UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended
OR
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
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Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
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 ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically; every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer ☐ | Non-accelerated filer ☐ | Smaller reporting company | |
Emerging growth company |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements.
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based compensation received by any of the registrant’s executive officers during the relevant recovery period pursuant to §240.10D-1(b). ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes
Based on the closing price as reported on The Nasdaq Global Select Market, the aggregate market value of the registrant's common stock held by non-affiliates on April 30, 2023 (the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter) was approximately $
Documents Incorporated by Reference
Portions of the registrant's Proxy Statement for the 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which we intend to hold in late April, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K. The definitive Proxy Statement will be filed within 120 days after October 31, 2023.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT
This Annual Report on Form 10-K, including “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Item 7, contains statements relating to future events and results of Calavo Growers, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries (collectively, “Calavo”, “the Company”, “we”, us or “our”), including certain projections and business trends, that are "forward-looking statements," as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These statements are based on our current expectations and are not promises or guarantees. If any of the risks or uncertainties materialize or the assumptions prove incorrect, the results of Calavo may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, any projections of revenue, gross profit, expenses, income/(loss) from unconsolidated entities, earnings, earnings per share, tax provisions, cash flows and currency exchange rates; the impact of acquisitions or debt or equity investments or other financial items; any statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations, including execution of restructuring and integration (including information technology systems integration) plans; any statements regarding current or future macroeconomic trends or events and the impact of those trends and events on Calavo and its financial performance; statements regarding pending internal or external investigations, legal claims or tax disputes; any statements of expectation or belief; any statements about future risks associated with doing business internationally (including possible restrictive U.S. and foreign governmental actions, such as restrictions on transfers of funds, restrictions as a result of trade protection measures such as import/export/customs duties, tariffs and/or quotas); and statements about the proposed sale of our Fresh Cut business and certain related real property that was announced by the Company on January 16, 2024 (the “Proposed Transaction”).
Risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following:
| ● | the ability of our management team to work together successfully; |
| ● | the impact of Project Uno initiatives discussed in this Annual Report on our business, results of operations, and financial condition, including uncertainty as to whether the desired effects will be achieved; |
| ● | the impact of weather on market conditions; |
| ● | seasonality of our business; sensitivity of our business to changes in market prices of avocados and other agricultural products and other raw materials including fuel, packaging and paper; |
| ● | potential disruptions to our supply chain; |
| ● | risks associated with potential future acquisitions, including integration; |
| ● | potential exposure to data breaches and other cyber-attacks on our systems or those of our suppliers or customers; |
| ● | dependence on large customers; |
| ● | dependence on key personnel, and access to labor necessary for us to render services; |
| ● | susceptibility to wage inflation; |
| ● | potential for labor disputes; |
| ● | reliance on co-packers for a portion of our production needs; |
| ● | competitive pressures, including from foreign growers; |
| ● | risks of recalls and food-related injuries to our customers; |
| ● | changing consumer preferences; |
| ● | the impact of environmental regulations, including those related to climate change; |
| ● | risks associated with the environment and climate change, especially as they may affect our sources of supply; |
| ● | our ability to develop and transition new products and services and enhance existing products and services to meet customer needs; |
| ● | risks associated with doing business internationally (including possible restrictive U.S. and foreign governmental actions, such as restrictions on transfers of funds and trade protection measures such as import/export/customs duties, tariffs and/or quotas and currency fluctuations); |
| ● | risks associated with receivables from, loans to and/or equity investments in unconsolidated entities; |
| ● | volatility in the value of our common stock; |
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| ● | the impact of macroeconomic trends and events; the effects of increased interest rates on our cost of borrowing and consumer purchasing behavior; |
| ● | the resolution of pending internal and external investigations, legal claims and tax disputes, including an assessment imposed by the Mexican Tax Administrative Service (the “SAT”) and our defenses against collection activities commenced by the SAT; |
| ● | the ability of the parties to reach a binding agreement for the Proposed Transaction, the potential that the price, structure, form of consideration (for example, cash, promissory, equity) and other material terms may be materially different than currently expected, the continuing financial and operating performance of the Fresh Cut business during the negotiation process; |
| ● | the possible effect of the announcement of the sale of the Fresh Cut business on our customer, vendor and supplier relationships, operating results and business generally; and |
| ● | if the Company enters into a binding agreement for the Proposed Transaction, the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that prevents the completion of the sale of the Proposed Transaction, including the failure to satisfy all closing conditions that included in such binding agreement. |
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PART I
Item 1. Business
General development of the business
Calavo Growers, Inc. (referred to in this report as “Calavo”, the “Company”, “we’, “us” or “our”), is a global leader in the avocado industry and a provider of value-added fresh food. Our expertise in marketing and distributing avocados, prepared avocados, and other perishable foods allows us to deliver a wide array of fresh and prepared food products to retail grocery, foodservice, club stores, mass merchandisers, food distributors and wholesalers on a worldwide basis. We procure avocados from California, Mexico and other growing regions around the world. Through our various operating facilities, we (i) sort, pack, and/or ripen avocados, tomatoes and/or Hawaiian grown papayas, (ii) create, process and package a portfolio of healthy fresh foods including fresh-cut fruit and vegetables, and prepared foods and (iii) process and package guacamole.
We distribute our products both domestically and internationally and we report our operations in two different business segments: Grown and Prepared. The Grown segment consists of fresh avocados, tomatoes and papayas. The Prepared segment comprises all other products including fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, ready-to-eat sandwiches, wraps, salads and snacks, guacamole, and salsa sold at retail and food service as well as avocado pulp sold to foodservice. See Note 10 in our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information about our business segments. Our principal executive offices are located at 1141-A Cummings Road, Santa Paula, California 93060; and our telephone number is (805) 525-1245.
Available information
We maintain an Internet website at http://www.calavo.com. Our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to such reports filed or furnished pursuant to section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and other information related to us, are available, free of charge, on our website as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file those documents with, or otherwise furnish them to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Our Internet website and the information contained therein, or connected thereto, is not and is not intended to be incorporated into this Annual Report on Form 10-K (this “Annual Report”).
We have a code of business conduct and ethics that applies to all employees, including our executive officers, as well as our Board of Directors. Our code of business conduct and ethics is available for review on our corporate website. We intend to disclose any changes in, or waivers from, this code by posting such information on the same website or by filing a Form 8-K, in each case to the extent such disclosure is required by rules of the SEC or Nasdaq.
Grown
Calavo was founded in 1924 to market California avocados. We sell avocados sourced from a variety of locations (including but not limited to California, Mexico, Peru, and Colombia) to a diverse group of retail grocers, foodservice operators, club stores, mass merchandisers, food distributors and wholesalers, under the Calavo family of brand labels, as well as private labels. Many of our customers desire consistent year-round supply across multiple sourcing locations, the ability to receive just-in-time deliveries at their desired level of ripeness and a variety of packaging and display options. In our judgment, these factors benefit large handlers like us, who have the ability to develop a variety of diverse sourcing relationships and the value-added/bagging capabilities, ripening assets and distribution infrastructure to meet the needs of large nationwide accounts. We believe we have developed strong, long-term relationships with our customers that provide a solid base for our business.
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The Hass variety is the predominant avocado variety marketed on a worldwide basis. In California, the growing area stretches from San Diego County to Monterey County, with the majority of the growing areas located approximately 100 miles north and south of Los Angeles County. Generally, California grown Hass avocados are available year-round, with peak production periods occurring from April through August. In Mexico, we procure fruit from the growing regions of Michoacán and Jalisco. The Mexican avocado harvest is year-round (though generally most significant from September to June in Michoacán and from June to January for Jalisco). Other significant growing areas from which we have sourced avocados include Peru and Colombia. In fiscal 2022, the United States Department of Agriculture (the “USDA”) approved the export of Jalisco avocados into the United States. The storage life of fresh avocados (once picked from the tree) is limited, typically ranging from one to four weeks depending upon the maturity of the fruit, the growing methods used, and the handling conditions in the distribution chain, including the utilization of controlled atmosphere during transport.
Avocados delivered to our packinghouses are graded, sized, packed and cooled. The actual size and timing of the delivery of the annual avocado crop has a substantial impact on both our costs and the sales price we receive for the fruit. To that end, our field personnel maintain direct contact with growers and farm managers and coordinate harvest plans. The feedback from our field managers is used by our sales department to prepare sales plans used by our direct sales force. The process by which avocados are purchased from growers differs slightly across our different sourcing regions. In California, avocado growers are provided daily field quotes, on a per pound basis, for most fruit. These quotes are based on the variety, size, and grade of California avocados and are calculated based on our expectations of how much we believe we will sell the fruit for, less our anticipated costs and desired margin. Ultimately, we pay/settle with our California growers once a month. The purchase price we pay for fruit acquired from Mexican growers is generally negotiated daily for substantially all the fruit harvested daily in a particular grove. The Mexican avocado crop will typically have three to four blooms in a single year. Once a purchase price is agreed to on a daily basis, the fruit is then harvested and delivered to our packinghouses located in Mexico. Based on the size and quality of the fruit harvested, the final settlement with the grower on the respective day’s harvest takes place approximately 14 to 21 days later. We also purchase fruit directly from third-party Mexican packers as a supplemental source to balance inventory or fulfill priority sales orders. In such cases, the already packed fruit may not be packed in a Calavo label but will be packed to our standards for shipment to either our customers’ or our operating facilities. Peruvian and Colombian avocados are primarily handled on a consignment basis, in which the price we pay for the fruit is usually calculated as a percentage of the net selling price less certain charges for distribution and value-added services.
Apart from the cost of fruit and freight costs, which are generally passed on to our customer, significant portions of our avocado handling costs are fixed. As a result, significant fluctuations in the volume of avocados delivered have a considerable impact on the per pound packing costs of avocados we handle. Generally, larger crops will result in a lower per pound handling cost. As a result of our investment in packinghouse equipment, distribution centers with value-added ripening and packing capabilities, and personnel, we believe that our cost structure is geared to optimally handle larger avocado crops. We believe that our continued success in marketing avocados is largely dependent upon securing a reliable, high-quality supply of avocados at reasonable prices, and keeping the handling costs low as we ship avocados to our packinghouses and distribution centers and, ultimately, to our customers. We are subject to USDA, Mexican Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food/Plant Protection (“SAGARPA”) and other regulatory inspections to ensure the safety and the quality of the fruit being delivered.
We have also developed a series of value-added programs that are designed to offer products and services to our customers that meet their various needs. Some of these key programs are as follows:
| ● | Value-Added Ripening: Retailers require that their avocados meet strict quality and ripeness specifications, and we believe that our nationwide ripening infrastructure, using the latest technology and experienced avocado handling workforce, best position us to service those customers. We believe that ripened avocados help our customers fulfill consumer needs and accelerate the sale of avocados through their stores. |
| ● | Value-Added Packaging: We have developed various display techniques and packages that appeal to consumers and, in particular, impulse buyers. Some of our techniques include the bagging of avocados and the strategic display of the bags within the produce section of retail stores. Our research has demonstrated that consumers generally purchase a larger quantity of avocados when presented in a bag as opposed to the conventional bulk |
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| displays. We also believe that the value proposition of avocados in a bag provides for a higher level of sales to grocery stores. |
The avocado market is highly competitive with many avocado marketers and/or importers seeking to source avocados from independent, USDA certified growers worldwide. Based on the information we have from various industry sources, we believe that we are consistently among the largest avocado marketers in the United States (“U.S.”) from a volume and sales perspective. We attribute our position as one of the top avocado distributors to our sourcing competitiveness and to the communication and service we maintain with our growers. In addition, we believe our diversified product assortment, consistent product quality and value-added programs provide us with a competitive advantage in servicing retail and foodservice customers.
Our Grown business segment also markets and distributes other perishable food products, such as tomatoes and papayas (“Other Fresh Products”). Tomatoes are primarily handled on a consigned basis, while papayas are handled on a pooling basis, generally at a fixed fee per papaya delivered.
For sales on a consigned basis, our gross profit is based on a commission agreed to with each party, which usually is a percent of the overall selling price. The gross profit percentage for consignment sales are dependent on the volume of fruit we handle, the average selling prices, and the competitiveness of the returns that we provide to third-party growers/packers.
Sales of our Other Fresh Products generally experience fluctuations related to seasonality. We believe that distributing other types of fruit complement our offerings of avocados.
Prepared
Prepared products include prepared avocado products (including both frozen and fresh guacamole), fresh-cut fruit and vegetables, fresh prepared entrée salads, wraps, sandwiches, parfaits and fresh snacking products, as well as ready-to-heat entrees and other hot bar and various deli items, meals kit components and salad kits. Our Prepared segment has also expanded its capacity to provide more products in the deli and produce section of the retail category.
Our Prepared segment consists of our prepared avocado products (“guacamole”) division and our fresh-cut division. We utilize ultra-high pressure technology, a cold pasteurization process, on all of our guacamole products, that is designed to protect and safeguard foods, without the need of preservatives. This procedure substantially destroys the cells of any bacteria that could lead to spoilage, food safety, or oxidation issues, without affecting the taste profile of the finished product. Once the procedure is complete, our packaged guacamole can be frozen to ensure a longer shelf-life or shipped fresh to customers in the U.S. and abroad. While the majority of our prepared avocado products are produced in our Uruapan, Mexico production facility, we sometimes utilize high-quality co-packers (using similar ultra-high pressure technology), to produce some of our retail and foodservice products.
As a leader in refrigerated fresh packaged foods, we utilize a network of company-operated and independently-operated USDA and organic certified fresh food facilities strategically located across the U.S. These facilities allow us to offer national retailers high quality, refrigerated fresh foods that can generally be delivered within hours from time of production. Consumer demand is high for quality refrigerated fresh packaged foods and our speed to market, product innovation and broad product portfolio position the Company well to serve retailers addressing this consumer trend. Our prepared products include fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, sandwiches, wraps, salads, parfaits, snacks, and guacamole sold at retail and food service as well as avocado pulp sold to foodservice.. Our products are marketed under the Calavo, Avofresco, Garden Highway Fresh Cut, Garden Highway, and Garden Highway Chef Essentials brands, as well as store-brand, private label programs.
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We believe our current capacity will be sufficient for expected growth in fiscal 2024. We believe that our marketing strength is distinguished by providing quality products, innovation, year-round product availability, national distribution, and strong customer relationships.
As discussed further in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Item 7 of this Annual Report, we and certain of our subsidiaries have entered into non-binding, exclusive negotiations regarding the potential sale of all of the assets used in our Fresh Cut business and certain related real property. The Fresh cut business represents substantially all of the business of the Prepared segment other than the guacamole business, which would be retained following the Proposed Transaction.
Sales and Other Financial Information by Business Segment and Product Category
Sales and other financial information by business segment are provided in Note 10 to our consolidated financial statements that are included in this Annual Report.
Patents and Trademarks
Our trademarks include the Calavo brand name and related logos. We also utilize the following trademarks in conducting our business: Avo Fresco, Bueno, Calavo Gold, Celebrate the Taste, El Dorado, Taste of Paradise, The First Name in Avocados, The Family of Fresh, ProRipeVIP™, RIPE NOW!, Renaissance Food Group, Garden Highway Fresh Cut, Garden Highway, and Garden Highway Chef Essentials.
Working Capital Requirements
We generally bridge the timing between vendor payments and customer receipts (our working capital needs) by using operating cash flows and commercial bank borrowings. In addition, from time to time we provide crop loans and other advances to some of our growers, which are also funded through operating cash flows and borrowings.
Backlog
Our Grown and Prepared customers do not place product orders significantly in advance of the requested product delivery dates.
Research and Development
Our research and development for new and improved products generally originates from customer requests, customer and market research and innovative ideas generated by our own team of experts with food processing and culinary backgrounds. We solicit customer and supplier input, review process and product trends and conduct sensory and shelf life testing, in order to expand the category and drive new sales for our customers. Research and development costs are charged to expense when incurred. Total research and development costs for fiscal years 2023, 2022 and 2021 were approximately $0.1 million, $0.1 million and $0.3 million.
Compliance with Government Regulations
As a purchaser, manufacturer, distributor, marketer, and advertiser of food products, our operations are subject to extensive regulation by various federal government agencies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”), the USDA and the Federal Trade Commission (the “FTC”), as well as state and local agencies, with respect to production processes, product attributes, packaging, labeling, storage and distribution. Under various statutes and regulations, these agencies prescribe requirements and establish standards for the distribution, safety, purity and labeling of food products. In addition, our operations are subject to certain employment health and safety regulations, including those issued under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (“OSHA”). Our packinghouse facilities and products are subject to periodic inspection by federal, state and local authorities, including the FDA and the California Department of Food and Agriculture (the “CFDA”), which oversees weights & measures compliance at our California facilities. All of
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our US facilities are also in compliance with the FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act (“FSMA”). In addition, our operations in Mexico are subject to Mexican regulations through the SAGARPA.
As a large importer of perishable products in the U.S., Calavo was an early adopter of the U.S. Customs & Border Protection’s C-TPAT certification programs for monitoring and expediting all imports to the U.S.
As a purchaser and manufacturer of perishable agricultural commodities, we are subject to, and compliant with, the USDA’s Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act. Certain agricultural commodities sold by Calavo are subject to additional specific government acts or regulations, including the Hass Avocado Promotion, Research and Information Act of 2000 for our avocados and the federal suspension agreement guidelines which govern tomato imports to the U.S.
As a result of our agricultural and food processing activities, we are subject to numerous environmental laws and regulations. These laws and regulations govern the treatment, handling, storage and disposal of materials and waste and the remediation of contaminated properties.
We seek to comply at all times with all such laws and regulations and to obtain any necessary permits and licenses, and we are not aware of any instances of material non-compliance. We believe our facilities and practices are sufficient to maintain compliance with applicable governmental laws, regulations, permits and licenses.
Employees
As of October 31, 2023, we had 3,064 employees, of which 1,390 were located in the US and 1,674 were located in Mexico. We do not have a significant number of US employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement. Approximately 1,500 of Calavo’s Mexican employees are represented by a union. We consider the relationship with our employees to be good and we have never experienced a significant work stoppage.
The following is a summary of the number of “salaried” and “hourly” employees as of October 31, 2023.
Location |
| Salaried |
| Hourly |
| Total |
United States |
| 331 |
| 1,059 |
| 1,390 |
Mexico |
| 207 |
| 1,467 |
| 1,674 |
TOTAL |
| 538 |
| 2,526 |
| 3,064 |
Item 1A. Risk Factors
You should carefully consider the following risks and other information in this Form 10-K. Any of the following risks could materially and adversely affect our results of operations or financial condition. The following risk factors should be read in conjunction with Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes in Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Form 10-K.
Business and Operational Risks
Manufacturing and Supply Chain Disruption
Outbreaks of contagious diseases, including COVID-19, and other adverse public health developments in countries and states where we operate, have had and may continue to have an adverse effect on our business and financial condition, as well as cause operational challenges in the manufacturing of our products and the operation of the related supply chains supporting our ability to deliver our products to the consumer. These effects include a potential negative impact on the availability of our key personnel; disruptions of our facilities or facilities of our members, business partners, customers, suppliers, third-party service providers or other vendors; and interruption of domestic and global supply chains, distribution channels, liquidity and capital or financial markets. Restrictions on or disruptions of transportation, border controls and closures, and other impacts on domestic and global supply chains and distribution channels could increase our costs for raw materials and commodity costs, increase demand for raw materials and
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commodities, limit our ability to meet customer demand or otherwise have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operation or cash flows.
Increases in interest rates could increase the cost of servicing our indebtedness and have an adverse effect on our results of operations, cash flows and stock price.
Our credit facility currently bears interest at a variable rate, which will generally change as interest rates change. We also have various leases, and may enter into future equipment leases, with costs that increase as interest rates increase. We bear the risk that the rates we are charged by our lenders and lessors will increase faster than the earnings and cash flow of our business, which could reduce profitability, adversely affect our ability to service our debt, or cause us to breach covenants contained in our credit agreement or leases, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Increases in interest rates may also affect consumer purchasing behavior, including for our fresh and processed food products.
Additionally, the trading price of our common stock may be affected by the dividend yield on our common stock relative to market interest rates. When market interest rates rise, the yield on our common stock may become less attractive relative to other available securities. As a result, prospective purchasers may decide to purchase other securities rather than shares of our common stock, which would reduce the demand for, and potentially result in a decline in the market price of, shares of our common stock.
Due to the seasonality of the business, our revenue and operating results may vary from quarter to quarter.
Our earnings may be affected by seasonal factors, including:
| ● | the availability, quality and price of raw materials (including, but not limited to, fruit and vegetable inputs); |
| ● | the timing and effects of ripening and perishability; |
| ● | the ability to process perishable raw materials in a timely manner; |
| ● | the leveraging of certain fixed overhead costs during off-season months; and |
| ● | variations in consumer demand and holiday timing. |
Our earnings are sensitive to fluctuations in market prices and demand for our products.
We buy and sell fresh produce that can be subject to price volatility caused by weather conditions such as rainfall, hailstorms, windstorms, floods, droughts, wildfires and freezes, as well as by impacts from diseases and pests.
Fresh produce is highly perishable and generally must be brought to market and sold soon after harvest. The selling price received for each type of produce depends on factors such as the availability and quality of the produce item in the market and the availability and quality of competing types of produce.
In addition, general public perceptions regarding the quality, safety or health risks associated with particular food products could reduce demand and prices for some of our products. Food safety warnings, advisories, notices and recalls such as those administered by the FDA, CDC, other federal/state government agencies and/or suppliers of various agricultural products, could also reduce demand and/or prices for some of our products. To the extent that consumers stop purchasing products that we produce due to health, food safety or other reasons, and we are unable to modify our products or to develop products that satisfy new consumer preferences, there will be a decreased demand for our products.
Increases in commodity or raw product input costs, such as fuel, packaging, and paper, could adversely affect our operating results.
Many factors may affect the cost and supply of fresh produce, including external conditions, commodity market fluctuations, currency fluctuations, changes in governmental laws and regulations, the war in Ukraine or conflict
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elsewhere, agricultural programs, severe and prolonged weather conditions and natural disasters. Increased costs for purchased fruit have in the past negatively impacted our operating results, and may adversely affect our operating results in the future.
The price of various commodities can affect our costs. For example, fuel, transportation, and packaging costs are significant components of our operating costs, and we may not be able to pass on to our customers any increases in costs of fuel, transportation, or packaging.
We depend on our infrastructure to have sufficient capacity to handle our annual production needs.
If we lose machinery or facilities due to natural disasters or mechanical failure, we may not be able to operate at a sufficient capacity to meet our production needs and we may incur significant costs or delays in any effort to restore lost capacity. Our production capacity for guacamole products is consolidated into a single manufacturing plant in the state of Michoacán, Mexico. Any significant production disruptions at this manufacturing site could result in a limitation of the availability of some or all our guacamole products. Any disruptions in our infrastructure could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, and financial condition.
Failure to optimize our supply chain or disruption of our supply chain could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
In coordination with our suppliers, our ability to make, move and sell products is critical to our success. Our inability to maintain sufficient internal production capacity or our inability to enter into co-packing agreements on terms that are beneficial to us could have an adverse effect on our business. Failure to adequately handle increasing production costs and complexity, turnover of manufacturing personnel, or production capability and efficiency issues could materially impact our ability to produce our products in a cost-effective manner and meet customer demand.
Additionally, damage or disruption to our collective manufacturing or distribution capabilities resulting from weather, any potential effects of climate change, natural disaster, disease, crop spoilage, fire or explosion, terrorism, organized crime, pandemics, strikes, repairs or enhancements at our facilities, or other reasons, could impair our ability to manufacture or sell our products. For example, our production capacity for guacamole products is consolidated into a single manufacturing plant in the state of Michoacán, Mexico. Any significant production disruptions at this manufacturing site could result in a limitation of the availability of some or all our guacamole products. Failure to take adequate steps to mitigate the likelihood or potential impact of such events, or to effectively manage such events if they occur, could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations, and may require additional resources to restore our supply chain
Disruption of the supply or reliability of transportation services and/or significant increases in the cost of these services could impact our operating income.
We use multiple forms of transportation to bring our products to market, including truck, ocean, and air-cargo. Disruption to the timely supply of these services or dramatic increases in the cost of these services for any reason including availability of fuel for such services, labor disputes, governmental regulation, or governmental restrictions limiting specific forms of transportation could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
The acquisition of other businesses could pose risks to our operating income.
We intend to review acquisition prospects that would complement our business. While we are not currently a party to any definitive agreement with respect to any acquisitions, we may acquire other businesses in the future. Future acquisitions by us could result in accounting charges, potentially dilutive issuances of equity securities, and increased debt and contingent liabilities, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business and the market price of our common stock. Acquisitions involve numerous risks, including the integration of the acquired operations, diversion of management’s attention to other business concerns, risks of entering markets in which we have limited prior experience, and the potential loss of key employees of acquired organizations. We may be unable to successfully
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integrate businesses or the personnel of any business that might be acquired in the future, and our failure to do so could have a material adverse effect on our business and on the market price of our common stock. Management’s attention, or other resources, may be diverted if we fail to successfully complete or integrate business combination and investment transactions that further our strategic objectives.
System security risks, data protection breaches, cyber-attacks and systems integration issues could disrupt our internal operations or services provided to customers, and any such disruption could reduce our expected revenue, increase our expenses, damage our reputation and adversely affect our stock price.
Our information technology networks could be compromised by cyber attacks resulting in misappropriation of our confidential information or that of third parties, system disruptions or system shutdowns. For example, in 2019, certain of our computer systems were encrypted by ransomware, which prevented them from operating for a period of time. Attackers may be able to develop and deploy viruses, worms, and other malicious software programs that infiltrate our systems or otherwise exploit any security vulnerabilities. In addition, sophisticated hardware and operating system software and applications that we procure from third parties may contain defects in design or manufacture, including “bugs” and other problems that could unexpectedly interfere with the operation of the system. The costs to us to eliminate or alleviate cyber or other security problems, bugs, viruses, worms, malicious software programs and security vulnerabilities could be significant, and our efforts to address these problems may not be successful and could result in interruptions, delays, cessation of service and loss of existing or potential customers that may impede our sales, manufacturing, distribution or other critical functions. We carry insurance, including cyber insurance, commensurate with our size and the nature of our operations, although there is no certainty that such insurance will in all cases be sufficient to fully reimburse us for all losses incurred in connection with the occurrence of any of these system security risks, data protection breaches, cyber-attacks or other events.
Our information technology systems may also experience interruptions, delays or cessations of service, or produce errors in connection with systems integration or migration work that takes place from time to time. We may not be successful in implementing new systems and transitioning data, which could cause business disruptions and be more expensive, time consuming, disruptive and resource-intensive. Such disruptions could adversely impact our ability to fulfill orders and interrupt other processes.
The loss of one or more of our largest customers, or a reduction in the level of purchases made by these customers, could negatively impact our sales and profits.
Sales to Kroger and Trader Joes, our largest customers, amounted to approximately 17% and 13% of our total net sales in 2023. We expect that a significant portion of our revenues will continue to be derived from a relatively small number of customers. We believe these customers make purchase decisions based on a combination of price, product quality, consumer demand, customer service performance, desired inventory levels and other factors that may be important to them at the time the purchase decisions are made. Changes in our customers' strategies or purchasing patterns, including a reduction in the number of brands they carry, may adversely affect our sales. Additionally, our customers may face financial or other difficulties which may impact their operations and cause them to reduce their level of purchases from us, which could adversely affect our results of operations. Customers also may respond to any price increase that we may implement by reducing their purchases from us, resulting in reduced sales of our products. If sales of our products to one or more of our largest customers decrease, the impact may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. Any bankruptcy or other business disruption involving one of our significant customers also could adversely affect our results of operations.
Changes in our business relationships with California and Mexican growers could significantly impact our avocado supply in the U.S.
We are dependent on our long-term relationships with independent growers in California and Mexico to obtain and maintain our supply of avocados in the U.S. Deterioration of our relationships with our key growers could adversely affect our Grown business in the U.S., which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
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We may not be successful in achieving targeted savings and efficiencies from cost reduction initiatives and related strategic initiatives, including Project Uno.
During the third quarter of 2021, we launched Project Uno, a strategic set of initiatives that seeks to identify areas of operating efficiencies and cost savings to expand profit margins, cash flow and return on invested capital. We have undertaken multiple productivity and transformation initiatives, including (1) closure and transfer of certain facilities, (2) implementing broader supply chain operational improvements, (3) integrating our commercial, logistics, IT, procurement and accounting functions across the three divisions, (4) product rationalization initiatives which are aimed at eliminating unprofitable or slow moving SKUs and (5) outsourcing certain functions in our North American business to third-party service providers and the associated implementation of new procurement technology solutions.
We may not be successful in fully implementing our productivity plans or realizing our anticipated savings and efficiencies, including potentially as a result of factors outside our control. If we are unable to fully realize the anticipated savings and efficiencies of our cost reduction initiatives and related strategic initiatives, including Project Uno, our profitability may be materially and adversely impacted.
The potential sale of our Fresh Cut business is subject to various risks and uncertainties and may not be completed on the currently contemplated timeline or terms, or at all.
We and certain of our subsidiaries have entered into non-binding, exclusive negotiations regarding the potential sale of all of the assets used in our Fresh Cut business and certain related real property (the “Proposed Transaction”). The closing of the Proposed Transaction is subject to the negotiation and execution of a binding agreement. There can be no assurance that a binding agreement will result from the current negotiations, and if a binding agreement does result, the price, structure, form of consideration (for example, cash, promissory, equity) and other material terms may be materially different than currently expected. Whether a binding agreement results, and the terms thereof, may depend on the continuing financial and operating performance of the Fresh Cut business during the negotiation process and the proposed purchaser’s willingness and ability to provide the capital and/or financing necessary to complete the transaction. If we are able to finalize a bidning agreement, it may be subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions, including, among others, availability of third-party consents that may be required, the accuracy of each party’s representations and warranties contained in any binding agreement, compliance by each party with its respective covenants contained in any binding agreement, and the potential requirement of a transaction services agreement for continuing services by the Company to the purchaser for a period of time following any closing. We or the proposed purchaser may be unable to satisfy such conditions to the closing of the Proposed Transaction in a timely manner or at all and, if such conditions are not satisfied or waived, the Proposed Transaction may be delayed or completed on terms that are less favorable, perhaps materially, to us than the terms currently being negotiated, or the Proposed Transaction may not be completed at all. Whether or not a binding agreement is executed and the closing occurs, the announcement and pendency of the Proposed Transaction may adversely affect our relationships with customers, suppliers and vendors, and the operating performance and financial results of the Prepared segment may also be materially adversely affected. We or the proposed purchaser may choose not to proceed with the Proposed Transaction, and if the Proposed Transaction is delayed or not completed for any reason, investor confidence may decline and we may face negative publicity and possible litigation.
Further, failure to complete the Proposed Transaction would adversely affect our current plans to use proceeds from the Proposed Transaction to reduce our debt and return cash to shareholders. In addition, we will have expended significant management resources in an effort to complete the Proposed Transaction and will have incurred transaction costs
Holders of our common stock may not receive the level of dividends provided for in our dividend policy or any dividends at all.
Dividend payments are not mandatory or guaranteed and holders of our common stock do not have any legal right to receive, or require us to pay, dividends. Our Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, decrease the level of dividends provided for in our dividend policy or entirely discontinue the payment of dividends. Future dividends with respect to shares of our capital stock, if any, depend on, among other things, our results of operations, cash requirements, financial condition, contractual restrictions (including restrictions in our credit agreement), business opportunities,
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provisions of applicable law (including certain provisions of the California Corporations Code) and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant.
If our cash flows from operating activities were to fall below our minimum expectations (or if our assumptions as to capital expenditures or interest expense were too low or our assumptions as to the sufficiency of our credit facility were to prove incorrect), we may need to either reduce or eliminate dividends.
We have in the past had and may in the future incur substantial indebtedness which could restrict our ability to pay dividends and impact our financing options and liquidity position.
Our ability to pay dividends is subject to restrictions contained in the instruments governing our indebtedness. Additionally, although our credit agreement contains covenants that restrict our ability to incur debt, as long as we meet these covenants, we will be able to incur additional indebtedness. The degree to which we are leveraged on a consolidated basis could have important consequences to the holders of our securities, including:
● | our ability in the future to obtain additional financing for working capital, capital expenditures or acquisitions may be limited; |
● | we may not be able to refinance our indebtedness on terms acceptable to us or at all; |
● | a significant portion of our cash flow may be dedicated to the payment of interest on our indebtedness, thereby reducing funds available for operations, capital expenditures, acquisitions and/or dividends on our common stock; and |
● | we may be more vulnerable to economic downturns and be limited in our ability to withstand competitive pressures. |
Changing rules, public disclosure regulations and stakeholder expectations on ESG-related matters create a variety of risks for our business.
Increasingly, regulators, consumers, customers, investors, employees and other stakeholders are focusing on ESG matters and related disclosures. These changing rules, public disclosure regulations and stakeholder expectations have resulted in, and are likely to continue to result in, increased management time and attention spent complying with or meeting such regulations and expectations. For example, developing and acting on initiatives within the scope of ESG, and collecting, measuring and reporting ESG-related information and metrics can be costly, difficult and time consuming and is subject to evolving reporting standards, including the SEC’s proposed climate-related reporting requirements, and similar proposals by other international regulatory bodies. This rapidly changing environment may result in increased general and administrative expenses.
We may also communicate certain initiatives and goals regarding environmental matters, diversity and other ESG-related matters. These initiatives and goals could be difficult and expensive to implement, and we could be criticized for the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of the disclosure. Further, statements about our ESG-related initiatives and goals, and progress against those goals, may be based on standards for measuring progress that are still developing, internal controls and processes that continue to evolve, and assumptions that are subject to change in the future. In addition, we could be criticized for the scope or nature of such initiatives or goals, or for any revisions to these goals. If our ESG-related data, processes and reporting are incomplete or inaccurate, or if we fail to achieve progress with respect to our goals within the scope of ESG on a timely basis, or at all, our reputation, business, results of operations and financial condition could be adversely impacted.
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Human Capital Risks
We have recently transitioned new personnel into executive leadership positions and our future success will depend in part on our ability to manage this transition successfully. Management and key personnel changes may disrupt our operations, and we may have difficulty attracting and retaining qualified replacements.
We have experienced changes in management and other key personnel in critical functions across our organization, including our chief executive officer. Changes in management and other key personnel have the potential to disrupt our business, and any such disruption could adversely affect our operations, programs, growth, financial condition and results of operations. Further, new members of management may have different perspectives on programs and opportunities for our business, which may cause us to focus on new business opportunities or reduce or change emphasis on our existing business programs.
Our success is dependent upon our ability to attract and retain qualified management and key personnel in a highly competitive environment. Qualified individuals are in high demand, and we may incur significant costs to attract them, particularly at the executive level. We may face difficulty in attracting, retaining and compensating key talent for a number of reasons, including competitive market conditions, the effect of recent company performance on the achievement of performance compensation conditions, and the need to align the vision of a new executive team with our Board’s vision for our Company. We cannot assure you that we will be able to hire or retain the personnel necessary to achieve our strategic vision, that personnel we do recruit will be successful or that the loss of any such personnel will not have a material impact on our financial condition and results of operations.
Replacing departing executives can involve organizational disruption and uncertainty. We have in the past, and we may in the future pay significant severance to departed executives. If we fail to manage this transition successfully, we could experience significant delays or difficulty in the achievement of our development and strategic objectives and our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely harmed.
A continued shortage of qualified labor could negatively affect our business and materially reduce earnings.
We have experienced shortages of qualified labor across our operations. Participants in our supply chain have also experienced shortages of qualified labor. The future success of our operations, including the achievement of our strategic objectives, depends on our ability, and the ability of third parties on which we rely to supply and to deliver our products, to identify, recruit, develop and retain qualified and talented individuals. Employee retention and morale may be affected by our performance-weighted compensation programs, which have in the past and may in the future negatively affect bonuses. As a result, any shortage of qualified labor could adversely affect our business. Employee recruitment, development and retention efforts that we or such third parties undertake may not be successful, which could result in a shortage of qualified individuals in future periods. Any such shortage could decrease our ability to effectively produce and deliver our products and to achieve our strategic objectives. Such a shortage would also likely lead to higher wages for employees (or higher costs to purchase the services of such third parties) and a corresponding reduction in our results of operations. In the current operating environment, we are experiencing a shortage of qualified labor in certain geographies, particularly with plant production workers, resulting in increased costs from certain temporary wage actions, such as hiring and referral and retention bonus programs. A continuation of such shortages for a prolonged period of time could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
A portion of our workforce is unionized and labor disruptions could decrease our profitability.
While we believe that our relations with our employees and labor unions are good, we cannot ensure that we will be able to negotiate collective bargaining agreements on favorable terms, or at all, and without production interruptions, including labor stoppages. A prolonged labor dispute, which could include a work stoppage, could have a material adverse effect on the portion of our business affected by the dispute, which could impact our business, results of operations and financial condition.
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We rely on co-packers for a portion of our production needs.
We utilize high-quality co-packers to produce a portion of our retail and foodservice products. If we are unable to utilize quality co-packers effectively, we may not be able to meet our production needs for our expected growth. Similarly, if an existing co-packer is no longer able or willing to produce products for us, there are no assurances that we will be able to immediately replace them with our own production capacity or that of another co-packer operating in the same region and at the same level of quality. We closely monitor and audit the quality of our co-packers; and our co-packers are required to maintain insurance. We, however, remain subject to risks related to the production of fresh and processed foods.
Industry Risks
We are subject to increasing competition that may adversely affect our operating results.
The fresh produce and prepared food markets in which we operate are highly competitive. Each of our businesses is subject to competitive pressures, including the following:
| ● | The market for avocados is impacted by an increasing volume of foreign grown avocados being imported into the United States. There have been significant plantings of avocados in Mexico, Chile, the Dominican Republic, Peru, Colombia and other parts of the world, which have had, and will continue to have, the effect of increasing the volume of foreign grown avocados entering the United States market. Increased supply could put downward pressure on the market price for avocados and also lead to a broader number of marketing and distribution competitors if we are unable to process sufficient supply to maintain our market share. |
| ● | We are subject to competition from other avocado packers. If we are unable to consistently pay growers a competitive price for their avocados, these growers may choose to have their avocados marketed by alternate packers. |
| ● | The fresh-cut produce market is highly fragmented and we compete with a variety of national, regional and local manufacturers and distributors of fresh-cut produce in the geographies that we serve. These competitors include both branded and non-branded producers, as well as certain retailers’ own in-house fresh-cut operations. To compete successfully, we must be able to strategically source a wide array of fresh produce and prepared food items of uniformly high quality and sell and distribute it on a timely and regular basis. The overall availability and quality of produce items that we purchase for processing can have a meaningful impact on sales and profitability of our Prepared reporting unit. Additionally, the short-shelf life nature of these products makes this business highly localized and our success is often related to our ability to manufacture those products within close proximity to our customers’ locations. |
A recall of our products could have a material adverse effect on our business. In addition, we may be subject to significant liability claims should the consumption of any of our products cause injury, illness or death.
The sale of food products for human consumption involves the risk of injury to consumers. Such injuries may result from tampering by unauthorized third parties, product contamination or spoilage, including the presence of foreign objects, substances, chemicals, other agents, or residues introduced during the growing, storage, handling or transportation phases. While we are subject to governmental inspection and regulations and believe our facilities comply in all material respects with all applicable laws and regulations, we cannot be sure that consumption of our products will not cause a health-related illness in the future or that we will not be subject to claims or lawsuits relating to such matters. Even if a product liability claim is unsuccessful or is not fully pursued, the negative publicity surrounding any assertion that our products caused illness or injury could adversely affect our reputation with existing and potential customers and our corporate and brand image.
Climate change may negatively affect our business and operations.
There is concern that carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere may have an adverse impact on global temperatures, weather patterns and the frequency and severity of extreme weather and natural disasters.
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In the event that such climate change has a negative effect on agricultural productivity, we may be subject to decreased availability or less favorable pricing for certain commodities that are necessary for our products. As a result of climate change, we may also be subjected to decreased availability of water, deteriorated quality of water or less favorable pricing for water, which could adversely impact our manufacturing and distribution operations.
Demand for our products is subject to changing consumer preferences.
Consumer preferences for particular food products are subject to fluctuations over time. Our ability to market and sell our products successfully depends in part on our ability to identify changing consumer preferences and respond to those changes by offering products that appeal broadly to consumers in light of current demands. Shifts in consumer preferences that can impact demand for our products at any given time can result from a number of factors, including dietary trends, attention to particular nutritional aspects of our products, concerns regarding the health effects of particular ingredients, attention given to ingredient sourcing practices and general public perception of food safety risks. Consumer demand for our products also may be impacted by any public commentary that consumers or certain regulatory bodies (including federal or state agencies involved in monitoring food safety) may make regarding our products or similar products. Consumer demand for our products also may be impacted by changes in the level of advertising or promotional support that are employed by (i) us, (ii) our retail/foodservice customers, or (iii) relevant industry groups or third parties that provide competing products. If consumer preferences trend negatively with respect to any one or more of our products, our sales volumes may decline as a result.
We rely on independent certifications for a number of our products.
We rely on independent third-party certifications, such as certifications of our products as “organic,” “Non-GMO” or “kosher,” to differentiate our products from others. We must comply with the requirements of independent organizations or certification authorities in order to label our products as certified organic. For example, we can lose our “organic” certification if a manufacturing plant becomes contaminated with non-organic materials, or if it is not properly cleaned after a production run. In addition, all raw materials must be certified organic. Similarly, we can lose our “kosher” certification if a manufacturing plant and raw materials do not meet the requirements of the appropriate kosher supervision organization. The loss of any independent certifications could adversely affect our market position as an organic and natural products company, which could harm our business.
Regulatory and Related Risks
Environmental and other regulation of our business, including potential climate change regulation, could adversely impact us by increasing our production cost or restricting our ability to import certain products into the United States.
Climate change could increase both the frequency and severity of natural disasters that may affect our business operations. Moreover, there has been a broad range of proposed and promulgated state, national and international regulation aimed at reducing the effects of climate change. Such regulations apply or could apply in countries where we have interests or could have interests in the future. In the United States, there is a significant possibility that some form of regulation will be enacted at the federal level to address the effects of climate change. Such regulation could take several forms that could result in additional costs in the form of taxes, the restriction of output, investments of capital to maintain compliance with laws and regulations, or required acquisition or trading of emission allowances. Climate change regulation continues to evolve, and it is not possible to accurately estimate either a timetable for implementation or our future compliance costs relating to implementation.
Increased legislative, regulatory and public scrutiny on environmental, social, and corporate governance (“ESG”) issues including potential litigation involving our ESG practices or disclosures may adversely affect our business, and results of operations.
A number of companies have been subject to private litigation and governmental action involving a diverse set of claims ranging from allegedly false environmental compliance and “sustainability” disclosures, social issues such as modern slavery in supply chains, and governance issues involving corporate audits and reporting. Like many companies, we publish an annual sustainability report covering topics including energy and emissions, fair labor, and sustainable
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agriculture. While we believe the disclosures in our sustainability reports and elsewhere concerning ESG are accurate, we could still be subject to litigation involving ESG claims. Such litigation, even if without merit, could negatively impact our reputation, take management time and attention away from other company business, require changes in operations and/or adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, the actions of growers and other industry partners on ESG matters could negatively impact our reputation or involve us in legal or regulatory proceedings concerning their conduct. Additionally, any perceived failures to operate in accordance with domestic and international laws and regulations could cause consumers to no longer associate our company and our brands with high quality and safety products, may adversely affect the value of our brands and the demand for our products.
Unanticipated changes in US or international tax provisions, the adoption of new tax legislation or exposure to additional tax liabilities could affect our financial performance.
We are subject to taxes in the US and Mexico. Due to economic and political conditions, tax rates in various jurisdictions may be subject to significant change. Our effective tax rates could be affected by changes in the mix of earnings in countries with differing statutory tax rates, changes in the valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities, or changes in tax laws or their interpretation.
We are also subject to the examination of our tax returns and other tax matters by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, the SAT and other tax authorities. We regularly assess the likelihood of an adverse outcome resulting from these examinations to determine the adequacy of our provision for taxes. There can be no assurance that we will accurately predict the outcomes of any audits, and the amounts ultimately paid upon resolution of audits could be materially different from the amounts previously included in our income tax expense and therefore could have a material impact on our tax provision, net income and cash flows. If our effective tax rates were to increase, or if the ultimate determination of our taxes owed is for an amount in excess of amounts previously accrued, our financial condition, operating results and cash flows could be adversely affected.
Our dispute with Mexican tax authorities related to the 2013 Tax Assessment may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial position.
In January 2017, we received preliminary observations from the SAT related to an audit for fiscal year 2013 outlining certain proposed adjustments primarily related to intercompany funding, deductions for services from certain vendors/suppliers and IVA. We provided a written rebuttal to these preliminary observations during our second fiscal quarter of 2017. During the period from our third fiscal quarter of 2017 through our third fiscal quarter of 2018, we attempted to resolve our case with the SAT through the conclusive agreement submitted before PRODECON (Mexican Tax Ombudsman), having several working meetings attended by representatives of the SAT, Calavo de Mexico (“CDM”) and the PRODECON. However, we were unable to materially resolve our case with the SAT through the PRODECON process.
In July 2018, a local office of the SAT issued a final tax assessment (the “2013 Assessment”) totaling approximately $2.6 billion Mexican pesos (which includes annual adjustments for inflation, and equals approx. $143.8 million USD at October 31, 2023) related to a fiscal 2013 tax audit. This amount has been adjusted for inflation as of October 31, 2023 to the amount of $3 billion Mexican pesos (approx. $166.0 million USD). Additionally, the tax authorities have determined that we owe our employees profit-sharing liability, totaling approximately $118 million Mexican pesos (approx. $6.5 million USD at October 31, 2023). In August 2018, we filed an administrative appeal (the “Administrative Appeal”) on the 2013 Assessment, appealing our case to the SAT’s Legal Administration in Michoacan.
On June 25, 2021, we became aware that the Administrative Appeal had been resolved against CDM on March 12, 2021, and that CDM had allegedly failed to timely respond to and challenge the SAT’s notification of such resolution, therefore rendering the 2013 Assessment as definitive. In addition, the SAT placed liens on the fixed assets of CDM, with a net book value of approximately $26 million USD, and on bank accounts of CDM totaling approximately $1 million USD in order to guaranty the 2013 Assessment. As of October 31, 2022 all liens have been removed from the assets of CDM as a result of a Court ruling in favor of CDM. CDM accordingly received access to its bank accounts in November 2022.
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We have taken measures to vigorously defend our position that the 2013 Assessment is without merit and we have court rulings in favor of CDM, including a Court resolution from the Tax Court ordering the SAT to accept an Administrative Guaranty and remove all liens. On August 20, 2021, we filed an Annulment Suit (the “Suit”) with the Federal Tax Court, which among other things, contends that the notifications made by the SAT to CDM and its designated advisors of the resolution of the Administrative Appeal in March 2021 was not legally communicated and asserts the same matters central to the Reconsideration as wrongly concluded in the resolution of the Administrative Appeal.
On September 22, 2021, we had an initial in-person meeting with the SAT in Mexico City to formally present and discuss the Administrative Reconsideration (the “Reconsideration”) that we filed on August 18, 2021. The SAT agreed to review our Reconsideration in more detail; however, on January 3, 2022, the SAT formally rejected our request for the Reconsideration. In response to this rejection, on January 21, 2022, we filed a capital injunction suit (the “Injunction Suit”) with a federal district court seeking to nullify the arguments against the Reconsideration made by the SAT on constitutional grounds.
The main purpose of the Injunction Suit was to challenge the SAT’s response issued to the Reconsideration, and with that, to keep the Reconsideration alive until the Injunction Suit is decided. This would allow time to continue the discussions with SAT at the administrative level and would give SAT the legal basis to issue a new resolution. The Injunction Suit represents a further opportunity for a court to analyze this matter from a constitutional perspective.
On August 16, 2023, we received notice that the federal district court rejected the Injunction Suit. In so doing, the federal district court did not rule on the substance of the case, stating that the substance of the case will be resolved by the Tax Court through the Annulment Suit. The Company filed an appeal with the federal circuit court on August 30, 2023.
On March 10, 2022, we met with the SAT and offered an Administrative Guaranty (Embargo en Via Administrativa) to secure the 2013 Assessment, which provides the SAT with certain administrative rights to CDM assets in the event we do not prevail in our actions through the Federal Tax Court.
On October 10, 2022, the Tax Court ruled in favor of CDM granting the definitive suspension, accepting the Administrative Guaranty and forcing the SAT to remove all liens placed on CDM fixed assets and bank accounts. These liens were removed in November 2022. The Court also recognized that the $3.1 billion peso assessment exceeds the economic capacity of CDM.
While we continue to believe that the 2013 Assessment is completely without merit, and that we will prevail on the Annulment Suit in the Tax Court, we also believe that it is in the best interest of CDM and the Company to settle the 2013 Assessment as quickly as possible. Furthermore, we believe that the above actions taken by CDM will encourage the SAT to agree to reach a settlement. In accordance with our cumulative probability analysis on uncertain tax positions, our settlements made by the SAT in other cases, the 2011 Assessment settlement reached by CDM with the MFM, and the value of CDM assets, we recorded a provision of $11 million, in the third quarter of fiscal 2021, as a discrete item in Income Tax Provision. The provision includes estimated penalties, interest and inflationary adjustments. We believe that this provision remains appropriate as of October 31, 2023 based on our cumulative probability analysis. We incurred $2.4 million of related professional fees for the year ended October 31, 2023, respectively, which we have recoded in Expenses related to Mexican Tax matters on the consolidated statements of operations.
We cannot assure you that any of these measures will be successful or that we will be able to settle the 2013 Assessment on terms acceptable to us or at all. Such outcomes could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition which could result in an event of default under our credit facility and the acceleration of indebtedness under such facility. Further, we cannot assure you that the provision for this matter in our financial statements will be adequate to fund any settlement we may ultimately enter into or any amount of taxes.
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Our dispute with the Mexican tax authorities related to taxes receivable may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial position.
As of October 31, 2023, and October 31, 2022, CDM IVA receivables totaled $49.9 million (913.6 million Mexican pesos) and $43.6 million (865.4 million Mexican pesos). Historically, CDM received IVA refund payments from the Mexican tax authorities on a timely basis. Beginning in fiscal 2014 and continuing into fiscal 2023, the tax authorities began objecting to refund requests and supporting documentation that had previously been deemed acceptable to process a refund. Additionally, they are also questioning the refunds requested attributable to IVA paid to certain suppliers that allegedly did not fulfill their own tax obligations. We believe these factors and others have contributed to delays in the processing of IVA claims by the Mexican tax authorities. Currently, we are in the process of collecting such balances primarily through regular administrative processes, but these amounts may ultimately need to be recovered through Administrative Appeals and/or other legal means. For further details on this matter, see Note 14 in the consolidated financial statements.
We believe that our operations in Mexico are properly documented and our internationally recognized tax advisors believe that there are legal grounds to prevail in collecting the corresponding IVA amounts. Therefore, we believe that it is probable that the Mexican tax authorities will ultimately authorize the refund of the corresponding IVA amounts. However, there is no assurance that we will collect the full amount reflected in our financial statements.
We are subject to possible changing USDA and FDA regulations which govern the importation of foreign avocados into the United States and the processing of processed avocado products.
The USDA has established, and continues to modify, regulations governing the importation of avocados into the United States. Our permits that allow us to import foreign-sourced avocados into the United States generally are contingent on our compliance with these regulations. Our results of operations may be adversely affected if we are unable to comply with existing and modified regulations and are unable to secure avocado import permits in the future.
The FDA establishes, and continues to modify, regulations governing the production of processed avocado products, such as the new Food Safety Modernization Act, which implements mandatory preventive controls for food facilities and compliance with mandatory produce safety standards. Our results of operations may be adversely affected if we are unable to comply with these existing and modified regulations. Such failures could also cause reputational damage to our business.
If we fail to comply with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or other similar legal requirements, we may be subject to criminal and civil penalties and other remedial measures, which could have a material adverse effect on our reputation, business, results of operations or financial condition.
We are subject to the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”), and other anti-corruption laws and regulations that generally prohibit companies and their intermediaries from making improper payments to government officials and/or other persons for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. Our policies mandate compliance with these anti-bribery laws. We operate in Mexico, which is recognized as having a greater potential for governmental and commercial corruption.
Recent years have seen a substantial increase in anti-bribery law enforcement activity by U.S. regulators, with more frequent and aggressive investigations and enforcement proceedings by both the SEC and the Department of Justice ("DOJ"), increased enforcement activity by non-U.S. regulators, and increases in criminal and civil proceedings brought against companies and individuals.
On January 16, 2024, the Company announced that its internal audit process had identified to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors certain matters that the Board of Directors determined after fiscal year end merited enhanced evaluation. A Special Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Special Committee”) was established to commence an investigation, with the assistance of external legal counsel and external forensic accountants. The Special Committee determined that certain of those matters related to the Company’s operations in Mexico raised potential issues under the
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Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”). The Company voluntarily disclosed this ongoing investigation to the SEC and the DOJ, and the Company intends to fully cooperate with the SEC and the DOJ in connection with these matters.
Any determination that the Company’s operations or activities are not or were not in compliance with laws, including the FCPA, could result in a broad range of civil and criminal sanctions against the Company and certain of its personnel, including injunctive relief, disgorgement, substantial fines or penalties, imprisonment, interruptions of business, loss of supplier, vendor or other third-party relationships, termination of necessary licenses and permits, and other legal or equitable sanctions. Other internal or government investigations or legal or regulatory proceedings, including lawsuits brought by private litigants, may also follow as a consequence. Violations of these laws may result in criminal or civil sanctions, which could disrupt our business and result in a material adverse effect on our reputation, business, results of operations or financial condition. Moreover, our ongoing internal investigation, and cooperating with and responding to the SEC and the DOJ in connection with potential investigations they may undertake, as well as responding to any future U.S. or foreign governmental investigations or whistleblower lawsuits, have resulted in, and may continue to result in, substantial expenses, and have diverted and may continue to divert management’s attention from other business concerns, and could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition and growth prospects.
International Risks
We work with international third-party suppliers and partners, and our financial results could suffer due to unfavorable international events or regulations.
We conduct a substantial amount of business with growers and customers who are located outside the United States. We purchase avocados from foreign growers and packers, sell fresh avocados and processed avocado products to foreign customers, and operate packinghouses and a processing plant in Mexico. Mexico is the largest source of our supply of avocados, and our operations are affected by events in that country. In recent years, there has been an increase in organized crime in Mexico, which could in the future affect avocado farming, packing and shipment activities and increase the costs and risks of doing business in Mexico. We are also subject to regulations imposed by the Mexican government and to examinations by the Mexican tax authorities. Significant changes to these government regulations and to assessments by the Mexican tax authorities can have a negative impact on our operations and operating results in Mexico. Importing avocados from Mexico to the U.S. depends on ours border remaining open, which has closed for trading in the past.
In November 2022, the Mexican Secretary of Labor and Social Welfare issued the criteria for subcontracting inspections noting that companies engaged in farming, packing, distribution, and export of fruit would have to internalize picking and hauling services. In response to that criteria and subsequent fines, we are appealing the applicability of the criteria to our operations in Mexico, as well as disputing the notification received. An adverse result of this appeal could have an adverse effect on our operations in Mexico, which rely to some extent on external picking and hauling services.
For additional information about our Mexican sourced fruit, see the “Business” section included in this Annual Report.
Our current international operations are subject to a number of inherent risks, including:
| ● | Local economic and political conditions, including disruptions in supply, labor, transportation (the transport of consumer goods), trading and capital markets; |
| ● | Restrictive U.S. and foreign governmental actions, such as restrictions on transfers of funds and trade protection measures, including import/export duties and quotas and customs duties and tariffs; and |
| ● | Changes in legal or regulatory requirements affecting foreign investment, loans, taxes (including value-added taxes), imports, and exports. |
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The Hamas-Israel and Russia-Ukraine conflicts, other areas of geopolitical tension around the world, or the worsening of those conflicts or tensions, and any related challenging macroeconomic conditions globally and in various countries in which we and our customers operate may materially adversely affect our customers, vendors, and partners, and the duration and extent to which these factors may impact our future business and operations, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows remain uncertain.
The Hamas-Israel and Russia-Ukraine conflicts, or other areas of geopolitical tension around the world, or any worsening or spread of those conflicts or geopolitical tensions, and any related challenging macroeconomic conditions globally, could decrease the spending of our existing and potential new customers, adversely affect demand for our products, cause one or more of our customers, vendors, and partners to file for bankruptcy protection or go out of business, impact expected spending and pricing levels from existing and potential new customers, and negatively impact collections of accounts receivable, all of which could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Any of the negative impacts of the Hamas-Israel and Russia-Ukraine conflicts, other areas of geopolitical tension around the world, or any worsening of those conflicts or geopolitical tensions, and any related challenging macroeconomic conditions, may have a material adverse effect on our business and operations, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. Any of these negative impacts, alone or in combination with others, also could exacerbate many of the other risk factors discussed in this report, including volatility in the trading prices of our common stock. The full extent to which these factors will negatively affect our business and operations, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows will depend on future developments that are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, including the scope, severity and duration of the Hamas-Israel and Russia-Ukraine conflicts, other areas of geopolitical tension around the world and any economic downturns and the actions taken by governmental authorities and other third parties in response.
Currency exchange fluctuations may impact the results of our operations.
Currency exchange rate fluctuations, depending upon the nature of the changes, may make our domestic-sourced products more expensive compared to foreign grown products or may increase our cost of obtaining foreign-sourced products. These foreign currency fluctuations also affect the ultimate realization of foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities in US dollar terms. While hedging instruments may help reduce the volatility associated with currency rate changes, hedging instruments may not be readily available, may be too expensive or may be ineffective for the respective reduction in volatility desired. To date, the Company has not hedged against foreign currency exposure and we may not hedge against foreign currency exposure in the future, which could increase our susceptibility to foreign currency fluctuations.
Financial Risks
Our ability to raise capital in the future may be limited, and our failure to raise capital when needed could prevent us from executing our growth strategy.
The timing and amount of our working capital and capital expenditure requirements may vary significantly depending on many factors, including:
| ● | Market acceptance of our products; and |
| ● | Opportunities for expansion. |
If our capital resources are not sufficient to satisfy our liquidity needs, we may seek to sell additional equity or obtain additional debt financing. The sale of additional equity would result in dilution to our shareholders. Additional debt would result in increased expenses and could result in covenants that would restrict our operations. We may not be able to obtain additional financing, if required, in amounts or on terms acceptable to us, or at all.
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We are subject to restrictive debt covenants and other requirements related to our debt that limit our business flexibility by imposing operating and financial restrictions on our operations.
On June 26, 2023, Calavo and certain subsidiaries entered into a credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) by and among Calavo, certain subsidiaries of Calavo as guarantors, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as agent and lender. The Credit Agreement provides for a revolving credit facility of up to $90.0 million, along with a capex credit facility of up to $10.0 million.
The agreements governing our indebtedness impose significant operating and financial restrictions on us. These restrictions prohibit or limit our ability to: incur indebtedness; grant liens on its assets; enter into certain investments; consummate fundamental change transactions; engage in mergers or acquisitions or dispose of assets; enter into certain transactions with affiliates; make changes to its fiscal year; enter into certain restrictive agreements; and make certain restricted payments (including for dividends). Each of these limitations are subject to various conditions. The Credit Agreement also contains a springing fixed charge coverage ratio financial covenant that is tested if the amount of the Revolving Loans available for Calavo to borrow under the New Credit Facility is less than 10% of the total revolving credit facility.
The Credit Agreement also contains certain affirmative covenants and customary events of default provisions, including, subject to thresholds and grace periods, among others, payment default, covenant default, cross default to other material indebtedness, and judgment default.
Our ability to comply with the ratios or tests may be affected by events beyond our control, including prevailing economic, financial and industry conditions. A breach of any of these covenants, or failure to meet or maintain ratios or tests could result in a default under our credit agreement. Certain events of default under our credit agreement would prohibit us from paying dividends on our common stock. In addition, upon the occurrence of an event of default under our credit agreement, the lenders could elect to declare all amounts outstanding under the credit agreement, together with accrued interest, to be immediately due and payable. If we were unable to repay those amounts, the credit agreement lenders could proceed against the security granted to them to secure that indebtedness. If the lenders accelerate the payment of the indebtedness, our assets may not be sufficient to repay in full this indebtedness and our other indebtedness.
Our ownership in unconsolidated subsidiaries, our loans/notes or advances to unconsolidated subsidiaries and other future debt or equity investments that we may make in unconsolidated subsidiaries, present risks and challenges that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position and results of operations.
Income/(loss) from unconsolidated entities includes our allocation of earnings or losses from our investments in Don Memo. We do not control the operations of these investments, and our allocation of potential income or loss can increase or decrease our overall profitability significantly.
Any loans/notes or advances that we make to unconsolidated entities (such as the existing advances to Don Memo) may at some point in the future be deemed uncollectible and as such may materially and negatively impact our financial results in the period such determination is made. As noted earlier, we do not control the operations of Don Memo, and their future operating performance and/or their future ability to raise capital from other third parties could negatively impact our ability to collect on our loans/notes or advances.
General Risks
The value of our common stock may be adversely affected by market volatility and our common stock price has fluctuated and may continue to fluctuate, which may make future prices of our common stock difficult to predict.
Investors should not rely on recent or historical trends to predict future stock prices, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Our common stock price, like that of other companies, can be volatile and can be affected by many factors, including:
| ● | Our operating and financial performance and prospects; |
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| ● | Announcements and public SEC filings we make about our business, financial performance and prospects; |
| ● | Announcements our customers or competitors make regarding their business, financial performance and prospects; |
| ● | Short-interest in our common stock, which may be significant from time-to-time; |
| ● | The depth and liquidity of the market for our common stock; |
| ● | Investor perception of us and the industry and markets in which we operate; |
| ● | Our inclusion in, or removal from, any equity market indices; |
| ● | Changes in earnings estimates or buy/sell recommendations by analysts; |
| ● | Whether or not we meet earnings estimates of analysts who follow our Company; |
| ● | Competitors in common markets; and |
| ● | General financial, domestic, international, economic, industry and other market trends or conditions. |
Our performance may be impacted by general economic conditions or an economic downturn.
An overall decline in economic activity could adversely impact our business and financial results. Economic uncertainty may reduce consumer spending as consumers make decisions on what to include in their food budgets. This could also result in a shift in consumer preference. Shifts in consumer spending could result in increased pressure from competitors or customers that may require us to increase promotional spending or reduce the prices of some of our products and/or limit our ability to increase or maintain prices, which could lower our revenue and profitability. Instability in financial markets may impact our ability, or increase the cost, to enter into new credit agreements in the future. Additionally, it may weaken the ability of our customers, suppliers, third-party distributors, banks, insurance companies and other business partners to perform their obligations in the normal course of business, which could expose us to losses or disrupt the supply of inputs we rely upon to conduct our business. If one or more of our key business partners fail to perform as expected or contracted for any reason, our business could be negatively impacted.
Our insurance policies may not adequately protect us from liability or may negatively impact our financial condition and results of operations due to increasing costs.
While we believe that the extent of our insurance coverage is consistent with industry practice, such coverage does not cover all losses we may incur, even in areas for which we have coverage. Our insurance policies are subject to coverage exclusions, deductibles and caps, and any claim we make under our insurance policies may be subject to such limitations. Any claim we make may not be honored fully, in a timely manner, or at all, and we may not have purchased sufficient insurance to cover all losses incurred. If we were to incur substantial liabilities or if our business operations were interrupted for a substantial period of time, we could incur costs and suffer losses. Additionally, in the future, insurance coverage may not be available to us at commercially acceptable premiums, or at all.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
None.
Item 1C. Cybersecurity
Not applicable.
Item 2. Properties
We lease our corporate headquarters building from Limoneira, which building is located in Santa Paula, California. In addition, we lease a corporate office in Rancho Cordova, California. We have numerous facilities throughout the United States and three facilities in Mexico. See the following table for a summary of our locations:
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United States Locations:
Packinghouses:
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Leased or Owned: |
| City |
| State |
| Description | |
Owned | Santa Paula | California | Primarily handles fresh avocados. The facility was purchased in 1955 and has been improved in capacity and efficiency since then. We believe that the annual capacity of this facility will be sufficient to handle its forecasted annual production needs. | ||||
Leased | Temecula | California | Primarily ripens, sorts, packs and ships fresh avocados. We sort and pack certain other fresh products as well. We sold this facility in 2019 and leased back a portion of it. |
Operating and Distributing Facilities:
Leased or Owned: | City | State | Description | ||||
Owned | Santa Paula | California | Primarily ripens, sorts, packs and ships fresh avocados. We sort and pack certain other fresh products as well. We believe that the annual capacity of this facility will be sufficient to pack and ripen, if necessary, its expected annual volume of avocados and other fresh products delivered to us. | ||||
Leased | Swedesboro | New Jersey | Primarily ripens, sorts, packs, and ships fresh avocados. Additionally, it also serves to store and ship certain other fresh products, as well as prepared foods and prepared guacamole products. We believe that the annual capacity of this facility will be sufficient to handle its forecasted annual production needs. | ||||
Leased | Garland | Texas | Primarily ripens, sorts, packs and ships fresh avocados. Additionally, it also serves to store and ship prepared guacamole products. We believe that the annual capacity of this facility will be sufficient to handle its forecasted annual production needs. | ||||
Leased | Green Cove Springs | Florida | Primarily ripens, sorts, packs and ships fresh avocados and stores and ships prepared guacamole. We believe that the annual capacity of this facility will be sufficient to handle its forecasted annual production needs. | ||||
Leased | Hilo | Hawaii | Primarily sorts, packs, and ships papayas. We believe that the annual capacity will be sufficient to handle its forecasted annual production needs. | ||||
Leased | Houston | Texas | Prepared products facility that primarily processes fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, and prepared foods. We believe that the annual capacity of this facility will be sufficient to handle its forecasted annual production needs. | ||||
Owned | Riverside | California | Prepared products facility that primarily processes fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, and prepared foods. We believe that the annual capacity of this facility will be sufficient to handle its forecasted annual production needs. | ||||
Leased | Sacramento | California | Prepared products facility that primarily processes fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, and prepared foods. We believe that the annual capacity of this facility will be sufficient to handle its forecasted annual production needs. |
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Leased or Owned: | City | State | Description | |||
Leased | Clackamas | Oregon | Opened in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2019, this Prepared products facility primarily processes fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, and prepared foods. We believe that the annual capacity of this facility will be sufficient to handle its forecasted annual production needs. | |||
Leased | Conley | Georgia | Opened in the third quarter of fiscal 2019, this Prepared products facility primarily processes fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, and prepared foods. We believe that the annual capacity of this facility will be sufficient to handle its forecasted annual production needs. | |||
Mexico Locations:
Packinghouses and Processing Facility:
Leased or Owned: | City | State | Description | ||||
Owned | Uruapan | Michoacan | Our guacamole processing facility produces our guacamole products. We believe that the annual capacity of this facility will be sufficient to handle its forecasted annual production needs. | ||||
Owned | Uruapan | Michoacan | Primarily handles fresh avocados. The facility was built in 1985 and has been significantly and continually improved in capacity and efficiency since then. We believe that the annual capacity of this facility will be sufficient to process its forecasted annual production needs. See Note 7 to our consolidated financial statements | ||||
Owned | Ciudad Guzman | Jalisco | Opened in the third quarter of 2017, this facility primarily handles fresh avocados. We believe that the annual capacity of this facility will be sufficient to process its forecasted annual production needs. |
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
See Note 7 of our consolidated financial statements for further information.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
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PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Our common stock trades on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol "CVGW".
The following tables set forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low sales prices per share of our common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market.
Fiscal 2023 |
| High |
| Low |
| ||
First Quarter | $ | 37.41 | $ | 29.00 | |||
Second Quarter | $ | 45.24 | $ | 22.80 | |||
Third Quarter | $ | 38.26 | $ | 28.84 | |||
Fourth Quarter | $ | 38.24 | $ | 24.40 | |||
Fiscal 2022 |
| High |
| Low |
| ||
First Quarter | $ | 44.56 | $ | 37.00 | |||
Second Quarter | $ | 45.26 | $ | 32.75 | |||
Third Quarter | $ | 44.57 | $ | 28.76 | |||
Fourth Quarter | $ | 45.50 | $ | 29.51 | |||
Shareholders
As of November 30, 2023, there were 770 stockholders of record of our common stock.
Dividend Policy
Our dividend policy has historically provided for an annual dividend payment, as determined by the Board of Directors. In November 2022, we announced that we would begin declaring and paying dividends quarterly rather than annually, as had been our practice.
On December 14, 2022, we paid a dividend of $0.2875 per share, or an aggregate of $5.2 million, to shareholders of record on November 16, 2022. On April 6, 2023, we paid a $0.10 per share dividend in the aggregate amount of $1.7 million to shareholders of record on March 24, 2023. On July 11, 2023, we paid a $0.10 per share dividend in the aggregate amount of $1.8 million to shareholders of record on June 27, 2023. On October 11, 2023, we paid a $0.10 per share dividend in the aggregate amount of $1.8 million to shareholders of record on September 27, 2023.
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Shareholder Return Performance Graph
The following graph compares the performance of our common stock with the performance of the Nasdaq Market Index and a Peer Group of major diversified companies in our same industry for approximately the 60-month period beginning October 31, 2018 and ending October 31, 2023. In making this comparison, we have assumed an investment of $100 in Calavo Growers, Inc. common stock, the Nasdaq Market Index, the Peer Group Index as of October 31, 2018. We have also assumed the reinvestment of all dividends. Our Peer Group Index includes the companies of: Andersons, Inc., B&G Foods, Inc., Boston Beer Company, Inc., Fresh Del Monte Produce, Inc., Hain Celestial Group, Inc., Hostess Brands, Inc., J&J Snack Foods, Corp., John B Sanfilippo & Son, Inc., and Landec, Corp.
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| 10/18 | 10/19 | 10/20 | 10/21 | 10/22 | 10/23 |
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Calavo Growers, Inc. |
| 100.00 | 90.34 | 70.84 | 43.11 | 38.14 | 28.47 |
NASDAQ Composite |
| 100.00 | 114.77 | 152.47 | 218.01 | 155.75 | 183.76 |
Peer Group |
| 100.00 | 104.33 | 158.68 | 134.68 | 99.79 | 94.01 |
Item 6. RESERVED
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Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
You should read the following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations together with our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto that appear elsewhere in this Annual Report. This discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, those presented under "Risks Related to Our Business" included in Item 1A and elsewhere in this Annual Report.
Overview
We are a leading marketer, processor, and distributor of avocados and other value-added fresh foods to customers throughout the world. Our expertise in marketing and distributing avocados and developing and manufacturing prepared avocado products and other value-added fresh foods allows us to deliver a wide array of food products to retail grocery, foodservice, club stores, mass merchandisers, food distributors and wholesalers throughout the world but primarily in the United States. We procure avocados from California, Mexico and other growing regions around the world. Through our various operating facilities, we (i) sort, pack, and/or ripen avocados, tomatoes and/or Hawaiian grown papayas, (ii) create, process and package a portfolio of healthy fresh foods including fresh-cut fruit and vegetables and other prepared foods including sandwiches, salads, parfaits and snack items among other products, and (iii) process and package guacamole.
We distribute our products both domestically and internationally and we report our operations in two different business segments: Grown and Prepared. The Grown segment consists of fresh avocados, tomatoes and papayas. The Prepared segment comprises all other products including fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, sandwiches, wraps, salads, parfaits, snacks, and guacamole sold at retail and food service as well as avocado pulp sold to foodservice. See Note 10 in our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information about our business segments.
Our Grown products business grades, sizes, packs, cools, and ripens (if desired) avocados for delivery to our customers. During fiscal 2023, we operated three packinghouses and five operating and distributing facilities (also known as “value-added depots” or “VAD”s) that handle avocados that are sold across the United States and select international markets. We believe that our continued success in marketing avocados is largely dependent upon securing a reliable, high-quality supply of avocados at reasonable prices, and keeping the handling costs low as we ship avocados to our packinghouses and distribution centers. We believe our diversified avocado sources help provide a level of relative supply stability that may, over time, serve to increase the availability and demand for avocados among consumers in the United States and elsewhere in the world. Significant fluctuations in the volume of avocados delivered have an impact on the per pound packing costs of avocados we handle. Generally, larger crops will result in a lower per-pound handling cost. As a result of our investment in packinghouse equipment, distribution centers with value-added ripening and packing capabilities, and personnel, we believe that our cost structure is geared to optimally handle larger avocado volume. We believe our efforts in distributing our other various perishable foods, such as tomatoes and papayas, complement our offerings of avocados. From time to time, we continue to explore the distribution of other crops that provide reasonable returns to our business.
Our Prepared business produces, markets and distributes, primarily nationally, a portfolio of healthy, high quality fresh packaged food products for consumers sold through retail and other channels. Prepared products include fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, sandwiches, wraps, salads, parfaits, snacks, and guacamole sold at retail and food service as well as avocado pulp sold to foodservice. Prepared products are marketed under the Calavo, Garden Highway Fresh Cut, Garden Highway, and Garden Highway Chef Essentials brands, as well as store-brand and private label programs. We believe that we are well positioned to address the diverse taste and needs of today’s foodservice and retail customers. Our Prepared business maintains relationships with foodservice companies and food retailers. We continue to seek to expand our relationships with major foodservice companies and food retailers and develop alliances that will allow our products to reach more consumers.
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The operating results of all of our businesses have been, and will continue to be, affected by quarterly and annual fluctuations and market downturns due to a number of factors, including but not limited to pests and disease, weather patterns, changes in demand by consumers, food safety advisories, the timing of the receipt, reduction, or cancellation of significant customer orders; the gain or loss of significant customers; market acceptance of our products; our ability to develop, introduce, and market new products on a timely basis; the availability, quality and price of raw materials; new product introductions by our competitors; the utilization of production capacity at our various plant locations; change in the mix of products that our Grown and Prepared segments sell; and general economic conditions. We believe, however, that we are currently positioned to address these risks and deliver favorable operating results for the foreseeable future.
Proposed Sale of the Fresh Cut business
We and certain of our subsidiaries have entered into non-binding, exclusive negotiations regarding the potential sale of all of the assets used in our Fresh Cut business and certain related real property for approximately $100.0 million, subject to certain adjustments that may be included in a binding agreement (the “Proposed Transaction”). The Fresh cut business represents substantially all of the business of the Prepared segment other than the guacamole business, which would be retained following the Proposed Transaction. The closing of the Proposed Transaction is subject to the negotiation and execution of a binding agreement. There can be no assurance that a binding agreement will result from the current negotiations, and if a binding agreement does result, the price, structure, form of consideration (for example, cash, promissory, equity) and other material terms may be materially different than currently expected. For further discussion of the risks of the Proposed Transaction, see the Risk Factors section included elsewhere in this Annual Report.
If the Proposed Transaction occurs, our results of operations for the years ended October 31, 2023, October 31, 2022 and October 31, 2021, will not be indicative of our future results. The indirect and direct incremental impacts of the Proposed Transaction on our operating results, financial statements and cash flows are not reliably estimable at this time.
Recent Developments
Dividend payment
On December 14, 2022, we paid a dividend of $0.2875 per share, or an aggregate of $5.2 million, to shareholders of record on November 16, 2022. On April 6, 2023, we paid a $0.10 per share dividend in the aggregate amount of $1.7 million to shareholders of record on March 24, 2023. On July 11, 2023, we paid a $0.10 per share dividend in the aggregate amount of $1.8 million to shareholders of record on June 27, 2023. On October 11, 2023, we paid a $0.10 per share dividend in the aggregate amount of $1.8 million to shareholders of record on September 27, 2023.
Credit Agreement
On June 26, 2023, Calavo and certain subsidiaries entered into a credit agreement by and among, Calavo, certain subsidiaries of Calavo as guarantors, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as agent and lender. The Credit Agreement provides for a revolving credit facility of up to $90.0 million, along with a capex credit facility of up to $10.0 million. See “Liquidity and Capital Resources” below for more information.
Compliance matters
On January 16, 2024, the Company announced that its internal audit process had identified to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors certain matters that the Board of Directors determined after fiscal year end merited enhanced evaluation. A Special Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Special Committee”) was established to commence an investigation, with the assistance of external legal counsel and external forensic accountants. The Special Committee determined that certain of those matters related to the Company’s operations in Mexico raised potential issues under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”). The Company has voluntarily disclosed this ongoing internal investigation to the SEC and the Department of Justice ("DOJ"), and the Company intends to fully cooperate with the SEC and the DOJ in connection with these matters. Any determination that the Company’s operations or activities were not in compliance with laws, including the FCPA, could result in the imposition of material fines and penalties and the imposition of
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equitable remedies. See “Risk Factors” included in this Annual Report. The Company cannot currently predict the timing of completion or the outcome of its internal investigation or of any actions that may be taken by the SEC, the DOJ or Mexican authorities in connection with the matters under investigation, and the Company cannot currently estimate the amount or range of loss or potential impact on its consolidated financial statements associated with these matters.
Mexican Tax Issues
See footnotes 7 and 14 of the consolidated financial statements for information on Mexican tax matters and the Mexican IVA taxes receivable.
Litigation
From time to time, we are involved in litigation arising in the ordinary course of our business that we do not believe will have a material adverse impact on our financial statements.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. On an ongoing basis, we re-evaluate all of our estimates, including those related to the areas of customer and grower receivables, IVA tax receivables, inventories, useful lives of property, plant and equipment, promotional allowances, equity income/losses and impairment analysis from unconsolidated entities, loans to unconsolidated entities, income taxes, retirement benefits, and commitments and contingencies. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Additionally, we frequently engage third party valuation experts to assist us with estimates described below. Actual results may materially differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions as additional information becomes available in future periods.
Management has discussed the development and selection of critical accounting estimates with the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors and the Audit Committee has reviewed our disclosure relating to critical accounting estimates in this Annual Report.
We believe the following are the more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.
2013 Mexican Tax Audit Assessment. In January 2017, we received preliminary observations from SAT related to an audit for fiscal year 2013 outlining certain proposed adjustments primarily related to intercompany funding, deductions for services from certain vendors and suppliers and IVA. We provided a written rebuttal to these preliminary observations during our second fiscal quarter of 2017.
As a result, in July 2018, the SAT’s local office in Uruapan issued to CDM a final tax assessment totaling approximately $2.6 billion Mexican pesos (which includes annual adjustments for inflation, and equals approximately $143.8 million USD at October 31, 2023) related to Income Tax, Flat Rate Business Tax, and value added tax, related to this fiscal 2013 tax audit. This amount has been adjusted for inflation as of October 31, 2023 to the amount of $3 billion Mexican pesos (approximately $166.0 million USD). Additionally, the tax authorities have determined that we owe our employee’s profit-sharing liability, totaling approximately $118 million Mexican pesos (approximately $6.5 million USD at October 31, 2023).
While we continue to believe that the 2013 Assessment is completely without merit, and that we will prevail on the Annulment Suit in the Tax Court, and that we have court rulings in favor of CDM, we also believe it is in the best interest of CDM and the Company to settle the 2013 Assessment as quickly as possible. Furthermore, we believe that the above actions taken by CDM will encourage the SAT to agree to reach a settlement. In accordance with our cumulative
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probability analysis, based on factors such as recent settlements made by the SAT in other cases, the 2011 Assessment settlement reached by CDM with the MFM, and the value of CDM assets, we recorded a provision of $11 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2021, as a discrete item in Income Tax Provision. The provision includes estimated penalties, interest and inflationary adjustments. We believe that this provision remains appropriate as of October 31, 2023 based on our cumulative probability analysis. We incurred $2.4 million of related professional fees for the year ended October 31, 2023, which have been recorded in Expenses related to Mexican Tax matters. See Note 7 to our consolidated financial statements for further information.
Mexican IVA taxes receivable. As of October 31, 2023, and October 31, 2022, CDM IVA receivables totaled $49.9 million (913.6 million Mexican pesos) and $43.6 million (865.4 million Mexican pesos). Historically, CDM received IVA refund payments from the Mexican tax authorities on a timely basis. Beginning in fiscal 2014 and continuing into fiscal 2023, however, the tax authorities began carrying out more detailed reviews of our refund requests and our supporting documentation. Additionally, they are also questioning the refunds requested attributable to IVA paid to certain suppliers that allegedly did not fulfill their own tax obligations. We believe these factors, and others, have contributed to delays in the processing of IVA claims by the Mexican tax authorities. Currently, we are in the process of collecting such balances primarily through regular administrative processes, but these amounts may ultimately need to be recovered through Administrative Appeals and/or legal means.
During the first quarter of fiscal 2017, the tax authorities informed us that their internal opinion, based on the information provided by the local SAT office, considers that CDM is not properly documented relative to its declared tax structure and therefore CDM cannot claim the refundable IVA balance. CDM has strong arguments and supporting documentation to sustain its declared tax structure for IVA and income tax purposes. CDM started an Administrative Appeal for the IVA related to the request of the months of July, August and September of 2015 (the “2015 Appeal”) in order to assert its argument that CDM is properly documented and to therefore change the SAT’s internal assessment. In August 2018, we received a favorable ruling from the SAT’s Legal Administration in Michoacan on the 2015 Appeal indicating that they believe CDM’s legal interpretation of its declared tax structure is indeed accurate. While favorable on this central matter of CDM’s declared tax structure, the ruling, however, still does not recognize the taxpayers right to a full refund for the IVA related to the months of July, August and September 2015. Therefore, in October 2018, CDM filed a substance-over-form Annulment Suit in the Federal Tax Court to recover its full refund for IVA over the subject period, which is currently pending resolution.
In spite of the favorable ruling from the SAT’s Legal Administration in Michoacan, as discussed above, the local SAT office has denied our refund claims and continues to believe that CDM is not properly documented relative to its declared tax structure. As a result, they believe CDM cannot claim certain refundable IVA balances, specifically regarding our IVA refunds since January through October 2017. CDM has strong arguments and supporting documentation to sustain its declared tax structure for IVA and income tax purposes. With assistance from our internationally recognized tax advisory firm, CDM has filed an Administrative Appeals for the IVA related to the preceding months. A response to these Administrative Appeals is currently pending resolution.
In light of the foregoing, the Company is currently considering its options for resolution of the IVA receivables. In the event of an unfavorable resolution of the Administrative Appeals, we plan to file Annulment Suits with the Mexican Federal Tax Court. If these suits result in an unfavorable ruling, there is an option to appeal to the Collegiate Circuit Court. The estimated time for the resolution of these suits could be 2 – 3 years.
We believe that our operations in Mexico are properly documented and our internationally recognized tax advisors believe that there are legal grounds to prevail in collecting the corresponding IVA amounts. Therefore, we believe that it is probable that the Mexican tax authorities will ultimately authorize the refund of the corresponding IVA amounts. However, there is no assurance that we will collect the full amount reflected in our financial statements.
Goodwill and acquired intangible assets. Goodwill, defined as unidentified asset(s) acquired in conjunction with a business acquisition, is tested for impairment on an annual basis and between annual tests whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Goodwill is tested at the reporting unit level, which is defined as an operating segment or one level below the operating segment. We perform a goodwill impairment test on an annual basis, and between annual tests whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying
31
amount may not be recoverable. To the extent the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s allocated goodwill exceeds the unit’s fair value, we recognize an impairment of goodwill for the excess up to the amount of goodwill of that reporting unit.
In fiscal 2023 and 2022, the Company’s estimated fair value exceeded its carrying value in our quantitative assessment of the Company’s impairment test. The fair value of the Company’s reporting units is determined using a combination of valuation techniques, including a discounted cash flow methodology. To corroborate the discounted cash flow analysis, a market approach is utilized using observable market data such as comparable companies in similar lines of business that are publicly traded. The Company concluded based on quantitative assessment tests that no goodwill impairment existed in the fiscal years ended October 31, 2023 and 2022. Goodwill impairment testing requires significant judgment and management estimates, including, but not limited to, the determination of (i) the number of reporting units, (ii) the goodwill and other assets and liabilities to be allocated to the reporting units and (iii) the fair values of the reporting units which include forecasted cash flow. The estimates and assumptions described above, along with other factors such as discount rates, will significantly affect the outcome of the impairment tests and the amounts of any resulting impairment losses.
32
Results of Operations
The following table sets forth certain items from our consolidated statements of operations, expressed as percentages of our total net sales, for the periods indicated:
Year ended October 31, |
| ||||||
2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| ||||
Net sales |
| 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % |
Gross profit |
| 7.2 | % | 6.2 | % | 5.4 | % |
Selling, general and administrative |
| 6.8 | % | 5.5 | % | 5.4 | % |
Expenses related to Mexican tax matters | 0.0 | % | — | % | 0.0 | % | |
Impairment and charges related to RFG Florida facility closure | — | % | 0.1 | % | 0.9 | % | |
Gain on sales of Temecula packinghouse | — | % | (0.0) | % | (0.0) | % | |
Operating income |
| 0.0 | % | 0.5 | % | (0.9) | % |
Interest income |
| 0.0 | % | 0.0 | % | 0.0 | % |
Interest expense |
| (0.1) | % | (0.1) | % | (0.1) | % |
Other income, net |
| 0.0 | % | 0.1 | % | 0.1 | % |
Recovery (loss) on reserve for FreshRealm note receivable and impairment of investment | — | % | — | % | 0.6 | % | |
Unrealized and realized net loss (gain) on Limoneira shares | — | % | (0.7) | % | 0.4 | % | |
Net loss |
| (0.9) | % | (0.5) | % | (1.1) | % |
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The below tables include measures which are not prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or “GAAP,” (“non-GAAP measures”) including EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income (loss) and adjusted diluted earnings per share (“EPS”).
EBITDA is defined as net income (loss) attributable to Calavo Growers, Inc., excluding (1) interest income and expense, (2) income taxes (benefit) provision, (3) depreciation and amortization, and (4) stock-based compensation expense. Adjusted EBITDA is EBITDA with further adjustments for (1) non-cash net losses (income) recognized from unconsolidated entities, (2) goodwill impairment, (3) write-off of long-lived assets, (4) acquisition-related costs, (5) restructuring-related costs, including certain severance costs, (6) certain litigation and other related costs, and (7) one-time items. Adjusted EBITDA is a primary metric by which management evaluates the operating performance of the business, on which certain operating expenditures and internal budgets are based and by which, in addition to other factors, the Company’s senior management is compensated. The adjustments to calculate EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are items recognized and recorded under GAAP in particular periods but might be viewed as not necessarily coinciding with the underlying business operations for the periods in which they are so recognized and recorded.
Adjusted net income (loss) is defined as net income (loss) attributable to Calavo Growers, Inc. excluding (1) non-cash net losses recognized from unconsolidated entities, (2) goodwill impairment, (3) write-off of long-lived assets, (4) acquisition-related costs, (5) restructuring-related costs, including certain severance costs, (6) certain litigation and other related costs, and (7) one-time items. Adjusted net income (loss) and the related measure of adjusted diluted EPS exclude certain items that are recognized and recorded under GAAP in particular periods but might be viewed as not necessarily coinciding with the underlying business operations for the periods in which they are so recognized and recorded. We believe adjusted net income (loss) affords investors a different view of the overall financial performance of the Company than adjusted EBITDA and the GAAP measure of net income (loss) attributable to Calavo Growers, Inc.
Reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are provided in the financial tables below.
Items are considered one-time in nature if they are non-recurring, infrequent or unusual and have not occurred in the past two years or are not expected to recur in the next two years, in accordance with SEC rules. One-time items are identified in the notes to the reconciliations in the financial tables below.
33
Non-GAAP information should be considered as supplemental in nature and not as a substitute for, or superior to, any measure of performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. None of these metrics are presented as measures of liquidity. The way the Company measures EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted diluted EPS may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies and may not be identical to corresponding measures used in Company agreements.
Adjusted Net Income (Non-GAAP, Unaudited)
The following table presents adjusted net income (loss) and adjusted diluted EPS, each a non-GAAP measure, and reconciles them to net income (loss) attributable to Calavo Growers, Inc., and Diluted EPS, which are the most directly comparable GAAP measures. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” above (in thousands, except per share amounts).
Year ended October 31, | |||||||||
| 2023 |
| 2022 |
| 2021 | ||||
Net loss attributable to Calavo Growers, Inc. | $ | (8,344) | $ | (6,249) | $ | (11,818) | |||
Non-GAAP adjustments: |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
Non-cash losses recognized from unconsolidated entities (a) |
| 879 |
| 564 |
| 1,719 | |||
Loss (recovery) from FreshRealm and other related expenses (b) |
| — | 580 |
| (5,989) | ||||
Acquisition costs (c) |
| — | — |
| 262 | ||||
Net loss (income) on Limoneira shares (d) |
| — |
| 8,928 |
| (3,858) | |||
Rent expense add back (e) |
| 432 |
| 432 |
| 396 | |||
Restructure costs - consulting, management recruiting and severance (f) | 5,490 | 4,914 | 3,180 | ||||||
Expenses related to Mexican tax matters (g) | 3,128 | 2,343 | 14,270 | ||||||
Impairment, losses and charges related to property, plant and equipment (h) | 235 | 1,145 | 9,748 | ||||||
Legal settlement and related expenses (i) | 700 | — | — | ||||||
Tax impact of adjustments (j) |
| (2,716) |
| (3,788) |
| (1,690) | |||
Adjusted net income (loss) attributed to Calavo Growers, Inc. | $ | (196) | $ | 8,869 | $ | 6,220 | |||
Calavo Growers, Inc.’s net income (loss) per share: |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
Diluted EPS (GAAP) | $ | (0.47) | $ | (0.35) | $ | (0.67) | |||
Adjusted net income (loss) per diluted share | $ | (0.01) | $ | 0.50 | $ | 0.35 | |||
Number of shares used in per share computation: |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
Diluted |
| 17,750 |
| 17,663 |
| 17,621 | |||
| (a) | For the years ended October 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, we incurred losses from Agricola Don Memo totaling $0.9 million, $0.6 million, and $1.7 million. |
| (b) | In July 2021, as part of the FreshRealm Separation Agreement, FreshRealm paid Calavo the Loan Payoff Amount of $6.0 million, and we recorded the receipt on the statement of operations as a recovery of the reserve for collectability of the FreshRealm note receivable. In addition, we recovered $0.1 million in receivables that we previously reserved. For the year ended October 31, 2021, we incurred $0.1 million of professional fees related to FreshRealm. For the year ended October 31, 2022, we recognized a return to provision discrete tax expense of $0.6 million due to the finalization of the tax treatment of the loss related to the previously recorded impairment of the investment in FreshRealm. |
| (c) | In the first quarter of fiscal 2021, we incurred professional service costs related to a considered but non-consummated acquisition. |
| (d) | For the years ended October 31, 2022 and 2021, we recorded losses of $8.6 million, and income of $3.9 million in realized and unrealized net gain (loss) on Limoneira shares. In the year ended October 31, 2022, we sold our entire investment of 1,677,299 shares of Limoneira stock. We incurred $0.3 million of broker fees as part of the sale of Limoneira stock. |
| (e) | For the year ended October 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, we incurred $0.4 million related to rent paid for Prepared’s former corporate office space that we have vacated and plan to sublease. |
| (f) | For fiscal 2023, 2022 and 2021, results include higher stock-based compensation expense of $1.6 million, $0.1 million and $1.3 million related to senior management transitions, which does not impact the underlying cost structure of the Company. For fiscal |
34
| 2022 and 2021, we recorded $2.8 million and $0.9 million of consulting expenses related to an enterprise-wide strategic business review conducted for the purpose of restructuring to improve the profitability of the organization and efficiency of our operations. In fiscal 2023, 2022 and 2021, we incurred $2.9 million, $2.0 million and $0.9 million related to management recruiting and severance costs in connection with the restructuring initiative. For the year ended October 31, 2023, we recorded $0.8 million in severance costs as part of U.S. restructuring efforts. Additionally, for the year ended October 31, 2023, we incurred $0.5 million related to the divesture of Salsa Lisa. |
| (g) | For the year ended October 31, 2023 and 2022, we incurred $2.4 million and $1.4 million of professional fees related to the Mexican tax matters. For the year ended October 31, 2022, we recognized a return to provision discrete tax expense of $0.9 million due to the finalization of the tax treatment for the final settlement of the 2011 Assessment (see below). |
For the year ended October 31, 2023, we recorded a recovery of $1.7 million related to the interest and inflationary adjustments related to an IVA repayment from Mexican Tax Authority. For the year ended October 31, 2023, we recognized a reserve of $2.5 million related to the collectability of IVA receivables.
In June 2021, we paid $2.4 million in full settlement of the 2011 Assessment. Of this amount, $1.5 million was recorded as a discrete item in Income Tax Provision and $0.9 million is related to value added tax expense and recorded as Expenses related to the Mexican tax matters. An additional $0.3 million of related professional fees have also been recorded as expenses related to the Mexican tax matters.
In July 2021, based on our evaluation of the most probable outcomes of the 2013 Assessment, we recorded an accrual of $11 million as a discrete item in Income Tax Provision. An additional $0.6 million of related professional fees was also recorded as Expenses related to the Mexican tax matters.
| (h) | On April 1, 2023, we completed the divesture of our salsa business in our Prepared segment and incurred $0.2 million in losses related to the disposal of property, plant and equipment. |
On October 18, 2021, we announced the closure of Prepared’s food processing operations at our Green Cove Springs (near Jacksonville), Florida facility, as part of our Project Uno profit improvement program. As of November 15, 2021, the Green Cove facility for our Prepared segment ceased operations. In fiscal 2021, we wrote down $8.7 million of leasehold improvements, $0.1 million of equipment, and $0.6 million of inventory (recognized through cost of goods sold). We also paid $0.4 million in employee severance. We incurred $0.9 million of expenses for the year ended October 31, 2022, related to the closure of this facility.
| (i) | For the year ended October 31, 2023, we accrued $0.6 million in a legal settlement from a dispute from over 5 years ago connected to an old unused distribution agreement that was entered into over a decade ago. This legal settlement was considered out of the ordinary, due to the length it took to settle and since we have not done business with this party for many years. There are no other similar matters outstanding. In addition, we incurred $0.1 million in associated legal fees. |
| (j) | Tax impact of non-GAAP adjustments are based on the prevailing year-to-date tax rates in each period and adjusted to the one-time tax charges mentioned in note (b) above. |
35
Reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP, Unaudited)
The following table presents EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA, each a non-GAAP measure, and reconciles them to net income (loss) attributable to Calavo Growers, Inc., which is the most directly comparable GAAP measure. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” above (in thousands, except per share amounts).
| Year ended October 31, | ||||||||
| 2023 |
| 2022 |
| 2021 | ||||
Net loss attributable to Calavo Growers, Inc. | $ | (8,344) | $ | (6,249) | $ | (11,818) | |||
Interest Income | (605) | (500) | (335) | ||||||
Interest Expense |
| 2,495 |
| 1,686 |
| 798 | |||
Provision for Income Taxes |
| 5,942 |
| 3,251 |
| 10,747 | |||
Depreciation and Amortization |
| 17,282 |
| 16,589 |
| 17,571 | |||
Stock-Based Compensation |
| 5,210 |
| 3,139 |
| 3,950 | |||
EBITDA | $ | 21,980 | $ | 17,916 | $ | 20,913 | |||
Adjustments: |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||
Non-cash losses recognized from unconsolidated entities (a) |
| 879 |
| 564 |
| 1,719 | |||
Net loss (income) on Limoneira shares (d) |
| — |
| 8,928 |
| (3,858) | |||
Recovery from FreshRealm and other related expenses (b) |
| — |
| — |
| (5,989) | |||
Rent expense add back (e) |
| 432 |
| 432 |
| 396 | |||
Acquisition costs (c) |
| 262 | |||||||
Restructure costs - consulting and management recruiting and severance (f) | 3,930 | 4,775 | 1,833 | ||||||
Expenses related to Mexican tax matters (g) | 3,128 | 1,417 | 1,797 | ||||||
Impairment, losses and charges related to property, plant and equipment (h) | 235 | 1,115 | 9,748 | ||||||
Legal settlement and related expenses (i) |
| 700 |
| — | — | ||||
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 31,284 | $ | 35,147 | $ | 26,821 | |||
See prior page for footnote references
Net Sales
We believe that the fundamental consumption trends for our products continue to be favorable. First, U.S. avocado demand continues to grow, with per capita consumption in 2022/2023 per USDA reaching 9.2 pounds per person, and approximately 64% higher than the estimate from a decade ago. We believe that the healthy eating trend that has been developing in the U.S. contributes to such growth, as avocados are cholesterol and sodium free, dense in fiber, vitamin B6, antioxidants, potassium, folate, and contain unsaturated fat, which helps lower cholesterol.
Additionally, we believe that demographic changes in the U.S. will impact the consumption of avocados and avocado-based products. The Hispanic community currently accounts for approximately 20% of the U.S. population and the total number of Hispanics is estimated to double by the year 2050. Avocados are considered a staple item purchased by Hispanic consumers, as the per-capita avocado consumption in Mexico is significantly higher than that of the US.
We anticipate avocado products will further penetrate the United States marketplace, driven by year-round availability of imported fresh avocados, a growing Hispanic population, and the promotion of the health benefits of avocados. As one of the largest marketers of avocado products in the United States, we believe that we are well positioned to leverage this trend and to grow our avocado and guacamole products business. Additionally, we also believe that avocados and avocado based products will further penetrate other markets that we currently operate in as interest in avocados continues to expand.
In October 2002, the USDA announced the creation of a Hass Avocado Board to promote the sale of Hass variety avocados in the US. This board provides a basis for a unified funding of promotional activities based on an assessment
36
on all avocados sold in the U.S. marketplace. The California Avocado Commission, which receives its funding from California avocado growers, has historically shouldered the promotional and advertising costs supporting avocado sales. We believe that the incremental funding of promotional and advertising programs in the U.S. will, in the long term, positively impact average selling prices and will favorably impact our avocado businesses. During fiscal 2023, 2022 and 2021, on behalf of avocado growers, we remitted approximately $0.5 million, $1.5 million and $1.0 million to the California Avocado Commission. During fiscal 2023, 2022 and 2021, we remitted approximately $8.0 million, $8.1 million and $8.3 million to the Hass Avocado Board related to avocados. Similarly, Avocados from Mexico (AFM) was formed in 2013 as the marketing arm of the Mexican Hass Avocados Importers Association (MHAIA) and the Association of Growers and Packers of Avocados From Mexico (APEAM). During fiscal 2023, 2022 and 2021, we remitted approximately $5.5 million, $4.2 million and $5.7 million to APEAM primarily related to these marketing activities for Mexican avocados.
We also believe that our other Grown products, primarily tomatoes, are positioned for future growth. The tomato is the fourth most popular fresh-market vegetable (though a fruit scientifically speaking, tomatoes are more commonly considered a vegetable) behind potatoes, lettuce, and onions in the U.S. Over the past few decades, per capita consumption of tomatoes has been on the rise due primarily to the enduring popularity of salads, salad bars, and submarine sandwiches. Perhaps of greater importance has been the introduction of new and improved tomato varieties, the increased development of hot-house grown tomatoes (such as those grown by our ADM affiliate), heightened consumer interest in a wider range of tomatoes, a surge of new immigrants who eat vegetable-intensive diets, and expanding national emphasis on health and nutrition.
Papayas have become more popular as consumption in the U.S. has more than doubled in the past decade. Papayas have high nutritional benefits. They are rich in antioxidants, B vitamins, folate and pantothenic acid, potassium and magnesium, and fiber.
Additionally, through our Prepared segment we have expanded and accelerated the Company’s presence in the fast-growing refrigerated fresh packaged foods category through an array of retail product lines for produce, deli, and foodservice departments. Prepared products include fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, sandwiches, wraps, salads, parfaits, snacks, and guacamole sold at retail and food service as well as avocado pulp sold to foodservice. Our Prepared segment has also expanded the capacity to provide products for a larger portion of the Fresh Deli department.
37
The following tables set forth sales by product category and sales allowances, by segment (dollars in thousands):
Year ended October 31, 2023 | Year ended October 31, 2022 |
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||
Grown | Prepared | Total | Grown | Prepared | Total |
| |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||
Avocados | $ | 466,385 | $ | — | $ | 466,385 | $ | 645,944 | $ | — | $ | 645,944 | |||||||
Tomatoes |
| 56,298 |
| — |
| 56,298 |
| 47,288 |
| — |
| 47,288 | |||||||
Papayas |
| 10,432 |
| — |
| 10,432 |
| 11,422 |
| — |
| 11,422 | |||||||
Other fresh income |
| 100 |
| — |
| 100 |
| 123 |
| — |
| 123 | |||||||
Fresh-cut products | — | 383,028 | 383,028 | — | 426,161 | 426,161 | |||||||||||||
Guacamole | — |
| 70,611 |
| 70,611 |
| — |
| 74,970 |
| 74,970 | ||||||||
Salsa |
| — |
| 796 |
| 796 |
| — |
| 1,860 |
| 1,860 | |||||||
Total gross sales |
| 533,215 |
| 454,435 |
| 987,650 |
| 704,777 |
| 502,991 |
| 1,207,768 | |||||||
Less sales allowances |
| (4,190) |
| (9,883) |
| (14,073) |
| (4,507) |
| (10,123) |
| (14,630) | |||||||
Less intersegment eliminations | (1,629) | — | (1,629) | (2,065) | — | (2,065) | |||||||||||||
Net sales | $ | 527,396 | $ | 444,552 | $ | 971,948 | $ | 698,205 | $ | 492,868 | $ | 1,191,073 | |||||||
Year ended October 31, 2022 | Year ended October 31, 2021 |
| |||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||
Grown | Prepared | Total | Grown | Prepared | Total |
| |||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||
Avocados | $ | 645,944 | $ | — | $ | 645,944 | $ | 536,969 | $ | — | $ | 536,969 | |||||||
Tomatoes |
| 47,288 |
| — |
| 47,288 |
| 43,658 |
| — |
| 43,658 | |||||||
Papayas |
| 11,422 |
| — |
| 11,422 |
| 10,884 |
| — |
| 10,884 | |||||||
Other fresh income |
| 123 |
| — |
| 123 |
| 693 |
| — |
| 693 | |||||||
Fresh-cut products | — | 426,161 | 426,161 | — | 403,017 | 403,017 | |||||||||||||
Guacamole | — | 74,970 | 74,970 | — | 75,681 | 75,681 | |||||||||||||
Salsa |
| — |
| 1,860 |
| 1,860 |
| — |
| 2,784 |
| 2,784 | |||||||
Total gross sales |
| 704,777 |
| 502,991 |
| 1,207,768 |
| 592,204 |
| 481,482 |
| 1,073,686 | |||||||
Less sales allowances |
| (4,507) |
| (10,123) |
| (14,630) |
| (3,677) |
| (11,682) |
| (15,359) | |||||||
Less intersegment eliminations | (2,065) | — | (2,065) | (2,497) | — | (2,497) | |||||||||||||
Net sales | $ | 698,205 | $ | 492,868 | $ | 1,191,073 | $ | 586,030 | $ | 469,800 | $ | 1,055,830 | |||||||
Net sales to third parties by segment exclude intersegment sales and cost of sales. For fiscal years 2023, 2022 and 2021, intersegment sales and cost of sales of $1.6 million, $2.1 million and $2.5 million between the Grown segment and the Prepared segment were eliminated.
38
The following table summarizes our net sales by business segment:
2023 | Change | 2022 | Change | 2021 |
| ||||||||||
Gross sales: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
Grown | $ | 529,025 | (24) | % | $ | 700,270 | 19 | % | $ | 588,527 | |||||
Prepared |
| 444,552 | (10) | % |
| 492,868 | 5 | % |
| 469,800 | |||||
Less intersegment eliminations | (1,629) | (21) | % | (2,065) | (17) | % | (2,497) | ||||||||
Total net sales | $ | 971,948 | (18) | % | $ | 1,191,073 | 13 | % | $ | 1,055,830 | |||||
As a percentage of sales: | |||||||||||||||
Grown |
| 54.3 | % |
| 58.7 | % |
| 55.6 | % | ||||||
Prepared |
| 45.7 | % |
| 41.3 | % |
| 44.4 | % | ||||||
| 100 | % |
| 100 | % |
| 100 | % | |||||||
Summary
Net sales for the year ended October 31, 2023, compared to the corresponding period in fiscal 2022, decreased by $219.1 million, or approximately 18%. This decrease was across both segments.
For the year ended October 31, 2023, the decrease in Grown product sales was primarily due to a decrease in price per unit of avocados offset by increased sales volume due to increased volumes of available fruit. For the year ended October 31, 2023, the decrease in Prepared product sales was due primarily to decreased sales volume from fresh-cut fruit products and guacamole products.
We will continue to pursue grower recruitment opportunities and expand relationships with retail and/or foodservice customers with the goal to fuel net sales growth in each of our business segments. Our Grown and Prepared segments of our business are subject to seasonal trends which can impact the volume and/or quality of raw materials sourced in any particular quarter.
Grown Products
Fiscal 2023 vs. Fiscal 2022:
Net sales for the Grown products business decreased by approximately $171.2 million, or 24%, for the year ended October 31, 2023 compared to the prior year period. The decrease in Grown product sales during the year ended October 31, 2023 was primarily related to lower sales prices of avocados due to increased industry supply of avocados. Partially offsetting this decrease, tomato sales increased due to an increase in sales prices per carton, and higher tomato sales volume.
Sales of avocados decreased $177.9 million, or 28%, for the year ended October 31, 2023, compared to the prior year period. The average avocado sales price per carton decreased 30% compared to the prior year period. The decrease in the sales price per carton was mainly due to an increased industry supply of avocados. The volume of avocados sold for the year ended October 31, 2023 increased 3% compared to the prior year period.
Sales of tomatoes increased $7.7 million, or 16%, for the year ended October 31, 2023, when compared to the prior year period. The increase in tomato sales was primarily due to an 8% increase in the sales price per carton, and an 8% increase in volume sold.
Fiscal 2022 vs. Fiscal 2021:
Net sales for the Grown products business increased by approximately $111.7 million, or 19%, for the year ended October 31, 2022 compared to the prior year period. This increase in Grown product sales during the year ended October 31, 2022 was due primarily to increased sales prices of avocados associated with lower overall supply of avocados in the
39
marketplace. In addition, tomato sales increased due to an increase in overall sales volume, partially offset by a decrease in sales prices.
Sales of avocados increased $108.1 million, or 20%, for the year ended October 31, 2022, compared to the prior year period. The average avocado sales price per carton increased 37% compared to the prior year period. This increase in the sales price per carton was mainly due to a decrease of supply of avocados in the marketplace. The volume of avocados sold for the year ended October 31, 2022, decreased 12% compared to the prior year period.
Sales of tomatoes increased $3.6 million, or 8%, for the year ended October 31, 2022, when compared to the prior year period. This increase in tomato sales was due primarily to a 9% increase in the cartons sold of tomatoes, partially offset by a 1% decrease in average sales prices per carton.
Prepared products
Fiscal 2023 vs. Fiscal 2022:
Net sales for the Prepared products business decreased by approximately $48.3 million, or 10%, for the year ended October 31, 2023 compared to the corresponding period in fiscal 2022. This decrease in Prepared product sales during the year ended October 31, 2023 was primarily related to lower sales volume of fresh-cut fruit and vegetables, prepared foods and guacamole products.
Net sales for fresh-cut products decreased $43.2 million, or 10%, for the year ended October 31, 2023 compared to the corresponding period in fiscal 2022. This decrease was primarily driven by lower sales volume of 14%, partially offset by a increase in sales price of 4%.
Net sales for guacamole products decreased $6.9 million, or 10%, for the year ended October 31, 2023 compared to the corresponding period in fiscal 2022, primarily due to a decrease in total volume sold.
With the divestiture of our salsa business in June 2023, we had a decrease in sales of salsa products of $1.1 million, or 59%.
Fiscal 2022 vs. Fiscal 2021:
Net sales for the Prepared products business increased by approximately $23.5 million, or 5%, for the year ended October 31, 2022 compared to the prior year period. This increase in Prepared product sales during the year ended October 31, 2022 was due primarily to increased sales prices of fresh-cut fruit & vegetables and prepared foods products. Partially offsetting these increases was a decrease in sales of guacamole products due to overall lower sales volume.
Net sales for fresh-cut fruit and vegetables and prepared foods products for the year ended October 31, 2022 compared to the prior year period increased $27.1 million, or 7%. This increase primarily reflects price increases of 14% as well as a favorable product mix, partially offset by a 7% decrease in sales volumes.
Net sales for guacamole products for the year ended October 31, 2022 compared to the prior year period decreased $3.2 million, or 4%, primarily due to a decrease in the total volume sold.
40
Gross Profit
The following table summarizes our gross profit and gross profit percentages by business segment:
| |||||||||||||||
2023 | Change | 2022 | Change | 2021 |
| ||||||||||
(Dollars in thousands) | |||||||||||||||
Gross profit (loss): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
Grown | $ | 52,163 | 4 | % | $ | 50,165 | 5 | % | $ | 47,787 | |||||
Prepared |
| 17,793 | (25) | % |
| 23,680 | 146 | % |
| 9,638 | |||||
Total gross profit | $ | 69,956 | (5) | % | $ | 73,845 | 29 | % | $ | 57,425 | |||||
Gross profit percentages: | |||||||||||||||
Grown |
| 9.9 | % |
| 7.2 | % |
| 8.1 | % | ||||||
Prepared |
| 4.0 | % |
| 4.8 | % |
| 2.1 | % | ||||||
Consolidated |
| 7.2 | % |
| 6.2 | % |
| 5.4 | % | ||||||
Summary
Our cost of goods sold consists predominantly of ingredient costs (primarily fruit and other whole foods), packing materials, freight and handling, labor and overhead (including depreciation) associated with preparing food products, and other direct expenses pertaining to products sold. Gross profit decreased by approximately $3.9 million, or 5%, for the year ended October 31, 2023, compared to the corresponding period in fiscal 2022. The decrease was primarily attributable to a gross profit decrease in the Prepared segment, partially offset by a gross profit increase in the Grown segment.
Grown products
Fiscal 2023 vs. Fiscal 2022:
During our year ended October 31, 2023, as compared to the prior year period, our Grown products segment gross profit increased $2.0 million or 4%. For the years ended October 31, 2023 and 2022, the gross profit percentages for avocados were 10.1% and 7.1%, respectively. Contributing to the increase in gross profit for fiscal 2023 was the strengthening of the Mexican Peso in relation to the U.S. Dollar during the year ended October 31, 2023, which resulted in a $1.2 million net gain related to the remeasurement of peso-dominated net assets at our Mexican subsidiaries. For the year ended October 31, 2022, we had a remeasurement loss of $1.0 million.
Significant fluctuations in the exchange rate between the U.S. Dollar and the Mexican Peso may have a material impact on future gross profit for our Grown products segment.
For the year ended October 31, 2023, we generated gross profit of $4.5 million from tomato sales, up from $3.5 million in the prior year period. The majority of our tomato sales are made on a consignment basis, in which the gross profit we earn is generally based on a commission agreed to with each party, which usually is a percent of the overall selling price; however, we also purchase some tomatoes on the spot market to meet specific customer requests and have certain fixed overhead costs associated with our tomato operations which impact the overall gross profit realized from tomato sales. The gross profit percentage for consignment sales are dependent on the volume of fruit we handle, the average selling prices, and the competitiveness of the returns that we provide to third-party growers/packers. The decrease in tomato gross profit was due primarily to an increase in sales of tomatoes from third-party growers/packers. As discussed above, even though a majority of our tomato sales are made on a consignment basis, we had lower gross profit from third-party growers/packers compared to prior year.
41
Fiscal 2022 vs. Fiscal 2021:
During our year ended October 31, 2022, as compared to the prior year period, our Grown products segment gross profit increased $2.3 million or 5%. While our overall gross profit increased, our gross profit percentage decreased. For the year ended October 31, 2022 and 2021, the gross profit percentages for avocados were 7.1% and 8.0%, respectively. Partially offsetting the increase in gross profit for fiscal 2022 was the weakening of the U.S. dollar in relation to the Mexican peso during the year ended October 31, 2022, which resulted in a $1.0 million net loss related to the remeasurement of peso-dominated net assets at our Mexican subsidiaries. For the year ended October 31, 2021, we had a remeasurement gain of $0.9 million.
Significant fluctuations in the exchange rate between the U.S. Dollar and the Mexican Peso may have a material impact on future gross profit for our Grown products segment.
For the year ended October 31, 2022 we generated gross profit of $3.5 million from tomato sales, a decrease from $3.7 million in the prior year period. The majority of our tomato sales are made on a consignment basis, in which the gross profit we earn is generally based on a commission agreed to with each party, which usually is a percent of the overall selling price; however, we also purchase some tomatoes on the spot market to meet specific customer requests and have certain fixed overhead costs associated with our tomato operations which impact the overall gross profit realized from tomato sales. The gross profit percentage for consignment sales are dependent on the volume of fruit we handle, the average selling prices, and the competitiveness of the returns that we provide to third-party growers/packers. The decrease in tomato gross profit was due primarily to an increase in sales of tomatoes from third-party growers/packers. As discussed above, even though a majority of our tomato sales are made on a consignment basis, we had lower gross profit from third-party growers/packers compared to prior year.
Prepared products
Fiscal 2023 vs. Fiscal 2022:
The decrease in our Prepared products gross profit for the year ended October 31, 2023 was the result of decreased gross profit for fresh-cut fruit and vegetables products, partially offset by an increase in guacamole products.
Fresh-cut fruit and vegetables and prepared foods products gross profit percentage for the year ended October 31, 2023 was 1.5%, compared to 4.8% for the same prior year period. The decrease in gross profit for the year ended October 31, 2023 was mainly due to increased commodity costs and lower volume.
Guacamole products gross profit percentage for the year ended October 31, 2023 was 19.8%, compared to a gross profit of 5.7% for the prior year period. The increase in gross profit percentage for the year ended October 31, 2023 in guacamole products was primarily due to lower raw product fruit costs and manufacturing improvements. Any significant fluctuation in the cost of fruit used in the production process or the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the Mexican peso may have a material impact on future gross profit for our Prepared segment.
Management has considered the impact of current operating results as well as expected future results and has concluded that there were no impairment indicators regarding intangible assets carried on the balance sheet as of October 31, 2023. Management will continue to evaluate the impact of operating results on these considerations in future quarters.
Fiscal 2022 vs. Fiscal 2021:
The increase in our Prepared products gross profit for the year ended October 31, 2022 was the result of increased gross profit for fresh-cut fruit and vegetables and prepared foods, partially offset by decreases in gross profit from guacamole products.
Fresh-cut fruit and vegetables and prepared foods products gross profit percentages for the year ended October 31, 2022 was 4.8%, compared to a loss of 0.9% for the same prior year period. The increase in gross profit for these products
42
for the year ended October 31, 2022 was mainly due to increased sales prices and a reduction in distribution expenses, an improvement in product yield and labor productivity, and a reduction in costs related to the consolidation of operations in our Green Cove Springs, Florida facility into our Georgia facility.
Guacamole products gross profit percentage for the year ended October 31, 2022 was 5.7% compared to a gross profit of 17.6% for the prior year period. The decrease in guacamole products gross profit was due primarily to higher raw product fruit costs associated with the same supply constraints that drove whole avocado prices to historically high levels, which increased manufacturing costs.
Selling, General and Administrative
| ||||||||||||||
2023 | Change | 2022 | Change | 2021 |
| |||||||||
(Dollars in thousands) |
| |||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative | $ | 66,400 |
| 1 | % | $ | 65,482 |
| 16 | % | $ | 56,463 | ||
Percentage of net sales |
| 6.8 | % |
| 5.5 | % |
| 5.3 | % | |||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses of $66.4 million for the year ended October 31, 2023 include costs of marketing and advertising, sales expenses (including broker commissions) and other general and administrative costs. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by $0.9 million, or 1%, for the year ended October 31, 2023 compared to the prior year period. This increase was primarily due to $2.9 million paid in severance and other costs and $1.6 million in stock-based compensation related to executive departures. Partially offsetting these increases, is a reduction in our short-term incentive accrual of $2.3 million.
Selling, general and administrative expenses of $65.5 million for the year ended October 31, 2022 include costs of marketing and advertising, sales expenses (including broker commissions) and other general and administrative costs. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by $9.0 million, or 16%, for the year ended October 31, 2022, when compared to the prior year period. This increase was primarily due to an increase in management restructuring costs that include recruiting fees and severance ($2.8 million), an increase in consulting services related to restructuring efforts ($2.0 million), an increase in our short-term incentive accrual ($1.4 million) and an increase in salaries primarily related to the investment in key personnel.
43
Loss from Unconsolidated Entities
2023 | Change | 2022 | Change | 2021 | |||||||||
(Dollars in thousands) | |||||||||||||
Loss from unconsolidated entities |
| $ | (879) |
| 56 | % | $ | (564) |
| (67) | % | $ | (1,719) |
Loss from unconsolidated entities includes our allocation of earnings or losses from our investments in Don Memo. For the years ended October 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, we recognized losses of $0.9 million, $0.6 million and of $1.7 million, respectively, related to Don Memo.
Interest Income
2023 | Change | 2022 | Change | 2021 |
| |||||||||
(Dollars in thousands) |
| |||||||||||||
Interest income |
| $ | 605 |
| 21 | % | $ | 500 |
| 49 | % | $ | 335 |
|
Percentage of net sales |
| 0.0 | % |
| 0.0 | % |
| 0.0 | % | |||||
The increase in interest income in fiscal 2023 as compared to 2022 is primarily due to the increase in the amount owed from our tomato growers from loans and infrastructure advances. The increase in interest income in fiscal 2022 as compared to 2021 is primarily due to a bridge loan to one of our tomato growers.
Interest Expense
2023 | Change | 2022 | Change | 2021 |
| |||||||||
(Dollars in thousands) |
| |||||||||||||
Interest expense |
| $ | 2,495 |
| 48 | % | $ | 1,686 |
| 111 | % | $ | 798 |
|
Percentage of net sales |
| 0.3 | % |
| 0.1 | % |
| 0.1 | % | |||||
Interest expense is primarily generated from our line of credit borrowings with Farm Credit West, PCA (FCW) and Bank of America, N.A. (Bank of America) and our new credit facility with Wells Fargo. For fiscal 2023, as compared to fiscal 2022, the increase in interest expense was due to higher interest rates, as well as a higher average debt balance. For fiscal 2022, as compared to fiscal 2021, the increase in interest expense was due to higher interest rates, as well as a higher average debt balance.
Other Income, Net
2023 | Change | 2022 | Change | 2021 |
| |||||||||
(Dollars in thousands) |
| |||||||||||||
Other income, net |
| $ | 316 |
| (69) | % | $ | 1,017 |
| 0 | % | $ | 1,016 |
|
Percentage of net sales |
| 0.0 | % |
| 0.1 | % |
| — | % | |||||
Other income, net includes dividend income, as well as certain other transactions that are outside of the normal course of operations. During fiscal 2022 and 2021, we received $0.6 million and $0.5 million as dividend income from Limoneira. At the end of fiscal 2022, we sold our investment in Limoneira and therefore received no dividends from Limoneira in fiscal 2023.
Income Taxes Provision
| |||||||||||||||
2023 | Change | 2022 | Change | 2021 |
| ||||||||||
(Dollars in thousands) |
| ||||||||||||||
Income tax provision |
| $ | (5,942) |
| 83 | % | $ | (3,251) |
| (70) | % | $ | (10,747) | ||
Effective tax rate |
| 293.4 | % |
| 97.0 | % |
| 913.3 | % | ||||||
44
For fiscal 2023, we incurred return to provision discrete taxable items in the amount of $0.2 million. These discrete items were primarily related the lack of deductibility of certain Mexican tax expenses. In addition, we recognized $5.7 million of additional income tax provision expenses during fiscal 2023 related to the recording of additional valuation allowance and other permanent differences.
For fiscal 2022, we incurred return to provision discrete taxable items in the amount of $2.0 million. These discrete items were primarily related to rate differentials related to our carryback losses from prior years and the lack of deductibility of certain Mexican tax expenses. In addition, we recognized additional income tax provision expenses during fiscal 2022 related to the recording of additional valuation allowance and other permanent differences.
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interest
| 2023 |
| Change |
| 2022 |
| Change |
| 2021 |
| ||||
(Dollars in thousands) |
| |||||||||||||
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interest | $ | (377) | (207) | % | $ | 353 | 239 | % | $ | 104 |
| |||
Percentage of net sales | 0.0 | % | 0.0 | % | 0.0 | % | ||||||||
For fiscal years 2023, 2022 and 2021, the net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interest is due to income/losses from Avocados de Jalisco.
45
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Cash used in operating activities for fiscal 2023 was $14.5 million. Operating activities for fiscal 2022 and 2021 provided cash flows of $50.1 million and $13.6 million, respectively. Fiscal year 2023 operating cash flows reflect our net loss of $8.0 million, net increase of noncash charges (depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense, provision for losses on accounts receivable, losses from unconsolidated entities, deferred taxes, loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment, reserve for Mexican IVA receivables, the divestiture of our salsa business and gain on the sale of the Temecula packinghouse) of $28.2 million and a net decrease from changes in the non-cash components of our working capital accounts of approximately $34.7 million.
Decreases in operating cash flows caused by working capital changes include a net decrease in accounts payable, accrued expenses of $15.1 million, an increase in other assets of $7.6 million, a decrease in payable to growers of $5.4 million, an increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets of $5.4 million, an increase in accounts receivable of $2.4 million, an increase in advances to suppliers of $1.3 million, and an increase in inventory of $1.0 million, partially offset by a decrease in income taxes receivable of $3.6 million.
The decrease in accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities is primarily related to the timing of payments in October 2023. The increase in other assets as of October 31, 2023, when compared to the prior year period, is primarily due to an increase in Mexican IVA taxes receivable. The decrease in payable to growers is mostly due to lower sales volumes of avocados in the month of October 2023 compared to October 2022. The increase in our prepaid and other current assets is primarily due to a temporary deposit for collateral in connection with our workers compensation policies while we were in the process of obtaining a letter of credit. The increase in our accounts receivable is due to an increase in sales for the month of October 2023 compared to October 2022. The increase in advances to suppliers is mainly due to an increase in preseason advances paid to our consignment growers at the start of the tomato season. The increase in our inventory as of October 31, 2023, when compared to the prior year period, is primarily due to higher inventory of Mexican avocados. The decrease in income taxes receivable is due to a combination of discrete tax items and income tax refunds in fiscal 2023.
Cash used by investing activities was $10.7 million for fiscal year 2023. Cash provided by investing activities was $8.0 million for fiscal year 2022. Cash used in investing activities was $9.6 million for fiscal year 2021. Fiscal year 2023 cash flows used by investing activities includes the purchases of property, plant and equipment of $10.7 million.
Cash provided by financing activities was $24.9 million for fiscal year 2023. Cash used in financing activities was $57.8 million and $5.2 million for fiscal years 2022 and 2021. Cash sourced during fiscal year 2023 primarily relates to the net source from our credit facilities totaling $33.8 million (net of repayment of Calavo’s previous Revolving Credit Facility with Bank of America, N.A. (the “Existing Credit Facility”) of $34.9 million), and the receipt of $4.1 million from our Term Loan with Wells Fargo, partially offset by $10.4 million of dividend payments, proceeds from payments on long-term obligations of $1.9 million, debt issuance costs of $0.7 million, and the payment of minimum withholding taxes on net share settlement of equity awards of $0.1 million.
Our principal sources of liquidity are cash generated from operations and amounts available for borrowing under our Credit Facility. Restricted cash, cash and cash equivalents as of October 31, 2023 and 2022 totaled $2.9 million and $3.1 million, respectively. Our working capital at October 31, 2023 was $51.6 million, compared to $23.7 million at October 31, 2022.
As discussed in the Overview section above, we and certain of our subsidiaries have entered into non-binding, exclusive negotiations regarding the potential sale of all of the assets used in our Fresh Cut business and certain related real property for approximately $100.0 million, subject to certain adjustments that may be included in a binding agreement. The Proposed Transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of fiscal year 2024. If completed, we expect to use the net proceeds from the Proposed Transaction primarily for the reduction of debt and return of cash to shareholders.
46
We believe that cash flows from operations, the available Credit Facility, and other sources will be sufficient to satisfy our future capital expenditures, working capital and other financing requirements for at least the next twelve months. We will continue to pursue grower recruitment opportunities and expand relationships with retail and/or foodservice customers to fuel growth in each of our business segments.
On June 26, 2023, Calavo and certain subsidiaries entered into a Credit Agreement by and among, Calavo, certain subsidiaries of Calavo as guarantors, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as agent and lender. The Credit Agreement provides for a revolving credit facility of up to $90.0 million, along with a capex credit facility of up to $10.0 million.
The initial proceeds of the Revolving Loans were used to repay all outstanding amounts under Calavo’s previous revolving credit facility with Bank of America, N.A. and to pay related transaction fees and expenses, and following the Closing Date may be used for working capital and other general corporate purposes. For a period of one year following the Closing Date, Calavo may utilize the proceeds of the Term Loan to pay a certain percentage of the costs of certain equipment purchased by Calavo.
Borrowings of the Revolving Loans under the Credit Agreement are asset based and will be subject to a borrowing base calculation that includes a certain percentage of eligible accounts receivable, inventory and equipment of Calavo, less any reserves implemented by Agent in its permitted discretion; provided that the equipment based portion of such borrowing base calculation will reduce monthly following the Closing Date.
Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest at a rate per annum equal to an applicable margin, plus, at Calavo’s option, either a base rate or a secured overnight financing rate (“SOFR”) term rate (which includes a spread adjustment of 0.10% and is subject to a floor of 0.00%). The applicable margin is (i) for Revolving Loans, 0.50% for base rate borrowings and 1.50% for SOFR term rate borrowings, and (ii) for Term Loan, 1.00% for base rate borrowings and 2.00% for SOFR term rate borrowings. The New Credit Facility matures on June 26, 2028.
As of October 31, 2023, we were in compliance with the financial covenants. As of October 31, 2023, approximately $40.0 million was available for borrowing, based on our borrowing base calculation discussed above.
The weighted-average interest rate under the New Credit Facility was 7.1% at October 31, 2023. Under the Credit Facility, we had $35.0 million and $4.1 million outstanding related to the Revolving Loans and Term Loan, respectively, as of October 31, 2023.
47
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Our financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, payable to growers, accounts payable, current and long-term borrowings pursuant to our credit facilities with financial institutions, and long-term, fixed-rate obligations. All of our financial instruments are entered into during the normal course of operations and have not been acquired for trading purposes. The table below summarizes interest rate sensitive financial instruments and presents principal cash flows in U.S. dollars, which is our reporting currency, and weighted-average interest rates by expected maturity dates, as of October 31, 2023.
(All amounts in thousands) | Expected maturity date October 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 |
| 2025 |
| 2026 |
| 2027 |
| 2028 |
| Thereafter |
| Total |
| Fair Value | ||||||||||
Assets | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Restricted cash, cash and cash equivalents (1) | $ | 2,852 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 2,852 | $ | 2,852 | |||||||||
Accounts receivable (1) |
| 61,376 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 61,376 |
| 61,376 | |||||||||
Advances to suppliers (1) |
| 14,684 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 14,684 |
| 14,684 | |||||||||
Liabilities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Payable to growers (1) | $ | 14,788 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 14,788 | $ | 14,788 | |||||||||
Accounts payable (1) |
| 15,537 |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 15,537 |
| 15,537 | |||||||||
Borrowings pursuant to credit facilities (1) |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| 35,024 |
| — |
| 35,024 |
| 35,024 | |||||||||
Term loan (1) |
| 647 |
| 692 |
| 692 |
| 692 |
| 1,340 |
| — |
| 4,063 |
| 4,063 | |||||||||
| (1) | We believe the carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, advances to suppliers, payable to growers, accounts payable, and current borrowings pursuant to credit facilities approximate their fair value due to the short maturity of these financial instruments. |
We were not a party to any derivative instruments during the fiscal year. It is currently our intent not to use derivative instruments for speculative or trading purposes. Additionally, we do not use any hedging or forward contracts to offset market volatility.
Our Mexican-based operations transact a significant portion of business in Mexican pesos. Funds are transferred by our corporate office to Mexico on a weekly basis to satisfy foreign cash needs. We do not currently use derivative instruments to hedge fluctuations in the Mexican peso to U.S. dollar exchange rates. Management does, however, evaluate this opportunity from time to time. Total foreign current translation gains for fiscal years 2023 and 2021, net of losses, were $1.2 million and $0.9 million, respectively. Total foreign currency translation losses for fiscal year 2022, net of gains, were $1.0 million.
48
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
CALAVO GROWERS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
October 31, |
| |||||||
2023 | 2022 |
| ||||||
| ||||||||
Assets |
|
|
|
| ||||
Current assets: | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | | $ | | ||||
Restricted cash | | | ||||||
Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $ |
| |
| | ||||
Inventories |
| |
| | ||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
| |
| | ||||
Advances to suppliers |
| |
| | ||||
Income taxes receivable |
| |
| | ||||
Total current assets |
| |
| | ||||
Property, plant, and equipment, net |
| |
| | ||||
Operating lease right-of-use assets | | | ||||||
Investments in unconsolidated entities |
| |
| | ||||
Deferred income tax assets |
| |
| | ||||
Goodwill |
| |
| | ||||
Intangibles, net | | | ||||||
Other assets |
| |
| | ||||
$ | | $ | | |||||
Liabilities and shareholders' equity | ||||||||
Current liabilities: | ||||||||
Payable to growers | $ | | $ | | ||||
Trade accounts payable |
| |
| | ||||
Accrued expenses |
| |
| | ||||
Other current liabilities | | | ||||||
Current portion of term loan | | — | ||||||
Current portion of operating leases | | | ||||||
Current portion of long-term obligations and finance leases |
| |
| | ||||
Total current liabilities |
| |
| | ||||
Long-term liabilities: | ||||||||
Borrowings pursuant to line of credit, long-term | | | ||||||
Long-term portion of term loan | | — | ||||||
Long-term portion of operating leases |
| |
| | ||||
Long-term portion of obligations and finance leases | | | ||||||
Deferred income tax liabilities | | — | ||||||
Other long-term liabilities |
| |
| | ||||
Total long-term liabilities |
| |
| | ||||
Commitments and contingencies | ||||||||
Shareholders' equity: | ||||||||
Common stock ($ |
| |
| | ||||
Additional paid-in capital |
| |
| | ||||
Noncontrolling interest |
| |
| | ||||
Retained earnings |
| |
| | ||||
Total shareholders' equity |
| |
| | ||||
$ | | $ | | |||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
49
CALAVO GROWERS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Year Ended October 31, |
| ||||||||||
2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| ||||||||
Net sales |
| $ | |
| $ | |
| $ | | ||
Cost of sales |
| |
| |
| | |||||
Gross profit |
| |
| |
| | |||||
Selling, general and administrative |
| |
| |
| | |||||
Expenses related to Mexican tax matters | | | | ||||||||
Impairment and charges related to Florida facility closure | — | | | ||||||||
Operating income |
| |
| |
| ( | |||||
Interest income |
| |
| |
| | |||||
Interest expense |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | |||||
Other income, net |
| |
| |
| | |||||
Recovery on reserve for FreshRealm note receivable and impairment of investment | — | — | | ||||||||
Unrealized net income (loss) on Limoneira shares |
| — |
| ( |
| | |||||
Income (loss) before income taxes and loss from unconsolidated entities |
| ( |
| ( |
| | |||||
Income tax expense |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | |||||
Net loss from unconsolidated entities | ( | ( | ( | ||||||||
Net loss |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | |||||
Add: Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interest |
| ( |
| |
| | |||||
Net loss attributable to Calavo Growers, Inc. | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||
Calavo Growers, Inc.’s net loss per share: | |||||||||||
Basic | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||
Diluted | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||
Number of shares used in per share computation: | |||||||||||
Basic |
| |
| |
| | |||||
Diluted |
| |
| |
| | |||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
50
CALAVO GROWERS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||
Additional | |||||||||||||||||
Common Stock | Paid-in | Retained | Noncontrolling | ||||||||||||||
Shares | Amount | Capital | Earnings | Interest | Total | ||||||||||||
Balance, October 31, 2020 |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |||||
Issuance of common stock in connection with stock-based compensation, net of tax withholdings |
| |
| — |
| ( |
| — |
| — |
| ( | |||||
Stock-based compensation |
| — |
| — |
| |
| — |
| — |
| | |||||
Dividend declared to shareholders ($ |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| ( |
| — |
| ( | |||||
Avocados de Jalisco noncontrolling interest | — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| ( | ( | |||||||
Net loss attributable to Calavo Growers, Inc |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| ( |
| — |
| ( | |||||
Balance, October 31, 2021 |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |||||
Issuance of common stock in connection with stock-based compensation, net of tax withholdings |
| |
| — |
| ( |
| — |
| — |
| ( | |||||
Stock-based compensation |
| — |
| — |
| |
| — |
| — |
| | |||||
Avocados de Jalisco noncontrolling interest |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| ( |
| ( | |||||
Net loss attributable to Calavo Growers, Inc. |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| ( |
| — |
| ( | |||||
Balance, October 31, 2022 |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |||||
Issuance of common stock in connection with stock-based compensation, net of tax withholdings |
| |
| — |
| |
| — |
| — |
| | |||||
Stock-based compensation |
| — |
| — |
| |
| — |
| — |
| | |||||
Dividends declared to shareholders ($ |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| ( |
| — |
| ( | |||||
Avocados de Jalisco noncontrolling interest |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| |
| | |||||
Net loss attributable to Calavo Growers, Inc. |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| ( |
| — |
| ( | |||||
Balance, October 31, 2023 |
| | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
51
CALAVO GROWERS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
Year Ended October 31, |
| ||||||||||
2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| ||||||||
| |||||||||||
Cash Flows from Operating Activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
| |||||
Net loss | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: | |||||||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
| |
| |
| | |||||
Non-cash operating lease expense | | | | ||||||||
Net loss from unconsolidated entities |
| |
| |
| | |||||
Realized and unrealized net loss on Limoneira shares |
| — |
| |
| ( | |||||
Divesture of Calavo Salsa Lisa | | — | — | ||||||||
Impairment and non-cash charges related to closure of Florida facility |
| — |
| |
| | |||||
Recovery from reserve for FreshRealm note receivable and impairment of investment | — | — | ( | ||||||||
Provision for uncollectible Mexican IVA taxes receivable |
| |
| — |
| — | |||||
Stock-based compensation expense |
| |
| |
| | |||||
Gain on sale of Temecula packinghouse |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | |||||
Loss on disposal of property, plant, and equipment |
| |
| |
| ( | |||||
Deferred income taxes |
| |
| ( |
| ( | |||||
Effect on cash of changes in operating assets and liabilities: | |||||||||||
Accounts receivable, net |
| ( |
| |
| ( | |||||
Inventories |
| ( |
| |
| | |||||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
| ( |
| ( |
| | |||||
Advances to suppliers |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | |||||
Income taxes receivable/payable |
| |
| |
| ( | |||||
Other assets |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | |||||
Payable to growers |
| ( |
| ( |
| | |||||
Trade accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities |
| ( |
| |
| | |||||
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities |
| ( |
| |
| | |||||
Cash Flows from Investing Activities: | |||||||||||
Purchases of property, plant, and equipment |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | |||||
Loan to Agricola Belher | — | — | ( | ||||||||
Proceeds received from Limoneira stock sales | — | | — | ||||||||
Proceeds received from FreshRealm Separation Agreement recovery |
| — |
| — |
| | |||||
Proceeds received on repayment of infrastructure loan | — | — | | ||||||||
Infrastructure advance to tomato growers | — | — | ( | ||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities |
| ( |
| |
| ( | |||||
Cash Flows from Financing Activities: | |||||||||||
Payment of dividend to shareholders |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | |||||
Proceeds from revolving credit facilities |
| |
| |
| | |||||
Payments on revolving credit facilities |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | |||||
Payments of debt issuance cost | ( | — | — | ||||||||
Payments of minimum withholding taxes on net share settlement of equity awards | — | ( | ( | ||||||||
Proceeds from term loan |
| |
| — |
| — | |||||
Proceeds from sale leaseback | — | | — | ||||||||
Payments on long-term obligations and finance leases |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | |||||
Proceeds from stock option exercises |
| |
| |
| | |||||
Net cash provided (used in) by financing activities |
| |
| ( |
| ( | |||||
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash |
| ( |
| |
| ( | |||||
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period |
| |
| |
| | |||||
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||
Supplemental Information: | |||||||||||
Cash paid during the year for: | |||||||||||
Interest | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||
Income taxes | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||
Noncash Investing and Financing Activities: | |||||||||||
Right of use assets obtained in exchange for new financing lease obligations | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||
Settlement of Agricola Belher infrastructure advance offset against payable to growers | $ | | $ | | $ | — | |||||
Property, plant, and equipment included in trade accounts payable and accrued expenses | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
52
CALAVO GROWERS, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. Description of the business
Business
Calavo Growers, Inc. (referred to in this report as “Calavo”, the “Company”, “we’, “us” or “our”), is a global leader in the avocado industry and a provider of value-added fresh food. Our expertise in marketing and distributing avocados, prepared avocado products, and other perishable foods allows us to deliver a wide array of fresh and prepared food products to retail grocery, foodservice, club stores, mass merchandisers, food distributors and wholesalers on a worldwide basis. We procure avocados from California, Mexico and other growing regions around the world. Through our various operating facilities, we (i) sort, pack, and/or ripen avocados, tomatoes and/or Hawaiian grown papayas, (ii) create, process and package a portfolio of healthy fresh foods including fresh-cut fruit and vegetables, and prepared foods and (iii) process and package guacamole. We distribute our products both domestically and internationally and we report our operations in
2. Basis of Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies
The accompanying consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S.
Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Calavo Growers, Inc. and our wholly owned subsidiaries, Calavo de Mexico S.A. de C.V. (Calavo de Mexico), Calavo Growers de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V. ( Calavo Growers de Mexico), Maui Fresh International, Inc. (Maui), Hawaiian Sweet, Inc. (HS), CW Hawaii Pride, LLC (HP), Renaissance Food Group, LLC (RFG), and Avocados de Jalisco, S.A.P.I. de C.V. (Avocados de Jalisco), in which we have an
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Among the significant estimates affecting the financial statements are those related to valuation allowances for valuation allowances for accounts, goodwill, grower advances, inventories, long-lived assets, valuation of and estimated useful lives of identifiable intangible assets, stock-based compensation, promotional allowances and income taxes. On an ongoing basis, management reviews its estimates based upon currently available information. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
We consider all highly liquid financial instruments purchased with an original maturity date of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents approximate their fair values.
Restricted Cash
We have $
In connection with the New Credit Facility, we temporarily posted cash collateral to satisfy certain collateral requirements as we transitioned banks providing letters of credit related to our workers compensation policies. As of October 31, 2023, we recorded $
In the prior year, we had restricted cash in our subsidiary Calavo de Mexico. This cash was restricted due to the 2013 tax assessment. In November 2022, this restriction was lifted.
53
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets
Prepaid expenses and other current assets consist primarily of non-trade receivables, infrastructure advances and prepaid expenses. Non-trade receivables were $
Accounts Receivable
Trade accounts receivable are reported at amounts due from customers, net of an allowance for doubtful accounts and customer deductions accounted for as variable consideration. The Company performs credit evaluations of customers and evaluates the need for allowances for potential credit losses based on historical experience, as well as current and expected general economic conditions.
The total allowance for estimated uncollectable accounts receivable balances and customer deductions were $
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is computed on a monthly weighted-average basis, which approximates the first-in, first-out method; market is based upon estimated replacement costs. Costs included in inventory primarily include the following: fruit, picking and hauling, overhead, labor, materials and freight.
Property, Plant, and Equipment
Property, plant, and equipment are stated at cost and depreciated over their estimated useful lives using the straight-line method. Leasehold improvements are stated at cost and amortized over the lesser of their estimated useful lives or the term of the lease, using the straight-line method. Useful lives are as follows: buildings and improvements -
Goodwill and Acquired Intangible Assets
Goodwill, defined as unidentified asset(s) acquired in conjunction with a business acquisition, is tested for impairment on an annual basis and between annual tests whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. Goodwill is tested at the reporting unit level, which is defined as an operating segment or one level below the operating segment. We perform an assessment of goodwill for impairment on an annual basis, and between annual tests whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. To the extent the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s allocated goodwill exceeds the unit’s fair value, we recognize an impairment of goodwill for the excess up to the amount of goodwill of that reporting unit.
In fiscal 2023 and 2022, the Company’s estimated fair value significantly exceeded its carrying value. The fair value of the Company’s reporting units is determined using a combination of valuation techniques, including a discounted cash flow methodology. To corroborate the discounted cash flow analysis, a market approach is utilized using observable market data such as comparable companies in similar lines of business that are publicly traded. The Company concluded based on its quantitative assessment that
54
and assumptions described above, along with other factors such as discount rates, will significantly affect the outcome of the impairment tests and the amounts of any resulting impairment losses.
Long-lived Assets
Long-lived assets, including fixed assets and intangible assets (other than goodwill), are continually monitored and are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of any such asset may not be recoverable. The determination of recoverability is based on an estimate of undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use of an asset and its eventual disposition. The estimate of undiscounted cash flows is based upon, among other things, certain assumptions about future operating performance, growth rates and other factors. Estimates of undiscounted cash flows may differ from actual cash flows due to, among other things, technological changes, economic conditions, changes to the business model or changes in operating performance. If the sum of the undiscounted cash flows (excluding interest) is less than the carrying value, an impairment loss will be recognized, measured as the amount by which the carrying value exceeds the fair value of the asset. For fiscal years 2023 and 2022, we performed our annual assessment of long-lived assets and determined that
Investments
We account for non-marketable investments using the equity method of accounting if the investment gives us the ability to exercise significant influence over, but not control, an investee. Significant influence generally exists when we have an ownership interest representing between 20% and 50% of the voting stock of the investee. Under the equity method of accounting, investments are stated at initial cost and are adjusted for subsequent additional investments and our proportionate share of earnings or losses and distributions.
In December 2014, Calavo formed a wholly-owned subsidiary Calavo Growers De Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V. (Calavo Sub). In July 2015, Calavo Sub entered into a Shareholder Agreement with Grupo Belo del Pacifico, S.A. de C.V., (Belo) a Mexican company owned by Agricola Belher, and Agricola Don Memo, S.A. de C.V. (Don Memo). Don Memo, a Mexican corporation formed in July 2013, is engaged in the business of owning and improving land in Jalisco, Mexico for the growing and sale of tomatoes and other produce. Belo and Calavo Sub have an equal ownership interest in Don Memo. Pursuant to a management service agreement, Belo, through its officers and employees, shall have day-to-day power and authority to manage the operations. This investment contribution represent Calavo Sub’s
Advances to Suppliers
We advance funds to third-party growers primarily in Mexico for various farming needs. Typically, we obtain collateral (i.e. fruit, fixed assets, etc.) that approximates the value at risk, prior to making such advances. We continuously evaluate the ability of these growers to repay advances in order to evaluate the possible need to record an allowance. No such allowance was required at October 31, 2023 and 2022.
Pursuant to our distribution agreement with Agricola Belher (Belher) of Mexico, a producer of fresh vegetables, primarily tomatoes, for export to the U.S. market, Belher agreed, at their sole cost and expense, to harvest, pack, export, ship, and deliver tomatoes exclusively to our Company, primarily our Arizona facility. In exchange, we agreed to sell and distribute such tomatoes, make advances to Belher for operating purposes, provide additional advances as shipments are made during the season (subject to limitations, as defined), and return the proceeds from such tomato sales to Belher, net of our commission and aforementioned advances. These advances will be collected through settlements by the end of each year. As of October 31, 2023 and 2022, we have total advances of $
Similar to Belher, we make advances to Don Memo for operating purposes, provide additional advances as shipments are made during the season, and return the proceeds from such tomato sales to Don Memo, net of our commission and aforementioned advances. As of October 31, 2023 and 2022, we have total advances of $
55
respectively, to Don Memo, which is recorded in advances to suppliers, offset by tomato liabilities from the sales of tomatoes per the tomato marketing agreement.
We also have a distribution agreement with tomato grower Exportadora Silvalber (Silvalber). We made $
Infrastructure Advances
Pursuant to our infrastructure agreements, we make advances to be used solely for the acquisition, construction, and installation of improvements to and on certain land owned/controlled by Belher and Don Memo, as well as packing line equipment.
In October 2020, we entered into an infrastructure loan agreement with Don Memo for $
In July 2021, we made a bridge loan of $
Accrued Expenses
Included in accrued expenses are liabilities related to the receipt of goods and/or services for which an invoice has not yet been received. These totaled approximately $
Leases
Right-of-use assets represent the Company's right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Company's obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. The Company makes a determination if an arrangement constitutes a lease at inception, and categorizes the lease as either an operating or finance lease.
Right-of-use assets and liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the estimated present value of lease payments over the lease term. For finance leases, we recognize interest expense and amortization of the right-of-use asset, and for operating leases, we recognize lease expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The interest expense amortization component of the finance lease liabilities is recorded within interest expense on the consolidated statements of operations.
When available, we use the rate implicit in the lease to discount lease payments to present value; however, most of our leases do not provide a readily determinable implicit rate. We estimated our incremental borrowing rate based upon a synthetic credit rating and yield curve analysis. As a result, the incremental borrowing rate is estimated to approximate the interest rate on a collateralized basis with similar terms and payments.
56
We have elected the short-term lease recognition exemption for all leases that qualify (under one year term), meaning we will recognize expense on a straight-line basis and will not include the recognition of a right-of-use asset or lease liability. We will account for lease and non-lease components as a single-lease component for all leases.
Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenue when obligations under the terms of a contract with its customer are satisfied; generally, this occurs with the transfer of control of its products. Revenue is measured as the amount of net consideration expected to be received in exchange for transferring products. Revenue from product sales is governed primarily by customer pricing and related purchase orders (“contracts”) which specify shipping terms and certain aspects of the transaction price including variable considerations such as rebates, discounts and other sales incentives. Contracts are at standalone pricing. The performance obligation in these contracts is determined by each of the individual purchase orders and the respective stated quantities, with revenue being recognized at a point in time when obligations under the terms of the agreement are satisfied. This generally occurs with the transfer of control of our products to the customer and the product is delivered. The Company's customers have an implicit and explicit right to return non-conforming products. A provision for payment discounts and product return allowances, which is estimated, is recorded as a reduction of sales in the same period that the revenue is recognized.
Sales Incentives and Other Promotional Programs
The Company routinely offers sales incentives and discounts through various regional and national programs to our customers and consumers. These programs include product discounts or allowances, product rebates, product returns, one-time or ongoing trade-promotion programs with customers and consumer coupon programs that require the Company to estimate the expected costs of such programs. The costs associated with these activities are accounted for as reductions to the transaction price of the Company’s products and are, therefore, recorded as reductions to gross sales at the time of sale. The Company bases its estimates of incentive costs on historical trend experience with similar programs, actual incentive terms per customer contractual obligations and expected levels of performance of trade promotions, utilizing customer and sales organization inputs. The Company maintains liabilities at the end of each period for the estimated incentive costs incurred but unpaid for these programs. Differences between estimated and actual incentive costs are generally not material and are recognized in earnings in the period such differences are determined. Reserves for product returns, accrued rebates and promotional accruals are included in the consolidated balance sheets as part of accounts receivable.
Principal vs. Agent Considerations
We frequently enter into consignment arrangements with avocado and tomato growers and packers located outside of the U.S. and growers of certain perishable products in the U.S. We evaluate whether the performance obligation is a promise to transfer services to the customer (as the principal) or to arrange for services to be provided by another party (as the agent) using a control model. This evaluation determined that the Company is in control of establishing the transaction price, managing all aspects of the shipments process and taking the risk of loss for delivery, collection, and returns. Based on the Company’s evaluation of the control model, it determined that all of the Company’s major businesses act as the principal rather than the agent within their revenue arrangements and such revenues are reported on a gross basis.
Customers
We sell to retail grocery, foodservice, club stores, mass merchandisers, food distributors and wholesale customers. Our top ten customers accounted for approximately
57
Shipping and Handling
We include shipping and handling fees billed to customers in net sales. Amounts incurred by us for freight are included in cost of goods sold.
Promotional Allowances
We provide for promotional allowances at the time of sale, based on our historical experience. Our estimates are generally based on evaluating the historical relationship between promotional allowances and gross sales. The derived percentage is then applied to the current period’s sales revenues in order to arrive at the appropriate debit to sales allowances for the period. The offsetting credit is made to an allowance on accounts receivable. When certain amounts of specific customer accounts are subsequently identified as promotional, they are written off against this allowance. Actual amounts may differ from these estimates and such differences are recognized as an adjustment to net sales in the period they are identified.
Consignment Arrangements
We frequently enter into consignment arrangements with avocado and tomato growers and packers located outside of the U.S. and growers of certain perishable products in the U.S. Although we generally do not take legal title to these avocados and perishable products, we do assume responsibilities (principally assuming credit risk, inventory loss and delivery risk, and pricing risk) that are consistent with acting as a principal in the transaction. Accordingly, the accompanying financial statements include sales and cost of sales from the sale of avocados and perishable products procured under consignment arrangements. Amounts recorded for each of the fiscal years ended October 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 in the financial statements pursuant to consignment arrangements are as follows (in thousands):
| 2023 |
| 2022 |
| 2021 |
| ||||
Sales | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Cost of Sales |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Gross Profit | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Advertising Expense
Advertising costs are expensed when incurred and are generally included as a component of selling, general and administrative expense. Such costs were approximately $
Research and Development
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred and are generally included as a component of selling, general and administrative expense. Total research and development costs for fiscal year 2023, 2022 and 2021 was approximately $
Restructuring Costs
For the year ended October 31, 2022, we recorded $
58
Other Income
Included in other income is dividend income totaling $
Income Taxes
We account for deferred tax liabilities and assets for the future consequences of events that have been recognized in our consolidated financial statements or tax returns. Measurement of the deferred items is based on enacted tax laws. In the event the future consequences of differences between financial reporting bases and tax bases of our assets and liabilities result in a deferred tax asset, we perform an evaluation of the probability of being able to realize the future benefits indicated by such asset. A valuation allowance related to a deferred tax asset is recorded when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized.
We recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not that the tax position will be sustained on examination by the taxing authorities, based on the technical merits of the position. The tax benefits recognized in the financial statements from such a position should be measured based on the largest benefit that has a greater than 50% likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement.
As a multinational corporation, we are subject to taxation in many jurisdictions, and the calculation of our tax liabilities involves dealing with uncertainties in the application of complex tax laws and regulations in various taxing jurisdictions. If we ultimately determine that the payment of these liabilities will be unnecessary, the liability will be reversed and we will recognize a tax benefit during the period in which it is determined the liability no longer applies. Conversely, we record additional tax charges in a period in which it is determined that a recorded tax liability is less than the ultimate assessment is expected to be.
The application of tax laws and regulations is subject to legal and factual interpretation, judgment and uncertainty. Tax laws and regulations themselves are subject to change as a result of changes in fiscal policy, changes in legislation, the evolution of regulations and court rulings. Therefore, the actual liability for U.S. or foreign taxes may be materially different from management’s estimates, which could result in the need to record additional tax liabilities or potentially reverse previously recorded tax liabilities.
Basic and Diluted Net Loss per Share
Basic earnings per share is calculated using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period without consideration of the dilutive effect of stock options and contingent consideration. Diluted earnings per common share is calculated using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period after consideration of the dilutive effect of stock options and the effect of contingent consideration shares.
Basic and diluted net loss per share is calculated as follows (U.S. dollars in thousands, except per share data):
Year ended October 31, | |||||||||
| 2023 |
| 2022 |
| 2021 | ||||
Numerator: | |||||||||
Net loss attributable to Calavo Growers, Inc. | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||
Denominator: | |||||||||
Weighted average shares - Basic |
| |
| |
| | |||
Effect on dilutive securities – Restricted stock/units/options (1) |
| — |
| — |
| — | |||
Weighted average shares - Diluted |
| |
| |
| | |||
Net loss per share attributable to Calavo Growers, Inc: | |||||||||
Basic | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||
Diluted | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||
59
| (1) | For the year ended October 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, approximately |
Stock-Based Compensation
We account for awards of equity instruments issued to employees under the fair value method of accounting and recognize such amounts in our statements of operations. We measure compensation cost for all stock-based awards at fair value on the date of grant and recognize compensation expense in our consolidated statements of operations over the service period that the awards are expected to vest.
For the years ended October 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, we recognized compensation expense of $
Foreign Currency Translation and Remeasurement
Our foreign operations are subject to exchange rate fluctuations and foreign currency transaction costs. The functional currency of our foreign subsidiaries is the United States (U.S.) dollar. As a result, monetary assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at exchange rates as of the balance sheet date and non-monetary assets, liabilities and equity are translated at historical rates. Sales and expenses are translated using a weighted-average exchange rate for the period. Gains and losses resulting from those remeasurements are included in income. Gains and losses resulting from foreign currency transactions are also recognized in income. Total foreign currency translation gains for fiscal 2023 and 2021, net of losses, was $
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
We believe that the carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and short-term borrowings approximates fair value based on either their short-term nature or on terms currently available to the Company in financial markets. Due to current market rates, we believe that our fixed-rate long-term obligations and finance leases have nearly the same fair value and carrying value of approximately $
Derivative Financial Instruments
We were not a party to any material derivative instruments during the fiscal year. It is currently our intent not to use derivative instruments for speculative or trading purposes. Additionally, we do not use any hedging or forward contracts to offset market volatility.
Noncontrolling Interest
The following tables reconcile shareholders’ equity attributable to noncontrolling interest related to Avocados de Jalisco (in thousands).
|
| Year ended |
| Year ended | ||||
Avocados de Jalisco noncontrolling interest |
| October 31, 2023 | October 31, 2022 | |||||
| ||||||||
Noncontrolling interest, beginning | $ | | $ | | ||||
Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest of Avocados de Jalisco |
| |
| ( | ||||
Noncontrolling interest, ending | $ | | $ | | ||||
60
3. Inventories
Inventories consist of the following (in thousands):
October 31, | October 31, | ||||||
2023 | 2022 | ||||||
Fresh fruit |
| $ | |
| $ | | |
Packing supplies and ingredients |
| |
| | |||
Finished prepared foods |
| |
| | |||
Total | $ | | $ | | |||
We assess the recoverability of inventories through an ongoing review of inventory levels in relation to sales and forecasts and product marketing plans. When the inventory on hand, at the time of the review, exceeds the foreseeable demand, the value of inventory that is not expected to be sold is written down. The amount of the write-down is the excess of historical cost over estimated realizable value. Once established, these write-downs are considered permanent adjustments to the cost basis of the excess inventory.
The assessment of the recoverability of inventories and the amounts of any write-downs are based on currently available information and assumptions about future demand and market conditions. Demand for processed avocado products may fluctuate significantly over time, and actual demand and market conditions may be more or less favorable than our projections. In the event that actual demand is lower than originally projected, additional inventory write-downs may be required.
4. Property, Plant, and Equipment
Property, plant, and equipment consist of the following (in thousands):
October 31, |
| ||||||
2023 | 2022 |
| |||||
Land |
| $ | |
| $ | | |
Buildings and improvements |
| |
| | |||
Leasehold improvements |
| |
| | |||
Equipment |
| |
| | |||
Information systems - hardware and software |
| |
| | |||
Construction in progress |
| |
| | |||
| |
| | ||||
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization |
| ( |
| ( | |||
$ | | $ | | ||||
Depreciation expense was $
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5. Other Assets and Intangibles
Other assets consist of the following (in thousands):
| October 31, |
| October 31, | ||||
2023 | 2022 | ||||||
Mexican IVA (i.e. value-added) taxes receivable, net (see Note 14) | $ | | $ | | |||
Infrastructure advances (see Note 2) |
| |
| | |||
Bridge loan to Agricola Belher (see Note 2) |
| — |
| | |||
Other |
| |
| | |||
Total | $ | | $ | | |||
The intangible assets consist of the following (in thousands):
October 31, 2023 | October 31, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Weighted- |
| Gross |
|
| Net |
| Gross |
|
| Net | ||||||||||
Average | Carrying | Accum. | Book | Carrying | Accum. | Book | |||||||||||||||
Useful Life | Value | Amortization | Value | Value | Amortization | Value | |||||||||||||||
Customer list/relationships |
| $ | | $ | ( | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | ||||||||
Trade names |
|
| |
| ( |
| |
| |
| ( |
| | ||||||||
Trade secrets/recipes |
|
| |
| ( |
| — |
| |
| ( |
| | ||||||||
Brand name intangibles |
| indefinite |
| |
| — |
| |
| |
| — |
| | |||||||
Intangibles, net | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | |||||||||
We recorded amortization expense of approximately $
6. Revolving Credit Facilities
On June 26, 2023, Calavo and certain subsidiaries entered into a credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) by and among Calavo, certain subsidiaries of Calavo as guarantors, and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as agent and lender (“Agent”). The Credit Agreement provides for a revolving credit facility of up to $
The initial proceeds of $
Borrowings of the Revolving Loans under the Credit Agreement are asset-based and are subject to a borrowing base calculation that includes a certain percentage of eligible accounts receivable, inventory and equipment of Calavo, less any reserves implemented by Agent in its permitted discretion; provided that the equipment based portion of such borrowing base calculation will reduce monthly following the Closing Date.
Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest at a rate per annum equal to an applicable margin, plus, at Calavo’s option, either a base rate or a secured overnight financing rate (“SOFR”) term rate (which includes a spread adjustment of
Calavo may voluntarily prepay loans under the New Credit Facility, in whole or in part, without premium or penalty. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Credit Agreement, Calavo may be required to make certain mandatory prepayments prior to the Maturity Date.
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The Credit Agreement contains negative covenants that, among other things, limit Calavo’s ability to: incur indebtedness; grant liens on its assets; enter into certain investments; consummate fundamental change transactions; engage in mergers or acquisitions or dispose of assets; enter into certain transactions with affiliates; make changes to its fiscal year; enter into certain restrictive agreements; and make certain restricted payments (including for dividends). Each of these limitations are subject to various conditions. The Credit Agreement also contains a springing fixed charge coverage ratio financial covenant that is tested if the amount of the Revolving Loans available for Calavo to borrow under the New Credit Facility is less than
The Credit Agreement also contains certain affirmative covenants and customary events of default provisions, including, subject to thresholds and grace periods, among others, payment default, covenant default, cross default to other material indebtedness, and judgment default.
As of October 31, 2023, we were in compliance with the financial covenants, and we expect to remain in compliance for the next 12-months from our issuance date. As of October 31, 2023, approximately $
The weighted-average interest rate under the Credit Facility was
In connection with the New Credit Facility, we temporarily posted cash collateral to satisfy certain collateral requirements as we transitioned banks providing letters of credit related to our workers compensation policies. As of October 31, 2023, we have recorded $
The weighted-average interest rate under our previous credit facility with Bank of America was
7. Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments and guarantees
We lease facilities and certain equipment under non-cancelable leases expiring at various dates through 2031. We are committed to make minimum cash payments under these agreements as of October 31, 2022. See Note 15 for additional details on the type of lease agreements.
We indemnify our directors and have the power to indemnify each of our officers, employees and other agents, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law. No amounts have been accrued in the accompanying financial statements related to these indemnifications.
Compliance matters
On January 16, 2024, the Company announced that its internal audit process had identified to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors certain matters that the Board of Directors determined after fiscal year end merited enhanced evaluation. A Special Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Special Committee”) was established to commence an investigation, with the assistance of external legal counsel and external forensic accountants. The Special Committee determined that certain of those matters related to the Company’s operations in Mexico raised potential issues under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”). The Company has voluntarily disclosed this ongoing internal investigation to the SEC and the Department of Justice ("DOJ"), and the Company intends to fully cooperate with the SEC and the DOJ in connection with these matters. Any determination that the Company’s operations or activities were not in compliance
63
with laws, including the FCPA, could result in the imposition of material fines and penalties and the imposition of equitable remedies. The Company cannot currently predict the timing of completion or the outcome of its internal investigation or of any actions that may be taken by the SEC, the DOJ or Mexican authorities in connection with the matters under investigation, and the Company cannot currently estimate the amount or range of loss or potential impact on its consolidated financial statements associated with these matters.
Mexico tax audits
We conduct business both domestically and internationally and, as a result, one or more of our subsidiaries files income tax returns in U.S. federal, U.S. state and certain foreign jurisdictions. Accordingly, in the normal course of business, we are subject to examination by taxing authorities, primarily in Mexico and the United States.
2013 Assessment
In January 2017, we received preliminary observations from the Servicio de Administracion Tributaria in Mexico (the “SAT”) related to an audit for fiscal year 2013 outlining certain proposed adjustments primarily related to intercompany funding, deductions for services from certain vendors/suppliers and IVA. We provided a written rebuttal to these preliminary observations during our second fiscal quarter of 2017. During the period from our third fiscal quarter of 2017 through our third fiscal quarter of 2018, we attempted to resolve our case with the SAT through the conclusive agreement submitted before PRODECON (Mexican Tax Ombudsman), having several working meetings attended by representatives of the SAT, Calavo de Mexico (“CDM”) and the PRODECON. However, we were unable to materially resolve our case with the SAT through the PRODECON process.
As a result, in July 2018, the SAT’s local office in Uruapan issued to CDM a final tax assessment (the “2013 Assessment”) totaling approximately $
On June 25, 2021, we became aware that the Administrative Appeal had been resolved by the SAT against CDM on March 12, 2021, and that we had allegedly failed to timely respond to and challenge the SAT’s notification of such resolution, therefore rendering the 2013 Assessment as definitive. Consequently, the SAT placed liens on the fixed assets of CDM, with a net book value of approximately $
On August 18, 2021, we filed an Administrative Reconsideration (the Reconsideration) before the Central Legal Department of the SAT located in Mexico City, asserting that the resolution in March of the Administrative Appeal was wrongly concluded, in particular with respect to the following matters:
| o | Failure to recognize CDM as a “maquiladora” |
| o | Considering the Company to have a permanent establishment in Mexico, |
| o | Including fruit purchase deposits transferred by the Company to CDM as taxable, |
| o | Application of |
| o | Imposing double-taxation on the fruit purchase transactions |
On August 20, 2021 we filed an Annulment Suit (the Annulment Suit) with the Federal Tax Court, which among other things, strongly contends that the notifications made by the SAT to CDM and its designated advisors of the resolution of the Administrative Appeal in March 2021 were not legally communicated. In addition, the Annulment Suit asserts the same matters central to the Reconsideration, as described above, as wrongly concluded in the resolution of the Administrative Appeal.
64
On September 22, 2021, we had an initial in-person meeting with the SAT in Mexico City to formally present and discuss the Reconsideration. The SAT agreed to review our Reconsideration in more detail; however, on January 3, 2022, the SAT formally rejected our request for the Reconsideration. In response to this rejection, on January 21, 2022, we filed a capital suit (the “Injunction Suit”) with a federal district court seeking to nullify the arguments against the Reconsideration made by the SAT on constitutional grounds.
The injunction Suit was to challenge the SAT’s response issued to the Reconsideration, and with that, to keep the Reconsideration alive until the Injunction Suit is decided. This would allow time to continue the discussions with SAT at the administrative level and would give SAT the legal basis to issue a new resolution. The Injunction Suit represents a further opportunity for a court to analyze this matter from a constitutional perspective.
On August 16, 2023, we received notice that the federal district court rejected the Injunction Suite. In so doing, the federal district court did not rule on the substance of the case, stating that the substance of the cse will be resolved by the Tax Court through the Annulment Suit. The Company filed an appeal with the federal circuit court on August 30, 2023.
On March 10, 2022, we met with the SAT and offered an Administrative Guaranty (Embargo en Via Administrativa) to secure the 2013 Assessment, which provides the SAT with certain administrative rights to CDM assets in the event we do not prevail in our actions through the Federal Tax Court.
On October 10, 2022, the Tax Court ruled in favor of CDM granting the definitive suspension, accepting the Administrative Guaranty and forcing the SAT to remove all liens placed on CDM fixed assets and bank accounts. These liens were removed in November 2022. The Court also recognized that the $
On October 13, 2023, the company filed an extension of the Annulment Suit filed on August 20, 2021, as a result of the response to the lawsuit filed by the Tax Authority, pointing out that Tax Authority’s resolution is unlawful due to improper substantiation and motivation, because of the following:
• The QR Code does not allow the company to verify the veracity of the document,
• The notification of the tax assessment was not sent to the phone number indicated by the company, when the Tax Authority was obliged to do so, among others.
On November 14, 2023, the Tax Court notified the admission of the extension of the lawsuit was filed.
While we continue to believe that the 2013 Assessment is completely without merit, and that we will prevail on the Annulment Suit in the Tax Court, we also believe that it is in the best interest of CDM and the Company to settle the 2013 Assessment as quickly as possible. Furthermore, we believe that the above actions taken by CDM will encourage the SAT to agree to reach a settlement. In accordance with our cumulative probability analysis on uncertain tax positions, our settlements made by the SAT in other cases, the 2011 Assessment settlement reached by CDM with the MFM, and the value of CDM assets, we recorded a provision of $
Litigation
From time to time, we are also involved in litigation arising in the ordinary course of our business that we do not believe will have a material adverse impact on our financial statements.
65
8. Related-Party Transactions
Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer
Certain members of our Board of Directors market California avocados through Calavo pursuant to marketing agreements substantially similar to the marketing agreements that we enter with other growers. During the years ended October 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, the aggregate amount of avocados procured from entities owned or controlled by members of our Board of Directors was $
Agricola Don Memo, S.A. de C.V. (“Don Memo”)
In December 2014, Calavo formed a wholly-owned subsidiary, Calavo Growers De Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V. (Calavo Sub). In July 2015, Calavo Sub entered into a Shareholder Agreement with Belo, a Mexican company owned by Agricola Belher, and formed Agricola Don Memo, S.A. de C.V. Belo and Calavo Sub have an equal ownership interest in Don Memo in exchange for $
As of October 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, we have an investment of $
In October 2020, we entered into an infrastructure loan agreement with Don Memo for up to $
Belher
We make advances to Belher for operating purposes, provide additional advances as shipments are made during the season, and return the proceeds from tomato sales under our marketing program to Belher, net of our commission and aforementioned advances. We had grower advances due from Belher of $
In August 2018, we entered into an amended infrastructure agreement with Belher and advanced $
In July 2021, we made a bridge loan of $
66
million on July 31, 2022, $
Avocados de Jalisco, S.A.P.I. de C.V. (“Avocados de Jalisco”)
In August 2015, we entered into a Shareholder’s Agreement with various partners to form Avocados de Jalisco, which is a Mexican corporation engaged in procuring, packing, and selling avocados. This entity is approximately
9. Income Taxes
The income tax provision consists of the following for the years ended October 31, (in thousands):
| 2023 |
| 2022 |
| 2021 |
| ||||
| ||||||||||
Current: | ||||||||||
Federal | $ | ( | $ | | $ | ( | ||||
State |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Foreign |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Total current |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Deferred: | ||||||||||
Federal |
| ( |
| ( |
| | ||||
State |
| ( |
| |
| ( | ||||
Foreign |
| |
| ( |
| ( | ||||
Total deferred |
| |
| ( |
| ( | ||||
Change in valuation allowance | | — | | |||||||
Total income tax provision | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
The following table presents domestic and foreign components of loss before income taxes for the years ended October 31, (in thousands):
2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |||||||
Domestic | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||
Foreign | | ( | | ||||||
Income (loss) before taxes | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||
The above loss before taxes includes the net loss from unconsolidated entites of $
At October 31, 2023 and 2022, gross deferred tax assets totaled approximately $
67
reflect the net of temporary differences between the carrying amount of assets and liabilities for financial reporting and income tax purposes.
Significant components of our deferred tax assets (liabilities) as of October 31, are as follows (in thousands):
| 2023 |
| 2022 |
| |||
Intangible assets | $ | | $ | | |||
Stock-based compensation |
| |
| | |||
State taxes |
| |
| | |||
Allowance for accounts receivable | | | |||||
Inventories | | | |||||
Accrued liabilities | | | |||||
Operating lease liabilities | | | |||||
Net operating loss | | | |||||
Capital loss carryover | | | |||||
Credits and incentives |
| |
| | |||
Total deferred income tax assets | | | |||||
Property, plant, and equipment |
| ( |
| ( | |||
Operating lease - right of use assets | ( | ( | |||||
Other |
| ( |
| ( | |||
Total deferred income tax liabilities | ( | ( | |||||
Valuation allowance | ( | ( | |||||
Net deferred income tax assets | $ | | $ | | |||
The Company’s net deferred income tax assets as presented in the consolidated balance sheets consists of the following items as of October 31, (in thousands):
| Year Ended October 31, | |||||
2023 | 2022 | |||||
Deferred income tax assets | $ | | $ | | ||
Deferred income tax liabilities | ( | — | ||||
Net deferred income tax assets | $ | | $ | | ||
As of October 31, 2023, the Company had a federal net operating loss carryforward of $
The Company’s domestic operations has incurred a cumulative operating loss for the last three years. During the fourth quarter of the year ended October 31, 2023, based on this evaluation, and after considering future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, the Company determined the realization of a majority of the net deferred tax assets no longer met the more likely than not criteria and a valuation allowance was recorded against the majority of the net deferred tax assets. As of October 31, 2023 and 2022, there is a valuation allowance of $
68
A reconciliation of the significant differences between the federal statutory income tax rate and the effective income tax rate on pretax income (loss) for the years ended October 31, is as follows:
| 2023 |
| 2022 |
| 2021 |
| |
Federal statutory tax rate |
| | % | | % | | % |
State taxes, net of federal effects |
| | ( | | |||
Rate differential on NOL carryback | — | — | | ||||
Foreign tax rate differential |
| ( | | | |||
Uncertain tax positions |
| — | | ( | |||
Stock based compensation |
| ( | ( | ( | |||
Provision to return | ( | ( | | ||||
US tax on foreign income, net | ( | — | — | ||||
State rate change |
| | ( | | |||
Valuation allowance | ( | ( | ( | ||||
Limits on executive compensation | ( | — | — | ||||
Other permanent differences | ( | ( | — | ||||
Other |
| ( | ( | ( | |||
| ( | % | ( | % | ( | % |
As of October 31, 2023, and 2022, we had $
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of gross unrecognized taxes (exclusive of interest and penalties) was as follows (in thousands):
| Year Ended October 31, | |||||
2023 | 2022 | |||||
Beginning balance | $ | | $ | | ||
Reductions based on tax positions related to prior periods | — | ( | ||||
Gross increase - Tax positions in prior periods |
| |
| | ||
Gross increase - Tax positions in current period |
| — |
| — | ||
Ending balance | $ | | $ | | ||
Although it is reasonably possible that certain unrecognized tax benefits may increase or decrease within the next twelve months due to tax examination changes, settlement activities, expirations of statutes of limitations, or the impact on recognition and measurement considerations related to the results of published tax cases or other similar activities, the Company does not anticipate any significant changes to unrecognized tax benefits over the next 12 months. The Company accounts for income taxes regarding uncertain tax positions and recognized interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions in income tax benefit/(expense) in the consolidated statements of operations. Total accrued interest and penalties recorded on the consolidated balance sheet were
We are subject to U.S. federal income tax as well as income of multiple state tax and foreign tax jurisdictions. We are no longer subject to U.S. income tax examinations for the fiscal years prior to October 31, 2020, and are no longer subject to state income tax examinations for fiscal years prior to October 31, 2019.
The Company determined that certain foreign earnings to be indefinitely reinvested outside the United States. Our intent is to permanently reinvest these funds outside of the United States and our current plans do not demonstrate a need to repatriate the cash to fund our U.S. operations. However, if these funds were repatriated, we would be required to accrue and pay applicable United States taxes (if any) and withholding taxes payable to foreign tax authorities.
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10. Segment Information
Calavo operates in
These
The following table sets forth sales, cost of sales, and gross profit by segment (in thousands)
|
|
| Intersegment |
| |||||||||
Grown | Prepared | Elimins. | Total | ||||||||||
(All amounts are presented in thousands) | |||||||||||||
Year ended October 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||
Net sales | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | |||||
Cost of sales | | | ( | | |||||||||
Gross profit | $ | | $ | | $ | — | $ | | |||||
Year ended October 31, 2022 | |||||||||||||
Net sales | $ | | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | |||||
Cost of sales | | | ( | | |||||||||
Gross profit | $ | | $ | | $ | — | $ | | |||||
For fiscal year 2023, 2022 and 2021, intersegment sales and cost of sales of $
The following table sets forth sales by product category, by segment (in thousands):
Year ended October 31, 2023 | Year ended October 31, 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||||
Grown | Prepared | Total | Grown | Prepared | Total | ||||||||||||||
Avocados | $ | | $ | — | $ | | $ | | $ | — | $ | | |||||||
Tomatoes |
| |
| — |
| |
| |
| — |
| | |||||||
Papayas |
| |
| — |
| |
| |
| — |
| | |||||||
Other fresh income |
| |
| — |
| |
| |
| — |
| | |||||||
Fresh-cut products | — | | | — | | | |||||||||||||
Guacamole | — |
| |
| |
| — |
| |
| | ||||||||
Salsa |
| — |
| |
| |
| — |
| |
| | |||||||
Total gross sales |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |||||||
Less sales allowances |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | |||||||
Less intersegment eliminations | ( | | ( | ( | | ( | |||||||||||||
Net sales | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||||
70
Year ended October 31, 2022 | Year ended October 31, 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||||||||||||
Grown | Prepared | Total | Grown | Prepared | Total | ||||||||||||||
Avocados | $ | | $ | — | $ | | $ | | $ | — | $ | | |||||||
Tomatoes |
| |
| — |
| |
| |
| — |
| | |||||||
Papayas |
| |
| — |
| |
| |
| — |
| | |||||||
Other fresh income |
| |
| — |
| |
| |
| — |
| | |||||||
Fresh-cut products | — | | | — | | | |||||||||||||
Guacamole | — | | | — | | | |||||||||||||
Salsa |
| — |
| |
| |
| — |
| |
| | |||||||
Total gross sales |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| | |||||||
Less sales allowances |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | |||||||
Less intersegment eliminations | ( | | ( | ( | | ( | |||||||||||||
Net sales | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||||
Sales to customers outside the U.S. were approximately $
Prepared segment sales included sales to two customers who represented more than 10% of total consolidated revenues for fiscal 2023. Prepared segment sales included sales to one customer who represented more than 10% of total consolidated revenues for fiscal 2022 and 2021. Additionally, the Grown products segment had sales to one customer that represented more than 10% of total consolidated revenues for fiscal 2021.
Our goodwill balance of $
Long-lived assets attributed to geographic areas as of October 31, are as follows (in thousands):
| United States |
| Mexico |
| Consolidated | ||||
October 31, 2023 | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||
October 31, 2022 | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||
11. Long-Term Obligations
Long-term obligations at fiscal year ends consist of the following (in thousands):
| 2023 |
| 2022 |
| |||
Finance leases |
| |
| | |||
Less current portion |
| ( |
| ( | |||
$ | | $ | | ||||
See Note 15 for additional information.
12. Stock-Based Compensation
The 2020 Equity Incentive Plan
In April 2021, our shareholders approved the Calavo Growers, Inc. 2020 Equity Incentive Plan (the 2020 Plan). All directors, officers, employees and consultants (including prospective directors, officers, employees and consultants) of Calavo and its subsidiaries are eligible to receive awards under the 2020 Plan. This is a
71
Restricted Stock Awards (RSAs)
On November 3, 2022, our former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) entered into an amendment to his employment agreement, which changed $
On December 1, 2022, our 10 directors were granted
On March 7, 2023, our former CEO was terminated. As part of his Separation Agreement, the remaining
The total recognized stock-based compensation expense for restricted stock awards was $
A summary of restricted stock activity, related to our 2011 Plan and 2020 Plan, is as follows (in thousands, except for per share amounts):
|
| Weighted-Average |
| Aggregate |
| ||||
| Number of Shares |
| Grant Price |
| Intrinsic Value |
| |||
Outstanding at October 31, 2022 |
| | $ | | |||||
Granted |
| | $ | | |||||
Vested | ( | $ | | ||||||
Forfeited |
| ( | $ | | |||||
Outstanding at October 31, 2023 |
| | $ | | $ | | |||
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) and Performance Restricted Stock Units (PRSUs)
On December 1, 2022, we issued RSUs and PRSUs for officers and other members of management as part of our long-term incentive plan. The RSUs are time-based and vest annually in equal amounts over a
On March 7, 2023, our former CEO was terminated. As part of his Separation Agreement,
On November 1, 2023, each of our 8 directors were granted
72
The total recognized stock-based compensation expense for RSUs was $
A combined summary of RSU activity, related to our 2020 Plan, is as follows (in thousands, except for per share amounts):
| Number of Shares |
| Weighted-Average |
| Aggregate | |||
| Represented |
| Grant Price |
| Intrinsic Value | |||
Outstanding at October 31, 2022 |
| | $ | | ||||
Granted | | $ | | |||||
Vested | ( | $ | | |||||
Forfeited |
| ( | $ | | ||||
Outstanding at October 31, 2023 |
| | $ | | $ | | ||
At the end of each reporting period, the Company will adjust compensation expense for the PRSUs based on its best estimate of attainment of the specified performance targets. The cumulative effect on current and prior periods of a change in the estimated number of PRSUs that are expected to be earned will be recognized as an adjustment in the period of the adjustment. As of October 31, 2023, the Company determined that it was not probable that any of the PRSUs for the 2022 or 2023 three-year cumulative performance grant would vest. The Company recorded a net reversal of approximately $
The summary of PRSU activity, related to our 2020 Plan, is as follows (in thousands, except for per share amounts):
| Number of Shares |
| Weighted-Average |
| Aggregate | |||
| Represented |
| Grant Price |
| Intrinsic Value | |||
Outstanding at October 31, 2022 |
| | $ | | ||||
Granted | | $ | | |||||
Vested | ( | $ | | |||||
Forfeited | ( | $ | | |||||
Adjusted for performance factor |
| ( | $ | | ||||
Outstanding at October 31, 2023 |
| — | $ | — | $ | — | ||
Stock Options
Stock options are granted with exercise prices of not less than the fair market value at grant date, generally vest over to
We measure compensation cost for all stock-based awards at fair value on the date of grant and recognize compensation expense in our consolidated statements of operations over the service period that the awards are expected to vest.
In March 2023, the Company agreed to award our newly appointed CEO a stock option to purchase
(i)
(ii)
73
following achievement of the Target Share Price (the “Thirty-day Average Share Price”), is greater than or equal to $
(iii)
(iv)
provided, however, that satisfaction of each Milestone is subject to our newly appointed CEO continuing as the President and CEO of the Company through each vesting event; and provided further that regardless of when he achieves the Milestones set forth in subsections (ii) through (iv) above, the applicable tranche shall only vest on or after March 10, 2024.
We measure the fair value of our stock option awards on the date of grant. The following assumptions were used in the estimated grant date fair value calculations for stock options:
| March 2023 |
| |
Risk-free interest rate |
| | % |
Expected volatility |
| | % |
Dividend yield |
| | % |
Expected life (years) |
|
The expected stock price volatility rates were based on the historical volatility of our common stock. The risk free interest rate was based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant for periods approximating the expected life of the option. The expected life represents the average period of time that options granted are expected to be outstanding, as calculated using the simplified method described in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107.
The Black-Scholes-Merton and lattice-based option valuation models were developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options that have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. Because options held by our directors and employees have characteristics significantly different from those of traded options, in our opinion, the existing models do not necessarily provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of these options. For the market award, we determined both the fair value and derived service period using a Monte Carlo simulation model on the closing date.
Based on the above details and assumptions, we valued these options at $
The total recognized stock-based compensation expense for options was $
A summary of stock option activity, related to our 2011 and 2020 Management Incentive Plan, is as follows (in thousands, except for per share amounts):
|
| Weighted-Average |
| Aggregate | ||||
Exercise | Intrinsic | |||||||
Number of Shares | Price | Value | ||||||
Outstanding at October 31, 2022 |
| | $ | | ||||
Exercised |
| ( | $ | | ||||
Granted |
| | $ | | ||||
Outstanding at October 31, 2023 |
| | $ | | $ | | ||
Exercisable at October 31, 2023 |
| | $ | | $ | — | ||
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13. Dividends
In November 2022, we announced that we would begin declaring and paying dividends quarterly rather than annually which had been our prior practice.
On December 14, 2022, we paid a dividend of $
On September 1, 2023, our board of directors declared a cash dividend of $
14. Mexican IVA taxes receivable
Included in other assets are tax receivables due from the Mexican government for value-added taxes (IVA) paid in advance. CDM is charged IVA by vendors on certain expenditures in Mexico, which, insofar as they relate to the exportation of goods, translate into IVA amounts receivable from the Mexican government.
As of October 31, 2023, and October 31, 2022, CDM IVA receivables totaled $
During the first quarter of fiscal 2017, the tax authorities informed us that their internal opinion, based on the information provided by the local SAT office, considers that CDM is not properly documented relative to its declared tax structure and therefore CDM cannot claim the refundable IVA balance. CDM has strong arguments and supporting documentation to sustain its declared tax structure for IVA and income tax purposes. CDM started an Administrative Appeal for the IVA related to the request of the months of July, August and September of 2015 (the “2015 Appeal”) in order to assert its argument that CDM is properly documented and to therefore change the SAT’s internal assessment. In August 2018, we received a favorable ruling from the SAT’s Legal Administration in Michoacan on the 2015 Appeal indicating that they believe CDM’s legal interpretation of its declared tax structure is indeed accurate. While favorable on this central matter of CDM’s declared tax structure, the ruling, however, still does not recognize the taxpayers right to a full refund for the IVA related to the months of July, August and September 2015. Therefore, in October 2018, CDM filed a substance-over-form Annulment Suit in the Federal Tax Court to recover its full refund for IVA over the subject period, which is currently pending resolution.
In April 2022, the Tax Court issued the ruling for the months of July, August and September 2015 through which it was declared that the following resolutions were resolved:
| ● | It is recognized that CDM operates as a maquila under the authorization of the Ministry of Finance. |
| ● | It is recognized that all bank deposits corresponding to the purchase of avocados on behalf of Calavo Growers Inc. (CGI), are subject to the maquila program and it is not accruable income for purposes of income tax nor activities subject to VAT. |
| ● | It is recognized that IVA is recoverable, since CDM demonstrated the existence of operations carried under the maquila services. |
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| ● | Resolved that certain IVA amounts attributed to the purchase of certain packing materials are not recoverable as CDM was not the buyer on record and therefore did not pay for the materials, which approximated $ |
In January 2023, the Federal Tax Court issued a definitive resolution confirming the ruling from April 2022, ordering SAT to refund approximately $
In June 2023, we received $
Various cases from IVA periods in April, June and August 2017 were issued negative resolutions and the deadline to challenge the resolutions has elapsed. The cases can still be pursued but must be re-initiated providing new evidence. Although the likelihood of success is still relatively high, the requirement to re-initiate has reduced the likelihood of recovery and therefore the Company has reserved $
We believe that our operations in Mexico are properly documented, and our internationally recognized tax advisors believe that there are legal grounds to prevail in collecting the corresponding IVA amounts. With assistance from our internationally recognized tax advisory firm, as of October 31, 2023, CDM has filed Administrative Appeals for months for which IVA refunds have been denied by the SAT, and will continue filing such appeals for any months for which refunds are denied in the future. Therefore, it is probable that the Mexican tax authorities will ultimately authorize the refund of the remaining IVA amounts.
15. Leases
We lease property and equipment under finance and operating leases. For leases with terms greater than 12 months, we record the related asset and obligation at the present value of lease payments over the term. Many of our leases include rental escalation clauses, renewal options and/or termination options that are factored into our determination of lease payments when appropriate.
We also lease certain property, plant and equipment, including office facilities, under operating leases. The lease term consists of the noncancellable period of the lease and the periods covered by options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise such options. The Company's lease agreements do not contain any residual value guarantees.
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Lease Position
The following table presents the lease-related assets and liabilities recorded on the balance sheet as of October 31, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands):
October 31, |
| October 31, | |||||
2023 |
| 2022 | |||||
Assets |
|
|
|
| |||
Non-current assets: |
|
|
|
| |||
Operating lease assets | Operating lease right-of-use assets | $ | | $ | | ||
Finance lease assets |
| |
| | |||
$ | | $ | | ||||
Liabilities |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Current liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Operating | Current portion of operating leases | $ | | $ | | ||
Finance | Current portion of long-term obligations and finance leases |
| |
| | ||
Long-term obligations |
|
|
|
|
| ||
Operating | Long-term operating leases, less current portion |
| |
| | ||
Finance | Long-term obligations and finance leases, less current portion |
| |
| | ||
$ | | $ | | ||||
Weighted-average remaining lease term: |
| Fiscal 2023 | Fiscal 2022 | |||
Operating leases |
| |||||
Finance leases |
| |||||
Weighted-average discount rate: |
|
|
| |||
Operating leases |
| | % | | % | |
Finance leases |
| | % | | % | |
Lease Costs
The following table presents certain information related to the lease costs for finance and operating leases for the years ended October 31, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands):
| Year ended | Year ended | ||||
| October 31, 2023 | October 31, 2022 | ||||
Amortization of financing lease assets (recorded in cost of sales) |
| $ | | $ | | |
Operating lease cost | | | ||||
Short-term lease cost | | | ||||
Sublease income | — | ( | ||||
Variable lease cost | | | ||||
Interest on financing lease liabilities | | | ||||
Total lease cost | $ | | $ | | ||
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Other Information
The following table presents supplemental cash flow information related to the leases for the years ended October 31, 2023 and 2022 (in thousands):
| Year ended | Year ended | ||||
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities |
| October 31, 2023 | October 31, 2022 | |||
Operating cash flows for operating leases |
| $ | | $ | | |
Financing cash flows for finance leases | | | ||||
Operating cash flows for finance leases | | | ||||
The total right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating leases for the years ended October 31, 2023 and 2022 were $
Undiscounted Cash Flows
The following table reconciles the undiscounted cash flows for each of the first five years and total remaining years to the finance lease liabilities and operating lease liabilities recorded on the balance sheet as of October 31, 2023 (in thousands):
| Operating |
| Finance | |||
| Leases |
| Leases | |||
2024 |
| $ | |
| $ | |
2025 | | | ||||
2026 | | | ||||
2027 | | | ||||
2028 | | | ||||
Thereafter | | | ||||
Total lease payments | | | ||||
Less: imputed interest | | | ||||
Total lease liability |
| $ | |
| $ | |
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the shareholders and the Board of Directors of
Calavo Growers, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Calavo Growers, Inc. and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of October 31, 2023 and 2022, the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders' equity, and cash flows, for each of the three years in the period ended October 31, 2023, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the "financial statements"). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of October 31, 2023 and 2022, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended October 31, 2023, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of October 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated January 31, 2024, expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matters communicated below are matters arising from the current-period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matters below, providing separate opinions on the critical audit matters or on the accounts or disclosures to which they relate.
Mexican IVA taxes receivable — Refer to Note 14 to the financial statements
Critical Audit Matter Description
As of October 31, 2023, the Company’s subsidiary, Calavo de Mexico (“CDM”), has a value-added taxes (IVA) receivable of $49.9 million due from the Mexican government. Historically, CDM received IVA refund payments from the Mexican tax authorities on a timely basis. Beginning in fiscal 2014 and continuing into fiscal 2023, there have been delays in the processing of the IVA claims by the Mexican tax authorities. The Mexican authorities
79
informed the Company that CDM is not properly documented relative to its declared tax structure and therefore CDM cannot claim the refundable IVA balance. Mexican authorities also questioned refunds requested attributable to IVA paid to certain suppliers that allegedly did not fulfill their own tax obligations.
Given the significant judgments made by management to determine the Company’s ability to recover the IVA taxes receivable, performing audit procedures to evaluate the Company’s interpretation and compliance with international tax laws involved significant auditor judgment and use of tax specialists with specialized skills and knowledge, which we have determined to be a critical audit matter.
How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit
Our audit procedures related to management’s judgments related to the collectability of the IVA taxes receivable included the following, among others:
| ● | We tested the effectiveness of the controls over the recoverability of the Mexican IVA taxes receivable and the review of related disclosures. |
| ● | With the assistance of our tax specialists, we evaluated the recoverability of the IVA receivable by evaluating the technical merits and the Company’s interpretation of international tax law, including substantiating that the Company’s declared tax structure is in compliance with Mexican tax regulations. |
| ● | We obtained legal letters from the Company’s tax advisors related to the collectability of the IVA receivable, and evaluated case rulings supporting the recoverability of IVA taxes paid to non-compliant vendors. |
Uncertain Tax Positions Related to Mexico tax audits — Refer to Note 7 to the financial statements
Critical Audit Matter Description
The Company is under audit by the Mexican tax authorities relating to the Company’s 2013 fiscal year. The Mexican tax authorities have assessed the Company with an underpayment of tax amounts alleging improper deductions for intercompany funding, deductions for services from certain vendors/suppliers and IVA in the Company’s calculation of taxable income. The assessment, including the effect of inflation and penalties, amounted to $3 billion Mexican pesos (approximately $166.0 million USD) as of October 31, 2023. The Company has filed an administrative reconsideration, an appeal to its injunction suit and an annulment suit to dismiss the assessment made by the Mexican tax authorities. While the Company believes the assessment is completely without merit, and that the Company will prevail on the annulment suit in tax court, the Company believes it is in the best interest to settle the 2013 tax matter. Therefore, in accordance with a cumulative probability analysis, the Company concluded that a provision of $11 million remains appropriate as of October 31, 2023.
Given the significant judgments made by management in determining its analysis and accounting for the Company’s uncertain tax position for the 2013 tax matter, performing audit procedures to evaluate the Company’s interpretation and compliance with international tax laws involved significant auditor judgment and use of tax specialists with specialized skills and knowledge, which we have determined to be a critical audit matter.
How the Critical Audit Matter Was Addressed in the Audit
Our audit procedures related to the determination of whether it is more likely than not that the Company’s tax positions challenged by the Mexican tax authorities will be realized included the following, among others:
| ● | We tested the effectiveness of the controls over the evaluation of uncertain tax positions as it relates to the periods subject to the Mexico tax audit and the review of related disclosures. |
| ● | With the assistance of our tax specialists, we evaluated the Company’s interpretation of international taw laws and whether the declared tax structure is in compliance with Mexican tax regulations. |
| ● | We obtained legal letters from the Company’s tax advisors related to understanding the advisors current assessment of the tax audit and assessed the technical merits of tax positions taken by the Company. |
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| ● | We evaluated the reasonableness of the method, judgment, and assumptions used by the Company in determining the provision recognized to settle the uncertain tax position using a cumulative probability analysis. |
/s/
January 31, 2024
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2015.
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Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Conclusion Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act), as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and our principal financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of October 31, 2023.
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended October 31, 2023 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of the end of the period covered by this report based on the framework set forth in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework).
Based on our evaluation under the framework set forth in Internal Control — Integrated Framework, our management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of October 31, 2023. Our internal control over financial reporting as of October 31, 2023 has been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is included herein.
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the shareholders and the Board of Directors of
Calavo Growers, Inc.
Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Calavo Growers, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of October 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of October 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by COSO.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended October 31, 2023, of the Company and our report dated January 31, 2024, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s 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 are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. 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.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
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.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP | |
Los Angeles, California | |
January 31, 2024 |
83
Item 9B. Other Information
Trading Plans
During the quarter ended October 31, 2023, no director or Section 16 officer
Item 9C. Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections
Not applicable.
PART III
Certain information required by Part III is omitted from this Annual Report because we will file a definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders pursuant to Regulation 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Proxy Statement), not later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Annual Report, and the applicable information included in the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers, and Corporate Governance
The following table sets forth the name, age and position of individuals who hold positions as executive officers of our Company. There are no family relationships between any director or executive officer and any other director or executive officer of our Company. Executive officers are elected by our board of directors and serve at the discretion of the board.
Name |
| Age |
| Position |
Lecil Cole |
| 84 |
| Chief Executive Officer |
Shawn Munsell | 48 | Chief Financial Officer | ||
Mike Browne | 64 | Vice President Executive Sales & Operations | ||
Ronald Araiza | 64 | Vice President Executive Fresh Foods | ||
Paul Harrison | 46 | Vice President Executive RFG Prepared |
Lecil Cole served as our Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer and President from 1999 until his retirement in 2020. He retired as a director of the Company in 2021. In March 2023, the Company reinstated Mr. Cole as our Chief Executive Officer. Prior to joining Calavo, Mr. Cole served as an executive of Safeway Stores and as the Chairman of Central Coast Federal Land Bank. Mr. Cole farms a total of approximately 4,400 acres in California on which avocados and cattle are produced and raised.
Shawn Munsell has served as our Chief Financial Officer since June 2022. Prior to his appointment as Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Munsell led the finance and accounting functions for Tyson Foods’ (NYSE: TSN) chicken segment, from 2018 to 2022, as Senior Vice President of Finance and Accounting. From 2015 to 2018, he served as Tyson’s Treasurer. Prior to Tyson, Mr. Munsell was with CF Industries, serving in a variety of roles with progressive responsibility for the nitrogen products manufacturer.
Mike Browne returned to Calavo June 2023 as the Vice President Executive Sales and Operations. He served as our Vice President from May 2005 to December 2019. From 1997 until joining us, Mr. Browne served as the founder and co-owner of Fresh Directions International, a closely held multinational fresh produce company, which marketed fresh avocados from Mexico, Chile, and the Dominican Republic. From December 2019 to September 2021, Mr. Browne was the Chief Operating Officer of Mission Produce.
Ronald Araiza returned to Calavo as our Vice President of Prepared Foods in June 2023 after a brief hiatus. He served as a Vice President of Calavo from January 2017 until October 2022. Mr. Araiza has approximately twenty years
84
of experience as a Vice President at Mission Produce and Del Rey Avocado. Mr. Araiza is also a past alternate board member of the California Avocado Commission.
Paul Harrison was promoted to Executive Vice President in September 2023. Paul Harrison has been with the Company since February 2020 as Vice President of Operations. Before joining Calavo, Mr. Harrison was the Regional Vice President of Operations – West of Revolution Foods from October 2017 to February 2020. He previously served as Director of Operations at Fresh and Easy and the Director of Operations at True Fresh.
The following information is included in our Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders and Proxy Statement to be filed within 120 days after our fiscal year end of October 31, 2023 (the Proxy Statement) and is incorporated herein by reference:
| Ø | Information regarding our directors who are standing for reelection and any persons nominated to become our directors is set forth under "Election of Directors." |
| Ø | Information regarding our Audit Committee and designated "audit committee financial expert" is set forth under "Corporate Governance Principles and Board Matters—Board Structure and Committee Composition—Audit Committee." |
| Ø | Information regarding Section 16(a) beneficial ownership reporting compliance is set forth under "Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance." |
Item 11. Executive Compensation
The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the sections entitled “Executive Compensation” and “Directors’ Compensation” in the Proxy Statement.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the sections entitled “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” and “Equity Compensation Plan Information” in the Proxy Statement.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
The information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the section entitled “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” in the Proxy Statement.
Item 14. Principal Accountant’s Fees and Services
Information required by this Item is incorporated herein by reference to the section of the Proxy Statement entitled “Principal Accountant Fees and Services.”
85
Part IV
Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
(a)(1)Financial Statements
The following consolidated financial statements as of October 31, 2023 and 2022 and for each of the three years in the period ended October 31, 2023 are included herewith:
Consolidated Balance Sheets, Consolidated Statements of Operations, Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity, Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, and Report of Deloitte & Touche LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID No.
(2) No financial statement schedules are required to be filed by Item 8 of Form 10-K.
(3) | Exhibits |
See the “Exhibit Index” on pages 87 - 89 of this report.
(b) | Exhibits |
See subsection (a) (3) above.
(c) | Financial Statement Schedules |
See subsection (a) (1) and (2) above.
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary
None
86
2.11* | ||
3.1* | ||
3.2* | ||
4.1* | ||
10.1* | ||
10.2* | ||
10.3* | ||
10.4* | ||
10.5* | ||
10.6* | ||
10.7* | ||
10.8* | ||
10.9* |
88
10.10* | ||
10.11* | ||
10.12* | ||
10.13* | ||
10.14* | ||
10.15* | ||
21.1* | ||
23.1 | ||
31.1 | Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e) or Rule 15d-15(e) | |
31.2 | Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-15(e) or Rule 15d-15(e) | |
32** | ||
97.1 | ||
101.INS | Inline XBRL Instance Document (the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document). | |
101.SCH | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document | |
101.CAL | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document | |
101.DEF | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document | |
101.LAB | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase Document | |
101.PRE | Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document | |
104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101). |
* | Previously filed. | |
** | This certification is deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act. |
89
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on January 31, 2024.
CALAVO GROWERS, INC | |||
By: | /s/ Lecil Cole | ||
Lecil Cole | |||
Chief Executive Officer | |||
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below on January 31, 2024 by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated:
Signature | Title | |
/s/ Lecil Cole | Chief Executive Officer | |
Lecil Cole | (Principal Executive Officer) | |
/s/ Shawn Munsell | Chief Financial Officer | |
Shawn Munsell | (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | |
/s/ Steven W. Hollister | Chairman of the Board of Directors | |
Steven W. Hollister | ||
/s/ Marc L. Brown | Director | |
Marc L. Brown | ||
/s/ Adriana Mendizabal | Director | |
Adriana Mendizabal | ||
/s/ Michael A. DiGregorio | Director | |
Michael A. DiGregorio | ||
/s/ James Helin | Director | |
James Helin | ||
/s/ Farha Aslam | Director | |
Farha Aslam | ||
/s/ J. Link Leavens | Director | |
J. Link Leavens | ||
/s/ Kathleen M. Holmgren | Director | |
Kathleen M. Holmgren |
90