This document consists of 34 pages, of which this is page number 1.
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
ý | | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
| | |
For the Fiscal Quarter Ended February 27, 2005, or |
| | |
o | | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the Transition period from to .
Commission file number: 0-27446
LANDEC CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
California | | 94-3025618 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | | (IRS Employer Identification Number) |
3603 Haven Avenue
Menlo Park, California 94025
(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:
(650) 306-1650
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for at least the past 90 days.
Yes ý No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes ý No o
As of March 23, 2005, there were 24,020,986 shares of Common Stock outstanding.
LANDEC CORPORATION
FORM 10-Q For the Fiscal Quarter Ended February 27, 2005
INDEX
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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
LANDEC CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)
| | February 27, 2005 | | May 30, 2004 | |
| | (Unaudited) | | | |
ASSETS | | | | | |
Current Assets: | | | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | | $ | 14,899 | | $ | 6,458 | |
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $246 and $265 at February 27, 2005 and May 30, 2004 | | 11,330 | | 14,851 | |
Accounts receivable, related party | | 327 | | 498 | |
Inventory | | 14,407 | | 11,227 | |
Notes and advances receivable | | 746 | | 1,144 | |
Notes receivable, related party | | 118 | | 306 | |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | | 1,971 | | 1,527 | |
Total Current Assets | | 43,798 | | 36,011 | |
| | | | | |
Property and equipment, net | | 18,537 | | 18,341 | |
Goodwill, net | | 25,987 | | 25,987 | |
Trademarks and other intangible, net | | 11,628 | | 11,737 | |
Notes receivable | | 765 | | 605 | |
Notes receivable, related party | | 35 | | 96 | |
Other assets | | 282 | | 230 | |
Total Assets | | $ | 101,032 | | $ | 93,007 | |
| | | | | |
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | | | | | |
Current Liabilities: | | | | | |
Accounts payable | | 11,223 | | $ | 14,960 | |
Related party payables | | 338 | | 430 | |
Accrued compensation | | 1,547 | | 1,570 | |
Other accrued liabilities | | 2,969 | | 2,506 | |
Deferred revenue | | 11,646 | | 807 | |
Lines of credit | | 857 | | 5,317 | |
Current maturities of long term debt | | 557 | | 1,505 | |
Total Current Liabilities | | 29,137 | | 27,095 | |
| | | | | |
Long term debt, less current maturities | | 2,671 | | 2,174 | |
Other liabilities | | 572 | | 637 | |
Minority interest | | 1,346 | | 1,552 | |
| | | | | |
Shareholders’ Equity: | | | | | |
Common stock, $0.001 par value; 50,000,000 shares authorized; 24,020,986 and 23,182,020 shares issued and outstanding at February 27, 2005 and May 30, 2004, respectively | | 121,805 | | 116,841 | |
Accumulated deficit | | (54,499 | ) | (55,292 | ) |
Total Shareholders’ Equity | | 67,306 | | 61,549 | |
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity | | $ | 101,032 | | $ | 93,007 | |
See accompanying notes.
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LANDEC CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
| | Three Months Ended | | Nine Months Ended | |
| | February 27, 2005 | | February 29, 2004 | | February 27, 2005 | | February 29, 2004 | |
Revenues: | | | | | | | | | |
Product sales | | $ | 50,605 | | $ | 47,626 | | $ | 145,858 | | $ | 128,442 | |
Services revenue | | ¾ | | ¾ | | ¾ | | 2,083 | |
Services revenue, related party | | 754 | | 815 | | 2,792 | | 2,641 | |
License fees | | 22 | | 22 | | 66 | | 66 | |
Research, development and royalty revenues | | 96 | | 63 | | 159 | | 240 | |
Royalty revenues, related party | | 54 | | 62 | | 182 | | 184 | |
Total revenues | | 51,531 | | 48,588 | | 149,057 | | 133,656 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Cost of revenue: | | | | | | | | | |
Cost of product sales | | 40,678 | | 39,292 | | 121,914 | | 108,695 | |
Cost of product sales, related party | | 1,176 | | 1,342 | | 4,571 | | 3,627 | |
Cost of services revenue | | 379 | | 506 | | 1,538 | | 2,775 | |
Total cost of revenue | | 42,233 | | 41,140 | | 128,023 | | 115,097 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Gross profit | | 9,298 | | 7,448 | | 21,034 | | 18,559 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Operating costs and expenses: | | | | | | | | | |
Research and development | | 705 | | 881 | | 2,195 | | 2,799 | |
Selling, general and administrative | | 6,158 | | 5,631 | | 17,478 | | 16,335 | |
Total operating costs and expenses | | 6,863 | | 6,512 | | 19,673 | | 19,134 | |
Operating income (loss) | | 2,435 | | 936 | | 1,361 | | (575 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
Interest income | | 88 | | 42 | | 107 | | 134 | |
Interest expense | | (127 | ) | (162 | ) | (332 | ) | (695 | ) |
Other expense | | (103 | ) | (91 | ) | (343 | ) | (346 | ) |
Net income (loss) | | 2,293 | | 725 | | 793 | | (1,482 | ) |
Dividends on Series B preferred stock | | — | | (117 | ) | — | | (345 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
Net income (loss) applicable to common shareholders | | $ | 2,293 | | $ | 608 | | $ | 793 | | $ | (1,827 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
Basic net income (loss) per share | | $ | 0.10 | | $ | 0.03 | | $ | 0.03 | | $ | (0.09 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
Diluted net income (loss) per share | | $ | 0.09 | | $ | 0.03 | | $ | 0.02 | | $ | (0.09 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
Shares used in per share computation: | | | | | | | | | |
Basic | | 23,990 | | 21,321 | | 23,594 | | 21,250 | |
Diluted | | 24,928 | | 24,034 | | 24,492 | | 21,250 | |
See accompanying notes.
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LANDEC CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited and in thousands)
| | Nine Months Ended | |
| | February 27, 2005 | | February 29, 2004 | |
Cash flows from operating activities: | | | | | |
Net income (loss) | | $ | 793 | | $ | (1,482 | ) |
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities: | | | | | |
Depreciation and amortization | | 2,723 | | 2,689 | |
Write down of goodwill | | ¾ | | 120 | |
Loss on disposal of property and equipment | | 213 | | ¾ | |
Minority interest | | 344 | | 404 | |
Changes in current assets and liabilities: | | | | | |
Accounts receivable, net | | 3,692 | | 5,613 | |
Inventory | | (3,180 | ) | (5,191 | ) |
Issuance of notes and advances receivable | | (231 | ) | (536 | ) |
Collection of notes and advances receivable | | 783 | | 2,084 | |
Prepaid expenses and other current assets | | (444 | ) | (310 | ) |
Accounts payable | | (3,737 | ) | (2,651 | ) |
Grower payables | | ¾ | | (3,234 | ) |
Related party payables | | (92 | ) | (196 | ) |
Accrued compensation | | (23 | ) | (230 | ) |
Other accrued liabilities | | 463 | | (1,496 | ) |
Deferred revenue | | 10,774 | | 10,818 | |
Net cash provided by operating activities | | 12,078 | | 6,402 | |
| | | | | |
Cash flows from investing activities: | | | | | |
Purchases of property and equipment | | (3,050 | ) | (2,776 | ) |
Net change in other assets | | ¾ | | (30 | ) |
Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment | | 22 | | ¾ | |
Change in restricted cash | | ¾ | | 2,007 | |
Issuance of notes and advances receivable | | (453 | ) | ¾ | |
Collection of notes and advances receivable | | 388 | | 275 | |
Net cash used in investing activities | | (3,093 | ) | (524 | ) |
| | | | | |
Cash flows from financing activities: | | | | | |
Proceeds from sale of common stock | | 4,964 | | 464 | |
Net change in other assets | | (47 | ) | (330 | ) |
Borrowings on lines of credit | | 59,441 | | 95,890 | |
Payments on lines of credit | | (63,901 | ) | (96,855 | ) |
Payments on long term debt | | (1,651 | ) | (2,344 | ) |
Proceeds from issuance of long term debt | | 1,200 | | ¾ | |
Distributions to minority interest | | (550 | ) | (154 | ) |
Net cash used in financing activities | | (544 | ) | (3,329 | ) |
| | | | | |
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents | | 8,441 | | 2,549 | |
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | | 6,458 | | 3,699 | |
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | | $ | 14,899 | | $ | 6,248 | |
Supplemental schedule of noncash investing and financing activities: | | | | | |
Sale of assets and services for notes receivable | | $ | 425 | | $ | 239 | |
Purchase of asset for a liability | | $ | 813 | | $ | — | |
Issuance of Series B preferred stock as dividends to Series B preferred stockholders | | $ | — | | $ | 345 | |
See accompanying notes.
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LANDEC CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
1. Basis of Presentation
Landec Corporation and its subsidiaries (“Landec” or the “Company”) design, develop, manufacture, and sell temperature-activated and other specialty polymer products for a variety of food products, agricultural products, and licensed partner applications. The Company markets and distributes hybrid corn seed to farmers through its Landec Ag, Inc. (“Landec Ag”) subsidiary and specialty packaged fresh-cut vegetables and whole produce to retailers, club stores, and foodservice companies primarily in the United States and Asia through its Apio, Inc. (“Apio”) subsidiary.
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Landec have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and with the instructions for Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) have been made which are necessary to present fairly the financial position at February 27, 2005 and the results of operations and cash flows for all periods presented. Although Landec believes that the disclosures in these financial statements are adequate to make the information presented not misleading, certain information normally included in financial statements and related footnotes prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted per the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The accompanying financial data should be reviewed in conjunction with the audited financial statements and accompanying notes included in Landec’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 30, 2004.
The results of operations for the three and nine months ended February 27, 2005 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for an entire fiscal year. For instance, due to the cyclical nature of the corn seed industry, a significant portion of Landec Ag revenues and profits will be concentrated over a few months during the spring planting season (generally during Landec’s third and fourth fiscal quarters). In addition, Landec Ag purchases corn seed and collects cash deposits from farmers in advance of shipping the corn during the Company’s third and fourth quarters. The increased levels of inventory and deferred revenue at February 27, 2005 compared to May 30, 2004 reflect the seasonal nature of Landec Ag’s seed business. In February 2003, the Company changed its fiscal year end from a fiscal year including 52 or 53 weeks that ended on the last Sunday in October to a fiscal year including 52 or 53 weeks that ends on the last Sunday in May.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported results of operations during the reporting period. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.
For instance, the carrying value of notes and advances receivable, as well as advances for crops, are impacted by current market prices for the related crops, weather conditions and the fair value of the underlying security obtained by the Company, such as, liens on property and crops. The Company recognizes losses when it estimates that the fair value of the related crops or security is insufficient to cover the advance or note receivable.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
On December 16, 2004, the FASB issued an amendment to FASB Statement No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation. The amendment requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the statement of operations based on their fair values. The amendment is effective for the Company in the second quarter of fiscal year 2006. The Company intends to continue to grant stock-based compensation to employees, and the adoption of the new standard may have a material impact on the future results of operations.
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Reclassifications
Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period financial statements to conform to the current period presentation.
2. Purchase and Sale of Fruit Land
On January 14, 2005, the Company entered into an agreement to purchase approximately 160 acres of fruit land from an individual for $812,500 which is included in accrued liabilities in the accompanying balance sheet. This amount was paid to the seller through the funding of an escrow account on March 23, 2005. In a separate unrelated transaction, on January 31, 2005, the Company sold approximately 45 acres of grape land to an individual for $452,500. The Company received $28,000 in cash and notes receivable for $424,500, $56,000 of which is due by December 31, 2005 and the remainder to be paid from net profits from the sale of the grapes with a final payment due on December 31, 2009. Interest accrues at the prime rate and is payable quarterly. The gain on the sale of the grape land of approximately $85,000 has been deferred and will be recognized based upon the receipt of cash payments on notes receivable.
3. Net Income Per Diluted Share
The following table sets forth the computation of diluted net income for the periods with net income (in thousands, except per share amounts):
| | Three Months Ended February 27, 2005 | | Three Months Ended February 29, 2004 | | Nine Months Ended February 27, 2005 | |
Numerator: | | | | | | | |
Net income | | $ | 2,293 | | $ | 725 | | $ | 793 | |
Less: Minority interest in income of subsidiary | | (127 | ) | (98 | ) | (211 | ) |
Net income for diluted net income per share | | $ | 2,166 | | $ | 627 | | $ | 582 | |
| | | | | | | |
Denominator: | | | | | | | |
Weighted average shares for basic net income per share | | 23,990 | | 21,321 | | 23,594 | |
Effect of dilutive securities: | | | | | | | |
Stock Options | | 938 | | 963 | | 898 | |
Convertible preferred stock | | — | | 1,750 | | — | |
Total dilutive common shares | | 938 | | 2,713 | | 898 | |
Weighted average shares for diluted net income per share | | 24,928 | | 24,034 | | 24,492 | |
| | | | | | | |
Diluted net income per share | | $ | 0.09 | | $ | 0.03 | | $ | 0.02 | |
Options to purchase 552,812 and 278,165 shares of Common Stock at a weighted average exercise price of $6.90 and $6.77 per share were outstanding during the three months ended February 27, 2005 and February 29, 2004, respectively, but were not included in the computation of diluted net income per share because the options’ exercise price were greater than the average market price of the Common Stock and, therefore, the effect would be antidilutive.
Options to purchase 2,564,247 shares of Common Stock at a weighted average exercise price of $5.63 per share were outstanding during the nine months ended February 27, 2005 but were not included in the computation of diluted net income per share because the options’ exercise price were greater than the average market price of the Common Stock and, therefore, the effect would be antidilutive.
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For the nine months ended February 29, 2004, the computation of the diluted net loss per share excludes the impact of options to purchase 468,377 shares of Common Stock and the conversion of the Convertible Preferred Stock which was convertible into 1.7 million shares of Common Stock at February 29, 2004, as such impacts would be antidilutive for this period.
4. Exit of Domestic Commodity Vegetable Business
Effective June 30, 2003, the Company exited the selling of domestic commodity vegetable products and sold certain assets associated with this business to Apio Fresh LLC (“Apio Fresh”). Apio Fresh is owned by a group of entities and persons that supply produce to Apio. One of the owners of Apio Fresh is the Apio CEO (see Note 10). Under the terms of the sale, Apio Fresh purchased certain equipment and carton inventory from the Company at their net book value of approximately $410,000 in exchange for notes receivables due in monthly installments over 24 months. In addition, Apio is providing information technology service to Apio Fresh for 36 months in exchange for a note receivable for $235,000. In connection with the sale, Apio Fresh will pay the Company an on-going royalty fee per carton sold for the use of Apio’s brand names. Apio Fresh and its owner growers also entered into a long-term supply agreement with the Company to supply produce to Apio for its fresh-cut, value-added business. As a result of the sale, the Company recorded during the first quarter of fiscal year 2004, a write down of goodwill of $120,000 allocable to this business.
5. Licensing Agreement
On September 3, 2004, the Company entered into a multi-year joint technology and licensing agreement with Chiquita Brands International, Inc. (“Chiquita”) to provide Landec’s Intelimer packaging technology for Chiquita bananas. The Company expects to start selling its technology products to Chiquita during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2005. The revenues from this agreement are not expected to be material in the current fiscal year. In addition, the two companies entered into a stock purchase agreement, whereby the Company sold to Chiquita 486,111 shares of Landec Common Stock on October 14, 2004 for $3.5 million in cash.
6. Stock-Based Compensation
As permitted by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” (SFAS 123), as amended by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure,” (SFAS 148), the Company elected to continue to apply the provisions of Accounting Principle Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” (APB 25) and related interpretations in accounting for its employee stock option and stock purchase plans. The Company is not required under APB 25 and related interpretations to recognize compensation expense in connection with its employee stock option and stock purchase plans, unless the exercise price of the Company’s employee stock options is less than the market price of the underlying stock at the date of grant.
Pro forma information regarding net income and net income per share is required by SFAS 148 and has been determined as if the Company had accounted for its employee stock options under the fair value method prescribed by SFAS 123. The fair value for these options was estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option valuation model with the following weighted average assumptions: risk-free interest rates ranging from 3.60% to 3.76% for the three months ended February 27, 2005, 3.07% to 3.27% for the three months February 29, 2004; 3.35% to 3.93% for the nine months ended February 27, 2005, and 2.27% to 3.37% for the nine months ended February 29, 2004; a dividend yield of 0.0% for the three and nine months ended February 27, 2005 and February 29, 2004; a volatility factor of the expected market price of the Company’s common stock of 0.59 and 0.72 as of February 27, 2005 and February 29, 2004, respectively; and a weighted average expected life of the options of 4.39 years and 4.99 years for the three and nine months ended February 27, 2005 and February 29, 2004, respectively.
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For purposes of pro forma disclosures, the estimated fair value of the options is amortized to expense over the vesting period of the options using the straight-line method. The Company’s pro forma information follows (in thousands except for per share data):
| | Three Months Ended | | Nine Months Ended | |
| | February 27, 2005 | | February 29, 2004 | | February 27, 2005 | | February 29, 2004 | |
Net income (loss) | | $ | 2,293 | | $ | 725 | | $ | 793 | | $ | (1,482 | ) |
Deduct: | | | | | | | | | |
Stock-based employee expense determined under SFAS 123 | | (222 | ) | (165 | ) | (849 | ) | (732 | ) |
Pro forma net income (loss) | | $ | 2,071 | | $ | 560 | | $ | (56 | ) | $ | (2,214 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
Basic net income (loss) per share – as reported | | $ | 0.10 | | $ | 0.03 | | $ | 0.03 | | $ | (0.09 | ) |
Diluted net income (loss) per share – as reported | | $ | 0.09 | | $ | 0.03 | | $ | 0.02 | | $ | (0.09 | ) |
| | | | | | | | | |
Basic pro forma net income (loss) per share | | $ | 0.09 | | $ | 0.03 | | $ | (0.0 | ) | $ | (0.10 | ) |
Diluted pro forma net income (loss) per share | | $ | 0.08 | | $ | 0.02 | | $ | (0.0 | ) | $ | (0.10 | ) |
The Black-Scholes option valuation model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options that have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. In addition, option valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions including the expected stock price volatility. Because the Company’s employee stock options and employee stock purchase plans have characteristics significantly different from those of traded options, and because changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair market value estimate, in management’s opinion, the existing models do not necessarily provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of its employee stock options, nor do they necessarily represent the effects of employee stock options on reported net income (loss) for future years.
7. Goodwill and Other Intangibles
The Company is required under SFAS 142 to review goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets at least annually. During the nine months ended February 27, 2005, the Company completed its third annual impairment review. The review is performed by grouping the net book value of all long-lived assets for reporting entities, including goodwill and other intangible assets, and comparing this value to the related estimated fair value. The determination of fair value is based on estimated future discounted cash flows related to these long-lived assets. The discount rate used was based on the risks associated with the reporting entities. The determination of fair value was performed by management using the services of an independent appraiser. The review concluded that the fair value of the reporting entities exceeded the carrying value of their net assets and thus no impairment charge was warranted as of February 27, 2005.
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8. Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out method) or market and consisted of the following (in thousands):
| | February 27, 2005 | | May 30, 2004 | |
Finished goods | | $ | 9,891 | | $ | 7,350 | |
Raw material | | 4,469 | | 3,805 | |
Work in process | | 47 | | 72 | |
Total | | $ | 14,407 | | $ | 11,227 | |
9. Debt
On September 1, 2004, Apio entered into a new $10 million revolving line of credit that expires on August 31, 2006, a 12-month, $4.8 million equipment line of credit, and a 36-month, $1.2 million term note for equipment purchased under the prior equipment line of credit (collectively the “Loan Agreement”) with Wells Fargo Bank N.A . Outstanding amounts under the Loan Agreement bear interest at either the prime rate or the LIBOR adjustable rate plus 2.25% (4.87% at February 27, 2005). The Loan Agreement contains certain restrictive covenants, which requires Apio to meet certain financial tests, including, minimum levels of net income, maximum leverage ratio, minimum net worth and maximum capital expenditures. The Loan Agreement also affects the ability of Landec to receive payments on debt owed by Apio to Landec. Landec has pledged substantially all of the assets of Apio to secure the lines with Wells Fargo Bank. Concurrently with entering into this agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, the Company paid off and terminated its lines of credit with Wells Fargo Business Credit, Inc. At February 27, 2005, no amounts were outstanding under the revolving line of credit and $857,000 was outstanding under the equipment line of credit. Apio has been in compliance with all loan covenants in the Loan Agreement since the inception of this loan.
10. Related Party
Apio provides packing, cooling and distributing services for farms in which the Chief Executive Officer of Apio (the “Apio CEO”) has a financial interest and purchases produce from those farms. Apio also purchases produce from Apio Fresh for sale to third parties. Revenues, cost of product sales and the resulting payable and the note receivable from advances for ground lease payments, crop and harvesting costs, are classified as related party in the accompanying financial statements as of February 27, 2005 and May 30, 2004 and for the three and nine months ended February 27, 2005 and February 29, 2004.
Apio leases, for approximately $1.0 million on an annual basis, agricultural land that is either owned, controlled or leased by the Apio CEO. Apio, in turn, subleases that land at cost to growers who are obligated to deliver product from that land to Apio for value added products. There is generally no net statement of operations impact to Apio as a result of these leasing activities but Apio creates a guaranteed source of supply for the value added business. Apio has loss exposure on the leasing activity to the extent that it is unable to sublease the land. For the three and nine months ended February 27, 2005 the Company subleased all of the land leased from the Apio CEO and received sublease income of $255,000 and $739,000, respectively, which is equal to the amount the Company paid to lease that land for such periods.
Apio’s domestic commodity vegetable business was sold to Apio Fresh, effective June 30, 2003 (see Note 4). The Apio CEO is a 12.5% owner in Apio Fresh. During the three and nine months ended February 27, 2005, the Company recognized revenues of $22,000 and $228,000 respectively, from the sale of products to Apio Fresh and royalty revenue of $54,000 and $182,000 respectively, from the use by Apio Fresh of Apio’s trademarks. The related accounts receivable from Apio Fresh are classified as related party in the accompanying financial statements as of February 27, 2005 and May 30, 2004.
In addition, the Apio CEO has a 6% ownership interest in Apio Cooling LP, a limited partnership in which Apio is the general partner with a 60% ownership interest. Included in the minority interest liability as of February 27, 2005 and May 30, 2004 is $195,000 and $214,000, respectively, owed to the Apio CEO.
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All related party transactions are monitored monthly by the Company and approved by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.
11. Comprehensive Income / Loss
The comprehensive loss of Landec is the same as the net loss.
12. Shareholders’ Equity
During the three and nine months ended February 27, 2005, 115,466 and 335,868 shares of Common Stock, respectively, were issued upon the exercise of options under the Company’s stock option plans. In addition, the Company sold to Chiquita 486,111 shares of Landec Common Stock on October 14, 2004 for $3.5 million in cash (see Note 5).
13. Business Segment Reporting
Landec operates in two business segments: the Food Products Technology segment and the Agricultural Seed Technology segment. The Food Products Technology segment markets and packs specialty packaged whole and fresh-cut vegetables that incorporate the Intelimer® based specialty packaging for the retail grocery, club store and food services industry. In June 2003, the Company exited the selling of domestic commodity vegetable products (see Note 4). The Agricultural Seed Technology segment markets and distributes hybrid seed corn to the farming industry and is developing seed coatings using Landec’s proprietary Intelimer polymers. The Food Products Technology and Agricultural Seed Technology segments include charges for corporate services allocated from the Corporate and Other segment. Corporate and other amounts include non-core operating activities and corporate operating costs. All of the assets of the Company are located within the United States of America.
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Operations by Business Segment (in thousands):
| | Food Products Technology | | Agricultural Seed Technology | | Corporate and Other | | TOTAL | |
Three months ended February 27, 2005 | | | | | | | | | |
Net revenues | | $ | 41,650 | | $ | 9,722 | | $ | 159 | | $ | 51,531 | |
International sales | | $ | 5,943 | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 5,943 | |
Gross profit | | $ | 5,300 | | $ | 3,859 | | $ | 139 | | $ | 9,298 | |
Net income | | $ | 1,170 | | $ | 978 | | $ | 145 | | $ | 2,293 | |
Interest expense | | $ | 90 | | $ | 37 | | $ | — | | $ | 127 | |
Interest income | | $ | 62 | | $ | 12 | | $ | 14 | | $ | 88 | |
Depreciation and amortization | | $ | 809 | | $ | 119 | | $ | 27 | | $ | 955 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Three months ended February 29, 2004 | | | | | | | | | |
Net revenues | | $ | 39,614 | | $ | 8,857 | | $ | 117 | | $ | 48,588 | |
International sales | | $ | 8,238 | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 8,238 | |
Gross profit | | $ | 3,671 | | $ | 3,670 | | $ | 107 | | $ | 7,448 | |
Net income (loss) | | $ | (550 | ) | $ | 1,245 | | $ | 30 | | $ | 725 | |
Interest expense | | $ | 137 | | $ | 25 | | $ | — | | $ | 162 | |
Interest income | | $ | 39 | | $ | 2 | | $ | 1 | | $ | 42 | |
Depreciation and amortization | | $ | 697 | | $ | 124 | | $ | 47 | | $ | 868 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Nine months ended February 27, 2005 | | | | | | | | | |
Net revenues | | $ | 138,920 | | $ | 9,827 | | $ | 310 | | $ | 149,057 | |
International sales | | $ | 42,126 | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 42,126 | |
Gross profit | | $ | 16,820 | | $ | 3,955 | | $ | 259 | | $ | 21,034 | |
Net income (loss) | | $ | 3,978 | | $ | (3,376 | ) | $ | 191 | | $ | 793 | |
Interest expense | | $ | 223 | | $ | 109 | | $ | — | | $ | 332 | |
Interest income | | $ | 76 | | $ | 14 | | $ | 17 | | $ | 107 | |
Depreciation and amortization | | $ | 2,294 | | $ | 351 | | $ | 78 | | $ | 2,723 | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Nine months ended February 29, 2004 | | | | | | | | | |
Net revenues | | $ | 124,277 | | $ | 9,003 | | $ | 376 | | $ | 133,656 | |
International sales | | $ | 36,737 | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 36,737 | |
Gross profit | | $ | 14,501 | | $ | 3,718 | | $ | 340 | | $ | 18,559 | |
Net income (loss) | | $ | 1,554 | | $ | (3,068 | ) | $ | 32 | | $ | (1,482 | ) |
Interest expense | | $ | 567 | | $ | 128 | | $ | — | | $ | 695 | |
Interest income | | $ | 125 | | $ | 6 | | $ | 3 | | $ | 134 | |
Depreciation and amortization | | $ | 2,190 | | $ | 356 | | $ | 143 | | $ | 2,689 | |
During the nine months ended February 27, 2005 and February 29, 2004, sales to the Company’s top five customers accounted for approximately 41% and 42%, respectively, of revenues, with the Company’s top customer from the Food Products Technology segment, Costco Wholesale Corp., accounting for approximately 15% and 12%, respectively. The Company expects that, for the foreseeable future, a limited number of customers may continue to account for a significant portion of its net revenues. Virtually all of the Company’s international sales are to Asia.
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Item 2.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the unaudited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in Part I—Item 1 of this Form 10-Q and the audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in Landec’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 30, 2004.
Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this report are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, those mentioned in this report and, in particular the factors described below under “Additional Factors That May Affect Future Results,” and those mentioned in Landec’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 30, 2004. Landec undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this report.
Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates
There have been no material changes to the Company’s critical accounting policies which are included and described in the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended May 30, 2004 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 2, 2004.
The Company
Landec Corporation and its subsidiaries (“Landec” or the “Company”) design, develop, manufacture and sell temperature-activated and other specialty polymer products for a variety of food products, agricultural products, and licensed partner applications. This proprietary polymer technology is the foundation, and a key differentiating advantage, upon which Landec has built its business.
Landec’s core polymer products are based on its patented proprietary Intelimerâ polymers, which differ from other polymers in that they can be customized to abruptly change their physical characteristics when heated or cooled through a pre-set temperature switch. For instance, Intelimer polymers can change within the range of one or two degrees Celsius from a non-adhesive state to a highly tacky, adhesive state; from an impermeable state to a highly permeable state; or from a solid state to a viscous state. These abrupt changes are repeatedly reversible and can be tailored by Landec to occur at specific temperatures, thereby offering substantial competitive advantages in Landec’s target markets.
Landec has two core businesses – Food Products Technology and Agricultural Seed Technology, in addition to our Technology Licensing/Research and Development business which is included in Corporate and Other for segment disclosure purposes (see note 13).
Our Food Products Technology business is operated through a subsidiary, Apio, Inc., and combines our proprietary food packaging technology with the capabilities of a large national food supplier and value-added produce processor. Value-added processing incorporates Landec’s proprietary packaging technology with produce that is processed by washing, and in some cases cutting and mixing, resulting in packaged produce to achieve increased shelf life and reduced shrink (waste) and to eliminate the need for ice during the distribution cycle. This combination was consummated in December 1999 when the Company acquired Apio, Inc. and certain related entities (collectively, “Apio”).
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Our Agricultural Seed Technology business is operated through a subsidiary, Landec Ag, Inc., (“Landec Ag”) and combines our proprietary Intellicoat® seed coating technology with our unique eDCâ – e-commerce, direct marketing and consultative selling – capabilities which we obtained when we acquired Fielder’s Choice Direct (“Fielder’s Choice”), a direct marketer of hybrid seed corn, in September 1997.
In addition to our two core businesses, the Company also operates a Technology Licensing/Research and Development business that licenses and/or supplies products outside of our core businesses to industry leaders such as Alcon Laboratories, Inc. and L’Oreal of Paris.
Landec has been unprofitable during each fiscal year since its inception, except for the fiscal year ended May 30, 2004, and the seven-month period ended May 25, 2003, and may incur additional losses in the future. The amount of future net profits, if any, is uncertain and there can be no assurance that Landec will remain consistently profitable. From inception through February 27, 2005, Landec’s accumulated deficit was $54.5 million.
Landec was incorporated in California on October 31, 1986. We completed our initial public offering in 1996 and our Common Stock is listed on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol “LNDC.” Our principal executive offices are located at 3603 Haven Avenue, Menlo Park, California 94025 and our telephone number is (650) 306-1650.
Description of Core Business
Landec participates in two core business segments– Food Products Technology and Agricultural Seed Technology. In addition to these two core segments, we license technology and conduct ongoing research and development through our Technology Licensing/Research and Development Business.
Food Products Technology Business
The Company began marketing in early 1996 our proprietary Intelimer-based specialty packaging for use in the fresh-cut produce market, one of the fastest growing segments in the produce industry. Our proprietary packaging technology, when combined with produce that is processed by washing, and in some cases cut and mixed, results in packaged produce with increased shelf life, reduced shrink (waste) and without the need for ice during the distribution cycle, which we refer to as our “value-added” products. In December 1999, we acquired Apio, our largest customer at that time in the Food Products Technology business and one of the nation’s leading marketers and packers of produce and specialty packaged fresh-cut vegetables. Apio provides year-round access to produce, utilizes state-of-the-art fresh-cut produce processing technology and distributes products to the top U.S. retail grocery chains and major club stores and, has recently begun expanding its product offerings to the foodservice industry. Our proprietary Intelimer-based packaging business has been combined with Apio into a wholly owned subsidiary that retains the Apio, Inc. name. This vertical integration within the Food Products Technology business gives Landec direct access to the large and growing fresh-cut produce market.
Based in Guadalupe, California, Apio, when acquired in December 1999, consisted of two major businesses – first, the “fee-for-service” selling and marketing of domestic commodity vegetable produce and second, the specialty packaged fresh-cut and whole value-added processed products that are washed and packaged in our
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proprietary packaging. Effective June 30, 2003, the Company exited the selling of domestic commodity vegetable products and sold certain assets associated with this business to Apio Fresh LLC (“Apio Fresh”). Apio Fresh is owned by a group of entities and persons that supply produce to Apio. The Apio CEO is a 12.5% owner in Apio Fresh. The fresh-cut value-added produce processing business sells a variety of fresh-cut vegetables to the top retail grocery chains and club stores. During the twelve months ended May 30, 2004, Apio shipped more than 17 million cartons of produce to over 700 customers including leading supermarket retailers, wholesalers, foodservice suppliers and club stores throughout the United States and internationally, primarily in Asia.
There are five major distinguishing characteristics of Apio that provide competitive advantages in the Food Products Technology market:
• Value-Added Supplier: Apio has structured its business as a marketer and seller of fresh-cut and whole value-added produce. It is focused on developing its Eat Smart® brand and the Doleâ brand for all of its fresh-cut and whole value-added products. As retail grocery and club store chains consolidate, Apio is well positioned as a single source of a broad range of products.
• Reduced Farming Risks: Apio reduces its farming risk by not taking ownership of farmland, and instead, contracts with growers for produce. The year-round sourcing of produce is a key component to the fresh-cut and whole value-added processing business.
• Lower Cost Structure: Apio has strategically invested in the rapidly growing fresh-cut and whole value-added business. Apio’s 60,000 square foot value-added processing plant is automated with state-of-the-art vegetable processing equipment. Virtually all of Apio’s value-added products utilize Landec’s proprietary Intelimer packaging technology. Our strategy is to operate one large central processing facility in one of California’s largest, lowest cost growing regions (Santa Maria Valley) and use packaging technology to allow for the nationwide delivery of fresh produce products. To augment the strategy, in October 2004 Apio entered into an agreement with Caito Foods Service, Inc. of Indianapolis, Indiana, to regionally process, package and distribute Apio’s value-added specialty packaged fresh-cut vegetable tray products.
• Export Capability: Apio is uniquely positioned to benefit from the growth in export sales to Asia and Europe over the next decade with its export business, CalEx. Through CalEx, Apio is currently one of the largest U.S. exporters of broccoli to Asia and is selling its iceless products to Asia using proprietary Intelimer packaging technology.
• Expanded Product Line Using Technology: Apio, through the use of Landec’s Intelimer packaging technology, is introducing on average twelve new value-added products each year. These new product offerings range from various sizes of fresh-cut bagged products, to vegetable trays, to whole produce, to a meal line of products. During the last twelve months, Apio has introduced twelve new products.
Agricultural Seed Technology Business
Landec Ag’s strategy is build a vertically integrated seed technology company based on Intellicoat seed coating technology and its eDC¾e-commerce, direct marketing and consultative selling capabilities.
For the coating technology the strategy is to develop a patented, functional polymer coating technology that will be broadly licensed to the seed industry. The company will initially commercialize products for the corn and soybean markets and then broaden its applications to other seed crops. Landec Ag will use its Fielder’s Choice Direct marketing and sales company to launch its applications for corn to build awareness for this technology and then broadly license its applications to the rest of the industry.
Landec Ag’s Intellicoat seed coating applications are designed to control seed germination timing, increase crop yields, reduce risks and extend crop-planting windows. These coatings are currently available on hybrid corn, soybeans and male inbred corn used for seed production. In fiscal year 2000, Landec Ag launched its first commercial product, Pollinator Plusâ coatings, which is a coating application used by seed companies as a method
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for spreading pollination to increase yields and reduce risk in the production of hybrid seed corn. There are approximately 650,000 acres of seed production in the United States and in 2004 Pollinator Plus was used by over 35 seed companies on approximately 15% of the seed production acres in the U.S.
In 2003, after two years of on-farm trails, Landec Ag commercialized Early Plantâ corn by selling to farmers through its Fielder’s Choice Directâ brand. This application is a management tool, which allows farmers to plant into cold soils without the risk of chilling injury, and enables farmers to plant as much as four weeks earlier than normal. With this capability, farmers are able to utilize labor and equipment more efficiently, provide flexibility during the critical planting period and avoid yield losses caused by late planting. In 2004, seven seed companies offered Intellicoat on their hybrid seed corn offerings and sales increased by 50% over 2003.
The third commercial application is the RelayÔ Cropping system of wheat and Intellicoat coated soybeans, which allows farmers to plant and harvest two crops in the same year on the same ground in geographic areas where double cropping is not possible. This provides significant financial benefit especially to farmers in the corn belt who grow wheat as a single crop.
Based in Monticello, Indiana, Fielder’s Choice Direct offers a comprehensive line of corn hybrids and alfalfa to more than 12,000 farmers in over forty states through direct marketing programs. The success of Fielder’s Choice comes, in part, from its expertise in selling directly to the farmer, bypassing the traditional and costly farmer-dealer system. We believe that this direct channel of distribution provides up to a 35% cost advantage compared to the farmer-dealer system.
In order to support its direct marketing programs, Fielder’s Choice has developed a proprietary e-commerce direct marketing, and consultative selling information technology, called “eDC”, that enables state-of-the-art methods for communicating with a broad array of farmers. This proprietary direct marketing information technology includes a current database of over 95,000 farmers. In August 1999, we launched the seed industry’s first comprehensive e-commerce website. This website furthers our ability to provide a high level of consultation to Fielder’s Choice customers, backed by a seven day a week call center capability that enables us to use the internet as a natural extension of our direct marketing strategy.
Due to the cyclical nature of the corn seed industry, a significant portion of Landec Ag revenues and profits will be concentrated over a few months during the spring planting season (generally during Landec’s third and fourth fiscal quarters). In addition, Landec Ag purchases corn seed and collects cash deposits from farmers in advance of shipping the corn during the Company’s third and fourth quarters.
Technology Licensing/Research and Development Businesses
We believe our technology has commercial potential in a wide range of industrial, consumer and medical applications beyond those identified in our core businesses. For example, our core patented technology Intelimer materials, can be used to trigger release small molecule drugs, catalysts, pesticides or fragrances just by changing the temperature of the Intelimer materials or to activate adhesives through controlled temperature change. In order to exploit these opportunities, we have entered into and will enter into licensing and collaborative corporate agreements for product development and/or distribution in certain fields.
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Results of Operations
Revenues (in thousands):
| | Three months ended 2/27/05 | | Three months ended 2/29/04 | | Change | | Nine months ended 2/27/05 | | Nine months ended 2/29/04 | | Change | |
Apio Value Added | | $ | 33,223 | | $ | 28,604 | | 16 | % | $ | 86,409 | | $ | 73,717 | | 17 | % |
Apio Trading | | 7,673 | | 9,746 | | (21 | )% | 49,719 | | 44,443 | | 12 | % |
Apio Bananas | | ¾ | | 449 | | N/M | | ¾ | | 1,393 | | N/M | |
Apio Service | | 754 | | 815 | | (7 | )% | 2,792 | | 4,724 | | (41 | )% |
Total Apio | | 41,650 | | 39,614 | | 5 | % | 138,920 | | 124,277 | | 12 | % |
Landec Ag | | 9,722 | | 8,857 | | 10 | % | 9,827 | | 9,003 | | 9 | % |
Corporate | | 159 | | 117 | | 36 | % | 310 | | 376 | | (18 | )% |
Total Revenues | | 51,531 | | 48,588 | | 6 | % | 149,057 | | 133,656 | | 12 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Apio Value Added
Apio’s value-added revenues consist of revenues generated from the sale of specialty packaged fresh-cut and whole value-added processed vegetable products that are washed and packaged in our proprietary packaging and sold primarily under Apio’s Eat Smart brand and the Dole brand.
The increase in Apio’s value-added revenues for the three and nine months ended February 27, 2005 compared to the same periods last year is primarily due to increased product offerings and increased sales to existing customers. Specifically, sales of Apio’s value-added 12-ounce specialty packaged retail product line grew 8% and 12%, respectively, during the three and nine months ended February 27, 2005 compared to the same periods last year. In addition, sales of Apio’s value-added vegetable tray products grew 46% and 72%, respectively, during the three and nine months ended February 27, 2005 compared to the same periods last year. Overall value-added unit sales volume increased 11% during the third quarter of fiscal year 2005 compared to the same period last year and 12% for the nine months ended February 27, 2005 compared to the same period of the prior year.
Apio Trading
Apio trading revenues consist of revenues generated from the purchase and sale of primarily whole commodity fruit and vegetable products to Asia through Apio’s export company, Cal-Ex and from the purchase and sale of whole commodity fruit and vegetable products domestically to Wal-Mart.
The decrease in revenues in Apio’s trading business for the three months ended February 27, 2005 compared to the same period last year was primarily due to decreased export unit volume of 32% primarily from a shortage of available fruit, primarily apples, to export. The increase in revenues for the nine months ended February 27, 2005 compared to the same period a year ago was primarily due to an increase in export volumes of 15% through the first six months of fiscal year 2005, coupled with higher prices during that six month period, partially offset by lower volume shipments during the third quarter of fiscal year 2005.
Apio Bananas
Apio banana revenues have historically consisted of revenues generated from the sale of bananas in our proprietary packaging. During fiscal year 2004, bananas were sold almost exclusively to food service companies. Future sales from the Company’s banana program will consist of only the Company’s proprietary packaging.
As a result of discontinuing the sale of bananas in our proprietary packaging to focus on selling our proprietary breathable membranes for banana packaging, which is not expected to begin until our fourth fiscal quarter of 2005, there were no revenues in our banana program during the three and nine months ended February 27,
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2005 compared to $449,000 and $1.4 million during the three and nine months ended February 29, 2004, respectively. We do not expect material revenues or gross profits from our banana program in fiscal year 2005.
Apio Service
Prior to its sale on June 30, 2003, Apio operated a domestic commodity vegetable business that marketed and sold whole produce for growers. Apio charged a per carton service fee for marketing and selling these whole commodity products. Subsequent to June 30, 2003, Apio’s service revenues consist of revenues generated from Apio Cooling, LP, a vegetable cooling operation in which Apio is the general partner with a 60% ownership position.
The decrease in service revenues during the three and nine months ended February 27, 2005 compared to the same periods last year is directly attributable to the sale of Apio’s domestic commodity vegetable business.
Landec Ag
Landec Ag revenues consist of revenues generated from the sale of hybrid seed corn to farmers under the Fielder’s Choice Direct brand and from the sale of Intellicoat coated corn and soybean seeds to farmers and seed companies. Virtually all of Landec Ag’s revenues are generated during the Company’s third and fourth quarters.
The increase in revenues at Landec Ag during the three and nine months ended February 27, 2005 compared to the same periods last year was due to an increase in unit sales of Fielder’s Choice Direct corn during the third quarter of fiscal year 2005.
Corporate
Corporate revenues consist of revenues generated from partnering with others under research and development agreements and supply agreements and from fees for licensing our proprietary Intelimer technology to others and from the corresponding royalties from these license agreements. Given the infrequency and unpredictability of the payments that the Company may receive under any of its licensing and research and development arrangements, the Company is unable to disclose its expectations in advance of entering into such arrangements.
The decrease in Corporate revenues for the three and nine months ended February 27, 2005 compared to the same periods of the prior year was not significant.
Gross Profit (in thousands):
| | Three months ended 2/27/05 | | Three months ended 2/29/04 | | Change | | Nine months ended 2/27/05 | | Nine months ended 2/29/04 | | Change | |
Apio Value Added | | 4,505 | | 3,151 | | 43 | % | 12,864 | | 10,977 | | 17 | % |
Apio Trading | | 419 | | 448 | | (6 | )% | 2,702 | | 2,282 | | 18 | % |
Apio Bananas | | ¾ | | (237 | ) | N/M | | ¾ | | (707 | ) | N/M | |
Apio Service | | 375 | | 309 | | 21 | % | 1,254 | | 1,949 | | 36 | % |
Total Apio | | 5,299 | | 3,671 | | 44 | % | 16,820 | | 14,501 | | 16 | % |
Landec Ag | | 3,859 | | 3,670 | | 5 | % | 3,955 | | 3,718 | | 6 | % |
Corporate | | 140 | | 107 | | 31 | % | 259 | | 340 | | (24 | )% |
Total Gross Profit | | 9,298 | | 7,448 | | 25 | % | 21,034 | | 18,559 | | 13 | % |
General
There are numerous factors that can influence gross profits including product mix, customer mix, manufacturing costs (raw materials, such as fresh produce, corn seed, polymer materials and packaging, direct labor, overhead, including indirect labor, depreciation and facility-related costs and shipping and shipping-related costs),
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volume, sale discounts and charges for excess or obsolete inventory, to name a few. Many of these factors influence or are interrelated with other factors. Therefore, it is difficult to precisely quantify the impact of each item individually. The following discussion surrounding gross profits includes management’s best understanding of the reasons for the changes for the three months and nine months ended February 27, 2005 compared to the same periods last year as outlined in the table above.
Apio Value-Added
The increase in gross profits for Apio’s value-added specialty packaged vegetable business for the three months ended February 27, 2005 compared to the same period last year was due to (1) the increase in value-added sales which increased 16% for the quarter, (2) more favorable produce sourcing during this year’s third quarter compared to last year’s third quarter which increased gross profits approximately $700,000 and (3) product mix changes to higher margin products which increased gross profits during the quarter by approximately $200,000.
The increase in gross profits for Apio’s value-added specialty packaged vegetable business for the nine months ended February 27, 2005 compared to the same period last year was due to (1) the increase in value-added sales which increased 17% for the period and (2) product mix changes to higher margin products which increased gross profits during the period by approximately $500,000. The increase in gross profits for the first nine months of fiscal year 2005 was partially offset by inventory write-offs of approximately $300,000 during the first fiscal quarter in preparation for new product introductions.
Apio Trading
Apio’s trading business is a buy/sell business that realizes a commission-based margin in the 4-6% range. The decrease in gross profits during the three months ended February 27, 2005 compared to the same period last year was due to a 21% decrease in trading revenues partially offset by higher sales prices due to the shortage of certain export produce products. The increase in gross profits during the nine months ended February 27, 2005 compared to the same period last year was primarily due to a 12% increase in trading revenues, coupled with higher sales prices.
Apio Service
The decrease in Apio’s service gross profits during the three and nine months ended February 27, 2005 compared to the same periods last year was directly attributable to the sale of Apio’s domestic commodity vegetable business.
Landec Ag
The increase in gross profits for Landec Ag for the three and nine months ended February 27, 2005 compared to the same periods last year was due to the increased sales of higher margin corn hybrids, which was partially offset by higher royalty and seed treatment fees associated with these higher margin corn hybrids, resulting in lower gross profits as a percentage of sales as compared to the same periods last year.
Apio Bananas and Corporate
The change in gross profits for Apio Bananas and Corporate for the three and nine months ended February 27, 2005 compared to the same periods last year was not significant.
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Operating Expenses (in thousands):
| | Three months ended 2/27/05 | | Three months ended 2/29/04 | | Change | | Nine months ended 2/27/05 | | Nine months ended 2/29/04 | | Change | |
Research and Development: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Apio | | 230 | | 297 | | (23 | )% | 773 | | 1,018 | | (24 | )% |
Landec Ag | | 194 | | 268 | | (28 | )% | 613 | | 814 | | (25 | )% |
Corporate | | 281 | | 316 | | (11 | )% | 809 | | 967 | | (16 | )% |
Total R&D | | 705 | | 881 | | (20 | )% | 2,195 | | 2,799 | | (22 | )% |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Selling, General and Administrative: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Apio | | 3,039 | | 3,170 | | (4 | )% | 9,537 | | 9,432 | | 1 | % |
Landec Ag | | 2,350 | | 1,806 | | 30 | % | 5,719 | | 4,878 | | 17 | % |
Corporate | | 769 | | 655 | | 17 | % | 2,222 | | 2,025 | | 10 | % |
Total S,G&A | | 6,158 | | 5,631 | | 9 | % | 17,478 | | 16,335 | | 7 | % |
Research and Development
Landec’s research and development expenses consist primarily of expenses involved in the development and process scale-up initiatives. Research and developments efforts at Apio are focused on the Company’s proprietary breathable membranes used for packaging produce, with recent focus on extending the shelf life of bananas. At Landec Ag, the research and development efforts are focused on the Company’s proprietary Intellicoat coatings for seeds, primarily corn seed. At Corporate, the research and development efforts are focused on uses for the proprietary Intelimer polymers outside of food and agriculture.
The decrease in research and development expenses for the three months and nine months ended February 27, 2005 compared to the same periods last year was primarily due to lower research and development expenses associated with the Company’s non-banana related programs at Apio and greater emphasis at Apio and Landec Ag on sales and marketing versus research and development.
Selling, General and Administrative
Selling, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of sales and marketing expenses associated with Landec’s product sales and services, business development expenses and staff and administrative expenses.
The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months and nine months ended February 27, 2005 compared to the same periods last year was primarily due to an increase in sales and marketing expenses at both Apio and Landec Ag in order to generate increases in revenue and from increased accounting and legal expenses at Corporate associated with Sarbanes/Oxley compliance.
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Other (in thousands):
| | Three months ended 2/27/05 | | Three months ended 2/29/04 | | Change | | Nine months ended 2/27/05 | | Nine months ended 2/29/04 | | Change | |
Interest Income | | 88 | | 42 | | 110 | % | 107 | | 134 | | (20 | )% |
Interest Expense | | (127 | ) | (162 | ) | (22 | )% | (332 | ) | (695 | ) | (52 | )% |
Other Expense | | (103 | ) | (91 | ) | 13 | % | (343 | ) | (346 | ) | (1 | )% |
Total Other | | (142 | ) | (211 | ) | (33 | )% | (568 | ) | (907 | ) | (37 | )% |
Interest Income
The increase in interest income for the three months ended February 27, 2005 compared to the same periods last year was due to the increase in cash available to invest. The decrease in interest income for the nine months ended February 27, 2005 compared to the same period a year ago was due to a reduction in interest bearing notes receivable at Apio partially offset by interest earned from cash invested in one-to-three month liquid instruments.
Interest Expense
The decrease in interest expense during the three and nine months ended February 27, 2005 compared to the same periods last year was due to the Company using cash generated from operations to pay down debt and thus lowering interest expenses.
Other Expense
Other consists of the minority interest expense associated with the limited partners equity interest in the net income of Apio Cooling, LP and non operating income and expenses such as the gain or loss on the sale of assets.
The change in other expense for the three and nine months ended February 27, 2005 compared to the same periods last year was not material to the consolidated net operating results of Landec.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
As of February 27, 2005, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $14.9 million, a net increase of $8.4 million from $6.5 million at May 30, 2004.
Cash Flow from Operating Activities
Landec generated $12.1 million of cash flow in operating activities during the nine months ended February 27, 2005 compared to $6.4 million for the nine months ended February 27, 2004. The primary sources of cash during the nine months ended February 27, 2005 were from (1) net income and non-cash items, such as depreciation, of $4.0 million, (2) net collection of accounts receivable of $3.7 million and (3) an increase in deferred revenue of $10.8 million as a result of cash deposits for seed corn to be shipped during our fourth fiscal quarter of 2005. The primary uses of cash in operating activities were from the purchase of seed corn inventory by Landec Ag of $3.7 million and a net decrease in accounts payable of $3.7 million.
Cash Flow from Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities for the nine months ended February 27, 2005 was $3.1 million compared to $524,000 for the same period last year. The primary uses of cash for investing activities during the first nine months of fiscal year 2005 were for the purchase of $3.1 million of property and equipment primarily for the further automation of Apio’s value-added facility.
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Cash Flow from Financing Activities
Net cash used in financing activities for the nine months ended February 27, 2005 was $544,000 compared to $3.3 million for the same period last year. The cash used in financing activities during the first nine months of fiscal year 2005 was primarily from the repayment of $4.9 million of debt, partially offset by the sale of $5.0 million of Landec Common Stock, of which $3.5 million was sold to Chiquita and the remainder was issued from the exercise of stock options.
Capital Expenditures
During the nine months ended February 27, 2005, Landec purchased vegetable processing equipment to support the expansion of Apio’s value added business. These expenditures represented the majority of the $3.1 million of equipment purchased.
Debt
On September 1, 2004, Apio entered into a new $10 million revolving line of credit that expires on August 31, 2006, a 12-month, $4.8 million equipment line of credit, and a 36-month, $1.2 million term note for equipment purchased under the prior equipment line of credit (collectively the “Loan Agreement”) with Wells Fargo Bank N.A. Outstanding amounts under the Loan Agreement bear interest at either the prime rate or the LIBOR adjustable rate plus 2.25% (4.87% at February 27, 2005). The Loan Agreement contains certain restrictive covenants, which requires Apio to meet certain financial tests, including, minimum levels of net income, maximum leverage ratio, minimum net worth and maximum capital expenditures. The Loan Agreement also affects the ability of Landec to receive payments on debt owed by Apio to Landec. Landec has pledged substantially all of the assets of Apio to secure the lines with Wells Fargo Bank. Concurrently with entering into this agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, the Company paid off and terminated its lines of credit with Wells Fargo Business Credit, Inc. At February 27, 2005, no amounts were outstanding under the revolving line of credit and $857,000 was outstanding under the equipment line of credit. Apio has been in compliance with all loan covenants in the Loan Agreement since the inception of this loan.
Landec Ag has a revolving line of credit which allows for borrowings of up to $7.5 million, based on Landec Ag’s inventory levels. The interest rate on the revolving line of credit is the prime rate plus 0.375%. The line of credit contains certain restrictive covenants, which, among other things, restrict the ability of Landec Ag to make payments on debt owed by Landec Ag to Landec. Landec has pledged substantially all of the assets of Landec Ag to secure the line of credit. At February 27, 2005, no amounts were outstanding under Landec Ag’s revolving line of credit. Landec Ag has been in compliance with all loan covenants since the inception of this loan.
At February 27, 2005, Landec’s total debt, including current maturities, was $4.1 million and the total debt to equity ratio was 6% compared to 15% at May 30, 2004. Of this debt, approximately $857,000 was comprised of lines of credit and approximately $3.2 million was comprised of term debt, $2.1 million of which is mortgage debt on Apio’s manufacturing facilities. The amount of debt outstanding on Landec’s revolving lines of credit fluctuates over time. Borrowings on Landec’s lines of credit are expected to vary with seasonal requirements of the Company’s businesses.
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Contractual Obligation
The Company’s material contractual obligations for the next five years and thereafter as of February 27, 2005, are as follows (in thousands):
| | Due in Fiscal Year Ended May | |
Obligation | | Total | | Remainder of 2005 | | 2006 | | 2007 | | 2008 | | 2009 | | Thereafter | |
Lines of Credit | | $ | 857 | | $ | 857 | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | |
Long-term Debt | | 3,228 | | 138 | | 554 | | 548 | | 289 | | 141 | | 1,558 | |
Operating Leases | | 1,754 | | 168 | | 622 | | 459 | | 331 | | 174 | | — | |
Licensing Obligation | | 700 | | — | | 100 | | 100 | | 100 | | 100 | | 300 | |
Interest Expense | | 994 | | 265 | | 157 | | 125 | | 96 | | 81 | | 270 | |
Purchase Commitments | | 1166 | | 350 | | 816 | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 8,699 | | $ | 1,778 | | $ | 2,249 | | $ | 1,232 | | $ | 816 | | $ | 496 | | $ | 2,128 | |
Interest expense was determined based on the assumption that the Company’s lines of credit will have an average daily outstanding balance of $2 million at an annual interest rate of 5% for all periods presented. The interest expense on long term notes and lease obligations is based on the payment schedules and interest rates from the relevant agreements.
Landec’s future capital requirements will depend on numerous factors, including the progress of its research and development programs; the development of commercial scale manufacturing capabilities; the development of marketing, sales and distribution capabilities; the ability of Landec to establish and maintain new collaborative and licensing arrangements; any decision to pursue additional acquisition opportunities; weather conditions that can affect the supply and price of produce, the timing and amount, if any, of payments received under licensing and research and development agreements; the costs involved in preparing, filing, prosecuting, defending and enforcing intellectual property rights; the ability to comply with regulatory requirements; the emergence of competitive technology and market forces; the effectiveness of product commercialization activities and arrangements; and other factors. If Landec’s currently available funds, together with the internally generated cash flow from operations are not sufficient to satisfy its capital needs, Landec would be required to seek additional funding through other arrangements with collaborative partners, additional bank borrowings and public or private sales of its securities. There can be no assurance that additional funds, if required, will be available to Landec on favorable terms if at all.
Landec believes that its debt facilities, cash from operations, along with existing cash, cash equivalents and existing borrowing capacities will be sufficient to finance its operational and capital requirements through at least the next twelve months.
Additional Factors That May Affect Future Results
Landec desires to take advantage of the “Safe Harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and of Section 21E and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Specifically, Landec wishes to alert readers that the following important factors, as well as other factors including, without limitation, those described elsewhere in this report, could in the future affect, and in the past have affected, Landec’s actual results and could cause Landec’s results for future periods to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of Landec. Landec assumes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements.
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We Have a History of Losses Which May Continue
We have incurred net losses in each fiscal year since our inception, except for the fiscal year ended May 30, 2004 and the seven-month period ended May 25, 2003. Our accumulated deficit as of February 27, 2005 totaled $54.5 million. We may incur additional losses in the future. The amount of future net profits, if any, is highly uncertain and there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to sustain profitability in future years.
Our Future Operating Results Are Likely to Fluctuate Which May Cause Our Stock Price to Decline
In the past, our results of operations have fluctuated significantly from quarter to quarter and are expected to continue to fluctuate in the future. Historically, our direct marketer of hybrid corn seed, Landec Ag, has been the primary source of these fluctuations, as its revenues and profits are concentrated over a few months during the spring planting season (generally during our third and fourth fiscal quarters). In addition, Apio can be heavily affected by seasonal and weather factors which have impacted quarterly results, such as the high cost of sourcing product in December 2003, January 2004 and March 2005 due to a shortage of essential value-added produce items which had to be purchased at inflated prices on the open market. Our earnings may also fluctuate based on our ability to collect accounts receivables from customers and note receivables from growers. Our earnings from our Food Products Technology business are sensitive to price fluctuations in the fresh vegetables and fruits markets. Excess supplies can cause intense price competition. Other factors that affect our food and/or agricultural operations include:
• the seasonality of our supplies;
• our ability to process produce during critical harvest periods;
• the timing and effects of ripening;
• the degree of perishability;
• the effectiveness of worldwide distribution systems;
• total worldwide industry volumes;
• the seasonality of consumer demand;
• foreign currency fluctuations; and
• foreign importation restrictions and foreign political risks.
As a result of these and other factors, we expect to continue to experience fluctuations in quarterly operating results.
We May Not Be Able to Achieve Acceptance of Our New Products in the Marketplace
Our success in generating significant sales of our products will depend in part on the ability of us and our partners and licensees to achieve market acceptance of our new products and technology. The extent to which, and rate at which, we achieve market acceptance and penetration of our current and future products is a function of many variables including, but not limited to:
• price;
• safety;
• efficacy;
• reliability;
• conversion costs;
• marketing and sales efforts; and
• general economic conditions affecting purchasing patterns.
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We may not be able to develop and introduce new products and technologies in a timely manner or new products and technologies may not gain market acceptance. We are in the early stage of product commercialization of certain Intelimer-based specialty packaging, Intellicoat seed coating and other Intelimer polymer products and many of our potential products are in development. We believe that our future growth will depend in large part on our ability to develop and market new products in our target markets and in new markets. In particular, we expect that our ability to compete effectively with existing food products, agricultural, industrial and medical companies will depend substantially on successfully developing, commercializing, achieving market acceptance of and reducing the cost of producing our products. In addition, commercial applications of our temperature switch polymer technology are relatively new and evolving. Our failure to develop new products or the failure of our new products to achieve market acceptance would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
We Face Strong Competition in the Marketplace
Competitors may succeed in developing alternative technologies and products that are more effective, easier to use or less expensive than those which have been or are being developed by us or that would render our technology and products obsolete and non-competitive. We operate in highly competitive and rapidly evolving fields, and new developments are expected to continue at a rapid pace. Competition from large food products, agricultural, industrial and medical companies is expected to be intense. In addition, the nature of our collaborative arrangements may result in our corporate partners and licensees becoming our competitors. Many of these competitors have substantially greater financial and technical resources and production and marketing capabilities than we do, and may have substantially greater experience in conducting clinical and field trials, obtaining regulatory approvals and manufacturing and marketing commercial products.
We Have a Concentration of Manufacturing in One Location for Apio and May Have to Depend on Third Parties to Manufacture Our Products
Any disruptions in our primary manufacturing operation would reduce our ability to sell our products and would have a material adverse effect on our financial results. Additionally, we may need to consider seeking collaborative arrangements with other companies to manufacture our products. If we become dependent upon third parties for the manufacture of our products, our profit margins and our ability to develop and deliver those products on a timely basis may be affected. Failures by third parties may impair our ability to deliver products on a timely basis and impair our competitive position. We may not be able to continue to successfully operate our manufacturing operations at acceptable costs, with acceptable yields, and retain adequately trained personnel.
Our Dependence on Single-Source Suppliers and Service Providers May Cause Disruption in Our Operations Should Any Supplier Fail to Deliver Materials
We may experience difficulty acquiring materials or services for the manufacture of our products or we may not be able to obtain substitute vendors. We may not be able to procure comparable materials or hybrid corn varieties at similar prices and terms within a reasonable time. Several services that are provided to Apio are obtained from a single provider. Several of the raw materials we use to manufacture our products are currently purchased from a single source, including some monomers used to synthesize Intelimer polymers and substrate materials for our breathable membrane products. In addition, virtually all of the hybrid corn varieties sold by Landec Ag are grown under contract by a single seed producer. Any interruption of our relationship with single-source suppliers or service providers could delay product shipments and materially harm our business.
We May Be Unable to Adequately Protect Our Intellectual Property Rights
We may receive notices from third parties, including some of our competitors, claiming infringement by our products of patent and other proprietary rights. Regardless of their merit, responding to any such claim could be time-consuming, result in costly litigation and require us to enter royalty and licensing agreements which may not be offered or available on terms acceptable to us. If a successful claim is made against us and we fail to develop or license a substitute technology, we could be required to alter our products or processes and our business, results of operations or financial position could be materially adversely affected. Our success depends in large part on our ability to obtain patents, maintain trade secret protection and operate without infringing on the proprietary rights of third parties. Any
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pending patent applications we file may not be approved and we may not be able to develop additional proprietary products that are patentable. Any patents issued to us may not provide us with competitive advantages or may be challenged by third parties. Patents held by others may prevent the commercialization of products incorporating our technology. Furthermore, others may independently develop similar products, duplicate our products or design around our patents.
Our Operations Are Subject to Regulations that Directly Impact Our Business
Our food packaging products are subject to regulation under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (the “FDC Act”). Under the FDC Act, any substance that when used as intended may reasonably be expected to become, directly or indirectly, a component or otherwise affect the characteristics of any food may be regulated as a food additive unless the substance is generally recognized as safe. We believe that food packaging materials are generally not considered food additives by the FDA because these products are not expected to become components of food under their expected conditions of use. We consider our breathable membrane product to be a food packaging material not subject to regulation or approval by the FDA. We have not received any communication from the FDA concerning our breathable membrane product. If the FDA were to determine that our breathable membrane products are food additives, we may be required to submit a food additive petition for approval by the FDA. The food additive petition process is lengthy, expensive and uncertain. A determination by the FDA that a food additive petition is necessary would have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.
Federal, state and local regulations impose various environmental controls on the use, storage, discharge or disposal of toxic, volatile or otherwise hazardous chemicals and gases used in some of the manufacturing processes. Our failure to control the use of, or to restrict adequately the discharge of, hazardous substances under present or future regulations could subject us to substantial liability or could cause our manufacturing operations to be suspended and changes in environmental regulations may impose the need for additional capital equipment or other requirements.
Our agricultural operations are subject to a variety of environmental laws including, the Food Quality Protection Act of 1966, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act. Compliance with these laws and related regulations is an ongoing process. Environmental concerns are, however, inherent in most agricultural operations, including those we conduct. Moreover, it is possible that future developments, such as increasingly strict environmental laws and enforcement policies could result in increased compliance costs.
The Company is subject to the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (“PACA”) law. PACA regulates fair trade standards in the fresh produce industry and governs all the product sold by Apio. Our failure to comply with the PACA requirements could among other things, result in civil penalties, suspension or revocation of a license to sell produce, and in the most egregious cases, criminal prosecution, which could have a material adverse affect on our business.
Adverse Weather Conditions and Other Acts of God May Cause Substantial Decreases in Our Sales and/or Increases in Our Costs
Our Food Products and Agricultural Seed Technology businesses are subject to weather conditions that affect commodity prices, crop yields, and decisions by growers regarding crops to be planted. Crop diseases and severe conditions, particularly weather conditions such as floods, droughts, frosts, windstorms, earthquakes and hurricanes, may adversely affect the supply of vegetables and fruits used in our business, which could reduce the sales volumes and/or increase the unit production costs. Because a significant portion of the costs are fixed and contracted in advance of each operating year, volume declines due to production interruptions or other factors could result in increases in unit production costs which could result in substantial losses and weaken our financial condition.
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We Depend on Strategic Partners and Licenses for Future Development
Our strategy for development, clinical and field testing, manufacture, commercialization and marketing for some of our current and future products includes entering into various collaborations with corporate partners, licensees and others. We are dependent on our corporate partners to develop, test, manufacture and/or market some of our products. Although we believe that our partners in these collaborations have an economic motivation to succeed in performing their contractual responsibilities, the amount and timing of resources to be devoted to these activities are not within our control. Our partners may not perform their obligations as expected or we may not derive any additional revenue from the arrangements. Our partners may not pay any additional option or license fees to us or may not develop, market or pay any royalty fees related to products under the agreements. Moreover, some of the collaborative agreements provide that they may be terminated at the discretion of the corporate partner, and some of the collaborative agreements provide for termination under other circumstances. In addition, we may not receive any royalties on future sales of PORT™ products because we have no control over commercializing the product or generating revenue from the sales of those products. Our partners may pursue existing or alternative technologies in preference to our technology. Furthermore, we may not be able to negotiate additional collaborative arrangements in the future on acceptable terms, if at all, and our collaborative arrangements may not be successful.
Both Domestic and Foreign Government Regulations Can Have an Adverse Effect on Our Business Operations
Our products and operations are subject to governmental regulation in the United States and foreign countries. The manufacture of our products is subject to periodic inspection by regulatory authorities. We may not be able to obtain necessary regulatory approvals on a timely basis or at all. Delays in receipt of or failure to receive approvals or loss of previously received approvals would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Although we have no reason to believe that we will not be able to comply with all applicable regulations regarding the manufacture and sale of our products and polymer materials, regulations are always subject to change and depend heavily on administrative interpretations and the country in which the products are sold. Future changes in regulations or interpretations relating to matters such as safe working conditions, laboratory and manufacturing practices, environmental controls, and disposal of hazardous or potentially hazardous substances may adversely affect our business.
We are subject to USDA rules and regulations concerning the safety of the food products handled and sold by Apio, and the facilities in which they are packed and processed. Failure to comply with the applicable regulatory requirements can, among other things, result in:
• fines, injunctions, civil penalties, and suspensions,
• withdrawal of regulatory approvals,
• product recalls and product seizures, including cessation of manufacturing and sales,
• operating restrictions, and
• criminal prosecution.
We may be required to incur significant costs to comply with the laws and regulations in the future which may have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.
Our International Operations and Sales May Expose Our Business to Additional Risks
For the nine months ended February 27, 2005, approximately 28% of our total revenues were derived from product sales to international customers. A number of risks are inherent in international transactions. International sales and operations may be limited or disrupted by any of the following:
• regulatory approval process,
• government controls,
• export license requirements,
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• political instability,
• price controls,
• trade restrictions,
• changes in tariffs, or
• difficulties in staffing and managing international operations.
Foreign regulatory agencies have or may establish product standards different from those in the United States, and any inability to obtain foreign regulatory approvals on a timely basis could have a material adverse effect on our international business, and our financial condition and results of operations. While our foreign sales are currently priced in dollars, fluctuations in currency exchange rates, may reduce the demand for our products by increasing the price of our products in the currency of the countries to which the products are sold. Regulatory, geopolitical and other factors may adversely impact our operations in the future or require us to modify our current business practices.
Cancellations or Delays of Orders by Our Customers May Adversely Affect Our Business
During the nine months ended February 27, 2005, sales to our top five customers accounted for approximately 41% of our revenues, with our largest customer, Costco Wholesale Corp. accounting for approximately 15% of our revenues. We expect that, for the foreseeable future, a limited number of customers may continue to account for a substantial portion of our net revenues. We may experience changes in the composition of our customer base, as Apio and Landec Ag have experienced in the past. We do not have long-term purchase agreements with any of our customers. The reduction, delay or cancellation of orders from one or more major customers for any reason or the loss of one or more of our major customers could materially and adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition. In addition, since some of the products processed by Apio at its Guadalupe, California facility are often sole sourced to its customers, our operating results could be adversely affected if one or more of our major customers were to develop other sources of supply. Our current customers may not continue to place orders, orders by existing customers may be canceled or may not continue at the levels of previous periods or we may not be able to obtain orders from new customers.
Our Sale of Some Products May Increase Our Exposure to Product Liability Claims
The testing, manufacturing, marketing, and sale of the products we develop involves an inherent risk of allegations of product liability. If any of our products were determined or alleged to be contaminated or defective or to have caused a harmful accident to an end-customer, we could incur substantial costs in responding to complaints or litigation regarding our products and our product brand image could be materially damaged. Either event may have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition. Although we have taken and intend to continue to take what we believe are appropriate precautions to minimize exposure to product liability claims, we may not be able to avoid significant liability. We currently maintain product liability insurance with limits in the amount of $41.0 million per occurrence and $42.0 million in the annual aggregate. Our coverage may not be adequate or may not continue to be available at an acceptable cost, if at all. A product liability claim, product recall or other claim with respect to uninsured liabilities or in excess of insured liabilities could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.
Our Stock Price May Fluctuate in Accordance with Market Conditions
Over the past several years the stock market has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations. The following events may cause the market price of our common stock to fluctuate significantly:
• technological innovations applicable to our products,
• our attainment of (or failure to attain) milestones in the commercialization of our technology,
• our development of new products or the development of new products by our competitors,
• new patents or changes in existing patents applicable to our products,
• our acquisition of new businesses or the sale or disposal of a part of our businesses,
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• development of new collaborative arrangements by us, our competitors or other parties,
• changes in government regulations applicable to our business,
• changes in investor perception of our business,
• fluctuations in our operating results and
• changes in the general market conditions in our industry.
These broad fluctuations may adversely affect the market price of our common stock.
Since We Order Cartons and Film for Our Products from Suppliers in Advance of Receipt of Customer Orders for Such Products, We Could Face a Material Inventory Risk
As part of our inventory planning, we enter into negotiated orders with vendors of cartons and film used for packing our products in advance of receiving customer orders for such products. Accordingly, we face the risk of ordering too many cartons and film since orders are generally based on forecasts of customer orders rather than actual orders. If we cannot change or be released from the orders, we may incur costs as a result of inadequately predicting cartons and film orders in advance of customer orders. Because of this, we may currently have an oversupply of cartons and film and face the risk of not being able to sell such inventory and our anticipated reserves for losses may be inadequate if we have misjudged the demand for our products. Our business and operating results could be adversely affected as a result of these increased costs.
Our Seed Products May Fail to Germinate Properly and We May Be Subject to Claims for Reimbursement or Damages for Losses from Customers Who Use Such Products
Farmers plant seed products sold by Landec Ag with the expectation that they will germinate under normal growing conditions. If our seed products do not germinate at the appropriate time or fail to germinate at all, our customers may incur significant crop losses and seek reimbursement or bring claims against us for such damages. Although insurance is generally available to cover such claims, the costs for premiums of such policies are prohibitively expensive and we currently do not maintain such insurance. Any claims brought for failure of our seed products to properly germinate could materially and adversely affect our operating and financial results.
Recently Enacted Changes in Securities Laws and Regulations Are Likely to Increase Our Costs
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Act”) that became law in July 2002 requires changes in some of our corporate governance, public disclosure and compliance practices. In addition, Nasdaq has made revisions to its requirements for companies, such as Landec, that are listed on the NASDAQ. We expect these developments to increase our legal and financial compliance costs. We expect these changes to make it more difficult and more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance, and we may be required to accept reduced coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain coverage. These developments could make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified members for our board of directors, particularly to serve on our audit committee.
Our Controlling Shareholders Exert Significant Influence over Corporate Events that May Conflict with the Interests of Other Shareholders
Our executive officers and directors and their affiliates own or control approximately 24% of our common stock (including options exercisable within 60 days). Accordingly, these officers, directors and shareholders may have the ability to exert significant influence over the election of our Board of Directors, the approval of amendments to our articles and bylaws and the approval of mergers or other business combination transactions requiring shareholder approval. This concentration of ownership may have the effect of delaying or preventing a merger or other business combination transaction, even if the transaction or amendments would be beneficial to our other shareholders. In addition, our controlling shareholders may approve amendments to our articles or bylaws to implement anti-takeover or management friendly provisions that may not be beneficial to our other shareholders.
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Terrorist Attacks and Risk of Contamination May Negatively Impact All Aspects of Our Operations, Revenues, Costs and Stock Price
The September 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, as well as future events occurring in response or connection to them, including, future terrorist attacks against United States targets, rumors or threats of war, actual conflicts involving the United States or its allies, or trade disruptions impacting our domestic suppliers or our customers, may impact our operations and may, among other things, cause decreased sales of our products. More generally, these events have affected, and are expected to continue to affect, the general economy and customer demand for our products. While we do not believe that our employees, facilities, or products are a target for terrorists, there is a remote risk that terrorist activities could result in contamination or adulteration of our products. Although we have systems and procedures in place that are designed to prevent contamination and adulteration of our products, a disgruntled employee or third party could introduce an infectious substance into packages of our products, either at our manufacturing plants or during shipment of our products. Were our products to be tampered with, we could experience a material adverse effect in our business, operations and financial condition.
We May Be Exposed to Employment Related Claims and Costs that Could Materially Adversely Affect Our Business
We have been subject in the past, and may be in the future, to claims by employees based on allegations of discrimination, negligence, harassment and inadvertent employment of illegal aliens or unlicensed personnel, and we may be subject to payment of workers’ compensation claims and other similar claims. We could incur substantial costs and our management could spend a significant amount of time responding to such complaints or litigation regarding employee claims, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.
We Are Dependent on Our Key Employees and if One or More of Them Were to Leave, We Could Experience Difficulties in Replacing Them and Our Operating Results Could Suffer
The success of our business depends to a significant extent upon the continued service and performance of a relatively small number of key senior management, technical, sales, and marketing personnel. The loss of any of our key personnel would likely harm our business. In addition, competition for senior level personnel with knowledge and experience in our different lines of business is intense. If any of our key personnel were to leave, we would need to devote substantial resources and management attention to replace them. As a result, management attention may be diverted from managing our business, and we may need to pay higher compensation to replace these employees.
We Have Violated Restrictions in Our Loan Agreements and May Have to Pursue New Financings if We Are Unable to Comply with These Provisions in the Future
Apio is subject to various financial and operating covenants under the Well Fargo Bank lines of credit, including minimum levels of net income, maximum leverage ratio, minimum net worth and maximum capital expenditures. The Wells Fargo Bank agreement limits the ability of Apio to make cash payments to Landec. On April 27, 2003, Apio was in technical violation of the minimum net worth covenant under a previous line of credit with Bank of America, which violation was subsequently waived by Bank of America. If we violate any obligations under the lines of credit in the future, we could trigger an event of default, which, if not cured or waived, would permit acceleration of our obligation to repay the indebtedness due under our lines. If the indebtedness due under the lines were accelerated, we would be forced to pursue one or more alternative strategies such as selling assets, seeking new debt financing from another lender or seeking additional equity capital, which might not be achievable or available on attractive terms, if at all, and which could substantially dilute the ownership interest of existing shareholders.
We May Issue Preferred Stock with Preferential Rights that Could Affect Your Rights
Our Board of Directors has the authority, without further approval of our shareholders, to fix the rights and preferences, and to issue shares, of preferred stock. In November 1999, we issued and sold shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and in October 2001 we issued and sold shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. The Series A Convertible Preferred Stock was converted into 1,666,670 shares of Common Stock on November 19, 2002 and the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock was converted into 1,744,102 shares of Common Stock on May 7, 2004.
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The issuance of new shares of preferred stock could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire a majority of our outstanding stock, and the holders of such preferred stock could have voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights superior to those of holders of our Common Stock.
We Have Never Paid any Dividends on Our Common Stock
We have not paid any cash dividends on our Common Stock since inception and do not expect to do so in the foreseeable future. Any dividends may be subject to preferential dividends payable on any preferred stock we may issue.
The Reporting of Our Profitability Could Be Materially And Adversely Affected if it Is Determined that the Book Value of Goodwill is Higher than Fair Value
Our balance sheet includes an amount designated as “goodwill” that represents a portion of our assets and our stockholders’ equity. Goodwill arises when an acquirer pays more for a business than the fair value of the tangible and separately measurable intangible net assets. Under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142 “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”, beginning in fiscal year 2002, the amortization of goodwill has been replaced with an “impairment test” which requires that we compare the fair value of goodwill to its book value at least annually and more frequently if circumstances indicate a possible impairment. If we determine at any time in the future that the book value of goodwill is higher than fair value then the difference must be written-off, which could materially and adversely affect our profitability.
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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
The following table presents information about the Company’s debt obligations and derivative financial instruments that are sensitive to changes in interest rates. The table presents principal amounts and related weighted average interest rates by fiscal year of expected maturity for the Company’s debt obligations. The carrying value of the Company’s debt obligations approximates the fair value of the debt obligations as of February 27, 2005.
| | Remainder of 2005 | | 2006 | | 2007 | | 2008 | | 2009 | | There-after | | Total | |
Liabilities (in 000’s) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Lines of Credit | | $ | 857 | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 857 | |
Avg. Int. Rate | | 5.50 | % | | | | | | | | | | | 5.50 | % |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Long term debt, including current portion | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fixed Rate | | $ | 138 | | $ | 554 | | $ | 548 | | $ | 289 | | $ | 141 | | $ | 1,558 | | $ | 3,228 | |
Avg. Int. Rate | | 5.11 | % | 5.08 | % | 4.94 | % | 4.82 | % | 4.75 | % | 4.79 | % | 5.67 | % |
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
(a) Based on their evaluation as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (the “Evaluation Date”), Landec’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that, as of the Evaluation Date, Landec’s disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), were effective such that the material information required to be disclosed by Landec in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms.
(b) Since the Evaluation Date, there have not been any significant changes in Landec’s internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| LANDEC CORPORATION |
| | |
| | |
| By: | /s/ | Gregory S. Skinner | |
| | | Gregory S. Skinner | |
| | Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer |
| | (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
| | |
Date: | April 4, 2005 | | |
| | | | | |
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