared to 7.6 million pounds sold at an average per pound price of $0.82 during the same period in fiscal year 2012.

 

·Navel and Valencia oranges: The increase in the nine months ended July 31, 2013 was primarily the result of increased volume from the Sheldon Ranch. In accordance with the terms of the Sheldon Ranch leases, we did not share in the citrus crop revenue in fiscal year 2012. During the nine months ended 2013, 606,000 field boxes of oranges were sold at an average per field box price of $8.52 compared to 336,000 field boxes sold at an average per field box price of $9.96 during the same period in fiscal year 2012. Lower prices in the nine months ended July 31, 2013 were primarily due to smaller fruit sizes from lack of annual rainfall in fiscal year 2013 compared to fiscal year 2012.

 

·Specialty citrus and other crops: The increase in the nine months ended July 31, 2013 is primarily the result of increased volume of specialty citrus partially offset by lower prices. During the nine months ended July 31, 2013, 184,000 field boxes of specialty citrus were sold at an average per field box price of $15.75 compared to 180,000 field boxes sold at an average per field box price of $14.93 during the same period in fiscal year 2012.

 

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Costs and Expenses

 

Total costs and expenses for the nine months ended July 31, 2013 were $63.6 million compared to $46.9 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2012, for a 35% increase of $16.7 million. This increase was primarily attributable to increases in our agribusiness costs and selling, general and administrative expenses. Costs associated with our agribusiness include packing costs, harvest costs, growing costs, costs related to the lemons we procure from third-party growers and depreciation expense. These costs are discussed further below:

 

   Agribusiness Costs and Expenses for the Nine Months Ended July 31, 
   2013   2012   Change 
             
Packing costs  $14,742,000   $9,896,000   $4,846,000    49%
Harvest costs   6,805,000    5,298,000    1,507,000    28%
Growing costs   11,754,000    8,810,000    2,944,000    33%
Third-party grower costs   17,310,000    11,526,000    5,784,000    50%
Depreciation and amortization   1,170,000    1,094,000    76,000    7%
Agribusiness costs and expenses  $51,781,000   $36,624,000   $15,157,000    41%

 

·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, 2013 was primarily attributable to a higher volume of fresh lemons packed and sold compared to the same period in fiscal year 2012. During the nine months ended July 31, 2013, we packed and sold 2,683,000 cartons of lemons at average per carton costs of $5.49 compared to 1,897,000 cartons packed and sold at average per carton costs of $5.22 during the same period in fiscal year 2012. The $0.27 increase in average per carton costs during the nine months ended July 31, 2013 was mainly due to $0.14 per carton increase in costs for purchased, packed fruit to sell, $0.08 per carton increase in labor and benefits, $0.07 per carton increase in cardboard cartons and $0.02 per carton net decrease in supplies and other packing costs compared to the same period in fiscal year 2012.

 

·Harvest costs: The increase in the nine months ended July 31, 2013 was primarily attributable to higher avocado and Navel and Valencia orange harvest volumes compared to the same period in fiscal year 2012.

 

·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 the nine months ended July 31, 2013 was primarily attributable to $2.1 million growing costs from the Sheldon Ranch, comprised of $1.2 million of costs associated with the current harvest period, $0.4 million net amortization of costs capitalized in fiscal year 2012 and $0.5 million of net lease expense. In comparison, the Sheldon Ranch incurred $0.4 million of growing costs during the nine months ended July 31, 2012, comprised primarily of net lease expense. Additionally, during the nine months ended July 31, 2013, cultivation, irrigation and soil amendments increased, in aggregate, $1.2 million on our remaining ranches due to weather and the timing of harvest cycles compared to the same period in fiscal year 2012.

 

·Third-party grower costs: We sell lemons that we grow and lemons that we procure from other growers. The cost of procuring lemons from other growers is referred to as third-party grower costs. The increase in the nine months ended July 31, 2013, was primarily attributable to a higher percentage of third-party grower lemons relative to the total volume of cartons sold. Of the 2,683,000 and 1,897,000 cartons sold during the nine months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, 1,555,000 (58%) and 911,000 (48%) were procured from third-party growers at average per carton costs of $11.13 and $12.65, respectively. As a result of our agreement with Associated Citrus Packers, we sold 588,000 cartons of lemons procured from certain third party growers in the nine months ended July 31, 2013 compared to zero cartons in the nine months ended July 31, 2012.

 

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Selling, general and administrative expenses for the nine months ended July 31, 2013 were $9.0 million compared to $7.8 million in the same period in fiscal year 2012. This 15% increase of $1.2 million was primarily attributable to the following:

 

·$0.5 million increase for salaries, benefits and incentive compensation due to employee compensation increases and incentive compensation in the nine months ended July 31, 2013 compared to the same period in fiscal year 2012.

 

·$0.2 million increase in selling expenses due to increased lemon sales volume in the nine months ended July 31, 2013 compared to the same period in fiscal year 2012.

 

·$0.5 million net increase in other selling, general and administrative expenses, including certain consulting expenses associated with our strategic growth initiatives, in the nine months ended July 31, 2013 compared to the same period in fiscal year 2012.

 

Other Income (Expense)

 

Other income (expense) for the nine months ended July 31, 2013 was $4.2 million of income compared to $0.4 million of income for the same period in fiscal year 2012. The $3.8 million increase in income was primarily attributable to the following:

 

·$0.3 million decrease in interest expense as a result of lower average debt levels in the nine months ended July 31, 2013 compared to the same period in fiscal year 2012 due to repayments of long-term debt made with the proceeds from our February 2013 public offering of common stock. As a result, all interest incurred during the second and third quarters of fiscal year 2013 was capitalized on non-bearing orchards, real estate development projects and significant construction in progress.

 

·$0.2 million increase in income from fair value adjustments on one of our interest rate swaps in the nine months ended July 31, 2013 compared to the same period in fiscal year 2012.

 

·$3.1 million gain on the sale of stock in Calavo in the nine months ended July 31, 2013. There was no such gain in the same period in fiscal year 2012.

 

·$0.2 million increase in other income (expense), net in the nine months ended July 31, 2013 due primarily to a $0.1 million increase in Calavo dividend received compared to the same period in fiscal year 2012.

 

Income Taxes

 

We recorded an estimated income tax provision of $3.5 million in the nine months ended July 31, 2013 on a pre-tax earnings of $9.5 million compared to an estimated income tax provision of $1.5 million on a pre-tax earnings of $4.5 million in the nine months ended July 31, 2012.

 

Our projected annual effective tax rate for fiscal year 2013 is 36.3% at July 31, 2013, resulting in a 37.2% effective tax rate, after certain discrete items, for the nine months ended July 31, 2013. In comparison, our projected annual effective tax rate was 33.7% at July 31, 2012, resulting in a 33.2% effective tax rate, after certain discrete items, for the nine months ended July 31, 2012.

 

Equity in Losses of Investments

 

Equity in losses of investments for the nine months ended July 31, 2013 was $1.7 million compared to $13,000 for the same period in fiscal year 2012. The $1.7 million increase is primarily due to a loss recognized on our investment in HM East Ridge, LLC resulting from the sale of the property owned by the LLC at an amount below net book value.

 

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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 for current market conditions, market opportunities and available resources. The following table shows the segment results of operations for the third quarter and nine months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012:

 

   Quarters Ended July 31,   Nine Months Ended July 31, 
   2013   2012   2013   2012 
Revenues:                                        
Agribusiness  $28,626,000    95%  $23,664,000    95%  $67,114,000    95%  $47,912,000    93%
Rental operations   1,064,000    4%   962,000    4%   3,155,000    4%   2,959,000    6%
Real estate development   239,000    1%   74,000    1%   328,000    1%   162,000    1%
Total revenues   29,929,000    100%   24,700,000    100%   70,597,000    100%   51,033,000    100%
Costs and expenses:                                        
Agribusiness   15,932,000    80%   13,554,000    80%   51,781,000    81%   36,624,000    78%
Rental operations   638,000    3%   649,000    4%   1,895,000    3%   1,747,000    4%
Real estate development   444,000    2%   266,000    1%   913,000    2%   755,000    1%
Corporate and other   2,958,000    15%   2,525,000    15%   8,997,000    14%   7,809,000    16%
Total costs and expenses   19,972,000    100%   16,994,000    100%   63,586,000    100%   46,935,000    100%
Operating income (loss):                                        
Agribusiness   12,694,000         10,110,000         15,333,000         11,288,000      
Rental operations   426,000         313,000         1,260,000         1,212,000      
Real estate development   (205,000)        (192,000)        (585,000)        (593,000)     
Corporate and other   (2,958,000)        (2,525,000)        (8,997,000)        (7,809,000)     
Total operating income  $9,957,000        $7,706,000        $7,011,000        $4,098,000      

 

Third Quarter of Fiscal Year 2013 Compared to the Third Quarter of Fiscal Year 2012

 

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

 

Agribusiness

 

For the third quarter of fiscal year 2013, our agribusiness segment revenue was $28.6 million compared to $23.7 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2012. The 21% increase of $4.9 million primarily reflected higher lemon, avocado and orange revenue for the fiscal year 2013 third quarter compared to the fiscal year 2012 third quarter. The increase in agribusiness revenue consisted of the following:

 

·Lemon revenue for the third quarter of fiscal year 2013 was $3.6 million higher than the third quarter of fiscal year 2012.

 

·Avocado revenue for the third quarter of fiscal year 2013 was $2.2 million higher than the third quarter of fiscal year 2012.

 

·Navel and Valencia orange revenues for the third quarter of fiscal year 2013 were $0.6 million lower than the third quarter of fiscal year 2012.

 

·Specialty citrus and other crop revenues for the third quarter of fiscal year 2013 were $0.3 million lower than the third quarter of fiscal year 2012.

 

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Costs associated with our agribusiness segment include packing costs, harvest costs, growing costs, costs related to the lemons we procure from third-party growers and depreciation expense. For the third quarter of fiscal year 2013, our agribusiness costs were $15.9 million compared to $13.6 million for the third quarter of fiscal year 2012. The 18% increase of $2.3 million primarily consisted of the following:

 

·Packing costs for the third quarter of fiscal year 2013 were $1.1 million higher than the third quarter of fiscal year 2012.

 

·Harvest costs for the third quarter of fiscal year 2013 were $0.2 million higher than the third quarter of fiscal year 2012.

 

·Growing costs for the third quarter of fiscal year 2013 were $0.6 million higher than the third quarter of fiscal year 2012.

 

·Third-party grower costs for the third quarter of fiscal year 2013 were $0.4 million higher than the third quarter of fiscal year 2012.

 

·Depreciation and amortization expense was similar quarter to quarter at approximately $0.4 million.

 

Rental Operations

 

Our rental operations segment had revenues of approximately $1.1 million and $1.0 million in the third quarters of fiscal years 2013 and 2012, respectively. All three areas of this segment (residential and commercial rental operations, leased land and organic recycling) were similar quarter to quarter.

 

Costs in our rental operations segment were approximately $0.5 million in the third quarters of fiscal years 2013 and 2012, respectively. Depreciation expense was similar quarter to quarter at approximately $0.1 million.

 

Real Estate Development

 

Our real estate development segment had revenues of approximately $0.2 million and $0.1 million in the third quarters of fiscal years 2013 and 2012, respectively.

 

Real estate development costs and expenses were approximately $0.4 million and $0.3 million in the third quarters of fiscal years 2013 and 2013, 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 2013 were approximately $0.4 million higher than the third quarter of fiscal year 2012. Depreciation expense was similar quarter to quarter at approximately $50,000.

 

Nine Months Ended July 31, 2013 Compared to the Nine Months Ended July 31, 2012

 

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

 

Agribusiness

 

For the nine months ended July 31, 2013, our agribusiness segment revenue was $67.1 million compared to $47.9 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2012. The 40% increase of $19.2 million primarily reflected higher lemon, avocado and orange revenue for the fiscal year 2013 period compared to the fiscal year 2012 period. The increase in agribusiness revenue primarily consisted of the following:

 

·Lemon revenue for the nine months ended July 31, 2013 was $13.0 million higher than the nine months ended July 31, 2012.

 

·Avocado revenue for the nine months ended July 31, 2013 was $4.2 million higher than the nine months ended July 31, 2012.

 

·Navel and Valencia orange revenues for the nine months ended July 31, 2013 were $1.8 million higher than the nine months ended July 31, 2012.

 

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·Specialty citrus and other crop revenues for the nine months ended July 31, 2013 were $0.2 million higher than the nine months ended July 31, 2012.

 

Costs associated with our agribusiness segment include packing costs, harvest costs, growing costs, costs related to the lemons we procure from third-party growers and depreciation expense. For the nine months ended July 31, 2013, our agribusiness costs and expenses were $51.8 million compared to $36.6 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2012. The 41% increase of $15.2 million primarily consisted of the following:

 

·Packing costs for the nine months ended July 31, 2013 were $4.8 million higher than the nine months ended July 31, 2012.

 

·Harvest costs for the nine months ended July 31, 2013 were $1.5 million higher than the nine months ended July 301, 2012.

 

·Growing costs for the nine months ended July 31, 2013 were $3.0 million higher than the nine months ended July 31, 2012.

 

·Third-party grower costs for the nine months ended July 31, 2013 were $5.8 million higher than the nine months ended July 31, 2012.

 

·Depreciation and amortization expense for the nine months ended July 31, 2013 was $0.1 million higher than the nine months ended July 31, 2012.

 

Rental Operations

 

Our rental operations segment had revenues of approximately $3.2 million and $3.0 million in the nine months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. All three areas of this segment (residential and commercial rental operations, leased land and organic recycling) were similar period to period.

 

Costs in our rental operations segment were approximately $1.6 million and $1.5 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Depreciation expense was similar period to period at approximately $0.3 million.

 

Real Estate Development

 

Our real estate development segment had revenues of approximately $0.3 million and $0.2 million in the nine month periods ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

 

Real estate development costs and expenses were approximately $0.9 million and $0.8 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, 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, 2013 were approximately $1.2 million higher than the nine months ended July 31, 2012. Depreciation expense was similar period to period at approximately $0.2 million.

 

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Seasonal Operations

 

Historically, our agricultural operations have been seasonal in nature with the least amount of our annual revenue being generated in our first quarter, increasing in the second quarter, peaking in the third quarter and declining in the fourth quarter. 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 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.

 

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

 

   Twelve months ended July 31, 
   2013   2012 
Revenues:          
Agribusiness  $80,755,000   $57,749,000 
Rental operations   4,219,000    3,963,000 
Real estate development   418,000    203,000 
Total revenues   85,392,000    61,915,000 
Costs and expenses:          
Agribusiness   62,457,000    43,908,000 
Rental operations   2,566,000    2,289,000 
Real estate development   1,195,000    1,036,000 
Selling, general and administrative   11,705,000    9,741,000 
Total costs and expenses   77,923,000    56,974,000 
Operating income   7,469,000    4,941,000 
Other income (expense):          
Interest expense   (238,000)   (692,000)
Interest income from derivative instrument   923,000    636,000 
Gain on sale of stock in Calavo Growers, Inc.   3,138,000    - 
Interest income and other   330,000    336,000 
Total other income   4,153,000    280,000 
Net income before income taxes and equity in earnings of investments   11,622,000    5,221,000 
Income tax provision   (4,021,000)   (1,761,000)
Equity in (losses) earnings of investments   (1,470,000)   103,000 
Net income  $6,131,000   $3,563,000 

 

Twelve Months Ended July 31, 2013 Compared to the Twelve Months Ended July 31, 2012

 

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

 

·Total revenues increased $23.5 million in the twelve months ended July 31, 2013 compared to the twelve months ended July 31, 2012 primarily due to increased agribusiness revenues, particularly increased lemon and avocado sales.

 

·Total costs and expenses increased $20.9 million in the twelve months ended July 31, 2013 compared to the twelve months ended July 31, 2012 primarily due to increases in our agribusiness costs associated with agribusiness production and revenues and selling, general and administrative expenses related to lemon sales expenses, additional salaries, benefits and incentive compensation and other selling, general and administrative expenses including certain consulting expenses associated with our strategic initiatives.

 

·Total other income increased $3.9 million in the twelve months ended July 31, 2013 compared to the twelve months ended July 31, 2012 primarily due the fiscal year 2013 gain on sale of stock in Calavo Growers, Inc.

 

·Income tax provision increased $2.2 million in the twelve months ended July 31, 2013 compared to the twelve months ended July 31, 2012 primarily due to the fiscal year 2013 increase in pre-tax earnings of $4.9 million.

 

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·Equity in losses of investments increased $1.6 million in the twelve months ended July 31, 2013 compared to the twelve months ended July 31, 2012 primarily due to a $1.8 million loss recognized on the sale of our HM East Ridge, LLC property in the fiscal year 2013 period.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Overview

 

Our liquidity and capital position fluctuates during the year depending on seasonal production cycles, weather events and demand for our products. Typically, our first and last fiscal quarters coincide with the fall and winter months during which we are growing crops that are harvested and sold in the spring and summer, our second and third quarters. 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.

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

 

For the nine months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, net cash provided by operating activities was $5.1 million and $4.5 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, 2013 was $6.0 million compared to $3.0 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2012. The increase of $3.0 million in the nine months ended July 31, 2013 compared to the same period in fiscal year 2012 was primarily attributable to an increase in operating income of $2.9 million and an increase in other income of $3.8 million partially offset by an increase in income tax provision of $2.0 million and an increase in equity in losses of investments of $1.6 million.

 

·Depreciation and amortization remained consistent period to period at $1.6 million primarily because the balance of depreciable assets did not change significantly.

 

·During the nine months ended July 31, 2013, we sold 165,000 shares of Calavo Growers, Inc. stock which resulted in a gain of $3.1 million. No such transaction occurred during the same period of fiscal year 2012.

 

·Loss on disposals/sales of fixed assets of $0.2 million in the nine months ended July 31, 2012 was the result of expenses incurred from an orchard removal as part of our fiscal year 2012 orchard redevelopment plan. There were no expenses incurred from orchard removals during the same period of fiscal year 2013.

 

·Non-cash stock compensation expense was $0.7 million and $0.8 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, which is primarily comprised of vesting of grants to management under our stock grant performance bonus program and our directors’ stock incentive program.

 

·Equity in losses of investments was $1.7 million in the nine months ended July 31, 2013 and was primarily due to a loss recognized on our investment in HM East Ridge, LLC.

 

·Deferred income taxes of $0.4 million in the nine months ended July 31, 2013 was due to the sale of our previously impaired HM East Ridge, LLC property.

 

·Non-cash interest income on derivative instruments was $0.7 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2013 and consisted of $1.1 million of mark to market adjustments to the underlying fair value net liability, partially offset by $0.4 million of amortization of the accumulated other comprehensive loss balance. The income of $0.5 million for the same period in fiscal year 2012 consisted of $0.9 million of mark to market adjustments to the underlying fair value net liability, partially offset by $0.4 million of amortization of the accumulated other comprehensive loss balance.

 

·Accounts and notes receivable used $5.9 million in operating cash flows during the nine months ended July 31, 2013 compared to using $5.6 million in operating cash flows during the same period in fiscal year 2012. This increase was primarily the result of a $5.7 million increase in accounts receivable during the nine months ended July 31, 2013 compared to an increase of $5.6 million in accounts receivable during the nine months ended July 31, 2012, which was due to higher agribusiness revenue in the nine months ended July 31, 2013 compared to the same period in fiscal year 2012.

 

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·Cultural costs provided $0.8 million in operating cash flows during the nine months ended July 31, 2013 compared to using $0.7 million in operating cash flows during the same period in fiscal year 2012, primarily due to our Company entering into the Sheldon Ranch leases in January 2012. We did not share in the related citrus crop revenue in our fiscal year ended October 31, 2012; therefore, the cultural costs incurred in fiscal year 2012 were capitalized and are being amortized over the citrus crop harvest period in fiscal year 2013.

 

·Income taxes receivable provided $0.7 million in operating cash flows in the nine months ended July 31, 2013, due to a reduction of the October 31, 2012 receivable resulting from a $0.4 million income tax refund and recording the third quarter fiscal year 2013 income tax provision. Income taxes receivable provided $1.3 million in operating cash flows in the nine months ended July 31, 2012, due to a reduction of the October 31, 2011 receivable resulting from a $0.4 million income tax refund and recording the third quarter fiscal year 2012 income tax provision.

 

·Accounts payable and growers payable provided $1.1 million in operating cash flows in the nine months ended July 31, 2013 compared to providing $3.4 million of operating cash flows during the same period in fiscal year 2012. The operating cash provided during the nine months ended July 31, 2013 was primarily the result of $1.1 million increase in accounts payable due to increased agribusiness costs. The operating cash provided during the nine months ended July 31, 2012 is primarily the result of $1.9 million increase in accounts payable as a result of higher agribusiness costs and $1.7 million increase in grower payable due to the cost of procured lemons and the timing and amounts of payments made to third-party growers.

 

·Accrued liabilities provided $2.3 million in operating cash flows in the nine months ended July 31, 2013 compared to providing $1.3 million of operating cash flows during the same period in fiscal year 2012. This was primarily due to a $2.7 million income tax liability incurred in the nine months ended July 31, 2013 compared to a $0.6 million income tax liability incurred during the same period in fiscal year 2012. Offsetting this increase in income tax liability was $0.8 million of accrued bonuses at October 31, 2012 for fiscal year 2012 that were paid in the nine months ended July 31, 2013.

 

·Other long-term liabilities used $0.4 million of operating cash flows in the nine months ended July 31, 2013 and represented $1.1 million of pension contributions offset by $0.7 million of non-cash pension expense for the period. The $0.2 million of operating cash flows provided during the nine months ended July 31, 2012 represented $0.6 million of non-cash pension expense offset by pension contributions of $0.4 million for the period.

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

 

For the nine months ended July 31, 2013, net cash provided by investing activities was $2.5 million compared to net cash used in investing activities of $7.6 million during the same period in fiscal year 2012.

 

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities was primarily comprised of capital expenditures, acquisitions and the sale of assets. Capital expenditures were $8.0 million in the nine months ended July 31, 2013, comprised of $3.9 million for property, plant and equipment and $4.1 million for real estate development projects. Offsetting these capital expenditures was $5.7 million net proceeds from the sale of the HM East Ridge property, $4.8 million of net proceeds from the sale of 165,000 shares of stock in Calavo and $0.4 million collection of a note receivable. Capital expenditures were $7.2 million in the nine months ended July 31, 2012, comprised of $0.8 million for the acquisition of an agriculture business, $3.1 million for property, plant and equipment and $3.3 million for real estate development projects.

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

 

For the nine months ended July 31, 2013, net cash used in financing activities was $7.4 million compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $3.0 million during the same period in fiscal year 2012.

 

The $7.4 million of cash used in financing activities during the nine months ended July 31, 2013 was comprised primarily of net repayments of long-term debt in the amount $41.7 million and net proceeds from our public offering of common stock in the amount of $35.9 million. The $3.0 million of cash provided by financing activities during the nine month ended July 31, 2012 was comprised primarily of net borrowings of long term debt in the amount of $4.4 million. Additionally, we paid common and preferred dividends of $1.6 million in the nine months ended July 31, 2013 compared to $1.2 million in same period of fiscal year 2012.

 

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Transactions Affecting Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

We finance our working capital and other liquidity requirements primarily through cash from operations and our revolving credit facility with Rabobank, NA (“Rabobank Credit Facility”). In addition, we have two term loans with Farm Credit West, FLCA, (“Farm Credit West Term Loans”) and a non-revolving line of credit, (“Farm Credit West Line of Credit”) with Farm Credit West, PCA (together with Farm Credit West FLCA, “Farm Credit West”). 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 Note 10 to the unaudited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on 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 2013. 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.

 

Rabobank Revolving Credit Facility

 

As of July 31, 2013, our outstanding borrowings under the Rabobank Credit Facility were $40.0 million and we had $47.0 million of availability. The Rabobank Credit Facility bears interest at a variable rate equal to the one month London Interbank Offer Rate (“LIBOR”) plus a spread of 1.80%. The interest rate resets on the first of each month and was 1.70% at July 31, 2013. We have the ability to prepay any amounts outstanding under the Rabobank Credit Facility without penalty. In November 2011, we entered into a Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Line of Credit Agreement in order to (i) increase the revolving line of credit from $80 million to the lesser of $100 million or 60% of the appraised value of any real estate pledged as collateral which was $87 million at July 31, 2013, (ii) amend the interest rate such that the line of credit bears interest at a rate equal to LIBOR plus 1.80% effective July 1, 2013 and (iii) extend the maturity date from June 30, 2013 to June 30, 2018.

 

In February 2013, we repaid approximately $22.6 million of our outstanding borrowings under the Rabobank Credit Facility with the net proceeds from our common stock offering. See “- Public Offering of Common Stock.”

 

The Rabobank Credit Facility is secured by certain of our agricultural properties and a portion of the equity interest in the San Cayetano Mutual Water Company, and subjects us 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 we 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, 2012.

 

Farm Credit West Term Loans and Non-Revolving Credit Facility

 

As of July 31, 2013, we had an aggregate of approximately $8.0 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, 2013, we had $5.4 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, 2013. This term loan is secured by certain of our agricultural properties.

 

·Term Loan Maturing May 2032. In February 2013, this term loan was paid in full with the net proceeds from our common stock offering. See “- Public Offering of Common Stock.”

 

·Term Loan Maturing October 2035. As of July 31, 2013, our wholly-owned subsidiary, Windfall Investors, LLC, had $2.1 million outstanding under the Farm Credit West Term Loan that matures in October 2035. Effective November 2011, we entered into an agreement with Farm Credit West fixing the interest rate at 3.65% for three years after which time the rate becomes variable at a 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% until the loan matures. This term loan is secured by the Windfall Farms property.

 

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·Non-Revolving Line of Credit Maturing May 2013. As of July 31, 2013, we had $0.5 million outstanding under the Farm Credit West Line of Credit that matures in May 2018. The 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, 2013. This line of credit is secured by certain of our agricultural properties.

 

In February 2013, we repaid approximately $12.5 million of our outstanding borrowings under the Farm Credit West Non-Revolving Line of Credit and repaid the entire approximately $0.8 million outstanding under the Farm Credit Term Loan maturing May 2032 with the net proceeds from our common stock offering. See “- Public Offering of Common Stock.”

 

Effective June 1, 2013, the interest rates on the term loan maturing November 2022 and the non-revolving line of credit were each reduced to 2.75%. Also effective June 1, 2013, the terms of the non-revolving line of credit were amended to remove the $175,000 principal payment requirement associated with Windfall Investors, LLC lot sales.

 

In July 2013, we repaid approximately $6.5 million of our outstanding borrowings under the Farm Credit West Term Loan maturing October 31, 2035 primarily with the net proceeds from the sale of the HM East Ridge, LLC property.

 

The Farm Credit West Term Loans and Farm Credit West Line of Credit contain various conditions, covenants and requirements with which we and Windfall Investors must comply. In addition, we and Windfall Investors, LLC 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.

 

Public Offering of Common Stock

 

On August 24, 2011, our shelf registration statement became effective for an aggregate amount of up to $100 million of common stock. During February 2013, we completed the sale of 2,070,000 shares of common stock, at a price of $18.50 per share, to institutional and other investors in a registered offering under the shelf registration statement.  The offering represented 16% of our outstanding common stock on an after-issued basis. Upon completion of the offering and issuance of common stock, we had 13,307,085 shares of common stock outstanding. The gross proceeds of the offering totaled $38,295,000 and after an underwriting discount of $2,106,000 and other offering expenses of $292,000, the net proceeds were $35,897,000. The planned use of proceeds from the offering are general corporate purposes, which may include repayment of debt, real estate development, including activities related to East Area 1 and future acquisitions of agriculture properties. During February 2013, we used the net offering proceeds to repay long-term debt.

 

Interest Rate Swaps

 

We enter into interest rate swap agreements to manage the risks and costs associated with our financing activities. At July 31, 2013, we had an interest rate swap agreement which locks in the interest rate on $40.0 million of our $48.0 million in debt at approximately 4.30% until June 2018.

 

On April 29, 2010, we cancelled two interest rate swaps with notional amounts of $10.0 million each and amended the remaining interest rate swap from a notional amount of $22.0 million to a notional amount of $42.0 million. The interest rate swaps previously qualified as cash flow hedges and the fair value adjustments to the swap agreements were deferred and included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). As a result of the re-negotiated terms, the remaining interest rate swap no longer qualified for hedge accounting and accordingly, fair value adjustments from April 30, 2010 are included in interest income (expense). This swap expired June 30, 2013.

 

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 Credit Facility 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 adjustments to the underlying debt are deferred and included in accumulated other comprehensive loss and the liability is being recorded in other long-term liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet at July 31, 2013. Additional information, regarding the interest rate swaps can be found in Note 11 to the unaudited consolidated financial statements for the quarter ended July 31, 2013 included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 

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Of the remaining $8.0 million in debt, $5.9 million bears interest at variable rates, which were 2.75% or less at July 31, 2013 and $2.1 million bears interest at a fixed rate of 3.65%, which becomes variable in November 2014.

 

Contractual Obligations

 

The following table presents our contractual obligations at July 31, 2013 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)  $42,085,000   $57,000   $131,000   $40,141,000   $1,756,000 
Variable rate debt (principal)   5,877,000    501,000    1,048,000    1,599,000    2,729,000 
Operating lease obligations   13,464,000    1,863,000    3,461,000    3,470,000    4,670,000 
Total contractual obligations  $61,426,000   $2,421,000   $4,640,000   $45,210,000   $9,155,000 
                          
Interest payments on fixed and variable rate debt  $9,948,000   $1,947,000   $3,849,000   $3,753,000   $399,000 

 

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 2013. 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 and interest rate swaps can be found above and in Notes 10 and 11 to the unaudited consolidated financial statements for the quarter ended July 31, 2013 included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on 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, 2013.

 

Operating Lease Obligations

 

We have various operating lease commitments with remaining terms ranging from less than one year to ten years. We have installed a one mega-watt photovoltaic array on one of our agricultural properties located in Ventura County that produces a significant portion of the power to operate 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 on 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. Additionally, we have agreements with an electricity utility through the California Solar Initiative which entitle us to receive rebates for energy produced by our solar arrays. These rebates, which reduce our agribusiness costs, are scheduled to expire in fiscal year 2014, were $0.6 million and $0.7 million in the nine months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, and have averaged approximately $1.0 million per year since the inception of the leases.

 

In January 2012, our Company entered into the Sheldon Ranch 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 Limoneira in the future. In accordance with the terms of the lease agreements, Limoneira did not share in the citrus crop revenue in its fiscal year ending October 31, 2012. During the three and nine months ended July 31, 2013, we incurred $153,000 and $461,000, respectively, of net lease expense related to these leases. Net lease expense includes expenses for separate leases of equipment and buildings on the property.

 

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On July 1, 2013, we entered into a lease agreement (the “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 Agreement, Limoneira has secured the right to plant up to 1,280 acres of lemons over the next five years at the Cadiz Ranch operations in the Cadiz Valley. The Agreement provides that Limoneira will initially plant 320 acres of lemons at the Cadiz Ranch and will also hold options to plant up to 960 additional acres 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 Cadiz property. The annual rental payment will not exceed a total of $1,200 per acre.

 

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

 

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 totaled $0.3 million in each of the fiscal years 2012, 2011 and 2010. We paid preferred stock dividends of approximately $0.2 million during the nine months ended July 31, 2013.

 

Defined Benefit Plan Contributions

 

As more fully described in Note 15 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements for the quarter ended July 31, 2013, our Company’s noncontributory, defined benefit, single employer pension plan (the “Plan”) was frozen as of June 30, 2004. During the nine months ended July 31, 2013, we made contributions of $1.1 million to the Plan and we expect to contribute a minimum of approximately $1.3 million to the Plan in fiscal year 2013.

 

Real Estate Development Activities and Related Capital Resources

 

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 us, 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 have been 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.

 

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, 2013 elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for information concerning our 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 becomes 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.

 

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Agribusiness revenue Revenue from the sales of certain of our agricultural products is recorded based on estimated proceeds provided by certain of our sales and marketing partners (Calavo and other third-party packinghouses) due to the time between when the product is delivered by us 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, we apply specific authoritative agribusiness revenue recognition guidance related to transactions between patrons and agribusiness 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 (a) 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 (b) 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 us by Calavo and other third-party packinghouses at the time of delivery has not materially differed from the actual amounts that are paid after the monthly pools are closed.

 

Our avocados, oranges, specialty citrus and other specialty crops are packed and sold through by Calavo and other third-party packinghouses. Specifically, we deliver all of our avocado production from our 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 arrangements with other third-party packinghouses related to oranges, specialty citrus and other specialty crops are similar to our arrangement with Calavo.

 

Our arrangements with our third-party packinghouses are such that we are the producer and supplier of the product and the third-party packinghouses are our customers.  The revenues we recognize 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.   We bear 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 we receive from the third-party packinghouses for packaging and marketing services cannot be sufficiently separated from the third-party packinghouses’ purchase of our products.  In addition, we are 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 consolidated statement of operations.

 

Revenue from crop insurance proceeds is recorded when the amount of, and the right to receive, the payment can be reasonably determined.

 

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 us and are based on fees collected by the lessee. Our rental arrangements generally require payment on a monthly or quarterly basis.

 

Real estate development revenue The 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 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, 2013, we capitalized approximately $4.8 million of costs related to our real estate projects and expensed approximately $0.6 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.

 

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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 the economic downturn in recent years, we recorded impairment charges of zero, $1.2 million and $2.4 million in fiscal years 2012, 2011 and 2010, 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.

 

Defined benefit retirement plan – As discussed in Note 15 to our unaudited 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, Compensation – Retirement Benefits, 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.  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, 2012 as filed with the SEC on January 14, 2013.

 

Item 4.  Controls and Procedures

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures. As of July 31, 2013, 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 the 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, 2012 as filed with the SEC on January 14, 2013.

 

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

     
10.1   Lease Agreement, dated as of July1, 2013, by and between the Company and Cadiz (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (Commission File No. 001-34755) filed on July 2, 2013).
     
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

 

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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, 2013 By:

/s/ HAROLD S. EDWARDS 

    Harold S. Edwards
    Director, President and Chief Executive Officer
    (Principal Executive Officer)
     
September 9, 2013 By:

/s/ JOSEPH D. RUMLEY 

    Joseph D. Rumley
    Chief Financial Officer
    (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

  

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