Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Overview
Limoneira Company, a Delaware corporation, is the successor to several businesses with operations in California since 1893. We are primarily an agribusiness company founded and based in Santa Paula, California, committed to responsibly using and managing our approximately 10,500 acres of land, water resources and other assets to maximize long-term stockholder value. Our current operations consist of fruit production, sales and marketing, rental operations, real estate and capital investment activities.
We are one of California’s oldest citrus growers and are one of the largest growers of lemons in the United States. According to the California Avocado Commission, we are one of the largest growers of avocados in the United States. In addition to growing lemons and avocados, we grow oranges and other crops. We have agricultural plantings throughout Ventura and San Luis Obispo Counties in California, Yuma County in Arizona, La Serena, Chile and Jujuy, Argentina, which collectively consist of approximately 3,400 acres of lemons, 1,200 acres of avocados, 100 acres of oranges and 400 acres of wine grapes. We also operate our own packinghouses in Santa Paula, California and Yuma, Arizona, where we process, pack and sell lemons that we grow, as well as lemons grown by others. We have a 47% interest in Rosales S.A. (“Rosales”), a citrus packing, marketing and sales business, a 90% interest in Fruticola Pan de Azucar S.A. (“PDA”), a lemon and orange orchard and a 100% interest in Agricola San Pablo, SpA (“San Pablo”), a lemon and orange orchard, all of which are located near La Serena, Chile. We have a 51% interest in a joint venture, Trapani Fresh Consorcio de Cooperacion (“Trapani Fresh”), a lemon orchard in Argentina.
Our water resources include water rights, usage rights and pumping rights to the water in aquifers under, and canals that run through, the land we own. Water for our farming operations is sourced from the existing water resources associated with our land, which includes rights to water in the adjudicated Santa Paula Basin (aquifer) and the un-adjudicated Fillmore and Paso Robles Basins (aquifers). We also use surface water in Arizona from the Colorado River through the Yuma Mesa Irrigation and Drainage District (“YMIDD”). We use ground water provided by wells and surface water for our PDA and San Pablo farming operations in Chile and our Trapani Fresh farming operations in Argentina. We use ground water from the San Joaquin Valley Basin and water from local water and irrigation districts in Tulare County, which is in California’s San Joaquin Valley.
For more than 100 years, we have been making strategic investments in California agriculture and real estate. We currently have an interest in three real estate development projects in California. These projects include multi-family housing, single-family homes and apartments of approximately 800 units in various stages of planning and development.
Business Division Summary
We have three business divisions: agribusiness, rental operations and real estate development. The agribusiness division is comprised of four reportable operating segments: fresh lemons, lemon packing, avocados and other agribusiness, which primarily includes oranges, specialty citrus, other crops and farm management services. The agribusiness division includes our core operations of farming, harvesting, lemon packing and lemon sales operations. The rental operations division includes our residential and commercial rentals, leased land operations and organic recycling. The real estate development division includes our investments in real estate development projects. Financial information and discussion of our four reportable segments are contained in the notes to the accompanying consolidated financial statements of this Quarterly Report.
Agribusiness Summary
We market and sell citrus directly to our food service, wholesale and retail customers throughout the United States, Canada, Asia, Australia, Europe and certain other international markets. We sell our avocados and oranges to third-party packinghouses. Additionally, we sell our wine grapes to various wine producers.
Historically, our agribusiness division has been seasonal in nature with quarterly revenue fluctuating depending on the timing and variety of crops being harvested. Cultural costs in our agribusiness division tend to be higher in the first and second quarters and lower in the third and fourth quarters because of the timing of expensing cultural costs in the current year that were inventoried in the prior year. Our harvest costs generally increase in the second quarter and peak in the third quarter, coinciding with the increasing production and revenue.
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Fluctuations in price are a function of global supply and demand with weather conditions, such as unusually low temperatures, typically having the most dramatic effect on the amount of lemons supplied in any individual growing season. We believe we have a competitive advantage by maintaining our own lemon packing operations, even though a significant portion of the costs related to these 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 procured from other growers. Because the fresh utilization rate for our lemons, or percentage of lemons we harvest and pack that are sold to the fresh market, is directly related to the quality of lemons we pack and, consequently, the price we receive per 40-pound box, we only pack lemons from other growers if we determine their lemons are of good quality.
Our avocado producing business is important to us and we are currently assessing all of our farmland in Ventura County for opportunities to expand our plantings of avocados. While avocado production is cyclical as avocados typically bear fruit on a bi-annual basis, the profitability and cash flow realized from our avocados helps to diversify our fruit production base.
In addition to growing lemons and avocados, we grow oranges and other crops. We regularly monitor the demand for the fruit we grow in the current marketplace to identify trends.
Rental Operations Summary
Our rental operations include our residential and commercial rentals, leased land operations and organic recycling. Our residential rental units generate cash flows that we use to partially fund the operating costs of our business and provide affordable housing to many of our employees, including our agribusiness employees. We believe that this unique employment benefit helps us maintain a dependable, long-term employee base. In addition, our leased land business provides us with a typically profitable diversification. Revenue from rental operations is generally level throughout the year.
Real Estate Development Summary
We invest in real estate investment projects and recognize that long-term strategies are required for successful real estate development activities. Our goal is to redeploy real estate earnings and cash flow into the expansion of our agribusiness and other income producing real estate. For real estate development projects and joint ventures, it is not unusual for the timing and amounts of revenues and costs, partner contributions and distributions, project loans, other financing assumptions and project cash flows to be impacted by government approvals, project revenue and cost estimates and assumptions, economic conditions, financing sources and product demand as well as other factors. Such factors could affect our results of operations, cash flows and liquidity.
Water and Mineral Rights
Our water resources include water rights, usage rights and pumping rights to the water in aquifers under, and canals that run through, the land we own. We believe we have adequate supplies of water for our agribusiness segments as well as our rental and real estate development activities. Water for our farming operations located in Ventura County, California is sourced from the existing water resources associated with our land, which includes approximately 8,600 acre-feet of adjudicated water rights in the Santa Paula Basin (aquifer) and the un-adjudicated Fillmore Basin (aquifer). Our Windfall Farms property located in San Luis Obispo County, California obtains water from wells that derive water from the Paso Robles Basin (aquifer). Our farming operations in Yuma, Arizona source water from the Colorado River through the YMIDD, where we have access to approximately 11,700 acre-feet of Class 3 Colorado River water rights. We use ground water provided by wells and surface water for our PDA and San Pablo farming operations in La Serena, Chile and our Trapani Fresh farming operations in Argentina.
California received above average precipitation during the 2022 - 2023 rainfall season and is experiencing above average precipitation for the 2023 - 2024 rainfall season, after experiencing three years of below average precipitation and drought conditions. The above average precipitation helped to alleviate the drought conditions in California. As of April 30, 2024, the state was free from moderate drought conditions and Ventura County was free from any drought conditions. We continue to assess the impact drought conditions may have on our California orchards.
In August 2023, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced that Lake Mead will operate in a Tier 1 shortage in 2024, which requires Arizona to forfeit approximately 18% of the state's yearly allotment of water from Lake Mead. In response to this and prior year water shortages, we entered into fallowing agreements during fiscal years 2023 and 2022 and continue to assess the impact these reductions may have on our Arizona orchards.
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Recent Developments
On December 1, 2023, we announced the commencement of a strategic review process to explore potential alternatives aimed at maximizing stockholder value. Potential strategic alternatives could include, but not be limited to, a sale of all or parts of the Company and its assets, a merger or other transaction. The Board has not set a timetable for completion of the review and no transaction or other outcome is guaranteed to take place. At this time, we cannot predict the impact that such strategic alternatives might have on our business, operations or financial condition.
In December 2023, we sold 12 acres of real property located in Yuma, Arizona for a sales price of $0.8 million. After transaction and closing costs, we recorded a gain on sale of approximately $0.2 million.
On April 5, 2024, we declared a cash dividend of $0.075 per common share paid on April 12, 2024, in the aggregate amount of approximately $1.3 million to stockholders of record as of April 1, 2024.
In April 2024, the Company conducted an organization restructuring which resulted in severance benefits of approximately $1.2 million.
On April 30, 2024, our real estate development joint venture with The Lewis Group of Companies (“Lewis”) closed an additional 554 residential homesites at the Harvest at Limoneira master planned community in Santa Paula, CA (“Harvest”) and we recorded equity in earnings of investments of $16.6 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2024. On June 5, 2024, we received a cash distribution of $15.0 million from the joint venture.
On May 7, 2024, we announced that the Santa Paula City Council has approved the proposal brought forward by the Company's real estate development joint venture with Lewis to increase the number of entitled lots at Harvest from 1,500 dwelling units to 2,050 dwelling units. The Santa Paula City Council approved an amendment allowing for the 550-unit increase on April 3, 2024. The 550-unit increase will provide 250 additional single family for-sale homesites within Phase 3 of Harvest. Additionally, the Company in partnership with Lewis plans to construct 300 multi-family rental homes on a mixed-use portion of the project.
COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has had an adverse impact on the industries and markets in which we conduct business. In particular, the export market for fresh produce significantly declined due to the COVID-19 pandemic impacts and continues to experience decreased demand.
The decline in demand for the Company's products negatively impacted our sales and profitability for the last four fiscal years. The COVID-19 pandemic may continue to impact our sales and profitability in future periods. The duration of these trends and the magnitude of such impacts are uncertain and therefore cannot be estimated at this time, as they are influenced by a number of factors, many of which are outside management’s control, including, but not limited, to those presented in Item 1A. Risk Factors of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2023.
Given the economic uncertainty as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic over the past four fiscal years, we have taken actions to improve our current liquidity position, including strategically selling certain assets, temporarily postponing capital expenditures and substantially reducing discretionary spending.
There is continued uncertainty around the breadth and duration of our export market business disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our results of operations, financial condition, or liquidity for fiscal year 2024 and beyond cannot be estimated at this time.
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Results of Operations
The following table shows the results of operations (in thousands):
Three Months Ended
April 30, Six Months Ended
April 30,
2024 2023 2024 2023
Net revenues:
Agribusiness $ 43,257 $ 46,676 $ 81,596 $ 83,204
Other operations 1,349 1,394 2,741 2,767
Total net revenues 44,606 48,070 84,337 85,971
Costs and expenses:
Agribusiness 40,436 38,189 79,550 79,430
Other operations 1,429 1,009 2,611 2,247
Loss (gain) on disposal of assets, net 48 8,998 (117) (30,744)
Gain on legal settlement — (2,269) — (2,269)
Selling, general and administrative 7,368 6,005 14,713 15,285
Total costs and expenses 49,281 51,932 96,757 63,949
Operating (loss) income:
Agribusiness 2,821 8,487 2,046 3,774
Other operations (80) 385 130 520
(Loss) gain on disposal of assets, net (48) (8,998) 117 30,744
Gain on legal settlement — 2,269 — 2,269
Selling, general and administrative (7,368) (6,005) (14,713) (15,285)
Operating (loss) income (4,675) (3,862) (12,420) 22,022
Other income (expense):
Interest income 14 62 36 70
Interest (expense), net of patronage dividends (351) 996 (558) (176)
Equity in earnings of investments, net 16,592 62 16,633 315
Other income (expense), net 197 200 219 (2,412)
Total other income (expense) 16,452 1,320 16,330 (2,203)
Income (loss) before income tax (provision) benefit 11,777 (2,542) 3,910 19,819
Income tax (provision) benefit (5,222) 912 (1,032) (5,915)
Net income (loss) 6,555 (1,630) 2,878 13,904
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest 12 17 104 114
Net income (loss) attributable to Limoneira Company $ 6,567 $ (1,613) $ 2,982 $ 14,018
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 stock-based compensation, pension settlement cost, loss (gain) on disposal of assets, net, cash bonus related to sale of assets, gain on legal settlement and severance benefits are important measures 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 us and may not be consistent with methodologies used by other companies.
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EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are summarized and reconciled to net income (loss) attributable to Limoneira Company which management considers to be the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, as follows (in thousands):
Three Months Ended
April 30, Six Months Ended
April 30,
2024 2023 2024 2023
Net income (loss) attributable to Limoneira Company $ 6,567 $ (1,613) $ 2,982 $ 14,018
Interest income (14) (62) (36) (70)
Interest expense, (net of patronage dividends) 351 (996) 558 176
Income tax provision (benefit) 5,222 (912) 1,032 5,915
Depreciation and amortization 2,100 2,044 4,158 4,491
EBITDA $ 14,226 $ (1,539) $ 8,694 $ 24,530
Stock-based compensation 1,071 965 1,935 2,029
Pension settlement cost — — — 2,741
Loss (gain) on disposal of assets, net 48 8,998 (117) (30,744)
Cash bonus related to sale of assets — — — 2,000
Gain on legal settlement — (2,269) — (2,269)
Severance benefits 1,215 — 1,215 —
Adjusted EBITDA $ 16,560 $ 6,155 $ 11,727 $ (1,713)
Three Months Ended April 30, 2024 Compared to the Three Months Ended April 30, 2023
Revenues
Total net revenues for the three months ended April 30, 2024 were $44.6 million, compared to $48.1 million for the three months ended April 30, 2023. The 7% decrease of $3.5 million was primarily due to decreased lemons and avocados agribusiness revenues as detailed below ($ in thousands):
Three Months Ended April 30,
2024 2023 Change
Lemons $ 35,805 $ 38,365 $ (2,560) (7)%
Avocados 2,348 3,603 (1,255) (35)%
Oranges 1,160 1,383 (223) (16)%
Specialty citrus and other crops 839 1,016 (177) (17)%
Farm management 2,046 1,404 642 46%
Other 1,059 905 154 17%
Agribusiness revenues $ 43,257 $ 46,676 $ (3,419) (7)%
• Lemons: The decrease in the second quarter of fiscal year 2024, compared to the same period of fiscal year 2023, was primarily due to decreased volume, partially offset by higher prices of fresh lemons sold and legal settlement proceeds allocated to lemons in the second quarter of fiscal year 2023. During the second quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, fresh packed lemon sales were $25.8 million and $26.6 million, in aggregate, on 1,446,000 and 1,547,000 cartons of lemons sold at average per carton prices of $17.85 and $17.23, respectively. Lemon revenues in the second quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023 included brokered lemons and other lemon sales of $3.8 million and $2.5 million, lemon packing of $5.0 million and $6.4 million and lemon by-product sales of $1.2 million and $1.3 million, respectively, and included legal settlement proceeds of $1.4 million allocated to lemons in the second quarter of fiscal year 2023.
• Avocados: The decrease in the second quarter of fiscal year 2024, compared to the same period of fiscal year 2023, was primarily due to legal settlement proceeds of $2.4 million allocated to avocados in the second quarter of fiscal year 2023, partially offset by increased volume and higher prices of avocados sold. The California avocado crop typically experiences alternating years of high and low production due to plant physiology. During the second quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, we sold 1,595,000 and 941,000 pounds of avocados at an average per pound price of $1.47 and $1.30, respectively.
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• Oranges: The decrease in the second quarter of fiscal year 2024, compared to the same period of fiscal year 2023, was primarily due to decreased volume, partially offset by higher prices of oranges sold. During the second quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, we sold 66,000 and 88,000 cartons of oranges at an average per carton price of $17.58 and $15.72, respectively.
• Specialty citrus and other crops: The decrease in the second quarter of fiscal year 2024, compared to the same period of fiscal year 2023, was primarily due to decreased volume, partially offset by higher prices of specialty citrus sold. During the second quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, we sold 29,000 and 41,000 40-pound carton equivalents of specialty citrus at an average per carton price of $29.24 and $24.78, respectively.
• Farm management: Farm management revenue is comprised primarily of Northern Properties farming, management and operations services. The increase in farm management revenues in the second quarter of fiscal year 2024, compared to the same period of fiscal year 2023, was primarily due to farm management decisions based on weather and crop conditions.
• Other: Other revenue is comprised primarily of fallowing and freight revenue. Other revenues in the second quarter of fiscal year 2024 were similar to the same period of fiscal year 2023.
Other operations revenue in the second quarters of fiscal years 2024 and 2023 were $1.3 million and $1.4 million, respectively.
Costs and Expenses
Total costs and expenses in the second quarter of fiscal year 2024 were $49.3 million, compared to $51.9 million in the same period of fiscal year 2023. The 5% decrease of $2.6 million was primarily due to the 2023 loss on disposal of Cadiz Ranch assets, partially offset by the 2023 gain on legal settlement and increases in agribusiness costs and expenses and selling, general and administrative expenses. Agribusiness costs and expenses are detailed below ($ in thousands):
Three Months Ended April 30,
2024 2023 Change
Packing costs $ 13,588 $ 12,075 $ 1,513 13%
Harvest costs 2,878 6,307 (3,429) (54)%
Growing costs 5,462 5,949 (487) (8)%
Third-party grower and supplier costs 15,939 11,360 4,579 40%
Other costs 781 758 23 3%
Depreciation and amortization 1,788 1,740 48 3%
Agribusiness costs and expenses $ 40,436 $ 38,189 $ 2,247 6%
• Packing costs: Packing costs consist primarily of the costs to pack lemons for sale such as labor and benefits, cardboard cartons, fruit treatments, packing and shipping supplies, subcontracted costs and facility operating costs. During the second quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, we packed and sold 1,446,000 and 1,547,000 cartons of lemons at average per carton costs of $9.39 and $7.81, respectively. The increase in per carton packing costs was primarily due to decreased volume packed and sold and increased subcontracted costs in the second quarter of fiscal year 2024.
• Harvest costs: The decrease in the second quarter of fiscal year 2024, compared to the same period of fiscal year 2023, was primarily due to decreased volume of lemons harvested related to the sale of the Northern Properties.
• Growing costs: Growing costs, also referred to as cultural costs, consist of orchard maintenance costs such as cultivation, fertilization and soil amendments, pest control, pruning and irrigation. The decrease in the second quarter of fiscal year 2024, compared to the same period in fiscal year 2023, was primarily due to farm management decisions based on weather, harvest timing and crop conditions.
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• Third-party grower and supplier costs: We sell fruit that we grow and fruit that we procure from other growers and suppliers. The cost of procuring fruit from other growers and suppliers is referred to as third-party grower and supplier costs. The increase in the second quarter of fiscal year 2024, compared to the same period of fiscal year 2023, was primarily due to increased volume of third-party grower fruit. In the second quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, we incurred costs for third-party grower fruit of $12.4 million and $8.8 million, respectively. Of the 1,446,000 and 1,547,000 cartons of lemons packed and sold during the second quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, 1,099,000 (76%) and 765,000 (49%), were procured from third-party growers at average per carton prices of $11.36 and $11.46, respectively. The increased volume for third-party grower fruit was primarily due to the sale of the Northern Properties. Additionally, in the second quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, we incurred $3.5 million and $2.6 million, respectively, of costs for purchased, packed fruit for resale.
• Other costs: Other costs in the second quarter of fiscal year 2024 were similar to the same period of fiscal year 2023.
• Depreciation and amortization: Depreciation and amortization expense in the second quarter of fiscal year 2024 was similar to the same period of fiscal year 2023.
Other operations expenses were $1.4 million and $1.0 million in the second quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively. The increase in other operations expenses was primarily due to severance benefits in the second quarter of fiscal year 2024.
Loss on disposal of assets, net was immaterial and $9.0 million in the second quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively. The decrease in loss on disposal of assets, net was primarily due to the disposal of Cadiz Ranch assets in the second quarter of fiscal year 2023.
Gain on legal settlement was $2.3 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2023 due to the Settlement Agreement related to the Thomas fire.
Selling, general and administrative costs and expenses were $7.4 million and $6.0 million in the second quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively. The 23% increase of $1.4 million was primarily due to:
• $1.0 million net increase in salaries, benefits and incentive compensation, primarily due to compensation expense related to the Retention Bonus Agreements; and
• $0.4 million net increase in other selling, general and administrative expenses, primarily associated with our strategic initiatives.
Other Income (Expense)
Total other income was $16.5 million and $1.3 million in the second quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively. The increase of $15.2 million in total other income was primarily due to:
• $16.5 million increase in equity in earnings of investments, net, primarily due to LLCB's closing of 554 residential homesites in the second quarter of fiscal year 2024; and
• $1.3 million increase in interest expense, net of patronage dividends, primarily due to decreased patronage dividends.
Income Taxes
We recorded an estimated income tax (provision) benefit of $(5.2) million and $0.9 million in the second quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023 on pre-tax income (loss) of $11.8 million and $(2.5) million, respectively. The tax provision recorded for the second quarter of fiscal year 2024 differs from the U.S. federal statutory tax rate of 21.0% due primarily to foreign jurisdictions which are taxed at different rates, state taxes, tax impact of stock-based compensation, executive compensation and nondeductible tax items. Our projected annual effective blended tax rate for fiscal year 2024, excluding discrete items, is approximately 29.9%.
Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest represents 10% and 49% of PDA and Trapani Fresh, respectively, of the net income or loss in the second quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023.
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Six Months Ended April 30, 2024 Compared to the Six Months Ended April 30, 2023
Revenues
Total net revenues for the six months ended April 30, 2024 were $84.3 million, compared to $86.0 million for the six months ended April 30, 2023. The 2% decrease of $1.7 million was primarily due to decreased lemons and avocados agribusiness revenues, partially offset by increased farm management agribusiness revenues, as detailed below ($ in thousands):
Six Months Ended April 30,
2024 2023 Change
Lemons $ 68,781 $ 71,334 $ (2,553) (4)%
Avocados 2,348 3,603 (1,255) (35)%
Oranges 2,301 2,535 (234) (9)%
Specialty citrus and other crops 1,925 2,263 (338) (15)%
Farm management 4,094 1,404 2,690 192%
Other $ 2,147 $ 2,065 82 4%
Agribusiness revenues $ 81,596 $ 83,204 $ (1,608) (2)%
• Lemons: The decrease in the first six months of fiscal year 2024, compared to the same period of fiscal year 2023, was primarily due to decreased volume, partially offset by higher prices of fresh lemons sold and legal settlement proceeds allocated to lemons in fiscal year 2023. During the first six months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, fresh packed lemon sales were $49.8 million and $51.3 million, in aggregate, on 2,583,000 and 2,855,000 cartons of lemons sold at average per carton prices of $19.27 and $17.98, respectively. Lemon revenues in the first six months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023 included brokered lemons and other lemon sales of $6.8 million and $3.9 million, lemon packing of $10.6 million and $12.1 million, and lemon by-product sales of $1.7 million and $2.6 million, respectively, and included legal settlement proceeds of $1.4 million allocated to lemons in fiscal year 2023.
• Avocados: The decrease in the first six months of fiscal year 2024, compared to the same period in fiscal year 2023, was primarily due to legal settlement proceeds of $2.4 million allocated to avocados in fiscal year 2023, partially offset by increased volume and higher prices of avocados sold. The California avocado crop typically experiences alternating years of high and low production due to plant physiology. During the first six months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, we sold 1,595,000 and 941,000 pounds of avocados at an average per pound price of $1.47 and $1.30, respectively.
• Oranges: The decrease in the first six months of fiscal year 2024, compared to the same period of fiscal year 2023, was primarily due to decreased volume and lower prices of oranges sold. During the first six months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, we sold 146,000 and 152,000 cartons of oranges at an average per carton price of $15.76 and $16.68, respectively.
• Specialty citrus and other crops: The decrease in the first six months of fiscal year 2024, compared to the same period of fiscal year 2023, was primarily due to decreased volume, partially offset by higher prices of specialty citrus sold. During the first six months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, we sold 46,000 and 95,000 40-pound carton equivalents of specialty citrus at an average per carton price of $29.11 and $23.82, respectively.
• Farm management: Farm management revenue is comprised primarily of Northern Properties farming, management and operations services. The increase in farm management revenues in the first six months of fiscal year 2024, compared to the same period of fiscal year 2023, was primarily due to farm management decisions based on weather and crop conditions.
• Other: Other revenue is comprised primarily of fallowing and freight revenue. Other revenues in the first six months of fiscal year 2024 were similar to the same period of fiscal year 2023.
Other operations revenue in the first six months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023 was $2.7 million and $2.8 million , respectively.
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Costs and Expenses
Total costs and expenses in the first six months of fiscal year 2024 were $96.8 million, compared to $63.9 million in the same period of fiscal year 2023. The 51% increase of $32.9 million was primarily due to the 2023 gain on disposal of Northern Properties assets, the 2023 gain on legal settlement, partially offset by the 2023 loss on disposal of Cadiz Ranch assets. Agribusiness costs and expenses in the first six months of fiscal year 2024 were similar compared to the same period of fiscal year 2023, as detailed below ($ in thousands):
Six Months Ended April 30,
2024 2023 Change
Packing costs $ 24,306 $ 23,428 $ 878 4%
Harvest costs 4,811 10,385 (5,574) (54)%
Growing costs 11,654 13,620 (1,966) (14)%
Third-party grower and supplier costs 33,662 26,378 7,284 28%
Other costs 1,585 1,744 (159) (9)%
Depreciation and amortization 3,532 3,875 (343) (9)%
Agribusiness costs and expenses $ 79,550 $ 79,430 $ 120 —%
• Packing costs: Packing costs consist primarily of the costs to pack lemons for sale such as labor and benefits, cardboard cartons, fruit treatments, packing and shipping supplies, subcontracted costs and facility operating costs. During the first six months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, we packed and sold 2,583,000 and 2,855,000 cartons of lemons at average per carton costs of $9.41 and $8.21, respectively. The increase in per carton packing costs was primarily due to decreased volume packed and sold and increased subcontracted costs in fiscal year 2024.
• Harvest costs: The decrease in the first six months of fiscal year 2024, compared to the same period in fiscal year 2023, was primarily due to decreased volume of lemons harvested related to the sale of the Northern Properties.
• Growing costs: Growing costs, also referred to as cultural costs, consist of orchard maintenance costs such as cultivation, fertilization and soil amendments, pest control, pruning and irrigation. The decrease in the first six months of fiscal year 2024, compared to the same period in fiscal year 2023, was primarily due to farm management decisions based on weather, harvest timing and crop conditions.
• Third-party grower and supplier costs: We sell fruit that we grow and fruit that we procure from other growers and suppliers. The cost of procuring fruit from other growers and suppliers is referred to as third-party grower and supplier costs. The increase in the first six months of fiscal year 2024, compared to the same period of fiscal year 2023, was primarily due to increased volume and higher prices of third-party grower fruit sold. In the first six months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, we incurred costs for third-party grower fruit of $27.2 million and $20.5 million, respectively. Of the 2,583,000 and 2,855,000 cartons of lemons packed and sold during the first six months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, 2,052,000 (79%) and 1,630,000 (57%), were procured from third-party growers at average per carton prices of $13.24 and $12.60, respectively. The increased volume for third-party grower fruit was primarily due to the sale of the Northern Properties. Additionally, in the first six months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, we incurred $6.5 million and $5.8 million, respectively, of costs for purchased, packed fruit for resale.
• Other costs: The decrease in the first six months of fiscal year 2024, compared to the same period of fiscal year 2023, was primarily due to decreased freight costs.
• Depreciation and amortization: The decrease in the first six months of fiscal year 2024, compared to the same period of fiscal year 2023, was primarily due to the Northern Properties sale in fiscal year 2023.
Other operations expenses were $2.6 million and $2.2 million in the first six months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively. The increase in other operations expenses was primarily due to severance benefits in fiscal year 2024.
Gain on disposal of assets, net was $0.1 million and $30.7 million in the first six months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively. The decrease in gain on disposal of assets, net was primarily due to the gain on the sale of the Northern Properties, partially offset by the loss on disposal of Cadiz Ranch assets in fiscal year 2023.
Gain on legal settlement was $2.3 million in the first six months of fiscal year 2023 due to the Settlement Agreement related to the Thomas fire.
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Selling, general and administrative costs and expenses were $14.7 million and $15.3 million in the first six months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively. The 4% decrease of $0.6 million was primarily due to:
• $1.1 million net decrease in salaries, benefits and incentive compensation, primarily due to compensation expense related to the Retention Bonus Agreements; and
• $0.5 million net increase in other selling, general and administrative expenses, primarily associated with our strategic initiatives.
Other Income (Expense)
Total other income (expense) was $16.3 million and $(2.2) million in the first six months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively. The increase of $18.5 million in total other income was primarily due to:
• $16.3 million increase of equity in earnings of investments, net, primarily due to LLCB's closing of 554 residential homesites in 2024;
• $2.6 million decrease of other income (expense), net primarily due to pension settlement cost in 2023; and
• $0.4 million increase of interest expense, net of patronage dividends due to decreased patronage dividends.
Income Taxes
We recorded an estimated income tax provision of $1.0 million and $5.9 million in the first six months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023 on pre-tax income of $3.9 million and $19.8 million, respectively. The tax provision recorded for the first six months of fiscal year 2024 differs from the U.S. federal statutory tax rate of 21.0% due primarily to foreign jurisdictions which are taxed at different rates, state taxes, tax impact of stock-based compensation, executive compensation and nondeductible tax items. Our projected annual effective blended tax rate for fiscal year 2024, excluding discrete items, is approximately 29.9%.
Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest represents 10% and 49% of PDA and Trapani Fresh, respectively, of the net income or loss in the first six months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023.
Segment Results of Operations
We operate in four reportable operating segments: fresh lemons, lemon packing, avocados and other agribusiness. Our reportable operating segments are strategic business units with different products and services, distribution processes and customer bases. We evaluate the performance of our operating segments separately to monitor the different factors affecting financial results. Each segment is subject to review and evaluations related to current market conditions, market opportunities and available resources. See Note 19 - Segment Information for additional information regarding our operating segments.
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Three Months Ended April 30, 2024 Compared to the Three Months Ended April 30, 2023
The following table shows the segment results of operations for the three months ended April 30, 2024 (in thousands):
Fresh
Lemons Lemon
Packing Eliminations
Avocados Other
Agribusiness Total
Agribusiness Corporate
and Other Total
Revenues from external customers $ 30,841 $ 4,964 $ — $ 2,348 $ 5,104 $ 43,257 $ 1,349 $ 44,606
Intersegment revenue — 10,914 (10,914) — — — — —
Total net revenues 30,841 15,878 (10,914) 2,348 5,104 43,257 1,349 44,606
Costs and expenses 28,869 13,588 (10,914) 1,425 5,680 38,648 8,533 47,181
Depreciation and amortization — — — — — 1,788 312 2,100
Operating (loss) income $ 1,972 $ 2,290 $ — $ 923 $ (576) $ 2,821 $ (7,496) $ (4,675)
The following table shows the segment results of operations for the three months ended April 30, 2023 (in thousands):
Fresh
Lemons Lemon
Packing Eliminations
Avocados Other
Agribusiness Total
Agribusiness Corporate
and Other Total
Revenues from external customers $ 31,942 $ 6,423 $ — $ 3,603 $ 4,708 $ 46,676 $ 1,394 $ 48,070
Intersegment revenue — 10,309 (10,309) — — — — —
Total net revenues 31,942 16,732 (10,309) 3,603 4,708 46,676 1,394 48,070
Costs and expenses 29,219 12,075 (10,309) 1,023 4,441 36,449 13,439 49,888
Depreciation and amortization — — — — — 1,740 304 2,044
Operating (loss) income $ 2,723 $ 4,657 $ — $ 2,580 $ 267 $ 8,487 $ (12,349) $ (3,862)
The following analysis should be read in conjunction with the previous section “Results of Operations.”
Fresh Lemons
Fresh lemons segment revenue is comprised of sales of fresh lemons, lemon by-products, brokered lemons and other lemon revenue. For the second quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, our fresh lemons segment total net revenues were $30.8 million and $31.9 million, respectively. The (3)% decrease of $1.1 million was primarily due to:
• Fresh packed lemon sales decrease of $0.8 million;
• Lemon by-products sales decrease of $0.2 million;
• Brokered lemons and other lemon sales increase of $1.3 million; and
• Legal settlement proceeds of $1.4 million allocated to fresh lemons in the second quarter of fiscal year 2023.
Costs and expenses associated with our fresh lemons segment include growing costs, harvest costs, cost of lemons we procure from third-party growers and suppliers and packing service charges incurred from the lemon packing segment to pack lemons for sale. For the second quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, our fresh lemons segment costs and expenses were $28.9 million and $29.2 million, respectively. The 1% decrease of $0.3 million was primarily due to:
• Harvest costs decrease of $3.4 million;
• Growing costs decrease of $1.8 million;
• Third-party grower and supplier costs increase of $4.3 million; and
• Intersegment costs and expenses increase of $0.6 million.
Lemon Packing
Lemon packing segment revenue is comprised of packing revenue and intersegment packing revenue. For the second quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, our lemon packing segment total net revenues were $15.9 million and $16.7 million, respectively. The 5% decrease of $0.8 million was primarily due to decreased volume of lemons packed and sold.
Costs and expenses associated with our lemon packing segment consist of the costs to pack lemons for sale such as labor and benefits, cardboard cartons, fruit treatments, packing and shipping supplies, subcontracted costs and facility operating costs. For the second quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, our lemon packing costs and expenses were $13.6 million and $12.1 million, respectively. The 13% increase of $1.5 million was primarily due to increased subcontracted costs in the second quarter of fiscal year 2024, partially offset by decreased volume of lemons packed and sold.
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For the second quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, lemon packing segment operating income per carton sold was $1.58 and $3.01, respectively.
The lemon packing segment included $10.9 million and $10.3 million of intersegment revenues for the second quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively, that were charged to the fresh lemons segment to pack lemons for sale. Such intersegment revenues and expenses are eliminated in our consolidated financial statements.
Avocados
For the second quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, our avocados segment revenues were $2.3 million and $3.6 million, respectively.
Costs and expenses associated with our avocados segment include growing and harvest costs. For the second quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, our avocados segment costs and expenses were $1.4 million and $1.0 million, respectively. The increase of $0.4 million was primarily due to the following:
• Harvest costs increase of $0.1 million; and
• Growing costs increase of $0.3 million.
Other Agribusiness
Our other agribusiness segment total net revenues were $5.1 million and $4.7 million for the second quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively. The 8% increase of $0.4 million was primarily due to:
• Farm management revenues increase of $0.6 million; and
• Specialty citrus and other crops revenues decrease of $0.2 million.
Costs and expenses associated with our other agribusiness segment include growing costs, harvest costs, purchased fruit costs and freight costs. Our other agribusiness costs and expenses were $5.7 million and $4.4 million for the second quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively. The 28% increase of $1.3 million was primarily due to:
• Growing costs increase of $1.0 million; and
• Purchased fruit costs increase of $0.3 million.
Total agribusiness depreciation and amortization expenses were $1.8 million and $1.7 million for the second quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Corporate and Other
Our corporate and other operations had revenues of $1.3 million and $1.4 million for the second quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Costs and expenses in our corporate and other operations were approximately $8.5 million and $13.4 million for the second quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively, and include selling, general and administrative costs and expenses, loss on disposal of assets, net and gain on legal settlement not allocated to the operating segments. Depreciation and amortization expenses for the second quarters of fiscal years 2024 and 2023 were similar at $0.3 million.
Six Months Ended April 30, 2024 Compared to the Six Months Ended April 30, 2023
The following table shows the segment results of operations for the six months ended April 30, 2024 (in thousands):
Fresh
Lemons Lemon
Packing Eliminations
Avocados Other
Agribusiness Total
Agribusiness Corporate
and Other Total
Revenues from external customers $ 58,225 $ 10,556 $ — $ 2,348 $ 10,467 $ 81,596 $ 2,741 $ 84,337
Intersegment revenue — 17,630 (17,630) — — — — —
Total net revenues 58,225 28,186 (17,630) 2,348 10,467 81,596 2,741 84,337
Costs and expenses 57,710 24,306 (17,630) 1,425 10,207 76,018 16,581 92,599
Depreciation and amortization — — — — — 3,532 626 4,158
Operating (loss) income $ 515 $ 3,880 $ — $ 923 $ 260 $ 2,046 $ (14,466) $ (12,420)
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The following table shows the segment results of operations for the six months ended April 30, 2023 (in thousands):
Fresh
Lemons Lemon
Packing Eliminations
Avocados Other
Agribusiness Total
Agribusiness Corporate
and Other Total
Revenues from external customers $ 59,263 $ 12,071 $ — $ 3,603 $ 8,267 $ 83,204 $ 2,767 $ 85,971
Intersegment revenue — 17,672 (17,672) — — — — —
Total net revenues 59,263 29,743 (17,672) 3,603 8,267 83,204 2,767 85,971
Costs and expenses (gains) 61,533 23,428 (17,672) 1,023 7,243 75,555 (16,097) 59,458
Depreciation and amortization — — — — — 3,875 616 4,491
Operating income (loss) $ (2,270) $ 6,315 $ — $ 2,580 $ 1,024 $ 3,774 $ 18,248 $ 22,022
The following analysis should be read in conjunction with the previous section “Results of Operations.”
Fresh Lemons
Fresh lemons segment revenue is comprised of sales of fresh lemons, lemon by-products, brokered lemons and other lemon revenue. For the first six months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, our fresh lemons segment total net revenues were $58.2 million and $59.3 million, respectively. The 2% decrease of $1.1 million was primarily due to:
• Fresh packed lemon sales decrease of $1.6 million;
• Lemon by-products decrease of $0.9 million;
• Brokered lemons and other lemon sales increase of $2.8 million; and
• Legal settlement proceeds of $1.4 million allocated to fresh lemons in the first six months of fiscal year 2023.
Costs and expenses associated with our fresh lemons segment include growing costs, harvest costs, cost of lemons we procure from third-party growers and suppliers and transportation costs. For the first six months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, our fresh lemons segment costs and expenses were $57.7 million and $61.5 million, respectively. The 6% decrease of $3.8 million was primarily due to:
• Harvest costs decrease of $5.7 million;
• Growing costs decrease of $5.3 million; and
• Third-party grower and supplier costs increase of $7.2 million.
Lemon Packing
Lemon packing segment revenue is comprised of packing revenue and intersegment packing revenue. For the first six months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, our lemon packing segment total net revenues were $28.2 million and $29.7 million, respectively. The 5% decrease of $1.5 million was primarily due to decreased volume of lemons packed and sold.
Costs and expenses associated with our lemon packing segment consist of the costs to pack lemons for sale such as labor and benefits, cardboard cartons, fruit treatments, packing and shipping supplies, subcontracted and facility operating costs. For the first six months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, our lemon packing costs and expenses were $24.3 million and $23.4 million, respectively. The 4% increase of $0.9 million was primarily due to increased subcontracted costs in the first six months of fiscal year 2024, partially offset by decreased volume of lemons packed and sold.
For the first six months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, lemon packing segment operating income per carton sold was $1.50 and $2.21, respectively.
The lemon packing segment included $17.6 million and $17.7 million of intersegment revenues in the first six months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively, that were charged to the fresh lemons segment to pack lemons for sale. Such intersegment revenues and expenses are eliminated in our consolidated financial statements.
Avocados
For the first six months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, our avocados segment revenues were $2.3 million and $3.6 million, respectively.
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Costs and expenses associated with our avocados segment include growing and harvest costs. Our avocados segment costs and expenses were $1.4 million and $1.0 million for the first six months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively. The 39% increase of $0.4 million was primarily due to the following:
• Harvest costs increase of $0.1 million; and
• Growing costs increase of $0.3 million.
Other Agribusiness
Our other agribusiness segment total net revenues were $10.5 million and $8.3 million for the first six months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively. The 27% increase of $2.2 million was primarily due to:
• Farm management revenues increase of $2.7 million;
• Orange revenues decrease of $0.2 million; and
• Specialty citrus and other crops revenues decrease of $0.3 million.
Costs and expenses associated with our other agribusiness segment include growing costs, harvest costs, purchased fruit costs and freight costs. Our other agribusiness costs and expenses were $10.2 million and $7.2 million for the first six months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively. The 41% increase of $3.0 million was primarily due to:
• Growing costs increase of $3.1 million;
• Purchased fruit costs increase of $0.1 million; and
• Freight costs decrease of $0.2 million.
Total agribusiness depreciation and amortization expenses were $3.5 million and $3.9 million, for the first six months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Corporate and Other
Our corporate and other operations revenues were $2.7 million and $2.8 million for the first six months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Costs and expenses (gains) in our corporate and other operations were $16.6 million and $(16.1) million for the first six months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively, and include selling, general and administrative costs and expenses, loss (gain) on disposal of assets, net and gain on legal settlement not allocated to the operating segments. Depreciation and amortization expenses for the first six months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023 were similar at $0.6 million.
Seasonal Operations
Historically, our agribusiness operations have been seasonal in nature with quarterly revenue fluctuating depending on the timing and the variety of crops being harvested. Cultural costs in our agribusiness tend to be higher in the first and second quarters and lower in the third and fourth quarters because of the timing of expensing cultural costs in the current year that were inventoried in the prior year. Our harvest costs generally increase in the second quarter and peak in the third quarter coinciding with the increasing production and revenue. Due to this seasonality and to avoid the inference that interim results are indicative of the estimated results for a full fiscal year, we present supplemental information for 12-month periods ended at the interim date for the current and preceding years.
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Results of Operations for the Trailing Twelve Months Ended April 30, 2024 and 2023
The following table shows the unaudited results of operations (in thousands):
Trailing Twelve Months Ended April 30,
2024 2023
Net revenues:
Agribusiness $ 172,773 $ 179,033
Other operations 5,493 5,519
Total net revenues 178,266 184,552
Costs and expenses:
Agribusiness 169,289 161,238
Other operations 4,976 4,518
Loss (gain) on disposal of assets 1,778 (35,505)
Gain on legal settlement — (2,269)
Selling, general and administrative 25,883 25,375
Total costs and expenses 201,926 153,357
Operating (loss) income (23,660) 31,195
Other income (expense):
Interest income 330 75
Interest expense, net of patronage dividends (876) (1,986)
Equity in earnings of investments, net 21,640 1,306
Other income (expense), net 20 (3,460)
Total other income (expense) 21,114 (4,065)
(Loss) income before income tax benefit (provision) (2,546) 27,130
Income tax benefit (provision) 636 (8,666)
Net (loss) income (1,910) 18,464
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest 273 275
Net (loss) income attributable to Limoneira Company $ (1,637) $ 18,739
The following analysis should be read in conjunction with the previous section “Results of Operations.”
• Total revenues decreased $6.3 million, primarily due to decreased lemons, avocados and oranges agribusiness revenues, partially offset by increased farm management revenues.
• Total costs and expenses increased $48.6 million, primarily due to loss (gain) on disposal of assets, gain on legal settlement and increased agribusiness costs and selling, general and administrative expenses.
• Total other income increased $25.2 million, primarily due to increased equity in earnings of investments, net related to LLCB and decreased other expense related to pension settlement costs.
• Income tax provision decreased $9.3 million, primarily due to decreased pre-tax income of $29.7 million.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
Overview
Our primary sources of liquidity are cash and cash flows generated from our operations and use of our revolving credit facility. 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, which are our second and third quarters. To meet working capital demand and investment requirements of our agribusiness and real estate development projects 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, all of which are readily available from local sources.
Material contractual obligations arising in the normal course of business consist primarily of purchase obligations, long-term fixed rate and variable rate debt and related interest payments and operating and finance leases. See Note 10 - Long-Term Debt and Note 12 - Leases for amounts outstanding as of April 30, 2024, related to debt and leases. Purchase obligations consist of contracts primarily related to packing supplies, the majority of which are due in the next 5 years.
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 next 12 months. We believe our revenue generating operations, distributions from equity investments and credit facilities will generate sufficient cash needed to operate beyond the next 12 months. In addition, we have the ability to control a portion of our investing cash flows to the extent necessary based on our liquidity demands.
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net cash used in operating activities was $13.3 million and $18.4 million for the six months ended April 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The significant components of our cash flows used in operating activities were as follows:
• Net income was $2.9 million and $13.9 million for the six months ended April 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The components of net income in the six months ended April 30, 2024, compared to the net income in the same period in fiscal year 2023 consist of a decrease in operating income of $34.4 million primarily due to the Northern Properties sale, an increase in total other income of $18.5 million, primarily related to LLCB equity earnings and a decrease in income tax provision of $4.9 million.
• Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:
◦ Adjustments used $8.7 million and $18.5 million in the six months ended April 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, primarily related to gain on disposal of assets, net, equity in earnings in investments, net and deferred income taxes.
◦ Changes in operating assets and liabilities used $7.5 million and $13.8 million of operating cash in the six months ended April 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, primarily related to accounts receivables and receivables/other from related parties, cultural costs, prepaid expenses and other current assets, accounts payable and growers and suppliers payable and accrued liabilities and payables to related parties.
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities was $(2.9) million and $95.4 million for the six months ended April 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
▪ The $2.9 million of cash used in investing activities during the six months ended April 30, 2024 was comprised primarily of capital expenditures of $3.7 million, primarily related to orchard and vineyard development, partially offset by net proceeds from sales of assets of $0.9 million.
▪ The $95.4 million of cash provided by investing activities during the six months ended April 30, 2023 was comprised primarily of net proceeds from sales of assets of $98.5 million and net proceeds from the sale of real estate development assets of $2.6 million, partially offset by capital expenditures of $5.4 million, primarily related to orchard and vineyard development.
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Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities was $14.0 million and $(68.0) million for the six months ended April 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
• The $14.0 million of cash provided by financing activities during the six months ended April 30, 2024 was comprised primarily of net borrowings of long-term debt of $19.2 million, partially offset by common and preferred stock dividends of $2.9 million and exchange of common stock of $1.8 million.
• The $68.0 million of cash used in financing activities during the six months ended April 30, 2023 was comprised primarily of net repayments of long-term debt of $64.8 million and common and preferred dividends of $2.9 million.
Transactions Affecting Liquidity and Capital Resources
Credit Facilities and Long-Term Debt
We finance our working capital and other liquidity requirements primarily through cash from operations and from our Credit Facility with AgWest Farm Credit, formerly know as Farm Credit West, (the "Lender"), which includes the Master Loan Agreement (the “MLA”), a revolving credit facility supplement (the “Revolving Credit Supplement”), a non-revolving credit facility supplement (the “Non-Revolving Credit Supplement” and, together with the Revolving Credit Supplement, the “Supplements”), and a Fixed Interest Rate Agreement, which extends principal repayment to July 1, 2026. The MLA governs the terms of the Supplements. In addition, we have Banco de Chile term loans and COVID-19 loans. Additional information regarding these loans can be found in Note 10 - Long-Term Debt.
The Supplements provide aggregate borrowing capacity of $115.0 million, comprised of $75.0 million under the Revolving Credit Supplement and $40.0 million under the Non-Revolving Credit Supplement. As of April 30, 2024, our outstanding borrowings under the AgWest Farm Credit Facility were $59.4 million and we had $55.6 million of availability.
On January 31, 2023, the Company sold the Northern Properties which resulted in total net proceeds of $98.4 million. The proceeds were used to pay down all of the Company's domestic debt except the Non-Revolving Credit Supplement.
The MLA 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 of our business. We are also subject to a financial covenant that requires us to maintain compliance with a specific debt service coverage ratio on an annual basis. In September 2023, the Lender modified the covenant to defer measurement as of October 31, 2023 and resume a debt service coverage ratio of 1.25:1.0 measured as of October 31, 2024.
In December 2023, the Lender declared an annual cash patronage dividend of 1.25% of average eligible loan balances and we received $0.6 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2024. In February 2023, the Lender declared an annual cash patronage dividend of 1.25% of average eligible loan balances and we received $1.4 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2023.
Real Estate Development Joint Ve nture
On April 30, 2024, our real estate development joint venture with Lewis closed an additional 554 residential homesites at the Harvest at Limoneira master planned community in Santa Paula, CA, and we recorded equity in earnings of investments of $16.6 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2024. As of April 30, 2024, the 50%-owned unconsolidated joint venture had $102.1 million of unaudited cash and cash equivalents on hand, and on June 5, 2024, the joint venture made a cash distribution of $30.0 million. We intend to pay down debt with our $15.0 million portion of this cash distribution.
Dividends
The holders of our Series B Convertible Preferred Stock and Series B-2 Preferred Stock are entitled to receive cumulative cash dividends. Such preferred dividends paid were $0.3 million in the six months ended April 30, 2024 and 2023.
Cash dividends declared in the six months ended April 30, 2024 and 2023 were $0.15 per common share and such dividends paid were $2.7 million in the six months ended April 30, 2024 and 2023.
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Critical Accounting Estimates
The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires us to develop critical accounting policies and make certain estimates, assumptions 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, and we continue to review and evaluate these estimates. Actual results may materially differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions as new or additional information become available in future periods. During the six months ended April 30, 2024, our critical accounting policies and estimates have not changed since the filing of our Annual Report on Form 10-K as of October 31, 2023. Please refer to that filing for a description of our critical accounting policies and estimates.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 2 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies of the notes to consolidated financial statements included in this Quarterly Report for information concerning recent accounting pronouncements.
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, 2023, as filed with the SEC on December 21, 2023.
Text extracted from the filing as submitted to EDGAR. Formatting, tables and exhibits are simplified for reading; the original document is authoritative for anything you rely on.