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 July 31, 2024, the state was free from severe 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 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced that Lake Mead will operate in a Tier 1 shortage in 2025, which requires Arizona to forfeit approximately 18% of the state's yearly allotment of water from Lake Mead. In response to this and prior years' 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.
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 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.
On July 12, 2024, we declared a cash dividend of $0.075 per common share paid on July 19, 2024, in the aggregate amount of approximately $1.4 million to stockholders of record as of July 8, 2024.
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
July 31, Nine Months Ended
July 31,
2024 2023 2024 2023
Net revenues:
Agribusiness $ 61,849 $ 51,092 $ 143,445 $ 134,296
Other operations 1,456 1,405 4,197 4,172
Total net revenues 63,305 52,497 147,642 138,468
Costs and expenses:
Agribusiness 45,437 46,845 124,987 126,275
Other operations 1,250 1,034 3,861 3,281
Impairment of intangible asset 643 — 643 —
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets, net (12) 1,545 (129) (29,199)
Gain on legal settlement — — — (2,269)
Selling, general and administrative 6,994 4,622 21,707 19,907
Total costs and expenses 54,312 54,046 151,069 117,995
Operating income (loss):
Agribusiness 16,412 4,247 18,458 8,021
Other operations 206 371 336 891
Impairment of intangible asset (643) — (643) —
Gain (loss) on disposal of assets, net 12 (1,545) 129 29,199
Gain on legal settlement — — — 2,269
Selling, general and administrative (6,994) (4,622) (21,707) (19,907)
Operating income (loss) 8,993 (1,549) (3,427) 20,473
Other income (expense):
Interest income 27 178 63 248
Interest expense, net of patronage dividends (273) (241) (831) (417)
Equity in earnings of investments, net 483 199 17,116 514
Other income (expense), net 5 (215) 224 (2,627)
Total other income (expense) 242 (79) 16,572 (2,282)
Income (loss) before income tax (provision) benefit 9,235 (1,628) 13,145 18,191
Income tax (provision) benefit (3,019) 378 (4,051) (5,537)
Net income (loss) 6,216 (1,250) 9,094 12,654
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest 377 87 481 201
Net income (loss) attributable to Limoneira Company $ 6,593 $ (1,163) $ 9,575 $ 12,855
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, impairment of intangible asset, (gain) loss 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
July 31, Nine Months Ended
July 31,
2024 2023 2024 2023
Net income (loss) attributable to Limoneira Company $ 6,593 $ (1,163) $ 9,575 $ 12,855
Interest income (27) (178) (63) (248)
Interest expense, net of patronage dividends 273 241 831 417
Income tax provision (benefit) 3,019 (378) 4,051 5,537
Depreciation and amortization 2,115 2,019 6,273 6,510
EBITDA $ 11,973 $ 541 $ 20,667 $ 25,071
Stock-based compensation 1,204 756 3,139 2,785
Pension settlement cost — — — 2,741
Impairment of intangible asset 643 — 643 —
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets, net (12) 1,545 (129) (29,199)
Cash bonus related to sale of assets — — — 2,000
Gain on legal settlement — — — (2,269)
Severance benefits (17) — 1,198 —
Adjusted EBITDA $ 13,791 $ 2,842 $ 25,518 $ 1,129
Three Months Ended July 31, 2024 Compared to the Three Months Ended July 31, 2023
Revenues
Total net revenues for the three months ended July 31, 2024 were $63.3 million, compared to $52.5 million for the three months ended July 31, 2023. The 21% increase of $10.8 million was primarily due to increased agribusiness revenues from avocados and lemons. This was partially offset by decreased agribusiness revenues from specialty citrus and other crops and farm management, as detailed below ($ in thousands):
Three Months Ended July 31,
2024 2023 Change
Lemons $ 41,946 $ 38,211 $ 3,735 10%
Avocados 13,897 3,462 10,435 301%
Oranges 1,160 1,290 (130) (10)%
Specialty citrus and other crops 550 1,900 (1,350) (71)%
Farm management 3,202 5,383 (2,181) (41)%
Other 1,094 846 248 29%
Agribusiness revenues $ 61,849 $ 51,092 $ 10,757 21%
• Lemons: The increase in the third quarter of fiscal year 2024, compared to the same period of fiscal year 2023, was primarily due to increased volume and higher prices of fresh lemons sold. During the third quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, fresh packed lemon sales were $25.8 million and $24.2 million, in aggregate, on 1,400,000 and 1,352,000 cartons of lemons sold at average per carton prices of $18.43 and $17.92, respectively. Lemon revenues in the third quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023 included brokered lemons and other lemon sales of $9.8 million and $8.0 million, lemon packing of $5.2 million and $5.5 million and lemon by-product sales of $1.2 million and $0.6 million, respectively.
• Avocados: The increase in the third quarter of fiscal year 2024, compared to the same period of fiscal year 2023, was primarily due to 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 third quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, we sold 8,855,000 and 2,822,000 pounds of avocados at an average per pound price of $1.57 and $0.99, respectively.
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• Oranges: The decrease in the third 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 third quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, we sold 43,000 and 71,000 cartons of oranges at an average per carton price of $26.98 and $18.17, respectively.
• Specialty citrus and other crops: The decrease in the third quarter of fiscal year 2024, compared to the same period of fiscal year 2023, was primarily due to decreased volume and lower prices of specialty citrus sold. During the third quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, we sold 25,000 and 70,000 40-pound carton equivalents of specialty citrus at an average per carton price of $22.00 and $25.88, respectively.
• Farm management: Farm management revenue is comprised primarily of Northern Properties farming, management and operations services. The decrease in farm management revenues in the third 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. The increase in other revenue in the third quarter of fiscal year 2024, compared to the same period of fiscal year 2023, was primarily due to fallowing revenue.
Other operations revenue in the third quarters of fiscal years 2024 and 2023 were $1.5 million and $1.4 million, respectively.
Costs and Expenses
Total costs and expenses in the third quarter of fiscal year 2024 were $54.3 million, compared to $54.0 million in the same period of fiscal year 2023. The increase of $0.3 million was primarily due to an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses and the 2024 impairment of intangible asset, partially offset by the decrease in loss on disposal of assets and a decrease in agribusiness costs and expenses. Agribusiness costs and expenses are detailed below ($ in thousands):
Three Months Ended July 31,
2024 2023 Change
Packing costs $ 11,144 $ 13,140 $ (1,996) (15)%
Harvest costs 4,330 6,189 (1,859) (30)%
Growing costs 7,650 10,566 (2,916) (28)%
Third-party grower and supplier costs 19,860 14,575 5,285 36%
Other costs 654 640 14 2%
Depreciation and amortization 1,799 1,735 64 4%
Agribusiness costs and expenses $ 45,437 $ 46,845 $ (1,408) (3)%
• 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 third quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, we packed and sold 1,400,000 and 1,352,000 cartons of lemons at average per carton costs of $7.96 and $9.72, respectively. The decrease in per carton packing costs was primarily due to higher volume and decreased costs for labor and benefits and facility operating costs.
• Harvest costs: The decrease in the third quarter of fiscal year 2024, compared to the same period of fiscal year 2023, was primarily due to decreased volume of lemons harvested, partially offset by increased volume of avocados harvested.
• Growing costs: Growing costs, also referred to as cultural costs, consist of orchard maintenance costs such as cultivation, fertilization and soil amendments, pest control, pruning and irrigation. The decrease in the third quarter of fiscal year 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 third quarter 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. In the third quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, we incurred costs for third-party grower fruit of $10.5 million and $6.4 million, respectively. Of the 1,400,000 and 1,352,000 cartons of lemons packed and sold during the third quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, 869,000 (62%) and 594,000 (44%), were procured from third-party growers at average per carton prices of $12.06 and $10.78, respectively. Additionally, in the third quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, we incurred $9.4 million and $8.2 million, respectively, of costs for purchased, packed fruit for resale.
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• Other costs: Other costs in the third quarter of fiscal year 2024 were similar to the same period of fiscal year 2023.
• Depreciation and amortization: Depreciation and amortization expense in the third quarter of fiscal year 2024 was similar to the same period of fiscal year 2023.
Other operations expenses were $1.3 million and $1.0 million in the third quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively.
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets, net was immaterial and $1.5 million in the third quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively. The fiscal year 2023 loss on disposal of assets, net was primarily due to orchard disposals.
Selling, general and administrative costs and expenses were $7.0 million and $4.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively. The 51% increase of $2.4 million was primarily due to:
• $1.7 million net increase in salaries, benefits and incentive compensation;
• $0.9 million net increase in selling expenses; and
• $0.2 million net decrease in other selling, general and administrative expenses.
Other Income (Expense)
Total other income (expense) was $0.2 million and $(0.1) million in the third quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively. The increase of $0.3 million in total other income was primarily due to increased equity earnings related to LLCB.
Income Taxes
We recorded an estimated income tax (provision) benefit of $(3.0) million and $0.4 million in the third quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023 on pre-tax income (loss) of $9.2 million and $(1.6) million, respectively. The tax provision recorded for the third quarter of fiscal year 2024 differs from the U.S. federal statutory tax rate of 21.0% due primarily to foreign jurisdictions that are taxed at different rates, state taxes, tax impact of stock-based compensation, executive compensation, nondeductible tax items and valuation allowances on certain deferred tax assets of foreign subsidiaries. Our projected annual effective blended tax rate for fiscal year 2024, excluding discrete items, is approximately 33.0%.
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 loss in the third quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023.
Nine Months Ended July 31, 2024 Compared to the Nine Months Ended July 31, 2023
Revenues
Total net revenues for the nine months ended July 31, 2024 were $147.6 million, compared to $138.5 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2023. The 7% increase of $9.1 million was primarily due to increased agribusiness revenues from avocados and lemons, partially offset by decreased agribusiness revenues from specialty citrus and other crops, as detailed below ($ in thousands):
Nine Months Ended July 31,
2024 2023 Change
Lemons $ 110,727 $ 109,545 $ 1,182 1%
Avocados 16,245 7,065 9,180 130%
Oranges 3,461 3,825 (364) (10)%
Specialty citrus and other crops 2,475 4,163 (1,688) (41)%
Farm management 7,296 6,787 509 7%
Other $ 3,241 $ 2,911 330 11%
Agribusiness revenues $ 143,445 $ 134,296 $ 9,149 7%
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• Lemons: The increase in the first nine months of fiscal year 2024, compared to the same period of fiscal year 2023, was primarily due to higher prices, partially offset by decreased volume of fresh lemons sold. During the first nine months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, fresh packed lemon sales were $75.6 million and $75.6 million, in aggregate, on 3,983,000 and 4,206,000 cartons of lemons sold at average per carton prices of $18.98 and $17.96, respectively. Lemon revenues in the first nine months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023 included brokered lemons and other lemon sales of $16.5 million and $11.9 million, lemon packing of $15.8 million and $17.5 million, and lemon by-product sales of $2.9 million and $3.1 million, respectively, and included legal settlement proceeds of $1.4 million allocated to lemons in fiscal year 2023.
• Avocados: The increase in the first nine months of fiscal year 2024, compared to the same period in fiscal year 2023, was primarily due to 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 nine months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, we sold 10,450,000 and 3,763,000 pounds of avocados at an average per pound price of $1.55 and $1.06, respectively. In addition, avocado revenues in fiscal year 2023 included legal settlement proceeds of $2.4 million allocated to avocados and crop insurance proceeds of $0.7 million.
• Oranges: The decrease in the first nine 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 oranges sold. During the first nine months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, we sold 189,000 and 223,000 cartons of oranges at an average per carton price of $18.31 and $17.15, respectively.
• Specialty citrus and other crops: The decrease in the first nine 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 nine months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, we sold 71,000 and 165,000 40-pound carton equivalents of specialty citrus at an average per carton price of $26.61 and $24.70, 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 nine 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. The increase in other revenue in the first nine months of fiscal year 2024, compared to the same period of fiscal year 2023, was primarily due to fallowing revenue.
Other operations revenue in both the first nine months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023 was $4.2 million.
Costs and Expenses
Total costs and expenses in the first nine months of fiscal year 2024 were $151.1 million, compared to $118.0 million in the same period of fiscal year 2023. The 28% increase of $33.1 million was primarily due to the 2023 net gain on disposal of assets, the 2023 gain on legal settlement and an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses, partially offset by a decrease in agribusiness costs and expenses. Agribusiness costs and expenses are detailed below ($ in thousands):
Nine Months Ended July 31,
2024 2023 Change
Packing costs $ 35,450 $ 36,568 $ (1,118) (3)%
Harvest costs 9,141 16,574 (7,433) (45)%
Growing costs 19,304 24,186 (4,882) (20)%
Third-party grower and supplier costs 53,522 40,953 12,569 31%
Other costs 2,239 2,384 (145) (6)%
Depreciation and amortization 5,331 5,610 (279) (5)%
Agribusiness costs and expenses $ 124,987 $ 126,275 $ (1,288) (1)%
• 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 nine months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, we packed and sold 3,983,000 and 4,206,000 cartons of lemons at average per carton costs of $8.90 and $8.69, respectively. The increase in per carton packing costs was primarily due to increased subcontracted costs and decreased volume of lemons packed and sold.
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• Harvest costs: The decrease in the first nine 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, partially offset by increased volume of avocados harvested.
• 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 nine 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 nine 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 nine months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, we incurred costs for third-party grower fruit of $37.6 million and $26.9 million, respectively. Of the 3,983,000 and 4,206,000 cartons of lemons packed and sold during the first nine months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, 2,921,000 (73%) and 2,224,000 (53%), were procured from third-party growers at average per carton prices of $12.89 and $12.11, respectively. The increased volume for third-party grower fruit was primarily due to the sale of the Northern Properties and the related marketing agreement. Additionally, in the first nine months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, we incurred $15.9 million and $14.0 million, respectively, of costs for purchased, packed fruit for resale.
• Other costs: Other costs in the first nine months of fiscal year 2024 were similar to the same period of fiscal year 2023.
• Depreciation and amortization: Depreciation and amortization expense in the first nine months of fiscal year 2024 were similar to the same period of fiscal year 2023.
Other operations expenses were $3.9 million and $3.3 million in the first nine 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 $29.2 million in the first nine months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively. The decrease was primarily due to the 2023 gain on the sale of the Northern Properties, partially offset by the 2023 loss on disposal of Cadiz Ranch assets.
Gain on legal settlement was $2.3 million in the first nine months of fiscal year 2023 due to the Settlement Agreement related to the Thomas fire.
Selling, general and administrative costs and expenses were $21.7 million and $19.9 million in the first nine months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively. The 9% increase of $1.8 million was primarily due to:
• $0.9 million net increase in selling expenses;
• $0.6 million net increase in salaries, benefits and incentive compensation; and
• $0.3 million net increase in other selling, general and administrative expenses, primarily associated with our strategic initiatives.
Other Income (Expense)
Total other income (expense) was $16.6 million and $(2.3) million in the first nine months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively. The increase of $18.9 million in total other income was primarily due to:
• $16.6 million increase of equity in earnings of investments, net, primarily due to LLCB's closing of 554 residential homesites in 2024;
• $2.9 million decrease of other 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 $4.1 million and $5.5 million in the first nine months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023 on pre-tax income of $13.1 million and $18.2 million, respectively. The tax provision recorded for the first nine months of fiscal year 2024 differs from the U.S. federal statutory tax rate of 21.0% due primarily to foreign jurisdictions that are taxed at different rates, state taxes, tax impact of stock-based compensation, executive compensation, nondeductible tax items and valuation allowances on certain deferred tax assets of foreign subsidiaries. Our projected annual effective blended tax rate for fiscal year 2024, excluding discrete items, is approximately 33.0%.
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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 loss in the first nine 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.
Three Months Ended July 31, 2024 Compared to the Three Months Ended July 31, 2023
The following table shows the segment results of operations for the three months ended July 31, 2024 (in thousands):
Fresh
Lemons Lemon
Packing Eliminations
Avocados Other
Agribusiness Total
Agribusiness Corporate
and Other Total
Revenues from external customers $ 36,746 $ 5,200 $ — $ 13,897 $ 6,006 $ 61,849 $ 1,456 $ 63,305
Intersegment revenue — 10,499 (10,499) — — — — —
Total net revenues 36,746 15,699 (10,499) 13,897 6,006 61,849 1,456 63,305
Costs and expenses 32,977 11,144 (10,499) 4,104 5,912 43,638 8,559 52,197
Depreciation and amortization — — — — — 1,799 316 2,115
Operating income (loss) $ 3,769 $ 4,555 $ — $ 9,793 $ 94 $ 16,412 $ (7,419) $ 8,993
The following table shows the segment results of operations for the three months ended July 31, 2023 (in thousands):
Fresh
Lemons Lemon
Packing Eliminations
Avocados Other
Agribusiness Total
Agribusiness Corporate
and Other Total
Revenues from external customers $ 32,739 $ 5,472 $ — $ 3,462 $ 9,419 $ 51,092 $ 1,405 $ 52,497
Intersegment revenue — 9,684 (9,684) — — — — —
Total net revenues 32,739 15,156 (9,684) 3,462 9,419 51,092 1,405 52,497
Costs and expenses 30,118 13,140 (9,684) 3,030 8,506 45,110 6,917 52,027
Depreciation and amortization — — — — — 1,735 284 2,019
Operating income (loss) $ 2,621 $ 2,016 $ — $ 432 $ 913 $ 4,247 $ (5,796) $ (1,549)
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 third quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, our fresh lemons segment total net revenues were $36.7 million and $32.7 million, respectively. The 12% increase of $4.0 million was primarily due to:
• Fresh packed lemon sales increase of $1.6 million;
• Lemon by-products sales increase of $0.6 million; and
• Brokered lemons and other lemon sales increase of $1.8 million.
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 third quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, our fresh lemons segment costs and expenses were $33.0 million and $30.1 million, respectively. The 9% increase of $2.9 million was primarily due to:
• Harvest costs decrease of $3.0 million;
• Growing costs decrease of $0.8 million;
• Third-party grower and supplier costs increase of $5.9 million; and
• Intersegment costs and expenses increase of $0.8 million.
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Lemon Packing
Lemon packing segment revenue is comprised of packing revenue and intersegment packing revenue. For the third quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, our lemon packing segment total net revenues were $15.7 million and $15.2 million, respectively. The 4% increase of $0.5 million was primarily due to increased 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 third quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, our lemon packing costs and expenses were $11.1 million and $13.1 million, respectively. The 15% decrease of $2.0 million was primarily due to decreased costs for labor and benefits and facility operating costs in the third quarter of fiscal year 2024.
For the third quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, lemon packing segment operating income per carton sold was $3.25 and $1.49, respectively.
The lemon packing segment included $10.5 million and $9.7 million of intersegment revenues for the third 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 third quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, our avocados segment revenues were $13.9 million and $3.5 million, respectively.
Costs and expenses associated with our avocados segment include growing and harvest costs. For the third quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, our avocados segment costs and expenses were $4.1 million and $3.0 million, respectively. The increase of $1.1 million was primarily due to the following:
• Harvest costs increase of $1.2 million; and
• Growing costs decrease of $0.1 million.
Other Agribusiness
Our other agribusiness segment total net revenues were $6.0 million and $9.4 million for the third quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively. The 36% decrease of $3.4 million was primarily due to:
• Farm management revenues decrease of $2.2 million;
• Specialty citrus and other crops revenues decrease of $1.4 million; and
• Other revenues increase 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 $5.9 million and $8.5 million for the third quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively. The 30% decrease of $2.6 million was primarily due to:
• Growing costs decrease of $2.0 million; and
• Purchased fruit costs decrease of $0.6 million.
Total agribusiness depreciation and amortization expenses were $1.8 million and $1.7 million for the third quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Corporate and Other
Our corporate and other operations had revenues of $1.5 million and $1.4 million for the third quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Costs and expenses in our corporate and other operations were approximately $8.6 million and $6.9 million for the third quarter of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively, and include selling, general and administrative costs and expenses, impairment of intangible asset, (gain) loss on disposal of assets, net and gain on legal settlement, none of which are allocated to the operating segments. Depreciation and amortization expenses for the third quarters of fiscal years 2024 and 2023 were similar at $0.3 million.
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Nine Months Ended July 31, 2024 Compared to the Nine Months Ended July 31, 2023
The following table shows the segment results of operations for the nine months ended July 31, 2024 (in thousands):
Fresh
Lemons Lemon
Packing Eliminations
Avocados Other
Agribusiness Total
Agribusiness Corporate
and Other Total
Revenues from external customers $ 94,971 $ 15,756 $ — $ 16,245 $ 16,473 $ 143,445 $ 4,197 $ 147,642
Intersegment revenue — 28,129 (28,129) — — — — —
Total net revenues 94,971 43,885 (28,129) 16,245 16,473 143,445 4,197 147,642
Costs and expenses 90,687 35,450 (28,129) 5,529 16,119 119,656 25,140 144,796
Depreciation and amortization — — — — — 5,331 942 6,273
Operating income (loss) $ 4,284 $ 8,435 $ — $ 10,716 $ 354 $ 18,458 $ (21,885) $ (3,427)
The following table shows the segment results of operations for the nine months ended July 31, 2023 (in thousands):
Fresh
Lemons Lemon
Packing Eliminations
Avocados Other
Agribusiness Total
Agribusiness Corporate
and Other Total
Revenues from external customers $ 92,002 $ 17,543 $ — $ 7,065 $ 17,686 $ 134,296 $ 4,172 $ 138,468
Intersegment revenue — 27,356 (27,356) — — — — —
Total net revenues 92,002 44,899 (27,356) 7,065 17,686 134,296 4,172 138,468
Costs and expenses (gains) 91,651 36,568 (27,356) 4,053 15,749 120,665 (9,180) 111,485
Depreciation and amortization — — — — — 5,610 900 6,510
Operating income $ 351 $ 8,331 $ — $ 3,012 $ 1,937 $ 8,021 $ 12,452 $ 20,473
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 nine months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, our fresh lemons segment total net revenues were $95.0 million and $92.0 million, respectively. The 3% increase of $3.0 million was primarily due to:
• Brokered lemons and other lemon sales increase of $4.6 million;
• Lemon by-products decrease of $0.2 million; and
• Legal settlement proceeds of $1.4 million allocated to fresh lemons in 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 nine months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, our fresh lemons segment costs and expenses were $90.7 million and $91.7 million, respectively. The 1% decrease of $1.0 million was primarily due to:
• Harvest costs decrease of $8.7 million;
• Growing costs decrease of $6.1 million;
• Third-party grower and supplier costs increase of $13.1 million; and
• Intersegment costs and expenses increase of $0.8 million.
Lemon Packing
Lemon packing segment revenue is comprised of packing revenue and intersegment packing revenue. For the first nine months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, our lemon packing segment total net revenues were $43.9 million and $44.9 million, respectively. The 2% decrease of $1.0 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 nine months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, our lemon packing costs and expenses were $35.5 million and $36.6 million, respectively. The 3% decrease of $1.1 million was primarily due to decreased volume of lemons packed and sold, partially offset by increased subcontracted costs.
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For the first nine months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, lemon packing segment operating income per carton sold was $2.12 and $1.98, respectively.
The lemon packing segment included $28.1 million and $27.4 million of intersegment revenues in the first nine 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 nine months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, our avocados segment revenues were $16.2 million and $7.1 million, respectively.
Costs and expenses associated with our avocados segment include growing and harvest costs. Our avocados segment costs and expenses were $5.5 million and $4.1 million for the first nine months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively. The 36% increase of $1.5 million was primarily due to the following:
• Harvest costs increase of $1.3 million; and
• Growing costs increase of $0.2 million.
Other Agribusiness
Our other agribusiness segment total net revenues were $16.5 million and $17.7 million for the first nine months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively. The 7% decrease of $1.2 million was primarily due to:
• Orange revenues decrease of $0.4 million;
• Specialty citrus and other crops revenues decrease of $1.7 million;
• Farm management revenues increase of $0.5 million; and
• Other revenues increase 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 $16.1 million and $15.7 million for the first nine months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively. The 2% increase of $0.4 million was primarily due to:
• Growing costs increase of $1.1 million; and
• Purchased fruit costs decrease of $0.6 million.
Total agribusiness depreciation and amortization expenses were $5.3 million and $5.6 million, for the first nine months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Corporate and Other
Our corporate and other operations revenues were $4.2 million for the first nine months of both fiscal years 2024 and 2023.
Costs and expenses (gains) in our corporate and other operations were $25.1 million and $(9.2) million for the first nine months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023, respectively, and include selling, general and administrative costs and expenses, impairment of intangible asset, (gain) loss on disposal of assets, net and gain on legal settlement, none of which are allocated to the operating segments. Depreciation and amortization expenses for the first nine months of fiscal years 2024 and 2023 were similar at $0.9 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 July 31, 2024 and 2023
The following table shows the unaudited results of operations (in thousands):
Trailing Twelve Months Ended July 31,
2024 2023
Net revenues:
Agribusiness $ 183,530 $ 172,531
Other operations 5,544 5,595
Total net revenues 189,074 178,126
Costs and expenses:
Agribusiness 167,881 166,620
Other operations 5,192 4,425
Impairment of intangible asset 643 —
Loss (gain) on disposal of assets 221 (34,202)
Gain on legal settlement — (2,269)
Selling, general and administrative 28,255 24,966
Total costs and expenses 202,192 159,540
Operating (loss) income (13,118) 18,586
Other income (expense):
Interest income 179 247
Interest expense, net of patronage dividends (908) (1,455)
Equity in earnings of investments, net 21,924 1,174
Other income (expense), net 240 (3,688)
Total other income (expense) 21,435 (3,722)
Income before income tax provision 8,317 14,864
Income tax provision (2,761) (4,975)
Net income 5,556 9,889
Loss attributable to noncontrolling interest 563 310
Net income attributable to Limoneira Company $ 6,119 $ 10,199
The following analysis should be read in conjunction with the previous section “Results of Operations.”
• Total revenues increased $10.9 million, primarily due to increased avocado and farm management revenue.
• Total costs and expenses increased $42.7 million, primarily due to the gain on disposal of assets and legal settlement recognized in 2023, as well as increased agribusiness costs and selling, general and administrative expenses in 2024.
• 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 $2.2 million, primarily due to decreased pre-tax income of $6.5 million.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
Overview
Our primary sources of liquidity are cash and cash flows generated from our operations, use of our revolving credit facility, sales of assets and distributions from our equity investments. 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 July 31, 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 provided by (used in) operating activities was $11.3 million and $(12.6) million for the nine months ended July 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The significant components of our cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities were as follows:
• Net income was $9.1 million and $12.7 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The components of net income in the nine months ended July 31, 2024, compared to the net income in the same period in fiscal year 2023 consist of a decrease in operating income of $23.9 million primarily due to the Northern Properties sale, an increase in total other income of $18.9 million, primarily related to LLCB equity earnings and a decrease in income tax provision of $1.5 million.
• Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
◦ Adjustments were $13.2 million and $(14.1) million in the nine months ended July 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, primarily related to gain on disposal of assets, net, cash distributions from equity investments, equity in earnings of investments, net, depreciation and amortization and deferred income taxes.
◦ Changes in operating assets and liabilities were $11.1 million of operating cash in both the nine months ended July 31, 2024 and 2023, primarily related to accounts receivables and receivables/other from related parties, cultural costs, prepaid expenses and other current assets, accrued liabilities and payables to related parties, income taxes payable and other long-term liabilities.
Cash Flows from Investing Activities
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities was $(6.7) million and $92.4 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
▪ The $6.7 million of cash used in investing activities during the nine months ended July 31, 2024 was comprised primarily of capital expenditures of $6.7 million, primarily related to orchard and vineyard development.
▪ The $92.4 million of cash provided by investing activities during the nine months ended July 31, 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 $9.0 million, primarily related to orchard and vineyard development.
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Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Net cash used in financing activities was $7.1 million and $69.6 million for the nine months ended July 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
• The $7.1 million of cash used in financing activities during the nine months ended July 31, 2024 was comprised primarily of common and preferred dividends of $4.4 million and exchange of common stock of $1.8 million.
• The $69.6 million of cash used in financing activities during the nine months ended July 31, 2023 was comprised primarily of net repayments of long-term debt of $64.9 million and common and preferred dividends of $4.4 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, distributions from equity investments and from our Credit Facility with AgWest Farm Credit, formerly known 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 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 July 31, 2024, our outstanding borrowings under the AgWest Farm Credit Facility were $40.0 million and we had $75.0 million of availability.
On January 31, 2023, we sold the Northern Properties which resulted in total net proceeds of $98.4 million. The proceeds were used to pay down all of our 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 $17.1 million in the nine months ended July 31, 2024. On June 5, 2024, we received a cash distribution of $15.0 million from the joint venture which we used to pay down debt. As of July 31, 2024, the 50%-owned unconsolidated joint venture had $69.9 million of unaudited cash and cash equivalents on hand.
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 $0.4 million in the nine months ended July 31, 2024 and 2023.
Cash dividends declared in the nine months ended July 31, 2024 and 2023 were $0.225 per common share and such dividends paid were $4.1 million and $4.0 million, in the nine months ended July 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
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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 nine months ended July 31, 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.