INDUS REALTY TRUST, INC. - Quarter Report: 2007 September (Form 10-Q)
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
Form
10-Q
X
|
QUARTERLY
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF
1934 FOR THE QUARTERLY PERIOD ENDED September 1, 2007
|
TRANSITION
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF
1934 FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM ______ TO
_____
|
Commission
File No. 1-12879
GRIFFIN
LAND & NURSERIES, INC.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
|
06-0868496
|
(state
or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
|
(IRS
Employer Identification Number)
|
One
Rockefeller Plaza, New York, New York
|
10020
|
(Address
of principal executive offices)
|
(Zip
Code)
|
Registrant’s
Telephone Number including Area Code
|
(212)
218-7910
|
(Former
name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last
report)
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 a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer or a
non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large
accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large
accelerated filer ¨
|
Accelerated
filer x
|
Non-accelerated
filer ¨
|
Indicate
by check mark whether the
registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange
Act).
Yes ¨
|
No x
|
Number
of
shares of Common Stock outstanding at October 1, 2007:
5,080,649
1
Griffin
Land & Nurseries, Inc.
Form
10-Q
Index
PART
I -
|
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION
|
||
ITEM
1
|
Financial
Statements
|
||
Consolidated
Statements of Operations (unaudited)
|
|||
13
and 39 Weeks Ended September 1, 2007 and September 2, 2006
|
3
|
||
Consolidated
Balance Sheets (unaudited)
|
|||
September
1, 2007 and December 2, 2006
|
4
|
||
Consolidated
Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity (unaudited)
|
|||
39
Weeks Ended September 1, 2007 and September 2, 2006
|
5
|
||
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)
|
|||
39
Weeks Ended September 1, 2007 and September 2, 2006
|
6
|
||
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
|
7-19
|
||
ITEM
2
|
Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of
|
||
Financial
Condition and Results of Operations
|
20-33
|
||
ITEM
3
|
Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
|
33
|
|
ITEM
4
|
Controls
and Procedures
|
34
|
|
PART
II -
|
OTHER
INFORMATION
|
||
ITEM
1
|
Legal
Proceedings
|
34-35
|
|
ITEM
1A
|
Risk
Factors
|
35
|
|
ITEM
6
|
Exhibits
|
35-37
|
|
SIGNATURES
|
38
|
2
PART
I
|
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION
|
ITEM
1.
|
FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
|
Griffin
Land & Nurseries, Inc.
Consolidated
Statements of Operations
(dollars
in thousands, except per share data)
(unaudited)
For
the 13 Weeks Ended,
|
For
the 39 Weeks Ended,
|
|||||||||||||||
Sept.
1, 2007
|
Sept.
2, 2006
|
Sept.
1, 2007
|
Sept.
2, 2006
|
|||||||||||||
Landscape
nursery net sales
|
$ |
4,861
|
$ |
5,104
|
$ |
24,294
|
$ |
27,466
|
||||||||
Rental
revenue and property sales
|
7,287
|
12,593
|
24,336
|
18,513
|
||||||||||||
Total
revenue
|
12,148
|
17,697
|
48,630
|
45,979
|
||||||||||||
Costs
of landscape nursery sales
|
4,387
|
5,527
|
21,174
|
25,547
|
||||||||||||
Costs
related to rental revenue and property sales
|
3,483
|
4,830
|
10,590
|
9,562
|
||||||||||||
Total
costs of goods sold
|
7,870
|
10,357
|
31,764
|
35,109
|
||||||||||||
Gross
profit
|
4,278
|
7,340
|
16,866
|
10,870
|
||||||||||||
Selling,
general and administrative expenses
|
2,592
|
3,405
|
9,457
|
9,320
|
||||||||||||
Operating
profit
|
1,686
|
3,935
|
7,409
|
1,550
|
||||||||||||
Gain
on sale of Centaur Media common stock
|
476
|
-
|
2,873
|
-
|
||||||||||||
Interest
expense
|
(793 | ) | (732 | ) | (2,339 | ) | (2,259 | ) | ||||||||
Investment
income
|
2,105
|
584
|
3,018
|
1,571
|
||||||||||||
Income
before income tax provision
|
3,474
|
3,787
|
10,961
|
862
|
||||||||||||
Income
tax provision
|
1,191
|
1,188
|
3,993
|
98
|
||||||||||||
Net
income
|
$ |
2,283
|
$ |
2,599
|
$ |
6,968
|
$ |
764
|
||||||||
Basic
net income per common share
|
$ |
0.44
|
$ |
0.51
|
$ |
1.35
|
$ |
0.15
|
||||||||
Diluted
net income per common share
|
$ |
0.43
|
$ |
0.49
|
$ |
1.32
|
$ |
0.15
|
See
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements.
3
Griffin
Land & Nurseries, Inc.
Consolidated
Balance Sheets
(dollars
in thousands, except
per share data)
(unaudited)
Sept.
1, 2007
|
Dec.
2, 2006
|
|||||||
ASSETS
|
||||||||
Current
Assets:
|
||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
$ |
5,011
|
$ |
2,265
|
||||
Short-term
investments, net
|
26,842
|
35,973
|
||||||
Accounts
receivable, less allowance of $146 and $143
|
4,365
|
2,559
|
||||||
Inventories,
net
|
28,629
|
30,579
|
||||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
1,294
|
2,331
|
||||||
Other
current assets
|
6,567
|
7,226
|
||||||
Total
current assets
|
72,708
|
80,933
|
||||||
Real
estate held for sale or lease, net
|
105,237
|
101,544
|
||||||
Property
and equipment, net
|
8,540
|
9,144
|
||||||
Investment
in Centaur Media, plc
|
13,757
|
18,592
|
||||||
Other
assets
|
12,953
|
6,402
|
||||||
Total
assets
|
$ |
213,195
|
$ |
216,615
|
||||
LIABILITIES
AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
||||||||
Current
Liabilities:
|
||||||||
Current
portion of long-term debt
|
$ |
2,260
|
$ |
1,197
|
||||
Accounts
payable and accrued liabilities
|
5,568
|
7,813
|
||||||
Deferred
revenue
|
4,808
|
6,245
|
||||||
Total
current liabilities
|
12,636
|
15,255
|
||||||
Long-term
debt
|
48,739
|
50,631
|
||||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
4,860
|
6,990
|
||||||
Other
noncurrent liabilities
|
4,380
|
4,125
|
||||||
Total
liabilities
|
70,615
|
77,001
|
||||||
Commitments
and contingencies (Note 8)
|
||||||||
Stockholders'
Equity:
|
||||||||
Common
stock, par value $0.01 per share, 10,000,000 shares
|
||||||||
authorized,
5,309,232 and 5,177,709 shares issued,
|
||||||||
respectively,
5,151,549 and 5,132,663 shares
|
||||||||
outstanding,
respectively
|
53
|
52
|
||||||
Additional
paid-in capital
|
101,415
|
98,549
|
||||||
Retained
earnings
|
39,345
|
32,377
|
||||||
Accumulated
other comprehensive income, net of tax
|
7,196
|
9,942
|
||||||
Treasury
stock, at cost, 157,683 and 45,046 shares, respectively
|
(5,429 | ) | (1,306 | ) | ||||
Total
stockholders' equity
|
142,580
|
139,614
|
||||||
Total
liabilities and stockholders' equity
|
$ |
213,195
|
$ |
216,615
|
See
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements.
4
Griffin
Land & Nurseries, Inc.
Consolidated
Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
For
the
Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended September 1, 2007 and September 2, 2006
(dollars
in thousands)
(unaudited)
Shares
of Common Stock Issued
|
Common
Stock
|
Additional Paid-in Capital
|
Retained
Earnings
|
Accumulated
Other Comprehensive Income
|
Treasury
Stock
|
Total
|
Total Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
|
||||||||||||||||||
Balance
at Dec. 3, 2005
|
4,999,604
|
$ |
50
|
$ |
95,339
|
$ |
32,809
|
$ |
4,659
|
$ |
-
|
$ |
132,857
|
||||||||||||
Exercise
of stock options
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
including
tax benefit of $866
|
102,605
|
1
|
1,679
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1,680
|
||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based
compensation
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
expense
|
-
|
-
|
87
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
87
|
||||||||||||||||||
Net
income
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
764
|
-
|
-
|
764
|
$ |
764
|
||||||||||||||||
Other
comprehensive income
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
2,682
|
-
|
2,682
|
2,682
|
|||||||||||||||||
Balance
at Sept. 2, 2006
|
5,102,209
|
$ |
51
|
$ |
97,105
|
$ |
33,573
|
$ |
7,341
|
$ |
-
|
$ |
138,070
|
$ |
3,446
|
||||||||||
Balance
at Dec. 2, 2006
|
5,177,709
|
$ |
52
|
$ |
98,549
|
$ |
32,377
|
$ |
9,942
|
$ | (1,306 | ) | $ |
139,614
|
|||||||||||
Exercise
of stock options,
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
including
tax benefit of $949,
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
and
shares tendered related to
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
stock
options exercised
|
131,523
|
1
|
2,771
|
-
|
-
|
(2,568 | ) |
204
|
|||||||||||||||||
Stock-based
compensation
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
expense
|
-
|
-
|
95
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
95
|
||||||||||||||||||
Repurchase
of common stock
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(1,555 | ) | (1,555 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Net
income
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
6,968
|
-
|
-
|
6,968
|
$ |
6,968
|
||||||||||||||||
Reclassification
for gains on
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
the sale of Centaur Media, plc
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
included in net income
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(1,868 | ) |
-
|
(1,868 | ) | (1,868 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Other
comprehensive loss
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(878 | ) |
-
|
(878 | ) | (878 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Balance
at Sept. 1, 2007
|
5,309,232
|
$ |
53
|
$ |
101,415
|
$ |
39,345
|
$ |
7,196
|
$ | (5,429 | ) | $ |
142,580
|
$ |
4,222
|
|||||||||
See
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
|
5
Griffin
Land & Nurseries, Inc.
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows
(dollars
in thousands)
(unaudited)
For
the 39 Weeks Ended,
|
||||||||
Sept.
1, 2007
|
Sept.
2, 2006
|
|||||||
Operating
activities:
|
||||||||
Net
income
|
$ |
6,968
|
$ |
764
|
||||
Adjustments
to reconcile net income to net cash
|
||||||||
provided
by operating activities:
|
||||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
4,308
|
3,933
|
||||||
Gain
on sales of properties
|
(11,307 | ) | (6,960 | ) | ||||
Gain
on sale of common stock in Centaur Media, plc
|
(2,873 | ) |
-
|
|||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
(620 | ) |
27
|
|||||
Taxes
in other comprehensive income reclassified into net income
|
1,022
|
-
|
||||||
Provision
for inventory losses
|
655
|
727
|
||||||
Unrealized
loss (gain) on trading securities
|
393
|
(154 | ) | |||||
Stock
based compensation expense
|
95
|
87
|
||||||
Amortization
of debt issuance costs
|
75
|
62
|
||||||
Provision
for bad debts
|
14
|
83
|
||||||
Equity
income from investment in agricultural cooperative
|
(7 | ) | (151 | ) | ||||
Changes
in assets and liabilities:
|
||||||||
Short-term
investments
|
8,738
|
9,388
|
||||||
Accounts
receivable
|
(1,820 | ) | (1,843 | ) | ||||
Inventories
|
1,295
|
2,932
|
||||||
Other
current assets
|
653
|
(1,500 | ) | |||||
Accounts
payable and accrued liabilities
|
(1,625 | ) | (146 | ) | ||||
Payment
of employee withholding taxes on stock options exercised
|
(994 | ) |
-
|
|||||
Mortgage
escrow accounts
|
(677 | ) | (28 | ) | ||||
Deferred
revenue
|
608
|
1,002
|
||||||
Other,
net
|
(214 | ) | (92 | ) | ||||
Net
cash provided by operating activities
|
4,687
|
8,131
|
||||||
Investing
activities:
|
||||||||
Proceeds
from sales of properties, net of expenses
|
11,361
|
14,009
|
||||||
Increase
in cash held in escrow by a third party
|
(6,400 | ) |
-
|
|||||
Additions
to real estate held for sale or lease
|
(8,895 | ) | (21,114 | ) | ||||
Proceeds
from sale of common stock in Centaur Media, plc
|
3,467
|
-
|
||||||
Additions
to property and equipment
|
(398 | ) | (342 | ) | ||||
Proceeds
from distribution from Shemin Nurseries Holding Corp.
|
189
|
-
|
||||||
Net
cash used in investing activities
|
(676 | ) | (7,447 | ) | ||||
Financing
activities:
|
||||||||
Repurchase
of common stock
|
(1,555 | ) |
-
|
|||||
Tax
benefit of stock options exercised
|
949
|
866
|
||||||
Payments
of debt
|
(908 | ) | (736 | ) | ||||
Exercise
of stock options
|
249
|
814
|
||||||
Net
cash (used in) provided by financing activities
|
(1,265 | ) |
944
|
|||||
Net
increase in cash and cash equivalents
|
2,746
|
1,628
|
||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents at beginning of period
|
2,265
|
1,207
|
||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents at end of period
|
$ |
5,011
|
$ |
2,835
|
See
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements.
6
Griffin
Land & Nurseries, Inc.
Notes
to
Consolidated Financial Statements
(dollars
in thousands unless otherwise noted, except per share data)
(unaudited)
1. Basis
of Presentation
The
accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Griffin Land &
Nurseries, Inc. (“Griffin”) include the accounts of Griffin’s real estate
division (“Griffin Land”) and Griffin’s wholly-owned subsidiary in the landscape
nursery business, Imperial Nurseries, Inc. (“Imperial Nurseries”), and have been
prepared in conformity with the standards of accounting measurement set forth
in
Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 28 and amendments thereto adopted by
the
Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”). The accompanying financial
statements have also been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies
stated in Griffin’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended
December 2, 2006 included in Griffin’s Report on Form 10-K as filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, and should be read in conjunction with
the
Notes to Financial Statements appearing in that report. All adjustments,
comprising only normal recurring adjustments, which are, in the opinion of
management, necessary for a fair presentation of results for the interim
periods, have been reflected and all intercompany transactions have been
eliminated. The consolidated balance sheet data as of December 2,
2006 was derived from Griffin’s audited financial statements but does not
include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted
in
the United States of America.
The
results of operations for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September
1,
2007 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full
year. Certain amounts from the prior year have been reclassified to conform
to
the current presentation.
In
fiscal 2006, Griffin adopted SFAS No. 123(R) “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS No.
123(R)”) using the modified prospective method of adoption. Prior to the
thirty-nine weeks ended September 2, 2006, Griffin accounted for stock options
under the recognition and measurement principles of Accounting Principles Board
Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees.”
2. Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
In
June
2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in
Income Taxes” (“Fin No. 48”). The interpretation clarifies the
accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in a company's financial
statements in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.
109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.” Specifically, Fin No. 48
prescribes a recognition threshold and a measurement attribute for the financial
statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to
be
taken in a tax return. Fin No. 48 also provides guidance on the
related derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting for
interim periods, disclosure and transition of uncertain tax
positions. Fin No. 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 2006, which for Griffin will be fiscal 2008. Griffin is
evaluating the impact of this new pronouncement on its consolidated financial
statements.
In
September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value
Measurements.” This new standard defines fair value, establishes a
framework for measuring fair value under generally accepted accounting
principles and expands disclosures about fair value
measurements. This statement does not require any new fair value
measurements but provides guidance in determining fair value measurements
presently used in the preparation of financial statements. This new
standard is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning
after November 15, 2007, which for Griffin will be fiscal
7
In
September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined
Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans – an amendment of FASB Statements
No. 87, 88, 106 and 132(R).” This new standard requires employers to
recognize the overfunded or underfunded status of a defined benefit
postretirement plan as an asset or liability in its statement of financial
position and to recognize changes in that funded status in the year in which
the
changes occur through comprehensive income. For employers that have
equity securities that trade in a public market, this new standard requires
the
recognition of the funded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan and
requires disclosures as of the end of the fiscal year ending after December
15,
2006. Griffin does not have a defined benefit pension plan and its
defined benefit postretirement benefits plan is unfunded and is included as
a
liability on Griffin’s balance sheet.
In
February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for
Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities-Including an amendment of FASB
Statement No. 115.” This new standard allows an entity the
irrevocable option to elect fair value for the initial and subsequent
measurement for certain financial assets and liabilities under an
instrument-by-instrument election. Subsequent measurements for the
financial assets and liabilities an entity elects to fair value will be
recognized in earnings. This statement also establishes additional
disclosure requirements and is effective for fiscal years beginning after
November 15, 2007, which for Griffin will be fiscal 2008. Griffin is
evaluating the impact of this new pronouncement on its consolidated financial
statements.
3. Industry
Segment Information
Griffin’s
reportable segments are defined by their products and services, and are
comprised of the landscape nursery and real estate
segments. Management operates and receives reporting based upon these
segments. Griffin has no operations outside the United
States. Griffin’s export sales and transactions between segments are
not material.
8
For
the 13 Weeks Ended,
|
For
the 39 Weeks Ended,
|
|||||||||||||||
Sept.
1, 2007
|
Sept.
2, 2006
|
Sept.
1, 2007
|
Sept.
2, 2006
|
|||||||||||||
Total
revenue:
|
||||||||||||||||
Landscape
nursery net sales
|
$ |
4,861
|
$ |
5,104
|
$ |
24,294
|
$ |
27,466
|
||||||||
Rental
revenue and property sales
|
7,287
|
12,593
|
24,336
|
18,513
|
||||||||||||
$ |
12,148
|
$ |
17,697
|
$ |
48,630
|
$ |
45,979
|
|||||||||
Operating
profit (loss):
|
||||||||||||||||
Landscape
nursery
|
$ | (679 | ) | $ | (1,572 | ) | $ | (884 | ) | $ | (1,986 | ) | ||||
Real
estate
|
3,192
|
6,776
|
11,701
|
6,612
|
||||||||||||
Industry
segment totals
|
2,513
|
5,204
|
10,817
|
4,626
|
||||||||||||
General
corporate expense
|
(827 | ) | (1,269 | ) | (3,408 | ) | (3,076 | ) | ||||||||
Operating
profit
|
1,686
|
3,935
|
7,409
|
1,550
|
||||||||||||
Gain
on sale of Centaur Media common stock
|
476
|
-
|
2,873
|
-
|
||||||||||||
Interest
expense
|
(793 | ) | (732 | ) | (2,339 | ) | (2,259 | ) | ||||||||
Investment
income
|
2,105
|
584
|
3,018
|
1,571
|
||||||||||||
Income
before income tax provision
|
$ |
3,474
|
$ |
3,787
|
$ |
10,961
|
$ |
862
|
Identifiable
assets:
|
Sept.
1, 2007
|
Dec.
2, 2006
|
||||||
Landscape
nursery
|
$ |
41,468
|
$ |
42,065
|
||||
Real
estate
|
121,507
|
110,384
|
||||||
Industry
segment totals
|
162,975
|
152,449
|
||||||
General
corporate (consists primarily of investments)
|
50,220
|
64,166
|
||||||
Total
assets
|
$ |
213,195
|
$ |
216,615
|
Revenue
of the real estate segment for
the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 1, 2007 includes property
sales revenue of $3,798 and $13,895, respectively. Revenue of the
real estate segment for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September
2,
2006 includes property sales revenue of $9,633.
4. Long-Term
Debt
Long-term
debt
includes:
9
Sept.
1, 2007
|
Dec.
2, 2006
|
|||||||
Nonrecourse
mortgages:
|
||||||||
8.54%,
due July 1, 2009
|
$ |
7,608
|
$ |
7,681
|
||||
6.08%,
due January 1, 2013
|
8,882
|
9,042
|
||||||
6.30%,
due May 1, 2014
|
1,111
|
1,208
|
||||||
5.73%,
due July 1, 2015
|
20,794
|
20,983
|
||||||
8.13%,
due April 1, 2016
|
5,341
|
5,497
|
||||||
7.0%,
due October 1, 2017
|
7,023
|
7,139
|
||||||
Total
nonrecourse mortgages
|
50,759
|
51,550
|
||||||
Capital
leases
|
240
|
278
|
||||||
Total
|
50,999
|
51,828
|
||||||
Less:
current portion
|
(2,260 | ) | (1,197 | ) | ||||
Total
long-term debt
|
$ |
48,739
|
$ |
50,631
|
Griffin
Land is currently not in compliance with the debt service coverage ratio
requirement of its 6.08% mortgage due January 1, 2013, collateralized by
two
multi-story office buildings located in Griffin Center in Windsor,
Connecticut. In connection with a voluntary $1 million prepayment of
principal on this mortgage that is expected to be made in the 2007 fourth
quarter, the lender will defer the debt service coverage requirement until
the
beginning of fiscal 2009. As a result of the expected prepayment,
Griffin Land will incur a prepayment penalty of $20 to be paid at the maturity
of the mortgage. The loan’s future monthly payments will be adjusted
as a result of this prepayment, but the loan’s interest rate and maturity date
will not change as a result of this prepayment.
At
September 1, 2007 and December 2, 2006, the fair values of Griffin's mortgages
were $50.6 million and $54.0 million, respectively. Fair value is based on
the
present value of future cash flows discounted at estimated borrowing rates
for
comparable risks, maturities and collateral.
5. Stock
Options
The
Griffin Land & Nurseries, Inc. 1997 Stock Option Plan (the
"Griffin Stock Option Plan"), adopted in 1997 and subsequently amended, makes
available a total of 1,250,000 options to purchase shares of Griffin common
stock. The Griffin Stock Option Plan is administered by the Compensation
Committee of the Board of Directors of Griffin. Options granted under the
Griffin Stock Option Plan may be either incentive stock options or non-qualified
stock options issued at market value on the date approved by the Board of
Directors of Griffin. Vesting of all of Griffin's previously issued stock
options is solely based upon service requirements and does not contain market
or
performance conditions.
Stock
options issued expire ten years
from the grant date. Stock options issued to independent directors
upon their initial election to the board of directors are fully exercisable
immediately upon the date of the option grant. Stock options issued to
independent directors upon their reelection to the board of directors vest
on
the second anniversary from the date of grant. Stock options issued to employees
vest in equal installments on the third, fourth and fifth anniversaries from
the
date of grant. None of the stock options outstanding at September 1, 2007
may be
exercised as stock appreciation rights.
There
were 4,208 and 14,140 stock
options granted during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 1, 2007 and
September 2, 2006, respectively. In the thirty-nine weeks ended
September 1, 2007, the fair value of the stock options granted was
$22.17. In the thirty-nine weeks ended September 2, 2006, the fair
values of the stock options granted were $18.38 for 5,140 stock options and
$15.98 for 9,000 stock options. The fair values of the stock options
granted were estimated as of the dates of grant using the
10
Black-Scholes
model. Assumptions used in determining the fair values of the stock
options granted were as follows:
For
the 39 Weeks Ended,
|
|||
Sept.
1, 2007
|
Sept.
2, 2006
|
||
Expected
volatility
|
43.43%
|
40.83%
to 43.31%
|
|
Risk
free interest rate
|
4.65%
|
5.03%
to 5.10%
|
|
Option
term
|
8.8
years
|
7
to 8.8 years
|
|
Dividend
yield
|
none
|
none
|
Activity
under the Griffin Stock Option Plan is summarized as follows:
For
the 39 Weeks Ended,
|
||||||||||||||||
September
1, 2007
|
September
2, 2006
|
|||||||||||||||
Vested
Options
|
Number
of Shares
|
Weighted
Avg. Exercise Price
|
Number
of Shares
|
Weighted
Avg. Exercise Price
|
||||||||||||
Outstanding
at beginning of period
|
347,300
|
$ |
13.84
|
503,857
|
$ |
12.65
|
||||||||||
Exercised
|
(131,523 | ) |
13.86
|
(102,605 | ) |
7.94
|
||||||||||
Vested
|
14,601
|
19.71
|
21,548
|
16.59
|
||||||||||||
Outstanding
at end of period
|
230,378
|
14.21
|
422,800
|
13.99
|
Range
of Exercise Prices for Vested Options
|
Outstanding
at Sept. 1, 2007
|
Weighted
Avg. Exercise Price
|
Weighted
Avg. Remaining Contractual Life
(in
years)
|
Total
Fair Value
(in
thousands)
|
||||||||||||
$11.00-$18.00 | 216,892 | $ | 13.52 | 2.4 | $ | 1,175 | ||||||||||
Over $24.00 | 13,486 | 25.21 | 7.2 | 154 | ||||||||||||
|
230,378
|
|
14.21
|
2.7
|
$
|
1,329
|
For
the 39 Weeks Ended,
|
||||||||||||||||
September
1, 2007
|
September
2, 2006
|
|||||||||||||||
Nonvested
Options
|
Number
of Shares
|
Weighted
Avg. Exercise Price
|
Number
of Shares
|
Weighted
Avg. Exercise Price
|
||||||||||||
Nonvested
at beginning of period
|
28,741
|
$ |
25.27
|
36,816
|
$ |
17.78
|
||||||||||
Granted
|
4,208
|
38.00
|
14,140
|
31.01
|
||||||||||||
Vested
|
(14,601 | ) |
19.71
|
(21,548 | ) |
16.59
|
||||||||||
Forfeited
|
-
|
-
|
(667 | ) |
14.35
|
|||||||||||
Nonvested
at end of period
|
18,348
|
32.62
|
28,741
|
25.27
|
11
Range
of Exercise Prices for Nonvested Options
|
Outstanding
at Sept. 1, 2007
|
Weighted
Avg. Exercise Price
|
Weighted
Avg. Remaining Contractual Life
(in
years)
|
Total
Fair Value
(in
thousands)
|
||||||||||||
Over
$24.00
|
18,348
|
$ |
32.62
|
9.0
|
$ |
332
|
Number
of option holders at September 1, 2007
|
19
|
Compensation
cost recognized in the
thirteen weeks ended September 1, 2007 and September 2, 2006 was $30 and
$34,
respectively, with related tax benefits of $8 and $10,
respectively. Compensation cost recognized in the thirty-nine weeks
ended September 1, 2007 and September 2, 2006 was $95 and $87, respectively,
with related tax benefits of $25 and $27, respectively.
As
of September 1, 2007, there was $30
of unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested stock options that
will
be recognized during the remainder of fiscal 2007, $94 of unrecognized
compensation cost related to nonvested stock options that will be recognized
in
fiscal 2008, $43 of unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested
stock
options that will be recognized in fiscal 2009 and a total of $17 of
unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested stock options that
will be
recognized in fiscal years 2010 and 2011. The total fair value of
shares vested during the thirty-nine weeks ended September 1, 2007 and
September
2, 2006 was $130 and $161, respectively.
6. Per
Share Results
Basic
and
diluted per share results were based on the following:
For
the 13 Weeks Ended,
|
For
the 39 Weeks Ended,
|
|||||||||||||||
Sept.
1, 2007
|
Sept.
2, 2006
|
Sept.
1, 2007
|
Sept.
2, 2006
|
|||||||||||||
Net
income as reported for computation
|
||||||||||||||||
of basic and diluted per share results
|
$ |
2,283
|
$ |
2,599
|
$ |
6,968
|
$ |
764
|
||||||||
Weighted
average shares outstanding for
|
||||||||||||||||
computation
of basic per share results
|
5,151,000
|
5,099,000
|
5,145,000
|
5,072,000
|
||||||||||||
Incremental
shares from assumed exercise
|
||||||||||||||||
of
Griffin stock options
|
103,000
|
168,000
|
129,000
|
182,000
|
||||||||||||
Weighted
average shares outstanding for
|
||||||||||||||||
computation
of diluted per share results
|
5,254,000
|
5,267,000
|
5,274,000
|
5,254,000
|
12
7. Supplemental
Financial Statement Information
Investments
Griffin's
short-term investments are
comprised of debt securities and are accounted for as trading securities
under
SFAS No. 115, "Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity
Securities.” Accordingly, the securities are recorded at their
fair values based upon the quoted market prices of those investments at
the
balance sheet dates, and net realized and unrealized gains and losses on
those
investments are included in pretax income (loss). At September 1,
2007 and December 2, 2006, $0.8 million and $0.4 million, respectively,
of
Griffin’s short-term investments were being used as collateral for letters of
credit of Griffin Land. The composition of short-term investments at
September 1, 2007 and December 2, 2006 is as follows:
September
1, 2007
|
December
2, 2006
|
|||||||||||||||
Cost
|
Fair
Value
|
Cost
|
Fair
Value
|
|||||||||||||
U.S.
Treasury securities
|
$ |
20,864
|
$ |
20,900
|
$ |
-
|
$ |
-
|
||||||||
Federal
agency securities
|
5,132
|
5,189
|
12,289
|
12,440
|
||||||||||||
Certificates
of deposit
|
753
|
753
|
9,069
|
9,342
|
||||||||||||
Commercial
paper
|
-
|
-
|
14,129
|
14,191
|
||||||||||||
Total
short-term investments
|
$ |
26,749
|
$ |
26,842
|
$ |
35,487
|
$ |
35,973
|
Investment
income for the thirteen and
thirty-nine weeks ended September 1, 2007 and September 2, 2006
includes:
For
the 13 Weeks Ended,
|
For
the 39 Weeks Ended,
|
|||||||||||||||
Sept.
1, 2007
|
Sept.
2, 2006
|
Sept.
1, 2007
|
Sept.
2, 2006
|
|||||||||||||
Dividend
income from Shemin Nurseries Holding Corp.
|
$ |
1,628
|
$ |
-
|
$ |
1,628
|
$ |
-
|
||||||||
Interest
and dividend income from short-term investments
|
158
|
180
|
369
|
315
|
||||||||||||
Net
realized gains on the sales of short-term investments
|
411
|
397
|
1,407
|
951
|
||||||||||||
Net
unrealized (loss) gain on short-term investments
|
(92 | ) |
7
|
(393 | ) |
154
|
||||||||||
Other
investment income
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
151
|
||||||||||||
$ |
2,105
|
$ |
584
|
$ |
3,018
|
$ |
1,571
|
Included
in investment income in the
thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September 1, 2007 is $1.6 million
of a
total of $1.8 million in cash received from Shemin Nurseries Holding Corp.
(“SNHC”). The amount reported as dividend income is based on the
amount of cumulative earnings of SNHC, with the balance of the amount received
from SNHC reported as a return of investment. After this transaction,
Griffin’s remaining investment in SNHC is $0.3 million and is included in other
assets on Griffin’s
13
consolidated
balance sheet. Griffin, which holds approximately 14% of the
outstanding common stock of SNHC, accounts for its investment in SNHC under
the
cost method of accounting for investments.
Other
investment income in the
thirty-nine weeks ended September 2, 2006 reflects $151, before taxes,
as
Griffin’s share of the cumulative undistributed equity income from an investment
in an agricultural cooperative, in which Griffin held a 25% interest, that
manufactures and sells liquid fertilizer to its members who are growers
of
landscape nursery products. Annual patronage rebates from this
investment are accounted for as a reduction of the cost of landscape nursery
sales. Because this investment had not been accounted for in periods
prior to the thirty-nine weeks ended September 2, 2006, the cumulative
effect
was recorded as other investment income in the thirty-nine weeks ended
September
2, 2006. Management believes that the amount recorded was immaterial
to annual periods.
Deferred
Revenue on Land Sale
In
fiscal
2006, Griffin sold 130 acres of undeveloped land in the New England Tradeport
(“Tradeport”), Griffin’s industrial park located in Windsor and East Granby,
Connecticut, for cash proceeds of $13.0 million. As provided in the
terms of the contract for the sale of the land, and as required under the
State
Traffic Commission Certificate covering the area in Tradeport located in
Windsor, certain improvements to existing roads were required. The
cost of these improvements is the responsibility of Griffin Land, however,
a
portion of the costs will either be reimbursed from the purchaser of the
land or
performed by the town. As a result of Griffin Land’s continuing
involvement with the required improvements to the existing roads, this
land sale
was accounted for under the percentage of completion
method. Accordingly, the revenue and the pretax gain on the sale are
being recognized on a pro rata basis in a ratio equal to the percentage
of the
total costs incurred to the total anticipated costs of sale, including
the
allocated costs of the required improvements to existing roads. Costs included
in determining the percentage of completion are the cost of the land sold,
allocated master planning costs of Tradeport, selling and transaction costs
and
estimated future costs related to the land sold.
In
the
thirteen weeks ended September 1, 2007, management reduced its estimate
of the
total costs to be incurred to complete the required improvements due to
changes
to the design of certain portions of the required improvements. As a
result, the total projected pretax gain on this transaction was increased
from
$9.7 million to $10.2 million, and the percentage of completion through
September 1, 2007 increased as a result of the reduction of the expected
total
costs. As of September 1, 2007, approximately 75% of the total costs
related to this transaction had been incurred, therefore, from the date
of the
transaction through September 1, 2007, 75% of the total revenue and pretax
gain
on the sale have been recognized in Griffin’s statements of
operations. Griffin’s statements of operations for the thirteen and
thirty-nine weeks ended September 1, 2007 include revenue of $1.7 million
and
$1.8 million, respectively, and a pretax gain of $1.6 million and $1.7
million,
respectively, from this land sale. Griffin’s fiscal 2006 statement of
operations included revenue of $7.9 million and a pretax gain of $5.9 million
from this land sale. The balance of the revenue and the pretax gain
on sale will be recognized as the remaining costs, principally the required
roadwork improvements, are incurred, which is expected to take place over
the
next nine months. Included on Griffin’s balance sheet as of September
1, 2007 is deferred revenue of approximately $3.3 million that will be
recognized as the road improvements are completed. Management has
used its best estimates, based on industry knowledge and experience, in
projecting the total costs of the required road improvements, however,
increases
or decreases in projected future costs from current estimated amounts would
reduce or increase the amount of gain to be recognized in future
periods.
14
Accumulated
Other Comprehensive
Income
In
the thirteen weeks ended September
1, 2007, Griffin sold 200,000 shares that it held in Centaur Media, plc
(“Centaur Media”) for proceeds of $0.6 million. In the first six
months of fiscal 2007, Griffin sold 1,000,000 shares of Centaur Media for
proceeds of $2.9 million. As of September 1, 2007, Griffin holds
5,277,150 shares of the 6,477,150 shares in Centaur Media that it held
at the
beginning of this year. Griffin’s investment in Centaur Media is
accounted for as an available-for-sale security under SFAS No. 115 “Accounting
for Investments.” Accordingly, the investment in Centaur Media is
carried at its fair value on Griffin’s consolidated balance sheet, with
increases or decreases recorded, net of tax, in other comprehensive
income. Upon the sale of shares in Centaur Media, the change, net of
tax, in the value of the shares of Centaur Media that were sold during
the time
Griffin held those shares is reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive
income and included in Griffin’s net income.
Changes
in accumulated other
comprehensive income for the thirty-nine
weeks
ended September 1, 2007 and September 2, 2006 consist of the
following:
For
the 39 Weeks Ended,
|
||||||||
Sept.
1, 2007
|
Sept.
2, 2006
|
|||||||
Balance
at beginning of period
|
$ |
9,942
|
$ |
4,659
|
||||
Reclassification
to recognize sale of shares and related
|
||||||||
gains
on Centaur Media, plc included in net income,
|
||||||||
net
of tax provision of $1,022
|
(1,868 | ) |
-
|
|||||
(Decrease)
increase in fair value at end of period of Centaur Media
|
||||||||
plc,
net of tax benefit of $551 and tax provision of $982,
respectively
|
(1,024 | ) |
1,824
|
|||||
Increase
in value of Centaur Media, plc, due to foreign currency
|
||||||||
exchange
rate changes, net of tax provision of $78 and $461,
|
||||||||
respectively
|
146
|
858
|
||||||
Balance
at end of period
|
$ |
7,196
|
$ |
7,341
|
Treasury
Stock
On
May 10, 2007, Griffin repurchased
42,000 of its outstanding shares for approximately $1.6
million. Also, thus far this year, Griffin has received 70,637 shares
of its common stock in connection with the exercise of stock options and
for
reimbursement of income tax withholdings related to those stock option
exercises, which, together, increased treasury stock by approximately $2.6
million. Griffin remitted approximately $1.0 million to the federal,
state and municipal governments on behalf of certain employees for the
applicable withholding taxes related to those stock option
exercises.
Supplemental
Cash Flow Information
Included
in accounts payable and
accrued liabilities at September 1, 2007 and December 2, 2006 were $1,262
and
$1,882, respectively, for additions to real estate held for sale or
lease. Accounts payable and accrued liabilities related to additions
to real estate held for sale or lease decreased $620 in the thirty-nine
weeks ended September 1, 2007 and increased $1,827 in the thirty-nine weeks
ended September 2, 2006.
Griffin
incurred new capital lease obligations of $79 and $84, respectively, in
the
thirty-nine weeks ended September 1, 2007 and September 2, 2006.
15
Inventories
Inventories
consist of:
Sept.
1, 2007
|
Dec.
2, 2006
|
|||||||
Nursery
stock
|
$ |
27,704
|
$ |
29,415
|
||||
Materials
and supplies
|
1,907
|
2,372
|
||||||
29,611
|
31,787
|
|||||||
Reserves
|
(982 | ) | (1,208 | ) | ||||
$ |
28,629
|
$ |
30,579
|
Property
and
Equipment
Property
and equipment consist
of:
Estimated Useful
Lives
|
Sept.
1, 2007
|
Dec.
2, 2006
|
|||||||
Land
|
$ |
674
|
$ |
674
|
|||||
Land
improvements
|
10
to 20 years
|
5,507
|
5,478
|
||||||
Buildings
and improvements
|
10
to 40 years
|
3,060
|
3,060
|
||||||
Machinery
and equipment
|
3
to 20 years
|
17,389
|
17,231
|
||||||
26,630
|
26,443
|
||||||||
Accumulated
depreciation
|
(18,090 | ) | (17,299 | ) | |||||
$ |
8,540
|
$ |
9,144
|
Real
Estate Held for Sale or
Lease
Real
estate held for sale or lease
consists of:
16
September
1, 2007
|
|||||||||||||
Estimated Useful
Lives
|
Held
for Sale
|
Held
for Lease
|
Total
|
||||||||||
Land
|
$ |
1,696
|
$ |
6,437
|
$ |
8,133
|
|||||||
Land
improvements
|
15
years
|
12
|
6,113
|
6,125
|
|||||||||
Buildings
and improvements
|
10
to 40 years
|
-
|
88,380
|
88,380
|
|||||||||
Tenant
improvements
|
Shorter
of useful life or terms of related lease
|
-
|
9,596
|
9,596
|
|||||||||
Development
costs
|
6,704
|
11,319
|
18,023
|
||||||||||
8,412
|
121,845
|
130,257
|
|||||||||||
Accumulated
depreciation
|
-
|
(25,020 | ) | (25,020 | ) | ||||||||
$ |
8,412
|
$ |
96,825
|
$ |
105,237
|
December
2, 2006
|
|||||||||||||
Estimated Useful
Lives
|
Held
for Sale
|
Held
for Lease
|
Total
|
||||||||||
Land
|
$ |
1,720
|
$ |
6,396
|
$ |
8,116
|
|||||||
Land
improvements
|
15
years
|
12
|
5,614
|
5,626
|
|||||||||
Buildings
and improvements
|
10
to 40 years
|
-
|
81,857
|
81,857
|
|||||||||
Tenant
improvements
|
Shorter
of useful life or terms of related lease
|
-
|
9,034
|
9,034
|
|||||||||
Development
costs
|
7,179
|
12,056
|
19,235
|
||||||||||
8,911
|
114,957
|
123,868
|
|||||||||||
Accumulated
depreciation
|
-
|
(22,324 | ) | (22,324 | ) | ||||||||
$ |
8,911
|
$ |
92,633
|
$ |
101,544
|
Other
Assets
Included
in other assets at September
1, 2007 is restricted cash of $6.4 million reflecting the net cash proceeds
from
a land sale completed earlier this year. The cash is being held in
escrow by a third-party, on behalf of Griffin, potentially to acquire a
property
in connection with a Section 1031 exchange for income tax
purposes. If completed, the Section 1031 exchange would defer the
payment of income taxes related to all or a portion of the gain on the
property
sold. If the acquisition of a property for a Section 1031 exchange is
not completed, the cash proceeds from the land sale will be remitted to
Griffin.
Income
Taxes
Griffin’s
effective income tax rates
were 34.3% and 36.4%, respectively, in the thirteen and thirty-nine week
periods
ended September 1, 2007 as compared to 31.4% and 11.4%, respectively, in
the
thirteen and thirty-nine week periods ended September 2, 2006. The
effective tax rates in the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended September
1,
2007 reflect the statutory rate of 35% adjusted for state income taxes
and
permanent differences between book and taxable income. The effective
tax rates used in the
17
interim
periods are based on management’s projections for the balance of the
year. To the extent that actual results differ from those
projections, the effective income tax rate may change.
A
deferred tax asset of $473 and
a deferred tax liability of $1,443 were included as a
credit and a charge, respectively, to other comprehensive income in the
thirty-nine weeks ended September 1, 2007 and September 2, 2006, respectively,
related to the mark to market adjustments on Griffin’s investment in Centaur
Media.
Postretirement
Benefits
Griffin
maintains a postretirement
benefits program which provides principally health and life insurance benefits
to certain of its retirees. The liability for postretirement benefits is
included in other noncurrent liabilities on Griffin’s consolidated balance
sheets. Because Griffin's obligation for retiree medical benefits is fixed
under
the terms of its postretirement benefits program, any increase in the medical
cost trend would have no effect on the accumulated postretirement benefit
obligation, service cost or interest cost. Griffin's postretirement benefits
are
unfunded, with benefits to be paid from Griffin's general
assets. Griffin's contributions to the program for the thirty-nine
weeks ended September 1, 2007 and September 2, 2006 were $7 and $9,
respectively, with an expected contribution of $10 for the fiscal 2007
full
year. The components of Griffin's postretirement benefits expense are
immaterial for all periods presented.
Settlement
of
Litigation
On
June
25, 2007, Griffin and its subsidiary, Imperial Nurseries, settled a lawsuit
filed against them and several of their officers and employees (the “Griffin
Defendants”) by twelve migrant and seasonal workers employed by an independent
farm labor contractor, Pro Tree Forestry Services (“Pro Tree”), that had been
engaged by Imperial to provide labor at its Connecticut farm. The
plaintiffs alleged, among other things, that they worked at Imperial’s
Connecticut farm for approximately three months in the spring of 2006;
that they
were not paid sufficient wages by the Pro Tree defendants as required by
state
and federal laws; and that the Griffin Defendants were liable as joint
and/or
integrated employers. The lawsuit included a number of other causes
of action against the Pro Tree defendants related to this issue, including
claims under the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Protection Act, the
Racketeer
Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”), the Alien Tort Claims Act,
and other statutory and common law claims, and asserted that certain of
the
Griffin Defendants were jointly liable for certain of those
claims. Under the settlement, Griffin agreed to pay certain amounts
to the plaintiffs for wages and damages they allegedly suffered. In
addition, on July 13, 2007, Imperial settled a lawsuit filed against it
by the
United States Department of Labor (the “DOL”) that claimed that Pro Tree had
underpaid its employees while they were working at Imperial’s Connecticut farm,
and because Pro Tree refused to pay back wages to its employees, Imperial
was
required to pay those individuals. The total cost to Griffin for the
settlement of both those lawsuits, including legal fees incurred through
September 1, 2007 and net of recovery under Griffin’s insurance policies, was
approximately $0.5 million, which is included in selling, general and
administrative expenses. Substantially all of the cost was recorded
in the first two quarters of fiscal 2007.
8. Commitments
and Contingencies
As
of
September 1, 2007, Griffin had committed purchase obligations of $3.3
million, principally for Griffin Land’s construction of the shell of a new
industrial building in Tradeport, site work for additional industrial buildings
in Tradeport and required infrastructure improvements at
Tradeport. The infrastructure improvements are required by the
Connecticut State Traffic Commission in connection with an increase in
the
permitted square feet of construction in the portion of Tradeport located
in
Windsor,
18
Connecticut. Griffin
posted a $6.5 million performance bond with the state to ensure that
the
infrastructure improvements are completed.
As
of September 1, 2007, there were two
collateralized letters of credit outstanding, aggregating approximately
$0.8
million, issued by Griffin Land in favor of the towns of Suffield and Windsor,
Connecticut that ensures Griffin Land’s performance in completing certain
infrastructure for Griffin Land’s residential development, Stratton Farms and
certain road improvements at New England Tradeport. The letters of
credit are collateralized by short-term investments of $0.8
million.
On
January 31, 2007, Griffin announced
that its board of directors had authorized a program to repurchase, from
time to
time, up to 150,000 shares of its outstanding common stock. The
repurchases, if and when made, will be done through private
transactions. The program to repurchase does not obligate Griffin to
repurchase any specific number of shares, and may be suspended at any time
at
management’s discretion. Through September 1, 2007, Griffin has
repurchased 42,000 shares of its outstanding common stock for $1.6
million. Subsequent to September 1, 2007, Griffin repurchased an
additional 70,900 shares for $2.6 million.
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.
19
ITEM
2.
|
MANAGEMENT’S
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
|
CONDITION
AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
|
Overview
The
consolidated financial statements
of 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”).
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 fiscal year ended December 2,
2006 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 and thirty-nine
weeks
ended September 1, 2007 are consistent with those used by Griffin in preparation
of its fiscal 2006 financial statements except for the total projected
costs of
the required roadwork improvements related to the land sale to Walgreen,
which
were reduced as a result of changes to the design of certain portions
of the required improvements.
Summary
Griffin
had net income of $2.3 million
for the thirteen weeks ended September 1, 2007 (the “2007 third quarter”) as
compared to net income of $2.6 million for the thirteen weeks ended September
2,
2006 (the “2006 third quarter”). The lower results in the 2007 third
quarter as compared to the 2006 third quarter were principally due to lower
profit from property sales by Griffin Land partially offset by a lower
operating
loss at Imperial, higher investment income and a gain from the sale of
a portion
of Griffin’s investment in Centaur Media, plc.
Griffin
had net income of $7.0 million
for the thirty-nine weeks ended September 1, 2007 (the “2007 nine month period”)
as compared to net income of $0.8 million for the thirty-nine weeks ended
September 2, 2006 (the “2006 nine month period”). The increase in net
income was principally due to higher profit on property sales by Griffin
Land,
improved results from Griffin Land’s leasing operations, a lower operating loss
at Imperial Nurseries, higher investment income and a gain on the sale
of a
portion of Griffin’s investment in Centaur Media, plc.
At
the beginning of fiscal 2006,
Griffin adopted the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123(R)
“Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (“SFAS No. 123(R)”) using the modified
prospective method of adoption. The effect of the adoption of SFAS No.
123(R) on
the 2006 third quarter and 2006 nine month period results of operations
was not
material. See Notes 1 and 5 to the consolidated financial statements included
in
Item 1.
20
Results
of Operations
Thirteen
Weeks Ended September 1, 2007 Compared to the Thirteen Weeks Ended September
2,
2006
Griffin’s
consolidated total revenue
decreased from $17.7 million in the 2006 third quarter to $12.1 million
in the
2007 third quarter. The decrease of approximately $5.5 million
reflects a $5.3 million decrease in revenue at Griffin Land and a $0.2
million
decrease in revenue at Imperial.
The
$5.3 million decrease in revenue at
Griffin Land reflects a decrease of $5.8 million in revenue from property
sales
partially offset by an increase of $0.5 million in revenue from its leasing
operations. Property sales occur periodically and changes in revenue
from period to period from these transactions are generally not indicators
of
any trends in the real estate business. Property sales revenue in the
2007 third quarter includes $2.1 million from the sale of the second phase
of
residential lots in Stratton Farms, Griffin Land’s residential development in
Suffield, Connecticut and the recognition of $1.7 million of revenue previously
deferred from last year’s land sale to Walgreen. The revenue
recognized in the 2007 third quarter reflects the effect of management
reducing
its estimate of the total costs to be incurred to complete the required
improvements due to changes to the design of certain portions of the required
improvements. Property sales revenue in the 2006 third quarter
included $7.8 million from the sale to Walgreen of 130 acres of undeveloped
land
in the New England Tradeport (“Tradeport”), Griffin Land’s industrial park in
Windsor and East Granby, Connecticut. The total proceeds on that sale
were $13.0 million, but only $7.8 million was initially recognized as
revenue with the balance deferred and to be recognized as required road
improvements are completed. That property sale was accounted for
under the percentage of completion method due to the requirement that Griffin
Land complete certain offsite improvements under the sale
agreement. The 2006 third quarter also included $1.0 million of
revenue from the initial sale of residential lots in Stratton
Farms.
The
$0.5
million increase in Griffin Land's revenue from its leasing operations
in the
2007 third quarter, as compared to the 2006 third quarter, principally
reflects
$0.4 million of revenue from leasing previously vacant space and $0.1 million
of
revenue from the new Tradeport industrial building that was completed in
the
2007 second quarter and partially leased. At September 1, 2007,
Griffin Land owned 1,837,000 square feet of industrial, flex and office
space,
with 1,275,000 square feet (69%) leased. Griffin Land’s vacant space
at September 1, 2007 includes a 308,000 square foot warehouse, which has
remained vacant since it was acquired near the end of the 2006 third
quarter. Excluding that building, Griffin’s occupancy rate was 83% as
of September 1, 2007. At the end of fiscal 2006, Griffin Land owned
1,711,000 square feet with 1,194,000 square feet (70%) leased. The
increase in the total square footage of Griffin Land’s portfolio from 1,711,000
to 1,837,000 square feet reflects a new industrial building in Tradeport
completed earlier this year. Approximately 42,000 square feet of this
new building was leased at the end of the 2007 third quarter. The
increase of approximately 81,000 square feet under lease at the end of
the 2007
third quarter versus the end of fiscal 2006 reflects the space leased in
the new
industrial building placed in service earlier this year and approximately
39,000
square feet of previously vacant space leased during the first three quarters
of
fiscal 2007. Market activity for industrial space in the area where
Griffin’s properties are located softened in 2007 as compared to last year,
although there has been a recent increase in requests for proposals from
prospective tenants. Although there was an increase, earlier this
year, in activity in the market for office space in the area where Griffin’s
office properties are located, the office market continues to be relatively
soft.
Net
sales and other revenue at Imperial
decreased from $5.1 million in the 2006 third quarter to $4.9 million in
the
2007 third quarter. Imperial’s unit sales volume decreased
approximately 24% in the 2007 third quarter as compared to the 2006 third
quarter. The decrease in net sales was proportionately less than the
unit sales volume decrease due to higher pricing in the 2007 third quarter,
as
compared to the 2006 third quarter, and selling, on average, larger units
in the
2007 third quarter than the 2006 third
21
quarter.
The higher pricing in the 2007 third quarter principally reflects Imperial
selling a greater percentage of its product to independent garden centers
this
year, the customer segment with the most favorable pricing for Imperial,
and
increases in delivery charges this year. Imperial’s sales to independent garden
centers increased to approximately 53% in the 2007 third quarter from
approximately 44% in the 2006 third quarter.
Griffin
had consolidated operating
profit of $1.7 million in the 2007 third quarter as compared to consolidated
operating profit of $3.9 million in the 2006 third quarter. The
decrease in operating profit reflects a decrease of $3.5 million in the
operating profit at Griffin Land partially offset by a $0.9 million decrease
in
Imperial’s operating loss and a $0.4 million decrease in general corporate
expense.
Operating
results at Griffin Land in the 2007 and 2006 third quarters were as
follows:
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||
Third
Qtr.
|
Third
Qtr.
|
|||||||
(amounts
in thousands)
|
||||||||
Rental
revenue
|
$ |
3,489
|
$ |
2,960
|
||||
Costs
related to rental revenue excluding
|
||||||||
depreciation
and amortization expense (a)
|
1,472
|
1,202
|
||||||
Profit
from leasing activities before general and
|
||||||||
administrative
expenses and before depreciation
|
||||||||
and
amortization expense (a)
|
2,017
|
1,758
|
||||||
Revenue
from property sales
|
3,798
|
9,633
|
||||||
Costs
related to property sales
|
900
|
2,673
|
||||||
Gain
from property sales
|
2,898
|
6,960
|
||||||
Profit
from leasing activities and gain from property sales
|
||||||||
before
general and administrative expenses and before
|
||||||||
depreciation
and and amortization expense (a)
|
4,915
|
8,718
|
||||||
General
and administrative expenses excluding depreciation
|
||||||||
and amortization expense (a)
|
(604 | ) | (981 | ) | ||||
Profit
before depreciation and amortization expense (a)
|
4,311
|
7,737
|
||||||
Depreciation
and amortization expense related to costs of
|
||||||||
rental revenue
|
(1,111 | ) | (955 | ) | ||||
Depreciation
and amortization expense - other
|
(8 | ) | (6 | ) | ||||
Operating
profit
|
$ |
3,192
|
$ |
6,776
|
(a)
|
The
costs related to rental revenue excluding depreciation and amortization
expense, profit from leasing activities before general and administrative
expenses and before depreciation and amortization expense, general
and
administrative expenses excluding depreciation and amortization
expense,
and profit before depreciation and amortization expense are disclosures
not in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted
in the
United States of America. They are presented because Griffin
believes they are useful financial indicators for measuring the
results in
its real estate business segment. However, they should not be
considered as an alternative to operating profit as a measure
of operating
results in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted
in the
United States of America.
|
22
Profit
from leasing activities before
general and administrative expenses and before depreciation and amortization
expense increased by approximately $0.3 million in the 2007 third quarter
as
compared to the 2006 third quarter, reflecting the increased rental revenue
partially offset by an increase in costs related to rental revenue excluding
depreciation and amortization expense. The higher costs reflect the
increase in building operating expenses due to the effect of the warehouse
building purchased at the end of the 2006 third quarter and the effect
of the
Tradeport industrial building that was completed earlier this
year. Building operating expenses for Griffin Land’s other facilities
were substantially unchanged in the 2007 third quarter as compared to
the 2006
third quarter.
Profit
from property sales in the 2007
third quarter includes the sale of the second phase of Stratton Farms and
the
recognition of approximately $1.6 million of gain that was previously deferred
from the 2006 sale to Walgreen of undeveloped land in the
Tradeport. As provided in the terms of the contract for the
sale of the land and the State Traffic Commission Certificate covering
the area
in Tradeport located in Windsor, certain improvements to existing roads
were
required. The cost of these improvements is the responsibility of
Griffin Land, however, a portion of the costs will either be reimbursed
from the
purchaser of the land or performed by the town. As a result of
Griffin’s continuing involvement with the required improvements to the existing
roads, this land sale was accounted for under the percentage of completion
method. Accordingly, the revenue and the pretax gain on the sale are
being recognized on a pro rata basis in a ratio equal to the percentage
of the
total costs incurred to the total anticipated costs of sale, including
the
allocated costs of the required improvements to existing roads. In
the 2007 third quarter, management reduced its estimate of the total costs
to be
incurred to complete the required improvements due to changes to the design
of
certain portions of the required improvements. As a result, the total
projected pretax gain on this transaction was increased from $9.7 million
to
$10.2 million and the percentage of completion through September 1, 2007
increased as a result of the reduction of the total expected
costs. As a result of the change of the estimated total costs and
additional costs incurred in the 2007 third quarter, Griffin Land recognized
$1.6 million of pretax gain on this transaction in the 2007 third
quarter.
Griffin
Land’s general and administrative expenses decreased approximately $0.4 million
in the 2007 third quarter as compared to the 2006 third quarter due principally
to lower incentive compensation expense in the current year’s
quarter. Depreciation and amortization expense at Griffin Land was
higher in the 2007 third quarter as compared to the 2006 third quarter
due
principally to depreciation of $0.2 million related to the warehouse facility
acquired near the end of the third quarter of last year and the new Tradeport
industrial building placed in service earlier this year.
Operating
results at Imperial in the
2007 and 2006 third quarters were as follows:
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||
Third
Qtr.
|
Third
Qtr.
|
|||||||
(amounts
in thousands)
|
||||||||
Net
sales and other revenue
|
$ |
4,861
|
$ |
5,104
|
||||
Cost
of goods sold
|
4,387
|
5,527
|
||||||
Gross
profit (loss)
|
474
|
(423 | ) | |||||
Selling,
general and administrative expenses
|
1,153
|
1,149
|
||||||
Operating
loss
|
$ | (679 | ) | $ | (1,572 | ) |
The
$0.9 million decrease in Imperial’s
operating loss reflects the $0.9 million increase at the gross profit
line. The higher gross profit principally reflects improved pricing
this year, including increased charges to customers for product delivery,
and
lower delivery costs. The improved pricing
23
reflects,
in part, independent garden center customers, the customer segment with
the most
favorable pricing for Imperial, becoming a larger percentage of Imperial’s total
sales. The lower delivery costs reflect Imperial expanding its base
of trucking vendors this year and the more efficient routing of
trucks. In addition, the 2006 third quarter included a $0.6 million
charge for unsaleable inventories whereas the 2007 third quarter charge
for
unsaleable inventories was $0.4 million. Imperial’s gross margin on
sales, excluding the effect of the inventory charges in the 2007 and
2006 third
quarters, increased from 4.3% in the 2006 third quarter to 17.6% in the
2007
third quarter. Imperial’s 2007 third quarter selling, general and
administrative expenses were substantially unchanged from the 2006 third
quarter.
Griffin’s
general corporate expense
decreased from $1.3 million in the 2006 third quarter to $0.8 million in
the
2007 third quarter. The decrease in general corporate expense
principally reflects decreases of $0.3 million in incentive compensation
expense
and $0.2 million of costs related to compliance with Section 404 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act in the current year. The decrease in incentive
compensation expense reflects the inclusion in the 2006 third quarter of
incentive compensation expense related to the land sale to Walgreen that
closed
in that period. The decrease in cost for compliance with Section 404 of
the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act generally reflects a reduction of outside consulting
costs
this year as a result of hiring additional staff to assist in Griffin’s
compliance efforts and generally lower costs in a company’s second year of
compliance.
In
the 2007 third quarter, Griffin sold
200,000 shares of Centaur Media and recorded a pretax gain of $0.5
million. Management may continue to sell a portion of Griffin’s
holdings in Centaur Media this year, depending on the market price of Centaur
Media’s common stock and the foreign currency exchange rate.
Griffin’s
consolidated interest expense was substantially unchanged in the 2007 third
quarter as compared to the 2006 third quarter. An increase in
interest expense due to an additional borrowing of $8.5 million under a
nonrecourse mortgage loan completed in the 2006 fourth quarter was offset
by an
increase in the amount of interest capitalized in the 2007 third quarter
as
compared to the 2006 third quarter. The increase in capitalized
interest in the 2007 third quarter reflects interest capitalized on the
construction of the new industrial building in Tradeport that was started
earlier this year and interest capitalized on land improvements that were
under
construction during the 2007 third quarter. Griffin’s average
outstanding debt increased to $51.1 million in the 2007 third quarter from
$43.7
million in the 2006 third quarter, reflecting the mortgage completed near
the
end of fiscal 2006.
Griffin’s
investment income increased from $0.6 million in the 2006 third quarter
to $2.1
million in the 2007 third quarter. The increase principally reflects
$1.6 million from a dividend from Shemin Nurseries Holding Corp. (“SNHC”), a
private company of which Griffin holds approximately 14%. Partially
offsetting the dividend income from SNHC was lower investment income from
Griffin’s short-term investments, due principally to having, on average, a lower
amount of short-term investments in the 2007 third quarter as compared
to the
2006 third quarter.
Griffin’s
effective income tax rate was
34.3% in the 2007 third quarter as compared to 31.4% in the 2006 third
quarter. The effective tax rate used in the 2007 third quarter
reflects federal income taxes at 35% adjusted for state income taxes and
permanent differences between book and taxable income. The effective
tax rate for interim periods is based on management’s projections for the
balance of the year. To the extent that actual results differ from
current projections, the effective income tax rate may change. The
effective income tax rate in the 2006 third quarter reflected an increase
of
$0.1 million in state deferred tax assets as a result of changes in the
projected benefits to be realized from state temporary differences and
state net
operating loss carryforwards that resulted from changes in management’s
projections, at that time, of future operating results.
24
Thirty-Nine
Weeks Ended September 1, 2007 Compared to the Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
September
2, 2006
Griffin’s
consolidated total revenue
increased from $46.0 million in the 2006 nine month period to $48.6
million in
the 2007 nine month period, reflecting an increase in revenue of approximately
$5.8 million at Griffin Land, partially offset by a decrease in revenue
of
approximately $3.2 million at Imperial.
Revenue
at Griffin Land increased from
$18.5 million in the 2006 nine month period to $24.3 million in the 2007
nine
month period. The increase of approximately $5.8 million reflects an
increase of approximately $4.2 million in revenue from property sales
and an
increase of approximately $1.6 million of revenue from leasing
operations. Property sales occur periodically, and changes in revenue
from period to period from these transactions are generally not indicators
of
any trends in the real estate business. Revenue from property sales
in the 2007 nine month period reflects several sales of undeveloped land
that
were completed this year, including the second quarter sale of approximately
73
acres in Griffin Center in Windsor, Connecticut to The Hartford Insurance
Company for their construction of a large office complex, the second
quarter
sale of approximately 103 acres in South Windsor, Connecticut to a food
distributor for construction of a distribution facility, and the sale
of the
second phase of residential lots of Stratton Farms that was completed
in the
third quarter. In addition, the 2007 nine month period includes $1.8
million of revenue recognized from the land sale to Walgreen that was
completed
last year, which is being accounted for using the percentage of completion
method. The revenue recognized in the 2007 nine month period reflects
the effect of management reducing its estimate of the total costs to
be incurred
to complete the required improvements due to changes to the design of
certain
portions of the required improvements. Property sales revenue in the
2006 nine month period included the initial revenue recognition from
the land
sale to Walgreen, the first sale of residential lots in Stratton Farms
and two
smaller land sales.
The
increase of $1.6 million in Griffin Land's revenue from its leasing operations
in the 2007 nine month period, as compared to the 2006 nine month period,
principally reflects leasing space that was vacant during the 2006 nine
month
period, net of space previously occupied that is now vacant, $0.2 million
from
the new Tradeport building that was completed and partially leased earlier
this
year and $0.2 million from other lease revenue.
Net
sales and other revenue at Imperial
decreased from $27.5 million in the 2006 nine month period to $24.3 million
in
the 2007 nine month period. Unit sales volume decreased 26% in the
2007 nine month period as compared to the 2006 nine month period. Due
to the seasonality of the landscape nursery business, the decrease in
Imperial’s
net sales during the 2007 nine month period took place mostly during
the second
quarter. The decrease in net sales was due to less product being
available for sale this year and generally poor weather in Imperial’s markets
during most of the spring. The reduced amount of product available
for sale this year reflects Imperial’s efforts last year to move previously
unsold product and management’s decision to reduce inventories to levels
consistent with sales expectations. The relatively poor weather this
spring resulted in the reduction of reorders as it took retail customers
a
longer time to sell through their initial deliveries of product. The
decrease in net sales was proportionately less than the decrease in unit
sales
volume due to higher pricing in the 2007 nine month period and selling,
on
average, larger units in the 2007 nine month period than the 2006 nine
month
period. The higher pricing in the current year principally reflects
Imperial selling a greater percentage of its product to independent garden
center customers this year, the customer segment with the most favorable
pricing
for Imperial. Imperial’s sales to independent garden center customers
increased to approximately 54% in the 2007 nine month period from approximately
44% in the 2006 nine month period.
25
Griffin
had consolidated operating
profit of $7.4 million in the 2007 nine month period as compared to consolidated
operating profit of $1.6 million in the 2006 nine month
period. Operating results at Griffin Land and Imperial increased by
approximately $5.1 million and by approximately $1.1 million, respectively,
in
the 2007 nine month period as compared to the 2006 nine month
period. General corporate expense increased by approximately $0.3
million in the 2007 nine month period as compared to the 2006 nine month
period.
Operating
results at Griffin Land in
the 2007 and 2006 nine month periods were as follows:
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||
Nine
Month Period
|
Nine
Month Period
|
|||||||
(amounts
in thousands)
|
||||||||
Rental
revenue
|
$ |
10,441
|
$ |
8,880
|
||||
Costs
related to rental revenue excluding
|
||||||||
depreciation
and amortization expense (a)
|
4,715
|
3,809
|
||||||
Profit
from leasing activities before general and
|
||||||||
administrative
expenses and before depreciation
|
||||||||
and
amortization expense (a)
|
5,726
|
5,071
|
||||||
Revenue
from property sales
|
13,895
|
9,633
|
||||||
Costs
related to property sales
|
2,588
|
2,673
|
||||||
Gain
from property sales
|
11,307
|
6,960
|
||||||
Profit
from leasing activities and gain from property sales
|
||||||||
before general and administrative expenses and before
|
||||||||
depreciation and amortization expense (a)
|
17,033
|
12,031
|
||||||
General
and administrative expenses excluding depreciation
|
||||||||
and amortization expense (a)
|
(2,018 | ) | (2,320 | ) | ||||
Profit
before depreciation and amortization expense (a)
|
15,015
|
9,711
|
||||||
Depreciation
and amortization expense related to costs of
|
||||||||
rental revenue
|
(3,287 | ) | (3,080 | ) | ||||
Depreciation
and amortization expense - other
|
(27 | ) | (19 | ) | ||||
Operating
profit
|
$ |
11,701
|
$ |
6,612
|
(a)
|
The
costs related to rental revenue excluding depreciation and
amortization
expense, profit from leasing activities before general and
administrative
expenses and before depreciation and amortization expense,
general and
administrative expenses excluding depreciation and amortization
expense,
and profit before depreciation and amortization expense are
disclosures
not in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted
in the
United States of America. They are presented because Griffin
believes they are useful financial indicators for measuring
the results in
its real estate business segment. However, they should not be
considered as an alternative to operating profit as a measure
of operating
results in accordance with accounting principles generally
accepted in the
United States of America.
|
The
increase of $0.7 million in Griffin
Land’s profit from leasing activities before general and administrative
expenses
and before depreciation and amortization expense principally reflects
the
increase
26
in
rental
revenue partially offset by an increase in costs related to rental
revenue
excluding depreciation and amortization expenses. The higher costs
reflect $0.8 million of building operating expenses related to the
warehouse
facility purchased at the end of last year’s third quarter and the Tradeport
industrial building that was completed earlier this year, and an increase
of
$0.1 million in various expenses in all of Griffin Land’s other
buildings.
The
increase in the gain from property
sales at Griffin Land in the 2007 nine month period principally reflects
the
higher volume of property sale transactions in the current
year. Profit from property sales in the 2007 nine month period
includes the recognition of approximately $1.7 million of gain that was
previously deferred from the 2006 land sale to Walgreen. As provided
in the terms of the contract for the sale of that land, and as required
under
the State Traffic Commission Certificate, certain improvements to existing
roads
were required. The cost of these improvements is the responsibility
of Griffin Land, however, a portion of the costs will either be reimbursed
from
the purchaser of the land or performed by the town. As a result of
Griffin Land’s continuing involvement with the required improvements to the
existing roads, this land sale was accounted for under the percentage of
completion method. Accordingly, the revenue and the pretax gain on
the sale are being recognized on a pro rata basis in a ratio equal to the
percentage of the total costs incurred to the total anticipated costs of
sale,
including the allocated costs of the required improvements to existing
roads. In the 2007 nine month period, management reduced its estimate
of the total costs to be incurred to complete the required improvements
due to
changes to the design of certain portions of the required
improvements. As a result, the total projected pretax gain on this
transaction increased from $9.7 million to $10.2 million and the percentage
of
completion through September 1, 2007 increased as a result of the reduction
of
the total expected costs.
Griffin
Land’s general and administrative expenses decreased approximately $0.3 million
in the 2007 nine month period as compared to the 2006 nine month period
due
principally to lower incentive compensation expense. Depreciation and
amortization expense at Griffin Land increased $0.2 million in the 2007
nine
month period as compared to the 2006 nine month period. Depreciation
expense increased $0.5 million related to the warehouse purchased near
the end
of the 2006 third quarter, the new industrial building and tenant improvements
placed in service in the 2007 nine month period. The effect of these
increases were offset by the inclusion in the 2006 nine month period of
$0.3
million of accelerated depreciation and amortization expense related to
leases
that terminated last year.
Imperial’s
operating results for the
2007 and the 2006 nine month periods are as follows:
2007
|
2006
|
|||||||
Nine
Month Period
|
Nine
Month Period
|
|||||||
(amounts
in thousands)
|
||||||||
Net
sales and other revenue
|
$ |
24,294
|
$ |
27,466
|
||||
Cost
of goods sold
|
21,174
|
25,547
|
||||||
Gross
profit
|
3,120
|
1,919
|
||||||
Selling,
general and administrative expenses
|
4,004
|
3,905
|
||||||
Operating
loss
|
$ | (884 | ) | $ | (1,986 | ) |
The
increase in Imperial’s operating
results reflects a $1.2 million increase in gross profit partially offset
by a
$0.1 million increase in selling, general and administrative
expenses. The higher gross profit reflects improved pricing in the
current year, including higher charges for delivery, and lower delivery
costs. The improved pricing reflects a greater percentage of
Imperial’s sales volume going to independent garden center customers, the
customer segment with the most favorable pricing for
Imperial.
27
The
lower
delivery costs reflect Imperial expanding its base of trucking vendors
this year
and the more efficient routing of trucks. The effect of the improved
pricing and lower delivery costs was partially offset by a higher charge
for
unsaleable inventories, which was $0.7 million in the 2007 nine month
period as
compared to $0.6 million in the 2006 nine month period. Imperial’s
gross margin on sales, excluding the charges for unsaleable inventories
in the
2007 and 2006 nine month periods, increased from 9.3% in the 2006 nine
month
period to 15.8% in the 2007 nine month period.
Imperial’s
selling, general and
administrative expenses increased by $0.1 million in the 2007 nine month
period
as compared to the 2006 nine month period, reflecting $0.2 million of costs
related to the litigation against Imperial by employees of a farm labor
contractor previously engaged by Imperial. That increase was
partially offset by a reduction in selling expenses, due principally to
lower
headcount. As a percentage of net sales, selling, general and
administrative expenses increased from 14.2% in the 2006 nine month period
to
16.5% in the 2007 nine month period.
Griffin’s
general corporate expense
increased to $3.4 million in the 2007 nine month period from $3.1 million
in the
2006 nine month period. The increase principally reflects $0.3
million of costs incurred, principally in the first two quarters of the
year,
related to the litigation against the Company. That litigation has been
settled.
In addition, general legal costs increased $0.1 million, payroll costs
increased
$0.1 million, due, in part, to additional staff added this year, and other
general corporate expenses increased by $0.2 million in the 2007 nine month
period. These increases were partially offset by a reduction of $0.2 million
in
incentive compensation expense, reflecting a higher accrual last year for
property sales completed in the 2006 nine month period, and a decrease
of $0.2
million for costs of compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act. The
lower compliance costs reflect the hiring of additional staff to assist
in
Griffin’s compliance efforts, which reduced the services of outside consultants
this year, and generally lower costs for a company’s second year of
compliance.
In
the 2007 nine month period, Griffin
sold 1.2 million of its approximately 6.5 million shares of common stock
in
Centaur Media and recorded a pretax gain of $2.9 million on those
sales. Management may continue to sell a portion of Griffin's
holdings in Centaur Media this year, depending on the market price of Centaur
Media’s common stock and the foreign currency exchange rate.
Griffin’s
consolidated interest expense
of $2.3 million in the 2007 nine month period was substantially unchanged
from
the 2006 nine month period. An increase in interest expense due to an
additional borrowing of $8.5 million under a nonrecourse mortgage loan
completed
in the 2006 fourth quarter was offset by an increase in the amount of interest
capitalized in the 2007 nine month period as compared to the 2006 six month
period. The increase in capitalized interest in 2007 reflects
interest capitalized on the construction of a building in Tradeport that
was
completed at the end of the 2007 first quarter, interest capitalized on
a new
Tradeport industrial building started in the 2007 second quarter and interest
capitalized on land improvements that were under construction in the 2007
nine
month period. Griffin’s average outstanding debt in the 2007 nine
month period was $51.4 million as compared to $43.9 million in the 2006
nine
month period.
Griffin’s
investment income was $3.0
million in the 2007 nine month period as compared to $1.6 million in the
2006
nine month period. The increase of $1.4 million principally reflects
the dividend income of $1.6 million from SNHC in the 2007 third
quarter. The effect of the dividend income from SNHC in the 2007 nine
month period was partially offset by lower investment income from Griffin’s
short-term investments in the current year. The lower investment
income from short-term investments was due to having, on average, a lower
amount
of short-term investments in the 2007 nine month period as compared to
the 2006
nine month period. In addition, investment income in the 2006 nine
month period included approximately $0.2 million of undistributed equity
income
from an investment in an agricultural cooperative in which Griffin holds
a 25%
interest. Because this investment had not been accounted for in
periods prior to the 2006 nine month period, the cumulative effect was
recorded
in
28
investment
income in the 2006 nine month period. The investment income in the
2007 nine month period related to that agricultural cooperative was
minimal.
Griffin’s
effective income tax rate was
36.4% for the 2007 nine month period, as compared to 11.4% for the 2006
nine
month period. The effective tax rate for the 2007 nine month period
reflects a 35% rate for federal income taxes adjusted for state income
taxes and
permanent differences between book and taxable income. The effective
tax rate
for interim periods is based on management’s projections for the balance of the
year. To the extent that actual results differ from current
projections, the effective income tax rate may change. The lower than
the expected statutory rate for the 2006 nine month period reflected
changes in
the mix of earnings in separate state jurisdictions and the recognition
of $0.1
million of projected state deferred tax benefits in that period.
Off
Balance Sheet Arrangements
Griffin
does not have any material off
balance sheet arrangements.
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
Net
cash provided by operating
activities was $4.7 million in the 2007 nine month period as compared to
$8.1
million in the 2006 nine month period. Net cash provided by operating
activities in the 2007 nine month period includes $8.7 million of cash
generated
from a reduction of short-term investments as compared to $9.4 million
of cash
generated from a reduction of short-term investments in the 2006 nine month
period. Excluding the cash provided by the reduction in short-term
investments in each period, Griffin used cash of $4.1 million in operating
activities in the 2007 nine month period as compared to $1.3 million in
the 2006
nine month period. The higher cash used in operating activities in
2007, excluding the cash generated from the reduction of short-term investments,
reflects the lower amount of cash provided by the reduction of inventories
and
the higher amount of cash used as a result of a decrease in accounts payable
and
accrued liabilities. Partially offsetting these items was a favorable
change in other current assets, principally reflecting Griffin's income
tax
receivable related to fiscal 2006 being offset by federal income taxes
payable
based on Griffin's earnings in fiscal 2007.
In
the 2007 nine month period, Griffin
used net cash of $0.7 million in investing activities as compared to $7.4
million used in investing activities in the 2006 nine month
period. Net cash used in investing activities in the 2007 nine month
period reflects $8.9 million used for additions to Griffin Land’s real estate
assets, principally reflecting the completion of a 127,000 square foot
industrial building in Tradeport, built on speculation, the start of
construction, on speculation, of a new 149,000 square foot industrial building
in Tradeport, site work for several other industrial buildings in Tradeport
and
tenant improvements related to new leases. Additions to property and
equipment, principally for Imperial, were $0.4 million in the 2007 nine
month
period, principally to replace equipment used in Imperial’s farming
operations. These items were substantially offset by cash of $11.4
million generated from property sales net of an increase of $6.4 million
of cash
held in an escrow account. The increase in cash held in escrow
reflects the proceeds of a property sale completed this year being held
in
escrow for the potential use of acquiring property in a Section 1031 exchange
for income tax purposes. If completed, the Section 1031 exchange
would defer the payment of income taxes related to all or a portion of
the gain
from that property sale. If the acquisition of a property for a
Section 1031 exchange is not completed, the cash proceeds being held in
escrow
will be remitted to Griffin. In addition, cash of $3.5 million was
provided by the sale of a portion of Griffin’s investment in Centaur
Media. The $0.2 million return of investment from SNHC reflects the
portion of a total of $1.8 million received from SNHC that was not
reported as dividend income, based on SNHC’s cumulative earnings.
Net
cash used in financing activities
was $1.3 million in the 2007 nine month period as compared to net cash
of $0.9
million provided by financing activities in the 2006 nine month
period. The net cash
29
used
in
financing activities in the 2007 nine month period includes $1.6 million
of cash
used by Griffin to repurchase 42,000 shares of its outstanding common
stock and
$0.9 million used for principal payments on Griffin Land’s nonrecourse mortgages
and payments of capital lease obligations. Partially offsetting those
items were $0.9 million of cash provided by the tax benefit of stock
options
exercised and $0.2 million of cash provided by the exercise of stock
options.
In
the near-term, Griffin plans to
continue to invest in its real estate business. In addition to the
completion earlier this year of the shell of a 127,000 square foot industrial
building in Tradeport that was built on speculation, Griffin Land started
construction on the shell of a 149,000 square foot industrial building
in
Tradeport, which is also being built on speculation. This new
building is expected to be completed in the fourth
quarter. Subsequent to the end of the 2007 third quarter, a lease for
approximately 50,000 square feet of this building presently under construction
was executed, with the tenant expected to take occupancy near the end of
this
fiscal year. Griffin Land has completed much of the site work for
several additional industrial buildings in the Tradeport. The cost of
site work in the section of Tradeport where these new buildings are located
was
higher than site costs for previous Tradeport buildings constructed by
Griffin
Land, reflecting the nature of the land on which the buildings will be
located
along with berms and roadwork required to develop this section of
Tradeport. Griffin Land also expects to incur expenditures to build
out the interiors of its new buildings as leases are completed, and to
continue
to invest in infrastructure improvements required for present and future
development in its office and industrial parks.
Earlier
this year, Griffin determined
that an agreement to sell to the State of Connecticut Department of
Environmental Protection (the "DEP") approximately 165 acres of undeveloped
land
in Suffield, Connecticut will not be completed. The land would have
been used for conservation purposes by the DEP. The agreement was
terminated because the current level of certain residual pesticides that
remain
in the upper portions of the soil from the previous use of the land for
farming
exceeds certain levels, thereby reducing the amount the DEP would be able
to pay
for the land. While remediation of the residual pesticides is not
required, Griffin is considering its options to perform
remediation.
In
the 2007 third quarter, Griffin Land
reached an accord for a settlement with the Town of Simsbury’s land use
commissions regarding Meadowood, its proposed residential
development. A formal settlement agreement must be executed by
Griffin Land and the town, and is subject to approval by the Connecticut
Superior Court, which is expected. The settlement provides, among
other things, the number of homes permitted to be built in Meadowood, the
amount
of open space to be included in Meadowood and resolution of environmental
remediation issues prior to the commencement of construction. Griffin Land
intends to continue with its Meadowood residential development plans and
to
proceed with residential development plans on its other land holdings that
are
appropriate for that use.
Griffin
Land is currently not in
compliance with the debt service coverage ratio requirement of its 6.08%
mortgage due January 1, 2013. This mortgage is collateralized by two
multi-story office buildings located in Griffin Center in Windsor,
Connecticut. In connection with a $1 million prepayment of principal
on this mortgage that is expected to be made in the 2007 fourth quarter,
the
lender will defer the debt service coverage requirement until the beginning
of
2009. As a result of the prepayment, Griffin will incur a prepayment
penalty of $20,000 to be paid at the maturity of the mortgage. The
loan’s future monthly payments will be adjusted to reflect the prepayment, but
the loan’s interest rate and maturity date are not changed as a result of this
prepayment.
On
January 31, 2007, Griffin announced
that its board of directors had authorized a program to repurchase, from
time to
time, up to 150,000 shares of its outstanding common stock. The
repurchases will be done through private transactions. The program to
repurchase does not obligate Griffin to repurchase any specific number
of
shares, and may be suspended at any time at management’s
discretion. Through the end of the 2007 third quarter, Griffin had
repurchased 42,000 shares of its outstanding
30
common
stock for $1.6 million. Subsequent to the end of the 2007 third
quarter, Griffin Land repurchased 70,900 shares for $2.6 million.
On
July 16, 2007, Griffin
executed an agreement to sell a parcel of undeveloped land located in
Tampa,
Florida for approximately $2.1 million. This land had been a site for
a distribution facility by a former subsidiary of Griffin’s former parent
company, Culbro Corporation (“Culbro”). Griffin received this land in
connection with the distribution of Griffin’s common stock to Culbro’s
stockholders in 1997. Although this transaction is expected to be
completed in the 2007 fourth quarter there can be no assurance that this
transaction will be completed under its current terms, or at
all.
On
June 22, 2007, Griffin Land executed
an agreement to sell approximately 45 acres of land in Bloomfield, Connecticut
that is part of Griffin Center to a developer of residential
housing. The purchase price is $4.5 million, but may increase to $5.6
million or decrease to $3.9 million depending on the number of residential
units
the buyer is permitted to build. In addition, Griffin Land would
receive additional revenue upon the buyer’s sale of residential
units. Completion of this transaction is subject to several
contingencies, including satisfactory completion of due diligence by the
buyer
and the buyer obtaining governmental approvals for its proposed development
plans. The time frame for the buyer to obtain all of the required
governmental approvals is expected to be an extended one, with the closing
of
this transaction not expected within the next twelve months. There
can be no assurance that this transaction will be completed under its current
terms, or at all.
Griffin
Land has agreed to purchase an
approximately 30,000 square foot warehouse on approximately 24 acres of
land in
Bloomfield from its current owner, who uses the facility in its
operations. A substantial amount of the land that is to be acquired
is currently undeveloped. As part of the agreement to purchase this facility,
Griffin Land would enter into a ten year lease agreement with the current
owner
for the entire warehouse facility. The purchase price is expected to
be $2.6 million, which would be paid for with a portion of the proceeds,
currently in escrow, from the land sale earlier this year to The Hartford
Insurance Company. Completion of this transaction is subject to
completion of a definitive agreement and satisfactory completion of due
diligence on the real estate assets to be acquired. There is no
assurance that this transaction will be completed under these terms, or
at
all.
Griffin’s
payments (including principal and interest) under contractual obligations
as of
September 1, 2007 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
|
$ |
70.7
|
$ |
5.4
|
$ |
15.4
|
$ |
7.3
|
$ |
42.6
|
||||||||||
Capital
Lease Obligations
|
0.3
|
0.2
|
0.1
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||||||||
Operating
Lease Obligations
|
0.2
|
0.2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||||||||
Purchase
Obligations (1)
|
3.3
|
3.3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||||||||
Other
(2)
|
2.2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
2.2
|
|||||||||||||||
$ |
76.7
|
$ |
9.1
|
$ |
15.5
|
$ |
7.3
|
$ |
44.8
|
(1)
|
Includes
obligations for the construction of the shell of a new industrial
building
by Griffin Land, completion of tenant improvements, infrastructure
improvements in Tradeport and for the purchase of raw materials
by
Imperial.
|
(2)
|
Includes
Griffin’s deferred compensation plan and other postretirement benefit
liabilities.
|
As
of
September 1, 2007, Griffin had cash and short-term investments of approximately
$31.9
31
million,
down from $38.2 million at the beginning of the year. The decrease principally
reflects the seasonal working capital requirements in the landscape nursery
business, Griffin’s investment in its real estate business, and the proceeds
from a substantial land sale remaining in escrow held by a third-party,
on
behalf of Griffin, for the potential acquisition of real estate assets
under a
Section 1031 exchange for income tax purposes. Management believes that
the
significant amount of cash and short-term investments currently held
by Griffin
will be sufficient to finance the working capital requirements of its
businesses, the continued investment in Griffin’s real estate assets for the
foreseeable future and the repurchase of its common stock as authorized
by the
board of directors. Griffin may also continue to seek nonrecourse
mortgage placements on selected properties. Griffin also anticipates
seeking to purchase either or both land and buildings with a substantial
portion
of its cash and short-term investment balances. Real estate
acquisitions may or may not occur based on many factors, including real
estate
pricing.
Recent
Accounting
Pronouncements
In
June 2006, the FASB issued FASB
Interpretation No. 48, "Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes" (“Fin No.
48”). The interpretation clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in
income taxes recognized in a company's financial statements in accordance
with
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, "Accounting for Income
Taxes." Specifically, Fin No. 48 prescribes a recognition threshold
and a measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and
measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax
return. Fin No. 48 also provides guidance on the related
derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting for interim
periods, disclosure and transition of uncertain tax positions. Fin
No. 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006,
which
for Griffin will be fiscal 2008. Griffin is evaluating the impact of
this new pronouncement on its consolidated financial statements.
In
September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value
Measurements.” This new standard defines fair value, establishes a
framework for measuring fair value under generally accepted accounting
principles and expands disclosures about fair value
measurements. This statement does not require any new fair value
measurements but provides guidance in determining fair value measurements
presently used in the preparation of financial statements. This new
standard is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years
beginning
after November 15, 2007, which for Griffin will be fiscal
2008. Griffin is evaluating the impact of this new pronouncement on
its consolidated financial statements.
In
September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined
Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans – an amendment of FASB Statements
No. 87, 88, 106 and 132(R).” This new standard requires employers to
recognize the overfunded or underfunded status of a defined benefit
postretirement plan as an asset or liability in its statement of financial
position and to recognize changes in that funded status in the year in
which the
changes occur through comprehensive income. For employers that have
equity securities that trade in a public market, this new standard requires
the
recognition of the funded status of a defined benefit postretirement plan
and
requires disclosures as of the end of the fiscal year ending after December
15,
2006. Griffin does not have a defined benefit pension plan and its
defined benefit postretirement benefit plan is unfunded and is included
as a
liability on Griffin’s balance sheet.
In
February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for
Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities-Including an amendment of FASB
Statement No. 115.” This new standard allows an entity the
irrevocable option to elect fair value for the initial and subsequent
measurement for certain financial assets and liabilities under an
instrument-by-instrument election. Subsequent measurements for the
financial assets and liabilities an entity elects to fair value will be
recognized in earnings. This statement also establishes additional
disclosure requirements and is effective for fiscal
32
years
beginning after November 15, 2007, which for Griffin will be fiscal 2008.
Griffin is evaluating the impact of this new pronouncement on its consolidated
financial statements.
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 the 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 or approval
of a
currently proposed residential subdivision. 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 prepay any fixed rate debt prior to maturity, however, Griffin has agreed
to
make a $1 million prepayment on a mortgage in which Griffin was not in
compliance with the debt service coverage ratio as of September 1, 2007.
The lender has agreed to defer the debt service coverage ratio requirement
until
fiscal 2009. 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. Griffin’s mortgage
interest rates are described in Note 4 to the unaudited consolidated financial
statements included in Item 1. 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 did
not have any variable rate debt outstanding during the thirty-nine weeks
ended
September 1, 2007.
Griffin
is potentially exposed to
market risks from fluctuations in interest rates and the effects of those
fluctuations on market values of Griffin’s cash equivalents. These
investments generally consist of overnight investments that are not
significantly exposed to interest rate risk. Griffin’s short-term
investments generally consist of debt instruments with maturities ranging
from
one to sixteen months, with a weighted average maturity of approximately
three
months as of September 1, 2007. These investments 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 related to its operations. Griffin has an investment in a
public company, Centaur Media, plc, based in the United Kingdom. The
liquidation of that investment and conversion of proceeds into United States
currency is subject to future foreign currency exchange rates.
33
ITEM
4.
|
CONTROLS
AND PROCEDURES
|
Evaluation
of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Griffin
maintains disclosure controls
and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required
to be disclosed in its 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 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 necessarily 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 fiscal period covered by this report. Based on the
foregoing, Griffin’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
concluded that disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the
reasonable assurance level.
Changes
in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There
has been no change in Griffin’s
internal control over financial reporting during Griffin’s most recent fiscal
quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially
affect, Griffin’s internal control over financial reporting.
PART
II
|
OTHER
INFORMATION
|
ITEM
1.
|
LEGAL
PROCEEDINGS
|
In
1999, Griffin Land filed land use
applications with the land use commissions of Simsbury, Connecticut for
Meadowood, a proposed residential development on approximately 363 acres
of
land. In 2000, Simsbury’s land use commissions issued denials of
Griffin Land’s Meadowood application. As a result of those denials,
Griffin brought several separate, but related, suits appealing those
decisions. In 2002, the trial court upheld two of Griffin Land’s
appeals and ordered the town’s Planning and Zoning Commissions to approve the
Meadowood application. The town appealed those
decisions. In 2004, the Connecticut Supreme Court ordered the Zoning
Commission to approve the zoning regulations proposed by Griffin Land for
Meadowood. The Connecticut Supreme Court also upheld the denial of
the Meadowood application by the Planning Commission because Griffin Land
had
not obtained the required sewer usage permits at the time the application
was
made to the Planning Commission. The required sewer usage permits for
Meadowood have been subsequently obtained. Also in 2004, the
Connecticut Supreme Court reversed a lower court decision that had denied
Griffin Land a wetlands permit, and remanded the case to Superior Court
for
further proceedings to determine if a wetlands permit must be
issued. In 2005, the Superior Court ruled that Griffin Land must
again apply to the town’s Conservation and Inland Wetlands Commission for a
wetlands permit for its proposed Meadowood development. However, the
wetlands case was accepted for review by the Connecticut Appellate
Court.
In
January
2007, Griffin Land and the town of Simsbury jointly filed a motion in the
Appellate Court to have the appeal remanded to the Superior Court in
anticipation of the parties potentially presenting a settlement proposal
to the
court for its review and approval. On June 13, 2007, at a joint
34
meeting
of the town’s Planning, Zoning and Inland Wetlands Commissions, a tentative
settlement agreement was presented for their review. The tentative settlement
includes, among other things, approval for up to 299 homes, certain remediation
measures to be performed by Griffin Land and the purchase by the town,
subject
to approvals, of a portion of the Meadowood land for town open space.
The Zoning
and Inland Wetlands Commissions approved resolutions at that meeting
accepting
the proposed settlement terms. The Planning Commission approved the resolution
at a subsequent meeting. A formal settlement agreement must be
executed by Griffin Land and the town and then approved by the Connecticut
Superior Court, which will consider each Commission’s agreement at a public
court hearing and render its decision. If approved by the Court, as
expected, the previously filed cases would be withdrawn with no further
litigation between the parties on this matter.
On
June
25, 2007, Griffin and its subsidiary, Imperial Nurseries, settled a lawsuit
filed against them and several of their officers and employees (the “Griffin
Defendants”) by twelve migrant and seasonal workers employed by an independent
farm labor contractor, Pro Tree Forestry Services (“Pro Tree”), that had been
engaged by Imperial to provide labor at its Connecticut farm. The
plaintiffs alleged, among other things, that they worked at Imperial’s
Connecticut farm for approximately three months in the spring of 2006;
that they
were not paid sufficient wages by the Pro Tree defendants as required by
state
and federal laws; and that the Griffin defendants were liable as joint
and/or
integrated employers. The lawsuit included a number of other causes
of action against the Pro Tree defendants related to this issue, including
claims under the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Protection Act, the
Racketeer
Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (“RICO”), the Alien Tort Claims Act,
and other statutory and common law claims, and asserted that certain of
the
Griffin Defendants were jointly liable for certain of those
claims. Under the settlement, Griffin agreed to pay certain amounts
to the plaintiffs for wages and damages they allegedly suffered. On
July 13, 2007, Imperial settled a lawsuit filed against Imperial by the
United
States Department of Labor (the “DOL”) that claimed that Pro Tree had underpaid
its employees while they were working at Imperial’s Connecticut farm, and
because Pro Tree refused to pay back wages to its employees, Imperial was
required to pay those individuals. The total cost to Griffin for both
those lawsuits, including legal fees incurred through September 1, 2007
and net
of recovery under Griffin’s insurance policies, was approximately $0.5
million.
Griffin
is involved, as a defendant, in
other various litigation matters arising in the ordinary course of
business. In the opinion of management, based on the advice of legal
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
1A.
|
RISK
FACTORS
|
There
have been no material changes
from the risk factors as previously disclosed in Item 1A of the Company's
Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 2, 2006.
ITEM
6
|
EXHIBITS
|
||
Exhibit
No.
|
Description
|
||
3.1
|
Form
of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Griffin
Land &
Nurseries, Inc. (incorporated by reference to the Form 10 of
Griffin Land
& Nurseries, Inc., filed April 8, 1997, as
amended)
|
35
3.2
|
Form
of Bylaws of Griffin Land & Nurseries, Inc. (incorporated by reference
to the Form 10 of Griffin Land & Nurseries, Inc., filed April 8,
1997, as amended)
|
|
10.1
|
Form
of Tax Sharing Agreement among Culbro Corporation, Griffin
Land &
Nurseries, Inc. and General Cigar Holdings, Inc. (incorporated
by
reference to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of General
Cigar
Holdings, Inc., filed December 24, 1996, as amended)
|
|
10.4
|
Form
of Agricultural Lease between Griffin Land & Nurseries, Inc. and
General Cigar Holdings, Inc. (incorporated by reference to
the
Registration Statement on Form S-1 of General Cigar Holdings,
Inc., filed
December 24, 1996, as amended)
|
|
10.6
|
Form
of 1997 Stock Option Plan of Griffin Land & Nurseries, Inc.
(incorporated by reference to the Form 10 of Griffin Land
& Nurseries,
Inc., filed April 8, 1997, as amended)
|
|
10.7
|
Form
of 401(k) Plan of Griffin Land & Nurseries, Inc. (incorporated by
reference to the Form 10 of Griffin Land & Nurseries, Inc., filed
April 8, 1997, as amended)
|
|
10.17
|
Loan
Agreement dated June 24, 1999 (incorporated by reference
to Form 10-Q
dated August 28, 1999, filed October 8, 1999)
|
|
10.21
|
Mortgage
Deed, Security Agreement, Financing Statement and Fixture
Filing with
Absolute Assignment of Rents and Leases dated September 17,
2002 between
Tradeport Development I, LLC and Farm Bureau Life Insurance
Company
(incorporated by reference to Form 10-Q dated August 31,
2002, filed
October 11, 2002)
|
|
10.24
|
Mortgage
Deed and Security Agreement dated December 17, 2002 between
Griffin Center
Development IV, LLC and Webster Bank (incorporated by reference
to Form
10-K dated November 30, 2002, filed February 28, 2003)
|
|
10.28
|
Secured
Installment Note and First Amendment of Mortgage and Loan
Documents dated
April 16, 2004 among Tradeport Development I, LLC, and Griffin
Land &
Nurseries, Inc. and Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company (incorporated
by
reference to Form 10-Q dated May 29, 2004, filed July 13,
2004)
|
|
10.29
|
Mortgage
Deed Security Agreement, Fixture Filing, Financing Statement
and
Assignment of Leases and Rents dated July 6, 2005 by Tradeport
Development
II, LLC in favor of First Sunamerica Life Insurance Company
(incorporated
by reference to Form 10-Q dated May 28, 2005, filed on November
2,
2005)
|
|
10.30
|
Promissory
Note dated July 6, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Form
10-Q dated May
28, 2005, filed on November 2,
2005)
|
36
10.31
|
Guaranty
Agreement as of July 6, 2005 by Griffin Land & Nurseries, Inc. in
favor of Sunamerica Life Insurance Company (incorporated
by reference to
Form 10-Q dated May 28, 2005, filed on November 2,
2005)
|
|
10.32
|
Amended
and Restated Mortgage Deed Security Agreement, Fixture Filing,
Financing
Statement and Assignment of Leases and Rents dated November
16, 2006 by
Tradeport Development II, LLC in favor of First Sunamerica
Life Insurance
Company (incorporated by reference to Form 10-K dated December
2, 2006,
filed February 15, 2007)
|
|
10.33
|
Amended
and Restated Promissory Note dated November 16, 2006 (incorporated
by
reference to Form 10-K dated December 2, 2006, filed February
15,
2007)
|
|
10.34
|
Guaranty
Agreement as of November 16, 2006 by Griffin Land & Nurseries, Inc. in
favor of Sunamerica Life Insurance Company (incorporated
by reference to
Form 10-K dated December 2, 2006, filed February 15,
2007)
|
|
14
|
Griffin
Land & Nurseries, Inc. Code of Ethics (incorporated by reference
to
Form 10-K dated November 29, 2003, filed February 25,
2004)
|
|
21
|
Subsidiaries
of Griffin Land & Nurseries, Inc. (incorporated by reference to the
Form 10 of Griffin Land & Nurseries, Inc., filed April 8, 1997, as
amended)
|
|
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
|
37
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: October
11, 2007
|
Frederick
M. Danziger
|
|
President
and Chief Executive Officer
|
||
/s/ ANTHONY J. GALICI
|
||
Date: October
11, 2007
|
Anthony
J. Galici
|
|
Vice
President, Chief Financial Officer and
Secretary
|
38