| | | For the 13 Weeks Ended, | |
| | | Feb. 26, 2005 | | Feb. 28, 2004 | |
| | | | | | | | |
| Service cost | | $ | 9 | | $ | 8 | |
| Interest | | | 13 | | | 12 | |
| Amortization of unrecognized loss | | | 2 | | | 2 | |
| | | $ | 24 | | $ | 22 | |
9. Commitments and Contingencies
As of February 26, 2005, Griffin had committed purchase obligations of $3.2million, principally for construction of the shell of a new industrial building at Griffin Land and for the purchase of raw materials by Imperial.
Griffin is involved, as a defendant, in various litigation matters arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, based on the advice of counsel, the ultimate liability, if any, with respect to these matters will not be material to Griffin’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
| ITEM 2. | MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL |
| | CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS |
Overview
The consolidated financial statements of Griffin Land & Nurseries, Inc. (“Griffin”) include the accounts of Griffin’s subsidiary in the landscape nursery business, Imperial Nurseries, Inc. (“Imperial”), and Griffin’s Connecticut and Massachusetts based real estate business (“Griffin Land”). Through March 9, 2004, Griffin had an equity investment in Centaur Communications, Ltd. (“Centaur”), a privately held magazine publishing business based in the United Kingdom. On March 10, 2004, Griffin completed the sale of its investment in Centaur, receiving cash proceeds of $68.9 million after transaction expenses of $1.5 million but before income tax payments, and 6,477,150 shares of common stock of Centaur Holdings, plc. (“Centaur Holdings”), the newly formed acquiring company. Griffin has retained its ownership interest in Centaur Holdings and accounts for that investment as an available-for-sale security under SFAS No. 115, “Accounting For Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities.”
The significant accounting policies and methods used in the preparation of Griffin’s consolidated financial statements included in Item 1 are consistent with those used in the preparation of Griffin’s audited financial statements for the year ended November 27, 2004 included in Griffin’s Report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The preparation of Griffin’s financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and revenue and expenses during the periods reported. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The significant accounting estimates used by Griffin in preparation of its financial statements for the thirteen weeks ended February 26, 2005 are consistent with those used by Griffin in preparation of its fiscal 2004 financial statements.
Summary
Griffin’s net loss for the thirteen weeks ended February 26, 2005 (the “2005 first quarter”) was substantially unchanged from the net loss for the thirteen weeks ended February 28, 2004 (the “2004 first quarter”). Lower operating profit in the 2005 first quarter was substantially offset by lower interest expense and higher interest income, dividend income and gains on short-term investments in the 2005 first quarter. Operating profit at Griffin Land was lower in the 2005 first quarter as compared to the 2004 first quarter, as higher rental revenue was offset by a charge of $0.2 million to write off capitalized costs related to a lease termination (a new lease with a new tenant became effective upon the termination of the existing lease) and higher operating expenses of its buildings. The 2005 first quarter operating loss at Imperial was higher than Imperial’s operating loss in the 2004 first quarter due principally to a charge for inventory losses in the 2005 first quarter. Imperial historically incurs a first quarter operating loss due to the highly seasonal nature of the landscape nursery business.
Results of Operations
Thirteen Weeks Ended February 26, 2005 Compared to the Thirteen Weeks Ended February 28, 2004
Griffin’s consolidated total revenue increased from $2.9 million in the 2004 first quarter to $3.3 million in the 2005 first quarter. The increase of $0.4 million reflects increases in revenue of $0.3 million at Griffin Land and $0.1 million at Imperial.
Revenue at Griffin Land increased from $2.5 million in the 2004 first quarter to $2.8 million in the 2005 first quarter. The increase of $0.3 million reflects an increase of $0.2 million in revenue from its leasing operations and revenue of $0.1 million from a property sale. There were no property sales in the 2004 first quarter. The increase in revenue from leasing operations principally reflects a net increase in space leased in the 2005 first quarter as compared to the 2004 first quarter. At February 26, 2005, Griffin Land owned 1,130,000 square feet of industrial, flex and office space, with 934,000 square feet (83%) leased. At the end of the 2004 first quarter, Griffin Land had 1,130,000 square feet of industrial, flex and office space, with 870,000 square feet (77%) leased. The increase space leased at the end of the 2005 first quarter versus the comparable time last year principally reflects the start of rental payments on new leases subsequent to the 2004 first quarter. These include two leases for an aggregate of 54,000 square feet of the 117,000 square foot industrial building in the New England Tradeport in Windsor, Connecticut that was completed near the end of fiscal 2003 and a lease for 16,000 square feet of Griffin’s 50,000 square foot single story office building in Griffin Center in Windsor, Connecticut. Rental revenue from new leases of previously vacant space covering approximately 20,000 square feet in one of Griffin Land’s older industrial buildings in the New England Tradeport, was substantially offset by approximately 25,000 square feet, primarily flex space, that was leased in the 2004 first quarter, but vacant in the current period.
There was a significant increase in real estate market activity particularly by users of industrial and warehouse space in the latter part of fiscal 2004 which has continued into the current year. The increased market activity is evidenced by the increases in requests for proposals to Griffin Land by prospective users for that type of space and interest by certain current tenants seeking to increase the amount of warehouse and industrial space they currently lease. Subsequent to the end of the 2005 first quarter, Griffin Land completed a lease for an additional approximately 39,000 square feet of its 117,000 square foot industrial building, resulting in that building now being approximately 80% leased. Also, subsequent to the 2005 first quarter, Griffin Land signed a lease for approximately 31,300 square feet for its 137,000 square foot industrial building that is currently under construction. This new lease is with a current tenant that required additional space and will, therefore, vacate the 25,000 square feet it currently leases in one of Griffin Land’s other industrial buildings. The vacated space will be leased to that building’s other tenant which is also seeking to increase the amount of space it currently leases. A lease for approximately 40,000 square feet for the industrial building currently under construction had been signed earlier.
Net sales and other revenue at Imperial increased from $0.4 million in the 2004 first quarter to $0.5 million in the 2005 first quarter. Imperial’s landscape nursery business is highly seasonal, with sales peaking in the spring. Sales in the winter months that comprise the first quarter (December through February) are not significant when compared to the full year’s net sales. Over the past three years, Imperial’s first quarter net sales accounted for less than 3% of the full year net sales in each of those years.
Griffin incurred a consolidated operating loss of $1.9 million in the 2005 first quarter as compared to a consolidated operating loss of $1.4 million in the 2004 first quarter. The higher operating loss principally reflects a change from approximately break even to a $0.1 million operating loss at Griffin Land, an increase of $0.1 million in the operating loss at Imperial and an increase of $0.3 million of general corporate expense.
Griffin Land incurred an operating loss of $0.1 million in the 2005 first quarter as compared to break even results in the 2004 first quarter, reflecting the following:
| | | 2005 | | 2004 | |
| | | First Qtr. | | First Qtr. | |
| | | (amounts in thousands) |
| Profit from leasing activities before general and | | | | | | | |
| administrative expenses and before depreciation | | | | | | | |
| and amortization expense | | $ | 1,373 | | $ | 1,434 | |
| Loss from land sales | | | (11 | ) | | (70 | ) |
| General and administrative expenses | | | (649 | ) | | (573 | ) |
| Profit before depreciation and amortization expense | | | 713 | | | 791 | |
| Depreciation and amortization expense | | | (781 | ) | | (772 | ) |
| Operating (loss) profit | | $ | (68 | ) | $ | 19 | |
| | | | | | | | |
Profit from leasing activities before general and administrative expenses and before depreciation and amortization expense decreased slightly, as the increase in rental revenue was more than offset by a charge of $0.2 million to write off capitalized costs related to a lease that was terminated in the 2005 first quarter and higher building operating expenses, due to seasonal cost of snow plowing during the winter months. The lease termination was related to a new longer-term lease with a new tenant for that building. The new lease rental rates were equal to the rental rates under the terminated lease over the remaining term of the terminated lease. The sale of a residential lot generated proceeds of $0.1 million but was essentially at the break even profit level. Although there were no property sales in the 2004 first quarter, Griffin Land wrote off costs related to a proposed property sale that did not take place. Griffin Land’s general and administrative expenses were higher in the 2005 first quarter than the 2004 first quarter due principally to bad debt expense and higher insurance expenses.
The operating loss at Imperial increased from $0.9 million in the 2004 first quarter to $1.0 million in the 2005 first quarter, as follows:
| | | 2005 | | 2004 | |
| | | First Qtr. | | First Qtr. | |
| | | (amounts in thousands) | |
| Net sales and other revenue | | $ | 464 | | $ | 422 | |
| Cost of goods sold | | | 597 | | | 442 | |
| Gross loss | | | (133 | ) | | (20 | ) |
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | | | (880 | ) | | (853 | ) |
| Operating loss | | $ | (1,013 | ) | $ | (873 | ) |
| | | | | | | | |
Due to the seasonality of the landscape nursery business, Imperial historically incurs a first quarter operating loss. The increase in cost of goods sold in the 2005 first quarter as compared to the 2004 first quarter reflects a charge of $0.1 million for unsalable inventory. The unsalable inventory charge was due to the inventory of one plant variety, which is no longer in production, at Imperial’s northern Florida operation that became diseased over the winter.
Griffin’s general corporate expense increased from $0.5 millon in the 2004 first quarter to $0.8 million in the 2005 first quarter due principally to increased audit expenses and higher donation expenses.
Griffin’s consolidated interest expense decreased from $0.7 million in the 2004 first quarter to $0.5 million in the 2005 first quarter. The lower interest expense reflects the termination of Griffin’s revolving credit agreement in the 2004 second quarter and a portion of the 2005 first quarter interest
being capitalized as compared to no capitalized interest in the 2004 first quarter. Griffin’s average outstanding debt in the 2005 first quarter was $32.2 million as compared to average outstanding debt of $45.5 million in the 2004 first quarter.
Griffin reported higher interest income, dividend income and gains on short-term investments of $0.2 million in the 2005 first quarter, reflecting earnings on investment of the remaining proceeds from the sale of Centaur.
Griffin’s effective income tax benefit rate was 34.3% in the 2005 first quarter as compared to 37.3% in the 2004 first quarter. The lower income tax benefit rate principally reflects the effect of state and local income taxes.
There was no equity income in the 2005 first quarter as a result of the sale of Centaur on March 10, 2004. Griffin incurred an equity loss of $0.1 million from Centaur in the 2004 first quarter.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Cash used in operating activities increased from $3.7 million in the 2004 first quarter period to $4.9 million in the 2005 first quarter period. The $1.2 million increase in cash used in operating activities principally reflects an increase of $0.2 million in accounts payable and accrued liabilities in the 2005 first quarter as compared to an increase of $1.6 million in accounts payable and accrued liabilities in the 2004 first quarter and an increase of $5.5 million in inventories in the 2005 first quarter as compared to an increase of $4.8 million in the 2004 first quarter. The change in accounts payable and accrued liabilities principally reflects timing of payments. The higher increase in inventories reflects the timing of raw material purchases at Imperial. The unfavorable changes of inventories and accounts payable were partially offset by non-cash adjustments to the net loss being higher in the 2005 first quarter as compared to the 2004 first quarter.
Cash used in investing activities increased from $2.0 million in the 2004 first quarter to $3.3 million in the 2005 first quarter. Additions to real estate held for sale or lease increased from $1.6 million in the 2004 first quarter to $3.1 million in the 2005 first quarter. The higher amount of additions to Griffin Land’s real estate assets principally reflects the ongoing construction of the shell of a 137,000 square foot industrial building in the New England Tradeport, which is expected to be substantially completed at the end of the second quarter. This building was built on speculation, however leases for approximately 73,500 square feet have been signed. Additions to property and equipment, principally for Imperial, were $0.2 million in both the 2005 and 2004 first quarters. The current year expenditures were principally to purchase additional portable shelving units that are used on trucks in delivering product to customers. The prior year additions at Imperial were principally for completion of the expansion of its Florida operations.
Net cash used in financing activities was $0.2 million in the 2005 first quarter as compared to net cash of $5.7 million provided by financing activities in the 2004 first quarter. The net cash used in financing activities in the 2005 first quarter reflects payments of principal on Griffin Land’s mortgages. The net cash generated from financing activities in the 2004 first quarter included borrowings under the Credit Agreement to finance Griffin’s operations during that period. The balance outstanding under the Credit Agreement was subsequently repaid with a portion of the proceeds from the sale of Centaur and the Credit Agreement was then terminated.
In the balance of fiscal 2005, Griffin plans to continue to invest in its real estate business. As a result of the recent completion of new leases for industrial space and expressions of interest by potential
users of that type of space, Griffin Land expects to begin construction in the 2005 second quarter on the shell of an additional 137,000 square foot industrial building in the New England Tradeport. This new construction is also being done on speculation, however, there have been significant expressions of interest for space in this new building by prospective tenants. Griffin Land also expects to incur expenditures to build out the interiors of its new buildings as leases are completed. In addition to activity in the industrial and warehouse market, there has been an increase in inquiries for office space. If current outstanding proposals to lease office space are accepted, Griffin Land will consider increasing its inventory of office space in order to meet the needs of current and future users of office space. Griffin Land also expects to continue to invest in infrastructure improvements required for present and future development in its office and industrial parks. Griffin Land is currently seeking a mortgage on a recently completed industrial building and an industrial building currently under construction.
Last year, Griffin Land received approval for its proposed residential development, Stratton Farms, in Suffield, Connecticut. An owner of certain land adjacent to Stratton Farms has filed an appeal of the approvals issued by the town’s land use commissions. Infrastructure work on this residential development has not started because one environmental permit is still required before work can begin. Revenue from land sales in Stratton Farms is not expected this year.
Subsequent to the end of the 2005 first quarter, Griffin Land completed the sale, which was contracted for last year, of commercial land in Windsor, Connecticut. Proceeds were $0.8 million. There are also two land sales currently under contract which have not yet been completed. A prospective sale of undeveloped residential land for $0.8 million is contingent on the buyer obtaining approvals from the towns’ land use commissions, and a prospective sale of undeveloped residential land for $0.4 million is contingent on the buyer obtaining financing. Completion of the latter sale is expected to take place later this year. Griffin Land intends to proceed with residential development plans on other of its lands that are also appropriate for that use.
Griffin’s payments (including principal and interest) under contractual obligations as of February 26, 2005 are as follows:
| | | Total | | Due Within One Year | | Due From 1-3 Years | | Due From 3-5 Years | | Due in More Than 5 Years | |
| | | (in millions) | |
| Mortgages | | $ | 48.8 | | $ | 3.0 | | $ | 6.0 | | $ | 13.0 | | $ | 26.8 | |
| Capital Lease Obligations | | | 0.4 | | | 0.1 | | | 0.2 | | | 0.1 | | | - | |
| Operating Lease Obligations | | | 0.6 | | | 0.2 | | | 0.3 | | | 0.1 | | | - | |
| Purchase Obligations (1) | | | 3.2 | | | 3.2 | | | - | | | - | | | - | |
| Other (2) | | | 1.4 | | | - | | | - | | | - | | | 1.4 | |
| | | $ | 54.4 | | $ | 6.5 | | $ | 6.5 | | $ | 13.2 | | $ | 28.2 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | (1) | Includes obligations for the construction of the shell of a new industrial building at Griffin Land and for the purchase of raw materials by Imperial. |
| | (2) | Includes Griffin’s deferred compensation plan and other postretirement benefit liabilities. |
Management believes that the significant amount of cash and short-term investments held by Griffin will be sufficient to finance the working capital requirements of Griffin’s businesses and fund continued investment in Griffin’s real estate assets for the foreseeable future. Griffin Land may also continue to seek nonrecourse mortgage placements on selected properties. Griffin expects to use the balance of the proceeds from the Centaur sale for additional real estate investment; however, there are no
specific real estate investments planned at this time. Such investment may or may not occur based on many factors, including real estate pricing.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In November 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 151, “Inventory Costs (an amendment of ARB No. 43, Chapter 4).” This new standard requires the recognition of abnormal inventory costs related to idle facility expenses, freight, handling costs and spoilage as period costs. SFAS No. 151 will be effective for Griffin in fiscal 2006 and is not expected to have a material impact on Griffin’s consolidated financial statements.
In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 153, “Exchanges of Nonmonetary Assets (an amendment of APB Opinion No. 29).” This new standard requires an issuer to measure and recognize nonmonetary exchanges which are anticipated to have an impact on future cash flows. SFAS No. 153 will be effective for Griffin in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005 and is not expected to have any impact on Griffin’s consolidated financial statements.
In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment.” This new standard supersedes APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and its related implementation guidance. SFAS No. 123R requires an issuer to recognize the compensation cost of employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments. Therefore, the cost of rewarding individuals with equity instruments will be recognized in Griffin’s financial statements rather than disclosed in a pro forma statement in the financial statement footnotes. SFAS No. 123R will be effective for Griffin in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005. Management expects to adopt SFAS No. 123R using the modified prospective application method, and expects that the adoption of SFAS No. 123R will decrease Griffin’s annual basic and diluted per share results by $0.01to $0.04 per share.
Forward-Looking Information
The above information in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. Although Griffin believes that its plans, intentions and expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved, particularly with respect to improvement in operating results of Imperial, leasing currently vacant space, construction of additional facilities in the real estate business, completion of land sales that are currently under contract and approval of currently proposed residential subdivisions. The projected information disclosed herein is based on assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Griffin as of the date hereof, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and regulatory uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of Griffin.
| ITEM 3. | QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK |
Market risk represents the risk of changes in value of a financial instrument, derivative or non-derivative, caused by fluctuations in interest rates, foreign exchange rates and equity prices. Changes in these factors could cause fluctuations in earnings and cash flows.
For fixed rate mortgage debt, changes in interest rates generally affect the fair market value of the debt instrument, but not earnings or cash flows. Griffin does not have an obligation to repay any fixed rate debt prior to maturity, and therefore, interest rate risk and changes in the fair market value of fixed rate debt should not have a significant impact on earnings or cash flows until such debt is refinanced, if necessary. For variable rate debt, changes in interest rates generally do not impact the fair market value of the debt instrument, but do affect future earnings and cash flows. Griffin had no variable rate debt outstanding at February 26, 2005. Therefore, an increase in interest rates of 1% would not have affected Griffin’s interest expense in the thirteen weeks ended February 26, 2005.
Griffin is exposed to market risks from fluctuations in interest rates and the effects of those fluctuations on market values of Griffin’s cash equivalents and short-term investments. These investments generally consist of investments with maturities principally less than three months that are not significantly exposed to interest rate risk, except to the extent that changes in interest rates will ultimately affect the amount of interest income earned and cash flow from these investments.
Griffin does not currently have any derivative financial instruments in place to manage interest costs, but that does not mean that Griffin will not use them as a means to manage interest rate risk in the future.
Griffin does not have foreign currency exposure in its operations. Griffin has an investment in Centaur Holdings plc, a public company traded on the London Stock Exchange and a private company, Linguaphone Group Ltd., both based in the United Kingdom. The ultimate liquidation of those investments and conversion of proceeds into United States currency is subject to future foreign currency exchange rates.
| ITEM 4. | CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES |
Griffin maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in Griffin’s Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to Griffin’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.
As required by SEC Rule 13a-15(b), Griffin carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of Griffin’s management, including Griffin’s Chief Executive Officer and Griffin’s Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of Griffin’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the quarter covered by this report. Based on the foregoing, Griffin’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that Griffin’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.
There has been no change in Griffin’s internal controls over financial reporting during Griffin’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, Griffin’s internal controls over financial reporting.
| ITEMS 1 - 5. | Not Applicable | |
| | | |
| ITEM 6. | Exhibits | |
| | | |
| | Exhibit No. | Description |
| | | |
| | 31.1 | Certifications of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a), |
| | | as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
| | | |
| | 31.2 | Certifications of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a), |
| | | as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 |
| | | |
| | 32.1 | Certifications of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C |
| | | Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley |
| | | Act of 2002 |
| | | |
| | 32.2 | Certifications of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C |
| | | Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley |
| | | Act of 2002 |
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.
| | | GRIFFIN LAND & NURSERIES, INC. |
| | | |
| | | /s/ FREDERICK M. DANZIGER |
| Date:April 12, 2005 | | Frederick M. Danziger |
| | | President and Chief Executive Officer |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | /s/ ANTHONY J. GALICI |
| Date:April 12, 2005 | | Anthony J. Galici |
| | | Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary |
| | | |
| | | |
