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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

 

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended December 31, 2003

 

OR

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from                      to                     

 

Commission file number: 0-18222

 

RICA FOODS, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

Nevada   87-0432572

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

1840 Coral Way, Suite 101, Miami, Fl   33145
(Address of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (305) 858-9480

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes x No ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act)

Yes ¨ No x

 

As of February [    ], 2004, the number of shares issued and outstanding of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share was 12,864,321.

 



Table of Contents

INDEX

 

          Page

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION     

ITEM 1.

   Financial Statements     
     Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2003 (Unaudited) and September 30, 2003    3
     Consolidated Statements of Income for the three months ended December 31, 2003 and 2002 (Unaudited)    4
     Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended December 31, 2003 and 2002 (Unaudited)    5
     Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements    7

ITEM 2.

   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    14

ITEM 3.

   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    22

ITEM 4.

   Controls and Procedures    24
     PART II – OTHER INFORMATION     

ITEM 1.

   Legal Proceedings    24

ITEM 2.

   Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds    24

ITEM 3.

   Defaults upon Senior Securities    24

ITEM 4.

   Submissions of Submissions of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    24

ITEM 5.

   Other Information    25

ITEM 6.

   Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K    26

 

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ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

RICA FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

    

December 31,

2003


   

September 30,

2003


 
     (Unaudited)        
Assets                 

Current assets:

                

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 10,349,771     $ 3,343,255  

Short-term investments

     —         2,469,301  

Notes and accounts receivable

     14,517,699       17,760,056  

Due from related parties

     —         1,415,821  

Inventories

     14,693,283       14,132,819  

Deferred income taxes

     290,600       255,064  

Prepaid expenses

     503,280       742,984  
    


 


Total current assets

     40,354,633       40,119,300  

Property, plant and equipment

     36,712,242       36,782,594  

Long-term receivables-trade

     310,212       627,831  

Long-term investments

     3,596,345       3,784,470  

Other assets

     7,445,565       7,782,744  

Goodwill

     1,518,214       1,555,828  
    


 


Total assets

   $ 89,937,211     $ 90,652,767  
    


 


Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity                 

Current liabilities:

                

Accounts payable

   $ 11,546,825     $ 17,195,317  

Accrued expenses

     2,817,950       3,320,497  

Notes payable

     34,605,354       36,547,238  

Current portion of long-term debt

     5,339,279       3,978,580  

Due to stockholders

     7,913       51,872  
    


 


Total current liabilities

     54,317,321       61,093,504  

Long-term debt, net of current portion

     7,545,401       6,727,905  

Deferred income tax liability

     2,097,402       2,101,856  
    


 


Total liabilities

     63,960,124       69,923,265  

Minority interest

     1,336,445       1,336,445  

Stockholders’ equity:

                

Common stock

     12,865       12,865  

Preferred stock

     2,216,072       2,216,072  

Additional paid-in capital

     25,800,940       25,800,940  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (15,992,890 )     (15,586,903 )

Retained earnings

     12,887,049       12,723,806  
    


 


       24,924,036       25,166,780  

Less:

                

Due from stockholders

     —         (5,490,329 )

Treasury stock, at cost

     (283,394 )     (283,394 )
    


 


Total stockholders’ equity

     24,640,642       19,393,057  
    


 


Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 89,937,211     $ 90,652,767  
    


 


 

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

 

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RICA FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Income

(Unaudited)

 

    

Three months ended

December 31,


 
     2003

    2002

 

Sales

   $ 33,347,710     $ 35,158,870  

Cost of sales

     23,488,163       23,698,847  
    


 


Gross profit

     9,859,547       11,460,023  

Operating expenses:

                

Selling

     4,653,820       5,057,332  

General and administrative

     3,337,211       3,350,398  
    


 


Total operating expenses

     7,991,031       8,407,730  

Income from operations

     1,868,516       3,052,293  

Other expenses (income):

                

Interest expense

     1,204,601       1,153,303  

Interest income

     (441,648 )     (421,522 )

Foreign exchange loss, net

     848,880       814,318  

Miscellaneous, net

     (46,968 )     (107,894 )
    


 


Other expenses, net

     1,564,865       1,438,205  

Income before income taxes and minority interest

     303,651       1,614,088  

Provision for income tax expense

     97,273       504,161  
    


 


Income before minority interest

     206,378       1,109,927  

Minority interest

     15,290       18,138  
    


 


Net income

     191,088       1,091,789  

Preferred stock dividends

     27,843       36,252  
    


 


Net income applicable to common stockholders

   $ 163,245     $ 1,055,537  
    


 


Basic earnings per share

   $ 0.01     $ 0.08  
    


 


Diluted earnings per share

   $ 0.01     $ 0.08  
    


 


Basic weighted average number of common shares outstanding

     12,811,469       12,811,469  
    


 


Diluted weighted average number of common shares outstanding

     12,811,469       12,811,469  
    


 


 

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

 

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RICA FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the three months ended December 31, 2003 and 2002

(Unaudited)

 

     2003

    2002

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

                

Net income

   $ 191,088     $ 1,091,789  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided (used) by operating activities:

                

Depreciation and amortization

     1,036,193       1,193,273  

Production poultry

     924,747       866,705  

Allowance for inventory obsolescence

     40,831       9,769  

Derivative unrealized loss (gain)

     187,887       (161,638 )

Loss (gain) on sale of productive assets

     34,335       (7,918 )

Deferred income tax

     (46,154 )     84,114  

Provision for doubtful receivables

     71,923       27,649  

Amortization of deferred debt costs

     29,687       50,194  

Minority interest

     15,290       18,138  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

                

Notes and accounts receivable

     3,186,477       (2,394,725 )

Inventories

     (1,525,548 )     487,217  

Prepaid expenses

     239,704       16,113  

Accounts payable

     (5,648,491 )     2,119,374  

Accrued expenses

     (502,547 )     (643,053 )

Long-term receivables-trade

     306,141       157,410  
    


 


Net cash provided (used) by operating activities

     (1,458,437 )     2,914,411  
    


 


Cash flows from investing activities:

                

Short-term investments

     2,469,301       (1,177 )

Long-term investments

     98,928       (18,675 )

Additions to property, plant and equipment

     (1,614,900 )     (682,453 )

Proceeds from sales of productive assets

     58,004       31,021  

Change in other assets

     16,065       (1,139,559 )
    


 


Net cash provided (used) in investing activities

     1,027,398       (1,810,843 )
    


 


Cash flows from financing activities:

                

Preferred stock cash dividends

     (43,133 )     (54,390 )

Short-term financing:

                

New loans

     11,950,879       6,107,133  

Payments

     (14,200,760 )     (3,478,828 )

 

(Continued on next page)

 

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RICA FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the three months ended December 31, 2003 and 2002

(Unaudited)

(Continued)

 

     2003

    2002

 

Long-term financing:

                

New loans

     2,560,416       —    

Payments

     (236,393 )     (1,193,082 )

Due from stockholders and related party

     6,862,191       67,274  
    


 


Net cash provided by financing activities

     6,893,200       1,448,107  
    


 


Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     544,355       361,039  

Increase in cash and cash equivalents

     7,006,516       2,912,714  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     3,343,255       2,728,293  
    


 


Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 10,349,771     $ 5,641,007  
    


 


Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

                

Cash paid during period for:

                

Interest

   $ 1,201,147     $ 796,254  
    


 


Income taxes

   $ —       $ 341,755  
    


 


Supplemental Schedule of non-cash activities:

                

Benefits to Chief Executive Officer

   $ 70,673     $ 67,274  
    


 


 

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

 

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RICA FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

NOTE 1 – GENERAL

 

Management is responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and related information of Rica Foods, Inc. and its subsidiaries: Corporacion Pipasa, S.A. and Subsidiaries (“Pipasa”) and Corporacion As de Oros, S.A. and Subsidiaries (“As de Oros”) (collectively the “Company”) that appear in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Rica Foods, Inc. owns 100% of the outstanding common stock of Pipasa and As de Oros. Management believes that the financial statements fairly reflect the form and substance of transactions and reasonably present the Company’s financial condition and results of operations in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”). The accompanying unaudited consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and, therefore, omit or condense certain footnotes and other information normally included in the financial statements prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP. The accounting policies followed for interim financial reporting are the same as those disclosed in Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003, which are included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K. Management has included in the Company’s financial statements figures that are based on estimates and judgments, which management believes are reasonable under the circumstances. In the opinion of management, all adjustments, consisting only of normal and recurring items, necessary for the fair presentation of the financial information for the interim periods reported have been made. Results for the three months ended December 31, 2003 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the entire fiscal year ending September 30, 2004. The Company maintains a system of internal accounting policies, procedures and controls intended to provide reasonable assurance, at an appropriate cost, that transactions are executed in accordance with management’s authorization and are properly recorded and reported in the financial statements, and that assets are adequately safeguarded.

 

Although management believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading, these unaudited consolidated interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003.

 

NOTE 2 – RECLASSIFICATIONS

 

Certain reclassifications in the statement of cash flows have been made to the prior period to conform to current presentation.

 

NOTE 3 – INVENTORIES AND PRODUCTION POULTRY

 

Inventories consist of the following:

 

    

December 31,

2003


  

September 30,

2003


     (Unaudited)     

Finished products

   $ 2,641,145    $ 4,022,884

In-process

     3,074,904      2,257,042

Live poultry - net

     2,264,515      3,101,915

Materials and supplies-net

     1,800,534      1,653,093

Raw materials

     2,794,332      2,732,675

Other

     27,569      —  

In-transit

     2,090,284      365,210
    

  

     $ 14,693,283    $ 14,132,819
    

  

 

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Table of Contents

RICA FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using the weighted-average method, except for inventories in transit, which are valued at specific cost. Live poultry inventory represents chicks in grow-out stage, breeders and layer hens. Breeder and layer hen costs are accumulated up to the production stage (approximately 20 weeks) and are amortized over the estimated production lives (approximately 65 weeks for breeder and approximately 80 weeks for layer hens) based on a percentage calculated according to the estimated production cycle of the hen, including a residual value. After approximately 43 days, chicks in grow-out stage are transferred to the processing plants. Accumulated costs consist primarily of animal feed and labor costs. Production poultry represents the accumulated amortization of breeder and layer hens in their productive stage.

 

In-transit inventory includes imported raw material that is being transported.

 

NOTE 4 – IMPACT OF RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

 

In November 2002, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 45, “Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others” (“FIN 45”). FIN 45 requires that the guarantor recognize, at the inception of certain guarantees, a liability for the fair value of the obligation undertaken in issuing such guarantee. FIN 45 also requires additional disclosure requirements about the guarantor’s obligations under certain guarantees that it has issued. The initial recognition and measurement provisions of this interpretation are applicable on a prospective basis to guarantees issued or modified after December 31, 2002 and the disclosure requirements are effective for financial statement periods ending after December 15, 2002. The adoption of FIN 45 did not have a material impact on the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.

 

In April 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 149, “Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”. This Statement amends and clarifies financial accounting and reporting for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts (collectively referred to as derivatives) and for hedging activities under SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” This Statement amends Statement 133 for decisions made (1) as part of the Derivatives Implementation Group process that effectively required amendments to Statement 133, (2) in connection with other Board projects dealing with financial instruments, and (3) in connection with implementation issues raised in relation to the application of the definition of a derivative, in particular, the meaning of an initial net investment that is smaller than would be required for other types of contracts that would be expected to have a similar response to changes in market factors, the meaning of underlying, and the characteristics of a derivative that contains financing components. The adoption of this pronouncement did not have a material effect on the financial statements of the Company.

 

In May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150, “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity.” This Statement establishes standards for how an issuer classifies and measures certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity. It requires that an issuer classify a financial instrument that is within its scope as a liability (or an asset in some circumstances). Many of those instruments were previously classified as equity. Some of the provisions of this Statement are consistent with the current definition of liabilities in FASB Concepts Statement No. 6, “Elements of Financial Statements.” The remaining provisions of this Statement are consistent with the Board’s proposal to revise that definition to encompass certain obligations that a reporting entity can or must settle by issuing its own equity shares, depending on the nature of the relationship established between the holder and the issuer. While the Board still plans to revise that definition through an amendment to Concepts No. 6, the Board decided to defer issuing that amendment until it has concluded its deliberations on the next phase of this project. That next phase will deal with certain compound financial instruments including puttable shares, convertible bonds, and dual-indexed financial instruments. The adoption of this pronouncement did not have a material effect on the financial statements of the Company.

 

In January 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities.” Interpretation 46 changes the criteria by which one company includes another entity in its consolidated financial statements. Previously, the criteria were based on control through voting interest. Interpretation 46 requires a variable interest entity to be consolidated by a company if that company is subject to a majority of the risk of loss from the variable interest entity’s activities or entitled to receive a majority of the entity’s residual returns or both.

 

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RICA FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

A company that consolidates a variable interest entity is called the primary beneficiary of that entity. The consolidation requirements of Interpretation 46 apply immediately to variable interest entities created after January 31, 2003. The consolidation requirements apply to older entities in the first fiscal year or interim period beginning after June 15, 2003. Certain of the disclosure requirements apply in all financial statements issued after January 31, 2003, regardless of when the variable interest entity was established. During October 2003, the FASB issued Staff Position No. FIN 46 deferring the effective date for applying the provisions of FIN 46 until the end of the first interim or annual period ending after December 31, 2003, if the variable interest was created prior to February 1, 2003 and the public entity has not issued financial statements reporting such variable interest entity in accordance with FIN 46. On December 24, 2003, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 46 (Revised December 2003), Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, (FIN-46R), primarily to clarify the required accounting for interests in variable interest entities. FIN-46R replaces FIN-46, Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, that was issued in January 2003. FIN-46R exempts certain entities from its requirements and provides for special effective dates for entities that have fully or partially applied FIN-46 as of December 24, 2003. In certain situations, entities have the option of applying or continuing to apply FIN-46 for a short period of time before applying FIN-46R. While FIN-46R modifies or clarifies various provisions of FIN-46, it also incorporates many FASB Staff Positions previously issued by the FASB. The Company does not anticipate that the adoption of this pronouncement will have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

 

In December 2003, the FASB issued a revised SFAS No. 132, “Employers’ Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits” which replaces the previously issued Statement. The revised Statement increases the existing disclosures for defined benefit pension plans and other defined benefit postretirement plans. However, it does not change the measurement or recognition of those plans as required under SFAS No. 87, “Employers’ Accounting for Pensions,” SFAS No. 88, “Employers’ Accounting for Settlements and Curtailments of Defined Benefit Pension Plans and for Termination Benefits,” and SFAS No. 106, “Employers’ Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions.” Specifically, the revised Statement requires companies to provide additional disclosures about pension plan assets, benefit obligations, cash flows, and benefit costs of defined benefit pension plans and other defined benefit postretirement plans. Also, companies are required to provide a breakdown of plan assets by category, such as debt, equity and real estate, and to provide certain expected rates of return and target allocation percentages for these asset categories. The adoption of this pronouncement has no material impact to the Company’s financial statements.

 

NOTE 5 – SEGMENT INFORMATION

 

The following describes the performance by segment (in millions of U.S. dollars):

 

     Three months ended
December 31,


 

Segments


   2003

    2002

 
     (unaudited)     (unaudited)  

Sales, net:

                

Broiler

   $ 14.80     $ 16.07  

Animal feed

     7.74       8.26  

By-products

     3.73       4.72  

Exports

     2.09       1.74  

Quick service

     2.21       2.21  

Other

     2.78       2.16  
    


 


Total net sales

     33.35       35.16  

Income (loss) per segment:

                

Broiler

     2.41       3.95  

Animal feed

     0.97       0.87  

By-products

     0.73       0.80  

Exports

     0.42       0.27  

Quick service

     0.31       0.18  

Other

     0.35       0.33  

Corporate

     (3.33 )     (3.35 )
    


 


Income from operations

   $ 1.86     $ 3.05  

Other expenses (income)

     1.56       1.44  
    


 


Income before income taxes and minority interest

   $ 0.30     $ 1.61  
    


 


 

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RICA FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The Company uses segment profit margin information to analyze segment performance, which is defined as the ratio between the income or loss from operations associated with a segment and the net sales associated with the subject segment. Management operates and organizes the financial information according to the types of products offered to its customers. The Company operates in seven business segments:

 

Broiler Chicken: Poultry is a popular food item in Costa Rica because of its easy preparation, nutritional value and low price when compared to other available meats, according to information provided by the Junta de Fomento Avicola, a Costa Rican governmental institution. Poultry is a generic product, consumed at all social levels and is not defined by geographic markets. The Company’s main brand names for broiler chicken, chicken parts, mixed cuts and chicken breasts are Pipasa(TM) and As de Oros(TM). Polls and consumer information gathered by the Company indicate that the majority of Costa Ricans eat chicken at least one to three times a week. Chicken is sold to institutional customers, schools, hospitals, hotels, supermarkets, restaurants and small grocery stores.

 

Animal Feed: Animal feed is made with imported raw materials, such as corn and soybean meal, along with the unused portions of chicken and other vitamins and minerals. Animal feed is marketed for consumption by cows, pigs, birds, horses, shrimp and domestic pets. The Company’s animal feed products are sold through the Ascan(TM), Aguilar y Solis(TM), Mimados(TM), Kan Kan (TM) and Nutribel(TM) brand names. Customers for the commercial animal feed brands are mainly large wholesalers and high scale breeders. This customer group focuses on quality and price. Products marketed through the Mimados(TM), Dogpro(TM), Kan Kan (TM) and Ascan(TM) brand names are targeted towards veterinarians, pet stores and supermarkets and are sold typically to consumers with medium to higher income levels. The Company is currently the leader in the animal feed market in Costa Rica, with an approximate 30% market share.

 

By-products: By-products include sausages, bologna, chicken nuggets, chicken patties, frankfurters, salami and pate. The Zaragoza (TM) brand name includes chicken, beef and pork by-products. The Company’s chicken by-products are sold through the Kimby(TM), Tiquicia(TM), Chulitas(TM), Zaragoza(TM), Pimpollo (TM) and As de Oros(TM) brand names and are sold to all social and economic levels. These products are sold mainly in supermarkets, and sales are predominantly driven by price. The Kimby(TM) brand name is the leading seller of chicken by-products in Costa Rica.

 

Exports: Subsidiaries of the Company export different products to all countries in Central America and the Dominican Republic and make occasional exports to Hong Kong and Colombia. The Company exports the majority of its products, including broiler chicken, by-products, animal feed and pet foods.

 

Quick Service: Corporacion Planeta Dorado, S.A. and its subsidiary operate 28 restaurants (the “Restaurants”) located in rural and urban areas throughout Costa Rica, including express delivery service in some restaurants. This segment is comprised of quick service restaurants, which offer a diversified menu of chicken meals. The Restaurants distinguish themselves from other quick service chains by offering dishes and using recipes and ingredients that appeal to the taste of consumers in Costa Rica. The quick service restaurant business is highly competitive in Costa Rica, as several other quick service chains operate in Costa Rica.

 

Corporate Segment: Corporate is responsible for the treasury, tax and legal operations of the Company’s businesses and maintains and/or incurs certain assets, liabilities, income, expenses, gains and losses related to the overall management of the Company which are not allocated to the other reportable segments. These items include general and administrative expenses and the Company’s amortization of goodwill. This segment does not generate any revenue for the Company.

 

Other: This segment includes sales of commercial eggs, non-recurring sales of fertile eggs, fertilizers and raw material, among others.

 

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RICA FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

NOTE 6 – COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

 

The components of comprehensive income (loss) are as follows (unaudited):

 

    

Three months ended

December 31,


 
     2003

    2002

 

Net income

   $ 191,088     $ 1,091,789  

Net change in derivative unrealized gain (loss)

     13,350       (19,400 )

Derivative gain (loss) to be recognized in cost of production during the next three months

     —         (124,671 )

Deferred (gain) loss recognized in cost of production during the period

     174,537       (17,567 )

Foreign currency translation adjustment

     (593,873 )     (788,845 )
    


 


Total comprehensive income (loss)

   $ (214,898 )   $ 141,306  
    


 


 

The Company uses futures to purchase corn and soy-bean meal, the primary ingredients in the chicken feed, as a strategy to hedge against price increases in corn and soy-bean meal. The Company’s hedging strategy is set in its annual budget, which determines how much corn and soybean meal the Company will need and the price the Company must pay in order to meet budget forecasts. The Company uses an internal pricing model to prepare sensitivity analyses. The Company is not involved in speculative trading and generally does not hedge anticipated transactions beyond 6 months.

 

The contracts that effectively meet risk reduction criteria are recorded using cash flow hedge accounting. As of September 30, 2003 and 2002, the Company’s outstanding derivatives amounted to $37,275 and $115,028, respectively. As of December 31, 2003 and 2002, the Company’s outstanding derivatives amounted to $23,925 and $132,532, respectively. The Company recognized an ineffective gain of $18,316 for the three months ended December 31, 2003. No ineffectiveness was recognized for the three months ended December, 31, 2002.

 

NOTE 7 – LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

Pipasa was one of two defendants in a lawsuit brought in Costa Rica, pursuant to which the plaintiff in such action was seeking damages in an amount equal to $3.6 million. The other defendant in the litigation was Aero Costa Rica, S.A. (“Aero”), a corporation that, prior to entering into a receivership, was wholly owned by Mr. Chaves, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. Pipasa had been served with prejudgment liens for $1.5 million and, with the approval of the Juzgado Sexto Civil, the court with jurisdiction over the lawsuit, certain parcels of real estate owned by Pipasa had been substituted for such liens (the “Collateral”). This approval was ratified by the Superior Court on November 11, 1999, and all funds initially attached were released and returned to Pipasa. Costa Rican law requires the posting of guarantees by a plaintiff seeking prejudgment liens. A ruling on these objections had been pending. Pipasa had filed several pleadings in opposition to the underlying lawsuit; a ruling on these pleadings also had been pending.

 

In connection with this pending lawsuit, the plaintiff also brought suit against Pipasa in the State of California and the State of Florida. The California lawsuit was dismissed without prejudice.

 

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RICA FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

In Response to plaintiff’s amended complaint filed in Miami-Dade County Circuit Court on May 7, 1999, Pipasa, on July 19, 1999, filed a motion to dismiss for lack of personal jurisdiction. The motion was denied on March 31, 2003. Pipasa had appealed the denial to Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal. No decision on Pipasa’s appeal has been made. Pipasa had also moved in the Circuit Court for a stay of the Circuit Court case pending appeal. The Circuit Court had taken the stay request under advisement.

 

A separate lawsuit against Pipasa, filed by the same plaintiff in the North District of California and styled Polaris Holding Company v. Corporacion Pipasa, S.A., No. C 99-2160 CRB (N.D. Calif.), was dismissed, without prejudice for the plaintiff to refile the action after resolution of the Florida action as well as a similar action, brought by the same plaintiff against Pipasa, that is pending in Costa Rica.

 

On December 29, 2003, Pipasa entered into a settlement agreement (the “Settlement Agreement”) with Polaris pursuant to which Mr. Chaves will provide Polaris with a one-time payment in the amount of $1,950,000 (the “Settlement Amount”) in exchange for Polaris’ agreement to dismiss any and all litigation instituted against Pipasa and release any and all claims which they have or may have against Pipasa in connection with the litigation, except for any claim that may arise in connection with the Indemnification Obligation (as defined below). In addition, Polaris has agreed to release its security interest in the Collateral, which is currently valued at approximately $5 million. Mr. Chaves has entered into an agreement with the Company pursuant to which he has acknowledged and agreed that his payment of the Settlement Amount is neither an equity investment in the Company nor a loan to the Company.

 

Pipasa has attempted to secure the participation of Aero in the settlement but Aero has been relatively unresponsive. As of the date of the Settlement Agreement, Aero had not yet agreed to participate in the settlement.

 

Because Aero has not agreed to participate in the settlement, as a condition of the Settlement Agreement, Pipasa agreed to enter into an indemnification agreement with Polaris pursuant to which Pipasa has agreed to indemnify Polaris in the event that Aero initiates any claims against Polaris (the “Indemnification Obligation”). The parties have filed the definitive settlement documents with the courts of Costa Rica, however, the definitive settlement documents have yet to be filed with the state of Florida. However, the receiver of Aero has filed an appeal with the Costa Rican court seeking Aero’s direct participation in the settlement. The Aero receiver’s appeal was denied by the court on February 5, 2004. However, pursuant to Costa Rican law, the Aero receiver has three days after served with notice of the court’s denial of its appeal to file comments to such denial. As of the date of this report, the Aero receiver has yet to be served with notice of the appeal denial.

 

From October 2003 to November 2003, Citibank (Costa Rica), S.A. (“Citibank”) filed a number of lawsuits against the Company in various local Costa Rican courts seeking repayment of approximately $6.2 million of outstanding indebtedness extended by Citibank to the Company pursuant to 18 letters of credit (the “Citibank Indebtedness”). The Company had filed preliminary defenses and appeals to the lawsuits alleging a variety of procedural and substantive defenses. No rulings had been made with respect to any of Citibank’s claims or the Company’s appeals and the Costa Rican courts had yet to schedule any hearings with regards to the dispute between Citibank and the Company.

 

In October 2003 and January 2004, the Company made payments to Citibank of approximately $900,000 and $5.3 million, respectively and accordingly, as of January 15, 2004, the Company has repaid all but approximately $400,000 of the Citibank Indebtedness (the “Citibank Repayment”). On January 15, 2004, the Company entered into a settlement agreement with Citibank pursuant to which Citibank has agreed dismiss any and all litigation instituted against the Company in exchange for the Citibank Repayment. The Company and Citibank has agreed that the Company will continue to make payments on the $400,000 of long-term indebtedness still outstanding. The parties have filed definitive settlement documents with the courts of Costa Rica and the legal actions have been voluntarily dismissed.

 

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RICA FOODS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

To repay Citibank, the Company used funds it received upon the repayment in full of loans owed to the Company by Calixto Chaves, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. The Company was not required to pay a prepayment penalty to Citibank.

 

Except for the legal proceedings discussed above, no legal proceedings of a material nature, to which the Company or the subsidiaries are a party, exist or were pending as of the date of this report. Except for the legal proceedings disclosed above, the Company knows of no other legal proceedings of a material nature pending or threatened or judgments entered against any director or officer of the Company in his capacity as such.

 

The Company is involved in various other claims and legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of the Company’s management, the ultimate disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

 

NOTE 8 – DUE TO STOCKHOLDERS

 

Since the Company’s inception in 1969 and since 1991, Mr. Chaves and Mr. Quesada, respectively, have personally guaranteed (the ‘Guarantee Services”) the repayment of the various notes, loans and credit facilities of the Company and its various operating subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2003, Mr. Chaves and Mr. Quesada provided Guarantee Services with respect to bank lines with a maximum principal balance of $25.2 million and $10.8 million, respectively. Mr. Quesada has not had in the past, nor does he currently have an obligation to provide Guarantee Services to the Company in the future.

 

From January 2002 until December 2003, the Company agreed to compensate Mr. Chaves for the guarantee services described above in an amount equal to 1% per annum of the aggregate loan amount subject to his personal guarantee (the “Financial Service Fee”). In satisfaction of the Financial Service Fee, the Company would, as of the end of each fiscal quarter, make a quarterly payment to Mr. Chaves in an amount equal to .25% of the daily average aggregate loan balance subject to the personal guarantees (the “Quarterly Payment”). If, as of the end of a fiscal quarter, Mr. Chaves was indebted to the Company, Mr. Chaves had the option to either, (i) direct the Company to use the quarterly payment to off-set the amount he owed the Company or (ii) receive the Quarterly Payment in cash. Mr. Quesada does not receive, nor has he ever received, any compensation for providing the guarantee services described above.

 

For the three months ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, the Company has incurred a Financial Service Fee to Mr. Chaves in the amount of $70,673 and $67,274, respectively, which amount was used to offset indebtedness owed by Mr. Chaves to the Company.

 

On December 22, 2003, Mr. Chaves sold all of his shares of the Company’s common stock to Avicola Campesinos, Inc. In connection with such sale, Mr. Chaves entered into an agreement with the Company whereby he has agreed to indemnify the Company from and against any losses or damages caused by his failure within the next year to provide, if requested, his personal guarantee with respect to any loan which he has previously guaranteed and the Company is seeking to defer repayment of. There can be no assurances that Mr. Chaves’ future guarantees will be sought by the Company’s lenders and, if sought, will be procured. Effective December 31, 2003, the Company, with Mr. Chaves agreement, decided to discontinue its practice of compensating Mr. Chaves for the Guarantee Services.

 

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

 

General

 

Management is responsible for preparing the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related information that appears in this Form 10-Q. Management believes that the consolidated financial statements fairly reflect the form and substance of transactions and reasonably present the Company’s consolidated financial condition and results of operations in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). Management has included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements amounts that are based on estimates and judgments, which it believes are reasonable under the circumstances. The Company maintains a system of internal accounting policies, procedures and controls intended to provide reasonable assurance, at the appropriate cost, that transactions are executed in accordance with the Company’s authorization and are properly recorded and reported in the consolidated financial statements, and that assets are adequately safeguarded.

 

The Company’s operations are primarily conducted through its 100% owned subsidiaries: Pipasa and As de Oros and their respective subsidiaries. The Company, through its subsidiaries, is the largest poultry company in Costa Rica. As de Oros also owns and operates a chain of quick service restaurants in Costa Rica called “Restaurantes As” and “Kokoroko”.

 

The following discussion addresses the financial condition and results of operations of the Company. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003 and with the Company’s unaudited consolidated interim financial statements as of December 31, 2003 and for the three month period ended December 31, 2003 and 2002 contained herein.

 

Results for any interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for any full year.

 

Seasonality

 

The Company has historically experienced and has come to expect seasonal fluctuations in net sales and results of operations. The Company has generally experienced higher sales and operating results in the months from October to January, which fall in the first and second quarters of each fiscal year. This variation is primarily due to holiday celebrations that occur during these periods in which Costa Ricans prepare traditional meals that include dishes with chicken as the main ingredient. The Company expects this seasonal trend to continue for the foreseeable future.

 

Environmental compliance

 

At the present time, the Company is not subject to any significant costs for compliance with any environmental laws in any jurisdiction in which it operates. However, in the future, the Company could become subject to significant costs to comply with new environmental laws or environmental regulations in jurisdictions in which it conducts business. At the present time, the Company cannot assess the potential impact of any such potential environmental regulations.

 

During the three months ended December 31, 2003, the Company did not incur any significant costs related to environmental compliance.

 

Results of operations for the three months ended December 31, 2003 compared to the three months ended December 31, 2002.

 

For the three months ended December 31, 2003, the Company generated net income applicable to common stockholders of $163,245 ($0.01 basic earnings per share), compared to a net income applicable to common stockholders of $1,055,537 ($0.08 basic earnings per share) for the three months ended December 31, 2002.

 

For the three months ended December 31, 2003, net sales and cost of sales decreased by 5.15% and 0.89%, respectively. The decrease in sales and the decrease in cost of sales is primarily attributable to decreases in sales in the broiler, animal feed and by-products segment, which was partially offset by an increase in sales in the export segment. However, cost of sales was a greater percentage of sales for the quarter ended December 31, 2003 (70%)

 

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as compared to the quarter ended December 31, 2002 (67%) primarily due to increases in the costs of imported raw material, such as corn and soybean meal.

 

The Company uses segment profit margin information to analyze segment performance, which is defined as the ratio between the income or loss from operations associated with a segment and the net sales associated with the subject segment.

 

Broiler sales decreased by 7.9% for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2003 when compared with the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2002, primarily due to a decrease in volume of 5.0%. The Company believes that the decrease in volume is mainly due to an increase in domestic competition. The profit margin for this segment decreased from 24.6% to 16.3%, primarily due to an increase in the cost of imported raw material.

 

Animal feed sales decreased by 6.3% for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2003 when compared with the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2002, mainly due to a decrease in volume of 9.0%. The Company believes the decrease in volume is mainly attributable to a decrease in the sales of pig feed. The decrease has been partially offset by an increase in the sales of pet food brands, mainly due to the addition of new distribution channels. The profit margin for animal feed increased from 10.5% to 12.5%, primarily as a result of variations in the sales mix to more profitable products, which has been partially offset by an increase in the costs of imported raw material.

 

By-products sales decreased by 21.0% for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2003 when compared with the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2002, mainly due to a decrease in volume of 26.1%. The Company believes the decrease in volume is primarily attributable to an increase in domestic competition and the loss by the Company of some of its by-products customers. The profit margin for by-products increased from 17.0% to 19.6%, mainly due to an increase in sales prices, partially offset by the increase in costs of imported raw material.

 

Export sales increased by 20.0% for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2003 when compared with the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2002, mainly due to an increase in the number of fertile egg and pet food customers in Central America. In addition, in November 2003, the government of Honduras lifted its restriction on the import of poultry-related products which had been in place since March 2002 and the Company has once again initiated exporting poultry-related products to Honduras. Profit margin increased from 15.5% to 20.1%, mainly due to a variation in the product mix to more profitable products.

 

Quick service sales did not vary significantly for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2003 when compared with the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2002. This segment’s profit margin increased from 8.1% to 14.0%, mainly as a result of an increase in the sales price for quick-service products.

 

Sales for the other products segment increased by 28.7% for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2003 when compared with the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2002, mainly due to an increase in the sale of commercial eggs. This segment’s profit margin decreased 15.3% to 12.6%, mainly due to an increase in the costs of raw material.

 

Operating expenses decreased by 5.0% for the three months ended December 31, 2003 when compared to the three months ended December 31, 2002.

 

For the three months ended December 31, 2003, selling expenses decreased by $403,512, or 7.98% when compared to the three months ended December 31, 2002. This decrease in selling expenses is mainly due to a reduction in the Company’s vehicle leasing expenditures as a result of the Company’s purchase of distribution trucks and a decrease in expenditures related to the renting of frozen storage containers as a result of a decrease in the Company’s broiler inventory levels. For the three months ended December 31, 2003, general and administrative expenses did not vary significantly, decreasing by $13,187 or 0.4%, when compared to the three months ended December 31, 2002. Operating expenses represented 23.96% and 23.91% of net sales for the three months ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

 

Other expenses increased by 8.8% for the three months ended December 31, 2003, when compared to the three months ended December 31, 2002, primarily as a result of an increase in interest expense and foreign exchange loss mainly attributable to an increase in the Company’s average indebtedness.

 

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The Company’s provision for income tax expense was $97,273 for the three months ended December 31, 2003, compared to $504,161 for the three months ended December 31, 2002. The decrease is mainly due to a decrease in taxable income. Effective rates for fiscal years 2003 and 2002 were 31.2% and 32.0%, respectively.

 

Financial condition

 

As of December 31, 2003, the Company had approximately $10.3 million in cash and cash equivalents. The working capital deficit was approximately $13.9 million and approximately $21.0 million as of December 31, 2003 and September 30, 2003, respectively. The current ratios were 0.74 and 0.66 as of December 31, 2003 and September 30, 2003, respectively.

 

Cash used by operating activities for the three months ended December 31, 2003 amounted to approximately $1.5 million compared to cash provided by operating activities of approximately $2.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2002. This increase in cash used by operating activities is primarily the result of a reduction in net income ($900,700), the reversal of the rate of account payable growth to account payable reduction ($7.8 million), and an increase in the rate of cash used for inventories ($ 2.0 million). The reduction in accounts payable was primarily the result of targeted efforts by management of the Company to reduce the Company’s short-term liabilities as a result of the Company’s improved working capital position. The increase in cash used by operating activities was partially offset by a decrease in the rate of satisfying notes and account receivable ($5.6 million), an increase in accrued expenses ($140,500) and an increase in prepaid expenses ($223,600).

 

Cash provided by investing activities was approximately $1.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2003, compared to approximately $1.8 million of cash utilized for the three months ended December 31, 2002. The Company’s lower utilization of cash for investing activities was primarily due to a decrease in the cash utilized for short-tem investments ($2.5 million), a decrease in the cash utilized for long-term investments ($117,603) and a decrease in the rate of other assets acquired ($1.2 million). The decrease in the utilization of cash was tempered by increased rates of spending for property, plant and equipment ($932,447), primarily relating to the Company’s purchase of production equipment and a delivery vehicle fleet.

 

In the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003, the Company invested approximately $1.4 million in connection with the potential acquisition from Port Ventures, S.A. (“Port Ventures”), of 51% of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of Logistica de Granos, S.A (“Logistica”), a 19% shareholder of Sociedad Portuaria de Caldera, S.A. and Sociedad Portuaria Granelera de Caldera, S.A. (collectively, the “Port Companies”), two port companies that are seeking to acquire concessions (the “Concessions”) being granted by the Government of Costa Rica to refurbish and operate Puerto Caldera, a major seaport located on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica and considered by the Company as strategic to its raw material purchases. If and when the acquisition is consummated, the Company anticipates making an additional investment of approximately $1.1 million.

 

The Company believes it will need at a minimum funds of approximately $3.5 million for investment activities during the remainder of fiscal year 2004, which figure includes the Company’s remaining projected investment of $1.1 million in Logistica.

 

Cash provided by financing activities amounted to approximately $6.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2003, compared to cash provided by financing activities of approximately $1.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2002. The cash provided by financing activities was primarily generated by short-term financings ($11.9 million) and the repayment by Calixto Chaves, the Chief Executive Officer, of his aggregate outstanding indebtedness to the Company ($6.6 million). These funds were principally used to refinance other short-term financings ($14.2 million) and to fund the Company’s operations.

 

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Debt Utilization

 

The Company’s obligations under short-term and long-term debt and operating leases as of December 31, 2003 are as follows:

 

     Payments due by Period

     Total

   Less than 1 Year

   1-3 years

   4-5 years

Short-term debt

   $ 34,605,354    $ 34,605,354      —        —  

Long-term debt

     12,884,680      5,339,279      5,838,898      1,706,503

Leases

     510,010      375,441      134,569      —  
    

  

  

  

Total

   $ 48,000,044    $ 40,320,074    $ 5,973,467    $ 1,706,503
    

  

  

  

 

The Company projects that it will need to satisfy at least $40.3 million of short-term debt, long-term debt and capital lease payments within the next twelve months ended December 31, 2004. The Company also projects that it will seek to acquire the use of an additional $3.5 million of property, plant and equipment and other assets during the remainder of fiscal 2004. The use of such assets may be secured by purchase or lease.

 

Debt Restructure

 

In September 2003, the Company entered into a trust agreement (the “Trust Agreement”) pursuant to which it restructured its debt obligations with respect to $36.3 million in principal amount of indebtedness. Ten of the Company’s lenders were signatories to the Trust Agreement (the “Participating Lenders”) and, as of September 2003, the Company owed an aggregate of $36.3 million to the Participating Lenders. The Company contributed or pledged substantially all of the assets of the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries (the “Subsidiaries”) to a trust (the “Trust”), which, as of December 31, 2003 secured the Subsidiaries’ obligations with respect to an aggregate of $34.8 million of indebtedness owed to the Participating Lenders.

 

In consideration for the establishment of the Trust, the Participating Lenders have agreed to waive any and all defaults, excluding defaults resulting from the failure to pay interest as due, that the Subsidiaries have committed or may commit prior to March 22, 2004 (the “Amnesty Period”) with respect to outstanding indebtedness owed to the Participating Lenders. Accordingly, the Subsidiaries have been relieved of any obligation to make principal payments to the Participating Lenders until the end of the Amnesty Period. The Subsidiaries are still required to pay interest to the Participating Lenders in accordance with the terms of an agreed upon schedule. After the end of the Amnesty Period, the Subsidiaries are required to resume the payment of principal.

 

In order to fund the Trust, the Subsidiaries have transferred or pledged substantially all of their real and personal assets to the Trust (the “Trust Assets”). Under the terms of the trust agreement, the appraised value of the Trust Assets, which are being appraised under the supervision of the Trustee, must, at all times, be equal to or greater than 143% of the aggregate amount of the indebtedness secured by the Trust. The Participating Lenders have the right to designate experts to validate the appraised valuations. The Trust Agreement provides that, subject to the Trustee’s approval, additional Participating Lenders may execute and become subject to the terms of the Trust Agreement if the value of the Trust Assets continues to be equal to or greater than 143% of the aggregate amount of the indebtedness secured by the Trust. In addition, with the Trustee’s approval, the Participating Lenders may secure additional debt that it extends to the Company with the Trust provided that the value of the Trust Assets continues to be equal to or greater than 143% of the aggregate amount of the indebtedness secured by the Trust.

 

The Company believes the Trust Assets will have an appraised value sufficient to collateralize the indebtedness of the Participating Lenders in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement. As of the date of this report, all the appraisals have already been completed. Based on information provided to the Company by the independent appraiser, the appraised value of the assets which have been appraised equals approximately $81 million, which valued at 70%, according to the Trust, equals approximately $57.3 million. Accordingly, the Company believes that the final appraised value of the Trust Assets may be sufficient to collateralize additional loans in accordance with the terms of the Trust Agreement.

 

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If the Subsidiaries, among other things, fail to make any principal or interest payment to any of the Participating Lenders when due or become insolvent, the Subsidiaries will be in breach of the Trust Agreement (a “Breach”). In the event the Trustee notifies the Subsidiaries of a Breach, the Subsidiaries will have fifteen days to cure such Breach (the “Cure Period”). If the Breach is not cured within the Cure Period, the Trustee must sell all of the Trust Assets and use the proceeds of such sale to repay to the Participating Lenders all outstanding indebtedness due and owed to them by the Subsidiaries. Any proceeds remaining after repayment is made in full to all of the Participating Lenders will be returned to the Subsidiaries. The Trust will terminate in accordance with its terms in the event of such a sale.

 

The Trust is governed by a Trust Agreement governed by the laws of Costa Rica. The Trust has a stated term of ten years but may terminate earlier in the event that all of the outstanding indebtedness owed to the Participating Lenders is repaid.

 

Certain of the Company’s other existing creditor banks (the “Non-Participating Lenders”) are not signatories to the Trust Agreement. As of December 31, 2003, the Company has borrowed from the Non-Participating Lenders an aggregate of approximately $12.4 million. Three of the Non-Participating Lenders with an aggregate indebtedness amounting to $3.2 million are collateralized with property with an estimated fair market value of $4.9 million.

 

Short-term debt

 

As of December 31, 2003 and September 30, 2003, the Company had issued short-term promissory notes with respect to an aggregate of approximately $34.6 million and $36.5 million, respectively, to 10 lenders. These notes payable consist of the following:

 

    

December 31,

2003


   

September 30,

2003


 

Loans payable in U.S. Dollars

   $ 34,223,379     $ 36,436,852  

Loans payable in Colones

     401,535       140,652  

Less deferred debt issuance costs

     (19,560 )     (30,266 )
    


 


     $ 34,605,354     $ 36,547,238  
    


 


 

The Company’s notes payable primarily originate from lines of credit and bank commitments and are mainly utilized to support operations of the Company. As of December 31, 2003 and September 30, 2003, $26.3 million and $30.2 million of the notes payable were secured by the Trust. Notes payable are generally due from January 2004 through December 2004 and bear annual interest rates ranging from 5.5% to 9.50% in U.S. dollars and from 16.73% to 24.0% in colones.

 

Of the $34.6 million of short-term debt outstanding as of December 31, 31, 2003, approximately $15.6 million of such short-term debt is payable to Banco Internacional de Costa Rica (“BICSA”), a Panamanian financial institution pursuant to twelve letters of credit. The interest rate at which the funds borrowed from BICSA pursuant to the letters of credit bear interest ranges from 5.5% to 9.5% in U.S. dollars. The letters of credit mature between March 2004 and June 2004. As of December 31, 2003 the aggregate amount if indebtedness owed to BICSA was secured by the Trust.

 

Of the $34.6 million of short-term debt outstanding as of December 31, 2003, approximately $3.9 million of such debt is payable to Transamerica Bank (“Transamerica”) pursuant to 5 letters of credit and/or promissory notes. The interest rate at which the funds borrowed from Transamerica pursuant to the letters of credit and/or promissory notes bear interest ranges from 7.75% to 8.25% in U.S. dollars. The letters of credit and/or promissory notes mature in March 2004.

 

As of December 31, 2003, the Company had also borrowed approximately $2.6 million of long-term debt from Transamerica pursuant to five letters of credit maturing between February 2004 and October 2008. As of December 30, 2003 the aggregate $6.5 million of indebtedness owed to Transamerica was secured by the Trust.

 

Of the $34.6 million of short-term debt outstanding as of December 31, 2003, approximately $4.6 million of such debt was payable to Citibank pursuant to 13 letters of credit and/or promissory notes. The interest rates at which the

 

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funds borrowed from Citibank pursuant to the letters of credit and/or promissory notes, bear interest that range from 5.75% to 6.25% in U.S. Dollars. The letters of credit and/or promissory notes matured between June 2003 and December 2003. As indicated above, as of January 15, 2004, the Company repaid all but $400,000 of the Citibank Indebtedness, including the $4.6 million of short-term debt, accumulated current interest, accumulated penalty interest charges, legal fees and a bank overdraft of $312,000. The Company made the Citibank Repayment with funds it received upon the repayment in full of indebtedness owed to the Company by Calixto Chaves, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. The Company was not required to pay a prepayment penalty to Citibank. See Note 7 “Legal Proceedings” for further discussion.

 

As of December 31, 2003, the Company had outstanding indebtedness to Citibank of approximately $400,000 of long-term debt pursuant to three letters of credit which bear interest rates that range from 1.81% to 2.02% in U.S. Dollars. The Company and Citibank agreed that the $400,000 of indebtedness would remain outstanding. The Company is currently in compliance with all terms of these loans. The letters of credit and/or promissory notes mature between June 2004 and November 2005. Citibank is not, nor ever was a signatory of the Trust, and the remaining amount of long-term indebtedness is unsecured.

 

Long-term debt

 

As of December 31, 2003 and September 30, 2003, the Company has incurred long-term debt in the aggregate amount of approximately $12.5 million to eleven lenders. Long-term debt consists of the following:

 

    

December 31,

2003


   

September 30,

2003


 

Bank loans denominated in U.S. dollars

   $ 12,701,439     $ 10,560,639  

Bank loans denominated in Costa Rican colones

     227,037       188,443  

Less: Deferred debt issuance costs

     (43,796 )     (42,597 )
    


 


       12,884,680       10,706,485  

Less: Current portion

     5,339,279       3,978,580  
    


 


     $ 7,545,401     $ 6,727,905  
    


 


 

Bank loans are due from January 2004 to October 2008 and bear annual interest rates in dollars from 2.57% and 10.50% in dollars and 24.0% in colones. The Company defers debt issuance costs and then amortizes such costs over the term of the debt.

 

Future payments on long-term debt as of December 31, 2003 are as follows:

 

Year


   Amount

2004

   $ 5,339,279

2005

     3,167,067

2006

     2,303,457

2007

     1,443,080

2008

     631,797
    

Total

   $ 12,884,680

 

$8.5 million of the long-term indebtedness is secured by the Trust and approximately $2.5 million of the long-term indebtedness owed to Non-Participating Lenders is secured by other collateral provided by the Company with an estimated fair market value of $4.0 million.

 

Although the Company has entered into the Trust Agreement, the Amnesty Period is scheduled to expire on March 22, 2004 and the Company has not yet secured an alternative long-term financing source that would insulate it from the risks associated with the inability to satisfy its obligations as they come due or the loss of one of its relatively short-term financing sources. The Company is seeking to address its anticipated short-term funding requirements by various means including, but not limited to, entering into negotiations with the Participating Lenders to extend the maturity date on the short-term indebtedness owed to such Participating Lenders. As discussed above, the appraised

 

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value of the Trust Assets must, at all times, be equal to or greater than 143% of the aggregate amount of indebtedness secured by the Trust. The Trust Agreement provides that, subject to the Trustee’s approval, additional Participating Lenders may execute and become subject to the terms of the Trust Agreement and the Participating Lenders may secure additional debt that it extends to the Company provided the value of the Trust Assets continues to be equal to or greater than 143% of the aggregate amount of indebtedness secured by the Trust. Currently, the Trust Assets have an appraised value of approximately $81 million, based upon information provided to the Company by the independent appraiser. The Trustee, Participating Lenders and the Company, have not yet completed the process of reviewing the appraised value of the Trust Assets. In addition, the Company is seeking to secure long-term financing through the private or public issuance of debt instruments. Although the Company has entered into discussions with a number of potential capital sources, there can be no assurances that the Company will be successful in its efforts to secure long-term financing on terms acceptable to the Company. The Company’s ability to maintain sufficient liquidity to meet its short-term cash needs is highly dependent on achieving these initiatives. There is no assurance that these initiatives will be successful, and failure to successfully complete these initiatives could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s liquidity and operations, and could require the Company to consider alternative measures, including, but not limited to, the deferral of planned capital expenditures and the further reduction of discretionary spending.

 

As a general practice in Costa Rica, banks require high-ranking executives of the companies to serve as guarantors of loans. Accordingly, Mr. Calixto Chaves and/or Mr. Jorge Quesada personally guaranteed (the “Guarantee Services”) the repayment of certain lines of credit, and certain short and long-term bank lines. As of December 31, 2003, Mr. Chaves and Mr. Quesada had provided Guarantee Services with respect to bank lines with a maximum principal balance of $25.2 million and $10.8 million, respectively. Mr. Quesada has not had in the past, nor does he currently have an obligation to provide Guarantee Services to the Company in the future. On December 22, 2003, Mr. Chaves sold all of his shares of the Company’s common stock. In connection with such sale, Mr. Chaves entered into an agreement with the Company whereby he has agreed to indemnify the Company from and against any losses or damages caused by his failure within the next year to provide, if requested, his personal guarantee with respect to any loan which he has previously guaranteed and the Company is seeking to defer repayment of. There can be no assurances that Mr. Chaves’ future guarantees will be sought by the Company’s lenders and, if sought, will be procured.

 

Potential Acquisitions

 

The Company is continuing to explore the acquisition of majority of the outstanding common stock of Industrias Avicolas Integradas, S.A. (“Indavinsa”) and Avicola Core Etuba Ltda. (“Core”), both engaged in the production and distribution of poultry. The Company would acquire the majority of the outstanding stock of Core from the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. The Company is closely evaluating the performance of these companies to determine if, when and how the Company should integrate its business with the acquisition targets, and has postponed indefinitely investments in these two companies.

 

On February 20, 2003, Port Ventures, S.A. (“Port Ventures”) and As de Oros entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement pursuant to which As de Oros agreed to acquire from Port Ventures 2,040 shares of common stock (the “Shares”) of Logistica de Granos, S.A., representing 51% of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of Logistica, for a purchase price of US $2,580,000. During fiscal year 2003, As de Oros remitted approximately 55% of the Purchase Price to Port Ventures (the “Remitted Payment”) in exchange for bills of exchange, recorded as part of other assets on the Company’s balance sheet. The closing of the purchase and sale of the Shares is subject to: (i) the final grant by the Government of Costa Rica of the Concessions and (ii) the execution of definitive agreements between the Government of Costa Rica and each of the Port Companies regarding the construction and operation of Puerto Caldera. Port Ventures has agreed for As de Oros not need to make any further payments until the Concessions are finally ratified. The Company expects to close this transaction during the 2004 fiscal year, when the definitive approval of the Government of Costa Rica is expected to be obtained.

 

As with any business acquisition, there can be no assurance that the Company will close these acquisitions and there can be no assurance that these acquisition efforts will prove to be beneficial to the Company even if the Company’s Board of Directors, Audit Committee and management team believe the Company should pursue a development or acquisition opportunity and successfully negotiate the contracts critical to such venture. The Company will continue to evaluate financial performance and giving the necessary collaboration in order to obtain the necessary judging elements to arrive to a definite decision.

 

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Critical Accounting Policies

 

The consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which require the Company to make estimates and assumptions. The Company believes that of its significant accounting policies, the following may involve a higher degree of judgment and complexity.

 

Impairment of long-lived assets and goodwill: The Company assesses long-lived assets for impairment whenever events and circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable from the estimated future cash flows expected to result from its use and eventual disposition. If impairment indicators are present, the Company must measure the fair value of the assets in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 144 “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-lived Assets” to determine if adjustments are to be recorded. Management must make assumptions regarding estimated future cash flows and other factors to determine the fair value of the respective asset.

 

Contingent liabilities: We account for contingencies in accordance with SFAS No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies” which requires that we record an estimated loss from a loss contingency when information available prior to issuance of our financial statements indicates that it is probable that a liability has been incurred at the date of the financial statements and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Management’s judgment is based on a review of all cases brought against it in collaboration with the Company’s internal and external legal counsel to determine the amount of any claims and the likelihood that such claims will be successful. Accounting for contingencies such as environmental and legal matters requires us to use our judgment. The outcome of some of these cases and the monetary or other awards can be very difficult to estimate, so that an error in the estimate can have very significant, but unpredictable effects on the Company.

 

Provision for severance pay: At the present time, labor laws in Costa Rica require all companies to make a severance payment under certain conditions. This law requires all companies in Costa Rica to make a payment equivalent to 5.6% of an employee’s yearly gross salary for every year of employment up to 8 years of labor, as part of a severance payment upon the termination of an employee. This benefit is payable after the employee’s death, retirement, or termination without cause. An employee who resigns voluntarily or is terminated for cause forfeits his right to any severance benefit. Since 1991, the Company has waived the 8-year limit dictated by the labor law, and pays severance based on years of service. The Company is also required by Costa Rican law to deposit an additional 3% of each employee’s yearly gross salary into a pension fund. The Company deposits every month 5.33% of each employee gross salary, of which 1.33% is paid every February of each year, and the remaining 4% deposited in ASERICA is paid upon termination. Amounts paid or transferred to ASERICA may not completely cover the severance payment at the time the employee leaves, since the severance payment calculation is based on the average of the last 6 months’ salary. Any remaining amount owed by the Company must be settled when the employee is terminated. The Company must assess the adequacy of the provisioned amount, which is estimated using historical experience and other critical factors. The assumptions used to arrive at provisioned amounts are reviewed regularly by management. However, actual expenses could differ from these estimates and could result in adjustments to be recognized.

 

Income taxes: The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes”. Under SFAS No. 109, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement-carrying amount of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. SFAS No. 109 also requires that deferred tax assets be reduced by a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. In assessing a valuation allowance for a deferred tax asset, the Company estimates future taxable income and provides a valuation allowance when it is more likely than not to be recovered. Future taxable income could be materially different than amounts estimated, in which case the valuation allowance would need to be adjusted.

 

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

 

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Inventory: Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market and their cost is determined using the weighted-average method, except for inventories in transit, which are valued at specific cost. The costs associated with breeder hens during their growth period are capitalized as inventories until they reach their production stage, which is approximately 20 weeks after they hatch. Capitalized costs are amortized over the productive life of the hens based on a percentage calculated according to the estimated production cycle of the hen. The productive life of hens is estimated based on historical data. Finished products, raw materials and other supplies are regularly evaluated to determine that market conditions are correctly reflected in their recorded carrying value. An inventory obsolescence provision is provided based upon conditions such as aged products, low turnover, or damaged or obsolete products.

 

Property, plant and equipment: Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. Property plant and equipment acquired through purchase method accounting reflect market value at the date of acquisition. Management must evaluate whether improvements to property, plant and equipment that extend their useful lives are capitalized or expensed. The Company uses the straight-line method over the estimated useful live. Useful lives assigned to depreciable assets are based on guidelines used for manufacturing companies. The Company has reviewed these guidelines and has deemed them appropriate based on assessments made by engineers and past experience

 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS RELEVANT TO FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF SAFE HARBOR PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995.

 

The Company and its representatives may, from time to time, make written or oral forward-looking statements with respect to their current views and estimates of future economic circumstances, industry conditions, company performance and financial results. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties, which could cause the Company’s actual results and experiences to differ materially from the anticipated results and expectations, expressed in such forward-looking statements. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Among the factors that may affect the operating results of the Company are the following: (i) fluctuations in the cost and availability of raw materials, such as feed grain costs in relation to historical levels; (ii) market conditions for finished products, including the supply and pricing of alternative proteins which may impact the Company’s pricing power; (iii) risks associated with leverage, including cost increases attributable to rising interest rates; (iv) changes in regulations and laws, including changes in accounting standards, environmental laws, occupational and labor laws, health and safety regulations, and currency fluctuations; and (v) the effect of, or changes in, general economic conditions.

 

This management discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations of the Company may include certain forward-looking statements, within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including, without limitation, statements with respect to anticipated future operations and financial performance, growth and acquisition opportunity and other similar forecasts and statements of expectation. Words such as expects, anticipates, intends, plans, believes, seeks, estimates, should and variations of those words and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements made by the Company and its management are based on estimates, projections, beliefs and assumptions of management at the time of such statements and are not guarantees of future performance. The Company disclaims any obligations to update or review any forward-looking statements based on the occurrence of future events, the receipt of new information or otherwise.

 

Actual future performance outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements made by the Company and its management as a result of a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Representative examples of these factors include, without limitation, general industrial and economic conditions; cost of capital and capital requirements; shifts in customer demands; changes in the continued availability of financial amounts and the terms necessary to support the Company’s future business.

 

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

General

 

Market risks relating to the Company’s operations result primarily from changes in currency exchange rates, interest rates and commodity prices. The sections below describe the Company’s exposure to interest rates, foreign exchange rates and commodities prices. The sensitivity analyses presented below are illustrative and should not be viewed as

 

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predictive of future financial performance. Additionally, the Company cannot assure that the Company’s and/or its subsidiaries’ actual results in any particular year will not differ from the amounts indicated below.

 

Foreign Exchange Risk

 

The subsidiaries of the Company operate in Costa Rica and are exposed to market risk from changes in U.S. currency exchange rates. Foreign exchange risk derives from the fact that the Company makes its payments in U.S. dollars for the majority of its imported raw materials and bank facilities, and its revenues are mostly denominated in colones. The Company does not currently maintain a trading portfolio and does not utilize derivative financial instruments to manage such risks. To mitigate its exposure to variations in devaluations, the Company periodically increases sales prices of some of its products during the year, varies the product mix to those with higher profit and seeks efficiencies in its costs. In addition, the company seeks to increase its exports sales. For the three months ended December 31, 2003, export sales represented a 6.3% of total consolidated sales and presented an increase of 20.0% when compared to the three months ended December 31, 2002.

 

The exchange rate between the colon and the U.S. dollar is determined in a free exchange market, supervised by the Banco Central de Costa Rica (“BCCR”). For more than 20 years, BCCR has utilized the crawling peg method whereby the colon is devalued daily on a systematic basis.

 

As of December 31, 2003, the Company had outstanding indebtedness of approximately $46.9 million denominated in U.S. dollars. The potential foreign exchange loss resulting from a hypothetical 10% increase for the three months ended December 31, 2003 in the devaluation of the colon/dollar exchange rate would be approximately $114,742. This loss would be reflected in the balance sheet as increases in the principal amount of its dollar-denominated indebtedness and in the income statement as an increase in foreign exchange losses, reflecting the increased cost of servicing dollar- denominated indebtedness. This analysis does not take into account the positive effect that the hypothetical increase would have on accounts receivable and other assets denominated in U.S. dollars.

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

As of December 31, 2003, the Company had outstanding a total of approximately $47.5 million in loans which bear variable interest rates, based primarily on LIBOR or Prime Rate. A hypothetical, simultaneous and unfavorable change of 10% in the Company’s variable rate in effect for the three months ended December 31, 2003, would result in a potential increase in interest expense of approximately $120,500. The sensitivity analysis model may overstate the impact of the Company’s interest rate risk, as uniform increases of all interest rates applicable to its financial liabilities are unlikely to occur simultaneously.

 

Commodity Risk

 

The Company imports all of its corn and soybean meal, the primary ingredients in chicken feed, from the United States. Fluctuations in the price of corn may significantly affect the Company’s profit margin. The price of corn and soybean meal, like most grain commodities, is fairly volatile and requires constant and daily hedging in order to minimize the effect of price increases on the Company’s profit margin.

 

The Company purchases its corn through the Chicago Board of Trade (“CBOT”) and has been actively hedging its exposure to corn price fluctuations since 1991. The Company’s strategy is to hedge against price increases in corn and soybean meal, and it is not involved in speculative trading. Contract terms range from one month to six months. The Company buys directly from the spot market if market conditions are favorable, but as a general rule, the Company purchases most of its corn through contracts. The Company’s hedging strategy is set in its annual budget, which determines how much corn and soybean meal the Company will need and the price the Company must pay in order to meet budget forecasts. The Company uses an internal pricing model to prepare sensitivity analyses. The Company bases its target prices on the worst-case price assumptions (i.e. high prices). The prices paid by the Company for corn and soybean meal were 13.45% and 31.14% above its budgeted prices, respectively, for the three months ended December 31, 2003. The Company purchases its soybean meal through a company in Costa Rica, INOLASA, in which the Company holds a 10% equity interest. In Costa Rica, there is an applicable 5% tax for soybean meal imports, which is not levied if such imports are purchased through INOLASA. If for any reason INOLASA cannot deliver the soybean meal to the Company, the Company can buy its soybean meal directly from the CBOT. Thus far, the Company has never had to purchase soybean meal directly from the CBOT.

 

The Company accounts for its futures transactions in accordance with the Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”. The contracts that

 

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effectively meet risk reduction criteria are recorded using hedge accounting. For the three months ended December 31, 2003, the Company recognized an ineffective gain of $18,316. The Company generally does not hedge anticipated transactions beyond 6 months.

 

The Company has a $500,000 credit line with Futures U.S.A., Inc. (“FIMAT”) and draws upon this credit line to cover its initial margin deposit. The interest rate paid on this line of credit averages an annual rate of less than 10% on drawn amounts.

 

For the three months ended December 31, 2003, a hypothetical 10% increase in the monthly price of corn and soybean meal would have resulted in an increase in cost of sales of approximately $324,000.

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

As of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report, an evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Section 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) . Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the design and operation of these disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

 

There have been no significant changes in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the Company’s third fiscal quarter that has materially affected or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

Please see “Note 7 – Legal Proceedings” of the Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Quarterly Report which text is incorporated herein by reference

 

ITEM 2. CHANGES IN SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

 

Not Applicable

 

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

 

Not Applicable

 

ITEM 4. SUBMISSIONS OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

 

The Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”) was held at the Mayfair Hotel in Miami, Florida, on November 3, 2003, for the following purposes:

 

  1. To elect eight members of the Company’s Board of Directors to hold office until the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders or until their successors are duly elected and qualified;

 

  2. To consider and vote upon a proposal to approve of and ratify the selection of Stonefield Josephson, Inc. as the Company’s independent auditors for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2003.

 

The number of outstanding shares of the Company’s Common Stock as of the date for the Annual Meeting was 12,864,321 out of which a total number of 12,031,773 shares were represented at the Annual Meeting.

 

The following directors were elected at the Annual Meeting: (1) Calixto Chaves, (ii) Monica Chaves, (iii) Jorge Quesada, (iv) Federico Vargas, (v) Luis Lauredo, (vi) Jack Peeples, (vii) Alfred Smith, IV and (viii) Jose Vidal.

 

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The following table sets forth the number of votes cast for, against, or withheld for each director nominee, as well as the number of abstentions and broker non-votes as to each such director nominee:

 

Director Nominee


  

Votes Cast

For


  

Votes Cast

Against


   Votes Withheld

   Abstentions

  

Broker

Non-Votes


Calixto Chaves

   12,016,107    15,666    0    0    0

Monica Chaves

   12,016,109    15,664    0    0    0

Jorge Quesada

   12,016,109    15,664    0    0    0

Federico Vargas

   12,016,259    15,514    0    0    0

Luis Lauredo

   12,016,259    15,514    0    0    0

Jack Peeples

   12,016,272    15,501    0    0    0

Alfred Smith, IV

   12,016,122    15,651    0    0    0

Jose Vidal

   12,016,107    15,666    0    0    0

 

With respect to the proposal to approve of and ratify the selection of Stonefield Josephson, Inc. as the Company’s independent auditors for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2003: (i) 12,028,796 votes were cast for such proposal and (ii) 2,977 votes were cast against such proposal. No votes were withheld nor were there any abstentions or broker non-votes with respect to such proposal. Accordingly, the proposal to approve of and ratify Stonefield Josephson, Inc. as the Company’s independent auditors for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2003, was approved by the shareholders.

 

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Competition

 

Although the Company is significantly larger and better established than any one of its domestic competitors, the Company believes it does face competitive pressures. The Company’s principal competitors are other vertically integrated chicken companies domiciled in Costa Rica, who the Company believes have a market share of approximately 38% of the broiler market. The Company believes that its experience, economies of scale, and brand recognition are the primary barriers to entry for other domestic competitors. The Company’s local market share also could potentially be threatened by foreign competition. The Company believes that the likelihood of a threat by foreign competitors is low for several reasons. First, the Company has a strong reputation for producing high quality products at a reasonable price. Additionally, consumers in Costa Rica prefer fresh chicken to frozen chicken. Due to transportation constraints and distance, the Company believes foreign competitors would have to sell frozen chicken if they were to sell chicken in Costa Rica.

 

The Agriculture Ministry in Costa Rica together with the private industry sector of Costa Rica monitors all chicken entering the country to prevent the spread of Newcastle Disease in Costa Rica. The market in Costa Rica is also assisted by tariff agreements at the present time. Chicken importers must pay duties as dictated by the World Trade Organization (“WTO”) (formerly, the General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs). These agreements were reached at the Uruguay Round of the GATT negotiations, which are scheduled to end in 2004. The agreements provide quotas and scaled tariffs, and permit only certain broiler chicken cuts to enter the Costa Rican market.

 

These agreements provide that for fiscal year 2003, only 1,285 metric tons (“MT”) of poultry meat and 150 MT of poultry by-products can be imported to Costa Rica from countries outside of the Central American Common Market. This quota is taxed at a rate of 34% for poultry, 29% for poultry sausages and 19% for poultry patties. Amounts in excess of these quotas are subject to a 150% tariff, except for whole chicken, patties and breast cuts, which are subject to a 40% tariff.

 

The United States is currently in negotiations with five Central American countries, including Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and El Salvador, to establish a Central American Free Trade Agreement (“CAFTA”), which among other things, addresses the reduction of restrictions on the export of broiler meat by the United States to these Central American countries. The Costa Rican poultry industry had been actively participating in the CAFTA negotiations with respect to the establishment of quotas for chicken imports to Costa Rica. On January 25, 2004, the Costa Rican government reached an agreement with the CAFTA participants. Pursuant to such agreement, for poultry products, such as chicken thighs and drumsticks, the United States will be permitted to export a maximum volume of 300 metric tons (the “Quota”) per year to the CAFTA participant countries. The Quota is the equivalent of approximately 0.4% of the total poultry production in Costa Rica based on projections for the 2004 calendar year. The Quota is scheduled to be increased by 10% each year. Pursuant to the Agreement, the CAFTA

 

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participants will be able to impose a gradually decreasing tariff (the “Tariff”) on the poultry exports from the United States. During the ten year period after the date the agreement is executed (the “Execution Date”), the Tariff cannot be reduced to less than 150% of the purchase price (including insurance and freight charges) (the “Purchase Price”). For the period commencing on the ten-year anniversary of the Execution Date and ending on the fourteenth anniversary of the Execution Date, the Tariff will decrease from 150% to 90% of the Purchase Price. Subsequently, for the period commencing on the fourteenth anniversary of the Execution Date and ending on the seventeenth anniversary of the Execution Date, the Tariff will decrease from 90% of the Purchase Price to 0%. Costa Rica is still in negotiations to obtain the right to negotiate a temporary increase of the Tariff in each of the years in which the Tarriff is reduced (i.e. the first year, the tenth year and the fourteenth year).

 

The Company expects the closing of the CAFTA to occur within the 2004 fiscal year. The Company believes that the closing of the CAFTA, will not have a negative impact in its short-term or medium-term results of operations or cash flows.

 

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

 

The following exhibits are filed with this report.

 

Exhibit No.

  

Exhibit Description


  3.1    Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company (2)
  3.2    Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (1)
10.1    Trust Agreement, dated September 22, 2003, by and between Corporacion Pipasa, S.A. and Corporacion As de Oros, S.A., as Trustors, Consultores Financieros Cofin S.A., as Trustee and various of the Company’s lenders (translated from Spanish), as amended (3)
31.1    Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*
31.2    Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*
32.1    Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*
32.2    Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*

* Filed herewith

 

(1) Incorporated by Reference to the Company’s 10-KSB40, as filed with the Commission on October 13, 1995.

 

(2) Incorporated by Reference to the Company’s 10-K/A, as filed with the Commission on July 28, 2003.

 

(3) Incorporated by Reference to the Company’s Form 8-K/A, as filed with the Commission on October 9, 2003.

 

The following is a list of Current Reports on Form 8-K filed during the first quarter of fiscal 2004:

 

The Company filed a Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 9, 2003, under Item 5 indicating that the Company had entered into a trust agreement pursuant to which it had restructured its debt obligations .

 

The Company filed a Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated October 9, 2003, under Item 5, which includes a copy of Trust Agreement translated from Spanish, dated September 22, 2003, relating to debt restructure.

 

The Company filed a Current Report on Form 8-K, dated December 23, 2003, under Item 1 relating to the Change in Control following the Stock Sale.

 

The Company filed a Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 13, 2004 under Item 5 relating to the announcement of its results of operations for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2003.

 

The Company filed a Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 15, 2004, under Item 5 relating to the repayment to Citibank (Costa Rica), S.A. (“Citibank”) of the entire amount of the Company’s outstanding indebtedness to Citibank.

 

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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.

 

        RICA FOODS, INC.

Dated: February 23, 2004

      By   /s/    CALIXTO CHAVES        
             
                Calixto Chaves
                Chief Executive Officer

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Dated: February 23, 2004

          /s/    CALIXTO CHAVES        
             
                Calixto Chaves
                Chief Executive Officer

 

Dated: February 23, 2004

          /s/    GINA SEQUEIRA        
             
                Gina Sequeira
                Chief Financial Officer

 

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