LIFECORE BIOMEDICAL, INC. \DE\ - Annual Report: 2013 (Form 10-K)

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

For the Fiscal Year Ended May 26, 2013, or

For the Transition period for _________ to _________.

Commission file number: 0-27446

LANDEC CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

3603 Haven Avenue

Menlo Park, California 94025

(Address of principal executive offices)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:

(650) 306-1650

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

(Title of Class)

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

Yes ___ No    X

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.

Yes ___  No   X  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act 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 has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

Yes    X No ___

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. __

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “large accelerated filer” and “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).

Yes ___ No X    

The aggregate market value of voting stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant was approximately $233,854,000 as of November 25, 2012, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, based upon the closing sales price on The NASDAQ Global Select Market reported for such date. Shares of Common Stock held by each officer and director and by each person who owns 10% or more of the outstanding Common Stock have been excluded from such calculation in that such persons may be deemed to be affiliates. This determination of affiliate status is not necessarily a conclusive determination for other purposes.

As of July 19, 2013, there were 26,464,518 shares of Common Stock outstanding.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement relating to its October 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders which statement will be filed not later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this report, are incorporated by reference in Part III hereof.

LANDEC CORPORATION

ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I

Item 1.     Business

This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Words such as “projected,” “expects,” “believes,” “intends,” “assumes” and similar expressions are used to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are made based upon current expectations and projections about our business and assumptions made by our management and are not guarantees of future performance, nor do we assume any obligation to update such forward-looking statements after the date this report is filed. Our actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements for many reasons, including the risk factors listed in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” and the factors discussed below.

Corporate Overview

Landec Corporation and its subsidiaries (“Landec” or the “Company”) design, develop, manufacture and market differentiated products in food and biomedical materials markets and license technology applications to partners. The Company has two proprietary polymer technology platforms: 1) Intelimer® polymers, and 2) hyaluronan (“HA”) biopolymers. The Company’s materials are generally proprietary in that they are specially formulated for specific customers to meet specific commercial applications and in some cases, specific regulatory requirements. The Company’s polymer technologies, along with its customer relationships and trade names, are the foundation and a key differentiating advantage on which Landec has built its business.

Landec has three core businesses – Food Products Technology, Food Export and HA-based Biomaterials, each of which is described below. Financial information concerning the industry segments for which the Company reported its operations during fiscal years 2011, 2012 and 2013 is summarized in Note 14 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Landec’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Apio, Inc. (“Apio”), operates our Food Products Technology business, which combines our proprietary BreatheWay® food packaging technology with the capabilities of a large national food supplier and value-added produce processor which sells products under the Eat Smart® and GreenLine® brands. In Apio’s value-added operations, produce is processed by trimming, washing, mixing, and packaging into bags and trays that in most cases incorporate Landec’s BreatheWay^® membrane technology. The BreatheWay membrane increases shelf life and reduces shrink (waste) for retailers and, for certain products, eliminates the need for ice during the distribution cycle and helps to ensure that consumers receive fresh produce by the time the product makes its way through the supply chain. Apio also licenses the BreatheWay technology to partners such as Chiquita Brands International, Inc. (“Chiquita”) for packaging and distribution of bananas and to Windset Holding 2010 Ltd., a Canadian corporation (“Windset”), for packaging of greenhouse grown cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes.

Apio also operates the Food Export business through its subsidiary, Cal Ex Trading Company (“Cal-Ex”). The Export business purchases and sells whole fruit and vegetable products predominantly to Asian markets.

Landec’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Lifecore Biomedical, Inc. (“Lifecore”), operates our HA-based Biomaterials business and is principally involved in the development and manufacture of products utilizing hyaluronan, a naturally occurring polysaccharide that is widely distributed in the extracellular matrix of connective tissues in animals including humans. Lifecore’s products are primarily sold for use in three medical areas: (1) Ophthalmic, (2) Orthopedic and (3) Veterinary. Lifecore also supplies limited quantities of HA to customers pursuing other medical applications, such as aesthetic surgery, medical device coatings, tissue engineering and pharmaceuticals. Lifecore leverages its fermentation process to manufacture premium, pharmaceutical-grade HA, and uses its aseptic filling capabilities to also deliver private-labeled HA finished goods to its customers. In addition, Lifecore manufactures and sells it own HA-based finished goods in several foreign markets. Lifecore is known as a premium supplier of HA. Its name recognition allows Lifecore to attract new customers and sell new products and offer its services with a minimal marketing and sales infrastructure.

Landec was incorporated in California on October 31, 1986 and reincorporated as a Delaware corporation on November 6, 2008. Our common stock is listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “LNDC”.

Technology Overview

Landec has two polymer technology platforms. The first platform is its Intelimer polymer and the second is Lifecore’s HA.

A) Intelimer Polymers

Intelimer polymers are crystalline, hydrophobic polymers that have unique properties and benefits.

The first unique feature of the Intelimer polymer system is the way that it uses a temperature switch to control and modulate properties such as viscosity, permeability and adhesion when varying the materials’ temperature above and below the temperature switch. The sharp temperature switch is adjustable at relatively low temperatures (0°C to 100°C) and the changes resulting from the temperature switch are relatively easy to maintain in industrial and commercial environments. For instance, Intelimer polymers can change within the range of one or two degrees Celsius from a non-adhesive state to a highly tacky, adhesive state; from an impermeable state to a highly permeable state; or from a solid state to a viscous liquid state.

A second unique feature of Intelimer polymer materials is its controlled release properties. The polymer is able to deliver active ingredients with low or no burst, with a sustained release over periods of time. Finally, Intelimer polymers can be designed to contain up to 80% renewable materials from components of natural raw materials such as rapeseed oil, palm oil or coconut oil, and can be supplied in biocompatible and bioerodible forms.

Landec's proprietary polymer technology is based on the structure and phase behavior of Intelimer materials. The abrupt thermal transitions of specific Intelimer materials are achieved through the controlled use of hydrocarbon side chains that are attached to a polymer backbone. Below a pre-determined switch temperature, the polymer's side chains align through weak hydrophobic interactions resulting in a crystalline structure. When this side chain crystallizable polymer is heated to, or above, this switch temperature, these interactions are disrupted and the polymer is transformed into an amorphous, viscous state. Because this transformation involves a physical and not a chemical change, this process can be repeatedly reversible. Landec can set the polymer switch temperature anywhere between 0°C to 100°C by varying the average length of the side chains. The reversible transitions between crystalline and amorphous states are illustrated in Figure 1 below.

This chemical structure provides an additional benefit. Spatially distinct regions of the Intelimer polymer confer different physical properties on the material. Each part can be tuned independently to meet the needs of a given application. For example, the switching temperature (which arises from one part of the chain) can be adjusted independently of adhesive properties (which arise from another part of the chain).

Landec's Intelimer materials are readily available and are generally synthesized from long side-chain acrylic monomers that are derived primarily from natural materials such as coconut and palm oils that are highly purified and designed to be manufactured economically through known synthetic processes. These acrylic-monomer raw materials are then polymerized by Landec leading to many different side-chain crystallizable polymers whose properties vary depending upon the initial materials and the synthetic process. Intelimer materials can be made into many different forms, including films, coatings, microcapsules and discrete forms.

B) Hyaluronan Biopolymers

Hyaluronan is a non-crystalline, hydrophilic polymer that exists naturally within the human body, most notably within the aqueous humor of the eye, synovial fluid, skin and umbilical cord. The viscoelastic properties and water solubility of HA make it ideal for medical applications where lubrication and protection are critical. Because of its widespread presence in tissues, its critical role in normal physiology, and its high degree of biocompatibility, the Company believes that hyaluronan will continue to be used for an increasing variety of medical applications.

Hyaluronan can be produced in two ways, either through bacterial fermentation or through extraction from rooster combs. Lifecore produces HA only from fermentation, using an extremely efficient microbial fermentation process and a highly effective purification operation.

Hyaluronan was first demonstrated to have commercial medical utility as a viscoelastic solution in cataract surgery. In this application, it is used for maintaining the shape of the anterior chamber and protecting corneal tissue during the removal and implantation of intraocular lenses. The first ophthalmic hyaluronan product, produced by extraction from rooster comb tissue, became commercially available in the United States in 1981. Hyaluronan-based products, produced either by rooster comb extraction or by fermentation processes such as Lifecore’s, have since gained widespread acceptance in ophthalmology and are currently used in the majority of cataract extraction procedures in the world. Lifecore’s hyaluronan is also used as an orthopedic carrier vehicle for allogeneic freeze-dried demineralized bone as the active component of devices to treat the symptoms of osteoarthritis, and as a formulation component to provide increased lubricity to medical devices. Lifecore’s hyaluronan has also been utilized in veterinary drug applications to treat traumatic arthritis.

Trademarks/Trade names

Intelimer®, Landec®, Apio™, Eat Smart®, BreatheWay®, GreenLine®, Clearly Fresh™, Lifecore®, LUROCOAT^® and Ortholure™ are some of the trademarks or registered trademarks and trade names of the Company in the United States and other countries. This Annual Report on Form 10-K also refers to the trademarks of other companies.

Description of Core Business

Landec participates in three core business segments: Apio with the Food Products Technology and Food Export businesses and Lifecore with the HA Biomaterials business.

The Company began marketing its proprietary Intelimer-based BreatheWay membranes in 1996 for use in the fresh-cut produce packaging market, historically one of the fastest growing segments in the food industry. Landec’s proprietary BreatheWay packaging technology is used to package Eat Smart and GreenLine branded and private label fresh-cut or whole produce, resulting in a convenient, ready-to-eat finished product that achieves increased shelf life and reduced shrink (waste) without the need for ice during the distribution cycle. These products are referred to as “value-added” products. In 1999, the Company acquired Apio, its then largest customer in the Food Products Technology business and one of the nation’s leading marketers and packers of produce and specialty packaged fresh-cut vegetables. Apio utilizes state-of-the-art fresh-cut processing facilities and year-round access to quality vegetable sourcing to produce products which Apio distributes to top U.S. retail grocery chains, major club stores and foodservice customers. The Company’s proprietary BreatheWay packaging business has been combined with Apio into a subsidiary that retains the Apio name. This vertical integration within the Food Products Technology business gives Landec direct access to the large and growing fresh-cut and whole produce market. In April 2012, Apio acquired GreenLine Holding Company (“GreenLine”), the number one processor and marketer of value-added, fresh-cut green beans in the U.S. GreenLine’s financial results are included in Apio’s Food Products Technology business (see Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). The acquisition of GreenLine provides Apio with new customers, new processing locations and new distribution centers which will allow Apio greater access to new and existing customers. In addition, because of GreenLine’s retail market share for fresh-cut green beans, Apio sees an opportunity to cross sell its Eat Smart® line of fresh-cut vegetables to existing GreenLine customers who are currently not carrying the Eat Smart line of products and to cross sell GreenLine® products to Eat Smart customers currently not carrying the GreenLine line of products.

The Technology: BreatheWay Membrane Packaging

Certain types of fresh-cut and whole produce can spoil or discolor rapidly when packaged in conventional packaging materials and, therefore, are limited in their ability to be distributed broadly to markets. The Company’s proprietary BreatheWay packaging technology extends the shelf life and quality of fresh-cut and whole produce.

Fresh-cut produce is cut, washed, and packaged in a form that is ready to use by the consumer and is thus typically sold at premium price levels compared to unpackaged produce. The total U.S. fresh produce market is estimated to be $100 billion to $120 billion. Of this, U.S. retail sales of fresh-cut produce are estimated to comprise 10% of the fresh produce market.

After harvesting, vegetables and fruit continue to respire, consuming oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide. Too much or too little oxygen can result in premature spoilage and decay. The respiration rate of produce varies from vegetable to vegetable and from fruit to fruit. Conventional packaging films used today, such as polyethylene and polypropylene, can be made with modest permeability to oxygen and carbon dioxide, but often do not provide the optimal atmosphere for the packaged produce. Shortcomings of conventional packaging materials have not significantly hindered the growth in the fresh-cut salad market because lettuce, unlike many vegetables and fruit, has low respiration requirements. To achieve optimal product performance, each fruit or vegetable requires its own unique package atmosphere conditions. The challenge facing the industry is to develop packaging that meets the highly variable needs that each product requires in order to achieve value creating performance. The Company believes that its BreatheWay packaging technology possesses all of the critical functionalities required to serve this diverse market. In creating a product package, a BreatheWay membrane is applied over a small cutout section or an aperture of a flexible film bag or plastic tray. This highly permeable “window” acts as the mechanism to provide the majority of the gas transmission requirements for the entire package. These membranes are designed to provide three principal benefits:

High Permeability. Landec's BreatheWay packaging technology is designed to permit transmission of oxygen and carbon dioxide at 300 to 1,000 times the rate of conventional packaging films. The Company thinks that these higher permeability levels will facilitate the packaging diversity required to market many types of fresh-cut and whole produce in many package sizes and configurations.

Ability to Adjust Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide Permeability. BreatheWay packaging can be tailored with carbon dioxide to oxygen transfer ratios ranging from 1.0 to 12.0 to selectively transmit oxygen and carbon dioxide at optimum rates to sustain the quality and shelf life of packaged produce. Other high permeability packaging materials, such as micro-perforated films cannot differentially control carbon dioxide permeability resulting in sub-optimal package atmosphere conditions for many produce products.

Temperature Responsiveness. Landec has developed breathable membranes that can be designed to increase or decrease permeability in response to environmental temperature changes. The Company has developed packaging that responds to higher oxygen requirements at elevated temperatures but is also reversible, and returns to its original state as temperatures decline. As the respiration rate of fresh produce also increases with temperature, the BreatheWay membrane’s temperature responsiveness allows packages to compensate for the change in produce respiration by automatically adjusting gas permeation rates. By doing so, detrimental package atmosphere conditions are avoided and improved quality is maintained through the distribution chain.

The Company has demonstrated that the growth of the fresh-cut produce market has been driven by consumer demand and the willingness to pay for convenience, freshness, uniform quality, and safety delivered to the point of sale. Landec believes that growth of the overall produce market will be driven by the increasing demand for the convenience and nutrition of fresh-cut produce as nearly 10% of Americans are diabetic and over a third of American adults are considered obese. In addition, with recent regulations requiring more visibility into the calories in what we eat, demand for healthy foods is increasing. This increasing demand will in turn require packaging that provides for high quality produce and technology that extends the shelf life of produce that is transported to fresh-cut distributors in bulk and pallet quantities. The Company thinks that in the future its BreatheWay packaging technology will be useful for packaging a diverse variety of fresh-cut and whole produce products.

Landec is working with leaders in club stores, retail grocery chains and with the recent acquisition of GreenLine, food service customers. The Company thinks it will have growth opportunities for the next several years through new customers and innovative products in the United States, expansion of its existing customer relationships, and through export and shipments of specialty packaged produce.

Landec manufactures its BreatheWay packaging through selected qualified contract manufacturers. In addition to using BreatheWay packaging for its value-added produce business, the Company markets and sells BreatheWay packaging directly to select partner food distributors.

The Business: Food Products Technology

The Food Products Technology business, which operates through our Apio subsidiary, had revenues of approximately $320 million for the fiscal year ended May 26, 2013, $208 million for the fiscal year ended May 27, 2012 and $176 million for the fiscal year ended May 29, 2011.

Based in Guadalupe, California, Apio’s primary business is fresh-cut and whole value-added products primarily packaged in our proprietary BreatheWay packaging. The fresh-cut value-added products business markets a variety of fresh-cut and whole vegetables to the top retail grocery chains, club stores and food service operators. During the fiscal year ended May 26, 2013, Apio shipped approximately twenty-eight million cartons of produce to its customers throughout North America, primarily in the United States.

There are five major distinguishing characteristics of Apio that provide competitive advantages in the Food Products Technology market:

Value-Added Supplier: Apio has structured its business as a marketer and seller of branded and private label fresh-cut and whole value-added produce. It is focused on selling products under its Eat Smart and GreenLine brands and private label brands for its fresh-cut and whole value-added products. As retail grocery chains, club stores and food service operators consolidate, Apio is well positioned as a single source of a broad range of products.

Reduced Farming Risks: Apio reduces its farming risk by not taking ownership of farmland, and instead, contracts with growers for produce and during certain times of the year enters into joint ventures with growers for produce. The year-round sourcing of produce is a key component to the fresh-cut and whole value-added processing business.

Access to Customer Base: Apio has strategically invested in the rapidly growing fresh-cut and whole value-added business. Apio’s value-added processing plant in Guadalupe, CA, is automated with state-of-the-art vegetable processing equipment. Apio operates one large central processing facility in one of the lowest cost growing regions in California, the Santa Maria Valley, and for the majority of its non-green bean vegetable business, use its packaging technology for nationwide delivery. With the acquisition of GreenLine, Apio now has three East Coast processing facilities and five East Coast distribution centers for nationwide delivery of green beans and recently Apio began processing non-green bean products in one of our East Coast processing facilities to meet the next day delivery needs of customers.

Expanded Product Line Using Technology and Unique Blends: Apio, through the use of its BreatheWay packaging technology, is introducing new value-added products each year. These new product offerings range from various sizes of fresh-cut bagged products, to vegetable trays, to whole produce, to vegetable salads and snack packs. During the last twelve months,, Apio has introduced four new unique products.

Products Currently in 80% of U.S. Retail Grocery Stores: With the acquisition of GreenLine, Apio now has products in approximately 80% of all U.S. retail grocery stores. This gives Apio the opportunity to cross sell Eat Smart value-added products to GreenLine customers and GreenLine value-added products to Eat Smart customers.

Apio established its Apio Packaging division in 2005 to advance the sales of BreatheWay packaging technology for shelf-life sensitive vegetables and fruit to third party partners outside of Apio’s core value-added business. The Company’s specialty packaging for case liner products extends the shelf life of certain produce commodities up to 50%. This shelf life extension can enable the utilization of alternative distribution strategies to gain efficiencies or reach new markets while maintaining product quality to the end customer.

Apio Packaging’s first program has concentrated on bananas and was formally consummated when Apio entered into an agreement to supply Chiquita with its proprietary banana packaging technology. This global agreement applies to the ripening, conservation and shelf-life extension of bananas. The BreatheWay packaging technology extends the shelf-life of bananas by approximately ten days.

In June 2008, Apio entered into a collaboration agreement with Seminis Vegetable Seeds, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Monsanto Company (“Monsanto”), to develop novel broccoli and cauliflower products for the exclusive sale by Apio in the North American market. These novel products are packaged in Landec’s proprietary BreatheWay packaging and commercial sales started in 2012 under Monsanto’s Beneforte® brand to retail grocery and club store chains.

In June 2010, Apio entered into an exclusive license agreement with Windset for Windset to utilize Landec’s proprietary breathable packaging to extend the shelf life of greenhouse grown cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes. Commercial sales of Windset peppers in BreatheWay packaging have recently begun.

On February 15, 2011, Apio entered into a share purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Windset. Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, Apio purchased 150,000 senior preferred shares for $15 million and 201 common shares for $201 (the “Purchased Shares”). The Company’s common shares represent a 20.1% interest in Windset. The non-voting senior preferred shares yield a cash dividend of 7.5% annually. The dividend is payable within 90 days of each anniversary of the execution of the Purchase Agreement. The Purchase Agreement includes a put and call option, which can be exercised on the sixth anniversary of the Purchase Agreement whereby Apio can exercise the put to sell its Purchased Shares to Windset, or Windset can exercise the call to purchase the Purchased Shares from Apio, in either case, at a price equal to 20.1% of the appreciation in the fair market value of Windset from the date of the Company’s investment through the put/call date, plus the purchase price of the Purchased Shares. Under the terms of the arrangement with Windset, the Company is entitled to designate one of five members on the Board of Directors of Windset.

The Company thinks that hydroponically grown produce using Windset’s know how and growing practices will result in higher yields with competitive growing costs that will provide dependable year round supply to Windset’s customers. In addition, the produce grown in Windset’s greenhouses has a very high safety profile as no soil is used in the growing process. Windset owns and operates greenhouses in British Columbia, Canada and in Nevada and California. Windset currently has three million square feet of greenhouses in California with plans to double that capacity by December 2013. In addition to growing produce in their own greenhouses, Windset has numerous marketing arrangements with other greenhouse growers and utilizes buy/sell arrangements to meet fluctuation in demand from their customers.

B) Food Export Business

Food Export revenues consist of revenues generated from the purchase and sale of primarily whole commodity fruit and vegetable products to Asia through Apio’s export company, Cal-Ex. The Food Export business is a buy/sell business that realizes a commission-based margin on average in the 5-8% range.

The Food Export business had revenues of approximately $79 million for the fiscal year ended May 26, 2013, $71 million for the fiscal year ended May 27, 2012 and $62 million for the fiscal year ended May 29, 2011.

Apio is strategically positioned to benefit from the growth in export sales to Asia and other parts of the world over the next decade with Cal-Ex. Through Cal-Ex, Apio is currently one of the largest U.S. exporters of broccoli to Asia. Other large export items include apples, grapes, stonefruit and citrus.

C) Hyaluronan-based Biomaterials Business

Our HA Biomaterials business operates through our Lifecore subsidiary, which Landec acquired in April 2010. Lifecore had revenues of approximately $41 million for the fiscal year ended May 26, 2013, $34 million for the fiscal year ended May 27, 2012 and $33 million for the fiscal year ended May 29, 2011.

The Technology: Hyaluronan-based Biomaterials

Lifecore uses its fermentation process and aseptic formulation and filling expertise to become a leader in the development of HA-based products for multiple applications and to take advantage of non-HA device and drug opportunities which leverage its expertise in manufacturing and aseptic syringe filling capabilities. Elements of Lifecore’s strategy include the following:

•     Establish strategic relationships with market leaders. Lifecore will continue to develop applications for products with partners who have strong marketing, sales and distribution capabilities to end-user markets. Through its strong reputation and history of providing premium HA products, Lifecore has been able to establish long-term relationships with the market leading ophthalmology and orthopedics companies.

•     Expand medical applications for HA. Due to the growing knowledge of the unique characteristics of HA, and the role it plays in normal physiology, Lifecore continues to identify and pursue further uses for HA in other medical applications, such as wound care, aesthetic surgery, drug delivery, device coatings and pharmaceuticals. Further applications may involve expanding process development activity and/or additional licensing of technology.

•     Utilize manufacturing infrastructure to pursue contract aseptic filling and fermentation opportunities. Lifecore is currently utilizing its manufacturing capabilities to provide contract services for customers related to aseptic filling equipment, fermentation and purification and continues to seek new opportunities for contract services.

•     Maintain flexibility in product development and supply relationships. Lifecore’s vertically integrated development and manufacturing capabilities allow it to establish a variety of contractual relationships with global corporate partners. Lifecore’s role in these relationships extends from supplying HA raw materials to manufacturing of aseptically-packaged, finished sterile products to developing and manufacturing its own proprietary products.

Ophthalmic Applications

Cataract Surgery. A primary commercial application for Lifecore’s HA is in cataract surgery. HA, in the form of a viscoelastic solution, is used to maintain a deep chamber during anterior segment surgeries (including cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation) and to protect the corneal endothelium and other ocular tissue. These solutions have been shown to reduce surgical trauma and thereby contribute to more rapid recovery with fewer complications than were experienced prior to the use of viscoelastics. HA-based products are used in the majority of cataract surgeries in the world.

Lifecore currently sells HA for this application to leading producers of ophthalmic surgical products in the world for inclusion in their proprietary viscoelastic solutions.

Lifecore has developed its own viscoelastic solution, LUROCOAT Ophthalmic Viscoelastic. Lifecore received CE marking for LUROCOAT Ophthalmic Viscoelastic in 1997, allowing LUROCOAT Ophthalmic Viscoelastic to be marketed and sold outside the United States. Lifecore has distribution agreements with multiple companies to supply its HA-based LUROCOAT Ophthalmic Viscoelastic under private label.

Lifecore estimates that its HA products have been used in over 50 million ophthalmic patients globally since 1983.

Orthopedic Applications

Lifecore supplies an aseptic HA solution to a customer which utilizes the solution as a carrier vehicle for its allogeneic demineralized, freeze-dried bone in a final putty composition trademarked as “DBX Demineralized Bone Matrix”. This bone putty is provided to orthopedic surgeons through the distribution channels established and managed by their customers.

Lifecore also supplies a private-labeled finished orthopedic viscosupplement to another customer and HA raw material to yet another customer for formulation in their proprietary viscosupplement.

Veterinary Applications

Lifecore manufactures an aseptically processed, private-labeled HA solution for use as a veterinary viscosupplement in an equine injectable drug for a customer.

Lifecore estimates that its veterinary HA product has been used in over 700,000 equine procedures worldwide.

Product Development

In conjunction with partners, Lifecore pursues product development activities for HA-based applications with certain clients. The majority of the projects are intended to demonstrate that Lifecore’s HA is suitable for a particular medical application. Suitability is often measured by detailed specifications for product characteristics such as purity, stability, viscosity and molecular weight, as well as the primary efficacy for a particular medical application in a clinical setting.

Seeds Business – Intellicoat® Seed Coatings

Landec developed Intellicoat seed coating applications are designed to control seed germination timing, increase crop yields, reduce risks and extend crop-planting windows. Pollinator Plus® coatings, commercialized by Landec over a decade ago, are currently available on male inbred corn used by seed companies as a method for spreading pollination to increase yields and reduce risk in the production of hybrid seed corn. This business was sold to INCOTEC Holding North America, Inc. (“INCOTEC”) in June 2012 (see Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

Industrial Materials and Adhesives

Landec’s industrial product development strategy focuses on coatings, catalysts, resins, additives and adhesives in the polymer materials market. During the product development stage, the Company identifies corporate partners to support the ongoing development and testing of these products, with the ultimate goal of licensing the applications at the appropriate time. The Company licensed it proprietary pressure sensitive adhesives to Nitta Corporation (“Nitta”) for use in the manufacturing of electronic components by their customers and the Company has licensed its latent thermoset catalysts technology to Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. for use in thermoset chemistries such as epoxy, polyurethane, and unsaturated polyester.

Personal Care and Cosmetic Applications

Landec’s personal care and cosmetic applications strategy is focused on supplying Intelimer materials to industry leaders for use in lotions and creams, as well as color cosmetics, lipsticks and hair care. The Company's exclusive marketing partner, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (“Air Products”), is currently shipping products to L’Oreal, Mentholatum, Louis Widmer, Aris Cosmetics and other companies for use in lotions and creams. The rights to develop and sell Landec’s polymers for personal care products were licensed to Air Products in March 2006 along with the latent catalyst rights. The Company’s Intelimer polymers are currently in over 50 personal care products worldwide.

Sales and Marketing

Apio is supported by dedicated sales and marketing resources. Lifecore primarily sells products to customers under established supply agreements and also through distribution agreements. Lifecore does not sell to the end user, and, therefore, has no dedicated sales and marketing employees. The Company intends to expand its internal sales capacity as more products progress toward commercialization and as business volume expands geographically. Apio has 36 sales and marketing employees, located in central California and throughout the U.S., supporting the Food Products Technology business and the Food Export business. During fiscal years 2013, 2012 and 2011, sales to the Company’s top five customers accounted for approximately 40%, 45% and 44%, respectively, of its revenues, with the top two customers from the Food Products Technology segment accounting for approximately 16% and 13%, 17% and 11% and 16% and 10%, respectively, of the Company’s revenues.

The Company’s sales are moderately seasonal. The Food Products Technology business can be affected by seasonal weather factors which have impacted quarterly results, such as the high cost of sourcing product due to a shortage of essential value-added produce items. The Food Export business also typically recognizes a much higher percentage of its revenues and profit during the first half of Landec’s fiscal year compared to the second half. Lifecore’s business is not significantly affected by seasonality.

Manufacturing and Processing

Food Products Technology Business

The manufacturing process for the Company's proprietary BreatheWay packaging products is comprised of polymer manufacturing, membrane manufacturing and label package conversion. A third party toll manufacturer currently makes virtually all of the polymers for the BreatheWay packaging system. Select outside contractors currently manufacture the breathable membranes, and Landec has transitioned virtually all of the label package conversion to Apio’s Guadalupe facility to meet the increasing product demand and to provide additional developmental capabilities.

Apio processes virtually all of its fresh-cut, value-added non-green bean products in its processing facility located in Guadalupe, California. Cooling of produce is done through third parties and Apio Cooling LP, a separate consolidated subsidiary in which Apio has a 60% ownership interest and is the general partner.

Apio processes its fresh-cut, value-added green bean products, acquired with the acquisition of GreenLine in April 2012, in four processing plants located in Bowling Green, Ohio; Hanover, Pennsylvania; Vero Beach, Florida and Pico Rivera, California.

Hyaluronan-based Biomaterials Business

The commercial production of HA by Lifecore requires fermentation, separation and purification capabilities. Products are supplied in a variety of bulk and single dose configurations.

Lifecore produces its HA through a bacterial fermentation process. In the early 1980s, Lifecore introduced the bacterial fermentation process to manufacture premium pharmaceutical-grade HA, and received patent protection in 1985. Lifecore’s fermentation process patent expired in 2002. Previously, medical grade HA was commercially available through an extraction process from rooster combs. Lifecore believes that the fermentation manufacturing approach is superior to rooster comb extraction because of greater efficiency and flexibility, a more favorable long-term regulatory environment, and better economies of scale in producing large commercial quantities.

Lifecore’s 114,000 square foot facility in Chaska, Minnesota is used primarily for the HA manufacturing process, formulation and aseptic syringe and bulk filling. The Company considers that the current inventory on-hand, together with its manufacturing capacity, will be sufficient to allow it to meet the needs of its current customers for the foreseeable future.

Lifecore provides versatility in the manufacturing of various types of finished products. Currently, it supplies several different forms of HA in a variety of molecular weight fractions as powders, solutions and gels, and in a variety of bulk and single-use finished packages. Lifecore continues to conduct development work designed to improve production efficiencies and expand its capabilities to achieve a wider range of HA product specifications in order to address the broadening opportunities for using HA in medical applications.

The FDA inspects the Company’s manufacturing systems periodically and requires compliance with the FDA’s Quality System Regulation (“QSR”). In addition, Lifecore’s corporate partners conduct intensive quality audits of the facility and its operations. Lifecore also periodically contracts with independent regulatory consultants to conduct audits of its operations.  As a result, similar to other manufacturers subject to regulatory and customer specific requirements, Lifecore’s facility was designed to meet applicable regulatory requirements and has been cleared for the manufacturing of both device and pharmaceutical products. The Company maintains a Quality System which complies with applicable standards and regulations (21 CFR 820, 21 CFR 210-211, EudraLex Volume 4, ISO 13485, European Medical Device Directive, Canadian Medical Device Regulations ICH Q7, and Australian Therapeutic Goods Regulations).  Compliance with these international standards of quality greatly assists in the marketing of Lifecore’s products globally.

Several of the raw materials used in manufacturing certain of the Company’s products are currently purchased from a single source. Although to date the Company has not experienced difficulty acquiring materials for the manufacture of its products, no assurance can be given that interruptions in supplies will not occur in the future, that the Company will be able to obtain substitute vendors, or that the Company will be able to procure comparable materials at similar prices and terms within a reasonable time. Any such interruption of supply could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s ability to manufacture and distribute its products and, consequently, could materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, operating results and financial condition.

Research and Development

Landec is focusing its research and development resources on both existing and new product applications. Expenditures for research and development for the fiscal years ended May 26, 2013, May 27, 2012 and May 29, 2011 were $9.3 million, $9.6 million and $9.3 million, respectively. Research and development expenditures funded by corporate or governmental partners were $2.1 million during fiscal year 2013 and none in fiscal years 2012 and 2011. The Company may seek funds for applied materials research programs from U.S. government agencies as well as from commercial entities. The Company anticipates that it will continue to have significant research and development expenditures in order to maintain its competitive position with a continuing flow of innovative, high-quality products and services. As of May 26, 2013, Landec had 65 employees engaged in research and development with experience in polymer and analytical chemistry, product application, product formulation, mechanical and chemical engineering.

Competition

The Company operates in highly competitive and rapidly evolving fields, and new developments are expected to continue at a rapid pace. Competition from large food processors, packaging companies, medical and pharmaceutical companies is intense. In addition, the nature of the Company's collaborative arrangements may result in its corporate partners and licensees becoming competitors of the Company. Many of these competitors have substantially greater financial and technical resources and production and marketing capabilities than the Company, and many have substantially greater experience in conducting field trials, obtaining regulatory approvals and manufacturing and marketing commercial products. There can be no assurance that these competitors will not succeed in developing alternative technologies and products that are more effective, easier to use or less expensive than those which have been or are being developed by the Company or that would render the Company's technology and products obsolete and non-competitive.

Patents and Proprietary Rights

The Company's success depends in large part on its ability to obtain patents, maintain trade secret protection and operate without infringing on the proprietary rights of third parties. The Company has had 41 U.S. patents issued of which 27 remain active as of May 26, 2013 with expiration dates ranging from 2014 to 2028. The Company's issued and pending patents include claims relating to compositions, devices and use of a class of temperature and time sensitive polymers that exhibit distinctive properties of permeability, adhesion and viscosity control. There can be no assurance that any of the pending patent applications will be approved, that the Company will develop additional proprietary products that are patentable, that any patents issued to the Company will provide the Company with competitive advantages or will not be challenged by any third parties or that the patents of others will not prevent the commercialization of products incorporating the Company's technology. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that others will not independently develop similar products, duplicate any of the Company's products or design around the Company's patents. Any of the foregoing results could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, operating results and financial condition.

The commercial success of the Company will also depend, in part, on its ability to avoid infringing patents issued to others. If the Company were determined to be infringing any third party patent, the Company could be required to pay damages, alter its products or processes, obtain licenses or cease certain activities. In addition, if patents are issued to others which contain claims that compete or conflict with those of the Company and such competing or conflicting claims are ultimately determined to be valid, the Company may be required to pay damages, to obtain licenses to these patents, to develop or obtain alternative technology or to cease using such technology. If the Company is required to obtain any licenses, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to do so on commercially favorable terms, if at all. The Company's failure to obtain a license to any technology that it may require to commercialize its products could have a material adverse impact on the Company's business, operating results and financial condition.

Litigation, which could result in substantial costs to the Company, may also be necessary to enforce any patents issued or licensed to the Company or to determine the scope and validity of third party proprietary rights. If competitors of the Company prepare and file patent applications in the United States that claim technology also claimed by the Company, the Company may have to participate in interference proceedings declared by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to determine priority of invention, which could result in substantial cost to and diversion of effort by the Company, even if the eventual outcome is favorable to the Company. Any such litigation or interference proceeding, regardless of outcome, could be expensive and time consuming and could subject the Company to significant liabilities to third parties, require disputed rights to be licensed from third parties or require the Company to cease using such technology and consequently, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, operating results and financial condition.

In addition to patent protection, the Company relies on trade secrets, proprietary know-how, technological advances and customer relationships which the Company seeks to protect, in part, by confidentiality agreements with its collaborators, employees and consultants. There can be no assurance that these agreements will not be breached, that the Company will have adequate remedies for any breach, or that the Company's trade secrets and proprietary know-how will not otherwise become known or be independently discovered by others.

Government Regulation 

Government regulation in the United States and other countries is a significant factor in the marketing of certain of the Company’s products and in the Company’s ongoing research and development activities. Some of the Company’s products are subject to extensive and rigorous regulation by the FDA, which regulates some of the products as medical devices and which, in some cases, requires Pre-Market Approval (“PMA”), and by foreign countries, which regulate some of the products as medical devices or drugs. Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (“FDC Act”), the FDA regulates the clinical testing, manufacturing, labeling, distribution, sale and promotion of medical devices in the United States.

Following the enactment of the Medical Device Amendments of 1976 to the FDC Act, the FDA classified medical devices in commercial distribution at the time of enactment (“pre-Amendment devices”) into one of three classes - Class I, II or III. This classification is based on the controls necessary to reasonably assure the safety and effectiveness of medical devices. Class I devices are those whose safety and effectiveness can reasonably be assured through general controls, such as establishment registration and labeling, and adherence to FDA mandated current QSR requirements for devices. Most Class I devices are exempt from FDA premarket review, but some require premarket notification (“510(k) Notification”). Class II devices are those whose safety and effectiveness can reasonably be assured through the use of special controls, such as performance standards, post market surveillance, patient registries and FDA guidelines. Class III devices are devices that require a PMA from the FDA to assure their safety and effectiveness. A PMA ordinarily must contain data from a multi-center clinical study demonstrating the device’s safety and effectiveness for the intended use and patient population. Class III devices are generally life sustaining, life supporting or implantable devices, and also include most devices that were not on the market before May 28, 1976 (“new devices”) and for which the FDA has not made a finding of substantial equivalence based upon a 510(k) Notification. A pre-Amendment Class III device does not require a PMA unless and until the FDA issues a regulation requiring submission of a PMA application for the device.

The FDA requires clinical data for a PMA application and has the authority to require such data for a 510(k) Notification. If clinical data are necessary, the company that sponsors the study must follow the FDA’s Investigational Device Exemption (“IDE”) regulations governing the conduct of human studies. The FDA’s regulations require institutional review board approval of the study and the informed consent of the study subjects. In addition, for a “significant risk” device, the FDA must approve an IDE application before the study can begin. Non-significant risk devices do not require FDA approval of an IDE application, and are conducted under the “abbreviated IDE” requirements. Once in effect, an IDE or abbreviated IDE permits evaluation of devices under controlled clinical conditions. After a clinical evaluation process, the resulting data may be included in a PMA application or a 510(k) Notification. The PMA may be approved or the 510(k) Notification may be cleared by the FDA only after a review process that may include FDA requests for additional data, sometimes requiring further studies.

If a manufacturer or distributor of medical devices can establish to the FDA’s satisfaction through a 510(k) Notification that a new device is substantially equivalent to what is called a “predicate device,” i.e., a legally marketed Class I or Class II medical device or a legally marketed pre-Amendment Class III device for which the FDA has not required a PMA, the manufacturer or distributor may market the new device. In the 510(k) Notification, a manufacturer or distributor makes a claim of substantial equivalence, which the FDA may require to be supported by various types of information, including data from clinical studies, showing that the new device is as safe and effective for its intended use as the predicate device.

Following submission of the 510(k) Notification, the manufacturer or distributor may not place the new device into commercial distribution until the FDA issues a “substantial equivalence” determination finding the new device to be substantially equivalent to a predicate device. The FDA has a 90 day period in which to respond to a 510(k) Notification (30 days for a Special 510(k)). Depending on the specific submission and subsequent agency information requests, the 510(k) Notification process can take significantly longer to complete. The FDA may agree with the manufacturer or distributor that the new device is substantially equivalent to a predicate device and allow the new device to be marketed in the United States. The FDA may, however, determine that the new device is not substantially equivalent and require the manufacturer or distributor to submit a PMA or require further information, such as additional test data, including data from clinical studies, before it is able to make a determination regarding substantial equivalence. Although the PMA process is significantly more complex, time-consuming and expensive than the 510(k) Notification process, the latter process can also be expensive and substantially delay the market introduction of a product. Modifications to a device that is marketed under a 510(k) Notification might require submission of a new 510(k) prior to their implementation, although some modifications can be made through a “note to file” procedure described in FDA guidance.

For devices that cannot be found “substantially equivalent” to a predicate device, the manufacturer must submit a PMA application, petition for reclassification, or submit a PMA application via the de novo process. A PMA must contain information on the materials and manufacturing process for the device, results of preclinical testing, clinical data, and labeling for the device. The FDA has 180 days to review a PMA application, but may request additional information, which could include additional studies. The FDA might refer a PMA to an advisory committee of outside experts to review and make recommendation on whether a device should be approved. After considering the data in the PMA application and the recommendations of an advisory committee, the FDA can approve the device, approve the device with conditions or refuse approval. Devices approved by the FDA are subject to periodic reporting requirements, and may be subject to restrictions on sale, distribution or use.

Hyaluronan products are generally Class III devices. In cases where the Company is supplying hyaluronan to a corporate partner as a raw material or producing a finished product under a license for the partner, the corporate partner is responsible for obtaining the appropriate FDA clearance or approval. Export of the Company’s hyaluronan products generally requires approval of the importing country and compliance with the export provisions of the FDC Act.

Other regulatory requirements are placed on the manufacture, processing, packaging, labeling, distribution, recordkeeping and reporting of a medical device and on the quality control procedures, such as the FDA’s device QSR regulations. Manufacturing facilities are subject to periodic inspections by the FDA to assure compliance with device QSR requirements. Lifecore’s facility is subject to inspections as both a device and a drug manufacturing operation. For PMA devices, the Company is required to submit an annual report and to obtain approval of a PMA supplement for modifications to the device or its labeling. Other applicable FDA requirements include the medical device reporting (“MDR”) regulation, which requires that the Company provide information to the FDA regarding deaths or serious injuries alleged to have been associated with the use of its devices, as well as product malfunctions that would likely cause or contribute to death or serious injury if the malfunction were to recur. The FDA also requires reporting regarding notices of correction and the removal of a medical device.

If the Company is not in compliance with FDA requirements, the FDA or the federal government can order a recall, detain the Company’s devices, refuse to grant 510(k) Notification clearances or PMA approvals, withdraw or limit product approvals, institute proceedings to seize the Company’s devices, seek injunctions to control or prohibit marketing and sales of the Company’s devices, assess civil money penalties and impose criminal sanctions against the Company, its officers or its employees.

There can be no assurance that any of the Company’s clinical studies will show safety or effectiveness; that 510(k) Notifications or PMA applications or supplemental applications will be submitted or, if submitted, accepted for filing; that any of the Company’s products that require clearance of a 510(k) Notification or approval of a PMA application or PMA supplement will obtain such clearance or approval on a timely basis, on terms acceptable to the Company for the purpose of actually marketing the products, or at all; or that following any such clearance or approval previously unknown problems will not result in restrictions on the marketing of the products or withdrawal of clearance or approval.

Product Liability

Product liability claims may be asserted with respect to the Company’s products. The Company maintains product liability insurance coverage in amounts the Company deems to be adequate. There can be no assurance that the Company will have sufficient resources to satisfy product claims if they exceed available insurance coverage.

Employees

As of May 26, 2013, Landec had 526 full-time employees, of whom 431 were dedicated to research, development, manufacturing, quality control and regulatory affairs and 95 were dedicated to sales, marketing and administrative activities. Landec intends to recruit additional personnel in connection with the development, manufacturing and marketing of its products. None of Landec's employees is represented by a union, and Landec considers its relationship with its employees to be good.

Available Information

Landec’s website is http://www.landec.com. Landec makes available free of charge its annual, quarterly and current reports, and any amendments to those reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after electronically filing such reports with the SEC. Information contained on our website is not part of this Report.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Landec desires to take advantage of the “Safe Harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and of Section 21E and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Specifically, Landec wishes to alert readers that the following important factors could in the future affect, and in the past have affected, Landec’s actual results and could cause Landec’s results for future periods to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of Landec. Landec assumes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements.

Lapses in disclosure controls and procedures or internal control over financial reporting could materially and adversely affect the Company’s operations, profitability or reputation.

We are committed to maintaining high standards of internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures. Nevertheless, lapses or deficiencies in disclosure controls and procedures or in our internal control over financial reporting may occur from time to time. On January 2, 2013, we reported that our audit committee reached a determination to restate our previously-filed interim financial statements for the first fiscal quarter of 2013 and that our previously-filed interim financial statements for the first fiscal quarter of 2013 should not be relied upon. We also reported management’s determination that a material weakness existed in our internal control over financial reporting at August 26, 2012. As a result of the material weakness, management also concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective at August 26, 2012.

There can be no assurance that our disclosure controls and procedures will be effective in preventing a material weakness or significant deficiency in internal control over financial reporting from occurring in the future. Any such lapses or deficiencies may materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations or financial condition, restrict our ability to access the capital markets, require us to expend resources to correct the lapses or deficiencies, expose us to regulatory or legal proceedings, harm our reputation, or otherwise cause a decline in investor confidence. 

Adverse Weather Conditions and Other Acts of God May Cause Substantial Decreases in Our Sales and/or Increases in Our Costs

Our Food Products Technology business is subject to weather conditions that affect commodity prices, crop quality and yields, and decisions by growers regarding crops to be planted. Crop diseases and severe conditions, particularly weather conditions such as unexpected or excessive rain or other precipitation, unseasonable temperature fluctuations, floods, droughts, frosts, windstorms, earthquakes and hurricanes, may adversely affect the supply of vegetables and fruits used in our business, which could reduce the sales volumes and/or increase the unit production costs. In fiscal year 2013, the Company’s operating income was negatively impacted by approximately $5.0 million because of weather-related produce sourcing issues in the Food Products Technology business. Because a significant portion of the costs are fixed and contracted in advance of each operating year, volume declines reflecting production interruptions or other factors could result in increases in unit production costs which could result in substantial losses and weaken our financial condition.

The Global Economy is Experiencing Continued Volatility Following the Recent Economic Downturn, Which May Have an Adverse Effect on Our Business

In recent years, the U.S. and international economy and financial markets experienced a significant slowdown and volatility due to uncertainties related to the availability of credit, energy prices, difficulties in the banking and financial services sectors, softness in the housing market, severely diminished market liquidity, geopolitical conflicts, falling consumer confidence and high unemployment rates beginning in 2008. Ongoing volatility in the economy and financial markets could further lead to reduced demand for our products, which in turn, would reduce our revenues and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. In particular, volatility in the global markets have resulted in softer demand and more conservative purchasing decisions by customers, including a tendency toward lower-priced products, which could negatively impact our revenues, gross margins and results of operations. In addition to a reduction in sales, our profitability may decrease because we may not be able to reduce costs at the same rate as our sales decline. We cannot predict the ultimate severity or length of the current period of volatility, whether the recent signs of economic recovery will prove sustainable or the timing or severity of future economic or industry downturns.

Given the current uncertain economic environment, our customers, suppliers, and partners may have difficulties obtaining capital at adequate or historical levels to finance their ongoing business and operations, which could impair their ability to make timely payments to us. This may result in lower sales and/or inventory that may not be saleable or bad debt expense for Landec. In addition to the impact of the current market uncertainty on our customers, some of our vendors and growers may experience a reduction in their availability of funds and cash flows, which could negatively impact their business as well as ours. A further worsening of the economic environment or continued or increased volatility of the U.S. economy, including increased volatility in the credit markets, could adversely impact our customers’ and vendors’ ability or willingness to conduct business with us on the same terms or at the same levels as they have historically. Further, this economic volatility and uncertainty about future economic conditions makes it challenging for Landec to forecast its operating results, make business decisions, and identify the risks that may affect its business, sources and uses of cash, financial condition and results of operations.

Our Future Operating Results Are Likely to Fluctuate Which May Cause Our Stock Price to Decline

In the past, our results of operations have fluctuated significantly from quarter to quarter and are expected to continue to fluctuate in the future. Apio can be affected by seasonal and weather factors which have impacted our  financial results due to a shortage of essential value-added produce items, including the approximate $5.0 million negative impact on operating income which occurred in fiscal year 2013 due to weather-related produce sourcing issues. Our earnings may also fluctuate based on our ability to collect accounts receivable from customers and notes receivable from growers and on price fluctuations in the fresh vegetables and fruits markets. Other factors that affect our operations include:

the seasonality and availability of our supplies,

our ability to process produce during critical harvest periods,

the timing and effects of ripening,

the degree of perishability,

the effectiveness of worldwide distribution systems,

total worldwide industry volumes,

the seasonality and timing of consumer demand,

foreign currency fluctuations, and

foreign importation restrictions and foreign political risks.

As a result of these and other factors, we expect to continue to experience fluctuations in quarterly operating results.

Uncertainty Relating To Integration Of New Business Acquisitions. 

The successful integration of new business acquisitions, including the GreenLine acquisition, may require substantial effort from the Company's management. The diversion of the attention of management and any difficulties encountered in the transition process could have a material adverse effect on the Company's ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisitions. The successful combination of new businesses also requires coordination of research and development activities, manufacturing, and sales and marketing efforts. In addition, the process of combining organizations located in different regions of the United States could cause the interruption of, or a loss of momentum in, the Company's activities. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to retain key management, technical, sales and customer support personnel, or that the Company will realize the anticipated benefits of any acquisitions, and the failure to do so would have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition.

We May Not Be Able to Achieve Acceptance of Our New Products in the Marketplace

Our success in generating significant sales of our products depends in part on our ability and our partners and licensees to achieve market acceptance of our new products and technology. The extent to which, and rate at which, we achieve market acceptance and penetration of our current and future products is a function of many variables including, but not limited to:

price,

safety,

efficacy,

reliability,

conversion costs,

regulatory approvals,

marketing and sales efforts, and

general economic conditions affecting purchasing patterns.

We may not be able to develop and introduce new products and technologies in a timely manner or new products and technologies may not gain market acceptance. We or our partners/customers are in the early stage of product commercialization of certain Intelimer-based specialty packaging, HA-based products and other Intelimer polymer products and many of our potential products are in development. We expect that our future growth will depend in large part on our or our partners/customers ability to develop and market new products in our target markets and in new markets. In particular, we expect that our ability to compete effectively with existing food products, industrial, medical and pharmaceutical companies will depend substantially on developing, commercializing, achieving market acceptance of and reducing the cost of producing our products. In addition, commercial applications of our temperature switch polymer technology are relatively new and evolving. Our failure to develop new products or the failure of our new products to achieve market acceptance would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

We Face Strong Competition in the Marketplace

Competitors may succeed in developing alternative technologies and products that are more effective, easier to use or less expensive than those which have been or are being developed by us or that would render our technology and products obsolete and non-competitive. We operate in highly competitive and rapidly evolving fields, and new developments are expected to continue at a rapid pace. Competition from large food products, industrial, medical and pharmaceutical companies is expected to be intense. In addition, the nature of our collaborative arrangements may result in our corporate partners and licensees becoming our competitors. Many of these competitors have substantially greater financial and technical resources and production and marketing capabilities than we do, and may have substantially greater experience in conducting clinical and field trials, obtaining regulatory approvals and manufacturing and marketing commercial products.

We Have a Concentration of Manufacturing for Apio and Lifecore and May Have to Depend on Third Parties to Manufacture Our Products

Any disruptions in our primary manufacturing operation at Apio’s facility in Guadalupe, California or Lifecore’s facility in Chaska, Minnesota would reduce our ability to sell our products and would have a material adverse effect on our financial results. Additionally, we may need to consider seeking collaborative arrangements with other companies to manufacture our products. If we become dependent upon third parties for the manufacture of our products, our profit margins and our ability to develop and deliver those products on a timely basis may be adversely affected. Failures by third parties may impair our ability to deliver products on a timely basis and impair our competitive position. We may not be able to continue to successfully operate our manufacturing operations at acceptable costs, with acceptable yields, and retain adequately trained personnel.

Our Dependence on Single-Source Suppliers and Service Providers May Cause Disruption in Our Operations Should Any Supplier Fail to Deliver Materials

We may experience difficulty acquiring materials or services for the manufacture of our products or we may not be able to obtain substitute vendors. We may not be able to procure comparable materials at similar prices and terms within a reasonable time. Several services that are provided to Apio are obtained from a single provider. Several of the raw materials we use to manufacture our products are currently purchased from a single source, including some monomers used to synthesize Intelimer polymers, substrate materials for our breathable membrane products and raw materials for our HA products. Any interruption of our relationship with single-source suppliers or service providers could delay product shipments and materially harm our business.

We May Be Unable to Adequately Protect Our Intellectual Property Rights

We may receive notices from third parties, including some of our competitors, claiming infringement by our products of patent and other proprietary rights. Regardless of their merit, responding to any such claim could be time-consuming, result in costly litigation and require us to enter royalty and licensing agreements which may not be offered or available on terms acceptable to us. If a successful claim is made against us and we fail to develop or license a substitute technology, we could be required to alter our products or processes and our business, results of operations or financial position could be materially adversely affected. Our success depends in large part on our ability to obtain patents, maintain trade secret protection and operate without infringing on the proprietary rights of third parties. Any pending patent applications we file may not be approved and we may not be able to develop additional proprietary products that are patentable. Any patents issued to us may not provide us with competitive advantages or may be challenged by third parties. Patents held by others may prevent the commercialization of products incorporating our technology. Furthermore, others may independently develop similar products, duplicate our products or design around our patents.

Our Operations Are Subject to Regulations that Directly Impact Our Business

Our products and operations are subject to governmental regulation in the United States and foreign countries. The manufacture of our products is subject to periodic inspection by regulatory authorities. We may not be able to obtain necessary regulatory approvals on a timely basis or at all. Delays in receipt of or failure to receive approvals or loss of previously received approvals would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Although we have no reason to believe that we will not be able to comply with all applicable regulations regarding the manufacture and sale of our products and polymer materials, regulations are always subject to change and depend heavily on administrative interpretations and the country in which the products are sold. Future changes in regulations or interpretations relating to matters such as safe working conditions, laboratory and manufacturing practices, environmental controls, and disposal of hazardous or potentially hazardous substances may adversely affect our business.

We are subject to FDA rules and regulations concerning the safety of the food products handled and sold by Apio, and the facilities in which they are packed and processed. Failure to comply with the applicable regulatory requirements can, among other things, result in:

fines, injunctions, civil penalties, and suspensions,

withdrawal of regulatory approvals,

product recalls and product seizures, including cessation of manufacturing and sales,

operating restrictions, and

criminal prosecution.

We may be required to incur significant costs to comply with the laws and regulations in the future which may have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.

Our food packaging products are subject to regulation under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (the “FDC Act”). Under the FDC Act, any substance that when used as intended may reasonably be expected to become, directly or indirectly, a component or otherwise affect the characteristics of any food may be regulated as a food additive unless the substance is generally recognized as safe. Food packaging materials are generally not considered food additives by the FDA because these products are not expected to become components of food under their expected conditions of use. We consider our breathable membrane product to be a food packaging material not subject to regulation or approval by the FDA. We have not received any communication from the FDA concerning our breathable membrane product. If the FDA were to determine that our breathable membrane products are food additives, we may be required to submit a food additive petition for approval by the FDA. The food additive petition process is lengthy, expensive and uncertain. A determination by the FDA that a food additive petition is necessary would have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.

Our Food Products Technology business is subject to the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (“PACA”) law. PACA regulates fair trade standards in the fresh produce industry and governs all the products sold by Apio. Our failure to comply with the PACA requirements could among other things, result in civil penalties, suspension or revocation of a license to sell produce, and in the most egregious cases, criminal prosecution, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.

Lifecore’s existing products and its products under development are considered to be medical devices and therefore, require clearance or approval by the FDA before commercial sales can be made in the United States. The products also require the approval of foreign government agencies before sales may be made in many other countries. The process of obtaining these clearances or approvals varies according to the nature and use of the product. It can involve lengthy and detailed safety, efficacy and clinical studies, as well as extensive site inspections and lengthy regulatory agency reviews. There can be no assurance that any of the required clearances or approvals will be granted on a timely basis, if at all.

In addition, most of the existing products being sold by Lifecore and its customers are subject to continued regulation by the FDA, various state agencies and foreign regulatory agencies which regulate manufacturing, labeling and record keeping procedures for such products. Marketing clearances or approvals by these agencies can be withdrawn due to failure to comply with regulatory standards or the occurrence of unforeseen problems following initial clearance or approval. These agencies can also limit or prevent the manufacture or distribution of Lifecore’s products. A determination that Lifecore is in violation of such regulations could lead to the imposition of civil penalties, including fines, product recalls or product seizures, injunctions, and, in extreme cases, criminal sanctions.

Federal, state and local regulations impose various environmental controls on the use, storage, discharge or disposal of toxic, volatile or otherwise hazardous chemicals and gases used in some of the manufacturing processes. Our failure to control the use of, or to restrict adequately the discharge of, hazardous substances under present or future regulations could subject us to substantial liability or could cause our manufacturing operations to be suspended and changes in environmental regulations may impose the need for additional capital equipment or other requirements.

We Depend on Strategic Partners and Licenses for Future Development

Our strategy for development, clinical and field testing, manufacture, commercialization and marketing for some of our current and future products includes entering into various collaborations with corporate partners, licensees and others. We are dependent on our corporate partners to develop, test, manufacture and/or market some of our products. Although we believe that our partners in these collaborations have an economic motivation to succeed in performing their contractual responsibilities, the amount and timing of resources to be devoted to these activities are not within our control. Our partners may not perform their obligations as expected or we may not derive any additional revenue from the arrangements. Our partners may not pay any additional option or license fees to us or may not develop, market or pay any royalty fees related to products under the agreements. Moreover, some of the collaborative agreements provide that they may be terminated at the discretion of the corporate partner, and some of the collaborative agreements provide for termination under other circumstances. Our partners may pursue existing or alternative technologies in preference to our technology. Furthermore, we may not be able to negotiate additional collaborative arrangements in the future on acceptable terms, if at all, and our collaborative arrangements may not be successful.

Our International Sales May Expose Our Business to Additional Risks

For fiscal year 2013, approximately 30% of our total revenues were derived from product sales to international customers. A number of risks are inherent in international transactions. International sales and operations may be limited or disrupted by any of the following:

regulatory approval process,

government controls,

export license requirements,

political instability,

price controls,

trade restrictions,

changes in tariffs, or

difficulties in staffing and managing international operations.

Foreign regulatory agencies have or may establish product standards different from those in the United States, and any inability to obtain foreign regulatory approvals on a timely basis could have a material adverse effect on our international business, and our financial condition and results of operations. While our foreign sales are currently priced in dollars, fluctuations in currency exchange rates may reduce the demand for our products by increasing the price of our products in the currency of the countries to which the products are sold. Regulatory, geopolitical and other factors may adversely impact our operations in the future or require us to modify our current business practices.

Cancellations or Delays of Orders by Our Customers May Adversely Affect Our Business

During fiscal year 2013, sales to our top five customers accounted for approximately 40% of our revenues, with our two largest customers from our Food Products Technology segment accounting for approximately 16% and 13%, respectively of our revenues. We expect that, for the foreseeable future, a limited number of customers may continue to account for a substantial portion of our revenues. We may experience changes in the composition of our customer base as we have experienced in the past. The reduction, delay or cancellation of orders from one or more major customers for any reason or the loss of one or more of our major customers could materially and adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition. In addition, since some of the products processed by Apio and Lifecore are sole sourced to customers, our operating results could be adversely affected if one or more of our major customers were to develop other sources of supply. Our current customers may not continue to place orders, orders by existing customers may be canceled or may not continue at the levels of previous periods or we may not be able to obtain orders from new customers.

Our Sale of Some Products May Increase Our Exposure to Product Liability Claims

The testing, manufacturing, marketing, and sale of the products we develop involve an inherent risk of allegations of product liability. If any of our products were determined or alleged to be contaminated or defective or to have caused a harmful accident to an end-customer, we could incur substantial costs in responding to complaints or litigation regarding our products and our product brand image could be materially damaged. Such events may have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition. Although we have taken and intend to continue to take what we consider to be appropriate precautions to minimize exposure to product liability claims, we may not be able to avoid significant liability. We currently maintain product liability insurance. While we think the coverage and limits are consistent with industry standards, our coverage may not be adequate or may not continue to be available at an acceptable cost, if at all. A product liability claim, product recall or other claim with respect to uninsured liabilities or in excess of insured liabilities could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.

Our Stock Price May Fluctuate in Accordance with Market Conditions

The following events may cause the market price of our common stock to fluctuate significantly:

technological innovations applicable to our products,

our attainment of (or failure to attain) milestones in the commercialization of our technology,

our development of new products or the development of new products by our competitors,

new patents or changes in existing patents applicable to our products,

our acquisition of new businesses or the sale or disposal of a part of our businesses,

development of new collaborative arrangements by us, our competitors or other parties,

changes in government regulations applicable to our business,

changes in investor perception of our business,

fluctuations in our operating results, and

changes in the general market conditions in our industry.

                These broad fluctuations may adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

We May Be Exposed to Employment Related Claims and Costs that Could Materially Adversely Affect Our Business

We have been subject in the past, and may be in the future, to claims by employees based on allegations of discrimination, negligence, harassment and inadvertent employment of undocumented workers or unlicensed personnel, and we may be subject to payment of workers' compensation claims and other similar claims. We could incur substantial costs and our management could spend a significant amount of time responding to such complaints or litigation regarding employee claims, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.

We Are Dependent on Our Key Employees and if One or More of Them Were to Leave, We Could Experience Difficulties in Replacing Them and Our Operating Results Could Suffer

The success of our business depends to a significant extent on the continued service and performance of a relatively small number of key senior management, technical, sales, and marketing personnel. The loss of any of our key personnel for an extended period would likely harm our business. In addition, competition for senior level personnel with knowledge and experience in our different lines of business is intense. If any of our key personnel were to leave, we would need to devote substantial resources and management attention to replace them. As a result, management attention may be diverted from managing our business, and we may need to pay higher compensation to replace these employees.

We May Issue Preferred Stock with Preferential Rights that Could Affect Your Rights

The issuance of shares of preferred stock could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire a majority of our outstanding stock, and the holders of such preferred stock could have voting, dividend, liquidation and other rights superior to those of holders of our Common Stock.

We Have Never Paid any Dividends on Our Common Stock

We have not paid any dividends on our Common Stock since inception and do not expect to in the foreseeable future. Any dividends may be subject to preferential dividends payable on any preferred stock we may issue.

Our Profitability Could Be Materially and Adversely Affected if it Is Determined that the Book Value of Goodwill is Higher than Fair Value

Our balance sheet includes an amount designated as “goodwill” that represents a portion of our assets and our stockholders’ equity. Goodwill arises when an acquirer pays more for a business than the fair value of the tangible and separately measurable intangible net assets. In accordance with accounting guidance, the amortization of goodwill has been replaced with an “impairment test” which requires that we compare the fair value of goodwill to its book value at least annually and more frequently if circumstances indicate a possible impairment. If we determine at any time in the future that the book value of goodwill is higher than fair value then the difference must be written-off, which could materially and adversely affect our reported profitability.

1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

Item 2. Properties

As of May 26, 2013, the Company owned or leased properties in Menlo Park, Arroyo Grande, Guadalupe and Pico Rivera, California; Chaska, Minnesota; Bowling Green, Perrysburg and McClure, Ohio; Hanover, Pennsylvania; Vero Beach, Florida; Rock Hill, South Carolina and Chester, New York.

These properties are described below:

The obligations of the Company under its credit agreement with BMO Harris Bank N.A. (“BMO Harris”) are secured by a lien on the Chaska, MN land and building. The obligations of the Company under its credit agreement with General Electric Capital Corporation (“General Electric”) are secured by a lien on all of the land and buildings of the Food Products Technology segment.

Item 3.     Legal Proceedings

 As of the date of this report, the Company is not a party to any legal proceedings.

Item 4.     Mine Safety Disclosures

 Not applicable.

PART II

Item 5.     Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Market Information

The Common Stock is traded on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “LNDC”. The following table sets forth for each period indicated the high and low sales prices for the Common Stock.

Fiscal Year Ended May 26, 2013 

Fiscal Year Ended May 27, 2012 

Holders

There were approximately 61 holders of record of 26,464,518 shares of outstanding Common Stock as of July 19, 2013. Since certain holders are listed under their brokerage firm’s names, the actual number of stockholders is higher.

Dividends

The Company has not paid any dividends on the Common Stock since its inception. The Company presently intends to retain all future earnings, if any, for its business and does not anticipate paying cash dividends on its Common Stock in the foreseeable future.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

There were no shares repurchased by the Company during fiscal year 2013. During fiscal year 2012, the Company repurchased and retired 917,244 shares of Common Stock for $5.0 million. During fiscal year 2011, the Company repurchased and retired 215,648 shares of Common Stock for $1.2 million. The Company may still repurchase up to $3.8 million of the Company’s Common Stock under the Company’s stock repurchase plan announced on July 14, 2010.

Item 6.    Selected Financial Data

The information set forth below is not necessarily indicative of the results of future operations and should be read in conjunction with the information contained in Item 7 – “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Item 8 of this report.

Item 7.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Item 8 of this report. Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this report are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, those mentioned in this report and, in particular, the factors described in Item 1A. "Risk Factors.” Landec undertakes no obligation to revise any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this report.

Overview

Since its inception in October 1986, the Company has been engaged in the research and development of its Intelimer technology and related products. The Company has launched four product lines from this core development – QuickCast™ splints and casts in April 1994, which was subsequently sold to Bissell Healthcare Corporation in August 1997; BreatheWay packaging technology for the fresh-cut and whole produce packaging market in September 1995; Intelimer Polymer Systems that includes polymer materials for various industrial applications in June 1997 and for personal care applications in November 2003; and Intellicoat coated corn seeds in the Fall of 1999. In addition, in April 2010, the Company acquired Lifecore which develops and manufactures products utilizing hyaluronan, a naturally occurring polysaccharide that is widely distributed in the extracellular matrix of connective tissues in both animals and humans.

Landec has three core businesses – Food Products Technology, Food Export, and HA-based Biomaterials. The Food Products Technology segment combines the Company’s BreatheWay packaging technology with Apio’s branded Eat Smart and GreenLine and private label fresh-cut and whole produce business. The Food Export business is operated through Apio’s Cal-Ex export company which purchases and sells whole fruit and vegetable products to predominantly Asian markets. The HA-based Biomaterials business sells products utilizing HA in the ophthalmic, orthopedic and veterinary segments and also supplies HA to customers pursuing other medical applications, such as aesthetic surgery, medical device coatings, tissue engineering and pharmaceuticals. See "Business - Description of Core Business".

As of May 26, 2013, the Company’s retained earnings were $52 million. The Company may incur losses in the future. The amount of future net profits, if any, is uncertain and there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to sustain profitability in future years.

Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make certain estimates and judgments that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. The accounting estimates that require management’s most significant and subjective judgments include revenue recognition; sales returns and allowances; recognition and measurement of current and deferred income tax assets and liabilities; the assessment of recoverability of long-lived assets; the valuation of intangible assets and inventory; the valuation of investments; and the valuation and recognition of stock-based compensation.

These estimates involve the consideration of complex factors and require management to make judgments. The analysis of historical and future trends can require extended periods of time to resolve, and are subject to change from period to period. The actual results may differ from management’s estimates.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The Company maintains allowances for doubtful accounts for estimated losses resulting from the inability of its customers to make required payments. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on review of the overall condition of accounts receivable balances and review of significant past due accounts. If the financial condition of the Company’s customers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be required.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. If the cost of the inventories exceeds their expected market value, provisions are recorded currently for the difference between the cost and the market value. These provisions are determined based on specific identification for unusable inventory and an additional reserve, based on historical losses, for inventory currently considered to be usable.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue from product sales is recognized when there is persuasive evidence that an arrangement exists, title has transferred, the price is fixed and determinable, and collectability is reasonably assured. Allowances are established for estimated uncollectible amounts, product returns, and discounts based on specific identification and historical losses.

The Company takes title to all produce it trades and/or packages, and therefore, records revenues and cost of sales at gross amounts in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

Licensing revenue is recognized in accordance with prevailing accounting guidance. Initial license fees are deferred and amortized to revenue over the period of the agreement when a contract exists, the fee is fixed and determinable, and collectability is reasonably assured. Noncancellable, nonrefundable license fees are recognized over the period of the agreement, including those governing research and development activities and any related supply agreement entered into concurrently with the license when the risk associated with commercialization of a product is non-substantive at the outset of the arrangement.

Contract revenue for research and development (R&D) is recorded as earned, based on the performance requirements of the contract. Non-refundable contract fees for which no further performance obligations exist, and there is no continuing involvement by the Company, are recognized on the earlier of when the payments are received or when collection is assured.

When a sales arrangement contains multiple elements, the Company allocates revenue to each element based on a selling price hierarchy. The relative selling price for a deliverable is based on its vendor-specific objective evidence (VSOE), if available, third-party evidence (TPE), if VSOE is not available, or estimated selling price, if neither VSOE nor TPE is available. The Company then recognizes revenue on each deliverable in accordance with its policies for product and service revenue recognition. The Company is not typically able to determine VSOE or TPE, and therefore, uses estimated selling prices to allocate revenue between the elements of the arrangement.

The Company limits the amount of revenue recognition for delivered elements to the amount that is not contingent on the future delivery of products or services or future performance obligations or subject to customer-specific cancellation rights. The Company evaluates each deliverable in an arrangement to determine whether they represent separate units of accounting. A deliverable constitutes a separate unit of accounting when it has stand-alone value, and for an arrangement that includes a general right of return relative to the delivered products or services, delivery or performance of the undelivered product or service is considered probable and is substantially controlled by the Company. The Company considers a deliverable to have stand-alone value if the product or service is sold separately by the Company or another vendor or could be resold by the customer. Further, the revenue arrangements generally do not include a general right of return relative to the delivered products. Where the aforementioned criteria for a separate unit of accounting are not met, the deliverable is combined with the undelivered element(s) and treated as a single unit of accounting for the purposes of allocation of the arrangement consideration and revenue recognition. The Company allocates the total arrangement consideration to each separable element of an arrangement based upon the relative selling price of each element. Allocation of the consideration is determined at arrangement inception on the basis of each unit’s relative selling price. In instances where the Company has not established fair value for any undelivered element, revenue for all elements is deferred until delivery of the final element is completed and all recognition criteria are met.

Goodwill and Other Intangibles

The Company’s intangible assets are comprised of customer relationships with an estimated useful life of twelve to thirteen years and trademarks/trade names and goodwill with indefinite lives (collectively, “intangible assets”), which the Company recognized in accordance with accounting guidance (i) upon the acquisition of GreenLine by Apio in April 2012, (ii) upon the acquisition of Lifecore in April 2010 and (iii) upon the acquisition of Apio in December 1999. Accounting guidance defines goodwill as “the excess of the cost of an acquired entity over the net of the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed at date of acquisition.” All intangible assets, including goodwill, associated with the acquisition of Lifecore was allocated to our HA-based Biomaterials reporting unit and the acquisitions of Apio and GreenLine were allocated to our Food Products Technology reporting unit pursuant to accounting guidance based upon the allocation of assets and liabilities acquired and consideration paid for each reporting unit. As of May 26, 2013, the HA-based Biomaterials reporting unit had $13.9 million of goodwill and the Food Products Technology reporting unit had $35.7 million of goodwill.

The Company tests its indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment at least annually, in accordance with accounting guidance. For non-goodwill indefinite-lived assets, the Company performs a qualitative analysis in accordance with ASC 350-30-35. For goodwill, the Company performs a quantitative analysis in accordance with ASC 350-20-35.

Application of the impairment tests for indefinite-lived intangible assets requires significant judgment by management, including identification of reporting units, assignment of assets and liabilities to reporting units, assignment of intangible assets to reporting units, and the determination of the fair value of each indefinite-lived intangible asset and reporting unit based upon projections of future net cash flows, discount rates and market multiples, which judgments and projections are inherently uncertain.

The Company tested its indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment as of July 21, 2013 and determined that no adjustments to the carrying values of these assets were necessary as of that date. On a quarterly basis, the Company considers the need to update its most recent annual tests for possible impairment of its indefinite-lived intangible assets, based on management’s assessment of changes in its business and other economic factors since the most recent annual evaluation. Such changes, if significant or material, could indicate a need to update the most recent annual tests for impairment of the indefinite-lived intangible assets during the current period. The results of these tests could lead to write-downs of the carrying values of these assets in the current period.

The Company uses the discounted cash flow (“DCF”) approach to develop an estimate of fair value for goodwill. The DCF approach recognizes that current value is premised on the expected receipt of future economic benefits. Indications of value are developed by discounting projected future net cash flows to their present value at a rate that reflects both the current return requirements of the market and the risks inherent in the specific investment. The market approach is not used to value the Company’s reporting units (the “reporting units”) because insufficient market comparables exist to enable the Company to develop a reasonable fair value of its intangible assets due to the unique nature of each of the Company’s reporting units.

The DCF approach requires the Company to exercise judgment in determining future business and financial forecasts and the related estimates of future net cash flows. Future net cash flows depend primarily on future product sales, which are inherently difficult to predict. These net cash flows are discounted at a rate that reflects both the current return requirements of the market and the risks inherent in the specific investment.

The DCF associated with the annual goodwill impairment analysis for the Food Products Technology reporting unit is based on management’s five-year projection of revenues, gross profits and operating profits by fiscal year and assumes a 37% effective tax rate for each year. Management takes into account the historical trends of the Food Products Technology reporting unit and the industry categories in which it operates along with inflationary factors, current economic conditions, new product introductions, cost of sales, operating expenses, capital requirements and other relevant data when developing its projection. The estimated fair value of the Food Products Technology reporting unit as of July 21, 2013 was 111% of its book value at that date, therefore, no goodwill impairment was deemed to exist. For the test performed as of July 22, 2012, the projected cash flow from operations for determining the DCF for fiscal year 2013 was $10.2 million for the Food Products Technology reporting unit. The actual cash flow from operations for fiscal year 2013 was $13.6 million. The difference of $3.4 million was primarily due to the timing of working capital changes.

The DCF associated with the annual goodwill impairment analysis for the HA-based Biomaterials reporting unit is based on management’s five-year projections of revenues, gross profits and operating profits by fiscal year and assumes a 37% effective tax rate for each year. Management takes into account the historical trends of HA-based Biomaterials reporting unit and the industry categories in which it operates along with inflationary factors, current economic conditions, new product introductions, cost of sales, operating expenses, capital requirements and other relevant data when developing its projection. The trade name intangible asset was valued using the relief from royalty valuation method and the customer relationship intangible asset was valued using the multi-period excess earnings method. The fair value of goodwill was calculated as the excess of consideration paid, including the fair value of contingent consideration under the terms of the purchase agreement, over the fair value of the tangible and intangible assets acquired less liabilities assumed. The Company updated its analysis of the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible assets as of its annual impairment analysis date, concluding that the fair value of the HA-based Biomaterials reporting unit, as determined by the DCF approach, was 117% of its book value at that date, therefore, no goodwill impairment was deemed to exist. For the test performed as of July 22, 2012, the projected cash flow from operations for determining the DCF for fiscal year 2013 was $8.4 million for the HA-based Biomaterials reporting unit. The actual cash flow from operations for fiscal year 2013 was $13.2 million. The difference of $4.8 million is primarily due to timing of working capital changes.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with accounting guidance which requires that deferred tax assets and liabilities be recognized using enacted tax rates for the effect of temporary differences between the book and tax basis of recorded assets and liabilities. The Company maintains valuation allowances when it is likely that all or a portion of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. Changes in valuation allowances from period to period are included in the Company’s income tax provision in the period of change. In determining whether a valuation allowance is warranted, the Company takes into account such factors as prior earnings history, expected future earnings, unsettled circumstances that, if unfavorably resolved, would adversely affect utilization of a deferred tax asset, carryback and carryforward periods, and tax strategies that could potentially enhance the likelihood of realization of a deferred tax asset. At May 26, 2013, the Company had a valuation allowance of $783,000 against deferred tax assets.

In addition to valuation allowances, the Company establishes accruals for uncertain tax positions. The tax-contingency accruals are adjusted in light of changing facts and circumstances, such as the progress of tax audits, case law and emerging legislation. The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as a component of income tax expense. The Company’s effective tax rate includes the impact of tax-contingency accruals as considered appropriate by management.

A number of years may elapse before a particular matter, for which the Company has accrued, is audited and finally resolved. The number of years with open tax audits varies by jurisdiction. While it is often difficult to predict the final outcome or the timing of resolution of any particular tax matter, the Company believes its tax-contingency accruals are adequate to address known tax contingencies. Favorable resolution of such matters could be recognized as a reduction to the Company’s effective tax rate in the year of resolution. Unfavorable settlement of any particular issue could increase the effective tax rate. Any resolution of a tax issue may require the use of cash in the year of resolution. The Company’s tax-contingency accruals are presented in the balance sheet within accrued liabilities.

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company’s stock-based awards include stock option grants and restricted stock unit awards (RSUs).

The estimated fair value for stock options, which determines the Company’s calculation of compensation expense, is based on the Black-Scholes pricing model. In addition, the accounting guidance requires the estimation of the expected forfeitures of stock-based awards at the time of grant. As a result, the Company uses historical data to estimate pre-vesting forfeitures and records stock-based compensation expense only for those awards that are expected to vest and revises those estimates in subsequent periods if the actual forfeitures differ from the prior estimates.

Fair Value Measurements

The Company uses fair value measurement accounting for financial assets and liabilities and for financial instruments and certain other items measured at fair value. The Company has elected the fair value option for its investment in a non-public company (see Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). The Company has not elected the fair value option for any of its other eligible financial assets or liabilities.

The accounting guidance established a three-tier hierarchy for fair value measurements, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows:

Level 1 – observable inputs such as quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.

Level 2 – inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are observable either directly or indirectly through corroboration with observable market data.

Level 3 – unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which would require the Company to develop its own assumptions.

As of May 26, 2013, the Company held certain assets and liabilities that are required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis, including cash equivalents, marketable securities, interest rate swap and its minority interest investment in Windset.

The fair value of the Company’s marketable securities is determined based on observable inputs that are readily available in public markets or can be derived from information available in publicly quoted markets. Therefore, the Company has categorized its marketable securities as a Level 1 measurement.

The fair value of the Company’s interest rate swap is determined based on model inputs that can be observed in a liquid market, including yield curves, and is categorized as a Level 2 measurement.

The fair value of the Company’s liability for contingent consideration as of May 27, 2012 was based on significant inputs not observed in the market and thus represented a Level 3 measurement. The Company determined the fair value of the liability for the contingent consideration as of May 27, 2012, based on a probability-weighted discounted cash flow analysis, as further discussed in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

The Company has elected the fair value option of accounting for its investment in Windset. The calculation of fair value utilizes significant unobservable inputs in the discounted cash flow models, including projected cash flows, growth rates and discount rates. As a result, the Company’s investment in Windset is considered to be a Level 3 measurement investment. The change in the fair market value of the Company’s investment in Windset for the fiscal years ended May 26, 2013 and May 27, 2012 was due to the Company’s 20.1% minority interest in the change in the fair market value of Windset during those periods. In determining the fair value of the investment in Windset, the Company utilizes the following significant unobservable inputs in the discounted cash flow models:

 
               The revenue growth, expense growth and income tax rate assumptions, consider the Company's best estimate of the trends in those items over the discount period.   The discount rate assumption takes into account the risk-free rate of return, the market equity risk premium and the company’s specific risk premium and then applies an additional discount for lack of liquidity of the underlying securities.    The discounted cash flow valuation model used by the Company has the following sensitivity to changes in inputs and assumptions (in thousands):

Imprecision in estimating unobservable market inputs can affect the amount of gain or loss recorded for a particular position. The use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different estimate of fair value at the reporting date.

The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis, as of May 26, 2013 and May 27, 2012 (in thousands):

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Intangibles-Goodwill and Other

In September 2011, the FASB issued new guidance that will allow an entity to first assess qualitative factors to determine whether it is necessary to perform the two-step quantitative goodwill and intangibles impairment test. Under this amendment, an entity would not be required to calculate the fair value of a reporting unit unless the entity determines, based on a qualitative assessment, that it is more likely than not that its fair value is less than its carrying amount. The amendment includes a number of events and circumstances for an entity to consider in conducting the qualitative assessment. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011 with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted this standard beginning in fiscal year 2013 and the adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Presentation of Comprehensive Income
 

In December 2011, the FASB issued new guidance that improves the comparability, consistency, and transparency of financial reporting and increases the prominence of items reported in other comprehensive income by eliminating the option to present components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders' equity. The amendments in this standard require that all non-owner changes in stockholders' equity be presented either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. Under either method, adjustments must be displayed for items that are reclassified from other comprehensive income ("OCI") to net income, in both net income and OCI. The standard does not change the current option for presenting components of OCI gross or net of the effect of income taxes, provided that such tax effects are presented in the statement in which OCI is presented or disclosed in the notes to the financial statements. Additionally, the standard does not affect the calculation or reporting of earnings per share. For public entities, the amendments in this ASU are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011 and are to be applied retrospectively, with early adoption permitted. The Company retrospectively adopted this standard beginning in fiscal year 2013.

Fair Value Measurement

In May 2011, the FASB issued new guidance effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2011. This guidance amends certain accounting and disclosure requirements related to fair value measurements. Additional disclosure requirements in the update include: (1) for Level 3 fair value measurements, quantitative information about unobservable inputs used, a description of the valuation processes used by the entity, and a qualitative discussion about the sensitivity of the measurements to changes in the unobservable inputs; (2) for an entity’s use of a nonfinancial asset that is different from the asset’s highest and best use, the reason for the difference; (3) for financial instruments not measured at fair value but for which disclosure of fair value is required, the fair value hierarchy level in which the fair value measurements were determined; and (4) the disclosure of all transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.   The Company adopted this standard beginning in fiscal year 2013.

Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities

In November 2011, the FASB issued new guidance effective for annual reporting periods beginning January 1, 2013. This guidance amends the disclosure requirements around offsetting to enable users of the financial statements to understand the effect of those arrangements on its financial position. Entities are required to disclose both gross and net information about the instruments and transactions eligible for offset in the statement of financial position and instruments and transactions subject to an agreement similar to a master netting arrangement. The Company does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Results of Operations

Fiscal Year Ended May 27, 2013 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended May 27, 2012

Revenues (in thousands):

Food Products Technology (Apio)

Apio’s food products technology revenues consist of revenues generated from the sale of specialty packaged fresh-cut and whole value-added processed vegetable products that are washed and packaged in our proprietary packaging and sold under Apio’s Eat Smart and GreenLine brands and various private labels. In addition, value-added revenues include the revenues generated from Apio Cooling, LP, a vegetable cooling operation in which Apio is the general partner with a 60% ownership position and from the sale of BreatheWay packaging to license partners.

The increase in Apio's food products technology revenues for the fiscal year ended May 26, 2013 compared to the same period last year was primarily due to the following factors: (1) a $27 million increase in non-green bean value-added sales due to a 15% increase in unit volume sales to existing non-green bean customers resulting primarily from expanded product offerings, gaining additional distribution locations and growth in the fresh-cut vegetable category, (2) an $86 million increase in revenues from GreenLine which was acquired on April 23, 2012 and (3) a larger percentage of Apio's non-green bean value-added sales volume being generated from sales to club stores rather than retail grocery chains. These increases in revenue were partially offset by product mix changes in retail grocery chains to lower priced products from higher priced products.

Food Export (Apio)

Apio’s food export revenues consist of revenues generated from the purchase and sale of primarily whole commodity fruit and vegetable products to Asia by Cal-Ex. Apio records revenue equal to the sale price to third parties because it takes title to the product while in transit.

The increase in revenues in Apio’s food export business for the fiscal year ended May 26, 2013 compared to the same period last year was primarily due to more favorable pricing for export products in fiscal year 2013 compared to fiscal year 2012 resulting in higher prices per unit sold.

HA-based Biomaterials (Lifecore)

Lifecore principally generates revenue through the sale of products containing HA. Lifecore primarily sells products to customers in three medical areas: (1) Ophthalmic, which represented approximately 65% of Lifecore’s revenues in fiscal year 2013, (2) Orthopedic, which represented approximately 20% of Lifecore’s revenues in fiscal year 2013 and (3) Veterinary/Other.

The increase in Lifecore’s revenues for fiscal year 2013 compared to the same period last year was almost entirely due to increased sales of existing aseptically filled products to existing customers and from new aseptically filled products recently approved by the FDA to existing customers in the Ophthalmic area.

Corporate

Corporate revenues are generated from the licensing agreements with Air Products, Nitta and INCOTEC. The decrease in Corporate revenues for fiscal year 2013 compared to the same period of last year was due to the termination of the Monsanto Agreement at the end of the second quarter of fiscal year 2012. The Company recognized $2.7 million in license fees from the Monsanto Agreement during fiscal year 2012. The Monsanto license fees were partially offset by research and development revenues from Nitta.

Gross Profit (in thousands):

 General

There are numerous factors that can influence gross profit including product mix, customer mix, manufacturing costs, volume, sale discounts and charges for excess or obsolete inventory, to name a few. Many of these factors influence or are interrelated with other factors. The Company includes in cost of sales all of the costs related to the sale of products in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. These costs include the following: raw materials (including produce, seeds, packaging, syringes and fermentation and purification supplies), direct labor, overhead (including indirect labor, depreciation, and facility related costs) and shipping and shipping-related costs. The following are the primary reasons for the changes in gross profit for the fiscal year ended May 26, 2013 compared to the same period last year as outlined in the table above.

Food Products Technology (Apio)

The increase in gross profit for the food products technology business for the fiscal year 2013 compared to the same period last year was primarily due to (1) the 54% increase in revenues and (2) the addition of higher margin GreenLine products. These increases were partially offset by the negative impact of produce sourcing issues which primarily occurred during the second half of fiscal year 2013.

Food Export (Apio)

Apio’s export business is a buy/sell business that typically realizes a gross margin in the 5-8% range.

The increase in gross profit for Apio’s food export business for fiscal year 2013 compared to the same period last year was primarily due to a 10% increase in revenues partially offset by higher procurement costs for certain export products.

HA-based Biomaterials (Lifecore)

Lifecore operates in the higher margin medical devices industry and has historically realized an overall gross margin of approximately 50%.

The increase in gross profit for fiscal year 2013 compared to the same period last year was due to an increase in revenues of $7.0 million resulting from the increased sales of both historical products and new products to existing customers which were partially offset by the revenue increase from aseptically filled products which have a lower gross margin than Lifecore’s other products.

Corporate

The decrease in Corporate gross profit for fiscal year 2013 compared to the same period last year was due to the termination of the Monsanto Agreement at the end of the second quarter of fiscal year 2012. The Company recognized $2.7 million in license fees from the Monsanto Agreement during fiscal year 2012. The Monsanto license fees were partially offset by research and development revenues from Nitta.

Operating Expenses (in thousands):

Research and Development

Landec’s research and development consisted primarily of product development and commercialization initiatives. Research and development efforts at Apio are focused on the Company’s proprietary BreatheWay membranes used for packaging produce, with a focus on extending the shelf-life of sensitive vegetables and fruit. In the Lifecore business, the research and development efforts are focused on new products and applications for HA-based biomaterials. For Corporate, the research and development efforts are focused on supporting the development and commercialization of new products and new technologies in our food and HA businesses along with developing uses for our proprietary Intelimer polymers outside of our food and HA businesses.

The decrease in research and development expenses for fiscal year 2013 compared to the same period last year was primarily due to the decrease in research and development expenses incurred by Corporate during fiscal year 2012 at the Company’s former seed corn business which was sold in June 2012.

Selling, General and Administrative (S,G&A)

Selling, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of sales and marketing expenses associated with Landec’s product sales and services, business development expenses and staff and administrative expenses.

The increase in S,G&A expenses for fiscal year 2013 compared to the same period last year was primarily due to: (1) a $4.6 million increase in S,G&A expenses at Apio from GreenLine which was acquired on April 23, 2012 and (2) a $2.6 million increase in SG&A at Apio, excluding GreenLine, due to the amortization of the customer base intangible acquired in the acquisition of GreenLine and additional sales and marketing expenses associated with the increase in revenues. These increases were partially offset by a $1.3 million decrease in S,G&A at Corporate due primarily to no Corporate bonuses being earned in fiscal year 2013 compared to $1.0 million of Corporate bonuses earned in fiscal year 2012 and from S,G&A expenses at the Company's former seed corn business in fiscal year 2012 which was sold in June 2012.

Other Operating Expenses

Other operating expenses in fiscal year 2013 consisted of a $3.9 million reversal of the earn-out liability at Apio associated with the GreenLine acquisition. Other operating expenses in fiscal year 2012 consisted of expenses incurred as a result of the acquisition of GreenLine.

Non-operating income/(expense) (in thousands):

Dividend Income

Dividend income is derived from the dividends accrued on our $15 million preferred stock investment in Windset which yields a cash dividend of 7.5% annually. There was no change in dividend income in fiscal year 2013 compared to fiscal year 2012.

Interest Income

The decrease in interest income for the fiscal year ended May 26, 2013 compared to the same period last year was primarily due to lower cash balances reflecting our use of cash to buyback shares of the Company’s common stock during fiscal year 2012 and to purchase GreenLine.

Interest Expense

The increase in interest expense during fiscal year 2013 compared to the same period last year was due to interest on the $32 million of debt incurred in the acquisition of GreenLine. This increase was partially offset by decreases in interest expense at Lifecore due to paying down its debt by $3.3 million during fiscal year 2013.

Other Income

The increase in other income for fiscal year 2013 compared to the same period last year is primarily due to the change in the fair market value of our Windset investment being $2.3 million higher in fiscal year 2013 compared to the change in fiscal year 2012.

Income Taxes

The increase in the income tax expense for fiscal year 2013 is due to a 59% increase in net income before taxes compared to the same period last year. The effective tax rate for fiscal year 2013 was 30% compared to 36% for the same period last year primarily because the $3.9 million reversal of the earn-out liability during fiscal year 2013 related to the GreenLine acquisition was not subject to income taxes and various to other tax deductions and credits in fiscal year 2013, such as the return of the R&D credit and the change in the Company’s state apportionment factors due to the addition of GreenLine, which resulted in a lower effective tax rate for fiscal year 2013.

Non controlling Interest

The non controlling interest consists of the limited partners’ equity interest in the net income of Apio Cooling, LP.

The change in the non controlling interest for fiscal year 2013 compared to the same periods last year was due to a decrease in Apio Cooling revenues.

Fiscal Year Ended May 27, 2012 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended May 29, 2011

Revenues (in thousands):

Food Products Technology (Apio)

Apio’s food products technology revenues consist of revenues generated from the sale of specialty packaged fresh-cut and whole value-added processed vegetable products that are washed and packaged in our proprietary packaging and sold under Apio’s Eat Smart and GreenLine brands and various private labels. In addition, value-added revenues include the revenues generated from Apio Cooling, LP, a vegetable cooling operation in which Apio is the general partner with a 60% ownership position and from the sale of BreatheWay packaging to license partners.

The increase in Apio's value-added revenues for the fiscal year ended May 27, 2012 compared to the same period last year was primarily due to the following factors: (1) an 11% increase in unit volume sales to existing customers resulting primarily from expanded product offerings, the additional of more distribution locations and growth in the fresh-cut vegetable category, (2) $9.1 million of revenues from GreenLine from the acquisition date of April 23, 2012 through the fiscal year ended May 27, 2012 and (3) a larger percentage of Apio's value-added revenues being generated from sales to club stores rather than retail grocery chains. These increases in revenue were partially offset by a product mix change in retail grocery chains to lower priced products from higher priced products.

Food Export (Apio)

Apio food export revenues consist of revenues generated from the purchase and sale of primarily whole commodity fruit and vegetable products to Asia by Cal-Ex. Apio records revenue equal to the sale price to third parties because it takes title to the product while in transit.

The increase in revenues in Apio’s export business for the fiscal year ended May 27, 2012 compared to the same period last year was primarily due to an 11% increase in export unit volume sales due to a greater volume of fruit and vegetables being available to export and due to more favorable pricing for export products in fiscal year 2012 compared to fiscal year 2011.

HA-based Biomaterials (Lifecore)

Lifecore principally generates revenue through the sale of products containing HA. Lifecore primarily sells products to customers in three medical areas: (1) Ophthalmic, which represented approximately 65% of Lifecore’s revenues in fiscal year 2012, (2) Orthopedic, which represented approximately 20% of Lifecore’s revenues in fiscal year 2012 and (3) Veterinary/Other.

The increase in revenues for Lifecore was primarily due to an increase in sales to existing customers.

Corporate

Corporate revenues consisted of revenues generated from the licensing agreements with Monsanto, Air Products and Nitta.

The decrease in Corporate revenues for the fiscal year ended May 27, 2012 compared to the same period last year was primarily due to the termination of the Monsanto Agreement at the end of the second quarter of fiscal year 2012. The quarterly revenues and gross profit from Monsanto had been $1.35 million per quarter prior to the termination.

Gross Profit (in thousands):

 General

There are numerous factors that can influence gross profit including product mix, customer mix, manufacturing costs, volume, sale discounts and charges for excess or obsolete inventory, to name a few. Many of these factors influence or are interrelated with other factors. The Company includes in cost of sales all of the costs related to the sale of products in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. These costs include the following: raw materials (including produce, casein, seeds and packaging), direct labor, overhead (including indirect labor, depreciation, and facility related costs) and shipping and shipping-related costs. The following are the primary reasons for the changes in gross profit for the fiscal year ended May 27, 2012 compared to the same period last year as outlined in the table above.

Food Products Technology (Apio)

The increase in gross profit for the food products technology business for the fiscal year ended May 27, 2012 compared to the same period last year was primarily due to the 19% increase in revenues and the decrease in costs of produce as compared to the costs associated with the weather related produce supply issues experienced during the November to February period of fiscal year 2011.    

Food Export (Apio)

Apio’s export business is a buy/sell business that realizes a commission-based margin in the 5-8% range.

The increase in gross profit for Apio’s food export business during the fiscal year ended May 27, 2012 compared to the same period last year was primarily due to the 16% increase in revenues and higher average margins on export sales due to a more favorable product mix in fiscal year 2012 compared to fiscal year 2011.

HA-based Biomaterials (Lifecore)

Lifecore operates in the higher margin medical devices industry and has historically realized an overall gross margin of approximately 50%.

The increase in Lifecore’s gross profit during the fiscal year ended May 27, 2012 compared to the same period last year was primarily due to the 5% increase in revenues.

Corporate

The decrease in Corporate gross profit for the fiscal year ended May 27, 2012 compared to the same period of the prior year was primarily due to the termination of the Monsanto Agreement at the end of the second quarter of fiscal year 2012. The quarterly revenues and gross profit from Monsanto had been $1.35 million per quarter prior to the termination.

Operating Expenses (in thousands):

Research and Development

Landec’s research and development consisted primarily of product development and commercialization initiatives. Research and development efforts at Apio are focused on the Company’s proprietary BreatheWay membranes used for packaging produce, with a focus on extending the shelf-life of sensitive vegetables and fruit. In the Lifecore business, the research and development efforts are focused on new products and applications for HA-based biomaterials. For Corporate, the research and development efforts are focused on supporting the development and commercialization of new products and new technologies in our food and HA businesses along with developing uses for our proprietary Intelimer polymers outside of our food and HA businesses.

The increase in research and development expenses for the fiscal year ended May 27, 2012 compared to the same period last year was primarily due to increased payroll expenses from increased research and development efforts associated with new product development in our HA business.

Selling, General and Administrative

Selling, general and administrative expenses consist primarily of sales and marketing expenses associated with Landec’s product sales and services, business development expenses and staff and administrative expenses.

The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses for the fiscal year ended May 27, 2012 compared to the same period last year was primarily due to increased sales and marketing expenses at Apio. Due to the increase in revenues, the Company experienced higher brokerage fees and due to Apio and the Company exceeding their revenue and operating income plan for fiscal year 2012, bonus expenses were higher than the same period of last year.

Other Operating Expenses

Other operating expenses in fiscal year 2012 consisted of expenses incurred as a result of the acquisition of GreenLine. Other operating expenses in fiscal year 2011 consisted of an impairment charge from the write off of Landec Ag’s goodwill.

Non-operating income/(expense) (in thousands):

Dividend Income

The increase in dividend income was due to the receipt of a full year of dividends during fiscal year 2012 from the $15 million preferred stock investment in Windset. The preferred stock yields a cash dividend of 7.5% annually. The $328,000 for fiscal year 2011 represents dividends for the period February 15, 2011 through May 29, 2011.

Interest Income

The decrease in interest income for the fiscal year ended May 27, 2012 compared to the same period last year was primarily due to lower cash balances reflecting our use of cash to purchase GreenLine, to purchase our minority investment in Windset and to purchase the Company’s common stock on the open market. Interest income was further negatively impacted by lower yields on investments due to declines in interest rates.

Interest Expense

The increase in interest expense during the fiscal year ended May 27, 2012 compared to the same period last year was due to interest on the debt incurred in the acquisition of GreenLine and expensing of $120,000 in loan origination fees as a result of paying off the Wells Fargo credit facility. These increases were partially offset by decreases in interest expenses at Lifecore due to paying down its debt by $4.3 million during fiscal year 2012.

Other Income

Other income consists primarily of a $5.8 million increase in the fair market value of our Windset investment, partially offset by a $160,000 expense related to the amortization of the discount on Lifecore’s earn out obligation and $347,000 in expense associated with the interest rate swap with Wells Fargo.

Income Taxes

The increase in the income tax expense in fiscal year 2012 compared to fiscal year 2011 is due to a 240% increase in income before taxes partially offset by a decrease in the Company’s effective tax rate to 36% in fiscal year 2012 down from 52% in fiscal year 2011. The effective tax rates for fiscal year 2012 differ from the statutory federal income tax rate of 35 percent as a result of several factors, including state taxes, non-deductible stock-based compensation expense, tax exempt interest and non-deductible acquisition related expenses.

Non controlling Interest

The non controlling interest consists of the limited partners’ equity interest in the net income of Apio Cooling, LP.

The decrease in the non controlling interest for the fiscal year ended May 27, 2012 compared to the same period last year was not significant.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of May 26, 2013, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $13.7 million, a net decrease of $8.5 million from $22.2 million at May 27, 2012.

Cash Flow from Operating Activities 

Landec generated $21.2 million of cash from operating activities during fiscal year 2013 compared to generating $22.2 million from operating activities during fiscal year 2012. The primary sources of cash from operating activities during fiscal year 2013 were from (1) $22.8 million of net income, (2) $9.0 million of depreciation/amortization and stock based compensation expenses and (3) a $6.5 million net increase in deferred tax liabilities. The primary uses of cash from operating activities were from (1) the $8.1 million non-cash increase in the Company’s investment in Windset, (2) a reversal of the $3.9 million earn-out liability from the GreenLine acquisition which increased net income by the same amount but was a non-cash item and (3) a net increase of $1.1 million in working capital, excluding the portion of the increase in income taxes receivable which is attributable to the tax benefit from stock-based compensation.

The primary factors which increased working capital during fiscal year 2013 were (1) a $4.5 million increase in receivables primarily due to the timing of cash receipts at Apio and a $1.6 million increase in May revenues in fiscal year 2013 compared to May revenues last year, (2) a $2.5 million decrease in accrued liabilities primarily from costs accrued at the end of fiscal year 2012 which were paid in fiscal year 2013 associated with the GreenLine acquisition, (3) a $798,000 decrease in accrued compensation primarily due to a decrease in bonuses earned in fiscal year 2013 compared to fiscal year 2012 and (4) a $2.1 million increase in inventories at Apio and Lifecore to support anticipated sales growth in early fiscal year 2014. Working capital decreased during fiscal year 2013 because of a $8.8 million increase in accounts payable due to the timing of payments primarily at Apio and from the $1.1 million increase in deferred revenues from the sale of Landec Ag to INCOTEC in June 2012 and from product manufactured at Lifecore and billed but not yet shipped.

Cash Flow from Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities for fiscal year 2013 was $10.4 million compared to $44.1 million for the same period last year. The use of cash in investing activities in fiscal year 2012 was primarily due to the acquisition of GreenLine in April 2012. The primary uses of cash in investing activities during fiscal year 2013 were for the purchase of $8.9 million of equipment primarily to support the growth of the Apio value-added and Lifecore businesses and from the net purchase of $1.5 million of marketable securities.

Cash Flow from Financing Activities

Net cash used in financing activities for fiscal year 2013 was $19.3 million compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $35.9 million for the same period last year. The net cash used in financing activities during fiscal year 2013 was primarily due to the $10 million earn out payment from the Lifecore acquisition, $9.7 million of which was recorded as a contingent liability at the time of the acquisition and is therefore classified as a financing activity, and $14.7 million of payments on the Company’s lines of credit and long-term debt. These uses of cash in financing activities were partially offset by a $1.3 million tax benefit from stock-based compensation and from $3.4 million of cash received from the exercise of stock options by Company employees.

Capital Expenditures

During the fiscal year ended May 26, 2013, Landec continued its expansion of Apio’s value-added processing facility and purchased vegetable processing equipment as well as facility modifications and equipment purchased at Lifecore to support business growth. These expenditures represented the majority of the $8.9 million of capital expenditures.

Debt

On August 19, 2004, Lifecore issued variable rate industrial revenue bonds (“IRBs”).  These IRBs were assumed by Landec in the acquisition of Lifecore (see Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). The IRBs are collateralized by a bank letter of credit which is secured by a first mortgage on Lifecore’s facility in Chaska, Minnesota. In addition, Lifecore pays an annual remarketing fee equal to 0.125% and an annual letter of credit fee of 0.75%.

On April 23, 2012 in connection with the acquisition of GreenLine, Apio entered into three loan agreements with General Electric Capital Corporation and/or its affiliates (“GE Capital”), (collectively the “GE Debt Agreements”):

Apio’s obligations under the GE Debt Agreements are secured by liens on all of the property of Apio and its subsidiaries. The GE Debt Agreements contain customary events of default under which obligations could be accelerated or increased. The GE Capital real estate and equipment loans are guaranteed by Landec, and Landec has pledged its equity interest in Apio as collateral under the line of credit agreement. The GE Debt Agreements contain customary covenants, such as limitations on the ability to (1) incur indebtedness or grant liens or negative pledges on Apio’s assets; (2) make loans or other investments; (3) pay dividends, sell stock or repurchase stock or other securities; (4) sell assets; (5) engage in mergers; (6) enter into sale and leaseback transactions; and (7) make changes in Apio’s corporate structure. In addition, Apio must maintain a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.10 to 1.0 if the availability under its line of credit falls below $7.5 million. Apio was in compliance with all financial covenants as of May 26, 2013 and May 27, 2012. Unamortized loan origination fees for the GE Debt Agreements were $1.0 million and $1.3 million at May 26, 2013 and May 27, 2012, respectively, and are included in other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

On May 23, 2012, Lifecore entered into two financing agreements with BMO Harris Bank N.A. and/or its affiliates (“BMO Harris”), collectively (the “Lifecore Loan Agreements”):

The obligations of Lifecore under the Lifecore Loan Agreements are secured by liens on all of the property of Lifecore. The Lifecore Loan Agreements contain customary covenants, such as limitations on the ability to (1) incur indebtedness or grant liens or negative pledges on Lifecore’s assets; (2) make loans or other investments; (3) pay dividends or repurchase stock or other securities; (4) sell assets; (5) engage in mergers; (6) enter into sale and leaseback transactions; (7) adopt certain benefit plans; and (8) make changes in Lifecore’s corporate structure. In addition, under the Credit Agreement, Lifecore must maintain (a) a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.10 to 1.0 and a minimum quick ratio of 1.25 to 1.00, both of which must be satisfied as of the end of each fiscal quarter commencing with the fiscal quarter ending August 26, 2012 and (b) a minimum tangible net worth of $29,000,000, measured as of May 28, 2013, and as of the end of each fiscal year thereafter. Unamortized loan origination fees for the Lifecore Loan Agreements were $149,000 and $139,000 at May 26, 2013 and May 27, 2012, respectively, and are included in other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Lifecore was in compliance with all financial covenants as of May 26, 2013.

The market value of the Company’s debt approximates its recorded value as the interest rates on each debt instrument approximates current market rates.

The Term Loan was used to repay Lifecore’s former credit facility with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (“Wells Fargo”). The Letter of Credit (which replaces a letter of credit previously provided by Wells Fargo) provides liquidity and credit support for the IRBs.

In May 2010, the Company entered into a five-year interest rate swap agreement under the credit agreement with Wells Fargo, which expires on April 30, 2015. The interest rate swap was designated as a cash flow hedge of future interest payments of LIBOR and had a notional amount of $20 million. As a result of the interest rate swap transaction, the Company fixed for a five-year period the interest rate at 4.24% subject to market based interest rate risk on $20 million of borrowings under the credit agreement with Wells Fargo. The Company’s obligations under the interest rate swap transaction as to the scheduled payments were guaranteed and secured on the same basis as its obligations under the credit agreement with Wells Fargo at the time the agreement was consummated. Upon entering into the new Term Loan with BMO Harris, the Company used the proceeds from that loan to pay off the Wells Fargo credit facility. The swap with Wells Fargo was not terminated upon the extinguishment of the debt with Wells Fargo. As a result of extinguishing the debt with Wells Fargo as of May 23, 2012, the swap was no longer an effective hedge and therefore, the fair value of the swap at the time the debt was extinguished of $347,000 was reversed from other comprehensive income and recorded in other expense during fiscal year 2012. The fair value of the swap arrangement as of May 26, 2013 and May 27, 2012 was $163,000 and $347,000, respectively, and is included in other accrued liabilities in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Contractual Obligations

The Company’s material contractual obligations for the next five years and thereafter as of May 26, 2013, are as follows (in thousands):

The income tax amounts above exclude liabilities associated with the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes as we are unable to reasonably estimate the ultimate amount or timing of settlement. See Note 11 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.

The interest payment amounts above include: (1) the 4.39% fixed interest rate payments on the GE Capital equipment loan, (2) the 4.02% fixed interest rate payments on the GE real estate loan, (3) the estimated interest rate payment on the variable rate line of credit with GE Capital based on the current 30-day LIBOR plus 2% or 2.25% for fiscal year 2014 as the Company plans to pay off the line of credit at the beginning of fiscal year 2015, (4) the estimated interest rate payment on the variable Term Loan with BMO Harris based on the four year historical average 30-day LIBOR plus 2% or 2.24% and (5) the estimated interest rate payment on the variable rate IRB based on the five year historical interest rate average for the Municipal Swap Index plus 20 basis points plus the letter of credit and remarketing fees of 0.875% resulting in an estimated rate of 1.52%.

Landec is not a party to any agreements with, or commitments to, any special purpose entities that would constitute material off-balance sheet financing other than the operating lease commitments.

Landec’s future capital requirements will depend on numerous factors, including the progress of its research and development programs; the continued development of marketing, sales and distribution capabilities; the ability of Landec to establish and maintain new collaborative and licensing arrangements; any decision to pursue additional acquisition opportunities; weather conditions that can affect the supply and price of produce, the timing and amount, if any, of payments received under licensing and research and development agreements; the costs involved in preparing, filing, prosecuting, defending and enforcing intellectual property rights; the ability to comply with regulatory requirements; the emergence of competitive technology and market forces; the effectiveness of product commercialization activities and arrangements; and other factors. If Landec’s currently available funds, together with the internally generated cash flow from operations are not sufficient to satisfy its capital needs, Landec would be required to seek additional funding through other arrangements with collaborative partners, additional bank borrowings and public or private sales of its securities. There can be no assurance that additional funds, if required, will be available to Landec on favorable terms, if at all.

Landec believes that its cash from operations, along with existing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities will be sufficient to finance its operational and capital requirements for at least the next twelve months.

Item 7A.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

Not significant.     

Item 8.     Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

See Item 15 of Part IV of this report.

Item 9.    Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

Not applicable.

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures 

As of May 26, 2013, our management evaluated, with participation of our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed in reports filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the Securities and Exchange Commission, and are effective in providing reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company in such reports is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). Our management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of May 26, 2013. In making this assessment, our management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”) in Internal Control - Integrated Framework. Our management has concluded that, as of May 26, 2013, our internal control over financial reporting was effective to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, does not expect that our disclosure controls and procedures or our internal control over financial reporting will prevent all error and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected.

Our independent registered public accounting firm, Ernst & Young LLP, has issued an audit report on our internal control over financial reporting, which is included herein.

Changes in Internal Controls over Financial Reporting

Except as disclosed in the Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures section above, there were no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting during the fiscal year ended May 26, 2013 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.

REPORT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT REGISTERED

PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors and Stockholders of Landec Corporation

We have audited Landec Corporation and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of May 26, 2013, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). Landec Corporation and subsidiaries’ management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, Landec Corporation and subsidiaries maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of May 26, 2013, based on the COSO criteria.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Landec Corporation and subsidiaries as of May 26, 2013 and May 27, 2012, and the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended May 26, 2013 and our report dated August 6, 2013 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP

San Francisco, California

August 6, 2013

Item 9B. Other Information

None

PART III

PART IV

REPORT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT REGISTERED

PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors and Stockholders of Landec Corporation

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Landec Corporation and subsidiaries as of May 26, 2013 and May 27, 2012, and the related consolidated statements of comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended May 26, 2013. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Landec Corporation and subsidiaries at May 26, 2013 and May 27, 2012, and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended May 26, 2013, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Landec Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of May 26, 2013, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated August 6, 2013 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP

San Francisco, California

August 6, 2013

 LANDEC CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)