INDUS REALTY TRUST, INC. - Quarter Report: 2007 June (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 June 2, 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 June 30, 2007: 5,149,049
Griffin
Land & Nurseries, Inc.
Form
10-Q
Index
PART
I -
|
FINANCIAL
INFORMATION
|
||
ITEM
1
|
Financial
Statements
|
||
Consolidated
Statements of Operations (unaudited)
|
|||
13
and 26 Weeks Ended June 2, 2007 and June 3, 2006
|
3
|
||
Consolidated
Balance Sheets (unaudited)
|
|||
June
2, 2007 and December 2, 2006
|
4
|
||
Consolidated
Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity (unaudited)
|
|||
26
Weeks Ended June 2, 2007 and June 3, 2006
|
5
|
||
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)
|
|||
26
Weeks Ended June 2, 2007 and June 3, 2006
|
6
|
||
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
|
7-19
|
||
ITEM
2
|
Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of
|
||
Financial
Condition and Results of Operations
|
20-31
|
||
ITEM
3
|
Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
|
31
|
|
ITEM
4
|
Controls
and Procedures
|
31-32
|
|
PART
II -
|
OTHER
INFORMATION
|
||
ITEM
1
|
Legal
Proceedings
|
32-33
|
|
ITEM
1A
|
Risk
Factors
|
33
|
|
ITEM
4
|
Submission
of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
|
33-34
|
|
ITEM
6
|
Exhibits
|
34-36
|
|
SIGNATURES
|
37
|
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 26 Weeks Ended,
|
||||||||||||
June
2, 2007
|
June
3, 2006
|
June
2, 2007
|
June
3, 2006
|
||||||||||
Landscape
nursery net sales
|
$
|
18,866
|
$
|
21,687
|
$
|
19,433
|
$
|
22,362
|
|||||
Rental
revenue and property sales
|
13,030
|
2,906
|
17,049
|
5,920
|
|||||||||
Total
revenue
|
31,896
|
24,593
|
36,482
|
28,282
|
|||||||||
Costs
of landscape nursery sales
|
16,162
|
19,338
|
16,787
|
20,020
|
|||||||||
Costs
related to rental revenue and property sales
|
4,335
|
2,179
|
7,107
|
4,732
|
|||||||||
Total
costs of goods sold
|
20,497
|
21,517
|
23,894
|
24,752
|
|||||||||
Gross
profit
|
11,399
|
3,076
|
12,588
|
3,530
|
|||||||||
Selling,
general and administrative expenses
|
3,927
|
3,419
|
6,865
|
5,915
|
|||||||||
Operating
profit (loss)
|
7,472
|
(343
|
)
|
5,723
|
(2,385
|
)
|
|||||||
Gain
on sale of Centaur Media common stock
|
2,397
|
-
|
2,397
|
-
|
|||||||||
Interest
expense
|
(808
|
)
|
(762
|
)
|
(1,546
|
)
|
(1,527
|
)
|
|||||
Investment
income
|
486
|
589
|
913
|
987
|
|||||||||
Income
(loss) before income tax provision (benefit)
|
9,547
|
(516
|
)
|
7,487
|
(2,925
|
)
|
|||||||
Income
tax provision (benefit)
|
3,574
|
(183
|
)
|
2,802
|
(1,090
|
)
|
|||||||
Net
income (loss)
|
$
|
5,973
|
$
|
(333
|
)
|
$
|
4,685
|
$
|
(1,835
|
)
|
|||
Basic
net income (loss) per common share
|
$
|
1.16
|
$
|
(0.07
|
)
|
$
|
0.91
|
$
|
(0.36
|
)
|
|||
Diluted
net income (loss) per common share
|
$
|
1.13
|
$
|
(0.07
|
)
|
$
|
0.89
|
$
|
(0.36
|
)
|
|||
See
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements.
3
Griffin
Land & Nurseries, Inc.
Consolidated
Balance Sheets
(dollars
in thousands,
except
per share data)
(unaudited)
June
2, 2007
|
December
2, 2006
|
||||||
ASSETS
|
|||||||
Current
Assets:
|
|||||||
Cash and cash equivalents
|
$
|
3,594
|
$
|
2,265
|
|||
Short-term investments, net
|
23,014
|
35,973
|
|||||
Accounts receivable, less allowance of $148
and
$143
|
13,389
|
2,559
|
|||||
Inventories, net
|
27,668
|
30,579
|
|||||
Deferred income taxes
|
2,227
|
2,331
|
|||||
Other current assets
|
4,112
|
7,226
|
|||||
Total
current assets
|
74,004
|
80,933
|
|||||
Real
estate held for sale or lease, net
|
104,476
|
101,544
|
|||||
Property
and equipment, net
|
8,790
|
9,144
|
|||||
Investment
in Centaur Media, plc
|
15,877
|
18,592
|
|||||
Other
assets
|
13,325
|
6,402
|
|||||
Total
assets
|
$
|
216,472
|
$
|
216,615
|
|||
LIABILITIES
AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
|||||||
Current
Liabilities:
|
|||||||
Current portion of long-term debt
|
$
|
1,248
|
$
|
1,197
|
|||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
|
7,690
|
7,813
|
|||||
Deferred revenue
|
5,772
|
6,245
|
|||||
Total
current liabilities
|
14,710
|
15,255
|
|||||
Long-term
debt
|
50,021
|
50,631
|
|||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
5,739
|
6,990
|
|||||
Other
noncurrent liabilities
|
4,478
|
4,125
|
|||||
Total
liabilities
|
74,948
|
77,001
|
|||||
Commitments
and contingencies (Note 8)
|
|||||||
Stockholders'
Equity:
|
|||||||
Common
stock, par value $0.01 per share, 10,000,000 shares
|
|||||||
authorized, 5,306,732 and 5,177,709
shares issued,
|
|||||||
respectively, 5,149,049 and 5,132,663 shares
|
|||||||
outstanding, respectively
|
53
|
52
|
|||||
Additional
paid-in capital
|
101,329
|
98,549
|
|||||
Retained
earnings
|
37,062
|
32,377
|
|||||
Accumulated
other comprehensive income, net of tax
|
8,509
|
9,942
|
|||||
Treasury
stock, at cost, 157,683 and 45,046 shares, respectively
|
(5,429
|
)
|
(1,306
|
)
|
|||
Total
stockholders' equity
|
141,524
|
139,614
|
|||||
Total
liabilities and stockholders' equity
|
$
|
216,472
|
$
|
216,615
|
|||
See
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements.
4
Griffin
Land & Nurseries, Inc.
Consolidated
Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
For
the
Twenty-Six Weeks Ended June 2, 2007 and June 3, 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 December 3, 2005
|
4,999,604
|
$
|
50
|
$
|
95,339
|
$
|
32,809
|
$
|
4,659
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
132,857
|
||||||||||||
Exercise
of stock options
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
including tax benefit of $806
|
98,672
|
1
|
1,563
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1,564
|
||||||||||||||||||
Stock-based
compensation expense
|
-
|
-
|
54
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
54
|
||||||||||||||||||
Net
loss
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(1,835
|
)
|
-
|
-
|
(1,835
|
)
|
$
|
(1,835
|
)
|
|||||||||||||
Other
comprehensive income
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1,500
|
-
|
1,500
|
1,500
|
|||||||||||||||||
Balance
at June 3, 2006
|
5,098,276
|
$
|
51
|
$
|
96,956
|
$
|
30,974
|
$
|
6,159
|
$
|
-
|
$
|
134,140
|
$
|
(335
|
)
|
|||||||||
Balance
at December 2, 2006
|
5,177,709
|
$
|
52
|
$
|
98,549
|
$
|
32,377
|
$
|
9,942
|
$
|
(1,306
|
)
|
$
|
139,614
|
|||||||||||
Exercise
of stock options,
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
including tax benefit of $931,
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
and shares tendered related to
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
stock options exercised
|
129,023
|
1
|
2,715
|
-
|
-
|
(2,568
|
)
|
148
|
|||||||||||||||||
Stock-based
compensation expense
|
-
|
-
|
65
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
65
|
||||||||||||||||||
Repurchase
of common stock
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(1,555
|
)
|
(1,555
|
)
|
||||||||||||||||
Net
income
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4,685
|
-
|
-
|
4,685
|
$
|
4,685
|
||||||||||||||||
Reclassification
adjustment for
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
gains on the sale of Centaur Media, plc
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
included in net income
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(1,559
|
)
|
-
|
(1,559
|
)
|
(1,559
|
)
|
||||||||||||||
Other
comprehensive income
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
126
|
-
|
126
|
126
|
|||||||||||||||||
Balance
at June 2, 2007
|
5,306,732
|
$
|
53
|
$
|
101,329
|
$
|
37,062
|
$
|
8,509
|
$
|
(5,429
|
)
|
$
|
141,524
|
$
|
3,252
|
|||||||||
See
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
|
5
Griffin
Land & Nurseries, Inc.
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows
(dollars
in thousands)
(unaudited)
For
the 26 Weeks Ended,
|
|||||||
June
2, 2007
|
June
3, 2006
|
||||||
Operating
activities:
|
|||||||
Net
income (loss)
|
$
|
4,685
|
$
|
(1,835
|
)
|
||
Adjustments
to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash
|
|||||||
provided
by operating activities:
|
|||||||
Depreciation and amortization
|
2,861
|
2,652
|
|||||
Gain on sales of properties
|
(8,409
|
)
|
-
|
||||
Gain on sale of common stock in Centaur Media, plc
|
(2,397
|
)
|
-
|
||||
Deferred income taxes
|
(1,213
|
)
|
(15
|
)
|
|||
Taxes in other comprehensive income reclassified into net
income
|
853
|
-
|
|||||
Provision for inventory losses
|
350
|
40
|
|||||
Unrealized loss (gain) on trading securities
|
301
|
(147
|
)
|
||||
Stock based compensation expense
|
65
|
54
|
|||||
Amortization of debt issuance costs
|
50
|
41
|
|||||
Provision for bad debts
|
10
|
71
|
|||||
Equity income from investment in agricultural cooperative
|
(7
|
)
|
(151
|
)
|
|||
Changes
in assets and liabilities:
|
|||||||
Short-term investments
|
12,658
|
12,294
|
|||||
Accounts receivable
|
(10,840
|
)
|
(12,068
|
)
|
|||
Inventories
|
2,561
|
4,264
|
|||||
Other current assets
|
3,652
|
(825
|
)
|
||||
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
|
328
|
943
|
|||||
Payment of employee withholding taxes on stock options
exercised
|
(994
|
)
|
-
|
||||
Mortgage
escrow accounts
|
(576
|
)
|
75
|
||||
Deferred revenue
|
(167
|
)
|
293
|
||||
Other, net
|
(311
|
)
|
(209
|
)
|
|||
Net
cash provided by operating activities
|
3,460
|
5,477
|
|||||
Investing
activities:
|
|||||||
Proceeds
from sales of properties, net of expenses
|
9,295
|
-
|
|||||
Increase
in cash held in escrow by a third party
|
(6,325
|
)
|
-
|
||||
Additions
to real estate held for sale or lease
|
(6,105
|
)
|
(4,651
|
)
|
|||
Proceeds
from sale of common stock in Centaur Media, plc
|
2,348
|
-
|
|||||
Additions
to property and equipment
|
(344
|
)
|
(265
|
)
|
|||
Net
cash used in investing activities
|
(1,131
|
)
|
(4,916
|
)
|
|||
Financing
activities:
|
|||||||
Repurchase
of common stock
|
(1,555
|
)
|
-
|
||||
Tax
benefit of stock options exercised
|
931
|
806
|
|||||
Payments
of debt
|
(587
|
)
|
(470
|
)
|
|||
Exercise
of stock options
|
211
|
758
|
|||||
Net
cash (used in) provided by financing activities
|
(1,000
|
)
|
1,094
|
||||
Net
increase in cash and cash equivalents
|
1,329
|
1,655
|
|||||
Cash
and cash equivalents at beginning of period
|
2,265
|
1,207
|
|||||
Cash
and cash equivalents at end of period
|
$
|
3,594
|
$
|
2,862
|
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 twenty-six weeks ended June 2, 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 twenty-six
weeks
ended June 3, 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
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 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 26 Weeks Ended,
|
||||||||||||
June
2, 2007
|
June
3, 2006
|
June
2, 2007
|
June
3, 2006
|
||||||||||
Total
revenue:
|
|||||||||||||
Landscape
nursery net sales
|
$
|
18,866
|
$
|
21,687
|
$
|
19,433
|
$
|
22,362
|
|||||
Rental
revenue and property sales
|
13,030
|
2,906
|
17,049
|
5,920
|
|||||||||
$
|
31,896
|
$
|
24,593
|
$
|
36,482
|
$
|
28,282
|
||||||
Operating
profit (loss):
|
|||||||||||||
Landscape nursery
|
$
|
796
|
$
|
551
|
$
|
(205
|
)
|
$
|
(414
|
)
|
|||
Real estate
|
7,963
|
97
|
8,509
|
(164
|
)
|
||||||||
Industry segment totals
|
8,759
|
648
|
8,304
|
(578
|
)
|
||||||||
General corporate expense
|
(1,287
|
)
|
(991
|
)
|
(2,581
|
)
|
(1,807
|
)
|
|||||
Operating
profit (loss)
|
7,472
|
(343
|
)
|
5,723
|
(2,385
|
)
|
|||||||
Gain
on sale of Centaur Media common stock
|
2,397
|
-
|
2,397
|
-
|
|||||||||
Interest
expense
|
(808
|
)
|
(762
|
)
|
(1,546
|
)
|
(1,527
|
)
|
|||||
Investment
income
|
486
|
589
|
913
|
987
|
|||||||||
Income
(loss) before income tax provision (benefit)
|
$
|
9,547
|
$
|
(516
|
)
|
$
|
7,487
|
$
|
(2,925
|
)
|
|||
Identifiable
assets:
|
June
2, 2007
|
December
2, 2006
|
|||||
Landscape
nursery
|
$
|
50,520
|
$
|
42,065
|
|||
Real
estate
|
118,643
|
110,384
|
|||||
Industry
segment totals
|
169,163
|
152,449
|
|||||
General
corporate (consists primarily of investments)
|
47,309
|
64,166
|
|||||
Total
assets
|
$
|
216,472
|
$
|
216,615
|
|||
Revenue
in the real estate segment for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended June
2,
2007 includes property sales revenue of $9,577 and $10,097, respectively. There
was no property sales revenue in the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended June
3,
2006.
4. Long-Term
Debt
Long-term
debt includes:
9
June
2, 2007
|
December
2, 2006
|
||||||
Nonrecourse
mortgages:
|
|||||||
8.54%, due July 1, 2009
|
$
|
7,631
|
$
|
7,681
|
|||
6.08%, due January 1, 2013
|
8,935
|
9,042
|
|||||
6.30%, due May 1, 2014
|
1,144
|
1,208
|
|||||
5.73%, due July 1, 2015
|
20,865
|
20,983
|
|||||
8.13%, due April 1, 2016
|
5,394
|
5,497
|
|||||
7.0%, due October 1, 2017
|
7,063
|
7,139
|
|||||
Total
nonrecourse mortgages
|
51,032
|
51,550
|
|||||
Capital
leases
|
237
|
278
|
|||||
Total
|
51,269
|
51,828
|
|||||
Less:
current portion
|
(1,248
|
)
|
(1,197
|
)
|
|||
Total
long-term debt
|
$
|
50,021
|
$
|
50,631
|
|||
At
June
2, 2007 and December 2, 2006, the fair values of Griffin's mortgages were
$51.9
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
June 2, 2007 may be exercised as stock appreciation rights.
There
were 4,208 and 5,140 stock options granted during the twenty-six weeks
ended
June 2, 2007 and June 3, 2006, respectively. The fair values of the stock
options granted, estimated as of the dates of grant using the Black-Scholes
option pricing model, were $22.17 and $18.38 for the twenty-six weeks ended
June
2, 2007 and June 3, 2006, respectively. Assumptions used in determining
the fair
values of the stock options granted were as follows:
For
the 26 Weeks Ended,
|
|||
June
2, 2007
|
June
3, 2006
|
||
Expected
volatility
|
43.43%
|
|
43.31%
|
Risk
free interest rate
|
4.65%
|
|
5.03%
|
Option
term
|
8.8
years
|
|
8.8
years
|
Dividend
yield
|
none
|
|
none
|
10
Activity
under the Griffin Stock Option Plan is summarized as follows:
For
the 26 Weeks Ended,
|
|||||||||||||
June
2, 2007
|
June
3, 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
|
(129,023
|
)
|
13.84
|
(98,672
|
)
|
7.69
|
|||||||
Vested
|
14,601
|
19.71
|
16,736
|
14.19
|
|||||||||
Outstanding
at end of period
|
232,878
|
14.21
|
421,921
|
13.87
|
|||||||||
Range
of Exercise Prices for Vested Options
|
Outstanding
at
June
2, 2007
|
Weighted
Avg. Exercise Price
|
Weighted
Avg. Remaining Contractual Life
(in
years)
|
Total
Fair Value
(in
thousands)
|
|||||||||
$9.00-$18.00
|
219,392
|
$
|
13.54
|
2.6
|
$
|
1,191
|
|||||||
Over
$24.00
|
13,486
|
25.21
|
7.5
|
83
|
|||||||||
232,878
|
14.21
|
2.9
|
$
|
1,274
|
|||||||||
For
the 26 Weeks Ended,
|
|||||||||||||
June
2, 2007
|
June
3, 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
|
5,140
|
31.13
|
|||||||||
Vested
|
(14,601
|
)
|
19.71
|
(16,736
|
)
|
14.19
|
|||||||
Nonvested
at end of period
|
18,348
|
32.62
|
25,220
|
22.89
|
|||||||||
Range
of Exercise Prices for Nonvested Options
|
Outstanding
at
June
2, 2007
|
Weighted
Avg. Exercise Price
|
Weighted
Avg. Remaining Contractual Life
(in
years)
|
Total
Fair Value
(in
thousands)
|
|||||||||
Over
$24.00
|
18,348
|
$
|
32.62
|
9.3
|
$
|
332
|
|||||||
Number
of option holders at June 2, 2007
|
19
|
|||
11
Compensation
cost recognized in the thirteen weeks ended June 2, 2007 and June
3, 2006 was
$28 and $29, respectively, with related tax benefits of $7 and $9,
respectively.
Compensation cost recognized in the twenty-six weeks ended June 2,
2007 and June
3, 2006 was $65 and $54, respectively, with related tax benefits
of $17 in each
period.
As
of
June 2, 2007, there was $61 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 twenty-six weeks ended June 2,
2007 and June
3, 2006 was $130 and $106, respectively.
6. Per
Share
Results
Basic
and
diluted per share results were based on the following:
For
the 13 Weeks Ended,
|
For
the 26 Weeks Ended,
|
||||||||||||
June
2, 2007
|
June
3, 2006
|
June
2, 2007
|
June
3, 2006
|
||||||||||
Net
income (loss) as reported for computation
|
|||||||||||||
of
basic and diluted per share results
|
$
|
5,973
|
$
|
(333
|
)
|
$
|
4,685
|
$
|
(1,835
|
)
|
|||
Weighted
average shares outstanding for
|
|||||||||||||
computation
of basic per share results
|
5,150,000
|
5,097,000
|
5,141,000
|
5,058,000
|
|||||||||
Incremental
shares from assumed exercise
|
|||||||||||||
of
Griffin stock options (a)
|
133,000
|
-
|
143,000
|
-
|
|||||||||
Weighted
average shares outstanding for
|
|||||||||||||
computation
of diluted per share results
|
5,283,000
|
5,097,000
|
5,284,000
|
5,058,000
|
|||||||||
(a)
|
Incremental
shares from the assumed exercise of Griffin stock options
are not included
in periods where the inclusion of such shares would be
anti-dilutive. For
the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended June 3, 2006,
the incremental
shares from the assumed exercise of stock options would
have been 169,000
and 190,000, respectively.
|
7. Supplemental
Financial Statement Information
Short-Term
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 June 2, 2007
and December
2, 2006, $0.8 million and $0.4 million, respectively, of Griffin’s short-term
investments were being used as security for letters
12
of
credit
of Griffin Land. The composition of short-term investments at June 2,
2007 and
December 2, 2006 is as follows:
June
2, 2007
|
December
2, 2006
|
||||||||||||
Cost
|
Fair
Value
|
Cost
|
Fair
Value
|
||||||||||
Federal
agency coupon notes
|
$
|
12,223
|
$
|
12,364
|
$
|
12,289
|
$
|
12,440
|
|||||
Certificates
of deposit
|
5,723
|
5,762
|
9,069
|
9,342
|
|||||||||
Commercial
paper
|
2,573
|
2,574
|
14,129
|
14,191
|
|||||||||
U.S.
Treasury securities
|
2,310
|
2,314
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||
Total
short-term investments
|
$
|
22,829
|
$
|
23,014
|
$
|
35,487
|
$
|
35,973
|
|||||
Investment
income for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended June 2, 2007 and June
3, 2006
includes:
For
the 13 Weeks Ended,
|
For
the 26 Weeks Ended,
|
||||||||||||
June
2, 2007
|
June
3, 2006
|
June
2, 2007
|
June
3, 2006
|
||||||||||
Interest
and dividend income
|
$
|
182
|
$
|
99
|
$
|
211
|
$
|
135
|
|||||
Net
realized gains on the sales of short-term investments
|
427
|
434
|
996
|
554
|
|||||||||
Net
unrealized (loss) gain on short-term investments
|
(130
|
)
|
(95
|
)
|
(301
|
)
|
147
|
||||||
Other
investment income
|
7
|
151
|
7
|
151
|
|||||||||
$
|
486
|
$
|
589
|
$
|
913
|
$
|
987
|
||||||
Other
Investment Income
In
the
thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended June 3, 2006, Griffin recorded $151,
before
taxes, as its 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 thirteen
and
twenty-six weeks ended June 3, 2006, the cumulative effect was recorded as
other
investment income in the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended June 3, 2006.
Management believes that the amount recorded is 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, 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
13
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.
As
of
June 2, 2007, approximately 62% of the total costs related to this transaction
had been incurred, therefore, from the date of the transaction through June
2,
2007, 62% 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 twenty-six weeks ended June 2, 2007 include revenue of less
than $0.1 million and a pretax gain of less than $0.1 million for each period
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
twelve
months. Included on Griffin’s balance sheet as of June 2, 2007 is deferred
revenue of approximately $4.9 million that will be recognized as the road
improvements are completed. Including the pretax gain on the sale of
approximately $6.0 million recognized from the date of the land sale through
June 2, 2007, the total pretax gain on this transaction is expected to be
approximately $9.7 million after all revenue is recognized and all costs
incurred. 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. Changes to the design of certain parts of the required improvements
are
currently being reviewed by state authorities. If the proposed changes are
approved as currently drafted, the estimated costs of the improvements would
be
reduced, thereby increasing the profit recognized by Griffin in the period
when
those proposed changes are approved.
Accumulated
Other Comprehensive Income
In
the
thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended June 2, 2007, Griffin sold 1,000,000
of the
6,477,150 shares it held in Centaur Media, plc (“Centaur Media”) for total
proceeds of $2.9 million (including $0.5 million that was received subsequent
to
June 2, 2007). Griffin’s investment in Centaur Media is accounted for as an
available-for-sale security under SFAS No. 115 “Accounting for Investments.”
Accordingly, Griffin’s investment in Centaur Media is carried at its fair value
on Griffin’s balance sheet, with increases or decreases recorded, net of tax, in
other comprehensive income. Upon the sale of 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 was reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive
income and included in Griffin’s net income.
Changes
in accumulated other comprehensive income for
the
twenty-six weeks ended June 2, 2007 and June 3, 2006 consist of the
following:
14
For
the 26 Weeks Ended,
|
|||||||
June
2, 2007
|
June
3, 2006
|
||||||
Balance
at beginning of period
|
$
|
9,942
|
$
|
4,659
|
|||
Reclassification
adjustment for gains on Centaur Media, plc
|
|||||||
included in net income, net of tax provision of $853
|
(1,559
|
)
|
-
|
||||
Increase
in fair value at end of period of Centaur Media, plc,
|
|||||||
net of tax provision of $75 and $452, respectively
|
141
|
839
|
|||||
(Decrease)
increase in value of Centaur Media, plc, due to foreign
|
|||||||
currency rate changes, net of tax benefit of ($9) and tax provision
|
|||||||
of $355, respectively
|
(15
|
)
|
661
|
||||
Balance
at end of period
|
$
|
8,509
|
$
|
6,159
|
|||
Treasury
Stock
On
May
10, 2007, Griffin repurchased 42,000 of its outstanding shares for approximately
$1.6 million and received 70,637 shares in connection with the exercise of
stock
options and for reimbursement of income tax withholdings related to those
stock
option exercises, which 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 June 2, 2007 and December
2, 2006
were $1,431 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 by $451 and $520 in the 2007 and
2006
twenty-six week periods, respectively.
Griffin
incurred new capital lease obligations of $28 and $26 in the twenty-six weeks
ended June 2, 2007 and June 3, 2006.
Inventories
Inventories
consist of:
June
2, 2007
|
December
2, 2006
|
||||||
Nursery
stock
|
$
|
26,266
|
$
|
29,415
|
|||
Materials
and supplies
|
2,649
|
2,372
|
|||||
28,915
|
31,787
|
||||||
Reserves
|
(1,247
|
)
|
(1,208
|
)
|
|||
$
|
27,668
|
$
|
30,579
|
||||
15
Property
and Equipment
Property
and equipment consist of:
Estimated
Useful Lives
|
June
2, 2007
|
December
2, 2006
|
||||||||
Land
|
$
|
674
|
$
|
674
|
||||||
Land
improvements
|
10
to 20 years
|
5,491
|
5,478
|
|||||||
Buildings
and improvements
|
10
to 40 years
|
3,060
|
3,060
|
|||||||
Machinery
and equipment
|
3
to 20 years
|
17,321
|
17,231
|
|||||||
26,546
|
26,443
|
|||||||||
Accumulated
depreciation
|
(17,756
|
)
|
(17,299
|
)
|
||||||
$
|
8,790
|
$
|
9,144
|
|||||||
Real
Estate Held for Sale or Lease
Real
estate held for sale or lease consists of:
June
2, 2007
|
|||||||||||||
Estimated
Useful Lives
|
Held
for Sale
|
Held
for Lease
|
Total
|
||||||||||
Land
|
$
|
1,720
|
$
|
6,341
|
$
|
8,061
|
|||||||
Land
improvements
|
15
years
|
12
|
6,061
|
6,073
|
|||||||||
Buildings
and improvements
|
10
to 40 years
|
-
|
88,225
|
88,225
|
|||||||||
Tenant
improvements
|
Shorter
of useful life or terms of related lease
|
-
|
9,448
|
9,448
|
|||||||||
Development
costs
|
7,283
|
9,414
|
16,697
|
||||||||||
9,015
|
119,489
|
128,504
|
|||||||||||
Accumulated
depreciation
|
-
|
(24,028
|
)
|
(24,028
|
)
|
||||||||
$
|
9,015
|
$
|
95,461
|
$
|
104,476
|
||||||||
16
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 June 2, 2007 is restricted cash of $6.3 million reflecting
the net cash proceeds from a land sale completed in the thirteen weeks ended
June 2, 2007. The cash is being held in escrow by a third-party, on behalf
of
Griffin, to potentially 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 the gain on the property sold.
If
the acquisition of a property for a 1031 exchange is not completed, the cash
proceeds from the land sale would be remitted to Griffin.
Income
Taxes
Griffin’s
effective income tax rates were 37.4% in the thirteen and twenty-six week
periods ended June 2, 2007 as compared to 35.5% and 37.3%, respectively,
in the
thirteen and twenty-six week periods ended June 3, 2006. The effective tax
rates
used in the 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.
Deferred
income tax liabilities of $66 and $807 were included as charges to other
comprehensive income in the twenty-six weeks ended June 2, 2007 and June
3,
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 twenty-six
weeks
ended June 2, 2007 and June 3, 2006 were $5 in each period, with an expected
contribution of $12 for the fiscal 2007 full year. The components of Griffin's
postretirement benefits expense are immaterial for all periods presented.
17
8. Commitments
and Contingencies
As
of
June 2, 2007, Griffin had committed purchase obligations of $5.8
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, Connecticut.
Griffin posted a $6.5 million performance bond with the state to ensure
that the
infrastructure improvements are completed.
As
of
June 2, 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 June 2, 2007, Griffin has repurchased
42,000 shares of its outstanding common stock for $1.6 million. Based on
the
market price of its common stock as of June 2, 2007, if the balance of
the total
authorized number of shares are repurchased, Griffin would expend an additional
approximately $4.0 million.
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 of the migrant and seasonal workers employed by an
independent farm labor contractor, Pro Tree Forestry Services (“Pro Tree”),
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. The settlement required Griffin
to
pay certain amounts to the plaintiffs for wages and damages they allegedly
suffered. The total cost to Griffin, including legal fees incurred through
June
2, 2007 and net of expected recovery under Griffin’s insurance policies, was
approximately $500, which is included in selling, general and administrative
expenses. Approximately $300 was recorded in the thirteen weeks ended March
3,
2007 with the balance recorded in the thirteen weeks ended June 2,
2007.
Imperial
has reached an agreement in principle with the United States Department
of Labor
(the “DOL”) regarding a suit filed by the DOL on April 2, 2007 against Imperial
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. Imperial
has
accrued $40 in selling, general and administrative expenses in the thirteen
weeks ended June 2, 2007 for the agreed upon amount of this
settlement.
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 counsel, the ultimate liability,
18
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
twenty-six weeks ended June 2, 2007 are consistent with those used by Griffin
in
preparation of its fiscal 2006 financial statements.
Summary
Griffin
had net income of $6.0 million for the thirteen weeks ended June 2, 2007
(the
“2007 second quarter”) as compared to a net loss of $0.3 million for the
thirteen weeks ended June 3, 2006 (the “2006 second quarter”). The improved
results in the 2007 second quarter as compared to the 2006 second quarter
were
principally due to profit on property sales by Griffin Land in the 2007
second
quarter, increased profit from Griffin Land’s leasing operations and a gain on
the sale of a portion of Griffin’s investment in Centaur Media, plc.
Griffin
had net income of $4.7 million for the twenty-six weeks ended June 2, 2007
(the
“2007 six month period”) as compared to a net loss of $1.8 million for the
twenty-six weeks ended June 3, 2006 (the “2006 six month period”). The improved
results were principally due to profit on property sales by Griffin Land
in the
2007 six month period, increased profit from Griffin Land’s leasing operations
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 second quarter and 2006 six month period results
of
operations was not material. See Notes 1 and 5 to the consolidated financial
statements included in Item 1.
Results
of Operations
Thirteen
Weeks Ended June 2, 2007 Compared to the Thirteen Weeks Ended June 3,
2006
Griffin’s
consolidated total revenue increased from $24.6 million in the 2006 second
quarter to $31.9 million in the 2007 second quarter. The increase of
approximately $7.3 million reflects a $10.1 million increase in revenue
at
Griffin Land partially offset by approximately $2.8 million decrease in
revenue
at Imperial.
20
The
increase in revenue of approximately $10.1 million at Griffin Land reflects
approximately $9.6 million in revenue from property sales and an increase
of
$0.5 million in revenue from its leasing operations. There were no property
sales in the 2006 second quarter. The increase in Griffin Land's revenue
from
its leasing operations in the 2007 second quarter, as compared to the 2006
second quarter, principally reflects leasing space, mostly in the latter
half of
fiscal 2006, that was vacant during the 2006 second quarter. At June 2,
2007,
Griffin Land owned 1,837,000 square feet of industrial, flex and office
space,
with 1,251,000 square feet (68%) leased. Griffin Land’s vacant space at June 2,
2007 includes the entire 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 82% as of June 2, 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 that was completed this year. Approximately 42,000
square
feet of this new building was leased at the end of the 2007 second quarter.
The
increase of approximately 57,000 square feet under lease at the end of
the 2007
second quarter versus the end of fiscal 2006 reflects the space leased
in the
new industrial building and approximately 15,000 square feet of other space
leased in the first half of fiscal 2007. Market activity for industrial
space in
the area where Griffin’s properties are located softened in the first half of
2007, but has recently shown improvement, as evidenced by inquiries 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 $21.7 million in the 2006
second
quarter to $18.9 million in the 2007 second quarter. Imperial’s unit sales
volume decreased approximately 25% in the 2007 second quarter as compared
to the
2006 second quarter. The lower volume was attributed to less product 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 a great deal of the previously
unsold product and management’s decision to reduce inventories to levels
consistent with sales expectations. The relatively poor weather this year,
as
compared to last year, resulted in the reduction of reorders this spring,
as
retail customers’ inventories remained high. Imperial’s landscape nursery
business is highly seasonal, with sales peaking in the spring. Sales in
the
second quarter (March through May) are a significant component of the full
year’s net sales. Over the past three years, Imperial’s second quarter net sales
accounted for at least 62% of the full year net sales in each of those
years.
Griffin
had consolidated operating profit of $7.5 million in the 2007 second quarter
as
compared to a consolidated operating loss of $0.3 million in the 2006 second
quarter. The increased operating results reflects increases in the operating
profit at Griffin Land and Imperial of $7.9 million and $0.2 million,
respectively, partially offset by a $0.3 million increase in general corporate
expense.
Operating
results at Griffin Land in the 2007 and 2006 second quarters were as
follows:
21
2007
|
2006
|
||||||
Second
Qtr.
|
Second
Qtr.
|
||||||
(amounts
in thousands)
|
|||||||
Rental
revenue
|
$
|
3,453
|
$
|
2,906
|
|||
Costs
related to rental revenue excluding
|
|||||||
depreciation and amortization expense (a)
|
1,577
|
1,153
|
|||||
Profit
from leasing activities before general and
|
|||||||
administrative expenses and before depreciation
|
|||||||
and amortization expense (a)
|
1,876
|
1,753
|
|||||
Revenue
from property sales
|
9,577
|
-
|
|||||
Costs
related to property sales
|
1,654
|
-
|
|||||
Gain
from property sales
|
7,923
|
-
|
|||||
Profit
from leasing activities and gain from property sales
|
|||||||
before general and administrative expenses and before
|
|||||||
depreciation and and amortization expense (a)
|
9,799
|
1,753
|
|||||
General
and administrative expenses excluding depreciation
|
|||||||
and amortization expense (a)
|
(723
|
)
|
(623
|
)
|
|||
Profit
before depreciation and amortization expense (a)
|
9,076
|
1,130
|
|||||
Depreciation
and amortization expense related to costs of
|
|||||||
rental revenue
|
(1,104
|
)
|
(1,026
|
)
|
|||
Depreciation
and amortization expense - other
|
(9
|
)
|
(7
|
)
|
|||
Operating
profit
|
$
|
7,963
|
$
|
97
|
|||
(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.
|
Profit
from leasing activities before general and administrative expenses and before
depreciation and amortization expense increased by approximately $0.1 million
in
the 2007 second quarter as compared to the 2006 second 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 an increase in building operating expenses of $0.4 million in the 2007
second quarter as compared to the 2006 second quarter. The increase in building
operating expenses includes $0.2 million related to the warehouse building
acquired near the end of the 2006 third quarter, $0.1 million related to the
new
industrial building placed in service at the beginning of the 2007 second
quarter and an increase of $0.1 million for various operating expenses in all
of
Griffin Land’s buildings.
Revenue
from property sales in the 2007 second quarter included two sales of
undeveloped
land. Each of the land parcels sold had relatively low cost bases, therefore,
the aggregate pretax gain on these sales was $7.8 million. The land sales
completed in the 2007 second quarter were for the sale of approximately
73 acres
of undeveloped land in Griffin Center in Windsor, Connecticut to The
Hartford
22
Griffin
Land’s general and administrative expenses increased approximately $0.1 million
in the 2007 second quarter as compared to the 2006 second quarter due
principally to higher incentive compensation expense, principally related
to the
property sales that were completed in the 2007 second quarter. Depreciation
and
amortization expense at Griffin Land was higher in the 2007 second quarter
as
compared to the 2006 second quarter due principally to depreciation of $0.1
million on the warehouse facility acquired in the third quarter of last year.
Operating
results at Imperial in the 2007 and 2006 second quarters were as
follows:
2007
|
2006
|
||||||
Second
Qtr.
|
|
Second
Qtr.
|
|||||
(amounts
in thousands)
|
|||||||
Net
sales and other revenue
|
$
|
18,866
|
$
|
21,687
|
|||
Cost
of goods sold
|
16,162
|
19,338
|
|||||
Gross
profit
|
2,704
|
2,349
|
|||||
Selling,
general and administrative expenses
|
1,908
|
1,798
|
|||||
Operating
profit
|
$
|
796
|
$
|
551
|
|||
The
$0.2
million increase in operating profit at Imperial reflects an approximately
$0.3
million increase in gross profit offset by an approximately $0.1 increase
in
selling, general and administrative expenses. The higher gross profit
principally reflects improved pricing, including increased charges to customers
for product delivery, offset by higher plant costs and a cost of sales charge
for unsaleable inventories of approximately $0.4 million in the 2007 second
quarter. The improved pricing reflects, in part, independent garden center
customers, the most profitable customer segment for Imperial, becoming a
larger
percentage of Imperial’s total sales. The approximately $0.4 million inventory
charge reflects an increase to Imperial’s inventory reserves for plants in its
Connecticut operations that have not grown as expected and will not become
saleable. Imperial’s gross margins on sales, excluding the effect of the $0.4
million inventory charge in the 2007 second quarter, increased from 10.8%
in the
2006 second quarter to 16.2% in the 2007 second quarter.
Imperial’s
2007 second quarter selling, general and administrative expenses increased
over
the 2006 second quarter due principally to $0.1 million of costs related
to the
litigation against Griffin and Imperial by employees of a farm labor contractor
previously engaged by Imperial. As a percentage of net sales and other revenue,
Imperial’s selling, general and administrative expenses increased from 8.3% in
the 2006 second quarter to 10.1% in the 2007 second quarter.
Griffin’s
general corporate expense was $1.3 million in the 2007 second quarter as
compared to $1.0 million in the 2006 second quarter. The increase in general
corporate expense principally reflects $0.1 million of costs related to the
litigation against Griffin, a $0.1 million increase in incentive compensation
expense, principally related to the property sales completed by Griffin Land
in
the quarter, a $0.1 million increase in costs related to Griffin’s nonqualified
savings plan and a $0.1 million increase
23
in donations, due to timing, offset by a reduction
in costs
related to Griffin’s compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
In
the
2007 second quarter, Griffin sold 1 million of its approximately 6.5 million
shares of Centaur Media and recorded a pretax gain of $2.4 million on those
sales. Management may continue to sell a portion of its 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 second
quarter as compared to the 2006 second 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 second quarter as compared to the 2006 second
quarter. The increase in capitalized interest in the 2007 second quarter
reflects interest capitalized on the construction of the new industrial building
in Tradeport that was started in this year’s second quarter and interest
capitalized on land improvements that were under construction during the
2007
second quarter. Griffin’s average outstanding debt increased to $51.4 million in
the 2007 second quarter from $43.9 million in the 2006 second quarter,
reflecting the mortgage completed near the end of fiscal 2006.
Griffin’s
investment income decreased from $0.6 million in the 2006 second quarter
to $0.5
million in the 2007 second quarter. The decrease reflects the inclusion in
the
2006 second quarter of $0.2 million from the 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
second quarter, the cumulative effect was recorded in investment income in
the
2006 second quarter. The investment income in the 2007 second quarter related
to
that agricultural cooperative was minimal.
Griffin’s
effective income tax rate was 37.4% in the 2007 second quarter as compared
to
35.5% in the 2006 second quarter. The effective tax rate used in the 2007
second
quarter reflects federal income taxes at 35% adjusted for state income taxes.
The effective tax rate 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.
Twenty-Six
Weeks Ended June 2, 2007 Compared to the Twenty-Six Weeks Ended June 3,
2006
Net
sales
and other revenue increased from $28.3 million in the 2006 six month period
to
$36.5 million in the 2007 six month period, reflecting an increase in revenue
of
approximately $11.1 million at Griffin Land, partially offset by a decrease
in
revenue of approximately $2.9 million at Imperial.
Revenue
at Griffin Land increased from $5.9 million in the 2006 six month period
to
$17.0 million in the 2007 six month period. The increase of approximately
$11.1
million reflects $10.1 million in revenue from property sales, while there
were
no property sales in the 2006 six month period, and an increase of $1.0
million
of revenue from leasing operations. The increase in Griffin Land's revenue
from
its leasing operations in the 2007 six month period, as compared to the
2006 six
month period, principally reflects leasing space, mostly in the second
half of
last year, that was vacant during the 2006 six month period.
Net
sales
and other revenue at Imperial decreased from $22.4 million in the 2006
six month
period to $19.4 million in the 2007 six month period. Unit sales volume
decreased 26% in the 2007 six month period as compared to the 2006 six
month
period. The decrease in net sales in the 2007 six month period as compared
to
the 2006 six month period reflects the factors discussed in the 2007 second
quarter results.
24
Griffin
had consolidated operating profit of $5.7 million in the 2007 six month
period
as compared to a consolidated operating loss of $2.4 million in the 2006
six
month period. Operating results at Griffin Land and Imperial increased
by
approximately $8.7 million and by approximately $0.2 million, respectively,
in
the 2007 six month period as compared to the 2006 six month period. General
corporate expense increased by approximately $0.8 million in the 2007 six
month
period as compared to the 2006 six month period.
Operating
results at Griffin Land in the 2007 and 2006 six month periods were as
follows:
2007
|
2006
|
||||||
Six
Month Period
|
Six
Month Period
|
||||||
(amounts
in thousands)
|
|||||||
Rental
revenue
|
$
|
6,952
|
$
|
5,920
|
|||
Costs
related to rental revenue excluding
|
|||||||
depreciation and amortization expense (a)
|
3,243
|
2,607
|
|||||
Profit
from leasing activities before general and
|
|||||||
administrative expenses and before depreciation
|
|||||||
and amortization expense (a)
|
3,709
|
3,313
|
|||||
Revenue
from property sales
|
10,097
|
-
|
|||||
Costs
related to property sales
|
1,688
|
-
|
|||||
Gain
from property sales
|
8,409
|
-
|
|||||
Profit
from leasing activities and gain from property sales
|
|||||||
before general and administrative expenses and before
|
|||||||
depreciation and amortization expense (a)
|
12,118
|
3,313
|
|||||
General
and administrative expenses excluding depreciation
|
|||||||
and amortization expense (a)
|
(1,414
|
)
|
(1,339
|
)
|
|||
Profit
before depreciation and amortization expense (a)
|
10,704
|
1,974
|
|||||
Depreciation
and amortization expense related to costs of
|
|||||||
rental revenue
|
(2,176
|
)
|
(2,125
|
)
|
|||
Depreciation
and amortization expense - other
|
(19
|
)
|
(13
|
)
|
|||
Operating
profit (loss)
|
$
|
8,509
|
$
|
(164
|
)
|
||
(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 $0.4 million in Griffin Land’s profit from leasing activities before
general and administrative expenses and before depreciation and amortization
expense principally reflects the increase
25
in
rental
revenue partially offset by an increase in costs related to rental revenue
excluding depreciation and amortization expenses. The higher costs reflect
a
$0.6 million increase in building operating expenses, including $0.4 million
of
expenses related to the warehouse building acquired in the 2006 third quarter,
$0.1 million of expenses related to the new industrial building completed
at the
beginning of the 2007 second quarter and an increase of $0.1 million in
various
expenses in all of Griffin Land’s other buildings.
The
gain
from property sales at Griffin Land in the 2007 six month period principally
reflects the sales of two undeveloped land parcels that were completed
in the
2007 second quarter, two smaller land sales completed in the 2007 first
quarter,
and approximately $0.1 million of gain previously deferred from the 2006
sale to
Walgreen of undeveloped land in Tradeport.
Griffin
Land’s general and administrative expenses increased approximately $0.1 million
in the 2007 six month period as compared to the 2006 six month period due
principally to higher incentive compensation expense, related to the land
sales
completed in the 2007 second quarter. Depreciation
and amortization expense at Griffin Land increased $0.1 million in the
2007 six
month period as compared to the 2006 six month period. Depreciation expense
increased by $0.2 million related to the warehouse purchased in the 2006
third
quarter and $0.1 million for the new industrial building and tenant improvements
placed in service in the 2007 six month period. The effect of those increases
were offset by the inclusion in the 2006 six month period of $0.2 million
of
accelerated depreciation and amortization expense related to leases that
terminated last year.
Imperial’s
operating results for the 2007 and the 2006 six month periods are as
follows:
2007
|
2006
|
||||||
Six
Month Period
|
Six
Month Period
|
||||||
(amounts
in thousands)
|
|||||||
Net
sales and other revenue
|
$
|
19,433
|
$
|
22,362
|
|||
Cost
of goods sold
|
16,787
|
20,020
|
|||||
Gross
profit
|
2,646
|
2,342
|
|||||
Selling,
general and administrative expenses
|
2,851
|
2,756
|
|||||
Operating
loss
|
$
|
(205
|
)
|
$
|
(414
|
)
|
|
The
increase in Imperial’s operating results reflects a $0.3 million increase in
gross profit partially offset by a $0.1 million increase in selling, general
and
administrative expenses. The higher gross profit reflects the factors discussed
in the 2007 second quarter results. Imperial’s gross margin on sales, excluding
a $0.4 million charge for unsaleable inventories in the 2007 second quarter,
increased from 10.5% in the 2006 six month period to 15.4 % in the 2007
six
month period.
Imperial’s
selling, general and administrative expenses increased by $0.1 million
in the
2007 six month period as compared to the 2006 six 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 and lower commission expenses. As a percentage of net sales,
selling,
general and administrative expenses increased from 12.3% in the 2006 six
month
period to 14.7 % in the 2007 six month period.
26
Griffin’s
general corporate expense increased to $2.6 million in the 2007 six month
period
from $1.8 million in the 2006 six month period. The increase principally
reflects $0.3 million of costs related to the litigation against the Company,
an
increase of $0.2 million in incentive compensation expense, principally
related
to the land sales completed by Griffin Land in the 2007 second quarter,
an
increase in $0.1 million of legal expenses (excluding costs related to
the
litigation) and $0.1 million for costs related to Griffin’s nonqualified savings
plan.
In
the
2007 six month period, Griffin sold 1 million of its approximately 6.5
million
shares of Centaur Media and recorded a pretax gain of $2.4 million on those
sales. Management may continue to sell a portion of its 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 $1.5 million in the 2007 six month period
was
substantially unchanged from the 2006 six 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 six 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
six
month period. Griffin’s average outstanding debt in the 2007 six month period
was $51.6 million as compared to $44.0 million in the 2006 six month
period.
Griffin’s
investment income was $0.9 million in the 2007 six month period as compared
to
$1.0 million in the 2006 six month period. The 2006 six 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 six
month
period, the cumulative effect was recorded in investment income in the
2006 six
month period. The investment income in the 2007 six month period related
to that
agricultural cooperative was minimal.
Griffin’s
effective income tax rate was 37.4% for the 2007 six month period, as compared
to 37.3% for the 2006 six month period. The effective tax rate for the
2007 and
2006 six month periods reflect a 35% rate for federal income taxes adjusted
for
state income taxes 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.
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 $3.5 million in the 2007 six month
period
as compared to $5.5 million in the 2006 six month period. Net cash provided
by
operating activities in the 2007 six month period includes $12.7 million
of cash
generated from a reduction of short-term investments as compared to $12.3
million of cash generated from a reduction of short-term investments
in the 2006
six month period. Excluding the cash provided by the reduction in short-term
investments in each period, Griffin used cash of $9.2 million in operating
activities in the 2007 six month period as compared to $6.8 million in
the 2006
six month period. The higher cash used in operating activities in 2007,
excluding the cash generated from the reduction of short-term investments,
reflects the net effect of the adjustments to net income in the 2007
six month
period as compared to the effect of the adjustments to the net loss in
the 2006
six month period. Partially offsetting these items was a favorable change
in
27
other current assets of $3.7 million, principally
reflecting
Griffin's income tax receivable related to the fiscal 2006 income tax
benefit
being offset by federal income taxes payable based on Griffin's earnings
in
fiscal 2007.
In
the
2007 six month period, Griffin had net cash of $1.1 million used in investing
activities as compared to $3.7 million used in investing activities in
the 2006
six month period. The decrease in net cash used in investing activities
in the
current year principally reflects cash of $9.3 million generated from
property
sales partially offset by an increase of $6.3 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 the
gain from that property sale. In addition, cash of $2.3 million was provided
by
the sale of a portion of Griffin’s investment in Centaur Media. Additional cash
of $0.5 million from a sale of Centaur Media common stock in the 2007
six month
period was received subsequent to the end of the 2007 six month period.
Partially offsetting the cash provided by those transactions was cash
of $6.1
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 $0.3
million in the 2007 six month period, principally to replace equipment
used in
Imperial’s farming operations.
Net
cash
used in financing activities was $1.0 million in the 2007 six month period
as
compared to net cash of $1.1 million provided by financing activities
in the
2006 six month period. The net cash used in financing activities in the
2007 six
month period includes $1.6 million of cash used by Griffin to repurchase
42,000
shares of its outstanding common stock and $0.6 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 recently completed construction, on speculation, of the
shell of
a 127,000 square foot industrial building in Tradeport, Griffin Land
has started
construction, on speculation, on the shell of a 149,000 square foot industrial
building in Tradeport. Griffin Land is continuing 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 is higher
than site
costs for previous Tradeport buildings constructed by Griffin Land. The
higher
site costs reflect 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.
In
the
2007 second quarter, 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.
Subsequent
to the end of the 2007 second quarter, Griffin Land reached an accord
for a
settlement with the Town of Simsbury’s land use commissions regarding Meadowood,
its proposed residential
28
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 second quarter, Griffin had repurchased
42,000 shares of its outstanding common stock for $1.6 million. Based
on the
market price of its common stock at the end of the 2007 second quarter,
if the
total authorized number of shares is repurchased, Griffin will expend
an
additional approximately $4.0 million.
Griffin’s
payments (including principal and interest) under contractual obligations
as of
June 2, 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
|
$
|
72.1
|
$
|
4.5
|
$
|
15.8
|
$
|
7.5
|
$
|
44.3
|
||||||
Capital
Lease Obligations
|
0.3
|
0.2
|
0.1
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||||
Operating
Lease Obligations
|
0.2
|
0.1
|
0.1
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||||
Purchase
Obligations (1)
|
5.8
|
5.8
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
|||||||||||
Other
(2)
|
2.2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
2.2
|
|||||||||||
$
|
80.6
|
$
|
10.6
|
$
|
16.0
|
$
|
7.5
|
$
|
46.5
|
|||||||
(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
June 2, 2007, Griffin had cash and short-term investments of approximately
$26.6
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.
29
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 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
30
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,
and
therefore, interest rate risk and changes in the fair market value
of fixed rate
debt should not have a significant impact on earnings or cash flows
until such
debt is refinanced, if necessary. 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 twenty-six weeks ended June 2, 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 thirty-one months, with a weighted average maturity of approximately
seven months as of June 2, 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.
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
31
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
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. The settlement agreement requires the
approval of the
Connecticut Superior Court, which will consider each Commission’s agreement at a
public court hearing and render its decision. If approved, 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 of the migrant and seasonal workers employed by an
independent farm labor contractor, Pro Tree Forestry Services
(“Pro Tree”),
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
32
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. The settlement required Griffin to pay certain amounts
to the plaintiffs
for wages and damages they allegedly suffered. The total cost
to Griffin,
including legal fees incurred through June 2, 2007 and net
of expected recovery
under Griffin’s insurance policies, was approximately $500,000.
Imperial
has reached an agreement in principle with the United States
Department of Labor
(the “DOL”) regarding a suit filed by the DOL on April 2, 2007 against
Imperial
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.
Imperial
accrued $40,000 in selling, general and administrative expenses
in the thirteen
weeks ended June 2, 2007 for the agreed upon amount of this
settlement.
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
4
|
Submission
of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
|
||
(a)
|
Annual
Meeting of Stockholders: May 15, 2007
|
||
(b)
|
The
following were elected as Directors at the Annual Meeting,
representing
all of the directors:
|
||
(c)(i)
|
1)
Mr. Winston Churchill, Jr. was elected a Director for
2007 with 4,090,871
votes in favor, 995,057 withheld, and 49,735 not
voting.
|
||
2)
Mr. Edgar M. Cullman was elected a Director for 2007
with 4,092,975 votes
in favor, 992,953 withheld, and 49,735 not voting.
|
|||
3)
Mr. David M. Danziger was elected a Director for 2007
with 3,904,539 votes
in favor, 1,181,389 withheld, and 49,735 not voting.
|
|||
4)
Mr. Frederick M. Danziger was elected a Director for
2007 with 4,092,875
votes in favor, 993,053 withheld, and 49,735 not
voting.
|
|||
5)
Mr. Thomas C. Israel was elected a Director for 2007
with 4,077,559 votes
in favor, 1,008,369 withheld, and 49,735 not voting.
|
|||
6)
Mr. Alan Plotkin was elected a Director for 2007 with
4,092,895 votes in
favor, 993,033 withheld, and 49,735 not
voting.
|
33
7)
Mr. David F. Stein was elected a Director for 2007
with 3,904,559 votes in
favor, 1,181,369 withheld, and 49,735 not voting.
|
|||
(ii)
|
The
authorization of the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP as
independent registered public accountants for 2007
was approved with
4,092,330 votes in favor, 560 opposed, and 1,042,773
not
voting.
|
||
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)
|
||
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)
|
34
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)
|
||
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 |
35
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
|
36
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:
July 12, 2007
|
Frederick
M. Danziger
|
|
President
and Chief Executive Officer
|
||
/s/
ANTHONY J. GALICI
|
||
Date:
July 12, 2007
|
Anthony
J. Galici
|
|
Vice
President, Chief Financial Officer and
Secretary
|
37