| NEWS FROM: | | | Exhibit 99.1 |
| | | | |
| GRIFFIN LAND & NURSERIES, INC. | | CONTACT: | |
| | | Anthony Galici | |
| | | Chief Financial Officer | |
| | | (860) 653-4541 | |
GRIFFIN ANNOUNCES 2011 SECOND QUARTER RESULTS
NEW YORK, NEW YORK (July 7, 2011) Griffin Land & Nurseries, Inc. (Nasdaq: GRIF) (“Griffin”) today reported a 2011 second quarter operating profit of $4,000 on total revenue of $14,108,000, as compared to a 2010 second quarter operating loss of ($188,000) on total revenue of $15,491,000. For the 2011 six month period, Griffin reported an operating loss of ($2,337,000) on total revenue of $19,104,000, as compared to an operating loss of ($2,192,000) on total revenue of $20,297,000 for the 2010 six month period.
Griffin reported a 2011 second quarter net loss of ($629,000) and a basic and diluted net loss per share of ($0.12) as compared to a 2010 second quarter net loss of ($785,000) and a basic and diluted net loss per share of ($0.15). For the 2011 six month period, Griffin reported a net loss of ($2,758,000) and a basic and diluted net loss per share of ($0.54) as compared to a net loss of ($2,629,000) and a basic and diluted net loss per share of ($0.52) for the 2010 six month period.
Operating profit at Griffin Land, Griffin’s real estate business, increased in the 2011 second quarter and 2011 six month period versus the comparable 2010 periods due principally to an increase in rental revenue mostly from leases that came on line in the second half of last year. Through the first six months of fiscal 2011, Griffin Land has signed one new lease for approximately 11,000 square feet, and has renewed several leases covering an aggregate of approximately 178,000 square feet, mostly industrial space, of which 169,000 square feet was scheduled to expire before the end of fiscal 2011. Griffin Land did not have any property sales in either the 2011 or 2010 six month periods. Market activity has been slow over the past two years but recently appears to have increased, as evidenced by an increase in requests for proposals from prospective tenants. There is no guarantee that the recent increase in market activity will lead to new leases of currently vacant space.
Total net sales and other revenue at Imperial Nurseries, Inc. (“Imperial”), Griffin’s subsidiary in the landscape nursery business, was lower in the 2011 second quarter and 2011 six month period than the comparable 2010 periods, due principally to a change in the mix of plants available for sale this year. A reduction in production of larger size plants and an increase in smaller size plants were made to bring Imperial’s inventory level and plant varieties more in line with expected demand. Imperial’s 2011 second quarter operating results were slightly higher than its 2010 second quarter operating results principally due to a credit included in cost of goods sold in the 2011 second quarter to reduce the estimated charge recorded in the 2011 first quarter for plants lost this winter from the collapse, due to snow load, of some of the hoop houses in which the plants were stored. The actual number of plants lost was lower than the plant losses estimated in the first quarter. Imperial’s gross profit was essentially unchanged in the 2011 second quarter as compared to the 2010 second quarter as the effect of the reduction of the charge for plant losses and improved pricing offset the effect of lower sales volume and higher costs of plants sold in the 2011 second quarter as compared to the 2010 second quarter.
Imperial’s operating loss in the 2011 six month period was higher than the operating loss incurred in the 2010 six month period principally due to charges for unsaleable plants in the 2011 six month period. The charges for unsaleable plants in the 2011 six month period reflect the plants lost from the collapse of some of Imperial’s hoop houses and some starter plants lost due to a disease issue. Excluding the charges for unsaleable inventory and a gain on the initial insurance recovery for the damaged hoop houses in the 2011 six month period, the effect of lower sales volume and higher costs of plants sold in the 2011 six month period more than offset improved pricing and lower operating expenses.
Griffin’s general corporate expense in the 2011 second quarter and 2011 six month period increased over the comparable 2010 periods due principally to increased expenses related to Griffin’s non-qualified deferred compensation plan.
Griffin’s interest expense in the 2011 second quarter and 2011 six month period was lower than the comparable 2010 periods due to lower outstanding debt in the 2011 periods than the comparable 2010 periods. Griffin did not have any outstanding borrowings under its revolving line of credit in the first half of fiscal 2011 as compared to $2.5 million outstanding under its revolving line of credit in the first half of fiscal 2010.
Griffin operates a real estate business, Griffin Land, and Imperial Nurseries, its landscape nursery business. Griffin also has investments in Centaur Media plc, a public company based in the United Kingdom and listed on the London Stock Exchange, and Shemin Nurseries Holding Corp., a private company that operates a landscape nursery distribution business through its subsidiary, Shemin Nurseries, Inc.
Forward-Looking Statements:
This Press Release 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 the renewal of leases scheduled to expire this year, the signing of new leases for currently vacant space, expected additional insurance recoveries by Imperial and other statements that are not historical facts. 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 and which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could affect the outcome of the events set forth in these statements are described in Griffin’s securities and exchange Commission filings, including the “Business”, “Risk Factors” and “Forward-Looking Information” sections in Griffin’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 27, 2010. Griffin disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press release except as required by law.
