CALAVO GROWERS INC - Quarter Report: 2004 January (Form 10-Q)

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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

FORM 10-Q

For the quarterly period ended January 31, 2004

OR

Commission file number: 000-33385

CALAVO GROWERS, INC.

2530 Red Hill Avenue
Santa Ana, California 92705-5542
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

(949) 223-1111
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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 the past 90 days.
Yes [X] No [   ]

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes [X] No [   ]

Registrant’s number of shares of common stock outstanding as of January 31, 2004 was 13,506,833.

CALAVO GROWERS, INC.

INDEX

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CALAVO GROWERS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated
condensed financial statements.

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CALAVO GROWERS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated
condensed financial statements.

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CALAVO GROWERS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
(all amounts in thousands)

In November 2003, the Company acquired all of the outstanding common shares of Maui Fresh International, Inc. for 576,924 shares of the Company’s common stock, valued at $4.05 million. See Note 1 for further explanation. The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition. Such estimates are preliminary and are subject to change upon finalization of valuation information:

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated
condensed financial statements.

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CALAVO GROWERS, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

1. Description of the business

Business

     Calavo Growers, Inc. (Calavo, the Company, we, us or our) engages in the procurement and marketing of avocados and other perishable foods and the preparation and distribution of processed avocado products. Our expertise in marketing and distributing avocados, processed avocados, and other perishable foods allows us to deliver a wide array of fresh and processed food products to food distributors, produce wholesalers, supermarkets, and restaurants on a world-wide basis. Through our two operating facilities in Southern California and two facilities in Mexico, we sort and pack avocados procured in California and Mexico and prepare processed avocado products. Additionally, we procure avocados internationally, principally from Chile, the Dominican Republic, and New Zealand, and distribute other perishable foods, such as Hawaiian grown papayas. We report these operations in three different business segments: California avocados, international avocados and perishable food products, and processed products.

     The accompanying consolidated condensed financial statements are unaudited. In the opinion of management, the accompanying consolidated condensed financial statements contain all adjustments necessary to present fairly our financial position, results of operations, and cash flows. Such adjustments consist of adjustments of a normal recurring nature. Interim results are subject to significant seasonal variations and are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for a full year. Our operations are sensitive to a number of factors, including weather-related phenomena and their effects on industry volumes, prices, product quality, and costs. Operations are also sensitive to fluctuations in currency exchange rates in both sourcing and selling locations, as well as economic crises and security risks in developing countries. These statements should also be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2003.

     In order to diversify our product lines and increase synergies within the marketplace, we acquired all the outstanding common shares of Maui Fresh International, Inc. (Maui) for 576,924 shares of our common stock valued at $4.05 million in November 2003. Maui, which generated approximately $20 million in revenues during its fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, is a specialty produce company servicing a wide array of retail, food service, and terminal market wholesale customers with over 25 different specialty commodities. The value of our common stock issued in conjunction with the acquisition was based on the average quoted market price of our common stock for 3 days before and after the announcement date.

     As security for certain potential contingencies, such as unrecorded liabilities, we are entitled to hold approximately 58,000 shares issued in conjunction with such acquisition for one full year from the acquisition date. In the event that these contingencies resolve as we expect them to, we will be obligated to return these shares.

     The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition. Such estimates are preliminary and are subject to change upon finalization of valuation information:

Goodwill is not subject to amortization and is generally not expected to be deductible for tax purposes. Pro forma statement of operations information is not presented, as the acquisition was not deemed to be a material business combination.

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CALAVO GROWERS, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

Recent Accounting Standards

     In January 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Interpretation No. (FIN) 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities,” which was amended in December 2003. We will adopt FIN 46 in our second quarter ending April 30, 2004, and we do not expect the adoption to have a significant impact on our financial position or results of operations.

Stock-Based Compensation

     As permitted by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation (“SFAS No. 123”), the Company accounts for stock-based compensation under Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (“APB 25”) and related interpretations.

     In December 2003, our Board of Directors approved the issuance of options to acquire a total of 50,000 shares of our common stock to two members of our Board of Directors. Each option to acquire 25,000 shares vests in substantially equal installments over a 3-year period, has an exercise price of $7.00 per share, and has a term of 5 years from the grant date. The market price of our common stock at the grant date was $10.01. In accordance with APB 25, we will record compensation expense of approximately $151,000 over the vesting period of three years from the grant date.

     During our first quarter ended January 31, 2004, we recognized $8,000 of compensation expense with respect to stock option awards pursuant to APB 25. Had compensation cost for stock option awards been determined based on the fair value of each award at its grant date, consistent with the provisions of SFAS No. 123, the Company’s pro forma net income (loss) and net income (loss) per share would have been as follows (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts):

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CALAVO GROWERS, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

     For purposes of pro forma disclosures under SFAS No. 123, the estimated fair value of the options is assumed to be amortized to compensation expense over the options’ vesting period. The fair value of the options granted in 2004 has been estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following assumptions:

     The Black-Scholes and Binary option valuation models were 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 options held by our directors have characteristics significantly different from those of traded options, and because changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, in our opinion, the existing models do not necessarily provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of these options.

Reclassifications

     Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

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CALAVO GROWERS, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

2. Information regarding our operations in different segments

     We operate and track results in three reportable segments: California avocados, international avocados and perishable foods products, and processed products. These three business segments are presented based on our management structure and information used by our president to measure performance and allocate resources. The California avocados segment includes all operations that involve the distribution of avocados grown in California. The international avocados and perishable foods products segment includes both operations related to distribution of fresh avocados grown outside of California and distribution of other perishable food items. The processed products segment represents all operations related to the purchase, manufacturing, and distribution of processed avocado products. Those costs that can be specifically identified with a particular product line are charged directly to that product line. Costs that are not segment specific are generally allocated based on five-year average sales dollars. We do not allocate assets or specifically identify them to our operating segments.

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CALAVO GROWERS, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

     The following table sets forth sales by product category, by segment (in thousands):

3. Inventories

     Inventories consist of the following (in thousands):

     During the three month periods ended January 31, 2004 and 2003, we were not required to, and did not, record any provisions to reduce our inventories to the lower of cost or market.

4. Related Party transactions

     We sell papayas obtained from an entity owned by our Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer and President. Sales of papayas procured from the related entity amounted to approximately $1,640,000 and $602,000 for the three months ended January 31, 2004 and 2003, resulting in gross margins of approximately $183,000 and $60,000. Included in trade accounts payable and accrued liabilities are approximately $154,000 and $296,000 at January 31, 2004 and October 31, 2002 due to this entity.

     Certain members of our Board of Directors market avocados through Calavo pursuant to marketing agreements substantially similar to the marketing agreements that we enter into with other growers. During the three months ended January 31, 2004 and 2003, the aggregate amount of avocados procured from entities owned or controlled by members of our Board of Directors was $230,000 and $190,000.

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CALAVO GROWERS, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

5. Other events

Dividend payment

     On January 5, 2004, we paid a $0.25 per share dividend in the aggregate amount of $3,376,000 to shareholders of record as of November 17, 2003. Included in this dividend payment was $144,000 related to dividends declared in November 2003 related to the shares issued in conjunction with the acquisition of Maui, as described in Note 1.

Commitments

     In May 2003, we entered into a commitment to purchase approximately 1.3 million pounds of processed avocado products from a supplier for a cost of approximately $1.5 million over a 12-month period. Through January 2004, we have received substantially all products subject to this commitment.

     In June 2003, in order to facilitate the operations of one of our processed avocado product suppliers, we entered into a contract guaranteeing payment of certain invoices rendered to such supplier. The term of this guarantee is from June 2003 through December 2004, but can be cancelled at any time at our discretion. Additionally, the maximum amount subject to guarantee at any one time cannot exceed $90,000. As of January 31, 2004, no amounts or orders were outstanding and all amounts owed by such supplier related to this guarantee have been remitted.

Renewal of credit facilities

     In January 2004, we renewed our two short-term, non-collateralized, revolving credit facilities. These credit facilities expire through April 2006 and are with separate banks. Under the terms of these agreements, we are advanced funds for working capital purposes. Total credit available under the combined short-term borrowing agreements was $20,500,000 at January 31, 2004, with interest at a weighted-average rate of 2.3% at January 31, 2004. The credit facilities contain various financial covenants with which we were in compliance at January 31, 2004.

6. Processed product segment restructuring

     In February 2003, our Board of Directors approved a plan whereby the operations of our processed products business would be relocated. The plan calls for the closing of our Santa Paula, California and Mexicali, Baja California Norte processing facilities and the relocation of these operations to a new facility in Uruapan, Michoacan, Mexico. We believe that this restructuring will provide cost savings in the elimination of certain transportation costs, duplicative overhead structures, and savings in the overall cost of labor and services. The Uruapan facility commenced operations in February 2004.

     We expect to pay additional employee separation costs in connection with our planned future closure of our Mexicali, Baja California Norte production facility, which will be recognized when incurred. Those costs have not yet been quantified and are expected to be accrued for and paid during fiscal year 2004. As of January 31, 2004, we have not accrued for any charges relating to the write-down of production assets being held at our Mexicali, Baja California Norte production facility as it is anticipated that all such assets will be re-commissioned at our new facility in Uruapan, Michoacan or their carrying value is less than their net realizable value..

     Additional restructuring related expenses are expected to be incurred during fiscal 2004, but such amounts are not yet determinable.

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

     This information should be read in conjunction with the unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements and the notes thereto included in this Quarterly Report, and the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contained in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended October 31, 2003 of Calavo Growers, Inc. (we, Calavo, or the Company). Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current period presentation.

Recent Developments

Dividend payment

     On January 5, 2004, we paid a $0.25 per share dividend in the aggregate amount of $3,376,000 to shareholders of record as of November 17, 2003. Included in this dividend payment was $144,000 related to dividends declared in November 2003 related to the shares issued in conjunction with the acquisition of Maui, as described in Note 1.

Renewal of credit facilities

     In January 2004, we renewed our two short-term, non-collateralized, revolving credit facilities. These credit facilities expire through April 2006 and are with separate banks. Under the terms of these agreements, we are advanced funds for working capital purposes. Total credit available under the combined short-term borrowing agreements was $20,500,000 at January 31, 2004, with interest at a weighted-average rate of 2.3% at January 31, 2004. The credit facilities contain various financial covenants with which we were in compliance at January 31, 2004.

Acquisition

     In order to diversify our product lines and increase synergies within the marketplace, we acquired all the outstanding common shares of Maui Fresh International, Inc. (Maui) for 576,924 shares of our common stock valued at $4.05 million in November 2003. Maui, which generated approximately $20 million in revenues during its fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, is a specialty produce company servicing a wide array of retail, food service, and terminal market wholesale customers with over 25 different specialty commodities. The value of our common stock issued in conjunction with the acquisition was based on the average quoted market price of our common stock for 3 days before and after the announcement date.

     As security for certain potential contingencies, such as unrecorded liabilities, we are entitled to hold approximately 58,000 shares issued in conjunction with such acquisition for one full year from the acquisition date. In the event that these contingencies resolve as we expect them to, we will be obligated to return these shares.

     The following table summarizes the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the date of acquisition. Such estimates are preliminary and are subject to change upon finalization of valuation information:

Goodwill is not subject to amortization and is generally not expected to be deductible for tax purposes. Pro forma statement of operations information is not presented, as the acquisition was not deemed to be a material business combination.

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Processed product segment restructuring

     In February 2003, our Board of Directors approved a plan whereby the operations of our processed products business would be relocated. The plan calls for the closing of our Santa Paula, California and Mexicali, Baja California Norte processing facilities and the relocation of these operations to a new facility in Uruapan, Michoacan, Mexico. We believe that this restructuring will provide cost savings in the elimination of certain transportation costs, duplicative overhead structures, and savings in the overall cost of labor and services. The facility commenced operations in February 2004.

     We expect to pay additional employee separation costs in connection with our planned future closure of our Mexicali, Baja California Norte production facility, which will be recognized when incurred. Those costs have not yet been quantified and are expected to be accrued for and paid during fiscal year 2004. As of January 31, 2004, we have not accrued for any charges relating to the write-down of production assets being held at our Mexicali, Baja California Norte production facility as it is anticipated that all such assets will be re-commissioned at our new facility in Uruapan, Michoacan or their carrying value is less than their net realizable value..

Additional restructuring related expenses are expected to be incurred during fiscal 2004, but such amounts are not yet determinable.

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